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, then you should not read this.

Chapter 287

The man watched the shabby apartment building from across the street as he thought about buying a hat. He was thinking about getting a fedora. That was the kind of hat that classic detectives wore in old movies. He thought he would look cool, with a hat and trench coat. He was good at following people, and if he was going to keep at it he should dress the part.

The man liked being a part of Tate no Kai. The organization was his chance to be a hero. He liked the idea of fighting to help improve the quality of life in Japan. He was willing to admit that he wasn't much of a hero. He was a "C" rank hero at best, but he was still doing his part. He imagined himself with a fedora and trench coat, scouting potential supporters for the organization. In a year or so, when Tate no Kai had shown that they could make a difference, he would be able to walk in to a bar, looking calm and cool in his outfit, and people would show him respect.

The man smiled at the idea of being cool and popular as he watched the old building. He had been sent to keep an eye on that Hito guy. If he had gotten into a car, or called a cab, it would have been a sign that he was not really a local, which meant he was a police spy or some other jerk out to sabotage Tate no Kai. He was pretty sure Hito wasn't one of those however.

Hito had stuck up for that hooker. She wasn't bad looking, but she wasn't a beauty either. Then Hito had taken the woman home. Well if he wanted to sleep with the aunty, that was his business. But if he wasn't really another man struggling to get by, and taking what comforts he could, then he had a strange taste in women.

The man watched the old apartment building patiently. He checked his watch every ten minutes or so. If Hito was just scoring a quick piece, than whoever didn't live in the flat would be on their way after an hours or so. If they stayed in side for more than a couple of hours, it probably meant they were a couple, maybe even shacking up together. As he watched the apartment, the man was unaware of the dark shape watching him from on top of the telephone pole he was leaning against.

XxX

Uwasa was feeling confident as he retired for the night. In truth it was early in the morning, but that wasn't really important to him. It had been a productive night. That bar had been a dry well in the past, but after that Hito had stirred things up, it had given Uwasa an in with the locals. Painting the local street working girls as victims instead of a part of the problem had made Tate no Kai look like they actually cared about the filth. Uwasa suspected that if he hired that one woman on as a housekeeper, 'to give her a chance at a better life,' he would look almost like a real hero.

That was an idea to explore, he thought. He could hire on a girl to cook and clean for him, and then have her visit her old haunts to talk about how Tate no Kai was really all about helping the people trapped at the bottom. He figured that the girl would help him bring in more people. Of course that one from the bar wouldn't do. Not because Hito had a claim on her. She was just too old. No, Uwasa would go for something younger. He'd find a girl that could still clean up and look innocent. That would get him more mileage from the act. Of course she would owe him for the chance to appear respectable. As Uwasa drifted off to sleep he smiled at the though of how he could put a girl to work, when she wasn't busy being a tool for the organization.

The next day Uwasa's positive mood persisted. As he went about his work for Tate no Kai he continued to work up his plans for 'helping' working girls. He made rounds to places that were paying protection to the organization with an eye out for more possible recruits, or potential tools. For the rest of the week he went about business as usual, unaware of the shadows that followed his own.

XxxxX

Tsukune walked in to the private club filled with confidence, and with a smile that made the door man flinch. He was well enough known that he was unlikely to be challenged when he came for a visit. The fact that he was keeping an appointment added to his belief that he would be a welcomed site.

"Aono-sama," Jenna greeted him cheerfully when he entered. "It's good to see you."

"How are you doing?" Tsukune asked politely.

"Better now that you're here," She gave him a smile and a wink.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Ross protested from his usual seat.

"Oh Ross," Jenna pouted as she went to sit on the arm of his chair. "You're sweet, but sometimes a girl wants something a little different." She turned to flutter her eyes at Tsukune. "And Aono-sama is as different as they come."

"Thank you," Tsukune said in a dry voice. "I think."

"So what have you brought me?" Ross asked to get to the reason for the meeting.

"I have a list of businesses for you," Tsukune said as he produced a folded stack of paper. He dropped it on the coffee table in front of Ross as he took his own usual seat on the sofa. "I've researched an area where Tate no Kai is operating. I found the places that are supporting them and weeded out the ones that are just trying to make the best of things from the ones that are more actively in their camp."

"Your people are the lesser of two evils," Tsukune explained. "So I think I would rather you guys work the area than Tate no Kai. I doubt they are willing to get into a turf war, and if they do want to push things that far..."

"My people have experience in that kind of fighting," Ross finished. He picked up the lists Tsukune had provided and scanned through them.

"These are all business addresses and contacts," Ross observed. "How come there are no individual Tate no Kai guys?"

"I gave the lieutenant a list of names to investigate," Tsukune reported. "He can take action from his side of things as he sees fit, and won't be in your business."

"Not bad," Ross grinned. "You're keeping us apart. That will keep Tate no Kai from knowing how much we are sharing."

"It will also keep information from leaking out if either side has been compromised," Tsukune added.

"Yeah," Ross nodded. "After what happened to that one koban, I know Ito wants to deal a little revenge, but wants to protect his people. Keeping secrets is the best way to do both."

"Agreed," Tsukune said.

