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 165
It took Tsukue a little time to realize what he was looking at. Floating in front of him was a strange image of himself. Tsukune recognized the form of his inner youkai. He could also tell that it had changed. While his own body was scarred, his inner youkai's form was untouched. Tsukune knew what was different as he looked at his other self. The dark, vine-like lines that decorated his inner youkai were thicker, while the body was leaner. His inner Youkai looked tired and hungry, making it look more dangerous in feral sort of way. Even though it was his image, in a way, Tsukune thought his inner youkai was bigger than it had been before.
Tsukune felt his awareness of his inner youkai fading and his sense of self growing. As his mind drifted towards consciousness, he became aware more and more of his sense of hearing, and his of his ability to feel pain.
XxxXxxXxxX
The hospital room looked much as it always had. Once again the Student Police stood on guard outside the door while the Newspaper Club was assembled within. Nurse Kangoshi May made her way past the familiar faces to check in on the all too familiar patient. Aono Tsukune had been brought in after another attack against the safety and security of the school. His body had been cut, bludgeoned, bitten, and stabbed. He had been brought in with a broken left arm, a shattered shoulder blade, fractured ribs, and a collection of foreign bodies. His body had absorbed the healing magics while the surgeon on duty removed two screwdrivers, a single ended wrench that had penetrated into his lung, five shards of wood and many accompanying splinters, and three fangs. Intravenous fluids and rest were ordered after that. The bag of IV fluid looked almost florescent yellow from all the vitamins, electrolytes, and other nutritional supplements that it contained. Nurse May replaced the empty bag with a new one and checked the flow rate before leaving the room. With a little luck Aono Tsukune would recover with his usual speed and would be able to graduate without any more stays in the hospital.
The young women of the Newspaper Club had watched the nurse come and go. She was a face they recognized so they felt no need to challenge her. Once she was out of their way, they crowded around Tsukune's bed once more. Moka sat at his right hand with her back to the door. Kurumu was at his left hand with Mizore beside her. Ruby, Kokoa, and Yukari sat around the foot of the bed. When the door opened, they all looked to see who was trying to enter.
"What are you doing here?" Kurumu demanded.
"I came to check on Tsukune," Inari said from her wheelchair. She didn't think she needed the thing, but the hospital staff had insisted on no walking for a day. She would be using crutches for a week after they let her out. "How is he doing?" Inari asked in a concerned voice as she wheeled into the room.
"He is resting," Moka said firmly.
"It's not any business of yours though," Kurumu snapped. "Go back to your room and leave us alone."
"It is my business," Inari growled back. "Tsukune is my captain. I'm worried about him just like you are."
"We don't give a damn about your captain," Kurumu insisted. "We are worried about our friend."
"He is my friend too," Inari said.
"He is also the man I am in love with," Kurumu raised her voice a little. "Are you going to make the same claim?"
"I... I..." Inari stammered, turning red faced. "Yes, damn it!" She snapped. "Not that it does any good to admit it, but yes, I'm in love with Tsukune too."
"Well you're too late," Kurumu said with a sneer.
"We appreciate your concern," Moka said in a cool voice. "I'll tell Tsukune you stopped by."
"No," Inari said, setting the breaks on her wheelchair. "I'm not just going to go away because you don't want me around."
"You little..." Kurumu growled.
"Perhaps," Ruby spoke up, cutting of Kurumu. "If you would like to sit by the door, we can all wait calmly for Master to wake up when he's ready."
"Master?" Inari questioned soundlessly. She knew Tsukune and the Board Chairman's assistant had some kind of relationship, but was surprised at the way he was referred to by the other woman.
"Better yet," Kurumu put in. "You can go wait in your own room."
"I'll wait here," Inari said, turning her head to look at the sleeping Tsukune.
"No," Kurumu snapped.
"Kurumu," Moka spoke up.
"No," Kurumu snapped again, her voice climbing again. "She's already sniffing after Tsukune. If she hadn't been around, Tsukune wouldn't be hurt right now."
"It's not my fault," Inari protested. "I did what I could to help him."
"Well it wasn't enough no was it?" Kurumu argued. "And what were you doing with Tsukune anyway? Why were you the one with his phone?"
"We were working," Inari said. "Together. We were investigating a potential danger to the school. That's what the we do. We look out for the school and the town and for everybody around here."
"Fine," Kurumu waved off Inari's logic. "But why were you the one to answer Tsukune's phone?"
"He gave it to me and told me to go get help," Inari said. "We saw that there were too many to take on by ourselves, but the captain didn't want them running into town or to the school when they were discovered. We were just going to get a look and then go back with help, but when we were caught, he told me to get help and stayed behind to protect me."
"He stayed behind to protect you," Mizore said in a cold, hard voice.
"You left him alone," Moka accused.
"So it is your fault," Kurumu scoffed.
"I was obeying his order," Inari said, feeling hot tears well up in her eyes. "He's my captain. I have to do what he orders me to do."
"My Tsukune was injured protecting your escape," Moka growled. "And then you went back?"
"But..." Inari swallowed. "But she said she was bringing help," She pointed to Kurumu while talking to Moka. "I had followed his order and help was coming, so I could go back and help him."
"And we can see where your help got him," Kurumu complained loudly. "Can't we!"
"It's not my fault," Inari cried. She looked around the room at the others. "It's not my fault. I did what I could. I was just trying to help my captain. To be there for him..." She looked towards Tsukune and deflated a little. "Everything was going to plan until his cellphone started to go off."
"We were working together..." Inari's voice trailed of as tears rand down her face.
"Until his phone went off?" Mizore questioned.
