Chapter 13

(Skies of Japan, Three days later)

It was an overcast day in the land of the rising sun, a sea of clouds sprawl across the bright blue sky with minimal rays of sunlight piercing through the cumulus shroud, creating a peaceful and isolated cavity in the stratosphere that anybody could lose themselves in. Suddenly, a glistening light came streaming across the vacant airspace, only to be followed by the speeding red silhouette of the Wind Cleaver that created a perfect imprint in the clouds, and clearing out any miniscule ones in its way. He followed the glowing sprite of the Divine Moth, trying his best not to hit any other birds in the sky as he pierced through several more cloud layers.

"How much farther? This cargo is startin' to take its toll." the pterosaur squawked, checking in on a bag that was nursed between his talons.

"Just a little bit more." The sprite replied, and dove downward after a few short minutes. The Wind Cleaver followed behind, descending toward the city at a hastened rate. The further he dove, the more he was able to identify what looked to be a street lined with cherry trees on either side of it.

"There's a tunnel that leads straight to your destination." The sprite stated as it dissipated.

"Tunnel? I don't see any tunnel." The Wind Cleaver rambled as he descended into one of the cherry trees, popping his head out to survey the area. At one side of the street, the pterosaur observed as a lone school bus turned onto the pink blossomed road and drive through the aforementioned tunnel.

"Oh, that one," he muttered, affixing the bag to his back before gliding to the passageway. Following behind the school bus into the void, the pteranodon hovered a distance behind as to not be noticed. A few minutes pass before the bus comes across a bright light at the tunnel's end and passes through. The Wind Cleaver advances into the light cautiously, and is rewarded with a view an eerie landscape.

"He was hidin' out at a school?" the pterosaur questioned whilst in awe of his surroundings, braking moments before he could rear-end the now parked bus. He landed upon the roof of the bus quietly, observing as a group of students exited the vehicle before he was called out by an unfamiliar voice.

"You with that quartet?"

Rodan looks around, then down in the bus at the driver who was glaring right back at him.

"Are you with the four that tried to trash this place?" Nurari questioned with a slight frown and a glistening stare that would tingle any sane person's spine.

"I ain't got no business with tha school itself. I'm only here tah aid tha heir." The Wind Cleaver replied, unphased.

"Well, that answers that," the bus driver deduced, readjusting his hat, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the whole fiasco's been settled for days."

"Damn it, I was late! What of tha Heir? Surely he's safe, right?"

"Have no idea what you're going on about. I'm just the bus driver." Nurari responded, lighting a cigar, "You should look for Tsukune Aono. If anyone would know, it'd be the living danger magnet."

"I'll get lookin for 'im!" Rodan said, prepping to fly off.

"Hey, wait a-"

The pteranodon immediately flew off the bus and toward the school before the bus driver can point him in the right direction.

"Well, that's that…" Nurari grumbled as he prepped the bus to head back to civilization.

The Wind Cleaver circled over the academy, noticing various areas damaged in the confrontation.

"Geez, Ghidorah didn't mess around…" he muttered.

"Rodan!"

The pterosaur looked down, only to find a humanoid looking up at him on one of the building rooftops.

"Come down, quickly." He beckoned, walking away from the roof's edge.

"Well, I'll be damned! If my ears aren't deceivin' me, I'd say you'd be Varan!" The Wind Cleaver responded as he flapped onto the rooftop.

"The very same," he replied.

"It's good to see ya, brother!" Rodan chirped ecstatically, grabbing hold of his comrade tightly.

"Now, what happened? Where's he at? Did ya get some good licks in?"

"Calm yourself, Rodan. I'll explain everything," Obake assured him, as he escaped his grasp. "Now walk with me, the last thing this school needs is another outburst."

(Infirmary)

Daijin's dehumanized body lay limp in a reinforced hospital bed, his tail hanging off the bedrails. Encompassed around his body were wide gashes in his scaly hide from the battle, each covered with large pieces of medical gauze and adhesive cloth tape.

