A Festival And A Rosario
Tsukune groaned as he rubbed his right shoulder, feeling stiff and tired.
It had been two weeks since he and Moka started training and boy was it harsh. The vampiress was not joking when she said that she wouldn't hold back. Bruised and broken ribs were commonplace now and he was glad he had gained such a good healing factor, he was sure that without it, she would have snapped his spine accidentaly.
But Tsukune's exhaustion wasn't limited to that alone. A large festival was coming up and, as leader of the Student Council Committee, he was of course expected to organize everything. Something much harder than it sounds.
Between the unavoidable school hours, the endless paperwork needed to organize the festival and Moka's training, he sometimes wished he could split himself in many parts. Have one for each job, he felt he was being torn inside, fortunately only figuratively.
Of course it wasn't just he who trained, Mizore and Kurumu also trained constantly with Moka while he trained to increase his control over his youki. And even though the vampiress held back significantly against the duet, he could see that they too were growing, both separated and united. He knew that even Kokoa was training for the inevitable confrontation with Fairy Tale, but he didn't know where, just that she vanished for a few hours each day, returning battered and bruised but with a pleased smirk on her.
"Aww, are you in pain Tsukune-kun?" Kurumu's low, teasing voice came from right behind his left ear only a second before she pressed her entire, voluptuous, body on his back, her hands roving all over his chest, thankfully over his shirt. "I could always… take away the edge… if you'd just let me…" Her whispers, the tone of her voice, her breath on his back, the slow bobbing motions of her body telling him that her true form was revealed… "I'm veerry good with massages…" Her voice was a seductive purr. "I could make you relax… just give me the word and I'll do it for you… I'll do anything for you…"
Poor Tsukune couldn't restrain the way his body shuddered, she was sensuality personified and gods knew nothing could hold a candle to her when it came to carnal seduction.
Or maybe some could. Some like Mizore, who chose to drape herself on his right side.
"Hush, you…" It might have been snappish but certainly didn't sound like it. "Tsukune, you are burning up, I shall cool you down with my own techniques." She was right, he was burning up, but not of a sickness or physical workout. More closely related to a full-body blush. "There's so much I can show you, so much I can teach you… How to let the cool, pure winds of the mountains take away your stress, like this…" Then her hands had turned into frozen claws and her breath became wisps of cold that caressed his flamed skin like a refreshing breeze, cold but just so it was perfect to relieve the fire coursing under his skin.
Admittedly, relieving that fire and dowsing it are two quite different things as the poor boy found out when the frozen girl's hands began roving around his body in the same manner as the vision of sexuality that hovered over him.
It would forever be a testament to the strength of his will that he didn't snap at that moment.
Or of his eternally bad luck as Inner Moka stepped into the clearing, whip tied around her leg.
And she looked more than a little bit annoyed. In fact, hadn't he known better, she even looked jealous, as in angry-jealous.
"Tsukune, get up. Your break's over. Back to sparring." She said and her partner had the urge to gulp. For some reason he thought that particular spar was going to be tough.
He had no idea…
A couple of hours later, a thoroughly beaten and battered Tsukune groaned from his place in a crater at the side of a mountain. Twenty feet in the side of the mountain.
"Hey Moka! That's too much, don't you think! What are you trying to prove?" Kurumu raged, flying in front of the huffing vampire
Of course, Mizore was very quick to support her duet partner, though unlike the succubus, she did it while prying Tsukune off his crater. "She's right you know. Are you trying to prove something? No matter how you see it, this time you went too far, he didn't even manage to raise a defence after the first thirty minutes." There was accusation in those aquamarine eyes.
Inner Moka almost cringed, it was true. She had torn his defence apart in the first half-hour and then just wailed away at him. She couldn't help it, the way he had looked so darn comfortable with those two draped all over him! "Nonesense." She countered. "He has to learn to take a blow or a dozen. An enemy won't hold back to give him time to bring up his defences."
'Though you hit him considerably more times than a dozen!' Kurumu thought and was quick to put it to words, but Tsukune was faster.
"S-She's right." He coughed a bit, waiting for his regeneration to fix his diaphragm. It wasn't ruptured, thankfully, but it hurt like hell when he did more than breathe shallowly. "I have to endure this. Kamiya wouldn't have stopped and there may be stronger enemies waiting for us. I have to learn to take this punishment and still fight back. If I can do that, I'm sure I'll be able to take on any enemy."
Moka had been all but ready to smack him at first, believing that he thought she was weak and he had to be able to endure at least as much as she could dish out at him. Then, she realized that he thought her stronger than most of their enemies, so if he could take on all she had, he would definitely be able to stand up to anyone. Her spirits did rise after she realized that, but they fell again once she realized that, for all his tries and hard work, he would never be more than a Ghoul, a former human.
He would never be able to change his Fate.
