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 261

"Tsukune?" Inari questioned in confusion. She and Tsukune had left the party and gone out to the parking lot, but instead of getting in the minivan, he had opened the side door and pulled out their bags. "What are you thinking?" She remembered their hotel stay after the earthquake and felt a sense of anticipation.

"I already slipped over to the registration desk and got us a room," Tsukune informed her with a smile. "And made sure to ask for one with a large bath, because I want a chance to clean up."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Inari smiled. She let Tsukune get the bags while she locked up the minivan. "I would love a chance to get really and truly clean."

"Me too," Tsukune agreed. "We can even help each other wash."

Inari let out a happy giggle. She was feeling happy as she followed Tsukune to their hotel room. Just that thought alone made her want to smile and giggle some more. When they reached the room, Tsukune dropped his bag so he could unlock and open the door. Inari was practically bouncing as she entered the room, and then froze and made a strangled, choking sound of surprise.

The room was not what Inari had had expected. There was only a single, large bed. On the table was a vase with a bouquet of fresh flowers. On the nightstand were candles waiting to be lighted. After their undercover mission together, Inari had no problem recognizing a honeymoon suite, even if it was a modest one.

"I did ask for the room with the biggest bath for a couple to use," Tskune said as he entered behind her. He let the door close as he set the bags on the dresser.

"Wait..." Inari turned to him. "Couple? Did you really say that, Tsukune? You didn't ask for a bath for two people, but for a couple?"

"Come to think of it.." Tsukune drawled. "Yes I did."

Inari realized her arms were wrapped tightly around Tsukune, but she didn't remember moving to hug him. Then she was aware of Tsukune's arms around her and her face pressed into his chest. She could smell the odors of the restaurant they had just left, the tinge of something from the fresh air and wilderness where they had been training, and beneath all of that was hit own special scent.

"Let's take a bath," Tsukune said gently.

"Yes," Inari said with a nod, but not letting go just yet.

Xx

When Inari finally let go of Tsukune she tried to think of what would happen next. She turned her attention to her bag and felt a moment of depression. She had packed to attend a training class, and while she had been careful to pack extra underwear and socks, she had lost most of them to the weather when the shelter had collapsed. What she was wearing now she had hand washed and dried over a heater after her helicopter ride. She had one last set of clean clothes, but nothing to wear under them. She was starting to think she would have to wash a set of underwear out by hand when she heard Tsukune on the room's phone.

"Hello..." Tsukune said. "Yes, would it be possible for someone to come to our room to pickup our laundry, or should I bring... Yes... Yes please... Thank you." He hung up the phone and turned to Inari. "They promise to have our laundry done before checkout time tomorrow."

"What do we do until then?" Inari asked, he mind momentarily blank.

"We just have to wear hotel robes," Tsukune said as he returned to his bag. He pulled out his toiletry kit and started to undress as he talked, emptying his pockets and putting his dirty clothing into the bag with the rest of his things. "After we give our bags the laundry service, we can take out time getting clean and enjoying the bath together. If we get hungry, we can call for room service."

"Oh..." Inari blushed at how foolish her question had been.

XxxX

Inari took a moment to inspect her body. Her latest injuries were already nothing more than some angry red lines in her side. She was heeling up well and was glad for that.

"Tsukune..." Inari spoke up. "Do you think I will still be able to wear a bikini?"

"I think so," Tsukune answered as he finished filling the bath. "But you should probably wait a few weeks."

"Are you sure it won't be too distracting?" Inari asked.

"Inari," Tsukune said as he turned to her. "Do you think that maybe you are asking the wrong person when it comes to worrying over scratches and scars?"

"Huh?" Inari turned to Tsukune, who was just as naked as she was, and saw all the scars decorating his body. "Oh..." She blushed, feeling silly.

Once she and Tsukune got down to the business of getting clean Inari started to feel better. She was able to regain her focus as she washed Tsukune's broad back. It was something she knew, and something she wanted to do. By the time they climbed into the bathtub together, Inari was happy and composed once more. She knew just trying to flaunt herself at him didn't get her the attention she wanted so she cuddled with him instead.

"Tsukune..." Inari said in a soft voice.

"Hmmm?" Tsukune responded as he enjoyed the hot water and the feeling of being clean.

