Disclaimer: I own no rights to Harry Potter or High School DxD.

"Speaking"

"Parsel"

'Thoughts'


Chapter 3 – I Guess I Am

Harry didn't quite know what to think as he peered into the hopeful eyes of the young kyuubi clinging to his side, her tails swishing back and forth relentlessly with undisguised excitement. Her whole frame screamed expectation, and Harry just had no idea how to bring it all crashing down without feeling like an absolute jerk. Even with his long life and a century or two of experience with a wider variety of scenarios than a box of Bertie Bott's jelly beans, Harry had never actually had someone ask him this particular question…

"You must be Papa!" Kunou explained patiently as she crawled onto the futon, her tunnel-vision disregarding the yelp of surprise from the previously-sleeping Shirone who she had displaced as a result. The young kitten growled low in her throat and was about to pounce when the firm hand of her sister latched onto her shoulder, holding her back.

Shirone didn't quite understand, and her sleepy, stressed-out mind was even less-inclined to attempt to interpret the situation. But Kuroka's rare, serious expression was enough to stay her claws, even if she was absolutely not happy about it.

"Mama doesn't talk to boys a lot," Kunou continued, essentially oblivious to the rest of the room, "She says they are really annoying. No one else has been allowed into the house too, and you're sleeping in her futon! Everyone I know says that mama and papa are supposed to sleep in the same place."

"Kunou!" Yasaka whispered fiercely, hoping to hold her daughter back, but her voice went unheard. The elder kyuubi flushed pink at the insinuation, mortified that her daughter had absolutely no idea of what she was uttering so boldly. Yasaka also mentally bristled in irritation, reminding herself to double check on just who exactly was telling her impressionable daughter these things. Clearly they would have to be dealt with…

Harry wasn't even sure what the hell had just happened. He glanced around the room to find his companions all in various states of emotion. Kuroka was both sad and laughing, finding the situation grimly depressing but the commentary just so funny. She was having a hard time controlling what flit across her face and trying to just not laugh out loud at the situation Harry had found himself in.

Shirone was quite ticked, if the frown on her face was anything to go by, but her eyes were soft as she watched Kunou snuggle into Harry's chest. It reminded her of when she used to cuddle with her father before he died. Shirone supposed she could forgive the princess this one time, but she still wanted to nap.

Harry sighed heavily, patting Kunou's head softly.

"I'm sorry Kunou-chan," he muttered with an understanding smile of his own, rubbing her head affectionately, making sure to get right behind the two golden ears perched on her head, "I'm not your papa. But if I did have a daughter, I'd want her to be as adorable as you are. Your mama was just taking care of me for a little bit."

Kunou took a moment to scrutinize Harry's expression and her own fell in response, visibly deflating as she concluded this man was probably telling the truth. At least he was nice she reasoned, and she liked the way he smelled. It made her feel safe, just like how her mama felt.

"Maybe you know where my Papa is then?" she asked optimistically, still allowing the comforting feeling of Harry's petting wash over her.

"I don't, Kunou-chan. But I'm sure he's thinking of you though," the Master of Death said with a kind smile while hiding the pain and anger he felt at the thought of where her father truly was. The topic of parents had never been his forte…but just from the ashamed visage of Yasaka and the confused state of her daughter, he knew enough. The very thought of a father abandoning their child and mother made him sick and simultaneously simmer with righteous anger. However, he wouldn't show any of his resentment in front of such a pure soul.

Carefullly, he glanced up at his benefactor, knowing that the beautiful kyuubi was likely suffering as well, and while her façade was strong, his magic and passive legilmency abilities sensed the shame and sadness that projected off of Yasaka in waves. It was not a pleasant feeling in the least.

"Nyaahha! Kunou-chan!" Kuroka suddenly interjected, "How about you show me and Shirone-chan around the temple? We'll be here for a while, so I think it would be nice to get a tour nya." Shirone swiftly swerved her face toward her sister's, confusion and slight irritation etched on it. While she was willing to let the earlier incident slip, she didn't want to play with the fox who had so rudely interrupted her nap. She didn't doubt that her grouchiness was likely compounding that feeling. Regardless, the stern and slightly scary face of her sister won out, eventually.

Kunou paused, having not even noticed that there was another kid in the room, her attention having been solely focused on the man who was her possible father. Now that she thought about it, she didn't know anyone else in the room, except for her Mama. The two youkai in the room were interesting because Kunou was very well versed in the various youkai in the kingdom. She was a princess after all. These two cat youkai were different, their power coursed strangely, and even her young senses could pick that out. However, what she really cared about was that they were really, really pretty.

She also looked at the other woman who had watched on blankly next to the man who she had believed was her father. Kunou's natural instincts were continually frazzling when she stared too long at the white haired woman.

"You can visit me and my friends any time Kunou-chan," Harry said, having easily read Kunou's curiosity, "My name is Potter, Harry. Please treat me, Kuroka, Shirone-chan and…'D' well okay?" Kunou thought about it for a moment and eventually nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay! This Kunou blesses you with approval!" Kunou said with as much "princess-attitude" as she could muster, causing Harry and the others to chuckle. However, when the Kyoto princess then turned to Shirone whose blank face was staring back into her own, she clammed up.

