It was only a day later and Fangfang was standing in front of Harry again.
"Please! You have to believe me! I'm Yukari! I was there when you were killed by Kuyou, when you defeated Fujisaki."
Harry frowned, very few people knew about Fujisaki.
"Where is Yukari's body now?"
"It's the day for our medical checks and measurements."
"Mako, take this person and lock them in the spare bedroom." He ordered the monstrel. "They are not to leave unless I say so. Don't give them anything."
"Yes Master."
The fact that 'Fangfang' didn't even blink when Mako bowed was enough to convince Harry that it wasn't really him.
Harry ran across the campus to the school gym where the female students were having their measurements taken. He stormed in and stopped dead.
Over a hundred female glares of death were aimed his way.
He quickly bowed low and stayed that way to avoid seeing the many females in various states of undress. "Forgive me. There is a disguised male here. I require Sendo-san."
"A pervert!"
Harry was so glad those words weren't actively describing him.
"Let me go! I didn't do anything!"
Harry could hear Yukari's voice, it certainly didn't sound quite right.
"Outside Harry." He heard Shizuka's voice.
Harry stood up with his eyes closed. "Point me in the right direction please."
He could practically feel Shizuka smirking as she moved him by the shoulder. "Walk."
Harry started walking. He didn't bother putting his hands out. He simply turned into air and kept moving. He heard the gasps around him.
Once outside, Harry grabbed both Shizuka and 'Yukari' and apparated them to the SPC building.
He immediately turned on the witch. "Tell me something only Yukari would know." He ordered.
"Erm… I wuv you?"
That actually made their skin crawl.
"Huang-san, do you want to explain why you are in Yukari's body and why you were watching a bunch of girls undress?"
At first Fangfang looked ashamed, but he seemed to get an idea and got indignant. "It was Sendo's fault! She made this thing and it swapped our bodies."
"Why would she do that? What possible reason would a twelve-year-old girl have for wanting the body of a fourteen-year-old boy?"
"I don't know! She's crazy!"
"So why were you using her body to peek on naked girls?" Shizuka asked.
"Yukari came straight to me. She told me what happened." Harry added. Harry grabbed the boy and vanished. He reappeared seconds later.
"I never want to see Yukari in the dungeons again." He told Shizuka grimly.
"How did this happen?"
"Yukari said she made a device, but it malfunctioned."
Shizuka sighed. It wasn't uncommon for Yukari's projects to have unintended effects. Take her aging potion, for example.
Fangfang felt extremely weird as he woke up. He was cold and his head felt really heavy.
He opened his eyes.
That certainly didn't help.
Everything was upside down.
He looked at his feet.
Why was he upside, hanging in front of the school and only in his underwear?!
"I hope there is a suitable explanation for this." Lingling demanded as she floated up next to Harry as he stood with the other students laughing at her brother.
"He was peeking on the female students as they were changing." Harry shrugged.
Now she was angry. "Is that why you entered the gym?"
"Yes. I didn't realise you would all be changing in the gym. There are locker rooms."
"Still-"
"And there was no notice outside."
"I suppose-"
"No female guarding the door."
Harry smirked as he heard her growl.
"What of the other two?" She indicated the swinging and underwear clad Gin and Haiji.
"Same deal. I didn't know about them. The younger girls discovered them and followed my example."
Lingling floated in front of Harry with her own smirk. "So, Harry-chan, did you like what you saw?" She asked as she ran her hands down her sides.
"Huh?"
"When I was partially undressed." She leaned into him.
Harry scoffed. "Listen, I walked in, saw girls, saw a pair of shorts with one leg in them and bowed. I don't remember faces and I have no intention of trying to."
He internally sighed as he saw her pout.
Yukari managed to get their bodies swapped, obviously. She was once again given a stern lecture on testing her creations before Harry, Ruby or Hermione checked them.
Unfortunately, Yukari was usually deaf to these demands. It didn't help that Fangfang was the one who had used it without her realising.
Still, a quick visit from her disapproving father seemed to make something of an impact.
Harry was now back in the Chairman's office.
"I have arranged for you to travel to China. You will be staying with the Huang family."
Harry looked at him with narrowed eyes. "I'm going to assume you haven't just tried to sell me off and I am going to wait for the explanation."
The sharp teeth grinned. "I want you to meet with Fuhai Touhou. I want him to assess your scar, Riddle and Moka-chan's rosary."
"Is there a reason for this happening now?"
"There is a herd of dragons that have become unruly. This will be your first fight as an Elemental. This will be your debut, the announcement of what you are."
Harry felt a chill at the prospect of being an even bigger target. "At the moment, who knows what I am?"
"I have told none but Touhou."
"What are the chances of people like Shuzen Issa and Fujisaki coming after me?"
"Issa knows better. He will know that I was aware and will simply question my sanity." He chuckled. "Fujisaki… I cannot predict his moves at this time." He said gravely.
"And you still cannot tell me anything?"
