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 203

Inari found herself watching the clock anxiously. Monday was turning out to be a test of her endurance. She was waiting for Tsukune to come and see her, and was hoping they would get some time alone. All day long she tried to keep herself distracted. She was walking the halls whenever she wasn't reading or napping. The manga that Tsukune had given her had caught her interest. She still wasn't a manga fan, but the one from the Doujin Club turned out to be about Tsukune and the Student Police.

The manga was kind of strange for Inari to be reading. She wondered if Tsukune had ever bothered to read it himself. The lead character was an aspiring detective in charge of his school's student police club. While he was not the biggest or the strongest, he was an expert fighter, carried a magical staff, and had a magic power that let him see a person's true form and feelings, so when he used it he could see through every lie. Most of the stories involved the lead character solving petty crimes on campus, like locker robbing and people stealing and selling homework. There were some fight scenes between the hero and assorted bullies. What really caught Inari's attention was the romantic sub-plot.

Inari had no trouble finding the character modeled after herself. The woman was drawn with fox ears and tail, bigger breasts than Inari would ever want to have, and cute glasses. Tama's character was clearly a catgirl, with traits taken from a Siamese. The pair of them were portrayed as cute assistants who helped to investigate crimes on campus. The panel that Inari liked best was after a case of stopping a bully from a rival school. It showed the hero (Tsukune) sitting in an office chair, with one assistant (Tama) posing sexily on the desk with a teapot, while the other (Inari) was cuddled in his lap holding the tea cup for him.

Inari wondered if Tsukune had read the manga. If he had not, then he would not know about the romantic parts. He would not know that the two lead characters were a couple, with a catgirl playing an alternate love interest. On the other hand, if he had read the manga, then him giving it to her could have a whole other context. If he knew about the romantic sub-plot, then giving it to her to read could be the same as saying he was interested in having a romance with her.

All day long Inari was wondering if Tsukune had read the manga. She wanted to ask him. She wanted to know if he saw her in a romantic way at all. She hoped that Tsukune would say something to let her know so she wouldn't have to ask. Her questions overshadowed everything else that happened over the day. She was already back on solid foods. Her pain was manageable. The doctor even had her try her shape changing ability. The pain remained, and even in her fully transformed form the scars had remained. There was no way to regain what was lost, but at least she was still able to be herself. The doctor planned to discharge her Tuesday, if all went well, but as happy as Inari was to hear that, she still could not stop wondering if Tsukune had read the manga he had given her.

Inari watched the clock count down to the end of the school day. Tsukune would be coming to see her. He might not be coming alone, but he would come. He might still be in uniform, but he would be there. Inari did her best to look healthy and in good spirits without any makeup, or anything more flattering than hospital pajamas to wear.

"Miss Sansai," Nurse May called out as she entered.

"Yes," Inari answered and tried not to flinch. School would let out in fifteen minutes and she was afraid that the nurse was going to announce some test or something that would spoil her time with Tsukune.

"I just wanted to check up on you," May said. She was holding a clipboard close to her chest as she approached. "I wanted to make sure everything was alright."

"I'm doing fine, thank you," Inari said.

"That's good," May smiled. "You know that Mr. Aono has quite the following among the staff."

"Really?" Inari asked, wondering where the nurse was going with the conversation. There was a twinge of fear that there was another rival she would have to contend with.

"Yes," May nodded. "He is kind of a romantic hero figure after all."

"Yes," Inari agreed with a smile, still wondering what the nurse was up to.

"Well we can't really do anything for him when he isn't a patient," May continued. "But we would like him, and all of his friends to know that he is well liked and respected." From behind her clipboard she pulled out a small plastic purse. "If anybody asks, one of your friends from school dropped this off." She put the purse on the bedside table. "I have to see to my other patients. You have a good afternoon."

"Thank you," Inari said. "You too."

Inari waited until the nurse was out of the door, almost, before picking up the purse and investigating its contents. Inari let out a happy cheer. It wasn't much, but the purse was a makeup kit.

Xx

Out in the hall, Nurse May smiled as she listened to the happy young woman discover the contents of the kit. Once in a while it was rewarding to do a little extra for her patients. It was also nice to know that the oh so romantic and dangerous Aono Tsukune would be safely away from the school and May's little sister soon.

XxxxxxX

When Tsukune finally arrived, Inari was sitting up in bed, acting like a model patient. Her hair was brushed. She had a light layer of makeup, which made her feel better and more confident to face him. She had been flipping through the manga when Tsukune knocked at the open door.

"Tsukune," Inari greeted him with a smile. "Come in. I'm glad to see you."

"Good afternoon," Tsukune said with a warm smile. "You are looking better today. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling really good," Inari said. "The doctor says I should be released sometime tomorrow."

"That's good," Tsukune said. "I know how frustrating it can be stuck in the hospital. They've always taken good care of me, well except for one time, but I can never really relax and there is so little that I can do."

"You're right," Inari said. She picked out her next words carefully. "I'm glad you gave me this manga. It helped to have a little distraction. I don't usually read mangas, but I think I can see why you would like this one."

