The Gates of Chaos

by AnimeMaster24

After Alucard's defeat, remnants of Fairy Tale join with rogue Angels and Devils to plunge the world back into chaos. Amidst the tragedy, Tsukune meets Issei Hyoudou, a boy with a harem of his own, who turns out to share more with him than they could imagine. Can these unlikely friends help each other sort out their feelings and protect the ones they love? TsukuneXHarem IsseiXHarem

3. Fox Fire and a Vampire

Chapter 3: Fox Fire and a Vampire

Disclaimer: I do not own Rosario + Vampire or High School DXD. This story is made purely for fun, not profit.

Kurumu looked away in disgust as she retracted her tail. A Succubus possessed the ability to pry into the minds of others, but being so new at using this power, she had never experienced the bone-chilling terror of peering into the dreams of someone truly evil. The blue-haired seductress had only done so for a minute or two, and was now regretting her choice to help in the Disciplinary Committee's investigations. Brought to her knees, she stood hyperventilating on the dungeon floor, taking a moment to fully gather her shattered nerves.

"I warned you not to do that, but you wouldn't listen." Ling-Ling folded her arms and leaned against a nearby wall, her expression smug yet subdued. "Why did you insist on involving yourself in the duties of this school?"

Haiji gave the buxom zombie a distasteful look, though for once he couldn't help but agree with her. "You're still a student. Leave the rough stuff to the alumni and enjoy what's left of your childhood, will ya? Ain't no getting it back once its gone!"

The succubus exhaled deeply before wiping the sweat from her brow, her normally cheerful demeanor lost in the moment. "You two really don't get it!" she bit back a scowl. "A lot of us are tired of leaving everything to Tsukune and Moka. "How can we let our friends carry the burden while we sit back and do nothing!?"

The Jiang Shi placed her hands together, hiding them in her overly long sleeves. "Perhaps I'm assuming too much, but have you ever tried to see things from a different perspective. No doubt your vampire friends are only trying to protect you."

"Don't screw with me! We fought as a team to defeat Fairy Tail last year, and I know for a fact that none of us would've survived if even one of us hadn't been there."

"You need not reiterate, or have you forgotten that I was also present?" Ling-Ling's gaze wandered off for a moment, as if she were seeing something that the others could not. "One such as I cannot help but understand their feelings." she began slowly. "I offered my services to the academy for the same reason. It was out of a desire to protect the person most important to me."

Ling-Ling stepped through the cell door, followed by Kurumu, the girls leaving the bird man behind to guard the prisoner. Freed Selzen sat unconscious on the stone floor of the academy dungeon, his limbs stiff and lifeless from sedation, and his wrists and ankles bound by thick iron shackles. They had also deprived him of his senses with a blindfold and gag, though the latter was only added when the villain's insane laughter and death threats had grown intolerable.

Their usual interrogation methods had proven quite useless, thus they had simply chosen to knock him out in order to attempt more evasive methods, though Kurumu was still inexperienced in the more advanced techniques of her species, and her attempts to pry into his thoughts had only met with failure. So far the only facts they had learned about the murderous exorcist were what little they were able to discern from his actions, and due to his status as a dangerous rogue, any previous affiliation with the Church had been severed.

"This particular incident has made my duties as a guardian all the more difficult. I daresay, we may have to resort to more unscrupulous methods."

"Yeah, but I'm out of ideas." As they traversed the dingy halls of the academy police barracks, Kurumu couldn't help but cringe. She quivered, wrapping her hands around her arms. "Damn, this place still gives me the creeps!"

Although the Jiang Shi had removed most of the tapestries and violent interrogation devices used by the old Public Safety Commission, the place still looked like a Japanese Shrine on the inside, and thus she couldn't help but remember the horrors that had occurred within these walls during their first year as Youkai Academy. Entering a large room below the dungeons, the Jiang Shi broke away from Kurumu and began rummaging through her robes, using a key to open one of the storage cabinets they had moved into what had previously been a torture chamber.

"Yo dead-girl... What are you looking for, now?"

Ling-Ling withdrew a sealed flask from one of the shelves before flicking the top open and giving the contents a swirl. "A little truth potion..." she answered.

"I thought that stuff was way too dangerous to use on an ordinary human."

"I'm surprised you knew that. I see you've been working like a good honors student... or am I mistaken, Miss Kuruno?"

"Don't sound too impressed. Yukari was the one who told me all about it." she shrugged off the back-handed compliment. "I know this exorcist freak has a dozen screws loose, but if we don't use the right dosage, that stuff could cause permanent brain damage."

Ling-Ling's expression suddenly became oddly serious. "So long as Fang-Fang chooses to support the goals of the academy, I'll do what I must in order to protect this school."

"All this time I thought you hung around the academy out of boredom. With you constantly popping off your head, it's always been hard to take you serious."

"It's perfectly understandable. I've played the role of a teasing older sister for quite some time, though my motivation for linger in this world as a corpse has always been the same."

Kurumu looked back at the zombie, noticing immediately that the smile she wore was genuine, not the goofy grin she usually projected while conversing with others. "You'd do anything for him, wouldn't you?"

"Just because I make light of my own death, does not mean I wish the same for my precious younger brother."

"And here I always thought you were serious about turning other people into an army of hopping zombies. Guess it's not all it's cracked up to be, huh?" the Succubus shrugged nonchalantly.

To her surprise, the older woman's smile softened to reveal a glimmer of sorrow. "Don't tell anyone this, but existence as a Jiang-Shi is depressing at its best and empty at its worst. hence why I try to have a sense of humor about it."

"Really!? Not sure I believe that, seeing how you can't go five minutes without making some stupid joke about being dead. I was under the impression you lived a pretty normal life otherwise."

The Chinese corpse extended her right arm outwards, her stiff fingers uncurling slowly to reveal the palm of her hand. "Granted I can move rather well in comparison to my brethren, but the lack of sensation from heat or cold and the effort it takes to produce natural movement is a constant reminder that I am no longer alive. My life, if you can call it that, is far from ideal."

"So all those times you started acting goofy were for show?"

"Fang-Fang and were very close as children. It is the reason my great-great-grandfather sought to resurrect me..." She began, looking suddenly distant.

---

Flashback...

In China existed a clan of monsters known as the Huang Family, led by the ultimate fighting duo of Fei-Hong and Ten-Ten. The latter two were touted as the Romeo and Juliet of the Chinese Underworld, both legendary fighters hailing from rival mafias, yet by some stroke of fate had fallen in love and married. Nevertheless, the powerful alliance formed by their union was nothing compared to the might of their founder, Touhou Fuhai, touted as one of the greatest sorcerers in history, and one of the Three Great Dark Lords who in ancient times, defeated the Shinso Vampire Alucard.

Due to their status as a wealthy crime syndicate, the family owned a large estate consisting of several large buildings, some constructed in the more traditional style of their country, others bore a resemblance to modern architecture. On the observation deck of one of the towers was the eldest daughter of the Huang Family head, gently seated atop a wheelchair. While only seventeen years of age, her face was strangely pale, an unnatural redness tinting her cheeks. Lines under her eyes gave off the impression that she had not slept in several days, and yet she seemed quite content just staring into the sunset.

The fading light cast a pale orange glow in the evening dusk, blanketing the lands below with a photogenic hue the likes of which could be seen on the twilight of a beautiful day. Ling-Ling inclined her head calmly, having long accepted her eventual fate. She had been terminally ill for months without end. It was something that the doctors had been unable to treat, even by magical means. The previous year she had been exposed to a series of religious talismans and her body had slowly broken down, causing fatigue, bouts of intense pain, and even periods when she was unable to move.

"Big sister... Big sister!" an excited voice called out from behind her. A six-year old Fang-Fang suddenly appeared beside her, his smile wide and innocent. "It's almost time to head to the New Years Eve Celebration. Are you ready?"

Tonight was an evening of festivities in her country, the bright lights from the nearby town and her clothing reflecting the event. With some effort she had donned her festival clothing earlier, her outfit consisting of a short-sleeved, green Chinese dress with teal flower patterns running across the right breast and a bright silver lining. Her hair was tied in twin tails with a golden ornament in the center of her hair, the ensemble complete with a decorative sky blue sash tied loosely around her waist.

The female Yasha gently rested her hand on his tiny shoulder, the corners of her mouth dropping ever-so-slightly in regret. "Couldn't you ask father to take you, instead?" While she was rarely at a loss for words, the elder sibling could not begin to describe the pain in her heart. "I've been feeling very tired, lately."

"But you promised, Ling-Ling! Last year you said you we could go together, just the two of us!"

She suddenly felt sick to her stomach, but the cause of it was not her brother. Being so young, her family had chosen to hide the details of her accident from the Huang Family Heir, passing it off as an ordinary sickness rather than the results of a violent encounter with Chinese Exorcists hired by the Miao Family. Likewise she had done her best to continue living as she always had, though the results of the incident had left her unable to wander too far from the estate.

