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 143

Kasumi tried to be positive about things, but it was difficult. The novelty of having everybody waiting on her was wearing off. Not being able to just get up and do whatever she wanted was starting to frustrate her. To add insult to injury, her cast encased ankle was already itchy. Ruby, bless her heart, was diligent, but not smothering. The young woman was a big help, not only in looking after Kasumi and the house, but in helping to keep Kasumi distracted from her near imprisonment. Just that morning, while watching talk shows, Ruby had sat patiently on the floor with her sewing, while Kasumi brushed and braided her hair. If it had not been for Ruby, and Kurumu's gift of drama box sets, Kasumi thought she would have been bored out of her mind already. Even so, Kasumi was on the couch, while Ruby was in the kitchen, trying to think of something else to pass the time, at least until lunch, when she heard someone at the front door.

"Mother," Tsukune's voice called out as he opened the door. "I'm home. And I brought a guest."

"Tsukune," Ruby called out happily, hurrying from the kitchen.

"Ruby," Tsukune greeted her with a smile and a hug as he entered the living room. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," Ruby said. "I've seen that everything is in order."

"That's good," Tsukune gave her a nod before letting go. He turned his attention to his mother even as a shy Mizore entered behind him.

"Mother," Tsukune approached her to give her a hug. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing just fine," Kasumi said. "Who is this?"

"Mother," Tsukune said in introduction as he stepped away from the couch. "This is my friend from school, Shirayuki Mizore."

"Mrs. Aono," Mizore said. She moved to be in front of Kasumi on the couch before kneeling down and bowing. "I am truly sorry for my behavior the last time I visited. I can only plead that I was following my heart and had not properly considered my actions before hand. Please forgive me."

"What is it with you?" Kasumi said with a frustrated sigh. "Get up, get up." She sighed again. "Everybody makes mistakes." Kasumi looked to her son. "Tsukune, what is it with you and all of these girls? Even that nice Kurumu came by the other night to apologize and bring me a present. What are you telling them to make me appear to be such an unforgiving monster?"

"It's not like that," Tsukune protested. "Wait... Kurumu came by?"

xxxx

Mizore was feeling confused. Her transgression had been forgiven in such an off-handed way that she didn't know if she should be glad or feel insulted. While Kasumi told Tsukune about Kurumu's visit, Ruby served everybody tea. Mizore accepted the tea while she watched Tsukune and his mother, wondering how she should feel. It was good to know that Tsukune's mother wasn't harboring any ill feelings towards her, but was it because she was as kindhearted as her son, or because the woman thought Mizore was of too little importance to worry about?

XxxX

Tsukune listened to what his mother had to say. Kasumi told a tale of a humble and shy Kurumu visiting with gifts, asking for forgiveness and acceptance, pleading deep affection for Tsukune. According to his mother, Tsukune was supposed to believe that Kurumu had visited to ask for his mother's permission to date him. As long as Tsukune remembered that his mother took her television dramas a little too seriously, it wasn't hard for him to understand what had happened. Kurumu had made a visit, wanting to make a good impression on his mother and to apologize for her first visit to the house. She had brought a gift and made her apologies, but had left in a hurry to avoid embarrassing herself by letting too many emotions show. Tsukune made a mental note to thank Kurumu for visiting his mother.

xxxxx

When Ruby served lunch it was with a smile and a bounce in her step. She was happy to see Tsukune, but more than that, she was happy to have Tsukune noticing her. He got to see her taking care of his mother, fulfilling the task he had given her. Every time Kasumi complemented Ruby's efforts, Tsukune would give his servant a look and a smile. Those smiles were a reward that Ruby treasured. She only wished that Tsukune could stay at home where she could serve him as well.

XxX

Kasumi found her good nature restored. Tsukune's visit had been a welcomed distraction from her boredom. As an added bonus, he had brought along another young woman who's heart was firmly in his pocket. That made for four potential candidates for the role of daughter-in-law. Kasumi found the potential for romantic confusion absolutely delicious. While the two other classmates were not as favored as Moka, Kasumi had no doubt that her son had at least some affection for them.

