Chapter 23

Epiphany

"Ooh! It's my turn!"

"No, you went last time, let me have a turn!"

Tsukune chuckled as he sat back in his seat, watching as Mizore and Kurumu bickered over their turn to take the spotlight. Beside him, Moka plopped down into Kurumu's vacated seat beside him, smiling brightly. "How'd I do?" she asked, resting a hand on his forearm.

"You were great!" Tsukune stated, blushing as he grinned at her. It was the truth, too; he was fortunate that all three of the girls had beautiful singing voices, and their competitiveness had compelled them to try their hardest at topping each other every time they took up the microphone. His own hesitant singing had been another matter, and, after even Kurumu had admitted that he had sang better while mind-controlled, he had chosen to take up a role as spectator. The girls had accepted his surrender when he had pointed out that it meant he could better focus on listening to them, and he had mostly held true to his word on that end, his attention only wavering to listen to the conversation between the girls who weren't singing and to occasionally delve into his own deep thoughts.

"I'm glad you liked it!" Moka beamed at his compliment, and Tsukune's heart jumped as he saw the joy on her face. Perhaps it was just the result of all the thinking he had been doing, but such reactions had become fairly common as the evening had passed; he had found himself noticing all of the girls more than usual, and he wondered if his overburdened heart would survive the evening, it had been skipping so many beats. For a moment, he lamented his situation, as before such reactions had been largely relegated to his interactions with Moka. Now, there were three girls that had such an effect on him.

Still smiling, Moka settled back in her chair as Kurumu despondently took the seat on the other side of Tsukune, grudgingly agreeing to yield the stage to Mizore. The snow maiden lifted the microphone to her lips as the opening notes of her song began, and with her eyes focused on Tsukune she began to sing the music she had chosen, which the chorus revealed to be titled "Snow Storm." Tsukune met her eyes, relaxing as she progressed through the soft ballad. Though his gaze never left her, his mind, lulled by the gentle sound of her voice, began wander.

The matter of the choice was not getting any easier. He loved all three girls, he knew, but that wasn't the question at the heart of this debate; after all, he loved Yukari and Ruby too. No, the question was who he was 'in love' with, who was the person that stirred his emotions the most, the person he would choose to spend the rest of his life with. He knew that there was a lot that went into that idea, something beyond physical and emotional attraction. Physical attraction wasn't much of a help anyways, since he had long been attracted to all three of them, despite their differing qualities. Moka was beautiful enough to stop his breath, Kurumu was undeniably sexy and alluring, Mizore was cute and pretty in a way that felt comforting and had a subtle way of making him lower his guard. And even those descriptions were flawed, since any one of them would also apply to the other girls as well. No, as far as appearance went, each of them had him, and most of the boys of Yokai Academy, smitten.

Emotional connections were another matter. Though he had known Moka the longest, the time he had spent with them had forged tight bonds between each of them. They were his closest friends, and there was nothing he wouldn't do for any of them, save hurt one of the others. He had come to rely on each of them, and the thought of his life without any one of them was horrifying. That was why he dreaded this choice so much; because he was afraid that he would create such a life for himself the second he declared that he favored one of them over the others.

More and more, the notion of picking one of the girls felt ludicrous to him. It would be like finding the tallest tree in a forest, and here there would be no way of measuring to be sure. He had to figure out which of the girls he was in love with, but he knew that each of them had the potential to be the one. The dates had shown him that, and none of his thinking afterwards could disprove him.

As the final notes of the song died down, Mizore let the microphone sink, her eyes closed as she fell silent. They opened once again to the sound of Tsukune and the other girls clapping, though Kurumu quickly hopped up to claim her own turn at the stage once more. Mizore strolled back to her seat, drinking in the wide grin Tsukune was offering her. She claimed the seat Kurumu had left, glancing at Tsukune before scooting closer to him, her own lips curled in a satisfied smile.

In front of them, Kurumu quickly picked her own song and stepped to the center, raising the microphone to her chest and closing her eyes. The song she had selected was slow and powerful, and the succubus' alto voice carried the melancholy emotions well. Though her audience was visibly impressed, she didn't allow her delight to show, instead focused on the song's sentiments. As the music rose to a crescendo for the chorus, her effort intensified, until her voice quieted with the ending words, "Yafu Yafu Nano Ni."

The song's sad tone was having an effect on Tsukune, bringing him back to his dilemma. He knew that he would never have any semblance of peace in his life if he didn't choose, but over the past days his perspective on that idea had slowly begun to change. For so long he had wished that his friends weren't so… enthusiastic… in their pursuit of him, but now he tried to imagine what his life would be like without the chaos of their interactions. Kurumu greeting him without burying his face in her chest, no longer feeling Mizore's eyes following him from the shadows, talking to Moka without their eager-yet-awkward tension… it wouldn't feel right.

If that would only be the extent of it. Though the bonds between them were strong, he was afraid that his choice would pain the other two too much to stay by his side. He wouldn't blame them if they chose to avoid him; after all, he couldn't imagine facing any of them after he had told them that he didn't care for them like they wanted him to… though, at this point, that was up for debate. With just a few words, he could seriously damage the friendships that had survived monsters and battles, and that terrified him beyond words. He cherished how close he was to his friends, and putting them at an irreparable distance was abhorrent to him.

But, where did that leave him? What was he to say when they asked him to choose?

