Ch. 19 Curry + Cooking + Vampire
Whack! Whack! Whack!
Rai bashed his hammer until the window frame was adjusted in place. He shifted it more to his left so it would be straight with the glass. "There," Rai approved, "Let's see how long this lasts until the red head breaks it again." Rai packed his things and started trailing back to the toolshed. Once he was out of the school, he walked to his little shack with Jolt giving a quick sweep in front of the door.
"Pika Pika," Jolt waved to him.
"Hey Jolt," Rai replied. "I just finished fixing the window in the Science Lab. I gotta tell ya, Moka has some serious problems with her sister." Rai took off his tool belt and went inside the shed. He dropped his tools by his scythe leaning against the shelf. He jumped onto his hammock. Jolt came in and leapt on top of Rai to his as well. Rai shifted over until he was nice and cozy. "Man, feels like I just got demoted from reaper to plumber." He stared out the window as the sunlight came in. "I guess it's not so bad. Just gotta keep a lookout for that next soul."
"Chu," Jolt nodded.
"Then we'll be good to go." His stomach began to gurgle. "Although—I could use a nice plate of burritos about now."
"Pika," Jolt rubbed his stomach.
"Especially with scrambled huevos, chorizo, or maybe one with rice and frijoles." Rai dreamt up a delicious banquet in his head. He contemplated his favorite dishes he would have after a hard day's work.
"Whew, finished," Rai said as he entered the truck. "So, where's the next job." Rai turned to his father.
"Home," he answered. "We're done."
"That's it? Cool." They drove off into the street. "That was the fourth spring job today, huh?"
"Yep, usually a spring gives out after ten years and the door gets stuck."
"But it was only one spring; why change both of them?"
"Because if one spring breaks, the other one will eventually to and I'll have to keep coming back. By doing both, it saves time and ensures a better lasting door."
"Oooooooh, okay."
"Don't worry; I already know you're not hungry after a small job."
"What!? I tried really hard to turn that spring, but it was too strong!"
"Whatever, pipsqueak." His dad chuckled.
"I'm only 12! And I want a big burrito!"
"You're not gonna finish it."
"Yes I will! Only if it has eggs and beans!" They turned to the small restaurant for their quick lunch pickup.
Rai began talking in his sleep. "ZzZzZz…hold the onions…ZzZzZzZz…more carńe …"
"OW THAT'S HOT—!"
Rai scrambled in his hammock and fell to the ground. Jolt panicked and dropped down on top of Rai. "What happened?" Rai quickly lifted his head and looked in every direction. "What broke!? Are we under attack!?" The night remained silent.
"Pika?" Jolt poked out from behind Rai's head.
"Huh…guess we overslept," said Rai. "Didn't I have a class earlier?"
"Push it ~ an' pull it ~ an' push it ~ an' pull it ~" Saizo pulled the saw back and forth as he was cutting into the board. With each thrust, the blade went further out and met Tsukune's face.
"Whoa!" Tsukune fell back, "Watch it, Saizo! You almost sawed me up!"
"More like split your head down the middle," Rai added. He turned back over to Saizo.
"Man, I can't wait, yeah," Saizo smiled as he dreamt. "I bet the girls are in their cooking class right now." Rai moved his hand in front of him to see if he can catch his attention. "I wonder what they're gonna make this time."
"Dude, why does everyone look like they have their head in the clouds?" Rai noticed the classroom was full of male students who were either dozing off or using tools in the same routine and not make any progress on their projects. One guy was even hugging a plank board.
"Looks like no one's got their head in class," Tsukune replied.
"Obviously. According to lover boy, the girls are cooking today, right?" Rai turned to Tsukune. He started dozing off too. "Uh…Tsukune?"
"Not even me," he smiled.
"He's a goner too, huh," Rai sweat dropped. "Since they seem to be fine, I'm gonna hit the library and do some digging up. Jolt, you're in charge of the class." Rai started out of the classroom.
"Pika!" Jolt shouted to him.
"Oh!" Rai answered, "Yeah, just stick with the others for now. I'll see you guys after lunch." He closed the door behind him. Jolt looked over to Tsukune.
"Oh, Moka…it's so tasty…" Tsukune talked in his daydream.
"Pikachu."
"Uh?" Tsukune snapped out of his trance. The saw came rushing at him again.
"An' push it ~" Saizo repeated.
"Like I said before, watch what you're doing, okay!" Jolt slapped his forehead.
Remedial Cooking
The girls were all dressed in their white shirts and red bows. They had their sleeves rolled up and a yellow apron over their clothes. They all gathered around the front of the classroom to follow their instructor. The woman writing on the chalkboard had dark tan skin and yellow hair tied into two curling pigtails hanging behind her head. She wore two round earrings along with a black shirt, a long purple skirt, and an orange sash that wrapped from her left shoulder down to her right waist. She was of Middle East heritage by her appearance, voice, and the red mark on her forehead.
