My Resolve

by Ravenhale1

This is the sixth installment of the AU recreation of Rosario Vampire told through Kurumu's POV. This story starts with the obon festival and carries through the first month of the second term (August 19th - September 22nd, 2005). This story includes second season's Chapters 1-9 & 17-22 and the Cursed Tengu Flute (though 18-22 happen first). Not strictly canon.

1. Breaking Barriers

Kurono Kurumu roused from her slumber, panting softly in this smothering warmth. Her arctic blue locks were plastered to her head from sweat as she squirmed in discomfort, subtly grinding her distressed loins against the hip of her fiery haired companion. Her silky, black chemise was hiked up around her waist, serving as a flimsy shield from this unnatural body heat.

Aimai Anzu slept naked with one arm draped over Kurumu's shoulder, cradling her against a ginormous bosom. This woman had warned her about being part salamander during her unwanted molestation. Had Kurumu not been born from an Undine, she might have been thoroughly depleted of all of her bodily fluids last night.

Kurumu resisted this urge to continue rubbing. She cautiously lifted off the sweltering skin of Ms. Aimai. Confirming the taller woman's eyes were closed, Kurumu eased her left thigh off Ms. Aimai's hip. The base of Kurumu's tail twitched uncomfortably, reassuring her that some seed remained from her last passionate encounter with Tsukune. Unsure if she would ever be allowed to get more, she could not squander it on this succubus.

With the tip of her tail coiled about her ankle, Kurumu stealthily slipped out of Moka's bed. The vampire was sleeping with Tora in Kokoa's bedroom. After a quick cursory glance of the room which only had a bed and three doors, Kurumu padded over to the door to the shared bathroom.

Easing the door open, Kurumu slipped into the small compartment with a sink, mirror and floor toilet. Thinking she should try to urinate, Kurumu pranced over to the trough. She hiked her chemise up, balling the fabric at her waist and holding it taut. Her body was too agitated to obey with squeezing, so she lowered her free hand to encourage things along. She sighed in relief once it started.

It was Friday. She could not recall if there were any special plans for today other than possibly attending the obon festival in Itsuki. With that not happening until night, they would probably spend today the same as the last three days. She would report to the kitchen, do her chores, spend an hour or two training with Ginei and then snuggle with Moka. She had already finished her judo and tennis articles along with her history, math and science summer assignments.

Kurumu bit her lip as she let her chemise fall back to her hips. With the nagging need to urinate gone, her body desired to orgasm while emptying her tail. She had recently discovered that her stigma was quite capable of giving her that, either by being licked or inserted.

She glanced at the opaque glass door to the common bath, wondering if Tora had put up a barrier this time. Yesterday Kurumu had tried to coerce Moka into having sex. Sure, Moka had been sleepy, but the vampire had been kissing back and was more immune to her charm due to drinking Kurumu's blood over the past weeks. There had been no need for Yukari to overreact and frantically cast some sort of sleep spell. Moka had drank her blood after the incident, so the vampire would be even more resistant now.

Kurumu wandered over to the door, placing her fingers in the silver inset. There were five girls sleeping in Kokoa's suite. She would have to subdue any whom interfered with Moka's right to make this choice. It would not be the first time she charmed Yukari into complacency. It was difficult to say if Rubi had a strong opinion against this, but Tora would also be an issue. Yukari probably had Mizore incapacitated, since the snow girl had offered to handle Kurumu's distress. Despite the dangers, Kurumu wished her first experience had been with Mizore instead of Ms. Aimai whom was practically a stranger.

Sliding the door open with her left hand, she softly crossed the white tiles of the bath to the opaque glass door on the other side. Shelves lined the right wall which were laden with bathing supplies and towels while the large bath was on the left.

The moment Kurumu drew aside the opaque door to Kokoa's toilet room, she felt the heavy presence of Tora's barrier. She flinched as the bedroom door across this small compartment opened. Her body was unable to move as a tanned child with raven braids appeared in the doorway. The little girl wore a green and white striped sundress. Jade eyes glanced aside as the girl pressed a tiny digit to her thin lips.

"Can I sleep with Moka?"

Kurumu struggled to advance the few steps to cross the tiny room. She could hear the soft purrs made by Nazohashi Tora, the sphinx whom had joined the newspaper club at the start of the school year with Kurumu. Tora had come to the estate with Ginei under the premise that they would be going on a summer trip to Okinawa to visit the former newspaper club president.

"She doesn't want you inside."

"But I want inside. Don't we have to play a game?"

The girl pouted, absently reaching up to fuss with stands of hair about her tiny ears.

"I want to play with you, but she would get mad."

"I have to answer a riddle."

The girl grinned wickedly. She cocked her head with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You're not very smart. When I win, I could eat you."

"But Tora doesn't want you to eat me."

"This is my domain and my rules."

Kurumu swallowed, knowing this was dangerous.

"Can I touch you?"

"Okay."

Kurumu timidly reached out, thinking that she could answer any question this girl asked if she touched her. She whimpered when her palm passed through the young girl's offered hand. The phantom cackled at her distressed expression.

"Please let me hold you like Tora does. I know she can."

The child paused her giggles, favoring Kurumu a toothy smile with rows of inhumane fangs.

"You want to hug me? Why? Are you lonely?"

Kurumu hesitated. She sensed she could leave if she wanted to which meant that they were not playing a game for her soul yet. She would have been rooted to the spot if this was a serious inquiry.

"I'm very lonely."

The smile was replaced with a contemplative look.

"Tora is very lonely. Do you want to be Tora's friend?"

"I am Tora's friend."

"Forever and ever. Just like Daddy."

Something felt wrong.

"What about your daddy?"

A malevolent smirk crossed thin lips as the phantom focused on Kurumu.

"Daddy will never leave us again."

"What happened to your daddy?"

"Tora will forgive me. The book says she has to."

"What book?"

"The bible. Play with me. We can be friends forever."

Kurumu shuddered at the sinister invitation. She knew she should retreat but felt compelled to try once more. She held her hands out to the girl, certain that she could bypass this game if she could get a glimpse inside her mind. Unlike a magic spell, this girl was part of Tora.

"Only if I can hold you."

The phantom cocked her head with a frown.

"You're strange."

Kurumu sighed with relief when she felt the small girl press firmly against her torso. The child was short enough that the top of her head nestled perfectly below the swell of Kurumu's bosom. Closing her eyes, Kurumu lowered her hands to caress the young girl's back.

"You smell nice. I want you."

Kurumu squeezed the girl closer. She felt no resistance as she split her consciousness, pushing her awareness inside this vessel. The small girl made a slight sound of protest.

"Huh? What are you-"

"Kurumu!"

Tora jerked up from the bed the same moment Kurumu pushed through the ethereal connection which tied this girl to the sphinx.

"I want you to look at your reflection."

Tora nodded, sniffling and rubbing her eyes. She followed the gentle prodding of her mother, shuffling her feet across the smooth floor.

"Look up."

Tora swallowed, glancing up from the floor. Her mother lifted a hand from her shoulder, gesturing to her fancy mirror they had bought over spring break. The mirror was an oval with a pink, wooden border held up on each side by curved legs. A tray connected the two legs beneath the mirror and was stocked with all her hair supplies.

Her eyes were reddened from hours of crying after an altercation with a boy from her class whom had objected to her fair distribution of lunch portions. It was not the first time he had argued with her about boys needing more food than girls. But this time one of his friends had thrown his tray at her and all of her classmates had laughed. The realization that none of her classmates found this deplorable act to be offensive had brought her to tears.

The teacher had called her daddy to come take her home. He had told her to cheer up and to let go of her anger towards this boy. She was to forgive and forget. It was a small matter to wash up her white polo and navy shorts. Petty anger was not worth her eternal soul and she should make amends with this boy to free him of the burdens of guilt.

The young girl in the mirror was wearing a white and green sundress. It was late at night and her mother had finally come home. Her mother never ate with them. She had a busy schedule at her law office. But Tora liked her mother because her mother believed in justice. Daddy could preach mercy all he liked, but mercy was for people whom did things wrong. She had followed the rules. She had done nothing wrong.

Her mother wore a navy business suit and slacks over a blush pink blouse. Her skin was the same tan as Tora's and she had the same jade eyes. Her mother's raven locks were styled in a short, professional matter befitting a lawyer. The hand returned to Tora's shoulder, squeezing firmly.

"If you need a friend, you can always pull her out."

Tora frowned with a sniffle. She absently touched her braids above her ear.

"I don't understand."

"There is a piece of you in that reflection."

"But I want a real friend."

"She is as real as you are. Now touch your reflection and close your eyes."

Tora frowned as she placed her hand on the mirror. She looked into her jade eyes before closing hers.

"Good girl. Now pull her out with your heart."

Tora glanced up.

"How do I do that?"

Her mother wagged a finger in front of her nose.

"You can't find her with your eyes. You have to feel for her."

"How do I do that?"

"Close your eyes and focus. Want with all of your soul to free that part of you from the mirror. I know she wants out. They always do."

Tora took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She wanted a friend. Someone whom would stick up for her and the rules. Minutes passed by with only the sound of her heart and the feel of the glass.

"I can't."

"Be calm, Tora. This is not like your barrier. You can't shape her with expectations. She's already there. All you have to do is listen for her. When you hear her, pull her to you. And don't look at the mirror."

It felt like another long span of time passed. Then there was this moment of uncertainty. She wanted this to be closer. Tora flinched when fingers intertwined in hers.

"Don't look."

Her mother pushed her face aside as a young girl started crying.

"Don't let go. Easy now. Watch your step."

Tora staggered back as a lithe body crushed against hers. A thin arm wrapped around her waist as a head rested on her shoulder. Despite the warnings, Tora opened her eyes the moment her mother's hand left the side of her face. The girl holding her hand was herself.

"It may take her time to calm down. I understand it is very scary on the other side."

Tora looked up, noting her mother had flipped the mirror over to face the wall.

"What is she?"

"A part of your soul."

Tora nodded, aware that the soul went to heaven or hell depending on what she did. This poor thing trembling against her was precious to her. Tora reached around with her free hand, squeezing this girl tighter to her.

"I love her. Thank you."

Her mother's hand patted the top of her head.

"Be sure to put her back when you're done."

The body in her arms shivered. The girl wept, nuzzling her face against Tora's shoulder.

"Please. Don't put me back. I'll be good. I'll be good."

"Being good means going back."

