Moka's preferred method of cooling Harry off would have involved a hot and heavy make-out session. But she refused to do that with Inner Moka forbidden from emerging.
Instead she took Harry to the lake and they practiced their martial arts.
That evening Harry was summoned to the Chairman's office.
"Take a vacation Harry."
Harry blinked. "It's the middle of the school year."
"Normally I would not permit it, but, I fear you need to spend time amongst the humans. I admire your handling of Shuzen Issa, but… I approved your position as the head of the School Protection Committee because of your human nature.
"I also do not believe you have come to terms with your recent brush with death."
"I don't even know what that would take." Harry said uncomfortably. "Do you know?" He asked curiously. "Is it possible for you to die?"
"Anything is possible. And yes, I have come close."
Harry knew he had pushed things further than he should, despite the generous response of the Chairman.
"Chairman-sama, the man, Fujisaki, can you tell me anything? His species, a weakness, a way to detect him?"
The Chairman sighed tiredly. "I understand your frustration, Harry-chan." Harry was surprised by the personal manner of address, but said nothing. "There are only a handful that have been told of what was in your memories. Those few instantly understood the gravity of the situation.
"Keeping this knowledge from you is not a matter of trust. It is a matter of security. Telling you this much, acknowledging you even know of him… it is a risk.
"A risk too great.
"I will tell you this, though it will mean nothing to you. Fujisaki is not his name.
"Should you face him again… run.
"If you cannot run… your only hope is to contain him. But I doubt you could do so, even with your nature."
The Chairman opened a draw on his desk, he placed a long leather whip on the desk. "Do you know what this is?"
"The Belmont Whip?" Harry frowned. He had come across mentions of it when researching the various Yōkai that might be at the academy.
"Good, good." The Chairman nodded approvingly. "The Belmont is a powerful weapon, it has a very unique ability. It can negate magical properties."
"It would affect my abilities?" Harry asked.
"Possibly your magic." The Chairman allowed. "But your other traits are not magical.
"However… I am giving you this as a gift."
Harry was clearly shocked.
"You have achieved much in less than two years, Harry-chan. But this gift is not just for you. Moka-chan is dear to me. She lived with me when her powers were sealed.
"She is much like her mother, one of my greatest friends.
"Your relationship with Granger-san reminds me of old times with Bloodriver Akasha."
Harry could hear the tone of fond reminiscence.
The Chairman turned serious and sat forward. "It is a crime to keep the true Moka confined. It is also dangerous as you have seen what happens to those who are treated badly.
"Moka's seal must not be removed. But, this… Belmont, so long as she holds it, Inner Moka can be free."
Harry stood and bowed low. "Thank you Chairman-sama. This will mean everything to Moka, both of them."
"My orders still stand." The Chairman warned. "Moka must not be left alone. It is not a matter of trust, it is a matter of safety.
"If you encounter Fujisaki and Moka is with you, flee. Use everything you have and run. Return to the Academy, you will be safe here."
Harry marched into the living room of the SPC building, pulled Moka from the sofa where she was sat between Yukari and Kurumu, and kissed her deeply.
"I really hope he didn't do something to piss her off." Keito sighed as she went back to her assigned reading for class.
"I hope he pisses me off more often if that's how he says sorry." Mizore sighed.
"Erm… guys." Yukari was staring at the pair with wide eyes. "Moka's changing."
The others were on their feet as they saw pink hair slowly change to white.
Harry broke the kiss and stared into the red eyes of Inner Moka. "A gift from the Chairman." He said as he held her hand, the whip clasped between them.
"The Belmont." Moka whispered in awe. Something they'd never heard from Inner Moka.
"He said you couldn't take your rosary off but that the whip could let you out."
"No more chaperones." She grinned, her fangs clearly on display.
Harry shook his head. "They still stay. He still wouldn't tell me anything, but if we ever see Fujisaki again… we run."
Moka scowled. "I am a vampire. I do not run."
"Remember the conversation we had with your father." Harry warned.
"Death is better than cowardice." She sneered, although it was not directed at him.
"Cowardice would be if someone as powerful as the Chairman decided to fight you. It would be like Kokoa trying to kill an ant with her bat as that massive hammer.
"If the Chairman decided to fight your father, that would not be cowardice."
Harry was unaware that the red haired vampire was currently being smothered by ice and webbing as Keito and Mizore tried to prevent her from attacking her beloved sister.
Harry gave Moka a smile as he kissed her softly. He then turned to the others.
He raised an eyebrow at the steaming and bound Kokoa, but then turned his attention to Keito. "I need a favour."
Keito sighed. "I'm guessing it doesn't involve you tying me to the bed?"
