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 193

Inari woke up an hour early Monday morning. She realized that if she wanted to have time with Tsukune she would have to make it herself. It was a simple plan. She would wake up early (check,) get everything ready for her day, and then go to the village to see Tsukune before any of the others. Even if it was just a few minutes, she wanted a little time with Tsukune where they were not on duty or display, and the others were not literally standing in her way.

Waking up and hour early did not translate into seeing Tsukune an hour sooner. Because Inari wanted to make a good impression, she spent a little extra time on her hair, makeup, and overall appearance. It was also how she helped fight her sense of nervousness over how forward she was planning on being. That took up thirty minutes of her extra hour. Then it was time for the walk to the village. It wasn't far, but it did take some time. Once she reached the village, Tsukune's manor looked bigger than it normally did. The closer Inari approached, the more intimidating it became. By the time she was standing on the front porch her heart was pounding hard. A part of Inari wanted to just wait until Tsukune came out on his own.

Finally Inari was forced to take some calming breaths. If she waited, her opportunity would be lost and her efforts for the morning would be wasted. Gathering her courage, she knocked at the door.

The door opened right away. Inari almost jumped in surprise, because she had not heard or sensed anybody close by. When the door swung open, she saw the green eyed girl, Me Midori she was named now, standing within.

"Good morning to you Lieutenant Sansai Inari," Midori said with a deep bow. "It is good to see you again."

"Good morning, Me Midori," Inari said with bow of her head. "Is Tsukune awake?"

"Master Aono is breaking his fast at the moment," Midori answered. "Please come in, and he will be informed that you are here."

"Thank you," Inari said.

Inari was shown to the sitting room, and was just about to sit down when Tsukune walked in. He was dressed for school and looked rested and relaxed, with a hint of tension around his eyes. Ineri's heart leaped at the sight of him.

"Inari," Tsukune said. "What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on," Inair said as she crossed the room to him. "I'm sorry to interrupt your morning, but I just wanted to see you before..." Her words trailed off as she reached out and embraced him. "Hmmmm before I couldn't do this."

"It's nice that you wanted to see me," Tsukune said as he returned the hug lightly. "But..."

"I don't want to be a bother," Inari said. "But if I wait, then the others would be in my way. The only time they are not around is when you are on duty, and then you're off limits for anything personal like this."

Tsukune held her close and sighed.

"What?" Inair asked.

"I'm not saying this isn't nice," Tsukune said. "But it is asking for trouble."

"Why?" Inari asked.

"Because in a few minutes Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore are going to be heading this way," Tsukune explained.

"I'll have let go of you by then," Inari said as she gave Tsukune an extra little squeeze.

"Doesn't mater," Tsukune said with a small shake of his head. "Damage is already done. They will be able to tell something happened just by scent alone. They will be able to tell that we had been physically close."

"Why shouldn't we be close?" Inari questioned. "We're friends, we're coworkers. Tsukune, you are 'my' captain." She stressed the ownership passionately.

"Inari," Tsukune said gently. "If I am your captain, then..."

"Don't say it," Inari cut him off. "I know, I know... But that does not change the fact that I love you."

"Inari..." Tsukune said in a near sigh.

"I know," Inari said in a small voice. "I know."

XXXXXX

Moka was feeling a little anxious that morning. She had not slept well, thanks to her own worries and to inner Moka's pestering. She had allowed Tsukune a night to himself to relax, and that had taken more effort than she liked to remember, and she hoped Tsukune never found out about. She and Kurumu had to argued out an agreement. In the end Moka had to promise to stay away from Tsukune for the night in exchange for the same promise from Kurumu. Mizore agreed to the same terms simply because Moka directed her to. Moka wanted to trust her friends, but trusting her rivals was a different story. When she went to see Tsukune, she would be checking for any signs that Kurumu had broken their deal.

Moka felt a small sense of relief when she stepped out side in time to see Kurumu leaving her own house. Along with Mizore, they met in the middle of the street for a mutual inspection. Moka was glad to see Kurumu was not looking well rested. It was clear that nether of them had slept well, or had been able to share in Tsukune's company and strength. Denying victory to your rival is a small victory of its own, Moka thought. After an exchange of greetings, the trio headed for the manor and Tsukune.

When the door of the manor opened and Tsukune stepped out onto the porch, Moka knew she wasn't the only one to smile. When Inari followed him out of the manor with that smile on her face...

