Disclaimer: I do not own Rosario + Vampire. I do, however, own the specific type of dragon that I am using in this story, my OC (Tsukune's dragon father), as well as the plot elements that I haven't taken from R+V.

#~#~#~#

Aono Tsukune seethed with rage. His father had enrolled him at a boarding school called 'Youkai Academy' for a three-year period. It was a place run by the Dark Lord Tenmei Mikogami, with the purpose of teaching youkai to integrate with human society. Of course, it was ridiculous. He was a dragon, a member of the most powerful species on earth! He shouldn't even bother associating with the weak youkai that would no doubt infest the place, let alone humanity. The latter would be unavoidable in the end, he had to admit, but it could at least be done at a distance, as his father did.

Besides, all youkai hated dragons. They were powerful and often came across as arrogant, given their confidence in their superiority. Tsukune was the very embodiment of this – nobility born and raised, tutored by the finest mages, scholars and warriors his father could find, and fed through all his years on tales of the greatness of his race.

And now, this. He would have to attend a public school full of pathetic weaklings that would try to kill him if they ever found out who and what he was. More than that, the curriculum would no doubt be far behind what he had learnt.

All this he had argued to his father, but the elder dragon would hear none of it. Fuming, Tsukune recognized a lost battle and retreated to his pocket plane, a gift from his magic tutor, where he proceeded to comprehensively demolish the landscape as he hurled spells with wild abandon, lost in a rage.

#~#~#~#

When morning came, Tsukune was still angry, but he had worked off the worst of it and was planning how to make the best out of the situation as he walked through his father's luxurious lair. Youkai society was all about power. Combat prowess, social standing, the size of one's court and how influential you were. Obviously he would be superior at the school, but at first he'd have to deal with those who were stupid enough to think they were better than him. A beating or two might suffice, but would show him only as a brute. He had to be subtler.

On consideration, he decided that he would simply intimidate the lesser enemies, then play on their fear by offering them safety in the form of working for him. If he happened to run across something stronger – a vampire or werewolf, maybe – he might indulge in a fight. He'd win, of course, but it would be fun to toy with them. That should hammer home his superiority nicely. Afterwards, he could see about recruiting them to whatever gang he managed to start. He had no illusions, it would be a gang – at least at first. With time and effort, he could forge it into something greater, the core of his organization that would eventually cover the globe, allowing him to take his rightful place above all the lesser beings that cluttered the walks of life.

He smiled as he imagined purging the planet of all the weak and useless monsters that cowered in lowly, unassuming positions for fear of angering the humans. He wouldn't go up against the race of man directly – that way lay death. Even for a dragon, there were only so many shells, bombs and nuclear warheads one could withstand. Instead, he would work from the shadows, taking over without anyone realizing until it was too late.

Stepping up to the edge of a twisted ring of metal, Tsukune drew on his magic and linked it to the tunnel on Academy grounds. The world shuddered as he stepped through, and he snorted as he took in the overly gothic appearance of the Youkai Academy pocket dimension. It may have been a school for monsters, but a dead forest and a blood-red sea? That was taking it a bit too far. As for the gravestones…

"Coming through!"

A sudden shout from behind made Tsukune spin round. He saw a girl on a bike, pink hair flying behind her as she barrelled towards him at high speed. With a snort, he swept his left hand across, slapping the handlebars sideways. The girl went sprawling, her bike skittering across the ground and hitting a rock. It broke, a sharp piece of shrapnel leaping like a salmon from a river and slicing a gash across Tsukune's cheek. He snarled under his breath and chided himself for suppressing his power too much, leaving him vulnerable.

Glancing at the girl, he found her sitting on the ground, rather shaken. Rolling his eyes, he strode over to her and dropped onto his haunches, glancing over her. He had to admit, disguise or not, she was very good-looking. She looked up at him and he could practically taste the nervousness and fear.

