Aliens to monsters
Giroro- Ganrougel
Keroro- Kurse
Tamama- Taiki
Dororo- Aldmora
Kururu- Krueger
Mois- Molioke
Once Natsumi reached the forest outside she clenched her teeth and yelled, throwing her flashlight onto the dirt.
"Natsumi." Koyuki spoke up sadly, her head poking up from the hatch. "Maybe he was just being super duper creepy and mean and lied about a baby."
"No." Natsumi's voice trembled. Angry and fearful. "He wasn't lying, because I can feel it. How am I going to explain this to mom? I don't think I can go home."
"Your mom already accepted that you're in love with Ganrougel right?" Koyuki started a small speech.
"Yeah and I think that was hard enough. I don't think she'd be ready to hear her teenage daughter is pregnant with a monster's baby." Natsumi choked on her words. "There's so much wrong with me right now."
"I really think she'd understand. She seems so open minded." Koyuki stood up and hugged Natsumi. "I'll support whatever you choose Natsumi."
"Thanks Koyuki." Natsumi forced a smile as she returned the hug. "You're a really good friend."
"You don't have to tell anyone about it so soon but you should at least go home. Everyone's already worried about how you've been pushing yourself. We'll tell them about what happened to the others and see if we can make a plan." Koyuki stated. Natsumi nodded and wiped her tear stained cheeks once more before calming down. She picked up her flashlight and they started back to her house.
It was a long and slow walk. Natsumi kept touching her belly every now and then. She didn't want to feel terrible for having a baby. She always though it was going to be one of the greatest and happiest moments in her life but now she was just unsure and maybe angry.
She grabbed the door handle and paused. Koyuki rested a hand on her shoulder. They walked inside silently, closing the door as carefully as they could. "I don't want to wake Fuyuki up yet." Natsumi whispered.
Koyuki nodded, sat on the couch, and waited while Natsumi went to get Aki. She softly tapped the door and was surprised when Aki almost instantly opened it. "Hey mom, something happened. I need to talk to you downstairs."
"Sure, sweetie." Aki answered calmly and with a soft smile. She headed downstairs with Natsumi behind and greeted Koyuki. "Do you guys want some snacks while we talk?"
"No I think Molioke fed us more than enough snacks." Natsumi grinned.
"Huh? You went somewhere?" Aki asked as she sat on the couch.
"We went to see Krueger after what we saw." Natsumi sighed. "Kurse disappeared unwillingly."
"Like when you leave cotton candy on your tongue for so long." Koyuki explained trying to help.
"Koyuki came to me when she couldn't find her friend Aldmora." Natsumi continued.
"The shy one right?" Aki asked, trying to recall if she had met that one yet.
"Yeah, so we thought Krueger might know something since he's got info on just about everything. He checked the satellites and saw that Aldmora vanished just like Kurse." Natsumi held her breath. "Even Ganrougel was gone the same way. I don't know how he did it but that bull bastard is the only one who would take them."
"Is that what happened? When you stopped talking about him and did nothing but train your magic?" Aki inquired a little more accusing than she wanted.
"No." Natsumi stared at the coffee table. Her voice was softer than a whisper and could only be heard because of the silence of the night. "He vanished after I sent him away with my own magic. I found a note and the bull knew where to find him if he was always by my side. I was wrong, but I thought he would be safer away from me. I didn't help anyone. I only made things worse."
"Oh hun." Aki wrapped her arms around Natsumi's shoulders. "You did everything out of love. No one can blame you for doing what you thought was right."
"But now I can't help him, or the others I just-" Natsumi covered her face, trying to suppress the sobbing. She felt like she cried enough but the tears never seemed to cease.
"You have done so much good though." Aki smiled as she rested her forehead to Natsumi's. "We're all going to work together and bring everyone home. Then you can hear it from Ganrougel himself. Ok?"
Aki stroked Natsumi's hair as she wailed into her arms. Koyuki sat on the other couch feeling her own grief taking over and tears spilling down her cheeks. After what seemed to be eons, Natsumi was huddled against Aki, her shallow breaths shaking through her tired body, and felt a small warm cup being settled into her frail fingers. Her eyes followed up the other arm and saw Fuyuki smiling gently. His eyes were sad and heavy, Natsumi realized Koyuki must have caught him up on the story as his smile faded. She looked back to the cup and saw it was full of tea. Pulling it closer, the scent filled her body, as if it could return her strength and energy. She took a small sip and melted from the calming flavors.
"Thank you." Natsumi whimpered with a sore and broken voice.
"Fuyuki why don't you try it again?" Aki asked quietly.
Fuyuki shook his head. "I haven't stopped trying, I still don't feel anything."
"Hmm?" Natsumi muttered as she looked up from her cup.
"I asked Fuyuki if he could try to summon them back home. He was always better at that spell than you." Aki explained with a small smile. Trying to look hopeful.
"I don't think it would work. This guy seems like he knows everything and keeps the upper hand." Natsumi replied.
"Is there a way we could figure out at least where he's taken them?" Koyuki asked.
"He could be anywhere in the world. They vanished in a way we can't trace, it's not like we could find footprints, last known locations, or other evidential stuff like that." Fuyuki explained. "We're just humans with very little magic. Even if Krueger had satellites all over the world it would take forever to search before we even take cloaking magic or techniques into consideration."
"If you're all done crying like children and twiddling your thumbs, I think I have what you want." A confident voice chuckled. Everyone turned to see a soldier standing firm in front of the recently rebuilt wall. The air around him seem warped as he grinned.
"Who are you?!" Aki leapt to her feet ready to attack. Everyone else tensed, waiting to see what would happen next.
"Just a messenger." The soldier cooed playfully. "My superior has had his fun with your friends and is ready to change the game. He invites you to participate once you're ready, but don't take too long. He does get bored pretty quick."
"What the hell does that mean?" Natsumi spoke as stern as she could but trembled under the strange man's gaze.
"Ah~ The VIP. My boss is really interested in having you in particular show up. If I'm not being too clear, this is your last chance to see your friends. Try not to be late." The soldier went on.
"Where is he?!" Natsumi demanded as she rose to her feet, feeling her confidence gaining.
"You'll know it when you see it." The soldier smirked before he began floating above the floor. His shape glimmered in and out until he was a wispy orb, shooting through the ceiling.
"He was a ghost." Fuyuki stated as he stared at the ectoplasm dripping from the ceiling.
"They're still alive, at least for now." Natsumi clenched her fists before running to the nearest trash bin.
"Natsumi!" Aki followed her and helped her keep her hair out of the way of the mess.
"This is the third time now." Koyuki mentioned, her brow scrunched with worry.
"Natsumi, stop fighting it." Aki helped the weakened girl straighten up onto her feet. "Your body is tired, you need to rest."
Natsumi tried to argue but her body fell limp into Aki's arms with only a disgruntled muttering spoken. Aki sighed and began carrying her daughter upstairs.
"It's kind of a good thing her body gave out now, otherwise she might have stayed up all night." Koyuki forced a smile.
"That's true." Aki chuckled softly. "We should all get some sleep. You're welcome to stay the night Koyuki. I don't think it's a good idea for you to be heading home all alone this late."
"Thank you so much." Koyuki bowed, a little grateful she wouldn't have to stay in her empty hut waiting to hear Aldmora's whispers when he thought she couldn't hear him or the tea he made in the morning for her. Sleeping anywhere else but home might help her keep the darker thoughts and fears at bay.