Her song dying into silence, Kurumu placed the microphone on the nearby stand before opening her eyes, a broad grin erasing the serious expression she had worn. Accepting her applause with a bow, she walked towards the group, noting with dark satisfaction the way that Mizore irritably glanced away before wiping at the moisture in the corner of her eyes; she, at least, had gotten into the song. Kurumu circled around the seats, coming behind Tsukune before wrapping her eyes around his neck. "Did you like it?" she asked, nuzzling her cheek against him when he nodded. She glanced away as she heard a faint shout from outside their room, and someone dash by their door, but with a shrug quickly turned her attention back to hugging Tsukune.

"Why don't you take another turn, Moka?" Tsukune offered, blushing as Kurumu refused to relinquish her hold on him. The vampire considered this while Kurumu glanced fearfully towards Mizore, her attention captured by the sound of ice forming over the yuki-onna's hand. Understanding the unspoken threat, the succubus stepped away from Tsukune, pouting.

There was mischief in Moka's green eyes when she nodded. "Sure," she consented, standing from her seat, which Kurumu quickly stole, placing Tsukune between herself and Mizore. Tsukune, however, was focused on the fact that, unlike her previous turns at the microphone, Moka had this time chosen to take her purse with her. Curious, he watched as she stepped up to the song selector and peered over the options it displayed.

"What do you think?" Moka whispered, glancing over the list of songs. "Help me choose one."

"Like I care," the rosario grumbled in response. "Still… what about that one?"

"This one?"

"No, the one below it. Yes, that one; Velvet Moon." Moka nodded as she considered her other self's suggestion, and punched it in before stepping towards the center of the 'stage.' Before the music had a chance to begin, however, she quickly spoke to her friends.

"I've changed my mind," she said, grinning. "I don't want to sing this time. But…"

"Wait, what are you doing? No, don't…!"

Moka's hand dove into the bag she carried, and, a moment later, a surge of monstrous energy filled the room.

"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down…"

While most of the rooms rented out by the karaoke club were occupied by groups of friends enjoying themselves, just as in the booth occupied by Tsukune and his friends, in one such stall the activity could be better compared to torture. This booth, located just down the hall from the one held by the group of Yokai students, held only two men, aspirations of recruiting additional victims falling short. While the suffering listener had not wanted extra bodies around, people who could interfere with their duties, he now admitted that at least it would have meant that someone else would have taken a turn with the microphone.

"Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye…"
Michael managed to restrain his groans, but began to wonder if the sound of his teeth grinding together would eventually rival the warbling of his partner. Gabriel was fluent in English, the same as all of the Headmaster's guardians, and could pass as an American if called upon, but for some reason, whenever he picked up a microphone, his linguistic skill plummeted. Perhaps it was the fact that the blond-haired guardian enjoyed singing entirely too much, or, as Michael had pondered many times in the past, could it be that Gabriel intentionally sang poorly? Either way, Michael considered the notion of passing an entire night listening to Gabe's enthusiastic efforts as comparable to having his internal organs removed through his ears, and so he passed the time by opening the door into the hallway and glancing around, unintentionally allowing snatches of Gabriel's singing to escape the room. Fortunately the hall was deserted, lest the hapless customers who were exposed to the sound complain to the manager and get them kicked out… though, on second thought, perhaps that would be preferable after all. Michael stood and walked to the door, opening it once more.

"Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night," Gabriel grandstanded as the song came to a close, bowing deeply in response to imagined applause. His audience certainly wasn't directing any his way, but that hardly dampened his efforts, and so he hurried over to the song selector to make his next choice.

"How are we supposed to notice if someone goes after them with all the noise you're making?" Michael groused, taking advantage of the temporary silence.

"Just sitting in a room and being quiet would be suspicious, if we're being monitored. No, we have to keep up the act," Gabriel explained sagely, a beaming smile on his face as the track selector offered up its delicious potential to him. Spying the next musical thumbscrew he would inflict upon his partner, he chuckled to himself before continuing. "Y'know, with that in mind, you should take a turn every now and then…"

Michael glanced away from the hall just long enough to stare at his partner in grim exasperation. He stayed at his post at the door, savoring the added distance it imposed between him and the source of his anguish. Shrugging indifferently, Gabriel returned to his place and hefted the microphone. "More for me," he mumbled, taking a dramatic stance as the opening chords to Frank Sinatra's "My Way" began to emanate from the speakers.

Once more the door opened as Michael glanced into the hall, now almost hoping that something would happen. Instead, he found that the hall was deserted, and the door to the room that held Tsukune and his friends was still closed; if he strained, he could almost hear the succubus' powerful singing, despite the soundproofing. All was well, except for his own situation; he glanced back towards Gabriel and sighed.

He started to close the door, but a slight motion from the corner of his eye drew his attention. Out in the hall, a man walked past their door and down the hall, but, as Michael watched, he paused before the door to the students' booth. Tensing, the guardian examined the man as he stared at the door: he stood with his back to Michael, his face hidden, but his broad shoulders and leather jacket increased his potential to be a threat. As Michael watched, the man reached up and pulled the sunglasses from his face, carefully folding the earpieces closed and slipping the glasses into a pocket. That accomplished, he slowly turned, glancing over his shoulder. In a moment, his face was revealed, as was his sociopathic smile, as his golden eyes glanced straight towards the watching guardian. Offering Michael a jaunty wave, he reached out with his other hand to touch the door leading into the room that held Tsukune and his friends, before starting to walk on down the hall.

"Watch the kids!" Michael roared to Gabriel, shoving the door open wide and barging into the hall. Blinking, the blond-haired protector stared at where his partner had been standing. All mirth fleeing his face, he allowed the microphone to drop from his fingers.

