Preface: This story is the third in a series which begins with Out of Nightmares. I highly suggest starting there, if you are not familiar with my works. Though that story is somewhat rougher (emotionally and in quality) than this tale or its predecessor, all three stories are part of an overarching, interconnected plotline. For those who have read the previous two tales, I welcome you once more. Enjoy!

Oh, and the disclaimer: All characters and settings contained within this story belong to Akihisa Ikeda and his publisher. Should my humble work offend those great beings, I can offer only my apologies, as a quick glance at my bank account will reveal I am capable of surrendering little else. Imitation is praise, so let me offer that as my motive.

And now, on to the story…

Rosario + Vampire

For Better or Worse

Chapter 1

'Truce'

The fighting never ended.

"You're not getting away that easily!"

"Stop butting in on my time alone with Tsukune!"

Just moments before, the woods surrounding the house on the hilltop had been all but silent, a chill evening wind slipping through the branches towards the open air around the Resting Place. The sun had gotten lost behind the hills hours before, and the rising moon was barely bright enough to penetrate through the tangled limbs of the trees around the two-story house. Despite this, the sound of a pitched battle shattered the quiet as broken branches collapsed to the earth and defiant battle cries echoed off the mountains.

"I can't believe you would do that!"

"You're just mad because I did it first!"

From the relative safety of the yard, a young man stood as a concerned spectator to the struggle taking place at the forest's edge, his cries for peace either not heard or ignored by the two girls battling amidst the shadows of the trees. He was at the heart of their conflict, whether he liked it or not, yet nothing he could do would make them stop now. No, he could only watch, and pray that they wouldn't hurt each other, or the surroundings, too much.

"Sneaking into his bathroom, Mizore? That's low!"

The blue-haired girl sneered down at her opponent as her bat-like wings flapped swiftly, carrying her skyward as she tracked her rival's movements. Tensing, she dove towards the earth, her hands held out at her sides. With her fingernails extended like foot-long blades, she slashed down at the other girl, one hand tearing a furrow in the earth while the other bit deeply into a tree that had been unfortunate enough to be nearby. Her attack foiled, the succubus rose back into the air, her spade-tipped tail waving behind her as she glanced back with violet eyes gleaming.

"I just thought he might want someone to wash his back. Not my fault you were busy still stuffing your face, Kurumu."

As the wounded tree groaned and twisted, sinking to the earth, the other girl abandoned her cover to counterattack. Her soft purple hair gleamed like an aurora in the moonlight, as did her pale blue eyes, which held the inexorable fury of a snowstorm. The yuki-onna waved her arms in the direction of the succubus, and spears of ice lanced towards her flying enemy, shredding through leaves and limbs in pursuit of the succubus. Gnawing on the stick of her lollipop in frustration as her projectiles narrowly missed the other girl's wings, she turned to once more seek cover in the trees, choosing stealth over a direct assault.

"Come on, stop it, you two!"

Standing just outside the Resting Place, Tsukune Aono winced as he watched Kurumu swing back for another vicious dive. This was all his fault, he knew, though he was having a great deal of difficulty figuring out exactly what he could have done differently. Perhaps, at dinner, he shouldn't have announced his intention to go take an early bath, or maybe he should have paid more attention as Mizore had slipped upstairs as soon as she was done eating. Or, perhaps he should have checked the bathroom thoroughly before beginning to undress, since this scenario was not entirely unfamiliar to him. Maybe he even should have tried not to shout so loudly when Mizore had emerged from beneath the waters of the tub, an eager smile on her lips and a hungry gleam in her eyes. The sound of his shocked cry had managed to draw Kurumu's attention, and from there…

Another tree died in splinters as a massive frozen fist rose from the earth to swing at Kurumu, who only just managed to spring out of its path. Dark enthusiasm in her eyes, the succubus rolled in the air gracefully, leveling her wings for another swoop through the trees at her rival. A resounding crash announced another near miss as she rose into the air once more, icy shards slicing through the sky around her.

Two years ago, this situation would have seemed outlandish to Tsukune: he had always been an average guy, in a painfully literal way. Even after he had somehow ended up in a school for monsters, he had never imagined that he could survive this long, and had nearly been proven right many times. However, he had gained so much: confidence, purpose, and dear friends. Of course, some of them had always wanted to be more than friends…

"Tsukune?"

