A/N Hello again. As you might've already guessed, I've enabled anonymous reviews, so anyone can drop one now. Even though I do enjoy talking with my reviewers, it's your choice regardless.

Oh, and I apologize if the last chapter wasn't up to the usual quality. Hmm, shouldn't have stayed up late finished it, it definitely shows. Thanks to Daiski for the input, I'll definitely make the next chapters the usual quality, if not better. I hate disappointing the readers.

And just for information's sake, "[text]" = foreign language spoken

"Just a moment."

Yes, Moka-san?

"Why did you have my older sisters removed so easily? What do you think we are, chopped liver?"

"Oh come on, Moka-chan, don't take it so personally. I'm sure he'll make it up to us as the story goes on."

"He'd better, for his sake."

Uh, yeah, whatever you say.

"He'd better not be planing anything for Chichiu-e, or I'll be really... perturbed."

"He already is, Moka-san. Just look at what he's got planned in Part II."

WHAT? How did you get a hold of the script? Give that back!

"Come and get it, author-san."

Ugh, looks like we have another situation here, so we might as well get the story started. And as always, I do not own either Rosario + Vampire or Castlevania. They are the licensed properties of Ikeda Akihisa and Konami respectfully. Whew, I finally got the name right. Anyway, on to the show.

Part I Chapter XVI
Justice Gets Served

Ririko smirked at the people gathered in the meeting room. "Oh dear," she began in amused voice. "You wouldn't be thinking of trying to back out on our little agreement, would you?" She raised her index finger in a chiding manner. "That-won't-do-at-all," she concluded, waving her finger for emphasis.

Tsukune glared at her for her arrogance, as his hands shook by his sides.

"Ririko-san," the feline teacher spoke up, "how could you do this? How could you go behind my back like this?"

The auburn-haired woman chuckled in response. "Go behind your back," she asked with an amused smirk. "You should've been more inquisitive of your own pupils, Nekonome-san. It would've saved everyone a lot of trouble."

Nekonome was somewhat taken aback, a confused look on her mature face.

"To begin with," the auburn-haired woman continued, as her dark gaze turned to the incognito succubus, "Kurumu Kurono-san. Your dedication to your studies, is for lack of a better term, abysmal. If you spent more time studying and less time molesting poor Aono-san, you might become a, tolerable member of the student body."

"Could you possibly be any more condescending," the cyan-haired girl countered. "Tsukune-san is my Mate of Fate, and what I do with him is not your concern!"

"That's where you're wrong, Kurono-san," Ririko retorted with a sinister smile. "As a teacher, I wield power over you students, which means your fates are in my hands. Whether you attend or not, whether you succeed or fail." Her eyes narrowed menacingly. "Where you live or die."

"Hold on!" the feline teacher interrupted. "Teaching is about guiding young adults onto the right path so they can lead productive lives afterwards. It has nothing to do with power! You can't just kill students for failing to meet your expectations, that's a grievous abuse of a teacher's authority!"

The full-figured woman chuckled in response. "Nekonome-san, that weak stance is the reason your club, and your students, have gotten so out of hand. Our authority as teachers is absolute, the student body have no right to question us. Those that dare defy us pay for their transgressions." She narrowed her olive-colored eyes and smirked nefariously. "Just like Moka Akashiya."

Tsukune snarled in anger, barely able to keep from lashing out at the conceited teacher before him. Beside him, Kurumu shared his outrage.

"Please, please," Nekonome desperately interjected, "let's not do anything we'll regret later."

The brown-haired youth sneered at the club adviser's request. "Pitiful woman," he said under his breath. His sneer immediately gave way to a startled look. "Did I just say that?"

Ririko turned her gaze to the youngest of the club. "Yuakri Sendo, your dedication to your studies is admirable. However, interfering the studies of others with your immature pranks is not."

"That was last year, desu!" the young witch protested. "I haven't pulled any pranks since! Why are you bringing this up now?"

"Because you're still interfering with poor Aono-san's studies. You wouldn't want to wind up like Akashiya-san, now would you?"

Yukari pouted in response, because she knew her accuser wasn't being objective. The words "ulterior motive" seemed to radiate from everything the math teacher said and did, the witch realized it clearly. She also realized Ririko didn't seem to care, which infuriated the child genius to no end.

The math teacher then turned to the snow girl. "Mizore Shirayuki-san. You missed most of the school year, continue to skip class in order to spy on poor Aono-san, and even went so far as to assault a member of the faculty for no reason. Such conduct is inexcusable."

The purple-haired girl glared at her. "That creep was molesting me," she countered, livid as she recalled the incident with Kotsubo. "And you dare say it was for no reason," she asked as her hands transformed into icy claws. "That's what I call inexcusable."

"It is not your place to refuse us anything," the auburn-haired woman retorted haughtily, "you and your peers are to submit to our every whim."

Nekonome scowled at her conceited demeanor. She knew Ririko had completely changed since she last saw her two days before. Whereas the math teacher she'd known previously was passionate about educating students, almost to a fault, the one before Nekonome seemed to view her position only as a vehicle for power. It verified to the Newspaper Club adviser what her members had told her earlier in the day.

The sinister woman turned her attention to oldest student in the room. "And lest we possibly forget your illustrious leader," she spoke sarcastically, "Ginei Morioka. If you only were as diligent in your studies as you were in pursuing your amusing adolescent fantasies, you might've been a... noteworthy member of the student body."

The disguised werewolf's expression indicated he felt anything but complimented.

"Instead," Ririko continued in clearly feigned regret, "your little hobby came first. But then it no longer satisfied you, so you absconded with one of the female students and forcefully enacted your juvenile desires upon her the night before." Her insidious smile grew even broader. "The poor girl was so traumatized, she hasn't been seen since. Hopefully she didn't commit suicide after what you did."

"What?" Kurumu exclaimed, and then slowly turned her head towards the club leader. "Is that why you didn't notice all those zombies? You were too busy in the sack?" She immediately unsheathed her claws. "I outta tear you apart for being so selfish! It's all your fault what happened to Moka!"

"Hmph!" Yukari quipped as she regarded Ginei. "As always, you're the enemy of all women! But I never thought you'd sink this low!" She immediately brandished her wand. "Maybe I should try out some of my new incantations on you, stupid sleazy boy!"

Mizore came up to the junior, and brought her claws close to his face. "Is this true," she asked with a piercing look. "If it is, I will personally glaciate you."

The junior couldn't help but shiver in the snow girl's menacing presence, as well as from the incensed glares of his fellow club members. "Come on, guys. This is me here, you know?" He cringed in response as he felt an increased killer intent being directed at him. Clearly, he realized he'd spoken the wrong thing at the wrong time. "Look," he continued, desperately trying to placate his enraged peers, "I know I screwed up here, but that's not how it happened! Honest!"

"Ha! That's what the all say," Ririko countered triumphantly. "But in a rape case, the man's testimony is irrelevant, since they're obviously guilty."

Ginei seethed at that. Even though he knew it wasn't the truth, and knew his accuser did as well, the reactions of his club members told him they didn't seem to care. He felt like a rat on a sinking ship, with no feasible means to escape.

