Vampires are creatures of the night. They aren't fans of bright lights. Under normal circumstances they sleep during the day.
Succubae are creatures of luxury and comfort. If they aren't screwing they're sleeping or eating.
Eleven-year-olds are lazy.
As for cats… if you've ever owned one or spent time around one, you already know the only thing they do better than make a nuisance of themselves is sleep.
So Harry was supremely unsurprised that he was the only one awake at seven in the morning.
That wouldn't have been so bad. He could have gotten ready for the day and called Keiko and Yui to let them know Miss Nekonome had arrived.
But his teacher was part cat.
Again, if you've ever owned a cat, then you know they sleep a lot. They do it where they want. Usually on their favourite living being.
Which explained why Harry couldn't feel his feet. His teacher was lying across them wearing nothing but a long t-shirt and some panties.
He spent five minutes poking her and trying to get her to wake up before a curious and recently woken Ruby looked in.
"Please, can you help me get up?" He begged.
The witch looked amused but took his hand and pulled. His teacher rolled off with a pathetic cry before curling up and continuing to sleep.
Of course, he couldn't stand as his legs were still asleep. "Could you pass me the phone, please? I need to make a quick call."
Twenty minutes later, Harry and Ruby were standing outside the Hotel. The witch was nervous and hiding slightly behind the wizard. She was watching the cars drive by with loathing.
"They won't hurt you." Harry assured her as he breathed in the fresh air.
"My parents were killed by a human who was driving a car." She spat at the road. "I hate them all."
"I was told my parents died the same way. Of course, I was told they were the ones driving."
"Why would witches drive human cars?" Her confusion distracted from the objects of her hate.
"They didn't. Well, my uncle drove a motorcycle for fun, I think. My human relatives who I lived with told me that lie."
"Then you can understand why they must be destroyed."
"Because they lie and kill?"
"Of course!"
Harry thought for a moment. "Your parents were killed by a car driver… was it on purpose?"
"What does it matter? The fool was drunk."
"It matters, because you want to judge all humans based on one."
"Not just him!" She objected. "Also the ones who want to destroy the sunflower fields."
"But they don't even know they are owned by someone."
Harry started to walk down the street to the nearby market. "By your logic, I have the right to want to destroy all witches and wizards.
"A wizard murdered my parents just so he could try and kill me. I was a baby. He had lots of followers and all of them were helping him find me so they could kill my parents and me.
"I still don't know why.
"As if that wasn't enough, all the wizards in charge accused me of breaking the law. They didn't listen to me and tried to destroy all that I had. Including Hedwig."
As if waiting for her name to be spoken, the snowy owl landed on his shoulder. Harry cast a quick notice-me-not charm.
"So, can I start killing wizards and witches now?"
Ruby knew he wasn't expecting and answer, she decided it would be wiser to keep silent.
"Harry-kun!"
Harry smiled as he saw Keiko and Yui running up. He greeted them with the traditional bow. "It is good to see you both. Yui-san, are you feeling well? I gave you some… 'medicine' yesterday, but I am no healer. I mean doctor."
Keiko and Yui shared a look and broke out into giggles. "So formal, Harry-kun." Keiko teased him.
"I am fine, Harry." Yui bowed low. "Just a few nightmares."
"So, are the two of you busy today?" Harry asked curiously.
"After yesterday? We need a day off." Keiko scoffed.
"Did you need our help, Harry?" Yui asked.
"I was wondering if you would be free and willing to help take my friends on a tour of the city. I lived in the human world for most of my life… but in England.
"I'm still getting used to Japanese culture. I have noticed that they all seem to observe Japanese customs to a degree."
"As long as you can keep us from being eaten by plant monsters, I'm in." Keiko said with mock seriousness.
The first thing Harry noticed when they reached the hotel room was that Yui was a cat person.
She saw Miss Nekonome curled up on the floor with her ears out and tail wrapped around her and was instantly stroking and petting the teacher.
Miss Nekonome woke up in pure heaven.
Keiko and Ruby could only watch aghast as the two females… 'played' with each other in a 'public' forum.
"Yui! Stop that! Nekonome-sensei, wake up or I will spray you with water." Harry barked. He then moved to the other bedroom door and banged on it. "Breakfast time!"
Harry quietly reiterated to the human girls that the rest were monsters and that the witches in particular hated and feared humans.
He also admitted that he had no idea why. Well, he had some idea, he just didn't understand and found it hard to empathise.
Keiko and Yui took it in stride and assured him that as far as they were concerned, foreigners were foreigners, no matter their origins… unless it was the same as theirs… 'cos then they wouldn't be foreigners.
