Tsurara blinked as she suddenly found herself standing in Moka's sitting room. The faces of the others were as shocked as hers at her sudden appearance. Akasha was the first to recover and started laughing.
"It seems that the priestess wants to know as soon as possible if Tsukune and Mizore were right about the causes of the Yuki Onna infertility."
Tsurara looked around and sank into a chair. "Moka why am I like this"
"Because Tsukune has accepted you as a wife" She looked at Tsurara with a smile "When did you start thinking of Tsukune as your mate?"
"After our talk in the village" she said quietly "When you'd explained about the results of the tests and Tsukune's attitudes towards mothers of his children. If I could bear him a child then the implications for all of us" she shook her head "The more I thought of it the more I wished him to be my husband even if I couldn't have a child I knew he'd never reject me. That was just too much to resist."
Moka nodded "I'll fill you in on the details later, but in short we've just agreed that you should come here and join the household as a wife. We're all going to be busy soon and that would have left Yukari alone. You know we were going to ask you to join as soon as we were settled but that's not going to happen in the near future" Moka sighed "Our husband has been appointed as the representative to the Hades Lords for the Human world. Your wives apart from Ageha have been appointed as the Lords representatives to his court." Again she smiled "As to your current form; when the bond is acknowledged on both sides then you receive a huge boost to your powers. Since you can't change back it's an indication to everyone that both of you acknowledge your position."
"You'd better come tomorrow as well when we have our meeting to discuss the situation" Akasha looked at Sora "Can you call your control and ask that they send a message for Ageha to attend tomorrow as well"
"I'll go and do it now" Sora lent down and kissed Tsurara "Welcome wife" she stood back up "I'll also tell them to advise Lord Tenmei that we have a new wife in the household and another tomorrow"
.
After being reassured by Moka Tsurara was ecstatic as each wife greeted her with a kiss although Mizore greeted her as her mother. Then when Kahlua Kokoa and Yukari also kissed her and greeted her as mother her tears fell. When Tsukune knelt down and kissed her the tears turned to regret as she looked at her arms and huge claws.
"There is time enough" Tsukune said correctly reading the reason for her tears.
"Will my Rosario work" Mizore asked Akasha
"No" Akasha shook her head "The Rosario must be made for the individual, after the initial contact it will only work for the person who touched it. To all others it's a nice piece of jewellery"
Tsurara had been listening "I'll wait" she said
"Not long" Sora said from the doorway, she held a small box in her hands. "The Lord Tenmei gave this to me when we returned from the village. I've two but this one has your name on it" she handed it to Akasha "He also said that if he wasn't present then you'd do the honours"
oOoOo
As Tsurara woke she felt the warmth of another body next to her then remembered the night. She smiled as she felt the soreness and moved closer to hug Tsukune while he slept. As she moved however she felt his arm come around her and pull her close.
"Good morning little RaRa, how are you feeling today?"
She rested her head against him "Sore, I'm well out of practice" she smiled "Little lullaby" she asked
"But very enthusiastic"
"I'm sorry, you don't hurt too much I hope?"
"I heal like a vampire lucky" he sighed
Tsurara's head came up "Do you really"
Tsukune smiled and moved his hand to trail slowly down her back "Yes, why" he asked teasingly.
She raised herself and moved to sit on him then lent forwards to kiss him "Well I wouldn't want to miss any opportunity to give Mizore a sibling" she moaned slightly as his hands started to gently comply with her wishes.
oOoOo
"How do you feel" Mizore asked as they all sat for breakfast.
"Apart from the obvious" Tsurara grinned "Like a girl again. I'm almost expecting to wake up at home and find that last night and this morning was a naughty dream"
"So when can I expect a sibling" Mizore asked with a grin
"In the normal time, I caught last night" Tsurara replied then sat bolt upright "How did I know that" she demanded.
