Have some great news and better news! I am fully back into writing The Arcane Craftsman! I've been feeling a little burnt out from it, but thankfully have gotten my muse back for it 1000% and even better, I finally have a set up for writing my stories! Before I did it all on a laptop and my current housing situation/furniture meant that after a solid 30 minutes, my arms and back would kill me from typing. Kind of a mood killer. But I've moved and with that finally have a desk and monitor set-up for a brand-new PC! I'm not longer hunch backed while typing which means I can type for even longer!
Does that mean faster updates!? No clue, just a bonus for me that I think is worth celebrating! Well enough about me, enjoy the story!
Supernatural Love Chapter 4:
Tsukune could be a bit of an arrogant boy from time to time. The newly minted freshmen knew he was smart. He could understand new concepts with little guidance and only needed to study a few nights to hone and keep a concept. He was far from a genius, but he wasn't made of the average cloth so to speak. It was actually how he got interested in fitness in the first place. He had such a free amount of time with the ease of school that he focused on more physical pursuits. Yet, he arrived here. He thought he would finally be out of his element. Moka's selection for their elective turned out to be an inspired choice! Rather than a class that focused on preexisting knowledge of the world around him, she chose a class that required none of it. The class you ask?
"Formula 3 should intersect with number 8 right?"
"No! Line a and 76 should cross over to section B/34!"
Tsukune stared at his little rune circle, mixing and writing lines together to create a Celtic knot. Another symbol looked like a fork, with a final symbol bearing a scary similarity to the Kanji for fire.
"That's correct Mr. Aono! Well done on completing the three basic runes!"
He nodded, staring at the runes that littered his pages. "Formula" 3 was just an old Norse rune, whereas formula number 8 was just some Japanese Kanji. Apparently the ancient languages of the world drew inspiration form an "original language", one that was basically the written language for magic. Each of these languages could be used interchangeably to create a variety of effects.
Dear god, he was actually learning real magic! Moka, bless her heart, had chosen primordial runes as their elective classes. God he could just kiss her!
"Eh, get that thought out. None of that!"
The poor boy shook his head, not willing to delve into the complicated feelings that image brought up…or the sight of a blue haired minx it invoked either. Instead, he brought his full focus in the class in front of him. Theoretically…it should be possible for him to learn this magic, as it used power outside of his form. Hard emphasis on theoretical. The runes were not that difficult, in fact they were more like math and science than magic. His understanding was flawless truly, but as the teacher had warned him, runic magic was incredibly dangerous and unstable. How that worked, he didn't really know. But the results spoke for themselves. The rest of the class couldn't even get their symbols down pat, much less create magic! Maybe he had a talent for this. Immediately Tsukune crushed that little bud of arrogance, shaking his head.
"Yeaaaaaa…I'm quitting that thought. Don't even start with that," he thought, "like what? You're magically good at an ancient form of fucking magic? Bullshit."
Tsukune drew forth the runes, perfect to the naked eye, and sure enough…it lit up with the sound of a wet fart. Moka giggled a bit as Tsukune stared down at his rune with disgust and disappointment. The teacher, however, had a different reaction. She stared at him, with genuine surprise.
"Well color me impressed! Most yokai can't even get a single reaction!"
The boy turned, noticing that the others were having a far worse time. Their partners not even managing to enact even a sparkle…even Moka was incapable. That made Tsukune stare with even more disbelief. As much as he wanted to say that he was the sole person capable of invoking a reaction, he was not. He turned to his left, facing a rather young looking Yokai who wore a rather gaudy hat. Like a cosplay of a witch. He blinked in surprise as she effortlessly created another sequence of runes, this one creating a shimmer of a rainbow, a blue spark of fire, and a random ethereal eye. It was dope and way beyond anything he even managed. I mean come on, he made a wet fart with magic. As funny as it was, it paled in comparison to this girl's incredible talent. He grinned at her, noticing her giving him the side eye. With a thumbs up, he kept the energy going.
"Nice job!"
One of the boys across the room snorted.
"Of course, the mixed blood can do it. Fucking witches, the only thing they're good for is magic."
The teacher did nothing, to Tsukune's shock. Perhaps it wasn't so strange that the focus was entirely on him. As he had learned, this entire school was filled with creatures whose senses were beyond human. As such, it was impossible for the teacher to have missed the student's comment. Well…he had to act.
"Oh, look at you," smirked Tsukune, "having a nice time insulting someone else. What's next you'll take her lunch money?"
The man's face twisted into…a mouse? No seriously what the hell was he? He looked like a demented rat with a scrunched-up face. Honestly it was funnier than it was scary.
"SHUT IT FREAK!"
"Wow, why don't you go back to kindergarten, I'm sure the kids can teach you better insults. Dumbass."
The rat man stood up and made to rush him, but the young human nearly rolled his eyes. As it turned out, fighting was highly disapproved of, and was usually stopped right away. Case in point, a bunch of strands made of glowing green energy stranded up before slamming him back into his seat.
