Rosario Vampire Fan Fiction ❯ Two Guys, A Vampire, and a Monster Academy ❯ Summer Vacations and Sunflowers ( Chapter 10 )

Two Guys, a Vampire, and a Monster Academy

Disclaimer: I do not own Rosario + Vampire storyline, background, characters and similar media. Anything that sounds familiar to the readers is more then likely not mine, but originated from a source that I do not remember clearly. I may not be able to own my OC in this fiction.

Chapter 10: Summer Vacations and Sunflowers

It was the first day of Monster Academy’s Summer Vacation. Many students were able to spend their break from scholastic studies as they wish, sometimes with family. Just as many students were forced to stay at the school to make up their poor final scores of the previous semester through what were called “Remedial Classes” in Japan and “Summer School” in the United States. It does not take one of great imagination to feel the students who suffered that were not able to enjoy this break from their academic obligations.

For one particular group, a good portion of their Summer Vacation will be spent performing club related activities. Activities that are set without the confines of the Great Barrier that separates Monster Academy from the Human-dominated Earth. An action considered forbidden to the students who attend the Academy, previously informed that they could not enter the Human World until they have graduated from the school. An action a certain teacher stated was allowed due to the fact that she would be accompanying the group, though rather noticeably unconvincing.

Tsukune Aono and his cousin Louis McCorray were among that group as they awaited next to the Pumpkin-headed Scarecrow sign at the sea-side cliff to await the other members of the Newspaper Club to appear for the expedition into the human world. The Earth both were born and raised within long before they entered Monster Academy where a majority of its monster students lived nearly all of their lives within the supernatural realm. The cousins wore more casual attire of clothing instead of the uniform, yet both wore a back armband upon their left arm, indicating that both were in morning for the passing of family.

Normally, for student monsters as well as accidental humans, they would be pacing back and forth and frequently looking at their respective wrist watches. For the cousins, however, they were not so eager for this trip due to the fact that they have far more grave thoughts upon their minds. Thoughts that cast their head and their gaze downward in sorrow and made both blind to the approach of a certain, pink headed vampire had approached them in an attire one would call a frilled “Sun Dress” and a long sleeved blouse worn over as her casual wear.

“Ohayo (good morning) Tsukune, Lou!” Moka greeted the cousins, an act that tore them from their thoughts. “You’re both here early. Weren’t we suppose to meet with the others for the trip thirty minutes from now?”

“Oh, hey Pinkie.” Lou greeted first, quickly followed by Tsukune who commented upon the vampire’s form of dress. Both voices held little of the usual energy as noticed by Moka’s ears just before she spied the black arm bands.

“It wasn’t the best way to start natsuyasumi (summer vacation), is it?” The vampire noted. “Gomen nasai (I’m sorry).”

“Nothing to apologize for, Pinkie.” The American reassured the pink headed vampire. “Still, it doesn’t make it any easier to cope with the idea that Danny Boy is gone.” Lou stated before performing the Sign of the Cross upon his person. “Though then again, it’s never easy to loose family, especially one’s baby brother.”

“You know that Danny-san hate’s to be called baby.” Tsukune corrected.

“I know, I know.” Lou defended. “But I just can’t help it! He was just so small, especially when I held him for the first time...so small and frail, he shouldn’t have-” He leaned against the tree trunk that stood beside the scarecrow sign, tears building at the corner of his eyes as he covered his mouth. Tsukune simply placed a hand upon his cousin’s shoulder, though he himself is threatened to collapse to his knees due to sorrow. Moka lowered her head as well, unsure of what to say to comfort them both.

“He said he was fine!” The American then punched the tree he leaned upon. “That fuckin’ doc said that his heart was alright!”

“Th-there’s n-nothing that we c-can do for Danny-san now bu-but keep him alive in our m-memories a-and our he-hearts.” Tsukune’s voice broke from the tears.

“It still doesn’t make it any fuckin’ easier.” Lou countered in between tears. The very sight of the cousins in morning and in tears shattered Moka’s heart as she slowly approached them. She raised a hand to comfort them, but then retracted, still unsure as to what to do for either of them.

“IIIIIIEEEE (no)!” The trio then heard the scream of the young witch as she was being dragged by the blue headed succubus. “I don’t wanna go ~Desu!” Following close behind was Mizore.

“Come on! It’s not THAT bad!” Kurumu countered. “You haven’t been to the Human World right? So stop being such a baby-” Yukari then silenced the succubus when a wash bin appeared and crashed atop of her head.

