The Gathering Storm

by samsationalization

It seems as though history is repeating itself. Time and time again, malevolent entities seek to destroy the delicate balance between the world of the living, the world of the dead, and the world of the monsters. Three unlikely heroes have been chosen to fend of the attacks. Will they be ready? Or will they fall like the others before? The storm is coming. Multiple pairings and OC.

9. Chapter 9: Falling Out

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Rosario+Vampire

Author's Notes: Well, I wasn't too happy with the last chapter for all the reasons your guys must have too. The length. Well, after writing a 9,000 word chapter, I couldn't do it again. I know, I've written more for Tsukune's backstory (which I advise you to check out before reading this FanFic entirely.) than this but bear with me. Having a job and studying for school really put severe time constraints. Forgive me. Furthermore, this chapter, as you can tell, was put on a major hiatus (A month?). The reason? I was moved houses and stuff. Yeah. Life is pain. But here we are! And now we will resume from where we left off! Reviews, PMs, and other comments are much appreciated. It means so much to me as much as a single word. Thanks again! Enjoy!

Much love,

~SAYONARA~

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Can you tell me?"

"No."

"Please?"

"I said no."

"Come on… Please?"

"Are we seriously going to have this conversation? Here? Right now?"

"The decision is up to you."

"Then no."

"Oh come on…."

Daisuke lazily slumped over the wooden desk in the empty classroom as Toru was finalizing the edits in their recent interview. It had involved a very peculiar, bespectacled man who was quite fidgety. Always going off on something about germs and such. He also kept on talking about that he had to meet someone soon. Not exactly a person whom one could have a little to barely decent interview with. The two, both the interviewers and the interviewee, were glad to have the little discussion done. That was nearly an hour ago. And their notes taken during the interview were an absolute mess.

"I can't read this word." Toru said, the blunt end of the pen in his mouth, squinting down at the scribbles on the paper. "What does it say?"

Daisuke briefly stopped twirling the little wooden pencil in his hand as he slowly shuffled his way to where Toru was sitting. Sticking the pencil behind his ear, he looked over Toru's shoulder and looked deeply into the indecipherable handwriting.

"Well, for starters…" Daisuke said, pacing behind Toru, glancing out the window. "That's your writing, not mine."

Toru sighed with frustration as he tossed the papers down on the face of the desk, annoyed with their slow progress. He tapped the pen on the desk, trying to think of something to do. He couldn't. "What the hell are we going to do Daisuke?"

"Hey, don't look at me." Daisuke said, pointing to himself. "I am on the same sinking ship you are on."

"Good analogy. Anyway," Toru began to say, flipping through their incoherent sheets of paper, "What are we going to do about the interview? Everyone else has theirs finalized and ready for publishing. Hell, I heard that Tsukune and Moka did two interviews in this time."

"Who?" Daisuke asked. "I thought all of the available teacher slots were taken by us…"

"Oh, they didn't do a teacher." Toru said, pulling out his knapsack, rummaging through the contents. "They did however, interview… her."

Toru pulled out a photo of a First-Year female student. She had teal-blue hair and violet blue eyes. They were similar to Mizore's, except that these eyes had pupils. She had her hair tied and fixed up with several pins. She had a devious look in the photograph.

"Who's she?" Daisuke asked, observing the girl in the photo. "And where did you get this photo?"

Toru shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno…-"

"Ginei?"

"Yep…" Toru said sighing.

"I knew it…" Daisuke said, rolling his eyes. "But what was the interview for? The most beautiful schoolgirl poll?"

Toru raised an eyebrow. "As a matter of fact, yes. You are right."

Daisuke was taken aback slightly. "Are you serious?... And what were the results?"

"Moka got first place… This girl got second." Toru said, pointing at the photo. He slowly marched to the back of the room to get a glass of water. Daisuke looked over the photo and the date stamped on the backside. It seemed to have be rubbed off.

