"Momma!"
Kurumu grinned as a little girl with shoulder length pink hair scampered over with arms open wide. The rosy cheeked munchkin was swathed in a bright orange kimono with a pastel yellow maple leaf pattern and a darker yellow sash wrapped about her tiny waist.
"Hatsue!"
Kurumu caught Hatsue in the middle of her jump, hefting the giggling girl up into her arms. She slipped an arm under the girl's firm rump as Hatsue wrapped her arms about Kurumu's neck.
"That's a pretty kimono you have."
"Mhm. Mother bought it for me."
Kurumu smiled at Mizore whom drifted through the crowd at a leisurely pace. The snow woman had on a dark blue kimono with a white lily pattern. No sash was wrapped about the swell of her belly as Mizore tugged her silver suitcase behind her.
Her other hand was holding the tiny hand of her two year old boy, Ikari. Ikari had short, inky black locks and steel blue eyes just like his father. A black sweater was pulled over a long sleeved white shirt which had the hem tucked in a pair of black slacks.
"You know that I have three pretty kimonos just collecting dust in Grandma Yumekawa's closet."
"You should save those for your own baby girl."
"You're the only baby girl I need."
"You shouldn't run off like that, Hatsue. I can't keep up."
Kurumu shifted the weight of the girl in her arms, smiling as Mizore arrived.
"Aoi didn't come to see you off?"
"He saw no reason to."
"I think Nerume's wedding is a good reason. He doesn't have to work over summer break."
"Are you ever going to put that girl down?"
Hatsue brightened up at the sound of Kokoa's voice. She wiggled in Kurumu's grasp.
"Big Sister!"
Knowing it was futile, Kurumu leaned forward to let Hatsue down. The moment her sandaled feet touched the tiled floor, the child rushed over to the dark haired vampire. Hatsue wrapped her arms about Kokoa, pressing her face against Kokoa's belly.
Kokoa's unbound dark hair spilled all the way down to the bottom hem of the pristine white jacket she was wearing open over a black blouse with a high closed collar. Her matching white slacks were pulled over the start of her platform black boots.
"Hey there, Lil Sis. Are you enjoying kindergarten?"
Hatsue giggled, pulling back to look up through the swell of Kokoa's bosom.
"I already know everything they're teaching. It feels like I'm cheating."
"Damn, Shirayuki. I feel like you just told us about being pregnant."
Hotaru strolled over to Kokoa's side. The sylph's beige locks were pulled up in an updo held in place with a golden ribbon matching her tiger orange eyes. That black dress with the puffy short sleeves zipped up in the back. It had a crimped midsection which stretched with her curves before it transitioned into a three tiered skirt which almost touched the floor.
"That was months ago, Hotaru."
Hotaru smirked at Kokoa, waving a dismissive hand.
"I know, I know. How far along are you now?"
Mizore smiled softly, parking the suitcase before brushing her hand against her swollen abdomen.
"Almost six months."
"The doctor says the baby is a girl!"
Kokoa laughed, tousling Hatsue's thick locks.
"Lil Sis is going to have a little sister."
"Mhm. Do you think I'll get taller than you?"
Kokoa snorted, planting her hand firmly on the girl's head.
"Doubtful. I'm taller than both of your mothers."
Kurumu huffed, gesturing at the vampire.
"Not by much if you take those boots off."
"Unless you grew overnight, I still have you by five centimeters."
Kurumu giggled, knowing not to pester the vampire.
"I wonder if Nerume got taller. We haven't seen her since she visited us for Ikari's birth."
"I'm more curious about this mystery man Fairy Tale found for her."
Mizore smiled softly at Kokoa.
"Will Moka be at the wedding?"
"Yea. She's also bringing that annoying witch with her."
Kurumu playfully gasped at Kokoa's answer.
"How cruel of you to say such a thing about Rubi."
"You know which witch I meant."
Kurumu giggled, aware of the phone conversation they had shared with Moka last night. The two would meet them at the hotel in Sendai. The monster community where this guy's family resided was within an hour's drive of the city.
"We should be getting on our train."
Kurumu chimed in an affirmative note with the other ladies as they all started for the platform. She and Hotaru stopped at a bench to collect up their luggage.
"Kurumu."
Kurumu turned and lips were pressed against hers. She sighed as a tongue pushed inside her mouth, pressing against hers. The train station environment fluttered into nothingness as her mind focused upon this welcome invasion. Her heart craved for intimacy.
As the weight upon her pulled away, her eyes opened to a blurry indistinct palette of colors. She sucked in breath as her vision focused upon the face hovering over hers. The slight smile upon thin lips. Lovely sapphire eyes and thick purple locks.
"You were calling my name."
Kurumu smiled, brushing her fingers across a velvety, black blanket drawn over her torso. She shifted her left leg, feeling the smooth fabric against her skin. She breathed in deep, noting how the sensation was the same against her breasts.
"Why am I naked?"
She shivered when Mizore dragged her fingers across Kurumu's inner thigh with only this sensual blanket between them.
"Easier to do the things you like."
Kurumu groaned as her imagination prompted her body to stir with arousal. She grabbed the nearest pillow and swatted the side of Mizore's head.
"You lack the proper equipment."
Mizore leaned against her, pressing her ear against Kurumu's bosom with her arms resting on either side of Kurumu's torso. The snow girl remained seated on the mattress with her butt by Kurumu's hip.
"Not if you just want to be held."
Kurumu sighed, freeing her arm from beneath the snow girl. She placed her hand on top of Mizore's head, running her fingers through thick locks.
"You're going to be happy. A lovely family with Aoi and Hatsue."
"You'll be happy too."
Kurumu was hesitant to deny that. As pleasant as that dream had been, she had not been with anyone. There had been no Nijiro waiting for her in Sendai. Only Moka and Yukari. She suspected that even if her dream had persisted, it would not have included him. Or Tsukune.
"What time is it?"
"Around nine. I came back here right after breakfast."
Kurumu frowned, trying to remember how she got here. She glanced about, confirming that she was in the corner bedroom on the second floor. A pair of three pane windows were behind the bed's curved, black headboard. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the white curtains hiding the glass.
