When Akasha and Tsukune arrive back, Tsukune changed and went to work in the garden and Akasha went up to her room and sat looking out of the window.
"How did it go mother?" Moka asked as she came in "I knocked but you didn't answer"
"Come in, I was just trying to recover" Moka noticed that she hadn't changed and was still sitting in her 'official Dior'
"What happened"
"Your house is now joined in bonds of family to Gloria's Moka"
"What" Moka sat heavily on the bed "How did that happen, what has it cost us?"
Akasha shook her head "Nothing, it cost nothing" she drew a breath "Gloria and I were talking with Tsukune, his seal broke and she realised what he was so she's created a zone to talk freely. I mentioned how long I'd known Gloria and said that we were like sisters. Tsukune said that he should caller her Aunt" Moka drew a breath "I explained to Tsukune and he apologised" Akasha turned "Gloria said that he could call her Aunt as it was offered, freely with no obligations. He then kissed her cheek and thanked her as Aunt Gloria"
"Does he know" Moka asked
"No, and Gloria knows that he didn't that's why she accepted it as it was offered. He was just Tsukune and touched her heart with his innocence and sincerity"
"What about the rest"
"One of the guards took offence when I introduced him as my mate" Akasha grinned "Tsukune bounced him off all the walls without letting him land, then greeted Gloria with a quip. The idiot attacked Tsukune from behind he didn't even look and backhanded him literally into the wall" she chuckled "That will make its way to Issa. But I'm surprised that Mikogami hasn't turned up yet"
"That's the other reason I'm here, he arrived and saw the remains of the seal in the tray where Tsukune left it. He was still staring at it when I came upstairs"
.
As they walked towards the sitting room they stopped to watch the Chairman still looking at the seal. He slowly turned and just indicated towards it, the cowl pointing at Akasha demanding an answer.
"He was a little irritated that's all, not angry. His mother wasn't there"
"Irritated" the voice itself was more than a little irritated "The seal's shattered" he looked closely and groaned "Akasha I'd advise you to remove your Rosario this very minute"
Akasha looked at his face and her hand flew to her neck, the Rosario clicked off and she looked at it closely "Moka take yours off as well and show me"
"Why mother" Moka asked having followed her mothers instructions
"Because we need them fixed before we can wear them again" she said after looking.
As they sat in the room they were joined by Kurumu with huge wings and tail both far larger than normal, and Sora, her nine tails twitching in irritation. "What the hell's happening" they demanded
"Um can I ask that as well" Mizore asked, almost transparent her hands huge claws of ice as she looked in through the open doors.
.
The Chairman sat with his hands in front of his face and slowly opened his fingers to peer at the five monsters sat looking at him.
"Yukari and who" he asked Akasha finally
"Oh no" she groaned as well "My sister Gloria, she said he could call her Aunt Gloria, that's seven" She went to the phone and dialled a number "Gloria take off your Rosario at once and then check it carefully" she waited and nodded "I'll tell you when I know" and put the phone down, came back and sat looking at Mikogami "I thought it was a myth, I'm too young to have seen a true human of the dawn"
"I'm not, I did know but I forgot. It's been over ten thousand years after all"
Moka raised her voice "Tsukune bring Yukari", they waited and the two came into the room and sat by the window.
"Yukari" the Chairman asked "How many bonds are there to the magical number?"
