A/N Wow, I can't believe this fic has gotten over 20,000 hits since I began it. Thanks to everyone for their reading and obvious enjoying of this, my first fanfic ever posted on this site. Hopefully more people read, and enjoy the fic as it goes on. And don't worry, I plan to have this fic done before tax time (April 15) and then start the next part, Death of a Dream. Get ready for the next part of this saga, which will provide great reading for the summer months and beyond.

And before I forget, I do not own either Rosario + Vampire or Castlevania. They are the licensed properties of Ikeda Akihisa and Konami respectfully. And without further ado, on with the show.

Part I Chapter XXI
A Bully By Any Other Name...

Moka slowly approached the cowering Tsukune, who couldn't understand why the super vampire had lashed out against him after he and his friends freed her from Dracula's control. The human student's overwhelming fear blocked out all other rational thought, as he was completely taken off-guard by the surprise attack. His entire being trembled with fright as the white-haired woman stopped and loomed over him. She leaned over his quivering form, reached out with her right hand and tightly grasped his throat, as he coughed at the sudden lack of air. She immediately straightened up, and jerked him off the floor in one painful motion. Tsukune's brown eyes went wide in terror as he gazed at the deathly pale face of Inner Moka, whose countenance was a mask of hate and rage. With a furious growl, she slammed him against the wall beside her, and the sheer force jarred the human student's entire body. Tsukune was truly afraid for his life, for he knew his human body couldn't have withstood such punishment for long. As he desperately clutched onto Moka's arm, she released her hold and easily broke free of his own. The young man cried out in pain, as it felt like his hands had been ripped off, though fortunately remained attached. Before he could've spoken, he watched as the vampire took hold of his shoulders, and slammed him into the wall again. His whole face was wrought with pain, as he looked into the blazing red eyes of the enraged woman before him. "Moka-san," he spoke in a weak voice.

The super monster merely glared at him, as her shoulders heaved in anger. "Why did you come here," she asked in a snarling voice. "I TOLD YOU TO FORGET ABOUT ME!"

The brown-haired youth gasped in fear and shock, as he recalled her words from the last nightmare. "Moka-san, that's why-"

"Yes," the white-haired woman replied, her deadly fangs bared in anger. "I also told you not to fight that idiot, and TWICE you've defied me!"

"But, Moka-san," the human student pleaded defensively, "I couldn't let him hurt you!"

"NO EXCUSES!" the vampire snapped, and nailed him with a backhanded slap that knocked him hard onto the floor. She then walked over towards his fallen form, grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him up to his feet. "You don't know who you're dealing with," she spoke in a voice that conveyed her barely restrained anger, and then grabbed his shoulders and forced him against the wall again. "When I give an order, I expect it to be obeyed!" she shouted in his face, as her hissing breath escaped through her clenched teeth. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tear you apart," she asked in a low, menacing voice.

Tsukune gasped in sheer terror at what he'd just heard. "You wouldn't!"

The white-haired woman merely glared at him with her burning red eyes and her bared fangs.

"Stop it!" a girl's pained voice called out from behind the vampire. "Stop this right now!"

Tsukune looked past Moka's shoulder, and saw the cyan-haired girl had risen and stood five feet behind the enraged woman before him. "Kurumu-chan," the brown-haired youth remarked.

"How could you," the distraught succubus asked, a twinge of fear in her voice. "We just saved your life now, does that really mean nothing to you?"

The female youkai slowly turned her murderous gaze towards the shorter girl behind her. "I didn't ask to be saved," she spoke flatly, as she released Tsukune and turned to fully face her accuser. "I told you to get him as far away from me as possible and you have failed me as well!"

"Wh-what," the brown-hared youth asked in shock. "What are you talking about, Moka-san?"

"She wanted us to save you, Tsukune," the cyan-haired girl spoke up, "so she created a diversion so we could escape."

"Hold on," the human student interrupted, "what was that about keeping me away from Moka-san? Why didn't you tell me?"

Kurumu scowled as she tightly shut her eyes. "Would you really have agreed to those terms, Tsukune," she asked, as the tears squeezed out regardless of her efforts to suppress them.

"You should've made him agree!" the white-haired woman snapped at her. "I practically gift-wrapped him for you and you dare insult my generosity?"

"You're not being generous!" the succubus shot back. "You're just giving up and running away!"

"Silence!" Moka shouted, and slapped her hard across the face. "How dare you talk back to me, little girl! Still that impudent tongue of yours, or I'll rip it right out of your wretched little mouth!"

Kurumu was knocked down to one knee, as she held her reddened cheek. "Is this how you thank everyone who saves your life," she asked, as she regained her footing and turned back to her accuser. "You need a serious gratitude adjustment!" she snapped, as she punctuated herself by poking Moka above her sternum three times.

The incensed vampire immediately grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly, which made the smaller girl wince painfully. "You are beginning to irritate me!" she spoke with a vicious snarl. "Know your place!" she spoke sharply, as she nailed the succubus with a backhanded slap across the face.

Undaunted, the cyan-girl responded with a slap from her free hand. "You first!"

Tsukune stared at her in open-mouthed shock. He never imagined anyone would've been bold enough to retaliate against Inner Moka.

"Oh, that is it," the white-haired woman declared in a rasping growl, and then she roughly released the shorter girl's hand, took hold of her upper arms, pinned them against her sides and lifted her up to eye level. "You have defied me FOR THE LAST TIME!" the vampire screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Moka-san, no!" Tsukune called out.

The enraged demoness reared her head back, and growled viciously as she opened her fanged mouth wide. But as she lunged for Kurumu's throat, her body was suddenly encased in ice, save for her forearms. The unexpected act weakened her grip and allowed Kurumu to escape. She quickly scampered out of the frozen vampire's reach, only to be cuffed upside the side the head and receive a chilling gaze from a nearby Mizore.

"Hey!" the succubus protested. "What was that for, stalker?"

"That's what I should be asking," the snow girl replied as she replaced her lollipop. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Of course not!" the cyan-haired girl snapped. She looked away, as she raised her trembling fist. "I-I don't-" She groaned to herself and held the sides of her head, aghast over what had occurred. "I just don't understand, why is she doing this?"

The snow girl walked protectively in front of her as she noticed her icy casing had begun to crack. "Let me find out," she spoke over her shoulder, "you're way too hot-tempered."

Kurumu scowled at that, her expression miffed and insulted. However, she couldn't deny she had lost her temper, and it nearly cost the sophomore girl her life. She only hoped cooler heads would've prevailed in that instance.

Suddenly, the large ice crystal exploded, and sent frozen shards in all directions. Moka roared as she broke free from her confinement, her red eyes blazing in fury. After several seconds, her murderous gaze fell upon the purple-haired girl who stood between her and the despondent succubus. "You dare defy me as well," Moka asked vindictively.

"Who's defying who," Mizore asked calmly, "I thought we were all friends here."

