"Yukari, are you ok? You look a little, unsteady," Moka noticed as she walked into Yukari's office.
The witch definitely looked like she was suffering. Her skin was rather flushed, and she was slightly waving side to side at her desk. Before she could say anything she dove for her trashcan and started emptying her stomach.
"Oh my god, you are not ok. Was it something you ate, or something one of your patients gave you."
Yukari looked up, "Technically it was a patient, and I am divided on whether I should have eaten what caused this or not."
Moka found the statement weird, and then she suddenly thought back to when she had been pregnant with Tekeshi, and how it had been a lot like this. Then it hit her.
"Oh my god. Yukari, congratulations. You don't know how happy I am for you," Moka was all smiles as she helped her friend back into her chair.
"You are only saying that because you aren't bent over a trashcan. I shouldn't be like this though. Me and Fangfang agreed, Machiko was enough, oh god is she ever enough. I didn't expect this, I am supposed to be fixed. If I ever get my hands on Leslie, oh she will rue the day she botched tying my tubes."
"You had your tubes tied, why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I apparently didn't. How do I tell Fangfang, scratch that, he will know the first time he hears my attitude on the phone," she did have a history of becoming a royal bitch during pregnancy.
"You know, I am probably the last person you should be taking that attitude with," Moka said dryly.
"Why do you think I'm so bitchy right now. I had to have gotten knocked up when Fangfang was at the manor those couple of days. Just after I did the examination on you. I feel so damn guilty that you might not get it, and here I am not wanting it. Trashcan," she dove again and barely made it in time.
"Don't feel guilty about it Yukari, I am happy for you. Don't worry about me never having another child, maybe there is a reason. I mean, if I think about it, what if whatever Tekeshi had, is genetic. What if it is, and our blood isn't enough this time," Moka felt moisture teasing the corner of her eyes.
Yukari looked up, "Please don't start making me cry, I already feel horrible as it is, and that wouldn't do anything to make it better."
Moka gathered her friends hair away from her face, and tied it up with a rubber band she kept on her wrist for when she needed her's tied back, "Sorry. Are you going to keep it?"
"Of course, you know my feelings. Abortion is only an emergency procedure, not birth control, and the witch community isn't that big, and I don't know anyone that I would want raising my child. I rode him raw, and now I am paying the price, and I will be for the next few months. My mother always warned me that the women in our family always felt it early, and every damn time. I don't know if I have sinned, or I am somehow being rewarded. It doesn't feel like the second though."
"So, when do you want to start your maternity leave. I will let Tsukune know, because, you know, he is still a little afraid of pregnant women. He thinks they all want to rape him from the hormones, and to be fair I think I am most likely the one at fault for that. He didn't get very much rest when that point in my pregnancy came about."
"I don't know, but I am going to start taking it up the ass after this kid, I hate this feeling," one would have to wonder how much Yukari ate with how full the trash was getting.
"Hey Tomoe, I know you are trying to kill me most days, but this is a little extreme don't you think," Tekeshi had so far reached the point that he was keeping pace with the advancement of his swordsmanship lessons.
Right now though, the bitch was trying to straight up murder him. It was a flashback to the first lesson, only it didn't seem like the woman battering at him was fully in control of herself. He wasn't worried about her overpowering him, he had his limiter off. What he was worried about was the fact that she didn't get tired. Tomoe could literally keep this up until he was completely exhausted and unable to defend himself.
Regardless she was not as talkative as she usually was, even for the active part of the lessons. There wasn't even any lecture this time, as soon as he arrived he was defending himself. He also couldn't figure out the look on her face, or the strange smell that was on the air.
"Hey Deliciou... Whoa, someone is really turned on," he heard Deesseedra coming up.
"Not a go...urgh... Not a good time Deesseedra," he called to the demon.
"Delicious Bloodsucker, I think you may need to run. From the smell of things I think she is over the deep end, and I am not kidding, she is probably less trying to kill you, than she is trying to cut your clothes off," he heard the worry in her voice.
"What do...you... god dammit. Are you telling me that she is actually wanting to rape me, it isn't like the dark joke I usually use," he took the chance to disengage and step back and assess the situation.
"Yes, have you not listened to any of the lessons that Great Mother has made you sit through on them. I think she hasn't gotten any in so long she has lost her damned mind. RUN," she yelled again.
He didn't need to be told again. He ran like hell was on his ass, because, well it wanted to be on a part of him close to that area of his body. While she was one hell of a beautiful woman, he did not want to sleep with her, especially by force. He felt Deesseedra catch on around his neck and hold on while he ran.