"You know that I am doing all of this training for you," Inari said. "So that I can be there to support you and make you happy."

"I know," Tsukune replied.

"So if something happens and my body becomes scarred, you will have to take responsibility," Inari teased.

"Of course," Tsukune said. "You swore yourself to my service after all. That means you belong to me."

"Tsu~kuneee," Inari protested. "You're teasing me."

"You started it," Tsukune retorted.

"Well it's your fault," Inari huffed.

Tsukune just relaxed with his arms around her for a while instead of saying anything. Inari let him get away with it, because she liked being in his arms after all. When the water cooled down they finally pulled themselves from the bath. There was a bed waiting for them. The first real bed since they set off to the training camp.

Because they had enjoyed a large, late lunch there was not much call for dinner. While Inari finished drying her hair, and performing whatever dark alchemy women practiced as a part of taking care of their face, Tsukune slipped down to the vending machines to get a few drinks and snacks. After that he settled onto the bed and turned on the television. He was sipping at a can of juice when Inari emerged from the bathroom all clean and polished.

"Tsukune," Inari said as she climbed onto the bed with him. "Let's watch a movie together."

"Alright," Tsukune said as he offered her the remote.

Inari was very pleased by his acceptance of her request. She had a hard time controlling her smile as she made herself appear calm when she took the remote. She just needed to find a romantic movie to help set the mood...

XxxX

Inari woke with a start. The television was off, the lights were off. Only the glow of the hotel's neon sign showing through the windows lit the room. Inari blinked as her mind put what she saw together. She realized that she had fallen asleep early in the movie cuddled up with Tsukune, and he must have turned off the television and the lights. She pushed herself up and saw that Tsukune was in bed, sleeping on his side facing her. With a small smile she put her back to him and scooted in close enough to feel his body heat.

With a little fumbling on her part, Inari found Tsukune's arm and pulled it over herself. She hugged his forearm to her chest and settled in.

"Good night," Tsukune said softly.

"Wha..." Inari gave a small jump of surprise. He quickly twisted about to face Tsukune. "How long have you been awake?"

"From the moment you moved close to me," Tsukune answered.

"You..." Inari put her hands to his chest and gave a small shove.

Tsukune rolled on to his back with a chuckle, which irritated Inari more. She glared at him in the semi-darkness, but at the same time she took in the site of him. His handsome face had a relaxed smile on it. The robe he was sleeping in was mostly open. His stomach was covered by the blankets, but his chest was bare. She moved in to hold him.

"By the way," Tsukune spoke in a casual voice. "I am proud of you."

"Huh?" Inari questioned.

"I know that you could have changed yourself into a fox and escaped that shelter any time you wanted," Tsukune explained.

"I could have," Inari agreed. "But I couldn't just leave my teammates." That was true as far as it went, but she also had to tough it out to protect her secret nature.

"I know," Tsukune replied. "That is why I am proud of you."

"So do I get some points for it?" Inari asked, looking up into his face with a mischievous smile.

"I don't think so," Tsukune gave her a crooked smile in return.

"Awww..." Inari pouted. "Why not?"

"I think you have more than enough points saved up as it is," Tsukune replied.

"That's not fair," Inari complained.

"You'll just have to ask for something else instead," Tsukune offered.

"Like what?" Inari questioned.

"How about a kiss?" Tsukune suggested.

"I want more than a single kiss," Inari said. "But that's a good place to start." She moved in to kiss Tsukune.

That kiss was the start that Inari had hoped for. Two kisses later she opened her robe and pulled Tsukune's hand to her breast. His other hand held her bottom and pulled her closer. She ran her hands over his body, thrilling at the feel of him as she savored the moment. And then her hand found his manhood. It was hot and hard under her fingers. As she took hold of it, and Tsukune continued to hold and kiss her, Inari understood. The time had come at last.

It was everything she had hoped it would be, and more. Tsukune was a passionate lover, and that passion was all focused on her. His hands and mouth seemed to touch her everywhere, making her entire body feel alive. When the time came, when Tsukune's body was over hers, she embraced him with her arms as she opened her legs to him. His flesh penetrating her own thrilled her in a way she had never known. As they moved together she felt filled with a joy of life and the heat of a summer day.

