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 174
Tsukune was glad to return to school. He had a lot to get done in a short amount of time, but he was used to being under pressure. No longer surround by young women with their strange hunger showing in their eyes, Tsukune wanted to take a little time and relax, focusing on the simple things. He returned to the manor after a brief visit with the Board Chairman, looking forward to getting hs school work out of the way. He walked in on Mizore, Moka, and Ruby sitting together. The three of them had that look of innocent guilt on their faces that told him that he had been the topic of conversation. A fresh spike of irritation hit him.
Tsukune knew that they didn't mean any harm. The three women all loved him and wanted to support him. He knew that at times they plotted together to try to make his life easier. He did resent it a little, because it made him feel like they didn't trust him to look after himself, but at the same time it gave him a sense of comfort knowing that they cared enough for him to try so hard to help him out.
"As long as you're all here," Tsukune said. "Let me tell you about my trip." From the way the three women brightened he knew it had been the right thing to say.
XxxX
As Mizore listened to Tsukune talk about his new project she couldn't help but smile. It felt good to be included in his life and to have him share what was happening with her. She felt a sense of pride knowing how respected and capable he was, and that he was being trusted with such a large responsibility. Mizore was also smiling because she knew Tsukune was going to feel pressured by what was hanging over his head. She could feel the swilling eddies of his youki as soon as he had entered the room. If he was going to be under pressure, that meant that he was going to need some additional support, so she would have every excuse to stay very close to him. And, Mizore plotted, if she was staying close to him while he was feeling pressured, there was a chance she would be able to catch him in a moment of distraction and weakness, and she knew she would take advantage of such a golden opportunity.
XxxxxxxxxX
Tsukune was aware of what he needed to get done in order to make his current assignment a success. By the time he had gone to bed, with Mizore stubbornly cuddling up beside him, he had already roughed out a plan. The next morning Tsukune set his plan into motion while walking to school.
X=^.^=X
Inari felt happy and angry at the same time. The cause of both emotions stemmed from the same man; Tsukune. When the had met up on the way to school that morning, Tsukune had spoken to her in a way that had made her heart race.
"Inari," Tsukune had called out with a warm smile. "I am happy to see you. I hope that you are well."
"I'm very good," Inari answered as she felt herself blushing.
"That's good," Tsukune had said to her. "Because I would like to ask you for your help."
"Yes," Inari agreed without hesitation. "Anything you want."
"Thank you," Tsukune's smile brightened, making Inari's heart flutter. "Spread the word that there will be a meeting of the Student Police after school today."
It was the mixed messages from Tsukune gave that so frustrated Inari. He had gotten her so excited for that one moment, and then reminded her that he saw her as only as a friend and colleague. It was as if he had no idea how much his open smile and words made a woman feel.
XxxxXxxxX
"I'm sorry to do this to you on such short notice," Tsukne said to his second in command of the Student Police. "But the Board Chairman is pushing for this."
"I know you wouldn't put me in a hard spot if you didn't really need to," Akira said, nodding.
"Think of this as an opportunity," Tsukune said to his friend. "Most of those going with me are going to be third year students anyway. You will have to do without them next year anyway. This way you get a chance to see how well some of the others will perform."
"I'm just glad you're not taking sheezu with you," Akira said.
"Only because she turned me down," Tsukune reminded him.
"I know," Akira grinned.
Tsukune gave the other young man a slap on the shoulder before moving to the steps of Student Police Headquarters building. The assembled strength of the Student Police were gather together. It gave him a sense of accomplishment and pride to see how many students had chosen to follow him.
Over the past year the Student Police had formed into semi-regular teams or squads. Each squad had its own little chain of command. When schedules were made the squads were almost always put on shift as a whole. Aside from the main squads, there were two other sub-divisions of the Student police. To Tsukune's left as he faced the assembled students were the members of the Student Police that did the office work. Mostly females, the were almost a club of their own. They participated in the regular training drills with the others, and took pride in their leader, Sheezu, who had earned the respect of everyone in spite of her brief time with the old Public Safety Commission. Tsukune knew that the office/support division practiced cooking and sewing together during slow shifts, and sometimes would gather together to hang out when they were not on duty. To Tsukune's right were the reserve members of the Student Police. Mostly first year students, they helped as runners for the Board Chairman and the watch commanders, and added extra heads to the duty rosters on holidays. They were usually shy and did not feel ready to commit to the Student Police full time. Tsukune encouraged them to tag along with regular patrol pairs when possible, to help them build confidence and to get them used to being a part of the team.
