Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rosario Vampire. I am merely twisting the creator's vision into my own dream. If the supernatural, sexuality, or violence is offensive to you, then you should not read this.
Chapter 86
Moka had always been aware of how Tsukune had felt run down by Mondays. She tried to be sympathetic, but the idea of one day out of the week being somehow just a little more difficult, every week, then any of the other days, seemed a little silly. After a good night's rest, Moka felt energetic and eager to start her day, in spite of it being a Monday, with Tsukune. She quickly completed her morning rituals and put herself together. After a final check of her appearance, her uniform, her obento and her school bag, Moka was ready to go. She stepped out the door into the early morning air with a smile. She felt good, and she was about to see Tsukune. If she was early enough, she thought hopefully, then perhaps she could have a little sip before the others managed to get in the way.
Moka was still a few meters short of Tsukune's front door when Monday reviled its perverse nature to her. Tsukune's front door opened and Mizore appeared from within, with a smile on her face. Mizore saw Moka and hesitated, just for a second, before continuing out the door. That moment of hesitation was more then enough to make Moka suspicious. Behind Mizore, Tsukune exited the house, pulling the door closed as he went. He saw Moka and smiled. The warmth of his smile swept over Moka like a wave of summer heat, making her smile in response.
"Good morning, Moka," Tsukune said in his gentle voice.
"Good morning, Tsukune," Moka returned the greeting.
Her eyes drank in every detail of his face. The tension in his face had lessened noticeably, which Moka took as a good sign. She had worried that he might be pushing himself too hard again. Moka was so preoccupied by Tsukune's face, she almost didn't notice that he was approaching her. Moka opened her arms to Tsukune as he embraced her.
"I love you," Tsukune said, kissing her on the cheek. "Please never doubt that."
"Tsukune?" Moka wondered. His words suddenly made her nervous for some reason. Moka remembered how Mizore had hesitated. She turned to face the other woman.
"Good morning, Mizore," Moka said in a calm voice. "You arrived early this morning."
"Actually she spent the night with me," Tsukune said.
"What?" Moka napped her head about to look at Tsukune. "Tsukune?"
"Moka," Tsukune said calmly. "I asked Mizore, as my friend, to spend the night with me to help me with a problem I was dealing with."
"Tsukune," Moka protested. "You could have asked me. You know I would do anything for you."
"Actually," Tsukune said. "I needed Mizore because she is not as involved with me as you are, or even Ruby. I needed to understand something."
"Tsukune..." Moka didn't know if she should be angry or hurt.
"It is still early," Tsukune stepped back from Moka, breaking their embrace. "Let's you and I walk together, without the others, so that we can talk, and I will tell you everything."
Moka looked at Tsukune sharply. She could see the tension in the way he held himself. She could also see the commitment in his eyes. He was being serious.
"Alright," Moka said with a nod.
"Mizore," Tsukune said to her. "Thank you for your help last night. If you will excuse us, I hope I will see you before class starts."
"Tsukune," Moka asked him as soon as they started to walk together. "Why couldn't you ask me for help? You know I love you, that I would do anything for you. Is it because I wasn't there for you before? What is something I…"
"It wasn't because of anything you did or said," Tsukune cut her off. "It was because I needed to understand what was wrong with me, and the way I feel around you wouldn't have helped."
"What do you mean?" Moka asked.
"This is going to take a bit of explaining," Tsukune sighed. "And I am sorry if it seems like I am just going over old ground, but please hear what I have to say."
"Alright," Moka said.
"You know that I was raised in a modest home," Tsukune began. "What I always though of as normal. I was raised to live a respectable life that fit in with the lives of those around me. I was told that violence never solved anything. If my parents knew about my life here at school, they would be disappointed in me."
"Tsukune, no…" Moka protested.
