Elijah...one week later...ten days until the festival...
Hey, Mom, Dad...
Things have been going as well as I had hoped when I came back, there were a few minor hiccups but nothing that me or my friends couldn't handle. Speaking of... Everyone has been doing well for themselves in my absence, Tsukuen especially. I'm glad he was here to take care of everyone as I...well, you two know already. As for that whole ordeal...
Everyone was pretty shocked by my...'condition', surprising no one. Yukari was more excited than anyone, I wish you could've seen her face when she realized who I really was, Mom. I honestly think you'd like her, well, all of my friends, really. I don't think I really told you how much I appreciated you trying to keep me reassured when I didn't know about what was going on, I honestly can't thank you guys enough for keeping my spirits high during those rough days in Hong Kong.
I've been keeping up with my training ever since I came back, I even got Tsukune to join me in my morning PT. The guy's tough as nails, I swear, he's the toughest guy I've ever met. Well, besides you, Dad. As for tapping into my ancient power, or...Merlin's Might, as I'm now calling it. Right now, it seems that I can only unleash it when I'm feeling a strong emotion such as anger or desperation. But I noticed that I'm the one in control rather than...whatever part of Merlin resides within me. So that's progress, I suppose. As for what's happened in the past week or two...
Looks like it's just like old times for me and the Newspaper Club, now with the Security Committee gone, the lower thugs of Yokai Academy think they can come out of their holes and start causing trouble. So far, there's been a clan of Monstrels that have been trying to harass my friends ever since I left. Now that I'm back, there's this other gang of Anti-Schoolers who want to destroy the Academy. They simply loathe the idea of coexistence between humans and monsters and want the world to go back to the way it used to be thousands of years ago...with Monsters as the dominant species on Earth.
I'll stop them, Mom, Dad, I promise...
But enough of that, I have some exciting news. The School's Festival is coming up just over a week from now, and they're saying that parents are allowed to come to Yokai Academy to see all that we've done here. I know you guys could be busy during that time, but it would mean a lot to me if you could come and meet everyone...properly this time. Kurumu wants to give you an apology for how she reacted when you took me away to Matser Fuhai. How's he doing, by the way? I know we didn't exactly leave on the best terms, but I'm forever grateful for showing me the way...even if his methods weren't always the best. Please give him my regards if you can...
I'll keep trying to make you guys proud...
With so much love, Elijah...
"Are you done with that letter of yours, Everett?" Archimedes hooted at me, poking his head out of his new birdhouse. "Don't you have to get to your responsibility with the festival committee soon?" His voice echoes for a second when he backs out body first.
"I just finished it, Archimedes, no need to get your feathers in a ruffle," I close the envelope and start writing the address on the front.
"I don't understand why you insist upon writing these letters when you have that little device of yours that can communicate with them directly, from anywhere in the world might I add!"
"Because it's more sentimental this way, it shows I took time out of my day to write and send them one."
"Whatever you say, Young Everett. Of all sorcery I've seen in my lifetime, I don't think I will ever understand the witchcraft of that small device of yours."
"I chuckle. "It's not magic that makes it work, Archimedes. It's science. After all, science is just magic that humans can comprehend."
"Hah!" The pygmy owl scoffed. "'Humans understanding magic', that'll be the day."
"Don't forget, humans have made many achievements and advancements in the past hundred years they've been alive. Sure, they're far from perfect, but I'm sure we can all come together and pursue one common goal."
"And what might that be?"
"... the betterment of our world, a world of peace, a world where monsters and humans can coexist."
"Hmm..."
I find the lack of a scoff or sarcastic comment from the owl a little strange. "What is it, Archimedes?"
"Who? What, what? Ah, it's nothing, just reminded me of an old friend is all. Perhaps I had you all wrong."
I smile as I finish up the envelope. "I appreciate that, Archimedes. Here," I hand him the envelope. "If you could deliver this for me, I'd be grateful."
"What, what...what?!" The owl was baffled. "You expect me to fly across the world to deliver your letter?! I'm not a Hawk!"