"Listen up, girls," she smiled. "Today's dish is a poplar one in the human world—curry and rice. That is what it's commonly known as, but I'm fortunate to call it by that name. In India, where curry comes from…we only have the Tamil word karii, which means nothing more than just 'sauce,' and there isn't in fact any dish there named 'curry.'" In the back of the group, Moka and Kurumu were watching the lesson. For some reason, Kurumu was wearing an apron more suited for a 'lover.'
"Geez, she's really fired up about making curry, isn't she?" Kurumu whispered to Moka.
"I guess Ms. Apsara is all hot and bothered about it," Moka replied.
"Hey!" Ms. Apsara pointed to the two. "This is serious, so pay attention, you too!" She continued with her lecture. "With spices, make sure to add plenty of red pepper, black pepper, and ginger." The class went to work on their curry. Kurumu started out with a large cooking pot and began adding huge quantities of blue and red juices. She almost drained the bottles empty.
"Ya-hoo-hoo!" she grinned. Moka stepped beside her. "I'm spicing up my curry with love potions, aphrodisiacs, and sexual performance enhancers!" Purple smog fumed out of the pot.
"Sounds yummy, I guess," Moka wasn't too comfortable with her cooking. She checked over on Yukari's work. Unlike the other students, she only wore the top part of her costume while she cooked. She was mixing her curry inside a large black cauldron with a wooden spoon. "Hey Yukari…green curry? That's Thai-style curry, isn't it?"
"Sure is!" Yukari smiled. "I added large frogs and green lizards and grasshopper extract…lots of everything!"
"Eh?"
"Don't believe me, then why don't you give it a try? It's full of magical goodness and I'm sure you'll love it, Moka," Yukari offered. Moka noticed the frog's leg sticking out of the pot.
"Okay…" Moka really didn't want to, "It is the polite thing." From out of nowhere, Ms. Apsara took a ladle and small dish to taste Yukari's curry.
"Hmm…not spicy enough," she commented.
"But if I make it any hotter than that, it'll be too spicy to eat!" Yukari cried.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ms. Sendo!" she assured. "Cooking is art! Art is Explosion! Explosion is Spicy!" Ms. Apsara held saltshakers in each space between her fingers. She shook into Yukari's pot. She continued to add more and more until the spices began to pile up.
"No, stop it!" Yukari begged, "It'll be too hot!"
"Hahahaha!" Ms. Apsara overdosed the spices. "But that's exactly what we want here! Hot and spicy is what curry is all about!" One of the shakers fell inside the pot and ruined the curry. A spotlight casted over them as Yukari sulked a few feet away.
Uhh….yeah, it was ruined.
The mood was lifted when Rubi began pushing a cart filled with different ingredients for the students. She had on a white cooking uniform and a bandana to cover the top of her hair. "Okay," she called out, "I have meat and spices…vegetables and flour…and any other ingredients in case you start to run out. So please, let me know!"
"Uh, Rubi?" Moka noticed her. "Let me guess, you're helping out Ms. Apsara today?" Ms. Apsara went back to adding more spices while Yukari tried to hold her back.
"Yes, I am," Rubi replied. "I'm actually taking remedial cooking classes, but that's…"
"A long story, huh?" Moka guessed.
"A very long one," Rubi glistened. Moka sweat dropped.
From the window, a certain red head was spying on her older sister; her face pressed up against the glass.
"Big sis!" Kokoa said impatiently. "You're supposed to be a vampire! Why are you cooking with those lesser monsters? Come on, where's your Super monster vampire pride!? Have you forgotten that!?" Kokoa then saw someone else who was peeking into the classroom. Mizore watched in silence as everyone cooked. "Hey, what do you think you're doing here?
"I should be asking you that," Mizore answered. "This is one of my peeping spots…#340, to be exact. It happens to be one of my favorites."
"I shoulda guessed, you being a stalker and all," said Kokoa. Mizore popped a nerve.
"Your one to talk," Mizore answered back, "You stick to Moka like stink on shit." Kokoa snapped.
"You're gonna pay for that, you frozen freak!" She grabbed her small bat and brought out a massive mallet. "Anyone who dares talk to me that way gets a taste of this!" She went running in at Mizore. "My Ko-buddy Hammer!" Mizore just stood there.
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry," she replied. Kokoa fell to the ground in a frozen block of ice. The window drew open.
"Kokoa…!" Moka cried.
"Geez, Ice Queen," Kurumu added, "Are you peeping on us again? Sure you are; get in here and make some curry with us." Mizore wasn't too confident with that idea.
"I guess I could try," she whispered.
