The Promise

by Rothak

Written in response to a challenge and re-post of a story I took down. Naruto and Mizore grew up as childhood friends. Naruto promised that he would stand with her one day in the Snow White fields. So how will Naruto cope with the advances of a vampire and succubus thrown into the mix? By the seat of his pants, like he always does.

16. Chapter 15

AN: I own nothing related to either story.

School life continued as normal, that is to say, as normal as a school of Youkai could be. Tsukune spent quite a bit of time studying and was finally able to bring his grades up to a point where, if he passed his final tests; he stood a decent chance at another school accepting him and transferring out.

The Newspaper Club was gathering in the club room after the exams Miss Nekonome had given them all a note about an important announcement. Naruto was late as he was giving Yukari a sealing lesson and Moka had volunteered as an assistant. Gin was, as usual, late.

Kurumu looked around, "Mizore can I ask you a question?" her voice was rather quiet and nervous.

Mizore nodded, "Sure."

"I don't want to be awkward but…" Kurumu trailed off.

Mizore's eyebrows knit together. "But…" she prompted.

Kurumu decided to be as blunt as possible. "I want to sleep with you again!"

Mizore was shocked into silence.

Kurumu continued, unperturbed. "It was a great experience and it made me feel so good." She paused and then continued, "I know that you didn't think that it was a horrible experience either. Naruto didn't say anything negative about the experience either."

Mizore sputtered and Kurumu chuckled. Both missed a pair of thumps that came from outside the door.

Mizore collected herself. "Explain why I should allow you to spend a night cuddling with Naruto?"

Kurumu sighed. "I haven't slept well the past few weeks." There was proof of this in the slight circles under her eyes. Kurumu then pointed to the circles. "Do you have any idea how long it takes a Succubus to get something like these? Sleeping with Naruto's tails as a pillow is the most comfortable thing ever. I know you won't let me be there alone. Pleeeeaaasse Mizore. Just one night." begged the succubus. Kurumu saw Mizore's face beginning to darken in anger then pulled out her trump card. "I will cook every meal for you for a week. I will even make the ice dishes that you said are good. Anything you want! I will be your culinary slave!" The succubus then utilized the dreaded puppy dog eyes technique to strengthen her bargaining position. The fact she was on her knees begging help out too.

Mizore stopped, and then asked, "You are agreeing to basically be my slave?" She then added laughing, "Would you be willing to wear something fitting of that status?" Mizore smirked, "Or should I say lack of something?" The look on Mizore's face was close to laughter.

This caused another pair of un-noticed thumps outside the club door.

Kurumu laughed, glad that her friend had moved beyond homicidal thoughts and was now joking with her. "Only around mealtimes, but in essence yes, the fluffy tails are worth it." Kurumu paused then nodded, "Definitely worth it. You have no idea how jealous I am of you."

Mizore thought about the offer. Her skill in cooking was dismal enough that she could barely make some of the ice dishes that were her normal fare. The few times Kurumu had made them, Mizore had pronounced that Kurumu's first attempts were on par with what her mother was able to do. It was a tempting offer. Her internal debate was cut short by the arrival of Tsukune and Miss Nekonome.

"We will discuss this later." Mizore whispered.

Tsukune looked confused. "Do you two have any idea why Gin is passed out in the hall and seems to have a massive bloody nose?"

Miss Nekonome added, "And why it looks like it happened four times?"

This caused the two girls to shake their heads.

Miss Nekonome hung her head. "Well four blows to the head will mean he needs to go to the Nurse's office. I will take him. Don't let any others leave before I get back." At this, Miss Nekonome picked up Gin and slung him over her shoulder.

Unseen by the occupants in the room, a member of the Public Safety Committee woke, glad that his illusion had held. He was glad that Kuyuo had placed a strong illusion over him to mask his presence from the Club. He was listening to the two girl's conversation through the door, his jaw dropped at this revelation. He noticed that the werewolf that had caused trouble last year had also stopped with his hand on the door and then leaned in close to listen as well. When he heard the rather… surprising questions the succubus asked. Unbidden images had arisen in both of the eavesdroppers minds and caused the nosebleeds sending them both back into the wall opposite the door. The second time had put them both out for a while longer. He counted himself lucky that the werewolf was more affected than he was. His cover would have been blown had that not happened. He staggered his way down the hall. He would just tell Kuyuo that nothing of importance was spoken about in the meeting. Now he needed to plan for surveillance around the girl's dorm rooms. Yeah, surveillance. That and he decided to discreetly ask Namikaze for tips.

Kurumu then asked Tsukune, "How is your transfer paperwork coming along?" Kurumu didn't understand why a Youkai would have any desire to leave Youkai Academy. She did consider Tsukune a friend so she did try to be happy for him, even if she was confused about his motivation. Yukari, she understood that. She was preparing to be an apprentice under Naruto's father. Yukari had explained to Kurumu the excitement of her community about the seals that Naruto was teaching her. They had offered to sell themselves as indentured servants to learn it, some even offering as yet unborn children to pay for the chance to learn it. Kurumu knew that seals were really useful, but they just seemed too complicated for her. Besides, Jiraiya and Naruto could always do them for her if she asked nicely.

Tsukune shrugged. "I have to wait until the summer results are posted. Then I can apply to transfer. It won't be for a few weeks."

The students were then surprised as Moka opened the door then stepped back to allow Naruto through and Yukari followed the pair. The vampire had been more subdued as of late. She had been taking the advice of 'be a friend first' to a level that was frankly, difficult to explain. Over the past few weeks Moka had stopped jumping onto Naruto to drink his blood. Instead, she now waited patiently and only asked Naruto when there would not be many witnesses. However she now drank from Naruto like someone who had left the desert and found a fresh spring. Naruto's healing abilities were up to the task of keeping his blood supply up, so it wasn't a burden. Moka had taken to being rather demure and deferring to Naruto in almost any group decision. Naruto had expressed that he thought that Moka had been trying to make up for her previous indiscretions, but Mizore and Kurumu weren't fully certain that is what was going on. Mizore didn't complain too much. Moka was treating Naruto now like how Mizore felt Naruto should be treated. Kurumu had convinced Naruto to try flooding an area with his Youkai to see if it affected Moka. One trial, after Moka drinking her fill, yielded the same results as before, but another, when she wasn't thirsty, caused the black-eyed Moka to return. This time, however, it lasted an entire weekend instead of a few minutes. Multiple theories were thought up, as to why, but it was determined that Moka not be around when Naruto's Youkai was a forceful presence in the air.

The students waited, chatting about the end of the term. Miss Nekonome arrived and smiled t he group. She blurted out happily, "We are having a club field trip!" She then hopped in place. "To the Human World!"

Yukari spoke up, "Miss Nekonome, The only Youkai who can leave the school during the summer and visit the Human World are those raised in the Human World. That means Kurumu and I can't go."

Miss Nekonome shook her head, "It will be fine as long as a teacher is there." She then continued muttering, "I think." She then shook her head. "You must have completed all remedial coursework in order to attend. At this, Kurumu's face fell. Mizore patted her friend on the shoulder.

Tsukune looked shocked. He didn't know he could return home during the summer. He then realized that nothing crazy, unbelievable, or life threatening could happen in the Human World. His attitude improved immediately. "Don't worry Yukari. I was raised in the Human World; I'll help you make sense of it."

Yukari smiled brightly. Tsukune was helping her out. Soon all the research she had done of the Toad Sage's works could be put to use.

---

Naruto and Mizore walked slowly towards the bus stop. It was not early, and regardless of the fact that Naruto had been up earlier than this for training, there had been an impromptu party last night. With classes out, the curfew had been relaxed. Even then, they had to resort to illusions and stealth to get back to their dorm room unseen. Sleeping in had been the order of the day.

Mizore laid her head on Naruto's shoulder dozing, while at the same time walking without stumbling. They arrived at the bus stop and Tsukune, Yukari, and Moka were all there. Naruto sat his pack down and Mizore proceeded to wake up.

Tsukune asked, "Where are Gin and Kurumu? Weren't they supposed to be here too?"

Moka answered, tilting her head to the side, "Kurumu said she had remedial classes to attend for math before she would be able to come. I don't know about Gin. I am really looking forward to taking a trip with my friends. I am a little nervous though. I don't exactly have good memories about the Human World."

Moments later a blue haired blur leapt through the air and landed on Naruto's back. "Nope! I'm done! I get to come."

Yukari looked shocked. "That was fast, I thought it would take longer."

Kurumu stared at Yukari. "All I had to do was show the Math professor that I mastery of the subject and I was free to go." At this she held up a permission slip that was signed. "

Yukari looked skeptical. "So what is the formula for…" Her question was cut off at the arrival of the bus.

Mizore stood and put her hair in a ponytail. This time of year, it would be hot in the human world, and she did not want to have her hair in the way. She then whispered to Kurumu, "Did you forge that note?"

Kurumu shook her head, getting down off of Naruto's back. The pair stood back as the blonde put their gear on the bus. "I did not tell a single lie and that note is real. I showed that I had mastered what was being discussed and was excused."

Naruto and Mizore had helped Kurumu with math and knew it was not her strong suit, and as such, they wondered what had occurred.

---

(The previous day)

Gin and Kurumu went to a study room.

Gin smiled, "Well I guess it's just you, me, and Miss Ririko."

Kurumu rolled her eyes. "I have no desire to talk to you right now Gin. I wanted to go with my friends."

