The ending here is completely different from what I had
originally planned, so please tell me if it works or not
before I start the next chapter. :)
I'd like to thank Orlean, Thomas Hackwood, Juliet Ormonde,
Kichigai, and Chester for commenting on the pervious chapter.
***
Kumiko the Demon-girl
(A Lime-flavored Original Fic)
By Ammadeau
Roy.Fokker@UNSpacy.org
http://www.thekeep.org/~amm/
Chapter 7: Operation Anti-Succubus Phase I
****
For once in his life, Eichi didn't regret allowing his
roommates to bully him into the bed by the east window. For as
the feeble light of dawn poured under the broken shade and roused
him from his fitful slumber, he knew that today was the great day
that he had long waited for.
Quickly getting dressed, and ignoring the grumbled
complaints of his roommates, Eichi's mind remained focused on
the momentous things that awaited him, so near that he could
almost touch them. While he considered freeing Ken from the
clutches of the evil succubus to be a noble deed, it really was but a
means to an end. The important thing was that he would finally
witness an act of the supernatural with his own two eyes.
His older sister probably had something to do with his
obsession in the paranormal, with the tapes of a certain TV show
only being the spark that ignited an already well-stocked furnace.
At a young age, Seiko Kitanuma had decided to become a scientist,
and furthermore her little brother would become her own personal
lab rat, conducting everything from reflex tests to observing the
behavior of bees when exposed to him.
If that wasn't enough, she had stripped away every mystery
and fantasy of childhood just as he grasped them; disproving fairies
and moon bunnies with her irritatingly calm and detached voice.
Before, he just wanted to get away from her so he could lead a nice
and normal life, but now he planned to shove proof of the
supernatural down her throat with the aloof tone he'd been
practicing in the mirror recently.
Eichi unlocked the door to the Paranormal Club room,
surveying their earlier preparations with a smile. All was in
readiness. He took a seat on the floor and waited for the others to
arrive so 'Operation Anti-Succubus' could begin.
Nobu hadn't slept. Instead, he had been editing and
reediting the footage he had taken ever since the blue-haired vision
of female perfection had bounced her way into his life. At first he
told himself that he was doing it out of dedication to the club, in
order to find out the dread succubi's weak spots. After a few hours
however, that excuse had worn a little thin and he simply accepted
the fact that he liked watching her.
The energetic mystery woman was like no one he had ever
seen before. With every movement, every gesture, every
expression to cross her delicate features, he was completely
enthralled, viewing them again and again until the images had
burned into his mind. Nobu knew that most people wouldn't
understand his small obsession. He had no desire to speak with
this girl, no desire to touch her alabaster skin... she was simply too
perfect for that. She was meant to be admired from a distance.
Which left Nobu with a quandary. While he wanted to
believe she was a mortal woman, he had to admit that out of all the
girls he had seen, and recorded, none had possessed that
undeniable yet undefinable thing which he had long searched for,
and which this pale beauty radiated like a star in the night sky. She
might be more than human, but more likely a goddess than a devil.
Which made him feel even more strongly that she should not be
tarnished by human hands. This started a coal of hatred towards
Ken to slowly burn.
If the club's great plan succeeded today, it would drive them
apart forever. If she really was a goddess and Ken was the only
thing holding her to the mortal realm though, that would mean
Nobu would never be able to see her again. He would be left with
a few hours of footage and an ache in his heart for having once
glimpsed perfection, yet knowing he would never witness it again.
He could not let that happened.
Nobu arrived at the club early, planning to search through
their written plans and find some way of sabotaging them, only to
be surprised to find Eichi already there, going over those plans
carefully. The president looked up only once and nodded before
returning to his work.
Nobu understood. They required all members in attendance
before the great plan could be set into motion. He popped the tape
he had spent the night making into the VCR and settled down to
watch as he waited. He would simply have to watch as their plan
unfolded and take whatever action he could to keep the goddess in
sight.
Satoru was having a pleasant dream. He was the slave a
lady vampire in some dark, musty dungeon filled with rusty torture
equipment. It was just the two of them. There was only the
flickering of torches to illuminate her chalk-white skin snugly
encased in a spiked dominatrix outfit.
"You're such a bad slave, Satoru," she purred as she
approached him, her stiletto heels clicking loudly against the stone
floor. She stopped to snap her whip only a few centimeters from
his face. "I believe I shall have to punish you again. Try not to
enjoy it so much this time."
"Yes, mistress!" Satoru replied obediently, waiting for the
next round to begin.
Then suddenly the vampire began to change. The hard
lines of her face softened as her stern look became a smile. Even
her dark red hair faded to blue as her clothes shifted into a much
more frightening wardrobe... a bunny outfit.
Satoru screamed, but it was to no avail as the succubus
drew ever closer, pursing her lips for a kiss... Then he frowned as
her lips met his, feeling much too real to be just a dream. He
blinked and stared into a very familiar face, whose lips were just
now drawing away from his. "Good morning, big brother!"
"Nami!" Satoru shouted in red-faced rage at his very
strange, not to mention perverted, fourteen year old sister. "I told
you never do to that ever again!"
"I know, but you looked so cute lying there that I couldn't
help myself," Nami told him with a grin as she rocked back and
forth on her heels. She was dressed in a stylized sailor fuku that
looked like a school uniform redesigned for combat. "Is it my fault
that my own dear brother is the most handsome man in the world?
You are just too irresistible."
"What are you doing in my apartment so early in the
morning anyway?" Satoru asked as his anger level dropped down
to irritation, though he still felt mildly ill. Even though she had
been chasing after him since hitting puberty, he still didn't like his
own sister staring at him with lust in her eyes.
He also didn't bother to ask how she had gotten into the
apartment building, or passed the locked door of his apartment.
This wasn't the first time she had dropped in for a surprise visit,
though he hoped that she hadn't kicked in the door like last time.
"Early shoot for my TV show today," Nami explained as
she began doing cartwheels around his room, "and a full schedule
after school too. This was the only time I'd be able to see you
today, so I thought I'd better not miss this opportunity."
Nami ended her monologue with a roll onto his bed so that
she was sitting her in her brother's lap, her short dark hair thrown
back as she stuck her chest forward. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Ecstatic," Satoru said flatly as he slipped out of bed and
began to gather his things for the day. As he glanced at his alarm
clock, her realized that he'd be the first in the club room for once.
He better try and find his key then. "I don't understand why you
agreed to so much work, or how you can stand it."
Overwork had been the thing that drove Satoru to abandon
his career as a child idol, and to be firmly against his younger sister
pursuing the same profession. Nami seemed to love it, however,
taking in as much work as she possibly could. As a result, she was
currently one of the more popular idols, having her own TV show
and recording contract, not to mention a slew of endorsements and
other commitments. She was even being scouted for the Olympics
gymnastic team.
"Well, a lot of it is real fun, especially the adoration of my
many fans, who I tragically can not return their love, but when
things get tough, I just think how all of this hard work and
suffering will provide for our future!" Nami exclaimed all in one
breath as she hugged her brother from behind, making sure to press
her 'still developing but already quite significant' breasts into his
back.
"Our future?" Satoru repeated as he gently but firmly
detached his little sister from himself. She had been latching onto
him since she was a baby, so much so that he had once nicknamed
her leech-girl, but only recently had she tried forcing her budding
sex appeal down his throat. Even if she hadn't been his sister,
Satoru was only interested in older women.
"Yes! In only two years, I'll be old enough so we can
finally get married. Then I'll retire and buy us a big house where
we can spend every moment alone in each other's company," Nami
explained; blush freckling her cheeks, stars filling her eyes, and
drool dripping down her chin.
"It's illegal in Japan, and the rest of the world as far as I
know, for siblings to get married," Satoru pointed out, not
bothering to mention how he felt about marrying his own sister.
She was firmly of the opinion that he was only repressing his
feelings due to some silly cultural taboo.
"I'll just use mom's surname," Nami replied, completely
unfazed by this latest obstacle. "I already use it for work anyway."
"You're missing the point, Nami," Satoru told her as he felt
his anger begin to build again. "We're more than just blood
relatives. Do I have to explain inbreeding to you?"
