Well everyone, as promised here's the next chapter. I just wanted to say thanks for viewing and reviewing my fanfic, I'm really sorry that I haven't done this sooner, it's just that I had to work at my part-time job and try to save enough money to go to Otakon this year. But I promise to try and do my best on writing this in my spare time.
Chapter 14: Slug + Heat + Trust
The Newspaper Clubroom
It's Saturday and everyone in the Newspaper Club room were quite busy working on their first newspaper article and Tsukune and Yukari were quite disappointed that they won't be training today. But nevertheless the sooner they get the job done the better, his fight with Uzumaki Kairi is coming up pretty soon.
The brunette then looked out the window to see the clouds covering the sky, it had been the same weather routine since he got here.
'Hmm, the weather here's not too hot nor too cold.' he commented in his thoughts, 'Come to think of it, there's not really a sense of changing seasons here is there?'
"Tsukune," Moka called getting his attention, "there's only two more days until the newspaper is printed. It's a lot of work, but let's do our best, okay!"
"Sorry," Tsukune apologized getting back to work, "my mind was somewhere else for a moment."
Moka nodded, "I understand, it's hard to suddenly have this deadline when your birthday was just yesterday."
Hard indeed, two days have past since the missing girls incident with Ishigami and the group decided to put the story in their first paper. And everyone is having a hard time ever since the party.
"I can't take this!" Kurumu whined while stretching her arms, "It's finally Saturday and we're all packed in here!"
"It's true," Yukari agreed while typing on her laptop, "we're just like a mangaka being chased by a deadline. And we're not even getting paid!"
"Stop being babies!" Gin shouted at them, "A newspaper's the same as manga, with strict adherence to deadlines. The incident with the art teacher that's gonna be all over the front page was two days ago, Thursday! Ain't no one gonna call us a newspaper if there ain't no reporting immediately on her."
He was actually sitting at his desk, reading a newspaper, and sipping his coffee, "I'll listen to your sob stories after you make the deadline."
"Then would you please help us out instead of relaxing over there drinking coffee!" Moka yelled angrily at Gin's lazy state.
"Forget about him Moka-san," Yukari said, "he's just a lazy good for nothing pretty boy."
A tick mark appeared on Gin's head, but kept his cool, "I'm gonna do you a favor, I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that."
"Okay, then you won't mind pretending not hearing this new nickname I made for you, mangy deadbeat mongrel." the witch insulted with a grin, and the group snickered at the name she gave to the older teen.
Several more tick marks appeared on the werewolf's head, "Okay now you're pushing it toddler!" he shouted and marched over to get her before Tsukune got up, drew out his gunblade, aimed it at Gin's head, and gave him a stern look.
"If you so much lay a finger on her, your forehead will never be the same again." he threatened as he clicked his weapon.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Moka yelled at the two and they both stopped, "Tsukune you put that gunblade away!" he dispelled his said weapon and sat back down, and the pinkette looked at Gin, "And as for you senpai, go back to your seat and think about what you did! You should be ashamed for trying to harm a child!"
The older teen lowered his head in shame, feeling hurt that his dream girl berate him, he walked back to his desk, sat back down, and proceeded reading his paper.
"I'm sorry you had to see me act like that again Moka." the brunette apologized to her.
She then put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "It's okay, you were only defending Yukari, and I understand that you dislike Gin very much, but I don't want you to start another fight in school again. Unless it's necessary."
He nodded, "Of course."
She then turned to the witch, "And as for you young lady, you shouldn't call your senpai names, even if it is kinda funny." A dark cloud appeared over Gin's lowered head feeling even more hurt than before, "Although I do prefer his nickname chicken-wuss though." she giggled which made the older teen sulk even more as rain and several lightning bolts shot out of the cloud above him.
"Not you too." he muttered with anime tears.
"I'm sorry." Yukari apologized feeling bad about what she did.
"It's okay Yukari, I forgive you." Moka said kindly as she pulled her into a hug and the witch hugged back.
After they broke the hug Yukari continued, "Still though, he's letting this go to his head just like a manga editor."
Tsukune just stared at her with a curious brow, "Yukari why are you comparing this situation to a manga?"
Just then, Kurumu wrapped her arms around the brunette, "Well I don't care what I'm doing as long as I'm with Tsukune."
Tsukune blushed and rolled his eyes in annoyance as usual, getting ticked off by this routine everyday. And even if he wanted to yell at the bluenette, Moka would just scold him for yelling at her and not watching his temper.