The young fox tried to regain her bearings, but the intense and constant stare of the white-haired cat pierced her normally confident attitude, rendering her a stuttering and fidgeting mess. She didn't get it…All the other children in the village always treated her carefully, full of awe and amazement. However, Shirone continued to just stare blankly, and it really threw her off. Something about it was…refreshing though.

"Um…Ano…Shirone-chan?" the unsure kyuubi princess ventured, hoping to get a response out of the stoic nekomata, whose stare was still fixated. Shirone sighed, looking away, deciding she had held her grudge long enough.

"Kunou-hime," she replied simply, which earned a frown from the young kyuubi. All the other children called her that, and it usually made her feel special. However, hearing it from Shirone just made her feel…lonely.

"W…would you like to go play?" Kunou asked shyly, unsure of why she was so nervous. The white cat contemplated for a moment and then sighed before nodding slowly. For a moment, nothing was said as the awkward exchange settled. It could be considered cute if it just wasn't so indicative of how much both children lacked real friends.

"Don't be so stiff you two! And Shirone, be nice," Kuroka said good-naturedly as she grabbed the two children, dragging them out of the room by the scruffs of their necks. "Ne ne! Let's go play then! I haven't had a good game of tag in a while nya!"

With a wink to the Harry and Death plus a nod to Yasaka, the black Nekoshou ran out of the room, intent on having a good time with her sister once again.


"I'm sorry about that Potter-san. Kunou can be very…impatient," Yasaka said with a sigh, knowing her daughter's more, fiery traits were going to get her in trouble one of these days. However, Harry waved it off with a warm smile.

"She's a precious child," he replied sincerely, "You've done a wonderful job with her." Yasaka nodded in acknowledgement, silently appreciating the unspoken words that accompanied that phrase. She still did not possess the resolve to approach the topic honestly, her own pride and shame preventing her from doing so. The golden kyuubi appreciated the implied support, however.

"Thank you. I shall take my leave then Potter-san so that you may rest," she said with a slight tilt of her head.

"Bleh. Please, at least, just call me by my first name. Hearing my last name brings back some unpleasant memories…" Harry requested with a slight grimace, as a certain dungeon bat and nose-less snake came to mind. Yasaka appraised the request for a moment, searching for a reason, but acquiesced when Harry's expression so openly projected his distaste.

"Very well. Then please rest well Harry-san. I will see to it that Kuroka-san does not do anything too reckless." The nine-tailed fox said with veiled grin as she glided out of the room to pursue her wayward guests and child.

A moment of companionable silence settled in the room as Death sat down next to her master, concern etched into her eyes. It had only been a day, but it only took a moment for a life to change. Without a doubt, her master had just changed many more, including his own. He likely hadn't given it much though, but in just a day, he seemed so much happier and alive.

"I'm glad," Death said softly as she leaned against the familiar warmth of her master whose arm snaked around her shoulders comfortably, "Your smile still exists."

"Oh shush," Harry dismissed but not unkindly, "Think of it more like I got over my century of depression."

"That doesn't fill me with much confidence you know."

"No, I suppose it wouldn't."

Harry hummed lowly, taking another moment to look around the room. It was a plain and very traditional, Japanese room. Tatami lined the floors and there was a bare minimum of decorations scattered about. Harry could describe it mostly as empty, but it felt so full of life.

It was a strict contrast to how his own home, back in his original dimension had felt, filled with various nick-knacks and doodads, yet as cold and empty as a rotting corpse's eyes. Perhaps that was what he had been in reality, a walking corpse going through the motions. This room with all of its emptiness seemed to be warm and contained more life than Harry had felt in the past century.

"You know…I'm glad too," the Master of Death replied softly as he laid back down, "You were right."

"Hmph. Aren't I usually?" Death scoffed with a smirk, but if softened just as quick, "I hope you can find happiness here. You seemed to have found some good potential friends…even if they are all women and little girls."

"Hey, I resent that," he replied with a chuckle, "But you know. You shouldn't exclude yourself either Death. We've been friends for a very long time now." At that, the concept beamed, diving down to snuggle into her lovable master. "Oi! That hurts you know!"

"Hehe. Master just always knows what to say doesn't he?" she said with a giggle, holding Harry close, "I knew that Master valued me so!" Now, normally, Harry would rise up to the baiting tease; Death would get a bit amusement, and then nothing would happen. Today wasn't a normal day though.

"Well of course," he muttered, sleep slowly overcoming him, not minding in the least that Death was essentially using him as a body pillow. Despite her name and power, her manifested body was quite warm he decided. "You're all I had for a hundred years or so you know…You're my family…" Nothing more was said as the tired wizard finally succumbed to the sweet call of Morpheus, missing completely the cherry-red face of pure embarrassment painted on his companion.

She pouted again, complaining at how unfair it was that she with all of her experience and ageless time couldn't deliver such cheesy yet perfect lines at the right times. Still, while she was usually the target of said lines, she couldn't help but allow her eternal heart flutter. It was easy to remind herself why she had fallen in love with Harry in moments like this.

