Disclaimer: I don't own Rosario+Vampire, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story. Simple enough, ne? Just don't copy from this story and we're all good!
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V^^ To Hurt A Vampire ^^V
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How long does it take a life of but eighteen years to flash before the eyes of one staring into the equivalent of a death sentence? Moka Akashiya found out it took less than a second. From the instant she saw those dark ruby irises looking at her, everything she had ever known, all the things she had come to hope for in the future, all of it came to mind, and just as simultaneously shattered. She reacted on nothing but impulse, hoping beyond any hope she had left that her bond with her eternal mate would let him hear it. The one downside above all others was it was very unlikely he was close to the dorm at all, and time was something she had just run out of.
It didn't take long for the figure to appear before her, one hand clasped forcefully in her hair, pushing her head into the other which held its place over her mouth and halted any further pleas for help. Her green eyes were wide with fright as she was forced to stare directly into the vampiric counterparts of her intruder, but his face on the other hand was nothing but cool superiority, even bordering on sardonic pity.
"Now now now, that won't do. To think your beauty and power has been sealed so completely the first thing that comes to mind is to squeal for help like a pitiful human. You disappoint me, Shuzen-san."
Eyes once fearful hardened in anger, and without a second thought she bit deep into the palm of the other vampire, determined to let him know she wasn't going down without a fight. The blood was simply a nice side-effect. The man snarled in pain as he tore himself away, and just as quickly backhanded her with his good hand before putting the rapidly disappearing injury to his mouth. Moka didn't know if he had held back or not, but even if he had she was struck with a good amount of force. She was left on the ground holding her throbbing cheek, in nothing but her pyjamas, glaring down an unsealed member of her own race.
The only other time she had felt so helpless was looking on at Tsukune's outstretched hand, so close and yet so far, unable to even reach her rosary under Kuyou's punishment. She couldn't, wouldn't, back down now, however; she needed to buy time. Someone must have heard the commotion going on in her room. "My name is Moka Akashiya, you sore excuse for a vampire!"
Once again his face warped into something far more dangerous, but this time he held himself back from striking her. "It is true, compared to you I am little in my power, but I am not cursed as you are, fool. The Dark Lord Shuzen would be mortified to see his daughter in such a state from a blow like that, but maybe not, since he did design your prison. But wonders never cease, do they, for what should reach his ears but the tale of a beautiful vampiress involved in a terrible battle, and of all the conclusions finish with a kiss? Let me assure you, he has not forgotten you, and neither has he forgotten your mother. He entertained the notion of your expedition into the Human World as a childish delusion, but when the rumors of an unsealing can be confirmed by your sister's own mouth…it was decided you should be reminded your place. If that fight did indeed mean what I think it meant, you should be prepared for a rather uncomfortable break-up."
Every instinct, including the ones supposedly hampered by the seal, rose up ferociously and she hissed at him in a way only a vampire could. "I do not belong to my father! My life is mine, and my heart is my own to give away!"
Amusement bubbled into his eyes, and he laughed as he effortlessly picked her up by the throat and held her in front of him. He was just as tall as Tsukune, if not taller, and her feet dangled above the ground as she fought to get air back into her lungs. Cruelty was the only thing she saw in him as he moved his face closer, and she was actually glad she couldn't breathe, because then she couldn't smell his breath.
"Foolish girl, your life has never been your own. Your heart? Love? Love is below us, Miss Shuzen. We are vampires, we are immortal. Others are playthings next to us! You could be sent off as a pawn for an alliance for thirty years and not care! You are his daughter, and he has been planning your life for a long, long time. The list of your suitors grows longer by the week, and with this latest rumor running about he has been far less inclined to let you continue this farce!"
Moka was actually stunned into complete silence by his last words, but the rage came back, stronger than ever, fueled by the deeper, far darker hatred burning in her inner self. If her attacker had expected anything, it certainly wouldn't have been for her to spit in his face, and she took great pride in the look that appeared on it when he realized what she had done. His fingers shook around her neck, and for a moment she feared he would crush her windpipe in his fight to keep his calm. Instead he settled for throwing her violently against a wall, and her body left a dent in the drywall before she fell to the bed beneath, gasping and coughing both for air while trying to recover from the impact. The pain meant nothing to her, it only focused her will against him.
"No," she rasped at last, determination etched into every strand of pitch she had left. Her glare did great justice to the one within the holy cross, and the vampire stepped back against his own volition. "You're below love. My father loved my mom once, I know he did. As a matter of fact I'd bet he still loves her, somewhere in that thing that might have once been a heart. The fact that you're spewing that junk about love means you're nothing more than a pawn too, a purist punk too blinded by his own sense of superiority to know anything but what his supposed 'betters' tell him! You're nothing to them in both worth and power; the only reason you're not nothing to me is because of this seal! What did he promise you? What great reward would you get for going to his daughter's school and lecturing her about her place?"
