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 249

Kasumi's frightened scream carried though the night. Her husband yelled out her name as he hurried to find her. In the dark woods, the lantern suddenly seemed like a stupid thing to carry, but it was his only light to see by. He rounded the bend in the road and discovered his wife in time to see her fall backwards. She landed hard on her bottom. He hurried to see if she was hurt.

Kasumi had been trying to back up when she lost her footing and went down. Her husband crouched beside her, the lantern swinging madly on its pole. It was after he had gotten an arm around her shoulders that he noticed where she was looking with a frightened expressing on her face. He looked in the same direction and understood what had scared her. He gave a frightened and surprised shout even as Kasumi screamed again.

XxX

The forested area had seen very little human activity over the last generation. Even at only a modest distance from the nearest village, the manor was surrounded by wilderness. Not everything in nature shared the same fearfulness of humans. Possibly attracted by the strange smells new to the area, or perhaps just wondering up to the stream to find fish, a brown bear had been making its way along the road when Kasumi had come running around the bend towards it.

Because it was dark, and her night vision was limited, Kasumi had nearly run into the bear before she had even seen it. The bear had been almost as surprised as the woman, in spite of hearing her approach. Not used to such surprises, the bear had paused to think of what it should do. Kasumi, not used to bears at all, panicked and started screaming. And then her husband was there, holding a lantern on a pole, waving it around unthinkingly.

Kasumi was glad to have her husband with her. She was glad to have the limited light offered by the frail lantern. The bear did not see things the same way. To him the pole and the bright light on the end seemed threatening. He reared up on his hind legs, causing the pair of humans to cry out again. Kasumi's husband held out the lantern hoping to ward off the bear.

The bear, upset by the strange and loud behavior did not like the lantern being pushed in its direction. It lashed out with on large claw. The lantern was knocked clean off the pole. It landed on the side of the road, broken. The oil and paper blazed up, casting even more light on the scene.

Kasumi was sure that she and her husband were about to die. The bear was looming over her, and there was nothing she or her husband could do to fight it. Even trying to escape would be impossible.

But then something impossible happened. The bear fell over backwards suddenly and someone was standing with their back to Kasumi. In the firelight, she recognized the blue and white kimono.

"Tsukune!" Kasumi gave a shout of surprise.

The bear righted itself and gave a roar. It saw the new figure facing it and recognized a challenge when it saw one. The bear reared up and raised it's claws.

"Tsu..." Kasumi tried to warn her son. She wanted to tell him to run away, but she never got the chance.

Tsukune rushed forward and planted a double palm thrust against the bear. The bear was thrown back and knocked off its feet. Kasumi and her husband were stunned.

"Mother," Moka called out as she came upon the older couple. Dressed in her kimono, her silver hair glowed in the firelight. "Are you hurt."

"Tsukune..." Kasumi started to say.

"Tsukune will be fine," Moka said. "Are you hurt anywhere? Can you stand?"

"Honey," Tsukune's father managed to say. "We have to go." He stood up, pulling his wife up beside him.

"But Tsukune..." Kasumi protested.

The bear had climbed to his feet and was trying to attack Tsukune again. This time Tsukune ducked low and threw a solid punch into the bear's abdomen. The bear made a coughing, choking sound. He followed up with a powerful jab to the bear's throat.

Any desire to fight left the bear as it struggled to breath. It fell back down on all four feet, with it's head down. The bear kept making choking and retching sounds, desperate to get air though it's ruined throat.

"Mother, Father," Kurumu said as she reached the scene. "Are you hurt? Do you need anything?"

"Tsukune's in danger," Kasumi protested as the others started herding her back up the road to the manor.

"It's only a bear," Kurumu said. She had faith in Tsukune's strength and prowess, but she couldn't help but worry about him to.

Kasumi couldn't believe her eyes. As she was guided back towards the inn, she saw her son standing in the firelight. Tsukune walked up to the bear with a grim expression on his face. The injured creature tried to back away, but Tsukune simply reached out and grabbed its head between his hands. His hands moved. The bear's head turned and a wet cracking sound was clearly heard. Kasumi saw it collapse on the ground... And then the night grew dark once more and the scene was lost from her sight.

XxxxX XxxxX

Kasumi realized that she must have passed out when she woke up in her room back at the inn. From the light coming in through the window, she knew that it had to be morning already. She thought back to the night before and remembered seeing her son fighting a...

"Tsukune!" Kasumi sat up feeling a moment of panic.

"Mother?" Moka said from beside the futon.

"Where's Tsukune?" Kasumi demanded. "Moka, is he hurt? Did anything happen..."

"Tsukune is fine, Mother," Moka said soothingly. "He is unharmed."

