AN: Well hears ch 2 sorry for how long it took to get this out. Combination of schedule changes at work and writers block had me stymied for a while. But that's life, incidentally at 32 pages this is the longest anything i have ever written. hope you enjoy please review suggestions and constructive criticism is always welcome but please be civil about it flames are not necessary. Edited and fixed diolog format

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the characters of Rosario+vampire that honor belongs to Ikeda Akihisa I just borrowed them for my story. however the ocs Yosho, Neji and Ayakia as well as the base story are mine

As always special thanks to my editor/ coauthor MasterBroly and to DameM who pointed out the grammar errors and diolog format issue.

And in case any one was confused on the last chapter:

"speaking"

'thoughts'

"altered/demonic voice"

Chapter 2

Yosho and Ayakia just stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. He with his blue-silver eyes with the seemingly demonic pupils and hers wide with astonishment or fear Yosho couldn't tell.

But in fact it was only a few seconds when suddenly he felt Ayakia's energy level drop 'Shit I was afraid that this would happen' thought Yosho as he leaned forward.

Time seemed to slow down around Yosho as for the second time that day he did something that he hadn't done in two hundred years. As Ayakia fell forward rolling over the balcony railing. Yosho was already moving, faster than human perception he had covered the distance between the spot where he was sitting to the edge of the balcony overhang in a fraction of a second.

Planting his left foot on the ground so hard it actually left a small crater in the hard flagstone, He converted his forward momentum to upward momentum. As he rose upward he caught Ayakia in mid air. To dispel their extra momentum he performed a simple summersault when he was just passing the rail with his upward momentum spent gravity took over from that point.

Yosho landed in such a way that his body absorbed all of the shock. Yosho quickly carried Ayakia to her room after laying her on her bed he placed his right hand on her forehead.

He growled to himself 'Damn my search wave pulled too much energy from her too quickly.' she barely had enough energy left to keep her alive. Yosho quickly started channeling a large amount of his own energy into her of course he had plenty to spare so it was no problem for him any way.

After a few moments he had stabilized Ayakia, leaving her in bed Yosho hoped that when she woke up she would think that she dozed off and had a strange dream. Yosho was still kicking himself over how stupid he had been.

'You stupid ass if Montero were here you'd be climbing out of a smoldering crater in the ground for that damn stunt of yours.' Yosho mentally screamed at him self as he walked down the stairs and out to the courtyard he actually stepped into the crater his foot left as he jumped to catch Ayakia.

Once again growling to him self as he accessed the power he had obtained from Etherion. , The last arch demon of the earth tribe, And used it to close the crater, leaving no evidence that it had ever been there.

After closing the crater Yosho continued across the training yard, when he was roughly to the spot where he had been sitting. He froze and again cursed him self for being so stupid. He had been so preoccupied with saving Ayakia from the fall. He had completely ignored the presence that now asserted itself on his senses. Snapping his head to the right he turned to see who had witnessed the use of his powers. And there stood Neji near the gate that was slightly ajar as if it had slipped from the boy's hand to swing closed of its own accord.

For the second time that day he had seen that astonished almost fearful look on one of his students faces. And he felt ashamed for causing that look. He had to correct the situation that he had allowed to occur. In a blink of an eye Yosho was standing in font of Neji he placed his right hand on the boy's forehead and reached for his thoughts, in doing so Yosho found himself watching the events as Neji saw and felt them.

(This is what he saw)

Neji was walking leasurly along the side walk. He had no particular destination he had decided that he needed to take a walk. To clear his head and order his thoughts, after the events that took place in the training hall.

His thoughts kept returning to the inscription on the poniard that was sent to Yosho. The more he thought about it the more he became convinced that it was not an overly elabrate cry for help from a single individual. No it was more like a reminder of a forgotten or neglected duty.

Just as this thought occurred to him Neji was stopped dead in his tracks. Suddenly he felt as if a powerful energy wave had just washed over him.

Although slightly disconcerting the enrgy wave didn't feel hostel. In fact something felt familiar about it but he just couldn't place it. No what worried him was the sensation of some unkown part of him awakening and responding by sending a pulse of enrgy back along the wave.

Neji found the sudden loss of some of his energy taxing but manageable. Looking around Neji guessed that he was about half way between the gate to the dojo and the end of the block, so he decided to go back to the dojo and see if anyone else felt the strange wave of power.

Neji opened the gate just in time to see Ayakia walk out on the balcony over looking the training yard with a somewhat puzzled look on her face. Following her gaze down to the center of the court yard he saw Yosho sitting on the ground in a standard meditation pose.

Neji suddenly noticed that Yosho appeared to be glowing, blue not unlike the color of a lightning bolt.

As if that weren't strange enough, the next thing that happened, Neji would have never believed was possible if he hadn't seen it himself. Ayakia had suddenly fainted and collapsed in just the right way that she rolled over the railing that ran around the balcony.

To Neji's total amazement Yosho just vanished. Only to reappear crouched on the balcony with Ayakia in his arms. As if he had just landed there from a jump. With one smooth motion he stood up and effortlessly caried Ayakia inside.

Neji just stood there slack jawed, His mind refusing to accept the information that his senses had just provided. After a few minutes, Yosho walked out of the dojo by way of a side door that leads to the courtyard. When he suddenly stoped that's when Neji noticed the small round crater in the flagstone. A crater that Neji knew hadn't been there a few minutes ago.

Neji was totally dumbstruck at what happened next. After Yosho lifted his foot out of the crater, Yosho held his hand over the crater palm downward and slowly closed it in to a fist. And the impossible happened again. The crater in solid stone closed as if the stone had turned to water and flowed back into the void left by some recent unknown forceful impact.

After the crater was closed Yosho continued to walk back to the spot where he was sitting. Suddenly he stopped and his head snaped around as if he had just relized that Neji was standing there.