Inner and Outer were synched more than they ever had been, their every thought so alike the words they thought and the words they spoke were one and the same. The only difference was, 'Outer' lacked the power to truly intimidate him. The smile on his face warped into something that turned her stomach, and as he started walking toward her she felt it twist with each step. Her righteous indignation faltered as she scrambled back, away from the predator stalking its way to her, the weakest prey. Bile threatened to leave her body when he at last perched over her, one arm against the wall by her head, and his free hand trailing up her neck…her jaw…skin only one had touched before. With a sickly sweet tone that raised gooseflesh on her skin, he whispered the most damning word of all:
"You."
He took delight in the way her eyes widened, the way the stench of true fear began emanating from her far stronger. She was powerless in front of him, and he knew it. "I'm your first suitor, the first contract you'll get to fulfill. I was but a child when I first heard the stories of your prowess, and I'll admit I'm disappointed that I won't be able to meet your real form. Alas, it's better this way. As you said, were it not for that seal I have little doubt of your ability to hold true to your words, but that's the catch, is it not? You are a pawn, Moka-chan, no matter how much you try to deny it, how far you try to run from it, you are and always will be a subordinate to your father. Either as an enforcer or an enticement, that is your fate. The sooner you accept that the better. I may not have you for long, but I'll be certain you'll remember it. You may call me Alexander, but 'master' is just as well."
It was only then that he noticed his words were becoming visible in the air, and the chill literally gripped him around the back of his neck in the form of a firm, unrelenting grip. One look at his would-be captive showed him the relief and awe on her face, and he knew it wasn't directed at him. Ice itself breathed into his ear as the figure he now sensed behind him leaned over, and when it spoke he felt it fire down his spine the same way only one had invoked before.
"You will not touch her in any way; you will not look at her in any way; you will not breathe the same air as her ever, ever again, so help me God. If you ever lay a finger on my mate again, I swear on every drop of blood I have in me that I will make you wish you were dead!"
"Allow me to make it easier for you then, for I will simply drain you of every drop now!" the unsealed vampire hissed unexpectedly, and before anyone in the room had time to react he had twisted in place and sent a perfectly aimed punch at where he inferred his new opponent's face to be. It hit its mark flawlessly, and without the door to halt the resulting recoil, Tsukune's only impediment was the guardrail before he fell from the building and to the ground below.
Casting a delightedly menacing look at Moka, he grabbed hold of her again before pursuing his fallen challenger. To say he was surprised to see the other man already getting up by the time he had jumped from the upper level was an understatement, and there was very little sign of any mark from his punch. He would have thought it impossible if he wasn't witnessing it with his own eyes. He couldn't let it affect his demeanor though; he needed to show his new courtesan who ruled their relationship.
"Did you say 'mate,' whelp? You dare to assume a vampiress such as her would allow one such as you to claim that title?!"
"I don't assume anything!" Tsukune retorted furiously as he was forced to look at his lover held in the grasp of another man. "She was the one that gave it to me!"
Alexander was taken aback by the defence, and the gaze he set on Moka then held nothing but molten fury, if not pure disgust. "So not only did you accept another, but you call him your mate? I expected so much more from you, I can only imagine your father's reaction."
In the hold of one whom could easily kill her if he so wished, the pink-haired woman still found the strength to smile victoriously. "No, not mate. I've found my blood-mate."
His suddenly slackened expression showed all too clearly how well he understood what she meant. She could hear his teeth grinding together when his mind came around, and the fury she had seen before had increased exponentially. "A…bonded pair? Do you claim to have chosen him for life?"
Smugness radiated from her every pore, despite the position she was in. "I'm my own person, Alex-chan. Even if my father set me up with a real vampire, and not a weak lackey like you, he wouldn't come close to my Tsukune. Even if I was locked away for the rest of my life, he would be the only one on my mind! As long as I still breathe, he's mine and I'm his!"
"A situation easily remedied, my dear," her captor promised darkly. "I may not be allowed to harm you too critically, but I was given express permission to deal with whoever thought they could be with the daughter of Lord Shuzen without his consent. Once he lies dead, you will remember your place!"
Her eyes darkened hatefully and even from where he was, Tsukune could honestly say that it was the first time he could remember Moka's outer form visibly malicious. She snarled right back at him in a perfect imitation of the self sealed inside, and made every effort to meet his glare with one twice as powerful. "Then I'll tell you this: for every mark you make on him I'll return it with interest, and if he dies, I'll tear out your beating heart with my bare hands before I join him."
