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 144

The journey to the village of the Snow Maidens didn't take very long. Because it was Winter, arriving at Mizore's homeland didn't have the same climate shock as Tsukune's last trip. Even so, Tsukune was starting to think that a motorcycle wasn't all that good of a way to travel during the winter season. If it had not been for Kurumu's enforced shopping trip before the start of the school year, Tsukune would have had nothing to wear that would have been up to the trip.

The energy around the village was very different from the school. As Tsukune and Mizore walked into the village, holding hands while Hiru and Shiro walked behind them, he could feel the flowing currents of energy around him. He quickly detected the miss-match that told him that there were more than just Snow Maidens in the village, even if he could not completely understand what he felt. Tsukune knew his own youki must stand out in the quiet village. This was proven to him when he and Mizore approached her home. The front door of the Shirayuki house burst open and a woman in an elegant kimono of pinks and light blues came out, hurrying and showing as much excitement as dignity would allow.

"Mizore," Shirayuki Tsurara greeted her daughter. "You should have warned me you were coming home. Tsukune," Tsurara turned to him and offered him a small bow. "It is good to see you again. The hospitality of my house, of the entire village, awaits you."

"Thank you, Shirayuki-san" Tsukune bowed deeply.

"Call me Tsurara," She gave him a little smile. "It is almost time for supper, please come inside and tell me what has brought you."

"Mother," Mizore explained as they entered. "I am sorry for not writing ahead to warn you. Tsukune has been working hard and I was only just today able to get him to come for a short rest."

"Oh," Tsurara said. "A short break you said?" She gave Tsukune an unreadable look. "And I was so hoping that you had come to live with us as Mizore's husband."

"Errr..." Tsukune flinched.

"No mother," Mizore said firmly. "I brought Tsukune here because he need to relax, not so you could pressure him."

Tsurara and Mizore settled into a conversation about the reasoning and planning of the visit. Tsukune was content simply follow along. He was shown to a room where he could put his bag, and where he could freshen up before supper. The room was very simple and traditional, something Tsukune felt would be relaxing. While Mizore and her mother talked elsewhere, Tsukune changed out of his riding gear and pulled on the clothes he had prepared for the trip. While the house was cooler than he was used to, it wasn't uncomfortable once he was dressed. For the trip, Tsukune had planned to try to be as relaxed as he could, and to help that he had packed clothes that he had hoped would help him fit in. Remembering how traditional the village was, Tsukune had packed a kimono.

Tsukune's Kimono was a few years old, and a little short around the ankles, but he though it would serve well enough. He had only worn it to a cousin's wedding. It was a simple gray Kimono with a dark blue Haori over it, with a matching obi. While nowhere near as elegant as Tsurara's kimono, or as colorful as the yukata's that Mizore favored, Tsukune thought his appearance would be suitable for his visit. He was making final adjustments to his clothes, giving them a little tug here and there to make sure they were straight, when someone knocked at the door.

"Yes?" Tsukune responded. "Just a moment." He crossed the room and slid the door open.

"Oh," Tskune was greeted with a small gasp.

Mizore was dressed, as Tsukune had expected, in a yukata. Her outfit had a light outer layer of icy blues with pink whorls over a white under-robe, and held in place by a wide, embroidered obi. The top garment had long sleeves and a distractingly high hem line. The under robe added a little more modesty to the outfit, but it still treated Tsukune to a nice view of Mizore's bare legs. Beside Mizore, Tsurara stood in her kimono, with her hair tied up.

Mother and daughter were wearing matching ornamental combs in their hair. Both of the women took in the sight of Tsukune with a smile on their lips and a sparkle in their eyes. Tsukune wondered if he had made a mistake in his choice of clothing.

Mizore and her mother had come to lead Tsukune to supper. Tsurara walked along calmly, with a smile on her face that Tsukune could not see from behind her. Mizore, on the other hand, held on to Tsukune's arm and smiled openly.

"Err," Tsukune paused out side of the dining room. "Mizore..."

"What is it, Tsukune?" Mizore stopped beside him and looked up into his face.

"I just wanted to thank you for inviting me to your home," Tsukune said. "Thank you." He leaned down and gave her a quick, light kiss.

Mizore felt herself blushing. Tsukune's warm heart had a way of surprising her. She followed him in to the dining room and sat beside him, trying to not smile too much.

"Is everything alright?" Tsurara asked, having noticed Tsukune and Mizore's delay.