Nejis eyes locked with Yosho's and to his surprise he noticed that Yosho's eyes had changed. They were a deeper blue than they normally were and had a ring of silver in them. But the most prominent and disturbing change were his pupils. They where no longer round, but had become vertical slit's the overall effect was almost demonic.

(End memory sequence)

"S-Sensei what is going-" Neji stammered. Before his sentence was even finished, Neji's view was blocked by the palm of Yosho's right hand.

In his left ear he heard Yosho quietly whisper "Forgive me Neji but you just aren't ready for this reality yet." And with that Neji felt a strong pulse of energy flow through him and every thing went black.

Yosho easily caught Neji as the boy started to fall forward. 'Having ones memory altered is never an easy experience.' Yosho thought as for the second time in the span of three minutes he carried one of his students inside, carefully climbing the stairs so as not to disturb the unconscious boy.

Yosho had never particularly liked this "talent" as Montero called it. The ability to reach into another's mind and shape it any way you see fit. Though undeniably useful in certin situations, it still gave Yosho pause to violate the sanctity of ones mind in that manner.

What really surprised Yosho was the way the boy's power instantly came to his defense. Even though it was done instinctively and with out a clear focus, Neji did resist Yosho's power even for the briefest of moments. Granted he wasn't permantly erasing the memory of what happened just now, only sealing it until Neji was in a better position to understand what he had seen.

Even now with the seal just placed and in theory at it's strongest. Yosho could sense it already beginning to falter, as the boy's power sought to undermine it. 'Hmmm… With the proper training, he could become a powerful element master.' thought Yosho. He suspected Ayakia was the same.

After placing Neji in his bed Yosho glanced at the digital clock on the boy's nightstand. It read eleven thirty. 'What a stellar day it's been, in three hours I've revealed my preseance to any being of power in a fifty kilometer radius. Nearly caused the death of one student and literally played with the other's mind.' Yosho thought as he once again decended the stairs. 'After two hundred years of successfully blending in, why I suddenly decided to come down with a case of stupid I'll never know.' After a heavy sigh "Well what's done is done I can't change it now." quietly said to himself as he crossed the training yard.

Yosho entered the training hall 'well I have some time to kill. Might as well get a workout in.' Yosho's eye fell on his new boken. 'No time like the present to break in my new toy.' He waked over to the table where he had laid the boken. Picking it up him ran his hand down the leingth of the carved blade. Actually considering the material it was made of it was probably cast in the general shape of a sword and then trimed in to shape.

But regardless of how it was made the balance was perfect. It responded to his movments instantly as if it where an extention of his body. The tip tracing small circles in the air, propping the blade of the boken on his shoulder, Yosho walked back out into the courtyard. Settling into a ready stance Yosho began a few basic warmup exercises, Standard stretching mostly.

Once he was warmed up, Yosho adopted a neutral stance holding the boken in his right hand. Then stepping forward and bringing the boken up as if to block a strike or cut someone in half. After that first movement the boken was contsntly in motion as Yosho seamlessly went trough a set of kata of his own invention, As Yosho went through the familiar movements of his swordplay.

Soon Yosho found his mind wandering his thoughts kept tuning to his students, and how he had inadvertently drawn them in to his world. Suddenly Yosho skidded to a stop in a crouched position his boken in his right hand extended behind him as if he had just cut an advsary in half as he passed by. Standing up Yosho flipped the boken into a reversed grip with a flick of his wrist. Tucking the back of the polimer blade aginst the back of his right arm he turned and begaun to walk back to the training hall.

After a few steps he stopped a smile spread across his face as he noticed the presence behind him. At least she was alright, Shaking his head slightly Yosho continued to training hall.

Ayakia stood on the balcony over looking the training yard blushing, as she watched Yosho walking toward the training hall. 'Well at least part of my dream came true, Yosho-sensei is in the courtyard shirtless.' she thought to her self she had just woken up. Rembering her dream she ran to the balcony just in time to see Yosho end his kata.

She turned and walked back into the dojo "Well it's official Ayakia you got the hots for sensei, dreaming about him shirtless and saving you from a possibly fatal fall. Yeah that is a definite sign that you are crushing on him." she whispered to her self when Neji opened his door and stepped out looking slightly confused.

As he stepped out of his room he nearly ranover Ayakia. Jared out of her thoughts Ayakia looked over at the boy who had just exited his room. She noticed the confused look on his face and it concerned her. Neji rarely was confused about anything and it was usually a bad sign.

Then the thought occurred to her. "Hey, Neji didn't you go for a walk?" Neji's eyes snapped up as if he had just noticed her.

"Oh hi yeah I did, although I don't remember coming back or crashing in my room." Ayakia smile 'so that's what this is all about.' She thought.

"Well knowing you. You probably got lost in thought and came back here with out realizing it."

Neji smiled "Yeah your probably right, anyway have you seen Yosho-sensei?" at this Ayakia blushed a little

"yeah I saw him a few minutes ago. Looks like he just finished his workout,"

Neji stroked his chin like he was thinking about something then he shook his head, looking back at Ayakia "hmmmm if he just finished his workout then he's probably heading to the bathhouse for a shower."

Ayakia felt her cheeks begin to burn as her blush deepend at the thought of Yosho in the shower. Casting about for a distraction she looked at the clock on the wall it read two thirty. She grabbed Neji's wrist "hey I'm starving lets go to the kitchen and get something to eat." with that she dragged Neji down the hall.

Yosho sat in the middle of a large heated pool. It dominated most of the bathhouse. It wasn't meant for bathing, there where shower stalls for that. No the pool about four feet deep was there for relaxation after along day of training at the dojo. It was large enough to accommodate up to 30 people comfortably. It also had a retractable divider incase of a mixed bathing situation, or if someone is extremely modest and wishes for privacy.

A ledge ran around the inside edge of the pool serving as a bench for the occupants to sit on if they so choose. Once again his thoughts turned the events of today. First the dreams that usually herald a great struggle involving Yosho himself. And then the warning that was inscribed on the poniard, Yosho was sure that the poniard was sent by Montero. 'Neji doesn't know how close to the mark he was.' Yosho thought, Once again he cursed himself a fool. After he had defeated Etherion two hundred years ago, He convinced himself that his duty was done. Over the past two centuries he had become complacent.

