The chiming of a phone jarred Kurumu out of a pleasant dream of cuddling naked with Nijiro by a fireplace. That sensation persisted as her eyes fluttered open. Her bare breasts pressed against warm skin while her left arm was draped over her companion. Her right arm felt numb, trapped beneath this partner. Mildly disoriented, Kurumu cupped tits in both of her hands. Her fingers brushed across pert nipples, causing Tora to grumble.
As the phone continued to demand attention, Kurumu recalled the conversation from last night which had resulted in them sleeping together in this state of undress. She had shared everything about Nijiro's family and her mystery assassin while Tora had talked in great length about the funeral and how her whole extended family had treated the situation.
There had been many tears and hugging. It had been her suggestion to sleep nude since she barely had enough pajamas for herself and they were both girls. She had wanted to feel loved and knew that Tora must have felt the same way. It had only taken one kiss to brush aside the silly concerns the sphinx harbored against her proposal. It was not like Kurumu had wanted sex.
Gliding her hand up to Tora's shoulder, Kurumu gave the girl a firm shake. Tora groaned, reaching for the hem of the dark blue blanket which was barely above their waists. The sphinx had her plump derriere nestled against Kurumu's navel. She grabbed the hem lined with pink strings, tugging it up their bodies.
"Get up, Tora. It's morning."
Tora shifted in her arms, forcing Kurumu to scoot back against the wall. The sphinx rolled on her back, eyelids fluttering open. As Tora yawned with her perky tits exposed, Kurumu slipped her right arm out from beneath the girl. She flexed her hand, flinching from the sting of invisible needles as the feeling returned to her limb.
"You kissed me."
Kurumu smiled, shifting into a seated position. She clutched her right arm against her torso, rubbing her forearm with her left hand.
"Only once."
Tora grumbled, lifting a hand to rub her jade eyes. Her skin had such a lovely, natural tan.
"I could have washed your pajamas with my underwear tonight."
Kurumu laughed softly, continuing to flex her hand as the phone protested its neglect.
"I know. But you feel better, right?"
Tora huffed, sitting up. She drew the blanked down to her knees, baring her patch of raven curls at her navel. She swung her legs off the side of the bed, standing up.
"I feel used."
Kurumu pouted, rolling onto her knees in pursuit of the sphinx. Tora stalked over to the desk, picking up the phone to silence the alarm.
"It was only the one kiss."
Tora snorted, wandering over to the closet door. Kurumu's discarded chemises were on the floor.
"Now I know what it is like to wake up in a friend's bed after a night of drinking."
Kurumu fell out of the bed rather unceremoniously due to her feet still being caught in the blanket. She cried out from her hand striking the floor when she caught herself as it was still tingling from earlier. As she had also landed on her knees, she rolled over onto her ass to free her feet.
"Are you okay?"
Kurumu sighed, getting up with the blanket in her hands. She tossed it back on her mattress, turning about to see the concern in Tora's eyes. The sphinx had a hand on the knob to the closet door.
"Yea. I'm just stupid."
Tora sighed, opening the door towards the nearby refrigerator.
"We were already wearing those pajamas when you kissed me."
She turned her back on Kurumu, sauntering into the closet with a slight sway of her hips. The closet light flipped on, defining the curves of her body.
"Everything after that is just a blur."
Kurumu padded across the room, seeing Tora bend over for the black jeans they had decided upon last night. Kurumu grinned, thinking about smacking that sexy ass but knew that would only annoy Tora. She slipped into the closet as the sphinx tugged the denim up her legs.
"Perhaps I should also go without lingerie for the day."
Tora snorted, wiggling the jeans over her rump.
"Why bother doing that?"
"For the sake of solidarity."
Tora snickered, zipping up the jeans.
"Do you even know what that means?"
Kurumu shrugged, watching Tora take down the short sleeved, orchid blouse with the pleated front. The sphinx unzipped the back, putting the garment on like an apron.
"Sort of. What should I wear to Mrs. Aono's birthday?"
"Something with lingerie. Help me out with this."
Kurumu stepped closer, grabbing the flaps of fabric. She fished the metal end into the zipper, drawing it up Tora's back which caused the white teeth to mesh together. Stopping at the conservative collar about Tora's throat, Kurumu brought the collar flap over and buttoned it up.
"You're gorgeous. You know that?"
Tora huffed, turning about. She fussed with the stitch that rested below the swell of her bosom, halfway down the front. The pleats ended at that stitch while starting at the stitch of the collar and shoulders.
"It's loose and you know it."
"It's meant to stretch as needed. Nobody will even notice if you start nipping out."
"Like you are."
Kurumu glanced down and giggled, supposing they had. She pinched the fat, pink eraser of a nipple on her left tit between her thumb and forefinger.
"Yea. These things have a mind of their own."
"Get dressed. I'll add those pajamas to my pile of clothes to wash tonight."
Kurumu sighed as Tora exited the closet. She regarded her wardrobe selection. On the short rod to her left was the crimson ballroom gown which she had no intention of wearing. Beside it was a satin, dark green halter dress. Since the gown took up so much space, the only other outfit on that rod was a black and white checkered dress that she had only worn once.
"I can't wear a dress without panties."
"Then put some panties on, dummy."
Kurumu giggled, turning her attention to the outfits hanging on the longer rod which included six school blouses and five school jackets. Three empty hangers represented the blouse Tora had on and the two Kurumu had worn earlier this week. The last two garments hanging up were a bright pink sundress and a fancy, short sleeved blouse with a ruffled collar. Mrs. Aono had seen her wearing that blouse before.
Stepping up to the fancy blouse, Kurumu loosened the black ribbon and unfastened the black buttons to free the garment from its hanger. Freeing the ribbon from the collar, she tossed it on her stack of school skirts. She slung the blouse around behind her, slipping her arms through the short, puffy sleeves which barely covered her shoulders. She started buttoning up the front.
Some of her school skirts betrayed the toil of a very hazardous school year. With how many blouses she had gone through, she had not tossed out a skirt since last July though she probably should have. Three were faded from washing out blood and gore while the lower hem of another was damaged from the time Ueshiba had tried to pull her underground. She almost never wore that one since she had six.
