Mate of Fate
Chapter 10: School Activities
With the last event over, things got back to normal around the academy. At least as much as it did for one that monsters went to. That also meant of course the training to get stronger as well continued. However, there was more in the air then just training and school that was felt and on a few minds of those in the group. "Hey, you okay Michael?" Nicolas asked his friend during a break while during the training.
The white haired male was sitting and taking a breather but seemed very lost in thought. And all because of looking over at Mizore. Nobody was paying him any mind though. "Hm?" the white haired male replied. "Oh, yeah…"
His friend saw who he was looking at and sat down next to Michael. "So I guess it happened for you to like with me, huh? You've ending up falling for someone. I can tell by the look on your face."
"Wait… you have…?" The white male then looked to see Kurumu nearby and then back at his friend in shock. "Hold on, you mean Kurumu…?"
"Yeah, that's who has won my heart. I love her." That was the first time Nicholas had told anyone else.
"Huh, and she didn't even use her charm ability on you?" The long-haired male shook his head. "Well… I guess then I'll say it; I like Mizore a lot. More than just a friend."
"I'm really happy you do man." The two were silent for a second, just looking at their love interests.
"But… I'm not even sure if she would ever feel the same way…"
"You mean with Tsukune, right?" The white-haired male nodded. "Yeah, it's the same for Kurumu. I've noticed her looking at him with love just like Mizore and have even seen a few of the antics that happen in the morning. But we shouldn't let that stop us unless it's a loss cause. And I don't personally believe that."
"But what if it doesn't work? There's always a chance…"
"I have thought of that situation," Nicholas replied. "In the event it does, I just want Kurumu to be happy. And if I have to let her go I will. It's not going to be easy I'm sure. But I have to try which is better than not and living without knowing if I could make it work with her."
"Then I also will do so as well," Michael stated. "I can't let the fear of rejection stop me from trying like you. I guess a good start we be trying to get to know her even better."
"Well said my friend." The two nodded in agreement.
The training time soon came to an end, but now the question was how could the two get to know their love interest better? The next day would put that on hold and it all started with an announcement on the intercom system. "Wait, what is this now?" Kureno asked during a break after Ruby made it. "Body measurements?"
"I don't recall this being on the agenda on such short notice," Nicholas grumbled. He had planned to talk to Kurumu a little but looks like that wasn't going to happen right now.
"I hope I do well…" Liliana said while looking nervous. "I haven't had my human form for very long…"
"You'll do fine," Kurumu reassured the Lereid with a smile.
"Yeah but… I'd rather not have to do the transformation examination at the end of the year."
"I don't either," Takeshi said. "It'd be a pain in the ass and a drag."
"Let's just cross our fingers for luck then," Akito stated.
Because the males and females had to be measured separately for obvious reasons, the group split up. "Huh, wonder where Ruby is?" Hatsuharu asked in general. "She made the announcement after all."
"Wait… wait what the hell is she wearing this time?!" Kabu exclaimed seeing the witch.
Everyone looked and the grey haired male did a double take, almost choking and maybe gaining a bloody nose to. And that was because the female was one again in a nurse outfit, a bit different than the last time, but still one regardless. Kurneo did see but one look showed that guy wasn't interested. "Wait, you're not bothered or affected at all?" Tsukune asked, amazed.
"Why should I be?" the male with golden colored eyes replied. He looked to his girl Akito. "I've got all the woman I'll ever need right here."
"You sweet talker," she cooed with a glowing smile.
"You know…" Here her guy leaned in to whisper into her ear. "You haven't dressed up like that for me and could be your next sexy outfit…" The black-haired female had to cover her mouth to muffle her nervous, happy laugh which became a loud giggle.
"Okay you two love birds, you're holding us up," Nicholas told them in an amused voice while rolling his eyes. "Move." He gave them a gentle push forward to get their feet to move.
The body measurements went smoothly and there were no complications. "Well that wasn't so bad," Ayame stated with a grin.
