Resolution
When Moka woke up, she gasped loudly. She did not expect to awaken, ever. In fact, she had pretty much written her weak, emerald-eyed self out, sacrificed to save her first and best friend.
"Omote!" Her inner self's mental voice rang in her head. "You're awake, finally! It has been three days since the fight. Everyone has been worried sick about us, I can tell."
"U-Ura-chan! What, how? I-I tore off the rosario, how did?"
"The Headmaster is a far more capable man than we thought him to be. He managed to repair it, for the most part. He said he could not completely mend it, what with the way you broke the seal, but he said that unless we put yet more pressure on it, it would only allow us an easier way to converse, and me a way to experience the world outside of a fight."
The pink haired version of herself giggled, happy for her other side. "It's all good then, right? It's actually better than before!"
That did not sit well with the ethereal representation within the rosary, she was still worried about Tsukune and the after-effects of her actions that day. "Fool! How can things be alright? Tsukune was almost murdered before us, taking strikes that were meant for us! Even I have to admit that it was an admirable way to fight; knowing he could not finish things on his own, he sacrificed himself and became a shield for me. Do you not remember how he looked after he returned to his human form? Do you not remember how his heart did not beat before I injected him with our blood?"
It was as Inner Moka said and her outer shell could only hold her head in sudden pain as memories flowed into her awareness, seeing how her other side fought and was protected by the human boy. "U-Ura-chan... I... I remember now... Poor Tsukune-san... He considered Hokuto his friend..."
"Yes, this time, not only did he kill willingly, but also one he considered a friend. I... fear... that it will affect him much more than he will show..."
"Ura-chan? You are worried about him? You didn't like him much, did you?"
The sealed vampire hummed at her outer form's question. "It is true. And I don't see him as you do either. However, he is an admirable warrior and has my respect for holding back his demonic side as he is. Moreover, he is also a very good friend, someone who has risked for my sake. It is natural that I would worry about him."
The pinkette however wondered if perhaps her sealed form wasn't completely honest about her beliefs. But that would be wishful thinking right?
In another room, Tsukune woke up drenched in sweat. He had had a nightmare about the events of the last time he was conscious. About the time he killed Hokuto.
Killed what could have been a friend.
But, beyond even that psychological trauma, he had heard Hokuto's last words. And, as much as he didn't want to believe them, as much as he wanted to claim they were the foolish ramblings of a dead traitor, a final attempt to sow discord amongst the ranks of those who defeated him, a final act of malice... as much as he wanted to deny them, they still rang in his ears, shaking his resolve with their finality.
It took him a few seconds to realize where he was, take in the pure white environment and groaned. The hospital, again. Seriously, they should get him a ward just for his usage. At least he healed quickly, from what he had been told at least. Just, with all these fights, visiting the hospital once a week was pretty much a given.
A stray chuckle escaped him when the thought of getting a locker in for his own usage passed his mind. It would definitely help; can't have everyone running to his room to fetch him clothes, since the ones that saw a fight never saw another day.
It was weird, he surmised, that state of mind. On one side he was furious at Hokuto and sad at what he did. On the other side, a part of him wanted to laugh at the hilarity of it all, flip the world the bird and just... walk away. He wondered if that's what humans call 'insanity'. Another chuckle came when, even in his mind, he didn't consider himself a human any more. Hard to, all things considered.
Tsukune breathed deeply and let the air out slowly, trying to focus himself and calm down. Wouldn't do good if he broke down in insane laughter at the slightest provocation, nor would it be good if he got all depressed. He didn't have time for that; he had to ensure the school's safety so as to secure the safety of his friends. At least Hokuto had done the majority of the work for him.
"Maybe... he wasn't as certain of his betrayal as you think, foolish brat... maybe, you didn't have to kill him... maybe you murdered him because you hated him! Because he was superior to you in all ways! Your own weakness caused you to murder your friend! Murderer! Killer! Do not preach your purity to me, me who knows every part of you!"
That voice! He remembered it, he knew it, he feltit every time he transformed. The voice of his Inner Demon, the malicious, vile part of him.
He wanted to deny it, he wanted to deny it so much.
But he couldn't. As much as he hated it, it could be speaking the truth... And if it was true...
Tsukune shook his head and ignored it pointedly. Getting dressed was a simple thing, interrupted only when a nurse came in; apparently they found out he was awake and came to check.
Mere moments later Tsukune was quickly walking to Moka's room. He was only in the hospital due to his near-exhaustion of energy, his body had been healed within the same day but his youki took much longer to recover. But, at the same time, he was worried about Moka. She too had been exhausted and with the seal being repaired, as he was informed by a note sent by the Exorcist via the nurse, she would be in even worse condition than him. Sure blood helped vampires recover faster, but who knew the effects of her seal, it having been broken in such a way?
He was just about to open the door to her room when it opened and a surprised Moka came out. Colliding with him in the process and ending up with both of them sprawled on the ground, limbs tangled.
"T-Tsukune!"
"M-Moka-san!"
Of course, the moment just had to be interrupted by a certain succubus with the absolute worst sense of time ever. Namely Kurono Kurumu.
