Chapter 4: The Fallen Ones
Disclaimer: I do not own Rosario + Vampire or High School DXD. This story is made purely for fun, not profit.
The headmaster's office was surprisingly crowded this evening. Three days had passed since the incident, and everyone was still recovering. Mizore, Yukari and Kurumu sat together on the couch, leaving no room for Fang-Fang, who simply stood behind them. Tsukune was seated on the remaining armchair to the left of Ruby's desk, his hands in his lap, with Moka's slender fingers wrapped gently around his shoulders. He was clearly more upset than anyone else, and she saw it as her duty to support him. For once the other girls had been courteous enough not to cut in, though their constant feud seemed petty in comparison to dark events as of late.
So far, the majority of the Newspaper Club had been called together to receive the reports of the previous day's incidents, with Ruby acting as the mediator, and Ling-Ling providing the firsthand account with an occasional word from Kurumu. Though she had been burned while searching the security barracks for survivors, the female corpse had treated her injuries with magic, knowing that her lifeless body would not repair itself, thus she appeared the same as ever. Kurumu had suffered some visible injuries, but her burns had been treated soon after escaping the inferno, leaving her with only a few bandages to show. She had also been treated for smoke inhalation, and was still recovering.
"That is all..." Ling-Ling bowed her head to the headmistress before standing beside her younger brother.
As the Jiang Shi had finished her story, a long silence fell over the room, the group's worried expressions speaking more than a thousand words. Ruby closed her eyes in remembrance for those they had lost in the fire. Several security agents were alumni rather than zombies, though most had been fortunate enough to have survived. Most of the bodies had been discovered and analyzed personally by Ruby, though the discoveries had not been pleasant.
Tsukune was the first to recover. "If I had been there, this whole thing could've been prevented."
"Don't give us that crap!" Kurumu retorted, her mannerisms softening when she saw his hurt expression. "It wasn't your fault. None of us were prepared for what happened."
"You don't get it... I should have been there! What good is this Shinso blood if I can't protect everyone!?" he beat his first against his knees.
"Regardless, I doubt even you could have doused the fire by thinking about it." Ling-Ling smiled in a creepy manner, earning a look of disapproval from her sibling.
"Are you certain this is the best time for sarcasm, sister?"
"Perhaps not, but the people responsible for protecting the school were all well aware of what may happen. Death happens to everyone, and it usually comes slowly. I would know... After all, I'm already dead!"
Yukari resisted the urge to drop a washtub on the zombie. "Some things never change..."
The zombie shrugged nonchalantly. "They certainly don't when you're a corpse."
"We're getting off the subject!" Ruby interjected, her tone surprisingly stern. In that moment, it seemed as if they had made the right choice to appoint her as headmistress. She sighed, turning to the dead woman with a much more serious expression. "How is Haiji doing right now?"
"Is Kokoa still with him?" Moka asked quickly.
"He still hasn't regained consciousness yet, though it is touching how worried your sister seems to be. Being a top-class monster I believe he will recover eventually, though it is the nature of his wounds I am most worried about."
Tsukune suddenly looked angry, his hands clenching into fists. "You mentioned his injuries were inflicted by some kind of holy energy. That bastard Kuyou couldn't have been the one behind it!"
"The dead girl and I were the ones fighting him while Haiji was guarding the dungeons. He made it sound like the fire was just a distraction before running away."
Mizore casually removed a lollipop from her pocket and placed it in her mouth. "Which means that overgrown fox wasn't here alone."
The temporary headmistress felt her own hands trembling, knowing full well that the situation was only becoming worse. "Since the prisoner was a human, it stands to reason that Fairy Tale may have forged an alliance with a very different faction. Perhaps one controlled entirely by humans rather than monsters."
"That makes no sense at all!" the succubus exclaimed, catching the group's attention. "I mean, they may have sent that one guy in as a hired assassin, but why would Fairy Tale work with a bunch of humans!?"
"She brings up a surprisingly good point. The goal of these despicable people was always to destroy humanity." Moka agreed, much to everyone's surprise. Her expression became serious, but thoughtful. "I doubt they would compromise these principles, especially since most of its members seem to despise humans."
Tsukune couldn't help but wonder. "Maybe you're right, but Kiria strikes me as a different type of leader than the others we fought."
"Recently my family has been in contact with the Miao Family... They warned us that several of Fairy Tale's factions went rogue after Kiria took command." Fang-Fang explained. "Word in the underground is that several of his decisions caused a divide within the syndicate."
"It's almost entirely fallen apart." Ling-Ling confirmed.
The male Shinso paused to consider them, a look of disgust reaching his normally gentle features. "I have to say, it makes sense..."
Yukari suddenly appeared concerned. "What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean is that every person we've ever fought has been different. Kuyou wanted power, Hokuto was lost in his own hatred, Gyokuro wanted revenge, and Alucard was looking for a way to end his life. None of them were really the same, even though they were all a part of Fairy Tale."
"And what about Kiria?" Ruby pressed on with a puzzled look.
"For some reason, he always struck me as someone who was always bored. Like he was fed up with the world. If I had to guess, he just wanted to watch the chaos unfold, and did everything he could in order to make it happen."
Kurumu exhaled wearily, a drop of sweat running down her face as she fearfully remembered her disturbing encounter with the chimera. "Yeah, that sounds about right. The first time we met, he could've killed me, but didn't. Looking back, I always found him weird?"
The younger witch felt a chill run down her spine, though she knew Mizore's presence had nothing to do with it. "I remember that! Sheesh, that guy was a real freak even two years ago!"
"Even though I attacked him first, he wasn't interested in fighting me... He gave me a scare and went back to reading a book. It was like all he wanted was to cause trouble, but he never struck me as the type with an actual reason."
Her words seemed to resonate with Moka. "The bastard tortured my outer self in the hope she would fight him, and all he wanted was to gauge the strength of her sealed powers!" the female Shinso added curtly.
Fang-Fang appeared lost due to having enrolled a year after the Anti-Thesis war, yet even so, the stories of their enemy were strangely unnerving. "So if he's not trying to uphold Fairy Tale's original goals, then what does he want?"
Moka appeared as if she was going to kick a hole in the wall, her manner much more like the cold outer personality they had previously known. "I think that jerk just wants to watch the world burn. It's no surprise he would turn to others to ensure that this happens!"
"I doubt he even cares what happens to himself." Tsukune gently placed his hand over the one on his shoulder, her grip relaxing beneath his.
The interim headmistress sighed wearily. "At first I believed it was an isolated incident, but if several people within Fairy Tale have the ability to wield weapons of light, it stands to reason that some very dangerous changes have been made in staff."
Ling-Ling placed her sleeves together. "It does makes sense. Last time I checked, most monsters couldn't wield light-based weapons, and yet the corpses of several of my Jiang Shi bore signs of being struck down with powerful holy magic."
"That is what concerns me the most." Ruby answered, earning a murmur of confusion from her clubmates. "In the past we've fought against powerful monsters, but the threat was from within our own realms."
Kurumu scowled in disgust. "You don't think there's more like that creepy exorcist out there, do you?"
"That is what I fear... And based on recent events, I'm not sure if we'll be prepared to face these new enemies."
"But why would someone else want to mess with us?" the succubus asked. "I mean, the idea that Kiria found people as crazy as he is just sounds too scary to believe."
Tsukune stood up suddenly, earning a look of concern from the female vampire. "None of us can answer that question, but I doubt it even matters right now. We have to be prepared for the worst, or those jerks might end up ruining everything we've worked so hard to protect!"