"Seven plus the mother" she looked at the group of changed monsters and then Tsukune "You have another bond" she stated. She looked outside and raised her hand, the stone bench lifted easily and settled back down. "Definitely" she looked back "Oh dear, the seals and Rosario's"
"Mine and mothers are not broken but we can't use them at the moment. The other's Rosario is the same, but it seems like Kurumu's and Sora's have gone and Mizore will now need one"
"Sora's was almost finished, I need to reset a new stone, Aono Kurumu needs a Rosario now a seal won't hide her true form as does Shirayuki Mizore. I'd suggest the maker of yours does the necessary work for the three surviving Rosario's" The Chairman smiled at Tsukune "What are we to do with you, but at least you don't need a seal anymore. I'll give you a dummy for the chain, you're all excused school and Yukari can tutor you, she can come to get the supplies and Rosario's with Tsukune next week"
"I've already assigned a substitute from the guard in case I was needed elsewhere. I'll call her on the net for next week" Sora said
"Then I'd better get on and to work" The Chairman stood and shook his head, he looked at Mizore then Moka and smiled "One could say" he nodded at her "The guard will contact you when each is ready"
Akasha picked up the phone again "Moka, Tsukune go and wash and change we need to go on another trip with Gloria"
oOoOo
Touhou Fuhai sat looking at the three Rosario's on the table in front of him "Well at least Moka's is now the same as the others" he looked at her "Congratulations on your rebirth" then he sighed "Akasha I'll need power to do these as quickly as you need them"
"That's why Tsukune came as well" she looked over to the smiling Tsukune
"As you gave it to me?" he asked, Fuhai looked at him "I recognise the yoki"
"That would be nice, but a little more controlled please, we aren't testing this time"
Tsukune nodded and held out his hand. As Fuhai took it Tsukune released his hold on his yoki "Take what you want"
Moka and Akasha looked at each other and smiled, Tsukune being Tsukune had unwittingly set a trap but they knew he'd never demand payment.
To the side Gloria watched as well, wondering what was going to happen. She could see the yoki around Tsukune and it didn't appear to alter. She did know that there was a tremendous exchange though; she could sub-consciously hear it like the flow of a waterfall. Eventually Fuhai muttered something inaudible and Tsukune controlled his yoki again.
.
"Ok Akasha what happened" Gloria was alone with her, Fuhai gone to his workshop and Tsukune and Moka were in the gardens looking at the plants.
"I know that when Tsukune offered to call you Aunt, you knew that he hadn't a clue as to what he was really asking. You treated it as a sweet little fledgling asking for nothing, and so did I. It was a pet name if you like" Gloria nodded, her eyes still on Akasha "We both forgot something"
"What"
"He's not a vampire, he's human and was brought up as a human. To him our relationship as sisters was real, real enough for him to consider you a part of his family at least. To him it's not a pet name, you are now his Aunt, and he formed a bond to you as such" she sighed "When you said that we could have done with him being there you said 'we sisters', just after that his seal broke."
"You mentioned Issa then his seal broke" Gloria countered
"But he'd already accepted that we were sisters, he hadn't a clue before that that we were so close"
"Ok so he thinks of me as his Aunty" Gloria smiled "He really is so sweet"
"Yes but he's also a true human as we called them, human of the dawn as Yukari and the witches call them" she paused "You were the seventh bond to an Youkai that he'd formed, and you know he's bonded to the mother as well"
"That's a legend"
"Not according to Mikogami and he remembers them. Everyone he's bonded to has had a huge increase in power. His other wives, a succubus and a Zenko blew their seal and Rosario and assumed their true forms unable to change back, a Yuki Onna that's attached to him and was a guest to become a member didn't have a seal, but she now also can't change back. They will all need new Rosario's"
"Who's the seventh then?"
"Our daughter Yukari" she reminded Gloria
"She won't at least need a seal as she's basically human like her father" Gloria paused in thought "Although if I remember correctly she will need more wands if she's increased in power as well"
"Oh she has, she turned and levitated a stone bench with no effort not even using a wand, and I know witches learn that spell early, but there's never any power in it and it takes concentration. Yukari lifted the bench as an afterthought whilst still talking to us, it's large and must weigh over half a ton"
"Seal and wands then" Gloria shook her head "What about Tsukune"
"Well the legend says that he'll also increase in power. When we checked a few months ago he was stronger than all but the eldest vampires and still producing yoki at a prodigious rate. I suppose that we'd better look again, but he now seems to be able to control what he has without a seal" Akasha smiled "I don't think it's worth the expense to trying to give him one and neither does Mikogami. He suggested a dummy"
.
