Elijah

This afternoon is like a fresh breath of air compared to yesterday. Tsukune explained everything that happened during morning PT with me. I swear it even sounded like he was bragging about it a little. The fact that he drew out the power of the vampire blood within him is crazy enough, but I thought the Holy Lock was supposed to keep that from happening. But with how he described it, it sounds like the Holy Lock is only channeling it somehow. Tsukune is right about one thing, we need to talk to the headmaster and find out what the deal is. More importantly, we need to find out what happened to the Centipede and Wendigo. They're not the Monstrels, but they could give us problems in the future.

But I don't want to worry about that right now, it's lunchtime.

All of us have been gathering for lunch ever since I came back. I mean, we used to do it before I left, but it feels much better now for some odd reason. Everyone seems to be in a much better mood for today, especially Moka. I guess her finally getting some of her lover's blood made her all chipper. Archimedes 'joined' us, but all he's doing is taking a nap on a nearby tree. For a 'highly educated owl', Archimedes is pretty lazy.

"What's up, Moka? You seem awful cheery today," Kurumu noticed the same thing I did, but I'm sure she already knew the answer.

"She's right," Yukari added. "You look all glowy!"

The vampire blushed at this, most likely thinking about last night. Tsukune on the other hand...he's paler than a ghost. Jeez, just how much did she get out of him? I'm surprised he didn't collapse during our workout.

"You, on the other hand," The Young Witch looks at the human with a smirk. "look like crap. Pale, lifeless, tired..." She listed on.

"H-Huh? I do?" Tsukuen tried to shrug it off like it was nothing, but no one was buying it.

"Are you feeling under the weather?" Moka expressed concern. "Maybe it's just my imagination, but your blood tasted...a little off."

'Off'? What's that supposed to mean?

"I'm fine, Moka. Really, I am."

"...'Tasted'?" Oh, boy. Here we go again... "Don't you ever stop and think about anything else about him?"

"Oh, Uh, well..."

"I don't care how 'delicious' it tastes, you drinking Tsukune's blood all the time is gonna hurt him one of these days."

"Easy, Kuru. If it was a real issue-"

"I know, I know," Kurumu waves me off. "'He would've said something'. That doesn't mean that I have to like it."

"I'll be right back," Tsukune stands from the table.

"Where you going?"

"I gotta hit the john."

I nod and Tsukune leaves to find the bathroom. Meanwhile, I felt an itch in the back of my head, but the familiar cool air didn't raise any worry out of me. "You know, you can always join us at the table, Mizore," I called out. "No need to hide from us all the time."

The Snow Fairy in question hangs upside down from a nearby tree, her lavender hair glistening in the afternoon sun. "I can't help it, it's fun to watch."

"Sure, but it would be even more fun if you joined all of your friends here," I retort.

Seeing my logic, and not wanting to make things awkward, Mizore joins us at the table. She slumps down in an extra chair Yukari brought over and just fiddles with her lollipop. "...This is nice."

I smile. "Good."

"We've got an emergency!" The loud and familiar voice of our Club president, Gin, startles us as he slammed a few papers on out table. At least he didn't ruin our food. "Did you guys see this?! This is bad. Real bad!"

"Hey, Gin," Moka greeted him with a smile. "It's been a while."

"I haven't seen you ever since I left," I add. "I've been meaning to thank you for what you did that day."

"You can save all the dumb mushy stuff for later," He argued. "Will you guys just read the stupid paper, please?"

Mizore picks one slip in her hands, reading it aloud to us. "'Festival Forcast: Rain of Blood,'" What the fuck? "'On October 29th, we will rise in protest against the school festival. Unless the Academy calls off all preparations immediately..." Mizore jaw dropped and her sucker nearly fell out of her mouth.

"...Read the rest."

"...'If not...rivers of blood will flow.'" She looks up at the rest of us. "Since when did we become terrorists?"

I take another slip from the table, seeing the paper for myself. It's even printed in our official title. Whoever is doing this wants to sabotage us, but it can't be the security committee again, we've seen the end of those assholes. But who is it now? Can't we just have one week without someone trying to fuck us over?!

"It's a phony," Gin goes on with an explanation, seems like he's already been digging into this. "There's a ton of these scattered all over the school grounds. And there's some really sicko graffiti on the school buildings."

"Who the hell would do this?" I question.

"The Anti-Schoolers. This is definitely those creeps' M.O.."

"'Anti-Schoolers'?"

"Never heard of 'em."