"Hey! Don't hurt my Tsukune, Moka! It's bad enough when you drink his blood every day!"
Realizing their position, the two disentangled themselves and leapt to their feet faster than you can say 'Kurumu'.
Much to the succubus' ire however, they just blushed at each other and began apologizing. Though, she wouldn't ever admit it, but she liked the sense of normalcy, of winding down from all that fighting.
Deciding to go with their 'everyday ritual', Kurumu moved to glomp Tsukune and smother him in her chest. Alas, she forgot the new addition to the club, named Shirayuki Mizore, who promptly froze her mid-air, coming out from her hiding place under a bench.
"Don't hurt my future husband you big-breasted fool. He's still recovering. Instead I will take care of-"
She too was interrupted, but this time by Yukari, the little witch magically creating a basin and having it fall on her head.
"Don't get between Moka-san and Tsukune-san desu! I will not allow you to spoil my sandwitch!"
There was only one thing Tsukune could do to all that chaos. Laugh. Laugh until it hurt to breathe, look at his friends and promptly fall back down laughing.
God, he had missed being so carefree, he had almost forgotten... just how fun Youkai Gakuen was!
Seeing the boy laugh caused a chain effect with the girls, they too broke down in merry laughter, finally able to let out all that stress.
There is something to be said about laughter's therapeutic capabilities.
Amongst their laughing and joking, the group managed to check out from the medical wing, a procedure made rather hard by the fact that all doctors and nurses recognized the group and greeted them like old friends, even ending up discussing random things with them, such as the weather, criminal activity or even popular ayashi heroes and legends.
As the group emerged from the building, they decided to head to the cafeteria to hang out, see their class mates and generally do what humans called 'chill out'. Which meant that Mizore would watch over Tsukune from some branch or behind some bushes, Yukari would try to convince Moka and Tsukune to take her to their bed and Kurumu would chat up Moka about clothes and fashion.
Finally getting there, slower than usual due to meeting several friends they had made and exchanging pleasantries, as well as jokes about Tsukune's 'harem' and how they ended up in the hospital (Tsukune honestly hoped he'd stop blushing at that at some point in time), they got their usual table and got themselves something to munch on, human 'junk food', imported straight from the human world.
It was about that time that Tsukune began feeling thirsty, real thirsty. Kind of natural since he had been fed intravenously in the hospital, his throat felt parched. Getting up, he got the orders of everyone, along with the customary tomato juice from Moka, and went to get something to drink.
When he returned, the bottle of water was drank in short order, but it did little to slate his thirst. Quickly, he went to get another bottle, and then another and then another.
Nothing.
It didn't work, water didn't slate that thirst.
No it did slate his thirst, but that was no normal thirst. It was deeper, more pronounced, a need.
Could it be a side effect from his demonic side? He had heard its voice after all, maybe the demon had something to do with it?
He got his answer quickly. "Of course not, why would I care about something like that? No, this is all you boy, this is all you. Remember that!" It's laughter was positively disconcerting, but he managed to ignore it.
Still, it worried him, especially since he was actually hearing his demon, instead of feeling its thoughts like he used to. Maybe the Divine Lock was breaking? He sneaked a look at it and noticed the changes.
Several links had been broken but definitely not all of them. But the biggest change was another; the small golden details on each cross at the center of each obsidian link... had turned silver. What that change signified, he had no idea.
But... when he made a body check, alternating his attention to each part of his body, he noticed something strange. Or to be exact, several somethings.
His body felt brand new, no aches or stiffness. His eyesight was sharp and he could smell the shampoo Kurumu used, strawberry by the way. He made a fist and saw nerves and muscles bulge as if he had trained all night.
That was definitely weird. What was happening to him? Last time he had felt that great was when...
His breath hitched on his throat, but he managed to cover it with a laugh and a cough at Kurumu's joke.
"U-umm... guys, okay girls!" He amended quickly seeing their playful glares. "I need to go see the Headmaster, can we drop by his office later? I think... I think I'd like him to check my Lock. I mean, he can repair Moka-san's Rosario right? So, what if he can run some maintenance on my Lock? It kind of looks beat and well, wouldn't want it breaking right?"
Kurumu was quick to agree. "Alright! Besides, you can't have broken hardware, it's just so wrong. I mean, you only have one piece of jewelry on you, you have to take care of it! But I think you'd look cute with an earring too, something small and subtle. Or you could have a small silver chain on your arm! One that you actually let us see. That would look nice too!"
Tsukune could only chuckle at the succubus' stream of ideas about his image. If he let her go on like that, she'd drag him to every store in Japan to get him proper clothes and even then they wouldn't be enough!
Thank god Kyoko wasn't there at least. That girl might be a tomboy, but she exemplified any woman's natural want of shopping. Unfortunately, she kept her strange tastes there as well, which more often than not caused problems for the Aono boy.
Amidst a lot of laughter and various jokes in the group, with some Yukari trying to shamelessly grope Moka, the group made their way to the Headmaster's office. It had been renovated, now having Ruby as a secretary stationed on an office of her own outside the heavy wooden doors.
