Chapter V(5) Reverberation Part 3: Ghoulish demise and Delightful changes.

AN/ Hello everyone and welcome back for another chapter! I am surprised of the response this story got. Being my first, I thought it would be full of hate -.o

THANKFULLY, that is not the case. You guys gave me lots of supporting advice and even answered some of the questions I had in the author's note.

A big shout to a lil' fella, Minecraft77, who gave his ideas on Tsukune's appearance. I have no idea on height measurements so that's his. Psst! Sorry I didn't use your eye idea. Hope you like this one :D

*waves at Paranoidshadow who's complaints keep me up at night* LOL

PS: I don't own shit. Rosario Vampire? Nope. Nada. Naoo. Nu. Non ... I do however ... own what is written in this story, including the damn grammar mistakes. Bound to happen .

That's all from me, enjoy!

"Here." She tosses him a bottle of tomato juice which Omote had packed. Taking huge gulps, he almost drank it within just six seconds.

Feeling that he's being watched, he brings the bottle down from his mouth to find his silver haired friend eying him suspiciously. 'I feel that she somehow tested me, and I've just failed.'

He looks at her and for some reason his ears start feeling extremely heated. It wasn't the fact that she was suspecting kami knows what, but the fact that he was not good at talking. 'Whatever I do, I will mess this up, BADLY!'

"W-well you see …" The words stopped in his throat, and his lips and mouth felt as dry as sand 'This cannot be happening! And Moka-san is so calm! I would be more grateful if she was angry ... actually … getting beaten is so much easier than talking about myself!'

"I'm sorry, Moka-san. I just don't know what to tell you…" Once again, for the second time that day he felt useless and disappointed in his inability to deal with such things. 'Dammit! I thought this year will be different! Every time I look at those beautiful eyes … EYES! Oh kami, she's still looking at me for an answer! YOU IDIOT! Stop freaking out!'

"Stop freaking out."

"Y-yeah, I'm s- WAIT, how did you know what was I thinking?" His gauged out eyes showed extreme nervousness as a child caught doing something bad.

Moka was feeling on edge today. She didn't know whether it was because of their time apart, not being released for few months or his unbelievable appearance. Her whole body felt uneasy and there was a small fire burning in the pit of her stomach that threatened to not go away. It was spinning and spinning, giving her an anxious mood about the day still unfolding. She was afraid of what he would say in a matter of seconds, the reasons for his change and what else there was to come. The scary thing was that the day has not even finished yet.

'Am I … ugh … It's so frustrating not knowing! I should have been prepared. Why do I feel this way? I told him to leave last year, didn't I? It's his fault for not listening..' She was trying to reassure herself. But maybe he needed some kind of reassurance as well; he might always looks so positive to everyone else but …

"It's all over your face. Just be your old self, I will not be as rash as last year." And for some reason her eyes held a look of guilt that pierced Tsukune's heart to the core. Her expression was all the same, but he knew her too well to know that her stoic façade was hiding a big secret.

'Why? Why is she so sad…?' He started looking for clues and soon enough he realised she was no longer staring at him but the ground, or rather, his Holy Lock. 'Is she blaming herself for whatever is happening to me?' With long forgotten fear and a new gained resolve he extends the very reason to her blues, namely his right hand, bringing it above his eyes. 'You have to be brave Tsukune; you have to become her pillar, just like she is to you.'

With the black lock hanging from his wrist, holding it above his eyes as for inspection, he glances over at the object of his affections.

"*gulp* Strange thing, isn't it?" Licking his upper lip, without moving his hand one bit, he tilts his head towards the left side so he can see her reactions.

Shock and confusion permeating her pale features, and after considering his words and their meaning, the only thing she could respond was a very 'lady-like' "Huh?"

"I kind of like it, so don't be sad. Alright?" and with the courage of a hunted rabbit he grabs her left hand and rests it on top of his right, chained one. 'If she kills me at least I didn't die a coward. Right? RIGHT?'

