-Oh my gosh this chapter, just oh my gosh-

aliens to monsters are

Giroro- Ganrougel

Keroro- Kurse

Tamama- Taiki

Dororo- Aldmora

Kururu- Krueger

Mois- Molioke

Natsumi spent days holed up in her room with books and charms, only leaving for school and to practice her spells in the backyard during the middle of the night. Fuyuki and Kurse worried from the living room as they tried to live normally watching tv and eating snacks. They were only glad, when at the end of each day, Natsumi hadn't run off on her suicide mission just yet.

They went to school regularly again after Haru's funeral and burial. Natsumi didn't talk much about him around her friends and never even whispered a word about Ganrougel. They asked every way they could think about the mysterious Red, but Natsumi would just sigh and change the subject. Koyuki couldn't even say much to ease Satsuki and Yayoi's worries.

Soon months passed quicker than Natsumi had imagined and snow was starting to fall. She picked up more books on battling with spells in a wintery scene and icy terrain. Aki and Fuyuki stopped fighting her to come inside and relax, to let go of her anger and fear long enough to sleep better and eat more than a small piece of meat and half a glass of water at dinner. They watched sadly through the sliding glass doors before putting out Natsumi's birthday candles and retreating to their own rooms.

Once Natsumi knew they were no longer watching, she ran to the garbage bin beside the house and braced her body, gripping the rim of the bin, as boiling acid rose to her lips and then coated the inside of the bin. She wiped her mouth on her sleeve and placed a hand to her unsettled stomach. She almost cursed herself for not eating enough but sometimes she rushed through a spell so fast it made her sick and food wasn't so appetizing. Even when she was tired and weak she could feel it. The magic starting to course stronger than ever through her body. A strength she had to build on her own.

Tears stung her eyes as she fell to her knees. She hated her life more than ever now. She never felt so alone and so angry. She wondered if maybe just once she should bring Ganrougel back. To hear his calming words and feel his warm arms wrapped tightly around her. She pulled the crumpled note from her pocket and re-read it. Whenever she thought about Ganrougel she had the note to remind her how dangerous it was for him to be beside her, where the bull could find him and win.

"Natsumi!" Koyuki's voice called down to her from the roof. Natsumi quickly stood and crushed the note in her pocket.

"Koyuki? What's wrong?" Natsumi brushed her cheeks hoping it looked like she was clearing falling snow form her eyes and not tears.

"I can't find Aldmora! He's missing!" Koyuki leapt down to Natsumi. Her eyes were sore and her skin looked almost blue like she was becoming ice. Even her voice sounded a little coarse.

"Are you sure he isn't just sitting in the forest again like he usually does?" Natsumi asked hoping it would be an easy answer but she already knew it wouldn't. Nothing ever was anymore.

"He's not there. I searched every tree and called his name for hours. I can't find him." Koyuki whimpered slightly.

"Don't worry, we'll find him. We'll ask Kurse if he knows where he might end up." Natsumi tried to comfort Koyuki and brought her inside. She called for Kurse as she whipped up a couple cups of cocoa.

"Hey Miss Natsumi~ Are you done training for today?" Kurse asked floating casually into the kitchen.

"You know Aldmora pretty well right? Do you know where he would usually go?" Natsumi ignored his question as she handed Koyuki her drink.

"I don't think he has any usual hangouts. He was just a sad guy floating around hoping he wouldn't suck up another person in his depression. Living with Koyuki is the longest he's stayed in one place." Kurse shrugged his shoulders.

"Didn't you guys say you have a base you hung out in?" Natsumi asked.

"Well yeah but he never really hung out with us often." Kurse answered like it was something clearly explained before. "Why do you want to know about that anyway?"

"Koyuki can't find him and she's worried." Natsumi gestured to the clearly upset ninja girl beside her and huffed, annoyed with the oblivious ghost.

"Come on it's not like he can die again or get hurt. I'm sure the dude can handle himself." Kurse waved dismissively hoping his cool attitude would calm everyone down.