"Because I just told you" an ethereal figure sat at the end of the table. "Tsukki and Mizore were right"
Tsukune had walked in as they were speaking and waited "Mother" he kissed her cheek "Are you staying for breakfast?"
"No I just came by, I felt you'd made another bond so I wanted to see" She smiled warmly at her 'son' "Finally you're going to make me a grandmother." She turned again to Tsurara "Do you want to know the sex, I can see that in the future."
Tsurara sat back in shock still "No, I'll just pray that it's a boy for my first with Tsukune and be happy that I'm blessed to be able to have any more at all."
There was a brief smile "You'd better hold her Mizore" she waited as Mizore held her mother who was looking pale "Do you want to know the sex of either"
"Either" they both whispered
"I'm having twins?" Tsurara asked incredulously and watched the nod in reply "Is one a boy, please tell me"
Again there was a nod then a smile "Both are". Tsurara turned to Mizore and fainted.
"Mizore will tell you Tsukki, I must go before my control breaks the seals here"
"Bye bye mother" he kissed her again before she vanished.
.
In the village the priestess listened to the spirit with closed eyes "Oh my" she said finally when her eyes opened.
"My lady" a handmaiden asked
"The supplements work. Tsukune's mother has just told the spirit that Tsurara is pregnant" She smiled at the reactions and kept to herself what the spirit had also told her; Tsukune didn't need to be inundated with Yuki Onna all trying to repeat Tsurara's good fortune.
.
At the table Mizore still held Tsurara as she started to explain. "For years it's been difficult for us to get pregnant, the falling rate is because even with every effort not every girl became pregnant. Even before we started to have the problems twins were incredibly rare I think that there are three recorded cases in our history" she looked at her mother who nodded but still couldn't talk "Then there's the fact that we have always had to look outside our race for males. Only one in a hundred was ever male which is how we got our reputation in the human world. We had to find mates there."
"So for twin boys" Moka asked
"It's unknown" Mizore answered
Tsurara sat a little straighter "It's going to bring its own problems"
Mizore groaned beside her "I'd forgotten" she looked around the table "The fathers of twins and males were encouraged to mate with every available girl in the hope that they'd produce more"
"So the father of twin boys" Kurumu said "Will be almost expected to have every Yuki Onna capable of having children"
"And now that we know the supplements work" Sora was looking at Tsukune "You'd better go into hiding" she added with a grin.
"Either that or make sure they all take the supplements and all get pregnant before Tsurara's two are born" Yukari said into the silence.
"Where would we find the males for that" Mizore asked
Kokoa scoffed and waved her hand "There are almost a thousand oversexed frustrated adolescent boys less than a mile from us here. I'm sure Mama Ku can make them forget the details and think that it was just a dream"
"That's not exactly ethical Kokoa" Moka said
"Then ask for volunteers and pay them a small fee like they do in the Human world for donors" Yukari said "Instead of dreams then they'll just remember the cup"
Akasha looked at Tsurara in wonder. The problem that had plagued both the leaders of the Yuki Onna and the Hades Lords was sorted in moments by her family. "They really do this" She asked
"Oh yes Mama Akasha" Yukari replied "Tsukune and I have been reading about college and university life recently. It's not a mainstream source of income but it is one that is utilised. There is a selection generally on health and mental acuity." Yukari returned to her breakfast with a smile
"If there aren't enough volunteers or there are other problems here then just set it up in the Human world, the Yuki Onna are used to Human mates from the histories" Tsukune looked at Yukari "And I'm for breakfast as well"
However before he did anything else he walked to Tsurara and hugged her tightly "Mother of my firstborn" he kissed her gently "Our firstborn" he amended "Now eat breakfast and keep your strength up, there are five expectant mothers here to look after you" As he walked back to his place he smiled at his idea to keep Ageha under control.
oOoOo
Akasha led her family into the chambers and sat down in her chair. The other chairs all had names attached. Waiting for them was Ageha.