Since they were there to experience the human world, Keiko had insisted on heading to the local fast food place for their breakfast deals.
Yukari had nearly gotten scratched as they were walking down the street. She had brushed by a pedestrian and screamed, jumped and grabbed the soft, long tail that appeared in front of her.
Harry and Yui had to manhandle Miss Nekonome away, hissing. Moka and Kurumu kept a firm grip on the girl as Ruby and Keiko brought up the rear.
Keiko had sent them all to find seats in the fast-food place. She went and ordered for them.
Harry was content with the bacon and egg 'muffin'. As was Ruby.
Miss Nekonome, Moka and Kurumu ate it rather reluctantly.
As for Yukari…
"Slow down or you'll make yourself sick." Harry warned as she grabbed the unfinished bun from Moka's tray.
She was eating like she was addicted. "These are sooo good!"
Harry grimaced. She sounded a lot like she did when molesting Moka's breasts. He continued to sip his hot tea as he mentally catalogued his potions and whether he had something for bad tummys.
"Was there somewhere specific you wanted to visit today?" Yui asked the group.
"Whatever tourists do, I guess." Harry mused. "But if we could pass by a police station, hospital and fire station, that could be useful."
"They don't have those in your world?" Keiko asked curiously.
"They have medicine, I don't know about fire services. The police… if it is anything like the school, then there are no police, just the law set by those most powerful.
"By most powerful, I mean those who can defeat others in combat."
"That sounds… scary." She shuddered. "I can't imagine humans would be very far up the leadership chain."
"Maybe." Harry allowed. "But if humans acted as the nations they are, then they would probably rule. I think humans outnumber monsters pretty badly. Couple that with the armies and stuff and… well, I can't think of anything I've met so far that could survive multiple bombs."
"These 'police', are they the ones you say I should go to about protecting my land?" Ruby asked with a disgruntled look at the police station across the road.
Keiko and Yui were explaining the purpose of the police force to the three monster girls.
Miss Nekonome was happily licking her way through an ice cream.
"If you were human and the issues were recent. But it wouldn't work for you and this situation. The best you can do is ward the area to keep trespassers away.
"It will still cause problems, but not ones that would affect you."
"I do not like it here." Ruby grumbled, wrapping her arms around herself protectively. "There is no nature. Just dead stone and metal."
"Never said you had to live here." Harry shrugged. "But it is a good place to make friends and get stuff."
Ruby glanced over at the enthusiastic human girls. Yui was a class assistant as well as a student at the same university as Keiko. She was an aspiring teacher and currently in her element.
"It is strange… I always thought humans would attack me if they knew I was a… well…" She didn't want to say it out loud, surrounded by the enemy.
"Both here and in England, the 'governments' for magicals insist on separation between magicals and non-magicals. They say there is a great risk that we will reveal ourselves to the non-magicals.
"The truth is, the only way for a non-magical to see what we are, is if we use magic in front of them. But you, me and Yukari have spent half the day walking around and we haven't done a single bit of magic."
"What about the charm you placed on your teacher?"
Harry blushed. "Look at her! She has terrible impulse control and is nearly incapable of hiding her monster features."
Sure enough, the ice cream licking cat woman was purring away, pointy ears twitching whilst her tail wrapped around Yui's short clad legs.
Harry had to cast a charm to prevent people from realising that the tail was real.
"Besides, that just adds to my point. You and I could cast a charm so we could walk down the middle of the street and no one would know we were there.
"Unless they hit us with a car, I guess."
Ruby's face fell and Harry suddenly realised he had made a mistake.
"Ruby-san! I am so sorry." He said as he faced her and bowed low. "I completely forgot that you told me how your parents died."
"No… Harry, I… please…" She raised him up, her eyes brimming with tears and sadness. Her head lowered to hide her sorrow.
She stiffened slightly when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. But then relaxed into the embrace.
"We've known Harry-kun for less than a day, but he is a good person." Ruby stiffened again as she realised it was Keiko hugging her. "But he certainly needs lessons on how to deal with upset girls."
Keiko moved back and looked the younger girl in the eye. "Now, what made you so upset?"
"I brought up her parents' deaths, they were hit by a car." Harry answered quietly.
"No, it is not Harry's fault." Ruby said quickly as Keiko glared at him. "He… he was teaching me. Teaching me about humans and magicals."
"I forgot about why she hates humans." Harry explained. "We were talking and I used being hit by a car as an example for something."
"What were you talking about?" Yui asked curiously.
"About how magicals can cast a charm so that other people won't even notice them. I said the only way they would is if they hit us with a car."
