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Rosario + Vampire: Angel of Death
Chapter 22
Youkai Academy Grounds. Evening.
Tsukune felt his heart beat so fast that it began to hurt as he drank a lot of water from a nearby vending machine.
It had only been over a week since he and the others were last attacked by the Outcast Ayashi. Since they had all left the hospital, things had been tense for the Newspaper Club. Even with things slowly returning to normal, the last several days had been stressful for everyone.
For starters, after Tsukune had been released from the hospital, Moka disappeared shortly after, making the human worried about whether or not it was because of what happened to him long ago. Kurumu had gone to speak with her, and the next day, thankfully, the vampire returned in high spirits, just as she was before the Outcast Ayashi appeared. But not long after, Tsukune felt strange within every time he was near Moka. He even went as far as to touch her leg and try to bite her in a way that creeped her out so much, only for her to collapse from some from of strain within her.
But what made it feel worse for the human was the fact that his best friend, Haru, had lied to them all from the beginning. How he wanted Moka dead, all because of what some vampire did to his older brother that no one knew about a very long time ago, and how he tried to trick the vampire into letting down her guard so that he could kill her for the sake of vengeance. Even the fact that the angel was keeping his Elemental half a secret as well made him and the girls question if any of the times they were with him were real. When they got together after school not long after Moka's return, they found Haru's entrance form into the club torn apart and dumped into the trash can, showing that he wasn't kidding about going his own way to make Moka pay. They still saw him around class and so forth, but they barely said anything to him, only to receive a cold, hateful glance towards the vampire that trusted him.
As Tsukune tried to down another water bottle, he told himself to stop thinking back to that, and to concentrate on what's been happening with him and Moka, why he acted the way he did, and what was wrong with Moka.
"Damn." the human said as he threw the empty bottle beside him. "It's no use. No matter how much water I drink, my throat's still dry. What the heck is going on?" He slumped down to the ground, his back hitting the machine behind him. Maybe, he thought, yeah… It makes sense now. It's not water that I want to drink. It's Moka-san's blood. What with how I acted earlier when Moka fell on the ground and scraped her knee and it bled slightly, and how I was acting just recently. He slammed his fist on a nearby wall, making a slight crater where he hit, cracks appearing all around it. But why? I'm acting just like a vampire, but I know that I'm human again. He looked at his Holy Lock, which appeared when he moved his sleeve back. Thanks to that exorcist who put this "lock" on me, I've been turned back to normal. So then why am I acting like there's still something wrong with me?
Suddenly, he heard a person laugh from behind his position. "Getting rough now, Aono Tsukune?"
The human turned around to see a man in a leather jacket and black clothing smile at him, a cigarette in his mouth. "Well, I can't blame you for that. Seeing a babe like that, and not being able to 'eat' her, of course you'd be frustrated."
Tsukune was startled. "Wh-who are you?!" he asked.
The man slowly walked up to him, extending his arms. "I know very well how you feel, because every day I bear this painful feeling of wanting to eat but unable to eat."
Before Tsukune could question what the man was raving about, he felt a sharp pain on his chest as the man sent some strange insect-like body part at the human, making him step to the side as the man kept laughing, moving in the opposite direction Tsukune was. "Kukuku… But even when you eat, you have to be satisfied with it." The man bent down, Tsukune could see the white teeth in his smile. "The name's Hyakushiki. Don't hold a grudge against me for becoming my food today, Aono Tsukune!"
The man lunged at the human, cutting more into his skin and making him bleed like crazy as he was sent hurdling to the ground. As he slowly got up, he could see the man fully turn into his monster form, which Tsukune had never heard of before: a muodegami. A centipede-like monster with a taste for humans and livestock.
Hyakushiki laughed once more as Tsukune felt himself freeze in fear. "It's no use in escaping even if you run around blindly. Right now, in my eyes, you're my 'prey'. And all a prey needs is to be eaten obediently. I took this job to kill you, only because they promised me that I could eat my fill."
Hearing this, Tsukune's eyes widened. "Them?" he said. "You mean someone asked you to kill me? Who was it? Who wanted you to kill me? Is it the Outcast Ayashi again?!
