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 202

Inari was having a hard time with her emotions. She had never seriously thought about having children, but now that would never even be an option for her. It was Tsukune's blood that had poisoned her body, making the damage bad enough to require the surgery she had undergone. She knew that if Tsukune found out about it, his kind nature and caring heart would make him feel responsible. A small part of her wanted to use that knowledge to get close to him. To make him "take responsibility." Of course if she could never get pregnant, she would be the perfect lover.

While her more selfish thoughts whispered in the back of her mind, other feelings kept coming. Not the least of which was the joy she felt when Tsukune showed that he cared about her. After she had been left alone, and had let her frustrations out with a good cry, Inari turned her attention to the corsage that Tsukune had given her. The spray of tiny white flowers had so excited Inari that she had almost been afraid of them. She had not wanted to appear as if she was being critical by studying the corsage, and she didn't want to discover that it wasn't meant for her by discovering something off about it, so until she was left alone in the hospital with little to do, Inari had not studied it closely. When she finally did, she discovered the tiny pink rosebud hiding in the spray of rice flowers. As she looked at that rosebud, and thought about Tsukune, Inari felt happy all over again.

Inari was enduring her supper of miso soup, and that was it, when she was surprised to have a visitor. Somebody knocked politely at the door and Inari called them in. Her friend, and fellow Student Police lieutenant, Tama entered.

"Inari," Tama said. "How are you feeling?"

"I will be alright," Inari said. "I'm just sore. How are you doing?"

"We were so worried about you," Tama said. "Everything happened so fast. The captain was carrying you out before most of us even realized that there had been a problem."

"I heard," Inari nodded as Tama pulled up a chair.

"Well," Tama gave her friend a small smile. "I guess you're officially in the harem now."

"What do you mean?" Inari said.

"Didn't our captain try to protect you and then bring you here when he saw you were hurt?" Tama asked.

"It wasn't like that," Inari shook her head.

"No?" Tama was surprised.

"No. I was the one being attacked," Tsukune said as he entered through the open door, making both of the young women jump a little. He was dressed in casual slacks and a polo shirt and was carrying a book.

"Ow," Inari moaned softly.

"Inari got hurt because she was too close to me," Tsukune continued. "And I'm sorry about that."

"It's alright," Inari said quickly. "I'm just glad that you're alright."

"Still..." Tsukune started.

"But what are you doing back here?" Inari asked. She didn't want him getting depressed or trying to push her away for her own good.

"I told you I would visit," Tsukune said.

"But it's only been... what... eight hours?" Inari questioned.

"I thought you might want something to do," Tsukune held out the book to her.

"Thank you," Inari said as she accepted the book. She looked at it quickly. "A manga?"

"It took me a while to track it down," Tsukune said. "It was put together by the Doujin Club here at school. I thought you might want something to take your mind off of jello and miso soup."

"Thank you, Tsukune," Inari smiled. She wasn't much of a manga fan, but she was glad that Tsukune was thinking of her.

"Get well soon," Tsukune said. He turned a little towards Tama. "And you have a good weekend too."

"Yes sir," Tama answered without thinking.

The two young women watched Tsukune leave. For somebody with such a large reputation and so much power, he was able to just come and go quietly. It was kind of strange to see him being so normal and casual. Finally the young women turned back to each other.

"I guess you're in," Tama said.

"Huh?" Inari blinked.

"He just visited you in the hospital to bring you a gift," Tama said. "Who else but a boyfriend would do that?"

"A friend," Inari countered. "A coworker. A supervisor."

"Sure..." Tama drawled. "He went out of his way to get you something, ditched all the other women that hang around him, and came here to tell you to get well soon."

"So?" Inari demanded, hoping that she wasn't blushing.

"Imagine what would have happened if I hadn't been here," Tama said. "It would have just been the two of you alone."

Inari gasped as her eyes went wide.

"I bet he would have given you a little more than a manga, if I hadn't been around," Tama teased.

"Oh my god," Inair burst out laughing. "Get out... Go away and don't come back... Ow... ow ow ow..." Inari tried to stop laughing as pains shot through her middle.

XxxxxX

"Are you sure you're alright?" Moka asked Tsukune again. She was cuddled up with him in bed, slowly tracing her finger over his new scar.