"No, no, no. Just to the bus stop by the entrance of Yokai Academy, just say it's from Elijah Everett, the driver will know what to do with it."
"...Ah, my mistake," Archimedes looks relieved he wouldn't have to fly that far, he takes the letter in his zygodactyls and flies out my window. I wave him goodbye and he disappears into the distance.
"Well, guess that means I better get back to work." I sighed. "But first..." I pull out my phone and set it down on my desk. "...Let's see if I can get it right this time." I raise my hand over my phone. Alright, I need a clear picture of what I want...I can do this. "Duplex!"
Well, that went just as I expected, but I'm close. I can feel it.
It takes me no time to get back to the main building. Yokai Academy is now a bustling cesspool of other students setting up future festival activities. The sight of this fills me with hope. No fighting, no gang attacks, no pompous pricks, no bullies, and no drama. Just people coming together and working hard for a common goal.
"Hey, can you give us a hand?" A student I passed and his friends needed help positioning a tiki post.
"Sure thing," I take a few seconds to help them push it upright.
"Thanks, man."
I nod. "No problem."
This guy wasn't the only person who needed my assistance. As I tried to find Tsukune and Hokuto, some girls needed my help to carry several boxes, another group of guys needed help setting up their booth, and one guy was even making a haunted room, and he wanted my opinion on whether using real blood would be more authentic. I opted that he use fake blood because it was easier to clean up, and he wouldn't want to cause trouble with the teachers.
What was more surprising was seeing the girls from earlier in the school year who I tried to get to read our paper, the whole 'Super Newspaper Club' BS. Their class decided to do a maid cafe, I know, cliche. They requested that I could become one of their butlers since I definitely had a 'handsome face', as they put it. I was flattered, but I declined their offer so they suggested that I should stop by during the festival. I had my own club's booth to worry about anyway.
"Elijah! Up here!"
I look up and see my best friend peeking over the railing on the second floor, he's accompanying Hokuto as well. "Hey, I'll be right up!" I squat down and I leap upward, jumping right over the railing and landing in front of Tsukune. "'Sup, fellas."
"Impressive jump," The taller one acknowledged.
"Isn't this great, dude? This place actually looks festive for once!"
"Hell yeah, it's good to see our hard work starting to pay off. I'm...actually excited about this."
"Haha, that's right. You guys are freshmen. So this will be your first festival. It's bound to get a lot busier than this."
"That so?" I ask Hokuto and he nods.
"Yep. Lots of alumni come back to visit, even a lot of ones who moved to the human world. It's a student celebration and reunion all in one, and it lasts for three whole days from October 29th to Halloween."
"Wow, that's impressive."
"I'll say."
"That means three days to showcase peace," He continued on. "That'll be the festival committee's project. You guys couldn't have asked for a better job, huh?"
Well, I can think of a few better ones, but I don't want to bring down the mood. "Nope, so let's get to work, fellas!"
"Here, here."
Moka
The Newspaper Club was busier than usual with the festival just around the corner, even Gin had to pitch in like an actual club president rather than slack off and peep on unsuspecting girls. Yukari tapped away at Elijah's laptop he happily lent her, Moka worked on a special edition of their newsletter in spirits of the festival, Mizore carefully glued together a few posters to hang around the academy, Gin even helped with how the designs should be, and Kurumu was tasked with researching what the other classes and clubs were doing for the festival.
"How are things coming along, Yukari?"
"Fantastic!" The young Witch exclaimed.
"How about you, Mizore?"
"I keep getting glue stuck on my hands," The Snow Fairy muttered. "but otherwise, I'm almost done with my fifth poster."
"That's great," Moka smiles. "Gin?"
"All's good over here, you gals always pull through."
"Well, we don't want to let anyone down."
"I'm ba-ack!" Kurumu hummed a sing-song greeting as she returned to the clubroom with a stack of paper in her hands. "I got all the research!"
"Welcome back, Kurumu."
"Phew!" The Succubus wiped some sweat from her brow after setting down the papers on a desk. "It took forever, but I collected every last scrap of info on the class activities."