She leaves his words to seep into her brain and looking at what he had just done, she lifts up her hand from Tsukune's and starts poking his with her index finger. "You know I could just break that arm." It was more of a statement and not a question but her laid-off tone assured the frightened teen that she was not going to do that. 'This Tsukune…What else do you hide?'

"Moka-sa…" but before he even finishes his sentence, the ruby eyed vampire stops him with an intense glare "Though I'm more interested of what you just said. Are you that stupid?"

Her voice seemed to become more distressed but she didn't show any signs of being angry. 'In fact, she didn't even take her hand away from mine.' Her hand was still close to his, just instead of harmlessly poking him she was touching his lock. Tsukune was surprised to say the least. Not only he didn't get propelled into the air by a superhuman kick, but the way she was carrying herself around him, the way she talked to him … it was like … her warrior-like demeanor, her strongest defenses were lowered. 'She's comfortable … with … me? Ah stop thinking about useless things Tsukune, you're pushing your luck! UGH, WHAT LUCK?'

"I know I am not good at expressing myself, and I will probably say something that sounds extremely stupid to you, Moka-san. But the truth is … the truth is that you should not blame yourself for this …" She could hear his palpitating heart.

Making a mental note that he is getting better at hiding his nervous self, the vampiress pushes that at the back of her mind and finally looks down where he was pointing: at his Holy Lock … her index and middle finger somehow intertwined with the black chain and touching –what now she could feel- a tick scar. 'That's not one of his youkai battle scars. It's too … precise.'

Before having the thoughts gathered into a proper sentence, or realising that she was touching him ever so kindly, Tsukune stops his ruby eyed goddess by continuing his dialogue: "The main reason I came back to this place is you, Moka-san. You are my best friend! I want to protect you and to be b-by your side. This power allows me to do that and so … *gulp* and so … I am very … grateful. I am stronger now and there is no other life I'd rather have, there is no other place I'd rather be." With bated breath and cleared conscience he finishes his speech, his hands started to sweat from the nervousness and he wasn't sure whether Moka could hear it but his heart was beating so loud that it might break the sound barrier.

"You're right… It really does sound stupid." Her cheeks started to acquire a slight pink tint 'This moron … saying lines that would set one's teeth on edge so fluently without hesitation…'

"I just can't understand you. It WILL get worse. You understand that, right?" she tries to persuade him into the idea that whatever he is aiming for, it is dangerous to stay in the ayashi world. She couldn't understand this Tsukune. He was somehow different, but yet, the same as he was back then. How could that be possible?

"Which is why we should take care of each other. That's what friends do, right?" He reassures her and as the fool that he is, does the same mistake again: looks into her eyes. Her deep scarlet orbs seemed to radiate and feed a fire long left untouched in his heart and so … his self-control faltered for just ONE second, but it was enough. His eyes started trailing down to her plump, bloody red lips and locked themselves in place. He couldn't help it, he loved her after all, often wondering how it would feel to … touch those enticing beings. And when she licked her lips from the dry weather … 'Oh man…'

Her deep scarlet orbs were scanning his own, for what she didn't know, soon enough though- she notices that the very same eyes she's been drowning herself in for the past few seconds started drifting down. Was he checking out her breasts? His head was not bent THAT further down…'He's…' And as soon as she grasps an idea of her mouth being observed a flood of emotions hit her all at once. Confusion: 'Is there something on my face?' Anger: 'What are you daydreaming about?' and as soon as the 'k' word hits her thoughts, her ears go on fire and blushes scarlet 'Are you serious, Moka? It's all Omote's fault – DAMN HORMONES!'. But then she is bombarded with another emotion … unsure which. She wasn't really experienced with such things called feelings after all, but she felt something close to being irritated.

No longer dwelling on the subject, being already crossed with her own confusing thoughts, she finally retorts after few good seconds "You mean, ME, protecting, YOU, a human."