"I just hope we don't get caught by that rat bastard that ripped up those cops," Ross said as he leaned back in his chair. "If we know where to find him we can throw enough at him that he wouldn't stand a chance, but if he catches us off guard..." He let his words trail off. It was a dark image he was painting.

"Aono-sama," Jenna spoke up. "I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor."

"You can ask," Tsukune replied. "I might say no, but you can ask."

"Well..." Jenna cast a nervous glance at Ross before continuing. "I was wondering. You know a lot of people. If things don't work out here," She gave Ross another quick. "If I need to, do you think you could help me find a new job?"

"Hey now," Ross protested. "What brought this on?"

"It's about what you were just saying," Jenna said. "That 'rat bastard' you mentioned. We all know that it's a youkai of some kind. If we're going to have to worry about him coming after us, I don't want to be..."

"You know we protect what's ours," Ross said firmly.

"I know you do," Jenna said. "And I feel the same way. I want to do what I can to help out. You and the family have been good to me, and I want to do what I can to protect it."

"You what?" Ross blinked.

"If you're sure about this," Tsukuen said. "I'll help you if things don't work out."

"Thank you, Aono-sama," Jenna said in a serious voice. She turned to Ross and gave him a level look. "But if I do, I am going to be putting you on the spot."

"What are you talking about?" Ross demanded.

"Ross, what's it worth to you to have a youkai ally?" Tsukune asked.

"What?" Ross sat up with a jerk.

"Remember what I've told you," Tsukune said. "The key to getting along with a youkai is trust."

"Yeah," Ross said with a small nod. "You keep saying that."

"Well think hard about how much it's worth you you," Tsukune explained. "Because it's time to live up to your word."

"What?" Ross question. "How?"

"Ross," Jenna said as she stood and turned to face him. "I am an Ailuranthrope."

"A what?" Ross gave her a puzzed look.

"Ailur-thrope?" Tsukune questioned. "Is that a kind of shape shifter?"

"Yes," Jenna gave him a pleased smile.

"Wait..." Ross frowned and looked at her closely. He studied her for moment, as if surprised to see her. "One more time. You are a what now?"

"I am an Ailuranthrope," Jenna explained. "A shape shifter. I am a kind of African youkai."

"Holy shit!" Ross exclaimed. "All this time, and I've had a youkai right here?" He turned to Tsukune. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't my secret to tell," Tsukune shrugged, trying to project a sense of calm.

"Even after Onna came out?" Ross demanded as he turned back to Jenna. "You couldn't tell me a couple years ago?"

"I told you," Tsukune said. "It's about trust. Jenna had to be sure it was worth the risk to let you know her secret."

"What made you think you couldn't trust me?" Ross gave Jenna a hurt look.

"You're a married gangster that can't keep his hands off of me," Jenna said, expecting him to get her point.

"But Tsukune's got women all over him," Ross argued as if that made his actions appropriate.

"He has women all over him, because he has earned their trust, respect, and love," Jenna pointed out. "You like to be all over women. There is a difference."

"Hey," Ross said defensively. "I like women."

"I know you do," Jenna said. "Which is why I wasn't sure I should trust you."

"Fun is fun," Ross said firmly. "Business is business. Go dress however you want, and when you're ready, we'll talk business."

"Looks like I'm finished here," Tsukune said as he got to his feet. "Jenna, if things don't work out, let me know and I will see what we can make happen. Ross, good luck."

"I'll see you, Aono-sama," Jenna said with a smile.

XxxX

"So we both have some working for us now," Tanaka Ito observed when Tsukune finished telling him the story. "I guess she is worried if she was finally willing to let Ross know the truth."

"You are not surprised?" Tsukune asked.

"I had my suspicions," Ito replied. "I never asked Onna, because I didn't think she should be made to betray somebody's confidence just because she was working for me now. I am a little surprised that you are telling me her secret."

"She came out to Ross," Tsukune said with a shrug. "I am guessing it is only a mater of time before he tries to boast to you about it, because there are so few people he can tell about it."

"That makes sense," Ito nodded.

"And it gives Jenna a little extra insurance in case things don't go well with Ross and his people," Tsukune explained. "If Jenna suddenly needs to get away from them, you are likely one of the people she would trust to help her."

"I would," Ito agreed.

"Just to be on the safe side," Tsukune went on. "I will keep a line open with Jenna to make sure she is not being taken advantage of. Ross' people might try to use her in their day to day business, and that would be an abuse of her power and her trust."

"That would be bad," The lieutenant nodded. "But what could you do about it?"

"Remember the masquerade ball?" Tsukune asked.

Tanaka Ito shivered as he remembered the night his world was forever changed.

"I have gotten stronger since then," Tsukune explained. "The youkai of Japan have an equal right to a peaceful life as anybody else. As much as you want to protect your neighbors, I want to help the youkai that are a part of our world to have a chance at a normal life."

"I can respect that," Ito said. "It doesn't really make a lot of since to me, or make me happy, but I can respect it."

"That's good enough for me," Tsukune said with a nod. "If everybody could respect each other, if only just a little, there would be a lot less trouble in the world."

"And there would be a lot fewer places where groups like Tate no Kai could hide from the law," Tanaka added.

"And speaking of Tate no Kai," Tsukune said. "I should get back to work."

"Good hunting," Lieutenant Tanaka offered.