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Chapter 89

For the next hour, Kunou, her two guards, and a bunch of randomly coloured fox spirits (who seemed to know Loaner) looked over a large somewhat out of date (but only by a few years if the little copyright date in the corner meant anything) of Kyoto. For the most part, I was only there for advice, since I didn't know much about Kyoto at all, save that the hotel wasn't on the map they had, and the helpful little red markings that told me we were someplace a little east of the Inari shrine.

Kunou and her two guards however were very familiar with the map itself, and the dozens of messenger foxes that came through were given very specific locations and names to deliver to.

"Oh..." My phone buzzed, "A moment."

Kunou nodded, hiding a yawn. It was getting late into the evening after all. I reached into my coat just in time to have someone behind me say.

"Fuwafuwa!" Fluffy.

This was followed by someone grabbing all my tails at once, and hugging them like a giant bundle of teddy bears. The hands attached to the arms started to scritch what ever tail they were holding, and then the person buried their face in them. I'd been so comfortable in the shrine I'd let my guard down, so instead of say, an explosion of razor teeth and gnashing jaws that would do their best to rip the offender to little bits... my spine locked up, my knees buckled, and I may or may not have made an embarrassing noise.

"I think you broke her." Delly said someplace above me, since I'd just fallen flat on my face under the table.

"Wow Sensei." It was Azazel, "Quite the look for you. Does Akeno know how to do that too?"

"You dare mistreat an honoured guest?" One of the crow bodied guards challenged.

"They're with us... Or rather, we're with them. How long are you going to lay there?"

After my spine returned to its usual spot between my tails and skull, I looked behind me. Adorable face, short stature, good figure, and a bust that was probably as big as my own... "Lady Serafall?" She had dressed in the kimono version of her anime outfit, with its nice purples and blues.

She paused her tail molesting for a moment, smiling down at me. She nodded vigorously, making her ribbon tied twin tails shake and tangle with my tails, "It's me! Magical Levia-tan!"

"Why are you hugging my tails?"

"Because they're fluffy?" Said as if it were the most obvious answer.

"Can't argue that. I'll rephrase. Why are you here, and hugging my tails?" I started to get to my feet, not bothering to try and detach her from my somewhat confused collection of fluffy appendages.

"OH! Well... It's their school trip right? It wouldn't be right to have them deal with all this." She explained, letting my tails go on her own, "Aww..." I of course turned around to face her, while my tails (politely?) hid behind me far out of reach.

"Kunou-san. This is Serafall Leviathan."

"Call me Levia-tan!" She struck a pose.

"And that is Azazel."

Azazel tapped a finger to his forehead in a lazy salute, "We happened to drag the kids out to dinner, and they told us where Sensei here was."

"I see." Kunou replied, "Do you vouch for them, Kodori-san?"

"They are both leaders at the core of the three faction treaty." I replied, "One is a paperwork dodging wise guy who still manages to be a decent person."

"Well... You're not wrong but that was harsh."

"And the other actually does her paperwork while doing all kinds of things that her sister thinks is... unfitting of a Devil King."

"But... I like doing those things." She pouted, doing that index finger motion where you poke them against each other.

"But yes, I trust them. They're like all of the ORC and Student council, hard working but quirky." Reluctantly, I turned back to Kunou, "Devil and Fallen angel are only 'what' they are, not 'who' they are."

"We're also here to help." Azazel said, "I'm sure the kids will involve themselves anyhow, but we can at least try and outpace them this time."

"Ah, like that incident with... Kokabiel?" Kunou asked, "Kodori-san has told me a great deal already."

"I woulda sparkled at that nasty Kokabiel!" Serafall grr'ed much like Asia would.

"Yes, well unlike that time, we're going to try and do the work first." Azazel came up to the map, "What have you come up with so far?"

After telling them what had happened with Cao Cao, (since neither of them needed the rest of the recap) and then Kunou telling them about how we were trying to find potential sites for a high powered ritual, they both nodded approval.

"For rookies, you've done a good job at figuring out a likely approach to all this." He grinned, "We can't do anything more without information, but..."

"Aww... Poor girl..." Serafall said, looking at Kunou as she was basically falling asleep on her feet.

"Kunou-sama has not rested since Yasaka-sama was taken." One of the guards said, "She is a shining example for all of us."

"I can still assist... and plan..." Kunou mumbled.

I walked around the table, "Pardon me." I scooped her up, "Where are her chambers?"

"We'll wait outside." Serafall said, "Ooo... You're oddly satisfying to pat."

"Sigh."

