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 200

"Alright everyone," Nekonome Sensei called out as she entered the classroom. "Today I will be giving you your schedule for the final exams." The room full of students, already showing signs of feeling pressured, gave her looks of nervousness, pain, and even fear. "Now now, it's not the end of the world if you fail. There's a remedial class for those who need it." Some of the students looked close to panic now.

Nekonome Sensei had been watching over this batch of students for nearly three years now. She had lost a few, but she never let that bother her. Her reward came from seeing those that would graduate and move on because of her guidance, and those frightened looks every time she handed out a test.

XxxxxX

In spite of their prior confidence, Tsukune and his companions were sharply aware of the imminent exams. Yukair could not keep her attention away from her books for more than a moment. Kurumu's face was twisted up with intense concentration every time she tried to review her notes and text books. Tsukune felt his own desire to prove himself pushing him onward. His muscles were tight as he bent over his own books and notes.

Time was suddenly both an enemy and a treasure. It was the enemy that kept marching on, kept carrying them closer to their final exams and the end of the school year. It was the treasure that was being spent minute by minute for the small joy of just being together. Like an enemy it wore them down. Like a treasure is was being spent until it was all gone.

XxxX

The finals were spread out over three days. The purely academic subjects were hard, but were graded on a firm scoring system. The classes that were based on physical ability were more flexible in their grading, and included not only performance of a given task, like running a mile in P.E., but how the students acted afterward. In Tsukune's case he ran a six minute mile, a good time for almost any human, and after he was done he held on to his side while breathing hard and smiling, projecting the image of somebody that was hurting but proud of his performance. He got a perfect score. In cooking class, Yukari's obvious frustration at her just below average skills brought her score up to the top ten percent.

Each day, after school let out, Tsukune met up with the others to spend little time relaxing, before studying for the next day's exams. After the first day of testing they all gathered at the manor to study and share their unhappiness about the day's tests. After supper, when everybody else had left, Moka cuddled with Tsukune for a while. He eventually walked her back to her own house and they shared a kiss goodnight. The second day found the group relaxing behind the manor with a blanket and a picnic basket.

"Master," Ruby said as she knelt with the others. "Are you getting enough rest?"

"I'll be fine," Tsukune said. "We're almost finished."

"Well I'm feeling tired," Kurumu pouted. "I want to take a nap." She turned herself about and lay down with her head in Tsukune's lap.

"Hey," Moka protested.

"It's alright," Ruby said with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Moka asked.

"I think she has a good idea," Ruby answered as she moved behind Tsukune. She reached out and pulled his shoulders back.

Tsukune didn't have any good reason to resist so he lay back and rested his head on Ruby's lap. She smiled down at him, and he gave her a smile in return. Moka gave Tsukune a wounded look.

"Come'er," Tsukune said, holding out an arm to Moka in invitation.

Moka's frown melted away as she accepted the invitation. Moke lay down so she could rest her head on Tsukune's shoulder and look into his face. They were just close enough that Tsukune was able to place a light kiss on her forehead.

Mizore was not about to let herself be left out. She found room to lay out and rest her head on Tsukune's chest. Yukari flopped down and claimed Tsukune's legs, almost like a body pillow. Inari took in the scene, and considered the open space over Tsukune's abdomen. She wanted to lay down like the others and feel Tsukune close to her, but held back. She wasn't sure she had earned that kind of privilege just yet. She did take the opportunity to hold Tsukune's hand however.

Everybody just relaxed for a while. It was Yukari that eventually broke the mood. Her compulsive drive to study made her get up to get her books. Once she started moving the others resigned themselves to doing the same. They had one more day of testing to endure.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

The last class, and the last examination was finished, and a collective sigh of relief echoed through the school. With the school day officially over, students rushed to escape their classrooms. There were a couple of days left of the school year, days for cleaning up classrooms, making sure all assignments were accounted for, and other final details were resolved. But all of those things were for some later time. The immediate future for the students was focused on two related things. It was time to blow off some steam, and the perfect opportunity for most was the last dance of the year.

Within minutes of classes letting out, it was almost like Youkai Academy was an all boys school. The school grounds were almost totally absent of female students. Male students were still making their way to the gates, but all of the girls had hurried on ahead. Tsukune knew exactly what was going on. Thanks to personal experience, and a few mangas, he knew that right then the girls baths were about to become a battle ground. Getting ready for a dance for a guy meant being clean and dressing in a nice set of clothes. Comb the hair, brush the teeth, add a little deodorant or cologne, Pull on some clean clothes, and the guy was ready to go.