"As interesting as it may be to watch over your interactions, I'm afraid that your time here is over for now. You all have your jobs to attend to and Tsukune-san won't be in a condition to fight until tomorrow. Now off you go, I believe Fan-Fan-san is actually looking everywhere for you. Another attempt to beat you into joining him perhaps?" The Headmaster spoke out of nowhere, appearing from behind a tree. Predictably enough that caused everyone to jump up in surprise, not even Moka had sensed him.
Ruby, the group's makeshift nurse and medic quickly bowed to her 'Master', hoping her skimpy nurse's outfit didn't give everyone a view of her privates. Or perhaps that's exactly what she wanted. "Master! Very well I shall take them back. Now, Yukari-chan, remember what I told you alright? You waste too much energy in your spells, use that trick to see if it makes your control more efficient alright?" Apart from making sure the entire group came back in one piece each, she had also taken to tutoring the youngest witch. The child might have been a genius, but Ruby was several times more experienced than her and knew enough tricks of the 'trade' to place her well beyond Yukari's dreams. Sometimes having an insane Master teaching you could lead to immense power.
Or it could lead to a loss of your mind, Ruby herself could even tell she wasn't normal, possibly a side effect of her insane 'Mistress'. Then again, it wasn't like she minded any. She was who she was, not who she was not. Such existential issues are for others.
Gathering their effects, bottles of water, fuutons, medical supplies and the wrappings from Kurumu's cookies (said cookies having been demolished within moments of their appearance), the group quickly returned to the Academy where their lives were completely controlled, but not in control.
Afternoon classes followed and then club activities. After that Tsukune fell off the face of the earth to perform the rest of his duties, leaving four, or five, girls to look at each other.
They all had things they wanted to tell each other. Kurumu could have said that she didn't mind sharing, she already saw the others as more than just friends and more as 'back-up lovers' to put it in her Mother's words. Mizore could have said that she would be fine if she only saw Tsukune once in a while, yuki-onna were always able to deal with less than the complete attention of a lover, knowing that not everyone could handle their icy environment or stoic personalities. Moka could have even said that she didn't care if either of her friends took Tsukune.
But they didn't. Kurumu did mind sharing, she was a possessive girl, having wanted to meet her Destined One for so long, having him just outside her reach for even longer, she wanted his full, complete, undivided attention, the rest of the world be damned.
Mizore would not be fine if she only saw Tsukune once in a while, she wanted to see him every minute of every hour of every day, in his cold-warm embrace, raising their children and making love every night.
Moka certainly did care if either of her friends got Tsukune. She wanted him for herself, maybe it was selfish but that's what she felt. It went beyond her thirst for his blood, beyond her physical attraction, beyond the way he seemed to grow up every day.
They all wanted him for themselves and they all knew it. They were the best of friends but they were still mere children. Teenagers, far from adults.
Far from realizing how precious time really is. How no amount of time would ever be enough. How no emotion could be caged.
How that even a single moment with the one they had fallen in love with was worth innumerable years without him.
They had known none but peace. All the world was theirs, all their dreams were coming to life.
The world was their oyster as the saying went.
So the Festival seemed like a good time to relax and joke around. A re-affirmation of 'Love and Peace' as a popular cartoon said.
Which was exactly why they were caught so unprepared when Wong Fan-Fan introduced them to his sister.
Speaking of the chinese boy, he had been mostly accepted into the group. It had taken an apology from the boy but they had managed to get one from Tsukune as well. The Akuchi had mostly been angered by Fan-Fan's lack of responcibility, summoning a dangerous monster he had no idea of control over and letting it loose in the school. The last time that happened, the entire school had closed for six months and his friends had been in grave danger. This time it had been 'only' Moka, but that didn't make it any lighter a threat.
In the end, the effeminate boy decided to keep challenging Tsukune for submission, but refrained from summoning any unknown monsters and kept a closer vigilance over his summoning tags. Yukari suspected that the challenges were more a way to affirm his rivalry as well as sharpen his summoning skills rather than come from a belief of victory.
Meeting the female Wong was… eventfull. For starters she wore the wierdest clothes, seemed to be a large full-length skirt and a large overcoat lined with mystic tags.
Then, there was the fact… that she was dead.
"Hmm… I wouldn't mind fighting Tsukune-san to the end" She had said. "After all, I'm dead." Which she proved by removing her head from her shoulders!
That had definitely been an 'eeew' moment for the girls and even Tsukune had a hard time restraining his shudder of disgust. At least he had suffered worse at the hands of his Inner Demon, which had been mercifully silent since he received Sun's musical aid.
Now he only had to blame himself for his violent or lustfull urges. Urges that his oh-so-kind friends did nothing to relieve, they caused them in the first place.
Ling-Ling's introduction was a peculiar one even beyond its morbidity. The chinese girl, who repeatedly stated that no one knew how old she was 'because, you know, she's dead', also notified them that her family would acquire them.
It was only Fan-Fan's interruption in correcting his sister as to how not to refer to Tsukune's friends as items that saved her from being killed, for good this time.
