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 226

"Hey old man. What are you doing here?" The Yakuza lieutenant, Ross, was holding a drink in his hand as he approached Lieutenant Tanaka Ito.

"What do you think?" Ito said, gesturing to the hotel bar with his own drink. "This is a meeting of the rich and the powerful, and the corrupt. There is no way I would willing be here if it wasn't for a good reason."

"Well you're drinking so I know you are not here for an official reason," Ross observed. "So you must be here for the same reason I am." He gave his friend a smirk. "You kid's over in the party room."

"Your son is here too?" Ito questioned.

"Yeah," Ross nodded. "One of these guys is investing with my boss and has a daughter from the same school yours graduated from."

"You really know how to complicate things," Ito observed with a small sigh. "I paid all that money for my daughter to go to a good school. It turns out I might as well let her attend a local school. I would have at least been better able to supervise her."

"Look on the bright side, Bro," Ross said in a fake cheerful tone. "If you are low on money, there are lots of people here right now that are willing to buy your soul." He gestured to the hotel bar and its patrons.

"I noticed," Ito said dryly. He lifted his glass and took a drink. "If I was on duty I could probably make the kind of arrest that would make me a police legend."

"With all the financial and political power in this room?" Ross asked.

"Why do you think I am being careful to be seen drinking," Ito said. "I want it very clear that I am not on duty in any way, and I would make a lousy witness, just in case my superiors found out about this."

"Smart plan," Ross nodded in approval. He took another sip of his own drink. "So... Do you think he is here too?"

"He who?" Ito questioned.

"You know who," Ross scolded. "Aono Tsukune."

"Oh I know he is," Ito grumbled. "My daughter is a part of the planning committee for their party. They made sure he was invited, and were excited that he was going to come tonight." He finished his drink and set the empty glass on the bar. "That is why I am drinking very slowly. Because when the trouble happens, I want to be there for my daughter."

"What makes you think there will be trouble?" Ross asked.

"Because trouble follows Aono Tsukune around like a puppy," Ito complained. "Remember that my daughter is dating someone from his school. It seems that at their last two dances, there was a fire at one and a stabbing at another."

"But that was..." Ross began.

"Excuse me gentlemen," A waitress interrupted. "But the gentleman would like to invite you to join him at his table." She gave a small gesture of direction.

Ross and Tanaka Ito both turned to look where the waitress had indicated. The gentleman was easy to pick out. Even sitting in a shadowed area of the hotel bar, the gentleman stood out. He was dressed in a dark silk suit with ruffles at his neck and wrists. His red eyes were intense and intimidating. There were already others seated at the same table, most of whom were in the process of giving up their seats.

The two men were from different sides of the law, but they were both men of rank. Their social awareness was a job skill. Both of the lieutenants recognized that the invitation would be a bad thing to refuse. Cloaking themselves in their professionalism as they approached the gentleman's table, they could feel many eyes watching them.

"Thank you for taking the time to speak with me," The gentleman said. "Have a seat."

It was more of a command than a request. Once they were seated, fresh drinks were placed in front of them. The air seemed to buzz with tension.

"I am Shuzen Issa," The gentleman introduced himself before leaning forward, focusing his attention and his presence upon the two men. "I want you to tell me all you know about this Aono Tsukune..."

XxXxX

The man from Fairy Tail was enjoying his evening. His minions were in place, with most unaware of the whole plan. With their minds focused on the money to be made by a successful operation, and the fear of what would happen to them if they failed, there was little chance of any of them radiating enough killing intent to warn the targets With his insurance in place, the human cattle would have no warning of what was about to happen. It was only a mater of time now, the man knew, before the rich and connected would be humbled. It was this confidence that let the man feel calm and relaxed as the time for action drew ever closer... Tick-tock...

XxxxxXxxxX

Dinner in the ballroom was served à la carte. As the waitstaff rolled the carts around the tables, the young men and women would select what they wanted. While everybody tried to be courteous, they were still young men and women with healthy appetites. Nobody went hungry, but the best dishes did go fast. Sashimi and cuts or rare steak went the fastest, but fresh fruit did not last much longer. There was no alcohol being served, but colas, tea, juice, and flavored waters were available in plenty.

The young men and women talked and ate and shared what common ground they could. All of them were, or had recently been students. It was easy for them to talk about teachers, complain about school work, and bemoan the lack of freedom that was imposed upon them by parents and learning institutions.