Ling-Ling had taken this time to spend as much time with her brother as possible teaching him different games in the garden when she was able, telling him exciting stories passed down through their clan, and playing checkers even on days when the fatal condition rendered her unable to move properly. It had been a more peaceful life than she was used to as a member of the Chinese Mafia, and yet this time had been some of the most cherished in her life. Knowing that it was slowly coming to an end saddened her immensely, but not nearly as much as the thought of leaving behind the person most important to her.

"Big sister?" he suddenly asked, causing her chest to tighten in anticipation.

The young woman glanced down at him, the pleading glimmer in his eyes causing her to regret doing so. "I'm not one to break a promise, and I don't intend to start now." She suddenly smiled, earning one from her brother as well.

"This'll be great, big sister. Can we eat all the food and watch the fireworks, together!?"

Unable to resist his innocent happiness, she found herself indulging in it too. "We can do whatever you want. So long as mom and dad don't find out about it." He glanced up at her with a puzzled look. "Don't want them spoiling the fun, do we?" she added quickly, placing a finger to her lip.

Managing to spin her wheelchair around with some effort, the ill gangstress began wheeling her way back into the house, Fang-Fang following eagerly behind. While her brother began talking about all of the fun they could have, Ling-Ling nodded in return, occasionally adding in a smile or an appropriate reply when necessary. It did her heart good to see him so excited, but despite her apparent contentment, she found herself considering the situation more deeply. Her parents would never have approved of them leaving without an escort, and despite her best efforts, she could not bring herself to deny his innocent desires.

By the time they arrived in town, the sun had yet to fully slip beneath the horizon, leaving them a little time to play games and get something to eat before the fireworks show that was to be held. It was a crisp evening, refreshing yet not cold, the perfect night for a good festival. The town was beautifully decorated with glowing paper lanterns and strings of bright lights lined the edges of the square's archaic rooftops. It was a sight to behold, and the atmosphere was perfect with merchants peddling their wares from colorful stalls and people dressed like dancing dragons. Even these small locales could hold wonderful celebrations.

As she admired the festivities, a familiar tug of her sleeve caught her attention. "Can I buy some dumplings from that stand?"

"We can do whatever you want, tonight." she repeated her earlier sentiment, tossing him a coin from her pocket. She struggled to keep up with his youthful pace, her wheelchair making it difficult to navigate through the crowds. "Slow down a little, I don't want you getting lost."

When her brother did not, she heaved a small sigh and continued following at her own pace. Her arms were feeling weaker than usual, and her legs were unable to move, making her question whether or not she was right to agree to his request.

Seconds later, he returned, extending a small package to his elder. "Here you go?"

"For me? You shouldn't have." She accepted the food, giving his hair a playful ruffle before pulling him in for a one-armed hug.

"The man said I could have an extra for you!" he added cheerfully. Fang-Fang accidentally dropped one of his own, but he quickly broke free, the lack of strength in his sister's arm igniting a spark of curiosity in the child. "I'll never get stronger if you go easy on me."

"Like I would ever do that! After all, we wouldn't want to let the future head of the family grow up a weakling."

Fang-Fang had always admired his older siblings fighting skills since he was old enough to know the difference, even if their parents were still scarier. "Aw, I'll never be a strong as big sis." he began proudly.

"I'm certain you'll be the strongest in the Huang Family when you grow up. No lies." She hugged him again, this time exerting more force to mask her growing vulnerability. Using their closeness to her advantage, she began playfully tickling his neck.

"That wasn't fair, Ling-Ling. You caught me off guard!" he whined, earning a smirk from the older woman.

"Now, if you keep thinking like that, you might not live long enough to be the Huang Family Head." she added with a knowing grin, her expression darkening moments later. "In a real fight you have to be willing to do anything to win... Pulling weapons, gouging eyes, striking blindly, performing sneak attacks. It's all fine so long as you're the one who comes out alive."

The young boy glanced up at his sister, his smile shifting into an innocent frown. "Why do you always say that?"

"One day, you'll understand what I mean." she answered calmly. The young woman relaxed her shoulders and placed her hands in her lap, but a moment a sharp pain coursed through her body, causing her fingertips to dig into her knees. She let stifled grunt escape her mouth, but quickly worked to conceal the moment of discomfort from her brother.

"Are you okay, big sister?" he asked with a worried frown.

Ling-Ling smiled warmly, gently wrapping her hand around his own. "Look... It's starting!" she gently turned him around towards the open skies, the loud pop of exploding fireworks causing him to forget his sister's discomfort.

Brother and sister sat together gazing into the skies, their eyes alive with wonder as the brilliant colors lit the nighttime sky. It was a breathtaking sight to behold, with the glass-like pond below reflecting the celestial wonders like a giant mirror. Sitting here with Fang-Fang put her mind at ease, and lost in the midst of the colorful explosions, she barely noticed that same pain from before had begun to spread throughout her entire body, Rather than focus on that, she diverted her attention to the beautiful display.

The show continued uninterrupted for several minutes, her eyes occasionally diverting from the sky to watch the looks of awe and wonder of her fellow watchers. She couldn't help but pause to smile at the sight of families and friends gathered together as the finale began showering the night with several quickly timed sparkles. Seeing the same beauty reflected in her brother's large eyes was the very thing she had hoped for, laying to rest her doubts about coming out tonight.

She exhaled deeply as a strange sensation touched her heart, penetrating so deeply that she couldn't help but succumb to her earlier weariness. Ling-Ling decided to close her eyes for just a moment so that she could rest before returning home. A gentle smile gracing her lips. It would just be a quick rest, she thought. Thinking that she would not have traded this moment for anything else in the world, the female Yasha let her head droop downwards into her lap, looking unusually peaceful. As the last explosion faded from the skies, her grip on her brother's hand slacked, her pale fingers dangling loosely across the arm of her wheelchair.

"Wasn't that awesome, big sister?" the young boy tugged on her sleeve, only to receive no response from the wheelchair-bound girl. Despite his repeated attempts to get her attention, she did not move. "C'mon Ling-Ling, wake up..."

The young Fang-Fang gave his sister's arm a shake, but still she would not move. As the child of the Chinese Mafia, he had been taught to understand the notion of death, and yet he had not been prepared for this moment. Grandfather said to him that those who passed on would simply lay limp and motionless as if they had gone to sleep forever, and would eventually disappear into the Earth, and yet he had never given it much thought up until now. A familiar warm sensation ran down his face, quickly followed by another, until his face was stained with tears.

"Big sister, please wake up!" he cried out hysterically, shaking her arm with all the might his tiny body could muster. "Please! Father and mother will be worried if we don't return home, soon!" he pleaded between sniffles, his cries steadily growing louder. "You can't go! You can't leave me all alone!" he screamed, causing several passersby to face him.

Glancing around and confused as to what to do, the boy embraced his sister's immobile form, causing her wheelchair to slide back into a nearby man. The stranger gave him a look of minor irritation before walking away, seemingly unaware of what had happened to them. Stumbling back to his tiny feet, the child began running in search of help, but a sudden weariness overcame him, causing him to lurch forward mid-step and into the arms of a tall, cloaked figure.

"Sleep, child..." The newcomer gently lifted the child over his shoulder his hood shifting in the direction of the elder sister's body.

Slowly, he removed his head covering, revealing a handsome young face with glasses and strangely pointed ears, a long river of midnight black hair flowing down his shoulders. Despite his striking appearance, it mattered little, for the crowd of passing humans could only see what he wanted them to. Such was the power of one who had mastered the art of Youjutsu to such an extent. Upon reaching Ling-Ling's prone form, he placed a hand on her heart, resting his palm on her face before concluding what was already obvious to the child... She was gone...

Touhou Fuhai had lived many centuries, yet he was not cold to the cries of a child nor the bonds between family, especially when they were his own great-great-grandchildren. Grasping the handle of the wheelchair in his opposite hand, he chanted a quiet incantation, causing the trio to disappear from the square like a shifting shadow.

---

Weeks later, the young boy had still not recovered from the incident at the festival, and yet his parents had said nothing on the topic, most likely out of understanding for the child's plight. Even his mother, who was normally quite aggressive and bold, had deviated from her normal behavior in an attempt to comfort her son. Naturally neither she not her husband blamed Fang-Fang for what had happened, and yet for some reason, he could not help but feel a deep sense of burning guilt for what had happened that night.

Young as he was, the future heir of the Huang Family knew that his sister had not wanted to leave the estate, and wondered if she would still be alive had they remained home that night. After the funeral he had spent every night sleeping in her bed, his afternoons walking the grounds were they used to play.

As he lay facedown on the bed, the sound of distant footsteps reached his ears. Too light to be his father, and too heavy for those of his graceful martial artist mother. Looking up from the pillow, the young boy caught sight of a female figure standing in the doorway. The visitor was garbed in a flowing black robe with dark shoes, and long billowing sleeves that revealed her fingertips. She wore a flat cylindrical hat topped with a single bell, the shadow of the brim covered her face.

Fang-Fang opened his mouth to scream at the sight of the shadowy visitor, but the hauntingly familiar feel of a hand grasping his shoulder froze the scream in his throat, the light over the bed revealing the same face that had long been burned into his memory. The boy wiped his eyes in disbelief as he was pulled into the woman's familiar embrace.

"Big sister..." he began softly, unable to put his feelings into words.