The beast smirked as he sent a claw at Tsukune's thigh, digging deep as the human screamed in pain. "I don't care who it was! As long as there's something for me to eat, it doesn't matter. Isn't it the same for you?!"
Tsukune grabbed his leg as the beast's claw retracted from him. "Wh-what are you talking about?!"
Hyakushiki smiled. "Don't play dumb, kid. Aren't you longing to eat up your girlfriend from earlier? That's no different from me."
Tsukune then realized what the beast was talking about, his expression changing as his mind raced back to the moment when he tried to bite Moka's neck.
The beast went on. "Trust me, I know how you feel. Because once upon a time, I was a student here too. But now I'm living in the human world. I was so damn pissed that I couldn't eat any humans at all. Even when I was with my beloved woman, it was a lot worse for me. I wanted to eat her, to dig her guts out, gnaw her bones and drink my fill of her blood. Don't you feel the same way? You wanna eat, right? You give off the same 'scent' as I do, Aono Tsukune."
The human staggered back, placing his hand on his forehead. H-how is that possible? he thought. I am… the same?
Out of nowhere, he heard a woman's voice cry out from the sidelines, as Tsukune turned around and saw that Moka, having recovered, running towards the two's fight.
"Tsukune!" Moka cried out. "What happened?!"
"Moka-san?!" the human shouted. "Why are you here? Don't come any closer!"
Setting his eyes on the vampire, the beast smiled. "Heh heh heh…" he said. "You came at the right time, girl."
Suddenly, the end of the man's insect-like body arched up, taking hold of Moka's body and dragging her to the man's human body. Tsukune cried out to her as Tsukune shouted her name.
Hyakushiki laughed. "We were just talking about you. To tell you the truth, Aono Tsukune, I've wanted to eat her up since this morning." As he went on, looking at Moka, Tsukune grew angry. "Did you know? Despite his honest face, his mind is full of thoughts of devouring you. Don't you just hate that?"
"Sh-Shut up!" Tsukune shouted. "You're wrong, I didn't! Don't put me together with the likes of you! I'm… I…"
Without warning, the beast sliced at Moka's chest, cutting off parts of her uniform and most of her skin. Tsukune felt the air in his lungs dissipate as Moka gasped in pain.
"Don't be so stupid. Quit denying who you are, and be honest, like me." The beast said, cackling.
Tsukune clenched his fists as he heard the man's words. Damn this guy! he thought. Hurting Moka-san like that, trying to compare me to him! I have to do something, or else-.
Suddenly, the man moved a claw on the vampire's skin, cutting her to the point that he took a bit of her blood and threw it at the human, who upon feeling the droplets hit him felt a strange feeling of joy in his body.
"How is it? Doesn't seeing blood excite you?" Hyakushiki said. "You want a whole mouthful of it, don't you?!" He moved Moka closer to him. "Well, too bad. This girl's already mine. I'll eat you both." He then raised another claw in the air, ready to thrust it through the human's body. "So obediently come to my stomach, and meet her there!"
But before he could send in the killing blow, he felt numerous claws break of from his body as Tsukune sent a fist at them, the force of the attack so powerful it caused such damage to the beast.
"Wha…" the man said, "what the..?" He then screamed as the pain settled in, his skin crawling as Tsukune slowly stood back up, his aura growing exponentially.
Seeing this, the man grew angry, his face turning even more bug-like with pincers appearing on his mouth. "What are you, you bastard? This black aura… So you finally show your true colors, huh?" He extended his arms out, sickening pops in places that the human arm could not have, as he raised his free hand in the air, positioning it like he did with his claw. "You really are the same as me. Stop pretending to be a good guy in front of me!"
As he sent his hand towards his opponent, the human sent a fist at the beast, the impact so powerful it almost shattered the man's face as he crashed in a place far from where he and Tsukune stood, dropping the vampire into the victor's arms as he looked down at his defeated enemy.
Hyakushiki coughed up blood, as he stared at the human's crimson eyes. N-No way, he thought. I was wrong. This guy… He's not the same as me! He's… even more ruthless…
As Tsukune turned away, carrying Moka in his arms, the beast slowly got up, clenching his fists in rage. "No… No! I won't stand for this! I will kill you, and eat you all up!"
