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 197

They were not an official club. They had no faculty adviser nor any official record of existence. The membership was always shifting as the individual member's interest waxed or waned. If they did exists on paper, they would be the Youkai Tabloid Club. Each member eager to share the latest gossip, or to show their latest 'candid' picture.

As the dawn touched the sky over the area of the Youkai Academy, the members of the tabloid club were already in motion. Equipped with cameras of every kind, depending on what each member could afford, boys, or much more often girls, moved into place to catch what promised to be some exciting moments. Some were hidden in bushes. Some watched from windows, peeking out between curtains or blinds. Others tried to look casual as they stood in small teams, as if having a friendly conversation, as they watched for any action over each others shoulders.

White Day had arrived at Youkai Academy and there was a sense of excitement in the air. Girls were hoping to receive offerings from boys. Tokens of affection and appreciation were going to be changing hands, and everybody was aware of it. Even the boys that had nobody they wanted to give anything to were aware of the tension in the air as they got ready for school.

XxxX

Tsukune rolled out of bed feeling energized, with only a touch of nervousness. He knew who he would be giving white chocolates to, and thanks to the previous year, he had some confidence in how well his offerings would be received. As he had the year before, Tsukune had made sure that for the people most special to him he had special gifts ready.

The challenge was how to make the right gift for each person on his list. For Ruby he had made another little charm on a ribbon; a ball carved to resemble a bell that someone might put on a cat's collar. After he finished dressing he left Ruby's gift on the pillows of his bed with a little note. For the Me twins, Tsukune had purchased a matching set of small boxes of chocolates, with three pieces in each one. Simple, economical, and without much effort, forethought, or emotional significance. He wanted to let the twins know that he accepted them, but make it clear that they were not as close or as important to him as Ruby or any of his other friends.

Even though Tsukune had a plan for how he was going to approach the day, and had taken the time to prepare, there was still a little feeling of doubt about if he was going to make a mess of things. The first sign that he was getting things right came while he was eating breakfast. Ruby had slipped up to his room and returned wearing her new charm, a smile, a set of lacy black underwear with stockings, and nothing else.

"Thank you, Master," Ruby purred into Tsukune's ear as she cuddled into his lap.

Tsukune finished his breakfast in good humor as Ruby fed it to him one bite at a time.

XxxxXxxxxX

"Good morning," Kuna said as Yukari came into the living room of their small house. "Breakfast is almost ready." She had on an apron over her school uniform.

"Good morning," Yukari returned the greeting. Instead of sitting down at the table she approached her housemate and held out a manga. "Kuna... This is for you."

Kuna gave Yukari a funny look. The manga in her hands was comical and lighthearted, but had ever only been a single volume. In fact, their copy had met an unfortunate end that had involved a spilled cup of tea and an ink pad. Looking at it in Yukari's hands, Kuna could see the traces of the stains on the cover and the edges of the pages that she knew had become permanently stuck together.

"Her," Yukari insisted. "Open it."

With her brow tight with a questioning frown, Kuna accepted the manga. She opened the cover and discovered that the middle of the ruined book had been cut out. Inside the book turned box was a package of white chocolate pocky. Kuna looked up at her housemate.

"Kuna," Yukari said. "You have been a lot of help to me, and you have become a very close friend. I am happy that I have been able to share my love of mangas with you."

"Thank you," Kuna tried to say, but her voice didn't work. Her mouth moved and her breath came out, but the words had no sound.

"Kuna?" Yukari questioned when she saw the other girl's eyes filling with tears.

"Thank you," Kuna said, this time her words coming out in a cracked whisper. She reached out to Yukari.

Yukari was caught up in her housemate's emotions. The pair came together in a tight hug.

"Thank you," Kuna said again, her voice stronger. "Thank you."

"Thank you for being my friend," Yukari said.

Yukari's own emotions welled up. With them came the memory of her first weeks at school, when she had no friends. She remembered the joy she had felt when Moka and Tsukune had come to save her, when they had stood by her. Now she was feeling a new joy. It was the same joy she had felt when Ruby had become their friend. Yukari held Kuna close and felt happy tears start to run down her face.

XxxxXxxxX

Tsukune felt his nervousness double as he opened his door to step out to face White Day. Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore were all waiting for him in the street. They were a good twenty paces from his door and five paces apart, and didn't do anything more than smile at Tsukune when he appeared. Tsukune knew right away he was being tested. The three women were waiting to see who he would go to, wanting him to demonstrate in which one of them held the highest priority in his affections.

