"Welcome home little sister."

Before them a stunningly beautiful woman appeared out of the mist. She was dressed in a gown of ebony and silver which completely covered her from her neck to her feet. She also wore gloves so that the only part of her that was uncovered was her face.

She had incredibly long and thick hair that ran all the way down her back and was the color of ravens' feathers. Her eyes were red and slitted, the eyes of a vampire or a demon. They flickered from Moka's face to his and lingered just a moment before returning. Something in the way those eyes measured him made Tsukune uneasy.

The woman's full, blood red lips turned up into a wolfish grin revealing her fangs. She held out her arms in a gesture of welcome. "Oh me, oh my, the prodigal sister has returned at last. Come and give me a hug."

"Ria! It's so good to see you again!" Moka eagerly embraced her older sister.

The young woman then turned her full attention to Tsukune. "And what's this? You brought a snack with you! Oh me, oh my, how thoughtful." She took a step closer to him. "He smells delicious, mind if I have a bite?"

"I'm not food!" Tsukune took a couple quick steps back.

Ria's eyes seemed to dance. "I know, I was only teasing." She turned back to her sister. "He frightens easily doesn't he?"

"He's much better than he used to be," Moka said defensively.

"Well, going up the food chain will do that for you. You must be Aono Tsukune, the one little Moka has written so much about." Pulling up her skirt a bit she performed a graceful old fashioned courtesy lowering her eyes and face. "I am most pleased to meet you. I am Moka's eldest sister, Sekitan Ria."

He bowed to her. "I am happy to meet you too. You have a different last name," he noted.

Rising out of her curtsy she looked at him with amusement. "Yes, Moka and I are only half sisters, same father different mother. Our other two sisters Kahlua and Kokoa also have a different mother and their last name is Shuzen." She glanced back at her sister. "Moka's mother was the only one father actually married."

Moka began pressing her fingers together nervously.

"Will I be meeting her mother too?" Tsukune spoke up bringing Ria's attention back to him. "She only mentioned her father and sisters."

"My mother left here when I was very young Tsukune," she answered quietly.

"Ah, sorry Moka-san, I didn't know."

"She hasn't told you much has she?" Ria noted. "Probably didn't want to scare you off."

"That's not so!" Moka said.

"We'll see," she answered. "In any case why are the two of you still in human form? This isn't the academy. This is a household of vampires; you really should try and look the part."

Moka nodded. "Tsukune you should remove your rosario. Things will go more smoothly if you're a vampire."

Nodding himself he pulled his rosario free and was transformed.

Ria looked him over with obvious approval. "Oh me, on my, I can see why Moka turned you."

He felt a bit embarrassed at her attention and Moka frowned at her elder sister.

"What about you Moka-san? Do you want me to remove your rosario?"

One of Ria's coal black eyebrow rose ever so slightly.

"No Tsukune, taking it off and keeping it off for so long might damage the seal."

"Oh me, oh my, what a silly worry. I'm sure father would be happy to restore the seal if necessary." Without warning and without asking permission Ria snapped off Moka's rosario, causing demonic energy to surround and swirl about her.

"You can remove Moka's rosario?" Tsukune asked in surprise.

"When father placed the magical seal on this rosario he set a condition on who could remove it. Normally the vampire using a rosario can remove it, as in your case. But Moka asked father to prevent that. She was still a child then and was afraid she might pull it off in a moment of desperation or despair. So he set it so only three people could remove it; himself, her mother, and me. So I am rather curious as to how you are able to manage it."

"That is a question for father, not Tsukune." The now transformed Moka answered coolly. "But given the fact his ability to do so has saved our lives on multiple occasions I am glad for it."

Ria looked at the angry Moka and seemed pleased. "Now there's the sister I remember, proud, strong, and clever. Though never quite as clever as you thought."

"And you also are as I remember; sly and deceiving and far too clever for your own good."

"Oh me, oh my, you say such sweet things little sister."

XXXXXXXXXX

As the three vampires approached the castle entrance they were in very different moods. Moka was annoyed and more than a little angry. Ria was in high spirits, her sister's anger only appeared to improve her mood. Tsukune was uncomfortable and wondering how he had gotten himself into his whole situation in the first place.

"I want to see father immediately," Moka said tightly.

