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.

(A/N 11/11/11: After getting 8 reviews in about 12 hours, I decided to do my next update early. Thank you all for the feedback)

Chapter 139

The return trip to the house was uneventful. Tsukune took an alternate route, one with lots of turns, just for the fun of it. He didn't do anything wild, and he had Hiru keep her voice/engine sound down. By the time they got back to the house, poor Hana didn't want to get off.

Tsukune visited with his mother and the others for a short while before reminding everybody he had to get back to school. Moka gathered her things, feeling a little unsatisfied with her visit to Tsukune's home. She never did get her chance to talk with Kasumi alone. Tsukune gave Ruby a hug and a thank you. As he and Moka said their good nights, Hana was wound as tight as a guitar string.

=x=

Kasumi watched Tsukune carefully during his short visit. More accurately, she watched how her son got along with Moka. Kasumi had not missed how as soon as Tsukune had entered the room, his eyes had sought out Moka, and had sparkled just a little when he saw her. She didn't know what the girl had been so worked up about, but it must not have been important to Tsukune. Kasumi liked Moka. She was very caring, or she would not be bothered by whatever little thing she had been trying to talk about. Even if it was more than some misunderstanding, as long as the young lady made her son happy, Kasumi could forgive Moka anything.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Fuji considered her daughter with a critical eye as they walked home from the Aono's house. She realized that something must have happened during her daughter's little trip with Kasumi's son. Hana had come back with her face pink from the cold, but practically glowing with excitement. Fuji wasn't going to pretend that their little get-a-way was too short for something to have happened. On the contrary, if Tsukune and Hana had gone without the niceties of finding a private place and being romantic to set the mood, the two had plenty of time to do something carnal. Not for the first time Fuji wished her daughter would use makeup properly. At least then she could have been able to tell by looking at them if Hana and Tsukune had kissed. Fuji knew something had happened, but she did not know what. As she and Hana reached home, the frustrated mother plotted how she was going to get her daughter to talk.

VvvvvV

Moka held on to Tsukune as they rode back to the school. She wasn't paying attention to her surroundings because she was too caught up with her own feelings. Moka was aware of Tsukune in her arms more than anything else outside of herself. He was alive and full of energy. His firm back and shoulders were strong and dependable. Moka knew that she loved Tsukune inside and out. It was her love for Tsukune that made Moka feel so much doubt. She was feeling haunted by the thought of all that Tsukune had endured for her sake.

Moka was finding it hard to understand why Tsukune should love her as he did. Yes she had protected him, and befriended him. But the truth was that she had become his friend because she had felt lonely. When she, or rather her inner self was so strong, it would always be easy to stand up for her friends. Moka had to admit that she only had friends because of Tsukune. The same Tsukune that had offered up his life to support and protect her. Realizing that the fragile, weak boy that Tsukune had been could have died because of his loyalty to her was a sobering thought. Now that Tsukune's mother, a woman that openly cared for Moka and treated her warmly, was injured, there was nothing she could do about it. A sense of powerlessness crept into Moka's heart as she thought about all the little injuries Tsukune had suffered in the past that must have hurt him more than he had ever admitted.

Moka's was forced into attentiveness when she felt a strong youki coming close. She blinked in surprise and looked around, becoming aware of the world around her and how she was moving through it. She discovered that she was on a coastal highway. They were far enough south that the air was chilly, but not freezing. A short distance ahead, where Moka could sense a strong youkai presence, was a cluster of people and motorcycles. Tsukune pulled from the highway, slowing Hiru to a near crawl.

"Tsukune?" Moka questioned.

"This was something I saw last night," Tsukune explained as he parked. "I wanted to share it with you."

The place was little more than a wide section of highway shoulder. There was room for a handful of cars to be pulled off to the side, which meant there was plenty of room for the two dozen motorcycles that were gathered there. As Moka dismounted she could see that there were too few people for the number of machines present. From the feeling of youki in the area, Moka guessed that there was someplace away from the road, and down from where she was, where more people had to be. Once she and Tsukune dismounted, he put their helmets in a saddle bag, and then held out his hand to Moka.

"Would you take a walk with me?" Tsukune asked.

"Yes," Moka answered with a small smile.

Tsukune and Moka took a walk together in the night. There was a pool of darkness near the side rail where the lights of the highway didn't reach. The moon was a sliver crescent in the black sky, surrounded by sparkling stars. In front of them, the dark sea was an endless expanse. It was like they were at the edge of the world, looking out at infinity. The air carried the smell of the ocean, with the sharp edge of salt, while the waves rolled against the beach below them. Tsukune leaned against the side rail and drew Moka into his embrace. There was a light somewhere down below of a fire, and merry voices drifted up on the breeze. Moka snuggled into Tsukune's embrace, hugging him back.

"Moka," Tsukune said. "I love you."

"I love you too, Tsukune," Moka replied in a soft voice.

Tsukune and Moka sat together for a while, enjoying the view and each others company. It had been a couple of weeks since they had last had a chance to just be together, and it felt good. The were both calm and relaxed, letting their stress ease away.