The elder witch appeared deeply depressed. "Our kind have suffered a major loss of power without the Three Dark Lords. Not only is the academy is more vulnerable than it ever was, but many monsters who did not attack our school for fear of their retribution will no doubt emerge from hiding."
"Which means Fairy Tale will probably go around collecting those problem children." Ling-Ling added with an unpleasant relish.
"To make matters worse, the enemy may have recruited enigmas from other factions into their ranks, and holy magic is far beyond my realm of expertise. Even while bearing the mantle of headmistress, I am still not a worthy replacement for Master Mikogami. Not even close!" She let her head drop, the gesture was met with silence.
Seeing her expression, Tsukune stepped in front of her desk, his presence prompting her to look up. "Don't say stuff like that! No one's asking you to be his replacement!"
"He's right, y 'know?" Kurumu butt in. "I mean, you've held this place together just fine for over a year now! Someone like me would've cracked under the pressure a long time ago."
Moka slapped a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder and shook him playfully. "I doubt this guy could do any better, and he's supposed to be the person in charge."
"Yeah, it's not like any of us can contribute any more than you." He rubbed the back of his head with a slightly ashamed look.
"Maybe you guys are right." Ruby began with a grimace, though she appeared calmer than before.
Tsukune sighed, in the moment he looked aged beyond his seventeen years. He was realizing now just how helpless they were. They were basically a bunch of kids running around in a bungled attempt to carry on the dreams of their much more powerful and heavily renowned forbearers. Whether they were Shinso or not, the group still lacked the same kind of experience that the Three Dark Lords had, and without Mikogami, the school had suffered an unimaginable loss. He couldn't deny that Ruby's fears were warranted.
"Not to mention the guy who's supposed to be helping us hasn't even been around, lately." Tsukune stated, eliciting weary sighs from his friends.
Seeing the others in such a state, Yukari plastered a childish smile on her face in an attempt to ease the tension. "Don't worry everyone! After Alucard, it's not like there's anyone too much worse, am I right?" she spoke out, a much stronger chill suddenly silencing her.
"After all this time, you kids still haven't got a clue..." a hoarse tone filled their ears, the door cracking open to reveal the familiar face of a certain Bus Driver. His aura was as dark and mysterious as usual, though he seemed to find their sudden silence oddly amusing. "Heh, scared ya didn't I... Who says I'm never around for the important stuff?"
Ruby hastily placed a hand on her bosom, bowed her head in respect. "Lord Nurari, you have my sincerest apologies."
"Yeah, mine too." Tsukune added with an embarrassed look, not having known that the man they were speaking of had been waiting right outside the door.
"Enough with all that stuff... I'm just an ordinary Bus Driver, not some big shot." The man dismissed their greetings. He had never enjoyed the praise that came with being an authority figure, nor had he ever cared much for such responsibility.
Without warning the female Shinso stepped in front of him, causing him to smirk challengingly. "Enough games, old man!"
"Moka, that's quite enough." Ruby warned with a disapproving look, her warning falling on deaf ears.
"I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we've had enough of you disappearing on us. It's time you told us everything you know."
She bared her fangs in a scowl, causing the former monster king to snicker. "Everything, you say!?" He casually pulled the brim of his hat down. "I'm afraid doing so would take some time. After all, you've made quite the request of me, and such a lecture would fill several libraries should you even be awake to hear it all."
"That's not what I meant!" Moka seethed, her threatening anger much more reminiscent of her original persona. When she spoke again, her voice was calmer. "Where has my father been going? Who is cooperating with Fairy Tale? What other secrets are you keeping from us?"
A stifling silence fell over the room, its occupants too afraid to interrupt less they miss something important. Although her friends did nothing to support her, the group couldn't help but empathize and said nothing. Since their first year they had often been kept in the dark by Mikogami, and now the same thing was happening with the Bus Driver, only to a larger extent. Both he and Issa Shuzen regularly left the campus for days at a time without reason, no word of their whereabouts reaching the ears of the Deputy Headmistress or her friends, even though they had helped save the world.
Nurari held up a hand, exhaling slowly as if he found her words exhausting. "Well now, it seems you've inherited your father's penchant for making demands of people, though you seem less likely to become violent."
"I may not carry his name, but the blood of Shuzen runs strong in my veins... You'd do well to remember this."
"As expected of his progeny." the Bus Driver replied without much amusement. Taking his time, he rummaged through a pocket, withdrawing and lighting a cigar. After taking a few puffs, the man gestured around the room. "All right, you kids sit back down and I'll see if we can't stop this inquisition."
Moka furrowed her brow before stepping backwards away from him, looking afraid he would disappear if she took her eyes off him for even a second. Tsukune attentively guided her into the chair he had been sitting on, giving her shoulders an affectionate rub in an attempt to calm her. While the quiet gesture earned some jealous looks from Kurumu and Mizore, Moka found herself relaxing a bit more, putting her boyfriend's mind at ease. Fang-Fang and Yukari exchanged glances, Ruby shook her head worriedly, and Ling-Ling merely smiled in her usual impassive manner.
The Bus Driver pulled a straight-backed wooden chair from the corner of the office, turning backwards and plopping himself down on top of it. "So, you wanna know what's going on with your dad, huh?"
"And whatever answers you can give us concerning these strange attacks." Moka pressed him, her calmer, more courteous demeanor returning.
"It would be most helpful to us." the older witch amended in an attempt to sound more polite.
"Well, you kids already knew Issa was trying to rebuild the Shuzen Family, am I right?" He received a nod from Moka before pressing on. "Just like you guessed, that's not all he's been doing lately."
Tsukune swallowed in anticipation. "So what has he been up to, then?"
"Some work for me, was all. A few odd jobs, so-to-speak." Nurari replied, the irritated and impatient expressions he received from the others only amusing him more. "Heh, I see you kids don't know how to take a hint. To put it simply, he's been doing some traveling around Japan, meeting with the leaders of other monster factions on my behalf."
Moka blinked in surprise. "That second odd coming from anyone. My father's an assassin, not am ambassador."
"That's what he said to me when I asked for this favor, though he eventually caved when I mentioned it was what Akasha would have wanted, too."
"You truly are the lowest of the low... To think you used my deceased mother's name as a means of convincing him!" Her grip on the chair's arm tightened, though she seemed not to hear the ominous cracking noise that ensued.
The Bus Driver exhaled a mouthful of smoke, casually tipping the ashes onto the expensive-looking rug. "Heh, you really are just like your parents, though I only spoke the truth. You see, Akasha Bloodriver not only dreamed of coexistence, but also a world where monsters would put aside their differences and stand united."
Tsukune leaned forward slightly. "Is that why you sent Moka's father out there? To find people that would be willing to cooperate with the academy's goals."
"More or less." he replied, his constant grin wavering for a second. "Though, it hasn't been as successful as we've been hoping. The Snow Priestess from your friend's village was more than happy to pledge her support, but most of the others have yet to give us a definite answer."
"Sounds pretty bad." Tsukune commanded, his mysterious benefactor suddenly radiating an aura of mischief.
"Don't underestimate how persuasive we can be. Regardless of a few setbacks, Issa Shuzen managed to gain the support of our most important contact."
Moka raised an eyebrow. "And who among the remaining monster factions in Japan could possibly be more important than the Shuzen Family?"
Nurari grinned, his gesture unnerving even her. "The Leader of Kyoto's Youkai, Lady Yasaka!"
A tremor suddenly ran through the room, the shock surprising the young monsters present. Kyoto was a sacred place protected by a legendary golden kyubi, one said to possess power eclipsing that of any other single monster in Japan. It was for this reason that creatures from other factions were unable to even enter the city unless she willed it, and also why even Fairy Tale had dared not set foot within the ancient city's boundaries.
