Chapter Eight: Sou-Sofu

Friday, August 4th, 2006 – Tokyo Metropolis, City of Minato, Moto-Azabu District, Tokyo, Japan

Do you know where I can buy a new mattress? HJP

LOL. I should've warned you. David and I always switch to a cheap futon mattress we throw away afterwards. It's 3 o'clock, so five days? Pretty long for a first heat. Have fun? KH

Four days, had to account for the time difference between here and England. And I'm not answering that. HJP

Aww. It's cute how you're still acting like a blushing virgin. KH

You're fired. HJP

Are you sure? Who are you going to get to sort and address the fan mail the goblins sent you? KH

Ignore my last text. HJP

Thought so. Since you're in such a good mood, I'm assuming your muscles aren't aching and you took the potions? If not do it now. KH

I've taken my potions mummy dearest. HJP

What a good minion you are. The best place to get a high quality mattress is in Roppongi Hills, it's a ten-minute walk from your penthouse. There are tons of high-end shops and restaurants where you can have dinner. It would be good for your and your sexy Alpha to have a night out after being cooped up in your bedroom so long. KH

You're a genius. HJP

Of course I am. Gotta go. I turned away for one moment and the boys decided to try and kill each other. I'll see you Monday after I drop the kids off. KH

Okay. Have a great weekend. Thanks. HJP

Not a problem. And don't think I won't pry the details from you when we meet! KH

Harry groaned, set aside his phone, and swung his feet over on the sofa so they sat in Takashi's lap. Beside him, Takashi texted furiously on his own mobile but Harry smiled when Takashi absently rubbed his feet in between texts.

Harry leaned forward to grab the mail off the coffee table, ignoring the four waist tall mailbags in the corner. The bags were the first of his back logged fan mail he had to go through. Poor Kaori. Thankfully, the goblins already forwarded the cursed mail to the DMLE and sent the personal and business mail that had been mixed with the general mail with Hedwig. Even with the screening, he still had an avalanche of letters and birthday presents to go through. Thank Merlin he had hired Kaori.

"Okay, so I did need an assistant."

Takashi looked up from his phone, his mouth turning up in a smirk. After double-checking to make sure no spells, charms, or potions were on the mail, Harry scanned through the stacks Hedwig delivered. The goblins divided the mail by normal mail, physical gifts, monetary gifts, business requests, and letters from friends, acquaintances, enemies, and strangers. He went through his personal stack while stroking Hedwig's feathers once she'd flown over and landed in his lap.

Viktor Krum had sent him a nice letter along with a pair of special omnioculars that recorded what the person viewed. The set Viktor given Harry was this year's Quidditch World Cup, which Bulgaria won. Viktor had also sent him the Firebolt he'd flown during the match that had autographs of the Bulgarian and Spanish teams on the handle. Needless to say Viktor was his new best friend. Fleur Delacour sent him a long letter and a line of magical hair and beauty products, which of course amused Takashi. Neville and Luna got him Japanese cookbooks and supplies common in a Japanese kitchen. Percy sent him a book that listed the history of old pureblood families including the Potters, which brought tears to Harry's eyes. George sent him products from WWW and a long letter to let him know he'd been released from house arrest and married Adrian Pucey. George's happiness exploded across the parchment. In the letter, George warned him of the mayhem Ron and Ginny planned when the new school year began, pleading with him to watch his back.

He showed the letter to Takashi and opened his letter from Hogwarts that listed his O.W.L results. Results Harry was less than happy with. Now that the blocks were off and he had Riddle's memories and knowledge inside his head, he knew he could've done better. Harry felt as if he had wasted five years of schooling and had to start from scratch.

"I need to have Kaori draft a letter to Hogwarts and tell them I won't be returning."

Takashi scowled as he scanned George's letter. "Those two need to learn a lesson."

Harry shrugged and pulled out Percy's letter to read. While he adored the gift, one had to wind their self up to actually read any treaty Percy decided to write. "I'm just glad I don't have to deal with them any longer."

In addition to the gift, Percy had written a dry missive about the political climate and warned him Bellatrix Lestrange was on the move and the Carrows had been working with her and wanted revenge for him killing Voldemort.

"I haven't given a thought to all the issues back in Britain," he said aloud, which caused his husband to lift his head from where he had begun texting again. It seemed as if Takashi controlled the world with only a few clicks of his mobile. Harry only hoped he hadn't organized Ron and Ginny's murders.