"Thank you everybody for coming," Tsukune said. "It means a lot to me that you have all chosen to be a part of the Student Police, and I am thankful for all of your support. With your help we have made our school a safer place. Because of your hard work and dedication to this school and to your fellow school mates, next year the board will be expanding enrollment. The purpose of this school, as you all know, is to help youkai to live among humans. This is not just for the safety of youkai, but to build a stronger and safer Japan, a safer world, for all of us. Next term, to help continue the success you have all helped to create, the Youkai Academy will be accepting a small number of humans. It will fall to the Student police to help keep the peace. I may not be here, but I know I can count on those of you who will."
A murmur of voices built up as the assembled students whispered back and forth. What Tsukune has said was not a total surprise. Rumors about humans attending the school had been spreading ever since the last festival.
"The reason I asked you to assemble today," Tsukune continued after a pause. "Is to share with you how our successes have been noticed. Durring the last festival we had the honor of hosting some humans students. These humans, our friends in spirit, returned to their school and shared with their friends, class mates, and teachers what a positive experience they had enjoyed. One school was even motivated to host their first ever school festival because of what their representatives had reported back. You should be proud of yourselves." Tsukune started clapping. "Good job everyone."
The assembled Student police started to lap and then to cheer. Tsukune watched them all smiling, beaming with pride and happiness. He let them carry on for a while, but finally held up a hand to get their attention. The students soon fell silent.
"Because we have done such a good job in protecting out school and our school mates," Tsukune continued once more. "We have been asked to provide security to the Masako Shoken Girls Academy's first school festival. This weekend I will be taking some of you with me to the Masako Shoken Girls Academy. This will be a working trip. We will be in uniform, representing our school among humans, most of whom have no idea that youkai are living in the world around them every day."
An excited murmur rose up in response to Tsukune's announcement. Many of the Student Police were openly stunned. A few appeared frightened.
"I will not make anybody go with me," Tsukune said, raising his voice to be heard until the babble of the others died down. "Going to this other school will be optional. If you have things you need to get done, school work to catch up on, or grades to improve, then I want you to stay here and take care of it. If you don't feel ready for this kind of responsibility, or being among so many humans in a place they control, I can respect that. If you do not think you can keep control of your self, behave in a responsible manner, and keep your youkai nature in hand, then please don't try to force yourself."
"While going with me is optional," Tsukune said. "There are some of you I would like to come with me. If I call out your name, and you do not wish to go, please come and see me after this meeting. If I do not call your name, and you do wish to go, please pass word though your chain of command after this meeting." Tsukune paused for dramatic effect. He saw a lot of determined faces among the nervous ones. "Remember, if I do not call out your name, this is not because I feel there is anything wrong with your work. Honestly, I wish I could take all of you."
"Lieutenant Inari," Tsukune continued.
"Yes," Inari answered without hesitation.
"Lieutenant Kris," Tsukune called out the watch commander he had once caught sleeping in his office. The named second year student almost jumped out of his skin.
"Yes Sir!" Lieutenant Kris replied sharply.
XxxX
Inari felt her heart leap in her chest. Tsukune had called her name. He wanted to work with her. She didn't even hear who's name was called out after hers. Her mind was racing. Tsukune had explained that it would be a working trip, but at the same time, since it involved members of the Student Police, it was going to be like a club trip. Inari was so excited she felt her body trembling. Tsukune had called out her name first. She was the one he wanted to be with the most.
In her mind, as she watched Tsukune calling out names she couldn't hear, Inari's favorite fantasy was blossoming. The uniform was different this time around. Instead of a regular police uniform, or dashing and sexy black tactical uniforms, she pictured herself and Tsukune in their school uniforms. In her mind she imagined them working side by side all day, followed by coming together passionately at night. It was difficult for her to maintain an awareness of what was going on around her.
"...If I called your name," Tsukune was saying. "Wait here for instructions. Everyone else, dismissed."
Inari took a deep breath and blew it out before she approached her captain for instructions. She was feeling warm from her distracting thoughts, and from listening to Tsukune's voice. She hoped she wasn't blushing. As most of the students headed back to the dorms, a few lingered. Some approached their watch commanders. Inari suspected that they were volunteering to go with Tsukune. She couldn't blame them.