The super monster narrowed her eyes into deadly slits, and growled lowly. She slowly approached the snow girl, who didn't seem to react to her ominous presence. She stopped just within striking distance, as she peered down her nose at the shorter girl. "Move," she spoke in a cold voice.

"No," came the purple-haired girl's reply.

The white-haired woman sneered at her fellow monster. "That was not a request."

"What part of 'no' didn't you understand," Mizore asked without flinching, "the 'n' or the 'o?'"

The deathly pale woman bared her deadly fangs with a vengeful hiss, as her youki flared up. She grit her teeth together as a menacing growl escaped her, even more enraged that the purple-haired girl hadn't even reacted.

"Moka-san, stop!" Tsukune called out as he approached her.

"Stay where you are!" Inner Moka snapped as she spun around and pointed one of her elongated fingers in his direction.

The brown-haired youth quivered as the vampire's deadly fingernail all but touched his bare chest.

The vampire breathed heavily, still nearly bursting with rage. "Incompetent fools," she began bitterly as she looked amongst them, "ALL of you!" she practically screamed at Tsukune. "Can't you idiots do anything right?" she demanded of them.

"Moka-san," Ruby spoke warily. She'd just regained consciousness only to witness the super monster's verbal thrashing, and dared not exacerbate the situation.

Inner Moka glanced at them one more time, prepared to lash out again if any of them had spoken up. She gave a particularly scathing look to Ruby, who remained silent in the vampire's presence. As she turned back to Tsukune, she noticed her Rosario in his left hand. Without another word, she stormed towards him, and snatched it out of his hand. "You'd best stay away from now on," she spoke in an ominous warning voice. "The next time any of you idiots cross my path I'll KILL YOU!" She immediately turned and headed for the door.

"Moka-san!" Tsukune called out in concern.

The white-haired woman spun in his direction. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, and then flung the cell door open, and then left the room, slamming it behind her. The metallic echo resounded for several seconds, and all but drowned out the hurried footsteps and anguished sobs that faded into the distance.

The human student collapsed to his knees, mortified that she'd slammed the door on him once again. "Moka-san, you can't... you can't do this to me!" he declared as he smashed his fist into the floor. He immediately rose to his feet, his eyes burning red and with slitted pupils.

"Oh no," Ruby remarked to herself.

"Not again," Kurumu spoke irritably as she headed towards the enraged youth

"You dare flee from me," Tsukune asked angrily at the closed door. "You should be honored I even came to save your wretched life. You are nothing without me!" He aimed his hand at the door, and his eyes glowed brightly. "Moka Akashiya I command you to return!" But before he got a response, he felt his shoulder grabbed from behind and was spun around. He soon saw an incensed succubus before him.

"IDIOT!" the cyan-haired girl shouted, as she slapped him hard across the face. She sniffled uncontrollably, as her fists shook by her sides. "What do you think you're doing," she asked in a frustrated voice, "are you trying to make us hate you? This, this," she continued painfully, "this is not the Tsukune I love!"

Mizore gasped aloud at that, and almost lost her lollipop over the revelation. Ruby was more composed, but still no less shocked that the succubus had revealed her feelings.

"T'ch," the brown-haired youth responded with a contemptuous scowl, "such meaningless sentiments. Only power possesses any import. Those that have power do as they please. Those that don't, serve those that do."

"Tsukune-san, stop!" Ruby called out. "You're starting to sound like Dracula, his curse is poisoning your mind!"

"Nonsense!" the brown-haired youth protested. "Dracula has no power over me! Once I crush him at midnight, all will be as it should."

"BULLCRAP!" the succubus snapped at him. "Stop kidding yourself, Tsukune! If it weren't the Chairman you'd be dead right now!"

"She's right, Tsukune-san," the dark-haired witch interjected. "That power is destroying you. That's why the chairman gave you that choker, it was to save you from Dracula's foul designs."

The brooding youth growled as his hand went to his accessory. "Curse you, Mikogami, how dare you interfere!" He bared his teeth in anger. "This won't hold me forever, I will break free and crush everything that stands in my way!"

Mizore popped up behind the young man, a saddened look in her crystal blue eyes. Before such an action would've elicited fright from Tsukune, but at that moment he didn't even notice her presence, which saddened her further. "Does that include us as well," she asked him. "Why are you doing this, Tsukune, why are you breaking our hearts? Have you forgotten what saved me that day, it wasn't power, that's for sure."

Kurumu sighed to herself. "It wasn't power that saved me, either, it would've destroyed me, if anything."

The brown-haired youth sneered at first, but then gasped as her words brought an old memory to the forefront of his mind. He remembered the day he and Moka faced off against the cyan-haired girl, who attempted to kill them for supposedly trying to ruins her plans for the school. Though she was defeated, the silver-haired woman wasn't satisfied.

"You are a most unpleasant sight," Inner Moka spoke coldly as she stood imperiously over her fallen foe. "I'll just snap those wings and tail so you won't ever fly again."

"No, not that!" Kurumu pleaded from her knees, as tears streamed from her violet eyes. "Please, forgive me."

Tsukune then remembered how he bravely stood before the transformed vampire to prevent her from enacting her more gruesome designs. Suddenly, a stabbing pain shot through his mind, and he held the sides of his head in pain. "Stop thinking such nonsense!" he demanded darkly. "That weakness will be the death of you!"

"No!" the brown-haired youth shot back. "It's not a weakness! I met such wonderful friends just being myself! Power had nothing to do with it!"

"Fool!" the second entity that no one saw retorted through Tsukune's voice. "Those pathetic youkai were nothing before Dracula! Even Moka was powerless before him! Only a heart of darkness can ever defeat him! Everything else is meaningless!"

"Shut up!" the tormented student shot back. "You sound just like Dracula! I don't want to listen to you anymore! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

The young man growled in inhuman agony, as a dark aura surrounded him. He was clearly in obvious pain, as he held his head which thrashed about violently. After several moments, he emitted a high-pitched scream, and his aura burst out from his body and dissipated. No sooner than it did that the brown-haired youth collapsed onto the floor.

"Tsukune!" Kurumu called out and ran to his side.

Mizore and Ruby followed suit and huddled around the fallen student, who groaned wearily on the floor.

"Tsukune-san," the dark-haired woman spoke nervously, "are you back with us now?"

The young man groaned again, as he tried to shake off the cobwebs. His breathing was labored, which indicated he was exhausted from the ordeals he'd endured. "What happened," he asked.

"The curse overtook you again." Ruby moved around his body until she was in front of him. "Tsukune-san," she spoke seriously, "this is getting worse. We nearly lost you again. Next time, we might not be so fortunate."

Tsukune looked away with a dejected groan. Though he knew it was getting progressively harder to resist the dark calling in his soul, he didn't want to admit it. "But I must go on," he insisted, "I have to save Moka-san!"