Kunou's room was... almost what I expected? True to the neat and clean style of a traditional Japanese bedroom, everything was exactly where it should be. A low desk and cushion was in one corner. The view from the balcony overlooked a vast shanty town sprawl that made me think of the old pictures of Edo. There was a small table for a mosquito candle. The futon was perfectly made and set so that a ray of light from the sunrise would wake the occupant roughly between 7 and 8 am...

For such a collected young lady, who was doing her best to lead her people while her mom was in the enemy's hands, this is what I expected.

But then there was a couple of anime posters, and odd little knickknacks on her dresser. Modern things, out of place with the grand but simple style.

"Mother..." She mumbled, curling into me as I stood there looking at her room.

I said nothing, but set her on the futon and covered her up. I wanted so badly to be home with my children, but in some weird way I was almost thankful for the opportunity to be where I was right that second, tucking in a kitsune child. That fleeting moment of happiness changed to envy towards Yasaka, for having such a darling child. The feeling distilled further though, sifting through me and becoming shame.

Shame that I would even be a tiny bit thankful for taking the place of Kunou's mother, when her mother was in mortal danger. I brushed her hair out of her eyes, then left her room, feeling the ashes of that shame ignite into anger. How dare they use a child's mother for some stupid ritual, for the sole purpose of fighting a dragon, 'because it was a threat to humanity'? Having met Arthur, I was sure they could have done something with that sword of his. But no, they were going to resort to some sort of ritual sacrifice, and deprive that wonderful child of her mother, just because they wanted to fight something strong...

Feeling the need for fresh air, I walked out of the main building of the shrine/throne room.

"Oi, Sensei." I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Reflex kicked in, and with a simple motion, rotation, then levering of my arm, I was suddenly looking down into the eyes of a very surprised Azazel.

"Something the matter?" He asked calmly, the light of the moon illuminating his dry smile.

I blinked down at him and took my hand out from behind his head. Playing back the last second or so in my head, I must have realized I was about to crack the foundation of the building with Azazel's skull, but stopped myself, turning the throw into a controlled flip instead. "Yeah, sorry." I stood up and offered him my hand.

He took it, stood and dusted himself off, "No harm done. This is personal for you, isn't it?"

"Well duh." Serafall said, stepping out as well, "If it were Sona in trouble, I'd be just as angry." She hugged herself, "I have to blow up who ever was bothering her, then hug her tight and never let her go!"

"We have to find them, and stop them." I said, "Are we going to stay up and plan, or sleep on it?"

"I'd rather not have to do this at all." Azazel sighed gustily, "But I'll settle for a little nap. We've done what we can from here, we just need word back from all those messengers little Kunou sent out."

"Yeah, best we can do is be ready for it." Serafall said, "If we stay up all night we'll be awake for it, but tired." She gave my hand a pat, "Besides, your familiar is already sleeping."

I looked back inside, spotting Loaner and Delly curled up in a mutual ball near the table we'd put the map on. "I'll cool off a little first." I said, looking up at the moon, "I'll just have nightmares if I try and sleep now."

The grand shrine (I didn't know what else to call it) sat on top of a hill much like the Inari shrine (though not nearly as tall a hill). Technically, the hill itself might have been just as tall in a way, since it was at the top of a hill that led into a valley. That valley looked like a picture straight from a history book, with old cabins made of bamboo and straw. I couldn't see a hint of anything electrical either. The shrine itself was almost as much a palace as it was shrine, with perfectly slanted clay shingles and cleanly painted walls. Everything about it was well kept, from the almost perfectly polished bronze inlay around the top spire, right down to the freshly swept stone around the shrine itself.

That wasn't to say the town in the valley was unkempt. Not at all. As old fashioned as it looked, the people, the youkai, took excellent care of the place. From my high vantage, sitting on the roof while I hugged my knees, I couldn't see a run down building or a single hole in the simple straw thatching. Yasaka had the respect of her people, certainly. But her people didn't seem to want for anything either. Just one more reason to save her.

"Hey boss." Delly buzzed lazily from below, hovering to a stop next to my rooftop seat, "Can't sleep?"

"This situation is too close." I tapped my chest, "I nearly pulled Azazel's head off because he tried to comfort me."

"He'd probably still have that smug look on his face." She sat on one of my knees to face me, "If you don't sleep, I'll have to tell Akeno." She warned quietly.

"Hm, bad Miko karma..." I sighed, moving a hand behind her and giving one of her silver ears a pat, "Where did Shinkage end up?"

"By that tree over there." Delly pointed at the biggest tree on premise, just at the edge of the neat white cobble stone platform the shrine was built on. "I think he misses the one back at the shrine."