After they'd finished their tea Akasha looked at Gloria "You know that Tsukune will protect you now whether you need it or not?"
"What, why" she chuckled "as if I need protection"
"Oh but you've got to let him" Akasha smiled "A witch went to barge past and Tsukune moved to stand in front of me. Then pushed him away and told him that he might have hurt me"
Gloria laughed "You are joking, did he really think that would hurt you"
"No I don't think he did, but he felt that I shouldn't even be put in that position" Akasha smiled "He treats me like a woman" her eyes closed "A very delicate woman at times"
"You mean"
"Yes. Remember all those years ago when we used to talk about the ideal man, one who'd treat us just like any other" she smiled at Gloria "I've found one"
"Then hurry up and have his child and make sure it's a boy. It's the least you should do for your sister, especially as you can't share him"
"What about Hubert"
"That's why we only have one child in the house now. We'd decided to disband once he's grown up. He and one of the others want to set up as a pair and we agreed"
"If Tsukune's child is like him, then you'll have a flock of women wanting to form a house"
"That's their hard luck, this time I get second choice"
oOoOo
High above the group Midou Kusabi watched as they had lunch, he had half an ear on Komiya Saizou as he ranted on about how weak Aono was, and how he'd fallen over with just a gentle push. Kusabi smiled as he heard Saizou expound his belief that the succubus had charmed the school to make it look like Aono had won the fight with Rikishi. Kusabi tuned the inane drivel out as he watched closely. He smiled as he caught sight of the chain on Aono's arm and went back to listen the discussion and planning.
.
Sat on the roof he watched as Saizou attacked Moka and the three went to attack Aono. The blades missed and Aono stood still with a resigned air as he watched Saizou now holding Moka by one arm. He'd grabbed her holding both but his lust had given way and now he tried to strip her with the other. Kusabi watched with Tsukune as Moka removed the Rosario and Saizou was left holding a very irate vampire. He blew the whistle after Moka had beaten Saizou to a pulp, the three heard it and picked up Saizou and ran. Kusabi watched as Tsukune's head turned in the direction of the whistle. Avoids blows and hears like a dog, the report from Keito must be correct about Aono being a werewolf.
Yoshii Kiria looked at the Orc hanging from the beam as he was pummelled by the other members of the outcasts.
"Why did you involve this again" He indicated the dying Saizou
"A purebred Orc comes to us to join, please" Kusabi smiled "He had some notion that Aono was weak and that the succubus had charmed the whole school" Kiria's head turned "Yes a succubus that powerful we needed to know about. However Aono avoided the strikes and heard the whistle, looks like he's a werewolf as that spider said. We did find that Akashiya Moka can take off her own Rosario though"
"Remember whatever you're planning against those two you'll suffer if it fails" Kiria's eyes were hard as he looked at Kusabi
"Magic cuffs for her then we can have some fun, and no werewolf can avoid my blows in the daytime" Kusabi grinned "Those two will be dead soon and I'll make him watch"
"Perhaps" Kiria turned and walked away his hand reaching into his pocket for his book
Out of sight Kiria lent against a tree and read the final few pages then looked up "A perfectly good plan gone to waste because some arrogant idiot is going to abuse Akashiya Moka in front of Aono Tsukune. I'd suggest that we make ourselves very scarce"
"Why what can he do?"
"I don't know what he is but whenever one's in danger the other appears and the threat is removed" Kiria closed the book "Kusabi thinks he's a werewolf, but a werewolf couldn't have defeated Kuyou nor weld his tails together, and wouldn't be acceptable to a vampire" he walked with the tall figure and smiled as he watched him adjusted his glasses in thought. "We'll hear through the grapevine as usual, it will give us a better idea. I wish we knew what happened on the roof, I was sure he was a human"
"We know Morioka Gin bit him, and we can assume that Akashiya Moka did the same" he indicated the book "Find anything"
"It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end. Observe, for instance, the nose is formed for spectacles, therefore we wear spectacles" Kiria quoted from the closed book "Even when you don't need them Pangloss"
"At least I won't end up with Cunégonde, but doesn't that make you Paquette?"