Ling-Ling drew back slowly, her face bearing the same smile she wore that fated night in town. "I'll always be here, Fang-Fang. You won't lose me, again." Reaching up, the resurrected woman popped off her head, causing her brother to scream in surprise. She let out a gentle laugh before replacing her disembodied cranium. "After all, I'm already dead..."

---

End Flashback...

Kurumu let out a held breath as the zombie finished her story, looking conflicted as to how she should respond. The tale had been sad and sweet, and yet towards the end she had discovered the origin of the older woman's head trick. Needless to say, it was a rather sad tale to hear.

At last, the Succubus found her voice. "Wow, I never would've known..." she pondered the past again before shaking her head. "Did you really traumatize the poor kid when he was still grieving?"

"It was my way of showing him the truth. No doubt he thought I was still alive, so I had to set him straight. Sometimes its easier to show kids then it is to tell them."

"If your life's really been this hard, why didn't you ever tell us before?"

"I saw no reason to speak of it, especially in front of my dear brother. He experienced quite a bit of loss at such a young age, and it would have been cruel to remind him while he was enjoying the company of his close friends."

"Guess that makes sense... But why are you telling me all of a sudden?"

"You've proven yourself to be an understanding and trustworthy individual, despite what appearances may apply."

Kurumu blinked before registering what was said. "Wait, what's the supposed to mean!?"

The Jiang Shi looked amused by her reaction, though her air of seriousness had not fully dissipated. "It means I've begun to see a little of myself in you. as of late, I've begun to see you children as more than just Fang-Fang's schoolmates."

"You mean after all this time, you're only just now thinking of us as your friends?"

"You seem surprised... ... ... It's not as easy for the dead to establish meaningful relationships with those of whom they were not acquainted with before dying. I'm almost as surprised about this as you are, albeit for different reasons."

The blue-haired teenager considered her words, realizing now how little she knew about Fang-Fang's older sister or even Jiang Shi in general. Thinking about it herself helped her understand the dead woman's perspective a little better, though one more thing came to mind amidst this train of thought.

"Wait!" she spoke up suddenly. "You said you understood how I felt, earlier. What did you mean by that?"

Her host looked pleased that the purpose of her story had come back to light. "We Jiang-Shi are bound to those who are still alive, yet unable to experience that which we once knew. Thus we fill our empty existences by serving others. To someone such as I, it is a strong desire to protect my brother that guides me."

"Just like how Tsukune wants to handle the burden alone." she deduced slowly, earning a nod from the older woman. "He really doesn't want to endanger us."

Ling-Ling inclined her head like a wise old monk. "Good to see there's a brain amidst all that fatty tissue." she pointed below the neck, ignoring the other girl's grimace. "I can understand the desires of your friends all too well... It's because I feel the same way that they do."

As surprised as she was to learn more about the Jiang Shi's past, the succubus suddenly froze in anticipation. She felt the presence of several unseen entities closing in around them, their suspicions confirmed by a tapping noise that sounded like a hundred little feet drumming on the stone walls. The atmosphere was similar to that of being watched by a stalker, though much worse. Kurumu exchanged silent glances with her zombie companion, the two hesitating for a moment before lashing out at the empty space around them. A loud screech filled her ears as the succubus's claws penetrated invisible flesh, causing green fluid to spew all over her shirt.

Their attacker's camouflage peeling away to reveal a snake-sized centipede. "Ewwww, gross!" She withdraw her claws, shaking her hands as if to rid herself of its foul blood.

Ling-Ling's expression remained impassive as she seized the neck of her own bug and crushed its throat. "Truly nauseating, but ineffective..." Reaching over her shoulder, she removed a second one from her back, tossing it on the floor and stepping on its head with a sharp-heeled boot. "And here I thought they would have gone with something more original."

"Did I miss something!? Would you mind telling me what's going on!?"

"Poisonous insect Youkai." the zombie stated calmly. "Their fangs release a powerful toxin that paralyzes the victim, though the affliction can result in death if not treated soon enough."

Kurumu slashed bother her hands in an cross pattern, reducing another creature to oozing chunks of flesh. "Hmmm... invisible monsters made for assassination. So it's the same trick Fairy Tail tried with Tsukune and Moka's father?"

"More or less... Though this particular species is more common, and less harmful due to its weaker poison. The one killed by Master Shuzen was far more toxic, and its venom known for resulting in an instant kill. It's like comparing an average handgun to a combat rifle."

"Look out!" Kurumu pushed the stiff-limbed woman onto the floor mid-sentence as a blast of fire soared overhead, barely missing them as it incinerated the room's furnishings.

Several Jiang Shi hobbled into the room from the direction of the blast, their bodies cloaked in fire as their flesh burned away, the sight and smell gruesome to behold for the room's sole living occupant. Kurumu was reminded of the things she had witnessed in the floating garden, such as the vampires infused with Alucard's flesh, and those enslaved by Gyokoro Shuzen. Her eyes widened as another column of fire shot through the nearby wall, but Ling-Ling bounced back up and scattered the attack with a simple swing of her hand.

"Your skills in the art of Youjutsu are most impressive for someone who is dead." an arrogant voice rang out.

"As would be expected from the number one student of Touhou Fuhai." Ling-Ling gestured to herself with a confident leer. She pat the dust from her coat with a look of disdain, calmly stepping between her companion and enemy. "Of course, I don't appreciate being attacked while bearing my soul to a cherished friend."

The wall of fire covering the opposite wall died down somewhat, allowing the person controlling it to emerge. Standing tall and proud, the previous head of the Public Safety Commission eyed the damage with minimal interest, his long blonde hair fluttering amidst the ever-flickering flames. The sight of Fairy Tail's Division Commander made Kurumu's stomach lurch, her eyes burning with a deep-seated hatred that would have slain him if looks could kill. Seeing their attacker standing in the same room where he had once mercilessly burned the body of her destined one was too much to handle.

Kuyou let out a dry chortle as he noticed the familiar succubus. "Forgive my rudeness in ruining the decor, but I'm not so fond of the alterations you've made to my former headquarters."

"Why are you here, jerk!? I heard Tsukune kicked your ass during your fight on that flying piece of crap last semester!"

"That irksome boy was far too weak to kill me, or perhaps you merely hoped I was vanquished."

"If you're here, it's obvious Fairy Tale is somehow involved." The female Jiang-Shi discerned, earning a glare from the enemy. She folded her long-sleeved arms, gently cocking her head to the side as if they were discussing the matter over dinner. "Why don't you save some time and tell me what you came for?"

"Maybe I was simply feeling nostalgic..." the fox Youkai summoned a flame to the palm of his hand, tossing it into the air above their heads. The fireball exploded into a flash of bright yellow sparkles, which blinded his victims for a second before growing into a towering inferno that engulfed both unsuspecting girls in its blaze. "It would appear that I am the winner."

"Not really..." Ling-Ling suddenly appeared behind him, her hand plunging through the kitsune's mid-section like knife.

Kuyou doubled over for a moment, his eyes widening with a mingled look of anger and surprise. The zombie woman mockingly waved goodbye with her opposite hand, but the body she held exploded into a flurry of blue flames, which turned and engulfed her body in a spectacular display on par with even the most fantastic fireworks show. Ling-Ling repelled the explosion by creating an aura of monster energy around her body, surviving the enemy's assault through her mastery of her great-great-grandfather's techniques.

"There aren't many of your kind left who can use the art of illusion. It's become rare as a vampire's ability to change into animal forms."

"I find it more intriguing that a mere zombie could force me to resort to that ancient power, especially when I developed it in order to slay that accursed Tsukune Aono!" He retorted, his eyes narrowing menacingly. "And here I thought you both dead from my first attack."

Without warning, Kurumu blindsided the fox with a series of rapid claw attacks, her stroke gouging the monster's left eye. "All you attacked was one of my illusions, stupid... Your species isn't the only one capable of messing with people's senses!"

"Asking for an early demise, are you, succubus!?" he screamed, his voice deepening ominously.

The man bent over, his hands curling to reveal vicious claws, and several familiar tails extending from his posterior. The kitsune's wicked smile distorted into a sharp toothed grimace as a snout took the place of his human face, his eyes stretching into slanted pupils. Kurumu darted away at full speed, her wings beating with excessive force to avoid the walls of fire that had come close to engulfing her entire body.

"It appears I may have no choice but to get serious." the bestial monster gnashed his jaws in a feral manner at odds with his gentlemanly countenance. "And here I was hoping to save my full power for those blasted vampires!"

"I've seen your full power before, and this sure in Hell wasn't it!" Kurumu shot back, trying to hide that growing sense of fear that had begun to nest in her bosom. Much to her horror, a healing flame had began to engulf the injuries she inflicted on the fox demon's face, causing his wounds to sear shut in the intense heat. "Damn it, I should've expected that after last time!"

"Face it, little girl... You're helpless without Moka Akashiya!" he took a step towards her. Taking a deep breath, Kuyou opened his mouth and expelled a mighty gout of red fire.

"Jigen-tou!" Ling-Ling spoke out, using her dimensional sword movement to nullify the superheated flames while sparing the succubus from harm.

