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 201

Tsukune and his friends were enjoying the dance. He had just finished his first dance with Moka, and was listening to them almost politely discuss who he should dance with next. Around them people were smiling as they relaxed following the pressure of final exams. Tsukune was scanning the cafeteria turned dance hall when it happened.

It was a flash of killing intent that alerted Tsukune. He felt himself become the focus of a burning intent. Tsukune starter to turn to his right.

Inari was standing close to Tsukune. She was still near euphoric from receiving her corsage, and she was actually standing with Tsukune, in public, dressed up and everything. She was feeling a sense of wonder as she looked around, eager to remember every detail of the night. Details leaped into sharp focus. Somebody approaching at a run. A red dress. Red eyes in an angry face that was showing green highlights. A crude, pointed weapon aimed at Tsukune's back.

"Tsukune!" Inari cried as she move to push Tsukune out of the way.

Tsukune was already starting to turn when Inari's hands reached out. She barely connected, stumbling forward as Tsukune continued to turn. The pointed shaft of wood pierced Tsukune side, just above the hip, just inside of a glancing blow.

All of Lim's momentum was behind that thrust. Her weapon stabbed into Tsukune, ripping through linen, wool, and flesh, and out again. She stabbed her weapon through Tsukune's body careless of what or who was behind him.

Lim saw things in an out of focus way. She was aware of details, but not of the whole scene. Her improvised weapon was buried in Tsukune's side. Close to a meter long, less than a quarter of it was still visible. His blood was hardly showing as she looked down at where she held her weapon. It wasn't enough blood. A woman screamed out in pain.

It wasn't enough blood. Lim leaned back and jerked her weapon free. The shaft of wood was covered in blood. She could smell the blood now. She could see blood flowing from Tsukune's body. Lim's eyes were wide with manic excitement. More people were screaming now. Tsukune's voice was like thunder. It made Lim's head ache even as she tried to thrust her weapon into him again.

Tsukune grabbed the bloody wood in his right hand. The thrusting point was forced down and away from his body. He sent his left hand forward, his palm strike landing in the center of his attacker's chest.

Lim felt her breath forced out of her body. She lost her hold on the stick and Tsukune was suddenly getting further away from her. She would have cried out in frustration if she had any air in her lungs. She tried to move forward. She wanted to chase after him. Her body refused to move. Her vision became cloudy and her energy drained away. She couldn't move. She was become so tired. Everything was so cold as she slipped into darkness.

XxxxX

Tsukune was breathing hard, fighting down his anger and pain, as he looked at the girl he didn't recognize. She was wearing a red dress and her hair, while in disarray, looked like it had been done up. Whoever she was, it was clear that she had been looking forward to the dance. Tsukune wondered what had happened. She had attacked him for no reason. As he looked at her, encased in a pillar of ice, Tsukune tried to make sense of it all.

"Tsukune," Moka called to him in a frightened voice. "Are you alright?" It was a stupid question. She could feel his youki rising and falling in surges, and she could smell his blood.

"I'll be alright," Tsukune said. He could feel the burning pain in his side, and he knew he needed to get checked out, but he wanted to stay calm. "Just give me a moment and I'll go to the hos..."

"Tsukune!" Yukari cut Tsukune off with a cry. "Inari!"

Tsukune turned about in alarm. He saw that Yukari was crouched down beside her housemate. In front of the young witch was Inari. Tsukune's lieutenant was half curled up on the floor, laying in a pool of blood, with her face twisted up in pain.

"Inari," Tsukune said in a rough voice as he knelt down beside her.

"Tsu..." Inari tried to speak. "Tsu.. Tsukune..."

Tsukune could see the ugly hole in Inari's side. A quick look at the stick he was still holding told him what happened. It was long and covered with blood. He dropped it and reached for Inari. He knew that she had been stabbed by the same weapon. As he gently lifted her from the floor he sent a command, calling out to Hiru.

"We're coming too," Moka declared.

Tsukune didn't argue. Nobody argued. Students at the dance were still responding to the initial shock of the attack. Members of the student police were coming forward to try to see what had happened. Tsukune stumbled once as he got to his feet with Inari in his arms. The floor was slick with blood.

Hiru, Norra, and Shiro were all running up a Tsukune and his companions made it outside. Tsukune mounted Hiru without relaxing his hold on Inari. He started for the hospital. At the same time, Mizore and Moka were on Shiro, with Kurumu and Yukari on Norra, following him.

