Chapter 10: Friendship

"Kurumu-chan sure has been disappearing a lot- especially in club time, when we've got a deadline to meet," Moka said with annoyance. It was true, for the past few days, the light blue-haired succubus always had left at club time, stating that she had something to do each time. Everyone there was very frustrated, tired and overworked by the looks of it, as they had to work very hard to meet the deadline for the newspaper- Gin didn't even have his usual perverted glint in his eyes.

"Maybe she doesn't think of us as friends, after all, she's disappearing at such a busy time for everyone else!" Moka added with further frustration.

Tsukune, noticing the tension, decided to speak out in Kurumu's defence: "what are you talking about? We've all been getting along so well… I'm sure Kurumu-chan just has something very important to attend to," Tsukune pointed out, trying to provide some reassurance. There's obviously something going on beneath it all, Tsukune thought with a serious face.

Blackmail is an evil thing… I should know, I've committed it many times, the other part in him said; although he still didn't know who or what this voice was, he'd found that normally, it'd give him valuable information, even if what was said was quite abstract.

Later, Kurumu arrived, but they were already leaving:

"Welcome back Kurumu-chan, we're just finishing up- we've decided to work hard tomorrow, and finish up the rest," Moka stated in a monotonous voice as she walked past the succubus.

"Kurumu-chan, if there's something seriously going on, then you've got to tell us- everyone's going to get very annoyed and suspicious otherwise," Tsukune asked with concerned eyes; seeing Kurumu not reply, he just sighed and left the classroom.

Now, let's see what Kurumu-chan is really hiding, Tsukune thought as he perched on the rooftop, with a good view to the classroom; in the classroom itself, he saw a boy with long hair covering the top half of his face, and rather moist skin talking to Kurumu. By the looks of that camera and Kurumu-chan's face, this guy must be trouble, but I can't really hear anything, Tsukune thought as he hit himself for being so stupid. Seeing the Kurumu leave, he observed the boy now, and saw the slimy-looking boy take the half-finished newspaper that they'd been working on.

Knowing this, the next day when everybody else was in panic, and Kurumu still wasn't participating, Tsukune decided to say what he saw.

"So it was some creepy guy that was with Kurumu-chan?! We should get it back- Kurumu-chan really causes us trouble, even if it's not directly…" Moka said as she huffed at her hair.

"I don't think this is something exactly under Kurumu-chan's control- she looked troubled when I saw her with that boy…" Tsukune started as he recalled what he saw yesterday.

"Hey everyone! I found something really awful! When I was looking through the toolbox for clues, I found this," Yukari stated from the back with a worried voice. She was holding a letter. The envelope read: 'to my beloved Kurumu-chan', and there was the name of the writer, which was 'Nagare'.

After reading the contents of the letter, in which this Nagare character had put embarrassing pictures of Kurumu, and threatened to show them to the school if she didn't show up at the 'Monster' tree.

"It was blackmail after all…" Tsukune muttered as he remembered what the inner voice had told him. Tsukune and Moka looked at eachother, as both of them prepared to go find Kurumu.

"We're going to find Kurumu- this doesn't feel like a club without her," Tsukune said with determination as both Moka & himself went out of the classroom.

Hearing Kurumu's voice from a nearby gym storage building, both of them ran towards it. Moka was first to knock on the door: "Kurumu-chan, are you in there? We found the pictures, the blackmail- we understand your situation, Kurumu-chan".

After a small pause, Moka continued: "I didn't know about what was happening, and I misunderstood… I though you still hated me, and I was wrong to feel a similar way- but, if you're gone, we'll fall apart. I've realised… you're just as important to me as Tsukune after all…" Moka finished resting her head on the door, just as it started to click.

Believe your eyes… for something grotesque will come out now… the voice in Tsukune's head stated, as Tsukune now put his hands around his katana hilt. Out of the door, came a huge oversized slug, it's features looking like something out of a horror movie. Looming over them, it stood at probably 8 foot, however with its highly mutated features, it was difficult to tell.

"Woah! What is that? Damn shame I don't have any salt with me," Tsukune muttered humourlessly. He was preparing to attack, but then Nagare-slug-kun started to exude gas, causing Moka to slump to the floor, and Tsukune himself to feel slightly weaker as he fell to his knees. All the while, the slug laughed, making a reach for Moka as she lay there defenceless.

"Stop it! My fri- don't touch my precious friends!" Kurumu staggered out of the doorway, as wings started to protrude from her back. Her proper Succubus form activated as her long nails and tail appeared as well; much to the surprise of Nagare, the trees came alive, all in order to attack him, the branches twisting and turning menacingly, just to achieve that.

"I'll never forgive you- I'll never forgive you if you lay your hands on Tsukune or Moka!" Kurumu declared as the trees coalesced in a massive attack, as they followed Kurumu's movement, and slashed a powerless Nagare, who was still in confusion.

Tis, the succubae are powerful with all their illusions, although the sharpest of eyes can see through it all… the highest orders can even inflict damage through their illusions… Tsukune's inner voice observed, mirroring what Inner Moka was telling Outer in Moka's mind. Nagare lay there, unconscious as Kurumu held the newspaper draft.

"Got the most important thing," she said with a smile as she held up the newspaper. With this, they could complete their newspaper within the deadline.

Monlight shone down on Tsukune's face as he was lying down on the dorm roof, just enjoying the serenity. So, are you going to tell me what you really are? Tsukune asked in his thoughts as he waited for a reply.

All in good time, my child- when you lie on the clutches of death, on the verge of decadence, in the grip of despair, my embrace will reach you… the voice replied, giving of a riddle feel. But watch out, because your time nears… they will find out about your real identity… the voice warned as Tsukune's face creased with anxiety and seriousness.

Hi everyone, tenth chapter- thanks for all the support and help! We get closer to finding out what Tsukune's inner thing is, especially as the battle with Kuyou is only on the horizon. Hope you enjoy, sorry if it's a bit short. Please review if you can, thanks. Next chapter will be Friday, so enjoy your week everyone!