Inari just nodded.
"His phone..." Mizore pressed. "You mean somebody called him?"
"Yes," Inari answered, her voice little more than a whisper. "He pushed his phone at me and told me to go get help."
"Oh god," Kurumu said, he voice going horse. She looked to the bed. "Tsukune..."
"This is your fault," Mizore turned angry eyes to Kurumu. The temperature in the room started to drop.
"No," Kurumu said burying her face in her hands. "Tsukune... No..."
"You," Moka said, her voice dripping with anger. "You!" Moka stood up. "My Tsukune nearly died because you got jealous and didn't trust him enough! You were so worried about what he might do with another woman that you nearly killed him!"
"No," Kurumu protested. "No! Tsukuneee..." Krumu was crying openly.
"He nearly died?" Inari gasped. "Tsukune? Captain?"
"Get out!" Moka yelled. "Out of this room! Out of his life! I won't have you endangering my Tsukune like this!"
"I'm not leaving Tsukune," Kurumu said through her tears. "And you can't make me."
"No?" Moka glared at her. She lifted Tsukune hand towards the rosario.
"Moka," Ruby cautioned.
"Yes," Kokoa hissed.
"No!" Yukari protested, imagining the room turning into a battle field.
"I won't let this happen again," Moka yelled.
"Moka..." Tsukune voice was cracked and weak.
"Tsukune?" Moka suddenly ignored everyone else in the room. She held Tsukune's hand tightly in both of hers and bent over the bed. "Tsukune?" Tears were in her eyes.
"Mmmmm," Tsukune looked up at her through half closed eyes. "Moka..." He spoke her name in a sigh.
"Kurumu," Tsukune turned his head towards her a fraction. "Don't cry. It's alright. Don't be afraid."
"But Tsukune..." Kurumu cried.
"I'm here," Tsukune nodded a fraction. "You're with me."
"Tsukune," Kurumu bent over Tsukune's left arm, careful of the splinting. "Tsukune..."
"Moka," Tsukune said, turning his head back in her direction. "Everyone..."
"Everybody's here, Tsukune," Moka smiled at him in spite of her tears.
"Inari?" Tsukune asked.
"I'm here," Inari spoke up. She could not believe the excited thrill she felt when she heard him say her name. "I'm here Captain."
"Report," Tsukune said, lifting his head to look in her direction.
"We got them all," Inari said. "By the time they thought to run away, you had hurt them bad enough that I was able to stop them from getting away."
"Good," Tsukune said, letting his head fall back on the pillow, letting his eyes close. "Everybody's safe."
"Tsukune," Moka spoke in a gentle voice. "Are you alright?"
"Is it still Monday?" Tsukune asked in return.
"No," Moka answered with a small shake of her head. "It's Tuesday night, almost Nine O'clock."
"Damn," Tsukune sighed. "It's like a double long Monday."
"Is there anything we can do for you?" Moka questioned. She was feeling a sense of relief. Tsukune's humor seemed to be working at least.
"I'll be fine," Tsukune smile weakly, cracking his eyelids to look at her. "Go get some rest."
"But Tsukune," Moka protested.
"I'll be fine," Tsukune insisted. "I'll fell better in the morning." He was in pain and his body felt exhausted. He didn't want to argue. He just wanted to sleep.
"Can I stay with you?" Kurumu asked.
"You are," Tsukune reminded her. "Go get some rest."
"But..." Kurumu wanted to argue.
"I'm tired," Tsukune sighed.
That did the trick. Suddenly everybody felt bad for keeping the injured Tsukune awake. Inari was the first one out of the room, with Kokoa right behind her. Only Ruby remained behind.
Ruby was determined to serve every one of Tsukune's needs. She offered to fluff his pillow, bring him something to eat or drink, or even sing him a lullaby. Tsukune was finally forced to settle her down.
"Ruby." Tsukune croaked, his throat soar from healing injuries. "I want to sleep. You can stay, but I want you to get some sleep too. Turn out the lights and use an empty bed to get some rest, so I can sleep, or go back to the house. Your choice."
"Yes Master," Ruby bowed.
Ruby felt a little bad about having become a bother. Not wanting to be sent away, even for a night, Ruby chose to take up an empty bed in the room. Before putting out the lights however, Ruby moved the empty bed up against Tsukune's. It would almost be the same sleeping in the same bed with him.
In truth, she got very little rest that night. Every time a nurse entered, Ruby sat up on her bed, watching. She had not forgotten the time Tsukune had been attacked in the hospital. All night long as she dozed, drifting in and out of sleep, Ruby worried about Tsukune. He had been badly injured, but not all of the blood that had been splashed over his torn up body had been his own.
XxxxX
In the morning, Tsukune was woken by the nurse making rounds. His body ached all over. Under his bandages he itched. While he still felt tired, he was more focused on how hungry he was. With Ruby hovering about him, Tsukune dragged his IV pole into the water closet to relieve himself. He was just settling back into bed when Mizore arrived.
"Tsukune," Mizore said as she entered, carrying a cloth wrapped box. "How are you doing?"
"Good morning, Mizore," Tsukune welcomed her with a smile. "I am feeling better."
"That's good, Tsukune," Mizore smiled at him. "I brought you some breakfast, if you are feeling good enough to eat."
"Mizore, I love you," Tsukune said unashamed. "I'm starving."
"I don't know if you are allowed to eat yet, Master," Ruby said as she finished putting the bed she used back where it belonged.
"That is an easy one to find out," Tsukune said. He pressed the call button for the nurse. "It would be a shame if Mizore's cooking went to waste."