Harry smiled, he enjoyed the teasing these days. He was pleased to notice that even Hermione seemed to be supressing a smirk.
"No, but I will try and make it up to you. The Headmaster is insisting that I take a vacation. He wants me gone now. I need you to stay and run the SPC until I get back."
"You're not taking me with you?" She looked hurt.
"I need someone I can trust here. Besides, Shizuka and Ririko won't be coming. They have classes to attend to."
"Who will be going with you, Harry?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I don't know. I would think that Moka and Yukari could handle the lack of classes."
"You aren't leaving me." Kurumu glared.
"Well I wasn't planning on making frequent trips back here to take care of your needs." He teased her.
"I'm coming too." Mizore said firmly.
"You should take Ruby as well." Hermione suggested. "She would be hurt if you left her behind and she is very skilled as a witch."
"It's a vacation, Hermione. I'm not making an attack on an enemy."
Keito snorted. "I'm sure you'll find some way to get into trouble. I'll talk to Ririko and have her send Mako with you."
Harry looked around and frowned. "Where is Ruby?"
"She's just… hanging around." The spider-woman smirked. "She'd be thrilled if you went down and kept her company until Ririko finishes for the day."
As was usually the case with the travelling on the school bus, the trip was quick. They soon arrived on the island of Okinawa.
"I'm going to melt." Mizore moaned as she saw the hundreds of half-naked people on the beach and surrounding area.
"At least you can go in the water to cool off. We can't even paddle." Kokoa grumbled.
"Why did you come with us?" Kurumu asked pointedly.
Kokoa scowled and refused to meet her eyes. She wasn't exactly invited, but she wanted to be with her sister. If nothing else, Harry thought she might be a good distraction for Yukari as the pair were developing a good friendship.
Not that Kokoa would admit that.
"Harry-chan!"
They turned to see Keiko running up to them in a bikini top and very short ripped jean-shorts. She grabbed Harry in a hug. "I'm so glad you called. I need a break from job searching." The recently graduated woman grinned.
"I'm just glad you weren't busy." Harry smiled back. "Oh, this is Kokoa, Moka's little sister."
Kokoa simply glared at her in a scrutinising manner. "You're the human my sister decided to save."
Keiko looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow.
Harry shrugged. "They have different mothers."
Keiko just laughed as she turned to hug the other girls.
"Well, Yui will be here for the weekend. I got us a couple of rooms at the best hotel. I only got two rooms so… I'm guessing Kokoa-chan and Yukari-chan will be with me?"
"I'm staying with Moka." Kokoa said defiantly.
"It'll be fine, Keiko."
"Ok, but remember where you are." She turned and fixed Kokoa with a stern look. "Especially you. I haven't seen Mizore-chan in the human world, but I know the others can stay out of trouble."
"Come on Kokoa, let's go look around." Yukari suggested as she grabbed her hand and dragged her off.
They could hear the vampire's protests fading as they headed down the path next to the beach.
"She's one of you, right Moka?" Keiko asked the pink-haired vampire.
"She is… but she isn't… restrained." She fiddled with her rosary meaningfully.
Keiko nodded before she started explaining the attractions nearby that they could entertain themselves with. Harry was a bit uncomfortable when he heard that there were a lot of American soldiers around.
He knew there was an entire ocean between England and America, but they both spoke English and… it was enough for him to avoid the areas they might frequent.
Keiko was less than five minutes into her tourist spiel when Hedwig plummeted out of the sky and landed on Harry's shoulder.
"Master! Yukari and Kokoa were stolen by large human men!" Lilith hissed in his ear.
Harry pulled the pocket on the front of his t-shirt open. "Hop in."
The spirit was covered in notice-me-not charms, but it wasn't wise to risk exposing her.
"Can you tell us anything else?" Harry asked as the others gathered closer.
"They had lots of tattoos and those guns from the movies."
"But they didn't fire them?" Kurumu asked.
"No, they used them to threaten them."
"I wonder why your sister didn't just beat them up?" Keiko said.
"Because monsters aren't permitted to harm humans in the human world." They jumped at the intrusion of the Bus Driver. "So, do that and you're out of the school and in prison."
"Oh also, they hit Kokoa and Yukari over the head and they fell asleep." Lilith added.
"Guess that's another reason." The Bus Driver shrugged.
"Alright, looks like it is up to me and Ruby." Harry sighed.
"What? Why?" Moka demanded.
"I really doubt that whatever government is in charge of the monster world is going to want to fight the magical world for jurisdiction." Harry smirked. "And I intend to cast a lot of spells."
As usual, finding the girls wasn't hard. They just followed the perpetual tracking charm that each of the harem members and Harry used.
They arrived at a large, luxury apartment complex.
