Chapter 5

"What is this place? Where am I?", asked himself Tsukune, very worried. He found himself inside a dark forest, where all the trees were dead and the sky was ash gray instead of bright blue. The forest was similar to that that surrounded Yokai Academy, but it was much more sinister and frightening.

Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from behind; something was coming towards him. Turning around, the fear took over him when he was met by a large monster with razor sharp teeth, deadly claws and an evil grin.

"You thought you could hide forever, human? Hahaha, you were wrong! I will kill you and devour you until nothing's left!", shouted the creature, charging against him.

"Noooo!", screamed a terrorized Tsukune, closing his crying eyes and trying to protect himself…

Tsukune opened his eyes immediately, waking up all sweated and catching some breath. "Tsukune, are you ok?!", asked him Mizore, extremely worried.

"M-Mizore?", was his reaction at seeing her. His eyes looked around to see that he was inside his room and on his bed while it was still night outside.

"It was all a nightmare...", he mumbled, putting a hand on his forehead and still scared. The word "nightmare" increased the yukionna's worries, so she clung onto him and asked him what kind of nightmare he had.

"I found myself in a forest surrounded by darkness u-under an ominous grey sky. It was similar to that around our school, but scarier. T-then I've heard a sound behind me, and when I looked an horrible monster was looking at me and said that he found out about my secret, charging a-against me to devour me.", he explained, trembling at only remembering such horrible dream.

Hearing that description made Mizore horrified, so she hugged him instantly against her chest, caressing his head. "I-I'm so sorry you've experienced something like that. I'm here with you, Tsukune. You're safe now.", she told him with compassion.

"I apologize if I made you worried again.", he told her, reciprocating her hug and feeling slightly better.

"It's ok, you're too important for me. Seeing you sad, hurt or terrorized breaks my heart, so I will always comfort you whenever you need it."

Her gentle words made him blush and smile, liking that she hugged him so sweetly; he felt safer together with her. His face was pressing against her chest, but it didn't matter because their hug was making him feel better.

Closing his eyes, he restarted to sleep, still hugging her close to him. The snow girl smiled, happy that she managed to comfort him enough for him to sleep peacefully once again, but that nightmare he described upset her too.

'It was surely his fear of getting found out that caused that nightmare…It's just because of those yokais that hate humans.', she thought angrily. Despite she could trust Moka, Kurumu and Ginei more, her dislike towards other yokai was still great, as she knew that one or more of them would hurt her Tsukune sooner or later. That was why she would protect him at her best, because the simple thought of losing forever the man she loved her would break her heart.

The following morning, the alarm clock rang and the human boy stopped it before opening his eyes, blushing because he and Mizore were still cuddling. "Good morning, Tsukune. Do you feel better?", she asked him, smiling at him.

"Not completely yet, but thank you for c-comforting me.", he told her, making her blush.

"Whenever you need it, I will console you sweetly."

"Thank you. Let's have breakfast before going to school.", he said, unwillingly detaching himself from her to go to the kitchen. The snow girl nodded and got up too to go to help him, putting the glasses and the plates on the table.

Since she couldn't eat or drink hot things, he poured some ice tea in their glasses and took packed pastries from a box, giving one of them to her. She gladly took it and ate it, thanking him wholeheartedly for it and the glass of milk and making him smile embarassed.

That horrible nightmare was still vivid in his mind unfortunately, but the great care that the yukionna was helping him to not think about it. The fear of losing his life was still present in him as it seemed, so even if he felt more relaxed and happier after he met her, he couldn't stay calm completely.

Suddenly, he felt her hand touching his on the table. "If you have a nightmare like that again, I could come to sleep with you more often.", she told him, worried.

"Huh? It's better if you don't. We could get in trouble if we get found out."

"It's ok if no one sees me get inside here. Your well being is too important for me."

He blushed more like her when he heard those words, intertwining casually his fingers with hers and making her redder. "Yours is important for me too.", he said seriously.

With her heart beating faster, she smiled brightly at him, happy that he cared that much for her. She felt it like a sign that he was starting to love her too, so that filled her of joy.

The two of them finished their breakfast and wore their uniforms, keeping their backs facing other. The yukionna didn't mind at all if he saw her half or completely naked, but Tsukune's respect of other people's privacy was another thing that she liked about him. He was truly the kindest person of the world to her eyes.