At that moment, Tsukune stepped forward with a determined look. "And what if it was the man that was raped," he asked sternly. "Is their testimony still irrelevant?"

"Tsukune-san," the lycan said with an awed expression. Even though he knew the human student had been hurt the most by his betrayal, he was still honored that his fellow student stood up against the accusations made against the club leader. However, Ginei felt uneasy being in the brown-haired youth's presence at that moment. He noted something quite different about his former rival. He sensed a faint but distinct dark aura about Tsukune, which he didn't posses the previous day.

The math teacher laughed uproariously. "Oh, this is too amusing. You would still defend him after what he did to your precious Moka-san?" She pouted in mock sorrow. "If only poor Yuriko Kamasutchi was so fortunate, she might not have taken her own life out of grief."

"Who," the incognito succubus asked.

"The girl that Morioka-san captured and brutally violated two nights ago," the auburn-haired woman explained. "We found her dead in her dorm room just this morning. It seems, she never recovered from that this little animal did to her." Her red lips broadened into a nefarious grin. "So now, your little friend is guilty of murder. So regardless of whether he cooperates or not, his fate has been sealed."

"Enough of this farce!" a woman's voice snapped from the doorway. "Yuriko Kamasutchi has been dead for the past five years."

Everyone turned, and saw a dark-haired woman standing three feet behind Ririko. She wore a long black skirt that ran down to her ankles. A pink laced corset graced her slender torso. Her arms were covered by somewhat battered sheer red covering that ran from her mid-bicep down to the back of her hand, encircling the base of her middle finger. A cross expression was present on her heart-shaped face, as her plucked eyebrows were furrowed together. Her light purple eyes gazed fiercely at the math teacher, and her red lips were tightly drawn.

"Ruby-san!" Yukari cried out in elation.

The older witch glanced at her fellow spellcaster. "I'm sorry that I worried you," she began with a sigh. "But it looks like I came just in time." She glared harshly at Ririko. "To expose her for the fraud that she is."

"Ruby-san," Tsukune spoke softly, amazed and grateful that his friend had returned at such a crucial moment.

"Hold on," Ginei spoke up, "how do you know Yuriko's been dead all that time?"

The dark-haired woman turned to him. "I found her tombstone in the forest. Someone cast an illusion spell to conceal it." She returned her incensed gaze to the bespectacled woman before her. "And now I see why, it was all part of the plan. You used that incident to force Giniei-san into betraying his club members, and then had the audacity to frame Akashiya-san for treason." Her youki began to flare up as she started intently at her adversary. "And now you dare accuse Morioka-san or murder, when the victim wasn't even alive in the first place? You've gone way too far this time, you won't be forgiven for your crimes."

Nekonome mewed in disgust as she looked to her former friend. "That's just like you, Ririko-san, you just never know when to quit. And then you wonder why you get in so much trouble."

"Silence!" the math teacher snapped at her, and then glared at Ruby. "You are no one to question me, I have the backing of the chairman on this case! Your accusations are meaningless!"

"Which one," Tsukune asked. "The one from the tomb who wasn't wearing his Rosario and handed the school over to Kuyou, or the one who contacted me with this," he concluded, as he motioned to his choker, "and told me Moka-san is still alive."

"What?" the older witch exclaimed in shock as she turned to the brown-haired youth. "She's alive?"

"Yes, Ruby-san, the one in the tomb was an impostor."

Ruby gasped in realization. "Then that means," she began with a hopeful look.

"Yep," Yukari interjected, "your dismissal is now meaningless, desu!"

"How dare you!" Ririko shot back angrily. "You don't know who you brats are dealing with! All I have to do is give the word, and Kuyou-san and his men will be here! Let's see you act so brave then."

"It doesn't matter who comes to assist you!" Tsukune retorted defiantly. "Nothing can save you now! Your fate has been sealed!."

"Has it indeed," the auburn-haired woman asked, as her eyes darted towards the doorway.

At that moment, five members of the PSC entered through the doorway, four men led by one woman. The first was a young man with a moderate build and form, slick back dark brown hair and a hard look in his brown eyes. His fists were already clenched and slightly raised from his sides. Behind him to the right was an officer with a more wiry build, and short blonde hair combed to the left. His blue eyes looked intently at the scene before him, and he held a strange golden scepter in his hand, which had ornate carvings up the whole length, and a glowing sapphire embedded in its tip. Next to him was a young man with a strong yet not overly bulky physique, a dirty blonde crewcut and a nose that seemed somewhat out of alignment. In the rear was a huge man who towered over the others, his head completely shaved and an impassive look on his rugged face. His gray eyes looked down at the scene before him. In the lead was a surprisingly familiar woman with a slender physique, her long black hair bound in a low ponytail, and a stern look in her green eyes.

Tsukune looked on in shock as he recognized the leader. "Nurse-chan," he asked.

"It can't be!" Yukari declared in disbelief.

Ruby was stunned silent, her lavender eyes widened in surprise. "You mean-"

Ririko smiled wickedly, and emitted a sinister laugh. "Surprised? And just when you think you know a person, eh Aono-kun?" She gestured gracefully towards the head officer. "Allow me to introduce Agent Michiru Kawasado of the Public Safety Commission."

The younger witch groaned in chagrin. She never imagined Mako's replacement was a member of the PSC.

"I don't believe it," the human student uttered with a blank expression.

The math teacher grinned in diabolical triumph as she turned back to the undercover agent. "I trust you can take it from here," she asked expectantly.

Michiru said nothing at first, and looked backed to the officer with the scepter. "Did you get all that, Morrey-san," she asked.

"Every word," the young man replied, as he raised a glowing crystal in his left hand.

"Excellent, that's all we need."

The students looked at her with nervousness, suspicion, and anger intermixed together. Nekonome was at a loss over the whole situation, as she backed away. Ririko merely smirked at the others in triumph.

Michiru pointed towards the auburn-haired woman. "Seize her."

The match teacher was quickly broken out of her conceited stance as she looked to her accuser. "What do you think you're doing," she demanded.

"Stop treating us like we're stupid," the PSC agent replied with a stern look. "Morrey-san recorded everything that's been spoken in this room since you arrived, and now the truth has become only too apparent. You deceived Kuyou-sama and involved us in your sick little games. More than that, you've been assisting in the efforts of an impostor who's replaced the real chairman in order to further his own agenda. And because of that, an innocent girl was wrongfully incarcerated, just so you could continue with your depraved machinations."

"Nurse-chan," Tsukune said to himself.

"Say what," Ginei asked in confusion.

"What the hecht's going on," an equally baffled Kurumu asked.

"Sounds like they weren't in on the scam," Mizore commented with a wry smirk. "Will wonders never cease."

"And we will not tolerate you maing a mockery of us any longer!" the black-clad woman continued. "In the name of the sacred defenders of justice, you are under arrest!" she shouted boldly, as she pointed her slender index finger right in the auburn-haired woman's face.

Ririko looked at her in disbelief, and then threw her head back in insane laughter. The Newspaper Club was thunderstruck by what they'd witnessed. Michiri and her fellow officers looked surprised, but definitely unamused.