"I'm afraid that would be impossible sweet little sister. He isn't here at the moment, neither is Kahlua."

"I thought father was expecting me," Moka said sharply.

"He was expecting you in another month and a half," Ria answered. "Right now he is meeting with the other elders and you know how long that can take."

Moka sighed unhappily. "Hopefully he will be back soon."

"Yes, hopefully, in the meantime your old room is ready and a guest room has been prepared for you Tsukune. Shall we have dinner? The two of you must be hungry after your long journey."

Moka nodded. "Yes we will have something to eat. But as for the guest room for Tsukune there is no need. He is my lover and so he will be staying with me."

"What?!" Tsukune said horrified. "Moka I can't do that! What will I say to your father when he finds out?"

Moka reached over and placed a calming hand on his arm. "Take it easy Tsukune; I would not invite you to my room if it would cause trouble. We vampires have our own moral code. You are my lover Tsukune. When father learns of it he will simply take it as proof of our relationship."

"Moka-san are you sure your father will be o.k. with us sharing a room?"

"Quite sure," she promised.

"It's true," Ria said. "Our father will not be upset with you sharing a bed with my little sister." She smiled pleasantly. "If he decides to tear you apart it will be for other reasons."

"Heh, well that's comforting."

Ria pushed open the heavy iron door and they entered the castle.

Tsukune had been expecting the interior to be in a similar state as the exterior. So he was very pleasantly surprised to find the entry way clean and well lit with electric light. A thick carpet was on the floor, dust free paintings hung on the wall, and the furniture he saw all looked in perfect condition.

"You look surprised," Ria noted. "Did you think we lived in ruins and slept in coffins?"

"Uh, well, the way it looks outside…"

"Is solely for aesthetic qualities. I mean what self respecting vampire wouldn't want to live in an old ruined castle?"

"Exactly," Moka nodded.

Tsukune didn't say a word about what he thought.

"Father is very wealthy. It's almost impossible to be that old and not be rich. You'd be amazed what a few hundred gold ducats invested back in the middle ages are worth now. We have all the modern conveniences. If you like Tsukune we have plasma t.v.'s with access to every television station in the human world."

"Does that include Japanese stations?" he asked eagerly.

"Of course," she said. "Now I'll have the servants take your things to Moka's room." She clapped her hands loudly. "Ooolock, come!"

From down the hall came a squat four foot tall creature with pasty grey skin, little black eyes, and arms so long they dragged on the floor as he waddled quickly towards them. He was dressed in a fancy velvet servant's uniform, though he did not wear any shoes over his clawed feet.

"Take their bags to mistress Moka's bedroom," Ria instructed.

"Yes mistress," Ooolock answered. He took the two suitcases and waddled swiftly away.

"I'd forgotten about the servants," Moka said. "I never much cared for them. Goblins are a stupid and smelly lot."

"True," Ria agreed. "But they're strong and obedient, that's what counts. Now let's go to the dining hall. Dinner will already be on the table."

XXXXXXXXXX

The dining hall was beneath a massive archway about thirty feet high. There was a long wooden table with twenty chairs neatly in place. Food had already been placed at the far end of the table where two table settings were. There were bowls of steamed rice, stir fried vegetables, meat, fish, and other delicacies. There were also two large clear glass bottles filled with a dark red liquid.

Already seated and busy stuffing her face was a young girl with red hair tied in two bunches. The girl stopped gulping down food when she heard them enter. She looked up and froze.

Then like a shot fired from a gun she burst from her seat. "ONEE-SAMA!!"

"Kokoa don't…" Moka tried to ward her off but the girl tackled her and brought her to the floor.

The red haired girl was hugging her and weeping. "Onee-sama I've missed you!"

Ria looked on the scene with great amusement. She turned to Tsukune. "This is our youngest sister Kokoa. She was very close to Moka growing up and has missed her."

"Obviously," he said. She reminds me a little of when we first met Yukari.

XXXXXXXXXX

Once Moka had reminded the girl of her place he had been introduced to her. Kokoa was less than thrilled to be meeting her onne-sama's 'lover.'

"What makes you think you're good enough to be with my amazing onee-sama?" The red head demanded.

"Well I…"

"Because there's no way some weakling vampire like you could possibly be worthy of her!" Kokoa said menacingly.

