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Long December	By : DrunkenScotsman Category: +M to R > Rosario Vampire Views: 6725 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I make no money from the writing of this story. All characters and locations of Rosario+Vampire belong to Ikeda Akihisa.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter 6: On the Road Again

Later that evening, after classes and clubs and dinner, Moka and Tsukune approached the door to her room, hand in hand. The young woman had found herself antsy with anticipation all afternoon, unable to focus on classwork or newspaper articles, because of the promise she’d made earlier at lunch: “quality time” with her boyfriend. The desire had simmered all afternoon, and Moka couldn’t wait to sate herself thoroughly.
For his part, Tsukune had also felt a great deal of anticipation for this evening’s planned “festivities,” though his was mixed with a vague, gnawing unease. He’d stowed it away all afternoon, but it now grew with each step closer to their destination. All too soon, though, Moka led him through their door.
As Tsukune kicked off his shoes, he took a long look around. Moka’s dorm room looked much the same as it had during his previous visits: a soothing palette of pastels on the sheets and comforters and cushions, a simple elegance to the picture frames and other personal accoutrements, all giving the room a distinct though not overwrought femininity. Every detail reminded him of the room’s other occupant, the now-departed pink-haired Moka. His eyes landed last on the photo on her desk, a photo of the Newspaper Club from last year, in which the image of Moka seemed to be smiling at him where he stood.
The young man froze; his face blanched. The discomfort he’d suppressed all afternoon snapped suddenly into focus as the reality of outer Moka’s absence crashed over him. Raw grief at his recent loss pierced the young man’s heart like a lance.
“Moka,” he murmured to his girlfriend, “I… I can’t do this tonight. I’m really sorry.”
The vampire whirled, about to inquire why her boyfriend balked now, of all times. The look of utter, wretched agony on Tsukune’s face answered her before she could form a single syllable: the lingering presence of her other persona had reopened Tsukune’s still-fresh psychic wound. “I didn’t consider how coming here, when I’ve yet to redecorate to my own tastes, might affect you, Tsukune,” Moka admitted. “You’ve no need to apologize,” she soothed, squeezing his hand.
Tsukune hung his head. “I still feel like I do,” he replied. “You’ve been looking forward to this all afternoon, right?” He sighed. “Letting you down like this makes me feel like the worthless panty-waist some people see me as.”
Moka stepped close and lifted her boyfriend’s chin so she could look him square in the eyes. “Anyone who thinks you’re worthless, Tsukune, doesn’t understand the value of your rare combination of kindness and courage,” she reassured him, knowing he would value her appraisal that much higher because she, the cold and aloof Moka, had given it.
The young man stared into those inhuman crimson eyes and saw how much Moka meant what she said. Her name slipped past his lips in a murmur. For her sake, he determined to try to push past his own pain in order to please her in the way she desired and deserved.
Before he could lean forward to kiss her, though, Moka put a finger to his lips. “That’s just what I’d expect from you, Tsukune,” she teased, “an attempt to put your feelings aside for my sake. I won’t let you, though.”
A wicked smirk curled her lips. “You’re right that I’ve wanted you all afternoon, so it’s quite tempting,” she told him in a conspiratorial tone. “Every time we’ve coupled, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. Most boys, I’ve heard, are pretty selfish about such things at our age.”
Tsukune chuckled, wondering if the other girls felt the same way; based on their eagerness to become one during their turns as his girlfriend, he rather thought so. With renewed self-confidence, he smiled and replied, “Thanks, Moka – that really means a lot to me.”
The vampire leaned in to kiss her boyfriend on the cheek. “We’ll leave it there for tonight, then. Unfortunately, that means we’ll have to wait until we get back from Father’s,” she observed glumly.
“I had an idea about that,” Tsukune replied, “the visit, I mean. We could invite the other girls to come with us. It’d be less weird for your dad to see his daughter with a group of friends from a school club than to see her with just one guy, right?”
“Perhaps,” replied Moka noncommittally. I don’t like the idea of having to “share” you, not even for just a weekend, she thought to herself. “I suppose it might obscure the nature of our relationship at first, but Father is quite perceptive,” she warned. “Sooner or later, he’ll figure it out.”
