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 224

The man couldn't stop from smiling. Everything was coming together better than he could have hoped. He had people and resources strengthening his position every day. He had a plan in place and the pieces in position to make it work.

The man was looking forward to his assured success. With one act, he would prove the power of Fairy Tail in Japan, and the world. He would boost his own power and position while hurting the humans, filling them with fear. Their world would never be the same again.

The man's lieutenants were reporting in regularly. It would just be a mater of time before it all came together in a perfect moment. When that moment came, the man would unleash a storm of fire and chaos. He would seize hostages and use their ransom to further empower his position and speed the humans' destruction.

On his desk were lists of names, addresses, and businesses. Receipts and letters were there confirming that uniforms and equipment were ready. It was all going to come together, and the man was ready to bring about a new reality. The man gave in to the desire to laugh, and cackled with excitement.

Soon he would have everything. He would prove himself to those that had looked down on him, who had thought that they did not have anything to worry about when they had ignored him before. He would have it all... Power... Recognition... Revenge...

Xx

XxxxxXxxxxX

Xx

The bus was filled with excited, well dressed, students. The Board Chairman had agreed with Aono Tsukune about the importance of the masquerade ball. The members of the Student Police, Drama Club, and Newspaper Club that had been in their second year when they had interacted with the human students from the Masako Shoken Girls Academy were now in their third year, and needed transportation to attend the ball. Because it was a good chance to help with human youkai relationships, the Board Chairman had agreed that it would be appropriate to use school resources to help the invited students to attend. They may be the only ones traveling by bus, but the man had at least made sure that it would be the nicest one the school owned.

Kokoa was eager to attend the ball because she would get to see Moka, and that was about it. Balls were not a new thing for her. Her costume for the evening was black and red gown with full skirts and ruffles. It was a traditional ball gown that had belonged to one of her older sisters. With it came a simple black mask that was tied in place by red ribbons.

In keeping with her role of senpai to Hana, Kokoa had tried to help the human girl put together an outfit for the ball. Hana on the other hand had decided to do something a little on the strange side, as the young vampire considered it. Over a black body stocking, Hana had on a yukata-like mini dress. From the waist up is looked like a yukata in green and white that was a little small for her, except that the tapered sleeves reached almost to the ground. A wide red sash secured it to her waist tightly enough to exaggerate her hips, which the bottom of the yukata barely covered. Hana's upper face was covered by red mask that included white, feathered wings that covered her ears and rose up above her head. The headpiece was held in place by a wide elastic band that she had mostly hidden under her hair.

The members of the Drama Club had the most elaborate costumes. As a group they were dressed in outfits inspired by the Kamakura period imperial court. They were very colorful, and over their faces they had noh masks held in place with black ribbons. Depending on what they were doing at any given moment the masks could be worn on the sides or tops of their head.

The Student Police had also decided on a group theme, although a less organized one. They were all dressed as some kind of police officer. Lieutenant Kris was dressed as a Canadian Mountie. The twins had copied the uniforms from the late edo period. The uniforms ranged from historical to fanciful. One girl's costume looked almost indecent because it was so tight and so short on her body. On her head she had a wig that added twenty centimeters to her height, on top of that was a police hat that would have only fit on a doll.

Because the invitations were for two, the bus was full. Many of the guests were from the same club as the invitation holder, and shared the same theme, but not all. The students not a part of the three invited clubs made an assorted mix. But it didn't mater what year or club the students were from. Each and every one of them was excited as the bus started on its way to the ball.

XxXx

Yukari was so excited that she could hardly contain herself. She had received a friendly letter from Tsukune, delivered by Hiru, to meet up at his place the afternoon of the ball so they could all go together. Now that the day had arrived, she was so excited that she couldn't sit still. It had taken her only ten minutes to pack her bag, and then another two hours to unpack it and repack it over and over again until she was satisfied. As it was the duffle was almost half her size. Her parents, gifted witches both, had delivered her by car to Tsukune's building. Yukari had been impressed at the sight. As she made her way up to Tsukune's apartment her heart was racing. She kept trying to imagine what she would find there.

Yukari could picture Tsukun'e apartment in her mind as being like a condensed version of his manor house back at school. She imagined the Victorian furnishings with a Gothic flavor to them. Moka of course would be there, because there was no way Yukari's two favorite people wouldn't be living together as lovers. Of course that made the young witch want to imagine Tsukune's bedroom. With Moka and Ruby living with him, the master bedroom must be some kind of romantic-yet-kinky dungeon.

Yukari received her first surprise when the elevator doors opened on the top floor. The twin servants, the Me sisters were waiting in the hallway. As Yukari stepped out of the elevator the twins offered her deep curtsies.

"Welcome, Miss Sendou," One of them said. "Our lord has been expecting you."

"Please allow me to take your bags," Said the second one.