"Yeah," Tsukune drawled. He gave Inari an embarrassed smile and scratched at the back of his head. "I haven't actually read it yet. I mean, I kind of heard that it was about me and the Student Police, so I wanted to read it, but at the same time I was worried that it might be..."

"Oh," Inari felt disappointed. "Well there are some parts that I liked. If you want to read it some time, I'm sure you'll like it too."

"I'll try after graduation," Tsukune said as he pulled up a chair to the side of her bed. "But there is still a lot to do between now and then."

"I see," Inari said, still feeling a little let down.

"I hope you are all healed by graduation," Tsukune said. "I don't want you pushing yourself."

"I'll be fine," Inari insisted. "But I will have to be careful when I pack my things. No heavy lifting for a while."

"Well if you need any help..." Tsukune started to say.

"Oh don't worry," Inari said. "I know how many favors you owe me still. I figure having you help me with the heavy lifting can be one of them."

"I was going to say..." Tsukune started again.

"It's not like you have to do any packing," Inari cut him off again. "You have servants to do it all for you."

"I also have a lot more to pack because of them," Tsukune said. "And I still don't know what to do with them after graduation."

"Well," Inair said in forced casual tone. "It will be a little crowded, but they can live with us. It won't be so bad if they are taking care of all the housework. We will probably have to settle for an older place to have a little more room."

"Us?" Tsukune blinked. "We?"

"It was just a though," Inari blushed.

"I'll save it as a back-up emergency back-up plan," Tsukune said in a flat voice with a matching expression on his face.

"Alright," Inari mumbled with a small pout.

"I did think about that before though," Tsukune admitted.

"Really?" Inari perked up.

"Well," Tsukune explained. "I am going to have to live somewhere. I can have Ruby stay with my mother. Ruby wouldn't mind, and my mother would be happy, but I don't know how long that would work out. The Me sisters are going to be a real problem. They are not Japanese, and there is no record of them, so they can't work. I thought about asking Moka to take care of them, essentially giving them to her, but that just doesn't feel right."

"You should ask them for ideas," Inari suggested.

"Yeah," Tsukune nodded with a sigh. "I've been trying to avoid them when I could. I guess that was kind of wrong of me too."

"I'm sure you'll work something out for them," Inari said.

"Thank you for saying so," Tsukune said with a weak smile.

The conversation wandered into how the school day had gone. Small talk was traded back and forth for a while. Finally it was time for Tsukune to leave. As he was standing and getting ready to say goodnight, Inari held her arms out for a hug.

"Get some rest," Tsukune said as he hugged her. "And I will see you again soon."

"I will," Inari promised. "And thank you."

Tsukune left and Inari allowed herself to smile. Tsukune had been polite and caring, and had not hesitated to hug her. Maybe, just maybe, Inari thought, Tama could be right. Maybe that place in the harem was closer than she thought.

XxxxxxxX

As he returned to the village Tsukune thought about what Inari had said. He realized that he had, in truth, been doing Ruby and the Me sisters an injustice. He had only been thinking about what they were going to cost him. He had been thinking of them as liabilities, as responsibilities, and not as individuals. He should at the very least talk with them to let them know what the problem was, so even if they couldn't help come up with a solution, they would not be caught off guard. Tsukune resolved to talk with them as soon as he had an opportunity.

That soonest opportunity presented itself when he returned to the manor. Ruby met Tsukune and welcomed him home. She informed him the supper would be ready in a few minutes and asked if he wanted to take it in the kitchen. Her question told Tsukune that he had no guests waiting for him. He decided that it was best to take the opportunity that he had been handed.

"Ruby," Tsukune said. "Have Midori and Kurai had their dinner yet?"

"No master," Ruby answered.

"Then would you please ask them to join us for supper," Tsukune said. "I would like to talk to all of you about something."

"Yes master," Ruby said.

Tsukune washed up before going to the kitchen. He arrived in time to see one of the Me sisters still setting the table while the other was pouring hot water into a tea pot. Ruby was putting the finishing touches on the food and giving the other two quick little directions. Tsukune sat at the table and watched. While the Me sister didn't say much, their body language showed that they were following directions out of more than just a sense of obedience.

"Alright," Ruby said as she put the last serving plate on the table. "Have a seat."

Midori and Kurai both bobbed their heads in small nods to Ruby before sitting down on ether side of her.

Tsukune noticed that the Me sisters were both smaller than Ruby, and looked almost childish. Ruby had them dressed in simple blouses and dresses of the same shade of dusky blue with a little white lace at the cuffs and collars. Her own outfit was a more suggestively mature version, with a black bodice, exposed cleavage, short sleeves, and a shorter hem line. With them all sitting around the table together Tsukune gave a small chuckle.

"What is it?" Ruby asked.

"I was just thinking," Tsukune said. He gestured to the three women that served him. "You make a nice set, but seeing you together is almost like watching a mother and her daughters."

"Oh," Ruby's eyes went wide for a moment.