"Didn't you hear what she just said," the witch asked, "that was exactly what they wanted you to do." She sighed gravely as she closed her eyes. "I know you still want to go after her, Tsukune-san. I also know, if she doesn't want to be saved, nothing will stop her."

"You're wrong!" the brown-haired youth shot back as he spun in her direction. "Moka-san wants me to save her! She needs me, it doesn't matter if she's too proud to admit it!"

All three girls were thunderstruck at what they'd heard. They gave the outspoken student looks of sheer disbelief. They knew it was suicidal to make verbal jabs at Inner Moka's pride.

"Do you have a death wish or something," Kurumu finally asked, breaking the stunned silence, "she said she'd kill us if we got in her face again! And you're actually gonna call her bluff?"

"She won't kill me!" the human student maintained. "She can't, she'll realize that and so will you. Just you watch I'll bring her back safe and sound!" He immediately turned and headed out of the cell.

"Tsukune, wait up!" the cyan-haired girl called out as she raced after him. "Don't go running in the dark all by yourself!"

"Tell me I didn't just see that," Mizore remarked flatly, before she also began to pursue her fleeing friend.

Ruby was still flabbergasted after what she'd seen, but quickly recovered as she realized she was the only one left in the cell. "Wait for me!" she shouted as she exited the cell.

"Moka-san!" Tsukune called out as he made his way upstairs. He looked in both directions, but saw nothing but darkness. Even without Dracula's essence, the corridors provided no light for him. "Moka-san, where are you?" He looked his right, and was barely able to see the way forward. He carefully proceeded down the hallyway, as the others raced up the stairs behind him.

"Tsukune, wait!" Kurumu shouted. "It's still dangerous in here!" With an incensed growl, she scanned the area. She managed to detect his aura from her right, and headed in that direction.

A few seconds later, Mizore made her way up from the bottom floor, still in shock after what she'd witnessed. A couple of moments later, the older witch came up behind her, her wand radiating a pinkish light that illuminated the general area.

"Thanks, Ruby," the snow girl spoke gratefully, "that's a big help."

"No problem," the dark-haired woman replied, "now let's find Tsukune-san, and fast."

"Right."

Peering from behind the corner from the hallway that headed left, Moka watched as the girls ran out of sight. Once the light from Ruby's wand had faded into the distance, the white-haired woman turned back and sat down on the floor, as tears of bitterness and shame streamed down her face. Despite her powerful mental fortitude, she couldn't stop the tears from gushing like rapids from her eyes. She wrapped her arms around her knees, and bowed her head in shame, which caused her white bangs to fall into her face.

However, even from where she sat, she still felt Tsukune's presence. She felt the darkness swelling within him, threatening to engulf the kind boy she cherished so much. Deep down, she loved his kindness, and was horrified at the thought of him losing it, which she believed was one of Dracula's objectives. She knew no good would've come from sacrificing his heart for power, and wept even more bitterly as she felt it was her fault he'd gotten into such a predicament.

"Tsukune," she spoke in a broken voice, "you idiot. Why, why couldn't you just forget about me?" She almost found herself unable to stop sobbing. "You're losing yourself, Tsukune, you're playing right into his hands!" She raised her tear-streaked face, as she looked out into the darkness. "Tsukune, that power will not defeat him, it'll only-" She broke out into another round of fierce sobbing, as she buried her face in her slender hands. The thought of losing her first friend at school appalled her to no end. "Why," she asked morosely as she looked towards the ceiling, "why do you hate me so much? What have I done to deserve all this?"

She shamefully bowed her head again, as the tears streamed down her pale cheeks. She felt her vampire pride screaming at her to stop being so emotional, but after everything that had happened, she saw little reason to be proud of herself. From her standpoint, she seemed to bring nothing but shame and hardship to her family and peers, and wondered why she even lived. A dejected sigh escaped her blood red lips, as her crimson irises became downcast. She looked at the Rosario held in her abnormally long fingers, as the memories she'd shared with him came to the forefront of her mind. However, at that juncture, they brought her nothing but more sadness, and a few of her tears landed on the silver cross. "Tsukune, it would've been better if you'd never met me. Then you wouldn't be in danger now." With a morose sigh, she somberly closed her tormented red eyes. "Farewell, Tsukune, let's not meet again," she muttered sadly as she prepared to reconnect the seal.

"Is this really what you want," a soft, ethereal voice asked sadly.

Moka immediately opened her eyes and gasped lightly in response, and stopped before she'd replaced the seal. She soon felt a familiar presence nearby. She looked up from her vantage point, and saw the astral projection of a young girl of around sixteen standing over her. Long pink hair ran down to the small of her back, and her green eyes looked sadly to the distraught girl before her. The white-haired woman recognized her as her alternate persona, who she'd only physically met after being forcefully separated by Lilith's Mirror earlier in the year. "Omote," she asked.

"Ura-chan," the pink-haired girl asked, "what's wrong? I've never seen you like this."

The despondent woman looked to her for a moment, then back to the Rosario. She wondered if it was a result of the rosary's corruption, or if it was a hallucination on her part. She quickly averted her gaze, so her counterpart wouldn't have seen the pained look in her red eyes. "Omote, I," she began somberly, "I don't know, what to do anymore." She looked to the Rosario in her hand. "I just don't understand, how everything could've gone so wrong." She sniffled as she slightly tightened her grip on the cross. "Why," she asked in a broken voice, "why does he hate me so much? Why is he trying to destroy everything I love?" She sobbed again, intense mental anguish deeply etched into her pale face. "WHYYYYYYYYYY?"

The image of Outer Moka knelt down by her counterpart. Though she couldn't have seen her expression, she could've visualized the anguished look on her face, one she herself had worn on many occasions, when she'd been hurt and confused. Never did she imagine her seemingly indomitable alter ego could've been reduced to such a state. However, as she considered what happened a few minutes before, she felt she had a good understanding of Inner Moka's pain. She knew vampires were taught to maintain a constant air of invincibility, so no one would've dared challenge them in any way. However, her counterpart had clearly faced an opponent that wasn't intimidated by her strength, bypassed it and even turned it against her close friends. Outer Moka knew her alternate persona was greatly ashamed of what had happened, and wondered if Kokoa would've comforted her, or actually berated her for being weak. She knit her brows together, as she disliked the more probable answer. Needless to say it would've shattered Kokoa's image of her sister, and caused more strife between them, something she knew her counterpart didn't need at the moment.

"Ura-chan," the pink-haired projection spoke up, which got her counterpart's attention, "why didn't you say anything sooner? When were you going to tell me about Dracula?"

"Silence!" Inner Moka snapped and instantly rose to her feet. "Listen to me, Omote," she spoke warningly as she pointed towards the tip of her alter ego's nose. "Never, ever, EVER speak that name! It is strictly forbidden under vampire law! And the punishment, is death."