"Why am I not surprised…" Daisuke said, setting the photo down on the table. "Where did you get all this information?"

"Anonymous tip just happened to drop by." Toru said, filling his glass. "And no, it wasn't Morioka."

Daisuke took one last look at the photo before getting his mind back into business. "Well, that's that. Come on, let's get back to work."

"Right behind you." Toru said, sipping his water.

Both Daisuke and Toru looked over their papers and notes silently, marking for errors and corrections. The silence in the room was only broken by the occasional sound of pen scratches on paper and Daisuke's wristwatch ticking. The two worked silently, trying to push out their interview. It wasn't going very well though.

"You know…" Daisuke said. "I'm curious. Why did you come into the interview late? It's not like you to be not punctual."

Toru briefly glanced up from his sheet of paper before resuming. "I had my reasons…" He said quietly.

Daisuke waved his hand in a circular motion. "Well…? Elaborate?"

"I am not at liberty to say."

"Great." Daisuke, rushing his hand through his hair. "The same answer… every SINGLE time."

Daisuke set his hand roughly on the table with a thud. As he did however, he failed to notice that Toru's half-full water glass was set on the edge of the table. Because of the rough force from his hand, the glass began to tip and it began to fall. Daisuke realized what was happening but realized a second too late. He reached for the falling glass and…

It never reached the floor.

Daisuke saw that the glass was suspended in air below the table several inches. It came close to the floor, almost shattering if it had hit. Daisuke looked at the glass closer and saw that the water that was supposedly inside of it had vanished. Upon further inspection, Daisuke saw that the glass was being held in air by the water itself. Daisuke looked up at Toru and saw his hand open above the glass, as if he was controlling it. Toru hadn't looked up either. This must have been an instinctive response.

"Toru…?" Daisuke asked in a low voice.

"Mmm?" Toru said, indifferently. "What's wrong? What's with quiet voice?"

Daisuke pointed to his hand and then to the glass. Toru's face then became paler than it already was. Daisuke heard him muttering something under his breath before looking back at Daisuke. Toru slowly brought the water back up to the desk.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions to ask about me…" Toru said quietly. "Now would be a good time to ask..."

"You control water…" Daisuke said. "Are you a Water Controller? The predecessors to the Yuki-Onna?"

Toru sighed as he nodded his head yes. "By the way, my race's name has faded into the fabric of history. We are simply called the Mizu."

"Mizu…" Daisuke said. "Fitting… considering what you can do… But I thought your race had died out…"

"We did…" Toru said, rubbing his finger on the tip of his water glass. "Well, most of us did… ever since the Great War, many of us have died out… being caught in the crossfire…"

"Great War?" Daisuke asked. "Not the Great Catastrophe?"

"That was different." Toru said. "That happened over a millennium ago. The Great War on the other hand, happened only a decade or so ago…"

"It's been only ten years?" Daisuke asked. "How long did it last?"

Toru thought for a moment. "It only lasted a year… However, so much blood was shed in that short time…"

"Over what exactly?" Daisuke asked.

Toru looked over at Daisuke. "Check your shirt pocket."

Daisuke reached in with his hand only to find nothing inside of the fabric pocket. "Wha-?"

Daisuke looked up and saw that Toru was fiddling with his shiny blue ring in his own hands. Daisuke had no idea how he had gotten it or when. Daisuke remembered that the ring was in his possession the last time the two discussed it over at the abandoned laboratory. That was the first and last time they spoke of it. Simply for safety and security reasons being.

"This ring bears a natural attraction to anyone of the Mizu blood." Toru said quietly while rubbing the lush and deep blue gem in the ring. "It wasn't difficult to retrieve it from you."

"And what does this ring have to with anything?"

Toru glared at Daisuke and spoke in low yet dead serious tone. "It has to do with everything!"

"Wait," Daisuke said, blinking. "Are you saying that the war was fought… over that ring?!

"This isn't just any other ring you buy at a jewelry store Daisuke." Toru said. "This… belonged to the Wise One."