"Great job, Kurumu!" Moka was happy with how hard she was working. "Now we just have to write up an FAQ article, list the musical events, pick out some more pictures, and print out the newsletters. Do you think you could get started on the article? That'd be great-"
"AAAHHH! Too busy!" Kurumu exclaimed, nearly knocking over the pile of newspapers. "How come a fun festival just means more work for us?!"
"But you're the one who wanted to report during the festival with Elijah," Yukari pointed out.
"That's different! That will be during the festival! And how do you even know about that?!"
"He told me."
"What?! Dummy can't keep a secret...oh, shit..."
Moka grew concerned after seeing the dreadful look on Kurumu's face. "What's wrong?"
"...Nothing, don't worry about it. But about us being busy these days," Kurumu scowled as she went on. "This all started when Tsukune and Elijah started working for that Hokuto guy! It's all his fault!" The blue-haired succubus thinks back to only yesterday when she last saw the boys she held dear.
"Oh, come on! You guys can' help today, either?!"
"Sorry, guys..."
"Yeah, our bad, Kuru. Hokuto's got another meeting for us today."
"He's called a meeting every day this week! Why do you guys have to run whenever he calls?"
"Well, it's not entirely his fault, there's just so much to do."
"Not only that, Kuru, but we have to work alongside him if Tsukune and I don't want to be expelled."
"Don't remind me..."
"But it's not fair, guys! I...we barely see you anymore!"
"I know, but I don't want to let the school down."
"Me neither. Hokuto may not have my complete trust yet, but he's proved to be more dependable than most, he seems to really care about the future of this Academy."
"Come on, Kurumu," Moka broke Kurumu out of her thoughts. "don't be so hard on the guys. Hokuto seems like a good guy. All the teachers speak highly of him, so I don't blame Tsukune and Elijah for wanting to help him."
"What's so great about that guy?! He's too skinny! And he's got an evil face!"
"'And evil face'?"
"Not to mention he's too tall," Mizore added. "He towers over Elijah for goodness' sake."
"Aww, are you jealous of a guy, Kurumu?" Yukari teased. "That's sad, even for you!"
"Huh?!"
As they scuffled over whether Kurumu was jealous or not, Moka thought to herself.
Kurumu has a point though... I wonder if it came down to it, would they pick the student council over us? No, that's ridiculous. Maybe they should talk to Hokuto about his work with us and divide their time more evenly. Maybe I should go talk to them right now about it...
Elijah
"Hey, Tsukune?"
"Yeah?"
"What time are the outdoor concerts again?"
"I...think around four?"
"Got it," I write the time down on the poster, Tsukune and I are just about done here and we can finally see how the others are holding up. "And...that should do it."
"Phew..." Tsukune and I take a look at our hard work. "This took longer than I thought."
"But not as long if one of us had to do it alone," I say, getting a small laugh out of my friend.
"Yeah, no doubt. Oh, hey, Hokuto," He greeted the tall president as he came along, I offered a small nod. "What do you think of this poster for the class activities schedule?"
"You guys are already done?" Hokuto looks over our work and smiles. "You two work fast."
You call it working fast, we call it 'getting shit done'.
"What will your class be doing?"
"Oh, Class 3-1 is going to have a 'catch the fish' booth" Tsukuen answers Hokuto.
"Catch the fish? Isn't that more of a summer festival thing?"
"Yeah, but our teacher insisted upon it," I say. "She's setting up the whole thing. Something tells me that there won't be any more fish by the time the festival is over."
"Yeah," Tsukune chuckles. "no doubt."
"I see. Well, it looks like we can take a breather today, why don't you two drop by your classroom?" Tsukune and I raise our brows at that, he's already letting us go for the day? "You guys should stop by your club, too. I noticed that you haven't been going lately."
"Really? It's okay?"
"Thanks," I decide not to question it right now, I want to see the others. "We'll see you around."
