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 270

"Are you sure about this?" Ross asked his son.

"I am," Jessie said with a firm nod. "I love her."

"Have you asked her yet?" Ross questioned.

"Not yet," Jessie admitted. "I wanted to talk to you first. I know we talked about me being a part of the organization, but I wouldn't feel right joining them and marrying Yuki. I'll still front for you if I can, but I have to do what's best for my business and Yuki first."

"Well a man has to do what he feels is right," Ross nodded in understanding.

"Thanks Dad," Jessie said with some relief.

XxxxX

"Tsukune..." Mizore called out happily as Tsukune crossed the front garden towards her.

"Dadadadadadada..." Fumusume hollered as she ran on bare feet across the snow. The toddler was excited to see her father.

Tsukune crouched down to receive Fumusume as she crashed into him. She hugged his neck as he scooped her up with one arm. He gave her a kiss on the forehead as he stood again. With a wide smile he carried her to where Mizore stood holding Natsuko.

"Welcome, Tsukune," Mizore said with a warm smile of her own. "I am glad you could come to see us."

"So am I," Tsukune said as he hugged her with his free arm. "I was surprised when I got your message." He gave her a kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too, Tsukune," Mizore blushed with happiness. "Please come inside."

Moka lead Tsukune into the house. A pair of snow maidens appeared to take the children off to play. There was never a shortage of babysitters around the village, which was useful when Tsukune came for a visit. Tsukune hoped that they were not expecting him to introduce them to anybody. He honestly did not have that many close friends, and especially not men, and definitely not single ones.

Once his and Mizore's arms were free of their burdens, Tsukune reached for her once more. Mizore welcomed his embrace and hugged him back. Both of them liked the feeling of being close. For several minutes, all they did was hold each other and share small kisses. Tsukune knew that he was once very, very luck man.

Eventually they got around to talking about why Mizore had sent for Tsukune. She got him installed at the table and fixed him a light meal. While she was putting things together, Tsukune talked about what everybody else had been up to lately. When everything was ready, Mizore knelt beside him to share tea and enjoy his presence.

"Tsukune," Mizore said. "Let me tell you what is happening. A cousin of mine has been seeing one of the men you had brought to help at the manor."

"I hope everything is alright with them," Tsukune said.

"Yes," Mizore said. "Yesterday he asked her to marry him."

"That is good news," Tsukune gave an approving nod.

"Yuki wants to marry Jessie," Mizore went on. "But she is worried about telling him the truth about our people. She has asked him to give her time to think, and then she came to me for advice."

"Jessie is probably about to panic," Tsukune said. "He has been waiting for her answer, so he is probably afraid that he is going to be rejected."

"Yuki wants to give him an answer, but before that, she and I thought it would be best if he knew the whole truth," Mizore explained.

"That sounds like a good idea," Tsukune agreed. He was very happy with the women in his life, but a part of him still wished he had known what he had been getting into before hand.

"The reason I sent for you, Tsukune," Mizore said as she reached out to touch his arm. "Is Yuki said she would feel better if she could have someone with her when she told Jessie the truth. I want to support her in this, but I felt that you would be more helpful."

"Where is Jessie now?" Tsukune asked.

"He is staying at the manor," Mizore answered.

"And Yuki?" Tsukune questioned.

"She is in the village," Mizore said.

"Why don't you and I go and see her," Tsukune said.

"You will help her?" Mizore questioned hopefully.

"Right after I change," Tsukune said as he pulled at his clothing.

XxxxxxX

Jessie had been surprised to see Aono Tsukune. He had been doubly surprised when his girlfriend Yuki had come to talk to him with Tsukune and his lover with her. He had been tinkering with the water wheel that helped make electricity for the inn while waiting for Yuki to give him an answer. When she had arrived, in Tsukune's minivan, he had not noticed because he had been elbows deep in his work. But once Yuki had called out to him she had his undivided attention.