"Oh, so you're having a Festival? At this time of year?" Wondered Ling-Ling, looking at all the students setting up the various decorations.
"Yes, a Sports Festival. To reunite us all under a font of peace. As well as give a chance for everyone to let out some steam. Tensions have been rising between clubs and groups, something like that is going to help them get over their differences, hopefully anyway." Said Tsukune before having to leave the group to correct some students who were making a mess of a stand.
Kurumu sighed and went to help him, for all his skill and almost dreamy-ness, Tsukune had no idea on fashion. A woman's hand was necessary to make sure everything fit together, so the petite succubus took it on herself to help lighten the load by helping him re-arrange everything to match and fit.
Meanwhile Mizore and Moka weren't having a good time. With Yukari off to Ruby's to help, they were the only two left to guide and entertain the Wongs, though also to prevent them from going after Tsukune, again.
Mizore had actually taken it upon herself to go on 'bodyguard duty', watching the two chinese monsters constantly so they didn't threaten her 'husband'.
So Moka was left to keep company to a guy who had 'wanted to have' Tsukune and his 'already dead' sister, both of which being mafia members and obviously unconcerned with whatever they were going to use to get their way. Moka was not amused. But, she was a kind, sunny person, so she drew up on her reserves of happiness and goodwill and did her best to keep the Wongs occupied.
Unfortunately it didn't work out. Not only did Fan-Fan and Ling-Ling have one-track minds, especially when it came to recruiting, but they were also extremely competitive. As a result, when they found out that there would be sports competitions... "It is fate, Moka-san!" Fan-Fan had cried out. "You are all on the 'white team' for this festival. Then! We shall enter the 'red team'! We shall fight and if we win then Tsukune-san will become our subordinate!"
Of course Moka had denied it. "What are you talking about Fan-Fan-san! Sports are not fights! Besides, we know that Tsukune-san would never become your subordinate." She gave him a serious look, attempting to look threatening. "You know how strong he is. You fought him before. Do you really think he would allow it?"
But Fan-Fan wouldn't listen, he wasn't used to doing so anyway. "Nonesense! Competitions are like fighting. We and you shall fight under the shade of the Sports Festival! Besides, now my sister is here. My victory is guaranteed! Now then! Let us prepare for our glorious fight!" And he was off, presumably to train for it.
Moka blinked at Fan-Fan's retreating form, the boy was entirely too energetic to be legal, he was even worse than Kokoa's clingy-state. Turning to the side she saw that Ling-Ling had only began walking after her little brother, clearly disinterested in keeping up with his speed.
"Know this Akashiya Moka-san..." The chinese moving corpse, or kyonshii as was the proper term, said. "My brother will have what he desires. I never fail my missions. Good luck, you and your friends will soon belong to the Wong family."
Feeling every bit as having failed Tsukune as well as frustrated at the pair's stubborn insistence, Moka turned back, leaving Mizore to spy on the chinese ayashi. Even Inner Moka was annoyed and not for just their arrogance at thinking they could beat her or Tsukune, but also because their childishness was going to limit her training with the boy even more. The silver-haired girl didn't even realize that she thought Tsukune at being of a level equal to her or that she didn't really hate training with him all that much any more. She could have found an endless stream of reasons for it, but she never bothered.
Still, the pink-haired girl had to tell Tsukune the news, as aggravating as they might be. It really was hopelessly funny how Tsukune began smashing his head on his desk and muttering curses about clingy children not leaving him alone and how the Headmaster must have planned for all this crap.
"Ugh, nothing we can do about it now... Guess we'll have to 'fight' them once again. Geeze, don't these people have anything better to do with their lives? Seriously, it's getting annoying!" He grumbled as he worked under Moka's sympathetic eyes. Even though Kurumu and Yukari had taken off a large load off his shoulders, there were still several things that had to be managed and none of the student council had stepped up; they had all apparently seen him as some sort of living switchblade; he could do anything, any time and he could do it well. So why waste their own time doing what he would do?
At least Ruby was dependable in many areas, he could easily use her, she even begged him to order her around. He had to be extra careful not to give her any work that had to do with decorations or clothing however. Who knew what the masochistic witch would come up with?
Somewhere else Ruby giggled as she caressed her new 'dress'. Poor Tsukune was going to have a heart attack. Preferably from all his blood being redirected in a much lower part of his body.
Ignoring the shivers of ill fortune, Tsukune kept working until he was done before laying back on his chair to relax. When two soft hands landed on his shoulders and began kneading his pains away he sighed deeply.
"It's alright to be tired Tsukune-san. Me and Ura-chan understand that this must be very hard for you, juggling everything. So, please, let us help you Tsukune-san. Don't push your friends away. We want to help you..." She had kept her tone soft and caring. She was worried for him, she who had known him more than anyone in that school. She still didn't understand him completely, but she did understand a bit. She knew what he was doing, pushing them away while keeping them at arm's reach, always there to protect them but never there to be protected by them.