Library
Rai read the next textbook before him. After reading, he placed it on the other four books he already scanned. "Nope, nothing," Rai said with a dull sigh. "I get the school being built by the three overlords or whatever, but there's no clue about the soul." Rai skimmed through the pages of the next book; letting the paper fly past his thumb. "Where's that one girl when I need her?"
"You will stay away from her."
"What's his deal, anyway?" Rai noticed an odd picture with a family of four children dressed in fancy clothing. "The royal family?" He read the text.
The royal family was presented a sacred treasure as a means to allow equivalent peace between them and the vampire race. However, this did not measure disputes on their ancient traditions and natural behavior.
He scratched his head. "I need a break; this is giving me a headache." Rai closed the book and left the library. Walking down the hallway, Mizore ran past him and straight up the flight of stairs to the left. "Whoa, where's the fire?"
Remedial Cooking
The fire from the Bunsen burner began melting Kokoa out of the ice. Halfway through, she regained consciousness. "Achoo!" she sneezed. Something sizzled. "What's burning?" The ice was completely thawed; she felt the burning in her tookus. "IT'S HOT!" she leapt from the burner.
"Ohahaha, so you finally thawed out," Ms. Apsara laughed. She turned off the burner. "So tell me, are you a new student, perhaps?"
"Huh…oh, yeah," Kokoa replied.
"In that case, allow me to tell you about the cooking class I teach!" she offered. "Cooking is art! Art is Explosion! Explosion is Spicy!" From her back, she pulled out a plate of yellow curry sauce. "So then…how would you like to try this artistic and explosive spicy curry? Here you go—"
"You're annoying," Kokoa interrupted. Her karate chop knocked the curry to the floor. The dish broke and splattered.
Uhh….yeah, it was ruined.
"A high born Super monster vampire like me doesn't eat low class food." Kokoa walked away.
"…Low class," Ms. Apsara repeated in a distasteful tone. Something inside her grew into anger. "I won't stand for that!" As Kokoa walked through the halls, she rubbed her roasted end. Her skirt now had a hole.
"What a pain in the ass!" she said to herself. "Sopping wet and burned to a crisp…it's just not my day." She felt someone following her. "Huh?" She turned around. "Something else you want?" The perpetrator transformed and splattered yellow sauce throughout the hall. "SPICY—!"
Mizore huddled herself above the rooftop entrance. The sun had already begun to set over the school. She looked depressed and only wanted to be alone. "I don't know why I'm even trying to do this," she said. "I should've known I wouldn't fit in." She hid her face in her knees. "I'm a snow woman…I should know the only way for us to live is all alone."
"I don't see the fun in that," Rai said. Mizore looked down to see Rai looking up at her. "This is where you run off to when you're not in my class?"
"…What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I was on my way to Woodshop and I just happened to notice someone running in the halls," Rai folded his arms and laid his back on the wall. "So, what's your story?"
"Well, I can't cook…or stop myself from freezing everything."
"Because you're a snowman."
"Snow woman."
"My bad. What kind of food were you girls working on?"
"Curry and rice."
"…Seriously?" Rai felt sick to his stomach. "Man, I can go for a decent meal. If you ask me, you guys need to try cooking something with a little more pizazz…or that isn't just rice." Mizore was curious. "Where I come from, there was no shortage on different styles. The delicious steak and cheese quesadillas, burritos con chorizo, and my personal favorite…enchiladas."
"Enchaladas?"
"Enchiladas, a true Spanish dish if I've ever eaten one. It's been a while since I had one cooked up back home." Rai began imaging the delicious rolled up tortilla filled with melted cheese and covered with red salsa for a pure and juicy delicacy. While Rai fantasized about his food, Mizore had remembered what the other Moka Akashiya told her when she first came to the academy.
"Listen up, snow woman. Don't go running your mouth about dying until you've actually tried to live your life."
"Please," Mizore jumped from the top of the door to Rai. "Will you teach me how to make this food?"
"What?" Rai was surprised. "Really?" Mizore looked serious. Now that I think about it; if I teach her to cook, she might be able to make some food; fresh, baked, and homemade. "Sure, I'd be glad to help."
"Thanks," Mizore looked over to the sky. "I'm gonna try for once…and live my life!"
"Yeah, you do…that," Rai cheered.
Market
The first thing needed to be done was go to the market and grabbing some supplies. "What do we start with?" Mizore asked.
"We gotta find some special ingredients," Rai said. "Before I moved out, I practiced on my skills in the kitchen so I wouldn't just have pizza or take out every night." Rai grabbed a couple of bottles labeled OLIVE LEAVES and GROUNDED CLOVES. "Alright, now we need some onions."
"Onions?" Mizore asked. "It sounds like you're just making curry."
