+ Sorry this chapter is so long. I didn't want to split Kurumu day like I did with Yukari. The next chapter hopefully won't be as long. Anyway Enjoy.
Chapter 8
Kurumu was running down the empty halls of Yokai Academy. The full moon was her only light. Kuyou was chasing her however, at the moment he was busy taking care of an Illusion. She suddenly stopped when she saw a strange man brilliant blue eyes staring at her several yards away. Kurumu started to walk towards him when there was a roar and a flash of light behind her. Kurumu looked behind her and saw that Kuyou had broken through her illusion. She looked back at the man but he was gone. She started to run again and skidded to a halt outside the newspaper club room and opened the door.
"Guys we have a problem. Kuyou is…no. Please no." Kurumu stopped suddenly as she saw the state of her friends.
All of them had been turned to stone and everyone had been cut down. There was a sharp pain in her right forearm. She looked down and saw the head of a snake retreating into the shadows and saw the former art teacher step out of the shadows.
"M-M-Ms. Ishigami, you're supposed to be in jail." Kurumu said in fright as her arm got heavier.
"I escaped. I finally got my revenge. Although it's a shame that Shuzen girl is so fond of that damn Moka Akashiya. At least I got to turn her into stone before she was taken away." Ishigami explained calmly.
"A-A-Aqua is here." Kurumu stammered.
"She was. But she left as soon as Akashiya was turned to stone. You on the other hand will be a part of my collection. Too bad Ms. Shuzen cut down Mr. Aono with that nifty trick of hers."
After hearing that, something inside Kurumu snapped and she transformed into her true form. Kurumu's right arm was getting harder and harder to move. She screamed in pain as her claws pulled the hardening skin and broke through their prison. Before the succubus could move she felt another sharp pain on her right thigh as another snake injected more poison into Kurumu's bloodstream. Instead of fighting she ran.
"Damn, pretty soon I won't be able to move at all, I need to get to the Headmaster's office." Kurumu thought.
As quickly as her hardening body would allow, Kurumu climbed the first flight of stairs. She almost reached the landing when she winced as she received another bite on the back of her left ankle. Kurumu jumped into the air, beating her wings as fast as she could she flew to the third story. Kurumu landed and tried to walk only to find her legs had fully turned to stone. She flapped her wings and hovered as she flew towards the Headmaster's giant office door. By the time she got to the office her right arm and everything below her chest was solid rock. Her left hand was still movable but was already starting to harden. Kurumu pushed the door open and managed to fly into the office before for her wings froze.
"Headmaster, Hitomi Ishigami and Kuyou are on the..." Kurumu started to say to the back of the chair behind the large desk when a laugh cut her off.
"You are so predictable. You followed my plan to a T." the voice said from behind the chair.
The chair spun around to reveal Kuyou in his ultimate form. Kurumu gasped as she saw the Headmaster's body burnt to a crisp underneath the window. Kurumu tried to move but found the only thing she could move was her jaw. Her neck muscles along with the rest of her body had turned completely to stone. Kuyou got up and walked over to Kurumu. His face lit by his four fiery tails.
"Well then Ms. Kurono, I guess this is goodbye." Kuyou said as he pulled his arm back.
Kuyou put all is power into this one attack. Kuyou punched the stone succubus's chest killing her.
‡‡‡‡
"That's why Tsukune found me in his bed. I swear I didn't do anything. I was just so scared. For once I just wanted to feel safe. I've had nightmares every night for the past month. They all are different. But most end with death." Kurumu explained to the others.
"While we were at the academy did you tell the school nurse?" Yukari asked.
Kurumu shook her head. "No, this is the first time I'm talking about it."
"Why have you waited so long?" Moka asked.
"Because…because Succubi aren't supposed to have dreams let alone nightmares. When we fall asleep our consciousness slips from our bodies and we go to other people's dreams. Only high level Succubi can choose whose dreams they enter otherwise they are completely random."
"Are you sure you aren't observing the same person's dream?" Yukari asked.