The murderous aura that rose up in the village street was enormous. Near by, plants withered and died. Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore were all filled with a jealous rage. They had held back from spending time with Tsukune, so that he could have a chance to rest up after what must have been a trying weekend, and then saw that he had been spending time with somebody else.

Inari felt the power of the killing intent focused on her and her knees nearly gave out. She reached for Tsukune, for his protection and support out of reflex. Far too close for comfort, she could see the source of the hateful stares.

Tsukune could also feel the force of his lovers' displeasure. His own youki swelled within him out of primal reflex. Tsukune's youkai nature refused to be intimidated. Inari felt Tsukune's power, but found it comforting.

"Tsukune," Moka said in an icy voice.

"Good morining, Moka," Tsukune said. "Did you sleep well?"

"No," Moka said flatly. "I wanted to make sure you would get your rest. None of us slept well, because we were worried about you."

"Maybe we were worried about the wrong thing," Kurumu said.

"I got a good night's rest," Tsukune said. "Thank you for your concern. I had just finished a nice breakfast when Inari came over this morning."

"I see," Moka said as she approached.

Inari could feel a drop in the killing intent focused on her. It seemed strange that just a few words from Tsukune could have such an effect. But then Inari realized that the other three were jealous because they had thought that she had spent the night with Tsukune in a romantic sense. Her eyes went wide. If the three women that Tsukune admitted to loving were that afraid that she might become his lover, then that meant that there was actually a chance it could happen. Inari felt a rush of nervous excitement.

"Tsukune," Moka said as she reached out for him. "I am glad that you got your rest. I hope that you will have time to talk with me later, as you said you would." She embraced him and held on firmly.

"Of course," Tsukune said, well aware of the fire in her eyes. "Perhaps you would like to have dinner with me tonight?"

"Yes," Moka said. "Dinner would be a wonderful idea."

"Moka," Kurumu said from just behind the vampire. "If everything is sorted out, we should get to class."

"Alright," Moka said.

Tsukune as careful to go along with what his girlfriends said. He didn't want to give them impression that he did not trust them, or that he was unhappy with them in any way. At the same time he wanted to be ready to sooth anybody who's temper might threaten to get the better of them.

While Moka took one arm, Kurumu moved up to take the other. Inari wondered what she should do, but then realized that she was clutching the back of Tsukune's uniform. He forced herself to let go, for the sake of dignity. As they started walking to school, Mizore moved in to screen Tsukune's back. Yukari caught up to them as the passed her house.

"Good morning," She said with a cheerful smile.

Her presence reduced the tension around Tsukune. When she saw that she wasn't gong to be able to get in close with Tsukune, she settled in on being close and a little behind Moka. She exchanged pleasant greetings with everybody, Inari included, and traded digs with Kurumu. Soon everybody at least appeared to be in normal spirits as they made their way to school.

XxxxXxxxXxxX

The Dean of the university's Police Sciences program tried not to think too much about the letter on his desk. The Dean had spent his Monday going over the information of the applicants that had passed the entrance examination for the fall semester. He had been putting together a list of applicants to be interviewed to help weed out the truly serious ones from the rest. Many applicant, past and present, had letters of recommendation in their files. Some from teachers, others from sergeants, lieutenants, or even captains. About a half of each new class was made up of junior police officers wanting to advance their careers. The Dean's eyes wandered back to the letter he had received. It was a letter of recommendation. One of many that were for a single applicant for the next semester. The Dean was not sure how much he should read into the letter. On the surface it was just a very formal letter of recommendation. The applicant, Aono Tsukune, had letters from the head of his school, his homeroom teacher, the local police superintendent, and an honorably retired captain from the Tokyo police department. Then there was the last letter. The letter that had come down from the Imperial Palace. When the Dean, surprised by the letter, tried to verify where it had come from, he had gotten a call back from a lieutenant from the office of the Imperial Guard, who not only vouched for the authenticity of the letter, but also gave a verbal recommendation for the applicant.

The Dean felt a sense of pride that somebody so well recommended was applying to his program. At the same time he felt caught up in the middle of something. A recommendation from the Imperial Palace was almost the same as an order. The Dean wondered what this Aono Tsukune could have done to warrant such support.

XxxxxXxxxX

Moka was cuddled up beside Tsukune in the sitting room as they finished their school work together. While she was still unhappy about what had happened over the weekend, Tsukune had explained everything. She was content to know that while his two new followers were still around, they were nowhere to be seen. Moka wondered about that a little, but didn't let it worry her. She was with Tsukune, and that is what was most important.