"What if he doubts himself again or someone says something that triggers his emotions. He'd feel destroyed if he started haunting people again." Koyuki's voice cracked as she imagined Dororo in his dark emotions.

"Oh yeah I forgot that." Kurse gulped and shifted in the air uneasily.

"How di- never mind." Natsumi sighed.

"Kurse where are you going?" Koyuki asked. She and Natsumi watched as Kurse's legs started fading away.

"What? I'm not doing that!" Kurse screeched. "Natsumi are you exorcising me?! What did I ever do to you? How could you?!"

"It's not me!" Natsumi shouted and watched helplessly as Kurse's arms vanished from view. Soon his whole torso was gone. Kurse cried out as his face, bit by bit, was removed from the room. Natsumi held her breath, trying to think of what to do, desperately hoping maybe she did fall asleep in the snow this time. She started whispering her thoughts aloud. "It's not me. Fuyuki can't and he wouldn't. I can only think of him but why would he want Kurse?"

"Do you really think it's him?" Koyuki asked weakly.

"The other one is Krueger and I think he likes his privacy too much to want to bother with Kurse." Natsumi explained. "The bull is the only one that makes sense."

"Krueger's smart right, maybe he'll know what to do?" Koyuki suggested.

"He is, and even though he's super creepy it might be our best chance right now." Natsumi admitted. "Other than sitting here and waiting for someone else to go missing."

Koyuki ran over the roof tops as Natsumi sped along behind her on a pink bike she hadn't touched in a long time. They rushed towards the forest. Natsumi thought they would never make it, it seemed drastically further away than when she rode with Ganrougel. Once they reached the hatch Natsumi was completely out of breath. She pulled as hard as she could on the latch and with Koyuki's help opened the door. Natsumi held a small flashlight in her mouth as she haphazardly climbed down the ladder rungs. Koyuki jumped down beside her and looked down the dark tunnel.

"Oh wow." Koyuki's voice echoed down the shadows.

"I know. Creepy right?" Natsumi smiled slightly before walking down with the light ahead of her. "I had Ganrougel lead the way the first time cause he can see in the dark. I didn't know there were other doors though."

Along the walls, Natsumi's flashlight danced over the broken windows and free hanging doors. Dust and dirt caked over the floor. The paint chipped and peeled here and there, tiles fallen from the ceiling had shattered on the floor years ago.

"It's like an abandoned hospital on here." Natsumi whispered.

"Is this what modern hospitals are supposed to look like?" Koyuki asked unsure if she trusted modern doctors now.

Natsumi walked along faster now. Soon her light landed on a different door. It was a newer, heavier metal door reinforced with locks and bolts. "That's the one. Also Koyuki, there's something I should say before I forget."

"What is it?" Koyuki asked softly, eager to get away from the dark hall and maybe find answers about her friend.

"I don't actually know what stuff he keeps in the next room. Ganrougel always had my eyes covered before I could see more than Krueger." Natsumi admitted. "Krueger calls them his trophies. So be prepared."

"OK." Koyuki nodded.

Natsumi held her breath and pushed against the door. A dull white light fell over them as they took in the sights of the room. Shelves upon shelves, decorated with limbs and chunks of flesh. Eyes and tongues preserved in jars as other parts Natsumi didn't know the names of hung from hooks. There was even one part in particular she never wanted to see even if it was still attached to the original body and living.

Natsumi walked through the center aisle once her gaze caught the door on the other side. "Ok just through there is the kitchen."

Koyuki kept close to Natsumi's side as they arched on, careful not to bump into anything reaching from the displays. They sighed when they closed the door behind them and felt relaxed in the regular looking kitchen. Natsumi led them through the second door into the hall that was now adorned with a soft violet wallpaper with tiny flowers painted subtly in the stripes. She casually peeked into the lab she had visited before. No one sat at the computers and Molioke wasn't even in there dusting or rearranging some files.

