Chapter 8: An Approval + Vampire
Disclaimer: I do not own Rosario + Vampire. I twisted the author's story-line into my own imagination.
"Alright everyone," said Nekonome, twitching her tail. "The essay will be due in a week so be sure you got started on your essays, nya."
Everyone got out their papers and began to brainstorm their ideas. Tsukune and his friends were already finished with their brainstorming and rough drafts and were able to get started with their final drafts after proofreading with Murotsu and his companions. Just then, there was a knock on her door. Everyone stopped what they were doing and glanced at the door. Nekonome got up from her seat and opened the door. Ruby was standing in front of her.
"Ruby-san, what a pleasant surprise," greeted Nekonome. "What brings you here?"
"The headmaster would like to have a word with you in his office," she answered. "He says it's important."
Nekonome then turned to her class. She adjusted her glasses and wagged her tail.
"Everyone, I will be back in a little bit. Keep working," she said as she walked out the door. After she left, everyone began to start talking to each other.
"What was that all about?" asked Tsukune.
"I don't know," said Moka.
"Did she get in trouble or something?" joked Kurumu.
"I doubt that, desu," replied Yukari as she continued on her final draft.
"I guess it had something to do with the journey Murotsu was talking about," said Tsukune, getting out his fresh sheet of paper.
"You could be right," said Mizore, sucking on her new lollipop.
"By the way, have you guys seen Mizuka-chan anywhere?" asked Moka, glancing at Mizuka's empty desk.
"Oh, yeah. I haven't seen her around. But I remember that several girls told me that she was feeling ill. She's in the infirmary right now," said Kurumu.
"I hope she's alright," said Tsukune, looking out the window of the door.
"She doesn't seem to be a bad girl at all. I mean even though she's a bit odd, she is a sweet girl," said Kurumu.
"Poor Mizuka. She had gone through so much trouble, desu. Getting sick and getting harassed, desu," said Yukari.
While everyone was socializing in class, Nekonome followed Ruby through the hallway to Mikogami's office. Murotsu, Mikogami, and Fuhai were waiting for her. When she saw Murotsu she ran up to him and gave him a hug.
"Murotsu! I missed you so much!" she cried. "Why have you left the school?"
"Umm…can you please keep it down? My identity is still not safe in this school, sensei," said Murotsu, embarrassed. Nekonome let go him and turned to Mikogami and Fuhai.
"So headmaster, is Murotsu coming back to the academy?" she asked with an excited expression on her face.
"No, Nekonome-sensei. I called you here to tell you that I approved that Tsukune and his friends can skip school for about two or three weeks," he said. "Murotsu is going to take them on an important rescue mission."
At that moment Nekonome began to react immediately.
"What?" she protested. "I can't let them go! I remember that time when Tsukune and his friends went on that dangerous mission to save Moka. Yukari and Fong would have died if it weren't for Hokuto. Kurumu and Mizore were almost killed by Akua after their attempt to save Moka. I won't let that happen again as a teacher!"
"I'm sorry but this must be done," said Fuhai, putting the pipe into his mouth. A puff of smokey rings gloated up into the air form his pipe.
"He will also take Fong and Ginei on the mission as well," continued Mikogami.
"What?" she cried. "Not my president too! I can't afford to loose my Newspaper Club again!"
Tears streaked across her cheeks and she buried her face in her hands. The memory of what happened three years ago had been very painful for her. Murotsu placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her down.
"Cheer up Nekonome-sensei, please," Murotsu begged. "I have to do this. Tsukune and his friend's are needed for this mission."
"Murotsu," whispered Mikogami.
He then turned to Mikogami.
"Yes?" he answered.
"This journey is one dangerous journey and there are still two members of the Public Safety Commission still roaming around the academy. Be aware that you might be followed by them," the headmaster said.
"I am well aware of that, sir." Murotsu replied. "Our mission was to retrieve the stolen Rosario and rescue Moka's family. They also may have intel on defeating Soku."
"Correct. I hope you know what you are doing in this mission," said the director.
"Yes, sir," replied Murotsu. "I will take Tsukune and his friends back to my home and train them for a while before their journey begins. We will do more than sparing."
"That is what I want to make sure you are doing because the monsters you will encounter there are really aggressive and may be tough to defeat," said Fuhai. "I believe a good time for you to leave and train is right now since Yuroku, Gyokuro, and the Masked King already left the keep and are on the way to revive Soku."
"Why can't we pursue them and stop them from reviving him?" he asked.
"Because they are pretty strong with their power combined and we will not be able to reach them in time," answered the old yasha. "We have to be prepared for the worst."
Murotsu shuttered a bit to that reply and nodded.
"I understand master Fuhai. I will train them and go after the remaining Shuzen vampires. They will leave the Youkai Academy with me tomorrow in the middle of school," said Murotsu.