The elder witch was instantly glomped by an excited Yukari and reacted by calmly patting the little witch's head. "Tsukune-san! Everyone! I'm so glad you came by to see me! Many, many things happened in the past few days, but everything's back to normal now!"
Of course, they greeted the witch back happily as well, she had stood by them when they needed her, even against an enemy that had almost killed her new Master.
"Once an enemy, always an enemy! She's just biding her time! Making you trust her! She will betray you! After all, wasn't it because of you that her Mistress died? Her blood is in your hands and your blood will be in hers if you trust her!"
Apart from laughter, there was also something to be said about a demon's perseverence.
"Ruby-san, is the Headmaster available? We'd really like to talk to him..."
The witch nodded and let them past, but her eyes turned sad and troubled when they went through the door. Almost as if she knew what they would say and hear.
More lies and deceit.
Was it really for the greater good?
She didn't want to know, not really. She just hoped it worked out in the end.
But the group knew nothing of that, so when they entered the Headmaster's office, they were once again taken aback by the ritualistic and eldritch artefacts lining the walls. The scent of candles and subtle incence hang on the air, giving it a powerful mystical aura.
The master of the Academy stood dressed in his expected white robes, his back towards them. Then he turned towards them and his eyes, somehow glowing white as always, narrowed but in greeting. "Greetings Tsukune-san, Moka-san, Kurumu-san, Yukari-san and Mizore-san. I am sure you have many questions as to the events. Very well, you have earned your answers. Ask away."
"Well, first I want to ask about the Akuchi, have you learned anything about what... what I am?" Asked Tsukune, receiving a nod from the Exorcist.
"Indeed I have. Not much, but enough. Scavenged from the tomes of insane magi who experimented on those bearing the Aku no Chi, rumours and legends from mystics and even tomes of forbidden knowledge and history. The first you have to understand about Demonblooded is their adaptability; there is no demonblooded whose demonic form is the same as that of another. Every bearer of the demonic taint has a demonic 'ideal' within them, what best represents their sense of a powerful demon or such similar belief. Your demonic blood allows your body to 'ascend' in a sense, closer to that ideal, thereby taking the demonic form. What truly makes it hard to classify or combat an Akuchi is the fact that you constantly change and evolve."
"What do you mean Headmaster? Aren't Akuchi like other monsters?" Asked Moka, voicing her Inner's question.
"Not exactly. Haven't you noticed? Tsukune-san's tail now drips poison, a very lethal kind too from what we deduced from Hokuto's corpse. A hemotoxin actually, it prevents the blood from receiving any oxygen, thus asphynxiating the entire body. Does not last long outside 'incubation' environment however. But the point is another; you did not have that ability before. Through time, other demonblooded have been known to possess other, varied abilities. Covering their bodies with elements, phenomenal strength, speed or toughness, elemental manipulation even magical abilities. From what we have gleaned of Tsukune-san's combat skills, it seems that your resilience as a human has passed on into your war form, gifting you with naturally hard armor and the ability to shrug off minor blows effortlessly. It is also possible you will gain strong regenerative abilities later on. Or it may change direction and grant you an overwhelming offence by way of extra appendages to attack with. It is unknown, but we do know that an Akuchi's deepest wants can affect his form's evolution. There have even been instances of spontaneous bursts of evolution, but those who underwent them were at the very least unstable due to their Inner Demon's influence."
"Whoa! So Tsukune can become more powerful than he already is?" Asked a very hyper Kurumu. The fact that her Destined One could become as strong as a Vampire was a serious bunch of points in his gain. The feeling was mirrored in Mizore; strong fathers gave strong children after all, not to mention he would be able to defend her and her children from any attack. Moka's inner self however was quite annoyed at the possibility of another ayashi becoming stronger than her.
The Headmaster quickly dissuaded such thoughts. "Not immidiately and not with certainty. He would have to train long and hard to gain the power you think he will get, much like any other ayashi would. The only difference is that while an Ayashi has a staple of powers determined by birth and lineage, an Akuchi has access to a variety of powers he may come to possess. It is really a difference in opinion as to which side is better. After all, there have been instances where a yuki-onna was able to put even a vampire on the run. Maybe not defeat, but definitely require serious work to avoid dieing."
"Yahoo! Tsukune-kun is so cool!" Cheered Kurumu as she draped herself over Tsukune's arm, again. Mizore's glare at that action almost materialized in ice kunai. Almost. The intent was hard to miss however.
"A-Anyway!" Said Tsukune, trying to avoid blushing due to Kurumu's actions. "There's something else too... my... my Lock, I know you know that some links have broken but... I can... hear my Demon now... I thought it would make it go away!"
The robed man sighed deeply as he turned away from Tsukune, gazing into nothingness for a second. "Yes, I know. However... your Divine Lock functions differently from Hokuto's Holy Lock, on which it was based upon. Hokuto's seal functioned by diffusing the youki that entered it and sealing away the power. Yours acts much like a filter. It does not only diffuse power, it filters it first. When you broke some of the links, regardless of how necessary that action was, you loosened up the filter as it were. The seal was made that way in order to allow you to get used to your new powers and responcibilities, surely you didn't expect it to hold off your other side forever, did you?"
