Disclaimer for this story: InuYasha is property of Rumiko Takahashi and the Harry Potter series is property of J.K. Rowling. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author, punkish furball. The author, punkish furball, is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. The author, punkish furball, makes no profit from this fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended.
punkish furball – Howdy, all! XD
Words to Ponder:
Hello, all! This is a new and improved version of Demonic Teachings that is guaranteed to surpass the original in plot, character development, and clarity. Thanks to everyone who continued to support the original and promoted my growth as a writer.
Before we begin, here's a few tiny tweaks and detail changes I made. For starters, this is now an eighth year, postwar fic. This change gives me the opportunity to be a bit more creative and not limited to the events in any of the books in the series. Also, I love them to death! XD
Also, this will now be a multi-crossover. The two main worlds are Harry Potter and InuYasha. The characters from other worlds are ONLY included to make up the "non-InuYasha character" members of the Japanese Ministry of Magic (and a few others but that's for later!) and will ONLY show up in a few chapters making them minor characters. Any further questions, take it up with me. And, for fun, see if you can guess which series they come from! ;)
Finally, OCs will be included in this story as well. The main two are Mayaru and Mimiru whom I've used before in other stories. I've had a lot of time to play with my little fan creations and hopefully I succeeded in giving their personas more depth than before. Again, any questions, let me know.
Without further ado, please enjoy! X3
-O0o0O-
Prologue: To New Beginnings! The Indomitable Will of the Yōkai Lord
Future, Monday, August 26, 2013
Despite the ongoing event with the loud cheers and jeers from excited patrons and enthusiasts, the mixed group paused and stared ahead of them, effectively ignoring it all. The twin pairs of sapphire blue returned their gaze, sparkling with mischievous intent. Though their coloring was on opposite ends of the spectrum, the truth was obvious before it was spoken.
The two boys before them had their father's heritage and shared their mother's eyes.
-O0o0O-
Present, July 1998
The high ranking British political leader calmly sat in the unfamiliar setting for today's meeting, an ornate and traditional washitsu with tatami floors and sliding shoji screens. The screens were opened to let in the gentle breezes from the balmy weather outside, a short reprieve from the characteristic hot and humid climate associated with a Japanese summer.
The Englishman was clearly unused to sitting at the short-legged table with his Asian counterparts on the decorated cushion but made himself appear as comfortable and adjusted as possible. Even the smallest show of weakness would drastically lower his chances for success in this meeting. The beings before him were otherworldly and powerful, the cast of pleasant dreams or hellish nightmares. Not magic or Muggle but demons.
The shortest and youngest looking member of the Japanese assembly was seated on the left of the chabudai. Like all demons, her fingers were slender with razor sharp claws, and her ears elongated and pointed at the tips. Her skin was smooth and unblemished like tan, weathered suede, the characteristic shade for her species, the fire wielding nekomata. Her hair, cropped in a delicate, pixie style, was colored a rich creamy white with onyx bangs fanned over her forehead. Two cream-colored, black tipped tail extended from the base of her spine, gently moving back and forth. Despite her apparent youth, she sat poised and confident, curiously eyeing the British official with feline crimson eyes with a faint smile on her face.
The demon to the right was a wolf demon, the ōkami. He had tanned, toned complexion with a lean and muscled body, pulsing with sheer strength that no mere human could possess. His wild, raven hair was tied into a ponytail behind his head with his bangs over a grungy, brown headband that didn't fit with the professional attire he wore. The piercing blue eyes on his ruggedly handsome face heatedly regarded the human who had requested this audience, his mouth contorted in a scowl. Occasionally, the young female would glance in his direction, mentally shaking her head at his childish behavior from the erratic movements of his tail to random flexing of his claws.
