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 207
Tsukune woke up slowly and enjoyed it. He knew Ruby was already up and busy in the house, but she had not tried to wake him. In truth, Tsukune had woken up at the same time as Ruby had, but he had been careful to keep her from knowing and had deliberately gone back to sleep. The idea of having nothing to do all day long but relax was too nice to ignore. He knew he would have to get up eventually, and once he did Ruby and his mother would want to feed him and fuss over him. As much as he wanted to enjoy his quiet morning, he knew he would have to get up sooner rather than later, because nature was calling. Tsukune enjoyed his time alone in bed just a few minutes more before getting up with a sigh. It was time to face the day.
XxxxxX
"Tsukune..." Kasumi gave an anguished cry when she saw her son entering the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" Tsukune asked, scanning the room to look for problems.
"It's Ruby," Kasumi explained. "She told me that she can't stay with me because she has a new job." She had a pout on her face. "I thought that she and I would get to spend more time together."
"I tried to explain that it won't be that bad," Ruby spoke up. "And it really is a good position for me. I am the new manager for a small apartment building. There are some storage units too. I will be living on the property, but when I have time I can still visit."
"But why take a job that makes you live there?" Kasumi complained.
"So I can be close to Tsukune," Ruby said. "The place is close to the university he will be attending. When he is not at work or in classes, I can be close by to support him."
"Ohhh," Kasumi frowned. She didn't like that she wasn't going to have her new friend/daughter around to keep her company. On the other hand, what Ruby said sounded so sweet and loving, she couldn't help but want to be supportive. She turned to Tsukune. "Why don't you just stay at home while you're going to university?"
"I love you too, mother," Tsukune said. "But I need to establish myself. I need to show that I can live on my own and be responsible."
"Who do you need to show that to?" Kasumi asked.
"Myself," Tsukune said. "And then there's Moka's family. They would never approve of me dating her if I look like I can't stand on my own."
"Ohhh..." Kasumi balled her hands into fists. It wasn't fair that her little boy was going up so fast. Or that he was already so serious about a girl. She wanted to hug him and tell him how proud she was, but she also wanted him to stay her little boy. With some effort she regained some of her composure.
"Ruby dear," Kasumi said as she started to leave the kitchen. "Make sure Tsukune eats a good breakfast."
"Yes Mother," Ruby replied with a happy smile.
XxxxxxxxX
Kurumu looked around the kitchen with a nod of approval, glad to have it back in order at last. When she had gotten home from school, her mother had given her just two hours to get ready, and then taken her out to celebrate. Kurumu was the first member of the family to ever graduate high school. She was the only one to ever even seriously consider college. For Succubi, education came from life experiences; and if it has always worked before, there was no reason to change that now. The celebration was the kind of party most people could only dream about, and many, especial men, would kill or die to attend. The club was packed with beautiful people. Every woman there was related to Kurumu. All of them were cousins, usually distant cousins, but they were all Succubi. All of them were beautiful. Some looked like supermodels, others looked looked like pop idols. All of them made their way in the world by seducing men.
Kurumu recognized some because they were what they appeared to be, famous models and idols. It was a tricky life that they lead. The used their beauty and their talents to maintain their lives, but without becoming so famous that the public and the press put them under intense scrutiny. More than one of her cousins had to 'die' and reinvent themselves to escape unwanted attention. As beings that survived on the primal desires of men, Succubi knew that life was filled with pleasures as well as trials. Kurumu, just like her many cousins, knew that when a special occasion presented itself that it was time to party.
Officially the party was a celebration of Kurumu's graduation. The club was decorated with mylar balloons that said "Congratulations" on one side and were mirrors on the other. Lights flashed and music played. Someone draped a sash over Kurumu that said "Happy Graduate!" A tiara was planted on her head, and everybody wanted to shake her hand or hug her.
Kurumu knew that no place so filled with youkai could ever be as simple and honest as her party appeared. Every time one of the other succubi touched her, Kurumu instinctively gauged their strength, and knew that they were measuring hers. And every time one of her cousins suddenly went a little wide in the eyes, every time one of the 'aunties' gave her a little nod of approval, Kurumu found a little more reason to smile. Every time one of the others gauged her strength and was impressed by what they found, Kurumu wanted to bless Tsukune.