"If we fix this, I'll ask for a cutting from that one, see if I can get it to take root where the old one was."

"When."

"Huh?" I blinked at her.

"When we fix this." She poked my nose, "I might have an idea too."

"Yeah. When." I shook my head and leaned back a little so I could look at her properly, "I like your ideas. They're usually really good."

"So, they want to open a rift to this dimensional gap right? That's going to need a huge amount of power."

"Arthur's sword makes it look easy though..." I yawned.

"That's a very specific tool for the job. And I'm willing to bet it has a limit too. Maybe uses per day, or maximum size or something like that." She continued, "Even things like the fairy circles have a very specific condition to forming. That's why they work at all."

"And the teleport circles the Devils use are hooked into a big network of ley lines. And those summoning flyers they use are also a form of ritual. Okay, with you so far."

"Well, instead of looking for the spot they are going to do this..."

After her explanation, a few clarifications, a little more explaining, and a big hug for the best magical supporter I could have (and wishing she was big enough to give a proper hug to) we had the beginnings of a plan. It would be tricky, risky, and require a little cleanup afterwards, but...

"You are a genius." I said, letting her go and putting her back on my knee.

"Thank you thank you." She grinned, her little fangs showing, "We just need permission, and to pass on the plan."

I fished out my phone, looking at the little 'you have a message' light blinking on the front, "Oh, forgot."

Magichand: SmugSensei and TGLeviaTan are on the way there.

I was about to type in something most dire, like 'I'm going to make you do sit ups until you can't feel your legs'. But then looked at the time. "Hm. Okay, let's tell Shinkage the plan, then I'm going to go back to the hotel.

"Not going to sleep here? It's really rare to see you relax anywhere." She hovered off my knee as I stood up, then perched on my shoulder, a little hand holding my hair to keep steady, "And I figured you'd stay to watch over her."

Yes, the place I was sitting just happened to be over Kunou's room window.

"Tomorrow is going to be busy, and there is no way I'm going to be that busy and not take care of myself." I gave my bust a little heft, grimacing a little as I felt my shirt soaking up the extra pressure the motion had made, "And we're going to need cookies." I summoned a small fox of my own and had it hop into Kunou's room. "There, someone to hug and give her a message later."

Delly followed me down as I hopped off the roof, using a thin parachute of mana to slow my descent, "You're lucky I remember the way out of here. No more strange booze for you!"

I was just within sight of the hotel when I felt that ominous feeling of 'being watched'. It wasn't like the youkai who had been watching me, who felt more curious than malicious. This was a 'ready to pounce' feeling.

I took a quick step to the side, almost like I had stumbled, and a long thin blade and its owner, sailed past where I'd just been standing. She (long blond hair, blue eyes, and athletic build) made a surprised noise, and had just enough time to look at me before I grabbed the back of her armour (actual functional armour!) stopped her from falling on her face from her missed lunge, and set her on her feet in front of me. My free hand had wrapped around her wrist until this point, just to keep her from trying to slash at me.

"Only warning." I said quietly, mindful that it was very late at night. I looked her directly in the eyes, taking the time to remove my sunglasses so I could be extra serious looking as I loomed over her (she was about the same height as Irina), "Remind Cao Cao what I said to him. And you shouldn't be up so late anyhow." I put my hand on her shoulder (it was covered by a nice solid pauldron, that fit her exactly and didn't look too ornate.)

"I don't have to listen to a monster like you." She hissed, not even phased by my stare. She didn't however, move her sword arm.

"No, you don't." I agreed, "But even monsters like me can be mothers. Think about that, and what Cao Cao is planning to do with the mother of an innocent child." I held her in place and backed up to arms length, "Remember, remind him what I said." I let her go, putting on my glasses again and taking exactly one step backwards.

"You won't stop us." She said, starting to lift her blade into a ready position.

"If you point that at me again, I'm going to have to find someone else to remind Cao Cao what I said to him." I warned.

She lowered her blade, turned it, and slid it into a sheath by her side, "We'll see who gets the last laugh when Cao Cao kills you all."

I watched as she turned and left, her armour rattling ever so slightly as she all but stomped away.

September 28

Considering all the little things I had to do before the students woke up for the day, I once again had to resort to an instant coffee pill. As an act of mercy, I made sure Delly wasn't sleeping in my mana supply while I downed the pill, since I'm sure she'd not only be awakened by my reaction to the taste, but angry at me for skipping sleep.