Finished with her task, she grabbed up the ribbon and slipped it around her neck. Only two of her school blouses were new. The other four had survived numerous scuffles with two of them having notches in the collar made by the vampire sisters. Thinking about that as she tied the ribbon beneath the ruffled collar, the last time Moka had taken her blood was when she had been kicked out of their suite.
Securing the knot, she glanced at her beige sweater vests. Three remained but she often only wore two because the school jackets had convenient pockets to put her lunch card in. She had a tendency of forgetting her lunch card in the classroom if she left it in her schoolbag.
Turning off the light, she wandered back into the main room. Tora was sitting on the bed, having tidied up the sheets. The wall near the foot of the bed had already been pulled open by Yukari's magic device. A small pile of soiled clothes was stacked on the mattress beside the sphinx.
"What happened to that black hamper you used to have?"
Kurumu chuckled, stalking over to her dresser. She tugged open the top drawer, rummaging about the contents for her fishnet stockings.
"I got rid of that before Yukari's birthday. Did you need socks?"
"I already borrowed a pair. Are you seriously not going to wear panties?"
Shutting the top drawer with the stockings in hand, Kurumu noted Tora wiggling her toes which were swathed in white fabric. As these stockings were more like leggings, Kurumu had to put them on first. Shaking them out, she carefully slipped her foot down one side.
"It will be fine. I should get dress socks. Or pantyhose. I keep borrowing stuff from Yukari."
"I'm surprised that you can wear anything of hers."
Kurumu snickered, easing her other foot into the fishnet garment.
"Well I don't borrow any leggings meant to go all the way up over my ass like these do."
Kurumu wiggled her hips as she stretched the stockings up to her waist. She patted the thick top hem, accentuating her point before letting her blouse fall over it. Tora rolled her eyes.
"I can still see your furry, girly parts."
Kurumu stuck her tongue out before turning aside. She tugged open the middle drawer, fetching her black and pink checkered shorts that went with this top. She also snatched up the white leather belt with the silver buckle in the shape of a heart. Closing the drawer, she dropped the belt on the floor before stepping into the shorts.
"I had a good dream last night."
"Since your sheets smell no worse than before, I trust that means it was rated for kids."
Kurumu snickered, wiggling the fabric up over her ass. She sucked in her breath to button up the shorts before bending over to retrieve the belt.
"We were at a hot springs with our husbands."
"Oh dear. Whom did you have me married off to this time?"
Kurumu giggled, fishing the belt through the loops of her shorts.
"Some guy you went to law school with. He was off with Nijiro somewhere. The two of us were drinking while soaking in the water and talking about our plans for the future."
Once Kurumu had finished with the belt, Tora hopped to her feet. The sphinx strolled about the bed, prompting Kurumu to follow.
"What sort of plans?"
Kurumu shivered when she passed through the arcane opening. Tora was already on the other side of the closet, pushing open the door into Yukari's suite.
"Plans for having kids."
Tora snorted, exiting the closet.
"I should have guessed that much. Good morning, Yukari."
Kurumu followed Tora into the room, pausing to shut the closet door. Yukari returned the greeting, standing on a stool in front of the stove. The young witch had on a short sleeved, white blouse with a denim skirt. The smell of cooked eggs and seasoned meat saturated the air.
"Where's Rubi?"
"She's taking her time in the bath. Have a seat."
Kurumu smiled sauntering over to join Tora at the table in the center of the room. Kneeling to the right of Tora, she glanced at the open bathroom door.
"Did you take a bath?"
"I did before waking Rubi up and starting breakfast."
Tora huffed, fussing with her raven locks which brushed her shoulders.
"I should have showered this morning, considering Kurumu violated me last night."
"I did not!"
"The two of you did take your time getting here. I'm almost done making breakfast."
"Kurumu was indecisive over what she should wear."
"Well I want to look good for Mrs. Aono's birthday."
Yukari snorted, moving the spatula about the skillet.
"It's not like she's your boyfriend's mother."
Kurumu sulked, thinking that jab had been unnecessary.
"So what if she's not? I bet that Rubi wants to look nice today."
"I should probably get out."
Tora chuckled at the reluctance in Rubi's response. A displacement of water sounded as the older witch got up. Feet slapped upon the tiled floor.
"If neither of you mind, I'll borrow your bath tonight. I don't want to go to Disney feeling defiled."
"It was one kiss!"
"You can sleep with me, Tora. We all know how clingy Kurumu can be."
Kurumu whimpered when Yukari turned off the burners. The witch hopped off her stool, scooting it over before getting up and reaching for the overhead cabinets.
"I didn't do anything wrong."
Rubi shuffled into the room, drying her hair with the rest of her body bared. Her supple breasts bounced as she moved over to the ivory dresser between the beds. Rubi paused her hair drying efforts to open the top drawer as the tub noisily drained in the bathroom.
"I know we are all girls here but you should cover up, Ms. Toujou."
Rubi turned about, displaying her unruly patch of dark curls gracing her navel.
"But I didn't bring clothes into the bathroom."
"She means you could have wrapped a towel around your body."
Rubi favored them an apologetic smile, setting the towel on top of the dresser. Turning her pale rump towards them, she rummaged through the drawer.
"Sorry. I'll put something on right away."
Rubi pulled out a black lace bra, setting it on the towel before retrieving her matching pair of black lace bikini cut panties. Bending over, she stepped into the provocative fabric.
"Rubi has a nice body too."
Tora and Yukari both snickered as Rubi blushed slightly. With her panties all the way up, Rubi glanced over her shoulder before fetching her bra.
"Thanks, Ms. Kurono."
"Don't think her for talking like a dirty old man."
Kurumu pouted at Tora as Rubi slung on her bra.
"I was stating an objective fact."
"Maybe Rubi should spend tonight with you."
Kurumu sighed, thinking she was not even allowed to compliment other girls. She watched Yukari scoop portions of omelet out onto the four plates on the counter.
"But I'm going to spend the night with Mrs. Aono since I'll be watching over her at the Sumeragi."
Yukari clucked her tongue, shaking her head.
"No way. You are coming back here after seeing Mrs. Aono home."
"But-"
"You are not carrying around dirty clothes with you all day tomorrow. Now get dressed."
Rubi grumbled, stalking across the room in her black lingerie. She tugged the closet door open, stepping out of view. Yukari sighed, pouring tea from a kettle into four tumblers.
