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 122

Kurumu couldn't stop smiling all morning. Tsukune liked to act calm and reserved in public, but in truth he was a very passionate person. He did everything with his whole heart, and put all of himself into his efforts. Tsukune did not try to do a job that was only good enough. He tried to do his best, or he didn't do it at all. Kurumu liked it when he focused that passion and dedication on her. When Tsukune had to get out of bed to start his day, Kurumu kept him company until he was out the door.

Xx xX

Botan and Chiho were both feeling self conscious around Kurono Kurumu. The attractive and well endowed young woman kept giving them knowing smiles as they tried to work around her. There was no denying that she was Tsukune's lover, which made them jealous. And knowing that their master was willing to have a lover inspired some lusty daydreams in the pair of maids.

Because she was their master's friend and lover, the maids had to yield to the succubus' will. Botan didn't like watching as Kurumu arranged her own belongings in the master suite. She didn't see a reason for her to act like she was moving in, even in part. Chiho, under Ruby, had learned the layout of the kitchen, and looked forward to laboring their for her master. It was frustrating to watch the perky and polite Kurumu baking large batches of cookies. If it was not for Ruby, the pair of maids would have said something. As it was, they were left feeling unsure of themselves.

=^.^=

"Kurumu," Ruby approached the succubus while she was cleaning up the kitchen. "You don't have to do that."

"I made the mess," Kurumu answered with a smile. "I'll clean it up. It is only fair that I do. Think of it as a thank you for letting me borrow your kitchen."

"It is not my kitchen," Ruby said. "And my master did give me clear instructions regarding you."

"Ruby," Kurumu shook her head a little. "The house may be Tsukune's at the moment. And he may own our hearts. But you are the one who cooks for him with all the love and desire you can fit into the pots and pans. That makes it your kitchen." Kurumu suddenly started laughing.

"What is so funny?" Ruby demanded.

"I was just thinking about Tsukune," Kurumu sighed. "I almost feel sorry for him." She finished cleaning up and crossed the kitchen to Ruby. "He will have to have such a big house some day, or he will never be satisfied."

"Tsukune doesn't care about things like that," Ruby protested.

"Not for himself," Kurumu nodded. "But he does care about us. Think about it. He loves us, and wants to make us happy. So he will need a very large house. In that large house, there will have to be three kitchens, four master bedrooms, a nursery, an office, a sewing room, and I don't know how many other rooms. The biggest kitchen will probably be yours, with or without cooks and maids for you to command. I will have a kitchen for my own use as well. Moka and Mizore can share a third kitchen, for when they want to play at cooking too."

"I see," Ruby nodded. She liked the idea of having a kitchen she didn't have to share. "But why four master bedrooms?"

"Well maybe five," Kurumu said with a cute little frown. "So Tsukune could have his own room when he is feeling tired."

"But..." Ruby questioned

"Tell me the truth," Kurumu said. "If you could, isn't there a way you would like to decorate and furnish a bedroom, just for you and Tsukune?"

"Well..." Ruby blushed deeply at the thought.

XXX XX X

Tsukune started his day focused on his responsibilities. He met with Akira to discuss the Student Police schedules for the festival. The pair of them then did a walk-around of the festival. During their walk Tsukune talked to the members of the Festival Committee that they ran across. Just past mid-morning Tsukune took a break from his official duties. He returned to the village to meet up with Mizore.

XX

Mizore felt like she should be glowing. She was on a date with Tsukune. After he and Moka had made their plans for the festival, Mizore had wished that she could go on a date to the festival with Tsukune also. She had not realized that she had spoken out loud, but Tsukune had turned to her and agreed to go with her. It had been a stray thought that had escaped her, but it had somehow turned into a real date. Tsukune was with her, and only her, making Mizore feel special.

While Mizore was on her date with Tsukune, they walked through the festival as a couple. They held hands and investigated the booths and attractions together. Tsukune posed with her at the Photography Club's booth, and won a silly little pony doll by throwing darts at balloons at a first year class' booth. Moka was working the Newspaper Club's booth when Tsukune and Mizore approached. There was a tension around her eyes when she saw the couple, but she greeted them warmly. Tsukune and Mizore didn't linger long. As they were leaving, Kurumu arrived with a small basket of cookies. She offered Tsukune and Mizore a cookie and a smile before relieving Moka.

