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 278
It had taken weeks for Tsukune to get a straight and solid answer to his question. It should have been simple. He just needed to know who was his direct supervisor of record. Between special assignments, recruiting work, and the on-going investigations of Tate no Kai, Tsukune's official place in the National Police Agency had gotten lost in the shuffle. He had finally gotten his answer by going through the payroll department.
That information lead Tsukune to an office he had never seen before. Inside that office was a man that Tsukune had never met. It was that man that Tsukune had made an appointment to see.
"Captain Aono," The man behind the desk said when Tsukune walked into his office. "I was, I confess, quite confused when I learned of your appointment with me. In truth, while you are a part of the SDF's Special Security division, it has always just been on paper."
"Yes sir," Tsukune acknowledged. "I was transferred in when I was filming recruiting videos. It had never made much sense to me either."
"Well in any case, I am pleased to meet you," The officer on the other side of the desk said. "Once I started looking you up, I heard a lot of good things about you."
"Thank you," Tsukune said with a crooked smile. "That is kind of you to say, but it does kind of make this meeting a little ironic." Tsukune pulled out an envelope and extended it to the other man. "I am here to give you my official letter of resignation."
"What?" The officer gave a jerk of surprise.
"I am giving notice," Tsukune explained while still holding out the envelope. "I have achieved everything I set out to do during my time with the police, and then some. It is time for me to move on to the next stage of my career. I am not under any contracts, so I am giving thirty day notice that I am resigning from the National Police Agency."
"I see..." The man said slowly. He reached out and accepted the envelope. "I guess I will file this..."
"Thank you, Sir," Tsukune said to the man he had just met. "I hope you have a good day."
"You too," He returned.
XxxXxxxXxxxXxxX
That letter was passed along the proper channels. It started its journey as the head of Tsukune's (on paper) division passed it along to his receptionist. At the same time he inadvertently sent another message out.
"You know that man that made all those recruiting commercials?" He had asked his receptionist, a lower enlisted man. "It turns out that he worked for me all this time."
"Yes sir," The receptionist nodded. He had been the one to research who Aono was when his boss had asked about the appointment.
"He just handed me his resignation from the police," The officer said as he dropped Tsukune's letter of resignation on his receptionists desk. "File this with Human Resources."
"Yes sir..." The receptionist said with a sense of surprise.
The letter and the message continued on their respective journeys from there. Neither one traveled a simple or short way. Office gossip and bureaucracy both had to have their way with things. Days later more people in the agency knew that Aono Tsukune was resigning than had ever known him in person.
"You're what!?" Tanaka Ito demanded when Tsukune told him in his office later the same day.
"I turned in my letter of resignation," Tsukune said simply. "It is time I moved on."
"What? Why?" Tanaka questioned. "I mean... I understand what you are saying, but I don't understand why. I've seen your file. I know how much you've put into your career..."
"I doubt it," Tsukune said.
"... You are on track for a great career," Ito continued. "You have a chance at a life of making a difference for people all over Japan. You are already a hero for what you've done. Think of what else you can have a chance to do."
"I have," Tsukune said. "This is something I want to do for myself, and for my family."
"Is this one of those things?" Tanaka asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not exactly." Tsukune answered. "I just want to have some control over my own life. I want to be in control of my work, and not be controlled by it."
"What do you mean?" Tanaka questioned.
"I am going to get married in just a few more years," Tsukune explained. "When that happens, I want to know that I will be there for my wife. I want to know that I will have the time to spend with Moka."
"And you can't do that while being a police officer?" Tanaka challenged.
"How many nights have you missed with your family?" Tsukune returned. "How many times have you spent the night in your office, or in a car, or out in the rain?" He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I know I have gained a lot from working with the police, but what I want in my life is along a different path than that."
"Alright. Fine. But why now?" Tanaka asked. "We are in the middle of an investigation. Can't you wait until Tate no Kai is finished off?"
"How long is that going to take?" Tsukune challenged. "Months, or even years." He shook his head. "No Even if we were to round up and shut down Tate no Kai tomorrow, you and I both know there will be another problem to deal with. There will always be another threat to face. I need to do this, and I need to do it when it is right for me."
"But what are you going to do?" Tanaka wanted to know.
"I am opening my own company," Tsukune said. "Private security and investigations. "I just got the last of my license and have everything ready."
"Investigations?" Ito blinked. "If you're going to do that, you might as well stay with the police..."
