Dear Elijah,
I'm glad that you are having a wonderful experience at Yokai Academy. Reminds me of me at your age when I attended there before I met your father. It would be unfortunate if we could only communicate via monthly letters, but the bus driver has informed us that the school has updated to a daily schedule, along with installing telephones.
As for your new friends... They may be interested in the boy, but I would still proceed with caution. Vampires are not to be taken lightly, and it can be dangerous to associate with one as you are well aware. Succubi as well. As for the young witch, I'm happy to know you have a friend you can relate to, in some ways.
Yes, you are correct. Your father and I would've done the same as you, but need I remind you that not every solution to any problem you come across can be solved with magic. I may have taught you how to use the cards I generously made for you, but I also taught you to be resourceful. That being said, I am proud of you that you protected your friends.
As for replacing your cards, I would be happy to send you more as long as you promise to not waste any more on problems you can solve without them. Need I remind you how difficult cards as powerful as yours are not as easy to come by as most.
What troubles me and your father more is the fact that you or the perpetrators have seen any disciplinary action since you failed to mention that.
Please keep us informed.
With love and support, Mom.
I finish my letter as Ms. Nekonome finishes class with her final announcement. "Okay, class, today you all will be joining a club. Doing this should give you a better understanding of humans and their culture. So go on down to the club fair and find yourselves a club!"
Yokai Academy had designated this day for their club fair. As with any school, they strongly encouraged extracurricular activities. Most of this group of friends I was in had taken the bait. So when classes ended early I accompanied them to where the club fair was being held.
The idea of extracurricular clubs and monsters proved to be rather bizarre. There was a ghost-hunting club, a mummy club, and a chemistry club. Apparently, a good number of the club members had an obvious reason or association with their organization and made no secret of what monster they were, somewhat violating the rules. But now that I think about it, there have been multiple incidents of that violation occurring on campus, yet there has been no form of enforcement on the perpetrators...including me.
Thus far, none of us had reached anything conclusive. That's when something caught my attention. "What's going on over there?" I pointed over to the group. Moka, Kurumu, Yukari, and Tsukune gazed over in that direction. There was a crowd of male students, all of which are excited. Gently, I and the others made our way through the crowd to what was the source of the commotion.
It was the Swimming Club booth. Specifically, the source of the excitement was the fact that all of the club members present were female...and in bikinis. The one in front spoke first.
"Hi. I'm Tamao Ichinose, Captain of the swim team. Would you like to swim with us?" The sweet tone alone of a second year in a purple two-piece and sarong on her waist sent the males into a cheer. While I did feel somewhat of an appeal, I felt...something else. That same mental pinch, though not as severe, happens like when Kurumu tried to use her charm on me. Plus, I can't help but smell...fish? It has to be the captain, what exactly is she? A mermaid? Siren maybe? It would make sense with the association to water and swimming.
"As of now, the swim club is made up of female members." Tamao further proclaimed. "So any boys willing to join will get special treatment from the seniors."
While this drove the boy crowd wild, this only furthered my wariness. Only female members? Boys getting special treatment? Is no one seriously gonna question this?
"Tsukune...?" Moka pulled at the boy's blazer. Her tone betrayed a sense of nervousness.
"Moka?"
"Do...do you want to join this club?"
"I don't know... Maybe we should look somewhere else."
I share Moka's relief as we all begin to turn away. "Ah. You're leaving then?" A turn to address the inquiry shows that it was Tamou who had approached us. Specifically, her gaze shifted between me and Tsukune. "I was hoping the two of you would join the club."
Moka seized Tsukune's arm and glared at the captain. "I'm sorry, but Tsukune, Elijah, and I were going to look at some other clubs." Her tone matched her jealousy.
"Really?" Tamao was not deterred. "Well, it just so happens that the swimming club is holding a gathering, and the members from all the clubs will be there. Why not let all the clubs come to you?"
"...What do you think, Moka?" Tsukune asks
Moka hesitates, her hand straying to her rosary. "Well...the thing is..."
"I heard that you're a vampire, Moka Akashiya." Tamao seized on the pause. "I wonder if the rumors about them are true?"
