Soul's Wings PT 2
I decided to take a crack at continuing this fan-fic. And yes, I asked Knight Estoc first before I started it. The reason I took this on is that it is a good story that needs to be finished IMO. Obviously the writing style will be a bit different, but I will hold to the scope and intent of the original story line. As for 'Canon' - if you want Canon, go see the GUP girls, they got canons. As for Genre, take your best guess, I pretty much ignore that word, a decent story deals with life, not just one aspect IMO.
So, here we go, I hope you folks like it. Comments and suggestions are welcome to help me improve my writing, but pure nasty comments will get you blocked.
On with the story.
The Seventh Spell
One thing that was bothering Harry was all the trinkets he'd lost. Items of power and ability to store power that he no longer had. If nothing else, he wanted his duster and his staff back. He did feel rather naked without them. Very unmanly. OK, so he had a jacket now he was working on. It still wasn't his duster. Watching Kusano tend to Miya's flowers with her, Lash decided to butt in on his thoughts again.
'Host, have you thought about where that forest came from?'
'Why? Do you want me to live in the woods? If you expect me to wear a red plaid shirt and sing the Lumberjack song, you're out of luck.'
'Just something you might want to consider. Those trees were not natural, were they?'
Watching Kusano, Harry noticed she had a small plant in a flower pot. Running over to him, she beamed, "Big Brother! Look at what Miya gave me!"
The plant was only a seedling, a couple inches tall. "That was nice of Miya. Did you thank her?"
"Uh huh," Kusano said with a bob of her head.
"What kind is it?" Harry prodded.
"It's a cute little plant," Kusano beamed.
OK, so the kid had no idea what kind of plant it was. A plant was a plant, right? Unless it was poison ivy.
'Ask her if it grows' Lash coaxed.
'Or wilt and die.' Harry thought back. "Make sure you water it, Kuu," he told her.
"I will!" she assured him then climbed up into his lap.
Harry felt Akitsu settle down beside him. He looked over at her. Akitsu cast him a blushing smile, then looked down.
"Oh look there is room to spar out here!" Musubi said happily.
Harry looked behind him to see her gazing at the yard. He winced, wondering if she wanted to spar with him. He wasn't a boxer and Musubi hit hard. "I'm afraid I suck at boxing," he offered.
Musubi looked at him and giggled. "That's funny! I can't spar with my Ashikabi!"
"Good thing, too," Harry said, relieved.
"Fu fu fu," Miya said behind her hand as she cast Musubi a grin. "If you want to exercise, then come out early morning. I will spar with you," she said.
"You will? Thank you Miya!" Musubi chimed in a bounce that made her chest wiggle.
Harry turned his head to not see. Too late.
Lash chuckled. 'and you get to sleep with those. Maybe you should fluff them up for pillows?' she then laughed.
Harry ignored her. He had other things to think about. One was Musubi. He understood - partially, that she was in this 'Sekerei game' to fight. What about little Kusano? Surely no one expected her to fight. The kid was 8, if that. What could she do that stood a chance at hurting someone, throw her flowerpot at them?
"Hey Musibi? Not all Sekerei have to fight, right?" he asked.
"We do!" Musubi said.
"But, not kids like Kusano here," Harry said.
"All Sekerei," Musubi stated. "I'm sure Kusano has her talents too."
"What? That's just not right," Harry said firmly.
Musubi shrugged and said, "That's the rules. Every Sekerei is in this battle."
"Not Kusano," Harry stated. "Anyone wants to hurt Kusano, and I'll teach them a lesson they will never forget," he said in a hard tone.
"Fu fu fu," Miya said from behind her hand. "I don't think Askikabi are allowed to fight."
"I will fight for you, Ashikabi!" Musubi announced.
'Harry, I sense this contest is not what you think it is.'
"Something is rotten in Denmark," Harry said dryly, agreeing with Lash.
"Where's Denmanrk?" Musubi asked.
"Very, very far away from here," Harry said absently. "How about Akitsu? Doe she have to fight?"
"I'm broken," Akitsu said from behind him.
"Akitsu can't have an Ashikabi, so she can't fight," Musubi explained.
"I will fight for you, Master," Akitsu said.
"Call me Harry."
"Yes, Master Harry."
Harry let out a sigh. What kind of war was this that a half-pint girl could fight, but one of the strongest Sekerei he'd met yet, couldn't? These were some screwed up rules. And who ever heard of such rules in any war?
'There's something your missing here,'
'Ya think?' Harry thought back. He got up to see Akitsu behind him. Looking at her as close as he could and avoid a Soul Gaze, he said, "Akitsu, you're not broken. You're a healthy young woman, you have your abilities, and I will not let you be alone. Forget that MBI 'broken' nonsense. To me, you're fine the way you are."
Akitsu blushed. "Than you Ma … Harry," she said with a smile.
Harry nodded and said, "I'm going go get cleaned up before the rush."
"Can I help?" Akitsu asked.
"No indecent acts at the Maison Izumo," Miya sung in warning.
"I can handle it, Akitsu, just relax, OK?" Harry assured her.
Going upstairs, Harry went to his room and got a fresh change of clothes and his bathroom supplies. As far as he knew, everyone was downstairs or out. He walked to the bathroom. Seeing the door shut, he raised a hand to knock just to be sure it was empty and the door came open, a strange girl's face was right in front of his.
A very pretty face. Light brown eyes he looked right into.
'look away!' Lash thought frantically.
Too late.