Tsukune remained puzzled as always. "Wait, who is he talking about?
"You mean you don't know!?" the little witch blurted out, looking as awestruck as the others.
Fang-Fang laughed in an attempt at friendly humor. "I'm sure he's kidding. Although she is not often seen outside of Kyoto, her fame probably surpasses that of the Three Dark Lords."
"Sorry, but I'm not joking." He replied, sounding genuinely apologetic. "Well I did grow up in human society, after all. I may be a vampire now, but that doesn't mean I know everything about the world of monsters."
Moka clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Lady Yasaka is a fox Youkai whose fur shines the same bright hue of the sun, the fire she produces is said to be just as powerful."
"So she's similar to Kuyou." Tsukune replied, the frowns from her friends making him feel suddenly ashamed of his words.
His girlfriend took a deep breath, trying to think of the best way to phrase her answer. "Even though they are of the same species, you can't even compare them."
Ruby nodded solemnly. "The Heavens and the Earth both exist within the realm of our world, yet they remain so far removed from each other in spite of their inherent relation. Such is the difference here, as well."
The Bus Driver suddenly let out a dry strangled laugh, his display of humor catching them all off guard. "Geez kid, never though I'd meet a Shinso who sounds like a greenhorn." his expression again became dark and ominous. "It has been said that Yasaka possess godlike powers dwarfing even an army of S-Class monsters. This claim is 100% true, I can attest to that."
"Amazing!" was all Tsukune could muster, embarrassedly closing his mouth when he realized he had been doing an accurate impression of a fish moments before. "She sounds just as powerful as Alucard, maybe moreso."
"I'd wager her full strength surpasses even his full power... Also bear in mind, the Alucard you fought last year barely had time to recover from centuries of slumber. He was a shadow of his former self weakened from years of sealing, and you still found him unbeatable."
The assertion silence everyone, though Moka recovered first. "My mother... She must have been a truly amazing fighter."
Kurumu suddenly pouted. "Wait! Are you saying the leader of the Kyoto Faction was that powerful, and she still didn't help stop Fairy Tale."
"It was not her sphere of influence that Alucard had threatened so she did nothing. I doubt he would have dared to, at least not until his full power had been restored, and his dark legions rebuilt."
The female vampire appeared to share the sentiment. "If she didn't help us then, why would she now?"
"That's a funny story. I think the rest of this explanation might also answer your other questions, which means this'll be over faster for me. At least that's what I'm hoping?"
Fang-Fang glanced up from his lap. "Does this have anything to do with the change in Fairy Tale's leadership?"
"I imagine that jerk, Kiria, was never all that popular with anyone." Kurumu added dismissively.
"The boy's absolutely right. I should've known that the children of Huang Family would've heard something by now." The Bus Driver removed the cigar from his mouth, letting out as asthmatic cough. "The brat who took Fairy Tale's top spot realized they were more or less finished, since most of its other leaders were killed and most of its benefactors retracted their financial support."
"No doubt it was my father's sudden reemergence, and the loss of the Shuzen Family name that caused this to happen."
"Yeah, and most of the folks funding those terrorists from the shadows were smart enough to back out before Issa got a hold of 'em. Even fools know when they've been put in a dangerous position."
Yukari suddenly raised her hand, shaking it as if she were a kid in class. She quickly stopped upon realizing the absurdity of it. "Uh yeah, I just wanna know something. How does this relate to what Moka was asking?"
Kurumu folded her arms impatiently, wincing as she felt her injuries ache. "Yeah, that doesn't answer the rest of our questions.
"I'll make it quick then." Nurari spoke, though contrary to his promise, he began busying himself with the buttons of his shirt. "That brat who stole Gyokuro's seat knew the syndicate had reached the end of its life, so he reached out to new benefactors. I'm sure you kids have already begun to realize this even without me tellin' you."
"So he recruited humans with supernatural powers... Like that exorcist!" Tsukune mentioned.
Moka remained unimpressed. "All you're doing is stating the obvious, yet I fail to see how even a large number of humans could pose a threat to this academy.
"Like most of your kind, you clearly underestimate humans." Ling-Ling suddenly spoke out, her eerie expression seemingly more serious than normal. "Thanks to the gifts imparted onto them by the God of the Bible, you may find there are humans with powers surpassing even the most ferocious S-Class monster."
Mizore responded with a tiny shrug. "That exorcist was bat shit crazy, but we have seen scarier things than him."
"If only that were it, we wouldn't be so concerned. You kids certainly have a lot to learn." the Bus Driver explained, earning confounded looks from the others. "Most Youkai live isolated lives within small communities and do not travel much, but you'll find this world is far more complex than it seems."
"Angels, Devils, Gods, Demons... The supernatural realms are nearly endless." Ruby concurred with a distant expression.
"Exactly, and I have reason to believe that Fairy Tale has reached out in search of an alliance with which to further their interests. There are many like-minded individuals beyond the world of monsters who seek the same goals."
The female vampire stood up again, her arms stiffening. "Talk straight! You do know something else, don't you!?"
"Hard-pressed to slip one by you, isn't it." Their benefactor shrugged, his grin twisting into an almost fearful expression. "It's only a theory, but the injuries on several of those corpses weren't made by any kind of physical weapon."
Ling-Ling became suddenly intrigued. "How, may I ask, did you manage to survey the bodies so thoroughly? They were still being kept under tight surveillance by my zombies."
"No one without my sister's authorization is allowed inside the morgue." her brother interjected.
Rather than wait for an answer, Ruby took the mysterious man's smirk as reassurance that he had managed somehow. Though upon further consideration of his words, she still felt uneasy about some of his testimony. " The traces of magic found within Haiji's body were clearly divine in origin. Therefore, he must have been attacked by a holy sword."
"Close, but not exactly. I've seen these type of wounds before, and the only thing capable of producing this level of damage is a weapon constructed entirely of magical energy. Nope, this was definitely the mark of a light spear."
Moka's eyes narrowed in disgust. "The type of attack used by an angel! That's impossible."
"Wrong on two accounts." the Bus Driver responded, turning his back to the others. "In this world nothing is impossible. Secondly, not a single angel exists that would have attacked the innocent in such a brutal manner."
Due to the approaching topic on powers completely unfamiliar to him, Tsukune found himself lost again. It looked as if Moka had some knowledge, but even hers seemed limited compared to a certain mysterious transportation engineer. "How do you know it wasn't an angel, if that's the kind of weapon that was used?"
"It might surprise you to know this, but you can meet quite a few people after being alive for over a millennia. I'm familiar with the protectors of Heaven, and none of those righteous doves have any ill intentions. If they perpetuated any impure thoughts or actions, it would cause them to lose their divine protection."
Ruby placed her hands on her desk, her finger pushing ever harder into the wooden surface. She grit her teeth worriedly. "You're saying that Kiria Yoshii has made contact with fallen angels!?"
"That is my suspicion." Nurari answered in no certain terms, once again pulling down the brim of his hat. "I wouldn't go spreading this around until we've got proof, but all the evidence points towards this."
The male Shinso blinked confusedly. "What are fallen angels, some kind of evil devils?"
Ruby shook her head, deciding to share what little she knew when their guest said no more. "It's a common misconception for a human to make, but the two races are different as monsters are to humans." She hesitated for a moment, still not an expert on the topic, herself. "Devils are a sentient race who have always dwelled in the underworld. Fallen Angels were once children of God who betrayed him and fell from grace by performing acts of wickedness or impurity."