"Kurumu-chan!" Moka yelled annoyed as well at how Kurumu was latching onto the brunette.
"What?!" Kurumu demanded as she let go and gave a challenging glare to the pinkette.
"Grr!" Moka growled returning the glare right back at her.
"The endless quarrels are starting again." Yukari commented.
Tsukune was just about to sneak away from this, but Kurumu noticed and wouldn't let him get away as she quickly hugged him again.
"Moka," she started sticking her tongue at the vampire, "it seems you wanted to try and steal him from me on his birthday, but I'm not about to let that happen! I'll never let you have Tsukune!"
Moka flinched at Kurumu's words and making Tsukune frown, but nevertheless he made a pinky promise to Moka that he won't ever let his anger get the best of him again.
Outside
What the Newspaper Club members don't know is that they were being watched by a shadowy figure sitting on a branch taking photos with his camera and apparently it has its eye for a certain succubus.
"Uhuhu there you are my beloved one." the figure chuckled as it took pictures, "Aaah! You're so cute! Just watching you like this isn't enough, I can't take it anymore."
He then put the camera down and had an evil grin on his face, "Just you wait! Soon I'll be holding you in my arms! Hu hu hu hu hu..."
Back at the clubroom
Nekonome-sensei walked in carrying a plastic bag in her hand, "Is everyone working hard?" she asked, "I brought snacks!"
"Nekonome-sensei!" Gin greeted putting down his paper.
"Well, is the work continuing?" she asked as she was looking at everyone who are keeping themselves busy, "It doesn't even look like I need to ask, does it?"
"There are lots of cuts and a lot of pages," Moka said, "it's a lot of work."
The cat-eared teacher smiled, "Well come on eat the snacks and cheer up okay!" she handed it over to the brunette.
As Tsukune opened it, his eyes were wide open and looked away with disgust seeing that the bag is full of raw fish.
"Sensei, this bag is full of raw fish." he pointed out as he picked up one.
"Raw?!" Yukari asked as she came over.
"It's more delicious that way!" Nekonome beamed as she snatched it from his hand with her mouth and the group looked at her with disgust.
'Yeah, for you maybe.' the brunette commented in his thoughts knowing the fact that their sensei is a cat.
"Oh yeah, Kurumu-chan," the teacher said as she pulled a letter from her pocket, "this letter was dropped in front of the classroom."
"Letter?" Kurumu asked as Nekonome-sensei handed it to her and as she observed the envelope, it reads "To my beloved Kurumu-chan' at the top and Nagare at the bottom.
'Love letter?' she questioned in thought, 'Who's this? And why now? And who's this Nagare?' She opened the envelope, and her eyes widen in complete shock. There were inappropriate photos of herself in her underwear, and what's worse is that they were completely embarrassing and if this got out, then she would most likely die of embarrassment. She then noticed a letter within the envelope.
If you don't want these pictures to become public, come alone to the "Monster Tree" in the main schoolyard.
Nagare
Tsukune noticed the troubled succubus and asked, "Is there something wrong Kurumu?"
She stood up in panic with her face flushing red, 'Kyaaaa! What's going on?! Why are there dirty photos of me?! And why would someone threatening me with a blackmail letter?!' she debated herself with questions.
"Ahahaha!" she laughed nervously as she walked away, "I kinda just remembered I have to do something so I'll be taking off, okay?!"
"Kurumu-chan?!" Moka asked, "What about the deadline?!"
"Take care of the rest for me!" and with that she ran out the door. The brunette raised a confused brow at this, why did she have to leave all of a sudden?
"Kurumu-chan." the pinkette sighed by her sudden leave.
She then felt a hand on her shoulder and saw it belonged to the brunette, "I'm sure she has a good reason to leave." he reassured her, "We'll just have to continue without her." she nodded and they all continued getting back to work.
Yokai Academy Landmark Monster Tree
Kurumu arrived at a giant tree with a grotesque face and hopefully she would confront the blackmailer and give him a piece of her mind.
"Hey," a voice called, "I've been waiting for you!" Kurumu looked up to see a boy sitting on a branch with nearly shoulder-length hair and a camera around his neck, "So you saw those pictures and my letter... I'm glad! Long time no see, eh Kurumu-chan?"
"Who are you?!" Kurumu demanded, "What do you want?! Calling me all the way out here with those dirty pictures..." she reached to her side to bring up the pictures only to find that she bring them with her.
