Soon To Be Troubled.

"No one but a woman can help a man when he is in trouble of the heart."

― Bram Stoker, Dracula

The guards were sound asleep, now was the time to act.

It was with the utmost care that Kiriya entered. Carefully, he placed one foot before the other in a deliberately slow fashion. There was no telling what other traps might have been laid by the Chairman, the ex-second-in-command knew the Dark Lord to be paranoid. He glanced back at the two snoring monsters, slumped together side by side; the first line of defense was woefully lacking in ability. Perhaps Kiriya had caught a break: Mikogami could have ruled out an escape attempt as impossible and foolhardy.

In any case, it was idiotic to outwear to linger and outwear his welcome. The monstrel unsheathed his scythe and went about waving it in the utter darkness the room was plunged in. He could sense Hokuto's faded energy, the noisy monitoring machinery and ragged breathing were also valid indications that this was the right room. His weapon glided through the air effortlessly. Kiriya noted the lack of any arcane wards with a grin; truly, if the Headmaster of Yokai Academy was this delusional, Alucard was right to put his plan in motion. He was not yet privy to all of the details, but he could hardly conceive that an enemy this ignorant would be able to hold his own against the greatest monster to have ever walked the earth.

His grin soon faded. Something was wrong. He continued to tug on his scythe a little. Though it did not encounter resistance, he felt his tool pry itself from his grasp: some unseen force was pulling it away. He held on as best he could, his mind raced to find a solution to this conundrum Only another monster's aura could force his weapon to yield, automatic wards lacked the finesse to disarm a foe. Still, he did not pick up any other living being in this room. How could this be? His epiphany was met with a dark chuckle that came from the deepest corner of the room. There was one other possibility: the opponent in question would hold power the lacks he could not even sense. His adversary was leagues beyond his reach. Only one monster in the Academy held this much power.

"Mr. Yoshie. How good of you to come by and see us," the disembodied voice echoed all around the less powerful monster.

As soon as the voice was heard, the strain on the scythe grew exponentially. Instead of simply being ripped out of his hands, the arcane artifact snapped in two, with it fell away a measure of Kiriya's invested aura. All he could do was watch as the broken scythe melted away in his hands. He stood even less of a chance now. Regardless, he tried to think of an escape route.

"Oh, I'm afraid you will not be leaving any time soon," the voice continued. In the corner, two orbs of light opened. A flash of yellow invaded the room, fading as the electric lights overhead switched on and carried out their appointed task. "But enough with the pleasantries, let's talk for a bit."

By Hokuto's bedside sat the Headmaster, cloaked in his usual priestly attire. The orbs of light, filled with amusement; the sinister grin, mockingly observing with imperious contempt; those were intended for the foolish new arrival. The folds of his robes rescinded, revealing the crucifix-resembling object that made quick work of Kiriya's sole protection against the unexpected.

He called out to a shadowy figure that had bid its time in the corridor, "Jasmine."

'Yes?"

The voice was one Kiriya knew only from reputation: The second youngest of the Shuzen family. She was rumored to act as Issa Shuzen's bodyguard ever since she took him under her wing. The patriarch of the clan never was far from his protégée. To retain the Shuzen's services was only done when the client had no one else to turn to. And Kiriya was intelligent enough to know that the Headmaster would expend these kinds of resources if he suspected his greatest enemy to be working behind the scenes. That meant…

"How did you know?"

The Headmaster refused to answer the question. Instead, he once again spoke to the red-eyed predator that was to take the monstrel into custody. "Would you please come in and help us move this along. I presume that Mr. Yoshie might be needing a little… um…'encouragement'."

"Right away," Jasmine chipped before setting foot past the threshold and shutting the door behind her.

