Rosario Vampire Fan Fiction ❯ He Who Fights Monsters ❯ Humans Being ( Chapter 11 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: hawker_748 
Anime/Manga: Rosario Vampire Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.01.2013 | Pages: 8 | Words: 9.7K | Visits: 598 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Rosario Vampire Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.01.2013 | Pages: 8 | Words: 9.7K | Visits: 598 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Rosario + Vampire:
He Who Fights Monsters…
Chapter Eleven: Humans Being
Written by: Hawker_748
Tsukune kept his fists clenched tightly as he methodically ran along the sidewalk, taking care to not run into any of the few pedestrians that were out at this early hour. Over the previous three mornings he'd come to realize that running on pavement was harder on his feet than running cross-country; still, it had only made his feet a little more sore after the first time, and considering all the punishment he'd absorbed during the school year, it barely registered now. Running with the hustle and bustle of modern civilization was still a strange feeling for the young man, and he found himself looking forward to getting back to the unearthly stillness of the dead forest.
While he wasn't running amongst monsters now, or so he fervently hoped, being back in the human world had its own set of mundane risks. Traffic and pedestrian crossings were unheard of in his normal runs, and accidentally running in front of a truck would kill him just as quick as a monster could, possibly even quicker. Bumping into human strollers would be embarrassing and rude, and stopping to apologize would wreak havoc with his regimen. Besides, he'd never know if he'd inadvertently crashed into another vampire; encountering one had been harrowing enough, a second one would probably be fatal.
Picking up the pace to cross an intersection before the light turned, Tsukune took notice of the time on a clock outside one of the buildings. He'd been running for nearly an hour, and he felt like he'd covered several miles. Satisfied that he'd done well enough for that day, Tsukune slowed to a brisk walk for a few blocks, getting his wind back and wiping his forehead with the sleeves of his shirt. Letting out a yawn he stretched his arms over his head, yanking them back down when he felt the back of his shirt starting to ride up. While he was uncertain of the exact wording of local laws, Tsukune was pretty sure that a combat knife and sheath clipped to his waistband at the small of his back would offend some people's sensibilities.
The first morning after he'd returned Tsukune had started considering how he could build up his arsenal while at home. But he'd quickly realized it wasn't going to be as simple as it looked at first blush. A pistol would have been the answer to many of his problems, but it wasn't as if he could stroll down to the store to pick one up. The only way to get one was with Yakuza connections, or to know someone who had them, and Tsukune was oh for two on that. And even if he'd had them, it wasn't as if they'd just hand one over gratis, and he had no more money to spend than the average high school student.
If fortune itself had taken pity on him and let him find one in the gutter, it was only an equalizer until it ran out of ammunition, and Tsukune knew there wasn't any to be found at the Youkai Academy store. Harsh and unyielding reality had forced him to forget any notion of bringing a gun back with him.
Tsukune'd also considered a sword; at first glance it made more sense. They were a little easier to get a hold of, and they didn't require bullets either. But on the other hand, he'd never used one before in his life, and if someone was close enough for him to use it, and he screwed up, he was probably a dead man. Also, as difficult to acquire a pistol might have been, at least he'd have been able to conceal it. The only way to hide a sword would have been to slip it down a pant leg, and if walking stiffly was merely embarrassing, trying to draw it would have been a nightmare.
Tasers weren't fatal enough. Poisons were impractical, and he'd be able to get those easily enough back at school, many cleaning agents could be wonderfully toxic. After much consideration Tsukune had come to decide that a bigger knife was the best bet. He'd managed to get a combat knife with a six inch blade, free sheath included, and Tsukune had spent late into the evening sharpening it in his room with the whetstone he'd also bought.
He wasn't going to throw away the dinner knife he'd spent so much time sharpening. It wasn't for sentimental reasons, Tsukune just figured it was better to have two blades than one.
Pushing aside thoughts of his armaments process, Tsukune started walking towards his home, using the slower walk to get his wind back. He knew by the time he got back home he wouldn't be panting like a racehorse. After cleaning himself up he'd have breakfast with his mom, his father already out the door on his way to work. Tsukune allowed himself to weave between the growing number of pedestrians, keeping himself composed, not letting nightmarish flights of fancy convince him that he was the only human out that morning.
Finally reaching his home, idly wiping himself with his sleeve, Tsukune opened the door and walked in, using his feet to push off his runners. "I'm home."
"Welcome back," his mother called out from the kitchen. "Breakfast will be ready when you get out of the bathroom."
"You didn't need to get up early for me," Tsukune pointed out yet again as he joined his mom in the kitchen, knowing he was wasting his breath. "I could have gotten something myself."
Kasumi Aono shook her head demurely, just as she had every other time her son had made this point. "You're only here for a short time," she reminded him "I won't waste that time by sleeping in, now go get cleaned up."
"Yes mom," Tsukune replied sheepishly. He might be the most feared student at Youkai Academy, but his mom could still make him do anything without a struggle. Slipping into the bathroom the young man tossed his sweaty clothes in the hamper, concealing his knife under a towel. Sluicing off the sweat and dirt with a shower, Tsukune eased himself into the bath, sighing in contentment as the hot water relaxed his tired muscles. After a week of soaking after exercise, going back to just a shower after he returned to class was going to be a letdown.
Cleaned and changed into new clothes, his knife safely hidden in his dresser, Tsukune went to the kitchen table, accepting a bowl of rice from his mother with thanks. He picked up the remote and turned on the TV, something he'd missed while at school.
Click.
"-declined to comment at this time. Today was the fourth day of the official inquiry into the tragic fire that killed two women when a controlled burn went out of control, destroying hundreds of acres of land, and took a week to extinguish. The head of the development corporation stated that there had been unexplained incidents when they attempted to conventionally raze the area, which was locally known as Witch's Knoll. Under those circumstances, and not wanting to put any workers at further risk, they decided that a controlled burn was the best option available. He insisted that the area had been cleared beforehand, and the discovery of the charred skeletons of two women was a complete-"
Click.
"I was watching that…" Tsukune flinched at the disapproving look his mother gave him, meekly acquiescing and continuing to eat.
"Where do you run each morning?" Mrs. Aono asked her son.
"Just around the neighborhood," Tsukune replied. "No real course, just go where I feel."
"You never used to jog," his mother pointed out.
Tsukune shrugged. "School changed me a little. Besides, it's a great way to stay in shape."
Kasumi Aono looked her son over; it was obvious that he'd grown a little in his time away from home, but it wasn't as simple as he might have stated. There was an unfamiliar hardness about him that wasn't simply the product of getting older. Even when he should have been at ease he always seemed to be vigilant, his eyes never staying long in one place, but always flittering about. And when she'd accidentally dropped a glass the other day, Tsukune had lurched up from the table, before realizing what had happened and sheepishly sitting back down.
But anytime she asked her son how things were going at school, he'd shrug, give her a half assed smile and say everything was fine. It was obvious something was bothering him, but he wasn't ready to talk about it now. She hoped that one day he'd bring himself to be honest with her; but deep down she was worried he'd take his secret to his grave.
Tsukune ate in silence, nodding in thanks to his mom, but not really ready to talk with her either. He'd become so accustomed to eating in silence that conversing made him uneasy. He did talk with his girlfriend during meals, but she was the exception to the rule; it helped that no one would be crazy enough to try something when she was with him as well. Finishing his breakfast, Tsukune wiped his mouth with a napkin and excused himself.
"What are you going to be doing today?" his mother asked.
"Just some assigned reading," he replied. "There's going to be a test when we get back."
Kasumi Aono nodded. "Then don't let me hold you up."
Nodding in appreciation, Tsukune made his way into his room, locking the door behind him. Taking out his textbook and setting it on his desk he opened it to the assigned chapter. He started reading it from a standing position, practising drawing his new knife quickly. Tsukune had discovered that it was harder to pull out than he'd anticipated, and he'd vowed to make sure he got good at it before the break was over. For the next few hours the only sounds in the room were the rustle of a page turning, and the quiet metallic sound of a knife being pulled and sheathed.
XXX
Paranoid.
Generally defined as an extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others.
Tsukune had always been aware of paranoia, even before starting at Youkai Academy, but he'd never experienced the crushing weight of it until after he'd returned home. Oh, he'd learned to be vigilant while away at school, but he'd always been able to take grim comfort in the idea that he was the stranger in a strange land, and that most everyone would just as soon kill him as look at him if his humanity came to light.
However, the days Tsukune had spent at home, running through the city, studying, and interacting with supposedly normal people, had caused an unexpected reaction in the young man. The idea that there could be monsters everywhere, when he was out running, out for dinner with his parents, or walking by his house, was chipping away at his nerves, and probably his sanity as well. Hiding in his room would have been the easy way to deal with it, but Tsukune didn't want to spend the rest of his life as a shut in.
So the human was forcing himself out of his comfort zone, going for strolls for no other reason than having to walk amongst others, even though he'd had no reason to leave home. And it had been harder than he'd expected, the first time he'd returned home he'd locked himself behind his door, not coming out till it was time for his run the next morning. Strangely, that didn't bother him that much, but only because he'd always ran with monsters, and he knew how to do that.
When he caught himself watching his own mother when she was working in the kitchen after lunch, and wondering if she was really just a human, Tsukune knew it was time for another walk. 'That's MOM,' he told himself. 'She's human, so's dad, I'd know if they weren't… right…?' He had to go clear his head; if he started seeing his own family as a risk, then his sanity was in a death spiral. Excusing himself, mumbling something about running a few errands, Tsukune slipped out of his home and headed out into the afternoon crowds.
'Relax… Stay calm, breathe easy, you'll be fine.'
Tsukune had found that it was easier to maintain his composure if he didn't think too much about the possibilities while he was out. Running was easier still, but he couldn't run all the time, so he had to get used to walking around normally. He deliberately slowed his pace when he realized that he was going faster than the others on the sidewalk. 'This isn't a race, and there's no hurry,' Tsukune reminded himself for the hundredth time.
Gradually Tsukune did start to feel a little calmer; he'd never seen any signs of monsters since he'd arrived home, in spite of his secret fears. His vigilance and alertness from school may have been unnecessary back in the human world. True, he couldn't just relax, there were still even mundane risks like crossing the street, but acting as jumpy as a rabbit in tall grass served to be pointless.
Allowing himself to relax and enjoy the clear day – (the sun never seemed to put in appearance at school) - the young man settled down to an easygoing walk, idly looking in store windows, and simply people watching. He surprised himself by walking into a busy convenience store and buying a bento, calmly eating it on a bench out front. Tsukune made a point of not covertly watching everyone that walked by, instead concentrating on the simple but familiar flavors that were unavailable at school.
