"What are you talking about Maka?" Black Star asked, "How could you lose touch with Lord Death?"
"I don't know," Maka admitted, "All I know is that somehow, I lost contact with him."
"Well we are in a tunnel," Black Star observed, "Do you think you just lost his signal?"
"Idiot," Kid told him, "My father doesn't need a signal to communicate through a mirror."
"Then what could it be then?" Kilik Rung asked, "Do you think that someone is blocking the connection?"
"It's very plausible," Ox observed, "We are on their home turf, and we don't quite know the extent of the Great Barrier."
"Well, what will we do now?" Kim asked, "If whatever is ahead is strong enough to block Lord Death's powers, what chance do we have against them?"
Maka thought about this for a moment. "We have to keep going," she said at last.
"Are you sure about this Maka?" Soul asked.
"We have no choice," she answered to everyone, "They have already made an enemy of the Academy. Lord Death himself has ordered us to take care of them before they become a problem. Besides, we can't turn back now with the Great Barrier in the way. Let's keep moving. It would probably be best for all weapons to remain in your weapon forms until this mission is over. For now, let's head on towards Yokai Academy."
Maka led her troops through the tunnel, relying on her Soul Perception to guide her to Yokai Academy. Soon, they found their way through the tunnel, and made it outside. They found themselves on a cliff overlooking a blood-red ocean. Off in the distance along the cliff, they saw an old, decrepit building that seemed to resemble a haunted mansion. Maka sensed that this must be Yokai Academy.
"Be careful," she told her friends, "I'm sensing that their soul wavelengths are increasing in power."
"Increasing?" Black Star asked, "But what does that mean?"
"It means," Kid began, "That they know we're coming. They've dropped their human guises and are preparing for battle."
"Right," Maka concurred, "We'd better circle around the place and attack from all sides. This could be a dangerous fight, so I won't force you to stay. Value the lives of our own over victory. If you feel the need to retreat, I won't keep you here. I'm counting on all of you to do your best."
Forging their way through the woods, Stein and his fellow teacher Sid Barrett rushed on ahead to draw attention to the front of the school, while the Spartoi circled around and struck from behind.
"We'll need to keep our guard up," Stein told his partner, "There's no telling what we may face up ahead. If they are capable of blocking Lord Death's powers, they may be stronger than we could ever imagine."
"Yeah, I'm aware of that," Sid answered, "Back when I was alive, I was always a very cautious man. We're going up against monsters here; there's bound to be more than a few surprises in store for us."
As if to prove his point, the ground underneath the two teachers gave way, and they had fallen into a large pit.
"It's a trap," Stein observed, "This means that they knew we were coming!"
"Oh, we knew all right."
They turned to find three average-looking guys were standing behind them.
"Who are you three?" Sid asked.
"I," the guy in the middle told them, "Am the president of the Moka Akashiya Fan Club, and resident karakasa, Kozo Kasahara."
"As for me," the short, pudgy one said, "I'm the president of the unofficial Kurumu Kurono Fan Club and noppera-bo, Bozaburo Taira."
"And I," the skinny-looking one added, "I'm president of Yukari Sendo's Private Fan Club and a rokurokubi, Kubisaku Nagai."
"Together," they all said in unison, "We form the Cute Girls Fan Club Coalition!"
Silence filled the air as Sid and Stein waited for the hidden camera crew to come out.
"Seriously?" Stein asked, "This is who they put on the front line?"
"What was that?" Kasahara asked, "Wait, are you dissing us?"
"The rokurokubi, karakasa and noppera-bo are among the weakest breeds of monsters there are," Stein explained, "It would be child's play for us to defeat you."
"What did you just say?" Nagai started, "Why don't you come here and let us show you just what 'weak breeds' we are!"
"That's enough out of you three."
Everyone turned to see Yokai Academy's biggest playboy, Saizo Komiya, standing on the edge of the pit.
"You've already done your job," Saizo told the Coalition boys, "You were supposed to set the trap, and that was it. Now let the real monsters take it from here. You weaklings couldn't even beat Tsukune. You won't have a shot against real opponents."
"Hey, don't play the Tsukune card on us," Taira retorted, "After all, you were beaten by him even quicker than we were!"
Saizo shot a murderous glare at the three, who immediately cowered from the bully.
"Just shut up," he growled, "And let me show you how it's done."
With that, the playboy transformed into his true form, an orc, and tried to attack Sid. Before he could touch the zombie, however, a rain of swords dropped down from the sky and embedded themselves in the ground around them. Mifune appeared between the two and made a slash at Saizo. The orc had just enough time to back away from the attack.
"What the hell?" Saizo asked, "Where did you come from?"
"You shouldn't get so careless," Mifune told Sid, "Let your guard down for even a second, and it could cost you your life."
"It's ironic, really," Sid observed, "The last time we met on the battlefield, we were on opposing sides. Now, here we are, fighting for the same goal."
