Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rosario Vampire. I am merely twisting the creators vision into my own dream. If the supernatural, sexuality, or violence is offensive to you, then you should not read this.

Chapter 21

Tsukune knew it was going to be a long week. His Monday had started out alarmingly well, including a nice visit with Moka. His day fell apart in homeroom. Because politics are an important part of the Human world, it was decided that the school election was a good opportunity for all of the students to study the process. Accordinly, additional assignments were issued. As the most recognizable face behind the coming election, Tsukune had to face a student body that had been given more work to do. His popularity dropped like a rock

At lunch, Tsukune had to miss out spending time with his friends because of Election Committee business. In the cafeteria the candidates for Student Council President were being given three minutes each to introduce themselves to the student body, and as committee president Tsukune needed to be on hand to officiate. There would be speeches all week.

Just before the end of the last class let out for the day, Ruby had arrived to summon Tsukune to the Board Chairman's office. Tsukune felt tension rolling off his friends as he stood up from his desk.

"Moka, please take notes on anything I miss," He said to her.

"Don't worry," Moka smiled back. "We can go over them later."

"Kurumu," Tsukune said to the succubus. "Please take care of my bag. I'll collect it from you later."

"Sure thing, Tsukune," She agreed.

"You handled that well," Ruby said once they were out in the hall.

Tsukune just gave her a look that spoke volumes.

"It is good to see you boy," The Board Chairman said with his creepy smile. "I am pleased that your efforts are going so well."

"Thank you, sir," Tsukune said.

"I understand that you have set a rule that members of the Election Committee cannot run for positions on the Student council. A conflict of interests you called it."

"Yes sir."

"That is very noble of you."

"Thank you, sir."

"And do you think you can have an honest election in a school for monsters?"

"Yes sir," Tsukune said with conviction. "Whatever my fellow student may be, I believe in them to be good people."

"The you had best stay sharp, Boy. Someone is going to try to corrupt your election."

"Sir?" Tsukune felt his body tense up.

"I will let you return to your work," The Board Chairman dismissed. "I know you both have a lot to do."

Tsukune replayed the visit to the Board Chairman over in his head as he headed back to the dorms. There was only one conclusion that he could reach, and it made him nervous. Somebody was moving against the school. The Board Chairman had given Tsukune a not so subtle warning about a threat to the plans for the election, but had left out all of the important details. Trying to think of what he should be on the lookout for made his head ache.

Ruby went on ahead to Tsukune's room while he went to visit with his friends. He collected his school bag from Kurumu. Tsukune then had a short visit with Moka to review her class notes. When he returned to his room Ruby was already working on dinner.

Tsukune sat at his desk with his mind filled with thoughts. He worked on his studies distractedly. He kept thinking about how to protect the integrity of the school election as he 'tried' to concentrate on his assignments. Before he realized, it he was looking at his desk with all of his work finished. Tsukune had totally lost track of time. He looked around owlishly as he refocused his thoughts.

Ruby was waiting patiently next to the table with dinner laid out for him. Tsukune sighed and stood up from his desk. Being aware of the time also made him aware of how hungry he was. He relocated to the table.

"Thank you, Ruby," Tsukune said as he reached for the chopsticks. "Itadikimasu."

While he ate, Tsukune still couldn't get the problem with the election out of his head. At one point he even asked Ruby what she though he should do.

"How do humans do it?" She asked in return.

Tsukune tried to think about that for a bit. Student elections were only important to the students at most schools, but Youkai Academy was a special case. Tsukune wondered just how important elections were conducted in the regular world. In class they talked about the process in general, and the results if they were of some historical importance, but that was it. He need to ask someone that actually voted...

An idea struck Tsukune like a bell ringing in his head. He knew exactly what she should do. He should ask for advice. He forgot about food as he quickly returned to his desk. It was time to write a letter to his parents.

.

XXXXXXXX

.

It had been a long week, Tsukune reflected as he trudged back to the dorms. He had discovered that somebody was trying to buy votes. The person that was caught refused to say which candidate he was working for, but he had a list of names on him of students. Interviewing the students had uncovered who they were to vote for, with payment upon winning the election, but there was no direct proof that the candidate was involved. The class officers were asked to keep an eye on the student that had been trying to buy votes, and the students on his list were reminded to vote honestly, but no other action was taken.