In the middle of these two sat the most dominant and frightening of them all, a proud inuyōkai radiating power. His height alone was cause for intimidation; his immense stature towered over everyone present. He was as beautiful as he was terrifying with long, silver-white tresses flowing like water to the small of his back in thousands of silky strands. Magenta markings graced his cheeks as did the dark blue crescent moon on his forehead, signs of his great demonic heritage. Pure honey gold eyes contrasted brightly against his smooth, pale skin and pierced through the visiting Englishman without blinking as his deadly, clawed hands were delicately folded on top of the table.
Had he been a lesser man, their combined beauty would have enthralled him. But the British official knew the deadly intent hiding just beneath the surface of those ethereal faces and lucid eyes and refused to cower. Even in front of beings that surpassed him in ways he couldn't begin to comprehend, Kingsley Shacklebolt couldn't rightly be labeled a lesser man. He was a determined one.
He quietly cleared his throat and began to speak. "Have you considered the proposal my Ministry sent for your approval, Sesshomaru-sama?"
The wolf snorted before the inuyōkai answered. "Proposal? That's rich."
"Clam up, Koga!" the feline hissed under her breath. Kingsley didn't see what she did to reprimand him, but Koga grunted and jerked forward in his seat before casting the feline a suspicious look.
"Mayaru…" he groaned gruffly. She rolled her eyes before turning her attention to Sesshomaru. He nodded once and she began to speak.
"Upon receipt of the documents, the terms of the outlined proposal were carefully reviewed by officials from all applicable departments in our Ministry," Mayaru answered, "After several interdepartmental meetings, we've called this audience to inform you of our next course of action."
"I see," Kingsley replied with nod, "And your decision?"
The dog chose this time to speak, his authoritative bark demanding all available attention.
"We counter it with an ultimatum," Sesshomaru stated loud and clear.
"Really?" Kingsley questioned with enough bravado to appear amused by their Ministry's decision.
"Indeed," Sesshomaru answered with a small, barely noticeable grin, "We acknowledge and accept you and your Ministry's efforts to extend mutual political support and form an alliance between our nations. One that has not previously existed in the magical community."
Kingsley nodded and waited for the Asian Minister to continue, understanding his position more than before. While it was true that the differences between the west and east were great in the Muggle community, those that existed in the magical community were far greater. Though managing to advance in these modern times, wizards from European nations and the Americas continued to cling to the traditions from the founding of witchcraft, keeping the influence of Muggle innovation to a minimum and their beliefs in the Dark Ages. More so, nonhuman beings could never hope to gain a high—or in Sesshomaru's case, the highest—Ministry positions and the sovereignty of their species as a whole was considerably limited.
While tradition was equally important in the east, Asian wizards knew the importance of cooperating with their inhuman counterparts and working together directly and equally lest events of the past repeat themselves. The Japanese trio, as well as many others, knew that all too well.
Despite their differences, Japan and other Asian nations were on the rise in the Wizarding World especially since they were not involved in the Second Wizarding War, maintaining their neutrality unless directly assaulted. The British Ministry of Magic officials knew that this type of stability was a crucial criterion when they were seeking foreign aid and support.
"However," Sesshomaru continued, "the outlined procedure and other such terms in the proposed agreement are not feasible by our standards. We refuse them entirely, and that is not negotiable."
"How so?" Kingsley asked.
"Let's be frank," Mayaru elaborated, "While tolerant of each other, our nations have never seen eye to eye and heedlessly rushing into the methods your Ministry proposed will not produce the desired outcome." She smiled softly, her eyes twinkling. "Optimistic ideology is impractical."
"I see," Kinglsey replied with the distinct impression that the feline was mocking him, "How do you suggest we proceed?"
"Ignorance breeds prejudice," Sesshomaru stated simply, "Therefore, sharing knowledge is key to establish a solid foundation for our future alliance to grow and flourish."
Mayaru slid a stack of neatly arranged and stapled documents to Kingsley across the table. "We have devised a more acceptable approach. Review it and feel free to add your input."
Tentatively, Kingsley picked up the proposal and began to scan its pages. He awkwardly maneuvered through it; he was more accustomed to reading rolls of parchment opposed to the stark white paper printouts he was presented with. After a few seconds of reading, he found a short summary after the cover page and table of contents that gave a short description of the provisions of the proposal there in. When he finished, his eyes widened considerably.