The Bus Driver confirmed her explanation with a small nod. "They've got black wings like a filthy crow, but still retain the ability to wield the powers of light." he suddenly appeared as if he had swallowed something bitter. "During the old days, they masqueraded as pure angels and manipulated Christians into persecuting our kind."
Tsukune suddenly remembered a lesson from monster history class along with something the youngest of his friends had said during her encounter with the exorcist. "Yukari!?" he asked, causing the little witch to glance down at the floor.
She twirled her wand between her fingers with a melancholy expression. "Witches were also victims... That's why there are so few of us left."
Moka fell silent, remembering the stories of how the Church had laid waste to the kingdom that her mother and Alucard had once founded in the hopes of fostering coexistence. In a way, fallen angels had been the cause of so much misery and strife for her people. Their "mischief" in the human world had effectively molded Alucard into the monster they had fought to stop. She felt her blood boil, her fangs instinctively lengthening.
The idea made her blood boil, and in that moment, she could feel her heart racing, and a familiar thirst that would be rude to indulge right now. "Fallen Angels take joy out of causing trouble for others. It wouldn't be a surprise why Fairy Tale joined up them. They both want to cause a war!"
"So our enemies are the Fallen Angels?" Tsukune questioned.
"Not all of 'em." the former monster king began, his words surprising everyone. "It takes all kinds to make any society. Just like with monsters, there are people from every faction that would do anything to stir up trouble. Keep this in mind before pointing the finger at anyone."
Kurumu looked slightly insulted. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Nurari snickered dryly, hoping one of them would ask. "Cause doing otherwise would be the same thing as people judging us based on the actions of Fairy Tale..." he answered ominously. Seeing them all fall silent once more, he turned and headed for the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Moka appeared in front of him.
"Impressive as ever, Miss Akashiya." the Bus Driver complimented, earning a strangely mingled look of flattery and irritation.
"You don't intend on slipping away again, do you?"
"On the contrary. Had I wanted to depart sooner, I would have done so by now." He looked back at the others before returning his attention to the stubborn vampiress. "I'm certain there's more you wish to know, but I've told you all that I can for the moment." He tipped his hat mockingly.
Moka found herself standing aside as if some greater force had forced her to back down, joining the others as they watched the mysterious man make his exit. The sound of footsteps seemingly disappeared as the door clicked shut behind him, almost as if had never even been there to begin with. Ever since meeting him, the Newspaper Club had always found the Bus Driver to be a secretive and mysterious man. Even though he had taken a more active role in the school's affairs, some things never changed.
"After all this time, he's still creepy as ever." Yukari shivered slightly, earning looks of agreement from her friends.
The next morning...
The academy was abuzz with gossip, rumors, and perverted stares. Naturally this was the norm for a school filled with hormonal teenage monsters, though for once, the conversations were less centered around Moka and Tsukune and their circle of decidedly attractive friends. Instead, this morning's hot topic was a new transfer student. Even though it was the middle of the year, they had suddenly receive sheaves of transfer documents, and the next day she had been officially registered. This caused only a small stir among the administration, yet the student population were reacting more drastically.
"I wonder who she is?" A blonde-haired second year whispered to her friend.
"Whoa, she's so damned cute!" Another student added.
Groups of students whispered amongst each other as they watched the academy's newest student, the girls curious and the boys contemplating on whether or not to approach her. she was a petite girl with hazel eyes and short white hair that barely reached her shoulders, held in place by two uniquely cat-shaped clips on either side. She wore the standard Youkai Academy girls uniform, consisting of a green jacket and plaid skirt, though it had been customized somewhat to include a black neck ribbon, knee-high socks, and a pair of normal brown shoes.
While no busty beauty like Kurumu, her small size and miniature figure had a charm of its own, making for a positively adorable charm. Though this was somewhat at odds with the deadpan serious expression on her face. Naturally, her cute appearance had attracted attention from most of the student body, though she exuded a strangely cold aura that kept them at bay. Except for one second year student.
Standing over six feet, he stood tall with a large frame, muscular physique and a thick square-set jaw. "Hey new girl, mind telling me what's your name?"
"I have places to be... Please move aside." The tiny student responded emotionlessly, not even raising her head to meet his eyes.
Undeterred by her response, the hulking man smiled. "Hey, that's no way to talk to your elders. I was just gonna offer you some help. You're new around here, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't need help." she swept past him with an offput expression, only to feel a hand close around her wrist.
"I'm just trying to be hospitable. No need to act like you're too good to accept help from a kind upperclassman."
She exhaled, her emotionless exterior giving way to an impatient look. "I consider my time precious, and you strike me as a moron whose mind only focuses on the obscene." She wrenched her hand free from his with minimal effort. "Now, please get out of my way, or I'll be forced to do something unpleasant."
The larger student winced irritably. "You've got a lot of nerve... Judging me when we just met!"
"You'll find I have a lot of experience with your kind, though from what I've seen so far, it appears you lack any redeeming qualities whatsoever."
"Grrrr... You... you... ..." The older student's tiny eyes bulged wildly, his fists now trembling violently. He took a moment to calm down, a truly devilish smile surfacing moments later. "Here I tried being nice, but it seems we'll have to do this hard way. Hope ya like the rough stuff, you smart-mouthed little bitch!"
He reared back angrily, the thuggish man's giant body expanding with larger muscles, and his skin changing from a medium tan to a sickly gray color. Short-cut brown hair lengthened into a grizzly mane of tangled black fur, the top of his school uniform tearing open to reveal a large beer gut and hair chest. Several other students nearby scattered as his lower mouth bulged into a slacking jaw, revealing a pair of thick short fangs that curved upwards, resting over his upper lip like upside-down tusks. He let out a few angry grunts before roaring in the tiny girl's face, the wind from his mouth gently blowing through her bob cut like a fearsome hurricane.
"Student's aren't supposed to reveal their true forms in this school, but I'll make an exception for this!" the hulking troll said, drawing himself up to his fool eight-foot size. He let out a dull-witted laugh. "Scared yet, you mouthy brat!?"
The new student remained impassive, her stare like that of a statue, though her nose seemed to crinkle, ever-so-slightly. "Your mouth smells like ass." she answered bluntly.
"Die!" he screamed, swinging a mammoth-sized fist. The large monster felt as if he had just punched a steel wall, his fist unable to move any further no matter how hard he pushed, only to notice the tiny girl had stopped him with one hand.
"Please go away..." She demanded in a flat monotone, her miniature form barely budging an inch under the strain.
"Pretty strong for a little runt, aren't ya!?" He replied, forcing a smile in a feeble attempt to hide his look of surprise. "Good thing I was going easy before."
The thuggish troll pulled his arm back and cupped one hand over the other, slamming both hands down with the force of a hammer in an attempt to crush his prey with maximum force. The petite transfer student raised both hands this time, seizing hold of his much larger hands, though this time she felt herself being pushed into the ground due to his larger size and rage. Upon seeing his look of utter revulsion, she sighed and instead tightened her grip around his wrists, effortlessly lifting her opponent overhead as if he weighed nothing at all.
"Suck it..." She stated, eliciting a confused grunt from the man.
Passersby watched in shock as the newcomer spun him around over her head and tossed her attacker into the air. Several students ran for cover as his body came crashing to the ground where a crowd had been standing moments before, his giant form violently rolling with a loud crunching noise until he plowed headfirst into a particularly large tombstone in the nearby cemetery. Realizing that all eyes were on her, the academy's newest student returned the stares she received with and intense one of her own, causing most of the others to turn away and leave.
"And I thought my perv was the worst." The girl rubbed her hands together, bending over to retrieve her discarded school bag.