"And I will lead you to our lord," The first one finished.

"Oh... Alright," Yukari said, letter her bag drop to the floor.

There were three ordinary doors that opened onto the hall, and one stairway door. The hall itself was bland and normal. Because it was a public space, Yukari thought that it made sense to keep it calm. The fact that the twins were dressed as Victorian maids, perfectly modest in appearance, also made sense. Moka would not approve of Tsukune dressing his servants in skimpy little outfits, and they had been waiting by the elevator where anybody could show up.

The sister leading the way stopped in front of the last door in short hall and opened it. A small chime sounded as the door swung in. With another curtsy, the servant motioned for Yukari to enter.

"Please go on in," Me Kurai said.

"Yukari!" Ruby's happy voice rang out as the younger witch stepped through the doorway.

"Ruby," Yukari called back.

"It's good to see you," Ruby hurried up to the entry and wrapped her fellow witch up in a hug. "Everybody is going to be glad you made it."

Yukari was almost swept off her feet by the older witch. Faster than she could have expected, she was drawn into the apartment where she discovered Kurumu and Mizore already sitting with Moka and Tsukune. The four of them were sitting on normal couches in a conventional room. They welcomed Yukari with bright smiles and warm hugs. She was out of breath by the time she found herself on the loveseat next to Kurumu, with Tsukune sitting between Mizore and Moka.

"Wait a minute," Yukari said, blinking as she looked around the apartment. "Tsukune, is this really your place?"

"Yes," Tsukune said with a nod.

"And Moka lives here with you?" Yukari pressed.

"Oh no," Moka replied with a sweet smile and a wave of her hand. "I live next door."

"What?" Yukari questioned. "But... But..." She gave herself a shake. "But everything is so normal."

"That's the way it is supposed to be," Tsukune explained. "When I am home, I want to relax ad enjoy my time with Moka, or Kurumu, or Mizore. I want to have a normal life when I can, because most of the time I don't get to."

"Oh..." Yukari said. She looked to Moka. "But?"

"Hmmm?" Moka lifted her eyebrows.

"Well, I thought that now that you've graduated and live on your own..." Yukari left her words hanging.

"Awwwww" Kurumu nudged Yukari. "You were hoping they would be all lovy-dovy in their little honeymoon nest weren't you?"

"No..." Yukari protested.

"Don't worry, Yukari," Kurumu said with an impish grin. "Tsukune and Moka are still lovy-dovy. They just don't show it off."

"I just thought something might have finally changed..." Yukari was cut off as everybody else started laughing."

"What?" Yukari demanded.

"Yukari," Tsukune said gently. "We may still be the same people, but everything has changed. Moka lives on her own now, so she doesn't have to worry about being seen with me. I'm not living under a microscope any more."

"I am building my career," Kurumu added. "I am establishing myself as a professional, as someone that women will want their daughters to look up to, instead of someone who's dress men want to just look up."

"Not just," Tsukune said with a smirk, earning him a punch in the shoulder from Moka.

"Tsu-Kuneee.." Kurumu's face turned red.

Ruby made a small choking sound. Yukai felt her own face go blank in surprise. Tsukune was not one to make suggestive comments, and he had done it so smoothly.

"Wha.." Yukari had to clear her throat to get her voice working again. "What about you, Mizore?" Yukai wanted to get past Tuskune and Kurumu openly flirting. "Anything new in your life."

"Yes," Mizore answered with a small smile and a rosy blush. She rested on hand on her stomach and looked to Tsukune. "I am carrying Tsukune's first child."

Yukari's brain suddenly hurt. The shock of what she had just heard shot through her like an electric charge. Nobody had challenged what Mizore had said. Nobody was protesting or arguing. Yukari saw the way Tsukune was even holding Mizore's hand in a new light.

Yukari suddenly had a million questions, but none of them wanted to come out. She realized that she had stood up at some point, and that her knees were starting to shake. She sank back down beside Kurumu. Finally one word managed to come out.

"Why?" Yukari managed to ask.

"Because," Tsukune answered.

"That's not an answer," Yukari protested.

"No," Tsukune said. "It is a lot of answers."

"Huh?" Yukari blinked.

"Because she wanted to," Tsukune explained. "Because I was willing to let it happen. Because Moka understood what Mizore wanted and approved. Because I love Mizore and want her to be happy. Because this is something important to both of them."

"Because there was no reason for her to wait," Kurumu added. "While Moka and I are not ready, but Mizore is."

"Because," Moka smiled a little sadly. "Because you never know what will happen tomorrow."

"My people have been waiting for me to have a child," Mizore said.

"That would be a 'besides,' not a 'because," Yukari pointed out.

"Because I have a duty to my people," Mizore said.

"That's better," Yukari nodded.

"Because I understand duty," Tsukune added.