"You should go with her, Kurumu."
"What? Why?"
"Because Tora is doing laundry tonight and I'm too young to be in a bar."
"I can go by myself!"
"I don't know if we can trust you to come back on your own."
"They are going to Disneyland with us so what does it matter if I come back?"
Kurumu smirked, thinking this was a strange dynamic between a girl having just turned twelve a month ago and a young woman about to be twenty one soon.
"I'll go with her."
Rubi whimpered from within the closet.
"But this is my last night. He'll be with Ms. Akashiya after tomorrow."
Yukari snorted, hefting up two plates and stepping off the stool. She strolled over to the table.
"Doubtful. My Moka won't be having Tsukune sleeping with her any time soon."
"Unlike some people and their boyfriends."
Kurumu stuck out her tongue at Tora as Yukari set the plates down before them. The witch turned about, heading back to the counter.
"To be honest, it had already crossed my mind that I should go to the bar tonight."
"Needing to drown your sorrows over your doomed relationship?"
Kurumu huffed at Yukari as the witch started back with two tumblers in hand.
"No. Today is Mr. Aono's birthday."
Tora frowned and so did Yukari as she placed the tumblers on the table.
"But his birthday is in June."
"Not Tsukune. His father."
Tora nodded thoughtfully as Yukari straightened up. The witch glanced aside, toying with her locks about her ear. Yukari faltered back a step.
"How long have you known that?"
Kurumu smiled softly at Yukari's query, glancing at Tora.
"A long time. It might be why Tsukune was concerned with this drinking party."
Yukari nodded, retreating to the counter. She moved the skillets into the sink.
"I see. Hopefully she doesn't get drunk."
"I'll be careful with my alcohol intake."
Kurumu laughed at Rubi's statement. The older witch strolled out of the closet, tucking the bottom of her long sleeved, pinstripe dress shirt into her textured gray slacks.
"Why are you wearing something like that?"
"What's wrong with this?"
Kurumu smirked as Yukari strolled back to the table with the other two plates.
"We're going on a picnic and you're dressed like you're going to work."
"But I want to look mature and responsible."
Rubi wandered over as Yukari set the plates on the table.
"You look fine, Ms. Toujou. If you've seen Kurumu's wardrobe, you'd know she has no place to talk."
"Most of my wardrobe was bought by a vampire treating me like an antique dress up doll. I'm lucky to have something relatively normal like this in my closet."
Yukari had already hopped up and headed back to the counter when Rubi knelt beside Tora.
"There is nothing wrong with conservative attire."
Kurumu sighed at Tora, gesturing at Rubi while Yukari opened a drawer to fetch chopsticks.
"She's only twenty and dressing like she's thirty."
"I'll be twenty one on the eighteenth."
Tora nodded thoughtfully as Yukari returned with two tumbler and four sets of chopsticks.
"Two weeks from today."
"And Mrs. Aono is turning forty."
Yukari declared that as she handed a tumbler to Rubi. After setting her own down, she separated the chopsticks and presented a set to Kurumu.
"It will be up to us to help her enjoy her first birthday without her husband."
Kurumu smiled taking the chopsticks. After Yukari had given a set to the other girls, they all thanked Yukari for the meal before taking their first bites. As expected, Yukari's cooking was exemplary.
As delicious as the meal was, Kurumu could not fully enjoy it. She felt like they were not doing nearly enough for Mrs. Aono. A picnic and some drinks afterwards. Hardly felt like a party but Tsukune had discouraged them from any activities that might tire his mother out before Disney. She still had no idea how he thought miniature golf and karaoke were exhausting endeavors.
"Doesn't this town have a spa?"
Yukari shrugged, polishing off the last of her omelet.
"Pampers boasted of being a five star massage and spa."
Tora chuckled, placing her chopsticks on top of her empty plate.
"I doubt there are people giving reviews of services provided in this town."
"I also doubt the claim but it is the only establishment in town that comes to mind."
Kurumu vaguely recalled this place. It was across the street from a huge beauty salon not far from the clinic where she had picked up a pregnancy test for Mizore.
"Maybe we could take Mrs. Aono there."
"Uh, she probably already went there this week."
Kurumu frowned at Rubi whom smiled apologetically.
"We were talking about relaxing things to do before you showed up on Sunday. Ms. Atsumoto suggested a trip to that spa but Mrs. Aono didn't want to leave Tsukune alone."
Kurumu smirked with a slight shake of her head. She set aside her chopsticks, picking up her tumbler. She quaffed down a mouthful of tea to wash down her breakfast.
"That explains why they weren't too upset with us running off with Tsukune."
Tora nodded, leaning back on her haunches.
"Should we start making stuff for the picnic?"
Yukari sighed, glancing over her shoulder at the kitchen counter.
"Probably. It is a long walk to your flying spot and it will take over an hour to make everything."
"Any objection to walking by the school? I want to ask if it's possible to get into my dorm tonight."
"You can ask but Grandfather will probably deny it. Don't forget that East dorm has different security measures than Baratoge or West dorm. He can't just open up your dorm without giving strangers access to the entire first floor. If Ms. Takahashi isn't there, you'll have to wait until Thursday morning."
Ms. Takahashi was the housemother of East dorm. From Kurumu's few encounters with the woman, she doubted they would get any preferential treatment.
"Doesn't Ms. Takahashi live there?"
Yukari shrugged nonchalantly.
"Most likely she does but the place wouldn't be locked down if she was there right now. I bet she is out on vacation with this being the only time the dorm is closed and not requiring her presence."
"I doubt that she is in the dorm every hour of the day during the school year."
"She might have someone to watch her desk when she is out but I don't recall Baratoge being like that. It seemed like Mrs. Sumitomo was always there."
Kurumu smirked, thinking that old lady was a special case.
"But the school most likely does have someone to watch the place while she is gone."
Yukari frowned at Tora.
"We're going to be gone the whole day tomorrow. We're leaving at eight and won't be back until after dinner. You want my grandfather to open that dorm and have someone there the whole day when you can just do a load of laundry tonight?"
Tora sighed, leaning back on her hands.
"I'm just mildly annoyed from the lack of underwear."