"Should we knock on the door?" Ruby asked nervously.
"Ruby, based on the direction the tracking charm is pulling, they are on the top floor. I have no intention of walking all those stairs."
"What if they have an elevator?"
"Ruby, humans have kidnapped a young witch. If the Japanese Ministry finds out, they will kill everyone involved and wipe the minds of anyone who might have witnessed something."
"Oh… do you have a plan?"
"Bust in through the ceiling, you shield the girls and I'll deal with everyone else."
For a witch or wizard of Harry and Ruby's calibre, breaking through the roof and ceiling of the penthouse apartment was easy.
Had this been a magical residence there would have been a lot more effort and forethought needed due to wards.
Harry and Ruby had quickly dropped into the room, using the dust, debris, chaos and confusion as cover. Ruby shielded the girls on the sofa with a magical shield and her wings whilst Harry sent petrifying curses at everyone else.
"Clear." Harry said loudly.
Ruby dropped her shield and cast cleaning charms on the girls and repaired the ceiling.
Harry carefully gathered up all the weapons and placed them on the coffee table in the middle of the three couches where Yukari and Kokoa had been sat.
One man in a suit had been sat on another couch and the last was occupied by fat man in a white suit, he wore no tie but had a colourful shirt.
What concerned Harry was the girl in a flowery dress, somewhere between Yukari and Kokoa's age, very uncomfortable, and frozen with the man's arm around her.
Harry hadn't discriminated when he petrified everyone but the girls with the tracking charms.
He released the petrifying hex on the girl and she immediately scooted down the couch away from the man.
"Hi, I'm Potter Harry. Those two are my friends." He indicated the little witch and vampire. "Were you kidnapped with them."
She nodded her head, fear in her eyes.
"She was asking us for help, Harry." Yukari spoke up. "She stopped us and… I don't think she can speak, but she knew she was being hunted.
"I want to kill these bastards." Kokoa was storming. "Cowardly humans that attacked from behind."
"They are going to die, Kokoa-chan." Harry assured her. "But not until they have told us everything they know."
He felt a tug on his wrist and saw the small girl in the dress holding a large notepad.
'Please don't kill them.' It said.
"If I don't, the magical government will. You are a Yōkai, aren't you?"
The girl was wide-eyed with shock but she nodded.
"Yukari is a witch. Kokoa is a vampire. I'm a wizard. Oh, and that's Ruby, also a witch."
Said witch smiled and waved at the girl.
"If I don't deal with this, the Japanese magicals will come in and kill them anyway. Then they will kill or wipe the minds of anyone who witnessed what happened."
She began writing on the notepad. 'Isn't there another way?'
Harry gave her a sad smile and nodded. "Sure, these men could have chosen not to be evil, not to kidnap young girls.
"Actions have consequences. If I was able to have them dealt with by human authorities, they would be charged and imprisoned… quite a few would be mutilated and killed. Brutally killed.
"I intend to make it as painless as possible."
The girl just looked down in resignation.
"Ruby, take the girls over there and check them for injuries. See if there is something to eat or drink."
Ruby stepped forward and offered her hand to the girl, who took it, still unsure.
Once he was relatively alone he released the hex on the fat man.
"You are going to die boy. I'll make it last a long time as you watch your girls are passed around my men." The man sneered.
"Imperio". Harry wasn't going to waste his time. "Why did you kidnap the girl that was sitting next to you?"
"We were hired by an organisation called Fairy Tale. They wanted the girl. They said she had some sort of power."
Harry scowled. He was supposed to be on vacation to get away from this crap.
Harry looked around the room and saw a notepad by the telephone. He grabbed it and the pen and tossed it at the fat man. "Write down the details of every account you have including all the passwords and details needed to access them and change them.
"Then write down the details you know about Fairy Tale, who they are, who contacted you, where they are based, all that stuff.
"Finally, write down the names of everyone in this room and then the names and addresses that you know of all your gang members as well as any buildings you own or use."
Harry stood and moved to the window, vanishing the glass. Seconds later Hedwig and Lilith swooped in.
"I need you to go straight to Moka. Tell her Fairy Tale is involved. We are currently safe but, they need to be on guard. Give her this, it is a portkey that will bring her and the others straight here." He pulled a piece of string from around his forearm, something he had taken to doing since he often needed objects to turn into portkeys and the string was easy for them to carry, especially Lilith and Hedwig.
"Yes Master." Lilith nodded as Hedwig hopped so she was facing the window, wings stretched as she waited for her co-pilot to grab on to her back feathers.
Harry turned to the girls who were seated at a bar built into the apartment. "We're dealing with Fairy Tale." He scowled.
"Should we leave?" Yukari asked worriedly.
Even Kokoa was concerned at the news.