Tora frowned as this girl in her arms continued to sob and weep.

"Do I still have a reflection?"

Her mother laughed, nodding.

"That fragment of you is very tiny. You leave pieces of your soul in all sorts of things. That mirror is her home. When you leave, she waits in the darkness for you to return."

"Do I have to put her back?"

"Yes. All you have to do is look at the mirror and she will be instantly returned to her home."

"But she doesn't want to go back."

Her mother smiled, drawing back a step and crossing her arms.

"You can't bring her with you to school and I doubt your father will understand if he ever finds this girl. It's safer for you to put her back where she belongs."

Tora pouted as her mother turned away and started for the door.

"Take care of that mirror. She will die if you break it."

"You shouldn't be in here."

Kurumu turned to regard the phantom. They were standing in a hallway of the Yagumodai elementary school closest to Tora's home in Chofu. There was a stair on the left and an open courtyard visible through the windows on the right. Banners for the cultural festival of 99 hung from the ceiling.

"I need to answer your riddle."

"I haven't given you a riddle."

Kurumu nodded, creating a copy of herself up on the second floor where the classrooms for the third and fourth graders were. She would find Tora somewhere up here.

"Ask your question."

"Stop cheating!"

Tora sighed as she picked up another desk. She had to move all of the desks to the corner of the room for tomorrow's event. Her class had decided to put on a small play so she was leaving the chairs. All of the props were stacked around the teacher's desk.

"I want to help."

Tora sighed again as she set the desk down. She turned about to face her reflection. Her double had her arms crossed and head cocked.

"It will cause too much trouble if someone sees you."

"No problem."

Her double smirked, straightening up and snapping her finger. In an instant, the reflection became the second grade Tora on a day she had not worn her hair in braids.

"That's still a problem. I don't have a little sister."

"You can say I'm your cousin."

"Dressed in our school uniform."

The girl wagged a hand dismissively.

"Don't worry about it. Let me help you."

Tora shook her head as she stalked by her reflection to fetch the next desk.

"You can't pick up desks."

"Put down a barrier and I can. Your domain, your rules."

Tora blushed, aware of what she would have to do to mark her territory. She hauled a desk off the floor.

"I'm not doing that here."

"Why not?"

"Because if someone returns to class, they would have to ask to enter. That's too hard to explain."

"Oh please. Those boys aren't going to come back and do the chore assigned to them."

Tora knew it was unlikely Kinoshita, Nakano or Mori would return. Those three had avoided every other task regarding the play.

"Maybe you could line up the chairs."

Her double frowned as she put down the desk.

"I can try."

"And vanish if anyone walks in the room."

Her reflection drawled out an affirmative as Tora picked up another desk. Three years ago she had pulled this girl out of the mirror. That night, she had put her mirror away in her closet. Her mother had learned about this within a month, demanding to see the girl whom had been hiding in Tora's shadow. Her reflection had been dressed exactly the same way as she had been on the day Tora pulled her out. After many tears, her mother forced Tora to put the girl back in the mirror, reminding her that she could take her back out later. She had done so the moment her mother left the room, discovering the return to the mirror had updated her reflection's age and attire. Since then, Tora would put her reflection away whenever she got new clothes.

"This is too hard. We should find a new mirror."

Tora smiled as her reflection struggled to move a chair. Last year her double had suggested putting her in a different mirror which already had Tora's reflection. It took them almost an hour to figure it out, but they had learned something peculiar. If her double went inside another mirror, her double would absorb the other reflection. Sadly she could no longer use the restrooms on this floor since it was too difficult to get her friend out of there during school hours.

"Maybe in a couple hours you'll have it all done."

Tora picked up another desk, noting she only had a couple left. Her double had only managed to line up one row of chairs.

"Put down your barrier. You shouldn't have to do this by yourself."

"Technically I would still be doing this by myself even with your help."

The double pouted as Tora put down the desk in the corner with the others.

"Please. I'm not strong enough to move real things."

"How many more mirrors do you think we have to do? We've already done more than a dozen."

"Your guess is as good as mine."

This was true. Nothing her double said was unexpected. Even the suggestion of putting her in other mirrors had crossed Tora's mind days before the double had brought it up. This must be that wavelength other girls mentioned when bragging about close friendships. But Tora's friendship was not reliant on some random chance of shared interests and opinions.

The other girls cared little for Tora. Most of them thought being stupid was cute. Maeda was actually smart but played dumb around the boys. It made no sense to Tora. The girls had wanted to do some princess tale like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. It was hard to say what they were plotting since it involved dwarves, fairies, witches and princes. All Tora picked up was that it would take a lot more work than she had ever seen those girls commit to, so she had voted for the other option instead. The girls had called her a traitor, but there were more boys in their class anyways. Even if Tora had voted with the girls, it would not have changed the outcome. The teacher had also agreed that the Minamoto's play would be easier to manage.

Minamoto was one of the smart boys in their class whom could outscore Tora on tests. He had suggested doing Kanjincho, which would only require about ten actors with most of the lines going to Togashi, one of Togashi's men, Benkei and the Minamoto from the play. Minamoto had humbly requested to be in Minamoto's entourage, taking the role of one of the retainers whom only had two lines.

The only issue the teacher had about the selection was the participation. With all of the acting roles going to the boys, the girls had been delegated to making props and classroom decorations. As the class rep, Tora had drawn up a performance schedule for her teacher and had kept track of expenditures. With their play selection, the boys could wear their summer yukata for costumes.

"Finally. Now to find a mirror."

Tora smirked as she arranged the last of the chairs.

"How about we take the train to Shinjuku this Sunday? We can take pictures in the photo booth."

Mirrors were not the only things which could store fragments of the soul. They had learned her double could also absorb captured images when they had accidentally ruined one of the family photo albums. With a touch her double could remove any trace of Tora.

"That's so unsatisfying. It takes hundreds of pictures to equal one mirror."

"But it's safer."

There was no denying that. Unlike mirrors, a picture was incapable of trapping her double.

"Daddy won't let you go to the city on a Sunday."

Tora shrugged as she headed for the door.

"We can ask Mother. It's not like the picture booth is far from the station."

"It would be easier to stop by after school than asking them for permission."

Tora laughed, sliding open the door. She hesitated a moment before realizing she had no reason to wait. Her double had already slipped back into her shadow. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out into the hall and closed up the classroom.

"Who were you talking to?"

Tora flinched with a startled cry as she noticed Mori across the hall with his two lackeys. Mori had a black eye and a bandage over a section of his bushy eyebrow. His dark locks were wild and barely within the allowed length for boys. His hands were thrust in the pockets of his navy shorts.

Nakano was shorter and had glasses over his narrow eyes. He always had this nervous air about him and had been in her homeroom ever since the first grade. He was a mindless follower whom had been friends with that popular boy Nakajima and that Takagi whom had thrown the tray at her.

Kinoshita was taller than most sixth graders and had freckles about his wide nose. The other girls liked to gossip about him, claiming he did drugs, booze and women. He had been in a fight with another boy and had struck a teacher, getting him suspended for a whole month.

"You should have gone home."

"I asked you a question."

Tora rolled her eyes as she started down the hall.

"I was talking to myself."

Mori kicked off the wall and followed after her with his cronies in his wake.

"That's not what I saw. There was a younger girl in there."

Liar. Her double could sense being seen. She surmised this jerk heard voices and left.

"You're imagining things."

"Nakano saw her too."

"There was nobody else in the room. Maybe if you had come inside to do the chore you were supposed to do, you would have seen I was doing it all by myself."

"Bah. I do enough chores at home."

Tora sighed dramatically as she came to a stop at the stairs. She turned about to face the boys.

"Everyone does chores, Mr. Mori. You should get used to manual labor as I doubt with your grades you'll be good for anything else."

She saw the anger in his eyes but failed to react when he impulsively shoved her back. He called her a bad name as her heel found nothing solid. She flailed her arms out but had nothing to grab. She hit the uneven steps, unable to tell from the overwhelming pain which part of her had hit first. Her momentum carried her further down the steps until she hit the smooth landing headfirst.

Everything hurt. She stared at the polished floor, breathing shallow as her heartbeat drowned out all other sounds. She knew her legs were a couple steps higher than her left shoulder and head. She tried to move her right arm but realized it was twisted and unresponsive behind her.

The boys were speaking in panicked, hushed tones. She saw indoor slippers hustle around her field of view of the landing. She could not lift her head. They were gone in seconds.

"Why aren't you dead?"

Tora looked up from the sink. She shivered at the look in Mori's eyes. Taking a steadying breath, she turned her attention back to washing her hands.

"I already told Mr. Nakano that it was not as bad as you thought it was."

"No way. You must have broken your neck with that fall."

"Contrary to what you see on television, people don't instantly break their necks from a fall."

Tora had no idea what she had broken that day or how long it had taken before a teacher found her. They had called an ambulance and her father, whom had refused to let her be taken to the hospital. She had recovered by the following Monday, but her daddy had kept her home for the entire week for the sake of credibility. When she had returned, her daddy had insisted that she keep her right arm in a sling while also wrapping bandages about her right ankle and right knee.

She had remembered to favor her left leg for the first week, telling the few whom were curious about her injuries that she had tripped down the stairs, breaking her arm, busting her knee and spraining her ankle. Her feigned right arm injury had been easier to prolong since she was left handed.

"Then why didn't you tell on us?"

Tora sighed, cutting off the water. She had wanted to tell the teachers the truth when she had returned to school, but her parents had already committed to the accidental trip story. Daddy had given the whole forgive and forget speech while her mother had worried about drawing more attention to the situation when they could not even prove the boys harmed Tora.

"You shouldn't be in the girls' bathroom."

Mori shook his head as he regarded her with a frightening look in his eyes.

"No. There's no way you took a fall like that and didn't have to go to the hospital."

"My dad doesn't like hospitals. We saw our family physician."

Mori regarded her intensely.

"I'm thinking you couldn't tell on us because then we would discover your secret."

Tora had no idea how she should react to that.

"Would you have felt better if I had told on you? Because I wanted to."

"But you couldn't because then everyone would find out that you're not human."

Tora faltered back a step. She shook her head.

"What are you talking about?"

"There was no blood when you fell down. What are you? Some sort of android?"

Tora blinked as a swirl of emotions fluttered through her.

"Are you stupid? I was bleeding."

"No you weren't!"

