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 235
Kyouko thought her head was going to explode. She had just endured the strangest day since the visit to her cousin's school. A part of her mind was still trying to decide if maybe this day had been stranger than the other one. Tsukune had invited her up stairs, to what turned out to be his real apartment, and then filled her in on what she had not known about most of his life over the past couple of years.
While Tsukune had excused himself to his den to call his parents, Kyouko was given a chance to talk with the others. She tried to stay calm and listen to what they had to say, and in return, she learned more about what had happened over the last few years, from their perspectives. She tried to make sense of it all.
It was such a strange story that Kyouko was having a hard time understanding it all. The youngest one, Yukari, had tried to explain... something, but Tsukune's cousin had not understood any of it, except that Tsukune's bracelet was broken. The others took a little time to explain how Tsukune had saved them, and even inspired them. As she listened to them, Kyouko learned how Tsukune had reached his current position. It turned out that in exchange for being tortured, Tsukune had been given a building and a pair of serving girls. Inari had tried to say that it had been some kind of test.
Of all the women hanging around him, only Moka appeared to have any sense of restraint. Mizore and Kurumu talked as if it was acceptable for them to be hanging onto Tsukune in spite of his open affection and love for Moka. The idea that there were two women sworn to follow her cousin just seemed incredible to Kyouko. She thought she had understood Ruby's reasoning in the past, but was still having trouble with the overall idea of it. Much later, as Kyouko tried to fall asleep, in Tsukune's guest bedroom of all places, her thoughts were scattered as she tried to understand what she had seen and heard that day.
Tsukune, her little cousin, was a complicated person living a confusing life. The sweet boy she remembered was still there, she was happy to see, in spite of having been hurt, even hospitalized several times. At the same time he had also become a man of authority. He had grown up, and was trying to be as grown up as he could, while a handful of women were clinging to him. Kyouko was proud of her cousin, jealous of his luck, and confused by everything. Three women, three youkai known for preying on men all said that they loved him. Two more, a witch and a fox spirit, who had reputations for tricking men, had sworn to follow him. It was too much to understand all at once.
Kyouko eventually managed to calm her thoughts down. She even managed a smile at her cousin's good fortune. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered what his parents would think of all that was happening to him.
XxxxXxxxX
The next morning started off smoothly, if a little strained. Kyouko had breakfast with Tsukune and the others before heading home. Tsukune had called his parents the night before, as he said he would, so during breakfast he announced the plan to go to see them for a small dinner party. His three girlfriends knew what he was talking about, and tried to stay calm as they lost their appetites.
After breakfast things started to get busy. Kyouko decided to head home, promising to meet Tsukune at his parents house later. She had not planned on spending the night, so she wanted to have a chance to clean up and pick out something appropriate to wear. Moka, Mizore headed back to Moka's apartment to talk and to get ready for the meeting with Tsukune's parents. Yukari packed up her things, while Tsukune had a talk with Ruby and Inari before going out to run an errand.
XxxXx
It had been an exciting trip, Yukari felt. It had been fun hanging out with her friends. The masquerade had been so special and romantic at first, and then there was the excitement of the fighting. It was just like their club trips.
After the fighting was when Yukari had the most fun, because that was when she got to work on some real puzzles. The charms that Fair Tail had used to hide their auras and killing intent were used by Ruby and herself to keep everybody calm. They had built on the charms to set a suggestion into everybody's mind. If the reality was too much for them, then they would have something a little less incredible to fall back on. The idea of terrorists dressed up as monsters was a scary one, but it wouldn't shatter the concept that human civilization was the whole of the world.
Back at Tsukune's apartment, Yukari had almost as much fun as at the masquerade. Hanging out with the others while waiting for Tsukune had been about the same as being back in school. Then Tsukune had handed her a piece of his holy lock bracelet. She already had a larger piece of it. Everyone had found a piece of it to hold on to. At Tsukune's request, Yukari had investigated the pieces she had to see if there was anything that could be done to restore it.
The holy lock and chain were fascinating to study. While whatever spells that had been used were lost, Yukari was still able to gain an understanding of what had gone into making the whole thing. Each link of the chain had been made one at a time, with a binding spell cast and worked into it at the same time. The lock itself was a masterpiece. It's insides resembled a clock more than a lock in their complexity. Each tumbler and gear had been touched by magic in its assembly.