For a woman getting ready for a dance was a much more serious thing. Just choosing the right clothes could take weeks in some cases. Being clean for a woman was only a small part of getting ready. Hair had to be styled just right. Makeup had to be applied with enough precision to make a surgeon seem careless. And then there were always last minute details to add to the chaos. A broken thread, a shortage of that one tone of powder, a missing button. Any number of things that would endanger the visual impact a woman was trying for. From there, it would be a mad quest to find a solution. Sewing kits, adhesive tape, a stapler, whatever it took to repair or replace whatever had gone amiss.

Tsukune knew about all of this, but was careful to not think about it too much. He returned to the manor for his own preparations for the dance. He was feeling a little anxious about it because he had actually had very little to do with planning the event. A art of his distance had been byu his own intention, but the rest of the Dance Committee had also tried to keep him at a distance as well. If life was like a manga, Tsukune thought, then he knew that the committee trying to keep him uninvolved with the planning meant that they had "Something Special" planned for him. He hoped it would not be anything too embarrassing.

XxxxXxxX

Moka checked her appearance one more time before going to meet Tsukune. She was in a deep red dress with short sleeves and a deep neck line with full skirts. From her left shoulder to her right hip, the dress was embroidered with pink and white apple blossoms. She had her hair arranged to fall in tight curls along the left side of her face, with the ends visually connecting with the pattern on her dress. The girls' network had spread the word that the theme for the dance was going to be Springtime and flowers. Moka had even slipped into town to find a florist, so that she would have a flower to pin to Tsukune's lapel.

Moka was looking forward to the dance. She had been careful not to make Tsukune promise to be her exclusive date, because with graduation looming, it was one of the last things they would be able to share as a part of their school life. Her inner self disagreed with her over that, but Moka knew it was the right decision. All Tsukune had ever wanted, from the day they had first met, had been a normal school life. Of course what she intended to do with Tsukune after the dance, according to what she had ever heard about proms, would be just the two of them, and still be very much a part of normal school life.

XxxXxxX

Kurumu was proud of her dress. She had gone with a long, Chinese evening dress in gray silk that was slit up the left side. Her left breast and shoulder were embroidered with bougainvillea blossoms in pink and purple. She had a matching headband that had silk bougainvillea blossoms almost like a crown. The curve of her breasts and hips were well displayed, and when she crossed her legs, her left leg in it's black thigh-high stocking would be shown off. She had decided to go with moderation when picking out her shoes. Simple, shiny black with a medium heel. The heels would add just a little to her height and something to her movement and the curve of her calves as well. Kurumu knew that Tsukune was probably going to end up spending the night with Moka, but she was going to be sure she gave him something to think about first.

XxX

Mizore used a set of ice mirrors to view her reflection from every direction. She was dressed in a short, sleeveless black dress that hung to her knees. Over the left shoulder strap and left breasts she had a corsage of shirayuki blooms. The snow white flowers that her family was named after were actually made of silk, so they did not produce the flower's hypnotic perfume. Mizore wanted Tsukune's love, but she understood that some things could cause more harm than good. Mizore checked her reflections and performed a little twirl, lifting her skirts to flash a little thigh. Yes, she decided, Tsukune was going to love her appearance.

XxxxxxX

"Are you ready?" Yukari asked as she adjusted her jacket.

"I'm not so sure about this," Kuna said. "Everybody will be there."

"That's the point," Yukari said for the hundredth time. "Everybody will be there. Everybody you have been going to school with. Everybody who will be graduating soon. I'm going to share the fun with my friends." Yukari turned from the mirror to face her housemate. "And you are my friend."

"But..." Kuna tried to protest.

"You look good," Yukari said. "And these are all people that you have been around. Everything will be fine."

"Are you sure?" Kuna questioned.

"I promise," Yukari said with a warm smile.

They pair of them made an interesting sight. Kurumu had on a white blouse, a long black skirt that was narrow but let her move freely, and a black micro jacket with long sleeves. When she stood still her outfit could almost be confused for a tuxedo, if you ignored that her jacket was covered with red glittering roses. Kuna'a dress was a basic black sleeve that covered her from shoulder to ankles. It had flared sleeves that covered her arms and concealed her hands. Her hair was pulled up in simple bun that was held in place by a pair of pins that had little rose buds on them. Her face was white as cream and almost doll-like in it perfection. Her eyes were dark and her lips were a shadowy red. It was no doubt that the pair fit well together.