"I… I'm sorry. I got dizzy because of my anemia…"

She tailed off and stared at him. Raising a hand to his face, he felt the blood on his cheek and quickly sealed the cut, but the damage was already done. The girl sniffed the air.

"Blood… I… I can't… I lose control when I smell that scent… I'm sorry, but…"

She lunged and bit down into his neck. Tsukune was too shocked to stop her, but his instincts kicked in and his blood was suddenly filled with hissing energy, blasting the girl away from him and sending her tumbling. She was burnt in several places and smoke was coming off her. Reining himself in, Tsukune swore under his breath and hurried over. The girl scrambled up, a terrified expression on her face, and started to run, but he caught her by the shoulder and pulled her back. She cringed and tears started to run down her face.

"I'm sorry! I… I lost control… I'm a vampire, you see… please don't hurt me any more…"

Tsukune could feel her shaking under his grip, and he sighed. He didn't know what was wrong with him. She had obviously deserved it, and he should have just let her run, but something inside him wouldn't allow it. He called up his magic, surrounding his free hand in a golden haze, and began to gently brush his hands over the burns, which healed as if they were never there in the first place.

The girl squeaked as he touched her, but quickly relaxed as the warmth of the magic permeated her system. As Tsukune finished, she managed to work up the courage to talk again.

"As I said… I'm sorry... I haven't had any blood in-"

Tsukune cut her off. "Stop apologizing. By all rights I should have done worse, and let you run. To attack me like that… but I'll let it slide this time. Besides, you evidently need blood."

Raising a finger, a vicious-looking claw sprouted from the end of it, three inches long and slightly hooked at the end, perfect for slicing through flesh and bone. Holding his other hand open, he dragged the claw across his palm, opening up a cut.

"Here. Drink."

He held out his hand to the vampiress, who blushed, but eagerly took hold of it and bent her head, pressing her lips to it as she sucked up his blood. She moaned softly as the rich, metallic fluid crossed her tongue. A devilish smirk crossed Tsukune's lips. While it would appear he was being generous and understanding, in reality this would simply further his plans. By giving the vampire his blood, she would become indebted to him. He knew that most youkai saw vampires as incredibly powerful and dangerous, so to have such a being on his side would be an asset.

After a few seconds, he pulled his hand away. The girl pouted, but didn't push her luck, remembering with a wince what had happened when she'd bitten his neck. Of course, she didn't really need any more – his blood was incredibly potent, unlike anything she'd ever tasted. Just those few mouthfuls could have sustained her for a month.

"Thank you… your blood is amazing! I've never tasted anything like it! You must be a really powerful monster… I'm sorry again for biting you…"

Tsukune chuckled, then immediately frowned at himself. Why was he laughing? Never mind, he could self-analyse at a better time.

"I already told you stop apologizing. I am as much at fault as you are; I should not have reacted so violently."

That wasn't right. He should have killed her for daring to try and drink his blood, but he had instead brushed it off and even offered her some of his own free will! As he tried to work out what he was doing, all such thoughts vanished as the girl smiled shyly and took a step forwards.

"Thank you… my name is Akashiya Moka. If you don't mind me asking… what do you think about vampires? A lot of youkai hate us…"

Tsukune laughed again.

"Aono Tsukune. And I have nothing against vampires in general. I know what it's like to be hated because of what you are… I would never put someone else through the same thing."

His voice turned bitter as he recalled his early childhood, being pursued by monster hunters and monsters alike. Always alone, never a friend to call his own. The unhappy memories were dispelled by Moka, who smiled at the first comment, then looked at him nervously after the second.

"Well… would you be my friend, then? I don't know anyone here…"

"Certainly. I suppose I'll see you after the entrance ceremony?"

Wait, what was he saying?! He didn't want friends! He was above that! But once again, the shock he felt at his own actions was brushed aside by Moka's smile.

"Sure! I'll see you then!"