Tora had no idea how to combat this stupidity. Her hair had been caked in blood and she had several scrapes and bruises from that fall. In frustration, she stepped forward and jabbed a finger in his chest.

"How would you know? You ran away without even checking to see if I was okay."

He grabbed her by the arm and wrenched her forward. She cried a protest when he trapped her arm against his torso, reaching into his pocket with his free hand.

"Fine. We'll see if you bleed."

"What are you-"

He pulled out a retractable knife, causing Tora to freeze. Several thoughts bombarded her before she realized she had to escape. In that time he had already pushed out the blade and brought it over.

"No!"

Her sudden jerk caused the blade to slash open her wrist. She screamed, falling down to her knees. She clamped her left palm over the injury as blood spurted everywhere.

"Oh shit!"

Tora whimpered, looking up as her antagonist fled the scene. She sobbed as she trembled, pulling her wrist close to her chest. She had to stop the bleeding. Then she remembered hearing something about elevating wounds above the heart. Squeezing her wrist tight, she lifted her arms up over her head.

"Get out!"

Kurumu staggered back. She regarded this Tora holding her arms up and praying not to bleed out. At the doorway stood another Tora with her hair let down.

"You haven't asked your riddle."

"Because you steal the answer the moment I think of one!"

"- hope that each one of you have a safe and happy winter break."

Mrs. Shintani smiled at them, folding her hands at her belly. Their homeroom teacher was dressed in a periwinkle sweater with a snowflake design. Her long denim skirt almost reached her ankles. The teacher glanced up, gesturing to the back of the room.

"Yes, Mr. Mori?"

"What would you do if you met someone whom is pretending to be human?"

Several students giggled at the absurd inquiry. Seated at the front in the desk closest to the door, Tora turned in her chair to regard the boy whom had stood up in the back of the class. Kinoshita was seated in the desk next to Mori while Nakano had the desk in front of her antagonist.

"I don't think I understand the question, Mr. Mori."

"Like an alien or a monster."

More giggles answered him. Nakano nervously hung his head low while Kinoshita stared at Tora.

"I think you've been reading too many comics, Mr. Mori."

"What if I can prove one exists?"

Mrs. Shintani smiled as more giggles and whispers circulated the classroom. The teacher waved a hand at her students while shaking her head.

"I think that will be enough excitement for the day. Would you dismiss the class, Ms. Nazohashi?"

"Should I kill it?"

Tora flinched, drawing her hand close to her chest. There was no scar on the wrist he had slashed open two days ago.

"These are not pleasant thoughts to have, Mr. Mori. I would suggest bringing any concerns of aliens masquerading as humans to a teacher before acting rashly."

"That's what I'm doing, Mrs. Shintani. Nazohashi is not a human."

This time the teacher let out a small chuckle while the rest of the class laughed. Tora burned with shame as some teasing comments were directed at her.

"Settle down or I will send all of you home with writing drills."

Tora locked eyes with Mori as the kids between them tried to suppress their mirth. She could tell he was determined to prove she was not human.

"We should keep at least one."

Tora shrugged at her double's suggestion. It was after school and they were seated up on the roof with their backs to the wall of the staircase. Tora held her phone up, smiling thinly as she took another photo of herself. She handed her phone over to her double whom grabbed it and shook it happily.

"Come on. A picture of both of us."

"We can't have evidence of your existence. Besides. A picture of you would make you weaker."

"One picture isn't going to make me feeble."

"I don't need a photo of you when I always have you."

Her reflection pouted, leaning in closer and placing her head on her shoulder.

"I wish I was more real for you."

Tora smiled softly, taking her phone back. She scrolled through the photos which had all become empty due to her double's touch. Her mother had given her this Kyocera VP-210 for her tenth birthday less twelve days ago, which was the first cellphone with a camera function. It was a Thursday with about a month left of school before spring break. She sighed as she started deleting the photos.

Any normal girl about to move would be using this time to take pictures with friends. The faculty had fussed much over her mother's decision, mostly because Tora was a top student. When her classmates were told, Mori had immediately declared that was proof that she was an alien trying to avoid exposure. While the other students had laughed, Tora had boldly called him out for pushing her down the stairs and trying to kill her. The idiot actually admitted to it and got his dumb ass expelled. Both Kinoshita and Nakano had spent a month in detention for failing to report the incident because Mori had tried to use them as witnesses to the event.

"I wonder if there is an easier way to give you more of my soul."

"I doubt that. This is pretty easy, though it might take forever."

Tora sighed after deleting the last empty picture.

"Will you ever have your own body?"

Her double lifted her head up. The girl tugged on her white polo. For her reflection, the clothes were as much a part of her as her hair and skin.

"Maybe you should take a picture without the clothes."

Tora grimaced, shaking her head. She held up her phone, intent on taking another picture.

"I don't want you running about naked."

"You're too shy. You could undress in front of a mirror."

Tora blushed as she snapped a picture.

"Why would I ever want to do that?"

"We could bathe together."

Tora paused at that idea. That might be fun. She smiled for another picture.

"But you don't get dirty."

"It would be fun to go to school with you."

Tora smirked, snapping another shot of herself.

"You already do."

"I meant as like your sister."

"It will never work unless you have your own body."

Despite her mother's concerns about Daddy finding this girl, Tora had learned that getting too far away from her reflection caused the girl to teleport to her shadow. Adding this to her double's inability to consistently interact with physical objects meant this notion of pretending to have a sister was an unrealistic hope. Noting she was out of memory, she handed her phone over to her double.

"I wish this thing could take more than twenty pictures."

Her phone clattered against the roof as Tora heard the door to the stairway open. She snatched up the phone and got to her feet as three familiar boys stepped out onto the roof. Tora trembled as Mori gave her an eerie glare. Kinoshita smirked, barring the door. Nakano looked away nervously, holding a black satchel by a strap about his shoulder. While two of the boys were dressed in the polos and shorts for school, Mori was wearing a pair of weathered jeans and a dingy white tee.

"See. She's been spending her days up here."

"What are you doing here?"

"Is that a phone?"

"You're expelled. I'm telling a teacher."

Tora backed up a step, clutching the phone to her chest. There was only one stairway up to the roof which was lined with a green fence to prevent anyone from accidentally falling off.

"Maybe that's a communicator to your spaceship."

"It's a phone, moron."

Mori turned a scowl on Kinoshita.

"Why does a friendless bitch have a phone?"

Kinoshita shrugged nonchalantly.

"Because her parents are rich."

Mori pounced to her, reaching for the phone.

"Give me that!"

"Leave me alone!"

He wrenched the phone from her grasp, shoving her back. She cried out when she fell back on her rump hard. She started to cry as he fumbled with the buttons on her phone.

"How do you work this thing?"

"Let me see it."

Tora whimpered and bawled, watching the door which was still guarded by Kinoshita. Nakano walked over to the frustrated Mori, taking the phone. The boy adjusted his glasses.

"That's odd."

"What?"

"This phone has a camera. I didn't know phones had cameras."

"Aha! She's an alien with new technology!"

Nakano smiled thinly, shaking his head. He held the phone up to the boy.

"She's taking pictures of the wall."

Mori slapped Nakano's hand, knocking the phone out of his grasp.

"Whatever. Get out the camcorder."

Tora crawled over to her phone, picking it up as Nakano unzipped the satchel. He pulled out one of those handheld Sony camcorders. Slipping his hand in the grip, he frowned at Mori.

"What are you going to do to prove she's an alien?"

Mori reached into his back pocket, pulling out a pair of scissors.

Tora knew by the look in his crazy eyes that she had to get away. But before she could move, he pounced on top of her, grabbing the back of her head and slamming her face against the roof floor. Clutching her phone in a daze, she screamed with sudden clarity as her back exploded in pain. The shears punctured her polo and skin in rapid, successive thrusts. Her right shoulder blade shattered under the abuse.

Nakano was gasping out expletives as it became difficult to breathe. Mori's weight pushed down on the small of her back as he flailed like a wild animal upon her. She could feel blood dripping around her torso as her back muscles started to spasm uncontrollably.

And then it happened.

Tora's wings reflexively slashed out, launching Mori off her back. Gathering her knees under her, Tora popped up on her feet and sprinted for the door. Nakano darted aside with the camcorder held against his face. Kinoshita stared dumbly with wide eyes at her approach, blocking her escape.

She had no time to think or explain. Tucking her wings in against her sides, she dipped her shoulder down and bowled the tall kid over. She stumbled her first couple steps on the upper landing, prancing over Kinoshita as he fell down. Hopping about with blood dripping everywhere, Tora started down the flight of steps with no idea what she should do next.

It only took seconds to get down to the next floor. But before she could take the first step down the next flight of steps a new fear shook her. She could not run out of the school with her wings exposed. She paused, whimpering as she tried to will her wings away but it was no good. Every muscle in her back screamed in protest. Whining, she looked down the hall in both directions.

Lacking any better ideas, Tora hurried down the hall to the girls' restroom. She had to hide somewhere until her back healed enough for her to put away her wings. With any luck, those boys would assume she ran home and would not come looking for her. She ducked through the doorway to the bathroom, walking around the small alcove before the rows of stalls and sinks.

"Put down your barrier!"

Tora flinched as her double appeared. She turned about wildly, shaking her head.

"No. I can't."

"You have to. If they find us, they will kill us."

Tora grimaced, looking down her body. To put up her barrier, she had to leave traces of herself in a pattern about her. The more points she used, the stronger the barrier. While it was embarrassing, she usually would pee in the corners of her bedroom to make one.

"I'm too scared to pee."

"Use your blood."

Tora nodded, hurrying back to the start of the alcove. Setting her phone on one of the sinks, she reached over her shoulder to smother her hand in blood. Kneeling down, she smeared a line across the opening on the floor. She then continued making this line to the start of the stalls.

"Hurry. They might follow your blood trail."

Tora's eyes widened. She had no idea if that was true, but she dared not find out. She desperately needed more blood, letting her nails sharpen to claws to tear open her right palm. She dripped crimson across the front of the stalls and around the back of the bathroom before coming up the line of sinks. It was not the best shaped enclosure but it used far more points than she had ever used before.

Clasping her hands together, Tora sighed and closed her eyes. Feeling a moment of calm, Tora raised two fingers to her lip and kissed the tips. Turning her left hand with the palm facing the ceiling, Tora blew across her hand. This space was now hers.

"There we go. Call Daddy."

