Harry stood dumbfounded at the sight before him. Never, not even at Hogwarts, had he seen anything that remotely looked as extravagant as where he was standing now. He barely registered Atemu, Seto and Yugi moving forward, away from him, as he gawked at everything.
The massive room's ceiling was so high that a five-story building could have fit comfortably in it. The walls were lined with gold, marble, silks, and carvings of creatures he assumed were duel monsters. Golden torches hung along the wall and were lit with oddly colored flames of silver. As he stood in the middle of the room, he realized he was being looked at by several hundred sets of inhuman eyes. In a line that extended from the back of the room to the front were more monsters than he ever thought he'd see. Dragons, machines, animal-types, human-types and even some he couldn't understand were looking at him curiously. Harry gulped as he heard a low chuckle coming from the front of the room.
Green eyes tore away from the monsters to look at area in front of him. Harry was sure his jaw dropped when he saw his three guardians.
On the top of several steps was Atemu sitting on a beautifully carved throne that was lined with crimson silk. Beside him on his right, was Seto sitting on another throne that was lined in navy blue. Yugi was to the Pharaoh's left sitting on one covered with the same color as his eyes and in his lap was Kuribo. Behind them stood Atemu's ever-loyal family of magicians. Harry instantly recognized Mahaado, Mana (DMG) and Sayad (Dark Paladin) among them.
"Welcome Harry to my Kingdom"
Harry instantly felt as if he should bow before these people but he shook off this feeling. They were just his friends even if they were some of the most powerful people on the face of the earth.
Atemu smiled at Harry before he stood up and walked down the steps to stand beside him. Placing a hand on the boys shoulder, the Pharaoh turned his gaze to the monsters.
"My friends, I'm sure you all know by now the trouble we have been facing. A dark force has somehow gained the knowledge of the Realm and it's creatures. Several of them have been taken from us and I think forced to fight against us.
On one of these battles Mahaado and I came across Harry here and took him back to live with us. We have found out that he is destined to defeat the same enemies we have. Because of this he has been placed under our protection. But soon my Priest, Hikari and myself will have to stay in another land and our duties will not allow us to protect him as much as we would like to. Because of this, I have brought him here in hopes that one of you will volunteer to stay by his side protecting him, encouraging him, and most of all be a loyal friend to him as you all are towards us."
Atemu squeezed Harry's shoulder before he walked back up the steps and sat down on his throne. Taking Seto's hand and interlocking their fingers, he sat back and waited to see what would happen. He knew the monsters would do as he asked, it was just a matter of time before one or more would step forward.
Harry felt like he was on display as every inhuman eye studied him. Several minutes went by with not one of them moving. Harry was starting to feel as if he was being rejected when a flash of white off to his left came closer into view.
Turning his head he gasped and took a step back when he saw a massive white tiger looking back at him with icy blue eyes.
"All-Seeing White Tiger do you wish to take on the role of this boy's protector?" Seto asked.
Yes High Priest, I vow to protect him with my life.
Green eyes widened when he heard the tiger's voice echo in his mind. Atemu told him that it depended on the type of monster how they communicated and apparently this one did it telepathically. Harry looked up at the three in front of him to see Atemu nod his head.
"I will hold you to that White Tiger."
Harry turned and looked at his new monster. From the sound of its voice it sounded female but he wondered what its name was, he didn't want to have to call it White Tiger all the time. "Do you have a name?"
Piercing blue eyes studied him before she spoke. My name is Kala. Would you like for me to transform now?
"Transform?"
"Kala can downsize if you want to call it that." Yugi replied when he saw the confusion in the boy's eyes.
"Umm sure, I don't think I can go around school with a giant tiger." Harry heard a faint chuckle run through his head as he watched the tiger's coat glow slightly as she shrunk down to the size of a normal house cat. Kala retained her blue eyes and white coat but it was devoid of any stripes.
