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 293

The restaurant manager was trying hard to not let his nervousness show. Three beautiful women had entered her business during her busiest time of the day. One of them as the Sweetheart Chef, and the idea of being the manager on duty when a food critic paid a visit was not a pleasant one. The manager was not the only one feeling the tension that evening.

Inari was not sure if she should feel out of place or not. She did know that the restaurant was not the kind of place she would normally visit on her limited income. While Tsukune paid her well enough, and she was now living rent free, she still wanted to keep a practical handle on her quality of living. It was Kurumu that had insisted on buying dinner that night, so the succubus had picked the destination. That aside, Inari had been surprised to be invited out by two of Tsukune's most favored lovers.

Inari knew that her captain cared about her. He even had said that he loved her. Inari liked to imagine what life would be like if her captain could be hers alone, but she never fooled herself in to believing that she held anywhere near as an important place in his hear as Moka and Kurumu. She doubted that she even ranked as high as Ruby most of the time, but she was trying her best to get there.

"Now don't be shy, Inari," Kurumu said as the waiter handed out menus. "You've been working hard and deserve a little reward."

"Excuse me?" Inari questioned, not sure if the other woman was teasing her or not.

"What Kurumu means," Explained Moka, who was showing her pink hair and green eyes that evening. "Is that she and I are aware of how hard you have been working supporting Tsukune. You will recall that even back in school we counted it as important that Tsukune had the aid he needed to keep from over working himself."

"I remember," Inari said as she thought back to her high school days.

"Inari," Kurumu spoke up. "Me and Moka are glad that we can count on you, as a friend. We want you to know we appreciate all you do for Tsukune."

"Thank you," Inari replied. "You know I will always do all that I can to support my captain."

"There is one thing more we do ask of you however," Moka said is a voice that was as cool and firm as iron. "If Tsukune appears to ever be at his limit. If you ever think he is at risk of losing himself; you will let one of us know."

"You can call me any time," Kurumu offered.

"Or Ruby," Moka added as she shot the succubus a dark look. "Or myself. Even Mizore, should be notified if the rest of us are unavailable. Tsukune has a bad habit of pushing himself. You will promise us that you will not let Tsukune come to any harm because he can not see that he is pushing too hard."

"I will," Inari said with a nod. She knew that if it ever came down to it, she would sacrifice anything to protect her captain, even from himself.

"Thank you," Kurumu said with a smile as she flipped open the menu. "I hear they have good lobster here."

The conversational whiplash reduced the tension among the three women. Soon, they were all talking about the menu casually. Inari started to relax as the mood turned more social. She knew that the others had only tolerated for Tsukune's sake in the beginning, but she was finally being seen as a part of their close circle, and it felt good.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kokasan went through her days with a smile. In a way she was living a dream life. After Hito, Tsukune, had paid for her escape from her old life she had been working hard to make things better for herself. She had found an adult education program, a small apartment, and a part time job at a bakery. Things were tight, and it had been a lot of hard work, but she was finally going to get her high school diploma.

Kokasan knew she would not be able to survive on her own for too long. Until she had more schooling she would have to look for ways to save money, and make money, without falling back in to her old life. Part time jobs helped, but she knew it would not be enough. The money that had been her seed for growing a new life would not last long enough. She hoped to find a roommate to share living expenses with, but didn't know anybody that would be desperate enough that she could really trust.

Kokasan was surprised when someone knocked on her door one Sunday morning. A little worried about her past life catching up to her, she was cautions enough to use the peep-hole in the door to see if she could identify who would possible be visiting her. Her surprise shot through the roof when she saw a face she recognized. Suddenly she could not get the door open fast enough.

"Hito!" Kokasan exclaimed happily as she pulled the door open.

"Hey K'san," Tsukune said with a crooked smirk. "How's life?"

"I'm so happy to see you," Kokasan pounced on Tsukune with a hug. "How did you find me?"

"I'm a private investigator," Tsukuen reminded her.

"Well I'm glad to see you anyway," Kokasan said. She relaxed her hug and took his hand instead. "Come on in. I'll make some tea and you can tell me what brought you to come see me." She was smiling like a child in a toy store as she pulled him into her small apartment.

It took a few minutes for Kokasan to settle down enough to hear Tsukune's story. She was happy enough to see him that she was a little hyper as she busied herself with making tea. Finally she was able to set out the small tray table and kneel down next to her handsome guest as she served refreshments.

"So..." Kokasan prompted.

"It's for a case," Tsukune said quickly, wanting to make it clear that he was not looking for any emotional or physical relationships. "I was wondering if you would be interested in working for me, to help me with an investigation."

Kokasan listened while Tsukune explained most of the plan to her. A part of her was disappointed that his interest in her was so mercenary. He wanted her help because she was experienced with living in a low income area, while doing the kind of unsavory kind of work that fit in well in a run-down area. Tsukune was interested in making use of Kokasan's experience for dry, professional reasons. At the same time she was excited that Tsukune thought highly enough of her to seek her out for her mind, and that he was willing to trust her with something he obviously though to as important.