"You can sleep with me tonight and then you just have one more night to get through. I'm sure that you can run over to the dorm first thing Thursday morning to get inside your room."
Tora groaned, getting up on her feet.
"Fine. Who is doing dishes?"
"Kurumu should do it. She's part undine."
Kurumu pouted as Yukari started stacking the plates.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"I'd normally suggest Rubi but she has long sleeves. And I'm not going to ask Tora to do it."
Kurumu grimaced, watching the witch quickly finish the task.
"I guess that I should since you did make the meal."
"We should start with the cake. It doesn't need to be hot for the picnic."
Yukari stood up, walking off with Tora. Kurumu grabbed the four plates which had the four tumblers and four sets of chopsticks on top. Clutching them close to her torso, she lifted up on her feet.
"Do you think we still have a chance getting Rubi with that Lord Inazuma guy?"
"I don't even know that man."
Kurumu snickered, shuffling over to the sink as Yukari opened up the refrigerator to get ingredients.
"The whole point was for you to get to know the guy."
Kurumu stopped at the counter, setting the dishes in the sink next to the skillet and spatula.
"But now that he's busy in Uchimori, he might find a wife in the Gizatochi clan first."
Yukari set out a liter of milk and a carton of eggs before closing the refrigerator.
"Nothing wrong with a raiji marrying a raiji."
"Is this the guy that came to the school with Lord Kuyo?"
Kurumu nodded at Tora's query. She turned on the faucet, grabbing the sponge from the back of the sink. She started scrubbing flecks of omelet off the skillet.
"We heard from the man in charge of Agano that Lord Inazuma is planning to open a new Fairy Tale office in Uchimori."
Yukari retrieved a bottle of vegetable oil and a box of cake mix from the cabinet.
"Don't pay Kurumu any attention. She's just trying to force another relationship that shouldn't exist."
Finished with the skillet, Kurumu pouted. She tugged the latch that dropped the dishwasher door down, pulling out the bottom rack. She placed the skillet in the slots as Yukari walked around behind her.
"We all know that Tsukune only wants Moka."
"Leave it to Kurumu to think a new relationship will solve the problem."
Kurumu huffed at Tora, shifting back to the sink to tackle the other skillet.
"Both Rubi and Hinoko would be happier if they had someone more important in their lives."
"I don't need someone else."
"Yes, you do. You can't just waste your life hoping that Tsukune will change his mind."
"Is that why you started dating that other guy?"
Kurumu sighed at Rubi's genuine question.
"Fine. I'll admit that I do still love Tsukune but that never meant I was unable to love anyone else. I want him to be happy and he wants to be with Moka. Now that they are together, the only thing left for me to do is help them stay that way."
"I do hope that you're not trying to break those two up, Ms. Toujou."
Rubi laughed nervously.
"Of course not! I don't want them to break up."
"She's probably hoping that she ends up his mistress. Bring those ingredients over here, Tora."
Yukari beckoned while standing on the stool. The witch had set out a whisk, measures and a mixing bowl. Having finished the other skillet, Kurumu added it to the dishwasher rack.
"I'm not saying that Rubi can't love Tsukune but she needs someone else. Nobody is ever truly happy loving someone whom doesn't love them back."
Tora set the ingredients on the counter beside the mixing bowl as Kurumu started on the plates.
"I won't disagree with that."
Yukari picked up the box of cake mix, tearing off the top flap. She pulled out a clear bag filled with a mix of sugar, flour and baking powder. She tore open the bag, dumping the contents into the mixing bowl.
"Don't know why she fusses so much over this. Before I'm twenty, most of you will be married."
Tora chuckled as Yukari measured out the proper amount of milk. Since the plates were mostly clean, Kurumu had already finished all four of them and placed them in the rack.
"That is eight years from now. You might be right."
Kurumu huffed, rinsing out the tumblers.
"Of course she is. Everybody wants a family with kids."
Yukari snorted, having added the milk to the bowl. She twisted the cap off the vegetable oil bottle.
"I have no desire to be a mother."
"Likewise. I always find it unsettling when other girls talk about having babies at such a young age."
Kurumu frowned, pulling out the top dish rack to stow away the tumblers. Tora often did comment on how young they were for such matters.
"You know that we practically are adults, right? It's not strange for girls our age to have a baby."
"Times are different, Kurumu. Girls aren't married off the moment they hit puberty."
Kurumu laughed, placing the last tumbler. She pushed the rack in, turning back to the sink to clean off the chopsticks and spatulas.
"I know that but Rubi is older than many mothers. You can't convince me that getting married after high school is something taboo."
"Not everyone wants to start popping out babies, Kurumu. I can't imagine myself as a mother."
Kurumu frowned at Yukari whom was whisking the contents of the bowl.
"But being a mother is so important. Just look at how much our mothers love us. Mrs. Shuzen even gave her life for her daughters."
Tora sighed, glancing about.
"My mother is more invested in her work."
"And my mother doesn't know the first thing about caring for another person. Dad will go back to being a single parent once my little brother can somewhat fend for himself."
Kurumu clucked her tongue, turning off the faucet. She leaned over to put the chopsticks and spatulas into the utensil bin.
"Don't even try to claim that your mother doesn't love you."
"I'm saying she isn't very good at it."
Kurumu rolled the dishwasher rack in, tugging open the cabinet beneath the sink. She pulled out the bottle of dishwasher soap which was next to Yukari's small trash can.
"Wait, Kurumu. We might want to add this stuff to the dishwasher before you start it up."
"Correct, Tora. Could you hold this? I need to add the eggs."
Kurumu lifted up the dishwasher door which allowed Tora to step closer to the witch. Yukari handed off the mixing bowl to Tora, opening up the carton which was only half full.
"I don't think your mother is a bad mother."
Yukari huffed, expertly splitting an egg over the bowl Tora held.
"She never makes me feel needed. She's as useless as Mrs. Sakamori. They think spoiling us every now and then somehow makes them immune to criticism. Look at me. I'm so good. I gave you this."
Yukari broke the shell of another egg without causing any flecks of white to fall into the bowl.
"It's just a bribe so they can go back to ignoring you. They never want to talk about serious matters."
Kurumu flinched, thinking that sounded like her own mother. But she quickly squashed that notion.
"Mom was just trying to protect my image of her."
