Ner words in this chapter: 3,137
"Talking Japanese"
[Talking English]
'Thinking'
{Talking on the phone/fireplace/two-way-mirror}
{Text message}
–Parseltongue–
Thinking in 3rd person POV/Dream/Memory/Flashback/Others
Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper
Time change/Date of time
Change of POV
Chapter XV
–Love Letters–
Monday, 8 May 1995
HJP's POV
Harry picked his two-way-mirror as Rei left, crying.
{[Professor Snape.]} Taitō looked back confused, only for Professor Snape's face to show-up on the mirror instead of Harry's. {[Sir…]}
{Let me see your burns, Jadeite.}
Taitō picked the mirror and showed his arms, chest, face and back.
{They're not hurting me any longer.}
{How did you get Magic Made burns? The House-elves didn't say.} The man demanded.
{Sailor Mars.} Taitō explained.
{Did you shower?}
{I didn't but your House-elves used a wet rag before they went to you to get the balm.} The blond replied.
{Good. Go sleep. In the morning a shower. The colder the better.}
Taitō bowed his head and returned the mirror.
{[Sir,] I have to ask… when [his Lordiness] warded the houses, which ones did you say [He] warded besides this and Tsukino Residence?}
Professor Snape frowned, while Taitō raised an eyebrow.
{Hikawa Shrine, your school and your friend Chiba's apartment building. Why?}
Harry breathed relieved.
{We just realized who is [Prince] Endymion, we just wanted to be sure that he'd be safe inside his 'apartment' by himself. At the least until it's safe to awake him.}
Professor Snape frowned and then he nodded, understanding.
{I'll check-up charms and send it to you for you to activate, Jadeite. You can charm his ride and something he always wear everywhere he goes.} He agreed and Taitō nodded thankfully. {Don't follow him everywhere or people will suspect.} Was added in Harry's direction.
Harry nodded and Professor Snape hung-up. He looked at Taitō.
"Wards?"
"House protection walls made of magic against enemies. If I'm not mistaken there are wards anti-teleportation in this house unless me and Tommy are under immediate attack."
Taitō nodded relieved.
"Why was Chiba-sama's house warded as well?"
"I was there when… the Ward Maker came." He explained shyly. "He did it to guarantee mine and Tommy's protection… and we were there that weekend because of the hospital incident."
Taitō nodded, not questioning further on it and Harry was thankful for not needing to lie.
–O&SM–
Tuesday, 9 May 1995
SJ's POV
Jedaito drove the Potters to the Tsukino Residence and, as the teen dropped off the toddler, Tsukino-chan climbed in with her brother. All the while whistling under her breath. Jedaito raised an eyebrow at Tsukino-kun.
"Tuxedo Mask sent a love letter to her, Taitō-sama."
Jedaito scoffed. Of course he hadn't. Jedaito wondered what Potter-sama was playing at though. Finally, they departed, Jedaito first left Tsukino-kun and then Potter-sama and Tsukino-chan. Potter-sama looked after the hyper girl amused.
"Something I should know?" Potter-sama wondered as he started leaving the car.
"Didn't you send her a love letter as Tuxedo Mask?" Jedaito argued.
Potter-sama looked back confused, only for his eyes to grow.
"Sailor Moon's weakness…"
Jedaito frowned and then his eyes narrowed.
"Keep an eye on her. That's how I got to you!" Potter-sama nodded and run after the girl. Jedaito closed the door from the inside and drove off to the entrance of the university to find Chiba-sama and his friend Furuhata-san entering together. He climbed out the car and approached the motorbike. "Keep him safe." He whispered before letting the spell of protection that Snape-hakase had shipped him earlier to take effect and using his own abilities to be extra sure.
Jedaito turned around and drove to the Hikawa Shrine. Hino-sama welcomed him in with apologies and constant bows.
"I'm really sorry for what Rei-chan did. Takashi-kun spent an hour after she arrived on the phone with her."
Jedaito frowned as he followed the old short man up the stairs into the shrine.
"Takashi-san? Who is he?"
"Rei-chan's father. My son. He is a politician here in Tokyo but his job keeps him from giving Rei-chan a stable life at home so he sent her to me when Rei-chan's mother died." Hino-sama explained. "He sent his secretary to buy you new hakui and hakama. Here."
