Disclaimer: Money sucks when it's not mine and stops me from owning Mangas and Animes, like Nura and RV.

YUKI ONNA

"When death comes, we just try to get out of the way."

Chapter Three – Clubs

I ended up sleeping a lot. Consequently, I dreamt a lot. I remember lots of dreams, which most likely means I dreamt more than I would think possible. Some dreams were pleasant, some were bad, and some were influenced by external messing around with my body. In a particular pleasant dream, it suddenly turned into a nightmare when my left shoulder started to rot until my arm fell. I, particularly, would be glad not to remember such a dream. Still, that dream is one I could live without.

It's absolutely impossible to measure time based on dreams, but I still dared to think a lot of time had passed since I collapsed on Mizore. Becoming aware of my surroundings rather than waking up properly, I experienced sleep paralysis. This is happening to me rather often lately, and I really hope there's nothing wrong with me.

Still, such paralysis remained in my limbs. I got a little scared, of course, before I realized this was the last of a series of dreams and woke up in a white room. Actually, the fact that I woke up in a room covered mostly by white was the reason I realized that that thing just now was another dream. This place made a lot more sense for me to wake up into, for it was not long before I realized I was in the infirmary.

I sat up on the bed. Still sleepy, I was made aware of the situation my left arm was in. Covered up in bandages as it was, with my skin darker on my shoulder, I had little hope that it would return to full function one day. But one can hope. And so I took solace in the fact that, leaving my arm aside, I was perfectly fine; no abnormal pain, no body part missing, no bleeding from anywhere. I sighed in relief.

Looking around, I could find a window. It showed how dark the sky was outside. Deciding that it wouldn't hurt, I gave in to my still present exhaustion and decided to sleep through the night. I don't have any base to judge this as weird or not, because I had never suffered an injury close to that one, but my body still just want to rest. It would be a pain to stay awake at night and rearrange my sleep schedule, so I'll just let it rest for now.

….

…

Not too long ago, that organization became known to them. Not too long ago, Tsurara had received invitation to join said organization; she had no intention of doing so, of course, but what was, deep down, a rejection, might not be perceived as such; so, she formed a plan, based on the two possible reactions they could have gotten from that conversation. Now, finally putting it into action, she felt nervous. This brewing war might not become so secret in the end, she thought to herself while sighing. But that wasn't the worst outcome, as long it stayed between monsters; if humans caught word of it, they might as well witness the end of the modern civilization. Looking at the whole situation with calculating eyes, Tsurara could perceive this as the one blessing in disguise that came from the fact that no human survived encountering a member of the organization; their objective was, after all, the extermination of humans, among others.

One thing at a time, the Yuki Onna thought to herself, one thing at a time. Kubinashi has already gone and she is best not doing anything on that front for now. For a while, her eyes would turn to her daughter, and she would focus on what unfolded on that school alone.

"But wait a sec… I was getting reports from Kubinashi telling me what happened there… And I wanted to let the minimum number of members of the clan know even that she exists… But if I sent Kubinashi to Fairy Tale a while ago…! AAHGHH! Bakabakabakabakakbakabakabaka! AOTABOU! KUROTABOU! GET HERE THIS INSTANT!"

And so, the two monks snapped out of their daydreams, for even at night that's what it's called, and they were not getting any sleep, and went all the way from the other side of the construction in order to meet with their leader. That was how knowledge of Mizore's existence found its way to two more members of the Nura clan. That was barely two days after Kubinashi's departure, and a week ago.

….

…..

A little trivia on the world, things happen. The saying 'there's always a first' may not hold true, but, while one lives, no one really knows what will happen. For instance, I never really thought I would end up in a hospital bed for so long, EVER, and would live happily without it. Still, I exaggerate a little. I get bored too easy, and staying like this for even a day is hell, what about a week? That's one thing that's ridiculous as well. I mean, my arm might have been almost pulled from my body, but some of my classmates often simply appeared one day with a broken arm. This is to say, I shouldn't be in bed so long because of an arm. Period, if said arm is still connected to my body.

After the incident that day, I stood unconscious for more or less a day and half, I was told, and later confirmed. My shoulder hurt like nothing I had ever felt, but I could move my arm if I ignored the pain. That, I was also told, was something I should be glad about. I can see the point, but it hurts if I leave it alone, hurts if I move, and becomes unbearable if anything that weights more than a pocket book finds its way into my left hand, and even then, my right one should help. All things considered, it didn't make much of a difference.

My left arm was almost entirely covered in bandages, and, while my hand, outside of it, looked normal enough, my shoulder was colored in a darker shade. Speaking of pockets books, someone left one here. I have a habit of reading pretty much everything I get my hands on, if I have nothing better to do, which happens a lot, so I have read most of it in this past week. This was my routine while on the infirmary's bed; sleeping, wondering why I couldn't get visits and reading this thing called "Ningen Shikkaku". Quite depressing, but it was a good read so far. That posed me another question: if I can't get visits, for whatever reason, how did this pocket book find its way to my bed?