He turned at the sound of the voice behind him, his eyes widening as he saw Moka Akashiya standing in the doorway. She was absolutely beautiful: her silver hair swayed in the gentle breeze, and her crimson eyes seemed to glow with a light of their own as she gazed at him, her slim arms crossed her chest in a gesture that bespoke her challenging impatience. At her neck she wore a silver cross, the rosario that sealed her true nature, and wrapped around her waist was the only object that could overcome that seal: the metal-studded whip Belmont, a magic-cancelling artifact. With her full lips slightly parted, her elongated incisors gleamed in the moonlight, and Tsukune felt a faint twinge at the side of his neck as he remembered the all-too-familiar sensation of those fangs sinking into his skin.

"You promised my other half that you would come to my room after your bath to… sate my thirst." The faintest hint of warmth in her cheeks contrasted with the coldness of her voice, and she stared at him questioningly. "Why are you out here?"

"Ah…" Tsukune glanced towards the forest helplessly, unwilling to leave the other two girls to their combat. At the least, the surroundings would suffer even more if they were left to fight to exhaustion. He had to stop them, somehow, especially since he was the reason they were fighting.

He still couldn't believe how much things had changed for him recently. Only weeks ago, he had been at the heart of a bitter struggle between three of his closest friends. Moka Akashiya, Kurumu Kurono, and Mizore Shirayuki had all declared their love for him, but he had been unable to answer their feelings. It was only after their struggle with a nightmare-controlling monster, Mori Retsu, that they had been sent here to this house, and things had grown even more complicated. Tsukune had come to learn that he loved all three of the girls, and that had frustrated his every attempt to choose between them. In the end, after they had defeated yet another monster sent to destroy each of them, Tsukune had finally admitted the truth of his feelings to the girls. After that, they had come to an… unusual decision, the girls choosing to share him rather than risk losing him entirely.

It should have been the end of their fighting. After all, they each got to have time with him, time that never went to waste. Still, they felt compelled to compete with each other, as if it had become second nature to them. Always pushing boundaries, always wanting more; they thrilled and worried him, and he loved their antics as much as he feared them. They might always fight, he had realized, but that hardly made times like this any easier.

"I see." Moka stared into the forest, a sharp smile on her lips. "So, until they stop, you'll be distracted, right?" The irritation in her voice did not escape him, even as he hesitantly nodded. Her smile grew, and Tsukune could feel her monstrous power surge in anticipation. "Very well then. I guess I'll have to put an end to it." She stepped towards the forest, ignoring his cries to wait.

As their time at the Resting Place had drawn nearer to its end, the girls' antics had only grown more desperate. Soon, they would have to return to Yokai Academy, and their chances to be alone with Tsukune would be far more infrequent. In truth, Tsukune was glad that they had gotten as long here as they had: the ominous Headmaster of Yokai Academy had given them several extra days there as a 'vacation,' his way of thanking them for their part in defeating a monster that had threatened the Academy. A few days of peace and quiet, all in exchange for risking their lives and fighting against a creature ripped from their worst nightmares; it hardly seemed fair, but Tsukune was getting used to exchanges like that.

"M-Moka! What are you-!"

"Hey, stay out of this, you don't-!"

Tsukune winced as yet another tree met its demise, and a flock of birds rose into the air in a panic. Instead of ending the fight, Moka's entrance had only served to make it that much worse. Sighing, Tsukune turned and walked towards the Resting Place, deciding to go in and wait for the girls to drag themselves back when they were finished. He smiled wearily and closed the door behind him, the obstruction almost being enough to deaden to sounds of the combat raging outside.

So much for peace and quiet.

Night had claimed Yokai Academy, and only one room dared to defy its iron grip. Deep within the heart of the main building candlelight danced along the walls, silently watching the game taking place on the table in the room's center. The sole inhabitant of this forgotten place smiled to himself, one gloved hand reaching out to seize one of the pale pieces. Finally, he knew exactly what to do.