"Everything is fine," Tsukune said. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"Well then," Tsurara said, acting casual as she studied Tsukune and her daughter. "Let's enjoy our meal."

xX

Mizore had a hard time concentrating as she sat beside Tsukune. While he and her mother made small talk, Mizore kept blushing. Tsukune had dressed in traditional, if simple clothes, in an obvious attempt to fit in with her family and the village. He was still tense, but that sadness she had seen in his eyes earlier seemed to have lifted. While she tried to act calm, Mizore couldn't help but keep sneaking glances at Tsukune, and every time she caught him looking back at her, she would blush all over again. A part of the reason Mizore was so worked up she knew was because of that very special kiss Tsukune had given her just before sitting down to supper.

Tsukune had carefully but deliberately, Mizore was sure, kissed her on the right side corner of her mouth. When she was out in the world, away from home, Mizore had to use a special candy to help her cope with the heat. As soon as she acceptably could upon returning home, Mizore had put her sucker aside. Tsukune had noticed this. He had kissed Mizore specifically on the right side of her mouth, where she habitually kept her sucker.

XX

Tsurara considered Tsukune to a remarkable person in more ways than one. When she first met him, he had been just a school boy that Mizore had held a crush for. He had been kind of cute, with an openness about him. Tsurara had been willing to accept him from the beginning because he made Mizore happy, and with her daughter already of child bearing age, there was little reason to wait. In the short time since then, Tsukune had matured and changed. Nearly a grown man, he still had some of that openness in his face, but his eyes were so serious. He had once told Tsurara that he would not start a family until he felt that he could take full responsibility, and looking into his eyes now, she believed him.

Tsurara thought that her daughter had made a good choice in Tsukune. He had proved himself when he had been willing to step up to protect Mizore, and the village as a whole. Since that time he had continued to grow and change. Tsurara could not help but be aware of him, of his presence. He radiated Warmth in a way that made him seem bigger than he really was, and he wasn't small.

"Tsukune," Tsurara said in a lighthearted voice. "I hope that you will enjoy your visit."

XxX

After supper Tsurara once again reminded Tsukune that the full hospitality of the house was available to him. Before excusing herself for the evening, Mizorie's mother told Tsukune and Mizore that she would see to everything, and that the young couple should just take it easy. Once she left, a silence fell across the room.

"Mizore," Tsukune said while looking at the table. "You look very pretty."

"Thank you," Mizore blushed. "You look very handsome in you kimono."

"Thank you," Tsukune replied.

"Tsukune," Mizore questioned him nervously. "Is there anything you would like to do?"

"Hmmmm," Tsukune thought for a moment. Finally he stood up. "How about we take a walk." Tsukune suggested, holding out his hand to Mizore. "We can watch the auroras for a while. You said that you wanted to share them with me."

"Yes," Mizore quickly agreed as she got to her feet, taking Tsukune's hand.

They walked together to the front door and stepped out into the night. Mizore instantly felt Tsukune's youki spike as he drew it up and used it to armor himself against the cold. As an accidental effect of his action, Warmth trickled into Mizore as they held hands. Mizore could have protected Tsukune from the cold, as her people did when waylaying men lost in the winter snows in order to take them to mate, but he had beaten her to the punch. The feel of his warmth was pleasant enough to make her forget to say anything about what she could do.

The night over the village was beautiful. The auroras in the sky above were reflected back from the ice structures of the village. Some of the surfaces that reflected the light moved, for one reason or another. As Tsukune and Mizore walked together, their position relative to curved surfaces changed, changing the way they viewed the light of the auroras. It was like being surrounded by a silent fireworks show. The entire village was filled with dancing lights and shadows.

Tsukune and Mizore didn't walk far. Holding hands, they walked slowly through the streets, enjoying the sparkling scenery. While the hour was late, there were a few other residents of the village walking about. Tsukune asked Mizore about the habits and life styles of the village as they walked. Mizore explained that while there wasn't much in the way of businesses or the like in the village, there were some. The people of the village kept livestock and grew crops, using the technology of green houses, in order to feed everybody. Traditionally hunters, by applying modern thinking, the Snow Maidens were able to support a larger population. Also, while everything appeared to be made out of ice when first seen, that was not the case. Most buildings had an internal structure that was covered and supported with ice. The insides of the buildings could then have comfortable amenities and pleasing appearances. This required craftsmen and women. As with any other village, there were people that did not have the time, skill, or inclination to cook for themselves, creating the niche in the economy for a few places that would provide food, and a place to eat. And, again like any other village, people that were busy during the day with one task or another, might take the time in the evening or early night to visit with friends or to address some other responsibility.