The outer persona looked flabbergasted. "You're not serious! They execute vampires who speak Dracula's name?"

"I told you never to speak it!" the white-haired woman heatedly retorted, her face flush with anger. "Remember, the law of vampires is absolute. Defiance is not an option!"

"And looking the other way and saying nothing while Dracula attacks the school is," Outer Moka asked pointedly.

"Idiot!" the distraught woman shot back. "How many times do I have to repeat myself?"

The pink-haired girl sniffled in response. "How many lives must he destroy before you decide to stand up to him? What if it was Hahau-e, or Chichiu-e's lives at stake? Would you still say nothing?"

Inner Moka turned from her, and folded her arms under her chest. "It would've been better if he'd simply finished me off," she grumbled bitterly, "then I wouldn't be suffering now."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Outer Moka demanded.

"You don't need to know!" her counterpart shot back over her shoulder, and then looked away again. "As I said," she spoke in a cold, sullen voice, "the law of vampires is absolute."

The alternate persona sighed in aggravation. "I don't believe you, the Ura-chan I know wouldn't allow some misguided law to stop her from protecting her friends and family."

The morose vampire looked over her shoulder towards her counterpart. "Now you call me an impostor," she asked bitterly. "You, Omote?" She looked away, and sobbed to herself. "Why, why is everyone against me? Don't any of you care?"

"We're not against you, Ura-chan," Outer Moka insisted. "We just don't understand why you're against us now?" She tried to stifle a sob. "Why did you attack Tsukune and the others? They'd come to rescue you!"

"Idiot, that's exactly what Colton wanted them to do!" the demoness countered as she turned to confront her alter ego. "He lured them into another trap, and they almost died." She looked to her hand, which she found was shaking.

"I know it was a trap!" the pink-haired girl shot back. "But if they did nothing, who would've rescued us then?"

Inner Moka looked back to the wall. "It would've been better if no one had, then no one else would've been in danger."

"Ura-chan!" the pink-haired girl protested.

"That's the way he operates, Omote," the white-haired woman pointed out. "Time and again, he's lured our friends into one trap after another, and all their efforts have only furthered his plans." She bowed her head, and shook it remorsefully. "It just, it seems like there's no beating him."

"But Ura-chan" her alternate persona pleaded, "if we give up, he's already won. Don't you remember what Hahau-e taught us? 'Evil only triumphs when good people do nothing.'"

Inner Moka sighed wearily. "I wish I could believe that, Omote," she spoke in a discouraged voice, "but it seems Colton is proving otherwise." She sat back down on the floor, wrapped her arms around her knees, and bowed her gaze, which caused her long white locks to fall into her eyes. "I, I feel so, lost."

"Ura-chan," the pink-haired girl spoke worriedly as she knelt down before her alter ego, "please don't give up. Our friends haven't given up on us, so please, don't give up on yourself."

The white-haired woman looked away, a pained expression on her delicate face.

"Our friends still need you, Ura-chan," Outer Moka maintained. "Tsukune still needs you." She placed her insubstantial hands on her alter ego's face grieving face. "So do I." She leaned forward, placed a kiss on her counterpart's cheek, and then vanished.

Inner Moka looked out towards where the image of her alternate persona once stood. Her hand tentatively went to her cheek. Though there was no physical contact, the mere action wasn't lost on her. As she pondered on it, she sighed dejectedly as she couldn't remember the last time any of her family had shown her such affection. She bowed her head again, as her loneliness bore down on her once again. "Omote," the super monster thought to herself, "I know you're truly trying to help, but you just don't understand. Our presence, my presence here has brought nothing but disaster. And if HE doesn't kill everyone in school," she went on, as she grimaced over the prospects for the possible future, "THEY will. Everyone will die, because of me." She buried her face in her hands, and began sobbing once more.

Deep under the main campus building was an empty square room completely concealed in darkness. Two figures stood alone in the darkness, the only discernible feature amongst them were their glowing eyes, one white and the other red. Anyone else would've been essentially blind in the complete absence of light, but to the two figures present, the darkness did nothing to impede their vision. On the floor before them were the bodies of two unconscious women. One was dressed in a brown business suit with matching slacks, her curly silver hair done up in a nondescript clip. The other wore a heavy black leather jacket, with black jeans and heavy biker boots. She wore a black and red bandanna on her head of short silver hair.

"Oh my," the figure with red eyes remarked in an awed tone, "I never expected to see her again. To think she'd become one of our most notorious enemies."

"You know this one," his companion asked.

The red-eyed stranger nodded. "There isn't a member of the vampire community who doesn't know the name Pfaria Shuzen, the pride of her family." He quickly glanced beside him, and noticed his cohort didn't look impressed. "I know she doesn't look it, much has changed since that day. A pity, but perhaps she can still be useful."

"Really," the white-eyed being asked in an intrigued voice. "In what capacity?"

"If you'd seen her nine years back, you'd understand. Once restored to her former luster, she'd make a most exquisite addition to our lord's court, wouldn't you say?"

The dark figure blanched for a moment, considered what his comrade had proposed, and then emitted a low, wicked laugh. "Oh, you are indeed audacious, nice to know that hasn't changed."

"I could say the same for you," the vampire replied, "replacing Mikogami and making the academy destroy itself? I've sorely missed that diabolical genius of yours. Soon, one of our lord's greatest obstacles will be no more."

"Exactly." As he gazed upon Pfaria's body, he recalled what his cohort spoke earlier. He considered where such a plan would've lead, and a truly sinister grin crossed his ominous features. He saw it as a perfect solution to a problem that had caused him no end of aggravation for almost six hundred years.

"You approve," the red-eyed figure asked.

"Very much so." He looked to the other woman. "And what have you planned for this one?"

"The plan was already initiated by the Elder Council. Elder Taurnov's daughter was murdered by a band of 'fiends,' shall we say."

The second figure frowned slightly at that. He knew well how troublesome such bands were over history.

"So," the vampire continued, "he made a pact with an organization called Fairy Tale to eliminate these vagabonds." An amused chuckle escaped him at that moment as he pointed to the woman in brown. "And she, believe it or not, is their best assassin. Unsurprising, but highly ironic she was chosen for such a task."

"Is there a problem with that," the robed figure asked.

The red-eyed being looked towards both women. "Were the circumstances different, this could've easily been turned to our advantage. For the moment, I shall observe her, as well as her sister." A dark grin crossed his pale features, which quickly faded. "However," he spoke with caution, "I would suggest haste, it won't be long before the Council becomes aware of what is occurring here, not to mention their father."

His comrade smirked in response. "Ah yes, Lucien. It's been far too long," he spoke in an eerie, nostalgic voice. "Tell me, does he still blame me for his father's death?"

"I wish I could tell you, most of the records from before the Dark Judgment were destroyed, by him no less. Those that still remember do not dare speak of it. Hmph, such fools," he remarked in amusement and contempt, "they've only made it too easy for our lord. And his precious third child is the key."

