Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rosario Vampire. I am merely twisting the creator's vision into my own dream. If the supernatural, sexuality, or violence is offensive to you, than you should not read this.
Chapter 167
Tsukune spent his morning catching up. He caught up on his school work first. He had not missed much, but he did not want to falter so close to graduating. When he saw that his phone was still getting a signal, even if it was a weak one, Tsukune caught up with his messages. Nagi and Kota had sent him some casual emails which he returned in kind. Aiko had sent some emails and left some voice messages to let Tsukune know how she was doing with her school's festival, soliciting his advice if he was willing to share it, but also letting him know what she was able to get done on her own. Tsukune went through all of her messages and composed an email for her that included some suggestions as well as an over all plan. When Tsukune was discharged in time for lunch, he decided to catch up with his friends.
Hiru met Tsukune in front of the hospital. Tsukune was dressed in a set of hospital pajamas and slippers, but that was just a temporary condition. He rode back to the manor for a quick wash and a change of clothes. As he headed towards the main school building, Tsukune could feel Kurumu growing excited. To save time, he rode Hiru as close to the main campus as he could without being obvious. From there, he walked to where he could feel Kurumu's presence. He was almost to the cafeteria patio when she came running up to him.
"Tsukune," Kurumu cried out as she nearly tackled him. "I'm so happy you're better."
"It is good to see you too," Tsukune said, accepting her embrace.
The rest of the gang was hot on her heels. She had not been able to hide her excitement, so when she had left her lunch in a hurry, the others had followed her. Tsukune was soon receiving the attention of all his close friends. Mizore reached out to cling to his arm. Moka shouldered Kurumu aside to hug Tsukune from the front. Yukari pressed in for a sideways hug.
"Tsukune," Moka questioned. "Are you sure it is alright for you to come to school?"
"Yes Moka," Tsukune gave her a smile. "The cast and bandages are all off. The doctor said I was in good shape. Besides, I didn't want too wait to see you."
The rest of the lunch break passed quickly. Tsukune was fed by his girlfriends from their own bentos in spite of his protests. Word of his return to school spread quickly. The twins came by with his mail and reports. A string of students he knew casually found him to say hello and wish him well. When lunch was over, Tsukune followed his friends to class, glad to have things getting back to normal.
XxxxXxxxX
Word of Tsukune's recovery reached every part of the school. Even Kokoa felt some relief when she heard that Tsukune appeared to be back to normal. Inari had wanted to rush to her captain's side as soon as she had heard the news. As soon as classes let out for the day Inari hurried as much as dignity would allow the front entrance to the school. Before long, Inari realized there were some flaws with her plan. Her first laps in thinking things through was how she looked hanging around near the shoe lockers as she waited for her captain, just like she was waiting for her boyfriend. This was made clear to her as she saw other girls smiling in her direction who were doing exactly that. All she was doing as adding fuel to the rumors. The second flaw in her plan was made clear to her when she saw the women of the Newspaper Club gathering near by. Inari didn't know how long it would take for Tsukune to do whatever it was that was keeping him.
The awkwardness of the situation was growing by the moment. Most of the students had already left. Except for herself and the Newspaper Club, nobody appeared interested in hanging around. The few students in the area were hardly slowing down to change shoes before leaving. Inari wondered if she should go in search of her captain, or just give up and try to talk to him at a later time. When the young witch of the Newspaper Club started to approach Inari, it added to the tension in the air.
"You know I want to tell you to just give up," Yukari said. "But I'm not going to waste my time."
"Excuse me?" Inari questioned.
"I have been doing some research on the topic of love," Yukari explained. "And being in love. I can tell by watching you that you are in love with Tsukune, and you have it pretty bad. The only way you are going to ever get over it is if you just walk away and find somebody new."
"Thank you for your advice," Inari said coolly. "But I am already aware of how I feel about my captain, and I have no desire or intention of getting over it."
"I'm just trying to help you out," Yukari said.
"Thank you," Inari said in a dry tone. "But I am not a little girl."
"What do you mean by that?" Yukari bristled.
