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 22

"I can not wait for this election to be over," Tsukune observed to his friends.

"All the signs are starting to look ugly," Yukari agreed.

"Three more weeks," Moka breathed.

"I just want everything to go back to normal," Kurumu sighed.

He had used his authority as the Festival Committee president to cancel Saturday's meeting so that he could help the Newspaper Club work on the next edition. They had a week to get it all together and it was going to be a big issue. The paper would have short interviews with all of the candidates, in addition to the normal content. Tsukune had had his cousin track down some stories from human news sources about election fraud voting scams so he could include them in the next edition. He even added an editorial comment that challenged the youkai to show more integrity then the humans that would corrupt their own world out of greed for money and power.

Kokoa was submitting an article about how physical appearances of the candidates was influencing some students over any other consideration. Yukari had a piece about astrology and other forms of divination to predict the outcome of the election, with a foot note that it was all in fun and the predictions should not be taken seriously or as an indication of endorsement of any specific candidate. Everybody was trying to contribute to the coming edition.

While Gin had not bothered to hang around, he had delivered photographs of all the candidates. Moka and Kurumu had handled candidate the interviews. Mizore turned in a collection of short interviews with random students and how they felt about the changes taking place at the school. Ruby was with the rest of the club, assisting with the format and type setting. The Newspaper Club spend most of the day working together with determination.

They returned to the dorms together, talking about nothing special when they were done for the day. Tsukune had actually surprised everybody by putting himself between Yukari and Kurumu and holding his hands out to them to hold. Over Yukari's head, he shared a warm smile with Moka. By the time they reached the dorms they were in positive spirits.

"Aono Senpai!" The croup was greeted by Sheezu and Matsumoto. The pair were holding hands and smiling.

"How are you doing Akira?" Tsukune called the underclassman by name.

"I-I'm good, thank you," He had been caught off guard by the informality.

"That's good."

"Are you going to study with us tomorrow?" Moka asked.

"Thank you," Sheezu said with a shake of her head. "Some of our class mates are having a study group and invited us to join them."

"Good for you," Yukari cheered.

"Aono Sempai…" Matsumoto began.

"Tsukune," The older boy said. "That's what my friends call me."

"Tsukune Sempai," The younger boy grinned as he reached into his jacket. "My family wanted me to give this to you." He produced a black silk bag that was as long as Tsukune's forearm. "I have been writing home about all the things that have happened in school," Akira explained. "When I told my family about what happened last week they sent this." He handed the bag to Tsukune.

"Thank you," Tsukune accepted the bag and opened it. Inside he found a an iron rod two centimeters thick and twenty five centimeters long with a two and a half centimeter wide piece on each end that looked like acorns. The length of the rod was etched with a basket weave pattern. Also in the bag was a folded letter.

"At the top of the letter is a name," Akira said. "Read it out loud."

"Alright," Tsukune said. He opened the letter and read the 'name' at the top. "Tetsu Odari."

The iron bar rang like it had just been struck with a hammer. Tsukune almost dropped it in surprise. Akira smiled again.

"You are the first person to say its name," The boy explained. "So now it is yours and nobody else can use it. The letter is from the Great Tengu that made it for my clan in the Muromachi period, and it will tell you how to use it." He held up his left wrist, showing off a black bracelet. "The clan has twenty of them."

"Thank you," Tsukune said with a small bow. "But why give this to me?"

"My parents said to give it to you," He shrugged. "Normally no more then five are ever given out. I received mine because I was the first one in the clan to ever go to school past fifth grade, so when I was accepted to here I was given Rikka Kaki." He extracted his right hand from Sheezu's for a moment and took a hold of his bracelet. "Awake," He said.

The bracelet suddenly unbent itself and grew into a rod that matched the Tsukune held. The boy the grabbed the two ends of the rod and pulled in separate directions. The rod magically grew longer. The Akira pushed on the ends of the rod, reducing it in length once more. He finished his demonstration by laying it against his wrist.

"Sleep."

The rod shrank down and wrapped itself around his wrist again.

"Try yours," Matsumoto grind. "Each one has a special trait, but they all have the same basic abilities."

"Sure," Tsukune agreed. Heeling a little foolish he rested the heavy piece of iron against his left wrist. "Sleep," He said.

The rod transformed itself. I became narrower, only a half centimeter in width. But where Akira's rod made a simple band bracelet that had a gap between the ends, Tetsu Odari became a little longer and wrapped twice around Tsukune's wrist. Tsukune blinked in surprise.

"Wow," Tsukune said. "Thank you. I should write a letter to thank your parents also."

"Let me know when you want to mail it," The boy took Sheezu's hand again.

