Mate of Fate
Chapter 11: Incoming Threat
Things had once more gone back to being normal and with nothing too exciting going on at the Academy. It was just like the weather that stayed the same all year around due to the magical barrier that separated this place from the human world. "Ugh… I'm bored…" Ayame groaned during a break time before the next class. He, Nicholas, Kurumu, Moka, and Tsukune were all with him at a table outside.
"You can't be that bored if you're hanging out with us," the guy with glasses shot back with a grin. "If you were, you'd be finding something else to do."
"I like it that there's nothing going on," the former human stated. "After all that's happened, I for one could do with some peace in my life."
"Yeah, just settle in before taking on adult responsibilities. Speaking of that, I wish they'd pull a little back with those classes to help us figure out what to do for our futures." Those had started as of late and while it wasn't a bad thing to start thinking of future careers, it was to have it constantly shoved in one's face.
"Well, I know what you're going to do," Moka said to Tsukune with a smile.
"Oh really?" Ayame then pipped up, curious and with a grin. "I thought vampires didn't have the ability to see into the future."
"No, not that," the female dating Tsukune replied with amusement. "It's just what my father's helping him with."
"Yeah, I'm gonna be the next head master here," the former human added.
Nicholas and Ayame looked up in surprise. "Really?' the long-haired male asked. "When did this happen with the decision?"
"It was right at the beginning of this year before you guys started…" Tsukune then went on to explain a little after meeting Moka's father and training that was part of his daily schedule in order to end up becoming the future headmaster of this place. But saying that reminded the former human of what the older vampire had said about the change with Moka with the outer and inner souls merging. By this point even more of her hair was going back to the pink color the outer one had.
The two males who hadn't heard of this before just listened before Nicholas spoke up. "So let me get this straight," the guy with glasses stated. "You're saying you have your own training program and didn't let me know in case mine clashed with yours?"
"It's okay," the former human replied. "I talked to her father first before joining you for that first one. Plus it's not as tough." Tsukune got a funny relieved look on his face as Moka's father could be brutal to the point of not killing.
"Huh, okay then," Nicholas commented when it came to having no problems with interfering with training.
"That does sound like a lot of work though," Ayame stated. "Being in charge of many students and doing it year after year. Not sure if I could stand of being in charge."
"Then what would you do for a job?" Kurumu asked.
Before the male could reply, they heard the sound to indicate it was time for the next class. "To be continued," Nicholas said with a grin.
But as they were walking, the guy with glasses wondered if there would be a chance to actually meet Moka's father Issa Shuzen. The long-haired male couldn't help but wonder what he was like after all if the old vampire was training Tsukune after all. "Say, you think I can tag along with you to meet him?" Nicholas asked the former human while everyone was walking to their next class.
"You want to?" the latter replied. "Why?"
"Well I'm curious to meet the one who's teaching you. Plus it's Moka and Kokoa's father and since we're all friends, we're going to meet sooner or later."
"Good point."
"I mean I understand if it's too much trouble."
"Well… I guess you could just come to meet him I guess," Tsukune said.
"Very well," Nicholas stated with a grin.
"We'll go to him after school."
Later that day after the last class let out, Nicholas and Tsukune met up outside on the campus. "Well I don't know about you, but if it were me I'd be so ready for a sparring session," the long-haired male told the former human.
"Bad day?" the latter asked.
"Not really, just boring. I need a workout or something."
"You'll probably change your mind after one sparring session with Issa," Tsukune warned Nicholas. "He's very strong."
"Oh? How strong?"
"The first training session he obliterated me in 30 seconds."
"Damn," Nicholas simply replied. There wasn't much else to say.
"Hey, I've gotten better!" Tsukune insisted.
"Yeah I know you have. So… Moka and Koka's old man is that strong huh? Now I'm more interested in meeting him."
The two guys made it to where Issa was waiting for Tsukune and the long-haired male noticed the figure of Moka's father right away. "So that's him, huh?" Nicholas commented.
Looking showed the male vampire had a neatly trimmed beard and mustache along with his black hair reaching his shoulders. While his clothes looked like a black suit, they were more in an older European like style despite being Japanese. But there was also something else, just by looking at Issa had a sense of power and being extremely strong. "Yeah, that's him…" Tsukune said, but with a bit of hesitation.
