Aku no Chi, The Demon Blood

by Soulblazer87

Summary: When Moka is in danger, Tsukune always came to her aid. It was believed to be her blood in him. But, what if, at the last moment, another type of blood flowed within him? A more... demonic sort of blood.

18. Soundless Echo

Soundless Echo

"Yahoo-hoo! We're going on a trip!" Screamed Kurumu, excited and lively as ever. And this time, she wouldn't be skipping class; she'd be doing it legally! All the better for the exuberant teen.

Mizore was also quite happy about it. Sure, she wouldn't be able to stalk Tsukune, as much as she did anyway, but she'd get to be near him every moment of the day. That more than made up for it in her mind.

"We're going to the human world again Tsukune-san?" Asked Moka. She was rather nervous about it, but every time she went to the human world with Tsukune it bore none of the previous pain she had experienced there. With him, she was almost free, she was... she was normal and that was very rare for the girl. Even her Inner was pleased about it, she could tell even if that personality held her silence on the matter.

Yukari on the other hand... was Yukari; she saw it as a cross between a great excursion-slash-party and a chance to investigate the human world, with a side of fun thrown in for flavour. Not to mention hoping to meet another witch like she had done last year.

"Now take great care everyone!" Spoke up Ruby, who had been placed as leader of the group for their vacation. "We'll be going in the human world at a seaside resort, owned by a human. That means that we cannot under any circumstances allow our true forms and nature to be revealed!" She looked very serious, a complete turn-around from her usual personality. Tsukune however could verify that there were cases when the masochistic witch could be very focused. "If that happens... not even the Headmaster will be able to help you. I'm not talking expulsion... you could be executed! The monster world must remain a secret."

"All right sensei!" Piped up Kurumu, already hyped up for the journey. At least in the outside. For inside she felt much, much different.

It might have been Moka, the Inner side at that, getting a date with Tsukune. It might have been the way they seemed to 'fit' together when they returned, despite Moka being annoyed at her clothes being ruined and Tsukune being more than a bit angry at the apparent traitors.

Or it might have been the way her Destined One had fought an entire race for her best friend. Or maybe it was the fact that Mizore stalked him much less since then; she instead revealed herself much more and seemed many times more confident around him.

No, it was all that and so much more. It was the way he looked at them. The way he seemed to drop it all when they called him. The way he seemed to go into 'overprotective mode' every time anyone so much as looked the wrong way at them.

Kurumu let out a soft sigh, away from where anyone would see her. What was it that those two had and she didn't? What was it that made him turn into a door mat for those two? Why? Did she not love him as much as they? Did she not help him as much as they? Did she not show her love physically? So why, why on earth did he pay them so much more attention than her?

She was more beautiful than they, she was more sensual than they, she was kinder than they and she came with no strings attached; Inner Moka never seemed to accept him and Mizore just wanted his seed. She just loved him for him.

Only the him she loved seemed to be getting farther and farther away from her.

It was not the same despair she had felt the year before, when she had attacked Moka. Nor was it the feeling of dark emptiness when Tsukune lashed out at her. It was harsher, in a way even more profound, mostly because of its more subtle nature; he wasn't denying her, he was ignoring her.

Still, she put on her favourite face and made her regular jokes while they got ready for their well-deserved vacation time. Maybe she could use that time to seduce him? Well, succubi are renowned for their relentless pursuit of their Destined Ones.

With that thought, she readied her suitcases, filled with various fashionable clothes for any case. And of course even more swimsuits; they were going at a sea resort after all.

The bus ride was short, but it cemented Kurumu's beliefs about her being ignored. At one point she was talking to Tsukune alone, one of the very rare opportunities to do so in fact, when Moka had called him over. He practically teleported over to the vampire! He even helped Mizore load her suitcases but didn't turn to her until she dragged them in front of him.

What the succubus didn't know was that it wasn't Tsukune ignoring her; it was him loosing more and more of his sanity. Due to the troubles Mizore and Moka had been pushed through, in his mind that meant that the enemy, whoever that was, targeted them first and foremost. Therefore, to him, it made sense to keep these two under closer watch than anyone else. But it also was true that Kurumu wasn't left alone either; he always had stationed several trustworthy Student Police members to watch over her at all times.

In fact, one of his goals in this forced vacation was making up with the girl lest she got the wrong idea. That being that he didn't care for her. He also hoped to be able to make her back off of him and find someone worthier to pursue. Of course that also meant that he'd have to talk with her one-on-one, something very rare in his group of people.

Even now, when they had just gotten on the school bus, just seconds after getting sufficiently creeped out by the Driver's cryptic prophecies, Mizore and Moka were fighting over him, again!

At least Kurumu played peacekeeper this time and interrupted them handily with a few well-placed words. She had a tongue on her and wasn't afraid to use it, figuratively or literally. In this case she just used a total of ten words to turn the two girls into blushing, stuttering messes that found how great the seats were in the exact other side of Tsukune.

However, not even Tsukune's thanks were enough to restore the succubus' good mood. Well, they did help, considerably at that, but they were not enough. Simply put, she needed time. Time to herself, to think.

To find some damned reason to not just give Tsukune the Kiss and take him as hers anyway.

Not like she couldn't get a chance to deliver, after all they trusted her. She could just drag him off for a second and find some small excuse to get close to him. Then, one small kiss later and she would be in his heart, figuratively and literally. She would have it all!

She would win!

But... but then it wouldn't be a victory. It wouldn't be a victory for love. And Kurumu, above it all, wanted love. Not forced lust or emotions, there were plenty of that, she would only have to show off her 'assets' to get hundreds of admirers.

No, she wanted love and she couldn't, wouldn't, use her supernatural powers to get it. She would get it the true Succubus way; by showing her Destined One just how much he meant to her and how much she was worthy of him.

Unfortunately, that also meant she'd have to find a way to talk to him. Which was impossible.

She'd need a strategy, one of her hare-brained plans, to get her through. But for that, she'd need time and relaxation. That's why she suggested splitting up at a market street so they could just wander around on their own. She knew Tsukune would go with the others instead of her. So, she'd be all alone.

"So how about we split up when we get to the Market?" She asked.

The bow thought about it for a bit, but only for so long. "No way, it's too dangerous. Last time me and Moka-san were attacked. I'm not giving anyone a chance to hurt you."

\

"I don't know, maybe, but that time you were in Mononoke Arcade. This is the human world, they wouldn't dare do anything here. They can't be ready for a Human-Ayashi war yet." Said Ruby, affected slightly by a subtle illusion. "Otherwise the entire Academy would have already fallen, our choice to defend humans is well known, they'd have to take the school out first."

"Well, yeah, but still... I'm not sure..." He said, his overprotective attitude getting the best of him.

"Oh, come on, what's the worst that could happen, get oggled by some humans? Besides you could always go with Yukari-chan. With her Know-Know-kun charms you'd be able to know if something's wrong and you'll be able to keep her safe in case anything happened. No offence Yukari-chan, but you can't use your magic here and without it..."

"None taken." Yukari waved it off, well aware of her weakness without her magic, a bunch of lizardmen had proven it expertly just after she met Tsukune. "But aren't you a bit too eager to run off? Did fashion change or something?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, yes it did. And I want to go visit every fashion boutique there is!" Kurumu was a great actor able to mimic her fashion craze so convincingly that even the girls around her realized they wouldn't be able to keep up with her.

All of them but Mizore that is. The Snow Girl had been next to her for long enough to be able to see under the succubus' facade. However, she trusted her friend, a necessary part in their 'duets'. So, if Kurumu wanted some time alone, as much as she herself didn't like it, she would support her friend. "And I want to go buy manga... And visit ninja cosplay clubs..." Her calm voice belied the very real excitement at doing so; ninja lore was very hard to get and she was a fanatic.

"Oh, and I want to try out ice-cream flavours!" Piped up Moka, slightly drooling. "We never had ice-cream back home!"

"Hmph, I'd rather see onee-sama, but ice-cream sounds good too..." Kokoa's voice kept up the pace.

Ruby made to speak, but Kurumu was quick to stop the masochistic witch from saying something that would ruin her plans on grounds of pure perversion. "Well we all want different things. So, how about we split up, go around, visit some shops and then come back here in, say a couple of hours?, to compare notes and stuff? It's going to be great!"

Tsukune still had his doubts about it. He didn't want to be separated from them at all if he could help it. If only he could split himself in parts like Mizore's clones or something... "Uh... I still don't like this... I mean, what if something happened?"

And then he was left to face alone the dreaded puppy eyes from a group of girls who had all but mastered the 'technique'/ Heck, even Ruby joined and somehow made it look cute, innocent and perverted all at the same time. "Pleaaaase?"

There was no fighting it, he knew. "A-alright... But! Don't wander off too much, don't go into shady places and be careful!"

He would have said more, had the girls not all reacted identically and said, in stereo, "Yes mom!", which of course embarassed the boy much to their combined amusement.

Her first plan to be a success, Kurumu quickly left the group to go to the pier. She had found a great place to spend a few hours alone and vent. It looked over the vast sea, small waves breaking on the rocks just below her feet, the salty smell of the sea heavy in her nose.

"Tsukune..." She whispered to the sea. "Why can't you love me? Am I not doing my best for you? I may not be smart like Moka, but I try, all for you. And I'm not the child of some bigshot of my entire race, but still, that doesn't make me any less important than Mizore. I try my best, I shower you with all the love I have in me, even let you touch me in the way no other person ever would..." Tears began to go down her cyrstal blue eyes. "So why, why, can't you love me? Why can't I reach you?"

She would have gone on, had not someone collided with her, knocking her off her perch.

"Ouch! Who're you?" She said looking at the perpetrator, quickly wiping her eyes clean. It was a small child with black hair and a one-piece yellow dress with red spots on it. She held a notebook in her arms.

'Help me, I'm being chased' Words had been quickly scribbled on the paper.

"Huh? Chased? For what?"

Maybe she should have looked to see who chased the girl. If she had, then the man behind her wouldn't have caught her by surprise.

Something hard hit the back of the girl's head and Kurumu's world went black. The last thing she saw was the girl's terrified face.

At the same time, several people reacted Moka and Kokoa felt Kurumu's youki leave them while Yukari's charms began vibrating.

Mizore on the other hand, she just knew things were wrong. After being so long near the succubus, she could detect her presence. Not where she was or her youki, but she could always tell if she was fine. The two girls had spent so long together they just knew each other. "Kurumu... You baka..."

As soon as Tsukune was told about Kurumu's charm blackening, he picked up the witch he was with and immidiately ran off, pulling Ruby away from her tattoo stall. She had been looking to get a 'Property of Tsukune' tattoo on a... private part of her body.

The group quickly gathered in the plaza they split up from and it was as plain as day that Tsukune was more worried than any of them. He was almost hysteric.

"That's why I wanted us to stick together, dammit!" He raged. "Now they got her, those bastards. Damn it! Where is she? Ruby, Yukari, can you find her?"