"Because," Mizore gave Tsukune a warm and loving smile. "It is what a woman does for the man she loves."

"Alright I get it," Yukari surrendered, setting off the others in another round of merry laughter.

XxxXXxx

Yukari had time to catch up a little with her friends before lunch. After lunch it was time to start getting ready for the ball. Tsukune retreated to his den, knowing full well that women would take longer to get ready than a man, and that his presence would not be welcome until the women of his life were ready to be seen. Inari, who had spent the morning arranging for a car to take everybody to the ball, arrived in time to get ready with the others. As it turned out there was a small problem when it came to getting ready on time. Yukari's idea of a costume for the masquerade did not meet the approval of the others.

Yukari had actually packed two costumes for the ball. Her first, and the one she liked the most, consisted of a pair of high-heeled ankle boots, thigh-high stockings, a miniskirt, an over the bust corset, and full arm length glovess, all in black. Her accessories included a cats-eye mask, a headband with cat ears, and a whip. She tried to explain that her costume was based of a popular fictional American character, but the others didn't care. Yukari was a little disappointed that her costume was rejected before she could even put it on and model it for Tsukune.

Yukari's second choice for a costume was only a little better received. She pulled out her school uniform from her second year. It was a uniform she had out grown, fitting her very tightly around her hips and bust. To it she added the cat ears and mask from the first costume. Moka and the others rejected the costume. They put their heads together to see what they could come up with.

Ruby was quick to produce the super sentai armor costume she had made for Yukari as a part of the set she had made for everybody else. A The armor of her costume was royal blue but was made out of modern, high-impact plastic, and protected her torso, shoulders, and elbows. Her boots looked like they could be worn while riding a dirtbike. Her helmet resembled something a modern fighter pilot would wear, but was close fitting with built in lights on ether side of the visor that hid her eyes. The armor was worn with a light blue mini dress and boots.

Kurumu kind of liked the costume, and the others agreed that it could pass if they couldn't come up with something a little more fitting to a formal ball. With Ruby armed with her sewing kit and taking charge, the young women took on the challenge The fact that they only had a limited amount of time just added to the excitement of the moment. They took turns helping with Yukari's preparations while tending to their own makeup, outfits, and other personal details.

Finally an outfit was settled upon for Yukari. With everybody else dressed and painted and polished up for the masquerade, the young witch was finally given the approval on her appearance for the evening. The costume for Yukari seemed to mach her well. She wore a black, sleeveless evening gown that had a white breast section. Over the dress she had on a black half-cape with a deep hood. To finish her costume Yukari had a simple black mask, like a burglar, that framed her eyes. Her appearance was mature and cute at the same time. She could be the mischievous girl or the mysterious woman.

Yukari studied her reflection in the mirror and agreed that it was a good look for her. It was sexy enough to draw attention, but not so over the top to turn Tsukune away. She practiced some cute poses, and some sexy ones. Absently, she wondered what Kuna would think of the costume.

XxxxxX

When everybody was ready, they met p once more in Tsukune's living room. While he and Inari looked most like a pair, she hung back a little ways. When Moka stood beside him, Tsukune looked like he was ether her date, or her bodyguard. While Tsukune, Kurumu, and Inari all had a fanciful armored uniform type costumes, as a group there was no single unifying theme. They stood together while Me Midori took pictures.

"I know Ruby put a lot of work in making a group set of costumes," Tsukune said after the pictures were taken. "But I think I like it better the way we are now."

"Oh?" Moka questioned.

"Why's that Tsukune?" Kurumu asked.

"Because we are not a matched set," Tsukune explained. "Each one of is is very different. You are all special to me in different ways." He gave them a warm smile. "And nobody should need us in a uniform to tell that we are close as family."

Tsukune suddenly found himself crushed in a group hug. The only thing that kept him from being completely smothered was everybody's concerns about not messing up their appearance before the masquerade. There was also some good-natured elbowing for position by the young women trying to get closest to him.

Finally, after a double check of everything, it was time to be off. The transportation to the masquerade was a shuttle van with its own driver. Not high class like a limousine, but more practical and socially acceptable than everybody showing up on motorcycles. The trip was just long enough to be uncomfortable, yet still be tolerable. Tsukune had wanted to make sure they arrived a little ahead of the official start time of the ball so he could be sure to be there when the other youkai participants arrived.

Tsukune was interested in the masquerade only because the women he cared about were interested in it. As a chance to visit with friends, he wanted to attend, but he would have been just as happy with meeting up at a shopping district or at a park to watch cherry blossoms. But Moka and the others were interested in the pageantry of the masquerade. It was going to be a chance to show off and dance and socialize all in one. Tsukune knew that to his friends it was going to be an important night. He wanted to make sure it would be a night to remember, but wanted it to be remembered for good reasons for a change.