Episode 2: Quest for the Cure

After suffering from a horrible defeat from Fenrich, Tsukune now finds himself back to working 20 hour workdays with no weekends. One day after his shift he returned to his room to sleep. Before he got there he collapsed to the floor. When he got up he noticed that he had blonde chest hair growing on him.

Tsukune panicked and ran toward's Valvatorez's office which is formerly the warden's room. "Hey, what's wrong now?" Valvatorez asked in a mildly displeased manner. Valvatorez immediately notices the changes with Tsukune's body and calls Fenrich over.

Fenrich who was also startled by the changes started a private discussion with Valvatorez on the matter. "Hey, that brat got the A virus." Fenrich whispered. "So you realize this is a grave situation." Valvatorez responded silently.

"Well if he turns into that idiot Axel then you won't have to worry about your promise. I mean you agreed to train Aono Tsukune not Axel." Fenrich stated. "No, but the more important thing is that he might spread the virus around and cause another incident. We have to cure him before things get worse." Valvatorez whispered back.

Valvatorez told Tsukune that he had contracted the A Virus when in the Rotten Field. The virus turns the infected into a demon named Axel. Axel is the current Netherworld president however because he is an absolute idiot it is a matter of time before demons reelect a new president. "Wait, so I'm slowly going to turn into a demon?" Tsukune said in a concerned tone.

"Do not fear. Strength, fortitude, and sardine should slow down the effects long enough to cure you." Valvatorez tried to reassure him. The three of them headed to the dimension portal, where a different demon was standing there.

"The original gatekeeper is on her lunch break." the demon said. "Do you know where the A..el…o…A..v…ice went?" Valvatorez asked the substitute gatekeeper.

"N-no!" he replied rather quickly and fearfully. Tsukune did not hear what Valvatorez said over the sounds of the factory under repair.

It was quite obvious that the demon was hiding something and refused to say it. Valvatorez made some threatening gestures in an attempt to "persuade" the gatekeeper, but to no avail.

"Now see here." Valavtorez was about to raise his fist when the gatekeeper shrunk back and told him, "Alright, alright please doesn't hurt me. She paid me to not tell you where she went. She's in the shopping district of the Netherworld. Mid level area section 2.

"Alright let's go." Valvatorez led the party on to what seems to be an amusement park like place. As the party arrived, they were greeted by a gang of hostile demons.

"This is perfect training for you." Valvatorez dispatched Tsukune to fight. Tsukune unleashed his powers and landed a lethal speed punch to the demon in the front.

It fell to the floor dead, however as soon as it fell the other jumped towards Tsukune. Tsukune did not have time to defend against all the attacks. Time to test that technique I learned with Touho.

Touho Fuhai Style- Bakuryuujin… Tsukune released a burst of youki around him blasting away all the enemies with a shockwave. "I see you learned some tricks." Valvatorez remarked. They moved on.

Upon their arrival at the shopping district they saw that it was bustling with demons busy shopping. Since this is the only shopping district in the Netherworld, demons from all levels and classes go here to spend their hard stolen money.

I have never seen so many demons in one place before. Tsukune asks Valvatorez, "What are we looking for again?" He replied, "It's not what, its who and be grateful I'm doing this for you. You owe me 2 lifetimes of prinny service after you die."

Tsukune remembered what the Inner Moka taught him about sensing hostility. One could never be off guard in a place full of demons. Focusing Tsukune detected several hostile demons watching them.

"It's just a mere band of petty thieves. Not like you have anything worth stealing from." Fenrich dragged Tsukune for lagging behind. After an hour of tiresome searching the party did not find who they where looking for. Tsukune, who was exhausted, wandered off into the district.

Wandering into an alleyway he heard the sounds of footsteps running. Just as he was about to turn the corner, OMPH! He ran into a girl with long pink hair, small white wings on her back, and a bust of good proportion. "Find that bitch!" voices shouted from behind the girl. She quickly pulled Tsukune into a nearby garbage bin covering his mouth. "Shhh." she whispered. The voices passed by after a short while.