The little witch's agitation was noticed by her friends. While the older members of the Newspaper Club had kept their distance, they had been aware of what Yukari and Inari had been saying. When it seemed that their friend was going to be verbally attacked, they started to move in to support her. The Newspaper Club did not tolerate outsiders picking on their members.
"What I mean," Inari said. "Is that I am able of making my own decisions. I know perfectly well that the world doesn't owe me anything, and that I am not going to get what I want just because I wish for it. Tsukune has already told me how he feels about you." She looked up at the members of his inner circle. "About all of you."
"Is that so?" Yukari challenged, curious about what Tsukune might have said.
"Yes," Inari said, looking first to the young witch. "He told me how grateful he is to know you all and to have you close to him." She looked up at the others as she continued. "He told me how he feels about you, and how happy he is to be with you. He also told me how he afraid of hurting you, and wants to be somebody you can respect and be proud of."
"So what is it you are hoping for?" Moka spoke up.
"For right now," Inari said. "I just want to talk to Tsukune about the rumors going around, and explain that I didn't have anything to do with them."
"Rumors?" Kurumu stepped forward. "What rumors?"
"Some people heard that I was hurt in the same fight as Tsukune," Inari explained. "So now there are rumors putting me in with you."
"What?" Kurumu blinked.
"Maybe you can explain that," Moka suggested.
"Moka-san," Inari started. "Tsukune helped to protect you in your first year, and even went to fight the Outcast Ayashi to save you." She looked to the quiet but serious Mizore next. "Everybody has heard how Tsukune brought Mizore back from continued absences, and that there was some fighting with a teach that happened at the same time. It made it clear that he had stepped up to fight for you, literally. You have been close to him ever since." Inari turned her attention to Kurumu. "I was there when Tsukune went to rescue you last year. Everybody knows that Tsukune was ready to lead the Student Police like his own personal army to get you back."
"All of you," Inari said to the trio. "Tsukune's infamous harem. The woman that Captain Aono Tsukune has fought for like a hero from a story. Everybody knows that you are all in love with Tsukune, and you are the lucky ones that he loves in return. Sure, everybody guesses and gossips about which one is his favorite, or who has done what with him." She took a quick glance at the 'Black and White Duet.' "Or with each other."
"Now everybody is talking about what happened on Monday," Inari continued. "The Student Police helped get Tsukune and I to the hospital. Most people don't have any idea that the captain and I were working together, that he was going to use me as a messenger to gather reinforcements once we found the suspects, while he watched them from hiding to make sure none of them would get away." Inari gave a snort of disgust. "Well everything fell apart and got out of control. People heard how Tsukune and I ended up in the hospital together after a fight, so they think that he must have gone to rescue me. Well if he rescued me, and we were already known to get along, because we work together, it starts to look like the same thing that's happened before."
"So now there are rumors going around the school that I am a part of Tsukune's harem," Inari said. She shook her head, happy about the idea of being included, but distressed about how it mighyt make her look to the man she desired. "I didn't start them. I don't have any idea how to stop them. I just want a chance to talk to Tsukune, so I can let him know about what people are saying, without him getting it a piece at a time. I want him to know I am not spreading gossip to undermine his relationships with you guys, or to pressure him into looking at me."
"You really should just give up," Yukari said with a sniff. "You don't have a chance."
"And why would that be?" Inari felt herself bristling.
"Tsukune has sworn himself to me," Moka said. "He belongs to me."
"That hasn't kept others away from him, now has it," Inari observed.
"There have been some arrangements made," Moka nodded.
"Like what?" Inari challenged.
"Sworn oaths," Moka said cryptically. "Special considerations. Rewards for loyalty."
"Tsukune and I share a special connection now," Kurumu said. "We can never be completely separate from each other over again."
"Like I said," Inari feigned a casual attitude. "I know better than to expect to get what I want just because I wish for it."
"Well it's good that you know your..." Kurumu paused and turned her head to look up at the school building. "Moka, you can handle this. I'm just going to go..." She took all of one step towards the school before Moka and Mizore both caught a hold her her sweater.
"Inari," Moka said while frowning at Kurumu. "Tsukune will be here in a moment. He has just been to see the Board Chairman. Please keep your conversation short. He may be acting like everything is fine, but he still needs his rest."