"It could have been worse I guess like last time," Fang Fang said before he could stop himself.
The ones who hadn't been there, including some of the old group looked to the Yasha with strange looks and he and Yukari went red. "Don't ask," the witch mumbled, embarrassed. They knew what had happened was she and him had accidently switched bodies but luckily had managed to get things back to the way they were.
"So what now?" Kurumu asked.
A few checked the time. "Damn, time eat already?" Nicholas replied. "Today's gone by so fast already."
They all got a spot to eat the food for the meal. But for some reason, the long-haired male was a bit more quiet than usual. A few of the others couldn't help but notice. "You okay dude?" Michael asked Nicholas.
"Hm?" the said guy replied, snapping out of his thoughts and looked up.
"You've been quiet. Something on your mind?"
"Not much, just somehow this little thing we've gone through is making me think I need to change up the training regime up a bit."
"How so?" Kurumu asked. "Don't we have a good one already?"
"We do," Nicholas answered. "But there's always ways we can improve it like with most things. I have an idea, but I need to test it out first and look into a couple of things."
A couple of days later found Kurumu on break from classes before the next one started. She then noticed Nicholas by himself but with a happy look on his face as was walking up to her. "I've got it!" he stated before the succubus could ask what was up.
"You got something set up?" she replied.
"Yeah I did and I think the others are gonna like it. Although…" Here the guy with glasses paused, wondering in his head if he should ask Kurumu the next question.
"Yeah?"
The male decided to go for it. "Well truth is I need to show to someone first before the rest see just in case. I know some of my first choices have other plans but would you do me the honor of being the first to see this Saturday?" Nicholas wasn't lying as even though he would love nothing more to spend some alone time with the succubus. There was no evil intent in his heart of course. But it didn't hurt to have a backup plan or in this case others in mind in case Kurumu didn't want to.
"Well… I don't really have any plans that day except studying," the female admitted. "It could be a good way to take a break." She then nodded. "Okay, I guess I could." Kurumu gave him a smile. "Just as long as this isn't anything like a trap or some ill intent."
Nicholas was about to reply he wouldn't but then stopped when seeing the look on her face. "Wait… you're teasing me, right?"
"Well… there have been some incidents in the past, but I know this isn't one of them," the succubus replied. "I know you're not like those creeps."
"I would certainly hope so." The male with glasses got a serious look. "I won't ask about those past incidents but I can promise that you'll be in a safe place. Nothing bad's gonna happen."
"Very well. So what day and time?"
"Does… Saturday after lunch sound good?"
"Yeah, that's perfect."
"Then it's a date," Nicholas said before he could stop his mouth. The guy slapped his right hand over his going almost red in the face. Kurumu also blushed too, their eyes going wide with shock.
"Um, forget I said that!" the guy with glasses replied in a rush and quickly left. "See you then!"
"Nicholas, you stupid idiot!" the male thought in his head when far enough away from her. "Don't go saying shit like that! I can't let it on that I have feelings for her! Not yet anyways…" He was hoping that little thing wouldn't affect things at all.
It would turn out his little comment wouldn't affect things at all and Kurumu arrived at the time they had agreed on. "Hello?" she called out when coming in.
"Over here," came his voice. The succubus saw him standing by a ladder that led up.
"So you're thing that's new is up there?" Kurumu asked while looking at the ladder. It looked to be strong.
"Yep. Follow me." The guy started climbing the ladder and she followed his lead.
In just a bit they were up and looking showed they had made it to the roof of the building and she could see what had been set up. There were a few platforms that were elevated along with structures meant to resemble trees one could wither fly or jump to depending on their abilities. "Whoa, what is this?" Kurumu asked, intrigued.
"This Kurumu, is what I had in mind. A way for those with incredible jumping abilities and wings to test themselves out. What do you think?"
"It's something and I like it." She took a look at the one nearest her. "Is it safe?"