The witches nodded from their spot. "We are on it Tsukune-san. There, we got her~desu." Said Yukari. "She's not far, this way!"

The short distance to where the girl was taken to seemed much longer in their friends' eyes.

Meanwhile, Kurumu found herself awakening with the mother of all headaches... and a black bag over her head.

"Oh, so you're awake eh, little girl?" Came a man's voice, old and heavy and she could even taste the lust in his voice. She hated her good looks some times. "Good, good. Now, be a good, obedient little girl and we won't hurt you... much."

"W-Who the hell are you guys?" Said Kurumu, terrified. Who could they be, what did they want with her?

"Oh, just your friendly neighborhood gang. But that's really not important. What's important is your little friend here, you know the one you met on the pier? Little Sun-chan here has a secret for us but she just doesn't spill it. So, either you share it with us or she suffers."

"W-What secret? And I don't know that girl! First time I saw her, honest!"

"Don't lie to me little girl, Sun isn't the kind of person to ask for a stranger's help. No, she's too nice for that. She'd only go to someone she trusts. Which means you know. So speak or she suffers."

At an unvoiced signal, Kurumu heard someone squirming and then struggling furiously, but only strangled cries of pain reached her ears. It seemed the girl was... mute.

"So you're not talking eh? Doesn't matter. Either of you will break. After all, if torturing your friend doesn't move you, how about we have some fun with you? She's all yours boys."

Years of being a succubus with all that entailed had taught Kurumu to quickly detect male lust. Usually, she was the one to incite it, as it was her goal. However, this time she felt no rush of accomplishment, she felt the cold grasp of fear as hands grabbed her small body. She felt disgust and terror and...

She began to cry as she struggled to break free. Free before she was-

Further thought was interrupted when something was torn to bits. A wooden something.

More precisely, the wooden door to the apartment as it was kicked well off its hinges by an absolutely livid Tsukune.

Well, not livid, not just yet; only furious. Which quickly reached 'livid' levels when he saw what they were doing to Kurumu.

One of the men charged him, before even his boss ordered him too. He couldn't help it; that boy had an aura so... so predatory that he knew, he just knew he had to kill the brat, or he would kill them all!

The sword never reached Tsukune; his arm grabbed the other man's hand and held it still with a bone-crushing hold.

"You... Above even raising a hand at me." He said and the way he stressed himself made Inner Moka's eyes widen, she would recognize that tone, that pride anywhere. It was her own after all. "You have the nerve to lay a finger on her? YOU DAMN RATS!" He screamed at them and, though they couldn't see his youki, they could feel its powerful presence none-the-less.

Bones were crushed and marrow mingled with steel shards as Tsukune pulverized what was in his hand, turning hand and weapon grip into an unrecognizable mess. The man didn't even have time to scream in pain before a punch to his chest sent him careening into a wall and straight into unconsciousness.

He had felt his Inner Demon awaken thanks to the 'gap' in his mental armor caused by his fear. So, he did the only thing he could to quell his other side; he drew upon the vampiric power Moka had given him. In some part of his mind, he also knew it would serve as a way to prove to her he was worthy of her training. Only, the Headmaster had 'forgotten' to mention the feeling of insatiable pride that seemed to come from his vampiric blood.

Well, better to feel pride that overwhelming fury, right?

So he charged the worms who had dared lay a finger on Kurumu, his friend, his anchor to his sanity. He would show no mercy.

Guns were drawn, but Tsukune remained confident, and with good reason. In such a closed, limited space, with the leg strength his power afforded him, reaching the shooters was done much faster than their slow, human mind could react.

And those with swords, blades in this modern era, they attacked him too. Fools, did they not realize what they had angered with their insolence? Quick enough to dodge their slashes and return three times before they even finished their strike, it was a simple matter to slip past their defences and crush their feeble bones.

Then, only their leader remained, a pathetic, terrified little man.

Tsukune stalked towards the target of his ire, the one to order these fools to touch Kurumu, and therefore the one who was even more to blame. He could feel his bloodlust rising to the surface, bubbling with immense fury.

His hand grabbed the pudgy man by the throat and lifted him in the air as the other one took aim. Where to hit? The heart, quick and relatively painless? The kidneys, painful and slow? Beheading, done so fast to see his own headless body? Or maybe he could tear him limb from limb until he died of blood loss? So hard to decide.

"Tsukune! Stop, please! Don't become like them!"

Kurumu's voice was like a shock to his system, like a bucket of freezing water on a white-hot flame.

'I… what am I doing?'

'Are you going to let that rat go then? Aren't you going to punish him? For attacking your precious friend, are you just going to let him go, even though you beat up his men? It was he who ordered her captured and raped. It is he who will order it again, and again! If you let him go, he will only do it again, against you and your friends even. And the only thing you're doing is… letting him go away? Unscathed?'

His Inner Demon's voice sounded very logical at that point. Filled with hate and malice, but it did speak the truth; this was a mafia boss. There was no way he'd let it slide. He'd gather more henchmen and attack again.

The mere thought of Kurumu, or any of his friends really, at the hands of that… cockroach… gave new meaning to the expression 'demonic rage'.

However, Kurumu herself had told him to stay his hand from murder.

Fine then, he'd find another way.

Hid right hand descended from its aim at the man's heart and lower to the side of his large, fat belly.

"I won't kill you." Then Tsukune's hand was rammed into his target's fat tissue and grabbed hard before tugging. "But I will leave this wound on your despicable carcass to remind you never to harm another person!"

With a mighty pull, accompanied by an inhuman scream of pain, Tsukune ripped out a part of the fat, though without harming any of his intestines.

Kurumu and the others looked horrified at the spectacle, but they could understand. It was surprising in fact that he didn't kill that bastard; even when Kurumu told him to stop, he still looked furious enough to go through with it regardless.

When he turned away from the defeated, writhing, form of the mob leader and turned to Kurumu, they knew he was still their Tsukune. There was no way a murderer could touch another person so lightly, as if she would break in his arms.

To the girl herself, it was a sign; she still stood a chance, she could see it in the fear in his eyes, in the worry in his movements, the way he held her tight as if she would break apart at any moment.

Kurono Kurumu smiled softly in his arms, more than a bit giddy at being there and even slightly smug at the envious look her best friend sent her.

She would have been content to stay there forever, but alas it was not to be; Ruby just had to select that moment to turn to the mysterious girl who had brought all that on her.

"Umm… who are you?"

At the girl's apologetic look, the entire group knew, they just knew they were in for yet another adventure this summer.

The girl introduced herself as Otonashi Sun. They would have asked for more, as they exited the building, but someone beat them to it.

Their homeroom teacher, Nekonome Shizuka. "Oh, there you are! And you even found Sun-chan! You're supposed to stay at the inn she works in! It's because Sun-chan's an old graduate, she even thought Gin-kun here was cute!"

The group wondered where Gin was, until they realized he had blurred right next to the new girl and was already greeting her. "Hey there Sun-senpai. Long time, no see huh? How's life been for ya?"

Seeing the perverted werewolf actually not perving in front of a girl made them wonder if that was really their club leader, but it was confirmed when Sun wrote 'Hello Gin-chan, it's been hard, but good too! You?'

"Anyway," Nekonome kept up, unperturbed by the shocked looks Gin was receiving at actually acting civil for once. "Sun-chan is everyone's senpai, you'll be living with her. Don't worry about her not speaking, she's just so shy you see!"

Sun gave her reply in written form. 'My full name is actually Otonashi Sun. I'll show you the way to the hostel, follow me, it's close by.'

And so the group were off, mostly discussing amongst themselves about how young Sun looked. All but Tsukune that is. His mind was preoccupied with something else.

Sun was their senpai, in a way she was a look to their future. Those graduating from Youkai Gakuen were apparently set to get a job in the human world. Which was quite amazing, considering the fact that even humans had a hard time finding a job and yet Ayashi were able to support themselves rather well.

Which begged the question... what was he going to do? After his time in Youkai Gakuen was over, what was going to happen? Would Moka-san and Kurumu-chan and Mizore-chan and Yukari-chan and Ruby-san leave? Would he be alone to face his demons? What would he do even? He couldn't wander around like a vagrant in the vain hope of not hurting someone. But also, where could he get a job? He held no illusions; the stronger he became the greater the vibe of 'wrong' he emitter. Well, 'wrong' by human standards anyway, because monsters just realized he was strong. But even a normal human would be able to tell he wasn't normal soon, they would get their hackles raised or just a bad feeling about him.

So working as a human would be out; it was hard enough to get a job as a normal human, much less someone who called up every hostile or defencive instinct of those around him just by being there.

Work as an Ayashi? But he knew almost nothing about the Ayashi world or how it functioned. The Headmaster could support him, but Tsukune had began experiencing 'pride' and that meant he wasn't going to become indentured to someone, even if it was their fault that he fell into this situation.

Away from Tsukune's worries of the future, the group quickly reached the hostel, despite walking their way to it.

The greeting wasn't what they expected. "Sun? What the heck you doin' back 'ere, huh?" Spoke a rather angry man, apparently in charge of something or other. "You gone for 4 freakin' days without even a note and now yer back?"

Sun looked terrified and quickly scribbled an apology on her notebook, asking for permission to work there again.

Only Mizore was able to notice the small startle the man had given when he first saw her or the way he looked around, almost as if he were... afraid? She didn't interrupt him though when he said she had been fired already and that she should leave because they had huge problems due to being short of staff.

Even when Nekonome jumped in and said that it was a yakuza group's fault she had been abducted, the man turned around saying he didn't care. This time however, Kokoa also noticed he became very troubled when he heard that Tsukune had defeated the group.

That didn't sit well with Gin. The werewolf, still in human form thankfully, walked up to the guy a rather angry look in his eye. And if one also took Gin's height into account then he was already more than half a head taller than the angry manager guy. "Hey you, that's no way to treat a lady." Then, shifting his body subtly to show every single bit of agression he had in him, he continued. "Why don't you delay her firing a big huh?"

"What the hell are ya-"

"He's right, aren't you a bit too harsh to fire her? You should at least consider the reason!" Kurumu was quick to defend the girl.

But it didn't mount up to the way Tsukune moved up to him and simply stared at the man, an unvoiced threat in his eyes 'Treat her better or else'. He had known what prejudice could do to someone, experienced it at Kuyou's hands, knew he would experience it if his Akuchi and Ghoul abilities became public knowledge.

"O-oi! W-w-what are Sun's friends doin' here all o' a sudden? D-does't matter, you're not scarin' me! I said she's fired so she's fired!"

Gin was just about ready to... suggest... the man re-iterate when a female voice stopped the unavoidable brawl. "Oi, Takahashi, I never gave you the privilege to fire employees, that stops with me alone."