Along the wall was a three drawer dresser which had a lamp and a mirror stacked on top of it. The lamp had a rounded white top placed on top of a glass rectangle framed in gold plated metal which connected to a square golden base. The golden framed mirror was propped up on an angle.
In the corner of the room was a stand with a single drawer and an open lower shelf. Mizore's luggage and all of Kurumu's things rested on the floor in front of this stand. Along that wall was a glass double door leading out onto a balcony overlooking the forest in front of Master Touhou's annex. This door also had curtains which were preventing the sunlight's intrusion.
There was another door near the foot of their bed which opened into a white tiled space with a shower and toilet. There was also a small closet in there but they preferred leaving their luggage in the open.
The last thing Kurumu recalled was trying to fly out of Moka's mind with darkness threatening to close in on her. She had desperately clung to Tsukune's consciousness, needing to take him back to his own body.
"Tsukune?"
Mizore lifted away from her. Kurumu let her hand slide down Mizore's body to rest upon the bed.
"He ate breakfast with us. Moka too."
"What day is it?"
"Thursday, Kurumu. Neither of you woke up last night so we had you carried to your rooms."
Kurumu sighed in relief, grabbing the hem of the blanket and rolling it down to bare her breasts. Her fat pink nipples fully hardened under the chill, having already been partially erect from the lovely fabric.
"That's good. For a moment there, I thought I had slept through Christmas."
"Do you usually celebrate Christmas?"
Kurumu groaned as she scooted up into a seated position. She stretched her hands high over her head, thrusting her tits out. She liked the strain upon her back muscles, adjusting her arms for an equal stretch. Satisfied she lowered her arms back to the blanket.
"Mommy always made a big fuss over it. Didn't your family celebrate Christmas?"
"We exchanged gifts on Christmas and got New Year's money."
"Aren't you a spoiled princess."
Mizore smiled softly, scooting off the bed. The snow girl was dressed in her school blouse and pleated skirt with her purple and white stockings. The outline and shade of her black sports bra were apparent.
"Yes. This will be the first time I haven't spent these holidays with family."
Kurumu managed a smile as she drew the blankets aside. She swung her bare legs over the side of the mattress, easing down on her bare feet.
"Same. My first Christmas without mommy."
Before she could take a step, Mizore wrapped her up in a chilly embrace. Kurumu shivered as she reciprocated the hug, leaning against Mizore.
"I'm naked, Mizore. Did you lock the door?"
Mizore let out a laugh which surprised Kurumu. The frigid snow girl drew back to arm's length and cocked her head with a slight smile.
"But you would know if someone was looking."
"Let me get dressed."
Kurumu smiled when Mizore withdrew her hands. She pranced over to her swollen travel suitcase, kneeling down in front of it. She flipped the top open, noting all of her clean clothes folded within.
"Any particular reason why you wore your school uniform today?"
Mizore made a dismissive sound, stalking over to block Kurumu's view of the door to the hall. Doubting that she would get an articulate answer, Kurumu returned her attention to her selection of clothes. She fished out her crimson bra and panties, deciding to match Mizore for today.
"I should get a job."
"What for?"
Kurumu slung her arms through the straps, fixing them on her shoulders before bringing the lacy cups together to fish the little hooks through the loops. Once she had all three secure, she tucked her breasts for a snug fit inside the cups.
"It doesn't feel right. My gift to Nijiro is a souvenir that someone else paid for. I want my own money to pay for my gifts to my friends."
"Couldn't you make a gift?"
Kurumu huffed as she stood up. She stepped into her crimson lace bikini cut panties, drawing them up over her trimmed patch. She smoothed the hem about her waist before stooping over to snatch up the pleated school skirt from the pile.
"I'd still have to buy materials if I wanted to make something simple like a scarf. I don't even have my own money to buy construction paper to make a cute birthday card."
She cinched the skirt tight about her waist before kneeling back down. She pulled out a pair of socks, setting that aside. She moved her garments around, finding the school blouse and slinging it behind her. She thrust her arms through the sleeves.
"We have friends our age with jobs. Both Hatoko and Satsuki work in that maid café with Bunii. Sure they had to get parental consent but that won't be a problem for me."
"Did you want to be a maid?"
"Not in particular. I spend enough time serving Milady as her maid. I'd rather do something different."
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Tokori is a waitress at her diner. Maybe I could get hired there. Or maybe at Sukoyaka's sweet shop. Her father seemed like a nice guy."
Mizore sighed as Kurumu finished buttoning up her blouse. Grabbing her socks, Kurumu stood up and slipped her feet into the white cotton tubes which could have reached her knees if she wanted them to.
"I don't know whom this Sukoyaka is."
"A second year from band. So where is everyone right now?"
Mizore turned about, starting towards the door which prompted Kurumu to follow. Kurumu had stacked her assortment of shoes alongside the wall near the door instead of leaving them in her luggage.
"They went over to the annex to rouse Master Touhou. Breakfast was barely civil."
Kurumu frowned as Mizore reached the door a couple steps ahead of her. The snow girl tugged open the door, allowing Kurumu to drift out into the hallway which ended with a double glass door out onto that balcony which flanked their bedroom.
"Why? What was wrong?"
Mizore smiled softly as she stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Master Touhou repaired the rosary but Moka was still the silver haired Moka at breakfast."
Kurumu sighed as she started down the hallway towards the main foyer.
"Moka warned him that there was a chance that Hatsue might not return even with the rosary repaired."
"This is hard on him. He's struggling with the realization that Hatsue's personality might not be her own."
Kurumu felt Mizore's chilly anxiety as they steadily made their way down this corridor which ended at the balcony surrounding the main foyer.
"What is personality? Who we are is largely shaped by our parents and our experiences. It's not like a baby has a personality."
"Some babies are more temperamental than others."
Kurumu wondered if that was true, not having much experience with babies. She sauntered out into the main foyer, drifting to the right to follow the balcony over to the break where the stairs went down to the central landing.
"I don't know. It felt like Tsukune was determined to love Hatsue regardless of what she was. He saw-"
Kurumu sucked in a breath as she paused at the end of the railing. She took the first step down.
"No. He felt how much Hatsue longed for acceptance in this world. He's not going to abandon her."
"We can't keep this from him, Kurumu. We have to tell him the truth."
