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 187

Inari's head was spinning. She sat on the front steps of the temple and tried to understand everything she had just been told. Tsukune had had just given her a summery of his life since he had first arrived at the Youkai Academy. While he left out a lot of details, it had still been a lot of information she had not known before. Tsukune had included the story of his vision during the Summer trip, and had shown her the bead he wore. He also explained the importance of the holy lock that he wore, which Inari had always assumed had been a present from Moka, or maybe one of the others.

"I don't pretend to understand everything that's going on," Tsukune had said as he reached the end of his story. "But it seems like you've been caught up in it all with me." He gestured at the sparkling temple grounds. "And I guess that whomever is watching over me thinks it would be good for me to keep you close."

Inari needed some time to make sense of everything. Her emotions were running wild in her heart while her thoughts were a tangled mess. Tsukune had been through more than she had known. She had known that he had used to be human, and had been changed, but she had not known that he was virtually living on the edge of a death sentence for more than two years. She had not understood that all the things he had done for the school had been because he was being blackmailed by the Board Chairman, who knew that Tsukune did not want to give up on the people he loved. And then Tsukune had told her about other things. Inari knew that she had the potential to rise up to an S rank, when her body and powers matured. It frightened her to the core to think that there were others out there that had the power to make even the strongest in her school look as weak as mortal humans.

Inari had learned things that nobody outside of Tsukune's inner circle knew. He had told her his weakness and fears. She knew his motivations. She had learned that there was more connected to her captain than anybody would have ever seriously considered. She looked over to where he was standing, where light and shadows flickered under the branches of a huge old tree.

XxxxxX

Tsukune was feeling ill used at the moment. While it was true that he had accepted the burdens that he carried, although grudgingly, he did not like it when they became an opening to exploit him or his friends. After Inari had gone off to think about what he had told her, Tsukune had decided to take a little walk as well. He wanted to figure out what he would tell Moka and the others.

As Tsukune walked the temple's grounds, he let his youki flow through him at a trickle. The dark energy heightened his awareness and made him aware of the energy around him. The silvery fire of life that he had glimpsed earlier was all around him as he explored the temple's grounds. Before long he found himself in front of a huge evergreen. The sacred tree was easily the largest he had ever seen.

As he drew closer to it, Tsukune saw that there was more than just a single tree. There were gaps at the base of the tree that showed that it was actually several trees that had grown together. In addition to the Shimenawa, the rope that encircled the massive trunk that looked new, Tsukune could see evidence of older Shimenawa that had actually become part of the tree over the countless years. When he looked up at the tree, he could not tell what parts had been a part of which of the trees that had grown together to make a single living thing. He rested his hand on the trunk and felt the energy flowing through the tree. Around him, Tsukune saw some of the shadows moving, watching him. Some of those same shadows ran away, as if they were startled animals or children, when Tsukune felt Inari approaching.

"I'm sorry," Tsukune said without looking away from the tree. "I'm sorry you have been caught up in my problems. When we get back to school, if you want..." He cut off when Inari embraced him from behind.

"I'm not sorry," Inari said as she held him close.

"Inari..." Tsukune started

"Tsukune," Inari interrupted. "I know you... No... Tsukune, I love you."

"Inari," Tsukune sighed. "You know I..."

"I know," Inari cut him off again. "I know who you love. I also know you never asked me to fall in love with you. I didn't want to tell you before graduation because I didn't want to hurt our friendship, or our relationship when we work together." She loosened her embrace and gave a sigh. "I guess working together is going to be strange now."

"Inari," Tsukune said, turning to face her without breaking out of her hug. "How long ago did you start liking me?"

"I'm not sure," Inari admitted. "At first it had just been a little fantasy. I wanted a boyfriend, and because you had a way of making friends with girls and they looked happy to be around you, it became easy to think of you that way. Before long I was thinking of you more and more. I was looking forward to when I would get to talk to you." She looked down to try to hide her sense of embarrassment. "And then there was that night when you discovered the shrine."

"I remember," Tsukune said in a flat voice.

"When..." Inari tried to say. "Back then, I wanted a boyfriend. I fantasized about you. I know now that it was just an innocent crush, but it felt more at the time. But when you were about to discover the shrine, I thought for sure I would be cursed. You were going to find out about the shrine, and then you would probably hate me. And if you didn't approve of me, then I would never find love... It was all just silly rumors, but back then they were all I knew of you."

"I see," Tsukune said to let her knew he was listening.

"Well, I was so afraid I was about to lose everything," Inari continued. "And I knew that if you discovered the shrine you would shut it down and all the single girls would hate me. I thought that maybe if I distracted you, maybe if I sacrificed myself, then maybe I could keep you from finding the shrine. And if it worked, then maybe you and I..." Inari shook her head.

"Is that what you were trying to do?" Tsukune asked. "I thought that there had to be something you were afraid of, or that you had some kind of weakness to."

"I was trying to confess before it was too late," Inari said. "I wanted to have a chance before everything could be exposed and ruined."

"Ahhh," Tsukune nodded.

"You hadn't understood my feelings," Inari said. "But you were there, and your were so strong and confident, and you smelled so good..." Her voice turned into a squeak as she realized what she was saying.

"I smelled good," Tsukune said with a crooked smile that Inari couldn't see because she had her forehead pressed to his chest to hide her blushing face.