"Yes," Tsukune reassured her as he ran his fingers through her silver hair.

"That's good," Moka said. "But it is a shame that the dance was spoiled."

"I agree," Tsukune replied. "But we still have Aiko's ball to attend next month."

"Do you think that's such a good idea?" Moka asked. "You have had some bad luck with dances this year."

"I'll take the chance if it means that I get to go dancing with you," Tsukune said.

"Oh?" Moka said as she shifted her position to look in to his face. "Do you really love me so much that you'll risk getting injured just to dance with me?"

"Yes I do," Tsukune said firmly. "And yes I would."

Moka gave Tsukune a seductive smile and positioned herself over him. She straddled his thighs and but her hands on his chest. She could feel the beating of his heart and smell the evidence of their earlier passion.

"You know Tsukune," Moka said as she leaned forward. "Sometimes you say something so sweet that I just want to drag you off and keep you all to myself."

"That doesn't sound bad at all," Tsukune smiled. "But then I wouldn't be able to meet my responsibilities. If that happened, then I could never prove myself worthy enough to be with you."

"You..." Moka grumbled.

"But if I am out trying to be responsible," Tsukune continued. "You know the others will want some of my time as well."

"Tsukune..." Moka warned.

"And if things go well, people like Aiko will be my clients some day," Tsukune went on. "And you know something?"

"What?" Moka asked.

"I'm going to keep on talking," Tsukune grinned. "Until you kiss me to shut me umphh..."

Moka cut him off with a kiss.

XxxxxxxX

A strange tension filled the air Monday. It was the last week of school and the excitement of graduation was mingled with the anxiousness of worrying about what was to come. For the undecided, the week was going to be about aptitude tests and career planning. For many there was the tense wait for final grades to be posted. And then there was the sense of impending loss. For many of the students had lived in some form of isolation before attending Youkai Academy. It was only at the school that they had been free to connect and share with others. Leaving school meant going out to the human world for a life of being carefully hidden in plane sight.

The Newspaper Club was not exempt from the mixed emotions filling the air. Kokoa had another year to go, and she knew that she was going to be facing it without her sister. As much as the younger vampire hated to admit it, she liked spending time with the others. While she had her own friends in her own year, it would not be the same once the rest of the club graduated. Yukari, the youngest member of the group was looking forward to moving on with her education, but was sad to know that her close circle of friends would be breaking up. All jokes and teasing aside, she really did love Tsukune and Moka, as well as Kurumu, Mizore, and Kokoa. They were all like family to her.

The rest of the Newspaper Club also had their issues to worry over. Moka was not looking forward to going to a different university than Tsukune any more than Kurumu wanted to be away from him. Tsukune was still trying to decide where and how he was going to live while attending university with Ruby and the Me sisters to look after. Mizore knew what she was going to be doing after graduation, and where she would be living. Her anxiousness came from the idea of being away from Tsukune, and that small little fear in the back of her mind that once she was away from him he would never be with her again.

By the end of the school day the tension for some had lifted. It was clear that for the last few days that attending classes was just a formality. For the immediate future, there were no real expectations placed on the third year students. For the lower years there was still some pressure, because they were not soon to be done with school. For Kokoa, she was wondering how she was going to find new members to keep the Newspaper Club going.

Kokoa wasn't alone in her worry. As Tsukune left school at the end of the day some clubs already had people at the gate trying to recruit first and second year students. So far it was just a few sign boards, but Tsukune knew it would escalate in numbers and strategies. It always did.

"Can I talk with you?" Mizore said in a soft voice to Moka while Kurumu and Yukari bickered.

"Is it important?" Moka asked in the same low voice, meaning did they need to talk without Tsukune hearing."

Mizore just gave a quick nod. Moka nodded back. They would find an excuse to have a private conversation.

The freedom for a private conversation came quickly. Tsukune announced that after he had a chance to change clothes, he was going to the hospital to visit Inari. Kurumu pouted about his decision, but Moka and Mizore took advantage of the opportunity.

For privacy they went to Mizore's house. Her housemate was not dating one of Tsukune's close friends, so anything she might overhear would be safe. Even so, Mizore served Moka tea in her bedroom.