Then his thoughts turned to his students. He had not meant to fully awaken them. But the deed was done and there was nothing that he could do about it, like it or not they where now a part of his world. Though he had already suspected that they where of the blood line. So he had already begun their training in the ways of the elemental magi. The first step was to strengthen their bodies and teach them to master their spirit energy. This energy goes by many names chi, chakra, and reiatsu just to name a few. While true it has nothing to do with the actual magic. But it does teach control which is critical if a user loses control in the heat of battle he or she could destroy his or herself, consumed by their own power. It also made them a more effective warrior.

When it came to his students Yosho's first instinct was to protect them and viciously rip the throat out of the treat. But in this case he knew all he could do is, give them the tools and training they need. In time he could train them to be truly powerful elemental masters, time he feared he did not have. 'looks like I have to step up their training' Yosho thought, that's when he noticed the current that had developed in the pool.

The water swirled around him as if it where flowing down the drain of a bath tub. Yosho looked around for the cause, when no cause became apparent Yosho relized that it was him. He was releasing a small amount of chi. it was the rotation of the chi around him that was causing the curent.

'There I go again, brooding and not paying attention to what I'm doing.' Yosho thought as he clamped down on his energy. , Effectively cutting off the flow.

Yosho waited till the water stopped swirling around him. Once the current subsided he stood up "well, I guess it's time I got out, there are a few things I need to do before we go to the restaurant tonight."

Yosho's stomach growled as he reached the edge of the pool. Grinning to himself "but first lunch!" he went to a closet in the dressing area of the bathhouse, and dressed himself in some everyday street clothes. Today he chose a pair of loose fitting jeans and a black tee-shirt bearing the symbol of his dojo on the back.

Yosho was walking down the hall towards the mess hall. His thought once again turned to his neglected duty, and the ominous dream that had awoken him this morning. Dreams of that nature always heralded the coming of a great conflict.

The only problem, the dreams never told him who his opponent was or when the battle might take place. Another thing that disturbed him was the subtle shift of balance. This was disturbing because it meant that someone or something was gathering a massive amount of power.

To Yosho's knowledge only two beings where capable of accomplishing this feat, the first were demons or more specifically demons who have gained enough power to rise as an arch-demon or demon lord. The other was a member of his own kind, a high dragon. 'It's possible that a hostile demon lord could have risen in the last two centuries.'

Of the two possibilies Yosho was hoping that it was just some new demon lord with something to prove. That he could handle, while still a formidable enemy demon lords were still limited to only one elemental alighnment.

High dragons on the other hand where infanitly more dangerous, if only for the fact they could use multiple elements. This was necessary to fulfill their role as gaurdians of the balance.

Yosho himself commanded three elements; every time he defeats an opponate of sufficient power he gains their ability as his own, Provided that he doesn't already have that ability. If he does, the absorbed energy strengthens his existing powers.

Such are the laws of elemental magic, the strong survive and the weak are consumed. This process occurs with all members of the elemental bloodlines. It is called "Ascendance" it is how the balance is maintained when a user is defeated, which is one reason why Yosho first instinct is to fiercely protect his students. There are those who seek newly awakened elemental users just to slay them for their power. Yosho resolved to never to allow that to happen.

As Yosho walked down the ornate hall that lead from the bathhouse, he caught the sent of food being prepared. 'so I'm not the only one who thought of having some lunch' Yosho thought as he continued down the hall.

He also caught the conversation that was being held. Being what he was his enhanced senses really could be a curse as well as a blessing. Yosho did not particularly like to eavesdrop but he couldn't very well turn his hearing off.

"… Ayakia you don't understand, I don't remember any thing that happened after your surprise party this morning." Neji said sounding a bit concerned about that fact.

Ayakia's reply sounded exasperated as if she were reiterating a previous point. "And I already told you, it's no big deal you went for a walk and started to day dream and came back without realizing it." By this point Yosho was standing unnoticed just outside the door.

"So what were you doing while I went out for my walk?" Neji asked

"Oh ummm… nothing. I just went to my room and read one of my magazines and dozed off."

"Really then why are you blushing Ayakia? Huh, have a naughty dream about someone?"

This question was answered by silence. So Neji pressed the issue "So you did have one, come on Ayakia tell me who the naughty dream was about."

"No one I didn't have a naughty dream about any one!" came Ayakia's sharp retort.

"That's not what your face is saying Ayakia."

"I told you I did not have a naughty dream about anyone!"

Catching the shift in her tone Yosho decided to intervene before blood was shed. Opening the door and stepping trough Yosho called out "hey guys what's going on?" both teens turned to stare at him. First thing that Yosho noticed was Ayakia's face was indeed light pink and was rapidly deepening to a bright scarlet. Noticing her reaction to his entrance Yosho thought 'Seems that I've picked up another admirer.'

Neji glanced at Ayakia and also noticed her face going from a light shade of pink to bright red. Putting two and two together a victorious smirk spread across his face. Recovering from the shock of the sudden appearance of her "secret" crush.

Ayakia blurted out "sensei! What are you doing here?"

"Well Ayakia-chan the kitchen is usually where one goes to get lunch." Ayakia was speechless at this unexpected sarcasm.

Neji exploded into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Walking up to her with a kind smile, Yosho placed his hand on the stunned girl's shoulder.

"Sorry Ayakia I couldn't resist." with this she started to laugh. She was glad that Yosho had stopped brooding so much. Though she still wondered what had him so up set.

Ayakia found herself gazing into Yosho's eyes, she noticed for the first time a thin ring of silver circling Yosho's pupils. This suddenly brought her back to her dream about Yosho-sensei. Those blue-silver eyes with the demonic pupils that where so intense, it felt like he was staring into her very soul. Then Yosho blinked and the moment was gone. Feeling her cheeks burn with her blush casting about for some sort of distraction, Her eyes falling on the curry that was still on the stove, "Well if you're hungry we where about to have some curry, you can join us if you want."