"Lot of good that did. You admit that you hated her during junior high."
Kurumu sighed, knowing that rift between her and her mother was mostly her own fault.
"My mother loved me. I was just mad because I felt like I deserved more."
"Do you mind if I finish whisking this?"
Yukari shrugged at Tora, putting another empty egg shell in the carton.
"Go ahead. Could you put the shells down the sink and the carton in the trash?"
Kurumu took the carton from Yukari, flipping the faucet back on. She tossed the egg shells into the sink, crushing them through the grating protecting the pipe.
"I won't be any good at it."
Kurumu frowned at Yukari's sudden declaration.
"I'm not even that good of a friend so being a mother is impossible. I could probably do something like what Mrs. Shuzen did, but my Moka was convinced for so long that Mrs. Shuzen hated her."
Tora chuckled softly, whisking the cake mix.
"I sometimes feel like my mother hates me. That I need to be perfect at something for her to be happy with me. That's why I've never seriously thought about being a mother. I have to go through college and have a successful career first."
Finishing up with her egg shell disposal, Kurumu sighed at the sullen tone of Tora's words. She turned off the faucet, opening the cabinet beneath the sink. She tossed the carton into the small trash can.
"No mother is perfect. I'm not perfect but I'm practically going to be a mother if I'm not already. Mizore better not have had her baby without me."
Tora laughed softly as Yukari set the oven temperature.
"I can't imagine that girl looking any more pregnant."
"She better not go into labor while we are at Disney. That would ruin our trip."
Kurumu pouted, leaning against the counter.
"That can't be helped if it happens."
"That girl would feel needed if she had a baby."
Kurumu perked up at Rubi's sudden addition. The witch was sitting on her bed, having put away the table beneath her bed.
"I was thinking that too. Being a mother does give your life more meaning."
"Thank goodness you didn't suggest that to that sham of a doctor watching over her."
Kurumu snickered at Yukari, having a thought.
"Well he did claim to be a shojo. Take two squirts of this in your pussy and call me in the morning."
Tora clucked her tongue, shaking her head.
"Shouldn't even joke about things like that. The poor girl was raped."
"I know that. But if Hinoko goes back to being how she was, she'd be a very doting mother."
Yukari huffed, standing by the oven as Tora continued whisking the cake mix.
"Assuming she isn't wasted all of the time. That doctor was at least right about her needing to break that habit. She would be an even more useless mother than mine."
Kurumu sighed, thinking about her own mother. Only ashes in an urn and memories now.
"We will all be good mothers someday."
Kurumu let out a long exhale, gazing up at the blue sky overhead. She was lying on the black blanket they had spread out in a field filled with red and yellow tulips. Her hands were folded on her belly as a warm, gentle breeze brushed across her. It was like a dream.
"It was noon, right?"
Kurumu glanced at Rubi whom was sitting by the brown wicker basket she had bought for this occasion. It was large enough to store most of the food they had prepared. They had placed the chocolate frosted cake inside a clear plastic container resting between Tora and Yukari.
"That's what we agreed on."
Tora checked her phone and nodded.
"Should be any minute now."
Despite making several dishes, they had left Yukari's suite a little before ten. Having time to spare, they had stopped by the school so that Tora could chat with Yukari's grandfather. After a brief wait, Tora had returned with unsurprising news. The housemother was out of town but would return tomorrow night. There was a chance that Ms. Takahashi would open the dorm early, sparing Tora the trouble of sleeping over the night after their Disney trip.
"I hope she likes it."
Yukari snorted at Rubi's remark.
"I'm sure there will be something she likes."
That was true. They had made so many dishes. Kurumu had probably washed most of the pots and pans Yukari owned, even giving back a skillet so the witch could make the pork gyoza. There was miso soup in one of the thermos bottles. In their efforts to fill that basket, they had almost forgotten to leave room for plates and cups.
One thing that Yukari had mentioned was her lack of a deep fat fryer. She had to buy frozen karaage, tonkatsu and tempura which was already cooked. She declared that this was inferior to making those dishes from raw materials, stating she could make better breading. The only thing she could do with the Shirakiku goods that the local grocery store carried was baste them with spices before baking them.
That basket had gyoza, onigiri, karaage, strawberries, yakisoba sandwiches and sliced carrots. While one thermos had the soup, the other two had tea. It should be more than enough for six people.
Kurumu breathed in deep, glancing off to her left. A lone tree stood at the edge of the cliff with the view of the ocean beyond. That tree was blooming with pink flowers.
"Tora. Do you want to fly on Sunday?"
"I guess we could do that."
Kurumu sighed, thinking about the tengu girls whom had decided to help Tora learn how to fly. Many of her Sundays last year had been spent in this field.
"You could even wear those shorts your mother bought you for the Disney trip."
"That's true. I should get rid of those capris I tore up last year."
Unlike most girls, Tora had to get a running start much like a plane taking off. That meant taking off her shoes and socks so her lower legs could shift into her lioness limbs. The sphinx had accidentally ruined a pair of capris khakis last June discovering this fact.
"You should get more shorts."
"I have enough casual shorts. I'm just reluctant to throw clothes away."
"I wouldn't mind getting rid of some of my childish clothes. I'm just waiting for this stubborn body of mine to finally have that growth spurt girls are supposed to get around my age."
"You should get that before your fifteen."
"I'll graduate weeks after turning fourteen. I better not still be this little."
Yukari often complained about her height, stating she was short even for a girl her age.
"How tall are you now, Yukari?"
"One hundred forty point five centimeters. I'll at least be up to one forty two by summer break."
Kurumu smirked. Yukari had told her about gaining only four centimeters a year since turning eight.
"I'm guessing you know the average height of a twelve year old girl."
"One fifty."
Kurumu frowned at that number.
"Really? My last physical had me only at one fifty four."
"We are short, Kurumu. I'm only two centimeters taller than you."
"The last school physical was in October. You both must be taller by now."
Kurumu shrugged, knowing they would be measured again in gym class at the start of the year.
"Maybe. What's the average height of a thirteen year old?"
"One fifty four and it only goes up two centimeters for fourteen year olds. It levels off after that with most girls graduating high school at one fifty eight."
Tora chuckled, leaning back on her palms.
