"Please pick your course schedules up as you leave. First years at the east entrance, seconds years at the south entrance, and third years at the west entrance. And once again, thank you for attending Yokai Academy and let's have a pleasant year," Ruby finished her greeting on the stage in the schools auditorium, a fairly new addition to the school, and dismissed the students to start the first day of the school term.
It didn't take Tekeshi and company long to get out. He had decided it wouldn't do any good to try to hide from the three yokai girls, there just wasn't enough area to hide in. To expedite their exit from the opening ceremony he had conned the teacher handing out first year schedules into giving him his and the girls during the ceremony. Well conned might not have been the right word for it, more like blackmailed him, though he really should have known better than to try to set up cameras looking into the girls locker room. While the previous headmaster, who he had never found out the identity of beyond being called the Chairman, had been lax about such things due to the lack of qualified instructors, his father wasn't. And there was the fact that the twins and Harumi were going to have to use that locker room at some point, and he wasn't about to let some pervert video tape his little sisters in the buff like that.
The girls had started comparing notes on who was in what class, "We all got different classes. I'm in 1-A. What did you two get," Harumi started the round.
Simultaneously the twins answered, "1-B."
Harumi shifted to Utsuki, "What about you Dyke?"
"1-C, tits for brains," Utsuki answered, her voice more than a little hostile.
Tekeshi sighed. He knew that he was going to have to get them to start getting along better. Whether it was because Harumi saw Utsuki as a rival, or just them rubbing each other the wrong way... No, bad thought Tekeshi, don't go there. Anyway they did not like each other the least little bit. It was more than likely going to make life hard for him since the yokai girls had come to understand that she wasn't going anywhere.
"Which class did you get Oni-sama," Yusa asked, one of the few times she spoke without Asusa.
"1-C."
"NOT FAIR. WHYYYYYY!," three voices shouted at the same time drawing most of the student bodies stares to them.
Tekeshi had to shake his head to clear the ringing, "For god's sake, would you not scream in a person's ear like that. I like being able to hear thank you very much, and it makes it a lot easier to play a guitar with intact hearing."
Utsuki started to walk off to get to class, and was quickly joined by Tekeshi who had ceased trying to control the others. Both of them knew the reason they were in the same class. Utsuki was a little miffed at it, but she couldn't argue with it. She knew that she was in danger every second she was here, after the fight that erupted over another girl just before the assembly she had a feeling that she should stick close to him no matter what. He wasn't hitting on her at least, that was more than could be said for all the other guys she had met so far.
"You ok 'Suki? You seem a little lost in thought," Tekeshi interrupted her line of thinking.
"I'm fine Tekeshi-san. Just wondering what I'm doing in a place like this. I know that there is a good possibility that I could get killed for just blinking the wrong way. And I don't want an all out war raged over me like the girl had earlier," she replied.
"You mean the werewolf and the minotaur fight. I thought they just didn't like each other. I'm going to be honest, it doesn't take much to start a fight here. Different races of yokai brought together in such a small area is not really the best idea, but it has been made to work for over two hundred years now. Like I said, you don't have to worry about anything, I will watch out for you, and I think the twins will as well. I don't know about Harumi, she just doesn't seem to like you, and please don't call her tits for brains, that won't help the situation any."
Utsuki looked at him sideways, "Then get her to stop calling me a dyke. Whatever that actually is."
Tekeshi chuckled, "Her father was an American, he didn't use the best language. She picked it up from him. It is a synonym for lesbian, and a type of earthen wall they use to reclaim land for farming in Holland."
"I am going to ask this now, are you a genius or a know it all," the girl asked flatly, recalling that he often had comments like that.
"Genius. Over a 150 IQ. Made my parents proud, but leads me to boredom a lot, and makes me rather unpopular with teachers and classmates. They don't see it as fair that an assignment that takes them two hours to do only takes me a half hour."
"Do all vampires have it so easy, I mean really you seem to have it made for the most part. You can beat up anyone without trying, you could seduce anyone you want, and you are next to being rulers of other yokai."
Tekeshi stopped, "I wouldn't say we have it easy. We can't go out in the rain without having to fear dying. If we get sick we are quite likely to die. And we are nowhere near being the rulers of all monster kind. No matter what we are far from having it easy."
Utsuki looked at the ground ashamed, "I'm sorry. This isn't like me. I usually treat people kindly. It has just been a shock to my system."
"Don't worry about it. A change in personality to combat unknowns isn't unheard of in human and yokai both. Once you get over it you will start acting more like yourself. Honestly I went from loud and boisterous to quiet and meek when I first went to America. I had lived here in Japan since I was born, the furthest away from Osaka I had ever been was Hokkaido. America was a new place where I didn't fit in at first. I know a little about what you are going through."