"It's true," Tsukune said. "I live with Ruby as a servant. I am living in a house with a girl who washes my back, cooks my meals, and cleans up after me, and is not someone I intend to marry. This is not respectable. I look like I am ether taking advantage of her, or I am too incompetent to take care of myself. You were raised to see my relationship with Ruby as a sign of strength, a sign of importance." Tsukune shook his head. "And then there is this," Tsukune held up his arm and gave the Holy Lock a little shake. "I am strong enough now to defend myself, and to protect what is important to me. Growing up, I was told to talk out problems, to find a peaceful solution, and that it was better to run away then to fight back, that fighting just made me as bad as whoever hit me in the first place. If my parents knew what my life here was like, I think they would think I have become immoral and an embarrassment."
"They just don't understand…" Moka tried to comfort him.
"It's alright," Tsukune said. He lowered his arm and smiled at Moka. "I don't regret my decisions. I know that I am happier here with you then I would have been if I had never come to this school, or if I had left once I had met you."
Moka felt her heart flutter. It wasn't fair how Tsukune could always find the words that just made her want to throw herself on him. She could feel a hungry growl from deep within. Tsukune's way of exciting Moka also reached her slumbering inner self.
"I have been trying to learn how to let go of things," Tsukune continued. "I need to overcome how shy I am, how hesitant I have been. People look up to me here. If I cannot make decisions, for myself, then how can I help anybody else? I have physical strength now, but I need to be stronger in my mind, and in my heart. I need to think about what is real, here, now, and not just try to live according to the world my parents like to believe in, a world where humans no longer have to be afraid of the dark. I can't afford to be afraid of my self, just because what I can do and what I feel inside goes against what I was raised to accept as the only proper way to live."
"I think I understand what you are saying," Moka said. "You are learning to accept who you are now."
"Yes," Tsukune said. "I have accepted Ruby as a servant, a slave, because in some way I understood what she wanted, even needed, and as her friend I wanted to help her. Now I have to accept that I need her in my life in the role she has demanded. If I am ever going to be worthy of you, then I have to be able to show not only that I can have somebody calling themselves my servant, but that I have real authority over them, and that I am willing to use it."
Moka found herself smiling. Tsukune's reason for become stronger, for become more manly, was to be with her. Not for the first time, Moka wished that Kokoa was more reasonable, was more of a friend, so that she would have somebody to share her feelings with that was also a vampire, somebody that would understand the value of what Tsukune was doing for her.
"There is something else I need to let go of," Tsukune sighed. "And this is hard. I'm sorry if I hurt you, Moka. I will even understand if you hate me for it, but I have to be honest about my feelings. I have to be honest with myself, or everything I do is pointless. I have to be honest with you, even if it hurts, or it would make any life I have with you a lie, and I would hate myself."
Tsukune stopped on the path they were following through the woods. Tsukune had intentionally lead Moka the long way towards the school so that they could be alone. He turned towards her and saw that his words had already made her scared. Her eyes were anxious, and her lip trembled.
"Moka, I love you," Tsukune said. "All of you. You give me purpose and courage. Thank you for being a part of my life up until now. I pray you will forgive my weakness, and my selfishness, and that you will continue to be a part of my life." Tsukune sank down to his knees and bowed low.
"Tsukune," Moka was filed with fear. "What is it? What is wrong?"
"Moka, I love you, and I am in love with you. I never imagined being so happy as I am when you are with me and I see you smile. But I have found that I am weaker then I could have believed. Moka, I have fallen in love with someone else as well, without ever realizing it until last night."
"Tsukune," Moka felt herself tremble and her face grew hot. "Tsukune what are you saying?"
"I'm sorry, Moka," Tsukune said, his voice tight with emotions. "I'm not worthy to be by your side. It is not something I wanted. It is not something I can help. I know I have no right to ask this of you, Moka, but please, please forgive me."
'I'll kill her!' The enraged thought rose up inside of Moka. 'Who ever it is, I will rip her heart out if she thinks she can take what is mine.'
"Tsukune," Moka was amazed at how cool and calm her voice sounded when she was so upset she though she would vomit at any moment. "Who is it? Is it Mizore? Is that why you asked her to spend the night with you?"