In an instant, Harry knew who this was The Sekerei named Uzume, Sekerei number 10. Her Ashikabi that she was in love with was Chiho. Chiho was in the hospital with a terminal blood disease. Medicine was keeping her alive. Medicine supplied by a man named Higa. Higa knew who Chiho and Uzume were. He was using Uzume to murder for him. Uzume's pure white soul was being heavily tarnished from committing murders for Higa. If she didn't, Higa would stop the meds and let Chiho die. He saw animal costumes Uzume had and wore to help cheer Chiho up. A pure, simple soul, forced to commit murders.
'Break away now!' Lash screamed into his skull. Harry swore he felt Lash turn his head. He did break away, stunned by what he saw from the girl. From what she was being forced to do. He backed up against the hallway wall and slid down to sit.
Uzume's reaction was more violent. She let out a gasp and backpedaled, tripping and falling into the bathtub. Her face was set in abject horror.
All Harry could see now was her lower legs, feet and the top of her head. Knowing he had seen into her soul, He could only imagine what she'd seen in his. "I'm really sorry," he said in a hollow tone.
No response.
Harry climbed back up to his feet. Fixing his gaze on the floor, he said, "I am very sorry. Please forgive me." He moved to walk away.
Wide eyed, in a quiet, mouse like voice, Uzume asked, "What are you?"
"Damned," Harry replied simply.
Musubi came running up the hall. "Ashikabi!" she cried. Running up to him, she saw Uzume motionless in the bathtub. She immediately cocked her fists and announced, "I am Musubi, number 88, get up and fight me!"
Harry turned and put a hand on her shoulder. "No, Musubi, leave her alone."
"Master?" Akitsu asked as she came up, eyeing him intently.
Harry laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's nothing, come on, girls," he said vacantly and pushed them gently away from the bathroom.
"But, Ashikabi, We're suppose to fight other Sekerei for you," Musubi complained.
"Not her. Leave Uzume alone. She has enough to deal with," Harry told her.
Studying him, Musubi asked, "Did you do something to her, Ashikabi? She curled up in the empty bathtub, and she's crying."
"I did something all right," Harry replied. Yeah, he sure did. He showed her what was possibly the most horrible sights one would ever see. What a greeting huh? See a pretty girl, so what do you do Harry? How about a nice Soul Gaze to really screw up her life. Nightmares of Harry, the gift that keeps on giving.
'Harry, Higa needs to die,' Lash thought firmly.
First thought, Harry agreed. The black called to Harry. He was more than capable of it. He knew everything he needed to know. Where Higa was, what he looked like, when he would be at the hospital. Uzume had supplied it all. A quick fire spear through the man would do it. Lash even send him a mental picture of making his demise slower to let him suffer like Uzume was suffering. Use sheer force to squash the man and slowly tear his skin off and rip off an arm or two. Enough fire to keep him from bleeding to death right away and prolong his pain. Let everyone hear the man's wail of agony like Uzume was agonizing every time she was forced to assassinate another Sekerei for that man to keep her precious Ashikabi alive. The Black and Lash assured him this death would be justified.
Harry shook his head. No. The temptation was there, always there and at the moment it was nearly overwhelming. He wished Ancient Mai was here to slap him around some for even thinking of dipping into the Black.
Another thought hit Harry. Chiho wasn't just a person to complete Uzume, Uzume loved Chiho with all her heart. Yes, she would kill to keep Chiho alive, Uzume had no choice in the matter. Higa knew this, and used her accordingly. That scum needed to die, painfully. Lash cheered this thought on.
"Would that help Chiho or Uzume?" Harry asked aloud.
"Ashikabi, who are they?" Musubi asked.
Harry looked at her. Right, he'd said that aloud. Looking at her, he was wondering if he should tell her. What the hell, he'd already screwed up royally today. Why not make it a full train wreck? "Chiho is Uzume's Ashikabi. She's very sick in the hospital. The disease is terminal. Uzume is the Sekerei crying in the tub."
"Fu fu fu," Miya said from behind her hand up ahead of them. "And how do you know that, Harry?" Miya asked. Her voice was light, but the look in her eyes was not as she studied him.
Harry quickly broke his gaze.
'not going for two in a row?' Lash teased.
'shut up.'
"I found out from Uzume," Harry admitted.
"Ah, you have met Uzume then?" Miya asked.
"You could say that," Harry said with a wince. "Uzume is very attached to Chiho, and it's complicated."
"Of course Uzume is attached to her Ahsikabi!" Musubi announced with a giggle. Hugging Harry, she happily said, "Ashikabi is for Sekerei to love and protect!"
"I will love and will protect you, Harry, even if we cannot bond," Akitsu said meekly.
Harry glanced at her, then stared at Musubi. Slowly, he said, "I thought I was like this person you needed so you could fight?"
Musubi bobbed her head in agreement. "Yes! A Sekerie needs her Ashikabi to fight her best. That is true, but a Sekeri's Ashikabi is her ... Ashikabi forever!"
"Musubi means that binding an Ashikabi is not to just to fight, but to love and protect them. It is through the love and desire to protect their special one, that allow the Sekerei to fight their hardest," Miya explained.
Harry turned his stare to Miya. "What?" he asked weakly. It sounded like she was talking about marriage here.
Lash burst out laughing in his head. A mental picture of Kigari came into Harry's head and Lash sent him a mental picture of her self laughing wildly and pounding the floor with a fist
Harry groaned and face planted. 'enough Lash!' he thought.
Nope, Lash kept right on laughing.
Wonderful.
"Harry?" Musubi asked, eyeing him with a worried look.
Harry rubbed his face and let out another groan of, "Now I find out." Great, he had two wives (one VERY under aged) a girlfriend and a boyfriend. Lash sent him another mental message, this was a song, 'The Crying Game'. If possible, Lash was laughing even harder. Harry knew she wasn't going to stop any time soon
'Yuk it up, Lash,' he mentally grumbled.
