-FUN FACT: the Japanese have something called Self-Defense Force that acts like their army or military-
Aliens front and center for your monster titles!
Giroro- Ganrougel
Keroro- Kurse
Tamama- Taiki
Dororo- Aldmora
Kururu- Krueger
Mois- Molioke
-gosh 20 chaps in and we haven't even gotten to the big baddie... hope all the emotions will suffice till then-
Natsumi sat down at her desk doing some homework while Ganrougel relaxed on her bed. His arms were tucked under his head and his back stretched casually over the sheets. Natsumi nibbled on the end of her pencil, glaring at the papers before her.
"So what did you do all day?" Natsumi muttered over her pencil.
"I visited Aldmora." Ganrougel replied as he stared at the ceiling.
"How's he doing?" Natsumi glanced over her shoulder.
"He's doing great. Koyuki has really turned his existence around for the better. I've never really seen him smile like he does around her. He used to have to force smiles and sometimes Kurse and I could maybe get him to grin for short moments but now he's so happy it's a little scary." Ganrougel chuckled lightly.
"Well that's good." Natsumi smiled as she turned back to her homework.
Ganrougel sighed as he thought about what he really talked about with Aldmora.
"Aldmora..." Ganrougel cleared his throat. He stood beside the trees to the forest as his friend sat on a flat rock. Aldmora was practicing some breathing techniques Koyuki had taught him to clear his mind. "I don't know what... but something is going on with me. Something is changing."
"What do you mean?" Aldmora opened his eyes to look at Ganrougel, who was pacing slightly and opening and closing his hands.
"Natsumi and I..." Ganrougel choked on a small dry lump forming in his throat.
"You can tell me, I won't judge. You know that." Aldmora kept a calm expression. No smirks or frustration present.
"I'm feeling things for her. She says that she cares for me too but I... I want to be around her all the time. It's like I'm hungry for her presence or something." Ganrougel spat out the first description he could. "I'm in love with her, she even let me kiss her but it doesn't feel like enough. There's this tension, almost burning kind of feeling in my chest and stomach. Is love supposed to feel this strong?"
"Sit down." Aldmora gestured to a nearby rock. Ganrougel quickly dropped under his anxious weight. "I'm going to tell you exactly what I think but don't get too embarrassed."
"That only makes me worried and already ashamed..." Ganrougel noted.
"I understand that you haven't had human emotions or temptations in this current existence," Aldmora took a deep breath and locked his soft blue eyes to Ganrougel's red one. "but you were human before and now that you are breaking your cycle of murder and hate you might be feeling them again. It sounds like you are feeling extremely sensual desires for her."
"What?!" Ganrougel flushed. He looked at his hands and legs. "I don't think that's possible. I'm a solid being with real flesh. I can move and breathe but I'm not alive. There is no way this body used to be human or even capable of those sensations."
"You know as well as I do that things can change drastically after death." Aldmora calmly added.
"But those desires... are just human things. I'm not a human. I don't have a need to feel those, it's just for pairing off to continue the species isn't it?"
"Logically yes but the fact remains that you used to have that need. You used to live and breath just like she did. Just like we all used to." Aldmora went on. "Now she's changed your view so much. You just admitted to loving her. Wouldn't you also say that was just a human feeling? Yet you do feel it. Also as you have pointed out, you have actual flesh, muscles, you even still have organs that bleed."
"I've never bled before." Ganrougel arched his brow.
"Because you never let someone get close enough to hurt you. Cut your arm and see." Aldmora sighed sadly. Ganrougel pulled out one of the bones from his spine revealing a sharpened end like a blade. He scratched his left bicep with the point and looked in surprise as black blood spilled down.
"What should I do? Is it wrong to feel this?" Ganrougel wrapped his right hand around the bicep. His eye glanced over the leaves on the ground below him.
"I think you should figure that out between you and her. It's only important between the two of you, it has to be mutual if you want to act on it." Aldmora explained.