Mizore knew that seeing the others would be almost impossible to avoid, if on a date on school grounds. The fact that neither of them tried to interrupt her date meant a lot to her. It was a kindness that she would have to repay to Kurumu at a later date. But that was a worry for another time. Mizore put the others out of her mind and let herself enjoy her date with Tsukune while she could.

Mizore did her best not to pout when it was time for her date to come to a close. Tsukune walked with her away from the festival, and a little ways into the woods towards the village. They parted with a kiss that made Mizore feel very warm and special.

XXxxXX

Tsukune nervously made another check of the arrangements for the soon to arrive guests. He had enjoyed his time with Mizore, but he had to get back to being responsible. As the time for the guests to arrive drew closer, Tsukune could feel the pressure weighing down on him. Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore were waiting with him, with all four of them in their best school uniforms. Ruby had the house in perfect order, and the maids were on hand to help out if needed. When the guests arrived, they would be shown to their rooms and given a chance to refresh themselves before supper. After dining, Tsuknue had selected a portion of the festival to visit, if the guests were interested, but his plan was to end the evening early. The guests, barring problems, would be around for two days, so there was no need to rush through things. Saturday afternoon there would be a Drama Club production to watch, where Tsukune had arranged for choice seats. Saturday night would be the school dance. Moka had said she would understand if Tsukune couldn't take her to the dance, but he was still hoping to find a way to keep his promise to her.

Tsukune worked over the schedule conflict for a little while, letting it distract him from his nervousness. All to soon the weight of his responsibilities intruded and he found himself checking the time. As he had every three minutes for the past hour, Tsukune looked out the front windows of the manor. When he saw the school's bus coming down the village street, he felt a mixture of relief and impending doom.

"Alright," Tsukune said as he adjusted his tie needlessly. "It's time."

Tsukune and his friends arranged themselves on the front porch to wait for the guests. Tsukune stood at the top of the steps with Moka on his left and Kurumu on his right. Mizore stood a little behind Moka on her left hand side. Ruby and the maids stood behind the others with their hands folded at the waist, ready to serve.

The bus moved slowly up the village street. Tsukune tried not to think how odd it looked as it maneuvered about. The bus somehow found enough room to turn into position to present it's side door to the manor house. When the door opened, Tsukune couldn't help but see the bus driver smiling at him.

'The Board Chairman is insane!' The thought exploded through Tsukune's mind as the first guests stepped into view within the bus. It was as if the crazy man was out to sabotage his own school and to torment Tsukune at the same time. Tsukune forced himself to remain calm as Ogono Aiko stepped off the bus.

Tsukune had a hard time believing his own eyes. The human guests that the Board Chairman had somehow invited were all people he knew from the human world. In addition to Ogono Aiko, her classmates, Shinchu Rina and Tanaka Iris had come to visit. Following them off the bus was Tsukune's old friend Kota, and an even bigger surprise, their friend Nagi. Tsukune managed to hold his question's back as he greeted the Board Chairman's guests; his friends. All the while he had to struggle to keep his mental balance in the face of the impossible situation.

xx

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xx

The Headmistress of of the Masako Shoken Girls Academy had been a little surprised to receive a letter from another school, by special courier no less. The letter included a flier with pictures, the kind used for attracting students, that showed images of the school, its grounds, and some of its students. The Headmistress had looked at the flier and had instantly recognized the face of a remarkable young man. It was a picture of Aono Tsukune in his uniform being presented an aware from another student at a school assembly. The caption mentioned honoring achievements. That had caught the Headmistress' interest, prompting her to turn her attention to the letter. The letter had started out with a very formal introduction before working its way to the purpose of it being sent. The head of the school expressed that the mission of the academy was to help students from special backgrounds and families integrate with society as a whole, and as a test of their ability to do so, he wanted to invite some of the Masako Shoken Girls Academy's students to attend an annual school festival.