"Just because you suck, doesn't mean you can take it out on others."
The poor girl beside him was dead silent as usual. After the little incident passed, Tsukune realized that he was a genuine dumbass and had threatened a monster that he had no realistic way to defend himself from. He turned to Moka, signing an apology. He didn't mean to consciously, but he had leaned on her power as a sort of threat through her marking. He turned to the younger looking classmate. He gestured to his rune circle. It took a few moments, but she eventually moved to stand at his desk, a strange twist to her features. She nodded.
"It's acceptable."
"Good to know, but not what I meant. You're better than me at this, what the hell am I doing wrong? I touch it or whatever and it just makes a wet fart."
Call it a childish obsession but if it was possible for him to use rune magic or something, then Tsukune was going to STUDY his ass off. There was no way in fucking hell he wouldn't learn magic if he could! Screw math, if this was a viable option than this school was worth it, death be damned!
The young girl pouted, her adorable little hat tilted to the right.
"HMPH, why should I tell you! It's not that hard to understand! You shouldn't be second guessing yourself if you know them!"
"Too true," agreed Tsukune easily, "so let me know where I screwed up, ya? Rather the opinion of an expert than these…."
He kept his mouth shut. He wouldn't fall into that hole again.
The girl nodded, her face red from the attention. To call it a blush was a tad overkill, but the flush was visible. The next few minutes she lectured him the concepts of runes, their history, and their viability. It was informative! There was just one problem. She used terminology he knew nothing about. The girl grinned at him.
"So! Understand."
He smiled at her brightly.
"Not a single clue."
She deflated, her whole body modeling the action.
"AHH! Why can't you just get it!? It's not that hard?"
Tsukune raised an eyebrow at the oddly childish reaction. She was a teenager for God sake, act like it. But she had a point.
"Sorry, this is all new to me. Treat me as if I'm a newborn or something, that might help."
The girl stared at him, the red returning to her face.
"…why…"
He riose an eyebrow.
"What?"
"NOTHING! SHUT UP!"
He blinked, stupefied as the girl disappeared with a shimmer.
"…did….did she just teleport? That's awesome!"
Sadly…he was alone in his amazement.
"Disgusting."
"Good riddance!"
Tsukune turned to the class, a stupefied expression stretched across the grimace that was trying to form. What the hell was going on here? Then again, this wasn't a human school. Maybe racism was an acceptable thing here? Either way it didn't matter, he'd be no part of it. Moka was a shining light as always, she had a scowl on her face as she grabbed him by the collar, the class having been dismissed at that moment with the bell.
"Woah Moka! Everything alright?"
She growled, her eyes turning red slightly.
"Don't worry about it. Just an idiot and her comments."
"You to, huh?"
"Just…it's so stupid. Witches live on the periphery, so that somehow makes it ok to demonize them!? Honestly, grow up!"
There was seemingly a history here that Tsukune was not aware of…truthfully one he didn't really want to know. Didn't change how he was going to act. Wrong was wrong, no matter the context…well…no matter certain contexts. If a murderer or a rapist was getting the shit beaten out of them, Tsukune wouldn't think twice. The boy sighed as Moka dragged him through the halls all the way to the top of the building, only to then jump CLEAR ACROSS THE BUILDING, to the ceiling on the boy's dormitory. She must have used magic of some kind to keep him safe from the G-force and impacts, but he wasn't complaining.
In the sky Kurumu wasn't far behind, her wings on full display. They were bat-like in appearance and were shaped perfectly for her back and body. It was quite aesthetic if he was being honest with himself. With a snap of Moka's fingers a blood sigil shimmered on the roof access door…and the three had lunch.
This had become a tradition of theirs yesterday after the countless idiots that challenged Tsukune, flirted with the girls, or challenged all three of them became too much to handle. It was just quick comments that they ignored, but it was still annoying. It was common and encouraged for students to find these little alcoves of theirs, a kind of monstrous instinct or something. Certainly, explained why Tsukune only ever saw so many monsters at the cafeteria for a school the size it was. Seriously, the campus was utterly massive and housed thousands and thousands of students across multiple different buildings! Yet, the freshman cafeteria only had, at most, maybe 20 people?
"Your day sucked," smirked Kurumu, rubbing her fingers across her lips, "I can taste the disgust from here."
He rolled his eyes.
"Must not taste very good."
The succubus shrugged.
"Disgust, hate, and a hint of righteousness. It may not be my preferred emotions, but they are sustenance all the same. What happened?"
Moka scowled.
"Just…students bullying a witch."
To Tsukune's immense relief, Kurumu rolled her eyes.
"Seriously? Not this shit again."
"it's that common?"
"Kind of. Most monsters have a thing for pedigree. Most witches and warlocks are of a mix between monsters and humans, so they view a good number of their kind as thieves for stealing the power of their betters or something ridiculous like that. Others think of them as dirty blooded. Most just don't care, being more concerned with power than anything else."
Tsukune shivered, remembering the world's history when a nutjob adhered to such an ideology as superior races and dirty blood.