My hotel room was one of the western styled ones that Issei wanted. Nice and classy, I was sure someone had thought ahead/bribed someone to have a small oven installed in place of the more standard microwave, and stocked the cupboards with all the things I'd need to make cookies. I'd have to set aside a few cookies for who ever thought of it.

Part way through what looked to be my second to last batch of cookies, there was a knock on my door. Still being just before seven in the morning, I wondered who the hell (tail swat)... heck it might be.

"Rossweisse?" I blinked at her, as she blinked back, far less awake than I was.

She looked... kind of adorable. Having just met her, I had no idea what kind of person she was when it came to sleeping habits. But if you had made Asia a little taller, a little bustier, and put her in the same pyjamas, they could have been sisters. As it was, she was wearing a two piece flannel set, and rubbing one eye at me as we looked at each other.

"Sensei... the smell is torture... How can you bake cookies so early..." She stumbled in as I moved aside, plunking herself down at the tiny little 'dining' table the room provided and flopping herself over the top of it, unable to sit straight, "That Issei is just too energetic..."

"Let me guess? Trying to peep on the girls in the communal baths two floors down?" Yes, the rooms had a bathroom, but there was a floor dedicated as a sort of 'public bath house' instead of giving each room a shower.

"Rrrrg yes." She groaned.

"Coffee? Tea?"

"He even used his dress break on me! I'm a teacher!" She even grr'ed like Asia, "Such a waste of fabric... I can't ever get the same one for the price I got that..." She pouted, "Tea please."

"Now that you're part of Rias's peerage, and because my connections are her connections, when we get back I'll get you in touch with Riser's peerage. One of them makes clothing." I turned on the kettle and got a second mug.

"But... that will be more expensive! Tailored clothing?" She sighed.

"Actually, since the Phoenix house is built not on power, but money, she sources the cheapest materials, and the best equipment for small run fabrication. It's as close to mass production as you can get, and still have custom orders." I put my hand on the side of the kettle, unplugged it, and poured her a cup of tea. White teas were best made with 80 degree water, not boiling.

She looked up at me, as if I were giving her water after a long trip through the desert, "Really? You'd do that for me?"

I considered for a moment, brought over her tea, then went back to tend the cookies, "Before I became what I am, I was much like you. Working a job that was just enough to cover the bills and food. Most of the time, even my food came from the 100 yen store. So yes, I know exactly what it's like to live as cheaply as possible, not because I wanted to save money, but because I had no money to spare."

She had turned on the waterworks again, crying even as she sipped her tea, "Sensei... I had no idea we were such kindred spirits!"

I brought over a couple of cookies, and gave the limited food supply the room had a dubious look, "Well, would you like to join me then, for some pancakes? We have a busy day ahead of us, and I'd like to talk to you about the idea Delly and I came up with."

Speaking of, "pancakes? you say pancakes boss?"

An hour later, just a little while before the students were due to turn out and go about their day, I'd filled in Rossweisse about the 'idea'. I made it very clear that this idea hinged on getting permission from Kunou, but if it was approved, everyone needed to be ready to move on it.

"Well, I do know that some of the students are going to be visiting the old capital." She said after nodding and finishing her last mouthful, "If you could have everything ready by then, one way or another, I'll be sure to tell those students exactly what needs to be done."

"Knew I could count on you." I smiled, "Oh, and thank who ever it was that gave me this room."

"I'm pretty sure it was Lord Serzechs himself. Something about 'if a certain person ever visits, they get this room'."

"Hm, if I'm here until Christmas, I'll have to get him something nice."

I had just stepped out of the hotel when I felt a curious tugging on my ear. Delly was hidden from view and sitting on my shoulder, holding the illusion spell that hid my tails, so it wasn't her. "Oh... I forgot." I closed one eye, and 'opened' the eyes of the fox I'd left to keep Kunou company. "Kunou-sama. Good morning."

"Ah! I did not know who this strange fox was. But it felt familiar, so I didn't shoo it away." From my 'ground floor' perspective of her room, as my fox sat in her lap, aside from a few hairs out of place, and her right ear looking a little sleepy still, she looked just as mature as she did before she practically passed out yesterday.

"One of my many tricks that isn't quite right for being a Kitsune." I replied, feeling her hands pet the fox's head exactly the right way, "I am on my way back, and if you find the big metal cat, we've come up with an idea."

She stood up, holding the ghostly fox under the arms and speaking excitedly, "Truly?"

"It's just an idea. And it's not a small one, or a very clean one. Be sure you understand what's involved before jumping at it." I said seriously, "Otherwise, get a good breakfast. I've got it on good authority that you'll have some visitors from the school before noon."