"Who said anything about children?" Nami asked as she
performed a few jumping jacks, followed by some stretching
exercises. Her TV show was about a school run by a ninja clan and
she insisted on doing her own stunts, so she needed to keep in
shape. She was also a naturally energetic person and needed to
burn off all of her excess energy. "It'll be just the two of us, alone
forever. We won't even need clothes to keep us warm because
we'll have each other."
Satoru was trying to come up with some way to drive her
sister off so he could take as shower in piece, when an unfamiliar
feminine voice spoke from the hallway, "We will have to leave
now to be on time, Nami."
"Who is that?" Satoru asked his sister in surprise. Nami's
manager was a nerdy little guy who always looked on the verge of
an ulcer, no doubt due to Nami giving him a hard time. He was
also forever apologizing for Nami's frequent surprise appearances.
He seemed to be under the delusion that if he were little more
strong-willed, her might be able to control the wild girl.
Nami shrugged. "She owns the management company
Dashi-kun works for. He's on vacation this week, so she wanted to
handle things for me personally. Don't see why she just doesn't get
some other manager to do it. She's a strange lady."
That was when a woman gracefully entered the room. She
looked to be in her late twenties, her long dark red hair matching
the maroon business dress she wore. Her clothes concealed most
of her obviously well-proportioned figure, though not her long
legs, whose curves flowed down into high heels. The dark
sunglasses she wore and briefcase she carried made her appear
both mysterious and professional at the same time, enhancing the
aura of command that hung about her.
"Aomori-san," Nami addressed the woman with some
respect. "This is my brother, Sato-chan."
Satoru would have groaned to hear his sister introduce him
like that, if his mind had still been working. Instead, he continued
to stare with his mouth hanging open at the elegant woman who
had just entered his bedroom. He found her remarkably similar to
the vampire of his dream, though red hair and gender were the only
things they actually had in common.
"Pleased to meet you, Satoru-san," Ms. Aomori told him
with a nod, adjusting her sunglasses with one outstretched finger
before turning to address her charge. "Come along now, Nami.
Today's shoot is a key scene and rushing through it could hurt your
career. Also, if all goes well today, they won't have to reshoot it
tomorrow. Then you can spend the whole morning with your
brother if you wish."
"Yes, Aomori-san!" Nami yelled cheerfully, giving her still-
stunned brother a hug and a kiss on the cheek before bouncing out
of the room.
"Farewell, Satoru-san," Ms. Aomori said with a neutral
expression before turning and following her charge.
"Good-bye, Aomori-san!" Satoru shouted after finally
regaining his wits, only to realize that the woman was already long
gone.
Some time later, Satoru arrive a the club room, taking out
his keys, only to blink in surprise to find the door was already
open. Inside, the other two were already hard at work planning out
their activities for the day despite the early hour.
Eichi stood at the final member entered and said simply, "It
is time."
The others could only nod.
The first faint tendrils of sunlight reached past the blankets,
being used to insulate the broken window, to caress the sleeping
face of Kumiko, bringing a unconscious smile to her lips.
The demon-girl dreamt of her favorite hot lava onsen's
comforting warmth, her best friend Ayame by her side. It didn't
seem odd for an angel to be in Hell, her large dove wings half
submerged in lava. No more than the fact that Ken was serving
them warm sake, or that Natsume was tied up on the edge of the
fountain, her feeble struggles unable to even shake the heavy
chains that weighed her down.
Kumiko accepted the offered sake from her slave, kissing
him softly before leaning back in the warmth of the lava, all the
way up to her neck. She tipped the cup to her lips as she closed her
eyes. *This is paradise.*
The demon-girl blinked suddenly, as with a thunderous
explosion, Natsume stood free of her chains. Before Kumiko
could even react, the strange girl raced over to Ayame and together
they both flew away, smiling as they looked nowhere but into each
other's eyes. The demon-girl reached out for them, trying to yell
out, but she couldn't think of the words. In moments, they were
gone from sight.
*Hmph! Well, I still have Ken-chan!* Kumiko thought in
irritation, only to realize that her slave was no longer by her side.
Instead, the waitress from the caf� was wearing her outfit and
leading Ken away by the collar around his neck. Kumiko again
tried to yell out, but the words would not come. She could only sit
and watch Ken's eager expression as he obeyed his new mistress,
getting farther and farther away.
Kumiko was all alone now. That was when the lava began
to cool rapidly, dropping in temperature until it chilled her pale
skin. Tiny white specs started falling all around her. Snow, she
realized. As she looked up to the sky, she found the usual cloud of
smoke replaced with a hazy light that only grew brighter and
brighter as she stared at it. She tried to shield herself from the
blinding light as it fell towards her...
Kumiko blinked again, finding the sunlight painful to her
overly-sensitive eyes. Blocking the glare with one outstretched
wing, she glanced around in surprise to find that she wasn't back in
Hell after all, but in Ken's apartment. Rubbing her cheek in
confusion, she was startled to find her face wet. Experimentally,
she licked her palm. Salty. *Tears?*
A short groan distracted the demon-girl from her
contemplations, alerting her addled mind that she wasn't alone in
bed. She looked over to see Ken's head poking out from under the
sheets, which he clutched closely to himself in dubious protection
from the chill of early morning.
"Ken-chan!!" Kumiko shouted in joy as she threw her arms
around him, holding him tightly to her, feeling the warmth of his
body against hers. The nightmare faded from her mind, almost as
if it had never been.
*When did I get two pillows?* Ken thought as he groggily
opened his eyes. Finding the current amount of rest experienced
insufficient, his mind was refused to explain his current situation.
Instead, it suggested that he go back to sleep, a suggestion that he
eagerly obeyed.
After a few minutes of holding her slave, and no one else's,
in her arms, Kumiko frowned as she finally noticed the odd sound
that Ken was making. It wasn't at all like the sounds he made
when they had sex, though it was nearly as silly. It reminded her of
the time a demon had tried snarling at her with a spirit cold. The
result had been more pathetic than threatening.
Kumiko held Ken out at arms length and studied him
carefully. He hung limp in her arms, his head lolled to one side, as
a line of moisture began to drip from his open mouth. Then he
made the slow snarling sound again, accompanied by the rise and
fall of his chest.
"Ken-chan!" Kumiko shouted as she shook him like a rag
doll. "You're making strange noises!"
"Wha? Wha?" Ken slurred, his eyes only half open as he
looked back at her. "Oh, is breakfast ready, dear?"
Kumiko frowned slightly and shook Ken a few more times.
"What are you talking about, Ken-chan? You're not making any
sense!"
"It's only an earthquake, dear. They happen all the time
here in Tokyo," Ken replied, his voice still slurred, and his eyes
shut once again. "We'll just have to get used to them. We can't
just move back now that I'm prime minister..."
Kumiko was a bit worried. Maybe she'd been too rough
with her slave and had broke him. She knew that humans were
somewhat fragile in both mind and body, but thought she had
treated her slave the way she was supposed to. The demon-girl's
brow knitted as she tried to remember her classes, but she never
did have a good long-term memory. She had forgotten most of her
lessons right after the tests, and everything else usually didn't stay
in her mind long after making her reports.
The first thing she could think of was something about
getting plenty of water and sunlight. That didn't sound like
something for slaves, but she didn't have any other ideas. She
shrugged; it was worth a try.
Kumiko gently picked up Ken in her arms, cradling him
like a baby. As he nuzzled her breasts and muttered something
about calling in sick, she entered his small bathroom. Reluctantly
setting him down in the shower, it was cold in the apartment and
her slave was a good source of warmth, she threw open the shade
so that the sunlight fell upon him. Then she turned on the shower
full blast.
"Cold!!" Ken shrieked like a little girl as he leapt out of the
path of the freezing torrent, his panic halted by the bathroom wall
he has just jumped head first into.
"Wow, it worked," Kumiko commented, her eyes wide in
surprise. Now she knew what to do the next time this happened.
There were so many things to learn about humans. She had no idea
that they'd be so interesting.
*What did I ever do to deserve this?* Ken wondered as he
rubbed the bump now developing on his forehead, which matched
the one he had gotten last night on the back of his head. Due to
being wide awake via a surprise cold shower, the pain was sharp
and hard to ignore.
"Good morning, Ken-chan!" Kumiko exclaimed gleefully
as she hugged her from behind, pressing her full breasts into his
back while rubbing her cheek against his neck. The demon-girl
noted that her slave was also quite cuddly, besides being warm.