He scooped the small tiger up into his arms and smiled as he scratched her head. "Good thing Hogwarts allows cats as pets."
Atemu snorted, "Even if it didn't she would still go with you. I would like them to try and stop her."
Kala chuckled, The Pharaoh is right, nothing or no one will keep me from you.
"Pharaoh."
"Yes, Mahaado?"
"It is time to leave, I believe the boy has some shopping to do?"
Harry glanced up. "Diagon Alley? How do you know where it's at?"
The Dark Magician smirked, "I have my ways."
Harry grinned as he led the three Shadow Wielders into the nearest eating establishment. He had already purchased his required school supplies and had decided to show them some of the finer points of the wizarding world.
Kala jumped off his shoulders as they reached an empty back booth and landed on the wooden tabletop. He let Yugi slide into the seat before he too sat down. The woman taking orders came up just as Atemu and Seto slid into the other side of the booth. Giving her their orders of four butterbeers, they waited till she left before they started up a conversation.
"So have you three figured out what sort of things you will be teaching?" he asked as Kala curled up at the edge of the table, purring in content.
"I figured I would show some of the lower level monsters to everyone. Get them use to the things they may have to face."
"Good idea aibou. I don't think they will have to deal with the higher-level ones for a while so ones like Kuribo and Psychic Kappa (atk: 400) would be good starters. Then maybe you could move on to Celtic Guardian and Bio-Mage (1150)."
Yugi nodded his head then turned to Kaiba, "What about you Seto?"
"Computers of course, what else would I teach about?"
Atemu rolled his eyes. Just like his husband to think computers were the only things out there.
"But things like that won't work at Hogwarts so what would be the point?" Harry asked.
"It will work, I'll make it work."
Yugi giggled, "Of course. If Kaiba had to go too long with out his computers I think his brain and sanity would crash faster than an overloaded, virus laden laptop would."
"Maybe you should start with something simple Seto-koi, such as light switches."
"No, start with rubber ducks." Harry stated.
"Rubber ducks? Why the hell would wizards care about those?"
"Because my father asked Harry what the function of one was a few years ago."
Harry turned around when he heard that voice and came face to face with a smiling red headed boy and a girl with messy brown hair. "Ron! Hermione! What are you guys doing here?"
"We could ask you the same thing." Hermione stated as her eyes flicked over to Seto and Atemu.
Seeing this Harry began introductions, "Ron, Hermione, this is Seto Kaiba, Yami Kaiba and Yugi Motou. Seto, Yami, Yugi, this is Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, my two friends from school that I told you about."
Atemu was about to speak when his body suddenly tensed and his eyes flashed as they widened slightly. Quickly, he grabbed Seto's arm and motioned for him to get out of the booth as he opened up his mind link with Yugi.
((Hikari, stay here with Harry. Seto and me have some business to take care off))
(Alright, but what's wrong? Another attack?)
((No, but I feel the presence of another monster, one that is not loyal)) he said as he nodded his head in goodbye towards the three teens.
(Be careful) Yugi smiled at Harry as he watched Seto and Atemu walk out of the building. "Umm, you two can join us if you want."
Quirking an eyebrow at their recent behavior, Hermione agreed and slid into the booth after Ron did.
"Yugi, where did they go?" Harry asked quietly.
"Things to do, people to see. You know the usual."
"Excuse me Yugi?"
"Yes…Hermione right?"
She nodded her head, "Are you wizards? You're not dressed like one."
Harry grinned. She was right that they didn't look like normal wizards. All three had on leather pants and t-shirts, but Atemu and Seto were also sporting black trench coats.
Yugi shrugged his shoulders, "If you want to call us that."
"Are you saying you don't know?" Ron asked totally confused.
"I'm saying that if you prefer to call us wizards than by all means go ahead."
"You're not going to tell us are you?" the girl asked as her suspicions rose. There was something weird with those three she thought. She had never seen someone with violet or red eyes. And to top it off they had the weirdest hairdo she had ever seen. The tallest one looked normal but there was an eerie stony expression to his face that gave her the creeps.