"Yeah, watch this." The guy gathered up some wind and jumped up to that one. It fluttered her blue-colored hair. The succubus saw Nicholas standing on the platform and everything seemed fine. "See? Nothing's happening with it breaking. Come on up."
Kurumu nodded and her wings and tail came out along with her fingernails sharpening as her true form came out. The succubus took off on her wings and landed next to Nicholas. "Oh yeah, you're right," she stated.
"Come on, would I ever lie to you?" His tone was playful and teasing.
"No, I don't believe you ever would," Kurumu replied without missing a beat and looking up into his eyes. Nicholas smiled at that, relieved to hear that from her. "So… what will we do?"
"Well I think first just jumping in my case from section to section. In your case, it'd be flying."
The female nodded in response. Nicholas gathered some wind at the base of his feet and kicked off, using it to propel himself forward like on a springboard. The male's hair began to move and whip with the momentum. The succubus did see him with his hands in his pockets and couldn't help but smile with amusement before taking off on her wings after him. Nicholas looked back to her with a grin before landing on the next platform area. "Come on!" he taunted with a laugh and began to go faster.
"Oh it's on now!" Kurumu replied with a laugh, deciding to play his game and start chasing him.
"Try to keep up!" he told her while briefly turning around to face the female in midair with a laugh of his own.
The two kept going, smiling and laughing as this was fun. But after a bit, Nicholas decided to up the training. He landed on a different platform and spun around to face her coming in. "Get ready!" he called to her.
Kurumu turned her body so she also did a turn to roll while flying in the air. That was the right move because Nicholas sent an attack of wind at her in the form of a small sphere, just like shooting a bullet from a gun with a snap of his right fingers. This attack though wouldn't cause damage just in case it hit the succubus. Nicholas then snapped his left fingers to send another bullet of air and the succubus dodged that. The male fired off a few more before the female got in close enough to try and strike with her claws. The male took off on the air like he had when jumping. "Hey not bad of a dodge there!" Kurumu told him with a grin.
"Oh what a compliment!" he replied with a matching smile and meant it. "Now let's get a little more serious!"
The guy turned his body so his feet were towards her and came down at a diagonal line like an air drop kick. Kurumu was able to turn and change her path mid-flight and the male went passed her. Having missed, Nicholas kept going towards another of the things meant to be a tree. The guy hit it and pushed off like it was a springboard. Coming in towards the succubus again, the guy instead sent some more air bullet attacks towards her. Kurumu was able to dodge the blows and came in. The two met with Nicholas blocking one of her fists and catching the other and it was the same for the female. "Good move there!" the male with long hair told her with a grin.
"I'm just getting started!" the succubus replied and her tail moved. It wrapped itself around Nicholas arm that was blocking her fist.
"Gotcha!" Kurumu stated triumphantly.
"Do you?!" Nicholas shot back with a grin. His body moved so he could try and kick the succubus. This forced the female to let go of him and for both to break apart.
"Damn, I thought I had you!"
"It was a good attempt. Now, let's head to the ground. I think that was a good test."
The two landed and Kurumu's succubus wings and tail disappeared, and her nails went back to normal. "So, you think this will work for the others?" Nicholas asked.
"Yep! I can definitely tell they will!" she answered with a smile.
"Good; that's what I'm hoping for."
The two left the area and Kurumu was doing a little bit of thinking. She then decided to suggest her idea to Nicholas. "Hey… can I ask you something?" the female asked.
"Of course," he replied with a smile. "You can always ask me anything at all Kurumu."
"Well, I was thinking you've done so much for me and the others. Both you and your friends. Would it be okay if I did something to thank you?"
"Uh, sure I guess…" Nicholas had no idea where Kurumu was going and freaking out a little. This could go anyway, and the male had seen enough porn to know the sexual kind of favor. While the long-haired male had begun to fantasize of her that way due to being in love, to actually have the succubus in his arms and moaning his name with pleasure was a whole different story. "Can I ask what it will be…?"