Gin looked at Kurumu. "I failed on purpose. Why would I want to go to the Human World when I could receive private tutoring from a hot teacher?" One could hear the leer in his voice.

Kurumu looked at Gin quizzically. He obviously hadn't heard what happened to Tsukune. The door creaked open ominously revealing a dark interior. The pair of students entered. Gin and Kurumu sat in front of large stacks of assignments.

Miss Ririko appeared in a leather outfit and a whip. "You have been assigned to me to bring your grades up." At this she lashed out at Gin hitting him with the whip. "You will…" She stopped, "Yes Kurumu, do you have a question?"

Kurumu gulped then nodded. Since she was a little creeped out by the whole situation, she had to say something. The question she had wanted to ask had died halfway in her throat. After a moment she stuttered out the first thing that came to mind. "Has anyone shown you how to use one of those? There is too much wasted movement, and your wrist isn't moving enough." Kurumu had been going to ask if they got any breaks but the creepy grin on the teacher's face had scared her so she had to say something. Why oh why had she said that!

The teacher looked stunned. "What do you mean?"

Now, being committed to follow through with her query instead of brushing it off and getting to work, Kurumu stood up and held out her hand. Once she had the whip, she demonstrated what she had meant. "If you do it the way you were doing, the brunt of the force is like a lash instead of a sting."

The teacher looked impressed. "Where did you learn this?"

Kurumu looked down. "I'm a succubus. This kind of thing was covered in-depth by sixth grade and practiced by eighth grade. After that it got more advanced. I'm not really into it, but I do know what to do."

The teacher looked at the blue-haired student appraisingly. "Perhaps I underestimated you. I will make you a deal. For every proficiency that you show me; I will remove an assignment from your stack. And if you manage to teach me something better, I will pass you in my class. After all, you must have devoted yourself to your studies at some point. Maybe Math isn't your gift. You do want to become a chef from what I heard. I will make sure you know enough to do any problem that comes your way."

Kurumu looked around, "How do you want me to show it to you?"

Miss Ririko pointed to a perversely giggling Gin. "We have a perfect test subject right here." She then opened a closet in the room. "You can use my toys if you want." The contents of the closet could easily be placed in the realm ranging from pointy and disturbing to painful and scary.

---

(Back at the bus stop.)

"She was shocked at what I knew as a practical exercise, even if my math theory isn't the best. It took at least an hour and a half of demonstrating my proficiencies, but I managed to do it." Kurumu smirked, "It was always nice to see shock on another student's face when they underestimate you." Inside her mind she cackled. Gin would probably not come within twenty feet of her now. Who knew that only a handful of simple beginner level succubus techniques would be so effective? She had only gone over the most basic things and Miss Ririko had sworn that if Kurumu continued to show such enthusiasm in private tutoring, she wouldn't fail another math class, so it was a win-win situation for Kurumu.

Miss Nekonome took the slip from Kurumu and announced that Gin had not finished his work and would be staying behind.

Gin, at this point had developed a nervous tic while tears streamed down his face. He furiously scribbled on worksheets as the whip lashed his back, followed by a riding crop that flicked each side of his skull should he turn from the assignment in front of him. He jumped from time to time as small electrical shocks were administered when he got a question wrong. Gin would have to forcefully repress what the clothespins and feathers were used for. He shuddered once again. He bemoaned his fate. Why oh why had he let himself be swayed by the swaying hips of a hot teacher? Maybe this was a sign that he should no longer be a pervert.

---

Jiraiya paused as he entered Succubus Valley. "It was if a lone voice cried out and was silenced. I hope another pervert has not changed their ways. I must make my next book the best ever!"

Ageha swooped down to her Destined One. She picked him up and flew towards their home. She had heard Jiraiya's declaration and decided to provide some inspiration in her own way. He had been gone a long time, after all.

---

The bus ride was full of discussion among the passengers. Tsukune asked Miss Nekonme after a few minutes where they were headed. He was surprised to discover that it was actually close to his house. He doubted that he would have the chance to visit, but it was nice to be back in normal Japan.

Tsukune saw that Yukari was rather nervous. "Yukari? Is something wrong?"

Yukari tried to look nonchalant, but failed miserably. After a few minutes of trying to come up with a few things, ultimately she told the truth. "Even though I look human, I have never been to the Human World. Our city is protected and warded at the bottom of a canyon that is hidden. Only very rarely do we leave our city, and even then only a select few. Since Naruto and his family know Fuinjutsu, then I have to leave and it scares me a little, leaving home and interacting with Humans, it so scary."

Tuskune thought about how out of place he had felt at Youkai Academy and nodded.

Yukari's illusion dropped as they exited the tunnel. The witch then glomped her boyfriend. "I'm so glad you understand Tsukune!"

Tsukune took her wand and put it in her backpack. "Remember, you can't use magic where Humans can see you." He merely smirked as she pouted. He also took off her hat and put in into her backpack. "That might be too hot given the temperature."

Yukari looked enraged. She took her hat out of the pack and glared at Tsukune. "What did I say about touching the hat?!" At this, Yukari seemed to grow larger and an unholy fire burned around her. "What did I say about touching my hat?!"

Tsukune cowered back in fear. He managed to stammer out, "You-you haven't said anything about it."

Yukari shed her fear-inducing presence. She leaned in to Tsukune. "A boyfriend only removes a witch's hat if they intend to remove all of her clothes along with it." She rubbed herself against the boy. "Is that what you want Tsukune?"

Tsukune sputtered in response.

Kurumu laughed at the pair. "That's not true about witches. A succubus on the other hand…" She trailed off and laughed at the face of the Yukari and Tsukune. "Yukari, it isn't nice to joke about your culture with someone who doesn't know about it. It's one of the reasons Succubi have so many problems. Too many Succubi joked about things like that." Her face became slightly downcast. "At school someone might take normal behavior as an invitation." Kurumu looked down as she remembered the Madslug.

Any further conversation was cut off as the bus slowed to a stop. They could see the ocean and a large field of sunflowers was in front of the bus.

Miss Nekonome stood. "In order for this trip to be approved, we have to have a club-related activity while here, so we are here to investigate this area. It is rumored that there is strange activity in this region. It could simply be fear and rumor from the Humans or something more. I want you to check out the area. There have been multiple disappearances.

The Bus Driver opened the door. "We have a section of the beach reserved. We will be taking the bags there. Miss Nekonome will be gathering supplies while I confirm our reservation. You will need to take a look around and then meet us there. He then handed Tsukune a map.

The group then got off the bus and began to walk around. Mizore, now that she was out of the air conditioning of the bus promptly popped another sucker in her mouth. "It is really hot here." She took out a fan as well.

Naruto handed Mizore a bottle of water. "Freeze part of it and make it cold to keep cool."

The Club Members explored the field, walking along the paths. Suddenly the group stopped, save Tsukune and Yukari. Those two paused when they noticed that Moka, Kurumu, Mizore, and Naruto were all looking around.

Tsukune asked, "What is the matter?"

Kurumu responded, "There is a Youkai presence here. It is well hidden, but it is there. Yukari, you're the witch, can you tell if it is another witch?"

A pair of red-brown eyes widened slightly.

Suddenly they heard a pair of voices close by.

"What do you mean this is dangerous? It is just a field of sunflowers."

"This is the Witch's Knoll. Rumor has it that there have been a lot of disappearances in this area. The police have never found anything. My uncle is a reporter and he said that the police are frustrated that there are no clues. The dogs won't even go in the field. Something about it gives the investigators the creeps. They say that a witch cursed the field."

"So they think it's cursed or something?"

"Nothing official, but all of them say that there is something off about the whole place."

The Club pushed through the sunflowers separating them from the other visitors to the field.

When they saw Yukari's outfit the pair of girls screamed. "The witch!"

Tsukune laughed. "She's not a witch. She just really likes cosplay." He was glad he thought of this response just in case someone asked about Yukari's outfit.

One of the girls pointed to Yukari's hat. "But she's got the hat!"

Tsukune responded, "Does she have warts? A big bulbous nose?"

The girls shook their heads.

Naruto piped up, "Does she weigh as much as a duck?"

This caused all eyes to turn to the blonde.

Naruto continued heedless of the stares. "Then she is not a witch. We need a lift down into town. Can you help us? We are here on a school trip, our bus driver said it would be a fun experience to hike all the way to the beach, and my girlfriend," Naruto gestured at Mizore, who was drinking heavily from her slush bottle. "doesn't like the heat. We need to catch a bus to the beach and maybe buy her a snowcone or three."

The girls nodded and they were glad for an excuse to leave the field.

Unseen by the group, a collection of leaves looking disturbingly like hands crept back under the soil.

When they got to the car, Mizore and Kurumu offered to sit on Naruto's lap to conserve space. While this caused raised eyebrows among the human girls, they ignored it in favor of flirting with Tsukune.

Yukari quickly put a stop to this by sitting on Tsukune's lap. The conversation of the short drive was all about the various rumors that surrounded the sunflower field and a house that some people insisted they saw sitting atop a hill during a full moon.

A figure in a skirt stepped out of the field with a sunflower in hand and watched as the car drove away. A smile ghosted across a shadowed face.

Once they arrived in the city, Mizore made a beeline to a snow cone stand and proceeded to buy more than anyone expected her to carry. It amazed most people watching as she literally juggled and ate ten snow cones at the same time.

Naruto was given a dirty look when he took one and proceeded to help himself.