"Not yet. The fat man is writing down everything he knows." He turned to the new girl and smiled. "So, what's your name?"
'Otonashi San. Nice to meet you.' She wrote before turning the page. 'Thank you for saving me.'
"Happy to be of use." He inclined his head. "So what type of Yōkai are you?"
'I can't say.' She looked at him sadly.
"Is it part of why you don't talk? You do have a voice, yes?"
'Yes.'
"Oh, my parents don't talk either." Yukari smiled. "One day I might have to stop talking."
"How I long for the day." Came the long suffering voice of Kurumu.
They turned to see the others had arrived. What was surprising was the addition of Keiko, Gin and Shizuka.
"What are you doing here?" Harry frowned at the two new monsters.
"The Headmaster suggested you might need an adult presence." Shizuka smirked as she stepped up and kissed him. "Hello San-chan." She smiled at the girl.
"You know each other?" Yukari asked.
"Of course. She graduated a few years ago. She was the President of the Newspaper Club before Gin."
"Yeah." The werewolf nodded. "Her leaving was the only reason Kuyou attacked. He never would have gone up against San-chan."
San looked distraught at the news.
"Don't worry, Kuyou isn't a problem anymore." Shizuka patted her hand.
"Is there a reason these fools still live?" Moka demanded. Inner Moka was out, she had taken great pleasure in teasing Harry by showing him how she had decided to wrap Belmont around her upper thigh when she wanted to be out. "They did kidnap my sister, after all."
"I'm just waiting for their boss to write down all useful information. Feel free to have a drink if you want. I was thinking Keito might want one or two for her cluster."
Moka grimaced. "Eurgh. I will only ever choose to drink your blood. Unless we are in battle or you are unavailable."
"Well, as you know San, Shizuka, why don't you and Gin take the others and get her home. I'll join you once I'm done here."
"I'm staying." Kurumu declared.
"Likewise." Moka added.
"Ok, but the rest of you go with Shizuka. I don't want us going about alone if Fairy Tale is about."
"Shouldn't we split up evenly?" Yukari asked.
"No, Moka and Kurumu are two of our most powerful. I can provide a quick getaway.
"Is the Bus Driver still here?"
"He left to inform the Headmaster about Fairy Tale." Gin answered.
Most of the group headed off to escort San home. The fat man soon finished his list. Harry stunned them all whilst he sent Moka to pull the fire alarm. He then turned the cooker gas on and lit a piece of paper on fire that he left near the door to the kitchenette.
Lastly, he obliviated the men of everything. Even if they survived, they'd be less than new born babies, mentally.
Harry held Moka in his arms as he and Kurumu floated high in the sky under disillusionment charms. Harry had his griffon wings out as Ruby had taught him, they easily dwarfed them all and would have cast a shadow if they had been visible.
"There it goes." Harry said gravely as they saw the windows explode out on the top floor. The people who had been evacuated were running from the area as fire, glass, wood, stone and metal rained down. The fire fighters were instantly in action.
"Come on, Harry." Moka gave him a sad smile as she kissed him. "We've still got a vacation to enjoy."
It was dark when they reached the inn where San lived. They were surprised by what they were seeing as they landed on the beach out back.
San was being physically harassed by a weedy looking man in black trousers and a white vest.
Harry made them visible, grabbed the man by the face with one hand and slammed him into the ground. "Kurumu… I want Gin out here now."
The succubus was quickly gone.
Harry felt the gentle hand on his shoulder and saw the notepad in his peripheral vision.
'Please don't hurt him.'
"You have to learn stand against these people. Him and others like him need to see that they can't get away with this crap." Beneath Harry's hand the man was struggling, clawing at Harry's wrist.
"What are you doing to my staff?"
Harry saw Gin had arrived with Shizuka and a new lady.
"Preventing him from hurting Otonashi-san." Harry said blandly. "Should I call the police and have you investigated as well?"
"San, is this true?" The woman quickly moved to the girl and checked her over.
San refused to meet her eyes.
"We saw him physically harassing her." Outer Moka scowled. She had stowed Belmont in a magically expanded pouch strapped to her leg under her dress.
The woman stormed over to Harry and his prisoner. "Let him up." She sneered at the man on the floor.
Harry released the man and stood.
"What the hell!"
"You're fired. Get out and don't ever come back." The woman snarled angrily. "You know San was kidnapped by Yakuza today and yet you still treat her like that? LEAVE!" She screamed.
"You can't just-"
"Do you know who I am?" Harry asked as he pushed the man so he stumbled away from the woman and towards the sea. "I'm the one who rescued San and my friends, who were kidnapped with her. Start running, or I'll give you a demonstration of what I did to the Yakuza scum that tried to take my friends."