She was a beautiful woman, but her appearence was marred by two things. First was the bottle of alcohol in her hand and her inebriated demeanor. The second was the mourning, almost dead look on her face, as if there were really few things that mattered for her. She was Kawamoto Marin, the owner of the hostel.

"Ah, owner, didn't see ya there. Sun just came back and I was tellin' her she was fired 'cause she didn't even leave a damn note and-"

"Takahashi. If Sun left, wouldn't it be even more bothersome? Besides, I am the owner, if I say she stays, then she stays."

Angered the man just scoffed before storming off, probably to harass another employee to vent his anger if Tsukune had to guess. Yes, it was safe to say that he didn't have much faith in humanity anymore, or anyone really besides his friends.

But Marin turned back to Sun and rubbed the top of her head. "Glad you came back Sun, I was really worried about you."

The girl's closeness to her employer was quite obvious in the way she looked at her, almost tearfull from happiness.

"But besides that, you're the group from Youkai Gakuen right, from Sun's old school. I'm kinda surprised to see you here, but you're welcome. It may be a bit run down, but it's still a fine hostel."

Elsewhere, Takahashi was dialing almost hysteric with fear. He didn't get it,why was Sun there? "Oh, hello Takahashi-kun, did you by any chance meet a girl named Sun there?" Came the cold voice of... well, someone he didn't know anyway.

"What, who the hell are you? Where's the boss?"

"Hmm, him? He's a bit... indisposed. Now, I asked you a question. Is Sun over there?"

"W-well, yeah..." Takahashi stuttered; he was just a coward looking for an easy way to pay his gambling debts! That guy sounded really nasty!

"Good, then here's what you'll do; you're gonna burn the place down!"

"W-whaaat?"

"Burn it, burn it to the ground. Sun believes it's her home. So, burn it so she has nowhere to run. Simple right?"

"B-but... I was just supposed to do this one job to get me the money for my gamblin' debts, I'm not supposed to burn nothin'!"

"Let me put it into context then, Takahashi-kun." Said the voice. "If you don't do as I say, you'll end up like your boss. Here, talk to him."

Then the screaming began and Takahashi had no special desire to find out why his boss was screaming like someone was ripping him to pieces.

So, the next day, while Tsukune and the girls were looking around the hostel, finding it to be great despite not having the best of success in the business, Takahashi was looking around for a way to burn it.

Instead he found something else; the owner's life savings, hidden inside a drawer for a 'hard time'. Greed got the best of him and he smiled wickedly as he pocketed it and ran off, believing that 'since he weren't there, the order to burn it could be ignored'.

Understandably it came as a huge surprise the next day when the police came to investigate the theft. Everyone tried to think about who could have gotten the money, but the major suspect was Takahashi; he was the only one not there and curiously absent for no reason at all.

As It was then that the group heard a conversation that worried them deeply.

"I'm so sorry Sun, but it seems I'll have to shut down the Snack Bar... I don't have any money left and I was getting behind on my payments already... I won't be able to do anything..."

It would have been much less sad had the group not already been told that the former student was looking at Marin as if she were her mother.

So it was with little surprise that they decided to help both women fix their lives. The problem was how to do it.

"We have to help Sun-san. I mean, she's been through a lot, we can't let her loose her adopted mother, or her home." Said Kurumu, licking her ice-cream, compliments of her best friend.

"You're right~desu, but how do we do it?" Asked Yukari, straining to find a magic spell that created money, but having very little success.

"Well, if it was a fight, me and onee-sama would be more than enough to handle it, but I don't think I have any talent in this..."

"Talents... that's it!" Said Moka, getting a surprised reaction. "Kokoa-chan, you're a genius! We'll use our own talents and skills to help Marin-san and Sun-san! I mean Kurumu-chan makes great cookies and sweets, I'm sure they'd sell great! And who knows ice-cream and sherberts better than Mizore-chan? Me, Kokoa-chan, Yukari-chan and Ruby-chan could advertise."

"While I sit idly by?" Snarked Tsukune, giving her a playful glare. "I think not. I may be able to help manage Marin-san's debts a bit, I've been doing it for a few months now in the Academy. If I can manage that chaos, I'm sure I can do something about the snack-bar." Amusingly enough, it was true; in a monster school, everyone had their own wants, needs and desires. And poor Tsukune had to make it work for everyone. If he could manage having opposing races co-exist with each other, then managing a small-time business like the snack-bar would be easy, right?

So, everyone went to change to their swimsuits, seeing as how the entire place was burning up, despite Mizore's best work at keeping the temperature at a comfortable level. After all, the Yuki-onna could only try lowering the temperature a couple of degrees to make it seem as if it were a cool sea-side wind, she couldn't freeze the entire place.

"Gee, when you said 'use our talents', I didn't think you meant seduction Moka. I have to admit though, you do have taste. Doesn't mean Tsukune is going to prefer your swimsuit over mine; I also have the assets to support mine." Mocked Kurumu, proudly displaying said assets, barely contained in her lacy swimsuit.

"K-Kurumu-chan! I-i-it's not my fault this one was the only one my size!" Moka tried to disagree, though her blush said a whole other story. She had preferred a more classical version, but it certainly did focus attention to her own assets as well, namely her face and leather chocker, seeing as both chocker and swimsuit were made of similar-looking material.

"At least neither of us is as bad as Ruby..." Mizore's voice came from behind them, the yuki-onna sporting a striped swimsuit. She couldn't help it; stripes were her thing. Well, that's because she couldn't find a 'ninja' swimsuit but that's just her obsession talking, really.

"Because that... thing... isn't a swimsuit!" Cried out Kokoa, blushing beet-red along with her partner-in-crime, Yukari. "Yeah~desu, that's just a bunch of strings~desu!"

"Aww, but it's really nice!" Ruby tried to worm her way out of the attention she was receiving, though she had been the one to incite it in the first place!

"Eh, what's all the shouting for?" Tsukune's voice came as he exited the changing rooms. "Are you having a ... fight... again?" His words came to an abrupt stop as he took notice of the beauties in front of him, except the two youngest of the group, though he knew that in time they too would have looks to be envied.

But that is not to say the girls went on with their playful fighting either. Noticing the object of their affection, except in Kokoa's case of course, they turned to look at him... and promptly began having other thoughts about him. Despite him wearing a simple black swimsuit that however 'forced' them to pay attention to the rest of his body. Namely his built physique, the scars he had gained from fighting for them and the light sheen of sweat he had acquired from being holed up in the tiny room.

A trickle of sweat made its way from his forehead, down his cheek, his neck then to his chest and down his abs until vanishing at the black cloth's line. Without knowing, the girls all made one thought 'Yum-my!'

Poor Tsukune could only try to control his awakened hormones, something that the hungry look in a certain group of females didn't help at all.

It is safe to say that the group avoided touching each other as much as possible once they regained the ability to move. For Kurumu, it wouldn't do good for her reputation to jump her Destined One in public while Mizore certainly didn't want this annoying heat to hinder her... performance. Moka was too embarassed to allow herself to even touch him while Ruby... well, she was a certified exhibitionist but still it just didn't seem right. Not yet anyway, because there was no way she was giving up on him.

So the group split up and each went to their respective positions; Mizore went to make ice-creams and sherberts and all kinds of frozen delights, leaving Kurumu to practically raid the kitchen, kick the cooks out and unleash every recipe in her head in pursuit of the greatest food selection she had ever made, sans her world-renowned cookies that is. That left Tsukune to try and convince Marin to give him her accounting books and sit with him to find a way to reduce costs and increase gains. The poor woman, ever since her husband had died, she had climbed her way into alcohol and had let the place go to waste.

Unfortunately for Moka and her 'colleagues' in gathering customers, her looks were too great for them and they repeatedly tried to hit on her, not just her but even Kokoa and Yukari. Apparently, being a lolicon was 'in' that year. Too bad for them because, once Tsukune took a break from all the books he was working on and saw what was going on...

Well, let's just say that all kinds of customers were invited, all kinds but perverts that is. Which was amusing since Tsukune himself gathered more than his share of admirers, this time of the female persuasion, who wasted no time in hitting on him. Thankfully, he was able to 'escape their clutches', as Kurumu said, without aggravating the girls to the point of glares or, god forbid, conflict.

Seeing her Snack-Bar Marin so active after so long almost made the owner cry, but Sun's gentle touch reminded her that she simply didn't have the time for it; she had to get to work because, unbelievably enough, they were understaffed!

Several hours later, the group had finally finished its job. Even Gin and Nekonome-sensei decided to drop by at some point to help out. Gin definitely loved serving, and flirting, with various beautiful, bikini-clad girls, while Nekonome proved unexpectedly good at cooking. Maybe a trait thanks to her increased senses?

Either way, while the Newspaper Club relaxed with their senpai and Marin, Gin and Nekonome had left to pay the bills Marin had managed to save the money for.

Which meant that without the perv-wolf to 'hound' them, the girls could finally relax and once again try to seduce poor Tsukune. Or deny they thought of him like that in Moka's case. At least Kokoa was honest in claiming she didn't like him like that; her onee-sama had already staked him as hers, even if she didn't realize it yet.

"Yahoo! Can't believe we sold out today! It was great!" Kurumu cried out happily.

"Yeah... who could have imagined we'd use up all the food in all neighboring supermarkets and in just a few hours at that." A monotone voice, yet it too amused, replied.

"That's because we called customers over in our swimsuits and gave them such great food but..." Moka paused before showing her frustration. "shouldn't we change back now that the shop is closed?"

The reason of her frustration wasn't the clothes themselves, as much as it was the way Kurumu, Mizore and Yukari hang on poor Tsukune, trying to make him say who's swimsuit was the best. Which, in their usual fashion, involved several parts of the poor boy being placed in certain other parts of two ladies (and a child), making him really uncomfortable. It was all that he could do to limit his body's reactions to the soft flesh that was rubbing on his skin. At least Yukari wasn't shouting one of her usual perversions. She limited herself to just hanging off his waist and claiming that it was her the 'dark horse' that had won Tsukune's eyes.

Neither Moka nor Tsukune could ever quite grasp how their friends could make everything sound sexually suggestive. It had to be the succubus, it had to be. And so the sole male of the group tried to calm their temper by pointing out the advantages of their swimsuits, going from Moka to Kurumu to Mizore to Yukari to Kokoa to Rub... Well, not Ruby, making the eldest witch wonder why she was ignored, though the truth was that he just didn't want to say anything about strings. It might encourage her and that his poor control would probably be unable to take.

Marin's voice interrupted the group's now playful fight. "Hahaha, thank you so much for today everyone, thanks to you we had lots of customers." Sun, standing next to the owner also held up her own notebook saying 'Thank You'. "We made enough money to be able to go without closing for a little while longer."

"Come on, don't say that Marin-san!" Piped up Kurumu. "If you have trouble again, call us and we'll be right there!"

"True, besides, if you manage your finances the way I showed you, you will increase profits by about 25% and reduce costs by about another 15%. That's a great improvement, trust me."