The group saw that the next bus to their section of beach wouldn't be coming for at least another forty five minutes. They then wandered for a bit. Tsukune and Yukari were looking in a store window when suddenly a rather large unpleasantness of ravens descended and crowded around the pair. Tsukune and Yukari decided to run. However, when Tsukune left the flurry of feathers he noticed Yukari was nowhere to be seen as the ravens flew away.

Yukari was deposited on a roof top by the ravens and was facing a slightly taller red-brown eyed girl in a brown skirt, pink corset with laces crossing each other and going to a choker, and looked like magenta nylon sleeves with holes in them, a blue cloth bracelet on one arm and a leather bracelet on the other, and a pointed end that attached to her middle finger in a triangle. She had a rather interesting hairdo with part her brown hair in pigtails just above and behind her ears with the rest hanging loose. One thing made Yukari realize that this person was not a human. The apparent witch was holding a rather powerful wand. It was almost a staff in length. Most witches and wizards had at most a small stone as a focus for their wand. Her parents used foci the size of large marbles and were considered more than moderately powerful. This witch had one that was easily just bigger than the size of a tennis ball. There were two other purple stones that were likely foci as well on the wand's handle. Yukari was considered talented and strong that she could manage a wand with multiple small stones in a runic stabilizing array. This is what gave off the blue pentagram when she used her wand. Yukari and her mother had figured out how to do it, and Yukari's wand was the subject of debate among their Enclave. If this witch was able to use so large a focus, particularly with two more large foci in tandem, it meant that she could be rather formidable. She likely had a large repertoire of spells and power to spare. Only the village elders back home dared to use a focus even close to the size that this witch possessed. The only thing that might be scarier is if she would have been holding a grimoire. Yukari tensed for a fight.

A soft laugh broke the tension. Her captor smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet a fellow witch. My name is Ruby Toujo. I apologize for taking you away from your group, I just wanted to greet you in private. I heard your conversation in the field and was wondering if you were really a witch. Now that I can sense your energy, I know you are." Ruby paused, "I was wondering if you would consider aiding myself and my Mistress in our endeavors to protect our land."

Yukari frowned. "Are you the reason why people have been disappearing?"

Ruby tilted her head to the side. "While I would like to stop anyone who dares to come to the Knoll, I have never cast a spell on any human."

Yukari brightened a little. "Is there an Enclave nearby? I didn't know that there were any near here."

Ruby shook her head. "Sadly no. My parents were killed in a car crash by humans." The venom present in the taller girl's tone was particularly strong. "I was raised by my Mistress. We are all that exist here of any boundary beings."

Yukari looked down. "I'm sorry."

Ruby smiled, "It was a long time ago." She paused, "Yukari, even if you don't help us, I would like to be friends. There is only one other boundary being here. She is my Mistress."

Yukari smiled. "Actually, there are two more. Me and my boyfriend, Tsukune. We are here from Youkai Academy on a club trip."

Ruby's eyebrows rose. "The boy who you were with? You found a wizard at Youkai Academy?"

Yukari shook her head. "Yes, that was him, and no, he is a shinobi. They use a different type of energy, but he can't do anything reliably." She then amended, "Unless he drinks Orange Juice. But we don't let him do that." Seeing Ruby's inquisitive look, she continued, "Don't ask. And don't give him any. He might as well be a human. But I like him anyway."

Ruby mused over this information. "Think about my request Yukari. Witches have to stick together after all." She then turned to walk away. "You can use the fire escape to get down."

"But how will you…" Yukari fell silent as she saw six black wings sprout from the back of the witch as she took off, Ruby then turned invisible once she was over the next building.

Yukari shook her head. Transformation magic was advanced and extremely difficult to master. Using her magic to disappear was no small feat either. She went over to the fire escape and made her way down the building.

---

Naruto, Kurumu, Mizore and Moka all stayed close to the bus stop. This was in large part due to the large amounts of shade and close proximity to a snow cone vendor. After Mizore had downed her tenth snow cone, Naruto smiled, shook his head and went over to the vendor. He then came back with a block of ice the size of a small book. This he then slid down the back of Mizore's shirt. The Yuki Onna smiled at Naruto and enjoyed the cold that her caring boyfriend provided. While this garnered quite a few odd looks, no one commented.

Kurumu noticed something on Naruto's wrist as he was providing a modicum of comfort to Mizore.

"Naruto, what is the bracelet?"

Naruto then smiled slightly at the succubus. "My Youkai aura can be rather unsettling for some humans. This blocks it. Should the need arise, I can remove it, but I wore this all the time back home. It's kind of uncomfortable to wear it after not having to block my power for so long." He leaned in closer. "Unfortunately, I can't do any techniques while wearing it, but all I have to do is unsnap it to stop the effect."

Moka tilted her head. "Why does that matter? If anything, it keeps the humans away from us."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "If anything it draws more attention to it if that happens. We are supposed to be low-key. Besides, it's not like we are going to get in a fight here is it?"

Any rebuttal was cut off at the appearance of Tsukune. He looked out of breath and slightly scared. "Yukari is gone. We got attacked by a flock of birds and she was gone." This caused all of the members in the club to focus. "I looked around for her for a minute but I couldn't find her." Tsukune was obviously becoming more panicked.

Naruto put a hand on his shoulder and sat him down. "Wait here for the bus Tsukune. If we aren't back by the time it gets here, take it anyway. Tell Miss Nekonome what happened."

Naruto and the girls had only walked about one hundred feet away from the bus stop and turned a corner when they saw Yukari come out of an alley.

Kurumu spoke first. "Yukari! What happened? Tsukune is really worried that you might be hurt."

Yukari looked at her watch. "I'll tell you all later. The bus gets here in five minutes."

The group then quickly made their way back to the bus stop and they were greeted by a relieved Tsukune who picked up Yukari and hugged her tight. The witch gained a slight pink color in her cheeks at the greeting.

Mizore had to be dragged away from the now much richer snow cone vendor as the bus arrived. It wasn't until Naruto whispered to her that she could be able to create ice down at the beach once they were away from the group did the slightly overheated girl come along.

The bus ride was uneventful, but the bus was rather full of people headed to the beach. Once they arrived, they saw Miss Nekonome in a red bathing suit being gawked at by most of the men around her.

"Hey guys! Over this way. We have the end of the beach reserved, and all your gear needs to be set up."

Once they crossed over to a private beach section, they were able to relax a little. All of their bags had been put well above the high tide line and they saw coolers, tent bags, and other camping gear. There was a changing and restroom hut that Mizore went into to change before anyone else could. Suddenly the outer wood developed a coating of frost that refused to melt. Most of the group chuckled, but the girls grumbled about Mizore hogging the changing area.

Miss Nekonome had already prepared a simple lunch for the group. She then announced, "Okay guys, that now that you all are here, you can do what you want. Me, I am off to find some fish for our meals. After all it is only right that you experience a true seaside buffet." She then strapped a large wicker basket to her back and set off with a spring in her step.

Kurumu laughed. "Do you think she realizes that she forgot to change out of her swimsuit?"

This caused quite a bit of laughter. Yukari couldn't resist commenting. "Maybe she did it on purpose to get a better price."

This caused more laughter. It didn't help matters when Kurumu checked the cooler and found it half full of seafood anyway.

Once the group had finished laughing, Mizore emerged from the hut with a look of relief on her face. "I needed that. Feel free to change." The inside of the hut glistened with ice, but was quickly melting. She then walked into the water and suddenly ice cubes popped into existence around the purple haired girl. Kurumu was first to the hut. She changed with surprising speed. Each person shivered slightly as they left the hut but were glad for a break from the heat.

It only took a few minutes for each person and they were soon just tossing around a volleyball. Mizore was even coaxed out of the water to join in. Yukari was using the occasion to flaunt in her bikini to Tsukune. Kurumu gathered a bucket of seawater and dumped it on the witch, laughing. This of course started a water fight that Moka quickly retreated from. Once they were sitting in the shade under a collection of beach umbrellas did the topic of Yukari's encounter surface.

Moka started off the conversation. "So what couldn't you tell us earlier?"

Yukari shook her head, "Oh yeah. Apparently, there is a witch who lives near that sunflower field. She says that she hasn't cast any spells on humans, but something about the way she spoke about the other witch seemed…off."

Tsukune spoke up. "So there is more than one witch here? Maybe the other one is causing all the trouble."

They all nodded. Naruto mused, "That is a possibility, but is also possible that something else is going on here."

Tsukune groaned. "Any chance that we could have a normal, boring trip?"

The group laughed. Miss Nekonome made her reappearance toting another cooler and a basket full of fish.

"Hi guys! I've got enough for dinner." She pouted, "I thought you would have the tents set up already.

At this time, a raven flew down with a piece of paper in its beak. Yukari took it and it flew away. Yukari read the note out loud.

Yukari, I would like a chance to speak to you again. If you can, I will meet you at the top of the cliff just after sunset. – Ruby

They saw the raven land on the shoulder of a figure at the top of the cliff that turned and walked away.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in pitching the tents and enjoying the beach. Since Miss Nekonome wasn't there, and no one contested it, Mizore claimed the smaller of the two tents and then said that it has for her and Naruto. Kurumu's pleading eyes made Mizore merely look at the succubus and say, "I'll think about it."

Naruto, as dinner was cooking, was thinking. He had been taught that the best time to lay traps is a few hours before the target was due to arrive. He studied the cliff face. Even with only a hint of Chakra, it would be able to be scaled. The proximity of the cliff prohibited anyone from actually seeing what was going on at the top. Naruto felt that something was off about the whole situation. Once the sun had sunk lower on the horizon, Kurumu and Moka had started making dinner. Naruto slipped off, unnoticed by everyone.