"But this will be 'my' company," Tsukune stressed the possessive. "I will be in charge. I will be on top. It is better to rule my own little kingdom than to serve the king of a large nation."
"But we need you," Tanaka argued.
"You have the whole Police Agency..." Tsukune countered.
"I have an agency full of good people," Tanaka shook his head. "But they are not you. They don't have your... talents."
"I'm sorry about that," Tsukune said with a small shrug.
"And if you're leaving, Lieutenant Sansai is probably going as well..." Tanaka sighed.
"She said she wants to work for me," Tsukune confirmed.
"I can understand what you are saying," Tanaka said in a tired voice. He realized it was an argument that he cold not win. "But I wish I could understand your motivation better."
"I'm sorry," Tsukune said. "But let me have a chance to give you a little understanding of my situation."
"How are you going to do that?" Ito asked.
"Come to my home this Saturday evening," Tsukune said. "I can promise you a delicious meal, and probably an evening your won't be able to forget."
"Should I invite Ross?" Ito asked.
"I don't think so," Tsukune shook his head. "But you can bring your family."
"I will speak to my wife," Ito said.
XxxxxxxX
"He's what!?" Ross practically exploded with surprise.
"He is resigning form the police," Tanaka repeated. "He wants to open his own business."
"Well sonofabitch! I didn't see that coming," Ross shook his head. "I thought for sure he was going to be a career man like you."
"He surprised me also," Tanaka admitted.
"Well shit," Ross sighed. "I guess we'll have to go along without him. But it's going to be a pain in the ass to find somebody to help us with the spooky things." He paused for a moment. "What about that lady that..."
"She's leaving with him," Tanaka cut the other man off. "She wants to work for him."
"Shit..." Ross fumed.
Tanaka just nodded in understanding. Neither of the two men was happy about loosing Tsukune and the resources he offered to their work. He was a creative mind when it came to finding ways to deal with problems, which was always good. His extra special talents were potentially priceless when things threatened to turn bad. Going on without him could be difficulty in the extreme.
"What kind of business?" Jenna asked, breaking the silence.
"What's that?" Ross, who had been starting to brood and look down at his drink brought his head up to look at her.
"What kind of business is Aono Tsukune going to start?" Jenna asked again.
"Good question," Ross said as he turned his attention back to Tanaka. "What is his business going to be?"
"Private security and investigating," Tanaka said with a smirk. "He's resigning from the police to do the same work for hire."
"That's perfect!" Ross threw his head back with a laugh and a grin.
"Excuse me?" Tanaka questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"It's simple," Ross explained with a smile. "We hire him. We can hire him as a consultant and investigator."
"I'm not sure..." Tanaka began.
"Oh come on Bro," Ross cut him off. "You and I get along well enough. Hell, I'd even say we're friends. But let's be honest here. Man to man, you've always been a little twitchy about working with me and my team so tightly. You get a budget approved for hiring a consultant and bring Tsukune back on board with us. I'll get some cash from my people and pay him as well. Between the two of us we can make it worth his while to keep the team together, and on paper, you'll have a little legal and reasonable buffer between us, and a reasonable and legal connection. With both sides hiring Tsukune's company, if there's some information slipping across the fence he will be your out."
Tanaka took a moment to think the idea through. Getting a budget approved to hire a consultant could be difficult. He would have to find a way to explain why it was needed. On the other hand, the idea had real merit to it. Both for keeping Tsukune as an asset, and as a way to insulate himself, and the police agency as a whole, from being too much in cooperation with the yakuza, who were the lesser of two evils at the moment, but were still criminals.
"It could work..." Tanaka nodded slowly.
"I think it would be perfect," Ross grinned. "And just think, with him working for us sideways like this, you can cut out a pile of red tape. When we want him to do something that might be a little... more my side of the street let's say, it won't have to go into any of your reports."
"It would be worth exploring at the very least," Tanaka nodded.
"Well then," Ross lifted his drink. "Let's get him in here for some negotiations."
"Not just yet," Tanaka shook his head with a grin.
"Why not?" Ross questioned.
"Tsukune gave thirty day notice," Tanaka answered. "The police are going to get every last day of work out of him that they can."
"Well crap," Ross complained before taking a swallow from his drink.
"Cheer up," Tanaka smirked, "This way we will have a chance to get our budgets together. Something tells me his services are not going to come cheep."