"Tsukune," Moka murmered.

"Hmmm," Tsukune enjoyed the feel of her in his arms and her soft scent. "Moka..."

"Tsu-ku-ne..."

"Moka..." Tsukune couldn't help but smile He knew where things were headed. He tilted his head to one side, exposing his neck to her.

"Tsukuneeeeee," Moka protested before letting her mouth seek out his flesh.

XxxXxxX

Mizore had everything in planed out within an hour of Tsukune's departure. She promptly moved into one of the spare bedrooms of the manor and started familiarizing herself with everything. She was going to make sure Tsukune had her support while Ruby was gone. She had everything ready well before Tsukune returned. When he did return, with Moka on his arm, Tsukune was surprised to see the lights on.

Tsukune had left the house dark and empty. When he saw Mizore standing with a small smile on her face, he knew who the guilty party was. Mizore pressed forward with her plan before she could lose initiative.

"Welcome home, Tsukune," Mizore said moving forward to embrace him with a smile. "I hope your mother is well. I know that you left Ruby to look after her, but that made me wonder who was going to help you here."

"I can..." Tsukune started to argue.

"I know you can take care of yourself," Mizore said, her voice growing firm. "But you do so much to help take care of everybody else, that we worry about you." She planted a quick kiss on his cheek before stepping back. "So I thought it over. I know you don't want to put Moka or I through any trouble, and that you don't want us trying to do everything for you. But we still worry about you."

"Moka would like to move in here and help look after you." Mizore gave Moka a not quite warm smile. "But she has to be careful of her reputation. I don't have to worry about anything like that, and I promised Moka that I would help to look after you." As she talked she took Tsukune's jacket. "So just like last time Ruby was gone, I'm going to take care of you."

Tsukune blinked in surprise as he tried to keep up with the normally quiet Mizore. From her onslaught, he knew she was up to something, but he wasn't able to see what it could be. As tired as he was at the moment, he didn't plan to try ether.

"Now," Mizore said with a little gesture. "I have made sure everything is ready for tonight." She reached for Moka's bag, helmet, and coat then headed up stairs to put things away. "The master bath is ready," Mizore said. "And I have a room prepared for Moka as well."

"Why thank you," Moka said with a polite smile, and a voice that was nearly a growl.

"Fine," Tsukune said, nodding his head. "I'm tired and could use a good bath." He looked to Moka but he didn't say anything.

"I would like to clean up before bed as well," Moka said.

Mizore lead them up stairs with a small smile on her face. They may take a bath and go to bed together, but she had been successful in her first attack. She was effectively in control of Tsukune's house. After putting Moka's thing in one of the spare rooms, Mizore headed to the room she would be using, thinking about how she would advance her plans.

VvvvvV

Moka had a hard time falling asleep because of her churning thoughts and feelings. The time spent with Tsukune looking out over the ocean had been special. He had taken the time to be with her, sharing his life with her, even if it was just an hour of it. It had reminded her all over again of how special he was, and how much she just wanted to be with him. It also made Moka all the more determined to do something for Tsukune. For all that he would say that she had given him enough when she gave him her blood, the truth as Moka saw it was all she had done was repay him for what he had done their first day together. She had given Tsukune her blood to save his life, but that wasn't exactly right ether. Her blood had kept him alive and given him power, but it had taken away some things that had been a part of his life. The more Moka looked at her relationship with Tsukune, the more one-sided it appeared. Moka had returned to the village with Tsukune expecting to have a private night alone with him. That was something both sides of her wanted, but the plan had been challenged by Mizore's presence. Pride and desire came into conflict once there were outsiders around. Moka had to be careful about what she did when there was a chance of her sister, and from her, their father finding out. In the end, Moka had elected to bathe and sleep beside Tsukune, but not give in to her desire for him. With the way she was feeling about her relationship, Moka thought that spending the night intimately with Tsukune would have been indulging her own selfishness.

As Moka tried to sleep, she struggled with the same questions that had haunted her all day. What could she do to be a worthy girlfriend and lover and... What could she do with her life, not only to make Tsukune proud, but also for herself. When sleep finally claimed her, it brought no answers, only restless dreams.

XxXxX

Mizore was feeling happy as she went to bed. Her attack had been a success. Using snow as the model of her conquest of Tsukune's heart had been the right choice. She was slowly building a larger and more inclusive presence in his life. Like the first snows of winter, she would continue to quietly build up her presence until nearly every part of his life sparkled with her touch. But even gently fallen snow could shift suddenly. Her offensive into the manor had been like the thick sheet of snow on a house roof slipping free, coming down without warning to block the door. Tsukune was caught within her plans, as if trapped behind a sudden bank of snow that blocked the door. He could free himself if he really wanted to, but that would be cold and hard work. Or he could put off clearing away the snow and let himself enjoy the warm comfort within that Mizore had to offer.

When Moka had decided to spend the night with Tsukune in spire of her presence Mizore had been a little disappointed. She tried to take advantage of Moka's pride. Even if Moka was going to be sleeping with Tsukune, Mizore was still in the same house, and would be doing things for Tsukune.