"Tenmei before we start how many of the boys are on scholarships and might like to earn extra money?" As he stared at her she smiled "Yes it works, Tsukune and Mizore were correct"
"Then Tsurara"
"Is pregnant" Akasha finished for him "Tsukune's mother visited this morning and told us."
"But she only arrived last night"
"Don't ask me, perhaps they swim very quickly, but that is what she said and I for one am not going to contradict Mother Nature in the question of offspring."
"I'm not entirely happy about what you're suggesting, this is a school still"
"Yukari can you explain please" Akasha said with a smile "I'm still amazed myself"
As Ageha listened she looked at Kurumu and shook her head with a smile. When Yukari'd finished she grinned "Why didn't we think of that Ku"
"I don't know" she also shook her head
"Then you've heard of this" The Chairman asked
Ageha raised her eyebrows "Of course, but it's no good for us so I suppose that we've never thought it would help anyone else"
"The process involves fertilisation of the egg outside the body we in the realms haven't the medical knowledge" Yukari added "We were thinking of using Mama Ku's charm to convince the" she smiled "donors that they'd used a cup"
"Well we can certainly think about it" The Chairman looked at the faces "What else am I missing" he asked with a resigned sigh
Tsukune looked at Tsurara and she nodded "Tsurara is having twin boys according to my mother"
Both the other Lords looked at Tsukune then Touhou started to chuckle joined by the Chairman. When he'd stopped they looked at the family. "You'd like as many Yuki Onna as possible pregnant before Tsurara gives birth" Touhou smirked
"Let's get the priestess here as well" the Chairman rose and went to his crystal "You can't do your job hiding from suitors so we'd better sort this first."
oOoOo
"Hello Sora isn't it" Kyouko looked at the girl
Sora smiled "You remembered, that's good"
"Well I don't remember how I managed to get home" Kyouko's face flushed "I was going to tell Tsukki to come home but somehow I forgot"
"Then we'd better get you and the rest of the family packed for a trip"
"Where are we going?"
Sora remembered how Tsukune had said Kyouo would always get the wrong end of things "Here I've got a letter from Tsukune, I'm to pick up all the family and take them to see him" she passed the letter over.
"All of us his parents as well, why my mother" she asked as she read "Oh a holiday he's won. Special VIP. What does that mean?"
"That we make sure that Tsukune's father goes as well. His job is secure and he's been given the time off"
"I don't know about that he's just been given a promotion" Kyouko was going into her house
"We know" Sora said dryly "Let's get you on your way first, then I'll go and get Tsukune's parents"
.
"I can't just leave" Tsukune's father looked at Sora "I've just been given a promotion"
"Yes we know, promotion to a new section. One that you have no clue about and are kept in your office with spurious paperwork better done by a computer" Sora was cutting; so far she'd spent an hour trying to get them to move.
"How, I mean we can't just leave" His mother was like a headless chicken "What about dinner"
"Go and pack the things you value now" Sora said her patience was wearing very thin, the guards were trying unsuccessfully to hide their grins "You are leaving in five minutes come what may" she indicated the three large guards with her "You've read his letter so now please move we haven't much time."
"I'm not sure" his father started
"Enough" Sora said quietly "Move to the door now or we'll drug you and carry you." Sora looked at the faces "Tsukune can deal with you when you wake up" she shook her head in disgust as they fell to the ground asleep.
.