Once they were ready, she got out of his window to wait for him ouside and he exited through the door to take the elevator instead. "Yo, Tsukune. Was it you that screamed this night?", asked a boy inside the elevator.

"Good morning, Tatsuya. Yeah, sorry for that. I've had a nightmare that scared me."

"Really? Man, I'm sorry, buddy. I hate it when I have nightmares, so I understand you. Maybe that cute purple haired girl will comfort you with a hug haha.", said Tatsuya, making the human boy blush and scratch the back of his head.

'She did it indeed.', he thought, knowing that he couldn't tell him about the fact she spent the night with him twice in his room. Considering that Mizore clung onto him basically every day, it was obvious that some students would tease him about her too and not just about Kurumu and Moka.

There was also Nekonome that rooted for the snow girl, which made him blush more because she said that he and Mizore would make a great couple in her opinion. And speaking of her, when he reached the ground floor and exited from the building, she wrapped her arms around his arm instantly while Tatsuya chuckled.

"Haha, I called it!", he said, giving him a thumps up and watching them walk together like a couple.

Along the way, more people noticed them and found them cute, albeit there were still some male students that were envious of him for being liked by 3 of the most beautiful girls of Yokai Academy. It wasn't a case that they frowned when they saw Kurumu attempting to greet him with a hug, getting stopped by Mizore as usual and complaining about it.

Also Moka appeared and greeted him, smiling at him and sweatdropping before the other 2 girls' banter. Thankfully, he calmed them down and they proceeded to reach their class in order to follow the social studies lesson, where they would hear some explanations about some yokai species.

Tsukune avoided to tell the vampire and the succubus about his nightmare to not make them worried because they were his friends and important for him like Mizore was. Although he felt that she was more special for him.

So when they arrived to their class, he kept his attention on the teacher's explanation and took notes, feeling kinda uneasy for hearing about the existence of mummies, lamias and other creatures. Still, when he heard about those that lived in very cold places, he glanced at the yukionna, noticing a little nostalgic expression on her face.

'Maybe she misses her home like I miss mine and my family. I wonder how is the place where she were born.', he thought, refocusing his attention to not get caught looking distracted. He also got quite interested in hearing about yetis, remaining surprised like some of his classmates to know that they were considered as S-class monsters.

As far as he remembered, it was usually vampires and werewolves to be considered S-class, so knowing about another type of yokai that was so powerful surprised him. But what surprised him was also the piece of paper that got on his desk from behind, so he quickly opened it and blushed at reading "I love your diligence, honey".

Looking behind him, Kurumu smiled at him blissfully, causing him to smile embarrassed at her. Of course, Mizore noticed their interaction, pouting and giving the stink eye to the succubus for making a move on her Tsukune.

At the end of the lesson, it was time for that of the math teacher that made all the students take a test. Being the smartest in her class, Moka didn't have any problem in resolving most of the exercises, but the same couldn't be said for Kurumu, who had some difficulties instead.

Their common love interest was giving his best, getting admired by the snow stalker that smiled. She thought that helping him to not think about his nightmare prompted him to do more than his best, so she felt happy and hoped that dream wouldn't become real.

After taking the test and the sound of the bell, each student left the classroom to go to the canteen, so the brown haired boy went there with his three yokai friends. As expected, each one of them was clinging on him, making him blush and sweatdrop while the other students chuckled at the scene.

They found funny and cute that his friends liked him so much, smiling when they saw Kurumu and Mizore trying to feed him sweetly while Moka gave him some of her fried meat. "Honey, how did the test go? Mine didn't go well mouu.", asked him the succubus, clinging on him.

"I think I did well enough to pass it.", he said, scratching his cheek.

"Why did you call him honey?", aske Mizore to her, glaring.

"It's a nickname for my Destined One. Aww, I look forward to become your lover, Tsukune.", replied the bluenette, pressing her boobs on his arm and blushing.

"He likes me more.", said the yukionna, doing the same thing.

"Tsukune likes me more mouu.", were Moka's words instead while she pouted.

Obviously, he sweatdropped again and was flustered due to the situation, which was at that point a daily routine in his school life at the academy. Besides, he really appreciated the affection that they had for him, as it made him happy and forget a bit more what happened last night.