Tsukune had wondered what his girlfriends would do. He didn't know if they were acting according to a prearranged plan, or if they were spontaneously cooperating. Ether way, Tsukune accepted that he had to play according to their rules. White day was all about women after all.

Tsukune had stood at his door taking the scene for only a heartbeat. Almost without any hesitation he started walking towards Moka. As he did, he gave her a warm smile and slipped his hand into his bag. Seeing him coming her way first made Moka almost giddy.

"Moka," Tsukune said as he came near. "I love you."

"Good morning," Moka smiled. "I love you too."

"Please let me give you something," Tsukune said as he drew out a small bundle of pink tissue paper.

"Why thank you," Moka said as she accepted the gift. She opened the small gift and found it contained a heart-shaped piece of candy about half the size of her palm. Most of the offering was white chocolate with a bright red, heart-shaped, hard candy in the middle.

"Pretty," Moka observed. "Thank you Tsukune." She looked up into his face and her eyes darkened from green to red.

Tsukune made an amused face. He was aware that the boundary between Moka's to selves was more flexible than it had used to be. The fact that Inner Moka was making an effort to come out was a sign of her own desire to be loved, and impatience to receive her own gift from Tsukune. Tsukune reached into his bag again with one hand while he reached for the rosario with the other. He didn't remove the seal. Instead he sent a trickle of his own power through it, letting Inner Moka become more awake. Moka's hair became streaked with silver and her posture shifted.

"Good morning," Tsukune said. "Moka, please let me give you something."

"Good morning, Tsukune," Moka said in a seductive voice. She passed the opened gift into his hand as she took the new one from him.

Inner Moka was careful to maintain an appearance of calm as she opened Tsukune's gift. She saw at once that Tsukune had been thinking very carefully about her when picking out or making his gifts. She could tell by the smell that he had used white chocolate for her gift, but it had been died a rich red. In the center of the heart was a clear piece of hard sugar that looked like a a small heart made out of a diamond.

The gifts were very much like the giver. They were simple and sweet and showed a lot of care and consideration. They were very like Tsukune.

"Tsukune," Moka said as she reached for him.

As they shared a kiss, Tsukune's hand slipped from the rosario. The two personalities of Moka blurred together as they kissed Tsukune. When the kiss was over, Moka looked into Tsukune's face feeling a little confused but very happy. Tsukune gave her one more kiss, a light one on her forehead.

Moka didn't want to let go of Tsukune, but she was satisfied for the moment that she was first in Tsukune's heart. She gave him a smile and a nod before letting go and taking a small step back. Tsukune gave her a grateful smile.

As he turned to the others, Tsukune was glad that Kurumu was closer than Mizore. Tsukune did not like thinking about how he should rank the women that he loved, but the truth didn't change just because he did not like it. Moka was first in his heart, and that was absolute. With Kurumu he shared a special bond that he could not deny, and she had been with him longer than anybody except Moka. He approached her as he reached into his pocket for the gift he had prepared for her.

"Kurumu..." Tsukune started.

"Tsukune," Kurumu greeted him with a smile. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Tsukune returned with a crooked smile. He pulled a pink and blue tissue wrapped offering from his pocket and held it out to her. "This is for you."

"Oh thank you," Kurumu said with feigned surprise as she accepted the package. She tore open the layers of tissue paper ecstatically.

Kurumu thought Tsukune's gift was wonderful, if a little predictable. It was a miniature chef's hat made of white chocolate, decorated with a band of cinnamon hearts at the top like a crown. Along the base were the words 'My Sweetheart.' Kurumu knew she was going to save it along with the token she had received the year before, but that was for later. The first thing she was going to do was thank Tsukune for his gift, which she did with a hug and a kiss.

Finally it was Mizore's turn. Tsukune approached her with a shy smile. Mizore smiled back feeling nervous. Last year Tsukune had given her something precious. Since then, they had become lovers. He had even made a little snow figure of her, mimicking her own peoples' tradition of making a sculpture of a chosen mate. Mizore knew that anything that Tsukune gave her would be precious to her, even if it was just some shapeless piece of white chocolate.

Tsukune reached into the pocket where he had Mizore's present and pulled it out slowly. He hoped that his gift to her wouldn't be seen as some kind of blunder. He held out the bundle of white tissue paper to her.

"Mizore," Tsukune said in a gentle voice. "Please accept this."