"I'd love to; it's been awhile since we've had curry." Ayakia smiled and went to the cabinet to get the three bowls. After filling the bowls with rice she ladled the stew like sauce over it.

As she was ladling the curry over the rice, Yosho's sensitive nose detected the amount of the spice that gave the dish its name, it blazed through his sinuses as if he had just bitten into a piece of sushi that was mostly wasabi paste. It was all he could do to keep from sneezing to clear his nose of the smell.

"So did you make this curry Ayakia?" he asked as she set a bowl on the table at his usual place.

"Yeah I found the recipe online and wanted to try it, I hope you like It." they all sat down to eat. Yosho picked up his spoon and prepared himself for that first bite.

As Yosho was raising that first spoon full to his mouth suddenly a strangled cry caught his attention. Neji's face was rapidly turning red and he began to sweat profusely. Dropping the spoon out of his mouth Neji left the table and practically flew to the kitchen sink turning the cold water on full blast he begun to gulp down copious amounts of the cold liquid.

Rounding on Ayakia, his face still dripping with water, screaming, "What the hell Ayakia! Trying to kill us or something?"

Ayakia regarded him with a slightly hurt look. "What do you mean Neji? I followed the recipe exactly." Yosho noticed that she was already halfway through her own bowl.

"So anyway what was the recipe called Ayakia?" he asked.

"Hell Fire Curry, well what do you think sensei?" Ayakia replied.

Realizing that he was now committed to the course, Yosho took the plunge. It took all of his will power to not have the same reaction as Neji. The recipe was aptly named the spice hit instantly. It was like he had bitten off chunk semi-cooled lava. But after he got over the intensity of the spice it was actually quite good. After he had taken along drink from the cup of green tea that he customarily had with his lunch, "Well Ayakia, the flavor of the curry is excellent. But for Neji's sake next time tone down the spice ok."

Beaming at the complement to her cooking, Ayakia replied. "Ok sensei I forgot that Neji can't eat really spicy stuff." At this statement Neji who had been rummaging around in the refrigerator looking for something else to eat. Turned around and glared daggers at her. 'like hell she forgot.' he thought to him self. Of course all Neji's glare did was making Ayakia giggle.

The rest of the meal passed with the usual teasing and bickering between Neji and Ayakia. Yosho finished his meal thinking to himself how much they acted like siblings. In fact he had come to see them as younger siblings over the four years that he has taught and lived with them. He had never wanted them involved in his world but he knew it was far too late for that now. 'If I can't keep them out of my world then I will end this threat quickly.'

The current fight was stopped by the sound of Yosho's chair scraping along the floor as he got up. Noticing the look of grim determination on Yosho's face.

Ayakia started to worry again. "Sensei, Is something wrong?" Yosho looked up.

"No, nothings wrong Ayakia, just have some business I have to attend to that's all." he said taking his bowl over to the sink and washing it out.

Putting the bowl on the drying rack and turning around he noticed the worried looks that both teens cast in his direction. Then Neji spoke up

"business? What business sensei?"

Yosho briefly considered taking them with him. , but immediately dismissed the idea, "Oh nothing extremely important, the headmaster of a local private academy called a little while ago and asked me to drop by. I'm sure you would find it quite boring Neji." Neji didn't look convinced but didn't press the issue further. Glancing at the clock on the wall Yosho turned to leave. "Well guess I'd better get going, ill be back later don't get in to too much trouble while I'm gone ok."

"Yes sensei." was the prompt reply from both teens.

After Yosho left the room, Ayakia turned to Neji holding a finger to her lips. She waited until she heard the front door of the dojo close. Then she said "We are so following him."

Neji regarded her thoughtfully for a moment and then simply stated "agreed."

Having already changed into some street clothes the two teens left the dojo just in time to see Yosho turn the corner at the end of the block. Yosho seemed lost in thought as he walked down the street. Neji and Ayakia followed about half a block behind. Yosho never noticed them, his mind was so preoccupied with his desire to find the disturbance and remove it as quickly as possible.

After about twenty minutes of walking, Yosho entered a tunnel running through a small hill. He stopped and holding up his right hand palm outward and fingers spread wide. Yosho commanded "open" in a voice ringing with both authority and power. Instantly, a glowing blue ring appeared in front of him. Ancient script was just inside the boundary line of the ring. Without hesitation he stepped through the ring and vanished. A few seconds later the ring closed with a small snap.

When Neji and Ayakia reached the tunnel and looked in, all they saw was an empty tunnel. Surprised Ayakia turned to Neji "What the hell! Neji tell me you saw Yosho-sensei go into that tunnel.

" Neji replied, "Yeah I did."

"Then where is he Neji?" she yelled trying to fight the tide of panic that was riseing within her. Just then she heard the sound of a large vehicle stopping behind her. Neji's eyes widened with surprise. Turning around she saw an old bus had stopped beside to them.

The doors opened to reveal the creepiest bus driver that either of them had seen. "Can I help you kids?" he asked. Neji was the first to notice that the bus driver was not alone. He noticed that a boy and four girls where looking out of the windows at them. He also noticed there was a woman in the back of the bus all looking curiously at them.

"Well?" the bus driver asked gruffly but not unkindly.

"Maybe you can help us. We were with our sensei heading to the near by private academy and we seem to have lost him." Ayakia replied.

"Private academy, does she mean Yokai Acadmey?" asked the boy.

"Well that would be the only nearby private academy." answered the bus driver then turning to Ayakia and Neji. "Well in that case, I can get you to the school grounds and Nekonome-sensei can help you find your sensei." At the sound of her name, the woman in the back stuck her head out of the window and smiled at them.

"Well we don't have all day. Climb aboard!" the bus driver called to the two confused teens.

