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 228
"You!..." Tsukune had felt the harshness of his own voice as he charged at the enemy before him. His entire body had felt like it was on fire as his power raged. He knew that his life was over now that the holy lock was gone, but he still had one duty to fulfill. He would protect. He would protect the women he loved. He would protect his unborn child. He would protect his friends. He would protect the innocent that had just wanted a safe night of fun. As his vision was lost in a haze of red, Tsukune knew he was going to do his duty. Destroy his enemy and protect... Protect...
Tsukune became lost in an eternal instant. His body burned and moved, living and dying as power surged though him. There was no room for conscious thought. One instant connected to the next and Tsukune just moved... He couldn't even begin to measure time. A dark fire filled him even as a bright light seemed to guide him.
Tsukune felt a sense of detachment. His body moved with speed and power, using the training he had received, while being driven by emotions. At the same time, his consciousness seemed to be drifting. A part of him was almost drunk with power as he tore in to an opponent. There was a rush of dark glee as his fist ended the life of another. The escaping life energy became a part of his own even as he moved to continue fighting.
The fight seemed to stretch on and on, but was over in an instant. Tsukune could sense it all. Anger, hate, pain... And then in a flash of dark energy, the fight was brought to an end. Tsukune could see the ruined mass in his bloody claws that had been his enemy's head. The energy of that tainted and wasted life was dark and vast, and Tsukune absorbed it in a way he could not understand. That power rushed through him, mixed with the thrill of victory. At the same time, some part of his mind recoiled at what he had done, at the life that he had taken, and the one he had lost.
Tsukune threw his head back and let out a roar. It was a scream of anger and hatred for what he had done. For what he had become, for the price he had been forced to pay in order to protect what was important. Everything seemed to go into that roar as Tsukune wished for an escape from his existence. The world faded into darkness as the breath left his lungs.
XxxxXxxxXxxxX
The fight was over. The minions of Fairy Tail were broken, bleeding, and some even dead. Some slipped away, out the back and side doors of the ballroom, hoping to escape. The young men and women stood, filled with adrenalin, with emotions running high. Jessie found himself suddenly smothered in attention from the two girls he had protected. Emmy, still in her youkai form, kissed Kota within an inch of his life. Kiyo, her kimono stained with food, blood, and other things had misplaced her hat and veil. With her expose skin glinting with scales, she kissed Nagi while he held her close with his free hand. His sword, drawn out of the desire to protect her,, now wet with blood, had done just that.
Some people were starting to cry with relief. Others were confused about what they should do next. Hana stood with her face and arms covered in gore. She was holding a pair of long horns in her hands, points down, having used them daggers while their sharp ridges had cut into her skin. She could not help but grin at the feeling of power that rushed though her. She was alive. The impossible had happened, and impossible things had attacked her, and she had done the impossible and survived.
"Yes!" Hana cheered, punching a fist up in the air, brandishing her bloody hand and weapon. "Yes! We did it!"
Hana started it off. Others picked up on it. Soon the ballroom was filled with cheering.
The room was a mess, and so were its occupants. The smell of blood was everywhere, but young men and women were cheering. Some were almost on the edge of dancing when a new presence arrived.
XxXxXxX
Lieutenant Tanaka Ito was the first one into the ballroom. He had decided that he was going to be a father first and had sent the hotel manager to meet up with the arriving police forces. He could justify his decision later as having wanted to assess the situation first hand, but didn't care about such things when he reached the open doors to the ballroom.
The police lieutenant was not alone, only at the front of the pack. Ross was among the worried parents that were eager to find their children, and protect them if necessary. With them came Shuzen Issa, who looked calm and confident while radiating a killing intent.
The pack of parents reached the ballroom and stopped short, taking in the scene. Ito moved forward cautiously, his police training guiding and supporting him, while wondering at the mess and the cheering young men and women. Ross, a hardened man of a violet lifestyle also ventured into the ballroom. Hearing the cheering, and Shuzen Issa's own aura of menace was enough to keep most of the other parents out.
Shuzen Issa walked into the room to survey the situation for himself. His presence, unrestrained by his own concern for his daughters, was strong enough to be felt by those around him. Those closest to the door, a double trio of your women, eyed him nervously. One was human, being assisted by two witches. Three youkai women looked like they were ready to defend themselves against the new arrivals if they had to.
"Father!" An excited shout cut though the air. Kokoa rushed forward, her face glowing. She released Ko and banished her armor as she threw herself at her father. She hugged him and smiled.
"Kokoa, my daughter," Shuzen Issa said with a warm voice. "What has happened here?"
"It was Fairy Tail, Father," Kokoa explained. " I don't know what they were trying to do, but we beat them." She gave a merry laugh. "We beat them good."
"I am proud of you," Issa said.
"Thank you, Father," Kokoa beamed.