"Ugh … t-that's the thing, Moka-san. I … uhm … And before I say this please know that I'm not sure about whether it's all true and related but … a-and so … umm … w-what I mean to say is that … You, you see some changes right? And it's like … *sigh* this is … I don't think I still am, at least not for long." Even the extra scratch behind his head was not needed anymore to give Moka proof of his apprehension.

She knew it, she saw the signs from the beginning of this crazy day but his answer was still a blow hard to take. Masking her own apprehension with a scowl, she raises her eyebrow as a symbol for her questioning and gives him her final query "What will you do?"

"That's very psychotherapist-like hahah… Uhm…Nothing. I'm fine with the changes really. J-just as I said before. It's obvious I am changing, I …I won't fight it. I want to control it. There is no place for me in the human world, Moka-san. I…I don't mean that I will never go back of course, I have my parents there, and I hope that one day all races could live in harmony with the human one, or at least something close to peace hahah … even humans fight among themselves sometimes." 'I'm babbling like a fool!'

Taking a more serious tone this time "But my future is here. Your world 'And now mine too' needs me more." Surprisingly calm, content and pleased with his own words, he smiles in glee, unintentionally presenting her a newly grown pair of small, somewhat prominent canines.

"Fangs…" it was the only thing said. Stainless steel expression written on her face. It was clear her patience was wearing out. The more time she spent talking with him, the more she realised things were somehow falling into a grey area. But he has not given any real information from the beginning of this conversation and she would not have any more of it.

Hearing her gripping grunt, his sense of equilibrium is nearly lost as he flushes a colour similar to her eyes "F-fangs? Moka-san? I would say j-just that my canines … stretched … a bit. T-they are nowhere near fangs. Yours, however, t-those ARE fangs. They are almost three times bigger when you extend yours!"

He seemed to be fascinated by the very reasons giving him blood-loss headaches the previous year. A bit embarrassed from his display of appreciation she concludes "I think they are growing. You might be developing ghoul fangs."

Both getting into a serious mood, like two businessmen discussing ugh … business, he answers "It makes sense but at the same time it doesn't. I feel I am stronger, and I can access more youki. I'm not sure whether they did during us talking, but my eyes change colours. I kept records over the summer. Are ghouls supposed to change eye colour?" he finishes his series of thoughts with a heavy pant, saying that much without breathing enough takes its toll.

"I wouldn't know. Ghouls are usually killed on the spot. You might be the first 'smart ghoul' as of yet. It's not like many ghouls have the luxury of having a Dark Lord forging them seals. Which makes me think why did the Chairman have the Holy Lock handy. He said it was not made for you but I'd beg to differ."

"You're right, Moka-san. That guy has a creepy glint to his eyes…though I cannot complain – he helped us after all."

"That doesn't change anything. You are not off the hook. You think your life here will get any easier?"

"I'm not as naïve, hopefully…ugh, I at least know that. It might not get any easier, and probably just more dangerous, but I can take it on. I have a fighting chance now, to protect everyone without being protected as much."

"Things will definitely get worse. You also got a vampire bite mark now, you'll be a target… That mark left on your neck? Is not like the other ones: Because of those damn persistent idiots I bit you. It will last for days. EVERYONE will see it…" she put emphasis on the word 'everyone'

"There is a very small list of who would've done it and if there is a vampire challenger they could be smart about it and go straight to the source, the food source in my case" he chuckles at his own double innuendo.

Knowing how much he likes the spotlight, she decides to mock him by saying "At least you're getting smarter."

"I don't mind people knowing that you take my blood." He says in his husky voice and softly smiles back, not missing the fact that she is messing with him.

She continues her little game and retorts in a luxurious voice "And why is that?"

And obviously, Tsukune loses the game. "Erm…. T-t-t-to be honest … I … I'm proud that … that I'm helping Moka-san. So, it doesn't bother me that … this happened. If y-you're alright with 'them' knowing who is the p-person you go t-to. I- I don't … I didn't use to … enjoy fighting but with those youki changes, it will help me b-blow off some steam, a-and I will defend Moka-san's name!"