It was mid afternoon on Saturday and Tsukune was feeling the weight of every hour of the week. He had spent most of the day with the Festival Committee reviewing applications from clubs and classes, and trying to decide where to put the events. The Drama Club had applied to put on a daily play for the festival, name of show to be decided, in their club room. It took Tsukune ten minutes to get the rest of the committee to agree, and the application was marked 'approved' and sent back with the provision that the club hold it's show at a larger venue then their club room. The school gym would be perfect, Tsukune thought. The club was even given permission to charge admission.

A 'hall-of-mirrors' hosted by the photography club was rejected. So was a tea room by the Apothecary Club. The Sewing Club wanted to hold a sale in their club room, which was approved. The class 2-1 application for a goldfish scooping booth was reviewed, and Tsukune had the urge to veto it just because he knew his homeroom teacher would eat half the stock. Instead he and the committee had a laugh about it and approved the booth. The cap on maid cafés was reached in no time. The hard part had been deciding on which classes to approve. The committee had to argue about two cosplay cafés and whether or not they should be included in the maid café limit. It was finally decided to send the applications back for clarification on the intended costumes.

Every time Tsukune felt like beating his head against a table in frustration he just thought about trying to have lunch with his friends. The stress that thought brought up was enough to restore his patience with the committee. But he was still glad when the meeting was over. Tsukune headed back to the dorms ready for a break.

Politics is what you get when you have two or more people together. When you have a lot more then two people the politics can become very complicated and unpleasant. Politics can be nearly as hard to escape from as death and taxes.

"I said stop!" Tsukune heard somebody shouting. He was still out of sight from the dorms, and whoever was yelling was not on the path, but out in the thin woods. "Leave us alone!' The voice cried out again. Tsukune left the path to investigate.

Tsukune found the scene quickly. It looked like a Public Safety Commission reunion. Keito and one of her flunkies were standing in their monster forms over a student couple while another pair of flunkies kept watch in the direction of the dorms, leaving their back to the action, and to Tsukune.

"Now, now, Sheezu" Keito said. "I told you that I would be counting on you. It is your duty to the school to listen to me."

"You are wrong," Matsumoto wheezed. He was crouched over Sheezu and looked like he had already taken a beating trying to protect her.

"Nobody opposes us."

"Aono Tsukune…"

Keito screamed and lashed out at the boy in anger.

Tsukune saw that it was time to act. As he started forward he reached into himself and pulled up his youki. He pictured it bulding around him like a suit of armor from feudal Japan. He kept his youki inside his 'armor' so it wouldn't give away his presence as he moved in.

Sheezu was not supporting Matsumoto and trying to shield him with her small body.

"You were wrong about Aono sempai," Sheezu cried out. "He was right about you. When he hears…"

"He's not going to hear about this because you are never going to tell him," Keito hissed. "You are going to obey me. You are going to help me get rid of that scum once and for all."

Tsukune was thinking tactically. He knew Keito was the biggest threat, and had to be taken down first. As quietly as he could he rushed in.

"Tsukune…" Matsumoto coughed.

"You're a fool," Keito scoffed. "You…" What ever she was going to say was forever lost.

She stopped talking when her flunky suddenly stumbled forward with a grunt. She saw him collapse face first on the ground with a shoe print on the top of his head. It was the violent intent she detected that made he look up. She saw Tsukune dropping at her, in a spin. She bent back to use her webbing, but Tsukune was moving too fast. The height of his decent and the spin of his body all added power to his strike. His fist connected right between her eyes.

"Su-aaa!' Keito made an undignified squawking sound as she was beaten down by a single blow.

The two remaining flunkies heard the crunch of their leader's chitin encased form collapsing under Tsukune and turned to see what had happened. Tsukune saw that his element of surprise was gone.

"Sheezu," He yelled. "Run! Go get help!"

The girl hesitated for only a second before running for the dorms. One of the flunkies tried to step in front of her. That was the one Tsukune took on next. It was a two hit combo. Tsukune's fist took the flunky in the gut, bending him over, followed by a knee to the chin. The bad guy flipped over backwards, limp.

Tsukune spun to face the last opponent. The last flunky was quick, and almost caught Tsukune from behind. Tsukune used the momentum of his spin and let it continue to turn him about as he drought up his leg, catching the flunky in the side. The blow was lacking in power, but it broke the other fighter's attack and left him open. Tsukune threw a right cross that caught the flunky on the temple. The foe crumpled like a rag doll.