"Their identities and numbers are shrouded in mystery. They despise Yokai Academy's ideal of peaceful coexistence with humans and seek to return monsters to their base predatory natures. They're trying to damage the entire school's reputation by framing our news club and getting the administration to abolish our club, or worse...expel us."

"That's not fair!" Moka exclaimed.

"No shit, I literally just got back."

"Hey, where's Tsukune?" Gin looks around for the human with an annoyed look. "Going A.W.O.L. at a time like this..."

"He just went to take a shit," I bluntly answer, standing up. "I'll go get him." I leave the others to find my brother from another mother, he shouldn't have gone too far.

On the way to the bathroom, I find...another one of those papers slandering our good name along with some graffiti that reads 'Festival Forecast: Rain of Blood' on a nearby wall. Underneath also reads 'No Future'. I don't know who these Anit-Schoolers are, but their bullshit stops now.

Hmm, this could be an opportunity to get some extra practice on my matter manipulation. Couldn't hurt to try and clean up their messes.

I raise my hand, a small red glow comes from the end of my fingers. I do my best to get a clear picture of what I want to make. "...Renovare," I softly say, and the wall slowly morphs back into its cleaner state, no more graffiti and no more fake newspaper. I smile at my handiwork. "Not bad, now if only I can get my other idea working..." But that's something I don't have to worry about right now.

I move on, seeing Tsukune coming out of the bathroom rubbing his slightly wet hands on his trousers. He sees and greets me. "Hey, man. I said I'd be right back."

"I know, but we have a problem," I hand him the forged paper made by the Anti-Schoolers, and his eyes widen in shock in response.

"We didn't write this! Who the hell...?"

"Some anarchists who want to tarnish the good name of our school. Gin told us about them not long after you left and..."

Tsukuen tilted his head at me after I cut off my sentence. "What's wrong?"

"Soemone's-" As soon as I turn around, Tsukune and I are surrounded by men in black suits and sunglasses. Two of them are holding Chinese daggers to my throat and two more are doing the same to Tsukune. "...Shit."

One of them holds a walkie-talkie up to their mouths, I can't quite hear what he muttered, but I'm sure I heard the words 'we have them'. "What the hell?"

"Calm down," I whisper to Tsukune. "Let's not provoke them any further."

"Tsukune Aono, Elijah Everett," The man who was holding the radio addressed us. "You two are responsible for this paper," He holds up one of the Anti-Schooler's papers. "are you not?" Hold on, what? "Consequently, for threatening the academy, and on suspicion of being members of the Anti-Schoolers, you two are under arrest."

"What?! B-But we didn't publish this paper!" Tsukune argued.

"If you 'Agent Smiths' had any sense, you'd realize that were the ones who brought unjust crime to justice," I add. "I mean, does anybody remember the whole Security Committee incident?"

"Save it," Seems like the man didn't want to hear it, so he turned and began walking. "you two are coming with us."

"Oh, for fuck's sake..." I mutter, causing one of the suited men to jab me in the back with their dagger. "Keep that up, and I'll turn you into a fucking lawn chair." I continue moving along, and Tsukune does the same. As we walk, I can't help but think...

If the newspaper club is being suspected...why are they only arresting me and Tsukune?

The black-suited men lead us away from the academy and into a large building. Upon entering, Tsukuen and I are met with a large staircase in the middle of the room. Mannequins dressed in medieval armor stood guard by each post. Upstairs, the suited men lead us down dark halls, each section had a painting of...familiar faces. At least, familiar to me. I recognize the faces of the Headmaster, Touhou Fuhai, Akasha Bloodriver...and even Merlin himself. I stay silent so as to not provoke the men any further.

"Where are you taking us?" Tsukune questioned.

"Just shut up and walk," The man leading us responds. "The Headmaster would like a personal word with you two about this newspaper of yours."

The Headmaster? Ha, this will be over before we know it.

We finally reach the end of the hall, leading to a framed doorway. Inside, the only source of light comes from candles on each opposite side of the room and two windows at the end of the room. I feel an overflowing sense of darkness...but the familiarity between the Headmaster and us is already known. Speaking of...

The headmaster has his hands folded on his desk, he looks at me and Tsukune with his eyes glowing and an eerie smile. "Good of you to come, Tsukune, Elijah. Please, be at ease. How have you two been?"

"..."

"..."

Tsukune and I look at each other in confusion. Why is he treating this like some buddy-buddy thing? And does he really think we're the ones responsible for this? Surely not. "...Why have we been brought here?"