"You think you have power over me," the math teacher spoke mockingly. "Foolish waif, you have nothing!" She became bathed in a glossy black aura, with crackles of crimson energy shooting around her, as she began to grow in stature. "I hope you're all taking notes," she spoke in a demonic dual voice, "because I'm about to show you TRUE power!"

"This isn't good!" the incognito werewolf exclaimed.

"Everyone out!" Nekonome cried out fearfully.

"Fall back!" Michiru called out, as she and her officers immediately exited the meeting room.

The club members quickly made their way out of the room, as the clubhouse began to shake from the massive aura being released inside.

Everyone ran out of the clubhouse at top speed, as bolts of black and crimson energy shot out from the windows. Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted within the clubhouse, as pieces of debris flew in all directions and littered the area around them. As it ensued, a colossal shape sprung forth from the explosion, flew over their heads and landed behind them, resulting in a powerful tremor and shook the area around them. The smaller witch quickly lost her balance and fell onto the ground, but the incognito succubus quickly ran to her side.

"Are you alright, Yukari-chan," she asked.

The child prodigy looked up with a fearful but elated smile. "I am now, thanks Kurumu-san."

"Guys," Mizore called out, "we got trouble. Big trouble."

They rejoined the others, and saw a titanic creature looming over them. Tsukune and Mizore recognized it as Ririko in her full lamia form, but far more imposing. Her torso was four times its usual size, which made her tail immesurably longer. Only a pair of red cups protected her questionable modesty, and she peered down at them with a demented look in her olive-colored eyes, hidden behind her greatly enlarged glasses.

The colossal monster threw her head back and laughed in unholy delight. Her inhuman voice had become booming and more powerful. Clearly she looked was intoxicated over her newfound prowess. "Yes," she began, "this is the ultimate guidance." She looked down at the Newspaper Club and the PSC members gathered before her. "Puny worms, you shall have the honor of being the recipients, of the education and guidance of Lord Dracula!" She laughed in megalomaniacal ecstasy.

Nekonome mewed in sheer terror, aghast at what her former friend had become. She quickly scurried out of harm's way and sought any cover she could've found.

The incognito succubus shook with rage as she looked up at her enemy. "This is what you call education," she asked vehemently. "This is what you call guidance?" As her aura flared up, the ground around the gigantic Ririko began to tremble.

"What is this," the transformed lamia asked warily as she sensed a new power had begun to awaken.

"You toyed with our lives just to get back at Moka!" Kurumu continued in her rage. "You're no teacher, you're nothing but a demon that cares only about power!" She glared hatefully at her enemy, as her wings and tail emerged. "THERE'S NOTHING I WANT TO LEARN FROM YOU!" She threw her clawed hands up, and a slew of thick vines burst out of the ground around Ririko. The monstrous teacher looked about in fear and confusion, taken aback by the display of power. Kurumu brought her claws close together, and the vines constricted around the enormous lamia, who began to struggle with her binds.

"I don't want to learn anything from you, either!" Mizore called out, as she created a large sphere of ice between her own claws. "Eat this!" She hurled the huge frozen orb into the air with her youki, and it smashed the distracted lamia flush in the face. The orb shattered on impact, and the inhuman creature reeled back, significantly injured from the attack.

"Bulls-eye, desu!" Yukari cried out happily. "And here's one from me, you oversized four-eyed freak!" she called out as she raised her wand aloft. "HAPPY HEART!" A large swarm of hundreds of winged tarot cards appeared and rained down on the enormous beast. Individually, they might've been dismissed, but as a group assault, they began to inflict a multitude of wounds over the lamia's huge body. "That's what you get for messing with people's minds, desu!"

"Come forth, my minions!" Ruby called out as he raised her wand. The jewel in the center glowed brightly, and a flock of crows appeared behind her. The swarm of black birds streaked towards the huge monster and assailed her with their beaks and talons.

The colossal Ririko growled in aggravation from her opponents' resistance. She lashed out with her let arm, which dispelled the familiars and tarot cards assailing her. "You miserable insects!" she snarled.

"Move it!" Kurumu called out as she saw her enemy's huge tail began to rise from the ground behind her.

The Newspaper Club scattered, as the lamia's tail smashed down into the area where they once were, creating a miniature tremor which shook the ground for several seconds. It rose up again, and revealed a huge indentation where it had struck.

"That would've hurt!" Mizore exclaimed with a startled gaze. Even though she tried to be low-key, the killer intent she felt from the attack was only too obvious.

"Hurt?" Kurumu shot back. "That would've squashed us flat!"

"Hey Broadzilla!" a cocky male voice called out.

Ririko glared down to her right, and saw the sprinting form of Ginei Morioka beside her.

"Catch me if you can!" the lycan proclaimed mockingly.

"Annoying pest!" She reared back with her huge yet delicate right hand, and lashed out at the club leader. Ginei quickly reversed direction in mid-step and Rirko's attack completely missed its target.

"Too slow!" the junior boasted. He leaped into the air, and assumed his true form in mid-flight. He quickly decorated Ririko's face with a flurry of hard punches that were too fast to follow with the naked eye. He finished up with a high kick, and her head forcefully snapped back. As she recovered from the attack, Ginei descended back to earth and landed on his wolven feet. "You've gotten way too big for your britches, sensei!" he spoke challengingly. "It's time to cut you down to size!"

"I've seen enough of this," Michiru growled as she pointed towards the enormous monster before them. "Public Safety Commission, take her down!" A shadowy aura surrounded her, as her body grew larger and hunched over. Soon her entire body became like a shadow, as it assumed a sizable four-legged form. Soon her body became fully solid again, and revealed her as a monstrous-looking hound, four feet at the shoulder, glowing green eyes, and a fully fanged maw. The transformed Michiru was surrounded by a shadowy aura, as she snarled viciously at her enemy.

"[Alright!]" the officer with the slicked back hair exclaimed, and then his body grew until he burst out of his uniform, revealing himself as a huge bipedal turtle-like creature with thick limbs, a huge spiked shell, as well as taloned hands and feet. "[Let's show this broad how we do things down in Brooklyn!]" he boasted in a rough voice.

The officer with the golden scepter raised it aloft, and a strange yellowish aura surrounded him. His uniform was replaced by an arcane purple robe, bound by a silver sash. The most startling aspect about his transformation was his head, as it turned into a miniature squid. "[You're the only one who lives there!]" he shot back. "[And stop speaking English! No one understands you!]"

"[Why, you do!]"

"[That's besides the point!]"

The rugged student with the crewcut also initiated his transformation. His stature increased, and his legs became double-jointed. His feet and hands became clawed. He burst out of his black long coat, revealing a powerful physique covered in golden fur. His humanoid visage became more feline, until it resembled that of a wild jaguar. "I'm gonna knock your block off for flunking me last year!" he shouted, as he threw several well-honed punches in preparation.

The last member of the unit simply roared, as he burst out of his uniform and revealed himself as a towering two-legged bearlike monster, which dwarfed the rest of his fellow officers.