I once heard that thinking too much is bad for health. I never got if it was directly or indirectly, but I do know that to ponder such things is pointless. I mean, I did see Tsukune in a rather embarrassing position, and I'm dying to know what happened, but, at the time, I didn't raise my voice. So, I ended up finishing reading the book in my second to last day in the infirmary and got released from there by the doctor (a certain Yutaka Yuji. He didn't look so good…) and finally emerged from that building.

Apparently, they informed Mizore of my release, for she was waiting for me with my notebooks and all that. I really didn't know how to feel about going to school right after being released. When I got there, I made up my mind; I didn't like it one bit. Why is there a test at the beginning? I don't remember ever having a test one week into the term. Well, it did happen now, but I think I actually scored pretty high. When lunch break came, I was starving, and with no money, but my recent made friends covered for me.

When we were finally comfortable and halfway through our lunches, I asked about the new addition to our group. By the way, this was on the terrace.

"I'm Kurumu Kurono. Nice to meet you… Daichi, was it?"

"Hm. You can call me that. So, Kurumu, if you don't mind me asking, what was that I witnesses back in the infirmary?" I could hear juice making its way out of Tsukune's mouth in a stream. Some of it actually hit me, but I'll let it pass, since this is my fault, and it didn't hit my food. I'm having a simple ramem (as in, with no special ingredients), and it would be no good if orange juice found its way into it.

"Ahn, so, you really were there?" Kurumu asked, while Tsukune coughed and Moka blushed.

"Yeah. I heard the part when you said that there was no one nearby, although I didn't understand Tsukune's question. It hurts, having my existence denied, you know, even if I was behind curtains. Then I saw Moka come in, heard a window breaking and the three of you found your way outside. I didn't get what happened after that, but couldn't stop thinking about it!" Truth be told, I could, and did, when I continued reading the book.

An actually long explanation followed. It seems Kurumu was a succubus that became infuriated with Moka because of her popularity, quite an ugly thing. Anyway, she used Charm to seduce Tsukune and get him away from Moka. After Tsukune's rejection (they didn't really said he rejected her at any point, but it's just obvious), Moka became depressed and, alone, went to see if visit was now allowed to her other friend (meee! I was so touched). While in the process of being denied, she heard Tsukune's and Kurumu's voices from inside and ran into the infirmary. It seems Kurumu was on top of Tsukune on the bed, while her face closed in to his. Surrendering to her urges, Moka ran and actually pushed Kurumu out of the window.

I died laughing at this part. And that explained what ended in what I saw and heard and explained what I saw and heard.

"And what happened after that? Did you girls fight for someone as unattractive as this friend of mine, Tsukune Aono? By the way, Tsukune, thanks a lot for the lunch. I don't know if I would have survived without your help."

I had finished eating. Mizore was still eating whatever she was eating, really slowly, and the three blushing individuals had stopped eating altogether.

"W-well, a Succubus must fight for who she deemed her chosen one!" Kurumu suddenly burst. I can't say that I did know what a 'chosen one' was to a Succubus, but I could get it's very important. She suddenly hugged Tsukune and pressed his face to her breasts (which were enormous. Not complimenting, just saying… ) And the poor guy, who had come from coughing a little while back, suddenly found himself with a lack of oxygen once again.

"Tsukune!" Moka approached the debating boy's arms, and one of them got hold of her rosary and took it off.

"I'm definitely blaming the director of this school for this…"I said when I saw the clouds conveniently covering the sun, while it conveniently looked like a moon, and, just in cue, the sky, conveniently, turned red. All in all, too convenient.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say this was all arranged so I could meet you face to face… You're still Moka, right?"

In place of the innocent looking pink haired vampire, stood now an elegant, tall, white haired vampire, whose skirt was waaaaaaaay too short in my opinion. Her body was fuller, so her clothes seemed smaller, and that's not something I'm comfortable with. Now, the only thing's left is that she starts kicking…

"Tch!" She looked at me, then looked around, and 'tsched'. After a while, she went to Tsukune and Kurumu, and pushed them, each to a side. She picked the rosary from Tsukune's hand and said something about not calling her for nothing, then put it back in place. The weather returned to normal, and I was perplexed at such display of ignorance for my existence. She could have at least said something! And I even tried to look like someone important…

"Soooo… That was?" I asked the normal Moka after she returned to, well, normal.