"I will," Tsuune promised. "Thank you."

They soon parted company after that. Tsukune lingered in front of the dorms with his friends for a while and made plans for Sunday. Ruby excused herself first and went to Tsukune's room to prepare dinner. Mizore slipped away when Tsukune and Moka spent a long minute just looking at each other's faces. That lasted until Kurumu, not so good naturedly, hustled Moka off. After that, Tsukune said goodnight to Yukari and retired to his room.

XXXx

Tsukune returned to his room and kicked off his shoes. He wanted to relax, but at the same time he was fascinated and a little nervous about the gift he had received. He seated himself at his desk to read the letter.

'To the tasty snack,' The letter began. 'Know that you have done the Yama-Bito clan of Iwate a great service. The child that you have aided will some day rise to leadership of the clan. As I crafted the tool that you now carry I did fall into a trance where-in I did have a vision of the future. My world and your own are forever balanced on a precipice and you walk that same path. Only by remaining in balance can the world thrive. So must you fide your place between to worlds.'

'It is for you that Tetsu Odari was crafted in the secret heart of Iwate. Upon your word alone will Tetsu Awaken, or Sleep. At your order Tetsu Odari will Wait, Guard, or Dance.'

'My you find your inner balance, human friend of the Yoma-Bito.'

'Daitengu Iwate Jirsubo,' The letter was signed.

Tsukune took a long drink from the fresh cup of tea on the desk. The letter left him feeling shaken. It was a letter written to him during the Muromachi period, making it possibly seven hundred years old. Tsukune looked at the bracelet and felt his stomach clench.

With a sigh Tsukune set the letter aside and rooted out his student handbook. It was, he reflected, probably the worst worded set of guidelines ever publish for a student. He had read the thing cover to cover, and while it had plenty of reminders for students to behave properly and to adhere to the dress code and modest appearance, it never once said anything about monsters. Tsukune flipped to the section on student belongings and list of contraband.

'Youkai Academy recognizes the diversity of its students and their many backgrounds and traditions,' The section began, like most others. Tsukune's parents had thought that the school must let in foreigners to have that repeated so many times in the handbook. 'When attending Youkai Academy, all students will be permitted in their living space and upon their persons only such items as are deemed appropriate by the Board Chairman. Items of worship, family traditions, or symbols of status are permitted so long as the item is not a weapon. A weapon is defined as any item crafted with the specific and sole intent to cause harm. While many common items can be used as a weapon, often as a misuse of the item, they will not be restricted from the general student body except on a case by case basis. Additionally, exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Board Chairman, or his appointed representatives, should a weapon also be intended as an item of significant family traditions, central to a practice of worship, or as a historical or personal symbol of status.'

Tsukune gave a sigh as he finished reading the section. According to the handbook students could carry bokens because their primary function was for learning swordsmanship, even though the wooden swords could be used in a real fight. A student could also receive permission carry a real weapon if it was part of some family tradition, like a Samurai. After reading the handbook Tsukune decided he would be able to keep Tetsu Odari, because the person that made it called it a tool. Just to be on the safe side he asked Ruby; an appointed representative of the Board Chairman. She agreed with him.

After dinner Tsukune reread the letter and took a some time to learn how to use his new tool. He already knew the 'Awake' and 'Sleep' commands. He decide to experiment with the other commands the letter had mentioned. 'Guard' transformed the rod into a meter long shaft. 'Wait' was the command to have it return to the shape of the twenty five centimeter rod. 'Dance' transformed Tetsu Odari into whip.

Ruby had just finished cleaning up from dinner. She turned around and saw Tsukune holding a supple whip of just under two meters in length. She watched as Tsukune cracked the whip, getting used to the feel of it. Ruby felt her body tremble and become excited. She felt a little disappointed when Tsukune turned the whip into a short rod and then back into a bracelet. She smiled however, because now Tsukune had a whip of his own and she knew it. She just had to teach him how to use it.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Kurumu sat in her room flipping through a faded blue notebook. The notebook didn't look special in any way and didn't stand out on the shelf. This was her secret book. Her diary was satin pink with little hearts over it and a little brass lock. If anybody wanted to know her feelings they would find that, and get about what they expect. But the secret book was much more personal because it was her strategy guide for winning Tsukune. Some of the things in the book were meant to be silly, but Kurumu knew deep down that under the right circumstances they would be acceptable to her. 'Emergency plan A-2; capture Tsukune in a large sack and carry him to a love hotel,' not a very practical plan because there were no love hotels around Youkai Academy.