'Ah... those pictures.' she thought, 'In a panic I hid them in the toolbox and left them back there!'
"I took really cute pictures of you right?" He asked her as he jumped down, "I really liked them! Huhuhuhuhuhu!" he chuckled to himself freaking Kurumu out. And to make matters worse he began sweating as it dripped down his face.
'Ugh...' she cringed in disgust, 'What's with this guy? He's all slimy with sweat or something, it's a little scary...'
"I'm Kanou Nagare." he introduced himself with a smile while jerking a thumb to his face, "Don't you remember me? It was right after school started..."
FLASHBACK Two months ago after opening ceremonies
"You sure are beautiful Kurumu-san. May I take a picture of you?" Nagare asked with his camera in his hand.
"Really?!" Kurumu asked with a blush on her face and he nodded.
"Maybe I am just that beautiful." she continued, "Hey, am I more beautiful than Akashiya Moka?"
That question threw him off guard, but he answered, "Er?! Uhh... Well... Of course! And you do have big boobs!" her face brightened.
"Yaaaay!" she cheered, "If you take a really pretty picture of me I'll let you go out with me."
"Really?! Are you serious?!" he asked with hope in his voice.
FLASHBACK END
"So that meeting was fate!" Nagare exclaimed with his arms spreading wide.
'I don't remember at all...' Kurumu thought while panicking, 'I guess I talked with lots of guys in order to compete with Moka before I met with Tsukune.'
"I've been waiting all this time ever since then!" he continued with a creepy smile on his face before it darkened, "Go on a date with me right now just like you promised, Kurumu-chan." he held up dirty photos of her in his hand, "Unless you want "those pictures" to be shown to the whole school?"
Kurumu's face was in complete shock and horror, why would he do this to her?
Back at the Newspaper Club
Everyone was working hard and Tsukune was almost done finishing his work portion and was planning to work on Kurumu's. Moka and Yukari offered to help, but he pointed out that they're a bit far behind on theirs.
Moka then looked at the clock, "Kurumu-chan hasn't come back yet."
"We have no use for people who run away like that!" Yukari exclaimed.
Tsukune looked up from his work, "Don't you think you're being too harsh Yukari?" he asked, "And like I said I'm sure she has a reason to leave."
"You know," Moka started getting everyone's attention, "I wonder what Kurumu-chan thinks of the Newspaper Club."
Tsukune raised a brow, "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Kurumu-chan is here is here because she likes Tsukune, right?" she continued, 'And she totally hated me from the beginning.' Everyone was silent as they processed her words.
"The truth is that maybe she doesn't think of us as friends. Because going off like that at such a busy time for everyone is really weird!"
They all stared at her and thought about what she said and let the words sink in, they all didn't want to believe it, but maybe what she' saying is true.
'Oh my,' Nekonome thought sadly hearing all this, 'and just when I was thinking that they were all so good at working together. It seems the team isn't as close as I thought.''
The brunette then placed his hand on her shoulder, "Moka," he said to her. "we don't know that for sure. And I understand how you feel, but if Kurumu is doing something important then we should let her be. And if it makes everyone feel better, we'll confront and ask her as soon as she gets back. Is that okay?"They all looked at each other and reluctantly nodded.
And as for the brunette he didn't want to believe what Moka just said. He just couldn't help but get the feeling that something's wrong ever since Kurumu received that letter and he was going to find out what's going on.
Gym Storeroom
Kurumu and Nagare were now in a gym storeroom and the bluenette is wearing gym shorts and a white t-shirt.
"H-hey, what is all this?" Kurumu asked as she look down at herself in embarrassment, "Why do I have to change into gym shorts for a date?"
"It's a pretend photo shoot!" Nagare exclaimed happily, "Oh Kurumu-chan you look real good in those!" He began taking pictures with his camera while Kurumu blinked and stood awkwardly by this.
"This isn't what I meant by a date!" she yelled, "Stop acting like a..."
"Oh, are you sure about talking to me like that?" he asked with a grin in a dark tone.
Kurumu froze at his change of tone, "Uh..."
"I have this special ability of finding out what a girls secrets are." he continued while wiping the sweat or whatever it is off his face, "I know a lot about you, Kurumu-chan!" he walked over to her, "For example like this and stuff like that..." he whispered quietly to her and the bluenette's eyes widen in full shock again.
"Hentai!" she screamed as her face became a shade of red.
His grin became wider, "Maybe I'll just tell ev-er-y-thing to Tsukune-kun ,hmm?"