"I was thinking of something tasty. Like food related."
The male with glasses instantly breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, okay, that sounds like a good idea," Nicholas replied, doing his best to calm down. If anything he wanted him and Kurumu to be a couple first with confessions of love first before taking her in his bed.
"Just leave it to me!" the succubus stated happily with a wink and a grin. "I have my own original recipes for sweets published in the newspaper!"
"Really?" Nicholas asked, interested. "You're that good, huh?"
"Yep! Out of my friends, I'm the best at making them!"
"Is that so? Well I would certainly love to try them. I've got quite a sweet tooth."
Kurumu giggled at that. "Wait, a guy like you?" the succubus managed to ask. Nicholas burned red with embarrassment.
"What's wrong with someone liking sweets and being a guy?!" he exclaimed but then saw the look in her eyes and saw she was just teasing. The male was still a bit annoyed at her but couldn't for very long.
"I just wasn't expecting you to have a sweet tooth, that's all." Nicholas let out a humph like sound in response and the succubus couldn't help but smile at that.
"Well as soon as you have them ready, let me know."
The chance for Kurumu to make them came a couple of days later. "Wait… what is this?" Liliana asked when seeing the notice pinned to a wall.
On the piece of paper it showed that 5th period was going to be Home Economics for the girls again. Meanwhile the male student body would be doing something else. "Home Economics?" Akito asked. "What is that?"
"I think I might know," Kurumu replied, getting a grin. Here was the opportunity she had been waiting for.
"At least we shouldn't have a problem like what happened last time," Mizore added and the succubus got a funny look on her face as the former remember what had happened then.
The ones who hadn't been there gave the ones who had a questioning look. "Er… what happened?" Akito asked.
"Not much, really…" Yukari replied but had a look on her face that indicated it was a total disaster with what had happened.
"I was trying to bake and it got crazy," Moka stated. "Let's just leave it at that."
The ladies were soon gathered in the room where the class would be held. And looking showed it was the same kind of class as last time with baking. But it wouldn't be pumpkin pie that was gonna be made. "Oh wow, look at this!" Akito stated with a grin.
All the work stations had been set up for the ladies with the ingredients ready for what was to be made. "Er… I have no idea what to do," Liliana said and looked nervous.
"Don't worry, just stick with me," the black-haired female told her to encourage the latter.
"I wonder what we'll make today," Kurumu wondered out loud. Whatever it was, the succubus was certain she would do very well.
The ladies were then required to change into aprons that had been provided and the cooking outfits too. "Is this needed?" Akito grumbled. "We're just baking for god's sake, it's not like we're in an actual bakery…"
"Hey it's not as bad as the gym outfits," Liliana pointed out.
"Touché," the black-haired female replied after a second of silence.
Just the Ruby herself walked into the room as she was once again substituting for the class. Her outfit was homemade and a different style of maid outfit but still what one would normally wear. "Another outfit again," Yukari said but with a tone of that it was getting old in a humorous way.
"Well… at least she knows how to make clothing I guess and would help with repairs maybe…?" Akito commented but also felt the same way as the former female.
"Are we all here?" Ruby asked the class. "Good! Everyone, go to one of the stations then!"
All the female students did so while the witch stood where the teacher normally did. "Today while we are baking, I thought we'd have a little change. You will be given the option of cooking one of two sweets. You can make either cookies or brownies. All the ingredients you need to make one or the other is there but only enough for one choice. And above all, have fun."
"Huh, no mentioning of being masochist," Yukari whispered more to herself than anyone else.
"Perfect!" Kurumu said to those next to her. "I know just which one I'll bake!"
"Which one?" Liliana asked. "I have no idea which one to choose…."
"Why don't you do the cookies since I'll be doing that one?"
"Hmmm… okay then." The Lereid got a look of focus to do her best.