"I feel like most of the girls in our school are taller than that."
"Our peers are monsters. It's not surprising that they are taller than human girls."
Kurumu mulled over the information.
"If human girls are only gaining about two centimeters in high school, I probably won't get much taller. I've already gone up one centimeter."
"That means I should be as tall as I'll get."
Kurumu giggled at Rubi. The older witch was almost as tall as Moka.
"Yes, Rubi. You're done growing."
"She knows that. I tested my growth candies on her."
Rubi pouted at Yukari.
"Those predictions were wrong. Ms. Kokoa looks nothing like what your potion made her out to be."
"That was a fluke caused by Kokoa taking her mother's last drop. If she had grown up naturally, her body would have turned out the way the candies predicted."
"Looks like our guests have arrived."
Kurumu sat up, glancing in the direction Tora pointed. Emerging from the trail through the woods was Tsukune and his mother. He was dressed in the sky blue polo and black jeans his mother had given him for Christmas. His mother had on a short sleeved, sky blue shirt dress which ended halfway down her calves. White lace was stitched into the hem of her sleeves and the end of the ruffled skirt.
"Tsukune! Mrs. Aono! Over here!"
Yukari snorted when Rubi hopped up, waving.
"They can see us, Rubi."
Tsukune was carrying a package while his mother had her purse. Mother and son were grinning as they crossed through the field of flowers.
"Sorry we are running a little late. Things took longer at the hair salon than we expected."
Kurumu brightened up at Tsukune's admission as the pair knelt down at the edge of the blanket where they had left their shoes. She noticed that Mrs. Aono's dark hair was bouncier than normal.
"That looks nice, Mrs. Aono."
"Thank you, Ms. Kurono."
"What is that?"
Tsukune chuckled from Tora's gesture at the package. He handed it to Yukari before removing his loafers.
"This is something that Rubi bought for my mother."
"But you helped pick it out."
Tsukune smiled at Rubi's pout.
"We didn't feel right about opening it without you present."
Mrs. Aono laughed softly, scooting closer to Rubi.
"More like he admitted you bought it and couldn't decide if it was okay to give it to me yet. I agreed that we should wait for the picnic."
"You could have told her it was from you."
"Rubi. Mom knows I'm broke."
Yukari leaned over, presenting the package to Mrs. Aono.
"Then you should have no issue opening it now."
The mother laughed, accepting the gift. She nodded, bringing the rectangle into her lap. She tore off the simple black paper, revealing a black box. Mrs. Aono glanced at her son before lifting the lid off the box. She pulled out smooth black fabric which was patterned with orchid petals. The satin sash was the same purple color as the flowers.
"This must have been expensive, Ms. Toujou."
"I don't mind. When I gave one to Tsukune, he immediately wanted to get one for you."
Tsukune nodded with a wide smile.
"I know how much you like orchids so we had it specially made."
"When did you do this?"
Tsukune laughed at Kurumu's query.
"Almost immediately after I got back. Before Tora's birthday."
"The kimono has been ready but Tsukune and I only picked it up last Friday."
"It's lovely, Ms. Toujou. I've been needing a new kimono for years."
"Dad was going to get you a new one."
Mrs. Aono huffed, making a dismissive gesture before stuffing the garment back in its box.
"You know how Kouji was. He always made big promises and would forget the next second."
Kurumu shared a glance with Tora and Yukari. Yukari nodded, gesturing at the basket beside Rubi.
"We made a lot of food and have a whole cake for you."
"Yes, Mrs. Aono. Congratulations on your fortieth birthday."
The mother smiled at Tora.
"Thank you, Ms. Nazohashi. Is forty old for monsters?"
Kurumu and Tora shared a laugh.
"I can't speak for every race, but my mother and aunts are much older than you."
"Yea. I've met several succubi older than that. If I remember correctly, Ms. Kiyoshi is almost fifty."
"But you've only been in contact with influential succubi. It makes sense for those ones to be older."
Kurumu shrugged at Yukari's remark.
"I guess. It's not like I know that many of my kind."
"True. Outside of family, I don't know any other sphinxes."
"Well if you are asking about witches, we normally don't live longer than humans. Lady Chuujitsu and Lady Oyakata were dabbling in magic to extend their life spans."
Mrs. Aono pouted at Yukari.
"I was trying to not feel old, little one."
Yukari paused with a look of uncertainty.
"Oh. Well you're only twice Rubi's age."
Tsukune laughed, gesturing at the basket.
"Perhaps we should start the picnic."
Kurumu wholeheartedly agreed.
"I'm pretty enough to be a bride, right?"
Rubi grabbed hold of Ms. Atsumoto, nearly causing the salamander to spill her drink. The math teacher had her rust colored tresses pulled back in twin tails which she had not bothered to braid. Rubi's antics tested the limits of the collar of Ms. Atsumoto's turquoise blouse, baring pale flesh and a hint of a black lace bra. The salamander had squeezed into a pair of skinny black jeans for the occasion.
"Yes, Ms. Toujou. Don't tug so much on my shirt."
"I never thought she'd be such a lightweight."
Iwasaki Saichiri giggled at her own remark, sitting beside her colleague. The third year math teacher had obsidian locks styled in a bob favoring her right side. Her bright peridot eyes were not presently behind her pair of glasses which most gnomes had to wear. Instead they rested on the mahogany table placed in the center of this private room inside the Sumeragi bar.
As a gnome in her thirties, Ms. Iwasaki was buxom and short. That sleeveless pine green top may as well have been painted over her breasts, betraying the lines of her bra. The gnome had arrived wearing a pair of plum colored bellbottom jeans, displaying her womanly curves below the waist.
"She's just a witch. She probably has a lower alcohol tolerance than most of us."
That comment had come from Unsei Sachiko, sitting across from Kurumu. The tanuki had glossy black hair arranged in a chin length bob cut. Her amethyst eyes met Kurumu's before the woman drained her sixth shot glass. She had shown up wearing a lush green, crimped blouse with puffy short sleeves and a healthy view of her cleavage. Her matching green micro skirt had bared so much of her thighs that her panties were probably showing beneath the table if her knees were slightly apart.
Mrs. Unsei would be Kurumu's English teacher this year. She was a mother of three with her oldest being in Kurumu's grade. Like the rest of the teachers attending this get together, Mrs. Unsei was a graduate of Yokai Academy but she had not been mommy's classmate.