Discarding the empty container, Tsukune continued to walk aimlessly, letting the ebb and flow of the pedestrians carry him along like a piece of driftwood. While the part of his mind that focused on keeping him alive was having an apoplectic fit about the casual ease he was displaying, the rest of Tsukune felt like a great weight had been removed from his shoulders. He almost felt normal again, something he hadn't experienced in what felt like forever. For the first time in a long time, he felt as if he might be able to put everything behind him.
"Hey Aono!"
Tsukune almost froze mid step; he hadn't heard that voice in a few months, but he'd remember it until the day he died. After a fraction of a second of hesitation he resumed walking, deciding to pretend he hadn't heard it. He didn't have time for this now. He'd never had time or patience for it but there was no bloody way he was going to deal with this now.
"Where you goin' Aono?"
Tsukune continued to act like he hadn't heard anything, but he could feel his jaw muscles tightening up. It was kind of funny when he thought about it. Even after all that he'd had to deal with such a relatively small thing could get under his skin.
"You must think you're a big man, now that you're in high school," the unwelcome voice taunted from behind him.
The young man forced himself not to scowl. Kenichi might have been the most recent bully that Tsukune had been forced to endure, but he certainly wasn't the first. The arrogant, smug face of Hikaru Takada stepped from behind Tsukune and inserted himself in his path, forcing him to stop. He was just as he remembered him, all smiling cockiness, the pride of someone who relished making life hard for others for the simple reason that he could.
Hikaru seemed to have all the advantages in life; tall, with striking good looks, and a charm women seemed to swoon over. He'd never been a good student, but he was a gifted athlete, a baseball prodigy with a cannon for an arm, a wicked glove, and a skill for stealing bases. Even in middle school he'd drawn the eyes of talent scouts, and he was expected to go to Summer Koshien, and maybe even a career in the Major Leagues.
In spite of all that good fortune, or perhaps because of it, he still revelled in making the lives of other students miserable. With his abilities, school officials were all too quick to look the other way at his activities, doing their best to sweep his seedier actions under the rug, regardless of what had happened. He'd left a trail of traumatized boys and girls behind him; the girls had it especially bad, and Tsukune had heard rumors about a couple of his past consorts being forced to have abortions.
And Tsukune had been one of his favorite targets.
As usual, Hikaru wasn't alone. He had a pair of hangers on Tsukune didn't recognize but if habits held, they were a couple wannabes who were riding on his coat tails to increase their own popularity and self-esteem. And of course there was the girl; as expected she was pretty, with a short skirt and black stockings. Had Tsukune been in a better mood, and not currently involved, he might have considered talking to her, but the current circumstances quashed any notion of that.
"So, did you manage to get yourself into a high school?" Hikaru needled his former classmate.
"Yeah, I did," Tsukune replied calmly. If he stayed cool maybe his former nemesis would lose interest and let him be.
"Oh really? Which one?"
Tsukune let out a slow breath to help keep himself centered. "Just a small school out of town. You've probably never heard of it."
"They took a freak like you?" the bully wondered, causing his companions to snicker.
Trying to keep his right hand from reaching for his knife, Tsukune gave his tormentor a razor thin smile. "I'm surprised how well I fit in…" When Hikaru's only reaction was a blank stare, he started walking again, taking a detour down an alley so he could walk faster without having to weave his way through pedestrians. He didn't expect for the alley to have no way out.
"You think you can be a smart ass cuz we ain't in the same class anymore?"
Or for Hikaru to come after him…
"Hey, just leave me alone, okay?" Having spent most of his time at home worried about encountering monsters disguised as humans had taken its toll on Tsukune, and he was in no mood to relive his past at the hands of some arrogant prick.
"Big talk from someone I used to make cry for his mommy," Hikaru sneered. "Maybe if you give me your money, and your pants, I'll let you go."
Tsukune shook his head. "No way, what the hell are you think-"
It was the first time he'd been blindsided since Saizo. Hikaru lunged quickly and sucker-punched Tsukune, catching him right in the eye and making him stagger.
"You forgot your place," Hikaru taunted, obviously enjoying Tsukune's surprise, and putting on a show for his companions.
"Hit 'em again!" one of the hanger ons cheered.
"Way ahead of you," Hikaru chuckled, throwing another right at Tsukune.
Tsukune saw the next strike coming; the first one had surprised him, but the impact hadn't been all that painful. Keito occasionally caused him more discomfort during their lovemaking. Instead of trying to block the punch, Tsukune twisted his head so that it merely grazed his cheek, then grabbed the bully's arm while he was off balance and yanked hard to make him lose his footing, slamming him awkwardly to the ground.
Before Hikaru had time to realize what had happened or react, Tsukune stepped forward. Twisting the arm in his grasp he used his leverage to savagely force it behind his assailant's back, like he was trying to break a sturdy branch off a tree. There was a sickening crunch, followed shortly by an agonized shriek as Hikaru's destroyed shoulder sent a flood of pain signals to his brain. Holding onto the now limp arm Tsukune braced the elbow against his thigh and bent it backwards, the sound of bones snapping audible even over the screams.
Dropping the now ruined arm Tsukune took a step back, quickly looking over to Hikaru's companions, wondering if any of them would try anything. He needn't have worried; the bigger guy had gone pale, while his buddy looked like he was going to be sick. And the girl… Tsukune saw a dark stain spreading down her stockings, and he realized she'd wet herself. Turning his gaze back to Hikaru, Tsukune noticed that he'd rolled onto his left side, cradling his broken shoulder, trying to keep it from moving and hurting even more. The jagged ends of broken bone were punched through the skin in a few places, and his firsthand knowledge of broken bones made him realize how bad that had to hurt.
"H-how… how could… y-you do that…?" Hikaru rasped weakly, his face as pale as milk.
Slowly moving around the anguished Hikaru, Tsukune stood over him, looking down with eyes so dead looking they could have been a dolls. "I'm afraid I may know my place…" he murmured just loud enough for the stricken boy to hear.
Lifting his right leg Tsukune drove his heel down onto the prone boy's right limb, in the middle of the femur. Ignoring the screams he violently hammered at the largest bone until he felt and heard it snap after a half dozen hits. This last agony proved to be too much for Hikaru, and he let out a throat tearing scream before he fell into unconsciousness.
Surveying his work, Tsukune figured that Hikaru wouldn't die, though he'd probably never play baseball again. Almost as an afterthought he remembered the knife he had on him. There was no point in using it now, but it bothered him that he'd never even considered drawing it. Part of him wondered if it wouldn't be easier to simply kill the unconscious man at his feet, but he managed to suppress that impulse.
He realized it wasn't because of some noble sentiment; it would just make things even more difficult.
Tsukune could feel a throbbing discomfort from where he'd been tagged, but other than that his face was locked into the same expression he wore at Youkai Academy. 'I used to be afraid of him…?' he thought idly to himself. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Pushing all thoughts of his former tormentor out of his head, Tsukune turned away and started walking, leaving the broken man behind him. He saw the two hangers on gaping at him; Tsukune wondered if they'd attack him, or maybe go to the police. Part of him considered making sure they didn't.
Tsukune gave the pair a look, checking their eyes for signs of possible violence. It turned out to be pointless, as the sudden, brutal destruction of their leader made the two guys turn and bolt, not even bothering to look after their friend. Tsukune watched them go, knowing they were no longer a threat. The woman seemed to be frozen, trembling in barely repressed fear, her eyes wide as he walked by her, noting that the hushed whimpering she made sounded like a scared rabbit. Tsukune wanted nothing more than to just get home, forget that any of this had happened, and hope that the police wouldn't get involved.
Though he didn't think that Hikaru would admit that he'd been thrashed by someone he'd used to bully. He certainly had his pride.
"H-hey…"
The faint call made Tsukune stop and look over his shoulder. The girl appeared to be trying to compose herself, but there was still fear in her eyes. "Yes…?"
"W-what now…?"
"What do you mean 'what now'?" Tsukune replied. She was a perfect caricature of terror so he didn't think she'd try something, but firsthand experience had taught him about desperate measures.
"What am I supposed to do?" she murmured. "Hikaru said he'd take me with him when he went to the big leagues."
Tsukune shook his head. "Sorry about that," he apologized, idly noting that the girl hadn't actually gone to check on her supposed boyfriend. "I didn't want to do that…" A feeling of dark satisfaction made him wonder how true that was.
"What do I do now…?" The way she was trembling, with a spreading urine stain on her clothes, made her look as pathetic as she had previously looked self-assured. "You ruined his life."
Tsukune bristled. "If you think he's so bad off, I could kill him, put him out of his misery," he hissed.
The woman flinched. "No no no!" she babbled. "But-but… he was going to take me with him..."
Tsukune felt a rush of pity tinged with disgust was over him. "Sorry, but he started this."
She then gave him a look that made him feel like he was a ring being examined by a jeweller. With a shaking hand she brushed hair off her forehead and managed to put a smile on her face. "What if I go with you, instead…?"
Knowing that his stoic mask had slipped Tsukune just stared blankly at the woman in disbelief for a few moments. Then his composure returned and he snorted. "You're kidding…"
"I'm not," she insisted. "I mean, you're kinda cute-"
"Forget it," Tsukune cut her off. "I'm not on the market."
"You think he was single when we hooked up?" the girl scoffed.
"I'm happy with who I'm with now."
"I bet I could make you happier," the woman cooed, taking a few seductive steps towards Tsukune, acting as if she hadn't lost control of her bladder earlier.
"My girlfriend would kill you if you tried."
"His last girlfriend wasn't too happy either, but she got over it."
"I'm not exaggerating," Tsukune replied coldly. "She'll kill you. You wouldn't even be the first."
The deadly serious look in his eyes got through to the girl and she slumped to her knees. "Then what do I do…?"
Tsukune couldn't keep himself from taking pity on her, even though she'd been happy to watch her boyfriend try to brutalize him earlier. "Go find someone else."
"Where…?"
"How the hell would I know?" Tsukune replied, turning back around and leaving his former tormentor and his erstwhile girlfriend behind him, checking his face with his fingers, feeling a little relieved that Hikaru hadn't drawn blood. Walking back to his home he only noticed a few passersby giving him a brief odd look, so he didn't think he was hurt bad; it certainly didn't feel like very much. Quick glances at windows showed that he'd probably just end up with a black eye.
A sense of relief came over him when his home came into sight, and Tsukune wanted nothing more than to just take the rest of the day recuperating in his room. "I'm home," he called out, slipping out of his shoes and breathing a sigh of relief when he engaged the dead-bolt.
"Welcome back Tsukune," his mother called out. "I'm in the living room, we have a guest."
Tsukune meandered into the room, figuring he'd just say a quick hello and then ice his eye in the privacy of his room. But when he walked in he felt his heart seize up.
Sitting across from his mother, calmly sipping tea, was Keito in her school uniform.
His mother apparently didn't notice that all the blood had drained from her son's face. "She dropped in while you were out, so I invited her in. It's nice to meet the girl you've been seeing, she's such a charming young woman."