Kiria laughed "Heavens forbid, I need a new book"
oOoOo
Moka tried to look up to the cuffs she knew were around her wrists, her head throbbed and her body wouldn't respond, she realised that she was blindfolded with a hood. "Awake are we" the voice was mocking "Lets get you ready for your boyfriend" She felt her ankles tied to something and her legs were spread wide. "Pretty panties" She squirmed to escape. "Don't get excited nothing's going to happen until he's here and can watch" there was a laugh "Last thing he'll see is me kneeling between those lovely white thighs"
Moka froze at the thought, then unseen blanched at what Tsukune would do "You'd better let me go"
"He's coming" Someone shouted; Moka then heard a crash
"Here are you Aono Tsukune, want to see her face"
Light exploded into Moka's eyes as the hood was ripped off; she saw Tsukune standing looking at her then his eyes moved to the Youkai holding the cloth.
"My, my look at the face, just wait the last thing you'll see in your life will be me kneeling down and" Tsukune's yoki exploded "Shit he's a vampire turn on the water"
Moka screamed as the water hit her then she was covered by something, opening her eyes she saw that the water was bouncing off an invisible shield. Tsukune walked over and broke the cuffs, then knelt down and undid the bindings on her ankles. "Go outside, I'll send him out in a minute" he helped Moka to her feet and held her briefly then kissed her.
She had to admit she was relieved to feel his arms around her "Don't be long" she let go and walked to the door, the water splashing off the shield until she went through. There she turned and removed her Rosario "I'm ready darling"
Tsukune turned to the group and looked at Midou Kusabi "Going to do something to me were you before the last thing I'm going to see" he waited until the huge overpowered arm was descending and ripped it off. "My wife wants a word with you" he hissed in his ear and threw him through the thin wall to land by Moka. Smiling at the rest he laid about with the huge arm in his hand, it had no feelings to transmit and he didn't hold back.
.
Kiria was reading the new book standing by a portal to another realm when the explosion of yoki lit up the sky. He watched "Not vampire either" he muttered as he turned and left.
.
The figure walked through the dead and looked at the damage. Kiria had been right again, Aono Tsukune was quite capable of destruction if the right buttons were pressed. He extended long bladed arms and took down the cameras he'd set and looked at the images. Akashiya Moka was a button that he didn't need pressed. He watched closer at the interaction of the two, they were lovers not just boyfriend and girlfriend. He looked at the other video and frowned, Moka had said 'darling' and Tsukune 'wife'. He looked up and walked out to the corpse of Midou, he'd been caught before they'd sent the message. Tsukune and Moka needed to be neutralised without threatening the safety of either. Cuffs would work for her, but they still didn't know what Tsukune was, he still hadn't changed to his real form, there couldn't be that many Youkai that a vampire would find suitable outside their own interbred race.
There was a noise behind him and he turned to see an Youkai with wheeled blades for legs carrying a box "What happened here?" he demanded
"Here" he pointed "Moka didn't like that Midou threatened to rape her" he pointed "In there Tsukune wasn't happy either. Who are you?"
"Part of Midou's group"
"The box"
The Youkai smiled "Newspapers we had printed, our own take on the school paper" he tossed one at the figure and went to move forwards, stopping when a blade appeared and skewered the paper out of the air. "One of us are you"
"Not quite" his eyes scanned the paper "Destroy these" he looked up seeing the rebellion in the posture and eyes. There was no movement from the Youkai and the arm lengthened and took off the head. "Midou really was stupid" he dropped the paper and walked off.
oOoOo
In his office the Chairman sighed and turned from the window. "The changelings that call themselves 'Outcast' have the most to gain with the least effort. Yet they have a huge inferiority complex because they're not 'pure'"
"It's the nature of the beast" the driver said as he puffed on the ever present cigar. "You're going to have to admit that part's over and eradicate them" his head shook "They won't change but will continue to try and cause problems, especially as they now have two leaders that have brains"
"Well Tsukune's the representative of his class so he'll meet Kaneshiro Hokuto at their meeting. As for that scamp Kiria he's returned Candide and has now taken Voltaire's first Questions"
"Let's hope he doesn't manage to get trumpets then after he's finished Rights" the driver grinned "Why do you let him?"