Jedaito accepted his new ones that the old man had just picked from the entrance of the shrine and entered to go change, only to hear coughing. Jedaito stopped by Hino-chan's bedroom to see her in bed.
"Taitō-san." A husky voice of who could barely talk louder than a whisper whined.
Jedaito sighed, set his new clothes by the side and went to the kitchen, returning with a cooling pad and oatmeal. He kneeled beside the sick girl, put the cooling pad on her forehead and then picked some pillows to help her to sit somewhat, before he spoon-fed her.
"Rei-chan, why are you sti…?" Hino-sama shut up as he hurried to run inside at seeing her state. "Cold?"
"She drove Chiba-sama's motorbike late at night without anything but the Miko clothes." Jedaito agreed as he helped the shy Hino-chan eat something so she could take medicine. "I'll join you outside in a few minutes, Hino-sama."
Hino-sama approached and set a hand on Hino-chan's cheek and then the back of his hand on her neck before he nodded.
"I'll rang your school warning that you aren't going today."
"Thank you, Ojīsama." She rasped out practically soundlessly.
The short man nodded and left.
"You do know that if you had answered Potter-sama's phone call you wouldn't need all of this grounding, don't you?" Jedaito pointed out and, if possible, the Miko's face turned even redder.
"You… you're not mad with me?"
Jedaito snorted and set the empty bowl on the bedside table, picked a glass with water and the cold pills.
"You've already been grounded enough." He argued. "Which must have been bad for your father to call you for a whole hour, which I suspect is why you can barely talk as well."
"Ojīsama told you about that."
Jedaito nodded and let her take her meds. Finally, he stood, picked the bowl and glass to bring to the kitchen.
"If you need: call that I'll came as fast as I can. My powers will hear you." He offered as she took her pillows away to lay down again.
"Thank you."
Jedaito left, only returning to fetch his attire. Finally, he changed and opened the letter he'd stolen from Hino-chan's room. He sneered as he read his fellow Knight's letter. He snapped his fingers and Bella-san showed up.
"Potter-sama."
The Creature looked at the letter being offered, then nodded. She took it and disappeared again. Jedaito joined Hino-sama who was behind the counter where Jedaito usually worked. Then to his surprise, the old man started explaining him how the things worked. Actually starting on Jedaito's class on how to be a proper priest. Which even if he knew the Buddhists' old ways, nothing had prepared him for the proper job of a Priest.
–O&SM–
HJP's POV
Harry left class, Usagi obviously pouting at realizing she wasn't the only one and Teacher Haruna because she didn't get any letter. Harry entered Tutor Kamijō's classroom to find Bella there.
[Bella?]
[Mr Jedo Taitō sent this. Miss Rei Hino is with a cold.]
Harry accepted the envelope being offered.
[Bring Miss Rei some Pepper Up potions then. She speaks some English but you have to speak slowly and pronounce every word.] Bella nodded and popped away. Harry looked at Tutor Kamijō, who was getting things really for the Charms class. "Kateikyōshi?" The Wizard looked back. "Can you read this for me?"
Tutor Kamijō accepted the envelope, taking the letter from within.
"You need to learn Kanji, Potter-san."
"I know." Harry agreed with a groan. It was hard!
Tutor Kamijō opened the letter and showed each Kanji as he read them.
"It's a love letter." The man finished the reading to explain.
"It's a trap." Harry argued. "Mine is Tommy and Jadeite-san went after him."
"And Tuxedo Mask…?"
"Sailor Moon's. She doesn't even hide it."
Tutor Kamijō nodded.
"I'll warn the Aurors to raise a ward to keep the Muggles away from the location since they can't do much more than that." He agreed. "Now class."
Harry accepted and sat down.
–O&SM–
Harry finished P.E. and as Usagi whined for the love letter, he rode off to the Hikawa Shrine. Taitō nodded back when Harry arrived, who entered and went into Rei's room. The girl's ears were fuming at the moment.
"Bella just sent you another potion?"
"Yes." Rei agreed. "They help keeping the cough away and gave my voice back."
Harry nodded and approached, setting a hand on her forehead.
"You are bedridden today."
"But… Tuxedo Mask's letter…"
"Nephrite's." Harry argued. "When Tommy was sick you guys benched me, you think I won't do the same to you?"