"Ah yes, such a troublesome girl she is. But she cannot escape any longer. No, this time she will repent for defying her lord. I'll make sure of it." He looked towards his companion. "I trust you can keep watch over this side in our lord's stead?"

"Indubitably, they shall not be a problem."

"Very good, I look forward to seeing the outcome of your," he spoke, as he looked Pfaria's body, and imagined what the future held for her, "designs." As he chuckled to himself, a cloud of black smoke erupted under him, and then he was gone.

The sinister being looked down and smirked at the fallen women before him. "Yes, so do I."

Tsukune came to a stop near the main stairwell of the dungeon. Though his heart ached to find Moka, his body was barely able to remain upright. Clearly, the battles he'd already fought, especially the last one against Dracula himself, had all but exhausted the brown-haired youth. He wasn't sure how he'd found the stairwell in the dark, or why he couldn't sense Moka's presence. Then he recalled she'd taken the Rosario, and he feared she'd already resealed herself, which would've made finding her more difficult. He leaned against the wall, as it was all he could've done to avoid collapsing yet again. "Moka-san," he spoke in a sad, tired voice.

"Tsukune!" Kurumu's voice called out from the darkness.

The brown-haired youth turned, and watched as the voluptuous teenager quickly came into view. She paused to catch her breath, her hands on her slightly bent knees. That brought her most notable features into view, which the human student noticed in chagrin. He wondered if she'd done it deliberately or unconsciously, and winced at how much he found himself looking at her endowments over the past two school years. Even though he knew there was more to her than her body, the notion wasn't lost that as a succubus, she could've flaunted it without being wholly aware, since seduction came so naturally to them.

"Tsukune," the cyan-haired girl spoke in a tired, yet relieved voice, "thanks goodness I found you." She straightened up and looked into the young man's brown eyes. "Tsukune, please, stop pushing yourself like this. No one will thank you if you lose yourself again, especially not Moka."

The human student sighed gravely as he gazed at his comrade. "Kurumu-chan, did Moka-san, really tell you?" He was too shocked to finish the sentence.

"To keep you away from her," the sophomore girl asked, "yes, she did." She bowed her head slightly, as her clenched fists came up just below her chain. "I knew she was entrusting me with your safety, and it's not that I didn't see it as a chance to finally win your heart," she admitted somewhat sadly. "It's just, I also knew she was essentially giving up, and that's not like her at all!" she cried out as she raised her despondent gaze back to him. "Tsukune, did Moka really tell you to forget about her?"

The human student looked away with a pained sigh, as he recalled the incident from his dream. "Yeah," he finally admitted, "she did. But I couldn't, I could never forget Moka-san!" he maintained. "How can she say she couldn't make me happy?" He shook his head in disbelief. "I have to find her, Kurumu-chan! I can't leave her alone like this!"

The female youkai sighed lightly. "I know that," she said softly, "so I let you come here, even though it was against Moka's wishes. I just couldn't let it end like that!" she exclaimed as tears came from her eyes. "She deserves better, so do you."

"Kurumu-chan," Tsukune spoke softly as he felt the succubus embrace him tightly and bury her tear-streaked face into his shoulder.

At that moment, footsteps came from the darkness beyond. The brown-haired youth looked forth, and saw Mizore and Ruby headed towards them, guided by the light of the witch's wand. The snow girl walked up to the grieving girl and placed a cold hand on her shoulder, which instantly got her attention.

"You surprise me," the blue-eyed girl remarked, "I didn't think you had the guts to defy Moka." Her eyes also became downcast. "Man, I would've never guessed she'd just give up, either. I can't imagine what she's going through right now." She remembered the day her depression nearly drove her to suicide, and how Inner Moka harshly rebuked her for her perceived weakness. Never did the snow girl imagine the roles would've been reversed.

"But that's why we need to find her!" the human student interjected. "She's our friend, she needs us to stand by her during this nonsense."

"I wouldn't suggest it, Tsukune-san," Ruby spoke up. "Moka-san is terribly ashamed at what she's done, this entire conflict against Dracula has brought back many bad memories for her, I'm certain of it."

"But that wasn't her fault!" the brown-haired youth insisted. "Dracula was controlling her mind, there's no need for her to blame herself!"

"It's not that simple, Tsukune-san," the witch countered. "Vampires are very proud and vain creatures, so much so that they've forsaken transformation abilities like what we saw during that battle. They see it as shameful, so they never utilize such abilities. To compromise this principle is deemed heresy in their eyes."

Mizore slowly turned her gaze to Ruby. "Are you serious," she asked in disbelief, even though her expression remained nonchalant.

"How dare he," Kurumu exclaimed with an incensed glare. "How dare he, violate her like that! Gin at his worst is never so twisted!"

"Not even close," Tsukune added with a dark stare. "That's why he must be destroyed."

The purple-haired girl looked to the others. "What do we do about Moka, though?"

The dark-haired woman sighed gravely as she folded her arms under her chest. "Though I wish I could say otherwise, at this juncture, I don't think there's any soothing her. She attacked us out of grief, and if we approach her now, she might lash out again. I think the best course of action is to leave her be, for now. Once she calms down, I'm sure she'll return."

"But, what if she doesn't return," the human student asked worriedly.

"We can look for her after we've found the chairman. Perhaps he has the answers we need."

"Sounds good to me," Mizore spoke up.

"I guess," Kurumu conceded, but her tone indicated she wasn't wholly convinced. However, she also had no feasible alternative, and cringed as she recalled how close Moka had come to killing her back in her cell. She looked to the purple-haired girl, who returned her glance. "Thanks for saving me down there," she finally spoke up.

The snow girl gave her a smile in return. "That's what friends are for, isn't it?"

The shorter girl nodded in response. "Yes, hopefully Moka realizes that. No one is blaming her for any of this."

Tsukune look onward with a heavy heart as he thought about his missing friend. "Moka-san."

The group made their way back up to the ground floor. As they did, they noticed the oppressive darkness that once filled the halls was gone. Tsukune surmised it occurred after the chairman exorcised Dracula. That fact worried him, for he realized Dracula was the source of the indescribably evil aura they encountered in the lower regions of the dungeon. Though he was scared at the amount of power his enemy wielded, another part refused to admit it, and maintained the vampire lord had to be destroyed, regardless of the strength he wielded.

The path ahead was lined by sharp metal cards embedded in the walls. Everyone knew they belonged to Yukari, who seemed considerate enough to leave a trail for them to follow.

"Yukari-chan," Kurumu said to herself worriedly, "please be alright."

Ruby looked back to her. She was concerned that she couldn't sense her fellow witch's presence, but didn't want to relay it to the others. She knew it could've meant many things, and though she was also worried at the possibilities, she continued onwards.