Tora nodded as her double handed her the phone. She quickly scrolled the screen options to find the number for the house phone. Pressing the call button, she brought the phone up to her ear.

"I swear that Mori is crazy."

Tora had no objections to that conclusion as the phone rang. She stared at the gap in the wall, her heart fluttering with anxiety. The line picked up.

"Hey, Dad-"

"- Nazohashi residence. We're not home right now. If you leave your name-"

Tora hung up, shaking her head. She scrolled down to the other contact number for her mother, pressing the call button. She bit her lip as she brought the phone back up to her ear, listening to it ring.

"- sure about this?"

"I'm telling you once we kill it, we will be heroes."

Their voices were approaching the bathroom door. Tora backed away from the opening to the alcove, hearing her mother's voice ramble on about leaving a message.

"I don't know. We should take the video to the authorities."

"So they can laugh at us? No way. She's a weakling."

The door swung open as there was silence on the other end of her phone.

"Mommy. They're going to kill me."

Mori was the first to come into sight. He smirked cruelly upon her, holding the bloodied scissors in his stained hand. The wicked confidence fled as he took a final step up to the crimson smeared line drawn across the floor.

"Why did you stop?"

Kinoshita stepped into view with Nakano on his heels. The tall boy frowned in confusion while Nakano turned the camcorder upon Tora's double.

"There's two of her?"

Her reflection waved at the boys.

"Hello."

Mori grimaced.

"Why can't I move forward?"

"That's because you have to play a game to come inside."

"This is freaky. We should go."

"Who are you?"

Her double grinned at Kinoshita.

"That's not how this works. I'm the one that gets to ask the questions around here."

Tora shook her head, glancing down at her phone.

"We should stop. I'll call Daddy again."

Mori grunted as he pushed against her barrier.

"Come on, Mori. We have a video."

Her double smiled, gesturing at Nakano.

"What's your name?"

"Huh?"

"Your name."

Nakano frowned, lowering his camcorder.

"Uh… Nakano Shota."

Her double grinned, placing a hand on her chest.

"I am Toramo. You may come in."

Tora's eyes widened, shaking her head as she held the ringing phone up to her ear.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm letting the wimp in. He's not going to hurt us."

Tora whimpered as the ringing continued. Nakano timidly walked across the crimson line, surprising the other two boys. The boy swallowed, lowering his camcorder.

"What are you?"

"That's a nice camcorder. Can I have it?"

Tora's eyes widened in alarm as the recorded message started.

"You have to say yes!"

Nakano flinched, backing away a step.

"What are you talking about?"

Her double smiled.

"Can I have it?"

"No. This belongs to my dad-"

Tora cried out, clapping a hand over her mouth. The others could not see when her double momentarily became this vast, gaping maw. It swiped forward, collapsing on Nakano like a Venus fly trap. The light in Nakano's eyes went dim as her double settled back on her heels, clasping her hands to her chest. Her reflection sighed, rubbing her hands down her torso.

A loud beep announced the end of the message. Doing her best to stifle her sobs, Tora pressed the phone closer to her cheek.

"Daddy. There's been an accident at school. Come get me."

"Now give me the camcorder."

"Don't do it, Nakano!"

But there was nothing left of Nakano. The body holding the camcorder held the device up to her double, whom took it with a grin.

"Dammit, Nakano. She's going to smash it now."

Her double stuck her tongue out at the two boys lurking in the alcove. Mori was seething with anger while Kinoshita was clearly undecided what he should do. Hanging up the phone, Tora sniffled.

"Why did you do that?"

Her double caressed the camcorder, wiping all the evidence away.

"Because we both don't want a video of us."

"You didn't have to…"

"What else could we do?"

"I don't know what is going on, but we don't need a video if we kill you both!"

Her double giggled, shaking her head. The girl dropped the camcorder on the floor, draping her arms over Nakano's shoulders. She sighed, pulling him in closer.

"Nakano belongs to us now. If you try to hurt us, he will defend us with his life."

"What?"

"This isn't right. None of this is right."

"Are you going to run away, Kinoshita Ryuki? I thought you were this hardcore delinquent."

Her double turned a gaze upon the taller boy whom froze in place.

"I… I can't move!"

"This is the game we play. I ask a question and you give an answer. If I don't like the answer, I can do whatever I want with you. This is my domain, my rules."

Mori scowled, straining as he tried to push across the lines.

"I'm coming in there. I'm going to rescue Nakano from you monsters."

"Mori Aoto. I have a question for you. Which one of us is the biggest monster?"

"Obviously a trick question. If I pick one of you, you will claim it was the other."

Her double clucked her tongue.

"This game does have one rule which I can't break. Which one of us do you think I had in mind when I asked you the question?"

Tora shook her head, knowing her own mind and what answer she would give.

"Don't."

There was a reddish glint in her double's eye. Her double turned upon Mori, cocking her head. She grinned, drawing her lips back to expose rows and rows of fangs. Mori's eyes widened.

"It's you!"

Tora sobbed as her double's head snaked out and enlarged in the blink of an eye. The maw parted to expose razors, hesitating a moment to allow Mori to look up in terror and register his demise before it came down over him. The mouth snapped shut at Mori's ankles, vanishing as Kinoshita screamed. The husk of Mori's body remained in the same spot, unmolested.

"Two down. One left."

Tora wept, hugging herself as her double sighed in satisfaction.

"Let me go! Please, don't kill me!"

Her reflection let out a deep breath, stalking over to the line. The girl patted her belly.

"I am feeling full. I haven't ever eaten another soul before so… don't know if I could stomach a third."

There was a wet stain in Kinoshita's shorts as the tall kid cried with clenched fists.

"Let me go! Please! I promise! I won't tell anyone about you! I promise! Please!"

"You were grinning as Mori stabbed her several times. What do you think happens to a bunch of kids whom try to kill a monster but fail?"

As Kinoshita sobbed, Tora struggled to keep her own feelings in check. She felt lost, confused, terrified and her body ached. She wanted to be home. She wanted to be with her parents.

"Can't we forgive and forget?"

"No! He has to answer the question first!"

Her double turned angrily on Kinoshita whom continued to bawl like a baby.

"What happens to kids whom try to kill a monster but fail?"

It was difficult to hear amid all the sobbing, but Kinoshita managed something resembling an answer.

"They die."

"Correct."

Kinoshita staggered forward. He ceased moping to look up at them with hopeful eyes.

"I won't kill you."

"Oh, thank you!"

"Mori will."

Tora watched in horror as Mori turned sharply and slammed the scissors through Kinoshita's throat. Mori yanked the shears out in a gout of blood. Kinoshita collapsed to his knees, futilely holding the wound. In seconds he pitched to the floor lifeless.

"It was my fault."

Kurumu looked away from the gruesome scene as Mori proceeded to skewer Nakano. The phantom child was kneeling with her thighs wide while wearing that green and white striped sundress. She was leaning over a white table, scribbling with a red crayon within the lines of a Hello Kitty coloring book. The girl did not look up as Tora's room solidified about them.

"I was so angry. I couldn't do anything for Tora while those bullies tried to kill her. There isn't much I can do for her outside of a barrier."

"It looked like you enjoyed killing those boys."

The child shrugged.

"I did. They were bad people."

"That boy was begging for his life."

"Bad people can beg for their lives. It doesn't make them good."

"Tora didn't want this."

"Tora didn't want to be hunted down like an animal."

The girl looked up with a firmness in her jade eyes.

"Or abandoned."

"What did you do to her father?"

Tora was huddled on her bed, cradling a pillow in her arms. Her double was leaning against her side, wearing the image of herself from the beginning. The child was weeping as the sounds of arguing carried through the door. She wanted forgiveness but Tora could not muster the heart to grant it. If Daddy could not let this go, then she must be punished.

There was not much in her room in this small apartment in Narita. Other than her bed and the clothes in her closet, Daddy had donated everything else of value that had belonged to her as punishment. They had also taken the phone away, though that hardly mattered. The police had arrived at the massacre before either of her busy parents.

The world had turned upside down when the media got wind of the homicide. For the rest of the school year, she could not set foot outside of their home without being accosted by the press. There was wild speculation over why Mori slashed up his two friends before gutting himself and what role Tora played in this tragedy. The most popular one was that she was sleeping with Mori and Kinoshita while Nakano had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And then after the move, it had all stopped. There was no press on her doorstep despite them knowing about the move to Narita. No authority figures pestered her to explain what she was doing while the three boys died. The police never called her back in for a follow up. The world had forgiven and forgot.

But not Daddy.

Right before summer break, Daddy started to get angry at her mother. Apparently the story about the three boys had changed. They had died in an argument off campus over the weekend, two days after the actual event. Every media source he had checked reported the same lie. He had even spoken with Nakano's parents, discovering that they had no idea Tora had been involved at all in the incident.

Ever since then it was fight after fight after fight. Daddy was upset over some agency called Fairy Tale whom had stepped in to clean up the situation. He was upset that they had made the world forget that she was a sinner, although none had ever leveled an accusation of murder against her. There was no way she could ever be found guilty of mind controlling Mori into the slaughter of his friends and himself.

"Daddy will forgive you. It's me he's angry with."

Tora glanced at the sniffling child. She wished that was true. Daddy had already tried to banish this demon child. He had forced Tora to put her double back in the mirror the weekend after the incident. He had smashed it into pieces, bagged up the shards and tossed it out. She had cried for two weeks, unable to bring herself to school.

It was on a complete whim that she had went into the restrooms she had avoided most of the school year. She had figured that she could use them, now that her friend was gone. To her surprise, a little girl in a green and white sundress had been peering back at her instead of her normal reflection. In haste she had pulled the girl out.

"You tricked her. You only put a small piece of you in that mirror because it was no longer your home."

The child stopped sniffling as Tora continued to mope in the darkness of her barren room.

"I had to. Our parents had to believe I was gone and tricking her would make it more believable."

"She knows it's still you."

"Yea. She realized that before we got home that day. I can't keep secrets from her for long."

"What did you do to her father?"

"I'm sorry, but I shouldn't stay. I thought your mother would be home."

Tora smiled politely at her father whom stood on the porch. It was dark out but it could be an hour or more before her mother came home. He was wearing the black garments of a pastor over a white shirt. His hair was as dark as the stiff fabric.

"But you've come all this way. Please at least stay for my birthday cake. Mother will be home soon."

"I can't."

"I haven't seen you since the move. It's been over a year."