"No," Tsukune said. "I asked Mizore to spend the night because I needed to know if the feelings that were bothering me were real, or if it was a symptom of my weakness. I needed to know that my feelings were more then just lust, or some kind of twisted hunger from my inner youkai."
"Who is it?" Moka demanded, her inner and outer selves in sync with each other. Heartache, anger, fear, and pain were a storm within her.
"It's Kurumu," Tsukune said. He looked up at Moka with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Moka, but I am in love with her too."
"I'll kill her!" Moka turned back towards the village.
"Moka, wait," Tsukune reached for her hand.
"You…" Moka's leg lashed out. The kick did not have the same power as Inner Moka's, but it was enough to knock Tsukune sideways on the ground, with his lip split open.
"Please," Tsukune pulled himself back to his knees, facing Moka. "Hear me. Kurumu doesn't know. Please don't hurt her."
"She wants to take you away from me," Moka(s) said. "She wants to take what is mine, and I will not allow it."
"Please, Moka," Tsukune pleaded. "I have not said anything to her. I wanted to talk to you first, because you are important to me, not just as my girlfriend or lover, but as my friend. I have said so before. If you just tell me to, I will give up everything for you. I will give up everybody for you. Please, this is my weakness, you don't need to take your anger out on Kurumu or anybody else."
Moka felt her resolve shake. Tsukune was dirty and bleeding, but still arguing his case. He was willing to take responsibility. His handsome face, with his pleading eyes looked up at her.
'I will not permit this!' Inner Moka raged. 'If he means what he says, then let him prove it.'
'How?' Moka questioned.
'He says that he will give up everything for me,' Inner Moka said bitterly. 'Then tell him to prove it. Tell him that he can no longer be that cow's friend. He can never talk to her again.'
'But…' Moka knew that Tsukune cared about all of his friends. Cutting him off from even one would hurt him. If he was being honest, as much as she didn't want Kurumu around Tsukune, telling him that he could not even talk to her would almost be as bad as telling him to abandon his parents.
'Do it!'
"Tsukune," Moka said, her voice made harsh by her emotions that were so chaotic they made her want to vomit. "Do you mean what you say?"
"I do," Tsukune said with conviction.
"Then prove it," Moka said, her voice starting to crack. "If you mean what you say, and you really want to protect that… that woman, you may never talk to her again. Cut her off completely. Do you understand?" Moka wanted to weep. She saw Tsukune's eyes as she spoke. A small part of him seemed to die.
"Yes, Moka," Tsukune said with a small bow.
"Tsukune…" Moka sobbed. She turned and ran away from Tsukune.
Tsukune watched Moka running towards the school. He slowly climbed to his feet and cleaned himself up. His insides felt full of burning knives and he cursed himself. Kurumu would be a part of his life even if he never even spoke to her again. And with a piece of her soul within him, Tsukune would feel the pain his actions would cause her.
XXXXXXX
Kurumu was a little put out that Tsukune had not waited for her that morning. Mizore had told her that he and Moka had gone on ahead so that they could talk privately. There was nothing Kurumu could do about it, so she just concentrated on the happy thought of seeing Tsukune in class and headed to school. She was surprised to see Tsukune at the entrance to the school, still changing his shoes.
"Tsukune," Kurumu called out as she bounded over to him. She grabbed him in a hug. "Why didn't you wait for me? I missed you."
Tsukune didn't say a word. He just stood there, letting Kurumu hold on to him. It felt good to have her close, but he couldn't respond to her.
"Tsukune…"
Kurumu could tell that something was wrong. Tsukune didn't say a word. He didn't struggle against her embrace, but he also did not welcome it. It was like hugging a post. Kurumu focused on her awareness as a succubus. She could feel the lust of the boys that looked at her, and the irritation of the girls. From Tsukune she could only feel a sense of sadness.
"Tsukune," Kurumu said in a low voice. "What's wrong?" She relaxed her embrace, worried.
Tsukune turned from Kurumu without saying a word, and started for class. His face felt hot and the edge of his vision blurred as he held back bitter tears. Tsukune had sworn himself to Moka months ago, and he would hold to that oath no mater what.