"This is the gist of your proposal?" he asked curiously.
Sesshomaru nodded once. "Kingsley-san, you are the first European leader to seek an active role of support from Japan of this magnitude. In addition to that, an immediate threat to your nation's stability along with a majority of his followers has been eliminated. Due to those circumstances, this route is our only offer to support your country while maintaining our own."
"I can see your reasoning," Kingsley began, "but surely—"
Koga guffawed, effectively cutting Kingsley off. "Does the thought of demons roaming the halls of your precious prep school bother you that much?"
Kingsley's lips thinned to a fine line. "Ignorance exists and, therefore, prejudice. Because of that, a move like this will not be well received."
"Don't get your panties in a wad," Koga retorted with a smirk, "Unlike your guys, we know how to operate realistically. Read the intel on our prospects. You'll be surprised at what you'll find."
Kingsley looked at the proposal again, skipping to pertinent pages and glancing at the provided pictures of the two female operatives selected to facilitate this new course of action. One in particular shared a striking resemblance to Mayaru, yet this nekomata has a few unique characteristics of her own. The other was human but by no means inferior to her demonic comrades.
Kingsley continued below the photographs and read the brief assessments on the two girls. There were many things about them that he didn't understand and some he understood all too well.
"Your thoughts?" Koga quipped, propping his elbow on the table and brazenly resting his head on his fist.
Personally, Kingsley had no problem with the foreign leaders and their new methods. In fact, once the novelty of them settled in his mind, he found their plans quite brilliant. It was the rest of the Ministry, particularly the Wizengamot he worried about. Frankly, they were a bunch of oldsters stuck in their ancient ways who couldn't or refused to the see merit of change for the younger generations even after everything that's happened. Kingsley knew if that kind of thinking persisted, it would not promote the progress their magical community desperately needed. As cliché as it sounded, it was time to usher in a change and one of his primary duties in his first term as Minister of Magic would be to see that in came to pass.
Kingsley immediately shook his head to dispel his current train of thought. The trio in front of him would definitely see fit to mock him for those musings; they sounded too much like the idealistic tripe the Wizengamot agreed on.
"Further counsel with my Ministry and the other involved parties is needed before I can officially accept, but, as far as I'm concerned, the terms of this new agreement are acceptable," Kingsley announced, "I agree that the previous proposal was not satisfactory, and I apologize for wasting your time with such."
"Don't worry," Koga commented with a smirk, "We know enough about British politics to guess what you had to go through just to get here. You got guts for a human."
"Arrange the proper meetings with your council and depart for London with our chosen operatives as soon as possible," Sesshomaru stated, closing all arguments on the subject.
"And, just so you know, everything's already been cleared on our end!" Mayaru exclaimed, happily clapping her hands together.
Koga rolled his eyes at the childish display and unexpectedly lurched forward in his seat like he did earlier. He scowled and glared at the feline as she grinned deviously.
"Stop pulling my tail!" he hissed in a barely audible voice.
Sesshomaru cleared his throat cutting off whatever reply Mayaru had, and the two demons sat straighter than a pair of teenage siblings caught squabbling by their parents. Kingsley fought the urge to sigh. He wasn't sure if he should be glad the foreign officials acted so familiarly around him or annoyed that they didn't seem to take him seriously.
'I'll assume the former in good faith…' he thought.
"Very well," Kingsley answered Sesshomaru, "I'll contact the Wizengamot and make the arrangements immediately."
"No need to rush off like that. Stay for a drink," Koga urged him.
Within seconds, a green imp no larger than a house elf called Jaken appeared at the door with a serving tray carrying a bottle of sake and four serving bowls. He sat it on the table and began pouring the rice wine for the officials, serving Sesshomaru first.
When he received his cup, Kingsley smiled and held it in the air. "To new beginnings and newer friends."
