CH 23

With reconstruction being done on the school, classes were suspended until further notice. Tsukune volunteered to help repair the school, as did Ruby. Moka, Kurumu and Reiko did volunteer work for the neighborhood.

Tsukune had delivered his speech at the request of Akasha and to prevent trouble between humans and yokai who lived in Kyoto. The one thing Alucad had done, was expose yokai to the worked. The Pandora box was open. The most any yokai could do was damage control. What Tsukune didn't expect, was that his speech was broadcast not only over all of Japan, but around the entire world. News agencies of every major nation had picked up his speech. He found this out on the way to school. A policeman warned him a gaggle of reporters were gathered to talk to him.

"If you would, Mr. Aono, please get them away from the school, they are blocking the construction efforts," The man said.

"Talk to them, Master, I will help the construction workers," Ruby said quietly.

Tsukune hated this extra attention, but nodded. "Sir, is there a place they can be where the won't be in the way?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll take you to a lot nearby," the man said and got on his radio to pass this information.

As they got closer to the school, Tsukune saw the problem. He'd thought there were ten or fifteen reporters. It was more like fifty pairs of reporter/cameramen who were half filling a parking lot waiting for him.

"Oh, Master, you are so popular!" Ruby said with a swoon. She went into the lot with Tsukune and waved her wand to make a speaking platform for him. All heads turned as the platform appeared in a flash. Cameras turned their way. Ruby loudly announced, "He is here, my beloved Master, Aono Tsukune!"

"Thanks, Ruby," Tsukune said with a touch of sarcasm. She did not need to tell everyone that!

"Your Master? Miss, could you please explain?" a female reporter from AFP, a French news agency asked.

Tsukune stepped up on the platform and offered his hand to Ruby. "I guess you better stay," he said. To the reporters, he added, "This is Ruby, my very talented and resourceful Witch."

Smiling broadly, Ruby took his hand and stepped up with him. Smiling at the woman, Ruby said, "I will be happy to! You see, after meeting Master Tsukune so many wonderful things have happened!" Ruby said as she hugged herself and blushed.

Tsukune stood by as Ruby waved her arms and explained her adventures starting when she first saw Yukari up on Witch's Hill. She didn't need to them them those things either. The goof think about it was he had some time to collect himself for other questions. After she told how he had saved her, she went on about how under Tsukune's guidance, the Newspaper club dug out the corruption of the Public Safety Commission and battled them to save the students, and all his 'brave' and generous acts up to the present day fight against 'that evil'. By the way Ruby told it, Tsukune had done everything, Moka only helped.

The news people sucked it up.

"... and Ohh, he treats me sooo good!"Ruby continued with a blush. "That is why I MUST support and serve my Master!"

Tsukune winced at a few things she told them, but was satisfied to let her go on.

A man from CNN was next. "Mr. Aono, is it true what Ruby said, she and your wives came to force you to make a decision, and THEN they all decided to be your wives?"

"They did," Tsukune told him. "I knew they all cared deeply for me, and I for each of them. To pick one and leave the rest of … the best friends I ever had, heartbroken, I couldn't do it."

"So we decided for him," Ruby stated proudly.

The next man was from TASS, a Russian news agency. "Mr. Aono! There have been problems in Eastern Russia, are those linked to what happened here in Japan?"

"They are. Thankfully, the cause has been eliminated," Tsukune told him. "Any country who is having problems with zombies should accept help from their yokai as we, and the Chinese are doing."

A BBC reporter was next. "Mr. Aono, are you saying this problem may be world wide?"

"Possible, but doubtful. The … thing behind all this trouble had specific targets it was after. One being me and my family. It is gone, but everyone should be watchful for strange happenings. But PLEASE, do not go after yokai who are not causing harm."

"Mr. Aono," A female reporter for Ynetnews from Israel asked, "In your speech,you said that a school girl, your daughter, trapped this thing? Can you explain how she did that, being a human girl?"

Tsukune smiled and said, "She did trap it. As for how, all I can say is Reiko is very intelligent. She out thought this thing and coaxed it into doing something stupid we were able to capitalize on. When I first met Reiko, she was an abused, scared little girl who hid herself away when faced with danger. During this battle, she proved herself to be very brave and did not back down to incredibly hostile an overwhelming odds. Reiko had made me very proud of her."

The CNN man asked, "As we understand it, you can change your looks. Can all monsters do that?"