Tsukune shuddered, his imagination conjuring images of all sorts of brutality a father with the strength of a hundred men might visit upon him for the audacity of touching his precious daughter. “Also, if everything goes south, the others can provide backup,” he added.
Moka snorted. “Even as a group, I doubt we’d present much of a threat to him,” she scoffed.
Tsukune deflated, casting about for another approach angle. Before he could find one, though, Moka conceded, “It seems important to you, Tsukune, so I’ll go along with your idea.”
“Great!” Tsukune replied, the response erupting forth due to the surprise of the usually-stubborn vampire’s acquiescence. “We’ll invite the others tomorrow afternoon once we’ve finished club activities.”
Absently, Moka trailed her fingers in different patterns on her boyfriend’s chest. “It’s a little short notice,” she pointed out. “Do you think they’ll just drop everything for a weekend visit to my childhood home?”
Tsukune nodded. “I love them, and they love me,” he replied. “They’ve always come through when I’ve needed them.”
Moka paused her hand’s aimless wandering and sat up to fix Tsukune with her crimson eyes. “Haven’t I come through for you at every opportunity?” she asked, sounding hurt.
The young man gazed, with no small degree of confusion, into his girlfriend’s perpetually-unsettling irises. “Moka, that’s not… that’s not what I meant,” he tried to assuage her.
Realizing she’d jumped to conclusions, the young woman flushed, feeling more than a little sheepish. “It sounded rather like an accusation,” responded Moka in a defensive tone. “You’d be wise to choose your words more carefully,” she admonished, “especially around Father this weekend. He’ll consider even the slightest misstep a grave insult, and will likely actively seek to cause such an error.”
Everything I’m saying is true, Moka reminded herself. I don’t have to admit I’m upset he didn’t say he loves me.
“Good point,” conceded Tsukune with a sigh. “As always, I’m in your care.”
Moka winced. She knew that, for Tsukune, constantly depending on the girls of the Newspaper Club for protection gnawed at his already-shaky self-confidence. To soothe her boyfriend’s bruised ego, the young woman pressed close, her bare breasts brushing his chest, to whisper, “That’s not true, Tsukune – I’m in your care whenever we, ah, couple. You’re much more practiced.”
Tsukune ran a hand along his girlfriend’s thigh, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin and firm muscle underneath. “You’ve seemed eager to catch up,” he replied with a teasing grin.
“Only a succubus can surpass a vampire in terms of libido,” retorted Moka in a tone that mixed self-justification and promising allure. “Besides, can you really fault me for maximizing our time together?”
On impulse, Tsukune took Moka into his arms, holding the bewildered vampire close. “Moka… thanks for understanding,” he whispered.
“Of course, Tsukune,” replied Moka. “Throughout our relationship, you’ve always tried to understand me when I’ve been difficult. Reciprocating is the least I can do.”
“I guess that’s what a relationship is all about, huh?” Tsukune responded as he released his girlfriend from his embrace.
The vampire’s face lit up with a blush and small smile. “When you put your mind to it, Tsukune, you’re quite insightful,” she complimented him with a playful flick to the forehead. “It’s one of the things I… like… about you.” The silence of the momentary pause before “like” spoke volumes.
The young man favored his beautiful girlfriend with a gentle if confused smile. “I’m glad we’re understanding each other better, little by little,” he told her with his trademark sincerity. “Also… I promise to make up for tonight when we get back. You have my word.”
Moka smirked, knowing how seriously Tsukune took such promises and already looking forward to his fulfillment thereof. “I’ll hold you to that. See you tomorrow morning.”
The two teens bade each other goodnight, and Tsukune departed. Once he’d left, the young woman kicked herself for kicking away another golden opportunity to confess her feelings.

~~~~~

Kurumu, Mizore, and Yukari left Friday’s Newspaper Club meeting in a seeming hurry, preventing either Moka or Tsukune from asking the others to accompany them to the Shuzen manor. By the time they found their friends in the infirmary, Ruby had cast her spell and rendered herself, along with Kurumu and Yukari, unconscious. Mizore filled Moka and Tsukune in on Ruby’s plan. In the process, Tsukune let slip that Ruby had visited him in the middle of the night earlier in the week.