"Not pleasant."
"Not at all. Thankfully most mind their business with witches but…well people follow a crowd."
Kurumu shrugged.
"Probably doesn't help that the witch is a rude kid either."
"You know her?"
Kurumu nodded, inspecting her nails.
"Yukari, young kid that was added to the class about a week ago. Not entirely sure how she got enrolled if I'm being honest. A girl that young…this is no school for her. She's in my advance chemistry class."
Ah, right. Kurumu was a genius when it came to chemistry, having learned the skill from her mother for a variety of potions and elixirs. How that worked for someone that was so horrible with math, well Tsukune couldn't tell. Moka, however, scowled.
"So, you leave her alone?"
Kurumu stared at the vampire, her eyes dull.
"I tried taking her under my wing after her lab partner ditched her. We worked together quite well, she seemed receptive and open when we were talking. We seemed to be going well until she made a small mistake."
Kurumu sighed, holding her face in sympathy. She blew on her nails a bit and used a bit of magic to float some food into her mouth.
"Started losing it, saying it was all my fault or something, than teleported. The poor girl humiliated herself in the class. I've been trying to work with her again, but she keeps avoiding me."
The blue haired succubus rolled her eyes.
"Poor girl is jealous."
For a moment Tsukune wanted to call bullshit. But then he remembered that Kurumu was a species of being that fed off the emotions of others. It may have primarily been a diet focused on…well sex, but the rest of the emotional spectrum worked as well. If there was anyone that would know what the girl was feeling it would be her.
"Does she need help?"
She shrugged, eating her bento of fish and rice. Her mouth was wide as she devoured the remainder of her food, a row of slightly sharper teeth in full display.
"No clue. I can tell you that she's abnormally volatile. Whether she wants help or seeks me out is her prerogative at this point. I won't force her."
Moka clenched her fists.
"If I see her, I'll try to spend some time with her. A girl that young here? What were her parents thinking! She's barely older than ten!"
"She's that young? I thought that was a disguise or something!"
The girls nodded.
"You can't really tell, since the whole human thing, but polymorphed forms are easy to discern. She doesn't have one. She's just an 11-year-old girl in a high school filled with Yokai."
"That…. that's insane!"
What kind of nutjob allowed this admission!
-Meanwhile with the principal-
The priest stared menacingly at his paperwork, scowling as he read through the file. This was the eight one in the last three weeks. Hopefully the last of these…unusual cases.
"…You two better have a good explanation for this."
The two men before him sweated, their suits showing signs of having been sweated through.
"Well…. their parents wanted them to attend!"
"Yea! We jut did a service lord-URK!"
The man's head detonated, leaving his partner's face splattered in his blood. Mikogami stood, his entire face shrouded in darkness. He towered over the young Oni, their horns slowly growing out of their skull. Mikogami touched the young Oni's head, letting several catholic symbols grow along their skull.
"The records are clear. Their request is for asylum, a place of refuge in my dimension during a shifting of the leylines. Her parents, who are currently out of reach, were quite clear as to their expectations of sanctuary. She is registered as a student purely to allow her access to the facilities we provide. Explain to me, simpleton, why it is that we offer such a service hmm?"
The Oni man gulped as he stuttered out the answer.
"B-because many species of Yokai would-would feast on young witches, wizards, and cambions during a l-leyline shift!"
"That's correct. Now, if the children are too young to process ambient magic, where do we put them?"
"I-i-in in the elementary section."
"Oh! The elementary section! Of course! Where is that?"
Mikogami pointed towards the window, asking his subordinate to show him.
The man shivered.
"Ah, right…there is none. Because we do not offer that here, due to the various needs of our students in their younger years. She was supposed to be kept with others her age in the constructed emergency dorms with Ms. Morioka, who has reported to me that she leaves for CLASS every day with my permission SIGNED ON HER PAPERS!"
Mikogami slammed his fingers into the Oni's chest, lifting him clear off their chair. They started to scream…or at least tried to. The symbols across their brow glowed brightly as they nullified the sounds.
"You manufactured my signature for someone! Wanted to ensure that they could hunt a witch on SCHOOL GROUNDS! WHO!"
The Oni began blabbering, crying even, as their pants began to darken. Mikogami rolled his eyes. He threw the Oni into his office wall, shattering their corpse against the wood. Such was his strength that the corpse had turned into just a red smear, a spattering of shattered bones the only remnant of a solid shape.
"Honestly, you restrain yourself for the sake of peace and every monster in a hundred miles think they can take advantage of you."
Mikogami's robes dispersed as his true form emerged, savage horns growing from his skull, his full powers contained within his office. He grinned, making sure to expose only about half of his current abilities, and maintaining the illusion of several scars across his back.
"Been a while since I've done this!"
NEW MONSTER: KISHIN!