Outside, Michael tore through the now-empty hall, sprinting towards the building's exit. He knew this was likely a trap, but he couldn't resist. Not with him here. His face in a grim mask, he sprinted through the lobby, ignoring the attendant's cries of alarm. Nothing mattered but catching up to that arrogant bastard, and then…

He ran into the darkness, murder on his mind.

Inner Moka blinked as she met the surprised gazes of Tsukune and the other girls, her hand still wrapped around the handle of the Belmont as the purse that had held it fell to the floor. She glanced down at the rosario, feeling the triumphant satisfaction of her other persona, and then back at the others as the guitar intro of the song they had chosen began to play. Affronted, she considered releasing the whip; she would not be manipulated like this, not even by herself.

"Oh, Inner Moka is going to sing?" Tsukune asked, his surprise failing to hide the joy he felt at this unexpected turn of events.

"Go for it!" Kurumu cheered, and Mizore nodded eagerly from Tsukune's other side.

The silver-haired vampire considered the trio for a moment. Despite herself, she reached for the microphone, and felt even her other half cheering her on as she lifted it to her lips. Very well then, the vampire conceded. If this was to be a competition, she would show them that she had no match, even when it came to singing. She scanned the lyrics before her quickly, preparing herself.

"Hakugin no hono ten wo kogashite," she began, closing her eyes when a break appeared, allowing herself to sink into the song's quick beat. She sang without restraint, her husky voice powering the notes as the tempo increased. This was not something she was accustomed to, but she found she fiercely enjoyed it, and when the chorus came around a second time she turned her crimson eyes towards her friends, spearing Tsukune with her gaze. She didn't let her smile take her lips when she found him sitting in awed silence, instead only breaking their eye contact only to return to the lyrics.

Though she wasn't used to the song, she didn't let that hold her back, and managed to make it through to the end without stumbling. She wouldn't allow herself to fail at this, she swore, not on an evening when so much was at stake. This, like so much else, was a fight, and she intended to win. That was why, when she cried out the song's final note, holding it as the song came it an end, there was victory in her eyes.

After the music died, her friends sat without saying a word, and Inner Moka resolutely fended off any concerns she might have felt, refusing to stoop to asking what they had thought. Her perseverance was rewarded when Mizore leaned back and glanced at Kurumu. "We shouldn't have let her sing," the snow maiden grumbled, and Kurumu nodded briskly, noting the lingering awe on Tsukune's face. Tsukune finally came to his senses enough to begin clapping loudly, and the vampire favored him with a superior smile before bending to pick up the bag she had dropped.

"See? You had fun," her outer half chided her. The vampire glowered at the rosario she wore, but couldn't keep the humor from her eyes.

"Someone had to show them up," she commented, before dropping the whip into the bag. Immediately her form reverted to its usual appearance, her hair darkening and eyes turning to green. Once again in control of their body, the outer persona smiled and walked back to her friends, enjoying the feeling of fierce satisfaction radiating from the cross she wore at her neck. She took the seat next to Mizore, glancing towards Tsukune as she sat down. For just a moment, she felt envious of the reaction that her other half had received; had he enjoyed her singing as much as he had her other half's?

Tsukune had other things on his mind. His spirits falling, he glanced down at the watch he wore. They had been here for hours, and it was doubtlessly dark outside, and the time that they had rented this room for was quickly dwindling. They would need to leave soon, he knew, though he didn't want to. He had enjoyed this evening, getting to spend time with all of his friends together like normal high school students would, and he didn't want to see it end. The fact that the choice would probably be mentioned once they returned to the Resting Place only underscored that desire. Still, there was no resisting fate, he knew, and so he mournfully told his friends that they should probably leave after the next song.

"Who wants to go last?" Moka asked, though she wished that she would also get another opportunity. Mizore hesitated, weighing her own desire, while Kurumu hopped from her chair and rushed to the song selector. "H-Hey, Kurumu-!"

"I thought I saw…" the succubus mused, flipping through the songs. Her face lit up as she found the song she had been searching for, and she turned that ecstatic expression towards her friends. "Hey, Mizore, Moka, come look at this."

The two obediently walked up to the monitor, sharing a curious glance. Kurumu's finger indicated the song that had drawn her interest, and after the other girls read its title comprehension slowly dawned on their faces. They leaned in together, whispering amongst themselves, as Tsukune watched with a growing dim alarm. 'What are they up to?' he wondered, noting the broad smiles each of the girls wore.

"Alright, Tsukune, since we only have time for one last song, we've decided who will sing it!" Kurumu crowed, grinning at the boy sitting before them.

"All of us!" Moka cheered. Tsukune blinked at this, but quickly nodded. It was a good solution, he thought.

"You might recognize this one," Mizore commented cryptically. As their audience watched, the three girls took their places, and the first notes of the final song began to play as Tsukune began to realize the truth of the song they had chosen. A broad smile on his face, he watched as the girls took their usual stances as the music from Kurumu's dance video played on, and soon their three voices began to fill the room.

The four friends were so focused on each other that they did not notice the door to their room crack open.

Michael hesitated just outside the karaoke club, glancing hurriedly in both directions down the street in front of the building. He failed to locate his prey, and for a scant moment feared that he had been tricked, lured outside while his opponent took advantage of Tsukune's reduced protection. His fears were soon allayed, however, when the figure stepped out of the alleyway beside the karaoke club, cracking his knuckles as he came.

"Looking for someone?" the man asked, smiling slightly. He shook his head, his black ponytail wagging behind him, as he stepped closer to Michael, stopping a few feet away. Despite the murderous glare the guardian was directing towards him, it was obvious that his good humor was still intact.

"You," Michael snarled, spitting the word like a curse. His left hand fell to his hip, and with a glimmer of yellow light an intricately-tooled scabbard appeared at his waist, his right hand falling upon the hilt of the sword it held.