The trail led them back to the east tower. Once they entered, they noticed the locked door from before was opened, and the stairwell spiraled down past it. They saw their friend's cards proceeded in the same direction.

"Yukari-chan," Tsukune spoke up, "do you think she's found the Chairman?"

Ruby's look was unreadable as she looked down the spiraling staircase. "Let's find out."

The group made their way towards the bottom of the stairwell. As they proceeded deeper, they felt a malignant aura from below.

"Yukari-chan," Kurumu said worriedly.

"What the hecht is down there," Mizore asked.

Ruby tried to discern its nature as she ventured downward. It was definitely a powerful, oppressive aura, yet something about it disturbed her. "It feels like a vampire," she noted, "but it seems... unstable. Hmph, should've known there would've been one more trap before we found Mikogami-sama."

Tsukune looked towards the bottom with resolute brown eyes. He could've sworn he felt something familiar about the aura, but wondered if it was just his imagination. He balked at that for a moment, as he remembered his perceptive abilities were never so accurate before Colton came to the academy. He glanced at his friends for a moment, as he recalled their claims that Dracula's power had poisoned him, and that it had driven Moka away. With a heavy heart, he looked back down the stairwell. "Whatever it is," he said to the others, "it's still not Dracula. Let's hurry."

The party reached the bottom of the stairwell. They found a single door on the right, and a statue of Mikogami before them. The brown-haired youth looked painfully at the monument before him. "Is it truly so dangerous for a human to touch this," he asked himself mentally. "Am I even human anymore?" He looked down at his hands, as his breathing became troubled. "Is this really driving Moka-san away? I thought, she'd have wanted me to be strong. Did she really like me better before?" He recalled the time he faced her father to obtain the Rosario, and remembered how gently she held his body, and placed her hand over his own. It was shortly after that day when Colton arrived, and the vampire had stopped being so affectionate. It troubled him that he could've been part of the problem, and a heavy sigh escaped him.

"Tsukune," Kurumu asked with a concerned look in her violet eyes.

The brown-haired youth looked to her, then held the sides of his head in physical and emotional pain. "Moka-san, I don't want to lose her again."

They passed through the door way and found themselves in a huge circular room. The aura they'd felt earlier was strongest inside the chamber. Ruby's wand generated light for the group, and they saw the floor was littered with broken rock fragments. They also saw a body embedded in the wall. Ruby's wand illuminated the familiar form of Mako Yakumaru, whose black uniform was stained with oddly-colored blood, which also came from her mouth. She hesitantly reached out and touched the immobile woman's neck, and somberly closed her eyes at the results.

"She's dead," the oldest of the group remarked.

Kurumu looked to the body, and cringed as she also felt no life-force within her. "Oh my, who could've done this?"

"I dunno," Mizore replied, "but remember what Ririko said, the PSC is no longer necessary."

Tsukune also looked to the body, as well as the broken rock fragments that littered the floor. He didn't have to ask to know something had gone terribly wrong when Yukari and Michiru pursued Mako. "What, could've happened here?"

The snow girl knelt down by a piece of broken rock, and studied it closely. It was broken on one end, yet the surface was long and smooth, and bent at a light angle. Curiously, she bent one of her fingers, and saw the resemblance. She quickly realized the owner was much larger than herself. She gasped in shock, and her blue eyes widened slightly.

"Mizore-chan," the human student asked in concern.

The purple-haired girl looked around the debris, and found another piece that looked like a stone nose. "I knew him," she spoke up.

"What?"

"This guy," the purple-haired girl continued, "he was one of Kuyou's goons. I took him on myself when we fought to save you last year."

The group gasped in shock, as they recalled a massive stone monster among the kitsune's lieutenants, which the snow girl fought singlehandedly. They looked to the broken fragments around them, and each came to the same disturbing conclusion.

"Then, that means," Kurumu began warily.

"Yeah," Mizore concluded for her, "he's dead too."

Tsukune immediately tensed at that, as he looked to the monster's broken remains. "More than dead," he spoke in an aghast voice, "he was... destroyed. Who could've done this?"

"Good luck trying to put him back together," the snow girl blandly remarked.

The cyan-haired girl looked towards the back of the room, and once she did she saw two more bodies on the floor. One belonged to a dark-haired woman in a black uniform, the other was a young girl in the traditional academy uniform, a simple yellow ribbon in her short brunette hair. The succubus recognized both females without being reminded. "Yukari-chan!" she cried out and instinctively headed for the fallen girl.

"Kurumu-chan," Tsukune called out, "wait!"

Suddenly, a massive claw shot up into view from below the floor, coupled with a vicious bellow. The succubus yelped in surprise as she quickly stopped herself. She then retreated back towards the others. "What the hecht is that?" she exclaimed in shock.

The brown-haired youth studied the claw for a moment, and his eyes went wide in fright. "That hand," he uttered.

Another growl came from below, and the claw slammed down and smashed a sizable chunk of the floor. Another claw shot up and ripped up a second part of the floor. The group quickly retreated back towards the exit. Kurumu tried the door, but found it was already shut, and refused to budge for her. "It's locked!" she cried out.

"Big surprise!" Mizore responded above the clamor of the floor being destroyed. As the claws drew close, she saw they were attached to long, thickly muscled arms, and noticed a pair of burning red eyes that peered at her from the darkness below.

"No," Tsukune said fearfully as the unseen enemy drew close, "it can't be!"

Ruby noted his fear, and was intrigued because it almost sounded like the brown-haired youth recognized their enemy. However, she knew there was no time to ponder the issue in detail, for only a small part of the floor remained, where they stood upon. "Watch out!" she shouted to the others.

The powerful menace below growled viciously, and raised both claws into the air. Most of the group immediately knew what their foe had planned, so they didn't wait. Kurumu quickly produced her wings and took hold of Tsukune. Ruby unsheathed her own and braced herself. As the huge clawed hands came crashing down, the party leaped off a split second before their section of the floor was destroyed.

The group landed behind their foe, as bones crunched under their feet. They looked around, and saw skeletons were littered all over the floor. They looked ahead towards their enemy, and gasped at his immense size and musculature, as well as the same malignant aura they felt earlier, which clearly came from him. The beast was easily eleven feet tall, if not more, with a broad back that had a curiously inverted spine of sorts. It was a bipedal creature, clad in a familiar pair of brown trousers and nothing else. Two rows of bony spikes arose from the crook of its thick neck, and wild red hair covered it head. Slowly, the huge monster turned around, and its bloodthirsty gaze fell upon them, which made the group tremble. A malicious grin crossed its brutish features, which exposed two rows of deadly fangs, the incisors lengthened considerably. Its sternum also seemed to be inverted, as did the bottom of its ribcage. A nasty, growling laugh escaped the beast, which rumbled menacingly from its throat.

"What the hecht is that," Kurumu asked in fright.

Tsukune was just as afraid, even more so that the monster before him looked vaguely familiar. "No way," he spoke in disbelief. "Komiya?"