"Because he isn't driven by hate or dogma but logic" he looked at the driver "He's never committed a crime, he borrows my books and takes care of them. It's actually nice that someone reads them"
"Never committed a crime" the driver frowned and then thought "He hasn't has he" he said with a chuckle "Just gives the others the opportunity to do so, then he can watch what happens"
"That and his arm" The Chairman shook his head
"You don't think he's him" the driver laughed
"Well he might be" The Chairman scowled and the driver laughed harder.
oOoOo
Tsukune glared at the scrawled map he'd been given, supposedly directions for the new representative to the school festival planning committee. At the beginning of the year he'd have been honoured to help, but now there was no joy in his progress. The Chairman had made sure that he was the person to attend; that meant the he wanted him there and that meant that Tsukune didn't want to be within a thousand miles of the place. The only lining were his shadows. Mizore had revealed one night in the bath that her mother wanted to be a spy and had trained her as well. Sora, feeling that she was losing her edge since she had become a teacher decided that it would be fun and they could keep an eye on Tsukune. So they followed Tsukune and kept score on how many times they saw each other. Tsukune had to admit that they had improved, he rarely saw either now.
He looked at the house, another dormitory block, although this one looked as if had been created as a copy of the building from the Addams family. "Where are the bats" he muttered
"The Addams Family ha" A tall figure stood next to him "You must be the first year representative Aono Tsukune as from today the newest member of the committee"
"That's me" Tsukune looked up, then up again. 'That's tall' he thought 'I wonder if he realises that I now know that he was human'
"Well I'll show you the way and introduce you shall I" He didn't wait but started towards the house. Tsukune shut his eyes and followed now resigned to his fate.
.
His surprise at the figure being introduced as Kaneshiro Hokuto was overshadowed when after the introductions he started talking about Anti Thesis. Tsukune sat up as he continued. He wasn't aware that the group was common knowledge. Yukari had explained a little after he and Moka had been attacked, and Gin had told them a little more before Midou had kidnapped Moka. But an open discussion seemed strange and he listened. Hokuto was very charismatic and determined that the festival be the best and promote harmony.
It was therefore a pensive Tsukune that slowly made his way back, he'd need to talk to Gin and get the rates of deaths from him about the last few years, something that Hokuto had gone on about. He felt one of the others catch up and smiled slightly, 'come to find out about the new guy' Tsukune thought. Mizore was near but he couldn't feel Sora.
"So what did you think" Tsukune's smile was a little wider as he turned "Ueshiba Mizuki" he introduced himself "Hokuto didn't do the introductions call me Mizuki" He joined Tsukune walking beside him.
He didn't say it but Tsukune was a little on the alert, Mizuki was a girls name, Beautiful Moon, ok Moriko was also a girls name Child of the forest, but that was a family name of a werewolf so it sort of matches. But a given name Tsukune shook himself and concentrated, annoyed that he'd been distracted.
"Sorry, Hokuto seems to be very passionate in his belief that there should be good relations with all the races. He does seem to pick you up and make you want to help in his goals"
"Well I think some of the passion comes from a rumour that there's an infiltrator from Anti Thesis in the committee" Mizuki smiled and watched Tsukune's reaction then turned "In here" he pointed to a dilapidated building "Someone's coming"
Tsukune knew that, he'd sensed Kurumu coming to meet him from the meeting, but followed anyway. "Are you sure about the spy?"
"Nobody warned you?" Mizuki asked when they were away from the path, and watched Tsukune shake his head in resignation "Oh well, just be on the look out, I'm sure you can deal with him just as you did with the others" he turned and went to leave.