"Ok maybe he's in another room?" Natsumi questioned as she headed further down the hall. She was confident the rest of the building was like a normal house with bedrooms and living rooms with a tv and a couch or two.

"Wait, do you hear that?" Koyuki pointed to a door nearby. Natsumi stilled her breath enough to hear muttering but eventually Krueger's laughter rang out.

"That's him." Natsumi nodded and knocked on the door. Every sound Natsumi thought she heard behind the door instantly stopped. Nothing breathed or moved. Even Krueger's laughter couldn't be heard. Natsumi shrugged to Koyuki before the door was suddenly creaked open. Only part of Krueger's face could be seen.

"Oh it's you." Krueger spoke unamused. "What do you want? I'm busy."

"I didn't want to bother you either but we have a problem." Natsumi crossed her arms. "Aldmora and Kurse have gone missing. We saw Kurse vanish right in front of us."

"Ku~ well after the deer went away it was only a matter of time before the rest were taken too." Krueger slipped through the door, careful to keep whatever was behind it hidden from view.

"I told you before the bull didn't get Ganrougel." Natsumi huffed.

"Until there's proof of another option I won't believe otherwise." Krueger snickered to himself.

"He couldn't have because I sent him away myself!" Natsumi turned her eyes away. She hated how she was easy to rile up lately.

"Ah~ the confession." Krueger cooed.

"I thought it was for the best now ignore what I did and find the others!" Natsumi demanded.

"Natsumi, it's ok. We understand you would only do what you thought was right." Koyuki placed a hand on Natsumi's shoulder trying to calm her.

"I really don't care one way or the other, only that you suffer from embarrassment and guilt is what I enjoy." Krueger grinned.

Suddenly Molioke rounded the corner nearby and was startled to see Natsumi and Koyuki. "Oh my gosh Natsumi! I haven't seen you in so long. Look at you all glowing!"

"MO! Shush!" Krueger grabbed Molioke's arm and pulled her down the hall whispering intensely.

"What was that about?" Koyuki asked completely lost.

"I have no clue. Maybe my magic is making me look different? She said I was glowing." Natsumi pressed a hand to her cheek.

"You do look a little different but also super thin." Koyuki admitted.

"I'll go get some snacks! You look like you haven't eaten in ages; you really should eat better." Molioke rushed off to the kitchen while Krueger glared at her.

"Come on I'll show you what the satellites can tell us." Krueger huffed as he marched towards his computer room. Natsumi and Koyuki followed him, being careful of the snaking cords on the floor of the dim room. Krueger typed feverishly on the keyboards and easily pulled up video feeds from multiple satellites, covering most of the world. He narrowed it down to Asia and then again to Japan. "What part of the forest does your apparition like to waste his time?"

"Right there." Koyuki ignored the insult and pointed to the trees her cabin was built under.

"You saw him this morning right?" Krueger asked while zooming closer.

"Yes. I couldn't find him after I got home." Koyuki answered. Krueger continued to stare at the monitors and watched as time sped up. Aldmora was seen walking through the trees and sitting on his favorite rock in the small clearing. After a short while Krueger resumed it at normal speed and they watched as Aldmora started vanishing.

"Just like Kurse." Natsumi whispered. She felt Koyuki shivering beside her trying not to cry.

Krueger turned his cold eyes to her without any signs of mocking or his cruel laughter. "Where did you send him to?"

"I-... I don't know. It was a desert I think." Natsumi felt the bile in her stomach again. Krueger muttered to himself as he typed even faster. After glancing at a few different pools of sand and cursing under his breath, Krueger found the one with an angry half-man half-deer trudging through the sands. Natsumi felt her stomach wrench, Kruger thrust a waste basket in front of her as what little food she had been able to eat left her body. Natsumi wiped her mouth and started crying. "I'm sorry."

"It's what the human body does under stress." Krueger shrugged as he set the basket to the floor again.