Tsukune tried to enjoy the meal and the evening. He knew that the ballroom and its collection of occupants was a potential disaster, and he did not want anything to go wrong if he could prevent it. About every twenty minutes he would excuse himself to the restroom, and on the way back he made it a point to find somebody to visit it with at one of the other tables. His friends remembered the way he had done something similar during the field trip that had started everything in the first place. After his third round to the restroom, half of the people at the main table were copying him. The seating arrangements had mixed the students from the different schools, but Tsukune and his friends encouraged everybody to mingle a little more.

Kota's friends from his school's Phenomena Research Club had also been invited to the masquerade. They were easy to find among the others, because only one of their group beside Kota had a date. The rest of the young men looked tense and a little out of place with so many good looking girls around. The fact that there were more young women in the ballroom than young men, and that it was a rather romantic setting, meant that Kota's friends were receiving a lot more attention than they were used to.

Kurumu tried to follow Tsukune's example once, but she had different results than the others. The Sweetheart Chef was too popular with the current crowd for Kurumu to not be recognized, even with a mask. Once she had shown that she was approachable, she was surrounded with admirers. The fact that so many of the young women actually wanted to talk to her to get her advice about cooking was flattering, more than she would have expected. Even though it was rewarding to know that her opinion as a cook was so well respected, Kurumu was still feeling a little overwhelmed. She had not expected so much attention.

"Excuse me," Tsukune's voice was firm but polite as he made his way to Kurumu through her fans. "Pardon me if you please."

"Tsukune," Kurumu perked up to see him coming her way. She reached out a hand towards him, and was happy to have him reach out and take it.

"Kurumu," Tsukune gave her a bright smile as he closed the distance between them. "I don't want to sound selfish, but can I pull you away from your friends for a little while?"

"Certainly you can," Kurumu replied as she stepped in close to him. "Was there some..."

Kurumu's words were cut off as Tsukune put his arms around her and planted a light kiss on her lips. It was a public display of affection that sent a thrill through her body.

"Awwwww..." A collective sigh rose up from many of the young women that had watched the whole thing.

"Am I still your sweetheart?" Tsukune teased in a gentle voice.

"Always," Kurumu said with a smile and a firm nod.

"Awwwww..."

"If you will excuse us," Tsukune said to the closest spectators. "They are starting to serve desert, and I would like to share it with my sweetheart."

"Awwwwww..." This time Kurumu's voice joined the others.

XxxxxXxXxxxxX

The man moved with a casual air through the hotel. His evening was going according to plan and he had no reason to think it would be anything other than a success. It was time, by his calculations, to move forward with the pivotal stage of the operation. Up until he made his move, the whole plan could be called off, and none of the pampered, spoiled, arrogant people that though they were so far above him would know what had almost happened. But the man was not interested in calling off his plan. Everything was going beautifully. In just a few minutes he was going to shatter the illusion of power and safety that the humans wanted so desperately to believe in. Before the night was over he would burn the true meaning of fear into the very fabric of civilization as the humans thought of it.

The man passed through a side door and gave a nod to one of his minions. He committed himself and all his resources to the plan. There was only one way to go, and that was forward. The man was ready to step into a future filled with pain and fear, where he would hold the true power in Japan.

XxxxxxxxxxX

"Ladies and gentlemen," Aiko was back on stage, microphone in hand as everybody was enjoying their deserts. "In a moment we will open up the dance floor. But before we do, I would like to thank you all again for coming. Tonight we are celebrating not just a graduation, but also the beginning of new lives as we work for a better future."

"At this time I would like to ask my friends from the main table to come out to the dance floor," Aiko said as she waved a beckoning hand. "I would like to spend a moment to give recognition to the people that made tonight possible."

Tsukune and the others moved out onto the dance floor, where they would be the most visible to everybody in the ballroom. Aiko gave them a few hand gestures for directions and they lined up in front of the stage.

"Here are the people that made tonight possible," Aiko said into her microphone. "These are not just the people that helped organize tonight, but helped make tonight possible by crossing barriers that many of us never even think about. Everybody, please give these people, our friends, a round of applause."

Right on cue, clapping and cheering rose up around the ballroom. It carried on for a few minutes. Tsukune and the others gave small waves in return. Kurumu gave a big wave and leaned into Tsukune for a cute pose.

"Thank you all once again," Aiko spoke up once more. "We are going to open the dance floor now. While we enjoy the music and each others company, I would like everybody to take a moment to visit the stage this evening." She paused to reach down behind the throne. She pulled out a fair sized box. "We will be having a vote tonight to decide who we will crown the king and queen of the twilight forest."