"Hey, we're the ones who should be thanking you guys," Hokuto's claim causes us to turn around and stop us from leaving. "You two should already know that the council's by the Anti-Schoolers, sabotaging the festival is at the top of their agenda. No one wants anything to do with the council these days, too dangerous and all that," He looks at us with a grateful smile. "But you guys are different. You're still here, you're still working with us, you didn't run, even after they attacked you. You guys really are tougher than you look."
"...Thanks, Hokuto," Tsukune is astonished by his words, and I hate to admit it to myself...but It feels nice coming from someone who strives for what I do.
"Yeah, thanks, man. We'll see you around."
I sigh in relief as Tsukune and I finally get outside and take in the fresh afternoon air. I don't know how long we've been cooped up in that room, but it feels like it's been days now. At least Hokuto was nice enough to let us go earlier than usual. Oh, God, am I actually starting to like the guy? I'm supposed to be vigilant about this, and yet...he hasn't set off any alarms...not yet, anyway. He strives for peace like Tsukune and I do, of course, he wouldn't set off any alarms. He's...kind of what I expect I could be one day.
"Hey, Elijah?"
"Huh? Oh, what's up?"
"You were kinda spacing out there, what's up with you, man?"
"Just thinking, I guess. About the festival, working for the council, Hokuto being a good guy, worrying about how the others are doing, all that jazz."
"Yeah, I know the feeling. But...what did you mean by Hokuto?"
"...Well, he seems like a dependable guy, but isn't it strange that he hasn't really given us any red flags?" Tsukune shakes his head, not really knowing what I mean. "I mean, everyone has at least one red flag, even you and me," Tsukune looked at me like he was about to retort to my claim but I continued on. "You're too nice sometimes, I can be arrogant, Moka's sometimes too naive, Yukari can be too childish, Mizore stalks people, Gin's still a creep sometimes, Kurumu...well, she used to objectify herself a lot."
"It's kinda weird that you've thought of these without much thought."
"Well, yeah. When we first meet people, we make our first judgments of them, but it's after when we can see them for who they really are."
"...So how do you see us now?"
"Do you really want me to start that song again?" Tsukune laughs, seeing that I don't need to say anything more. But...he looks off to the side and down to the Holy Lock around his wrist. "Something wrong, man?"
"...This thing keeps me Human," He says with a sigh. "And every time I fight, it only gets weaker and starts crumbling away."
"Hey," I pat his shoulder. "I'm sure the Headmaster has a plan for that, don't stress about it too much."
"It's not just that..." He goes on. "You remember what Hokuto said about us how we didn't run away?" I nod. "Well, I kinda feel bad knowing that we're only here because we don't have a choice. It's not we're not running, it's because we can't. Our only option is to stay and fight."
"Oh, please," I scoff. "Even if Headmaster hadn't threatened us with expulsion, I know you wouldn't run away. You didn't when we found out about the Security Committee, so why would you now?" Tsukune keeps himself distant, I don't know if my reasoning is getting through to him. Hmm... An idea pops into my head to try and cheer him up. "...Never made it as a wise man..." He simply just rolled his eyes at me, but I saw that smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Come on, you know the words..."
"..."
"Come on..." I smile, jabbing his arm with my elbow.
"...I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing," His eyes rolled again, letting out a small chuckle.
"Tired of livin' like a blind man..."
"...I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling."
"And this is how you remind me," I pat my legs like a set of drums. Come on, we all know.
"This is how you remind me of what I really am."
"This is how you remind me of what I really am!" We jam out together, ignoring how stupid we could possibly look. "It's not like you to say 'sorry', I was waiting on a different story. This time, I'm mistaken...for handing you a heart worth breaking."
"And I've been wrong!"
"I've been down!"
"Been to the bottom of every bottle! These five words in my head, scream 'Are we having fun yet?'"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah! No, no..."
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah! No, no..."
We laugh after we finish the chorus, It feels so good to just goof around with my friend for once instead of being serious twenty-four-seven. I don't think we've acted like this ever since I came back, I should really make time for moments that don't come by too often. After taking a few breaths, Tsukuen smiles at me with greatness in his eyes.