The Headmistress found the letter oddly compelling. She looked at the letter in her hands, absentmindedly noticing the way little sparkles of reflected light danced over the paper, and thought back to the day Aono Tsukune had visited her office. Aono Tsukune, the nobody that carried the honor of his school on his shoulders. The Headmistress already had a plan in the works for the start of the next school year. She was going to bring in five nobodies, girls with decent grades, but from lower financial status families. They would be offered a chance at a better education, leading to a better future, in exchange for taking on the responsibilities of looking after their classmates safety. Those five girls, if they served their purpose, would likely find futures in service to rising executives and influential families. The Headmistress smiled as she though about her plans, and about the young man that inspired them.

With a little shake, the Headmistress returned her attention to the letter in her hand. Yes, it was important to give students the chances to reach their best potential. However, if she was going to send some of her young charges off to face such a challenge, it would be best to send the ones best prepared for it. Besides, the Headmistress thought to herself, those young ladies would welcome a chance to see their friend again.

XxxX

Aiko did not like being called to the Headmistress' office. It was especially ominous when it was right after classes on Thsursday, as if their weekend free from classes was going to be taken away. With her were Rina and Iris. The three of them had gained a strange reputation around school because of their interaction with one Aono Tsukune. While Iris was not involved directly with Aono Tsukune, she was known for having a boyfriend that went to the same school. All three girls, alone with Tsukune and his school mate, Ken, had gone off campus together on some kind of date, or so campus gossip said. All three girls had suffered an upswing in popularity as a result.

"Thank you for coming," The Headmistress said to the girls politely, as if they had been free to refuse the summons. "There is something I wish to discuss with you." She paused for dramatic effect. "You three will be graduating soon. You will soon be taking on the responsibilities of adults. Once you step out into the world, there will be many expectations you will have to live up to. Because of who you are. Because of the families you come from, and the education you have received here, people will look up at you and expect you to be leaders by example. But before that day happens, I have a task for you. It will be a kind of a test." The Headmistress smiled as she saw how nervous the three young ladies were.

"A prestigious school," The Headmistress continued. "Has sent me a request. I have been asked to send representatives from Masako Shoken Girls Academy to attend their annual festival. This is intended as a test to see how well you can manage yourselves among the elite."

"Remember," The Headmistress said sternly. "You will be representing this school. You will be carrying the honor of your classmates, past, present, and future. Because how you carry yourselves, how you behave, will influence how others will think about Masako Shoken Girls Academy graduates. Do you understand?"

"Yes Ma'am," All three girls said crisply, looking frightened.

"Good," The Headmistress eyed them critically for a moment. "Make sure you have everything in order. The bus will pick you up promptly at Three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. You will be the guests of the school you will be visiting until Sunday afternoon, so pack accordingly." She gave them a dismissive wave of her hand.

Aiko thought her heart was going to explode as she turned for the door. She and her companions, on short notice, were being sent off to represent their school. The enormity of the responsibility was clear to her. She had family that had graduated from Masako Shoken Girls Academy. They planed for their daughters to attend the same school. Aiko was going to be representing them. If she messed up, not only would she make them look bad by association, but word could get around and damage the futures of everybody currently attending the academy.

"One more thing," The head mistress called out before the girls could escape her office. The trio of students turned to look at her with pale, nervous faces. The Headmistress gave them a smile that gave the girls chills. She held out the flier to them. "Enjoy yourselves."

XxXxX

Friday morning found Aiko dragging. All night she had trouble sleeping because of the Headmistress' sudden instructions. She had dutifully packed her bags for the trip, but it had only made the impending trip, with all of its burdens, all the more real. She set her bags just inside her door before heading out to start her day. In the cafeteria, she was quickly joined by Rina and Iris. Both girls looked as tense and tired as Aiko felt, and were looking to her for guidance, even if they didn't say anything. Aiko picked at her breakfast for a little while, but her appetite was still sleeping.

Frustrated, Aiko pulled out the flier the Headmistress had handed her. The cover showed a gothic-victorian building that Aiko though looked more like a hospital, or an asylum, than a school. She had packed the flyer into her school bag at first because she just didn't feel ready to deal with it. With time to kill, and no stomach for food at the moment, Aiko finally looked at the flier. The words were meaningless, expressing how the school was special, as all school fliers did in one way or another. The pictures were colorful, at least a little. There were pictures of the school's main building, for some reason with a red moon overhead. Another picture showed the students sitting around outside tables, apparently having lunch. Aiko continued to look at the pictures until one caught her eye.