Mizore was practically glowing with happiness. Tsukune had said that he loved her. He may have just been thinking about her bringing him food, but there was an old saying about men and their stomachs. He also complemented her cooking, making it clear that he wanted to eat what she had brought. Except for seeing Tsukune bandaged up and lying in a hospital bed, again, Mizore was having a good morning.
Moka, Kurumu, and Yukari arrived together. Moka held an obento. Kurumu had a cloth bundle that smelled of cookies fresh from the oven. Yukari carried a thermos. The other three eyed Mizore and her larger offering suspiciously.
"I knew it," Kurumu grumbled.
"Tsukune," Moka said, trying to ignore the snow maiden's actions. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Good morning, Moka," Tsukune smiled. "I am feeling better. Thank you. How are your this morning?"
"Tsukune," Kurumu pushed past the others to put her cookies on the stand beside the bed. "Did you get enough rest?"
"I guess," Tsukue answered.
"That's good," She sat down on the edge of his bed.
"What are you doing," Moka questioned in a cool voice as she moved to loom over the succubus.
"I am sitting with the man I love," Kurumu said flatly.
"Tsukune is Mine," Moka declared.
"You wish," Kurumu scoffed and reached to embrace Tsukune, only to be stopped by his upraised hand.
"Kurumu," Tsukune said. "I'm happy that you want to be with me, but right now is not the time or place. I need to rest. You need to get to class." He managed a weak smile. "I'm sure I will be here when class lets out."
"Tsukune..." Kurumu protested.
Tsukune didn't reply to her. He let his hand drop back down on the bed and turned his attention to Moka. He knew she was short tempered out of worry.
"Moka," Tsukune said to her. "If it's not too much trouble, could I ask you to take notes for me in class today?"
"Of course, Tsukune," She gave him a warm smile. She extended the obento she was carrying to him. "I'll make sure you don't fall behind. You make sure you eat well so you can get your strength back."
"We don't know if Tsukune will be allowed to eat yet," Ruby spoke up.
"What?" Moka and Kurumu both turned to Ruby with alarm in their voices.
"Tsukune?" Moka turned back to him.
"I was hurt pretty bad," Tsukune admitted.
"But you said..." Moka started to question Tsukune, but was cut off by a knock at the door.
"Pardon me," Nurse May said as she entered. "Tsukune-kun, how are you feeling? Are you having any problems this morning?" As she talked she made her way to the bedside, displacing Kurumu and ignoring her frown.
"No problems," Tsukune said. "But I do have a question."
"Oh?" May asked.
"Well," Tsukune said. "I am hungry, but I wanted to know if it is alright if I ate anything."
"Oh my," May said with a smile. "Are you sure you want to eat?"
"If it's safe," Tsukune said. "I'm hungry."
"You sure?" May questioned. "You're not just having stomach pains?"
"Grrrrrrrrrgrgrgrgle..." Tsukune's stomach said.
"Well the doctor never said your couldn't eat," May reasoned. "Should I order a breakfast tray for you?"
"My friends brought me breakfast," Tsukune pointed out.
"I see," May looked at the offerings the other had brought. "I can't say that I blame you. You know what they say about hospital food."
"What is that?" Tsukune asked.
"If you like the food in a hospital," May said to him with a wink. "You must be sick."
XxxX
While the others had to go to class, Tsukune had to look after his own needs. Ruby only left when he ordered her to go and at least wash, change clothes, and check in with the Board Chairman. Once he was alone in the room, Tsukune got down to business. He ate the meal that Moka had made for him first, washing it down with some of Yukari's tea. Mizore's offering was a meal big enough for two or three people. Tsukune started in on it with an eager grin. The truth was that he was hungry, ravenously so. He didn't gulp his food though. He was aware of how tender parts of him still felt, so he concentrated on taking small bites and taking the time to enjoy the food, making him eat a little slower than he normally would have.
When he finished off the last bite of food, Tsukune was surprised. He was surprised that it was all gone, and surprised by how much he had eaten. He was also surprised that he was not feeling stuffed. As he thought about it, he felt like he had eaten a light meal; enough to take the edge off his hunger and to satisfy his appetite, but not enough to keep him from being hungry again in an hour or so. He did however feel much better for having eaten a good meal. Tsukune was wondering what he should do next when his nurse returned.
"Hello again," May said as she entered the room. She was carrying a basin full of things for doing her work. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better," Tsukune said with a smile. "I am looking forward to lunch."
"That is good to hear," May said. She pulled a tray table over to the bedside and started laying things out as she talked. "You know, when you used your call light, everybody at the desk was surprised."
"Why was that?" Tsukune asked.
"Because you never have before," May answered. "Usually one of your friends comes down to the desk to get whatever you need, if they didn't already bring it themselves."
"Ahhh," Tsukune nodded.
"It was a little funny to see," May went on. "We were all a little worried that something had gone wrong."
"Sorry to worry you," Tsukune said.
"It's alright," May said. "Now undress so I can change your bandages."
X=^.^=X
Inari was wondering how she should feel inside. A part of her was still happy about being with her captain when they fought Fairy Tail. She did not like the fact that she had gotten hurt and ended up in the hospital just two rooms away from her captain. But that did not change the fact that she and her captain had won, together. They had worked together, fought together, and ended up in the hospital... Almost together. It had been like a story about someone getting a wish granted by a Kitsune, Inari smile as she thought about it. She had gotten her wish, but not in the way she had expected, nor had it turned out exactly as she would have hopped. While she was disappointed in herself and her own limitations, she was closer to Tsukune than before.