"It take it this was not explained to you?" Miya asked with a smirk.
Harry shook his head. "Not really. At the moment though, I got other things to worry about," he said, to get himself back together. He had a staff to make, a proper duster to get, and a scum bag to take down. And that was just for starters. Yukari had given him the silver bracelet. He also needed to make that into a protection bracelet if he was going to go out and start stomping on bad guys.
"Yes, you will need to pay rent, Mr. Dresden," Miya agreed.
"Oh that's right!" Musubi cried. Fishing into a pocket, she pulled out an envelope. "This is for you, LandLady-san! I went and got some money for you. I don't know how much the rent is for us, but this should help."
"Why thank you, Musubi," Miya said with a smile. She kept her smile up as she added, "It is very noble of you to cover the debts of your Ashikabi who has yet to discuss arrangements for himself and those he's responsible for."
Harry swore he felt the verbal smack on his face Miya had laid on him. Of course that added to Lash's mirth as she howled in laughter in his head.
'One can't pay for entertainment like this!' Lash thought during a brief pause in her mirth. At least Lash wasn't prodding him to kill Higa any more.
"Umm, Miya," Harry asked meekly, "May we go discuss ... our arraignments."
"Of course," Miya assured him kindly.
Following Miya, Lash appeared beside Harry wearing a baseball uniform, complete with a bat she held over her shoulder . Across the back of her shirt, it read : Harry's team , batting 1000! She winked and disappeared. Then kept laughing.
'I hate you,' Harry thought.
.
The rent Harry found, was very reasonable. Since he didn't have a job yet - as in Job, Miya was talking about a full time paying job, not his 'wizard for hie' service. The rent he could not make could be compensated for by doing housework for Miya. He thanked her for her kindness and promised to do his best. Lash giggled in his head the whole time. She had an image of him in a n apron and hanging clothes on the line.
'Yuk it up, Lash'
.
Once Miya got Harry settled, she went up to the bath to see Uzume was sitting in the edge of the tub, staring at nothing.
"Fu fu fu, contemplating should be done in your room," Miya told her.
Uzume looked up at Miya with a blank gaze. "Who is he?" she asked weakly.
"Minato?" Miya asked.
Uzume shook her head. "No, Har-ry."
"Why do you call him Har-ry?"
"That is his name. Har-ry Dres-den," Uzume said firmly. "Miya, I saw him. Not the person he looks like, but him! I saw ... inside him. I saw everything! He is not a boy. He is ... power. Power the likes I never knew existed! He looked into me and saw everything. He knows everything about me!" Hugging herself she let out a sniffle and said, "He ... is not human, not Sekerei. I don't know what he is. He's travelled through worlds, fought Gods and demons ... He is wrath incarnate! Tormented, tortured, and carries the words of destruction upon his lips."
Miya raised an eyebrow. She did sense power from Minato. What Uzume was saying was that he bore incredible power. "You say his name is Har-ry, not Minato?"
"Yes! There is one with him also. This one stays hidden in his mind, She is something dark and sinister. She is separate, but bound to stay in his soul. Miya, I saw it all!" Uzume sniffled again, crunching her face up. "He is lightness and darkness. There is so much I can't grasp. What I can, is horrible!"
"You are saying Minato may cause trouble here?" Miya asked.
Uzumue shook her head. "Not here. I saw he had a protective hand over Musubi, the Green Girl and Akitsu," she explained. "He is so powerful all he did was look at me, and now he knows everything about me, and I know too much about him," she said with a shiver. "Miya, how can such a person even exist?"
In a calm tone, Miya said, "Well, Uzume, such thoughts are deep and worth contemplating, but could you do it in your room? People are waiting to use the bath."
Uzume got up and went to her room.
Inside, Miya wasn't so calm. She was going to keep a close eye on Minato, Harry Dresden, or whoever he was.
.
Harry took a walk to clear his head. Of course, Musubi, Akitsu and Kusano felt they had to come along with him. In his head, he did his best to ignore Lash who was working out jingle about 'Harry and his harem'. She added, 'boys included' and fell into a laughing fit again.
One thing Harry was working at was getting another staff. Going into a park, he looked at the trees. The quality of a staff, how much power it was able to store and guide through it did have much to do with the quality. A poor quality staff would work. After all, it was a focusing device. The better the staff was, the more magical energy it could handle and channel through it. As he was studying the branches, he felt a tug on his pant leg.
Looking down, he saw Kusano gazing up at him. "What are you looking for, Big Brother?" she asked.
Harry was careful not to look her in the eye. He'd already terrified one person today. "I am looking for a suitable branch to make into a staff," he explained. "Oak would be best, but I'm not seeing any."
Kusano frowned, then her eyes lit up. "Kuu knows!" she said brightly. "Kuu will make Big Brother one!"
"You will?" Harry asked, amused at her eagerness.
Kusano nodded and stared at her flowerpot. The tiny plant in it shot up to grow six feet long in an instant, straight and tall, and about an inch and a half in diameter. She put the pot down and pulled the plant out. "Here, Big Brother!" she said happily.
Harry stared at the plant. He took it slowly. Life was surging in the single long stem. It was hard and glowed with life. There were no branches, the end had come off square. The tip was pointed. Looking into the pot, he noted another tiny plant had sprung up. "Kuu, how did you do that?" he asked in a whisper of amazement.
"Kuu can speak to plants and make them grow!" Kusano said happily. "Big Brother wanted a good staff, so Kuu asked the plant to be one!"
A living staff. Harry was amazed that this little girl could perform such magic. This wasn't just making a plant grow. She'd made it grow exactly like she had wanted it to. Normally, a staff had to be infused with power, a piece of the user, to make it hold magic. This staff was already infused with the power of life. Seeing a storm cloud overhead, Harry channeled wind at the cloud through the staff. The cloud rolled apart and dispersed as the wind blew it apart.