"That depends on what you mean by curry," Rai grabbed the garlic from the produce department. He placed the materials on the check-out counter. "Looks like we're done—"
"Hello there!" Rubi announced. "Will you be purchasing these items today?"
"Ms. Toujo?" Rai cocked an eyebrow. "You're a cashier?"
"Why yes," Rubi began to glisten, "Many things happened…"
"Yeah that's great—do you have any tortillas and red peppers around here?"
"Uh yes, just on the next aisle." Rai quickly dashed for the aisle behind him. Rubi turned her attention to Mizore who was looking through some of the cooking magazines. Rubi gave a smile.
"Are these the only peppers you have?" Rai asked nervously. They were very small and bright red peppers.
"They are; is there a problem?"
"I'm not sure if you have any peppers called—what was it—Chili California—um—Entero?"
"I'm sorry, but we don't carry that kind of pepper here." Rai rubbed his forehead.
"Crap…okay, looks like I'll have to think of something." Rai pulled out his wallet. "Do you take VISA?" Afterwards, Rai helped carry the bags while Mizore managed with some of the magazines in her hand.
"Will this be enough?" Mizore asked.
"If you say you're as bad at cooking as you say you are, then we'll need all the supplies we can get. I just wish we had those red peppers—" When they came up to the dorms, Rubi was waiting for them by the front entrance with two bags of peppers in her hands. Mizore and Rai looked at one another, and then back at Rubi. "I'm starting to wonder if that woman is getting paid for the work she does." The three made their way to Mizore's dorm. In her room was a small kitchen with a sink and small stove, a small den where her bed and desk were, small cushions of a snake and bunny, and a poster of Tsukune next to a calendar hanging on the wall. "So this is what a girl's dorm looks like." Compared to Rai's dinky shed, it looked like a deluxe suite. "Time to start cooking." With the three working hard, they sat up the work station to prepare the dish; Enchiladas. "First, we'll need to boil the peppers in the pot for a few minutes." While the peppers were placed in the hot water, Mizore began taking out the tortillas from the bag.
Whappah!
Rubi brought out a whip and snapped it at Mizore's hand. "Hold on, those don't cook until the end," she explained. Mizore began to take notes.
"Was the whip really necessary?" Rai asked.
"Of course," Rubi flexed it, "This is training after all."
"We're making food, not dismantling a bomb." As Rubi and Rai had a little fuss, Mizore smiled from the help she was receiving. After some time, the peppers were ready and placed into the blender. Mizore began chopping the onions while Rai sprinkled in the spices. The onions were added and the mixing started.
VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMM!
The blender stopped. Mizore poured it into the pot while Rai readied the tortillas. After the sauce looked prepared, Rubi took her leave. Mizore and Rai thanked her for the help. Mizore prepared the tortillas for cooking in the frying pan. "Let me get a quick taste." Rai dipped his pinky and licked the sauce. "Mmhmm…" He closed his eyes. "…!" Rai's face turned blue.
"…Raimundo?" Mizore asked. Rai rushed out of the dorm and into the girl's restroom. Mizore ran after him. She stood by the door until he limped out. "Are you okay?"
"I'm good *gurgle*…I think there might have been too much cloves…or leaves…whichever's bitter…" Mizore dropped her head. Rai felt guilty now that he mentioned it. "Let's…try it again." They went back into the room and prepared the dish a second time. The sauce was blended and ready to be placed in the pot. After checking, Rai approved of Mizore's ability to make it herself. "Hold up!" Rai quickly pulled out a plastic drainer. "Make sure the seeds don't go in with the sauce."
"Right," Mizore agreed.
"Okay, so while the sauce is boiling, I'll add the salt and a bit of oil. Turn on the stove and start up the tortilla." Mizore slipped on her oven mitts and fired up the tortillas in the frying pan. "Try not to overcook or it'll get…" Rai turned to Mizore who used the spatula to show the hardened disk, "…fried." The next tortilla was sizzling inside the pan. "Alright, now we just dip the tortilla in the sauce." Rai washed his hands and pinched the tortilla over to the sauce. After a quick dip, he placed it onto a plate. Mizore looked over the now soaked bread.
"What's the next step?" Mizore asked.
"We cut the cheese," Rai held a block of Monterey Jack. "See, we shred it into small pieces." Rai handed her the block and started grating it above the tortilla. "Last, we fold it into a roll." The enchilada was almost complete. "For the last part, we just add some more sauce and cheese on top to give it a little extra taste."
"It's amazing," Mizore was surprised. "How did you manage to do all this without any problems?"
"You know, practice makes perfect," Rai answered. He checked outside the window. "It's that late already?" Rai rubbed his eyes. "I better get back and…*yawn*…prepare for class in the morning…" Rai slowly began to nod off. He sat over by Mizore's desk and rested his head on the table. "Just give me a few minutes…to rest...ZzzzZzzzZzzzZzzz." Rai knocked out. Mizore looked over by the sauce and turned the stove on. She then glanced over by the rolled enchilada.