Inari was mulling things over when the doctor and a nurse walked into her room. While Inari was healing well, the doctor wanted to keep her in the hospital one more day. He wanted to make sure she didn't have any complications because she had been injured badly.
"You should look to the positive," The nurse said in parting. "It could have been much worse. Your captain got as messed up as he did because he was protecting you."
Inari suddenly felt bad again. She sat alone for a time wondering if maybe her skewed wish had in some way hurt her relationship with her captain. She wondered if he would resent her because of what had happened. Dark thoughts threatened to to drop her into a depression. Unbidden, memories came to her of what had happened nearly a year ago when her captain had discovered the shrine. That had been the lowest moment of her life. It had seemed that the entire female population of the school had turned against her. She had been on the edge of dropping out of school. Inari remembered how close she had been to running away, and how Tsukune had saved her, not just from herself, but from all of the other girls in the dorm.
It had been Tsukune that had saved her a year ago. It had been her captain that had fought beside her and protected her life a day ago. Inari suddenly knew what she wanted to do. She was going to go and see Tsukune.
Inari considered the task she had set for herself, and the small but serious problems she had to deal with. She had to call for assistance just to wash up. Thankfully when some of the dressings came off she was healed enough hat they did not need to be replaced. Once she was as clean as she would get, with some clean bandages, it was time to get dressed, and to face the next problem. Hospital pajamas were loose and unflattering, and Inari did not have any makeup. With a little coaxing, she was able to get a stick of generic, waxy lip balm, so she could add a little shine to her lips. Lacking any way to alter the pajamas short of ripping them to shreds, Inari focused on the only thing she could really do. She turned her attention to her hair. Still a little damp from washing, Inari combed her redish-brown hair out before using a length of gauze as a bow to tie her hair up. She left some of her bangs free to frame her face, while the rest fell in a long tail from the back of her head. With her preparations complete, she set off to see Tsukune.
Going to see Tsukune was both harder and easier than she had expected. Her wheelchair was cumbersome when it came to navegating through doorways The Student Police guards did not challenge her. The did greet her and congratulate her on winning the fight. After accepting their wishes for a speedy recovery, she knocked at Tsukune's door. When she heard his voice inviting her to enter, she suddenly became nervous, questioning the wisdom of visiting the man she loved after being at least partly responsible for him being in the hospital. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her determination and opened the door.
"How are you doing, Captain?" Inar asked as she wheeled into his room.
"Much better," Tsukune said from where he sat up in bed. "How are you doing Inari?"
"I'm good," Inari felt herself blushing. She had been careful to address Tsukune as captain, but he had used her name. " I just..." Her voice trailed off as she wheeled closer to Tsukune, looking around the room. "Where?"
"It is a school day," Tsukune reminded Inari.
"So..." Inari felt her heart beating faster. She realized that she was alone with the man she loved.
"I didn't get to say it earlier," Tsukune spoke up. "But I wanted to thank you for your help yesterday."
"What?" Inari questioned. "But it is my fault that..."
"It is not your fault," Tsukune cut her off. "You were there when things went wrong, but there is no telling what would have happened if you had not been there."
"I'm sorry," Inari bowed her head.
"I'm sorry that you got hurt," Tsukune said. "I had meant to protect you."
"I wanted to help you," Inari said. "But instead I became a burden."
"You did good for a while," Tsukune encouraged. "Those guys were not the kind of thugs we usually end up dealing with. They were a higher class of fighter. Whoever was behind that plot was really serious about it, if he was sending guys like that."
"If you say so," Inari shrugged.
"You know..." Tsukune said in a serious tone. "When we are both doing a little better, I think we should work on training more."
"What?" Inari's thoughts were thrown off balance. It wasn't so much the change in topics that got to her, but rather the way Tsukune seemed interested in including her in his plans.
"You and I are working together more than most," Tsukune said. "Not so much with the Student Police, but with the town. Ether way, I think we need to seriously think about training together."
"But we have trained together," Inari said.
"I don't mean practicing against each other like we did for the police," Tsukune shook his head. "I mean practicing to fight as a team. Part of the reason we're both in the hospital is because we didn't know how to support each other yesterday."
"A team?" Inari perked up. "You and me?"
"That would be one team," Tsukune nodded. "We could even make it a training exercise for the Student Police. We schedule people to patrol in teams. Maybe we should have them practice fighting in teams."
Tsukune talked with Inari about his idea. They discussed ways to make the training interesting and challenging. While Inari didn't feel like she had much to contribute, she was happy to be talking with Tsukune about something he seemed to think was important. She like the way he was including her and sharing his thoughts with her.
One topic slipped into another as Inari and Tsukune talked. Soon they were just sharing a casual conversation as friends. It was a pleasant way to pass an otherwise boring morning.
Inari was aware of how special of an opportunity she had been given. She and Tsukune were alone. They were not on duty so there was no reason to act professional or distant. As much as she enjoyed talking with Tsukune, Inari tried to think of a way she could gain even a little more advantage from the situation. She thought about cashing in the favor Tsukune owed her, but wanted to be careful about using such a potentially valuable resource. As she considered it, a new idea came to her. As they talked, Inari worked her chair as close to Tsukune's bed as she felt she could politely get away with. The she deliberately moved close. She put herself close enough that if Tsukune decided to sit up all the way, the would be able to hug.
"Tsukune," Inari said carefully. "I have a question about that favor..."
"Ah," Tsukune blinked at the change on the conversation. "Yes?"
"Well..." Inari tried to keep calm. "You said you would do anything for me within reason. I was wondering what you thought would be reasonable."