By that point, the pair had reached the school and went their separate ways. Moka was all smiles as she practically skipped along the hallways, full of joy about having found a friend. Tsukune was scowling as he brooded over what he had said and done. Why had he given her his blood? Why had he agreed to be her friend? He knew it was a bad move, that such things were below him, but there was something about Moka that simply cut straight through all his logic, pride and planning. He sighed and accepted the inevitable. To go back on what he had said now would hurt Moka, and for some reason that wasn't something he wanted to do.

#~#~#~#

As Tsukune sat in homeroom, he looked around and measured up his classmates. None of them were particularly powerful, so he relaxed back and let himself drift off into daydreaming over how he would change the world. When his teacher came in and introduced herself – Shizuka Nekonome, some sort of cat youkai – he paid little attention beyond her name and noting her power level. She began a lecture on the importance of fitting in with humans, but was interrupted by a boy just in front of him who had the boneheaded idea of attacking the humans, and doing worse to the females.

Tsukune snorted, barely keeping back from a full-on laughing fit.

"Wow, you really are a moron. The humans outnumber youkai thousands to one, and most of you are so weak you couldn't take a single bullet. How many bullets do you think the humans have? No, direct force would never work. Instead, you rule from the shadows. Get a little money, invest it, wait a few decades – presuming you're strong enough to have a decent lifespan – collect the profit and repeat until you're rich and influential. Buy up shares and control companies, become the anonymous benefactor behind ambitious humans and lesser youkai. Let them take the heat while they dance to your tune."

He smirked.

"Of course, I doubt you could even figure out how to hold an instrument, let alone play one. The analogy is good, nevertheless."

Snarling over the top of the class's laughter, the boy began to stand, but was distracted by the door suddenly opening. Moka entered nervously.

"Sorry I'm late. I got lost after the opening ceremony…"

Ms. Nekonome smiled.

"Oh, that's fine. Just take a seat."

Moka moved towards the only empty desk in the room, but all the boys quickly erupted into chaos over the beautiful girl in their midst. The human-killer looked at her hungrily. Tsukune narrowed his eyes, and decided that some deterring action was required.

"Hey, Moka!"

She turned and caught sight of him, her face lighting up as she tackle-hugged him. It was only his inhuman strength that kept him from falling to the ground, and probably breaking a few ribs.

"Tsukune! We're in the same class!"

All the boys immediately started giving him death glares and muttering about how they were going to kill him.

#~#~#~#

At break, Moka was practically dragging Tsukune along, holding his arm as she ran, exploring the school. Everywhere they went, the boys gaped at Moka and glared at Tsukune, and he basked in their envy. This was as it should be: they were on the sidelines while he was in the spotlight.

The human-killer from homeroom suddenly stepped out in front of them, grinning unpleasantly at Moka.

"You are called Akashiya Moka, are you not? I am your classmate, Komiya Saizou. Tell me… what is a lady such as yourself doing associating with a powerless guy like this? I don't feel any youkai from him at all!"

So saying, he reached out to grab Tsukune by the collar and lift him off the ground. Tsukune calmly grabbed his wrist and broke it with a snap that echoed around the suddenly silent corridor. Retaining his hold of the damaged joint, he slowly forced Saizou's arm up behind his back. He had to admit he was mildly impressed at the boy's fortitude; he didn't so much as grunt as he was pushed to his knees.

"Perhaps, blockhead, the reason you don't feel any youkai is because we are in human disguise. If I couldn't hide my youkai, it wouldn't be much of a disguise, would it? Now, let me make this clear. You have already admitted you enjoy attacking human girls. I wouldn't put it past you to attack your schoolmates either. If I hear one word about you indulging your lecherous habits, I will ensure you never do so again. I doubt you know what castration means, so when you go to the hospital I suggest you have the nurse read the dictionary entry to you, because you probably don't have any friends to do so."

A final twist to the arm knocked Saizou to the floor. Releasing him, Tsukune turned and started walking away.

"Come on, Moka. We've got better things to do than waste time on this creep."