“Someone with barely a neuron and a glidal cell in their skull can’t possibly understand ~Desu!” The little witch argued.

“Why you!” Kurumu pushed up an imaginary sleeve of her short-sleeved shirt in preparation for a fight.

“Nani (what)? What’s going on?” Tsukune asked just after he wiped the tears from his eyes.

“Yeah, not exactly the ideal way to start a little camping trip.” Lou noted, causing both monster girls to stop their argument and turned towards the cousins. They were suddenly reminded of the ease dropped phone call the other day and they hung their heads. Then they heard the familiar rumbling of an engine, causing the group to turn their heads towards the approaching bus.

“The bus is here.” Mizore barely spoke.

“Where’s Horn Dog anyway?” Lou asked as he looked around.

“Gin-sempai didn’t score high enough for the Semester Final and to stay behind for Remedial Classes to make up for the poor grades.” Mizore answered.

“Sore dewa (well then), I guess everyone’s here!” Kurumu chuckled nervously from the fact that she had skipped remedial classes to be with her friends, in particular her Destined One. It hurt her emotionally to the fact that one of Tsukune’s young relatives died so suddenly, though she was confused in that she felt pain to see the American’s face in mourning as well. In the mind of the succubus, the only one that really counted emotionally was her Destined One, right?

The bus stopped before the scarecrow sign and opened its doors to reveal Shizuka Nekonomewaiting for them. “Ohayo! All aboard to the Human World!” She greeted. The other members of the Newspaper Club, with their luggage in hand, boarded the bus with the last being the cousins.

“Well aren’t yah a familiar face?” Lou’s statement broke Tsukune’s train of thought as he looked up to see the obscured face of the bus driver. The same one that has delivered both cousins to this secret school of monsters.

“B-bus driver-san?!”

“It seems that both of you are fine, so far.” The bus driver chuckled, causing Lou to involuntarily shiver.

“I’ll never get used to that echo.”

“Still,” the bus driver began. “The two of you have been walking on air, seikaku (correct)? To be attacked by your sempai’s (older students), perhaps the both of you have had your fill of Monster Academy?”

“How did you know-” Tsukune began, but was interrupted by the bus driver’s rather trademarked chuckle.

“Oh, I know. After all, one could say that I bear a bit of responsibility for the two of you.” The bus driver replied. “To make sure nothing TO bad happens to the both of you.”

“GREAT...,” Lou groaned. “Another stalker. As if Snow White wasn’t enough....” The bus then entered the tunnel that lead the cousins to Monster Academy at the beginning of the semester.

“Something feels....odd....” Tsukune noted, the tunnel giving off a strange atmosphere.

“You think?”

“Don’t act so worried.” The bus driver explained. “This long tunnel is connected to various other tunnels across the Japan area of the Human-dominated earth. One would call it a worm hole, and is one reason why such strange happenings occur near tunnels. Meaning that once we leave this tunnel, it would mean farewell to the supernatural world for a while.”

“Not sure why,” Lou began. “But I’m getting Stargate: SG-1 vibes from that.” Tsukune nodded.

“Here we go, the Human World.” The bus driver announced as the vehicle reached a light at the end of the tunnel and then found itself driving upon a road once the group had their eyes adjust to the new amount of light.

The bus then road past a gas station as the other members of the Newspaper Club gathered at the windows to observe the other humans going about their own business.

“There are so many humans ~Desu!” Yukari nearly squeaked, still uncomfortable about the idea of being upon this human occupied half of the Earth.

“Of course, you dummy!” Kurumu countered the statement of the little witch. “This is the human world after all!”

Moka was still adjusting her eyesight to the summer sun, her hand covering much of her face. “The sun is so bright, so it’s summer here as well?”

“Too warm.” Mizore dead panned as she liberated a lolipop from its wrapping before placing the candy into her mouth, the cooling effects of the confection already managing the Snow Woman’s body temperature.

Lou breathed deeply as Tsukune had tears build up in the corner of his eyes in sheer joy of returning back to the earth that they both knew before attending Monster Academy. “Feels good to be back.”

“‘Kaeru’ (back)?” The other newspaper club members turned to ask the American, who currently suffered a swift jab to the ribs by his cousin.

“Well...” Lou scratched the back of his head. “Couz’ here and I pretty much lived most of our lives here in the Human World. It’s like coming back home.”

“You live in the Human World?!” The girls of the Newspaper Club exclaimed, only the vampire knew the truth.

“Yabai (cool)!”Kurumu exclaimed.