The serious mood they were sinking in just blew out of the water from the bang Tsukune just made. *thud* Her heart was beating at an increased pace and she was unsure of what to respond to all that. *thud* She was shocked, to say the last. 'Did he just say that?'

*thud*

"You're starting to sound like a vampire." Her checks were flaming red and she needed to take the gravity of her shoulders, to aim the pressure towards something else. "Blow some steam huh? Hahah … with the way you changed you wouldn't have a problem…" And that was her other mistake, her own words were used against her as she starts eying him down to emphasis the exact changes she specified just a moment ago.

What our powerful young woman noticed when she first saw him was his tall frame and strong-built body. Not overly muscular, he looked of being around six feet tall, or 1.86 metres, and his hair could resemble either of a wild, or tamed, beast –depending on circumstances. His hair was no longer simply brown. A balanced combination of ash -or one could say silver?- with rusty-red and chocolate-brown highlights was the center of his appearance. You could say he was a mixture of both a fox and a wolf. Not being able to tell what colour ended where, they were all perfectly blended together to an animalistic, lush shade.

Next came his eyes, which in addition to his hair, proved his vibrant and eternally changing persona: Whether there was sun or shadow, his handsome features would reverberate to it, bringing out a different view each time.

While you couldn't use his soothing and energetic hair to pinpoint whether he was shy or wild, his eyes were a different story. Remembering his eyes when he fought –read: being attacked by- the girls, it was plain obvious to the red-eyed vampiress why he couldn't be recognised. His eyes were a cold black. In addition to his unusual hair, it made him look as 'someone' looking for trouble. Whether he was angry or it was the sunshade, the black of his eyes gave off a very alarming aura. Add to that his newly developed husky voice and you got the perfect blend for a haunting look.

He was wearing a suit with matching, and somewhat peculiar, colours: Black trousers and vest with deep red linings, a grey shirt with a dark red tie accompanied his outfit.

Somewhat longer hair hid his sharp sideburns and a small, jagged soul patch covered his chin. Thinking it over, Moka made a mental note that he didn't look childish anymore. His whole look all together was of a young man, and not wearing the school uniform didn't help one bit with the today's pickle. If his target was to look serious on his first day, he double nailed it.

But at least it wasn't all lost. During their time talking, his eyes changed several times: from the lifeless black, to a very shifting hazel, a one-time orange shade during his Good Samaritan speech and now what could be seen as a relaxed grey. Her guess was they were changing based on his feelings or fluctuating youki but she was unsure which– especially when his eyes turned honey for just two seconds. 'What WAS that?' She thought she had him figured out but here he comes with his craziness, and just like a curious kitten, the vampire wanted to know more. 'Those eyes are so distracting. I want to have a serious discussion and he plays eye-charade with me…'

One more look-over and she nods her head in an appreciative gesture "Uh-umm…Not too bad…"

"What is not too bad, Moka-san?" the young man answers in a very Tsukune-like calm manner. He gives her another of his famous heart-warming smiles, unwillingly flashing named mini-fangs.

Realising that she just voiced that OUT LOUD, her cheeks become the shade of Hell, matching her fiery eyes. What was she supposed to say now?

Tsukune notices her discomfort and knowing the vampire-girl all too well, he starts drinking the remaining tomato juice – purposely giving her some time to adjust her thoughts. It was no secret that this was probably the longest conversation she had, they had, focusing and being undisturbed.

'Fuck it. I'm not that shallow to lie stupidly…If he laughs, he gets it!' "…Your transformation." She finishes her earlier statement reluctantly.

Time seemed to slow for the male while running those words over and over in his head. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore and choke on his remaining drink "R-r-reaaally?!"

"hahah easy Tsukune, that's my precious tomato juice you're wasting.." She thought he would say something embarrassing back, but he was kind enough to once again embarrass himself. This gave her time to word out her phrase, but seeing him blow off his gentlemanly air by almost choking to death was too much for the pale vampire.

