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 92

The dining room was noteworthy only for its size. The teachers from three different schools had a table together at one end of the room. Two long tables ran the length of the room. The students were gathering together at the end of the room farthest from the staff table, gathering into their regular groups before sitting down, trying to count seats and maintain their individual group integrity. Tsukune was looking forward to spending dinner with his friends, but saw the room dividing by genders. He didn't want to spend the trip constantly divided from the people that were most important to him.

"Kota," Tsukune turned to his old friend. "Could you help me out with something?"

"Sure, Tsukune," Kota agreed. "What can I do for you?"

"Get your club to come sit with my school mates," Tsukune said.

"What?" Kota questioned, casting an eye towards the colorful females from Tsukune's group.

"Remember when we met Emmy during the break?" Tsukune said. "My school is full of people that don't have a lot of experience making friends. Come sit with Emmy and bring your club along as well."

"Alright," Kota said with a nod. He might not be sure of Tsukune's plans, but the chance to sit with his girlfriend won Kota over.

"Newspaper Club, Drama Club," Tsukune called out, holding a hand up. "Over here please?"

"What's going on?" The Drama Club director wanted to know.

The same question, if in different words, was repeated as the summoned students gathered around Tsukune. He reminded them all that their school was about learning to get along with others and to fit in, and to that end, he wanted the youkai students to mingle with the human students, carefully. He brought his companions to the table where Kota and his friends were gathered and drew them into the mix.

The arrangement actually turned out well when it came to seating. One table was occupied by the students from the all girl's school, fourteen girls in total, while the other was occupied by a mix of boys and girls from two different schools, twenty eight students strong. A section of one table was moved to the other, but it made little difference. The mixed table was quickly surrounded by a merry atmosphere as the food was served. While Tsukune's table was a little crowded, nobody seamed to mind.

Aiko watched the mixed group with open curiosity. Aono had drawn together a mix of students with just a few words, and now they were lively and happy as they ate together. She could see the same couples from earlier in the day sitting together. The leader from that mixed school, Aono, sat with his club mates closest to him. Aiko couldn't help but wonder which one of the girls he was dating. Watching Aono, Aiko could see how he stood out among the other boys. Compared to Aono Tsukune, the other male students were boys.

Tsukune was enjoying his evening. He had his friends around him and they were participating in a very normal activity. After the evening meal was over, the students remained together in the dining room, talking about their schools and clubs. The teachers watched over the student from their table, talking among themselves while staying apart. When it was clear that the eating was finished and the students were just socializing, it was time to start thinking of what lay ahead.

When the first students started to nod off, the teachers told everybody that it was time for bed. There was a round of lighthearted complaints, but the students didn't hesitate to obey. The students climbed to their feet and started back to their rooms. Tsukune stopped on the second floor landing of the stairs to make sure none of the male students tried to follow the females up to the third floor. He kind of wished that he hadn't.

"Tsukune," Kurumu said, coming up close to him on the landing. "I hope you have a good night's sleep." She grabbed him in a hug and kissed him.

A mixed cry of disbelief and excitement rose up from the students that had witnessed the event. Tsukune felt himself blushing, unprepared for the public display of affection, even as he put his arms around Kurumu in a hug. It was a brief exchange, just a moment of holding each other close while pressing their lips together, but it was still filled with emotions.

"Good night, Tsukune," Kurumu said as she parted from him.

"Good night, Kurumu," Tsukune said with a smile and a small nod.

As Kurumu hurried up the stairs, excited whispers followed her. Tsukune watched her go, surprised at his urge to follow her. Around him, students looked at him in surprise. A few of the girls were blushing.

"Hey," Moka protested. "That wasn't fair." She planted herself in front of Tsukune and put her arms around his neck.

Tsukune offered no resistance as Moka pulled him closer. He put his arms around her, glad to have her close to him. Moka pulled Tsukune in as if for a kiss, but caught Tsukune off guard by biting his lip. It was not a gentle bite, and the pain made Tsukune try to pull away on reflex alone, but Moka didn't let him. He understood, at least in part what she was doing. She was asserting her place above all others in his life, and stealing a snack at the same time. Moka's 'kiss' lasted several moments longer then Kurumu's. Tsukune could hear the whispers and giggles of the spectators as he held Moka close.

Moka felt her face flush with emotions. She was angry at Kurumu for being so forward in public. She was angry at herself for following Kurumu's lead. She was also angry that she had not kissed Tsukune first. Biting Tsukune's lip had been an act of impulse and jealousy, and Moka felt bad about that. But Tsukune was holding her close, and his blood was so delicious. Moka wanted to abandon herself into his embrace. Her heart was beating with excitement and her body was warm with desire. It was only the lack of privacy that kept her from giving in to her own wants, and she was irritated about that.