"You would think she would be able to handle as much as me."
Mrs. Aono grinned, holding her own glass against her bosom. She was beside Mrs. Unsei at the end of the table with her back to the exterior wall. Black paneling reached up from the floor to meet the white drapes hiding the windows. Cherry wood lanterns hung from the ceiling, providing a rosy glow.
"Guess any more drinks for Ms. Toujou will have to go to young Kurono."
Tomarigi Kyouko patted Kurumu's shoulder. The choir teacher sat to the left of Kurumu. Mrs. Tomarigi had on that short sleeved, chocolate dress that she had worn at the recent graduation. It was a long garment which easily reached her ankles. The collar strained under the harpy's bountiful assets.
Mrs. Tomarigi was older than the others, having married Miwa Unjou, a tengu gym teacher whom had graduated with Mrs. Unsei. He was the kendo instructor and had two daughters with the choir teacher.
"I can't be doing that. I'm already worried about how I'll get Rubi home in her condition."
Rubi put a heavy hand on Kurumu's shoulder.
"I'm fine. I just wish I could make babies with Tsukune like you did."
Kurumu blushed as the teachers laughed.
"I know how much you admire my son, but his heart can only go to one woman."
Rubi pouted with a slight wobble as she regarded Mrs. Aono. She cupped her tit through her shirt.
"My heart is his to play with."
"Your son has always been popular."
Yaisoku Michi gestured at Kurumu with an empty shot glass. The jorougumo was next to Mrs. Unsei and was garbed in a loose, black sweatshirt and matching sweatpants. Her abdomen was swollen from a pregnancy that had started last summer break. Her auburn tresses were pulled back in a simple ponytail.
"I think Ms. Kurono was clinging to him as early as the first week of school."
The last teacher present for Mrs. Aono's birthday party was Yumeito Megumi. Like Coach Yaisoku, Ms. Yumeito had graduated the same year as Kurumu's mother. The silver haired science teacher was one of the few faculty members shorter than Kurumu. Her shoulder length tresses hid one of her lilac eyes.
Ms. Yumeito oozed with sexual appeal. She had somehow squeezed her massive tits and shapely hips inside a sleeveless, deep purple, sequin dress which bared her knees swathed in black hose. Her skin was so pale that she could pass for a store mannequin. If Kurumu had not known about Ms. Yumeito being an oomukade, she would have believed that the science teacher was a succubus.
"I'm well aware of that. This young lady showed up on my doorstep last summer break along with Ms. Shirayuki. She even had sex with my son in my house."
"I don't know if things went that far. Kurono admitted she was charming everyone into thinking she had a relationship with your son."
"Oh I'm aware of her being a succubus. She charmed everyone into thinking the relationship was fake."
The assembled teachers shared a look before they all started laughing.
"I've had so many colleagues correct me when I tell them about Kurono's gym announcement that I don't care what the truth is any more."
"It makes sense though when you think about it. They broke up and Ms. Kurono did something silly."
Kurumu frowned at Mrs. Unsei's remark.
"You knew that I charmed a bunch of students?"
Mrs. Unsei shrugged, setting her empty shot glass on the table.
"Shizuka gave her opinion of the situation and we all agreed."
Ms. Atsumoto snickered, gesturing at Coach Yaisoku.
"Everyone but her. That stubborn charm you put on Michi still persists to this day."
"It just makes more sense to me. I can't explain it."
Kurumu smiled softly, knowing she could. She had made something a fact so any evidence against that fact would either be rejected or twisted to support the established narrative.
The door slid open behind her, catching her attention. She glanced over her shoulder as a waiter came into the room with a tray of shot glasses. The waiter knelt at the end of the table. He started placing the glasses on the table for them to grab up as they saw fit.
"I'd rather have a third shot than think more about this."
"Are you okay to be drinking with that baby?"
Coach Yaisoku smirked at Kurumu, caressing her engorged torso.
"She'll be fine."
Rubi snatched up one of the shot glasses, quaffing it down in an instant.
"Rubi!"
Rubi huffed at Kurumu, firmly setting the glass down on the table with a thud.
"What? I'm a full grown woman."
"Scoot two of those down here for me and Megumi."
"I got you."
Mrs. Unsei dragged a pair of glasses over to the tennis coach. The jorougumo picked one up, handing the other to her friend. As the waiter started gathering up the empty glasses, Coach Yaisoku raised her glass.
"To my healthy baby."
Kurumu smiled as the jorougumo downed her drink.
"Have you seen a doctor about your pregnancy?"
Coach Yaisoku sighed, holding her glass against her bosom after the waiter stood up with a tray full of empty glasses. The man quietly retreated from the room.
"I probably should."
"You haven't yet?"
The jorougumo chuckled at Mrs. Aono's response.
"Not much reason to. Doctors can't do much if something is wrong in the first half of the pregnancy. I guess they can help you abort but no mother wants that."
"I think they can do more than that."
Coach Yaisoku shrugged at Mrs. Aono.
"Maybe they can with humans but I'm not. I should go see a doctor to confirm how developed my baby is. I'm over seven months and these girls sometimes want out at eight."
Rubi sighed, leaning against Kurumu.
"I want a baby."
Kurumu giggled, draping her arm around the tipsy witch.
"You'll have to find a different father if you want that soon."
"Mrs. Aono likes me."
"As a friend, Ms. Toujou. My son feels the same way."
Ms. Iwasaki let out a huge sigh.
"The big forty. I'm almost there."
Ms. Atsumoto snorted.
"You're not even thirty five yet."
"I will be this year."
Mrs. Aono chuckled with a nod.
"I'm a little surprised that I'm the oldest one here."
"You're not that much older than me. I'll be forty next year."
Kurumu smiled at her choir teacher.
"When is your birthday?"
"July thirtieth."
Kurumu laughed at a sudden thought.
"So that is why the choir has a big birthday party at the end of first term."
"Partly true. I did have three new choir girls with late July birthdays last year."
"I'm going to end up the oldest bachelorette in five years."
Coach Yaisoku huffed, setting down her empty glass.
"Hotori is older than you."
"So are you for that matter."
"I'm having my baby."