"I'd like to see you make good on that, weakling," he responded snidely. Turning to where Tsukune was biding his time, he smirked. "A mate is no longer a mate when dead."
Using the grip he had on her collar to his advantage, Alexander pulled her to him without warning. In less time than there was to process that action he had already stolen her lips. Tears fell from Moka's appalled eyes as she was forced into him, and though she lacked power, she still had fangs. With as much force as she could muster she bit hard into his lower lip, and he howled in pain as he threw her away from him. She hit the dorm hard, cracked sickeningly against the concrete and plaster and down to the ground, where she moved no more.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Cold rage embraced Tsukune, an instinctual fury that demanded the other man pay for violating what was most certainly not his. He had never been the most confident, nor had he ever been prone to fits of anger, but seeing that brought on one of the most intense rages he had ever felt. As his fingernails started digging into his palm he was briefly aware of the icy sensation surrounding them, but he couldn't be bothered to care. Something else commanded his full attention, and sealed or not, he would do as much as he could to ensure she was safe.
Satisfied he had gotten his point across, the other vampire wiped the blood off his lips before returning his view to where Tsukune should have been. "There, now where were w—!"
He was cut off fiercely by the frozen fist that caught him square in the jaw, and his body had no choice but to follow the force of the punch and send him careening into the trees off to the side. His head pounded as he tried to recover in the clearing he had created, and with a grunt of pain he repositioned his broken jaw back into place so his regeneration could take over. The sight that greeted his swimming vision when he gazed forward brought about conflicting emotions, but nonetheless he chuckled when he saw the man calmly—too calmly—walking to him.
Humidity once in the air was being turned to frosty mist, casting their newfound arena into an ephemeral beauty reminiscent of morning fog at sunrise. It crawled over the ground in waves, seeping into the space between the leafless trees and around the tombstones littering the area. With evening approaching and the sun giving way to the moon, it set the very atmosphere into a sense of foreboding, and at its center was the focal point of the picture of mysticism. A being with hands of pure ice stalked towards him, and from looking at him he never would have suspected he was angry in the way he held himself. It was proud, straight; a gait held by those sure of an outcome. It was his eyes that held his intentions, a vengeance that could be seen clearly in the ethereal light reflecting from his mirror-like arms.
The vampire that called himself Alexander merely laughed as he picked himself up and tested his jaw. "Are you serious? She refused one of her own kind for the hand of a dying race? You are indeed a rarity, whelp; men are being born less and less to the snow people. If this is the amount of power I can expect from one, I can see why. Tell me, did you get your powers from a magical hat found by schoolchildren?"
"I could say the same to you," Tsukune answered coldly, too far gone into his one-minded desire to see the other man pay to realize what he was doing unthinkingly. "Moka probably has more power in one strand of her hair than you do in your entire body. I can tell just from looking at you that you're much weaker than you think you are, or did you think I didn't notice how dull your hair is?"
"You will not talk down to me, inferior brat!"
Red youki flamed to life around him, painting the white fog around them into bloody mist as he charged forward, and it was only Tsukune's training with Inner Moka that saved his life. His reflexes forced him to react before his mind was even aware of what was happening, and the kick that passed through where his head had been seconds earlier utterly demolished the tree behind it. Suddenly Tsukune wasn't so confident anymore.
Dammit, I can't take a hit like that with this seal on; I'd get torn to pieces! With it off he knew he could stand up to Moka's inner self on even ground, but with it on his options were severely limited. He couldn't allow that to hamper his resolve; for once everything relied on him, and he wasn't about to back out, not after what that vampire had done to his mate.
He spread his senses outward as much as he could, relying as much on his sight as he was his preternatural radar, one of the few abilities not completely snuffed out by his rosary. Alexander was taller, but he was faster, and combined with his finely-honed reactions he was able to narrowly avoid every one of the other man's strikes. He knew had he been facing Moka he would have been destroyed by then, but there was something to be thankful for in the weaker vampire he was facing. He was still a vampire, and 'weaker' just meant he had a chance to survive as long as he stayed clear of his blows.
The mist was a blessing, because his opponent just lashed out blindly, too enraged to consider using his other senses like Tsukune had already started doing long before. With each attack that was dodged the other male became visibly angrier, and that was exactly what the former human wanted. It was time he started fighting back.
The next punch came right where he expected it, and with a quick sidestep he ducked under the arm and landed two solid strikes to Alexander's side. As the other monster coughed from the unexpected force behind the masterful chops, Tsukune spun low on the ball of his foot, flipping his foe's feet right out from under him and sending him flailing to the ground. Alex managed to recover his equilibrium just in time to his chagrin, because if he hadn't rolled away when he had a foot would have planted itself in his stomach. The would-be kidnapper didn't let the second of opportunity go to waste however and immediately kicked behind his knee, earning a pained cry as he was forced down, and thus unable to dodge the follow-up kick that he just barely managed to block with his arms.
