Chapter 18: Preparation for Battle + Vampire
Disclaimer: I do not own Rosario + Vampire. I twisted the author's storyline into my own imagination. If violence is an offence to you, please do not read this!
It was six o' clock in the morning when the bell rang to wake up to the students and staff. In order to get prepared for the battle of their lives, Mikogami insisted in having sparing classes and martial arts classes. Everyone except for Nekonome, Mako, and Mayumi were at the Youkai Academy because they couldn't battle so Mikogami sent them to Nazere's lair in place of Nazere to watch over the injured vampires and Deshiko.
Murotsu, Gin, and Haiji Miyamoto took the role as instructors for martial arts and monster sparing. Tsukune and the rest of his friends helped facilitate the kicking and punching techniques for the karate classes. But very few of the students were able to get their techniques right for martial arts and many were not ready to battle in human form. While the students were taking a break, Tsukune, Haiji, and his friends are having their own discussion outside the school.
"I'm afraid that training them to fight in their human form was just a waste of time, Murotsu. They can hardly master their kicking and punching techniques," said Haiji with his arms crossed.
"Then we must consider having sparing matches instead," replied Murotsu.
"Yes, but the main problem is that many of them are frightened and afraid of battle. You can see it in their eyes," said Haiji.
"We don't have any other choice," said Nazere, adjusting his glasses. "Whether we have them fight or not, they will die."
"We have so few. Four thousand students against twelve thousand?" said Haiji. "We need all the help we can get."
"There's got to be more monsters in the world that can help us defend the Youkai Academy," said Murotsu, desperately.
"Who? Yuroku's army had wiped out many monster homelands. And even if the human has a military force, they won't stand a chance against a demonic monster invasion," said Gin.
"That's a good point, Gin," said Tsukune with a sigh. All of them looked down for a moment until Kokoa began to look up.
"Hey guys, what do you think about call 'The Monster Business' for aid?" suggested Kokoa.
"The monster business?" said everyone in unison.
"Yeah. Hey onee-san, did you remember you battled against the four Kings in the human world three years ago?" asked Kokoa.
"I think I remember them. They were the street monster gang that roamed around in the human world," answered Moka.
"Ack! I never want to look at that fat ugly sumo guy that I fought," said Kurumu in disgust.
"I have to admit that the flame guy I battled was a pretty good fighter," commented Mizore, sucking her lollipop.
"Right, they may be our only aid we can find. Plus they have about 8000 members," said Kokoa.
Hiyata made a lunge for Kokoa. "Oh, Kokoa you are so smart and intelligent. If only, I make you my-"
"Get away from me you creep!" shouted Kokoa, smacking his head with her fist. Hiyata fell to the ground, dazed for a moment.
"How are we going to convince them, Kokoa-chan? Desu. They are still holding grudges against our school," said Yukari.
"I can go to the human world and track them down. They will listen to me," said Kokoa.
"Well then who is going to take you?" asked Kurumu.
"I'll take you," said Hiyata. "I'm good at tracking monsters with my hawk eyes."
"What? Why you?" protested Kokoa. She was already uncomfortable to be around Hiyata.
"Look Kokoa-chan. I want to save the world too. I promise to protect you no matter what, my sweet," said Hiyata with a smile.
"How could I believe you?" asked Kokoa, feeling uneasy.
"Let him go with you, Kokoa-chan," said Murotsu. "I know you feel uncomfortable but you should at least try to give him a chance."
"Come on, Kokoa-chan," said Ruby.
Everyone else kept on begging Kokoa to let Hiyata accompany her. Her face is already red with embarrassment and she was afraid of Hiyata. She knew she had no other choice so she gave in.
"Oh, alright. In only one condition. Never complement or sweet talk me," said Kokoa, holding a finger right at Hiyata.
"Agreed," said Hiyata, nodding his head repeatedly.
"I will make sure that will never happen, dechu," said Koumori, hovering over Kokoa.
"I am counting on you to help Kokoa bring help and protecting her," said Murotsu to Hiyata. "The school needs more monster to defend the school. The fate of both the human world and our world also depend on your return with the Monster Business gang. So don't waste your time flirting with her. Got it?"
"Yes, I promise. For our friends and the human world," said Hiyata, transforming in his griffin form.
"Go," said Murotsu.
Kokoa slowly hopped onto the griffin's back, waved goodbye and flew away to the human world. Everyone watched as the griffin slowly disappeared into the clouds. Then they resumed the training sessions until dark. Finally the training sessions were over and they did their best to prepare the rest of the students for battle.
At last everyone one was exhausted and wanted to take a long rest. Mikogami suggested that they could rest starting at 7:00AM til 7:00PM so they will be rested and prepared for battle at nightfall. Murotsu agreed to Mikogami's suggestion and everyone began their twelve-hour rest. After the long morning nap everyone woke up immediately, ate a quick meal from the cafeteria, and set to their posts.
Murotsu divided the students into two groups: the ground assault, and the school defense. The ground assault consisted of Tsukune, Moka, Kurumu, Mizore, Gin, Nazere, and the monsters that were strong and eager to fight. Among the strong monsters were mostly males and staff members. They stand in front of the school to battle against the approaching enemy army. Murotsu took charge of that group.
The school defense consisted of Yukari, Ruby, Fong, and the monsters that don't want to fight. Among them were also many female students and freshman males. They are responsible to defend the school against any enemy that passed the ground assault. Mikogami assigned Ruby to take charge of the group and facilitate the defenses. It was 8:30PM and there was no sign of Kokoa, Hiyata, or the Monster Business army.