The cyan-haired girl gave him an incredulous look. "Sheah right, that might be Saizou Komiya!"

Ruby also looked at the monster in disbelief. Though she'd never seen Saizou in his true form, she knew well he never possessed such terrifying power before, and it explained many things to her.

The towering beast chuckled nastily as it regarded Tsukune. "So," it began in a snarling, amused voice, "you recognize me. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Aono."

The brown-haired youth cringed in response, as the monster's voice was deeper and more feral than he'd remembered. "Komiya," he asked fearfully, "what have you done?"

The monstrous creature laughed wickedly at him. "Can't you tell? I've been blessed by the mighty power. Lord Dracula has given me the strength I need to crush Moka and anyone else stupid enough to get in my way!"

"You fool!" Tsukune desperately blurted out. "Dracula is just using you! All he cares about his power!"

"And what's wrong with that," the brutish Saizou asked. "The strong always rule over the weak, and once this pathetic school is gone, all youkai shall turn to Lord Dracula and proclaim him their master! Only he can give us back what the humans stole from us!" he declared, as he spread his arms out wide, which made him look even more imposing. "And once he does, all forms of life shall have no choice, but to proclaim him lord of all!"

"No! I'll never allow that!"

"Heh," the orc vampire quipped with a disdainful sneer, "and what can you possibly do to stop him, human?"

"I'll show you!"

Kurumu balked as her Mate of Fate charged towards his much larger opponent. "Tsukune, no!" the cyan-haired girl called out.

"Don't do it!" Ruby added. "You can't fight him in your condition!"

Oblivious to their words, Tsukune rushed towards Saizou and unleashed a series of blows just below the monster's muscular waistline. Though his motivation wasn't lacking, his exhausted body no longer possessed the strength to make his attacks effective. "No," he thought to himself, "I can't have used up ALL my power!"

The monstrous beast laughed to himself, amazed that his opponent had the audacity to attack him without hesitation, even if his blows were ineffective. "You're kidding me, right," the orc vampire asked, "you might as well be pelting me with spitballs!"

Undaunted, the brown-haired youth continued his attack, though his punches seemed to inflict no damage on his inhuman foe. "Darn it!" he mentally chided. "I can't let him hurt Moka-san! I have to stop him here and now!"

"Give it a rest!" the towering youkai snapped. "Without Moka and your little friends, you're nothing."

Tsukune stopped his attack, looked up and glared at his larger foe. "I'll show you who's nothing!" With a primal scream, he channeled all his energy into his right fist, and plunged it straight into Saizou's breadbasket. The human student groaned, as pain shot up from his fist all the way to his shoulder. He staggered back, and held his throbbing right shoulder, fearing it might've been dislocated.

The orc sneered at the injured youth, unaffected and unamused by his final attack. "What a joke." He thrust his right knee forward into his opponent's torso, which sent him flying back towards the others.

The human student screamed in pain as he felt his back slammed against the far wall. Coupled with his injured shoulder and ribs, the teenage boy found himself in a dire predicament.

"Tsukune!" Kurumu cried out, shocked by what had just occurred. Her shock quickly turned to anger, and she spun around towards Saizou. "You're gonna pay for that, musclehead!" she declared. "How dare you hurt my precious Tsukune!"

"And you think you can actually stop me," the orc vampire asked defiantly, "go ahead and try!"

The cyan-haired girl unsheathed her claws, as well as her wings and tail. She immediately took to the air and flew towards her larger opponent, as a scream of rage escaped her. The monstrous beast lunged back, and unleashed a vicious swipe with his claws. Though the actual attack never touched her, the sheer force of his motions sent the succubus flying back into the wall, and the whole room shook from the impact.

"Oh crap!" Mizore exclaimed. Though she'd never fought against Saizou before, the thought of him being turned into a vampire terrified her. As much as she didn't want to admit it, the menacing aura she felt from the massive beast didn't say otherwise. She gathered her courage, and transformed her hands into deadly ice claws. She then produced six ice kunai, and flung them at her opponent. Each of the dagger stabbed him in the midsection, and he merely laughed in response. That annoyed Mizore, even more so that Saizou made no effort to evade her attack, like Moka and Kokoa would've done. She sent six more ice kunai into his washboard stomach, and though they managed to penetrate his thick skin, his laughter only became even more uproarious.

"Come on!" the orc vampire declared defiantly. "You think these little butterknives can hurt me?" He placed his huge claws behind his head. "Watch this!" He reared his head back slightly, and then suddenly jerked it forward with a grunt. That crunched his thick abdominal muscles together, which in turn crushed all the ice blades stuck in his midsection. Though his wounds her plainly visible, he paid them no heed.

"Now you're just showing off," Mizore quipped with a frosty glare, as a frigid aura surrounded her. "ICE GLACIERS!" A series of frozen spikes shot up beneath Saizou and stabbed him around the waist, and though they seemed to have impaled him, the huge youkai looked more insulted than actually hurt.

"Was that it," the monstrous beast asked. He then unleashed his youki, which disintegrated the stalagmites that tried to impale him. Though he suffered decent wounds, they did nothing to deter him.

"No way," the snow girl spoke in disbelief, "does he feel no pain?"

Saizou laughed in demonic ecstasy as his wounds slowly mended themselves. "I AM UNSTOPPABLE!" he declared.

"You are unbearable!" Ruby shot back with an incensed look as she produced her six wings. She raised her wand into the air, as the jeweled center glowed brightly. "Away with you!" Her wings glowed purple, and then unleashed a barrage of deadly feathers towards her opponent, who laughed as he was repeatedly lacerated by the attack. After a few seconds, the bombardment came to a halt. Ruby panted as she incredulously looked on. She saw Saizou with dozens of gashes on his body, face, arms, and legs, but his conceit didn't waver. Moreover, many of his wounds began to close up before the witch's mortified eyes. "You're kidding me," she said to herself, "he can regenerate that fast?"

Kurumu watched what just occurred, as he tried to recover from his last attack. "Tell me I'm not seeing this," she spoke with a horrified look.

Tsukune struggled to remain upright, and was just as thunderstruck. "No, this isn't possible!"

"Ha!" the orc vampire declared. "You wimps don't have a prayer against me! Have another taste of my new power!" He roared as he brought both fists overhead. He then slammed them onto the floor and unleashed a miniature tremor towards the disgruntled group, as pieces of the floor and broken bones shot up in its wake. The party spread out and dodged to both sides of the tremor, which thankfully stopped when it hit the wall.

Tsukune headed around to the back of the room, and gasped as he saw the path of destruction created by his enemy's attack. "Such horrible power," he remarked.

"This is bad," Mizore added as she followed him, fearful despite her nonchalant gaze.

"Are we really going to get through this," Kurumu asked in chagrin, still in pain after being slammed into the wall earlier.