Tsukune enjoyed his walk with Mizore. They talked, comparing their homes and the things there. Tsukune learned that there was no formal school in Mizore's village, and that the children were schooled individually, or in small groups, sometimes being passed from home to home depending on the lessons being given. The whole village took care of the children, and found joy in having them around. As they walked and talked, Tsukune was aware of the villagers looking in his direction. He knew he stood out as a stranger, and more over because he was using his youki. As he listened to Mizore talk about her village, Tsukune realized that the people around them must know her, and many if not all of them had helped raise and teach her. That thought made him even more aware of the villagers, and was surprised to see that the only gave him casual looks, and an occasional smile. While he had the comfort of Mizore's company, he also had the comfort of being anonymous.

XxxX

"I'm sorry Tsukune," Mizore said with a distraught voice. "This wasn't my idea."

Upon returning to Mizore's home, she and Tsukune received a less than pleasant surprise. Tsurara had taken advantage of their absence to make some arrangements to encourage them to get closer. Whole walls of ice had been erected, effectively changing the usable space of the house into something smaller and suggestively cozy. The first change that they had discovered had been up stairs when they reached the room Tsukune would be using during his visit. When they opened the door, the pair saw that someone had been ahead of them and had laid out a futon. Mizore's reaction came from seeing that the single futon was the large kind that would normally be set out for a married couple, complete with two pillows.

"Ahhhh," Tsukune looked at the room and scratched his head. "I'm sure this was your mother's idea."

Tsukune entered the room, looking about as if expecting something or some one to jump out at him. He investigated the closet and sighed over what he found there. His bag had been unpacked, and his belongings placed neatly on a shelf. Even his riding gear had been neatly folded. In addition to his own things, a good portion of the closet was occupied by what Tsukune felt certain were some of Mizore's clothes and personal items.

"Tsukune?" Mizore questioned.

"It's alright," Tsukune sighed.

"I'll sleep in my own room tonight," Mizore said. "It isn't right for mother to pressure you like this."

"She is just trying to make sure you're happy," Tsukune shrugged.

The plotting of Tsurara had not ended with the bedroom. The woman had sealed off Mizore's bedroom with a thick barrier of ice. Tsukune and Mizore found out that they were restricted to using only a single water closet, bath room, bedroom, and the entry way, dining room, and kitchen. Tsukune felt too tired to bother getting upset with what Tsurara had done, and didn't want Mizore feeling pressured by the way her mother was acting. He let Mizore use the bath first, before washing and preparing for bed.

"I can still sleep somewhere else," Mizore offered. "I'm sorry about this."

"I know this is not something you planned," Tsukune said, giving her a hug. "But you don't have to force yourself."

"What do you mean?" Mizore asked even as she accepted Tsukune's embrace.

"I know you have no problem sharing the futon with me," Tsukune pointed out. He let go of Mizore to start making his final preparations for bed. "And I don't have any problems sleeping with you next to me."

"Tsukuneeee," Mizore gave a small, happy cry.

XxxX

It was early morning when Tsukune woke up. Something had been bothering him all night. It had not kept him from getting his rest, but it was like having a light on that was just out side of his field of vision. When he woke up, that little something that was bothering him seemed to demand his attention, having become something of an annoyance by the way it intruded on his awareness. He was careful to move quietly as he got up, not wanting to disturb Mizore's slumber. Something in the village felt out of place to Tsukune, and he needed to find out why he was so aware of it.

Tsukune slipped out of the house with the same care that he had used to slip out of the futon. Except for the dancing auroras, the sky was still dark as Tsukune started down the street. Now that he had his mind set to the task, there was no missing the direction of what he was feeling was coming from. A few of the villager were also up at that early hour. Tsukune exchanged polite smiles and nods with the adults. The two children he saw disappeared as soon as he looked in their direction. Tsukune was a little worried that he would have a hard time finding his way back to Mizore's home, and suspected that he would have to call upon Hiru for the task. The streets of the village curved about, seemingly at random, making Tsukune wander as he tried to find his way.

Tsukune eventually found his way to an open space within the village. The street he was following brought him to an area where there were no buildings, but the space was by no means empty. Tsukune guessed that the place was some kind of park. Glittering creations of ice dotted the area at random. Some were simple while others were complex. There was no set pattern to the placement of the ice sculptures. Each one had it's own appeal and taken in as a whole, the place was a riot of lines and curves that sparkled, almost dancing under the auroras in the sky above. Somewhere ahead of him, amid that collection of creations, was the thing that was attracting Tsukune's attention. With only a small part of his mind taking in the creativity and beauty of the ice garden, Tsukune headed forward.

