CHAPTER 11:

ACCEPTANCE

The next morning, there was something of a whirlwind shopping trip, and not just clothes. They had to avoid using the subway because of the fears of most of the Falmart natives (particularly Rory) of going underground, due to it being Hardy's domain. Thankfully, there were no real security problems, save for the occasional paparazzi. Hermione also took Lelei and Rory on a brief trip to the local magical quarter of Tokyo, though why that was, she wouldn't say.

Tomita, meanwhile, had been dragged away by Pina and Bozes to the local library, though judging by the copy of the yaoi doujinshi Riza had given them before she left back for her apartment, it wasn't there to look at any serious non-fiction. Harry, Itami, Mari and Shino were left escorting Tuka and Hodor for now, at least until Hermione, Lelei and Rory came back, the latter not only looking very smug, but she also had armfuls of packages that turned out to contain more Gothic Lolita clothing: apparently Japan's magicals, while still somewhat hidebound and traditional, had some taste for Muggle fashions and items, including Gothic Lolita.

Harry didn't know who actually made the seating arrangements when they had lunch, but he now shared a table with Shino and Tuka. As it turned out, it was Mari and Hermione, on Rory's suggestion, who did so. Hermione had broken up relatively amicably with Ron (who'd ended up with Susan Bones, of all people), but she also knew Harry didn't see her as anything other than a sister figure. And while understandably a little skittish at polyamory, she also was willing to be a co-conspirator in what they were calling Operation: Pythagoras (the name was Hermione's contribution, given that they were encouraging a love triangle, and Pythagoras had the famous theorem attributed to him regarding triangles) to ensure Harry's happiness.

Of course, as the Bard himself put it in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the course of love never ran smoothly. And what was here at this point couldn't quite be called love yet, though the foundations were there. Rather, it was attraction and lust, but also empathy and compassion.

"I'm surprised they allowed you to buy a bow and arrow set, given that you are technically a foreign national," Shino said. "I mean, I'd bet that was Komakado helping things along. And one for your father, too."

Tuka nodded. "My father and I tried them out. Most of our bows are either what you call simple bows or composite bows, along with longbows. These compound bows, though, with those wheels and other things…I mean, wow. They are just wonderful. It took us a little while to find the right type of compound bow, though." Once more, her face fell. "I still miss my old bow, though. I made it myself. Same for my harp. Actually, before we head to Mount Hakone, I'd like to stop at any store that has musical instruments."

"As it happens, I know one nearby," Shino said.

"How do you know?" Harry asked.

Shino shrugged. "I went through a phase in high school. Had a boyfriend who was a wannabe J-Pop idol, wanted to be the next Gackt(1). I was going to be his co-singer in the band(2)."

"You sang pretty well last night, Shino," Tuka said. "Is that why?"

"Yeah. But…when our relationship broke up, so did the band. I think he works as a voice actor now, and while he's no J-Pop idol, he's sung a few anime theme tunes. Itami and Kurata could probably name one or two," Shino said. "Anyway, I can sing pretty well, but I'm no pop idol, just good enough to do well on karaoke night."

"Why did you two break up?" Tuka asked.

"It's a long story. Short version…I accused him of wanting me for little more than my breasts and my singing voice," Shino said. "He tried to deny it, and then accused me of trying to ride on the coattails of his success. What success? We'd only just started to get gigs at clubs and other places. Plus, like I said, I was going through a phase."

"And yet, here you are," Harry said. "One of the bravest women I know. And I've known a few. I mean, you've met Mari and Hermione. There's Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley…there was Nymphadora Tonks…really, the only bad point about you is that you have a bit of a temper, and frankly, I can't talk where that's concerned. Ask Hermione, I had understandable anger issues from my fifth year at Hogwarts onwards. We joke about it being my 'ALL-CAPS!' phase nowadays. And you're also compassionate. You joined the JSDF to help people."

"All while kicking ass," Shino said with a smirk. "But yeah. Geez…this is just…I'm not good at small talk. You know why they shuffled us together. For some weird reason, they think the three of us can work something out."

"Can't we?" Tuka asked.

"…I don't know," Shino said. "I mean, the only reason why I'm considering it is because…well, it's you two. I mean, you've both been through so much, and you need someone there for you. Fuck, I'm not good with this relationship crap."

"Neither am I," Harry confessed.

"Then we give it a try, see if we can work something out," Tuka said with a smile. "If not…well, I'd happily concede to you, Shino. I'll live for quite a while yet, I can certainly find someone else."

"And what would you father say if he found out you were part of a harem?" Harry asked.