Wow. He hadn't even made a strong wind, only a good gust. "Thank you, Kuu," he said sincerely.
"Anything for Big Brother!" Kusano replied happily.
Harry looked at Musubi and Akitsu. He wondered if they had secrets he'd yet to discover. Well, he had his staff, and hopefully Kagari would tell him where to get one of those leather coats. Staff in hand, Harry led his small party back to the Inn so he could get to work on his bracelet.
Harry's phone rang before they got out of the park.
"Dresden."
Yukari's irritated voice came over the phone. "Harry, you are a very inconsiderate big brother! I came to see you, but you moved without telling me!"
"Ahh, sorry, Yukari. I've been kind of busy," he offered.
"I see," Yukari replied in a smooth tone, "Your girlfriends are keeping you tied up." she then let out a giggle.
Lash giggled with her and provided an image of Kagari in chains. Gee, thanks for that image, you pervert.
Ignoring the hysterical fallen angel cackling away in his head, Harry explained, "Really, Yukari, I've had a ton of work to do. We're staying at the Maison Izumo Inn. I didn't forget to tell you on purpose." He gave her the address.
"Be glad you answered your phone, Harry. Mom has invited us out to dinner this Saturday night. She hasn't heard from you either. She's worried your amnesia is getting worse!" Yukari said in a near yell.
"I'm fine, Yukari, it's just hard to remember things," Harry told her. "Tell Mom I'll be there Saturday night ... that is as soon as I know where to be."
"I'll come get you. Now don't forget!"
"I won't promise," Harry said firmly.
"Mom wants to meet your girlfriends too, but make sure they don't wear anything with chains on them," she said.
Harry rolled his eyes. "No chains, got it," he replied.
"See you then!" Yukari said and hung up.
It was then Harry quickly tried to ask, "What time?"
'too late,' Lash chided.
Harry's phone rang again.
"Dresden."
It was Minaka's voice. "Ohh, I have bad news for you," he sang. "One of the Sekerei you currently have is not authorized. You need to bring her to the MBI building for disposal."
"I don't think I hear you right," Harry said. "It sounded to me like you want to dispose of... who?"
"The one called Akitsu. She is hanging around you but she is not a real Sekeri. She's broken. You must turn her in," Minaka explained.
"Don't think so," Harry replied flatly.
Sounding firmer, Minaka said, "If you don't bring her in, then we will come get her."
Growing an unpleasant grin, Harry said, "Look, Akitsu has placed herself under my protection. If you try to kidnap her, it will be big trouble."
"Mr. Dresden, don't be foolish. We will do anything to get her back. Even kill you if we have to."
"That sounds like a declaration of war," Harry said in a musing tone.
"Just stay in the park where you are. We'll come get her," Minaka stated and hung up.
Harry looked at his phone and asked, "How does MBI know we're in the park?"
'The phones are being tracked,' Lash stated.
Duh, no shit Sherlock. He restrained from whacking himself in the head. "Everyone, give me your phones!" Harry demanded. He got Musubi's phone and Kusano had one. Akitsu didn't have one. right, she was the one they were trying to find. He bundled up theirs and his and forced them away to go flying over by a fountain.
Hearing a police siren wail, Harry knew MBI was close. He did the only thing he could think of. "Everyone, join hands in a line," he said. He held Musubi's hand, she held Akitsu's, Akitsu held Kusano's hand.
"No noise," Harry told them, then performed an obscurement spell. As long as they didn't bump into someone, no one would notice them.
Walking along in a line, they walked past some police who were surrounding the area, then an armored car full of soldiers who came to assist. Yup, they wanted Akitsu pretty bad to being all this hardware.
.
Takami got the news that Akitsu had been found. She went personally to be sure the broken Sekerei was going to be picked up and brought in. She got to the site to discover all they found were some cell phones scattered on the ground.
"Someone has her," Takami said unhappily.
"Yes, Ma'am. We arrived quickly and surrounded the park, this is all we found."
One of the phones rang. Takami picked it up and answered it.
"Mom?" Yukari asked. "But, I dialed Minato. Is he there with you?"
Takami's jaw dropped. "Yukari? Did you talk to Minato not long ago on this phone?"
"Yes, I was telling him about dinner Saturday and found out where he's staying now. I forgot to tell him when, I was calling him back to let him know."
Takami folded an arm under her breasts, not happy her son was trying to hide a broken Sekerei. "Please tell me his address. Minato dropped his phone, I'll take it to him."
.
On the way home, they passed a clothing store. Seeing men's leather coats for sale, Musubi insisted on going in and buying the black leather coat Harry wanted. Harry thanked her. He also noted she used her MBI credit card. That was most likely being tracked also. They had to get rid of them. Going to the nearest bank, Harry, Kusano and Musubi took a cash withdrawal for as much as they could get, then left the cards at the ATM.
"Harry, those are for our spending money," Musubi complained.
"Like the cell phones, they can also be tracked," Harry explained. "We don't want to be found."
Akitsu grabbed Harry's arm and pointed down the street. "Then we better go another way," she said.
Two streets down, an armored car was deploying soldiers.
'Host, you told Yukari where we live on that phone, didn't you?' Lash asked.
Awww Shit. Shit, shit, shit! He did. And if they weren't there already, MBI would be showing up soon. "Well, there goes that place to live," he grumbled.
Cool hands laid on his shoulders from behind. "Master, turn me in," Akitsu said softly. "I do not want you hunted because of me."
