The engine of the black sedan grumbled while in park. From the middle of the back seat, Kurumu watched Ms. Kyuusai return the gate to bar this narrow road up the wooded hill. The succubus was sporting an open white suit jacket and matching slacks with a loose peach blouse.
Wanting to match the attire of the vampire sisters, Kurumu had on her pink sundress. She was wearing her black strapless so her shoulders only had the thin straps of her dress. Yukari sat behind the vacant driver seat, sporting her peach sundress with the straps knotted up to keep the fabric close to her chest.
Sitting on Kurumu's left, Mizore was wearing that pastel blue, long sleeved dress with the white dot pattern. The fabric hugged her waist and hips with the ruffled skirt flaring out and ending shy of her knees. Her purple and white striped stockings covered every bit of her exposed legs.
Up in the front passenger seat was Rubi. The older witch was rocking her burgundy blazer with matching slacks and a faded pink blouse. She looked as mature as their escorts.
Their other escort, Ms. Yashin, was the driver of the silver sedan parked a little further up this narrow road. She had the three vampire sisters in her back seat while Tsukune was up in the front. The rest of their group had remained at the hotel in Tokyo.
Ms. Kyuusai hurried back to the vehicle, opening the front door. The burgundy haired woman settled into the driver's seat, shutting the door and buckling her seat belt. As the car ahead of them started to slowly pull away, Ms. Kyuusai shifted gears and rolled up the incline.
"I honestly don't know how Mr. Ougi manages to travel to all of these remote villages."
"Mr. Ougi? Who is that?"
Ms. Kyuusai laughed brightly as she picked up speed, following the slight curves of this road.
"You probably know him by a different name. Or you just call him the bus driver like most people do."
Yukari frowned, fussing with her seat belt. Her yellow tote rested against her left thigh. Kurumu's lavender purse was next to Mizore's zebra striped tote between Kurumu and the snow girl.
"Do you know Mr. Nurari?"
They made a sharp turn to the left before making another sharp right turn, crossing a bridge over a dry riverbed. They turned another sharp right, angling up the hillside.
"Can't say that I do. I know a Mr. Ougi with dark hair and a dark moustache. He loves to smoke cigars when he isn't delivering mail or ferrying students to and from school activities."
They curved left and the narrow road straightened out as it cut through the trees. Yukari scooted up in her seat as far as the belt allowed.
"Are you saying that this bus driver does the mail for all of Japan?"
"I'm saying that there is a bus driver whom looks like Mr. Ougi in every prefecture that I have worked in. He tries to remember that he's supposed to be Mr. Ougi for me but sometimes he forgets. I've heard him answer to many different names."
Kurumu could only shake her head in disbelief as they followed the curves of this narrow road which flanked a dried up stream on their right. Yukari sighed heavily.
"I don't understand. Every new thing that I learn about this Mr. Nurari makes me feel like he could do more for us. Why doesn't he help us fight Alucard?"
"I can't answer that, young lady. Nor could I tell you what Mr. Ougi is. He seems content to be a simple bus driver and mailman. And since there haven't been any complaints of him assaulting any students, Fairy Tale has left him alone for as long as I've known him."
They drifted right on the road, matching the path of the nearby stream. They promptly curved back to the left, hugging this hillside as they continued the steady incline.
"How long have you known him?"
"My first encounter with him was back in October of 55. I had just bought Anzu and her twin sister from an angry mob whom had burned their mother at the stake. I honestly had no idea how long my charm would work on those purebloods so stumbling across Mr. Ougi was like divine intervention."
The succubus chuckled as they went down a mild decline while making a slight turn to the right. The hill to the left was shored up in several sections for a short stretch before they were back to cutting up through the woods with the stream still on their right.
"He was just sitting there at the bus stop. Like he was waiting for me. Asked if I needed a lift. He took us to Hayatori in seconds. I had my doubts that he had managed that in so little time. But it was Hayatori."
Kurumu nodded thoughtfully as they approached a sharp left turn. They followed the sedan up, turning all the way back around on a higher section of road. They cut through the woods.
"Hayatori is in Kyoto, right? Where Kokoa had her fencing tournament."
Ms. Kyuusai snickered as they approached a sharp turn to right. They followed this curve around some woods, heading up till they were back facing their first direction. The road continued to weave through the forest along this gradual incline.