“To think that Lou-kun is able to survive here in the human world ~Desu...” Yukari’s eyes became watery before the little witched jumped and embraced the American.

“GAUGH! Get it off! Get it off! GET IT OFF!!” Lou wailed as his arms flailed around in a panic.

“Mite goran (look)!” The succubus’ eyes then caught the glimps of buildings off at a distance, clustered together like any other city. “It’s a city! An actual human city!”

“I wonder if that is where we’re going?” Moka wondered out loud.

The bus soon stopped before a small patch of forest that was apart of a much greater land feature of a hill, itself part of the mountainous region that lie upon the outskirts of the nearby city. A series of signs were posted within the immediate area of the location, many of which stated that construction work was in progress and that none beyond the participation of the construction project were to trespass these grounds.

“Am I not the only one who is having a bad feeling about this?” Lou asked his fellow Newspaper Club Members as they disembarked the bus. “Like a sort of ‘deliverance’ kind of bad feeling?”

“‘Deliverance’?” Kurumu asked the American, only for Tsukune to interrupt the explanation.

“I think it would be better if no one knows about that movie beyond the two of us.” Tsukune advised.

“Good point.” Lou noted. “Granted, Mike did kinda warn us about it. It still didn’t make viewing it any either.” Before the succubus could even contemplate on an inquiry as to what the cousins had just referenced, a shout from the pink headed vampire drew the attention of the other members of the Newspaper Club to a large field of sunflowers.

“Sugoi!” Kurumu exclaimed as she approached the field. “Is this some kind of garden?”

“I had no idea that there was something this beautiful in the human world!” Moka added.

“Hopefully this is just a rest stop.” Lou commented as he looked onto the field before he rubbed his head and sighed. “Something tells me that we’d better start practicin’ our pig squeals.”

“This isn’t Appalachia.” Tsukune corrected his cousin. “And besides, it was just an old movie.”

“Still, I’m getting bad banjo vibes.” Lou then did an ‘air guitar’ version of the song “Dueling Banjoes” to emphasize his point. Though ignorant of the referenced movie, Yukari still clung to Lou and looked around nervously.

“This isn’t the planned stop is it?” The statement from the club advisor drew the attention of the cousins and the little witch.

“I just thought that we should stop by this place for a bit.” The bus driver explained. “This area is pretty famous locally.”

“Ara (oh), because of the Sunflowers, tadashii (right)?” Tsukune theorized.

“Hantai (negative), it is for being a mysterious spot where people have been spirited away one after another.” The statement by the seemingly calm minded bus driver caused the jaws of the cousins to become slack due to shock and disbelief.

“Wait, WHAT?!” Lou exclaimed in a panic.

“Even in this day and age,” The bus driver concluded. “Isn’t spiriting away quite poetic?”

“‘Poetic’! ‘Smo-etic’! This is NOT the kind of place you send High Schoolers even WITH escorts!”

“Is that why you brought us all here?!” Tsukune’s face lacked much color from the revelation. Just then, the bus driver had handed the human with a copy of the local newspaper.

“You should read the details here.” The bus driver explained. “And I would also advise caution so that none of you are spirited away as well.”

“Nani?”

“Why are you giving us this advise NOW? Aren’t you-” Lou was then interrupted by the next words that flowed from the bus driver’s mouth just after he turned towards Nekonome.

“Why don’t we go out to eat, Nekonome-sensei?” The bus driver offered. “I’ll treat you to some tasty fish.”

Almost without question, the two adults of this expedition beyond Monster Academy grounds boarded the bus and soon headed back towards the direction of the city that was seen beforehand, leaving behind the First Year members of the Newspaper Club. Of which only two chased after the bus instead of immobilized with shock and surprise.

“Don’t leave us alone out here!!” Tsukune exclaimed.

“This is SO legally considered ‘abandonment’! We don’t do well with ‘Mystery Spots’!” Lou called back. The cousins were soon joined by the rest of the Newspaper Club.

Hidden within the growth of sunflowers, an unknown observer watched the group.

“Why did the bus driver deserted us here?!” Tsukune panicked.

“‘Bear responsibility’ my ass!” Lou cursed. “I knew that something bad was gonna happen! This is just the start of it!”

“Daijoobu (its alright)! It can’t be THAT bad!” Moka attempted to reassure the two panicking cousins, abit rather poorly.

“Yeah, that’s what they say in them slasher flicks before the blood starts flyin’! If it ain’t that, then hillbilly red necks who wanna ass-fuck Tsukune and I just because we got purdy mouths!” Lou exclaimed in a hysterical fashion.