The Kishin is a race of Oni with incredible power! They make the average Oni's feeble in comparison, housing a smaller, more compact form in comparison to their hulking cousins. Though smaller, they are vastly superior in all physical and mystical statistics, tracing their bloodline to even the ancient gods themselves! Different Kishin's can house all sorts of strange and unusual abilities, or even several of them. Engaging with a Kishin is highly ill advised, not only because of their strength, but also the unusual nature of their own biology, making it impossible to create definitive strategies against the species. Due to the sheer differences in their power and overall potential, the species is collectively ranked as A(+) with some becoming S rank monsters with ease. While most monster ranking systems place emphasis on the individual rather than the species, Kishin share a common enough power base to earn their race the title of A rank monsters. They are classified as an Imorti species (Immortal), immune to the ravages of time.
It was a long-range plan that Mikogami had for some of his more stubborn enemies. Whether anything came of it was irrelevant. For now, he had a minion's soul to summon and torture! Mikogami's chest glowed as one of three seals vanished temporarily, allowing a necrotic green energy to pulsate from his hand. With strange incomprehensible language, he called upon the recent dead. Thankfully, such magics had little restriction on the fact if he killed his target or not. The man stared at his tattered robes, pouting a little bit.
"I could have sworn I reinforced these. They're not cheap…alright than, AWAKEN."
The bloody smear glowed green, a whispery voice answering his call.
-Back with Tsukune had friends-
"Look, I don't mind helping the girl, but forcing ourselves into her business doesn't seem right either."
Moka pouted, her face taking a darker tone by the second. Tsukune sighed, rubbing his head.
"I mean it Moka, the girl needs help, but we can't be with her every second. It's just the facts! We'll do our best, invite her to our club or something, but if she just ignores us…what are we supposed to do?"
Moka bit her lip, hating it.
"She…"
"I know" whispered Kurumu, a strange byplay between them, "but he's right…weirdly enough."
"…thanks?"
"We can open the door, but it is up to her to walk through it. I'll let you guys know how class goes, I have chemistry with her soon. See you love birds! BYEEEE!"
Kurumu smirked as Tsukune rolled his eyes. Moka was still blushing a bit, bashfully looking to the side.
"You know you make it worse when you react like that right?"
Moka stared directly at him, her eyes hooded as she gave him a small smirk.
"Maybe. But…it's nice in a way. Besides…"
She leaned in, clasping her hand on his face, her eyes bright and clear. She dragged her finger down his neck, wordlessly asking. He titled to the right and let her quietly suck away. She shuddered, falling into his arms suddenly! Tsukune blinked, quickly helping her up.
"What happened are you ok!?"
Moka nodded, a drunk-like expression on her face.
"Your blood…what did you do?"
Tsukune blinked.
"Uh…I don't?"
"It's amazing~"
Moka licked his wound clear, her physical comfort becoming…a little too comfortable for the boy. He still wouldn't say a word though, strange as this whole thing was, it was like every teenage boy's fantasy to hold a girl like this so often! Moka seemed to regain control of herself. She must have gotten used to their situation, because she only blushed a bit.
"I've…I was just unprepared. Tsukune your blood was invigorating! Whatever you're doing keep doing it!"
He blinked at her. He smirked a bit as he responded, "sure, should I also do some yoga, maybe count my calories, have a keto diet or something?"
This time Moka's face went supernova.
"I…I didn't mean to insinuate! STOP MAKING FUN OF ME!"
He grinned as she turned away but faltered as a bit of hurt echoed from her body, her arms crossed.
"Hey, I didn't mean to insult you Moka."
She pouted at him a bit but took a breath. She smiled back at him.
"No, I shouldn't have overreacted. I mean, I shouldn't have any say over anything, especially not over something like your blood's taste. You're not my food Tsukune. To a vampire the topic of blood gets…complicated."
From what little she had explained already, Tsukune figured.
The two began making their way down the boy's dormitory, taking their sweet time back. Unlike Kurumu, the two had a free period. It was strange, the way the school system worked, with some courses only being done every two weeks. Honestly, Tsukune never really paid attention to it, his schedule being posted in his room being his reminder for the school's strange times. He was happy that he got to spend this time with his friend though, Moka having fallen in a similar timetable. Apparently Kurumu was also trying to get the same time slot, how she would accomplish this he didn't know. Moka remained silent as they walked down the stairs. She was quiet even through the halls. She even was silent as they settled into his room, her strange blood sigil glowing a bit as it activated.
"Moka? Are you alright?"
The girl tensed a bit.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. Why don't we play some Mario Kart or something? Hmm?"
He got out the switch (Thank you John!) but Moka gripped his arm.
"It's not bad! It's just…awkward to talk about."
"Like the sex talk?"
"…I guess?"
Moka gave a nervous chuckle, a small dusting of red across her cheeks. She looked at him, her eyes shining.
"You're actually interested in this stuff?"
The boy shrugged.
"Learning more about Vampires? Why not! Most of what I know are from books anyway. Just didn't want to ask, seemed rude to needle you with questions."
Moka smiled brighter, her rosary glowing as her inner self awoke.
"I appreciate that. Truly, well in that case."
