Tsukune looked over at the empty seat next to him. It had been a week since the confrontation over the snow whites. Since then she had stopped coming to class or to club. No one had seen her. Tsukune turned away and tried to focus on whatever it was Nekonome-sensei was talking about. It wasn't like he was worried about her. Mizore sometimes came off as being a bit shy and helpless, but the truth was she was very strong and capable. No doubt she was staying away just because she was upset that her manipulation of him had been exposed.

He slumped down in his seat and put his head on his desk. Had all of it been one big lie? His feelings, what he'd said, what they'd shared, had any of it been genuine? Or had she just set out to control him the same way Kurumu did with all her boy toys. Mizore was the first girl he'd met here, the first girl to ever shown an interest in him, she was the reason he'd decided to stay. She'd saved his life more than once and helped him in so many ways. She was the one he felt the strongest connection with and the one he'd had the strongest feelings for.

When she'd confessed her feelings he'd felt such total joy, telling her he loved her too had seemed the most natural thing in the world. That short time when they'd been lovers life had seemed absolutely perfect. He'd had absolutely no doubts as to how strong their bond was, had no doubts about the love they felt for one another. Now he had to wonder if it had all just been an illusion.

He reached into his pocket and took out the gold chain that Mizore had given him. For some odd reason he kept bringing it with him to class. What on earth was she trying to prove having him go see a fortune teller? Why would he believe anything some junior con artist had to say? His mom absolutely loved the psychics that were always on t.v. with their outrageous predictions and flamboyant dress and mannerisms. His mom would sit there glued to the set hanging on every word. Tsukune would watch sometimes, but only because he found the whole performance rather comedic. He didn't believe anything the so called, 'master' fortune tellers on t.v. said, why would he listen to someone who was an amateur? What was the point?

The bell rang and shuffled to his feet and stuffed the chain back in his pocket. He sent the empty seat a last look and got going.

He wasn't worried about Mizore.

XXXXXXXXXX

From the nearby woods she was watching as he ate lunch with Moka and Yukari. They all seemed to be in a fine mood and enjoying their meal. It seemed she wasn't being missed at all.

Especially not by Tsukune.

She'd been waiting for him. She'd been waiting for him to come and find her. She wanted him to come knocking on her door calling her name, his voice sick with worry for her. She wanted him to be thinking about her. She wanted him to be unable to eat or smile because she was on his mind.

She just wanted him to care even just a little. All he'd had to do was leave a message for her at the desk asking her to come back to class. If he'd just done that she'd have come back the very next day. All she needed was for him to show some sign that she still mattered to him and that he wanted to at least see her. But he'd done nothing at all, and it looked as though he was perfectly happy to not have her in his life.

How could he not understand that he meant everything to her? She was his, mind, body and soul. If he'd asked her to throw herself from a cliff she'd have done so without a second's hesitation. How could he not know how she loved him? She'd shown him her true feelings. Not just with words but with her body too. She'd felt his love when he touched her and when he entered into her, she was sure he'd felt her love as well.

How can he not still love me? She thought wretchedly. Where did all his feelings go? How can he not know how I love him? She'd made so many mistakes, but her intentions had always been good. Everything she'd done she'd done so that they could be happy together. So how had things wound up like this?

She finally looked away, unable to bare the happy faces a moment longer. She walked away into the woods miserable and alone.

XXXXXXXXXX

The bell rang signaling the end of the last period. Tsukune ran into Moka in the hall as students hurried either to get back to their dorms or to their club rooms.

"Tsukune, let's get to club," Moka frowned a bit. "Gin's body cast is supposed to come off today so he may be there."

"Moka just what happened on your date with him?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"I'm sorry Moka, but I'm going to be late. There's something I have to do first."

XXXXXXXXXX

At the sound of the timid knock on the door Saki smiled. Well this should be interesting. "Please come in."

The door slowly opened and Tsukune stick his head in. He was looking around frowning. "Excuse me; I'm looking for the fortune telling club."

Saki leaned back behind the teacher's desk and nodded. "You've found it, all of it. Please do come in Aono Tsukune."