Tuka shrugged. "I actually asked him. And after I persuaded him not to go looking for a shovel, he gave me his blessing. He…still can't remember much of me, save for my early childhood, the first ten years or so. But I'm grateful to these mind healers for managing that much. Actually, Itami and I got to speaking last night. In a way, we are alike."

"How's that?" Harry asked.

"He too has a parent with a mental issue. His father was apparently abusive towards Itami's mother, and eventually, the poor woman snapped and killed him in self-defence. Itami at the time was only very young, and blamed her…and eventually, she was driven to try and burn herself alive. He had to have her…he said it was called 'being committed'. She was confined to what you call a mental health hospital."

"…Geez. I mean, is he okay with you telling us, Tuka?" Shino said.

"He said it wasn't a secret per se, he just didn't like talking about it," Tuka said. "He told me it was fine if I told you."

Shino looked over at Itami, who was chatting away with Hodor and Mari. "And just when I think I know everything about him…then again, maybe that's why he's so goofy. He hides the pain that way. I don't really have that much in the way of personal tragedy, not like you guys do. My parents are fine, my sister's a journalist, that's pretty much it."

"That doesn't mean anything. It's not a club you'd want to join," Harry said bitterly. "I speak from experience…"

After stopping by the music shop, and picking up a harp (finding one that was small enough for Tuka to carry was a bit of a task), they were soon on the way to Mount Hakone, and the famous hot springs resort. Harry had to admit, though, the whole thing about communal bathing was something he was not used to. Even at Hogwarts, he preferred to shower alone.

Still, he sat closer to Itami, while Tomita serenely sat in the water, and Hodor looked relaxed. "Tuka told us…about your parents," Harry said quietly to Itami, trusting that the noise from the nearby women's baths would help conceal his words from the others.

Itami nodded. "Yeah. I didn't tell you earlier because, well, I didn't want to get into comparing crappy childhoods. I just told Tuka because…well, her mother is dead, and her father? He barely remembers her. Though he's got amnesia, not insanity." The lieutenant sighed quietly. "After what happened with Mom, I…I blamed myself for driving her to that point. I was young and stupid, and I didn't see most of the abuse. I only learned about it after Mom tried to set herself on fire. The guilt's gonna be with me for the rest of my life, while she wastes away in a bloody mental hospital."

"Sorry," Harry said quietly.

"Nah, it's fine. You've been through more crap than I have, if half the stories I've heard from you and Mari are true," Itami said. "This Voldemort guy coming after you for years, the Dursleys…yeah, I've got nothing on that. And at least I got to know my parents…"

Later that night, there was considerable carousing and drinking, with Tuka singing songs while strumming her new harp. Harry was roped into drinking, with Mari, Hermione and Tomita basically being the designated drivers, or at least teetotallers, for the evening. Lelei, due to her age, didn't drink, though Rory chugged down sake bottles like there was no tomorrow. And then, she took a bottle from a bag, and swigged it down.

Apparently, while in the local Japanese magical quarter, Rory learned of Aging Potions from Hermione, and so opted to buy some, just in case they worked on her. As it turned out, they did. And everyone stared at her transformation. Luckily, she had worn an extra-large kimono.

The end result was, where there had once been a petite girl apparently in her early teens, there was a young woman, apparently in her twenties, and a veritable goddess of beauty. It was undeniably Rory, but when she looked at Itami and licked her lips, a lot of people felt sorry for the leader of the 3rd Recon Team. "Now…" she purred in a sultry tone, "how about you and I go somewhere…private?"

"…I need an adult?" Itami asked in a small voice.

"I am an adult," Rory said, with a distinctly predatory grin. And she managed to inveigle a slightly reluctant Itami out of that room. Tomita, Shino and Harry gave the condemned man facetious salutes. Pina and Bozes were just plain staring.

"How long do those last for?" Mari asked Hermione.

"A few days unless you take an antidote if you take that big a dose. Rory's metabolism is faster, so hopefully it will last overnight at the very least," Hermione said. "I'm sure Itami doesn't want to wake up in bed with an underaged girl…well, someone who looks underaged, anyway."

"Why the dork, though?" Shino asked.

"She said something about not wanting to hurt Harry's chances, as well as the fact that Itami isn't attached, and that he has Emroy's attention. Plus…" Hermione looked a little embarrassed. "She said something about relieving a small part of over nine centuries of pent-up sexual frustration, or part of it, anyway. The potion was mixed in with a contraceptive one. Plus, she's got a couple of stamina potions and another contraceptive potion for Itami."