"It's in the Kyoto prefecture. And he ditched us there. Walking from Hayatori to my home in Hashibetsu took over four days with those kids. I had some words with Mr. Ougi the next time our paths crossed."
Kurumu chuckled, supposing Mr. Nurari's mischief had not changed over the years.
"That does sound like Mr. Nurari. Where is Hashibetsu?"
"It's a small town on the border of the Hyogo and Tottori prefectures. Home to Koete high school, so he could have taken me there instead. Claimed it was my fault for not telling him where I needed to go."
"Is that the prefectural school?"
"Naw. Just a local one full of country kids. It wouldn't surprise me if half the students are from Tottori."
They were running alongside the stream at the moment. Kurumu could see guardrails up the hill on her left for a road higher than them. The silver sedan in front was starting a curve to the left.
"Didn't you leave Ms. Aimai and her sister in a village ran by Elder Hajinai?"
"I tried caring for them but I was a traveling merchant, selling goods between the villages of the Hyogo and Kyoto prefectures. I couldn't leave those two unattended so I took them to Nagami."
They had doubled back on that higher road and were approaching a right hand curve. They followed the sedan around, doubling back again. They cruised along this path with the woods to the left.
"Nagami? Was she a member of Elder Hajinai's community?"
"Elder Hajinai was Nagami at that time. She might still be."
Kurumu frowned as they drifted to the right before curving back left.
"Master Touhou said he fought Alucard with a Hajinai Mume."
"Mume was the first Elder Hajinai. Nagami is Mume's second daughter. She was out with a patrol getting supplies for our village when Fairy Tale came for us."
They curved away from a section of shored up hillside. They drifted back left into the woods for a short ways before curving back right. The road made another slight left before straightening out.
"That was late summer of 22. I was only a year into my wings. They killed most of the adults, including Elder Mume and her other three daughters. And my mother of course."
The succubus paused as they drifted left, following the silver sedan. The dry riverbed remained on the right with some sections clearly shored up by man.
"Tenshi was the oldest of the survivors. She was Elder Mume's first granddaughter. She claimed the name of Miburui out of concern that she might have been killed if they knew she was a Hajinai."
"What happened to the other survivors?"
They turned about to the left, coming back up the hillside away from the valley created by the stream
"We were made into pleasure slaves. Nagami's older girl, Terume, died from their primitive sterilization methods. Don't know what exactly happened to most of the others. But they're all dead. Tenshi would have found them like she did me if they were still alive."
They made a sharp right turn, going a short ways before making a more gradual right turn. They drifted back left before the road straightened out.
"Ms. Aimai didn't seem to like the Elder Hajinai of that village."
"Nagami was a shell of a woman when our paths crossed in February of 46. She had a little girl, Nagori, whom had just turned four. According to the other women there, Nagami had been running that small community for at least a decade before I found it."
They drifted right with a guardrail between them and the valley below. They followed the wide left curve on a turnabout, bringing them up. The narrow road straightened for a short ways before curving right.
"Nagori was such a sweet girl, always trying to cheer up her mother. She had a positive outlook and was the nicest soul in that hellhole of broken women. I often came back from my merchant trips to find the twins playing with her and the few other children unfortunate to end up there. She was like the town's babysitter since most of those girls had lost their mothers."
They made another sharp left turn, presumably above the stretch of road they had been on earlier. They drifted more to the left, drawing further away from the valley on the right.
"Ms. Aimai never mentioned this Nagori."
"Anzu doesn't want to think about the good girls whom either died or were forced into slavery when I sold that village out to save her life back in March of 67."
The road veered to the right for a long stretch before curving back left.
"Nagori had a little girl less than a year old when this happened. Named her Terume, thinking that would make her mother happy."
The road banked to the right over the shored up valley with the guardrails on both sides. They made the gradual curve, cutting up the hillside on the far side of the valley.
"I always felt bad for Nagori and the twins. That place was nothing like the kind community Tenshi and I grew up in. Nagami called it a sanctuary but it was sepulcher."
They reached the end of the straight stretch, curving left for a short distance. They drifted right before coming back left. A new valley that was shored up in section was visible through the woods on her right.
"Is Nagami the Elder Hajinai whom helped Ms. Sakurai find mates?"
"Unless Nagami had a huge change of heart, she would never start up a match making service."
"She wasn't a match maker?"