As he lunged at the human, Tsukune turned around, now back in his normal form, as he saw this attack and panicked. Oh no! he thought. Moka-san, she'll-!
But before he could finish his thought, a sudden woosh sound was heard, as the beast felt a sharp pain in his back as he could see the shape of another person land and crouch in front of him with his back to the beast, only seeing the bird-like wings and the long blade the person held in the air.
Tsukune gasped as he saw Haru open his visible eye, and slowly stand up, not facing the beast he had attacked, as he raised his blade slightly from the position he had it at.
"Of all the things I've seen," the angel said, "your kind disgusts me the most. Always taking their fill and not seeing if that which they seek to eat is either predator or prey."
He then slowly lowered his masamune to the ground, and as soon as it made contact with the dirt, the beast's body exploded in blood as hundreds of cuts appeared on his body, with so much loss of blood that he fell to unconsciousness before he hit the earth beneath him.
Haru kept his ground, not breaking his gaze from Tsukune. "Besides," he continued, "If anyone has the right to make that bitch bleed, it is me and me alone."
Later.
Regaining consciousness, Moka opened her eyes as she could see Tsukune carrying her on his back as he walked towards the dorms.
"Tsu-Tsukune?" the vampire said. "Where are we? What happened to that centipede ayashi?"
The human looked at her, a sign of relief on his face. "Moka-san! Thank God. I managed to beat that guy not long after you got hurt, and I've been slowly carrying you back to the school since. I didn't want to disturb you or hurt you unintentionally, that's why I didn't wake you up earlier." He turned away, his face turning red. "But, I am glad to see that Moka-san's injury wasn't too bad…"
Moka became silent after that, but only for a minute, as she resumed talking to the human. "I… I'm sorry if I'm heavy, Tsukune. You can put me down if you want, I'm feeling alright to walk on my own…"
Tsukune did not reply so soon, only to turn his head once more to Moka. "I don't know why," he said, "but I couldn't shake off the feeling that you've been avoiding me today, Moka-san…"
Moka looked confused as the human went on, stopping to let her down from his back. "Is it because I touched your leg this morning? Or was it…"
Moka shook her head. "You-You're mistaken, I…"
Tsukune lowered his head. "Then…" he said, "it's because I've been acting a little strange today, and made you scared, isn't it?"
Suddenly, he felt a warm embrace as Moka wrapped her arms around the human's chest, catching him off-guard.
"I'm sorry," the vampire said, her face close to his back, "I've been acting like the strange one, all because I… wanted to suck Tsukune's blood so much that… I couldn't focus. No, just staying by your side, my self-control was disappearing. Every month we're here there could be a few days like this. When I saw that your neck wound healed, I was so happy, so I didn't want to hurt you again. I was holding myself back, I didn't mean to avoid you."
As she felt tears start to grow under her eyes, Tsukune was shocked. No way, he thought. That… That means Moka-san… she didn't want to hurt me, so she tried to control herself for my sake? Oh God, he turned away as he tried wiping the tears from his eyes, and all this time, I was only thinking of myself the whole day like some selfish bastard…
As the vampire looked at the human hide his face, he suddenly spoke. "I'm so useless, Moka-san. We were both troubled by the same problem, but I'm so useless…" He then turned around, a big smile on his face. "It's okay, Moka-san," he said, placing a hand on his neck, "if you want to suck my blood, I don't mind."
Moka looked surprised at first, then started waving her arms in the air defensively. "No-No way! I mean, if you…"
"Don't freak out, I said it's okay." the human responded. "If you had fainted from anemia, I'd feel even worse because of it. So please, tell me earlier next time."
Moka felt tears form once again as she stood there, then lunging at Tsukune, biting on his neck and taking the blood she so longed for.
