Chapter 3

"I'm home, beloved," Koji called out as he shut the front door behind him, exchanging the icy, winter air for the comforting warmth of his home. He shrugged off his coat as he listened for an answer from his wife, Akane. Although he had adapted quite well to the newest culture he had become a part of (after living so long, one is required to do so often), Dracula could never really let go of that particular term of endearment.

"Darling!" An excited squeal came from the kitchen where a clanging of pots and pans suddenly halted at the sound of Koji's daily greeting. A petite figure with shoulder-length chestnut hair scurried into view and Koji opened his arms wide, inviting his lover in for an embrace. He had barely closed his arms around her when she started off like a machine gun, firing rounds and rounds of words into her assaulted husband's ears.

"Woah honey, slow down there," he let out a booming laugh at his wife's antics, "In a language I can understand please!"

With a sheepish grin, Akane took a deep breath and started again, "Tsukune's here, Koji!"

The sealed vampire's eyes widened at this revelation. Break for Youkai Academy wasn't for another three weeks, so why was his son home so early? His expression darkened at the thought that something had happened to his beloved boy. He didn't have time to ruminate on that disturbing possibility however, because Akane was still going like a spitfire.

"…has changed to much Koji! He dyed his hair, and has gotten so muscular! He looks so handsome!" Akane's eyes lit up with pride as she talked about her son's new appearance. It was shallow yes, but every mother wants her child to be attractive, so they not?

"Wait, what did you say?" Koji didn't think he'd heard his wife correctly.

"He looks so handsome?" Akane was puzzled.

"No, before that."

"He dyed his hair?"

Koji smirked, apparently he had heard right, "Yeah. What colour did he dye it, beloved?"

Akane had a wistful look in her eyes, "Pure, snowy white, Koji. I didn't expect it, but he looks so much more like you, somehow!"

Koji snorted with laughter, if what had happened to his son was what he thought had happened, it wouldn't be surprising at all that he looked more like him. Although, it begs the question, who?

Who was the lucky vampire that somehow managed to awake the dormant son of Dracula?

"Son?" Koji rapped his knuckles on his son's bedroom door with uncharacteristic softness.

"Come in, dad." Came the unfamiliar voice in reply. Koji grinned from ear to ear, a classic Cheshire Cat smirk, at the tone his son's voice had taken on.

I legitimately cannot believe that this has happened. I can't believe my Tsukune has finally awoken. I didn't think it would ever be possible. Oh my dear boy, what a wonderful turn of events.

He wiped away an imaginary tear, although the fatherly pride he felt was one hundred percent real, as he slowly opened the door to his son's room. He wanted to heighten the suspense for himself.

Tsukune was sitting at his desk, his white head in his hands and looking utterly dispirited.

Ah. He must have come home to tell us that he is no longer human, Koji deduced expertly, It seems as if he chickened out when it came to Akane.

The sealed vampire suppressed a chuckle. Now was not the time, especially seeing as the boy was so obviously conflicted.

Well, like the good father he was, Dracula decided to play along and wait until his son was ready to tell him the truth himself. He wouldn't push him.

Tsukune's father eased himself onto his son's bed and looked at the boy, who had his back to him, expectantly. The new vampire could feel Koji's eyes burning holes into his back as he waited for an explanation about his new appearance.

The teen licked his lips, but his tongue was dry with nervousness and did not help one bit. It ran over his fangs however, and he shuddered involuntarily at the harsh reminder of why the Director had made him return home.

He was going to tell his parents the truth. But how would they react? Would they disown him? Accept him? Turn him in to the authorities?

Tsukune shook his head to clear it of such unwanted thoughts and heard his father clear his throat behind him.

With a deep sigh, the vampire teen swivelled around on his desk chair and looked at the man who had raised him through the cheap contact lenses the Director had given him for the purpose of this trip.

He couldn't deny that he indeed looked more like his father after his transformation, which didn't make much sense at all. His father was a handsome man though, and Tsukune certainly wasn't complaining at his sudden increased resemblance for that fact.

"Well son, you have certainly changed since I last saw you," a twinkle of mirth could be seen in Koji's eye, but Tsukune didn't notice it. He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts.

If only you knew dad.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Uh, y-yeah. I guess…Listen dad, there is something I have to tell you…"

Tsukune trailed off and put his face in his hands again.

Koji suppressed the urge to groan. His son was so unnecessarily nervous!

He knew he'd resolved not to push him, but how about a little nudge in the right direction?