The two resumed walking to the classroom. The remainder of the walk neither said anything. Tekeshi was regretting the curt way he had responded to her statements. He knew she was going through a lot in a second, and he didn't have the right to speak to her like that. Utsuki was regretting having even said that. Tekeshi had been nothing but kind, and had put his life on the line to protect her after knowing her all of three hours. He might be rude, smart-alecky, and violent, but he never actually hurt anyone that hadn't deserved it in-front of her. Despite her stress level she didn't have the right to speak to anyone like that, she didn't even have the right to treat Harumi like she had been. She was a fine representative of the human race.
Tekeshi watched the teacher at the front of the room. It was the same young woman his mother had saved. Miss Steyr. She was shaking slightly from the nerves of being a first time teacher. Everyone in the class except him and Utsuki was talking loudly despite her several polite requests to tone it down so she could start class.
Tekeshi decided to take pity on her, "SHUT THE HELL UP AND LISTEN!"
A person would have heard a pin falling through the air it got so quiet. Tekeshi knew that when he gave an order that people usually followed it due to the extreme level of malice he put into his voice. He didn't do it often, since he rather preferred getting along with people instead of scaring them half to death just being in the same room with them, but sometimes you had wield the rod over the olive branch.
"Thank you Mr. Aono. If everyone would please give me their attention I would like to introduce my self to you. I am Miss Eva Steyr. I am from Austria and this is my first year of teaching. I am somewhat familiar with Japanese custom, but I have very little practical knowledge of it. If I do anything that offends you or is against your culture please let me know so that I may correct myself. However do not think that I am going to fall for a gag like homework is against your culture, I am not that naïve," her introduction was audible, but still in a very low tone.
One of the kids in the back row spoke up, "Screw you, Hobgoblin. I don't know what you were thinking trying to teach here, but go back to your burrow bitch."
Tekeshi groaned. Hobgoblins were not well thought of, and very few knew of their actual abilities. He had met a family of them living in a cabin just east of Tempe, AZ. When they were calm they were nice gentle folk, but when riled they could rip an orc in half. Conversely though, when they were scared they were helpless. They were highly intelligent and capable of thinking of several subjects simultaneously, consciously. He was really impressed with their ability to maintain a human form no matter what, something that other yokai commonly had a problem with when angered or scared. The only way to tell them apart was their sickly green eyes, like Miss Steyr had.
The woman's voice lowered half an octave as she approached the student, "You might consider giving the person who will be grading your papers a little more respect. I don't think you have anything you can actually say you clanking pile of bones."
The rest of the class got silent, and Tekeshi noticed Utsuki shaking furiously. Standing he walked back and put his hand on the teachers shoulder. Looking over she recognized him as the one who had led her to the building and had helped her gain control of the class for the short amount of time. Taking a breath she returned to her desk and Tekeshi did the same.
"For those of you who decided not to read the school handbook I will go over some of the major rules here at Yokai Academy. You are expected to come to class on time, with no more than three late arrivals per week. Sunday through Thursday evening you are to remain on campus, Friday and Saturday evening you are allowed to go the Mononoke Arcade to shop for school supplies and other essentials. The curfew is eight o'clock on school nights, and eleven o'clock on non-school nights. Finally all students are expected to maintain a human form at all times while on campus, remember you are here to learn to integrate into human society," the burst of anger had given the European woman a burst of confidence, which helped her keep the class's attention.
Tekeshi was a little impressed by the display. Typical hobgoblin, this was going to be an interesting year. He started going over the odds in his head on whether a student might be disemboweled in class for a smart ass remark. You didn't get that kind of entertainment from a human school.
Utsuki didn't know whether to be surprised or not when she discovered she was in the same gym class as the other girls. Yusa and Asusa she didn't mind, just Harumi. The twins had actually given her a place to sleep while the wall to her room was being repaired. Harumi seemed to just see her as a unwanted rival for Tekeshi's attention. There was also the breast situation that was at the forefront of the girl. She had asked Tekeshi if they were fake at one point, and had been surprised to hear that Harumi's mother was even more endowed. It just wasn't fair, no girl should have boobs that big.
"Are you ok 'Suki-chan," Asusa asked from her place next to her.
"I'm fine, just a little put off by Harumi and her endowments," she replied.
The snow girl laughed, "Don't be. I've seen one of her lingerie bills, and it made me glad I didn't have to go to Tokyo twice a year for bras."
"Your kidding."
"No, for her to get one bra is over fifteen thousand yen, for a plain one. She had one real lacy one made that cost over eighty thousand. If Aunt Kurumu didn't own a bunch of restaurants she would have to go bra-less all the time."