The Headmaster stands, turning his back to us as he looks out of the window. "...Expulsion."

"WHAT?!" We shout in response.

"That is why I brought you both here. Tsukune, Elijah, both of you will leave this school effective today."

"That's bullshit!"

"Yeah! Elijah and I have nothing to do with that newspaper!"

"Forget the newspaper. The Anti-Schoolers are getting unruly lately," The Headmaster turns his head back at us, his smile still plastered on his face. "We're having a particularly hard time apprehending this graffiti demon, he's making a mockery of our efforts to catch him. If this keeps up, the rest of the student body will lose our respect for our authority. We need to make it clear that we won't tolerate such behavior. And we've designated you two to set an example."

"What kind of logic is that?!" I exclaim. "Have you forgotten all that we've done for this Academy?!"

"Elijah's right, this isn't fair! You're scapegoating us!"

"...Tell me, Tsukune," He stares directly at him and sneers. "How is that Holy Lock I bound you with holding up?"

"What?"

"What are you...?"

"The incomplete seal must be giving you some trouble. I can see that it's already cracking."

"Huh?"

"Cracking?" Tsukune rolls up his sleeve and looks at the Holy Item on his wrist, I do the same. One of the chain links... Oh, shit... It's just like he said, it is cracking. But what does this mean?

"You see, it wasn't designed for you, The Headmaster explained. "so when your energy spikes, the Lock can't suppress all of it...and the seal is momentarily compromised. Every time that happens, the lock cracks a bit more. If the Lock breaks off...your life is forfeit. If you value your existence, Tsukune Aono, you must leave this Academy, now." He turns away. "This newspaper incident is a perfectly timed pretext."

"That's bullshit!" I shouted, my blood beginning to boil. "And what about me, huh?! What's your logical explanation for kicking me out?!"

"...Elijah Everett," The headmaster faces me directly. "You are known as the Blessed Child, your kind has longed for your arrival ever since the fall of an old friend of mine. In your absence after your...squabble...with the Security Committee, Yokai had been infiltrated by a notorious Warlock. Yes, he was apprehended thanks to the efforts of your Newspaper Club, but who's to say that he will be the last? We are forever grateful for your services to Yokai Academy I will not have the security of this school be compromised to the evils of the world because they want what lies within you."

"..." I know about that already, but I'm ready to face whatever comes my way. "My friends fended him off before, we'll do it again."

"He's right," Tsukune backs me up. "Now with Elijah and our friends here and me now knowing how to fight, they won't dare to-"

"Your 'friends'?" The Headmaster interrupted. "Are you two mad? It's your friends who will destroy you! It's time that both of you opened your eyes!"

"..." Not this again... "You can't do this to us, not after everything we've been through! I just got back and now I have to leave everything behind?!"

"We've come so far! You can't do this to us!"

"My decision is final. I will give you both until the end of the day to say your goodbyes and pack up your things." The Headmaster takes a seat at his desk, folding his hands.

"..."

"..."

I fight every urge in my body to keep myself from lashing out, what kind of bullshit is this? How can the Headmaster just sit there with that grin on his face and tell us that we're being expelled?! Tsukune and I storm out of the room, we don't know exactly where we're going at the moment, but we just need to get away from this place.

Our angered march eventually leads us to the roof of Yokai Academy, the familiar sight brings my mind back to...that day. Repairs have gone very well, but I swear I think I can still smell my own blood in the air. However, that could just be the stress getting to me. Me and my best friend had just been told that we were expelled, after all.

"...What are we gonna tell the others?"

"I don't know, dude," I pinch the bridge of my nose and groan. "Fuck... Kuru is gonna be devastated."

"How can he do this to us?"

"I understand 'making an example', but with us? How about that Centipede and Wendigo guy? They literally tried to kill students and now we're the ones being punished? FUCK!" I punch a nearby concrete wall, leaving a few cracks and a small blood spot. "Dammit..." I hover my left hand over my right. "Episkey," an orange glow heals my cuts in seconds.

"Wish I could do that."

"It would've been useful for your first few months here..."

"Oh! Tsukune! Elijah!" Shit...not now. I was hoping we could tell the others all together, yet here comes Moka. She rushes over to us carrying a cardboard box with a piece of paper taped to the front that says, 'Beware of Fake Newspapers'. "We've been so worried about you guys! We heard you've been arrested! And we all defended your innocence to no avail! I'm so glad you two are alright!"