"Oh, how amusing," Ririko commented at the transformed officers. "The little toy soldiers dare defy their masters? Ha! You fools have served your purpose. We have no further use for you!" She looked down disdainfully at the demonic hound that stood in her massive shadow. She raised her hand aloft in a striking position.

"Look out, Nurse-chan!" Yukari called out.

The transformed Michiru appeared to sink into the ground without disturbing it as Ririko's hand came crashing down. The entire group was knocked into the air two feet and then landed gracefully on the ground from the force of the attack.

The enormous lamia raised her hand and curiously looked down. Even though their was a large hand-shaped mark from where she struck, there was no sign of a body. "What," she asked in bewilderment. Suddenly, the monstrous canine leaped out of the ground as if it was water, and latched its fangs into Ririko's left shoulder, as her claws raked against her large torso. The math teacher cried out in pain as she felt her enemy digging into her flesh.

"That's our cue, Grigorev-san!" the werejaguar called out as he leaped into the air and landed feet first on the bearlike monster's shoulders, who growled in response.

The inhuman sorcerer waved his wand, and chanted in a bizarre tongue no one understood. "YOUKIUS AUGMENTUS!" A strange purplish aura covered their side of the battlefield, which infused them with greater strength.

"Launch me!" the feline monster shouted, and the werebear bent its knees, and leaped into the air with his compatriot still on his shoulders.

"[Sock her a good one, Lester!]" the huge reptilian creature called out.

The werejaguar leaped off his fellow officer's shoulders and streaked towards the lamia, who was struggling to remove Michiru from her shoulder. He concentrated the infused power his spellcasting comrade had given him into his right fist, which was encased in a large sphere of youki. "You're wide open!" he called out. "PRIMAL PUNCH!" He loaded with a massive right cross straight between Ririko's eyes, resulting in a substantial explosion of demonic energy. The huge lamia reeled back from the attack, while the shadow hound released its grip and bounded back to the ground. The feline beast landed gracefully on the ground.

Everyone watched as the smoke cleared. Ririko soon came into view, her left shoulder gouged noticeably and discernable wounds from Michiru's claws. She leaned over slightly, as she covered the space between her eyes. A few moments later, a cracking noise came from her direction. Everyone looked up, and saw both lenses of her glasses cracked and shattered, as shards of glass rained down to the ground in front of her, leaving only empty frames behind. An incensed hiss came from her, as she removed her ruined glasses. With a simple pinch, the frame between her fingers was crushed, and quickly discarded on the ground. She opened her olive-colored eyes, which amazingly had gotten no shards of glass stuck in them. She bared her teeth in barely controlled rage as she glared hatefully at them. "You're going to regret that," she snarled in between clenched teeth. Her eyes began to glow an ominous shade of red, as her youki began to seethe within her.

"Move!" Kurumu shouted, and everyone scampered away. A split second later, two blazing red beams shot from Ririko's eyes and struck the ground below, resulting in an explosion of horrific youki. A sizable crater was left behind after the attack.

"Whoa!" Ginei exclaimed as he looked at the smoking hole behind him. "That was too close!"

"Looks like we got her mad, desu!" Yukari interjected, a hint of fear in her voice.

"Don't be surprised, Yukari-chan," Ruby spoke up as she came beside her. "Now that her ruse has been exposed, her only course of action is to silence us permanently." She furrowed her plucked brows together. "Though I would've never imagined she'd actually sell her soul to Dracula just to get back at Moka-san."

Ririko turned her attention to the PSC officers gathered on another side of the battlefield.

"Scatter!" Michiru growled in her bestial voice as she saw her enemy's eyes begin to glow again.

The two ferals and the squid-headed mage quickly dashed out of harm's way. However, the slow-moving turtlelike monster was petrified when he realized he was directly in Ririko's line of sight.

"Sheldon-san!" the shadow hound called out.

The reptilian beast cringed, and instinctively turned around. A split second later, two powerful crimson lasers struck him flush in the back, which knocked him hard on the ground.

The mage quickly ran to his fallen comrade's side. "[Sheldon-san, are you alright?]"

The huge turtle monster groaned in pain, as smoke rose from his wounded shell. "[Man, that was worse than the time that taxicab hit me,]" he remarked through his pain. "[Officer down.]"

"Oh, how delightful," the towering lamia commented with an amused grin, "I think I've found my first meal." Her huge tail rose up, and she brought her flower-like end into view. She opened it several times and she looked hungrily at the fallen Sheldon. "Tonight I dine on turtle soup," she spoke ominously, as the end of her tail reared back and opened.

Suddenly, Michiru leaped out of the shadow Ririko made with her tail and pounced on its underside. The madwoman screamed in pain and aggravation as she encountered further resistance. She looked to her tail, and saw the monstrous hound digging its claws into her protective scales. "Meddling insect," the lamia growled, as she raised her tail slightly.

"Nurse-chan!" the human student cried out, and immediately ran towards her.

"Tsukune, no!" Kurumu called out, only to watch as Ririko's huge tail came crashing down. The worst part was the brown-haired youth was caught underneath, and disappeared under the beast's tail. "TSUKUUUUNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" she screamed as her Mate of Fate had apparently been crushed by their enormous enemy.

"TSUKUNE-SAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!" Yukari cried out, as tears ran from her violet eyes.

"AONO-KUUUUUUUUUUUUUNN!" Nekonome shrieked from behind the wreckage of the clubhouse.

"Kawasado-san!" the inhuman wizard shouted, his eyes wide in horror.

The lamia chuckled to herself, a pleased expression on her face. "How touching, the foolish little human sacrificing himself trying to save his enemy. Heh, what a waste. Such valor only leads to death, it's the consequence of opposing Lord Dracula."

The girls looked stunned that their close friend had apparently been killed. On the other side, the PSC members mourned the loss of one of their own.

Suddenly, a surge of youki erupted from under Ririko's tail, which surprised the gargantuan lamia. It was soon followed by slight movement.

"You have no right," a muffled voice spoke, "calling Nurse-chan an enemy. Unlike Kuyou, she actually does fight for justice." The section of the monster's tail that had supposedly crushed its two victims was involuntarily raised into the air. Underneath, they saw the bestial form of Michiru, still clung to the underside, as she was being pushed up by Tsukune, who straightened up in the small crevice made by Ririko's tail, as he was bathed in a crimson aura. "Which is more than I can say for you!" he proclaimed boldly. "An uncaring demon who only fights for herself!"

"No freakin' way," the werejaguar said in disbelief.

"Impossible," the inhuman mage interjected.

The monstrous turtle looked at the scene before him. "[Yer kiddin' me, she must weigh a few tons or so.]"

Yukari chuckled once she heard that. "Yes, that's a lot of dead weight to hold up. Tsukune-san is so cool! Moka-san is just as cool! We'll make the perfect family unit, desu."

"You're getting ahead of yourself," Mizore interjected. "We need to finish clobbering this waste of space first."

Tsukune's aura flared even more violently, as his jacket, shirt, and tie were disintegrated by his youki. His eyes glowed red, and his incisors had lengthened into deadly fangs. He callously pushed Ririko's huge tail aside, and Michiru quickly bounded off before it landed on the ground. The lamia's face became flush with shock, aghast that her supposed victims had survived.