Kurumu knew that she was a fortunate to have Tsukune in her life. Not only did he love her and make her happy, unashamed and uncaring of her being a succubus, but he was also the source of her impressive strength. It had started back in her first year when she and Mizore had started training together to match Inner Moka, and then continued for the years after to be able to support Tsukune in his fights against Fairy Tail and all the other bad guys out there. Then there was the very personal benefit she had gained from being with Tsukune. Kurumu had been able to draw in some of his own power, feeding her own powers every time they made love. Every time he shared his Lust with her it helped her to become more powerful. To gain so much as she did when they made love, almost any other succubus would have to kill their prey/lover. Kurumu knew she was one of the most powerful succubi in the room, and probably the nation, and it was all due to her Mate of Fate.
The party lasted until the early morning hours. Attractive men kept drifting in, alone or with others, and enjoyed the party until they were drained to their limits, staggering out with exhausted smiles and empty money clips, unaware of how much or how little time they had actually spent surrounded by beautiful women. When she finally got home from the party, Kurumu was feeling more than a little tired herself.
In spite of her fatigue, the habits of being a student made her wake up earlier than she would have liked. Once she was awake, Kurumu knew it was time for her to get to work. Cleaning the kitchen started with getting rid of the leftovers. Once again she made a couple of the local youkai happy. She also made the local grocer happy as well. It took hours, but she finally had her kitchen in order. Kurumu had her hair tied back with a scarf and an old apron tied on over her shirt and sweat pants. Her hands were covered with pink rubber gloves and she had her fists on her hips as she looked at her kitchen. With a smile and a nod of approval she decided that she was satisfied.
XclickXFLASHX
"Mother!" Kurumu cried out. "What are you doing?"
"But sweetheart," XclickXFLASHX Ageha said as she took more pictures. "You should see yourself." XclickXFLASHX "You're the perfect image of a happy housewife."
"Mother!" Kurumu protested. "I look horrible."
"No," Ageha argued as she handled the phone in her hands. "You look adorable. I bet Tsukune will think so to."
"What?" Kurumu demanded, looking at her mother in disbelief. "That's my phone! Mother, what are you doing?"
"I am sending your picture to Tsukune and inviting him over for dinner," Ageha said mater of factually.
"Mother!" Kurumu cried out and rushed towards her mother.
"All done," Ageha said with a sweet smile as she offered the phone to her daughter.
Kurumu stumbled to a halt and took the phone form her mother. One look was all it took to tell her that it was too late. She gave her mother a hurt and angry pout.
"Mother..."
XxxxxxXxxxxX
Mizore tried to ignore the people watching her. Only home for one day and she was the topic of speculation and curiosity. The first thing she had done after seeing her mother was to go to the garden. She had not made any changes to her sculpture of Tsukune. This time she had simply made a bust on a low pedestal, showing the small changes in his appearance over the past year. Beside the bust, Mizore's built up an exact copy of Tsukune's little snow sculpture of her. It was something that happened only rarely, when a man would declare his love for his Winter Wife in such a way. That Tsukune had done such a thing only added to Mizore's reputation.
The next morning Mizore had set out from her mother's house on a mission. Dressed in her yukata and with a determined look to her eyes, she went hunting through her neighborhood. Mizore was looking for a house to make her own. For safety and convenience, it was better to make her new home within the existing village rather than claim open land. It was hard to see the empty homes that showed the decline of her people's numbers over the past hundred years, but Mizore had a mission to accomplish.
Mizore knew she had found the right place when she saw it. It was near the western edge of the village where a natural ridge forced the streets to turned and run from the south-west to the north east. It was an area that had never been popular enough to be built up as some of the others had been. Mizore walked through the area, measuring out a section of vacant homes, some already starting to break down.
"Yes," Mizore said to herself with a determined nod. This would be her new home. She would be close enough to her mother if she had need of her, and far enough away to have privacy when she wanted it.
