Chapter 24: Ego

It was morning, and Tsukune and his vampire friend: the beautiful Akashiya Moka was walking next to him.

"But seriously Moka, I actually think you have a genuine obsession with my blood… now I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but sometimes, it might be a bit inappropriate… people might get the wrong idea… if you get what I mean," Tsukune tried to say it in a less sheepish way.

"Really, but we are close enough to do that, aren't we? …Unless you don't think that…" Moka replied with a blush.

"No, don't worry about that Moka-san, it's just that if you get close to me (when you suck my blood), I get really nervous… you are just that amazing…" Tsukune complimented, as his voice got quieter as he reached the end of the statement.

"… You should stop saying things like that Tsukune… I feel the same way about yo-" Moka was just reaching the end of her sentence, but she was cut off by a blurry projectile passing between the two of them.

Both of them looked visibly surprised as the sharp impact of the projectile on the wood made a dull sound. Moka walked to the now identified as ice projectile, and removed it from the tree; it read: 'Don't get too close to Tsukune'. Once again, Tsukune felt that weird shiver from before, and he knew instantly whom it was. She did this before as well, Tsukune thought with a chill.

"Shirayuki-san, have you been following us the whole time? I was wondering whose presence that was- I could feel it the whole time," Tsukune stated with a small wave, as he looked at the uniquely dressed, purple-haired Yuki-Onna.

"It just proves how close we are- we can feel each other's presence wherever we are. And call me Mizore… since we are that close," Mizore stated with a shy smile.

"Ummm… okay, good morning Mizore-san," Tsukune said with a friendly smile as he acknowledged what Mizore had said.

"… Good morning Tsukune," the Yuki-Onna replied, and she was visibly shaking slightly while her hands were together with her face blushing; she looked like a girl meeting her favourite boy band. Surprising them even further, she just ran off. She's a bit of an eccentric character, but at least we solved her problem… I hope we can live peacefully… although, reflecting back on my life, I doubt that- even in the human world, it wasn't peaceful, Tsukune reflected on recent events.

"Attention everyone, I will finally present you the new class managers- I've written it on the board. Tadah!" Nekome-sensei announced with a smile and jump, as all eyes transferred to the board. It read: 'Moka came in second (vice manager) Tsukune came first'.

"According to these results, our class manager will be Tsukune-kun!"

Amongst all the compliments he was getting about being well-minded, but also strong from his classmates, Tsukune was still frozen in place. Processing… 85%... 90%... 100%- damn! I knew this was going to happen- my dreams of a peaceful life are over! This can't be happening- Kami save me! Tsukune thought with his hands on his head; this was one of the things he didn't want. How was he meant to be classroom manager when he was (mostly) a human, and his classmates were all Youkai? Especially when the others didn't know of his true origins.

"Tsch… what the fuck is this? I haven't been to the homeroom since like forever, and everyone's become this broken. Picking Tsukune as a class manager? Don't make me laugh!" a voice said from behind, Tsukune saw it was the blonde-haired man with a piercing on his labret- it was the same guys Moka had beaten up at the start of the year. It was Komiya Saizou.

"Without Moka's help, you're nothing but a gutless shit- you can't do a thing. When we had a one-on-one, you didn't stand a chance at all, so a weakling like you shouldn't get all high and mighty! I'm not going to accept someone like you as a manager." Rather than get all aggravated, Tsukune started to smirk a bit.

"It seems like your ego has swollen up again. In that one-on-one, do you recall the fact that I was beating your ass until Moka came in? It might be hard for someone of your intellectual capability to comprehend, but I think that would count me as standing a chance," Tsukune replied with a smile.

"And last I checked, I'm not the one acting high and mighty here, because I'm not going around asking for fights, am I now?" Tsukune added with triumph, before issuing his own challenge.