XXXXXXX
Moka felt sick to her stomach. All day long, Tsukune had obeyed her order. He had not said anything to Kurumu. He had shut her out completely. Kurumu had tried all day to get a response from Tsukune, but the most that she could get him to do was to look towards Moka with pain in his eyes. At no point did he ask her to recant. He didn't try to explain things to Kurumu though a third party. He had accepted Moka's order fully. Kurumu was obviously hurting from Tsukune's behavior. By the end of the day she had tears in her eyes as she ran away from him. Once she was out of sight Moka finally heard Tsukune say something about how he felt.
"I'm sorry," Tsukune whispered.
XXXX
Kurumu was in tears. She was hurt and confused, and more then a little afraid. Tsukune had ignored her all day. She tried to think of anything she could have done to upset him, but was coming up empty. When she got back to her house after school, Kurumu had thrown herself onto her bed and cried, slowing curling up in a knot of misery.
"Please excuse me," A voice carried though her bedroom door. "I am coming in."
Kurumu moved enough to turn an eye, red rimmed and puffy towards the door. She watched it open and saw Ruby enter the room. The witch closed the door carefully behind herself.
"What do you want?" Kurumu demanded.
"I came to tell you something," Ruby said.
"Did Tsukune send you?"
"No," Ruby said. "He forbid me from telling you anything. But I need to tell you something, for his sake if not yours."
"What is it?" Kurumu sniffed.
"Moka has ordered Tsukune to stop talking to you, to stop being your friend," Ruby explained.
"Why?" Kurumu sat up and scrubbed her face with her hand. "Why would she do this?"
"I do not know," Ruby said. "I only know what Tsukune told me. My master told me that I am to not let you into his house. If you ask for him, I am to tell you that he is not to be bothered or disturbed in any way. When I asked him why, he told me it was because Moka had told him he can never talk with you again."
"And how did Tsukune look when he told you this?" Kurumu asked.
"He was crying," Ruby said in a small voice, knowing that she was betraying her master even as she hoped to help him.
"Thank you for coming," Kurumu said, her voice thick with emotions. "Return to Tsukune, and do what you can for him."
Ruby gave a small bow and left. Kurumu got up from her bed and pulled herself together. A cold rage burned inside of her and she knew where to direct. Kurumu removed her uniform and after washing her face, put on some comfortable clothes. Kurumu saw this as a battle, and taking the time to look calm and composed was an important part of facing an opponent. Just in case things turned violent, Kurumu eased her armor bands into coils on her forearms. With her preparations complete, Kurumu went to face Moka.
Xxx
Moka was having trouble concentrating. She tried to study, but she kept thinking about Tsukune. Her inner self was also in a state over what had happened. Moka was constantly being distracted by the growling mutters from within herself. Moka's feelings looped though anger, pain, and sadness over and over again. She was angry at Tsukune, how dare he have feelings of love for another woman. His words stabbed her heart painfully every time she remembered them. A sense of sadness weighed her down, as if Tsukune's affection for someone else meant that he was not as serious about her as she had thought. Moka was angry at herself for being so trusting and carefree with Tsukune. The idea that she could be so wrong in her judgment stung deeply. It was depressing to think that she was at fault. Moka was angry about what she had done. She remembered Tsukune's bleeding face and pleading eyes, but had demanded that he cut himself off from one of his friends, which was almost the same is asking him to cut off a part of his body. That look in his eyes, when Moka told him he could never talk to Kurumu after he had just confessed his love for her, Moka felt like she had put a knife though her own heart. She had hurt Tsukune so much in that moment that she could have lost Tsukune's affection. What she had done in a moment of anger and weakness, made Moka sad.
