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 189

"Thank you," Tsukune said as he returned to the company Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore. They were his friends and his lovers. While he had been showing Inari out, they had moved from the dining room to the siting room. When he arrived, Ruby was serving tea. "Thank you for being tolerant of Inari tonight. Ruby," Tsukune said to his self titled slave. "Thank you for your hard work. If you would have a seat as well."

"Yes Master," Ruby said.

"Alright," Tsukune said as he perched himself on a foot stool. "Let me tell you what happened today."

The four women watched Tsukune intently and listened to his every word. Tsukune told them how his day had gone from the moment he had left the classroom that morning until he arrived back at his own doorstep that afternoon. A few things he brushed over because they didn't really count as important. He took his examinations and felt that he had scored well. He had taken his lunch from a set of vending machines at the examination center. Then he and Inari had started back to school.

"We were part way back," Tsukune said. "When Inari asked me to stop at a temple we could see from the main road. She had mentioned wanting to pray for luck." He gave a sigh. "That is when things went... different."

Tsukune explained what had happened during the visit to the old Shinto temple. He told them how he and Inari had been caught up in a Sunshower as they entered the temple grounds, and how the old priestess had seen them and called them blessed. The old woman said that because they were a couple, man and woman, and had been hit by the Sunshower, Kitsune no yomeri, that they should get married, Tsukune said to his friends.

He rushed on to explain how the priestess said he and Inari had been blessed by the spirits. Then he got to the part about what the old priestess had said about being shown a vision, and looking in some book. Tsukune had shared with his friends about the vision he had seen during their Summer trip. It was because the priestess had referred to The Mother that Tsukune had taken the old woman seriously.

"I don't know what happened exactly," Tsukune said. "Or what it really means. I get the feeling that I needed to visit that temple, that there was something for me to learn from it."

When he ran out of words, silence filled the sitting room for a long moment.

"Tsukune," Moka broke the silence. "Did you kiss her?"

"No," Tsukune answered. "We talked after that. Inari and I. I told her about my vision last summer, and some things about myself that I had not told her before. I tried to apologize to her."

"For what?" Kurumu asked.

"For getting her mixed up in everything," Tsukune answered. "For making a mess of her life."

"And what did she say?" Moka asked him.

"She confessed," Tsukune said. "She told me that she loved me, and that she had been trying to keep it in until after graduation because she didn't want it to hurt our friendship, or our working together." He gave a small laugh.

"What?" Mizore demanded.

"Inari apologized for surprising me with her confession," Tsukune said to his snow woman with a smile. "I pointed out to her that her confession was something everybody had seen coming."

"No kidding," Kurumu said with a roll of her eyes. "I kept expecting to see her trying to move in here the way Ruby has."

"Master has made it clear that he doesn't need or want any more servants," Ruby said crisply.

"What happened after the confession," Moka questioned.

"I told her that I counted her as a good friend and coworker," Tsukune said. "And explained to her how I was already in love with you." He gave a sigh. "I love all of you."

"That's not going to stop her," Kurumu complained.

"I know," Tsukune said with a sigh.

For the next hour questions were asked and answered. Not all of them were about the trip and the 'wedding.' Tsukune was asked about the shifts he had shared with Inari, both at the koban and with the Student Police. Moka spent the time between her questions holding internal conversations while Kurumu and Mizore probed Tsukune for details. Finally Tsukune put an end to the interrogation.

"Please," Tsukune said as he held up a hand. "Nothing's really changed. I just wanted to let you know because you are all important to me, and I know that whatever happens, you are a part of my life and deserve to know what is going on."

"Master," Ruby spoke up. "It has been a long day and you should get your rest."

"Actually, I feel kind of..." Tsukune stared to say.

"I agree, Tsukune," Moka said. "A lot happened today, and you have given us a lot to think about. Kurumu, Mizore, why don't we let Tsukune get some rest now."