Now Tsukune was quite embarassed for letting his fear get the best of him. "I know that! But, so soon? I mean..."
"Do not worry, your soul is still yours. I had originally planned on spending time, allowing you to grow accustomed to a number of links before reducing them progressively until you no longer needed the seal. But it happened too fast, before you were truly ready for it... I fear you will need a lot of work to tame your demon, more than otherwise needed... I am truly sorry for this, but you know there were few alternatives and none of them appealing..."
Tsukune nodded, understanding the Exorcist's problems. Sure, he might not have shared the robed man's devotion to the Academy, but he could understand his position and the troubles that came with it.
"U-Umm..." Spoke a hesitant Moka as she looked shyly towards the Headmaster. "U-Ura-chan wants to ask what is going to happen with Tsukune and... and our blood... I mean... will... will it change Tsukune? Since he was so close to..." She couldn't finish that sentence, she knew very well what he was close to becoming, what he had almost become because of her haste in injecting him with her monster's blood and her own weakness, needing him to protect her at every turn.
The man's face twisted into a wide smile for the first time in the meeting, showing perhaps some twisted form of amusement or even scientific interest taken too far. "What a great question. Well, then, Tsukune-san, do you feel any different?"
"W-well... apart from being really thirsty all the time... not really, no."
"And there you have it. I already knew there was a possibility of him being infused with vampire's blood, so I added a few clauses to the seal about it as well. It should keep the urges down until you learn to control them. Of course, the fact that your own demonic power awoke, changing and adapting your body to youki, also played a good part; most who are injected with so much vampiric vitae usually loose their minds and become raging berserkers. In your case, it combats your demonic power and weakens both while also contained by the seal. So do not worry young Akashiya Moka-san. Tsukune-san is just thirsty, nothing serious." Of course, he just 'forgot' to mention that Tsukune was thirsty for blood; a side effect that could not be locked away by the seal, being an integral part of vampirism.
"A-Anyway, can you repair the Lock? I mean... re-set the filter or something?"
A shake of the head. Negative. "Unfortunately, no. Such magic is not adaptable in the slightest, which is why it is so usefull. If a seal was adaptable, it wouldn't be a seal at all, not to mention allowing your demon to adapt to it and bypass it. At least this way you still have a lot of control over it, maybe its for the best. I am sorry, but I must get to some business now, so you should go off and enjoy the festival. You did work hard to ensure its safety after all, it is you just reward."
The group nodded and bowed before exiting, leaving the Exorcist to gaze back where he was before. A small silver rosario... with black burns like those of a hand wrapped around it. A sigh and then a grin. The upcoming times would definitely be more interesting.
The morning, lunch and early afternoon was passed with everyone together, bonding after the near tragedy that had befallen the Academy, a tragedy they could talk to no one about. They were also joined by Gin, the werewolf shamelessly trying to grope or peep, but with the help of the girls he was restrained, at least somewhat.
They couldn't fault him for his intense questioning either, he had been kept out of the loop so much it was natural for him to wonder what was happening to his kohai. Tsukune and the others apologized and filled him in some things, but not everything. For example, while they told him about Hokuto's betrayal, which caused new rumours to spread out due to eavesdroppers, they omitted the part about the Altar Of Darkness and the Rosario Of Judgement. Wouldn't do good if there were other disconcerted students wanting to follow in the traitor's steps. Also, they made sure to keep Tsukune's Aku no Chi ability hidden, since they didn't know how he would react to it.
In the end however, the group had to split up and go to their rooms; it was the first day of the festival tomorrow and they had to get ready for it.
That didn't stop them from meeting again when the night fell, gathering on a roof with snacks and drinks to relax in the show of magical fireworks that lit up the sky.
The next day came all too soon for Tsukune but he was refreshed when he woke up. He quickly got dressed and readied himself for his duties that day. Being in the committee, or rather being the only conscious member of the committee, he had a lot of work to do. Making sure everything went as normal was amongst them. He was given a number of people to help of course, but a lot of things had to be done by him personally. It didn't help that as Class Manager, he had to do at least one shift at his homeroom's stall.
Making sure everything was in place and his hair was combed well, as rare as that was, he placed the pin with 'Committee Member Aono Tsukune' on his chest and left to greet some of the more important guests that would arrive. It was a time-consuming work, but he had to do it. How else were they to show how great a security they have, if not by providing escort in the form of the one to save the school? Even if most students didn't know of the full truth, there were others who did, especially the fact that Hokuto was the leader of Anti-thesis. By showcasing Tsukune as it were, the Headmaster was gaining a lot of prestige.
Tsukune just prayed the guests didn't ask about what kind of monster he was; some of them would be able to deduce the truth and that wasn't something he wanted. It could, after all, complicate things and, god forbid, take him away from his friends. And that he would not allow.
