Chapter 8

True Love

Hey! Hey, you there!

Eh….? Who is that? What's that voice….?

Yeah! I'm talking to you! You think you are human? Well, are you!?

I am…human. What are you talking about?

You'll find out soon enough. You just haven't awakened me yet. Which means we cannot see each other until you have realized it~

Realize what…?

But the voice disappeared. I couldn't ask more questions. This must be a joke…right?

Kasumi wakes up from her strange dream. Who was it that was calling her? And what did she mean by "she is not human"? She is human. That is who she is. She's born a human. This is so confusing.

"When AM I gonna realize it?" Kasumi asks herself.

At School*

"No way!" Yukari says as she and the rest of the group, Mizore, Moka and Kurumu are walking to school. "That's a crazy dream!"

"Ahahaha…" Moka chuckles nervously. "Well…if someone were to speak to you this way, we would probably wanna find out what kind of monster you are."

"Yeah but…I don't get it…" Kasumi says. "Anyways, it's just a dream. Nothing more."

"Girl, dreaming that you are a human that is talking to an unknown person?" Kurumu says. "That is creepy."

"I hope you find out soon…." Mizore chews on her lolipop.

Kasumi nods. She and her friends head to school and walk in the classroom. Homeroom starts underway, however, Kurumu pays no attention. She just stares at Kasumi in front of her. The pony-tail wags for a bit and the brunette turns to Kurumu. The succubus just smiles and waves. Kasumi gives a nod and turns back to the teacher.

Being a succubus, she usually falls in love with men and love charm them. But…when Kasumi came into her life, things changed. Maybe just a little bit. Falling in love with another girl doesn't really help with her kind, however, she cannot help but feel this way about her. Moka is just getting in the way of it all. She needs to prove that she can have Kasumi to herself just as much as Moka.

But…Kurumu doesn't count on one specific guy that has fallen in love with her. His name is Takeshi Takiyama and he is about to tell her what she doesn't know.

Right now, class ends and Kasumi stands up with Moka following. Kurumu stands up and dives in to hug the brunette from behind.

"Kasumi-chaaaan~!" She says happily. "Oh, what's the matter? Didn't sense my presence this time~?"

"K-Kurumu-chan…" Kasumi sweat drops.

"Come on, Kurumu-chan!" Moka squeaks, flailing her arms wildly. "Hugging her like this in the middle of the classroom!?"

"I can fix that!" Yukari waves her wand, making Moka hug Kasumi from the other side.

"Eek!" Kasumi squeaks at Moka hugging her from the front. Both of their breasts are squishing against her face since she is small.

"Hey! Yukari!" Kurumu shouts. "This should be between me and Kasumi-chan!"

"Nope! Nobody gets left behind~!" Yukari laughs.

"Since you say that, can I join…?" Mizore says and wraps her arms around everybody.

"Yes! This is perfect!" Yukari cheers. "Go, go, go Yuri!"

"Ahhhhh! Fine, do what you want!" Kurumu pulls away with a huff. "Seems like I never get time alone with her!"

She stomps away while Kasumi is still being hugged by Mizore and Moka. The bluenette walks down the halls and stops midway. She puts both hands on her large chest, feeling her heart beating.

"Why am I feeling this way for another woman…?" She says to herself. "It's very unusual for me. I should be looking for men instead of other girls. My kind needs my help."

"Ohhh, you don't have to worry about that~" a male voice says from behind her.

Kurumu turns around to see a black haired, glasses wearing guy. His face is kind of on the ugly side and he is a bit fat as well.

"Who are you?" Kurumu asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, you don't remember~?" The nerd says. "I've been your biggest fan ever since the beginning of school~"

"A nerd…?" Kurumu sweat drops at this. Of course she doesn't remember because she has been talking to a lot of guys before she met Moka. She cannot keep track of who is who.