"Well..." Tsukune gathered his thoughts. "First off, it would have to be something that didn't hurt my girlfriends. Or any body else."
"Girlfriends? Plural?" Inari questioned. "Do you really have a relationship with everybody in the Newspaper Club?"
"Not in the way you mean," Tsukune shook his head. "Yukari is a good friend, and kind of like a kid sister, and Kokoa is Moka's little sister. They're good people, and fun to have around in their own ways, I even care about them, just not in a romantic sense."
"What about the others?" Inari questioned. "I mean I know you don't have anything going on with your sensei, but you live with Ruby, and you talk about Moka the most, but... well..."
"Moka is my girlfriend first," Tsukune said. "I guess you could say she is my number one girlfriend. She has done so much for me, and helped me become who I am, and helped me imagine a greater life than I would ever thought possible on my own. When I first decided to stay in this school, it was to be with Moka. I was only a weak human back then, and she was this 'S' class vampire, but she was a friend that needed someone to depend on. I decided to be that person."
"Oh," Inari said. She knew about some of Tsukune's story already, but the emotions he was expressing touched her.
"Last year," Tsukune went on. "You might remember a time when the weather around the school became hotter than normal. During that time, the Newspaper Club went on a trip and some things happen. Mizore was kidnapped then. Fairy Tail had taken her. That was my first direct confrontation with them. Later, during our club's Summer trip, Moka was grabbed up by some gangsters. They were only human, but still dangerous. After we got Moka away from them, we had another fight with Fairy Tail."
"I was really starting to question myself back then," Tsukune said with a sigh. "Twice people I cared about had been put in danger, and while I had been able to help them, I almost didn't manage it. When the Public Safety Commission started trying to pressure me, I got upset. These were students that were acting like the kinds of thugs that had tried to hurt my friends."
"But you beat them," Inari pointed out. "You got the Public Safety Commission shut down."
"And I had to organize the first election," Tsukune counted off. "I had to work with the Festival Committee. I was still working, when I could, with the Newspaper Club. I had to keep up with my school work. Once the election was over, I had to start and build up the Student Police. It was while all of this was going on, that I had a stupid accident and got hurt."
"What happened?" Inari's eyes went wide.
"That's not important," Tsukune brushed her question aside.
"But..." Inari wanted to protest. Everything about Tsukune was important to her in some way or another.
"But because of what happened," Tsukune explained. "There was a... We will call it a laps in thinking clearly and an emotional misunderstanding. Because of that, Ruby, who I had always thought of as just a friend, started a new kind of relationship with me. It is why she lives with me now. I had to accept her oath of service. She will serve my for the rest of our lives. She cooks and cleans and does whatever she can to help me. I am very fond of her, and even love her, but Ruby has chosen to be my servant and to follow me no mater who I marry or where I go in life."
Inari did not know how to respond to that. Ruby was already in a position very much like the one Inari wanted for herself. She wondered how much harder it was going to make things for her.
"Moka knows all about this," Tsukune continued. "In a way it was her decision. Looking back, I think it was around then I started to have a problem." He gave a sigh and shook his head.
"Moka and I have continued to get closer since then," Tsukune kept his explanation on track. "I am very lucky to have her in my life. I was hoping that once everything settled down, Moka and I could have something close to a normal school life together."
"What happened?" Inari asked, prompting Tsukeun to keep going.
"Kind of everything," Tsukune explained. "School work. The Student Police. I got hurt again." He chuckled about that. "Kurumu's mother tried to be supportive of her." He sighed at the memory, not sure how he felt about that day anymore. "There were some other small problems. Then it was Valentine's Day, and then White Day. There was some trouble in the girls' dorms, but I don't know what happened or what it was about."
It was Inari's turn to blush. She had been there for that incident. She had been the one that had let Tsukune discover the shrine under the dorm. Back then she had held a crush on her captain. It had been a shallow reflection of how she felt about him now. That had been the first time she had gotten physically close to him. He had come to her rescue later that same weekend.
"And then Kurumu got taken," Tsukune said with a grim expression. "You were there that night. Thank you for being there. It had meant a lot to me, and it still does."
"I will do anything I can for you Tsukune," Inari said. "Any time you call, I'll be there for you no mater what."
"Thank you," Tsukune said.
"I mean it," Inari said.
"Well.. Err..." Tsukune got back on topic. "When we rescued Kurumu, you saw the place where she was being held. Something had been done to her in that place. When I fought Fair Tail's sorcerer, he did something to me. It created a link between Kurumu and I. A special kind of connection." He blinked a few times and then gave Inari a serious look. "Kurumu had always been a friend to me. She had become somebody I cared about, and I though of her as being almost like a part of my family. She had helped me in the past. She had been there when Mizore had been taken, and supported me when Moka had been in danger. Because of what had been done to us, I started to understand Kurumu better. Even while Moka and I continued to get closer, Kurumu was already in love with me." Tsukune clenched his hand into a fist and thumped it into the mattress.
"What is it?" Inari asked, concern thick in her voice.
"I'm just angry at myself for being weak," Tsukune said with a frustrated sigh. He let his head fall backwards. "I still don't understand why anybody should love somebody as weak and messed up as I am. I am in love with Moka. I'm in love with Kurumu. "I think I might even be in love with Mizore. I know I love her. I love Ruby too. What is wrong with me that I able to love four women? And why on earth would any woman love me? How is it that I have four women who love me?"
"Five," Inari said before she could stop herself.
"What?" Tsukune's head came up and he looked at her.
"Five..." Inari said again. "Or is it six?" She tried to make a joke to cover her slip.
"Five that I know of, really," Tsukune said. "Moka counts as two women."