Hours ago, the aides and guardians who served the Headmaster of Yokai Academy had been dismissed to their slumber, certain that their master was soon to follow. Eventually he would have to retire, he knew; he could not risk overextending himself, not now. Still, he had needed a while to think, to let himself sort out all the rogue thoughts that flitted around him. Time was a resource he cherished, but even this had its value.

And so he had come to this chamber, which only his closest advisors knew of. Not that there was anything of overt value within the room, as the furnishings were spartan even by his standards: only a simple, albeit sturdy, wooden desk and a plain wooden chair. Atop the desk, however, were items of some note, specifically a trio of chessboards, each detailed in different ways. The one on the right looked to have been carved from black stone, and elaborate scrollwork and Chinese characters decorated its base. To the left was a board made from a red wood, and red soldiers clashed with white ones atop its surface. That board had been covered with a glass top, and the dust that coated that protective ward spoke of the years that had passed since it had been moved.

It was the final board that the Headmaster sat before, his glowing eyes narrowed as he second-guessed himself one final time. This board was white marble, and atop it grey pieces dueled opponents of only a slightly darker shade. Finally satisfied, the lord of the academy moved his piece into place, sitting back and nodding to himself. Perfect. Now… He reached out to toggle the switch before the chessboard, hearing the click as the brake disengaged.

He only allowed himself to play against challengers who stood a fair chance against him, and those were few and far between. Correspondence between he and the others had always taken too long, so he had been forced to find an opponent closer to home. It had taken some time to get accustomed to playing this most devious enemy, but he had come to enjoy it. Smiling darkly, he reached out to turn the chessboard around, already thinking about his next move.

The nigh-silent 'click' of the door drew him up short, and he allowed himself to settle back into the chair as he templed his fingers before him. His guest was not entirely unexpected, but even the Headmaster was forced to concede a certain amount of curiosity about how this exchange would end. After all, it had been so long since they had seen each other...

"Hell-King Mikogami," Death said as he stepped into the candlelight. "How good to see you again."

"Ah?" The Headmaster smiled beneath his cowl. "Good that I am still alive, or good that you are back to yourself to see me?"

The dark-haired man stepped closer to the table, a corpse-warm smile on his lips. "Both. After all, how else would I get the pleasure of killing you myself?"

"And is that the purpose of this visit?"

Death chuckled, glancing away from the Headmaster's face, down towards the table. "Hardly. I much prefer to savor such things; I leave the brawling to my subordinates."

"Ah, yes, your dearest friends. How are they doing these days?" The wry tone to the Hell-King's words implied that he knew far more than he should, which did little to surprise the other man.

"You could always ask them yourself. They are nearby, of course," Death conceded, his eyes wandering the game board. "Just waiting for the chance to be loosed upon this school. So many targets, so many warm bodies to be rent and crushed."

The candles dimmed slightly, as if responding to the narrowed eyes of the Hell-King. "So that is why you brought them here? A celebratory carnage?" He shook his cowled head slowly, his smile regaining its edge. "You wouldn't do that. Not until you've gotten what you want."

"And you know what that is?" Death turned his black eyes up towards the man in the robes. "You always were a dangerous one, old man. That accursed sword was your doing, wasn't it?"

"I was responsible for the Lux Aeterna finding the right hands to wield it, yes." His smirk growing, the cowled man let his eyes drop down to the other's chest. "Tell me: do you still bear that wound, Khro-"

"Come now, what are such names between beings like us?" Death snapped irritably. His smile quickly resumed its place, and he reached down to grasp one of the darker pieces on the game board. "Too dangerous to be allowed to do as you like. It's best that you leave this game, for now." He moved the piece forward, knocking down the paler piece that had occupied its new home. "You and I… we're like kings. The symbol of the player, the key to the game…"

"Yet vulnerable?" The Hell-King looked up at the other man, cold mirth in his gaze. "The ritual you failed so long ago in your attempt to safeguard your soul completely; how much did it leave you weakened?"

"How much, indeed." Death grinned as he leaned slightly closer, his pale teeth gleaming in the flickering light. "You don't know, and I am not about to tell you. On the other hand, I never got the chance to face you directly, so I don't know how much power you can wield against me. That is why I've come to visit, actually."

"Oh?"