"Why do you know about Tsukune?!" the bluenette asked in a trembling tone, "Stop... Anyone but Tsukune..."
"Then how about we do this cosplay!" he brought out a maid outfit from his bag.
'This sucks...' Kurumu complained in her thoughts, 'This guy is going too far. Maybe I should use my powers of illusion as a succubus to control his mind so that he can't disobey me.' she shook her head at that, 'No, I can't. Because I stopped doing those awful kind of things when I first met Tsukune.'
Kurumu changed into the maid outfit and Nagare took more pictures, 'What should I do?' she asked herself, 'And to know everyone's working so hard for the club when I'm doing this.'
School hallways hours later
It was night time and Kurumu was walking in the hallways as her 'date' with that creep Nagare was finally over. She really hated that jerk who made her wear 12 different outfits, it was painful but at least it was over... for now.
As soon as she reached the Newspaper Club room she began to wonder, 'I wonder if everyone everyone is still working hard?' She opened the door and what she didn't expect was everyone giving her the evil eye.
'Eyaaaaa!' she screamed in her head, 'They're pissed, they're all really pissed. I'm gonna get yelled at!' she closed her eyes waiting for the inevitable to happen.
"Welcome back, Kurumu-chan, you're late." Moka greeted her.
The bluenette opened her eyes and was in shock that her friends didn't yell at her and she just waltzed in.
"Well we're just about to finish up work for today." Yukari added as she and the others got up from their seats.
"We've decided to work hard tomorrow and finish up the rest..." Moka continued as they all walked to the door.
"So you can leave too Kurumu-chan!" Yukari concluded as she slammed the door.
Kurumu just stood there in silence with her eyes widen in shock at what she just saw, 'Too late!' she thought, why didn't they yell at her?
"Kurumu?" Tsukune said as the said girl turned around to see him standing by the door and immediately she became nervous. Could it be that he stayed behind just so he could yell at her? She just shut her eyes again in tight this time waiting for him to get it over with, she couldn't bear to have the boy she fell in love with yell at her with anger.
"I just thought I'd let you know that I did most of your work while you were gone." he said to her making her eyes open wide in shock, he did her work for her? She looked at the desk in even more shock to see it organized.
"Just so you know, you're not alone. If there's anything bothering you, you can talk to us." she was stunned to hear those words from him.
"Good night Kurumu." Tsukune said opening the door, "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night Tsukune." Kurumu replied, "Umm Tsukune," she called to him and he stopped before taking a step out of the door, "I..." she paused not letting anymore words come out of her mouth.
The brunette turned around to face her, "Yes? What is it?" he asked.
Kurumu wanted to tell him what's going on, but if she did he would yell at her for not telling him sooner as soon as she got the letter. She just couldn't bear it, and she put up a fake smile to say one thing.
"Thanks." the bluenette thanked him.
Tsukune raised a confused brow knowing there was something wrong, why did she hesitate if she was going to thank him? Could there really be something bothering her after all? He just had to find out.
"You're welcome." he said before walking out and closed the door.
Kurumu gave a big deep sigh by all this before she sat down to her desk and looked at her work, 'Even after the hard work they've done they weren't mad at me at all, even Tsukune.' Kurumu thought before she rested her elbows on the desk and cheeks on her hands, 'I used to be stuck up and make men into my slaves using my powers as a succubus...' she thought as she sat down to a seat, 'Since I was treated so special I never had a real friend... And at the time I thought that it didn't really matter. Yeah…I'm sure I'm paying now for how stupid I was back then.'
Tears then flowed out of her eyes, "I've got to apologize." she said to herself.
"Hu hu hu hu hu!" a voice chuckled, "Hey what's wrong Kurumu-chan?"
Kurumu twirled around to see Nagare in the doorway and smirking at her, "Well, today was really fun wasn't it?" he asked, "Let's have some more fun tomorrow Kurumu-chan!"
"Nagare-kun, what are you doing here?" Kurumu demanded, "And there is no tomorrow. The date was supposed to be just for today."
His smirk turned into a sinister grin, "That's a really cold tone you're taking with me, should I show the pictures I took today to Tsukune?"
Kurumu was shocked and mortified, "What? No! You told me you wouldn't show them to anyone..."
Nagare's grin turned into an evil smile showing his teeth, "Then we'll have some fun tomorrow right?" he asked, "I'm not going to let you go now!"
BANG! A gunshot was fired and Nagare fell face flat to the floor, and a rubber bullet that hit him rolled on the floor.