"It kind of makes this a family dinner," Tsukune said as he started to serve himself. "Which is kind of appropriate."

"Really?" Ruby's voice trembled a little. The idea of being a part of a family always touched her heart and stirred her emotions. The image of sitting down to supper with Tsukune and their two daughters, as superficial as it was, was making her heart ache in a strange way.

"I have been trying to think about what I am going to do after graduation," Tsukune explained. "Ruby, when it was just you and I, I expected that we would get a small apartment together while I attended university and worked, or even moved back home. Even if it meant that I had to commute, it wouldn't be too much of a problem with Hiru. I know my mother would love to have you around, Ruby."

"That would be nice," Ruby agreed carefully.

"But I don't see how ether of those plans would work any more," Tsukune said.

Tsukune explained the situation as he saw it to his three servants whey they all ate supper. Tsukune explained the legal and financial limits as he understood them. He offered the pros and cons of the ideas he had thought up and felt he had to discard. Sending Ruby to live with his mother while Tsukune lived with the Me sisters was an idea that earned him a dark and hurt look from Ruby. Suggesting anything that sent the Me sisters away from his immediate household gave them fearful expressions.

"So," Tsukune said with a sigh at last. "Because you are all a part of my life now, I wanted to let you know what's in front of us. I wanted to let you know what we will need to deal with, and see if maybe you had any suggestions."

"Please excuse me," Midori said. She got up and hurried from the kitchen.

"Master," Ruby said. "You know that I am more than willing to work to help support us if there were a need."

"Master," Kurai spoke up. "I think you are not considering all of your available choices."

"What do you mean?" Tsukune asked.

"When Midori and I entered your service," Kurai said. "All that we are and all that we had became yours."

"That is true," Ruby said. "When I swore myself to you, Master, all that was mine became yours as well."

"I'm not..." Tsukune blinked. "I'm missing something here aren't I."

"Master," Ruby said. "When my... When I lost my parents, all that they had passed to me. When my old master took me in, my old master made sure my parents' estate was taken care of. When my old master... When you defeated my old master, all that she had, as her last apprentice, her last follower, also became mine. When I swore myself to you, when I became your slave, my parents' legacy, and that of my old master, all became yours."

"Ruby..." Tsukune didn't know what to say. He knew that he was the closest thing to family that she had, but the idea that whatever her parents may have left her becoming his... Tsukune was having trouble wrapping his mind around it.

"Master," Midori sad as she returned to the kitchen. She was breathing hard, having run to complete whatever task she had gone off on. "This is for you," She held out an envelope to him.

"Umm..." Tsukune looked at the envelope, recognizing it from the day he first met the Me sister. "Isn't that..?"

"Yes master," Midori said. "It is what our lady wanted to give you. When she gave us into your service, this also became yours."

"Um..." Tsukune eyed the envelope.

"You should at least see what it is," Ruby prompted.

"Than you," Tsukune said. He took the envelop from Midori. As she sat down, Tsukune investigated the contents of the envelope. He discovered a set of legal looking forms and a letter.

"Aono Tsukune, I congratulate you," The letter began. "That you are reading this means you have passed my three tests. You have proven that you can act with courage, commitment, and honor. It will be with pride, that in the future, that I will be able to claim to have had a hand in helping you in your climb to power. It is as I will have said to you. I have purchased in you name a piece of property that can help you in your ambition to help bring the mundane and the exceptional people closer together.

"I hope that you do not think too poorly of me after our encounter," The letter continued. "I have seen many people make claims of noble sounding intentions while harboring darker goals, or while lacking the commitment to follow through on their promises, both of which can cause a great deal of harm to all around them. I would rather see a few lose their lives quickly than to see many face prolonged suffering because of a lack of conviction or an abundance of greed."

"I wish you the best as you work to a better future,"

"With affection and respect,"

"Lady Kuroi Sora"

Tsukune looked at the legal forms and saw that it was a copy of a deed with a description of the property. It included information of an attorney that was managing the property until Tsukune could take control of it. Tsukune took in the information that was in front of him, and then thought about what Ruby had just told him. Slowly he put it all together. He looked around the table at his servants and blinked.

"I'm rich," Tsukune said in a soft, stunned voice.

He handed the contents of the envelope over to Ruby. She read through them quickly, gasping in surprise. She looked back up at Tsukune.

"I'm rich," Tsukune said again. He blinked a few times. "Um... I guess I should call the attorney tomorrow. Then I will have to see the property." Tsukune was still talking in a soft voice. His eyes were unfocused as his mind raced. A part of him was considering all the responsibilities he had to accept. Another part was trying to think of how he could use everything he had just gained to help with his career, and his living needs, and his plans for the future. Behind it all, a small voice in the back of his mind kept repeating the same thing over and over again. "I'm rich."

XxxxxXxxxXxxxX

XxXxxXxX

XxX

Thank you all for the reviews and feedback, please keep them coming.

Honestly, I am not dragging this out to reach a million words. I do have an ending planned, and it is in sight. Wild speculation and random guessing is allowed.

Have fun and happy reading.