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, than you should not read this.
Chapter 140
Mizore spent Sunday with a smile on her face. After a restful night, she had shared a friendly breakfast with Tsukune and Moka. It was a nice way to start the day, but it was her growing success with her plans that made her happy. As the Snow Maidens of legends, Mizore was blinding Tsukune and drawing him into her embrace.
Mizore just had to remember to move with some caution. She knew from past experience that if she moved to quickly she would only damage her relationship with Tsukune. If she was careful, she should be able to get so very close to Tsukune that he could not escape her, but Mizore knew that what she needed to do was to get Tsukune to decide to make her his lover. He had to choose to be with her, or all of her efforts would be for nothing.
Xx-0.o-xX
Hana flopped down on her bed with an exhausted sigh. Her mother, driven into a near madness by curiosity, had decided to spend the day with Hana. Shopping... Hana shuddered at the thought. It wasn't that she disliked shopping. Hana loved to go shopping. The problem was that she had few friends that she could go shopping with. Shopping with her mother was definitely not what Hana considered fun. Hana knew about makeup, and actually use some of it from time to time, but why her mother needed an hour to decide which shade of the latest version of "Berry Wine Passion Curtain Call Special Moment Wild Night Deepest Pink Last Call Forever Remembered New You Mystery Woman Red" never made sense. And by the love of god, why did a glorified lip crayon have to cost three times as much as a manga?
The shopping, Hana had realized quickly, had just been an excuse. Fuji had wanted to interrogate Hana about her brief time alone with Tsukune. One of the bad parts of the whole experience, Hana felt, was the way her mother tired, and failed, to be subtle. Fuji had kept bringing his name up, thinking she was being casual about it. It was like being bludgeoned with a lumpy pillow. Every time Fuji looked at something new, she tried compare it to what Tsukune's friends had been wearing, or tried to get Hana to comment about if she thought Tsukune would like it.
"I wonder if any of his friends would have something from here?" Fuji had said as she started for a boutique for designer underwear. "I'll bet we can find something he's never seen..."
"Mother," Hana snapped. "Knock it off." The entire area was packed with holiday shoppers. The air reeked of perfume samples mixed together with the odors of strange foods and hurried people. It was exactly the kind of situation that made Hana wish she could be a magical girl so she could fly away and escape. "If you want to know what Tsukune and I talked about, why don't you just ask me?"
"Uh..." Fuji blinked. "Um..." The woman's mind went blank for a moment. "Hana, what did you and Tsukune talk about last night?"
"We talked about motorcycles," Hana said with a sweet voice and a plastic smile. "I told him how I wished I could so impossible things to get away from the boring stuff that's all around us." She made a gesture that took in the surrounding area.
"Oh..." Fuji's brain started working again. Instead of entering the boutique she started walking along aimlessly. "And what did he say bout that?"
"He teased me a little bit," Hana said with a more real smile and a natural voice. "But not about what I wanted. He told me I shouldn't give up in believing in the impossible."
"That was nice of him," Fuji nodded.
"He also told me about his school," Hana continued, unaware of the light coming up in her eyes. "He talked about how his school is full of people that do impossible things."
"I see," Fuji thought about that. The boy was already a policeman with a career goal. His pink-haired girlfriend had a paid internship with an overseas company. These were the kinds of impossible things that parents would wish for their child. As she thought things through, filtering them through the perspective she gained from watching and sharing dramas, Fuji was dimly aware of what her daughter was saying. Fuji remembered how cute her little girl had been, back when she danced around the house pretending to be a Magical Girl. She mentioned magical girls now, and Fuji couldn't help but feel touched.
"...and Tsukune agreed," Hana said.
"Hmmm?" Fuji questioned, blinking at her momentary loss of focus.
"I said I asked Tsukune if he thought it would be possible to transfer to his school," Hana repeated herself calmly. She was used to her mother spacing out. "He agreed to ask for an application form for me."
"I see," Fuji said, noticing the excitement in her daughter's face and voice.
After that their conversations and shopping turned random. Hana had become exhausted from trying to keep up with what her mother was thinking. The pair had come to some kind of agreement about her applying to Tsukune's school, but Hana wasn't sure that she and her mother had agreed to the same things at all. In the end, in spite of all the other shopping she had done, Fuji had only bought one thing for Hana all day.
Hana sat up on her bed holding her new acquisition out at arms length. She guessed it was supposed to be some kind of compromise. It was pink and white and looked like something from a child's television show. It was girly and cute, but it was still a real motorcycle helmet.
