-if this gironatsu/monsterxgirl train is moving too fast let me know-
monsters are
Giroro- Ganrougel
Keroro- Kurse
Tamama- Taiki
Dororo- Aldmora
Kururu- Krueger
Mois- Molioke
Natsumi awoke the next morning with a smile. She looked at the clear plastic bucket over turned on her desk held down by a thick rock and inside was her little test monster tirelessly struggling to get free. She then brushed her hair and tied it up in her pigtails and dressed for the day. It was Sunday, a day to still think of what her friends would ask about 'Red' and how to answer them tomorrow, but today she was also going to start focusing on her powers.
Natsumi skipped downstairs with a soft giggle. In the kitchen Ganrougel leaned against the wall, in the same spot he was the night before. His eyes were closed like he was contemplating something. "Oh, good morning."
"Morning Natsumi. Did you sleep well?" Ganrougel looked up to her.
"Best sleep I've had in forever~" Natsumi cooed and twirled before throwing some bread in the toaster. "Did you have a good night staring at the floor?"
"That wasn't all I did." Ganrougel chuckled.
"Sorry, I don't know if you have any hobbies." Natsumi apologized. "I mean we figured out it's because of me that you were sent away and I haven't noticed you running off to go kill one of your 'targets'."
"I don't really do much else and I haven't had one in a while. Ever since you and I stopped attacking each other it's been calm. Like the world is too quiet." Ganrougel furrowed his brow for a moment confused.
"Isn't that a good thing though?" Natsumi asked.
"I guess but... humans aren't just going to instantly stop hating each other or doing terrible things." Ganrougel sighed.
"Right." Natsumi somberly agreed. She knew how terrible people could be but hated thinking about it. She cleared her throat and decided to change the subject. "Do you want to help me practice on that little paper monster?"
"Sure. I'd love to help you." Ganrougel smiled and stepped away from the wall. Natsumi bit into her toast as she ran to fetch the creature.
On the living room table, Natsumi placed the bucket as the monster jumped for the rim but failed each time. Ganrougel stood behind the couch while Natsumi sat on the cushions. "Don't you ever sit down?"
"I'm fine I'm not tired or anything." Ganrougel replied casually.
"Whatever, if you insist on standing all the time I won't stop you." Natsumi muttered as she looked at the paper monster Saburo gave her. "Let's see."
She focused on it and waited. She imagined it suddenly disappearing, thinning into the air and out of sight. She could feel a vein bulging from her forehead but the little monster continued to struggle for his freedom. Natsumi was about to kill the monster out of frustration but only sighed.
"Just think. What were you feeling when you sent me off?" Ganrougel figured it was time he stepped in to help her.
"Fear, anger, surreal. It didn't feel like magic or anything. Just that I was about to die." Natsumi groaned.
Ganrougel leaned on the couch and over her shoulder. "Ok, so look at it like it's going to kill you."
Natsumi took a deep breath and stared at the paper creature. Slowly growing angrier each passing second that it still existed in the bucket. "I just can't see it being all that threatening."
"Small things can be deceiving. If you give it the chance it might hurt Fuyuki." Ganrougel whispered in her ear using the dark voice he gave her when she was little. Natsumi felt unease rise up through her spine. "It might sneak into your room in the middle of the night while you sleep. Unaware of it until it's already slashed into your neck. Blood spilling over your bed as it runs after your friends next with a demented laugh."
"Stop!" Natsumi screamed as she stood up. She shivered from the images and wrapped her arms around herself.
"I'm sorry." Ganrougel stepped back feeling guilt.
"It's fine. I guess that's just what you're good at." Natsumi sighed. She turned to Ganrougel with slight grin. "Besides, the buckets empty now."
"Really?" Ganrougel looked to the undisturbed bucket to see it was indeed free of the tiny beast. "Well done."
"I only did it because of you. You can tap into my fears when I can't." Natsumi smiled.
"Just don't let me get too far with it. I don't want to upset you." Ganrougel crossed his arms and sighed, glad that he could do some good. "Did you feel anything different than when you're afraid about anything else?"
"Not really. I wasn't ever really afraid of much so I won't be able to notice any change." Natsumi chuckled softly. "Do you know anyone with magic who can tell me what I'm supposed to look for?"
"Just you and Molioke, and she's not human so it probably won't be the same." Ganrougel replied. "Maybe we should find something else that scares you but not so much that you feel threatened. So you might be able to feel the difference."
"That's possible but what would you suggest we start with? I spent almost my whole life reading monster books and theories just so I could fight them." Natsumi inquired.
"Well we know that I can easily scare the hell out of you so how about Kurse?" Ganrougel suggested.
"You don't scare me that much anymore." Natsumi frowned.
"I whispered into your ear and you jumped out of your seat." Ganrougel smirked.
"A lot of people can say things that are scary. Read a horror novel." Natsumi argued with a slightly defensive tone.
"Don't make me prove you wrong." Ganrougel flexed his shoulders.
"I know you won't hurt me so how scary could you be?" Natsumi stared him down with a wink and stuck out her tongue. She yelped slightly as he jumped over the couch and carefully pinned her down. She giggled. "Nope, still not threatening."
Ganrougel held her down with his hand on her shoulder and forearm against her clavicle. "But I know how sensitive you are about your 'personal space'. Are you afraid to be touched Natsumi?"
"What...?" Natsumi was dazed by the surprise statement and blushed lightly. Ganrougel used his free hand to reach for her neck. Natsumi held her breath and closed her eyes as his slender fingers subtly traced her veins. Following the contours of her flesh he felt something different. A warmth in his chest slowly grew to a flame. He never felt anything other than an empty cold feeling to humans. He closed his only eye and tilted his head down.