"Looks like we don't really have a choice. Come on Ayakia." Neji said as he ushered her on board. After the teens found a seat the bus rumbled to life and entered the tunnel.

Yosho stepped out of the tunnel and surveyed his surroundings. He found himself standing next to a scarecrow of sorts, but upon closer inspection, it was a sign. Yosho guessed it was supposed to mark some kind of bus stop. This was a school after all. Looking around, Yosho let out a low whistle. "Impressive view." he said to no one in particular. He was gazing out over a large sea, only the water was the color of blood. And in the distance he could see a large white builing with a blue roof. 'Hmmm. Western gothic architecture fitting for a school for monsters.' he thought to himself as he began to walk along the path leading to the academy. Soon Yosho was surrounded by dark knarled trees. He also noticed that the path was lined with tombstones. Yosho continued on at leasurly pace not concerned by his surroundings at all.

A man in white robes was sitting at a large desk in a dark office. The only light coming from the candles that were on his desk, and His glasses seemed to reflect the light in just the right way that one looking at him could not see his eyes clearly, calmly he reached for a small bell, and rang it twice. With this a girl entered the office from a side door. She looked about seventeen and wore a long black skirt with a gothic style black and pink corset and blouse.

"Yes headmaster." she said to the man in the white robes.

"Ruby-chan could you put on some tea? A guest will be arriving soon and we must be prepared." he said to the girl with a smile.

"Right away headmaster." and with that the girl turned and left the room.

Yosho was about half way to the school bulding when he found himself between two teenage boys in black and white uniforms. The boys roughly grabbed him by the shoulders and upper arms. This did not concern him as much as the fact that the boys where stronger than they should have been at that age. This immediately tipped him off that they were yokai.

Then a girl in the same uniform dropped down from an overhead branch. "Keito-sempai, Is this guy the one you wanted to catch?" one of the boys asked the newcomer.

"No it is not. Does he look sixteen to you Kojima?" the girl replyed in a terse tone.

"So is this how Yokai Academy welcomes it guests?" Yosho asked in a somewhat scartastic tone. To his surprise the girls answer was a slap to his face. Her pointed nails digging three furrows in his cheek from the force of her blow.

Turning her back on him and walking a few stepps away. "No one talks to the student police like that, especially human filth like you! We are the power in this school understand."

It was at that moment a wave of raw power washed over her and she heard the startled cries of the subordinates. Turning around she saw the unconscious bodies of her lackeys to either side of the path. In the middle of the path stood the man she had just slapped the three cuts from her nails already mostly healed. His aura of power surrounding him like a blazing inferno, Small rocks were levitating around him. She had never felt anything like this power before even when she faced the vampire Moka Akashiya. The man's eyes were different. They were a darker blue and the silver highlights showed in stark contrast.

But the most startling change was his pupils. They were no longer round human pupils. No, they were closer to the slitted pupils of a yokai. "Power you don't know the meaning of the word." Yosho said to her savagely. Cold fury dancing in his eyes, "Come little girl. I will show you the meaning of power." he growled and before Keito could even react she found herself being lifted into the air by her throat. Yosho lifted her easily in his iron grip. She found herself being pummeled by wave after wave of power. Each one the more intense than the last, the final wave so powerful it tore the jacket and shirt she was wearing to shreds. , leaving just enough of her shirt to cover her chest.

Unable to breathe, all Keito could do was gasp for air, her lungs screamed for it but it would not come and the hand at her throat burned her as if it where made of fire. It was at this point Keito felt absolute terror for the first time in her life. She was in the crushing grip of an unknown being that she had attacked. It was true that she had been in fights before but her opponents always fought to escape her.

Just before she blacked out, Yosho threw her to the ground. Gasping for air she looked up at the man that towered over her and trembled.

He stared down at her eyes cold as ice. "It was an attitude like yours that started the last human demon war; I lost many friends in that war before I ended it. And I will not allow that to happen again." Then as suddenly as his power flared to life it was gone. His eyes returned to normal and he stepped over her cowering form. After a few steps, he turned back to her and said "Little girl I could have taken your life and chose not to. Remember that and know your place." with that he turned and walked away.

After taking his seat on the bus Neji looked about sizing up the people around him. They were wearing what he guessed was the school's uniform. It consisted of white collared shirt, tan pants for the boy and for the girls a tan mini-skirt, with a green blazer. The mini-skirts where enough to make him blush, as far as he could tell only two of the five students in front of him were even in uniform. One was the only other boy on the bus who had introduced him self as Tsukune Aono. The other was a girl with long pink hair who introduced herself as Moka Akashiya.

The others where not in uniform as far as he could tell. Another girl who introduced her self as Kurumu Kurono, She had blue hair and an absolutely stunning figure and she seemed determined to show it off. She wore a white long sleeve blouse with a yellow sleeveless sweater that was tight enough to show off her rather impressive chest. Although she did wear the standard tan mini-skirt, when they first met, Neji noticed her eyeing Ayakia suspiciously as if she didn't like the fact that there was another girl whose figure rivaled her own.

The next girl introduced herself as Mizore Shirayuki. She had purple hair and was dressed in a loose fitting sweater. The top of which rested just below her shoulders revealing the straps of a black tank top. Once again the tan mini-skirt was present but she also wore long striped stockings. Hanging out of the corner of her mouth was the stick of a lollipop.

The last girl to introduce herself was Yukari Sendo. First thing that Neji noticed was that she was considerably younger than the rest of the group she looked no more than thirteen or fourteen. When asked about this, she proudly proclaimed that she was a child prodigy and had been skipped a head several grades. She was wearing a reddish-brown shirt with the standard tan skirt. But she also had about her shoulders a brown cape and on her head was a black pointed witch's hat underneath which her short black hair could be seen. And she carried a stick with a wire heart at the top and suspended in the heart was a five pointed star.

