Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Kore wa Zombie desu ka? or Rosario + Vampire.

Chapter 7

Ayumu sat alone in the infirmary. Beside him, still unconscious, was the injured Yuki-Onna. It had only been a few hours since the attack. Thankfully the medical staff at the academy was able to prevent the girl from losing too much blood. He was relieved that she would survive; there just wasn't any news on how extensive the damage was.

Kurumu had requested that he stick around with Mizore, even though she seemed to loathe leaving them alone. She had left to go gather the others. Seeing as this was a serious incident, they would all want to check up on their icy friend. Ayumu couldn't prevent a soft grin from spreading as he thought about the, nearly, tsundere attitude that the succubus displayed when he questioned her.

"It's not like she needs us there or anything," she had said, arms crossing beneath her ample chest. "It's just common courtesy."

He leaned back in his seat, letting that image run through his mind. Kurumu was a very cute girl, her petite frame and large bust making her easily stand out; even amongst the girls that he spent most of his time around. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realize that Ruby had entered the room, pulling up a seat beside him.

"The nurse says she'll scar, but she'll recover," the witch said, startling Ayumu back to reality.

"Scar?" he repeated dumbly.

Having suffered numerous injuries of similar depth, he was unused to the concept of scarring. Everything healed on him without any issue, a benefit to Eu's gift, and none of the girls ever suffered injuries along these lines. Somehow, everything bad seemed to happen to him.

"You know what scars are, right?" Ruby inquired, her eyes searching his.

"Of course," Ayumu said quickly, blushing violently at the insinuation. "I've just never seen anyone with any; at least, not with any noticeable ones."

"You don't have any?" Ruby asked. "I'd have thought you'd be just as scarred as Tsukune-kun."

Ayumu blinked in confusion, attempting to process what was being said. Then he clued in, making him feel much less intelligent than he should. Blushing once again, he grinned sheepishly – rubbing the back of his head – as he met Ruby's eyes. Of course, Aono would have scars. He didn't have that healing ability and any serious injuries would leave a mark on his body.

The fact that he hadn't noticed, especially since he had showered in the time he had been there, was another blow to his intelligence. A common occurrence it seemed. One that he would be loath to admit proved Sera right.

"Never mind that," he said. "What about the guy that attacked us? Was there any information on who he was?"

"Nothing that I've been told," Ruby answered. "It seems that the chairman may know, but he hasn't deemed it necessary to let me know. And he's disappeared. I can't find him anywhere on the school grounds."

Ayumu sighed in frustration. He had hoped that he would have some idea about who he needed to hit over this. Any attacks on someone close to him deserved to be put down. Although he wasn't usually very proactive in seeking vengeance, he didn't forgive easily. So, if he could get the information he needed, then there would be hell to pay.

"So, are we supposed to just wait here until he shows back up?" he questioned, his eyes shifting from Ruby to the ceiling and then back.

"It seems so," Ruby said. "But I assure you that I'll find out all we want once the chairman shows back up."

Ayumu gave the witch a small smile. She was definitely someone that he could rely on here. It was an odd feeling. Although he was certain that he could rely on his friends, there was always the feeling that they would turn and attack him at any moment, for any slight thing he did that they didn't agree with. Here, despite Mizore's hostility, he had been relatively accepted. Sure, the girls were disappointed that he had yet to "remember" them. But they were still very… loving. It was a weird feeling. One that he didn't believe he had experienced prior to this body switch.

"Thanks Ruby," he said softly. "I appreciate it."

The witch blushed at his comment, but quickly regained her composure as she started to move towards the door.

"Well, I've got some other duties to fulfill today. I'll see you around Ayumu," she said. "Get better quickly. And do speak with Mizore when she wakes up. I think it would be for the best to explain everything to her."

Ayumu nodded his head and gave a quick vocal confirmation. Turning his attention back to the violet haired girl, he reached out and took her hand. Despite her inclination towards the cold, she was surprisingly warm to the touch.

"I'll definitely talk with her," he mused out loud. "She deserves to know the truth."

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Ayumu was startled by how quickly Mizore started to wake up. It had only been a few hours since Ruby had left, and he hadn't expected her to wake up at all that day. The injuries she suffered were severe, and definitely ones that would keep any normal person in a critical condition for quite a while. As such, he was not totally prepared for the reaction that he got from the yuki-onna.