He was so annoyingly brave sometimes, trying to shoulder everything on his own. But it was still a Tsukune thing to do. Something she liked about him and, even though Ura scoffed at his kind heart, she also knew that her Inner liked it as well. She had remained silent after all.
Tsukune however shrugged. "I know Moka-san... I know but everything here is administrative stuff. Even if I wanted to, you are not the official Public Committee Leader..." He tried to focus things on his paperwork but both of them were well aware that Moka meant all but that. Yet he was too scared to venture in that area.
Moka sighed but accepted his choice. Besides, even though he didn't say it, she did feel his muscles and even youki relax when she offered him her support. It was what he needed, support and caring. Her hands kept working on his muscles, relaxing him, unknowingly bring them closer together in a physical way, with Moka leaning over Tsukune to get to the hard to reach places while he seemed to lean back into her warmth.
Which of course means that this is exactly the moment Kurumu chose to interrupt them. "Geeze Tsukune, there I was working my ass off and you receive a massage from Moka. You could at least have asked me for it!" Her tone wasn't that annoyed or frustrating, more amused or teasing if he had to go by it. "I mean, as a succubus, I know things about your body you wouldn't even imagine. And the things I could do to your body? Those you want to imagine. Or maybe more than imagine hmm?" True to her words, the petite succubus worked magic on his right hand, so tortured by signing and writing endlesss amounts of paper.
Predictably, Mizore showed up at that moment too, though as always in an unpredictable way, this time coming in from a window, even staying perched there for a second as a ninja before hopping off soundlessly. "I leave you two alone for five minutes and again you go seducing my husband." She began walking towards the seated male before leaning into his face way too close for comfort, much to his embarassement and the ire of the other two girls. "Everyone knows that a cool refreshment is the best medicine to fatigue. Taking into account your preferences and current body heat, I made you some orange juice, maintained in a perfectly uniform temperature. It should rejuvenate you enough to come to my room and give me my children."
"Mizore-chan!/Mizore!" The other two exploded, finally at their limits with the yuki-onna. "How can you say such things! Have you no respect for Tsukune-san!" Moka had said. "How dare you try to seduce my Destined One, in front of me no less!"
The snow-girl just looked at them victoriously as if just annoying them was more than enough. But just as the three got ready to fight...
"Could you girls please not fight? I really hate it when you do..." Tsukune's weak and pleading voice made them stop and reconsider.
'Truce... for now' Their eyes said to each other, glaring lightning bolts, daggers and various other dangerous elements at each other before going back to pampering Tsukune, innocent smiles on their angelic faces.
Tsukune for his part just sighed in relief when the tension was reeled back, he knew it wouldn't go away despite his greatest efforts, and further relaxed into the girls' treatments. He knew he was unworthy of them but he was so... so very tired. He wanted, just once, to indulge.
He didn't even realize it when his breathing shallowed out and he dozed off to sleep. The girls however did. Moka's hands stopped massaging his shoulders, but they stayed there. Kurumu's fingers stopped relieving the soreness in his arms and merely lightly drew random designs on his body. Mizore just kept on looking at him while keeping the room's temperature at a comfortable cool.
And at that moment all of those girls wanted just one thing. That their friend be as relaxed with them as he was at that moment, every day. That he be with them every day. That he would finally find his peace.
It was hours later when Tsukune awoke to find his body and mind refreshed. Surprisingly enough, he could feel his friends' presence near him so, when he looked for them, he found the group enjoying a batch of home-made ice-tea, courtesy of Mizore. They were talking amiccably, relaxing like good friends.
Realizing he was awake, the three teens happily invited him over to them, keeping up with their relaxing chat.
The next day was time for the Festival. Large stands had been set up, decorations in place and the school looked as lively as last year's celebrations.
Students ran around, getting ready for their respective competitions. It was also when Ling-Ling and Fan-Fan showed up, both decked out in their team's colors.
They didn't even have to speak about 'fighting' for Tsukune to run his hand down his face. They were getting on his nerves, wearing them down the way only an expert could hope to. Seeing as how they left him absolutely no choice, he decided that, what the hell, if you can't beat them join them. Of course, that just meant that he would accept their conditions to fighting him. Along with the condition that if he and his friends, the white team, won, then the Wang family would stop trying to actively recruit him.
The first competition was running. The white team was being represented by several contestants, best of which being Kokoa. With her status as vampire, she was a natural in most sports and in fact one of the fastest students in the school, barring speed-based monsters like Gin. Thankfully, such monsters rarely if ever entered speed contests as they didn't really hold any appeal to them; they already knew they were the fastest. Besides, they were forced to perform using only their human transformations rather than their true forms or abilities.
As soon as the signal was given, the red-haired vampire instantly leapt off in a high-speed sprint, covering many feet with each long stride.
But it wasn't enough; the reanimated corpse was in front of her, using a weird jumping kind of running. Kokoa grunted before increasing her speed even further, catching up with the kyonshii.