Inari approached Tsukune, along with the others who's names he had called out. She looked around to see who else he had asked to volunteer as she waited for instructions. She saw that most of the called upon members of the Student Police were female, which made sense if they were going to be patrolling an all girl school. Inari couldn't help but notice that members of the Special Support Squad were well represented. Tama moved up to stand by Inari's shoulder. The twins Yumi and Rumi, and their shadow Usa, were also present. No mater where they were going, Inari knew Tsukune would not lack for eager hands to help him with whatever he wanted.
There was a short wait while Tsukune conferred with some of his watch commanders. A few more bodies joined the group. There were three females to every male, with a total of twenty waiting for instructions. Once that number had been reached, Inari noticed that Tsukune was turning down any additional volunteers.
"Thank you everybody for your support," Tsukune addressed the volunteers at last. "I hope that we can work well together. I want everybody to know that if you have any problems or questions you can feel free to ring them to me any times. For now let me tell you the first part of the plan. We will be leaving school Thursday, that is the day after tomorrow, after lunch. Make sure you have everything you need ready by then. We will be back late Sunday night, so make sure you bring what you will need for a long weekend. Because we will be representing our school as much as we are helping to protect the peace and safety of the Masako Shoken Academy, we will be in uniform most of the weekend. I also want you to bring some casual cloths as well. Any questions?"
"Where will we be staying?" Tama called out.
"The Headmistress of the school promised to provide accommodations, but she has not given me any specifics yet," Tsukune answered.
"Will we get to enjoy the festival?" Kris asked.
"I hope so," Tsukune said. "But we will see to our responsibilities first."
XxxXxxX
Tsukune knew things could never be kept quiet. The Youkai Academy loved gossip. By Wednesday morning the entire school seemed to be talking about the Student Police being asked to attend another school's festival. The members of the Student Police were walking tall and sharing confident smiles back and forth. There was a sense of school pride from everybody as they gossiped about what the Student Police would be doing. The Student Police would be representing the Youkai Academy.
Tsukune made sure he projected an image of calm as he listened to what was being said around him. To him, being sent to represent the academy while protecting the other school's festival was a task to be performed. To Moka the situation was a trial.
Moka kept switching from glowing to glowering. Tsukune was receiving positive attention, the respect of the other students and even the staff. He was proving how capable and worthy he was once again. She knew that if she asked him about it he would find some way to turn it around to make what he was doing all about her. While she loved him deeply, her confidence was a little shaken by how well he accomplished his goals and earned respect, while all she could do was hold to her pride and stand next to him.
Moka's confidence was further shaken by the way the other girls in the school looked at her. Once upon a time, being beautiful and smart had been enough to stand out above the rest. Now the other girls were jealous of her, which felt good, because of how close she was to Tsukune, but she kept hearing whispers as they questioned each other about what was so special about her. They wondered why Tsukune would want to be with her. Moka had been hearing the same whispers for over a year. At first she listened with smug confidence. But over time, the whispers had spread. She knew the others that were close to Tsukune had heard the whispers as well. In a way Moka knew she was fortunate. She and Tsukune had been close since their first day at the academy, as some of those whispers still mentioned. Tsukune's loyalty to her was seen as one of his strengths, even by the girls that questioned Moka's worth.
As the school day passed, people continued to show their respect and admiration. The Student Police, and Tsukune specifically, were being shown every courtesy. At lunch, Tsukune's mail was triple its normal volume, thanks to all the notes of support and wishes for success that had been sent. While Tsukune had become deft at sorting them so that the ones likely to be embarrassing could be set aside to be opened in private, there was no hiding how many had been scented by the girls that had written them.
"Tsukune..." Moka said in a low voice while smiling pleasently.
"Yes Moka?" Tsukune answered, starting to feel nervous.
"Will you let me see those letters?" Moka asked.
"If you want," Tsukune replied without hesitation. He offered her the pile of unopened letter.
Moka looked at the pile without touching it. She knew Tsukune did not like to share the letters until after he had read them, out of respect for the people that had written them, in case there was anything private in them. The fact that Tsukune just offered them to her was a sign of his trust in her.
"Thank you, Tsukune," She gave him a warm smile as she pushed the letters back towards him.
Tsukune put the letters away with a small frown. He had a a feeling that Moka had been testing him. It was a stress point he did not need, but he was glad that he had made her smile.
Mizore, in contrast, was almost excited. She could see that Tsukune was feeling pressured. She had a single day before he and the others left for their trip. That meant that she had a single night to watch him for signs that he needed an outlet if she was going to take advantage of the situation. If only she could think of a way.