Harry shoved the man hard so that he went falling back to land on his butt.
He would have tried to take on the kid, but he saw the older male that had brought San back to the Inn holding a large sword.
He scrambled to his feet and ran.
"San, is there anyone else I need to deal with?" Harry asked the seemingly young girl. He was surprised when she ran up and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest.
"San hates fighting." Gin said quietly. "When I first started at Yōkai, I picked fights with everyone to prove I was the best.
"San wanted me to stop. When I refused, she challenged me.
"I never won." Gin said with a smile.
"I'm sorry San." The lady stepped up and pulled her from Harry into a hug. "I didn't know he would be violent."
"This is Kawamoto-san." Shizuka explained as she sidled up to Harry. "She owns the inn and restaurant."
"For now, at least." The lady sighed. "And call me Marin."
"You're selling?" Harry asked as he noticed the look of distraught on San's face.
"We simply aren't making enough of a profit." She rested her forehead on San's. "It's my fault. I never pulled myself together after my husband died." She kissed San's head, released her and stumbled back into the inn.
'I think her husband was killed by a monster.' San wrote. 'Please don't let her know what we are.' She pleaded.
"I doubt that will be a problem." Harry assured her.
San looked to Harry's left and the poorly disguised Nekomusume.
Harry followed her gaze. "Humans won't notice. I put a spell on Shizuka, she has very bad control over her monster form." He grinned.
"Keiko, would you go with San and purchase us some rooms? It's late and I can't be bothered to go find this hotel."
Keiko chuckled at Harry's attempt to rationalise spending money on San's home.
Harry walked through the silent halls of the inn as he made his way to the outdoor eating area. It was one in the morning and he couldn't sleep.
The girls hadn't been able to wear him out, it had been a little difficult to stay in the mood when Kokoa nearly kicked in the door and yelled at them for the noise.
He had never needed silencing charms for that before.
But Harry was still wound up after what he had done earlier in the day. He had killed- murdered all those men.
Some days Harry wished he had been raised in the monster world, maybe then he wouldn't be hounded by his conscience.
Harry frowned as he saw a lone figure sitting at one of the tables, hunched over and sobbing.
He moved over, making enough noise to alert her but not scare her.
Kawamoto Marin was shocked to see anyone. She bowed quickly. "Forgive me. I didn't mean for-"
Harry stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her, pushing her head onto his chest. She stiffened in his arms but didn't fight.
"I know loss." He said softly. "I'm an orphan. I remember the night my parents were murdered. My mother, pleading for my life.
"Not too long ago I watched a friend murdered in front of me by the same person who betrayed my parents and facilitated their murder.
"So… yeah. I get the pain." Harry just stood there, holding her.
And then she started to sob again.
It was ten minutes later and she was exhausted. Harry helped her into a chair and took one himself.
There was a clink as a tray of two glassed of water were placed on the table.
Harry smiled as Mako silently bowed and walked away, she was currently wearing a kimono.
"She won't say anything." Harry assured Marin. "She… she serves my family."
"Are you really sleeping with all those girls?" She slammed her hand over her mouth. She couldn't believe she had asked that.
"And I am only sixteen." Harry smiled. "It is very complicated."
"And… it's… legal?" She didn't want to ask, but she had a civic responsibility.
"Sort of. It's more that our situation isn't covered by the normal laws of Japan."
"It does sound interesting." She admitted as she sipped her water. "Almost as interesting as a teenage boy taking on a Yakuza gang." She smirked.
"An unfortunate result of my upbringing. The man who murdered my parents… he was after me for years after their deaths. I had to learn to defend myself."
Marin looked guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Don't worry about it. I was one when they died. My only regret is that the only thing I remember about them is their deaths."
"I struggle to remember anything beyond the sight of my husband's b-body and that m-monster."
"Did the police catch him?"
She shook her head. "They refused to accept my statement. They thought I was guilty at first."
"Why?" Harry frowned.
"Because I told them the murderer was eating my husband and that he had wings."
"Wings?"
"Like an angel's wings." She nodded.
"What convinced the police it wasn't you?" He asked curiously.
"They couldn't match my dental work to those they found on… to those they found." She couldn't finish the thought.
"I wonder what kind of monster he was."
Harry watched her carefully as her eyes locked onto his. He was about to take a big risk.
"I haven't met any monsters or 'Yōkai' with wings like an angel. Kurumu is a succubus, her wings are black and bat like.
"Ruby is a witch, but she can make crow wings.
"I'm a wizard, I can make griffin wings. I'd show you but, there isn't enough room." He said as he cast a transfiguration on his glass, turning it into an adorable black and white kitten.
Marin swallowed hard. "What is San?" She tried to ask neutrally.