"Nope."
"So…anyways," Ron interrupted, "Harry where have you been mate? My father and I tried to contact you to let you know that we would be coming to get you but you never responded. Then when we went to check on you your uncle said you had been kidnapped by the devil!"
Harry and Yugi busted out laughing causing the others to look at them strangely. Kala mentally rolled her eyes and leapt into her charges lap.
Placing a hand the small tigers head, he quickly calmed down. "Yami is not the devil but I can see how my uncle would think that and I have not been kidnapped. I have been staying in Japan with Yugi, Yami and Seto over the summer."
"But why?"
"Long story, one I do not feel like going into." He said, hoping to end the questions. He wasn't sure just how much he could getaway with telling them.
"Ok…Oh! Did you hear that we are going three new teachers this year?"
"Yep!" Harry grinned.
"Do you have any idea who they might be?"
"You just met them."
When Atemu stopped just outside the eatery, Seto noticed his eyes flashed again. "What is it? I assume it's not another attack cause Mahaado hasn't shown up."
The Master of Shadows furrowed his eyebrows; "I feel a monster close by."
"One of ours?"
He shook his head, "No, I think it's one of the unbonded ones. It's not attacking, it's just here."
"Well let's go find it."
Seto followed Atemu has he led them down the street until they came across an alleyway and heard a child's voice. Pressing themselves up against the wall, they peeked their heads around the corner to get a better view.
Around the corner they spotted a young boy about Harry's age with white-blonde hair slicked back against his head. With him was a strange gray haired man with weird looking eyes. Both of them were wearing wizard robes and from what the boy was saying, the other one wasn't too happy about it.
"Look Kalen, you can't very well go around wearing a skirt and no shirt! You have to blend in with the rest of us."
Kalen grunted and crossed his arms across his chest; clearly stating he didn't care what the boy said.
::Well there's our monster. Wonder why the boy has him?:: Seto whispered into his koi's mind.
((Not sure but there is one way to find out))
"Kalen! I order you to follow me. Now come on!" the boy stated as he grabbed the monster's hand and attempted to pull him out of the alley.
"I don't think he will be going anywhere with you."
Draco turned around ready to reprimand whomever had just spoken but stopped short before any words came out. His eyes widened when he looked at the two men standing just in front of him. One was short but his body wasn't any less intimidating. He also had strange tri-colored hair and blood colored eyes. The taller one stood there with his arms crossed glaring at him with icy blue eyes.
Subconsciously, Draco took a step back. "You can't tell me what to do!"
Kalen's normal dark skin paled when he saw who was standing in front of the boy. Quickly he dropped to one knee and held his head low, not wanting to anger the Master before he had a chance to win back his loyalty. "Master, forgive me…."
"Hey! He's not your master I am…wait! You can talk?"
Kalen continued on, ignoring the boy. "… I did not want to stray from your realm but they trapped me. I wasn't given a choice. They bound me, took away my weapons and caged me."
Atemu stepped forward till he was just a foot away from the still kneeling monster. "Rise and face me."
Seto stood where he was, he had no need to be beside his husband while this happened. He knew Atemu could take care of himself, especially since it was such a weak monster. Sapphire blues eyes flickered towards the blonde haired boy and scowled at the look on his face. This boy was going to be trouble.
Kalen stood up before the Master and locked his eyes upon the other's. "Master?"
"I thought I just said this punk wasn't your master!"
"Shut your mouth boy!" Seto hissed.
"Draco, it would be wise if you didn't insult the Phar…"
"Enough Hunter."
Kalen flinched at the tone of voice the Pharaoh used but he got the meaning. The Master did not wish to let the boy know his title.
"Yami," Seto said as he walked towards him, "What do you want to do with them?"
"The boy and the Hunter will go back to Japan with us. We have much to discuss."