The fox began flailing his tails, blindly launching more fireballs in a rapid flurry reminiscent of Machine-gun fire, but Kurumu's newly acquired speed allowed her to avoid being hit even once, while the Jiang Shi remained protected by her advanced magic. Ling-Ling appeared rather bored as she gently swayed from side-to-side, occasionally raising a hand to sweep aside the fiery projectiles that came closer to her body. As the girls rounded on their attacker, he could only laugh at their plight, his deep growling voice echoing off the stone walls of the basement.

"What's the matter? all that big talk and you can't beat us?" the succubus goaded him, her previous confidence returning.

"Tempting as that sounds, I don't need to kill you... This burning building should be enough to handle that for me." He chuckled dryly when they noticed the flame-lit ceiling. "Eheheheh, I was controlling my attacks before, but decided that my old headquarters would make a lovely tomb with its wooden walls and flammable rooftop."

Kurumu glanced at the Jiang Shi nervously. "I'm betting bird boy could handle these flames no problem. Where's that moron, Haiji, when you need him!?"

Ling-Ling's usual composure slipped, ever-so-slightly. "True, I haven't seen him since we left him to guard the cell."

"I'm afraid your friend may have problems of his own to attend to." he paused, glancing over his shoulder as if he had sensed something, whatever it was bringing a truly sadistic expression to his face. "However, it appears I don't have to play games with you any longer... Farewell..."

Kuyou raised his several tails in a scorpion-like stance, a large orb of strange yellow fire materializing in the center. The girls braced themselves as he released the inferno, but instead of hurl the fiery projectile at them, he caused it to expand, the flames bursting to release a black smog which quickly covered the room. Kurumu gasped in horror as the substance reached her nose, coughing violently before falling to her knees. Whatever it was made her insides feel like they were burning.

She retched violently, coughing up a familiar taste which she knew as her own blood. "What... Is this crap!?" she wheezed between coughs.

"It appears to be a toxin produced by his mystic flames... This is a power rare even among his kind." A familiar voice spoke from over her shoulder. Ling-Ling calmly stepped past the younger girl, repelling the noxious fumes with a barrier. "Though, it would appear he only meant to use it as a smokescreen to cover his escape."

Kurumu regained her bearings. "Yeah, not to mention he filled the place with poison leaving us to die in the basement of a burning building!"

"I'm confident we won't die here, and luckily enough, my Jiang Shi servants lack individuality and are easily replaceable. Though, I fear Mr. Miyamoto may not have been so lucky."

"The guy may be a creep, but he's still not a bad guy. We have to find him and get out of here!"

"Leave it to me..." Seeing that she was about to protect, the zombie woman cut her off. "I don't need to breath, and my corpse is unaffected by smoke inhalation. You need not worry about me. Get to safety while I search for survivors."

The succubus responded with a confident grin. "Nope, not gonna happen. I'm with you all the way. I already told you..." Just then, a burning plank fell from above their heads, but the blue-haired seductress unsheathed her claws, reducing the rubble to harmless shreds with a quick motions of her wrists. "There's nothing you can say that can keep me from helping my friends when they need me!"

Ling-Ling blinked in surprise, her face betraying signs of pleasant amusement. "It's been a while since I've had someone else call me a friend."

As the two ran for the stairs, Kurumu suddenly remembered something even more important. "Wait! Someone needs to go to the academy for help! Ruby and the others need to know what happened down here!"

The zombie girl bounced past her with a series of super-fast hops. "My personal messenger is already heading there right now!" She called back, prompting the other girl to use her wings just to keep pace. "Just focus on finding survivors!"

---

Meanwhile...

Tsukune inhaled sharply as he felt the burning sensation hit him again, gently placing a hand over the spot on his face where he had been touched by holy water. He grit his teeth while waiting for the throbbing to subside, exhaling his held breath moments later. The agony had begun to subside in the hours following his battle with the mad exorcist, but the pain left behind was still akin to that of a nasty burn.

While the others were forced to attend class, Ruby had personally taken it upon herself to tend to his wounds. So far her medicinal treatment had been successful in reversing the purifying affects of the holy relics, allowing his body's natural regenerative abilities to finish the job. All that remained was the scorched red flesh left behind by the blessed water, but there was little she could do for the marks except to let them heal naturally. She had instead opted to keep an eye on his condition while finishing up some office work, leaving him resting on the couch in her office.

Shifting uneasily in his seat, he slowly removed an ice pack from his face. "So, did you manage to get rid of those things Yukari confiscated from that priest?"

"Unfortunately, no." she answered uneasily. "I wish we could rid the campus of them, but this isn't my area of expertise. Since monsters typically avoid contact with holy objects altogether, only incredibly powerful ayashi have been known to dabble in the handling and usage of such dangerous relics."

"That's news to me... I was under the impression that monsters simply couldn't touch holy relics."

"There are exceptions to this rule. Very powerful monsters have been known to craft holy objects to satisfy their own needs and purposes. Admittedly, divine power can be quite useful to us, even though it is harmful when directly exposed to monster energy. I'm certain you knew most of this already."

"No better teacher than experience, am I right?" he forced a smile at this, earning one from his friend in return. The memory of their fight with the mad exorcist still ate away at the corner of his mind, especially seeing his friends cut down by the light-based weapons.

Ruby placed a supportive hand on his slightly shaking arm, giving it a gentle squeeze to garner his attention. "Like I said, any power can be used for good or evil. It all depends on the person wielding it. Creatures such as the Three Dark Lords possessed the knowledge to forge religious relics, and they did so with the best of intentions."

Tsukune sat up a little straighter, quietly going over Moka's lecture on vampire weaknesses in his mind. Fresh water, religious symbols, and light-based weapons were dangerous to their kind, while garlic was unpleasant when exposed to a vampire's sense of smell or taste. Thankfully, the Shinso blood made most of these weaknesses less dangerous or simply ineffective. Surprisingly it still took him a moment to make the connection with what Ruby had been saying, even though the most obvious example had dangled from his girlfriend's neck for years.

"Like the force field that protects Youkai Academy and the Rosario that used to seal Moka's inner personality!" he deduced, earning a curt nod from the elder witch.

"The Great Barrier was erected by Chairman Mikogami to hide and protect this domain from outsiders who might wish to do us harm. Regardless of its purpose, none of it would have been possible without the use of very specialized holy relics."

Although Tsukune had already been aware of the barrier's power, he remained confused by this small revelation. "Back when Hokuto tried to destroy it, we restored the barrier using our own monster energy. Why didn't the Headmaster use his own magic as the original source of power if it can be maintained by monster energy?"

The witch raised a finger, looking quite in her element as she lectured her junior. "What you say may be true, but the Rosario of Judgment that he wore around his neck served not only as a personal talisman, but also as a key to the barrier. While the magic is what concealed the school from outsiders, it was the Chairman's rosary that prevented monster energy from leaking out. In this respect, the barrier's nature was both demonic and holy."

"So it filtered out the monster energy from the students in staff to prevent it from adversely affecting the human world?"

"Precisely... In a way, the concept is not so different from Moka's old Rosario, or the wristband you wear to retain a human appearance. Since divine energy is a conflicting force, it adversely affects even S-Class creatures like vampires."

Tsukune glanced at the small piece of jewelry he wore, cringing as he imagined it burning his body to cinders. "Then why can I touch this without getting hurt by the power inside."

"As I stated before; among monsters, only an expert can handle and forge objects with holy energy. Mikogami was a true master as were the other Dark Lords, thus they were able to make very unique items that would only suppress monster energy rather than purify it."

The future headmaster exhaled, calmly sorting out the details. "So, if God is real, does that mean that beings like monsters are inherently evil?" he grit his teeth at the idea, earning a concerned frown from the witch. "And how on Earth does can a maniac like that exorcist wield holy tools when he's anything but devout?"

Ruby sat down behind her desk, taking a sip of tea from her steaming china cup. She swallowed with a thoughtful expression. "Just because light and dark are considered to be opposing forces, does not necessarily mean that one is good and the other is evil. Overall, it is up to the wielder of either to decide what they wish to use that power for."

"So it's like you said before? I mean... That part about using power for different purposes."

"Precisely so." she replied with a light-hearted smile, gently setting her cup on its saucer.

Tsukune found himself staring at the older woman with intrigue, wondering to himself how this beautiful and intelligent witch and his perverted friend who constantly begged for masochistic treatment could possibly be one and the same. Perhaps he hadn't noticed this calmer and more dignified side of her before due to their lack of time spent together, and yet the past school year had been rather enlightening for him in seeing her like this.

Due to his role as the future head of Youkai Academy and hers as the temporary Headmistress, they had spent quite a bit of time alone while discussing school business in preparation. Of course, the experience had shown him a different side to her. It was no secret that having all of the girls together in one place brought out their most aggressive, and arguably perverted tendencies. It made him wonder if he would have fallen in love with any of the others if he had never met Moka.

Realizing that he was staring at her, the witch met his eyes, prompting them both to look away embarrassedly. "Well in any case, it looks like you should be getting back to class! Am I right?"

"Wait! Wasn't I supposed to have a lesson with Moka's father, today?"