"We may be in a bit of trouble," Stein commented, "I doubt we would so severely overestimate an enemy like this. If this is their defenses for the front line, they must have anticipated our battle plan and prepared to counter it."
"I couldn't agree more," Sid added, "What's worse is that this enemy is virtually unknown to us, so it's impossible to tell how strong they are or what they're capable of."
"Hey, are you ignoring me?!" Saizo roared, "I'll show you to mess with me!"
He rushed at the teachers ready to attack. They all focused their attention immediately to their opponent.
"Looks like we'll have to deal with that later," Mifune told them, "Because right now we have other problems. Let's just hope the kids can deal with whatever tough opponents they have to fight.
Ageha Kurono cursed her luck. She couldn't believe that she cancelled two dates to rush out to her alma mater for this.
"Just my luck," she muttered to herself, "My daughter asks me to come all this way out here to help, and I end up getting tucked away in this far corner of the school. And worst of all, they put me here next to HER."
Ageha shot a venomous glare at her longtime rival Tsurara Shirayuki, who was discussing the battle plan with Fujiko Sendo, who simply nodded in affirmation. Tsurara smiled when she saw her rival looking daggers at her.
"Well then," she said, "I believe that covers the strategy portion of this battle. Did you understand all of that Ageha? Or do I have to dumb it down for your simple mind to grasp."
"I have to admit," Ageha retorted, "It was rather difficult, what with you being so unbelievably boring and all. But you needn't worry about me; I'm a lot smarter than I look, you know."
"Of course," Tsurara added, "It must be so nice for you to have to think with only TWO brains."
"You take that back!" she shouted, "You're just jealous because you haven't had a date in ages while I have more men than I know what to do with!"
"How unfortunate," Tsurara chided, "I guess that the only thing you're good for is being a tramp."
Poor Fujiko silently watched this back-and-forth between Tsurara and Ageha, getting incrementally more terrified each time one of them said something.
"You know," Tsurara added, "It's really quite a shame. You really haven't changed a bit since high school. You're just as much of a hussy as you were back then!"
"And you're still a stubborn stalker who doesn't know when to give up!" Ageha shouted, "You haven't learned anything when you drove Gonzo away with your hanging onto him like white on rice!"
"Like you're one to talk, Ageha!" she countered, "You practically prostituted yourself to him and he wouldn't even give you the time of day!"
"I know you did not just say that," she growled.
"I believe that it's time," Tsurara began, forming her ice claws, "For us to end this fight once and for all."
"Fine then," Ageha agreed, extending her own claws, "Give me an excuse to put a few holes in that pretty face of yours."
Before either side could launch an attack, Fujiko leapt in between the two women to try to break them up.
"Fujiko!" Ageha exclaimed, "What are you doing?! Get out of our way now, or else-"
Ageha was unable to finish her thought as Fujiko began pointing frantically toward the forest on the edge of the school. The two rivals turned to see Kilik emerge from the underbrush.
"Well, well," he said to himself, "What do we have here? A snow woman, a witch and a succubus, if I'm not mistaken; a worthy set of opponents, I can tell. Nevertheless, I shall be able to handle them in no time. Pot of Fire, Pot of Thunder, it is time for us to battle!"
He crashed his twin gauntlets together, and they sparked with flame and electricity respectively. The three moms each took a step back from their opponent.
"Tch," Ageha mused, "This brat is pretty powerful; more than a match for any of us on our own."
"I suppose it can't be helped," Tsurara concurred, "Shall we form a temporary truce to deal with this obstacle?"
"Very well," the succubus agreed, "Truce it is."
"I already told you, Ox," Kim said as she circled around the school, "I can handle this on my own. I don't need you hanging around me."
"Oh, no my dear," her unwanted guide answered, "I couldn't bear to let you get hurt. Therefore, it is my duty to do all that I can to protect you."
"What am I, chopped liver?" Jacqueline asked from her lantern, "I'm her weapon partner, so it's my job to protect my meister."
"I'm sorry, Jacqueline," Ox continued, "But as long as this enemy remains unknown, I cannot let you two fall into any harm. Besides, I also promised Harvar that I wouldn't let anything happen to you either."
"Hey," his partner exclaimed from inside his spear form, "Don't bring me into this!"
Ox stopped in his tracks and turned his attention toward the school. Kim noticed this and stopped too.
"What do you see?" she asked.
"I think," Ox answered, "We may have been spotted. I'm sensing two powerful monster souls approaching us from the school. We'll have to meet them at the school itself; we can't afford to give them a territorial advantage."
Ox and Kim hurried straight for the school ready for battle. They emerged from the forest to see Yokai's math and gym teachers, Ririko Kagome and Okuto Kotsubo respectively, waiting for them.
"Well, so nice of you to come," Kagome said, "You may be an unwanted guest to our school, but please, allow us to give you a traditional Yokai Academy welcome."
