Of Yokai and Hopeless Romantics

Chapter 2

BRRRRT!

Benihime rolled over in her bed and turned off the alarm on her phone. Has she made her way to the bathroom to take her morning shower, many things weighed down on her mind. The question of returning to the Yokai World put forth by her parents was still there, though if she was honest she had not given it much thought in the week that followed. The week had been spent in a final mad dash towards the finishing line of the Student Council Elections and today was Election Day. As Benihime let the cold water caress her skin, she thought of how her problems could be solved if she became Student Council President. Foxes with as mischievous as they were, were the bureaucrats of the godly yokai, her parents certainly would not expect her to resign from her post as President if she won. The win would give her a reprieve, a whole school year to figure her life out. It might be a bit cowardly to not deal with her problems head-on, but Benihime could not start to even come to a decision. All her life her parent's words had been tantamount to a godly decree, never had she thought of disobeying. Now though her fate was left in her own hands and Benihime feared to make a decision that would lead to her parents being disappointed.

Benihime walked out of the bathroom feeling quite depressed, so after dressing quickly, she set about cheering herself up. Since it was Election Day, Benihime had decided she would cook all the first year girls in her dorm breakfast. Mari was the first to show up at the small kitchenette in the girls' dorm. She was in her human form, she appeared as a small athletically built girl, a body perfect for the gymnastics she practiced. She kept her hair in twin braids that came down to her shoulders, her tails when she was not in cat form. Her eyes even in human form still had a catlike quality to them.

" Morning, what you making?" Mari asked lazily.

" I'm making omelets, for everyone," Benihime said.

" Wouldn't it be easier to just make scrambled eggs?" Mari asked.

" Don't discourage her from making us something yummy," Noriko said to Mari as she entered the dining area. Noriko was also running for President along with Mari, the two were roommates and childhood friends, but had quite different personalities. Noriko was kind-hearted and serious, a Judo prodigy, and the head of the school's unofficial anti-bullying group. Her body in contrast to both Benihime and Mari was tall, muscularly built, while still having curvy hips and a busty chest. Her wavy brown hair and tan skin hinted at a bit of wildness inside, which was, in fact, true since she was an oni.

" It sounds like she is making a last effort to get some votes," Mari said. The fact was there was some truth in that.

" Stop being so suspicious of everyone, Beni-chan is a genuinely nice person," Yayaka said as she entered the dining area with her roommate Ukitake Inna. Yayaka was Benihime's best friend and they made quite the odd pair. Yayaka was a succubus, her long black hair, pretty brown eyes, full lips, well-endowed chest, and tight rear end, the things of boys dreams. She was flirtatious, forcefull at times, but absolutely loyal to her friends. Inna was one of her lovers, a human girl who had fallen for Yayaka and whose feelings Yayaka chose to reciprocate. Inna was a skinny girl who kept her hair in a stylish bob and had a pretty face with a beauty mark next to her left eye. Benihime liked Inna, she was down to earth and straightforward without ever being rude.

" Is there anything we can do to help?" Noriko asked as Mari and Yayaka started bickering.

" You can start setting out plates," Benihime said. Benihime then focused on her cooking while the others went about their conversations and setting the small tables in the dining area. Mari was right in stating that omelets were far more difficult than just doing scrambled eggs, but Benihime enjoyed showing off her cooking skills. As the rest of the girls in the dorm started to file into the small area, picking up their omelets and heading back out into the hallway to eat, Benihime imagined herself as a head chef at her own restaurant during the morning rush. This more than anything was Benihime's element, but soon enough she was done, plating her own omelet and sitting down at a table with Yayaka, Inna, Noriko, and Mari.