Yukari was able to appreciate the true genius that had gone into making the whole thing. She suspected that she could make one, if somebody else would do the metal work for her, but it would take her three months. She would have to spend a day on each link, and a week or more on the lock. Aside from the metal and enamel craftsmanship, and the complexity of the spellcrafting, Yukari discovered that there was a very basic but powerful aspect to the whole charm that made it work. She suspected that it had made it work even as the spells had failed one by one whenever Tsukune had been forced to pull up his youkai powers in a fight.
The Special power of the holy lock came from its physical form. It was literally a chain and a lock. It was the physical icons of restraint and confinement. Symbolic magic made it into what it appeared to be. Yukari also suspected that there was a level of suggestion involved as well. With a chain and lock around his wrist, Tsukune would find it easier to believe that his youkai nature was chained and locked away.
Yukari speculated that even a simple bicycle lock and chain, with a little spell reinforcement, could make an effected binding charm, but only if the subject wanted to be bound. For someone with a lot of power, symbols of power would have to be used as well as more advanced spells. She thought she could make something that would work for Tsukune, but wasn't sure enough to suggest it.
Puzzles and parties aside, Yukari had enjoyed visiting with Tsukune and the others while she could. Unfortunately she could not stay with them indefinitely. It pained her to admit it, but she was not one of Tsukune's lovers. She was not a part of the intimate inner circle of his life, so there could only be so much time she could be around before she started to be in the way.
Yukari did receive a small consolation prize however. Tsukune volunteered to take her home. Yukari got to enjoy a fast, exciting ride while hugging Tsukune tightly. She wished that she could be closer to him, but understood that her life just wasn't going to go that way. She did get a nice hug from him on her doorstep, including a light, friendly kiss, before he headed off. Yukari watched him go and gave a small sigh. Finally she turned and opened the door.
"Mom, Dad, Kuna," Yukari called out. "I'm home..."
XxxxxxXxxxxX
'I don't want to do this,' Moka though to herself as she tried to style her hair.
'But we made a promise,' Her other self argued.
'We still don't want to go,' She thought.
'No,' The other Moka agreed. 'We don't'
'But then again...'
'We always enjoy visiting...'
'But what if...'
'Don't think about that,' Moka scolded herself. 'Tsukune loves us. We just need to remember that.'
'But his mother...'
'I know... I know...'
Moka's stomach felt full of oily rocks. She and the others were going to be going over to have supper with Tsukune's parents. While she loved his parents, and loved how they accepted her, she was feeling nervous. She was going to have to face them, she and Mizore both, as Tsukune told his parents that he was going to be a father.
Moka could not help but think of all the things that could go wrong. Tsukune's parents might decide that Mizore was the only one they would accept from now on. They could decide to disown Tsukune because of his relationships. If his parents took the news badly, then Tsukune may come to resent his relationships, especially with her because she was the one that had set everything into motion. She had been the one, so busy trying to act proud and confident and aloof, that had permitted the others to get close enough to Tsukune for him to love them as well.
Moka was, mostly, confident that Tsukune's love for her would remain, that they would be able to continue to love each other. She took comfort in knowing that no matter what had come before, Tsukune had always chosen to be with her. But he had never openly confronted his parents before, that she knew of. He had never directly gone against their wishes. After nearly loosing him just two days ago, their relationship was going to be put on the line again.
'We should have just run away with him when we had the chance,' Moka thought.
'He would not have wanted to abandon the others,' She argued with herself. 'Or his responsibilities.'
'Because he is so damn worried about being worthy to be with us.'
'We should just take him from the others now,' Moka thought. 'We could just claim him as our own, openly. Permanently.'
'But how?' Moka questioned herself. 'He is bound to the others as well.'
'We take his name,' Came the answer. 'We take him out for a date, go where ever we have to go, and we make him marry us on the spot.'
The idea of marrying Tsukune gave Moka a thrill. She wanted a romantic, beautiful wedding, but that was a lesser worry.
'But will Tsukune want to marry us after today?' Moka worried.