Tsukune was confused for about three seconds by Moka's words. It was the hard knot of emotions he felt from Kurumu that put it all together for him. He realized that his girlfriends were going to have a discussion that they did not want him to hear. While he accepted that he would never understand women, he could guess what they would be talking about. They would be talking about how they should deal with Inari, and his lieutenant's closeness to him. He knew that there was nothing he could do about their insecurities, but being essentially sent to bed to be out of their way put a sour taste in his mouth.

"As you say, Dame Moka," Tsukune said with a tight smile.

Moka felt her chest tighten. The edge to Tsukune's voice as he agreed with her told her that he was unhappy with her.

"Kurumu, Mizore," Tsukune continued. "I wish you both a good night as well."

Tsukune words were clearly a dismissal. He was effectively kicking them out of the manor for the night. Kurumu shot Moka a dark look. It was her fault for provoking Tsukune by trying to send him to bed. Mizore was also unhappy at being dismissed from Tsukune's company. Moka realized that Tsukune had seen through her. She had wounded him with her abruptness out of her frustration over what had happened, and Tsukune had retaliated.

Tsukune saw his guests to the door. Everybody could feel the mood, and nobody wanted to risk making things worse. Once Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore were gone, Tsukune let out a heavy sigh.

"I feel like an ass," Tsukune said as he headed for his room.

XxxxXxxxX

"So what are we going to do?" Kurumu asked as she and the others walked from the manor.

"I'm not sure," Moka said. "I want to take some time to think about this."

"Nothing," Mizore said.

"What?" Moka asked.

"About Inari and Tsukune," Mizore said. "I am not going to do anything." She gave the others a hard look. "Tsukune asked us to be more accepting of her, and that is what I am going to do."

"Don't give me that," Kurumu growled at Mizore. "You love Tsukune as much as we do. I don't believe for a moment that you are willing to just stand to the side while some other woman comes along."

"Tsukune asked us to be more accepting of her," Mizore said in clipped tones. "The man I love, the man I live for, asked something of me. You can go ahead and scheme and plot, and when Tsukune finds out about it, you will have violated his trust. Once you do that, when he is feeling hurt and angry, he will need somebody to talk to. He will want somebody that he can still feel is worthy of his trust. Go ahead," Mizore put herself face to face with Kurumu. "Betray Tsukune's trust in you. When he turns away from you, I will be there for him. I will be the quiet concubine that will sooth him and be the mother to his children, while you will be the woman he can visit with when he feels like having some fun, and can almost trust."

"Why you... You..." Kurumu glared at Mizore and drew a hand back, preparing to strike.

"Go ahead," Mizore said with a twisted smile. "Hit me. Maim me. Give me a chance to have more of Tsukune's love and attention.

"Why you..." Kurumu's words were cut off by her cellphone ringing. It was the ring tone she had set just for when Tsukune called her. She fumbled her phone out of her pocket and tried to get control of her emotions.

"Tsukune," Kurumu answered her phone with a voice she had to make an effort to sound happy. She listened to him while turning and walking away from Mizore. "Nothing's wrong... It's just girl stuff... Really Tsu... No... I promise I will tell you about it tomorrow... That's right... Good night..." She ended the call and glared at the phone in her hand.

"Shit," She grumbled.

"I agree with you, Mizore," Moka said. "We need to just stay calm and trust Tsukune."

"Damn it," Kurumu muttered. "Fine! We trust Tsukune. Loveable, wonderful Tsukune. But the next time I get the chance, I am going to tell Tsukune exactly how jealous I am of that new little pet of his."

"You do that," Moka said.

After that, the trio split up. Mizore had a bitter little smile on her face. She was just as jealous as the others, but she could live with it. When she went home some day in the future to have Tsukune's children, he would be with them, or Inari. It didn't really matter who he spent the other seasons with, so long as she could be his Winter Wife.

XxX

Moka spent the rest of the evening arguing with herself. It wasn't much of an argument when both Mokas had the same opinion. The only real difference was the different levels of violence one or the other wanted to inflict. Both sides agreed that if they were going to have to accept Inari, for Tsukune's sake, then the late comer was going to have to learn her place.