XxxXx

When Mizore awoke, the first thing she was aware of was Tsukune's absence. At first she didn't think anything of it, but as she became more awake, and Tsukune continued to be absent, Mizore started to feel nervous. She forced herself to remain cam and concentrated. She focused on the sense of Warmth, the unique feeling that she used to identify Tsukune. As she opened up her awareness, Mizore quickly realized that Tsukune wasn't in the house. Mizore scrambled out of the futon then. She hurriedly dressed and headed for the door. Once out side, Mizore applied her skills to track Tsukune.

At first Mizore didn't know how she should feel as she searched for Tsukune. He had slipped away from her without a word, but he had not simply left her behind. His things were still in their room, so she knew he intended to come back. Mizore also knew that there was almost no chance of anybody in the village wanting to harm him. At the same time, Tsukune didn't know his way around, and some of the bridges could be tricky to someone not used to walking on ice. The fact that Tsukune was exploring her home village was something Mizore considered a good thing. As she followed the hint of his presence, his Warmth, through the streets of the village, Mizore considered what Tsukune might be thinking. She had brought him to the village to relax and to forget about his responsibilities for a while. If he was wandering around sight seeing, perhaps she had succeeded in her plans. Perhaps Tsukune would enjoy his visit enough that he would want to return regularly. He might even be considering her village to be a sanctuary he could escape to. Maybe he was exploring the village in hopes of finding a place to make his own. There were a number of vacant houses. Mizore imagined Tsukune using one as a vacation home, a place to go on holidays from work. If he was interested, Mizore could even be his mistress, his Winter Wife, keeping his home in the village ready for him. She would live there, ready to tend to Tsukune's wants and needs, while raising their children. Mizore was on the edge of smiling, but then she remembered where she was.

Mizore looked around at her village and started to worry for Tsukune. Mizore was in her home village, a place where she had been safe for most of her life there, so she had forgotten to consider the native danger it presented to Tsukune. Most of the village population was female, from young girls to mature women. There were any number of younger women still able to have a child, and plenty of older ones that would like to have the company of a man just for the pleasure of it. Mizore suddenly felt that she had to find Tsukune right away. She cast her awareness wide open. She was not close enough to detect Tsukune but she could feel the traces of his passing. She realized that his random wandering was slowly headed in one general direction more than any other. Mizore decided to try to get ahead of Tsukune instead of just following him. She changed directions, choosing a path that would take her away from Tsukune's trail, but would help her get through the village faster. As she moved, Mizore tried to think how to keep Tsukune safe.

Snow Maidens were hunters. Not only did they traditionally hunt in the wild for food, but they also hunted for mates among those that wandered close. Here in the village, there would be many that may not have felt ready to go hunting, but Tsukune was in their territory, making him an attractive target. Even arranged marriages had a low success rate in creating more children for the village. A desperate woman might easily abandon manners in hope of a quick mating. As Mizore neared the area of the sculpture garden she thought about her own work there. Her sculpture of Tsukune should keep him safe from anybody who had seen it, from anybody who understood the meaning of it. Mizore entered the plaza of the sculpture garden and stopped short.

It was not even mid morning and the sculpture garden looked busy. Mizore saw more people moving through the garden than at any time in the past save for the Obon festival. Mizore could sense Tsukune's presence in the garden and felt her heart sink. Worried, scared even, Mizore hurried into the garden. In the village of solitary Snow Maidens, nothing would attract attention like a man walking alone. The sculpture garden was a place of tradition so old that it was almost sacred. Mizore could feel fear clawing at her heart as she ran into the garden.

XxX

Tsukune was surprised when he entered the central area of the ice garden. The ice sculptures had changed almost abruptly from artistic forms to lifelike statues. Some were little more than a face on a block or pillar of ice, while others looked fully formed from a mold of a whole person. Some were nude and some where clothed, yet all of them were made of ice. Tsukune wondered if he had wandered into a cemetery. He would have turned back, except that whatever had been tugging at his awareness was somewhere close. He continued forward among the sculptures. He saw that a few even glowed with an inner light, and Tsukune could feel the energy within them. It was faint, and still, like something caught on the edge of sleeping and oblivion. He took notice of the statues as he passed them. Most of the statues looked complete, with careful attention to detail. Tsukune knew they had been crafted in the likeness of a real person, and were not just sculptures for the sake of art.

Tsukune finally reached his goal. In front of him was a statue so real in its details that it looked like it could start moving at any moment. He looked into the statue's face, recognizing his own features. Now that he was in front of it, Tsukune knew why he had been aware of its presence. The statue glowed with an inner fire that was an echo of his own inner energy.