Kasumi made small talk with Tsukune and Mizore for a while. She asked about how his work as a policeman was going, and was glad to hear that nothing exciting, or dangerous had happened. Mizore, Kasumi learned, was helping to look after Tsukune's things while Ruby was playing caretaker. That little morsel was the perfect opportunity to start talking about cooking. Kasumi asked Mizore what she cooked for Tsukune. From there the conversation grew. Kasumi had wanted to see how well the quiet young lady knew her son, but Ruby joined in the conversation, and soon all three females were talking about cooking.

XxxX

Tsukune saw that he had become unneeded in the current conversation. He suspected that his mother and his friends would keep talking about food until it was time for his mother's next drama to show. He excused himself before he could be asked for an opinion about cooking. He know that however he answered would in some way be wrong, so it was safer to just get away while he could.

Tsukune excused himself from the living room and slipped up to his bedroom for a break. He saw that his room was clean, but not exactly how he had left it. Tsukune could tell that Ruby had been using his room. Besides the few of her things that were left out where he could see them, Tsukune could detect a sense of Ruby, almost like a fragrance in the air. Tsukune went to his desk, pulling a manga at random from the bookshelf on the way.

Tsukune sat at his desk and looked at the manga he had picked up. It was a volume of YuYu Hakusho, a story about how a no-good high school student becomes a supernatural detective, and later a super powered fighter. Tsukune flipped through the manga to a random page. Tsukune had always liked how the manga had a romantic theme, even though it had drifted away from that as it became more of an action based story. The volume he had picked up was one of the later ones in the set, where the hero had become powerful, and spent most of his time training or fighting bad guys. As he scanned though the pages, Tsukune thought about how much his life had become like a manga. He was so busy with his responsibilities that he didn't find much time for physical training any more, and he was thankful that he didn't have to fight a different threat each week or so. Tsukune started reading at random, trying to forget some of his own problems for a while.

XxxxX

Mizore made her way up the stairs quietly. Tsukune's mother was engrossed in her television show. Ruby had stepped out to do a little shopping. Mizore, with her usual stealth, had slipped out of the living room, wanting to be with Tsukune. She found him sitting up in his room with the door open. Careful not to disturb him, Mizore slipped into his bedroom and found a place on the bed to sit and watch him for a while.

In the quiet of Tsukune's bedroom, in the middle of a human neighborhood, Mizore could feel Tsukune's youki even while it was sealed away. It was like the sound of snow falling, something so light that any other sound would wash it away. Tsukune's youki, in its resting state, was so quiet that it would have been lost in the background at school. Alone in his room with him, Mizore could sense more of Tsukune than she had ever expected. She watched his face in profile as he read his manga, and felt his youki. It was a strange contrast. Tsukune's youki was like a dragon in the deepest of sleeps. Only a hardly noticeable whisper of change, like slow, steady breaths, indicated that it was not completely dormant. Even from close to two meters away, Mizore could feel Tsukune's Warmth. In contrast to the way he was sitting calmly, he was giving off energy as if he was working hard. While his body was full of power, Mizore looked at Tsukune's face and saw a tension around his eyes as if he was feeling tired.

Mizore watched Tsukune quietly, content to just be close to him for the moment. That contentment however, did not stop her from wanting to get closer to him. He had surprised her by inviting her along to visit his home. She had accepted his invitation happily, and the trip had been more than a little fun, because she had spent a couple of hours simply holding on to Tsukune. She could have followed him on Shiro, who had followed her in some way of its own, but Mizore did not want to pass on the chance to have Tsukune in her arms. They had stopped once on their way, during which Tsukune had tried to call Kurumu. Mizore listened as Tsukune left her a message, and then they had been on their way again.