"I pray that I shall never have to. You cannot defeat him. He is immortal. All you can do is run."
"Can you kill him?"
"It-" The Chairman stopped himself. "Enough! Ask me no more.
"You leave in two days. I will bring you Riddle as you leave."
Keito was not pleased that she was being left behind again. But, Harry pointed out that she would be graduating at the end of the year, so she'd never have to do it again.
She was not mollified.
This time only Mizore, Ruby, Yukari and Kurumu would be accompanying them to China. And Lilith of course as she had no interest in learning if Harry wasn't there.
"Why are we going by plane?" Harry grumbled as he followed Fangfang off of the school bus.
"The Huang family travels in style and luxury!" The boy boasted happily.
"It also seems to like to waste time and money. We could take the bus there in minutes. The same with magical transports."
"You won't say that after you have experienced a luxury jet."
They were leaving from a private airfield just outside of Tokyo. Harry was carrying the orb containing Riddle.
"Are you sure this thing can fly?" Kurumu asked nervously.
"It can't even flap its wings!" Mizore argued.
Both girls were unaware they were holding hands.
"Th-There's something called 'aerodynamic lift'. It's supposed to work." Yukari trembled.
"Alright, gather 'round." Harry told the girls. He then did something he really didn't want to do. He had them turn their backs to him and flip up their skirts.
"Your underwear is now a portkey. Just say 'Hokey Kokey' and you will be back at the school." Harry was thoroughly hugged and kissed.
Despite the portkeys he gave them, they were still terrified as they took off. The giant machine that could flatten the academy reached immense speeds as it lifted off.
Harry decided to just hope that Yukari didn't know that planes ran on a highly flammable and combustible liquid.
"You ok, Moka?" He asked the pink haired vampire sitting next to him.
She had seemed subdued recently.
"I'm fine." She gave him a forced smile.
Harry lifted the arm rest and put his arm around Moka. "Tell me."
"I don't know. Something is worrying me. I just don't know what." She sighed as she leaned into him.
"The plane?"
Moka smiled and shook her head. "No, I've flown on planes before. My family owns a few.
"Honestly, I don't know what is wrong with me." She shifted away from him and pushed. "Go, check on the others. I will try and get some sleep."
Harry leaned in and kissed her before he stood.
"Where's your sister?" Harry asked as he approached Fangfang and the others.
"She's flying the plane."
"Do you miss me already, Harry?" Lingling's voice sounded over the intercom.
"Erm…"
"Don't worry, I will spend plenty of time with you when we land."
He could hear the teasing seduction.
"What is going to happen when we land?" Harry asked Fangfang.
"We will be picked up by a family car and driven to the compound. I imagine we will eat, maybe the reasons for your visit will come up… but I would imagine we would sleep first and discuss things tomorrow." Fangfang reasoned.
"I don't want to spend a second longer than necessary in China." Harry said firmly.
"No sight-seeing?" Yukari pouted.
"No. It isn't safe outside the Academy. I honestly wouldn't feel safe until we are back at Shizuka's home."
"The Huang Family home is heavily fortified and protected." Fangfang was a little insulted. "My parents would never let harm come to honoured guests."
"Fangfang-kun, it is not your parent's actions and intentions towards me I fear. It is the danger mine and Moka's presence might present."
Fangfang said nothing. He was scared and pleased. He knew Harry was powerful. He knew the legends of the Shinso vampires. He knew Harry wouldn't lie about that.
But Harry had also called him by his first name. As far as he was concerned it was a step forward.
The flight continued on for four out of the five hours with no issues. Moka slept through most of it but was awoken when a commotion broke out.
She joined the others to find a small creature in a glass box sitting on a nearby table.
"What is that?" She asked as she moved up next to Harry, Yukari instinctively moving aside.
"A gremlin." Harry said darkly.
"We are very lucky Harry recognised it and captured it." Lingling told them over the intercom. "If it had remained loose it would have brought down the plane."
"Let me out! I will kill you!" The little creature demanded.
"You couldn't kill a fly." Harry scoffed. "How would you manage to take on a witch a vampire or a succubus?"
"I'm one of Fairy Tale's top assassins!" The creature raged. Then it froze.
Harry smirked at it. "You have one chance to live. Tell me everything about your mission and Fairy Tale or I will kill you."
And it blabbed.
They were touching down as it finally finished.
"I swear! That's all I know!"
Harry touched the box. Inside the creature was silently screaming and pleading.
"It can't see or hear us now." He told them. "We can talk freely."
"Y-You aren't going to kill it?" Fangfang asked as he came to terms with how close they had been to crashing.
"I promised it I wouldn't. If it lied to me… I'll still keep my promise."
"I thought Hokuto was back in the human world with no knowledge of the monster world." Moka scowled.
The creature had told them how two members of Fairy Tale's 1st Sub-Division, Yoshii Kiria and Kaneshiro Hokuto, the former leader of Anti-Thesis, had smuggled it onto the plane in order to bring it down in the ocean where the monstrels would capture them.