NEW MONSTER: VAMPIRE! (Akasha)
One of the most famous monsters in the world, the Vampire also remains one of the most elusive. Their species has always been of few numbers, resulting in little interaction with other species. Famous for their rivalries with werewolves, vampires remain one of the greatest potential species in the world. Strength, speed, regeneration, magic, the list goes on in all the places a vampire can excel in. The more common weaknesses, such as sunlight and garlic, are merely folktales. No, the vampire's true weakness involves a concept, rather than any individual object or element. Vampires are weak to any conceptual element that invokes the concepts of purity. How effective such a concept is agiasnt them remains entirely on the individual. A few vampires have even grown strong enough to garner a complete immunity to their more common weakness, water.
AKASHIC: Akashic vampires are the apex of all vampires, being capable of all manner of vampiric abilities that would normally be clan specific. Their power is so great that their own psyche splits to accommodate the flow of power, resulting in two personas. These personas are completely functioning personalities, each expressing different aspects of the same whole person. It is more accurate to explain that they are merely a coin, two different expressions that draw on the same core person. As such, this allows for a massive difference in power. Most Akashic vampires have one DOMINENT personality that is combat orientated, and another PASSIVE personality that shifts for control. Neither is weaker than the other, though many study to find the reason that one feels more powerful than the other. Physical changes between the two personalities are normal, as vampires naturally have polymorphic abilities. What abilities and powers Akashic vampires learn are entirely up to them, though it is agreed on one fact for all vampires. The older a vampire is, undoubtably, the more powerful they are. Vampires derive sustinence from the blood they devour, drawing in the ambient mana within a creature to help fuel their more…exotic abilities. A vampire may retain their strength without feeding, but their unique Hemomancy requires a sustainable diet of fresh blood. While other Yokai will do, it is weirdly human blood that grants a vampire the most bang for buck so to speak. Scientists today are still studying why this phenomenon occurs, as humans are wildly known to be one of the weakest sentient species on Earth. BE WARNED: Fighting a vampire is highly ill-advised. Their abilities are diverse, almost sinfully so, resulting in every vampire having a seemingly unique power. The older vampires incorporate blood into their fighting style, with younger vampires focusing solely on enhancing their physical abilities with their internal Yokai. Ancient vampires are just a mess, using abilities and powers that are just as ridiculous as their absurd strength.
Tsukune nodded along, listening as Moka described her species. When she finished the boy merely gave her a smile.
"You still seem a bit nervous. We can end, if you like?" asked Tsukune, as he hit her with a blue shell.
Moka's hair turned silver for an instant, but she replied as her usual self.
"Sort of. I just…I can't help but think this is all a dream," she explained, gesturing to the room around them…and pointing at Tsukune himself.
"You're here, my first friend. Yet now I have a second friend in Kurumu. I've never been happier since I've moved out than now…but I feel selfish."
He grumbled as she passed him, but he kept the conversation going.
"How can being happy with friends be the same as being selfish?"
"Because every moment you stay here…you're risking death."
He passed her again, grinning as he kept going. The concept of death became distant as of late, but it had ever truly left.
"And trying to leave and go home just opens me to being found out, resulting in death. No, it's not your fault or anything that I'm here. To be honest it's been pretty good so far. Besides I…I don't want to leave either."
Perhaps it was the calling of the stupid teenage boy in him, but Tsukune didn't want to leave. Oh sure, Moka and Kurumu were hot beyond any realistic standard a boy his age should have, but the real reason was much simpler. It was fun. This entire world, this place filled with monsters and magic, it was fun. It was stupid, life threateningly fun! He was learning rune magic for God's sake! ACTUAL FUCKIN MAGIC! He wanted desperately to learn more about this world around him, to see the truth. The boy had to admit that the saying was true…if you stare into the abyss long enough…the abyss stares back into you. He was hooked…and he didn't want to leave.
"I'm not staying here just because of you Moka, relax. I promise."
She looked at him, her eyes screaming with vulnerability. It struck him right in the heart…as she zoomed past him. He stared at the screen and than back to her. She gave a pouty smile with her tongue sticking out.
"…clever girl," he muttered.
"…is that supposed to mean something?"
"….that's it, we're watching movies this weekend."
"….oh….ok."
He nodded…than thought about…than realized he basically invited her on a date…shit. He chuckled nervously as he stared at her. He swallowed, letting the next words come out without thinking about it.
"If you're uncomfortable, you can bring Kurumu with you! That way you're not alone."
"DAMNIT DUMBASS! YOU HAD TO BE AWKWARD!?" He thought.
Moka beamed at him.
"Really! It will be like a sleep over, or a group hang-out! I've never had one of those before!"
Whatever sexual tension Tsukune had felt before disappeared within a second. He smiled, feeling a warmth fill him at her smile. Yea, this was better. It was nice seeing her smile, watching her laugh.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"STOP SCREAMING! I CAN HEAR YOU!"
"He invited me on a date!"