"What are you doing here?" Tsukune yelped in surprise.
Kasumi Aono frowned at her son. "She came all this way to see you, and that's how you react? I thought I raised you better…"
"I-I thought you'd be busy all break…" Tsukune croaked.
"So did I," Keito replied calmly. "But we finished early, so I decided I'd visit you…" She frowned and gave Tsukune a curious look. "What happened to your face?"
"Your eye!" his mother cried out as she noticed the blooming shiner her son wore. "What happened?"
Tsukune fidgeted. "I slipped. In an alley."
"Slipped?" Keito asked with an eyebrow quirked.
"I was dealing with some trash," he added under his breath. "It's nothing mom, I'm fine," he assured her as he tried to fend off her worrying. He took a seat at the table across from his girlfriend, watching her guardedly. "You just came to see me…?"
"That, and just do a little looking around," Keito replied with a hint of smugness. "I suppose I wanted to know a little more about where you lived, grew up, your family…"
Tsukune felt his breath catch in his throat. "Really… What did you find out?"
Keito shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing unusual. You grew up in a normal neighborhood, regular schools, and your father's just a run of the mill salaryman."
"My father?"
"Yes, I looked him up at his job and dropped in," Keito informed him. "Turns out he's just a regular person, and your mom's the same. I never would have thought someone with your talents could come from such humble circumstances."
Mrs. Aono beamed. "We're proud of Tsukune, and everything he's done."
Tsukune closed his eyes and put his head down, the room starting to spin. "This can't be happening," he murmured.
"What was that?"
Blushing, embarrassed that he'd actually said that out loud, Tsukune tried to cover up. "Sorry, my eye is starting to hurt a little," he lied.
"Then why don't you and Keito go ice it in your room," his mom offered, standing up and disappearing into the kitchen, returning moments later with an ice pack. "You can get caught up."
"That's a great idea." Keito stood up, practically beaming. "C'mon, let's get that black eye dealt with." Taking an offered bag of ice in one hand and dragging a flustered Tsukune with the other, the spider woman marched into her boyfriend's room and closed the door. "Aren't you going to say hello?"
"Why did you come here?"
Keito sighed wistfully. "And after all the trouble I took to visit you." She walked over to Tsukune's bed and sat down on it. "Come here before that eye gets even more swollen."
"You threaten my family-"
"Threaten? I did nothing of the sort," Keito responded archly. "I just dropped in to say hello, your mother asked me in for tea. It would have been rude to refuse."
"And my father?" Tsukune demanded.
"I only popped in to see him. Never thought a salaryman could father such a violent human."
Tsukune tried to get himself worked up, knowing that he should be angry, but finding his girlfriend's actions surprisingly understandable. "Listen, I don't care what happens to me-" He was cut off when an annoyed looking Keito launched a web, snagging the surprised human, and effortlessly yanking him through the air. Tsukune let out a startled yelp when he ended up with his head in Keito's lap, looking up into her violet eyes.
"Hold still so I can ice that eye," Keito told him. "Or do I need to web you down?"
Tsukune meekly acquiesced, certain she wasn't bluffing. He hissed a little when the ice pack pressed against his black eye, although Keito applied it with surprising gentleness. He didn't expect that lying with his head in her lap would be so calming, but submitting himself to her rather tender ministrations did calm him down.
"Clever human," Keito told him with a satisfied look, continuing to hold the ice pack as they shared a quiet moment together. After a few minutes she spoke again. "Now, how did you really get hurt…?"
Tsukune let out a disgusted breath. "I ran into an old acquaintance," he related. "Guess you could call him a bully."
"And you chased him down to exact revenge?"
"No, I tried to avoid him, ended up in a blind alley. Tried to talk my way out, got sucker punched."
Keito looked at him like he'd gone insane. "You've killed a vampire, but got hurt by a human?"
"My fault," Tsukune growled. "No monster would have tried something that stupid. Though he didn't hit very hard."
"So what happened?"
"He tried to hit me again… It didn't end well."
Keito gave an almost approving look. "Did he survive?"
"I can't just kill people," Tsukune murmured.
"That's rich, coming from you."
Tsukune couldn't argue that, even though he really wanted to. "So you just came to see me, and check on my family?"
Keito played along with the blatant topic change. "That's all I planned, but something else came up."
"Something else?"
"After I left your father's office, a pair of… gentlemen decided I should join them at a hotel. Even after I politely declined and told them I had a boyfriend. They were rather forceful, and even made threats."
Tsukune was about to ask what happened when he finally noticed the faint odor that had been barely registering with him. It was a sharp metallic scent, almost copper-like.
Keito must have noticed the dawning comprehension on his face. "I did tell them no, gave them a chance to walk away."
The human knew he was in no position to rebuke the spider woman, considering the violence he'd unleashed earlier. Tsukune tried to console himself with the notion that the two would be rapists had gotten a karmic fate. He found it inexplicably easy to disregard his own concerns when Keito began running her fingers through his hair, finding the contact to be quite relaxing. Letting himself drift away was rather pleasant, and he was able to truly relax and let his guard down for the first time since he'd come home.
After about fifteen minutes Keito removed the ice pack and gave her boyfriend a careful look. "Doesn't look too bad…"
"Is it gone?" Tsukune wondered.
"No, but it should clear up in a day or two. It'll be gone before you come back."
Tsukune let out a breath. "That's something. Let me get up-"
Keito interrupted him by gently, but quite firmly, holding him in place. "No rush. Besides, you're cute at this angle…"
"…cute…?"
"Naturally," the spider woman replied with a smirk, caressing his face as she lowered her head towards his. "I don't like you just because you're violent."
Any retort, or kiss, was interrupted by a knocking at the door. "Excuse me," Tsukune's mother called out. "Would either of you like more tea?"
Tsukune lurched up so fast he nearly heat-butted Keito. Moving to the door with a speed that left his girlfriend astonished, he opened it and accepted the tray with a murmured thanks, letting out a relieved breath when the door closed again.
"I didn't think a human could move that fast…"
"Neither did I," Tsukune admitted.
The two of them had their tea in silence, the mood having been broken by his mother's appearance. Tsukune found himself wondering if she'd done that deliberately. They both emptied their mugs in about five minutes and Keito stood up, idly straightening up her skirt. "It was nice to see you again, but I should be getting back."
"So soon?"
Keito shrugged. "An Enforcer's work never ends." She set her mug on Tsukune's desk and slowly walked towards him, placing her arms on his shoulders and clasping her hands behind his head. "Since I don't think this would be appropriate in front of your mother…" Keito kissed him deeply, forcing her tongue between Tsukune's lips. He responded in kind, holding her against him as his tongue explored her mouth.
Eventually they broke off the kiss, Keito allowed her boyfriend a moment to compose himself, and then opened the door and they both walked into the kitchen. "It was nice meeting you," she told his mother, "but I need to go now."
"Won't you stay for dinner?" Tsukune's mom asked. "We'd love for you to join us."
"Thanks, but I really must be going. Besides, I spend so much time with your son at school, it wouldn't be fair for me to do that here," Keito added.
Nodding in acceptance Kasumi replied, "Come back anytime, I'd love to see you again."
"I may take you up on that," Keito told her, a sly smile in place. She allowed Tsukune and his mother to walk her to the door, giving her a quick hug and Tsukune a gentle kiss on the lips that left him blushing. Letting him see a brief mischievous expression, Keito gave Tsukune's mother an earnest look. "I don't know if Tsukune and I could ever give you a grandchild…"
Tsukune felt himself go pale.
"But I promise, we'll keep trying. See you in a couple of days Tsukune." Keito gave him a jaunty wave and sauntered out the door, confidently moving down the sidewalk until she disappeared into the pedestrians.
Tsukune had never felt more uncomfortable in his life, and he was afraid to turn around and look at his mother not wanting to see the expression on her face.
"Tsukune…"
"Y-yes…?" he croaked out, continuing to look away. If he didn't turn around, maybe she wasn't really there.
"…I like her."
Wanting to collapse on himself in relief, but forcing himself to keep his composure, Tsukune replied, "So do I."
"She's such a nice girl, and so charming," his mother gushed. "You're lucky, she seems like a perfect match for you."
Because he didn't turn around, his mother never saw the melancholic expression he was wearing. "Yeah, she is…"
XXX
Tsukune boarded the bus to Youkai Academy, feeling a little disappointed that Ichiro wasn't on it, and took a seat near the back, stowing his bags overhead. He kept his gaze out the window, watching as the city he'd grown up in passed by, trying not to dwell on why he felt like he was a stranger in it now. After picking up another two students he didn't recognize, leaving him wondering just how many lived near his home, the bus entered a tunnel and came out to an overcast sky that was all too familiar to the human.
An odd feeling of comfort and security came over him, and Tsukune that at least he was back in familiar territory, and that he didn't have to worry about telling humans from monsters anymore. When the bus pulled up to the stop he calmly took his bags and disembarked, nodding idle greetings when some of the others apparently recognized him and gave nervous hellos. Striding towards his dorm with the same casual ease he'd developed with time and practice, Tsukune had a warm feeling come over him like a blanket as he walked up the steps. He realized he'd been a little homesick while he'd been away on break, but it passed the moment he stepped inside his room, nodding in appreciation that the lights were still burning.
Closing his door and locking it, once again pushing his desk against it as a barricade, he set his bags on his bed and began to unpack. He'd just finished and was wondering if the cafeteria was open yet when there came a knock at his door. Tsukune felt his lips tighten; he never had visitors aside from Keito, and she'd be more likely to simply walk in. Idly reaching back and brushing his fingertips against the knife, the only human at Youkai Academy carefully slid his desk out of the way and opened the door. "Keito?" he asked in mild surprise.
"Tsukune Aono." The spider woman's official sounding tone made the hairs on the back of Tsukune's neck stand up. "You're going to have to come with us. The Headmaster wishes to speak with you."
Belatedly noticing the two other rather intimidating Enforcers in full uniform, just as Keito was, made a ball of chilled lead appear in Tsukune's stomach. "Right now?"
"Right now." Her tone brooked no argument.
Mentally steeling himself and setting his face with a look of detachment, Tsukune silently stepped out of his sanctum. He took no comfort from the fact the two male Enforcers were watching him warily. Wanting to ask what this was about, but simply falling into step with the black clad figures, the human allowed himself to be lead to the main administration building. He noticed that Keito locked eyes with him for a brief moment, but then she reverted back to a cool professional air.
Wondering if this was what a death march felt like, Tsukune struggled to maintain his fearless appearance, his heart rate rising as he was lead deeper and deeper into the building, passing a number of intimidating looking identical men who all looked like they'd all been Xeroxed. The walk finally stopped in front a set of two of the largest doors he'd ever seen, that wouldn't have looked out of place in a haunted house. They opened seemingly on their own. And with a subtle gesture of her head Keito indicated that he was to enter. Tsukune looked for any hint of what this was about on her face, but her expression was unreadable.