"Y-yeah... I have to try right, for Sun and my dead husband..." While it was mostly directed to herself, Marin's comment was heard by all of them, causing them to think about how lonely and sad she must have been since he had passed away four years ago. Then the door bell rang and she ran off to see who it was.

On the inside however, she was remembering that day, the day he died. Just a few days after purchasing the snack-bar and their promise of making it the best in the world. A stranger came deep into the night and they took him in, despite how late it was he had seemed as quite the nice fellow. But then, while she was cooking, Marin heard a weird sound, almost like... singing? Following the sound, wondering about what it could be, she arrived at a macabre scene.

Her husband, layed down on the floor in a pool of blood, a being crouched over him, blood dripping from its mouth, feathered wings on its shoulders and bird-like feet, but otherwise looking like that man who had come that same night.

She was pulled out of her daydream once she reached the door and opened it. Revealing that exact same man.

"Y-You! F-f-from that time!"

"Excuse me, but is there a girl named Sun here? We're from Fairy Tale."

And many they were, as several large men, wearing suits, walked in.

Marin had only time to cry out in pain before she was knocked out.

But even that small voice was enough to alert Tsukune, made more alerting due to the fact that he felt several youki signatures approach, none of which he could recognize.

Alas it was not enough to prepare them for what came.

"Marin-san!" Tsukune's voice betrayed his trepidation. He knew his enemies were youkai, he knew everyone there was a youkai, everyone but the woman now held prisoner byt the apparent leader of the attackers, a man with extremely handsome features, including extremely long hair. The newcomer looked too much in contact with his feminine side, but Tsukune knew not to write him off just on that; his youki was potent and for him to lead so many underlings... "Who are you? Release her immidiately!"

"Hm. I think not. You see, we know an Otonashi Sun considers this woman precious to her. Therefore, you see, we would like her to turn herself to us. Otherwise, this little stupid human will die a most horrible death." The way he looked at them, filled with arrogance, pissed them all. However they knew they couldn't do anything.

Sun stepped forward, a hard, yet scared, look on her face. On her hands, her sketchbook; 'I'll come quietly, so please don't hurt Marin-san'

"Haha" Laughed the leader. "Very well then. I, Kamiya 'God' Kanae, welcome you to Fairy Tale. It is good to know we will be having another talented member in our ranks."

Fairy Tale. That name caused the Newspaper Club to tense and Tsukune especially to snarl at the group. So that was 'Fairy Tale'. More of these enemies of his, more of those who had hurt his friends.

Tsukune's mind flashed back to the Yuki-onna village and Kahlua's hand ripping into Mizore. Back to Ishigami and the mess she created, almost killing his cousin. Back to Kurumu almost getting raped, had he not arrived in the last moment.

Youki, dark and malicious, bearing something of an unpenetrable darkness, erupted around Tsukune. It coiled around him, a black and red aura. "Fairy Tale..." He growled at them, his voice heavy with power and raw hate. Even Marin, unable to perceive youki could feel something different, something alien, something malicious inside the boy. "I will destroy you."

Kamiya however smirked haughtily. "No you won't. You will sit back or else this little human is going to die before you take another step."

The enraged vampire made to move regardless, but Sun stopped him. 'Please, stop. I will go with them. Protect Marin-san.'

He could sense it, her fear. But he could also see her courage, giving herself up for another. It was enough to quell his wrath, if for a moment.

Sun walked slowly towards Marin, ignoring the woman's requests to stay back, her friends' calls to come back to them. She had to do it. She had to protect Marin-san, the woman she had considered as a mother. There was no other way unless she revealed what she was. But she couldn't, she couldn't show her true self, not to Marin, not to the woman who had taken her in even though she had lost so much.

Once she was a few steps from Kamiya, she stopped, waiting for him to release his prisoner. With a huff of disgust, the minions let their prisoner go.

Marin tried to go to Sun, but the girl shook her head. She knew what would happen if it happened; Fairy Tale would get serious and kill them all. She was confident she would survive, but she wasn't alone. Tsukune was strong and so was Kokoa, even Kurumu and Mizore would be strong. But their enemies, could they survive them? Could she watch over everyone? She couldn't. So she had to abide by the intruder's demands and hope for the others to save her.

Once she was close however, the unthinkable happened. One of Kamiya's men puffed a weird smoke at her and, surprised as she was, she breathed it in. Unconsciousness came almost instantly.

Kamiya smirked at the stunned group of teenagers. "Well, this concludes our meeting. I'll take care of little Sun-chan here." He mocked as he lifted her and placed her on his shoulders. "The rest of you, kill everyone here and burn the place. It's too unsightly."

With a mighty flap from his feathered wings Kamiya left, letting his men transform into their true forms under a rain of sharp, yet beautiful feathers.

A Kraken lashed out with its arms at Tsukune, expecting him to die quickly. He was quickly proven wrong when the boy grabbed the tentacles and pulled hard, lifting the poor monster in the air and towards him, where a powerful fist awaited. The subsequent impact was so great that the monster's body was tossed back with enough force to destroy its own limbs.

"Kamiya, you traitor!" Shouted Tsukune. It seemed that Fairy Tale held nothing sacred, not even their word or honor. These bastards were just cold-blooded murderers who reveled in death and destruction.

That they were 'monsters' the same as people like Kurumu, Moka or Mizore made his blood boil with rage. Such monstrocities should not be allowed to exist; it was because of them that his ayashi were not accepted in human society, that he himself was ostracized from his own parents.

But his enemies would not give him that time to think, they all charged him en masse, probably believing that their numbers would grant them an advantage to outdo his own tremendous strength.

It would have worked had Moka not been struck by a stray blow by a merman, a stream of highly pressurized water.

Normally, Mizore would have taken care of it, but she had been preoccupied with the Kraken Tsukune had punched; it bore too many similarities to Kotsubo-sensei, the man who... the man she had thought she loved.

"Kyaaah!" Moka cried out in pain, electrical currents dancing on her skin.

Tsukune was over her in an instant, disregarding the charging enemies, who still tried to attack him, despite the fact they hadn't even seen him move away from them.

Rage took hold on Tsukune's heart. How dare they? How dare they strike down his friend? How dare they make him fail his duty of protecting her?

He growled and snarled, his eyes demonic and burning with the power he contained within.

On the sidelines, forgotten for favour of the ecstasy of combat, Marin looked weakly at the newcomers.

Kurumu had grown wings, a tail and large, sharp talons. Mizore had grown claws of ice and was freezing everything solid. Ruby and Yukari were conjuring various items with which to fight. Even Kokoa's little, cute even, bat had turned into a weapon and she almost laughed as she moved across the battlefield towards her sister, to defend her.

But most breath-taking was Tsukune, but not in a good way. He stole her breath as something seemed to seep out of him, a presence that called to her long-since burried instincts of self-preservation and told her to run and hide while at the same time freezing her in place.

Tsukune's youki, both sides of it, demonic and vampiric, seemed to erupt around him in a double helix. He grunted in pain, feeling his internal organs tear at themselves from the strain of doing two things at the same time, but he pushed on. Restraining himself from taking his demonic form was not easy, but he managed it because, he knew, if he let go, there was a good chance he could hurt Moka, so close to him.

His power surging outwards, the battle seemed to stop for a second in awe at the sheer potency of youki released. Then it started again, but this time the Newspaper club held an advantage; Tsukune's true power seemed to invigorate the group and spur them to great heights of combat prowess. Or it might have been their rage at seeing their dear friend wounded.

The floor cracked beneath his feet as Tsukune let himself go with his rage, revelling in the feeling of impending doom. They had hurt Moka-san, his friend. They would pay. With their lives.

It became a massacre.

Tsukune fought like a demon possessed, something not that far from the truth. He fought with terrifying efficiency His hands, like claws burrowed deep into the flesh of his enemies, tossing them away torn asunder, but with enough force to damage whatever they collided with; usually other enemies that were behind them. His fists shattered bones and pulverized the soft tissue impacted, his otherworldly strength destroying all that came into contact with him.

On the other side, the Black and White Duet were dancing around their enemies, a never-ending maelstrom of pain. During their training with Moka, Kurumu had learned to use minor illusions while fighting in close quarters, something that she regularly used to distract her enemies or make them miscalculate. In the same manner, Mizore had learned to change the nature of whatever weapon she conjured in an instant, it seemed more like she held a weapon of fluid quicksilver, not one thing or the other, shortening, flexing or toughening as was needed.

Across them, Kokoa fought with Kou-chan. He had taken the form of a slightly curved, single-edged very flexible blade, a Jian, or 'philosopher's sword'. Using her newfound speed, smaller stature and a flexibility she never knew she had before her 'master' took her in as his disciple, she flowed around enemies like water, sticking to the safest place in combat; the place where an enemy's attack has just passed through. Also, while her Jian forced her to fight with grace rather than strength, she was still a vampire and that meant that a slice towards the concrete floor caused chunks to burst up and blind or distract her enemies. Admittedly, the only enemy that posed a threat to her were the mermen and their 'water gun' attacks.

Which became quickly moot as Ruby and Yukari cooperated and intercepted their attacks. After Moka had been hit they realized that these attacks could get through to them and they could deal quite a bit of damage. So, using Tarot cards and raven puppets, the two witches deflected the water streams into harmless moisture. Not that they stayed in defencive all the time of course; while the one shielded, the other took the opportunity to strike with pin-point accuracy. Witches might have less youki than other monsters, but they more than made up for it with their control and prodigal youjutsu abilities; a little bit of power, properly focused and honed can get you a long way.

And so, one by one, the Fairy Tale members fell to the Newspaper Club. Until, the few remaining of them realized they could not win. Despite having wounded the Akuchi, he healed in seconds. Despite tiring out the Succubus and Yuki-onna, they were still going strong, having trained with Moka to increase their stamina. Despite having scratched the young vampire, she only grinned and fought harder. Despite having taken out one of the group, the pink-haired girl they shot with water, they knew that she wasn't a weak link to the group. So they ran. Or tried to. Because Gin had returned with Nekonome-sensei from their errands and, upon finding out that the retreating men were members of Fairy Tale, he beat them down as fast as only a werewolf can manage.

"Sun-senpai! Where's Sun-senpai?" Cried out Gin as soon as he was done beating the living daylights out of the Ayashi.

As soon as he noticed Tsukune's face, he knew something was wrong. "Sun-senpai... she... she went with them. They got Marin-san and would have killed her if she hadn't. In the end, they decided to kill us all anyway."

"What? You idiots! Why did you let them take her?" The werewolf was furious, but calmed down as soon as he saw the apologetic looks on his friends' faces. They had had little choice; if Marin had been threatened, the naive girl would have done anything to protect her. "Anyway, we gotta go to them! Immidiately! Their leader has the ability to brainwash others' minds."

"Of course we shou- wait, how do you know that?" Asked Tsukune, receiving a grin as a reply.