"Even if he did, relax! Whatever happened to your mopey worry about power dynamics!"
"KURUMU IS ALSO THERE!"
"Honestly, I detest this part of us."
"Detest!? Detest what!?"
"…really."
"YES REALLY!? WHAT IS IT, I'M FREAKING OUT!"
"…you were excited to invite Kurumu."
"Yes! So we can all hang out together! As friends."
"We both know it is not entirely innocent."
"…what…NO!"
"…. honestly, fine! FINE! Don't listen to YOURSELF! I LITERALLY SAW YOUR DREAMS YOU BRAT! YOU DON'T GET TO LIE TO ME ABOUT ALL THIS AFTER WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE!"
"What's your point!"
"YOU LIKE BEING TEASED!"
The room was dead silent as Moka's hands went numb. Tsukune watched her shut down, her face as red as a neon sign. He blinked, staring at the screen. He promptly decided mercy was for the weak and kept playing.
"Not so funny, is it? The fact you're even into that is just…anathema to me. Than again mother had explained this to us before. Remember THAT talk…hello? HELLLLOOO…are you fucking ignoring me!? Hell-what are you doing. I FEEL THAT! WHAT ARE YOU!? DON'T YOU FUCKING DA-"
Moka's hair suddenly turned white as her Rosary's eye turned blue. The boy blinked as he stared at the now…fuller Moka. He titled his head.
"…you uh…hi! Do I call you something or?"
"Moka is my name. Do not presume otherwise."
He nodded. He tried to be as calm as possible but…this was unexpected.
"So…you can just switch the personalities? I thought your power was sealed?"
Moka grunted, tugging at the rosary. She buttoned up a few loose buttons just for extra measure as well. Her bust didn't increase that much, thank you.
"The power remains sealed. My personality does not. I seldom wish to waste my time on the outside world, so I rarely indulge myself."
"Really? Why?"
She grinned, her large fangs peaking out. Her crimson eyes shone with a savage desire.
"Silly man. I LOVE to fight."
She spread her legs out, relishing in the quick turn of the boy's head. She was a bit annoyed that her physical flirtations were being ignored, but to be fair she didn't feel entirely certain where she stood with this attraction. He was delectable, truly, but she valued things before the brief and spontaneous. Was her attraction genuine, or temporary. Still, she grinned as she felt her "outer" self-cringe. Yet, what really intrigued this inner Moka was the boy's reaction. He understood, at least in part, the thrill of the fight. There was no concern, no disbelief, merely a slight nod of understanding. Interesting.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
Outer Moka tried to wrestle control back, but the silver haired Moka blocked her attempts. She would switch back soon enough, but for now, let her suffer. The brat needed a wake-up call anyway. Consider it revenge for the outpour of truth the other day. She stretched her back, letting her curves stretch and expand in a full display. She grinned even more as Tsukune stole a glance.
"…quite the brave human aren't you, taking peaks at me."
The man had the audacity to smirk a bit.
"I may be a weak little human…but I know when someone is getting a bit flirty."
It took every fiber of that boy's spine to say that. Inwardly he shivered a bit, hoping to Zues, Odin, Amaterasu, Jesus, Budda, even fucking Exodia that he was right. Well, as many say, fortune favors the bold. Tsukune swallowed a bit as Moka came closer, her scent now a strange mix of cherries and…something he couldn't understand. She chuckled a bit.
"Clever little man, aren't you? Clever enough to know how this ends."
Tsukune locked eyes with her and to Inner Moka's quiet glee…gave her a switch remote.
"Yea, your ass in the dirt. Dukes up."
She didn't understand the phrase, but she understood the meaning. A grin expanded as she shook her head.
"So you've learned your place."
All she got back was a slight smirk…one that both infuriated and aroused her in equal measure. So they played, spending time together in this strange little dance of what ifs and desire. Their attraction was obvious…but neither made a move. Perhaps it wasn't the right time or perhaps both were nervous. Inner Moka knew only one thing.
She didn't give a shit…not after he blue shelled her again for the third GOD DAMN TIME! A guttural growl echoed as he grabbed Tsukune. It was a strange grapple, savage but gentle. He blinked as she wrapped herself around him, her tongue ghosting his neck.
"Enjoy your little make-believe victory. I get the real prize!
She bit into him, running her hands beneath his shirt, gripping at the muscle and hip beneath the flimsy clothe. If he gave her the blue shell, she sure as shit was going to give the little human the blue balls. Her other hand gripped his thigh, watching intently at his reaction, ready to break away at a moment's notice. If he seemed scared at all she would separate. At the thought, Moka stilled, the flow of blood stopping. She licked his small punctures clean…a strange sense of calm washing over her. Her gaze was heavy as she locked eyes with Tsukune…this human…her friend. No matter her feelings of superiority or desire that much remained true. She didn't know how long they remained silent for, only that they remained in this strange embrace for longer than was proper.
"I…will not apologize…but are you alright?"
Tsukune cleared his throat and gave a hesitant nod.