Tsukune paused long enough to see that there were no remaining threats before he hurried over to Matsumoto. The boy looked bad off, but he was conscious and breathing, so Tsukune gave a sigh of relief.

"Can you stand?" He asked him.

"I think so," Akira replied.

Tsukune had to help him balance on his feet. The younger boy was dizzy but able to walk. They started to make their way towards the dorms, slowly.

"What happened?" Tsukune asked.

"They came for Sheezu," Matsumoto grunted. "Said it was time for her to get back to work." He looked at Tsukune and smiled. "She told them no."

"What were you two doing out here?"

"She said she wanted to go for a walk with me," The underclassman blushed.

"Congratulations."

They reached the edge of the woods without any complications. A group of students was already following Scheezu back towards the woods when they spotted Akira and Tsukune. Sheezu almost threw herself at her friend, she was so worried about him. Some of their classmates moved in to support Matsumoto.

"Sheezu," Tsukune said to the girl.

"Yes," She answered with her eyes wide behind her long hair.

"You did very well."

"Thank you Senpai."

"Now take him to the hospital to get checked out."

"I'm fine," Matsumoto tried to protest.

"Go, kohai," Tsukune said. "Don't make your girlfriend worry."

"Yes, Senpai," He said with a blush.

Tsukune watched the group of underclassmen head off. With a sigh he headed for the dorms. Responsibilities just kept coming.

XXXX

"Ruby?" Tsukune called as soon as he opened his door. "Are you…" The question died on his lips as she came into view.

"Tsukune-Sama," She said with a smile and a bow.

"I need you to do something," He said as he kicked off his shoes. "I need you to notify the Board Chairman, or whoever, that there are some injured students in the woods, um… I think it is west of here. That way…" He pointed.

"To the west and north," Ruby said.

"About half a kilometer," Tsukune continued. "Keito and her Public Safety thugs were trying to pressgang Sheezu."

"Is anybody hurt?" Ruby wanted to know.

"Matsumoto is pretty beat up, but he is on his way to the hospital right now with his girlfriend."

"His girl… That's good news."

"Keito and her hoodlums were all knocked out."

"Matsumoto beat them?" Ruby looked amazed.

"Ehh," Tsukune scratched the back of his head and blushed. "Actually I did."

"Against four? Tsukune," She started running her hands over his body looking for signs of injury."

"Ruby," He protested. "I'm fine. Just send word, please. I hit them pretty hard."

"Alright. She hurried to his desk and wrote out a note. Next she went to the window and summoned a crow to carry the note. Once the bird was on its way, she turned her attention back to Tsukune.

XXXXX

Tsukune let out a yawn that made his jaw creek. He had not slept well and it was Ruby's fault. She had hovered over him all evening, anxious about how he was after being in a fight against four others. Tsukune let her hand feed him dinner again, and even accepted a foot massage after his shower, hoping she would be satisfied that she was doing enough for him. When he was ready to go to bed, and told her so, she surprised him by producing a thin futon from the closet. He had asked her what it was for she looked at him in surprise and announced that she was going to sleep on it.

Of course arguing about school rules or proper behavior didn't do any good. Rube wasn't a student so their was a loop hole in the rules, and proper for a master and slave, she pointed out was for her to sleep close by. It didn't occur to Tsukune to just 'order' Ruby back to her own bed until somewhere in the middle of breakfast. So Tsukune tried to sleep with Ruby on the floor next to his bed. Tsukune did manage to fall asleep for a while, but woke up hours later to answer the call of nature.

Not quite awake he tried to get out of bed to go to the toilet, and stepped on Ruby's hand. Ruby let out a small cry, which made Tsukune jump. He stepped on her in at least two more places before making it past her. When he returned to bed he managed to avoid her, but he couldn't help but notice she was breathing heavy.

Tsukune took his time over breakfast. Partly because his yawns kept interrupting his eating. Tsukune considered the way Ruby hovered at his elbow as he ate. He realized that he had hope for a very good job so he could afford a house with a yard. That way she could plant a garden for a hobby, because a small house or an apartment wouldn't give her anything to do. On the bright side, as Kurumu had said, there would never be a lack of a babysitter. Idly, Tsukune wondered how Moka would feel about Ruby living with them as their servant.

Tsukune realized what he had been thing and had to repress a groan. He was still in highschool and he was already thinking about a house and family. What was wrong with his mind? Tsukune really wished he had someone to talk to about all of this.