She looked up, only to be greeted by a pair of strangers wearing identical black uniforms. Being unfamiliar with Jiang Shi, she found the talismans covering their faces to be strange, along with the zombies' overall appearance. The small girl took a defensive stance, but the newcomers paid her little mind, instead seizing hold of the unconscious troll slumped against the grave marker behind her. Each grabbing an arm for support, the strange pair dragged him off towards the school administration building.
"So, you're the new transfer student!" another voice called out, prompting her to turn around. Its owner was white-clad boy with slightly androgynous features. "We don't permit fighting between students on this campus. Just a little warning for future reference."
"He started it." the girl stated before raising an eyebrow questioningly. "Who're you supposed to be?"
"I'm a second year student in charge of the disciplinary committee, Fang-Fang Huang. My sister's the chief of security here." He replied with a friendly smile, looking suddenly downtrodden when she did not return the gesture. "That guy was always a nuisance, but please don't judge everyone here by him."
Little did he know, the petite girl had seen much worse, though she found little interest in what he had to say. "Don't have to tell me twice."
"Um, so... Do you need help getting to class. The campus here can be kinda confusing at first and I figured you might..."
"I can manage." she began walking away, completely undeterred.
"Well if there's anything you need to know, just ask the staff or security for help." he called after her, only to receive a small hand gesture which he took as a reserved sign of thanks.
The Yasha watched her go with a curious expression. Seeing the white-haired girl fight had been a surprise considering her small stature and lack of presence, yet he had rarely seen someone so introverted and cool-headed. Yet at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of monster she was. Such raw physical power was usually attributed to top Youkai, though vampires possessed a much more menacing aura. Her appearance had piqued his interest, and now he had a few questions to ask Ruby.
"Well that's a rare sight, wouldn't you agree?" Ling-Ling suddenly popped up behind him.
While most people would've been unnerved by her sudden appearance, her habit of showing up in odd places at the most random of times was something he had come to expect. "Oh, hey big sis!" he greeted politely. "What did you mean, just now?"
"It's been a long time since I've seen a Nekomata, and one with such a powerful aura, too!"
"Wait a minute! You mean that little girl is an S-Class creature!? One of the ten sacred species native only to Far-East Asia?"
"The very same." Ling-Ling answered with an amused smirk, casually extending an long-sleeved arm into her brother's path. "Her kind is said to be on par with the Kitsune and the Monkey Sprites, and judging by the damage she inflicted, I can only assume the rumors are true."
The Huang Family heir smiled awkwardly at the thought, seeming at ease. "Let's just hope she doesn't make it a habit of causing trouble around campus."
"Regardless, I believe her presence could make things around here a little more interesting."
"I knew you'd say that." he exhaled deeply, looking suddenly nostalgic in the face of his sister's antics.
The undead woman gave him a gentle shove from behind before putting the ends of her sleeves together. "I do believe you have some business to attend to, little brother. Allow me to handle the patrol duties in your stead."
"That's not a bad idea. I was heading in that direction, anyway." Turning on his heel, Fang-Fang followed after his sister's Jiang Shi to issue the report to the administrative office.
Meanwhile, the mystery girl had reached her morning class and was preparing to enter the room, having been told the basic precautions for being a transfer student. She naturally followed the usual protocol without argument, although after her earlier encounter with the student body, she doubted it was even necessary to formally announce her presence. While she was unaware, fights had recently become a rarer sight on the once violent campus, courtesy of the new disciplinary committee and the Newspaper Club's fearsome reputation.
Math instructor Ririko Kagome stood before her crop of first-year students. "Excuse me, please. May I have your attention?" She slammed one hand down on her desk. "Now before we begin today, I would like to make a small announcement."
"Are you gonna stop forcing female students to wear maid outfits while tutoring them?" one girl called out, earning a chorus of laughs from her classmates.
The teacher sighed wearily, slowly running a hand down her face. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
She forced a smile, realizing just how bad her reputation had become in the last two years. Since the incident with Moka Akashiya exposing her questionable tutoring practices, she had lost a lot of respect from the student body, and had even come close to being fired. Of course, compared to the messes caused by Kotsubo and Ishigami, her antics had been relatively harmless.
Miss Ririko cleared her throat loudly, bringing the class back to order. "We have a new student that will be joining us today. Please be nice to her."
On cue, the white-haired girl from before opened the door, moving to stand in front of the teacher's desk. "It's a pleasure to meet you all." she bowed her head without so much as a simple smile, earning a stifled silence from her new classmates.
"Glad to see we're getting off on the right foot." Ms. Ririko commented, a note of sarcasm hidden behind her pleasant facade. "Now dear, would you care to introduce yourself to the class? Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little about yourself."
The tiny girl sighed as if she had been tasked with a burden. "My name's Koneko Toujou... That's it." she began, wracking her mind for something else to say when the teacher did not respond. "Thanks to an encounter with one of your upperclassman, my opinion of this school has dropped considerably."
While the teacher didn't much care, she found this comment disconcerting. "That will do, Miss Toujou. You may sit wherever you like, but please do go easy on the other students."
"She's a fine one to talk." one of the girls in the back whispered, earning a giggle from her friend.
Both immediately fell silent as the new student walked past their desks, her cool indifference sending a shiver down their spines. Several of her new classmates cast nervous looks at each other as she passed, though they couldn't take their eyes off of the petite beauty. She gave off an air of mystery that boys found strangely compelling, though none dared to speak to her. Ignoring their obvious stares, she took a seat in the back corner of the room, positioning herself so that she could see the entire classroom, while distancing herself from the other students by one or two desk in each direction.
Even their lamia instructor was taken aback by the odd transfer student, though she said nothing, instead focusing the room's attention back onto herself. "All right class! Let's begin with roll call, shall we?"
As the teacher began calling out names, Koneko Toujou began eying her new classmates in a most unsettling manner, less like she was looking at them, and more like she were trying to see straight through them. She closed her eyes as if in deep thought, giving off the impression of a tiny Buddha statue.
Meanwhile...
Somewhere in the human world, a person she knew all too well was having concerns of his own. The brunette student let out an exasperated sigh as he tried to relax, looking rather out of place in the Victorian style room belonging to his esteemed master He had begun life as an ordinary, albeit perverted boy, living each day enjoying his youth and hoping he wouldn't spend the rest of his life alone. On his very first romantic outing, his date toyed with and killed him by running a spear through his heart, a rather fitting end for one who had been hoping to find love.
However, his lucrative thoughts summoned forth the beautiful devil who would become his master, she who was named the crimson-haired princess of ruin. Since that fateful day, the young pervert had found himself thrust into the midst of supernatural factions and powers he had never once imagined could be real. While most would have been frightened, he had also discovered a world of drop-dead sexy girls, many of which expressed strong affection for his lackluster self, something he found hard to believe. Sure he valued his friends and would protect them at all costs, but he never thought of himself as anyone special.
Issei Hyoudou exhaled deeply, wrapping an arm over the back of the couch. "I still don't get why we're doing this."
Behind the lavish desk at the head of the room sat Rias Gremory, the woman who had so kindly saved his life. "It's not for you to worry about, though I'm certain she would be touched all the same." his master replied with a warm smile. "You know as well as I do that there's no one out there braver than she is."
"Yeah, that's true. Though, it's not like I'm worried about her safety... I mean, the girl could turn a grown man into a pretzel. What I really wanna know if how this happened, and why she had to go there alone."
The older woman removed her glasses so she could see him better. "Well if you're wondering, it wasn't my decision to make."
"Let me take a guess... Was this some kind of favor for your big bro?"