Mizore stood in the village street facing her chosen territory. With a look of intense concentration, she planted her feet, raised her hands, and summoned her power. Her power, strengthened with the Warmth that Tsukune had shared with her out of love, and focused by the love she felt for him, flowed into the area she had chosen to make her own.
It started small. Just a little gleam of light reflecting off a place where the ice was starting to melt. Then a section of old building groaned and started to sag. Sharp cracks filled the air as old blocks of ice shattered. Sections of wall turned into ice puppets and set to work at Mizore's direction even as the air over the buildings stirred.
Such an outpouring of power could not go unnoticed in the village. Nor could it be ignored. Tsurara was one of the first to arrive to see what her daughter was doing. She was joined by her neighbors as Mizore continued to work. The crowd gathered at a safe distance to watch.
"What is she doing?" One woman asked Tsurara.
"She decided it was time to make her own house," Tsurara answered in a low voice.
"But your own house is more than large enough," The woman observed.
"It's not about the size," Tsurara said with pride filling in her voice. "This is going to be her house. How long has it been since any snow woman truly raised up her own house?" Her eyes were starting to shine with proud, happy tears as she watched her daughter and smiled. "How long has it been since any of us truly knew the kind of love it takes to make something like this happen?"
The crowd continued to grow as Mizore continued to work. The area in front of her had become like a hurricane. Ice and snow filled the air. Amid the focused storm, the ice puppets worked as the sun sank towards the horizon. Eventually the storm died down. The ice puppets started to crumble, becoming a part of the nearest wall or simply returning to the snow on the ground.
Mizore relaxed her stance, lowered her hands, and surveyed her work. The entire piece of land was surrounded by a fence a meter and a half tall that looked like swirls of ice and snow caught and frozen in place in the middle of a blizzard. Within the property a new house stood. The central building was an 'A' frame two and a half stories tall, with wings that came out of ether side and then turned towards the street, creating a front garden yard. A path from the front gate to the main doors of the house curved gently back and forth. It resembled a Japanese manor and sparkled in the fading light.
Mizore looked at her new house and felt a satisfied glow within herself even as she felt tired after her work. Tsukune would see the traditional Japanese home she had made for him, without hiding her true nature. It would be like them, a joining of two different lives. Mizore's house would offer him comfort and love when he needed to take a break from his responsibilities in the human world. She gave a small prayer of thanks to the spirits of her homeland and to her ancestors as she looked at her new home. Finally she gave a satisfied nod and turned to face the crowd she felt watching her.
"I am Shirayuki Mizore." She declared in a firm voice. "And this is the home where I will raise my children." She made a bow to the crowd. "Please give me your blessings."
XxxxxXxxxxX
Moka and Kokoa returned to their father's home with different feelings. After her first year at Youkai Academy, Kokoa had seen her father's house as an escape from the riffraff and the hassle of putting up with those that were beneath her. After her second year, the young vampire couldn't help but feel that her home was a lonely place to be. She would be surrounded by those that were older than her, and were ether too busy to give her the kind of attention she wanted, or were servants that she had to hold herself above. Moka saw the visit to her father's house as chore to be endured. She loved her father, but she wanted more from life than to be an extension of him. She knew that soon she would leave his house to make her own place in the world.
The house was exactly as they had last seen it. The pair of vampires knew that meant their father had not changed lovers yet. Moka had some hope that the woman had learned some manners over the past year. The sisters took a little time to clean up, then it was time for them to dutifully present themselves to their father.
Shuzen Issa as it turned out had little time for his two daughters. He welcomed them home politely when they entered the den. He gave them a few minutes to exchange pleasantries with him, and then he dismissed them until supper time. He never got up from his desk once.
Moka and Kokoa were used to their father's ways. His distant attitude was nothing new. Being close and paying attention to his daughters was the exception. Their mothers, when they had been around, had been the ones to be affectionate. Kokoa's mother came and went as her mood dictated. Moka's mother had left for good when she was young. Moka remembered when her mother had lived in the house with the rest of them. She had also spent some time living in her mother's home out in the human world, or at least she had memories of her mother attached to a home in the human world. Without their mothers, the daughters of Issa frequently had to find their own ways to feel they were more than just glorified possessions on their father.