A stray thought decided that she would be formidable at poker.
Tsukune marched into the Headmaster's office as bravely as he could, feeling moderate pride when he didn't flinch when the door slammed shut behind him. Thoroughly rattled, but maintaining his composure, the human walked to the front of the large heavy desk and stood ramrod straight. "You wanted to see me?"
The hooded figure sitting behind the desk lifted his gaze, the glowing eyes seeming to look into the depths of the human's soul. "Tsukune Aono," his deep voice rumbled, seeming to reverberate in the office. "You have been a great disappointment."
Tsukune blinked. "A disappointment…?" He had no idea what was going on, and the cryptic utterings weren't helping.
"I brought you here to be a bridge between monsters and humanity," the Headmaster explained coldly. "So that monsters and humans could learn to live together peacefully. You've obviously been a failure."
"Wait… A bridge between humans and monsters…? Does that mean you knew I was human…?"
"Of course, why do you think I arranged for you to attend here?"
"You stupid bastard!" Tsukune snarled. "Bringing me here without warning?! What did you think would happen?"
The Headmaster steepled his fingers and gave the human an indifferent look. "That monsters would learn that humans don't need to be killed."
"Because they'll choke to death on our corpses? You haven't done a fucking thing to promote peaceful coexistence."
"You haven't done much to encourage peace-"
"So I should have let myself be killed? Are you fucking insane?"
"I never expected you to be so violent," the Headmaster rebuked him.
"I didn't feel like dying!" Tsukune snapped back. "And it never occurred to you to warn me first?"
The Headmaster shrugged. "I just thought-"
Tsukune slammed his fists onto the heavy desk, the boom echoing in the room. "NO! You didn't! Or you wouldn't have been so goddamn stupid!"
The hooded figure bristled. He knew he was one of the most powerful entities at the school, if not the entire planet. Throughout his long life he'd encountered many other creatures, many of them quite hostile. But the human glaring at him from across his desk was by far the most enraged being he'd ever seen. Tsukune's fists were clenched tightly into fists, his teeth locked together so hard he could have probably bitten through steel cable. For a second it almost looked as if he was ready to leap over the desk and attack him bare handed, or maybe with one of the weapons he supposedly carried at all times.
The Headmaster watched dispassionately while the livid student seemed to reluctantly rediscover self-control. Tsukune might only be human, but he had a sizeable body count, including one vampire; he'd proven he wasn't someone to underestimate.
Or let your guard down for.
"Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore," he explained in a conciliatory tone.
"What does that mean?"
The Headmaster took a file folder from the top drawer and wordlessly slid it across the polished wood to the smouldering human, gesturing for him to take it. Tsukune picked up the slim folder and flipped through the pages, not quite understanding what they were. "What's this?"
"Your transfer papers."
"Transfer papers?"
"Yes, you filled in the application some time ago, but thanks to some… pressure from Keito, we were able finalize this much faster than normal," the Headmaster explained. "Those documents will allow you to transfer to any school in the human world. We even filled in some applications for schools close to your home, for your convenience."
Tsukune scanned the papers a few more times, finding they were exactly as promised. These simple looking documents were his key to leaving Youkai Academy forever, to return to the human world and never look back. It was what he'd hoped and dreamed of for so long. He used the desktop to line them up on their edges.
Then simply ripped them in half, discarding the papers to the floor contemptuously.
"What are you doing?!"
Tsukune found he took grim satisfaction from the obvious surprise on the Headmaster's face. "Forget it, you're not getting rid of me that easy."
"That was your chance to go to a human school-"
"I don't belong there!" Tsukune bellowed, causing the cloaked figure to stop speaking. "I'm not human anymore."
The Headmaster looked at him humorlessly. "What nonsense are you spouting? You're human, that's why I brought you here."
"No! No I'm not! Not anymore!" Tsukune snarled. "I came this close to killing someone when I went back. Just because I could, and if I could do it again I would. I go to a human school now, I'll end up dead or in jail. At least I don't have to worry about being arrested here."
"Be careful human… even my patience has limits."
"I've had to be careful every second since I arrived," Tsukune growled.
The hooded man's eyes narrowed a little. "That's why you don't belong here."
"Yeah, but you brought me here, so you take responsibility for this, you bastard. Once I graduate, you can figure out what to do with me then." Tsukune then turned around and strode for the exit.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to my room, then I'll grab dinner," he replied without even looking back.
"But what about improving human/monster relations?"
Now Tsukune did stop, even though he kept his back to the Headmaster. "Wasn't a total failure," he responded venomously. "Everyone thinks I fight like one, and they're all scared to death of me. I'd say that's better than them trying to eat me."
"What do you expect to do here for the next few years?"
Tsukune looked over his shoulder, his narrowed eyes meeting the Headmaster's glowing ones. "Survive," he hissed through clenched teeth, before he marched out, ignoring the exasperated sigh he heard behind his back.
XXX
Keito stood outside the Headmaster's office, her posture somewhat official looking. She'd only been told to escort Tsukune there, no one had said anything about hanging around afterwards, but she didn't even think of leaving. The two who'd walked with her had left as soon as the doors had closed, their relief at not having to deal with the feared freshman quite palpable. Technically, students weren't supposed to linger in this part of the administrative building, but since she was in her Enforcers uniform, no one was willing to ask her to move along either.
The spider woman raised an eyebrow; the Headmaster's office was supposedly soundproof, and the doors had been two inches thick solid wood, but she was certain she heard yelling from inside.
And she was pretty sure it hadn't been just the Headmaster.
Then there was the sound of doorknobs turning and the doors were thrown open violently, with her boyfriend stalking out of the room. The look on Tsukune's face made her hesitate briefly. Keito had seen him upset, and at his most violent during the fight with Saizo, but she had never imagined his face could be twisted into such a mask of fury. He was practically radiating an aura that screamed out in warning to all sentient life to back off.
More than a little surprised, as well as intrigued, Keito followed him as he stomped heavily through the hall, his fists clenched at his sides, harsh breaths passing through flared nostrils. The few staff and students in the vicinity took the opportunity to make themselves scarce, leaving the sounds of two sets of footsteps echoing in the now deserted corridors.
At the end of the hall Tsukune stopped by a window, resting his forehead against the dry frame as he struggled to reassert his control. It proved to be a vain effort when the human let out a cry of frustration and rage, putting his right fist through one of the panes of glass, then letting out a pained snarl when the injury he'd inflicted made itself known.
"Are you okay?" Keito asked, eyeing the human guardedly.
Hissing in suppressed pain, Tsukune took a look at his bleeding hand. "I've been hurt worse…" He took off his tie and wrapped around his hand like a bandage, trying to staunch the bleeding.
Keito clicked her tongue. "We better get back to your room so you can take care of that."
Tsukune turned around to wave her off, but the look on her face told him it hadn't been a suggestion. Acquiescing in silence, the human started back towards his dormitory, idly noting that Keito fell into step beside him. Throughout the solitary walk she made no effort to engage him in conversation, and he silently thanked her for that. Upon reaching his building the two made their way up the stairs, other students making sure they stayed out of their way.
Safely ensconced in his room, Keito went to the bathroom to fetch the rubbing alcohol and a cloth while Tsukune blocked the door with his desk and slipped gingerly out of his jacket, the small shards of glass in his hand making him flinch. "Sit on the bed and let me take a look at it," Keito directed.
"Thanks, but I got this-"
"Will I have to ask again?"
Keito's expression brooked no argument, and Tsukune knew that she'd use force if he tried resisting her will, so he sat down wordlessly, presenting his hand for the spider woman to look at. He watched with an appraising eye as she carefully unwrapped his tie, dropping the blood soaked fabric to the floor, before carefully using her fingertips to pull out the larger shards of glass embedded in his hand. Holding his jaw tight Tsukune worked to conceal his discomfort, more out of habit than anything else. "Wait, what are you doing?"
The spider woman had extended her arachnid legs. "Trying to get these small slivers." With a dexterity that astonished Tsukune, Keito's spider legs were able to take hold of the tiniest pieces of glass, just like a pair of tweezers. Once she was satisfied that she'd removed all the glass from his hand, Keito wet the cloth with rubbing alcohol and pressed it against the cuts, causing Tsukune to choke down a growl, clenching his jaw and other hand tightly.
"That's pretty good work," he rasped, trying to push past the pain. "Where'd you learn that?"
"A human first aid book in the library," she explained. "Did you know that they had to order another one? When I went looking for it, they realized it had been stolen."
"Yeah… Sorry about that…"
"It's okay. I noticed it the first night I spent here," Keito told him wryly. She then lifted his hand to her face, making Tsukune wonder if she was going to kiss it better when she began using her silk to cover the cuts.
"Hey! Is that safe…?"
Keito gave him a blank look. "Don't tell me you're worrying about contact with my fluids, considering everywhere you've put your mouth-"
"Never mind, go ahead." The bandage she'd placed on his leg had worked after all. It most likely had saved his life.
"Clever human," she replied, continuing to cover all the gashes on his hand.
When she was done Tsukune took a close look while he opened and closed his fist. "Nice work. Ever think about being a nurse?"
Keito shook her head. "I prefer hurting people. So what got you so mad?"
Tsukune let out a sigh. "The Headmaster. I didn't think anyone could that much of a bastard."
"What did he do?"
"Dropped me into the meat grinder," Tsukune snarled. "Knew I was human and brought me here, just to see how I'd do, no warning, no nothing."
Keito considered that. "I'd say you've done pretty well."
The human shook his head ruefully. "Apparently trying to survive wasn't the right approach. Then he told me I could transfer."
"Transfer…? Ah, yes. That," Keito remarked. "So, when are you leaving…?"
"I'm not."
"You're not?"
"I can't. I don't fit in anymore, I'm too violent."
"That's a problem?"
"You're kidding, right?" Tsukune asked in disbelief. "When I have a problem with someone, my first thought isn't how to reason it out, it's about where to find the sharpest object and how much force it would take to get it through a ribcage! I go back, I'll kill someone, no questions."
Keito gave her usual sardonic look. "I'd say you just need to control your temper, but honestly, seeing you get all worked up gets me kinda hot."
Tsukune stared at the smirking spider woman for a few silent moments before he found himself chuckling at the absurdity that now ruled his life. "Anyone ever tell you you're a strange girl?"
"I think only you think that."
"Well, I hope you don't get tired of me, cuz I don't think I'm going anywhere for a while," Tsukune murmured.
Keito moved behind him and embraced him, using her arachnid legs as well as her arms, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm okay with that." She placed a kiss on his cheek and nuzzled his head.
"Me too." Tsukune felt himself relaxing for the first time. He found that he wasn't the slightest bit put off being in the embrace of a spider woman. More to the point, the idea that this would have once frightened him seemed completely alien now.