Tsukune was showing the compassion and support that Moka loved best about him. They had started their time together with him telling her everything about the weekend, and that morning. Over dinner they had talked casually, with long pauses to just look into each others eyes. While they studied together, Moka had started to get restless and Tsukune had caught her licking her lips and eying his neck. They had been sitting side by side at that point, but Tsukune saw the danger he was in, so he had leaned back and pulled Moka so she was leaning back against him. He then put his left arm around her like he had in the past. Moka pressed her fangs into his arm and savored the taste of his blood and the flow of his energy. She didn't take a lot. It was just a snack to get her through her craving so she could focus on her school work. But even afterward, they had stayed together, taking comfort in each others company.

Moka was finished with her school work before Tsukune, but she was content to wait beside him until he was ready to put the books away. She wanted to talk with him some more, but didn't want to distract him. When he finally closed his book she knew it was time to share her thoughts.

"Tsukune," Moka said in a tentative voice. "Why do you love me?"

"Ehhhhh..." Tsukune froze for a moment. "Excuse me?"

"I was wondering why you love me," Moka said. "I know you do, because you show it in the things you do and the way you treat me. I love you and you make me feel so special, but why do you love me?"

"Moka..." Tsukune's mind raced as he tried to put the words together to answer her.

"I just want to know," Moka said. "In the beginning, when we were just friends, you depended on me, and I depended on you. But now you don't need me any more. You can take care of yourself, and you have the others as well."

"Moka," Tsukune said. "Do you remember what you wanted when you first came to this school?"

"I just wanted to get it over with," Moka said. "I thought it would be just another school that I would go through, where hopefully I would not stand out so much that others would fear me or hate me." She sat up and turned to face Tsukune. "But then I met you, Tsukune. You didn't hate me, even after I first drank your blood. Even when you were afraid, even when you said you were human and hated vampires, you didn't abandon me. You gave me a sense of hope I had not felt in a long time."

"When I first came here," Tsukune said. "I was hoping I could have a normal high school life. That was it. No big dreams. I wanted to go to school, graduate, and simply keep going like a normal person should. Remember, I almost didn't get into any high school. I missed the opening ceremony. I hardly had time to throw my bags into my dorm room and get to class that first day. I was still thinking about that strange but beautiful girl I had met in the woods, and if I would ever get to see her again, when you came into the classroom. I was in heaven, for a few minutes anyway."

"Awwww," Moka was touched, but unsure of what Tsukune was leading up to.

"You know what happened after that," Tsukune said with a sigh. "But Moka, do you know what would have happened to me if I had not stayed? If after that first fight was over, if I had been able to climb on a bus and leave that afternoon, do you know what kind of life I would have had?"

"You could have had your normal life like you always wanted," Moka said, feeling a little sad about what she had cost him.

"No," Tsukune shook his head. "I would never have been happy if I had left. I mean, even if it was just about school life, I would have been a year behind all of my friends. For the rest of my life I would have just been that one guy that just did what he had to to survive, and not quite good enough for anything or anybody."

"If I had left that day, or a month later," Tsukune went on. "I would have been leaving you, a friend, alone. Sure I missed my other friends when I came here, but they did not need me, Moka. You did. You needed my friendship. You were the first person to ever depend on me, to ever make me want to be someone dependable. Moka, you gave me a reason to be somebody other than just a somebody."

"But that was then," Moka said.

"Moka, that is every day," Tsukune argued. "I could have gone off with Mizore after first year if I was just looking for something to do with my life. I could have been a father and lived in her village. When she became too old to have children, some other snow maiden would have come forward. As long as I was willing to live in her village, I would have been set for life. But I wasn't in love with Mizore then, and I did not want to be away from you. You were the reason I wanted to come back to school as soon as I could."

"After last year," Tsukune continued. "After what had happened, I could have moved in with Kurumu, but that wasn't what I wanted. I was doing better in school than ever before because I wanted to be somebody you could be proud to know. I put up with the Board Chairman's manipulations so I could stay in school, so I could stay with you."

"But why?" Moka demanded. "Why do you love me so much to put yourself through all that?"

"Moka," Tsukune said with pleading eyes. "I love you because without you I would be nothing. You gave me a reason to try, to live. You are what I need. Yes there are the others," Tsukune gave a snort. "I don't understand why any of you would want to be with somebody as... as... useless and weak as I am, and yet here I am. Moka, I made my choice that first day when I heard you calling for help. I knew then that if I did not stay with you I would never be able to be happy with my life."