Again and again, Moka went through the same cycle. She stared out angry at Tsukune, and ended up hating herself. He had talked to her, had been honest and remorseful with her when all he had to do was say nothing. He could have just let everything go on as it had, letting her believe that everything was wonderful, and he could have enjoyed his illicit romance. He could have taken his time, and little by little, Tsukune could have seduced Moka into accepting him having another relationship, much the same way her father had been know to juggle women for his amusement. Tsukune had chosen to be direct and honest, and to accept the consequences of his choice. Moka was hurt and angry, with Tsukune as well as herself, but underneath it was a sense of pride. Moka was proud of Tsukune, because he had chosen to act with integrity. His conviction made Moka feel even lower.
'This is because I never get to be with him,' Inner Moka growled and complained. 'He has let himself be fooled because we didn't keep him on a tight enough leash. We should just kill that sorry cow and be done with it.'
'Tsukune wouldn't want that,' Moka reminded her inner self.
'Why should we care what he wants?' Inner Moka demanded. 'He betrayed us!'
'No…' Moka hesitated for a moment. 'No, he didn't betray me.'
'He came right out and told you that he is in love with someone else. Tsukune… He said he was in love with that cow. He betrayed me,' Inner Moka raged.
'No,' Moka told herself. 'Tsukune had been troubled with what he felt. He thought that there was something wrong with himself, and had said so. He came and told me what he was feeling, before saying anything to her…' Moka thought for a moment. She thought about what Tsukune had said, and about what she had said. She remembered what he had done, and had not done since that moment when she told him to never talk to Kurumu again.
Moka realized an unpleasant truth. One of the reasons she loved Tsukune so much was for his ability to love her, both of her. He had a kind heart, and when he shared it with her, all she could do was be selfish. She had acted out of pride and anger, again. A dark depression sank into her, making her heart feel cold.
"I'm not good enough for him…" Moka said softly, tears running down her cheeks.
'Even if he thinks that,' Inner Moka raged. 'That is no excuse for what he did.'
'You don't understand,' Moka scolded her inner self. 'Think about is seriously. He was willing to lay down his life for me on the very first day. The same day I ran into him. The same day I drank his blood without even asking. The same day he tried to run away because he was afraid of this school, and me, he came back to help me and was ready to give up his life. Every time there is a problem, what is he told to do? You kick him around and tell him to know his place. We try to tell him to leave us. We tried to make him want to leave, or to hide from him. He tries to save us, risking his life, and we take his life away, making him into a ghoul. We tried to run away, while he forgives us. He turns enemies into friends, and we admire him for it. He loves me, you, us and we are thankful to him and love him. And when he tries to tell us he is troubled and weak for loving somebody else, we get hurt and angry and hurt him right back. We are not good enough to be his girlfriend. He is too good for monsters like me, like us…' Moka started to sob.
'Get a hold of yourself,' Inner Moka demanded. 'What makes you think you can condemn us. Know your place…'
"My place should be beside Tsukune," Moka snarled, speaking out loud. She climbed to her feet, abandoning her books and school work.
'Where are you going?' Inner Moka questioned. 'Do you think Tsukue will accept your company if you're really as bad as you say? You're confused.'
"Tsukune chose me," Moka said in a moment of brilliant clarity. "That is what he did today. He came to me and told me how he felt. He gave me the choice of what he should do. He offered me his life and his heart today. We told him that he could never talk to that woman again, and he listened to us, he obeyed us. He chose us, over Kurumu, over his own happiness. Tsukune chose us and I am going to go to him and hope that he will forgive me for being a monster."
Moka didn't even bother checking her appearance. She was in her nightgown, with her face red and wet with tears. She hurried for the front door of her house, pausing only long enough to put on her shoes. She was surprised by a sudden banging on her front door.
"Moka!" Kurumu yelled as she beat her fist against the door. "Come out here…"
She was cut off as the door was suddenly jerked open. Before Kurumu could say anything, Moka hurried past her. Kurumu gawked for a moment and then gave chase.
"Moka," Kurumu called out. "You and I have something we need to settle…"
"Not now," Moka said, not looking back. She was walking fast, with her eyes on Tsukune's door.
"Yes now," Kurumu insisted. "What did you do to Tsukune? What happened?"