"What are you doing here?" she shrieked as she wrapped the blankets tighter around herself.

"Woah! I'm not here to do anything to you," Ayumu said, waving his arms defensively in front of him. "I'm here to make sure that you weren't alone. Kurono-san wanted that. She didn't think it would be wise to leave you alone."

"Oh," Mizore said as she calmed down. "Thank you, I guess."

Ayumu grinned slightly at her reaction. She was a typical tsundere when she wasn't threatening him. It was kind of cute, actually. But he didn't dwell on that thought long, as he knew that she was still out to get him. Instead, he decided that it would be best to get on with Ruby's suggestion.

"I want to talk with you about myself," he started. "I know that we haven't gotten off on the right foot, but I'm certain that we need to talk about this all."

"Okay…" Mizore said. "I'll give you a shot."

Ayumu's grin widened, but Mizore wasn't done talking to him yet.

"However, if you do anything funny, I'll definitely hurt you: badly."

"Fair enough," Ayumu said. "So, let's start with proper introductions. My name is Aikawa Ayumu, I don't know how I ended up in your friend's body, but I'm definitely not trying to steal his life. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Shirayuki Mizore," the yuki-onna responded. "I'll take your word about not trying to steal Tsukune-kun's life. However, I want to know your story. Who exactly are you?"

"Well, let me tell you all about that," Ayumu said. "I think it's time to give you the whole truth. I'll tell you my story."

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Tsukune woke up to find himself back at the house. Lying in the living room, he was shocked to find Yuki cradling his head in her lap, her own eyes closed and her breathing indicating that she was sleeping. Shifting gently, in an attempt not to wake her, he noticed that Sera was also in the room.

"Eu and I decided that it would be for the best to leave you with Maelstrom for today. After all that happened, she refused to let you go. Even if she finds out that you're not Ayumu, I highly doubt that she'll turn on you. You saved her," Sera said softly.

"I barely remember what happened," Tsukune started. "I just remember losing my temper at the bastard who attacked her."

"And you agreed to fight him again at midnight," Sera replied. "You've got three hours to get prepared. Although, I believe that it would be for the best to just stay with Maelstrom for a while longer."

"Sure," Tsukune said, allowing his eyes to close once again.

When he opened his eyes next, it was to Yuki shaking him awake.

"Ay…Ayumu, it's time for you to get up," she said. "Your fight is in an hour. You need to get ready."

She seemed frustrated, nervous and unwilling to let him go. But Tsukune picked himself up anyway. He needed to go deal with this man. It didn't matter that he was immensely powerful; he needed to put this guy down before anyone else was hurt.

"Where's Sera?" he asked, offering his hand to help Yuki up.

"Seraphim's waiting outside for you, as are Lady Hellscythe and Haruna-chan," she said. "They're going to escort you to the battlefield. We don't trust that man to not pull a fast one, so having multiple people there is our best way of keeping things fair."

"You're not coming, right?" Tsukune implored.

"No, I won't go anywhere near that…that bastard," Yuki said. "I won't give him the pleasure of seeing me again."

"Good," Tsukune growled. "If I have my way, he won't touch another woman again."

Yuki seemed to back off as he felt his rage boiling. Taking a moment to calm himself down, Tsukune tried his best to keep his rage in check. He didn't like the fact that he was scaring her.

"I'm sorry Yuki-chan," he said. "I shouldn't allow myself to get like that."

"It's alright A…Ayumu," she stammered out. "I appreciate your determination. And I really appreciate that you're so willing to fight for my sake. Just…just don't push yourself so hard. I don't want to see you die."

Tsukune blushed at her earnestness. It was really cute, and it made him feel really guilty for thinking that. He was not Ayumu and had no right to be so flirtatious with the girl. He couldn't lead her on, especially when he needed to get back to his own body. But he also couldn't push aside the fact that she had genuinely wormed her way into his heart. It was why he was so eager to make that man pay.

"I won't," he said. "I promise you Yuki-chan that I won't die here."

She gave him a small smile, and Tsukune felt his spirits lift. However, it also instilled in him a new sense of determination. He had a promise to keep, and he refused to let her down.

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Sera, Eu and Haruna were waiting for him when he got outside. Giving them each a non-verbal acknowledgement of their presence, he started his way towards the graveyard. Although he hadn't been there often, Sera had said that Ayumu usually went there to be alone, and showed him how to get there.