Inari could only whimper in pain. Her breathing was coming in shallow pants, and even that seemed to hurt. Feebly, she tried to cling to Tsukune. She could smell him, smell his blood and sweat. The night was a blur of shadows and flashes of light. Sound filled her ears, but none of it made any sense. When light became brighter and shadows less, Inari smelled the sharp chemical cleanliness she remembered from her stay in the hospital. There was pain from being moved. Suddenly Tsukune was no longer holding her, and Inari called out for him. She remembered pain and calling out for Tsukune until she slipped into darkness.

XxxxxxxX

"I'm sorry about this," Tsukune said to his girlfriends.

"It's not your fault Tsukune," Moka said sternly.

I know," Tsukune said with a sigh. "But still..." He gave them an apologetic look.

The night was officially ruined. Tsukune was back in his usual room at the hospital. The doctor wanted to keep him over night for observation, and word had already gotten out. Akira and Sheezu, still in their nice clothes had come buy to give him a report. Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore, still dressed up and looking beautiful, were sitting around Tsukune's bed as his attacker was identified. The girl had been taken to the hospital to be thawed out before the Board Chairman decided what to do with her.

Tsukune had tried to tell his girlfriends that they could go back to the dance. Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore refused to leave. Yukari had left, with a pout, only because she had to go and look after Kuna. Soon it was Tsukune and his three girlfriends left to speculate quietly about what had caused the other girl to attack.

On the other side of the room, behind a curtain, Inari was sleeping. The doctor had decided to put her in Tsukune's room because he had seen the way she had cried out for him. He had realized that putting her in a different room was just asking for trouble. The patient would likely wake up in a panic to find the boy and hurt herself trying. Tsukune and the others could not find fault with his logic so they agreed. As it was, Inari had required surgery and and arrived in the room two hours behind the rest.

Word of what happened eventually brought Ruby to the hospital. With the Me sisters in tow as extra hands, Ruby had brought along some extra cloths for the others. Moka was still thinking about where to change when Mizore started undressing right in front of Tsukune. Tsukune had a pained expression, but he did not want to make a ruckus with Inari trying to rest. Because he wasn't raising a fuss, Kurumu, and then Moka started to undress in front of him too.

"I would have you know," Tsukune said in a low voice. "That I would be complaining about the cruelty of this if I didn't feel that I deserved it for some reason."

"What do you mean, Tsukune?" Kurumu asked innocently.

Tsukune just gave her a dirty look. Moka was down to her black and lacy half-cup bra and matching panties, garter and stockings. Mizore was standing in her black bra and panties, the style was simple but somehow a little extra sexy for the innocence of it, as she carefully folded her dress. Kurumu was actually wearing a see-through bra with matching thong and thigh-high stockings, with her armor bands acting as garters. She had paused in the middle of reaching for light dress that Ruby had brought her when Tsukune had spoken up.

"Awwww," Kurumu said as she struck a sexy pose. "Do our bodies excite you that much Tsukune?"

"Kurumu," Tukune said warningly. "Now is not the time."

"Why not?" Kurumu shifted into another suggestive pose.

"Because I am a little upset right now," Tsukune held up a hand where the others could see that his fingernails were black and sharp. "And I don't want to push my luck."

"Is there anything I can do for you, Tsukune?" Moka said as she pulled a blouse on.

"No," Tsukune shook his head. "But thank you. I'm just going to have to rest up for a bit. I should be fine in the morning."

"Are you sure?" Moka questioned, giving a meaningful nod to where his hand now rested.

"Once I'm healed," Tsukune answered. "If I need to let go of any..." He tilted his head a little to one side.

Moka's cheeks glowed with a light blush.

"Well now that we're done studying," Kurumu demanded. "What are we supposed to do with our time?"

Her words changed the mood of the room. She reminded everybody that school was almost over, and they would be going in separate directions. It wasn't going to be an end to their relationships, but the days of being with each other so easily were going to be over soon. The trio finished getting dressed and sat down on the edges of Tsukune's bed. They just looked at each other for a long moment. Tsukune finally decided to try to lighten the mood.

"I'm sorry we didn't get to enjoy the dance more," Tsukune said. "But we still have Aiko's ball to look forward to."

