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 211
The taxi pulled up outside Tsukune's building early in the business day. Tsukune had followed along on Hiru for the sake of keeping questions to a minimum. There would be no questions about where his motorcycle had gone, and he could return home later without paying for a cab, without anybody wondering how. He parked in the garage area and returned to the front sidewalk in time to help with Moka's bags. Along with her and Ruby, he walked to the elevator.
Ruby was smiling, appearing eager, even excited. Tsukune wondered what she was up to. Letting her lead the way, Ruby lead them up to the top floor. When the doors opened, the Me sisters were there to meet them in their maid uniforms. Ruby skipped out of the elevator and stood with the twins. Together all three bowed to Tsukune.
"Welcome home, Master," Ruby and the Me sisters said in unison.
"Dame Akashiya," Me Midori said with a small step forward and reching to take Moka's bags from Tsukune. "If you will follow me, I have room prepared for you."
"You can take my things," Moka replied. "I will see my room later."
"Yes Ma'am," Midori said with a small curtsy.
"Master," Ruby spoke up. "If you will follow me, I will show you what was done to prepare for your arrival."
"Lead on," Tsukune said.
Tsukune had to admit that he was impressed. Following Ruby's instructions, in what was only a few days, the Me sisters had prepared the penthouse for him. The penthouse was the three bedroom apartment that took up the most space on the floor, and was seperated from the stair well and elevator shaft by the manager's apartment. The amount of space taken up by the one apartment was an indulgence in a busy city. The main room of the apartment was divided into two sections. One area was set up for a dining area, while the other was furnished with a couch, love seat, a pair of nice chairs, a coffee table, and an entertainment unit. The main room had a set of glass doors that opened onto the patio. The kitchen and guest bath and water closet had been left as is. The master bedroom was furnished with a four-poster bed, complete with canopy and curtains of red and black velvet. The bed curtains matched the drapes that framed the sliding glass door that opened onto a private back balcony and a view of the old district neighborhood, which included an unblocked view of the skyline, with the sky above, and of rooftops below. The next bedroom had been furnished as a den and home office. The last bedroom was just that, a bedroom with a wide comfortable bed and a small desk, ready for use by a guest.
Tsukue was able to tell some of the things that had been done to customize the apartment. For one, the den had lost some floor space to a remodel of the master bath. The new and improved bathroom now had a tub that would not be out of place in a luxury hotel. It was a large oval, with built in temperature control and circulating jets, that could hold three people at once. Ruby blushed as she told Tsukune so. At the moment it was dry, but Tsukune knew he would want to try it out soon.
The other significant modification to the apartment was in the living room. More specifically, it was in the wall of the living room. A section of wall had been replaced by a door. The door connected Tsukune's penthouse to the two-bedroom unit used by Ruby and the Me sisters, establishing them as the servants' quarters.
"You planned all this out?" Tsukune asked Ruby.
"Yes Master," Ruby nodded. "I chose how to furnish the apartment and what changes to make, and then trusted Midori and Kurai to get it done."
"Well they did a good job," Tsukune said. "I am impressed. Ruby, thank you."
"It was my pleasure master," Ruby said with a graceful bow.
"It looks wonderful," Moka said. "I think you have matched Tsukune's style wonderfully."
"Thank you," Ruby smiled. "I tried to anticipate my master's wishes. The other apartment on this floor had been prepared for you. The furnishings were left very basic, because I did not want to presume as to your tastes, but I think you will approve of what was provided."
"Thank you," Moka gave Ruby a nod of approval.
"I have also set aside rooms for the others," Ruby said. "In case they wish to move in here as well." She gave Tsukune a wink and a sly grin. "And there is also a room set up for when Tsukune's mother decided to visit. It is a single bedroom on the second floor, one door down from the elevator."
"Good thinking," Tsukune smiled. He reached out and petted Ruby on the head.
XxxX
Moka's apartment was similar to Tsukune's. It was mostly unfurnished, as Ruby had said, leaving it to Moka to decorate it to her tastes and needs. Moka did notice that the master bedroom was a little smaller than Tsukune's, but the closet was bigger. She decided that it would meet her needs more than adequately.
Moka would have preferred to have shared Tsukune's apartment, but understood why she couldn't. They were not married, so for the sake of propriety they needed to live apart, even if she did intend to sleep with him regularly. The apartment was comparable to Tsukune's and on the same floor, so socially speaking they were near equals. The fact that Moka was his guest and that he was sworn to her gave Moka the nominal boost needed to satisfy her pride, in case she had to defend her relationship or living conditions.
In truth, Moka did not see such things as being important as she once had. All that worry over pride and position had gotten in the way of her relationship with Tsukune too often. Of course being the one Tsukune favored before all the others, making her feel more important, made it easier to see such things as social standing as less important.
Moka let her mind wander through such thoughts as she settled into her new home. Tsukune had returned to his parent's house because in the morning he would be going in to work and wanted to pack a few things. The Me sisters had offered to help Moka unpack, but she declined. She decided that if she wasn't going to be with Tsukune, she wanted some time to herself. It wasn't the first time she would be living away from her family. Moka couldn't even say that she was truly living alone, not with Ruby and the Me sisters living on the same floor, and Tsukune living next door part time. It was still a change in her life that would take getting use to. The apartment was her home now. In the past, in the student village, or in a school dorm, those have always been places to live, but her home had been her father's house. That wasn't true any more. From now on, Moka knew, her home was going to be where she made it.
Moka finished unpacking in short order. There was only so much she could bring with her after all. Once she was done, she looked around her new home.