Moka had come to accept that her mother was not returning. She didn't now if the woman had just left for good, or if she had passed away. A part of her would always hope to see her mother again, but the loneliness that had once threatened to overwhelm her had long ago been banished by Tsukune's presence in her life. It was by thinking about Tsukune that Moka was able to smile as she headed to her rooms to get ready for supper.
XxxxX
Supper turned out to be a semi-formal event. Shuzen Issa had invited two of his connections to attend. His own mistress was also seated at the table, so the evening could not be too formal. What bothered Moka was the fact that the guests her father had invited had each brought with them a young man, a son that they were offering up for consideration for some match making. Moka kept a polite smile on her face as introductions were made.
"You should feel very fortunate, Kokoa," Moka said as servants brought in the first course of the meal; soup.
"Why?" Kokoa asked.
"Why, because father obviously thinks very highly of you," Moka said, aware of the young men watching her. "Why else would he invite his important friends to bring their sons. Father is already considering who would be a good match for you."
"Wha..." Kokoa was taken back by her sister's words.
A chill surrounded the table. Moka had just rejected the two potential suitors, but she had done so in a way that they could not openly be offended by. If ether of the young men, or their fathers tried to correct her they would appear presumptuous.
"Moka," Issa said in a carefully casual tone. "You are of an age that you might want to consider your own future."
"Yes father," Moka answered him with a polite smile. "My future is something I have take much time to consider. That is why I have already decided on a career in law and decided which university to attend."
"That is good," Mira, her father's lover said. "But a career doesn't keep you from feeling lonely. A young lady should consider such things as well."
"Studying law," One young man, Aaron Moka remembered his name was, spoke up, earning him a tight smile of approval from his father. "That will take a lot of time and hard work. I am sure you would like to have somebody close to help comfort you when you are feeling pressured."
"Yes," Moka agreed. "And I am fortunate to have found somebody who will be there for me."
"You're talking about that boy again, aren't you?" Mira asked. She sighed. "I thought you would have moved on by now."
Moka shot the woman a dark look.
"I have made many friends in school," Said Aaron. "And I am glad to have had their company, but the future, the rest of my life, that is for sharing with somebody truly special." He tried to give Moka his best romantic smile.
"I agree," Moka nodded to him. "And I have chosen someone very special."
"I doubt that this young man of yours," Aaron's father said. "Is as capable as my son. There is nothing your friend can do that my Aaron can't do better."
"That is a dangerous boast," Moka said flatly.
"You think I am boasting?" The man scowled.
"Father is right," Aaron said.
"Oh?" Moka raised an eyebrow.
Issa leaned back in his chair with a smile. He was very proud of Moka. That she was standing up for herself was just another reason to think highly of her. For the moment he was content to watch to see how well she handled the challenge she was being presented.
"Try me," Aaron said.
"How many people follow you?" Moka asked.
"Excuse me?" Aaron blinked.
"How many people had sworn to follow you?" Moka clarified. "How many people had decided that they could not be happy unless they could be allowed to serve you?"
"My father has..." Aaron started.
"Your father," Moka cut him off. "Is not the one trying to prove he is worthy of my attention."
"I can hire as many..." Aaron tried again.
"You can hire people that are loyal to money," Moka said.
"And this person you favor?" Aaron changed tactics. "How many people are sworn to follow him?"
"Two," Moka said between spoonfuls of soup.
"Just two?" Aaron questioned.
"That's two more than you," Moka observed.
"She has you there," Another young man, Malik spoke up.
"And you can do better?" Aaron challenged him.
"I have followers," Malik smirked.
"Thugs," Aaron huffed.
"Soldiers," Malik shot back.
"Oh really?" Moka questioned.
"Oh yes," Malik said, preening a little now that he had her attention. "I joined the organization only recently, but I already manage a small lending office." He shot Aaron a look. "I have four men that answer to me. I beat them each one-on-one to earn their respect."