It made it easy to march his way over there. The sun was no longer up, so he didn't need to avoid its rays in an attempt to stay hydrated, and there were very few people out and about on the streets. Wrapped tightly in a hoodie, Tsukune settled into an even pace. He would have thirty minutes before the fight at the pace he was going, but he didn't care. His nerves were starting to eat at him.

His foe was powerful; indescribably so. And Tsukune wasn't certain that he would be able to beat him on his own. Not without truly drawing upon his own power. Even then, he wasn't certain how much he had access to. But that didn't change his mind on fighting him. He needed to beat this man. He needed to beat him, and if need be, end him.

Tsukune would never abide someone harming his friends. And even though he would rather not have to kill anyone, he wouldn't be ashamed of himself if he had to in this case. A violent pervert was not someone he would abide by; not at all.

Reaching the graveyard, Tsukune settled down on one of the gravestones. He was vaguely aware that the others were close behind, and didn't acknowledge it until Haruna came bounding up to him.

"Ayumu, you need to have this. I can't believe you left without it," she yelled, tossing him the chainsaw from before.

Groaning, Tsukune quickly moved to catch the weapon. He could remember quite well the awkward transformation that he had gone through. It was a memory that he didn't want to relive, but knew that he would have to for the fight. It was evident earlier that he wouldn't be able to put up a challenge if he didn't use it. But that didn't change the awkwardness he'd feel.

"Ah, you showed up, and brought a few lovely ladies as well," the high pitch male voice sounded from nearby.

Scowling, Tsukune looked towards the origin of the voice. Spotting the man from earlier, he bristled violently. There was no way he'd lose to a schizophrenic bastard like him. He was going to win this time for sure.

Grabbing the chainsaw tightly, he prepared to recite the oath that would give him access to its power. If he was right about his plan, then a quick, solid strike would be enough to weaken him immensely. Reciting the oath, he felt the disturbing transformation start again. Once it finished, he didn't even take a moment to go over the fact that he was once again in women's clothing. Instead, he revved up the chainsaw and charged.

"Uh-uh," the man said as he easily leapt away from Tsukune's attack. "We were supposed to do this like gentlemen."

Before Tsukune could respond, he felt a blunt weapon smash into his side. Coughing up blood, he spiraled across the graveyard, crashing through multiple tombstones.

"Ayumu, what are you doing?"

"Ayumu, you need to get up!"

Haruna and Sera were yelling at him, Tsukune acknowledged. His head, however, was fuzzy after the strike to his side. He wasn't totally sure what had been used to beat him, but he was certain that it was not a sharp object. It was definitely a bludgeoning tool.

Picking himself back up, using the chainsaw as a crutch, he refocused himself on his foe. Not surprised by the sight he was greeted with, Tsukune scowled as he took in the weapon that had been used against him. Two batons, more specifically Billy Clubs, were being twirled in his hands. He seemed eager to continue their fight, but wasn't willing to make the first move.

"Bastard," Tsukune growled, feeling his rage starting to bubble up.

Gaining a second wind, he got into another sword stance he had seen used before. Holding the chainsaw to his side, he started strafing around his foe – avoiding any gravestones when possible. He needed his foe to move first this time. If he did, Tsukune had a good chance of delivering a hefty blow. Granted, he had thought that about the previous attack as well, and that hadn't turned out.

"Aren't you going to strike?" the man yelled out. "I thought this was supposed to be a real fight, not a stare down!"

Scowling, Tsukune feinted forward; drawing his opponent towards him. To his pleasure, the man charged, allowing Tsukune a chance to attack. Swinging the chainsaw, he thought he managed to strike his foe, but found that the Billy Clubs that his opponent was using were keeping it from reaching him.

"You have to do better than that," he said. "If you don't, then giving you this opportunity would have been a waste."

Tsukune growled as he pushed harder. He wasn't going to let the bastard manage to surpass him. He refused to.

Revving up the chainsaw, Tsukune pushed down; his muscles straining as he tried to tear through the Billy Clubs. Sweat dripped from his brow as he tried his hardest to bring his foe down. He wasn't going to let that defensive technique stop him. Not when he had his own tricks up his sleeve.