"Thanks, man. I needed that."
"Anytime, brother."
"Hey, nice bracelet you got there...
A voice from above grabs our attention to...a guy sitting on a tree branch not too far away from us. His...strange-looking eyes came up from his book he was reading and they pierced into Tsukune's. It would be strange enough if he only had heterochromia eyes, while his left green was slit vertically like normal, his right red eye was slit horizontally. He also had silver hair, but I knew he wasn't a vampire, he didn't have that familiar aura. He was somewhat handsome, this guy could pass for a male model in the human world.
"Who's he?" Tsukune whispers to me.
"No idea," You're more worried about that? I'm more worried if he saw our jam session.
"I want one too..." The tree guy jumps down with a gleeful smile, walking right to Tsukune.
"Huh?" Tsukune takes a step back when the guy gets closer, I'm more worried that he's trying to fiddle with his Holy Lock.
"Hey," I get in between them. "How about you back off? It ain't any business of yours." I drag Tsukune and we hurry ourselves along before the guy can argue. I don't know what his deal is, but I really, really, really, don't want to start anything today.
...?...
"Hey!" The silver-haired monster cried out as he watched the boys running away from him. "Aw, shoot," He pouts before smiling to himself. "I scared them off, guess I came on a little too strong."
"Idiot..." Another voice calls from behind him, another boy with brown hair...his glasses reflecting the evening sun as he faces him. "What were you thinking, Kiriya? You can't talk to them. You're being watched on suspicion of being an Anti-Schooler. You know that."
"Ha!" He scoffs, slipping his book into his pocket. "Look who's talking. You're the one who has to play nice. Won't you get in trouble if someone catches you talking to me...Boss?"
"..." Kiriya walks past the senior...and he smiles as he adjusts his glasses.
"Everything's going to your plan, isn't it...Hokuto? We've thrown trouble in Tsukune and Elijah's way, probably more than we had to, but enough to convince everyone that they're being hunted, and to get the Headmaster to take them under his wing. And now that Tsukune and Elijah are both in the Headmaster's inner circle," Kiriya's eyes meet Hokuto's as they darkened behind his glasses, matching his sinister smile. "Heh...This is fun!" The silver-haired boy exclaimed with joy, patting a slightly annoyed Hokuto. "You're a clever one alright! I can't wait to see if you actually pull this off!"
"...I'm glad you find all this so amusing," He sighed. "Just keep your mind on your work. And keep a lid on that temper of yours, I'm about to put my plan into motion. Any moment now...and you've got to be ready to move."
"Yeah, yeah," Kiriya waved his hand dismissively. "You can't count on me, Hokuto."
"There's only one question mark in my plan, and that's you. Now get out of here or..." Hokuto darts his head back, feeling something...watching him. But the only thing he sees is a few crows flying away from a tree, followed by an owl.
"Hokuto? Something wrong?"
"..." He watches the birds fly away, silently questioning the presence of an owl. "No...it's nothing. Absolutely nothing..." They part ways, leaving nothing but the sound of nature behind.
...That...and the lone girl hiding behind a tree. She holds her hand over her chest, feeling the sudden quickened pace. The girl brushed her pink hair away from her face and steadied her breathing. What was all that about? That...horrible bloodlust... And that guy...he's not like me, but...could he be a...? I have to warn them, right now!
HOO! HOO!
"Archimedes?" The young girl was shocked to see the owl landing on the ground in front of her. "What are you-"
"Quiet!" He shouted in a low whisper. "Did you see that look in that fellow's eyes? I've never felt such...evil in centuries."
"We have to warn the others, Tsukune and Elijah specifically."
Moka
"Wait, wait, wait...you're telling us that you think Hokuto is a Monstrel?!"
"Yes," Moka nodded. "we think so."
"I say, how is it that this school is full of corrupt, bundling blockheads? I'll tell you it's all pinfeathers and gullyfluff!"
"Hey! It's not all bad!" Yukari argued. "So what are we gonna do?"