"Gee, Tsukune, who do you take me for? I'm a werewolf for cryin' out loud. I got done with my errands an hour ago, so I decided to send Fairy Tale a warning. Seems I was too late. At least I got this MP3 and Marin's stolen money. But that's not important! We have to get to Sun-senpai! Just lemme call someone, he's gonna help us fight'em off."

Tsukune nodded and turned to the downed form of Moka. He pulled her on his lap gently and carefully examined her. He sighed in relief; it was only her youki that was gone thanks to the water. That and coupled with the shock of the blow had knocked her off her feet and dazed her. It was easy for him to reposition her so she could bite his neck and drink his youki-rich blood to restore her.

Meanwhile, the sole pure human of the group watched in fear. What were those people, she wondered. Why had Sun brought monsters to her eatery? Why did they refer to her as one of their own? There was no way Sun was a monster too, right?

Kurumu, being the most empathic of the group, a side effect from her being a succubus, approached the woman. "Hey, are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Marin couldn't help it. Her fear took the best of her. "What do you care about me anyway? You're gonna kill me too right?"

Kurumu almost giggled at the deja-vu moment, remembering Tsukune's cousin. The thought of telling him that she had forgiven him crossed her mind, but at the moment she had more important things to worry about. "Kill you? Goodness, no!" She laughed calmingly. "Actually, out of all of us, only Moka and Kokoa-chan need anything from humans and Tsukune is more than enough to provide for them. There, look." She pointed at the form of the two girls. Or to be more specific at Tsukune leaning over Moka.

He had been worried for her, he had been infuriated she had been hurt. But now he had to do something to help her. Water sapped her youki and hurt her by electrocuting her. So, like always, he offered her his blood.

Naturally, the pink-haired girl was only too happy to take him up on his offer. Her silver-haired self however wasn't so keen on it. Whether that was because of the effect his blood had on her, the fact she experienced it second-hand or her attempt to distance herself from him wasn't exactly clear to even her.

Outer Moka's thoughts however were of a far... simpler nature; 'So... so good!' she almost moaned as the taste hit her tongue and the warm liquid trickled down her throat like liquid power. 'Dark Gods, it gets better and better every time! More! I want more!'

In the end, Inner Moka had to actually stop her outer shell from gorging on the offered blood.

"See?" Said Kurumu. "Other than Moka, none of us need need to hurt humans. And she just needs a bit of blood really. She only gorges on Tsukune, but he's... special."

"But! But what does Sun-chan have to do with this? How can she be a monster like you? Why? Why does it all have to happen to me?"

Tsukune however heard her. After disengaging from Moka, he turned to the distressed woman. "To tell you the truth, we have no idea what they want from her. But Sun-senpai seems like a nice person. She doesn't deserve to get hurt by these scumbags. Bastards like Fairy Tale want to drown the world in a war between humans and Ayashi. We want the opposite; we want both kinds to be equally accepted." He sighed before kneeling next to her. "To tell you the truth Marin-san, I was once human too, like you. I only recently became an ayashi, that's what we call ourselves instead of monsters by the way. It's not all that different. Just remember one thing; there are monsters kinder than any human, like Sun-senpai, but there's also humans more demonic than any monster."

Only his friends realized who he truly meant with that last remark, but they held their silence, despite how much it hurt them that he still considered himself a demon. It did however make them even more determined to change his beliefs and help him see that he really was the same Tsukune they had come to care for, or even love.

"But... But I... I don't get it! My husband was killed by monsters and now you want to tell me not all of you are evil?"

"Are all humans kind and caring? No, there are always some who just do the wrong thing." Said Kurumu. "Same thing with us; there's only a few monsters who need to hurt humans for a living. I mean, Moka is a freaking vampire and, well, you've seen how she is." Kurumu laughed at Moka's indignant glare. "If a vampire is nice, then what does that say for others? I'm a succubus by the way and Mizore is a yuki-onna. We don't need to hurt humans, nor do we want to."

Before the distraught woman could form a reply, Tsukune had gotten up. "Any way, we can't just stand here! We need to find Sun-senpai and rescue her. Fairy Tale is ruthless, who knows what they are going to do to her? Any ideas?" He asked the Newspaper Club, but they all shrugged. All but Yukari anyway.

"I was wondering when you'd ask~desu!" She grinned holding up a small compass with an indentation over the pointer. "Magical Item: Resonance Compass! Made it the other week, just finished it~desu! Seeing as how much trouble we have locating each other, I made it to help us find anyone if we only have a bit of resonance with them. Anything will do, my Know-know-kun's charms work the best but even something they held dear for a long time or a hair would do as well."

"Knowing where she is ain't enough dumbass!" Gin's voice came from the building, apparently the werewolf had finished contacting his friend. "There's a whole branch of'em here! Rushin' in will just get ya beaten! We need a plan."

Kokoa wanted to scoff at the werewolf, she hated perverts with a passion, but she knew that as strong as she were, a bunch of mermen could take even her down. And who knew what other water-based Ayashi could lie in waiting? "Ugh, I hate to admit it, but the perv-wolf is right. We need a plan. We could split into groups. Kurumu and Mizore are naturally together, they've trained for that. I could be with them; Mizore could stop water from hurting me easily. Gin, I believe your friend is a strong fighter, right?" Gin smirked wolfishly at her. She had no idea. But she trusted him. "Then you two will go and save Sun-senpai. I hate to admit it, but onee-sama would be best with Tsukune, they should be able to take down the group's leader, whatever the hell he may be."

Truth is, Kokoa wanted to be with her onee-sama, she loved her dearly after all. But, the truth was that the mission came first, there would be time for fun later. Because if Gin was correct, then Sun was in grave danger. Still, she knew they had some time. Fairy Tale had repeatedly tried to get Sun through various means, but if their leader could brainwash others, why hadn't he done so already? Maybe he had to wait for a special time, or more likely, brainwashing limited the victim's abilities. And they were targetting the girl exactly for that, it wouldn't make sense to go into all this trouble just to destroy exactly what they came for.

Yukari was kind of hurt though that she didn't get a job to do, but she realized that just by pointing them at the right direction, she had already done a lot. Besides, if her hunch was right, and it usually was, Fairy Tale's Headquarters would be placed in a human-heavy area, so as to prevent other monsters from taking them down. Which, of course, was a great problem for the group, since they couldn't attack either for fear of being expelled or worse. "But what about the humans~desu? We could hurt them or, worse, reveal ourselves! We can't let that happen!"

Marin didn't say it, but she was terrified they'd kill her for learning of the Ayashi's existence.

Thankfully, Ruby came with a solution. "Me and Yukari-chan could create a barrier to prevent them from perceiving the place! The Headmaster has had me learning quite a bit on barrier techniques, I have one that could help. However, while the cost in youki is not great, it is very taxing on the mind, Yukari-chan, you could help me maintain it. It would also be great practice for advanced spells for you!"

As the group discussed its strategies, Marin found herself wanting to go with the, but she was still so afraid of doing so. When they got ready to change and leave, she finally mustered the courage to ask them. "What about me? Aren't you going to kill me for learning about you?"

Tsukune gave her a look she couldn't identify. "Of course not. Why would we do that? Besides, you're one of Sun-senpai's most precious people. Don't worry, we're going to bring her back safe and sound."

It wasn't just what the boy had said. It was how he had said it. The way he walked, the way he seemed to shoulder a great burden and yet still go on. It was the way he seemed to know what she was going through, like he had gone through several other similar cases. Then she recalled something he said; he was once human. His eyes betrayed how much he lied about it being 'not being all that different' as when he was a human, but they only spoke the truth when he defended his friends and decided to protect Sun.

So, how could she let them leave? How could she let them risk everything to save Sun? She took in a deep breath to assure herself of her choice and got up. "In that case, I'm coming with you. Sun-chan is my responsibility. Ayashi or not, I'm not going to sit idly by while you protect her. Even if I'm there just to watch, that's what I'll do." She hadn't even realized she hadn't said 'monster' but 'Ayashi'.

Further talk was interrupted when someone burst through the door. As in literally tore it to pieces coming through. The teen, as tall as Gin and even more muscled wore a white karate-gi with a black belt. He had white hair and black eyebrows. Miyamoto Haji; Karate Club Leader... and lolicon pervert.

Which was something that Kokoa was quick to point out and proceed to try and smash Kou-chan on him, only for the male to dodge in effortless if comedically exaggerated ways. In the end, Tsukune had to interfere and make sure everyone got ready to raid Fairy Tale.

Inside her seal, Inner Moka was worried, but not for the reasons everyone suspected. Well, not just for the reasons people would suspect. Lately her seal had become... different. Not in a bad way, or even one readily apparent. But she could come out much easier than before, even manifesting an illusion of herself that only Outer could perceive. What concerned her was that the more she awoke, the more Outer seemed to sleep. Or well, act less energetically than she used to. And this 'excursion' would be the longest time without that seal on her, except when she used Belmont. What if removing the seal strained it, she wondered. What would happen then?

Either way, that was not the time to wonder about things like that, not with a fight against Fairy Tale coming up. She had to focus, focus on the fight and not her own troubles. She also had to focus on Tsukune. She wasn't sure, but the few moments he actually fought as a vampire, there was something strange about it. She thought she had seen it back at the mafia's place too, but she wasn't sure. However, if she was right, if Tsukune had managed that... Then it was quite possible he had inherited her potential in combat! That was unheard of! A Ghoul, even one borne of the Shinso, possessing the potential of a true Vampire?

She would have been so proud had she not been so mollified. Or saddened by the fact that, in the end, it wouldn't matter.

At least, she would get a bit of Tsukune's blood and that made up for it somewhat.

Kokoa grinned as she saw her sister's expression while she took of Tsukune's blood, this time offered to protect them in advance, a 'just in case' measure'. Moka never realized it, but Kokoa was nowhere near as addicted to the boy's blood as her sister. That was due to a very simple fact; to Vampires, the taste of blood often depended on psychological reasons, not merely physical. Moka, who had found her first friend and possible love interest in Tsukune, who had found someone who could look at either side of her the same way, who could trust her, who would fight any odds for her, the blood offered went beyond the physical need of a vampire. The fire-haired vampire could only wonder what would happen if Tsukune drank Moka's blood. It would be a sight to behold. After all, he was the only man she could trust with her magnificent onee-sama. Any other male should be destroyed.

While the group drove to where Yukari's compass led them, Marin, sitting at a back seat and observing the group of teens was wondering about something. She had heard what each of the girls were and even learned what Gin was from his own admittance. But what was Tsukune? His monster form was far more dreadful than the others and, beyond that, when he changed it had felt like... like... like something was fundamentally wrong. Like he turned from a kind boy into an absolutely evil thing. But, seeing how he treated the girls around him, how gently he held Moka when she had been wounded, she began to doubt her own memory. Maybe her fear had confused her? She didn't know and, part of her also said she didn't even want to. After all, what could turn a human boy into something like that?