Aiko froze for a moment. A tiny gasp escaped her lips as she took in the image she had just discovered. A smile slowly spread across her lips. And then she giggled. Aiko suddenly had trouble containing herself.

"Are you alright?" Iris asked. She saw the sudden change on Aiko's behavior and was a little worried.

"Yes," Aiko said in a tiny voice. She put the flier down and started eating her breakfast. She was filled by a desire to get through the day as quickly as possible.

"She's snapped," Rina said. "We should take her to the nurse's office and have them sedate her."

"Here," Aiko shoved the flier towards Iris.

"What," Iris hardly glanced at the open flier.

"Look at it," Aiko hissed. She snatched it back up and held it so both of her companions could see the pictures of the students. "Look at their uniforms."

It took a moment for Rina and Iris understand. As their minds processed what their eyes were telling them, both girls started to smile. They could understand Aiko's excitement because it was the same as their own.

"Yes," Iris hissed, pumping a fist in front of her chest as she tried to contain herself.

Rina didn't say anything. She just grinned like a mad woman and drummed her feet on the floor, making her whole body shake. Rina drew strange looks from the girls around her that didn't know what was going on, but she didn't care. She was going to Tsukune's school.

XxxX

xxxxxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XxX

Nagi had been surprised to be called to the staff room after classes on Thsursday. He was even more surprised to be handed a letter of invitation by his homeroom teacher. As he read the letter, Nagi had mixed feelings about it.

The letter informed him that because of his friend, Aono Tsukune, Nagi was invited to attend a school festival as a representative of his school. He, and representatives from other schools, were being asked to attend the festival as a test of the social awareness and skills of elite students. As somebody that hoped to have a successful career as an executive, helping to run a successful business and making the money to enjoy life, the invitation was an opportunity. He could possibly make connections among the elite that could help him later on in life. On the other hand, the invitation was a kind of a put-down. It said that he was being invited to test the ability of the elite students to interact with him, making it clear that he was not one of the elites himself.

Nagi accepted the invitation. Part of the reason was for the opportunities he hoped to find. There was also the pride of being selected to represent his school and classmates. As he headed off to pack his bags and get ready for the weekend, Nagi couldn't help but think about his friend, Tsukune, and the pretty girls that surrounded him.

XX

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XX

Kota almost believed that the invitation had been an accident. He had received it in the mail along with a letter from Emmy. At first he thought the two might have just gotten stuck to each other somehow, but the invitation had his name on it. He had been invited because he was Tsukune's friend and asked to come as a representative of his school. Kota suspected that Tsukune had set it up so that they could hang out together, and so Kota could see Emmy.

Because the invitation said Kota would be representing his school, it was easier for him to get permission to go. He started with his homeroom teacher, showing him the invitation. School pride is a wonderful thing, Kota thought as he packed his bag. Representing a school of engineering hopefuls to a school of elite students could raise the standing of the school. Higher standing meant more interest, and that meant better business for the school. All Friday, as he waited out his classes, Kota had a crooked grin on his face. He was going to spend the weekend with his girlfriend, and his teachers thought it was all about them.

XX

XXXXX

XX

Once Tsukune's guests were shown to their rooms, he took a moment to regain his mental balance. He sent Kurumu to the Drama Club and fetch Ken and Emmy. Next, Tsukune instructed Ruby to add two more guests to the supper plans. Once the guests had a chance to see their rooms, Tsukune invited everyone to the sitting room, for lack of a better name for the room, to share tea and to catch up a little.

The guests took turns telling about how they had been invited. The girls Tsukune could kind of understand being invited. They had been a part of a close breach of school secrecy, so seeing how well they handled themselves at the festival could be useful to see if there was any risks associated with them. Kota, to a lesser extent, fell into the same category. Also the four of them had been trading letters with school students, so it wasn't hard to imagine the Board Chairman being aware of them. It was Nagi that threw Tsukune for a loop. His invitation had been sent without any kind of prior contact except that he was one of Tsukune's old friends form the human world.