"..."

"..."

Moka sees the looks on our faces, causing her to tilt her head in confusion. "Guys...? What's wrong?"

"It's...It's okay, Moka. You...you don't have to worry about me and Elijah anymore," Tsukune speaks, his voice breaking with each syllable...but his smile never leaves his face.

"Tsukune?"

"..."

"Moka, I..." Tsukune wants to finish what he must tell her, what the Headmaster had decided for us...but he can't. Instead, he runs away...

"Tsukune, wait!" Moka tries to stop him by grabbing him by his wrist and dropping the box of newspapers in the process. In response, Tsukune gently tugs his arm out of the vampire's grip and keeps running. "...What's going on?"

"...We'll tell you later," I answer her before chasing after Tsukune.

I eventually find him sitting on the edge of the roof opposite side of the Academy with his head in his hands. He's not crying, but something tells me that he feels like doing that. I feel the same, honestly, but I'm angry more than anything else. I say nothing as I take a seat beside my brother, he acknowledges my arrival by opening his left eye and making contact with mine.

"...What are we supposed to do?"

"In all honesty, I...I don't know."

KLIK KLAK KLIK KLAK!

The sound of what could only be...a spray can shaking. This sound brings me and Tsukune out of our state, bringing our attention to...a guy. He's holding a red spray can and wearing a baseball cap and a track jacket. He notices us staring and stops shaking the can, looking at me and Tsukune with a slight smirk.

"What's the matter? You seem awfully down...Tsukune Aono and Elijah Everett." He sprayed the sloped roof as he continued speaking. "Could it be that you two are hung and dry by the Academy because of the newspaper we printed?"

"...Huh?"

"The fuck did you just say?"

"Hehehe... That 'newspaper' is just a form of graffiti. Plain words...with incredible power," He finishes spray painting, the words reading out, 'Death to the Academy'. "And I'll use all my power to push you and your friends to the brink..."

"..."

"..."

Looks like we found our 'Grafitti Demon'.

Tsukune and I stand in unison, he's the first to speak. "Why are you doing this? We don't even know you guys!"

"Who knows?" He shrugged. "Our boss has a special interest in you two...for some odd reason. As for the rest of us..." The Graffiti Demon gritted his teeth in anger. "We just can't forget what you two did to Mido!"

Mido? What does he have to do with...? Oh, fuck...don't tell me that the Anti Schoolers...are the Monstrels. "You-" Before I could even see it...he vanishes.

SHING!

SLASH!

"Gah!"

"Nngh!"

Before Tsukuen and I could even react or even see it coming, the Graffiti Demon had slashed our upper bodies, causing us to fall to our knees. When I look back behind us, I see how he pulled it off. His feet had morphed into skate-like blades. Dammit, he's fast. I use my minor healing spell on myself and Tsukuen, it gets us back on our feet but the cuts were deeper than I thought...so we're still in slight pain.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," I nod. "...Fuckin' Monstrels."

"Haha...good guess, Elijah Everett. Who did you think were the anti-schoolers are? Congratulations on figuring it out before you die..." The Graffiti Demon makes a move again, I try to move to block it...but he stops at the shout of two familiar voices.

"Stop!"

"Leave them alone!" When we all look, we see Moka and Kurumu and...Archimedes?

"I say, I've only been here a few days and you've already caused more trouble than Merlin had in over a hundred years!"

"Shut up, Archimedes!"

"You don't have to do this!" Moka exclaimed to the Graffiti Demon. "Tsukune and Elijah are already leaving school, anyway. Thanks to you, they've been expelled! Isn't that enough for you?! Can't you leave it at that?!"

"I oughta shove that can down your throat for what you did!" Kurumu added with more anger than Moka.

"How did you guys find out?"

"After you left, Archimedes found us. He was concerned after you and Tsukune got arrested and he went to look for you. He heard all about you and Tsukune being expelled from the Headmaster! I won't accept that!"

"Neither will I!" Kurumu added.

"I don't care if yu guys are expelled, especially you, Tsukune. I just won't say goodbye!"

"We just got you back, I'm not letting you go again! You promised!"

"...I'll quit school too."

"Moka!" Tsukune couldn't believe what he was hearing, and neither could I.

"I will too."

"Kurumu! Think about what you're saying!"

"I don't care!"

"...So you two have been expelled?" The graffiti demon smirks. "Well now, isn't this convenient? Of course, you two showing up is convenient for me...since we mean to destroy your whole club."

"...What?"