She went about interrogating the monstrel with as much gusto as she was fabled to possess. She enjoyed her job immensely; however, that was not the source of her upbeat demeanor. Recently, she and her adoptive father accepted a contract that the Academy had set. The target's identity and ensuing job description made her giddy with anticipation. Interrogating the monster was just the warmup; she could hardly wait to see that hopeless big brother of hers.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The gang watched the fireworks changed the sky from a patch of black to a colorful mix of green, red, blue and yellow. It was the Halloween Homecoming's official opening. Twice now, the boy slaved away as the errand boy for the Festival Committee. Twice now, he was forced to take down his supervisor and fellow human-turned-monster. And he was capable of affirming without the slightest doubt that neither of those things had been any easier the second time around. To top it all off, he had to be extremely careful when using his powers. He did his best to fake being a ghoul, the seal played its role admirably, but he could tell that his friends were growing more suspicious by the day.

Yukari watched the spectacle with awe, much-like any child her age would. And yet, those same eyes that peered up at the sky with wonder also hid a level of intellect only the greatest of geniuses had the pleasure of sharing: she was fascinated by both the show of lights and the clumsy efforts Tsukune made to conceal something very important about his ghoul condition. He did not act like he should at all. His stance was too well honed, his moves had been practiced, and his demeanor was that of a seasoned fighter. She couldn't make heads or tails of this, her research of ghouls indicated that the opposite should have happened. Even when sealed, a ghoul behaved more primal-like when engaged in combat, the discipline would have to be acquired through very arduous training.

So when and where did he get that training? As a human, Tsukune stayed away from fights. His middle-school and elementary school records, after being expertly hacked, confirmed the ex-human's pacifism. The transformation took place not long ago, and there wasn't even remotely enough time for him to train. This was all extremely peculiar.

Inner Moka was getting curious too, Yukari saw it etched upon her face amid the customary cold expression she sported every time she came out of her slumber. If a first-class vampire like Inner Moka was stumped by a phenomenon engendered by vampire blood, it had to be extremely rare or a first time occurrence. Tsukune was handling the transformation with complete ease as well, one more reason for suspecting he might know more than he's letting on. Alas, approaching him directly would put him on his guard; and a guarded Tsukune was more difficult to crack than any magical seal she ever dealt with.

Her gaze had drifted off at some point in her daydreaming and fixated itself on the object of her concern; noticing this, she hurriedly averted her eyes and stared back up at the stars. There wasn't a cloud visible in the sky, there never were any past sunset, the barrier's weather pattern was most agreeable come dusk so as to benefit the nocturnal students that required a midnight stroll through the woods. Witches were among those monsters, nighttime divination was a relaxing tradition that many of her kind partook in. Speaking of which, the young genius and her older raven-haired comrade were planning to try just that. It was she who pointed out Tsukune's eerie capacity to adapt so masterfully; Yukari may have been smart but the Headmaster's assistant was perceptive, moreso than most others.

A crow cawed overhead just as the fireworks waned: the appointed time was drawing near. Ruby was quick to come up beside her and, together, they told the rest of they would meet them after taking care of a few errands.

"Careful," Outer Moka warned, "there's a lot of people on campus tonight."

All the alumni that were willing and able to come back to the Academy were welcomed during this event, no matter how unsavory their student records were. "We'll be careful," Yukari happily retorted as the two waved goodbye and took their leave.

Kurumu and Mizore also excused themselves soon thereafter: their mothers were waiting for them at the bus stop. Only Moka remained in Tsukune's company; unfortunately, she was hoping for such an opportunity to speak to him alone.

"Tsukune?" Moka tentatively asked, nervous over what her favor entailed.

"What is it, Moka?' Her uneasy expression was making him uncomfortable in turn.

"Inner wants to talk to you."

To say that the boy was apprehensive at the idea would have been an understatement. In all the years he'd known, both in this timeline and the previous one, having Inner Moka request an audience never boded well. "Um… How come?"