"A girl who loves you like a mother." Harry smiled at her. "A girl who doesn't want to lose you."
Marin closed her eyes, her lips tight as she tried to cope.
Harry just waited.
Marin jumped as the kitten fell onto her lap. It couldn't be more than a month or two old.
"For every evil, there is good. I don't know what evil ruined your life that day, but I will be looking into it. Especially for one who would take in a strange girl who couldn't speak."
Marin began to cry softly, the kitten, subtly compelled to comfort her by Harry's creation, tried to climb her chest to butt its head against hers.
Marin picked it up and held it against her cheek.
Ten minutes later and she had fallen asleep, the kitten held against her neck.
Harry cast a mild sleep charm so she wouldn't be disturbed as he carried her to his room. He could feel Mako fall into step behind him.
"Would you like me to change her for bed, Master?" She asked quietly.
Harry waited outside her room until Mako opened the door to reveal Marin now curled up in bed, the kitten tucked under her chin. He removed the sleeping charm before conjuring a sleeping mat in the corner. He was surprised when Mako removed her kimono and curled into him in just her bra and panties, but he sighed and wrapped an arm around her and tried to sleep.
Harry groggily opened his eyes as he was gently shaken awake. He looked up to see Marin looking down at him with concern.
"Sorry, I thought I'd be up before you." He said as Mako yawned and stretched.
"Why are you in my room?" She demanded quietly.
"I just wanted to make sure you knew last night was real. But… I think you already do." He smirked as he noticed the kitten sitting on her shoulder.
She blushed slightly but then huffed. "What am I supposed to do now?" She asked as she sat down on her bed. "How am I supposed to face San and not treat her differently?"
"Mako, can you go and let the others know I'm fine. Don't tell them about what happened last night. Just tell them I fell asleep after my walk."
"Yes Master." The monstrel nodded as she headed for the door.
"Mako… clothes?"
"Of course Master." She said as she quickly grabbed them and bolted out the door.
Harry sighed. "I should have been more specific."
"Why does she call you 'Master'?" Marin asked.
"She used to be an assassin. She was sent to kill me. One of my… girlfriends used her ability to turn her into her slave.
"Now she is the most loyal servant you could imagine."
"And you just use her as a sex toy?" She scowled.
"Me? No." Harry sat up and leaned against the wall. "Something to remember about the monster world, as we call it. Their laws and society are very different to humans.
"Power is authority. I had to learn that quickly. There can be a lot of death in the monster world. I- I have killed a lot of people. Granted, they were all trying to kill me, but still.
"Yesterday… Yesterday was the first time I would consider what I did; murder. Those Yakuza thugs deserved to die, but, I didn't take them on in a real fight. I killed them in their sleep."
"Why?" Marin could see that this troubled the young English boy. "Why does that bother you? Why did you do it that way?"
"I did it that way for a few reasons. The first was because I didn't want cause unnecessary pain and San begged me not to kill them.
"The second was because I needed it to look like an accident. Yukari is a witch, like Ruby. Magicals have a separate government of their own. If they knew a witch had been kidnapped, they would have killed everyone involved and then wiped the minds of anyone who might have witnessed it."
"And it bothered you, why?"
"I had those lives in the palm of my hand. That's a level of power no one should have. Especially when you consider what I did with it."
"But you still did it."
Harry looked at her with a sad smile. "Yesterday they kidnapped three young girls, one was fourteen, one twelve and the last looked somewhere in between.
"How many young girls have they kidnapped before. How many have I prevented from being kidnapped in the future.
"I hate what I did, but I try to see the good that comes from it."
They sat in silence for a minute.
"I still don't know how to treat San."
Harry stood up and stretched. "If you love her, then remember that yesterday she was kidnapped. Think about what it would feel like to lose another loved one. Then wrap her tightly in your arms and never let her go."
Marin didn't say anything as she watched him leave. Her gaze was fixed on the floor in front of her. Lying there was the tear of a monster.
Harry was considering going on a hunt. Marin had discovered that the man she fired yesterday had not only cleaned out the cash register and safe, but also stolen her bank and savings books.
She was flat out broke.
The police had been round and taken a statement from all of them.
More than once Harry had had to save the police from extremely pissed off females using them as outlets for their anger over the crime.
Unfortunately he had to save them from their own stupidity when they refused to believe that San couldn't talk. Marin was about ready to pick up her chair and bean them with it.
Harry was stopped from heading out to hunt down the git by Gin who simply assured him he would handle it.
Harry decided he didn't want to know.
The girls had decided they weren't going to let the inn and restaurant go down like this. The whole lot of them donned their bikinis and started going out and soliciting customers.