Harry turned to see her sad face softly gazing at him. "You have it wrong, Akitsu. They are hunting you, and I will not let them have you. You already agreed to serve me, correct?"
"To serve, not to endanger," she said just above a whisper.
Harry gathered her into a hug. "To love and protect goes both ways, Akitsu. I will not let them lay their hands on you. We'll figure it out. What we won't do is give up. Don't you give up on me. Do you hear?"
"Yes," she said meekly and wrapped her arms around him. "I trust you, Master."
"Harry."
"I trust you, Master Harry."
Close enough. They needed a place to live that was way off the beaten track. In the city, that place was very hard to find unless you knew what you were doing. Luckily, Harry had seen much more that the 'bright' side of cities. He knew what he was doing.
.
Takami didn't recognize the address immediately. She did when they drove up to the Inn. This place belonged to Sekerei number One, Miya. Miya had laid her sword down years ago, but she was still the highest ranking and strongest Sekerei. Takami got out of the car, knowing diplomacy here was very important. Behind her hard, several soldiers got out.
"Back into your vehicles!" she commanded. To start trouble here would be very bad news, as well as possibly fatal for whoever was involved. Miya was a woman you did not want to anger.
Walking through the gate, Takami felt her legs want to stop as she neared the front door. Forcing herself, she rapped on the door and waited. A short time later, Miya came to the door.
"May I help you?" Miya asked kindly.
"I am looking for Minato. I'm his mother, Takami."
Miya grew a tiny grin. "I know you, Takami. Minato is not here."
"I need to see him," Takami insisted.
"Then you must wait until he returns."
"Miya, Minato is hiding ... someone who is sick. She needs to be returned to MBI," Takami explained.
"Who is this sick person?" Miya asked.
"Her name is Akitsu. It is vitally important we see she is cared for," Takami reasoned.
Miya grew a wider grin. "Fu fu fu, are you a terrible liar," she said in a smooth tone. "Minato left earlier. I would suggest you be more truthful in the future. If I see Minato, I'll tell him you are looking for him. Until then, good day."
Miya shut the door on her. Takami wanted to beat on the door and demand do come inside and wait. They again, knowing what could happen, she begrudgingly went back out to the street and posted guards to snare Akitsu when she arrived. That was her safest course of action.
.
There was one good thing about the sewers under this city. No fey or other magical beings inhabiting them like there was under Chicago. They were also fairly wide, and well organized. Harry knew sewers, and he found a nice junction that served as a major utility route. The fairly clean floor was a good forty feet long and thirty feet wide. Water and electric pipes ran along the walls with enough room in between them that bunks could be made. The electric ran through one end of the room, so Harry stayed clear of them. A ways down was a water pumping station, but thankfully it was far enough away where his being here would not disturb the pumps, as in make them whine and smoke before shutting down.
Harry cast an Everglow orb to light the main room. They were easy to make and lasted a good long time. In the sewer ditch running by, Kuu grew some plants in the water to brighten the place up. At the far ends of the system of three rooms, Harry made illusionary walls. If anyone came down to do inspections, they would find themselves facing a concrete wall. He was sure that would make the city planners scratch their heads.
Musubi got some groceries on their way here, Harry made a grill type stand. The sewer here was for rain runoff. Meaning not really drinkable, but not nasty either. It could be safely used to clean up and with some purifying and heat applied, even enjoyable to bathe in.
On vital thing this underground lair was, was quiet and isolated. Harry could make spells and experiment with spells and no one would be the wiser. He got to work setting up protection symbols and made a drawing of a doorway on the wall, then added magic symbols to it.
"What is that, Ashikabi?" Musubi asked.
Harry explained. "The Maison Isumo has a wall around it. If someone goes searching for us there, they will probably do so in the next few hours. After they search and don't find us, they will set up to be watching for us to return. This place is pretty safe. You, Akitsu and Kusano stay here. I'll go back and draw a door just like this in my room. Once I do, I'll come back here and show you how to use it."
"It's a drawing, not a real door," Akitsu pointed out.
"It's magic," Harry told her.
"You should not go by yourself," Akitsu said in an almost normal tone of voice, which told Harry she really meant it.
"It's safer for just me to go," he explained. "Even if they catch me, I'll say you just ran away. If you come, then the chase will be on."
"Then take Musubi with you," Akitsu pressed.
"Until I know who's there, I'm leaving you all here where it's safe," Harry stated. Eyeing them, he said, "Promise me you'll stay here."
Akitsu looked at the floor.
"We're suppose to love and protect you, Ashikabi," Musubi complained.
"As I told Akitsu, that's a two way street," Harry told her. "Stay. Here."
He got a nod from Musubi, and another from Kusano. Reluctantly, Akitsu nodded and said, "Don't you dare die on us."
"I won't." Harry told her. He did get an escort to the illusionary wall, but none of them followed him through.
.
Harry got back to the side street and up through the grating with no problem. Walking back to Miya's place, a pigtailed blond he guessed was about fifteen (and a Sekerei) eyed him. She wore a plain white button down shirt, blue skirt, knees socks and sneakers, with a short sword in a sheath on her hip. He also noticed she began following him.
"Where you going?" the girl called to him.
Harry looked back. "That way," he said, pointing in his direction of travel.
The girl ran up to him. "You look interesting," she said and grinned at him.
Harry let out a snort. "Did you want something?" he asked.
"I do!" she said and jumped in front of him. "I need an Ashikabi, and I want you!" she stated, pointing at him.
"Sorry, already got some," he told her and walked around her.
"You do? Hey, there's safety in numbers, right?" she said, hurrying up beside him. "I got a sword too, and I know how to use it," she said. Jumping in front of him, she pulled out her short sword and slashed at air a few times. She then stopped and struck a semi-sexy pose, hand on her hip. "I'm cute too!' she announced.