"Settle first."

"Do I have time to settle? I need to be ready when they come after me. I have a lot of Voldemort's knowledge but no experience. Plus, I'm having trouble using the focus ring, it works differently than wands."

"It's only been a week. Adjust first, train later," Takashi said firmly. "Tutors?"

Harry smiled. He really was getting used to Takashi speak.

"I was going to begin interviewing after I finished the language course, which starts Monday and lasts until the first of September."

Takashi nodded and put away his mobile. "Good plan. For now self-study with magical theory books, we'll cast translation charms on them."

"Wish I could put a translation charm on myself," Harry muttered. He tilted his head and squinted as he attempted to sort through the pile of information floating around his brain. "Hmmm. I know one that will translate everything people say, but I would have to do the charm on everyone I encountered. Annoying."

"Wouldn't retain anything."

"You're right. There is no easy way," Harry groaned. "Let's go out. I'm feeling restless and Kaori told me we could get a new mattress and dinner in Roppongi Hills. Do you know where that's at?"

"Ah."

"While we're out maybe we can go to magical Tokyo and get the theory books first then come back here to go to the place Kaori told us about to get the mattress and eat dinner?"

Harry stared into magnetic dark, gray eyes and gave his best-kicked puppy look. Takashi chuckled and pulled Harry into his arms, covering his mouth over Harry's. One would think after spending the last few days doing nothing but having sex, Harry would get tired of Takashi's touch. He wasn't. Harry melted into his Alpha's arms. Takashi was a wonderful kisser. Harry could never get tired of the way he tasted. Harry felt the loss when Takashi rose off the couch and gathered their things to leave.

They had a wonderful time wandering the shops in magical Tokyo looking at things that caught their fancy. As they explored, Harry learned his Alpha had a passion for small animals and art and filed the information away for future reference. Harry was also amazed at the respect and reverence that followed Takashi wherever they went. It was weird after seeing Takashi so relaxed when it was just the two of them only to watch him slip into a more formal, public persona as strangers stopped, bowed, and used any excuse to spend a couple minutes in Takashi's presence. It was liberating to be ignored. In Britain he was the one everyone clamored to speak with, now he could slid into the background and be unnoticed like he always wanted.

When they reached the bookstore, Takashi grabbed several books that explained the history and use of focus rings. While wandering Harry found magical flashcards in the children's section that taught children Kanji, hiragana, and romanji.

Harry sighed as he looked at the flashcards. It was overwhelming, three written languages. How did they ever keep things straight? "I'm never going to learn this."

"You're smart, determined, and have my help."

Harry opened his mouth to make a comment about Takashi's ego, when someone spoke up behind them.

"Mori-senpai?"

They swung around, a petite young girl in her early teens stood behind them in traditional dress an armful of books clutched to her chest. An Omega Female. Harry smelled youth, innocence, purity, and the scent of fresh juniper. She was beautiful.

Takashi bowed. "Hori-chan. How are you?"

The girl frowned when Takashi addressed her in English and flicked Harry a wide-eyed look of startlement. The girl stiffened once she scented his and Takashi's bond. Harry could have sworn he saw a look of deep disappointment flash across her face before she smiled at Takashi. During their conversation, which was in rapid Japanese, Harry caught a couple words like friend, sister, and Hoshimi. She was apparently a friend of Takashi's sister and from the way she gestured, he supposed she was in the store looking for books for a homework assignment and wanted to know where Hoshimi was. Takashi informed her in English she was away learning the family business.

"She has a crush on you," Harry said once she walked away. "Was disappointed you were mated."

Takashi shrugged. "It's a crush. She's a baby, a baby who's disappointed I only saw her as a child."

"Really, I missed that."

"I deliberately called her Hori-chan. Chan is an honorific used for close friends or family members, which she is not or young children."

Harry smirked and straightened feeling better about the encounter. His Alpha was a subtle genius. "Poor girl. I almost feel sorry for her. Does that happen a lot, you being accosted by fan girls?"

"Remember, rich, good looking, powerful, good in bed."

Harry snorted. "More like huge ego."

"Really," Takashi drawled out his voice deepening. He bent down and whispered in Harry's ear causing shivers to race up and down Harry's spine. "So you're saying I'm not good in bed? Apparently I didn't do a good job satisfying you and will have to spend tonight proving otherwise."

"Dear Merlin." Harry managed.