The older male on cue looked up and spotted the two. "Tsukune," Issa greeted to the former human before turning his attention to Nicholas.
"Hello, it's an honor to meet you sir," the long-haired male replied, doing the Japanese bow of respect. "I'm Nicholas Harker."
Issa gave Tsukune an odd look. "Is he… you know…" the older male began and the former human shook his head no in a funny rapid way. This was referring to the hilarious, but in a way, horrible time when the others had shown up trying to once again get in the way of Tsukune and Moka's relationship.
"Am I what now?" Nicholas asked after standing back up since the guy heard that.
"It's… nothing," Tsukune replied with a funny face. The long-haired male frowned as he figured it was something but decided to let it go for now.
Issa then spoke to Nicholas. "So… what have you come here for?" the older male asked.
"I heard about you and wanted to meet you," the long-haired student replied. "I wanted to see who was Tsukune's trainer. And I can see and sense he's in good hands."
"I see. It's strange, but you Nicholas also seem to be quiet something yourself. I can tell…"
These two were silent for a moment before the long-haired one spoke. "Well, I'm glad Tsukune was able to allow me to tag along so I could meet you. But I know you two have some training to do and I don't want to get in the way of that."
"Not a problem, it was nice meeting you," Issa replied with a smile.
"I'll see you later," Nicholas then said to his friend. "But don't worry, you've been doing some extra training too. See if you can use what you learned during that for this."
"Er… sure," the latter replied, but with uncertainty.
Nicholas then walked away but with a smile. He had a funny feeling this wouldn't be the last time he would see Issa. "I look forward to it when the time comes," the guy thought in his head.
Nicholas returned to the main campus and found Michael waiting for him. Mizore and Kurumu were here as well. "There you are," the second male stated. "Where have you been?"
"I went with Tsukune and met Moka's father who's training him," the guy with glasses answered.
"Wait, you actually met him?" Kurumu asked, stunned. Mizore was as well, but as always didn't show her emotions as easily.
"I was curious to meet the guy after hearing he was training one of my friends."
"So what's he like?" Michael asked, curious himself.
Nicholas didn't answer at first but got a look on his face that was showing he was figuring how to answer as it wasn't just a simple response. "I can tell that Issa's strong," the long-haired male then answered. "But it's more than just that. He's that but beyond anything I've seen so far. Somehow I can sense and tell in just looking at him. And I've also got the feeling I will see him again somehow."
"How can you be sure?" Mizore asked, now curious herself. "You can't see into the future… right?"
"No, it's more like… a gut feeling. Like something in your stomach or heart kind of feeling."
"I've gotten it before man," Michael commented. "I know what you mean."
"Well then, what should we do before heading back to the dorms?" Nicholas then asked all three with a grin.
"Well, we could this…" Kurumu began and the four started to walk away.
Unknown to them in the shadows and watching them were two pairs of eyes. "So… what do you think?" one of the owners asked, the voice showing it was a male.
"A number of things," the owner of the other eyes replied, the voice also being male. "But more importantly… delicious prey…" The way those two words were stated dripped like that of a hunter getting his target and creepiness at the same time.
"Just don't lose focus because of your hormones," the first male told his comrade sternly. "Remember what we were given as tasks."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya." The second male sounded impatient like he had been told that a thousand times. "Same old shit. I got it! Fucking A bro!"
"I hope so; you know what will happen if failure comes too many times."
"Please," the second male replied after letting out a snort. "I could pull this off with my eyes closed."
"Failure isn't an option. We have no reason to screw this up. It's going to be harder for you considering your nature. But remember how much more worth it will be to strike when the time is right."
"Normally I'd argue, but this case, I can wait," the second male stated. "Especially with getting my hands on Kurumu…"
"If you're finished talking about your disgusting plan, let's move so we don't lose sight of them," the first male cut him off in a tone to match.
Nicholas in that moment then felt something, the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. The long-haired male whipped around but didn't see the ones hiding in the shadows. The wind then began to tug and pull at his hair and the others with longer strands of it which blew some dead leaves and added to the mood of being watched. This action of the male didn't go unnoticed. "You okay?" Kurumu asked with a frown.