But someone decided to ruin the peaceful moment. "Hello, Moka-san. Do you want to go out with me?", asked her a guy with unkempt green hair and slit pupils that approached the table.

She and her friends looked at him and she replied, "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested."

"It's because you like this wimp, right?", he asked then, pointing at Tsukune that got worried. But then the asshole felt the air getting colder, with Mizore glaring at him.

"Don't insult him.", she told him coldly, making him take some steps back.

"Exactly. Respect my honey, jerk!", said Kurumu instead, glaring at him.

Annoyed, the jackass left them in peace, getting some looks of disdain from other girls too for his behavior. "He didn't even present himself and asks a girl out. He doesn't have any manners.", said Kurumu, still frowning.

"I'm sorry he insulted you, Tsukune."

"It's ok, Moka. It's not your fault at all.", he told her, reaching her head ro caress it. The gesture made her blush and giggle instantly, but since her love rivals pouted, they wanted some headpats too and they received them, giggling as well.

Even if it made his face red, the human boy liked their happy expressions for being caressed on the head by him. Nonetheless, he was a bit worried about that guy that disturbed them, as he made him remember Saiou and other monsters that attacked him or Moka because they were jealous of him.

Following lunch time's end, he and the girls went back to their class for some literature lessons, with him remaining stunned at discovering about some famous yokai novelists. It was almost like a Japanese literature lesson in the human world, with the difference that it was in a supernatural world and about monster writers.

That made him wonder if yokais could integrate perfectly in the human society, as he had some doubts due to those that attempted to kill him. And speaking of kill, he remembered that Inner Moka was ready to kill Kurumu if he didn't stop her and that she didn't try to kill Ginei afterwards when she fought him.

'Maybe I made her understand that it's not necessary to kill someone.', he thought, glancing at the pinkette. Though, his eyes switched towards Mizore, with his face blushing while looking at hers, especially at her lips.

But he quickly focused his attention on the lesson, trying to not look at her lips again. It was almost like he wanted to kiss her, but he stayed concentrated to avoid to blush more. Being asked from the teacher if he had a fever when he didn't have it would be annoying, after all.

Still, since she looked more at him instead of listening to the lesson, Kurumu saw that he glanced at her rival, so she pouted in jealousy because she felt that he and Mizore were getting closer to each other. If she came to know about them sleeping together in his room, her jealousy and Moka's obviously would skyrocket.

When also the last lessons ended, since there wasn't any club activity for the day, the young man and his friends left the building to walk back to the dormitories, chatting along the way. But when the road started to be void of people except for them, someone got on their way by coming out from behind the trees.

"Huh? You're that jerk that insulted honey! What do you still want?", asked Kurumu, recognizing him instantly.

"Just getting Moka-san for myself.", he replied, grinning maliciously and transforming before their eyes. His uniform's trousers broke and his legs changed into a long reptilian tail, with his hans getting sharp nails while his head morphed into a snake one with yellow eyes.

Tsukune got worried at seeing him transform, stepping back when he approached them. "Stay away from him.", said Mizore, glaring at the snake man and generating colder air around her.

"Tch, you control ice. Do you like that useless guy so much?", he asked her, still grinning.

"Of course. I won't let anyone hurt him.", she said, taking her yokai form and charging forward with icy claws. Her eyes widened though when he dodged her rapidly, wrapping his tail on a tree's branch.

"My body allows me to be both fast and strong. Still not interested in dating me, Moka-san?"

"I told you I'm not interested. Leave us alone, please.", she said with a serious expression.

Angry, he dodged an attack from Kurumu then and glared at the human boy. "I will show you how pathetic he is!", he exclaimed, deciding to attack Tsukune, who got scared and got down to avoid him, feeling some pain on the back because of his previous wound.

The snow woman got angrier, so he tried to attack the snake monster another time, managing to scratch his tail with her claws. "Grr, I hate ice and cold!"

Though, he noticed that Tsukune took the rosario off Moka's neck, watching like Mizore and Kurumu did how a crimson aura of yokai energy surrounded her body. Her pink hair turned silver, and after the transformation was complete, she opened her eyes; they were bloody with slit pupils.

"So you're the scumbag that wants to hurt Tsukune, huh? Get lost in this instant.", she said to the enemy, glaring at him.

'So this is Moka's true form…Her power is totally worth of being an S-class monster.', thought Mizore in amazement.