He hoped he still had potions left because from the determined look in Takashi's eyes, Harry didn't think he'd be able to walk in the morning.


Harry walked into a beautiful, new world and it was mind-blowing.

Walking ten minutes from their flat was like going from Surrey to Piccadilly Square, only more put together. Roppongi Hills in Midtown Tokyo felt as if you entered a different world. Piccadilly could never be as amazing as Tokyo at night. Buildings rose in the sky while tree lined streets with Christmas lights draped upon them lit up the night. Every few feet were elaborate art sculptures decorating pristine sidewalks. Despite the huge crowds, not a lick of garbage, dirt or dust could be seen anywhere. Delicious scents from the various restaurants in the area filled the air and made Harry's stomach growl with envy. It was beautiful, overwhelming. Harry found himself spinning around taking in everything with eyes as huge as Hagrid's dinner plates.

"Wow."

Takashi frowned. "I didn't know you'd like it so much. I should've purchased an apartment here instead."

Harry looked about, at the crowds the noise and finally shook himself out his stupor as he grabbed hold of his Alpha's hand. "You did good. Our place is peaceful. This is great to visit, even close enough to walk to but I doubt I'd be comfortable living in such a busy area on a daily basis."

Takashi smiled and led the way inside the tower and to a home interiors store. Harry shook his head as clerks jumped to attention the minute his Alpha crossed the threshold. They treated Takashi and by extension himself as if they were royalty while they tested several mattresses before agreeing on one. The sales clerk swore to have it delivered to their penthouse within the hour. Afterward, they wandered other shops hand and hand before stopping for dinner at an Italian restaurant.

The restaurant they stopped in was beautiful. Vines of what looked like cherry blossoms were hanging from the ceiling. A large fresco fireplace dominated the room, and thirty circular tables surrounded by club like chairs. Takashi ordered a ravioli dish with seafood meat and vegetables. Harry ordered braised pork with polenta and vegetables. Everything tasted divine and it felt wonderful to be out and about with his mate.

"I'm not ready to go home yet," he told Takashi looking about him in excitement as he saw the fashionable people enjoying their evening meal.

"Movie or nightclub?"

Harry cocked his head as he thought about it. "Will the movie be in English?"

"A lot of foreigners live in this area, so you'll find new releases in English with Japanese subtitles."

Harry grinned. "Movie."

They were going over the dessert menu when four wizards dressed in black suits with gun holsters strapped to their bodies entered the restaurant. The patrons gasped as they watched the wizards who made no pretense of hiding their non-magicals weapons. Harry looked at Takashi alarmed, but as always his Alpha looked utterly calm as if their appearance didn't faze him. Sometimes it sucked to have a stoic mate. He subtly palmed the wand hidden in its invisible holster and twirled the focus ring on his hand when the men stopped at their table and bowed respectively towards Takashi.

"Our master requires your presence," they said politely in English.

Harry stiffened, but Takashi merely nodded before going into his pocket to grab his wallet to pay for dinner.

"Your meal has been taken care of."

"Thank you." Takashi rose from his chair before helping Harry do the same.

"Takashi?" Harry whispered worried as they followed the men out the restaurant to the curious stares and whispers of the diners.

Takashi shrugged carelessly as if they hadn't been abducted. "Probably just got tired of waiting to meet you."

"Who?" Harry asked confused. He then thought of the huge sign outside the skyscraper and the plaques and signs inside the building. The building they were in was called Mori Tower. He sighed. He was an idiot. "Your family owns the building?"

"Great uncles," Takashi answered.

Harry stopped and stared at his mate who just shrugged and took his hand pulling him so they could keep up with the guards.

"Really," Harry asked for the first time fully understanding why Haruhi uttered rich bastards whenever her friends casually dropped mind-blowing details about how much money they had.

"Ah. Grandfather's brothers."

Harry never thought of Takashi's extended family, but he supposed since Japan hadn't been decimated like Europe due to back-to-back wizarding wars it made sense that Takashi would have a large extended family. Wizards lived longer than non-magicals, after all Dumbledore was over a hundred years old.

"Your grandparents are still living?"

"Ah, on both sides, Great-Grandfather as well. Didn't want to overwhelm you."

Harry nodded relieved. "So your family is involved in more than farming and food distribution?"

Takashi shook his head. "Not my immediate family. Grandfather as oldest son inherited the farms and auction houses, which has been in our family for generations. Great-Uncles used their inheritance to start a real estate and development company. They developed the twenty-seven acres around Roppongi Hills as well as numerous projects across Asia."