"As per regulations," Kotsubo continued, "We are required, by law, to kill any human who even sees this place. For you to come and attack our school, we must use every means at our disposal to carry out this sentence."
The teachers then assumed their monster forms, Kagome obtaining the lower body of a snake with a flower-like appendage at the tip, and Kotsubo sprouting octopus tentacles from his back.
"A lamia and a kraken," Ox observed, "Both very powerful monsters on their own, but together, they make a deadly combination. Just be careful of the lamia's tail. If she catches you, she'll bring you under her control."
"You don't have to worry about me," Kim told him, "I'm not letting that thing anywhere near me. Just try not to get yourself killed."
Ox rushed in to meet his opponents while Kim stood behind him to cover him with her flamethrower-like lantern. Jacqueline's flame cloaked Ox in a wall of fire that hid him from the monsters' view. Kotsubo fired a stream of water from the octopus-like growth on his back and quickly extinguished the vortex of flames. Before he could react, however, Ox leapt out of the steam with electricity crackling from his spear ready to strike at the kraken. Only Kagome's lightning-quick moves kept her coworker alive, parrying the attack with her tail. Ox tried to get away, but was tripped up by Kotsubo's tentacles. As Ox fell to the ground, Kagome opened the flower on her tail and prepared to strike.
"It's over now," she told him, "Prepare to die!"
"NOOOOOOO!"
Kim rushed to Ox and pushed him out of the way of Kagome's attack, getting herself pinned by the flower in the process.
"Foolish girl," Kagome said, "Trying to sacrifice yourself to save your friend isn't going to help you. But if you're so eager to throw your life away, then DIE!"
"You leave her alone!"
Ox recovered from the shock and rushed at Kagome. He slashed at her tail, causing blood to gush out and for her to release Kim from her grasp.
"Why you little-!" Kagome started
"ROYAL THUNDER!"
An intense burst of lightning burst from Ox's spear, electrocuting Kagome and Kotsubo and blasting them back. They landed in a crumpled heap in front of them. Ox dropped to his knees due to the strain of the powerful attack.
"Ox!" Kim called out as she rushed to his side, "Are you all right?"
"I should be the one asking you that," he panted, "You're not hurt are you?"
"Idiot," she told him, "Why did you do that? I would have been just fine on my own!"
Before Ox could answer, he spotted a girl, a little younger than they were, running towards them. She stopped when she saw the way Ox was looking at her. He struggled to his feet and prepared to attack.
"No you can't!" Kim yelled as she grabbed onto Ox, "You can't hurt her!"
"What are you talking about?" he asked, "I'm just fine. I can handle-"
"No, you don't understand," she interrupted, "I'm not going to let you hurt her. She's my little sister!"
Ox froze when he heard that. When Kim's sister approached them, he could see the family resemblance between the two.
"Wait a minute," he started, "If she's here, and she's your sister… that means she's… and that would make you…"
He never got to finish his thought. Kagome and Kotsubo slowly got up from the heap they had been thrown in and readied to fight again.
"Ooh, how dare you?" Kagome growled, "I'm a teacher! That means I deserve to be treated with the utmost respect!"
The teachers rushed at them with murder in their eyes. Ox tried to prepare to fight, but the exhaustion from his last attack still had the better of him and he dropped to the ground again. With no other option, Kim reluctantly stood between her friends and the attackers.
"Wait, Kim," Ox started, "What are you…"
"I'm sorry you have to see this…" she told him, "Soul Protect… Release."
As soon as she dropped the spell, a wave of energy emanated from Kim, causing Kagome and Kotsubo to freeze in their tracks. Kim began to chant her next spell, lifting the two teachers into the air and then launching them far away. Ox stared in amazement as Kim turned to face him with tears streaming down her face.
"You…" Ox started, "You're a witch?"
"I'm so sorry," she apologized, "I never wanted you to see me like this. You were always so kind to me no matter what I did. That's why I tried to keep this a secret from you. I was afraid you might not like me anymore if you found out that I was a witch. I just didn't want to hurt you. So if you hate me for what I am or what I've done, I won't blame you. I just wish…"
Before Kim could finish, Ox walked up to her and gently wrapped his arms around her, catching her by surprise.
"It doesn't matter," he told her, "If you're a witch or not. You're still the same Kim Diehl that I know and love no matter what. That's all that I need to know."
Overcome with emotion, Kim held on tightly to Ox and wept openly on his shoulder. Ox held her in a loving embrace that seemed to last an eternity. Harvar and Jacqueline stood off to the side holding hands as they let their meisters have their moment.
"Anyway," Ox said once Kim had stopped crying, "I think we should probably leave now. I don't think either of us are in the condition to fight, and we have to look out for your sister too."
"You're right," she agreed, "We need to get Amy as far from here as possible."
They left the school, heading deep into the woods and far from the battlefield and all its bloodshed.