"Good morning, Kumiko," Ken echoed with a total lack of
enthusiasm. He guessed that most demons were night people,
committing horrible deeds under the shadow of evening. It was
just his luck to get stuck with the one demon who was a morning
person.
"Hmm, seems like not all of you is awake yet," Kumiko
said, peering at his naked form in the mirror as her hands slipped
down past his waist. "Oh, there it goes!"
Ken blushed in embarrassment. He thought it was way too
early in the morning for that, but his body obviously had other
ideas. He blushed even more when he noticed the shade had been
pulled back and a middle-aged woman was staring in shock at
them from the building across the street.
"Hi, mam!" Kumiko shouted to her, waving in a friendly
manner with a free hand while she continued to hold Ken with the
other. Still stunned, the woman tentatively waved back.
With the agility borne of desperation, Ken managed to slip
out of the demon-girl's grip and tug down the shade all without
colliding into walls or tripping over something.
"Is something wrong, Ken-chan?" Kumiko asked him
curiously. His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily.
Maybe he was coming down with some human illness. She hoped
that whatever it was, it wasn't contagious to demons. Kumiko had
been sick for a whole week once and it hadn't been any fun at all.
At first Ken didn't respond; simply because there were
simply too many answers to that question to choose from. Then he
realized he was shivering from the cold water still dripping from
him and his stomach was empty. This last thought was followed
by another; there wasn't anything left to eat in the apartment.
"No, nothing," Ken told her with a partially-forced smile.
"Why don't we take a hot shower and have breakfast someplace?"
"Umm!" Kumiko agreed with a smile as she
enthusiastically grabbed hold of Ken and dragged him back into
the shower, pressing his body against the tiled wall with her own.
"A very hot shower."
Ken was already feeling his temperature rise when the
demon-girl tilted her head up to kiss him.
Ayame yawned daintily as she sat up, looking around
herself in surprise as slumber's grey vines began to wither and fade
away under the morning light. She had been sleeping, of all things,
in the room of a mortal. The angel could tell this because the
mortal herself was still asleep on the other futon next to her. She
wondered why she was here and not in Heaven, but then the mortal
did look vaguely familiar.
Confused and still half-asleep, Ayame assumed the lotus
position and entered into a state of light meditation. The answers
she sought slowly drifted into her mind. Memories of seeing
Kumiko again, and the shameful activities the demon-girl was
engaged in. Blurred images of the time when a powerful rage had
gripped her, all in shades of red. Being sentenced to a year's exile
for her rash deeds, and finally the blushing face of the mortal
partially hidden behind glasses.
Ayame smiled as she came out of her meditation, unable to
feel bad about the things that had happened to her recently. Her
soul was at peace, content with its lot. She felt embarrassed to
admit that it was largely do to the worldly comforts of a nice hot
soak and a comfortable futon to rest on. It would be hard to resist
such pleasures from now on if she were to remain true to the
Creator's great plan. Angels were made to serve humans, not to
revel in mortal indulgences.
*Well, I don't think an occasional bath could hurt,* Ayame
thought with a guilty smile. Some temptations were simply too
strong for the angel-girl to resist, though she knew that worldly
things weren't the only source of bliss. She still felt the lingering
traces of a joyful warmth caused by Natsume's kindness to her,
welcoming a complete stranger with all her heart. *Surely she has
already earned a place in Heaven.*
Ayame blinked at that thought, finally remembering the
initial reason she had come to the mortal world. If she were ever to
become a full angel, she would have to find a martyr. Someone so
selfless that they would willingly give up Heaven so that an angel
could live for another thousand years.
Ayame shook her head to clear it of that thought. Even if
Natsume was destined to die within a year, the angel-girl could
never ask that of her. She had only known Natsume for a few
hours, but perhaps because she was the angel-girl's first real human
contact, she was already precious to her. She would protect this
girl from harm in exchange for her kindness. As an angel, it was
her duty.
The thought that she might never be able to ask martyrdom
of anyone, and never become a true angel, began to fill Ayame
with sadness. She used her cultivated professionalism as a break to
block a potential flood of despair. She still had a year and no one
could truly predict the future. A million things could happen
between then and now. It was best not to worry about it.
Catching a flash of her reflection in the mirror across the
room, Ayame curiously padded over to it. She examined herself
carefully, then blushed deeply to see how embarrassingly small the
shirt Natsume had leant her was, exposing a hint of pristine white
panties. It should have been no surprise since Natsume was a
shorter girl, but the angel-girl was glad no one had ever seen her in
public like this.
Ayame tended to be nervous around others, especially
fellow angels, always worried that she'd say or do something that
wouldn't measure up to heavenly standards. Strangely though, she
had felt none of her normal anxiety around Natsume. She realized
it was a combination of her lingering shock and that Natsume had
been so nervous around her that it had been hard to feel nervous
herself. The fact that someone else could be so concerned about
making the right impression had somehow set her at ease.
Noting her generally disheveled state, especially her hair,
Ayame was glad that even Natsume couldn't see her at the moment.
She took off the borrowed shirt, carefully folding it before setting
on the floor beside her. Then she blushed again, catching the sight
of herself standing there in only her underwear. She was glad that
she didn't use mirrors in Heaven; her face would be red for hours
each day. With one last shake of her head, Ayame twirled quickly,
suddenly dressed in a long skirt and a loose, long-sleeved blouse.
Her strawberry blonde hair was perfect once again.
As she made some finishing touches to her appearance, the
angel-girl's thoughts turned to her new mission. She was supposed
to watch over Kensuke Iwakami and make regular reports of his
activities to Heaven. That mean also seeing Kumiko again, but
Ayame was determined to bear that burden like a true angel. She
wouldn't give that... demon-girl the satisfaction of losing control
again.
Ayame realized that the coffee shop was the perfect base of
operations; it wasn't far from the apartment building where
Kensuke lived or the college that he attended. She wondered if
Natsume would be willing to extend her generosity until the angel-
girl was able to secure her own accommodations. It would be best
to do something to encourage that idea, to prove her usefulness. It
was a touch deceitful, but then Ayame did honestly want to help
the mortal girl in whatever way she could.
*Hmm, last night she mentioned something about the work
that still needed to be done on her coffee shop,* Ayame thought as
she carefully folded the futon she had slept in, setting the borrowed
shirt on top.
The angel-girl had studied summaries of nearly every
aspect of human life, but this was so broad a topic that even almost
a hundred years hadn't been time enough to cover all the specifics.
So she only knew some things about eating establishments, but
there had to be some place that her vast area of knowledge could be
put to use. She would simply have to look and see.
Ayame stepped out into the hall, turning back to glance at
her host once more. Natsume was currently curled up on her futon,
her hair shading her closed eyes and a smile decorating her lips.
The angel-girl smiled in return before carefully shutting the door
behind her.
"Ayame-chan," Natsume muttered in her sleep.
Like soldiers at the front, the members of the Paranormal
Club inspected their equipment and mentally prepared themselves
for the battle ahead. They knew it would be a hard fight. The
enemy was strong and their chances of success low. Yet in his
own way, each was confident of victory.
Eichi reviewed his plans for flaws once more while
mentally composing a formal letter to his sister, which boiled down
to, "You're wrong! Nya! Nya!" Nobu made sure his camcorder
was in working order, with plenty of film and batteries, and
wondered the best way to drive the blue-haired goddess away from
Ken while still keeping her bound to the mortal realm. And Satoru
prepared for a divination while daydreaming of Ms. Aomori
dressed in black leather, whip held ready.
"Final checks complete?" Eichi ask as he glanced around
the small room. When the others eventually nodded, he nodded in
turn and continued, "Very well, let us begin. Vice-president,
please predict the first place that Ken and that evil succubus will
encounter one of the women from the new revised list!"
Satoru cleared the area around him as he sat cross-legged
on the floor, a photograph of Ken and that... cheerful succubus
lying before him. The other members of the club were still, careful
not to make a sound. With his eyes shut, the vice-president
removed the mystical orb from around his neck and passed it over
the photo in a small circle. Eichi and Nobu both saw the orb glow
a deep red, but it was gone in moments, making them wonder if
they had only imagined it. Neither dare to speak, however, and
interrupt the ritual.