"Wow."

"Ah. Together they're richer than Bill Gates."

Harry tensed wondering what he'd gotten himself into. No wonder Takashi's mother, Satoshi, and Hoshimi were such brats. Harry was frankly amazed they were as normal as they were now he knew Takashi's family's status in the world.

"What about your father, does he have brothers or sisters?"

"Ah. Twin brothers and a sister, which is unusual since my grandparents are betas. One uncle is a professor at the magical college; the other heads Japanese Magical Diet. It's like the American Senate and House of Representatives. My aunt is a homemaker. Her husband is a squib and an executive in Great-Uncles company."

They entered a private elevator with only the buttons to three floors displayed on it. Harry felt the magic wash over them as they entered and the elevator rose through the air stopping on a hidden floor at the top of the tower. Harry followed quietly as they walked down the hallway. Not knowing what to expect, he gripped his husband's hand tightly.

"Family apartments," Takashi soothed.

Considering how well everything went the last time Harry met Takashi's family, he wasn't holding his breath. They stopped at a door at the end of the hallway before the guards bowed and walked away. Takashi took a deep breath and opened the door to an elaborate penthouse apartment decorated as if it was a relic from feudal Japan. Elaborately painted shoji screens, knick-knacks that looked as if they were family heirlooms were placed around the space. Harry felt as if he had entered a museum. Harry looked around dazed as he removed his shoes and allowed Takashi to pull him down hallways until they came to a magical greenhouse where an older gentleman with short salt and pepper hair in a buzz cut and glasses tended to the fruit and vegetables.

Takashi stopped in the doorway and bowed deeply upon seeing the man in traditional dress.

"Great grandfather. I was unaware you were in town."

The older man smiled fondly as he set down his garden implements, wiped his hands on a cloth, and gathered a bowl filled with fruit.

"I returned yesterday." The old Alpha smirked. "I imagine you were busy. Follow me."

Flushing at what the older Alpha implied, he and Takashi followed his great-grandfather and stopped in front of a doorway. The shoji screen in front of the room was an elaborate historical painting of what appeared to be several people having a tea break. The half-open room showed a Japanese style room filled with tatami floors and scrolls hanging on the walls.

"Since I interrupted your dessert, I'll serve dessert and tea while we talk. I'll join you shortly."

Takashi's great grandfather bowed and left them outside the room. Harry turned to Takashi who stared at his great-grandfather's retreating back his eyes popped wide with shock.

Harry sighed. He was tired of always feeling as if he missed something. "Taka?"

"Just go with it," Takashi whispered. "Follow me and repeat what I do, I'll explain later."

Takashi transformed in front of him, becoming reverent and awe-struck. He removed his slippers and ritualistically rinsed his mouth, bathed his feet, and hands with the provided stone basins while Harry did his best to mimic Takashi's actions. Afterwards they donned special socks that were in a cabinet for their use that looked as if they were used with flip-flops. Takashi took and handed him several items out of the antique cabinet outside the door to include handkerchiefs and an elaborately painted fan. They were in a small reception room when his grandfather appeared and bowed before them, then he and Takashi bowed, before being moved into what Harry supposed was the dining room. They weren't allowed to walk on the tatami mats and Harry knew he probably looked like a fool trying to imitate the elegance Takashi had shown as they made their way inside the room where they sat crouched down on their knees on a low table. Soon Takashi's great-grandfather entered the room through another door and joined them.

Takashi chatted with his great-grandfather in an oddly formal manner while the man seemed to heat water for tea. They spoke about the room, the design, the artwork hanging on the walls and the tools his great-grandfather used for preparing their tea. Every movement of his great-grandfather seemed oddly formal though soon, he began talking to them explaining, probably for Harry's benefit, everything he was doing and the significance behind it. Soon, he and Takashi were drinking bowls of a bitter, green tea while his great-grandfather looked on proudly.

Once they finished the tea, it became less formal though still very confusing. They were served delicious desserts made with the freshest fruits while they talked.

"I understand you've had trouble with your new in-laws," the older man said to Harry.

Harry flushed, how should he supposed to respond to that? "Yes sir."