"He was." Harry confirmed. "And the Chairman will no doubt make me pay for any damage he causes."
"What do we do?" Yukari asked.
"Lingling, are you listening?" Harry called out.
"I am just completing final shutdown procedures. Please continue."
"All of you will go with Fangfang to his home. Lingling will help me find and track down Hokuto and his friend."
"Harry… Kiria is incredibly fast. You won't be able to see him." Kurumu warned.
"I won't have to." Harry assured her.
Lingling was thrilled to be alone with Harry. He had produced a broomstick and mounted it, indicating for her to get on back.
She had declined and slipped on in front of him.
They had shot into the sky as they headed to the coast some miles out from the city of Hong Kong.
They had precise coordinates from the gremlin and thanks to Lingling's phone they were able to find them easily enough.
Harry was surprised to see Hokuto in a wheelchair. It didn't matter though. He sank the boat and blasted both men off with a blasting hex.
Harry landed on the surface of the ocean, it was solid beneath him as Lingling hovered next to him. Out of the water rose a sphere of water, contained inside, submerged to the neck, were Kiria and Hokuto.
"Potter." Hokuto spat as he tried to remain afloat with only his arms.
"Tell me everything you know… or you die." Harry said coldly.
"We'll tell you nothing! You monster!"
"Is that a joke?" Harry frowned. "You realise the creature next to you is a monster, right?"
"I… It was a figure of speech!" The man said indignantly. "Because of what you did to me! You took my legs and you took my memories and you threw me to the mercy of humans claiming to be my family!"
"What?" Harry was befuddled.
"Kiria told me all about how you nearly killed me because I'm nothing but a monstrel… a half-breed to you."
Harry looked between the two men who were bobbing in the sphere. "First of all, you were born human. I don't know how you became a monstrel, but you were definitely born to the humans who I left you with.
"Second, I did take your memories after you tried to kill me and every child at the school we attended. You should be thanking me. The Chairman wanted me to just kill you.
"Third, I never touched your legs. You were walking when I left you in the hospital."
"You lie!"
"Why? I have you at my complete mercy. Neither of you has the ability to fly so you can't escape the sphere. Even if you do tell me what I want to know, I am going to wipe the knowledge of the monster world from both your minds."
Harry saw Kiria pale.
"So, new deal. Whoever talks first, gets to live."
"They will not talk, Harry-chan." Lingling warned. "I can see they would rather have death."
"They're going to talk." Harry said firmly. "But as they won't do it willingly, they will also die."
He created a hole in the sphere and sent two stunners in.
Harry and Lingling appeared in the Village of the Yuki-Onna with a crack. Hovering above them was an ice sphere containing the two monstrels.
Mutterings of awe could be heard around him as many of the yuki-onna recognised him. Harry ignored them as he headed for a special dungeon. It was, in Harry's mind, a form of punishment on the yuki-onna that they would house the prison for the Academy's enemies.
The Ice Priestess certainly didn't think it a punishment, but she was not going to argue with the man who saved their village.
At present the only other resident of the dungeon was Ishigami Hitomi, the former art teacher. She was petrified, only her snakes able to move. Harry had made sure they were well taken care of.
By the time Harry had the two monstrels in separate cells, the Ice Priestess and Tsurara had arrived.
"Tsurara, contact Sendo Fujiko and have her bring the strongest truth potion she can get. These two are members of Fairy Tale and they tried to kill us… again."
Tsurara growled as she stormed off. She would be sending a message to Ageha as well.
"May I ask who your companion is?" The Ice Priestess enquired politely.
"Sorry, this Huang Lingling of China. She was flying us on the plane when we were attacked."
"And… how does she know the location of the village?"
"She doesn't. She simply knows there is a village."
"Hmm." She didn't sound convinced, but this magic was not her strong point. "If you trust her, I need to show you something, in private."
Harry immediately stiffened.
"It is a danger." She admitted. "I have consulted with Sendo Fujiko, but I would like you to see."
"Lingling, stay here. I won't be long."
"But-"
"I will have her taken to my home where she may wait in comfort. I doubt that you will be able to do anything, I simply want to know if you have any insight."
The Ice Priestess led him deep beneath the village to a cave where a massive glowing pillar of ice sat.
"A ley line." Harry frowned.
"Yes. That is what magicals call them. It is a closely guarded secret as it is part of the protections of the village. It is also where all yuki-onna are born from."
Harry turned to look at her. "What do you mean? I thought you pro-created like other creatures. Sex and then birth."
"It is… complicated. A father is required but there is more to it than just the physical acts.
"You are the first male we have willingly brought down here."
"Willingly?"
"Do you see the lump embedded in the pillar?"
"It feels horrible." Harry nodded.
"We do not know how it came to be here… but it was not here before Fairy Tale came."
Harry moved up to the lump. It was black, tendrils grew into the pillar, it radiated an aura Harry had only ever felt from people like Kuyou, Kamiya, the Chairman or the Bus Driver.
"You haven't tried to remove it?"