"Don't even fucking-" I wince in pain. Dammit, those cuts were fucking deeper than I thought.

"I'll slice those pretty necks of theirs in a flash," He says, preparing to move like he did before...but with Moka and Kurumu as his targets. "Go ahead, try and stop me!" He mocked as he started moving.

"NO!"

"GET OUT OF HERE, GUYS!"

Tsukune and I try to move, but the pain in our torsos only grows as we try to keep up. Time seemingly slows down as we try to run, the Graffiti Demon looks back at us and mocks even more. "Not even close, to think you two are a problem for us!"

Fuck! Why the hell am I still weak even after all my training?! Come on! Get him!

"Are you two mad? It's your friends who will destroy you! It's time that both of you opened your eyes!"

"Those friends of yours would've been a hindrance if they were to contact you, this responsibility is yours to bear and yours alone. You'll outlive them, especially that human."

NO! I shout at the memories flashing through my head. They're the reason I'm even alive! I don't care if I'm hunted down for the rest of my days, I'm not leaving them behind again! My friends make me stronger, you doddering old fools!

I familiar yet overwhelming urge flows through my body in an instant, and I feel...power. I glance to my right, seeing Tsukuen's eyes...they're glowing red. Yes, come on, Tsukune, let's do this! I get a glimpse of my hair as it flutters before my eyes...and it's pure white. I've done it, but I still feel like myself. Does this mean... Fuck it, It doesn't matter right now. Tsukuen and I move faster than ever before, way faster than that Monstrel ahead of us. Before he could get to Moka and Kurumu, Tsukuen and I blocked him off in the blink of an eye.

"Huh?" He's shocked by our sudden speed. "How the hell did you two get over here? Get out of my wa-"

BOOM!

Tsukune and I deliver a powerful uppercut, making him crash back onto the main roof of the Academy. When the dust clears, we see him lying unconscious on the ground. Tsukune returns to normal and Moka catches him before he can fall.

"Tsukune?! How did...how did you...?"

"I did it..."

I look at him, feeling a sense of pride. "No, we did it." I help him up to his feet, he sees the state I'm in and he grins.

"You look so badass, man."

"I'll say," Kurumu added. "Are you okay?"

HOO! HOO!

"You gave that punk quite a thrashing!" Archimedes exclaimed in amusement.

"..." I look down at my hands, still feeling the power flowing through me. "...I finally brought it out, and I'm keeping it up. And...I'm me." The power slowly subsides, and I can feel myself going back to my normal state. "What a rush."

"Well, well, well...impressive," We all look to where the sudden voice comes from, the Headmaster and his suited goons have arrived on the roof. One of them was carrying the unconscious body of the Graffiti Demon over their shoulders. "Your determination to protect your friends...your utter lack of fear...you two even kept your power in check"

"What are you doing here Headmaster?" Tsukune demanded.

"Heh. And you two even caught that pesky demon for us. You pass, Tsukune, Elijah. Your expulsions are hereby withdrawn."

"What?"

"What are you talking about?"

"In return, I'd like you two to assist the Academy with certain matters. What do you say, Tsukune Aono, Elijah Everett?"

"..." Was all of this some sort of...test? What 'matters' could he possibly want help with? "What do you mean?"

"The School Festival is coming up, and we're somewhat...understaffed," He explained. "Seems to me that this is a reasonable proposal for you two. Of course, you're free to reject my offer. The only consequence will be...expulsion."

Great, so we're basically being forced to do this in order to stay. Well, I don't really see any other option. What that guy said really struck a nerve with me, the Monstrels mean to destroy us and the others in the club. No way in hell Tsukune and I are gonna let that happen.

"Don't do it, Tsukune," Moka express her opinion to the boy. "You don't know what dangers you guys will face!"

"...Kuru?" I look at her, remembering my promise to the Succubus. I'd agree regardless knowing that these guys are the enemy of peace and they need to be stopped. But I promised her I wouldn't take any unnecessary risks without her permission.

"..." She thinks about what the Headmaster had to say, looking between me and the unconscious Monstrel. Kurumu knows more than anyone that I will do anything to protect her and the others...so she nods, smiling at me as she does so.

"I'm not running away anymore," I hear Tsukune say as he stands up straight beside me. I pat him on his shoulder. We share a nod before the both of us face the Headmaster with fire in our eyes. "We'll do whatever you want. We're staying here at Yokai Academy."

"We're not going anywhere," I add. "Not even if hell comes after us."