"I suppose that's partly my fault," he answered sadly. "I was the one who insisted on the marriage contract between Takashi's parents. Akira is the first Alpha in the family since myself and I meddled a little too much in his life. As a young man, Akira became infatuated with a non-magical Omega Female he met at Ouran. I discouraged the match, causing him to break off the relationship. As years passed and it looked as if he wouldn't enter another relationship, I arranged the contract between Takashi's parents. She was seventeen, he twenty-eight at the time. Not a huge age gap when you consider the lifespan of magicals, my wife and I had a similar age gap and were very happy. However, I failed to take into consideration the difference in their maturity levels. Akira became frustrated with his wife's immaturity, which I admit she never really outgrew. I discouraged Akira's original choice because of what I had been through with my Omega, who had been a squib from the Haninozuka line."

Harry was curious, but didn't know if he should ask further questions. Morinozuka-sama seeing the question in his face, smiled somewhat sadly.

"My mate was not magical. I lost her before she turned fifty and because of my magical genes, I looked much younger than she did. Once Morinozukas leave puberty they tend to look the same as they did as teenagers until they reach their forties. I've lived without her longer than I lived with her. An Alpha without an Omega is a lonely life, a life I didn't want for my grandson."

"Oh," Harry said with dawning realization. "That would suck."

"But as my grandson recently pointed out, it is better to have a short life with someone you love than a long one with someone with whom you can't respect or love."

"Good point," Harry whispered.

Harry felt Takashi's hand grab and squeeze his underneath the table.

"How are you getting along with my great-grandson, is he treating you well?"

Harry flushed. "Yes sir."

"Hmpf," he said shooting Takashi a fierce glare that said he better be treating Harry correctly. "I'm glad."

They spoke for another half-hour where the older Alpha grilled Harry on his plans, hopes, and dreams for the future, before he dismissed them to enjoy the rest of the evening. Harry found him his shoulder's relaxing and breathing once again when the door to the apartment closed behind him.

Takashi chuckled. "He has that effect on everyone. Ready for the movie?"

Harry nodded firmly anything to take his mind off that nerve-wracking experience.


Harry woke the next morning to discover two things. He was sore from he and Takashi's nightly activities and he was alone. The bond he had formed with Takashi let him know his mate was not in their apartment. Not that he could fault Takashi for leaving, it had been over a week since his Alpha last visited the dojo. It was time they got back into their routines, including him. After showering, dressing, and downing potions to ease his sore muscles Harry cooked breakfast. For once, he skipped the healthy breakfast fare Takashi preferred and made a big breakfast consisting of a vegetable omelet, thick French toast, and mounds of bacon. While he ate, he wrote out thank you letters for his birthday presents. He was half-way through his meal when Takashi returned.

"Want to go to Karuizawa?"

"Where Haruhi is?"

"Ah." Takashi sat down and ate the rest of Harry's omelette instead of making his own plate. "Tamaki called the Hosts this morning. He found out she's there and decided we should go as well."

"Poor Haruhi."

"Ah. We have a cottage in the area. We can stay there, or in Mitsukuni's family's cottage, which is closer to the pension where Haruhi works. The others will probably stay at the bed and breakfast with Haruhi."

"But don't you want to be with your friends?"

"I'd rather be with you Harry."

Harry sighed. "You don't have to baby me. I'll eventually find my own way and make my own friends. Maybe I should stay here. I start my language course Monday anyway."

"I want you to come."

Harry looked at Takashi and nodded when he realized he was serious.

They packed for the weekend and soon Mitsukuni's car arrived to take them to the private airport to meet the rest of the Hosts. Harry was nervous meeting Takashi's friends. How would he a newcomer fit into established relationships. What if they hated him for being English like Takashi's family had? Takashi must have felt his nervousness as he held his hand while he talked with Mitsukuni.

All too soon, they reached the airport. A helicopter surrounded by luxury Rolls Royces', Mercedes Benz's and the like stood waiting for them while Takashi's friends milled about in designer outfits leaning against their vehicles. Mitsukuni jumped out the car and raced toward the other Alphas, a pink bunny clutched to his chest.

"What's up with the bunny?" he whispered to Takashi.

"His grandmother gave it to him a month before she died. They were very close."

"Oh," Harry whispered softly thinking of Luna and her radish earrings, earrings she had made with her mother before her mother passed away. He suddenly felt great empathy towards the other Alpha.

"Ready to meet the Hosts?" Takashi asked.