"Hmph…Stupid Master," she said fondly, planting a soft kiss on his lips as he slept away into the land of flowing dreams.


6 Months Later

"As this year closes, may we remember the many blessings we have received from the watchful skies. May this New Year bring about prosperity and joy to our honored nation under the watchful eyes of the loving sun," Yasaka announced from the balcony of the palace where she held court, hearing the roaring cheer of thousands of youkai from down below, echoing their beloved leader. Youkai from far and wide had come to celebrate the most important Japanese holiday, and the festivities were in full swing as vendors barked their wares while the delicious aroma of freshly cooked foods wafted through the afternoon air. In just a few hours, the turning of the year would take place.

With a grace-filled bow, Yasaka retired from her position, giving a nod to her servants and advisors, all of which bowed back in response. They gave her the usual pleasantries, compliments and their little tidbits of input. She listened with all the patience she had cultivated over the centuries. However, the kyuubi was really just looking forward to spending some time with her family, just as every other youkai, and in fact everyone in the world, was advised to do for the New Years.

"Nyahhaah! You really are popular aren't you, Yasaka-sama nya?" a voice the golden fox had gotten all too used to these past few months giggled, causing a few of her advisors to scowl at the rather casual way the voice spoke to their queen. It made Yasaka smile though, happy to have someone who saw her as just another normal youkai. She looked up to find Kuroka perched on one of the golden archways, her tails swinging about lazily and her normally scandalous kimono leaving nothing to the imagination. With a nod to her advisors and servants, she sent them away, advising them to spend the rest of the evening with their families.

"And I must relay to you the same compliments Kuroka-san, given the many appreciative views you have received from the men this afternoon," she said with an arched eyebrow, amused. With a laugh, the black nekoshou hopped down from her spot on the arch walking into step with the golden fox. To many people, it was mind boggling why the very proper and reserved Yasaka would be such good friends with Kuroka who within just the short span of six months had already become infamous for her flirtatious nature and near lack of modesty.

"Ehehe. Maybe, but none of them interest me nya," the black neko replied simply, and Yasaka allowed a rare smirk to grace her features.

"Speaking of Harry-san," Yasaka continued, chuckling at the small pink hue that always flit across the usually brazen Nekoshou's face when their mutual friend was mentioned, "Where is he? I did not notice him anywhere today."

"Shirone-chan and Kunou-chan were bothering him for flying time earlier," she said simply, earning an understanding yet slightly exasperated look from the fox. Yasaka knew all too well of her daughter's increasingly powerful obsession with flying, and the moment Harry had revealed that it was a skill that he could teach, Kunou had pounced on it. She herself had gone on a few flights with Harry. Of course, the times afterwards had been appropriately tempered from Harry's standard of "fun" which she and Kuroka had promptly labeled as certifiably insane.

Together the two ladies walked on towards the entrance of the palace, hoping to make their way home. They had already enjoyed a lot of the festivities for the day, and all they wished to do was rest.

"It's been half a year already hasn't it?" Yasaka asked rhetorically as she gazed at the setting sun, remembering fondly the first day Harry and company had been dropped into her life. It was still quite the running joke in their household.

"What? Still eager to get rid of us nya?" Kuroka joked.

"Hmm…maybe just this stray black cat I happen to take care of. Little Kunou-chan is rather attached to Shirone-chan and Harry-san. I just can't see the appeal of continuing to take care of a hopeless cat." the gold fox said with a mischievous smirk.

"Nya! That's mean Yasaka-sama!"

"Hmm…I think even Lilith-san and Dee-san are more adored by my daughter than you Kuroka-san. In terms of affection ratings, you'd be dead last," Yasaka continued unapologetically, chuckling at the pouting and sour face Kuroka was making.

"That's only because I take away her Harry-time," the black Nekoshou said with the grumble, "It's not fair nya! She gets to pull the adorable child card…Everyone knows that works better than the sexy seductress role…."

Yasaka laughed heartily at that, hiding her mouth with the edges of her yukata. Many of the servants watching their interaction were a bit confused but happy at the sudden change in their beloved leader's outward demeanor.

Just a short six months ago, many of them could actually attest they had never heard their ruler laugh or make jokes, a side effect of being the sole ruler of an entire nation for so long perhaps.

Though more accurately, she had been lonely.

Youkai were social creatures by default. They were descendants of the ancient animal creatures fueled by human superstition after all. As such, they required their social needs.

The golden kyuubi had gone on for many hundreds of years without that social interaction. Sure she had servants and advisers to speak to, and of course she adored her people. However, it was not the same as having someone else to confide in that would honestly care. Being the ruler of a nation tended to put an impenetrable wall between you and your subjects. Even Kunou-hime, her dearest daughter, had only been around then less than a decade.

Most, as a result, were happy for Yasaka, and her closest servants prayed for her continued prosperity in the oncoming centuries.

At first, there had been a lot of misgivings about having a human, a human male at that, around Yasaka and her impressionable daughter. There were also whispers of the two nekoshou that followed him that spoke of their criminal past. They had been all treated with the utmost caution and quite a bit of disdain as a result upon their first few weeks in Kyoto.

