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 288

Tsukune was pleased with how well things were going. His company had picked up four new contracts in the past two months. One was an entire neighborhood. The area was just a little too close to a train station and shopping district for the comfort of the parents in the area. While there was a police presence in the area, the public employees could not be everywhere. The families in the area took up a collection and shopped around until they found a company that would provide the services they wanted within their budget.

Tsukune's company had not been the neighborhood's first choice. The first choice had lost the contract after two different guards had been caught sleeping on the job. The second company had accepted the contract, but always had an excuse why a guard wasn't available. It was a zashiki bokko, a local spirit akin to those that inhabited Tsukune's offices, that had brought word of the available contract. There had once been an old home in the neighborhood that had burned down with its owner inside. Years later the property had been cleaned up and made into a small park, waiting until somebody would claim it. The old stones of the hearth remained, framing the truck of a young tree. The zashiki bokko still looked after the property, and by extension, the children that visited the park to play. The neighborhood was not close to Tsukune's offices, but the spirits of the region had spread the word of how Tsukune had shown respect and consideration with those that shared his property.

A scrap of paper had made its way to Tsukune's desk. Carried there by the local spirits, it was a notice of a neighborhood meeting to discuss a new security company to look after the area. Battered and damaged by its journey, it was still legible. Tsukune could feel the energy it had picked up from its handlers and thought it was worth investigating.

Like many neighborhoods in Japan, the area had been built up on a hill side. It was another farming area that had been absorbed by expanding development. Tsukune took Hiru out for several rides through the area, getting a feel for the neighborhood and learning the lay of the land. He took note of the key areas, such as the train station and local schools. The night of the neighborhood meeting, Tsukune had arrived at the hosting family's house with the intention of getting the contract if he could.

The locals had been surprised by the arrival of the outsiders at the meeting. Tsukune and Inari had arrived in their best uniforms, with carefully prepared offerings. By touring the neighborhood, Tsukune had been able to estimate the number of people living in the area.

"Good evening," Tsukune had said to the person that had answered his knock at the door. He held up the copy of the notice that had found its way to his desk. "I am sorry to bother you, but I had heard that you might be interested in the services of my company. I am Aono Tsukune, and this is my Second in command, Sansai Inari."

"Good evening," Inari offered with a small bow. In her arms was a flat box filled with small cakes.

It was enough to get them invited in to the house and introduced to the gathered residents. Tsukune was able to take control of the opportunity. He was able to pitch his plan for providing security for the neighborhood. He stressed that his guards would not intrude in people's lives, and they they would be a visible supplement to the police. The plan was to provide a clearly visible security presence that would discourage any trouble makers from lingering in the area, with guards that would be open and friendly with the residents.

"I used to be an officer of the National Police Agency," Tsukune informed his audience. "I know from personal experience how important it is for everybody to share responsibility for their community. Guards are not worth having if they are just going to be strangers walking up and down the street. They need to talk to people. My people will take the time to learn who lives in the area, so they can know when someone that doesn't belong comes into the area."

The neighborhood was suitably impressed by Tsukune's sales pitch. The previous security company representatives had been cool and professional when contacted about the possibility of a contract. Tsukune had come to them, showing a personal desire to win the contract, instead of just being just another business man.

"What happens when one of your guards cannot cover their shift?" One of residents asked, remembering the past problems.

"If we cannot get another guard out to cover the shift," Inari spoke up. "I will do it myself. I am not just an office worker for the company. I am also a veteran of the police with training and experience in a long list of situations."

"And if we catch one of your guards sleeping?" Another person asked.

"Call me," Tsukune said in a cold voice. "I want to know if one of my people is not living up to their responsibilities. I want to know about problems so that I can correct them."

When the meeting was over Tsukune had his contract. He felt a sense of satisfaction over having gone out and won the contract personally. Two weeks later, that contract lead to another. The guards he had put on the job had been friendly and polite, and demonstrated the kind of awareness that they residents of the neighborhood had been looking for. They had been pleased to discover Inari and Tsukune both took the time to check up on the guards, being visible, almost like having additional guards at no extra cost. One of the residents mentioned Tsukune's company favorably at work, which was an accounting firm that was looking for a guard company.

An accounting office doesn't seem like a place to really need a security presence, but business is about money. A smart business plan includes carrying insurance in case something goes wrong. For the accounting firm, the insurance company offered a significant discount if a night security guard was hired. So a balancing act was called for. Tsukune's company was hired to provide security for a cost less than the discount offered by the insurance company. The difference between the two became additional profit for the firm.

With this growth of his company, Tsukune decided it was time to expand his investment in the company. He purchased a car and had it made into a second patrol vehicle. He hired someone to be the night supervisor and to visit the client sites in the patrol car. The car raised his company's visibility. A second neighborhood contracted Tsukune's company to have a patrol drive through twice a night. Tsukune decided that a third company car should be made ready, in case anything happened to the first two patrol vehicles.

One contract had come to Tsukune out of the blue. Looking back, he realized that he should have seen it coming. It had started with an unexpected call to his cell phone.

X

"Thank you for coming to see me," The woman, Mori Nori greeted Tsukune when he entered the talent agency's office.

"How are you doing?" Tsukune asked politely.

"I am doing well," Nori answered. "Kurumu has been a blessing for our agency. In truth, because she has always been very firm about the conditions of her work, she has become active in the agency as a whole."

"Oh really?" Tsukune knew his lover was working closely with the agency. Kurumu had told him herself that she wanted to make sure the agency would help her build what she thought was the best image.

"Yes," Nori said with a small blush. "We are attracting clients because of her, which is normal in this line of work. A successful client inspires confidence in the agency. But a part of the reason we are attracting more clients is because Kurumu has always been careful to build her image around things other than how sexy she can be."