"Yes," Moka agreed. She gave Tsukune a smile that seemed a little hollow.

"It should be fun," Kurumu agreed.

Attempts at conversation continued for a while, but nobody's heart was really in it. Finally Tsukune just said that he was tired and it was time for him to get some sleep. With some goodnatured protests, his trio of girlfriends finally left. The Me sisters went along to help carry dresses while Ruby settled into a chair.

Tsukune endured a final trip to the water closet once everybody was safely gone for the night. Ruby wouldn't fuss over him too much, so he felt that it was alright to grunt a little from the pain when he moved. The last thing he did before going to bed for the night was push back the curtain between the beds.

XxXxX

The first thing Inari was aware of was the pain. Her body was telling her that she had been hurt, that something was wrong, but she could say exactly what. As she tried to understand the pain in middle, Inari woke up and became more aware of herself and her surroundings. Her eyes flickered open and she recognized the inside of a hospital room.

Inari could tell where she was, but had a hard time understanding why. She blinked a few times as she tried to remember how she had ended up there. Her mind was filled with blurred images and broken sounds, as if she had been caught up in twisted dreams. Inari tried to sit up and clear her head.

"Ouch..." Inari gave a soft cry as pain shot through her abdomen.

"Inari?" Tsukune's voice called out gently.

"Tsukune?" Inair called back, turning her head.

"Good morning," Tsukune said with a smile from where he was sitting up in the next bed over.

"Good morning," Inari said with a weak smile of her own. "Tsukune... How did I get here?"

"We were attacked while at the dance last night," Tsukune said.

"Oh," Inari's eyes went wide.

"I'm sorry," Tsukune said. "I think your dress is probably ruined."

"Ohh..." Inari whimpered.

"I'm sorry your night was ruined," Tsukune said. "And you looked so beautiful."

"Really?" Inari smiled, a blush coloring her cheeks.

"But I did get Ruby to save your corsage," Tsukune went on. "I don't know if you want keep it..."

"Yes," Inair said. "Ow..." She had tried to sit up again.

"Easy," Tsukune said. "Take it slow." Her turned to Ruby. "Ruby?"

"Yes," Ruby nodded.

As Ruby helped Inari sit up in bed and got her comfortable, Tsukune recited the events of the night before. There wasn't much to tell, so it didn't take very long. As it was, the nurse arrived as Tsukune was finished his story.

"Good morning once again," Nurse May said. "Mr. Aono, we have got to stop meeting like this."

"Good morning," Tsukune said. "I doubt you'll see me like this any more, May. I will be graduating soon."

"Well, congratulations," May smiled. She turned her attention to Inari. "And how are you doing today Miss Sansai?"

"I'm sore," Inari said.

"The doctor will be by in a little while," Nurse May said. "Would you like something for the pain while you're waiting?"

"I think maybe so," Inari said. "But I kind of need..." She gave the nurse an embarrassed look.

"Ruby," Tsukune said. "You can help out here. I'm going to take a walk."

"Yes," Ruby acknowledged.

The three women watched Tsukune as he left the room. He got to his feet without stumbling, and even managed to get his slippers on without assistance. Once he was out of the room the women looked to each other.

"I like how quick he is," May said.

"Yes," Inari said. "But sometimes..."

"All men are that way sometimes," May said.

XxxxxX

Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore didn't know Tsukune was out for a walk when they came to visit him Saturday morning. They had brought him breakfast offerings and a fresh set of clothes. When they let themselves into the room, they found Tsukune's been empty. Ruby was sitting with Inari, while a doctor and a nurse were at her beside.

"I'll leave you to talk with your friends," The doctor said before leaving the room.

"I'm sorry for your misfortune," The nurse said. "I know this will be hard for you, but try to see beyond it. You're still alive. You can still find ways to enjoy your life."

"Thank you," Inari said. Her face was a mix of pain, sadness, and wanting to throw up.

"Just buzz the nursing station if you want anything," The nurse said before making her exit.

"Inari?" Moka question.

"What's happened?" Kurumu asked. She had planed to act as surprised as the other that Tsukune wasn't in his room, and then slip out to where he was at the moment. It felt like he was on the roof, but Inari looked like something bad had happened.

"It's..." Inari swallowed hard. "It's nothing."

"Inari," Moka said in a stern voice. "You will have to do better than that."