"Thank you, Tsukune," Mizore gently took the gift from Tsukune's hand. She pealed at the wrapping as if she were coaxing a blossom of flower to open. Inside she found a small figure made of white chocolate. It was a little better shaped than Tsukune's snow sculpture, and he had even managed to ad a little color to it, making it easy for Mizore to recognize what it was. It was a little white chocolate figurine of her.

Mizore realized her fingers were shaking. She closed her hand around the figurine carefully so she wouldn't drop it. When she looked up at Tsukune here eyes were shining.

"Tsukune," Mizore said in a whisper. That was the only warning before she launched herself at him. "Tsukune!"

Tsukune caught Mizore as she collided with him. He held her close as she held her free hand to his face. She kept kissing him over and over again.

"I love you," Mizore declared. "Love you. Love you. Love you."

Tsukune managed to calm her down a little with a kiss of his own. He pressed his lips to hers for a long and loving kiss. When he broke the kiss, Mizore leaned against him with a sigh.

XxxxXxxxX

Inari felt like her stomach was tied in knots. She was so nervous that she had trouble thinking clearly. She had waited for Tsukune at the usual place, but when he arrived, all she managed to do was to say a hasty 'Good morning' in a tight voice before hurrying to school.

All morning long Inari mentally beat herself up. She had run from Tsukune. She was too afraid of what he might not say, or might not do, to trust herself around him. In between rounds of beating herself up for being afraid, she was beating herself up for acting afraid. In her mind she saw her every fantasy with Tsukune falling apart. She imagined him turning her away, because if she couldn't handle the pressure of White Day, then how could he trust her to handle the pressure of a professional police officer.

Inari didn't know how she made it through her morning classes. Whatever was said had gone in one ear and out the other. Whatever she read also failed to remain in her mind. Inari's couldn't stop thinking about Tsukune and what she was feeling. As lunch time neared, she resolved to find Tsukune and give him a chance to do or say, or not do or not say, what ever he would. She loved Tsukune and she couldn't sped her life running from him if she really wanted to be with him.

When the bell sounded to signal the start of the lunch break Inari felt her insides clench. She almost started to hyperventilate. It took her several minutes to calm herself down. The classroom was almost empty by the time she could get her legs to work and stand up. She was almost to the door when Tsukune appeared in the hallway. Inari felt her knees threaten to buckle.

"Ahhh," Tsukune said as he entered the classroom. "Lieutenant, I'm glad I found you."

"Captain?" Inari answered. In her mind she was almost praying in gratitude to the gods. He had called out to her by rank. He was there in the line of duty. That meant that her fears of their relationship, or lack there of, were unimportant for the moment. It was all she could do to not give a loud sigh of relief. "What can I do for you?"

"If you have a moment to walk with me," Tsukune said with a gesture towards the door and the hallway beyond. "I would like your input. You know how I passed out white chocolates last year."

"Yes," Inari said. "I remember."

"Well if you could pass word today when you get the chance," Tsukune continued. "I would like to make sure nobody gets passed over this year."

"There's no fear of that," Inari said as she got her legs working again.

"Oh?" Tsukune questioned.

"All of the girls in the Student Police have been practically worshiping the schedule for the past week," Inari explained as she walked with her captain. "Everybody wants to make sure they know where to be tonight. "They don't want to miss being left out in case you counted on them being in one place and they were at another."

"Well you can pass the word that I will be doing the same thing I did last year," Tsukune said. I've checked the rosters so I made sure that I have enough for everybody to show them that I appreciate all their hard work."

"Everybody will be glad to know that," Inari said with a smile.

"I may not be very smart when it comes to women," Tsukune said as they walked down the hallway together. "But I know that if I miss anybody tonight I'll be risking my life."

"I wouldn't say that," Inari said as she looked around evasively.

"Right..." Tsukune drawled. "I also know that if I single anybody out tonight she will be in an awkward situation as well."

"That is true," Inari agreed with her voice carefully neutral.

"That is why I wanted to find you now," Tsukune said as he slipped his hand into his pocket.

"Oh?" Inari felt her earlier nervousness returning.

"This is for you," Tsukune said as he offered Inari a small oval box.

"Captain?" Inari's eyes were wide.

"Not right now," Tsukune said. "It's just you and I, Inari. And this is from me to you."

"Tsu.. Tsukune?" Inari questioned.

"Thank you," Tsukune said. "Inari, thank you for being my friend. Thank you for helping me and standing beside me." He pressed the box into her hands.