"Oh, you didn't know? I thought we already discussed this." Ruby asked in surprise, earning a questioning look from her friend. "Master Shuzen is away on business to attend to some important matters. At the very least, he won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."

"Really!? Where'd he run off too at a time like this?"

The older woman's expression shifted to one of concern, although lately she couldn't help but empathize with Tsukune. She was used to being kept in the loop on private matters by Tenmei Mikogami, though despite her promotion, it felt as if she knew even less than before. With a higher position Ruby had discovered that there were more secrets hidden behind the scenes, many of which she were not allowed to know, and even more that she was not permitted to share with her friends. It was most frustrating at times.

Ruby took another sip of her drink, but her mannerisms remained stiff and uncertain. "I honestly don't have any clue where he is."

The younger man scratched the back of his head with a relaxed half-smile. "And here I thought the Headmistress was supposed to know all the school's secrets."

"Normally that would be the case, but Lord Nurari hasn't given me all of this information. My position is temporary and purely administrative, so it's understandable why he doesn't see the need to treat me as he did Mikogami. Naturally, I am not privy to all of his secrets."

Tsukune considered for a second before making his deduction known. "So Moka's father is doing some kind of business for him?"

"Other than that, I have very little information. Master Shuzen told me he would be away for a few days on a trip on behalf of his employer. I imagine it must be something important, since he left immediately by means of teleportation magic. While I attempted to coax information from the Bus Driver, he remained adamant in his silence."

"I suppose that makes sense... That creepy Bus Driver never really was the explain everything beforehand. Not to mention he seems to find everything amusing. If he didn't spend so much time speaking in riddles, I might never have gotten on the bus to begin with."

"He was the Monster King, even if that title has been long forgotten by most. I feel we should respect his decisions."

"Well its not like he gave us a choice this time." Tsukune stood up, retrieving a stack of textbooks from the nearby chair. Despite finding the load cumbersome in the past, his vampire strength had many more benefits that he hadn't foreseen, many of which were minor but very convenient. He turned to the door waving a hand over his shoulder. "I'll see you after school at the newspaper club, okay?"

Ruby gushed at the thought, but her reverie was soon shattered by cruel reality. "I'd love to, but I can't." she began. "There are several more transfer documents the administration wants me to review. Not to mention I have to fill out some reports about yesterday's emergency, including a letter to the parents of the assaulted students, and arrangements for the deceased."

The Shinso vampire fell silent as he remembered the deeds of the mad exorcist. While he had not seen the bodies personally, Ling-Ling chose to describe the carnage in an uncannily graphic and morbid manner. "Oh, I understand."

"It's fine... I do plan on attending tomorrow if time permits." the witch looked up from her desk and smiled with satisfaction. "Of course, come next year all of these duties will be yours to bear, so at the least I can take comfort in knowing that this is not a permanent arrangement."

"Not if I decide to make you my secretary!" Tsukune let out a reserved chuckle,

"Please tell me you were serious about that." she removed her glasses, letting them dangle from one finger before intentionally dropping them. "Don't say something like that unless you're absolutely sure... Cause, I'll hold you to it... ... ..."

"Well, I... ummmmm? Hey Ruby, don't you have some more work to do."

"As your secretary, I'm yours to command!" The older woman smirked seductively at this, her workload temporarily forgotten as she shuffled into a kneeling position on the headmaster's desk. Crouching forward using her hands as support, she leaned towards him with a primal hunger. "Please... Just tell me what to do! I've been such a naughty girl."

"You say that like it's a good thing." he balked, jumping to his feet as he realized the implications of her position.

She reached over and caressed him seductively, but for some reason he didn't feel nearly as nervous as he normally would have. He was used to the girls coming onto him all of the time, but only now realized just how dangerous it could be if Moka were to allow it. Truthfully, the other girls were all insanely attractive, and were it were not for the silver-haired beauty, he probably would've been unable to decide between them. Before he knew it, the witch's hands were wrapped around his shoulders, her body rubbing against his in a most inappropriate manner. Ruby slid slowly off of the desk, gently kneeling over beside him with that same dreamy expression as before, beads of sweat running down her rapidly heating body.

"Please... I can't take it anymore!" She reached up, forcibly opening her dress to reveal her abundant cleavage. "Just tell me what your wish is... ... Please ... MASTER!" she cried out, glomping on her would-be lover in a frenzied manner.

Slowly but surely, Tsukune found himself loosing control of his restraints, but with some effort he managed to resist her charms. Suddenly sensing another monster aura nearby, he pushed the witch away for fear of being seen in such a disheveled state, causing his entranced friend to collide painfully with the office floor. She squealed before rolling sideways into a hard wood bookshelf.

"You're not hurt, are you?" he called after her, his worry turning to shock when she wrapped her hands around his ankles.

"Mmmmmmm... Do it again... ... My sexy little, Tsukune..." she crooned, having thoroughly enjoyed the sudden impact.

"I get that you like stuff, but why are you doing this now!?" he screamed, shunting back into the wall as she began crawling towards him.

"Sorry about that... I couldn't help myself." a tiny voice squeaked from behind. A second later, the witch's senses seemed to have returned, her ears registering the familiar voice that had called out to them.

"This was your doing, wasn't it?" Tsukune's head shot up in shock. He bore his fangs, earning a squeal from their unwanted guest.

A fairy-like monster seemingly emerged from nowhere, carrying an all-too-familiar mirror around in her tiny arms. "Yup, I just couldn't resist..."

"I thought the old Headmaster told you not to use that evil thing, anymore."

"It's not evil... All it does is reveal the true nature of the one who is exposed to its power. Not my fault your girlfriends are a bunch of crazed perverts on the inside."

Ruby exhaled with an irritable look, her sweaty fingers clumsily fumbling with her blouse. "I happen to be deputy headmistress of Youkai Academy." Strength returned to her voice, despite a deep red blush coating her face. You will treat me the same as you did Headmaster Mikogami, do you understand, Lilith!?"

"He was always so mean, never letting me have any fun around here. It was always; work, work, work." Lilith flew over to the male vampire's side, with an irresistibly cute expression on her face resembling the look of a pleading puppy. "I thought a cool guy like you would be nicer to a poor little thing like me. All I wanted was to make you happy!"

Tsukune glanced over at his friend, who was hastily buttoning up her shirt in a bashful attempt at regaining her professional composure. "You call this making me happy!?"

"Looks like it to me, if you know what I mean" the fairy replied ever-so-innocently, her eyes moving downwards to his pants.

He looked suddenly embarrassed by his own body, but could only sigh at this involuntary reaction. The Shinso Vampire ran a hand through his hair, taking a moment to gather himself before addressing the mischievous sprite. "So, is there a reason you decided to come here, or did you just want to make a mess."

"A little of both, actually!" she flew side-to-side eagerly before politely wrapping a cloth over her trademark mirror. "That hopping zombie girl sent me here to deliver an important message to you guys." Her expression twisted into the same demonic grin she wore in her awakened form. "Hehehe! Something tells me you're not gonna like it..."

---

Meanwhile...

Issa Shuzen took a sip from a cup of sake, exhaling deeply as he tried to make himself comfortable on a tatami mat. Despite spending most of his time in Asian countries, the elder vampire preferred the furnishing of the western world to the more traditional trappings of Japan. Though he did not display these reservations in front of his host, a courtesy that he had long come to adhere as a member of high society. Manners were of the utmost importance while acting as a representative of Youkai Academy and the monsters of the Tokyo Area, a task that a certain Bus Driver had so kindly entrusted to him in addition to overseeing Tsukune's training.

The vampire's most recent trip had brought him to the streets of Kyoto, an older city known for its rich history and strong spiritual connections. Unbeknownst to most humans in the vicinity, the area was home to several monsters living incognito among the ordinary citizens, many of whom had descended from the Youkai that once thrived in ancient Japan. For this reason, the area was deemed a hotspot for spiritual activity and old world charm, furthering its notoriety as a major tourist attraction worldwide.

Moka's father had come today to meet with the leader of the city's supernatural beings, though the visit had been much more casual than he was expecting. He eyed the woman sitting across from him with a pensive expression. She was quite beautiful with a youthful appearance, long blonde hair, and flawless complexion, her pristine look giving off the impression of a clean and well-bred young lady. She wore a red and white priestess outfit bearing her rather large cleavage, though the most striking quality were her deep golden eyes.

"Tell me... Is my family's rice wine to your liking, Master Shuzen?" she questioned, casting him a motherly expression.

He took another sip, quietly noting a similarity in his host to that of his deceased wife. "Yes, it is quite tasty, thank you. Your hospitality is most appreciated as well, Lady Yasaka."

A pair of pointed ears protruded from beneath her hairline, hinting at the her true nature. The leader of Kyoto's monster population was truly a kitsune, yet the difference between her and Fairy Tale's Kuyou was staggering in both power and social disposition. While most fox demons alive today were young and inexperienced, Yasaka possessed a full set of nine tales in her true form, a rarity even amongst the older generations of fox Youkai. Descended from the ancient ones, her bloodline was pure and untarnished with the genes of lesser beings, yet she cared for the creatures within her sway of power like a mother did for her children.

