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Rosario + Vampire: Angel of Death
Chapter 11
Fujimi City. Nighttime.
Rubi was happy.
She could see her parents alongside her, walking with the child they so loved, talking about the human world they were in, how beautiful the night sky was, and how everything seemed like paradise.
But then Rubi watched as a human, driving drunk, ran over her parents, killing them immediately. Rubi stood there, in the spot where her parents pushed her out to, shaking from the event.
Rubi then woke up, just to see Moka, Tsukune, Kurumu, and Yukari sitting around her, surprised to see her awake.
"What?" she said, sitting up. "Where am I? What's going-." She winced as a sharp pain appeared on her stomach, Tsukune saying that she shouldn't move just yet.
She looked around, and remembered what happened earlier. How she tried to kill them all, how the tall man with black spiky hair battled her with a strange sword, and how the other male human, despite having been given a fatal wound, managed to attack her with an unusual power.
She looked at the group. "Where… Where am I?" she asked. "Who are you guys?"
Tsukune looked at her, then spoke up. "My name's Aono Tsukune. The girl with the pink hair is Moka Akashiya, the girl with the blue hair is Kurumu Kurono, and you already know Yukari Sendo."
Rubi looked around, and noticed something missing. "Where's the other man?" she asked. "The one with the sword?"
Kurumu rubbed her head. "That's Haru Uematsu." she said. "He's a guy who looks fierce inside and out, and is pretty scary. Probably trying to look tough to compensate for some poor self-image or something."
"Funny." a voice said, startling Kurumu and the others as they saw Haru, closing the door behind him and carrying some towels and bandages, "I was thinking the same about you when we first met."
Kurumu fumed as the angel sat down, placing the bandages and towels next to Rubi, and his hidden sword in front of him. Tsukune continued. "And to answer your other question, well, I am a human. We arrived here today because of our extracurricular club research. Where you are now is a motel in the city that we're staying for the night."
Rubi widened her eyes, but stayed silent. She then spoke up in disbelief. "Human? You're a human?! That's not possible! No human could ever defeat a witch like me! And they don't have powers like what you had!"
Tsukune raised his hands defensively. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm not lying! Back there, I was just borrowing the ayashi's power, that's it!"
Rubi looked at him. "Ayashi? What do you mean, you got the power from an ayashi?"
Tsukune smiled weakly. "Okay, then here's what's going on. I am a human being."
"I'm a witch, as you already know." Yukari said.
"We're ayashi." Moka and Kurumu said.
"And I'm an angel." Haru said. "We're kind of a mixed group here."
Rubi could not believe it. Ayashi? Angels? Humans with monster power? That's impossible!
She grabbed Tsukune's shoulder. "Stop joking around!" she said. "Ayashi can't possibly be friends with humans and witches! And angels are supposed to exist only in Heaven, not in the human world! That's impossible!"
She then noticed that Tsukune was wincing in pain, and that Haru, out of the corner of her eye, was grasping his sword. She let him go, as Tsukune was swarmed by the girls, worried about his wounds.
"That… that wound…" she said. "Is that where I sliced you earlier?"
Tsukune slowly nodded, massaging the wound slowly.
"Why did you help me?" Rubi asked. "I tried to kill you back there… Don't you hate me for that?"
"It should be obvious, right? There's really no need for a reason to help somebody." Tsukune said. "Besides, I kinda went overboard and attacked you back there. Knowing that Rubi-san's a girl… I'm really sorry for that."
Rubi slightly blushed, then turned away from facing them.
"As much as Tsukune's right," Haru said, getting up and leaving, "I still think it's a bad idea to bring you here. But, it was an even worse idea to leave you where we found you. So I guess there's no other alternative."
Tsukune looked at Haru, who walked out, then back at Rubi. "Sorry about that. He's a real nice guy, once you get to know him."
Rubi didn't look back. "Like I care." she said.
The next day.
Tsukune and Kurumu came into the room they were all sharing, holding a tray of breakfast, Tsukune wishing her a good morning. Rubi, with Moka and Haru sitting next to her
"You know," he went on. "these ayashi and witches have an amazing healing ability. I mean, I feel better now, and more importantly, Rubi-san's face looks much better today."
Rubi glared at him. This human, she thought, he's not releasing any monster aura right now. Is he really a mere human? If so, how did he…
Tsukune noticed her looking at him, and asked what was wrong. She said nothing.
Out of nowhere, Yukari came in the room, holding grocery bags.
"Welcome back, Yukari-chan!" Moka said. "You went out to take a walk, right? How's the city?"
Yukari smiled, holding up the bags. "Look at this! I went to a store called a supermarket! I never knew how easy shopping was, especially all by myself."