He did step inside and close the door. He looked at her with suspicious frown. "I suppose Mizore told you my name."

She shook her head slightly. "Actually I learned the names of all the club members when Petyr decided to join you."

He looked at her with sudden recognition. "That's right! You were at his funeral. You were standing apart from the rest of us but I recognize you now."

"That's right, I was Petyr's friend and I wanted to try and say farewell to him. You did him a great kindness. Most monsters only attend the burial of kin, the funeral was most unusual."

"It just seemed the right thing to do," he said quietly.

She nodded and looked him over carefully. "My name is Saki, and I take it Mizore invited you here for a free telling."

"She told me that I should come see you. She said she wasn't sure if I would have to pay and gave me this." He displayed the gold chain.

She waved that away. "Out of respect for what you tried to do for Petyr, for this one time only, I will give you a telling at no charge."

"I think I should go ahead and warn you that I don't believe in fortune tellers."

"Really? Then why are you here?"

"I'm not really sure," he admitted. "Mizore asked me to come, and I guess… I don't know."

"So you really don't believe anyone can tell the future?"

"No."

She tilted her head a bit. "But did you not meet the Snow Priestess? Her powers are said to be beyond question."

The thought of the Snow Priestess and what was inside her made him shiver a little at the unpleasant memory. "I met her," he said quickly. "But she didn't make any prophesies."

"Pity, I do wonder if your attitude would have been different if she had."

"Are you really a fortune teller?" Tsukune asked suspiciously. "I mean you don't look like one."

"Really?" She sounded amused. "And what is a fortune teller supposed to look like? If there is some sort of uniform I have never heard of one."

"Usually they where shiny capes over expensive suits or dresses and they always have a turban or some kind of fancy headdress."

Saki smiled at him. She was just in her everyday school uniform. "Well I suppose if you really want I could get a cape and a turban if that will set your mind at ease. Though I honestly don't know how they would help me with telling the future."

"They wouldn't set me at ease I was just saying… uh never mind," he turned to go. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. I don't know what I'm doing here."

"You're here because Mizore asked you to come and see me." She called out. "And since you are here right now why not go ahead and just have a telling, especially since it's free." He stopped and frowned aback at her.

"There's no point, I don't believe in it."

"Ah," she said soothingly. "But I am sure there are many things you did not believe in before coming to this place. What's just one more?" She beckoned him with a wave of her hand. "Come on, all it will cost you is just a few minutes of your time. After all, you don't have to believe anything I tell you."

"Fine," he said and finally approached the desk. "So what do you do read my palm? Look into a crystal ball? Use tarot cards?"

She pointed to a leather sack that was sitting on the desk. "Reach in and pull out nine runes then toss them on the desk."

"That's it?"

"Yes, that is all you will have to do"

"Fine, let's just get this over with." He took the bag and reached in to get his runes.

XXXXXXXXXX

Kotsubo was busy putting away the volleyballs that had been used in the last gym period of the day. As usual he was the last one there.

So he was surprised to hear footsteps cross the gym floor. When he looked up a grin split his face and his heart suddenly began to pump a lot harder as he felt excitement course through his body. "Mizore-chan, what are you doing here? I've missed you since you haven't been to P.E. class this week." She was dressed in a long sleeve white and black shirt and purple striped stockings. She didn't look as good as she did in T shirt and gym shorts but she still looked very nice.

"Kotsubo-sensei, I hope I'm not bothering you but… you said I could come and talk to you any time. I… I really need someone to talk to and all the people I thought were my friends don't seem to care about me. Would I be bothering you if I wanted to talk?"

"Not at all Mizore-chan," he told her kindly. "I always have time for my best student. Let's go to my office where we can talk in private."

He led the way and she gladly fell in behind him. She was relieved that at least someone would listen to her.

XXXXXXXXXX

Tsukune grabbed the tiles and just flipped them onto the desk, eager to get this over with.

Saki looked them over and looked at him with surprise. "You threw ten out instead of nine."