"I thought that at first because the first few time's I thought I entered Moka's or Tsukune's dreams."
"Why did you think that?"
"Cause it was…um…do I really have to tell you?" Kurumu asked slightly blushing
"Yes. You do now." Mizore said.
"Fine. It was… Moka and Tsukune… having sex." Even though Kurumu mumbled the last little bit the group heard it. Moka and Tsukune fidgeted in their seats. No doubt wondering what went on in that dream.
"Um…why is that a nightmare?" Ruby asked.
"Cause it's one of my worst fears. That Tsukune will choose Moka and reject me. If that ever happens I'll die." The Succubus explained. "Every night the dreams get a little worse. Although when I fell asleep in Tsukune's bed my consciousness slipped out of my body and into someone else's. By the way Ruby, ewww! Can you be anymore perverted?"
Ruby blushed as she thought of her dream about Tsukune tying her up and whipping her.
"H-h-h-how much do you know about us Kurumu?" Yukari stuttered.
"Not much, unless we really want to remember, Succubi normally forget what they saw when they wake. This was just the first time in a month that I visited someone's dream."
"Ok, well next time that you decide to crawl into my bed at least wake me up first. Please?" Tsukune said.
"Ok Tsukune. So are you guys still mad at me?"
"No. Not anymore. We forgive you now that we know your reason." Moka said. "So how was your date, Yukari?"
"It was fantastic. Well most of it anyway." Yukari said as she started to tell the other girls about her day with Tsukune. She told them about everything except the kiss she and Tsukune shared.
"What's that around your neck?" Mizore asked pointing to the gold guitar pick on a gold chain around Yukari's neck.
"It was a gift from Iwasawa. After the concert Tsukune and I got to go backstage and meet the rest of the band members. I told the band that their music was amazing. I was captivated by every song. Iwasawa asked Tsukune if he remembered this necklace. "
"I gave her the guitar pick before she left for her year in America. I had a bit of a crush on her in middle school. She apparently got it altered in America to wear as a necklace. The other band members and I saved our allowance for an entire year so we could get it." Tsukune said.
"Anyway Iwasawa took it off and handed it to me saying 'I was going to return it to Tsukune but I see he found someone who truly loves him. So I want you to have it instead.'" Yukari finished.
After she was done explaining, Tsukune looked at the grandfather clock in the living room area of the manor. The clock read 1:15 in the morning. Tsukune yawned before saying, "Well unless they aren't ready, tomorrow Kurumu and I are going out."
"They should be ready; Touhoufuhai said something about already having them made."
"Thanks Ruby, you're the best." Said Tsukune as he got up from his chair, "Well Kurumu I hope you have a pleasant visit tonight."
"You have pleasant dreams too Tsukune."
"Good night girls." Tsukune said as he exited the room.
The moment Tsukune hit his bed he was out.
‡‡‡‡
Tsukune awoke expecting to see Kurumu again but his bed was empty. As he got dressed he observed how empty his closet was. He had about a weeks' worth of clothes with him. The only thing he wore for the past 3 years was the Yokai Academy Uniform. "I gotta remember to go home and get a few of my clothes." He thought.
Kurumu was already up and downstairs trying to get Ruby to tell her where Tsukune was taking her. However she wouldn't tell her.
"Hi everyone, so how did you sleep Kurumu?"
"I had another nightmare."
"I'm sorry; if you're too tired I could plan something else."
"I'm fine my body is full of energy."
"Ok if you're sure." Tsukune said. "Kurumu, you're going to want to leave your headband and hairclip here."
"Why?"
"You'll see." Yukari said.
Kurumu sighed and removed her favorite headband and the hair clip underneath the headband. As she put them on the counter Yukari noticed something odd about the purple headband.
"Kurumu, do you wear that to bed?" Yukari asked.
"Just the headband. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. It's probably just me, but could I borrow it for the day?"