"Aw, don't call me that~" the young man says as he approaches her. "Call me Takeshi. And I wanna be your destined one~"

Kurumu looks at him in disgust. "Me with someone like that? Buzz off!"

She stomps away from the nerd. How can she pick someone like him to be her destined one? There are many other men she can choose from? Why that messy guy?

At the Newspaper Club, Ginei has tasked everyone to wear maid outfits to advertise the upcoming maid event at the school. A neat attraction to get people to read their papers. Kasumi and Moka are embarrassed already at the looks of the maid outfits Nekonome decided to give them. Short shirts and skirts with black elbow gloves and black thigh high stockings with white frills on the top. Kurumu is the only one who is excited about it.

"Let me try it on!" She volunteers and grabs one of the maid outfits. "Be right back, everyone!" She goes out the door and quickly changes into the maid outfit. She then comes back in and does a sexy pose, putting one hand on her thigh while her other hand in on her hip. "Sooo, how do I look~?"

Ginei has stars in his eyes. "Whoa! You picked out a great one, Sensei!"

BONK!

"Cut it, perv…" Yukari's eyebrow twitches as she has just summoned a large bath tub from above to hit him over the head.

Kurumu giggles and strikes another sexy pose. "Fufufu! Thanks, Sensei! Let's go with these to advertise the maid event!"

"Will do~!" Nekonome says. "You can keep that if you'd like~"

"Oh, I would love to!" Kurumu says excitedly. "Thanks again, Sensei!"

Nekonome giggles and places the outfits on the desk. "I will just leave these here, okay?"

She bows and turns to leave. Kasumi, Mizore, Moka and Yukari stare at the pile of maid outfits and then back at Kurumu.

"Aw, come on girls!" The succubus says. "At least have fun wearing them when we advertise!"

"I….I don't know if…." Kasumi starts as she trembles.

"Yeah…I feel a bunch of perverts trying to ogle us…" Moka agrees.

"Maid outfits, huh…?" Mizore says quietly.

"Ah, whatever~" Kurumu chuckles. "You'll get used to it soon! I'm gonna go change back into my regular clothes. Be right back~"

She trots out of the classroom and slides open and closes the door behind her. She sighs and starts to walk toward the bathroom to get changed when she hears some clicking of a camera. She gasps and turns to the young man she ran into earlier.

"Takeshi!?" She says, shocked that he is here.

"Yes….yeeeeessss!" He is drooling as he takes some more pictures. "This is so going to my collection~"

"Stop that!" Kurumu scolds at him. "Are you trying to embarrass me!?"

"It's only to add to my collection~" Takeshi says and winks. "I would never show them to anyone else~"

"What other pictures have you taken?" Kurumu asks.

"Some from the ladies room, the girls' locker room," he replies.

Kurumu walks up to him and slaps him hard in the face. She then picks up his camera. "This is mine now."

"Heh, do what you want with it," Takeshi says with a sly grin. "I have tons of photos of you in my laptop~"

Kurumu growls, clenching her fist and then tosses the camera behind her. She puts her hands on her hips, leaning toward him. "Why do you want to chase after me all the time? You are not my type."

"It's just so that I can be part of your harem~" Takeshi replies. "You want to take any man, right~?"

"Not some who are ugly and creepy!" The succubus shoots back. "Listen, just leave me alone. I don't want to see or talk to you ever again!" She turns away and heads to the bathroom to change.

But Takeshi just grins. "You're so resistant. I like that. It makes me want you even more~"

Later*

Back at the Newspaper Club, Kurumu brings back the maid outfit, only to find the other girls trying the other maid outfits on.

"Awww!" Kurumu whines. "If i had known this would happen, I wouldn't have changed!"

Kasumi's pony-tail wags wildly as Gin looks at them with hearts in his eyes.

"Uuuuu…! Why, why, whyyyyy!?" The shy brunette whines. "This is so embarrassing!"

"Yes, that's the stuff!" He says excitedly. "Show me more leg! Bend over a little! Yes, Moka! Give me that! Oh, Yukari, you too!"