"And to sappy yet sincere clichés," Mayaru remarked after a series of giggles.
Kingsley's smile deepened. "Of course. That as well."
-O0o0O-
"I can't believe we're running this late!"
The raven-haired young woman ran across the Ministry of Magic's main lobby with her partner at her side and a precious bundle of documents clamped protectively to her chest. She skillfully dodged anyone who wasn't aware of her sprint. Her loose, waist length hair wildly whipped around her head, her pale, creamy skin was alight with a bright pink flush, and her sapphire eyes wide and panicked.
"I don't think we're gonna make it!" Higurashi Kagome told her companion.
"It couldn't be helped," Mimiru replied evenly, "The wards on the Ministry's server must be down again."
Mimiru matched Kagome's pace without exerting much effort. Her light, brown skin remained even and her eyes, the right one crimson and the other a deep, golden honey, were calm and clear. The rapidly flicking of her two black, cream tipped catlike ears on the side of her head and the two matching tails were the only signs she was equally as frantic. She reached up and ran her claws through her onyx hair with cream tips and bangs. It was moments like this that really made her rethink working in the magical community.
"That happens every other week around here yet I can go to the public library down the street and use a computer just fine," Kagome grumbled, increasing her speed, "The Ministry needs to get with the program and go digital like everyone else in the world!"
"I'd love to see you take the world by storm in an innovative revolution, Kagome-sama, but we can't do that if we get fired," Mimiru remarked.
Kagome chuckled. "As if that would ever happen! At the most, we'll get demoted for a few months. Our fluffy overlord doesn't have the time or energy to break in another team like us!"
"Or the patience," Mimiru wryly added.
The duo left the lobby and entered a long corridor. Just as they rounded the corner, they ran right into Mayaru and Kingsley as the feline was showing the British Minister of Magic around the facilities. Mimiru skidded to a stop before she made contact with them, but Kagome collided with Kingsley and flew backward to the ground, spilling all of her files and papers around her.
"I'm so sorry!" Kagome cried as she scrambled to pick up the mixture of printouts, loose-leaf paper, and rolls of parchment with Mimiru bending over to help her. Before Kingsley could lend his aid, Kagome shot to her feet and began running toward her destination again.
"Pardon our intrusion," Mimiru mumbled as she bowed politely before rushing after her.
Bewildered, Kingsley looked in the direction that the two girls ran in, instantly recognizing them.
"So that's them, eh?" he commented.
"More or less," Mayaru answered, "As I told you before, they never had aspirations for a position in a specific department in our Ministry, so they don't have a particular affiliation even though their office is located in the Auror Department. Most of the time, they get their assignments directly from Sesshomaru-sama or a department head that needs their specific skills. I guess you could say their job duties are pretty irregular, and they pretty much do freelance most of the time."
"I see," Kingsley replied, though he was certain there was much more to it than that.
Mayaru smiled at Kingsley's pensive silence. "Reconsidering your decision?"
"Not at all," Kingsley stated strongly, "In fact, it's been reinforced."
"From that encounter?"
Kingsley shrugged. "Sometimes that's all it takes. I'll have you know, I'm an excellent judge of character."
"Really? I'd call that instinct," Mayaru commented, "You might have some demon in you, Kingsley-san."
Kingsley chuckled and replied, "I'm not too sure about that, but I appreciate the complement."
"Very well," Mayaru replied, "I believe you've had your fill of touring our main office. Let's get you to your accommodations for the night."
Kingsley nodded and followed the feline, feeling better about his decision by the second. There was more lost by the Wizarding World War than the public would ever realize, than he would ever realize. The survivors on both sides of the war continued to grieve and mourn, those who were hurt the most did it in silence. He hoped that his efforts would give them to opportunity to gain some of it back.
-O0o0O-
Harry Potter let out a loud sneeze, jerking forward in his seat in between his two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. The three of them along with most of the Weasley brood were spending their summer in the Burrow.
"Are you alright, mate?" Ron asked.