Now that her latest plan was blunted, 'Offensive Housekeeping; the taking over and controlling of personal space to build intimacy,' Kurumu needed a new idea. Her mother's plan, 'use your body to make him think with his loins,' was still proving to be useless. Her mother insisted it was because the boy was still to innocent and that Kurumu should just push him down and take him. Kurumu was saving that as emergency plan 1-A, along with spiked drinks and the right timing.

Kurumu realized that most of the basic plans were useless because of her opponents. 'Cute and innocent flirty girl' was already being used by Moka. 'Shy and mysterious' was Mitore's attack. 'Confidant and commanding respect' was mastered by Inner Moka. Kurumu gritted her teeth in frustration. Tsukune had declared her to be like family, but Kurumu really didn't want to use 'Close friend like sister waiting to be discovered.' That plan almost never worked.

Kurumu mulled that over for a bit. The 'like a sister' plan could be used in combination with 'offensive housekeeping,' she mused. She could make lunches for him, and insist that he eat hers because they were healthier. Use little things as an excuse to be pushy, until she could find an excuse to 'help' Tsukune learn how to kiss a girl. Kurumu did smile at that thought. Thinking about kissing Tsukune always made her smile.

It would be so much easier if that boy would just learn to lust after her. He was just so think when it came to women. But if he had a little lust, Kurumu would be able to read that and know what he wanted.

XXXXXXXXXX

Mizore sat in her room wearing Tsukune's necktie. She was gad that that first year girl was safely out of the game, but Ruby was the biggest problem now. Ruby was like a sunny day to Mizore's plans. She could be the distracting glare that let Tsukune fall into a trap, or she could illuminate the ground so Tsukune could tell where not to step.

Mizore stroked Tsukune's tie. Ruby wasn't all bad, she reflected on Tsukune's last visit to her room. Tsukune, normally as stubborn as glacier ice, had started to show some cracks. Yuki Onna where shy by nature, but not modest. Exposing herself to him only meant that she felt comfortable around him enough to relax, and that had been true for her and Tsukune from the first week. But it had done something to Tsukune that gave her hope. Now if she could only get Inner Moka to spend more time around him. She would feed off of Tsukune, and then Mizore would have her turn.

"Tsukune…" Mizore sighed, remembering the feel of his body and his Warmth.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Moka fell back on her bed with a relaxed sigh. A hot herbal bath felt good after a long day. It generally felt good any time. Now that her long hair was finally dry, she was ready to get some rest.

'That is one less to worry about.'

"Wahh!" Moka started. She sat up on the bed in surprise. "Where have you been?"

'Where have I always been,' Inner Moka scoffed. 'You really are dense.'

'Hey…" Moka pouted. After a moment of silence, 'Why are you talking to me now? You have been ignoring me for almost two weeks.'

'Because I want to,' Came the thought, as if it answered everything.

'Hmmm.'

'Anyway. You're relieved that the first year girl is not going to be a problem aren't you?'

'Yes,' Moka sighed as she admitted the truth to herself.

'You need to be more honest with yourself.'

Moka didn't answer, she just fell back onto her bed again.

'Listen,' Her inner voice said. 'I want to talk to Tsukune tomorrow.'

'Why?'

'Why do you think?'

'You want something from him, don't you.' Moka accused her inner self.

'Of course I do,' Came the honest reply. 'Just like you do.'

'I don't want anything from Tsulune,' Moka protested.

'Liar. You want everything from him.'

"I... I…" Moka sputtered out loud.

'I want to talk with him,' Inner Moka said calmly. 'I miss his company.'

'Is that all?'

'Of course not! You and I may share the same body, but watching life through your eyes is not as satisfying as living it myself,' Inner Moka explained.

'But we are doing a group study tomorrow,' Moka thought. 'How are you going to have time to talk to Tsukune?'

'Just ask Tsukune to remove the seal after lunch,' Inner Moka directed. 'Mizore and I have an agreement so she will not interfere. As for the others, they know better then to challenge me.'

'I still don't know if I should trust you with Tsukune. You keep using him.'

'Of course I do. And I intend to keep on using him.'

'Then I should never let him touch the seal again.'

'But you won't,' Inner Moka said with dark merriment. 'Because you want Tsukune too much to stay away from him, and accidents keep happening.'

'You…'

'If you leave me waiting too long you will regret it.'

'Why? What would you do?'

'I will start talking to you during class.'

'So what?'

'I will talk about Tsukune.'

'That wouldn't bother me.'

'But I undressed him and put him into bed,' Inner Moka's thoughts were filled with hunger. 'The taste of his blood was still on my tongue and I saw his bare flesh…"

"All Right!" Moka cried, blushing bright red and pulling a pillow over her face.

'See. I knew you would be reasonable."

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(a/n; insert evil laugh here)