Chapter 27: Distrust
"Uhh, where am I? Last I remember I was in a fight, then it just all went black," Tsukune muttered to himself as he slowly got up; the white room, bed, and medicine around him showed that he was in a hospital. Now I remember, we'd just finished that fight with Midou and all those outcast ayashi- I probably overdid it. Can't be using that power for too long, I got to get my body to adapt to its use first, Tsukune thought with a heavy sigh as he laid back down.
"So you've woken up, Tsukune-kun. Didn't have any bad dreams there, did you?" a rather ominous but powerful-sounding voice spoke out in the room; it was a person in a long white cloak, who had glowing eyes. Funnily enough, it reminded Tsukune of the weird bus driver from before.
"And who might you be? How long have you been there?" Tsukune asked in surprise, the figure had literally been invisible until now.
"Don't strain yourself too much, you did use a lot of energy in that last fight," the figure stated, making Tsukune glance at the higher number of bandages he now had, as compared to before.
"Don't worry, that person is an exorcist who brought you here. He's not here to harm you," a female voice said from beside him. Tsukune turned around: it was an older teenage girl with long black hair, a pink corset, and a dark skirt.
"Wow, Ruby-san!" Tsukune exclaimed in surprise. Behind Ruby, the tired bodies of Yukari and Kurumu got up, rubbing their eyes.
"Tsukune! I'm so happy you're finally back! You've been asleep for like four days straight!" an excited Kurumu shouted when she tackled Tsukune with her hug.
"It's been a while Tsukune-san. I'm here to return the favour that you guys did at the Witch's Hill," the older witch said with a small smile.
"Anyways, I don't mean to be rude, but why did the mysterious person over there help as well?" Tsukune asked, looking at the hooded man with glowing eyes.
"Hehehe, an old friend of mine had asked me to look after you… it was that guy," the mysterious exorcist replied, pointing up to a picture of the bus driver. I knew these two would somehow know each other, Tsukune thought with a light chuckle.
"By the way, where's Moka-san? She wasn't injured was she?" Tsukune asked as he glanced towards the doorway.
"She's not here- … she blamed herself for what happened and doesn't feel like she deserves to see you," Kurumu replied, her eyes gazing down. That's not true, Moka-san, I should be the one apologising, Tsukune thought with his hands covering his face.
It was the day after and Tsukune was having a check-up from the doctor.
"Hoh… I am quite surprised. I had figured it would take at least a month for you to recover, but you're already mostly healed. At this rate, you'll be leaving the hospital in no time at all, Tsukune-kun," the doctor said with a small smile as he glanced back down to a clipboard.
"It seems like you got into a dispute with a bad bunch. Take care of yourself, the outcast ayashi are an unpredictable group, and they might be hiding and planning. It'd be troublesome if you were to be injured again".
After that last rather ominous comment, Tsukune's friends gathered around again.
"From now on, I'll protect you- I won't let you get hospitalized," Kurumu stated.
"Even I can protect Tsukune-san desu," Yukari joined in.
"Me too, I'll watch over you with my life," Mizore said from behind them, surprising everyone.
"If it's okay with you, then I can help you too…" Ruby said shyly with her index finger lightly on her cheek.
"Thanks everyone! But, there is one person we can't exclude, excuse me for a moment, I need to do something," Tsukune declared with a wave as he made his way out of the room. This isn't her fault- I don't know why she would blame herself. My life here is not complete without her… Tsukune thought as he ran down the hallway, gradually noticing the darkening hallway. He paused when he saw her pink hair, and the blood on her clothes? Tsukune, be careful, she does not look in her usual state of mind at all… she almost looks… possessed, Tsukune's inner voice deduced as Moka trudged closer and closer. Wait, why's she got that dead look in her eyes and a knife as w-
Tsukune could not finish his thoughts as Moka literally swiped at him with the knife in hand, catching a few bits of Tsukune's hair. Why is she acting like this?! I can't hurt her, Tsukune thought as he moved slightly back.
"Moka-san, what's wrong? You're acting weird," Tsukune had to jump back as Moka tried to cut him again, this time the blade caught skin, causing some blood to drip from Tsukune's arm.
"At least tell me why you're doing this!" Tsukune shouted rather desperately.
"Die, Tsukune," she replied, almost like a zombie. Seems like someone else's doing… I'll have to immobilise Moka-san somehow first, Tsukune thought with a frustrated sigh. However, he had no need to get involved as Kurumu pounced on Moka, knocking her down.
"Moka! What are you doing?!" she said as she slapped the entranced vampire, knocking her back to her senses. She looked confused as she glanced at Tsukune, then at the bloodied knife in her hands.
"I won't ever forgive you if you harm Tsukune!" Kurumu shouted with tears in her eyes.
"So she doesn't remember about what happened?" Tsukune asked politely to Yukari.
"That's right desu- right now, Ruby-san is talking to Moka-san, but so far, anytime Ruby-san asks her a question, she just answers 'I don't know'. I already feel sorry for Moka-san," Yukari replied, her voice sounding panicked as well as saddened.
"It's just as I thought- no way she would be acting like that normally. She even had some blank look in her eyes as well… it was like she was being controlled or something," Tsukune said quietly as he got up. Through the doorway, came Kurumu with a worried expression on her face.
"I won't let you go to where Moka is- even if it's not Outer Moka, we don't know anything about Inner Moka. It's too dangerous," Kurumu said as she stood in between the door and Tsukune.
"We don't know if we can even trust her or not".
As Kurumu had her arms around him, Mizore stepped in from behind and froze her, before defrosting.
"What was that for you, you stalker woman! Can't you see now's not the time for this!" Kurumu complained, rather annoyed by Mizore.
"How about you pour some water on your head. What Tsukune does is up to him- don't say unnecessary things to trouble him further," Mizore replied coolly.
"Sorry Kurumu-chan, I'll be going out for a bit. I have to do something for all of us- I believe in Moka-san, because she is the one who kept on driving me forward!" Tsukune declared as he ran out.
It was rather disturbing that the hallways were getting dimmer- the lights on this floor were no longer working, and there seemed to be blood on the floor. Bodies were lying all around him, splattered in blood, and marks of some sort on all of them. Tsukune felt glad that he'd at least brought his katana and Desert Eagle (pistol) with him. I feel like we might have found out little culprit, his inner voice said as a female in a nursing dress stepped out from the darkness; her long blonde hair waving in the breeze, as well as the long tentacle-like appendages from her body.
"Nice to see you, Tsukune-kun. Happy you came here intentionally, because it saves me time from having to call you here. I am from the outcast ayashi, Yakumaru Mako. As per the organisation's order, I have come to eliminate you," said with a dark smile on her face.
"Hmpf, you are the one who has caused us all this distrust here, right? And those innocents have been harmed by you- for that I cannot forgive you, and I will take care of you," Tsukune replied coldly as his hands reached for the katana hilt.
Another chapter everyone! Significant plot change here as well, and unfortunately, because I omitted that plot change (conversation between Moka and Tsukune about Inner Moka attacking Tsukune in ghoul form), it is not as emotionally strong- again apologies. Anyways, hope you enjoy and leave me a review if you can. Thanks!