The woman's thoughts were cut short as the car pulled up outside a large corporate building. Then Tsukune reached at Moka's neck and, with a swift movement, removed the rosario on her chocker.

Youki, not that the woman knew it for what it was burst outwards in a pillar of blood-red power. It seemed as an almost physical pressure, something that would have been easily noticed by every human

Thsnkfully, Ruby and Yukari had been quick in deploying the barrier that prevented contact to the human world. Otherwise, they would have to worry about the humans as well, beyond the Ayashi coming at them right now.

After all, it didn't take a sensor-specialist to feel the youki surge Moka's unrestrained power created.

It would take, however, someone with extremely developed attentive capabilities to notice the way Tsukune looked at said girl, for but a moment before he controlled himself. It was… hungry.

Feeling her power wash over him, unlike when she wore Belmont where she at least tried to keep it down, it caused him to think of several things that he would have rather avoided. Like how Moka's blood would taste and how her wonderful youki would pulse inside him if he but sunk his fangs into her alabaster-white skin… Or how it would feel if he let his self-control go and indulged in his fantasies of Moka and him, alone, with nothing but their blood- and regular lust between them…

Shoving these instincts deep down where they belonged, Tsukune focused on the fights rather than the temptations his Inner Demon was presenting. A good thing too, because it was at that moment the gates opened and a torrent of Ayashi, all in monster forms, attacked.

They didn't get too far as, with a single punch, Haiji oppened a path. That opening was more than enough for Gin, who dashed right in the middle, his fists blurring and leaving his enemies reeling with the sheer number of blows alone. Then, Koka lept in their midst, Kou-chan in spear form and spinning around her, throwing everyone away from her with mighty swings.

The entrance cleared, Tsukune and Moka moved in, like a two-pronged blade, smashing through resistance with mighty punch or agile kick. As soon as they went in, Kurumu, Mizore and a partly reluctant to abandon the many targets in front of her Kokoa followed them. The doors had been closed and secured almost two seconds after, just the time needed for Gin and Haiji to clear out the rest of the first line of defence.

Inside the entrance hall, chaos was abundant. Claws slashed, spit, acidic or flaming, flew through the air, punches and kicks rained on battered bodies, blades slashed through the air and the heady scent of blood and gore permeated the air.

It was an easy thing for Kurumu and Mizore to draw attention to themselves, a subtle illusion and the ability to make nigh-impenetrable walls of ice made the defenders realize that unless the two girls were taken down first, it would be impossible to catch the other two groups. Of course, it was easier said than done, especially with Kokoa practicing her newest moves on them, Kou-chan having taken a sword form this time due to the more limited space.

Gin and Haiji moved quickly through the throngs of enemies in front of them, unconcerned with their rear for the most part. Gin was especially aware of just how tough Mizore's walls of ice could be and Haiji himself had verified it when they withstood on of his empty fist attacks- there were many monsters that would be knocked out by one of them and yet her ice had withstood two.

Walking down towards the basement was an annoyance to the werewolf, mostly because he couldn't move as fast as he wanted. It was extremely fun for his partner as his 'Empty Fist Hole Punch' move damaged all in a straight line, perfect for compact corridors like those they were going through at the moment.

"Come on Gin! We have to save Sun-senpai!" Came Haiji's voice, trying to urge his friend to fight faster. "After all, the first one to get to her will probably be her hero, and then I'll be able to do all kinds of things to her!"

The taunt was not ignored, of course, by the werewolf and he redoubled his efforts to fight. "Damn ya Haiji, don't talk about Sun-senpai like that! Or do you want her angry at you, again?"

"S-Shut up you bastard!" Replied Haiji. It hadn't been one of his greatest moments in life. "I sure don't want her pissed off at me again!"

"Heh, I know what ya mean. Sun-senpai may look nice and kind, but when she gets serious… she's scary, ain't she? But she only gets serious when she closes her sketchbook."

Haiji nodded. "I know. She could probably take on all of these trash on her own if she wanted. But she's probably thinking about Marin and giving herself up for her. If we just told her that she's safe, then it would all be over in an instant."

Gin smirked. "Heh, she's the strongest of the generation for a reason. Probably how she calmed us both back then, eh?"

Haiji didn't reply, he didn't have to. Both third-years had been almost identical on their first years. Berserk monsters that lived for the battle and fought to beat everyone around them to a pulp. Until Sun came along that is and she smacked sense into them, literally. Ever since she opened their eyes to the true joys of the world, both males had held her in a special place in their hearts, despite how they concealed it with their perversions.

The change of the walls from pristine-white to dungeon-like stone was abrupt, but the two warriors minded it little. It meant they were approaching their target. Seeing the three-headed dog in front of a huge stone door, they smirked. Two things; first, they finally encountered an enemy that could challenge them at least a bit and second, such security meant that behind that door, Sun was being held captive.

Their enthusiasm wasn't so much reflected on the faces of Mizore and Kurumu. Don't get them wrong; they greatly enjoyed beating up those that threatened their precious friends and peace, but… "Damn, there's no end to these guys!" Huffed Kurumu, annoyed. After having trained with Gin, she was far too fast to be struck by them, but eventually they would simply tire her out.

And she just knew what they intended to do to her, that look in their eyes was unmistakeable. Yet, whatever disgust and, in some part, fear that look may invoke in her thanks to her recent troubles, it was nothing like the fury that burst inside her normally kind heart when those same looks were sent to Mizore.

The poor yuki-onna had been nearly raped, in her own home at that. Kurumu herself had almost been soiled by unworthy hands. For some reason, the threat of her friend being… damaged like that infuriated the succubus even more than if it were to happen to her.

Unknown to her, Mizore was of the same mind as her duet partner. She had almost suffered through that fate and saved thanks to Tsukune's unwitting interference in the Snow Village. There was no way she was letting anyone touch Kurumu like that. She would freeze them in eternal agony if they tried to!

Kokoa on the other hand was unconcerned with such matters. She lived for battle after all and she had yet to mature enough to realize the terror of an unwanted hand roaming over her body in ways only a beloved should ever be allowed to. Instead, she was more focused in the actual fight. Thanks to Sekki's teachings, fighting came so much easier to her now. Ranged attacks or lashing vines or even large claws were easily predicted and promptly used to create openings for her to strike at those who would attack her.

Whispering at Kou-chan, she slightly altered the curvature of her Dao, allowing her for easier slashing while she dashed in her enemies' midst, before quickly changing the bat's weapon form into a straight sword and thrusting right through the lung of another enemy, a split second later turning into a two-bladed sword and reversing before spinning wildly around her.

Poor Kou-chan, his transformation ability was almost overtaxed, but the little bat loved its master and would do anything for her. So what if he got tired by helping her? She had given him so much, working overtime for his master was not so much. And, beyond that, the little bat could feel its abilities increasing due to the intence 'practice session' it was going through. Soon, soon Kou-chan thought, it would be able to not only transform into a weapon, but it would gain its tribe's long-lost ability; the ability to split into more than one weapons.

A whole flight of stairs over them, two teens were carving a path through their numerous enemies. Be it from kick or fist, bodies were sent flying, broken and crushed, regardless of the monster's toughness. Granted, some were tougher than others, but still, they presented little challenge beyond their great numbers.

Still, it gave ample chance for Moka to observe how her partner, her combat partner she insisted internally, fought. What she verified her made her flinch. It was familiar, terribly familiar. It was exactly like her. It was the next level of vampiric combat.

Vampires, as is commonly known, possess immense physical strength. But, all the strength in the world is pointless if you just can't land a blow. Against low-level monsters or inexperienced enemies, superior strength was enough. But, what about higher-ranked monsters or enemies with experience or skill beyond their race?

It was what separated S-ranked monsters from A-ranked ones. The ability to go beyond the natural gifts of their race and transcend them. In this case, it was using their naturally superior strength to increase their speed. A strong kick-off could increase speed to rival that of many kick-offs in the same amount of time. In essense, if a single step became more like a leap than a step, then the speed achieved would be much greater than expected. Of course, maneuvrability wasn't anywhere near that of someone with truly superior speed, but a vampire's reflexes and natural youki-sensor made the point moot.

What was terrifying is how naturally he did it, how easily it came to him. Most vampires would need a lot of training to get it, but Tsukune had done it without her help, not to mention he was just a Ghoul! He had done it almost as easily as it had come to her, a Shinso vampire!

Then she gulped; she had just seen him shrug off a powerful body-tackle from a troll without a grunt. That meant that he had also learned how to turn his strength into toughness; suddenly and powerfully constricting his supernaturally strong muscles, effectively using his own strength to reduce that of his enemy's. But that required extreme focus to get the timing right.

She didn't know if she should be proud of him or fearful of what she knew would come later. There was also the vampire inside her that wanted to fight him. To fight him, fang and claw, her strength against his, her power against his, pushing him to the wall and… She blushed realizing that the vampire in her didn't just want to fight him but also do various other… strenuous… activities with him.

Shaking her head, Moka refocused on the present and promptly kicked a rather intrusive Ayashi through a wall. She harrumphed, how weak were they! Not even able to hurt her or provide her with a decent challenge despite their numbers. Of course, she was a Super Vampire, but still, she had expected… more from the dreaded Fairy Tale. Hopefully, their boss would be more of a challenge.

Tsukune on the other hand fought with much greater vigor than he would have admitted to anyone. It was them, these enemies in front of him, that were responcible for his greatest predicaments. They had sanctioned Anti-thesis which had led to him becoming cursed. It was bloodthirsty mosters like that that humans feared monsters and condemned them without getting to know them first.

He snarled as one of them tried to stab him in the back and promptly smashed the back of his fist in their face and launching him away. The other hand grabbed the fist of an Ettin, a two-headed giant with a split personality disorder to rival Moka's Rosario, and then lifted the heavy monster in the air before using him as a makeshift club and smashing him on his mob of friends.

Led by his instincts as well as highly-sharpened reactions, Tsukune weaved through his enemies before smashing his fists on their feeble bodies and sending them flying away from him. His youki caused otherworldly bats to flutter from the darkness and he fought even harder.

When Moka's demonic energy rose to rival his, the two vampiric teens looked at each other. An unvoiced challenge went between them and they split up, aiming to beat more enemies than their partner, as if that were a game between the two.

Moka would never admit she actually enjoyed it.

But, eventually, their enemies ran out, most probably thanks to Mizore sealing off all entrances to the floor. There was only one exit. One that they knew led to the leader, the one called Kamiya 'God' Kaede.

Tsubaki, a scout from Fairy Tale that had had the misfortune of meeting an angry Gin looking for Sun, had sung like a bird about the Headquarter's structure. Even Inner Moka had been surprised at the sheer hostility Gin was capable of when properly motivated.

So, that's why they knew that the branch's leader was on the upper floor where he could observe the whole of the land. This time, they weren't waiting for the fight to come to them, in a reversal of their usual strategy, Tsukune and Moka were taking the fight to their enemies. And by the Dark Lords it was going to be a good fight.

Kicking the door down was un-necessary, but a good way to vent the excess adrenaline in Tsukune's system, Moka standing regally just a few feet behind him, hands crossed over her chest.

Kamiya on the other hand looked unperturbed, sitting on his throne of gold with a similarly expensive-looking harp in his hands. "That was a very rude way to enter God's domain. I hate rude people, especially brats like you. But, since you have come all the way to my sanctum, pray tell, why have you done so?" He already had a pretty good idea why, but he just liked talking with his prey before devouring it.

"Don't joke with us! We've come for Sun-senpai!" Replied a furious Tsukune. There he was, the man who had orchestrated it all, who had brought such pain on a pure soul like Sun…

"Hmm, is that so? But your friend is already being saved by two others, is she not? And yet, you are here instead of there. You should better admit it, at least to yourselves, you are here for revenge. Not that much different from what I would do after all."

This time it was Moka who answered him. "Stop your pointless mind games, fool. We are not here for revenge. We are here for insurance. To make sure no one repeats what you and your men have done."

Tsukune mentally thanked Moka. He couldn't deny that some part of him wanted revenge for the wrongfully hunted senpai of his, but as she said, their main goal was not to avenge her but to make sure no one threatened her again.

Kamiya laughed. "You are very amusing little girl. Perhaps once this is over and you have heard my voice, I would be inclined to keep you as my concubine."

He would have said more had not Tsukune interrupted him with his fist, made heavy by his furious energy. The throne exploded into shards from the force of the blow as the Fairy Tail regional Leader leapt away into safety. "You will not lay a finger on Moka-san you scum." It was a statement.

"Hmph, realize your station fool." Said the blonde man, unknowingly paraphrasing Moka's favourite saying and earning even more of her ire. "You are nothing before me. And yet you defend the humans. Humans who hate and fear us, who hunt us as if we are something despiccable. It's because of them that so many of us have been forced into hiding and rules of a society that is against our very natures! Can't you see that what we do is right? By destroying humanity, all the world will belong back to us Ayashi, the superior species!"

"SILENCE!" Tsukune roared, his youki exploding outwards and taking on the form of his demonic self. "How dare you! It's monsters like you, bastards like you, who give ayashi a bad name! It's because of you that monsters are feared and hated! It's because of you… that I have no home to return to!"

Then he was onto his enemy, fist cocked back for a mighty punch, one that would assure the unconsciousness, if not death, of whomever was in the receiving end.

Kamiya merely opened his mouth and a sound of eerie, distorted beauty issued forth from him.

Moka was stunned to see blood fly out of Tsukune's mouth as he was knocked back from some unseen force.

The reason became obvious mere seconds after due to Kamiya taking his true form. Majestic wings spread out from his shoulders and his feet changed to those of a bird.

"Fools, did you think I was a weakling to be defeated by the likes of you? I am Kamiya 'God' Kanae! The being closest to God! My power as a Siren makes my voice into my weapon! Despair and submit to my divine power!" He laughed maniacally.

Moka cringed inwards. It was not like Kamiya was a strong monster, but he was obviously skilled and she had the disadvantage thanks to the difference of range and speed between them; he was not limited to the reach of his hands and feet while his voice was much faster than her own movements.

It was like fighting Kahlua all over again.

Next to her, Tsukune got up, snarling. "You bastard…" He ground out. It felt like his internal organs had been smashed by a fist that passed through his skin and bones as if they were not there. Thankfully, his regenerative ability made up for it, but he knew it would not last forever.

"Hahaha!" Laughed their enemy, clearly enjoying their faces of apprehension. "Despair before me! After all, even if not for my divine power, I would still be beyond your reach. Come forth my minions! Dimensional Mirror Transfer!"

The walls themselves seemed to light with Kamiya's energy before they turned into a reflective water-like substance. When fish-like heads seemed to emerge from them, both vampiric teens realized what the technique was about.

It was a trans-dimensional summoning technique, one of the hardest kind of black arts possible.

However neither would fall that easily. One for her pride and the other in order to protect her. They roared in defiance and their youki flared as they charged.

Leaping head first into a group of sahaugin, the monsters Kamiya had summoned, Tsukune knew he could transform into his demonic form safely, there were plenty of enemies so as to not risk loosing control. But, Moka would only train him, accept him, if he showed her he was a worthy student. Besides, depending on his fell heritage so much made him feel inadequate. He had to get stronger, he had to get stronger, not his demon.

Unbeknownst to him, Moka had already acknowledged his prowess. But she still couldn't, wouldn't, accept him as her student. Not for being too weak, but for fear of what she would do if he spent more time with her. Already she could feel her heart yearning for him, she could feel her normally harsh eyes soften when looking at him. But she could not be with him, it was forbidden for them both.

Yet not once did she realize that she feared more what would happen to him if they had an affair rather than what would happen to her.

The fish-people were no big challenge, or even one at all, to the two teens, easily plowing through them. So, why had he sounded so confident? Surely Kamiya knew that no matter how many weak monsters he summoned, they would not be a challenge for a Vampire, much less two.

Then it became apparent as one of the sahaugin poked its tongue at Moka and shot a blast of concentrated water, much like it had been done at the snack-bar.

The silver-haired female scoffed at the telegraphed attack and gracefully leapt through the air.

Then her eyes widened as she saw sahaugin heads poking out the walls and ceiling, all of them aiming at her. And in the end, against so many of them, there was nothing she could do. Coiling in preparation for pain, Moka's eyes shut close.

The water blasted with the force of a gun at Moka, but a shadow blurred in front of her, intercepting them.

When she next opened her eyes, surprised by the grunt of pain, Moka's blood ran cold. Tsukune had leapt into the air in front of her and taken the blows aimed at her, the force of the hits throwing him at her.

Upon their less than graceful landing, the girl desperately looked at Tsukune, hoping to see him get up unaffected, unharmed. Safe.

He didn't move from where he rolled to a stop.

She didn't know when her aura leaked out. She didn't know when she snarled. She didn't know when she got up and roared in fury.

But she did know when Tsukune's youki exploded out of his body, a body transforming horribly, mutating to its horrible alternate form.

It was exactly as Moka remembered it, powerful and built for strength and destruction. But it seemed bigger, only a bit less than ten feet in height despite its hunched forward. Beyond that, there were dozens of runes, mystical markings running all over his demonic flesh and armor, burning with a mystical flame.

Then both of them developed the same bloodthirsty, angry, vengeful smile on their faces and simultaneously leapt at their numerous foes.

Claw and tail lashed and speared while kick and fist crushed.

Monsters were ripped off from their entrenchment in the dimensional technique and tossed to the partner to the thrower.

Blood pumped and roared in all combatants' ears as the duo began to systematically tear down Kamiya's forces.

For his part, the branch leader watched in awe and more than a bit of fearful lust. He could understand Akuha-sama's desire for those two now. And he knew he could deliver her everything she ever wanted, gaining unbelievable power in return. But first to weaken those two a bit more. His youki surged again and he recasted his summoning technique, calling on even more of his servants.

It did not go as planned.

As soon as the walls and floor and ceiling began to vibrate with magical energy, something spoke inside Tsukune, words ancient before time was born, feelings ephemeral as they were eternal, a call to existence's own reality.

Just as Kamiya sung his magic into existence, Tsukune roared his own in reply.

Moka was surprised to see the runes engraved on her friend's flesh and bone flare with power before he roared a roar so dissonant, so inherently rejecting of reality itself that it tore Kamiya's spell to shreds.

It was worse for the Fairy Tail member. It was not that his magic had been cancelled. It was that he was a being of and for music.

Tsukune's roar was simply so dissonant, so utterly dreadful that it stunned Kamiya into inaction. Not just the shock of a non-Siren using a sound-related ability at that level of power, but he was literally hurt by the sound.

Moka didn't need to waste a second. Burning Tsukune's blood was an instantaneous proceedure to her now, absent-mindedly frowning at how many times she'd had to do this, and the burst of power enhanced her already terrifying combat prowess.

In a burst of youki she was gone, heading for a powerful spinning aerial kick with all she had into it.

"Know your place scum!" Her trademark catchphrase in her lips, she smashed her leg onto Kamiya's torso, enjoying the sound of broken ribs and ruptured organs.

She did not much enjoy the feeling of being stabbed in multiple places by daggers, or steel-like feathers to be precise. It seemed Kamiya had one last line of defence.

Then again, he might have had two, seeing as how his monster form became even more monstrous, or rather disfigured. He seemed to gain in size with a grossly enhanced torso and an even worse face.

To Moka, a proud and vain even Vampire, it was disgusting.

"You! How dare you! How dare you lay a hand on me! The being closest to God! How dare you strike GOD?" He roared and his voice reverbrated in the confined space of the room. "I will destroy you!"

He opened his mouth and seemed to suck in an inordinate amount of wind, ready to unleash his most powerful attack and both teens knew that it would be on a whole other level than what they had encountered until that moment.

Yet when the sound came… Nothing happened.

Or rather, the sheer dark weight of that cry was drowned out by another voice, that one more closely resembling an angel's song.

Standing at the entrance to the room, Otonashi Sun sang for the first time in years, her wings giving her an angelic appearance.

"W-What? Sun! You bitch! You dare defy me?"

"Of course." She replied coldly. "You betrayed your own honor and word. You are worse than trash. I have no mercy for you who would attack Marin-san even after our deal. Yet I shall not stain my hands with your blood. That right falls entirely up to Tsukune-san and Moka-san. I can however make sure you will never sing again, Kamiya 'God' Kanae."

There was ice and steel in her words as her song seemed to increase in tempo and intensity, pushing back Kamiya's immense volume with sheer mastery over the simplest of notes and choirs.

Then Sun's song reached Kamiya and he screamed at thet unbelievable pain in his throat, realizing that she had destroyed his vocal cords with her song and yet not knowing how she had done so.

Fear gripped his heart harsher than any rage he had felt at heathens who defied him, tighter than any feeling of elation he ever had at killing a human.

Moka had risen again and she had not been pleased or happy. Blood was dripping down her quickly closing wounds, courtesy of Tsukune's blood still lingering inside of her. Otherworldly bats and a feeling of velvety darkness surrounded her before she leapt at Kamiya and delivered a devastating heel drop on his head, crushing his skull.

"And with that, Fairy Tail's hold over me is at an end." Sun's voice came just seconds before Kurumu and Mizore tackled Tsukune just as Kokoa tackled her sister.

It was all over. It was all safe again. Home was back again.

As the group left to regroup, Tsukune asked for some time alone, something he was reluctantly given. But he had to verify something.

He had to scour Kamiya's resources to see if there was any news about Fairy Tail, anything they could use against the group.

Instead something else drew his attention.

It was a scent so heavenly, so commanding, so utterly captivating he couldn't help but follow it.