XXX
Mizore was wrestling with her own doubts. She had been carrying Tsukune's child for hardly a single month, but she wondered if Tsukune's mother would be able to tell just by looking at her. Mizore worried about how his mother would react. Tsukune had stood up to her own mother wonderfully, but this was going to be a much different encounter. His mother was human, with human concepts of morality.
Mizore remembered how hard it had been to get Tsukune to let go of some of his human world views of what was or was not proper. When in his family's home, facing his human parents, she wondered if Tsukune would be able to stand up to them. She was afraid that if his mother disapproved, then Tsukune might give in to his human side and reject her after all.
What if his mother insisted that they get married, Mizore wondered. She loved the idea, but if Tsukune gave I to his parents, what would it do to his relationship with Moka? Tsukune loved her most. Would he come to resent Mizore if he was pressured into marrying her?
All these questions raced around in Mizore's mind while she tried to get ready for supper with Tsukune's parents. She wanted to dress nice. She wanted to be pretty for Tsukune, but didn't want to appear too forward in front of his parents. At the same time, she did not want to dress to conservatively, because she was afraid that would make her look like she felt guilty for something. As her mind struggled to deal with her nervous feelings, Mizore was feeling sick to her stomach.
XxxX
Back in Tsukune's apartment, Ruby, Inari, and Kurumu were able to talk casually about cooking. Kurumu had an outfit picked out that was professional on the edge of flirty. Her makeup was lightly applied, highlighting her looks without being immodest. She was going to be having supper with Tsukune and his parents, and knew that he was going to tell them about Mizore's baby.
Inari and Ruby were able to stay calm because they were sworn to Tsukune, and would follow him no mater who he married or where he went. Kurumu was similarly unconcerned. She had a special bond with Tsukune, and intended to be his lover no matter who he chose to be with. If his parents reacted badly to the announcement of Mizore's pregnancy, Kurumu intended to offer Tsukune her support. And if things turned unfortunate for any of the others, she was more than willing to seize any advantage that came her way.
XxxX
Tsukune finally returned to his apartment a little after noon. His trip had taken longer than he had expected, so he had to be quick in getting ready to see his parents. He had thought about inviting them over to his home, his real home, but did not want to overwhelm them with too much too fast.
"Ruby," Tsukune called out as he entered his home. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes Master," Ruby replied as he stood up to greet him.
Tsukune paused as he came into the living room. Kurumu was looking calm, confident, and beautiful. Ruby was dressed in her usual gothic fashion. Inari was wearing a casual sun dress with her hair in loose pony tail. Tsukune cocked his head a little to one side.
"What is it?" Inari asked, seeing the way Tsukune was looking at her and Ruby.
"I think you look nice," Tsukune said. "But I'm surprised you have not dressed up a little. Tonight is kind of a special occasion after all."
"You mean I'm invited too?" Inari's voice came out in a squeak.
"You and Ruby both," Tsukune nodded.
Ruby and Inari gave each other stunned looks. They looked back at Tsukune, and then to each other again. Looking down at themselves, their expressions started to turn to ones of panic. Inari bolted for her apartment. Ruby gave Tsukune a scathing look before hurrying to her own room.
"Tsukune..." Kurumu chided. "That was mean."
"Kurumu," Tsukune replied. "You have no idea oh horrible of a person I am becoming." He gave a little shake of his head and turned towards his bedroom.
"Tsukune?" Kurumu got up to follow him, suddenly worried. "What are you talking about? What's going on?"
"I am talking about everything I am going to be doing today," Tsukune answered without stopping. "My whole family is going to have everything out in the open... Almost everything. I am going to be telling my parents that instead of being a respectable college student, I have five women in love with me. I have taken four of them as lovers. I have three girlfriends. I intend to marry one formally, have one as a part time wife, and keep one as a mistress." He gave a snort as he pulled off his clothes for a quick wash.
"Oh, and let's not forget," Tsukune went on. "In addition to being a letch who's too weak to do the right thing, one of my girlfriends is already pregnant." He gave Kurumu a look that was filled with self loathing. "I've become a twisted excuse for a human being, and that doesn't have anything to even do with what else I have become." He thumped the strange decoration on his chest.