Mizore had been close to Tsukune for over two years. For over two years she had watched him from up close and from a distance. She had heard what he had to say, end could read what he left unsaid. As he sat quietly reading, Mizore could understand Tsukune better than if he was giving a speech. What she could see made her heart ache.

Tsukune was outwardly calm and relaxed, and enjoying a simple manga. Mizore saw the tension around his eyes and a sadness in his face. Tsukune was not relaxed, and he was not simply enjoying the manga in his hands. She watched as he turned a page, and saw that he moved with the same kind of measured care that he used when his youki was raging, but he wanted to avoid hurting anybody. It was almost as if he was angry, or maybe afraid.

Mizore left Tsukune's bedroom as quietly as she had entered. Her mind was working at a furious pace as she tried to think things through. She recognized a need for action, and thought she saw the right course to take. Before she committed herself, Mizore had somebody she needed to talk to.

Xx

Kasumi was in the same place in front of the television as Mizore had left her. Mizore waited for her moment to speak, using the time to gather her thoughts and choose her words. She felt a a sense of urgency, but forced herself to be patient. Finally Kasumi's latest drama show broke for a commercial.

"Mrs. Aono," Mizore said in a polite voice as she moved to appear in front of Kasumi. She knelt near Tsukune's mother. "Please, I would like to ask a favor. I know that you want to have your son close to you, but I would like to ask for your permission to take him to visit my home."

"Oh my," Kasumi put her hand to her chest, her eyes wide. The forwardness of the quiet young woman was a surprise. "Is it so important to you that Tsukune meet your parents?"

"I have already introduced Tsukune to my mother," Mizore explained.

"Oh that's right," Kasumi said. "He had mentioned it in one of his letters. He visited your home to do a report for the school paper, something about a local festival."

"Yes," Mizore nodded.

"If he's already been to your home once," Kasumi questioned. "What is so important about him going there now?"

"Mrs. Aono," Mizore said. "I am worried about Tsukune. He works very hard at school to do his best at everything that is asked of him. I know that he wants to be a good son and to help take care of you in your time of need. But I think that Tsukune needs to have a chance to rest. If he remains here, that won't happen. I think he is anxious because he cannot really do anything for you himself. If he returns to school, he will likely find a way to work through the holiday break. I would like to take him to my village so that he will be free from his responsibilities, at least for a little while."

"Do you really care that much for Tsukune?" Kasumi asked. "Or are you just looking for a way to take him off for a play date?"

"I do care about Tsukune," Mizore protested. "He is the most important person in my life. I already swore that I would follow him anywhere."

"What about Moka," Kasumi couldn't help but ask while trying hard not to smile. She felt a little like a character form a drama, putting challenges in front of aspiring bride candidates. "She is Tsukune's girlfriend."

"I know that," Mizore said. "But that doesn't mean that I can't care about Tsukune. Moka would thank me for helping to look after him."

"And what about your other friend," Kasumi continued. "That Kurumu seemed to think highly of Tsukune also."

"Kurumu can't love Tsukune any more than I do," Mizore said with an icy glare. "I know that she will be upset at not being the one to take Tsukune someplace where he can relax, but she would agree that he needs it."

"Hmmm," Kasumi said ash she turned back to the television; the commercial break was ending. "If Tsukune wants to go, that's fine by me."

"Thank you," Mizore said with a bow, her voice filled with relief. "Thank you very much."

Mizore slipped away from Kasumi to plan her next move. She disliked being rushed, but accepted that she didn't have much choice. Tsukune had a need, and she thought that she could help him, if she hurried to act while she had the chance. She slipped out to the side yard to have a small talk wit Shiro and Hiru, and to check her map. From there Mizore headed to Tsukune's room. It was time to make her move.

XxXxX

"Tsukune," Mizore said softly as she knocked at Tsukune's open door. "May I come in?"

"Mizore," Tsukune answered. "Yes. Come in."