For the restaurant… not the other kind of soliciting.
Unfortunately, the bikinis they had bought were for the purpose of teasing and seducing Harry. It got them more attention than they bargained for.
But the restaurant was full and Marin's staff barely got their break times.
By the end of the day the cash register had been emptied into the safe three times and Marin was ordered not to go to the bank without an escort.
"I'm exhausted." Kurumu groaned as she slumped in a very unladylike manner in one of the chairs on the outside eating area. "This was more work than when we were recruiting for the club."
"I need more ice cream." Mizore was nearly melting in her seat.
Harry cast another discreet cooling charm at her.
"I'll go and get you some." Marin said as she smiled at the tired girls and left.
"Can we just stay in bed tomorrow?" Moka whined as she leant against Harry's shoulder.
"If any of you fools wakes me up before noon… I will hurt you." Kokoa warned from where she was seated with Yukari half asleep on her shoulder.
"Ah… so this is where you have gotten to."
Harry was out of his seat immediately. He didn't like that voice.
"Marin!" Shizuka gasped as they saw a tall man with long blonde hair, a small harp and white clothes standing at the entrance to the restaurant… and an unconscious Marin dangling from one arm.
What Harry saw was what no one else paid attention to. A pair of white angelic wings.
"Excuse me… " He said gregariously. "I am Kamiya Kanade, leader of the 7th Branch Office of Fairy Tale.
"I've come for you Otonashi San."
Harry dipped his hand into his belt pouch and withdrew Belmont. He handed it to the bikini clad Moka who began to change.
"Thank you so much." Harry smiled darkly. "I was planning on looking for you. It is time for you to pay for killing the lady's husband."
Kamiya looked down at the woman in his arm with confusion. "Really? I really wouldn't remember, why would the lives of these pitiful humans matter to me?"
"Don't really care." Harry stretched his neck and shoulders. "You did it. Clearly you have no remorse. You attacked a human in the human world, that is a crime."
"Then I suppose you won't mind if I add another." He said as he tossed Marin casually at the sea, sending her soaring into the air.
She was intercepted by San, sporting her own angelic wings. Floating next to her was Kurumu who had also moved to save the woman.
"Really San." Kamiya said with disgust. "Wasting your energy on a human? Why, you're a siren! Like me. We are practically gods!"
"Do you know what happened to the last idiot who called himself a god?" Harry asked. "I killed him."
Kamiya stared at Harry for a second before he burst out laughing. "You simple child. Do you believe everyone who says they are a god?"
Harry just smirked. "No. I don't."
Kamiya stopped laughing as he heard the implication of the brat questioning his standing. "Allow me to demonstrate the voice of a true god." He smirked back.
Harry braced himself, he knew this was likely going to hurt, but he wasn't going to let this true monster win. There would be no running today.
Kamiya opened his mouth and Harry heard a sound that was as beautiful as it was painful. It blew them all into the restaurant, bar Kurumu, San and Marin who were in the air still.
"Shizuka, Mako, get Yukari and Kokoa out of here. Contact the Headmaster and let him know Fairy Tale is attacking. They are killing humans in the human world." Harry instructed as he started pulling them out of the rubble.
Shizuka brooked no argument from the youngest two. She grabbed Yukari as Mako grabbed Kokoa and they ran through the rubble and out the front of the nearly demolished restaurant.
"Do we have a plan?" Inner Moka asked as she deftly wrapped the Belmont around her upper thigh.
"Beat on him till his brains paint the sand." Harry growled. "But first, I want information. Let him make the first move."
"Harry, I'm not sure how much more I can take of his voice." Mizore admitted.
"Don't worry, you won't hear it again." Harry promised.
He stepped over the rubble and back onto the open seating area. "Is that it? You tossed us around a little? The Yoko pierced me in the heart."
Kamiya scowled. He did not like being challenged like this. It was insulting.
"What is the point of this?" Harry demanded. "Is Fairy Tale just another gang? A rival to the human Yakuza?"
Now Kamiya was angry. "How dare you compare Fairy Tale to a pitiful collection of humans! Fairy Tale will over throw the human world!
"We will live in the cities they build for us! We will hunt them for sport just because it amuses us!"
"That's it? World domination?" Harry frowned. "It's been tried before. By humans and monsters."
"Aren't you listening boy?! We are gods!" Kamiya screamed angrily.
"Aren't you listening? I've killed gods." Harry responded calmly.
"Well listen carefully child. Hear my song. It is the last thing you shall ever hear."
Kamiya opened his mouth, sucked in a deep breath and practically screamed his note.
For a good twenty seconds he sang, a single note, his eyes closed as he forced everything into it.
He finally ran out of breath and began gasping in air.
But there was none.