"…we add some more sauce and cheese on top to give it a little extra taste."
"I think I get it," Mizore summoned a block of ice and started chiseling away fragments. When she finished, she rested over by the desk and fell asleep. "…Tsukune," she whispered.
The Next Day
Kurumu shifted her chopsticks and grabbed a small chicken nugget from her bento. "Ya-hoo-hoo!" he cheered. "I claim this fried goodness for me!" Yukari and Kurumu began to tussle over the last piece of their lunch. Jolt sat on the table eating melon bread. Moka and Tsukune noticed Mizore wasn't in class.
"Where's Mizore?" Moka asked.
"I guess she's still upset," Tsukune said with concern.
"Probably," Kurumu inserted as she chewed, "Mizore's pretty thin-skinned."
"So, why don't we go and see her after school together?" Yukari added. "You know, to cheer her up."
"Great idea!" Tsukune agreed.
"Speaking of missing people, where'd the Repairman go?" Kurumu asked.
"Pika Pika," Jolt didn't know himself.
"That's right, he wasn't here to teach class today," said Moka.
"Big Sis!" Kokoa yelled from the doorway. In her hands, she held two dishes of curry and rice as she balanced one more on the top of her head. What seemed strange about her was the yellow skin. "Namaste…!"
"Kokoa…?" Moka got out of her seat. "You're being nice!?"
"And she brought…curry!" Tsukune stood by her.
"That's what you noticed!?" Kurumu asked.
"I'm sorry!" Kokoa apologized. "I'm always such a pain in the neck to you guys, so I thought I apologized by making this delicious curry for lunch. So, curry up and get it!" Tsukune, Kurumu, Yukari, and Jolt weren't buying into this, but Moka was too happy to notice.
"Kokoa, so does this mean you're not mad at me anymore!?" she asked.
"Of course I'm not, big sis," Kokoa smiled.
"Kokoa!" Moka cried.
"Big sister," Kokoa replied.
"Kokoa!" Moka wiped away a tear.
"Big sister," Kokoa answered in a hypnotizing voice. Moka gave her a big hug. Everyone watched with shock, except for Kurumu.
"Come on!" she yelled out. "There's something going on here! Look at her skin and the way she's acting!"
"Hey," Kokoa turned her head around 180 degrees, "no need to curry." Curry was served throughout the school. It splashed out from the water fountains and was served over by the cafeteria. Everyone looked excited to have the dish ready to eat anytime. There was one particular teacher who was pleased most about this.
Mizore and Rai were walking to the academy. She carried the pot and burner on a wooden plank tied together with rope, and Rai held onto the frying pan, tongs, and bag of tortillas and cheese. "I'm a little late, but I should still make it by the end of lunch break."
"No sweat," said Rai. "Even if we are late, I can still pull you guys out of class if you need more time."
"Thanks," Mizore replied. "I'm nervous," she blushed, "…I wonder if he'll like it."
"Sure he will. We spent almost the whole night making that dish!" The voices of students mumbled near the courtyard.
"Curry…gimme curry…"
"More curry…"
"The curry…so spicy…"
"My curry…"
The students were all sitting on the ground and eating plates of yellow curry and rice. They looked to be enjoying the dishes nonstop…and their skin was yellow. "There's nothing to curry about," Saizo smiled as he ate.
"Whoa," Rai jumped.
"What the hell happened to everyone?" Mizore asked.
"Looks like the lunch of the living dead," Rai predicted. Some of the students noticed them and started walking closer.
"That backpack has curry…"
"Give us the curry…"
"There's got to be curry inside there, curry…"
"Hey, back away from the pack," Rai declared as he pulled out his…pan. "…Well…this can't be good." As one student got close, Rai whacked him on the top of his head.
Bonk!
"The one time I trade my weapon for a kitchen!" The students moved closer to Mizore.
"Get back!" Mizore shouted. "This food is for Tsukune!" They crept closer. "Chill out!" A massive ice storm blasted from Mizore. The students became frozen solid where they stood.
"Nice," Rai nodded. "Let's look for the others." The two ran into the school. Everywhere they turned, more students had yellow skin and moaning for more curry. They would duck and avoid the slow moving crowd of 'curry zombies.' "They're all yellow from top to bottom."
"Why are they like that?" Mizore asked.
"I don't know, maybe it has to do with them wanting curry?" The two looked inside the homeroom.
"Tsukune?" Mizore cried.
"You see, it's a really long story…" Rubi glistened.
"Don't need to know!" Rai pulled on Mizore and ran off down the hallway.