"Oh! I will make sure they get here safely." She smiled, hugging the fox tightly, "Thank you for working so hard for me, even though you're an outsider."

My fox reached up and booped her nose, "I work so hard for you, because no one deserves to lose a mother. Be there soon."

This time I wasn't caught up in the growing energy of the March of a thousand Demons. This time, we took the local train a single stop, and walked to the rear path of the grand Inari shrine. Along the way, much less 'curious' about me and more forward, were a small collection of demons. Most were very quietly friendly, like small guardian dog, who winked at me when no one else was looking. Others were simply less obscure about their curiosity, like an old man's head, with arms for ears, who hung from the ceiling of the train car I was in to look me in the face with a squinty eyed seriousness.

I'd once again have to skip the trip up the path to the Inari shrine, since when I got there that same Karakasa was waiting. This time however, it was alone, though I do admit I made sure there was no hint of alcohol nearby.

"Honoured guest!" I think it tried to bow, but since it had no waist, it sort of just leaned towards me on its ankle, "Please follow me. This time there will be no march."

"Lead on." I motioned, "At least I'll be able to remember the town you live in this time."

"It is not much to see for one so grand as you." It replied, hopping along easily.

"I'm still looking forward to it. This mess is already ruining my vacation, so any sightseeing is welcome." I replied as I followed him down a flight of stairs that I might have missed, since it was hidden by a clever bend in the path and the shade of some trees. The trees weren't just for obscuring the path either. They had been carefully grown, with branches twisted together, forming a natural archway over the steps.

"Oh clever." Delly said from her place on my shoulder, "A hidden gate."

"That's right." Our guide said, "Humans may live on the land, but even the weakest of us can shape it in some small way."

As we were about to pass under the archway, an elegantly dressed lady with a simple kimono appeared in front of us, walking towards us as if nothing was strange about her simply appearing from thin air. My guide moved to the side of the path and averted his eyes, while the lady looked at me, and averted hers and stopped in front of me. After a moment, a pair of ears and a long fox tail, both black to match her hair, though with grey rings on her tail, appeared.

"Many pardons." She said, "Kunou-sama has sent me to wait at Kinkaku-ji, and guide the students of Kuoh here."

Kinkaku-ji, the Golden temple. A Buddhist temple, and part of the student's tour plans for the day. "Carry on then, please, they should already know to expect someone, somewhere." I said, "Thank you."

I moved aside to let her pass, and though she relaxed just a little, she still didn't meet my eyes. As soon as she was a few steps away, her body started to glow slightly and her form shifted to that of a black and grey fox. Then she was gone.

"I'll never get used to that." I sighed.

"Your power isn't far from Yasaka-sama's." My guide replied, hopping down the steps, "And the tales of your deeds has given you a... mixed reputation among us."

"My golden tail is a trade with my wife." I explained, "She would likely never look at me again if I came home with any other colours but mine and hers." I shivered.

"Haha! I'll have to add 'henpecked' to the stories about you." It laughed, "Well, we're here."

The transition through the archway was very subtle. Almost like pulling layers of reality away, to finally arrive at the shanty town of the Hidden Capital. If anything, it felt like a weird kind of barrier space, except here, the magic in the air still flowed, and my phone still got a signal. The long street that revealed itself, as the switch to this 'space' finalized, was just as I imagined it would be when I looked at it from the grand Shrine.

As my guide hopped ahead of me, along the bamboo and rough stone slabs of the 'street', between the simple huts and houses, demons started to appear. Stepping from doorways, hanging from the eves, opening the shuttered windows and peering out, demons of all sorts looked on. Thankfully, no one offered me anything to drink this time, and I could take in all the different shapes and sizes that they came in. That old man face in the middle of the flaming wagon wheel was there. Kappa, paper demons, balls of water with faces in them, a lamp who's single glass lens was its actual eye... It was like the lore books of ancient Japan had come to life, and were greeting me as I walked along the valley that led to the steps before the Grand Shrine.

It felt... kind of good really. But I hoped it was because word had gotten around that I was here to help, and not because I was a closet party animal.

Finally though, we got to the foot of the steps, and my guide stopped, hopped a couple of times to face me, and said, "Here you go, Kodori-sama. Thank you for helping young Kunou-sama."

I opened my coat a bit and fished around inside the bag I had slung under my arm. From this bag I took out a cookie and said, "If you want to thank me, when the students arrive, give them a bit of a show. They're great kids, and wouldn't hesitate to help, but they are also on vacation. Give them some fun memories of the place."