"Warn Tsukune and Elijah, perhaps?" Mizore suggests.
"Obviously! If Hokuto really is a Monstrel, then we have a major problem on our and, Elijah and Tukune especially!"
"Well, let's go-" Moka stopped talking mid-sentence at the sound of the clubroom door opening, it slowly swung open with Tsukune Elijah on the other side. "Tsukune?"
"Elijah! Perfect timing, we have to tell you guys-"
"We heard everything," Elijah interrupts Kurumu, holding up his hand for her to stop talking.
"You can't be serious, right? Hokuto can't be one of them."
"...Guys, I'm sure of it."
"Quite right!" Archimedes hoots. "I could feel that...dishonorable thirst for blood practically radiating off of him!"
"I saw him talking to this other guy when I was on my way to come check on you two," Moka continued on. "I couldn't hear what they were saying...but I could tell."
"Maybe we should take this up with the Headmaster-"
"No," Elijah shuts down Yukari's suggestion. "We'll go talk to him ourselves."
"What?!"
"Look, even if you and Archimedes saw something, it's probably just him trying to help out," Tsukune crossed his arms. "We've been working together for a while and I think he's a dependable guy."
"You can't be serious!" Yukari shouts.
"I didn't imagine things, Tsukune!"
"But that doesn't change the fact that he has set off no alarms in my book," Elijah says. "How many people have we come across that I knew immediately that they were trouble? But with Hokuto...nothing. So Tsukune and I will get the truth from him...even if I have to get it out of his head." The boys turn to leave...
"Wait!" But Kurumu's voice stops them. "Are you two saying you don't believe us?"
"We're your friends..."
"..."
"..."
They said nothing as they left the clubroom. Kurumu, frustrated beyond rational thought, grabs a nearby chair and throws it across the room. "I can't believe them!"
"Kurumu, calm down."
"'Calm down'?! Those dummies are putting themselves at risk and you're telling me to calm down?!"
"They've gotten out of worse mishaps before, like with-" Yukair immediately stops herself from finishing that sentence, the young witch doesn't want to provoke her any further. "Never mind!"
"Well, if you three are just gonna sit here and talk, I'm going after them," Mizre stands from her desk and starts leaving, Kurumu follows and rolls her eyes.
"Leave it to the stalker to go after the boys first."
"Guys, wait!" Moka stopped them from leaving. "We still need to tell the headmaster about this."
"You do what you want, Moka. I'm going after them."
"Hold on," Yukari steps up to speak. "I'll go with you two after Tsukune and Elijah, Moka can go find Ruby and she can grab the headmaster!"
"So divide and conquer?" Mizore tilts her head and Yukari nods and gives the Snow Fairy a thumbs up.
"Divide and conquer!"
HOO! HOO!
"What about me?"
"You should go with Moka and keep an eye on her, Archimedes."
"Hmph!" The owl puffed out his chest. "Leave me with the babysitting job? Fine, I shall watch out for the young vampire girl."
"Okay," Moka smiles at the rest of the girls. "Good luck, guys. Let's go!"
Elijah
Tsukune and I rush back to the Student Council building as fast as we can, I still can't even put my head around what the girl just told us. Hokuto...you can't be one of them, right? He represents what Yokai Academy achieves to be! Me and Tsukune have worked with him and he's had our backs since...he can't be...but if he is... I shake my head and I continue to run with Tsukune.
"You...you don't think...that Hokuto's one of the Anti-Schoolers, don't you?" Tsukune asked me between panting.
"I don't know, but we're gonna find out soon enough."
"And what if...he is?"
"I don't know, we deal with it just like we always do."
"..."
Tsukune and I reach the building, catching our breath so we can stop and think about how we want to handle this. Even if Hokuto is what the girls think he is...no, I don't want to think like that. He hasn't provoked me or Tsukune in any way possible, he shares the same goal that I do, Tsukune too. I can feel it in the way he speaks, he truly wants to change Yokai Academy for the better!
"Alright, what's the plan?"