"Thank you, Tsukune," Inari said. She looked down at the box in her hands and opened it nervously. Inside the oval box rested three pieces of white chocolate. There was a round one, a square one, and right in the middle, a heart shaped one.

Inari had to take deep breathes as she closed the box. That one little heart shaped piece of white chocolate filled her with joy. That one white heart made all the difference in the world. Tsukune wasn't just giving her obligation chocolates. This wasn't just a gift from a commander to a subordinate. Tsukune was admitting that he actually cared about her, even if it was just a little.

"Tsukune," Inair said with a wide smile and shining eyes. "Thank you. Thank you."

"You are most welcome," Tsukune said. "And I will see you tonight at the dorm office."

"Yes," Inari agreed. "Yes. I will see you tonight."

Tsukune gave her a smile and a nod before walking away. Inari watched him go and found that she couldn't stop smiling. When he was out of sight, she turned her attention to the box Tsukune had given her. It was a simple, generic sort of box. On the front of the box, which she could tell had been painted over when it had been re-purposed, Tsukune had written both of their names, from him and to her. The back had been painted over, but only with one thin layer. Through the paint Inari was able to read enough to know that the box had originally held hard candies. That meant that Tsukune had not just picked out the chocolates himself, but he had taken the time to prepare something special just for her.

Inari hurried back to her desk, not caring of who was watching her. At her desk she dug though her things to find a pen. She tested them all on a piece of paper until she found one that looked like it would be a match in color to the one Tsukune used. She used that pen to add the date to the box. The chocolate may not survive, but Inari had every intention of saving the box forever.

XxxxxxxxX

Tsukune rejoined his friends at their usual table. They had the obentos set out and were making a show of waiting for him. Tsukune smiled at them as he approached, but he didn't sit down right away.

"Yukari," Tsukune said. "I'm sorry we missed you this morning."

"It was my fault," Yukari said. "Kuna and I had something to talk about and we ended up running late."

"You looked a little out of sorts when you made it to class," Tsukune observed as he reached into a pocket. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes. Thank you," Yukari nodded. "Everything should be fine now."

"That's good to hear," Tsukune nodded as he pulled out a package. "I wanted to give this to you."

"Oh thank you," Yukari said brightly as she accepted the bundle of white tissue paper. She tore it open eagerly. "Oh."

Inside the wrapping was a block of white chocolate almost as big as Yukari's fist. The block had been carved to resemble a set of miss-matched books. On the spines of the books as if they were their titles were the words 'Math,' 'Nature,' 'Family,' and 'Friends.'

"Thank you Tsukune," Yukair said. She reached out and hugged him tightly.

Tsukune gently hugged her back. They stood there for a moment. It was Kurumu that decided when the moment had gone on long enough.

"Alright you two," Kurumu said. "Lunch is going to waste."

"Awwww," Yukari protested.

XxxxxxxX

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The office of Shuzen Issa was nothing like his home. It was well lit with a commanding view of the city through the floor to ceiling windows. It had every modern convenience that money could buy carefully situated. Even the rare books were carefully displayed within a perfectly environmentally controlled case. Everything in the office said that the room was the seat of somebody with wealth and power. The desk was carefully engineered to make anybody who stood in front of it feel just a little smaller, while the man behind it would seem a little bit bigger. Shuzen Issa was behind the desk now, as he listened to what the man from Fairy Tail had come to say.

The man from Fairy Tail had come in hope of gaining support for his organization. Shuzen Issa had already decided to refuse any kind of support. The organization that was Fairy Tail was at best of times a pack of mongrel, feral dogs. It was only a mater of time before they turned rabid, and when that happened they would turn on each other and on anybody foolish enough to be close to them.

"I hear what you are saying," Issa said with a voice kept carefully neutral. "But what you are asking for is not in keeping with my best interests. I cannot offer you any support in your plans."

"You say this," The man replied. "But one of your daughters is already a member of our organization."

"The daughter you are referring to is a grown woman," Issa said. "And is free to make whatever alliances she so chooses."

"But if you are not willing to stand with us..." The man started to say.

"It only means that I do not support you," Issa cut him off. "Nor do I chose to oppose you."

"You cannot have..." the mans started again.

"This war you wish to continue waging," Issa said firmly. "Is not new. It is also not going to be over if your organization falls. Do not insert your own agendas into my decisions. I do not support you, nor do I intend to oppose you. Events may change my position at some later time, but for now that is all you are going to get from me."

"If that is your decision," The man stood up with a small sigh. "I will wish you a good day, Master Shuzen."