Kurumu grimaced as she made her way down to the central landing. She shook her head as she touched down on the landing and turned left to start down the next flight.
"That's really up to Moka. Yukari mentioned a possibility of making a fake Hatsue."
"Wouldn't that be cruel?"
Kurumu lacked any desire to answer that. She reached the bottom of the stairs and turned all the way about, heading for the arched opening on their bedroom's side of the mansion.
"Why are they bothering the old man if the rosary is already repaired?"
"Tsukune wants the memory matrix to be fixed. Master Touhou did say they were different things."
Kurumu sighed as they started down the corridor. This lone double door on their left opened into the dining room while the door all the way at the end opened into the kitchen.
"And he believes that will bring Hatsue back."
"Yes. He also wants to talk about accelerating his transformation into a vampire."
Kurumu turned right at the double door, starting down this intersecting corridor which would take them to the annex.
"Don't you want breakfast?"
"I think we need to be there for this confrontation with Master Touhou. Unless Moka or Yukari were able to talk to that old man about our Hatsue situation, there's a good chance that Tsukune is going to find out the truth now. I don't want Moka dealing with that backlash on her own."
Mizore hurried over to walk alongside her as they passed by the doors to rooms flanking this corridor.
"I guess. Were we planning to find people to train us while we were here?"
"That depends on how resourceful the Huang family actually is. I honestly don't know if they have any succubi at their disposal."
"I haven't heard of any other yuki'onna communities."
They reached the end of this hall where the other corridor ran in the other directions. Kurumu pushed open the right side of the double door before them, revealing a short corridor on the other side. There was a glass double door at the end which opened out onto a porch below the balcony.
"All we can do is ask. But at least it sounded like Yukari might learn some new things."
Mizore sounded an affirmative as they crossed this short corridor in seconds. Kurumu grabbed the brass handle, tugging it down and pushing the door open. Mizore strolled out onto the porch with the forest in front of them. Kurumu sauntered out, shivering from a mild breeze as she closed the door behind them.
They walked along the porch towards the back of the main house. At the end of this porch was one of the walls which enclosed the courtyard within the annex. A pitched roof with black shingles swept over this wall, providing shade for a narrow, paved walkway. Reaching the end of the porch, they turned right, sticking to the shadows as they walked over to the recessed courtyard's entrance.
Though this place was much larger than the Shuzen Estate, it was nowhere near the size of the school even with the annex included. The walk from their room to the annex felt about the same as her walk from her classroom to the auditorium. And that was with them walking from the upper corner of the mansion back to the central foyer.
They sauntered into the recessed entry on the left. Two men dressed in black suits with black ties and sunglasses flanked the double door which preceded the courtyard. Both men were dark haired but the taller, slender one of the pair had a long goatee and thin moustache. The stockier guard had a smooth, broad chin with a massive, bulbous nose. Kurumu shivered as these familiar guards regarded her with lust while moving to block their entry.
"Damn. That foreigner is as stacked as Ms. Ling."
"Agreed. The definition of high quality breeding stock."
The big guy chuckled while the taller one held his hand up.
"Stop there. You girls here to see Master Touhou, right?"
Kurumu smirked, stopping for the guards.
"Yes. And I speak Cantonese."
The portly guy chuckled, sharing a glance with the other guard whom shrugged.
"I'm not taking back what I said. How about staying in Hong Kong?"
Kurumu rolled her eyes at the tall man's offer. She gestured at the door.
"We're just passing through."
The tall man snickered, moving over to grab the door by its black handle. He tugged it open.
"If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
Kurumu grabbed Mizore by the hand, guiding the snow girl through the opening. The courtyard beyond had brownish red slabs of stone placed in a path from the entrance to the shrine's porch. These stone slabs also ran from the center of the porches of the identical buildings to the left and right of them which also had the pitched, black shingle roofs. This resulted in the courtyard having four symmetrical patches of grass between the porches and the stone paths.
Thinking the stone slabs were clean enough for her socks, Kurumu steered Mizore straight across the courtyard. The three doors to the shrine were open with no signs of anyone inside. She guessed that meant the others were in one of these side buildings.
Suspecting that an old man whom liked to sleep in would not be inside an east facing building, Kurumu directed Mizore over to the building on the left. They ascended the three wooden steps preceding the short porch which ran the length of the building.
The moment she drew open the central door, she heard the voices of her friends.
"-right! I should have been told!"
"It wasn't your decision to make."
Kurumu hurried into the adjacent chamber, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Master Touhou was seated in a luxuriant armchair with crimson, silk cushions stitched into the black leather pulled over the frame. The old man was puffing on a pipe while dressed in just a white robe today. His wrinkled chest was partially exposed.
"Did you know about this?"
Kurumu shuddered at Tsukune's accusation. He stood in the center of this living room, wearing his faded green shirt with his khakis.
"Leave Kurumu out of this."
"Did she convince all of you to betray me like this?"
"It was my decision."
Moka's defiant tone thankfully drew his burning eyes away from Kurumu. The vampire was seated on a couch which matched the style of the armchair. The vampire was garbed in that tan turtleneck and black denim jeans she had worn on the plane. Her arms were crossed as she regarded him with a glare.
"It should have been Hatsue's decision."
"She knew, Tsukune. We all knew."
Tsukune scowled at Yukari whom was sitting beside Moka. The witch was wearing a peach sundress which had its small straps knotted up to better cover her budding bosom. The straps of her white bra were impossible to hide.
"Why should I believe that? I wasn't allowed to talk to her even once since the incident in Yukimura."
"She didn't want to talk to you, Aono."
"That's not true! Hatsue needs me!"
Touhou chuckled with a cloud of smoke.
"While I do find this amusing, I would like to know where you moved this Hatsue?"
"She's right here."
Kurumu shivered at Mizore's statement. The snow girl rubbed her belly with her free hand.
"You put her inside the baby?"
Kurumu stepped defensively in front of Mizore, shaking her head at his shocked expression.
"I'm sorry, Tsukune. It was the only way to save Hatsue."
"Why would you do that to me?"
"She just told you that it was the only way to save her."
Tsukune whirled upon Moka.
"I love Hatsue!"
Moka shot to her feet with her crimson eyes burning with rage.