Harry took a deep breath and nodded. Takashi stepped out the vehicle and held out his hand to help Harry. The minute his feet touched the tarmac, the group of Alpha's nostrils flared and their bodies stiffened and went on high alert. Hunters scenting prey. It was actually funny to watch their faces go from the single mindlessness of Alphas scenting a strong Omega they coveted to twisted in confusion once they saw he and Takashi's joined hands and sniffed out their mating bond. If Harry hadn't been so nervous he would've laughed.

"Hey guys," Mitsukuni piped up. "This is Harry-kun, Takashi's mate. He's still learning Japanese so speak English, ne?"

It was amazing to Harry that a man who didn't reach five feet and held a stuffed pink bunny could be so menacing that the other, taller Alphas flinched. The blond, Tamaki, rushed him and engulfed him in a Hagrid worthy hug, squeezing the life out of him as he swung him about only to freeze and set him down quickly when Takashi growled. Which Harry didn't understand. Now that they were mated, Takashi's scent was infused into his skin, which meant that another Alpha's scent wouldn't cling to his pores like it did before they mated. Was Takashi jealous? Tamaki seemed unfazed by Takashi's reaction and dramatically held out his hand for Harry to shake.

"I am Tamaki Suoh, leader and Prince of the Host Club. I'm glad our neighbor has met his mate."

Harry arched an eyebrow at Takashi, was this guy serious?

"Ah."

Harry gulped and took Tamaki's hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Well this is a surprise." A slim dark haired boy with glasses said, addressing him with a potent stare while adjusting the glasses on his face.

"Well what do you know," a pair of red haired twins approached Harry and circled the group while talking a mile a minute with mischievous grins on their faces. "A secret the Shadow King wasn't aware of."

"He must be slipping."

While their red hair came from a bottle and they could never be as in sync as the Weasley twins yet it was eerie for Harry to see the identical twins.

"We have to leave now." Tamaki waved his body about like a ballerina, jumping in the air and landing gracefully on his feet as he posed as dramatically as a bad actor in a stage play. "Even now my darling daughter is being conscripted into indentured servitude."

"Seriously?" Harry asked gaping at the blond.

"Yes," the boy in glasses, Kyoya, told him. "But he means well."

Takashi and Mitsukuni nodded with long suffering expressions on their faces.

They headed to the helicopter. Thankfully, the copter was so loud it was difficult to speak so Harry curled up at Takashi's side flipping through the cookbook Neville and Luna had given him while Takashi pointed to his favorite dishes. Karuizawa was fifteen minutes from Tokyo by air. Harry was jerked out of his relaxed state when Tamaki hung out the open door of the helicopter and began shouting into a microphone in Japanese.

Once they landed and the boys had harassed Haruhi enough he went up to her and gave her a hug.

"You're right, annoying."

Haruhi lifted a hand to her mouth to cover her giggles, which only riled Tamaki more.

"Neighbor, why is your mate hugging my daughter."

"Friends."

Then they began speaking Japanese. Harry wasn't able to catch the rapid fire exchange that followed, the only word he was able to catch was that Tamaki kept calling Haruhi his daughter.

"Daughter," he asked Haruhi incredulously. "Really?"

She rolled her eyes, pulled away from his embrace, and glared at the hosts.

"Can you go now so I can get back to work?" she asked them in English.

Kyoya adjusted his glasses with a smirk on his face and flipped through a small booklet. "Well, according to the Ouran Academy charter, Section 9, no student can have a part-time job."

Haruhi flinched and Harry glared at Kyoya for trying to manipulate her. Harry had only known Haruhi for a short time but he knew how important her scholarship was to her. He stepped up the Alpha and glared at him pocking his finger in the Alpha's chest.

"Bullocks."

The twins who had been performing some type of dramatic skit stopped and gaped at Harry.

"Excuse me?" Kyoya said calmly.

"I thought Haruhi was your friend, why are you manipulating her? What kind of friend are you anyway? One, she's not being paid. Two, that rule is stupid. If that rule was true everyone at your school would break it when they helped out in their family's business."

"Senpai," Tamaki cried dramatically. "Get your mate."

"Harry's correct," Takashi's deep voice intoned quietly.

"I can spend my vacation anyway I want," Haruhi beamed.

"And so can we," Tamaki said just as brightly.

The next few minutes were a blur. Unable to understand the rapid fire Japanese, Harry took a set at tables on the wrap around porch surrounding the bed and breakfast's backyard. Kyoya sat next to him and explained that the rest of the hosts were having a contest. They would help around the pension and the winner would get the pension's last free room. Why they were having a contest to pay for a room when they each had homes in the area, Harry couldn't understand.