XxxxxxXxxxX
Tanaka Ito and his wife took a few moments to compose themselves. Tanaka Lily was no stranger to the idea of dinners with her husband's coworkers. She had served meals for his peers and superiors numerous times over the years. Such gatherings were usually equal parts office politics and camaraderie. However, she found herself actually looking forward to the evening with Aono Tsukune. He had shown himself to be a good friend to her daughter, and had saved Ito's life once. Also, he was one of the people that was in on the Big Secret. He, and several woman that he was close to, had been at the remarkable wedding, so Lily would be able to talk freely abut everything she had seen and heard. She really wanted to have people she could talk with about the impossible things she had learned in the past few years.
Ito and Lily had dressed up a little for the evening. It was all a part of the office politics of such a dinner. As the senior of the professional relationship, Ito and his wife should present an appearance that showed maturity and a touch of quality. The junior would be well dressed, showing that he took the company of his superior honoring his home seriously. While it was supposedly a casual gathering, the political side could never be ignored.
When Ito had pulled up at the address they had been given, Lily had been a little surprised. She and Ito had gotten out of the car and taken a moment to make sure they were not looking rumpled from the drive. Lily used that moment to size up the building. The building looked nice, but she was very aware of how limited the pay of a police officer usually was. She suspected that the apartment was going to be a little crowded with everybody around the table. She didn't think that the young Aono would have all of his lady friends present but she did recall that he was engaged to one of them. It would probably be a total of four people gathered for dinner, with the fiance being the one doing the cooking.
Lily's received her second surprise as she and Ito approached the building. A woman approached them, dressed in a maid's uniform that was mostly conservative, with a touch of sexiness to it. Lily remembered seeing her at the wedding, but had never talked with the other woman.
"Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka," Ruby said as she offered the couple a curtsy. "Thank you for accepting my master's invitation. If you will follow me, I will show you the way."
Lily had been shocked by the way the woman had presented herself. It was a small added surprise that Ito had only given a small sound of surprise before simply bowing his head and gesturing for the woman to lead the way. Lily had gotten use to having her own maid, but the idea that her husband's junior might one as well had never occurred to her.
The elevator had not been a surprise. The building looked new and well cared for, so modern fittings were not out of place. Lily was surprised then the maid took them to the top floor, where only three doors opened onto the hall. She gave her husband a quick look and saw that he had an subtle expression on his face of being impressed.
Ruby lead the guests to Tsukune's apartment and let them in. She had a smile on her face because she was getting to openly serve her master, and that the guests were people that were not a part of his close circle of friends from school. The guests were a part of Tsukune's larger life.
"Please enter and be welcome," Ruby offered with a bow.
Lily had to admit that she was completely taken off guard by what she saw that evening. Aono Tanaka's apartment was close to the same size as her own home. He had a staff of three maids, two of which were almost invisible as they performed their tasks in quick, competent silence. The silver haired fiance was more of an elegant lady than anybody Lily had ever met through her husband's work related dinners.
"Thank you very much for coming tonight," Tsukune had greeted his guests.
"Thank you for the invitation," Ito returned. He made a show of taking in the main room of the apartment. "I admit that I am impressed."
"I know you met at Jessie's wedding," Tsukune said. "But please let me reintroduce you to my Fiance." He held out his hand and Moka stood beside him and took it. "This is Akashia Moka, Dame of the Argent Cairn of the Southerland Cairns and Coast, and the woman whom rules my heart."
"It is a pleasure to meet with you again," Moka said with a serene bow of her head. "I trust that you have been well."
"Yes, thank you," Ito answered.
"It is nice to see you," Lily said. "You have a lovely home."
"I would thank you for your complement," Moka said in a calm, light voice. "But you are mistaken. This is the home of my fiance."
"Oh?" Lily blinked. "On a police officer's income. Surely you must live here as well."
"Please," Moka said modestly, casting her eyes to the side. "What you suggest would be improper. I have my own apartment."
"I do apologize," Lily blushed.
"Still," Ito spoke up. "It is an impressive apartment for a young man working for the police. If I didn't know how frustrated Ross was with your morality, I would suspect you of working for his people."
"I can understand how that might look likely," Tsukune said with a nod. "But come on in, let my servants see to your comfort, and I will explain everything."
"Everything?" Ito challenged.
"Most things," Tsukune corrected himself.
"This should be interesting," Ito said with a smile.