"I love Hatsue more! I've known her for years. Her thoughts. Her feelings. I know everything about her!"
"She was miserable all of those years. No friends. No family."
"She had me!"
"You weren't enough!"
Moka choked out a sob as her eyes wavered.
"What more could I have done?"
The sudden change of emotion caught Tsukune off guard, causing him to falter back a step. Kurumu released Mizore's hand, rushing over to fold Moka up in a hug.
"This isn't what we discussed. It was my fault. We all know this."
Kurumu shuddered as she felt his eyes turn on her with renewed anger.
"You've been trying to turn everyone against me since you brainwashed half of the school."
Kurumu gasped when Moka returned the embrace fiercely.
"Even if Kurumu had protested against this, I would have asked Yukari to do the spell."
"But you would need my permission."
Moka let out an exasperated sigh, glancing at Mizore.
"You wanted to keep that baby."
"Which should have never been Hatsue! Leave it to Kurumu to convince you all to take the solution that makes sure that I would never get the girl I picked over her."
"Stop it, Tsukune."
Kurumu's heart ached as Yukari stood up defiantly.
"Even if Shirayuki and I were under her mind control, my Moka has taken Kurumu's blood several times. She has always been a willing participant of this plan."
"The reason we didn't tell you is because Mother didn't see you there for the ritual."
It felt like his anger could crush her. She needed Moka's trembling body for support.
"Only because Kurumu has forced me out of her life and has convinced Mizore to do the same."
"What spell did you cast to move her soul from the rosary into the baby?"
Yukari turned to face the elder whom calmly continued to suckle the end of his pipe.
"A soul swapping spell."
"Oh? Is that body yours?"
Yukari blushed, covering herself.
"Of course it is! The Headmaster taught me this spell specifically for this purpose in case we ever did find a body for our friend."
"Soul swap? Does that mean you killed this baby?!"
"It was already dead, Tsukune! This was the only way to prevent Shirayuki from miscarrying."
"I see, I see."
Touhou nodded thoughtfully, puffing a cloud of scented smoke.
"You moved the tsukumogami after the host's spirit died."
"Can you put her back?"
Yukari regarded Tsukune like he had said something crazy.
"And kill the baby?! Why would we do that?!"
"Because I want to hear it from Hatsue herself."
"This rosary is a bomb, Aono. Do you honestly believe that she would have chosen to stay a bomb when she could be Mizore's baby?"
"I should have been told and you all know it!"
Kurumu shuddered, having no answer to that. They all shared a moment of tense silence since they all felt guilty over not telling him.
"We would have still cast the spell. It would have changed nothing."
Tsukune's fists clenched as his eyes betrayed the start of tears.
"I didn't get to say goodbye!"
"Hatsue didn't want to say goodbye!"
"Did she even have a choice?! I bet all of you got to tell her goodbye! Why me?! What did I do that was so wrong? Why do you all hate me?"
Another heavy moment of silence squeezed her heart to the point that darkness was teasing the edge of her consciousness. She could feel her tears spilling down her cheeks over what they had done. They had hurt him by pushing him away. She wanted to pass out. To sleep and never wake up.
"Young man. I may not be able to bring back the tsukumogami, but I might be able to construct a false personality from any memories still stored in the matrix."
Tsukune wept with raspy breaths. Each one squeezed her heart.
"No. I don't want something fake. I want the Hatsue I fell in love with."
"Tsukune. It might take two or three years, but she will come back to us. With her memories. She can tell you why she went along with this."
Tsukune shook his head at Yukari's reassurance.
"I'm not going to have a serious conversation with a toddler."
"I'm eleven, Tsukune. I had serious conversations at the age of three."
"You made her into my daughter."
Kurumu closed her eyes tightly with her face buried against Moka's shoulder. This was agony. She wanted it to stop. It hurt so much.
"No. She's Aoi's daughter."
"Please. Don't. Don't correct me."
There was a long, painful moment of silence.
"I- I want to go home."
His voice cracked with ragged breaths.
"Stay with my mother. She's all I have left."
Moka tensed up against Kurumu, squeezing her firmly.
"That's it? You're going to run away?"
"You didn't want me here to begin with. None of you did."
Kurumu could hear his footsteps retreating from the room. She felt his absence but her heart remained heavy. She had known this would not turn out well but had not expected this. Why did he have to start crying? That hurt so much worse than his anger. Hatsue had been right. She had made him into a villain to make it easier on herself.
"It is Ms. Sendou, correct? Eleven years old and already casting forbidden spells."
Yukari laughed brightly in the thick silence.
"That's right. Give me another eleven and I'll take over Japan."
"Of that I have no doubt."
Moka took in a deep, ragged breath, relaxing her grip.
"Could you make a new Hatsue from the memory matrix?"
"I would have to look at the spell to see what I could do."
Kurumu sniffled, lifting her face from Moka's shoulder.
"Why are you asking?"
Moka would not look at her.
"Because I should give him what he wants."
"That's silly, Moka."
"We need him, Yukari. The Headmaster said so. I don't know how to win him back."
"He just said that he doesn't want a fake Hatsue."
"If she has most of her memories and her personality, it should be enough."
Kurumu reached up to touch Moka's face but the vampire pulled away sharply. Kurumu stumbled back but Moka caught hold of her collar while Kurumu grabbed the vampire's arm.
"Don't. I can't deal with him."
"But Moka. The Jasmine he created could not communicate with Deshi. What if this is the same?"
"That's fine. As long as the seal can be removed in times of trouble, it doesn't matter. The only thing I'm good for is fighting."
"Give him time, Moka."
Moka shoved Kurumu back into Mizore's arms. Kurumu shivered, feeling how cold Mizore was from her overflowing emotions.
"I don't want to be here! Momma put me away for a reason. Until Alucard is dead, I should go away."
Touhou chuckled in a puff of smoke.
"Your seal is repaired, Ms. Shuzen. I don't need to hide you behind a false personality to prevent your blood from rousing Alucard."
"Please, Master Touhou. I can't do this. These girls… I'm not their friend. They are Hatsue's friends."
"But I have always loved you just as much as Hatsue."
Moka's breath rattled out as she shook her head at Yukari's protest.
"No. You can't. Nobody can."
Moka looked at the old man whose eyes were hidden behind oval sunglasses.