"Ohhh..." he groaned in pain feeling his back got hit by something small and hard, he tried to get up again but the pain was so dreadful that it surged throughout his body, and his arms were shaking as he dropped back down on the floor.
"So that's what's going on." a voice called out and Kurumu looked to see Tsukune with an angry look on his face by the doorway, holding his blazefire saber in gun form in his hand. He walked towards Nagare with his left hand in his pocket still aiming his weapon at him.
"You were blackmailing Kurumu, just so you can have your way with her." Tsukune stated pointing his gun at his head, "I really hate guys like you."
Nagare looked up to see who attacked him and his face paled in horror to see who it was, Tsukune Farron aiming his gun straight at him.
"I decided to use my illusion magic to hide within the walls in order to know what's going on with Kurumu and now I know." he stared at the trembling Nagare as he gulped in fear to see him pointing his weapon at his head.
"Get up." the brunette demanded and Nagare slowly got up on his wobbly knees before the brunette yelled, "I said get up!"
He didn't need to be told twice, but did anyway using all his strength he got up on his feet and Tsukune lowered his gunblade. He dispelled his weapon and balled his right hand into a fist.
POW! The brunette punched him in the face real hard making him fall to the floor again.
Nagare coughed up blood, wiped the blood of his mouth, and rubbed his bruised cheek before glancing at the brunette.
"You deserve worse than that." Tsukune stated before turning to Kurumu.
She just looked away in shame and rubbed her left arm with her right hand not knowing what to say.
"We will discuss this tomorrow right after I take care of this guy." Tsukune told her and she slowly nodded, "I suggest you go home now, this is between me and the freak." she nodded again and walked out the door.
Tsukune turned his head back to Nagare, "We're settling this outside."
Yokai Academy Landmark Monster Tree
The two were now outside under the landmark where Kurumu met Nagare and by the looks of things they are ready to have a showdown. Tsukune would rather settle this with his fists instead of his weapon since he looks weak.
"Let me say this to start just to be fair," Tsukune said thumbing himself, "I'm not as soft as I am in my other fights when it comes to guys like you. And I don't need my weapon to take down a weakling."
"Well you know what I think?" Nagare asked with a grin with his hair covering his eyes, "I don't give a crap, I'm not as weak as you think I am and in case you forgot I'm a monster as well. I didn't want to use it but I've decided to use my trump card." sweat came pouring down on his face until it turned to ooze, two strange appendages were sticking out the sides of his neck and what's shocking is that an eyeball with a stem came out under his hair.
'What the hell?' Tsukune questioned in his thoughts seeing him transforming into some sort of huge slug with black spots on his body.
"Just what the hell are you?" Tsukune demanded taking his battle stance.
Nagare laughed, "I'm a slug monster!" he explained, "And did you know that a slug's body can go through the smallest cracks?"
Tsukune covered his hair hiding his anger, "So in other words, you've been using that body of yours to sneak into girls' room and find out their secrets and weaknesses."
"Bingo!" Nagare exclaimed with a peace sign with one of his fat blobby fingers.
The brunette silently gritted his teeth and starting to lose his cool, "You bastard, just how many girls did you hurt committing through this heinous act?"
Nagare looked up and put his hand on his chin, "You know I don't remember." said slug, "But the best prey that I've ever had was Kurumu-chan!"
'Sick bastard.' Tsukune growled in his thoughts.
"Kurumu-chan should have been mine in the first place." Nagare said before pointing his finger at him, "But if I get rid of you, I'll have a better chance of having her to myself and maybe I'll make Moka-chan my next target as a bonus."
Tsukune looked up revealing his dark scowl when he said that, "Like hell I'll let that happen you oversized deformed flan." Tsukune said before changing his paradigm to ravager, "But thanks for the heads up on what you are."
"Huh?" Nagare asked in confusion before he saw the brunette jumped at him performed a jumping roundhouse kick to his face.
"FLAMESTRIKE!" he shouted kicking the right side of the slug's face and before he knew it his face was on fire as the flames were burning his face.
"AAH! It burns! It burns!" Nagare screamed in pain clutching onto his face, fell backwards, and rolled on the floor.
"I said I'll kick your ass without using my blazefire saber." Tsukune stated before making two fireballs in his hands, "Better yet, I'll cook it."
He then started having a flashback.
FLASHBACK 5 years ago Gran Pulse
Tsukune 10 years old and his mother were finished with their training for the summer, and the two were walking back home to New Bodhum, that is until they were surrounded by a group of flans.