Tsukune found the Board Chairman's interest in him to be disturbing. The man seemed to enjoy tormenting him. The amount of information the man had about Tsukune's life suggested that the Board Chairman was obsessed. No mater who it was, it could not be normal or healthy for a man to be so interested in a high school student. To drive the point home, Tsukune was aware that the only reason to chose to invite Nagi over his other friend, was that Rin, last time Tsukune had spoken to him, had a girlfriend. Ether the Board Chairman wanted to play matchmaker, or he wanted to pick someone that didn't have somebody he might let secrets slip to in a private moment. Ether way, the Board Chairman knew more about Tsukune's life, friends, and family then anybody could feel comfortable about.

Tsukune kept himself from brooding overly much about the Board Chairman's fascination with him by focusing on the task at hand. He was aware of how Kota and Iris were holding themselves in, but had hopeful expressions on their faces. Moka engaged Aiko and Rina in a conversation about their school uniforms. The trio compared the fashion value of their different outfits. Tsukune was aware that his own uniform was a part of their conversation, but tried not to listen. Instead, Tsukune talked to his old friends from middle school. Kota's anxiousness was easy to read. He was looking forward to seeing his girlfriend. Nagi on the other hand was wound as tight as a clock spring.

"How have you been doing, Nagi?" Tsukune asked politely.

"I've been good," Nagi answered. "I'm number three in my year at school." Nagi tried to show some pride in his ability, but he kept casting little looks towards the girls in the room.

"You were always smarter then me," Tsukune said. "You got better grades then I did in everything."

"Yeah," Nagi agreed. "But sometimes I wonder if I picked the right school."

"You want to major in business at university don't you?" Tsukune reminded his friend.

"Yes," Nagi agreed. "Someday I want the office that my coworkers envy, with my golf bag in the corner."

"Well I know who to come to for business advice in the future," Tsukune said.

"What for?" Nagi asked, being drawn into the conversation fully.

"After college," Tsukune explained. "I plan to start a security company of my own. I have been getting all kinds of experience here, with the Student Police and everything, that I want to put it to practical use."

"Why not just join the police after you graduate?" Nagi questioned.

"I want to do better then that," Tsukune answered. "Better to lord over a small domain than be a soldier under someone else."

"Yes," Nagi agreed. He would rather be the director of a small department than one of many in a large one. "But how much experience can you get from being a part of the Student Police?"

Tsukune realized his friend's doubts came from his own downplaying of his roll at school. He couldn't really answer Nagi's question without sounding like he was boasting. Fortunately Kota entered the conversation.

"Nagi," Kota said. "Tsukune started the Student Police. Emmy's told me all about it."

"Emmy?" Nagi questioned. "That girl from the ramen shop?"

"Yup," Kota smiled smugly. "She told me how Tsukune was made the captain of the Student Police and started it from scratch. This year, Tsukune's been training with the local police force as well."

"No way?" Nagi looked to Tsukune with questioning eyes. "How did you manage all that?"

"The Board Chairman has a way to get what he wants," Tsukune said.

"That's why you were made acting headmaster, isn't it?" Rina asked, joining the boys' conversation. "Because you already do so much, and the students respect you."

"I guess," Tsukune shrugged.

"Acting headmaster?" Nagi was shocked. "What? When?"

"We found out about it," Rina explained. "When he visited our school last month. Until then, we had no idea how much he stood out."

"He visited your school?" Nagi was wide eyed.

"Master," Ruby said as she entered the room. "The others are here."

"Thank you, Ruby," Tsukune said, thankful for the break in the conversation. "Please bring them here."

"As you wish," Ruby bobbed a curtsy and moved off.

"Master?" It was Rina's turn to be shocked. She had been aware that their had been maids present when she got off the bus, but she had not bothered to take a good look at them. "I thought that she was assistant faculty."

"That is what she said during the summer trip," Aiko confirmed.

"Tsukuneee," Kurumu called out as she entered the room.

"Ah..." Nagi's eyes were about to pop out of his head, and his jaw went slack. He saw the busty, bouncy young woman coming into the room, and he doubted not only his choice of schools, but also his decision to even study hard to get into high school in the first place.