"I mean no offense, but perhaps it would be best if we discuss the purpose of my visit."

"In the wake of recent events I expected Lord Nurari would eventually contact me. Though, I am most perplexed to learn that his representative is none other than the head of the infamous Shuzen Family." The elder fox spirit sipped at her own cup before gently setting it down. "May I ask how you came to accept such a position."

Issa shifted while maintaining his sitting position. "You might say he required some specialized services that only I could provide... Not to mention, the incident with Fairy Tale was centered around members of my household, thus I feel partially responsible for the events that have transpired since."

"Do not blame yourself for it. The atrocities prompted by Gyokuro Shuzen were not your design nor responsibility. Not to mention the machinations of Alucard were beyond anyone's control, of that I am most certain."

The vampire lord fell silent, knowing that his own actions might have hastened the return of the legendary Shinso. Gyokuro's destructive tendencies had been a major driving force behind Fairy Tale's actions, and her monstrous behavior had largely been a result of her jealousy towards Moka's mother. As a polygamist, he often questioned whether or not the neglect for his first wife had truly been the source of her madness, or if she had truly been a monster in disguise from the beginning. He would never know for sure, but he had loved her still, even when it drove her to seek the ultimate end.

"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, and perhaps a few mistakes. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, but when it comes we can no longer dwell on what may have been." he admitted more to himself than his host. He looked up at the fox Youkai with a sense of resolve. "Though I pray that Akasha's dream of coexistence can eventually come to pass, regardless of what happened."

Yasaka smiled sadly. "I do hope she has found peace, wherever she may have gone. Akasha Bloodriver was a dear friend of mine, and a person I admired most. Never before have I encountered anyone with such strength and kindness."

"Do not deny yourself that same praise... ... ... Among the monsters of this land, it is said that only the Nine-Tailed Fox of Kyoto possesses power rivaling that of the Three Dark Lords. Your power is legendary, and is your reputation as a caring and honorable leader."

"And yet my very being is rooted to this one city." she murmured in a hushed whisper. "I have chosen to remain in one place, doing what I can for those who dwell here. Akasha gave her life for the future of all who live. It makes my own self-imposed role seem rather insignificant and selfish in comparison."

"The only person you should have to answer to is yourself. Do not compare yourself to my wife." the Shuzen patriarch's expression became solemn, though he was otherwise impassive. "I regret to say that the humans may not have been ready for the existence of our kind to be revealed on a global scale."

"And ultimately, that big decision was not ours to make. Am I not correct?"

"You are..." he returned her question with the tiniest of nods.

The kyubi exhaled slowly, taking the brief pause to refill their cups. "I was told that Mikogami tried his hardest to minimize the public exposure, but it was through the actions of other supernatural factions that the humans memories of Alucard's rampage were erased."

"In the end, it may have been for the best. The situation was less than ideal."

"Certainly it's difficult to argue with such an obvious statement."

Issa drowned the contents of his saucer in one gulp, though his expression made it appear as if he had tasted something foul. "Humans have repeatedly shown an inability to cope with differences among their own people, let alone those of other races."

"Amidst all this, Akasha still believed in the inherent goodness of mankind. You don't give them nearly enough credit."

"More recently, I've found myself thinking she was correct." The vampire closed his eyes, thinking about his young apprentice who had once been human. Tsukune Aono was living proof of everything his wife had always hoped for. "I believe Akasha was correct in her assumptions, yet at the same time, a part of me still questions what would have happened if the humans had remembered."

Yasaka shook her head ruefully, her furry ears drooping. "That was my fear as well."

"The fall of the Floating Garden in the middle of Tokyo combined with Fairy Tale's desire to wipe out humanity would have made peace most difficult to achieve."

"Indeed... Let us not dwell on what may have been, but instead look towards the present." She answered solemnly, him having taken the words right out of her mouth. The buxom woman stretched in an animalistic way in an attempt to relax. "Now then, please tell me why Nurari has sought my audience."

Even as a gentleman of the Shuzen Household, he had never been known as a politically-minded individual, and was having some difficulty in the role. Issa closed his eyes, considering how he could phrase the answer tactfully. "With the Three Dark Lords now gone, a certain void has been left behind in the world of monsters..."

"By nature, we ayashi have been known as chaotic and free-spirited beings. Whether for better or worse, true unity is rare among our kind."

"Which is why Lord Nurari desires to create a new future." the vampire spoke out, taking her subsequent silence as a prompt to continue. "I am certain word has already reached your ears of the peace treaty signed by the Three Great Factions."

"Yes, I am aware of what happened between those three. It has been said that several dangerous people from all supernatural factions have begun to act, which is why the leadership of the Christian Faith have chosen to put aside their differences."

He nodded sternly. "Fairy Tale was hardly the only threat looming in the shadows, nor were they the most dangerous. My employer believes that the time has come for the monsters of Japan to stand together as well, less we fall prey to even more senseless violence."

"His proposal sounds rather bizarre coming from the mouth of an assassin... And yet I am intrigued by your surprisingly earnest testimony." Yasaka shrugged one shoulder with a clever expression.

"I cannot argue that my past is riddled with many unfortunate events, many of which, I am not proud of."

"Perhaps you feel personally responsible for our recent problems. Or perhaps dear Akasha's selfless sacrifice left an impression that even the matchless Shuzen Patriarch cannot fully ignore."

"I was employed as a protector of Youkai Academy, and a messenger of good will. Any personal feelings I may have on the matter mean little."

She withheld a laugh at how easy her guest was to read, but chose not to incense him any further. "As for your earlier proposal... I am willing to consider lending my support, so long as the provisions of this treaty are made clear."

"The Nurarihyon has long since abandoned his role as a leader of Youkai... He only asks for your support in case the world of monsters is once again thrust into chaos, under the belief that it was our lack of unity that allowed malefactors such as Fairy Tale to wreak havoc."

"I cannot argue the logic behind his hypothesis. It would be irresponsible to think otherwise. Most leaders among monsters focus solely on the peace of their individual settlements, while they ignore the larger well-being of our kind."

Issa remained surprisingly impassive, though he could not wholly argue. The monsters of Europe and most of western civilization had held fast to an isolationist policy for the last several centuries, uncaring about their brethren in the Far East despite numerous wars and battles having ravaged Asia during both feudal and imperial times. Worst of all were the cold-hearted nosferatu from the west and their obsession with aristocracy and pure-blood lineage, something that their vampire counterparts in most of the east had long cast aside.

The Bus Driver had noticed this growing disparity, hence why he tasked the Shuzen Patriarch with these current duties. His job as an emissary had involved meeting with leaders of different Youkai factions in order to establish pacts that would hopefully instill a stronger unity amongst the monsters of Asia. So far, only the Snow Priestess from the Land of the Yuki-Onna had been resolute in promising them her cooperation, though she still owed a great debt to Youkai Academy for ridding their village of invaders the previous year.

After what seemed like several hours of silence, Yasaka spoke again, though her tone was devoid of its usual playfulness. "I admit, my desire to protect Kyoto from outside conflict at all costs may have been shortsighted."

"I doubt anyone would condemn such actions, when you did so with good intentions for your people."

"And yet that incident in Tokyo has led me to believe that conflict may soon be unavoidable. I agree it is better to unite in times of hardship, then it is to stand alone."

"The question is, will you agree to help us unite the monsters of Japan under one flag?"

The woman blinked in surprise, looking as if she had been caught unaware. Not since ancient times had someone attempted to do such a thing. Slowly, she nodded her head. "I cannot argue against it... Yes, you have my support."

Issa stood up suddenly extending a gentleman's hand to her out of courtesy. She accepted the gesture, allowing him to help her stand. "I thank you on behalf of my employer."

"You may project yourself as a hired emissary of Youkai Academy, but I know better."

"Do you intend to make more insinuations concerning my life?"

"With notoriety comes infamy, and a certain lack of privacy. The Great Issa Shuzen does not take jobs that dissatisfy him." Her expression became playful once more, though he still refused to give into the provocation. "No doubt you also have reason to support Nurari..."

The vampire turned away, his midnight black cape gently shifting from side to side. "You truly think so, my lady?"

"Perhaps you desire to show Akasha that her life was not wasted, or maybe it is to provide a bright future for those who are dearest to you. Either way, I am certain you have your reasons."

"My reasons are my own, though you are correct to assume that the death of the one most dear to me was a factor in forging my current path."

The Nine-Tailed fox felt the same discomfort from before reach her stomach. "You know as well as I do that this alliance may soon be a necessity." She bowed her head courteously, prompting him to spare a glance over his shoulder. Her expression became unusually dismal. "It's like I said once before - It may not be too long before these peaceful days of ours come to an end."

Issa continued towards the exit, his hand resting on the edge of the sliding door. " Regardless, I have one more thing to ask of you before departing." She bowed her head respectfully, allowing him to continue. "Since the death of the Three Great Dark Lords, we are in desperate need of one who has mastered the Demon Arts."

"You wish for me to accompany you back to the academy?" she questioned, quickly responding with a shake of her head. "My spirit is bound to this land through powerful magic, this it is inadvisable for me to leave for very long. I must also question your intentions..."