"You'll have to take that up with your mother's poor planning. I told her I would be here and she proves once again that her work is more important than family, if that is what we can call ourselves."

Her mother was now working for that Fairy Tale Daddy hated so much. Tora only knew that the pay was good since this home was as nice as the one they had lived in back in Chofu.

"I'll be going to Shinoda Junior High in the spring. It's not far from here. I even wore the school uniform so you could see it."

Tora smoothed out the navy blazer she was wearing over the buttoned up, white dress shirt. A gray skirt with a cyan stripe along the bottom fell shy of her knees which were covered in black hose.

"That's very nice. I must be going."

Her father turned on his heel, starting for the black sedan which was parked in their sloped driveway.

"Okay."

Tora let out a deep breath as she closed the front door. She leaned her back against the portal, looking down the hallway. She had made all the preparations. Pressing her two fingers to her, she lowered her palm and blew across her hand. She shivered as the soul barrier formed about her new home in Izumi.

In the blink of an eye, she reappeared in the back seat of the black sedan parked in their drive. The front door to the sedan opened and her father slipped inside, taking the driver's seat. The engine turned over but did not start.

"Is it possible that you could take me with you?"

Daddy jerked in his seat, regarding her with startled brown eyes.

"Oh, sweet Jesus! You startled me."

"I'm sorry."

"How did you get in here?"

"Please take me with you."

Her father sighed, grasping the steering wheel.

"It's not that easy."

"Sure it is."

"No, it's not. First off there's this evil organization your mother is working for now."

"They protected us."

"They lied about the deaths of three boys."

"Those boys tried to kill me."

"Because you were careless."

Tora had no response to that.

"Get out of the car."

"No."

"I can't take you with me even if I wanted to. Your mother would have those monsters hunt me down and bring you back to her."

"Then stay with us."

He stared at her coldly.

"You are a murderer. Do you understand that? Self-defense does not explain what happened there."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't get it at all. If she was human, you'd have a dead daughter."

Her father gasped as her double appeared in the passenger front seat. Her reflection was wearing her old school uniform from Chofu.

"How did you-"

"We already established that I'm the one that messed up. I didn't know we had this fancy Fairy Tale thing to fix these sort of problems for us. I would have let those crazy kids go if I had known some people can swoop in and make everyone forget shit."

Her father snarled, glaring back at Tora.

"I thought we destroyed this… demon!"

"Wow. Nice to know you thought I was gone and still treated her like shit."

"Foul demon! Begone from my sight!"

Her double wagged a hand dismissively.

"Whatever. You know she's been holding out hope for years that you would finally remember your whole forgive and forget mantra. I've always known you were full of shit though."

Her father yanked on the handle of the car door but it refused to open.

"Oh yea. We're inside a barrier she created which means things might not work unless she wants it to. That's why the car won't start and the door won't open. I suggest you make peace with your daughter."

"You have to show remorse to be forgiven."

Her double sighed at his righteous fury.

"Difficult to show remorse to someone whom is never around."

"If she was sorry, she would have told the truth to the families of those boys."

Tora started to cry, knowing there was no way she could have ever done that.

"Oh, stop it. We knew this was going to be how it played out."

"You will never be forgiven, hiding in the shadows."

"I can't believe you are siding with three boys whom plotted to document the murder of your daughter."

"Two wrongs does not make a right."

"I'm tired of you hurting her. I'm giving you one chance. Answer this correctly and we will get out of the car and let you go. We will forgive and forget you ever existed. What are the names of the three boys whom you love more than your daughter?"

Her father stared angrily at her double.

"Come on. This should be easy. Surely you've been there for them. Helping them. Easing their suffering."

"Don't mock other people's pain."

"Forgive me. I thought I was mocking your benevolence."

Tora swallowed down the thickness in her throat.

"Daddy. You have to know their names. I've never forgotten them."

Her father scowled at her double.

"You are an evil creature. Do you understand that?"

"I understand that you've chosen an ideal over your own flesh and blood."

"Sacrifices must be made for the greater good. Many Christians have died over this."

"The message of Christianity is love thy neighbor. Don't pretend that this is the ideal you are standing for now. Not when you can't even name three boys."

There was a long moment of silence. Her father sighed.

"I'm humbled by my oversight. I allowed my anger towards you blind me from my obligations as a minister. I should have done more for the families of those boys. Now let me go."

"That's not how we play this game. You're not going anywhere."

Kurumu fell forward into the bedroom. She grimaced as a massive headache assaulted her from the sudden disconnection. Getting up on her hands and knees, she touched her temple and glanced about.

Tora was lying on the floor beside the bed almost within reach. The tanned girl's raven hair was unbound and she was wearing a soft yellow chemise. Worried about the sudden lack of a barrier, Kurumu crawled to Tora's side, grabbing Tora's shoulder and turning the girl over on her back. With eyes closed, the sphinx groaned in protest. Grinning, Kurumu brushed the locks on Tora's forehead.

"We'll talk later."

"I must say that I'm impressed."

Kurumu whirled about as strong arms grabbed her about her torso and hauled her up from the floor. She tried to struggle as her face was planted into Ms. Aimai's steamy breasts.

"Seems we must continue where we left off last night."

---

Kurumu stalked across the marble veranda in the back of the estate while absently straightening up the white apron which was fished through black loops stitched about the waist of her maid uniform. She had finished up with her afternoon chores which meant she could finally part ways with this stuffy, velvet outfit which clung to every curve of her body. The head chef, Mr. Kondo, did not mind if she wore her workout attire while helping out in the kitchen and doing the dishes for dinner.

If this was to become her daily life when her services to Kokoa resumed next term, Kurumu was thankful that Rena would have that second maid outfit completed today. While she would not wear this a whole day at school, she doubted she could wear this every night for a whole week. Having a second would make things easier to keep her laundry as a weekly chore.

She had asked Nagi, the groundskeeper and husband of Rena, to not trouble his wife over making the crimson bonnet which accompanied the servant attire for Shuzen Estate. She was fine with only having the long sleeved, black frock which hung down almost to the ankles, much like the heavy, pleated skirt of this outfit which hid the tight, rump hugging fabric beneath. A frilly crimson apron which covered the shoulders and bosom was worn over most of the front torso and was tied tight in the back at the waist.

Kurumu smiled as she neared the lone table positioned at the edge of this patio. Three girls were seated in the steel chairs encircling the glass surface. Faded crimson cushions had been placed on the chairs. An umbrella was speared into the center hole of the table, casting shade upon the girls.

Of the three occupants, Shirayuki Mizore was faring the worst in this heat. Sweat matted Mizore's short, purple locks to her temple and forehead as the girl sucked on the lollipop nestled in her mouth. The girl had parted with her long purple sleeved, white shirt with the center pocket. That garment was tossed over the back of her chair as the snow girl tugged her black tank top forward and fanned her breasts. A white pleated skirt with two purple stripes at the lower hem graced the snow girl's hips. Most of the ivory skin of her legs were covered in the striped stockings she had pulled halfway up her thighs.

Akashiya Moka was across the table, wearing an outfit she had not brought to school. The lime green racerback shirt bared her midriff due to the swell of her ample bosom. Her strapless white bra struggled to do its job as the vampire pressed her tits against the table while resting her cheek on her forearm. Her pink tresses spilled across the surface. A white denim skirt revealed much of her inner thighs while also betraying they were actually shorts.

Sitting between the two with her back to Kurumu while reading a book was Tora. The sphinx was dressed in her peach halter top over a black strapless bra. She had squeezed her rump into a curve hugging pair of denim jeans. Tora had left her hair raven locks down for the day, turning a page in her book.

"Did Yukari come down for lunch?"

Tora glanced up as Kurumu made her way around the table to the only vacant chair. Moka lifted her head up from her arm, regarding Kurumu with turquoise eyes and a warm smile. Her rosary which sealed most of her vampire powers away dangled from a black leather choker.

"Rubi took a meal up to her."

"I think she still plans to come to the festival with us."

Kurumu smiled, clasping her hands at her waist.

"I'm sorry for this morning."

"What happened this morning?"

Tora glanced at Moka. Shaking her head, she turned her attention back on the book.

"She pushed through my barrier. If I hadn't taken it down, this moron would have taken over my soul."

Mizore's sapphire eyes found focus.

"Did you try to impregnate Moka again?"

Kurumu managed a smile.

"I wanted that more than letting Ms. Aimai wring me dry."

Mizore cocked her head, drawing the white stick in her mouth from one corner to the other.

"Do you have any left?"

Kurumu smirked, shaking her head.

"I doubt it. My head feels much clearer today."

"Do you think you could get more?"

Tora let out an exasperated sigh as she set down her book.

"Ms. Shirayuki. I think it would be in everyone's best interests to not encourage Kurumu to have sex with Mr. Aono. We should be thankful that nobody ended up with a lifelong commitment today."

"Yea… we still don't know if it's safe for you to carry a baby for me, Mizore."

"Let me take that risk, Kurumu."

"Mr. Aono has made it quite clear that he is not interested in fathering any children. For all we know, he might end his present relationship with Kurumu."

Kurumu grimaced at Tora's conclusion. Ever since he got some succubus blood in him, Tsukune had been avoiding her. He felt ashamed for using her when he had strong feelings for Moka.

"Do you think you could convince the families to delay the wedding with your charm?"

Kurumu smiled at Moka's change of subject.

"I don't know. It didn't sound like Umizake's parents were hung up on a date, but it was being pushed for political reasons. If this requires me charming Fujisaki, then I don't think we can change this."

"If the marriage is this political, will being pregnant change anything?"

Mizore frowned at Tora.

"They would never marry me to Umizake if I was carrying the child of another man."

"Maybe they would lie and say it was his. Fairy Tale has ways of stretching the truth."

Anguish touched Mizore's expression as the temperature took a notable dip.

"What else can I do? I… should I marry Tsukune?"

"Whoa! I'm not suggesting that!"

"But I… I don't know. I know he doesn't want to, but I can't ask anyone else. It was easier thinking I just needed to get pregnant. I know nobody wants to marry me."

"Settle down, Ms. Shirayuki. I only brought this up so you would stop acting like pregnancy was the answer to all of your problems. I see Mr. Umizake regularly so I will force him to take this seriously."

Mizore grimaced, looking past Kurumu. The snow girl sighed.

"I guess. Will you be training with Morioka today?"