Tsukune smiled and nodded "How did you know about that. Even in this school nobody else knows that I've met Anti Thesis before but them" Tsukune turned to face him.
"Ah and I was told you were quick, I'd planned to get more information from you about the school before I killed you" Mizuki's voice came from the ground. He suddenly appeared from the ground and dragged Tsukune down. "It's a bit apt really, there's a mole in the committee, it's me and I'm a mole" In the darkness of the soil Tsukune could see him grin.
"It is really, but you give away more than you think"
"I'm not saying anymore" Mizuki sounded annoyed "I'm just going to kill you and leave your body down here in the earth"
"Sorry but even though you're a mole, the earth is part of me" Tsukune's voice became harder "I can't let you live and tell them that I know, you're a danger to my house" His hand went through the elongated head and he moved upwards to the surface leaving the body where it was.
Kurumu and Mizore were waiting when he appeared. Kurumu had reassured Mizore that Tsukune was alright and not in any danger, and telling her to trust the bond she had with him. So they sat on a wall waiting as he surfaced. "See told you" she said "If he's in real danger you'll know, you actually don't get the option. What we were feeling was a little regret that's all" she stood "Let's get home to talk"
oOoOo
"Is there any way that a member of the faculty could be involved Sora?" Tsukune had finished telling the rest in the house about the meeting and his thoughts.
"No" she shook her head "After the idiot attacked the ward all of the guards and then the whole faculty were read. All have the same goals in regards to the races and the integration" "They weren't read for crimes" She said as an aside to Mizore "Although we in the guard knew, we're not allowed to interfere unless it's right in front of us"
"You knew that Hokuto was the other human" Tsukune asked
She nodded "How did you know"
"I made an obscure reference to a film and he got it immediately when we first met" he looked at the questions "I asked myself where the bats were when I first saw the house, it looks like the one from the Addams family. The Chairman could have put us there" he said in afterthought
"I wonder if they created Lurch and Thing to run the place" Yukari asked. Then looked round at the blank faces "I'll get the film out on DVD and we can watch. It'll be good for Mizore's english"
"Well I've no idea what you're talking about" Sora said "But not a witch, Yukari knew"
"I only knew because Tsukune introduced me to films. This is a comedy about a family of 'monsters', all the archetypes are there and played out in full" she shook her head "Unless they'd lived for a time as a human they'd have no idea"
"I knew" Moka said quietly "I was compared to Wednesday when I was in school there" she was quiet for a while "Apart from Thing and Lurch I think I prefer it here"
Tsukune and Yukari burst out laughing although Moka had been serious she also joined as she saw the funny side. "You will not call me Morticia Tsukune" she looked at the two as they laughed still harder "Or Lily. I don't have streaks in my hair"
"So" Sora asked when they'd finished
"That means that the only way that Mizuki could have got onto the committee would have been Hokuto since he'd have reports from the staff on those appointed" Tsukune continued "Which means that he's also Anti Thesis"
"But why talk about it then" Kurumu asked
"It's not well known as an organisation, Yukari only knew that it existed and Gin a little more. Hokuto blamed a lot of deaths on them. Talking up the bogy man and making sure that everyone in the school would be afraid of them"
"Well we know why the Chairman wanted you on the committee then" Mizore said "He can't interfere directly in something like this, he lets the school run it's self to a large degree. It's his experiment to see what happens when we're all pushed together and then told to adapt to human culture"
"You're quiet mother" Moka turned
"In this I'm conflicted, I can't interfere with Mikogami's project as another Lord unless it affects the house" Akasha said quietly "I understand his reasoning, he also wants to expose the opponents of the 'modernisation'. There is also a faction in the human world that wants to take over there. Fairy Tale or something, this Anti Thesis might be connected to that. As a Lord I'd have to put all personal considerations aside and let it run because of the greater impact on our objectives"
"Issa" Moka asked
"I think so" she sighed "I need Kahlua and Kokoa out first before we try and sort that out" she looked at Moka's face "Kokoa will be joining the school next year, I implanted the idea in his head and he'll be happy to get rid of her, he sees her only as a nuisance and a stain on his pride because of her hair"
"Kahlua's a different matter mother"
"Ah yes but she loves her little imouto and would never really hurt her. When she sees Tsukune she'll be over the moon to have an otouto as well" Akasha smiled
"She's insane mother" Moka whispered
"No. Issa abused her and has kept her as a small child, out of his influence she will grow up. Once she does I don't think she'll like her father or mother very much" she saw the reproach in Moka's eyes "I couldn't do anything about it, Gyokuro is his wife, I'd disbanded the house before he brought her in. There was no way I could interfere with her upbringing, that was for her mother and father to decide, not me" she shut her eyes "It broke my heart to see her used like that, I made her an unspoken promise that I'd rescue her when I could"
Moka smiled at the others "Looks like we'll have two new dependants soon, but they're both older than Yukari and will be a good additions to the house" she grinned at Tsukune "Kokoa will hate you because of me and Kahlua will want to dress you up so that you can play dolls with her. I doubt that either will request for many years if ever"
Tsukune was however looking at Akasha "Abused" he asked.