"That doesn't mean you're not single."
The tennis coach shrugged at Ms. Atsumoto.
"It's better this way."
"Things didn't work out with the father?"
The jorougumo smirked at Mrs. Aono's innocent question.
"You could say that."
Kurumu smiled, hoping nobody would bring up the fact that Coach Yaisoku had ate the father as part of her mating ritual. She and Ms. Yumeito had both gotten drunk to demonstrate the process to a group of jorougumo and oomukade high school girls.
"Has anyone got any news about Mrs. Takizawa?"
"What about her?"
Kurumu smiled at Mrs. Unsei.
"Curious if she got pregnant yet."
"It's only been two weeks since she left campus, Kurono. We haven't heard anything."
Mrs. Unsei nodded at Coach Yaisoku's remark.
"Shiki might have news for us when she returns."
Senda Shiki was another regular of this drinking group. The third year science teacher was the advisor for the broadcasting club and had been the club president when Kurumu's mother had been in that club.
The last missing member of this drinking group was Sunao Nezumi, Kurumu's former homeroom teacher. She was the same age as Ms. Iwasaki but had married one of her first students. Once her young husband finished law school and found a job, the diminutive teacher would retire.
"Is Tsukune your only child?"
Mrs. Aono smiled and nodded at the choir teacher.
"What do you plan to do after he graduates?"
The mother's smile faltered. Her eyes went distant.
"I'm not entirely sure. I think he plans to get married right after graduation. Then I guess I'm just waiting on him having kids."
"The grandchildren era. My girls are much too young for me to worry about that."
Mrs. Unsei snorted, making a shooing gesture.
"Your girls aren't even old enough for primary school. I'm the only one here with an inkling of what it is like to be in Mrs. Aono's shoes."
"All three of your kids will be in high school with me."
Mrs. Unsei sighed at Kurumu's remark, eyeing the empty shot glasses.
"I know. Keiji will graduate with you and then Etsuji and Akane will graduate the following two years. Not sure what Kai and I will do after that. Maybe I'll retire and we can live closer to his or my parents."
"Aren't both of you from Aserutani?"
"No. His family still resides in Aranoiji. Unless things change with how accessible Mononoke is, it would be better to move to a location where the kids can visit us with ease."
"And grandkids."
Mrs. Unsei's eyes widened at Mrs. Tomarigi's playful quip.
"I can't even imagine dealing with that."
"But you've looked after my girls before."
"Those are your brats. The thought of my kids having their own makes me feel …."
The tanuki trailed off with indecision in her eyes.
"Old."
Mrs. Unsei laughed at Mrs. Aono's answer.
"Maybe. I think lost is the better word for it."
"What do you mean by lost?"
Mrs. Unsei smiled at Kurumu.
"My life has been fairly straightforward ever since I fell in love with Kai. We got married and Kai helped with the kids and bills while I was in college. When I got hired here, our lives certainly got easier but it was still the same goal. Get the kids through high school and help them gain independence. Now with that goal only a few years away, I'm unsure what we do next."
"I've been feeling quite lost myself ever since my husband died."
Mrs. Unsei nodded at Tsukune's mother whom had picked up a full shot glass.
"Do you have family to go back to once he graduates?"
"Not on my side."
"Mrs. Aono is officially dead. Only the family of her husband's brother knows she is alive."
Mrs. Aono laughed at Kurumu's explanation.
"Yes. And I'm not about to impose on them."
"Well I don't want to scare you but Mononoke isn't exactly a friendly place."
Ms. Atsumoto paused, gesturing at Tsukune's mother with a shot glass.
"Once your son graduates, you might want to move to a more peaceful community like Aserutani."
Coach Yaisoku snorted.
"Or just live with humans."
"That too but she might have trouble working with humans under her new alias."
"They have new names?"
Ms. Atsumoto nodded at Mrs. Unsei's surprise.
"She's now Sato Kairi and her son is Hiroshi."
"I'm still not used to that."
"No worries. Name correct in school."
When Rubi tried to grab another drink, the salamander snatched the witch by the wrist.
"You're done, little lady. You can't even make a complete sentence."
"I'm fine!"
"No you're not."
"I think you should stop, Ms. Toujou. We have a big day tomorrow and you have a long walk home."
Rubi sulked at Mrs. Aono's reminder.
"Can stay with you."
"I worry that you might crawl into my son's room again."
"Want to be a mother."
Ms. Atsumoto snickered, holding the witch firmly by the wrist.
"You are not making your case any better."
Kurumu smiled, noting that Ms. Yumeito and Ms. Iwasaki had acquired new drinks from the dozen the waiter had left out. Only a few remained untouched on the table.
"Maybe you could keep working as a teacher here."
Mrs. Unsei snorted, claiming one of those drinks.
"I'm not like Shiki, Ms. Kurono. Nothing would please me more than to retire and force Kai to handle things. He may have worked hard while I was in college, but he's been nothing but a big kid ever since."
Mrs. Aono laughed, holding her drink to her bosom.
"Kouji was the same way. Some days it felt like I had two sons."
"Men are just like that. I doubt that my sons will change in the slightest when they have kids. It may as well be adoption to them."
"Adoption?"
Mrs. Unsei shrugged at Kurumu.
"It's different for us. Look at Michi. She's her little girl's home right now. We are everything to our kids."
The tanuki paused with a melancholy look.
"And then there will come a day when we won't be anything to them."
That statement made Kurumu think of her mother.
"I still think about my mother often."
Ms. Atsumoto chuckled.
"Yea. Now I feel bad that I haven't talked to mine in over three years."
"That's horrible of you."
"Whenever we talk, she only makes me feel bad about being single. I'm sure that Saichiri gets the same lecture whenever she visits her parents in Touboe."
"Don't even start. Mom keeps offering to arrange marriage meetings for me."
"Yet you're always complaining about being single."
The gnome huffed at Mrs. Unsei.
"I don't want my husband picked out for me. This is a man whom I will make babies with. Not some nice clothes or jewelry to make me look good. He's supposed to be my partner for life."
It made Kurumu happy to hear one of her teachers prioritize love over functionality. Taking in a deep breath, she seized one of the shot glasses.
"To our mothers. May we always make them feel loved."
The women were quick to join in on her toast.