"Hyaaaah!" Moka whines as well. "This is NOT what I had in mind!"

"You're the WORST!" Yukari shouts, covering her chest and buckles her legs together.

Kurumu sweat drops at this. "Uhhh…this is actually a little awkward?" She doesn't know if she should be praising him or strangling him with her tail.

Later*

After the shenanigans, Kasumi is on her way out of the school when Kurumu suddenly comes running toward her.

"Kasumi-chan!" She calls. "Hey, wait for me!"

The brunette's pony-tail wags as she turns to the succubus. "Oh. Hey, Kurumu-chan." She then notices the bluenette link arms with her. "Ummm…what are you doing?"

"Trying to get close to you, that's all~" Kurumu replies "It's been a long time since we were alone together~"

"Y-yeah…" Kasumi says.

"Hey, can I come over to your dorm room tonight~?" Kurumu offers. She leans in to whisper in the brunette's ear. "I want to get to know EVERYTHING about you~"

"Ehhhhh!?" Kasumi jumps back and shakes her head roughly, waving her hands back and forth. "No way! No, no, no, no!"

"Hehehe! I'm just kidding~" Kurumu laughs. "Let's just walk to the dorms together. How's that?"

"Th-that's fine…" Kasumi replies and Kurumu goes back to linking arms with her.

"Let's go, let's go~" Kurumu cheers.

The two of them head outside and walk along the path for a few minutes. It is then that Kurumu stops next to a big tree, making Kasumi stop as well.

"Is something the matter?" The shy girl asks.

The succubus turns to the brunette, leaning a bit close to her. "Kasumi-chan….I want you. Right now…"

"Wh-whaaa!?" Kasumi shuts her eyes tightly. "N-no! If you're gonna Love Charm me, it's not gonna happen!"

"No way," Kurumu says. "I just want you, that's all." She starts to lean in.

Kasumi whines softly and finds herself starting to lean in, too. However, she snaps out of it and gently pushes Kurumu away.

"N-no…I can't do this…" Kasumi says.

"Why not? You are my destined one, remember?" Kurumu says.

"I have my own at the moment…" Kasumi says with a sad smile. "Don't get me wrong, Kurumu-chan. You are a good person. You're sweet and all. But…you're just not the one for me."

Kurumu bites her lip, bangs hiding her expression and clenches her fists. "Why…? Why does it always have to be Moka…?"

"Kurumu-chan…?" Kasumi notices tears falling from her eyes.

The succubus looks up with tears falling freely from her eyes. "I love you more than her, Kasumi-chan! Yet you go and be lovey dovey with Moka all the time!? Why can't it be me!?" She then realizes her outburst and starts to sob. "I'm sorry…! I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

"Kurumu-chan…" Kasumi says softly. She goes and embraces the poor girl, cradling her tenderly. "May I ask this? Why do you say you go after men a lot, yet you fall in love with another girl like me..plicated…" Kurumu replies. "See…my Mama sees this as a tradition as succubi since we are going extinct. So she wanted me to be like her…and her Mama before her. But the truth is…I'm sick of this tradition. I want to fall in love with men AND women. When I met you…I felt my world opening up."

Kasumi gives a warm smile. "I see. You feel guilty about disobeying your Mama's orders. Well…let me tell you this…" She pulls Kurumu away to look into her beautiful violet eyes. "My own mother wants me to live my dreams the way I want them to. She was the one who wanted me to apply here to think about my future. Your Mama? She wants what's best of you, yes, but not in a supportive way."

"Kasumi-chan…" Kurumu breathes.

"You don't have to do everything your parents tell you," Kasumi continues and wipes the tears from the succubus's eyes with her thumb. "If you have your own dream, just follow it the way YOU want it. If you want to fall in love with another girl, just go and do it. No one else is stopping you from doing what you want most."