Most of that suspicion had quickly evaporated after the first month however. Harry Potter, a name that was very well known throughout the nation now, had quickly proven himself to be not only a very kind man but immensely useful as well as powerful. His abilities had taken the nation by storm. Within a matter of days, water shortages were nonexistent, food was plentiful, buildings were repaired, clothes were given out, and so much more. All were accomplished with naught but a wave of his hand and some language that none understood. His powers were hailed as near godlike as a result.

The rich and the poor knew his face and his name. He was something of a celebrity, much to his distaste. Harry only put up with it because it was at least based on something he had done himself.

Power was important to youkai, not matter what any of them would say otherwise. It was a hard ingrained instinct for youkai to value and respect the strong. Naturally, Harry's abilities, combined with his readiness to use it selflessly and freely had earned him the respect and adoration of Yasaka's people.

There were also many other things that appealed to the modern youkai. His attitude was very down-to-earth despite his otherworldly control of what seemed to be reality itself. The mysterious woman that always accompanied him, Dee if the whispers were to be believed, exuded an aura of mystery and otherworldliness that many could not help but instinctively fear and respect. To many, it added to Harry's appeal of mystique.

In such a short time, Harry had changed the entire nation.

Children loved him. Woman desired him. Men respected him.

But he was untouchable. It was an unspoken agreement among all that lived in the kingdom that he belonged to Yasaka, though it had never been voiced of course by either party. The populace reasoned that time was all that was needed.

"Mama! Watch out!" a shrill voice screamed as Yasaka exited the castle, blinking in confusion as she swore she heard her daughter's voice from above. Looking up swiftly, she found the face of her daughter soaring through the air. Falling was a more apt description.

"Kunou!" she exclaimed, bracing her body to jump, her mind racing as she calculated how far she had to jump and where she could land to minimize the damage to herself and to her daughter.

She needn't have worried. A small glow surrounded her daughter as she rapidly approached the ground, seemingly originating from her clothes. Her speed slowed and eventually she was floating through the sky slowly like a leaf riding the winds, laughing all the while. Carefully, Yasaka caught her daughter who was still giggling despite the frown that her mother fixated her with.

"Kunou-chan! I told you to be careful! That broom wasn't made to last longer than an hour! It even warmed you when it was about to expire!" Harry's familiar voice yelled as he flew downwards, landing with a scowl. Without pause, he walked up to the troublesome kitsune and pinched her ear lightly as punishment.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! It hurts! It hurts!" Kunou cried out as she tried to pull away from the irritated wizard, attempting to burrow into the protective folds of her mother. It might have worked if Yasaka wasn't a bit irritated herself.

"It would have hurt a lot more if I hadn't enchanted your clothes earlier!" he deadpanned, "I've told you many times to be careful! Flying is dangerous! You could have been seriously injured or injured someone else! Do you have any idea how worried I was when I felt the magic of the momentum spell activate!? No more flying until you can prove to me you can handle the responsibility of safety!"

Kunou then started crying feverishly, leaping out of her mother's arms and tackling Harry to the ground.

"No! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Kunou didn't mean it! She wants to fly! She'll be careful! Promise," the little fox exclaimed as she began sobbing into Harry's shirt. Harry sighed.

"I don't want you to get hurt Kunou. I would never forgive myself if you did," he muttered softly as he rubbed the distraught fox's head.

Eventually, Shirone finally came into view, descending slowly on her own little broom. Skillfully, she dismounted and greeted her sister and Yasaka. Abruptly, she turned to the fitful kitsune who was still crying, not a single change in her expression apparent.

"Kunou-hime," Shirone said simply, and Kunou shrieked in fear as she sprang up from her position on Harry's chest. The kyuubi princess knew that tone all too well after six months. It meant she was in big time trouble.

"S..S…Shirone-chan…" she pleaded, her eyes wide as she tried to scoot away. She may have been able to get out of trouble with Harry and occasionally her mother, but Shirone was as solid as a magically locked up bank safe. She wouldn't even budge.

"Excuse me while I lecture Kunou-hime," the white cat said simply as she dragged away the struggling Kunou who was shouting for one of them to save her, "I will see you all at home."

After a while, the three adults broke out into small chuckles, and Harry stood up, dusting himself off in the process.

"You should really be more careful Harry-san," Yasaka said with a disapproving frown, though there wasn't much anger or heat behind it.

"I know. It's my fault. I'll make sure to not let it happen again," Harry said with sincerity, feeling ashamed for putting his friend's daughter into danger. He could have easily made the constructs last longer with a bit of preparation. However, conjuring working magical tools was not a small feat to scoff at. A normal wizard would never be able to do it at all actually.

"Oh lighten up you two nya!" Kuroka said with a laugh as she grabbed them all into a hug, "It's not like a little fall is going to kill anyone nyahhaha! Kunou-chan's a strong youkai too you know nya."