Moka finished her snack when Tsukune's lip healed. She kissed him lightly for a moment more before separating from him. She took a small step back from Tsukune and looked up into his eyes, a blush touched Moka's cheeks.

"Good night, Tsukune," Moka said.

"Good night, Moka," Tsukune said in a warm, soft voice.

After Moka retreated up the stairs, Tsukune saw Kokoa and Yukari watching him. Yukari looked like she was torn between wanting to be excited and trying to look calm and mature. Kokoa was glaring at Tsukune openly. Tsukune held his arms open, offering a hug. Kokoa stepped in quickly and swung a fist at Tsukune's face. He caught her fist in his palm with a loud smack, then closed his hand around hers, trapping her for a moment. Before she could react, Tsukune pulled her in close, gave her a brief hug, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Good night, Kokoa," Tsukune said. "Watch over Moka for me."

Tsukune let go of Kokoa. The young vampire was feeling dizzy. She moved away from Tsukune slowly as her mind tried to process what had happened. It was her sense of embarrassment that made her hurry up the stairs. Tsukune had bested her, again. He had defended from her attack, over powered her and pulled her into his embrace, making him vulnerable, kissed her, and then let her go all before she could think to hit him again. He was so strong and confident, and smelled so good, Kokoa growled to herself in frustration, wondering why her body felt warm and tense, but her anger seemed to have no heat behind it. Kokoa wanted to bite Tsukune, even if she was unsure why.

Once Kokoa was gone, Yukari didn't hesitate to accept Tsukune's hug. She got a good night kiss on the forehead and wished a good night's rest. Yukari was still unsatisfied with the kisses she was receiving from Tsukune, but at least he was willing to touch her a little bit. As she headed up to her room, Yukari wondered if she could set up a situation to draw Tsukune in closer with her and Moka.

Once all the other student in the combined group had made it past the second floor landing, ether up to the third floor or down the hall, Tsukune headed for his futon. He had not seen Ruby, but suspected she was still with the teachers, living up to her role as an assistant adviser. Tsukune was also aware that he had not seen Mizore, but knew she couldn't be far. He could feel her youkai, but it was a vague and unfocused awareness. Tsukune had realized that she was concealing herself. He could tell that she was not far, but he could not tell distance or direction. While he worried what she was up to, he felt that she was safe.

Once back to the room he was sharing, a quick headcount told Tsukune that all youkai were present. He crossed the room and settled into the futon closest to the window with a relaxed sigh. The first day of the trip was over and nothing bad had happened.

XXXXX

Aiko smiled as she looked around the room. Her parents had lectured her on the importance of always being a proper lady. She had grown up being told that she was from a superior class, and that only people of her own class were suitable companions for her. She had been enrolled in schools based upon ideas of status and social importance. Sitting in that hotel room, getting ready for sleep, Aiko had proof that her parents had been wrong about their views. The room was filled up with young women of different social classes, from two different schools, and they were all acting in much the same way. As everybody was at least pretending to get ready for sleep, they were all chatting happily, about boys and romance more then anything else.

Aiko tried to look uninterested in the conversation as she brushed her hair out. The two milder girls, Emmy and that girl with the bow, had boyfriends, so they were of some interest to Aiko's class mates. The more colorful girls from that Newspaper Club however, were the ones attracting the most attention. The kissing on the stairs had been exciting to see, and there were questions to be explored because of it. That it appeared that two girls were fighting over the same boy just made everything that much more exciting. Aiko felt a little sorry for Moka. The pink haired girl was trying to hard to be calm and polite while enduring the questions, some of which were very personal. Kurumu, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the attention.

While pretending indifference, Aiko listened carefully. Kurumu was willing to talk in great detail about her experience. She held her audience captive, talking about how it felt to hold her boyfriend close. She talked about the feel of his muscles under his clothes, and the heat of his body as they embraced. The young women with no personal experience of their own were excited by hearing about how it felt to kiss someone. Aiko felt her own face becoming warmer as she listened.

"What is the most important thing in getting a boyfriend?" One of the human girls asked.

"Sharing," Moka said in a firm voice, surprising everybody.

Moka had volunteered very little as she prepared for sleep, letting Kurumu do all of the talking. While it had bothered her to hear Kurumu so publicly and freely call Tsukune her boyfriend, it was nothing new. The succubus was much more forward at school. But when that girl had asked an honest question, Moka thought that she deserved an honest answer.