The two girls stole a look two rows back at the subject of the conversation, "How does she find a shirt to fit her then? Can she afford to have those custom made as well," Utsuki asked.
"Yes. We have never given her clothes for Christmas because of it. I don't think that a human could survive with a pair that big hanging from their chest."
Suddenly a very chilling voice sounded from infront of where they were standing, "Asusa, Utsuki, would you mind so terribly to be quiet so that I may start class."
Both turned to see Moka staring them down, "Yes, Ma'am."
In the headmaster's office three people sat. One male and two female. The male stayed silent for a while and allowed the to women to finish catching up with one another. Their conversation mainly revolved around their children and how they were all expected to surpass any expectations that they could be held to.
"Kurumu, Mizore, we can all agree that the girls are remarkable. I did have a specific purpose in bringing you here today. May I get to it," Tsukune asked when he noticed the atmosphere start to thicken with veiled malice.
Mizore spoke up first, "Sorry Tsukune. You know how rarely we get to see each other. You may go on."
"Thank you. I have already went over this with Moka and Ruby. Kouyo has shown up again, and we have indications that he plans to try to take over the school. I know that both of you have developed spy networks so if you have heard anything I would like to know."
"Why would I have a spy ring? I own restaurants, what would I be needing spies for, to find out a competitor's recipe for steak tar-tar," Kurumu replied to the accusation skillfully.
"Won't deny. Nothing concerning Kouyo has come before me. I have heard rumors of Fairy Tale trying to establish a cell deep in Russia, no confirmation though. If you want I will tell my agents to keep feelers out for anything concerning Fairy Tale leadership," Mizore said rather dully.
"Thank you, that would be appreciated. Also Kurumu, the chances of a series of succubi visiting the same restaurant, at the exact same time, on the exact same day, every week is statistically unlikely. Either you are using them as spies, or succubi are driven by habit more than I thought."
Kurumu sighed, "Fine, can't keep a secret from you anymore. I have heard rumors coming out of Bangkok that there was a Youko there recently. They didn't get a good description, and backed off after encountering a water nymph following him. I told my agents to actively search for and identify the Youko, but as of yet there hasn't been any success."
"Thanks, just keep me informed if you get anything solid. Hopefully I can learn enough to stall the attack before it even happens. If not, will you help if it comes down to a conflict?"
The answer was simultaneous, "You can count on the Black and White Duet."
Tsukune deadpanned, "You two still use that moniker?"
Tekeshi was bored. Not the nothing going on kind of bored either. The I decided to escape the rush of estrogen that was surrounding me by taking a walk in the woods and a bunch of idiots decided to jump me kind of bored. He counted ten of them. Most were B or C class, with a couple of A class. The leader was a vampire though. This wasn't a surprise. Vampires were more likely to fight for dominance among themselves than against others. The use of soldiers against an opponent wasn't unheard of either, though it was discouraged.
"Well, well, what do we have here. Some pretty boy who thinks he is all that. I'm going to tell you something now, and not charge you anything for it. I am Alfonse Periet Morturo, I'm a second year, and this school belongs to me. If you want to challenge me, then I will be just so happy to kill you now, and save myself the trouble later. Now introduce yourself politely and I will let you go on your way," the upstart announced himself in a rather snobbish manner.
Tekeshi shook his head, "I am Aono Tekeshi. I am the son of Aono Tsukune and Akashiya Moka of the House of Shuzen. I don't care if you think you own this school or what, but don't bother me and you won't have to go to the hospital. Now get out of my way or lose some retainers."
Had he politely responded it would have made him seem weak, so he took the other road and showed his dominance. He also expected another vampire to understand that in Japan the House of Shuzen was god, and when you fight against god you typically die in a very agonizing way. It seemed by the other vampires demeanor he didn't understand what he meant.
"House of Shuzen, is that some little cult or something. I didn't know that you oriental vampires still went for that kind of nonsense. A house means little if the lord isn't strong enough to keep the throne. Point me to this Aono guy so that I may make a kingdom for myself," when he finished his little coterie started laughing with him.
"My father happens to be the headmaster of this school, and is the strongest vampire alive, followed by my mother. I highly suggest you take your circus somewhere else, cause little clown, when you tease a bull, the bull is going to trample you," Tekeshi told the foreigner.
"Don't make me laugh any harder. I might die from this display already. One of you hit him already, and screw the rule about human forms, lets let him see what kills him."
The first combatant stepped forward and changed. A minotaur. He charged and ran right over one of his comrades and into one of the few living trees. Two down. Two stepped up and changed, they were twins and changed into some type of tall spindly thing with a large gaping mouth and no eyes. Tekeshi wasn't exactly sure what they were, but they punched in unison, and gaped in unison as he grabbed their wrists and slung them in an arch bowling over the others. Three of the remainder didn't stand up. Seven down.