"That's beside the point Kuroka," the wizard replied with a roll of his eyes. Yasaka shook her head, sighing as well, wondering who had decided her first friends in a few hundred years would be so troublesome, but she smiled at the thought of how much spark they brought into her life.

She had been doing that a lot more recently.

"Let's go home shall we? I'm sure Shirone-chan has appropriately reprimanded my mischievous daughter, but that doesn't mean I can allow her all the pleasure."

With a nod, the three friends headed home, chatting and laughing the entire way.


About 1 Year Later

Harry felt like shit. In fact, he felt worse than when he'd had the bones in his arm removed by that stupid fraud with the fake hair and had his bones regrown overnight! He groaned as another wave of nausea and pain wracked his body, wondering why none of the potions he had brewed for those symptoms had worked at all. It was even stranger because his immortal body was not meant to succumb to any kind of disease. Without a doubt, he could say with certainty that being sick sucked.

Casting his mind back, he realized he had been slowly developing these symptoms over the course of the last six months. What he didn't understand was why, how, and what it was.

"Take it easy Harry nya," Kuroka whispered with a worried frown as she wiped his forehead with a washcloth, having dutifully watched over his bedside for the last few days. He had been bedridden for nearly a week already, having randomly collapsed in the middle of dinner one night to the horror of all those present.

Harry had, of course, written it off as nothing important, but once the spasms and pounding headaches began to come in full, it was clear that it was no common cold. However, it didn't stop there. After the first two days, Harry could barely even move without grunting in pain, his whole body fighting violently against any action.

And the black nekoshou had never felt more helpless in her life for it. With as much power she had, even her evolving control over space-time, she was useless here. Her senjutsu was always much more combat related. After all, she had been more concerned with making sure someone stayed dead when her powers had been developing. Healing magic and its associated arts were never her forte either. It wouldn't have helped regardless apparently.

Yasaka had tried her hand at curing Harry as well, even going so far as to channel a bit of the divine energy she was gifted with from the Goddess of the Sun. It hadn't helped in the slightest. In fact, nothing had helped. Kuroka had also watched Harry down potion after potion and try spell after spell, all to no avail.

All they could do now was wait for Death, who had been absent as of late, much to the confusion of everyone in the household. Lilith had also not been seen for a long time as well despite the fact that Harry could still feel her energy quite potently.

"Urk…this is a real pain in the ass," Harry wheezed as he clutched the sheets tightly to fight off another wave of headaches and nausea. If there was one thing he could say he definitely didn't miss about mortal life, it was sickness. In fact, being sick was odd even for mortals of his kind. Magic normally protected them from mundane diseases and their associated symptoms. Magical illnesses tended to have rather…exotic symptoms by contrast. "Sorry to bother you Kuroka."

"Nya! It's no problem at all," the black cat said resolutely, her brows creased in worry, "I just wish I could do more for you…I feel really useless nya…"

"Haha…It's fine. This is pretty nice actually. I've never had anyone take care of me like this before."

The closest thing Harry could actually compare this to were his visits to the hospital wing, as grim as that sounded. It made him feel happy that someone cared enough to nurse him.

"But it's not enough nya…" Kuroka muttered, tears gathering in her eyes as her emotions, which had been eating at her for days now, finally broke. No matter what was done, Harry's condition was worsening. "I…I…I can't…I don't want to lose you nya…"

Harry smiled in appreciation, really touched by the words. It wasn't like Kuroka to say what she meant so straightforwardly, and that meant she truly felt that way. Carefully, he warped his hand around one of hers, feeling comforted by it.

Over the past year and a half, they had gotten close. It was almost impossible for them not to be by this point. Their friendship had really blossomed, and he wouldn't lie in saying he treasured her quite a bit. Truthfully, everyone in the house was his precious family by this point, but it hurt a bit to know he was indirectly causing one of them pain.

"You're doing all you can. That's what matters," he said resolutely, wiping away a few of the tears on Kuroka's face.

The black cat clenched her teeth in frustration. She wanted to help! This man was the only reason why she and her sister were alive and living as they were! He hadn't even requested anything from them, deigning it as normal behavior to help people freely, as absurd as that sounded, especially to a devil. He had gone so far as to stay around them for almost two years already, giving them a place to call home and be happy.

Over the last year, they had been through so much together. They had fought, argued, laughed, cried and grown as friends without a doubt. There had been so many countless happy moments, more than she could say she had experienced before she had met Harry. Before him, her life just seemed like an endless cycle of struggling to survive while plotting how to do it, usually over someone's dead body. He had taken that all away. Harry had seen them at their lowest, comforted them and helped them get stronger without expecting anything in return. He was stubborn of course, to a fault, quite dense and a bit of an unknowing womanizing, but he was genuine and kind. Underneath it all, he was a good man. Harry had changed her life.

And Kuroka loved him for it all.

So it hurt, beyond words, to know she couldn't do anything to help the man she loved. Just this one time, she wanted to be the one to take away the pain. She wanted to be the one to be relied on this time. But she just didn't know how to do it…

Kuroka paused, realizing something. Maybe…maybe there was a way.

"Ne…Harry," Kuroka said with a shaky whisper, knowing that Harry's enhanced senses would pick it up regardless.