The road made a wide right curve before crossing a bridge over a ravine.
"Nagami? Never. Elder Mume dabbled a little with it back in the day when her villagers became restless. Her eldest daughter, Nozomi, was the first to be matched, having Tenshi on July sixth of 1902."
"How old are you?"
"I turned ninety six on the twenty seventh of December. I had not even turned thirteen before they tore my baby maker out and took my virginity."
Kurumu grimaced, not wanting to hear about the atrocities committed by the old Fairy Tale.
"Who do you think this Elder Hajinai is?"
They crested the hill, drifting left. A small cabin stood on the right. A small parking area flanked the left side of the road further up.
"Can't say for certain. Elder Mume did have another daughter, Niimi, whom left the village before Tenshi was born. She ran off to find herself a mate. Some speculated that losing her third daughter was why Elder Mume started up her whole match making hobby. But it was probably how Fairy Tale found us."
They had passed the parking lot and were now driving up a dirt path through the woods. Kurumu was about to say something when they suddenly were back on a road. The trees about them were lush and green without any hint of winter like the earlier forest. But the sun positioning was the same. She would swear even the clouds were consistent.
"Did we cross through a barrier?"
"Most likely. I've never been to Kunitama before. I'm just following Ms. Yashin."
"But it wasn't an illusion, right?"
"Pretty sure this is another place. We're only here because of this device."
Ms. Kyuusai patted the yellow charm marked with black characters hanging from the rear view mirror.
Kurumu nodded, pulling her purse into her lap. She unzipped it and fished out her phone, confirming that it was still a few minutes before noon. She carefully put her phone back inside her purse, trying not to clank it against the yunomi she had picked up at a souvenir shop. While it lacked the prefectural flag her others, it did have a graphic of the Tokyo Tower.
"Do you think we have time to find a souvenir shop in Kanagawa?"
Ms. Kyuusai chuckled as they followed the silver sedan on this winding road through the verdant woods.
"I have no idea how well Ms. Yashin knows this prefecture. Just be thankful that she found that souvenir shop in Tokyo real fast for you."
The silver sedan in front slowed, turning on a blinker. They followed the sedan into a huge parking lot.
"Have you ever thought about meeting this Elder Hajinai?"
Ms. Kyuusai steered the car through the aisles between the rows of parked cars. The silver sedan parked in a spot with several vacant spaces on either side. The succubus slowed and turned, easing their vehicle into a space with an open one between their sedans.
"Not really, Ms. Kurono. Even if it is Niimi, my reputation as a traitor is well known among our kind. I'd rather spare myself that encounter than find out the truth."
Having put the car in park, Ms. Kyuusai turned the key to shut off the engine. The doors of the adjacent sedan opened. Kokoa hopped out first with Moka following her. The stocky Ms. Yashin got out, wearing a crimson blazer over a black blouse. Her textured gray slacks flared out over her black, platform boots.
Moka had on her pink sundress while Kokoa was sporting her pink sundress with the white dot pattern which looked much shorter on her. Both had on strapless bras to not interfere with the thin straps of their dresses. Kokoa had her silver bangs held back with her mother's barrette while carrying her dark green tote. Moka had her crimson purse, having recovered her luggage from the Garden.
Akua exited on the other side of the sedan a few seconds before Tsukune. The dark haired sister looked quite feminine in that short sleeved, pink dress which was crimped about her waist. The girl scowled as she walked around the back of the sedan with the bottom hem of her dress kicking about her calves.
Yukari opened her door as Ms. Kyuusai shut hers. Kurumu smiled, scooting towards Yukari's open door as Rubi opened her own to get out.
"Come on, Mizore. Time to go."
Mizore let out a soft sound before she opened her door.
"Don't forget your purse."
Kurumu tugged her purse up to hang it by its strap upon her shoulder as Rubi and Yukari closed their respective doors. Holding her purse to her side, she wandered around the back of the sedan.
The silver sedan chirped, signifying that the doors had been locked by Ms. Yashin. Tsukune had strolled around the front of the car. He had on a white shirt with the Japanese flag graphic in the center and a pair of black cotton shorts. The garments had been acquired for him since his outfit had been ruined.
"Ms. Suukei's place isn't far from here. Her cottage is the first one we'll come across."