"We would not know how. Removing it could cause irreparable damage to the pillar. It could spell the end of the yuki-onna."
"We should try." Harry turned to face her.
She was clearly afraid and against the suggestion.
Harry stepped closer to her. "Look, that thing is eating away at the pillar and sucking up the magic… the spirit.
"You've got two choices: Sit back and wait for it to kill you or go on the offensive and try to remove it.
"Only one option leaves you with the chance for survival."
"Do it boy." The voice of Jack Frost emanated from the surprised Ice Priestess. "You've done right by the village."
The Ice Priestess shuddered as the voice and presence receded. "I- I have never heard his voice outside of my visions." She was shaken by the experience. "I will not argue. We will trust your judgement."
Harry nodded and moved back to the pillar. He ignored the malignant lump and focused on the rest of the pillar. "Has the pillar ever been damaged before? Earthquakes, accidents?"
"Minor nicks. It is extremely resilient."
The pillar was ice. Simply, frozen water. Harry could easily manipulate it. He could feel the power running through it, but he didn't have any idea on how to handle that.
He didn't want to simply cut a huge chunk out of the pillar so he began manipulating the ice from around the cavern to gather around the pillar.
At the same time he coaxed the ice directly connected to the lump to extend out, away from the pillar. At roughly the size of a basketball, he caused the lump and surrounding ice to separate whilst the using the ice from the cavern to refill the now missing mass.
"What are you?" The Ice Priestess asked in awe.
Harry turned, the ball of ice hovering above his hand. "An Elemental." He answered simply.
"But… they died. They were murdered by the most powerful monsters!" She was in awe.
"So I'm told. But, lets focus on the present. Contact Nekonome Shizuka, have her come and collect this and take it to her home. Tell her to have the Chairman inspect it. Make sure she knows everything you know."
It was an hour later that Harry and Lingling arrived at the Huang family compound via portkey.
The place was an utter mess. There were bodies everywhere and Inner Moka was standing proudly over them with the whip around her thigh.
"At this time, I would like to point out that I was in another country." Harry spoke up. "There is no way you can blame me for this."
Moka turned and grinned at him. "These fools stole Yukari, Kurumu, Mizore and Ruby. They attacked us. I was about to find out where they were taken."
"Wait!" Lingling floated forward quickly. "This can't be right. These men work for my family." She frowned.
She grabbed one that was still moaning and lifted him into the air by the front of his blazer. "Where is my brother? Where are my parents?" She demanded.
"Relax, daughter. All is well."
Moka and Harry immediately took defensive stances as a beautiful woman in a red Chinese dress approached with a smile.
"Mother? What is going on?" Lingling frowned.
"Your brother and his friends were a bit early. The feast wasn't ready so we decided to provide a bit of entertainment to stall for time."
"And my friends? Where are they?" Harry asked, not changing his stance.
The woman smiled happily. "Follow me, they are relaxing."
It was only Lingling's assurances that convinced Harry to follow. Moka would have preferred to continue working through the Huang Family.
But they were soon being greeted by the girls and Fangfang and introduced properly to his father and mother.
Harry was not there to socialise, no matter how much the girls wanted to relax by the pool.
"Where is Fuhai Touhou?" Harry demanded.
Even Moka was surprised by Harry's blatant rudeness.
"Come, sit. There is time for that later." Fangfang's father, Huang Fei-Hong, beamed as he tried to guide them to the table laden with food.
"I don't have time." Harry glowered. "I need to speak with him."
"Mikogami said you were a being of true honour." An old, croaky voice sounded behind him. "How disappointed he will be when he hears you made a liar of him."
Harry looked down at the short, wrinkled old man with the pitch-black sunglasses. He wore a white robe and had a long thin pipe in his mouth.
"I can come back and apologise later." Harry growled. "But I can't do that if your family has been murdered by genocidal maniacs! I need more information on Fairy Tale and their leader.
"Don't you realise you nearly lost your son and daughter today?" Harry turned to Fei-Hong.
"What? What are you talking about?" Fangfang's mother, Huang Tiantian demanded. "Lingling, what is he talking about?"
"There is this Japanese group, they call themselves Fairy Tale. They tried to crash the plane today." Lingling answered. "Harry took me and we captured two of them. They are being interrogated right now."
Fei-Hong turned to his son. "Why did you not mention this?"
"Because you were attacking us the second we stepped in your home?" Mizore suggested with an innocent look.
Fei-Hong had the grace to look a little abashed.
Touhou glowered beneath his sunglasses. "Follow me. Just you." He emphasised as the girls stood.
Harry gave them a nod and they reluctantly sat.
Harry followed Touhou out back to the old man's home in the compound, neither spoke until the door was locked.
"Do you know why I don't want to tell you?" Touhou turned to Harry. "Tenmei is the best strategist. Ever."
Harry was aware that Mikogami Tenmei was the Chairman's name. "Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody can be wrong."
"Including you."