Eventually they outran the madwoman. The demon dropped off as Tekeshi worked to catch his breath. That was not how he had planned for his afternoon to go, and he was more than a little disturbed by it.
"What the hell was that? That is what happens when they don't have sex for a long period... Oh hell, I hope she doesn't run onto another male student. You know what, never mind, most of the guys around here would deserve it. Should we find Madonna, or Anne, or one of them," he honestly didn't know what to do in the situation.
"I don't know. Great Mother would be the... oh speak of the me," Deesseedra said as Madonna and Rougar approached them rapidly.
"Tekehsi, have you seen Tomoe. This... I am guessing that you have. You still have clothes on, and you aren't acting like you are traumatized. Thank the spirits. Where is she," Madonna was in a semi-panic.
Tekeshi pointed back towards the practice clearing, "Back in the clearing. What the hell is wrong with her?"
"Her and Miss 'Suki had words not long after you two returned. It was concerning her treatment of Yltoun, and well, Tomoe took it personally. Typically she will, have him preform on a fairly regular basis, probably not often enough, but she hasn't let him touch her since. I don't know if she thinks she is punishing him, but it isn't healthy for one of us to be under that much stress and be abstinent."
"She quit banging her demon, and now she wants to bang whatever she can get her hands on, willing or not? Have I got that right," he wasn't amused by the situation.
Rougar nodded, "I must say Wild Eyes, you have a good grasp on the situation. Sadly we don't have access to the donkeys we have used to deal with women that have done this in the past."
Deesseedra's jaw dropped, "Rouseals, please tell me you are kidding."
"He is. Really Rougar, that was one time that we caught Sister Elouise, and it wasn't because she hadn't gotten it in a while. We did at one point use dogs for it, but it was rather difficult to keep dogs at the keep long term. What we do now is get her held down, and let Rougar at her until she comes to her senses. You two, at least you Tekeshi, probably don't want to see this. Come on Rougar," the two went in the last known direction of the literally sex crazed onna-musha.
"They really have it hard, don't they Deesseedra," Tekeshi asked as he watched them disappear into the trees.
"Yeah, I didn't think that it would be that bad, but I am starting to worry about Lovely Mistress's future. She will have to have a man in her life if she doesn't join with them, and I guess they have ways to deal with it if she does. And if she does find a man, would he even be able to survive her? The longer we are together the stronger she is getting physically, she actually broke the door handle of her room this morning just turning it. Wait, oh, that... that is, whoa," the demon trailed off.
"Yeah, it just hit you too didn't it. The dogs. I hope she was joking, but with how bluntly she said that, I don't think she was. I really don't want 'Suki to go back there. Agreed," he said holding out a hand.
Deesseedra took it and shook, "Agreed. I can't remember why I was sent out here to get you. It wasn't terribly important, or else I would remember. It wasn't Lovely Mistress who sent me though, it was Annoying Older Bloodsucker."
"Dad sent you. Hmm. Ok, wherever he is, is probably much safer than here."
"Kiria, I have an idea on how to deal with our issues," Hokuto said as the therapist worked on placing the acupuncture needles.
Kiria watched from a chair nearby, "Hokuto, I have given you leeway as you are the figurehead now. Your ideas have not worked out that well. I can't really afford to replace you, you have a much greater charisma than I do, and people seem more willing to follow that. However, remember that 'I', am the one that pulls the strings. So this had better be a good one, or you may find yourself taking a very painful vacation as a way to remind you of that fact."
"Always so dramatic. You think that I have become a complete idiot, because I was fooled by Kahlua for so long. Is that it," he said coldly, knowing that he may have placed himself in a bad position with his obsession.
"I cannot deny that she played most of us quite well. I cannot fault you on that one, she was an assassin, and most likely one of the best. I more believe that you are developing some sort of cognitive issue. There is much difference between the changes you experienced, and those that Aono did. Regardless, what is this idea of yours.`"
"A battle."
Kiria frowned, "A battle? I don't think I quite understand what you are getting at. Do you mean attack them somewhere and force a fight, or do you mean a big invitation and set piece affair? This, may have potential."
"A set piece battle would be the best way to explain my idea. Our new benefactor gave me the idea with some of the stories he has told. If you look at it militarily, we are much stronger than the possible forces that the House of Shuzen could bring to bear. Vampires are also very fond of open warfare in a place that they can cut loose without many boundaries on them. If we lose a few thousand, there are always more monstrels that we can bring into the fold, but if they lose people..."
"It is a much bigger blow. They have mostly pure blood monsters in their ranks, and their circles. If they lose people, it will take them longer to recover. I only see three issues."