" The loss of Touhou Fuhai has left us in this vulnerable position. Thus, my employer requires the services of someone who is skilled in Youjutsu and Senjutsu in order to train his new student in the ancient ways."

Yasaka smiled knowingly. "Ah yes, you speak of the boy who obtained the Shinso bloodline."

The elder vampire was surprised that she had figured it out so easily though he hid it. "Can you provide him with a suitable teacher?"

"I know someone who may be able to help, and as luck would have it, she's been dying for the chance to visit Youkai Academy for some time now." The fox demon clapped her hands lightly, her action followed by the sound of light footsteps.

The sliding door behind her opened moments later to reveal a small figure wearing a black uniform and hooded cloak. "You... ... ..." Issa's composure slipped, her eyes widening in obvious shock.

She bowed her head, beautiful raven hair and red eyes visible in the sunset. "I thought I sensed your monster energy, my next of kin. It's been such a long time, father!"

---

Several Hours Later...

"You did well in tying up those loose ends at the academy." a familiar voice spoke from the shadows.

A certain fox demon, faced his benefactor. Since most of the organization's leaders had perished during the fall of the Floating Garden, Kiria Yoshii had taken up the mantle as its leader, continuing the work set down by their former superiors. Kuyou cared little for him, yet in the wake of such defeat, the remaining members of the syndicate had little choice but to rally under their new leadership. He supported the decision to place a bounty of Tsukune Aono, but recently they had become involved in several matters that did not sit well with the wrathful kitsune.

"It was child's play dealing with the academy's trash. My familiarity with the campus and grounds allowed me to exploit several weak spots in their security. It was made easier by the fact that they chose to use my old headquarters as a holding place for dissonants and intruders."

"Still, it's quite the pity you were unable to kill any of Tsukune Aono's friends, especially since one of them was already a corpse."

"They put up more of a struggle than I originally anticipated, and I saw no reason to continue once our assassin had been recaptured. I don't understand why we trusted such an important job to someone who once served the damned Church!"

"Now, there's no need to be so rude... Especially considering the nature of our current situation." Kiria warned him with a smirk, earning a scowl from the fox. If the bit of hostility bothered him, he ignored it.

The handsome chimera leaned against the wall, folding his arms as if he hadn't a care in the world. Their new base of operations had the appearance of a lavish palace, with long winding halls held in place with gothic Romanesque pillars, the black and white checkered tiles adorned by plush blood red carpets. The rooms contained some simple furnishings, though the crystal chandeliers were broken and unlit, leaving interior dingy and depressing, This combined with the presence of cobwebs gave the impression that the place had not been occupied for some time, yet the dwelling was likely a splendid sight in its glory days.

In actuality, the building was once a palace used by European supernatural factions, built as a stronghold during early campaigns to establish dominion over the Japanese Youkai, explaining the more westernized architecture and interior design. During the old world struggle, its previous occupants had been driven away, and the castle left to fall into ruin. At some point an Earthquake had enveloped the surrounding land, causing the structure to sink deep into the ground and out of sight, making the long-forgotten relic an ideal hiding place for Fairy Tale.

Kiria took a moment to admire a nearby statue, admiring the artist's attention to detail. "Quite the piece, is it not? If only they had focused more on the facial expressions..."

"Your attention to trivial things never ceases to disgust me." the fiery Youkai commented with an indifferent scowl. "Explain to me why you dispatched a human into monster territory. Such an ill-advised plan was bound to fail from the start."

"With so many monsters assassins failing one after the next, I decided that picking a human for the job might have been a step in the right direction." he shrugged nonchalantly, causing the fox to narrow his eyes. "Who better to deal with a vampire, than an exorcist?"

"Or you could have allowed me to handle him. It would have been much more productive, and we wouldn't have been forced to waste time cleaning up the mess."

"After what happened the last two times, I doubt you have the capacity to end his life." His superior smirked mischievously moving his head to the slide an inch to avoid the stream of fire shot from the fox demon's hand. "Oh my... A bit touchy today, aren't we?"

"Do not mock me, you filthy mongrel! A low-class monster of mixed ancestry has no right to speak to a pure-blooded Youkai in such a manner."

The chimera chuckled at this stubborn show of pride, though he cared little. The anti-thesis gang Hokuto founded back at the academy had been composed entirely of hybrid monsters, with him being one of them. "I was simply stating facts. If the truth was too difficult to swallow, I see little reason to blame me for it."

Kuyou clenched a fist, a tiny wisp of smoke rising from his between his fingers. "To think a human could have gained such power just from ingesting the blood of a monster... It's a miracle he even survived."

"And Shinso blood, at that. Most creatures would have lost control and died. The tireless plotting of Tenmei Mikogami is what allowed Mr. Aono to persevere and master the power."

The former Public Safety chief remembered that day less than three years ago when he fought the Newspaper Club, the once frail boy at his mercy as he prepared for the final blow. "If only I had killed him when given the chance, perhaps the outcome would have been different in Tokyo."

"You once told me that it was during that battle when our dear friend first attained vampire powers from Moka Akashiya." Despite realizing the implications, Kiria remained calm as ever. "It may be true your actions were the reason he obtained his powers, yet it makes no difference to us now... How sickeningly banal of you to dwell on the past."

"If you would rather we speak of the present, then so be it!" Kuyou spat venomously, his words earning the tiniest of glances from his carefree superior.

"What ever do you mean?" the other man replied innocently, only angering him more.

He rounded on the chimera with an intimidating glare. "Perhaps you would like to explain to me why you sold Fairy Tale to those... those... ... ..." he shuddered, not even able to find a word ghastly enough to describe their benefactors.

The hybrid monster stroked his own chin in amusement. "Sold Fairy Tale, you say? You're sorely mistaken." Though the fox demon seethed in anger, his employer looked as if he were rather enjoying himself. "I prefer to think of it as a type of merger."

"Do you honestly believe the ones you spoke to consider us to be any more than expendable service!?"

"Do you believe Gyokuro Shuzen ever held her subordinates in higher esteem?" he countered, the comment silencing him. "This time the ones who lead are far more promising, possessing greater power and influence. Regardless, their goals are very similar to our own, thus everything we hope for will come to pass no matter what the outcome."

Kuyou reached the end of his patience. "Enough of this farce! Why have you sought me out!? Surely you did not come just to congratulate me on the completion of such a pitiful mission?"

"Ah yes, please forgive me for becoming lost in my own little world." Kiria gently waved his hands, only earning a subdued snarl from the enraged man. "I was called to attend a meeting with our newest benefactor, and your presence has also been requested. Surely you would not protest?"

The fox began to walk in the opposite direction "I have no desire to deal with such nonsense, right now."

"Even if it involves an unfavorable fate for that exorcist?" He replied casually, causing the other man to pause mid-step.

"Very well! I suppose it might be worth taking some time out of my schedule, assuming that nuisance will be dealt with properly." He concealed a bloodthirsty smirk, his hatred for humans having won over his distaste for the current alliance. After all, it had been the bumbling of that psychotic human that had caused the recent mess. "Lead the way..."

The two men began their lengthy trek through the underground palace, passing several lower-ranked Fairy Tale members who parted ways to let them pass through for fear of retribution. This had long become a regular occurrence for the two, though sharing these dingy halls with the rogue monsters were several robed figures who belonged to the opposing faction. These people were much less respectful in comparison to their own subordinates, often directing wary glances or even looks of distrust, Kuyou returning these looks with a few icy glares of his own. In spite of their so-called pact, the feelings of discontent between both denominations were more or less, mutual.

Kiria stopped outside a particularly ornate door, politely knocking a few times, before entering without express consent. The room contained the same tile floors and dingy atmosphere as the others, but the combination of magic circles, alchemic experiments, and lab equipment seemed out of place in such an ancient stronghold. Stranger yet was the ceiling, which projected the incredibly vivid image of a star-filled night sky, the view so detailed that it looked as though one with wings could fly off into the faux cosmos.

"So you've come at last..." A figure stepped out from the shadows, the pale glow revealing a man garbed in a red cloak.

Though he wore no head-covering, his face was concealed behind a black and white mask resembling the tragedy symbol used by the theatre. Despite the mysterious air about him, several of his most striking features could be discerned, including a pair of piercing yellow irises visible through the slitted holes, and long mane of sleek brown hair tied into a single ponytail which ran partway down his back. He was taller than Kuyou, standing over six feet high, giving off an intimidating presence even without showing his face.

Kiria placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head in respect. "My apologies for the tardiness, my good gentleman. I was... ... withheld by the presence of a dear friend." He rationalized, earning an irate grimace from the fox demon.

"Please, follow me." the figure commented, gesturing for his guests to proceed through the nearby curtain.

Upon entering the new room, they were met with the sight of a certain exorcist, no longer bound in chains, but still restrained. Freed Selzen sat bound and gagged atop a strong titanium chair, looking as if he were strapped to some type of medieval torture device. Thick cords were wrapped around his wrists and arms, binding him in place, and his ankles were painfully shackled to the floor. While deprived of vision, the prisoner began jerking around wildly upon sensing their approach.

"What a bother... Surely you would be so kind as to remove the restraints." Kiria spoke with a note of interest, earning a small glance from their benefactor. "It's always more amusing this way."