AN/ I had to put that Smeagol Lord of the Rings reference in there, couldn't help it …. My Precioussssss xD ALSO: Every time hazel eyes are mentioned, it means it's the ones flashing between combinations of brown, gold and green. I let you figure out why his eyes change and what it means :D

"*cough* A-are you *cough cough* …I.. *gasp, cough*" Punching himself in the chest, he was trying to get rid of the stingy feeling of having his windpipe clogged with warm tomato juice.

"Just accept the damn compliment!" He stopped coughing the moment she said that. Looking deep into his now shifting hazel eyes, they were flashing madly between all combinations of brown, gold and green.

While quickly turning her head away and still trying to cool herself down, Tsukune frantically answers "Thank you! Moka-san…I'm glad, at least I know I don't look like a weirdo…to you."

His eyes flashed the crazy hazel for seconds more but as soon as Moka's words echo through his mind "In an Ayashi world? … You could try but there will always be someone weirder." his eyes turn back to a calm grey. 'Interesting…' without pondering on the subject any longer, she notices that the moron somehow hit or bit himself while choking, his lip now bleeding.

With a glazed look in her eyes, second time that day, her breath hitches in her throat, ending with a distant huff. Taken aback from seeing Omote's 'I am about to bite you' look on the unsealed, forever composed vampire, Tsukune tilts his head to the left in wonder and teasing manner, thinking the vampiress had more control over her thirst – a bad move from his part, especially after being sealed and weakened for so long. Did he think she would restrain herself while not having that sweet nectar for over four months? Think again, Tsukune!

'Gravity thou art a heartless bitch…' Moka dreamily thinks while drifting towards his exposed neck. With a shudder and no resisting from the young male, she peacefully starts feeding but fails to notice the background noises of breaking wood … followed by a loud thud. What she did notice though, was the fact that Tsukune had an arm on her shoulder and another on her lower back. She stops feeding and is about to ask of his intentions, perhaps kick him to the Moon and back while she's at it, but when she lifts her head up she is meet with the shiny black orbs she meet earlier today. He wasn't groping her while defenceless 'Defence!'

Quickly standing up, they both prepare to intercept the presumed enemy, instead, finding a very ruffled Rubi Toujo. "Did you just fall?" An unimpressed Moka rhetorically questions, not failing to notice a scared Tsukune hiding behind her skirt.

Looking over her shoulder and giving him a huff "Tsukune, I think she's looking for you…" she steps sideways from him, the evil glint in her eyes doesn't go undetected by the male.

"That's so mean…" he whines like a child.

"The headmaster just told me! I apologise, Tsukune-san … witches are boundary beings, I couldn't remember your scent… there was no way I could tell it was you…... you are so tall now!" she tries to avoid the more obvious features.

"Ah, I see … I-" His voice was calm and understanding as always but deep down … he was still disappointed for not being recognised.

Rubi stops him mid-sentence "You may punish me whichever way you want…" her eyelashes seemed to move rapidly while looking towards the top of a nearby three.

Being a bit apprehensive about the witch's antics, and sensing discomfort all around the perimeter, Moka nonchalantly buts in "Why are you here?"

"Oh many, many things have hap-"

"I mean why you are here NOW?" 'They stopped my feeding time twice today. TWICE!'

While grateful of being saved from wherever that conversation was going, Tsukune decides it's better not to intervene in this stare-off.

However, the masochist witch isn't too happy for having her catch phrase cut off; therefore she answers in a more lowly spirited tone "The Chairman asked me to have you escorted to his office." then immediately starts walking back to the office.

Neither could say anything else on the matter so they started following her back.

Still on their way to the headmaster's office his blood eyed companion states "Tsukune, you are not feeling lightheaded from the blood loss."

"Uh… you're right. Maybe I got used to it…?" he rubs the back of his head while bearing a flashy grin.