"Have a good day," Issa said with a nod of dismissal.

XxxxxXxxxxxX

The man fumed quietly as he took the elevator down to the parking garage. He needed to consolidate his position and to gather support for Fairy Tail . Every deal he could make for support would make his own position within the organization stronger. The problem was finding anybody willing to give their support. Smaller groups, petty gangs, were willing to throw in with Fairy Tail, for a price. The man knew he could swell the ranks of the organization with grunts, but that wasn't what he needed. He needed the kind of support that brought money and political influence.

The man knew that if he didn't find a way to build support for Fairy Tail the organization would falter. The blood bath that had forced him onto his position had been costly. Already human organizations were taking control of assets that had been left vulnerable. Unless Fairy Tail wanted to risk an open gang war, new supporters and resources needed to be found.

The man made his way back to his own office while trying to come up with a plan. So many things that should have worked, but had not, ran through his mind. Subterfuge and blunt force had both been attempted, and both had failed. The man knew he needed to come up with something. He needed to do something to prove that Fairy Tail was powerful. He needed to demonstrate that the organization was something to be feared. With that fear, he could get the supporters the organization needed. He needed a target that would meet his purposes, and a plan that he could pull off with minimal resources.

The man cursed his bad luck as he sat behind his own desk. He had power and position, but if he used it without careful planning it would be the end of him. If he didn't act soon, his life would be over. He was trapped by the same power that others had reveled in.

XxxxxXxxxxX

XxxxxX

Tsukune wondered if he should feel bad about the situation. He had just finished handing out white chocolate at the Student Police headquarters. The place looked almost as if a party was going on. The young women that helped patrol the school and keep the records were all smiles and excitement. Tsukune had to admit to himself that it made him feel very good, and very powerful, to see a room full of young women looking up to him, and knowing it was because of him that they were all happy. As he headed towards the dorms he wondered if he should be worried about how good he was feeling, or if it was wrong for him to be in such a position of power.

Tsukune had thought about it carefully, or at least he liked to think so. He wasn't using his position as captain to take advantage. He wasn't ordering any of his subordinates to do anything. It just seemed right to do something for those that have supported him. He was still mulling it all over in his mind as he approached the dorms, where he saw a crowd of young women waiting for him.

Tsukune had not expected quite the turnout he had waiting for him at the dorms. The young women of the office staff had been at the headquarters. The young women currently assigned to general patrols had also been there. The female members of the Student Police assigned to dorm patrols, and all the ones not on duty were waiting outside the dorms for Tsukune. But they were not the only ones. Tsukune could see dozens of girls he knew couldn't be a part of the Student Police also hanging out.

"Alright," Tsukune called out as he got closer. "Form up."

"You heard him," Inari's voice sounded.

"First years over here," Kiri called out. She was a second year and was likely to be made an officer at the start of the next school year.

"Second years to me," Lieutenant Tama called out.

"Third years," Inari ordered. "Let's go. Reserves too. Everybody by year."

Tsukune watched as the Student Police members gathered together in rows. The other girls, and where there were girls there were boys, stood off a short distance to watch. When the Student Police were all formed up Tsukune moved to stand in front of them with his bag of white chocolate.

"Sir," Inair said as he moved into place. "Everybody at the dorms is assembled."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Tsukune gave her a nod. He reached into the bag and pulled out one of the individually wrapped pieces of white chocolate. "Thank you for all your hard work this school year." Tsukune handed the token to her.

"Thank you, Captain," Inari said as she accepted the small gift. She understood that the previously gift had been personal, while this was professional.

"If you will assist me," Tsukune said as he handed off the bag of white chocolates to her.

"My pleasure," Inari answered with a smile.

"Thank you all for coming out to meet with me tonight," Tsukune said as he turned his attention to the assembled Student Police. "You have all done your part to help make our school a safer place. I want to take this opportunity to thank you..."

Tsukune's speech was short and clear. After that he started passing out his white chocolate offerings. He handed out each piece and gave each young woman a personal thanks for her work and support. He was rewarded with bright smiles and happy voices. Before too long he had the task completed and the members of the Student Police were dismissed back to their regular duties and lives.

"Mission complete, Captain?" Inari said as she stood beside him.

"Almost," Tsukune said. "I want to take care of one more thing. Would you mind being my chaperone through the dorms?"

"I'm at your service, Captain," Inari said with a smile.

"Thank you," Tsukune said. "But first..."