That thought made him realize that he was in the right place.
End of Chapter Eleven.
Author's Notes:
Pre-read professionally done by random1377 and Mereo Flere. All mistakes are mine alone.
Rosario + Vampire:
He Who Fights Monsters…
Chapter Eleven: Humans Being
Written by: Hawker_748
Tsukune kept his fists clenched tightly as he methodically ran along the sidewalk, taking care to not run into any of the few pedestrians that were out at this early hour. Over the previous three mornings he'd come to realize that running on pavement was harder on his feet than running cross-country; still, it had only made his feet a little more sore after the first time, and considering all the punishment he'd absorbed during the school year, it barely registered now. Running with the hustle and bustle of modern civilization was still a strange feeling for the young man, and he found himself looking forward to getting back to the unearthly stillness of the dead forest.
While he wasn't running amongst monsters now, or so he fervently hoped, being back in the human world had its own set of mundane risks. Traffic and pedestrian crossings were unheard of in his normal runs, and accidentally running in front of a truck would kill him just as quick as a monster could, possibly even quicker. Bumping into human strollers would be embarrassing and rude, and stopping to apologize would wreak havoc with his regimen. Besides, he'd never know if he'd inadvertently crashed into another vampire; encountering one had been harrowing enough, a second one would probably be fatal.
Picking up the pace to cross an intersection before the light turned, Tsukune took notice of the time on a clock outside one of the buildings. He'd been running for nearly an hour, and he felt like he'd covered several miles. Satisfied that he'd done well enough for that day, Tsukune slowed to a brisk walk for a few blocks, getting his wind back and wiping his forehead with the sleeves of his shirt. Letting out a yawn he stretched his arms over his head, yanking them back down when he felt the back of his shirt starting to ride up. While he was uncertain of the exact wording of local laws, Tsukune was pretty sure that a combat knife and sheath clipped to his waistband at the small of his back would offend some people's sensibilities.
The first morning after he'd returned Tsukune had started considering how he could build up his arsenal while at home. But he'd quickly realized it wasn't going to be as simple as it looked at first blush. A pistol would have been the answer to many of his problems, but it wasn't as if he could stroll down to the store to pick one up. The only way to get one was with Yakuza connections, or to know someone who had them, and Tsukune was oh for two on that. And even if he'd had them, it wasn't as if they'd just hand one over gratis, and he had no more money to spend than the average high school student.
If fortune itself had taken pity on him and let him find one in the gutter, it was only an equalizer until it ran out of ammunition, and Tsukune knew there wasn't any to be found at the Youkai Academy store. Harsh and unyielding reality had forced him to forget any notion of bringing a gun back with him.
Tsukune'd also considered a sword; at first glance it made more sense. They were a little easier to get a hold of, and they didn't require bullets either. But on the other hand, he'd never used one before in his life, and if someone was close enough for him to use it, and he screwed up, he was probably a dead man. Also, as difficult to acquire a pistol might have been, at least he'd have been able to conceal it. The only way to hide a sword would have been to slip it down a pant leg, and if walking stiffly was merely embarrassing, trying to draw it would have been a nightmare.
Tasers weren't fatal enough. Poisons were impractical, and he'd be able to get those easily enough back at school, many cleaning agents could be wonderfully toxic. After much consideration Tsukune had come to decide that a bigger knife was the best bet. He'd managed to get a combat knife with a six inch blade, free sheath included, and Tsukune had spent late into the evening sharpening it in his room with the whetstone he'd also bought.
He wasn't going to throw away the dinner knife he'd spent so much time sharpening. It wasn't for sentimental reasons, Tsukune just figured it was better to have two blades than one.
Pushing aside thoughts of his armaments process, Tsukune started walking towards his home, using the slower walk to get his wind back. He knew by the time he got back home he wouldn't be panting like a racehorse. After cleaning himself up he'd have breakfast with his mom, his father already out the door on his way to work. Tsukune allowed himself to weave between the growing number of pedestrians, keeping himself composed, not letting nightmarish flights of fancy convince him that he was the only human out that morning.
Finally reaching his home, idly wiping himself with his sleeve, Tsukune opened the door and walked in, using his feet to push off his runners. "I'm home."
"Welcome back," his mother called out from the kitchen. "Breakfast will be ready when you get out of the bathroom."
"You didn't need to get up early for me," Tsukune pointed out yet again as he joined his mom in the kitchen, knowing he was wasting his breath. "I could have gotten something myself."
Kasumi Aono shook her head demurely, just as she had every other time her son had made this point. "You're only here for a short time," she reminded him "I won't waste that time by sleeping in, now go get cleaned up."
"Yes mom," Tsukune replied sheepishly. He might be the most feared student at Youkai Academy, but his mom could still make him do anything without a struggle. Slipping into the bathroom the young man tossed his sweaty clothes in the hamper, concealing his knife under a towel. Sluicing off the sweat and dirt with a shower, Tsukune eased himself into the bath, sighing in contentment as the hot water relaxed his tired muscles. After a week of soaking after exercise, going back to just a shower after he returned to class was going to be a letdown.
Cleaned and changed into new clothes, his knife safely hidden in his dresser, Tsukune went to the kitchen table, accepting a bowl of rice from his mother with thanks. He picked up the remote and turned on the TV, something he'd missed while at school.
Click.
"-declined to comment at this time. Today was the fourth day of the official inquiry into the tragic fire that killed two women when a controlled burn went out of control, destroying hundreds of acres of land, and took a week to extinguish. The head of the development corporation stated that there had been unexplained incidents when they attempted to conventionally raze the area, which was locally known as Witch's Knoll. Under those circumstances, and not wanting to put any workers at further risk, they decided that a controlled burn was the best option available. He insisted that the area had been cleared beforehand, and the discovery of the charred skeletons of two women was a complete-"
Click.
"I was watching that…" Tsukune flinched at the disapproving look his mother gave him, meekly acquiescing and continuing to eat.
"Where do you run each morning?" Mrs. Aono asked her son.
"Just around the neighborhood," Tsukune replied. "No real course, just go where I feel."
"You never used to jog," his mother pointed out.
Tsukune shrugged. "School changed me a little. Besides, it's a great way to stay in shape."
Kasumi Aono looked her son over; it was obvious that he'd grown a little in his time away from home, but it wasn't as simple as he might have stated. There was an unfamiliar hardness about him that wasn't simply the product of getting older. Even when he should have been at ease he always seemed to be vigilant, his eyes never staying long in one place, but always flittering about. And when she'd accidentally dropped a glass the other day, Tsukune had lurched up from the table, before realizing what had happened and sheepishly sitting back down.
But anytime she asked her son how things were going at school, he'd shrug, give her a half assed smile and say everything was fine. It was obvious something was bothering him, but he wasn't ready to talk about it now. She hoped that one day he'd bring himself to be honest with her; but deep down she was worried he'd take his secret to his grave.
Tsukune ate in silence, nodding in thanks to his mom, but not really ready to talk with her either. He'd become so accustomed to eating in silence that conversing made him uneasy. He did talk with his girlfriend during meals, but she was the exception to the rule; it helped that no one would be crazy enough to try something when she was with him as well. Finishing his breakfast, Tsukune wiped his mouth with a napkin and excused himself.
"What are you going to be doing today?" his mother asked.
"Just some assigned reading," he replied. "There's going to be a test when we get back."
Kasumi Aono nodded. "Then don't let me hold you up."
Nodding in appreciation, Tsukune made his way into his room, locking the door behind him. Taking out his textbook and setting it on his desk he opened it to the assigned chapter. He started reading it from a standing position, practising drawing his new knife quickly. Tsukune had discovered that it was harder to pull out than he'd anticipated, and he'd vowed to make sure he got good at it before the break was over. For the next few hours the only sounds in the room were the rustle of a page turning, and the quiet metallic sound of a knife being pulled and sheathed.
XXX
Paranoid.
Generally defined as an extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others.
Tsukune had always been aware of paranoia, even before starting at Youkai Academy, but he'd never experienced the crushing weight of it until after he'd returned home. Oh, he'd learned to be vigilant while away at school, but he'd always been able to take grim comfort in the idea that he was the stranger in a strange land, and that most everyone would just as soon kill him as look at him if his humanity came to light.
However, the days Tsukune had spent at home, running through the city, studying, and interacting with supposedly normal people, had caused an unexpected reaction in the young man. The idea that there could be monsters everywhere, when he was out running, out for dinner with his parents, or walking by his house, was chipping away at his nerves, and probably his sanity as well. Hiding in his room would have been the easy way to deal with it, but Tsukune didn't want to spend the rest of his life as a shut in.
So the human was forcing himself out of his comfort zone, going for strolls for no other reason than having to walk amongst others, even though he'd had no reason to leave home. And it had been harder than he'd expected, the first time he'd returned home he'd locked himself behind his door, not coming out till it was time for his run the next morning. Strangely, that didn't bother him that much, but only because he'd always ran with monsters, and he knew how to do that.
When he caught himself watching his own mother when she was working in the kitchen after lunch, and wondering if she was really just a human, Tsukune knew it was time for another walk. 'That's MOM,' he told himself. 'She's human, so's dad, I'd know if they weren't… right…?' He had to go clear his head; if he started seeing his own family as a risk, then his sanity was in a death spiral. Excusing himself, mumbling something about running a few errands, Tsukune slipped out of his home and headed out into the afternoon crowds.
'Relax… Stay calm, breathe easy, you'll be fine.'
Tsukune had found that it was easier to maintain his composure if he didn't think too much about the possibilities while he was out. Running was easier still, but he couldn't run all the time, so he had to get used to walking around normally. He deliberately slowed his pace when he realized that he was going faster than the others on the sidewalk. 'This isn't a race, and there's no hurry,' Tsukune reminded himself for the hundredth time.
Gradually Tsukune did start to feel a little calmer; he'd never seen any signs of monsters since he'd arrived home, in spite of his secret fears. His vigilance and alertness from school may have been unnecessary back in the human world. True, he couldn't just relax, there were still even mundane risks like crossing the street, but acting as jumpy as a rabbit in tall grass served to be pointless.
Allowing himself to relax and enjoy the clear day – (the sun never seemed to put in appearance at school) - the young man settled down to an easygoing walk, idly looking in store windows, and simply people watching. He surprised himself by walking into a busy convenience store and buying a bento, calmly eating it on a bench out front. Tsukune made a point of not covertly watching everyone that walked by, instead concentrating on the simple but familiar flavors that were unavailable at school.
Discarding the empty container, Tsukune continued to walk aimlessly, letting the ebb and flow of the pedestrians carry him along like a piece of driftwood. While the part of his mind that focused on keeping him alive was having an apoplectic fit about the casual ease he was displaying, the rest of Tsukune felt like a great weight had been removed from his shoulders. He almost felt normal again, something he hadn't experienced in what felt like forever. For the first time in a long time, he felt as if he might be able to put everything behind him.
