I DO NOT OWN Rosario + Vampire

Kokoa trudged through the thick brush of trees panting heavily. Every step she took in the opposite direction of the school, away from the witch, her strength felt like it was being depleted. "Damn. Why is the blood wearing off so quickly?" Kokoa muttered. A thick fog started to envelop her consciousness once again sending the young Vampire to her knees. Trembling with effort Kokoa tried to fight off the impenetrable mist before it took over her body.

"Miss Kokoa? There you are! Are you alright? You don't look so good." Kokoa looked up to see her bat companion hovering over her. As the fog in her head began to thin Kokoa relaxed slightly even with the throbbing pain in her head.

"Yes. I'm fine. Don't worry Kou-buddy." The bat hovered in front of Kokoa's face to look over his master with a worried gaze.

"Miss Kokoa I really think we should call for he-"

"No!" Kokoa snarled. The bat braced himself for the impending pain his master would inflict on him for overstepping his boundaries but was left shocked as it never came. Opening his eyes, the bat saw his master doubled over clutching her head.

"I… am an S class super monster… a Vampire! I am far from a weakling!" Kokoa's words came out strangled between heavy gasps of air. "I don't… need help from anyone!" Suddenly Kokoa's mind began to buzz with thoughts of Yukari. The witches childish and innocent smile, angelic laughter, and the kindness that swirled in her violet eyes. As the fog thickened and took control of her mind, Kokoa felt the words she swore to never utter on the tip of her tongue.

"I… love...Yuk-augh!" Kokoa groaned as the throbbing in her head increased the more she fought against her body's will. Every bone, fiber, and cell in her being wanted to do nothing more than expose her and her secret. A secret Kokoa swore to never let come to fruition even verbally. It was as if some strange force was compelling her body to move in the direction of the school. The same direction as the woman that plagued her mind. "Come Kou-buddy. L-let's go back to my dorm." Kokoa shook her head to shake off the haze in her vision and tried to stand on shaky legs.

"Miss Kokoa I really think you need help." Kokoa glared at the concerned bat.

"Shut up before I-" The young Vampire saw the world around her begin to spin. It swirled in a myriad of colors before turning to an inky black.

"I still remember when it all started…"

"Leave me alone you creep!" Yukari shouted as she desperately tried to free her arm from the ogre's grasp.

"You think you can make a fool out of me and get away with it? Well you have another thing coming." Yukari glared at the ogre. Both monster we're completely unaware to the young Vampires presence in a nearby tree.

"How pathetic. A monster like him is easy to beat. Her first mistake was actually allowing him to capture her." Kokoa mused inside her head as she watched the exchange.

"It's not my fault you didn't know the material! Maybe if you actually used that small brain of yours you'd know it!" Kokoa chuckled at the jab.

"She's got a lot of guts that's for sure, but that can only get you so far. Maybe this will teach her that." Kokoa thought to herself. The ogre bristled at Yukari's comment.

"You know what you little brat? I don't think anyone would give a damn if I got rid of your smart ass. If anything, I'll be doing them a favor." As the enraged ogre raised his fist Kokoa felt a strong urge to intervene.

"No. What am I thinking? This isn't a moment to play super hero. A good beating would teach her a good lesson about being involved in the monster world. It's survival of the fittest." The young witch braced herself as the ogre's fist approached her face. Kokoa launched out of the tree and caught the incoming punch.

"You monsters disgust me. Picking on the weak to make yourselves feel bigger. Fight someone your own size." Kokoa spat as she shoved back the ogre with ease. The ogre recovered from his shock and glared at the vampire.

"Get out of here. I'm already dealing with one half pint. If you got a problem, wait in line." Kokoa chuckled darkly.

"You dare order me to "wait in line"? Yukari was right. You do need to use that small brain of yours. If you even have one." Kokoa let her Mana surround her in an orange mist. The ogre's expression of ire was replaced with terror.

"Y-you're? A Vampire?" The ogre stuttered.

"Took you long enough." Kokoa rolled her neck side to side loosening up the muscles in her neck and shoulders. "I'm tired of waiting. I want you to remember this day. If you cross me again I won't give you the privilege of living!" In a flash Kokoa was right in front of the ogre. Spinning on her heel she delivered a powerful kick to the ogre's stomach sending him flying into the trees of the forest.