"Tsukune..." Moka's eyes were shining with emotional tears.

"Moka," Tsukune said. "Even now, I am working hard to do the best that I can, because I want to be worthy of you. I could make a career out of being a police officer, and that would be good enough for my parents, for Ruby and myself, for most people. But a lowly police officer would not be worthy of you." Tsukune reached out his hand and touched his fingers to the rosario, willing a trickle of his own energy to flow into it.

"Moka," Tsukune said. "I may never be strong enough, or rich enough, or important enough to be worthy of you, to be worthy to be your husband. I know that, but that doesn't mean I can't do all that I can to be somebody you can be proud to know. Even if I am never truly worthy to be with you, then I will just have to do my best to be worthy of being close to you as I have sworn to be."

"Tsu..." Moka's words were choked off by her emotions. "Tsukune..." Tears started to run down her cheeks. "But Tsukune, I'm not worthy of you."

"What?" Tsukune blinked.

"You're working for a career," Moka explained. "You're working while still in school with a plan for the future. You are respected. You have loyal followers. You have women that love you. Tsukune, I'm not good enough to be with you."

"Moka..." Tsukune tried to argue.

"It's true," Moka insisted. "What do I have to be proud of? I didn't chose to be born as a vampire. I didn't have to pass some challenge in order to have a rich family or a powerful father. All of that was luck."

"What about your title?" Tsukune said.

"A Dame," Moka scoffed. "That's only because part of me is good in a fight. I wouldn't even have that if you had not been there to remove my seal."

"I'm sure..." Tsukune tried to be supportive.

"Tsukune," Moka cut him off. "I have not done anything to be worthy of you. I swore you to my service because I was afraid I would lose you to Kurumu, or someone else. I used Mizore's guilt to make her swear to me. I even manipulated her to help make sure I could use her against Kurumu."

"What about..." Tsukune tried again.

"What about what?" Moka demanded. "Tsukune, if it wasn't for you, if it wasn't for your friendship, I would just be another daughter of my father, just like Kokoa, waiting until I was old enough to be married off in whatever deal would do my father the most good. It is only for the sake of being able to tell my father no, to tell him to stay out of my relationship with you, that I want so badly to make a name for myself."

"Well..." Tsukune thought he saw an opening.

"Well what?" Moka pushed on crying as she let her feelings pour out. "We graduate in less than two months. I have three universities I can go to. I just need to pick one. You have a plan for after graduation, for the future, but I don't even know what major to choose."

"Moka..." Tsukune wanted to help her. "Isn't there anybody you can talk to? Your career counselor maybe?"

"My counselor helped my pic out some universities and to apply," Moka replied with a sniff as she brushed tears from her eyes. "With my grades it was easy. I even have my choice of majors. He suggested that I study business management or business law."

"Well if you study business law," Tsukune pointed out. "When I open my own company you can help me do it right."

"I suppose," Moka said slowly.

"What about other kinds of law?" Tsukune asked.

"I had not thought about it much," Moka admitted.

"I don't really know much about it," Tsukune said. "But I remember reading and watching stories where lawyers used private detectives to help them get evidence for case."

"We could work together that way," Moka observed.

"Some," Tsukune agreed. "Whenever you needed my help, you could summon me to your office. You would be the one giving me the job to do, and the one I would answer to."

Moka tried to imagine what Tsukune was saying. She would have her office in a modern building, with staff answering phones and filing papers. She would have one of them call Tsukune, and he would come at her summons and go perform tasks at her command. They could help each other out, and at the same time she would be able to hold a position of authority over him, at least in appearance.

Moka smiled at Tsukune. His suggestion had merit, and the image in her mind was a pleasing one. Inner Moka gave a growl of approval at the idea as well. Some attorneys were as feared and respected in their world as vampires were among youkai.

"Tsukune..." Moka said slowly, here eyes red and green as she smiled at him.

"Yes, Dame Moka?" Tsukune smiled back. He saw that her doubts had been eased and was glad that he had been able to help her feel better.

"I think I am ready to take a bath and go to bed," Moka leaned in and put her arms around his neck. "As your Dame and future client, I want you to come with me."

"It would be an honor," Tsukune said, leaning into her embrace for a kiss.