“Oro (huh)?” Mizore suddenly inquired after drawing her attention back to the group, not minding the conversation until just that moment.

“What are we gonna do now ~Desu?!” Yukari whined for completely different reasons than what Lou had stated. “I don’t like this! I wanna go back home now ~Desu!”

“We just GOT here!” Kurumu scolded in a vain attempt to get the strange thought of what Lou had implied out of her mind. “You had better stop complaining or else I’ll REALLY give you something to complain about!” Naturally, the pink headed vampire attempted to cool down the argument of the two conflicting monster girls.

Mizore and Tsukune then noticed something out in the sunflower field. “Did you see that?” Tsukune asked, to which Mizore nodded. Almost immediately Tsukune received a hit to the back of his head by his own cousin. “Itai (ow)!”

“Don’t freak me out like that!” Lou warned Tsukune. “I got ENOUGH to worry about AS IS!!”

“What’s wrong?” Both the pink headed vampire and blue headed succubus asked.

“I’m not sure, but I think I saw something in the sunflowers.” Tsukune replied just before a strange hissing roar was heard.

“Oh fuck, this is bad!” Lou nearly screamed.

“We can just hide at that cabin over there.” The Snow Woman drew the group’s attention towards a small, nearby shack that she had pointed.

“IN the field that we heard the roar from earli- WAIT FOR ME!” Lou exclaimed as he chased after the fleeing forms of the Newspaper Club members who made a mad dash towards the only true form of shelter within sight.

The group then began to recover from their flight response once the American slammed the door closed behind him. The adrenaline rush buzzed in between their ears. “What was that just now! We’re in the Human World right?!” Tsukune exclaimed.

“Well it ain’t Kansas, that’s for sure!” Lou added.

“Didn’t the bus driver say something about the story being in the newspaper?” Moka asked, to which Tsukune looked down to the newspaper copy that was nearly cut in two due to how strong the grip was during the run from being exposed to being sheltered but isolated.

“Ara, sou ka (I see).” Tsukune almost replied automatically as he unfurled the newspaper edition and read through to find the story that gave much insight to the location that they presently occupied. From what could be read, eighteen known disappearances associated with the area were sight seers, mostly occultist, who visited the area that was known locally as Witch Hill. Many of the locals believed that due to the construction project initiated by the ambitious prefectural governor that the witches rumored to live in the area had spirited away the missing persons as a form of revenge for destroying their sacred home.

“Sheesh! Sounds like a bad plot for a slasher flick!” Lou then added. “Though then again, I have been wrong before. We had better get everyone aware of the Scream Rules.” He turned to his cousin.

“‘Screamu’?” Moka raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“A witch?” Kurumu then turned towards Yukari with the intent of making fun of the little witch. “So all of this ‘spiriting away’ business is caused by a witch? Isn’t it like your kind to take humans and do awful things to them?”

“Only a simpleton would believe in anything they read in a newspaper. ~Desu.” Yukari taunted back.

“Well I don’t like witches to begin with.” Kurumu countered.

“And I don’t like blow up dolls like you ~Desu!” And thus another argument began between the succubus and little witch as the vampire attempted to bring peace in between the two.

“So what are these ‘Scream Rules’?” Mizore asked the cousins, though in the meanwhile wrapped her arms around Tsukune’s frame.

“Th-they’re just rules stated in a horror movie in how one can survive one, that’s all.” Tsukune attempted to keep together his poor composure in addition to keep himself from shivering due to the cold produced by the Snow Woman’s body.

“But it doesn’t hurt to be cautious, considering that we got no fuckin’ clue as to what’s out there stalkin’ us.” Lou then added. “Though then again, they don’t really a lot. Just the more basic of circumstances.”

“I still wanna hear them.” Mizore almost pleaded.

“Alright,” Lou sighed. “There are about three rules, though there were actually entire books dedicated to surviving various types of horror movies. The first is to not have sex. Second is to not drink alcohol or do drugs. And the third is never say ‘I’ll be right back’.”

“That’s it?” Mizore question.

“Well the key component in those rules, and several horror fans would agree, that the best way to survive a slasher flick is to pay attention to your surroundings.” Lou explained. “You can’t be distracted while there’s a killer out there on the loose because they can pounce on you at any moment and you need all of your sense to properly prepare your ‘flight or fight’ response because your life WILL depend upon it.”

“But what about your cell phone?” Tsukune inquired. Lou then looked upwards in thought for a moment before searching his pocket for his trusty Sidekick LX cellular telephone.