'At least I will have more room than back at school,' Moka thought to herself.
XxxxxxxXxxxxX
Tsukune had his bags packed and loaded onto Hiru. He wasn't completely moved out of his parents' house, but he was started on the process. He would move the rest of his things over time. At the very least it would give him an excuse to visit, and it would let his mother get used to the idea that he was going to be living his own life.
"But why can't you stay the night at home?" Kasumi asked her son as he got ready to ride off.
"It will just be easier if I leave now," Tsukune said.
"It's just that you're going to be so far away," Kasumi protested. "And you'll be gone for so long."
"You weren't this worried about me when you packed me of to a high school you never even heard of," Tsukune protested.
"That was different," Kasumi dismissed his argument. "Besides, I like having my girls around. You already took them away. Now what am I going to do?"
"Why don't you ask father when he gets home?" Tsukune said.
"He's putting in overtime so we can take a vacation," Kasumi said. "We're thinking about a nice cruize."
"Ahhhh," Tsukune gave his mother a polite smile. "You deserve a nice vacation."
"But that isn't for a couple of weeks yet," Kasumi slid back into the tearful mother role. "And Kyouko had been so busy since she got her promotion at her store. Can't you at least wait until your father gets home?"
"Mother," Tsukue tried not to sigh. "Leaving now will be easier for me. If this was one of your dramas, what would happen next? You, the pretty, and loving wife suddenly has the house to herself. Your hard working husband is expecting another night as usual. You have the chance to do something special." Tsukune gave her a quick hug. "You and father have a good time tonight."
"Oh Tsukune," She hugged him back.
"After all," He went on. "You still have time. Maybe you can have a daughter this time."
"Tsukune!" Kasumi gave a startled cry. "You're too young to be thinking about such things!"
"But you're not," Tsukune said with a grin as he slipped out of her reach.
"I know that," Kasumi half complained.
"I'll see you soon," Tsukune said as he hurried to mount Hiru. "Be good."
"Tsukune..." Kasumi protested as he started his motorcycle.
She watched her son ride off with a pang in her chest. Her little boy was growing up. Kasumi gave a little sniff and dabbed her eye with the corner of her apron. She looked out at the empty street for a moment longer before turning back to the house. Maybe she could think of something special for her husband to help ease the loneliness...
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
Moka and Tsukune enjoyed a special evening together. Ruby and the Me sisters were the perfect house servants, letting Tsukune and Moka enjoy each others company as they shared supper. Then they sat out on the patio and sipped tea while watching the stars. The moon was a thin silver crescent in the sky above them.
"It seems almost strange," Moka observed.
"The moon?" Tsukune asked.
"Yes," Moka nodded.
"At school," Tsukune said. "Under the barrier, we have been looking up at a red moon for a year."
"For most of three years," Moka added. "And it was never as bright." She turned to Tsukune. "Tsukune, can I ask you something?"
"Anything," Tsukune answered without hesitation.
"Is that how I am?" Moka asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Like the moon," Moka put her hand to the rosario. "Is the me now like the moon when we are at school? Is the other me the real me? Am I supposed to be bright and beautiful, but because of the seal you get a me that isn't?"
"Moka," Tsukune reached for her hand. "You are beautiful. You are bright and special, and I love you. I don't think of you as anybody but you. The other Moka, she is like your sister. She is a lot like you, but at the same time she is very different."
"My seal..." Moka started to say.
"Your seal does not work like that," Tsukune said. "If your other self holds on to it, if she is in contact with her, it brings her power down. It limits her strength, but it doesn't change her personality." Tsukune got up from his chair and knelt in front of Moka all without letting go of her hand. "Moka you are someone special and unique, and I love you."
Moka had happy tears welling up in her eyes. Her hand even trembled in Tsukune's. And then she giggled.
"What is it?" Tsukune asked.
"It's... My sister," Moka said with a laugh. "She is very upset right now."
"Why?" Tsukune asked.
"Because you and I are talking like this," Moka explained. "She wants to know when we are going to shut up and kiss."
"Well I always try to make your sister happy," Tsukune stood and drew Moka up after him. "And I am always happy to kiss you."
They embraced and shared a deep kiss under the night sky.
"Let's go inside," Tsukune suggested.
"Yes," Moka agreed.
XxxxX
'Will it always be like this?" Moka wondered to herself as she woke up. It was already mid morning and Moka thought that her new life was shaping up nicely. The only thing that was missing at that moment was Tsukune. He had left for his work hours ago. Moka had stayed in his bed, enjoying the warmth of his body still in the blankets.
'I always want it to be like this,' Was Moka's next thought.
'It will be better than it has been at least,' Inner Moka spoke up.
'Only when Tsukune isn't working,' Moka replied. 'And only until classes start in the fall.'
'But none of the neighbors know about us,' Inner Moka added. 'And nobody will care. Nobody will be carrying gossip back home.'
Moka smiled as she thought about her new freedom. She rolled out of bed and performed a lazy stretch. Between the bed and the water closet Moka spied the laundry basket where Tsukune's clothes from the night before were piled with her own. When Moka emerged from the bedroom she was dressed in his shirt and boxers.
"Good morning Moka," Ruby greeted her. "I have some breakfast saved for you."
"Good morning Ruby," Moka replied. "Thank you."
"You had some things in the manor," Ruby said as she served breakfast. "Because you were a guest so often it was prudent to have them available. When I was packing I sent everything here. Would you like those items back or..."
"If you would arrange for a little space for them in Tsukune's closet," Moka said. "I would appreciate it." She gave the other woman a smile. "After all, I intend to be Tsukune's guest often."