"Take off the contact lenses, Tsukune," the man said, gently.

Huh? Tsukune was taken aback. How did he -?

"Come on, son. It's alright," Koji smiled encouragingly at his son.

This was certainly unexpected, Tsukune thought as he warily removed the lenses from his irises. He winced as he heard the gasp his father let out and quickly ducked his head, holding up both hands as if to protect himself from whatever came next.

"My, my Tsukune. Positively reptilian," Koji cackled at his lame, inside joke, while Tsukune merely looked up to stare at his father in shock.

Of all the reactions…this was certainly one he had not banked on.

"Who was it that turned you, son?" Koji inquired.

Uh oh, so much for a little nudge. I have to learn to keep my big mouth shut. Ah well, too late now. May as well carry on…Koji shrugged as his thoughts reached a conclusion that he was not necessarily unhappy with. He needed to know this information after all, both as a father, and as the king of all vampires. For, when he returned, and retrieved his true form, he needed to know who exactly the major players were in the vampire world.

"T-turned me?" Tsukune could not believe his ears.

"You know," Koji sighed as if he was mildly irritated with his son's slowness, "Into a vampire?"

Tsukune's jaw dropped, exposing his elongated canines much to his enthusiastic father's delight.

"Wow, boy! Those are certainly impressive," he reached out with his strong arms and pulled Tsukune's chair closer to the end of the bed he was sitting on. He leaned in close and admired his son's fangs appraisingly. When he pulled away from the boy he gave him an impish grin, making him look even younger than he already did.

"I'm not making you hungry am I?" Koji giggled like a schoolboy, while his son recoiled from him as if he had been burned.

"Dad?! What the hell? How do you know so much!?" Poor Tsukune had no idea what was going on. Here he was, supposed to be revealing an important secret to his father, when his father actually seemed to know more about the subject than he did himself! It seemed as if the tables had turned.

"Father, what are you not telling me?" Tsukune scowled as he pushed his chair further away from his apparently insane parent.

"Aww, enough with the scary vampire face son. It's not gonna work on me, seeing as I invented it," Koji grinned triumphantly at the floored expression on his son's pale face.

It wasn't exactly how he planned telling Tsukune who he really was, but hey, now was as good a time as any, right?

"Wha-what are you saying dad?" all traces of Tsukune's 'scary vampire face' were gone. In its place was a look of utter confusion, and – Tsukune would admit – mild terror.

Koji sighed, aware of how quickly this was all happening for his poor boy. He gestured for the younger vampire to sit beside him on the narrow bed. After a moment's hesitation, and then another moment of mentally berating himself for being afraid of his own father, Koji's son sat beside him.

The infamous vampire put a sturdy arm around his son's shoulders and looked down at him, right in his cat-like, vermillion eyes.

"Son. I am going to tell you something that will shock you. It may even terrify you, but I want you to remember that, no matter what, I am still your dad. That weird guy with the great sense of humour who taught you to ride a bike, and creepily watched you sleep at night," Tsukune let out a snort of laughter at this, "And vowed to protect you with his life the day you came into the world."

"Where is this going dad?" Tsukune's brief smile fell from his face, and a look of worry dominated his crimson eyes.

"Okay," Koji sighed, "I'm just gonna come right out with it."

"Tsukune, your dad is also considered to be a 'dad' to many other people."

"WHAT?!" Tsukune bellowed, making his father jump, "You mean like you've been married before?! I have half-brothers and sisters?! Just how many are you referring to when you say 'many'?"

It was Koji's turn to snort with laughter when he realised just how tightly his son had grabbed hold onto the wrong end of the stick.

"NO! No, of course not, son! If only it could be as simple as that," Koji grimaced as his son glowered at him, unimpressed.

Koji continued nevertheless, "What I mean, is that a lot of people consider me their father. A whole race in fact."

Tsukune gasped at his father's words, immediately catching on to his drift. He stood up from the bed swiftly, his father getting up as well.

"You always were a very smart boy, Tsukune," Koji grinned happily as he realised his son had an idea of what he was about to say.

"Welp, here goes," Koji cracked his neck from side to side as if getting ready for a fight, "You, Tsukune my boy, are the son of the very proud, Dracula."

Tsukune continued to stare at his father in disbelief, something he had been doing for the past fifteen minutes, as his father grinned back at him, clearly extremely pleased with himself. Koji rocked back and forth on his heels, like an excited child, as he waited for his son to say something.