"And there are plenty of people, including myself who will happily list them for you." Harry nodded. "But Fairy Tale is directly targeting me.
"In my time at the Academy I have learnt that it is better to take action before others do. Right now, I have two of Fairy Tale's operatives being interrogated by one of the most powerful magicals on the planet.
"If they fail, then there is a line of people waiting to bleed them dry of information.
"But, there are somethings that the operatives won't know. Like who is Fujisaki Miyubi? What is he? Does he have weaknesses?"
"And you think knowing these things will help you?" Touhou scoffed. "Tenmei is smart enough to tell you to run if you encountered him again."
"Running isn't always an option." Harry countered. "How long will it be before Fairy Tale sends him after me again?"
"You seem so sure that it is you they are after." Touhou smirked. "Is that how big your ego has become? Tenmei told me that your first encounter was when they were after the yuki-onna, the second they wanted the siren.
"Do you even know for certain that you were their target this time?"
Harry frowned. He hadn't thought of that. Was his ego getting too big? Granted, he had been at the forefront of each confrontation, but he hadn't been the target.
Harry looked down at the old man. "Moka is a powerful vampire, Kurumu a powerful succubus. I don't know how Mizore compares to her people, but I know Yukari is the daughter of two very powerful magicals.
"They would only recently have discovered what I am."
"So you do have some brains."
Harry knelt down so he was eye to eye. "That changes nothing. They come for any of those girls then they come for my family. They come for my family, they come for me.
"I will rip this planet to pieces to find and protect them."
Touhou sighed sadly. "And that is how Fujisaki came to be. Moka's mother, she was a child saved by Count Dracula when the countries bordering his attacked and killed everyone… just to kill him. Because they feared him.
"With his people dead and nothing but a little girl to care for, he changed his name. Inverted it from the name that was known as the beacon of happiness to his people.
"He became Alucard, the harbinger of death for all humans.
"Bloodriver Akasha opposed his view, even though he raised her and loved her. It was her sacrifice that won the victory over him.
"But it was not over. Alucard was contained, but not dead. And now… it seems he has tricked us, after all these centuries.
"Fujisaki Miyubi is Alucard." Touhou removed his glasses and looked Harry dead in the eye. "Perhaps he is not the original, a spore, clone… but your memories were clear to both Tenmei and myself.
"Alucard is partially free."
Harry sat down where he was knelt and breathed in deeply. "So Fairy Tale is him trying to build an army to destroy all humans."
As Harry crossed his legs, Touhou did the same. "A likely scenario."
"Then the attack on the Snow Village and San can all be explained as… 'recruitment efforts'. But why attack the plane today?"
"When Alucard left Eastern Europe, he headed East. He settled in China."
"Does Fairy Tale have people here as well?" Harry asked.
"Perhaps, but there are no mentions of Fairy Tale, so he may use a different name or organisation."
Touhou leaned in and sneered slightly. "So, now you know. What does it change?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Everything."
Touhou was forced to admit that the young elemental made good points. For a whole hour Harry had grilled the Dark Lord on how they attacked Alucard, what methods and weapons they used.
But there was one thing that Touhou didn't know, something that Mikogami Tenmei either hadn't told him or didn't know himself: What was the connection between Moka, her rosary and Alucard.
Harry explained the strict instructions from the Chairman regarding Moka never removing the rosary.
They were about to go and find the vampire when the girls and Fangfang came bursting in.
"The Miao Family, they are attacking!" Fangfang said breathlessly.
"Humph! This reeks of Fairy Tale." Touhou grunted as he stood. "You were right to retreat. I shall tend to this myself.
"Harry, if you would be so kind as to stay and protect my children."
"The girls can stay. I want to see more of Fairy Tale."
Touhou looked to argue, but stopped and headed for the door.
"Remember, you can easily escape to the academy." Harry said before he followed the old man.
Somehow, the men of the Huang Family had been overwhelmed. The Miao Family had waltzed in and made themselves at home.
Literally. They were standing around the sitting room as their leader, a girl in a dark cowl and cape, sat silently opposite Tiantian and Fei-Hong.
"Is this how the Miao comports themselves?" The wizened old voice cut through the tension. "Barging in, treating the place like their own?"
A dozen guns were pointed at the old man and the teen behind him.
"Master Fuhai." The girl said quietly. "I have long desired to meet you."
"Not long enough to learn manners, it seems. Do you have a name, girl?"
She gently lifted the cowl back, off her head. "I am Shuzen Akua."
Touhou raised an eyebrow behind his sunglasses. "And this is how the eldest daughter of the Shuzen Family acts? Attacking their friends, especially when another of their daughters is a guest here?"
"Akashiya Moka is why I am here." She said as she stood.
Harry observed that she seemed young, maybe only a year or so older than Kokoa. Of course, Harry knew the girl was centuries old.
She had black hair that framed her face but was pulled back into a high ponytail. Like all the women of the Shuzen family, she was beautiful.
"Hand my sister over to me and we will leave peacefully."