"Not at all..." a third voice spoke out. The couple diverted the attention to a magic circle that had appeared in the room's opposite corner, a familiar figure emerging from within. Standing over six feet tall, their guest was a handsome man clad in a dark suit. "Your friend was sent on this mission at my request."
"Hello, Azazel..." Rias greeted, earning a tiny nod from the Fallen Angel leader. "I see you still haven't lost that knack for showing up at the most opportune moments. Perhaps you've taken to spying on us, again."
"Spare me the baseless accusations. I just happened to be passing by." He replied, earning a look of disdain from the young redhead. The fallen angel ignored her, instead turning to face the perverted dragon. "I needed a favor from you guys, and Sirzechs was kind enough to approve the necessary arrangements."
"That still doesn't explain why you sent here out there without telling us what's going on."
"Maybe if you paid a little more attention during my debriefing, you would've gotten the full story the first time." Azazel replied with a knowing smirk, earning a confused look from his student. "In any case, this mission was rather important, and your friend just happened to be the best person for the job."
"I still don't think it was a good idea sending Koneko to such a weird place. Even after all this time, I never figured there would be a school for monsters hidden right here in Japan."
Rias nodded in agreement, despite her own reservations. "When it came to decide who would be assigned this duty, the decision was obvious. Who better to infiltrate it, than an actual Youkai?"
"She may have been reborn as a devil, but the cat retains all of her original abilities, too. Makes it a lot easier to blend into a crowd when you're among your own kind." the older man added in sagely, despite the obvious nature of it all.
"That's not what I meant..." Issei began, causing his teacher to raise an eyebrow. "I mean, why are we sticking our noses into this. It's got nothing to do with us."
"Normally you'd be right, but I think you'll want to hear me out before judging our decisions."
The Red Dragon Emperor appeared slightly apprehensive. "What do you mean?"
Azazel stepped across the room, taking a seat opposite his students. "All right, I guess you deserve the right to know." he kicked back on the sofa, looking calm and cool-headed as ever. "I received word from an old friend that some of my boys were raising Hell at Youkai Academy."
"Fallen Angels!" Issei added unnecessarily, earning a stern nod from the Governor General.
Rias suddenly looked as if she had swallowed something bitter, her body language expressing signs of clear irritation. "Why would Fallen Angels involve themselves in the business of other supernatural factions. It makes very little sense to me, at least."
"No joke! Especially considering we made peace and junk. Even so, wouldn't they start attacking us if they had a problem with how things were going?"
The Fallen Angel sat back, resting both of his arms across the back of the couch. "The truth is, we have no clue what's going on there. That's why we decided to investigate the situation more closely."
Issei leaned forward, shifting uncomfortably as he brought both hands to rest on his lap. "You don't think this has anything to do with 'them', do you?" His words prompted a similar look of concern from his master, though she said nothing.
Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Azazel nonchalantly swept their concerns aside. He knew that bad blood existed due to personal encounters with a certain terrorist group. "I don't see how it matters one way or the other, cause either way, it's bad news for us."
"How can you speak so callously concerning the actions of the Khaos Brigade!?" Rias chastised him, unable to hide her aggression even in the face of a faction leader.
If it bothered him, Azazel didn't show it. "Because at the end of the day, all that matters is us staying one step ahead of the enemy." His expression became suddenly grim. "The group's factions function separately for the most part, which means the specific interests of one do not always represent another. We're currently treating this situation as an isolated incident."
'What incident!?" Issei exclaimed, looking suddenly confused by the revelation.
The teacher frowned. "You've probably guessed by now that something crazy went down in Youkai territory recently. Normally it wouldn't be our concern, but I was recently approached by an acquaintance from way back, and the details really caught my attention."
"From 'way back', huh... Exactly how far back would that be?"
"I'd say over a thousand years, at least." the Governor General shrugged, ignoring the stares from his students. "He apparently had contact with Michael recently, so the channel of communication between Christianity and Youkai had already been opened by the angels."
Rias looked suddenly intrigued. "So I take it Lord Michael knows him, too?"
The dragon bearer blinked in surprise before finding his voice. "Who is this guy, anyway? He must a real big shot if you guys have all head of him!"
Azazel smirked, looking quite amused by their assertions. "Yes and no... Though I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this one." He paused, purpose incensing his audience. "Maybe you kids have heard tales of a creature known as the Nurarihyon, or am I wrong?"
While Issei appeared stumped, the name seemed to resonate with his mistress. "It's an old story, but not one I'm entirely unfamiliar with. You speak of the ancient Youkai who was said to be the ruler of all monsters? Don't tell me it's him!"
"Wow, so this friend of yours is some kind of monster king!?" the perverse teenager's brain lapsed into a montage of beautiful woman, a creepy smile painted across his face. "Bet he's got harems of sexy monster chicks waiting on him hand and foot."
"That's where you're wrong, kid!" Azazel let out a hearty, good-natured laugh. "It's true I haven't seen the dude in years, but the Nurarihyon lost his fancy title eons ago. Last I heard, he had taken a job as an ordinary bus driver for that crazy monster school of his."
Issei deflated, his fantasies shattering. "You're serious?" he asked in a downtrodden moan.
"It does sound a little bit far-fetched. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't that be the equivalent of the Four Great Satan's resigning to work ordinary jobs?"
"Most faction leaders have their share of quirks. The lazy old fool retired peacefully hundreds of years ago and placed his faith in others to carry the leadership of the monster world. What he does with his free time isn't my concern, though considering I became a glorified high school teacher, I've got no right to criticize."
"Wait a minute!? What does this have to do with Koneko's mission?" the young man beckoned impatiently.
Azazel sighed, though amusement was still evident on his face. "That crazy old Bus Driver told me Youkai Academy had been attacked several times in the last week by terrorists, and he suspected someone from our three factions was to blame."
The Gremory heiress placed a hand on her cheek. "You never did tell us why the Fallen Angels became the prime suspect in these incidents."
"Nurari described the first attacker as a complete psychopath who enjoyed cutting up his victims like a butcher. The man was dressed like a priest, only with white hair and some serious mental issues... Sound familiar to you, or do I have to spell it out?"
"Wait, why does that sound familiar." Issei scratched his chin, his eyes widening in shock as it came to him.
"The Rogue Exorcist, Freed Selzen..." Rias spoke for him, earning the tiniest of nods from the fallen angel leader.
"That sick bastard tried to kill us all a bunch of times, but I thought you took care of him?" he reasoned turning to their teacher for answers.
Azazel sat back up, looking completely serious. "Vali brought him back after that incident with the stolen Excaliburs, but the rogue priest was abducted shortly thereafter and no clues were left behind. I wasn't even aware he was alive until now."
"Knowing that maniac, he might've been acting independently. He doesn't seem like the type of guy who needs a reason for doing terrible things." Issei suggested, cringing as he remembered his encounters with the crazed priest.
"We might've considered that if it hadn't been for the second report. Apparently more terrorists appeared to liberate Freed. Some of the insurgents were confirmed as monsters, but the injuries found on several corpses were apparently inflicted by light-based weaponry."
The young man clenched his fists. "It might've been someone like Raynare, or those others who wanted to seize power."
His mentor appeared indifferent. "There's people who go behind my back, though even I didn't expect something like this was about to happen."
"Do you have any idea who might've been responsible?" Rias questioned, her eyes narrowing in thought as she pressed on. "Has anyone among the Grigori expressed a desire to betray the trust of the other factions?"