As he felt the small pain, Tsukune looked at the vampire. Thank you, Moka-san, he thought. I have to learn from you as well. Even if you want to suck blood, I have to control it. Even if this blood has complications, I must… must never do anything to hurt Moka-san ever again. It's a promise…
As she took her fill, Moka felt happier, even now that she had what she tried to avoid for a whole day. Then, a thought appeared in her head, and her expression changed. "Tsukune," she said as the human looked at her, buttoning his collar once again, "I know this is coming out of nowhere, but… When I was unconscious, I could've sworn I heard Haru-san's voice. Was he here? Or did I…"
Tsukune's face changed as she said this, turning around so that the vampire could not see his expression. "No." he said. "Haru-san wasn't there. You probably just dreamed it. That's all."
Moka looked down, holding her hands close to her heart. "Oh, okay…" she said.
Unbeknownst to her, Tsukune's face became slightly angry, as he remembered the conversation from earlier between him and his former best friend…
Earlier.
"Haru-san!" Tsukune said. "What- What are you doing here?!"
The angel turned away from the human, only to look at the unconscious beast lying on the pool of blood that slowly grew. "See? That beast was no match for an attack like that. And I didn't even try that hard." He kept his gaze on the beast for a bit, then turned to face the human in front of him. "Nice to see you again, Tsukune. Although I was hoping that it was under different circumstances than now."
Tsukune was confused, but when he looked at the sleeping vampire in his arms, he remembered what happened the other day. "You mean you still want Moka-san dead, right?"
Haru crossed his arms, one hand holding his sword, the other holding the strap to his duffel bag in another. "Of course. I wasn't kidding when I said it. Don't tell me you still don't believe it to be true."
Tsukune looked down. "Well, it's just…" He looked at the angel. "Ever since we met, you haven't shown any hatred for her, and you seemed to get along with her and everyone else. You even said a long time ago that you felt something for her!"
Haru grunted. "That was my way to fool you and everyone else so that I could get close to her, nothing else. I didn't even think of it as a real friendship between me and all of you. Just me trying to fool a beast like her into thinking I was her friend." he said.
Tsukune felt himself tense up within, a small bit of anger growing in him. "How- How can you be so cruel? So what if a vampire killed someone in your family? It doesn't justify your desire to kill off Moka-san and the entire vampire race! What's wrong with you? How can someone from a race of forgiving creatures be so cold and hateful?"
Haru slowly turned around, lowering his head to where the human could only see the giant bang covering his golden eye. "Do you dream much, Tsukune?" he asked.
The human looked surprised. "What?" he said.
The angel went on. "You have dreams, right? When you sleep, you dream of things from your past, either recent or distant, or at least of things you think about a lot, am I right? Most of the time, you have peaceful dreams, great dreams, and at times, nightmares, but only for you to wake up and realize that it's not real? Well, I don't have that luxury." He turned around sharply, his eye filled with hatred. "I've been reliving the same hellish nightmare for the past several decades! The nightmare of my brother being killed my that vampire bastard, his blood hitting my face as I stand there, helpless and weak, then suddenly being pulled into a strange world filled with darkness, only to see the only living thing other than myself is my dead brother, staring at me with blank eyes as if he asks me, 'Why haven't you avenged me yet?' every single night! It's a hell I have endured every night, and I'll keep on enduring it until I finally have my vengeance and be free them forever!"
Tsukune found himself shaking as his former friend said this, up to the point where he slowly placed Moka to the side, and stepped in front of her. "And that's why you've been so cold to everyone, enemies and friends alike? Because you have constant nightmares of your brother's death?"
Haru clicked his teeth, lowering his arms. "I knew it. You don't understand at all what I lost, do you?"
Tsukune waved his arm in front of him as if he was swatting at a bug. "I do understand! Back in the human world, I have a cousin who's older than me, and she's been like an older sister throughout my childhood. If something had happened to her, I would never forgive myself."
The angel stood still for a minute, then turned his head. "Are you trying to mock me? You have no idea the hell I have lived."
Tsukune clenched his fists. "What about the fights from earlier?" he said. "You said to Kuyou and Rubi's master and many others that fighting for your own selfish desires makes you a weak being! What makes you think you're so different from them?!"
The angel pointed his blade at the human, the red blade so close to Tsukune's neck that he could feel the sharp edge touch his skin. "Don't compare me to those weaklings! Unlike them, I'm not doing this just for myself. I'm doing this for the greater good!"