Touhou laughed. "You are a poor liar. You have no intention of leaving anyone alive."
Akua merely inclined her head in acceptance of the fact. "Perhaps, but your deaths can be peaceful… or a terror that will follow you beyond."
"Well, Harry, what have you learnt?"
Akua frowned as the old man seemingly ignored her to pay full attention to the boy with him. She was certain it was not the heir of the Huang Family.
"She's powerful. She's more than just a Shinso vampire. She has plans for Moka."
Touhou huffed. "And have you learnt her weaknesses?"
Harry shrugged. "Of course not. I don't know her beyond being Moka's sister… and an enemy."
At that point the men that accompanied Akua began collapsing, seemingly falling unconscious where they stood.
"Stop what you are doing old man." Akua ordered.
"Me? This is nothing I did." He turned to his great-grandson and his wife. "Leave us. See to the children."
As Fei-Hong stood, Tiantian moved to Harry. "Come Harry-"
"The boy stays." Touhou said softly.
Husband and wife shared a look, but they reluctantly left.
"You will not keep Moka from me." Akua glowered at them.
"I'd be more worried about keeping you from Moka." Harry shrugged. "She'll be pissed to find out what you've done."
In the blink of an eye the girl was gone. She was suddenly standing in front of Harry, her hand embedded in his chest up to the wrist.
"You should have left with the others." She sneered.
Harry looked down at the wrist protruding from his chest. "Probably… but I'm always getting in trouble for not doing what others expect."
Akua yelped as she withdrew her hand, it was badly burnt and smoking. She jumped back, putting distance between them. "What are you?" She demanded as her hand began to heal.
"Learning." Harry said.
"That was impressive." Touhou nodded. "You have managed partial control over your body?"
"A lot of what my body does is instinctual. I've practiced a lot to actually do it on purpose."
"Could you take her?" Touhou glanced at the angry young woman.
Harry discreetly stretched his various muscles. Beneath his clothes, he had been keeping his body in the form of air. When Akua had struck, he had turned it to fire.
He knew he was damned lucky she hadn't gone for a head shot. In an elemental form, he couldn't be harmed, but in human form he was as vulnerable as any other homo-sapien.
"Maybe. I don't know if I could kill her… but, containment is a totally different kettle of fish."
"Killing a Shinso Vampire is certainly a task." Touhou confirmed.
"There is one thing I want to try." Harry said as he stepped forward. "Please send my apologies to the girls. I will try to return."
Akua took a defensive stance as she stared the unknown monster in the eyes.
It was exactly what Harry wanted. He stared right back.
For the first time in a decade, Shuzen Akua was scared and shocked. Not since the day that her beloved little sister saw her try to kill her mother, when Alucard nearly consumed her… that was a sensation she hadn't felt since she lost her beloved Jasmine.
Her current feelings were exponentially raised as she found herself looking on in horror at herself, looking on in horror at the horribly mutilated body of Jasmine impaled on multiple spikes.
"She looks like Moka."
She spun at the sound of the new male voice.
"Did you do this to her? Is this what you want to do to Moka?"
The boy, Harry, he was standing there, watching the scene of her finding Jasmine. His expression was neutral… but there was darkness in his eyes.
"Who are you? What have you done?" Akua demanded. "Stop this!" She was trying hard not to cry.
"Why? Didn't you enjoy hurting this girl?" Harry asked as he slowly moved around the memory of Akua. He stopped when he saw the expression on the memory. "You didn't do this."
"I would never hurt Jasmine! I love her!" Akua cried.
"Is that why you want Moka? You want to protect her?" Harry asked, his expression softening.
"Of course! I never want Moka to suffer like Jasmine did." Akua growled as tears continued to fall. "It is why I will kill all humans to protect her!"
"Is that what Jasmine wanted? I promise you, Moka definitely doesn't."
"That's because you have lied to her! She doesn't know what humans are like."
"She has several human friends." Harry countered. He looked at the sight of Jasmine and grimaced. "Do you remember her smile? Do you remember a time when you laughed together?"
Akua's anger faded as her memories came to mind. She was shocked to hear the laughter and giggling she had missed all these centuries.
The gruesome scene of Jasmine's death was gone. Instead, she saw herself and Jasmine skipping through fields of flowers. Despite the heartache of seeing what she had lost, happiness blossomed inside of her.
"That's more like it." Harry smiled. "I wonder if Moka was like that when she was younger?"
As memories came to her mind, the scene changed again. Akua was watching contentedly as little silver-haired Moka skipped along next to her mother. Bloodriver Akasha.
Harry swallowed hard. "Is- Is that… Akasha?"
Akua looked at him with a frown. But then the image changed. They were standing in front of a massive monster.
Akasha was standing in nothing but a black, silk corset and black panties. She was covered in blood and dirt. Tentacles from the monster pierced her skin.
At her feet lay a young, silver-haired, Moka.
"No." The real Akua whispered as the memory of Akasha leaned into her memory's ear.
"Akua… I have a favour to ask of you."