Hokuto looked up at the other man, "And what are those."
"Aono Tsukune, Aono Moka, and if reports are to be believed, possibly Aono Tekeshi. The son seems to be growing in power quickly. It would have made things so much easier if the poison had done it's job back then. Unless you forget, his ex-girlfriend is also a member of our ranks."
"The young banshee from America, I believe she is Kuyo-san's second in command at the moment. Or did you give her a command of her own."
Kiria's expression was not pleased, but he couldn't say anything, "That may have been a, miscalculation. However she is quite a good asset to keep where you can watch it. I managed to convince her that we killed her stepfather, though in reality that was accomplished by imprisoned members of the Huang family that were in the same prison. She has such a hatred for humans, that using her as a living weapon is not a challenge."
"I am not quite sure what a banshee is capable of, would you enlighten me," Hokuto asked as the acupuncturist started tapping some of the needles.
"She is capable of producing a scream that reaches the resonant frequency of soft tissues. It literally liquefies peoples insides. Imagine coming upon a woman in the woods, she is crying, you go to ask what is wrong, and the last thing you ever hear is her scream. I have plans for her, but she needs to learn more. And I need to find a way to break this continuing infatuation she has for the Aono boy."
"When talking about charisma, even I fall short of the natural charisma that the Aono family has shown. Tsukune, people just like him, even as a human he was so,safe, that he was a natural person to share troubles with and enjoy the company of. I think most of us understand why Moka was so popular, that shouldn't need any explanation. From what our agents within the school tell me, the son is much more interesting. Personality wise, he is much more of a vampire than either of his parents, however he seems to have inherited Tsukune's much calmer nature, and that combination makes people 'feel' safe around him. That is a powerful thing, and shouldn't be underestimated. If ever given a position of leadership, those under him would most likely fight to the very death, because they know he would do the same for him."
"One would mistake you for a real strategist if they didn't know you. I really doubt that he could hold that kind of power, he would soon fall to the fate of making his people attack first, and come take the glory behind them. It is not an uncommon occurrence among vampires, do you remember the Morturo family out of Italy."
Hokuto chuckled, "I would not compare those, wannabee mafioso clowns, to a true warrior clan like the Shuzens. Unlike you, I do try to learn about my enemies. Did you know that Moka, Akua, Kokoa, and Kahlua's father, Issa, was not from any noble clans?"
"He wasn't? Upward mobility is not something vampire society is well known for. He must have had something that gave him an advantage to become the highest of vampires in his domain," Kiria wasn't sure of what Hokuto was getting at.
"He was simply powerful, and he was not bothered by committing wholesale slaughter of his enemies. While power is the greatest virtue most associate with vampires, loyalty is actually their most valued. It just so happened that during his rise, he met a man named Tenmei Mikogami."
Kiria's eyebrow rose, "The Dark Lord, and Aono Tsukune's predecessor as the Headmaster of Yokai Academy?"
"The very same. They apparently spent a couple of days beating on each other for some reason or the other, they eventually stopped because they couldn't remember why they were fighting. They became very good friends, and being friends with one of the Three Dark Lords, that is not something that could be ignored. With Mikogami's strategic mind, and the sheer brutality of Issa, people followed them. A little over two hundred years ago, the two other Dark Lords came to retrieve Mikogami after Shuzen Issa established the House of Shuzen proper. They were engaged in battle with Alucard, and the first time that Akasha Bloodriver sealed Alucard occurred. Issa offered to contain the sealed Alucard for his friend, and did so. Eventually he found a way to release Akasha from her imprisonment, and did so, in the process falling in love with her. He didn't work to release her just to do it, he did it because he wanted to payback the loyalty that his friend had shown him during his rise."
"Loyalty only lasts, as long as a person has a reason to be loyal. Money has been known to break oaths, as have feelings of lust and hatred. One would only need to find what the person valued above all other, and use that against them," Kiria didn't find the story all that impressive.
"Tch, tch, tch. Kiria, you truly do not understand what I am saying. Young Tekeshi values his friends and family above all others. I have, I don't know how well it will work, had some of our agents, suggest that he might be in danger to his closest friends, and given them a way to help him."
"What will that accomplish?"
Hokuto made as much of a shrug as he could, "They are humans going into a school for absolute monsters without any idea what they are getting into. They don't have the same protections that Tsukune, or the girl had. I feel that finding their mostly devoured corpses, may cause him to break some, and a vampire with a broken psyche is a wildcard. A wildcard that could possibly work in our favor."