"I can't just pop up to her and ask something like that." Ganrougel growled slightly, his face losing color. He knew she would most likely send him to the other side of the world if he did.
"She loves you back doesn't she? I think she's pretty open minded for a human to accept and love something like us." Aldmora's eyes smiled. "Just ease into it naturally. Let her know how honest you are about it."
Ease into it... Yeah easier said than actually done. Ganrougel huffed.
"So what did you guys actually talk about today?" Natsumi asked.
"Nothing." Ganrougel blushed slightly.
"I doubt that. You've been staring at the ceiling since before I got home." Natsumi carelessly filled answers to her assignment. She set her pencil onto her desk and turned to face him. "Don't you usually stand against the wall or something? I don't think I've seen you lie down before. You look so relaxed."
Ganrougel closed his eye and turned from her. "It's nothing important."
Natsumi frowned. She left her chair and kneeled beside him on the bed. "What's wrong?"
"It's about you..." Ganrougel took a deep breath.
"What about me?" Natsumi arched her brow.
"And what we talked about last night." Ganrougel finished but kept his gaze from her.
"Oh." Natsumi felt her heart sink slowly through her chest. "Do you not feel that way for me anymore?"
"No, nothing like that." Ganrougel quickly looked to her. Guilt filled him for the saddened look in her eyes. "I would keep you by me for as long as I can."
Natsumi blushed lightly. "So what about yesterday is bothering you?"
Ganrougel sat up and glanced away from her again, checking the privacy of the room. "I told you about how I've felt differently about you now but... There's a different reaction I never thought I could have."
"You can tell me." Natsumi placed her hand on his when he was quiet for moments.
"Last night when I said that you should stop me when I do something you don't like, I meant it. Understand?" Ganrougel's muscles stiffened. He felt nervous, worried she would would be disgusted or hate him. He knew it was already unnatural to be so obsessed with a human.
"Mmhhm." Natsumi nodded. Ganrougel turned his hand under hers and curled his fingers around it. He pulled her hand close to him and pressed it to his cheek.
"Natsumi, I'm starving for your affection. I crave your soft words, your passion, and your touch." Ganrougel gazed over Natsumi's body. The core of his chest scorched with need and pulsed faster and faster. "I know I shouldn't be greedy but I want you all to myself. To have you love me forever."
Natsumi was lost in the bubbly effect his confession gave her. She never even bothered to dream someone would treat her in such a way. A part of her inside was yearning to see where it would lead if she let him continue. Suddenly Ganrougel lost all color as his ears twitched. His expression became focused, almost cold. "W-what's wrong?"
"You're mother is home." Ganrougel let go of Natsumi's hand and pulled away, revealing Aki holding out a crowbar. She was ready to attack the moment Ganrougel made any movement.
"Natsumi get behind me." Aki whispered without moving her eyes from Ganrougel.
"Mom, it's ok." Natsumi quickly moved in front of Ganrougel.
Aki ignored Natsumi as she called through the open door. "Haru! Get in here!"
"Wait, what?!" Natsumi's eyes shot open as she recognized the name. Soon a man barreled into the room. He had red hair and stood almost as tall as Ganrougel. His eyes instantly locked onto the red beast. "D-dad...?"
"What are you doing here?!" Haru pulled out a knife and pointed it to Ganrougel.
"I didn't think I'd see you again." Ganrougel huffed as he crossed his arms, clearly unafraid of the man.
"Aki, get her out of here." Haru stood before the monster, clearing a way for his wife and daughter to escape.
"Wait! What's going on?!" Natsumi asked.
"Come on, I'll explain later." Aki pulled Natsumi by her arms.
"No! Dad don't hurt him!" Natsumi cried out as Aki dragged her closer to the door.
"Natsumi is this man important to you?" Ganrougel asked firmly. Showing no emotion with Aki and Haru present.
"Yes, he's my dad." Natsumi fought her mother's hold.
"Then I won't hurt him." Ganrougel nodded.
"I don't want him to hurt you either." Natsumi replied.