Kurumu nodded at Ms. Yashin's declaration as the succubus pocketed her keys. She held a hand out to Mizore, waiting for the snow girl to fix up the strap of her tote. Mizore smiled softly, closing her door before taking Kurumu's hand.
"We're following your lead."
Ms. Kyuusai finished her statement, pushing a button to cause her vehicle to chirp.
"This way."
Ms. Yashin stepped up onto the sidewalk which flanked the parking lot, starting off at a brisk pace. Akua hurried after her, prompting her sisters to follow. Kurumu steered Mizore over to Tsukune's side, keeping a steady pace to not fall too far behind. Rubi and Yukari matched their comfortable pace behind them while Ms. Kyuusai remained in the back.
"Ready to meet Moka's father?"
"I'm poorly dressed for the occasion."
Their escort turned left, heading up a paved path which cut through the woods away from the lot.
"Yea. I lost an entire outfit too. Thankfully not one I cared much about."
"I'm still amazed at it all. Her illusions were so believable."
"Illusions aren't what caused your clothes to get trashed. You, Ginei and Miyamoto all did it yourselves when you whipped out your true forms."
"Ours were destroyed by Kahlua."
Kurumu smirked at Mizore's input as they turned to follow the others up that path.
"Well Kahlua was real. At least you didn't fly to Tokyo Tower butt naked."
"You still had socks and shoes."
Kurumu smirked at Mizore's comment, shaking her head.
"I still can't get over how she made an illusion of Hokuto. I nearly passed out after I beat down that fake Gyokuro. And then Hokuto was there and I was up on a tower."
Moka laughed brightly, glancing over her shoulder.
"I saw that too. I was wondering how he got up there in a wheelchair."
"Was crazy. Thought we crash into ground."
"And you protected Kokoa."
Akua blushed at Moka's remark.
"Had to. Stupid girl was unconscious."
Tsukune chuckled as they walked along this trail which was flanked by light posts.
"She was quite creative. The Gyokuro suddenly merged with Alucard and destroyed the fortress. I was separated from Moka but Kaneshiro saved me from Yoshii. So much of it didn't make sense and I guess I just collapsed out of exhaustion."
Moka sighed heavily.
"Yea. I think we all pretty much did. The last thing I remember was seeing Ms. Hitori in the wreckage after Alucard vanished. She was holding Otonashi in her arms."
Most of them had been unconscious when the Headmaster had seized control of the Garden. With the aid of many human soldiers, the Headmaster had killed Lord Shingai and the men under his command. After their victory, Ms. Kyuusai had persuaded the staff to take the Garden back out to sea.
"I'm just glad that these women think that they can cover this up. While you can't take pictures of an illusion, the Garden was real. Thousands of Japanese citizens must have seen it."
"That will be tabloid news until we get it under wraps. Humans see UFOs often enough that this incident will soon be written off as superstition and paranoia."
"Will it really be that easy?"
Ms. Kyuusai chuckled at Yukari's dubious look.
"Yes. As most of the fighting took place in monster communities, there were minimal human casualties. The humans whom sacrificed their lives to fight Lord Shingai's forces were mostly single men."
"And you will just act like they didn't exist?"
"We will do whatever is best for Fairy Tale. We can worry about human and monster relations after we locate Lord Fujisaki and deal with him."
Tsukune sighed heavily as the woods about them started thinning out. Kurumu could see some buildings through the woods up ahead.
"I just wish that we knew how to find him. We have the rosary but no idea as to where he might be."
"It's this way."
Ms. Yashin veered to her left off the path which continued into a residential district. Ignoring the many homes, Kurumu took notice of the small cottage that the stocky succubus was approaching. The small dirt path ended at the gate of a white picket fence.
In the middle of the grassy yard stood a two story home with white paneling and a black tiled roof. On the other side of the gate was a polished stone path which ended at a small covered porch. The front door was recessed with a large window on one side. A smaller window was on the other though it was elevated and likely above a counter. There were four more windows on the upper level facing them. But these upper windows and the big lower one had their drapes drawn, denying them view of the interior.
Ms. Yashin paused at the gate, turning to face them.
"There is a magic barrier set upon this fence which covers this cottage. You can't fly over it or dig your way under it. I'm still baffled over how Ms. Miburui infiltrated it."
Ms. Kyuusai chuckled as they all gathered about.
"That is Tenshi for you. She probably imagined her way through it."