"The Wise One..?" Daisuke asked. "Elaborate."

"The Wise One was the Patriarch of the once newly reformed Mizu. He reunited all the lost and indigenous members of the Mizu after the Great Catastrophe and made us one and whole once again. His skill and art in the manipulation of water was like no other. No one compared to him. Although his skill remained unmatched, he was still just another being. He possessed a finite time in this world. Towards the end of his life, he sealed his power inside a certain artifact to preserve for the prosperity of the race."

"But that prosperity didn't last… did it?" Daisuke asked, in a low voice.

Toru shook his head. "It was inevitable really… After all, with such tremendous power stored in a simple object, everyone will want in on some of it… What was supposed to have been a lasting peace had turned into another bloody conflict. Civil War broke out among clansmen and brothers. The fight to attain the ring was never settled…"

"When did this all happen?"

"Right after the Great Catastrophe." Toru stated. "Our race didn't even have time to recover from our wounds from the wars… Our race,… changed drastically... After the wars, from once the peace-loving, prospering race we digressed into savages without the Wise One's guidance."

Daisuke thought for a moment. "Then what is your angle in this? What part do you play?"

Toru looked up and Daisuke for a brief second and sighed. "The Wise One knew that fighting would break out. He had entrusted the possession of the ring to his eldest son who swore on his life and his descendants to protect the ring at all cost for the sake of the clans. When the fighting began, the ring didn't remain in the villages. It was moved far away from the conflict and hidden in plain sight from pillagers who searched for it."

Dasiuke remained silent for a split second. "Wait, you still haven't explained why you are involved in this."

"Don't you get it Daisuke?" Toru exclaimed. "I am a descendant of the Wise One! We were called the Ring-Bearers since the olden times and our name was shrouded in secrecy. We swore our allegiance to him and carry the burden of protecting the ring… Well… until now…"

"What do you mean?" Daisuke asked.

"Many of the former Ring-Bearers had a falling out or died off. Those who carry the bloodline of the Eldest Son are forever cursed with the protecting of the ring until…"

"Until…?"

"Never mind that. But those who fail their duties will be punished by the forever bound spirit of Wise One."

"Wait a minute… If you are a Ring-Bearer… and the ring is the only way to save your father then…"

"That's right…" Toru said. "Originally my grandfather was the leader of the village. Since him, the ring was lost. Ever since the ring was gone from our possession, my grandfather has been afflicted with some sort of unknown illness. We tried everything, every possible treatment and technique and every known and logical explanation. It was useless. The real reason behind this was because of the ring. Soon, he passed away. And now, my father is the leader of our clan and the Ring-Bearers and the curse has spread to him. If I don't find it….," Toru fell silent for a moment. "He'll die."

"And then the curse will befall upon you too…" Daisuke said. He slowly reached for the ring on the table and gripped it in his hand. "So much lives… lost just because of this ring… What was its purpose?"

"It was dubbed the 'Healing Ring' by outsiders…" Toru said. "It could cure any ailment, disorder… nothing was impossible for this… Even raising the dead was deemed a possibility!"

"And that was the power of the Wise One?"

"That wasn't all…" Toru said. "But if I were to explain everything to you, it would take too long."

Daisuke nodded. He looked one more time at the ring. "Answer me this one last question Toru."

Toru glanced up.

"How did the ring become lost… and end up in the possession of another… A Yuki-Onna in our case."

"That's why I am here to find out." Toru said, gazing out the window. "I need to return back to my people… back to my father… But not until I found out why the ring had disappeared… and I am running out of time…"

Silence fell across the room. Neither of the two boys chose to break it. The two sat in utter silence, unfinished papers scattered in front of them, pens laid askew.

"So what now?" Daisuke asked.

"Well…" Toru said, clearing his throat. "We better finish up this assignment before anything else…"

"Yeah…" Daisuke replied in agreement. "You're probably right."

