Chapter 22: Retrieval

It seems like that girl was dangerous after all… but, it still feels like there was a reason why she was like that, Tsukune's inner self spoke to him in a sombre voice. I agree… I wonder why she's like that as well… even worse; she has stopped coming to school, so more problems… yay, Tsukune thought with sarcasm as well as curiosity.

"You should watch out, Tsukune-san, stalkers like that girl, are really creepy. In the first semester, there was a girl who proposed to the teacher that she liked. When he declined her feeling, he was found frozen, looking like an ice lolly," Yukari warned, her hands clinging onto Tsukune's sleeves, just as they walked into the staffroom.

"Even so, that girl hasn't come to school for the last few days- Shirayuki-san was out of most of the first semester, so further absences like this will cause her more problems," Nekome-sensei explained, her ears twitching, in a weird show of concern.

"That's why, Tsukune-kun and Moka-san, (especially Tsukune-kun as you are class manager) I want you two to drag Shirayuki-san back to school," Nekome-sensei informed them.

Oh wow, that means I ended up as class manager- that really sucks! But what are we meant to do? I had a fight with Shirayuki-san yesterday, and I'm guessing by what I heard yesterday, that she isn't really a fan of Moka, Tsukune gulped, glancing towards Moka, who was having similar thoughts. We'll end up like snowmen at the side of the road… oh the cold, it stings-

"So, this is her room number- if she isn't there, than she might be at the cliff nearby. She does like the scenery. So good luck both of you!" Nekome-sensei said as she handed Tsukune a piece of paper with her usual cheerful appearance before them. I swear this teacher is way too optimistic… I don't remember regular cats being like this, Tsukune thought with a sigh just as someone walked in. It was a man in his late-twenties, wearing a white t-shirt with dark spots on the sleeves, and also having distinctive spiky crimson hair.

"Do you have a moment, Nekome-sensei? I have serious matters concerning Shirayuki to discuss with you," the adult male stated, as all eyes in the room turned to him.

"Oh, Kotsubo-sensei, is there something wrong with Shirayuki?" Nekome-sensei asked casually.

"You haven't heard?! Last night, Shirayuki met with two of my soccer players, injuring them, then leaving them frozen in ice. If we hadn't found them in time, they could've died- poor kids. Something needs to be don't about Shirayuki…" the physical education teacher said as everyone responded in surprise.

"Too bad this is the second time of her causing problems, because this surely means expulsion. Her numerous absences, and problems like this are not something that this school can handle anymore- we must expel her for the safety of the pupils here," he declared with narrowed eyes.

She froze them?! Wow, isn't that a bit too much of an overreaction? Surely someone wouldn't do something like that?! That just doesn't seem right… Tsukune considered, as his mood became concerned.

"You must be Tsukune-kun… I see. Nekome-sensei, let's discuss further details more privately," Kotsubo-sensei mentioned as the two teachers walked away, deep in conversation.

?... Okay, that last part was a bit weird.

"You two are in trouble again? You really are naughty, aren't you Tsukune-kun? You'll get hurt if you get into too much trouble- especially since not all the teachers are nice as I am," a female voice said from behind them, it was the always-rather-suggestively-dressed Ririko-sensei.

"I'm guessing that's probably your idea of irony sensei, making a comment like that," Tsukune replied with his face in a confused face.

"That Kotsubo-sensei is famous for making fast moves on the girls- he's also quite strict. If he sets his eyes on a girl, he'll never let her go- believe me, this isn't in a nice way either. I think during the first semester, there was a girl who got suspended because of him; a dangerous man that you shouldn't make an enemy," Ririko-sensei explained as she issued her warning.

"Expel?! That Shirayuki-san, and she also nearly killed two male students?! Seriously, why would you do that?" Kurumu shouted in surprise, her mouth open with her hand over it.

"That's what I was thinking… maybe there's a deeper reason," Tsukune mused for a second.

"A lack of love- that would explain it. Tsukune-san dumped her and now she's pissed-" Yukari replied with her index finger up, before Kurumu put her hands around her mouth.

"She was following you around the whole time, so she deserves it! You were getting annoyed by it, so it's probably karma or something," Kurumu stated with a cheesy smile as Yukari also put on a similar smile.

"But did she really do it? That girl, she seemed very lonely- just the way she spoke and what she said to me. She's lonely, but I don't think she's bad… there must be more to it…" Tsukune again mused, the others peering at him in wonder as well.