Rei blushed and lowered her head. The door to her bedroom opened as Harry set up a cooling pad on her forehead, both looking at the newcomer to find a man in a suit. He nodded his head at Harry.
"Who are you?"
"Rei-chan is sick, she isn't proper for visits." Harry argued instead, but before he could say anything more Rei grabbed his forearm. "Rei-chan?"
"That's my Otōsan, Harry-kun." [Father.] She added at realizing he didn't understand the word.
Harry's eyes grew and turned deep red.
"Is this your boyfriend?" Mr Hino asked his daughter.
Harry stood and offered his hand to shake. Mr Hino looked at it for a real long time, before finally shaking it.
"Pleasure to meet you, Hino-san. I am Potter Harry. I was the one who rang to warn of Taitō-san's burns. Taitō-san lives at my house and bodyguards me when he isn't studying to be a priest."
"So, you are her boyfriend?"
"Rei-chan is single," [Sir.] Harry argued, making the man frown.
Taitō showed behind the confused man.
"Potter-sama, Hino-sama has given me half-a-hour break. Do you want a ride to go pick Potter-kun?"
"Potter-sama?" Mr Hino asked.
"Potter-sama is a British" [Lord.] Taitō agreed as Harry blushed.
Mr Hino immediately looked surprised at his daughter. Harry groaned.
"Your fever is too high, Rei-chan. Do not get out of bed." He warned her, before bowing his head at Mr Hino and followed Taitō out the room and down the corridor. "Just great. Now he'll try to hook me up with her."
"Apparently he is a politician."
"Even worse." Harry argued as they descended the stairs to go to the car. He picked his phone when it started ringing, only to see Usagi's name. {Moshi moshi.} He agreed, wondering what she wanted now. It was still early for Nephrite's attack.
{Harry-sama, how do you deal with a crying non-stop Tsukino-chan?} Mamoru's voice asked from the other side.
Harry frowned only to hear Usagi on the other side.
{Pass the phone.} He agreed and Taitō raised a questioning look. "You won't believe where Usagi-chan is and with who." He argued back.
Finally, Usagi accepted the phone.
{Moshi moshi.}
{The love letters are not… let me repeat: NOT from Tuxedo Mask.}
{Harry-kun…}
{How did Jadeite-san get to me? Through Tommy! Nephrite never fought against me. I only fought once so far against his Yōmas. He is going against you instead. What is Sailor Moon's weakness? Tuxedo Mask!}
"Nephrite probably hasn't realized about Onmyōji-san yet." Taitō offered as he drove and Harry nodded back, while glaring at the title.
{Thank you, Harry-kun.}
{Yes, I know. Now do me a favour and make Mamoru-kun believe we are an item still. Frankly!}
Usagi stuttered and hung-up.
"She went to whine to Chiba-sama?" Taitō asked amused.
"We're talking about the same girl who has a line that she says each time she starts a duel."
Taitō laughed at their usual comment.
"We'll leave Potter-kun at the shrine. Luna-chan and Hino-sama will watch over him and Hino-chan while we four go face Nephrite."
"Won't Rei-chan's family…?"
"Hino-san will leave before we arrive. Besides I told Hino-sama earlier that we had movie night and that yesterday Hino-chan had agreed to watch over him… before the whole burning me thingy…" Taitō shrugged as they turned to the road of the Tsukino Residence. "Hino-sama told me that Potter-kun could come and that he'd make sure the baby won't catch Hino-chan's sickness."
Harry nodded and when Taitō parked, he left. Mrs Tsukino welcomed him with a smile.
"Usagi-chan is a mess over the fake love letters." Mrs Tsukino's eyes grew as Harry picked his baby. "Taitō-san promised to take us out on a friend's night out to make her feel better."
"Oh… of course."
"We'll bring her in time for bedtime." He promised.
"And Tommy-kun?"
"Rei-chan and her Ojīsama said they'd watch over him."
Mrs Tsukino nodded.
"Have fun tonight then."
Harry nodded and left with Tommy. He put Tommy on his seat and Taitō drove back to the shrine. They arrived just as Priest Hino was arguing Mr Hino out the shrine. The convo with Rei mustn't have been nice if her grandfather was interfering like this… The old man immediately run towards Harry and smiled at Tommy.
"Hello, Potter-kun. You and I are going to be great friends."