"Not now," Moka insisted. "I need to get to Tsukune." She was almost to his door. She needed to see him. She needed to make things right.
"Oh no you don't," Kurumu snarled. She reached out and grabbed a fist full of Moka's hair and pulled the other woman back.
Moka was almost to Tsukune's door. The handle was only a meter away from her reaching hand. Suddenly she was forced to a stop. Her hair was pulled back so hard it hurt, pulling Moka back, away from Tsukune's door.
"Kurumu," Moka turned trying to get free. "I need to see Tsukune."
"Not until I'm through with you," Kurumu reached for Moka to grapple with her.
Moka struggled to free herself, trying to ward off Kurumu's with one hand while trying to get her hair free with the other. She heard as much as felt her nightgown rip, but that wasn't important. She needed to see Tsukune. She wanted to see him.
"Tsukuneeeeee!" Moka cried out for him.
XXXXXX
Tsukune was laying on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. His stomach felt full of oily rocks and his body was tense. He could feel Kurumue's pain and anger, and he hated himself for causing it. He knew his relationship with Moka may never be the same, but he would not abandon her. He broke down in tears when he first got home, because he needed to, because he needed to release his feelings. If it was needed to stay with Moka, Tsukune decided, he would be strong and calm all day, and cry every night. He would not let Moka be alone ever again.
Laying on his bed, making no effort to study, his dinner long sense cold and abandoned, Tsukune was surprised to hear his name. He sat up, his senses sharp, and heard his name again. It was coming from outside. His heart was pumping as he headed for the door. Moka was calling for him, and she sounded scared. He pulled the front door open only to be shocked by what he saw.
An enraged Kurumu was fighting with a frightened and crying Moka. Moka's nightgown was torn half from her body and her hair was caught in Kurumu's grip. Moka saw Tsukune and looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Tsukune…" Moka cried.
Tsukune didn't bother with shoes. He rushed out and embraced Moka. He wrapped his arms around her and put his body between the two women. Shielded by Tsukune, Moka was finally able to pull her hair free.
"Tsukune," Kurumu said in shock.
"Tsukune," Moka cried into his chest.
"No," Kurumu demanded, beating on Tsukune's back with a closed fist. "Talk to me. Somebody tell me what is going on." Her voice cracked with emotion.
"Tsukune," Moka sobbed. "I'm sorry. Please, I'm sorry."
"Moka," Tsukune asked. "Are you all right?"
"Tsukunee," Kurumu pulled at his shoulders, shaking him.
"I'm sorry…" Moka continued to sob.
"Moka," Tsukune said in a gentle voice. "Please…"
Moka looked up at Tsukune's face and saw the pain and worry in his eyes. She could see and feel him moving as he absorbed Kurumu's attacks. She knew she had to make things right.
"Tsukune," Moka said. "I'm sorry." She pushed against him, escaping from his embrace. She faced Kurumu over Tsukune's shoulder. "Kurumu," Moka said. "I'm sorry, but I have to talk with Tsukune now. I need to apologize to him. He will talk to you tomorrow."
Tsukune thought he would melt with relief at Moka's words.
"Please," Moka said, with what dignity and calm she could muster. "You just had two nights alone with Tsukune. Let me have this one."
"Moka…" Kurumu glared at her enemy for a moment before crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine," Kurumu snorted. "But I expect some kind of answer first thing in the morning." Kurumu spun around and stalked off to her house.
Moka and Tsukune went back into his house together, closing the door behind them. Ruby met them in the front room, looking worried. Tsukune held on to Moka while she cried. He could feel her youki flickering and flashing within her and knew that her inner self was also upset, and suspected that it was with him.
"Thank you, Tsukune," Moka said. "Thank you…" She pulled him close and kissed him, tasting her own tears. "I will try to be more worthy of you."
"Moka…" Tsukune was cut off by another kiss.
"Ruby," Moka turned her head to face the witch. "Would you please do me a favor. I will need a fresh uniform in the morning. Also there is a bag that I will need…"
"I know the one," Ruby said. She looked to Tsukune for approval. After a small nod from her master, Ruby left the house.