"If you are looking for one though, I'm sure my katana will add some knowledge into that thick skull of yours." The class started to smirk as calls of jealousy went up against Saizou- his rally against Tsukune had no supporters. The outcast ayashi man had no choice but to sit down, as Tsukune had piqued his argument.

At lunchtime, Tsukune got time so as to warn his friends of Saziou: "be careful of him, because he's after me. I wouldn't be surprised if he came after you guys, especially you Moka-san. So, keep sharp guys," Tsukune warned with a serious look.

Trying to make it less obvious, Tsukune glanced up for just a moment, as he caught a sight of Saizou and some other figures. Just as I thought, that malevolent presence nearby was Saizou, and it seems like he's got some buddies to back him up, Tsukune thought with concern as his face creased up slightly.

Being a class manager really sucks… man, I have to do these jobs like carrying boxes around- it's like a flipping workplace. Oh well, at least Moka-san is here with me, Tsukune thought with a smile as he glanced towards the pink-haired vampire.

"Tsukune, you keep glancing at me… is there something on my face?" Moka asked curiously as her face became slightly flustered.

So cute… wait, focus man, Tsukune thought with a wiggle of his head. Then he felt three presences coming down next to them.

"Moka, get behind me… seems like the attackers are already here… as expected. Isn't that right, Saizou?" Tsukune said with a chuckle as two figures appeared before them. There was Saizou and another guy with a dark woolly hat and clothing. Also look out for the third one- he's probably waiting for a surprise attack. These guys are really after you, be careful, so make sure you use your non-human powers as well, his inner voice warned as Tsukune took a protective stance in front of Moka and reached for the katana on his back.

"Looks like today is going to be interesting. You are going to die, and I will also have my hands on the beautiful Akashiya Moka. You-" Tsukune didn't let him finish his sentence.

"Cut the crap Saizou, I also know where your third man unless you're planning anything funny…" Tsukune felt a slight change in air behind him, as if someone was moving then decided to hesitate. Pouncing on this opportunity, Tsukune jumped up and sent a powerful roundhouse kick, connecting with somebody, sending a figure hard into a nearby dustbin, much to the surprise of the others.

"Sorry, but if you even try to harm Moka-san, I will give you a world of hurt. It's my job as a class manager to take care of problematic students, so here it is. I would at least appreciate it if you tried to talk to me, but it seems like idiots, you'd prefer to use violence, so I will also speak in that language for you," Tsukune stated with a deathly stare.

They are outcast ayashi so they have all these protruding limbs and weird sharp parts to their body, so watch out, his inner self warned of what the other two figures were like. Tsukune could see Saizou's panic-filled face as he transformed into his ogre-like form- he was not planning this at all.

Like bystanders, Saizou and his hat-wearing comrade could only watch as Tsukune disappeared, appearing as a red blur and punching the face of the hat-wearing guy with his demonic strength, rendering his face to bleeding from everywhere. That's another one… now, it's just you, Saizou.

"You're just a weakling! I won't be beaten by the likes of you!" Saizou shouted with fury as he charged with his overgrown limbs. Skilfully, Tsukune ducked under an incoming punch and threw an uppercut into Saizou's jaws, his arms glowing with red energy as he did so. Only a trail of smoke remained, as the unconscious bodies of Saizou and his comrades lay around Tsukune and Moka. Tsukune, this might stir up more trouble- those outcast ayashi might be a part of a bigger group… Tsukune paused for a moment. Oh damn, that is going to be trouble- we have to keep our eyes peeled then! We don't really know what to expect, except for a ton load of outcast ayashis attacking us, Tsukune thought with a sigh as he went to help Moka up.

Hi everyone, here's another chapter, and this one is significantly changed from the canon manga although the final outcome ends up similar. Yeah, Tsukune is even more OOC this chapter, so I apologise to readers who do not like that; I'll try not to change him too much. Since my story doesn't involve Tsukune turning into a ghoul, some of the events from the manga will be altered, but it will still end up in a similar way. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter!