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, then you should not read this.
Chapter 305
"Send this patrol unit there," Tsukune said as he moved a place marker on the map.
Tanaka gave a nod and the police officer working the radio of the little, portable command station in the van sent out the order. There was one officer monitoring a selections of cell phone accounts for any tips about suspicious movement. The radio man was listening to the chatter of all the police in the area, and relaying information to Tanaka whenever it seemed important. On the floor of the van was a map of the area with blue markers for the available police units, and one with a red flag to represent the suspect they were all after.
From out on the city streets the movement of police would make no sense. A look at the map showed a pattern clearly. The blue markers had started out all over the map, but were moved into a clear circle around the target in short order. As the day wore on that circle had shifted and shrunk. It was now an uneven oval, with the narrow end slowly closing in on the target.
Tsukune was giving orders for moving units around according to his plan. He watched the map, listened to the radio reports, and answered calls on his cell phone. The target was being carefully herded. There was no way that Kuyou could miss the focused intent of the police closest to his position. They had all been told that they were after the suspect behind the fire bombings, and the killing of a koban's superintendent. For them all, this was the purest form of police business. Even if they did not know the name or the face of the man called 'The General' that they were after, their professionalism was augmented by their personal desire to see a little pay-back.
Tanaka watched the movement of markers on the map with interest. Beside the mini command center, the lieutenant had arranged for a police motorcycle to be available for his use. The modern machine was waiting beside Tsukune' and Inari's disguised beasts.
Inari and Jenna were waiting out side of the command center. Each of them were holding cell phones and occasionally taking or making calls. Every so often Jenna would come over to the map and place or move a black marker. The interests she represented were keeping their heads down and their businesses closed up tight for the duration. It was important that the suspect not find support or shelter.
Ross was in the area somewhere, but keeping out of sight. He had promised support for the operation, simply because Tate no Kai had trespassed in yakuza business, which could not be allowed to go unpunished. The man had even said he had a present for the police if things turned out they way he hoped. He had not gone into details, preferring to be mysterious.
"There," Tsukune suddenly said sharply. He reached out and started touching blue markers. "Tell these units to hold position. Tell them to hold where they are and start looking at things like empty store fronts or vacant offices in their area. Give them the subject's most recent description." Tsukune then moved some of the markers in closer to the target. "Bring these units in closer, but then have them hold and search as well."
Tanaka studied the map closely. He looked at the unit markers first, and then at the streets. Finally he looked at the details of the map for what was in the area. Tsukune moved the target marker a short distance, and that was when things finally clicked in to place. He looked up from the map and the two men shared a feral smile.
XxXxXxX
Kuyou was moving with a forced appearance of being content and unhurried. He had felt the presence of his pursuers all day. As the sun had started to set he was sure that they were somehow closing in on him. He wondered if maybe a dog unit or two might have been brought in to try to track him.
The idea that dogs might be tracking his scent made him angry at himself. He had burned his base out, and hopefully down, but it would give any trackers a clear starting point to follow him from. If dogs had been brought in, it would have taken time for them to single out his scent, but it made an uncomfortable about of sense.
The presence of police in the area was undeniable. He had seen them, sometimes patrolling on an intersecting street, and at other times checking identifications at bus stands. Kuyou had been left with the choice of trying to go unnoticed where he was, or to keep moving on. The more he thought about the chance of dogs being on his scent, the more Kuyou was sure that he had been right to keep moving.
It was almost full dark when he felt the intensity of the searchers sharpen. At first it had been somewhere behind him. He could not be sure of the distance, but there was no denying that something had changed. Moments later he had felt the same thing to his right. When he felt something ahead, Kuyou felt the first stirrings of real panic. He was sure they were trying to box him in.
Kuyou wondered about the possibility of dogs again. If one or more dogs were following his scent, the police might be trying to get ahead of him. He knew he would have to look for a chance to throw them off.
XxxxxxxX
"Call these units back in fifteen minutes," Tsukune moved some of the blue markers away from the target. "And these, tell them to reposition to this area." he moved some more markers. "Tell them to use lights and sirens, and tell that we know where the suspect is."
Tanaka watched as the trap closed tighter around the target. In his pocket, his hand worried at a paper charm. It was one of the ones provided to keep Tate no Kai from feeling the second trap at the fake night club. It would not be good if his own killing intent warned the target of a closing noose.
"This is good..." Tsukune mused.
Tanaka saw how the latest repositioning of men would continue to herd the target. Tsukune was doing more than just pushing the suspect into a box. The units moving under lights and sirens were a gamble. He was sending units from the north of the target to the south, but in a loud and noticeable way. It was clear what the objective was. He wanted the target to think that the north was a safe direction. And from where he was at the moment, moving north would put him in the perfect place.
"Inari," Tsukune turned from the map. "Time to call in the troops." He pointed to a specific place on the map. "We want them to start closing in on this location in twenty minutes."
"In twenty five minutes from now," Tanaka turned to his radio man. "I want everything we have surrounding this location. Put them two blocks out in all directions, and until further orders, nothing is to leave that area."
"Yes sir," The radio man acknowledged.
"That means you two men as well," Tanaka added. "I want this unit and you two on the main road in, and ready for a scrap if it happens."
"Yes sir!" Both men said at ones. They had excited smiles because they were glad that they were not going to be left out of the action.
"Ready?" Tsukune asked his friend.
"Let's do this," Tanaka nodded. He left the van and headed for the police motorcycle he had waiting.
XxxxXxxxX
When Kuyou heard the sirens his heart clenched, sure he was about to be overtaken by the police. He tensed, ready to fight for his freedom. But then the first police flashed down the cross street at the end of the block behind him and kept going. A second one passed behind him, and one hurried by at the end of the block ahead of him. He was sure he heard at least one other siren moving in the same direction.
The sense of relief he felt then made him shiver. He realized that the police had nearly boxed him in. The patrol cars moving the way they were told him that they were trying to close in on him. Kuyou smiled at their foolishness. In their rush to take him, they had passed him by, leaving him outside of their snare.
Kuyou realized that he had a chance to hide out for the night. He scanned the area and saw something that could be useful. On a slightly elevated section of the block was a shinto shrine. It was perfect. If it was a staffed temple he could flash his fox face at the priest and ask for anything he wanted. He could take shelter for the night and eat well.
Of course he would have to kill the priest before leaving. He couldn't afford to leave a witness. On the plus side, if he could dispose of the body, Kuyou cold take the priest's identity until he was sure the hunt for him in the area was called off, or at least until he was out of the area.
Kuyou did not rush, but he did move with a sense of purpose towards the entrance of the shrine's property. Three deep steps lead up from the street to the torii. From the traditional entrance to the grounds a stone paved path lead to the front of the shrine. Kuyou approached the building confident that things were finally going his way after the long day. In the dark, he almost missed the man in a business suit praying in front of the shrine's offering box.
The man must have heard Kuyou approaching because he turned to look over his shoulder. Right away something about the man bothered the youkai. He appeared to be middle aged, or a little beyond that, but in good shape. The way the man moved spoke of confidence. He offered Kuyou a smile.
"Good evening," Tanaka said smoothly. "Don't mind me. I was just leaving."
"I wish you a good night," Kuyou said politely.
"I am sure I will have a good one," Tanaka nodded. "My friends have something special planned for tonight." He walked past Kuyou and headed for the street. "And knowing them, it will be something impressive."
Kuyou watched the man leave while wondering what it was that was off about him. The man reached the street, where he paused for a moment. He pulled out a handkerchief of white silk, and flapped it twice before wiping his forehead. He tucked it away again and walked off. As soon as he was out of sight, Kuyou lost track of him. The man moved quietly, but that wasn't really remarkable. Kuyou frowned, and for a moment wondered why the man had seemed so unreal; so hollow. It was almost as if he had no spiritual energy at all.
It was a trap!
The thought leaped into Kuyou's mind. The man had no spiritual presence, which should have been impossible. Seconds after the man had left, Kuyou became aware of seven strong presences. They were all around him, and they were all focused on him. Their youki, he realized that the shrine's grounds were surrounded by youkai he could not see, was so strong that it washed out the presence of everything else in the area.
Of those seven, Kuyou could feel one moving closer. He scanned the area quickly, looking for anything to give him an edge. There was no priest to use as a hostage. The old shrine was probably a historical landmark but he suspected that its loss would be acceptable to his enemies. It was clear that the enemy had chosen the battleground. Seeing no value in trying to hide, he faced forward, watching to see who would be coming for him.
Two figures approached, coming up the steps and crossing under the torii. One was clearly a man, while the other was a woman. Of the pair, Kuyou realized that he could only detect the energy of the female, because she stopped just within the grounds, while the man moved closer. He came close enough to be recognized.
"You..." Kuyou snarled. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."
"No," Tsukune gave a small shake of his head. "Kuyou, you should have left me and the Newspaper Club alone when you had the chance." He relaxed his concentration a little, letting his personal energies leak out. "You were a self important bully that used thin excuses to explain your crimes."
"Who do you think you are to judge me?" Kuyou demanded, his own youki starting to spill out.
"I am the one that became everything you claimed to be," Tsukune retorted. "I am the enemy you created because you wanted to prove yourself. How better should a person be judged than by his friends and enemies. You have no friends, and were so useless that you made an enemy out of a nobody for no good reason."
"I was protecting the school," Kuyou spat.
"You were the one the school needed protection from," Tsukune shot back. "We shut down your gang of bullies and the school was better because of it. And now I am going to take you down, and all of Japan, all of the world will be better off."
"You can't stop me," Kuyou declared as he shifted into his fighting form. His tall, fox-like body was covered in shining yellow and white fur that glowed with energy. His four flaming tails illuminated the grounds of the shrine. Kuyou growled and took a fighting stance. He gathered his energy and prepared to strike.
"You are wrong," Tsukune said in a mild voice.
Kuyou made a throwing motion, sending a ball of fire towards his enemy. Tsukune extended his wings, wrapped in his energy, one came forward as a shield as he rushed forward. Kuyou saw his fireball shatter harmlessly against the red-black barrier of Tsukune's wing as he came at him, then felt the force of the once-human's fist connect with the side of his midsection.
Kuyou let out a yelp of pain as he was driven sideways by the blow. He lifted his foot and struck out with a kick to retaliate. He felt the attack connect and saw Tsukune move with the force of it. But at the same time, he had brought an arm down and trapped Kuyou's leg.
The length of Kuyou's leg was enough to keep his torso and head out of Tsukune's range to punch. Not having a choice target in reach, Tsukune went with what was available. With a twist of his upper body that threatened to pull Kuyou off balance, Tsukune drove a hard punch into his opponent's inner thigh, just above the knee.
Once... Twice... On the third blow the youkai managed to get his leg free at last, but staggered and fell. When he tried to stand he discovered that the struck leg was unwilling to support his weight. It just didn't want to work right from the knee down.
Tsukune moved in while Kuyou struggled to recover. A scaly fist connected with the side of a furry head. Kuyou was dazed by the blow. A second quickly followed.
Kuyou felt pain filling his head as his vision began to spin. There was a moment when the world seemed to fall away, and then it was back, but it refused to hold still. Everything rippled in a way that made Kuyou nauseous.
He tried to get his eyes and mind to focus before the next attack came. He cast about for Tsukune, only to see him turned to accept something from the woman that had followed him. Kuyou tried to scramble away, to escape, or at least buy a little more time to recover.
Another blow landed, right on the crown of his head...
Kuyou realized that he had been knocked out when he opened his eyes to see the world tilted sideways. He blinked a few times as his vision cleared and the pain started to fade. Carefully, arms and legs and he lifted his head to look around. He was still dizzy but at least able to move his limbs.
He found Tsukune a few meters away. He was talking with the man from before, and with two women. All of them had a spiritual presence now, but it was muted. In his fighting form, his hearing should have been supernaturally sharp, but whatever was being said sounded like gibberish for some reason.
A small, spite-filled smile curled Kuyou's lips. He had been knocked out, but not killed. He had always known humans were weak. He would not make their mistake. He would kill them without hesitation. He would kill them without them even seeing it coming. If they were going to ignore him, he would make them pay for their foolishness. Concentrating as hard as he could, he started to focus his energy.