Harry didn't have time to answer because Molly Weasley and her only daughter, Ginny, rushed from the kitchen to his side, poking and prodding him for signs of fever or infection.
"I'm alright," he answered gruffly. Harry pulled away from the inspecting hands causing Molly to huff and Ginny to pout. He straightened his glasses over his emerald green eyes but didn't bother to fix his hair which was permanently askew.
"I have some Pepperup Potion in my luggage," Hermione announced before standing up and walking to the stairs, "If you are ill, it's best to nip these things in the bud before they get any worse."
"Hermione," Harry called out to her, but she either didn't hear him or, more than likely, chose to ignore any protests he had. Ginny happily took the spot next to him that she abandoned.
"You can't forget your health, Harry," Molly admonished, wiping her hands on her apron, "After all, you are going back for the eighth year at Hogwarts."
"Molly dear," Arthur addressed his wife, lowering the latest edition of The Daily Prophet he was reading, "You say that like it's a curse."
"It might as well be," she countered.
"Mum!" Ron exclaimed, but it was no use. Molly made it clear she did not approve of opening the school for another term so soon after the end of the war.
"Don't you take that tone with me, young man!" Molly warned sternly, a hard look in her eyes, "I don't like it, and I'll say it as many times as I please."
"It's alright," Harry interjected to avoid another argument, "I'm fine with going back, Mrs. Weasley. All of us are."
"Of course you are," Arthur added as he stood with the newspaper folded over in his hands. He walked next to Molly and coaxed her back into the kitchen. She huffed but went to the next room with him.
Hermione returned to the living room with a small vial of the burning red potion. She handed it to Harry who obediently removed the top and downed the potion. Satisfied, Hermione took her seat in the armchair Arthur vacated.
"Sounds like I missed something," she remarked.
"Another one of Mum's rants about us going back to Hogwarts," Ginny answered before sitting up and looking at her brother, "Really, Ron. You shouldn't antagonize her when you know how she gets about that."
"I wasn't trying to start anything," Ron countered, "Besides, I don't see why we're going back either. Kingsley offered us spots in the Auror Academy right off."
"I'm tired of having things like that handed to me," Harry remarked, suppressing a sigh, "I want something to work for."
"He's got the right idea," Hermione added, casting her boyfriend a disapproving look, "You can't just jump into something like that without a proper education."
Harry reluctantly nodded; his sentiments weren't as academically oriented as Hermione's.
"I'm just saying that if anyone deserves it, it's us," Ron retorted. He was quiet before softly adding, "Ya know, it's not gonna be the same."
Harry shrugged. "Every year at Hogwarts is different."
Ron gave him a dry look that he had to have learned from Hermione. "I mean it. According to Dad, new teachers are coming this term who were appointed by the Ministry."
"Really?" Hermione questioned before musing aloud, "Our class and materials list haven't arrived yet. If they were recently appointed, that would explain the delay."
"Why is the Ministry getting involved with Hogwarts?" Ginny asked, "Did Dad say?"
"He doesn't know much," Ron answered, "All I know for sure is that Kingsley's involved. Supposedly, he handpicked them."
"It's not the first time the Ministry got involved with Hogwarts," Hermione deduced, "One of them is definitely the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Perhaps the others are involved when some new elective classes."
"Let's just hope that the outcome is better than the last time the Ministry appointed teachers," Ron commented, "The last thing we need is another Umbridge on our hands."
"If that's the case," Ginny began, smiling at her boyfriend adoringly, "We could always rely on you three to take care of that."
Harry grimaced. "I'd rather it not come to that. I'm looking forward to a normal school year for a change. Hopefully, these new arrivals won't change that."
-O0o0O-
Kagome suddenly sneezed, lurching forward against her desk and jostled its contents. She groaned and began rearranging the organized chaos that was her workspace. Luckily, she preferred calligraphy pens to the standard inkwells and quills the Ministry issued, so the mess she made wasn't that serious. After arranging all of her completed papers in a messy stack and pushing everything else into her desk drawers, Kagome returned to her current, work-related bane of existence, overdue expense reports.