Tsukune, Moka, and Kurumu smiled. "Wow! That's amazing!" Tsukune said, "You were so afraid of the city at first, but now look how far you've come!"
"Yeah," Haru said, showing a hint of emotion in his voice. "You did pretty well."
Yukari smiled, and pulled out some drinks. "Here you go, as requested. I bought everybody something to drink."
Everyone but Rubi got up, and each held a drink in their hands.
"At first," Yukari said, blushing. "I gave up trying to have everybody understand my feelings. But now, I think I can do better by understanding everybody else."
Tsukune looked at Yukari, who then ran up to him, hugging him with all her might, much to Kurumu's chagrin. "I'm really glad." Yukari said. "It's all thanks to Tsukune-san. He helped me coming up with this idea."
Rubi looked on at the scene, and began to shake. "Stop…" she said, catching everyone's attention, "stop joking around. You guys are so naïve…" She closed her eyes. "I'm not going to be fooled! Because I know how dirty and selfish the human race is!" She got up from her bed, lunging at Tsukune, causing him to fall on his behind. "I'm never going to trust the humans! I'll peel off that monstrous human skin right now!"
Kurumu cried out for help. Haru grabbed his sword, drew it out, and rushed at her, hoping to get between Tsukune and Rubi.
But Tsukune, very calmly, held a hand in front of Haru, as if telling him to stand down, and then holding up a drink at Rubi, who stopped in front of him.
"I've heard about the 'witches ranch' and how it's being terrorized and destroyed because of the new construction. I understand why you would hate the humans, and I'm really sorry about that. I know that apologizing won't do anything, but since I'm a human, I wish there is something that I can do to help."
Rubi looked at the drink, then at Tsukune. "Sh…Shut up!" she said, forcing the drink away from them. "Even if you try anything to help, it's too late. You can't do anything about it now!"
Tsukune and the others looked at her, confused. "The humans have already angered my master. And in order to punish the humans, my master will turn this city into a sea of flames.
Haru raised his eyebrows. Master? So someone else is pulling the strings behind the disappearances from earlier…
Evening.
Rubi woke up, looking around the room.
Everyone was still asleep, despite having questions about Rubi's outburst from earlier. But no matter how many times they asked, she didn't answer them. After a while, they gave up, and went on with what they were doing earlier. She got up slowly, and noticed the drink from earlier sitting next to her. She looked at her injuries, which healed quite well. She picked up the drink, and held it closely. If only there was a way for me to actually help…
She then got startled when Yukari got up, asking if she couldn't sleep. Rubi looked at her, feeling her heart beat so fast it could jump out of her chest.
Yukari smiled, as the two witches left the room to talk. As they went outside, Rubi asked for her wand. Yukari asked why.
"In order to use magic, witches need to control nature's power with an item, remember? I can't go back to where I came from without that stick." Rubi said.
"So," a voice said out of nowhere, startling the witches as they saw Haru rest on the door nearest to them, arms crossed. "You've only been here for two days, and already you want out. I'm kind of surprised, actually. I had my money on you leaving earlier."
"H-Haru-san." Yukari said. "When did you-?"
"A minute ago." he said. "I was hoping to ask Rubi more about that 'master' of hers."
Rubi looked away. "I told you, I'm not telling you anything about my master, no matter how many times you ask."
Yukari, feeling the tension between the two, tried to change the subject. "You know, Rubi-san, you should stay here a while longer. I'm sure Tsukune wants to be your friend as much as I do. There's really no need to leave so soon."
"You don't understand, Yukari-chan." Rubi said. "You see, I…"
Yukari and Haru looked at her as the older witch looked outside at the moon, a rise of emotion appeared in her voice. "My… my parents died in a car accident in this world when I was a child. It's because of humans that I have no parents. We were shopping as a family and suddenly a car rushed towards us. My mother and father pushed us out of the way, and died right there. While I was alone, all I could do was to hate the humans. Hatred towards them hatred towards the city, I hated everything that involved the humans. I hated them for what I lost, and all that kept me going all these years…"
Haru looked at her. Wow, he thought. I guess Rubi and I actually have something in common after all. Kind of feel bad about how I treated her earlier. He then noticed an increase of familiar aura, seeing that Tsukune, Moka, and Kurumu were standing behind the corner, apparently eavesdropping on the conversation. Yukari looked at Rubi, feeling bad for her.
Rubi wiped her eyes, showing that she was crying. "You're lucky, Yukari-chan," she said. "You have friends like Tsukune-kun. That's why I feel a little jealous…" She turned to Yukari, showing a smile on her face. "I wish I could have met you guys a lot sooner in my life…"
She then turned, and ran off to the exit, passing by Tsukune and the rest.