XxXxXxX
Kasumi relaxed on the couch with a smile. If she had known being injured could be so much fun she would have broken her ankle years ago. Or at least sprained it really bad. Ruby was like the daughter she always wanted. While Kyouko was sweet, she had never been interested in cooking or sewing. Ruby on the other hand was a natural born housewife. When she wasn't cooking or cleaning, the young woman would sit with her sewing basket and work on one thing after another. While the winter weather prevented her from working in the yard, she was still willing to talk about gardening. Kasumi just loved Ruby. Kasumi's husband accepted Ruby as well. He suddenly had no housework to do, because Ruby even took out the trash before Kasumi could say anything about it. When any of Kasumi's friends came over, Ruby helped serve them with the same diligence that she served tea and lunch to Tsukune's father. In addition to Ruby, Kasumi had enjoyed the company of Moka. Tsukune's girlfriend was such a sweetheart. She truly loved Tsukune, as Kasumi could tell by the way the girl got so worked up over unimportant things. As long as Tsukue was happy with her, she shouldn't worry so much over little things.
Sunday evening, Kasumi had received a surprise in the form of an unexpected visitor. While Ruby had been cleaning up after dinner, there came a knocking at the door. Kasumi was about to ask her husband to answer the door when Ruby hurried from the kitchen to do it herself.
"What are you doing here?" Kasumi heard Ruby say, sounding surprised.
"Ruby dear," Kasumi called out. "Who's at the door?"
"Mother," Ruby answered, leading the surprise guest into the living room. "It's one of Tsukune's friends from school."
"Hello Mrs. Aono," Kurumu said as she entered, bowing modestly. "Tsukune told me what happened and I wanted to see you and wish you a quick recovery." She turned to Tsukune's father and offered him a bow. "Hello, Mr. Aono. I hope you are well."
"This is a surprise," Kasumi said with a raised eyebrow as she took in her visitor's appearance.
Kurumu was dressed warmly, in a cute way. She had on a thick jacket, which currently hung open, over a fuzzy sweater, and snug denim jeans. She had accessorized her outfit with pink scarf and matching leg warmers. While she had a large purse slung over her shoulder, the young woman was holding a glossy ping shopping bag.
"Mrs. Aono," Kurumu said. "I also wanted to apologize to you. That last time I visited I acted thoughtlessly and troubled you with my inconsiderate actions." She approached the couch and offered the shopping bag with a bow. "I am Kuono Kurumu. I am a classmate of your son. Please accept this as an apology."
"Well," Kasumi said as she reached up to take the bag. "I guess I can forgive a little over enthusiasm. Please have a seat."
While Kurumu shed her jacket and sat down, Kasumi investigated the contents of the shopping bag. Tsukune's mother thought that maybe she would have to revise her opinion of the young woman. Inside the shopping bag were the box set VCDs of four classic dramas, along with a selection of holiday chocolates.
"You should know," Kasumi said, setting the bag aside and reaching for her tea cup. "I was not very happy with Tsukune when I found out that he was going to be going around as a performer with you. I cautioned him to not let you get him involved in anything that could cause him trouble later in life."
"I understand your concerns," Kurumu replied. She was careful to keep her voice and face calm and polite. She had known that Tsukune had told his mother about their dancing job. While she was glad that he had been open with his mother, she was surprised that he had risked going against her wishes to be her partner. "While I have acted thoughtlessly in the past, Tsukune has taught me that it is important to be more considerate of others."
"Has he now?" Kasumi questioned.
"Yes," Kurumu insisted. "In truth, the reason why I had acted so badly the last time was because I was afraid I would not see him again. Once he came home, after accident that had forced the school to close for a while, I was afraid that he would change schools. He had already become very important to me. Your son is my first true friend."
"I see," Kasumi sipped her tea. A quick glance revealed that her husband was hiding behind a newspaper. He was smart enough to stay out of women issues. "Do you think you are a good friend in return?"
"Mrs. Aono," Kurumu said in a serious voice. "I can never be a good enough friend for Tsukune. He saved my life, in more ways than one."
"That's right," Kasumi nodded. "He told me about that. How somebody tried to take advantage of you. I'm so glad nobody got hurt."
Kurumu only nodded, not trusting her self to speak right away. Tsukune's mother didn't know the whole truth, and it wasn't Kurumu's place to tell her. That Tsukune had nearly died to save her, that she had been the one to hurt him so badly, were not things she wanted to tell his mother. It took Kurumu a moment to chose her words.
"I can never do enough for Tsukune after all that he has done for me," Kurumu said. "I want to thank you for raising your son to be such a wonderful person." She stood and gave Kasumi a deep bow. "Please excuse me. It was selfish of me to intrude and to visit so late without warning." She stood up. "I will let you enjoy your evening now. I have work in the morning so I need to go." Kurumu pulled on her jacket and started for the door. "Have a good night."