She shut her eyes in reply, when she opened them she was crying "I couldn't do anything"
Tsukune picked her up and went through the door. Moka looked at the door for a long while "When Tsukune meets Issa and the Japanese vampires don't think of holding him back if he goes berserk" she turned back "And I think I might join him. Even though mother dissolved the house, she looks on both Kahlua and Kokoa as hers"
"Then let Tsukune heal her, I doubt that anything's going to happen tonight we can continue tomorrow" Kurumu said and turned to Mizore "We can question Gin more about the death rates that Tsukune mentioned, he's bound to have the figures somewhere, we mention every death and disappearance we find out about in the paper after all"
oOoOo
"This will be your first festival as a first year Tsukune" He and Hokuto were on the balcony overlooking the activity, "In ten days time all the alumni will return to the school that's why it's so much different from human schools I hear"
"All of them" Tsukune asked
"All in the local area and those further away who wish to renew old acquaintances" he smiled grimly "The Chairman's guards have quite a time as some just come to fight with old enemies. Although the guards have now organised that into matches and oversee it and the betting. We don't get involved in the fringe activities"
They walked further along checking the progress "The humans call it Halloween and dress up, all the monsters are actually back in their own realms. Funny really, the one night they can use their real form and they move away"
"It's the night when there the boundaries between the living and the dead are at their weakest. For others The Festival of the dead and or the change of the seasons; a time when historically preparations began for the winter"
"Not many know so many reasons Tsukune. I'm impressed"
"Well that's ignoring the modern religious interpretations"
"So what are your class doing?"
Tsukune laughed "We have Shizuka Nekonome as our homeroom teacher, goldfish scooping of course. As long as we can stop her eating all the fish we should last"
.
"Hello Hokuto, what are you doing here" Kiria was leaning against another tree and closed the book as he walked up
"We need to bring it forwards a little. Tsukune mentioned that it was a time that the barrier was at its weakest. I don't know if it's some old belief or he knows something"
"It's actually an old belief that lead to the Festival of the Dead" Kiria slipped the book in a pocket "You sure about this?"
"I'm not going to take the chance. Remember just stay with them" he started writing a note and gave it to Kiria when he'd finished.
"I'll drop this into their club room, are you sure that the others are considered strong enough to capture you?"
"I'll pretend that the succubus has charmed me if she tries, other than that there's the ice girl, she'll freeze me and the witch should have learnt levitation by now"
"Tsukune and Moka"
"They're going to meet me here shortly I'll just set them in wards, nice and safe no danger to either of them. I'll tell them that it's just for a while and they'll be released unharmed. As it's the truth they'll hopefully behave"
"Well there's always some risk" Kiria vanished to deliver the note
Hokuto took a deep breath and looked across the sea and waited. 'I wish I knew what he was' he thought.