Ross and Ito shared looks. Fairy Tail, they realized, was the name of the mystery organization they had been trying to track down for close to a year. Ross blinked and turned to the young women closest to them.
"I know you two," Ross said as he pointed to Mizore and Kurumu. "You were in the diner the day we met with your friend."
"What?" Ito asked.
"You should pay more attention to pretty girls my friend," Ross said. "These two were in the group that arrived in the diner just before Aono Tsukune did."
"Are you sure?" Ito questioned, looking at the pair carefully.
"Yes," Mizore answered. "And we came here with him tonight."
"So if you're thinking of causing Tsukune any trouble," Kurumu added.
"I wouldn't think of it," Tanaka Ito said quickly. "I just want to know what happened."
"I want to know where my other daughter is," Shuzen Issa spoke up, redirecting the conversation.
"We left her at the dance floor," Yukari said.
"She wanted to help Tsukune," Ruby added.
That was enough information. Shuzen Issa stared towards the middle of the room, the most likely place for the dance floor to be. Kokoa went with him, holding his and and smiling.
"You should leave," Lieutenant Tanaka said to the girls. "Before things get complicated."
"We will wait for Tsukune," Inari said firmly.
XxxXxxxXxxxXxxxX
Moka watched as Tsukune finished his fight with the enemy. She had wanted to help him, but never had the chance. He closed in with the leader of the attack and finished him off. As the dead enemy was left to fall to the floor, Moka felt a moment of relief. Tsukune had won. But then she remembered the holy lock. Tsukune had won the fight, but she might have already lost him forever.
Tsukune threw his head back and let out a roar that made Moka jump. The raw power in his voice was frightening. She tensed, not knowing what to expect. As his voice faded, Tsukune's head slumped forward. His shoulders drooped and his body language was that of someone lost in despair. Someone that had given up on everything. His youki was still alive within him, radiating in waves. She could see that even in his slumped posture, Tsukune was not relaxed at all. He carried a tension in his muscles as if they were pulling themselves apart.
Moka did not know what to do. If Tsukune was gone, if only the ghoul remained, then she needed to strike him down. Moka knew that Tsukune would not want to live as a mindless killing machine. But if there was a chance... Moka was frozen with indecision. Tsukune wasn't lashing out. It was as if he was still fighting for control of his power. All of her attention was on Tsukune, watching him as tears rolled down her face. She was still standing there, almost close enough to touch him, when her father found her.
"Moka," Shuzen Issa said in a low voice as he approached her. When she did not respond he moved closer. He saw the carnage that littered the dance floor. He recognized Aaron's lifeless face among the fallen, and another that might have been Malik, but there was not enough left of his face to be sure. What he did not recognize was the winged youkai that stood looking down at a ruined body. He reached out, intending to pull his daughter away from the unknown, and possibly dangerous stranger. "Moka..."
Tsukune's head came up and his body tensed. He could feel the powerful presence he recognized as the aura of an elite vampire, but it wasn't a presence he knew. Ready for a fight, he turned to face the newcomer.
"Tsukune..." Moka gasped.
Tsukune's hair was like tarnished silver. His eyes were red orbs surrounded by a mask of black vines. The expression on his face was equal parts pain and anger.
"Moka," Issa grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. He recognized the name and realized that the thing facing him could not be human. His daughter had admitted to feeding from her follower. The only conclusion was that the boy had become a ghoul, but unlike any he had ever heard of.
"No..." Moka tried to resist her father's pull.
Tsukune moved. Moka was in front of him. Somebody powerful was trying to take her away. He was not going to let that happen.
Shuzen Issa did not understand what happened at first. His head rang like a bell and the world spun. When his vision cleared he saw that he was twenty feet above the floor, thirty feet behind where he had been standing, and falling in an arc. He landed hard, smashing a table.
Moka was confused. Tsukune was suddenly beside her. She turned in time to see her father crash down into a table as Tsukune balanced himself to attack or defend.
"Oh..." Moka gasped.
"What did you do?" Kokoa demanded. She couldn't believe what had happened.
Shuzen Issa regained his feet and stalked towards Aono Tsukune. He had been caught off guard the first time, but he would not let that happen again. He gathered his youki and prepared to fight. A slow grin grew on his face as he anticipated what was to come.
Moka saw her father approaching, and felt his building power. She had just seen Tsukune kill a youki more than half again his own size. A cold fear gripped her heart. She couldn't let the coming fight happen.
"Tsukune," She reached out and grabbed his shoulder, moving to be in front of him and to make him look at her. "Please, don't do this."
"Stand aside," Issa commanded.
"No," Moka said without even looking at her father.
"Moka," Issa demanded. "Now!"
"No!" Moka answered watching Tsukune's face. She saw that he was focused on the threat her father was at the moment. "Tsukune, please."
"Do it," Kokoa encouraged her father.