Perplexed by his response, she checks whether the witch could heard their conversation – she was too far away. "You should close your shirt before someone sees that…" She says embarrassed by the fact he now bore a vampire bite on both sides of his neck "Kinda hard to miss it.."

"There's a little problem…" he says just barely closing his top button. Looking at her with a fearful expression and cheeks matching Moka's eye colour, he polishes his declaration with "I can't do the knot." and pointing to the dark-red tie in his hand.

Being a skeptic, the ruby eyed female continues to walk and retorts "How the hell did you do your tie knot last year?"

"I recycled the ones kaasan did." His fearful expression changing into one of humiliation.

"Being as eco-friendly as yourself, you should just learn how to do it. It's embarrassing…"

Lowering his head in shame, Tsukune says in an apologetic tone "Gomen, I know it is. Ma' always shows me but I always forget and it looks weird."

"Your 'Ma' ... Really." Moka leaves him to mentally berate himself for few more seconds after which she proceeds to check her 'Rubi radar' then stop in the middle of the road and grab his tie. Realising what she is going to do, the autumn-haired boy closes the space between them to give her maneuvering space "Moka-san…"

"Tell anyone and the 'smart ghoul legend' will be just that. A legend." She stresses out her threat by giving him the death-look and a last pull on the Trinity knot she just did.

AN/ Trinity, got it? Three? And the song? Ye? Puns aside, that's a real tie knot's name. ^^

With his Adam apple moving the entire time, he gives an approving nod. Gulping sounds are heard once again before he finally decides she will not kill him right then and there. He touches the Trinity knot of his tie and exclaims "WOW!... It feels complicated, I bet it looks nice. Thank you, Moka-san!" her death threat long forgotten.

"Y-yeah … whatever." Her ruby eyes and cherry red lips only complimented the blood running to her cheeks.

"Where did you learn that? I never seen one like this." The now hazel eyed young man says while stumbling on a rock and continues walking like nothing happened. 'Damn rock! Leaving that aside…she was sealed, right? How could she know such a thing? For whom?'

She smirks to his chagrin "I learned how to do that for my father. He used to like the Cape Knot, not this one." but as soon as those words left her lips, her mood changed to its polar opposite.

Soon after he realises it was before she was given the Rosario. 'Me and my stupid brain…You never learn, baka! Of course it was for her dad…'

Arriving at the scene of crime, the Chairman's office, Rubi leaves them in the reception area while she goes to tell the Headmaster. Not soon after, she comes back escorting an ashamed kitty, namely Nekonome Sensei. You could tell she was feeling guilty of something because as soon as her eyes met Tsukune's, her cat-like ears suddenly slumped the way a guilty dog's do. "Hello, Tsukune-san …... Meow…"

Not soon after, they enter His office and Tsukune shudders in expectation of the eerie feeling that soon creeps under his skin. 'C-creepyyyyy…"

"Do you know why I called you here?" the hooded man says while clasping his hands together, no doubt a sign of his anticipation and amusement at what will be unveiled.

AN/ I don't know if a cat does the ear thing thus I used a dog example. I'm a dog person, OK!? Also, if you didn't get it: Nekonome was just briefed by the Chairman on who's the strange man in a dark suit so she was ashamed she didn't recognise her student :(

So? What do you think so far? What's going on with Tsukune's eyes?

Is Moka-san right about the ghoul?

What will the Chairman say?

And why was Moka-san insisting to find out everything about Tsukune's summer? She's not one to talk for so long, right?

Also ... what is with that strange scar?

*tun tun tuuuuuuuuuuuuun*

Please review, and as always: if you have some great ideas I might change my script for you.

Eitherway, you can try deciphering my next chapter's punch line ... if you got it in you mwahahah

Arriverderci!

Psst! University starts therefore my uploading times will be uneven. If I don't get much work, I will update faster, If I do ... well, just know that I won't forget you, guys!

Sooner or later I WILL complete this. It haunts my dreams if I let something undone. Jaa-na!