"Harry was convincing me that humans can't tell witches and wizards from other humans." Ruby added.
A slow smirk crept up Yui's face. "Harry, let's go back to your hotel room. We need to change some things before our next destination!"
Yui had spent twenty minutes telling the monster girls to transform into their monster forms. She had insisted that the only attention they would get would be respect and admiration.
Keiko had figured out Yui's plan, but Harry was still in the dark.
"Don't you have any different features to humans?" Keiko asked the three magicals.
"I can partially transfigure wings." Ruby admitted.
"Cool, let's see."
After receiving a nod from Harry she stepped back and began swirling her wand. There was a flash and the sound of feathers in the wind and then Ruby was standing there with six large black crow's wings extending from her back.
"Wow! This is amazing! Can you move them? Can you fly with them?" Keiko demanded with glee as she circled the nervous witch.
"Yes."
Keiko stopped and looked at Ruby's face. "Yes to what?"
"Both."
"Could you teach me something like this?" Harry asked curiously.
Ruby looked thoughtful. "I would need to ask my Lady's permission, but yes."
"Your 'lady'?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes, after my parents died, she took me in and raised me. The sunflower fields are hers." Ruby had clearly found a topic she enjoyed.
"Well, we can probably meet her later. We'll see if she knows any wards to protect her fields or I can check my books."
Ruby was smiling happily. "That would be wonderful! I would love for her to meet you."
"There are so many monsters!" Kurumu exclaimed as they stood at the side of the road. "How can they be in the open? Why aren't humans attacking?
"Is it one of Harry's magical charms?"
"Erm… Kurumu? Those are all humans. They are just…?"
"Wearing costumes." Keiko supplied for Harry. "This is a convention and all these humans are dressed as their favourite characters."
"Like… manga characters?" Yukari surprised them all by actually addressing one of the humans for the first time today.
"Manga, anime, movies, tv shows. There are probably a few original ideas there as well."
"Most of them would be thrilled to find out you were 'monsters'." Yui added. "The chance to meet real examples of the characters they love is something they would give anything for… literally."
Yui led the group towards the convention centre, despite their clear, personal worry, Moka and Kurumu shepherded Yukari between them. Keiko and Harry sandwiched Ruby as Miss Nekonome walked arm in arm with Yui.
The day was a real eye-opener for the monster girls. Whilst the humans often looked at them, they simply smiled, looked awed, and occasionally, asked for a photo.
There were at least three attempts made on Moka, Kurumu and Ruby looking for dates.
Miss Nekonome got one too.
At the end of the day Keiko led the exhausted group to a nearby restaurant run by friends of her family.
"You do still have all their souvenirs, Harry-kun?" Yui pressed as they waited for the food to arrive.
"Yes." Harry answered with the fatigue caused by answering the same question over and over again. "My backpack can hold… a lot.
"It's magical."
All of them had seen trinkets they wanted, even Harry.
Harry was the only one with money, but he had enough to splurge for the holiday.
"What do you have planned for tomorrow?" Keiko asked.
"I figured we'd take Ruby home so we can meet her Lady."
"We can take you, if you like." Yui offered.
"Probably best if you didn't. Just in case." Harry warned. "But, the day after, maybe we could get together and you could show us all the evidence that led you to believe there was a witch involved.
"That is why we came here, to learn more about investigating."
"Thank you, but I should return tonight." Ruby spoke up quickly. "I have already been gone too long."
"Then I'll come with you." Harry said firmly.
"We'll all come." Moka responded in kind.
"I was going to fly there on my broom."
"You can take me as well."
"I can fly myself." Kurumu beamed.
"What about me?" Yukari demanded.
"Yukari, I trust Ruby, but I can't guarantee there won't be danger again. You need to stay where it is safe. With Nekonome-sensei."
"I can handle danger!"
"Please, you ran like a baby yesterday from a pair of powerless humans right into pack of hungry monsters." Kurumu scoffed.
"That was different!"
"Yeah? How?"
"I- I… I'm not running now, am I?"
"You mean after we practically pinned you in place and yelled at you all night?"
"I faced Kuyou."
That stopped all debate. The girls still had nightmares about seeing Harry die.
"Nekonome-sensei, you are the adult responsible for us here. The decision is yours."
The cat lady stared wide-eyed at the wizard. "Me?!"
"You are the adult."
"But you are the most powerful! You should decide." She argued.
"Have you ever heard of the expression: 'When in Rome…'?" Harry asked.
She silently shook her head with droopy ears.
"Well, we came here to experience the human world. In the human world, adults are responsible for children… like us."