She ignored his question as the voice inside her head continued to nag her into indulging it. She thrust out her chest and expectantly waited for Tsukune to grab the seal and pull at it. He hesitated to do so and she empathized with her love's plight. Alas, Inner Moka was not so easily swayed, and there were several questions that the pink-haired monster also wanted to get straight that she could never do if she tried asking him directly. As much as she may resent the idea, her sterner alter ego had a way about her when it came to extracting information. She quickly took his hand into hers and wrapped it around the rosario. Momentarily distracted by the warm contact, he hurriedly yanked himself out of her grasp as soon as he caught on. He looked down at his hand and realized, with no small amount of dread, he did exactly what she hoped he would do. His fingers were still wrapped around the silver jewel, the red orb in its center turned several shades darker as the switch took place. He eyes went upward, back to the vampire beauty that anxiously requested his aid mere seconds ago. In her place was the equally dazzling ruby-eyed counterpart.

"Evening… Tsukune."

"Oh… Uh… Hey, Moka," he stuttered as her usually cold disposition felt downright hostile after her awakening. "You wanted to talk to me?"

Barely fully awake and she already was irritated beyond reason. "Drop the act, you know what I'm going to ask."

He had a fleeting suspicion of what she could be referring to, though he prayed he was wrong on that count. If he wasn't, this conversation had a good chance of turning ugly. His only strategy was to play stupid for the time being and see where this went. "No… I really have no-"

"Who trained you?" She interrupted him. Seeing him at a loss for words, she pressed on, eager to have him confess. "I'll ask again: Who trained you?

It was pointless to pretend now. Neither of Moka Akashiya's incarnations, whether clone or otherwise, were fools. He couldn't come outright and tell her, he swore the Chairman he wouldn't. Despite that, the urge to come clean was creeping up on him. He wanted to tell her so terribly, yet he couldn't. Regardless, he was under no obligation to deny she was right to suspect something. Quelling her fears by meeting her halfway was his last option.

"Look, Moka, I know this looks strange but I promise I will-"

"Lie to me?" She dryly cut in. Every word he uttered somehow made her anger soar higher. "I can understand you would try and hide it from others, I really do. If someone found out that you were a ghoul, they would think you still were and you'd have the advantage if it came to blows; and I applaud you for not being forthcoming with who taught you to fight with the others, a good fighter never leaves himself without an ace up their sleeve; but what I can neither understand nor forgive is that you would neglect to tell me. So I'll ask one more time: Who. Trained. You?"

"Do you trust me?"

The silver-haired creature was taken aback by the sudden and unexpected question. Did she trust him? Up until recently, she would've laid done her life if he told her to. Now, in light of all the mysteries Tsukune wrapped himself up in that he refused to divulge, she was having second thoughts.

She was lying to herself. It wasn't the boy she did not trust, she felt the connection they forged over the last year remained intact. It was herself she had doubts about. More precisely, she feared that it was her blood that had created a new condition; a condition that very well could harm the boy she loved more than descent into ghouldom.

The boy she loved? The moment of clarity surprised her. When did she start thinking like that?

"Why?" Moka carefully inquired. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because if you do, I want you to trust that I will tell you the whole story very soon."

"Why not now?"

"I swore I wouldn't."

"To who?"

"The Headmaster."

She sighed in exasperation. The Chairman always was connected in some manner to the strange going-ons of the Academy. Very well, if one of the three Dark Lords saw to it, she supposed that the bizarre affair would be resolved. She would get her answers at some point, but she would settle with asking one last question that her heart wanted answered so terribly. Love between a vampire and a human or ghoul was unfeasible because of social stigma and the gap in life expectancy. Still, she could not deny she was somewhat drawn to the goofy boy. She might have the slightest hint of a crush, she conceded. Honestly, she wasn't sure what she felt yet, so intent was she to suppress any emotional attachment she held other than pure amicable friendship. It could just be a case of mere exposure syndrome and she had the whole thing backwards. Nevertheless, it was her duty to confirm one thing before she either tried to understand what ached her or forgot about her feelings.