Its single eye lit up, and the toothy mouth under it smiled almost wide enough to wrap all the way around its umbrella-like form, "Certainly!" This was followed by a polite but pleased sounding OM NOM NOM as it ate the offered cookie, "I will spread the word! They could be here any time!" He hopped away excitedly, "Everyone! We have to entertain some guests! Put on your best faces! Gather the memories of smiles past!"

I waited until it had hopped out of sight, then started up the steps, "Fey still have them beat when it comes to parties." Delly said proudly, "But they're still a lot of fun to be around, once you get past the weird origins."

"Morning dew and a happy thought?" I asked, grinning as the town behind me started to get more excited.

"Instead of the 'spirit dwelling within a pen' or 'the last feelings of someone about to freeze to death'." She sighed, "Oh, almost forgot."

With a twitch, as if being poked awake, my tails became more animated as Delly removed the spell hiding them from normal sight, "I wonder if this plan of ours will work."

"I just hope she approves." Delly sighed.

"I do not like this plan." Kunou said after Azazel, Serafall, Shinkage, Delly and I had gathered around the map again. "You do know what this might do to the land, don't you?"

Even her two guards had their feathers ruffled, and while they kept quiet, they were glaring at me.

"I'll admit Sensei. This is really something else." Azazel nodded, rubbing his chin, "It's a good idea, but could have long lasting repercussions."

"I get what you're trying to do, but..." Serafall was frowning thoughtfully at the map, "And even if we can get the kids to help, do you think they can do it? I'm pretty sure my Sona-chan wouldn't want to even try."

On the table lay the map of Kyoto. With Delly's help, and that of some older books in the Shrine's records, my fairy helper had overlaid an illusion of various coloured rivers throughout the map itself. They weren't representing water however, but power. Kyoto was rich in ley lines, or 'dragon veins', and be it through magic or instinct, many of the shrines and temples of Kyoto were built on them.

This of course made it a great place for demons and the like, since they relied heavily on those same natural mana lines for power, as well as food. Even this very shrine was built on a delta, where two of these dragon veins met and gathered.

"I know it's risky." I replied, "But, the city is a huge open area, and we simply do not have enough feet on the floor to cover it all. And aside from a few of us, we also don't have the power to defend ourselves if we do find them, and end up getting spotted before reporting back."

"But... This could cause crops to fail! Trees to die! My mother's people... My people to suffer..." Kunou sighed, "You are correct, that we lack the ability to simply root them out, but this..."

"Implementing the plan wouldn't be that hard." Azazel shrugged, "But putting things back might be a little more tricky."

Delly spoke up, "If it makes you feel any better, we have a little luck here. I'm no expert on local crops, but growing season is about done right? And if things don't settle back into place later, we have all winter to put them right."

"The whole point of this," I started, "is that right now, there are over two dozen places where they could conduct this ritual."

"We still don't know how much power they need." Azazel interrupted, "But if their goal is the Great Red, then yes, it will be a lot."

"Delly? If we put something here... here and... there." I pointed to three of the biggest ley lines leading into the Kyoto area, and Delly changed her illusion to match, "Then we narrow the possible places to about four." I pointed to another place, "And if we put one here, "It becomes two places. And one of those places..." I pointed to a large unpopulated area, a massive forest west of the Kinkaku-ji temple, "Will let us fight without worry for civilian casualties."

"Oh, and the second spot is near the station, right next to the hotel!" Serafall said, "This Cao Cao sounds brave, but I'm sure he'd think twice about upsetting Sirzechs-chan!"

"By draining the flow of the ley lines, we won't have to hunt for them, because we will know exactly where they will be." I said.

Kunou crossed her arms and looked at the map grumpily, but nodded, "Azazel-san, Serafall-san, do I have your word, success or failure, that the multi-panf..." She held her cheek and pouted, but none of us even twitched as she bit her tongue, "Have your word you will repair any damages done to the land's foundation?"

"After all the messes we've been through, we've gotten just as good at cleaning up as solving the problem." Azazel nodded, "Of course."

"Hm, but who's going to set things up?" Serafall asked, "I mean... I'm pretty sure I can do this... Az-az?"

"Wouldn't be too hard." He nodded.

"I will assist as well." Kunou said, "I will not be idle for this."

"Um, actually." Delly spoke up, "You might be a liability here. You're also a nine tailed kitsune..."

"And could potentially be used as a backup." I added, rubbing one of my wrists, then stopping myself when I realized I was doing it.

"That is my condition." She said firmly.