"No." The real Akua said again.
"I'm going to erase my memories to protect Moka in the form of another consciousness.
"But when the time comes, I want you to eradicate that other personality and free Moka."
Akasha stepped back as she placed a very familiar collar and rosary around her daughter's neck.
"Do this for Moka's happiness."
"No no no no NO!" Akua screamed as she fell to her knees and pounded the ground in anger and frustration. She looked up at Harry as the memory of Akasha was consumed by the monster.
"Why? Why are you doing this?" She demanded. Her tears had stopped… but only because she had no more left to spill.
Harry turned away from the memory and looked at her. "These are your memories. Would you prefer to see Jasmine again, happy and laughing?"
Akua gulped as the scene from the field appeared again.
"Why?" She asked weakly, still kneeling on the ground.
"Why do you want to kill the Huang family? Why do you want to kill all humans?" Harry asked.
She flinched badly as the scene of Jasmine's death reappeared.
"No… please… no."
"How did this happen?" Harry asked curiously. "How did that happy little girl… how?"
The scene changed again, they were back in the field, but Jasmine was crying.
"Please…" Akua begged hoarsely.
"This is all because you hurt one of the men in the village." The silver-haired girl said quietly as she refused young Akua's hand. "I had feelings for him… I loved him." Tears began to fall.
Memory Akua looked distraught, clearly she never thought her friend would feel this way.
"How could you?" The girl demanded. "How could you do such an awful thing?"
Harry watched as the friendship in the memories broke. Akua's friend, Jasmine, left her to try and apologise to the humans.
"And now you know." Akua growled through tear-reddened eyes. "That's why I want humans dead. They killed my Jasmine. I'll never let them hurt Moka."
"That's the deluded reasoning you've held onto for all these years?" Harry asked. "Jasmine left you because you killed someone she loved. The humans killed her because you revealed yourselves as murdering vampires.
"Now, I don't condone what happened to Jasmine. Given the chance I'd probably teach the villagers a thing or two for what they did to her.
"But, your life is going to continue to suck until you accept your mistakes. Your jealously and possessiveness. Your complete disregard for other people and the casual way you kill those you want gone."
"You know nothing! You think you can understand by just seeing my memories?" Akua struggled to her feet.
"Show me the boy. The one you killed because Jasmine loved him."
Akua wanted nothing more than to escape her memories, but the world around her changed again to reveal her younger self, her teeth sunk into the neck of a handsome young man as his mother and father watched on in horror.
"Look at this!" Harry demanded as he stalked around the figures. "You remember the feelings when you found Jasmine's body?
"Now look into the eyes of this woman." He pointed to the mother. "Look into the man's eyes. They are experiencing the same feelings. You are murdering their child. You give no reason. No mercy.
"You started this."
"He should never have looked at Jasmine!"
"And that's your decision to make?" Harry challenged. "Was she your friend… or your pet? Is that what you expect of Moka… to sit in a cage and look pretty so you can look at her when you're bored?"
"I would ne-"
"Moka has friends, family, both monster and human. Are you going to kill Issa, Kahlua, Kokoa?"
"Moka could never have human friends!"
Harry stared at her as he thought. He was doing things on an utter whim. This was not legilimancy, this was pure will-power. Something Yukari's father, Tamanori had taught him. How to shape magic with just his will.
But he had never done this before. He had entered her mind, never having a firm way out. Except, he didn't want a way out, he wanted to crossover, to his mind.
A door appeared in front of him, just as he willed it. Now was the true test.
"Come, let me show you Moka's life, the happiness you want to tear her away from."
"Never!" Akua sneered. "You are a liar! A charlatan! A pitiful sorcerer!"
"So pitiful that I have you at my mercy." Harry pointed out.
"This is my mind." She declared as she straightened. "You have played your hand and I can see through your bluff. I control things here."
Harry tried not to smirk. He really did.
"You think this is funny?" Akua raged. "I will rip you to pieces! I will-"
"You can't touch me." Harry said in a quiet voice. He walked over to the image of Akua with her teeth embedded in the boy's neck. He waved his hand through it. "Nothing in here is real. All that is here are your memories."
Harry concentrated and they were standing before the grisly scene of Jasmine, her severed torso on a pike, he limbs spread around her on separate pikes.
"I can trap you here. I can make you live out eternity, looking at… this."
Akua shuddered. She tried to make the image vanish. She tried to bring back the sight of Moka with her mother.
"Or I could be a good person and make you live forever, here."
The scene changed to the one of her and Jasmine frolicking in the fields.
"Akua, I do not want to hurt you. If you love Moka as much as you say then hurting you will hurt her. But she won't argue if I am forced to harm you to protect her, her friends or myself."
Akua looked at him, her face paled. A question came to her lips, one that she hadn't thought to ask before. "W-What are you to Moka?"
"In simple terms, I am her future husband." Harry frowned as he realised what that would mean for the girl.
"Y-You MONSTER!" She screamed. "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY MOKA!"