Kurumu smiled, turning in her seat. She peered out over the grassy expanse behind the Estate. Out in the field before the backdrop of trees stood two young men. Morioka Ginei was the tallest of the pair with his dark locks pushed back by a crimson bandana. His black, silk shirt was tucked in olive, cargo pants. A silver wolf head pendant bobbed against his chest as the werewolf playfully dodged every telegraphed attack his opponent made.

Aono Tsukune panted heavily as he threw wild punches at his trainer. The young man whom had started the school year as a human was wearing a loose blue shirt and red track shorts with yellow stripes down the sides. A silver chain was wrapped about his right wrist, suppressing the feral ghoul within Tsukune until his body learned to control the vampire blood which had been injected into his system to save his life from fatal injuries inflicted by Kuyo, Kotsubo and Rubi. During the kidnapping, Moka had given him one last injection to prevent his death at the hands of Midou, which had turned Tsukune into a ghoul.

"I should do better than last time."

Tora snorted.

"Obviously. I thought you had wet yourself till Yukari educated me on your unique physique."

Kurumu blushed, pressing her knees together.

"I thought everyone knew that about me."

"It's not like I ran off to confirm what Ms. Hanetsume said about you."

"I didn't know women could squirt."

Kurumu blushed darker.

"Remind me to kill him today."

A different group of girls might have answered that with laughter but Moka offered only a smile while Tora rolled her eyes and picked up her book. Mizore seemed lucky to be conscious.

Turning her attention back to the boys, she watched as Tsukune staggered about. Ginei would take turns in his training, allowing them to fight for a minute or two before forcing them to defend. It was mostly a frustrating experience due to Ginei moving much faster than them.

Soon they would be headed to Okinawa to help Lady Otonashi avoid some trouble with Lord Kamiya, Fairy Tale region commander of Kyushu. While this meant he worked for Mrs. Shuzen, whom was president of Fairy Tale, there was political discord between Kokoa's mother and the vice president of Fairy Tale, Fujisaki Miyabi. This man whom had married Kahlua was plotting to use Moka's blood to awaken Alucard and destroy humanity, reclaiming Japan as a haven for strong monsters. Some within Fairy Tale mindlessly followed Fujisaki, frustrated with the notion of coexisting with humans.

Aware that this might involve fighting other monsters, Ginei had vowed to whip them into shape. This had proven to be more of an excuse to feel them up, which had been too much for Kurumu to handle in her heightened state of arousal yesterday. Presently he was pushing Tsukune around while laughing. He had mocked Tsukune a couple days ago about never being able to get away with flipping a girl's skirt and blaming it on the wind. Tora hoped Ginei had not said this from personal experience.

"Out of curiosity, but has Ginei made anyone else at this table orgasm with this training?"

"No, I think you are alone in that category, Kurumu."

Kurumu pouted at Tora.

"Come on. He spends almost an hour with each of us. If he's spending most of that time feeling you up, you must get slightly aroused."

Tora blushed, bringing the book to mask her face.

"It's more annoying than anything else."

"Yea. It's not firm enough."

Kurumu raised an eyebrow at Mizore's remark, whom merely shrugged without further comment.

"I know Ginei better run the next time I'm unsealed."

Kurumu chuckled at that, turning her attention back to the training. The past four days, Ginei had spent all of his time outside between lunch and dinner training. He would start with Moka or Tsukune since the two of them took the longest to wear down. Then he would move on to the three of them before ending the night with a second session with Tsukune.

"How is Tsukune doing?"

"I think he's frustrated. Ginei won't let him land any offense."

"At least he isn't spending most of his training in the dirt like the first two days."

Kurumu sighed.

"Which was no different than the rest of us."

"Not true. Moka was starting to evade him successfully on her first session."

"That's muscle memory. I used to train like this with my sisters all the time. I wouldn't mind if we kept doing this as this is fun."

Kurumu smirked at Moka.

"Did I hear you correctly? That sounded like you said being groped was fun."

Moka blushed, glancing away.

"I'm talking about sparring."

"While I don't care much for the groping, I agree that the exercise is relaxing."

"I'm melting."

Tora favored Mizore with a smile. She stood up from her chair and waved.

"Senior! The ice princess won't last much longer!"

In the blink of an eye, Ginei planted Tsukune headfirst in the dirt. Kurumu winced at the painful display. In the next instant, Ginei appeared at the table with a wide grin.

"I'm more than ready to start a session with our promising novelist."

"Is he okay?"

Ginei waved a hand dismissively as Moka got up to her feet with a concerned look.

"He'll walk that off soon enough. That boy lacks stamina. Kurumu needs to reconsider her choice of boyfriend as there is no way that kid can satisfy a real woman."

Kurumu flinched at his comment, both Moka and Tora turning frowns on Ginei.

"Please don't joke about that."

"Oh, come on. It's not a real break up, right? Though I would feel a lot less guilty about making you cream your panties yesterday if it was."

Kurumu scowled at him.

"We're not broken up. I just need to give him more space."

"And blood."

Moka pouted at Mizore.

"But Kurumu is mine."

"He needs my blood to become immune to me."

Ginei chuckled, shaking his head.

"I don't know about that, but I can say you won't keep your couple status if he doesn't get on the same page. Rumors will tear you two apart if he starts spouting stuff like the two of you are just friends."

Tora snorted, rolling her eyes.

"Says the man whom invented a girlfriend to stop the advances of an unknown admirer. I doubt any of the known suspects are agreeing to your ruse."

"True, true. Though Mika will have some explaining to do if my girlfriend finds out she kissed me."

"Oh, stop it."

Kurumu chuckled. Hajihachi Mika was a former classmate of Ginei whom happened to be an okami girl. As she was compatible with werewolves, the girl had flirted with the idea of dating Ginei last year. He had turned her down at first but had asked her out recently, only to be subsequently turned down. They had shared a kiss right before her bus had taken her home for summer break.

"Tsukune is struggling with the fact that he never got over his crush with Moka. My charm smothered over it, but did not replace it. There were many times I could tell Tsukune would have been happy to be in a threesome with us."

"What man wouldn't?"

Tora groaned with disappointment, causing Ginei to chuckle.

"I'm serious. If I could have two, hot and sexy chicks, I would do it."

"I thought okami mate for life."

"Well… technically I'm not a full okami."

"I feel sorry for Ms. Hajihachi."

"That was an 'if' statement. Why am I being criticized for an unlikely scenario?"

"Because loyalty should not be a result of the lack of opportunity."

"Considering most relationships are initiated by the male, I think a man not pursuing opportunities is a prime example of loyalty."

"Women don't desire men whom are loyal most of the time."

Ginei sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes.

"This is going to drag out into a pointless argument. I'll simplify things for you. If Kurumu riding his cock didn't stop him from wanting Moka, the only way he's going to get over that crush is for Moka to go over there and break his heart."

"I can't do that."

"I guess you could fuck him too."

"How crude."

Ginei shrugged at Tora as Kurumu and Moka regarded him with disbelief.

"She just said the boy was wanting a threesome. That's a physical desire."

Kurumu grimaced as Moka blushed.

"I hope Tsukune would want more than that."

"Yea… I mean if that's all it is, I could turn myself into Moka."

Everyone went silent upon Kurumu's admission. She smiled nervously under the scrutiny.

"You can do that?"

"Well… you all saw Ms. Aimai turn into Ms. Yoshino."

"But that's an illusion."

Kurumu smiled at Tora, reaching up to adjust the purple lace ribbon in her hair.

"So is my hair being long, but you can interact with it."

Ginei pounded his fist in his other palm with a decisive look in his eyes.

"You have officially become the best girlfriend ever."

"What?"

"Forget about Tsukune. You simply have to be my girlfriend."

Kurumu laughed, shaking her head.

"I can't do that. Besides… my body doesn't react to you."

"Fine. You can bang him for a baby when we decide we want to have one. In the meanwhile, I have a list of girls whom I would like you to… imitate for a day or two."

Tora blinked in disbelief.

"I think that was the creepiest and most insensitive thing you have said all week."

"You have to admit that her ability makes her the best girlfriend. It wouldn't technically be cheating."

"Well… I don't want Kurumu pretending to be me for Tsukune."

"Oh? Would you rather do the deed yourself?"

Moka blushed at Ginei's amused inquiry.

"I'm going to check on Tsukune."

Ginei chuckled heartily as Moka stalked away in a huff. Kurumu shivered when he placed his hand on her shoulder, reflexively drawing back.

"I probably should go upstairs and change."

"That might help. Are you ready for me, snow princess?"

Mizore panted softly, lifting out of her chair.

"As ready as I can be."

"I can tell you're excited. You're dripping everywhere."

Mizore smirked, glancing aside.

"Not everywhere."

"Oh? I'll be sure to thaw that out."

"I'm going to hit you more than I did yesterday."

"We shall see about that."

Ginei grinned, turning on his heel and starting off. Mizore took a deep breath, nodding to Kurumu before following after the confident werewolf. Kurumu sighed, watching the pair retreat out in a different direction from where Moka was helping Tsukune to his feet.

"Hey, Tora. Are you okay?"

"I'm used to his antics."

Kurumu hesitated, needing a moment to register that they were thinking of different things. The sphinx turned another page in her book. The cover was split in three panels with the middle showing the eyes of a woman. Grotesque was scrawled across the top panel which looked like rain droplets forming on a golden surface.

"Is her name Toramo? She only mentioned it that one time."

Tora sighed, setting her book down.

"That was her being silly. There was supposed to be a pause in there. Tora mo, as in Tora too."

"Can she still come out whenever she wants to?"

Tora eyed her suspiciously.

"How much did you see?"

Kurumu paused, thinking about the mass of memories she had taken in.

"Up to your twelfth birthday. You dropped your barrier right before I could see how things worked out with your father."

"So… nearly everything. The answer is no. I learned how to keep her suppressed with Mother's help."

"Is she aware of what is going on right now?"

"Kurumu. This girl is part of me. I only treat her like she's someone else when I need someone else."

Kurumu mulled over that.

"I was inside you, Tora. She might be part of your soul, but you two spent so much time separate that she started to feel like someone different to me."

Tora smiled softly, glancing aside.

"No. Everything she did and said are things I would do and say. For a long time, I thought this silver Moka was like my reflection. An unfiltered version of me."

Tora's jade eyes fixed on Kurumu.

"But that's not the case. This Moka was something else put in place to protect the other Moka. It hardly matters if she's a spell placed on the rosary or a spirit which inhabits the rosary. We are not the same."