"Since I'm leaving them here the answer is yes. But if you ruin it, Tsukune will have one less girlfriend. In case you're wondering, my father gave me that headband before he died. It's the only thing I have left of him." Kurumu said.
"I'll take extra good care of them." Yukari promised.
Tsukune ate a quick breakfast and as he and Kurumu were heading out the door when Ruby stopped them.
"The lot number is 13-89."
"13-89, ok I got it thanks." Tsukune said
Kurumu was more confused than ever. Tsukune however gave her a sly smile and led her to the car.
About an hour later the car stopped at a large boating dock. Kurumu had never seen so many boats in one place.
"We need to find lot 13-89, Kurumu." Tsukune said as he held out his hand.
Kurumu took his hand and together they walked down the long dock. It was about a fifteen minute walk before the two came upon a fairly decent sized white yacht docked behind the numbers 1,3,8,9. On the side if the boat in large curly red letters was the name Ao Kuang.
"Hey you two, I've been waiting for an hour." A familiar voice said from above them. "Come aboard."
"Hey Fang Fang, Thanks for letting us borrow your boat."
"It's not a problem I'm just glad to be doing something other than sitting at home with Touhou." Fang Fang replied as Tsukune and Kurumu got onto the deck.
The inside was fairly big. It had a dining room, a small rec room, and sitting room. Along with a kitchen and a few small bedrooms.
"Wow this boat is huge." Kurumu exclaimed.
"This is nothing, you should see the family boat. It's like a small cruise ship." Fang Fang said. "So shall we get going?"
"Yeah. Let's" Tsukune said.
Fang Fang yelled into an intercom system and a few seconds later the boat started to move. When the boat was far enough away from the dock it took off for the middle of nowhere. While the boat was taking the group to the mysterious destination, Fang Fang pulled two black masks out of the storage area.
"Touhou developed these a few years back. These are like the scuba gear humans wear but it negates the negative effects that the human gear would give you, such as decompression sickness, Nitrogen narcosis, and oxygen toxicity These allow you to talk underwater and unlike the human scuba gear, they…how do I explain it… it keeps the body warm kind of the opposite of the suckers that Mizore eats to maintain her body temperature." Fang Fang explained. "Oh by the way you need to be back on the boat at 5:30 because dinner is at 6."
After Fang Fang finished explaining the masks the boat stopped.
"This is one of my favorite places to explore." Fang Fang said.
Tsukune and Kurumu were escorted to separate bedrooms.
"Ruby sent your gear last night. Get changed and meet me on the deck."
Kurumu saw a small bag lying on the bed and looked inside. Inside the bag contained her swimsuit. It didn't take her long to slip into her swimsuit. She left the room a few minutes later and walked out onto the deck. Tsukune was already there talking with Fang Fang and Ling Ling. Kurumu assumed she was the driver. Kurumu looked out and saw a small island about 600 feet away. The deep blue water was almost breath taking.
"Where are we? That island doesn't look familiar." Kurumu asked.
"We are at our vacation home in the Caribbean. Tunnels run all over the world. Even in water. Although the tunnels at sea are twenty times harder to navigate." Fang Fang replied.
"You will need these as well, Tsukune." Ling Ling said as she handed him a pair of flippers and goggles. "You too Kurumu."
Kurumu took the gear from Ling Ling, went to the edge of the deck and put them on. Tsukune followed suit.
"Ok, one last thing. If you go that way," Fang Fang pointed towards the island "You will hit the reef. However if you go that way," Fang Fang pointed out to the open ocean, "You'll hit the graveyard.
"Ok" Tsukune said a bit confused. "Are you ready Kurumu? I want to show you a world few humans ever get to see firsthand."
"Yes."
"Here you guys go. And remember 5:30. Ling Ling will tell you how long you have. The masks have two way transmitters. So you will be connected to the boat at all times." Fang Fang said.