He climbed up the cliff face, using the stones both for cover and as stepping stones. He was rather surprised that he found a steep pathway up that he had missed since he was trying to climb unseen. He shook his head and climbed the path instead. It was hidden anyway. He hadn't seen it when had studied the cliff face.

Once he reached the top he felt an odd form of energy in the air. It was similar to when Yukari used her magic, but it was different. Naruto hid behind some trees that were at the top of the hill. His trained eye didn't see any regular traps but something seemed off about all of the plants at the top of the hill.

Naruto decided to wait to see if the witch would make an appearance. His waiting paid off as the sun sunk below the horizon. Magic would make any traps very easy to set up.

He was shocked as the witch had three pairs of wings protruding from her back. Yukari hadn't said anything about this witch's form of transportation.

The witch landed and turned. "You can't hide from my guards human scum."

Naruto stood to face the witch. "So are you the reason people have been disappearing lately?" He tensed for a fight.

Suddenly, a beam of light shone over the top of the cliff. Yukari, Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore all had come up the trail. This drew the attention of both Naruto and Ruby.

"Naruto if you aren't up here, I'm going to…" Kurumu trailed off upon seeing the blonde and the witch. "Yukari, can you do that?" asked the succubus, pointing at Ruby's wings.

Yukari shook her head. "No, my magic lies in other areas, living transformation is very tricky. Quite frankly, my transformation magic is workable at best."

Ruby put on a smile. "Yukari, I am glad to see you. I take it you know this individual?" she asked gesturing towards Naruto.

Yukari nodded. "He is the boyfriend of Mizore; our resident Ice Queen."

Ruby nodded. "I apologize, I couldn't sense any Youkai from you. I thought you were a human. Very few Youkai can mask their energy so effectively. It is a true talent."

Yukari snorted, "It is his bracelet. It uses Fuinjutsu to block it. Otherwise it leaks all over the place."

Yukari, however, missed the sharp look from Naruto and the calculating one from Ruby.

Ruby only had one thought going through her mind. 'Yukari knows Fuinjutsu, Mistress did command that should Yukari have any gifts that would be useful, to bring her to the Knoll. That is definitely useful.'

Moka asked Naruto, "What are you doing up here? Are you dodging the dishes chore again?"

Naruto shook his head. "I traded Tsukune for it earlier. He… WATCH OUT!"

As he yelled, he pushed Yukari out of the way of a thin spike that had risen from the ground, with a strange glowing green liquid leaking from the tip. Unfortunately, it had been moving fast enough to hit him. While Naruto twisted so it wouldn't puncture his rib-cage, it dug deeply through the top of his shoulder and upper arm. The spike contracted, Naruto shuddered once and fell unconscious.

Yukari looked at Ruby in fear. "What have you done?"

Ruby responded, "What my Mistress demanded. I will…"

Ruby's response was cut off as Mizore had transformed. Her long hair was like a raging curtain of a purple blizzard, her clothes had become a pure white kimono, and her eyes a blinding white with wisps of fog trailing from the corners. A scream of inarticulate rage sounding like an icy wind through a mountain pass tore from the girl's throat. The plants around her had turned to solid ice, and her hands, instead of ice claws were cloaked in a glittering, pulsing whirl of snow and ice. Mizore seemed to fly as she ran towards the witch, a coating of frost and ice was left on the ground and a flurry of snowflakes marked her passage.

At the same moment as Mizore, Kurumu screamed in rage and grief. Her eyes shone a bright pink, her wings erupted from her back, her talons extended, and the air warped around her. She then launched herself towards the witch who held her wand ready to defend herself.

As Mizore had transformed, so had Moka. Her eyes were scarlet with a black starburst around the slit pupil. Her body was surrounded in a pulsating miasma of red that rolled out from the Rosario. Not a word was said, she only screamed, then attacked.

Yukari, was stunned. Naruto had taken an attack meant for her, and seemed to be dead. She stopped as she saw his chest rise and fall. His breathing could fade quickly. She had to stop whatever was going on. She noticed Ruby had been rather severely beaten in the short time it had taken for her to check his condition and turn back to the fight. All three girls moved in for the kill when a massive bronze dishpan covered the witch to protect her from harm and also prevent her escape. The three older girls all turned their glowing eyes towards the witch after their attacks severely crumpled the large golden pan.

Before too much of their anger could be directed at her; Yukari yelled out, "Naruto might be poisoned! The only one who can tell us what is was is her! If you kill her he might die too."

This seemed to break through the rage directed at the witch. Slowly, all three girls returned to their normal appearances. Yukari sighed heavily.

Mizore gestured and a slide of ice appeared, descending to the beach. Yukari removed the tub to find Ruby unconscious. Yukari levitated the older witch and went down the slide behind the trio of girls and their unconscious cargo.

Once they had arrived in camp Tsukune saw Naruto being carried by the three girls and shrugged it off. When he saw an unconscious girl floating beside his girlfriend, well, that is when he began paying attention.

Mizore and Kurumu took Naruto to the second, smaller tent, while Moka helped Yukari get Ruby situated in the larger tent. Yukari cast spells to deal with frostbite, blunt force trauma, and nasty cuts. After these and a few other kinds of healing magic, Ruby began to look better. After she finished, Mizore entered the large tent.

Mizore started the conversation, "Naruto is awake, but groggy. The gash on his shoulder is healing, but he needs to sleep for it to heal properly. I have Kurumu sitting on him to keep him from leaving the tent. But I intend to find out why the witch attacked in the first place."

Yukari nodded. "She is healed from most of the damage you did to her, so she should be waking up soon."

Mizore merely held up a hand and created a rather slushy snowball. This was then promptly dropped on the girl's chest, just above the corset.

Ruby sat up quickly, shrieking and spluttering. She wiped furiously at the cold mess that now adorned her upper chest.

Tsukune stood in front of Yukari. He asked, "Why did you attack Yukari?"

Before Ruby could answer, Yukari spoke up, "What was injected into Naruto?" Her gaze held Ruby's attention.

Ruby replied, "A simple sleeping potion. It isn't too strong, but it will make him groggy when he wakes up in eight hours.

Mizore's eye glowed blue. "He is already awake. Now answer Tsukune's question. Why did my boyfriend take an attack meant for Yukari?"

Ruby's face went from shocked to resigned. "Mistress wished that I attempt to bring any witches to her that would be helpful in her cause. Since Yukari knows Fuinjutsu, she would want Yukari to be at the house."

Yukari scoffed. "You missed, and just so you know, you stabbed the boy who was teaching it to me."

Ruby's shocked face returned. "But he is not a wizard! If he was he would be out for eight hours. How can a non-boundary being know one of our greatest arts?"

Yukari shook her head. "In case you haven't noticed, we don't exactly trust you."

Silence reigned before Tsukune spoke up. "The disappearances are your doing aren't they?"

Ruby hung her head. "Mistress has commanded that protections be put in place."

Yukari tilted her head thinking, and then spoke, "What did the Humans ever do to you? We only stay away so that we don't have to worry about them discovering our magic."

Ruby spat out, "My family was killed by humans! Mistress took me in, I had nowhere else to go and I have to…" her voice trailed off.

Moka spoke up, her sweet demeanor was clear to see. "I am sorry about your family. We would like to know; what is the plan that the other witch has in store?"

Ruby replied, "I cannot say." At this her eyes fixed on Yukari.

Tsukune retorted, "Can't or won't?"

Ruby looked pleadingly at Yukari, "I can't. Yukari, please. Don't let them ask again." Ruby was now holding back a grimace.

Yukari froze. She asked softly, "Ruby, are you under orders to not divulge certain information?" The emphasis in her voice was clear to all listening."

Ruby nodded, tears tracing their way down her cheeks.

"Do you have to be back by a certain time?"

Ruby nodded once more, pain lancing through her face.

Yukari stood, "I will explain everything. Naruto is the one with the Fuinjutsu knowledge. Oh, in truth, I am only beginning to learn it. Tell your Mistress that."

Ruby nodded and ran from the tent, while Yukari held back the rest of the Club.

Mizore ground out, "Why did you let her go?" the air in the tent had plummeted in temperature.

Yukari sighed heavily. "She is under a Vow."

This statement was met with blank stares. Yukari continued, "If a witch makes the wrong kind of promise, they are bound by that. It usually involves a ritual of some kind. If Ruby made the Vow and the other witch is the Holder, then the other witch could command Ruby to do anything except kill herself." Realization dawned on the group. "You all saw how much pain she was in when she left?" Nods were the response. "If she fails to do as she is ordered to do so, it will cause her immense pain. If I asked her about it directly, she may be under orders to never say anything about the Vow. That is why I let her go. Many Enclaves have declared such activities such as Vow creation Black Magic."

Moka asked the question on everyone's mind, "Is there any way to get her out of it?"

Yukari shook her head. "There are only two ways: if her 'Mistress' releases her, or if one of them dies."

---

As Ruby exited the tent she held out a hand and a raven dropped her wand onto her palm. Ruby shed tears as she flew away, fearing what would happen now. She just hoped that her Mistress wouldn't ask her if she suggested about the chains that had been placed around her.

As she landed near the Knoll, a large house hidden by magic in the middle of the sunflower field appeared. Ruby felt a shiver of fear along her spine. She strolled into a parlor covered in pulsating plant roots. A grey-haired figure in black robes with grey fur lining sat in a chair.