"Shizuka!" Yui scolded the Nekomusume. "You're their teacher!"
"Meeow… I will look after Sendo-san." She whimpered.
Harry and the three older girls had left a fairly angry witch with her teacher. Harry considered this just a small part of the retribution Miss Nekonome deserved for abandoning them.
Harry flew his broom with Moka tightly holding on from behind. Kurumu and Ruby flew either side of them.
They arrived at the sunflower fields and headed in deeper until they reached an old mansion. It looked to be made of white wood and stone.
As Ruby led them in she called out. "My Lady? I've brought guests!"
Harry was frowning as he looked around. The place was more derelict than the Shrieking Shack. It didn't look like anyone knew how to use a broom… let alone a basic cleaning charm.
"Guests, Ruby Dear?"
Everyone looked to the old female voice coming from the top of curved wooden stairs.
Ruby smiled and curtsied, holding the position. "Yes, My Lady. This is Potter Harry-san, he is a wizard. These are-"
"Oh I know who they are, child." The woman who descended the stairs was dressed in long white robes that were darkened with age, her face and head were hidden by the shadows of a cowl. "The wizard, the vampire and the succubus." Harry was on edge at hint of venom.
"Even if I did not send my ravens to watch over you, I would recognise the Boy-Who-Lived and the daughter of the Bloodriver.
"Tell me child, did you truly believe I would open my house so easily to human-lovers?"
Ruby stumbled slightly at the sneer.
"But My Lady…"
*smack*
Ruby was cringing from the blow… one that never landed. She looked up to see Moka standing there, her Lady's wrist gripped firmly.
"Why would you strike her?" Moka demanded, her free hand was toying with her rosary. Harry had learnt that that usually meant Inner Moka was especially agitated and vocal.
The old woman wrenched her wrist free, only possible because the vampire allowed it. "How I run my house is no business of yours, vampire."
"We should leave." Harry said quietly, glaring at the old witch.
"I'm surprised a pitiful little half-blood has the sense to respect his betters." She sniffed.
"Half-blood?" Harry was now very worried, it was bad enough she recognised him, but she now specifically categorised him by blood status.
"Oh yes, as soon as I saw who you were I sent word to England. They are very eager to get you back." She smirked.
Harry was beginning to panic, his breathing becoming erratic.
"Harry-kun, breathe!" Kurumu wrapped him in a hug. "They will never touch you." She promised as she wrapped her wings around him.
"Why would you do that?" Moka demanded. "Harry did nothing to you."
The old woman spat on the floor. "The arrogant brat tried to corrupt my charge. He took her amongst the filthy humans. His own mother was born to humans!
"I may not live with the other magicals of Japan, but I stay abreast of the happenings in the world." She sneered.
"Ruby… you should leave." Kurumu said sternly as she released Harry, only to nudge him behind her protectively. "This bitch has just tried to kill our Harry. As monsters, we will deal with this our way. We don't hurt our friends."
But Ruby fell to her knees and pleaded with old woman. "My Lady, please! Harry has done nothing! Punish me! I went to the city. I followed them. I allowed them to capture me.
"Let them go."
The woman looked at her with disgust. "I should cast you from my home, girl. The stench of humans consumes you."
Ruby was crushed into the floor as the old woman flew backwards. Behind them, Harry and Kurumu crouched on the floor as Inner Moka entered the scene.
"Pitiful crone." The S-Class monster sneered. "So desperate to be 'special'. Did you honestly think the rest of the world would forget you magicals are basically human?"
"Be quiet, impudent brat!" The old woman hissed angrily as she struggled to her feet. "You are nothing but a creature! A barbarian!"
Moka strode towards the old woman angrily. "My family has been around for centuries. We brought civilisation to the 'barbarians'."
Moka was thrown back at a gesture from the old woman.
"UNGRATEFUL INGRATES!" She screamed. She stood, brandishing an old book. "When I have finished cleansing your stain from my land I will lead my creatures on the city and banish the humans from existence!" She raised her book and the doors to the old house burst in as hundreds of the creatures that had attacked them the previous day poured in.
Moka and Kurumu were instantly fighting and trying to keep them at bay. Even with their impressive strength and speed it was not enough.
Harry didn't think they would survive for long as he stood over Ruby, sending blasting hexes into the mob. "Ruby! How can we stop her?"
Ruby was clearly distraught and terrified. Her last parental figure had turned on her and she was about to die. But she saw Harry, Moka and Kurumu fighting against the unending horde and it gave her some hope.
"Her book." She said hoarsely. "It's her focus, like my wand."