When they all sat down together Jessie had felt out of place. The two women were dressed in yukatas. Tsukune was dressed in a kimono. Jessie was in his bluejeans and a sweater. He had proposed on White Day, and as far north as they were the weather was still cold. He guessed that if he had on enough layers, Tsukune would be warm enough in his outfit, but it always surprised him how Yuki and her friends were anywhere close to comfortable with so little on.

"I hear that things have been going well for you, Jessie," Tsukune said casually to get the conversation going.

"I've been doing alright." Jessie replied.

"You have been able to accept what happened at the dance alright then?" Tsukune thought that was an important question, considering he was asking a youkai woman to marry him.

"I am over it," Jessie shrugged. "I mean, it really doesn't matter what I saw. There were some bad dudes. We beat them. There were some good dudes that helped us. I don't need to stress over the details."

"That is a good way to look at it I guess," Tsukune nodded.

"Look, Tsukune," Jessie said as his nerves got the better of him for a moment. "What is going on here?"

"Alright, I'll cut right to the heart of it," Tsukune said. "You proposed to Yuki. She wants to marry you, but she never expected you to ask, so she was surprised, and a little afraid."

"Afraid? Why?" Jessie questioned. He gave Yuki a worried look. "Baby, I would never hurt you."

"I know, Jessie," Yuki said in a small voice.

"That's not it," Tsukune said, drawing the other man's attention back to himself. "She is worried that when you know everything about her family that you might want to change your mind."

"What are you talking about?" Jessie demanded.

"Just listen for a moment," Tsukune said. "Mizore, Yuki, and their families have lived away from most other people for a long time. This inn is as far as some of them have ever been from their home village. Before Yuki gives you her answer, she wants you to see her village, and wants you to understand her people."

"Yuki?" Jessie questioned her gently.

"Jessie," Yuki bowed her head. "I love you but there is something I have to tell you. I am not a normal woman."

"What do you mean?" Jessie questioned. "You seem normal.. I mean we.. You and I..."

"Please..." Yuki was blushing deeply.

"Jessie," Tsukune send in a firm but gentle voice. "Her people are something out of legends. Think of where we are. What kind of stories to they tell about being in the mountains?"

"I don't know," Jessie rolled his shoulders. "I never paid attention to those kinds of things. I mean, I remember stories about people getting lost and getting eaten, but nothing specific."

"Jessie," Yuki spoke in a shaky voice. "I need to tell you this. I need you to know. I... I..." She took a deep breath. "Jessie I am a Yuki Onna."

"Huh?" Jessie blinked. "The lady that broke up the Beatles?"

"She is a snow fairy," Tsukune explained. "Jessie, Yuki wants you to understand that she is more than human. She is a youkai."

"Huh?" Jessie blinked. He looked at Yuki, then at Tsukune and Mizore. He looked at Yuki again. "So?" He said to Tsukune. "I don't get it. Does this mean she cant marry me?" He turned back to Yuki. "Is this like a vampire things where you can't go to a church or something? I'm fine with just going to an office for a civil marriage."

"You may have to show him," Tsukune said.

"Show me what?" Jessie asked.

"Yuki," Tsukune addressed the nervous snow woman. "Have you made a statue in the village garden?"

"You know about that?" Yuki squeaked.

"Mizore and I go there sometimes," Tsukune told her. "She has even shown me the monument."

"What are you talking about?" Jessie asked.

"Why don't we take a trip to her village," Tsukune said. "There are some fantastic things to see, and it will help you to understand what Yuki is worried about."

"Alright," Jessie said as he stood up, eager to understand what the others were saying, and nervous about still waiting for a clear answer to his proposal. "Let's go."

XxxxxxxxX

When Tsukune and Mizore left the garden, Jessie and Yuki were holding hands and headed to her family's home so she could tell her mother the good news. When Jessie was ready to leave, somebody would help him. If nothing else, if Tsukune was already gone, Mizore could loan him Shiro.

Tsukune wished Jessie every happiness and success with his marriage. He knew how important a successful marriage was to Mizore's people, but more than that, he just wanted to believe that happy endings were more than just something from a story.

"Tsukune," Mizore said as they walked back to her house. "How long can you stay tonight?"