Harry patted her on the had. "You are," he agreed, and kept walking.
"Hey, what's with you?" she asked. "Aren't I good enough for you? You're the only man I've seen that qualifies to be my Ashikabi."
"There has to be more someplace," Harry told her.
"Awww come on!" the girl cried. "What's wrong with me? I'm not old enough yet to have big boobs, but they'll grow," she said in a whine.
'grab her Harry, she wants you,' Lash chided.
'go suck on a tailpipe.'
Up ahead, a limo stopped and Karasuba got out.
"This is par for the course," Harry grumbled. When it rained, it just didn't pour, he got hailstones too.
"Hey kid," Karasuba snapped, "Just wait, I'll skewer you in a minute. Harry, get in the car!" Karasuba commanded.
"We'll see who gets skewered!" the girl challenged. A she went to run past Harry, he tripped her. She fell in a sprawl. He grabbed her by the back of her collar and stood her up behind him, keeping a hold on her.
"Don't go all suicidal," Harry said firmly. He turned to Karasuba. "What do you want?"
"In the car or I'll have to hurt you," Karasuba growled.
Harry didn't have time for this. "infriga" he intoned and made a pulling motion at Karasuba. The air around the Black Sekerei lost all it's heat and froze, casting a shocked Karasuba in a block of ice.
Harry, pulling the girl along, went up and told Karasuba, "I don't have time to mess with you." He walked on, pulling the blond girl with him.
"Hey, what did you just do? The girl asked. "Are you a Sekrei too?"
"I just saved your ass, and no," Harry stated.
"GET BACK HERE!" Karasuba yelled from her ice prison.
"You, froze her! How did you do that?" the girl asked.
"Magic."
"Can you be my Ashikabi, please?" the girl begged.
Harry eyed her and asked, "If I let you go, are you going back there?"
"With an Ashikabi as strong as you, I can't loose!" the girl beamed.
"You're a stupid kid," he grumbled.
"I am not! I am an experienced sword user!" the girl said with a frown.
"What's your name, kid?" He asked.
"Ikki, Sekerei number 19. Who are you?"
"Harry Dresden. Wizard deluxe."
Ikki chuckled and said, "You're funny, Harry. There's no such thing as wizards."
A wail of anger and the sound of cracking ice told him Karasuba had broken loose. He turned to see her running at him, sword held to disembowel him. He pointed the staff at her. "Forzare" he intoned.
With a jerk, Karasuba went from charging him to flying backwards as if someone had shot her out of a canon. She reached apogee a short ways past where the limo was waiting for her. As Harry watched her fly, Ikki wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Bright white and translucent wings appeared briefly on her back.
"My Ashikabi!" Ikki cried happily.
Lash laughed and taunted, 'She got you! The Harry harem grows. It's even a girl this time!'
'shut up', he groused back mentally. He looked at Ikki and said, "You have no idea just how much trouble you caused yourself."
Beaming him a smile, Ikki clutched his arm and replied, "With such a strong Ashikabi, I know we'll win!"
"Let's get off this street before she comes back," Harry said with a huff.
.
Harry managed to duck a livid Karasuba on his way back to the Maison Izumo. As he suspected, the Inn was surrounded. Every street corner had MBI men posted on it. He put an arm around Ikki and said, "We can get past them if you stay quiet. No talking, just walk along normally, Ok?"
"OK," she agreed.
Harry took her by the hand. There was no traffic so he walked in the street past the guards. Luckily, none were watching as he led Ikki through the gate.
Opening the door, he got Ikki in and asked, "Hello?"
"Ahh Har-ry," Miya said pleasantly as she appeared from the kitchen. "I see you have a new friend?"
"I'm Ikki, Sekersi number 19!" the girl said proudly.
"I don't think you're suppose to advertise that," Harry told her.
"Fu fu fu, so young and full of energy," Miya said with a grin. "Did you loose your other companions, Har-ry?" she asked.
'Harry, I'm not translating, she's using your name.' Lash warned.
Harry nodded and said, "I have them someplace safe. From what I gather, MBI wants Akitsu back to finish whatever they were doing to her. Not Happening."
Miya nodded slightly. "Uzume left. After seeing you, she had to go see that Chiho is all right," she said firmly.
"Ahh, yeah, about that," Harry said and itched his jaw. "Uzume surprised me. I didn't mean to … do that."
"Where is the real Minato?" Miya asked.
"He died. He was in a car accident, and suffered from a coma. He was brain dead. I was … drifting, is the best I can describe it, and was pulled into his body. Miya, I don't have any plans to hurt Uzume, Chiho or anyone else if I can help it. I just looked into her eyes a second too long, and it happened," he explained.
"What happened?" Miya asked firmly.
Harry let out a huff. If he was going to live here, she had to know. "It's called a Soul Gaze. If I look someone right in the eyes I know all about them and they know all about me. When it happened with Uzume … it was an accident. I am sorry."
"Is there anything you can do about Chiho's illness?" she asked.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I really wish I could say yes, but right now, I don't know. If I can, I will, for no other reason than to make up to Uzume what I did to her," he said.
"I'm sure my Ashikabi can!" Ikki piped up. "You should have seen what he did to Karasuba!"
"Ikki!' Harry snapped. "Let's forget about that, OK?"
"You were awesome!" Ikki cried. To Miya she said, "The old looking strong woman, Karasuba, threatened us and he froze her in a block of ice! She busted out after we left and came after us, raging mad, and he threw her a city block away without even touching her!" Ikki beamed.
Frustrated, Harry said, "Ikki, why don't you stay here and talk with Miya. I have to go get the rest of … my friends so they can come home too. OK?"