"Moka! Get the book!" Harry shouted to the gore covered girl.
Moka didn't acknowledge him but she began to plough into the mob of creatures.
"Kurumu! Get in the air! Watch Moka's back." Harry swung his leg over his broom, pulled Ruby to sit side saddle in front of him and then shot up to the ceiling.
The ceilings were twelve-foot-high, it wasn't much but it was enough to limit the creatures to trying to leap at them as opposed to swarming over them.
Harry fired banishing curses at the creatures between Moka and the old witch. Kurumu focused on dive bombing the various creatures that leapt at Moka's back.
Ruby clung to Harry, her face buried in his neck.
Sixty seconds of carnage from the time Harry issued his orders and Moka had reached the old crone.
In an act of desperation she cast a spell that caused a major explosion, bringing the house down around them.
Ruby screamed as the ceiling caved in on them before she was silenced by the rubble.
The roar of battle was ended, only the sound of the shifting masonry could be heard, just before Moka burst angrily from the debris of the old house, she was covered in dust and her short dress was ripped, torn and barely hanging on to her by one shoulder.
She heard movement from the rubble behind her and quickly helped the struggling Kurumu from her temporary tomb.
They spent a scant second checking each other for life threatening injuries. It was a second both would deny for some time to come.
"Harry!" Kurumu gasped as she realised the boy she loved was still missing.
Moka's eyes widened and her nostrils flared as Kurumu closed her eyes in concentration.
They were both moving at the same time in the same direction. As they began pulling fallen beams aside, they spared a glance at each other. Both wondering how the other knew where to find Harry.
Moka was casually tossing rubble, wood and stone aside as though they weighed nothing. They soon came across a cowering and unhurt Ruby, although, like both Moka and Kurumu, her clothes were not holding up so well.
"Where is Harry?" Moka demanded as she hauled the witch to her feet. She mentally winced at the clear remains of Harry's crushed broomstick. He had told Outer Moka how it was a gift from his godfather.
Ruby looked around in confusion. "He was right here… he shielded me with his body."
"Moka! What's the big idea, throwing me like that?"
All three girls turned to see Harry stomping towards them.
A Harry made of stone.
"Harry… you're stone again… like when the snakes bit you." Kurumu said hesitantly.
Harry looked at his hands… sure, he was made of stone… not as big a deal as him standing there in only his boxers.
Stone hands quickly moved to cover stone privates. He glared at Moka. "I think I've been patient long enough. I want to know what is happening to me."
Unfortunately, Moka wasn't listening. She was too busy drinking in every inch of Harry's nearly naked figure. He was so smooth and his figure, whilst not bulging with muscles, was well defined.
"Moka!" Harry barked. He did a quick bit of conjuration for some new clothes.
"Aww."
Harry looked incredulously between all three disappointed girls.
Anything further on the subject of Harry, his ability to turn to stone or his reluctant nudity, was put on hold by the sound of something massive emerging from the rubble twenty feet away.
At first it looked like the crushed monsters were emerging from the rubble like they had. Except, they were congealed together and gaining height and mass.
In the centre of the mass was the old woman. Vines were running into her body through her skin.
"Why won't this bitch die?" Moka snarled as she turned and stomped towards the massive monster.
"Oh no… My Lady." Ruby quietly mourned. "She has gone too far. Only the most powerful of witches can end The Merge and not die."
"Ruby, she wasn't going to live very long anyway. Not after what she did to Harry." Kurumu declared before she flew off to aid Moka.
Ruby, despite having just been the victim of attempted murder, was still torn by her loyalty to the woman who raised her. She watched as Moka and Kurumu worked together to try and beat the abomination that was once her surrogate mother.
"They aren't winning."
She turned to see Harry frowning as he observed the battle. She also saw that he was no longer stone.
"M… My Lady was always exceptionally powerful." Ruby admitted. "She told me she had used many rituals to increase her power so she could protect her land. She used some on me."
"Does she have a weakness?" Harry asked, never looking away from the fight.
"Her grimoire… her spell book." She held her half-staff wand close to her chest. "Every witch needs her magical object."
Harry just shrugged. "If you say so." He raised he hands and focused as he shouted. "ACCIO BOOK!"
There was a sudden change in the battle before them. The monster faltered before falling to its knees.
Ruby was shocked as she saw the familiar tome fly to Harry's hands. It took Harry's hand on her shoulder to realise he was talking to her.
"Can you do it, Ruby? If I can't talk her down you need to set me on fire."
She blinked, her eyes widening. "No! I couldn't!"