"Even if you believe it or not, I'm sure Shirayuki did all of this- I've got the evidence," remarked from behind them as Tsukune turned around- it was Kotsubo-sensei and he was holding the scrapbook he remembered Mizore had.

"This was at the scene of the crime- the same scrapbook that we know belonged to Shirayuki," Kotsubo-sensei stated strongly.

"Surely that doesn't mean that she fully done it…" Tsukune replied, his thoughts now in a jumble, as he wasn't sure whether to accept the evidence or not.

"Forgive me Tsukune-kun, but I have read this… this must have troubled you, and it means that now… she is bothering you," the physical education teacher started flipping through the pages of the scrapbook. What does he mean by 'now'? Is he going to talk about the previous incident with Mizore?

"At the start of the 1st semester, she fell in love with a teacher- this type of love was taboo. Shirayuki had her revenge on the teacher by turning him into ice. That is why she was suspended, and why she stopped going to school- that tells you straight away what kind of girl she is…."

"Wait a minute…"

"Don't you think it'd be better if that type of girl didn't exist? If she didn't trouble you? Or even better, if she didn't trouble anyone? This kind of girl wouldn't make a difference whether she's in school or not. She is an annoyance, a plague, who sticks to you like mud- I know exactly how you feel," his voice was becoming more sinister, and Tsukune was starting to suspect that this teacher really hated Mizore.

"It all makes sense… the fact that you don't like her… the fact that you know quite a lot about her school life- you are the teacher that got frozen by her, right?" Tsukune stated as the PE teacher slowly smiled.

"That's right, it was me- but don't worry, I will do whatever it takes to get rid of her from here," the teacher said with a menacing smile on his face, as he walked away.

In what was starting to seem like a horror movie-cliché for Tsukune, the mist surrounded the dormitories as he went to find Mizore's room.

Okay, 106, here it is, he paused outside a door, the air the solitary noise around him, man, even some of the teachers here are twisted. Really not good that nobody would try and help Shirayuki-san, or at least listen to her, Tsukune thought with a sigh as he lightly rapped his knuckle on the door.

"Who is it?" her stoic voice came in reply.

"Okay, that's a good start, she actually replied," Tsukune whispered with a bit more confidence.

"Shirayuki-san, it's me, Tsukune, and I want to apologise for yesterday. I know I've hurt you and your feelings- and I must admit that I took the wrong actions. Things ended really badly yesterday, so I wonder if we could talk this out somehow…" Tsukune said as clearly as he could as he waited in the silence for a reply. This lack of reply makes me worry even more, I feel like I'm about to be attac- he could not finish his thought process as he had to jump backwards to avoid a giant ice claw piercing the door. He had to turn away as dust and mist filled his view.

"Shirayuki-san, wait don't attack- I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to help you, so hear me out please!" Tsukune shouted into the mist as Mizore's figure became clear before him.

"I heard that you heard two students and it seems like they're both in hospitals with serious injuries. There's a big fuss about it- more importantly, the teachers want to expel you… but I know you didn't do it on purpose right? I believe in you- if it's you, I know that you couldn't have harmed them on purpose…"

The silence was the only reply he got, as he sensed the energy in the air get more negative, and it was filled with regret.

"Let's go and apologise… I'm sure they'll forgive us if we admit our mistakes… right?" Tsukune tried to reassure the quiet Mizore, but seeing her face darken just unsettled Tsukune further.

"Wait… what are you talking about?! That wasn't me- I do admit that I froze the two boys yesterday, but that was only because I lost my temper. I defrosted them straight after- they should not have been seriously injured…" Mizore said, and the chill Tsukune felt, was not from the cold mist around him.

Kotsubo-sensei told me something different- what the hell?! Tsukune thought in confusion.

"Acting all innocent- stop that. Do you think that I should be the girl who attacks innocent people? You've crossed the line, Tsukune… the only one who I wished would understand me… there isn't anything left anymore…" the purpled-haired Yuki-Onna walked away, swallowed into the mists.

Tsukune's thoughts were left in a strong jumble, as he tried to make clear who was what they said they were, and who weren't…

Another chapter to the people. I'm enjoying reading the manga all over again- Rosario Vampire truly is amazing, just a bit sad that it's ended though. As always reviews and feedback is appreciated, as well as all the support you've given me. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the chapter.