The lights over the dance floor and much of the ballroom dimmed. At the same time the decorative trees started to glow with hundreds of little lights in their branches. The band started playing a delicate melody. Tsukune watched the room change moods and then turned to Moka.

"Dame Moka," Tsukune offered her a small bow. "May I have this dance?"

"Yes," Moka answered with a smile. "It would be a pleasure."

XxX

It was a wonderful night. Everybody was taking turns on the dance floor. Tsukune was not the only one with a choice of partners. While Rina took the time to dance with the unattached young men when she could, Rin was free to dance with some of the single girls. During the faster songs, people danced in groups. Inari thought she was in heaven when she got to share a slow dance with Tsukune.

Time passed almost without notice. There were still treats to enjoy and dancing to be done. Couples talked and kissed under the decorative trees. A good time was being had by all. The waitstaff moved around the room unnoticed. People made their way to the stage to fill out cards to vote for the king and queen of the masquerade. Aiko joined in on the group dances, and even managed a slow dance with some of Kota's friends. Time passed and the evening approached midnight.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Aiko stepped up on the stage once more as the music faded. "We have the final count for the voting. "If we can clear a little space on the dance floor... Thank you. I will now re..."

"^(&%$&_*&^%^%($()&$$$$$$$$!"

Aiko's words were cut off by a burst of sonic garbage that made the sound system whine and the listeners flinch. The man running the sound system fell sideways from behind his equipment, his eyes empty and his face was bloodied from being slammed into his controls. A man in a black suit and a chilling smile came forward on the stage.

"Who..." Aiko was cut off by a back handed blow that sent her sprawling from the stage and onto the dance floor.

A startled gasp of shock sounded.

"Your time is at an end!" The man yelled out with a chilling smile on his face. "There is nowhere for you to run. Tonight your world comes to an end, and a new world will take it's place. Your dreams are over. Now is the time for Fairy Tail!"

All around the room waitstaff started to transform. The man on stage felt the rise in youki and laughed. He knew that some of the silly children would be pulling out cellphones to call for help. It was what he wanted them to do. They would call their parents or the police, but before help could arrive most of them would be dead, and the rest would be scared and bleeding, left maimed but alive to spread the story of the nightmare come alive. Behind him, the backdrop was pulled down and eight more powerful youkai appeared. With predatory grins, they started to advance on the frightened crowd. Negligently, the man picked up the fanciful throne built for two and flung it out over the dance floor.

Laughing with sadistic glee the man summoned up his youki, his horded and concealed power. He let it out as he transformed into a monster three meters tall. His skin was blood red and his hair became a wild mane of black that covered his head and shoulders. Six glowing eyes looked out above a wide mouth filled with fags. His laughter sounded over the screaming of his fancy dressed prey.

Xx

Tsukune saw the heavy piece of furniture sailing through the air. It wasn't coming directly at him, but towards his friends. In a rush of anger and fear, Tsukune moved, throwing up his right arm to block or deflect the missile. Everything happened then.

Tsukune was able to protect the women he loved. He was able to knock the throne to the ground. It struck the dance floor with a crash, splintering with enough noise to cover the soft metallic ring of falling bits of chain. Tsukune realized what had happened at once, and with that realization, he knew what he had to do.

"Protect our friends!" Tsukune shouted the order. "Get them to safety no mater what!" Tsukune turned to his friends. "Yukari, do what you can to keep everybody calm."

"Kurumu," Tsukune said, his voice becoming gentle, almost quiet, with pain and sadness in his eyes. "Protect Mizore. Ruby, Inari, get them out of here. Moka... I... I have to go."

Without waiting for an answer, Tsukune turned back towards the stage. His youki rushed to fill him. He tried to focus on what was important, on what he needed to do. On who he needed to protect. All around him youki was spiking, people were screaming. He would protect them, Tsukune swore to himself. If he never did another thing, he would protect them all.

"You!" Tsukune roared as he advanced upon the monster that had caused everything. "You!" Tsukune was focused on what he needed to do, resisting the urge to let the hate and anger he felt control him. The monster had become the embodiment of all the pain and suffering Fairy Tail had ever brought him. As much as Tsukune wanted to destroy the monster for what it represented, he had to focus on what was truly important. It did not mater that it would cost him everything, Tsukune would protect everyone. "You!" Tsukune roared one last time as he launched himself in his full youkai form at the monster on the stage.