I take a second to collect my thoughts. "...We go in, act like we forgot to leave some important documents, and keep our guard up but still remain casual. Hokuto should still be here so just act normal. Then...we simply ask him."
"Just 'ask him'?"
I nod. "Yeah...not exactly one of my better plans, huh?"
"Well...let's do it."
"Yeah," I reach my hand out to the door handle...but a painful twinge in my frontal lobe stops me and I bring my hands to my head. "Augh!"
"Dude, what's wrong?!"
Oh, God... It hurts... What...am I seeing? There's...blood? The human world? A crucifix? And...someone's laughing at me.
"Elijah!"
Tsukune's voice breaks me out of my trance, I take a few deep breaths to try to stop my head from throbbing. This is just like back in Hong Kong when I saw that vision of Tsukune's fight with Mido. I could smell blood, hear the desperate cries of someone to stop, I saw someone holding a crucifix above their head but couldn't make out their face, and...I swear I thought I could see the human world from Yokai Academy.
"What just happened?"
"...Nothing," I wave him off. "I'm fine, just... don't let your guard down for a second in there."
"...Alright."
We head inside, Tsukune gives me some questioning side glances as we make our way down the halls. I know I told the others about the first time I had this kind of vision, but I don't want to jinx anything. I don't know how this...foresight...or whatever this is works, but I know that I can't risk getting anything wrong. We need to be careful, and most importantly, we need to be smart. We reach the doors of the meeting room, Tsukune and I share a nod before we open them.
But neither of us could've possibly imagined what we found inside...
Hokuto stood in the middle of the meeting room...surrounded by the bloodied and bruised bodies of the other Student Council members either on the floor or they were slumped over the broken furniture. The air reeked with the stench of blood, and some of the bodies let out a few pained coughs and groans... I don't think I have ever seen such a massacre, and Hokuto stood at the center of it.
For once in my life...I couldn't believe my own eyes...
"Ah. So..." Hokuto slowly turned his head at us, seeing our shocked expressions and sighing. "You came here, Tsukune, Elijah..."
"H-Hokuto...?" Tsukune could barely get that one word out. "This...this is just some mistake, right?"
"..." But I couldn't even speak.
Hokuto turned his body to us, facing Me and Tsukune...with a broken piece of a chair in his right hand. Tsukune took a step back...and I didn't move out of sheer shock. "T-There's no way you did this, right, Hokuto?" Tsukune chuckled nervously.
"..."
THRAK!
Tsukune barely managed to doge Hokuto trying to stab us with the sharp piece of chair while I only moved purely out of instinct rather than action alone. His makeshift weapon is thrusted into the wall...shattering it with many cracks. He's strong...what the fuck is he?
"...So it's true, Hokuto?" Tsukune muttered. "You're...an Anti-Schooler?"
He sighs, adjusting his glasses before pulling his weapon out of the wall. "Overheard, were we? Oh, well. That just means we'll have to launch our plan a little early. And yes, you're right. Wouldn't want to leave you two in suspense," Hokuto stared daggers at me and Tsukuen as he sneered. "In fact, I'm the leader of the Anti-Schoolers."
"...I don't believe this," Those were the first words that came out of my mouth after we opened that door. I can hear it in the way Hokuto speaks...he wasn't lying. "All this time, I thought I found someone who saw the same vision that I did, someone who truly wanted peace for this world... I saw the look in your eye, you truly wanted to change the world for the better...and I believed you! I thought I found...another kindred spirit! And here you are...being the very thing that's wrong with this school! Explain yourself! I thought I had to change the world on my own, that there was only a handful of people in this world who wanted peace like me..."
"We trusted you," Tsukune adds. "All this time...we were in danger...and we dragged our friends into it! Why, Hokuto?!"
"...Your sentimentality bores me," Hokuto said flatly. "Emotions are pointless. I seek only knowledge," He slowly raised his makeshift weapon over his shoulder...as he slowly walked toward me and Tsukune. "Show me the power with which you two defeated my underlings. If you don't..." Hokuto raises his weapon over his head. "both of you will die."