She explained in detail about her seal, which was given to her by her mother, and sealed her vampire powers. It was used in order to adapt to society in the human world. So, that was how she fought Kurumu that day… She has an 'inner' self, you could say. An inner self who totally ignored me, it'll be hard to forgive her. Well, that's nothing important. What seems to be gained from this was that Tsukune has gotten himself two ladies falling for him. Tough luck.

The bell rang, and break was over. The trio started heading back, but Mizore and I stood behind after getting up. I sighed and looked at her.

"Don't go falling for him now, too, okay, Mizzy?"

She took her ever present lollipop from her mouth and stared at Tsukune's back. After a few seconds, a blush found its way to her face. Now she's just messing with me. I shoved the lollipop back into her mouth and her temperature returned to normal. We headed back to class after this. And I still don't know what end their lunches got.

….

….

When things were ending for the day, I was reminded of another Japanese tradition: school clubs. I didn't know if I should find it cool or a bother, but if there was a club where I could stay and not be bothered to do much, I think it would be comfortable.

"Oh, and don't forget to visit the newspaper club, which I'm the supervisor for!"

BANG! Denied. Sorry, teacher Nekonome, but that's a last resort if I can't find peace in other clubs.

Soon after that, the search was on, and the five of us went looking for a club. There were clubs for literally anything. I don't really want to judge, but none of them actually were attractive. The photographers'? I really don't like photos in general… I can do it, but I wouldn't make it a hobby. The shooters'? I'm surprised I'm not wearing glasses yet, and I don't expect to hit a single target, with a firearm, bow or otherwise. Cooking ones were not my style and scientific ones were not to my taste. While I thought of reasons to reject all the clubs, Tsukune seemed to reject them because he was afraid. Well, I'm not blaming him. They all are head over heels for Moka, and the poor guy don't want any more trouble. That's what I though, until girls on two piece swimsuits started spreading the word about the swimming club. Oh, I like swimming. But, pardon the pun, it's too fishy, how all those pretty girls targeted the male students instead of just advertising their club. They came to us in time, too.

"Sorry, I like to swim, but I'm allergic to chlorine, sorry. " I answered them. Tsukune seemed hesitant, but I could see clear desire in his eyes. He was being deceived by the first legitimate looking human figures he's seen today, AND he wants to see Moka in swimsuit; it's as clear as day. Although today is a little cloudy…

Since I rejected the offer, he was hesitant to accept it and leave one member of the group behind. I decided to take control of the situation and asked Kurumu "Hey, do you like swimming?"

"Eh? No, not really, but…" she was at first surprised at being directed to so suddenly, but started answering all the same.

"Tsukune, if you go, you'll be forcing Kurumu to, but Moka won't ever swim with you." I said quite bluntly. I wasn't certain of how accurate my knowledge of vampires is, but I have the impression they dislike water. Many versions of fictional vampires do. Tsukune seemed disheartened by my words and started answering negatively. Since I was the direct cause, the representative of the club came to me.

"Come on, we can make a special pool for you… We don't need chlorine…" Her sniffing was getting annoying AND embarrassing, and it was my turn to blush a little. Maybe it was a threat. Something like 'join or I'll expose you'. Anyway, she closed in on my ear and said, in a low voice "You smell nice… Just like a hum..!"

Sharp!

I put my hand in my pocket and picked one of the special lollipops Tsurara had given me. I brought it up and hit the girl's right shoulder with it, with strength enough for the lollipop to break. That instant, she screamed and retreated a little. I screamed as well, after moving my left arm. Her right shoulder was encased in ice.

"How?! How did you do it, huma….!"

Really sharp! But a little dumb as well.

I brought a couple more of those and threw one of them. It passed close to her face, and her left ear and a little part of hair were frozen solid. Lastly, I jumped towards her, branding this great weapon of mine (the third lollipop) and put it into her open mouth. I forced her mouth shut and pulled the stick, leaving only the lollipop itself within her mouth.

Amidst her screams, she ended up swallowing it, and, a few seconds later, she fainted. Hypothermia is scary indeed.

"Well, we're not entering the swimming club." I said conclusively and avoiding my friends' stares. It looks like we'll be entering the newspaper club after all.

That was a scary experience. At that moment, I held Mizore's hand tight and felt relieved when she held mine, even if she was mute of most of that day. This is the time where some more explanation is in order.

These lollipops are extremely fragile. Not the kind that breaks for about anything, but the kind that will easily break if you try to. When I said I hit that girl with enough strength to break it, I didn't mean anything special. My strength is the average, or a little less than that.

About the throwing, even after I said I'm no good with shooting. Again, these lollipops are special. Aside from the fact that they count as an almost infinite supply (maybe I've got a magical item, I don't know. There always seems to be more lollipops than enough with me), their relation with temperature and other things is really too complicated for me to explain correctly, but I'll try.