“Oh, well this helps too.” Lou noted. “Oh good! It has a full charge AND it has full reception! Things are FINALLY looking up!”

“Chotto (hey),” Moka interrupted as a thought appeared in her mind. “Do any of you think that it’s more then coincidence that we were stranded here? It’s suppose to be a camp for the Newspaper Club, tadashii? Could Nekonome-sensei be trying to get us to do something?”

“Well that’s just annoying.” The succubus began as she took a break from her argument with the little witch. “She’s just testing us. Sore dewa, whatever that plan might be, we might as well solve this ‘spiriting away’ business ourselves.”

“Iie! It’s too dangerous ~Desu!” Yukari warned. “What if something DOES happen? This is the Human World ~Desu!” She then showed the group her Tarot Cards. “My reading even stated that this was an ill-fated vacation ~Desu!”

“I’ve had enough of you, Yukari-chan!” Kurumu almost growled. “Tarot Cards are worthless anyway and you’ve done nothing but complain all day!”

“I wouldn’t throw away a warning like that all willy nilly if I were you Pamela, especially in this kind of situation.” Lou lectured. “Rule Number Twenty-One of the Internet Guide to Surviving a Horror Movie states that you should heed ALL warnings, ESPECIALLY if they’re from children and animals.”

“Hey!” Yukari whined.

“No offense, Sabrina.” Lou corrected himself as he apologized.

“Even so, she’s acting like such a baby!” Kurumu scolded. “If she’s that afraid, then she should go back to her home all by herself!”

“Baka (stupid)! I’m not afraid of anything! ~Desu!” Yukari yelled at the succubus in her own defense before rushing out of the shack.

“Yukari-chan, matte (wait)! Where are you going?!” The pink headed vampire yelled out from the door frame. “Hayaku shite (hurry up)! We have to catch up with Yukari-chan before she get’s too far up the mountain!” Moka turned back to see that the succubus suffered a head wound made from an iron tarot card.

“YEOUCH! That looks painful!” Lou cringed.

“Is that an iron tarot card?” Tsukune asked in disbelief.

Moka then shook her head from the shock of seeing a tarot card stuck to Kurumu’s head in such a bloody fashion. “We can’t leave Yukari-chan alone like this!”

“Hold a sec.” Lou stated just before he searched the shack for viable weapons. All he found was a shovel and an axe. He then handed the axe to his cousin. “Here, you take this.”

“Naze (why)?” Tsukune asked.

“The shovel’s long handle is good for keeping a distance while the axe is useful for up close and personal ‘business’ in case we do run into the killer.” Lou advised.

“Then why should I have the axe?” Tsukune argued. “You’re taller! You have the better arm reach!”

“Then why not transform into your true forms?” Mizore asked, causing the vampire and the cousins to nearly gasped.

“Our uh......real forms aren’t that strong!” Lou barely saved their own identities as humans.

The members of the Newspaper club, sans a certain child genius witch, were looking for their runaway companion when they suddenly heard a scream.

“Did any of you hear that?” Moka asked.

“I was hoping that it was just me.” Lou gulped.

“Maybe someone else is in trouble?” Tsukune theorized.

“Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Lou warned. “It’s not really a good idea to head off into trouble while under gunned. Something tells me that we’ll need the heavy guns that Sabrina’s magic offers when we DO find the killer.”

“But someone could be-” The group then heard another scream, this time it was much more familiar.

“Yep, that was Sabrina alright.”

“How did we miss her?” Tsukune wondered out loud as Kurumu internally reflected upon her own actions upon the little witch.

“We’ll find out more once we find her, now let’s move it!” Lou then whistled at Kurumu to get her attention. “Pamela! We need an eye in the sky!”

“Ara! Tadashii!” The succubus answered while hiding a blush that marked her face. She then reverted to her true, monster self and took to the air. Though she was tasked with aerial reconnaissance of the immediate area for anything that was out of place from the normal setting, her mind was occupied with why she had blushed when her Destined One’s cousin called out to her. Below her, the other members of the Newspaper Club rushed in the general direction of the screams they had heard earlier.

Kurumu then noticed off the corner of her eye strange, sac-like green creatures attacking three individuals in the sunflower field. Though her eyesight were not adequate enough to see as to whom the individuals were, despite the fact that a succubus was naturally an aerial predator in addition to seducer, she already knew as to the identity of the smaller person who waved some kind of stick to which immediately followed by an attacking creature being sliced into more than a single whole. “Minna! I found Yukari-chan!” She announced as she flew down towards the ground, weaving around the trees and branches.