"What rumors?" I had the same thought as Tsukune. Rumors? What is she talking about? Something about this was causing Moka discomfort, but the vampire moved to stand in front of Tsukune.
"It's nothing! We'll be there!"
"Good." Tamao smiled. "Don't forget your swimsuits."
With that, the captain walked off with the rest of her club. "Only girls in their club and guys getting special treatment? Anybody else guessing this is a trap? My guess? They must be mermaids or sirens."
"That...actually makes sense," Tsukune adds to my theory. "They're only females, and all the guys were around them. Still, almost every guy in this school gawks over anything attractive."
I groan. As bad as that justification is, he's not wrong. Pretty much every guy besides me and him had been some form of creep or jerk, sometimes both. "You guys get going, I'll be there later."
"Are you gonna get changed?" he asks.
"No. I'm just gonna see if there's a book I can enjoy while everyone else gawks."
With Tsukune, Kurumu, and Yukari leaving, I turn to a hesitant Moka, still staring angrily at Tamao's back. "Moka? You okay?"
"...It's nothing."
"Now we know that's a lie, all three of us."
"Three?"
I point to her rosary. "What's wrong?"
"...It's just...I don't like water, okay?"
"That girl...she said something about 'rumors', and I don't think she's implying you have aquaphobia, so...wait..." I internally facepalm for finally remembering something I once read about vampires. "...Water...hurts you, that's right."
"...Y-Yes." Moka admits.
"Well then, we won't go. Let's go get Tsukune and the others so-"
"No!" Moka seizes my arm, casting a downward look. "As much as I don't want to go, we'll have the chance to see other clubs there. Plus, I already said we're going..."
"Moka..."
"Please...don't let me ruin everyone else's day..."
"..." She's not gonna let up about this. "...Fine. I'm not swimming either way, I can already do that just fine." Moka takes her leave to the pool area as I quickly head to my dorm room, grabbing a good book. With that, I venture back to the pool area.
When I got there, it seemed pleasant enough on the surface. Everyone was spread out over an Olympic-sized pool. the club members were all there, and not one of them was rejecting or putting off any boys pursuing them. I spot Moka sitting along the fence that made the pool's perimeter. With how pouty she looks right now, I decide to keep to myself and just enjoy my book until this whole ordeal is over. Now...what music shall accompany my reading? Why, Skillet, of course. Something a little more simple, though.
"Looks like 'Stars' it is," I say as I put my ear bud in my right ear.
Moka was plainly on edge being so close to the water. Whenever any splash threatened to come close, she moved away slightly closer to me. Even Tsukune was bewildered at the scene.
"Tsukune!"
The boy found himself red as a tomato upon seeing Kurumu in a yellow two-piece. The sight of the succubus was a relief for me, only because of the fact that she was another female who was not off or suspicious.
"Do you like it?" Kurumu smirked as she took one of Tsukune's arms. "Can you teach me how to swim?"
Well at least someone is having fun. Leave it to Kurumu to take full advantage of the opportunity to appeal to Tsukune.
BONK!
A projected wash pan suddenly threatened to send the succubus to horny jail as it hit her head, knocking her to the ground.
"Teach me too!" The culprit grabbed Tsukune's other arm. Yukari was in what looked like a school-issued swimsuit while still retaining her hat and wand.
"What are you doing?!" Kurumu recovers and seizes Tsukune's other arm. "He's mine!"
"No, he's not!" Yukari shouts as they go into a tug of war with Tsukune as the rope.
"Give it up, flat chest!"
"It's not like bigger is better!"
"Really? When I was your age, mine were already this size."
"The bigger they are, the faster they sag!"
"What was that, jail bait?!"
The two temporarily forgot about Tsukune in the ensuing catfight. The boy takes the opportunity to walk over to Moka and me...only for Tamao to show up behind him.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"It's...not what I expected," Tsukune admits.
"Well, you can't exactly see what the swim club has to offer unless you get in the water." And with that, Tamoa drags Tsukune back to the pool. Moka, visibly seethed by the whole thing barely contains her annoyed grunts.
"You okay there?" I ask.
"I can't believe him..."
"Moka?"