He instantly wished he hadn't.
Pain rocketed up his arms like lightning as his fingers simultaneously lost feeling, and he suspected were it not for whatever transformed them they would have broken just as easily. He strangled the cry before it left his throat, but that was all the time Alex needed to hit his unprotected head. Tsukune's vision blurred as he was sent careening into a gravestone, and it was by pure instinct that he moved before it was decimated by his adversary's next punch. It was vastly apparent that he was outmatched in almost every way as he was, and just one moment of weakness had increased the odds against him more than he could afford to allow. He grasped desperately at his shirt, through the numbness gradually dimming in his fingers to claw at what he knew was underneath, and was horrified when the holy metal repelled him as if on fire.
I thought he said life or death?! I'm pretty sure this counts as a life-or-death situation here! Tsukune yelled frantically, but if the divine seal heard him it gave no indication of it. Just like that his hope dimmed dramatically, but he wasn't permitted to dwell on it for he soon had to evade the next incoming attempt on his health.
"What's wrong, Frosty? Lost your pipe?"
It was a tribute to his resolve that he managed to weave his way through every one of the volley being sent his way, and with just enough feeling restored in his hands to be useful he caught the man unaware, viciously slamming his fist back into the grey-haired vampire's gut. Said vampire staggered back, coughing and panting as he tried to keep whatever might have been in his stomach down, and Tsukune managed a dark smirk.
"Not such a jolly, happy, soul, now am I, huh?"
Alexander growled lowly and this time he simply charged the young man in a full football tackle. Catching him around the waist he dove into the nearest tree, and grinned darkly when he heard the ice-wielder cough wetly when he pulled away to let him slump to the ground. Blood was indeed dribbling from the fool's mouth as his now normal limbs shook, likely trying to raise his body up again, but he wouldn't allow that. Lifting the person that had dared insult him up by his collar, he was enraged to see no fear on his beaten face even as he cocked back his fist. Only determination was in those honey-brown orbs, and he felt a glimmer of respect for the other man.
"I suppose I can see some of what she saw in you. It's almost too bad."
"Yeah…it is…" Tsukune groaned, and shocked his oppressor by fixing a fighting gaze back at him right after. "Too bad you let me catch my breath."
Vines shot up from all around them, securing Alexander in place in an ever-constricting vice that left him helpless when his once-captive lifted his feet and launched them right into his chest. Confusion was foremost in his mind when he was blasted away—though pain was a close second—because the vines hadn't offered any resistance to his flight, almost like they hadn't been there at all. He wasn't given any time to think it over, and now it was him on the defensive.
Tsukune knew he stood no chance, in fact moving hurt, but if the best defence was a good offence, he wasn't going to give the other vampire the chance to attack. With his hands once more coated in ice, two successive open-palm thrusts at his chest made the man stumble back wildly, gasping for the air suddenly shot from his lungs, and Tsukune took the opening to grab his head and pull it down to meet his approaching knee. Blood flew from his nose while he punched out wildly, but in that state Tsukune was more than able to avoid the flailing strikes, and jumped into a flurry of punches that knocked the battered vampire every which way before rods of ice joined in, hammering home the extra strength their creator currently lacked.
When at last Alexander fell, broken and bloody, the remaining male sighed painfully. "And stay down." Pressing his hand against his cheek, he nearly whimpered at the cold temperature on his swollen skin. "Jeez, that'll take a while to heal, but at least Moka's safe. Still, I really need to talk to Mizore about this," he concluded curiously, looking at his unused hand, far from what it should be.
Turning back to check Moka's condition, he froze when a hand gripped his shoulder harshly and twirled him back to the furious form of the vampire Alexander.
"My turn, whelp."
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V^^^V
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It was another perfectly glorious day in her opinion. Finding a cave hadn't been that easy, which meant that she had had to make one herself in one of the mountains she had found. It wasn't an easy task since she had to take into account how much she could grow, but if worse came to worst she could always make a new one. It had done wonders to sharpen her talons though, and she was quite happy with that. The only thing that would make it better would be if her partner was with her, but she understood necessity.
The thrill of the hunt was intoxicating, watching the little vermin squeal and run when they saw her shadow approach, but by then it was too late. She was queen of the skies, mistress of Mother Nature, and the protector of the only vampire to ever earn a dragon's respect. Her partner was a truly confusing conundrum, but that was part of the reason she had chosen him. Every once in a while he could be a bit dense but he had wisdom beyond his years where it mattered. He was kind, yet had still learned the inevitability of force and held others above himself even with that. He was as rare as she was in a way, and she could understand that even though she had only been alive for a scant few weeks. She was proud to call him her partner.