It was Moka's first time in Mizore's room. It was cool, naturally enough for the home of a snow maiden. Moka was a little surprised at first when she saw the small ice sculpture in the corner on a tall pedestal. The ice sculpture was of a couple. The man was a perfect miniature of Tsukune, while the woman was blocky and simple. It took a moment for Moka to recognize the copy of Tsukune's little snow sculpture that he had made during the winter break.

"Moka," Mizore said as she passed the other woman a cup of tea. "I will be going home after graduation."

"Yes," Moka nodded, a little puzzled by the other woman's declaration. "We all will be, at least for a while."

"I will be staying home," Mizore said. "I will make a home for myself and my family in the village."

"Family?" Moka asked. "You don't expect Tsukune to move in with you, do you?"

"No," Mizore said with a sigh. "But I will make sure that my home, our home will always be ready for when he may come and see us."

"Our? Us?" Moka questioned.

"Moka, you know that my people have a problem," Mizore explained. "How we are few in numbers and growing fewer every year."

"Yes," Moka nodded.

"After what happened to Inari," Mizore said with emotions showing on her face. Pain and fear clear in her eyes. "For the sake of my people, I realized that it is time for me to go home and do my duty."

"But what about Tsukune?" Moka asked. "I thought..."

"I want to have Tsukune's childen," Mizore said with resolve. She set her tea aside as she continued talking, and reached for something under her bed. "I know that you and he intend to marry. I thought that I could wait until after you and Tsukune were expecting your first child before I would work on having my first baby, but after what happened to Inari... After what could have happened to any of us so many times, I realized that I can't wait." She pulled a small wood box from under the bed.

"I know that what happened was..." Moka said, feeling a little uncomfortable herself at the memory of what had happened at the dance. "But why are you telling me all this?"

"I want you to understand the reasons for my decisions," Mizore said. "I am going to do this no mater what, for myself, for my people, and for Tsukune. Moka, I will be Tsukune's Winter Wife, a mistress and concubine. My children will not be rivals to yours, when you and Tsukune someday marry. Your children will be his legitimate heirs. I am telling you this because you are my friend, and I don't want to hurt you. I am going to go home to start my family, but I would like your blessing, as my friend."

"I think I understand your feelings," Moka said slowly. "And I don't want to lose you as my friend, but are you sure about this?"

"Yes," Mizore said firmly.

"You made a promise to me once," Moka reminded her. "If you do this, I will hold you and your children to your oath. You child will be older than mine. Will I be able to trust her to help look after my child? Will your family be willing to support mine?"

"Yes," Mizore said. "If I have your blessing."

"You do," Moka said with a relieved smile. "I know that you want the same thing as I do, and that you are settling for less than that. How I can I refuse."

"Thank you Moka," Mizore said with a relieved smile of her own.

"But if you are going home after graduation," Moka pointed out. "Will you have the time to... To... Well if you are going to have Tsukune's child you have to be with Tsukune, but is your body at the right time this week?"

"It doesn't have to be," Mizore said. "That is what this is for." She held up the box. "This is the reward I was granted last year. This gave me time so that I did not have to fear being unable to wait for Tsukune. With this, and with Tsukune's help, I can have his children whenever I am ready."

"But will Tsukune help you?" Moka asked.

"He already has," Mizore said with a slightly guilty smile. "He and I are already lovers. He has already given me what I need. I was just waiting because I did not want to make him feel trapped or pressured."

"I see," Moka said. She took a sip of tea and looked at the box in Mozore's hands. As she did, a jealous urge came over her to destroy the box. To crush Mizore's or any woman's hope of sharing even a piece of her Tsukune. Moka held her urges in check. Tsukune would not approve of such selfish and hurtful acts.

In truth, Moka would rather that Mizore have Tsukune's baby now, just in case anything ever when wrong before she could give him a child. There was a sense of comfort that came from the idea of some part of Tsukune could continue in the world even if he was ever lost. It was a small, cold comfort, but Moka would take it.

"Well I guess I should congratulate you," Moka said. "But that should wait until you're... For now, I wish you the best."

"Thank you," Mizore said with a relieved sigh.