"So, that is what you intend to do." Kuyou muttered under his breath, now fully aware what was about to happen.

The red-clad man waved his hand, causing the shackles to clatter harmlessly to the floor. Their captive lurched forward like a puppet whose strings had suddenly been cut, only to be impaled in the chest with a series of monstrous tentacles that had somehow emerged from Kiria's body. The chimera flexed his arms, channeling fluids through the extra appendages like a surgical tube, pumping drastic infusions of monster blood into the human's frail body. As the new plasma began to take hold, the priest's wounds began closing, his eyes fluttering open to reveal bloodshot eyes.

He murmured, his pupils shrinking in outrage as he noticed the unfamiliar tendrils stuck in his chest. "What the fuck are you doing!?" The exorcist screeched wildly, grabbing at the monstrous tentacles in an attempt to rip them from his body. "Let me go or I'll slice that pretty face of your into a mess worthy of the name, monster!"

Kiria immediately withdrew his appendages, retracting them his wrists as if they had never even been there. "Very well, I'm quite finished for the moment."

"You bastard! What did you do to me?" Freed lunged for the man's collar, only to be blasted off of his feet by a torrent of fire.

Kuyou snapped his fingers, lighting the human's cloak ablaze, forcing him to collapse to the floor and roll to extinguish the flames. "You're quite feisty and arrogant for one who was stripped of his weapons by the enemy." he sneered, only to receive a maniacal laugh from his victim.

"Talking big because you're a big, bad fox monster!? To think Japanese people were actually dumb enough to worship your kind as gods back in the day... Oh man, what a fucking stupid country this is!"

"Filthy human!" he prepared to torch the man, but Kiria wrapped a tentacle around his wrist, waving a finger in warning, though the fox used his opposite hand to punch Freed in the jaw, sending him sprawling across the floor.

"No need to be so rude to our rogue exorcist." the red-cloaked man bent over to survey the priest before tossing aside his robe and mask to reveal his true appearance.

Tall and handsome, the man had dark features and narrowed eyes, his outfit consisting of an expensive, double-breasted, gray suit, the jacket fastened with two rows of shiny black buttons. He wore a pair of leather shoes and matching gray dress pants, a black collar shirt visible through the open collar. The formal outfit was complete with a red silk tie, elegantly fastened below the neck and tucked into the v-shaped opening on his torso. His golden eyes, narrow brows, and pointed ears hinted at his supernatural origin.

"M-Master Enoch!" Freed looked slightly perturbed by the man's daunting presence.

"Calm yourself, Freed... You will not die today." the towering figure answered in his deep, well-mannered draw before revealing ten midnight-black wings, a small shower of matching feathers scattered across the floor. The magnificent sight caused Kiria to smirk, while the fox turned his head with barely-concealed disgust.

"Fallen Angel Cadre, Enoch... Chronicler of the Grigori." the chimera spoke with amusement.

The priest stood back up, though he seemed somehow pacified in the presence of his leader. "I demand to know what's going on!"

"You've been made to pay for your recent actions. Certainly you knew what the price would be for failure." The rogue angel spoke as if he were talking about the weather, earning a confounded look from his servant.

Freed grit his teeth defiantly. "You just said you weren't going to kill me. Do you plan to let those heathens do the deed, instead!?" he rationalized with an insane leer.

"I said you would not be made to die yet because your services may still be of use. Of course, that doesn't mean the arrangement we made will be any more pleasant to you. Perhaps Mr. Yoshii would be so kind as to explain the rest."

Kiria nodded respectfully gently leaning against the wall once more. "I've injected you with some of my monster blood, hence why all the wounds you received earlier have healed. It will slowly break down your physical composition and restructure your human flesh into that of a hybrid creature."

"You did what!?" he took an aggressive step forward, only to be ensnared by a lightning-fast tentacle. "Shit! Get your filthy body off me, this instant!"

"If you don't lose what's left of your sanity in the process, the power it grants will undoubtedly make your frail mortal husk much stronger." He smiled sickeningly at the man's ghastly expression before whipping him across the room.

Freed collided violently with a stone wall, now slumped in a sitting position. His hands were shaking as if he wanted nothing more than to strangle someone, but before he could say anything, a sharp pain coursed though his entire body. With a scream of horror, he say his hands swelling as if they were being filled with air, the palms growing larger and his human fingers lengthening. His skin tone changed into an ugly gray color, but this was hardly as shocking as the massive amounts of muscle he had slowly began to develop, his thin limbs now disproportionately large compared to his thin build.

"What have you done!? You'll all burn in Hell for ruining my gorgeous body!"

Enoch raised an eyebrow. "To think one who was already damned to begin with would be so quick to condemn others."

The rogue priest opened his mouth to retort, but all that came out was a strangled gagging noise. As if on cue, his torso expanded and his legs thickened, though his humanoid form twisted suddenly, becoming less symmetric and more disproportioned. One side of his head widened and stretched while his left arm lengthened in an unnatural way, large claw-like nails growing from his swollen hand into curved talons. After a moment, his feet began growing as well, his teeth lengthening into sharp fangs. Screaming in agony, he felt his black split open as several sharp spines grew from beneath the flesh, followed by a pair of human-sized arms, which sprouted beneath his mutated limbs.

Freed stumbled before gaining his bearings, blinking his differently sized eyes in confusion. He gazed in horror at his transformed body, his eyes wild with an unbridled fury as he began slashing away blindly with his newly-formed claws, his bestial instincts having rendered him completely bereft of reason or complex thought. The exorcist made a beeline for the door, only to be blocked by a wall of blue fire conjured by the fox demon, causing him to turn around and attack the others like a cornered animal.

"Looks like he's a failed experiment..." Kiria replied coldly, using his chimera tentacles to ensnare the mutated exorcist. It appeared to work until the transformed human ripped through with his new strength, instead charging aggressively at the fox.

Kuyou repelled his attacker with a blast of flame, but the feral priest recovered instantly and slashed him across the face. "That human has lost all sense of self when exposed to monster blood!" He expended magic to heal his wound, only to receive a more serious gash across the chest before he could react. "Damn him..."

Seeing his comrades injuries, Fairy Tale's leader could only smirk. "It's a pity... Considering his new speed has enabled him to get the best of even you."

"Do not compare me to your pitiful creations." the Youkai hissed, his entire body igniting with a familiar aura. "I will burn that feral beast until his bones are black!"

"Enough!" the Fallen Angel shouted, causing the others to stop immediately.

With a wave of his hand, he conjured a series of chains comprised entirely of light, which sprung to life like snakes and bound the rampaging mutant. He raised his opposite hand, conjuring a long spear made or light, which he held inches from the captive man's face, a look of recognition flickering in his eyes for a fraction of a second. The monstrous prisoner blinked passively, his face contorting into a familiar, if not psychotic expression moments later.

"It appears that primal fear has partially restored his mind. Or at least, what little he possessed." the angel spoke, causing the light spear to vanish with a flick of his wrist.

"You'll pardon my interruption... When it comes time to creating new chimeras, monster blood can be unpredictable." Kiria explained. Since taking in some of Alucard's blood, his own body had been more difficult to control, let alone what happened to others he infused. "I cannot predict the outcome."

"I thank you for the advice, but you'll soon learn that my own knowledge on thus subject, far surpasses yours." The black-winged figure let out a small chuckle. "Master Azazel always did find my experiments on other races to be unethical, yet I learned quite a bit before the bastard banned my research altogether!"

"If so, then what do you plan to do now?"

Enoch reached into his suit jacket, pulling out a small object resembling a thick shackle, albeit engraved with a religious cross and several unfamiliar runes. "All we must do is stabilize his power using this."

The chimera stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see, now. You're using our rogue priest as a mere test subject"

"If the process is successful, we may be able to produce much more powerful hybrid monsters by applying the same experiment to more powerful beings." the Fallen Angel explained. "Just imagine with me, the full potential that can be achieved through the power of science!"

---

NOTE TO READERS: Still no Gremory Peerage, but I think Issei will make a minor appearance next chapter. There doesn't seem to be much support for this story, but I might give it another chapter or two before deciding whether or not to continue. It's still my policy to focus on my fanfiction stories that people like the most, since I have several, especially since my stories are often very long affairs rather than fluff or one-shots.

Hope people aren't too upset with the liberties I took with Ling-Ling, but I found her character tragically underused in the Rosario+Vampire series. Tsukune is also very close to learning more about the supernatural worlds, and will soon step beyond the boundaries of Youkai Academy.

The character Enoch is an original creation of mine, not found in either series. His name comes from the Book of Enoch, from which the names of the Fallen Angel leaders from High School DxD were taken. You'll find him more of an intellectual type, yet exceedingly cruel, despite his gentlemanly conduct and mannerisms. Yasaka, the Nine-Tailed Fox Youkai from Kyoto does appear in the DxD series, though her role in this story will be minimal.

I edit my stories before publishing them, though there are bound to be some mistakes and typos still present. as usual, I offer my apologies in advance. Drop me a review if you have the time. I LOVE the long stuff (really helps motivate me to continue), but even a quick "good job" is fine.