"I see," Moka said. "And they didn't let you win because they work for your father?"
"Father won't have anything to do with Fairy Tail," Malik said.
"Fairy Tail," Moka said in an ice tone.
"Malik," His father sighed. He knew his son had just lost what little chance he had.
"Perhaps you haven't heard of the organi..." Malik started.
"I know all about Fairy Tail," Moka said with an angry tone. "Perhaps you have heard of my friend, Aono Tsukune."
Malik blinked. He had heard the name before. In his office was a picture of the boy named Aono Tsukune with instructions to report any sightings.
"Aono Tsukune has stopped Fairy Tail from hurting his friends more than once," Moka said. "When members of your organization," She made the word sound like something loathsome, "Kidnapped a friend of ours, he summoned almost a hundred people, who all followed him out of respect. He lead us all against Fairy Tail to rescue our friend. He was badly injured in the fight, but Fairy Tail was crushed." Moka had to calm herself down when she realized that she was almost growling.
"Fairy Tail is a sickness," Moka said. "If you are willing to corrupt yourself with their disease, then I don't want to know you."
"Why you..." Malik hissed.
"Shuzen Issa," Malik's father said, cutting off his son. He stood and bowed. "I thank you for your invitation, and apologize for my son. If you will excuse us, I need to attend to something."
"I understand," Issa said with a nod. "I wish you a safe journey home."
"Heh," Aaron smirked at Malik's departing back.
Moka gave him a hard look.
"I am sorry to hear that your friends were placed in such danger," Aaron said. "I would work hard to protect those close to me from such things."
"I'm sure you would," Aaron's father said. "And I would support you."
"Family is important," Aaron said.
"Sometimes it is," Moka agreed. "But we are more that just members of the family we are born into."
"But we can be proud of who we are, of who our families are," Aaron said.
"We can be proud of our families," Moka nodded as the soup was cleared from the table and a salad course was served. "But we can't be proud of ourselves just for being a part of that family. He had no choice of what family we were born into."
"I guess that is true," Aaron admitted.
"Instead of counting on your family to take care of things for you," Moka offered. "You should be thinking of what you can do for your family."
"Do you really think so?" Aaron asked with a mask of interest on his face.
"Don't you?" Moka asked back.
"I suppose I do," Aaron shrugged.
"My daughter has made me proud," Issa said. "She has gained recognition for herself and the family. I am sure she will continue to make me proud."
"I hope that you will be proud of me in the future, Father," Moka gave him a small, hard smile.
The supper continued from there with little distraction. Aaron spent the time watching Moka and trying to consider what to say next. Moka watched everyone at the table and considered her possible choices of words and actions.
"You know," Aaron said as the dessert was brought to the table. "If you give me the chance, there is much that I can give you."
"Oh?" Moka asked. "But there is nothing that I am lacking at the moment."
"That is only because you don't know what it is I can offer you," Aaron smiled.
"You should give him a chance, Moka," Mira said.
"Yeah Moka," Kokoa offered with a smirk. "I'm sure Tsukune won't complain if you decide to get to know Aaron better."
"That is just what I am trying to do," Moka said to Kokoa. "But so far he has not done anything to stand out." She turned to Aaron and gave him a sweet smile. "But if you have, I would like to hear of it. Have you lead anybody into battle?"
"No," Aaron answered, taken aback by the question.
"Perhaps you have rescued a girl from a molester," Moka offered.
"Ahhhh," Aaron tried to think how he should reply.
"I'm sorry if I am making you uncomfortable," Moka said, aware of how both Aaron and his father were looking more stressed by the moment. "I know not everybody is suited to fighting. You are probably a gentle soul given to romantic pursuits."
Issa resisted the urge to smile. Kokoa on the other had was grinning openly. In a room occupied by powerful youkai, with whom fighting prowess was nearly as important as blood lines, financial power, or political connections, Moka had suggested that Aaron was weak.
"Being capable of fighting can be useful at times," Aaron said. "But we live in a civilized world. I choose to focus my energies on learning things that will help me gain in prestige without violence."