"Umm." Tsukune said looking puzzled. She's so kawaii. He thought. "You, I almost got caught because of you." the girl said furiously. She scans the area as if she's looking for something. "Ahh!" she shouted. "The case! I lost the case!" she looks towards Tsukune with angry eyes. "I must have dropped it and those goons took off with it and it's all your fault! Do you know how much what's in that case is worth?" she still wouldn't let up on her anger.

I feel that I should say something, but she's so cute when she's angry She reminds me so much of Moka.. Tsukune tried to apologize to her. "It's alright; I can always make you my servant until you pay it off. Which will take you 200 or so years depending on how well you work." she said cynically.

Tsukune explains that he can only stay for about 1 month in the human world and right now he needs to find someone who can cure the A Virus.

The girl laughed at the poor guy who is now an indentured servant. "Well you found her, of course it will cost you." Tsukune eyes brightened. "Really? Please I beg you; can I have the cure?" he begged. "Well you don't look like you could pay it off even if u tried so I'll let u have it on two conditions."

Tsukune nods in agreement. "First of all you must find and return that case you lost to me. It is small, and black with a red stripe on it. Second, you must not let this person know where I am at." she holds out a picture of Valvatorez. The picture shows Valvatorez in a group picture with several others that Tsukune does not know, but it does show Fenrich and the girl standing next to him. "I'll be waiting in the center plaza."

"I understand." Tsukune gets up and heads out back on the main street. While in the garbage bin he saw what one of the demons looked like. He scouted the streets focusing all of his youki on sensory abilities.

After 5 minutes of scanning he found the target he was looking for. 400 meters ahead in a rundown warehouse he saw the demon with the case in his hand entering the warehouse.

Tsukune stealthily followed him inside. Inside he noticed there were a larger group of demons rallying in the center of the warehouse.

"Hey, the boss is gonna be happy that we retrieved the package." a demon spoke. "You sure because that's an awfully small case to hold 3 million HL." another voice followed. "Dammit! We've been had." the demon shouted angrily. He was about to step on the case in a fit of anger when. "Stop!" Tsukune shouted.

"What do you want bastard?" the demon asked. Tsukune points to the box and gives a powerful glare. "Well here in the Netherworld you don't ask for stuff. You take it by force!" the demons spread out into their battle formations. Surrounded, Tsukune enters his vampire form and prepares himself.

A brawler attempted to rush Tsukune from the side, but was easily dispatched against his superior strength and speed. All the others rushed in and Tsukune easily deflected every blow and countered perfectly while receiving minimal damage.

Then from behind a sludge grabs Tsukune and immobilizes him. Seeing an opening, all the other demons continued to attack Tsukune brutally. Tsukune was in serious danger.

No, no, I can not let it end here. If I can't beat these guys how will I bring back Moka? Tsukune's thoughts of hopelessness awakened his inner potential.

A powerful burst of youki was released around him. It was so powerful that it shattered everyone around him. Seeing the only demon left standing Tsukune takes a few steps towards him.

"Hey, hey please. We were only following the boss's orders to find the case with 30 million HL. It's not like we knew that little case was important to you. So please spare me." the demon cowered and backed in terror.

His pleas were futile as Tsukune's vampire blood took over. Mercilessly beating the bloody shit out of the demon. Blood sprayed all over the floor and on Tsukune's clothes. When his fury subsided he fell over on the case he was so desperately trying to recover.

An hour later.

Tsukune had awoken from his rampage. Surprisingly his wounds have healed and all the blood was cleaned. His vision was still blurry but he can make out a figure. It was cloudy and pink.

"Here drink this." the vision said as it held out its hands. Soon a taste flavored his mouth. The taste was indescribable to Tsukune, not realizing what it was. He felt his strength returning to him and his vision cleared up.

"It's you." Tsukune said in a small voice. The figure who was before him was none other than that girl who asked him to get the case. "I'd always thought this would happen. I see guys like you all the time. The types that go recklessly into battle." she spoke with a sad look on her face.

Tsukune noticed that there was blood flowing from her hands. Blood! That was what tasted the way it was. Not realizing this; he later developed a taste for blood in the future. "Hey are you alright?" Tsukune asked looking concerned. The girl told him that it was fine. Tsukune stood up and found the case was crushed under him.