"And Daisuke?"

"Hmm?" He said, raising his head.

"This conversation never happened." Toru said. "Alright? There was never a discussion about me, this ring, or the Mizu. Got it?"

"What?" Daisuke said, surprised. "You said that you are running out of time! I can help you! My friends can help you!"

"NO." Toru asserted adamantly. "This ring is my responsibility. I will not bring in any more unnecessary souls into my predicament. That is how you guys will help me; by not being involved at all."

Daisuke sighed as he scratched his head. "But why?"

"If you want more answers, come to the normal meeting place. Same time. Tonight." Toru said, not looking up, writing on his papers.

Just as Daisuke was about to resume working, the door to the classroom burst open. Standing in the doorway was Tsukune, breathing heavily, looking exhausted and out of breath.

Toru and Daisuke both stared at Tsukune without saying a word. Again, silence resurfaced into the room, creating an awkward staring contest.

"Well?" Toru said. "State your nature of business here Aono."

"Sheesh." Tsukune said, barely catching his breath. "So much for the welcoming committee… But regardless… Ginei wants the papers now."

Both Toru and Daisuke jumped out of their seats in disbelief. "WHAT?!" They both exclaimed.

Tsukune flinched slightly at their reactions but regained his composure. "Come on guys… it's been more than an hour… The interview is due ASAP."

"W-we didn't even get to finish…" Daisuke muttered.

Tsukune then subsequently sighed and shook his head. "Well, that's your guys' problem… Talk to Ginei about it… We are having a meeting in about five minutes anyway. That's why I'm here to tell you guys."

Toru and Daisuke looked at each other briefly before facing Tsukune again, flabbergasted.

"Well,… I'll see you guys at the meeting room…" Tsukune said, before closing the door and leaving. His footsteps soon faded out from the sound.

Toru rubbed his face. "We are so screwed…"

Daisuke nervously chuckled as he gathered the papers and stacked them together. "Maybe we're not… maybe he'll go easy on us today… heheh…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"ARE YOU GUYS KIDDING ME?!" Ginei exclaimed, reading over the interview manuscript Toru and Daisuke had turned in. THIS WAS ALL YOU GUYS COULD DO?! AND…"

Toru glared at Daisuke for a moment. His eyes said, "So much for your 'maybe he'll go easy on us today'…"

Daisuke shot back with a "You were the one that was late for the interview!"

"ARE YOU GUYS EVEN LISTENING?!" Ginei yelled.

Toru and Daisuke opened their mouths, about to say and excuse when Ginei interrupted them. "NO. I don't want any of your excuses and BS. You two don't get ANY work done! Ichigo and Mizore already submitted their interview and Tsukune and Moka did two complete interviews! What the hell is the matter with you two?!" Ginei thought for a moment. "You know what? I think I am going to split you guys up."

Daisuke and Toru opened their mouths to protest but were quickly shut up by Ginei.

"Toru, you will be working with me. THAT will increase your work ethic and effort. And Daisuke…" Ginei said, stopping.

"Uh… what?"

"See me after the meeting."

Oh crap…

Daisuke slumped down onto a desk and sprawled his arms across the table, sighing. Soon, he felt two arms wrap around his chest and he felt someone on his back. Daisuke glanced slightly up and saw Mizore hugging his back and gazing at him with her dreamy eyes.

"Long day?" She asked, lolli in mouth.

Daisuke sighed. "Oh, don't even get me started…"

Mizore laughed softly. "Cheer up." She said, hugging him tight before letting him go. She sat down next to him. Soon, everyone had taken their places in the meeting room. Ginei had then taken the front of the room.

"Alright then…" He said. "Let's get this meeting underway."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I don't want to interview another student!" Tsukune wailed as he looked over his next assignment. "Not after today. Not after Ms. Succubus!"