Both men paused as they felt a surge of monstrous energy within the building. Michael felt the urge to sprint inside, to find out what had caused such a commotion, but he couldn't turn his back on his enemy. Others had made that mistake, he knew, but hadn't lived to speak of it. No, he would just have to trust that Gabriel could take care of whatever had caused that shift in power.

"So hasty," Sam purred, laughing as he glanced back to Michael and the sword he was clutching to. He motioned vaguely towards the buildings surrounding them, the cars driving past. "Are you so certain you want to get into it here? Not that I'd mind, but-"

"I'll make you pay for what you've done." Michael gripped the sword, baring his teeth towards his opponent. "You deserve to die, and I don't care what you say!"

"Well, I'm not surprised you'd see it that way, but still…" Sam shrugged indifferently. "Maybe you could take me one on one, but are you sure? After all…" He smiled, and his golden eyes glowed in the artificial lighting. "They always said you were his strongest fighter. Me? I was just his best killer." His hands dropped slowly towards both sides of his waist as Michael tensed, ready to draw the sword he held. "Which is why I'm amazed you're willing to have a go here… surrounded by so many innocent people just going about their business. You know I don't give a damn about unintended casualties, but you?"

This drew Michael up short, but still he did not release the hilt of his sword. Unable to force himself to push further just yet, he stared at the other man, his confusion and disappointment hidden behind the sunglasses he wore. "Why did you do it? Why did you betray us? You were one of us, Sam-"

"Why?" The other man interrupted, the mirth on his face taking up a vicious edge. "Aren't you smart enough to figure that out, Michael? Or are you just that happy licking your master's boots like a whipped dog? Don't you get sick of slaving for people unworthy of our attention, people that don't even realize we exist?" His shouting drew fearful glances from passerby, who hurried on their way, quickly deserting the street. "He uses you, just like he used me. Someday you'll get used up, and I'll be there laughing."

Michael nodded slowly, his suspicions confirmed. "You call me a dog, but you were the only one that had to be leashed. He hoped you would learn to choose who you killed, instead of going on a rampage the first chance you got. It seems he was right not to trust you."

"Ha! You would believe the Hell-King if he told you the sky was green," Sam spat off to the side, as if mentioning his former master had disgusted him. "At least your failure of a partner is smart enough to think for himself."

"Why are you here? What do you want?" Michael demanded, the rage leaking out of his voice as he regained control. He had seen enough to convince him that all that was left was his duty, especially since his duty, at the moment, would lead him to the same fight his anger had drawn him towards.

"I just came to offer a little warning to my old comrades. After all, we used to be such good friends," Sam gloated, crossing his arms across his chest. "I'd hate for someone to kill you before I got the chance."

Growling, Michael allowed the first inches of his sword to slip free of its scabbard, pausing as the other man continued. "Thanatos." Sam smirked as he saw the shock on the guardian's face. "He's coming. He'll be here in a matter of days, as a matter of fact; he isn't the quickest at moving cross-country, but at least he should be hungry by the time he arrives. He'll need to be, for the feast that's waiting for him." Sam motioned towards the karaoke club, chuckling as Michael's face paled.

"How do you know about this? Are you… helping that monster?" Michael stared, perplexed, at his enemy. "You know what will happen if he gets the phylactery back. Even we couldn't beat Death at his prime, and you and I were barely a match for one of his generals. Do you think he'll forget that you were that at the final battle?"

"Let him remember. I have ways of buying forgiveness." Sam shrugged, turning his back to his shocked former comrade. "Anyways, I'm done here. You ask too many questions; it's about time you learned to think for yourself."

"Like hell I'm going to let you-"

"Shouldn't you be more concerned with what's happening in there?" Michael paused as he felt the surge of monstrous energy fade from within the building. He whirled to look towards the karaoke club, worried for those he had been ordered to protect, before realizing his mistake. When he turned back to where the traitorous guardian had been standing, he found it empty. He glanced around him, already conscious of the fact he wouldn't be able to find his opponent now, since the other man had been known for his speed just as Michael was known for his strength. His fury left unsated, Michael screamed out his rage, the wordless shout resounding off the nearby buildings.

Regaining his composure with tremendous effort, he turned to step back into the karaoke club. He had a mission to accomplish, and his enemy's disappearance did not mean that the four teens were safe. He released his death-grip on his sword as he reached for the door, and the blade and scabbard quickly vanished, hidden from sight. He wouldn't need it, not for an enemy of Fairy Tale's caliber; only a threat like his former comrade was enough for him to consider drawing it.

Still, a dark trickle of fear seeped into his heart. If the ex-guardian was telling the truth, and Thanatos was drawing nearer, then that meant that soon… Michael swallowed as he remembered the Headmaster's initial orders to him and Gabriel, and he knew that further orders would soon arrive. If the Headmaster reacted in the way he expected, then that meant they would soon be withdrawn back to the Academy, leaving Tsukune and the others unprotected.

And, with an enemy like the traitor guardian around, Thanatos wouldn't be the only thing they would have to worry about. For a brief second, Michael considered the possibility of ignoring the orders to retreat, staying by Tsukune's side until Thanatos arrived. He knew that the boy was no match for the wraith, even in its current state. It didn't make sense to leave him exposed, when the Headmaster obviously thought him important.

Michael sighed in relief when he reached the hallway outside the karaoke booths, and found his partner peeking into the students' room, glancing over to offer Michael a thumb's up of reassurance. Walking on without stopping, Michael returned to the booth that they had rented, falling into his seat as he stared at a nearby wall. Gabriel followed him into the room, but waited without speaking, cautious curiosity on his face.