"You can talk to your friends," Moka expanded. "About your feelings and problems. If you are going to have a boyfriend, then you should be able to share all of the same things with him. He may not want to hear about fashion or the latest drama, but he should be willing to at least listen if it is important to you." Moka blessed Tsukune's mother for her advice, it had made sense when she had heard it, and it had made Moka feel accepted that she was willing to talk to her about how to keep a relationship with her son strong. "And you should be willing to listen to him, even if it is about sports or other things that men enjoy. It is nice to be able to hold hands and walk around together, but it is the sharing that makes it special. When you see something interesting in a store window, it is fun to have a friend with you to talk about it with. Your boyfriend is somebody you should be able to share moments with, to make them fun, to make them special."

"Yes," Emmy said, nodding. "Kota makes me feel warm when he smiles at me, but he is also willing to listen to my questions and help me understand the answers. He makes me feel special because he is willing to share his time with me. He could go off and play games, or spend his time reading, but he chooses to share his time with me. That makes me feel important to him."

"When Tsukune is troubled," Kurumu said. "I take the time to listen to him, to understand his feelings, and to offer him my support."

"I help him with his school work," Moka said, shooting Kurumu a dark look. "And make lunches for him."

"We all make lunches for him," Kuruu reminded her.

"And we all support him," Moka countered.

"Wait," One of Aiko's classmates spoke up. "Who's boyfriend is he?"

"Mine!" Kurumu and Moka both said with pride. They turned to glare at each other.

"Moka is Tsukune's future wife," Yukari said.

"She is not," Kokoa protested. "Somebody like him could never be good enough for my sister."

"You just want Tsukune to yourself," Kurumu countered.

"What?" Kokoa's face turned red. "No! Why would I want to have anything to do with that idiot?"

"You tell me?" Kurumu purred. "You can't seem to take your eyes off of him."

"Th-th-th-that's just because I don't trust him around Moka," Kokoa argued. "I can't let my guard down because he is so strong and so fast. He is always so kind and friendly... If he tries something then he will surely get away with it. I hate him."

Kokoa was red faced and breathing hard. Girls all around the room were smiling, resisting the urge to giggle. Moka was amused by her sister's protests, very much aware of the signs of a girl resisting her own heart, but not so amused at the idea of her sister chasing after her Tsukune. Aiko watched the exchange and listened to the conversation with interest. She thought that her time with these other girls would be at least as important as the tips to the shrines and historical sights.

XXXXXX

Down in the boys room things were quieter. Once Tsukune made it clear that he was not going to 'kiss and tell,' the small amount of conversation was limited some speculation about the next day as the young men settled in for bed. When someone realized they could hear sounds from the girls on the floor above them, the boys went silent, trying to listen. They could hear voices and laughter, even if they could not tell what was being said. Someone suggested in a whisper sneaking up stairs for a better listen.

"I wonder," Tsukune said aloud. "How those guys that tried to sneak a peek at the baths are doing."

That was enough to kill the idea of sneaking up stairs. When the idea of peeping had come up in the baths, Tsukune had been against it, and had read enough mangas to know what would happen to the hero that tried to go along to stop the peepers. What Tsukune had done was draw up his youki and hold on to it. The youkai boys felt it at once, and had no desire to challenge him. Kota and his friends saw how fast Tsukune's school mates had backed down from the peeping idea. Kota also had a girlfriend in the baths and did not like the idea of anybody peeping on her. It didn't take much for the PRC to back down from going peeping. An unfortunate number of guys from some other schools that were also staying at the hotel did go off to try and steal a peek at the girls' bath.

Tsukune waited calmly for the inevitable. He finished his bath and had his robe on quickly, in case things went badly and he needed to take any kind of action. The other guys in the bath did as guys would do, they speculated and wagered on the outcome of the peeking raid. A few moaned about how they should have gone and complained about missed opportunities. The speculation continued until a loud crash and a lot of shouting was heard. The would-be peepers returned looking the worse for wear, and had to admit defeat. Tsukune was glad that none of the justly punished young men were seriously injured. Life was not a comic, and they were only human.

"Alright," Kota spoke up. "The Paranormal Research Club has a tradition we must follow. We will now turn out the lights." Kota held up a battered aluminum flashlight. "Once the lights are out, we will pass the flashlight around and each person must tell a story. Please don't just tell some ghost story about a girl getting murdered. We want stories about spirits, youkai, hauntings, and strange phenomena. After each story, we will take a moment to discuss it, trying to deduce what real event inspired the story. Everyone understand the rules?"

Tsukune saw the interested, even eager look in the eyes of most of the guys in the room. He couldn't help but wonder if Kota and his friends might be about to create a problem. He also wondered if he would get any sleep. Tsukune settled into his futon as the lights went out. Kota turned on the flashlight and handed it to the first guy before retreating to his own futon. The first story was about the Witch's Ranch.