Ms. Yashin frowned, turning her attention back to the barrier. She held a large hand out, touching the surface which crackled with energy.
"Unless you know how to do that too, we'll need one of these witches to take this barrier down."
"I can do that."
Yukari walked up to the gate, placing her hands on the crackling barrier. After a moment, she stepped back and looked at Ms. Yashin.
"This barrier has a key."
"We recovered one from Ms. Suukei's body."
Ms. Kyuusai moved around them to Yukari's side. She pulled out a silver bracelet which was riddled with silver charms glinting in the sunlight. Yukari took the bracelet, looking it over before handing it back.
"That will only let one person through. It's better to just take the barrier down."
Yukari turned her attention back to the gate, holding her hands up. Kurumu felt the subtle draw of power from the environment as Yukari prepared her spell.
"Just a warning. The charm of a succubus may persist even after her death. Lord Issa may be hostile."
Kokoa huffed at Ms. Yashin's words.
"No. I've seen this encounter thousands of times. Father is never hostile."
Akua grimaced, clenching her fists. The older sister looked away as Yukari remained still.
"Any tips of what I should say to her father?"
Kurumu giggled at his soft inquiry.
"Just don't embarrass Moka."
"That's not very helpful."
Yukari let out a heavy sigh as she lowered her hands.
"The barrier is down."
Ms. Yashin nodded, stepping over to the gate. She let out a slight sound of approval as she touched the lever. Pushing it up, she grabbed hold of the gate as she swung it inside. She gestured for them.
Kokoa was first to take the invitation, moving ahead of her sisters. She quickly crossed the yard, stepping up onto the white wood porch. She glanced over her shoulder at her sisters before knocking on the door.
Kurumu squeezed Mizore's hand before following Yukari and Rubi into the yard. Tsukune lingered behind her as Ms. Yashin closed up the gate once Ms. Kyuusai had passed through. Kurumu reached the base of the porch when Kokoa knocked a second time.
"Shuzen Issa! Answer your door!"
Yukari snickered with a shake of her head.
"Is yelling his name necessary?"
Kokoa shrugged, backing away from the door. Kurumu's heart fluttered as the seconds passed. She favored Mizore an uneasy smile.
"How are you feeling, Mizore?"
"Wishing Aoi was with us."
Kurumu should have anticipated that response. Those in charge of Fairy Tale had their hands full. Their important escorts were only sticking around long enough to confirm that the situation was safe. If not for the Headmaster's insistence, none of them would have been brought here.
The sound of the deadbolt turning brought Kurumu's attention back to the door. It was eased open and the familiar visage of Shuzen Issa peered out at them. His moustache and beard were carefully trimmed and his dark locks brushed upon his shoulders. He was sporting a long sleeved, black sweater with a snowflake pattern and a pair of denim jeans. His crimson eyes locked upon Akua.
"Akua?"
Akua faltered back a step. She looked away with a grimace.
"Not only one here."
The father nodded, looking them over. His eyes fixated on the buxom women in the back.
"Is it over then?"
"Not yet, Father. We need to find Lord Fujisaki."
Lord Issa stumbled back from Kokoa with wide eyes.
"Kokoa? Is that you?"
Moka laughed softly, moving to Kokoa's side.
"It is Kokoa. And I'm Moka."
Lord Issa let out a brief laugh. He shook his head, letting go of the door.
"My girls. All grown up."
"Do you have any information about Lord Fujisaki's whereabouts?"
The father smiled, lowering his gaze.
"Miryou is dead. Isn't she?"
Kurumu's heart fluttered at the question. Kokoa stepped closer with a nod.
"Yes, Father. She killed herself."
A pained expression crossed his face.
"My girls all cried last night at the same time. It was… unexpected. They were inconsolable."
"May we come inside?"
Lord Issa nodded at Kokoa's request. He retreated from the door.
"Yes. I'll see if they are willing to come down."
Kokoa gestured for Moka to follow her as she entered the home. Akua muttered a curse in Cantonese under her breath as she shuffled inside with her sisters. Kurumu stepped up onto the porch, drifting closer to the door behind the witches.
"I hope you aren't expecting a meal. Miryou hasn't been home for over a week and our food supply is almost at its end."
"It will be fine, Father. The barrier about your home has been taken down."
"That's good news. If you could wait in the living room. I'll be right back."