He blinked at looked at the desk counting them up. Sure enough he'd thrown ten. He reached down to scoop them up. "Sorry I'll…"

"Stop!" Saki grabbed his wrist with such force he thought she was going to crush it. He tried to yank it free but even with his new strength she held him. "Don't touch them! You've tossed them now let me see what they say."

She finally released her grip and Tsukune stepped back as he rubbed his poor bruised wrist. "Fine," he muttered. "You sure are taking this seriously."

She ignored him. Taking this seriously? He had no idea! She'd been reading the runes for a very long time. Of course he wasn't the first to ever throw out the wrong number. But nine was the sacred number. When someone threw out too few or too many she saw nothing. There was nothing there to read. But now! She saw dozens of future events for him some great some small. Usually she was allowed to glimpse one or two events, perhaps as many as four. She'd never seen anything like this. It was as though his thread of fate was crossing and rubbing against hundreds of others, with each of those effecting hundreds more. His choices, his decisions, would affect thousands maybe millions of others. "I've never seen a fate like yours."

"Sure," he rolled his eyes. "I'll bet I'm the only one you've ever said that too."

Among the dozens of events she saw in front of her there was a very critical one that required immediate attention. "You have to go to the school gym, now."

"Huh? Why would I have to go to the gym?"

"It's for Mizore's sake. If you do not go she will suffer for it and you will always regret it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Mizore needs you!" Saki snapped. "In the gym, now! If you care about her go right now, and come see me again so I can tell you more."

Tsukune didn't believe her, not really, but her sudden intensity was kind of scary. He turned and ran out of the classroom.

With him gone she looked back at the runes still sitting on her desk. I'm going to need a pen and paper.

XXXXXXXXXX

"I see," Kotsubo said gruffly. "So this boy Tsukune has taken you affection and thrown it away over a misunderstanding. That really is unforgivable."

She had told him a very edited version of what had happened. It felt good to have someone actually show her some sympathy and see things from her side. Though he was being a bit harsh on Tsukune. "I wouldn't say that, I mean I did hurt him. I can understand how he might have his doubts."

"Mizore-chan," he said comfortingly. "You really are too forgiving for your own good." He knelt down to put his face on her level and put both hands on her shoulders. "Obviously this boy is not worthy of you. You should forget him."

"Forget Tsukune?" Just the idea shocked her. She could never forget him. She could sooner forget her own name.

"That's right," Kotsubo said with a smile. He took one hand and placed it gently upon her cheek. "What you need is to be with someone who really cares about you Mizore-chan. Someone who can appreciate what a wonderful young woman you are. Someone worthy of you."

"But I don't want anyone else," she said.

"That's only because he's the first you've ever been with. You just need more experience. Once you felt the touch of a real man I promise you'll forget about this little boy."

"But I love him."

"That can change," he whispered and brought his lips near hers.

She suddenly realized just how close he was to her. "Sensei what…"

His hand slipped from her check to the back of her head. He pushed her face forward and her mouth onto his. He slipped his eager tongue into her open mouth. His other hand dropped from her shoulder to her breast and fervently squeezed.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!" She shoved him back with all of her strength. He tried to grab her and wound up tearing her shirt revealing the bra underneath. She scrambled to her feet and got to the door.

"Mizore-chan, please, let me treat you the way a man should." He was looking at her with pure undisguised desire.

It made her sick. She suddenly recalled some of the stories that Moka had told about Saizou. She realized exactly what was about to happen. "Sensei please this isn't what I want!" She grabbed for the door but a pair of monstrously strong tentacles grabbed her and pulled her to the transformed Kotsubo. The kraken had an octopus head with flat fishy eyes, slimy purple skin, and eight tentacles. Soon all eight wrapped around and began to squeeze her tight.

"Please Mizore-chan, I love you, let me make love to you." His slimy body began to rub against hers.

She transformed, but with her arms pinned to her side could not use her full power. Though she struggled she could not get out of his grip. "Someone please help me!!" She screamed.

Kotsubo slapped a still human hand over her mouth. "Don't scream Mizore-chan, there's no one around to hear you anyway."