Tsukune almost choked in surprise. Not only did he know the truth about the Witch's Ranch, he had been there to discover it. The Newspaper Club had printed most of it in the school paper. Even without his youkai night vision, Tsukune could tell his school mates were looking at him. Before Tsukune had needed to say anything to deflect too much attention, the story was finished and discussed. As Kota had told Tsukune during the spring break, the common belief was that a crooked land developer was behind the disappearances and unexplained sightings. The flashlight was passed to the next person.

Tsukune listened to the stories and let himself relax a little. His school mates knew they had to keep their secret. Tsukune had to trust them, and himself. In a way, the trip was a test, to see how well they could get along in the human world. Tsukune also realized that the Drama Club would probably see this story telling game as a chance to express their creativity. As the others told their stories, Tsukune tried to think up one of his own. It was while his mind was distracted that Tsukune felt a cool breeze come in through the window. He was suddenly aware of Mizore's youki, and her presence in the room.

"Shhhhh," Mizore whispered into Tsukune's ear. "Don't make any noise or they'll know I'm here."

Tsukune held back his protests as Mizore slipped into his futon beside him. He scanned the room with his night sight to see if anybody else had noticed Mizore's arrival. He saw that the humans' attention was all on the current story teller, while the members of the Drama Club were watching Tsukune with a measure of amusement.

"Mizore," Tsukune whispered. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to sleep with you," Mizore snuggled against him, her voice as quiet as a breeze.

"But what if you get caught?" Tsukune insisted.

"It's alright," Mizore insisted. "I heard from one of the human boys what their teacher said."

"But what will they think of you if you're found sleeping with me?" Tsukune tried to argue.

"I don't care," Mizore whispered with a smile.

Tsukune saw that he had lost the argument. He had two choices left to him. He could just give in, or he could negotiate a deal with her. Tsukune considered his choices carefully, and decided that letting Mizore have her way now would be the safest path. He lay back as if nothing was wrong, and tried to ignore the pretty young woman cuddled up beside him, or at least appear to.

Tsukune listened to the stories being told and tried to think of what he should do about Mizore. It felt good to have her close, but at the same time, he wished that Kurumu or Moka had been the one to visit. He knew Moka wouldn't, because being caught would cause her trouble with her family. Kurumu might try a night visit, because a rumor of her and him being lovers would not upset her at all. She would only encourage Tsukune to go along with the rumors and become lovers in truth.

Mizore, Tsukune knew, wanted more then just to be Tsukune's lover. She had made it clear that she wanted to marry him, and failing that, to have his children at least. Tsukune didn't know how he was going to resolve his problems with the women in his life, but he knew he would have to find a way. His thoughts were intruded upon by the next story.

The director of the Drama Club received the flashlight and started his story. He told the classic tale of the hunter, lost in a winter storm, where he encountered a Snow Maiden. Tsukune knew that the director was just trying to be funny, because he could see the grin on his face as he told the story, looking directly at Tsukune. It wasn't a very long story, and the Paranormal Research Club picked it apart in minutes. A man lost in the snow could have all kinds of hallucinations while nearly freezing to death after all. And anybody that had ever been warned about surviving a snow storm was cautioned about feeling warm, or even hot, was a sign of being near death, why so many people were later found undressed, dead from exposure. Mizore had actually lifted her head up to glare at the humans. She was glad that the secret of her people was safe, but to be discounted so quickly as a hallucination was a little hurtful. Tsukune tried to sooth her by putting an arm around her, holding her close, and incidentally getting ready to hold her back if it was needed.

All too soon the flashlight was passed to Tsukune. As the furthest from the door, where it had started, Tsukune was the last person to have to tell a story. He had tried to think of something that wasn't just a ghost story. It was the Mizore's presence, and the director's story, that reminded Tsukune that he had more stories he could tell then anybody would guess.

"Once upon a time," Tsukune began his story. "There was a common little neighborhood. There was nothing special about it, just another place where people lived their normal little lives. Every winter the local shrine would hold a festival to honor the kami that had traditionally watched over the area. One year, a boy from the neighborhood saw agirl at the festival. She looked under dressed, wearing only a simple kimono. He looked at her, at first thinking that she seemed out of place. He stepped away from his parents to ask her where she was from. As he got closer, the boy saw that the girl was incredibly cute. Her hair, instead of being black, was actually a very dark blue. Her eyes were just a shade or two lighter. The skin of her face was smooth, and so pale that that it almost glowed in the winter light. The boy managed to introduce himself and ask the girl if she was from the area. She returned the introduction and told the boy she was just visiting. She then asked the boy to show her around."