A small one lunged at Tsukune and he was ready to fight back, but his mother beat him to it.
"Hyah!" Lightning shouted as she kicked it and send it back to a bigger one until they were both caught on fire and they both disintegrated.
"Mom?" Tsukune asked looking at his mother whose leg was covered in flames and a smirk was on her face as she raised her leg in the air to blow the flames off of it.
"Stand back Tsukune, I got this." she told him as she made a ball of fire on the tip of her finger in gun formation and pointed it upwards.
"FIRAGA!" she shouted shooting it up in the air above them and it grew ten times big, "SHOWER!"she shouted again bringing her hand down and the large fireball exploded showering down multiple fireballs like a rain cloud on a hot summer day.
The flan creatures were hit screeching in pain and they all disintegrated into dust.
"Remember this Tsukune." Lightning said as she and her son continued walking, "If your enemy has a weakness, don't hesitate to use it against them. And the most important rule in any battle is that anything goes when facing your enemies."
FLASHBACK END
Tsukune nodded at the memory and faced Nagare again, who is getting up from the ground, his face was covered in soot, a bit burnt, and had a pissed look on his face.
The big slug reminded him of the flans back at Gran Pulse and he believed it was pretty obvious that he would be weak against fire or any spell that has something to do with heat. And if he tries to attack him with physical combat then he would most likely get swallowed up by him.
"You've hurt my friend Kurumu," Tsukune stated getting ready to fling the fireballs at him, "and now it's my turn to hurt you."
Nagare gritted his teeth until he grinned sinisterly, "That's what you think Tsukune-kun!" he began spraying gas from his appendages as it came towards Tsukune and he accidentally inhaled it.
"What the-?" the brunette asked feeling his body going numb and the fireballs that were in his hands had been dispelled and fell on his hands and knees, 'What's going on? It feels like my body is going numb.' he looked up with narrowed eyes to see the mad slug grinning in victory. 'What the hell did he do?'
"I've heard about you, Tsukune Farron, or should I say, Young Thunder!" Nagare exclaimed, "They say you're one of the strongest first-year students in the academy. Well no matter how strong you are, there's no way you can endure the power of a slug monster's gas!" he charged at him.
"And now that you can't do anything about it, I'm going to eat you up for dinner!" he opened his mouth wide to swallow him whole.
'I'll flambe you from the outside before I let that happen.' Tsukune declared mentally as he used all his might to slowly form his right finger in gun formation to create the same technique his mother made when he was 10.
Suddenly, they both stopped as they felt a rumble to the ground and the two looked to see some rustling in the bushes and surprisingly out came Kurumu slowly rising up. It would seem that she has been watching the two from afar and had been hit by the gas as well.
'Kurumu?' Tsukune questioned, 'Why is she here? I thought I told her to go home.' he tried to move again, but no luck, he's completely paralyzed thanks to the gas.
"Stop it...!" she shouted as her anger was overpowering the poisonous gas in her body.
"Huh?" Nagare asked before another rumbling occurred, "Wha... What is this rumbling?"
"My... Destined-" Kurumu began before she spoke clearly as her claws formed and wings popped out from her back, "Don't touch my destined one!" she glared at him with no pupils in her eyes making him have the look of shock and fear on his face.
Suddenly the roots of the monster tree rose from the ground and surrounded the slug as he watched helplessly not knowing what to do.
"What's going on?!" Nagare asked with fear in his tone, "The tree's roots are attacking! Why is this happening?!"
"I'll never forgive you!" Kurumu yelled with anger in her voice, "I'll never forgive you if you lay a hand on Tsukune or Moka!"
'What is hell is this?' Tsukune asked as he saw the roots attacking Nagare.
Suddenly the Monster Tree came to life and head towards Nagare, "N... no way," he said too scared to even move, "is this a dream?"
Then the Monster Tree raised its roots to "Uwaaah! The tree is attacking!" Nagare screamed before it wrapped its roots around his neck immobilizing him, and even if he could move he's too paralyzed in fear.
Kurumu flew up in the air, dove down towards Nagare, and raised her claws to attack him, "Take this!" she yelled, slashing across his stomach giving him a clean slice and blood started to flood out of it.
"Gyaafwah!" he screamed in even greater pain and agony until he finally collapsed and the trees and roots began to disappear.
'What? They're disappearing.' Tsuukne thought before he tried to regain himself to stand up, fortunately his strength came to as his body was rid of the gas, 'Was that... Kurumu's power?'