XxxxxxX

Tsukune put his cellphone away. He loved Kurumu, but sometimes he was so frustrated by her. He could feel how angry she had gotten just a moment ago, but she wasn't willing to tell him why. He knew he had to respect her wishes and wasn't going to force her to talk to him, but the temptation was there. He could guess what she was angry about. She and the others had probably been talking about him and Inari and things had gotten heated. A part of Tsukune wanted to call Kurumu back and settle her down by reminding the succubus that she was loved and desired.

As Tsukune undressed for bed, he found himself wishing one of his girlfriends had stayed behind, instead of going off to talk with the others. Tsukune wasn't tired yet. In fact, he was feeling awake and alert. He guessed that all that had happened had left him with some nervous energy to burn off. Sharing that energy with one of the women he loved, who in one way or another could feed off of it, was a pleasant idea. Tsukune sat on the edge of his bed, in his boxers and under shirt, and found himself seriously considering such a plan. The more he thought about it, the more he liked it, and the less argument he could find against it.

Tsukune could call Kurumu on her phone, he thought, or just speak her true name, and she would come to him. He could slip out of the house and visit Mizore or Moka, and ether would be happy to see him. But for the sake of privacy he would have to bring them back to the manor. Tsukune resisted because he was still feeling a little slighted by the way the three of them had been interested in going off to talk together. He knew that had been Moka's idea, but the other two had not even given a token argument. A dark thought whispered of seeing if Inari would be willing, but Tsukune crushed it down.

"There is something wrong with me tonight," Tsukune shook his head with a sigh. "I am way over thinking this." He got to his feet and headed for the bedroom door.

XxxxXxxxX

Ruby was still cleaning up from dinner when Tsukune came up to her in the kitchen. He was dressed for bed, which meant that he was mostly undressed. When he came into the kitchen, Ruby had turned to him, feeling him coming close.

"Master," Ruby said with a small smile as she admired his strong arms and legs. "Is there something I can do for you."

"Actually," Tsukune nodded as he approached her. "You can come up stairs."

"I'll be finished here in a mo..." Ruby had started to reply.

"No," Tsukune said. He reached out and grabbed one of her pony tails. "The dishes can wait." He pulled her hair to pull her into a hard kiss.

Ruby agreed. The dishes could bloody well wait. Tsukune wanted her, and appeared ready to take what he wanted. He was gentle about it, but he actually pulled her up to his room by her hair. Ruby was smiling, giddy with excitement every step of the way. He kissed her again at the bedside and then started to grab at her body. She popped buttons off her dress she was so eager to get her clothes out of the way. By the time they tumbled into bed together, Ruby was already breathing hard. By the time her mind was clear enough to even think about the dishes, it was past midnight, her body was feeling sore in all the best ways, and Tsukune was in the bathroom, soaking in the bathtub, and he was humming.

Ruby wondered at what had happened to her master. He had been aggressive and passionate, which had been wonderful. And after, he wasn't acting guilty. It was fantastic, but that wasn't the way Tsukune normally acted. Ruby didn't know what had set off this change in him, but she liked it.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Moka was feeling cranky as she headed for Tsukune's front door the following morning. She had gotten little rest because she and her other self had spent most of the night bickering. The only consensus the two had agreed upon was the desire to prove to everybody that she was first in Tsukune's heart. Step one of her plan to do just that was to find Tsukune, ready for school or not, and get her breakfast out of his veins.

"Good morning to you Dame Akashiya," Ruby greeted Moka with a deep curtsy. She was dressed in her conservative maid uniform, complete with bonnet cap. "Aono Tsukune Sama is currently breaking his fast in the dining room. Should I announce you?"

"No need," Moka said as she passed Ruby and headed for the dining room. It had not escaped her notice that Ruby was being very formal, and was in a very happy mood. It didn't take much to imagine what had inspired her.

"Tsukune," Moka said as she entered the dining room.

"Moka," Tsukune welcomed her with a warm smile as he stood. "Good morning. Did you have breakfast already?"

"Good morning," Moka replied. "No, actually. I thought I would have my breakfast from you today."

"As always," Tsukune gave a small bow. "I am at your service."