"Yes," Inari nodded with another squeak. She took a breath and tried to make her voice behave. "Yes," She said again in a more normal tone. "And you protected me. You protected me then when the other girls started to panic. And then when you came to my room to tell me, and everybody that was listening that you were going to ignore the shrine. You saved me then. If you had not come along when you had, I would probably had quit school."

"Well I am glad that you didn't quit," Tsukune said. "You have been a strong member of the Student Police, easy to work with at the koban, and a good friend. You were with me when I needed help to save Kurumu, and when Fairy Tail tried to infiltrate the school."

"You mean that?" Inari looked up with shining eyes.

"Yes," Tsukune nodded.

"Thank you," She gave him an extra squeeze.

"So you went from having a crush on me to liking me after the incident in the dorms?" Tsukune asked.

"That's when I think it started to get serious," Inari said, looking away again. "I didn't realize it then. Not right away. But when we came back at the start of the year, by then I knew I had fallen for you. After being away from school, and you, when I finally saw you again, I realized that I was in love with you and wanted to be with you."

"I understand," Tsukune said.

"Trying to get to know you better, trying to find ways to get closer to you," Inari explained. "It's given me a direction in life I didn't have before. Not just to get close to you, but in helping me find something I could do with my life after graduation. Even if I could never be with you, I could join the police and do something I could be proud of."

"That makes sense," Tsukune said. "It was because I am in love that I felt a need to find something I could do."

"But now it's all messed up," Inari sighed. "School's not over yet and now we're going to have to... to..." She sighed again. "I'm sorry. I know that this is a surprise to you."

"Not really," Tsukune said. "I mean it was pretty obvious that you had feelings for me."

"What?" Inair looked up at him, her voice cracking in surprise.

"Inari," Tsukune smiled at her. "I have three girlfriends, or four depending how you count them, and Ruby who insists on being my slave, all of whom want to feed me. My girlfriends want to walk to and from school with me every day. I am aware that you have been intentionally waiting for me on the way to school for me."

"Oh," Inari looked embarrassed.

"And when we are on duty at the koban together," Tsukune continued. "You keep switching from being my partner to acting like a housewife."

"How come you noticed but never said anything?" Inari said as he face started to look pained.

"And then," Tsukune said with a pause. "And then, you decided to list me as the father of your baby in that exercise."

"Oh my god," Inari pressed her face against his chest again, embarrassed by how simple minded he made her sound, but at the same time she was excited to know that he had been paying attention to her all along.

"Inari," Tsukune went on. "About the only thing you haven't done is try to join the Newspaper Club."

"I thought about it," Inari said in a small voice.

"And let's not forget how you invited yourself to my mother's party so you could meet my family," Tsukune added.

"I hadn't thought about that part," Inari protested. "I was just trying to spend time with you."

"By the way," Tsukune said in a too casual tone. "My mother asked about you. She was wondering if I would be bringing you home for another visit."

"Really?" Inari's head snapped up.

"My mother loves television dramas," Tsukune explained. "The more girls I bring home, the more excited she gets."

"Now you're just teasing me," Inari accused.

"Maybe just a little," Tsukune admitted.

"Tsukune," Inari protested. "I'm being serious."

"So am I," Tsukune countered. "I have had almost three years to learn a few things. I know that you have had some feelings for me..."

"I love you," Inari stressed.

"And I still asked you to go with me to that festival," Tsukune continued. "Because I know you can do a good job. I never tried to change a schedule to stay apart from you, because I know you take your work seriously. The only thing that's changed between us, is that we've gotten a little closer, because you've had to hear some things I'd rather not have spread around."

"But what happens now?" Inari asked. She was happy to hear Tsukune say such things, but she still felt insecure now that she had finally come out and confessed.

"Now," Tsukune said. "We get back to school. We still have school in the morning, and I need to talk to Moka."

"Oh..." Inari felt a little defeated.

"Inari," Tsukune explained. "I do not keep secrets from Moka, or the others if I can help it. It is a part of the trust we share." He sighed. "And if today is any indication, you are going to be as mixed up in everything as the rest of us."

"I am?" Inari questioned with mixed hope and nervousness.

"But that is for later," Tsukune said. "For now..."

"I know," Inari pouted. "We have to get going." She relaxed her hold on him and started to step back. She felt a light resistance, and that was when she realized that Tsukune had his arms around her. She felt herself about to cry happy tears.

Inari had been feeling nervous after her confession because Tsukune had not said that he loved her, or rejected her, or said anything that clearly stated that he accepted her feelings. Inari realized that she had been so caught up in her insecurity that she had almost missed something important. She and Tsukune had been standing together, holding each other, and sharing important feelings.

"Tsukune," Inari said in a happy voice as a wide grin split her face. "I love you."

"I know," Tsukune smiled back with a touch of sadness in his eyes.

XxxxxXxxX

Before Tsukune and Inari could resume their trip back to school, the old priestess had some parting words for them, and some parting gifts. It annoyed Tsukune that the old woman insisted on calling them wedding gifts. To Tsukune she presented a small, old book. On the red cover of the book was the yin/yang symbol for balance made out of copper wire. The white claw of Yang was filled in with Mother-of-Pear, while the dark teardrop of yin was left empty. To Inari she gave a small, letter-sized box that was tied with a red ribbon.

"Remember," The old priestess said in parting. "You have many duties, but you mustn't neglect those duties that are given to every man and woman."