"You have abused your power as a teacher for too long!" the hybrid youth declared as he rose into the air. "I won't let you destroy any more lives just for your amusement!"

The madwoman's visible fear gave way to anger. "You dare challenge me?" she asked in a spiteful voice. "Very well, I won't play nice with you anymore, Tsukune Aono." A malefic aura surrounded her, as crackling black and crimson energy was concentrated into her humongous tail.

"What are you doing, Tsukune?" Kurumu called out from the ground. "Get out of the way!"

"Tsukune-san, no!" Ruby called out. "Don't be reckless!"

"It's far too late for that," Ririko spoke with a sadistic grin. "Class is over for you!" she shouted to Tsukune, as her aimed her energized tail right at the hovering youth before her. "DESTRUCTION RAY!" The end of her tail opened up, and a colossal beam of crimson energy shot forth into Tsukune. He tried to block the attack with his youki, but with the inhibition of the seal, it wasn't enough to protect him, and he was blasted back into the wreckage of the clubhouse.

"TSUKUUUUNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" the succubus wailed as the hybrid student crashed into the ruined clubhouse behind them. Her entire body trembled, as her grief was replaced with demonic rage. "Oh, that is it," she uttered through her anger, as she spun around and took to the skies. "NO MORE MERCY FOR YOU!"

"Ha! Weak threats from an unworthy opponent," the lamia countered haughtily. Her eyes glowed red as the succubus drew near.

"Kurumu-san!" Yukari called out from the ground. "Watch out!"

The winged student quickly dove down as Ririko fired her laser attack. The enormous monster got sight of her again, and lashed out with her own claws. However, her immense size interfered with her speed and she missed badly, but her sadistic expression indicated he was indifferent to that fact.

At that moment, Ruby also took to the skies, and raised her staff aloft. "OBSCURE!" she shouted, as a wave of crow feathers appeared around the lamia's head, interfering with her field of view.

"Argh, you miserable pests," Ririko growled in contempt, as she attempted to dispel the feathers with her hands.

"Okay!" Lester called out. "Is everyone ready?"

"[Sure thing!]" Sheldon replied.

Grigorev merely growled.

The werejaguar turned back to the mage. "Alright, do it, Morrey-san!"

"ENILUS OPMARIN TOU!" the inhuman sorcerer called out, and a round disk of orange youki appeared before him.

"[My turn!]" Sheldon boasted, and he climbed onto the disk. It propelled him like a rocket towards the gargantuan lamia. He turned in mid-flight and slammed backfirst into Ririko's torso, which drove his spikes into her stomach.

The huge bearlike creature leaped onto the disk, and was also launched towards his enemy. He somersaulted rapidly and slammed right into his comrade, which drove his spikes deeper into Ririko's soft flesh. The lamia growled in agony from the dual assault.

"I'll finish this!" the werejaguar called out, as he jumped onto the disk and was shot up towards the staggered monster. He reared back with his right fist and unloaded with a powerful uppercut to Ririko's chin, which sent her reeling back in pain.

Grigorev quickly extracted his fellow officer from the demented math teacher and they both landed on the ground.

"We're not done with you yet!" Kurumu shouted as she flew in and slashed the lamia across the face with her claws. She repeated the process for the other side of her face, and then raked straight down the front of her torso, creating several huge gashes down Ririko's body.

"Are you ready, Yukari-chan," the snow girl asked.

"Sure thing, Mizore-san!" the witch replied happily. She raised her wand in the air, and a fire hydrant appeared on the ground. The purple-haired girl struck the top with her claws, and a geyser of water erupted from the broken hydrant. She immediately stuck her icy claws inside the spray of water, and created a fierce deluge of both water and icy spears, which bombarded the badly wounded Ririko.

"Your days of evil and deception are over!" Ruby proclaimed to the injured lamia, and raised her staff into the air. "BEGONE!" A huge bolt of lightning came crashing down on Ririko, and combined with her drenched body, made the attack even more powerful. The older witch watched as her enemy writhed in obvious pain.

Suddenly, Ririko regained her senses, and flailed her arms to the side in rage. "ENOUGH OF THIS!" she shouted, as crackling energy was being channeled into her tail.

"[Uh oh]," the huge turtlelike creature exclaimed, "[not good!]"

"Hurry, Morrey-san!" Michiru called out.

The wizard nodded, and made a quick chant, as his aura surrounded him. He then raised his staff into the air. "YOUKIUS WARDOS!" he shouted, as a large dome-shaped barrier appeared over the group.

Ruby looked startled at what she'd witnessed. "He can create barriers," she asked in surprise.

"You think it'll hold," Kurumu asked in concern.

The older witch looked back towards their enemy. "I think we're about to find out! Move!"

Both youkai flew out of harm's way.

"DIE, PUNY INSECTS!" Ririko roared in her booming, demonic voice, as her tail rose into position. "DESTRUCTION RAY!" She unleashed another powerful crimson laser, only it struck the ground beside the barrier. She then moved her tail across, and the beam followed accordingly, as it cleaved a path across the ground. It began to pass over the dome, which immediately began to crack under the pressure. After a few seconds, the barrier was destroyed, and a huge explosion erupted. The beam continued to carve the ground beside it before it finally ceased.

Ruby and Kurumu looked down at the devastation before them. When the explosion subsided, they saw their friends and the PSC officers on the ground, their bodies severely wounded from Ririko's attack. They'd all involuntarily reverted to their human forms, and none of them seemed to be moving.

"No," the older witch spoke with a blank look, "it can't be." Her trembling hands came up to her face as she saw the form of her fallen sister. "YUKARI-CHAAAAAAAAAN!"

"Yukari-chan!" the succubus spoke in horror, "Mizore-chan! No, this can't be!"

A sinister chuckle came from behind the winged youkai. They looked over their shoulders, and saw the towering form of Kagome Ririko, a triumphant look on her battered face.

"Now do you understand," she asked in a taunting voice. "No matter how hard you struggle, you will always be beneath me. A student is meant to obey their teacher." She laughed mockingly at the pair, despite her grievous wounds.

At that moment, the sound of movement came from the ruins of the clubhouse. Ririko looked forth, and saw pieces of debris being moved aside. A few moments later, the wounded form of Tsukune arose from the wreckage, breathing heavily as he pushed a large piece of the roof off his back.

"Impossible," the lamia spoke in disbelief, "no mere human could've survived that!"

"You say we live only to serve you," the wounded youth began boldly, "yet the only person you serve is yourself! Is it any wonder Moka-san detested you so much!" He raised his determined face towards his enemy. "A selfish person like you has no right being a teacher!" he declared, as his youki flared up once more.

"How dare you!" the madwoman snapped indignantly. "I have given my entire life to teaching, and THIS is the thanks I get? You ungrateful curs shall ALL DIE for your insolence!"

"No, Ririko! I won't let you destroy any more lives! I will put an end to your evil," he proclaimed as he rose up into the air, "HERE AND NOW!"