The newly revealed Dracula had told his son everything: about his seal, about how there was no known way to break it, about some of his less bloody escapades in the 'Good Ole Days'. Now, he eagerly awaited his son's response to such tales, but the poor boy was dumbfounded. Never in a million years would he have expected this, and from his own father no less.

In light of this new information, he tried to recall how vampires addressed the most powerful of their kind, something he had learned in a passing conversation with Moka.

When he remembered, he gulped and began hesitantly, "My lord, I –".

"Woah woah woah, wait just a second there, son," Koji interrupted with a frown, "There is no need to address me like that. I am your father; your old man," he winked at his son, who immediately felt a massive weight lifted off his chest.

He was being ridiculous! This was his dad and, Dracula or not, he loved him and trusted him with his life. He was still the same person he had always known him to be, he was just…not actually human.

"Right, sorry, dad," Tsukune returned a toned down, but genuine, version of his father's beaming grin. And then suddenly, a thought struck him.

"Dad!"

The urgency in his son's voice surprised Koji to no end and his expression immediately transformed from one of amusement to sombreness.

"What is it, Tsukune?" The (much) older man gave his son his full attention.

"I was given a seal before I turned, because everyone thought that the blood of the vampire who turned me would make me a ghoul, rather than a vampire," Koji shuddered at the thought of his precious boy becoming one of those monstrous creatures, "That didn't happen obviously, but look."

The teen gestured to his wrists, "You don't see it now, do you?"

Koji shook his head, wondering where his son was going with this.

Tsukune continued, "Well, since I clearly had your blood flowing through my veins, arguably it was Moka's blood that 'awakened' my true self."

"Moka" Koji was well and truly lost now.

"The vampiress who turned me. But listen, dad! That's not the point. The point is, I think the potency of your blood broke the seal when I transformed!"

Koji began to bounce on the balls of his feet as he saw where his son was going with this, but he didn't dare hope…

"I think it just needed an extra injection of vampire blood to kick start it! So," Tsukune's eyes sparkled in excitement as he addressed his father, "Seeing as I have both types of blood now flowing through my veins, I think that the combination of the two powerful bloodlines would be enough to break your seal!"

To Tsukune's shock and horror, his father's eyes filled with tears as he stared at his beautiful child. He reached out to him so that he could wrap him in a bear hug and choked into his silver hair, "You'd do that for me? What have I done to deserve you, my precious boy?"

"Of course I would do it for you dad," Tsukune's eyes were wet now too, "And I'll tell you what. We'll do it right now."

"Are you sure you want to go through with this son?" Koji was concerned that he would not be able to control himself if the seal broke too quickly, and he was still latched onto his son's throat.

"Of course, dad! Before I turned, I was practically a blood bag," Realising his slip up at the sight of his father's narrowed eyes, he spluttered on, "Er, what I mean is that it'll be nothing I can't handle."

Father and son were sitting opposite each other as they had done only a half hour earlier, except this time it was Koji in the swivel chair, and Tsukune sitting on his bed.

The boy smiled nervously before inclining his head, "Well – uh – go ahead, I guess, dad."

Koji let out a good natured chuckle, even though what he was about to remind his son of was rather embarrassing, "Well, m' boy. I hate to break it to you but, I don't exactly have fangs at the moment."

Tsukune's cheeks turned a shade of crimson that rivalled his eyes as he realised this overlooked detail. He then remembered that there are more places than the jugular a vampire can feed from.

He brought his wrist to his mouth and bit deeply into it, causing his father's eyes to widen considerably. He then held out his dripping hand to his father with an accommodating smile.

"If you don't drink it now, it'll heal," Tsukune coaxed gently. He felt as if the roles of parent and child had been reversed in some odd way.

Looking his son in the eyes for assurance one last time before they both delved past the point of no return, he placed his mouth around the wound that had already begun to knit itself together.

Tsukune winced as he felt his father draining the blood from his wrist in a more violent fashion than he was accustomed to. He may not have had fangs, but he certainly knew what he was doing. Still, it was far less pleasant than the little nips Moka loved to give him when she was hungry.

Much to both of their surprise, Koji finished his drink quicker than they had both expected. Tsukune held back a retch as he took in his father's blood smeared mouth; it just was so inherently wrong for him.

After a few moments of absolute nothing, the pair looked at each other, disappointment evident in both pairs of eyes.

However, it was when Akane called from the kitchen that dinner was ready, and the two stood up to leave that it began to start.