Inari blinked in surprise and confusion. The women that were her competition all suddenly seemed willing to be polite. They all also appeared to worry about their appearance. Small things, tugging at their clothes or smoothing down their hair, but all signs that they wanted to look good for the person they expected to see.
A moment later Tsukune appeared. At the sight of him, up and moving in spite of a tired look around his eyes, Inari felt her heart give a flutter. At the sight of the young women waiting for him, Tsukune smiled. At that moment it was like a warm breeze swirled around Moka. It was comforting and soothing for her to see that smile. It was like a little promise that things were alright. Kurumu saw Tsukune's smile and felt the steady beating of his heart, and it made her feel so close to him. She smiled back, knowing that he could feel her love for him. Mizore welcomed Tsukune's smile, grateful that she was a part of his life. She regretted only that she could not share more of herself with him.
"Tsukune," Yukari was the first one to move towards him. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine for now," Tsukune said.
The reason Yukari was the first one to approach Tsukune, Inari observed, was because the older trio were busy holding each other back. It was a discreet little fight. Inari doubted that Tsukune even knew how seriously the three women were fighting. At a distance, to a casual look, they appeared to be friends that happened to have a hand on each other. Inari was close enough to see the white knuckles. And tight eyes that said the three were making a real effort to restrain one another. Inari smiled.
"Captain," Inari said as she moved past the others. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Certainly," Tsukune nodded.
"A.. alone?" Inari's voice shook.
"No," Yukari said, hugging Tsukue about the waist
"Is that necessary?" Tsukune questioned.
"Ahhh..." Inari's brain stumbled.
"If there is something you need to say to me, as your captain," Tsukune said gently. "We can take a short walk together." He made a gesture in a sideways direction.
"It's not like that... excatly..." Inari felt herself blush. She was also aware of the three women behind her and thought she could feel them staring daggers into her back. "It's about some rumors."
"Rumors," Tsukune sighed. "You shouldn't let them bother you too much."
"Thatsnotit," Inari said in a rush. She forced herself to talk a calming breath. "That is, I am not bothered by what the rumors are saying about me, Captain. I wanted to talk to you about them before they spread too far, because I am worried about what you might think of me once you hear what people are saying."
"I see," Tsukune said slowly. He took in Inari's flush face as he moved towards her, dragging a growling Yukari with him. Reaching out, he put his hand on her shoulder. "Inari, I don't let rumors and gossip do my thinking for me. Most of the time what they have to say is not even true. Even when it is, it is so blown out of proportion that it is ridiculous." He gave her a wide and cheerful smile. "I think the drama club actually made a skit about a time when I lost my temper, turning it into some kind of romantic thing."
"I... I..." Inari wondered what was wrong with her.
"Don't let it bother you," Tsukune said. "I know your worth well enough to not trust some wild stories." He gave her one more pat on the shoulder before starting to move past her. "I'll see you in the morning."
XxX
Tsukune walked over to where Moka and the others stood, pulling Yukari along. The young witch seemed to be enjoying herself, and she wasn't really bothering him, so Tsukune let her be. He was much more interested in paying attention to Moka anyway.
"Moka," Tsukune said as he came close to her. "I know I will probably be poor company tonight, but I was hoping you would come over and help me study."
"I would love to," Moka smiled, ignoring Mizore and Kurumu as she reached to embrace Tsukune.
XxX
Inari watched the exchange between Tsukune and Moka and blinked. The others joined in some kind of argument as the Newspaper Club left the school together.
"Ahhhhh..." Inari replayed everything in her mind. "What just happened?"
XxxxXxxxX
Lieutenant Tanaka looked around the club as he entered with a sense of discomfort. It was Saturday morning and the hostess club was in that lazy space between opening and the noon rush. Right now the women out numbered the men almost five to one. The music was turned down, creating more of a relaxing environment than a party one. He was not happy about meeting in this club, because the last time he had been there had ended with him confused and embarrassed.
"This is a nice place," Ross observed, nodding as he looked around. He gave Tanaka a slap on the back. "I didn't know you had it in you bro."
"This was not my idea," Tanaka grumbled.