"That is not your decision Kokoa," Moka said coldly which brought the other girl up with a start. "You know nothing of Tsukune's courage or gentle nature; do not think to judge him. I know his worth and he is the only one that I want."

Kokoa looked at her older sister a moment. "I refuse to accept that! I will not have a weakling like him steal your attention!" She grabbed a brown bat that had been sitting on her shoulder and transformed it somehow into a large iron mace.

She charged at Moka and the two were soon locked in battle.

Taking advantage of the distraction Ria grabbed Tsukune's hand and led him out of the dining hall. "Let's let the two of them get reacquainted."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Is it really o. just leave them fighting like that?" She was leading him down the corridor to a door marked, 'game room.'

"It's fine," Ria assured. "That is just Kokoa's way of showing she cares."

"Pretty violent way to show your feelings."

"Well, Kokoa has never been what anyone would call subtle; she has spent the last few years stalking Moka all over the human world trying to get her to return." She opened the door and entered the room.

"You're joking," he said and entered behind her.

"No," Ria said. "Again that was just her way of showing she cared."

Tsukune of course thought of Mizore.

The room they were in had several tables all with chairs and various games set on them. He saw decks of cards, dice, backgammon, checkers, dominos and others. Ria took him to one with just two chairs where a chess board was set up.

She sat down on the side with the black pieces. "Have you ever played chess Tsukune?"

"Ah, no, I'm afraid not." He nevertheless sat down across from her.

"May I teach it to you? It's a wonderful game that teaches strategic thinking and patience. I play often against father but none of my other sisters will play with me. Kahlua is too flighty, Kokoa too hot tempered, and Moka… well she's been away for a long time but she never had the patience chess requires. She always believed that the only way to solve a problem was to confront it and deal with it directly."

Tsukune nodded, that was definitely Moka, no doubt. "That seems like the best way to handle things."

"Oh me, oh my, how disappointing. Like my little sister I don't think you realize that not every problem can be handled like that. Some enemies require more subtle methods to deal with."

He frowned; there was just something about her that made him nervous. "If you want to teach me how to play I'll try and learn, I don't think I'll give you much of a game though."

"Oh that's all right," Ria assured him. "I'm really more interested in learning about you than anything else." She put her chin in a gloved hand and smiled at him over the chess board. "Do you know you are the first boy any of us have ever brought to meet father? And that you were able to melt Moka's heart is really surprising. I always thought her too proud to ever admit she might care for someone in that way."

"We've been through a lot together," he said quietly.

"Yes, I'm sure you have." She reached down and took one of the black pieces that made up her first line. "Do you know what this is?"

He shook his head.

"This is a pawn. It's the weakest and most disposable piece on the board. There are so many of them because they are common and not worth much. That's what I thought you were when I first heard about you. Just some ordinary commoner that had gotten my sister's attention somehow."

"Gee thanks."

Laughing she put the piece back down. "I don't think that any more. To be completely honest I'm not sure what to make of you, but I don't think you're an ordinary pawn." She looked at him a moment considering. "A knight, that's what you are. You have the most unusual abilities on the board and are different from every other piece."

"Which one is the knight?" She tapped one of his pieces that looked like a horse's head. "What piece would you be?"

Smiling she picked up a black piece with a crown on it. "I am the queen," she said. "The most powerful piece on the board. The queen fears nothing and can go anywhere."

Tsukune grinned. "So you're the most important piece huh?"

"No," she said and put the queen back in her place. She took up the piece that was beside it, one with a slightly fancier crown. "The King is the most important piece. He is the ruler and the one who must be guarded and protected at all times. When he is placed in danger he is in check, if he is taken that is called check mate and means you have been defeated. The queen must protect the king at all costs, that is why she exists. To protect the king and remove all threats to him."

Ria looked closely at the piece and smiled sadly. "In this castle my father is King."

"So you have to protect him no matter what?"

She looked at him and grinned. "Yes, exactly, the queen must protect the King from all threats. No matter where they come from."

XXXXXXXXXX

She taught him the basics and they began to play. Even holding back she crushed him quickly. The second game he still lost but it took a little more effort. The third game he improved even more. She wore a hooded smile as she took his King for the third time. He learned quickly.

She thought she might have quite a lot of fun with him before they were done.