The night sky turned a blood red, and an unnatural wind blustered through the leaves on the trees outside Tsukune's bedroom window. Then, all of a sudden, a flurry of bats tumbled through the open window and began swarming around the teen's father. Tsukune was thrown back by the sheer force of which the bats had pummelled unto his room and could only watch on in an awed terror. Without hesitation, they adhered to their original master and chirped excitedly, covering Koji with a full body, bat weaved suit of armour, through which no part of him could be seen.

Only as soon as the last bat had found its place, did Tsukune move…only to be thrown back once more as the bats left their now transformed master in another whirlwind. The teen shielded his face with his arms until he was sure that all of those severely irritating creatures had left his room once more.

When he gazed up at his father again, he was sure his jaw fell straight off of his skull.

The vampire standing in front of him was the most intimidating being he had ever beheld in his life. Thick, silver waves ran down the length of his back, the tips of pointed ears just visible through the rich locks. His alabaster skin was flawless and almost as white as the hair on his head. The man Tsukune could hardly recognise as his father now wore a black dress shirt and pants, knee high black boots and a long black cloak with the trademark high collar. This appearance coupled with the eyes that perfectly matched the hue of the sustenance this man required made for a terrifying and dangerous appearance. Well, that and the oppressive demonic aura that filled the room, its contrasting pitch black and scarlet flames licking at the walls, and at the boy huddled against the wall.

This creature was certainly at the top of the food chain on any planet.

Tsukune felt his breath catch in his throat as this fear-inducing vampire king turned to look at where he was still crouching on the floor, his feline eyes narrowed and his mouth turned down at the corners.

Dracula opened his mouth to speak, "I'm batman."

And with that ridiculous dad-joke, the vampire king burst into a fit of hearty laughter, restraining his aura at the same time and allowing his son to finally take a breath. The ethereal flames were pulled into the still imposing figure before the boy, and he could now see that his fathers 'watch' was indeed nowhere to be seen.

"We did it," Tsukune said quietly, causing his father's raucous laughter to die down. The vampire took his son's head under one arm and ruffled his white mop with his free hand, being careful not to scratch the boy with his slightly elongated, black nails.

"You did it, my boy," He released the boy and clasped his shoulders, beaming with fatherly love. It ironically seemed to make him all the more terrifying, but Tsukune pushed his fear away as Koji continued to speak, "I am so proud of you, son. Not just because you managed to make your dear old dad the happiest vampire in the world by restoring his true self to him, but because you displayed your courage and inner strength in its full glory tonight."

He winked one predatory eye, "But then again, we wouldn't expect less from the son of Dracula now would we."

A call from down the hall abruptly ended this bonding moment, making both figures freeze to the floor at its sound, "What is taking you two so long? Didn't you hear me call for dinner?"

"Akane"

"Mom"

The two vampires declared the name in unison as if it were the most terrifying sound to grace the face of the earth. Even Vlad Dracula, the first vampire to ever walk the earth, was quaking in his new, calf-hugging boots.

It was such a comical sight, to see the king of vampires so seemingly terrified of a human woman, that Tsukune would have laughed, had he not been equally as fear-struck. How on earth were they going to explain this to his mother?

"Are you sure you can't, like, form a disguise or something with your powers?" Tsukune whispered to his returned vampire father. Surely he would be able to make himself resemble his old human form at least, with his clearly formidable capabilities.

"Of course I can't!" the older vampire hissed back, "There is no form of vampire Youki that could accomplish that. Believe me, I've tried."

The man looked dejectedly at his son's carpeted floor. In his eagerness to be returned to his natural state, his greediness had clouded his judgement and had prevented him from considering the effect this choice would have on his better half.

"Akane…" he said softly. Would she leave him?

The poor vampire didn't know what he would do if his beloved asked for a divorce. Actually, he did know. He had done it once before. He would go on a rampage and cause such unimaginable death and destruction that there would be absolutely no chance that she would ever even consider wanting him back afterwards.

He didn't want that to happen, of course not. But, it was in his nature and he had been down this road before. If he knew anything, he knew human beings and their fear of the supernatural. He had been a first-hand spectator to it for the centuries he had been sealed, as well as a first-hand instigator of it for the centuries prior to those, and he didn't dare arrogantly think that he could be the one exception to the universal rule.

The silver-maned man looked up at the feel of a comforting hand on his shoulder and looked into the warm, red eyes of his vampire son.