"Hahahaha, your power is fantastic, Moka-san! Why do you like that weak idiot instead of someone like me?", asked her the monster, starting to shake when she glared more at him.

"He's my friend, so I won't forgive those like you that make fun of him. Know your place!", she exclaimed, running towards him at high speed, shocking him. She jumped and kicked him in the face, breaking his long teeth and making him crash against a tree.

"S-So s-strong…", he mumbled before losing consciousness while some blood came down from his mouth. The snow girl was amazed once again by Inner Moka's strength, understanding more the reason vampires were one of the most feared types of monsters.

Still, she quickly ran towards Tsukune, asking if he was hurt. "I'm fine, thanks ", he replied, making her sigh in relief.

"Thank you for the help, Moka.", he said to the vampire instead, who nodded to him.

"You're always so clingy with him, snow woman?", she asked to Mizore though.

"He likes my hugs a lot. Besides, he's my Tsukune."

Her defiant response caused Inner Moka to frown and glare back at hee making the boy and Kurumu worry about a possible discussion. "I will go back to sleep. See you, Tsukune.", she said, with him giving her back the rosario that made her change back to her pinkhaired version, avoiding to fall on the ground thanks to Kurumu.

Despite the snake monster was defeated, the brown haired boy touched his back and felt pain there, causing the girls to get worried. So the group went to the dormitories quickly, with him greeting his friends before going back to his room. Once there, he took the upper part of his uniform, looking at his wound thanks to a mirror.

It wasn't bleeding fortunately, but he still couldn't move freely like he did to dodge the monster's attack. And while he was checking the mirror, he heard a sound from the window, seeing Mizore outside. Going to open it, she hugged him as soon as she stepped inside.

"Y-you're not bleeding, right?"

"No, it was just some pain because I dodged that attack. Sorry for worrying you.", he answered, blushing and reciprocating the hug.

"Moka's true form is really incredible. It's the first time I see a yokai getting defeated like that."

"Yeah, but as you saw, her personality changes too. Thank goodness she maintains her care for her friends anyways."

"The important is that you didn't get hurt again. I can't stand seeing you in pain and I don't want to lose you.", she told him, hugging him tighter and blushing.

Her words made his heart beat faster but also smile, as he liked that her care for him was so great. Blushing more, he brought his lips to her forehead, kissing it and catching in surprise.

Her face got redder, feeling joyful beats in her heart. "Sorry if I surprised you.", he told her, still flushed.

"You don't need to apologize. I'm overjoyed that you gave me this kiss.", she said happily. He smiled and hugged her closer, caressing her head gently.

Obviously, that made her even happier because she adored clinging onto him and receiving his headpats, but the kiss he gave her was fantastic. Perhaps it wasn't on the lips, but it was a show of his affection for her that surely increased like hers.

"If you want, you can stay here tonight too.", he told her, making her giggle.

"Gladly. I will help you to completely forget that nightmare, so you can sleep peacefully and cuddle with me."

"You totally adore clinging onto me, huh?"

The purple haired girl smiled and nodded, continuing to hug him while some hearts appeared around her. Tsukune kept on hugging her close to his chest too, caressing her hair. He was glad that she wanted to console him until that terrible dream disappeared from his memory, as it showed perfectly that she cared deeply for him.

He looked forward to study and have dinner together again, feeling that she got more important for him. He just hoped that his nightmare wouldn't become a reality, as he didn't want to lose his friends and his life with them at the academy. Besides, he didn't want to lose the sweet snow girl he has in his arms and that he could kiss on the lips next time because his affection for her could increase even more.

A/N

And here's chapter 5! Despite the loneliness for being the only human in a monster school doesn't torment him anymore, Tsukune's fear of getting found out is still so big that it made him experience an horrible nightmare that made him wake up all scared and shaking.

Thank goodness, there was Mizore with him that did her best to comfort him by telling him that she was there for him, managing to relax him enough. Though, the memory of that dream is still in his mind, so the yukionna wants to do her best to make it disappear completely, all while competing against her rivals for his love and caring constantly for him.

All her care and affection for him are making him more affectionate to her too, considering that he glanced at her lips in class and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Will his affection for her increase and will he kiss her on the lips to her joy and surprise next time? Stay tuned to find out.

See ya!