"Ken will soon appear at the convenience store near the
campus," Satoru intoned as he slowly opened his eyes. "One of the
girls on the list will be working there."
Eichi nodded fervently when Satoru pointed out the girl's
name on the list. "Ah, a very good one to start with! She's in one
of my classes. A tough girl, very standoffish, but rumored to have
a weakness for sob stories involving pushy women."
"So what's the plan, president?" Nobu asked
enthusiastically, practically drooling at the idea of a cat fight
between Kumiko and this other girl, even though he already knew
who would win.
Eichi was silent for a moment, rubbing his chin in thought,
until he snatched up one of his note cards and exclaimed, "This
plan will do! Satoru will explain to the woman that his older
brother, Ken, is being treated horribly by his new girlfriend, but he
is much too kindhearted to tell her off. So Satoru will beg the
woman to confront his brother's girlfriend. He will say that she's
only a bully, so is sure to back down."
"She might not seem like it," Satoru told the president with
a frown, "but this succubus is a supernatural being of immense
power. She won't be scared off so easily. Only true love will break
the hold she has on Ken."
"That was only the first part of my brilliant plan," Eichi told
him smugly. "You see, the reason Satoru will be asking her for
help specifically is because his dear older brother is in love with
the woman, but can't confess his feelings with his overbearing
girlfriend in the way. Girls always get mushy over secret love
confessions."
"Are you speaking from experience?" Nobu asked as he
double-checked his camera. He made sure all the settings were
good for interior shots since Satoru would be the one using it.
"Ahem," Eichi coughed. "I will be waiting in front of the
convenience store where I will risk my very soul to delay the
succubus, while doing my best to provoke her into revealing her
true nature. Finally, Nobu will lie in wait around the corner,
following the succubus into the store in order to record our
moment of triumph! So what do you think of my ingenious plan?
Foolproof, isn't it?"
"Brilliant," Nobu agreed off-handedly as he handed Satoru
his camera and donned the bag that held his precious camcorder.
He didn't think it had a chance of succeeding, but it would be a
great photo opportunity.
"Dubious, but worth a try," Satoru answered honestly.
"Only we should switch roles. You've already thought out the story
in detail. You should be the one to tell it. I'm much better
equipped to handle anything supernatural the succubus might try
anyway."
In truth, Satoru just wanted to make that... succubus as
angry as he was at her. Succubi were supposed to be dark and
carry a mature sexy allure, the product of their evil nature. Not be
so... cheerful and cute. She stood as an insult to all dark mystics
everywhere, and even worse, her attitude reminded him of his
sister.
He also had a bad feeling about talking to the convenience
store girl; something that refused to clarify itself, much to his
annoyance. For some reason, while he could see the future of other
people with some clarity, divinations of his own future were
always too cloudy to make out.
"No, no, no!" Eichi argued nervously. "With your prior
acting experience, not to mention your ability with women, you'd
be far more convincing than I ever could! And that's much more
critical to the plan than goading the succubus."
"In other words, he asked the convenience store girl for a
date before and she turned him down flat. Now he's too
embarrassed to speak to her," Nobu commented dryly.
Eichi hung his head in shame, not bothering to deny it.
"Very well, I will do as you say," Satoru told him, unable to
bear seeing their president look so pathetic. Besides, if she really
was such a loner, he should have no problems with her. "Then we
should be on our way. Ken will arrive at the convenience store in
roughly fifteen minutes."
"Right! Paranormal Club, go!" Eichi shouted with fist
upraised before running out of the door.
"He's been borrowing your mecha anime again, hasn't he?"
Satoru asked the remaining club member as they watched their
president sprint down the hall, only to fall down the stairs.
Nobu sadly nodded.
Natsume yawned as she sat up, automatically grabbing her
glasses from the table next to her. Brushing the hair our of her
eyes, she slipped them firmly into place, knowing they wouldn't
stay there for very long. As the room snapped into focus, she
couldn't help noticing that she was alone. Had her night with the
gentle, beautiful woman been a dream? Well, she was sure that the
bits near the end had really been a dream, but for the most part she
didn't have that vivid an imagination.
*She must have already left,* Natsume thought with a sigh,
noticing the spare futon neatly folded next to her. On top was one
of her favorite shirts that she had leant Ayame to wear. *And I
didn't even really get to see how good she looked in it.*
Natsume wished that her guest had at least said good-bye,
but knew there was no use in getting depressed over this. It was all
her fault for acting like a total idiot last night, which probably
drove Ayame to leave at first light. She felt ashamed of her
conduct, but her guest had effected her in ways she hadn't
expected.
Stretching as she stood, Natsume did a few morning
exercises to wake up her body, which still felt half asleep. Quickly
throwing together an outfit for the day, she went out in the hall,
heading in the direction of her furo. A nice long bath was just the
thing she needed to feel better.
That was when she heard a sound that seemed to be coming
from downstairs. A squeak, like the sound the door made whose
hinges still needed to be oiled. Natsume raced down the stairs,
hoping to catch Ayame before she left and apologize for the way
she had acted last night. At least then they could part on a friendly
note.
Natsume blinked, nearly falling on her face in surprise, to
find the wood floor of her coffee shop gleaming back at her. All of
the furniture had been pushed against the walls, and out on the
center of the floor knelt Ayame, polishing the wood until it her
own reflection shown back at her.
"What...?" Natsume managed to say after a few moments,
still half frozen in shock. She couldn't help wondering how long
had her guest been up and hard at work. The floor had been
heavily scuffed and coated in dust. Now it looked as if it had just
been installed, shining with a gleam normally seen only in furniture
commercials.
Ayame startled at the sound of Natsume's voice, but smiled
when she looked up to see her host standing by the stairwell.
"I wanted to do something in exchange for letting me stay
the night. Then I remembered that you wanted help in decorating
your coffee shop. I don't really know anything about that, but I did
have some prior experience in polishing floors, even if those had
been marble. I hope I haven't done anything rash."
Natsume violently shook her head side to side. "No, you
did a great job! I was just surprised. I mean, I never expected my
floor could ever look this good. I'm almost afraid to walk on it and
mar your work."
Ayame blushed lightly from the compliment as she stood.
"You really are too kind to say so. It was only a simple thing that
anyone else could have done, but I'm ashamed to admit that it was
the only way I could think to repay you."
"I said before that you're my guest. You didn't have to go
through so much trouble," Natsume told her with a smile as she
padded across the floor on bare feet. She stopped suddenly to
realize she was now in full view of the large windows that fronted
her coffee shop, in only a nightshirt. With a panicked expression,
she quickly dashed back to the concealment of the stairwell. It was
still early in the morning, but who could tell what sort of hentai
freaks might be lurking about?
"It was no trouble at all," Ayame insisted as she returned
the polishing materials to one of the boxes stacked in the corner.
All except for the rag, which she washed in the counter sink and
left to dry. "For all the kindness you had show me, I had to do
something in return."
Natsume opened her mouth to argue, but just shook her
head. The deed was already done, it was pointless to debate about
it now. Besides, if it kept Ayame there longer, why should she
fight it? "Have you eaten yet, Ayame?"
"No...," Ayame replied slowly. It was the truth, but only
because as an angel she had no need of food to sustain her. She
knew that she could eat simply for pleasure, but had never indulged
in anything so wasteful before.
"Well, I personally think I owe you more than you owe me
now," Natsume said with a confident grin as she adjusted her
glasses. "In order to tip the scales back in my favor, I am going to
prepare you a traditional Japanese breakfast!"
"I'm honored, Natsume, but you really shouldn't go through
such trouble just for me," Ayame replied nervously.
"Since I've got to make breakfast for myself anyway, it's no
trouble to make an additional serving. So you have nothing to
argue about," Natsume told her with a grin, crossing her arms as if
daring her guest to refute her logic.
"I will be delighted then," Ayame said with nervous smile.
She didn't want to waste food when she knew that mortals were
starving elsewhere in the world. Yet she simply could not offend
her kind host. Trapped by her own morality, she had no choice but
to agree.
As the town was beginning to awake, The Paranormal Club
had all taken up their positions around the convenience store, ready
to set their plan in motion.