"But one day, he and I are going on a curry tour of the world!" Rubi cheered. Making their way to the second floor, they managed to dodge flying plates of curry. Rai blocked an incoming dish with his pan.
Clank!
The students started carrying curry dishes in both their hands as they ran. "We searched the whole school and still haven't found them!" Rai shouted. Mizore noticed the next flight of stairs.
"Let's go to the roof!" she stated. Rai saw the stairs coming up.
"Good call." They ran as fast as they could to the door. The door flew open.
"Tsukune, where are you!?" Mizore called out. From a distance, they could see him with his back turned. "Tsukune…" Mizore walked forward. Rai stopped her with his pan.
"Here, have some curry, Tsukune…" Moka fed Tsukune a spoon.
"Here, have some curry, Moka…" Tsukune handed her a spoon back. Both Moka and Tsukune smiled as they ate each other's curry. However, Tsukune had taken it the worse because his lips were swollen.
"Looks like they got him," said Rai. They looked over to Kokoa, Kurumu, and Jolt who deluged themselves into their plates.
"And everyone else…!" Mizore asked.
"Yep, even Jolt…although he was already yellow to begin with."
"I smell something," said Tsukune. "I'd know it anywhere, it smells like curry!" The student zombies all barged in from the rooftop exit.
"Curry…curry…curry…curry…"
They limped closer and surrounded the two from escaping. "I don't like this," said Rai.
"Hahahahaha!" a voice laughed out from atop a large, round containment unit above the roof entrance. "Cooking is art! Art is Explosion! Explosion is Spicy!" Ms. Apsara jumped into the air.
Kaboom!
A large puff of yellow smoke exploded from her. The smoke filled the area around them, curry. "Who the hell is she?" Rai asked.
"Ms. Apsara?" Mizore was shocked.
"Ms. Shirayuki," Ms. Apsara replied. "Your skin is still as white as fallen snow. That proves without a doubt you've yet to be baptized in my fountain of specialty curry." Ms. Apsara's appearance changed from her usual outfit into a more traditional look. She wore a bikini bottom with yellow lacing around her waist. A blue see-through veil extended down her legs. Her top was red with yellow trimming just above her cleavage. She wore a pearl necklace around her neck and a purple shawl wrapping from behind her to the arms. On her head, she was balancing a dish of curry and rice.
Ko: Ms. Apsara is an Apsara. A water nymph from Hindu Mythology, wee—I mean curry!
"You mean you did this?" Mizore asked.
"She might as well since she's the one with curry on the brains," Rai answered.
"That's right," Ms. Apsara explained, "I've been sad for so long. The world is overflowing with curry that's not real curry, and that is such a tragedy. I wanted everyone to taste the real thing for once and to know the true spiciness that can't be tasted in those imposters." Her sweet smile became a malicious grin. The students grew in numbers. Mizore felt the tugging on her skirt as Tsukune begged for her food.
"Curry…" he pleaded, "Give it to me…I need it right now!" He pushed Mizore to the ground.
"Mizore!" Rai went after her, but the students grabbed a hold on him. "Hey, hands off!" Rai tried to struggle free, but there were too many restraining him.
"Gimme that curry…I need that curry…" Tsukune requested.
"Look at your lips;" said Mizore, "Your love for curry has made them swollen."
"Curry…! Need more…! Please, I can't live without it…!"
"…Alright then, Tsukune," Mizore smiled. "You can have it. Eat it till your heart's content." Mizore brought out her cooking supplies. First the pot, then the burner. She froze the students that held Rai prisoner with pillars of ice from below.
"Woo, much better," Rai stretched. He walked over and placed the pan on the burner. Mizore took the tortillas from Rai and began cooking them. She added a little oil and some salt into the pan.
"What is that travesty you're trying to pass off as curry?" Ms. Apsara asked.
"Something only a snow woman can make," Mizore replied. She took the tongs from Rai and grabbed the hot tortilla. She dipped it inside the pot and placed it on the dish.
"It's actually not curry at all," Rai said. Mizore sprinkled the shredded cheese and folded it. With a final touch, she added flakes of snow on top. The sustenance was complete.
"That' right," Mizore raised her plate in achievement. "My light and breezy EnChILLada!" Tsukune began crawling over to the food in front of Mizore.
"Mr. Aono!" Ms. Apsara shouted. "Don't you dare touch your lips to that hideous false curry—!" Mizore knelt down to Tsukune.
"Go ahead and eat up, Tsukune," Mizore smiled.
"Let's speed things up, shall we?" Rai offered. He took the fork from Mizore and held Tsukune's head tight. Rai dug the fork in the enchilada and shoved it in Tsukune's mouth.
"Nooo!" Ms. Apsara gasped. "Don't! That so called meal is a perversion—!"