"Tsukune-kun!" Kurumu exclaimed, enthralled by his aura and courage. She knew it was different from earlier in the day, when he was driven by hatred alone. But in that moment, she saw him using his power to defend them against the evil Ririko, who tried to destroy the Newspaper Club just to eliminate Moka. The succubus felt her heart bursting with affection for the courageous youth who defied the corrupt ways of the supposed powers that be.

"Impudent worm," the lamia growled, "I will crush you the same way I crushed Moka Akashiya!"

"Your transient power has blinded you!" Tsukune shot back. "There's no way Moka-san could ever lose," he continued as began to fly towards his enemy, "TO A LESSER BEING LIKE YOU!"

Consumed by rage, Ririko's eyes glowed an ominous shade of black, and she fired two large black lasers at the approaching hybrid.

Tsukune felt the black beams assailing his aura and pushed forward regardless, albeit more slowly. The enraged lamia poured more energy into her attack, as she thought only of murdering the student who challenged her position as a teacher. The hybrid youth soon brought his hands out to push the beams back. He sensed a hint of desperation from his enemy as he drew near. Finally, he manage to push the beams right back into Ririko's eyes. An explosion of youki came from under his hands, and he watched as the lamia reeled back in pain, covering her eyes with her hands. Tsukune had an awful idea of what had happened, but under the current circumstances, he saw little reason to empathize with her.

"This is the end!" the hybrid youth shouted, as he concentrated all his youki into his right fist. "KNOW YOUR PLACE!" he screamed, as he unleashed a powerful aura enhanced blow right to the stricken monster's forehead. The force of the blow actually sent the enormous creature sailing through the air, and she landed hard on the ground sixty feet away. Her massive body skidded another fifteen feet, kicking up a huge dustcloud in its wake. Tsukune looked towards the cloud, as it slowly dissipated. It soon revealed the fallen form of the math teacher, lying prone on the ground almost eighty feet from where she was previously.

"This can't be," Ririko spoke weakly, her voice losing its powerful quality. "Lord Dracula." After that, she passed out on the ground where she laid. Suddenly, a massive cloud of black smoke arose from her body. Once it had subsided, they saw the auburn-haired woman in her human form, unconscious on the ground.

The hybrid student sighed to himself, and bowed his head. "It's over," he said in a low voice, and then slowly descended back to earth.

"Tsukune!" a girl's voice called out from above, followed by a whooshing sound. The brown-haired youth turned around, and saw Kurumu diving towards him, her arms outstretched. Before he could've reacted, the succubus quickly wrapped her arms around him, and tightly pressed her body against him. "Oh Tsukune," she began in an elated voice, "you were so magnificent. More than magnificent. I'm so proud of you for putting down that oversized bimbo Ririko," she continued breathlessly, and began to rub the front of the brown-haired youth torso with her own, "I can't tell how any times I've felt humiliated by that conceited woman. But it's over now, right Tsukune? We'll never have to worry about her making people feel inferior again. Oh, I think I've fallen for you all over again. I'm sure you're even more magnificent in other areas, Tsukune."

The human student tried hard not to blush, but had an inkling of what the cyan-haired girl meant. "Um, yes," he began tentatively, "I'm, glad you feel that way." He tried to remain cohorent, and though he'd been ravished by Kurumu before, it was never without his shirt. "Um, we really need to check on our friends."

The succubus stopped her motions, and emitted a deep sigh, which pressed her large chest even tighter against Tsukune. "I know," she conceded, "I just, wanted you to know how I feel." She looked deep into his brown eyes. "My precious Mate of Fate." She released her hold, and walked over to the others.

The human student watched her depart from his personal space, and he narrowed his eyes, as his sclera turned black. "Who does she think she is to try and seduce me," he thought to himself, "that pixie had best watch her step, if she knows what's good for her." He winced at the thought, and shook his head vigorously. "No! I don't want to hurt Kurumu-chan. But, once I make my choice, I might do that anyway." He sighed to himself. "But never out of hate, she is not my enemy." His eyes opened a crack, and his sclera had darkened once more. "Still, the fact that her inner power has awakened makes her more useful. Perhaps I can let her entertain me a little while longer." He groaned aloud in his mental conflict. "No! She is not a toy, she's my friend! I will not use my friends as tools, like Dracula does!"

"Tsukune," Kurumu's voice asked from afar.

The brown-haired youth was broken out of his train of thought. "Coming!" he replied as he returned to her side.

From behind the wreackage of the clubhouse, Nekonome finally emerged. She timidly went forward to rejoin the others. She was horrified by the scene before her. She saw her precious club members lying in a heap, along with the student police officers who'd come to apprehend Ririko for her deceptions. It brought back horrible memories of two years before, when the Newspaper Club was all but destroyed by the PSC for speaking out against them in print. She found it ironic, that the two factions were on the same side, if only for a moment.

A pained groan came from the pile of bodies before her. She soon saw the officer with the golden scepter had begun to stir. She hesitantly walked over, and knelt by his side. "Are, are you alright, officer," she asked in a shaky voice.

The mage groaned as he slowly began to push himself off the ground. "That was horrible," he began. "I've never fought against such an enemy before." He got to one knee, and used his scepter to steady himself. "Even the four kings would've had to struggle against that thing."

Another groan came from the officers' side, and the student with the slicked back hair slowly sat up. "[Man, what a nightmare,]" he said in his own language. "[This is why I hate math class.]"

The feline teacher mewed to herself as she regarded him. "[At least you're still alive, Sheldon-san,]" she replied.

He sat up completely when he heard his own language. He looekd up and saw Nekonome beside him. "[Hey teach, what're you doin' out here?]"

The blonde woman crinkled her nose at that. "[Sheldon-san, how many times do I have to tell you to call me, 'sensei?'"]

"[Aw, come on, teach. Enough with the honorifics, it's Bruno, for crying out loud. Can't stand it when people go san, chan, ichiban, egg foo yan-]"

"[That's Chinese,]" Nekonome interrupted.

"[Whateva.]"

At that moment, the incognito werejaguar regained consciousness and sat up. "She'd better be dead, otherwise I'm gonna be really upset."

"Hey!" the feline teacher snapped. "That's no way to speak of a teacher!"

The officer with the blonde crewcut gave her a withering look. "If you knew half of the crap she put me through, you'd understand. We should've taken her down long ago."

The largest of the officers growled irritably as he regained consciousness.

"Yeah, what Grigorev-san said."

Nekonome mewed in chagrin, as her ears drooped accordingly.

Michiru groaned weakly and finally awakened. "Is it over," she asked.

The mage looked back to his fellow officer. "Yes, Kawasado-san. Kagome Ririko has been neutralized. The monstrous power she once wielded has vanished."

The undercover agent managed a weak smile. "That's good to hear. Finally, justice has been served."

Morrey bowed his head. "But Kawasado-san, what about what the Newspaper Club said? What if Kuyou-sama is involved in this conspiracy?"

"I don't want to believe it, either," the presumed nurse replied with a troubled look as she got to one knee. "But after what happened during last night's operations, I fear something terrible has happened to Kuyou-sama. And I dare say that was all part of the enemy's plan, which involved Ririko seeking our aid the day before." She scowled as she remembered what happened in the Tomb of Wisdom. She beileved Ririko was privy to what occurred, and that made her seek her capture.