The guy with glasses didn't say anything for a few seconds. "Tell me, you ever get the nasty feeling of being watched?" he then asked.
"Yeah, I'm getting it too," Michael stated.
Kurumu and Mizore both shivered, not due to being cold, but that creepy feeling of being watched making the two female do so. They had both had bad experiences with a stalker and certainly didn't want to go through that again. On instinct or something else, the succubus got closer to Nicholas while the Yuuki-onna got closer to Michael without even realizing their actions. The two guys did notice this from the one they loved but didn't point it out since they felt a little hope that they could get with the one they wanted in a good way. "I'm getting a bad feeling about what might be coming," the long-haired male continued before speaking to Kurumu directly. "However… Even though we have friends, they might not be there to make sure nothing bad happens. That's why Kurumu I will make sure nothing does for you…"
"And that goes for me as well," Michael added but saying it to Mizore. "I hope it's alright Mizore if I can be there to make sure no harm comes to you…"
The two females couldn't help but blush a little. Again they felt that feeling in their hearts that had been felt during the summer vacation. But Kurumu just gave her dazzling smile to Nicholas and nodded at him before speaking. "Yes… Thank you for that and likewise how you will watch my back I will for you as well."
Mizore nodded at Michael and gave him a smile as best as she could before speaking. "I've learned it's best to have your friends who will always be there for you," she told him. "But even more so when one in the group goes out of their way to help someone."
He nodded in response. "Thank you for allowing me," the white-haired male told the one he wanted to date.
"You know, it might be a good idea to warn the others," Kurumu then added.
"If you think we should, we can," Nicholas said. "Sometimes being cautious is a good thing."
"And having more than one pair of eyes keeping an eye out doesn't hurt," Michael added.
"Well-spoken my friend."
The rest were warned about this the next day. "You really think this might be like what happened to us during the summer?" Hatsuharu asked.
"Maybe," Nicholas replied. The group were eating lunch and outside.
"I… I don't like the sound of this…" Liliana whimpered with fear.
"I don't either," Hatsuharu added. Ruby who was with the group was torn. On one hand, being as perverted as she was, her mind went to extremely dirty places. But then there was the flip side as the witch certainly didn't want her friends to be killed. And that went for her as well.
"Er… I guess thanks for warning us," was all she said.
"If there is an enemy and stalking us, I hate to think what they're here for," Fang Fang commented, and thinking hard.
"If there are, we had better make sure your little sister doesn't go charging in," Nicholas told Moka. "She seems the kind to act first, think later."
"She used to," the female replied. "Well… she still kinda does but has gotten better at that."
"We should still talk to her about this since she's not here with us." This was due to a little business the sibling had to take care of. "In the meantime, let's just keep our eyes open and our guard up. It might be nothing in the end, but from my experience, this is probably not that."
"Seriously?" Tsukune asked with a groan. "Ugh, why can't I get any peace in my life?'
"Yeah, it's a bitch, I hear ya," Kabu commented.
"Hey, at least we've got each other," Yukari pointed out.
"She's right," Nicholas stated. "As long as we stick together, nobody and nothing can beat us. And no, I'm not talking the power of friendship cliché, I mean more in the fact we succeed by working as a team to overcome any challenge no matter how hard."
Kurumu couldn't help but smile at his words and feeling better. "Damn, you know how to be encouraging," she said.
"Hey, better that than being depressed and mopey like someone I know…" Nicholas shout a smirk at Takeshi.
"Very funny…" he grumbled with a glare. Liliana could help but giggle with amusement at that. The guy then glared at her, but let it slide.
"Anyways, can you talk to your sister about this?" Nicholas asked Moka. "I bet she'd listen more to you than any of us."
"I'll take care of it," the female vampire replied with a smile.
As it turned out, the sibling did take heed to the warning, but like Nicholas suspected, Koko just brushed it off. "Just let me see who they are; I'll bash their skulls open!" she stated. And that was very possible as her pet bat could transform into any weapon to do that task. Now all that could be done was to keep on guard and eyes and ears open for trouble. As well as continue to train and get stronger and finish up this school year.