For the amount of people by Daijin's bedside, the only sounds came from an EKG that went off every 5 seconds and the respiratory apparatus that was hooked to him. The Newspaper Club members stood at his bedside with weary thoughts, all the while Mizore felt it more comforting to lay her upper body on his bed. Gin soon felt he should break the silence.

"We finished this week's issue, bud." Gin sniffled as he placed a folded newspaper by the nightstand. "Thought you'd like some good reading for when you wake up."

"It's gonna be okay, Gin. He just needs some rest." Tsukune said, putting his hand on Gin's shoulder.

"I…I just can't bear another loss. Not after the previous members..." Gin uttered.

Mizore sprung up, glaring daggers at the lycan who dared to fear the worst.

"WE ARE NOT LOSING HIM!" She screamed. Her hair emanated with frost, freezing up her tears as sorrow overcame her.

Moka held her sleeves tightly before she could do anything reckless.

"Mizore, as long as that machine does as programmed, there is still hope. Don't lose yours." She said, convincing the ice woman to calm down. Mizore's wrists slipped out of Moka's arms and sat back in her chair, looking down in shame and sorrow.

"If there's anything you need, just let us know." Yukari urged.

"C..Could you leave us be for a bit?" Mizore sniffled.

Tsukune nods and leaves the room, with the rest following after him.

Respecting Mizore's privacy, the club members walk away from the infirmary doorway and proceed down the hall.

"It pains me to see her like that. What makes things worse is that we're simply supposed to wait until something happens!" Kurumu seethed, tightening her fist in the process.

"I'm with you Kurumu, but Mizore's a strong girl. When Daijin wakes, I know she'll bounce back." Tsukune said, attempting to reassure the succubus while feigning his own grief. Moka saw through his guise, causing her immediate concern.

"Tsukune, it's okay to worry." She whispers to him.

"I know, I know." Tsukune replied.

"Ah, right on cue." Obake said abruptly as he ran into the distraught club.

"Oh hey, Ob-WHAT IN THE NAME OF-" Tsukune reeled back towards his panicked friends, for as he turned to greet Obake, he was only met by the beak of The Wind Cleaver.

"Varan, I thought ya said these were a brave group o' students." Rodan smirked at the group of teenagers.

"And I thought I told you not to call me that on the way here." Obake replied.

"Whoops, don't think I'll ever get used tah callin' ya 'Obake'," The crimson raptor chuckled.

"Much like remembering about your manners, it seems."

"Kick me while I'm down, why don't ya," the Wind Cleaver chirped at his humanoid companion before addressing the Newspaper Club, "I am known tah most as Rodan, th' Wind Cleaver. As yah may have guessed, I'm not here for a fight...well not anymore."

"I'm Tsukune Aono."

"Pleasure to meet ya. That bus driver outside had quite a few things tah say about ya." Rodan responded.

"Haha, I don't doubt it."

"I'm Moka Akashiya. I apologize for panicking. I guess I'm still a little shaken up."

"I don't blame ya. From what I hear, ya handled ya'selves quite well during tha ensuing chaos. Takes a whole lotta guts tah do what'ya kids did."

Moka smiled and stepped aside for the voluptuous Kurumu to rush to him.

"Hi, hi-hi, my name is Kurumu Kurono."

"Oh, you're the succubus he's been tellin' me about!"

"Yup, that'd be me," She confirmed with a smirk.

"I heard you in particular got a lotta grit! No wonder why Obake's get-OW!" The Wind Cleaver began, before Obake abruptly whipped him with his tail.

"It seems my reputation precedes me." She giggled, before trotting away.

"You can call me Gin," the club leader stated.

"Ah, the wolfman. Nice work dealin' with the one-eyed chicken!" Rodan complemented, earning a nod from Gin.

Yukari shyly walks forward, introducing herself.

"My name is Yukari…Yukari Sendo."

Without skipping a beat, Rodan's eyes widen and he hyperventilates with laughter.

"TH' POT WITCH!" he squawked hysterically.