"Oh, that was painful," came a weary girl's voice. "There's no place in this school for Dracula's power, desu."

"Tell me about it," came a second voice. "Moka-san at her worst was never so drunk with power."

"Ouch," a male voice spoke painfully, "and I thought I couldn't hate Ririko-sensei any more. But now I do, will wonders never cease."

Nekonome turned, and saw her club members had finally regained consciousness. "Gin-kun, Sendo-san, Shirayuki-san," she said gratefully as she rejoined them, "thank goodness you've awakened."

Yukari groaned to herself as she lowered her gaze, which caused the brim of her hat to conceal her eyes. "I tried to reinforce the barrier with my magic," she began, "but it still wasn't strong enough." She sighed mournfully at her failure.

"Yukari-chan!" a young woman's voice cried out. A split second later, the witch found herself embraced tightly by Kurumu. "Oh Yukari-chan, I was afraid we'd lost all of you. That was so terrifying. I had no idea Ririko could've been such a monster."

The smaller girl felt the incognito succubus trembling as she held her, so she knew she was being sincere. "I know, Kurumu-san. It seems Dracula brings out the worst in people, even more so in youkai. We have to stop him from destroying the school!"

"How are we gonna do that," Mizore asked dubiously. "We saw how strong Ririko was, do we really have a chance the big man himself?"

"We have to, Mizore-chan," Tsukune spoke up as he rejoined them. "Unless Dracula is stopped, the school will be destroyed. And he won't stop here, he won't stop until he cloaks the whole world in darkness."

"Um, are you alright, Tsukune," the snow girl asked with a suspicious look.

The human student sighed gravely. "There's no time to explain, we need to find the chairman, and Moka-san. Only then can we focus on fighting Dracula."

The purple-haired girl frowned slightly. "I hate to break this to you, Tsukune, but we're in no condition to be fighting anyone right now. Ririko really pounded us back there, we need to recover first."

"I'm afraid there's no time for that," a woman's voice spoke up.

The club members turned, and saw Michiru standing before them.

"Nurse-chan," Tsukune spoke softly.

"Unless we locate the real chairman immediately," she began seriously, "the school could very well descend into anarchy. We need him to maintain order in the school."

"And how do we know you weren't the ones who locked him up in the first place," Ginei asked with a deep scowl. "Seems like you PSC clowns are on cloud nine right now. With the chairman gone, Kuyou gets to rule with an iron fist, just like he's always wanted."

"No!" Michiru countered. "The Kuyou-sama I know would've never assisted in such an insidious plot, especially if it endangered the chairman."

"Then you don't know him at all!" the incognito werewolf retorted heatedly. "Kuyou only cares about power, that's been his way ever since I first met him three years back. That idiot think opposing him is the same as opposing the school. And now he has everything he wants, who cares how he got it?"

Lester immediately got in Ginei's face. "Watch your mouth, Morioka!" he snapped. "Unless you'd like to be locked up, you'd better start showing us some repsect. We're the law around here."

The club leader lashed out and tightly grabbed his accuser's throat. "Don't you dare talk to me about respect, you facetious bastard!" he retorted in uncharacteristic rage. "You PSC sickos have destroyed everything and everyone I cared about for the past three years! You scumbags have given me NO REASON to respect you!"

"ENOUGH!" Michiru shouted at the two. "Morioka, release him, now!"

"Or else what," Ginei retorted with a disgusted look. "Bad enough you clowns tricked me into betraying my club, what else are you gonna take?"

"Please, Gin-kun," Nekonome pleaded, "this won't solve anything. It definitely won't bring your friends back."

The incognito werewolf growled, and the hurled the officer back to his comrades. The largest of the four looked menacingly at Ginei, who gave him an unrepentant glare. The club leader turned and began to walk away in a huff.

"Senpai," Tsukune asked, "where are you going?"

"As far away from these murderers as I can," the junior replied sullenly without looking back. "You should do the same, Tsukune-san, they might try to execute you again."

"And why would we do that under these circumstances," Michiru asked irritably.

"That's why."

The undercover agent frowned deeply at his implication as she watched Ginei walk from the ruined clubhouse. The notion that the PSC executed people for no reason infuriated her. But after what they'd heard in the clubhouse meeting room, she began to wonder about the views of her order, especially its hierarchy.

"Gin-senpai," the cyan-haired girl spoke sadly.

"Let him go, Kurumu-chan," the human student spoke beside her. "We can't force him to trust the same people who killed all his friends."

The succubus looked away. "I know, but-" She sniffled to herself, appalled by what had occurred.

Michiru looked gravely to them, and then turned her attention back to her fellow officers. "You people need to simmer down as well," she began in a firm voice. "And get presentable, more than half of you are out of uniform!"

Bruno and Grigorev immediately winced in embarrassment.

"Yeah," Lester spoke with a nervous smile, even though he was somewhat more presentable, "we'll get right on it."

"This way," Morrey interjected, and he led them into the forest.

The presumed nurse crinkled her nose, and then turned back to the Newspaper Club.

"Please forgive their, somewhat abrasive behavior. Most of them are first years who don't know the whole truth about what happened to your club."

"I bet," the incognito succubus remarked sourly, "it's no surprise Kuyou would twist the facts around to suit him."

"But we have bigger problems now," the older witch spoke up, "unless we find the real chairman and stop that impostor, we could be seeing a repeat of the cafeteria riot, on a much larger scale."

Tsukune gasped and turned to her. "What do you mean, Ruby-san?"

"Think of how many students witnessed this from the academy. I'm sure some of them heard Ririko proclaiming her allegiance to Dracula. If one member of the faculty has taken his side."

The brown-haired youth winced in response. "They might think they all have," he added, "and the PSC as well." He gasped as horrible thought came to him, and he stiffened in response. "The whole school could be destroyed. Is this what he meant by history repeating itself?"

"What who meant, Tsukune-san," Yukari asked curiously.

The human student stammered for several seconds. "It's nothing," he finally managed, "really."

"Hold on, Toujyou-san," Michiru spoke up, "are you saying they planned to make the Public Safety Commission take the fall for this debacle?"

"It wouldn't surpise me, that's how they've always had the upper hand, by turning us against one another."

The younger witch groaned in response. "It's Ceasar's favorite strategy," she interjected, "divide and conquer, desu."

At that moment, the four officers had returned, clad in their full uniforms.

"Much better," Michiru noted with an approving smile. "Morrey-san, fix everyone up, would you? There's no time to waste."

"Yes, Kawasado-san." He waved his wand in the air in a graceful pattern, and then raised it aloft. "YOUKIUS RESTRIOSIS!" A strange yet soothing levender aura descended upon them and the Newspaper Club. They felt the magical energy mending their more serious injuries, as wounds closed up and broken bones were mended. It a few moments, the two group were completely healed, with virtually no evidence that they'd ever been in such a dreadful battle.

"Whoa," Kurumu spoke in awe.

"Cool!" Yukari exclaimed. "I need to learn that spell, desu!"