"Oh yeah, there's tons of them. The peace treaty we signed went up their asses pretty badly. Kokabiel might've been a fool, but he wasn't the only warmonger getting bored with the status-quo." Azazel explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The red-haired beauty did her best to conceal a sigh. "Unfortunately, that doesn't narrow things down much for us.
His expression darkened moments later. "Which is why we stationed Koneko at Youkai Academy. If those traitors rear their ugly heads again, it'll give us the chance to find those answers."
"Whether or not my brother agreed to this plan, I simple don't approve of you endangering one of my household."
"You should've sent one of us with her. Heck, I would've gone if it meant missing some classes." the dragon-user protested.
Azazel chuckled at the thought. "First of all, Youkai Academy is still a school, so chances are, you'd still be stuck in a classroom whether you liked it or not. Secondly, monster girls may not always be the most attractive, but they have a tendency to assume sexy human forms when outside of battle. If nothing else, I'm sure you would have been distracted by their assets."
Issei jumped to his feet, his fingernails practically digging into the palms of his hands. "You think that makes me feel better!? Now I'm even more pissed you guys didn't let me in on this!" he paused dramatically, crying out in pain seconds later. "Ouch!"
"Your reaction assures me that we made the right decision." The Gremory heiress added coolly before yanking him by the ear. She let the hapless pawn struggle for a moment longer before letting go.
"Sheesh, careful with the ears... I still need those things." he commented in a defeated manner, earning a smile from his mistress. He reluctantly turned back to the Fallen Angel. "Oh well, so long as nothing bad happens to her, I won't hold it against you."
Azazel glanced from his face to hers before waving his hands in protest. "Now there's no need to give me those looks." He placed a hand to his mouth as if telling a secret. "Youkai tend to be ranked in terms of strength, and Cat Spirits happen to fall under the S-Class."
The pervert's expression became suddenly blank. "Um, is that a good thing?"
"It's the highest power level attainable by ordinary monsters." The Fallen Angel began, quickly falling back into his teacher role. "Say an average Nekomata is considered to be among the most dangerous of monsters. Your friend happens to be an elite breed even among her species. She'll be fine surrounded by a bunch of low-class goblins and oni."
Rias placed her hands on her hips. "I have no doubt Koneko can handle the other students. We should be more concerned about how powerful this enemy might be."
"Old man Nurari said he would keep an eye on her, so I'm not too worried about anything bad happening yet."
The Red Dragon Emperor seemed less than impressed. "You said you haven't seen this guy in years, and you still trust him? How well do you even know this Nulilu-guy, or whatever he's called!? I still say someone should have gone with her!"
"Some monsters can sniff out other species like sharks smell blood. I didn't think it was worth the risk sending someone with the aura of a dragon or human, when your friend was more than capable of handling the situation herself." Azazel casually flicked a speck of dust off of his black suit. "I thought about sending Gasper with her, but he probably would've been even more inconspicuous than someone like Xenovia."
Issei absent-mindedly ran a hand through his hair. "Oh yeah, Gasper's a vampire. Though with the way he acts, I sometimes forget."
"I would've been completely opposed to sending him. Especially when you consider how much trouble he has interacting with his fellow devils, and even ordinary people." The Gremory heiress surmised, earning a murmur of agreement from the others.
Azazel reached into the jacket of his suit, pulling out what appeared to be an ordinary smart phone. "As for Koneko... I gave her one of these babies on the off chance she needs help from the likes of us."
"So you did plan for the worst?" Issei looked less worried, though still slightly confounded.
"Yup, this little gem is wired with special hardware that allows the user to establish a connection and call virtually anywhere." he spun the device around, popping open the panel in the back to reveal a blinking light inside. "The emergency device inside enables me to track the user anywhere."
"Seems pretty mundane by today's standards." Rias replied, sounding unimpressed.
"Did I forget to mention you can make calls between Heaven and Hell with this phone." The Fallen Angel grinned before throwing his invention into air and blasting it with a beam of angelic light. Though the device gave off smoke, it remained intact. "Not to mention it's waterproof, and damn near indestructible. There's even a homing device will allow use to pinpoint her location instantly on demand, that way we can provide assistance if she needs backup."
Rias returned to her seat, gently resting both hands on her desk. "It sounds safe, but have you tried it out in a real-life setting."
"How else do you think I tested them?" the inventor kicked back, his relaxed demeanor returning. "Granted some of my minions weren't so happy about being forced to travel through distant planes of existence to test the effectiveness of this little toy, but the risk was minimal at its worst."
"Well, it's better the Fallen Angels than a member of my household."
"I wouldn't have given these to Team Gremory without having the boys in R&D try 'em out, first. Not like your brother would've let me, otherwise. Sirzechs expressed the same concerns during the early stages of development, so I made certain not to disappoint him."
The crimson-haired girl placed a hand on her forehead. "Honestly, I'm surprised he would press the issue. There are times when my brother can be reckless in his own right."
Issei scratched his head with a bemused expression. "I guess you guys really did think of everything, huh Azazel?"
"And that's why I'm here..." he replied with a confident smirk.
Later on...
Tsukune walked hand-in-hand with Moka as they walked through the fields of "paradise". They had been called out to the dangerous training ground by her father less than an hour ago, though he refused to say much else on the matter. Despite the information they had received from the Bus Driver, the female vampire still wondered if her father could tell them more. She had learned long ago that trying to sway Issa Shuzen was pointless. Only his wives had ever been capable of such a feat, though the last few years had made him wary of falling prey to emotions.
The former human leaned in, looking slightly nervous. "Why do you suppose your father wanted us both to come, today?"
"I don't know." she answered without hesitation. "He gave me nothing, except an order to appear alongside you for this afternoon's training session. I am unaware what he has in mind, or why my presence is necessary."
"An order, huh? He never struck me as the type of father to exert control over his family."
"Under normal circumstances that would not be the case, though if the situation is an important once, he can appear quite demanding."
She swept past him, leaving the impression of the colder outer personality he had come to know the first two years they spent together While unfamiliar with the family dynamic between members of the Shuzen Household, he imagined it was a strict one at times. The first direct example he witnessed was the master-servant relationship between Kahlua and Gyokuro, though he quickly guessed the crazed mother's personality was atypical, even among vampires. While stern, interactions between members of the race had repeatedly been shown to be varied as any species of monster he had ever seen
Sitting on the ruins at the end of the grassy field was Moka's father, his gaze directed toward the distant sky. Though he appeared distant and reserved, his eyes occasionally wandered into their path, signifying that he was aware of their presence. For whatever reason, he did not beckon to them, appearing calm as ever, a facade that Tsukune knew all too well. During their first meeting, he had quickly discovered that beneath the pride and trappings of vampire nobility, beat the heart of a protective and caring father.
Moka bowed her head politely as they reached their destination, a gently nudge to the shoulder prompting her boyfriend to do the same. "It's good to see you again, father... I apologize for the tardiness."
"Me too, but we were forced to rush here from our last class." Tsukune added hastily. It was odd seeing both sides of the Shuzen Patriarch's personality, hence why Tsukune always approached him carefully during each of their meetings. He never knew whether his mentor would be the kindly father figure or the ruthless assassin.
"I'm glad to see you are doing well, Moka." He greeted with a reserved smile, his eyes shifting to his future son-in-law. "I hear you both stood together and protected the academy in my absence. Akasha would be proud of you both, were she still alive."
The male Shinso felt his stomach lurch at the mention of the pink-haired woman, having never been able to forget her smile nor her last words. "Thank you for the praise, but I didn't do nearly as much as my friends."
"I am aware that the Succubus and your friends from the Huang Family were injured in these attacks." the elder vampire folded his arms with a serious look, though he gave them no signs of hostility. "You should use this as a motivation to become stronger... All of you... ..."