"Natsumi... I know I've said this before but, you really are different." Ganrougel whispered. Natsumi slowly opened her eyes and listened. He sounded hurt and it made her heart quiver. "You make me feel like I'm not just here to kill people. You've become much more calm around me and you even smile. I've never seen such a genuine smile and... I just want to be around you. I was up all night thinking about how you want to be friends with me... a monster. My heart is dead but I can feel something in it's place. I want to do everything for you because you make me feel different, new. I don't want to be what I am, I never wanted this. I just want you now."
Natsumi silently took a deep breath. She could feel Ganrougel trembling. He didn't even pull back as he was afraid to move at all. Natsumi slowly lifted her arms and placed them on his shoulders. He froze under her touch and moved his arms off of her, thinking she wanted to be away from him but he was surprised that she pulled him closer and held her arms tightly around his back. Her chin rested on his shoulder.
"A heart is more than just a stupid organ. It resembles our feelings and dreams; everything that we love." Natsumi whispered with care. "If you don't want to be a murdering monster you don't have to."
Ganrougel softly held her close, like he was handling the most delicate thing to ever exist. A single tear fell down Ganrougel's cheek. He never felt so exposed or so cared for, it was refreshing. "Would you let me stay beside you forever?"
"Well I won't be alive forever but I think I can live with that." Natsumi chuckled softly. They separated from their hug and sat up on the couch. "Gosh you can be eccentric huh?"
It was then that Ganrougel realized his new predicament. He was addicted to this little human and he knew he couldn't keep her forever. He forced a smile and replied. "Yeah..."
"I'm going to call Koyuki over and tell her about my weekend." Natsumi stood up and brushed her skirt straight. "I think you should try to figure out a new hobby ok?"
"Sure." Ganrougel watched her leave the room and sighed. He scratched his head and stood up before leaving out the back door. What's wrong with me?
"Oh thank god! Get in here." Natsumi grabbed Koyuki's hand and carefully pulled her into the house as soon as she arrived.
"Are you ok Natsumi? You sounded really strange over the phone." Koyuki frowned with worry as Natsumi eagerly pushed her into the living room and sat on the couch.
"Ok, so how has your weekend with Aldmora been?" Natsumi forced a smile and slight interest as she spoke quickly.
"He's been doing better. I hiked with him through the woods and he loved seeing all the flowers." Koyuki chirped up happily.
"That sounds awesome." Natsumi sighed before looking around the room, making sure they were alone. She then began rambling and spewing her weekend at Koyuki. "So I met with another monster named Krueger who told me I have magic. Then Saburo gave a tiny monster to practice on and it worked only when Ganrougel got me to fear it. Also Ganrougel and I are friends now but today he totally broke down on me and admitted that he's having weird feelings and I didn't know he could really care that much for someone. I'm afraid he has like a crush or something on me. I mean he's not even human so a friendship is as close as we can get right? But my heart is like totally out of control or just doesn't work and I felt something different every time he protected me. I get embarrassed every time we do something together because we'll get close or something and I don't know how I should feel about that. Today I hugged him and I didn't hate him..."
"You sound like you had a long weekend and only glossed over how you have magic?" Koyuki smiled as she listened for further explanations.
"Yeah turns out I can send monsters away. It was me who kept Ganrougel away from myself when he was trying to attack me or when I felt threatened by him and Kurse." Natsumi sighed. "And it was also me who summoned him to my side when I felt like I was going to be attacked by Taiki. He's a tiny black imp who hangs out with Fuyuki and Kurse now."
"That's great Natsumi. Now you can do what you always wanted, to protect your family." Koyuki clapped for her friend.
"Except I can't do it at will yet, but Krueger and Saburo are going to train me." Natsumi straightened up. "So I'm totally lost on Ganrougel though. Things are totally different over the last week."
"Well let's focus on how you feel. Clear you head and breath. Look at how you treat him or how he makes you feel." Koyuki sat up and crossed her legs. Natsumi closed her eyes and focused.
"He doesn't scare me like he used to. He can even make me smile when we challenge each other." Natsumi blushed deeper. "He thinks I'm this awesome person who's going to change the world."
"You are Natsumi. You're certainly changing his world and you helped Aldmora and me too." Koyuki giggled.
"He said he didn't want to kill anymore and I was making him feel that. That I was pretty much inspiring him to do better." Natsumi slouched forward. "I don't want him to get hurt and start pulling on himself again. I said something and it triggered him. What if I do that again?"
"We all know you wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings intentionally unless they were hurting someone else first. I don't think he would blame you for it and you shouldn't either." Koyuki spoke soft and kindly.
"I know I shouldn't. Even Kurse said it was all because someone else did something to him when he died in his original life-" Natsumi stopped when she realized something. Ganrougel wasn't always a monster. There was a version of him before that. A man had a life before he was forced to be what he is now. They were all once living humans except Taiki. Even Krueger was human who just didn't die yet.
"What is it Natsumi?" Koyuki leaned forward trying to grab Natsumi's attention. She looked lost in thought. Natsumi looked to the floor, thinking deeply.
"He... was human before. After he died he just, must have been so angry and confused he locked most of himself away. He has his own feelings. It's all real and..." Natsumi wrapped her arms around herself and wore a small smile. "I know my life is different from anyone else and it will never be normal. I'm going to try to accept that; and I think I like him just as much as he does for me. He isn't trying to control or stop me. He only wants to help and he makes me stronger."
Koyuki nodded with a content smile. "I'm happy for you Natsumi. You're working through the confusion in your life and making your own way. I think you'll be happy if you keep doing that."
"Thanks for helping me Koyuki." Natsumi hugged Koyuki and they both giggled. They spent the rest of the day watching tv and showing Koyuki new things about modern life.