Tsukune winced and said, "If I may, I'd like to clear things up as far as 'monster' and 'yokai' go. Yokai are different species of beings other than human. To me a 'monster', is someone who does horrible things. At one time, people thought bears and the like were 'monsters'. Now, we know they are just animals. If you truly see yokai as just other intelligent species who live here on Earth, I think you'll find that the vast majority of us are not monsters."

"May we meet this brave girl?" a German reporter asked.

"I will have to ask. Reiko has just been through hell, If she is not up for it, I'm not going to press her," Tsukune told him.

"Can you tell us more about what the thing was that caused all this chaos?" woman in the back yelled.

"No." Tsukune said firmly.

"Tsukune!" came a cry from above. All the cameras panned up to watch Kurumu fly down and land on the platform. Coming to a stop by him, she said, "There is no more glass for the school, can I borrow Ruby? They won't finish the school without it."

"Excuse me, Ma'am, who are you?" came a request from several reporters at once as cameras zeroed in on Kurumu.

Kumuko held up a finger and said, "Wait, please." Then turned back to Tsukune.

Tsukune nodded to Ruby saying, "Go on."

"Yes, Master." A twitch of her wand and Ruby's wings burst forth. "Show me where," she said to Kurumu.

Again cameras snapped and video cameras tracked Kurumu and Ruby as they flew away.

"Everyone?" Tsukune asked loudly, and got them to return their attention to him. "I can appreciate you all want answers to all of your questions, but at the moment we are very busy. I would ask you give us a few days, and please, do not get in the way of our recovery efforts. If you wish to, there are plenty of things to assist with. I must be going now."

Tsukune then saw the platform was surrounded. Instead of trying to 'excuse me' his way through the crowd, he brought up some yokai energy and concentrated on just his wings. They came out, ripping the back of his shirt open. He took off, hoping these people would behave.

.

Cleaning and mopping. That was Tsukune's assignment when he went to the school to help out. Ruby conjured windows and Kurumu fluttered around passing things to and from the roof. He got stuck with scrubbing blood off the walls and cleaning the floor. At the end of the hallway, the new stairway door was open showing blood on the steps. Oh joy.

The mindless work did give him time to reflect on the stressful days they had just endured. Thinking about Reiko outwitting Alucard, he had to smile. For all the power of vampires and other high yokai, it had taken a little human girl to put him down.

The selfish part of him was jealous, it raged at the fact he'd been upstaged by a mere mortal child. Again, Tsukune smiled. That part of him that was selfish and wanted a harem of women and to kill and devour would always be with him. Those thoughts stirred in the back of his mind constantly. OK, he'd given into the harem only because it was what Ruby and his wives wanted.

Blocking his selfish part was his will. Unlike the part that screamed vengeance, murder and rape, his will demanded care and protection for his family. No, he had not stopped Yukari from being killed, He felt horrible about that. He also felt very good about Reiko and the nerve his daughter had developed. It was for her, His lovely wife Moka – both sides of her – The super sexy Kurumu, Mizore who lived up in the mountains with his son, and his loyal, loving slave Ruby that his will remained stronger than any yokai energy could ever be.

As Master Okadura had taught him, His iron will kept 'the beast' down and under control. Yes, he used it's power, but it was his mind, his will that ruled and no other.

"There you are, Tsukune," Ichinose Tamao said, her voice dripping with sweetness as she came down the stairs. Walking towards him with an exaggerated sway to her hips, and trying her best to look sad, she said, "I heard Yukari died. I am so sorry you lost one of your beloved wives. If you need comfort, or possibly someone to take her place, I would be honored to be the one to do it."

For some reason, Tsukune thought about what Ruby might do if he brought Tamao home. Ruby might just turn her into a mouse, then go buy a cat and watch the fun. Kurumu would slice her into suchi, that was if Moka didn't make a big hole in the wall as she yelled 'KNOW YOUR PLACE!' and kicked the Mermaid into orbit. He then imagined Yukari's ghost behind her, dropping a pan on her head. For some reason, the last thought was really funny.

Flushed in anger, Ichinose stomped off down the hallway as Tsukune sagged against the wall, laughing so hard he was barely able to breathe.

THE END

NOTE : I want to thank everyone for their comments and support, I truly appreciate it. You are why I keep on making these stories. And yes, I will get back to Capu 5 as well as The Highland Diclonius. The Terror Twins will be making another appearance also :).