"Please, Tsukune," Moka pleaded. "He's my father. He won't hurt you."
"I will kill him," Issa said as he reached for Moka's shoulder to move her out of the way.
"No," Tsukune snarled as he grabbed the older vampire's wrist.
"Tsukune?" Moka brightened, feeling a spark of renewed hope.
"Let go," Issa ordered.
Tsukune did let go, but not before pulling the elite vampire up and over Moka. He then threw a punch that launched Moka's father over the dance floor, the stage, and crashing through the backdrop to land among the trays and tables used by the caterers.
Issa recovered, but now he was angry. He rushed at Tsukune, too fast for the human eye to follow. But Tsukune wasn't human at that moment. He was something greater. With casual ease he turned sideways to his charging opponent and brought his clawed hand up, catching Shuzen Issa by the throat. The elder vampire was stopped short. His own momentum tried to carry him forward, but Tsukune had planed himself too well. Instead, Issa's own kinetic energy had been redirected upward.
Moka was stunned. Tsukune was holding her father clean off the floor by the throat. She could see her father bleeding from where Tsukune's claw-like nails had stabbed in to Issa's neck. Issa in turn had grabbed Tsukune's forearm with both hands and was trying to ether break Tsukune's hold, or break his arm.
There was a sickening crunch. Tsukune's arm suddenly bent in the wrong place and Issa dropped free. The elder vampire realized that Tsukune had both speed and power to spare, and there was no reason to hold anything back. He thrust forward a stiffened hand, aiming a killing blow at Tsukune's throat. Tsukune twisted to avoid the blow. At the same time he brought his uninjured arm up and delivered a palm trust to Issa's chest.
The fight was on. The two exchanged attacks with savage speed. Issa had superior experience and discipline. Tsukune had raw power. The dance floor was now a dueling ground. There was no yelling, or even talking. Both men were focused on the fight and were giving it their all.
Issa was determined to take down the ghoul, the thing, that had influenced his daughter, and was now foolish enough to challenge him. Tsukune only knew that his opponent had tried to take Moka away, and that could not be permitted. Pride and passion drove them.
Moka watched the fight, almost numb with terror. Two people she cared about were fighting with deadly force. But as she watched, she saw something that gave her a spark of hope. Moka could tell that her father was aiming every attack with killing intent. He wanted to kill Tsukune, and was trying to without any hesitation. Tsukune on the other hand was attacking with deadly force, but not with killing intent. Tsukune was using palm thrusts, punches, and kicks that were meant to force an opponent back. Tsukune was not trying to kill Moka's father, but to drive him off or beat him down.
As fierce as the fight was, it only lasted minutes. Issa timed his attack, leaving a false opening. When Tsukune threw a straight blow at the older man's chest, Issa knocked his arm down and wide. It was a move meant to leave Tsukune open to a finishing attack. Issa launched his final strike. Tsukune's previously injured arm, whole once more, parried the killing strike.
Before Issa could recover, Tsukune closed in. His elbow strike caught his opponent in the side of the head. Issa was spun about by the force of the blow and the world seemed to spin. He staggered sideways, trying to keep his balance while his legs felt weak. Tsukune saw his opening. He reached out and grabbed a handful. of the other man's hair.
Issa felt his head being pulled back and down. He was off balance and dazed, but knew he was in trouble. The only thing keeping him from falling was the grip on his hair that was bending him backwards. He didn't have the leverage to twist free. Trying to gain that precious leverage, he let himself drop to his knees on the bloodied dance floor, but Tsukune's grip move with him. He was caught and vulnerable.
"Nooo!" Kokoa rushed in with her giant mace.
Tsukune turned his head sharply, and with an angry glare, reached out and caught the young vampire by the wrist. His grip was so strong that Kokoa gave a cry of pain and dropped Ko.
"No..." Moka said in a harsh whisper. This wasn't her Tsukune. "No..." Her voice grew louder. This was something too powerful to be him "No!" The thing with Tsukune's face looked her way with a twisted, savage grin. "Tsukune!" Moka screamed. "No!"
Without really thinking, Moka lashed out at Tsukune. Her powerful kick connected, striking high on his chest, just low of where it could have crushed his throat. Moka felt and heard a crunch as Tsukune was knocked back, but not down. He was forced to let go of the two he was holding.
Issa, suddenly free, fell forward, ending up on his hands as knees. Kokoa fell back. She managed to snatch up Ko again, but was to shaken to try attacking again. Moka didn't pay attention to ether of them beyond seeing that they were alive. Her attention was on Tsukune.
Tsukune had been forced back by Moka's kick, but something else was happening to him now. He curled in on himself, as if Moka's kick had seriously hurt him. At the same time a new energy, green and bright, crackled and sparked all around him. It was making him stagger, his muscles spamming in ways that were painful to watch. His breathing was reduced to a ragged panting.