It didn't make sense, Michael repeated to himself. Tsukune and the others wouldn't be able to defeat Thanatos, not without outside aid, so why had they been ordered to not intervene if the wraith appeared? Did the Headmaster even know that the traitor guardian was involved? It was up to them to protect Tsukune, Michael knew, and he would stand by the boy no matter what.

No… no, he had to have faith in his leader. The Hell-King had earned his respect, and his loyalty. To turn on that now would make him no better than the betrayer he had just confronted, and that, Michael could not stomach. If ordered, he would return to the Academy, and pray that the Headmaster's trust in Tsukune was not misplaced. And, if it were…

Michael smiled, and imagined the feel of his sword in his hand. If Tsukune was taken by the wraith, then it would be up to them to see to Thanatos' destruction… and that of the traitor. There would be a reckoning, Michael swore. And there would finally be justice.

He could hardly wait.

"Disco Lady, Disco Lady… Deep Emotion, Deep Emotion…"

Tsukune grinned as he watched his three friends begin singing the song they had chosen, quickly realizing that they had learned the accompanying dance quite well; they were perfectly in sync. Moka had taken the microphone and stood in the center, with Kurumu to her right and Mizore to her left. Their voices were as harmonized as their movements, Moka's higher tone complemented by Kurumu's huskier voice, with Mizore falling in between. Even as they danced, their eyes stayed focused upon Tsukune, and he could do nothing but return their gazes and watch them, even as his mind plummeted off of the precipice he had been standing upon for longer than he could remember.

"Kimi dake ni so misete itai kokoro no naka hitomi no oku…"

His eyes focused upon Moka, watching as her light brown hair swayed with her motion as she held both her arms perpendicularly before her and rocked with the music. Her green eyes glittered, and he fought not to sink into them, nor to be hypnotized by her lips as they briefly met between lyrics. In this moment, he felt that he could see through her eyes and into her emotions, could witness her hope and happiness, and he was overwhelmed by the power of her feelings.

He had always been close to Moka, ever since his first day at Yokai Academy. She had been the first person he had encountered there, and he had been enthralled by her beauty from the moment of their meeting. She was kind, and smart, and had a presence that drew people to her, though she didn't seem to realize it. He had never comprehended why she had been shunned at her previous school, though he often wondered if her former classmates had been jealous or intimidated by her. He had also never grasped why a girl as wonderful as she would choose to spend her time with him, or to… love him. It didn't make sense.

And then there was her other persona, her inner self. If he couldn't understand why people would be intimidated by Outer Moka, he could certainly figure it out when it came to her other half; even he found her to be awe-inspiring. She was sometimes harsh, even cold, but he knew that was not all there was to her; she could be weak, and kind, and even shy, on rare occasions. It was that depth that drew him to her, inexorably, like a moth to the flame, or like the wolves that cried out to the distant moon, fascinated by that which is eternally out of reach.

But… was she out of reach? Either of them? They both had expressed interest in him… in their own ways. And, their feelings were certainly reciprocated. He knew, had always known, that he was attracted to them. When he thought of his days at Yokai Academy, of the things that made him happy to wake up in a school full of monsters, Moka was at the center of his mind. He savored every moment he spent with her, be it in class, at lunch, or side by side before their latest enemy. It was too much for him to deny.

He was in love with Moka Akashiya… both of them.

"My Darlin nee vividdo hora koishimashou…"

Even as his mind numbly reeled away from that conclusion, his eyes shifted over to the girl dancing at Moka's right. Kurumu met his gaze, her lips twitching up in a smile as she realized she was the center of his attention, thrusting a hand towards him as she shook her hips. Though he knew that she would not use her Allure on him, the way that she captured his attention reminded him of the times she had done so. Unable to handle the conclusion he had just reached, his mind turned to thoughts of the succubus, weighing his emotions for her just as he had done for Moka.

Kurumu had been his friend for nearly as long as Moka, and had always been more adamant in her pursuit of him. Even though she had quickly come to the conclusion that he was her "destined one," he had not been so sure. Her forwardness had always left him uncomfortable, at least partially because of his body's unconscious reactions to her obvious affections, and he had never known how to reply to her desires. As time had passed, however, she had proven to be one of his closest friends, and the depths of her emotions for him and the rest of the group had never ceased to amaze him. She was perceptive, and considerate, willing to sacrifice herself and her wants for any of their circle when push came to shove. He remembered that there had been several times she had even forsaken an easy route to replace Moka in his eyes, only because she wanted to win his love honestly. Had there not been extenuating circumstances during those occasions, Tsukune knew that those actions would have caused him to think a lot harder about her emotions, but there was no going back to that now.

Still… the date that they had shared had changed everything. He had never gotten many chances to be alone with Kurumu, and had been surprised at how much fun he had shared with her. At the academy, he lacked any kind of close male friend, someone he could relax and be himself with, and the time at the arcade had shown him what he was missing… and someone that could help to cure that problem. Not that he thought of Kurumu like a male friend; far, far from it. He was very attracted to her, and there had been times on the date that he had felt protective, even jealous, when he had noticed the attention she was getting from other guys. That had culminated when they had nearly kissed, and he had been surprised by how much he had craved to feel her lips. She had opened her heart to him at that time, and he had found himself accepting her emotions in a way he had never before experienced.