"Relax, the fire won't hurt me. I'm just not sure if I can set myself on fire."
She stood there, her head shaking, though she didn't really know it.
"Ok, I'll try and figure something out." Harry assured her. "Do you want to come?"
She took a second before she realised what Harry was asking. But she grabbed his hand, surprising him before he led her to the creature that was once her adopted mother.
"Stand down or die." Harry ordered loudly. He found it slightly curious that Moka stepped back to let him handle it.
The old woman was coughing up blood on her hands and knees. "Is this how you repay me, Ruby?" She demanded hoarsely as blood dribbled down her chin. "I take you in. Raise you as my ow-"
"Shut up!" Harry said with heat. "You were the one about to kill her. Now shut the hell up or we'll kill you. I've done it before… I hate it, but I will do it again if that's what it takes to live."
The woman chuckled weakly. "You lie poorly, boy. You don't have what it takes to be a killer."
There was a horrible tearing and wrenching and Harry and Ruby could only watch in horror as Kurumu pulled the old woman's head clean off her body.
She looked enraged. Her beauty, far from diminished, made her seem like a dark goddess of battle. "Old, ugly, bitch." She spat. "Harry killed to protect us. Harry died to protect us. Killing scum like you is the least I can do."
She began kicking the corpse, sending blood everywhere.
Harry pried his hand from Ruby's and quickly moved forward to pull the succubus into a tight hug. She slowly calmed and began to cry, her face buried in Harry's chest.
Harry nodded gratefully to Moka as she led the horrified Ruby away.
Harry and Kurumu stood there for nearly five minutes before she calmed enough to talk.
"I really do love you, Harry." She sniffed into his chest. "At first I just wanted you so I could make Moka jealous. But I want you. I want you to love me."
Harry didn't know how to respond to that. He just stood there, trying not to tense with the beautiful succubus in his arms.
"But I can't really love you properly." She continued. "I can never kiss you because if I do… you'll become my slave… you won't love me, you'll just… you'll be forced to love me. Not real love."
Harry still didn't know how to deal with Kurumu's declaration, but he knew enough to know she needed whatever he could give. He squeezed her tighter. "You have really become beautiful now, Kurumu." He muttered into her sky blue hair. "I don't know about love. I know attraction, though. I know I am attracted to all of you. But more importantly, I know I care for all of you. I don't know how I would survive if anything happened to you. It was hard enough when I watched Cedric die. We were barely friends, more acquaintances."
They stood there in silence for a few more minutes, just holding each other.
"Hey kids." They turned to see Gin standing there solemnly. "Nekonome-sensei sent me to check on you all. I've brought a car, we should head back to the hotel."
It was a drive that was spent in silence. A night where no one asked questions.
Harry barely slept, he could tell from the tossing and turning from the bedrooms that neither did the girls. Especially as he could hear Ruby crying.
By one in the morning he had given up on sleep. He got dressed, grabbed his backpack and headed out of the hotel.
Miss Nekonome and Gin both had their own rooms, they were surprised to find Harry missing when they knocked on the younger students' room.
"Where would he go this early?" Gin wondered.
"I don't know. We were all very tired last night." Outer Moka said quietly. "Inner Moka didn't even ask to drink his blood."
It was a very poorly kept secret that Inner Moka was as addicted to Harry's blood as Outer Moka.
"I think he's gone back to the Witch's Hill."
They turned to see a subdued Kurumu staring out the window.
"I can feel him."
It was going to be a tight squeeze to try and fit six people in the small rental car that Miss Nekonome had acquired. Fortunately, Keiko and Yui turned up and they easily split into two groups.
Gin was nearly manhandled into the boot of one of the cars as he started hitting on Ruby, and the two humans.
As it was, he travelled with Miss Nekonome and Yukari.
When they arrived and parked near the foot of the hill, they soon found themselves following Kurumu as she seemed to trudge mindlessly in a specific direction.
They came upon Harry, sitting amongst the rubble of the old house, he was carving on a large stone using magic.
"Harry-kun, what are you doing?" Miss Nekonome asked as they cautiously approached.
"Nearly finished, Nekonome-sensei." Harry said, not looking up.
"Oh…" The group turned to see Moka staring at a large tombstone resting against one of the larger parts of a demolished wall.
Ruby gasped as she saw it.
It read:
'In Memorium.
My Lady, My Mother.'
"She took care of you and loved you for a long time." They jumped at the sound of Harry's voice. "It's probably better to remember her this way. We can change it if you want."
Ruby shook her head as she silently cried. "It is perfect."