Tsukune's second-to-worst fears were unfortunately correct; greeting VIPs was mind-numbingly boring, tedius and annoying. At more than one point he seriously considered letting his Demon run wild, if even to get some excitement, anything to save him from that boredom.
It was with great joy that he was finally able to step out and leave things to the Headmaster. He was sure that the robed man was getting some form of perverse pleasure in watching him react to nobles and high-strung ayashi. Tsukune was at least glad he could use the occasion as training; if he didn't go berserk on all these people, then he had a pretty good hold on his Demon.
But, in the end, he was freed and it was only the thought of making a spectacle that prevented him from leaping into the air screaming 'FREEDOM!' at the top of his lungs. At least, now that he was free of his duties for the day, he could go around and enjoy the festival for a change.
So, first stop, he decided, was his homeroom's own stall. Led by Shizuka Nekonome-sensei, their subject was... goldfish scooping...
Seriously, was fish and food the only things in that woman's mind? Then again, with teachers like Kagome Liliko, it was best to not know some things.
When he got there, he had to chuckle amusedly; Moka was already there, tending to the little pool of goldfish. Dressed in a kimono, she looked illegaly cute and beautiful.
Which, as always, meant that many people of the male persuasion were looking at her as if she were the most stunning thing they had ever seen. She probably was.
Still, it was hopelessly funny to watch the poor girl freak out at all the attention.
When they started harassing her, the joke was over.
Just as Moka called for someone to save her, preferably Tsukune rather than a pervert like Gin, lo and behold; her saviour broke through the wall of admirers and fans. His hand grabbed hers and pulled her with him, away from her army of lovesick puppies.
Said lovesick puppies tried to follow the pair. Keyword; tried. Tsukune pulled her at small indent in one of the many walls and flush onto his body. As much as he would claim he did it to hide her, he would also never admit that the way she was pressed against him, the blush that overtook her face, the way their breaths mingled... they set his blood ablaze in a far different way than his demonic blood ever could.
The pair stared at each other's eyes, afraid of what could happen if they spoke the other's name but also wanting, desiring that very outcome. Moka could see every hint of stubble that was trying to appear from Tsukune's face just as easily as he could witness how magnetically beautiful her green eyes were.
Unbeknownst to the two, someone placed between them scowled, but mostly because she couldn't define why she didn't like the way the two looked at each other.
The spell was broken by Tsukune. Confronted so directly with the girl that haunted his dreams in both her forms, the girl he felt such great need to be with, he broke it on his own.
"Coward! Take her, take her like she wants to be taken! Like you want to take her! You desire her, you want her, you lust after her. I know of your dreams, of making her squirm under your touch, cry out your name, of dominating her beneath you. Kukuku, you are not as 'pure' as you make yourself to be, boy."
Tsukune's eyes narrowed in the annoyance and he sighed at Moka's inquisitive look. "Don't worry Moka-san, a certain... roommate... of mine is being annoying."
"Oh..." She had worried for a moment that his look of annoyance had been directed to her. But the truth was much worse; his Inner Demon. It never failed to kill the atmosphere. Then she cheered up, remembering she was at his company, alone for once! "Anyway! Let's go for a walk! Like the roof!"
Tsukune readily agreed. Time spent with Moka was time well spent.
So in short order, the pair was overlooking the mass that was enjoying the festivities. Sounds and scents of people, the lifeblood of a city. Chaos, but ordered and controlled.
"It's really lively, isn't it Moka-san?" He never voiced his thought 'Just like Hokuto had said it would'.
"Yes... it's beautiful too isn't it?"
It took a lot out of Tsukune to drown out the cliche reply of 'not as beautiful as you though'. Instead he went another way. "Y-you look pretty too, Moka-san. In a kimono or even casual dress, you look very beautiful as well."
The girl blushed and twidled her fingers, embarassed but also happy. "W-w-well... I-I... I never got to go to festivals like this, so it's my first time... and... I always wanted to go to one..." There she paused for a bit, unsure as to how to proceed. "If... if you don't mind... could... could we spend the night together? A-alone?"
At that moment, Moka looked so vulnerable and cute that if she asked him to leap off the roof, he would have done it. As it were, he was only overjoyed to agree. Part of him however hoped that she said the words he longed to hear; "Then it's a date!".
But he could not hope, he could not allow himself to hope, to want, to desire. As much as he did, he wasn't allowed to.
"Of course you can't be with her you fool! What do you take her for? She is a super vampire, the elite of the elite, a princess. Why would she be with a half-breed human-born scum such as you? You think she would ever have you? You think she would ever accept you boy? One as tainted as you?"
Again that despiccable voice, that malicious feeling, those depressing thoughts.
But the demon was right. She was royalty, even he knew that. Just being a vampire made her a noble to the eyes of most Ayashi. Why would she go for a human like himself? Didn't she hate humans anyway? What Ayashi would go for a human anyway?
Shaking his head away from that, he turned to the pink haired girl next to him and smiled, though the smile never reached his eyes. "Well, since it's your first time going to a festival, we should enjoy it to the fullest, right?"
"Y-yeah! Let's go!"