Feeling a wave of dark energy course through him, Tsukune allowed it to strengthen him. Ever since the battle with Alucard, he had been learning how to channel the darkness inside him; secretly of course. It wouldn't do to have the others find out what he was doing.

But this was different. Now he was fighting a foe that was ridiculously powerful. One that he wasn't certain he could beat. One that he wasn't certain Moka could beat either. So, he was going to draw upon the only remnant of his original abilities that travelled with him in this body switch.

Feeling it coursing through him, he knew that he was probably undergoing another shift in appearance. If the expression on his foe's face was anything to go by, then he definitely was. Grinning wickedly, Tsukune utilized the boost in power to push down even harder on the Billy Clubs. His foe began to crumble under the pressure as Tsukune continued to lay it on.

Down on his knees, the other man seemed to be struggling to keep up the defensive posture. Much to Tsukune's satisfaction, the man was losing ground.

"You're a fucking vampire as well?" he questioned angrily. "No one fucking told me about this. They said you were a zombie."

"There's a lot you won't know about me," Tsukune said as he continued to pressure his opponent. "This is only the tip of the iceberg."

"Interesting," the man commented. "I'm definitely intrigued."

In a flash, he slipped out from underneath Tsukune, the chainsaw tearing into the dirt. And within a heartbeat, Tsukune felt the same sensation that he had earlier that day. His body was slowing down. Daisuke's Billy Clubs were soon smashing into him as he became stuck in place; unable to move anything other than his eyes.

Repeatedly he took the blows from the clubs, his body being crushed underneath them.

"How do you like the feeling vampire?" the man called out.

Tsukune grit his teeth as another wave of blows came into contact with his body; more bones breaking as he took the damage. He needed to get moving again. Allowing the remnants of Alucard to course through him, Tsukune felt the force that had been keeping him still dissipate.

Letting out a roar, he swung the chainsaw; tearing it out of the ground. Blood splashed across his face as he did, his foe letting out a startled cry.

"About as much as you liked that, you sick fuck," Tsukune said, his vision going red.

He knew that he was blowing his cover open. Sera wouldn't be pleased. But Tsukune couldn't care at this point. This man needed to be beaten down. There was no other way about it. Moka and Issa had spoken to him about that plenty while he was being given further training. He didn't have to kill anyone, if he pushed himself to avoid it; he just had to incapacitate them long enough so that they couldn't come back after him anytime soon. It was a common belief among vampires that shows of power tended to earn the respect and allegiance of whoever lost.

And now, he was ready to go for that. This man would lose, Tsukune was certain of it. Revving the chainsaw again, he was vaguely aware of the masculine voice from earlier panicking over something or other. He ignored the sound as he pressed onward. This fight was his.

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Sera couldn't believe her eyes. She knew that Tsukune was a vampire, or at least partially one, but she never imagined that he was something like this. If she was right, then he didn't know what he was doing to the masou shojou outfit. Although retaining a very feminine form, it was becoming less frilly and more formfitting; almost as if it was meant to coincide with Tsukune's vampiric nature.

"What's Ayumu up to? Why did that guy call him a vampire?" Haruna asked, her questions escaping her mouth rapidly.

Eu also seemed to be interested in getting an answer, but Sera was fixated on the fight.

"So it seems your student is more prepared for these situations," a familiar female voice said, drawing all three young women's attention away from the combatants.

Standing behind them was Ariel, Haruna's Dai-sensei, and a man dressed like a monk; a crucifix hanging around his neck.

"He typically is. Having fought against the greatest vampire in the world would do that to someone," the man said, his voice raspy and heavy.

"Dai-sensei who is this man," Haruna demanded.

Sera felt a chill run up her back as the masou shojou grinned.

"This man is the greatest demon you will ever encounter. And we're here to help end this fight."

End Chapter 7

A/N: It has been a long time since I last updated this fic. For that I apologize. I've had a real burnout on Rosario + Vampire, and this story ended up getting caught in that mix. However, I promise to finish this one and this is the first step of moving forward.

I hope that any followers of this story enjoyed this update. I had some fun putting this one together and getting it going; especially the fight. Next chapter will focus on this fight and the rest of what happens before we return to Ayumu and Tsukune's girls.

So, I hope this update was enjoyable. Until, a much sooner, next time:

Nanashi Wanderer