"So what I need is a reason to be visiting the area regularly," Tsukune was explaining his reason for visiting Kokasan. "Having a girlfriend living in an apartment there would be a perfect excuse."

"I don't know if I want to move," Kokasan replied. "The commute to school is a challenge as it is. And I would still need time to work."

"You would be working for me," Tsukune told her. "I will pay for the apartment you will be using, and pay you full time hours. You can still go to school, and you don't have to move out of here. When the job is done, you can come back here."

"Well it sounds alright so far," Kokasan said slowly as she thought it over.

"But before you agree, there are a few things you need to know," Tsukune added. "I don't think you will be in danger, but there is a reason I cannot ask anybody else I know to help me."

"Oh?" Kokasan was really curious now. Not only would she get to help out in a way that let her play detective's assistant, but there was a deeper mystery involved than just hunting bad guys.

"K-san, how much do you know about youkai and kami?" Tsukune asked in a serious voice.

"What?" Kokasan blinked, her train of thought stopping abruptly. The question had come out of nowhere and caught her completely off guard.

"Do you believe in spirits?" Tsukune tried again. "Have you ever felt that there was some truth behind old legends and ghost stories?"

"I guess so," Kokasan pursed her lips and frowned as she thought about it, unsure of where Tsukune was leading the conversation.

"I know I am asking a lot of you by bringing this up," Tsukune said apologetically. "But the person I am looking for, he is not a normal person. "

"What's not normal about him?" Kokasan asked.

"From what I have learned, I am looking for someone with an uncommon spiritual presence and sensitivity," Tsukune explained. "That's not too unusual by itself, but it does make him stand out to anybody else that knows what to look for."

"And you do?" Kokasan question.

"Yes," Tsukune nodded. "And that is a part of the problem. Because I stand out in the same way. If I don't have some kind of good reason for visiting the area a lot, I will stand out so badly that the suspect will run away."

"So are you some kind of Mahōtsukai?" Kokasan asked skeptically.

"You... You could call me that," Tsukune nodded after a moment. He decided it was true enough. He did use some magic after all.

"So the reason you came specifically to me for help was..?" Kokasan challenged.

"Because you are a normal human woman that I feel I can trust," Tsukune answered.

"Well I guess now I know how you jumped out of a third story window," Kokasan said. "Unless you are shinobi as well." She gave him a look that challenged him on that point.

"I am nothing like a ninja," Tsukune assured her.

"So you will be Hito again?" Kokasan asked. "That's how I know you best, so that's how I should call you. Do you already have an apartment picked out for me?"

"No," Tsukune shook his head. "But I have the name of a real estate agent in the area..."

X

Kokasan looked around at her new workplace and smiled. It was a little larger than her real home, and a good forty years older. The furniture she had used fit in uncomfortably well with the old building. To save money, Kokasan had saved much of her old furniture when she had left her old life behind. Moving it had been cheaper than replacing it. It was that same furniture that she was using for her 'job.' Tsukune had agreed to her decision, and to buy her replacements for her real home. The end result was just what Tsukune had said he had wanted.

Kokasan and the apartment matched the look well. Her cover story was close to the truth adding to the realism. She was a woman approaching her middle years, trying to improve her life, living in a place she could afford with limited resources. Hito, her boyfriend, was a hard worker, trying to make something of himself, but was not ready to settle down with her and split the rent on a place. It was a believable story, if a little depressing.

A part of Kokasan's moving in was taking the time to meet some of her neighbors. She shared her story with those that cared enough to talk with her. She even found a pair of women, only a few years younger than herself, that were struggling to escape the same life Kokasan had left behind. One had a younger brother, the other had a young daughter. The four of them lived together on the floor below. Kokasan also quickly got to know several old women that had lived in the building since its first decade or so. The aunties, once they felt confident that the new arrival was not looking to bring any trouble, were happy to have a new neighbor.

Tsukune had helped Kokasan move in, but was absent after that for better than a week. He did call every evening to make sure she was settling in alright. The next time he came by, Kokasan was out in front of the apartment accepting a small house plant as a gift from one of the aunties.

"K-san," Tsukune had called out as he came out of the stairwell.

"Hito," Kokasan called back with a smile. She was glad to see him on general principles, but was surprised in a good way when he approached and reach out to embrace her. It was the kind of warm and caring hug she never got enough of. He even leaned in close enough to kiss her on the cheek, where the neighbor she was talking with could not see his face for a moment.

"We're lovers remember," Tsukune reminded her with a whisper, just before grabbing a quick feel of her bottom.

The neighboring aunty was amused by the show. The young man was good looking enough to understand why his woman liked him. The way he made her blush, it was clear that her new neighbor was looking forward to spending a little private time with her man. She quickly exchanged pleasantries with Hito and then made her departure.

Kokasan wasn't sure if she should feel abandoned by the aunty's quick retreat, or happy about it. She was clearly happy about the situation as Tsukune lead her into the apartment, holding her hand all the way. She was feeling a little disappointed that he was only putting on a show, but that was not going to keep her from finding what enjoyment she could.