Tsukune checked his watch before taking it off. They had close to six hours to explore. Tsukune and Kurumu took the masks from Fang Fang. The mask would cover their nose and mouth. It had a small circular device attached to the front. It reminded Kurumu of a gas mask. Tsukune put the mask on and slipped into the water. Kurumu followed his lead. When she put the mask to her face she felt the mask seal itself to her face and cut off her air supply. Kurumu quickly slid into the warm water and oxygen rushed into her lungs. Apparently the mask converted water into oxygen.
"You ok?" Tsukune's voice vibrated in her ear.
"Yeah, I'm ok. It was just the shock of getting my air supply cut off. Let's get a little deeper just so we are not so close to the surface" Kurumu said before taking off towards the ocean floor.
"Ok so which way do you want to go? Left or right?" Tsukune asked once they were half way to the bottom.
"Um…Left. Away from the reef. I want to see this graveyard." Kurumu said as she took off away from the reef and the Huang boat.
It was then that Kurumu saw this strange new world come to life. Everything for about a hundred yards was surrounded by a dark blue curtain. Chunks of colorful coral created homes for the hundreds of vibrant tropical fish that swam around her. Kurumu felt weightless as she floated in the water. She kicked her legs and propelled herself forward. Tsukune followed suit. They two swam memorized by the strange alien world around them. The blue curtain backed away revealing more of the mysterious ocean as they swam. Tsukune heard Kurumu gasp when a giant masthead broke through the curtain. As they swam towards the masthead the dark water parted to reveal the ship graveyard. Kurumu was stunned by how many ships where down here.
"There must be hundreds of ships down here." Tsukune said.
"Where do you think they came from?"
"I don't know but I think they were dragged here. Look some of the ships are incomplete." Tsukune replied.
Kurumu looked out across the graveyard and noticed what Tsukune was talking about. A number of ships looked like they sank from too much water while others looked like they were snapped in half and moved across the ocean. The waves above made caused the sun to make dancing spotlights on a few of the ships. Many of the ships were missing parts. Kurumu started swimming once again. She swam a ways out before ducking into a giant hole in one of the ships. As Tsukune followed he caught a glimpse at a few letters ARDEN. Towards the end of the lettering he saw a gouge in the wood. Tsukune went to check it out. Someone had cut an F into the side of the ship. The first half of the ship was torn off. Continuing on, Tsukune finally found Kurumu in the Captains Quarters. She was opening drawers on the captain's desk.
"Nope nothing good in here. Let's check what left of the cargo hold." Kurumu said as she started swimming towards the door.
They didn't find anything interesting in the cargo hold or anywhere else on the ARDEN.
"Ok Kurumu which one do you want to explore next?" Tsukune asked.
Kurumu swam towards a mostly intact ship that read CRYSTAL RAIN with an F gouged in the wood of the ship next to the N. Kurumu didn't find anything in this one either. After the third ship also with an F gouged in it, it finally clicked. The F meant that the ship had been searched. Kurumu decided on another ship further out into the grave yard. This ship looked fully intact. As Kurumu and Tsukune swam past the bow of the ship the only thing that could be read DIETY F DON the rest of the letters were covered up by algae. The two swam onto the deck.
"You go on ahead. I'm going to see the name on the other side of the ship. And see if the F is on that side."
Tsukune took off for the other side of the ship. This side was covered in more thick green algae. The only thing that was visible was a gleaming trident painted in gold paint. Tsukune figured out the ships name. The DEITY OF POSEIDON. Just as Tsukune discovered that there wasn't an F, he heard Kurumu scream. Tsukune figured she would be in the Captain's Quarters. He activated the channels in his legs and took off through the water. In mere seconds he was at the door to the Captain's Quarters next to Kurumu. Kurumu was breathing heavily.
"Are you ok? What happened?"
All Kurumu did was point. Tsukune followed her finger. Bent over the Captain's desk was the skeletal remains of the captain.
"Well a good captain goes down with his ship. Do you want to still explore this ship?" Tsukune asked.
"Yes, the skeleton just surprised me. That's all." Kurumu replied as she swam through the waterlogged doorframe.