Tsukune closed his Manga and set it aside. Reading had been a distraction, a way to pass some time, but it had not captured his attention like it had used to. It might just be because he had read the same manga more than a few times before, Tsukune thought. He also knew that it could be a sign that he was growing up. As he looked up from the desk to Mizore, Tsukune admitted that after so many fights to survive, to protect his friends and what was important to himself, while having to give up some of his own life, his own humanity, that just maybe a manga about fighting evil creatures and evil men was just no longer as interesting as he remembered.

"How are you doing, Mizore?" Tsukune said to her.

"Tsukune," Mizore said, her voice tight from what she saw in his eyes. "I want to ask you to do something. Will you listen to what I have to say?"

"Of course," Tsukune nodded.

"Tsukune..." Mizore started. "Tsukune, I know that you only plan to stay away from the school for a single night, because you want to be with Moka. But now that you have been home, and seen how things are here... Tsukune, will you come with me to my village?"

"Mizore?" Tsukune questioned.

"Please," Mizore moved close to Tsukune and knelt in front of him. "I will not ask anything of you that you are not ready to give. I just want you to come with me for tonight. We can return to the school in the morning."

"Mizore, I..." Tsukune started to shake his head.

"Tsukune," Mizore said, reaching out to touch his knee. "Please listen to what I have to say. I can see that you are... That you are tired. You are tense. I want to bring you to my village so that you can relax. I know that you want to do the right thing, and to make sure you take care of all of your responsibilities. But Tsukune, what about yourself?" Mizore looked up at him with her eyes filled with feelings. "Tsukune, you have been pushing yourself too hard for too long to not take a break. At school, everybody expects so much from you. Here, you will try to do things for your family, and even your friends in the area."

"Tsukune," Mizore continued. "I am not asking you to spend the night with me for my own sake. I am asking you to come to my village for your own. Let Ruby take care of things here. Come to my village for tonight and let me take care of you. You know about my people. We do not care if you are human or youkai. Take sanctuary with us and let go of your responsibilities for tonight. Please?"

"Mizore..." Tsukune started, looking into her face, into her eyes. What she had to say, he had to admit, sounded very true. As he thought about taking a break from his responsibilities, Tsukune felt himself tensing up. "Mizore, you are right." Tsukune blew out a heavy sigh. "I do need to take a break. Yes. Thank you." Tsukune reached down to Mizore and drew her up. He stood up at the same time and embraced her.

"Let me talk to my mother to make sure it is alright with her," Tsukune said.

"I already have your mother's permission," Mizore explained. "I talked to her while you were reading."

"I see," Tsukune gave her a wry smile. "Then I guess I just have to give Ruby some instructions and we can be on our way." He kissed her forehead. "Alright?"

"Yes," Mizore smiled, happy and relieved at the same time.

Hana was excited as she ripped open the envelope. She had been surprised by receiving a package. It was not what she had expected at all. Hana had expected a letter, just a few pages folded together in an envelope. Hand delivered or mailed would have not made a difference. But instead of just a few forms, Hana had received a whole packet. Her mother had given it to her, explaining that it had just been dropped off for her. Hana had been puzzled, until she saw the small note from Tsukune on the edge of the envelope. She had hurried up to her room, carefully closing the door before letting her face split into a wide grin.

Hana had not expected the transfer request forms she had asked Tsukune for to arrive so soon. She had only expected him to bring her the forms sometime over the holiday, but he had apparently made it a priority. When she ripped open the envelope, Hana had been almost giddy with excitement, which only grew as she discovered what was inside. In addition to the application for admission and a return envelope, there were forms to be filled out for her student file. Also included was a request for her transcripts from all previously attended High Schools. Hana giggled as she looked over the form for ordering uniforms. With everything else, Hana found a student handbook.

Hana felt another giggle escape her. She froze for a moment, then looked around her bedroom, as if making sure she was alone with her posters and mangas. Hot heroines with cool mechas or enchanted items looked back at her. With a looked that was a mixture of happy and sly, on the edge of maniacal, Hana dry-washed her hands together.

"Yes," She chuckled. "Best. Holiday, Present. Ever."