"Tsukune," Kurumu complained. "Stop talking like that. You haven't done anything wrong."
"I'm all messed up, Kurumu," Tsukune said.
"No..." Kurumu argued. "You didn't chose what happened to you. You didn't ask for any of what happened. Tsukune..."
"Kurumu," Tsukune cut her off as he finished undressing. He picked up the jacket he had just removed. He had his back to her as he continued. "Kurumu, you can't honestly be happy that I intend to marry Moka instead of you. That you will never have a wedding ring from me."
"Well..." Kurumu pouted. "No... Not happy, but I can accept it."
"Well you shouldn't have to," Tsukune said. He tossed his jacket on the bed and turned to her. "I may not be marrying you, but you should still have something that says that I love you." He held up a small velvet box and opened it.
"Oh," Kurumu's breath caught in her throat.
"Kurumu," Tsukune said as he pulled the ring out of the box. "I love you. I want you to be a part of my messed up life. Please, be my friend, my lover, a partner in life. Please be a part of my family."
"Yes," Kurumu nodded. "Yes... Oh Tsukune... Yes yes yess."
Her left hand was trembling like a leaf as Tsukune reached out and took it. He slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger. It was a thin band of gold that had a raised and flattened section on top. A curving teardrop of onyx had a small diamond filling its head. Distantly, Kurumu recognized the stones made up half of the yin-yang symbol of complementary opposites. It could pass as an engagement ring as well as anything she had ever seen.
Kurumu threw herself at Tsukune and started hugging and kissing him. She was openly crying with joy, and Tsukune could feel all of her emotions. Tsukune held her for a moment, just enjoying the warmth of her happiness and the feeling of her in his arms.
"Kurumu," Tsukune said when she finally gave him the chance. "I need to get ready."
"Alright," Kurumu said without letting go.
"I need to clean up and get dressed," Tsukune said a little more firmly.
"That's fine," Kurumu was still kissing his neck .
"You might want to fix your makeup," Tsukune told her as he started to pull free. "You look like you've been crying."
"Wha..." Kurumu blinked. She saw a smudge of color on Tsukune's bare chest. "No..." She moved to get a look at herself in the bathroom mirror.
"I look a mess," Kurumu cried out. She hurried to find her makeup kit, swatting at Tsukune as she passed him. "This is your fault."
"I told you I am a horrible person," Tsukune replied.
Both of them were smiling in spite of the makeup tragedy. Kurumu hurried off to fix her face while Tsukune hurried to wash up while he could. He was still rinsing off when Kurumu returned with her makeup case in hand. He had to elbow her a little for some space in front of the mirror to shave away the thin whiskers on his chin and lip.
"You know," Tsukune said with an exaggerated casualness. "I've seen something like this before." He put down his razor and cleaned his face.
"Oh?" Kurumu asked as she studied her workmanship on her face.
"Yes," Tsukune said. "One night when my parents were going out to a holiday party with my father's coworkers."
"Oh..." Kurumu gave Tsukune a shy look in the mirror. It made her happy to be compared to the married couple that had raised Tsukune so well.
"Father always wondered," Tsukune said as he left the bathroom. "What took mother so long to get ready to go anywhere."
"Tsuku-neeee..." Kurumu protested. She snatched up an eyeliner pencil she wasn't using and threw it after him.
XxxxX
When Tsukune was dressed and all put together again, he went in search of Mizore. It didn't take long to find her. Moka had answered Tsukune's knock at her door and showed him where to find Mizore. She was in Moka's guest bedroom, sitting on the bed, looking like she wanted to throw up.
"May we have a little time?" Tsukune asked Moka in a low voice.
"We will be in my bedroom," Moka answered.
Tsukune gave her a grateful smile. She left them along to talk. Mizore had watched them in the doorway. She watched as Tsukune as he entered the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
"Mizore," Tsukune spoke in a gentle voice with concern on his face. "It will be alright." He moved to sit beside her.
"I know," Mizore said weakly.
"I love you," Tsukune said as he reached an arm around her. "And I am grateful for you doing this. I wouldn't feel right not telling my parents about our child."