'BOOM!'
Kokoa had barely any time to leap back and right herself when the explosion came only a few inches from her feet. Apparently the Wongs didn't know what fair play was.
In short it pissed her off. Instead of doing their best and accepting their failings with honor, they resorted to such petty tricks?
Very well then, kiddie gloves are off.
Leaning forward, little Kokoa all but exploded with speed.
"Remember, Kokoa." Her master, Sekki, had said while training her. "The Goryuu Tenchuu is a martial philosophy, not a martial art. At its core, you will realize that your perception of reality alters your reaction to it. How you perceive yourself and the world around you will change how you interact, what you can and cannot do. Now, try again. You are to move while exerting the least amount of strength possible. Sense the wind around you. It flows in streams, much like the water. Find the gap between these streams and move between them."
A deep breath and Kokoa exhaled all the wind from her body, coiling her muscles tightly. As she leaned forward, almost falling ahead, her mind was unafraid and focused. She was not falling forward. She was righting herself. The ground was not under her feet but touching her back. Her legs wound tightly, touching her stomach...
Kokoa leapt. She didn't run, she leapt. She jumped up according to what her mind said, but she was in fact making a powerful leap forward, hitting max speed in an instant. But that was only one leg. The other one was still touching her stomach so, the moment her speed began to lessen, she kicked down with her other and jumped again, just barely managing to place her first leg under her stomach.
The girl was almost parallel to the ground and her eyes locked onto her target, the finish line.
Thirty feet, leap. Twenty five feet, leap. Twenty feet, enemy at right, leap. Fifteen feet, leap and coil both legs. Ten feet, throw hands forward kick off, spinning like a top.
A red-colored blur practically tore through the finish line, mere split seconds before the second best, her arms spreading to the side in order to perform an impressive acrobatic leap and quickly come to a stop.
"Heh, how's that for speed! Cheap tricks like that don't work on me!" They didn't work anymore to be exact, seeing as how her master had taken up beating her with all kinds of unorthodox methods in order to teach her to adapt and overcome. The Wind Dragon's Pillar was one of the hardest for her to learn, it required focus, control and not expending the greatest amount of strength possible. It was foreign to her, but that was precisely why she had tried so hard to learn it. Where most S-ranked monsters were excellent at one thing, she was much better rounded now. Nowhere near her sister's level, but she should be able to at least give her a proper fight. Or would, were Moka not growing stronger and better with every fight, every time she was released.
The other contests went in a much similar way. The white team would win initially, but the red team's kyonshii would use a large amount of explosives and other various sneaky tricks to ensure their victory, even if many white team members were able to win even then. Still, it wasn't looking good for Tsukune and his friends.
That's when things took a sudden turn. The Mothers had come. Not just mothers, but The Mothers. Shirayuki Tsurara, Mizore's mother and spy fanatic. Kurono Ageha, Kurumu's mother and possibly one of the strogest succubi alive. Sendou Fujiko, Yukari's mother and extremely powerful materialization-specialist witch.
And they were not pleased. Their beloved daughters, loosing to a bunch of walking corpses with an overabundance of explosives? Unacceptable!
So, they took charge of things.
Tsurara somehow managed to reveal a large sniper rifle, which she promptly placed on Tsukune's shoulder and fired away with lethal precision and undetectable bullets.
Ageha walked at the kyonshii and simply... asked them to loose on purpose. Her Charm was more than enough to turn them to putty at her hands.
Fujiko on the other hand was even sneakier. Using a single, simple straw voodoo puppet... she just brought the entire red team to its knees as they seemed to fall on the slightest stone.
But what about the rules? What happened to all these guidelines about proper conduct? Apparently, the Headmaster had been amused and decided to let it happen.
That or he might have been enjoying Ruby's handmade outfit far too much, not that he would be alone in that. Practically every male, and even more than a few females, were gawking or drooling-slash-nosebleeding at the witch's sight. She had chosen to wear a skin-tight bodysuit, long fishnet stockings, a white fluffy bunny tail and long bunny ears. It left a lot to the imagination but that didn't include how voluptuous and sensual her body was. Also, her various poses were more than a bit suggestive, almost drawing more attention to her than the festivities themselves.
She would refuse it if asked, but the witch definitely did enjoy being looked at like that. Now if only she could get Tsukune to look at her and take her to his room and bind her up and have his wicked ways with her...
But she still had her job as announcer to do, so she did as she had to and let the explosions go on. In the end, she called a break to prepare for the last competition.
Tsukune rubbed his head, trying to understand where it had all gone so horribly, horribly wrong. He had done his best to make the festival flow smoothly. Everything had been in place.
And then the Wongs came.
Then the bombs.
Why, why on earth, couldn't those two just leave him alone? It was frustrating!
So he had taken off for a walk through the woods to try and calm down. He wouldn't blow up on the Wongs, he had at least enough control over himself to not try to kill them for it, but he was still seriously annoyed.