Tsukune stood in front of the school with the ground assault group. He was a bit nervous and was clutching his two katanas. Murotsu, Moka, Kurumu, Mizore, Gin, and Nazere were also already armed. Murotsu was now wearing his father's light armor and gauntlets with his staff in his hand and the double-edged blade on his back. Everyone waited for the enemy to arrive. Tsukune gazed up in the cloudless sky.
Night fell and the shining full moon has been exposed, causing Gin to slowly turn into a werewolf. Tsukune closed his eyes for a moment. His hands were shaking and his heart was beating fast with fear. Murotsu noticed him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You seemed really nervous, Tsukune," he said to Tsukune. "Breathe,"
"I-I never want to be in a battle," shivered Tsukune. "Not now."
"When will they arrive?" asked Nazere.
"The headmaster said around 9:15PM," Murotsu replied.
Moka was behind Tsukune. She reached out and clutched his hand.
"Tsukune, please take off my Rosario when they arrive," whispered Moka.
"I will, Moka-san," said Tsukune. "Promise me that you survive this battle and the same goes to all my Newspaper Club."
"Let's hope it goes well once Kokoa arrives, Moka," replied Kurumu.
"Tsukune, it was an honor to have you as a member of my Newspaper club and to fight by my side," said Gin.
"Thank you, Gin-senpai," whispered Tsukune.
"Hold on, I can hear footsteps and drums in the woods," said Mizore. Her icy blue eyes glowed.
Everyone glanced ahead of them. They can hear the footsteps from the distance. The drums can also be heard as well in a distinct rhythm.
"It's them. They are here," said Murotsu quietly. He made a quick glance at the blue-haired succubus behind him.
"Kurumu-chan, be careful," he whispered.
"You too, Murotsu-san," replied Kurumu, with a smile. Her cheeks blushed a little bit.
"What was that all about, Kurumu?" asked Moka.
"Oh, n-nothing," said Kurumu, still blushing. Her face was beet red. "I-I'm just saying to be careful."
"Sure you are," said Moka with a funny smile. It was now 9:15PM and the footsteps and drums became louder and louder.
"Wait, I think I see them," said Tsukune looking far ahead. Indeed there was movement in the trees, and then a giant sword glistened in the moonlight. The weapon belonged to a creature that Tsukune might not recognize: a lich. The lich shouted and held weapon up.
Behind him were large pikes that were seen through the darkness. The blades were gleaming in the moonlight. Then the students saw the goblins and then more of them. Thousands of them are marching toward them. Above them are gremlins flying in the skies. Behind the goblins was a line of ghouls, not like Tsukune. The students can feel some sort of tension in their stomachs after seeing a large number of them. Yuroku's army had indeed arrived.
There were several people in front of them in their human form. Tsukune recognized several of them such as Gyokuro and the Masked King. There were two other figures in their human form. One wearing black armor and wizard like clothes and the bigger one wearing a black cloak with black boots.
Tsukune guessed that one of them was Yuroku. Murotsu gave a signal to everyone to transform into their monster forms. Right before Tsukune turned into his ghoul form, he took off Moka's seal to release the Inner Moka. At the Youkai academy Ruby, Yukari, Fong, Ririko, and Mikogami were on the second level on the balcony.
"That's a lot of enemies, desu," said Yukari.
"And look in the air," said Ruby, pointing at the flock hovering over the goblins.
"Gremlins," said Fong. "I hate these things."
"Hmmm, as a math teacher, I never thought counting goblins and gremlins would be that difficult," commented Ririko.
"I don't know if we will be able to take on 12,000 enemies," said Ruby. "We need the Monster gang right now."
"Wait, how did you know there are 12,000 of them?" asked Ririko, glaring at Ruby.
She looked down and saw the Masked King, Gyokuro, Yuroku, and a fourth figure between Gyokuro and Yuroku.
"Who is that guy?" she asked pointing at him.
Mikogami began to shiver after taking a glance at him.
"It can't be! It's Soku. He's already revived and ready to attack our keep," he said with a horrified look.
"That's Soku? I thought he is a giant demon skorne," said Ruby.
"He is not what you think he appears to be yet. That is his human form," said Mikogami.
He then glanced ahead. "Tsukune, it's up to you to defeat Soku and it's up to us to defend the humans. This battle will decide the fate of our world and your world."
The goblins then came to a halt about 40 feet away. The drummers stopped drumming and waited. Tsukune had a clueless look on his face.
"What are they waiting for?" whispered Tsukune to Murotsu.
"Orders," answered Murotsu.
"Perceptive as always, my nephew," said Yuroku. Then Soku stood in front of Yuroku and pointed a finger toward ground assault.
"You Youkai scum are fools to stand in our way," he said in a deep voice.
"Even if we flee, we will all be destroyed no matter what if the human world falls. We will fight for our creators and our own lives," shouted Murotsu.
"Hah, I see that you finally told them the truth about the humans," smiled Yuroku. "You should have joined me when you had the chance instead of mingling with these impudent fools."
"I will never join you, uncle nor your master. I will never forgive you for taking my father, my clan, and my friends from me," shouted Murotsu, grinding his teeth. "You have no authority over our world nor the human realm, Soku."
"And what makes you think I can't take what was rightfully mine?" sneered Soku. He then glanced back at Yuroku. "You can order them to attack at your ready, Yuroku. Kill them all and leave no prisoners."
Yuroku raised his staff in the air. "Goblins, ghouls, gremlins! Attack!"
To Be Continued….