-won't be another chap for at least a week (or possibly two) because I will be focused on my pokemon themed birthday (with the new pokemon moon this friday). Enjoy the chappie-
Aliens front and center for your monster titles!
Kururu- Krueger
Mois- Molioke
Giroro- Ganrougel
Keroro- Kurse
Tamama- Taiki
Dororo- Aldmora
Molioke glided through the halls of the underground home. She was checking in on all of Krueger's machines and gadgets. When she was done she returned to the main lab. "Everything's running good today."
"Even the dark subject?" Krueger pulled his eyes from the screens.
"He almost said his name but he choked again." Molioke clasped her hands behind her back.
"Good." Krueger's lips curled into his signature grin. "If it stops trying, kill it."
"Understood." Molioke nodded and swiftly approached Krueger's side. "So what are you going to work on today?"
"My usual." Krueger answered without care.
Molioke suddenly embraced Krueger's shoulders, earning a gagged yelp from him. "Let me know if I can help."
"Let go! Who said you could touch me?!" Kruger frantically pried at Molioke's arms. His spider legs kicked at the floor trying to push himself away from her.
"You didn't say I couldn't." Molioke smiled.
"I didn't think I had to!" Kruger strained. It's too innocent! Get it off! "I was only nice to you once why do you insist on staying with me?"
"You're interesting and I know you want my help since you haven't forced me to leave yet." Molioke giggled.
"Don't bet on that." Krueger groaned. The color left his face as Molioke pressed her cheek closer to his.
"You're a lot nicer than you let people see." Molioke fluttered her eyes.
"No I'm not." Kruger growled deeply and finally pushed her away. "I don't care about anyone."
"Then why do you let me stay? I know I can be naive sometimes and maybe a little annoying but I know kindness when I see it." Molioke held a hand over her heart. She knew the words she wanted to hear, the words she expected, and the answer she would most likely get. Her ears were perked and eager to listen.
Krueger ran his hand over his tentacle hair, pushing stray limbs into place, and laughed. His glasses flashed under the light of his monitors, hiding his eyes. "Because you make a good, empty headed, secretary who won't refuse the smallest of tasks for my enjoyment."
Molioke closed her eyes before running out of the room and down the halls. Krueger sighed and returned his attention to the monitors. He tried to ignore the growing pit in his stomach as he filed through some documents and reports. "Dammit."
Natsumi carefully stepped down the stairs in her clean clothes and listened for hints of the current situation in the kitchen. The voices were muffled but she could hear Fuyuki being cheerful. As she stepped off the stairs and leaned against the door she heard Haru's voice speak up. The actual words were still hard to make out but he sounded calm and even chuckled lightly. Natsumi released her held breath and slowly opened the door to the living room and walked towards the table.
Kurse was hovering beside Aki and shoving any scraps she gave him into his mouth. Taiki giggled beside him and accepted some of the meaty offering as well. Haru and Fuyuki were sitting at the table with an open book, debating some of the facts.
"I thought ghosts didn't eat, you know being all non-corporeal and pretty much just some kind of vapor." Natsumi stated as she joined the group.
"I don't know where it goes but it's kinda like I'm really eating it. Mrs. Hinata made it all sound too good and I haven't had food in decades so I couldn't resist." Kurse danced in place as he fawned over the food.
"What if it goes to another dimension?" Fuyuki suggested.
"Maybe it's the same one Aldmora sent all those people. Quick Kay, you have to eat all the food so those people don't starve!" Taiki jumped around, grabbing what food he could.
"It's probably too late for them Taiki." Kurse patted the imps head and calmed him down.
"We need that food to live too." Natsumi glared at the pair of troublemakers.
"Ah, you poor humans and your needs." Kurse smirked.
"You were human once too." Natsumi argued.
"Yeah but I like to think I overcame that obstacle." Kurse floated away from Natsumi's gaze of daggers with Taiki close behind him.
"Alright, now that both of you are down here, your mother and I can start explaining things." Haru spoke up with a cheerful energy. Natsumi took a seat opposite of Fuyuki as they straightened up to listen. "What do you want to know first?"
"How long has monster hunting been in our family?" Fuyuki almost squealed with excitement. His eyes were bright and starry with fascination.
"Just me. My parents were normal people." Haru chuckled.