One thing I know, I can't let them get too hot. That would cause a reaction in them, which would activate their primary function, 'lower temperature', but in a wider area. In other words, it would turn into a big chunk of ice. In this case, friction, or something of the like, was involved. Tsurara made arrangements so complicated I sometimes think I'm using a machine in candy form, not a chemistry product. Then again, she IS a Yuki Onna; ice must be some kind of expertise. When I threw the damn thing, I didn't hit her directly, but her hair was on the way. That gave birth to ice.

Third, it was just its function, to lower somebody's body temperature. Swallowing makes it a lot faster and we get hypothermia, although it must be an ice demon's heaven. I didn't know if it would work against a monster, but it seems some principles are the same for us.

With thoughts as far away as possible, and my friends' silence, with Mizore's hand passing a cooling sensation to my hurt arm all the while, we finally reached the last club. The rejected one from before. The Newspaper club.

I tuned it all out and let my friends do the talking, while holding Mizore's hand all the time. I got off easy, but, besides the infinite 'what if' scenarios playing on my head, I was more worried about what still had a chance of happening. I could be discovered by scent by other students. I was terrifyingly aware of that now. I smell like a human. And if they found out and acted on it? I was suddenly conscious of my hurting left arm, in bandages as it is. I forced it too much, even for that one movement of hitting that girl's shoulder.

Things are not going in a good direction. I can't say the risk of me being exposed has risen, but I was now in a pinch to find out how o disguise my smell. What exactly is a human smell, by the way? Not knowing I can't judge it by myself. I need a monster to help.

Mizore might not have that great of a nose. My pessimistic mind thought that right away. No one else here knew of my human condition. What can I do? When my thoughts reached this far, I forcefully shut away this way of thinking. If I panic now, it's over. On a direct way, since I will most likely start sweating… How many monsters have that good of a nose anyway? Maybe I just need to evade monsters of her species? Not likely.

When all was done, it was confirmed that the five of us were, indeed, the only members of the club, besides its president. This really was a club on the brink of disbandment. More and more aware of my state, I was barely conscious enough to say bye to my friends, and I had Tsukune open the door to my room in the dormitory.

I decided then to take a shower. I undressed with a little difficulty, but manage in a short while. Then the idiot here stood under the shower and turned it on. Cold water hit my unprepared body with strength, and managed to hit my upper body in its entirety. I screamed all the while it hit my left arm.

After turning it a little, the water started to heat up, and was more comfortable in general, but I moved my arm out of the way. My arm was still stinging from the water and I didn't really think I could bear more of it. Even more, I don't know if I could wet the bandages, or if I'll have to change them now. For now, I gave up on the shower and lay down on the floor. What a pain, in a lot of senses. So, once again, I slept on the bathroom floor.

….

…

A running jump after another was a good description of what the last hours had been for him. The youkai was pursuing his target for hours, and it was already night now. Still, this was a territory that was trusted to him, and he would not let it be trespassed so easily. Cities were still big in this era, and it took a good deal of time to get through one of them. Still, this was their third.

They were now on the street level, occasionally jumping on top of telephones, but in general, in plain sight and scaring a few humans on the way. There was no need to worry; so few witnesses would only be treated as mad people.

The city end was on sight. He summoned a big deal of energy and ran at full speed towards his enemy, but he suddenly found himself locked on a lot of different strings.

"Looks like this was the right decision, if it took this much more time" he heard his opponent say to his face. Finally, wingless bug-like youkai stopped struggling, and only listened to what his executioner had to say.

"I must confess, I tough I had only lost time, so it was a relief, in a way, when you attacked me before anything, even more that you continued to pursue me after I was done with your wings."

He started to walk back and forth in front of the captured youkai "I must give it to them, to put such a weak member as guardian of city; it must mean that they're confident enough to use a 'leader' as an 'eye'… That makes sense; with your eye… they're hearing or watching this now, right? Well then…"

He approached the bug-like form and said in long mouth movements "Tell them… that the Hanger of Joshu is coming".

Kubinashi crossed his hands and was drenched in blood.

….

….

We were all speechless the next morning.

"With great regret do I inform that your P.E teacher, Okuto Kotsubo was found dead in his room this morning. In this sad moment, this will be your provisory teacher, Mr. Taboushirou Kuro."

I'll not lie and say I'm uncertain about this chapter, I actually think it didn't make through nicely… On the schedule´s limit as well… Don't worry, I would never just rush to meet it and make it bad consciously. So far it follows the original RV plot, but I'll start messing with it when things that actually depend on the characters happen, and Mizore's arc, obviously. Well, that's that and the third manga chapter is now past us. I'll try to come up with something during May, but no promises. I'm thinking about organizing this more like a Light Novel and actually number the parts, give me your thoughts on that please. I think it would be really a lot more organized.