"Yes. While I would probably enjoy a direct confrontation against you more than I implied earlier, a clash that would tear this place and all that live within it to tatters, I think it wisest to take things slowly. To enjoy the game, as it were."

"And what do you suggest to that end?" The Headmaster stood from his seat, staring evenly into the eyes of Death.

"That we both abstain from directly involving ourselves in what is to come. As long as you don't interfere, I'll restrain myself from any urges that would end in open slaughter. Likewise, you can trust that I will leave the fighting to my subordinates, pieces that are slightly more…" His ebon eyes fell upon the toppled piece on the board between them. "Expendable."

At this, the Headmaster fell silent for a long moment, his eyes falling to the chessboard. Though it was all but imperceptible, his lips curled slightly, and his eyes seemed to gleam all the brighter in the flickering candlelight. "And what pieces am I to play with, then?"

"Oh, come now. You have never lacked for pawns." Shaking his head, Death turned away from the desk, raising one hand over his shoulder in a silent farewell. "Take for example… Tsukune Aono and his friends. I eagerly anticipate your next move, Hell-King." And with those words, the shadows reached out to embrace him, and he was gone.

The Headmaster sat still in the silence for long minutes afterwards, staring forward with a statue's intensity. Almost absent-mindedly, he reached up to complete the motion he had begun earlier, grasping the edge of the chessboard and pivoting it around. Now, he sat behind the darker pieces, and he gazed down at the board, reexamining the field. His eyes lingered on the piece that Death had moved, peering at it as if trying to see into the mind of the one who had moved it.

Finally, he grinned to himself, one gloved hand reaching up to rub his smooth chin. Perhaps this was for the best. Chuckling in the flickering light, the Headmaster stood up from the board, reaching out to take up one of the candles as he made his way towards the rest, blowing them out one at a time. Moving towards the door, he left the chessboard as it was, not bothering to replace the pieces Death had touched.

It had been the move he would have made, anyways.

Author's Note: Welcome, dear reader, to the opening of For Better or Worse, the third in my series of Rosario + Vampire fanfics. Should this be your initial discovery of my work, allow me to suggest once again that you turn your attention back to Out of Nightmares; while that story is fairly dark, it does feature a happy ending, and the plot of each story in this series is deeply tied to the others. For those coming from Into Dreams, good to see you once more!

Each of my stories in this series is intended to have a slightly different feel and theme. Out of Nightmares was the darker, more dramatic conflict that set up the romantic struggles in Into Dreams. This tale is meant to place a higher focus on the action and fights that are the other half of this fandom; expect to see some of the knock-down, drag-out brawls that play such a major role in the manga, or at least my best representation thereof. It may be hubris to say this, but I think I'm pretty good at fight scenes and the like, so I'm looking forward to getting to put a few more into this tale.

Of course, this is not to say that For Better or Worse will be lacking the romantic comedy and tension that featured so greatly in its predecessor. Far, far from it; such is, after all, my favorite part of Rosario + Vampire. No, I have plans in place for a fair share of blush-inducing chaos and heart-warming resolution yet to come...

So, I invite you to follow me (and Tsukune and co.) back to Yokai Academy, where life has not gotten any less dangerous. Trouble is brewing in those halls, morseso than the usual (which says a considerable amount, when you think about it). As they shall soon see, all's fair in love and war... and this story is about both, often at the same time.

On a more 'meta' note, my intended schedule for this work is weekly releases. Those who have been with me for some time know that such things rarely work out quite as I plan: either I get anxious, and post early, or some unforeseen catastrophe delays me beyond my intended deadline. A quick glance at my profile might reveal why that could happen, though, in short, let me point to my job as a teacher. ^_^; However, on the topic of my profile: I have been striving to update my profile whenever I write, so you can check there for an update on the status of this work... assuming I maintain this habit, ah heh.

And, to conclude: Thanks for reading. Allow me this chance to humbly request your feedback, whatever you feel like offering. Reviews give me the motivation I need to press on and find my way back to the keyboard, even when I am swamped with everything else. Also, feel free to send me a message if you so choose, though be warned: my responses tend to be somewhat lengthy (that may be an understatement, as some who have spoken to me before can attest). I eagerly await your voices.

But, until then... I sleep.

~Wynn Pendragon