Tsukune and Kurumu searched the room but found nothing. Kurumu and Tsukune were leaving the room when the swaying spotlight shifted and something glittering in the captain's bony hand caught Tsukune's attention. Tsukune swam back towards the captain and looked in his hand. Some kind of necklace was in his hand. From chemistry class, he knew salt water converts silver into silver sulfite. Tsukune pulled and the lump of silver sulfite came free. The lump was small so he was able to slip it into his pocket before continuing on. As he exited the room he swam right into Kurumu.
"Hey why did you stop?"
Then he saw it. A shiver of sharks swimming around the ships.
"Um…Fang Fang, we have sharks down here."
Kurumu released her claws as a shark started to swim towards them.
"WAIT! Don't attack, these are Great White Sharks. As long as you're not bleeding they won't attack you. The ones you need to watch out for are the Tiger Sharks. Thankfully they are mainly nocturnal." Fang Fang informed them.
"How can you tell?" Kurumu asked not moving an inch.
"Cause I'm swimming with them." Fang Fang replied.
Tsukune looked and saw a flipper disappear behind a shark.
"This guy is nuts. Do you want to explore some more or go back towards the reef?" Tsukune asked Kurumu.
"Let's finish exploring this ship and then go back towards the reef."
The two went to the cargo hold and Kurumu found what she was looking for. She found this ship's treasure. There wasn't a lot of it due to a giant hole in the bottom of the hull but rubies and diamonds and gold coins littered the floor.
"I wish I brought a bag. Tsukune, could you carry a few of these to the surface for me? Please?" Kurumu asked.
Kurumu gathered a few of the gold coins and Tsukune put them into his pocket.
"Hey guys its 3:30. You might want to start heading back." Ling Ling's voice resonated through Tsukune's ear.
When the two finally exited the ship the sharks were starting to swim back into the deeper waters. The two started swimming back towards the reef. The closer they got the more fish appeared. Kurumu watched an octopus tumble around on the ocean floor. A sea turtle swam by above them. Kurumu brushed her fingertips along a manta ray's back startling it. The reef was shallower and so much more colorful and busy.
"This place is overwhelming. There are so many colors." Kurumu said looking around.
They stayed under the water for a little longer until Kurumu scraped her arm across some bright yellow-green coral.
"Ow. This hurts; let's get back to the boat." Kurumu said.
The couple swam back towards the boat. When they were underneath it they started swimming up. About 25 feet from the surface Tsukune and Kurumu removed their masks. Together they broke through the surface. The sun was low in the sky. Tsukune helped Kurumu back to the latter of the boat. After they were onboard Ling Ling came to check on them.
"You're back early. Did something happen?" she asked.
"Kurumu got too close to some coral and scraped her arm." Tsukune explained.
"Does it hurt? I mean does it sting?"
"Kind of." Kurumu replied.
"What color was the coral?" Ling Ling asked.
"A yellowish green color." Tsukune answered.
"You hit Fire Coral. Come with me. You need to neutralize the poison in order for the injury to heal." Ling Ling said before walking towards the bedroom Kurumu's clothes was in.
As Kurumu and Ling Ling left, Fang Fang climbed onto the deck. Tsukune was surprised to see Fang Fang's waist long hair out of its normal braid.
"Is Kurumu alright?" Fang Fang asked as he grabbed a towel from a nearby rack.
"Yeah, she just hit some fire coral. Um…Fang Fang do you have anything to reverse the process of silver sulfate? I found a necklace and I want to see what's under all the junk."
"Yeah, back in the kitchen area. What ship did you find it on?"
"The DEITY OF POSEIDEN. Or at least I'm assuming it is." Tsukune explained the letters on the ship and the captain.
"Let's get your treasure into cook and then you can go take a shower." Fang Fang said taking the treasure from Tsukune.
‡‡‡‡
A little while later, after Kurumu had healed and everyone had showered, Ling Ling was driving the boat to where Tsukune and Kurumu were supposed to have dinner.