"What have you found out about our visitors Ruby? Don't leave any details out."

Ruby knelt, sitting on her heels, with her head down. "The group from Youkai Academy is here visiting, but seem to just be here as a club trip. The witch of the group is being taught Fuinjutsu."

This caused a gasp from Lady Oyakata.

Ruby noted the motion to continue, "One of the group has a bracelet with seals that fully suppresses his Youkai. He is the one who is teaching the witch these skills."

A gnarled, veined finger was placed under Ruby's chin, forcing her to look the older witch in the eye. "Why is this Youkai not in front of me at this moment?"

Ruby shuddered, "I am sorry Mistress, but I thought it was the witch who designed the seals and attempted to knock her unconscious and bring her here. He jumped in front of my attempt. Three girls in the group saw his actions and attacked me suddenly. As I was unprepared for the attack, I was severely injured. The young witch healed me. I noted it was time to report and was able to slip away."

Lady Oyakata paced in front of her student. "You are sure that there was an actual example of fuinjutsu?" At Ruby's nod, the witch continued, "You have brought me rather interesting information. I will forgo your punishment for being late because of the quality of information that you have given me. This Youkai must be captured. With seals around the Hollow and the Knoll, the humans would regret even trying to set foot on our land. Ruby, the Garigarious are now mature. Any further incursion will be met with an attack. If that group intrudes, capture the witch and the one who knows Fuinjutsu. The others can be an offering to keep the Garigarious under control.

Ruby nodded. She had come to expect such an order. Part of her wanted the group to leave as soon as possible. Oddly enough a larger part wanted to go with them. She wanted to get away from the Vow and her Mistress. She would miss the peace and quiet of the Knoll.

Lady Oyakata stood on a balcony, as she looked out over the Knoll, she held out a hand. A raven swooped down. It was one of the few that still answered to her. "Go and listen to see if there is any way to bring that group here." She then was caught in a coughing fit that ended with a crimson stained handkerchief. "That little time left? Well, I will have things set up to protect this place even after my passing. Ruby will not like it, but the Knoll will be safe."

---

Naruto slowly regained consciousness. His shoulder ached slightly, which was odd, but then again he also had never had a giant needle shoved through his shoulder before and pumped full of some kind of sedative. Mizore and Kurumu had filled him in on what happened after he took the attack for Yukari.

He had tried to get up to go confront the witch who did this to him, but the remnants of the sedative in his system and a blue-haired succubus using her nails to anchor both herself and some of his tails to the tent floor, he asked Mizore to go and get some answers. He looked to his left and Kurumu was still cuddling his tails. To his right Mizore was sleeping and drooling on his shoulder. A combination of his tails and her long purple hair covered the fact that she was only wearing a tank top and boxers she had stolen from him. The tent swayed slightly in the morning breeze the beach provided. He tried to nudge Mizore awake, but it was ineffective. Instead he poked Kurumu until she regained consciousness.

Glaring at the blonde, while at the same time ensuring her grip on her fluffy bedding, Kurumu spoke, "Are you feeling okay Naruto?"

Naruto replied, "Still a little sore, but what happened? You said everyone was okay."

Kurumu sat up, draping tails over her form. "After you took the attack from Ruby it is kind of hazy. I was so angry at her I just attacked. Apparently it is the same with Moka and Mizore." Kurumu paused, then continued, "From what Yukari said, Mizore actually transformed into something that she had not seen Mizore do before. She said it was like looking at a human description of a vengeful Yuki-Onna, but far more intimidating."

Naruto's eyebrows rose. "What do you mean?"

Kurumu replied, "You know how every once in a while Mizore's hair is purple snow instead of ice?" At Naruto's nod she continued, "Well, her clothes changed into a pure white kimono and her hands, instead of those giant ice claws that are as long as my nails, they had a miniature blizzard around them. Yukari also said that there was a trail of snow that followed Mizore and the ground was frozen." Kurumu shivered. "I saw her like that after Yukari covered Ruby with a giant washtub. Her eyes glowed white. Not that electric blue they sometimes do when she uses her powers, but a bright white. After a bit she transformed back to normal, the kimono actually dispersed into snowflakes. I didn't know Yuki-Onna could do that."

Naruto chuckled, then replied, "Mizore is a special case. No one in her village knows why, but there have been a few instances of Yuki-Onna displaying such abilities. The list is not very comprehensive, just about the snow for hair instead of ice. This looks like something that can be added to the list. A few of the village have been talking about seeing if her abilities can be duplicated."

Kurumu was shocked. She knew that Mizore was stronger than what a Yuki-Onna was normally, but to have abilities that her own people didn't know much about? Kurumu shook her head. Since the aforementioned Yuki-Onna was asleep, Kurumu decided to have a little fun. "Naruto? Mizore agreed I could sleep on your tails only if I was a kitchen slave and cooked all of your and her meals for the day." She then stood and Naruto noticed she was wearing a rather skimpy nightgown. She then clasped her hands in front of her and bowed deeply, almost causing her rather impressive bust to escape the confines of her clothing. "What would the two of you like for breakfast, Master?" She giggled inwardly at the massive blush covering the shocked boy's face.

Naruto was shocked that Mizore had made such a deal, and that Kurumu was being this flirtatious. Normally she held back a little. He wondered what else the pair might have agreed to. Wrenching his mind from that train of thought, he able to sputter out, "Whatever you feel like making Kurumu. I'm sure Mizore will be hungry. She always is after using so much of her power. Some of our training was really draining."

Kurumu nodded, then decided to push her luck. "Of course Master. Of course, if you ever want to wear me out as thoroughly, all you have to do is ask." With this she gave Naruto an over the top wink and put up an illusion to get dressed. She knew Naruto would have issues if he saw her get changed. Not to mention that the sleeping Mizore was now holding one of her throwing knives and her hand was twitching. Kurumu decided to not push her luck any further.

The students spent the day on the beach and in town having fun and gathering information about the activities of the witches, respectively. Ultimately they sat discussing the situation around dinner. No one really mentioned anything about how Naruto and Mizore's plates looked better than everyone else's. Miss Nekonome was distracted by a fishmonger that had set up shop only a short way away.

Naruto started out the discussion. "How do we know she was under a Vow?"

Yukari tilted her head to the side. "There is no way to definitively say yes or no, but you don't joke about that."

Tsukune spoke up, "What if we saw the two of them together?"

Yukari tilted her head at that. "It would be pretty easy to determine then. There is a particular type of magic invoked if her Mistress gave her an order. I could tell she wasn't faking the pain. I still had a spell on her to make sure she was healing properly. When she started experiencing it, she may have been disobeying an order. There was no physical cause."

Kurumu spoke up, "Is there anything that might mean your spell was fooled?"

Yukari shook her head, "It is always possible, since she is stronger than I am, but I doubt it."

Naruto nodded. "So we will assume Ruby is doing things against her will? Everyone agree?"

At the nods, Naruto disappeared but returned holding a raven. "I know you have been watching us most of the day. Go tell the Mistress that we want to talk to both her and Ruby in thirty minutes at the top of the cliff."

The raven was released and flew off with a squawk.

Naruto turned to Tsukune, "Sit this one out. Besides, Miss Nekonome would come looking for us if someone didn't stay here to keep her occupied."

Tsukune was grateful for the chance to avoid the conflict. "I can do that. I just have to mention we need more seafood and she will be distracted."

This caused a chuckle. Mizore nodded, "We need to be ready for a big fight."

Naruto nodded, "There is something off with that field. We shouldn't go into it too far."

Naruto unclasped his bracelet as he stood. "Time's a wasting, let's go."

Mizore and Kurumu unconsciously relaxed as they felt Naruto's Youkai once more. Moka's eyes darkened slightly. Yukari nodded.

Naruto stretched. "That is better. After a while, that is just uncomfortable."

The quintet quickly made their way to the top of the cliff.

They stood at the edge of the sunflower field waiting for the two witches. Moka took out the seal and applied to her Rosary, the pink hair faded more than usual to grey. Inner Moka's voice was definitely dominating. "So basically we trash the old one and get her to free the younger witch?"

Mizore nodded, "Basically we need to discover what happened to the humans that disappeared and if they fight, then yes, that is what we will do."

Kurumu sighed, "Why do I get the feeling that nothing good is about to happen?"

Naruto chuckled, "Women's intuition?"

Mizore responded, "The voice of experience?"

Any further response was cut off by the moonlight silhouetting two figures making their way through the sunflowers.

The group tensed slightly as a breeze seemed to pass through the flowers. The problem was, that the wind was blowing in an opposite direction.

When the two witches stopped in front of the group, Yukari stifled a gasp. The black and gray clothed woman spoke up, "You have trespassed on this land too many times. You will now pay with your lives!" She faced Ruby, "Ruby, do as I told you earlier. I will handle the rest."

Ruby immediately raised her wand and the earth at the base of the flowers shifted, and a battalion of grotesque forms were revealed. Red eyes glowed menacingly in the night. After a breath, there was a roar that pierced the night.

The witch duo was caught off guard when attacks were only directed at the older of the pair. The older witch laughed as a glittering field popped into place, shattering ice, stopped cards and quenched a fireball. This is a rather special shield. It absorbs energy and allows me to channel it how I desire." Suddenly, a flash of light then flew into the ground from the witch, causing more of the creatures to show themselves, appearing in concentric rings until most of the field now was filled with the red eyed enemies.