"Thank you, Kurumu," Tsukune said as he stood to welcome the new arrivals. "Ken, Emmy, thank you for coming."

"Kurono senpai said it was important," Emmy said. "So we... Kota!" She practically threw herself at her boyfriend.

Kota, who had barely gotten to his feet, was nearly knocked over backwards. Ken took in the strange uniforms, and instantly recognized the ones from Iris' school. He saw her smiling up at him from her chair, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.

"Iris," Ken said with a smile as he crossed the room. "It is good to see you again." He took her hand and bowed over it.

"Wha..." Nagi was blinking his eyes as he looked around the room in disbelief.

Tsukune took control by making introductions. To try to be clear, as he introduced everybody, he included a little background. He explained that he had met Moka on his first day at the academy, and that it was her that convinced him to stay. Kurumu was introduced as his friend whom had joined the Newspaper Club at the same time. Mizore, the class mate that joined the club in the second term of their first year. Nagi and Kota were his close friends from middle school. Emmy and Ken were members of the Drama Club. Iris, Aiko, and Rina, Tsukune explained as a part of the introductions, had become his friends when their groups had run into each other during a Summer trip to Kyoto.

"Everybody," Tsukune said after the introductions. "Thank you for coming. Ken, I know your club has a lot going on this weekend, but if it is possible, I would like it if you and Emmy would join us for supper this evening."

"I would be delighted to," Ken said with a smile.

"Yes," Emmy said happily.

"Tsukune," Rina said carefully. "You were going to explain why you have a member of the faculty serving as your maid."

"It's a long story," Tsukune said, suppressing the urge to sigh. He knew it would be better to answer the question himself, so he could minimize some of the embarrassment. "During my first year, the Newspaper Club took a Summer trip. We visited a place called 'he 'Witches' Ranch.' There had been some strange things happening there."

"My Paranormal Research Club visited that place last year," Kota said. "It was a crooked land developer that caused the problems."

"That is probably what started the problems," Tsukune said. "But that wasn't what was behind the strange things that were going on. While we were there, we found Ruby living at the ranch. She had been orphaned at a young age and raised by the master of the ranch. Well there were problems, and in the end, Ruby came back to the school with us The Board Chairman took her on as an assistant, so she could stay at the school. She didn't have anywhere else to go."

"That's so sad," Iris said.

"But it's kind of sweet," Emmy added.

"But why is she your maid?" Rina prompted.

"Last year there was..." Tsukune tried to find a delicate way to tell the story. "I was doing a lot of work at the time. It was just before the school festival, and I was pulling a lot of shifts trying to get the Student Police going. Ruby started helping me by cleaning my dorm room, doing my laundry. Because she didn't have anybody else, I became her family. She wanted to stay close to me and to do things for me. As my maid, she can, and it doesn't appear improper."

"Why not just make her your girlfriend?" Nagi asked.

"No," Moka said. "That position was already taken." She gave Tsukune a sharp look.

"But why you?" Rina asked.

"Because my Tsukune is special," Kurumu said. "Remember what happened during out trip, Rina? At first you didn't like Tsukune. You tried to put him down. What changed your mind?"

"I talked to him," Rina said, frowning as she remembered that morning. "He found me in the hotel lounge and saw that I was upset about something. I told him what I thought about him. Instead of arguing, he agreed with me. He talked to me and gave me a chance to understand him a little. He didn't put me down, or try to tell me how special he was. He just shared some time talking with me. He made me feel like I was worth talking to."

"That is what he does," Mizore said.

"Tsukune did the same thing for Ruby," Kurumu said with pride in her voice. "When she first met us, she put Tsukune on the same level as the drunk driver that killed her parents when she was a child. She attacked him, but Tsukune refused to let her actions blind him. He made her into a friend."

"I see," Aiko said slowly.

"I understand why she would want to be close to him too," Rina said. "But..."

"Tsukune saved my life," Ruby said from the doorway. "He didn't just keep me alive. Master gave me a reason to be alive; a reason to live." Ruby gave the room a warm smile as she saw the impact of her words on the guests. "Master, supper is ready."

"Thank you, Ruby," Tsukune said with a nod.