"We'll have lots of fun and make some fun memories," Yukari said. "Just you wait and see."

XxxxxX

Tsukune hoped he wasn't going to do anything to spoil the night for the women he loved. It was the last dance of the school year. It was the last time he would be just another student with all of his friends and schoolmates around him. He had gone with a reliable outfit, a basic black and white suit.

"Do you have everything Ruby?" Tsukune asked as he went down the stairs.

"Yes Master," Ruby answered. She was standing beside the front door with a tray in her hands. On the tray were the corsages that Tsukune had picked out for his companions.

"Good work," Tsukune said.

The corsages Tsukune had picked out, or more accurately, had designed, were meant to express his feelings. Three of them were made from a base of three tiny rosebuds, yellow, pink, and red, the colors for friendship, romance, and love. The three stood apart from each other by the extra details that made then unique. The one for Kurumu had a red and white orchid. Tsukune had managed to get a single shirayuki flower for Mizore. Moka's corsage had a pair of carnation buds, one pink and the other white.

Tsukune had not forgotten the others he was close to. For Yukari he had a corsage of wild flowers. For inari he had picked out a spray of tiny white flowers and added a little pink rosebud. The white flowers came from some kind of fern and were supposed to resemble rice. The last thing on the try was a single rose with a thorny stem.

"Ruby," Tsukune said. "Before I go out tonight, I want to thank you for all your hard work this year."

"It has been my pleasure, Master," Ruby said with a smile.

"It has meant a lot to me," Tsukune said as he picked up the rose. He reached over the tray for Ruby's front. "I may not always give you the attention that you want, but I am aware of what you do, and what you have to put up with." He used his fingers to open a small space in front of Ruby's left breast. He slipped the stem of the rose into place gently and moved his hands away

"Thank you master," Ruby said, her body giving a little shutter of pleasure. A thorn from the flower her master had just given her was poking her nipple. A sensation on the edges of pleasure and pain ran through her.

"Shall we go then?" Tsukune asked.

"Yes Master," Ruby answered with a blush.

XXXxxx

Tsukune's gifts were well received by their recipients. Yukari had giddy about receiving her corsage. She had accepted it form Tsukune and then used a part of it to make a small corsage for Kuna. Kurumu was always happy to receive a gift from Tsukune, and liked to know that he had been thinking of her enough to pick out something just for her. She was also aware that in affixing the corsage to her dress, Tsukune was taking the time to caress her breast. They both knew what he was doing and traded mischievous smiles.

Mizore was almost in tears with happiness when Tsukune presented her corsage. That one white bloom was the real thing. She could smell its unique perfume, and she knew that Tsukune knew about it. Mizore's heart was pounding and she was blushing.

Moka liked Tsukune's forethought. He had picked out a corsage for her that once again showed that he was thinking about all of her. As Tsukune carefully affixed the corsage into place, he pricked his fingertip. Moka knew at once that he had done it on purpose be the way he deliberately let a drop of his blood fall on the red rosebud.

"I love you," Tsukune said in a soft voice. Next he put his blood wet fingertip to the gem in the rosario. "I love you," He said again.

'Tsukuneee,' Inner Moka moaned in hungry desire.

"We love you too," Moka said with a smile.

When Tsukune and his friends met up with Inari it was at the usual place on the way to the school. She was wearing a simple green dress with lilies embroidered on the skirt. When Tsukune presented the corsage he had prepared for her, Inari was speechless. She had stood frozen as Tsukune pinned it to her dress. She had never expected to be given a corsage. In her fantasies about attending the dance she had imagined dancing with Tsukune, and maybe getting a kiss, but a corsage showed that Tsukune had been thinking about her in advance. He had been expecting her to attend the dance and had wanted to give her something. Inari felt herself blushing so hotly that she thought steam might soon come out of her ears.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

While it could be argued that not everybody that gets involved with an organization like Fairy Tail is really a bad person, in the end it doesn't change much. A person in need of money, or being pressured for some other reason can make a bad decision, and then find out that they are caught up in something they wished they could have avoided. Even if the person knew exactly what they were getting into, the other people in their life could be drawn in without their knowledge.