"Idiots."

Harry pulled out his correspondence from his backpack and read through business manager applicants.

"What is that?"

"Work. Good thing I don't go to Ouran," Harry snarked still annoyed with the Alpha.

Kyoya's glasses glinted. "You are unlike any Omega I've ever met, even the rare male one's like Ranka-san or the twins father."

"You must not get out much." Harry told the Alpha. Kyoya looked amused and Harry shrugged. "I'm a foreigner."

"It's more than that."

"I'm looking at CVs for business managers for my company that my account manager forwarded to me," Harry explained changing the subject.

"Your parents must be proud of you to give you such responsibility at . . .sixteen?"

Harry chuckled. "Is it a Japanese custom to beat around the bush instead of just asking someone what you really want to know?"

Kyoya laughed merrily. "Yes. You are interesting. So who are you and how did you become Mori-senpai's mate?

"Our fathers were business associates," Harry explained. "When I was born our father's arranged our bond. My parents were murdered shortly thereafter and nefarious individuals attempted to control me and fortune for a while."

"Mori-senpai saved you."

Harry snorted. "I'm an Omega, not helpless. I saved myself. Takashi gave me the opportunity to leave England and have a fresh start . . .. So do those three really believe they could have a relationship with Haruhi?"

Kyoya laughed. "Their delusions astound me. But it is more Tamaki and Hikaru, Karou is along for the ride."

They spent the next couple of minutes in companionable silence while Harry wrote his account manager to let him know who he wanted to interview and requested they perform background checks on the candidates he was interested in. After a while Haurhi joined them at the table.

"Sorry for barging in and ruining your peace and quiet."

She sighed. "I'm used to it, though I did hope I could use this time to catch up on my studies, but that doesn't look feasible now." She reached over and rubbed his back. "How is everything with you?"

Harry flushed. "Good. Something did happen yesterday that I didn't understand, but in all the excitement, I forgot to ask Takashi what it meant. It seemed important." He went on to describe the weird tea ceremony and both Haruhi and Kyoya were gaping at him once he finished. "I knew it, it was big deal?"

"Yes," Kyoya said solemnly. "The head of the Morinozuka family, the largest and wealthiest family in Japan has formally acknowledged your mating by inviting you to such an intimate ceremony. It would be foolish for any member of his family to openly go against you when you have the head's support."

Harry sighed. So that was it. "And here I thought it was just some religious thing."

"That too," Haruhi said. "Tea ceremonies are an important part of Buddhist rituals. It is a way of showing the utmost trust and respect to the one you are serving."

Speechless, Harry pondered what the two told him, but he soon became thoroughly distracted from his musings when Takashi began chopping firewood with his shirt off. He quickly pulled out his mobile and snapped a series of photos, before getting up and handing Takashi a bottle of water from his satchel, which Takashi gulped down gratefully while giggling girls looked on.

"Sexy," Harry said to Takashi's smirk.

"Kyoya bothering you?"

"He's curious."

Takashi nodded. "His father is not a good man. Out of all his brothers, he treats Kyoya the worst, despite Kyoya being the only Alpha in the family. To compensate Kyoya likes to be in control. He'll have his team do a background check on you."

"He won't unearth much at most he'll find out about the Dursleys and my emancipation. The goblins did something where they control the information spread about me and my background to non-magicals. You really don't want to win this contest do you?"

Takashi shook his head. "My wolf is trying to impress you."

"Just your wolf, huh?"

Takashi flushed. "Well, me too. Am I succeeding?"

"Yes."

"Blow job?" Takashi asked hopefully.

Harry chuckled, his face suddenly bright red in response. "Pervert."


Author's Notes:

*It's been a month. My bad, I didn't realize how much time has passed. I sincerely apologize. Also this chapter is not as cleaned up as I'd like, but I wanted to put something out there. Hope you like it.

*Usually, I try to tweak and avoid using real people and businesses. Like in an earlier chapter I mention an auction market. Instead of mentioning the famous Tsujiki (spelling sorry) I changed it to Tsunda. However, with Mori tower I couldn't resist. Originally, this was going to be a short shopping trip. But when I was editing and doing research to where Harry and Takashi would shop near there home, I discovered the history of the actual Mori tower and the name became too good to pass up. Then I thought about hey, wouldn't Takashi have more family and came up with this background.

*Hope everyone is doing well. Seriously apologize for taking so long and slacking.