"I'm…. sorry." he apologized; handing over the case slowly. "No. I should be the one thanking you. There aren't many demons or people that would help someone here in the Netherworld. Yet you heard my request and accepted it even though I'm a complete stranger."

"But, we had an agreement to cure my disease." Tsukune replied. "I was going to cure you anyway. It's just that I didn't want him to find out where I was so I sent you to do a job to throw off Fenrich's nose. They should find you eventually, but don't worry I cured you. My blood has the power to heal injuries and cleanse impurities." the girl stood up and started walking away.

"Wait!" Tsukune called. "There has to be something I can do to repay you." The girl turns around and shows him the case. "It's what's on the inside the counts. As long as your feelings are there then it will always be valuable." she opens the case to reveal a pair of gold rings each with two different small gem stones on them. Perfectly intact even after the fighting.

One had a gem of pure black which turned crimson like blood in the moonlight. The other possessed a gem of pure white; purity and clearness like no other. "It's a gift." she said. "To someone very dear to me." Tsukune put his hand on her shoulder and said, "Let's go. To share your feelings."

They left the warehouse and headed to the central plaza. Afterwards they found their way to a more peaceful place. A meadow filled with flowers in full bloom.

As they stared awed at the scenery a voice is heard behind them. "So this is where you went." Valvatorez snarled as if he's been through a lot trying to find them. "So you found Artina; so how much will it cost to cure him of the A Virus?" he asked indifferently.

"Idiot, I already cured him. The price is that you have to listen to what I have to say to you." Artina said looking flushed. "What's that behind you?" Valvatorez askes noticing Artina's hands behind her.

"I didn't want you to find out before I got back." she shouted blushing even harder. "Here." she presented the rings. "One for each of us." Valvatorez was dumbstruck with surprise. "A-Artina.." he muttered. "We met like this in the past before on the same day." Artina spoke. "Indeed we did." Valvatorez replied.

They look into each other's eyes gazing. "Back then, I…" she paused midway when Tsukune placed his hand on her shoulder giving her the confidence to continue. "Back then I never had the chance to tell you my true feelings. My feelings for you." she gives a ring to Valvatorez.

"Before I realized it, I fell in love with you. I knew that you were always watching over me and I also could not stop thinking about you even during the war."

"And I fell in love with you too." Valvatorez cuts in. "I admired your commitment towards your beliefs and your actions moved me. I probably wouldn't have realized the value of my promises if it were not for you."

They both gaze into their eyes and exchanged rings. Artina wore the ring with the white gem of purity and Valvatorez wore the black gem of the night. They embraced each other for a long time and shared a deep kiss.

"Mr. Vampire" Artina whispered softly. "Artina." Valatorez whispered back.

So the moment continued on and throughout the night. Fenrich arrived later and to his shock he saw the two of them holding hands lying on the meadow watching the stars.

"My Lord." he called. "A man who is going to rule the world has no need for love. Please stop this while you can." he pleaded. To no avail they ignored him and eventually even Fenrich had to give up and accept that his lord had fallen in love… with an angel.

Episode 2: End

Next Episode Preview (new character A=Artina)

T: Ahh. Under the moonlight night Valvatorez finds his true love.

V: N-no! It's nothing like that at all!

F: Really my Lord? To me or to rather everyone in the audience you sure seem to be in love. Regrettably to that thief angel.

A: Who are you calling a thief!

T: A sudden crisis interferes in the way of their love. It's some girl with a penguin hat?

V: No it's not love. She was trying to get me sardines but failed.

F: I would think she knows the difference between sardines and engagement rings.

A: We are not engaged! F&*

F: She used profane language! My lord we really should leave her before the world ends.

T: Next time on Rosario+Vampire Episode 3: The Paths of Love

V: Hey! Doing the preview is my job. (punches Tsukune)

T: OWWW!

Author's notes: This was the longest chapter I've done probably because I am a fan of Val x Artina relationships. Leave a review. I'm trying to approach the romance but I might need some help to turn this from pretty to beautiful romance. Also learn the Disgaea 4 plot please. You don't need to play the game just know the outline of it.