Now that he had allowed himself the chance to truly look at her, he realized how much he needed Kurumu. She was often the heart of their group, and a confidant and comrade to him, and … He blushed as he thought about how soft she felt, how warm, and could feel his body react to the memory. He remembered all the times that she had given him her usual chest-first greeting, and despite his wailing morality realized that he was beginning to look forward to the next time she did it. Without her, his life wouldn't be the same, would be far too quiet and hollow. Ever since the day he had met her, Kurumu had declared that he was her mate of fate; now, he was beginning to wonder what it would be like if she was right. From what he could see, it would not be as bad as he had once thought… no, he hoped to spend the rest of his life with Kurumu, whatever form that might take. He realized where his thoughts were headed, but it was too late now to stop the realization.

He was in love with Kurumu Kurono.

"Umare kawatte amai yume sotto iroduro My Love…"

Tsukune's smile did not slip from his face, even though he felt dizzy as he was overwhelmed by his thoughts. His eyes were inexorably drawn to the girl dancing on Moka's left, her pale skin gleaming as she swayed to the song's slowing tempo, bending over as she swept her arms behind her. As she straightened, Mizore's blue eyes were on him, and the faintest color entered her cheeks as she saw him watching her, his gaze not wavering in the slightest. Though he knew he was already lost, he knew that he must consider his feelings for Mizore just as he had the other two girls.

Mizore had been the latest addition to their group, and had joined them after some of their earlier conflicts, including their fight with Yokai Academy's student police. She had always been distant, preferring to stalk him over directly interacting with their group. It had taken a long time for her to become comfortable enough to openly join them, and even then she had not forsaken her fondness for trailing Tsukune from the shadows. Eventually, though, she had earned the friendship of the other girls, and now it felt like she had always been there. She, too, had proven to be remarkably perceptive, showing an understanding of his emotions at times when his other friends were unable to restrain their own desires, which he was deeply grateful for.

When he had first met Mizore, it was obvious that she had created an image of him in her mind, shaped from her impressions of his writing and from her own desires. She had been desperately lonely, and had sensed the same from him, and that had drawn her to him. After she failed to forcibly claim him, however, he knew that her preconceived notions of him had begun to melt away; now, the him that she cared for was truly who he was, and not a production of her imagination. After talking to her on their date, he understood that, and she had proven that they did share many similarities beyond their lonely pasts. She had been easy to talk to, to relate to, and he had revealed things to her that he doubted he could discuss with the others. As she had said, they felt like equals, and that had been incredibly reassuring.

And their bonds went beyond their shared past and mindset. He found her to be beautiful and graceful, and remembered how deep his temptation had run when she had taken him to the field of the Snow White flowers. If he had not seen the pain she felt then, he knew that he might have succumbed… and, he blushed, had had dreams about just that very possibility. Even though Mizore still felt farther from him than the other girls, he wanted to close that distance, not widen it. She was afraid of being hurt, but her need for him had driven him too close to avoid such pain, and he had no desire to hurt her. No, her happiness was what he wanted, even above his own. Even though he knew he damned himself by it, the realization was inevitable.

He was in love with Mizore Shirayuki.

"Hora sekai wa kawaru…"

He was in love with all three of them. Feeling like the floor was giving way beneath him, Tsukune watched as the song, and with it the girls' dance, came to an end. In front of him, the girls threw their arms to one side and then the other before thrusting their palms towards him, a motion that was both forbidding and beseeching. They held that pose for a long moment before Tsukune's body automatically responded, his hands coming together in applause that shattered the lingering quiet. Freed from their momentary stillness, the girls shared a smile of mutual exhilaration and relief before turning back to Tsukune, the grins not leaving their faces. He, too, wore a smile, even as factions of his mind warred between mortal terror and ecstatic excitement, and he stood to meet them.

He didn't get the chance, as the phone on the wall cried out a chime. Frowning, he turned to it and picked it up from its base, nodding grimly in response to the voice informing him that their time was up. "We'll be right out," he assured them, and replaced the phone on its base. Shrugging, he turned back to the girls. "It's time for us to head back to the Resting Place," he informed them dolefully, and it was obvious they shared his reluctance. Still they gathered their belongings, and a minute later the door closed behind them, interrupting Tsukune's persistent glance at the place where the girls had danced.

With the smile fighting its way back to his lips despite all odds, he turned to follow the three girls he loved out of the karaoke club, walking towards the moment he would have to make a choice that he could no longer imagine.

"Whew… it feels good to be back!" Moka exclaimed as they stepped into the house, stretching her arms luxuriously as she strolled from the foyer into the common room. The other two girls offered their assent as they fell onto the couch, allowing themselves to sink into the cushions. Even as they relaxed, however, their eyes darted in the direction of the foyer, waiting for Tsukune to enter after he finished paying the cab drivers. He was no doubt entangled in a conversation about their circumstances; their driver, at least, had been quite impressed by the gate that blocked their entry to the driveway, let alone the house itself.

When the door closed, the girls each jumped slightly in their seats. The three shared a silent glance as Tsukune stepped into the room, but the nervousness they felt was carefully hidden behind their exhausted grins. It was time, they knew, but they didn't want to rush things. Everything hinged on this moment, and things would never be the same afterwards, if Tsukune did make his choice.

Tsukune was not so skilled at hiding his anxiety, his lips pulled tight as he lightly sat on the chair opposite the girls. He couldn't meet their eyes, which only served to increase their own concerns, gradually pouring more and more tension into the room. The oppressive silence was finally broken, and Moka turned to stare at Kurumu as the succubus spoke the words on all of their minds. "So, Tsukune," she started, her forced casualness cracking at the edges, "what's on you mind?"

He glanced up at her, and nothing could hide the desperation in his eyes. Despite that, he wore a fake smile of his own, and he nodded to her. "I was just thinking about… the choice," he admitted, the final word emerging as if being dragged out of him.