“What’cha got?” Lou asked.

“She’s being attacked by strange creatures over there!” The succubus pointed in the direction where she last saw Yukari.

“Ara ma (oh no)!” Moka gasped.

“We need to help Yukari-cha- A kazoo?” Tsukune turned to see that his cousin had a small wind instrument in his hand in addition to the shovel.

“Don’t know why I have one on me either.” Lou admitted before placing the instrument to his lips and played the United States Calvary Charge before lifting the shovel above his head and rushed forward to where Kurumu had pointed. “CHARGE!!”

The others simply looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders before they rushed after the spade wielding American.

“Don’t worry Sabrina! We’re commin’! We’re commin’ to help.....you....with......” Lou slowed his advance as he saw that the sunflower field was quiet of any form of battle, mangled and sliced forms of what were once plant monsters littered the ground and the little witch lied upon the ground, physically exhausted. “Sheesh, our timing really sucks today.”

“Yukari-chan beat all these plant monsters all by herself?!” Kurumu gasped in amazement at the solitary labor the little witch had performed in order to save two bystander humans.

“Why was Yukari-chan fighting these monsters? What happened here- Yukari-chan!” Tsukune exclaimed as he spotted Yukari’s exhausted form. He gently picked her up from the ground just as the other members of the Newspaper Club and the stranger sight seers approached the still form of the little witch.

Some time had past since the group left the sunflower field. Moka sat with the exhausted Yukari beneath a tree, Kurumu paced back and forth in anticipation to when the little witch will awaken once again, Tsukune left earlier to gather some water in a bucket and Lou kneeled upon the ground and was nearly finished with prayers upon the rosary for his younger brother.

“How could you just sit there while Yukari-chan is out cold and- what are you doing anyway?” Kurumu asked as Lou was only a few Hail Mary prayers from completing the rosary.

“It’s a rosary, it’s pretty much used for prayers for we Catholics.” Lou answered. “This is for my brother. Yukari’s next.”

“Does that work?”

“I’m open to any suggestions.” The American then returned to the rosary just as Tsukune returned with a bucket of water.

“So how is she Moka-san? Has she waken up yet?” Tsukune asked as he placed the bucket upon the ground, to which the vampire replied by shaking her head.

“Mada desu (not yet). Thankfully she didn’t have any serious injuries.” Moka began. “Just exhaustion, probably due to using so much of her energy for her magic while fighting those monsters.”

“Yahari (still), I can’t help but wonder if she’s ookee.” The succubus’ statement drew the attention of Tsukune and Moka. “I was really surprised when I heard that she defeated those plant monsters on her own. I didn’t think that she was capable of such a thing. Shikamo (even so), she’s so scared of the human world. Why is that?”

“I guess there are still some things we don’t know much about with Yukari-chan.” Moka looked down to the aforementioned witch asleep in her arms. “Especially in regards to witches being boarder beings.”

“Eetoo...is Yukari-chan alright?” The group looked up to see the two sight seers that Yukari had fought to defend against the plant monsters. “Is she awake yet?”

“Iie, mada desu.” Moka answered.

The sight seer who wore the baseball cap then squatted next to the little witche’s exhausted form. “Does Yukari-chan live around here?”

“Nope.” Lou replied as he got up from his kneeling position. “We pretty much got here.”

“Hai (yes),” Tsukune continued. “We just came here on a research trip for our club.”

“Soo ka. So I was wrong?” The statement caught the attention of the Newspaper Club.

“Pardon?” Lou asked.

“I was wondering since this place has a legend about a witch living here, hence the name ‘Witch Hill’.” The cap wearing sight seer explained. “Recently there was a decision to build a factory around here and since then there have been many disappearances. Some around here believe that this was caused by the witch who lives upon Witch Hill and especially at that mansion at the top of the hill, that the victims were factory managers who faced the wrath of a vengeful witch. It’s caused a lot of people to be scared.”

“You guys don’t have any proof, so don’t go randomly blaming witches for everything ~Desu.” Yukari defended despite the fact that her mind and body were still recovering from exhaustion. “You humans can never understand us witches ~Desu.” The group then turned their attention to the now awaken Yukari.

“Had a nice nap there Sabrina?” Lou chuckled.

“Thank kami that you’re awake finally!” Kurumu exclaimed in relief. “Daijoobu?” The succubus received her reply when Yukari turned away with her nose turned up into the air. The act reminded the blue headed monster girl that the two had a fight just earlier. “Sore dewa (well), since this place is so dangerous, we should leave as soon as possible!” Kurumu scratched the back of her head.