"They were just two children being children," Tsukune continued his story. "The enjoyed the festival together, having fun. When night fell, the boy went home with his parents. He all but forgot about the girl over the following year, but remembered her as he and his family returned to the shrine for the winter festival. He saw the girl once more, and renewed his friendship with her. Again, they spent the day together. And so it went for a couple of years. If the boy saw any friends from his school, he would introduce them to the girl and they would play together at the festival, as children do. Nothing really changed until the year the boy had turned thirteen. As he was getting ready to go home from the festival, the boy paused to ask the girl if he could see her the next day."

"The girl was surprised," Tsukune said, watching the faces of his audience. "But quickly promised to meet the boy at the shrine the next day. For the rest of the winter, the boy and the girl would meet whenever he had the chance. He learned a little about the girl in those days. He learned that the girl came to visit the area every winter, but had to be home by the spring. She lived in the country, she had explained. The boy thought that she must live on a farm, and the girl didn't dispute him. Over the next couple of years, the boy and the girl shared the winters together. The boy looked forward to the coming of winter."

"In his second year of high school, the boy surprised the girl again," Tsukune told his listeners. "He asked the girl to be his girlfriend, confessing that he liked her. The girl was happy, but cried at the same time. She said that she would be his girlfriend and hugged him. He invited her to meet his parents and brought her home for dinner. He introduced her to his school friends as his girlfriend, holding her hand wherever they went. But time continued to pass. Winter would end and the girl would leave, but all year long the boy was happy to have a girlfriend."

"But time passed," Tsukune continued. "The boy was going to go to college in the spring, he told the girl. He would be moving away. He asked the girl if she would be able to visit him, or if he could visit her, but the girl only cried. The rest of the winter passed and the couple almost never said a word to each other, even though they were with each other frequently. Finally, after much asking, the boy finally got the girl to explain why she was so sad. The girl told him that she was only allowed to visit the area because it was where her family had come from a long time ago, before it had been developed and built over, smothering nature out with paved roads and buildings. She explained that she could go nowhere else, and that she was sad that he would be leaving her. The boy tried to reassure her that college would only be a temporary separation, but the girl was still sad. He considered the girl that he had gown up with. He care for her deeply and did not want to see her sad. He asked if there was anything he could do to help her. He suggested that he could talk with her family. As the winter was ending, as they sat together at a quiet place behind the shrine, the girl finally told the boy how she could leave home."

"There is only one way I could leave my home and go beyond this place," Tsukune told his story. He could see that everybody, including Mizore, was hanging on his every word. "The girl said that the only way she could leave her family would be to go with her husband to start a new one. The boy smiled wide and put his arms around her. Then it was simple, the boy said. They could get married and live together. But the girl pushed him away. She told him that they couldn't get married. That the reason she couldn't leave wasn't just because of family tradition, but because she was not human. With tears in her eyes, the girl revealed that she was a youkai, born from a family of spirit creatures once honored as the kami of the region back when the area was still just a farming village surrounded by wilderness. She saw that the boy was doubtful, and as much as she wanted to be with him she had to be honest. He deserved to know the reason she was rejecting him. With a wave of her hand her human appearance was banished. The boy saw his girlfriend, his friend since childhood, transform into a creature of legend before his very eyes. Gone was the perfectly smooth skin and slender body she had always shown to him. In its place he saw something impossible. The girl turned monster turned her back to him."

"The boy surprised the girl for a third time," Tsukune drew his story towards the finish. "He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. He told the girl he loved that he did not understand. He told her that she hand not explained why she was rejecting him. He told her that he did not see any reason not to get married. Of course, once she heard his words, the girl turned around and hugged him. While to the rest of the word they would be a normal couple, the two had accepted each other and lived happily as husband and wife."

"That's just a love story from a girl's manga," Somebody protested in the dark. "There's no mystery in that."

"Tsukune," Kota complained. "That wasn't the kind of story you were supposed to tell."

"Oh no?" Tsukune challenged. "How many stories just like it have you heard, in legends as well as mangas? Think about it. Why do so many stories like that exist? Rune," Tsukune addressed the director of the Drama Club. "Do you think it is possible for a human and a youkai to fall in love?"

"It would be possible," The director agreed.

"Kota," Tsukune turned to his friend. "If you found out that your girlfriend was actually a vampire or a werewolf, would you care any less for her?"

"No," Kota said quickly.

"Just to let you know," Tsukune said, turning off the flashlight and laying it aside. "I made up that story, but it is based on a true one. I have seen proof that youkai are real, even if they are not what you expect them to be"