"WOULD YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN!" Harry roared. "Moka is the one who touches me. She is the one who drank my blood without asking when we first met. She is the one who dragged me into the shower a few months ago."
"You don't know what you have done!" She said hoarsely. "You've never met Moka. You've only ever met the fake Moka."
"I am the only one who can remove Moka's rosary. And I have done so, many times. The silver-haired Moka is the one who dragged me into the shower."
"No one can remove the rosary."
"And yet Akasha charged you with doing just that." Harry sighed and opened the door. "Hopefully this door will take us back to the real- Kurumu?"
The succubus was standing in the doorway with her wings and tail out.
"I was coming to find you." She said as she looked around curiously. "Moka is about to go on a rampage."
"Oh dear. Well, we were just about to leave." Harry shrugged. He turned to Akua. "If you stay, I don't know what will happen to you.
"You might just be trapped here forever or you might wake up. Of course, there is also a chance you will have control. Are you certain you can keep the bad memories away?"
Harry blinked his eyes open and saw several angry eyes looking down at him.
"Morning beautiful?" He tried.
The glares intensified.
"What's the damage?" He asked as he held up a hand and Inner Moka pulled him to his feet.
"You were gone for an hour." Yukari said as she hugged him tightly. "Fuhai-sama is a perv!"
"I am not a pervert!" Came the wizened old voice of indignation. "Get out of the way. We have work to do." Touhou irritably pushed past the girls.
"Where's Akua?" Harry asked as he looked around.
"She left." Mizore shrugged, pointing to a large hole in the ceiling.
"She awoke seconds before you and Kurumu." Ruby started to give a bit more detail. "She looked at Moka and ran."
"Akua doesn't run." Moka stated. "What happened, Harry?" She demanded.
"I entered her mind. I wanted to know why she wanted you."
"And?" Kurumu prompted.
Harry sighed as he sat back down. "The simplified version is that Akua has the same issues with you and Outer Moka that Kokoa does.
"A longer version… Outer Moka deserves to be present for."
"Is Moka in danger from her?" Kurumu asked.
"Inner Moka, no. However, she wants Inner Moka for herself. Just herself. She is willing to kill everyone to make it that way."
"What of Fairy Tale?" Touhou demanded. "Did you learn of her connection to them?"
Harry grimaced. "I got side tracked."
"'Side tracked?'" He said incredulously.
"I got to watch some very dark images." Harry glared at him. "My nightmares are going to be… epic."
Touhou was decidedly unimpressed.
"How badly did your heart break when Lingling died?" Harry asked. "How about when your son and daughter passed on?"
Touhou looked away and pressed no further.
"Did you examine Moka's rosary?"
"Yes." Touhou said quietly as he tried no to remember the darker times. "It is not what it seems. It is not simply a seal to restrict her true powers."
"I know." Harry said gravely. "Are there any problems with it? Does Inner Moka need the Belmont to come out?"
"It was weakening, it was never meant to be continuously removed and worn. Think of it like a paper-clip. If you keep bending it, it will eventually snap."
"Can you change that?"
"No. And I would not trust in the Belmont as a means to bypass the seal." Touhou warned.
"So I must remained sealed." Moka nodded as she unwrapped the whip from her thigh. Outer Moka reappeared as the whip vanished into the pouch on her other thigh.
"Touhou, can you fix the seal again if it weakens?" Outer Moka asked.
Unfortunately, the old man was transfixed by the sight of Outer Moka.
"Pervert!" Kurumu hissed as she smacked the back of his head.
"Kurumu." Harry quietly pulled her away. "That's not why he's staring."
Harry stepped between Touhou and Moka and looked at the old man. "She has no idea."
"Hedwig!"
All attention was turned to the succubus as a tiny purple-haired female shot out of her cleavage.
"I did not know succubae could do that." Touhou muttered to himself.
The others followed Lilith's flight as she intercepted the incoming owl as it entered the building through the hole Akua had left.
"Prek!" Hedwig said firmly as she held out her claw from her perch on Moka's shoulder.
Harry quickly took the attached parchment and read it.
Harry's expression became tighter and tighter.
"Harry? What has happened?" Moka asked worriedly.
He handed the letter to Touhou. "The interrogation of Kiria and Hokuto was… fruitful." He said with a grimace. "They gave us the names and identities of many of the top players in Fairy Tale.
"Your step-mother, Shuzen Gyokuro, is the leader."
"Oh…" It was all she could come up with.
"Also, when I took Kiria and Hokuto to the Ice Village for holding, the Ice Priestess asked me to look at something. We found a-"
"Enough!" Touhou interrupted with an angry look. He saw Harry about to challenge him and spoke first. "I know you will tell them. But you must tell only them. You must be more careful of where you speak."
"Grandfather!"
The old man turned to his Great Grandson and gave him an apologetic look. "It is not you who we distrust, my son. But, we cannot trust that this place does not have unwanted eavesdroppers."
He turned back to Harry. "Follow me, I know a place we can talk in private."