"Why don't you share this girl with the others? For years you wanted her to become your real sister."

Tora snorted, picking her book up.

"Some things we don't want to share, Kurumu. Can you imagine the trouble that girl's mouth would get me into? The things she might say to Ginei alone have me worried of ever letting her out of her cage."

Kurumu swallowed.

"Did you lock her away because she ate your father?"

There was a long pause. Far too long for Tora to still be on the same page.

"You know… you told me long ago that you thought your mother controlled him."

"Well… I don't control him."

Kurumu frowned as Tora's eyes betrayed a deep sorrow.

"I took his soul, but I didn't know how to put anything back. All I could do at that time was give orders. You know. Hug me. Pat my head. Tell me I'm a good girl. Tell me you love me."

Kurumu's heart twisted as a tear rolled down Tora's cheek.

"I was in tears when my mother came home. She… she put me to bed. Told me everything would be fine. That Daddy would never leave us again."

Tora nodded, putting her book down to rub her cheek.

"And she was right. The next morning, Daddy was back to how he had been when I was little. For about a year there, he was confused as hell. He had lost eight years of memories. He quit his position within the church, settling on a volunteer position so he could spend more time at home with me."

Tora laughed with a sniffle.

"I fought with myself a lot those first few months. Mother figured out what was going on. The other me was too strong to seal away in any mirror so Mother taught me how to keep her trapped in my shadow. I haven't updated her image in a little over two years now."

"But you've had her out quite a bit at Yokai."

"If you hadn't noticed, Yokai Academy isn't exactly a safe place. Letting her out was more a matter of need than want. Not that she has been of any help. She's still useless outside of a barrier."

"Why don't I ever see her use any form but the youngest image of you in a green and white sundress?"

Tora rolled her eyes with a slight shake of her head.

"Because that is the most adorable image of myself. She does that on purpose to diminish my anger and frustration with her."

Kurumu smiled, taking in a deep breath.

"I'm glad you didn't eat Tsukune's soul when you had the chance."

"Yea… I kind of learned after my father that eating souls was not a mandatory part of my barriers. My mother taught me safer ways of using my barrier. I had the mailman piss on our neighbor's wall."

Kurumu had to laugh and felt relieved when Tora joined in.

We're all a little broken.

"I'm sorry that I invaded your mind."

"It's okay. I'm glad you decided to have this chat without any extra audience."

Kurumu smiled, getting up from her chair. She walked around the table and held a hand out to Tora.

"I want to show you something."

Tora smirked, grabbing Kurumu's hand.

"Hopefully this doesn't involve either of us removing clothing."

Kurumu quickly placed her free hand on Tora's shoulder, preventing the girl from standing. She smiled, squeezing the sphinx's hand.

"It's something secret that only Moka and Yukari know about. You can't tell anyone else."

Kurumu pushed her recent memories of the funeral home in Iromori. She let Tora see mommy lying in the casket as she placed the lily beside mommy's shoulder. Mommy was dressed in a pristine white kimono, wearing makeup and resting on a white pillow.

Tora's eyes wavered with emotions as Kurumu gave her the memory of placing mommy's ashes in the black urn with white lilies. She showed how Ms. Kiyoshi helped her pick out the butsudan and all the pieces to go with it. And the final memory she gave Tora was when she had asked Yukari to cast the illusions on the two objects, transforming both permanently into a jewelry box and a white vase with crimson roses. Having surrendered that, Kurumu smiled and released Tora's hand.

"Kurumu. I…"

Kurumu smiled, placing a finger on Tora's lips. Tora swallowed, nodding with understanding. Kurumu withdrew her hand, touching her chest which ached from reopening the wound. Squeezing Tora's shoulder, she retreated towards the Estate.

"I'm going to change."

---

The Obon Festival in Itsuki was held in a wide open space. A square platform had been built in the center and was decorated with paper lanterns hung from the railing. Red and white banners hung from the platform floor to hide the structure.

A second platform was built up from the first, taking up most of the first platform's floor space. Steel bars supported a wooden platform at least three meters higher than the first. On this second platform was two men playing instruments while a third pounded on a drum. More steel posts stretched up about this second level to support a flat roof roughly another three meters up.

Six ropes stretched out from the four corners of the roof, connecting to the six gates spaced about the field. These ropes had many paper lanterns tied to them, as did the highest part of the roof and every gate. Music played from speakers mounted at each corner of the second platform.

A handful of people dressed in matching yukata danced slowly about the lower platform in an easy to mimic pattern. There was a roped off area about the lower platform within which more musicians beat on drums and played instruments. Most people moved in a circle about this spectacle, some making a serious effort to look like they were dancing.

Kurumu moved slowly through the motions, mindful of Yukari whom was in front of her. As this was a festival, the witch had insisted on wearing her soft yellow yukata with the multicolored iris petals. Moka had helped tie the pristine white sash about her waist into a pretty bow. She was dancing so perfectly that one of the townsfolk had asked if Yukari would like to be up on the platform with the other dancers. Kurumu had charmed the old man away to avoid Yukari gruffly declining the offer.

Moka was in the lead of their small group, wearing her bright blue yukata with the round purple flowers divided by white lines. Yukari had identified the flowers as morning glories. A dark purple sash graced her waist which she had tied herself.

After her session with Ginei, Kurumu had retreated to Moka's suite to change for the festival since she had been excused from dinner duties tonight. Moka and Yukari had already been dressed and had helped Kurumu put on her black yukata patterned with pink carnations. She had bought this on the day after her birthday with Tsukune in Yamagata. The burgundy sash was snugly tied about her waist.

As per Moka's family customs, none of them were wearing undergarments with their yukata. Not that wearing a bra would have improved the comfort of Kurumu's yukata. While the folds of her yukata were wrapped tight about her torso to prevent her breasts from spilling out, anyone taller than her enjoyed a delicious view. Considering how short she was, that was most people Kurumu interacted with.

After dinner, Nagi had arrived with Kurumu's promised second maid outfit. He had loaded up the five of them in his weathered, brown sedan to take outside of the barrier. The Estate's private drive entered a dark tunnel which dumped them out from a real world tunnel on 445 just south of Itsuki. The festival had already been underway when he had left them to attend to his other duties.

Kurumu favored a smile at Tora whom was going through the motions without much interest. The sphinx was a few paces ahead of Ginei. Neither of them had brought a yukata, so both were still dressed in their clothes from this afternoon. Tora smiled back, and nodded off to the side.

"I want to sit down."

"How can you be tired?"

Tora rolled her eyes, glancing back at Ginei's grin.

"Not everyone is reinvigorated by a full moon, Senior."

"We have been doing this for at least an hour. Do you guys want to stop?"

Moka glanced back, smiling nervously.

"I guess. Yukari?"

The witch nodded, dropping her routine to start walking away from the throng. The witch held out her hand and smiled when Moka took it. Grinning, Kurumu followed the pair into the idle crowd watching the performance. She turned slightly, offering her hand to Tora whom gratefully accepted it. Staying close, their small group cut its way to the back of the gathering.

It took about a minute for them to retreat to the decorated gates. Food stalls lurked at the perimeter along with booths which sold paper lanterns, trinkets and charms. Kurumu had not thought to bring what little money remained in her purse, though she was not hungry or interested in any of the wares. As Yukari snuggled up against Moka's arm, Kurumu turned about to regard the celebration.

"This is different than the memorial held for your mother."

"Yea… I've never been to one of these."

"I thought Kokoa has been to this festival several times."

Moka smiled, reaching over to stroke Yukari's locks.

"None of us went to the first one that summer of 2001. Mother was busy with her reelection so all she did was reintroduce me to my sisters before disappearing most of the summer. Momma's memorial was the only thing we did together each year. This was never important."

"Kind of sad to hear you say that."

"Why?"

Ginei shrugged, gesturing at the platform.

"The Bon Festival is all about calling back the spirits of departed loved ones. Reminding them that they are not forgotten and showing them that you are doing well. We call to them with song and dance, filling the darkness with light to help them find their ways back to us."

He smiled softly at them.

"And we hold them close for the entire festival until the fires dim and they must return."

"Do you have a lost loved one whom you think about this time of the year?"

Ginei chuckled at Kurumu, shaking his head.

"I've never been to one of these either."

Tora huffed.

"Typical. I don't know why I ever expect anything different."

"Am I to apologize for my parents never pushing the importance of this?"

"I guess not. I won't pretend that I've ever been to one of these either. I'm Christian."

"That's a pity. Perhaps you ladies would take this girl shopping to help her embrace her Japanese roots?"

"I own a yukata, Senior. My family attends the Kameoka Peace Festival in Kyoto every year on August seventh. It did not cross my mind to bring it."

"But it's the summer. Don't tell me you also forgot to bring a swimsuit."

Tora glared at his frown.

"I don't see you wearing a yukata."

"Don't own one. Did you bring your swimsuit or shall I go shopping for you in Okinawa?"

Tora rolled her eyes, crossing her arms about her chest. Kurumu chuckled sheepishly.

"Well… I forgot to bring my swimsuit."

"Now that is a crime against humanity. No wonder Tsukune has broken up with such a thoughtless girl."

Kurumu pouted at the tasteless joke.

"If he's that disappointed, I will have to visit him in the middle of the night."

"Please don't. I'd rather not have you desperately trying to impregnate my Moka."

Ginei smirked at Yukari's look of displeasure.

"I've been wondering about this, but how exactly would she do that?"

Yukari huffed, turning her nose sharply aside.

"That should be obvious."

"Is this some inside joke I don't understand? Because these three are blushing like cherries."

"Ms. Sendou… I don't think the particulars of Kurumu's reproductive cycle have ever been shared with him. Or any other guy to my knowledge."

Her cheeks burning hotly, Kurumu nodded.

"Yea… I think Tsukune is the only guy that knows."

"I know that we admitted Kurumu wanted to make out with me because of what happened after the Kofu trip, but we didn't explain why."

"And everyone involved in that was girls."

Ginei nodded with an amused smirk.

"So… there's more to it than her being attracted to you?"

The music of the festival continued playing without interruption as none jumped to answer him.

"Okay, I'll make this simple so even an idiot could understand. Kurumu can't get pregnant. Her body had an organ which changes sperm into succubus sperm which she then puts into another girl."

Kurumu winced at the scrutiny Ginei favored upon her.