Eichi was in 'disguise', wearing a somewhat feminine pair
of dark glasses he had swiped from his older sister a year ago, as he
nervously loitered around the entrance. Satoru, dressed all on
black with a camera slung over his chest, resembled a cat burglar
on holiday. He stood to the other side of the doorway, arms
crossed, as he watched the empty street. Nobu looked much the
same as he always did, including the camcorder that seemed glued
to his right eye. Even though people tended to overlook him
anyway, he hid himself away in the shadow of the nearby alley.
Eichi nodded to Satoru, who nodded in return. With a small
sigh, the vice-president passed the sliding glass doors into the
heated interior of the convenience store.
Laying her head on the counter, Fujiko muttered around a
pocky stick while faint strains of light j-pop filling the air. She
should have never taken this crummy job. It was only because she
was such a sucker for sob stories that she volunteered to take a few
shifts from the weeping girl. At the time, she had no idea how
early she'd have to wake up, or how painfully dull the job would
be. She was saving up for her own motorcycle so she could really
use the money, but this would be the last time she'd stick her neck
out for someone else. The road to becoming a world champion
motorcycle racer was hard enough as it was.
*Huh? He looks kind of familiar,* Fujiko thought as the
glass doors slid open with a ding and a young man entered, dressed
all in black. It was only a few moments before he disappeared
among the tall aisles, leaving only a vague memory of his presence
behind.
Fujiko stood up straight and rubbed her face in an effort to
wake up her mind. The girls she normally hung around with talked
mostly about airfoils and nitro boosters, but she occasionally
overheard girls in class talking about more feminine stuff like
shopping, makeup, and men.
There was one guy who had been a frequent topic of
speculation. A handsome and mysterious man with a gentle
manner who had turned down the few brave girls who had asked
him out. Suggestions that he was gay were always met by fervent
denials by his fans, who Fujiko thought were letting their own
biases get in the way.
*What was his name?* Fujiko thought, holding her chin in
her hands as she stared up at the ceiling. * Shintaro? Satoshi?*
"I would like to purchase this please," said a soft yet
masculine voice close by.
Fujiko turned, blinking in surprise. She hadn't even heard
him approach, the... incredibly handsome man who was staring
back at her with kind eyes and a slight smile on his lips. She
wasn't usually the type to be effected by men, knowing that even
the good looking ones could be creeps, but this guy was like
someone straight out of shojo manga. His pale bishonen features,
topped with slightly wild black hair, were supported by a slim
athletic frame which moved with an unconscious grace and beauty.
*Satoru.*
Satoru tapped the counter to indicate his magazine, a
spiritual monthly that was mostly fake but occasionally contained
useful information, as he continued to smile politely. The girl just
stood and stared at him with her mouth hanging open. He knew it
was early in the morning, but he had expected her to be a little
more coherent than this. "This magazine, I would like to buy it."
"Yes, yes, right away," Fujiko replied as she rung up the
periodical, scanning it quickly for a possible topic of conversation.
To her, boys normally didn't compare to bikes, but this guy was
something else entirely. It was like a famous idol has just casually
strolled up to her and said hello. She couldn't just let him walk
away without doing anything.
"So... you think supernatural stuff like this really exists?"
Fujiko asked as she carefully rang the magazine up on the cash
register, afraid that speaking to him eye to eye would make her
nervous. She didn't like to lose her cool in front of anyone.
"Maybe," Satoru replied, and realizing this was as good an
opportunity as any, added, "At the moment, however, it is more
mundane matters that trouble me."
"Oh, like what?" Fujiko asked with a tone of causal
curiosity as she slipped the magazine into a bag. On the inside,
though, it was all she could do to not scream out her victory. She
had avoided handsome men in the past with the excuse that she just
wasn't interested, but could admit to herself that one reason she
favored motorcycles was they couldn't reject her. She had no idea
that getting a guy to open up could be so easy. "Five hundred yen,
by the way."
Satoru nodded and dropped a few yen coins on the counter.
It was time to spin Eichi's little tale, but he abandoned the notion of
Ken being his brother. The woman would see right though that
when it was obvious they looked nothing alike.
He explained, "As it happens, I have a... close friend who is
like a brother to me. The problem is that he recently entered in a
relationship with a woman who has quickly come to dominate his
entire life. She treats him horribly and is insanely jealous of any
woman who simply crosses his path. He is unfortunately a bit...
weak-willed when it comes to women, and despite my urgings, can
not bring himself to tell this... monster off."
"Sounds like your friend has major problems..." Fujiko
started to say, trailing off as she handed him his purchase. For only
the second time, she looked directly into his eyes. There was
anxiety, worry, and anger in his gaze now.
Suddenly, all the little pieces she knew about him fit
together. Having already gone through the really interesting
magazines at the convenience store, she had recently read in a
girlie one that said guys were usually emotionally insecure. So if
they ever needed to talk about a problem, it was always 'their
friend', even though they were really talking about themselves.
It was no wonder that he always turned girls down; he was
afraid of what his overbearing girlfriend would do. She was
probably the reason he was so soft-spoken0, after being forced to
submit to her will time after time. Perhaps she even... sexually
abused him. That had been in the article too, but she had been too
embarrassed to finish reading it.
Satoru nodded again. "Yes, and I can not stand idly by and
watch him suffer any longer, but he made me swear to do nothing.
Though perhaps... No, forget it. I shouldn't be bothering you with
my friend's problems."
Fujiko waved off his concern. "Don't worry about it. I'm
stuck here in this lousy job anyway, and it beats staring up at the
ceiling for hours on end. I don't mind hearing about your
_friend's_ problems. Maybe I can even do something to help."
Satoru was a little worried about the girl's sly wink, but was
encouraged by the fact that she seemed interested. Eichi's insane
scheme might have a chance after all. "Well, it so happens that
they should be coming here any minute now. The woman is just a
bully, and I'm sure if you simply stood up to her, she would leave
my friend in peace."
"Heh, telling people off just happens to be my specialty,"
Fujiko told him smugly. She had been dealing with bullies, both
female and male, all her life and never had a problem getting them
to back down. They always turned out to be wimps who started
bawling after the first punch. "So what does this woman look like?
The store's not exactly flooded with customers right now, but I
wouldn't want to pick a fight with the wrong person."
"She has long blue hair, pale skin, and blue eyes," Satoru
said, at the same time a little worried about the girl's enthusiasm.
The succubus seemed happy-go-lucky, but Satoru was sure that if
one pushed her too far the results could be terrible to behold. His
powers should provide some protection, but it would be better if
the girl had no need of it.
"You must make it look like you are the one being
wronged. For you see... it is not by chance that I am telling you
this. My friend recently confessed to me that he has possessed...
certain feelings for you for some time now, but the shadow of his
girlfriend, constantly looming over him, has kept him from
confessing them to you."
Fujiko took a step back in shock, a deep blush spreading
from her face to her entire body. She had to pinch herself to make
sure it wasn't a dream, because it certainly felt like one. It wasn't
every day when a handsome stranger walked up to you and
confessed his love, even in the guise of 'a friend.' It was like
something out of the shojo manga she had been secretly reading.
"In that case, I guess... I'll help your friend... in whatever
way I can," Fujiko stuttered out as she looked down at her fingers,
pushing them together and apart again. Her blush was beginning to
fade, leaving behind butterflies in her stomach. She was so lucky
this was happening to her, but was also very glad none of her
friends could see her now. Though she knew they'd just die of
envy if they caught her walking around with Satoru on her arm.
Satoru blinked several times at her extreme reaction. Eichi
was right; girls were really moved by secret love confessions. He
felt a bit guilty about making a false one then, but also couldn't
help wondering if it would work on a more mature woman. "I'd
better go in the back of the store to observe then. She's a very
suspicious woman and if she sees me, she might suspect
something."
*In other words, you don't want to suffer her horrible abuse
if I fail to scare her off,* Fujiko thought with a heart full of pity
that such a kind, handsome man should be forced to suffer so.
"Don't worry," she told him with what she hoped was a
sultry look. "I'm sure I'll be able to get this inhuman witch to leave
_your friend_ alone, Satoru-san."
*How did she know my name?* Satoru wondered, sure that
their paths had never crossed before. Still, she was determined to
go along with the plan, which was all that really mattered. "Good
luck... and please be careful, Fujiko-san."
*How romantic!* Fujiko thought with hearts in her eyes as
Satoru walked to the back of the convenience store. The only way
it could be better was if she already had her motorcycle. Then after
the evil ogre woman had been defeated, they could speed away to
their very first date.