"I have to be back to work first thing in the morning," Tsukune said with a sad smile. "So I will have to wake up early."

"I understand," Mizore said. She gave him a mischievous look. "I guess we had best go to bed very early."

"I guess we better," Tsukune winked. "But what about dinner?"

"Don't worry, Tsukune," Mizore cupped her breast suggestively. "I will take care of you."

XxxxxxxxX

The next day Mizore heard all the excitement as she walked to her mother's house. Yuki's engagement was the talk of the village. It was the only relationship in the village more romantic than Mizore's and Tsukune's. Tsurara as it turned out had heard everything before Mizore arrived.

Because she had been senior most of their people involved with the manor turned inn when it was being first restored and used, she had been made the honorary manager of the place. As it grew in popularity, the role of manager became more permanent. Now Tsurara was seen as the person in charge of the inn, and with Yuki's engagement, there was a long list of people that wanted to talk to her.

Women who wanted to work at the inn, or wanted to get their daughters a turn at working there, all wanted to talk with Tsurara. Between Yuki's engagement and Mizore's relationship with Tsukune, there was new hope for the future of the village. The bravest girls from the village were all willing to try attending Youkai Academy. With the inn, there was a chance for the more timid young women to meet men from outside the village.

It did not take long for the village gossip to put the pieces together. Something that Mizore had not thought about, and Tsurara had almost overlooked. Tsukune had been involved in everything. He had met Mizore at school and saved her. He had proved that he cared about her. He had taken her as his winter wife. He had found the old manor. Tsukune's wish to use the manor had brought about its restoration. Tsukune had brought Jessie to the manor.

Tsukune's reputation had been lifted up a little higher. More families wanted to help look after Mizore's children in hope of receiving some small measure of her good fortune. Snow maidens were interested in being Mizore's maids, hoping that Tsukune might bring a guest to visit that they could meet.

Word spread from the village. The snow maidens at school received word of Yuki's engagement. The story behind it, with some embellishment, was shared in letters sent to the girls away from home. Tsukune's name was well enough known that the snow maidens knew exactly who was involved in making Yuki's romance possible. Down below the girls' dorms, in a not quite forgotten, not quite secret room, a few fresh candles were added to the shrine.

XxxxxX

"Tsukune," Moka glared at him as he did the dishes. He had finally gotten a little time free and used to to catch up with Moka, who had cooked them supper. "Why can't you take a little time off?"

"I want to," Tsukune said. "But between work and school, I don't have a lot of choices."

"This just is not fair," Moka pouted.

"Why don't you call my mother," Tsukune suggested.

"You wouldn't mind?" Moka asked. She visited with Kasumi every month, so she did not think there would be a problem, but she wanted to be sure.

"Mother lover you," Tsukune said confidently. "Going shopping for a dress for Jessie's and Yuki's wedding is something she would be happy to do with you."

"It would be nice..." Moka said absently.

"You should see if Ruby and Inari are free to go with you," Tsukune added. "Mother would love the idea of having you all with her for some shopping. Ruby probably doesn't get out as often as she should, and I know Inari could use a break."

"If everybody is going shopping," Moka wanted to know. "Who is going to look after you?"

"What?" Tsukune blinked.

"You're not using this as a way to go and see someone else are you?" Moka accused. "You're not just trying to get out of shopping with me so you can go fool around with Kurumu are you?"

Tsukune gave her a careful look. He was pretty sure that Moka was just teasing him. But pretty sure was not the same as one hundred percent sure.

"I promise I am not just trying to get out of shopping, for any reason," Tsukune said. "And I can take care of myself. I do know how to cook and everything."

"I know you can, Tsukune," Moka gave him a little pout. "But I just like to know you will be alright. I worry about you."

"Thank you for thinking about me Moka. But just so you know, if I am not a work," Tsukune said carefully. "Or at school, I will be home either sleeping or studying. If I need anything, I can have the Me sisters cook or clean or whatever."

"It's that 'whatever' that I am worried about," Moka muttered to herself.