To say that Moka was displeased would have been an understatement.
Even after a thorough explanation on the way to the bus stop with their baggage for the weekend, Moka only glowered in silence. Finally, as the bus’s headlights appeared in the tunnel, she answered, “Tsukune, I’ll forgive you for not telling me Ruby made advances on you; but only because you’ve been under a lot of stress lately and weren’t thinking clearly. Don’t hide something like that from me again. Understood?”
“Of course,” Tsukune replied. “I didn’t tell you because I thought it’d upset you; but I understand now that you’d prefer honesty.”
Moka nodded curtly and considered the matter settled. “I’ll admit that not succumbing to her temptation helps your case,” she commented.
At that point, the bus cruised to a smooth stop in front of them, and the driver opened the door to let them board. At Moka’s raised eyebrow, he put out his cigar while Tsukune carried her bag atop his. Once they were seated, the driver asked, “So where’s the rest?”
“I’m afraid they couldn’t make it,” Moka replied, trying not to sound too pleased at having Tsukune to herself for the weekend.
A blur of red zipped past the front windshield. A moment later, a petite figure flung itself onto the bus over-dramatically. Tumbling to a stop, the figure resolved itself into a panting Kokoa with her bat perched on her shoulder, both of them dazed from her exertions. Before Moka or Tsukune could process the sight of the younger vampire in a heap on the bus’s floor, Kokoa sprang to her feet and stated, “I’m coming with you, Big Sis.”
Moka stared at her sister for a long moment, weighing her response. “Very well,” she finally allowed, “on one condition.”
“Name it!” Kokoa cried eagerly; she’d expected Moka to argue more.
The elder sister smirked wickedly. “Say something nice to Tsukune.”
The redhead vampire stared agape for several moments. She looked at Kou, who only fluttered his wings in the bat equivalent of a shrug. She looked at Moka, who folded her arms and inclined her head towards Tsukune sitting beside her. She looked at Tsukune, who gave her an encouraging smile.
“Um… well… you, um…” sputtered Kokoa. Most of the things she could think of – that she had a crush on him, that she could tell he was good in bed, that she fantasized about bedding him frequently – she couldn’t say with her sister sitting right there, watching with an air of impatience. Finally, she recalled how, when she crashed his class ski trip and trapped them in an avalanche, Tsukune had saved her life by keeping her warm; so she managed, “Um, thanks for saving me that time, and for being nice to me in general.”
Moka waggled one finger. “Gratitude is a start, but you’ll have to do better than that,” she informed her sister.
Kokoa’s face flushed. “Aw, c’mon!” she protested, but she could see the unyielding look in her sister’s eyes. The younger vampire racked her brain for something else, finally settling on a blurted “Your blood tastes really great; I can see why that lame pink-haired girl liked to drink it.”
Tsukune chuckled and scratched the back of his head. “Um, thanks, Kokoa,” he replied uncertainly, hoping that would suffice.
Moka, however, shook her head. “Still not good enough,” she scolded. “I’ll give you one more chance.”
Kokoa snarled, her face flushing to match the hue of her hair. “But… but… Big Sis…” When Moka once more seemed unmoving, the younger vampire huffed in frustration. Staring down Tsukune once more, she struggled to think of something. Finally, she managed, “You make Big Sis happy, so thanks for that, I guess.”
The older vampire chuckled softly. “My, my, I never expected to hear those words from your mouth, Kokoa,” she teased her sister.
“You kids settle in!” barked the bus driver. “It’s a long drive, and you’ll want to arrive before it gets too late.”
Kokoa grumbled under her breath and plopped down onto the seat in front of Moka and Tsukune. The two love-birds sat hand-in-hand, with Moka nearer the window so she could enjoy the view. Tsukune looked back in the direction of the school, hoping the others would remain safe and unmolested under Mizore’s watch.