While Kumiko was busily finding the perfect place to keep
her jar of glass, so it caught the light in just the right way, Ken
finished getting dressed. He felt a little envious of the demon-girl's
quick change abilities, especially the fact that she didn't need to
buy clothes, but didn't think it was worth spending all of eternity in
Hell for. He also made a mental note to call the landlady later to
see about getting the window fixed, doing his best not to think of
how much it would cost him. Maybe his parents would be willing
to give him a loan, as long as they weren't too curious about what it
was for. He didn't think they'd believe an angel smashed his
window.
"Ready for some breakfast, Kumiko?" Ken asked with
some amusement as the demon-girl watched the light play over the
shards of glass with rapt attention.
"Yum!" Kumiko exclaiming, catching her slave in a flying
tackle that knocked them onto his bed. He could have sworn she'd
been dressed a moment ago as she pressed her naked body against
him and said in a sultry tone, "But you're tasty too, Ken-chan. I
could eat you all up."
*Well, I'm in no rush to leave,* Ken thought as he brought
his head up to kiss her lips. Only to blink in surprise as the demon-
girl suddenly stood up, now fully dressed, and added with a giggle,
"On second thought, I think I'll save you for desert!"
Ken eyed her suspiciously. "If I didn't know better, I'd
think you were teasing me again."
"Would I do something like that?" Kumiko asked with a
overly-innocent expression as she batted her eyes at him. It made
her much too cute for him to be mad at her, especially in the
sleeveless shirt and short skirt that she had decided to wear.
"Yes, you would," he answered her with a smile. "You're
an evil demon from Hell, after all."
Kumiko laughed she threw her arms around him again,
though more gently this time, sitting on his lap as she looked into
his eyes. "And you're my sex slave, who I still need to teach
properly and punish when he misbehaves. Don't forget that."
"I haven't forgotten," Ken replied with a slight frown,
wishing that she hadn't brought up. Just the thought of her whip
was enough to dampen his good mood. It was then he remembered
that he had spent all of his ready cash last night. "Do you still have
the money Natsume gave you, Kumiko?"
Kumiko nodded and held out her palm, which now
contained several yen bills. Ken wondered where she had been
keeping them all this time as he reached out for them, only for the
demon-girl to pull away from him suddenly, clutching the yen
protectively while turning her back to him. "They're mine! You
can't have them!"
"You're right, they are yours Kumiko. You earned it," Ken
told her in a calm voice as he walked up to her. He knew that
pointing out that she had spent the money he had earned would get
him nowhere. "But you'll have to spend that money if you want
breakfast. I was only going to help you collect the prizes you
want."
"Well, I guess that's okay," Kumiko reluctantly agreed
while still clutching the yen bills to her bosom. "But I'll just hold
onto them until then... Are you sure I have to exchange them?"
"Yes, I'm sure, but you can get more by helping Natsume,"
Ken answered as he headed to the door, the demon-girl following
close behind.
Kumiko shivered a bit, remembering her dream that
morning. Though she would have to face that suspicious girl if she
wanted to win more human prizes, not to mention the colorful yen
that she exchanged for them. "Do you think she'll have more yen
for us if we see her after breakfast?"
"Maybe. We'll have to visit her and see," Ken replied,
shutting the door behind them.
Ayame sat at one of the several tables that filled the main
room of the coffee shop, watching the sunlight pour through the
many windows to flood the place with morning light. The angel-
girl smiled to feel its gentle warmth, reminding her of heavenly
comfort.
It nearly dispelled her earlier anxiety. Dread created when
Natsume had commented how strong she must be in order to move
all those heavy tables by herself. Her host had gotten dressed and
helped her to put everything back that Ayame had moved to polish
the floor. Because of the supernatural strength that had always
been part of being an angel, she had easily lifted those tables
before, not even considering how unusual the feat would be for a
mortal.
Ayame had tried to convince Natsume that she had only
done so with great difficulty, and believed she had succeeded,
though she also realized someone could have been watching her
through the large windows that made up the front of the shop. She
had been so focused on her task that someone could have observed
her unnoticed. It was, however, unlikely due to the early hour.
Still, she had been in the mortal world for less than a day and had
nearly given away her true identity. How would she ever manage a
full year?
"The fish is almost done now, Ayame!" Natsume shouted to
her from the kitchen in the back of the shop. "I hope you're ready
for Natsume's world famous breakfast. Well, famous to my family
anyway."
"I'm sure it will be wonderful, Natsume," Ayame called
back to her. That was yet another thing to worry about. The angel-
girl's mind was revolted by the idea of being so wasteful, but she
could now admit it was more due to the idea of polluting her body
with such... substances. However, not eating was another clue to
her angelic nature, and she could also tell that this meal was
important to her host. *What if it tastes bad? Should I lie to her
and tell her it's good? Will I be able to lie to her?*
"I hope I haven't lost my touch," Natsume said as she
padded into the room on socked feet, weighed down by a heavy
platter. "It's been a while since I've had to cook for more than just
myself so most of my previous meals have come straight out of the
microwave. I'm a bit out of practice in cooking for real. The food
I plan on serving in my coffee shop is all simple stuff so I haven't
really worried about it before."
"Here, let me help you," Ayame said as she stood up
anxiously. Any minute she expected Natsume to trip and spill the
breakfast all over the floor she had just spent so much time
polishing.
"No, you sit and leave everything to me. You're my guest,
after all," Natsume insisted with a smile as she set the platter down
on the table next to the one where Ayame sat.
"Grilled fish, bowl of rice, miso soup, and some chopsticks
to gobble it all down with," Natsume identified each item in turn as
she stood behind her guest and leaned close to lay each dish before
her. Trying not to get too distracted from the task at hand, the
sandy-haired girl couldn't help noticing the scent of cherry
blossoms that filled the air close to her guest. Could it be possible
that Ayame was wearing perfume, for her? Then again, maybe it
was just the shampoo she used.
Ayame was too focused on the food appearing before her to
notice how close her host was, even when hands accidentally
brushed against the angel-girl's long hair. She thought that while
the containers which held them bore pleasingly intricate designs,
the grilled fish and miso soup looked gross. One was the carcass
of a dead animal, the other a green sludge. The scents that wafted
up from them, however, tickled at her nose in a most enjoyable
way, causing her to smile even if she didn't quite understand the
reason. However, she wasn't sure if she liked this uncontrolled
reaction. The rice was the most non-threatening dish, reminding
her of snow, and with no scents to disturb her.
"I'm sorry for not using fresh fish or other fresh ingredients.
Like I said before, I wasn't really prepared for guests," Natsume
apologized as she quickly laid out her own breakfast at the place
setting opposite Ayame.
The angel-girl frowned mentally, being careful not to let it
appear on her face. Her host must have noticed her distaste as she
had eyed the fish and miso, thinking it was her fault. Ayame didn't
want Natsume to feel uncomfortable, especially when the angel-
girl hoped to be allowed to stay a while longer, so quickly told her,
"No, no, you shouldn't be concerned with that. It couldn't look any
better even if it was fresh."
"You're too kind, Ayame," Natsume said with a small smile
as she reached across the table to pour her guest some tea and then
to herself. Finally, she sat herself before the breakfast she had
prepared and announced, "Ititakimasu!"
Ayame noticed that all of Natsume's attention was focused
on her as she watched with a smile from across the table, her
chopsticks ready but making no move to eat. The angel-girl
assumed it was customary for the guest to take the first bite, so
picked up her chopsticks, somewhat awkwardly manipulating them
to grasp a small misshapen ball of rice. Nervously, she slowly
brought the rice to her lips, only for it to slip out of her grasp and
land with a splat on the table.
Natsume giggled. It seemed that while her guest knew how
to hold her chopsticks, she had never tried eating with them before.
"No, Ayame. Like this," the sandy-haired girl instructed as she
picked up the small bowl of rice and proceeded to shovel some of
its contents into her mouth.
Blushing faintly in embarrassment, Ayame nodded.
Bringing the rice bowl close to her face this time, she tried again,
only spilling a few grains as she scooped the rice into her mouth.
Almost fearfully, she chewed her food, all the while Natsume
looked back at her curiously. Drawing upon her courage, she
finally swallowed, and then smiled. The food brought such a light,
pleasant sensation that she felt silly in being so afraid of it before.