"But I saw him last night," Kasumi argued. "And there was a bear. I know I remember a bear."

"Tsukune is perfectly alright," Moka gave the older woman a reassuring smile. "Yes, there was a bear, but Tsukune took care of it." Her smiled turned to one of pride.

Kasumi saw the change in the younger woman's expression. There was no hiding that look in Moka's eyes as she spoke of Tsukune. She was glad that her son had chosen to be with someone that obviously loved him so much. Still... something in the back of her mind was bothering her.

"Where is Tsukune now?" Kasumi asked.

"He took father to go fishing," Moka answered.

"Fishing?" Kasumi blinked.

"There was something they wanted to talk about," Moka nodded. "Tsukune was feeling bad about killing the bear last night."

"Oh..." Kasumi nodded slowly. She understood that there were times when a son and a father would need to talk alone. "Wait... Tsukune killed the bear?"

XxxxxX

Kasumi found Tsurara and Mizore on the porch behind the kitchen. The mother and daughter were sipping tea, and talking about how to make something out of bearskin of all things. Kasumi had heard similar things already that morning. The pair of young women that worked for Tsurara had seemed impressed by Tsukune killing a bear. She had heard them speculating if they would be allowed to have some of the bones for carving.

What Kasumi had no way of knowing was that the Mizore's people had a great deal of respect for capable hunters. Tsukune had protected his family, and killed a bear, with his own hands. The meat would help make many meals. The bones and hide could be used for making things, ether practical or ornamental, using the traditional arts and crafts of the snow fairies. What could not be worked or eaten would be added to the soil of a garden to further help provide for the hunter's family.

"Excuse me," Kasumi said as she stepped out onto the porch.

"Good morning," Tsurara offered.

"Good morning, Mother Aono," Mizore said. "How are you feeling?"

"I am alright," Kasumi said. "I was just too excited last night. I was so surprised to see a bear."

"I am sorry," Tsurara said. "I am used to living away from cities, so I had not thought to warn you."

"I am even more surprised that my son was able to... to..." Kasumi started to shake her head. "It seems too impossible for words."

"Tsukune is a remarkable man," Tsurara said with an approving smile. "He has earned the respect of my people for all that he has accomplished."

"Mother..." Mizore chided in a low voice.

"It is true," Tsurara said to her daughter. "And your children are going to be loved all the more because of it."

"Mo~therrr..." Mizore blushed.

"But Tsukune..." Kasumi spoke up. "How... I mean, it was a bear..."

"Mother Aono," Mizore sad to her. "When Tsukune heard you last night, he did not hesitate. He has always been a loyal friend. Sometimes because of his loyalty to us, he as put himself in harm's way, and I am sorry for that. But because he has been willing to risk himself for others, he has become very strong, and capable of protecting those that are important to him." Her face lit up with an emotion filled smile. "Tsukune would never let a bear stand between him and protecting his family."

Kasumi was unsure of how she should feel at that moment. She was relieved that her son was alright. It bothered her that her son had apparently been placed in danger enough times that a wild bear didn't frighten him. The idea that her gentle son could fight a bear, and win, made her head spin. But seeing the way Mizore, her mother, and Moka earlier, all approved and admired Tsukune made Kasumi feel proud.

XxxxxxxxxxX

Tsukune and his father returned to the manor in time for lunch. Each of them was holding a fishing rod and a string of fish. The fish were immediately snatched away to the kitchen to be added to the menu for dinner, while Tsukune and his father were given the time to clean up. Kasumi waited long enough to make sure her husband didn't smell of fish before she descended on him. She had every intention of finding out everything the two Aono men had talked about. Tsukune was given a little more time to compose himself, but then was surrounded women that loved him. Even Ruby had pulled herself away from her research and other duties to check up on her master.

Tsukune had been feeling guilty for killing the bear. It had been just an animal after all, and probably frightened. Once he had saved his parents, he realized that not killing it would mean leaving it to a slow death, or risk it wandering around injured, possible into the near by village. It had been the right thing to do, but is still left him feeling bad.

In contrast to how Tsukune felt, Moka and the rest were feeling various levels of happiness over the situation. Killing a bear to protect (and/or feed) his family was a big deal for Mizore and her people. Kurumu was kid of excited after seeing Tsukune be all manly and take on a bear. Moka wished that Tsukune wouldn't feel bad about doing something so necessary, but at the same time she was glad about it. Tsukune's kind and gentle heart was still alive and healthy, which made her want to be close to him.

X

OMAKE

Something that might have been...

Enjoy... Or not...

..

"Good morning," Tsukune said as he entered the dining room. He was dressed in a casual kimono that Mizore had brought for him.

"Good morning Aono-sama," Yuki said, bowing where she sat beside Jessie.