He opened his eyes, for the first time in years, he felt fear.
He couldn't breathe. His vision was already blurring as he had expelled all his air in his song.
He could just make out the insolent boy standing there, smirking.
"Just like every human on this planet, you need air to create sound. You need air to live." He heard the boy say. "Take that away… you take away the problem."
He couldn't hear anymore, he struggled to reach his harp but the purple haired girl grabbed it from his reach. He tried to speak, but he had no breath. Everything became deadly silent around him and his vision blurred. He was in a total vacuum.
Harry watched as the siren slowly died. He had the power to save him, but what would the cost be? How many would die for the monster's amusement?
He steeled himself to see this through. He would handle the consequences tomorrow.
Harry pulled a Katana from his belt pouch and moved over to the cooling body. A hand stopped him.
"Let me." Moka said compassionately as she took the sword from him.
Harry didn't argue. He didn't want to. He would never be more grateful to Moka.
Moka plunged the sword once into the monster's heart before slicing the head off.
There was a flutter of wings as San and Kurumu landed with an unconscious Marin. Harry and Ruby quickly moved to heal whatever wounds the woman had received.
She was awake within a minute.
Harry placed a finger on her chin and moved her head to look at him. "Remember the promise I made last night? Done." He said solemnly.
Marin's eyes drifted over to the blood-stained Moka with white hair and red eye. Then to the lifeless head in her left hand.
She grabbed Harry in a hug; and cried.
"Somebody had better explain what is going on right now."
Moka turned, her sword swinging into a defensive position.
"Miyamoto-senpai?" Kurumu frowned as she saw the president of the Karate Club standing there with Gin, both covered in more gore than Moka.
"Why is San crying? Why are her wings out? Why is her notepad closed?" He demanded.
"Why are you covered in blood?" Kurumu challenged as she positioned herself between the boys and San.
San, however, gently pushed past her. She opened her notepad. 'Hello Haiji. It is good to see you.' She gave him a small teary smile.
"Oh San! You're so cute!" Haiji beamed as he lifted San into the air under her armpits and swung her around.
"Are they monsters too?"
Harry looked down to see a small smile peeking through Marin's tears as she saw people who cared for San.
"They are. I think they are probably more annoying than dangerous, despite the carnage they probably caused today." Harry sighed as he pulled her to her feet and led her over to Gin.
"So… have fun?" He asked quietly.
"Totally. Fairy Tale's 7th Branch had lots of fun monsters to play with. You?"
"Fairy Tales 7th Branch leader was not fun to play with. But he won't be a problem anymore."
"You realise this means there are at least six more branches, right?"
"I guess it would be too much to hope they come at us one at a time." Harry groaned.
"What about the monster authorities?" Marin asked curiously. "You said hurting humans in the human world was illegal, can't they step in?"
"It's not a government like the humans have." Gin answered, brushing aside the fact that Harry had revealed the existence of monsters to a human… for the moment. "It is a… pact, or treaty, agreed to by the most powerful Yōkai and enforced by them.
"But… Fairy Tale is definitely something that will require those who agreed to the pact to act."
"Leave it to the higher ups." Harry waved a dismissive hand. "However, did you manage to get any intel from the place you raided?"
"Erm…"
"You know, like how many branches there actually are, where their headquarters is, the names of notable employees?"
"Look, we just went there to send a message, don't mess with San." Gin said defensively.
"We'll have to go back right now if we want to get anything before another branch comes in and wipes everything."
"Don't worry about it kid." They jumped at the gravelly voice of the Bus Driver. "I brought some of the Chairman's people to handle things.
"You did good work taking down a siren. But now we have to deal with you revealing monsters to a human." He glared.
Harry looked at him innocently. "But I didn't."
"I heard the woman, kid. She said you told her about monsters."
"Sure. But she already knew monsters existed. I'm sorry sir, if you want the guilty party, you'll need to resurrect him." Harry pointed to the head dangling from Moka's hand as she and the others tried to pry San out of Miyamoto's stubborn grip. "He revealed the monster world to Kawamoto-san when he killed her husband in front of her."
The Bus Driver's eyes bored into Harry from beneath the concealment on his cap. Eventually he snorted and turned to walk off. "Good work, kid."
Marin turned to look at her home. "I guess it's over. After all that work the girls put into getting customers, I can't afford to fix this."
"Oh, right." Gin fished in his jacket and pulled out a set of bank books. "Managed to find these for you."
Marin looked between her life savings and the blood covered teen. "I don't want to know?"
Gin spun on his heel and marched off, whistling.
"This still won't be enough. I can live off this for a few months, but… even less if San stays with me. We'll be on the streets in weeks."
"How about a deal?"
Marin looked at the young man curiously.