"Enough, obviously I chose my followers poorly. I will take care of this myself."
"If you are that eager to wind up in the hospital then lets rock."
The combatants removed their blazers as their circled. When two vampires fought the results were awe inspiring. In the past entire cities had been destroyed by single combat between vampires. Countless lives had been lost to those who were foolish enough not to run. There was no force of nature that could compare, and nothing that could stop them except...
"Kodomo, Mister Morturo, cease," Tsukune yelled stepping into view.
Mister Morturo's arrogance got the best of him, "Shut up peasant. This is between me and him, and why the hell are you kneeling to him?"
"Because I am his father, and the leader of the House of Shuzen. Now kneel or I will allow my child to beat you to death like he planned to," the younger vampire swung his head back around to stare at something that scared him.
The first sight of Tsukune he had gotten was normal enough. Brown hair, brown eyes, not very commanding in his stance. Now though he saw a god of death. Silver hair, crimson eyes, somekind of black steel covering the man's torso, and large bat like wings towering over him. Alfonse Periet Morturo had never feared anything in his sixteen years of life, yet he was now in need of a fresh pair of pants.
"Leave, and never bother one of my family again on the penalty of your death."
He didn't need to be told twice, him and those of his followers that were still conscious ran for their very lives. To a vampire it was not looked at as cowardice to run from an enemy that was without a doubt superior to you, it was considered intelligent.
Tekeshi stood, "How long until the day ends?"
Tsukune replied as he returned to his everyday form, "About three and a half hours."
"Well, damn."
The last class of the was once again homeroom. It was for those who need it to get a jump on their homework, and those who didn't or just didn't give a damn to do other stuff. The teacher typically just stepped in from time to time to check on the students and keep them on track, but mostly stayed in the faculty room grading papers and fleshing out lesson plans. This meant for students it was a time to talk without a teacher trying to shush you.
"Tekeshi-san, I didn't get to ask you earlier, but why did you seen so fired up when you came back from walking at lunch? Were you in a fight," Utsuki asked from the seat beside him.
He nodded, "Nothing serious, just some second year thinking he was god. I took out a few of his flunkies, but Dad showed up before I could get to him. He made the poor boy soil his pants from fear when he was challenged."
"Your father isn't all that scary. I rather find him comforting to be around."
"That is left over from him having been a human. If he shows his full power he could enslave the world with a word. My mother isn't far behind him. Don't worry though, they want humans and yokai to live together peacefully," Tekeshi told her candidly.
"Who turned your father into a vampire, if it isn't rude to ask?"
"My mother, in an attempt to save his life."
"Then shouldn't your mother be more powerful since she was born a vampire?"
Tekeshi thought for a second on this concept, "I never thought about it before. I guess she actually should be. Something must have occurred with my father for him to have grown so powerful."
"Also you said they were Shinso vampires or something like that, aren't you one as well?"
"Actually no," he told her cautiously, "It isn't something that can be passed down from mother to child. It requires the mixing of the blood itself. While in the womb the mother's blood and the child's blood never actually mix. The only way for a Shinso to come about is for one to infect another or turn a human. You can see why they are rare, my parents are the only two remaining ones."
Utsuki let this information process for a second, "So what is so special about them that sets them apart from vampires like yourself?"
"Their blood is that of the first vampires. In the guise my father goes around in he had his power significantly restricted. If he was to release just a little of that his appearance changes. If he release more his aura becomes oppressively evil. I don't know what would happen if he were to release his full power, I haven't seen in my life."
"What if two Shinsos were to infect someone at the same time? Would it just be the same as one doing it?"
Tekeshi weighed his answer, "I don't really know. Either just the same effect as one, or possibly the power would double due to the differences in the bloods, if the second is the case then you would possible have to seal such an individual to prevent the raw power from burning them up. Or I may be wrong. That is a question you would need to ask someone like my Aunt Yukari, or my father. I may be a genius, but my knowledge isn't really geared toward magic powers and stuff."
"Ok. So can you help me with this science homework?"
"Easy as can be."
A/N: And so ends the groups first day at Yokai Academy. If only Tekeshi had an idea of what we all knew about him, then maybe he would go power mad and try to take over the world. Lets leave that for another time. The first plot line is now in motion. I wont drag out the time between this and the first encounters with the new Fairy Tale branch for too long, so expect it in maybe two to three chapters. I don't know when I will post next, so until then I gave you more to read than usual. It shames me to have to put so many fluff sections just to give you content, but that is the curse of internet isolationism.