Kasumi was surprised by the abruptness of the girl's departure, but thought she understood the reason for it. After watching so many dramas, it was easy for Kasumi to recognize that one was unfolding around her son. When Kurumu had left, her face had been filled with emotions. It was clear that she was also in love with Tsukune.
"My my my..." Kasumi said to herself as she though things through. Counting Ruby, there were three young women clearly in love with her son. It was almost like one of her dramas. She thought back to the first time she had seen the girls that appeared to be after her son. There were two others that she had not seen since, who had also acted badly that day. Kasumi smiled darkly as she realized just how much fun she could have directing a drama. The question was, would it be more fun to recognize Kurumu as a suitable girlfriend, or to make the young woman a candidate for the role and then watch her try to prove herself.
XxxOOxxX
Kurumu cussed herself out as she sped off on Norra. She had wanted to make a good impression on Tsukune's mother, not just to apologize for what she had done in the past, but because she wanted to be accepted into every part of Tsukune's life. The fact that she couldn't tell the woman how special her son really was to her was a problem. How could she get his mother to understand how real her feelings of love and gratitude were if the woman couldn't be told the true measure of what Tsukune had gone through. As Kurumu hurried though the night, she promised to herself that she would never stop looking for ways to show Tsukune that she loved him.
XxxxX
Tsukune returned to the manor late Sunday night. A part of him wanted to check up on his mother, but it was too late to be respectably calling or visiting anybody. In the morning he would have time to do a few small things before he had to be on duty at the koban. Tsukune wasn't sure if he should smile or sigh when he entered the manor. Mizore appeared, dressed in a simple blue-white kimono to greet him. She approached Tsukune with her arms open.
"Welcome home," Mizore said as she embraced him. "Would you care for something to eat?"
"I'm fine," Tsukune answered.
"Alright," Mizore said. "Then I have the bath is ready for you. As a good mistress should."
"Mistress?" Tsukune asked while still hugging Mizore.
"Yes," Mizore blushed lightly. "You are the master of the house, and I am the mistress." Her blush deepened.
"I see," Tsukune said. At that moment he was very much aware of the duel meaning of the term 'mistress.'
XxXxX
Mizore wanted to congratulate herself. Her plans for the night had gone smoothly. Tsukune had not argue in any way when she labeled herself as mistress, implying that was her relationship to him. After a warm bath together, with only a suggestion of modesty, it had been time for bed. Her translucent pajama shirt was loose and concealing, but only if Tsukune didn't look closely.
"Good night, Mizore," Tsukune said with a kiss.
"Good night, Tsukune," Mizore said as she cuddled up to him. "Thank you for letting me be your mistress."
"I thought you wanted to be a wife," Tsukune commented.
"I do want to be your wife," Mizore clarified. "But being your mistress is good too."
Xx ^.^ xX
Inari woke up Monday morning with a sense of purpose and a plan. For three days she would be living in the koban with Tsukune. It would be very much like a couple sharing a business together. Inari was not unaware of the rumors going around about her and the captain. Nobody had come directly to her about the time she had been caught napping on her captain's lap, so she really didn't have anything to say about the incident. Also, Inari knew that if she went around trying to argue against a rumor it was more likely to make her appear guilty than to do any good. Inari was not interested in wasting her time fighting a rumor. She would much rather look for ways to make it true.
With her uniforms and equipment ready, it was time for Inari to get to work. It was her intention to reach the koban before her captain. She wasn't just trying to look professional by getting to work early. Inari wanted to have time to set things up. The koban had a small kitchen, which meant Inari would be able to cook for her captain, so she had to do a little grocery shopping. Inari was not ignorant to reality, however much she hoped for a special connection to be made. She knew that she and her captain were not going to be sharing a bed. It was more likely that they would have very little time on duty together because they would be taking turns for the most part. Even with that unavoidable truth, she knew that there would be plenty of chances to just be close to her captain, just in case he wanted something.
Inari smiled as she walked to the koban. While she was aware of the reality of her situation, it didn't stop her from daydreaming about her captain. If Tsukune could have a servant that tended to his needs at home, there was no reason he couldn't have an assistant that did the same for the office. She imagined working with Tsukune after graduation. He would climb the ranks of the national police, until he was the leader of a special task force. By day he would be in a sharp suit and work from an office, where she would handle the phones, help him with paperwork, and bring him tea. When a crisis came up, he would go into action. She would be his duty driver as he hurried to meetings. When it was time to take action, she and Tsukune would dress in their black tactical gear together before joining the rest of of the team to catch the bad guys. When the fighting was over and the work was done, it would be time for action. They would drive off together, the perfect professional team, until they could be alone, where they would share in the excitement and left over nervous energy of the case by making passionate love. Inari looked around carefully as her fantasy played out in her head. Yes, three days on duty with her captain was going to be a good thing.