"Guys! Look out!"
From above, a voice called out. Followed by it was a barrage of magic cards directed at Hokuto, he deflects a few of them and backsteps a few feet away, one of his feet steps into a small puddle of blood. He sees one of the magic items stuck in the piece of wood. "...Tarot cards?" From the blood...formed an ice hand that grabbed onto Hokuto's leg, trapping him momentarily.
"You make me sick," Another voice called from above, I looked up...and I saw my best friend's angered frown, her wings, and claws were extended as she flew down at Hokuto. Kurumu? "You're the lowest of the low. I saw through you from the start! Your face! IT'S EVIL!"
SLASH!
CRASH!
Kurumu cuts down Hokuto where he stands, leaving a cloud of rubble and smoke in her path. Mizore and Yukari came down in front of me and Tsukune, the young witch held her wand and the Snow Fairy's hands were formed into ice claws.
"...You dummy," I heard Kurumu's voice calling out, I'm the only one she calls that. "What you said about changing the world on your own... You're not alone, Elijah! You're so selfish, both of you! Trying to take on everything by yourselves..." She looks at me...and she smiles sadly. "You have to let us in, guys. If we all do it together...it wouldn't hurt half as bad!"
"Kuru..."
"All of you..."
We really don't deserve these girls...but where's-
"Hahaha..." The sound of laughing gets all of our attention. Hokuto...he's still standing after Kurumu's sneak attack, did she even hit him? There's not even a scratch on him. "This 'power' of Tsukune and Elijah's I've heard so much about... I thought I'd finally get to see it, but..."
The girls don't waste a second and surround Hokuto. Mizore has the end of her ice claws sharpened, Yukari holds another deck of tarot cards at the ready, and Kurumu is ready to pounce on him and tear him apart.
"How dare you treat my friends like this?! I hope you're ready for this..." Kurumu sneered. "I'll make you feel their pain!"
"Stop!" A voice followed by the door slamming open stops Kurumu from attacking, we all see that Ruby has come to the scene...and she's covered in cuts and bruises. "I...hate to interrupt...but..."
"Ruby!" I help the Witch up to her feet, she holds onto my shoulders for support. "What the hell happened?!"
"It's Moka," She coughed. "She's been taken hostage...and Archimedes...he's..."
"..."
Ruby...moments before...
"Hold on. You want me to look into Hokuto's background?"
"Yes!" Moka nods. "Please, Ruby! With the Headmaster's help, you can find out about him, right?"
The Witch couldn't even believe what she was hearing from the Vampire and pygmy owl. "I can't believe it...the student council president...an Anti-Schooler."
Moka looks off to the. "I'm not surprised that Tsukune didn't believe it, but Elijah? He's seen right through the worst of people, why not this guy?"
HOO! HOO!
"And you all call him the 'logical' one of the group? Hogwash! He's as mad as Merlin!"
"Even so, they're both in terrible danger! Please, Ruby..."
"I'll do it," She didn't even need to think twice about it. "I'll find out everything I can, Moka...for Eli- I mean, for them!"
The vampire smiled with glee at her friend. "Oh, thank you, Ruby!"
"Of course, just leave it to me, Moka!"
"I say! Look out!" The owl called out...but Archimedes was too late.
SLASH!
"AAH!"
The Witch is slashed across her back by someone appearing behind her, knocking her into a nearby tree. Ruby's raven wings protrude out of her back in reaction and she prepares herself for combat. "Who's there?!" Ruby has her wand at the ready, facing about with silver hair and metachromatic eyes...carrying an unconscious Moka over his shoulder. "What are you doing with Moka?!"
The boy sneered. "My apologies... But if she reaches Tsukune, she could ruin Hokuto's master plan."
"I say, unhand her, you ruffian!" Archimedes started pecking the boy's head...but the strange-eyed boy hit the bird with his free hand into a nearby rock, and the owl wasn't moving.
"ARCHIMEDES!"
"Well, toddle-loo!"
And in a flash...the boy was gone...with Moka kidnapped.