Natsume couldn't help giggling again. It was as if her guest
had never eaten anything before. Setting aside her chopsticks, she
took the miso bowl in both hands, bringing the rim close to her
lips. "And you don't use a spoon for miso soup. You drink it like
this."
Ayame watched closely as Natsume tilted the bowl back
and sipped at its contents. She thought it was a bit dangerous,
risking spilling the soup all over one's clothes or the newly
polished floor, but it would please her host to follow Japanese
customs. Besides, the rice had been an enjoyable surprise. It was
possible that this other food, despite its appearance, could be even
better. She picked up her own bowl in both hands and very
carefully sipped.
Ayame blinked, nearly dropping the bowl in astonishment.
It was an experience she could not find the words to describe, only
that it was an overwhelmingly positive one. How could bliss,
however short, be contained in one small sip? *Is all human food
like this?*
"Too salty?" Natsume asked in concern to see her guest's
extreme reaction. The other woman looked like she was in a state
of shock. Maybe she was allergic to miso soup.
Natsume's words brought Ayame out of her daze. With
hands shaking slightly, she set the bowl down and explained, "No,
I was simply surprised. I had no idea... foreign food would taste
like this. It's really much too... extraordinary for words. It makes
me wonder what I've missed."
Natsume adjusted her glasses, blushing deeply over such
praise. Her family had liked her cooking, so much so that her
parents had encouraged her to attend culinary school instead, but
she was hardly world class, especially after not doing much real
cooking for two years.
"I guess it's pretty different from western cooking, but you'll
get used to it pretty quickly. If you plan on staying in Japan for a
while longer, that is," Natsume said conversationally, trying not to
show how interested she was in Ayame's reply.
The angel-girl sighed and told her host, "I have no choice
but to remain in Japan for the meantime. I have some... unfinished
business here that is likely to take a long time to resolve."
Natsume nodded sympathetically, again feeling sorry for
the girl before her. She had come all this way, a trip which must
have cost her everything she owned since she didn't even have a
suitcase, only to be so casually spurned by her love, Kumiko.
Natsume knew from experience that that was a hard thing to get
over. At least Ayame's first love hadn't left with a short note, never
to be seen again. "Well, you're welcome to stay with me as long as
you want, Ayame."
Ayame looked up into Natsume's gentle, smiling face and
could not believe her good fortune to have met a woman as
generous as this, willing to give even the clothes off her back to a
complete stranger. The angel-girl had to wonder if her superior
Noriaki had been aiding her after all. "If it won't be an
inconvenience..."
"Inconvenience? Nope, in fact its fun having another girl
staying with me. Things have been just a bit too quiet for me ever
since I moved out of the dorms," Natsume told her with a wide
grin, delighted that Ayame actually wanted to stay with her.
"You really are too kind," Ayame said with a smile of her
own. "However, I need to do something to return your hospitality
or I'll really feel that I'm taking advantage of you. Perhaps I can
help run your coffee shop when it opens. I admit to not knowing
much about it, but I'd do my best to learn."
"That'd be great! I actually needed to hire only one more
person, so this works out perfectly," Natsume enthused, while
trying to block the image of Ayame in a waitress outfit from her
mind. Then she realized just who Ayame would be working with,
and frowned. She wanted Ayame to feel comfortable living there,
but she didn't want to loose Ken or his new girlfriend as
employees. *As long as I keep them on separate shifts, there
shouldn't be any problem though.*
"Enough about all that stuff, we can argue about who owes
who later. Breakfast is getting cold and you haven't even touched
your fish yet," Natsume pointed out, starting in on her own first
this time to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with it. She
used a bit too much seasoning, but it should be okay.
Ayame apologized with a light blush, reacquiring her
chopsticks as she watched her host eat. After she was confident
that she wouldn't embarrass herself, the angel-girl carefully tore off
a bit of her fish and popped it in her mouth.
"Ayame!" Natsume shouted in panic, leaping out of her seat
and catching the other woman before she fell to the ground. The
sandy-haired girl wondered if her guest was anemic or something.
While the fish was a bit spicy, it was hardly enough to warrant a
dead faint.
Ayame's eyes fluttered open, only to stare into the
concerned expression of her host only inches away from her. She
had thought that after the soup, she would have been ready for
anything, but the fish... perhaps it was no wonder that angels didn't
sample human food if it made them react this way. "I'm sorry,
Natsume. The fish is quite good."
For a while, her guest's words didn't even register to
Natsume, who was lost in her embrace. It felt like ages since she
had last held another woman so close, and none had been so soft or
as comfortably warm as Ayame. She didn't want the moment to
end, but realized if it didn't soon, she'd likely be short one guest.
"No, it's all my fault. I used way too much seasoning!"
Natsume insisted as she quickly let go of the other girl and returned
to her seat, all the time adjusting her glasses which seemed
unwilling to stay on her face.
Noting her host's red face, Ayame realized that she must
have embarrassed the sensitive girl with the odd way she had been
acting. "I can't find a single fault with your cooking. This is easily
the best food I've ever tasted. You should be proud of your skills."
"You can't tell that from only one bite," Natsume replied
with a smile, doing her best to hide her embarrassment. Realizing
how much she was now staring at Ayame, she focused fully on the
breakfast before her, hoping that her cheeks would stop burning
sometime soon.
Ayame thought that the food was simply too good to be
wasted on a proto-angel like herself, one that was on probation no
less, but could tell by her host's words how important it was to a
cook for her meal to be eaten and appreciated. So Ayame was left
with no choice but to consume all that lay before her, feeling
progressively more guilty the more that she enjoyed it.
With Kumiko at his side, Ken stepped out into the nearly
empty streets of early morning. The power of the sun was finally
melting away the last of the night's lingering chill and most people
were only beginning to awake. He knew that all of the places he
could get breakfast at would be open by now, but after last night's
incident, he was reluctant to go to any sort of caf�.
Ken eventually decided on the local convenience store.
There he could purchase the basics of food to go with all the
condiments he had at home, thus saving precious yen. He could
also get a little present for the demon-girl, a subtle bribe so she
wouldn't be reluctant to part with her money, or think her slave
needed to be punished any time soon.
*Hey, I haven't seen her here before,* Ken thought, noting
the cute girl behind the counter who was idly thumbing through a
motorcycle magazine. She had dark shoulder-length hair, drawn
into a short pony-tail in back, and long bangs that nearly obscured
eyes in front. The leather jacket that she wore looked like it had
been in a few accidents. He marched through the sliding glass
doors like a zombie, his eyes focused completely on her.
"Excuse... me miss," Eichi said as he darted in to keep the
succubus from following Ken inside.
"Me?" Kumiko asked in confusion, pointing to herself.
"Yes," Eichi confirmed, relieved that she wasn't quite as
threatening up close as he had been expecting. Then he realized
he'd been so worried about what the succubus might do to him that
he never actually had come up with a plan to delay her. "Umm, I
was only wondering what your relationship to Ken was..."
Ken headed straight for the counter, intending to say a few
polite things like good morning, how's business, and things like
that. Kumiko couldn't get angry at him just for being friendly to a
pretty girl. *Where is Kumiko anyway?* he thought in mid-step,
realizing too late that she had stopped at the door.
Fujiko was busy hiding a determined look behind her
favorite magazine. She had tried reading an article to relax herself,
but couldn't concentrate on the words when her target could walk
through the door at any moment. She didn't want to look ready for
a fight though. It would work best if the girl didn't suspect
anything until it was too late.
She glanced over as the chime sounded, announcing a new
customer, but sighed in disappointment to see the newcomer was
male. Fujiko was feeling so tense already that she wanted to get it
over with quickly. It was just like racing; the more she thought
about it, the bigger the chance of her screwing it all up. And she
didn't like to lose, in racing or in matters of the heart.
Fujiko blinked in surprise when the new customer tripped
over absolutely nothing to land painfully on his back. *What a
moron,* she thought with a small chuckle as she glanced at him
again, then paused, blinking in surprise.