Kurumu sniffles as the last bit of tears fall. "Wow. Kasumi-chan…you are so kind~"

Kasumi gives a warm smile and then, she leans in to kiss her on the forehead. "I like you, Kurumu-chan. But my heart is still set on Moka-san. Please understand how I feel sometimes."

Kurumu gives the best smile and nods. "Okay…!"

Kasumi chuckles softly. Just then, she gasps as her pony-tail wags.

"Well would you look at this?" The science nerd stands at a distance from the two girls. "This little runt is with you, Kurumu-chan? You became a Yuri just like her?"

"You again!?" Kurumu glares at him.

"Wh-who are you…?" Kasumi says, backing away. "How do you know me!?"

"Word travels fast, so to speak," Takeshi says. "I cannot believe it. Kurumu-chan…MY Kurumu-chan gets turned into a Yuri because of you, Aoi!"

"P-please, let's settle this another way…" Kasumi begs.

"Stand back," Kurumu says, holding out her arm in front of her. "He wants me, not you."

"Let's settle this the hard way, how's that?" He growls. He takes off his glasses and tosses them aside. His skin turns dark gray and grows twice his normal size. His face is even uglier than before and his hair disappears once the transformation is complete.

"You're a troll!?" Kurumu gasps.

"I'm big and mighty now!" The troll boasts and he holds a big club in his hand. "There is no monster that can best me!" He starts to charge at the two. "Be smashed to pieces!"

However just before he goes in for the blow, Mizore zips in front of them. "Stand back!" She takes a deep breath and blows an icy breath at him.

The troll slows down due to the harmful cold. Ice starts to appear from the bottom all the way to the top. He is frozen with him just raising his club high.

"Mizore-chan!" Kasumi says. "Thank goodness you came just in time!"

"What are you doing here anyways?" Kurumu asks.

"I was watching…" the long haired quiet girl replies. She takes the lollipop out of her mouth. "You two were getting along very well…"

"Such a stalker you are…" Kurumu face palms.

Suddenly, Kasumi gasps as her pony-tail wags again.

"What now?" Kurumu asks. "We're out of danger."

"L-look…!" Kasumi points to the frozen troll who is actually trying to break out. He is going to hit Mizore!

Kurumu pushes the Snow Woman out of the way and holds out her arms to try and block his attack. The ice breaks completely and his club only meets Kurumu's forearms. The succubus starts to slide back as she realizes the incredible strength this troll has. She spreads out her bat-like wings and shoves him away, only for him to slide back.

"Hehehe! I like feisty women~!" He says. He charges and starts to swing his club to the left.

However Kurumu evades it, bounces off a tree and charges to punch him in the face, up and down. But when she goes to do another hit, he grabs her fist with his giant hand.

"Bat lady go down!" He swings his club forehand and backhand, knocking her to the ground with two thuds.

Kurumu grits her teeth as Takeshi charges again. Mizore tackles him to the ground and summons ice talons. However, she gets grabbed by the troll and tossed toward Kasumi with great force. Both of them crash into each other and hit another large tree, knocking them unconscious.

"Noooooo!" Kurumu cries. "Kasumi-chan! Mizore!"

Takeshi turns to the succubus. "Now the two of us can be together! Let me join your harem!"

The succubus grits her teeth and clenches her fists. "You hurt…your hurt my friends…!" She gets to her feet and lashes out her talons. She opens her eyes as it glows purple. "You will pay for what you did…!"

Takeshi growls and clutches his club. "Bring it on…huh?" He is enveloped in darkness all of a sudden and Kurumu disappears. "Wh-what the hell is this!?"

Echoes of voices are heard him and there are people that appear and disappear around him.

"What a nerd!"

"Who would want to be with an ugly dude like him?"

"He's a freakshow! All he ever does is be obsessed with science and girls! He should just go die in a hole!"

"Yeah! Go and die!"

"This freak is not worth existing!"