Kurumu was going looking at her cleaned treasure while Tsukune had his hidden in his pocket.
"Hey Fang Fang, why are there so many ships down there?" Tsukune suddenly asked.
"For thousands of years, a clan of Leviathan ruled those waters. For miles and miles, they raised all kinds of hell. By this clan's law, the next head of the family would be chosen by how many ships they sank. They gathered the sunken ships and created this graveyard of sorts. Anyway a few centuries back, after Yokai Academy was founded, the Dark Lords went there under the idea of getting the Leviathan children enrolled. Well the parents fought the Dark Lords and the clan was destroyed in a single night." Fang Fang explained.
‡‡‡‡
About an hour later the boat docked in front of a very familiar Oceanside Inn. Three people stood outside as the couple got off the boat. San Otonashi, Ginei Morioka, and Marin Kawamoto were waiting for Tsukune and Kurumu to arrive.
San held up her notebook. -Hi, welcome back-
Tsukune hadn't seen San, Ms. Marin, or Gin in over a year. He almost had forgotten that San was a very powerful Siren and she used her notebook to talk. Gin was welcoming Kurumu by grabbing her boobs. Gin was expecting a slap to the face but before Kurumu had the chance; San brought her heavy notebook down on his head.
-You said you would behave!- he read after recovering from the attack.
"Sorry, San. I just couldn't resist. I haven't seen them in a year."
"How have all of you been? I never expected to see you here Gin."
"We've been great. Gin rents out a space from us." Marin said.
"Yep, I'm a professional photographer. My work has been published in a few magazines and newspapers around the city." Gin said.
"But I bet he is still taking pictures of women undressing." Kurumu muttered.
-No he isn't cause well…-
San held out her left hand and showed them a diamond ring.
"San is my fiancé." Gin finished. "And I don't want to piss her off. She isn't called the Siren in the Dark for nothing."
"Congratulations." Both Tsukune and Kurumu said.
"Well, I think it's time to get you two going. If you follow me I'll show you to your room." Gin said.
Tsukune blushed and stammered, "I-I-I swear this is not what I had planned."
-GINEI…- San wrote giving Gin a stern look.
"Fine. I'll show you to your table. You won't let me have any fun. Will you?"
San stuck her tongue out at Gin. Tsukune could see the bottom half of San's gold Siren symbol the source of her great power. San and Gin led the way through the busy diner. Some of the customers were in their swimsuits but most were back in normal day clothes. Amongst the customers Kurumu noticed a very handsome man, even by Succubus standards, with blond hair and striking blue eyes wearing a business suit. Kurumu couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him somewhere before but couldn't place where. She put him to the back of her mind as Gin sat them down at a table that had a perfect view of the ocean and the setting sun.
After dinner Tsukune suggested they go for a walk on the beach before going home. Kurumu was exhausted but she wanted to spend as much time with Tsukune as possible so she agreed. They walked some ways away before Tsukune stopped Kurumu.
"Kurumu, I found something and I want you to have it." Tsukune said as he pulled the necklace out of his pocket.
Kurumu gasped when she saw the black pearl glitter in the fading sunlight. The necklace was a large single black pearl on a silver chain. The setting around the pearl was silver as well. Kurumu took the necklace and examined it.
"It's beautiful. Where did you find it?"
"I found it in captain's hand."
Kurumu flipped the charm over and saw tiny writing on the back. "Tsukune, do you know what 'Amor meus amplior quam verba est' means?"
"No, I don't. But let's ask Yukari when we get back." Tsukune said as he took the necklace back from Kurumu.
Kurumu spun around and allowed Tsukune to put the necklace around her neck. When he was done he wrapped his arms around Kurumu and lightly brushed his lips across her cheek. She blushed slightly and took Tsukune's hand to start heading back to the car that was waiting to take them back to Bloodriver Manor. The last thing Kurumu remembered as she drifted off on Tsukune's shoulder was her consciousness escaping her body.