The woman identified as Nekonome-sensei was sitting a few seats behind Neji. Noticing him looking her way she smiled a warm reassuring smile. She was wearing a white short sleeved collared shirt open over an orange tiger print shirt, with a long brown skirt. Around her neck was a simple cord necklace with a large bell on it. The most curious thing about her was that two locks of her golden brown hair curled upward giving the illusion that she had a set of cat ears.

"Don't worry we'll find your sensei. If he had business at Yokai Academy then he'll probably be at the headmasters office." she said to him.

"So what school are you guys from?" asked Moka.

"Well I guess you could say that we are home schooled. Yosho-sensei made arrangements for tutors to teach us at the dojo." Ayakia answered.

"Why would you be home schooled at a dojo?" Kurumu asked confused.

"Because that's where they live. You big breasted airhead!" Yukari countered, ignoring the daggers that were being glared at her. She asked "So why do you live at this dojo and not with your families?"

Both Neji and Ayakia seemed to sink into their seats. They cast their eyes toward the ground.

"What? Was it something I said?" Yukari asked "I didn't mean to upset you." she said looking like she was on the verge of tears.

"You see, we're orphans. We lost our families four years ago. Yosho-sensei took us in and we've been living at his dojo ever since." Neji answered in a steady voice although his tone betrayed a bit of sadness.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories" the young girl wailed large tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

"Its all right Yukari-san there's no way you could have known." Neji replied with a kind smile. Seeking to change the subject Tsukune asked.

"So your sensei sounds like an awesome guy, what dose he teaches exactly?"

This time Ayakia spoke up. "Yosho-sensei teaches us martial arts mostly, although he is also a sword master."

"A sword master, There are people who still use swords?" Kurumu snorted. Ayakia glared daggers at her. Just then the bus came to a stop and the door opened

"Well end of the line, Welcome to Yokai Academy." The teens stood up and exited the bus. As they did, Neji heard a dark chuckle from the driver's seat. Turning to the bus driver he asked

"What's so funny?" The bus driver's glasses flashed and for a moment Neji thought his eyes glowed red.

"Oh nothing son, just be careful. Nothing around here is what it seems, well almost nothing."

Neji raised an eyebrow "What's that supposed to mean?"

The bus driver chuckled again "You will find out soon enough boy. Now run along, the others are waiting for you."

As Neji stepped off the bus he ran into Ayakia who was standing there slack jawed "hey why did you stop like that?" she just pointed, turning his attention to the direction that she was pointing. His eyes widened in shock as he found himself staring out over a large body of blood colored water. He could only stand there rooted to the spot. The only thing going trough his mind was 'where the hell are we?' He was snapped out of his reverie by a light touch on his shoulder. Turning he found himself face to face with Nekonome-sensei.

"Come on, lets go if you want to find your sensei." she said with a playful smile.

"Yeah let's go!" Moka called cheerfully grabbing Tsukune's right hand. Kurumu grabbed his left hand and pressed her body close to him.

"I'm not letting you take my destined one Moka!" she spat those words at her love rival. At this point, the scene resembled a tug of war match between Moka and Kurumu with Tsukune as the rope.

Then Mizore made her move "No he's my lover and future father of my children." she said wrapping her arms around him from behind. Not wanting to be left out Yukari grabbed Tsukune around his middle and clung tightly to him.

Forgotten for the moment Neji and Ayakia just stood there watching the tug of war play out. Ayakia turned to Neji "Tsukune-san seems to be quite popular with the ladies doesn't he?"

"Yeah, he seems to be. Do you think I should help him out?" Neji replied still watching the five students. She nodded. Neji stepped forward and loudly called "Hey he won't be much good as a boyfriend to anyone if you girls tear him apart."

With this statement, all of the girls remembered that there was an audience present. All five teens flushed bright red. In the awkward silence that followed Ayakia stepped forward "Right then, lets go. I assume we head down this path." indicating the road to the school. Rubbing the back of his neck, Tsukune smiled sheepishly and started forward, the girls following suit.

A short distance down the path Tsukune caught up to Neji "Thanks I thought that they were really going to tear me apart this time."

Neji's eyes widened a bit in surprise "This time? You mean what happened is a regular occurrence?" he asked, the other boy's silence spoke volumes. Neji smiled a wide mischievous smile "Come on having three hot girls fawn over you all the time can't be all that bad now can it?" not watching where he was going Neji bumped in to Ayakia who had suddenly stopped.

Looking around her Neji found out why. There sitting in a slight depression was a girl with long black hair in the remains of a black and white uniform. She had her knees hugged to her chest and was sobbing uncontrollably while rocking back and forth. Her hair was covering her face but she looked to be a third or fourth year student.

The group of girls catching up stopped their conversation. Kurumu and Moka recognized the girl instantly. "What happened here?" asked Ayakia. Kurumu pointedly ignored the sobbing girl placing her hand on the ground she scanned the scene. A sudden groan caught Moka's attention glancing over at source of the sound she saw a boy also in a shredded uniform at the side of the path. Yukari found a second boy at the other side of the path in the same condition.

Kurumu stood up indicating theSobbing girl "looks like Keito and these two messed with the wrong person. Of course that's judging by the blast marks on the ground, and by the state of their clothes."

Moka's expression showed concern. "Who could have released this much energy?" not noticing the looks of confusion on Neji's and Ayakia's faces. It was at this point when Nekonome-sense arrived on the scene. She had been lagging behind enjoying the walk.

She immediately went into action. Walking up to Keito and putting a hand on her shoulder "Keito-san can you tell me what happened here?" Keito looked up at Nekonome with tears streaming down her face. A look of absolute terror crossed her face

"s-so much power, and those eyes so cold. Cant breath can't…" then she was lost in another wave of sobbing, and said nothing else.

Nekonome was shocked that something could rattle the hardened member of the disbanded student police. She knew of the incident between the news paper club and the student police, which ended with the student police being disbanded due to their false accusation that Tsukune was human. And the resulting fight between Kuyou and Tsukune where Kuyou was defeated proving him wrong.