XxxxxxxX

Kurumu still did not like mornings, and doubted that she ever would. Getting up extra early would have been out of the question if it had not been for her desire to see Tsukune. A part of her desire to see Tsukune early came from the desire to get to him before Inari could. A part of the reason she did not like mornings was because of how few of them ever went the way she wanted. She was annoyed, but not really surprised to discover Mizore had the same intention. As they looked at each other from their front doors that morning they both had on the same smile. It was a smile that said that they understood each other. They knew that they were rivals, but that fighting each other would be an invitation to let somebody else slip past while they were distracted.

They arrived at the manor together, alert for any sign for things out of place. One of the new serving girls answered the door. That was all the invitation Kurumu needed to enter and start looking for Tsukune. She found him still getting dressed, with Moka in the bathroom from the sound of things.

"Tsukune," Kurumu called out as she rushed him.

"Goooooph..." Tsukune's greeting was cut off as Kurumu tackled him down onto the bed.

"Good morning," Kurumu said brightly as she climbed on top of him.

"Good morning," Tsukune replied. "Did you sleep well?"

"No..." Kurumu pouted cutely for effect. "I was lonely and couldn't stop thinking about you all night."

"I see," Tsukune said.

"But now I have you right where I want you," Kurumu smiled.

"You do?" Tsukune questioned.

"Uh hu," Kurumu sat up over him even as she slid her hands down his chest towards his waist. "You see, I have certain needs, as a succubus, and I know you have certain needs as a man." She lifted her skirt with one hand, exposing her panties, while her other hand was rubbing at Tsukune's groin. "And if we were to take a little time, we could satisfy both of our needs."

"I appreciate the thought," Tsukune said. "But now is not the time."

"Why not?" Kurumu asked as she rolled her hips against Tsukune.

"Because I made love to him less than an hour ago," Moka said.

Kurumu turned her head, and her jaw dropped. Moka was standing in the bathroom doorway without a stitch of clothing. Further more, it was the silver haired Moka that was standing there. Her hair was pulled back in a loose bun, with the rosaio seal holding it in place like a hair pin.

"Oh..." Kurumu blinked. "Good morning Moka."

"It was," Moka said. "I especially liked the part where I woke up next to Tsukune and made love to him."

"You mentioned that," Kurumu said in a flat voice.

"I did, didn't I," Moka smiled. She crossed the room to where her fresh clothes were set out. "I guess I liked it so much it was worth repeating."

"I thought I was supposed to be the wonton woman," Kurumu said.

"That is for when we are not around," Moka said. "I fully intend to make Tsukune my husband some day, and you know what they say about a wife's roles."

"What is that?" Kurumu asked.

"Heh," Moka threw the other woman a smirk. "Well you and Mizore can have him after class today. I have some business to take care of then."

"Why thank you," Kurumu said.

"Thank you," Mizore said from the doorway.

XxxxXxxxXxxxX

Me Midori and Me Kurai watched their master and his lovers leave for school. A few minutes later Ruby left the manor as well. With everybody else out of the house, it was time to start cleaning. The pair had no problem with the chores they had been given. The had served their former mistress for almost a hundred years. They had been her servants in exchange for her protection and support. The pair had learned a lot from their time with their mistress. One of the first things they had learned was to be very, very careful when making a contract. The pair had been lovers from the same village. They had run away to avoid the punishment their families had threatened if they continued to try to be together. They had only been thirteen years old at the time.

They had been reduced to starving beggars by the time the woman that would become their mistress had found them. When she had asked them what they wanted, their answer had seemed so simple. The pair had wanted food, shelter, and to always bee together. Lady Kuroi Sora had granted their request. In exchange she took away their names and their freedom, and life as the knew it. She used them as ornaments and play things. She had changed them physically in ways they did not understand. Now they were together, and always would be, because their minds were connected. Now they were two minds, in two bodies, but they had a total awareness of each other at all times. And then came the training. They were trained to be maids. They were trained to cook. They were trained to be thieves and spies. They were trained to fight, and to kill. For almost a hundred years they had served their mistress, and had never been anything more to her than tools or pets.

Their new master was different than anything they would have expected. Ruby had explained it to them. He was modest and did not like showing off his status. He liked to be able to do things for himself, and to avoid conflicts if he could. The pair had taken the time to learn what they could, and to think about it carefully. They decided that they needed to learn more about their new master. With the exception of a few light chores, and the instruction to try to stay out of trouble, the pair were free to do as they liked, and they had an idea of what they would like to do.