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 106

Kurumu was less than happy with how her trip had turned out. She had met with an agent she had hoped would help with her career. While the woman had the credentials and the references, Kurumu quickly realized that the agent was not what she was looking for. Kurumu did not want to be another mass produced idol. After the scheduled appointment with one agent, Kurumu tried calling up the agent from the dance machine contract. He was more the willing to work with her again, especially if she would bring along Tsukune, but he was also thinking of making her into an AV idol. After that, Kurumu decided she needed to do some more research. She spent the rest of the time away from school at the book store, or at home, reading about cooking and food as an industry. When she had a chance, Kurumu talked to her mother about her ideas and plans hoping for her support.

By the time Kurumu returned to school she had some hope that her next trip would be more successful. Her mother had an impressive list of contacts that she was willing to go though to help Kurumu's plans. Kurumu also planed to have a better working knowledge to help her make smart decisions as well, having brought back what she hoped were good reference materials. If necessary, Kurumu was going to track down her career counselor and make her do something resembling her job title for once.

Kurumu returned to school in time for her regular study session with her friends. While she was not in the mood to do any school work, Kurumu wanted to see Tsukune. She returned to her house long enough to freshen up and gather her things for the study group. With a little spring in her step she crossed the street to Tsukune's house, where she was stunned by what she found.

Kurumu had expected to be the last member of the group to have arrived, but that is not what she discovered. Yukari was sitting with a frown beside her books. Mizore, dressed in a yukata, was sitting at the table, studying with a smile on her face. Tsukune was in the kitchen, making tea, dressed in his under shirt and a pair of baggy shorts.

"Tsukune?" Kurumu asked. "What's going on?"

"I'm just making tea," Tsukune said. "Come on in. I almost have all of my work done, but we're still studying togeher."

"Where's Ruby?" Kurumu asked as she settled into place at the table.

"She's doing some work for the Board Chairman," Tsukune explained.

"What about Moka?" Kurumu looked around, not believing that the vampire wasn't already there.

"Moka's not here," Yukari grumbled. "She had to go to some formal dinner thing with Lord Gray and hasn't come back yet."

Kurumu froze in place while her mind worked. Moka and Ruby were both gone. Kurumu had wasted her weekend with a pointless trip when she could have been alone at school with Tsukune.

"Damn it!" Kurumu stomped her food down.

XX xx XX xx XX

Moka was glad to return to school. Her weekend trip had taken her to America of all places. Friday afternoon she had been transported to the lands over which Brone Gray held sway. His title had not come from some old nobility, but from a very old tradition of simply claiming a territory and then defending it. Friday night had included an informal dinner where Lord Gray had explained his position. He had started out as a human researching magic and the supernatural to help a friend, but had learned that getting involved with the creatures of myths and superstitions came with a price. The more he learned the more he had to deal with, until just the act of protecting his friends and his own home was seen by some as a challenge. Left with the choice of being subjugated or fighting, he had chosen to fight, until he had carved out a territory and built a reputation. Before long he started receiving petitions for protection. A half dozen lesser vampires, scores of assorted youkai, and numerous human practitioners of the occult lived in Lord Gray's territory, under his protection and subject to his will.

Moka understood what her host was talking about. He had created his own status, and while his title, and hers, really meant nothing to the human world, among the youkai and the other creatures of spirits and shadows, his authority and position were real. He collected tribute, small sums of money from those under his protection, which he invested in much the same way as Moka's father. Lord Gray even confided that he used his power to provide services in exchange for money, precious items, or even land.

Saturday morning, after a heavy western breakfast, Sakura took Moka on a tour of her 'holdings.' The Argent Cairn, or silver hill was just that. It was a hill little over a hundred meters tall composed mostly of large rock protruding from the ground and covered by sage brush. The white sage gave the hill an almost silver color, and was one of the reasons for the name. The other reason for the name was the small silver mine within the hill. It was explained to Moka that the mine was of very limited worth, and that it would probably cost more to work it than would ever come out, if humans ran the mine. However, a clan of gnomes had moved in and worked the mine. As Dame, it would be Moka's responsibility to help protect them, and to occasionally settle disputes between members of the clan. Included within Moka's holdings was a small cottage built over the entrance to the mine. The cottage was a small house with only three rooms. The main room, which was smaller than Moka's old dorm room and included the bed, a table with two chairs, and a kitchenette. There was a small western style bathroom, and a back room which was actually built within the mine entrance. The back room was a meeting hall with a chair and a desk for Moka when she held court. The gnomes had assembled to meet their new Dame and to pay their respects.

Moka had been a little worried about being responsible for governing the gnomes when her position had been first explained to her. The meeting settled her mind quickly. The hall was lined on each side with galleries filled by tiny people in pointed hats. On a raised platform in the middle of the hall a dozen small chairs were arranged in a semi-circle facing Moka's desk. A very old looking gnome, standing five inches tall, with a beard about six inches long, and with a silver circlet around his red conical hat, introduced himself as the head of the gnome's counsel and started in on a very long-winded speech.

"...And so we welcome you Dame Moka," The gnome concluded his welcoming speech. "Now just stay out of our way and we'll get along just fine." He sat down at last, giving Moka a challenging look.

"We women would like to have our say as well," A round little old woman stood up among the counsel. "You're not to go changing things in the garden. We tend to the garden with love and care, so before you try messing it up, you come to us first. You hear?" With a sniff she sat back down.