"Then can you tell me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Are you a ghoul or…"

This worked out for the best. Moka was willing to overlook his strange behavior if he answered a harmless query. It worked out too well, in his opinion. What was he missing? It hardly mattered now. As for her curiosity, he supposed it wouldn't do anyone any harm if he let her know what he turned into. His hand flew up to the Holy Lock still wrapped around his forearm, its existence was burdensome, but a necessity for the time being. He pulled it ever so gently, the chains gently came apart without any sort of resistance. When the last piece of the Lock came undone, his appearance changed as the soft aura around him turned more sinister. He had to be careful not to release too much power. Alucard was still fast asleep, and his power was indirectly derived from the slumbering titan. He was just as much of a liability as was the person who stared at him with some measure of disbelief.

His features, his aura, they belonged to a vampire, she could tell that much by simply glimpsing at him. Incredible, his power no longer felt twisted. It felt pure, as it should have been. A small smirk crept up on her.

"That's all I wanted to know. Thank you, Tsukune."

With that, she ripped her seal out of his hands and set back onto her black chocker. As he had practiced so many time before, he caught her before she fell. Held her in his arms as the silver hair turned pink and the furrowed brow softened. He pondered what he should do next when he felt Outer Moka buried herself into his arms as she tried to pry herself away from the grogginess. Her emerald eyes opened and fixated him with care. She saw the same red-eyes and elongated canines her more severe alter ego witnessed, and somehow, just like it did for inner Moka, what she saw felt right.

"Morning," Moka mumbled with a smile.

"Evening," he replied with a smile of his own.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask,' she fidgeted. 'Do you have any plans for the festival tomorrow?"

"Not really. Just sort of figured I'd go around the stalls."

"Right..." She whispered. Now that the occasion had finally presented itself, she could feel herself getting cold feet. Noticing that she was still in his arms, Moka promptly stood up and brushed off her skirt with enthusiasm. In truth, she needed a distraction. Still, regardless of how much effort she put into it, the words couldn't pass her lips. So she contended with some more small talk. "Since your parents are human, they can't exactly come here, can they?"

"Yeah."

Though he was curious how he would handle Kyo's sudden appearance on the festival's second day. For all intents and purposes, he was still drawing a blank. Letting things play out like last time would be the easiest course of action but he couldn't help feeling conflicted. He didn't want to risk mocking things up with his cousin on school grounds. It was one thing to deal with the usual nuisances since present company was exclusively made up of monsters, having a human along for the ride was riskier. All it would take is a single slash and he wasn't sure Kyoko would make it.

"I know how you feel. My family never comes to visit me."

"Really?" Tsukune feigned ignorance.

It was a strange thing than to know more about your love interest's family than even they did. Akua swore to stay away so there was no chance you'd catch her around these parts. Kahlua was just an extension of her mother's will at this point, likewise an improbable candidate for a visit. Kokoa was surely trying to dig up her sister's exact whereabouts. As for her father… He considered the possibility for a few moments. Yet another thing he made a mental note of, the Chairman should have the answers he sought.

"Yup. I guess we're kind of in the same boat," she had her opening! "Maybe we could spend the festival together?" She hopefully asked. "Y'know, just for tomorrow or something."

"Sounds fun."

"Great," she blushed, "I guess I'll head back now. Will you walk with me?"

"I have a few things I need to take care of before calling it a night."

"Okay," she replied with a fake smile. She knew she pushed for too much too quickly. "See ya."

And with a wave, she headed on back to the dormitory. As soon as her shadow vanished from view, Tsukune shot forth and went in the opposite direction. He was going to have a long talk with the Headmaster, this could no longer be avoided. As he neared the main administrative complex, he felt an ominous chill pass through him; the Chairman was expecting him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Please come in, my boy."

The young vampire was about to knock on the door when it suddenly opened, seemingly of its own volition, and he heard the Chairman, still hidden by the darkness that veiled his office, invite him to enter. He passed the threshold without a second thought and was assaulted by the outburst of light. The boy looked back at where he previously stood and noticed that not a single ray crossed the doorway. Realizing that a strange magical ward was at work, he briefly pondered why Mikogami would go through all the trouble. He merely had to let his eyes adjust to the invasive luminosity and quickly glance at the other side of the room to know why. The Chairman was not alone: before him sat a very familiar figure.