Naruto let one of his fire tails out, figuring that the plants would be weak against it. Moka cracked her knuckles. Kurumu took to the air, since it didn't appear that they were able to fly. Soon, she was dodging multiple vines that sprung from the ground, trying to catch her and bring her down to where the Garigarious had risen. The vines were a problem for the entire group. They had separated the various members and kept them from aiding one another. Moka was adept ad dodging them, while flipping through the air. Yukari's cards and pans were allowing her to hold her own against the horde of enemies. Mizore just froze everything around her. Once they had cleared a swath towards the witches, the older one read a spell from a book that was glowing with power. This caused all of the previously defeated plants to merge together, bringing the group back to where they started.

"Why are you doing this?" yelled Naruto as he sunk his burning fists into the two plants in front of him. He then let loose a torrent of flame, immolating the monstrosities he faced.

The response was only a high pitched laugh. "Because I can boy! I am going to make you watch as I turn your friends to fertilizer. Then I am going to take the knowledge of Fuinjutsu from your mind and then you will join them. You see, I have the advantage here."

One third the way through the response, Naruto had stopped paying attention. His eyes became slit pupiled and red. A roar ripped from his throat and he jumped high in the air, drew both hands together and unleashed a crescent of blue flames. This caused some of the plants to turn directly to ash. The witch's shield blinked out of existence. While surprised, the witch brought more plants up to fight.

Meanwhile, Ruby was busy directing the vines from the air. While Kurumu tried attacking her, the vines kept the succubus at bay. She was torn about the fight. From the tactics employed, it seemed they knew about the Vow she was under. She shuddered about what she had been told to do if her Mistress were to take a mortal wound.

Suddenly the Vampire appeared above her, leg slamming toward her skull. Ruby hoped that her shield held. It wasn't as comprehensive as her Mistress' but it should block enough so that she could manage it. The force behind the kick propelled Ruby to the ground, causing dirt to fly into the air and a massive thud to ring through the field.

This caused all on the battlefield to turn towards what had happened for a fraction of a second, this was enough opening for Lady Oyakata to press her attack. Two of the Garigarious landed on Naruto's back and sunk large fangs into the muscles of his shoulders. When Naruto's cries were heard, only Yukari was holding off Ruby's attacks, Mizore, Kurumu, and Moka fought to reach him.

Naruto shook his head after burning those who had hurt him. Naruto paused, he didn't feel the wounds begin to mend, instead a steady burning came from the damaged area. Naruto continued to fight and burn the witch's army. As time passed, his blood coated the ground around him. Slowly, he started to succumb to blood loss. This allowed for more bites to be inflicted. After unleashing another conflagration of flame Naruto shook his head a few times then fell to the ground.

Mizore, seeing this, transformed once more into a white clad fury of winter. She sped across the field, flinging giant blades if ice at some enemies and encasing others in ice, then shattering them. She reached the witch, and formed a sword with two parallel blades, attached at a perpendicular handle with a large curved guard on either side of the handle then thrust it through the gut of the older witch. This caused the book in her hands to fly from her grasp. The blades froze the tissue around them, and seemed to glow the same color as Mizore's eyes. Mizore just pushed past the falling body of the witch and went to her boyfriend's side. She then formed ice over the wounds that weren't healing and began dragging him from the fight.

Ruby doubled over in the air as she fought the command that had been issued. The pain showed her that her Mistress was not yet dead. Her Mistress' book flew through the air and hit her chest. The surprise from this and the pain of disobedience overrode Ruby's desire to fight the command.

All of the transformed plants froze in place then seemed to melt. The green sludge then flowed towards Ruby who had now landed on the ground. Seeing this, Lady Yakuta Oyakata smiled her last as she saw the Garigarious and the vines begin to congregate around her former pupil. Her final thought was that it was good that her lands would be protected, and Ruby served her purpose.

Mizore made it back to the other girls who were now gathered facing the pulsating mass. Suddenly it erupted; a three-headed monstrosity faced them. The central head opened its mouth and Ruby was shown, most of her body seemed melded into the beast.

Yukari yelled out, "Ruby!"

The group jumped out of the way of Ruby's next attack. Unfortunately Mizore was too slow and a set of vines were wrapped around Naruto, pulling him back from Mizore's shoulder. Naruto was then bound to the side of the beast.

Cold lightning then sparked around the Yuki-Onna. The ice and snow around her form strengthened then flared outward towards her enemy. Over half of its body was frozen solid.

Ruby's scream echoed through the night. The frozen parts fell to the ground but quickly regrew. This caused Moka and Kurumu to launch themselves at Ruby in an attempt to free Naruto.

Mizore stood panting, the last attack, coming on the tails of the previous fights had taken their toll. Her transformation reversed itself and she fell to her knees.

Yukari yelled to Moka as she blocked Ruby's vision with a wall of cards. "Destroy her wand! It is still fueling the spell. If you do that it will end the spell!" Yukari didn't say that it would likely kill Ruby as well.

Moka flipped through the air, launching herself towards the glowing item embedded in the mouth of the beast. Once her heel connected with the wand, a loud CRACK echoed through the night, followed by Ruby's screams. A bright flash of light and the enemy they faced was no more. Kurumu grabbed Naruto, freeing him from the vines. Blood leaked slowly from places where the vines had dug into his skin. Slowly, those wounds healed, but the bite marks on his back remained, the ice prevented them from seeing if they had started healing or not.

Mizore stood shakily and watched as Kurumu took off and helped to get Naruto back to the beach and away from the site. Moka came over, dress torn. "What happened? Those were weak Youkai. How did he get beaten by them?"

Mizore shook her head. "He didn't start to falter until he got bit. The bites weren't healing either. I think they had a type of venom that counteracts his healing ability, but I don't know."

Moka helped the exhausted girl back to the tent where Naruto was now being given first aid by Kurumu. Yukari was left alone at the top of the cliff.

Mizore, seeing that the wounds still had not healed, and saw that his skin didn't knit back together when they reverted him to his yoko form, decided to take matters into her own hands. "Tsukune!" she barked as she stormed out of the tent, "Give me your phone."

Tsukune looked confused but pulled it out all the same. "Here." He said.

Mizore flipped it open and dialed a number she knew well. She waited as it rang, the only thought through her head was, 'please pick up, please pick up.'

Her wish was granted when a groggy voice spoke, ""Hello?"

Mizore wasted no time. "Kushina, its Mizore. There is a problem with Naruto."

This caused Kushina to instantly become alert. "What is wrong?"

"We were fighting a group of Youkai and he got bit, and it's not healing. He was bleeding pretty bad, but I was able to slow it down."

Mizore heard Kushina wake Minato up and explain the situation to him. She waited nervously for the result.

Minato's voice came on the line. "Mizore where are you?"

Mizore replied, "About two to three hours from the resort. I don't know more than that."

Minato responded, "I will call back in a few minutes to get an exact location. Can someone give it to me?"

Mizore said, "One of the students is familiar with the area."

"Good. Give me five minutes." At this the call was cut off.

Mizore handed the phone back to Tsukune. "Naruto's dad is going to call back. I couldn't give him directions because I don't know the area. You said you live close to here. Can you tell him how to get here?"

Tsukune nodded. "Will Naruto be okay?"

Mizore shrugged. "His dad is really good at healing people. He is going to try to get here fast."

Tsukune replied, "Good."

Mizore went back to the tent, she'd rather be close to Naruto. Just before she made it to the tent, she heard Tsukune answer his phone and start talking. Moka had entered the tent, but Kurumu had used the seal in Naruto's first aid kit to shift him back into his halfway form. The three girls sat, taking turns applying pressure to the myriad of bites on Naruto's back. A few minutes later, Tsukune approached the tent. "He said he'll be here as soon as he can."

It was an unspoken agreement that the girls hoped it wouldn't be too long.

---

Yukari picked up her wand and bowed her head.

"Ruby, I'm sorry we couldn't save you."

Her head snapped up as a mound of vines and roots shifted, revealing Ruby. A groan was head and Yukari rushed over.

"Ruby, are you alright?"

Yukari felt for a pulse, and finding one that was shallow and weak, levitated the girl carefully in the air. She made her way quickly away from the battle ground. She lay Ruby down in the grass at the top of the cliff. Thankful she had learned healing spells at Naruto's insistence, she began casting various general healing spells followed up by a slew of diagnosis and detection spells. Once she had stabilized the older witch, she levitated her once more and headed down to the beach. Once she arrived, Tsukune was walking back from the tent set up for Naruto and Mizore.

Tsukune saw Yukari walking towards the campsite and waved her over, when she got closer, he saw a floating form behind her. He recognized the witch from before, and hurried over to open the larger tent. Yukari laid her down on a sleeping bag and finished casting healing spells. She wiped her brow and stumbled over to where Tsukune had been watching her. Yukari decided to take advantage of the situation. She faked a trip, knocking Tsukune down and pinning him beneath her.

"Be a good pillow Tsukune." she murmured as she feigned being asleep almost instantly. She had to clutch him tighter with each escape attempt. When he tried to wiggle out from under her, she pretended to be having a rather naughty dream, and even muttered some of the things he was supposedly doing to her. This caused her boyfriend to still until she was "asleep" once again. Eventually Tsukune resigned himself to the inevitable. After all, if Ruby was taking Yukari's sleeping bag, where would she sleep?

Yukari grinned when Tsukune conceded defeat. She was musing on ways to at least partially undress him as she fell asleep.