Though slightly alarmed at the display, the Club laughed nervously at his display.

"I'm so sorry, that's one I'm neva gonna get over," He chirped while using a wingtip to brush his eye, "Now, where's tha big guy?"

The group looked at each other with worried looks on their face before Tsukune spoke up.

"He's in the Infirmary, but you should know he isn't conscious right now."

"That's quite all right, just take me to 'im." the crimson raptor insisted as they began walking.

(Daijin's Room)

With the rest of the club out of the room, Mizore continued to monitor Daijin. She placed her hand on his shoulder, gently stroking him as his heartbeat maintained its sluggish pace.

"I wish I could be of more use, my love." She quietly uttered, "I can only hope that I'm the reason your heart beats on."

The idea of it made her smile return, only for her moment to be disturbed by a knock on the door.

"Obake is here, and he brought a…friend. They're insistent on entering here." Kurumu informed.

"I'll be right out." She sighed in reply.

"No need to leave his bedside." Obake barged in, with the Wind Cleaver following closely behind.

Mizore backs away from the bedside as The Wind Cleaver walks up to the saurian, sighing as he rests a claw on the rail.

"My god… If only we found 'im sooner, he'd be better off."

"We searched to the best of our ability, Rodan. We're lucky this didn't happen beforehand." Obake pointed out as he leaned up against the wall.

"Still doesn't sit right wit me." He replied.

"Obake, who did you let into the academy?" Mizore inquired, wary of the winged beast that glared down her beloved.

"Mizore, this is Rodan the Wind Cleaver. I sent word for him the day before the incident," he turns to the crimson avian before continuing, "Rodan, this is Mizore Shirayuki. She is, well…"

Obake walked to Rodan and whispered something in his ear, which made the Wind Cleaver perk in surprise.

"It's a pleasure tah know tha heir has taste." The scarlet raptor smirked as he took a bow.

"Y-y-your too kind…" Mizore stammered with embarrassment.

"I've heard all too well of yah tussle with tha Scourge and Titanosaurus. I must commend tha way you, well, for lack of a better term, kept yah cool." Rodan chirped.

She giggled, if only slightly.

"To be honest that roach thing almost had me, but the one you call Titanosaurus seemed really off."

"Would yah say he was acting like he had more than a few screws loose in tha noggin?" the crimson raptor asked.

"Y-Yeah. You could say that. His eyes were a strange lime-green, too. It was almost-" she replied.

"As if he were under tha influence of Ghidorah," Rodan finished her thought, "Do yah know where they are now?"

Mizore nodded.

"The Public Safety Committee more than likely detained him. By the time they got the dinosaur, the roach was long gone.."

Rodan scratched his beak meticulously.

"Yeaaah, that ain't good... I'm gonna need an audience with 'em...good thing I brought some of this with me," The Wind Cleaver says as he removes the bag from his back.

"Oh, you brought some medicine?" Obake inquired.

"A cocktail made using th' water from Solgel Island's red lagoon 'n Kong's berry soma." Rodan smirked as he pulled out a gourd slightly larger than Mizore's head. Soon after, he removed the cork and poured a small amount down Daijin's maw.

"This will keep 'im from getting any infections 'n rest a little easier," Rodan said as he shut the gourd, "Now, Miss Shirayuki, wouldya kindly take us to tha Committee's meeting room?"

She eyed Daijin's body once more, debating if she should remain or not.

"Don't worry about 'im for right now, he's gonna be out fer a long time. 'Sides, y'know what they say: A watched pot neva boils." Rodan stated, beckoning for her to follow as he and Obake reached the door.

"Not entirely sure if that should be used in this context," Obake critiqued, opening the door for his avian acquaintance.

"I've yet tah get some grub fer a couple hours, so MAYBE I might be thinkin' about food." Rodan responded before exiting.

Obake held the door open waiting for Mizore, who was still deep in her own thoughts.

"You coming?" He asked, gesturing out the door.

She snapped back to reality and nodded lightly and walked out of the room, with Obake following suit after closing the door behind him.