"I was only ten when I was sealed behind the rosary. I had to settle for being an imaginary friend to a girl Mother abandoned. That was my existence until Tsukune let me out for the first time."
Kurumu shivered as a solid teardrop fell into the open collar of her school blouse. The small chunk of ice rapidly dissolved against her skin.
"I had so many feelings when that happened. Happy that I was free. Terrified that his injuries might be serious. Enraged at the bastard whom was trying to rape me."
Moka paused as she let out a soft sob.
"After I thrashed Saizou, I took one look into Tsukune's eyes and I knew what I saw. Fear. I would never be good enough for him. Just like Hatsue was never good enough for Mother. So I resealed myself so that Hatsue could have her first real friend."
Touhou sighed, withdrawing the pipe from his mouth. He wagged it at her.
"That Jasmine project could only be removed by Akua, you know. If I put this false personality in place, she will not be able to unseal herself like you asked."
"But you could program it to let one of my friends do that, right?"
"I'll do this if you agree to my touch being the key to unlocking you. That rosary might be the key to destroying Alucard and I want to be there when that happens."
"I'm fine with those terms, Master Touhou. We need all the allies we can get."
"I'm not fine with it. You shouldn't run away from this, Moka."
Kurumu flinched when the vampire looked at her. But she knew she could not back down.
"You have to start your life now. You've lost too much time to be throwing more of it away."
Moka's lips trembled. The vampire stepped over to her, placing hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Kurumu. But I'm not as strong as you all think."
Kurumu stepped in to hug the vampire but her head was nudged aside. Before she understood Moka's intentions, fangs pierced her collar and neck. She whimpered as she clutched Moka's torso for support. The vampire siphoned her life away, causing her vision to blur.
And the darkness she had desired swept her away.
"It is done."
Yukari groaned from her perch in Kurumu's lap. The witch had an earpiece in her left ear while the other earpiece was in Kurumu's right ear. They had almost blown through all four of Kurumu's Mr. Children albums with the sounds of Tenchou Bus greeting their senses.
"Thank goodness. I'm starving."
Kurumu squeezed the witch as she regarded the old sorcerer by the altar. Touhou stood in front of the motionless vampire. While Moka still had her jeans, her top had been removed to better access the rosary. Moka had been in a trance when Kurumu had regained consciousness. The world outside the shrine was dark with the stars hidden behind a layer of clouds.
"You could have gone to dinner when they called for it."
"I don't want to hear that when your stomach has been growling against my back for hours."
Kurumu breathed in deep, letting air fill the emptiness of her stomach.
"I can't help it. I haven't had food since lunch yesterday."
"You should have taken Shirayuki with you to dinner. She's pregnant and hasn't eaten all day."
"I'm fine."
Mizore was seated against the wall to their right. The snow girl had a notebook in her lap as she wrote diligently about her latest inspiration of a group of friends being haunted by a girl whom had died when they were all young. Naturally all resemblances to real life persons would be pure coincidence.
"She's right, Mizore. You should have gone to eat."
Mizore made a dismissive sound as she continued writing.
"Yes, yes. I would also like a meal but first we need to confirm the soundness of this girl."
Touhou whipped his pipe out to touch the end against the rosary.
"Qi moshi qidong!"
Kurumu's eyes went wide at the phrase, suddenly worried about what this old man might have done.
"Wife mode?"
Touhou placed the tip of his pipe in the corner of his mouth before Moka's eyes fluttered open. The vampire smiled warmly upon him as her hair rapidly became a pink color.
"Hello, Darling!"
Yukari sprung from Kurumu's lap, walking swiftly to the couple.
"What have you done?!"
"Save your outrage, Ms. Sendou. I need to ask Ms. Shuzen some basic questions."
Moka laughed when Yukari wrapped her arms about the vampire.
"What's wrong, Yukari?"
"This pervert has tampered with your seal!"
"Now listen here, girlie. I fixed the seal and that precious memory matrix as requested."
Moka grinned as Kurumu stopped her CD player and put aside her stuff. The vampire nodded politely to the elder as Kurumu crawled over to the group.
"Thank you, Master Touhou Fuhai. I haven't seen you in years. How have you been, Darling?"
Kurumu cringed along with Yukari at the vampire's term of endearment. The old man chuckled, taking a satisfied inhale through his pipe.
"I've had better days. But we need to talk about you. Can we start with your name?"
Moka laughed with notable nervousness in her turquoise eyes.
"Kurumu and Yukari both seem weirded out. What is going on, Darling?"
"Your memories have been tampered with by a dirty old man!"
"I assure you that I bathe regularly."
Kurumu whimpered out a laugh.
"This isn't funny, Master Touhou. Change her back."
"It's a harmless reassignment of how she perceives me. It's not like she has any memories which would encourage her to perform pleasant things upon my person."
"I would hope not!"
Moka laughed pleasantly, hugging the indignant Yukari.
"Don't worry. It feels natural to address Darling as Darling. Like a term of respect."
"That's a good girl. You must respect your elders."
"I'll show you respect!"
Moka held the squirming witch tight, causing the girl to whine in frustration.
"I suppose I can call him Grandpa if it bothers you both so much."
"Please. For my sanity's sake."
Touhou huffed out a cloud of smoke.
"Ungrateful girls. Just remember that it is my touch that can release this young woman's true power."
"I have a new idea for a tragedy."
Kurumu snickered at Mizore's offhand remark.
"Come over here and help us."
Moka giggled as her eyes wandered the room.
"Where are we, Darling?"
"How about we start with what you do know. I take it that you know these three girls."
"This is Sendou Yukari. That is Kurono Kurumu. And the girl keeping to herself is Shirayuki Mizore."
"And you know your own name?"
"Shuzen Moka, Darling. Though I go by Akashiya Moka."
"Moka, please. Call him Grandpa."
Moka laughed at Kurumu's plea.
"I'm sorry. I'll be more diligent."
"He should just fix you."
"Allow this old man some joy in his twilight years."
"Are there other questions you would like to ask me, Grandpa?"
"Oh this cruel yet beautiful world."
"You should know better than to take advantage of young women whom need your help."
Touhou sighed heavily, exhaling thick scented whiteness.
"What school do you attend?"