"Yea, I'm fine. Promise. Took me by surprise there for a second but…I'm good. Really. I…I think that's enough for today."
A sense of shame filtered through inner Moka. She tried to crush it underneath the unwavering pride…but even than small bit echoed through. She was better than this damnit. To let her desires run rampant as they have was just silly. She got up, not saying a word. But Tsukune, the damn silly man, saved them both. He gripped her hand, making the powerful vampire level a calm haughty gaze at him, her eyes trying to pierce the hand that grabbed her.
A hand she did nothing to remove.
"I mean it Moka," he said, smiling slightly, "I'm good. 100%. I think…I think we both need a moment to chill and think about some stuff is all. I mean…we're two people alone in a room with no parent supervision…it was bound to get awkward at some point."
Moka stared at him, her eyes filled with mirth.
"Quite arrogant of you. Are you still trying to be honorable?"
He just gave her the stink eye.
"You came onto me, not the other way around! I'm the innocent here!"
She chuckled, the sound a dark, harrowing promise. She lifted him up with ease as she leaned in, her voice a sweet whisper.
"Oh, you poor sheltered boy, I haven't even come close to coming on you."
He stared at her, his mouth wide open. She leaned against the doorway, her eyebrow raised. She let a hand rest of her hip as she pointed him, a small chuckle leaking out. This was far more fun than she had envisioned.
"Look at you…such an innocent blush."
He laughed, trying to shake the heat away from his face.
"DAMN! You…you the dangerous sort."
She gave him the stink eye. As if she'd leave him with any sense of pride.
"Am I anything less? I'll see you tomorrow human…or at least my other half will."
She stopped as she turned around. She tilted her head and gave him one last look.
"Before you over think this, me and my other self are one in the same. What I desire, she desires. What she likes, I like. We merely show it in different ways. Also,"
A heated glare pierced him right where he stood.
"I'll be destroying you in the next game."
With that…left. The second she shut the door; the poor young man adjusted himself.
"I…I need a shower…or two."
He felt her scent linger on his nose.
"…fuck me, more like I need three."
This looked like a job for old righty. At some point.
"…God, if I'm dreaming, don't wake me up."
"Ok."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The girlish scream echoed through the walls as Mikogami stood there, grinning away.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!"
The man cleared his throat.
"Me? I'm the director!"
"…of the school?"
"No, of this film."
"…are…are you dressed likea priest?"
The director looked at himself and back to Tsukune, nodding.
"Why yes, yes I am. Kind of goes with the whole, I am a priest thing."
"…wait, you're an ordained priest!"
The man grinned and gave two thumbs up.
"By the Holy Lord Themselves. Literally."
Tsukune looked at his door.
"You…you can just teleport-"
Before he could finish, Mikogami held up a piece of paper.
"Your room contract. In the even of an investigation, a student's room will be investigated with all their belongings at any moment the director deems appropriate."
He gestured to himself, his strange glowing eyes peering into the boy.
"That would be me."
Tsukune shivered. This was it. He was fucking dead!
"Please…just…leave Moka and Kurumu out of it!"
"Out of what? I'm here for little Yukari."
"…what?"
"Yukari. It is to my understanding she has been attending your Runetology class."
"….is she alright?"
"Oh yes, she'll be just fine! Just a bit of strange paperwork. Just asking students and faculty for anything unusual. So, notice anything unusual?"
The boy blinked.
"You…couldn't have called me down to your office?"
"Not as much fun as just spontaneously appearing beside you, so…no."
His knees felt weak as a sense of relief flowed through him. Only to be replaced with even more anxiety.
"Wait, is Yukari ok!? I just saw her the other day!"
The priest smiled; this was notably warmer.
"She is safe, I assure you. This merely has to do with some…personal information. The type of which you are not privy to. So again…anything unusual?"
"Aside from a few students being racist and the teacher doing nothing? No."
Mikogami grinned. For a moment, Tsukune had fallen for the man's image of a priestly human. He looked human, felt human, but it wasn't until the savage row of horrifying razor teeth were visible that he remembered. This man was a monster…possible THE monster in this campus. Oh fuck, was he dead?
"Finally. Was wondering when I'd get somewhere. Don'tthinkaboutthemrightnow, what?"
"What?"
Mikogami gripped his head and let go.
"Nice. Just a little FYI, Yukari will be attending the classes on a less frequent basis. If it wasn't obvious before, we don't have children attend this school for a variety of reasons."
"Than why is she even here?"
"Oh, her parents are fixing an interdimensional leyline rupture that occurs about once every 400 years of so. They'll be indisposed for a few months doing so."
"…what?"
"Exactly! Thanks for playing, good night!"
With a snappy pop, Mikogami disappeared, leaving Tsukune to stare at the piece of paper in his hands. He read it thoroughly, understanding that the directors invasion of his room was an extreme only allowed in the cases of school rules being broken.
Still….
"What the fuck just happened?"