"What did you do to her? Did you touch her?!" Haru demanded for answers through clenched jaws.
"I didn't injure her if that's what worries you." Ganrougel responded easily.
"Don't worry Natsumi. We'll have you purified if it touched you." Aki held her daughter closer as she tried harder to bring her to safety.
"What do you mean by that?!" Natsumi felt sick by the insinuation.
"It's an animated corpse Natsumi, it's touch can taint and corrode living people if it wanted." Aki hastily explained. "Let's go. You're father can handle it."
"No! Let go of me, Ganrougel won't hurt anyone!" Natsumi pulled free from Aki and stood by Ganrougel's side.
"You twisted her innocent mind didn't you? To make her feel safe around you and satisfy your impure desires. Did you force yourself on her?" Haru was up front with his questions and kept his attention on Ganrougel. His voice was venomous and his eyes were sharp.
"No. I won't do things Natsumi doesn't want." Ganrougel withheld his emotions, but inside he felt nauseous at the suggestion of forcing Natsumi into things like that. He already had a hard enough time telling her the full extent of his feelings.
"Break your spell from her right now!" Haru commanded.
"I'm not under a spell!" Natsumi stood firm and tried to quell her anger. She hated feeling that way about her parents. "He doesn't even have magic!"
"Mom! What's going on?!" Fuyuki stumbled into the room. "I heard yelling."
"Fuyuki! Get out of here now! Run somewhere safe!" Aki pushed against her son's shoulders.
"Dad... please don't do anything." Natsumi looked with sad eyes to Haru. She hadn't seen him in years and here he was suddenly trying to kill her closest friend.
"You're not thinking clearly." Haru brushed off her plea.
"Yes I am. Why won't you listen to me? Ganrougel won't do anything wrong!" Natsumi clenched her fists.
"It confused you sweetheart." Aki inched closer, waiting for the right moment to pry her daughter away from the monster.
"HE!... is my best friend." Natsumi glared with a burning passion. She already felt bad for how she treated misunderstood monsters before but now she was watching it come from her parents.
"I didn't join the Ground Self-defense Forces to learn how to fight better only to have an unnatural thing such as this to come into my home and manipulate my family." Haru cursed under his breath.
Natsumi stiffened up and turned to see Ganrougel's eye widen in terror. "You're a soldier."
Ganrougel swiftly slapped Haru's blade from his hand and pinned him to the wall. Aki rushed Fuyuki from the room. Natsumi desperately pulled on Ganrougel's arm.
"No, Ganrougel focus!" Natsumi felt tears run down her cheeks as she recalled the last time anything related to the military was mentioned around him.
Haru struggled under Ganrougel's arms. "I told you it was dangerous. Run before it gets you."
Natsumi ignored her father. "Look at me! I won't let him hurt you ok?!"
Natsumi's words didn't seem to reach Ganrougel as he clenched his fangs tight and slowly dug his slender fingers into Haru's shoulder. She pushed against his arm but it wouldn't move in any way.
"You promised me you wouldn't hurt him right?" Natsumi thought quickly. Ganrougel flinched. Natsumi felt her throat crack and her voice strained under her tears. "Don't break that promise! You're better than that. Don't go back on your promise. You're not a betrayer like those who hurt you. Don't do it, don't become them."
Ganrougel's eye darted around, taking in the man he was torturing on the wall. He looked to Natsumi who buried her crying face into his arm. He felt something inside of him shatter. He quickly pulled away from Haru, letting the man stand on his own feet and grip his bleeding wound. Ganrougel stumbled back, Natsumi still held his arm and looked up to him as her lip quivered.
"Na-natsu... I'm sorry..." Ganrougel's voice drained from him in a trembling whisper. He felt himself crumbling, he was hurting her again. Ganrougel fell to the floor under the weight of his guilt and felt his own tears streaming from his eye. It was like all of his insides being squeezed into his throat and he could barely hold it in. Natsumi dropped to her knees and hugged Ganrougel tightly to her. He was afraid to hold her and rested his face into her shoulder as he warily wrapped his arms around her.