"Huh?" She finally takes notice of me. "I'm fi- HEY!"
My attention is brought back to the pool, where I see Tamao pressing herself against Tsukune's back, making it obvious what she's doing to the poor boy. "Is this supposed to be a swimming club or a flirting club?"
"That's enough!" Moka shouts. "Tsukune, you just wanted to join the Swim Club so you could meet more girls didn't you?!"
"Moka, that's not what I'm doing here! Honest!" Tsukune protests.
"I'm not putting up with this!" The boy's plea falls on deaf ears. "Goodbye!" Moka turned away to leave, but she leaps away from an incoming splash directly from...oh boy. I set down my book and earbuds, preparing to lend a helping hand.
"Listen Akashiya." Tamao smirks. "There's one major rule in life I've learned. It's take or be taken if you know what I mean. This is the swimming club, and if you and your friend there are not here to swim, go bother someone else." Another splash manages to hit Moka's leg. The poor girl's face goes white, contorting in intense pain. She runs off as quickly as possible while electrical discharges can be seen emanating from her leg.
"Moka!" tsukune and I both shout.
"What about you, cutie?" I glare at the girl now paying attention to me. "I was beginning to think you were a loner. You sure you won't join us? I assure you your precious book won't get soaked."
That was no accident. The girl knew water was a weakness for vampires. She purposely meant to hurt Moka. In a moment of anger, my dominant hand instinctively went for my card pack, but I stopped the action and disguised it as resting my hand on my hip. "No thanks, It stinks of fish around here."
I take off after Moka, eventually finding her in an alleyway between the campus buildings. She was clearly in pain, so I offered her company as I took a seat next to her. "Mo-"
You idiot! Why did you even go near the pool?! You know what water does to us!
I jump slightly at the sound of Inner-Moka's voice coming from the rosary. Someone's angry.
"I just...wanted to be with Tsukune." Moka manages to squeak out.
You fool! And you! Why did you let this happen?! You knew as well!
I shrugged. "I told her we should find someplace better! She was persistent. What was I supposed to do? And I'm not the bitch who hurt her!"
It doesn't matter! Don't go back to the pool and don't go back to Tsukune. He's not worth the trouble and he doesn't understand us. At least Elijah here has some idea.
"Tsukune..." In contrast, that name only further motivated Moka. The girl struggles to get up, but begins to fall. I catch her to ease what would've been a less pleasant impact.
Don't even think about it. End your relationship with the human.
"That's not true! Tsukune's not like you're saying!" The girl makes another attempt to get up, with now my help of course.
Elijah, stop!
"That's enough! Tsukune didn't know about this, so you need to shut up and try and at least understand why he wouldn't know this kind of thing. Need I remind you of why he wouldn't?!"
...You dare talk-
"I'll talk to you how I Goddamn want! Tsukune's my friend and he wouldn't hurt Moka on purpose! Now you two stay here, I'm gonna get him and the others to explain this whole thing." I don't wait for an answer and make my way ba-
Wait...why do I hear screams?
Those screams prompted me to hurry my pace, running faster to get back to the others. What I saw when I got there... "What the fuck?!" All the other males in the pool had a swim club girl biting on their necks, and the victims were becoming husks. This was all just a trap for this sick club. Even Tsukune was similarly horrified at what might as well be sanctioned murder. "Tsukune! Get out of there, NOW!"
Tsukune tries to run for the edge of the pool, but Tamao only drags him further into the pool. "Tsukune!" Kurumu and Yukari shout, but several other girls appear and grab the pair to prevent them from helping the boy.
"What is it with people in this school always trying to kill us?!"
"So..." The fish turns to me. "The other one returns." Tamao now shows her true form. Webbed ears, an angler antenna, a frighteningly wide mouth, sharp teeth, and of course, a fish tail. "Don't worry about your little friend here, once we're done with him, you're next, cutie."
reaching for my pocket, I pull out my deck, quickly finding the right one. "let him go, now!" I hold up my card between my fingers. "Don't make me repeat myself."
"I don't think so. I've been waiting to taste this one. How come you don't get any attention from those other girls, especially the vampire, Card-Boy."