She realized he was Ken Iwakami, another guy she had
heard about, but in this case nothing good. He was supposed to be
a notorious letch and pervert who hit on any woman that crossed
his path. *I hope he doesn't try talking to me. I need all of my
strength to fight the blue-haired witch!*
Kumiko was staring into the man's shocked expression,
trying to determine the reason for it. She had only told him that
Ken was her sex slave; why should that be so surprising? Then she
felt a violent tug on her wrist, propelling her forward to smack
foreheads with the man, who unnoticed to her, immediately
crumpled in a heap.
Clutching her head to avert the minor headache coming on,
and generally annoyed by the ringing in her ears, Kumiko staggered
into the convenience store. Spotting Ken lying on the floor, the
demon-girl's eyes narrowed. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Leave the guy alone! He just tripped!" Fujiko shouted
back at the newcomer, doing her best to hide a smile. Blue hair,
blue eyes, and so pushy that she would scream at a complete
stranger for no good reason. This had to be Satoru's overbearing
girlfriend.
Kumiko very slowly glanced up to the woman who had just
spoken, a puzzled expression on her face. Why would this stranger
stick up for Ken unless... It was just like her dream. This woman
wanted the demon-girl's slave for herself. Well, she wasn't about
to let that happen. *Ken is mine!*
"Butt out, ugly!" Kumiko yelled back at her as she picked
Ken up, failing to notice how much his eyes bugged out as she held
him around the neck in an iron grip. "This is between me and
him!"
Fujiko's calm lasted for all of three seconds. "Ugly?! At
least I don't dress up like some cheap tramp and flaunt my assets at
any man who happens to walk by! And I bet your bust is about as
real as that cheap blue hair dye!" she shouted back as she leaned
over the counter, unable to believe how shameless this woman was
to be grabbing at a stranger in public like that. Satoru was afraid to
even look at another woman, but of course she could do whatever
she wanted. Women like that just made Fujiko sick.
"There's nothing wrong with the way I'm dressed!" Kumiko
yelled back in irritation. She had spent a lot of time that morning
choosing her outfit from Ken's manga collection. It had been a
surprise how many nice outfits were considered improper in public.
"And my slave said it looked good on me, so there!"
Fujiko stuttered in rage, unable to believe that this... demon
could say that poor Satoru was her slave, just like that. "He only
said that because he was scared of what you'd do if he didn't!"
Ken suddenly found himself dropped to the floor. He
wasn't about to complain since he could breathe again, though he
was starting to feel uncomfortably warm. Looking up, he found
the reason why. Kumiko stood firmly, fists clenched, head down
with eyes shut, but also faintly glowing with a flickering flame that
encased her whole body.
Backing fearfully away from the demon-girl, Ken wondered
where this sudden confrontation had come from. He was positive
that he had never met the convenience store girl before, and this
was going a little too far for just a stranger concerned about his
welfare. She could be picking a fight out of boredom, but he didn't
think she'd be this vicious. Could she be a secret admirer? Ken
knew he was that lucky, but he hoped that it wasn't another angel
out for blood.
Eichi was roused from a pleasant dream involving sending
his sister to Hell, to be replaced with a blurry image of Nobu
recording something with his camcorder, and a dull stab of pain
from the front of his skull. *What the heck happened?* All he
could remember is a pair of red eyes boring into his, then darkness.
Finding himself sprawled out on the sidewalk, Eichi
attempted to stand, only to discover his sense of balance had gone
for a coffee break. The best he could do was kneel next to Nobu,
tugging on the treasurer's pant leg. "Wasa happin'?" he slurred.
"The succubus looks ready to explode!" Nobu enthused at a
whisper, still keeping his camcorder trained upon the scene
unfolding in the convenience store. "She looks so magnificent
when she's angry."
Getting the general gist of things, Eichi nodded. It sounded
like everything was going to plan; not that he could remember what
the plan was at the moment. "Good, good," he whispered back.
"So long as she doesn't blow up the store. I think I need an
aspirin."
Nobu glanced down to see the president had passed out
again, shrugged, and returned to his filming. He couldn't bear to
miss a single moment of the goddess in action.
At the back of the store, where he had been taking pictures
the moment Ken had entered, Satoru felt a sudden chill creep up
his back. The same chill he had felt just before the bunny-girls had
ambushed him. Fujiko had ignored his advice and done the one
thing that he had dreaded: she had pushed the succubus too far.
Holding the mystical orb in his fist, Satoru began to inch
forward while muttering a mantra that was supposed to remove all
sense of his presence. If he managed to knock the succubus
unconscious with the orb, then maybe no one would get hurt. Most
likely he'd be the one getting very hurt, but feeling responsible for
getting Fujiko into this mess, he had to try something. At least the
demon was finally acting the way a succubi should.
Fujiko wasn't the least bit impressed by her opponent's
show of anger. In fact, she smiled, the sweet taste of victory on the
tip of her tongue. All it would take was one more push and she
knew this girl would come out swinging. Then she'd just deck her
and claim her prize. "I know he was lying to you because he told
me himself; how frightened he was of you, how much he hated the
sight of you, and how he'd do anything to get away from you."
"No, that's not true," Kumiko muttered to herself, head
down. "He's my slave, he has to do what I say... He has to like me.
He has to stay with me. He has to!!"
When the girl's head snapped up with a inhuman growl,
Fujiko knew fear. It was all there in the woman's red eyes, her
fangs, her claws as she reached out for her. All she could do was
watch as five razor edges neared her throat, paralyzed with fright.
The sound of the slap echoed loudly in the now silent
convenience store. The others could only stare in shock as Ken
pulled his hand away, and Kumiko stared back at him, one hand
now on her reddened cheek.
Eichi was filled with glee, sure that Nobu had recorded
whatever supernatural activity had taken place that he couldn't
make out with his blurred vision. It also looked as if Ken had
finally spurred the evil yet enchanting succubus. It was a shame
that his other brilliant plans would go unused, but perhaps he could
salvage them for himself.
Nobu burned with so much rage that his normally steady
camera hand was shaking with suppressed fury. How dare that...
scum Ken harm a single perfect hair on the goddess's exquisite
head? For her sake, he could stomach the idea of the two having a
close relationship, but this abuse simply could not be tolerated. If
it took the combined powers of heaven and hell, Nobu would see
justice served against the true demon... Ken.
Satoru breathed a sigh of relief as the potential disaster had
been diverted somehow. Perhaps the supernatural wasn't his true
calling after all. He hadn't realized just how dangerous it was
before, putting innocent lives at risk, not to mention his own.
Satoru idly wondered if his old manager was still in the
business. He was having women problems as it was; he might as
well get paid for it. Besides, it had to be a whole lot safer than
angering powerful succubi.
When the blue-haired woman had lunged towards her,
Fujiko had been absolutely certain she was going to die. She had
been in motorcycle accidents before that had been only a few feet
away from serious injury or even death, but she had never felt that
same certainty as she had in looking into those red eyes. Even after
surviving somehow, she knew those eyes would haunt her dreams
for a long time to come.
Ironically, she had the most infamous man on campus to
thank for saving her life. She began to wonder if all those rumors
that surrounded him were just that, and that he was really a nice
guy simply cursed with bad luck. Then she looked at him and
shook her head; she could tell he was a pervert just by looking at
him. Probably had only done it to ask her out. She supposed that
she did owe him a date at least, but she could handle him if he got
too fresh.
Then there was her own reward. It had nearly cost her life,
but she had freed Satoru from the shackles of his evil girlfriend,
leaving him free to express his love for her. There would be a
happy ending after all.
Ken didn't know what to think. It had been just like the
time the angel had attacked. Kumiko slipped into some sort of
killing haze, and he snapped her out of it before she could do
something they'd both regret. Then why did he feel so terrible
inside when she stared back at him with hurt eyes?
Kumiko had never been alone before. From her earliest
memories, Ayame had been there for her. Even after they had
parted, the demon-girl knew that somewhere out there was her
good friend, to run to if she ever needed her again. Only last night
did she discover that for nearly a hundred years, she had been
living under false hope, a dream. Her 'friend' loathed her very
existence and never wanted to see her again.
That was when Kumiko had discovered she already had
someone else to run to, someone to comfort her when her normally
cheerful outlook seemed hollow. Now she realized that too was a
lie. He was only a slave; just a puppet who did what she wanted
because he hadn't any other choice.
Wordlessly, Kumiko fled, not even noticing Ken dragging
along behind her on the end of the chain that bound them together.