The two walked back down, hand in hand for that was all Tsukune would allow himself to do, the closest he could be with her, or any of his friends.
Time flew as the pair walked around, visiting stalls and playing games. Moka's laugh healed unseen scars on Tsukune's heart, as he saw her happiness and carefree enjoyment. Her face when he won a small bat plushy would be engraved into his memory for all of time.
He was so happy that even his parching thirst was forgotten amidst the laughter and joy.
A voice, a familiar voice came from behind them as they walked and caused the pair to stop. "Tsukune... come here please?" Mizore's monotone voice demanded Tsukune's attention and he and Moka turned to their friend.
"Mizore-chan! How are you? No duties today?"
The girl shook her head negative. "No, I've got tomorrow. But... today... I want to introduce you to my mother... she came all the way here from our village to see you... and, well... I... kind of told her you are my boyfriend..."
That threw Tsukune for a loop. And a lot of blushing of course. "W-w-what? Boyfriend? Mizore-chan, I'm not-"
The yuki-onna nodded, but her eyes were soft as always. "I know. But can you pretend, just for tonight? My mom is... well..."
Tsukune nodded and was about to speak when he noticed someone looking at him from behind a corner. The fact that 'that someone' also was a woman with a lolipop in her mouth and hair the exact same color as Mizore gave her identity away. "Let me guess, she is a lot like you Mizore-chan?" When the girl nodded, he shrugged. "Well, she can't be that bad anyway if she's even a bit as kind as you. Let's go meet her, I bet trying to spy on us from there must be uncomfortable..."
Mizore had a hard time suppressing her blush at Tsukune's words, but the look on Moka's face was definitely worth it. She raised her hand, calling her mother from her hiding place and going for the cafeteria. They easily got a table, Tsukune's committee member tag was very helpful in that regard; everyone assumed that the woman he escorted was some important VIP. Out of respect for the pair, Moka hung back a bit, content to watch Tsukune try to worm his way out of it.
After some basic and quick introductions, Mizore's mother, properly introduced as Shirayuki Tsurara, asked the question she really wanted to ask. "So, when are you planning to marry my Mizore?"
Out of the loop and into a bout of uncomfortable coughing. "W-w-well!" Come more coughing was deemed necessary for breathing capability. "we haven't really thought about it actua-"
He was cut off when Tsurara's tea errupted in an assortment of sharp and dangerous-looking icicles.
At that moment, instead of freaking out or seeking cover like Mizore did, Tsukune showed his heart. In an instant he was in front of Mizore, his body acting as a shield, a snarl in his face while his eyes had changed, turning from a warm brown to an evil orange-red like a smouldering fire.
Tsurara's eyes widened at the reaction before she allowed herself a smile. She had used her abilities to attempt to terrify him and scout his emotions about her daughter, maybe even press him into doing the deed if she were lucky enough.
She wasn't; she was even luckier. His first instinct hadn't been to defend himself, even though her blades came far closer to him than her daughter, but to protect his 'girlfriend'. While she knew that Mizore had lied, after all no one should ever underestimate a mother's intuition about her child, she was also extremely happy; the yuki-onna that had a husband that cared were the rarest and yet happiest of them all. Even if he wasn't her boyfriend yet, she was betting that by the time they graduated, it would be very different.
"Shirayuki-san..." Tsukune's voice was as cold as the glaciers the woman could manipulate. "if you do such a thing again, I may not be able to stop my instinctive reaction and instead react violently. Anyone in this school will tell you that I do not take kindly to hostile actions towards my friends."
Tsurara giggled demurely, a hand in front of her. In that moment she looked the personification of innocence. Well, except the ice blades that were still standing out of her teacup. "Do not worry Aono-kun, it was merely a test. I would never attack my daughter, or the one who holds her heart."
Tsukune nodded grimly and sat back down, but it was easy to see his body language, indicating his over-protective nature towards Mizore.
"Well!" Said Tsurara suddenly, breaking the awkward moment. "I quite approve of young Tsukune-kun, Mizore. I would really like to see him for dinner as well, discuss your relationship with him. What do you say Tsukune-kun?"
The boy in question thought about it for a bit. "I would be honored to Tsurara-san, however, I also have a previous appointment with my friend Moka here. It would be most rude to break my promise to her, wouldn't it? So, if you do not mind, I could see you tomorrow after my duties are over of course. I'm sure the Headmaster would be able to provide for lodging, we have enough room to spare." He was the one to arrange for housing after all.
The snow woman nodded and got up, taking her daughter's hand and leading her away. She had found what she was looking for. Her daughter was both lucky and unlucky; she had found a good, strong and devoted man, but at the same time he was also in love with another, though she could see him being split. While open relationships, more often called by humans as 'harems', were not all that impossible in the monster world, in fact they were a given in certain cases such as a race going extinct, it was also very often misunderstood. The man would have to have a heart made of gold and large enough to make room for everyone in order to treat all his women equally. Not to mention he would need vast resources to take care of them.
Besides, what was the chances of him being the last of his race? That was the only acceptable case of multiple spouses being allowed and not looked down on.