The visitor kept his gaze on the youth. The chiseled features of the renowned monster were graced by an unsurprised look.

"You were expecting me," the boy

"Yes." The Chairman grinned, he then gestured at his already seated guest. "I'm sure no introductions are necessary. You've met before."

"Did Akasha tell you about me?"

"The very same night you came to my home," Issa answered with all the dignity he knew him to possess. Despite having the same laidback attitude, he felt something akin to elegance when he saw the elder vampire carry himself.

"Speaking of which," Mikogami interjected, "that is why we were waiting for you to stop by my office."

Tsukune was perplexed. Surely whatever the Chairman wanted to speak about was urgent. Why would he not summon him posthaste? Especially when considering the opportune timing of the elder vampire and his protégée's visit to Yokai Academy. He would suspect that it was all a coincidence, but he had been acquainted with the scheming Dark Lord's underhanded ways for far too long to rack it up to extreme luck.

"I wished to avoid calling you in too many times in a row. Too many eyebrows would have been raised if the faculty saw you coming in here repeatedly. It would be better for everyone involved if you came here without any…" The Chairman cleared his throat as he pondered which word would prove most adequate. "…'encouragement' on my part."

Tsukune despised the way in which the Headmaster always was able to guess what he was thinking. However, he had to give credit where credit was due. Out of the entire school year, the festival was the only night when teachers were not actively trying to pry into administrative business that was above their paygrade. Securing campus grounds for the imminent return of the school's past students took up every waking moment they had, it was the best time to act.

The Chairman cleared his throat and continued once the thoughtful silence ran its intended course, he turned to Issa Shuzen in earnest. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, I believe you will have all the space you require. Will you take the job?"

The elder vampire considered the proposal for a moment. He remained perfectly still as his slightly inclined head displayed some measure of concentration. Finally, just as Tsukune had begun to wonder if the vampire had died in his seat, he spoke up with small smile that contrasted with the cold demeanor he was used to seeing the patriarch display.

"The terms are more than generous. I would like to start as soon as possible."

"Excellent. Tsukune," Mikogami intonated for the young student's benefit who, up to this point, had been all but left out of the conversation, "as of now, and in light of recent developments, I've felt the need to hire the Shuzen household to act as your instructors."

"Instructors?" The teen repeated with a puzzled look.

"Yes. A few among them have been hired to train you. I'm sure you can imagine what for."

Tsukune's expression went from confused to determinate as he envisioned what the Chairman alluded to: a confrontation with Alucard himself. He yearned for that opportunity with every fiber of his beings. And if being trained by the Shuzen clan was the way to make that happen, he would accept without a word of protest. Though he did wonder how he would keep this a secret from the Newspaper Club.

Nevertheless, he had to focus on the here and now. He ceremoniously turned towards the seated assassin and bowed deeply in recognition, "I look forward to learning from you, Mr. Shuzen."

"As I look forward to training you," Issa returned the formal acknowledgment with one of his own, before moving on to a topic that made his smile seem nearly as sinister as the Headmaster's plastered grin. "But there is one thing I'd like to ask: what is your relationship with my daughter?"

"Your daughter?"

"Yes, Moka," he tranquilly replied, his eyes now staring holes into the boy. "But since you mention it, I could ask you the same of your relationship with Akua and Jasmine. And I do believe I overheard something about an arrangement that's been made to have my Kahlua marry."

"Well, ah… Y'know, it's really nothing… I… Um… We're friends… Just friends… Uh…"

"I see," the newly hired trainer pleasantly answered as his traits seemed to soften nearly instantly.

"You do?"

"Absolutely. I see there's no need for me to hold back. I'll be sure to reform you inside and out, Tsukune."