"Six then," Inari said firmly, in a quiet voice.
Tsukune gave her a look but otherwise didn't respond. Inari blushed. She was glad that Tsukune was willing to share so much about his life with her, but she still wanted more.
"To answer your question," Tsukune said. "I don't want to do anything to hurt Moka or the others, especially when I must be hurting them so much by being so weak."
"Tsukune," Inari said, reaching out to cover his fist with her hand. "You are not weak."
"Yes I am," He argued.
"No," Inari shook her head slightly. "If you were weak, you wouldn't be able to love anybody. A weak person only knows how to take, how to protect their own feelings. In order to worry about others, in order to care about another person's feelings, you have to be strong. It is because you care, it is because you can love more then one woman that that proves that you are strong. It is because you worry about how others feel that you are worth loving."
"Inari..." Tsukune protested.
"And as for how so many woman can love you," Inari said. "If one woman can find it in their heart to love you, why can't two, or more?"
"It's just not natural," Tsukune argued.
"Natrual?" Inari barked in disbelief. "What is more natural than love?"
"I mean it's not normal," Tsukune shook his head. "How can any woman find it acceptable to share who they love with someone else?"
"What does being normal have to do with anything?" Inari asked. "I thought you loved them."
"I do," Tsukune said.
"But none of us are normal," Inari pointed out.
"But..." Tsukune tried to argue.
"Tsukune," Inari said starting to stand. With a lunge, she jumped for the bed while transforming herself. Somehow Inari leaped out of her pajamas, letting them fall empty to the floor, while she landed on the bed beside Tsukune in her full youkai form. She was a red-gold, almost blonde, five tail fox that was about twice the size of a normal fox. The tips of her ears and tails, along with her paws, were black. "Try telling me now how I should act normal."
"I... I..." Tsukune was at a loss for words. A part of his mind was locked up as it tried to cope with the idea of a talking fox. Finally he deflated with a sigh, admitting that her argument was more logical than his own.
Inari gave an involuntary stretch. It had been a very long time since she had last transformed herself completely. Normal she only went to a midway form for grooming or running fast. Being in her full youkai form was different enough that she needed to adjust to it.
"Oh.." Inari gasped as she recovered from her stretch.
"What is it?" Tsukune asked.
"My leg," Inari said as she sat back on her haunches. He extended one of her hind legs forward to inspect it. "I knew it was healing, but now I think it is completely better. She stood up again and tried walking in a tight circle beside Tsukune. She did a few more stretches as she tested her leg and muscles. Finally she looked up at Tsukune with a foxy smile.
"The pain is all gone," Inari said in an excited voice. She did a little hop. "Yatta!"
"Good for you," Tsukune said. Without thinking he reached out and petted Inari's head. It was a lot like how he might pat Yukari's head when she was excited about something, and a little like how he would pet an animal, or Ruby.
"Mmmmm," Inari leaned into Tsukune's hand. His touch felt good.
Inari liked the feel of Tsukune petting her. Sudden inspiration struck. She didn't look like a human woman in her youkai form. She was on Tsukune's bed, right beside him, and he was petting her without hesitation or even an invitation.
"Be right back," Inari said.
Inari jumped from the bed to the floor. She felt only a twinge from her previously injured leg, so she realized she should be a little more careful of it for a few days. But that was a distant thought as she scampered from the room. The Student Police gave her a surprised look as she ran past. Inari hurried to her room transforming herself into a human enough shape to have hands for only a moment. When she returned to Tsukune's room and jumped up onto his bed, she was holding a brush by it's handle in her mouth. It was a cheep plastic brush, the kind the hospital gave out, just like they had razors and combs for men. Inari dropped the brush beside Tsukune before putting herself across his lap.
"Ahhhh," Tsukune blinked as he picked up the brush. "I'm guessing you want me to brush you."
"Yes please," Inari said, glad that her fur hid any sign of a blush.
"Um..., Inari," Tsukune questioned. "This isn't some secret engagement ritual of your people is it?"
"No, it just feels good to get brushed," Inari looked up at him. "Why do you ask?"
"One of the things I learned at school," Tsukune explained. "Some youkai can have a very casual attitude about things I would considered very private or intimate, but at the same time, they put a high importance on something else." Not sure what else to do, Tsukune settled for simply using the brush to lightly pet Inar along her back.
"Oh," Inari said in response to Tsukune's words. "Oohh," she responded softly to the brush moving over her back.
Inari found the limitation of her current situation quickly. Tsukune's brushing technique was limited to a single stroke repeated over and over. While it was a little relaxing, it was also a tease. Inari had to reposition herself to get Tsukune to brush different areas besides just her back. She lay on one side for a while, and then the other, to get Tsukune to brush her flanks. She was wondering what position she should put herself in next when Tsukune started on one of her tails.
Inari had been relaxed, with her eyes half closed, from Tsukune's attentions. When he started brushing her tail, her eyes snapped open with surprise. She had not thought about it before, but her tails were at her bottom. The first stroke of the brush was almost like Tsukune had casually smoothed out the back of her skirt. In her mind she could see him doing something like that. If they were in uniform at the koban and she had something clinging to her skirt, she could picture Tsukune telling her about it and then innocently brushing it off for her. By itself it would mean nothing as far as his intentions towards her, he would just be his nice and helpful self. But it would mean that Tsukune would have looked at her bottom to see the imagined bit of lint or whatever. Inari felt the brush glide down her tail and could not help thinking about the fact that Tsukune was paying attention to her bottom.