"I think you and I have different definitions for attention, Fish. Control Water!" I throw my card, evaporating in front of me as I toss it. I take a deep breath, allowing the energy to flow from the top of my head to the tips of my fingers. This reminds me of an old cartoon my dad showed me when I was a kid.
"Ha! What was that supposed to-"
"The water in the pool slowly starts to swirl and each swimming club member, even Tsukune starts to get confused by the changing of the current. They no it not, but they've fallen right into my trap. Control Water allows me to manipulate any freestanding water inside an area of my choosing, kind of like what humans call 'water-bending' that cartoon I watched. Making faster, flowing movements with my arms like that of the feel of flowing water, the pool quickly becomes a raging whirlpool.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" I hear Tamao shout.
In the chaos and confusion of the mermaids, Tsukune is still trapped there. Fortunately for him, he managed to get loose from his captor's grip. All is according to plan. Now I just need Kurumu to-
"Tsukune!" I hear Moka to my right, her eyes widen in fear at the sight of all the chaos. "Elijah! What are you doing?! Tsukune's still in there!"
"I know! I have a plan! I just need to- Wait, Moka! No!"
The brave yet arrogant Moka doesn't heed my warning and dives right into the whirlpool. Her body is completely submerged as more electrical discharges can be seen in the middle of it all. Dammit, Moka! I had it under control! No time to get upset, Elijah. Just continue with what you originally had planned.
"Kurumu!"
"Yeah?"
"Get ready to swoop in and grab them both when I say so!"
"What do you-"
"Just trust me!"
The succubus nods in response, her wings sprouting out of her back, ready for my command. I have no idea if this will work, but it's better than just doing nothing. Plus, my spell will wear off soon, so I need to do this fast. "HYA!" Using both my arms, in one big swoop as I raise them over my head, all of the water in the pool rises, along with the mermaids and our friends trapped inside. "Now, Kurumu!"
At my word, Kurumu flies up into the hovering water, aiming directly for the human and vampire inside. As she flies through the other side with them in her arms, well, Kurumu is holding Moka as she's- wait...her hair's silver now, did Tsukune take off her rosary as I rose the water out of the pool? How did I miss that? Oh well, not like we'll need her. Once Kurumu lands, we make our escape. Just in time too, I can feel my spell wearing off as I drop the water back into the pool.
"Woo! Suck on that you stupid fish!" I jump around in triumph like an idiot, but I don't care how stupid I look, we managed to save our friends without the help of the Other-Moka.
"Ahem!"
That voice does manage to shock me a little since I immediately recognize it. When I turn around... "Hey, Moka. What's up?"
"Don't 'what's up' me! Who do you think-"
"YEAUGH!" I'm cut off short as I feel something wrap around my legs and it starts dragging me into the pool. Now submerged in the pool, I see what's pulled me into my watery grave is some form of seaweed. I struggle to get myself free as it's user, Tamao, holds me down at the bottom of the pool by both my arms.
"Shh...just sleep, it'll be over soon."
This is bad. Tamao's in her element in the water, and my spell has worn off. I can't breathe... My vision...is getting dark... No... Guys...run...save...yourselves...
Kurumu...above the water
"ELIJAH!" the succubus started panicking as she saw her friend be dragged into the water. "Guys! Elijah needs our help!"
"Gah! What do we do?!" Tsukune shouts.
"I don't know that spell he used, and any other spell I do use might hurt him," Yukari adds.
"Hmph. Serves him right. Maybe some anoxic brain damage will do the boy some good."
Kurumu glares at Moka after her cold words. "What did you just say?!"
"He got cocky, I could see it in his eyes. Elijah thought he won for once and look where it-"
SMACK!
Everyone stood in shock, even the vampire herself stepped back a few inches from the Succubi's action.
"Kurumu..."
"O-Okay," Yukari tries to diffuse the situation. "let's all just ca-"
"I WILL NOT 'CALM DOWN'! Elijah is in danger and I'm not just gonna sit here while we can do something about it!" With that, Kurumu dives back into the pool, leaving a shocked Tsukune, a worrisome Yukari, and...a slightly taken aback vampire.