"I found the perfect snacks for you Natsumi!" Molioke almost danced into the room with two trays on her arms. Chips, guacamole, even fruit completely covered the silver it looked way too heavy for Molioke to be able to balance them like she did. "They're super healthy so don't worry about anything harmful."

"Mo..." Krueger growled. He quickly formed a gentle smile and looked into her eyes as he stood from his chair. He carefully leaned over her shoulder and placed his arm behind her back. "Be a dear and go check on the other room for me?"

"Of course." Molioke set the trays down and almost swooned as she glided back to the hall.

"Ok that was even more weird than earlier." Natsumi muttered between huge scoops of guacamole.

"Yeah, totally not something one would expect from him huh?" Koyuki took a bite from an apple.

"Ignore the delusional girl." Krueger sighed as he dropped back into his chair and refocused on the monitors. Natsumi tried hard not to look. She continued to eat the food mindlessly as her fear crept up her spine. Koyuki stayed beside her but glanced at the screens every now and then.

"Shit." Krueger whispered.

Natsumi put the chip she was about to eat back on the tray and waited. After what felt like eons of silence she spoke up. "Did he-?"

"Yes, months ago." Krueger's voice was deep and hollow.

"I'm a moron." Natsumi gripped her fingers tight, digging her nails into her palms. Tears flooded her cheeks. "I shouldn't have done it. He would have been found one way or the other."

"Natsumi..." Koyuki tried to say something that would help but nothing came to mind that she didn't already say.

"I've gotta find him and fix this." Natsumi roughly wiped the tears from her eyes and started towards the door.

"I wouldn't do that. Charging in by your own is a bad idea." Krueger spoke up dawning his creepy grin again. He had something he really wanted to say, he wished he could have waited till a better moment when she would have been humiliated in front of her mother or more people. In front of Ganrougel would have been his dream moment; but he would take what he could get since the truth would have been out on it's own sooner than later.

"What do you care?" Natsumi almost barked. "I'm stronger with my magic now. I can actually fight."

"You're not on the same level and bringing such a weak little one into battle is a big no-no~" Krueger chuckled.

"I'm not weak." Natsumi glared.

"I wasn't talking about you mommy dearest." Krueger's voice seemed to churn the air around him into an uncomfortable, eerie feel.

"M-mom..?" Natsumi's eyes shot wide.

"Wait I don't get it." Koyuki looked back and forth between them trying to pick up the context.

"Yep. kuku~" Krueger stood up almost raising his arms in a mock celebration. "You forgot to test yourself after all of these months of studying and training. I didn't see you in person for a while and I was only sure when I saw you today."

"That's why she..." Natsumi looked at the snacks, thinking about the glowing comment, and then glanced to the basket of bile. "I-i thought maybe I just wasn't eating enough and using too much magic at once. That's what made me sick."

"Would someone who has been eating like you have such a full looking stomach? Only your arms and face show that you haven't been eating enough." Krueger explained.

Natsumi placed a hand to her stomach and felt it. The mass inside, the soft shifting, and the small warmth. Subtle but clearly there if you knew what you were looking for. She covered her mouth.

"Oh my gosh no way." Koyuki gasped. She didn't know what to say or do.

"Oh yes way~ Sorry you had to find out like this but not really. Like I said bad idea to go charging into battle all by yourself with your little bundle." Krueger chuckled. "Wanna see the little devil? I've got a sonogram machine and I'm curious myself of how it looks since daddy isn't exactly human."

"But I can't-... I'll take friends with me. I won't go alone." Natsumi replied shaking her head to think clearly.

"The bull will separate you from the others and you know that." Krueger answered easily.

"I can't leave them there under his control. He could e doing whatever to them I can't let that go! I can't let it happen!" Natsumi exclaimed.

"I'm not saying to let it go, just that you can't do anything about it yourself. You have to sit on the sidelines and watch as the rest of your friends handle this." Krueger stared her down. Natsumi trembled before running out of the room. Koyuki followed close behind. "Stay safe Natsumi~"