"Yokai Academy."
"And whom is the Headmaster?"
"Some useless old fart."
Despite knowing Moka would have never said such a thing, Kurumu had to laugh. She felt better since Yukari was also snickering at the immediate answer in such a sweet, matter-of-fact delivery.
"Which school did you attend before that?"
"Sakura Municipal Usui Junior High."
"And where did you live during that time?"
"Naritagaku Orphanage. Mother left me there shortly after my accident."
"Do you know when your accident happened?"
Moka smiled softly with a distant look in her eyes.
"August seventh of 99."
"That's quite specific of you. You had no such clarity when you regained consciousness weeks after that incident. Do you recall the name you gave me upon our first meeting?"
"Hatsukoi."
"And your friends have taken to calling you Hatsue?"
"Not really. I'm Moka most of the time so it would only confuse our classmates if we did that."
"Do you remember what happened to Akasha Bloodriver, your birth mother?"
Moka let out a soft sigh.
"Yes. The true Moka shared those memories with me over summer break."
"Did the other Moka share many memories with you?"
"Not really. She told me so little about whom she was before. She said that her family would never love me for me if she gave me too much information."
"Can you speak with her now?"
Moka paused at Yukari's question. She cocked her head and after a long moment frowned.
"That's odd. I don't sense her."
"A side effect of repairing the memory matrix, child. I don't know how to replicate the window between the rosary and Moka's mind. That connection was not magical."
Moka shook her head with wide eyes.
"No! Moka would have never wanted this!"
"She begged for it to be fixed."
Moka whimpered, squeezing Yukari against her.
"I know Lord Fujisaki wants Moka unsealed so that he can resurrect Alucard. But even so. To be locked away in the darkness."
"I don't know if she is unaware in there. I could remove the seal if you like?"
"This is all my fault. I made her break the seal."
Kurumu smiled at the whimpering vampire, almost feeling like this was Hatsue.
"It's going to be okay. We just need to hear from Moka if she is fine with this after all."
"If she is aware, she'll probably kill the old lecher."
"Mind your manners, little missy."
"Did we miss the cultural festival?"
Kurumu shivered at Moka's whined query. She glanced at Yukari whom turned about in Moka's arms.
"Moka. What is your last memory?"
"You and Kurumu came to rescue me from Yoshii Kiria."
Kurumu looked with shock upon the elder whom was calmly puffing from his pipe.
"That was almost two months ago!"
"I restored everything that was there, Ms. Kurono."
"But the Headmaster fixed the seal right after the incident. She was Hatsue when we went to Yukimura."
"We went to Yukimura?"
Kurumu clenched her fists with a slight shake of her head.
"This won't work. Tsukune will never accept this."
"What's wrong with Tsukune?"
Yukari sucked in a deep breath, reaching up to caress the confused vampire's cheek.
"Moka. We're in the Huang family's mansion in Hong Kong right now."
Moka nodded slowly.
"Okay. On that winter break trip to avoid her wedding."
"I'm pregnant."
Moka snapped her eyes at Mizore.
"Are you serious or making fun of me for not knowing what is going on?"
Mizore continued writing in her notebook without looking up.
"It's Aoi's child."
"She is pregnant, Moka. Thanks to dummy over here."
Kurumu whined at Moka's confused look, turning pleading eyes upon the old man.
"Can't you remove her seal already? I can't answer that right now."
Touhou chuckled with smoke leaking from his lips as he stepped over to the pouting vampire.
"Very well. We should hear what the true Moka has to say about this development."
Moka sighed, turning to face the elder.
"Okay. Have Moka write to me. I'll recognize our handwriting."
"If the young lady can part with that notebook of hers."
"She can write in the back."
Touhou chuckled at Mizore's prompt response. He tugged his pipe out of his mouth to brandish the end at the rosary.
"Very well. Huai nuhai shifang!"
Kurumu smirked as the elder swiped his hand by Yukari's head with enough speed to cause her hair to ruffle. The rosary came free with a sudden surge of power. Kurumu shivered as she felt Moka's full aura for the first time in weeks. She could feel the vampire's ire.
"What's the big idea?!"
Touhou chuckled, wagging the rosary.
"Just some fun. I don't actually need to say any words."
"I'll show you a bad girl unleashed."
"Could you hear our conversation?"
The silver haired Moka scowled at Yukari.
"Yes. It was more frustrating than I expected."
"You don't need to do this."
"Yes I do, Yukari. Bring that notebook over here, Shirayuki."
Mizore grunted, closing her notebook. The girl made a noisy display of getting to her feet.
"He's not going to go accept this, Moka. This Hatsue is missing two whole months of memories."
"It will have to do, Kurumu. She's everything he wants."
"He wants the tsukumogami. Not some artificial intelligence."
Moka muttered her thanks as she took the notebook and mechanical pencil from Mizore. Placing the notebook on the floor, she flipped it to the last page and leaned over while Yukari remained clinging to her side. She angrily made strokes down the page.
"He'll know that she's a fake."
"She was always fake, Kurumu. We all are. He has no clue whom Hatsue was."
"Don't do this. He'll break her heart."
"It's my heart, Kurumu. And he's already done as much damage as possible there."
Moka finished her message, setting the pencil down and scooting the notebook aside. Kurumu felt the temperature dip when Mizore looked over the message.
Tsukune doesn't want me. He might want you.
"Now give me back the rosary."
Touhou sighed, stepping in to hold out the rosary. He shook his head as the vampire snatched it away.
"The drama of youth. I can't say that I miss those days."
Moka huffed, hooking the rosary back on the chain ring mounted to her black leather collar. Her hair color rapidly changed back to pink as her powerful aura diminished. The vampire wobbled slightly with Yukari offering some support.
Kurumu sighed, sharing a look with Mizore as they waited for this Moka to recover from her moment of disorientation. Her turquoise eyes focused on Yukari and she managed a slight smile.
"Was she able to hear everything?"
"Yes. She can hear and see everything."
"That's good. At least it won't be the darkness that I deal with when I'm without her."
"Your message."
Moka murmured thanks to Mizore before looking down at the notebook. She cocked her head, frowning.
"What is going on?"
"Several things have happened since you broke your own seal."
"She did it herself? That explains it. She probably destroyed the recording aspect of the memory matrix."