The hooded man that had sealed him on other hand, he she was annoyed with. She had known her partner's potential from the moment she had gained awareness, and though she was thoroughly enjoying Paradise, she couldn't help but be worried for his safety without her there. She knew he had plenty of other nest-mates but she had a sinking feeling not all of them understood just what had been done to him. Riddles were something she had learned she enjoyed but he took the concept to an entirely new level, and wasn't afraid to endanger others to find the answer. This world was so much better than the realm her partner was in, there was no question about that, but there was a part of her that wanted frantically to return just to be safe.
Smoke puffed from her nostrils as she grunted in annoyance, forced to rely on her one and only treasure to calm her frayed nerves. Not only was it a gift from her mother, but her partner as well; what had spawned their whole situation in the first place. It most assuredly was not a security blanket—a security shirt, maybe? Nonetheless, it carried his scent, and that was the only thing that had kept her from running rampant when she realized how long the weeks until summer break were. At least she always had a full belly here, and a never-ending amount of new places to explore. It would be a long time until she had exhausted that time-killer.
Curling up in the groove her body had created in the rock of her cave, sleep seemed like a good idea as she nestled the ragged shirt. She was probably just being paranoid anyway. How much trouble could her nestling get into in just a few days?
The part of her unequivocally tied to the young man in question started ringing hysterically, the instinctive trait always attuned to his location and wellbeing. There hadn't been so much as a peep from that part of her ever since she had been born; she had been the only one to use their bond for anything. The way it was ringing within her suggested he probably wasn't even doing it on purpose, and that scared her more than anything.
Frightened whimpers escaped her menacing mouth as she shot from her cave and took to the skies, following that cry to where she knew that strange door awaited. Animals and monsters alike ran in fear as the ground shook beneath their feet from her gallop, and when her powerful wings pulled her bulk into the atmosphere, birds scattered. She had never flown with such determination before, and in no time at all she was in front of the marble gateway to her partner's realm.
Scratching despondently at the closed door, she had never experienced fear the likes of which embraced her when the marks from her talons faded like the door itself had a will of its own.
V^^^V
Bruised and battered, the sealed vampire tried his best to trap in ice the livid man intent on delivering the most pain he could before he finished the job. It never lasted long; thankfully it slowed him down regardless.
He had never wished his rosary would come off so much before. Even if he could just flare his youki, at least someone would be alerted to what was going on! He didn't know how much longer he would be able to hold off this force. His bones were already protesting, and if he hadn't had his limited regeneration his muscles would have given out long ago.
A harsh punch toppled him and his left eye was now sealed shut, black and blue. His split lip throbbed, and if he didn't know any better he would think some of his organs were bruised. The only eye currently working managed to focus in on a form off to the side, and he smiled weakly when he saw it move. She's alright, thank God.
Drawing on every reserve his present form had to give, he pushed himself upright and wiped his mouth while he glared down the smug Alexander.
He couldn't back down. He wouldn't. Even if he died trying, he would fight until their friends found them.
V^^^V
Scorched earth lay everywhere around the dimensional anomaly, but still the stone door showed no sign of change. An infuriated roar caused the very earth to tremble as another salvo of molten death was unleashed upon the locked entrance, and she might have admired the destruction caused by her newly-discovered ability was she not so mad it was having no effect whatsoever.
He needed her! He was right behind that door and he needed her! She would have cried had she known how. Why could all those tiny, two-legged beings lacking even the protective covering of scales walk right through like it was nothing, and nothing she could do would make even a scratch?! She stilled while she seethed inwardly, focusing on the shirt she hadn't had the time to leave behind. She needed to be calm. Calm. Calm…
She smashed her head against the door with enough force to topple a building, and it just stared back, mocking her for disregarding her own advice. Steel-gray eyes glared back.
Calm, she repeated to herself. His smell always calmed her. She focused on his smell. If only she was like him, then she would be able to reach him. His smell…she focused on his smell. If only she had those fleshy, fingered appendages instead of the ideal weapons of her fierce talons. His smell…she focused…on…his smell. If only she was smaller, if only she had those lanky, unbalanced pairs of transportation instead of the perfection of her four-legged self. His smell…she…focused on…his smell…
If only…if only…
In the realm of Paradise, two small hands pushed open a door.
V^^^V
Alexander was starting to get seriously annoyed.
The fool just doesn't know when to quit! he thought angrily as he delivered what should have been another bone-crushing blow to the younger man's body.