"Jessie," Tsukune addressed him. "How are you feeling today?"

"Good," Jessie said with a nod. "And you?"

"Good," Tsukune replied. He made a small nod towards Jessie's companion. "So have you told her about how you fought to protect two women the night of the masquerade?"

"Really?" Yuki perked up.

"I really didn't know what to say about that night," Jessie said. "In fact, I wanted to talk to you that night. It's all kind of a blur, and my old man won't tell me anything."

"Well since you were there," Tsukune said as he settled down at the table across from Jessie. "I'll explain what happened. But first, what do you remember?"

Jessie gave a summery of what he remembered happening the night of the masquerade. He explained that he had attended as an escort for the daughter of someone who did business with his father's group. Everything had been going well, and he had even been able to enjoy himself, and then the attack had struck. That was where things got twisted in his mind. He remembered fighting some guys. He remembered that the attackers seemed to stumble around a lot, trying to find someone to beat up, but they kept finding fights they couldn't win. Jessie remembered that one of the guys he had to fight already had a gashed forehead, and another was acting kind of drunk and confused.

What kept haunting Jessie was how he could not remember what the attackers looked like. He thought that there were monsters. The news said they were terrorists wearing costumes and masks. But no mater how hard he tried, Jessie just could not bring himself to believe the official story, even though he was having trouble remembering clear details about what the attackers looked like.

And then the fight had been over. The press and the police had been everywhere. Jessie remembered posing for pictures, and then, after seeing a couple of girls back to where their parent's were waiting anxiously, he had gone home.

"Well let me start by telling you that you will not want to believe me," Tsukune said. "What you saw at the masquerade was real. The attackers really were terrorists."

"Yeah..." Jessie nodded.

"The thing is, they are the kind of people that you can find anywhere," Tsukune explained. "That guy in class that didn't study enough and got a low grade on a test, only to get angry and look for someone else to blame."

"Yeah, I knew some of those," Jessie agreed.

"Just keep in your mind that the bad guys are the exception," Tsukune went on. "You can have an entire village of good people, but one bad one can give everybody a bad reputation. The terrorists wanted to make trouble, and didn't care who they hurt, as log as they got what they wanted."

"Idiots," Jessie snorted.

"Now what do you remember about the other people attending the masquerade?" Tsukune asked. "What do you remember seeing during the fighting?"

"Monsters fighting monsters," Jessie said slowly. He frowned as he concentrated. "I remember a big, hairy, thing. It threw other monsters like toys if they came too close to him."

"His girlfriend," Tsukune corrected.

"What?" Jessie blinked.

"He was protecting his girlfriend," Tsukune said. "He's a friend of mine from High school."

"You know real youkai?" Jessie challenged.

"Yes," Tsukune said. "There are around us every day."

"I don't believe..." Jessie paused. "You're serious."

"Yes," Tsukune nodded.

"Those terrorists were real youkai," Jessie said.

"Yes," Tsukune nodded again.

"And monsters were fighting monsters," Jessie went on.

"Human and youkai worked together to fight the terrorists," Tsukune said.

"So there are good youkai and bad youkai," Jessie said thoughtfully. "Just like in stories."

"Just like there are good and bad humans," Tsukune explained. "Youkai are just another group of people."

"How do you tell them apart?" Jessie asked.

"If they want to hurt you or rob you," Tsukune answered. "Then they are usually a bad person. If they want to be your friend and get to know you, they are probably a good person."

"How do you tell a human from a youkai?" Jess clarified.

"Your father asked the same thing," Tsukune said with a crooked grin.

"Well?" Jessie pressed.

"The youkai will be the one that tells you they are a youkai," Tsukune said. "But not until they have a reason to trust you."

Jessie just looked at Tsukune for a moment as he thought things through. The man talking to him was talking nonsense about impossible things. Except that Jessie already knew that what he was hearing was true. Taking with someone that had been there, someone that knew what had really happened, seemed to burn away the fog over his memories of that night. Additionally, the person telling him all this was sitting in front of him, looking calm but serious. Tsukune had no problem meeting Jessie's eyes.

"How can you talk about youkai and terrorists so calmly?" Jessie asked.

"Because Aono-sama has fought them before," Yuki said in a voice that was almost worshiping. "He protected our village from them two years ago."

"What?" Jessie turned to the young woman.

"She's right," Tsukune said. "I have been fighting them for years. It is a part of the reason I became a police officer."

Jessie was silent as he tried to make sense of everything again. Before he could think of any more questions to ask, another one of there group, one of the police men found his way into the dining room. He gave Tsukune a questioning look.

"Most people would just think of ghost stories," Tsukune said. "This is a summer trip after all."