"But it has to be a special man. My body works for Tsukune. It doesn't work with any guy I meet."

Ginei continued to stare at her, making her feel uncomfortable.

"I would swear I've felt every part of you."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'm just surprised that you have a dick."

Kurumu's eyes widened as Tora gasped and Yukari giggled.

"I don't have one!"

"Oh my God!"

"It's her tail, Ginei!"

"Her tail becomes a dick?"

Kurumu covered her face, whining incomprehensibly as Yukari continue to laugh.

"It's not like that."

"This is why we didn't tell you."

"I don't get why the runt is laughing. This sounds like something out of a tentacle porn comic."

"Because your stupidity is hilarious. If you saw the size and shape of her stigma, you would reconsider labeling that as a dick. Unless your package is also as slender as a pinky."

"I assure you that my package is no pinky. And why are we talking about a stigma? I thought you said she used her tail."

Kurumu sighed heavily, shaking her head.

"My tail opens up like a flower. It has a stigma inside it."

Ginei nodded, stroking his chin.

"Interesting. You don't ever feel compelled to put this stigma in Tsukune, right?"

Kurumu wondered if it was possible to die from embarrassment.

"Can we talk about something else? Please."

As Ginei chuckled, Tora draped an arm over Kurumu's shoulder, pulling her in close.

"I agree with Kurumu that a different subject would be best. We should talk about the training and if you think we've made any progress."

"Progress? No offense, girls, but I think none of you are ready for a serious fight."

"Kurumu fought a ton of creatures on witch's hill."

"Those are mindless beasts, Moka. I haven't been watching your training, but I doubt it would take much skill to handle wild animals."

"I agree with the brat. I know I'm faster than most opponents you might face. That makes me feel better about your abilities to defend yourselves, but I wouldn't want you watching my back in the middle of a life or death fight."

"That's not reassuring."

"Look. I'm not a professional trainer. But I've been in enough fights to know the difference between someone whom wants to fight and someone whom doesn't. It doesn't seem to matter how much I squeeze your tits and asses. None of you really want to hurt me."

Yukari snorted.

"I would happily clobber you."

"Here's how things will work out. We will show up. Find Lady Otonashi. A rescue may be required, which you should leave to us. I know Haiji and Kousuke may not strike you as the most formidable of guys, but they have been in quite a few scrapes with and against me. Kitajima is even scarier, having many years of kendo training. All three are coming tomorrow with Ms. Nekonome. We can handle the rescue."

The three boys were all former classmates. Koike Kousuke was an inugami whom was part of the PSC with Tora. He was an amicable fellow whom liked to spout his loyalty to justice. Kitajima had rejoined the PSC shortly after midterms. He was still a member of the kendo club and sounded like a stickler for the rules. She could not recall his first name.

Miyamoto Haiji was a tengu and captain of the karate club. He seemed like a stiff, formal guy, though she had only two exchanges with him. The first had been at Ginei's farewell party, which had included Koike and Kitajima. The second had been in an abandoned building which served as a meeting place for the creepy loli appreciation club. Miyamoto had an unusual admiration for little sisters.

"What do you expect us to do?"

"Hold down the fort. When we bring her back, Tora will defend the place with her barrier."

Yukari huffed.

"Her barrier is not perfect. Kurumu broke through it this morning."

"Technically I took it down. But Ms. Sendou is correct. We can't pretend that my barrier is a perfect solution to defense."

"I'm not saying it is the perfect solution. Think of it as the first line of defense. If you have to drop your barrier for some reason, we will have to step in. Consider my boys as your second line."

"What about me?"

Ginei smirked at Yukari.

"I'm thinking it might be better to have Tsukune break Moka's seal before resorting to you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You burned down a whole field and part of a forest. That qualifies as the absolute last line of defense."

Kurumu smiled as Yukari pouted.

"Do you think Tsukune will be able to help?"

There was a pause as Ginei reached back to rub the back of his neck.

"Can't say for sure. I wouldn't rely on him. It's obvious Ms. Aimai doesn't want him involved."

"I wouldn't say that. Ms. Aimai is following Mother's instructions right now."

"Yea. It's been like that since he was brought here. She doesn't want him outside of a barrier."

"Isn't this Fujisaki on his honeymoon with your sister?"

"That's true, but he might have people looking for Tsukune. He was in Kurumu's head so Mother doesn't want to take any chances. That's why Ms. Chuujitsu was here to recalibrate the barrier on Monday."

Kurumu smiled thinly, recalling the Fairy Tale region commander of Shikoku. The witch had been on the premises when they had returned from the airport on Monday under Mrs. Shuzen's orders. Kurumu hoped they could trust this woman, considering she had been sharing a bed with Yoshii from time to time over the past decade and had given Yoshii a device to slip by all barriers created by Mikogami.

"She's only worried about Fujisaki getting an easy way to remove Moka's seal. She doesn't actually care about Tsukune. I don't think she's talked to him once."

"Yea… she might talk to him tomorrow. She will be home for dinner."

"I wouldn't hold my breath."

"What exactly would you hope for her to say?"

Kurumu shrugged at Ginei.

"I don't know. You would think she would say something to the guy whom is capable of setting her precious daughter free of this terrible spell sealing her."

"Mother has been very busy."

Kurumu sighed, relaxing her shoulders.

"I'm worried about Tsukune."

"We did leave him in the company of a desperate snow girl."

"And with an adolescent Rubi. What's the story behind that?"

Yukari huffed at Ginei's amusement. Rubi had come down to dinner wearing one of Yukari's dresses over her diminutive form. The older witch had somehow become about the same age as Yukari.

"She's not useful for much else so I had her test out a potion I've been trying to perfect."

"She was taller and more developed than you."

Yukari blushed. With another huff, she crossed her arms about her chest once more.

"That's not the point. The experiment worked as I had hoped. I was worried more sweets would reduce more years, but I have succeeded in limiting the rewind factor to time."

"Is this your ageing potion?"

"Precisely. I have perfected the formula so that it ages the subject eight years. More potion increases the duration but not the age. This was a dangerous thing to experiment on myself, since I can't afford to have my time rewound too far."

"So… you tested it out on Rubi."

"The worst that would have happened was reducing her to a toddler. She is twenty years old."

Kurumu nodded, mulling that over.

"I keep forgetting that she is older than us."

"To be fair, she does not act older than us."

Kurumu smiled softly, gently placing a hand on Yukari's shoulder.

"So what else have you been doing?"

"The same thing I was doing yesterday. Linking communicators."

Kurumu frowned, glancing at Moka whom shrugged.

"Do you mean our phones, Ms. Sendou?"

"Precisely."

"But I've already stored their numbers in my contacts."

"Not my number."

Yukari reached inside her yukata. She felt around the side, pulling out her black kinchaku decorated with yellow sunflowers. Loosening the golden cord, she pulled out a pink phone made of plastic. She held it up to them, revealing the Hello Kitty decorations about a green shaded screen. Yellow buttons with numbers were arranged in neat columns like a normal phone.

Kurumu poorly hid her chuckles as Tora stared blankly at it.

"That's a toy."

Yukari shook her head as she brought the phone up to her ear.

"This is the device I use to communicate with my mother. It takes two batteries to light up the screen, but we use those to fuel the spell. I only get about four to five minutes since operating around a barrier is ridiculously energy intensive. I removed that function from subsequent spells to increase battery life."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I can call anyone with this toy as long as I have battery life and we exist in the same space time continuum. I can still call my mother around barriers if I want, but these new spells I've linked between our devices is a more efficient, streamlined version."

"So… that's why you borrowed my phone."

Yukari nodded at Tora.

"Precisely. It's a two way spell, but only taxes the one whom initiates the call. Simply hold your phone up and tell it to call Yukari. That will activate the spell connected to my device."

Tora smiled, reaching into her front pocket to pull out her silver phone.

"It's like free minutes."

"Uh… it costs battery."

"Everything costs battery, Ms. Sendou. I was meaning it won't cost me anything to call you."

"Oh! Yes! This doesn't use human services, so it is a free call. I also connected your device to Kurumu's and Moka's phone."

"I wonder if it uses more battery than a normal call."

Kurumu grinned.

"It sounds like we can use our phones in the barrier back at Yokai."

Tora glanced up, arching her eyebrow.

"That would be nice. Did you also connect our phones to Tsukune's?"

"I was going to do that tomorrow. But I did connect everyone to Rubi."

They all shared curious glances.

"Rubi has a phone?"

Yukari's expression was suspicious.

"Well… she has something that is battery operated. Speaking of which, do you have something of that nature, Mr. Morioka? Circumstances might require us contacting you in a more reliable manner than a silver whistle."

Ginei had given Moka a silver whistle on a short pewter chain as a bracelet for her birthday. It was meant to be something for Moka to use if she needed help, since Ginei could hear the sharp tone of the whistle and could respond quickly.

"Something that runs on batteries? Like a watch?"

"No. I think one spell cast would empty a watch battery. You want something rechargeable. The phones work out well since they have a battery pack."

Ginei nodded, stroking his chin.

"What about a digital camera?"

"Do you have one?"

"No, but I could get one."

"Don't you have anything on you now?"

Ginei chuckled, shaking his head.

"I know this might surprise you, but I'm not a technology guru. I have a stopwatch and a regular watch."

Kurumu smiled, glancing at Moka.

"Did you bring your phone?"

"I didn't think to. Did you?"

Shaking her head, Kurumu turned to Tora.

"Hey, Tora. Can I borrow your phone?"

"I've already tested the spell out. There's no need for that."

Kurumu laughed, shaking her head. She held out her hand.

"I wasn't thinking of that. Ginei said something which made me remember a promise."

Tora frowned, reluctantly handing over her phone.

"If you need to call someone, I can't vouch for the service out here."

Kurumu brought Tora's silver phone up to her bosom.

"It's not that. I promised to take lots of pictures of the people I love."

Smiling at Tora, Kurumu stepped away from the group.

"Does this mean I have to smile?"

Kurumu chuckled at Yukari's pout. She turned about and gestured for Ginei to scoot in closer to the group. Moka settled comfortably behind Yukari with Ginei and Tora on either side. Yukari continued to pout, not wanting to show the braces which had resulted from the brutality of an event the witch could not remember. Kurumu had pulled that tragedy from her memories.

"Come on, Yukari. I'm going to take pictures until I see those braces."

It took less prompting this time to get the witch to smile.