Moka swallowed loudly, and was almost reassured when she heard the other two girls do the same. She stared at Tsukune, but his own gaze was locked firmly on the carpet before him, and he showed no inclination towards pushing the conversation further. She could feel nervousness akin to her own beginning to radiate from the rosario at her chest, and prayed that Tsukune would gather the strength to say something further.

Finally one of them had enough. "So?" Mizore asked, trying to keep her voice light.

Tsukune sighed loudly, steeling himself for what would come next. He had no choice now, no answer besides the one that had offered itself to him, though he knew what it might cost him. He looked up, meeting the eyes of each of the girls in turn, his expression dreadfully serious. There was no turning back now.

"I'm sorry," he said, carefully watching their faces. "I've thought long and hard about it, and for all my efforts…" His voice failed him, and he struggled to regain his composure before continuing. "I've tried, but I've realized that I care too much about each of you to… to choose. Not right now. Maybe someday," he lied feebly, even as a voice inside his head screamed at him, a mantra of 'I love you all!' But he couldn't say that, he knew, not right now. Maybe someday, a voice from his heart commented darkly, mocking his words to the girls. "But I can't give you an answer today. I'm sorry."

His eyes sank to the floor once more, frantically wanting to see their reactions but unable to face them. This could cost him everything, he knew; if the girls were tired of his indecision, they might all leave him anyways. He doubted that would happen, but felt he would deserve it if they did. Maybe there was no right answer to this dreadful choice, but if there was, then he knew he hadn't yet found it.

The girls, however, looked amongst themselves, their faces carved into inscrutable masks. They hid their own reactions from each other, trying to divine what the others felt. Despite their efforts, they weren't entirely successful; Moka's eyes glimmered as the edge of Mizore's lip twitched upward, and Kurumu's shoulders shook in the faintest of chuckles. They were the subtlest of clues, but for three friends as close as they, it was enough.

"Excuse us," Kurumu said dryly, leading the other two girls into the kitchen for their conference. Tsukune tore himself from his misery in time to watch them go, panic growing inside him, but they were gone, and he was deprived of their reaction. Paralyzed, he glanced back down at the ground, relieved at least that the moment had passed… now he only had to wait in agony for the aftermath.

As the three girls entered the kitchen, the masks that they had worn began to rapidly deteriorate, revealing their budding grins. Moka shook her head as she fought to contain the relief she felt, though she didn't completely understand it. Surely the tension would only continue after this, right? Without an answer, they would have to wait for Tsukune to make up his mind, would have to fight just as they had been… would live just as they had been, would compete just like always. Nothing would really change, and was that such a bad thing? Compared to…

"So, who wasn't halfway expecting that?" Kurumu asked slyly, shaking her head as the other two let their laughter escape. Her eyes gleamed as she grinned at her rivals, and they returned her challenging stare. "Guess we'll have to move on to phase two, then."

"You had plans for this, didn't you?" Mizore demanded, smirking at the succubus. The yuki-onna drew the sucker from her mouth, glancing at it before returning her eyes to her scheming friend. "Why am I not surprised?"

"So, tell us!" Moka demanded, chuckling. She was surprised that she even felt relief pouring from the rosario, though she knew better than to comment on it. Inner Moka also valued their friendships, no matter how much her competitiveness might put it to the test.

"Alright," Kurumu yielded, grinning with the zeal of a master plotter. "We're out of money, so we can't have a repeat of the dates. However, I think we can all agree that we want to continue things with Tsukune, right?" She didn't have to wait for her friends to nod. "So, there's a way we can enjoy ourselves here, and, at the same time, make Tsukune pay for his inability to decide." Her toothy grin revealed her intents for that retribution. "How about this: we each get a day, that, for an hour and a half, we get Tsukune to ourselves. During that time, he has to do whatever we want him to… within the scope of our previous rules," she yielded grudgingly, seeming the alarm flare up in Moka's eyes. "He can pay us back for making us wait, and we get to be alone with him. And, maybe it will help him think more about who he wants to be with."

The other two girls paused, thinking this over. Kurumu could tell that Mizore quickly accepted the notion, but they waited for Moka to nod before saying anything. Finally the vampire glanced up, resolution burning in her eyes. "As long as we stick to the previous rules," she ordered, and the other two nodded in acknowledgement. Receiving that confirmation, Moka allowed herself to smile in response, already beginning to imagine what her own choice might look like. So many possibilities…

"So… want to tell Tsukune?" Mizore asked, smiling darkly. Had Tsukune heard the chuckles the other girls offered in reply, his terror might have grown. So lost in his own thoughts was he, however, that he didn't notice the presence of his friends until they stood before him. When he looked up, it was to see three girls wearing the smiles of victorious predators, and he was cornered.

"We've decided your punishment!" Kurumu crowed, holding a triumphant finger before his perplexed face. The other two girls nodded behind her, and Tsukune's gaze darted to each of them before focusing on Kurumu's violet eyes. "So that you can repay us for our patience, for the next three days…" Kurumu started, allowing the silence to draw thin before revealing Tsukune's destiny to him.

"Whaaat?!"

It took a long time for the laughter to die down, but Tsukune eventually accepted his fate with a fearful smile, his dread of his friends' eager imaginations nothing compared to the terror he had been feeling before. He knew that he was putting himself, or at least his sanity and chastity, at serious risk by agreeing to this pact, but his fear was almost overwritten by his anticipation. He had stepped off the edge of the world, he knew, and there was nothing left for him to do but fall and fall. And, for now, that was alright by him.