Inari repositioned herself boldly. She moved her body so she was laying on her side on his lap, but with her head by his knees. This put her tails in his easy reach. Tsukune brushed her flank a few times before returning his attention to her tail.
"That feels nice," Inari encouraged him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Tsukune said. "I know that sometimes youkai need to give their... extras," He said awkwardly, "some attention."
"Ohh?" Inari questioned casually.
"Kurumu has wings in her youkai form," Tsukune said. "Wings have muscles that would like to be massaged one in a while I am sure."
"Hmmmm. Tsukune, you're so thoughtful," Inari said.
"I try to be," Tsukune said said as he focused on the task in front of him.
Tsukune and Inari had two totally different perspectives on what happened next. Tsukune saw the five tails and set about brushing them as if they were like a girl's hair tied back in tails from her head. He used one hand to separate one a little from the others and hold it while brushing it out. Inari suddenly remembered Tsukune's question about brushing having any special meaning. Simple grooming was a social thing, for animals or humans. Walk into any hair salon and you walk into a social environment where the clients and employees share conversations about their lives, hopes, fears, and dreams. Even then, Inari realized that to Tsukune, he was just being friendly and kind. For Inari, the brushing had been intended as an excuse to have Tsukune play attention to her, and for her to be close to him. All just a friendly and social thing. But that was before he had started to focus on her tails.
Inari was sure she was blushing under her fur. She could feel her heart racing and had to concentrate to keep from panting. Tsukune was using both hands to take care of her tails, but he seamed to be unaware of just how he was touching her. To him what he was doing was just as harmless as helping a friend straighten out their uniform. For Inari, it was like Tsukune had just put his hand up 'under' her skirt to adjust it. A part of Inari wanted to laugh out loud. Tsukune was so honest with his feelings and his compassion for others, but so clueless at the same time. If he had touched her like this when she had first joined the Student Police, Inari would have slapped him and cried sexual harassment. Now she wanted to invite him to touch her more and encourage him to think of her in a sexual way. But Tsukune was just being kind. He didn't seem to realize how intimate he was getting with her. It wasn't the fact that he was brushing her tails that made what he was doing so intimate, but where his hands were touching her.
Inari had to make an effort to hold still. Having her tails brushed out felt good, but Tsukune was doing it in a way that was getting her excited. When he parted her tails to change the one he was brushing, his fingers were very close to her most sensitive places. She could feel the warmth of his hand between her legs. The excitement of what she was feeling teamed up with her mischievous nature so Inari suddenly couldn't resist testing, and maybe teasing Tsukune a little.
Inari could not believe the urge that came over her. She had an even harder time believing that she was going through with it. Inari got up on all four feet on Tsukune's lap, facing his feet. Next she did an exaggerated yawn and stretch. First she arched her back, and then she walked her forelegs forward, stretching her back and lowering her head and shoulders while keeping her hind legs stiff and her hips up. She even lifter her tails up. Inari could not believe how blatantly she was exposing herself to Tsukune, offering herself up to him.
Her courage only lasted for a moment before fleeing before a flood of embarrassment. She scampered from Tsukune's lap and actually leaped back to her wheelchair, where she curled up almost into a ball, hiding her face behind her tails.
"Ahhhhh," Tsukune said. "Ummmmm..."
Inari peeked out from her tails to look up at Tsukune. She saw that he was blushing a little and she felt a wave of panic wash over her. She realized that her blatant display had not been totally lost on her captain.
"Excuse me for a moment," Tsukune said.
He folded back the bedding and climbed to his feet. Inari watched him carefully, studying him though the thin hospital pajamas. Tsukune made his way to the water closet.
Inari watched him go and tried to calm herself. A very large part of her wanted to make a run back to her room. Looking at the bed that Tsukune had just climbed out of, Inari had another urge. She wondered why it was that her ability to stay calm was always shaken by being around Tsukune. The bed was warm from his body. His scent was in the sheets.
"Excuse me," A voice brought Inari's mind back into focus.
Inari realized that she had fallen asleep. She looked around, embarrassed and surprised. She didn't even remember getting back on the bed, but she had, and she had curled up right where her captain had been lying. She looked up to see Tsukune standing by the bed with an amused smile.
"If you are tired..." Tsukune started to say.
"No," Inari cut him off quickly. "I'm fine." She quickly jumped back to her wheelchair.
"Ahhh hu," Tsukune nodded. He started to climb back into bed. "Staying in the hospital is frustrating isn't it."
"Yes," Inari agreed.
"And this school year was going so well too," Tsukune sighed as he settled back into bed.
"What?" Inari questioned.
"I made it most of the school year without being stuck in the hospital, again," Tsukune explained.
"But we missed you," Nurse May said from the open door.
Inari almost jumped out of her fur in surprise.
"It is good to see you in positive spirits," May said as she entered the room.
"Thank you," Tsukune said. "I am feel much better. I'm just really hungry."
"That is good to hear," May smiled. "I'll make sure your lunch is taken care of." She looked towards Inari.
"And how are you feeling Miss Sansai?" May asked.
"I am feeling better," Inari answered. "When I transformed my leg stopped hurting."
"Yes," May nodded. "That is frequently the case. But you need to be careful. Sometimes when a youkai resumes the form they were injured in, the injury returns as well."
"I'll be careful," Inari nodded.
"That's good," May nodded back. "Will you be taking your lunch in here as well?"
"Tsukune?" Inari turned to him with a questioning look.
"Sure," Tsukune nodded.
"Yes," Inari said, turning back to the nurse.
"I will be back in a little while then," May said, turning for the door.
"I should change back," Inari said. "If we will be having lunch, I will want my hands."