Mizore managed to smile at that. Tsukune was still accepting her, and their baby. It made her feel better, but didn't banish all of her fear.
"Tsukune, can I ask you something?" Mizore managed to get the words out.
"You can ask me anything," Tsukune answered.
"What will you do if your parents can't accept..." Mizore drew in a ragged breath. "If they..."
"Mizore," Tsukune cut her off. "Remember what I told your mother? I want any children we have to be loved. If my parents can't accept our children, we will just have to raise them without their help."
"But what if your parents..." Mizore persisted. "What if they can't accept you? What if what you want upsets them and they try to force you to choose them over us?"
"Mizore," Tsukune said in a low, firm voice. "I have already made that choice. You are going to give me a child. I will always love my parents, but leaving their house is a part of growing up. You are going to be a part of my future." He reached in to his pocket. He had planed to come and reassure her, and now he felt that the ring he had for her would do her a lot of good.
"Mizore," Tsukune took his hand from around her and touched her cheek lightly. "You are very special to me. You are very important to me. I don't say it enough, but I love you, and I am glad that you have decided to be with me."
"Oh, Tsukune..." Mizore's eyes were shining.
"I know you deserve someone that can love you and only you," Tsukune went on.
"No..." Mizore tried to argue.
"But I hope you will forgive me for being weak and selfish," Tsukune kept going. He pulled out the box and opened it so she could see it. "Mizore, please accept this and be my Winter Wife. Please be a part of my family, now and always."
"Oh..." Mizore squeezed her eyes shut to try to hold back her tears. She nodded her head excitedly. "Yes..." She said in a tiny voice. She stopped nodding and opened her eyes to look into Tsukune's. "Yes." She said with more confidence.
Tsukune pulled the ring from the box and reached for her left hand. Mizore held it up for him and he slid the ring into place. It was a near twin to Kurumu's. The curving stone teardrop was the white of snow. Set in to it was a blue-white diamond.
"It's beautiful," Mizore breathed.
"Yes," Tsukune nodded. "You are."
"Thank you," Mizore said softly as she reached out to hug Tsukune tightly. "Thank you. I will always be with you, Tsukune. Always."
"And everything will be alright," Tsukune said in a soothing voice.
XxxxX
Moka turned away from the mirror as Tsukune entered her bedroom. He was dressed up nicely for visiting his parents, and his warm eyes were filled with emotions. He gave her a smile that made her heart ache. He was so handsome in her eyes, and the openness he shared with her was a precious thing.
"Moka," Tsukune said as he came near. "Are you almost ready?"
"We are," Moka answered. She was thinking in the plural sense much more than before. She reminded to be careful of how she spoke of herself in front Tsukune's parents. She stood up from her dressing table. "Are you ready, Tsukune?"
"Almost," Tsukune said. "But if you come back over to my place for a moment, there is one last, important, thing I would like to take care of."
"Oh?" Moka questioned.
"The others are waiting for us there," Tsukune told her as he offered her his arm.
XxxX
As Tsukune had said, the others were waiting in his apartment. Inari and Ruby were a little flustered, but cleaned and dressed up for the evening ahead. Mizore and Kurumu were talking together with excited, happy faces. Tsukune lead Moka into the room where everybody was waiting.
"Moka," Tsukune said as he turned to her. "There is something I want to say."
"What is it, Tsukune?" Moka asked as a fresh wave of butterflies spawned in her stomach.
"Moka," Tsukune began as he dipped his hand into his pocket. "I want you to know that I love you, and that no matter what happens tonight, I will always love you, and I never want to lose you."
"Oh, Tsukune," Moka smiled. "I know. I know you will always be there for me."
"I am talking about more than just being close to you as I have been," Tsukune said. "I want more than anything to have you in my life." He pulled the small box from his pocket as he continued. "I don't know what is going to happen tonight, or tomorrow, or anytime in the coming future. I just know that I want you to share that future with me." Tsukune lifted and opened the box even as he sank to his knee. "Moka I once knelt before you to make you a promise. This time I want to ask you for something. Dame Akashiya Moka, I know that I am not worthy to ask this of you, but..." Tsukune took a deep breath and gathered his nerves.
"Moka, will you marry me?"