"That is a good way to live," Moka approved. "So long as you are safe from those that would resort to violence because that it all they know."
"Yes," Aaron tried to counter. "Perhaps this friend you think so highly of would seem less of a hero if he had been more responsible and didn't involve you in his troubles."
"Oh my. Is that what you think?" Moka gave a merry laugh. "Oh, that is too funny."
"What?" Aaron questioned.
"You have it all backwards," Moka said. Suddenly all the amusement drained from her voice and her face took on a serious expression. "Perhaps you have not noticed, but I am a Vampire. I live in a world of darkness, a world of blood and violence where strength is vital and true loyalty is a rare treasure. In the world we live in, if you are not prepared to protect what is yours, you will lose it. Tsukune came in to my world, into our world of darkness. It is I who involved him in my troubles."
Aaron was flustered. The sweet looking girl his father had hoped to match him up with was proving to be far more than just a pretty face. He had expected to draw her in, and them claim her, helping his family gain an political ally, while helping to set himself up for a life of power and privilege. Not only had she rejected him from the beginning, but she was continuing to put him down.
"So this capable and daring young man," Aaron said with an edge to his voice. "He decided to ally himself with you because of your family? Is he hoping for your support as he climbs to a position of power?"
"Would you really like to know what Tsukune has asked from me?" Moka question.
"Yes," Aaron answered.
"I admit," Issa said from the head of the table. "I would like to know what this young man has asked of my daughter."
"Tsukune has asked me for my forgiveness," Moka said. "He asked that I forgive him for being unworthy of me. He has asked me to be patient, to give him time to prove that he can be worthy of me. He even asked me to continue to be his friend even after I once tried to kill him when his strength went out of control."
Silence fell over the table for a moment. Moka had such fierce pride in her voice as she spoke that it had stunned her audience. She gave Aaron a smile that bordered on vicious.
"Would you like to know what I offered him to win his loyalty?" Moka asked. "Would you like to know the reason he was willing to risk his life for me on the very first day we met? What motivated him to choose me over his family?"
"Yes..." Aaron said stubbornly.
"I offered him my friendship," Moka said.
"Huh?" Aaron blinked.
"Your friendship?" Mira questioned.
"I asked Tsukune to be my friend," Moka explained. "That was all it took."
Aaron was stunned. His mind tried to make sense of what he was hearing. There was no way that some casual words, some hinted at connection, could ever inspire loyalty of the kind Moka was talking about.
"Ask any of your girlfriends," Moka said. "They will tell you that friendship can the foundation for something much bigger." She turned to face the head of the table. "Isn't that so, Mira."
"Oh yes," Mira blinked. "Without friendship and trust, no relationship can last."
"If your girlfriends tell you differently," Moka said as she turned back to Aaron. "Then they are only with you for their own benefit, and you should think about getting away from them."
"Girlfriends?" Aaron blinked.
"Oh come now," Mira said. "You are a handsome young man from a good family. I am sure you have had your share of girlfriends, even lovers by now."
"Err..." Aaron's ears started to turn red. "No..." He suddenly had trouble meeting anyone's eyes.
"That is too bad," Moka said. She turned to her sister. "Kokoa, I am sorry, but I cannot approve of this young man to be your suitor."
"What?" Aaron goggled.
"You did come here in hope of courting my sister did you not?" Moka asked with feigned innocence.
"Moka," Aaron nearly sputtered. "I was expecting you to be the one I would be matched with."
"Well that was foolish of you," Moka said. "After all, I am of an age to be making my own decisions. If you had any interest in me, you should have approached me, and not my father."
"Well I..." Aaron
"And as I have already said," Moka continued. "I already have somebody I intend to have beside me. As you have yet to earn any recognition, you would probably be a poor match for my sister as well. Perhaps in a year or so you can be worth consideration." She stood up from the table and turned to her father.
"Father," Moka said with a small bow. "I beg your pardon, but it has been a long day. I fear that I may become rude if this conversation continues, so I will bid you a good night." She turned to Aaron and his father. "Good night, and may you have a safe trip home." Without waiting for an answer, Moka turned and glided out of the room.