No matter the injury incurred or the obvious pain he was in, he kept getting back up, and kept trying his hardest to hurt him back. The mind-boggling thing was, he was actually succeeding! He looked like he could hardly move, yet he still managed to evade nearly every attack sent his way and deliver ones of his own before he was finally hit! He had never seen such tenacity in the snow people before; he couldn't understand how he continued getting up after blows that had made stronger monsters cry for mercy.
Just what are you made of?!
Tsukune wasn't running on anything his body had to give, he was running on sheer force of will. The thought had come to mind to treat the rosary like he had once his Holy Lock, but the second he had tried finding any of his power to redirect—if it was indeed possible—it felt like he had secured a noose around his neck. The holy cross was a force to be reckoned with, and it was growing exceedingly warmer with every passing second he fought. Even with all that, not once did it give way to his pleading pulls.
Mist followed their every limb in lingering trails, giving evidence to each strike before the next for both tattered combatants. That sight of unearthly, almost unreal violence was what greeted five women when they returned to the dorm, four of whom had been asked to help clean up the mess in the clubroom of the day before by the fifth. At the time it might have been to help out a certain vampiress' plan of getting her vampire to her room unnoticed, yet Ruby was quickly realizing that to be a mistake looking at the situation around her.
A choked cry caught their attention and was soon punctuated by an explosion of dust from the side wall of the dorm, where looking back, only one of the two fighters stood where both had previously. It was easy to see who too.
"Tsukune!" came the collective shriek, while Kokoa had honed in on the other prone form lying near his impact point.
The oppressor was thrown off by the sudden turn of events, and he was sure he wouldn't like the new way it had chosen. He had to give the boy props though, not even he had had so many women around him at any one time, and certainly not out of concern. The addition of Moka's younger sister wasn't too much of a problem—he had a way of dealing with her—but there was no way of knowing the abilities of the others, and he was running low on stamina as it was. He needed blood, and if things continued the way they had been he might just have to take from what was available, willing or not. It wasn't like anyone was focused on him at the moment.
Though they were all having trouble believing the state Tsukune was in, there was more than some shock being held at what he had been able to do to a vampire, lesser or not, sealed. It made sense that no matter how hard he tried there just wasn't any way for him to stand up to something of their caliber. His face was in various stages of bruising and his lips were cut and bloody, but what made it worse was those were the mildest wounds on him. They were simply the most visible. His hands had returned to normal from their icy appearance, and they too looked worse for wear.
"What happened here?!" Kurumu blubbered, torn between taking him into her arms and keeping him at a distance just so she didn't aggravate already excruciating injuries.
"Not…going…to…let him…take Moka…away," Tsukune seethed, only semi-conscious by this point. They couldn't believe his arms could even move in their condition, nonetheless they had braced themselves on his throne of rubble and were pushing their broken body up yet again. His teeth were barred angrily and he looked the very vision of fury, however that wasn't what had one woman's attention. Ruby was almost too shocked to do anything when she saw a glowing outline shining from underneath his shirt, growing ever brighter, and quickly pushed him back down.
"Tsukune, stop, you're in no shape to do anything anymore! Leave this to us!"
His only working eye tried without success to focus on the source of the voice, but somewhere in him he was able to understand who was speaking. "Ru…Ruby…?"
She could have cried. "Yes, Tsukune, it's me. We're here now."
"M-Moka…?"
"I'll be fine," a voice answered from their side, and they looked over to see Moka being supported heavily by Kokoa. She hadn't restrained herself, and tears were wet on her face as she looked at what only vaguely resembled her unwavering protector. "Tsukune…what has he done to you?"
A choked sound that might have been a laugh was coughed from him. "Oh…this? It's a…long story. Fell down some… stairs… You know…the usual."
The vampiress would have hit him for his attempt at humor if he didn't look like he had already been hit by a truck. She couldn't stop the reluctant chuckle that was forced from her throat, and wiped ineffectually at her tear stains. "That's not funny."
Broken lips curled up into a pained grin. "Got you…to laugh…didn't it? Tears….don't suit…you." He trailed off into wet coughs that sounded downright awful, and Moka looked up angrily to see Alexander right behind their friends.
"I hope you haven't forgotten about me. No matter how many zeroes you have to protect you, zero times zero is still zero."
Kurumu and Mizore straightened rigidly, wordlessly taking their places beside each other while their combined glare bored into him. "We'll see about that."
The situation was ripe for a new conflict, and it came, just not in the form anyone had expected.