“Smooth.” Mizore commented at Kurumu’s attempt to salvage the conversation.

“Tadashii,” Moka then showed the group a page from her notebook. “We should head to the motel that Nekonome-sensei mentioned earlier. We might even catch up with her there.”

“We can give you all a ride into town.” One of the sight seers offered. “It’ll be a tight fit since there’s more than five of us.”

“Well it’s better than walkin’.” Lou added and soon enough the group attempted to fit into the vehicle the sight seers used to reach Witch Hill, unknowingly watched by a third party that only Yukari barely noticed before they were driven towards the city.

The Newspaper Club then crawled out of the car and onto a covered bench. They thanked the sight seers just before they drove away and leaving the group to their own devices.

“We finally arrived at the human city.” The pink headed vampire commented before the group walked down the side walks in an attempt to find the motel that they would rest during their stay upon the human dominated Earth.

“Sugoi!” Kurumu exclaimed in awe. “This is so cool!”

Tsukune then noticed that the little witch held a worried look upon her face, akin to a spooked animal in an unfamiliar face. “Don’t worry Yukari-chan, this isn’t such a dangerous place.”

“Yeah,” Lou began. “Compared to Monster Academy, this place is deathly quiet-” The American paused when he felt a very familiar feeling deep within his self. One that needed immediate attention less an accident occurs. “I gotta go!”

Yukari held fast onto Lou’s arm to halt his flight away from the group. “Why are you leaving us now ~Desu?!”

“Nature calls and I can only put her on hold for so long.” Lou explained in a rush. “Don’t worry Sabrina, I’ll be right back!” Freeing himself from the little witch’s grasped, he dashed down the street and looking through doors of nearby stores and buildings all the while he wondered exactly what he had for breakfast this morning.

Eventually, he found a public restroom that had no requirements nor coins to expend for use. “Oh man! It’s gonna be one HELL of a photo finish!” Lou exclaimed to practically no one in particular and rushed into the nearest available stall and proceeded to perform his bodily business. A wave of relief washed over his very being after he held this grotesque business for such an extended period of time.

Lou soon exited the public rest room, feeling quite refreshed and a pound or two lighter. He soon walked down the street to meet with the other members of the Newspaper Club, only to find that they were no longer present and left behind an equally confused crowd. “Guys....? MOTHER FUCKERS DITCHED ME!!!” The American cursed to the heavens before hanging his head. “And I don’t even remember the name of the fuckin’ motel. Figures....”

Out of random chance of aimless wander, Lou entered what could either be described as a shop for antiques or gifts. He couldn’t really tell as he walked up to the counter to gain the attention of what he assumed to be the shop’s clerk and possible owner. “Um, excuse me?”

“Hai?” The elderly woman of sixty years at least turned towards the American.

“Hi, I was wondering if you happen to, by any chance seen some people pass by here?” Lou began to explain. “One of them has long, pink hair. The second has blue hair and very well endowed. The third has kind of a purple color to her hair and gives off a rather cold chill. And the fourth is a little kid dressed up like a witch.”

“Iie, I don’t believe that I have seen such individuals.” The elderly woman shook her head. “Perhaps it would be wise to purchase a gift for them upon reunion?” She arched an eyebrow, hoping to make a sale.

“Yeah, right.” Lou countered. “That’s just a Greek tragedy waiting to happen.”

“Conflicted heart I take it? Then I believe I have just the item for you.” The elderly woman then reached under the counter and pulled out a small case. She opened it up and revealed to Lou what appeared to be normal glasses. “These allow you to see who you are destined to be with in addition to those of your closest friends.”

“Riiight.” Lou was unconvinced as he plucked the glasses from the elderly woman’s grasp and put them on. Naturally, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. “Nice try, but I’m not convinced.”

“Well there are no free demonstrations of such products.” The woman advised. “You must OWN them before you can USE them.”

Lou cursed his rabid curiosity as he took off the glasses before he shifted through his wallet. “Don’t really have much in terms of the local yen. All I got is American money.”

“That will do just fine.” The elderly woman opened her palm to accept the foreign money.

“Alright, so how much will it be?” Lou handed her a one dollar bill, to which she gladly accepted before handing the glasses to him.

“That will be enough. Now, try them on.”