Haru picked up his dropped knife and stepped over to the lamenting couple. "Natsumi... move away."
Natsumi slowly turned to him as Ganrougel reluctantly let her pull away. "No."
"I have to do it Natsumi. It's the only way to handle supernatural things like it." Haru sighed.
"And I have magic. I'm as supernatural as he is. Are you going to kill me too?" Natsumi stared her father down.
"You're just special and I would never hurt you. You're my daughter." Haru was pained by the idea.
"You're discriminating!" Natsumi yelled. She felt bile rise in her throat.
"I was almost killed just now. I have to do it." Haru didn't flinch under her accusation.
Natsumi stood up and stepped closer. "You clearly knew about all of this for a long time. I had to learn about it all on my own, yet I'm the one willing to accept and help the misunderstood. I don't think I ever asked much of you in my life but right now I'm asking you to let it go and leave him alone. I swear if you harm him you won't have a daughter to worry about anymore."
Haru was stunned and glanced between Natsumi and Ganrougel before turning and leaving the room. Natsumi fell back into Ganrougel's arms. She cried even harder as soft hiccups made it difficult for her to breathe. "I'm so confused and angry I might be sick. He.. he was really going to kill you."
"Don't blame him." Ganrougel whispered.
"You knew him before didn't you? How?" Natsumi kept her head against Ganrougel's chest and listened to his weakened voice echo through it.
"Back at the second time I found you, you were in the country and I was the deer. Remember that time?" Ganrougel asked and felt Natsumi nod. "After the river but before I confronted you, I ran into him. He said someone contacted him and told him I was there. I don't know who saw me other than you and your family but then he started attacking me. I was too focused on getting to you before I lost you again so I didn't want to really fight him. I quickly cut his leg so he couldn't follow me. It wasn't severe and I didn't know he was related to you."
"So he went after you first..." Natsumi trailed off into deep thought. They knew about monsters but never told me. Sure Fuyuki and I never told them either but we're the kids. It's their responsibility to teach us about the world isn't it? Dad is never around anyway. Natsumi thought about Haru's knife and how he seemed so determined to take Ganrougel down. Does he know how to kill monsters? "Maybe you shouldn't stay here."
"If you want me to leave I will." Ganrougel sighed.
"I'm just afraid something will happen to you. They obviously know what they're doing, they just don't understand you." Natsumi muttered.
"He did though. I have unclean temptations around you. I should leave before I do something wrong against you again. I wanted to change with the second chance you gave me and I just keep screwing it up." Ganrougel tensed. Natsumi straightened up and looked into his eye.
"Don't do that. You didn't do anything wrong since you promised to stop hunting me. I think you were trying to tell me about those feelings in the best way possible. I don't think it's wrong to feel those for someone." She blushed lightly. "I mean sure it's a little odd with you being dead and I'm a human, wow that sounds a lot less weird in my head, but my life isn't exactly normal anyway."
"You want me to stay? Even though I want you in a way I shouldn't?" Ganrougel looked to her surprised and yet hopeful that she would.
"The way you act on your feelings is important, not just how you feel. Besides... " Natsumi blushed even deeper. Her eyes shifted around as she fiddled with the metal rings in Ganrougel's clavicle. "You said that you never felt like this before so doesn't that really start to show how much you care about me?"
Ganrougel softly smiled. "I admire the way you look at things."
"Thanks." Natsumi beam. She was pleased the mood was starting to lighten but soon frowned again. "I should probably go downstairs and talk to them."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Ganrougel asked.
"Wouldn't it trigger you again?" Natsumi glanced at the blood on his fingers.
"I think I can control myself, especially if you're there with me." Ganrougel took a deep breath.
"Ok." Natsumi nodded. "Let's go."
-also just a reminder this is M... like you had to hunt this down to find and read it. so if there are themes you don't care for in this, jump ship while you can-