"Yes she has," Tsukune agreed.

"A few clients had even asked for her input on how they should... Adjust the way they approach their own images," Nori went on.

"She has always been a very capable woman," Tsukune said with a proud smile.

"She is definitely something else," Nori agreed. "And we are lucky that she signed on with our agency. We are growing because of her. This brings us to why I called you. The other agents and I have run this agency as partners for years. We have decided to expand out business. A part of our expansion is going to include trying to attract some other names in the industry. We talked about it, and we think it would help our plans if we can show we have security available, both for live events and for body guard services."

"My company can help you," Tsukune said with calm confidence.

"I was hoping you would say that," Nori smiled. "Because we've already laid out some ideas..."

XX

As happy as Tsukune was that his business was growing, he worried about overextending himself. He did not want to expand too quickly, because then he could end up with contract he could not fulfill. He did not want to get into such a rush to hire people to keep up that he ended up hiring men and women that would turn out unable to perform, and in turn would damage the reputation of his company.

While he was working on expanding and managing his company, he had his other wok to attend to. He was still on the hunt of Tate no Kai. His second meeting with the recruiter, along with other Tate no Kai members and possible recruits, had been rudely interrupted by a raid on the chosen bar by a group of yakuza toughs. Fortunately, before the brawl could get out of hand, the police responded to the disturbance call. In the middle of the commotion, "Hito" helped "Uwasa" to escape out the back.

X

The business of Tate no Kai had been disrupted in the area. Most members managed to avoid arrest, but were left shaken. Follow-up police activity in the area kept the pressure on Tate no Kai. When Tsukune made contact with the recruiter again, he was told to keep quiet and try to stay out of sight, because he suspected someone in the area had been busted and was telling the police everything they knew to try to stay out of jail.

Unfortunately, someone higher up in Tate no Kai felt that the police activity called for a response. In another district there was a rash of smash-and-splash attacks. While the police were trying to keep much of their investigation subtle, Tate no Kai wanted attention. Tsukune knew he had to shift his area of focus to match.

It was almost a game of tag. Tate no Kai would build a presence in an area. Tsukune would follow and learn what he could. The information he passed on to Ross and/or Tanaka would bring a response to deal with Tate no Kai. The organization would then move its focus to a different area.

Tate no Kai learned quickly that returning to an area where they had already been driven out of was much harder than trying to start fresh elsewhere. The police and the Yakuza spent time making alliances within their different areas of influance that would limit Tate no Kai's potential influence where they had already been broken up.

xxxxXxXxXxXxxxx

The office was looking better, but the general of Tate no Kai was still unsatisfied. As long as he kept things small and quiet he could expand his reach, but having a long reach if he was too weak to accomplish anything was next to useless. The general wanted results. His ego demanded that he gain the control he craved. The man studied the reports and tried to understand what was going wrong.

It was a simple plan. He had used it even while still in school. He gathered a core of loyal followers. He showed them how they could enjoy power over others. He used his own power over them just enough to keep them in line. His followers then set out to build followings of their own, which he would then order how they were used.

He had failed only one time. That one failure had burned at his mind, but he did not have the justification to seek revenge back then. He had been shackled by the rules of the power he had claimed for his own. Unable to face his own unsatisfied urges for revenge, he had made a show of moving on. It had taken time to rebuild after that. His most loyal followers were still bound by their power to follow certain rules, but that was not a bad thing.

Eventually his enemy had gained in power and tore down the memory of what the general had built. The enemy had usurped what should have been for the general's legacy and took it apart. The general had been trying to restore his power at the time, while trying to erase the shame of his failure. When Fairy Tail had finally been broken, the general was one of many that had been forced to duck and cover.

He had not been 'the general' back then. He wasn't trusted enough to be allowed power of his own. He had served well enough however, that when things broke, he had to look for shelter against the coming storm. It was while hiding among old men, old human men, that the general had discovered Tate no Kai.

Now he was Tate no Kai. He had taken control of the remains of the forgotten group and made himself its leader and champion. He took the rank of general as his title and appointed officer to serve him. It was satisfying to raise up above any station his enemy could ever hope to claim. But as much as he needed to build his network of followers to increase his power, something kept going wrong.

The general saw the overall pattern that had emerged in the past months. It was clear that Tate no Kai had made enemies. The police, and the criminal scum of the nation were both the enemies of Tate no Kai. Either one could offer little resistance to the organization. The problem was that the pair of them were both taking bites out of Tate no Kai. It was a one-two combination that was causing problems.

The general tried to see how to work around the two enemies. If Tate no Kai was bold and visible in an area, the police intensified their presence to try to keep the public calm. This appeared to make the yakuza in the region nervous and they would crack down on anybody suspicious to keep the police from looking in the wrong places. If he tried to get Tate no Kai into an area quietly, working through agents and trying to make connections, someone would tip off the yakuza. The gangsters would crack down to protect their territory. The resulting violence would inevitably attract the police. While there would be a lot of arrests, most of the people would be turned lose in a day or less. Unfortunately that was enough shake some members of Tate no Kai. It was also enough for the police to collect names and learn who to watch in the future.

The General looked over the reports with a scowl. He had so many followers, he had so much working for him, but somehow he was still feeling powerless. He looked at the information he had available and came to a decision.

Nothing was going to change if he did not make it happen. Everything would keep running in circles unless he made something happen that broke the cycle. It was time to step things up. It was time to make his enemies bleed.

A/N: Just a quick thank you to my readers that have stuck with me so far. As I try to plan out future projects, I hope some of you will still find something worth supporting in what I crank out.