"Hmm?" he hummed as he held Kuroka's hand, the warmth and familiar smooth texture of her hands giving him comfort.

"Maybe…I can help."

"Really? Anything other than this would great," he said eagerly as he sat up, grunting as he did so out of pain. He really hated the patient role…

The black nekomata fidgeted in place though under the normal, yet intense, gaze of her friend, his bright, piercing emerald green eyes making her nervous. She would admit to often finding herself lost in them in the past. However, her decision was not one to take lightly, and even if she had entertained the idea many, many times. It was one thing to dream and another to act.

"Before…before I do it nya. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure go ahead."

"What…what do you think of me nya?"

Harry blinked, slightly thrown off by the sudden question that seemed so out of place. It implied a lot of things, but he wasn't really in the state of mind to contemplate them. In that end, he decided that honesty would serve him best.

"Well…you're a bit impulsive. Somewhat reckless. A shameless flirt who really loves to tease people. Quite prone to lazing around too. Slightly clumsy when you're not paying attention…."

"Gee…thanks nya…"

"But you're also very kind and a beautiful person and woman, both inside and out. You're one of my best friends, one of the only ones I have to be honest. My history with friendships is not so great… Meeting you actually turned my life around you know. If I hadn't met you, I might have just been already dead. Death told me back then my soul was dying. I was headed down that path before I met you…"

Harry paused.

"As a woman…you're unquestionably gorgeous. I love your laugh and how your ears twitch whenever you're happy, particularly with Shirone. I find your walk to be a bit mesmerizing because you do it so fluidly, and it really shows your catlike nature. I might have stared a few too many times…." He continued, somehow ignoring the steam coming out of Kuroka's ears, "Overall, you're one of my most precious people. You're funny, witty and an insatiable tease…but I love having you around. I'm really happy I met you Kuroka. I'm honored to have you here with me."

Kuroka wanted to respond so such heartfelt words, but the pounding in her heart and the fire in her body didn't allow her to do so. The black cat didn't like words anyway. Actions had always been her strong suit after all. A pregnant silence settled after Harry finished his improvised heart outpouring, and Kuroka stared for a good five seconds, opening and closing her mouth uselessly. She could practically feel the heat emanating from her undoubtable blood-red face. She was dumbfounded. Honestly! Who could just spout those words so genuinely!

With one fluid motion, she swung herself over Harry and sat in his lap, hugging him tightly, ignoring his surprised yelp, both out of pain and surprise. Nuzzling into Harry's neck, she inhaled deeply, mewling happily in contentment. This was who she loved. This was the man she wanted to spend her life with. Pulling back, she stared into Harry's questioning eyes before moving in swiftly, taking his lips with her own.

It was a good kiss she decided. Kuroka kissed him for a full five minutes before finally pulling back, her face red and her breath coming in short gasps.

"You really know how to charm a girl don't you nya?" she whispered with a sly and very happy smile, her eyes smoldering with desire. She giggled a bit at the bewildered expression on Harry's face, finding his lack of experience with woman rather adorable, and she preyed on it like the seductive cat she was. "Ne…Harry. Do you want to hear a secret nya?"

"Um…sure."

Slowly, she inched forward until she was embracing Harry, her mouth mere millimeters away from his ear as her hot breath spilled across it. Harry was definitely reacting, if what Kuroka felt was any indication. She giggled internally in delight.

"I love you Harry. I love you so much that I can't help but fantasize about you every night ravaging me until I'm sure I'm pregnant with your child. Every waking moment, I want to hold you close and have you kiss me into oblivion. I just love you that much."

Immediately, she felt his whole body lock up. She pulled back, concerned, but found a strange look on Harry's face, including a raging blush.

"W…what...why?" he croaked out. He had always dreamed of hearing those words from someone…well maybe not those exact words. That was all Kuroka. He had always wanted love though, but his life and condition had always made that dream impossible. Hearing those words seemed to be such a cruelly beautiful thing, because he was sure any moment he would wake up and realize he was alone again. Kuroka watched the conflicting emotions flit across his face with an understanding smile.

"You're Harry nya," she explained simply as she kissed him again," I'll say it again if you want nya."

"I…we…you…."

"Shhh...It's okay," Kuroka said with a happy grin, "I love you Harry." She couldn't help but giggle in delight at how those four words ignited his cheeks more than dirty talk did. "Mhmm…How about we make you feel better first nya? Then we can talk about it."

Dumbly, Harry nodded, and immediately started freaking out as he watched Kuroka suddenly start undressing in front of him.

"Hehehehe…Don't worry nya," she purred as she continued stripping slowly, knowing Harry was shocked but also enjoying it. She could tell by the smell of his body and the appropriate responses pushing against her body. "It's a powerful branch of my powers. It's called Bouchujutsu."

"Wait…doesn't that mean…"

"Yup…the bedroom method nya."


Later

Harry was feeling a lot better. Admittedly, it may have had something to do with the buxom and naked woman currently cuddling in his arms. It had been tough at first, mainly due to the pain from his body. After a bit though, the life energy that Kuroka had supplied him with had overridden it. However, he was still in a slight state of shock though, wondering what he had done to make anyone fall in love with him.