Well, the law did always underestimate the feelings of younger people.
Tsukune walked along Moka, trying to put the event behind them. Or Tsukune in fact, because Moka was simply beyond happy that he had made sure to spend the night with her and only her. Even her sealed form was pleased at that, she could tell even if the Rosario remained silent.
She was about to talk to him, thank him for doing that for her, when another voice cut the air like a warcry.
"Tsukune!" And cue a male Aono getting glomped by an overly amorous succubus and promptly smothered to her chest. Then, she began her happy rambling. "I'm so happy I found you! I was looking everywhere for you, but you had just left and no one knew where you were!"
Moka tapped Kurumu on the shoulder slightly. "Kurumu-san... He's stopped moving..."
Indeed he had. Surprised as he had been, he had exhaled instead of inhaled and as a result was trapped under Kurumu's grasp without any air. He had struggled for a bit, but the excited succubus hadn't cared all that much about it and so he had resigned himself to his fate; Death By Hugging.
It was a good way to die.
Regardless, he was released and, once able to, gasped in large quantities of air, filling up his strained lungs. "K-" A cough caught up with him. "Kurumu-chan!"
The succubus twirled around happily, almost giddily. "Tsukune, I would like to introduce you to someone!" She then used both arms to draw attention to the side and an absolutely stunning woman. The woman's violet hair and aura of sexuality gave her away. "Meet my Mom!"
The woman was positively blinding in terms of beauty. Everything on her pointed to unbridled sexuality and it was through an immense force of will that Tsukune didn't drool or get a nosebleed.
"Oh, so you are Aono Tsukune-kun? My daughter speaks all the time about you!" The woman's voice was alluring, just like the rest of her. "I am Kurono Ageha, so pleased to meet the fiance of my daughter!"
Moka's world broke apart at that. "F-F-Fiance?" How could she do that to them? Claim Tsukune as her fiance.
Unfortunately, her exclamation drew Ageha's attention. The succubus looked up and down the vampiress' body and smiled towards her daughter. "And this must be one of your back-up lovers right Mumu-chan?"
The image that sentence evoked was downright devastating to the young Aono. For once, even his Inner Demon shut up at that mental image.
It was with little surprise that Tsukune was blasted off his feet with a nosebleed to end all nosebleeds.
Apparently, the Headmaster had failed to mention something simple; the forceful transformations and youki injections in Tsukune's body had caused certain parts of it to work overtime in order to keep up. One of them was his hormone system, a necessity since his combat form caused high quantities of adrenaline to course through his body. So, while it was a good thing and actually alowed him to function better, it also had an unfortunate side effect in him experiencing puberty a bit earlier and in much greater force.
Ageha however was unconcerned by such things and grabbed the poor boy and pushed him in a headlock right onto one of her bountiful breasts. "You know, my Mumu-chan is very innocent, more than you give her credit for..." At that Tsukune had to admit; despite all the sexual innuendo and various teasing actions the succubus used, he had caught her blushing at the smallest thing at times. Apparently she was just better at hiding things. "So... I give you permission to take her forcefully!"
What was supposed to be a playful advice, became nothing but when Tsukune's eyes became frigid and harsh. He shook himself out of the shocked woman's grip and looked at her with unreadable emotions in his eyes. "Ageha-san, I would never use force in anything concerning Kurumu-chan except at her complete cooperation. If and I stress if something were to happen between me and your daughter, I would not use force, especially for an act such as the one you speak of. Please do not say something like that again."
Ageha partially worried if he was gay, considering she all but gave him free reign over her daughter, but she dismissed that idea quickly having seen his reacion to the 'back-up lovers' part. Which meant there was something else at work. But surely, no man would ever be able to resist her daughter's charms, magical or no, right?
She filed away the incident and proceeded to ask his attendance that evening, despite her being surprised at his refusal; apparently he was an upstanding man to deny her presence for a friend. That or he was gay. But Kurumu knew better than declare a homosexual as her Destined One right? Bisexuals were fine, but homosexual men were practically impossible to attract, as a succubus at least. Incubi were another story altogether.
As Ageha was led around by an excited Kurumu, she felt a bit of ice creep up her feet and looking down, she saw a small patch of melted ice in the shape of an arrow. Knowing what that meant, and who had made it, she told her daughter to wait there a bit and walked towards the direction the arrow pointed.
There, she found her old... friend... Tsurara. "Tsurara... I see you are here as well..."
"Yes. It is almost nostalgic. It is exactly like what happened with us..."
Ageha's eyes widened. "You mean your daughter? And Kurumu? And Tsukune? Oh dear..."
"But more than that... didn't he react a bit strange when you told him about your daughter?"
"Oh-ho? So you were there? I thought I felt your frigid ass somewhere near... But yes, you're right he did have a strange reaction. Why so interested?"
"Hmph, cool down you milk cow. I am worried about my daughter. Regardless of their rivalry, I would not entrust my daughter to anyone but the perfect man. On the outside he seems kind, caring and nice, but there is something that troubles me... and no it's not my age. Or did you forget, again, that we are of the same age?"
