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 198

"...Alright, alright," Mr. Shinchu sighed over the phone.

"Really?" Rina chirped happily. "Oh Thank you. You're the best father in the world."

Rina had just spent an hour on the phone with her father. It had been a month long campaign. It had started as a discussion at school. The next step was letters to mothers from daughters. Rina had spent an hour on step four. Step three had been the mothers softening up the fathers.

It had taken an hour of careful work to wear down her father. She had started with light, casual talk that had soothed her father into letting his guard down. Then she wet on the offensive, applying cuteness, guilt, and even whining a little. Rina knew her father would give in, and he had. Her father, like several others would be helping with the cost of a graduation ball.

XxxxX

Mr. Shinchu hung up the phone with a sigh. More than an hour on the phone with his daughter could be exhausting. By the time she had even started to get to the point about why she had called home, he had finished two drinks. By the time he agreed to her request, Rina had tried every trick her mother had ever taught her to play on his sympathies. Mr. Shinchu leaned back in his chair with a smile. After all of Rina's efforts, he had just what he needed to guilt her into at least a half-dozen things she might normally balk at, including a couple of marriage interviews.

The funniest thing was that he and a score of other fathers had already agreed to sponsor the graduation ball. When the girls at school had decided to try to arrange their graduation ball, Tanaka Iris had called her parents to talk with them about the idea. Her father, Ito Tanaka had started passing word to the parents of other soon to be graduating young ladies. The parents had worked out a plan, using their connections and other resources, to get everything lined up.

Mr. Shinchu Already knew the first thing he was going to get Rina to do. The head of a banking firm he worked with had a son that was Rina's age. Mr. Shinchu was going to wait a little while, and then inform Rina that he had arranged an escort to the ball for her. He didn't think it would be the start of any romance, but it would be a good experience for both of them.

XxxxxxX

"Congratulations everybody," Ogono Aiko said in a clear and happy voice. She, and her co-conspirators of the unofficial graduation ball committee, were gathered in the third year commons in the dorm. "We have met our financial goal for the ball."

A small cheer was voiced by the assembled young women.

"Not only have our parents consented to the ball, and agreed to pay for it," Aiko said. "But many have provided some kind of direct support. We are on schedule for three weeks after graduation. Now before we try to agree on the theme for the ball, I'm going to go over the list of resources we have so far..."

Aiko reported to her audience what had been pledged to their project by helpful and supportive parents. Money was the first thing. Additional support that had been promised included the services of a graphics and printing business that would do the invitations for the ball for just the cost of materials. Other services included phtographers, caterers, a sound and lighting system, and even a venue for the ball. All of the pledged services were being offered with huge discounts.

The offered services were used by the parents' business for one purpose or another, so they were willing to give the graduating young ladies discounts to encourage the good will and continued support of their clients. Some additional services had been pledged that came from the network of semi-professional friendships. One girl's mother knew a dress maker, for example, who could profit courting the business of the graduating young women. A discount now could mean years of repeat business. A party supply business was willing to give a discount because the owner knew that the young women in question were likely to have more celebrations over the next couple of years, including college graduations and weddings.

The list of pledged resources was impressive. With the discounts that were being offered the official budget for the ball would go a long way. All that was left was to settle on a theme. While a ball was a western tradition, there was some question about how it could be possibly done in a Japanese style. Once Aiko opened the topic for debate the room became filled with opinions.

Aiko had learned from her work on the Festival Committee that getting people to agree on small details could be one of the hardest jobs. Getting women to agree on an aesthetic detail could be a war, with some holding out until the bitter end. The idea of decorating the ball room to resemble a cherry blossom viewing was just one of the ideas that was thrown out for discussion.

Aiko had her own ideas for the theme for the ball. She had been planning from the beginning of the project for a very specific reason. While she had been openly talking with the others to help get everything arranged, she had been carefully applying the ground work to gain support for what she wanted to do. Every time she heard somebody making a suggestion that supported her own plans, Aiko was careful not to smile too much. She reminded herself that she just had to wait calmly.

XxxxxxxxxX

Moka woke up feeling good. Tsukune had surprised her by showing up at her door and then literally sweeping her off her feet. He had lifted her from the ground and hugged her close while kissing her breathless. Her head was still spinning when he left. Before he had said goodnight however, he had given her one more White Day present. He had rubbed white chocolate on the side of his neck. It had been silly and romantic at the same time. Moka decided exactly what she would ask from Tsukune next year.

XxxxxxxX

Tsukune woke up feeling tired but good. He had enjoyed his brief time talking and walking with Inari. When he returned to the village he had made a point of visiting with Moka. He had even visited Mizore's house to share an extra moment with her. The reason he had taken the time to talk with the others is because he could feel Kurumu's excitement. As soon as he had reached the village he could tell that Kurumu was waiting for him at the manor.