A red and white blur of motion collided with the male antagonist, sending him clear off his feet and into the glen off to the side once more. What stood in his place was a child that couldn't have been more than ten years old, naked but for a ragged white shirt dyed almost completely red covering her modesty. While Tsukune's skin was naturally dark, hers was a shade darker, and brilliant white hair stood up in messy spikes on top of her head. She didn't even spare a second glance at the person she had just sent flying, instead quickly turning towards the group huddled around Tsukune with nothing but distress warping her cute face. The young girl wasted no time pushing through the line of defence surrounding him, with little difficulty at that, and Kurumu regained her wits at the rough shove that held strength far beyond the girl's small size. Catching her by the arm, her breath caught when the child turned to snarl at her.
At the center of those dark, endearing features, right under the pair of white eyebrows that matched her hair perfectly, were two eyes the color of bright polished steel.
"Kurumu…it's okay…" Tsukune groaned, once again struggling to lift himself up. This time it was the girl who pushed him down, then with no hesitation dug her sharp teeth into her wrist before holding it to his mouth. Every thought vanished from his mind under the smell of the offering, and his weak body eagerly drank from the flowing wound. Those around him watched his flesh knit slowly right in front of their eyes when he pulled back with a gasp, his eyes wild with an actual lust for blood. He dove back for more like a madman, and when the others reached out to stop him it was the girl that held out her hand to halt them.
"I have more blood than this appearance suggests. Do not worry for my safety. Save for removing his rosary so his true blood can heal him, my healing factor is what he needs right now," she explained calmly. While her voice held the same pitch as any child her age, it also held a deeper sense of understanding in the unusually smoky tone, and displayed an equally unusual formal style of speaking. It was almost like the words themselves were on fire, and they knew when she grew older her voice was going to be unbelievable. Just looking at the tone of her small body heralded the traces of what was bound to become a killer physique, but the question on their minds revolved around who she was to know so much.
"I don't believe it…" Ruby murmured silently as the child ran a hand through the feeding vampire's dirty hair, unbothered by how long he was taking on her arm. If he had fed that long from any of them he would have killed them without fail, and right in front of her he was still drinking from a girl smaller than Yukari.
When Tsukune lifted his head for air his breathing was noticeably easier, and though bruises still discolored his skin they were slowly vanishing. Even his swollen eye almost looked like it could be opened again. He collapsed into the rubble his impact had caused while gulping in heavy breaths, like his lungs had been too damaged to before. With a sigh, his good eye opened, followed hesitantly by the one still in the process of healing. He gave a grateful, weary grin to the newcomer, and she smiled right back.
"The second I get my diploma I'm gonna punch that smug grin right off the headmaster's face. I'm sure he's grinning like an idiot somewhere right now." Seeing the looks of horror on the faces around him—on all but one—his smirk at the white-haired girl became more pronounced. "I guess I won't have too much trouble understanding you now, huh?"
"I should hope not," she replied, and the others were unnerved to see a matching grin on her face. "It does feel strange to have a throat capable of your words, if I may say so. Nevertheless, I am grateful to be able to converse with you at long last, nestling."
He chuckled as he pulled her closer and ruffled her spiky hair. "I shouldn't be surprised; Language Arts was the only class you stayed awake for. I missed you, Rei-chan."
She hugged him back even more fiercely. "I missed you as well."
The rest of the group was startled out of their revelation-induced stupor when a deep, ragged roar sounded from behind them, and just before Alexander's fangs plunged into Mizore's neck Tsukune was up and pushing her out of the way, already preparing to do the same to the oncoming man. Electricity crackled around him as he growled in rage, and Alexander was literally shocked back by the violent force of a bolt of lightning, but not before he had grabbed the shirt so near him. The collar tore open with a loud rip, exposing the superheated rosary to the air, but Tsukune hardly noticed the change. While the persistent vampire was doggedly returning to his feet and patting off the fire that had started on his clothes, Tsukune, on the other hand, had fallen to one knee and was panting wildly.
It would seem he was still far too weak to return to battle; he really would get himself killed otherwise. "Crap, that didn't feel very nice," the former human coughed hoarsely while grasping painfully at his chest.
"Tsukune, you're not alone anymore. I'm right here. What say you let me help you now?" Moka asked lovingly, with an arm still draped over Kokoa for balance, and her mate smiled happily.
"That sounds like a great idea. This was never my fight, it was our fight. I think it's time to let an old pro handle this."
She nodded and wordlessly closed her eyes, where a soft chink was the last thing she heard before she felt her consciousness fade from her body.
Red youki blasted into the air in an unrestrained geyser of power while bats flew wildly in the suddenly red moon. Pink hair bled white and green eyes morphed red as the sealed vampiress was allowed back into her body, and she raised herself upright proudly. Even in her pajamas she looked as regal as ever. Her reptilian eyes froze Alexander on the spot, too afraid to move so much as a muscle in her presence. Satisfied with that, she knelt down beside Tsukune and carefully ran a hand down his dirty cheek.