Inari's youkai and human forms were very different, in shape and size. In order to have hands she had to take on a more human shape. Changing to a more human shape meant becoming bigger. In her full youkai form she weighed in at seven kilograms. In her fully human form she was a fit fifty three kilograms at one hundred sixty centimeters tall. In order to have hands she was one hundred and fifteen centimeters tall and twenty six kilograms. She called it her starting form. She could walk on two or four legs. Her hands were still very paw-like, her fur was unchanged, and her face and head was still that of a fox. She held her starting form for a moment and tested her leg to make sure it was alright.
In her current form, Inari was still more fox than human. She had trouble sitting in a chair and her hands lacked any gripping strength and were of limited dexterity. With a little concentration she shifted to what she called her neutral form. Because of her digitigrade legs and feet, Inari's neutral form was taller than her human one. She was up to her full weight, but was one hundred and seventy six centimeters tall, not counting her ears. She had the face and head of a fox, a large fox, but she some very human traits as well. Her hands, while furred on the back and black skinned on the front, had fully human digits. While not the claws of more aggressive youkai, in this form Inari's nails were still impressive enough to do some damage if she wanted to. With a little change to her hands back to a more paw-like shape, Inari's neutral form was her fastest for running on all fours. It was also her fasted form for running on two legs, but was lacking in agility because she was so top heavy. While she still had a fox's face and ears, she also had her human hair on her head. In her neutral form her torso had a very human shape to it. Her breasts, which were perfectly flat in her more fox-like forms, were an attractive and noticeable 'C' cup on her chest. Less noticeable was the second row of 'A' cup breasts. Her remaining mammary glands were flat and hidden under her fur.
In her neutral form, Inari was human enough for most things. She could use normal furnishings, and clothing that would fit her human body would mostly fit her neutral form. Inari took the time to stand and test her once-injured leg. It was a little tender as she took a few steps, but free of any real pain. She gave a stretch just because it felt good to do.
"Graceful," Tsukune observed.
"What?" Inari gave him a startled look.
"I've seen you in that form before," Tsukune said. "Sitting around, or running that one..." He decided he didn't want to talk about the incident in the dorms last year. "I've seen that form before, but I never noticed how gracefully you can move like that."
"Oh," Inari said, suddenly feeling shy as she thought about how Tsukune had been watching her. "Oh!"
Inari realized that she was naked in front of Tsukune. She knew that her body was covered with fur, but at the moment she was mostly human in shape and that made things different. She felt her five tails twitching nervously as she moved to pick up her pajamas from where they had fallen to the floor. Turning her back to him as she dressed, Inari could not help but worry about what Tsukune might notice in her current form. Bending over to put on her pajama bottoms, she tried to discreetly check to see if her labia were showing through her fur the way her top four nipples did. She felt herself blushing as she saw her dark folds peeking through as wel. She saw her flesh, but so little was showing she thought it possible that Tsukune had not noticed what she had unintentionally been displaying. It was different when she was fully in the body of a fox. In her current body, the small details were very human-like. She pulled her pajama bottoms up over her thighs, almost to her hips, and tied them in place, leaving her tails hanging out over the back for the moment. Next she pulled on her top. She could clearly see that her black nipples were poking through the thin fur over her breasts.
Once she was finished dressing, Inari resumed her human form with a relieved sigh. Her leg ached a little, but supported her weight as she stepped carefully over to the wheelchair. She sat down in the wheelchair because it was the seat closest to her, and to Tsukune's bed. She tried to smooth down her pajamas and calm her racing heart, not wanting to look Tsukune in the face until she felt a little more composed.
Tsukune made a point of examining his fingernails for a moment. He had watched Inari change forms, curious about the process, but not really focused on it. It was when Inari finished dressing and turned fully human that Tsukune had been given a bit of a surprise and a serving of eye candy. Her back had been to him when she finished transforming. Her tails disappeared, giving Tsukune a quick view of Inari's round bottom with a little cleavage-esq flash above the waistband of her pajama bottoms. When she turned around, her mostly buttoned pajama top protected her modesty, but as she sat down, he was still treated to a view of her cleavage, and could see her nipples were erect.
An analytical part of Tsukune's mind had kicked in at that point. It was a part of Tsukune's mind that he really wished he had more control over. When Inari in her fox body had done an almost cat-like stretch on his lap, he had remembered the time he had seen Kurumu pose the same way in the bath. That had brought back the memory of what he and Kurumu had done next that morning. Seeing Inari's hardened nipples was doing the same thing to Tsukune. He remembered seeing Mokas' and Kurumu's nipples, and felt them growing hard under his hands. The analytical part of Tsukune's mind told him that Inari was excited, possible aroused, even as it flashed through memories of his aroused lovers for reference. Those memories made Tsukune's heart quicken and threatened to get him worked up as well.
An awkward silence grew between Inari and Tsukune. They both felt a measure of embarrassment about what had just happened. Tsukune was berating himself for being careless, and for being even a little excited over Inari. Inari was worried about what Tsukune must think of her about being so careless and unladylike. She stole a glance at Tsukune and say the color in his cheeks of a blush. While she was embarrassed by her carelessness, she was also feeling a little excited. Little slip-ups were a classic tool for seduction. It was a useful way to get a man thinking about a woman. Inari tried to think of what she should do next, but at the same time she was worried that she might have done too much already. When the nurse returned with a cart carrying their lunch, Tsukune and Inari both felt relieved fort the distraction.
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((A/N : With special thanks to InMyOwnMind and Tadeus for their reviews. Sometimes what swims around in my imagination does not communicate the image I want. ))