"Tsukune," Moka said when they were alone. "I am sorry that I was so selfish. Please forgive me for this morning. It was wrong of me to cut you off from someone important to you."
"I understand," Tsukune said, feeling a sense of relief and joy at the same time. "I didn't want to hurt you ether, but you deserve to know the truth."
"Thank you," Moka sniffed.
Tsukune and Moka talked about their feelings. Tsukune explained how he reached his conclusions from the beginning, including the role Mizore played in helping him reach an understanding. He talked about his fears and uncertainty. Tsukune even admitted that he could be wrong, that the whole mess could be related to that piece of Kurumu's soul that had become a part of him. He wanted Moka to know what he was feeling and thinking before he did anything else, or said anything to Kurumu, because he knew that he loved Moka, and was not just in love with her, or in love with an idea of what he wanted to have with her.
Moka talked about her feelings and fears as well. She spoke of her fear of not being good enough for Tsukune, and of how she felt that she had let him down in the past by not being with him when he needed it. She and Tsukune were still talking when Ruby returned with Moka's things. After putting them away in Tsukune's room, Ruby served the couple tea. Moka and Tsukune continued to talk while Ruby cleaned up his room and prepared the bath. Moka was still upset at the idea of 'her Tsukune' loving anybody else, but she had to face the unpleasant truth. For all of his fears about become a pervert, Tsukune had deep feelings for more then just her.
XXXXXXXXXX
Kurumu slept poorly, when she managed to sleep at all. She was still hurt by what had happened, and didn't know if she should be more angry at Moka or Tsukune. As soon as the sky started to brighten, Kurumu got up and got ready for her day. Somebody better have a good explanation for her, or she was going to take somebody's skin right off their body. She reached Tsukune's door before anybody else on the street had even stepped outside. She knocked, maybe a little harder then needed, to see if Tsukune was awake yet.
"Good morning," Ruby said as she opened the door.
"Where's Tsukune?" Kurumu asked as she pushed her way in.
"Master is still getting dressed," Ruby said in a cold tone. "Perhaps you should wait out…"
"Tsukune," Kurumu called, headed for his bedroom. "You better be ready to talk to… me…"
Kurumu had walked into Tsukune's bedroom, and into a scene that made her green with envy. Moka, mostly dressed, was pulling up her stocking, while Tsukune was still pulling on his pants. The bed was a mess, and so was Moka's hair. Kurumu didn't know if she should be embarrassed or angry.
Xxxx xxxX
Kurumu was still a little red in the face as she shared breakfast with Tsukune and Moka. She had only remained after her embarrassing intrusion because Tsukune had invited her to stay. She didn't feel anything strange from the couple at the table with her, but she could read the tension in their bodies.
"Kurumu," Moka said at last. "Please forgive Tsukune for yesterday. I made him not talk to you because I was feeling jealous."
"Moka…" Tsukune protested.
"What do you have to be jealous of?" Kurumu huffed. "Tsukune is in love with you."
"I don't get to take Tsukune shopping," Moka said. "I don't get to spend nights with Tsukune in a hotel with a romantic restaurant. I don't get to spend a weekend away from school, and all the gossip and accusations with the man I love. My sister already sends exaggerated stories back home about Tsukune. What do you think would happen if my father heard I spent a night alone with him in a hotel? What kind of story do you think Kokoa would tell him?"
Kurumu felt smug, and a little embarrassed at the same time. She had always enjoyed her time with Tsukune. While she knew that Moka would have liked to be in her place at those times, she never though her rival's jealousy would be so real. Kurumu suppressed a smile. It was a small victory, and very petty of her, but she would take it.
"I can see your point," Kurumu sighed theatrically. "The hotel has such comfortable beds for sleeping cuddled together. And the large bathtub is nice too."
Moka made a bitter face. Kurumu smiled sweetly. Ruby gave Tsukune a look that suggest she was ready to inflict some harm. Tsukune excused himself to the toilet.