"Recording aspect?"
"Yes, Ms. Shuzen. Your rosary had the ability to record memories."
Moka nodded thoughtfully at Touhou's remark.
"Right. I recall Akua saying that was how you made Deshi into her Jasmine."
"It's very difficult to magically create memories from another person's memory but fairly easy to record them into a magical format as they happen. Theoretically I could have recreated the memories of these past two months with Ms. Shuzen's help but it would have taken many months to do that."
"Why would you need to do that?"
Kurumu sighed, knowing they should address this now.
"You're not the real Hatsue. You're an artificial personality constructed from the memories stored within the rosary."
"But we proved that I was a tsukumogami, right?"
Yukari shook her head at Moka's frown, gesturing at Mizore.
"Remember how I was working on that spell to put you in a brain dead body if we ever found one."
"Yea. We were hoping Mother could help."
"Well your mother told us to use the baby."
"The real Hatsue is here."
Moka blinked in shock as Mizore caressed her own belly.
"Tsukune wasn't happy about this."
Moka nodded dumbly at Kurumu's input. After a long moment of silence, Moka frowned.
"And Moka wants me to deal with him?"
Yukari sighed dramatically.
"Apparently so."
"Where is Tsukune now?"
"Probably sulking in his room."
"Which room is that?"
"You can do that later. Right now. Dinner. We need to catch you up on the past two months."
They all readily agreed to Yukari's proposal.
"He should be in this room."
Huang gestured at the door in this upper hall on the other side of the mansion where the main family resided. The young man was garbed in a long sleeved, yellow silk shirt with a bright orange mandarin collar. The bright orange hem stretched down the center of the shirt with glossy black toggles holding it together. Dark purple pair slacks hung loosely upon his hips.
"Thank you, Huang."
"It was my pleasure, Ms. Kurono. If you need anything from me, I'll be in my room."
Kurumu reciprocated his brief bow, watching him retreat to a door across the hall. She waited for him to enter his room before glancing at the pink haired Moka. The vampire managed a smile with a nod at the door. Letting out a long exhale, Kurumu steeled her nerves and knocked on the door.
"Tsukune?"
She waited a long moment with no response.
"I know that you're in there. And we're coming in whether you want us to or not. So, please. Please. Say something if you're naked. Because my body won't be able to take that."
Kurumu waited for several heartbeats, hearing nothing on the other side. Sighing, she knocked again.
"Tsukune. Last warning. I'm not knocking again."
She counted one hundred more heartbeats before closing her hand upon the knob. With a twist on the black knob, she pushed the door open. She eased quietly inside with Moka shadowing her.
This room was much larger than hers. It had a canopy bed with black curtains denying the view of the mattress. A dresser with a wide oval mirror stood to the left of the bed with an elegant desk beside it. Both furniture pieces were made of the same glossy black wood with intricate carved designs.
In the corner to the right was a small living room space. A black television was placed atop a corner stand styled in the same fashion as the rest of the furniture. A black leather sofa and two matching armchairs faced this television with end tables on either side of the sofa. The end tables were stacked with lamps, remotes and vases filled with fresh flowers. Along this left side wall was an open door.
Moka flipped the switch beside the door, filling the room with light from the chandelier suspended from the peak of the vaulted ceiling. An unseen occupant of the bed groaned, shuffling beneath sheets.
"Unless Yukari has opened a door back to Mononoke, I don't want to hear it."
Kurumu shivered, halting her approach. She crossed her arms below her bosom, standing directly below the central chandelier. Moka continued on without her, stopping at the foot of the bed.
"Yukari will do that tomorrow after dinner."
"Then don't bother coming back here until then."
Moka stiffened at his curt response to her.
"Master Yao will be joining us for breakfast."
"I don't care."
"Master Yao is a skilled martial artist. He's coming here for your sake, Tsukune."
"Nothing here has been for my sake."
Moka sighed, gripping the post of the bed.
"What happened to the young man I surrendered my first kiss to?"
The sheets rustled before the black drapes were pulled aside. Kurumu trembled at the sight of him. He had dressed down in a white shirt and black boxers. She glanced aside despite his attention being fixated upon the nearby vampire.
"Is it really you?"
"No, Tsukune. I am a collection of memories and feelings preserved by the memory matrix."
"We did our best to fix her, Tsukune. But she broke the spell two months ago."
She shuddered, feeling his eyes upon her.
"People aren't things to be fixed."
"Tsukune, stop. They have explained what has transpired over the past two months. I have a good idea how the true Hatsue would have responded."
"I wanted Hatsue back. Not an imitation."
"We can't always get what we want, Tsukune."
"Don't patronize me, Kurumu. I lost my father and then you all conspired against me to take the girl I loved away without even telling me."
Kurumu whimpered, shaking her head.
"That was done before your father died."
"As if that would have stopped any of you. Moka was determined to punish me because I refused to adopt her barbaric vampire traditions."
"Let me do the talking, Kurumu."
"There is nothing to talk about. You should both leave."
Kurumu flinched, unwilling to look up at him. A long moment passed and Moka sighed.
"Tsukune. I love you."
Tsukune barked out an empty laugh.
"Why do you insist on mocking my feelings?"
"Hear me out, Tsukune. I love you."
Kurumu grimaced, reaching up to massage her chest. She wanted to leave but could not abandon this girl if things went bad.
"Leave me alone!"
"I never got the chance!"
Kurumu closed her eyes tightly in the heavy moment that followed.
"Not once could I ever tell you that I loved you. Not once."
Moka paused. Kurumu could feel the weight of Moka's regret and sorrow.
"At first it was because you were with Kurumu. Then it was because the real Moka was always watching. But now… there is no voice in the back of my mind discouraging me from being honest with my feelings."
"What are you talking about?"
Moka breathed in deep.
"Master Touhou doesn't know how to recreate the original bond that we shared. When he restored the memory matrix, he closed that connection between us. She can experience everything through me but she can't communicate with me at all. I imagine she's very embarrassed right now."
"Why would you do this?"
"Because you broke her heart."
"Me?! I didn't do anything!"
"She loves you. Perhaps more than I ever have."
Tsukune huffed in disbelief.
"Clearly he didn't fix your memories if you believe that."