Ichigo, Toru, and Daisuke looked at Tsukune, wondering what exactly was going on. Moka then glanced back at Tsukune before facing them. She whispered, "He made Kurono-chan cry today and then tried to get her to be happy again… and she took him flying…"

"Flying?!" The three exclaimed together.

"Wait, who is this Kurono-chan?" Daisuke asked.

A roll of paper came flying out of nowhere and landed in his lap. Daisuke looked up and saw that Ginei had thrown it to him.

"Third paragraph." He said, before resuming his attention back to his camera.

Daisuke skimmed through the page while Moka, Toru, and Ichigo were discussing how it was possible for someone to fly, let alone take another person flying.

"Youkai Academy Beauty Polls…. First Place Akashiya Moka…. Second Place… Kurumu Kurono…"

Next to the name was the picture of the rather pretty girl that Toru had shown him earlier.

And she supposed to be a succubus?... Shame…

Daisuke folded the paper and put it in his shirt pocket. He looked over at the now pale faced Tsukune who looked dreadfully at his assignment paper.

"Who are you interviewing this time?" Daisuke asked.

Tsukune wouldn't say so Moka briefly looked over his shoulder and read, "Sendo Yukari…"

"What's so special about her?" Ichigo asked.

"She the smartest student in the whole school when it boils down to academics." Ginei interjected. "Along with that fact, she's only a first year AND is the youngest student at this Academy… Age eleven."

Ichigo whistled. "Damn… when I was eleven all I remember was getting my ass kicked by the upper students…"

"That's just you Ichigo…" Tsukune muttered.

"Anyway, the interview is scheduled tomorrow at one in the afternoon. Sharp. This student is rather… special… being young and all… Go easy on her…" Ginei said. "That means you Tsukune."

Tsukune didn't say anything. He just moaned in modest agony.

"Well, as long as you guys aren't complaining about your future interview sessions (I don't care about what you have to say Tsukune.) this should conclude the meeting. Dismissed."

Everyone gathered their papers and started to head for the door.

"Daisuke." Ginei said, pointing out to him.

Daisuke gulped. He motioned Toru to go on ahead without him. Toru agreed and left the classroom along with everyone else. Soon, only Ginei and Daisuke were left in the classroom.

"I don't know what has gotten into you but you have to get your act together Daisuke." Ginei said. "If you don't how will you possibly get to interview Oshiro Sensei and find out about the Auditorium Incident?"

"I don't know…" Daisuke said, heaving a sigh.

"Look," Ginei said. "We don't need to keep secrets from one another. Just tell me."

Daisuke then shot Ginei a fierce glance. "Secrets? No, no Ginei. Don't even get me started on that. YOU are the one that needs to stop keeping secrets from me."

"Wh-what?!" Ginei asked, astounded. "What are you talking about?"

"You know very well what exactly I am talking about. You SPIED on me and you KNEW what my problem was yet you kept that info to yourself. You could have had the decency to tell me!"

"Tell you?!" Ginei exclaimed in disbelief. "I didn't tell you in order to protect you!"

"From what? Midou?!"

"Exactly!" Ginei said. "You don't understand how grudges work in this world. I didn't expect you to. What I would've have done by telling you everything would have only fueled it. Stay out of it. Whatever you are planning with Toru, DON'T do it."

"Oh! So you knew about that one too!" Daisuke said, throwing his hands in the air. "Oh who am I kidding?! OF COURSE YOU DID!"

"Daisuke, there are many things that are better off for you not to know. For your own good."

"My own good. Yeah. My own good. DON'T GIVE ME THAT CRAP GINEI. Look at what, 'my own good' did for me."

"Look, Daisuke… it's all a working process… Just give it some time… In due time, I'll tell you everything."

"And when the hell is that going to be?" Daisuke muttered.

"That depends on you Daisuke." Ginei said. "When I think you're ready to hear everything… then I'll tell you."

"But what exactly are you going tell me?"

"As I said before, some things are better left unmentioned." Ginei said.