"What happened" Tsukune asked as the two were wheeled into the grounds on trolleys
"Over an hour trying to get them to move happened" Sora said sharply "I've got a headache trying to keep pace with your mothers thoughts. And your father" she groaned "He is beyond belief about his promotion and how important it is"
"In the current market, his position wasn't secure. To get promotion was an indication that they would keep him" he smiled "Also routine is very important to a salary man, upping and leaving just isn't done"
"Well you can deal with them, I know I've not made a very good impression as the daughter in law but they are children to me so I don't care" she looked over towards the kitchen garden and stump "If they continue like that I'm using the stump"
"They pay lots for that sort of thing outside I'm assured by Ageha, and she should know. She was a little disappointed I hadn't taken a video of her and Tsurara getting spanked by Moka, said it would have made her a lot of money in certain circles"
Sora had her face in her hands then looked at the smile on Tsukune's face "Oh you" she kissed him long and hard "I need a bath and then you're mine all tonight"
"Tsukune what does she mean daughter and all night" his mother was getting up from the trolley
"I'm off" Sora said and strode away towards the house
Tsukune watched as the guards took the trolleys away and through the ward with sympathetic grins. After five minutes of continual questions he was shocked by Moka's bellow from behind him
"Quiet" she glared at the two "This house does not allow displays of such childish behaviour. I know you're disorientated and have a lot of questions, but you need to listen to the answers before asking another. If you continue to behave in this manner I'll spank you as I would a misbehaving child"
"Who are you and what right do you have to threaten us like that. I don't know what you think you can tell me but I want some …."
He stopped as Moka picked him up and put him under her arm. "One question and one answer you were told" she sat on the stump. Slap "My name is Aono Moka" Slap "This is my home" Slap "I know as much as Tsukune about what is going on" she put him on his feet "Now we can continue like this or you can start behaving like an adult. What do you want to do, sit and talk or shout and get spanked?"
"Aono Moka" his mother said in a quiet voice
"One of his wives" Moka replied calmly
"Then who was that Sora person that's got Tsukune all night she said"
"Aono Sora, another of his wives" Moka smiled as she fainted "Well that's one shock out of the way" she looked at Tsukune's father "Aono Koji, do you have any more questions?"
"H How many wives" he stuttered
"Seven at the moment" she watched him closely but he seemed too shocked "Then let's get tea. Tsukune carry your mother please"
.
Tsukune sat looking at his family, apart from his father who couldn't get comfortable they were sat quietly and listening. Yukari had quickly made a potion so that Kasumi wouldn't faint or have hysterics.
"Well I remembered all" she stressed the all "of my last visit when I arrived" Kyouko said as she looked around "I was right you do know them all better than you were letting on"
"Yea, you'd take 'Hi Kyou chan these are my five wives' really well as an introduction" Tsukune smiled at her
"Five" she looked at Yukari "Tsukki tell me she isn't one of your wives"
"No Yukari is one of my children" he sighed "Kokoa and Kahlua are the others"
"Then who's the fifth" she looked at the seven girls sat with Tsukune
"Me" Akasha was standing in the door and came in with Tsurara and Ageha. They sat with the others. "Actually he now has seven wives, Tsurara and Ageha here have also become his wives since you visited" She looked at Koji "You've met the stump" she stated as he shifted again uncomfortably.
"Yes" he blushed
"Well both Kurumu and Mizore's mothers were there before you and they had no excuse for their actions. I'm Akasha, Moka's mother"
"Mother" Kasumi asked "But you said you were Tsukune's wife"
"I'm both, and I'm the person who arranged that you be brought here. Your lives were in danger and you didn't know it"
"How"
"Your husband's promotion; he doesn't know it but the company he worked for was taken over the day before the promotion by a group that are opposed to our aims"
"That would cost thousands of millions of Yen" Koji stated
"We tend to use dollars here and it did; fifty million dollars to be precise. We offered twenty million which was a little above the true value of the company."
"Why"
"To keep you safe of course; you would have been given personal assistants who would have looked after you and you'd be none the wiser. But after the takeover and the promotion it was clear that you'd been brought into play by one of the others" she smiled "They didn't expect us to move so soon. The purchase must have been a spur of the moment decision after they'd found out who you were. They obviously hadn't finalised their plans otherwise you'd have already been out of reach."