Harry had a feeling that Tommy was going to be used to get girls…
[No magic, Tommy.] He warned his son as he set him down besides the old and short priest.
Tommy babbled back and paddled after the old man. Taitō returned to work and Harry entered to find Ami looking after Rei.
"Ami-chan." Ami nodded back. "Rei-chan and her Ojīsama will watch over Tommy tonight. The old man has already snatched Tommy away."
Rei groaned while Ami smiled.
"And Usagi-chan?"
"I told Tsukino-okusan that Taitō-san is taking us three on a friend date."
"I'll go change then." Harry raised an eyebrow. "You don't go out – even if just with friends – dressed in school clothes."
Harry looked down, blushed and nodded.
"I guess that makes sense."
The two girls laughed. Rei snatched her fingers and Bella popped in. The House-elf approached and set a hand on Rei's wrist, checking her with House-elf's magic.
[Miss Hino much better. No potion. Or overdose.]
Rei whispered to Ami, who smiled towards the female House-elf.
[Pick Master Harry's best shirt and iron it. As well as a matching trousers and jacket.]
Bella looked at Harry, before nodding and popped away.
"I can pick my own clothes." Harry argued and the girls raised an eyebrow. "I'm a guy, not inutile." He whined at their looks.
Bella popped in with Harry's best clothes hanging on a hanger with included clean underwear. He didn't even have time to react because one moment he was dressed in school clothes, the other he was literally naked and then the next he was dressed with the new clothes. He was about to speak to Bella but she had already disappeared with his previous clothes.
Both girls turned deep red.
"And this is why you have to be careful with what you tell to a House-elf to do. They take it quite literally." Harry groaned.
He scoffed and walked out to find several girls were surrounding an eager Priest Hino and pampering on Tommy. Taitō nodded back from his stand.
"The girls picked for you?"
"Bella." Harry argued. "Any explosion?"
"Potter-kun is more controlled than you, although I'm keeping an eye out." Taitō argued. "Warn Tsukino-chan of the outing before she arrives home."
Harry nodded and picked his phone to ring Usagi.
{Moshi moshi.} Usagi answered.
{Where are you?}
{With Motoki-oniisan and Chiba-kun at Game Centre Crown. They're teaching me how to beat Sailor V's level.}
Harry rolled his eyes.
{Very well. Go home.} Usagi started to argue. {I'm picking you up in an hour for a date night. Go change!} He said loud enough so people next to her would hear it.
Usagi stuttered.
{Date?}
{Now, Usagi-chan.} Harry commanded.
Usagi shrieked happily and Harry could hear her run to get home. He hung-up and stored the mobile phone.
"Still at the Game Centre Crown?" Taitō asked after selling another talisman.
"Why else would I just say «Date»?" Harry nodded at Ami as she left the shrine. "Do we pick you up?"
"I'll meet you at the Tsukino Residence." She argued, unable to look at him in the face.
Taitō frowned at her antics, as she run down the stairs and away from Harry.
"Remember the first morning you were over at our place and Bella changed your clothes?" Harry asked and Taitō nodded. "She just did the same to me before the girls. All the way to the underwear. They've brought this onto themselves."
Taitō scoffed.
"I'll speak with Mizuno-chan. Make sure that won't interfere with tonight's outing." Taitō agreed.
"What about your burns?"
"I can handle them." Taitō argued and looked towards the side, feeling something Harry didn't. "You better go hold your musuko back."
Harry looked to find him being manhandled. He hurried to his side and picked him up.
"Let's go, Tommy. Time for setting up dinner."
Never Tommy held onto Harry that hard. They entered the shrine's kitchen and Harry set the boy down on a chair. He took out his jacket and shirt, staying shirtless so it wouldn't get dirty, before he started to cook. Rei entered the kitchen with a doctor mask over her mouth and nose.
"Harry-kun?"
"Soup is almost ready. Warn Priest Hino-sama." Harry set a bowl before Tommy on the table, who picked a spoon and started eating. [Behave while I'm out.] He warned and the toddler nodded. [I'm serious. Rei's too sick to hide your magic from her grandfather.] Tommy looked up from his soup, nodded and returned to it. [I love you.] Harry offered and got a glare in return.
(TBC)
Next chapter: Between a Date and a Healer
~Isys