Soon the sound of baking could be heard from each station along with idle chatter. Liliana just followed as Kurumu did as best as she could. Luckily the succubus was there to help. "Don't worry if you fail a few times," she was told. "Girls do a few times before they get better at cooking and baking. Nobody is truly perfect the first time."
"Even I did too," Kurumu added. "But thanks to that I was able to learn and grow. It's the same with any other skill."
"And also adding love helps," Yukari stated. "Think about the person you wish to give these to and you usually do better."
"Someone I want to give it to huh?" Liliana replied. She didn't say anything else but continued baking.
Everything was soon mixed up and in the oven. Unlike with Moka last time, nothing bad had happened like the whole room catching on fire. Kurumu seemed to be very happy looking through the oven glass as the cookies she had made baking quite nicely. "I think these might be the best I've made yet," the succubus said more to herself before stepping back to wait.
"This wasn't so bad," Liliana then commented. "At least not for a first try."
"How did the rest of you do?" Akito asked the other friends. They had all more or less done a good job.
"Well I think we should share what we made with the others," Yukari suggested.
"I suppose we can't eat them all," Mizore said.
Once all the cookies and brownies had finished baking, the female student body placed them in containers there were provided. Clean up then happened and the period was over. "I think I know who is going to love these," Akito stated with a happy grin and thinking of her guy Kureno.
"Oh yeah, I need to give…" Liliana began but then stopped and began to get flustered with nerves.
"Uh… you okay?" Yukari asked the Lereid.
"Um yeah!" came the hasty reply and then Liliana ran for it with her goodies.
"What's up with her?" the witch asked confused.
Kurumu shrugged, she was more focused on who to give these to. "And I know just where to give them," the succubus thought in her head. And the female did so a bit later.
"Really?" Nicholas asked when it came time. "You've got something for me?"
"Yeah, it's a way to thank you for what you've done so far and all that," Kurumu replied. For some reason she felt a little flushed on her cheeks and her heart felt off. The female then ignored these to focus on the task at hand.
"Oh yeah, I did remember you mentioning wanting to do that earlier."
"Yeah… here, this is for you."
The female handed over the container of cookies to Nicholas and he opened them to see the goodies. "Oh wow Kurumu, thank you for this!" he stated with a happy smile. "These look tasty!"
The female saw how happy the guy was and again felt her heart feel off once more and started while wondering what was going on while looking up at him since she was only 5'0 and Nicholas was 5'7. He in the meantime took a bite of one of the cookies and gasped. "Oh my god…" the male whispered with amazement. "These… Kurumu, these are without a doubt the best I've ever had!"
She couldn't help but smile sweetly at him thanks to his praise. "That makes me happy to hear you like them," the succubus replied with a loving smile of her own.
Nicholas had another one before speaking. "You know… I think there's something I can show you that would help."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Here, follow me so we can sit down and I'll show."
Kurumu did and what Nicholas showed her was about a baking show he happened to know about. "I find it to be more interesting in what they end up creating and the terms they use," he explained. "Since it's from Great Britain, they tend to say things and refer to things differently than we do."
The succubus saw what the long-haired male meant. However, she also got interested in this show. "Wow, I never knew baking could be made into such an art!" the female stated after seeing some of the things made.
"I know right? It's taking the baking to a whole different level. Some of the stuff they make just looks incredible."
"Looks like I've got a new source of things to learn and try."
"I figured you would like this," Nicholas told her with a smile, glad this had worked. He then took a breath because the long-haired male had to be a little careful with how he asked this next question. "Would… would you like to watch and learn together? Have this be something we both work on if that's okay?"
The succubus pounder for a moment before replying. "Well you did say it was from another country and to be honest, a few of the things I had a hard time understanding. I think it might be a good idea seeing as how you're the most familiar with the show."
"Very well." The male and female smiled again. "I think this could be a fun learning experience."
"I like the sound of that." Kurumu truly meant that and was actually looking forward to this and what would come up later this school year.