"I've been waiting for that for a while now nya," Kuroka said with a lazy grin as she groaned, feeling her lower body protest with soreness. It had definitely been wonderful. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to restrain myself during the mating season nya?"

"Sorry," Harry replied with a small chuckle, understanding it a bit himself thanks to his animagus forms.

"Nyaaaa, you're just going to have to make it up to me…a lot," she yawned saucily, stretching in a way that couldn't be construed as anything else but purposely erotic, earning another blush from the love-deprived wizard. Harry was about to reply when he felt the sudden gathering of magical energy in the room, one of which he recognized.

Moments later, Death came out of a tear in the dimension of space with someone in tow, and the eternal manifestation of the end did not look happy. However, her expression was quickly replaced with another one when she came upon the scene of her master and Kuroka in bed together, naked as the day they were born. It was also apparent, thanks to the musk and the slight sheen on their bodies what they had been up to.

"Hmm…It would appear, the cat has beaten you to it," the newcomer said with some mirth. Irritated, Death promptly bonked the girl on the head without any hesitation or remorse. She then turned to find Kuroka staring at her definitely, as if telling her to go ahead and try to forbid or separate them. Death's shoulders slumped, and she sighed.

"…It was…going to happen eventually," she said with a slightly depressed expression, shaking her head. Kuroka and Harry were surprised. The former had expected a bit more of an angry response, and the latter had formulated no idea on how his longtime partner would react.

"This, may be in your favor now. He, may respond to you now," the newcomer said flatly, though there was some hidden mirth underlined in her tone.

"Shut up Ophis!" Death said unhappily, flushing a bit, but the name had caused Kuroka's eyes to go wide in fear. Ophis was regarded as the strongest being around, bar the Great Red of course. She had some confidence that Death wouldn't outright maul her, thanks to their friendship and maybe Harry's intervention. Kuroka had no idea how this other notorious concept given form would treat them.

"Would you two at least cover yourselves?" Death said with some annoyance, staring blatantly at Kuroka's exposed chest with envy. It wasn't fair…

Ophis continued to stare blankly, mostly uncaring, though her gaze did linger on Harry's exposed body longer than necessary.

"What's…what's going on Death?" Harry asked bravely, hoping his longtime partner wasn't too upset with him. For some reason, he felt like had broken some kind of unspoken rule.

"This is the problem," Death said as she gestured to the blankly staring Infinite Dragon God who had begun wandering around the room, observing a few of the mementos Harry had placed there, "She's the reason why you're sick."

"What?"

"I noticed it after analyzing your magic a few days ago. It's the same as Lilith's first drain, except almost ten times worse. It's taking your magic so fast that your body was essentially drained dry and rendered without protection. I spent the last few days trying to track down Ophis."

The little gothic lolita didn't bother saying anything and instead walked over to Harry, sniffing him, a Cheshire grin stretching across her face.

"Lilith, seems to be doing well. In fact, she's almost done," Ophis declared, "Though, there may be some differences from what I had expected however." She looked pointedly at the naked nekoshou in bed with Lilith's host.

"Again, what are you talking about!" Death hissed, having heard this speech from Ophis all the way here. It was always something about Lilith finishing up and plans coming to fruition with her "mate".

"You, shall see soon. In fact, I sense she has just finished," the Infinite Dragon God said cheerfully, or as cheerfully as her flat voice could be considered.

Suddenly, Harry began to glow intensely as magic began building at a rate that would surely alert everyone in the kingdom if not Japan. It was staggering, the pure raw unadulterated power that filled the room; it was enough to level entire countries if harnessed correctly! The light levels were equally blinding, so bright that everyone in the room had shielded their eyes in the fears of going blind. Finally, after feeling like an ocean of magic power had been dropped on their chests, the magic collapsed into a single point and the pressure and lights disappeared.

Opening their eyes, they found something new, but it was more like someone new.

A small child lay napping in Harry's lap, probably about two or three years old. It was a girl with slate gray hair and a pair of twitching cat ears on the top of her head that kept swiveling every now and then. She had two tails that swung lazily behind her in a happy fashion as she instinctively snuggled closer into the warmth of Harry's body.

However, after a few moments, she began to stir. Yawning cutely, her eyes opened to reveal irises of two different colors, one a very characteristic emerald green which Harry immediately recognized and the other a bright, piercing shade of gray with flecks of topaz in it.

Blinking the little nekomata looked around slowly, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. She wasn't alarmed, and in fact, she practically looked happy and at ease. With a knowing nod, she turned towards Harry who seized up at the attention.

"Papa," she stated definitively, giggling as she hugged him around the waist, nuzzling into his chest.

"Explain! Right. Now. Ophis," Death hissed, her power flaring violently as she gestured towards the young girl snuggling into Harry's bare chest, "Why is MY power coming off that girl!"

"Naturally, she is your daughter," Ophis said simply, shrugging her shoulders, "As well as mine and apparently the cat's." Kuroka's head whipped so fast towards Ophis that Harry actually had to turn his face to not get inadvertently slapped by her hair.