Inari cried out in ecstasy as she raked his back. The pleasure was more than just physical. The pain of her first time was like a counter melody that made a song all the more powerful. When Tsukune finally reached his release within her, Inari was lost in a world all her own, and he was at the center of it. She held on to him after that. Her body trembled, exhausted from the pleasure of their passion, but unable to let go of him.

"Tsukune..." Inari sighed as if singing his name. "I love you."

"I love you too," Tsukune smiled.

As Inari drifted off to sleep, she had a smile on her face. She would never be sure where what part of that night were real and which were just her dreams, but that didn't mater. She and her captain had become lovers at last.

XxxxxxxX

The next day Inari found it impossible to not smile. Eating, drinking, and talking was all done with a smile. She smiled so much her cheeks ached, but she couldn't stop, and didn't care. A part of her wanted to be all giddy and hyper with excitement. At the same time she wanted to prove that the change in her personal relationship would not effect her professional one with Tsukune. Also, she didn't think Tsukune would appreciate it if she turned super clingy and posessive.

When she returned home Inari turned on a radio and danced around her apartment. Professionally, there was nothing new in their lives. Even in their personal, private relationship, only one thing was different from the day before. Yet somehow, for Inari, the world was a whole new place. Even if she had doubts about how much of it all had been a dream, there was physical proof that she and Tsukune had become lovers. Aside from a few scratches and bite marks on each others bodies, there had been blood in the bedding. Inari's first time had been everything she had ever heard it could be.

Inari prepared her bath and made a token effort of unpacking. She and Tsukune had all of a day off before they had to be on duty at the koban. Others had been covering the koban for them to have time for training, so it was going to be Tsukune and Inari's turns to have long shifts so that other people could take some time off. Inari needed to pack for koban duty, do a little shopping, and try to get her hair done. While she knew that nothing was going to happen between her and her captain, she was also confident that she was not going to be tromping through rain and mud, so it wouldn't hurt one bit to be pretty.

XxxxxxX

"Welcome home Master," Ruby said when Tsukune walked in the door. "I hope you had a good trip. You are returning home a day later then you had planned."

"The training went well," Tsukune explained as he passed his bag to one of the Me sisters. "Right up until the weather turned bad."

Tsukune headed for the bedroom to change. Ruby followed him, listening to the story of everything that happened. She felt a thrill when he talked about going to search for the missing team. She was hanging on his every word as he described the scene where he discovered the destroyed shelter. She was so caught up in what he was saying that Ruby almost missed what he was doing. Tsukune was undressing.

Ruby's eyes went wide. Even before he got to the part of the story about the party, she saw the scratches on his back. They were already reduced to just tiny, thin lines, and they would probably be gone all together in another day, but Ruby recognized them just the same. She had her suspicions about where, and who, they had come from. When Tsukune reached the part of the story about the hotel, Ruby knew she was right.

She had to fight down a wave of jealousy. Ruby understood her place. She was Tsukune's slave, and had no right to demand his affections, or that he withhold them from somebody else. She was proud of how well she kept herself under control. At the same time she felt a sense of excitement because Inari had become her friend, and she knew how much Tsukune meant to her.

"I know that you have made Inari very happy," Ruby said to her master.

"I know," Tsukune said, and then he sighed. "It was probably a mistake in some way, but I hope it is only a small one."

"You should not worry about such things," Ruby said to support him. "Inari is as loyal to you as I am." Ruby was proud of how smoothly the words had come out, especially when it had been so hard to say them. "There is no reason why you cannot do as you please with your servants, and I am sure you feel that it is only right to reward us once in a while."

"Yes yes..." Tsukune sighed again. "Moka would tell me the same thing. I should probably not bother telling her about Inari, but I probably will."

"But not today," Ruby said.

"What?" Tsukune questioned.

"Master," Ruby said with a smile. "Dame Akashiya wished for me to inform you that she was called away to attend court with Lord Gray. She tried to call you, but was unable to reach you."

"When was this?" Tsukune asked.

"Four days ago," Ruby answered.

"I see," Tsukune nodded. "So I guess it will just be you and I tonight, Ruby."

"Why Master," Ruby put on an innocent smile. "The way you say that sounds so intimate."

"Save the intimate part for after supper," Tsukine said. "I am going to wash up now, and then do some studying. Let me know when supper is ready."

"Yes Master," Ruby curtsied with a wide smile.