Kurumu had decided to thank Tsukune for his White Day gift in a special way. She had dressed herself up and welcomed him home while wearing a chef's hat, a frilly little apron, and a naughty smile. She had bribed Ruby to keep the witch from protesting. Tsukune hadn't even thought about such things when Kurumu almost literally pounced on him when he entered the manor. She had been aggressive and playful from the start. She had Tsukune in the mood by the time they reached the master bedroom, where only some vanilla scented candles provided any light.

Kurumu didn't let up on her attentions. She kept Tsukune in a playful and happy mood as she undressed him. She touched and kissed him all over, teasing him with her fingers and lips, right up to the moment they tumbled onto the bed. It was then that things got heated and even a little rough.

Kurumu gave herself to Tsukune eagerly. After he reached his first release within her, they laid together, touching and kissing. It was then that Tsukune was reminded of Ruby's presence when the woman gave a low moan of desire.

Kurumu's bribe of Ruby had come in the form of offering her some excitement. She had helped Tsukune's slave get tied into his bed and then covered her with the bedding. Ruby had watched through a gap in the pillows as Tsukune and Kurumu entered the bedroom. She had been pinned under the couple as they made love. Tsukune's every thrust had drove Kurumu against Ruby.

"Ruby?" Tsukune exclaimed, half doubting what he discovered.

"Master..." Ruby purred.

"Kurumu?" Tsukune gave the succubus a stern look.

"Well..." Kurumu said while refusing to meet his eyes.

Tsukune gave a heavy sigh. A part of him wanted an explanation, but he knew that he really didn't want to know too much. He rolled out of the bed and started for the bath room.

"I need to wash up," Tsukune declared. "Kurumu, after your let Ruby up you can join me if you want."

Tsukune was satisfied with his decision. After Ruby was turned loose, Kurumu had spent the rest of the evening proving to Tsukune that she really was interested in being with him, and not in the other women that he attracted. Tsukune was satisfied with his decision, and with Kurumu's attentions. By the time they had fallen asleep Kurumu was feeling satisfied as well.

XxxxX

The day after White Day the academy's gossip machine was all revved up. Just enough people had seen Tsukune giving something to his lieutenant for word to get around. It was aknowledged that Inari was a part of the harem. People were speculating over how close she was to Tsukune, and what kind of secret internal dynamics that kept the harem together were at play. Inari wasn't worried about the gossip and speculation as she met with Tsukune that morning. She received a public, friendly hug from him, but no kisses yet. She knew that she would have to wait for that, and was determined to do so. The rest of the group were not deaf to the gossip, but they didn't let it bother them.

But the gossip was only a distraction. With White Day over, there were no events of note between the students of Youkai Academy and their coming finals. By the end of the week the first signs of pressure were starting to show. Amid this scene, Tsukune and company stood out.

Tsukune found himself feeling calm, even at ease. He already had his acceptance letter in hand. He and Inari would both be starting in the fall semester. All he had to do was graduate, and with his scores for the year so far he knew he was in a good position to do just that. Moka was also feeling confident. She had pulled top scores all the way along. She had applied to a university with a law program, and knew she could skip the finals all together and still graduate. While Moka and Tsukune didn't need to stress over their finals, they both were careful to take their studying seriously. They were just able to enjoy their time more than most. Kurumu had her college picked out, and thanks to her current popularity, she had already been accepted. All she had to do was get average scores on her final exams, something she knew she could do, and as long as she didn't suddenly do something too humiliating to want to be associated with, the college was looking forward to her starting in the fall. Mizore had no plans or intentions for going to college. The only reason she was even still in school was to stay with Tsukune. The only member of their little group that appeared to be anxious about the coming finals was Yukari, but with her it was more the anticipation of the challenge than the fear of possible failure that other students showed.

The other students were aware of the calm and composed individuals in their midst. Captain Aono Tsukune, the guardian of the school, and his harem. They studied for the coming finals during lunch with easy smiles and healthy appetites. Tsukune had his committee duties and part time job, but didn't appear to feel any pressure. Moka was the image of poise and composure that made all the other young women want to imitate her. Kurumu's playfulness was a distraction that the young men wished they could ignore, but were ever grateful for when her flirting with Tsukune meant the occasional panty or cleavage flash for anybody else that happened to also be down range.

Because he was not feeling overly pressured by the looming final exams, Tsukune had a little extra time and energy. He thought about applying himself to the Student Police or the Dance committee, there was an end of the year dance coming up, but decided not to. He wasn't going to be around much longer so as much as he wanted to enjoy his school life while he could, he didn't want everybody depending on him. Instead, Tsukune got to spend his energy with his closest friends.

Relaxed study sessions were a fun way to be productive, or a productive way to have fun. The bickering between Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore was really just friendly teasing more than anything else. Yukari was splitting her time between the Newspaper Club and her housemate. Inari was spending more time with the others, so that she could be with Tsukune, but she still felt out of place. She was still dealing with feelings of jealousy, envy, and insecurity when she saw Tsukune and one of the other women sharing little moments. While seeing Moka nip at Tsukune gave her pangs, she still thought it was nice that Tsukune thought enough of her to let her see him in such a private moment.