"You got past the guards outside?" Miya asked.
"We did!" Ikki chimed. "It was like they didn't even see us!"
'have you ever got a crush on your hands,' Lash thought with a chuckle.
'stuff it,' Harry thought back. "Miya, I'll be back shortly," he said. He headed for his room as Ikki continued to let Miya now how great her Ahikabi was.
Plodding up to his room, Harry made a door on a blank wall with the magic symbols. Hand to the door, he recited the incantation. He then stood upright and walked through…
To trip over Akitsu who was lying against the wall where the door was.
"Harry!" Musubi, Akitsu and Kusno all cried at once and rushed to help him up.
'aww, you fell for them' lash offered with a giggle.
Getting up, Harry eyed Akitsu and asked, "Please, don't lay in front of doorways. My cat did that. It's irritating."
"Yes Ma… Harry," Akitsu said meekly.
"All right, listen up," Harry told them. "The doorway is open between here and my room at the Maison Izumo. To go though, take normal walking steps. Don't hesitate and don't hurry. Kusano, you ready?"
Kusano bobbed her head. She walked to the wall and disappeared.
Musubi was next, she walked through and disappeared.
Akitsu looked at the wall, then turned to Harry and flung her arms around him, giving him a big kiss. She then pulled away. With a slight blush she said, "Once we get back, I can't to that." She then walked through.
.
On Harry's bedroom side, Harry joined his harem. They went down to meet the newest member Ikki. He was sure she would take over any conversations.
Dinner time at the Maison Izumo that night was interesting. Uzume came home and stayed near Miya to help cook a big meal. Ikki seemed to be getting along great with Musubi. They had the same type of hyper personality. Musubi was dying to spar with someone, so Harry took Ikki's sword away and let Musubi teach her a few things about boxing.
At dinner, Ikki had a few bruises, but was still a chatterbox with Musubi, talking about their sparing match as they sat down. Kusano took her seat in Harry's lap, Akitsu settled in on his right side. Musubi and Ikki chattered away on his left. Kagari looked a little under the weather as he sat across from Harry. Uzume sat near Miya, doing her best to not look in Harry's direction.
"I know you," Ikki announced as she pointed at Kagari. "You're that fancy guy who wanders rooftops."
Kagari raised an eyebrow at her. "I don't know what you mean," he offered.
"Yeah, you wear a mask and that long black coat, but it's you," Ikki insisted.
Harry chuckled. It was true that Kigari's disguise wasn't nearly as concealing as he thought it was. "Speaking of that, Kagari, how are you holding up?" Harry asked. "Any more heartburn?"
Kagari cast Harry a crooked grin. "I've been good. A few warm days, but it's been calm so nothing major." He then added, "Oh, I put a black leather coat in your room that I picked up today. I had some extra money, and I'm a pretty good judge of size," he said off hand.
"Thank you," Harry said sincerely.
'ohh, your boyfriend gave you a gift,' Lash chortled.
'jealous?' Harry retorted.
Kagari cracked a grin and said, "I heard you put a thorn in Karasuba's side today."
"Ruffled her feathers a bit," Harry said with a shrug.
"You know she's going to look for revenge," Kagari said in a serious tone. "The Black Sekerei does not like to be humiliated."
"Yeah, and life sucks," Harry replied. Thinking about things that sucked, he looked at Uzume. "Uzume, tomorrow I was going to see Chiho, if that's OK with you."
Uzume snapped her head up to stare at him briefly, and quickly dropped her gaze. "Why?" he asked guardedly.
"I wanted to talk to her and see if there's anything I can do about the disease she has," Harry told her.
"I've been told it's incurable," Uzumue said in a low tone.
"Still, I'd like to find out if there is anything I can do," Harry said sincerely.
"You're not going to look her in the eyes, are you?" Uzume asked, then gave an involuntary shiver.
"No," Harry said quickly. "And I'm sorry about that. You surprised me and I ... didn't turn away fast enough."
Ikki perked up and asked, "Ashikabi, what's this with looking into people's eyes? That's the Soul Gaze thing? It sounds romantic."
Uzume barked out a sarcastic laugh.
"Never mind," he told her.
"If you can help Chiho, I'd be grateful," Uzumue said to her plate. "But no false hope, please."
"No, no false hope," Harry agreed. He noted Ikki was leaning over eyeing him. He ignored her gaze.
Ikki leaned over farther. Harry put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her back into her seat. "Your hair's getting on my plate," he monotoned.
"Sorry Ashikabi. I just wanted to gaze into your eyes," Ikki said with a blush.
"No, you don't," Harry said firmly the same time as Uzume.
"Is that bad?" Musubi asked.
"Yes," Harry stated.
Kusano looked up at Harry and said, "I look at Big Brother all the time. Why is that bad?"
"You do, Kuu," Harry said and patted her on the head. "I just can't look at anyone too intently."
"Will they shrivel up?" Kuu asked.
Harry grinned, "Yeah, Kuu, they might."
.
That night, Harry had a new bed partner. Akitsu on his right, Musubi on his left, Kusano on his belly, and Ikki decided her belly needed to be his pillow. Actually, he was pretty comfortable like that. No need for blankets. Although Ikki's belly did rumble from time to time.
In the morning, Musubi got up with him to go spar with Miya. Harry snuck out past the guards still surrounding the area and jogged for East side hospital. Being out on a jog, he didn't bring his staff or his coat. He made his way to the hospital at the beginning of visitor's hours. He knew where Chiho's room was. Not needing directions, he walked in, doing his best to stay low keyed and calm, and prayed no one on a heart monitor was in the hallway.