"Good afternoon gentlemen," A tall and slender woman approached them. "Welcome to our club. Is there something you would like?" In her wake were six more women moving towards the two potential customers.
"Mr. Aono asked us to meet him here," Lieutenant Tanaka said.
"Oh," The woman looked a little crestfallen. "This way then." She lead the two men deeper into the club.
Most of the deep booths were empty at that time of day. The hostesses were mostly hanging around the bar where they could watch the door and be on display. Tanaka and Ross were shown to a booth that was not quite all the way in the back of the club. As they neared the table, two people stood up. Ross was very quick to notice the stacked woman in the short dress. She had the seductive smile of a seasoned predator. Beside her was the too-serious young man, Aono Tsukune.
"Thank you for coming here," Tsukune welcomed the two men.
"Why here?" Lieutenant Tanaka asked. He did not approve of teenagers being in places like this
"I'm sorry about the setting," Tsukune said. "But I wanted a public place to meet you where we could still have some privacy, and where I knew you would not have filled the place with your own people."
"Well, bro," Ross said as he sat down. "You gotta admit the guy's got taste." He turned his attention to Tsukune. "I admit that I was surprised that you called."
Tanaka sat down, feeling aggravated. He did not like irregularities, and Aono Tsukune was a collection of them. Some day he hoped to be done dealing with the young man. Preferably some day soon.
"So what did you want to tell us?" Tanaka asked.
A pair of women in skimpy outfits sat beside the men in the booth, two each. Tsukune sat with his own companion, who looked amused as she pressed her ample breasts against him and rubbed his chest. Tanaka noticed that the young man did not look particularly happy with the attention he was getting.
"As I said," Tsukune said. "I'm sorry about the setting. It is one of the few places I know that we could use for a meeting on short notice, and I wanted to return the favor you did for me last time we met."
"Oh really now?" Ross questioned. "Does this mean you are going to tell us something we can actually use this time?"
Tanaka didn't say anything at the moment. Ross was a good talker, so the lieutenant was content to let the man do most of the talking, leaving Tanaka free to watch for what went unsaid. It also meant that if the lieutenant did speak up, his words would carry a different impact if he said less.
"You warned me that somebody was out to find me," Tsukune reminded them of the main topic of their last meeting. From behind him in the booth he pulled out a tied bundle which he put on the table. "The people you warned me about tried to sneak in close to my school. I caught them Monday and with the help of a friend on the Student Police, we were able to protect everybody." He nudged the bundle a little closer to the lieutenant. "Here are all the personal papers, identifications, and such that the men had on them. I thought you might be able to make use of this."
"If you already stopped them," Ross questioned. "Then what's the point of giving us this stuff?"
"I don't know what you can do with it," Tsukune said honestly. "But if there is a chance for you to find out who has been helping these people, you might be able to make trouble for them." He looked Ross in the eye. "I am sure that your side would be upset if they were being used by the competition."
"That's true," Ross nodded.
"Where are they now?" Lieutenant Tanaka asked.
"I don't know," Tsukune shrugged.
"You said that you stopped them," Tanaka pointed out. "You have their papers. How is it that you don't know where they are now?"
"When I discovered how they were trying to sneak up to my school," Tsukune explained. "I went to find out as much as I could, so I would know when and where to call the local police to. Unfortunately, my friend and I were discovered. The men were not going to take chances and attacked us. We beat them, and help came to back us up, but I still ended up in the hospital fore a few days. When I was released, their papers were all I could get."
"I see," Lieutenant Tanaka frowned. He didn't think that Aono was lying, but the young man was definitely holding something back.
"In organizations like this," Ross observed. "Failure is not acceptable. Where ever they are now is not going to be a good place for them."
XxXxXxX
Daijoo became aware of the pain in his head first. He tried to focus past it to understand what was going on. The last thing he remembered was a very stubborn but cute school girl. He had already taken hits to his hip and chest, breaking bones and making him hurt somewhere inside, so he had backed off from the main fight. He had been watching to make sure the prey would not escape when that school girl had joined the action. He remembered seeing her slender legs and a nice flash of her black panties before her kick had connected with his head. After that, everything was a blank.