The door to his office suddenly exploded into shards and splinters. A fully transformed Tsukune ran in screaming. "Let go of Mizore!"

Kotsubo reacted quickly. Keeping hold of Mizore with his two still human arms and four tentacles He attacked Tsukune with the other four. Tsukune tried to tear them apart with his claws but Kotsubo was a far more experienced fighter. Two tentacles expertly wrapped around his claws while the remaining two slapped around his neck and began to squeeze. "You shouldn't have come here," Kotsubo growled. "Now I have to kill both of you."

Completely helpless Mizore was forced to watch as Tsukune was being strangled. Tsukune!

Tsukune could no longer breathe, and try as he might he couldn't move his claws. No damn it! I can't just die like this I have to save Mizore! I have to stop him. In his fear and panic he called on all the power inside him. And to his surprise he suddenly felt heat flowing into him.

Kotsubo was about to kill the boy. He would then have what fun he could with Mizore-chan before he would have to kill her too. He would have to take the bodies deep into the ocean where they would never be found. The boy was about done when the four tentacles holding him suddenly hurt. They felt as though they were stabbed buy hundreds of knives.

"Aaaah! What are you doing?!" To his horror he felt his tentacles go numb and watched as they wrinkled up and blackened right before his eyes. He felt the deadening cold run up his tentacles and into his chest. He let go of Mizore to try and attack him but it was too late. His whole body felt cold and numb. The warmth and strength just leeched out of him and he collapsed helpless to the floor.

XXXXXXXXXX

The moment she was free she ran over to him to make sure he was safe. "Tsukune! Tsukune are you all right?"

His throat hurt like hell but he nodded. "I'm fine Mizore-chan. Are you o.k.?" She quickly nodded and she grabbed a hold of him with her ice claws. "Did he…"

"He didn't do anything, you saved me Tsukune."

They were both fully transformed and holding each other tight with their claws. Seeing she was safe Tsukune kissed her passionately, too relieved to feel anything else. She returned his kiss with the same fervor. When she had really truly needed him he had save her. A small part of her mind wondered just how he had saved her. What he had done to Kotsubo… she had never seen anything like that among her people. But that didn't matter now. All that mattered was that he was here kissing her.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Leave tonight and don't ever come back," Tsukune told the conscious Kotsubo. "If I ever see you again or if you cause Mizore any trouble I'll kill you." Tsukune spoke without an ounce of warmth.

Kotsubo didn't doubt the threat; he meekly nodded and scuttled away while he still could.

XXXXXXXXXX

He had walked her back to his dorm. He had given her his jacket to cover her torn shirt. They hadn't said much all the way there. With the adrenaline rush over he wasn't sure what to say or do. He reverted to the worried boy he usually was. Mizore didn't try to press the issue. She simply walked back with him holding his arm and resting her head on his shoulder. When they got back to her dorm she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and promised to return his jacket.

He made it back to his own dorm feeling a bit shaken at what he had nearly done and what had nearly happened. Saki knew, she actually knew. Only now did he recall that she had said she'd seen other things and that he should come see her again. He made it back to his room wondering if he really wanted to know any more.

"Hello Tsukune-kun, I've returned your jacket."

Standing there in the middle of his room was Mizore. The jacket he had given her was folded neatly on his desk. Along with all her clothes. She was standing there naked with a lollipop in her mouth.

"Mizore-chan! Wha… what are you doing?"

Laughing she came over to the helpless boy and wrapped herself against him. "Isn't it obvious Tsukune-kun? I've come to keep you warm all through the night." She began to remove his tie and unbutton his shirt.

"Bu… but I… I still don't know how… how I fe… feel."

With his shirt undone she pressed against his chest. At the contact of their skin they both felt a delicious warmth flood into them banishing any trace of cold. "You silly boy," she said teasingly as she took the lolli out of her mouth. "Did you see any flowers when you were kissing me?"

"Well no, but…"

She pulled his mouth down to hers and began to tease his tongue with her own. In very short order he forgot about trying to complain and they were on top of his futon doing all the things they had done back in her room.

They made each other happy and kept each other warm all through the night.