Forget having a shower or some me time…the poor boy needed sleep. He looked outside, seeing that the sun had barely begun to dip from the night sky. He wrote a little note and used the school delivery system to have it brought to Moka and Kurumu's room. He basically just did a jig next to death, he was out.
Once he returned to his room, he fell asleep hoping to God that it was over.
-The Next Day-
This was the second day for Tsukune's elective. As strange as the school was, he didn't think it was normal for the teacher to be late. This time he sat beside Moka…or…was trying to. The poor girl wasn't even looking at him. If he was certain that inanimate objects don't have faces, he could have sworn that her rosary was laughing at her.
"Where the hell is the teacher?"
"Oh, she got fired!"
"FUCK!"
Tsukune jumped as Mikogami grinned at him. The entire room was deathly silent as the director took his place at the front of the class. He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders.
"Hello Class! As you have probably noticed, you are missing a few classmates and your teacher! Have no fear, for we've managed to allocate some volunteers to keep the class running with the minimum numbers! Please welcome your new classmates!"
Walking in, awkward as a rock, was none other than Kurumu. Tsukune and Moka stared at her, wondering what the hell was going on. To be honest, they didn't rightly care about the other four that came in. She shrugged a bit. Her own chosen elective wasn't much to talk about. So, when the Director allowed some students to switch it this morning, she jumped at the chance. The awkwardness came from something else.
Mikogami, the director of the entire damn school, gave a slightly creepy grin.
"And say hello to your new Runetology teacher! ME!"
Tsukune almost shit a brick at the sight of the man laughing his ass off. In a far off distance, back in his office, was none other than Mikogami and his good old friend, the Bus driver.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The cigar smoking Yokai sighed.
"You're a sick fuck you know that? You're gonna give that kid a heart attack."
"OH! But he's just so fun! I mean the other humans just cowered. I mean that other one literally tried to live in the forest away from everyone, as if that helped him at all! I mean, this lunatic is attending classes! He's actually participating! All it took was a pretty girl and this kid was hooked! How can you not love this shit!?"
"You have the weirdest entertainment. Are you just watching this kid?"
This time Mikogami lost his smile.
"EW. I have better uses of my time. They'll get a full replacement next week when Omari fills in."
"You managed to get him on board? I thought his entire species hated humans?"
Mikogami shrugged.
"Not really, more like a strong distrust. Have enough people appropriate and mess up Vodoo, you tend to get irritated."
"He's qualified."
"Oh 100% He was my original hire before his village was struck by an earthquake."
"Oh, how nice. So, you're done tormenting the kid?"
"Oh, not even close! But at least the young witch children are safe. Yukari was quite adamant that she continue attending her classes. Gave the poor kid a compromise. My Shikigami will take care of things on the ground floor for a little bit."
With that, Mikogami grabbed a file, glaring a bit at the roster.
"The disciplinary squad has overstepped. Again…"
"Still nothing you can do about it. You know the kind of people that are backing them. You play this wrong, your entire school system get's obliterated."
Mikogami rolled his eyes, removing his hood.
"Honestly, it was so much easier when I could just kill them all."
The bus driver snickered.
"Getting soft."
"Says the demon that once had a night parade in feudal Japan! Havn't seen you running amok for ages now."
"Far enough."
"No…the disciplinary squad will have to wait. I must focus on Fairy Tale."
"…so…they're still running?"
"Underground but growing. I need to shore up our defenses. The problems of the adult world will not find it's roots here in my school. I'll die to defend that."
What went unsaid was the genuine concern that he just might die doing so.
It was stressful being a dark lord, if he got his kicks from messing with a human child than what was wrong with that? He wasn't a bad man. A green spectral ghost shivered and moaned as a crucifix was speared through its chest. The spirit had been tormented for the last 24 hours, a penance for the attempted selling of a witch.
"Oh shut up! You'll have it worst in hell anyway!"
With a snap, a torrent of flames engulfed the spirit, throwing it back into the bowels of hell. Poor Tsukune, God speed little buddy. God speed.
Chapter End:
So hope you enjoyed this fun little chapter, filled with desire and more Mikogami! Have no fear, the great Director of the school will not be a constant of this story. As fun as it is to write to him, he now has concerns of his own that takes his careful eye of the school! As you may have noticed Yukari has been regulated to a side character. I, quite frankly, have no genuine desire to write to her. Her character annoys me and, quite frankly, disgusts me.
NO LOLIS. EVER.
There was also the weird idea that Yokai could somehow skip grades and attend classes earlier? That made no sense to me as I re-read the manga. So, hopefully this new reason makes a bit more sense as to why an 11-year-old girl is in a school filled with teenage monsters. Hopefully the romance is developing. I decided to focus on the difference between Desire and Romance, that there is a very distinct difference between the two. Yes, they intermingle all the time, but they can still be different. Hopefully this was something you all enjoyed! Please, leave reviews, criticisms, and questions in the comments or PM's! I can't always say I respond quickly, but I try my best!
Next Story: The Arcane Craftsman (Written in my usual style, unlike the last chapter).