Harry nodded then raised his hand and levitated the tombstone over to an area away from the house. He set it on the ground along with the stone he had been carving on when they arrived.
He held his hand out, fingers splayed, palm down. There was a tearing sound and the others all stepped back in shock as a massive pillar emerged from the ground.
It was maybe ten feet square, but it rose to over twelve before it seemed to stop, then they noticed that the pillar had disconnected from the ground and was hovering four feet over the twelve foot deep hole.
"Gin, can you toss that stone in, please." Harry was clearly straining as he held the pillar in the air. "Yukari, please levitate the body in after it."
It took a nudge from Miss Nekonome to get the young witch moving, but she was still in awe at what Harry was managing.
It was Ruby who stepped up and handled the remains of the woman she had considered her mother. Harry had wrapped them in white sheets, like a cocoon.
Eventually Harry began to release the large pillar back into the ground, sealing the rock and the corpse away.
The last thing Harry did was levitate the tombstone into place. "We'll give you a few moments." He told Ruby as he walked past.
When they were a few meters away, Yukari turned to Harry. "How did you do that? I can't think of any spells that would let you lift what must have been at least a ton of rock."
Harry just shrugged. "I've been focusing on this 'Elemental' thing. Last night I turned to stone again. I turned into air when Ririko-sensei attacked me."
"And now you can just lift a ton of rock like it's paper?" Gin asked disbelievingly.
"That took a lot of effort. I used magic to levitate it. But I think I used this elemental stuff to separate the chunk."
"Harry-kun, what was the stone you were carving?" Keiko asked.
"All of these problems started because humans wanted to build on this land." He began. "But the land was owned, even if it wasn't registered. I told Ruby that this could all be sorted if the land was warded. So that is what I did. I spent the morning placing ward stones. The one Gin dropped in the hole was the central one and will provide the power for the wards. I did some investigating with my books and discovered there is a ley line on that spot. A 'natural convergence of magic'." He quoted.
"The academy is built over one." Miss Nekonome confirmed.
"Harry-san…" The group turned to see a subdued and red-eyed Ruby standing there, bowing. "Thank you for all you have done."
"You're welcome Ruby-san." Harry returned the bow. "Do you know what you will do now?"
Her voice was taut as she tried to remain calm. "I do not know. My Lady is dead. My home is destroyed."
"You can stay with us, at least until school starts again." Harry assured her.
The witch bowed very low. "I- I owe you everything, Harry-san."
Harry stepped forward and pulled her up and into a hug. It was very awkward for him as he didn't usually hug. Kurumu and Moka tended to just jump on him and not let go.
"I do not know much about Elementals beyond the myths and legends. Many are centuries old."
Harry was walking down a sandy beach in long baggy shorts whilst Inner Moka walked next to him. She was wearing a pure white, one-piece swimsuit. She was carrying a white parasol to keep the bright sun off her sensitive skin.
"The legends speak of beings that could manipulate the air, the ground and fire. There are some small references to water users as well."
"I think I can manipulate water." Harry said thoughtfully. "Something happened when the swim club attacked us, I don't know what though."
Moka just nodded.
"But why the secrecy?" Harry continued. "Is it because you'd be considered crazy if you said you saw one? Like humans and Bigfoot?"
Moka snorted. It wasn't as derisive as it usually was. She was smiling slightly. "Elementals are recorded as some of the oldest and most powerful monsters.
"Though calling them 'monsters' is not accurate. It would be fair to categorise them independently. Humans, witches, monsters and elementals." She explained.
"I'm still not seeing much of a difference between humans and magicals." Harry frowned. "My mum was born to humans. So was my best friend."
Moka nodded. "There is a link between all categories. But as much as there is a link, there is more of a difference. It is not just about fear, power and hate. There is more to it, but it will take many years living in the monster world before you are able to see it."
"Ok… so back to the secrecy around elementals." Harry redirected the conversation.
She gave a little huff of irritation. "Must I lead you by the hand? What is the very basis of the monster wor- urk!"
Moka was suddenly on her back with Harry's right hand around her throat. His left was being held firmly against her stomach… she could feel the sting of water.
"Power. I have not forgotten." Harry said with almost complete emotional detachment. "You however, seem to have forgotten your manners."
There was a rush of wind and she was hoisted back to her feet. Harry was standing there with her white parasol waiting for her as though nothing had happened.
"How did you move so fast?" She demanded as she snatched the parasol back.
"When you can ask more politely, I may answer." Harry retorted. "Now, you were about to explain the secrecy around elementals."
"You still haven't figured it out?" She asked heatedly. She held up her hands to stop his biting comeback. "You just took me down. I am an S-Class monster. I am born of powerful vampire lines. But you just tossed me on my back like I was a human child.