Shaking herself out of her reverie 'what are you doing? This is no time for trips down memory lane. It's time for action' she admonished herself.

Glancing around Nekonome placed one of Keito's arms around her neck and hauling her to her feet. As she did this she said to the group. "She's in shock and needs to get to the infirmary. Kurumu, Mizore could you help with getting these other two to the infirmary as well. Moka, Tsukune take Neji-kun and Ayakia-chan to the Headmaster's office and report this to him while you're there." glancing at Yukari "Go with Tsukune and Moka Yukari." the young witches' eyes lit up and with a wide smile she moved over to where Moka and the others were standing.

Kurumu and Mizore didn't look happy about leaving Tsukune alone with their love rival but they said nothing and moved to help the now semi-conscious boys to their feet.

Ayakia turned to the others in her small group "Well I guess we should get going. Where is the school?" she said.

Moka answered "Its up this path you cant miss it."

"Right then lets go." Neji said continuing up the path. The others quickly catching up,

"So what did you mean about someone releasing a large amount of energy?" Ayakia asked Moka. Catching the look of warning from Tsukune Moka chose her words carefully.

"Well there are some "people" who have the ability to release and use large amounts of energy generated by their bodies." To Moka's surprise Ayakia's lit up with comprehension.

"Oh you mean like the ancient warriors who could release and use their chi?" she asked.

This time it was Tsukune who answered "yeah I guess you can think of it that way." 'wrong kind of energy though' he thought to him self.

Neji walked along listening to the conversation. But he was paying more attention to his surroundings. He couldn't put his finger on it but something had put him on edge. He had this sense of foreboding. Like he and his companions where being stalked by some unknown beast.

Then Neji felt something, the best way he could describe it was like a flash of murderous intent followed by a pulse of energy. If his training with Yosho-sensei had taught him nothing else it was to trust his instincts. With out a second thought Neji reacted.

"Ayakia, Watch out!" he shouted as he pushed her aside with his shoulder. The next thing that he felt was intense searing pain in torso then blackness claimed him as he lost consciousness.

Blown off his feet Neji sailed between Tsukune and Moka. His body caught Yukari a glancing blow as he flew by, his larger mass sending her spinning in to the woods next to the path, Before finally hitting the ground about fifteen feet away.

Thrown off balance and stunned by the concussion of the explosion beside her Ayakia found herself face down on the ground with some thing heavy holding her down. Before she could recover she was roughly hauled to her feet and brought before a boy who looked about eighteen he had long blond hair and his golden eyes where shinning with malice.

"Human trash." was what he said as the boy backhanded Ayakia across the face knocking her unconscious, and busting her lip. Turning his attention to Tsukune and Moka who where trying to reach each other but where restrained by two large boys. "Aono, Akashiya surprised to see me? Did you really think it was over when you beat me last year?" a malicious grin spread his face. "Well you were wrong. And now you and your new friends will die."

With that the two boys restraining Moka and Tsukune struck them at the base of the neck rendering them unconscious. A boy came out of the woods on the other side of the path, "Congratulations on the swift victory Kuyou-sama." Picking up Neji "Although I must say this one is quite impressive, He seemed to be able to sense me shadowing them. And he not only detected your attack but took it head on and survived. Do you think he could be useful to us?"

Kuyou regarded the boy slung over his spies shoulder thoughtfully for a moment then his eyes narrowed. "No Kaname. Any friends of those two are enemies of mine. Now come, there are preperations that must be made."

"As you wish Kuyou-sama." with that the group of yokai departed carrying their victems.

After she was sure they had left Yukari stepped out of the woods tears streamed down her face. She had wanted to save the two people she loved from the student police. But she knew that she was no match for all of them. Taking off down the path at a dead run her only thought was to get to the headmaster's office and get help.

Yosho had just stepped through the gate to the school when he was met by a girl in a blck and pink gothic outfit "Hello my name is Ruby, you must be the guest that the headmaster said would be arriving soon, please come with Me." she greeted with a smile.

"Nice to meet you Ruby-chan, my name is Yosho, I was expected?" he said returning the smile and following Ruby.

"Yes sir, the headmaster called me to his office and told me you would be coming, and asked me to greet you." 'hmmmm the headmaster must have picked up on my power as soon as I stepped into the the yokai world.'

"Okay thanks and by the way please call me Yosho." he replied smiling kindly at the young girl. "So do you attend classes here" he asked.

"No I don't I work here as an asstant to the headmaster." Ruby answered.

"Oh? What brought you here to work then?" Ruby abruptly stopped and a wistful look came to her face.

"Many things happened, many many things. But then I met Tsukune-kun and Moka-chan and after helping me I found myself here." Yosho caught the slight blush that colored her cheeks when she mentioned the name Tsukune. Yosho had to fight to suppress the knowing smile that threatened to spread accros his face.

Changing the subject Yosho asked "So where is the headmaster's office?" brought back to the task at hand the teenage witch flushed a slightly darker shade of pink.

"I'm sorry Yosho-san it's this way please follow me." saying nothing Yosho followed the young girl allowing her the opportunity to get control of her embarrassment. The remainder of the trip to the head masters office was uneventful even with the occasionl curious looks from students as the stranger was escorted past them.

Soon the duo was standing in front of a large wood door. Ruby tuned to Yosho "Well this is the headmaster's office. Please go in he's expecting you, I will return shortly with some tea." with a small bow she turned and left him alone. Placeing his hand on the doorknob, after a deep breath he opened the door and plunged headlong into whatever fate had in store for him behind the door.

As soon as he had stepped through the portal Yosho instinctively moved his head to one side. As a white rectangular slip of paper sailed trough the space it had formerly occupied. Easily snatching the slip of paper out of the air, and easily reading what sutra was written on it in the darkness of the room. To his surprise it simply stated "Welcome".

Curiosity piqued Yosho casually strolled through the large darkened room. The darkness not bothering him he could see in near total darkness as well as he could in broad daylight, as he approached the figure behind the desk at the other end of the room the candels on said desk flared to life, revealing the face of the man sitting there.