So his nature hasn't become corrupted by the arrogance and sense of superiority that all vampires are pitifully born with, the older vampire marked with a sad smile, he is still the kind, warm-hearted boy I raised.

It frustrated him that the vampires as a race considered themselves to be above all other living beings. Of course he had believed that lie as well, (apparently spending hundreds of years with your true self sealed away could change a guy) but now he knew the truth. That sense of superiority and arrogance were the vampires' greatest downfall and Dracula knew that it would one day bring an end to many of their kind.

"I'll talk to her, dad," Tsukune smiled kindly at his dejected father. He could not even hazard a guess as to what was going on in his mind to make him so utterly heartbroken, so he would do the best he could to help ease some of that potential pain.

Koji's eyes widened, but before he could protest Tsukune continued, "You will obviously get your chance to tell her everything, but let me just get the ball rolling okay?"

With a reluctant nod from his father, Tsukune strode across the room and opened his bedroom door. He looked back at his father and gave him a low bow, bringing a series of protesting splutters from the vampire on the other end of the room.

Tsukune looked up with a mischievous glint in his crimson eyes and winked at his impressive dad before gently closing the door behind him.

He took a deep breath, his bravado faltering and the worry in his eyes becoming apparent now. He was going to ask his father if his mother knew about vampires – and about the two Aono men, but Koji's reaction to his Akane's voice had been proof enough.

Well, Tsukune, he thought to himself, guess you'll still get your chance for the 'big reveal' after all.

Tsukune stood in the archway that separated the hallway from the kitchen, where his mother was sitting at the table and letting out a few feminine huffs of impatience as she glared at the dinner plate in front of her. Tsukune cleared his throat to get her attention and as she looked up at him, her face shone like the sun.

"Oh, Tsukki! I can't believe my boy is finally having dinner with his parents again!" She leapt from the table and threw her arms around Tsukune's neck, her candy-scented perfume bringing back many wonderful memories. In all the years of his childhood, Akane had shown an almost teenager-like preference when it came to material things. She had turned her nose up at the 'old-lady' cardigans and floral eau de toilette, choosing instead the chic black jackets and distinctly sweet fragrances the youth of the time were so fond of.

Now though, she was the epitome of comfort, black silk pyjamas peeking out from under a fluffy, blue dressing gown as her halo of chestnut hair wafted in the cool, winter breeze that came in from the open, kitchen window.

Tsukune cleared his throat again, uncomfortably, "Uh, mom? There's something really important I need to tell you."

Hearing the uncharacteristic seriousness in her son's voice, Akane pulled away and looked at him in the eyes earnestly. Upon noticing their hue, she gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.

Tsukune was confused at this reaction, until she voiced her concerns, "Tsukune, why would you wear such strange contact lenses?"

The vampire teen mentally face-palmed at his carelessness. But still, this may yet work in his favour.

"That's just it, mom," he took a deep breath to steady his nerves, "These aren't contact lenses. I was wearing contacts before."

Akane looked as if she was struggling to understand.

Be a man, Tsukune, he scolded himself in his head, or better yet, be a vampire. Dad is counting on you!

"Mom, I'm gonna show you something now, and I want you not to be scared. Please, just…" Tsukune trailed off. If he didn't do it now, he never would.

Here goes, he thought.

The boy opened his mouth wide, displaying his elongated canines as they glinted magnificently in the glow of the kitchen's ceiling-light. He shut his eyes, not wanting to see any semblance of fear of his mother's face, fear of her own son.

He heard another sharp intake of breath, and then a shaky release of that breath a few moments later as Akane took in her son's new vampiric appearance.

"So you're a…", the woman began, "…vampire, Tsukki?" she squeaked out the rest of her question.

He nodded wordlessly, shutting his mouth and keeping his eyes closed.

A few, tense moments passed.

Then, to his utter astonishment, a gesture that was so unexpected Tsukune opened his eyes wide in surprise, his mother laid a gentle hand on his cheek.

"Tsukune," her smile was small and gentle, but her eyes betrayed her unexpected excitement, "no matter what happens, you will always be my little boy; and your father and I will always, always, love and accept you for who you are. Even if you do happen to be a supernatural creature," she said this last part under her breath, but Tsukune heard it of course. He laughed quietly, his eyes brimming with tears, while his mother drew her changed son into a motherly embrace.

"Speaking of," Akane muttered into her son's silver tresses, "where is that useless husband of mine?"

"About that…" Tsukune pulled away and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "Mom, you may wanna sit down for this…"