Moka blinked a few times a she processed what had just happened. It was clear that the gnomes were able to govern themselves, and had no desire to have their lives disturbed by an outsider. Moka gave them a nod.

"So it is agreed," Moka said. "I am your Dame and protector. You do as you see best and let me know when I am needed. If you have nothing more, then the meeting is adjourned."

The meeting ended and the gnomes returned to their daily lives, content that their new Dame was smart enough to know her place. Moka watched them flow out of the hall relieved that she wasn't going to be called upon to settle every little squabble or have to manage their affairs. Before she could leave, a pair of burly little gnomes came in to the hall pulling a cart. On the cart was a moderately sized, bulging pouch.

"Dame," One of the gnomes called out. "You'll be wanting this tonight. It's our tribute. You're supposed to give half of this to Lord Gray."

"Thank you," Moka said, accepting the purse.

The two gnomes looked relieved to be free of their burden. The took their empty cart away with considerably less effort than they had brought it in. Moka watched them go with a smile.

Once it was clear that no other business needed to be seen to, Moka left the hall. As she left the cottage, she took a moment to inspect the garden around it. It was mostly an herb garden with some small fruit bushes added in. Around the garden was a wall, made of the same stone as the cottage. Moka gave a nod of satisfaction. There was little for her to do, but if she decided to take a vacation, her holdings might just serve the purpose.

Lord Brone Gray held court in the mid afternoon. His hall was in some kind of barrier place that Moka didn't quite understand, but it was separate from the outside world where the dry heat of late summer still lingered. It was a different event than what Moka was used to. Lord Gray sat on a throne at the head of the hall while the people and spirits that were loyal to him sat on padded benches on ether side of a central isle. Each member of the court was called out in descending order by rank to approach the throne offer their tribute. Moka was surprised to learn that she was far from the lowest rank in the court. Most of the people in attendance held no titles at all. As each person presented their tribute, a woman dressed in a silk Chinese gown with a heavy iron collar around her neck read off a list of recent accomplishments, honors, or shortcomings.

"Akashiya Moka," The woman called out. "Dame of the Argent Cairn. Come forward. Dame Akashiya Moka, appointed to the court this year in recognition of her steadfastness in opposition to Fairy Tail, sworn enemy of this court. Dame Akashiya Moka did stand in direct opposition to Fairy Tail and its agents, and did lend her strength to her sworn followers for the protection of life and freedom. Let it be known that Dame Akashiya Moka is of true and noble nature and is held in high favor by this court."

Moka listened to the woman's words while keeping herself outwardly calm. She walked up the isle, offered a curtsy to Lord Gray, and dropped her tribute into the small chest at his feet. Moka was aware of the scrutiny she received from the other members of the court.

"Be welcome in my domain," Lord Gray said in a firm, almost flat voice.

"Thank you, my lord," Moka made another curtsy before returning to her seat. She could not read the man's expression, but a coldness seemed to surround him. Moka was sharply aware that Lady Hemonoira was not present, and suspected that her absence contributed to Lord Gray's dark mood.

Most of the court business was just the formality of paying respects. Sir Highland was a tall man that looked a lot like Lord Gray, and had only offered an exchange of pleasantries. Among the untitled members of the court tokens of tribute were offered while the only announcements that were made were the individual's name, and that they were in good favor, or not.

Once the formal presentations were over everybody was dismissed from the hall. The members of the court reassembled in an adjoining dining room with long tables arranged on three sides around a central space. Seating was arranged and Sakura showed Moka to her place at the table. The meal was all rich western foods with a wide choice of drinks. Moka kept a calm expression on her face and exchanged polite words with the people around her. Her comprehension of English was more than sufficient for the needs of the evening. As such events went, it was far from the most trying she had experienced. As soon as it was politically acceptable, Moka excused herself from the evenings activities.

It was still very early in the morning when Moka started her trip back to school. It was mid afternoon when she arrived. The jump across time zones gave Moka a bad case of jet lag and she just wanted to relax. As she unpacked her bag and got ready for a bath, Moka wished she could have someone do the menial tasks for her. She speculated that if she were to move in with Tsukune, Ruby would probably take care of things for her just to make her master happy. Thinking about Tsukune made Moka want to go and see him, but she knew that if she did, she would never get her school work done on time.

Moka cut her bath short, determined to get her school work done. She didn't have anything major due, but if Tsukune could keep up with his studies than she could hardly do less. She had just settled in with her books and notes when she was interupted.

'We should go and check on Tsukune,' Moka's inner interjected.

'We have to study,' Moka argued with herself.

'We can study later,' Inner Moka complained. 'I want to see Tsukune now.'

'Why are you acting this way Ura chan?' Moka questioned as she struggled to concentrate on her math book.

'Because it's been so long since I've seen Tsukune,' Inner Moka lamented.

'We saw him two days ago.'

'You saw him two days ago. It has been more then a week for me,' Inner Moka grumbled. 'I don't like this. I used to just sleep, and when I woke up, Tsukune was there. You and I might talk once in a while, but most of my time awake was around Tsukune.'

'Well go back to sleep,' Moka said. 'Or help me get this work done. The sooner it's done the more time we have to visit Tsukune.'

'Fine,' Inner Moka huffed. 'You forgot a decimal point on the second line...'