"Tsukune!" Kurumu shouted as she ran over to him, "Are you okay?" she asked in concern and looked over him.
"Yeah," Tsukune answered, "I guess the gas Nagare sprayed me with paralyzes temporarily." he dusted his pants and looked back at her.
"I suppose this is the part where I should say "Thank you." he continued and her eyes widen, until his face turned serious, "Well that's where you're wrong." she stood back in shock and was taken back by this statement.
"Why didn't you tell me or the others that you were being blackmailed?" he asked before she looked down using her hair to cover her face, "Or for that matter, why didn't you say anything when you came back just when we were about to leave? I could have helped you, you know." she rubbed her left arm not knowing what to say.
"If you had said something earlier then I would have ended this quicker even if he did try to swallow me whole." she stood there in total silence knowing that he has a point there.
"I-I'm sorry Tsukune." Kurumu spoke up trying to fight back the tears feeling guilty and she can understand that he's really upset. She should have told him about her situation sooner, but she was too embarrassed to do so.
"I-I just couldn't... I needed to do this on my own and it was my own fault that I let this happen." Kurumu explained as tears streamed down her face.
Seeing her feel really bad Tsukune loosened up, sighed deeply, and ran his fingers through his hair, "Look, the important thing is that you're okay and neither of us got hurt." he said getting a look from the bluenette, "And I should be the one to apologize, not you." he bowed his head to her, "And for that, I'm truly sorry." her eyes widen in shock, why is he apologizing?
"I was being hard on you and like you said you were too embarrassed to say a word." he continued, "I know there are times when you want to solve situations by yourself, but this is the one that you can't handle and there is nothing wrong with asking others for help. You can trust us you know."
Kurumu looked at him and was stunned by his words and he placed his hand on her shoulder in assurance, "None of this was your fault, it was Nagare's, and I'm willing to help my friends no matter how embarrassing these situations are."
"Tsukune..." Kurumu whispered with a blush, feeling touched by his noble decision and touched the left part of her chest before she nodded, "Okay, I'll ask for you and the others for help if anything like this ever happens again."
Tsukune nodded in approval and looked back at the fallen slug with his stomach cut open laying in a small pool of blood before turning back into his human form, "Now to deal with this freak."
POOF! Suddenly a smoke bomb set off and the air cleared thanks to a certain quiet short silver-haired girl Tsukiko holding a mini electric fan blowing it all away.
"Tsukiko-senpai?" Tsukune asked to see her in front of the two, "What are you doing here?"
The silver-haired girl held up a small marker and a small board explaining, "I was out enjoying the view of the full moon with a cup of ramen until I saw you walking with Nagare and I had to find out what you two were up to."
She erased it with a tissue and wrote on it with marker and showed it to them continuing, "That's when I heard you two talking and fighting and of course Kurumu stepping in. Frankly, you two had every right to kick his ass." She erased her board again and wrote down saying, "And as soon as he wakes up he and I are going to have a 'talk' about his hobby and see if he has anymore dirty photos." a salt shaker appeared on her hand.
Seeing the word 'talk' with apostrophes and the salt shaker in her hand, Tsukune asked, "You're going to interrogate him?" she nodded and with a blink of an eye she disappeared along with the slug.
Kurumu narrowed her eyes for a moment and pounded her fist into her palm, "Oh! Now I get it!" she exclaimed finally realizing what the silver-haired girl means.
'You figured it out just now?' Tsukune deadpanned with a sweat-drop.
"Well..." Kurumu said stretching her arms and rested them on the back of her head, "I guess we'll call it a day huh?" getting a nod in response.
"Yeah." Tsukune answered, "Come on I'll take you home."
"Okay!" Kurumu said as she ran up ahead on the path back to their dorms and the brunette walked behind.
As they got there the two looked at each other.
"Good night Kurumu." The brunette said to her.
"Good night Tsukune." The bluenette replied.
Just as she was about to turn around Tsukune said, "Kurumu." and the said girl looked at him, "Just so you know, I won't tell the others about what happened tonight, that job is yours, and it's up to you to decide whether if you wish to tell them or not. I'm in no position to do so, I promise you that."
Kurumu's eyes widen and her face blushed like a rose words and smiled at his words. And by surprise the bluenette gave him a heartfelt hug.
"I know you won't Tsukune, and thank you." she whispered hugging him a little tighter.