Takeshi looks around frantically. "Stop! Stoooop! Stop making fun of me!"

Kurumu laughs from out of nowhere. "So you are a childish freak who gets bullied all the time. I have to say i feel sorry for you. But that is no excuse to be crazy and go after women~"

"Show yourself!" Takeshi shouts through the darkness.

"You're pathetic," Kurumu continues. "I know exactly what true love is. And you have shown me that you aren't capable~"

Kurumu appears before him, smiling. "If you want me so badly, just take me~"

"Or me~" Another Kurumu flies behind him, hugging his neck.

"Wha!? There's two of you!?" The troll gasps.

"Take either of us~" A third Kurumu hugs him from behind. "Give us your love if you want!"

"However~" The original Kurumu says. "You may take us, but you cannot keep us~"

"What the hell does that mean!?" The troll growls.

The clones disappear, including the original one. Takeshi frantically looks around again. The darkness disappears. He feels a hard slash on his back, making him stumble forward. He turns around to see Kurumu smirking as she shows off her talons.

"You are not worth my time~" she says.

Takeshi grits his teeth. "Screw you, bitch!" He charges with his club.

Kurumu charges as well. She slashes his arm to make him let go of his club and she then shoulder tackles him. He rolls to his feet to try and fight back, but Kurumu is too fast for him. She uses her talons to slash him left and right, up and down at a very fast pace. Blood splatters everywhere with each hit. She gives a few more slashes until she flies up in the air. The troll is too weak to go on any longer. Kurumu flies down and does on last slash to take him down for good. The troll never moves again.

"Haaaah…good riddance…" She gives a heavy sigh.

Later*

After washing up at a nearby fountain, Kurumu turns to the unconscious Mizore and Kasumi. She kneels down beside them.

"Kasumi-chan…Mizore…" Kurumu says softly.

The two girl's moan as their eyes flutter open. They see Kurumu beside them with a weak smile on her face.

"Wakey, wakey…" she says.

"Kurumu-chan…?" Kasumi says as she sits up

"Uuu….what happened…?" Mizore clutches her head. "Ah! The troll! Is he…!?"

"I took care of him…" Kurumu says. "He will never be heard from again…"

Kasumi smiles. "So…what will you do now?"

Kurumu looks at both Mizore and the brunette. She smiles. "I am…going to keep following my own dreams~"

Kasumi gives a nod while Mizore looks over at the shy brunette with a raised eyebrow.

"What sort of goal is she following?" The long haired purplenette asks.

"It's just her own personal goal~" Kasumi replies.

Few Days Later*

"Get your Yokai Gazette!" Kurumu cheers as she holds up the newspapers. "Maid event for girls is coming in a week! Posters are up! Girls dressed in maid costumes are already in the paper! Feast your eyes on them!"

Thanks to Kasumi's photography skills, she took a couple photos of the newspaper club members dressed in their maid outfits and then they posted them on the paper. As for the girls themselves, Gin tasked them to actually wear the maid outfits while giving away the papers. The crowd gathers quickly, however, they gather around Moka more than Kurumi, which angers her.

"Grrrr…!" She growls, tossing the paper aside and clenches her fists. "Curse Moka being so popular with the guys!"

She then turns to Kasumi, who is just smiling at her. Kurumu cannot help but smile back. It's fine after all. Kurumu can love whoever she pleases. And she will continue that path for a long time.

A/N: Goodness! So sorry for the super late update!

First off, I WAS gonna do a summer arc chapter, but then I got complete writer's block. So then, I decided to read a little of the manga to motivate myself and it worked. I decided to write a chapter focused on Kurumu instead. The next one will be focused on Mizore again. Cause…she's so precious. And then the chapter after that will focus on Yukari.

As for the troll I came up with…just imagine the troll from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

I hope this is as original as it gets. I mean, I am gonna borrow a few characters from the anime/manga, but I will continue to try my best to make it original.

Have a nice day!