When Fairy Tail started ripping into itself with its internal war recently, it had been a blood bath. Favors and debts were called in by those trying to build their support base. At the same time, others were trying to tear down the support of their rivals. A man that made good money with his used goods shop, who wasn't picky about who had used what, or how the person looking to sell something may have come to have it found himself caught up in the blood letting. Once upon a time he had been struggling to keep his shop open.

When he saw an opportunity to be more than just a struggling shop keeper, he had grabbed on to it with both hands and his tail. His financial situation improved, and it had not even cost him much effort. He found himself buying and selling a lot of goods, on paper, for a modest percentage. On paper he was brokering the sales of whole kitchens worth of used dishes, appliances, and other household goods. In reality, he was laundering money. On paper he was meeting with buyers and sellers frequently, when all he was doing was providing alibis to people that needed to prove that they could not have been somewhere else.

The opportunity for making money was good. The man even shared his good fortune with his brother, letting his brother make some extra money and introducing him to the people that could give him other opportunities. His brother never got very involved. He was just an occasional pair of hands for something simple. But when the blood started to flow, and somebody remembered him, that was enough.

It had taken a while for all the dead to be counted. Some had been able to hide out until the smoke had cleared. Others had fled Japan all together, waiting to contact family or friends until they felt safe. For the families that were caught up in it all, the uncertainty was tormenting. One tormented woman only found out for sure she was a widow weeks after her husband and brother-in-law had been killed when a man had contacted her, wanting her to take over her brother-in-law's shop and resume his work for the organization. She was told that if she didn't wish to work for the organization, her daughter could fill the position just as easily.

The woman had been holding back her grief and fears ever since her husband had disappeared. She had put off telling her daughter because she didn't want alarm the girl without proof. But now she knew she could not put it off any longer. Her daughter, safely away at school, the one member of the family with a hope for a bright future, had to be told the bad news. She needed to know that her father was dead, her uncle was dead, and that the same people that had taken her family members away from her were interested in her now.

xx

Many miles away, in a place that was a different world in its own way, a young woman received a letter from home. It had almost been ignored as the young woman, eager to celebrate finishing the final exams for her second year at Youkai academy, got ready for the school dance. She didn't have a boyfriend, but she was still looking forward to having fun. She could dance with some of the single boys that were likely to be attending just for the fun of it, just as she was. Lim was waiting for some of the girls she knew to finish getting ready when she decided to read the letter from her mother.

As she read the letter, Lim felt her world turn cold. She had known all about her uncle's business. She knew how he had made it grow, and the connections that had made it possible. She knew how he had made his little shop a part of something bigger, and had been looking forward being a part of something like that.

Lim knew that Fairy Tail had some bad apples. No large organization could ever be free of those that were willing to break the rules. Lim had never really approved of the way the Newspaper Club painted Fairy Tail as some evil organization from a manga series, but knew that any big and successful organization suffered the same kind of negative press once in a while.

But now her father and her uncle were dead. Something had gone wrong with Fairy Tail and good people had gotten killed for no reason. It seemed so wrong. Fairy tails were about happy endings. Lim tried to make sense of it all. Big companies had competition. Big organizations made big targets. It had to have been somebody's fault. Somebody must have caused a misunderstanding, and it had gotten two members of her family killed.

Lim re-read her mother's letter. Fairy Tail, which had been such a good opportunity for her uncle was interested in her. She could go and help them, taking over for her uncle, and she could probably even skip the last year of highschool. She could pay back Fairy Tail for how it had helped her uncle, but first...

But first...

Xxx

Lim wasn't sure on how she got there. She had been in her room one moment, in the next she was back on campus. The light's and music of the dance were ahead of her. Her hand was sore from her tight grip on the stick she was holding. Close to a meter long, it was a branch broken off from a tree, with one end roughly rounded from where it had been cut back some time in the past to keep a pathway clear. The other end was a jagged point where it had been freshly broken off.

Lim wasn't really aware of the stick, the weapon she was holding. She was not really aware of herself ether. The world seemed unreal, like a twisted dream. Her own emotions were missing as she continued forward. The people she passed were just random silhouettes, faceless and unimportant as the passed by in a blur.

Lim continued forward. There in the colored lights, one black silhouette surrounded by flowers stood out. A face seen in profile that was happy and alive. Lim's emotions returned in a flood of pain, anger, and hate. She raised the point of her weapon and rushed forward.