Humph "should have gussed that you would have been appointed to be headmaster." Yosho said to the man who was now standing before him. For he was none other than Tenmei Mikogami the Dark Exorcist and demon lord of spirits, The exorcist smiled as he once again seated him self motioning for Yosho to take the seat opposite him.

"And thus the slumbering dragon awakens, and before you say anything yes I know why you are here." Yosho's eyebrow went up a notch.

"Really, And why exactly did I come then?" he asked.

"Simple you felt the shift in the balance and dropped by to see if ther was a new kid on the block making trouble, so to speak." Tenmei paused as Ruby entered the office with a tea set balanced on an ornate silver tray. Setting the tray in the end of the desk, she proceeded to serve the tea to the two older men. "Ah perfect timeing as ever Ruby-chan, thank you." the demon lord praised.

"Yes thank you Ruby-chan." Yosho echoed the young witch blushed at the praise and after checking that everything was alright retreated in to the deep shadows of the room. Yosho could feel her presence still nearby in case she was needed.

After the tea was served the former exorcist continued. "To be honest I didn't expect you to be here so soon, given your recent inactivity I thought that you would leave it up to us demons to put down the troublemaker." takeing a sip of his tea Yosho looked thoughtful for a moment then he answered

"Normally at this point I would be contented to do just that Tenmei-san, however recently I have been dreaming of battle and flasing blades. So are there any "new kids" on the block?" upon hearing this news the exorcist smile disappeared. He kenw from personal experience when the warrior before him had dreams of battle and flashing blades major events where afoot, the kind of events that required the dragon's personal involvement, clearly things where more serious than he had originally thought.

"Unfortunately no theres not and trust me the other lords and I would know." Yosho set his cup down on the desk his expression becoming more serious.

"I was afraid of that. Just so you know I may have to call on your oaths before this is over then." it was Tenmeis turn to look serious.

"We remember the oaths that you extracted from us at the end of the last war. Know that when the time comes the council of lords will stand ready to assist you." Yosho's face brightened a little at the last statement.

"Thank you, though you relize that if it is not a new demon lord making trouble then theres only one other possibility." the exorcist actually frowned.

"Of that I am well aware, a rogue member of your kind is a threat to us all." was his firm assertion.

"I know that only too well Tenmei-san, thanks for the information." then cracking a small smile he continued "I suppose it would be rude of me to leave with out atleast finishing the tea Ruby-chan went through the trouble of preparing for my arrival." glad the gardians dark mood had lifted at least alittle, the exorcist replied.

"Yes it would be rude of you" he said as Yosho once more took up his tea. "Speaking of information I hope you didn't harm the student who crossed you erlier." the exorcist continued. After swallowing the sip of tea he had taken Yosho answered the accusation thrown at him.

"You know I would never harm a child even if they are considered nearly out of that stage of life. I simply taught her a lesson on the word power." the exorcist's eyes widened behind his reflective glasses.

"Her it was a female; did she tell you her name?"

"Yes she said her name was Keito, and she claimed to be a member of the student police. And after slapping, and calling me "human filth" she claimed that the organization was the power of the school, which promted my little demonstration." silently grateful that it wasn't a certain silver haired vampire who had been taught that lesson.

Then his mind processed the dragon's words. "Wait you said the student police! That's not possible I disbanded them myself last year." He said incredulously. Yosho's eye brow went up a notch again.

"Really, you must tell me the story." it was said so innocuously that a casual lisitner might have dismissed it as mear curiosity. But the headmaster knew better, it was not a request.

With a sigh the lord of spirits related the events of last year including his allowance of Tsukune Aono to study at the academy, the first human to ever do so. This Yosho approved of, as Yosho heard of tsukune's exaceptance of and friendship with the newspaper club dispite their knowledge of his humanity. Yosho smiled at his companions actions so far and that smile only got wider when herd that least three of the newspaper clubs female members had developed feelings for the human boy. Tenmei even covered Rubys arival due to her encounter with Tsukune and the newspaper club.

'Sounds like Tsukune-san has made quite the spalsh perhaps I shoud meet him.' Yosho thought as he listened to the boys adventures with the female dominated newspaper club. Then the tale took a darker turn with the entrance of the student police, and their attempt to force the newspaper club to disband. And by the time the exorcist got to the entrance of Kuyou and his attempted exicution of Tsukune under the charge of being human Yosho's face was twised into a deep scowl. Eyes narrowed in to angry slits. As Tenmei wraped up with Tsukune's rescue and how Moka had injected him with a large amount of her own blood to save him from certin death during Kuyou's subiqent attack on the roof of the school.

"Moka-chan did the right thing, but it means that he is no longer totally human right." Yosho asked Tenmei only nodded

"The volume of blood required to save him means that he is atleast half yokai now, I even needed to seal his yokai half away because he was not able to control it. Since then he has tried to get stronger in an attempt to control his new side."

Yosho looked lost in thought for a moment then quietly said "Perhapse I should have kept a closer eye on Yokai Academy after all ." the headmaster of the school visibly paled at this quiet statement. He paled not because of the words used but the tone that they where spoken with dripped with the righteous anger of a protector who had just found out about a grievous crime. He feared that should Yosho ever cross paths with Kuyou the boy would be the exception to Yosho's rule of not harming children.

It was at this point the door to the headmaster's office burst open and a girl of no more than fourteen came running into the office with tears streaming down her face, she was followed closely by Ruby. Both men looked up concern showing on their faces. The head master spoke first "Yukari-chan whats happened?" he asked as the girl dobbled over trying to catch her breath.

'Yukari, that's the name of one of the mebers of the newspaper club. Hmmmm thought she would be older.' Yosho thought to himself the girl stood up still crying. After one last deep breath the young witch cried out

"Kuyou has taken Moka and Tsukune again, and he took Neji and Ayakia too!" Yosho's half full tea cup hit the floor and shattered having slipped from his grasp.