As his mind became more alert, Daijoo became more aware of his body, which hurt. He opened his eyes and felt another stab of pain. The light in the room was bright. He had to squint and keep blinking his eyes until they adjusted to the glare. Finally he was able to look around the room. He tried to figure out what was going on.
The room was brightly and filled with equipment. Work lamps on articulated arms were mounted to the ceiling. A bright red tool chest was parked against a stainless steel table in the center of the room. Daijoo was able to recognize a stack of plastic coolers, the kinds somebody might use for a picnic. They had been covered with black and silver markings, as if they were meant to serve some arcane purpose. The room itself was almost round with the walls and floor covered with white ceramic tiles. Around the room iron frames fitted with chains and hooks were mounted to the walls. Daijoo saw that some of those frames held bodies. He was suddenly very alert and aware of his own situation.
Daijoo turned his head to inspect himself. He was secured to a frame that was tilted back just a little. His arms and legs were shackled, and heavy chains bound his torso. His clothes were gone, leaving his dark green body uncovered. Crossing his eyes and looking up, he was relieved to see that his single horn that grew from his forehead was still intact. Being over two and a half meters tall, with green skin, a boar's head, and a red, shaggy mane that grew from his scalp, shoulders, and upper back was all well and good for terrorizing folk, but Daijoo was proud of his horn. Pearly black, it was an indicator of his age and prowess. Seeing that it was safe, he gave sigh. That was one less thing to worry about. He looked back around at the other frames. He counted four bodies other than his own, and three empty frames. As he looked, he noticed that the other four, members from the same crew that had been with him as they tried to infiltrate the area near that pathetic school of weak and timid youkai, were all breathing.
A door that Daijoo couldn't see from his position opened with a thud. It banged a few more times as something passed through it. A man, a little taller than average for a human, as Daijoo considered such things, came into view pushing a cart with a body on top of it.
"Where am I?" Daijoo demanded to know.
"Hmmm?" The man looked in Daijoo's direction as he pushed the cart over to an empty frame. "Ahh. Be with you in a minute."
"Let me go," Daijoo ordered.
"No," The man said simply as he started to lift the new body into place on one of the frames.
"Damn you hide!" Daijoo roared. "Release me or I will rip your head off."
The man ignored Daijoo as he continued working. He added the new youkai to the frame mounted collection, being careful to secure it into place. When he was done he walked back out of Daijoo's field of view, taking the empty cart with him. All the while, the green skinned youkai yelled, making threats that were gruesome and violent.
Daijoo had no idea what the time was, or even the date. He did not know where he was, or how long he had been left in his frame. While he waited for a chance to discover what was going on the other occupants of the room started to come around. When all six youkai were awake they questioned each other, hoping for clues about what was going on.
The man came back into the room, prompting the youkai to turn their attention on him. This time the man was dressed in a long gray robe. He also had on black rubber boots and gloves and a cap with a clear visor that covered his whole face. He was pushing the cart again. This time it held a collection of jars and tubing.
"Now that you're all awake," The man said. "Let me tell you what is going to happen."
"You're going to let us go," Daijoo barked. "And if you are quick about it, we'll let you live."
"You have things I want," The man went on. "And I am going to take them."
"Who the hell are you?" Daijoo roared.
"I am Brone Gray," Brone answered.
"Never heard of you," Daijoo spat.
"It's not important anyway," Brone shrugged. "You're about to die."
"How dare you," Daijoo bellowed.
"Let me explain the rules to you," Brone said, his voice serious and compelling. "As long as your kind does nothing to knowingly endanger innocent lives, and you follow the laws of the land, I can't touch you."
"But you lot work for Fairy Tail," Brone went on. "You knowingly support them, and they want to destroy life as we know it. You intentionally acted to endanger lives, so that means you are fair game."
"Why you little..." Daijoo growled.
"So here's the deal I'll offer you," Brone ignored the youkai. "If you cooperate, if you tell me everything you know, you get to die quickly and your body will be cremated. If you don't cooperate," Brone gave his captive audience a cold, menacing smile. "Then I get to do what ever I want to you." He started moving jars and sets of tubing next to each occupied frame.