About a half hour after Ruby was taken into the large tent, a large tri-pronged Kunai landed in the sand. A blonde haired man appeared in a flash of yellow light.

Minato breathing was harsh, but it evened out as he lay out a sealing array. A nervous Kushina and Tsurara appeared in a flash of light and smoke.

Moka had exited Naruto's tent to get some water, when she saw the three adults appear. Earlier, Tsukune had told her Miss Nekonome was gone again. "Who are you?"

Kushina spoke first. "We are Naruto's parents, and this is Mizore's mom. Where is Naruto?"

Moka stepped away from the tent flap and motioned inside. The night was beginning to catch up with her. After getting a drink, she went to the large tent and fell into her sleeping bag. With Naruto's parents here, things should be fine.

In the tent, Tsurara was currently being hugged by a crying Mizore. Tsurara took her out of the tent, so Minato could work in peace. That and so she could get more gossip material for Kushina. Mizore had been so unhelpful in her letters in that regard. Naruto had been even worse.

Minato noted the bandages and the fact that Kurumu was using both hands and her tail to keep pressure on the bites to keep them from bleeding profusely. He picked up a bandage and sniffed it, a sour smell emanating from the red-stained cloth.

Kushina put a hand on the succubus' wing. "Come on, Minato can take it from here."

Kurumu was a little shocked. She hadn't registered the pair come in. "You're his parents?"

Kushina nodded. "Let's get you something to calm your nerves."

Kushina then went over to the small camp stove and put some water on to make a calming herbal blend. She had brought it along for her nerves, but it looked like the two girls could use it too. She didn't want anyone thinking about the Youkai power that was now emanating from the tent.

She noted the huddled heads of Tsurara and Mizore by the water. It looked like they might have gossiping material soon.

Kurumu felt the silence was awkward and had to do something to break it. "I like your ramen recipe. Where did you get it?"

This surprised Kushina. "I gave that to Mizore to reward Naruto when he did something nice for her. When did you try it?" There was no malice in the woman's tone, only curiosity.

Kurumu chuckled. "Mizore has almost burned down my kitchen four times. Her own is currently being made to withstand explosions. For all of our sakes, I'm the one who cooks it."

This caused quite a bit of laughter from the redhead. This opened the door to a conversation about cooking and various ways of doing so. Mizore's explosive results were also discussed. Kushina didn't say it, but she was impressed by the succubus. She was startled when Kurumu asked a question when Kushina started steeping the tea.

"Is it true that if someone finds out where you are, your father might try to kill you and your husband?"

Kushina stared at the girl in quickly disguised shock, but nodded slightly.

Kurumu continued, "I found out what kind of Youkai Naruto is on accident. He told me that was one of the reasons he hadn't told me sooner." She looked down at her hands. "I am glad to be his friend. He doesn't see me as a succubus, temptress extraordinaire. Just as Kurumu, his friend. He attributes that to you and his dad." She continued very softly, "Thank you. He is one of my very few friends."

Kushina threw an arm around the blue haired girl. "He wouldn't be your friend if you weren't worth it. The town knows him to be a rather honest young man. I just hope we can do as well with our next one." Kushina looked tenderly at her stomach.

Kurumu put the pieces together, just as any female would. "You… you're… I mean…" Then as with most women, she simply squealed in joy. Naruto had told her that his parents wanted another child.

Kushina nodded, "We haven't told Naruto yet, we found out last week. Don't tell him yet."

Kurumu zipped her lips; then took a sip of the tea. It was rather good. Mizore sat down next to her friend. Tsurara handed her a cup of tea that had been cooled. It even had ice cubes in it. After a description of the fight with the witch, the quartet sat in silence until Minato came out. He plopped down in the sand next to the girls. His white ears and tail were drooping.

"Kushina. Remind me to hug our son, then smack him."

Kushina raised an eyebrow. "Oh how so? By the way, you have your tail showing."

Minato looked significantly at Kurumu.

Kushina simply said, "She knows about us, so feel free to not speak in code. I didn't say anything, our son did."

Minato sighed, then reverted to his full human form. "He managed to protect his friends, but to also get injected with multiple doses of a rather potent cytotoxin, an anticoagulant, and there was a lingering amount of a hemotoxin. By the way girls, he will be fine now. I managed to extract it all. He is starting to heal now. He should be fine by morning. He will need plenty of fluids and food."

He leaned back, his hands out behind him. Since you two are in the know, I will let you in on a little secret. Just like Yuki Onna hate the heat, there is a substance that yoko don't tolerate well. That is a cytotoxin."

Confused looks met his gaze from the teens. Minato sighed again. "A cytotoxin can lyse, or break apart cells. A Hemotoxin can affect your blood cells in a similar manner. Yoko like to think they can heal from anything, but if you break down the cells as fast as they are replaced, suddenly our healing abilities don't help much. It has to be pretty potent to work, but it does." He sighed, "Most yoko don't know about that weakness. Naruto didn't. I told him to practice various healing skills too. I take it he has been focusing on attacks?"

In response he got a pair of nods.

Minato grumbled in response.

Kushina put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to address that in my next session with him."

Kurumu and Mizore both let out a big yawn. Mizore gave her mom and Kushina a hug then staggered her way to the tent, Kurumu following moments later.

The adults were about to start a conversation when they were interrupted, "Mrow, who are you?"

---

Naruto awoke to the sensation of once again being pinned by two girls. He created a Shadow clone then swapped places with it. His back itched badly. After beating back a contingent of those plant monsters, he didn't remember much. He groggily walked up to the bathrooms that were situated close to their campsite. When he got back, he was handed a glass of water.

"Thanks dad," he muttered, then halfway through drinking he realized exactly who had given him the water, and proceeded to spit it out. Luckily he missed. His father may be a water yoko, but he hated getting his clothes wet. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

Minato response was a soft swat on the back of the head then giving his son a hug. "You my boy, I am proud of you but why did you not shift and use your full form? You could have ended that fight in seconds."

Naruto looked sheepish. "I wanted to see where I was at when fighting multiple enemies."

Naruto felt another hand connect rather forcefully with the back of his skull again. This time it was wreathed in flames. Kushina stood there with a half angry half amused look on her face as Naruto stopped his hair from burning off. "Your friends could have been bitten by those things, what would have happened? They don't have the same healing abilities you do."

"Mom I am trying to keep the fact that I am a yoko under wraps. You told me not to talk about it."

Kushina hugged her son. "What have we told you about being about to protect yourself? Let loose if it protects you and your friends. While I appreciate your gesture; since it means you are protecting the family; if you reveal it protecting people you care about; we understand. Your father and I can take care of ourselves. Tsurara told us about you defending Mizore from the Kraken. Mizore didn't know if he survived or not, but if he did, he knows you are stronger than you appear. Your father and I do have protections in place after all. We have lived in that town for how long? Of course we have defensive measures in place." Kushina then grinned. "Since you were so eager to test yourself, I will gladly oblige at the next break."

Naruto paled in response.

Tsurara came up and hugged Naruto. "Thank you for keeping my daughter safe."

Any further conversation was cut off by the sound of a zipper being pulled and a shirtless Tsukune making his way quickly towards the restrooms. Yukari started after him, but stopped when she saw the adults.

"Mr. and Mrs. Namikaze I presume?" asked Yukari. At their nods, she bowed deeply. "At the request of my Enclave, I am to convey my thanks and inform you that you are able to claim a boon from us. This is in return for allowing me to learn the lost art of Fuinjutsu."

Minato bowed in response. "Well, nothing comes to mind. I will have to think about it. Once Naruto reaches a certain point, I have offered to teach you myself. Did he tell you that?"

Yukari nodded again. "Thank you. He had informed me of that and I am willing to work at your business for free in order to be taught. In fact I have been practically ordered to do so." She then turned to Naruto. "Ruby survived. I don't know how or why, but she did. That spell she used is only used when a witch doesn't care about her life anymore. My Enclave doesn't allow teaching it. I read about it in books on transformation magic. It is supposed to be permanent. I healed her up and she is sleeping in my tent."

Naruto nodded, but suddenly felt very dizzy. He swayed on the spot, but steadied himself.

Minato spoke up. "Your Youkai energy will likely be fluctuating for the next few days. I told your teacher that you are to be under medical watch until it ends. Your body used quite a bit of energy, and most of that was simply burned keeping you alive. Think about a vampire and water. Too much Cytotoxin can be similar. That and your body, because of what all got injected into you, will need to re-stabilize. So, no more using Youkai energy until it stops. It will take longer to heal if you do. Your mother and Tsurara will be talking about that with Mizore and Kurumu to make sure you don't tax yourself."

At this Mizore exited the tent. She grumbled, not bothering to look at the assembled group, grabbed Naruto by the ear and drug him back to the tent. She muttered all the while about shadow clones not being as comfortable as the real thing.

Needless to say, the adults all laughed.

It was at least another hour before Mizore woke up enough to allow Naruto out of the tent. The adults said farewells to their children, and then walked towards the bus stop. However, Kushina and Minato had enough time to tell Naruto that he would be an older brother soon. Miss Nekonome had arranged for the Bus Driver to take them home.

The cat woman now stood in front of her students. "I'm glad that you found out what was happening here. The local police found the body of the witch, along with a journal of her actions. They have closed the cases associated with it. They assume that the girl who was being controlled is the one who ultimately killed her. They aren't looking too hard for her since there is no weapon and only a fifteen year old description of her. Currently, they believe she threw herself into the ocean since there as signs of footsteps rushing to the edge of the cliff. So the question is what do we do with Ruby? She is a victim too."