That night, after the three teens had reluctantly retreated to their own rooms to rest for the next day, peace reigned over the Resting Place, each of its inhabitants sleeping fitfully in their beds, dreaming of what might await them. The worst was behind them, they felt. Perhaps storms would come later, would try to pull them apart, but for now the skies were clear, and even in sleep their lips curled in smiles of relief.

Extra-Long Author's Note: Oops, this comes a day late, though, as I look back at it, perhaps I should take the 'glass-half-full' perspective and call it only a day late. And to think this was all supposed to fit in the last chapter… ha. To be honest, I stressed over this chapter; I'm sure you can understand why. Finally, the midpoint climax, or, as I have taken to calling it, the Cartesian Crux (See Out of Nightmares: The Whispered Words of the Wolf - Author's Note). While Tsukune's romantic dilemma is not getting any easier, I don't think anyone participating is going to complain.

I will admit that I had trouble with the placement of the scenes early in this chapter, since they happen at the same time, but thought this the best way to break up the action; if anyone has any suggestions as to how I could improve it, you will find me to be all ears. For those who had difficulty, the surge of monstrous power Michael feels is Moka removing her rosario for Inner Moka to sing, and the person peeking into the room is Gabriel, who is watching over them. Still, while I hope I handled the chronology well enough, such isn't my main concern with this chapter…

Now, just in case there are any who aren't quite content with Tsukune's conclusions in this installment, its time to talk shop about a certain matter. I will go ahead and throw up a spoiler warning for the next two paragraphs, but only because I will be repeating my goals for this story, and the series as a whole, as I mentioned in my first author's note of Out of Nightmares. While many things have changed at this point in my writings (I blush when I note that I claimed I would be only introducing Mori Retsu as a major original character; while that was true for OoN, at this point that is hardly the case. Gabe, Michael, Sam, Thanatos, etc.…) my stated goals for this series have not. So, if Tsukune's epiphany and resulting choice, or lack thereof at this point, do not sit well with you, I defend myself by pointing out, in as nice a fashion as I can manage… I told you so. On the other hand, I can assure you that Tsukune will make a choice on this matter, before this tale is done. I realize this might be telling you too much on one hand and nothing substantial on the other… but I, at least, am okay with that. ^_^ Anyways, it is best I have this discussion now, since it fits better here than where I had originally intended to place it. Where that was to be? Heh, I'll give you a sign when that chapter comes.

Anyways, this chapter is intended to be a primary key to me reaching the conclusion I want; whether or not I am effective in that aim, I leave up to you. Personally, I feel justified: after all, now that Tsukune has been given a chance to step back from considering his friends as a group, and has evaluated his connection to each of them personally, it seems logical to me that he could arrive at this conclusion, one that I doubt that his manga representation could reach at this time. Such has been the point of the events of this story and the previous one… and the events yet to come. Things are not at all finished here, and I assure you that I will work my hardest to ensure that the coming complications will be just as amusing and interesting as that which has come previously, especially as things heat up further between Tsukune and the girls…

Onto other business. The songs that are described in this chapter, and several previous ones, are thus: First, Mizore sings Snow Storm, one of her character songs that appears in episode 3 of the second anime, followed by Kurumu's rebuttal Yafu Yafu Nano Ni from the same episode. Inner Moka sings the ending theme to the first anime, Dancing in the Velvet Moon, while the group sings DISCOTHEQUE, the opening theme from the second anime. I realize that I am writing in another continuity than the anime, but that has nothing to do with the songs, eh? Gabriel, however, sings Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up before starting to sing Frank Sinatra's My Way, a popular karaoke song, I've heard. As for why Rick Astley?... I've never gotten the chance to Rickroll anyone before. This will have to do. I, of course, own none of these songs, nor the lyrics, and make no profit from mentioning them… they just all seemed to fit so well. So, if someone with the power to do so reads this… please don't sue me.

Oh, and one final question. One of my reviewers pointed out, much to my chagrin, that Romance/Humor probably isn't the best categorization for this story. I will adamantly defend the first half, of course, but I yield that my humor in this tale isn't enough for it to fit in the latter category. I am, however, stumped on what other heading to change it to. Adventure? Friendship? General? I'd appreciate any input you have on the matter.

And, to conclude this monster of an author's note, allow me to once again offer my appreciation for your reviews. Since, in order to continue cranking out these chapters, I have to maintain a certain level of ardor for Rosario + Vampire, I need all of the input I can get to stay focused, and your comments do that job wonderfully. I will shamelessly ask for your feedback on this chapter in particular, since it is so crucial to the overarching plot, and since I worked so very hard at getting it to the shape it's in (big, bulging, and hopefully somewhat balanced). Either way, thank you for reading, and I shall be back in a few days, the first chapter of the next phase of Into Dreams in hand.

But, for now, time to savor the carrot-onna-stick that I've been holding in front of myself ever since I woke up at 4 A.M. to work on this. Time… for sleep.

~Wynn Pendragon

Bonus: According to the video I was using to transcribe the lyrics (Danielpetrovic's version on Youtube), here are the translations for the segments of DISCOTHEQUE I used in this chapter, sorted by the segments they appeared before:

Moka: "Kimi dake ni so misete itai kokoro no naka hitomi no oku…" – You are the only one I will show these to: the bottom of my heart and what lies deep in my eyes.

Kurumu: "My Darlin nee vividdo hora koishimashou…" – My darling, let's have a vivid love.

Mizore: "Umare kawatte amai yume sotto iroduro My Love…" – I want to paint a sweet dream of changing myself completely.

Final epiphany: "Hora sekai wa kawaru…" - Look, the world is changing.