"No vampire would give her own blood away without hesitation. She might claim that it was for my sake, but you were Kurumu's boyfriend."
Kurumu glanced up at the sound of her name. The vampire was smiling softly as he shook his head.
"No. I was the one betrayed! They all turned against me and took Hatsue away from me."
"You don't know anything about me."
"You're not Hatsue."
Moka continued smiling. That same empty smile she so often wore.
"My most cherished memories are with Moka, Tsukune. I would never betray her."
"Are you trying to demand that I love her instead? Because that isn't how this works. I can only love one person and that has always been Hatsue."
"Why do you love Hatsue?"
"Because I do."
Moka smiled as she fussed with her hair.
"Is it the pink hair? Moka could dye-"
"It's not about your looks! You two have vastly different personalities!"
"No we don't."
"You're a positive and kind individual. Always smiling."
"How genuine do you think that could be when I was surrounded by people whom never accepted me?"
Tsukune hesitated to respond.
"I saw you in the orphanage. I could see how lonely that you were. Abandoned by your family."
"Smiling was easier on everyone."
"But things changed once you started school at Yokai Academy. You could be yourself."
Moka smiled ruefully at Tsukune.
"You never got to know me."
"That isn't true."
"I couldn't be myself. Not after you confirmed that Moka was a real person."
"What do you mean by that?"
Moka's face twisted in grief despite her smile.
"You proved Mother was right. I wasn't her daughter. I had no family."
Kurumu's heart ached as Moka brought out something which should have been obvious.
"It was no longer some game with a voice inside my head. It was real. I couldn't be myself. I had to take everything that the real Moka said more seriously."
"But that is one of your traits that I admire. There is nothing wrong with being polite."
"I couldn't pursue any feelings for you. This body was not mine. And Kurumu was so in love with you. And I… I loved her so much for picking me over the true Moka."
"I understand that you had to respect the true Moka's feelings, but that doesn't change how I feel. I have always loved Hatsue from the first day I met her."
Moka smiled softly at the conviction in his eyes.
"I have no idea whom you fell in love with. The whole first term you were in love with Kurumu."
"Whole first term? I thought it had been a brief relationship."
Kurumu swallowed, massaging her breast.
"She is embellishing. You were very hesitant for the first two months. I erased our intimate moments but left all of your daydreaming about Hatsue intact."
Moka clucked her tongue with a slight shake of her head.
"Cheating on your girlfriend."
"If Kurumu had not been reflexively using her powers to get her way, I would have only been thinking about Hatsue."
Moka breathed in deeply with a sigh.
"Thank you for loving me so unquestionably. I wish I could have been more honest and open with my feelings. Kurumu and Yukari knew me better than you ever could. And that was my fault."
"I wish I could say that we could start now. But Hatsue is gone."
Moka nodded as she absently caressed the bed post.
"I wanted to know so much more about you. My first friend. My first blood claim. My first love."
"But we did talk. Often. I knew about the orphanage. I knew about your commute. I knew about the problems you faced in school."
"I shared my facts. I didn't know if I could share my feelings."
"I would have listened. I would have accepted anything from her."
Moka looked through him with that same gentle smile.
"I was so lonely. When Mother refused me, I wanted to die. I often thought it would be better if I had never been born."
She paused, looking at him.
"But after I met you, for the first time in my life… it felt like I wasn't alone. That maybe I could live in this world despite my family giving up on me."
"But then he removed the rosary."
Moka turned and smiled softly at Kurumu. A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Yea. I told Moka how things would be much better for her if I was gone. That she could have her family. She suggested staying away from him, but then you tried to claim him as yours. I couldn't let him go."
"I'm grateful that you didn't."
Kurumu pouted, feeling slighted.
"Being with me was never a bad thing."
"I don't regret trying to pursue him halfheartedly. It made us good friends."
"You kissed my boyfriend."
Moka smiled, turning her turquoise eyes back upon him.
"I wish I had possessed the courage to chase you as openly as Kurumu did. But Moka would have never allowed it despite how much she envied Kurumu."
"I doubt that Moka envied me."
"She did, Kurumu. And she hopes that Tsukune will best her in combat for her hand in marriage."
"That custom isn't required for every vampire."
"She knows that. But then she would have to marry him without having to say the words I have wanted to tell Tsukune for months."
"I don't want to marry a girl whom can't even tell me that she loves me."
Moka laughed softly, releasing the bed post to clasp her hands at her navel.
"I never told you how I felt. You had no problem with that."
Tsukune sighed, looking Moka over.
"I wish you were the real Hatsue."
"I do too. Though I am happy that the real one is safe inside Mizore's womb."
Tsukune sighed heavily.
"I can't say that I'm happy about that. If that baby was actually Aoi's, I would feel better about it."
"Hatsue would have done this, Tsukune. I know you think that I might have behaved differently, but it simply isn't true. I was always afraid to love you. This was an easy way out."
Tsukune groaned, flopping back on the bed with his legs hanging over the break in the curtains.
"A part of me knows that you're right. She would never defy Moka. I just need more time."
"Don't miss any more meals. It makes everyone worry about you."
He sighed heavily again.
"I won't. I'll meet that Master Yao."
"Good. And be kind to Moka. She does care greatly for you."
Moka shuffled towards Kurumu. Sensing it was time to leave, Kurumu turned about and started making her way back to the main door.
"Before you go, I should thank you."
Kurumu and Moka paused, both glancing over their shoulders. Tsukune had sat up to regard them.
"I know that you aren't the real Hatsue, but this does make me feel better."
"I am sorry, Tsukune. Sorry for being such a coward to not tell you my feelings or even tell you goodbye."
He sucked in a deep breath with a nod.
"It really isn't goodbye though. She is being reborn. Yukari promised me."
"Yes. I know she plans to give you a big hug the moment she regains awareness."
Kurumu smirked at Moka's sentiment, keeping her knowledge of Hatsue's naughty thoughts to herself.
"I don't know what your future plans are, but Kokoa is considering college in Hokkaido for that reason."
Tsukune coughed up a laugh.
"Future plans? I will think about that after Lord Fujisaki has been dealt with."
"Fair enough. Good night, Tsukune."
And after exchanging farewells, they exited his room.