Tsukune's expression changed as the angel went on. "For centuries, vampires have created the blight in this world, slaughtering innocents left and right. They started massacres, wars, even disasters never thought to have happened. All those wars going on all over the world? That incident in an Eastern Russian nuclear site? All because of those damned vampires and their lust for blood. If they are destroyed, this world will be rid of an eternal enemy at last! And if no one else will do it," he clenched his sword even tighter, "then I must! It is my duty as protector of the world…"
Tsukune felt himself freeze in fear as the angel kept his blade to the human's neck. "I told you long ago that it was best for you to leave her alone. Why are you still with her?"
Tsukune didn't answer at first, only stretched his arms to his sides defensively. "Because I refuse to abandon Moka-san. All this time, I've wanted to be close to her, just so that it would be the two of us alone, but after a while, I also began to want the strength needed to protect her from our enemies. And if I have to," his expression became more determined. "I'll defeat you just to keep her safe!"
The angel looked into Tsukune's eyes, seeing the determination within, then lowered his blade. "Relax," he said, sheathing the masamune into the bag he carried, "I'm not going to kill her just yet. I may hate the vampires but I won't attack her like some coward when she's not even at her full power. No, I'm going to wait until she's in her true form, and fight her then. I won't stain my honor just so I can be a lot closer to my goal." He turned away, slowly walking as he kept talking. "Just remember, Tsukune. You may want to protect her, but you won't be around all the time. I will take her life, and have my vengeance upon the vampires. Just you wait." As he said this, he took off, leaving Tsukune and the unconscious Moka in his wake.
Now.
As Tsukune and Moka walked, each focused in their short conversation, they did not notice the exorcist standing on a large tree branch high above and far away from the two, observing their behavior as he held the unconscious beast that attacked them over his shoulder.
"Hu hu…" the man said. "Isn't that nice? Looks like that Holy Lock I gave him is working very well with his newfound powers. It seems it was worthwhile using Hyakushiki to test you after all, Tsukune-kun." He smiled even more, then slowly turned his head to his right. "Don't you think so, Uematsu-kun?"
From the opposite side of the tree, Haru crossed his arms. "Hmph." he said. "He's gotten a lot stronger since he first got here, and, thanks to that artifact, he's managed to tap into his vampiric powers without having to become the ghoul once more. He's lucky."
The exorcist laughed as the angel stared at the two keep walking towards the dorms. "Yes he is. I was a bit concerned when I placed the Lock on him, and after the attack in the hospital. But it seems he is more ready than ever. All he needs is a bit more… incentive."
Haru did not move. "I don't like to repeat myself, but you do know what I intend to do with the vampire, correct?" he said. "I don't give a damn what happens to Tsukune or the others, but I won't allow anyone to take away my chance at killing Moka. I don't appreciate any roadblocks in my path for vengeance."
The exorcist kept smiling. "Of course. I did see back at the hospital that you meant every word of what you told them all," he chuckled. "But I do think what may transpire in the future is more important than your petty thoughts of revenge…"
The angel turned to face him, his duffel bag slightly moving closer to his shoulder. "What do you mean?"
The man replied. "As I'm sure you are aware, the Outcast Ayashi have been very quiet ever since the attack in the hospital. From what my sources say, they're actually a sub-group a part of a much larger and more dangerous group known as 'Antithesis.'"
Haru grunted. "Sounds like something smug college students call themselves to avoid writing a paper."
The exorcist laughed. "Indeed. But I'm afraid they're much more than that. Unlike before, this new group has targeted this academy as a whole, starting riots in this school, placing graffiti and bogus newspapers all around the campus, many of which have given me quite the headache lately. They seem to be plotting something for the School Festival this year. Something that may very well change the lives of every monster in this place."
The angel bowed his head. "And what does Tsukune have to do with this new threat?" he asked.
"Like I said, one of Antithesis' sub-groups is the Outcast Ayashi," the man said. "Out of all the students in this school, Aono Tsukune is one with the most experience with them, and was also a major target to them. And from what I have come to understand, a member of Antithesis, a mole, has planted themselves within the School Festival Planning Committee, possibly as a way to change the outcome of the event in their favor. It seems logical to send in someone that they may despise to try and disrupt their plans, so that the cowards can show their faces, wander into a trap I have set for them, and be punished for their insolence."