"Hey Aono!"
Tsukune almost froze mid step; he hadn't heard that voice in a few months, but he'd remember it until the day he died. After a fraction of a second of hesitation he resumed walking, deciding to pretend he hadn't heard it. He didn't have time for this now. He'd never had time or patience for it but there was no bloody way he was going to deal with this now.
"Where you goin' Aono?"
Tsukune continued to act like he hadn't heard anything, but he could feel his jaw muscles tightening up. It was kind of funny when he thought about it. Even after all that he'd had to deal with such a relatively small thing could get under his skin.
"You must think you're a big man, now that you're in high school," the unwelcome voice taunted from behind him.
The young man forced himself not to scowl. Kenichi might have been the most recent bully that Tsukune had been forced to endure, but he certainly wasn't the first. The arrogant, smug face of Hikaru Takada stepped from behind Tsukune and inserted himself in his path, forcing him to stop. He was just as he remembered him, all smiling cockiness, the pride of someone who relished making life hard for others for the simple reason that he could.
Hikaru seemed to have all the advantages in life; tall, with striking good looks, and a charm women seemed to swoon over. He'd never been a good student, but he was a gifted athlete, a baseball prodigy with a cannon for an arm, a wicked glove, and a skill for stealing bases. Even in middle school he'd drawn the eyes of talent scouts, and he was expected to go to Summer Koshien, and maybe even a career in the Major Leagues.
In spite of all that good fortune, or perhaps because of it, he still revelled in making the lives of other students miserable. With his abilities, school officials were all too quick to look the other way at his activities, doing their best to sweep his seedier actions under the rug, regardless of what had happened. He'd left a trail of traumatized boys and girls behind him; the girls had it especially bad, and Tsukune had heard rumors about a couple of his past consorts being forced to have abortions.
And Tsukune had been one of his favorite targets.
As usual, Hikaru wasn't alone. He had a pair of hangers on Tsukune didn't recognize but if habits held, they were a couple wannabes who were riding on his coat tails to increase their own popularity and self-esteem. And of course there was the girl; as expected she was pretty, with a short skirt and black stockings. Had Tsukune been in a better mood, and not currently involved, he might have considered talking to her, but the current circumstances quashed any notion of that.
"So, did you manage to get yourself into a high school?" Hikaru needled his former classmate.
"Yeah, I did," Tsukune replied calmly. If he stayed cool maybe his former nemesis would lose interest and let him be.
"Oh really? Which one?"
Tsukune let out a slow breath to help keep himself centered. "Just a small school out of town. You've probably never heard of it."
"They took a freak like you?" the bully wondered, causing his companions to snicker.
Trying to keep his right hand from reaching for his knife, Tsukune gave his tormentor a razor thin smile. "I'm surprised how well I fit in…" When Hikaru's only reaction was a blank stare, he started walking again, taking a detour down an alley so he could walk faster without having to weave his way through pedestrians. He didn't expect for the alley to have no way out.
"You think you can be a smart ass cuz we ain't in the same class anymore?"
Or for Hikaru to come after him…
"Hey, just leave me alone, okay?" Having spent most of his time at home worried about encountering monsters disguised as humans had taken its toll on Tsukune, and he was in no mood to relive his past at the hands of some arrogant prick.
"Big talk from someone I used to make cry for his mommy," Hikaru sneered. "Maybe if you give me your money, and your pants, I'll let you go."
Tsukune shook his head. "No way, what the hell are you think-"
It was the first time he'd been blindsided since Saizo. Hikaru lunged quickly and sucker-punched Tsukune, catching him right in the eye and making him stagger.
"You forgot your place," Hikaru taunted, obviously enjoying Tsukune's surprise, and putting on a show for his companions.
"Hit 'em again!" one of the hanger ons cheered.
"Way ahead of you," Hikaru chuckled, throwing another right at Tsukune.
Tsukune saw the next strike coming; the first one had surprised him, but the impact hadn't been all that painful. Keito occasionally caused him more discomfort during their lovemaking. Instead of trying to block the punch, Tsukune twisted his head so that it merely grazed his cheek, then grabbed the bully's arm while he was off balance and yanked hard to make him lose his footing, slamming him awkwardly to the ground.
Before Hikaru had time to realize what had happened or react, Tsukune stepped forward. Twisting the arm in his grasp he used his leverage to savagely force it behind his assailant's back, like he was trying to break a sturdy branch off a tree. There was a sickening crunch, followed shortly by an agonized shriek as Hikaru's destroyed shoulder sent a flood of pain signals to his brain. Holding onto the now limp arm Tsukune braced the elbow against his thigh and bent it backwards, the sound of bones snapping audible even over the screams.
Dropping the now ruined arm Tsukune took a step back, quickly looking over to Hikaru's companions, wondering if any of them would try anything. He needn't have worried; the bigger guy had gone pale, while his buddy looked like he was going to be sick. And the girl… Tsukune saw a dark stain spreading down her stockings, and he realized she'd wet herself. Turning his gaze back to Hikaru, Tsukune noticed that he'd rolled onto his left side, cradling his broken shoulder, trying to keep it from moving and hurting even more. The jagged ends of broken bone were punched through the skin in a few places, and his firsthand knowledge of broken bones made him realize how bad that had to hurt.
"H-how… how could… y-you do that…?" Hikaru rasped weakly, his face as pale as milk.
Slowly moving around the anguished Hikaru, Tsukune stood over him, looking down with eyes so dead looking they could have been a dolls. "I'm afraid I may know my place…" he murmured just loud enough for the stricken boy to hear.
Lifting his right leg Tsukune drove his heel down onto the prone boy's right limb, in the middle of the femur. Ignoring the screams he violently hammered at the largest bone until he felt and heard it snap after a half dozen hits. This last agony proved to be too much for Hikaru, and he let out a throat tearing scream before he fell into unconsciousness.
Surveying his work, Tsukune figured that Hikaru wouldn't die, though he'd probably never play baseball again. Almost as an afterthought he remembered the knife he had on him. There was no point in using it now, but it bothered him that he'd never even considered drawing it. Part of him wondered if it wouldn't be easier to simply kill the unconscious man at his feet, but he managed to suppress that impulse.
He realized it wasn't because of some noble sentiment; it would just make things even more difficult.
Tsukune could feel a throbbing discomfort from where he'd been tagged, but other than that his face was locked into the same expression he wore at Youkai Academy. 'I used to be afraid of him…?' he thought idly to himself. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Pushing all thoughts of his former tormentor out of his head, Tsukune turned away and started walking, leaving the broken man behind him. He saw the two hangers on gaping at him; Tsukune wondered if they'd attack him, or maybe go to the police. Part of him considered making sure they didn't.
Tsukune gave the pair a look, checking their eyes for signs of possible violence. It turned out to be pointless, as the sudden, brutal destruction of their leader made the two guys turn and bolt, not even bothering to look after their friend. Tsukune watched them go, knowing they were no longer a threat. The woman seemed to be frozen, trembling in barely repressed fear, her eyes wide as he walked by her, noting that the hushed whimpering she made sounded like a scared rabbit. Tsukune wanted nothing more than to just get home, forget that any of this had happened, and hope that the police wouldn't get involved.
Though he didn't think that Hikaru would admit that he'd been thrashed by someone he'd used to bully. He certainly had his pride.
"H-hey…"
The faint call made Tsukune stop and look over his shoulder. The girl appeared to be trying to compose herself, but there was still fear in her eyes. "Yes…?"
"W-what now…?"
"What do you mean 'what now'?" Tsukune replied. She was a perfect caricature of terror so he didn't think she'd try something, but firsthand experience had taught him about desperate measures.
"What am I supposed to do?" she murmured. "Hikaru said he'd take me with him when he went to the big leagues."
Tsukune shook his head. "Sorry about that," he apologized, idly noting that the girl hadn't actually gone to check on her supposed boyfriend. "I didn't want to do that…" A feeling of dark satisfaction made him wonder how true that was.
"What do I do now…?" The way she was trembling, with a spreading urine stain on her clothes, made her look as pathetic as she had previously looked self-assured. "You ruined his life."
Tsukune bristled. "If you think he's so bad off, I could kill him, put him out of his misery," he hissed.
The woman flinched. "No no no!" she babbled. "But-but… he was going to take me with him..."
Tsukune felt a rush of pity tinged with disgust was over him. "Sorry, but he started this."
She then gave him a look that made him feel like he was a ring being examined by a jeweller. With a shaking hand she brushed hair off her forehead and managed to put a smile on her face. "What if I go with you, instead…?"
Knowing that his stoic mask had slipped Tsukune just stared blankly at the woman in disbelief for a few moments. Then his composure returned and he snorted. "You're kidding…"
"I'm not," she insisted. "I mean, you're kinda cute-"
"Forget it," Tsukune cut her off. "I'm not on the market."
"You think he was single when we hooked up?" the girl scoffed.
"I'm happy with who I'm with now."
"I bet I could make you happier," the woman cooed, taking a few seductive steps towards Tsukune, acting as if she hadn't lost control of her bladder earlier.
"My girlfriend would kill you if you tried."
"His last girlfriend wasn't too happy either, but she got over it."
"I'm not exaggerating," Tsukune replied coldly. "She'll kill you. You wouldn't even be the first."
The deadly serious look in his eyes got through to the girl and she slumped to her knees. "Then what do I do…?"
Tsukune couldn't keep himself from taking pity on her, even though she'd been happy to watch her boyfriend try to brutalize him earlier. "Go find someone else."
"Where…?"
"How the hell would I know?" Tsukune replied, turning back around and leaving his former tormentor and his erstwhile girlfriend behind him, checking his face with his fingers, feeling a little relieved that Hikaru hadn't drawn blood. Walking back to his home he only noticed a few passersby giving him a brief odd look, so he didn't think he was hurt bad; it certainly didn't feel like very much. Quick glances at windows showed that he'd probably just end up with a black eye.
A sense of relief came over him when his home came into sight, and Tsukune wanted nothing more than to just take the rest of the day recuperating in his room. "I'm home," he called out, slipping out of his shoes and breathing a sigh of relief when he engaged the dead-bolt.
"Welcome back Tsukune," his mother called out. "I'm in the living room, we have a guest."
Tsukune meandered into the room, figuring he'd just say a quick hello and then ice his eye in the privacy of his room. But when he walked in he felt his heart seize up.
Sitting across from his mother, calmly sipping tea, was Keito in her school uniform.
His mother apparently didn't notice that all the blood had drained from her son's face. "She dropped in while you were out, so I invited her in. It's nice to meet the girl you've been seeing, she's such a charming young woman."
"What are you doing here?" Tsukune yelped in surprise.
Kasumi Aono frowned at her son. "She came all this way to see you, and that's how you react? I thought I raised you better…"
"I-I thought you'd be busy all break…" Tsukune croaked.