Tsukune looked at her. "Rubi-san," he said.
Haru and Yukari, the latter noticing the other's having been nearby since Rubi and Yukari talked, ran to meet them. They all ran outside, trying to see where Rubi went. Tsukune looked up to see Rubi, having grown her wings back. Tsukune and Yukari called out to her, but she only flew away, going back to where she belonged.
* * * * * *
Fujimi City. Hotel. Nighttime.
Everyone sat in their room, filled with worry. It had only been a few minutes since Rubi had left, and each of them felt helpless.
"I can't believe it." Yukari said, "I thought we could be friends, and then she ran off like that…"
No one answered, let alone try to say anything, as they continued sitting in silence.
Suddenly, the bus driver appeared, lighting up another cigar. "Is that what you really want? If you let this be, she may kill more people."
Everyone was surprised by the sudden appearance. Tsukune then asked what he meant.
The bus driver chuckled. "If I had to guess, the mastermind behind this plot is finally taking action. My guess is she's going to bring an army to destroy this city, and I'm sure that army will include your precious Rubi. She'll destroy the city and every human in this realm just to keep her ranch protected.
Tsukune sat there, dumbfounded. "How do you know this?" he asked.
The bus driver just smiled, and chose not to answer. "What are you going to do, young ones? The relationship between humans and the witches are much deeper than you think. Can you stop them even if that's the case?"
"What should we do?" Yukari said, standing up.
Moka looked at her. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Yukari faced her, raising her arms. "We need to follow her, and convince her to come back with us, with those who she can trust. We need to help her!"
Kurumu looked away. "Are you serious? She tried to kill us yesterday, and she mentions something about that master of hers. What if she tries to kill us too?"
Haru grunted. "Then we show this master that there are others to worry about."
Yukari looked at him, dumbfounded. "You want to help? But I thought you didn't care about Rubi."
"I got my reasons for helping." Haru replied. "Besides, even if we do nothing, is it going to change the fact that we have to fight somebody again? After all, it seems like every time we meet someone new, we have to fight someone. Why break tradition?"
Tsukune looked at the angel, then at the bus driver. "We do know where they live." he said. Everyone looked at him, taking in his words. "I truly understand why she would hate the humans, but we can't just sit here. A massacre between Rubi-san and the humans won't solve anything." He then looked up, a determined expression on his face. "Let's go back once more to the witch's ranch, and bring back our friend!"
Witch's Ranch. Nighttime.
Rubi landed near the patch of land covered in sunflowers, where her master, O-Yukata, stood near. Rubi still held onto the drink the others gave her, and now, unlike when she left to capture Yukari, Rubi's heart was now filled with regret of wanting to destroy that which she hated.
"Master," she said, "I have returned…"
The elder witch said nothing at first, but then spoke up. "Rubi…" she said. "it seems you have been defeated by mere humans."
Rubi was surprised. How did she…?
Suddenly, a thin vine appeared, wrapped itself around the can Rubi held, and brought it to the witch controlling it.
"Master," Rubi started to say, "that's just a…"
O-Yukata looked at her, eyes full of disappointment, as the vine crushed and tore the drink to shreds. "And it seems like you have been warmly taken care of by those same humans!" The can's remains flew around the place, some above Rubi's head. "What a shame! and here I thought I taught you well enough. Do you know how many witches have been killed because of those humans, including your own parents? You already know how much I hate the humans." Her eyes glowed as the book Rubi had always seen her carry glowed as well. "You are a disgrace to the witches, Rubi Toujou! It seems that you need to learn some lessons again!"
With a wave of her arm, small vines appeared and wrapped around Rubi's neck, chest, waist, and everywhere else. She could feel them squeezing the air out of her. She screamed, but it only made it worse for her to breathe. The elder witch stood there, squeezing and squeezing as Rubi started to lose consciousness again.
Out of nowhere, a car's engine blared from O-Yukata's side, and as she turned around, she could see the bus from Youkai fly in the air, which for some reason caused the vines on Rubi's body to break off, cutting her free from her bonds.
The bus landed to the side, and luckily didn't topple over. O-Yukata, seemingly clueless to Rubi being freed, pondered at the vehicle.
Suddenly, the bus doors opened, and a creepy voice echoed from within. "Hehe… We're here. Quite fast, eh young ones?"
"You call yourself a bus driver? That was insane!" a woman's voice said. "I thought we were going to die for a second…"
"Hmph." A man's deep voice said, "I think next time, I'll fly to the battle. It seems faster and less dangerous."
Then beings emerged from the bus, as Tsukune, Haru, Moka, Kurumu, Yukari, and the bus driver exited the vehicle, fully dressed and standing tall.