"Gyah…" Daisuke groaned. "You sound just like Toru…"

The two sat in awkward silence for a moment.

"So why did you want me to stay?" Daisuke asked.

"Well, rather than to punish you, I came here to make a request." Ginei said.

Daisuke raised an eyebrow. "What kind of request?"

"I want you to resign from this club." Ginei said.

It took a moment for Ginei's words to register into Daisuke's brain. "Wait. What?!"

"You heard me, resign from this club."

"Why?!"

Ginei glanced around as he closed in on Daisuke. He whispered. "There is a student-body movement going on at our school related to some other club."

"What the heck are you talking about?"

"Never mind, but my point is that I need some leverage and some inside information."

"Oh, so you want me to act as some sort of middleman, relaying information directly from the club."

"Close. But not exactly what I want you to do."

"Then what?"

"I," Ginei said, taking out a box from beneath his desk and setting it on the table. "need you to join the Public Safety Commission."

"What?! I thought you told me to-"

"I know what I said but this an urgent request from me. Just do it." Ginei said. "And everything that you'll need to know will be contained in that box. Take it to your dorm and have a good long look at the contents. Your official induction to the PSC begins next week. Until then, take some time to think about it."

Daisuke took the rather heavy package in his hands and set it down next to him. He looked at the box and then back at Ginei. "But I have to ask, why me?"

"Because I trust you." Ginei replied.

"Oh." Daisuke said sarcastically. "That's a new one. What's next, because I am a Soul Reaper?"

"Precisely the point." Ginei said.

God damn it… Me and my freaking mouth….

"With your spiritual powers you can detect the discrepancies in the spiritual residue for the people around you while working undercover. It'll be good asset for you and that's why I chose you."

"Why not Ichigo?" Daisuke asked. "He's a Soul Reaper. Plus, he has more experience than I do."

"Ah, but he lacks the calm, collected composure you have."

"I'm honored with flattery." Daisuke said sarcastically. "But is that really why?"

Ginei sighed. "You yourself said that you wanted to get even with Midou right?"

Daisuke nodded.

"Then use the power and authority at your disposal when you are a PSC to do that. Midou won't even be able to lift a finger against you if you are a part of the Committee."

"Are you serious?!" Daisuke asked in disbelief. "Wh-"

"Just look inside the booklet that's in the box that I gave you. All your answers should be in there." Ginei said.

Daisuke looked over at the box and sighed briefly. He picked it up and began to head on out the door.

"Daisuke." Ginei called.

"Yeah?"

"I'm… worried…" Ginei said.

"About what?"

"About you. I don't think it's such a good idea for you to be hanging around that Toru guy… He's might not be what you think he is."

"Ginei. He's been more truthful and reliable than you have been so far. I don't see why not."

"Because…" Ginei began to say. He paused. Apparent loss of words.

"Because what?! Answer me!" Daisuke said.

"Damn it Daisuke! Why can't you make this easy for me?!"

"I can say the same to you." Daisuke retorted.

"Then tell me why. Tell me why, after all we as a group have been through, makes it so hard for you not to trust me. Tell me!"

Daisuke scoffed. He grabbed the box and slid open the door. He stepped outside.

"Answer me dammit!" Ginei said, throwing a piece of chalk at him.

The chalk flew at a frightening speed but Daisuke managed to dodge it effortlessly. He glanced back slightly at Ginei just as he was about to leave.

"Some things are better left unmentioned, Ginei."

And walked away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

(A/N): And I am ending this chapter here. Sorry for the time it took for me to publish this piece of crap. REALLY. I am. But anyway, hopefully you enjoyed this. If not… Well, hopefully you did enjoy it anyway. But as we can see, tensions are high among the group. Ginei has his suspicions of Toru but where do their motives truly lie? Why am I so bad cliffhangers? AH, poop. Well, leave a word of advice, criticism, or whatever. I'll be sure to check your feedback.

THANKS FOR READING!

Much love,

~SAYONARA~