Saizou merely chuckled to himself, pleased with the results. He then cupped his huge hands near his mouth and raised his head upwards. "COME ON OUT, MOKA-SAN!" he called out in a bellowing voice. "COME OUT AND FIGHT, OR I'LL CRUSH YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS HERE!"

"He can't be serious," the cyan-haired girl commented in disbelief.

"Let him spew," the snow girl replied, "this gives me an idea."

The succubus looked warily at her. "What sort of idea?"

"Come over here, I'll tell you."

Kurumu followed over towards Ruby, and the three youkai girls huddled together.

"WHAT'S WRONG MOKA-SAN?" the inhuman creature shouted. "SCARED? YOU SHOULD BE! I'M GONNA REPAY YOU A THOUSANDFOLD FOR BURNING ME ALIVE THE OTHER NIGHT! MAYBE I'LL RETURN THE FAVOR, BEFORE I SEND YOUR SORRY HIDE STRAIGHT TO HELL!"

"You're kidding me," Tsukune remarked with a chagrined look, as he felt a cold chill close by. He looked around, and saw the girls huddled together. He also saw the snow girl in the midst of something peculiar. "Mizore-chan," he asked curiously, "what are you-" His jaw dropped like a rock at what he'd witnessed.

"COME OUT, MOKA AKASHIYA!" Saizou bellowed. "OR DON'T YOU CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE LITTLE RUNTS? AH, WHY AM I SURPRISED? VAMPIRES DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES! THEY'RE TOO CHICKEN TO FIGHT FOR ANYONE ELSE!"

"And since when did you become the authority on vampires," a bemused female voice asked.

The huge monster looked about, and saw a familiar silver-haired woman before him, clad in the traditional academy attire, her right hand on her hip, and her trademark smirk on her pale face.

"There you are!" the towering beast yelled eagerly. "I've been waiting to crush your wretched hide, Moka-san!"

"You actually sound like you're even remotely capable of it," a familiar voice remarked.

Saizou looked to his left, and saw Inner Moka before him again. Confused, he turned his gaze back to her original position, and saw her there as well.

"But all you're really good for is taking up space," the vampire's voice spoke again as a third Moka came into view.

The monstrous beast growled in aggravation, unamused by the spectacle before him.

"Now you're an even bigger idiot," a fourth silver-haired woman remarked as she joined the others. "and uglier too."

A fifth Inner Moka appeared on the far right flank of the vampire line, an exceptionally haughty expression on her face. "You're so soft and flabby," she spoke sarcastically, "you've got no muscle tone, you puny little girly man."

"GIRLY MAN?" Saizou roared in anger. "I'll show YOU who's a girly man!" With a vengeful growl, he slammed his massive claw down on the far right Moka, who instantly shattered into broken ice fragments. He slashed at the other vampires, who were destroyed in the same fashion. He looked down at the frozen remains, a hateful and confused look on his bestial face. Suddenly, the broken pieces rose into the air and attached themselves to Saizou's body. "What is this?" the startled demon asked.

"It one of Hahau-e's special attacks," Mizore spoke up as she came into view, "and you're the first guinea pig."

"Why you!" the monstrous beast declared as the fragments glowed with energy.

"ICE EXPLOSION!" All the attached pieces detonated like mines on Saizou's body, who roared in obvious pain from the attack, as a cloud of frozen mist erupted around him, and obscured him from view.

The snow girl looked on with a pleased expression. "Alright, Kurumu," she spoke up, "nail him!"

There was no response as the cloud of mist hadn't cleared.

"Kurumu," Mizore spoke impatiently, "that's your cue. Remember the plan?" She looked about the area, and saw no sign of the succubus. She looked up behind her, and saw the door had been opened. "Oh, you'd better not have bailed on me!" she spoke menacingly.

Ruby looked up to the doorway, and cringed as she felt a familiar murderous intent from beyond it. "I don't think it's that simple, Mizore-san."

Before the snow girl could've asked for elaboration, a monstrous roar erupted from behind them. Everyone turned, and saw the enraged form of Saizou, frozen burns all over his body.

"You little wench!" the monstrous beast snarled in anger, as some of his earlier wounds reopened before them. "How DARE you mock me! You're gonna be the first to die!" He lumbered towards the smaller girl, and raised his massive claw upwards, as the snow girl gawked at him in fright. He was so intent on killing her that he failed to notice the massive murderous intent headed straight for him, and then two comparatively tiny feet slammed right into his brutish face, which sent him sprawling back and smashed him into the far wall.

Mizore was flabbergasted at the surprise attack, and then she heard a flipping sound. She turned around, and saw a familiar figure flipping backwards through the air, and then landed near the back of the room where Tsukune stood.

"Moka-san," the brown-haired youth exclaimed, shocked but grateful that she'd returned at such a crucial time.

The white-haired woman said nothing in response, nor did she even look in his direction. After a few moments, she held out her right hand behind her, which held the Rosario. "I trust you can hold onto this," she asked in a cold, expectant voice.

The human student sighed, as he guessed her tone indicated she was still angry with him, but would've discussed the matter after the fight. "Yes, Moka-san," he replied as he carefully took the cross from her grasp. "Thank you for coming back, I missed you."

"Don't thank me just yet," the vampire spoke pointedly.

The super monster slowly walked towards the snow girl, who couldn't help but shiver as she approached her, a brooding scowl on her deathly pale face. The purple-haired girl quickly stepped aside, as the menacing woman stopped near her position, her crimson gaze looking onwards. Mizore cringed as she felt Moka's immense youki beside her, as even her profile intimidated her. The white-haired woman stood in place, as her blood red eyes slowly turned in the snow girl's direction. "Puny little girly man," she asked in a cold, measured voice.

The frightened teenager winced as if she'd been struck by her. "Crap," she thought to herself, "she saw that."

The demoness looked towards Mizore for several tense seconds. "I'll deal with you later."

The snow girl backed away timidly, even though her expression seemed stoic otherwise.

The white-haired woman looked ahead, and saw her massive opponent had finally recovered from her surprise attack. The massive beast grinned viciously as he regarded her. "Moka," he began in a snarling voice, "so you've finally decided to join the party, huh? Good, now I can wipe you all out in one swift stroke!"

"You should not have chosen this path, Komiya," Moka replied flatly, unafraid of her much larger adversary. "When you accepted his embrace, your life became forfeit. And now," she went on, as she brought her right hand up, and dangerously bent her elongated fingers, "it ends."

Whoa! So now Moka-san has rejoined the fray, and not a moment too soon. Will she be able to overcome the reborn Saizou? Will the group find the chairman and get the answers they seek? And just what praytell is happening to the school in the meantime?

"Only the end of this farce, child. This hovel shall be part of the obituaries, along with its misguided instructors. Tonight is the night of Lord Dracula's judgment."

Why do I not like the sound of that? Anyway, tune in next time for Part I Chapter XXII The Forbidden Power