"...Hmm." Moka ponders.
"Guys! Kurumu doesn't stand a chance in there! Mermaids are natural born killers in the water!"
SPLASH!
SPLAT!
When the three look back to the pool, they're surprised to see Tamao has landed right in front of them. Slashes and scratches all over her body as it twitches. Seconds after, the succubus lands with the magic boy in her arms.
"Kurumu?! You did it!" Tsukune shouts.
"No time for admiration!" Kurumu sets Elijah down on the concrete ground, putting her head on the boy's chest. "He's not breathing!" The succubus shouts in a panicked state, putting both hands on Elijah's chest and pushed. Then again, and again, and again. He's still not breathing. Kurumu doesn't have a choice... She doesn't really see any other way. "Please..." She leans over him, inching closer to his mouth... Now only a few inches away... "Come back..."
Elijah
I managed to breathe at last as consciousness came back to me. Air! Thank goodness! Sweet, fresh air! I'm never taking oxygen for granted again! But when my eyes open...I find an unusual sight. All I see is violet eyes...followed along with sky-blue hair...and I feel...a soft pair of...on my chest.
Kurumu leans back in a startled way, just as well too as I start coughing up water. I rolled over and coughed even harder to clear my lungs. The water wouldn't be too bad if I didn't have to taste the chlorine along with it. I like a clean pool, but I hate the taste of pool water. though, I can't imagine what person or monster that would be.
"Dummy..."
"Wha- Woah!" I couldn't register what Kurumu said before she pounced on me, hugging me. Normally, I wouldn't mind, but she's half-naked wearing that yellow two-piece. I can feel my face burning...
"Don't scare me like that..."
"..." I got too cocky this time. I know she cares, but I never knew it was to this extent. But what even happened? All I remember is blacking out when I got pulled in. I look over to the mermaid's mangled body, she's alive, but only just about. Who fucked her up? Moka's go-to thing is a roundhouse kick, but she's covered in scratch marks... Wait a minute... "Kurumu..."
She pulls back from her hug, but keeps her arms around my neck. "Hmm?"
"...You saved me?"
The girl's eyes widened in shock, stepping back as a faint blush went to her cheeks. "Uh...yeah! You bet I did! Don't you forget it either, mister!"
"...Kuru-"
SMACK!
That clearly audible smack, which sounded rightfully painful might I add, brings mine, Kurumu's, and Yukari's attention to Moka, who's slapped Tsukune across his face, leaving a noticeable red mark on his cheek.
"You listen to me. You don't understand a single thing about the other Moka, so don't pretend like you do. You're a little boy who can't think about anyone other than himself." The vampire snatches the rosary from Tsukune. "Consider her feelings! And your selfishness almost got Elijah killed."
I get to my feet. "Hey!"
Moka glares at me with her glowing red eyes. "What?"
"Don't blame him for all of this. He made a mistake because he didn't know about vampires being weak to water. And let me remind you that coming here was the other you's idea! I don't blame her for what's happened but all of this could've been simply avoided if she told Tsukune about it!"
Moka storms up to me, staring into my very soul with her eyes only a few inches away from my face. She may be a few inches shorter than me, but to her, she's the one looking down on me. "I'd watch your tone. You're lucky you're one of the two decent men in this place." She glares back at Tsukune. "Even if the other is an idiot. But I'll admit..." She looks back at me, her eyes now only slightly glaring. "You managed to save him without my 'help' for once, even if you almost got yourself a watery grave."
"I know I got cocky, and I'm sorry I got a little snarky at you. I guess I need more practice."
She scoffs. "What you need is a teacher."
"Is that an offer?"
"In time. For now, just keep yourself and the fool in check." Moka takes her leave from the pool, not even batting an eye back at any of us. No pun intended.
"She's right, I'm an idiot."
"Only partially, but not knowing what you couldn't have doesn't make you an idiot, dude. She may be upset now, but I guarantee she'll be as chipper as ever by tomorrow."
I hope my words are to be true, I don't think the boy can stand her hating him for long.
Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Three days have already passed, and Moka hasn't been at school since we saw her leave the pool. Needless to say, Tsukune has taken it pretty hard. He's been in a depressed state for all three days. He's barely said a word to any of us in our group, let alone joined a club. Hell, no one in our group has joined a club.