"At least it doesn't make you look like a lemon!" Rai shouted back. Tsukune remained silent.
"But…" Tsukune spoke, "It's so good."
"No, it can't be!" Ms. Apsara cried. "There's no way anything but curry can taste so good!"
"It's delicious!" Tsukune explained. "My taste buds have been paralyzed by the hot spiciness, but this chilled nourishment has brought them back to life. The shaved ice accompaniment is exquisite. It melts on the tip of my tongue like a light refreshing breeze. And while the sauce and cheese combine to leave a pleasing aftertaste, it floats away like a cloud on the wind. IT'S A MASTERPEICE!"
"They're ice crystals," Mizore informed. "Not even a snow woman can make these unless her mind is pure." She prepared the next roll.
"Ice crystals; nice touch," Rai added.
"I put my all into it," Mizore smiled at Rai. He gave the thumbs up. Tsukune's lips shrunk down to their original size.
"Thanks, Mizore," Tsukune congratulated, "That was the best thing I ever had." Mizore blushed.
"Why, thank you," she accepted.
"I won't allow it!" Ms. Apsara yelled furiously. "That dish is a perversion!"
"It's an enchilada," Rai said. "Sheesh and you call yourself a cooking teacher?"
"It doesn't matter!" Ms. Apsara raised two plates of curry dishes in her hands. "It's time to cleanse your mouth with authentic curry, Mr. Aono!" She threw the dishes at the three like Frisbees. Mizore raised her hand and created a light barrier in front of the guys.
"Watch out!" The dishes froze on contact with the barrier.
"More!" Ms. Apsara started launching more dishes. "More! I want you to love the real thing even more!" Every meal would be frozen before they reached the group. Rai jumped out in front.
"Time for me to step up to the plate," Rai raised his frying pan. He swatted the dishes that flew right at them. With each hit, they shattered to the ground. Ms. Apsara raised a massive plate of curry and rice above her head.
"Let's see you freeze this one!" She tossed it. Mizore used a mighty blizzard to freeze it, but it only froze half-way. It continued head on.
"Oh shit!" Mizore cried.
"In—!" The curry slammed into Rai, which then continued to slam into Tsukune. The sole from Rai's sneakers began leaving a trail of fire on the ground.
"Curry—!" Tsukune shouted. Nearby, the girls, along with Jolt, were feeding each other curry in a blissful environment.
"Mm, this is so good…" they said.
"Pika ~" Jolt smiled. Rai and Tsukune rammed past the group and scattered them like bowling pins.
Kaboom!
They immediately crashed into one of the towers overlooking the front of the school. A cloud of yellow dust filled the roof. Then a flashing red light overtook the scene.
When the rosary seal on her breast is removed…we see what her innocent face hides…as Moka's inner vampire awakens!
Moka stood in the middle of the dust storm.
"Moka!" Mizore cried. But it didn't take long for everyone to notice her different appearance, besides the white hair and red eyes.
"Wow, Moka…" said Tsukune while holding the rosary, "Even you have yellow skin."
"And here I thought vampires always had white skin," Rai said as he sat upside down.
"Well," Moka folded her arms, "the other Moka and I do share the same body, after all…curry." She covered her mouth as she blushed slightly. "To think a powerful vampire like me…could be manipulated by something like this…! What kind of weakling have I become!?"
"Hahahaha!" Ms. Apsara began running at Moka with a plate of curry in her hands. "This should stain your very soul with the color of curr—!"
Chop!
Moka chopped the curry to the floor.
Uhh….yeah, it was ruined.
"Eeeeeeek!" Ms. Apsara screamed. "Just like your sister, you don't have any respect!" She raised another large dish above her head. "You'll learn some just like she did!"
"You'll learn your place!" Moka launched a roundhouse kick behind Ms. Apsara. "Curry!" She crashed into the giant round containment unit above the door.
"Namaste…" Ms. Apsara passed out.
Ko: This showdown took a total of 58 seconds, wee—I mean, curry.
The three rejoined at the open rooftop entrance. "Hey, Mizore," Tsukune asked, "Is it alright if I give everyone your delicious food?" He lifted the pot. "Just look at them…I think they could really use it." The students were groaning at their dismay and torment without curry.
"Yeah, you're right," Mizore agreed. "I hope they enjoy it as much as you did. I'm glad you like it."
"I'm sure they will too." Tsukune went over to the others.
"I better help him make it," Rai decided. He took the frying pan and lugged it over his shoulder. He went to help cook the next batch.
"I see you finally decided to embrace life, huh?" asked Moka. She walked over to Mizore.
"Yeah," she held her hands that were now bandaged up. "I guess hell froze over, huh?" They both chuckled.
Crack…crackle…
Mizore and Moka heard noise coming from above. "What the hell?" The large unit exploded and released an enormous quantity of yellow curry. It began flooding the entire rooftop.