"Catching a cold?" Mimiru quipped from the other side of the room without looking up from her work.
"I hope not," Kagome replied, "Then again, paid sick leave does have a nice ring to it."
Mimiru snorted. "As if we'd get it."
"Maybe someone is gossiping about you?"
Kagome and Mimiru looked up to the doorway of their office to see Mayaru leaning against the doorframe. Mimiru rolled her eyes and returned to her work without a second thought.
Kagome shrugged and smiled at her superior. "All good things I hope!"
"As if there's anything else it could be," Mayaru stated fondly. She walked into the room and plopped down on Mimiru's desk, facing Kagome and crossing her feet at the ankles.
"Do you mind?" Mimiru asked dryly.
Mayaru huffed and looked at her younger sister from the corner of her eye. "Sorry to bother you. I thought you would enjoy my visits more."
"Not when your visits usually mean you're up to something," Mimiru quickly remarked.
Kagome smiled as she regarded the two demonic siblings. As similar as they appeared, they were nearly opposites. At first glance, Mayaru appeared to be the more approachable of the two; she regarded everyone with respect and kindness. In all circumstances, she remained poised, cool, and calm, displaying the intelligence and cunning typical to her species. Her true unguarded persona and caring nature were reserved for a select few, current company included. However, when crossed, the feline quickly turned ruthless, striking with absolute precision.
On the other hand, Mimiru was short-tempered and extremely blunt, bordering rude but managed to be coolly polite when she needed to be. When she wasn't spouting her usually caustic and cynical comments, she regarded everything and everyone with thinly veiled boredom. But Kagome knew there was so much more to the feline than this mask portrayed. When her guard was broken and her curiosity roused, Mimiru was kinder, gentler, and far more playful than she made herself to be. She was intelligent and a skilled fighter like her sister but also impulsive, competitive, and relied on instinct more often than not whether it was right or wrong.
'A typical jerk with a hidden heart of gold,' Kagome thought fondly, 'I've always been attracted to that type.'
"You see through me as always. I'm here on behalf of the Minister of Magic," Mayaru announced as she slid from her seat, "Come on then. Our lord and master, Sesshomaru-sama, needs to fill you in on your latest mission."
"Another one so soon? We barely managed to turn in the report from our last job," Kagome exclaimed. She held up the paperwork she was working on. "I haven't even finished the expense reports!"
"Oh, just let Jaken take care of it like everyone else does," Mayaru flippantly remarked, "Accounting is just another one of the toad's lesser known talents."
"Unfortunately, complaining is one of his well-known ones," Kagome commented. Jaken may get the work done, but he was going to let her know exactly how much he deplored doing it every step of the way.
"There's no use fighting it," Mimiru commented as she stood from her desk, "Even mountains bend to that demon's indomitable will. Why would we be any different?"
Kagome huffed and blew away strands of her hair that fell in her face before standing to join her partner.
"Just because that's true, doesn't mean I have to like it," Kagome mumbled as the two of them fell in line behind Mayaru.
"Oh, stop being so melodramatic," Mayaru playfully chided them, "This mission requires you to relocate for a few months or so. Consider it a paid vacation."
"Really? Where to?" Kagome questioned, though such assignments weren't uncommon. She and her partner have traveled for the Ministry from time to time to China, India, and parts of the Americas. She had acquaintances and close friends on all those places, so a mission there wouldn't be so bad.
Mayaru chuckled. "You'll see when we get to the meeting."
Kagome sighed at the intentionally vague answer and turned to Mimiru.
"Why do I get the feeling that this assignment isn't going to be very easy or enjoyable?"
"Because if it was, they wouldn't be giving it to us."
-O0o0O-
punkish furball – Interesting, yeah? Please send me all of your feedback, comments, questions, and suggestions.
Until next time, TCB, GUYS! Furball out! X3
(revised 12.02.2013)