"You should relax Tsukune-san, no one is blaming you for this..." Moka's calm voice came from behind him. She must have followed him. There was a bento box in her hands.
"I know. I know... It's just that it pisses me off! I worked so hard to promote peace throughout our school and these two people come and ruin it all! I would be impressed with their tenacity were I not so annoyed at them!" He ground out.
Moka giggled at him. He looked so cute when he was like that. "Well, at least we could share this bento. It's calm right now and that's better than nothing right? Besides, after this, they're going to leave us alone, right?"
"One can only hope Moka-san. One can only hope." But he accepted the bento.
He was almost at eating the first bite too when... a stampede of kyonshii trampled over him and Moka.
The poor meal was in tatters on the ground, smashed and crushed.
"M-my bento..." Moka whimpered. "T-the b-bento I made... t-the bento me and Ura-chan made..." Something inside the girl broke when she saw it ruined. Grabbing Tsukune's hand, she directed it at her chocker and pulled her Rosario off.
Meanwhile, the 'herd' of kyonshii had already taken place to engage the white team. Individually weaker, they had however great coordination with each other and numbered several times over than their still-living opponents.
"Go, my loyal pawns!" Cried Ling-Ling looking every bit as a war leader. "Crush our enemies completely and without a trace! Chaaarge!" She urged her minions and her younger brother, who was tasked with carrying her on his shoulders. He wasn't even allowed to complain she was heavy because, as she said she ate very little since she was, you know, already dead.
The red team charged the outnumbered white team and a war without compare broke out. Only a war that was centered around taking each other's hats rather than combat.
Then the fighting ceased as a tremendous youki fell on all combatants. Bats fluttered around and the entire world darkened.
"You..." Moka's voice was low and spiteful, her usual aristocratic tone having taken a frozen quality, barely masking her boiling fury. Needless to say, Kokoa was beyond happy at her onee-sama's awakening. "You dare challenge me?" Tsukune walked forward with Inner Moka on his shoulder. "You dare destroy that bento? The very bento me and Omote worked together to make? You have the audacity to do all that and still not know your place?" Now her cold veneer was gone and hate marred her usually stoic features.
Tsukune, and most boys there, would readily admit it made her no less sexy.
"I'll destroy you! Go, Tsukune!" She commanded and the boy broke off in a charge.
Seeing her chance, Ling-Ling commanded her brother to get ready as well, they would use the attack's opening, enlarged by the horde of corpses attacking the silver-haired one, in order to win a decisive victory. Poor Fan-Fan tried to disagree with his sister, he had heard much about the extremely powerful vampire and knew better than to directly oppose her, but his voice fell to deaf ears.
It became a massacre. Moka leapt from her perch on Tsukune's shoulders and instead balanced on them with her hands, spinning around like a top, her long legs lashing out at heads and hats alike. It was a testament to her extreme sense of balance that her own hat didn't even budge from its perch on her hair.
Poor Ling-Ling had only but a second to realize that the charge didn't leave any openings before a kick struck her head, ripped it off her body and tossed her hat away, all in one fell swoop.
It was only then that Ruby decided that enough is enough and called it a draw on grounds that everyone cheated too much. Not that this did anything to stop the fighting students; they had simply abandoned all illusions of sports or friendly competitions and simply broke out in an all-out fight.
At least until Tsukune himself had had enough of it. So, with a mighty roar and a burst of his youki, he silenced them. "ENOUGH! What are you all, kindergarten children? Have you no shame! You dare disgrace our school and yourselves with petty fights like that? You are all going to detention, I will personally ensure you are suitably punished for this. Now move!" He ordered them with blazing eyes and anger rolling off his body.
Ruby had actually almost had a minature orgasm at that moment, imagining him ordering her around like that, punishing her like the bad, bad girl she was...
"Ruby-san, would you kindly lead the children away?" The Headmaster interrupted with a smile, handing her a small napkin. "Also you are loosing blood and fluids, cover yourself." He pointed out, letting her realize she had been drooling with a nosebleed. The poor witch giggled emberassedly and quickly harried off.
Apologizing to the various parents that had come to see their children took time and a lot of work for Tsukune, though thankfully the Headmaster also helped him deal with it. He had to make sure to remove the stain from Youkai Gakuen's shame at having no control over its residents.
Amusingly enough, most didn't care about it all that much and simply chalked it all up to 'being teenagers, you can't expect them to act by the rules every time - let our children live freely a bit' and things like that. Truthfully, those few interested with keeping order and law didn't have anyone competing at that stage of the Festival, they had refused to join on grounds that it was too 'childish'.
Three days later, Tsukune finally managed to make time for a spar with Moka. Work had swamped him, mostly leftovers he had to deal with. They were nothing important, but they were so time-consuming and there were exams coming up, which meant that he had an increased workload from the teachers as well. Especially Kagome Liliko, that woman seemed to have it out for him, no doubt thanks to his little explosion at her when she threw things at Kurumu to wake the girl up.