"I didn't know there were spells like that in real life," Mizore noted.

"Yeah," Tsukune noted, "glad he was on our side."

The undercover agent nodded in approval. "Excellent work, Morrey-san. Procure the criminal and prepare to return to base."

The blonde officer bowed reverently. He was about to head towards Ririko's body, but then stopped and faced Michiru again. "Kawasado-san," he began nervously, "what if they're right? What if Kuyou-sama was involved with this plot?"

"Get real!" Lester shot back. "Kuyou-sama is no traitor! He's our leader, he'd never sell out to Dracula! You wanna get locked up for questioning him?"

The largest of the four officers growled irritably.

"Yeah, Grigorev-san agrees with me," the incognito werejaguar added, as he jerked his thumb over his finger towards his comrade.

"You think I want to believe that," Michiru asked her peers. "But after last night." She shivered for a moment. "I dare say we should be cautious around him, and possibly the other kings as well."

"[What did she say,]" Sheldon asked in English.

"[She said she thinks something's wrong with Kuyou-sama,]" Morrey replied accordingly.

"[Sheah right, he ain't on the take, not like this broad!]" he declared as she scowled at the fallen form of Ririko.

"[No one wants to think that, but there's something really evil at work here. I can feel it.]"

"[Ya don't say. Huh, man we're gonna have a serious Q & A session with her. I'll beat a confession out of her, just like my old man does back home.]"

The mage shook his head vigorously, and then headed towards Ririko along with the others.

Michiru then turned back to the Newspaper Club. "Now then," she began, "since the traitor has been neutralized, how shall we go about finding the chairman?"

"Yes, Tsukune," the snow girl spoke, as she popped up behind him, "tell us your brilliant plan."

The brown-haired youth cringed as he felt a cold chill had run up his spine. He nervously looked behind him. "Why are you asking me, Mizore-chan?"

"Because you said the chairman would lead the way. How can he do that if he's not even here?"

The human student struggled to come up with an answer.

"There's no need to worry," Ruby spoke up with a knowing smile, "the chairman has already provided the means for locating him."

"He has," Tsukune asked in surprise.

"Yes, 'I shall lead the way,'" she replied. "That choker you wear is called the Eye of Mikogami, an artifact he created, possibly for such an occasion. He used it to see through your eyes during the past two days, and now that you've made contact with him, it'll lead us right to him."

Kurumu and Mizore glared at her. "When were you going to tell us this," the cyan-haired girl asked irritably.

"I didn't know myself at first," the older witch said defensively, "but now, everything has become clear." She turned to the boy. "Tsukune, since the Eye is bound to you, it'll only respond to your voice. Order it to lead us to the chairman." She leaned over slightly and closed her eyes. "And you can order me any way you like."

Tsukune laughed nervously, while wisps of black steam rose up from the shoulders of the succubus and the snow girl as they threw murderous looks at the older witch.

"Okay," the brown-haired youth began warily, "lead us to the chairman."

There was no reaction from the choker.

"Um, lead to the chairman, please? Pretty please?"

A faint breeze blew through the area.

"Oh, come on, here! You're supposed to lead us to the chairman, work with me here! What the hecht do you want from me, blood?"

"I am not seeing this," Kurumu grumbled.

"Maybe he is losing his mind," Mizore commented.

"He definitely doesn't know how to work with magical talismans," Yukari added.

"Listen you!" Tsukune snapped. "I'm not gonna just stand here and be humiliated by a stupid accessory! I'm talking to you, Eye of Mikogami! Lead us to the chairman now!"

Suddenly, a thin ivory beam shot from the eyepiece and streaked deep into the northern forest.

"Whoa," Mizore remarked with a blank look.

"Yahoo!" Kurumu exclaimed joyfully. "My Tsukune did it! He is so awesome," she continued, as she took hold of his arm and pressed it into her chest, "my precious Mate of Fate." Suddenly, a familiar metal object smashed her in the back of the head, and she involuntarily released Tsukune fell back onto the ground.

"You shameless cow!" Yukari snapped. "Stop exploiting my Tsukune in a moment of weakness! Have you no honor?" She soon found herself encased in ice.

"Say what you will," Mizore remarked, "victory is all that matters." He placed her cold hands on the young man's shoulders. "Right, Tsukune?"

Michiru growled irritably. "Enough with the petty harem antics," she commented sourly. "We need to find Mikogami-sama now, save the bickering for much later."

"Um," Tsukune spoke up tentatively, "it's not like that, really. They're just my friends," he concluded with a nervous laugh.

The PSC officer looked decidedly unconvinced as she folded her arms under her chest. The brown-haired youth groaned in chagrin.

At that moment, the four officers returned. Grigorev had Ririko's body slung over his shoulder, and bundled in a dirty brown cloak. Sheldon and Lester walked beside him, looking intently at the body. Morrey walked in front, with a strange metal object in his left hand. Michiru noted the prisoner's condition, and managed a satisfied smirk, for she felt it appropriate after what the math teacher had done.

The inhuman mage immediately came up to the dark-haired officer. "Kawasado-san, we found something." He handed the object in his hand to her.

Michiru looked down, and saw a rusty old key in the palm of her hand. As she examined it, she noted the insignia of the academy was engraved into the head. Privately, she wondered how Ririko had acquired it, and silently agreed with her cohorts that a thorough interrogation was necessary.

"What is it, Kawasado-san," Morrey asked.

The supposed nurse hummed to herself. "I'm not sure, but I intend to find out." She scowled as she regarded the captured Ririko. "Return to our base, but be careful. This is not the Kuyou-sama we once knew."

"Understood." He turned to his comrades. "Move out!" he spoke sharply, as he pointed in the direction of the PSC headquarters. The four officers turned and carried their prisoner from the area.

"Nurse-chan," Yukari spoke up, "no, Kawasado-san, are you sure they're gonna be alright?"

"I wish I could say yes, but that's another reason we need to find the real chairman. Kuyou-sama will listen to him."

"And if what he was the one who locked him up," Mizore asked, "would you still trust him?"

"That's what we need to find out," Tsukune interjected. "Isn't it our job to report the truth? So let's go find it."

"Right behind you, Tsukune-kun," Kurumu spoke up.

"Same here," Mizore added.

"You can count on me, desu!" Yukari exclaimed.

"And me," Ruby interjected. "We must rescue Mikogami-sama before it's too late."

"Yes," Michiru added, "this is of utmost importance. As a defender of justice, I must ensure his safety. Only then can we stop Dracula's sinister ambitions."

"Glad to have you on our side," Tsukune spoke with a smile, "Kawasado-san."

The undercover agent bowed gratefully.

The brown-haired youth looked out in the direction the Eye had shown. "Hold on, Moka-san. We're coming."

Finally, the good team is on the offensive, kicking very large tail and taking names. What will they encounter when they reach their destination? How will Kuyou react to this latest plot development? And what shall the student body do, when they discover what's just happened?

"Please, let's not do anything rash! Ouch! Who stepped on my tail?"

Uh, sure. Whatever you say. Anyway, tune in next time for Part I Chapter XVII Dungeon of the Forgotten