Tsukune too was blushing mad feeling her breasts on his chest before he smiled and thought, 'Ah what the hell.' he happily hugged back feeling the warm embrace they're sharing together.
"You're welcome." he responded, 10 seconds later they let go, and she looked at his face with a soft smile and her blush still intact.
"I'll see you tomorrow Tsukune." Kurumu said before pecking him on the cheek and walked back to her dorms.
Tsukune was stunned as he blushed even redder and held his cheek by the sudden affection of the succubus. And aside from the girls he rescued a couple of days ago, he had been kissed on the cheek thrice by his friends, Inner and Outer Moka, and Kurumu.
A moment later Tsukune smiled, 'What is it about girls kissing guys on the cheek?' he wondered as he walked back to his dorm, 'I guess I'll never know.'
Kurumu stopped and turned around to see Tsukune walking in the opposite direction and her eyes widen in surprise to see him took a glance at her and sure enough his face and hair changed to the same woman she saw a month ago smiling at her. She remembered that Moka told her and Yukari about the pink-haired woman is Tsukune's mother and they have been seeing the phantom image of her overlaying the brunette for quite some time for some reason.
Regaining herself she decided to ignore that for now and looked back to where the school was. A look of determination was on her face as she decided to do something.
'I'm going to make things right.' Kurumu thought and ran back to the school.
Newspaper Clubroom
The next day Tsukune, Moka, Yukari, and Gin, minus Kurumu were walking towards the clubroom and the girls were a bit upset that the succubus bailed out on them yesterday and now she's not with them today. And they were hoping to get an explanation from her about what happened considering that tomorrow's the deadline.
"It seems Kurumu-chan is not here today." Moka said with disappointment in her tone, "I was hoping that maybe we'll finish our first newspaper article together."
"Well it's like I said, we have no use for useless people like her!" Yukari added making the brunette sweat-drop.
'Again, you're being a bit too harsh Yukari.' Tsukune thought before thinking, 'Can it be that Kurumu was a bit shaken at what happened last night?' his hand was on the door knob, 'If that's the case, then I better go see her if she's alright or not.' he would have told them about the Nagare incident, but that job belongs to Kurumu and he promised her that he won't say a word.
Gin stood there quietly not wanting any part in this, and even if he did what can he say? He's not good in these type of situations.
As Tsukune opened the door, he and the others eyes widen in surprise to see something in there, or rather... someone.
It was Kurumu, snoring softly and resting her head on her desk.
Gin walked back to his desk and assumed his lazy position as usual, drinking a cup of coffee, and read a newspaper.
"Kurumu..." Moka whispered seeing the bluenette in a sleeping state before she saw drafts in front of her, "Is that...?" she walked over to it, picked it up, and looked through it, "This is our drafts." she said in surprise looking through it again before she froze and sweat-dropped at the grammatical and some spelling errors in it.
"Well, uhhh..." Moka began nervously, "A little editing and this will be good to go." she passed it to the witch.
"What are you talking about Moka-san?" Yukari asked as she observed it, "This needs a whole lot of editing!" she passed it to the brunette.
Tsukune looked at it before he smiled and shook his head in amusement, 'Why'd you have to go do something reckless as this?'
"Well even so, this is probably her way of saying sorry to us don't you think?" Tsukune asked getting confused looks from the two, "She stayed up all night working on our drafts, minus Yukari's which is in her laptop considering she doesn't know her password. She just did it just so she could make it up to us."
Moka and Yukari's eyes widen when he said that. He had a point. And if she did get Yukari's password (And thank god she didn't) she would have worked on hers and claim that it was finished. Yukari sighed in relief, thankful that Kurumu didn't work on hers.
"Yeah, I guess she did." Moka said with a smile, "This is her way of saying 'I'm sorry' and we should accept it."
"Yeah!" Yukari exclaimed happily, "And I'm glad she didn't tried to work on my data on the computer! She would have messed it up anyway!" the sleeping Kurumu eye twitched and a small frown was on her face, almost like she heard what the witch had said.
Tsukune looked back at the sleeping beauty, "Good work Kurumu." the brunette said as the group sat back at their desks, "Just leave the rest to us."
They all began working on their drafts together and thanks to Kurumu they're all working twice as hard. And a half hour later, they all finally got the break that they deserve.
So what do you all think? I don't know if I wanted to put a little drama in this or not, but I did anyway. I'm going to do the Public Safety Committee Arc in the next chapter. I'll have Tsukune and Kairi have their duel after the fall of the committee I promise you that.