At least the girls hadn't stopped their training with Moka, getting stronger and faster day by day. They even seemed closer together, though Inner Moka constantly refused to socialize with them, instead returning to her seal. It had annoyed Kurumu and Mizore, but they had come to accept Inner's choices, or social inability as it were. At least Outer Moka joined them in place of Inner.
So, when Tsukune finally managed to get to the Monster's Paradise, he was in for a big surprise. Surrounded by his friends was Gin, the werewolf.
A possessive part of him wanted the shapeshifter gone and away from his friends. He was a pervert, who knew what he would do to them?
Thankfully, he was able to quench that desire. "Gin-senpai, what are you doing here?" He asked curiously.
"Heh, I'm here ta kick your ass, Tsukune! Moka-chan asked me to help her beat you up!" He certainly seemed rather happy for it.
Moka however wasn't. "Stop with your rambling wolf. We are both to fight Tsukune, he needs to learn to deal with more than one opponents at a time."
Kurumu and Mizore glared at Moka while Yukari and Ruby looked worried. Kokoa however was mostly smirking for an unknown reason. As for Tsukune? He was not feeling very sure of himself. "A-Are you sure Moka-san? I mean you can beat me pretty soundly. Adding Gin-senpai to the mix... I can't possibly take on two S-class monsters at the same time, I doubt I'd ever have to face more than one at the same time anyway!"
The silver-haired vampire glared at him. He was still so naive. "Don't be so naive Tsukune. You have to learn to fight against an S-class monster. Against two S-class monsters. Against a dozen of them if need be." Despite assuring herself of her intention at only making him strong, she also knew deep down that she wanted him to beat a certain dozen S-class monsters. A ruling council. Rulers she wanted him to face, only for her, and beat them. Beat them and gain the right, the right to... "Now get ready, neither I nor Gin will hold back."
The fighting was brutal. True to her words, Moka threw everything she had at Tsukune and so did Gin. Faced with Moka's unstoppable speed and Gin's unbelivable speed, Tsukune was forced to defend only in an effort to save himself great physical harm.
Blocking and parrying, hopping back and ducking under, Tsukune was forced to his limits. He didn't even look at Gin, counting on his instincts to guide him through, his youki sensor telling him where everyone was much more accurately than his eyes could. Then, a chance. Gin overextended his blow, getting in Moka's way. That stopped their assault for an instant. It was all he needed. Tsukune's knee rose from the ground and connected solidly with Gin's gut, the full power of his vampiric blood behind it as he had been sure the werewolf would have dodged. Instead Gin was flung away like a rag doll.
Still, his combat high didn't relinquish its hold on Tsukune and he kept on fighting, despite Moka's stunned state. The vampiress didn't get the time to fight back as he leapt on her and brought her to the ground, pinning her hands over her head and straddling her waist.
Both panted wildly, having fought for several minutes. Moka's silver hair were spread out on the ground beneath her like silver threads. Her skin glistened with perspiration. Over her, leaning down towards her was Tsukune, his eyes a blood-red color and enlarged canines protruding a little bit. His shirt had been torn throughout the fight, revealing his muscled and scarred chest, an X-like scar just over his heart.
Leaning closer together was subconscious.
Wiggling weakly underneath him until it somehow felt comfortable under him was done without realization. Weak struggles to release his hold on her hands stopped at no conscious command.
Their breaths mingled together, so close they could smell each other clearly, even without their enhanced senses. Close enough for her to count the light stubble of his puberty. Close enough for him to loose himself ni her bright red, slitted eyes.
Just a few centimeters. So close.
So close to having it all.
So close, so close to Heaven...
Tsukune realized what he was doing, staring at her, at the pulsating veins beneath her skin, at the perfect, alabaster skin, at the magnetic eyes that seemed to swallow whole every bit of self-restraint he had. At that light, crimson flush on the silvered beauty's face, the look in her face that screamed of want and desire to him.
Pulling back from her was the single hardest thing he had ever done.
Regaining his conscious mind made him curse himself a hundred times over.
They both got up wordlessly, staring at each other, looking for something that only they could see. Moka was the first to turn her eyes away, trying to keep down her desires, her body's and heart's own urges. "You did well Tsukune. Admittedly, it was mostly to Gin's failure, but you were quick to capitalize on the opening. Well done." But there was nothing in her words about that feeling they had both been gripped with, as if they and only they mattered in the world. Mostly because she hoped that her Rosario's lullaby would let her sleep it off.
Tsukune however felt different. He had felt himself almost lose control, an undeniable want and lust had almost won him over.
He couldn't allow it to happen again. He wouldn't allow himself to loose his own sense of self into a petty physical desire. Not when it would invariably damn and curse his friends. Not when he was an impure half-man. "Moka-san... Maybe... maybe we should stop this? I... I mean I-"
"No!" She snapped back way too quickly for her liking, a hint of something breaking through her facade. "No, we're not stopping this. It... It's too early to stop, you're finally getting some adequate results. We have really only began to delve deep into the realm of true combat."