When class ended, Ms. Nekonome called the four of us to stay after class.
"Now, I'm sure that you all have a good reason, but I really need the four of you to pick a club. Do you at least have an Idea as to what club you want to join?"
"Well... No ma'am," Tsukune answers for us. Everyone else nods with him.
Me? I was not giving a newt's tail about clubs. While I was concerned for Moka's well-being and health, my mind was...somewhere else. Kurumu saved my life, that's a debt I'll never be able to repay no matter how many times I thank her, trust me. I've lost count of how many times I've thanked her every time I saw her for the last three days. I'll admit, I think I annoyed her a little, but she was happy to hear someone praise her for something besides her body. I'd rather thank her with a jam session though, I should ask her sometime. But there was something else that I couldn't stop thinking about. Why was she so close to me when I came to? Was she about to perform CPR...on me? No, no, no, no, no! No way! She'd rather do that to Tsukune than me, right? Right? Either way, I'm forever grateful for her, and I'm glad to call her my friend...hell, she might even be my be-
"Well, in that case," Ms. Nekonome brings my attention back from my thoughts. "How's about you all join the Newspaper Club?"
"Newspaper club?" I ask.
"Yes, that's right. We haven't had anyone join, and we're in danger of being shut down. What do you say?"
Well, it's not exactly my first choice, but this could give me the opportunity to find out why we or our perpetrators haven't been disciplined for our past actions. Could this be some sort of injustice system? Or perhaps a corrupt student council? Either way, this sort of thing could be worth getting to the bottom of. Besides...
"I always believed in the freedom of the press." I finish my thought.
"Sure!" Kurumu happily says right after me. "Let's all do it!"
"Here here!" Yukari says enthusiastically.
"That's wonderful!" Ms. Nekonome cheers. "What about you, Tsukune?"
We three look to the boy, still looking down in the dumps. Come on, Moka, where are you?
"Well-"
"It sounds like fun to me!" A familiar, cheery voice calls from the classroom door. Everyone whips their heads around to see Moka standing there.
"Moka!" Tsukune cries out in joy.
"Hehe... Sorry for not coming to school for the last few days," she scratches the back of her head. "After what happened, I spent the whole time asleep."
"Asleep?!" I say in shock.
"Well, all my energy went away after diving in the water from the fight. So..."
"Moka..." Tsukune stands, makes his way over to the vampire girl, and bows deeply. "I'm really sorry."
"Tsukune, It's okay, really. Me and the other me know it wasn't your fault."
"Sh-She does?"
"Yeah! She was really mad, but I talked to her. We're all okay now."
"That's great! I'm so glad." Now it's time for them to blush. "So...about the club?"
"Like I said, it sounds like fun. Plus..." Moka looks down to the floor, fidgeting with her school bag. "we'll all be together."
"Moka..."
"Tsukune..."
There they go again.
"How wonderful!" Ms. Nekonome cries out in absolute joy. "That's five new club members in one day!" Our teacher is practically over the moon. "Meow! I'm so glad we won't be shut down!"
"Quick question," I interject.
"Hmm? And what might that be Mr. Elijah?"
"We won't be dealing with potentially dangerous club members, are we?" I look back to everyone. "I mean, besides everyone here, of course."
"HEY!" Everyone yells at me...before all bursting into laughter.
"I think this calls for a hug! Come here, Tsukune!" Kurumu practically pounces on the boy. Now he's right where every boy dreams they could be, well, at least all the other jerks here. I've been there once, I'd like to not repeat that again.
"MMFF! KUR- MMFF!"
"Hey! If anyone's hugging him, it's me!" Yukari now joins them, adding more to Tsukune's suffocation.
"You guys are hurting him! Besides, I've already told you both that he's mine!" Moka holds them all in a tight hug, I can imagine the agony poor Tsukune must be in, but since we're all in a good mood...
"Come here, you guys!" I hug them all, taking them completely by surprise.
"Aww! Such wonderful friends you all are!" I hear Ms. Nekonome add.
How right she is...