"Do you really think the other powerful monsters would want others to know there was a more powerful being than them?"
Harry gave a little growl of frustration before he resumed his stroll. Moka soon joined him.
He wasn't going to tell the stuck up vampire that he had used magic to take her down. The only bit of elemental power he thought he used was turning his hand to water.
It was one of the things he had made sure to take advantage of whilst being at the beach. He could try and connect with the water.
"Fear… I've experienced both fear and the effects it has on others." Harry grumbled darkly. "If people fear you they turn on you and attack you."
"Then you have never used fear properly." Moka said dismissively. "Fear keeps foolish weaklings from bothering you. It stops those who might have the strength to challenge you, from trying."
"No, it delays it." Harry argued. "They just bide their time until they get allies, or stronger, or you get weaker."
"Whatever. At least it seems you have grasped the dangers surrounding your new situation. If the ruling monsters discovered an elemental was alive, they would join together to put you down."
"Just because I exist?"
"Yes. You are a potential threat to their powerbase."
"But didn't you tell your father about me?"
"No. Outer Moka and I both agree that you pose no threat unless threatened."
There was a few moments of silence as they walked.
"Thank you, for not informing anyone of this." Harry said quietly.
Moka didn't bother responding, she just continued to walk next to him.
"Are there any reference books on elementals? For training?" He eventually asked.
"Unlikely. I only know what I do because I read it in my father's library. I had to make subtle enquires after the battle with Kuyou. I thought that everyone knew about elementals but that nobody talked about it. My father was furious when I told him I was reading those books and wanted him to send me them."
"Should I assume that your father would instantly try to kill me if he finds out what I am?"
Moka was thoughtful for a moment. "That would depend on whether he knows how much control you have. If he is smart, he will gather his allies to take you on."
"I've been thinking about it, the only thing I think that could truly stop an elemental, is magic." Harry mused. "I can literally turn into air, physical attacks would be useless.
"It would be like fighting Kuyou again."
Moka stopped and turned to face Harry, closing her parasol. "In the meantime, I suggest you do not use your powers unless you intend to kill your opponent. Secrecy is your best protection."
Without warning she stepped towards Harry and wrapped her arms around him, sniffing and nuzzling his neck.
Harry had little warning before she began drinking.
As she finished and stepped away, she smirked. "I wonder how easy my fights would be if I was to drink your blood before hand?" She wondered as she clipped her rosary back on her neck.
Harry was grateful he had used Moka's parasol and enchanted it to produce a small ten foot radius notice-me-not charm.
No one noticed the sexy, statuesque, white-haired Moka revert to the slightly smaller, cuter, pink-haired Moka.
Moka frowned as she licked her lips. Then she beamed happily as she caught the little dribble of blood. "That was sweet of Inner. She left a taste for me." She declared as she set her parasol on her left shoulder and latched onto Harry's arm with her right arm.
"Wish she'd left a bit for me." Harry mumbled.
"Pardon?"
"I need to get something to eat and drink." Harry responded.
A week at the beach seemed to be just what they all needed. Harry simply enjoyed lying down and reading. He was occasionally tempted into a game of volleyball with the girls and Gin.
Gin seemed to have a near pathological need to stare at beautiful girls. If it wasn't Moka, Kurumu, Ruby, Keiko or Yui, it was the various human girls enjoying the beach.
Yukari didn't seem to garner his attention in the same way and Miss Nekonome seemed to have earned enough of his respect to not ogle her.
Still, Harry had enlisted his teacher and Yui to keep an eye on the womaniser. He cast a form of magical parental leash on the dog boy so they wouldn't lose him.
Gin didn't mind that, as long as he still got to look.
Keiko and Yukari seemed to be attempting to help Ruby. Yukari had asked Hedwig to deliver a letter to her parents so she had help in the magical world. Keiko was answering any questions about the human world she could.
Moka and Kurumu joined Harry, relaxing in the sun. Kurumu spent most of that time trying to convince Harry to rub lotion on her.
Moka spent that same time trying to convince Kurumu to keep her top on.
Now it was time to return to school.
Ruby was coming with them as Miss Nekonome had managed to arrange some sort of minor employment for the witch at the academy.
They said goodbye to Keiko and Yui after the pair had extracted promises that they would write and come visit again.
There had been some debate and negotiation about making sure Gin wasn't there, but… beggars can't be choosers.
And Yui was certainly begging their teacher. She looked like she was about to cry as the bus pulled away, taking her beloved cat-girl away.