Tuka, Pina and Bozes were blushing up a storm. Tomita asked, a little hesitantly, "Will he, uh, be able to walk tomorrow? We kind of need him to be able to."

"Witch, remember? I can use Levitation charms, and so can Harry," Hermione said. "And as you guys have been read in on the existence of magic…though what about our guard detail?"

"They probably have," Mari said. "I heard the special forces unit guarding this place have been assigned codenames based on the Servants from Fate/Stay Night."

Shino scoffed. "Really? Whose bright idea was that? Some otaku friend of Itami's, I'll bet."

"Probably. He is friends with Defence Minister Tarou Kanou, and they share similar interests," Mari said. "He actually bought Minister Kanou some doujinshi today and met him to discuss their plans and any security problems. Remember when he went off this morning, before lunch?"

Shino just stared at Mari, before shaking her head. "Fuck it, I don't even wanna know anymore…"

Later that night, Harry was dragged off into another room by Shino and Tuka. He wondered if, like Itami, he'd have to fear for his chastity. None of them were that badly drunk yet, thankfully, but even so, their kimonos were slipping, and he couldn't help but stare at their breasts.

Before he could say anything, Shino suddenly kissed him, hard. He grunted in surprise, before he gradually returned the kiss. The lust and emotion prolonged it, before Shino broke away, blushing quite heavily. Then, suddenly, Tuka did the same, not so aggressively, but certainly more assertively than he had expected the gentle High Elf to do.

"Yeah," Shino said after they broke off. "Hermione called it. You wouldn't take the lead in a relationship. Harry…Tuka and I…we've decided…we're going to take a risk. We both want to be with you, and we're willing to share you with each other. Only each other, mind you. This is not gonna be like a harem out of one of those stupid H-Games or an anime. We don't want anyone else coming into this. But we want to try and make this work. Normally, I wouldn't even consider this, but…"

"We've already talked about this, Shino, back at lunch, remember?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, but…I wanted to make that clear. Which is why, tonight, we're gonna share a bed. Don't get me wrong, I don't think we're up to actually sleeping together yet, I mean other than literally…but I think we should get this thing kickstarted. You are going to be sleeping with us tonight."

Tuka nodded. "Harry…we want this now. I know you want to take it slowly…but I know you'll never hurt Shino and I. Please?" And she then used her secret weapon, the old Puppy Eyes trick. One of the most deadly weapons of all time.

And who could say no to that?

The sleep was comfortable, even if he was the filling in a Harry sandwich. And thankfully, they hadn't drunk enough to get a hangover, though they later learned that Rory had a splitting headache…and was a bit unsteady on her knees, as was Itami. Though she was purring remarks about Itami's stamina to all and sundry. Thankfully, she wasn't back to her younger body just yet. That would have been all kinds of nope.

Still, Harry, Tuka and Shino, as they left Mount Hakone and headed back to the Gate, knew one thing. There had been a mutual acceptance of this relationship. Hopefully, they could actually make it work. Time would tell…

CHAPTER 11 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Harry, Shino and Tuka have accepted being together. I was tempted to write that they slept together in the carnal sense…but I felt it was too soon, especially for poor Tuka (so don't be so bloody disappointed!). Of course, come the time-skip to Yao's first appearance, their relationship will develop somewhat rapidly.

I'm not sure when the next chapter will come out. Most of it is actually written, but I'm a little uncertain of where to go after a certain point, so it'll need some time and thought.

Review-answering time! Thanks for your praise with how I wrote Rory in the previous chapter. One thing they didn't show as much in the anime was, well, Rory being introspective. I mentioned Rory being basically a more bloodthirsty version of the Doctor, and that's part of the reason I wrote her this way. I thought of a quote of the Fourth Doctor's, how he once mentioned that, being a Time Lord, he 'walks in eternity'. And that Doctor was two centuries Rory's junior (he actually states shortly afterwards that he's 750 years old). I wanted to show the pain and sadness that doubtlessly lurks beneath Rory's usual attitude. I nearly said mask, but I don't believe Rory wears a mask per se, only that her joie de vivre mostly overrides her more lugubrious side. I think she sees more than a little of herself in Harry, that dutiful, weary side.

1. Gackt Camui, real name Gakuto Oshiro, is one of the most famous Japanese musicians.

2. While writing up this backstory for Shino, I decided to have a quick look and see whether Shino's Japanese voice actress, like many others, had a music career. And indeed, Maaya Uchida does. Stephanie Wittels, the English voice actress, is also apparently a singer too.