"So did I," Keito replied calmly. "But we finished early, so I decided I'd visit you…" She frowned and gave Tsukune a curious look. "What happened to your face?"
"Your eye!" his mother cried out as she noticed the blooming shiner her son wore. "What happened?"
Tsukune fidgeted. "I slipped. In an alley."
"Slipped?" Keito asked with an eyebrow quirked.
"I was dealing with some trash," he added under his breath. "It's nothing mom, I'm fine," he assured her as he tried to fend off her worrying. He took a seat at the table across from his girlfriend, watching her guardedly. "You just came to see me…?"
"That, and just do a little looking around," Keito replied with a hint of smugness. "I suppose I wanted to know a little more about where you lived, grew up, your family…"
Tsukune felt his breath catch in his throat. "Really… What did you find out?"
Keito shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing unusual. You grew up in a normal neighborhood, regular schools, and your father's just a run of the mill salaryman."
"My father?"
"Yes, I looked him up at his job and dropped in," Keito informed him. "Turns out he's just a regular person, and your mom's the same. I never would have thought someone with your talents could come from such humble circumstances."
Mrs. Aono beamed. "We're proud of Tsukune, and everything he's done."
Tsukune closed his eyes and put his head down, the room starting to spin. "This can't be happening," he murmured.
"What was that?"
Blushing, embarrassed that he'd actually said that out loud, Tsukune tried to cover up. "Sorry, my eye is starting to hurt a little," he lied.
"Then why don't you and Keito go ice it in your room," his mom offered, standing up and disappearing into the kitchen, returning moments later with an ice pack. "You can get caught up."
"That's a great idea." Keito stood up, practically beaming. "C'mon, let's get that black eye dealt with." Taking an offered bag of ice in one hand and dragging a flustered Tsukune with the other, the spider woman marched into her boyfriend's room and closed the door. "Aren't you going to say hello?"
"Why did you come here?"
Keito sighed wistfully. "And after all the trouble I took to visit you." She walked over to Tsukune's bed and sat down on it. "Come here before that eye gets even more swollen."
"You threaten my family-"
"Threaten? I did nothing of the sort," Keito responded archly. "I just dropped in to say hello, your mother asked me in for tea. It would have been rude to refuse."
"And my father?" Tsukune demanded.
"I only popped in to see him. Never thought a salaryman could father such a violent human."
Tsukune tried to get himself worked up, knowing that he should be angry, but finding his girlfriend's actions surprisingly understandable. "Listen, I don't care what happens to me-" He was cut off when an annoyed looking Keito launched a web, snagging the surprised human, and effortlessly yanking him through the air. Tsukune let out a startled yelp when he ended up with his head in Keito's lap, looking up into her violet eyes.
"Hold still so I can ice that eye," Keito told him. "Or do I need to web you down?"
Tsukune meekly acquiesced, certain she wasn't bluffing. He hissed a little when the ice pack pressed against his black eye, although Keito applied it with surprising gentleness. He didn't expect that lying with his head in her lap would be so calming, but submitting himself to her rather tender ministrations did calm him down.
"Clever human," Keito told him with a satisfied look, continuing to hold the ice pack as they shared a quiet moment together. After a few minutes she spoke again. "Now, how did you really get hurt…?"
Tsukune let out a disgusted breath. "I ran into an old acquaintance," he related. "Guess you could call him a bully."
"And you chased him down to exact revenge?"
"No, I tried to avoid him, ended up in a blind alley. Tried to talk my way out, got sucker punched."
Keito looked at him like he'd gone insane. "You've killed a vampire, but got hurt by a human?"
"My fault," Tsukune growled. "No monster would have tried something that stupid. Though he didn't hit very hard."
"So what happened?"
"He tried to hit me again… It didn't end well."
Keito gave an almost approving look. "Did he survive?"
"I can't just kill people," Tsukune murmured.
"That's rich, coming from you."
Tsukune couldn't argue that, even though he really wanted to. "So you just came to see me, and check on my family?"
Keito played along with the blatant topic change. "That's all I planned, but something else came up."
"Something else?"
"After I left your father's office, a pair of… gentlemen decided I should join them at a hotel. Even after I politely declined and told them I had a boyfriend. They were rather forceful, and even made threats."
Tsukune was about to ask what happened when he finally noticed the faint odor that had been barely registering with him. It was a sharp metallic scent, almost copper-like.
Keito must have noticed the dawning comprehension on his face. "I did tell them no, gave them a chance to walk away."
The human knew he was in no position to rebuke the spider woman, considering the violence he'd unleashed earlier. Tsukune tried to console himself with the notion that the two would be rapists had gotten a karmic fate. He found it inexplicably easy to disregard his own concerns when Keito began running her fingers through his hair, finding the contact to be quite relaxing. Letting himself drift away was rather pleasant, and he was able to truly relax and let his guard down for the first time since he'd come home.
After about fifteen minutes Keito removed the ice pack and gave her boyfriend a careful look. "Doesn't look too bad…"
"Is it gone?" Tsukune wondered.
"No, but it should clear up in a day or two. It'll be gone before you come back."
Tsukune let out a breath. "That's something. Let me get up-"
Keito interrupted him by gently, but quite firmly, holding him in place. "No rush. Besides, you're cute at this angle…"
"…cute…?"
"Naturally," the spider woman replied with a smirk, caressing his face as she lowered her head towards his. "I don't like you just because you're violent."
Any retort, or kiss, was interrupted by a knocking at the door. "Excuse me," Tsukune's mother called out. "Would either of you like more tea?"
Tsukune lurched up so fast he nearly heat-butted Keito. Moving to the door with a speed that left his girlfriend astonished, he opened it and accepted the tray with a murmured thanks, letting out a relieved breath when the door closed again.
"I didn't think a human could move that fast…"
"Neither did I," Tsukune admitted.
The two of them had their tea in silence, the mood having been broken by his mother's appearance. Tsukune found himself wondering if she'd done that deliberately. They both emptied their mugs in about five minutes and Keito stood up, idly straightening up her skirt. "It was nice to see you again, but I should be getting back."
"So soon?"
Keito shrugged. "An Enforcer's work never ends." She set her mug on Tsukune's desk and slowly walked towards him, placing her arms on his shoulders and clasping her hands behind his head. "Since I don't think this would be appropriate in front of your mother…" Keito kissed him deeply, forcing her tongue between Tsukune's lips. He responded in kind, holding her against him as his tongue explored her mouth.
Eventually they broke off the kiss, Keito allowed her boyfriend a moment to compose himself, and then opened the door and they both walked into the kitchen. "It was nice meeting you," she told his mother, "but I need to go now."
"Won't you stay for dinner?" Tsukune's mom asked. "We'd love for you to join us."
"Thanks, but I really must be going. Besides, I spend so much time with your son at school, it wouldn't be fair for me to do that here," Keito added.
Nodding in acceptance Kasumi replied, "Come back anytime, I'd love to see you again."
"I may take you up on that," Keito told her, a sly smile in place. She allowed Tsukune and his mother to walk her to the door, giving her a quick hug and Tsukune a gentle kiss on the lips that left him blushing. Letting him see a brief mischievous expression, Keito gave Tsukune's mother an earnest look. "I don't know if Tsukune and I could ever give you a grandchild…"
Tsukune felt himself go pale.
"But I promise, we'll keep trying. See you in a couple of days Tsukune." Keito gave him a jaunty wave and sauntered out the door, confidently moving down the sidewalk until she disappeared into the pedestrians.
Tsukune had never felt more uncomfortable in his life, and he was afraid to turn around and look at his mother not wanting to see the expression on her face.
"Tsukune…"
"Y-yes…?" he croaked out, continuing to look away. If he didn't turn around, maybe she wasn't really there.
"…I like her."
Wanting to collapse on himself in relief, but forcing himself to keep his composure, Tsukune replied, "So do I."
"She's such a nice girl, and so charming," his mother gushed. "You're lucky, she seems like a perfect match for you."
Because he didn't turn around, his mother never saw the melancholic expression he was wearing. "Yeah, she is…"
XXX
Tsukune boarded the bus to Youkai Academy, feeling a little disappointed that Ichiro wasn't on it, and took a seat near the back, stowing his bags overhead. He kept his gaze out the window, watching as the city he'd grown up in passed by, trying not to dwell on why he felt like he was a stranger in it now. After picking up another two students he didn't recognize, leaving him wondering just how many lived near his home, the bus entered a tunnel and came out to an overcast sky that was all too familiar to the human.
An odd feeling of comfort and security came over him, and Tsukune that at least he was back in familiar territory, and that he didn't have to worry about telling humans from monsters anymore. When the bus pulled up to the stop he calmly took his bags and disembarked, nodding idle greetings when some of the others apparently recognized him and gave nervous hellos. Striding towards his dorm with the same casual ease he'd developed with time and practice, Tsukune had a warm feeling come over him like a blanket as he walked up the steps. He realized he'd been a little homesick while he'd been away on break, but it passed the moment he stepped inside his room, nodding in appreciation that the lights were still burning.
Closing his door and locking it, once again pushing his desk against it as a barricade, he set his bags on his bed and began to unpack. He'd just finished and was wondering if the cafeteria was open yet when there came a knock at his door. Tsukune felt his lips tighten; he never had visitors aside from Keito, and she'd be more likely to simply walk in. Idly reaching back and brushing his fingertips against the knife, the only human at Youkai Academy carefully slid his desk out of the way and opened the door. "Keito?" he asked in mild surprise.
"Tsukune Aono." The spider woman's official sounding tone made the hairs on the back of Tsukune's neck stand up. "You're going to have to come with us. The Headmaster wishes to speak with you."
Belatedly noticing the two other rather intimidating Enforcers in full uniform, just as Keito was, made a ball of chilled lead appear in Tsukune's stomach. "Right now?"
"Right now." Her tone brooked no argument.
Mentally steeling himself and setting his face with a look of detachment, Tsukune silently stepped out of his sanctum. He took no comfort from the fact the two male Enforcers were watching him warily. Wanting to ask what this was about, but simply falling into step with the black clad figures, the human allowed himself to be lead to the main administration building. He noticed that Keito locked eyes with him for a brief moment, but then she reverted back to a cool professional air.
Wondering if this was what a death march felt like, Tsukune struggled to maintain his fearless appearance, his heart rate rising as he was lead deeper and deeper into the building, passing a number of intimidating looking identical men who all looked like they'd all been Xeroxed. The walk finally stopped in front a set of two of the largest doors he'd ever seen, that wouldn't have looked out of place in a haunted house. They opened seemingly on their own. And with a subtle gesture of her head Keito indicated that he was to enter. Tsukune looked for any hint of what this was about on her face, but her expression was unreadable.
A stray thought decided that she would be formidable at poker.