"Yes sir." Tsukune bowed his head formally, earning an approving nod from his master.
Moka exhaled suddenly before stepping forward. "Enough of the formalities, father. Why have you summoned me here, as well?"
Reciprocating his daughter's action, Issa jumped from his perch atop a destroyed stone pillar, gracefully landing a few meters across from her. "Normally this would be the time for Mr. Aono's afternoon training, but Lord Nurari has deemed that important changes be made to his daily regimen... Changes that will affect both of you."
"It's not like you to speak in such a roundabout manner." she stepped to the side, casually wrapping an arm around Tsukune's. The gesture earned a hesitant look from her boyfriend, though he said nothing.
Issa turned his back to the two younger vampires, resting a hand against the stone wall he had been sitting on moments earlier. "These past months I have trained Tsukune Aono in the physical arts, teaching him how to better his fighting skills. that much is obvious."
"That Bus Driver wants me to be able to defend the academy as it's new headmaster." the boy added unnecessarily.
The Shuzen Patriarch turned to face them once more. "To fulfill these duties properly, it will also require you to gain a deeper understanding of magic as well."
"Master Touhou Fuhai instructed Tsukune in the art of Youjutsu before our battle with Fairy Tail. With all due respect, I don't understand what you could teach him that he hasn't already learned." his daughter beckoned.
"I doubt my knowledge of the basic principles will he helpful to one who has mastered an advanced technique capable of blocking the Jigentou. However, the boy's mastery of Youjutsu is minimal, and his training incomplete due to the death of the Three Dark Lords."
Tsukune looked suddenly disheartened, though the feeling of Moka's hand on his back brought strength to his eyes. "So, what should I do?"
The elder vampire nodded once to affirm his understanding. "Part of the reason for absence has been to find you a suitable teacher... I was successful in discovering skilled master, but she is only willing to accept you as a student so long as Moka is willing to learn as well."
His daughter appeared suddenly apprehensive, her eyebrows furrowing in distrust. "Wait just a minute... What do you mean by that? Who is this person!?"
"I'm certain you know her well." Issa replied smoothly, taking a step to the side as a magic circle appeared on the stone wall behind him.
The younger vampires shielded their eyes as a cloaked figure emerged from within, her body petite and small like Kokoa, yet radiating a more fearsome aura. The Shuzen Patriarch closed his eyes solemnly as the newcomer darted past him, a pair of long-sleeved arms wrapping tightly around his middle daughter in a tight embrace that knocked the wind out of her. Moka blinked twice as she remembered the familiar embrace, her eyes widening with a sense of recognition as the stranger removed her hood. Piercing red eyes and ghostly pale skin emerged from beneath the drape, with a mane of midnight black hair gently falling into place over her shoulders.
The eldest Shuzen daughter placed her hands together and cocked her head to the side, her normally murderous expression giving way to a gentle and excited smile. "It's been a long time, hasn't it, my dear little sister?"
"Wow, that was a little unexpected..." Tsukune exclaimed, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head.
"Akua!" A torrent of emotions coursed through Moka, a lurch of fear reaching her stomach that slowly changed to something warmer. So much had happened the previous year, that it took her time to sort everything out in her mind, yet in the end it was not only Tsukune, but also her eldest sister whom she had to thank for her life.
"My, you've grown even more beautiful since the last time we met." the older woman smirked mischievously, her eyes shifting to the young man beside her. She admired his lean figure and slightly toned muscles, causing him to look away bashfully. "It looks like you've come one step closer to becoming a worthy mate for my beloved sister. Well done, Mr. Aono!"
"Umm... Thanks, I guess... ..." he began, earning an affectionate touch from his fiancé. The tap seemed to bring him back to his senses. "So, uh, what brings you to Youkai Academy. Ms. Shuzen?"
She squeezed his cheek like a parent. "No need to be so formal. You can call me 'big sister' now, seeing how you and my beloved sister have already made the necessary arrangements."
"You've heard!?" Moka spoke up, earning a tiny nod from her sister.
Akua placed one hand on her hip. "Father says he approves, and I already gave you kids my blessing. So, I guess it's official!"
She was naturally referring to the consensual blood transfusion that took place back at the floating garden, though looking back, it was clear that they had much more important things to worry about at the time. Akua stretched her arms upwards, yawning lazily. Since Alucard's defeat she had been taking odd jobs around Japan, though life had been surprisingly dull since she retired from the family's assassination business. The Shuzen Patriarch exhaled impatiently, earning a knowing glance from his oldest child.
"Due to the death of Touhou Fuhai, Akua will be your teacher in the mystic arts." Issa explained, earning questioning looks from the Shinso and a smirk from his elder daughter.
"Are you any good at this stuff?" Tsukune asked, a familiar glare from the red-eyed vampiress making him feel self-conscious.
Akua seemed to find his reaction quite amusing, though she was silently glad her fierce gestures still had the same effect on others. She made a mental note to have fun with it in the future. "I spent a lot of time in China growing up, so my knowledge of magic is quite extensive."
Moka was much less intimidated by her sister. "But can you teach?"
"I was hired by Lady Yasaka to instruct her students in the fine art of Youjutsu. Such has been my job for the past year. It was only by father's request that she sent me here to do the same for you."
Her father remained impassive, though satisfied with the outcome. "The Golden Fox sees this as a gesture of good will between Youkai Academy and the Kyoto Faction. While I do not know how much Nurari has chosen to share with you both, Lady Yasaka has agreed to join the cause of peaceful coexistence laid down by our forbearers."
"Do not consider me ungrateful for the offer, but if Tsukune is to be future leader of this school, his training would take priority. Why do you want to teach me?" Moka questioned her sister.
The elder Shuzen daughter folded her arms. "I believe you both can benefit from learning how to employ the use of magic."
Ironically she had spoken a half-truth. Akua wanted to spend more time with her favorite sister, and also believed her own heart would be more at ease if Moka were stronger. She wouldn't be around to protect her family at all times, and knowing that both she and her future husband had mastered the art to its pinnacle would allow her to sleep easier at night. Of course, that wasn't to say she did not care about Tsukune, either, since the boy had proven himself worthy in her eyes. He was now a valued member of their family regardless of his origin as a former human. While he would not say so yet, Akua believed her father felt the same way.
Seeing his student fall silent again, Issa spoke out. "Your training with me will continue each afternoon, but in addition to that, you will also receive instruction from Akua in the morning before classes begin."
Tsukune swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, a bead of sweat running down his face as he glanced at his future sister-in-law. "Y-yes sir..." he clenched his fists and gathered himself. "It sounds like a lot of hard work, but I won't back down!"
"Well if you were the type to give up so easily, I'm not sure you would've survived this long." Moka added with a good natured smile.
This calmed his nerves once more. "Thanks Moka."
Suddenly Akua cracked her knuckles, the sinister expression on her face appearing very much like her old self. "Oh, trust me, little boy... ... ... When I'm though, you'll wish you had chickened out!"
NOTE TO READERS: Some complaints came up that I wasn't pushing the story fast enough, so here's the next chapter. For fans of DxD, note that the rating game with Diodora Astaroth did happen, but Freed was not present in this version. I needed his character for this plot, so his fate was changed (though ultimately, not by much).
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. Please leave a review if you can. The longer stuff really helps motivate me to continue faster, but even a quickie is great.
Overall, I would love it if you guys would contribute ideas: Characters to include, plotlines, scenarios, story elements, wanted scenes etc... Also if you'd like to see more of a particular character or relationship, I'm open to all suggestions.