"Oh no! My ribbons torn! I'll have to ask Moka to help me fix it." Yukari huffed. Kokoa turned around and bit back the urge to go off on the witch.

"She was nearly pummeled and yet she stands here as if nothing happened?" Taking a calming breath Kokoa turned around to face the ignorant witch.

"What kind of monster are you? An ogre of all monsters cornered you? Don't you feel ashamed for being so weak?" Yukari looked up from her torn ribbon and cocked her head. Her brow furrowed as she pondered what Kokoa said.

"Ashamed? Well I wouldn't say that exactly. I mean yeah I feel bad that jerks like him can still get the better of me, but that just means I need to work on my magic some more." Kokoa stood dumbfounded. Suddenly her anger began to rise.

"Why didn't you fight back? He was going to clobber you into a bloody heap and all you did was stand there provoking him!" Yukari sighed heavily.

"My wand broke while I was practicing explosion incantations." Kokoa's rage grew at the witches words. The vampire was confused as to where the anger was coming from. Ignoring that thought she continued to yell at the careless witch.

"And yet you let him corner you, and still provoked him? That's not bravery it's stupidity you moron!" Yukari herself began to get angry.

"I couldn't defend myself physically but at least I did so verbally!" Kokoa growled out her next words through clenched teeth.

"That's not defense either. It's putting your damn foot into an early grave." Taking another calming breath Kokoa continued with her attempt at warning the young witch. "Without your wand you're practically a human. Next time stick close to the succubus, snow woman, or that damn sorry excuse for my sister. At least then you won't have to shamefully let yourself be cornered by low class monsters like him." Kokoa said as she thumbed over her shoulder to the limp body of the beaten ogre.

"It would be even more shameful if I let something as trivial as that stop me from living my life." Kokoa once again found herself shocked at the witch's words. "Yeah I know I'm not physically the strongest of my friends but that shouldn't stop me. I'm strong in my own way. If I fight and try in my own way, then there's nothing to be ashamed about because I've done everything I could. I know witches are labelled weaklings, mocked for being more human than monster, but you know what? I don't care. I don't need to care about what I am, but who I am." Kokoa felt a strange tug in her chest and a fluttering in her stomach. The Vampire brushed aside these weird feelings instead listening to her still flaming anger.

"You're just spouting crap at this point. What would you have done if I didn't come huh? He could have killed you if he wanted." Yukari's stern features softened into a more grateful expressions.

"He didn't. Because of you. So, thank you. I promise to be more careful next time." Yukari turned and ran off towards the school. "See you Kokoa!" She cheerily shouted over her shoulder with a giggle in her tone. Kokoa watched her fade off into the distance as her heart pounded in her ears.

From that point onwards Kokoa was drawn to the young witch. She found herself looking for her everywhere she went. When she spotted her, she wanted to approach her, but at the same time she couldn't bring herself to. It's was as if Yukari invaded Kokoa's body and spread through her veins with an unfamiliar fire. Not long after the encounter Kokoa discovered what was happening to her. She fell for Yukari.

Instead of embracing the fuzzy, warm feelings she buried them deep down within herself. Such feelings could never be acted upon. It will only bring both parties pain and suffering. Kokoa knew the price of acting upon such desires with her vampire status and Yukari's own. Not to mention they were both women. The monster world would see them as nothing more than a disgrace. So, to protect them both Kokoa locked away her feeling. The only remembrance she had was the slight tug that still came whenever she saw Yukari smile or laugh.

Through the murky darkness a familiar voice made its way to Kokoa's ears. However, the more the voice spoke the more it changed. The smooth pitch becoming higher and chipper.

"Yukari..." The name continued to call to her. Repeating Kokoa's name. The forbidden words once again made their way to the tip of the Vampires tongue. Fighting the urge to expose what she desperately refused come to light became harder and harder with every call of her name. The resistance lessened as Yukari's voice engulfed her in a feeling of protection and comfort. Soon Kokoa let the secret she so desperately fought against escape her lips.

"Yukari, I love you." Kokoa heard a gasp of surprise. Fluttering her eyes open, instead of being met with the childish face of her crush, she was faced with another vampire. This one covering her mouth in shock as her pink hair cascaded down her shoulders.

"That explains everything." Moka mumbled shattering Kokoa's sense of reality as her world crumbled beneath her.