"It is impressive, isn't it?" A voice said from close to Tsukune's elbow.

"Yes," Tsukune agreed looked to see who had spoken.

The voice belonged to an old woman. She appeared to be of small stature even before she had been stooped by age. Dressed in simple, layered robes and carrying a broom that looked almost as old as she was, The woman faced the statue of Tsukune without really looking at it.

"I don't remember when it was made," The old woman said. She then gave voice to a merry cackle. "But then again, I don't remember much of anything any more. I remember coming to sweep the garden and finding it here. I don't know if it has been here as long as I can remember, or if it has just been her long enough for me to remember it. I wish I could see it," The old woman sighed.

Tsukune realized that the woman was blind. She probably got around because she knew where most things were in her home village, and because she could sense the flow of energy around her. So something like glowing statues would be something she could enjoy, if only in some limited way.

"I found this one to be impressive every time I discovered it," The old woman went on. "Or at least I think I must have, because I can remember it now. Ahhh the woman who raised this up must have really been in love," The old woman smiled and sighed.

"What do you mean?" Tsukune asked.

"You mean to say that this is your first time here?" The old woman asked, facing Tsukune in surprise.

"Yes," Tsukune answered.

"Oh," The woman's eyebrows shot up. "I would have thought your mother would have brought you here." She looked back at the statue. "That's what Snow Maidens do. They craft a likeness of their lover so they can show it to their children, because humans live such fleeting lives. This one feels a lot like you do, so I thought it must be your father." The woman sighed again. "That much Warmth enshrined in a single statue usually means the man gave his life to protect his lover or their child."

"What if he was still alive?" Tsukune asked.

"Then he must have been a very strong man to have that much Warmth to share," The old woman said. "And he must have done something truly special for his lover. Tell me, in what direction is the statue looking?"

"It's looking straight ahead," Tsukune answered.

"Are the eyes open or closed?" The old woman pressed.

"Open," Tsukune replied.

"Oh my my my," The old woman sighed. "That he gave his Warmth willingly," She explained. "He knew what he was doing when he shared his vital energy with his lover. And he was alive when she later made this." The woman gave a little shake of her head. "I wonder who maid it."

"It must have been Mizore," Tsukune said, examining the statue.

"Mizore?" The old woman questioned. "Of which family is she?"

"Shirayuki Mizore," Tsukune gave the old woman Mizore's full name

"Little Mizzy made this?" The old woman gasped. "I'm older than I thought. I thought Mizzy was still a young girl. I could not image her having a grown up son already. Is your mother well?"

"Mizore is not my mother," Tsukune explained, feeling a little embarrassed. "She and I go to school together."

"Now that doesn't make any sense at all," The woman said, turning to give Tsukune a frown. "Unless this is a statue of you."

"Errr," Tsukune blushed. "Well..."

"Ohhh my my my my my..." The old woman cackled.

XxxX

Mizore hurried to her sculpture of Tsukune. In her mind, she pictured the worst possible outcome. She had to find Tsukune before it was too late. She had to explain everything before she lost him. When she saw a loose ring of people standing around her sculpture, Mizore slowed her steps. She approached carefully, wanting to assess the damage before rushing in. Concealing her presence, Mizore passed though the circle of onlookers, all women, to see what was going on.

Mizore saw Tsukune standing by his likeness. Mizore was afraid of what might come next. She approached slowly, seeing Tsukune talking with someone. When she got closer she recognized the old woman, who was laughing and talking with a wide grin on her wrinkled face.

"Oh," The old woman broke off in mid sentence. "And here comes little Mizzy now." She looked in Mizore's direction while leaning on her broom. "Come on over Mizzy. This nice man said you're the one who made this."

"Aunty Sinna," Mizore said nervously. "Tsukune?"

"Good morning," Tsukune said, holding out a hand to her.

"Good morning," Mizore's voice shook as she hurried the last few steps. She reached for Tsukune's hand as if it was a life line. "Tsukune?"

"Are you alright, Mizore?" Tsukune asked, feeling the trembling of her fingers.

"I'm fine," Mizore answered. "What about..."

"I'm sorry if I worried you," Tsukune said. "I needed to... I woke up before you did and decided to take a walk."

"Oh my my," Aunty Sinna said. "Mizzy, you've got yourself a good one. Now off with you both." She swatted at them gently with her broom. You have something more important to be doing than wondering about."

"Yes ma'am," Tsukune said with a smile. "And thank you."

"Any time young man," Aunty Sinna said. "Now get to work."