VvvvvV
Moka wanted to spit. The letter in her hand was a reminder of all the things that worked to keep her apart from Tsukune. Not for the first time, Moka wished that she and Tsukune had run off together back during their first year.
"To Dame Akashiya Moka," The letter had said. "Please be aware that the residents of your holdings, the Argent Cairn, have need of your counsel and guidance. A conflict has arisen among them and it is your duty as their Dame to settle the dispute..." The letter continued for three more paragraphs of long-winded politeness and empty repetitions.
The letter was a summons. Moka was going to have to travel to her tiny little domain in America to handle a problem all because she had a minor title. For the sake of the status she needed to be free to do as she wanted, instead of what her family wanted to profit from, Moka had to leave Tsukune's side. While it was true that for the next couple of days he would be busy with the police, she had been looking forward to spending time with him where she could, like bringing him lunches, or just visiting with him during his breaks. Moka knew that she was acting a little spoiled as she complained to herself. At one point she wished that she could divide herself, giving each side of herself a separate body, so that one of her could go off and be responsible, and the other one could stay back with Tsukune. While is would have been nice, the idea had started an argument between her inner and outer selves over who would get to be with Tsukune.
Moka set the letter aside and turned her attention to packing for her trip. She had seen enough of her father's business meetings turn into two, three, and even four day long arguments. Moka hoped to have her trip over and done with in a single day, but she was going to plan for it to take longer. Her servitor, Shoru, would transport her to the Argent Cairn. Her instructions had told her how to use Shoru to travel to certain fixed locations, and how to teach it new locations. The Argent Cairn was one of the locations it had known before being presented to Moka. She had used the instructions to teach Shoru the location of her bedroom in the village. She had also picked the front walk of Tsukune's family's house as a location she could travel to. After packing enough clothes for three days. Moka made sure her servitor was ready, waking up from where it rested on a shelf. She had just one last thing to take care of before leaving.
XxxxX
Tsukune wondered if there was some kind of sign over his head that said 'Feed Me.' Ruby wanted to cook for him. Mizore and Kurumu wanted to cook for him. Moka even wanted to cook for him. A day with the Student Police without an obento in his hand had somehow inspired his office staff to share their lunches with him. After a quiet morning walking through the town, Tsukune had returned to the koban in time to see Inari preparing a meal for them to share.
"I..." Tsukune started to say something. He saw the way Inari had a cute, happy look on her face as she worked in the koban's tiny kitchen. It was a look Tsukune knew well, from almost every woman Tsukune knew. Tsukune's cousin Kyouko was the only female that he knew well, and had seen at work in the kitchen, that did not have a face like that. Tsukune revised what he was going to say.
"Inari," Tsukune said,
"Yes Captain?" Inari responded, turning towards him.
"I'll make you a deal," Tsukune said. "Since I see that you're making lunch already. If you'll do the cooking while we're on duty, I do the dishes."
"That's alright," Inari gave a little shake of her head. "I can do..."
"Inari," Tsukune cut her off with a firm voice. "You cook. I do the dishes. It is call sharing responsibilities. Right now we are partners. We share the work, we share the responsibilities, and we share the rewards. That is what team work is about. That is what being partners is about. Am I making myself clear?"
"Sir," Inari answered in a crisp tone. "Yes Sir."
"Very good," Tsukune turned from the kitchen and went back out to the front desk. He felt good for having made his point. He also felt a little guilty about feeling good. He had wanted to get Ruby and his girlfriends to show a little faith in his ability to take care of himself, and to show that yes he could accept a fair share of the responsibilities that came from being in a relationship. He couldn't argue with the others like that, but with Inari it was different.
Inari felt her body tingle. Tsukune had said they were partners in that commanding voice of his. He was being dominant over her at the same time that he was being accepting of her. To make things even better, Tsukune actually wanted to help out with the domestic responsibilities. She had a nearly irresistible urge to wag her tail.
XxXxX
After lunch, Tsukune was officially on break. He had his jacket off, but was sitting at the desk where people outside could see him. He was working on his school assignments when Yumi and Rumi arrived.
"Captain," Yumi started.
"We have a message for you," Rumi continued as the twins did their switching back and forth thing.
"Ayakashiya Senpai..."
"Came to the headquarters..."
"She asked us to deliver this..."
"To you," Rumi held out an envelope.
"Thank you," Tsukune said, taking the envelope. "I appreciate your coming all the way here."
"We're glad to be of service..."
"Captain."
The twins left and Tsukune opened the envelope. He had recognized Moka's scent from it right away. The message was a short note form Moka explaining that she was being summoned away to perform her duties as a Dame to Lord Brone Gray. She didn't know when she would be back, but she wanted Tsukune to be careful, and reminded him that she loved him. Tsukune put the note in his school bag with a small sigh.