"Very well. I would like to point out that even though Gyokuro, the Masked King and your uncle is not around, your old home is still well guarded by goblins, ghouls, and gremlins," said Mikogami.
"I know that, sir. I won't forget. I will do what I can to protect the Chosen and his friends," replied Murotsu. He bowed and made his way back to the exit. As he was walking away he stopped and handed a handkerchief to Nekonome.
"Don't worry, sensei," he said. "They will be prepared for this mission. We will be fine and return safely. It's a promise that I will keep."
Nekonome wiped her tears and looked up into Murotsu.
"Murotsu, 'promise' is a big word. Are you sure you mean it?" asked Nekonome.
"Yes. I will give my life to protect all of them," he said.
"Don't give up your life. Just protect them and be careful," pleaded Nekonome. "All of you need to come back alive. You need to survive as well."
"I promise," he repeated and they both walked out of the office followed by Ruby.
"I never thought Nekonome would react like this," whispered Ruby to Murotsu.
"She did loose her Newspaper Club in the past by the corrupt Public Safety Commission. Gin somehow managed to survive their brutality which I heard from your friends," he whispered sadly.
He turned to Nekonome who was wiping her tears with her tail.
"Please resume your class, sensei," he said. "They will come with me in tomorrow."
He then walked to the exit with Ruby.
"I will go check on my companions to see if they find the spies," he told her as they were walking. "Go back to the headmaster to do any final duties before we leave for our training and journey."
"Alright," she said and she left back to Mikogami's office.
Nekonome then returned to her classroom, blowing her nose on her tail.
"Um, excuse me sensei?" said Moka, raising her hand. "What is that all about?"
"I will tell you later," said the teacher. She then turned to the class. "Once class is done, you guys can head to lunch but I would like to see Tsukune, Moka, Kurumu, Yukari, and Mizore for a moment once the bell rings. Finish your essays."
Everyone continued to finish their essays and the room became quiet. When the bell rang, all the students handed in their completed essays. Everyone was gone except for Tsukune and his friends. Nekonome began to speak them once the students left the room.
"I just talked to the headmaster," she said sadly. "And he approves of your dangerous rescue mission and Murotsu will pick you up tomorrow."
Nekonome hung her head and began to weep.
"Sensei," said Tsukune, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry about os. We will be okay."
"We promise to protect him," said Mizore patting her back.
"More importantly, you all need to promise me that you will all be okay," said Nekonome, wiping her tears.
"We promise," they all said in unison.
"Alright, you can go to get lunch," said the teacher.
The group began to head to the cafeteria to get lunch. Just then…
"Oh shoot! I left something in my locker!" cried Kurumu and hurried off to the locker room.
"Me too, desu," said Yukari following Kurumu.
"I also did as well," said Mizore following the two girls.
The three girls hurried off to the girls' locker rooms leaving Moka and Tsukune alone together.
"Um…Tsukune," said Moka. Her face turned a bit red.
"Yes, Moka-san," said Tsukune.
"Would you like to go on a date with me one last time before we leave school?" she asked.
Tsukune began to look deeply into her sparkling eyes.
"Sure," said Tsukune. Moka jumped with joy.
"Tsukune…" said Moka.
"Moka-san…"
"Tsukune…"
"Moka-san,"
"Tsukune!" cried the girls. Tsukune and Moka stopped gazing at each other.
"Oh, um. You're back so soon?" asked Tsukune surprised.
Kurumu handed him a box of chocolates to him. Yukari brought out her box of candy and Mizore brought out her box of lollipops.
"Tsukune, will you go out on a date with me?" asked Kurumu.
"No, ask me on a date, desu," insisted Yukari, handing her box of candy to him.
"No, me," whispered Mizore, handing her box of lollipops to him.
"Girls, I can't," protested Tsukune, waving his arms. "I am already going on a date with Moka-san."
"What!?" the girls cried.
"She asked me first and I said yes to her," said Tsukune. Kurumu hung her head after he said that.
"Tsukune, you really mean you never like me?" cried Kurumu.
"No, no. I never said anything like that, Kurumu-chan," said Tsukune.
Tears streaked down Kurumu's cheeks. She snatched her box of chocolates from Tsukune's hands and ran away.
"Wait, Kurumu-chan!" he cried but he was too late. Kurumu was already running away, crying.
"Hah, don't mind that big breasted crybaby. Let's go eat, desu," said Yukari, grabbing his arm.
"Yeah, I'm hungry," said Mizore in a quiet voice.
"Let's go. She'll join us if she's hungry," said Moka.
So they all continued their way to the cafeteria. Tsukune looked back for Kurumu but she was nowhere in sight.
"At last, I have one less rival to deal with. My chance will come," thought Yukari and Mizore.
To Be continued…