His hand gingerly picked up a feather from the ground, its pearl-white coloration marred by a red liquid known as blood.

Before he even knew what he was doing, Tsukune had placed the feather into his mouth and licked the blood off it.

Taste flourished inside him, growing into a crescendo of almost orgasmic pleasure. He shuddered and suckled on the once-lethal weapon until all the blood had been cleaned off.

Only then did he realize what he was doing and threw it away.

Only then did the horror and disgust of his actions reach his conscious mind.

Tsukune left that building without a single glance back.

That night, despite the entire place being ruined and filled with holes, the group didn't feel sad at all. They felt great, as if they had helped someone make a new start. Something that could be taken literally as now Sun spoke quite freely and Marin was simply amazed at the various abilities ayashi seemed to show. Who knew the little witch was that good at household duties or that vampires could lift many times their weight in no time? Let's not forget Mizore who stole the spotlight by freezing various fruits and turning them into sherberts, this time without fearing about being found out. The only one who's true form wasn't discussed much was Tsukune, but even then he told Marin that he was originally a human who had 'somehow' gained ayashi abilities, trusting Sun to not reveal anything she shouldn't.

Later that night, Kurumu called Sun over to the side."Hey, Sun-senpai, can I ask for a favor?"

"Of course Kurumu-san, what is it?" The siren replied, only too happy to help her friend.

"Well, you have a really great voice and I heard that music calms people's nerves. So I was thinking, Tsukune gets really angry some times, but it's not his fault it's because of what he is. Just, sometimes, it's really hard for him to control it. So, well, who better to ask about music than a siren? Couldn't you like, sing him a song that will calm him down? I mean you certainly pulled off some really cool tricks on that jerk Mr. God..."

Sun thought about it for a bit. "I think I know what you mean, but I don't think I can do it. What you're asking is for a very specialized melody. To compose it however, I'd have to know the person very well. However, I only know Tsukune-san for so little, I don't think I can just up and make a song for him. You'd have to tell me everything about him and even then..."

Kurumu tapped her chin for a bit before the proverbial light bulb lit over her head. "Tell you everything about him? How about I top that? I'm going to show you, let you feel everything that is Tsukune. Then you'll see why I'm doing this." A long, purple devil-like tail rose up in front of Sun before it split open in four triangle-like suction pads. "I'm a succubus after all, dreams and minds are our specialty!"

Sun nodded before she felt the tail latch on the top of her head and her world blacked out with a feeling of falling endlessly.

Then she was floating over an ocean. "Welcome to my mind Sun-senpai. Now, let me show you everything I know about Tsukune. Just tell me if I go too fast." Kurumu's voice came from everywhere before a humanoid shape rose from the sea, levitated up to Sun's level and touched her.

Back in the real world, Sun woke up to find herself held up by the succubus. "So that was Tsukune-san... Amazing, to think that he is... Very well Kurumu-san, I'll write and record a song for you and Tsukune-san." But as she left, she couldn't resist the urge to look back and wink at her kohai. "Though really, if he wasn't taken already, I'd be tempted to snatch him for myself!" She said, leaving Kurumu to mock-glare at her, well before she received a retort that made her rush away.

"You're welcome to join the harem any time, sister!"

Always trust Kurumu to make a sexual joke and still manage to make her talkers aroused, embarassed, or both, regardless of gender.

The next night found the group sleeping quietly after a hard day of repairs, that somehow got turned into one huge joke. They couldn't help it; just being near one another made them turn everything into an enjoyable experience. Two however from the school weren't asleep.

Tsukune was sitting on a hammock, one of the new installments of the hostel, gazing at the stars. Despite being physically tired, he wasn't asleep yet, probably an after-effect of not sleeping for a week straight before the Headmaster sent him on forced vacation.

Steps behind him made him tense, but also relax when he realized who it was.

Sun stayed next to him, calmly looking over the sea, illuminated by a gentle half-moon and the many stars of the night sky. She looked at him and then where his sight flew every few seconds. She smiled softly. "You... you love them don't you?" She asked, getting a melancholic look from the boy.

"I think so... yeah..." He replied, not sure himself but for a reason other than not knowing how strong his feelings were. No, he was more worried about whether his feelings came from lust, a friendship taken too far or true love. Maybe even loneliness, latching desperately onto anyone who could save him from that dark abyss? Whatever it was, he knew it was strong and growing stronger by the day.

"They love you too, you know that." That got her a soft, but still somehow sad, smile.

"Yeah..."

Sun frowned. She didn't like this; Tsukune was usually much more active. Which meant that something was wrong. "So why don't you do something about it?" Best way to solve such a problem was to inquire directly, she thought. If she could make him confront whatever it was that stopped him, maybe she could help her friends.

"Because I'm afraid."

That definitely sent her for a loop. After all, it was obviously not a fear of them beating him for choosing someone else. Nor was it a fear of loosing them as friends; she had seen how tight the group was. Not even a failed romance could separate them, she could see that. "What are you afraid of?"

"... Myself..."

Oh, so that was it. He was scared of himself, he was scared for them. It made sense, in a weird way. Since he had been human, burdened rather suddenly with the power, and responcibility, of an Ayashi, thrust suddenly into an unknown world, having to fight all the time... He obviously didn't know how to deal with many things, or how to turn a gift for war into a gift for peace. She smiled. "I did too, fear myself I mean." That earned her a surprised look before understanding dawned on him; he had heard how she had been abandoned at birth because her power was too great. "Still, I think you stand a good chance. By the way, your 'friend', Kurumu, had me make this for you. It's a few songs to help you calm down sometimes, especially when those 'student president jerks demand you bend over backwards for them', her words." She handed him a small MP3 and earphones, a set given to her by Gin, unknown being their origin. They had some music in them before, but it was horrible so she had it all deleted and instead replaced with her own singing.

The boy looked at her in gratitude before pocketing the gift and continuing his vigilance over the sea, the girl humming softly.

Neither noticed a pink-haired girl eavesdropping on them. Or the blush on her face.

'I knew it, Tsukune-san really loves us Ura-chan!'

'Don't sound so happy about it Omote! Have you forgotten? We can't be with him. He is, for all his power and gifts and bravery, he is still but a human.' Said Inner Moka, but there was no sense of hate or disgust in the word 'human', unlike she did back... before she met Tsukune. She had to stress it out though, to her outer self, how important that fact was.

'But... but does it really matter Ura-chan? I mean, isn't love more important?'

'Love... I admit it is important, but we do not love him. We like him, there's a difference. Now go back to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us!' And yet, even as Moka denied her loving him, she couldn't help but doubt her own words. She didn't love him, she couldn't love him. Because if she did... If she ended up loving him... Fear and terror griped the vampiress' heart and she retreated back into the rosary.

For the next few days that the group stayed in the Hostel, Tsukune would be rarely seen without his MP3 player, even if he didn't always have it playing. He had heard only the first song, but he had set it on 'repeat' and constantly listened to it when he could, even humming the tune while working to repair the shop.

And then was the day they would have to leave and go back to Youkai Gakuen. It was a sorroful farewell, but also one that left both sides richer for it. Marin even gave her telephone number to Tsukune, since with them being the only humans they were the ones more accustomed to using telephones for long-distance communication. He was teaching his friends, but they had apparently developed a small phobia of all things electronic. Just like Kurumu, the top flier of the three, couldn't believe planes actually flew.

When they left, through the journey back, one could hear Sun's singing come from the bus' speakers, courtesy of a plugged MP3, a soft ballad.

What is it

That turns weak to strong?

What is it

That makes one into a hundred?

What is it

That dispels the shadows of fear?

What is it

That I now feel?

It is strong and ancient

It is rare and pure

It is oft told but rarely given

It's name is Love..

A/N: Finally managed to re-write the chapter to better suit me. Hope it's better now. I still think it needs some more work, but it's better than before. Not much, I'm still not satisfied, but at least I tried to make it more to my style.

In case you're wondering, Kamiya was stunned because the way Tsukune uses Dispel is his anathema; he is music and melody (albeit used in a vile way) and Tsukune was dissonance. It was a one-of-a-kind thing. Also, despite what Moka may think, Tsukune isn't at her level as a vampire, neither will he ever be. Put simply, he knows the same tricks as she does, but he simply cannot rival her experience in using them, her talent at using them not even the sheer magnitude that she uses them in. He can become faster and tougher, but it would be like comparing a wheelock to an MG-3 gun. Both shoot bullets, but really, one of them is simply superior.

Anyway, here are my OMAKEs, they made me laugh quite a bit, but then again I'm insane. Oh, and I hope you liked the first few lyrics of that song; I wrote it but I'm having a headache right now so it may not be good (though headaches usually increase my authoring prowess for some unknown reason... I'm insane aren't I?)

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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.

OMAKE 1: It's a Ninja thing

As Mizore ran along Yukari, Ruby and Tsukue over to wherever boob-girl was, she received the weirdest question from the little witch.

"So, Mizore-an, how did you know Kurumu-san was in danger?"

"It's... a ninja thing." She said matter of factly.

"A... ninja thing?" Asked the incredulous witch.

"Yes, a ninja thing. I'm a ninja." Came the immidiate responce with a tone that said 'and that's that'.

"But... but ninja don't exist, they're a bunch of fictional characters, created to possess supernatural powers to entertain the masses with improbable stunts. There's no ninjas!"

Then the group realized that they were one person short as Mizore selected that time to go to a corner and sulk.

The next day she picked up a new ideal to follow. One that had her placing a weird metal hook on her right hand and an eyepatch over her left eye.

She had become... a pirate. And this time Yukari didn't bother correcting the girl.

OMAKE 2: Thoughts on God

"I am the being closest to God! I am Kamiya 'God' Kanae! Bow to God's will!" Spoke the obviously insane blonde man.

Tsukune had not had a good day. His Inner Demon was acting up, he was thirsty for blood, Kurumu-chan had been abducted and almost molested from people under that jerk and he was getting fed up!

"God? You think you're God?" Asked Tsukune, getting a nod and a rant on how his talker was God. "Wanna know what I think of God, Huh?"

Then his hands changed to their demon version and he moved unbelievably fast behind the very surprised Kamiya. Even before his movement was completed, his hands were clapped together, but in a weird way; only the pointer and middle finger were up, all other fingers had wrapped firmly around the other hand.

Mizore gasped and got stars in her eyes, prompting Kurumu to ask her what the hell was going on.

"This! This is! This is Kakashi-sama's unique Hidden Leaf Secret Martial Supreme Technique: One Thousand Years Of Pain technique!" Squealed Mizore, waving a 'Naruto' manga around.

Tsukune seemed to agree. "Hidden Leaf Secret Martial Supreme Technique: One Thousand Years Of Pain, Demon Version!" Before he rammed his hands up and into Kamiya's rectum.

'God' did not return to challenge Tsukune and his group. In fact, he stopped being 'God' altogether.

He became 'Goddess'...