The bus lurched into motion, just as the sun slipped fully below the horizon to let night descend on the campus of Yokai Academy. As they entered the tunnel, with its kaleidoscopic swirl of color surrounding the bus en route, Tsukune couldn’t help but feel a vague sense of foreboding. I hope that I’ll make it back to see the others again, he mused glumly. I also wish I had some idea which Moka will be with me if I survive.

~~~~~

After an hour riding in the bus – an hour which felt like six because of the three teens’ silence and the monotonous, hypnotic shifting of colors on the tunnel walls as the bus progressed – the occupants began to feel restless. The tunnel around the finally opened up as the bus neared its destination, the headlights revealing a broad dirt road amid orderly-looking rows of tall evergreens. Tsukune peered out the front windshield to appreciate, as much as he could, the change of scenery; in the distance, he could just make out the silhouette of a large, dark edifice against the darkling sky.
“Moka? Is that… is that it?” he breathed.
“Indeed,” murmured the silver-haired vampire, sleepily since she’d begun to doze from the drone of the bus engine and hum of the wheels on the road. “It’s been so long since I myself have seen it. I’d forgotten just how impressive Father’s stronghold could look.”
“It should take another half-hour to get there, kids,” the bus driver called over his shoulder. “You’d better prepare yourselves.”
Tsukune swallowed. “Could we make this place sound a little less foreboding, please?”
“Don’t chicken out now, loser,” sniped Kokoa, her arms folded across her chest. “Father definitely won’t respect a wuss.”
Moka squeezed the young man’s hand to reassure him as the castle drew ever nearer. She could feel the tension in her boyfriend ratchet higher with every passing minute; and she desperately wished she had some way to relieve that tension, or at least distract Tsukune from it. Her face heated as she imagined the methods she might use to accomplish that goal.
The half-hour trip soon ended, with the bus crossing over the large drawbridge and in front of the manor’s main entrance. The three teens disembarked with their bags, Tsukune again carrying Moka’s as well as his own. The young man gawked at the opulent building looming over them.
Kou took wing from Kokoa’s shoulder, startling them all, and swooped in front of them. Wings flapping excitedly as he circled, the bat familiar announced “Welcome to Shuzen Manor, home to Lord Issa Shuzen, a powerful and influential vampire lord. Mistress Kokoa, my lady Moka, welcome home, whee!”
From the bus, the driver called, “I’m going to park in the garage and stick around for the weekend, but the lord of the manor won’t like a working stiff like me entering his fancy house. Good luck in there, kid.”
Tsukune nodded firmly, getting the distinct impression that comment was directed at him specifically. He let Moka and Kokoa lead the way inside, each step requiring more willpower than the last. The front door ahead of the trio swung open noiselessly, leading the huan to swallow the nervous lump in his throat.
Behind them, the bus driver leaned against his vehicle and lit a fresh cigar. He watched the terrified young man and the vampire sisters vanish into the darkness of the coming night. “You’ve got guts, kid; I’ll give ya that,” he observed, to no one in particular. He puffed a few times on his cigar, smoke wafting around his face to cast a ghoulish pallor to his cheeks and accentuate the hellish gleam of his eyes beneath the brim of his cap.
“You’ll need ‘em, and that crazy luck ya got, to make it outta here in one piece.”
_________________________________________________________________
A/N: This chapter marks the end of the overlap with "Such a Long Story" and the beginning of the major deviations from the plots of episodes 12 and 13 of the anime's second season. I honestly never liked the way that, in the anime, Tsukune spurns Inner Moka to face Lord Shuzen alone (not to mention the deus ex machina powers he got); though the other girls all running interference against their parents was both funny and heartwarming and heartbreaking. Unfortunately for this story, the other girls don't need to do that, since their relationships with Tsukune are all in much better places. That said, I wanted Tsukune to have to lean more on Moka for this part; besides, she clearly has business w/ Dear Old Dad too (something else I thought the anime glossed over to its detriment). I also wanted to try to resolve some of Kokoa's issues, so she got to come along too.
Feedback and criticisms always welcome, via review or PM on the forums.
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Long December