Rubi looked on with hope. Guys, she thought, you came. But why?
The elder witch slowly turned to the group. "So," she said, "it was you bunch? You took good care of my Rubi?" Her eyes glowed again as her aura increased, making the girls shield their eyes from the bright light of the power in front of them. "What are you doing here in the Witch's Ranch this time? Did you come here to become my foot soldiers?"
Haru squinted. This woman, he thought, she's stronger than Kuyou and that Rikiishi bastard from earlier. That's why Rubi wouldn't tell us anything about her…
O-Yukata noticed Yukari standing next to them. "Little witch," she said, " since we are of the same race," She raised her hand, the source of the vines. "I'll give you another chance. Come, and be a part of us now. We are far greater than the human race. We shall exterminate them all and let them understand who is more superior…"
Yukari stared at the witch, and clung to Tsukune, making her choice. O-Yukata lowered her head. "I see. Such a shame…" she raised her arm in the air, her book glowing with magical power. "Then you all will have to die here!"
Suddenly, a part of the sunflower garden exploded, causing everyone to shield themselves. "Wh…what is this?" Kurumu shouted.
"Look!" Tsukune said. "Something's coming out of the sunflower patch!"
As he said this, a green, scaly arm popped out from the ground, followed by something that looked like a Venus flytrap.
The elder witch chuckled. "Sunflower patch? Look more closely… This is not a sunflower patch at all. You see, plant-manipulating magic is my specialty. This is a monster that I've grown with all my care."
As she said this, one of the sunflowers began to wither, and from the ground it was planted in, rose a beast like no other: A man-eating plant. One much stronger than the beasts Yukari fought off before.
The witch laughed. "This is a good time for me to analyze their combat skills." She then pointed at the group, "Exterminate them all!"
The beast lunged at Tsukune, causing everybody to jump back. Kurumu and Haru readied themselves for battle, but Tsukune urged them to stop.
"What are you doing, fool?" Haru said. "You think you can reason with her? How many times must I tell you this? You can't reason with madness, no matter how hard you try!"
"I don't want to see any unnecessary bloodshed!" Tsukune said. "Besides, this is the only peaceful way to fight this."
Haru growled at him. "You idiot..." he said.
Tsukune walked towards O-Yukata and the helpless Rubi. "Please wait!" he said. "We're only here to talk! We just want to help you think of a way to protect this ranch other than fighting!"
The elder witch smiled, as the beast she sent at them, swatted Tsukune back to the others.
"You make me sick!" The witch screamed. "And now you're trying to beg for your life!? Foolish humans, just die already!"
Tsukune got up slowly, thanks to the girls helping him. "You're wrong…" he said, wiping off the blood from his jaw. "Rubi-san… we saw Rubi-san suffering. She must be in pain from hating humans all her life. A fight like what you want would only deepen that wound!"
O-Yukata looked at Rubi, who sat there, taking in Tsukune's words.
"Instead of fighting," Tsukune continued. "you should try to understand each other better, and eventually become friends! What is so wrong about that?"
The elder witch clenched her fists. "Don't make me laugh! What kind of babble is this human talking about! A trash like you can never get along with the witches! That day will never happen!" The beast lunged again at her call, sending a sharp tail at Tsukune. "Die!"
Tsukune closed his eyes, anticipating the blow, but it never came. He opened his eyes to see Rubi, having once again cast her wing-blade spell, stab the beast through the chest.
"Stop! Please stop hurting those people!" she cried out. She then rushed at the beast, cutting it to ribbons with her wings. She landed in front of the others, wings folding to the side.
She remembered the memory of her parent's death, and how it consumed her with hate. She even remembered the time she had with Tsukune and the rest, and how well they treated her.
"Master," she said, "Is it really out of control? Is it true that a battle is the only way to settle this?" She turned around, tears in her eyes. "I… want to try and believe Tsukune-san and everyone else."
O-Yukata looked at Rubi, and felt an overwhelming sadness within. Her face changed from that of rage, to that of pity. "Rubi…" she said.
Suddenly, a vine pierced Rubi's chest, close to her heart, causing her to cough up blood, as the elder witch recoiled her vine. Tsukune and the others called out to her, Haru catching the wounded girl before she fell to the ground, a newfound look of shock on his face.
"Every single one of you," the elder witch said, conjuring more vines from her hands, "is a fool. Foolish pests! Now you've done it! I will destroy everything!"
Haru, not making a sound, slowly placed Rubi on the ground, and turned to the elder witch with eyes burning with hatred. Having seen Rubi wounded like that reminded him of what made him promise to destroy the vampires, angering him. He got up, and raised his sword-concealing bag. "That's it." he said. "Now I'm pissed off."
To be continued…