"Rest now, my love; you've done more than I could have ever asked of you. You've done your part, now it's time for me to do mine." Switching her gaze to Rei, Moka nodded ever so slightly. "And thank you."
The dragon child nodded back. "There is no need for gratitude, but you are welcome, jewel of my heart."
Returning to her feet, the furious flame of her power burst around her again, and she cast one last glance to her friends. "I understand your desire for vengeance, but this one is mine and mine alone."
No one questioned her.
Stalking towards her prey like he had done so arrogantly to her earlier on, Alexander scooted back fearfully, his eyes darting between her and Tsukune, or a more specific part of Tsukune's body. She growled when she saw the fabric in his hand, and knew instantly what he was staring at.
"That's…that's…! He's a…!"
"Yes, it is, and yes, he is. Thank you for noticing that, I will take great pleasure in watching Kurumu erase that memory from you. I will allow you to keep this one though: I am no puppet of my father's. I belong to a new Clan now," she hissed lowly, and when she was finally in front of him the fear was plain on his face.
"Forgive me, Shuzen-sama, I didn't know!"
Her face twisted from calm indifference to unbridled rage, and she snarled at him with a fury no animal could hope to recreate. "You didn't care to know!" He fell over himself trying to get away from her but it was a vain attempt; she had already grabbed his arm. With spectacular force she slammed him into the ground and stomped on his hand, where the sound of bones breaking became audible in the air as he cried out in pain. "What happened to all that confidence you had, weakling? What happened to the gall that made you think you could touch me? That made you kiss me? You didn't take me seriously because of my seal, and you thought you were above me because of that! I told you, I warned you that I would make you pay for every mark you made on my mate! Did you think I would have suddenly submitted to you if you killed Tsukune? I swear to you I would have fulfilled my promise! I would have broken my rosary by any means necessary and torn out your heart in front of your eyes!" She dug her foot into his broken hand, and he tried fruitlessly to pull it from her torture as he muffled screams from between grit teeth. "There's only one man who has the right to touch me, and it's not you! Know your place, you worthless piece of scum!"
Bringing her other foot down on his forearm it too snapped like a twig under her enormous power, and another scream came from her victim. Normally she went for the head to end battles as quickly as she could, but this one was personal; this one had to be taught a lesson he wouldn't soon forget. Grabbing hold of his good arm she threw him into the nearest tree brutally, exacting her pound of flesh from him with hellish delight. She would make what he had done to Tsukune look like child's play, and with every blow her anger only grew.
By the time he lay on the ground, barely recognizable, her hands were coated with blood and she was panting above him with a fist shivering over his head. Warm fingers wrapped around her wrist gently, and she looked back with tears in her eyes to see Tsukune. He spoke no words, just tenderly pulled her to him and held her, and that was when the dam finally broke. She cried. Her bloody hands clasped to his back while she buried her head in his chest, and he simply stood there and stroked her long hair.
"I'm sorry I couldn't stop him from doing that to you," he said at last. "I'll get stronger, I promise."
"That's only part of it," she whispered raggedly. "You don't know how you looked, Tsukune; you don't. What would have happened if I couldn't get off your rosary? What might have happened if Rei hadn't shown up when she had? It was like Kuyou all over again, only this time I wouldn't have been able to do anything. He took something from me I would never willingly give, but if I had lost you I would have never forgiven myself."
"That's why you're not alone," Kurumu assured as she placed her hand comfortingly on her friend's back, and soon it was joined by more, each one from a friend that had been through hell together. "You said it yourself, didn't you? You're part of a new Clan now. I may not know much about vampires, but I do know that word. You have a new family. We're a bit weird, but we'll always protect each other."
Moka had never felt as warm as when she looked around her circle of friends, no, her loved ones. "My new family."
Yukari nodded solemnly up at her. "'Til death do us part."
The words were perfect.
"'Til death do us part."
V^^^V
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Author's Notes: Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or just want to talk, send me a line. I wouldn't object to you filling in that review box either.
'Til next time!
Sabr
...
Outtake Theatre
The situation was ripe for a new conflict, and it came, just not in the form anyone had expected.
A giant metal fist crushed the hostile vampire without warning, and from the spine of the enormous bio-mech that had appeared out of nowhere a white tube retracted. A girl with blue hair and red eyes exited the plug, and everyone was stunned into silence. The woman looked around in confusion, before looking at the stain under her Eva's hand.
"Apologies, I appear to be in the wrong genre. Have a good day."
Rei Ayanami left after peeling what was left of Alexander from her knuckles.
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...I know, that was terrible. I just had to do it, LOL!
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