Lou shrugged as he put on the glasses once more and once again he noticed no other changes. “Well I’m not seeing anything differ-AAAAAAAAAA!!” He cried out in horror when something as mindless as scratching his head gave him a glimpse of red colored thread or string tied to the first knuckle of his pinkie after the finger tip. He was quite familiar with the legend of the invisible red string of destiny from his mother. The only thing she did not mention was the fact that he had more than one string tied to his fingers. In fact, there were several. “That’s.....a lot of string.” Naturally, Lou was worried.

“Waa (oh my)!” The elderly woman chuckled. “It would appear that you’ve made many lovers in past lives.”

“Okay, I’m convinced!” Lou exclaimed in panic and terror as he handed the glasses back. “You can have ‘em back!”

“Gomen nasai, I don’t do refunds.” Then the elderly woman handed the semi-hyperventilating American a small notebook. “This should tell you everything you need to know of what is known about the glasses and its use.”

“An owner’s manual? Well that’s a first.” Lou accepted the notebook and skimmed the pages. “At least my chicken scratch has improved during the semester. No offense. Still, this is a really mean trick you pulled on me.”

“Well then, have a good day sir.” The elderly woman smiled, a look of relief washed over her face.

 “No thanks to you!” Lou slammed the shop door closed behind him, noticeably annoyed and angered that he had been tricked into the purchase of what had been revealed to be a magical item. Moments after Lou was out of sight of the shop, a limousine pulled up alongside the building and a man wearing an expensive business suit stepped out. He then entered the shop to begin business with the town’s match maker, only to find out that she had recently retired. The elderly woman had found an unwilling successor and will not reveal the identity of the successor.

Lou, wearing the magical glasses, attempted to pull free the strings that were tied to his fingers. Naturally, he had no success. “Well that’s just perfect.” He sighed as he looked back to the small note book. “Either destiny has super glued these threads to my fingers good or I’m just not powerful enough to remove them. Wonder if I can tell the name of the gal on the other end?” He browsed through the notebook and searched for the information that he required.

It was then that the American heard the bird cry of numerous crows. Lou looked up and saw an entire flock congregating upon the rooftop of a nearby building. “Definitely an Alfred Hitchcock setting. Wonder if the guys are there?”

His inquiry was answered from various yells of familiar voices leading up to a rumbling sound. “Yep, they’re up there.” Pocketing both the notebook and the magical glasses, Lou approached the building. By the time he reached the doors leading into the stairwell, they were opened by Mizore.

“Oh, there you are.” Mizore nearly dead panned as the group reached the door and held a look of surprise and relief upon their faces.

“Lou-kun!” Both Tsukune and Yukari exclaimed.

“So what’s the deal with ditching me earlier?!” Lou nearly fumed, but then noticed an unfamiliar face. “Aaaand who’s the Hot Topic Shopper?”

The city lights have illuminated the evening after the sun had set and the Newspaper Club members sat underneath a covered bench, quite possibly a bus stop. The American had already been briefed as to what had happened when he left the group. “Guess that might explain the disappearances at that sunflower field.”

“That is pretty much it.” Mizore explained.

“Though it doesn’t really explain why we brought little ol’ homicidal witch here with us.” Lou thumbed towards the witch whose name was Rubi.

“Well we couldn’t just leave her in the middle of nowhere.” Moka answered as she semi-cradled the still unconscious older witch.

“Still, I have a bad feeling that she’ll go Carrie all over our asses if we’re not too careful.” Lou warned. “We’re in a bad enough situation as is.”

“Hai.” Tsukune agreed. “We have no idea where the Motel, Nekonome-sensei, and bus driver-san is and we can’t exactly walk back to Monster Academy.”

Kurumu then looked upwards towards the sky. “You can’t even see the stars in the city.”

“That’ll be light pollution there Pamela.” Lou answered. “Get far enough away from city lights and you’ll see em quite clearly.”

“So what’s going to happen to us now?” Mizore asked, to which Lou shrugged.

“Daijoobu ~Desu!” Yukari declared as she wrapped her arms around Lou’s torso. “As long as I’m with everyone, I’m all set ~Desu!”

“GAUGH! Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!” The American squealed as he flailed his arms.

“Ara, everybody’s here!” The group then turned towards the familiar voice of Nekonome, who was currently holding up crates of fish in her arms. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Gettin’ lost, no thanks to you!” Lou exclaimed in a rage. “Do you have any idea what we’ve been through? Be thankful that I don’t have enough money to sue-” He was interrupted by the rest of the Newspaper Club nearly tackling the monster teacher down, glad to see a familiar face that would help them through this strange summer vacation.

Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I had some issues to deal with and I had a low drive to writing this.

As always, flames and brutally honest reviews will not be tolerated.