"You're telling me that someone" he stopped "That you would spend twenty million to 'keep me safe'"
"Well I didn't have to spend anything in the end, but a hundred million yes without a hesitation or question. You're now; or rather you were a rather important piece in a war that will shape the outcome of the world. I've managed to get you away and safe and you'll stay safe until it's over and safe for you to go back if you want"
"But I don't know anything" he looked appalled
"No, but Tsukune would move heaven and earth to keep you safe, and if you were harmed then the consequences aren't something I'd like to consider." She smiled reassuringly "If you were kidnapped or killed and the blame put elsewhere then that would be a group that would disappear"
"How did we get in this mess" he looked about.
It was a rhetorical question but Akasha answered anyway. "Tsukune was selected to go to this school, but you made the final decision. Tsukune coming here is how this all happened"
"What happens now?" Kasumi asked
"Well you can't stay here. It's one of the safest places in the universe but there's not that much room. Tomorrow we'll all go to my house and you can live in the summer house" she looked around "None of the new houses have moved into it yet. They will guard everyone and Gloria is there as well" she turned back "You'll find it easier to adjust, there's only one race there, Gloria is my sister, for a better description and everyone else there owes myself and Tsukune their allegiance"
"That sounds so old fashioned" Kasumi looked around "The whole set-up is like something out of a historical drama"
"Tsukune said the same as well. And that is a good way to view this, the society here is very feudal, it is nothing like the society you've come from. Manners are important here, people are killed for raising their voices or making inappropriate comments. We'll get you copies of the newspaper to read, that will help you understand things a little better"
"When I was here I couldn't tell that they weren't human" Kyouko said "Why go to yours?"
"Here at the school everyone stays in their human forms most of the time, elsewhere they don't. At my house" she paused "They're all vampires and look human so you won't have a problem interacting. Although I'd remind you that even the smallest child is far stronger that all of you." There was a smile "Kokoa change Kou into something non lethal and let Koji hold him. "Kokoa's sixteen at the moment" she added as Kou was changed into a staff and one end placed on the floor.
"He weighs one hundred pounds" Kokoa said as Koji gingerly went to pick him up. Kokoa smiled as he shook his head and used one finger to flick him back to her shoulder where he changed back.
"How does Tsukune keep you under control if you're so strong" Kyouko asked "You're going to be more than a handful" she smiled then chuckled at Kokoa expression confirming her suspicions "He hasn't caught you yet?"
Kokoa pouted "He did once and talked to me. He told me that if he caught me again he'd spank me himself" she caught Kyouko glance and look "Yea that's what I thought but he said that as I was a vampire he wouldn't hold back" Kokoa shuddered "I'd be blue for weeks" she whispered
Moka looked at Tsukune at the revelation "It's done with and Kokoa learnt a lesson. I haven't caught her again" he looked at her "Although I know she's done it again at least once I didn't catch her at the time"
Kokoa shot back to her chair and pushed her bottom hard into the cushion "Won't happen again I promise" she said quickly
oOoOo
There were shocked gasps as they arrived at the castle. Whilst Tsukune's family were trying to get a grasp of the scale of things James came towards them with a smile. "Lady Akasha Lord Tsukune welcome" he bowed then stood "The whole family?"
"Including Tsukune's human relatives, they are here to keep them safe. They'll stay in the summer house, they're also here to learn our society culture and history James" Akasha looked "I'm sure once they've settled in then they will help you teach the residents the basics of human society and culture as well"
Tsukune moved to his family "My father Aono Koji, mother Aono Kasumi, cousin Aono Kyouko and her mother Aono Kanae. This is the seneschal of the castle James"
"Welcome" James bowed
"We'll leave them in your capable hands James, but first we need to introduce them to everybody else" Akasha looked at the windows "Is the ballroom sorted?"