"What?" Inari looked up at her and blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"She's right," Kurumu said. "Tsukune will be back here soon. You better have yourself under control before then."

"What are you talking about?" Inari demanded.

"Inari," Ruby said gently. "Tsukune cares about you. He carried you to the hospital himself. If he sees how upset you are, he is going to blame himself. Especially when he learns what happened, and why."

"But..." Inari gave Ruby a frightened look. "But..."

"What did happen?" Moka wanted to know.

"If it involved Tsukune..." Kurumu bristled.

"It's not like that," Inari said quickly.

"If you don't want to tell us," Moka said. "We won't force you. But for Tsukune's sake, you need to be able to make him believe..."

"I can never be a mother," Inari blurted out.

"What?" Kurumu gave a startled exclamation.

"Ruby?" Inari asked.

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked.

Inari nodded her head quietly as tears stated to run down her face.

"When that girl stabbed Tsukune," Ruby explained. "Inari was behind him. Whatever she was using as a weapon was long enough, and she used so much force, that she also stabbed Inari. The angle was just right." Ruby traced a line across her own abdomen that went down at a slight angle, crossing under her navel. "She was badly injured inside. To make things worse, the weapon, it wasn't a clean injury."

"Tsukune's blood," Moka said in a low voice.

"Yes," Ruby said while Inari nodded. "The doctors had to operate just to see how bad the injury was. Some things could be repaired, but..." Ruby paused to give Inari a questioning look.

"I can never have a baby," Inar said in a small voice. "It's so silly," She sniffed. Her tears were flowing freely and her eyes were puffy. "I wasn't planing on having any children. I wanted a career. I was going to have a career with the police, and when Tsukune started his company, I was going to work for him. But now I don't even have the choice."

"Inari..." Moka said in a near whisper.

XxxxxXxx

When Tsukune returned to his hospital room he was very careful of his appearance and actions. He could tell by the way Kurumu was feeling that he was going to be walking into an emotionally charged setting. When he entered he saw that all of his friends were gathered around Inari's bed, and if the five women had not been crying then at the very least they were on the edge of tears.

"Is there something..."Tsukune said carefully before being cut off.

"It's alright," Moka said quickly.

"It's just girl talk," Kurumu added.

"Should I take another walk?" Tsukune offered.

"It's alright," Inari said. "You should have your breakfast."

"Are you going to be eating also?" Tsukune asked, careful to keep the conversation light.

"They said I can have jello for today," Inari answered with a grimace.

"I'm sorry," Tsukune said.

"I'll eat later," Inari said. "I think I'll just rest for now."

Tsukune was surprised to see Moka, Kurumu, and Mizore all give Inari gently hugs. Ruby shared a hug with her as well, before helping her get settled and pulling the curtain. Tsukune settled himself back into his bed. He knew that Inari didn't want to tell him something, and his girlfriends were supporting her so they probably knew what it was. He cared enough for Inari that he would respect her choice. Even so, Tsukune knew that if the other women in his life were being supportive of Inari, and upset about something, it had to be something bad.

XxxxxX

Tsukune was released from the hospital later that morning. He promised Inari that he would visit her every day until she was released as well. Inari sent him off with a wave and a brave smile. Once he and the others were gone Inari turned her attention to the corsage on the bedside table. She wished that Tsukune could have stayed with her longer, and looked forward to seeing him when he visited, but first she needed some time alone. She had insisted that he go ahead and leave when the nurse said that he was free to go, because Inari wanted the privacy to consider her situation, and to have a good cry.

XxxxxxX

Mizore felt cold inside. She sat on her bed, hugging a pillow, as she tried to deal with her sense of fear. What had happened to Inari had filled Mizore with a feeling of dread and she was having a hard time getting over it.

Mizore was willing to die for Tsukune. She had decided to dedicate her life to him, but what had happened to Inari was something Mizore had never considered. The idea of losing the ability to have children, of ever being a mother of Tsukune's children rattled her. It would be a fate worse than death. The fear was so great that it made Mizore question herself.

Mizore thought about the secret she kept under her bed. She thought about her love for Tsukune and her duty to her people. The fear she was feeling made Mizore think that it might be time for her to make a hard decision. As troubled thoughts tumbled through her mind, Mizore hugged her pillow and quietly cried.