"WHAT NYA!" Kuroka exclaimed, her eyes wide as she turned to the child in Harry's arms.

"That doesn't make any sense," Death said with a frown, "In fact, the only one that's done anything to even merit a child is Kuroka-san." The black nekomata winced at bit at the slightly bitter tone, but nodded in agreement. Ophis paused.

"I, do not understand. Is it not customary to form a child using magic? It, is how I was born as well as Great Red and all the other gods and goddesses," Ophis asked, tilting her head, her question as serious as she was deadpan.

Predictably, Death, Kuroka and Harry could only stare at the second strongest being in existence in disbelief. They couldn't decide if the Infinite Dragon God was dumb or just ridiculously innocent.

"Was that what Lilith was for the entire time?" Harry asked.

"Initially, no," Ophis replied truthfully, "After much time, she decided it herself. She, said she was bored as a snake and would like to be reborn. She, asked me, and I came up with the plan."

"So wait…this is Lilith!?" Kuroka questioned, her mind having a very difficult time connecting the snarky snake and the perfectly innocent kitten in front of her together.

"In, a sense. Yes and no. Her essence of power and soul were re-forged."

"I can't believe this…" Death said as she sat down, too shocked. Her hundreds of eons had never prepared her for something so absurd as this! For goodness sake, she hadn't even gone on a proper date with Harry yet! A daughter? Hers?

"Are mamas mad?" the little nekomata, Lilith, asked her eyes watering a bit as her enhanced senses were able to pick up on the emotions in the room.

"No no no, of course not little kitten nya," Kuroka said immediately, almost automatically. Lilith then reached out and crawled into Kuroka's lap, purring happily in response.

"I, find myself disappointed that all she inherited from me was a mixed hair color and my eyes," Ophis admitted as she walked over to the napping child, "Hmm…though her energy definitely feels rather draconic. Perhaps she has retained my shapeshifting abilities. I, will have to teach her later." Not one to be outdone, Death quickly strode up to the little child and observed her herself.

"As if. Those are clearly my eyes," Death bragged as she pointed to her own set of gray eyes, a smirk plastered on her face as her attitude did a quick one-eighty, "And her hair is definitely a lighter shade of gray. Must have gotten it from me." She was referring of course to her snow white hair.

However, as a result, a strange argument of who had more in Lilith had begun between the two entities that represented two sides of the same coin, the infinity and the end. They continued to bicker the entire time, leaving Harry and Kuroka time to absorb what the hell had just happened.

"This…She…She's our daughter nya?" Kuroka asked, her voice trembling a bit as little Lilith began to fall asleep once more. The black nekomata couldn't believe it. Her life had always revolved around the idea of raising children with a suitable mate. The black nekoshou had always hoped, but had never let her hopes go too far. She had just been handed both. Without her knowing it, tears began to fall from her eyes as she hugged her new daughter close, an unspeakable happiness filling her heart.

Harry too was in a state of shock. A daughter? Him? It was almost unfathomable. The wizard had never seen his future making it to that point. Sure he had fantasied about raising a family many times, but…to have it come true so suddenly was ridiculous. He wasn't ready for something like this! Normal dads weren't ready for this! And he had just found out he had a daughter in less than five minutes!

Taking a deep breath, he practiced his meditative techniques, re-centering himself. It would do him no good to panic. He shook himself mentally. Done was done. Regardless of anything he wanted, he now had a daughter, a beautiful, healthy daughter. He…had a daughter! Just repeating the phrase made him grin stupidly. If he was honest with himself, he couldn't bring himself to care how it had happened.

"She has your ears and tails," Harry said with a chuckle.

"Nyahaha. I'm surprised she has two," Kuroka said with a gleeful giggle. She knew the reason though. Only extremely powerful nekomata were able to grow more tails. Her sister would likely grow into hers within the coming years. It was pretty much a guarantee with them being Nekoshou. But the fact that this newborn kitten possessed one was frightening and very pleasing for the black cat. "Nyahaha my little kitten is going to be powerful isn't she!"

"Are…are you okay with having me as the father? I'm not that…"

"Stop. You'll be the perfect father nya. I'd want no one else," Kuroka declared seriously, and Harry blushed profusely at the staunch declaration.

"Hey! She's my daughter too you know!" Death said suddenly, breaking away from her argument with Ophis, pouting.

"Mine, as well," the Infinite Dragon God echoed, "Though, clearly more than Death."

"What did you say!?"

They continued, much to the amusement of Harry who had taken to stroking his new daughter's hair.

"Papa…" the little nekomata purred as she continued to nap, blissfully content with staying between her mother and father. It was perhaps one of the most adorable things he had ever seen in his life, and the fact that he knew it came from his daughter made the moment all the sweeter.

"Ha…I guess I am little one. Welcome to the family, Lilith."


Hello! I'm back! I was gone for a bit, about two months in Asia. And before that I was finishing up college stuff for med school. Bleh.

Anyways, hopefully, I don't go too long again without updating. Until next time!

-Woona the Cat