"Well I hardly expect a bunch of kids to know how to redirect a ley line." Azazel said smoothly, "Once they get here, and we explain the plan, there's no reason they can't go back to their little tour, plus one." He pointed to Kunou.

"Ah! I'd like that." Kunou smiled, "While we only met briefly, both yesterday, and when I visited Kodori-san, I rather like their company."

"Do you think you can trust her for a short time?" I looked behind her and at the two Karasa-tengu, "We're going to need you two elsewhere."

They looked torn, between 'now duty' and 'later duty'. But they nodded, "Yes, we understand our part in the greater plan."

"Please look after Kunou-sama while we fulfill our duty away from her."

I took out my bag of cookies, and handed them each a smaller bag from within it, "My gift to all that help." I handed them each a bag, "Please make haste, oh, and have one for yourself as well."

"You seriously made cookies?" Azazel asked.

"Yay cookies!" Serafall and Kunou said at the same time.

While we waited, the six of us planned. After altering the flow of the ley line, Serafall would stay by the hotel. Protection for the students (my suggestion, because I was sure it would earn the sis-con Devil King some Sona points) and as a maximum deterrent for trying to use the only other major ley line we couldn't turn off. Azazel would, after setting up the ley line diversion, try and get some help from our new allies. This was Japan after all, and what better reason to flex a little of that fresh new peace treaty?

Kunou, when the students arrived, would trek back out with them, and rejoin the rest of the second year students like nothing had ever happened. A little later in the day, they were due to visit the third location that needed diversion.

The fourth area was mine, except I still didn't really know what I was doing. I had only just begun to access my own territory's dragon veins, and to be fair, it was my two shrine guardians who showed me how. This meant I was going to need a little help, because if I tried without really knowing what I was doing, I might either fail (not a terrible thing, since mine was the 'plan B' point) or over do it, and really wreck Kyoto's Feng shui. Even Koneko would be a better choice than me... But thankfully, we had an adaptable magical expert, an amazingly fast learning fairy, and a giant metal cat who's bite could drain power from almost anything magical.

I even had some spare cookies for Rossweisse.

"Oh? Do you hear that?" Azazel turned, looking towards the shrine's entrance, "Seems they've arrived."

"Sounds like a party!" Serafall smiled, giving me a nudge with her elbow, "I heard you already had a party with them."

"And in traditional fashion when strong alcohol is involved, I don't remember most of it and made a fool of myself." I shook my head, "Hope they don't go overboard."

"They know that any invited guests are to be cared for." Kunou said, "Though, they do seem to be enjoying themselves more than usual."

We all moved out of the main building and close to the top of the long staircase. There in the middle of the long main street of the town, we could see the school uniforms of the students we were waiting for. The odd collection of mythical creatures were all dancing around them, performing little tricks, trying to scare them, and generally having some harmless fun. Issei and Irina even went out of their way to dance with a couple of them, while Kiba and Xenovia put on an act of their own, juggling random objects between them as smaller demons floated or tumbled between them.

"Hey Delly?"

"Yeah boss?"

"Remember this, I wanna draw it later."

"Sure." The smile in her voice was obvious, "Okay, I'll admit, they're at least as good at having a party as we are."

They finally reached the foot of the steps, and the demons all stopped their revels, bowed, waved, and let them finally get down to business. Most of them were there. With Rossweisse in the lead, it looked like only Saji and Maki from Sona's group was here. Otherwise all of Rias's peerage was here, as well as Irina.

"Let me welcome you all formally to the Hidden Capital." Kunou said, bowing to them as they lined up at the top of the steps, "And thank you for coming to help us."

There were various 'don't worry about it's, though Issei spoke up after that, "It would make the trip taste bad if we didn't help. I mean, you even gave us these charms and everything so we could enjoy ourselves even though we're devils."

"It wouldn't be fair if we didn't return the favour." Xenovia nodded.

"Well, we have a plan." I said, "Let's get inside, and go over it. Azazel? You can give them the actual lesson."

Once around the map, and after I'd given everyone a cookie, they all payed attention as Azazel started 'the lecture'.

"So, we all know more or less what Cao Cao is trying to do." He started, "Thanks to him underestimating Sensei, her Familiar and the little metal dragon..."

"I am not a c... oh."

"He spilled the plan because he thought he could get away with it." Azazel looked at Shinkage with a smug expression, "So here's the lecture. Kyoto, since ancient times, was built to focus the power of the land. Through the principles of Yin and Yang, as well as Feng Shui, the entire city and a good deal of its outlying area is a giant magic circle."