"Well, what do you ladies think?" Tsukune asked Kurumu, Yukari, and Kokoa.
"Pika!" Jolt liked it.
"You too, huh," Rai asked. The girls smiled.
"It's great," The flood swooped them in, "…curry—!" Moka and Mizore held on to the entryway of the roof. That is, until Rai in a giant splash of curry knocked Mizore down the stairs.
"Tsukune, help me!" she cried.
"I—HATE—CURRY!" Rai shouted. The curry continued to wash through the whole school. Students were swept up in the wave of yellow sauce.
"Hey man, pull it together!" Saizo declared as he held onto a pillar. "I can still eat a whole lot more—!" The curry caught him.
"You see…it's a long…" Rubi glistened. The curry washed her off. Once the school couldn't hold, all the windows of the building crashed and poured out curry like a running fountain. The school was now a land of spicy curry flowing underneath a rainbow.
Moka: Geez, this curry makes my eyes sting.
Rai: You're not the one who has to fix all this!
Rubi was moping and repairing the halls of Yokai Academy. "What a giant mess," Rubi complained. "This will take forever!"
Ko: Nope, only a week, and now everything's finally back to normal, wee!
Moka, Tsukune, Rai, Kurumu, Jolt, and Yukari all stared at the new food prepared in front of them. It looked like a bowl of ice with topped sauces of brown, orange, and white. "It's my latest creation, guys—shaved ice stew," Mizore announced.
"What!" Kurumu stood at the table. "You made one dish and you're starting to get cocky on us?"
"It's tasty!" Tsukune smiled.
"It sure is!" Moka added.
"Mmm, now that's what I call lunch," Rai complimented.
"It's another masterpiece!" Yukari cheered.
"Pikachu!" Jolt chowed down. Some of the girls in the back of the cafeteria were eating it as well.
"It's pretty good," a brown haired girl with glasses approved.
"Yeah, it is!" A long black hair girl added.
"Not bad," short orange considered.
"I wish it had some curry flavor," Ms. Apsara agreed.
"Alright, fess up," Kurumu demanded. "You put a spell on everyone, didn't you?"
"What is it with you and spells?" Rai asked.
"Na ah," Mizore explained. "I didn't use any magic." She held her spoon up hi. "I made it out of love for Tsukune!"
Gonk—!
The girl's stood frozen in confusion. Mizore blushed.
The night had enveloped over the dark woods. From the trees, Rai walked back to the school with sweat pouring down his face and cuts around his body. "Man, those girls sure know how to fight," said Rai. "I should have kept my mouth shut when I had the chance." As he went to his shed, he noticed an object lying on the ground. It twinkled in the moonlight. "What the?" When he picked it up, it was a lollipop. He saw a note next to it.
Thank you—Mizore ^_^
Rai smiled. "Glad to help." He then heard the sound of wind rustling behind him. Rai hid the letter and lollipop in his back pocket. Kurumu came flapping down in front of Rai. "Hey, how's it going?"
"Don't pull that crap with me," Kurumu wasn't happy.
"What? I thought you'd be happy with using me as a punching bag." Kurumu drew out her claws.
"I don't know what you're up to, but it's not gonna work on me." Rai stepped back.
"Back up, I don't get what's going on here."
"You think you can walk in here and try to act like the good guy? You don't know how many people have pulled that act and tried to attack us!" Rai didn't like where this is going.
"Look, I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just doing my job, okay."
"And does that involve getting closer to Mizore and Yukari?"
"No, of course not! I don't want to put anyone in danger. We're friends, right?"
"I can't say I trust anyone with a tattoo like that." Kurumu pointed to the Fairy Tail symbol on his neck.
"Oh that!" Rai pointed out. "It's the symbol of Fairy Tail; a proud guild if I must say—"
"I don't care!" Kurumu flapped her wings and created a dust storm. She quickly flew at Rai and looked him dead in the eyes. "If you so much as make a wrong move, it'll be the last thing you'll ever do." She took off overhead and flew off to the girl's dorms. Rai just stood there puzzling at what happened.
"I don't think she likes me," Rai said to himself.
-To Be Continued-
Yukari: Kurumu, come look! Some totally hot pretty boy just transferred to our school!
Kurumu: Yeah, so who cares? We already got a pretty boy; Tsukune!
Really? There's no way in hell I'm making a chapter about this.
Moka: Well, we still need to make him feel welcome. All rights reserved to the characters and material used in this story belong to their respective owner's.
Yukari: Be sure to leave a review!
Kurumu: And some comments!
Fine, I'll meet him halfway.
Next Time: Bishounen + R&B + Vampire
Moka: And another…Capu Chu!
I should really be preparing myself for these kinds of situations!