Haru looked away for a minute, then raised his head. "I can't believe it. The answer was standing right in front of me the whole time and I did not see it." He faced the exorcist. "I finally know who you are. You're Mikogami Tenmei, one of the three Great Dark Lords and Headmaster of the Youkai Academy. My father told me stories about them when I was a child, and that you were a brilliant strategist amongst the three, which led to many of their most famous victories."
The exorcist, surprised, laughed. "You know your legends well, young one. Perhaps I should've seen this coming from the next head of the Uematsu family and heir to the throne."
Haru turned away. "I don't think so." he said, clutching his sword-hidden bag's straps around his shoulder. "Don't get me wrong, the day that I would take the throne that my father resides in has been a lifelong dream of mine. But I also know that when I take on the vampires and exterminate them all, my dreams will crumble before me and I will never have my chance with the crown, and I may end up exiled and fallen. But I have already accepted it. If I must become a fallen angel just so that the world can live without fear of the monsters that have brought so much pain to it all these eons, then so be it. I will gladly throw away my right to lead the angels and fight for this world."
The Headmaster did not move, only stood where he did. "But is that what you really want?" he asked.
The question caught the angel off-guard. "Wh-What?" he said.
The man continued. "I do remember your elder brother, Ryu Uematsu, very much. He was a kind, brave spirit who never flaunted his title as prince to anyone. He even spoke to me a few times, saying that he felt that it was his right to lead his people when the time came, and that he would protect everyone, friends and family, with his life. But you, Haru-kun, are different." He turned his head towards the angel. "You have had numerous chances to take Moka Akashiya's life since the beginning of this school year, and yet she still lives. Why is that, do you think?"
Haru looked away, clenching his fists. "It's because a smart hunter does not attack its prey right off the bat. He waits until the right time to strike, and does everything he can to get close and kill them off-guard. I was merely waiting for the say when I could look into Moka's eyes, and see the fear in them when I run her through with my blade."
"Hmph. I think not." The Headmaster said, making Haru look back at him. "You don't really want her dead. You just want someone to blame. You feel as if you need an outlet for all that anger stored within you, and the vampire race would be the perfect choice for you to release it upon. But in the end, it is not just your anger that makes you fight. It is your ego and fear that assists with your rage in filling you with false strength, and by relying on such emotions is what makes you weak. And by coming up with excuse after excuse is your way of avoiding that fact."
The angel looked away, his body trembling in anger. "You're wrong." he said. "It's not my ego that makes me stronger. It's my hatred for what those bastards did to me and my family. I am not afraid of them."
"Is that so?" The Headmaster continued. "Then, tell me, why do you cover your left eye?"
Haru slightly gasped as he placed his hand on the side of his face the giant black bang covered. "It shows the sign that you possess power the likes of which no one can comprehend, and yet you do not use it. Do you hold it back because you feel that it is a weakness, or is it that the golden eye reminds you of the power you had within you all your life that you couldn't use to save your brother from his demise, telling you over and over of your failure?"
"Shut up." Haru said. "You don't know anything about me! I will fight the vampires and make them pay for what they have done!"
"Is that the real Haru Uematsu saying this?" The Headmaster asked, "Or is it merely your pride talking?"
Suddenly, the angel sent his fist through the tree trunk, creating a large gap in the giant plant, the Headmaster not flinching as he felt the tree shake with the impact.
As he pulled his hand away from the tree in which he stood on, Haru turned away. "I'm done speaking to you. But I will say this, not as a threat, but as a warning to someone who I know is more powerful than the Angel King and to one whom I respect." he said. "Whatever you have planned for Tsukune and this 'Antithesis' or whatever, leave Moka out of it. I will not tolerate anyone getting in my way of taking her life. Please remember that, because I do not wish to be responsible for destroying a legend."
As he let out his wings, taking flight, the Headmaster grinned as he moved the unconscious Hyakushiki closer to his head. "Well now," he said, jumping down and walking to the main office building, "THIS should turn out interesting…"
To be continued...