Tsukune removed his blazer, loosened his tie, and undid the top button of his shirt. Next, he took the bag with the remaining white chocolates, he had been careful to have extra instead of risking coming up short if anything went wrong, and wrapped it in his blazer. He gave Inari a warm smile.

"Alright," Tsukune said with a nod.

XxxxX

Kokoa was grumbling to herself as she studied. She had a small circle of friends in the dorm that she frequently studied with. It was an arrangement that worked out well for all of them. They were less assertive than she was, and less powerful, but they had better study habits, and therefore better scores than she did. Kokoa would have been studying with them for the coming finals, except that they were all talking about White Day and boys. Kokoa wasn't in the mood to talk about such things, or listen to other prattle on about them, so she was alone in her room when somebody knocked at her door.

"Yeah, Just a minute," Kokoa called out. She dropped her pen on the desk and got up to answer the door. It was just late enough that Kokoa was only interested in being comfortable and getting her studying out of the way so she could go to bed. Supper and bathing were already taken care of, so Kokoa was only wearing a chemise and panties when she pulled her door open impatiently. "Yea... What do you want?"

"Sorry to disturb you," Tsukune said. He could feel his face growing warm when he saw what little Kokoa was wearing.

"Just tell me why you're here," Kokoa demanded. With one hand on the door and the other hand on her cocked hip, she glared at Tsukune.

"I wanted to give you a peace offering," Tsukune said. "Kokoa, you and I have both been through a lot together. I know we don't get along most of the time, but we are both in the Newspaper Club, which you have helped to keep going strong. I still count you as one of my friends. I don't want to fight with you, but I do understand that there are times when friends do fight." From his blazer he pulled out a good sized bundle of tissue paper and offered it to her.

"Kokoa," Tsukune said. "Thank you for your hard work and for your friendship."

Kokoa looked hard at the offered gift and then back up at Tsukune's face. She could feel his youki slumbering within him, and was aware of his warm, appetizing scent. His face was open but serious.

"Fine," Kokoa sighed. "Thank you." She took the gift from his hand. "I don't like fighting with you ether. No go away so I can study."

"Have a good night," Tsukune said. He almost didn't finish speaking before Kokoa's door banged shut. Tsukune looked at the door and counted to five slowly before turning to Inari.

"Alright," Tsukune said. "Now I'm done. Thank you."

"I'll walk you out," Inari offered.

"Thank you, again," Tsukune agreed.

Tsukune did not linger in the dorms. He walked with as much calm dignity as he could muster as he hurried to escape the female students, many of whom were only partially dressed. He felt a sense of relief once he was out of the building, but tried to keep it from showing.

"So now you're off duty and get to relax?" Inari asked as she pulled off her blazer.

"Yes," Tsukune agreed as they walked away from the dorms.

"Good," Inari said as she stepped close and took one of his arms in hers.

"Inari..." Tsukune gave her a mixed look.

"Yes, Tsukune?" Inari was deliberate in not calling him by rank.

"How was your day today?" Tsukune asked. Instead of trying to pull free he just kept on walking.

"It was good," Inari answered. "And it's going to be one I will remember for the rest of my life."

"That good?" Tsukune questioned.

"In fact..." Inari said as they approached the tree line. "There are only a few things that I can think of that could make the day better."

Tsukune looked at her and saw that she was smiling up at him. It was the kind of smile that usually meant trouble for him. Tsukune gave her a smile of his own.

"No," Tsukune said.

"No?" Inari questioned. "No what?"

"No," Tsukune repeated. "No, I am not going to kiss you. No, I am not going to confess to you."

"Awwww," Inari complained.

"However..." Tsukune teased.

"Yes?" Inari brightened.

"I have some left over white chocolates," Tsukune said. "Would you like to share them with me?"

"You know I would," Inari answered. "Thank you."

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Kokoa sat with her friends in the dorm. They were still studying, or at least pretending to, when she had tracked them down to Mia's room. Kokoa had finished what she needed to for the night, and when she realized she was ready to go to sleep, she suddenly decided that she didn't want to be alone. Her friends had been surprised by her return. They were used to her sometimes sulking off to be on her own for several nights in a row.

What surprised, and excited the other girls the most was that Kokoa had returned with a supply of white chocolate. Kokoa had held out the partially full bundle of tissue paper to her friends, offering to share as she complained about Aono Tsukune's visit to her room. Her friends drank in every word as they enjoyed the little white chocolate bats. While none of them said it out loud, every one of Kokoa's friends wished the Student Police captain would come and visit their rooms with sweets.