As the vampiress walked off and to the side, away to seal herself in peace, Kurumu followed her. The succubus was worried about her friend. She had seen several flashes of emotion on her face and none of them were what she had expected.
"Kurumu... What are you doing here? I believe I said I wanted to seal myself alone."
The succubus shrugged, piercing red eyes with her own violet ones. "I'm curious, that's all. Why are you so afraid Moka? What are you so afraid of Moka?" She asked, with all the bluntness of a mace. And yet with all the piercing grace of a lance.
"Wh-what? What are you talking about Kurumu?" Moka's anger flared to hide her surprise at the succubus' ability to read her. "I am afraid of nothing! Hear me? Nothing!"
Kurumu shrugged again, ignoring the other girl's rage. "You can't hide everything from me you know. I'm not book-smart, but I can definitely understand emotions and feelings when I see'em. Besides, don't you know, you have friends here. Share your burden with us, we're all with you, until the end." And before Moka had the chance to reply, she turned around, leaving her with only her thoughts and a few parting words. "You're not the only one worried about Tsukune you know." Then she was gone.
Moka shook with anger, disbelief and frustration. How dare she, how dare she talk her down like that! She was Akashiya Moka, she was a Super Vampire! She was afraid of no one! No one!
But you're not afraid of someone, but for someone... a part of her noted.
Moka scoffed and picked up the silver cross that was at the same time prison and sanctuary to her. With a sigh she placed it back onto the chocker on her neck.
Light flashed around her and she felt her power drain. The feeling of weightlessness embraced her...
Moka blinked as she looked around in the woods.
Nothing had changed.
She glanced down at her chest and saw the rosario. The seal was complete. But she wasn't sealed!
She broke off in a desperate run, hoping it was all a lie, that she had been sealed but instead her sealed space had transformed into a replica of the world around her.
It wasn't to be.
As soon as she broke into the clearing with everyone else, including a recovering Gin, looked at her. "Moka? What's wrong, weren't you going to seal yourself?"
Then Ruby, the most attentive of the group gasped. "Moka-san, your seal! It... has it broken?"
A new voice answered them. "It seems to be that way. Repeated unsealings and spending so long unsealed... they seemed to have worn the seal to the point where it doesn't function properly any more. If you release it again... it will probably be destroyed completely." Every head swerved to the talked, a chinese effeminate boy with white traditional clothing. "Looks like you were far too careless with such a sensitive seal Moka-san." Finished Fan-Fan.
Behind them the Headmaster sighed. "I had hoped it wouldn't have come to this, not for a long time at least. Seems my repairing of your seal, back with Hokuto's insurection, was incomplete. I cannot repair it as it is now. In all possibility, the one you speak of as 'Outer Moka'... is gone... for good."
"Moka-san... is gone?" Tsukune's horrified look wounded Moka far deeper than even her fear of loosing her 'sister'. And she didn't even want to know why.
A/N: Writing to you from the camp's Communication Center, hope I kept you entertained. Soon my fic will reach its crescendo where all your questions will be answered. By the way, I still don't get why I'm at the Com center... My 'specialty' as a soldier is supposed to be repairing firearms but, not only I'm prohibited from carrying weaponry on me (don't ask, it involves a week straight in camp with service day after day, alcohol and a bunch of idiots who thought I'm gay, not fun, or well, it was funny at first). Not to mention I haven't received any training. At least I... well... hijacked a laptop and took it to office with me. It's a 24 hour service so I need something to keep me occupied in this damned room (which I'm prohibited from even leaving for a piss) or I swear to god the next idiot who says it's the best job in the army, will be shot. Also, the next b*****d who starts a forest fire is getting my 'flame oil drip' torture special. Along with my 'burned skin asphynxiation' death sentence. Can you imagine how it feels to be 5 days straight in service and the day you manage to get permission to exit camp have a forest fire and promptly be forced back just to sit on the ground, looking at nothing and waiting for the possible off-chance that an alarm will sound and you will go to the fire just to look good for the camera crews?
My ramblings aside, at least I can write properly this time. Between having to run off to fight fires (or say that I fight fires or prepare to fight fires) and 26 hours of service per day (yes, somehow I actually managed that, don't ask please, my brain still hurts), I almost felt like entering a coma. Of course, then I just had to find a cool new game called Rusty Hearts. Little customization, lots of hack-n-slash, action rpg. If you ever play, look for Kinrou or Soulblazer, my two characters. Oh, I'm also in Dynasty Warriors Online as 1 as a Wu soldier if you ever meet me. These games are always better with more friends.
Moving on, I hope I have answered most questions here and didn't leave too many holes in my story. I know I'm going slow right now but it's more in preparation of the following chapters which will be the greatest changes in the fic. I know I've been sticking too much to canon but soon I'll be able to split off realistically. My fic will have my own ending, which I hope isn't ripped off.
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.