At this, Ruby spoke up. "I borrowed Yukari's wand this morning to do a check up on me. Something odd has happened." She took a deep breath. "I have been tethered to a member of your group." Sensing confusion, Ruby explained, "My magic is in an odd state after our battle and something has happened. I only have a vague idea what it is." She turned to Naruto. "Your blood saved me from ending my life with the end of the transformation magic." She then lifted her head, showing her eyes. Gone was any trace of brown in her iris. Her eyes were now a few shades off of scarlet. "I don't know if I read the results right or not, but I think that the Vow was moved to Naruto." Ruby bowed deeply to the blonde, "What is your wish Master?"

AN: Omake 1 is considered part of the story. I couldn't get the feel of the scene right in time to include it. It was pointed out to me that if the Public Safety Committee was investigating Tsukune, this kind of event would make things tricky in giving them justification to kill Tsukune for being a human. Well tough, I am counting it as part of the story anyway. I'm still not completely happy with the scene, but I wanted to share it, I hope you like it. This is the tenth re-write of this scene. I hope you enjoy it. If anyone can improve on it, I may add it later in the form of a flashback.

Omake 2 is for fun. This is for those who asked if Hinata would ever be in the story. This is a coin toss if it is actually in the story. Either way it could work. So you decide.

Omake 3 is an idea for an omake I have been kicking around for the past six chapters. It finally came together. Keep in mind that the Uchiha Massacre never happened in this story.

Omake 1

Tsukune sat down to breakfast. He had spent the night studying and fending off Yukari's rather forward teaching efforts. He had taken a large glass of orange juice with his breakfast. After taking a few bites, he took a large gulp of his morning beverage. Suddenly the world seemed to blur. It slid back into focus later. He ran to his dorm as he saw the time. He had to get to class. As he hurried away, he didn't see Kubasaki Nagai hogtied and strung up in a tree by his own neck.

A few days later, Nagare was found surrounded by a circular wall of salt taller than he was. His camera was found burning merrily just outside the circle.

A week after that, Gin ate breakfast with Tsukune. After Tsukune finished his Orange Juice, he hiccupped. Gin noticed that Tsukune began to sway dangerously. He tried to grab the front of the boy's shirt as Tsukune fell backwards. Suddenly, Tsukune put a hand down and fell into a one-armed handstand.

Tsukune was swaying back and forth as he spoke. "Geeen, you shoullnt be sush a pervertsh. Mosht of the girlsh don'ts likes yous. If you wantsh a girl likesh Yu, yu, like mine, You needsh to be nisher."

Gin laughed. "It would take quite a bit to break that trend."

Tsukune then jumped at the werewolf, catching him off guard. Gin had to use all of his speed to avoid the strikes, kicks and cafeteria-based projectiles thrown at him. Luckily, Tsukune was distracted when Naruto came into the cafeteria. "I haves to go now Geeen. Naruto wantsh to shpar." The following fight wrecked most of the cafeteria.

When Naruto finally managed to subdue Tsukune, he turned to ask what started the whole mess.

Tsukune downed a pitcher of orange juice and the fight was on again.

Tsukune regained consciousness only to discover three things. First, he was being levitated in the air by Yukari. Second, he saw several sealing tags placed on his person. Third, he was wrapped in rope, chain, and a thin wire and unable to move anything but his head.

"Um, Guys? What is going on?"

Omake 2

When the group was in town trying to get more information about the various rumors associated with the area, a glint of metal caught Naruto's eye. He walked over and saw two boys and a girl with an older woman. All four had a metal plate on their person with the symbol of Konoha on it. He overheard them talk about investigating disappearances. Naruto grabbed a chair and sat down at their table.

"Excuse me, but we are having a private discussion." Spat the red-eyed woman.

Naruto shook his head and slapped a seal down on the table. After the air around the table glowed blue for a brief second, he said, "No, now you are having a private discussion."

The team looked shocked. A rather potent security seal was being carried around by a civilian. The older woman noted it looked just like the seals on the walls of the Tower. This place was definitely different than the Elemental Nations.

Naruto continued, "Now that little ears can't hear you..." he sighed, "I swear Konoha must have really let things slide since the fourth killed the nine-tails."

This put all of the shinobi on edge.

Naruto waved it off, then popped out his ears and one tail. The pale eyed girl had just started to fidget in her seat. "The nine-tails was a jerk anyway. I'm a kitsune. So no worries there."

Naruto turned to the boy with sunglasses. "Put your bugs away or you will see what happens when they meet fire." He continued, looking at the boy with the dog, "If he pees on me, I will have a four legged dinner right here." He inwardly laughed at the expressions of the boys. "I mean you no harm. Just no touchy."

The older woman spoke up, "What are you doing here?"

Naruto shrugged, "Same thing as you. I'm trying to find if the problems here are of the Youkai variety or human superstition."

The atmosphere at the table relaxed slightly. Naruto was about to speak when his tail was attacked by the indigo-haired girl.

After having to force Youkai energy to get rid of the foreign chakra in his body after he had tried to pry her off, he vanished his tail and ears. "Stop that."

"I-i-i-I'm S-s-sory." The girl poked her index fingers together for a moment, looked the blonde in the face, suddenly went bright red, and fell forward hitting her head on the table.

"I'm sorry, is she sick?" Asked Naruto clearly a little confused at what was going on. He continued, "Anyway, if you see a battle going on, let me just put it this way, stay out of it. You are out of your league. All of you."

The older woman bristled at this remark, "Now see here..."

Naruto continued ignoring the interruption. "If it is minor, I'll leave you to take care of it." Naruto then smirked. "Try the ramen here. It isn't Ichiraku's but hey, what is?" Ignoring the older woman's shocked expression; Naruto picked up the seal. Deciding to be the trickster he was portraying, he then leaned in close to the now waking girl. "I'm flattered, and you are pretty cute yourself." This was followed by another thump as he walked away.

The boys tried waking her, confused at what had happened.

The jonin sighed, of all the times for Hinata to discover her hormones…

(Later that night)

Team 8 watched in horror at the sheer power that was thrown around by the group fighting. Kurenai gulped. The Kitsune hadn't been lying. They really were out of their league. She just now realized the difference between the Fourth and her. This was the kind of power the Fourth Hokage could throw around and these were only the age of most Chunin. She decided to leave this off of the official report and make sure to step up her team's training. The Hokage would of course be told. Apparently some of the tales of monsters were true. But they weren't all bad. The kitsune's warning was proof of that. She signaled her team to leave. They couldn't get caught in the crossfire.

Omake 3

Inner Moka slammed her glass on the bar. "Bartender, gimme another."

The repressed inner vampire had decided to visit the Anime Inner Voices Bar. The establishment was exclusively for inner personas that rarely saw the light of day. It was rather empty today, but enough patrons were there to provide a slight background murmur. Lately she was sick of her outer persona not even letting her out a little bit to drink Naruto's blood.

Nursing her beverage, she muttered, "Stupid pink-haired idiot."

This caught the attention of a white-outlined black figure next to her. "You have to deal with a pinkette too?"

Inner Moka turned and looked at the girl. Appearances could be deceiving here, so she decided to at least assume that the girl was powerful enough to talk to. She sighed, "Yeah my outer self has been extra cautious lately. I haven't had so much as an iota of control lately."

The figure next to her huffed. "At least you get control from time to time. I can only yell at my outer pinkette." The girl was obviously a few drinks in. She threw her hands in the air, "All she thinks about is the kid with the duck-butt hair. I think he's cute too, but all she does is fawn over him, nothing ever happens! She doesn't even attempt to impress him with anything but her brains. She hasn't even used any of those seduction techniques she knows. SHANNAROO!" The girl now swayed on her barstool. She then gestured to her chest, "I don't have anything like you, but hey, it's enough to at least garner some attention."

Inner Moka was slightly taken aback by the tirade. She decided to see if she could help her fellow Inner. "So how are you kept in place? Seal? Ancient magical rites? Previous trauma and repressed memories? Mental Duct tape?"

The girl shook her head. "Nothing like that, I just started as a mental construct that gained autonomy. I don't know how to take control. I can defend my Outer's mind, but I can't do anything else."

Moka grinned. "Would you like to learn how? I can teach you the basics. Wait until she is weak, then strike when you can be of most use to the both of you. She may never notice it."

The girl sobered instantly. "I'll pay your tab for the next year if you do that."

(In outside world)

Sasuke was walking home after another mission. Their team had been exhausted. He suddenly felt a sting on his neck and his vision blurred.

When he awoke, his eyes were filled with pink hair. Pulling back, he saw Sakura lying in bed with him. He realized that most of his clothes were gone. Suddenly the door to his room opened. His mother walked in, "Sasuke, it's time to… Oh. Well now, Itachi won the bet. We had wondered what the commotion was last night. There was a locking jutsu on your door. Next time make sure you have a privacy one up as well. I'll talk to Mrs. Hanuro about making this official. Our clan rules are quite specific after all. I hope you two will be happy."

Sasuke paled. What had happened last night? He saw Sakura holding him. Maybe he had underestimated the girl. How had she set all this up anyway? His confusion deepened when his bedmate woke up.

"Sasuke? Oh I'm still dreaming. Sasuke, we will be late, but it will be worth it. I want more." After a moment, Sakura tilted her head. Normally Sasuke didn't run off screaming in her dream. And since when did she dream that he wore My Little Pony boxers?