A quick look in Chiho's room showed the thin blond girl was hooked up to an IV, but nothing electronic. He knocked on the door frame. "Chiho?" he asked.
A weak "Yes?" came from the bed. Harry went in and saw how weak she was. he also noticed something odd about her aura. Sitting down beside the bed, he explained, "I'm Harry Dresden. Uzume told me you're in a bad way here."
Chiho cast him a weak smile that went all the way to her light blue eyes. "Uzume asked you to see if you can do something for me," she said.
Harry nodded.
"That's my Uzume," Chiho said with a sad smile. "She will do anything for me, yet I can do nothing for her. Tell me, do you like Uzume?"
"She's a nice girl," Harry said non-commitally.
"She is," Chiho said. Her face dimmed into a serious look. "Harry, I don't have long. I know that and accept it. Uzume is going to need someone to watch out for her. I know people are after her. I want her to have another Ashikabi who can be there for her."
"And you will be," Harry stated. As he was looking over her thin form, he noted her aura was tinged with what felt like magic. He held a hand out over her and concentrated on it. He had no idea what it was, but it felt 'put there'. It wasn't a natural happening in her body. "Chiho, when did you get sick?" he asked.
"Three years ago. Not long after I first met Uzume," she said, eyeing him questioningly.
"You degraded fairly fast?" he asked.
"Yes, I became bed ridden, I've slowly been getting weaker ever since. The Doctor is giving me maybe another two months if I keep up the treatments." Chiho said. "Why?"
"I can't be certain," Harry said as he concentrated on her aura, "But it feels like someone put something in or on you."His thoughts went to Higa. Had this Higa arraigned for Chiho to be sick once he learned Uzume was Chiho's Sekerei?
'That is a possibility, my host. If he has connections to MBI, a probability'
"What? Someone did this to me?" Chiho asked in surprise.
"Might be," Harry said in a musing tone. "Let's see if we can get it out." Harry didn't know what it was in Chiho, all he knew it was put there. He concentrated on his spell to remove general things like the spells and bindings of others, and began his low chant. At the end of his chant, he brought his hand up. Chiho's body flashed briefly. Something rose up and away, sparkling briefly.
"What was that?" Chiho asked, watching the sparkles dissipate in the air.
"Whatever was put in you has been removed," Harry told her. He studied her and poked her in the shoulder. "Hey, good news, you're still alive."
For some reason, Chiho thought that was funny. She laughed. "So, what now?"
"We'll see how you do in the next few days," Harry said. He got up and added, "Let Uzume know how you're doing. I'll be back in a couple days to check on you. If anyone wants to change your medicine, ask them why." He waved a hand and said, "See ya in a couple days."
"Bye Harry," Chiho said brightly.
Harry left the hospital and walked to the street to find a limo parked in the front. As he approached, the door opened. It was Karasuba, casting him an angry glare.
"Harry!" she snapped and strode towards him. "Your mother send me to collect you. You WILL get in the car!"
Harry rolled his eyes and said, "Aww come on! Look you know how this is going to go. You try to force me, I resist, you go flying, I walk away. Can we skip all that and I'll just walk away now? Make it easier on both of us?"
"Harry, I cannot ignore an order, so get in the car!" Karasuba grated, glaring at him.
"Tell me where mom wants me and I'll just go there myself."
"Just. Get. In." Karasuba growled, her eyes quivering in anger.
Harry asked, "Just out of curiosity, why don't you come at me again with that big sword?"
Karasuba reached out a hand, and looking like she was tasting something bad, she said, "You are an Ashikabi and Takami's son. I have been forbidden to do anything to hurt you even though I would love to beat you bloody like you deserve! Now, take my hand, get in the car and we can both get this over with!"
"If Mom wants to see me, why doesn't she come to visit?" Harry asked innocently.
"You threw your phone away and we don't know where you're hiding," Karasuba said in controlled rage. She then grabbed his hand. "You are coming with me!"
The instant Karasuba's hand touched Harry's, a small lightning bolt jumped between them. Harry yowled and jerked back, as did Karasuba.
"What did you do?" Karasuba accused.
"I didn't to it, YOU did," Harry shot back shaking his stinging hand. "Infringa!"
The air around Karasuba froze, locking her in ice. Harry took off running down the street. He ran away as Karasuba screamed for him to come back.
By the time she broke out of her ice prison, he was gone.
.
Harry managed to get back to the Maison Izumo without being harassed by Karasuba again, winging another Sekerei or getting caught by the guards. He possibly also cured Chiho. He considered his trip a resounding success.
Akitsu was waiting patiently for him in his room as motionless as an ice statue. He went into the doorway to the sewers, she followed.
Harry managed to set up a simple lab. Using a discarded card table, he had two candles in the upper corners, a sterno can and frame for a small heat device, and a notepad to put down things he'd discovered. While no means a proper lab with materials and spell supplies, it was becoming serviceable. Eventually, he'd build this place into a read wizard's lab.
While he put tiny copper shields on the bracelet Yukari gave him, Akitsu sat beside him, watching intently.
She showed no reaction at all unless he addressed her. After working for a few hours, he asked, "Akitsu, getting hungry?"
"Um," she nodded with a grunt.
"You can go back to the Inn and get something to eat," he prodded.
Akitsu got up and held her hand out to him. "Kiss first," she said.
Harry got up. Akitsu hugged him and they shared another deep kiss. "Was that good for you?" Harry asked.
"Yes," she said tonelessly, then walked back through the Door.
Harry sat back down to get another tiny copper shield ready to put on the bracelet. Akitsu walked back through and held out her hand to him.
Harry looked up and asked, "Another kiss?"
"No. Lunch. You come too, Harry."
Harry got up and went with her. This time she held his hand until they were back in his room.