"Yes My Lady, it was done two weeks ago but you were rather preoccupied"
"Ah you told me and I didn't realise. Sorry James. There is a possibility that Tsukune's family might be in danger"
"We have enough staff to ensure security at all times. There will be three I'll assign to the summerhouse they are more than capable"
Akasha turned to the family "James will look after you, but if he or anyone else gives you an order follow it immediately, your safety and those around you depend on it. I'll not have my staff harmed because of intransigence on your part. It shouldn't come to that but he will be conducting drills" she turned back "They will also need clothing"
"There is quite a lot in storage, although most is the Victorian fashion. The residents are currently changing so there's ample opportunity to look through the catalogues and order. There is also a visiting seamstress and tailor at the moment" he looked at Kahlua "Lady Kahlua wasn't expected today but she will be pleased to see you"
"They will need office clothes, when they've finished the lessons they're working for the holding company so meetings can be in the summerhouse" she grinned at the expression on his face "Yes James let's get on shall we"
.
As Tsukune took Akasha's arm and led the others into the castle, James indicated that the rest of his human family stop for a while.
"Where's Tsukune going?" Kyouko asked
"Here we can start your lessons. Whilst you can refer to Lord Tsukune by his name to me as I realise that you have a close relationship and have lived in the human world; to do so to others will be taken as an insult to him and by inference who ever you are addressing." He indicated that they slowly walk "Lady Bloodriver and Lord Aono are addressing the residents of the castle and will be advising them both of your existence and the fact that you are to be protected at all costs. They will advise you on the correct forms of address and will make allowances for your memory in respect of their names. Most of the residents haven't met a human before apart from Lord Aono, and he I understand is far from ordinary" he gave a little bow to Tsukune's parents "You have raised a fine child"
He turned to continue the slow walk "Even though you are his family when you approach you must bow and wait, answer questions when Lady Bloodriver indicates, otherwise it would be best to be silent. Do not question any decisions in public from either Lady Bloodriver or Lord Aono" He stopped outside a set of closed doors "I'll stay with you at all times and indicate what to do, but don't whisper as everyone in the hall will hear you quite clearly. They will allow that you are unused to the protocols but will not forgive disrespect."
.
"Whoa that was surreal" Kasumi said quietly to Koji after Akasha and Tsukune had left. She realised what James had meant when everyone in the room laughed. "I felt that I should be wearing court robes" she said normally.
"Well that's an idea" A woman came up to them "We love the pomp" she held her hand to Kasumi "Alexia and my niece Sarah, welcome to the castle. Although nothing Victorian as it has very bad connotations here"
"I don't mean to be rude" Kyouko looked around
"Where are the men you might ask" Alexia smiled "Part of our recent history; Lady Bloodriver left an elder vampire in charge, he managed to corrupt her subjects and raise a rebellion against her. We are all that remain; the others wouldn't reaffirm their oaths to Lady Bloodriver"
"Exiled" Kyouko asked then quickly carried on "I'm sorry I shouldn't pry"
"Exiled a nice way of putting it" another woman came and joined them "If reincarnation is real then they were exiled, otherwise recycled might be a phrase" she smiled "We live in a matriarchal society here; he wanted to return it to a patriarchal society complete with abuse. We are all rather pleased they're gone, life is pleasant again for the first time in hundreds of years" She looked over the group "Alexia I think that Kasumi should form her own house"
"I don't think that would be possible Mistress Claire" Sarah said "These are all Lord Aono's close family, humans have a strict moral code, if they are related by blood then it wouldn't be morally acceptable to them"
"This is my husband, and Kanae is my sister, Kyouko is our niece" Kasumi held Koji's arm
"Then the problem is Kyouko" Alexia said thoughtfully and looked at Sarah and then to James "I assume that you wish to take them and get them settled James. If you don't mind Claire Sophia and I will join you and explain the structure of households to Kasumi" she waited for his agreement "Then Sarah take Kyouko and keep her out of trouble with your permission Kasumi"
Kasumi looked at Kyouko and then nodded "We're in your hands"
"Good, Sarah explain to Kyouko. Now off you go"