"How did you learn about the supernatural?" Natsumi kept her hands in her lap and focused.
Haru's smile faltered and left his face as his eyes shifted before looking to his children again. "When I was a young teenager, I came home to find everyone was missing. Even my little brother. He was about your age Fuyuki. I looked where the police refused to search and I... I found them dead under the feet of a large monstrous bull. After that I studied everything I could to stop monsters from killing more people."
After a few moments Natsumi was first to respond. "I'm sorry dad."
"It's ok kid." Haru smiled again. "I probably should have told you all of this sooner anyway."
Fuyuki decided to turn the conversation away from the sad topic. "Earlier mom mentioned about the crystal grandma gave to Natsumi. You were expecting it to do something right? What was it?"
"After we saw the deer I felt something was wrong about it." Aki began platting and serving dinner as she explained. "It certainly wasn't a normal deer so I called your father to come check it out and I asked your grandma to give Natsumi the crystal because she was so frightened over it. The crystal was used to protect your grandma from monsters and we thought Natsumi could use it more at the time."
"So that's why dad ran into Ganrougel before he found me that night." Natsumi started connecting facts.
"Yes, I saw the deer transform into him and knew he had to be stopped. He was clearly heading towards the house." Haru answered before taking a huge bite of the beef stew.
"So why did Grandma have a crystal to fend of the supernatural?" Fuyuki asked.
"She knew about all of this before I was born and she used magic to fend off the dark beings." Aki admitted.
"She has magic?" Natsumi perked up.
"Yes, it's a family trait and she wanted to teach both of you about it but I wanted you guys to have a more normal childhood before that." Aki nodded.
"Do you have magic?" Natsumi could feel her anger bubbling up.
"No, but both you and your brother have magic." Aki sighed.
"Really?" Fuyuki struggled to swallow his food before he spat it out.
"You're the one who made it difficult to hide monsters from you." Aki smirked to her son.
"Wouldn't we have seen more signs of us having magic if he had it too?" Natsumi asked.
"Except you would often counter his. See Fuyuki, you always wanted to see monsters and because of that low ranking imps and spirits would find their way here, but Natsumi always hated thinking about monsters actually being real so she would usually make them disappear like they never existed." Aki explained.
"So you even hid our own magic from us." Natsumi sighed and glared at her food.
"I'm sorry Natsumi." Aki frowned. "That was the choice I made."
"Dad, did you always fight by yourself or did someone teach you?" Fuyuki diverted the conversation once more.
"I did have some help when I started but usually I was just by myself. I would have loved to have your mother with me but she was too busy being an awesome mom." Haru winked to Aki hoping it would cheer her up a bit and lighten the guilt.
"Can you teach me everything you know?" Fuyuki grew excited again as he imagined learning all there was to the supernatural. Things the rest of the world didn't discover yet.
"I'll try to." Haru chuckled.
The meal was continued with Fuyuki asking questions and Natsumi keeping silently to her thoughts. When everyone had finished eating she stood up with her hands firmly on the table. "I understand why you made the choices that you did and I love you and will try not to be angry. I guess it's a good thing I didn't know before or I wouldn't have grown so close to Ganrougel or met all of my new friends. Now that it's all out, you won't keep secrets about our family right?"
"Of course Natsumi." Aki rose from her seat and held her daughter's hand. "No more secrets."
"No more secrets." Haru cheered as he raised his glass before chugging what was left inside.
Natsumi gave her mom a quick hug. She then placed her dishes into the sink and began heading to the stairs. "It's been a long day so I'm going to head to bed now."
"Ok goodnight sweetie." Aki smiled.
Natsumi sighed, content the evening was starting to move along smoothly and so far her parents didn't seem to catch on to what she was hiding from them. She opened her door and closed it gently behind her. The image laying on her bed was of Ganrougel lazily curled up and napping. He had one arm under his head and the other draped over his side with his hand caressing the mattress. His hooves wrinkled the sheets beneath him as he shifted every now and then from his dreams. Natsumi was surprised she managed to stifle her giggle so she wouldn't wake him. She quietly changed into her pajamas and carefully slipped under his arm with her back to his chest.
"Hmmm..." Ganrougel let out a soft moan as he pulled her closer. Natsumi let him envelope her in his warmth with a smile on her lips and easily fell asleep beside him.