Tsukune marched into the Headmaster's office as bravely as he could, feeling moderate pride when he didn't flinch when the door slammed shut behind him. Thoroughly rattled, but maintaining his composure, the human walked to the front of the large heavy desk and stood ramrod straight. "You wanted to see me?"
The hooded figure sitting behind the desk lifted his gaze, the glowing eyes seeming to look into the depths of the human's soul. "Tsukune Aono," his deep voice rumbled, seeming to reverberate in the office. "You have been a great disappointment."
Tsukune blinked. "A disappointment…?" He had no idea what was going on, and the cryptic utterings weren't helping.
"I brought you here to be a bridge between monsters and humanity," the Headmaster explained coldly. "So that monsters and humans could learn to live together peacefully. You've obviously been a failure."
"Wait… A bridge between humans and monsters…? Does that mean you knew I was human…?"
"Of course, why do you think I arranged for you to attend here?"
"You stupid bastard!" Tsukune snarled. "Bringing me here without warning?! What did you think would happen?"
The Headmaster steepled his fingers and gave the human an indifferent look. "That monsters would learn that humans don't need to be killed."
"Because they'll choke to death on our corpses? You haven't done a fucking thing to promote peaceful coexistence."
"You haven't done much to encourage peace-"
"So I should have let myself be killed? Are you fucking insane?"
"I never expected you to be so violent," the Headmaster rebuked him.
"I didn't feel like dying!" Tsukune snapped back. "And it never occurred to you to warn me first?"
The Headmaster shrugged. "I just thought-"
Tsukune slammed his fists onto the heavy desk, the boom echoing in the room. "NO! You didn't! Or you wouldn't have been so goddamn stupid!"
The hooded figure bristled. He knew he was one of the most powerful entities at the school, if not the entire planet. Throughout his long life he'd encountered many other creatures, many of them quite hostile. But the human glaring at him from across his desk was by far the most enraged being he'd ever seen. Tsukune's fists were clenched tightly into fists, his teeth locked together so hard he could have probably bitten through steel cable. For a second it almost looked as if he was ready to leap over the desk and attack him bare handed, or maybe with one of the weapons he supposedly carried at all times.
The Headmaster watched dispassionately while the livid student seemed to reluctantly rediscover self-control. Tsukune might only be human, but he had a sizeable body count, including one vampire; he'd proven he wasn't someone to underestimate.
Or let your guard down for.
"Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore," he explained in a conciliatory tone.
"What does that mean?"
The Headmaster took a file folder from the top drawer and wordlessly slid it across the polished wood to the smouldering human, gesturing for him to take it. Tsukune picked up the slim folder and flipped through the pages, not quite understanding what they were. "What's this?"
"Your transfer papers."
"Transfer papers?"
"Yes, you filled in the application some time ago, but thanks to some… pressure from Keito, we were able finalize this much faster than normal," the Headmaster explained. "Those documents will allow you to transfer to any school in the human world. We even filled in some applications for schools close to your home, for your convenience."
Tsukune scanned the papers a few more times, finding they were exactly as promised. These simple looking documents were his key to leaving Youkai Academy forever, to return to the human world and never look back. It was what he'd hoped and dreamed of for so long. He used the desktop to line them up on their edges.
Then simply ripped them in half, discarding the papers to the floor contemptuously.
"What are you doing?!"
Tsukune found he took grim satisfaction from the obvious surprise on the Headmaster's face. "Forget it, you're not getting rid of me that easy."
"That was your chance to go to a human school-"
"I don't belong there!" Tsukune bellowed, causing the cloaked figure to stop speaking. "I'm not human anymore."
The Headmaster looked at him humorlessly. "What nonsense are you spouting? You're human, that's why I brought you here."
"No! No I'm not! Not anymore!" Tsukune snarled. "I came this close to killing someone when I went back. Just because I could, and if I could do it again I would. I go to a human school now, I'll end up dead or in jail. At least I don't have to worry about being arrested here."
"Be careful human… even my patience has limits."
"I've had to be careful every second since I arrived," Tsukune growled.
The hooded man's eyes narrowed a little. "That's why you don't belong here."
"Yeah, but you brought me here, so you take responsibility for this, you bastard. Once I graduate, you can figure out what to do with me then." Tsukune then turned around and strode for the exit.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to my room, then I'll grab dinner," he replied without even looking back.
"But what about improving human/monster relations?"
Now Tsukune did stop, even though he kept his back to the Headmaster. "Wasn't a total failure," he responded venomously. "Everyone thinks I fight like one, and they're all scared to death of me. I'd say that's better than them trying to eat me."
"What do you expect to do here for the next few years?"
Tsukune looked over his shoulder, his narrowed eyes meeting the Headmaster's glowing ones. "Survive," he hissed through clenched teeth, before he marched out, ignoring the exasperated sigh he heard behind his back.
XXX
Keito stood outside the Headmaster's office, her posture somewhat official looking. She'd only been told to escort Tsukune there, no one had said anything about hanging around afterwards, but she didn't even think of leaving. The two who'd walked with her had left as soon as the doors had closed, their relief at not having to deal with the feared freshman quite palpable. Technically, students weren't supposed to linger in this part of the administrative building, but since she was in her Enforcers uniform, no one was willing to ask her to move along either.
The spider woman raised an eyebrow; the Headmaster's office was supposedly soundproof, and the doors had been two inches thick solid wood, but she was certain she heard yelling from inside.
And she was pretty sure it hadn't been just the Headmaster.
Then there was the sound of doorknobs turning and the doors were thrown open violently, with her boyfriend stalking out of the room. The look on Tsukune's face made her hesitate briefly. Keito had seen him upset, and at his most violent during the fight with Saizo, but she had never imagined his face could be twisted into such a mask of fury. He was practically radiating an aura that screamed out in warning to all sentient life to back off.
More than a little surprised, as well as intrigued, Keito followed him as he stomped heavily through the hall, his fists clenched at his sides, harsh breaths passing through flared nostrils. The few staff and students in the vicinity took the opportunity to make themselves scarce, leaving the sounds of two sets of footsteps echoing in the now deserted corridors.
At the end of the hall Tsukune stopped by a window, resting his forehead against the dry frame as he struggled to reassert his control. It proved to be a vain effort when the human let out a cry of frustration and rage, putting his right fist through one of the panes of glass, then letting out a pained snarl when the injury he'd inflicted made itself known.
"Are you okay?" Keito asked, eyeing the human guardedly.
Hissing in suppressed pain, Tsukune took a look at his bleeding hand. "I've been hurt worse…" He took off his tie and wrapped around his hand like a bandage, trying to staunch the bleeding.
Keito clicked her tongue. "We better get back to your room so you can take care of that."
Tsukune turned around to wave her off, but the look on her face told him it hadn't been a suggestion. Acquiescing in silence, the human started back towards his dormitory, idly noting that Keito fell into step beside him. Throughout the solitary walk she made no effort to engage him in conversation, and he silently thanked her for that. Upon reaching his building the two made their way up the stairs, other students making sure they stayed out of their way.
Safely ensconced in his room, Keito went to the bathroom to fetch the rubbing alcohol and a cloth while Tsukune blocked the door with his desk and slipped gingerly out of his jacket, the small shards of glass in his hand making him flinch. "Sit on the bed and let me take a look at it," Keito directed.
"Thanks, but I got this-"
"Will I have to ask again?"
Keito's expression brooked no argument, and Tsukune knew that she'd use force if he tried resisting her will, so he sat down wordlessly, presenting his hand for the spider woman to look at. He watched with an appraising eye as she carefully unwrapped his tie, dropping the blood soaked fabric to the floor, before carefully using her fingertips to pull out the larger shards of glass embedded in his hand. Holding his jaw tight Tsukune worked to conceal his discomfort, more out of habit than anything else. "Wait, what are you doing?"
The spider woman had extended her arachnid legs. "Trying to get these small slivers." With a dexterity that astonished Tsukune, Keito's spider legs were able to take hold of the tiniest pieces of glass, just like a pair of tweezers. Once she was satisfied that she'd removed all the glass from his hand, Keito wet the cloth with rubbing alcohol and pressed it against the cuts, causing Tsukune to choke down a growl, clenching his jaw and other hand tightly.
"That's pretty good work," he rasped, trying to push past the pain. "Where'd you learn that?"
"A human first aid book in the library," she explained. "Did you know that they had to order another one? When I went looking for it, they realized it had been stolen."
"Yeah… Sorry about that…"
"It's okay. I noticed it the first night I spent here," Keito told him wryly. She then lifted his hand to her face, making Tsukune wonder if she was going to kiss it better when she began using her silk to cover the cuts.
"Hey! Is that safe…?"
Keito gave him a blank look. "Don't tell me you're worrying about contact with my fluids, considering everywhere you've put your mouth-"
"Never mind, go ahead." The bandage she'd placed on his leg had worked after all. It most likely had saved his life.
"Clever human," she replied, continuing to cover all the gashes on his hand.
When she was done Tsukune took a close look while he opened and closed his fist. "Nice work. Ever think about being a nurse?"
Keito shook her head. "I prefer hurting people. So what got you so mad?"
Tsukune let out a sigh. "The Headmaster. I didn't think anyone could that much of a bastard."
"What did he do?"
"Dropped me into the meat grinder," Tsukune snarled. "Knew I was human and brought me here, just to see how I'd do, no warning, no nothing."
Keito considered that. "I'd say you've done pretty well."
The human shook his head ruefully. "Apparently trying to survive wasn't the right approach. Then he told me I could transfer."
"Transfer…? Ah, yes. That," Keito remarked. "So, when are you leaving…?"
"I'm not."
"You're not?"
"I can't. I don't fit in anymore, I'm too violent."
"That's a problem?"
"You're kidding, right?" Tsukune asked in disbelief. "When I have a problem with someone, my first thought isn't how to reason it out, it's about where to find the sharpest object and how much force it would take to get it through a ribcage! I go back, I'll kill someone, no questions."
Keito gave her usual sardonic look. "I'd say you just need to control your temper, but honestly, seeing you get all worked up gets me kinda hot."
Tsukune stared at the smirking spider woman for a few silent moments before he found himself chuckling at the absurdity that now ruled his life. "Anyone ever tell you you're a strange girl?"
"I think only you think that."
"Well, I hope you don't get tired of me, cuz I don't think I'm going anywhere for a while," Tsukune murmured.
Keito moved behind him and embraced him, using her arachnid legs as well as her arms, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm okay with that." She placed a kiss on his cheek and nuzzled his head.
"Me too." Tsukune felt himself relaxing for the first time. He found that he wasn't the slightest bit put off being in the embrace of a spider woman. More to the point, the idea that this would have once frightened him seemed completely alien now.
That thought made him realize that he was in the right place.
End of Chapter Eleven.
Author's Notes:
Pre-read professionally done by random1377 and Mereo Flere. All mistakes are mine alone.