The restrained youkai all stared yelling. The demanded, ordered, and threatened the man. They yelled at each other. All they could do was yell and thrash about in their restraints.
Brone ignored their impotent threats and demands. From his robe he produced a roll of medical tape. He did a double check of the youkai in its frame in front of him. With a satisfied nod, he reached for the end of the tubing.
"You going to cooperate?" Brone asked his prisoner.
Daijoo watched the human work. The youkai he was facing snarled defiance, but the man only shrugged. The human then grabbed the youkai's naked thigh with one hand and held up the end of the tubing in the other. It was then that Daijoo noticed the spike on the end of the tubing. It was a hollow tube of metal, almost as big around as a pen and just as long, with a sharp, beveled tip. Without any hesitation, the man stabbed the spike in to the inner thigh of the youkai in front of him. The youkai roared with pain, but Brone held his thigh in place as he dug around in it with the spike. Soon, dark red blood started to flow through the tube and into the large jar in the floor. Brone taped the needle in place before moving to the next victim.
Daijoo watched his companion bleeding into the jar. The human had just put a time limit on how long the restrained youkai had to give in. Before long the youkai would loose too much blood to be able to cooperate. He still didn't know who this human was, or who he worked for, but he had a convincing interrogation technique. Daijoo suspected that he would pass out from blood loss, but then wake up later to be told that one of the others had talked. He would be given another chance to cooperate then. Ether that, or he would be be killed and dumped into a shallow grave somewhere.
Daijoo was determined to deny the human any satisfaction. When it was his turn, he did not flinch or struggle. He hardly even grunted as the spike was stabbed into his thigh and thrust up towards his groin. He had to admit that the man was a master of his craft. He was feeling dizzy and seeing spots in front of his eyes by the time the spike was removed. With some effort he was able to look around the room and see that all of his companions were till conscious, if only just barely.
Brone continued to work. He collected the jars of blood and took them away. Daijoo thought that the man would leave them all alone then, for a while anyway, to give them a chance to despair. If he left them feeling weak and powerless it would be a powerful tool to help break their will. Daijoo was surprised when the man returned in just a few minutes. He went to the tool box and opened it, pulling out a large knife with a curved blade. He then went to the stack of plastic coolers and picked one out. Daijoo nodded, thinking he understood. He expected the painful torture to start.
Again, Brone did not do what the imprisoned youkai expected. Brone took the knife and cooler over to the first frame he had started at. He set the cooler down and opened it before turning his attention to the pale looking youkai.
"Any time you want to talk," Brone said. "Feel free. You give me something useful, and I will stop taking useful parts off of you."
"You can't do anything to me," The youkai growled. "You're only a human."
"Stupid," Brone sighed. "Your kind just don't understand what being human means."
"It means you're weak," The youkai said.
"You're right, but not in the way you mean to be," Brone said as he removed most of the restraints from his victim, leaving the weakened youkai bound only at the wrist and ankles.. "Humans are weak. Because we are weak, we can be ruled by fear or greed or lust. But being human means that we have the potential to do anything. We can be anything. Because I am a human," Brone said. "I am the greatest monster you will ever know."
Before the youkai could question the human's words, Brone started to work. The first cut stared the the base of the youkai's throat and went down his navel in one quick stroke. From that first cut, other cuts were made. From the top, Brone made cuts out to the shoulders and down the arms. From the navel, he made long cuts all the way down the legs. The youkai could only thrash weakly, and only those parts of him that Brone didn't hold in place with one hand. The youkai cried out in pain as Brone's knife did its thing. Daijoo watched as the human skinned the youkai alive.
The youkai went into shock while its skin was being peeled off. Only involuntary twitches made the body move as Brone continued to cut parts away. When the heart was pulled from the chest, it was still beating. The harvested parts were packed into coolers and set aside. Brone went so far as to strip the skin and muscle from the skull, harvesting the eyes and even the tongue. He then pulled out a hammer and chisel form the tool box. He cracked the skull open and pulled out the brain.
The other youkai in the room had no choice but to watch. To them the human's victim was a person they knew and had worked along side. They were muscle, enforcers and soldiers for an organization the had no problem with killing, but that man, who occasionally hummed while butchering an intelligent creature was a monster.