The students nodded, while Azazel started to point to places on the map. Delly, helpful fairy that she was, modified the illusion over the map to highlight these places, "Seimei's shrine, Seimei's well, Fushimi Inari's pine tree, Kinkaku-ji, and countless others. By manipulating the land's natural magic, the dragon veins, or ley lines depending on where in the world you come from, these places all have incredible natural power to them."

"Is that why Sensei's shrine feels so... tingly?" Asia asked.

"Probably, yes." Azazel nodded, "Now, we know Cao Cao wants to open a path to the Great Red Dragon, and in true 'hero' fashion, try and kill him. However, instead of going to it, inside the dimensional gap, he plans to bring it here, into this dimension."

"Arthur's sword could have done that... maybe..." Irina said, getting a bunch of looks from everyone else, "What? I just had to ask about his swords!"

"Well, since Cao Cao doesn't have that sword, he is going to use another means to open this portal. We are pretty sure it will be using the ruler of these lands, little Kunou's mother, as a key. But even with her, it would require a place of significant power."

More nods.

"So, instead of trying to find out where they are going to hold this ritual, we're going to alter the land's flow of magic, so they will have only two real options." Azazel looked to Delly, who showed the altered flow of mana, "Here, by the station, protected by the hotel and the people we leave there. And here, east of Kinkaku-ji."

"Do we know when they are planning on doing this?" Kiba asked.

"Honestly no. But, with all of us here, they will either have to run away and try later, thereby giving us more time to protect the lands properly and make it impossible to use Kyoto at all. Or, try and bull through us." Azazel explained, "There are a lot of unknowns however. We don't know all their abilities for one. And Sensei has said they have access to bits of that dungeon of hers."

"The information we have gathered suggests they've been setting up for a while now." Serafall said seriously, her cheerful bubbly persona gone, "So they may have traps of their own ready for us."

"So how will this work?" Saji asked, "I mean, if we do this now, they'll know we're on to them right? If it's that stacked against them, they just might run away, and take Kunou-san's mother with them."

"No..." Kunou spoke up, looking at me for a half second, "The kitsune of Kyoto is responsible for managing the energy of the land. They... They won't be able to use my mother unless they are here."

This is why I liked having group planning sessions. "Hm." Azazel nodded, "Once we have our diversions in place, they can be activated at any time. But how would that help..."

"Oh! Sensei's fighting retreat!" Issei perked up, "If we can find where they are planning to do this ritual thing, we can pretend to retreat, and when they have to move to that spot over there, we jump on them for real!"

Not quite as eloquent as I'd have put it, but I found myself nodding, "That's not bad." I said, "He seems to be very sure of himself, and a little delay to try and pick off a few of us seems like something he'd accept."

"Grr, I hate retreating." Irina grumbled.

"Me too." Xenovia nodded.

"You can both be on the ambush team then." Azazel said, "Until then however, we will do our best to figure out where they are planning on doing this. Once we do that, we'll get ready. Where's the rest of Sona's group?"

"If we all vanished, we'd raise suspicion." Rossweisse said, "And as a teacher, I'm only allowed to have up to ten students under my supervision at a time."

"Don't worry, we'll make sure to tell the others." Saji nodded, "Speaking of, Rossweisse Sensei?"

She looked at her wrist, "Yes, we need to be moving on to the next place on the tour soon."

"If you wanted a better guide than those travel pamphlets." I put a hand on Kunou's shoulder, "We have a genuine local princess right here."

They all looked at Kunou, who smiled and bowed to them, "I would be glad to show you around my home."

I looked at them, meeting each of their eyes, hoping my serious face would tell them that she was to be protected. Kiba and Irina nodded and after a moment, so did Xenovia. Issei on the other hand, bowed deeply to her, "I'm sure we'd all love to have you come along, Kunou-chan. You probably know all the best places to take pictures!"

"Suppose I'll go too." I said, "Rossweisse? I'm hoping you can help me after the tour is done. Going to need some magical muscle."

"Good luck guys. We'll meet in Issei's room tonight if anything comes up." Azazel said, "Well Miss Levia-tan?"

NOTES!

Plans are laid down, traps are considered, the kids still have a good time, all this and more!

As I read through the Kyoto arc, I realize there are things I kind of jumped ahead on, and other things I kind of missed, and still more that I kind of came around the back end of, and not realized until I read it in the book... But with Kodori's (and her companions) along for the ride, some of this stuff is easily viable.

Just author ramblings...

Like I think I know how I'm going to end the series! ... But that's like... ages from now. But I have the 'idea', now I need the 'path'...

Five days everyone. :)