Ageha giggled at their old rivalry, though it had melted into a 'frenemy' sort of relationship. "No, I admit to the same. I'd be worried he was gay, but I have proof to the opposite, so no way. So, what did you suggest?"
"Well, it's simple. Interrogation!" Said Tsurara's rather cheerful voice; she couldn't help it, she always wanted to do that!
Ageha thought about it. "Alright. Knowing you, you've already arranged a dinner and if I were to guess it's tomorrow right? So, truce for now and share the clues? For the sake of our daughters, we'll cooperate."
The yuki-onna nodded and their plan was set. Unbeknownst to the two, their daughters were spending the same time planning the same thing, how to solve Tsukune's hesitancy at whatever had to do with relationships.
The day passed slowly, but peacefully to the group. Moka stayed with Tsukune and was later joined by Mizore and Kurumu, much to her chagrin.
Even Yukari dropped by to introduce her parents, a kindly nice couple that spoke very little, in direct opposition to Yukari.
When the night fell, Tsukune and Moka vanished from Youkai Gakuen, fell under the radar. In fact, they were up high, perched on top of the tower. There with a bit of candy, Tsukune and Moka awaited the fireworks show that was about to begin. The two laughed together and Tsukune would never forget the moment Moka placed her head on his shoulder.
After it was over, they were of course joined by their friends, Mizore, Kurumu and Yukari and the group enjoyed their time together. Three mothers and a father watched over their children and more than once wondered exactly what kind of relation their children had.
That did not of course stop them from gathering as much teasing material as they could or teasing each other. That would be just wrong now, wouldn't it?
In another dimension, a black-haired vampiress sat, long and slender legs crossed, waiting for an associate of hers to speak to her. It had been several days since he asked permission to speak to her and had not reconsidered it at all. She decided to amuse him.
When the door opened, her smile was cold and calculating. "Welcome Kiria-kun. I hope your journey went well. Now, is there something you want to talk to me about?"
Said boy kneeled before her in a submissive posture, but his voice beheld anything but. "Yes, Akuha-sama. As you very well know, I was stationed as a member of Anti-thesis in Youkai Gakuen... As you also know, I failed in my task. But I come here to tell you of what happened and of the enemy called Aono Tsukune."
"Hm? You mean the Akuchi?" She almost giggled at the way his face showed his surprise, but when he did nothing beyond that, she knew he was serious.
"Yes, Akuha-sama. Here, take a look at this please." He took out a long syringe filled with a glowing silvery liquid. "This concoction was used to deny him his demonic form for a short while, I made it for Hokuto. However, even with it, he was defeated. Why, even though Hokuto was quite powerful himself? Because a student named Akashiya Moka... gave the Aono bastard her blood!"
"Ooh?" She exclaimed lowly. She had not been expecting that. "My foolish sister did such a stupid thing?"
"Yes. Also, Aono Tsukune was a human before his Aku no Chi awakened and had already been imbued with her blood numerous times. Enough times to actually become a Ghoul." While not entirely true, there was the fact that no one could confirm or deny it. Not to mention that making a Ghoul was forbidden with the heaviest of laws.
Akuha giggled darkly, finally something to use against her despicable sister, something to discredit and destroy her! Show her her place! "And what do you suppose your reward to be?"
"Nothing but one thing Akuha-sama... Aono Tsukune's life! I want to kill him with my own hands! Tear his still-beating heart from him! Show him unbearable pain and suffering!"
Akuha shook her head. "That is impossible, killing him I mean. I have... plans for the little Akuchi, how to make him one of us. But... as for tearing his heart out... well, that I can do something about... From what I hear he is quite attached to his friends. Friends that I do not need. Killing them while he watches... that is fine."
Yoshii Kiria's face twisted into a sick and evil smile as he bowed and left. "You will feel my pain Aono... for taking away my Hokuto... I will make you feel the greatest pain possible!"
His insane laughter reverbrated through the cold, marble corridor of the castle he had gone. Dark bat-like forms danced at his exclamation and a blood-red moon shone.
A/N: Hello, hello my dear readers! Free of several annoyances, I can now write again, oh the joy!
The yuki-onna beating a vampire part was a plug aimed at MistressWinowyll's Take What Is Yours, regarding a scene I wrote for her. It is in no way mocking, well maybe towards myself a bit; I am a fan of self-sarcastic comments, so please allow that little insanity of mine.
Regardless, I hope you enjoyed the chapters and solved a few of the questions from previous chapters as well as cooled down from all the constant drama. A bit of relaxation is necessary after all. The next chapter will hopefully be published soon and with it, Ageha and Tsurara's confrontation of Tsukune, which will reveal the reason of his aversion to relationships. That is if you haven't figured it out already.
At any rate, I know this chapter isn't the best I've written, which is why I'd like everyone to review as harshly as possible, maybe I can fix it.
Today, on this 9/6/2012, I, Soulblazer87, do hereby leave this site, possibly forever.
I shall not update this, or any other story.
I shall leave them on, however. Should you desire to follow my stories, do so in my new site of residence: www dot yourfanfiction dot com.