Rubi and Yukari crossed the threshold, pausing to remove their shoes. Rubi had on those long, black boots with the platform soles and silver buckles which would take time to remove. Yukari easily stepped out of her glossy black, Mary Janes which also had platform soles. She placed her shoes beside Moka's glossy black, Mary Janes riddled with sequins.
Kurumu let go of Mizore's hand, stepping into the genkan. A door for a closet was on her right. Yukari wandered down this corridor, slipping through an opening on the left.
Before Rubi was out of her boots, Kurumu was free of her wedges. She stepped up onto the tatami flooring, sauntering down the corridor. An opening on the right was for a dining area with a white wood table flanked by six white chairs with yellow custard cushions embedded into the square seats and arched backs. The start of the stair was further down this hall on her right, consisting of white wood steps and white wood railing.
Kurumu meandered through the opening on her left. The vampire sisters stood in front of a textured gray sofa with the back to the large window covered by cream drapes. Two armchairs flanked either side of the sofa, having the same textured gray exterior. A glossy black, low table rested in front of the sofa.
Across from the couch against the wall was an entertainment center made from varnished, cherry wood. A bulky black television rested in the center with children oriented DVDs stacked in the spaces beside it. The solid wood doors of the smaller compartments had brass knobs.
The far wall lacked windows. There were two bookcases and a black cushioned chair in the far corner. This other corner on the right had a little play center of moving blocks for toddlers.
A chilly hand touched her shoulder, prompting Kurumu to smile at Mizore. Rubi wandered over to join Yukari in front of the armchair furthest from the opening. Tsukune entered with a nervous smile, drifting over to the other armchair. Nobody took the initiative to sit down.
Kurumu heard the front door close. A few moments later Ms. Kyuusai sashayed through the opening. After a cursory glance with her bronze eyes, the buxom escort drifted behind the nearest armchair.
"This place looks nice."
Ms. Yashin chuckled at Tsukune's comment as she entered the room.
"Ought to. It was built only seven years ago."
The woman paused with a look about the room before electing to lean against the wall by the opening with her arms crossed below her ample bosom.
Little footsteps carried down the stairs. Seconds later a small girl with shaggy dark hair and bronze skin bounded into the corridor, pausing at the opening. Her dark eyes went wide as her tiny mouth went slack. A white shirt with a red wolf graphic, short red sleeves and a red hem about her collar graced her tiny torso. Red cotton pants brushed her ankles as she drifted closer with bare feet.
"Who you people?"
"We're friends of your mother."
The child turned at Ms. Yashin's declaration. She gasped with a half step back.
"You so big!"
Ms. Kyuusai giggled at Ms. Yashin's frown.
"Ms. Yashin had a big mother. What's your name, little one?"
"Rio. Where is my mother?"
Ms. Kyuusai moved over to the girl. She got down on one knee and touched the little girl in the chest.
"You must have felt it."
The child's lip trembled as she looked to the side.
"She's gone, isn't she?"
"Yes, sweetie. We did all we could to save her."
Ms. Yashin took in a deep breath as the heavy sounds of footsteps announced Lord Issa's descent.
"It's my fault. I should have watched her more closely."
"No, Mujou. This is on Tenshi."
Lord Issa finally returned, carrying a tiny girl with shaggy dark locks in his arms. The toddler had her tiny head nestled against his shoulder and was dressed in a simple pink tee and a diaper.
Two other little girls padded over to his legs, each grabbing hold of one. The girl on his left was taller with her dark locks pulled to either side of her head in twin tails with red glass baubles holding them. She had on a yellow shirt with a white cloud graphic and gray cotton pants. The shorter child had her thumb in her mouth with her dark mess of locks hiding her eyes and ears. This girl was wearing a long black tee with a white unicorn graphic which came down to her knees.
"I assume that you are talking about Miryou."
Ms. Kyuusai smiled as Rio sniffled. She straightened up with a nod.
"We were confirming this child's suspicion. Your mother was a very talented associate of ours. She died trying to stand up to a monster alone instead of relying on us."
"Did she lose to the devil?"
Ms. Kyuusai sighed, patting Rio's head.
"Yes. And we are hoping that your father might help us find that devil."
Lord Issa smiled thinly as he shifted the toddler higher in his arms.
"I wish I could. But Miryou rarely talked about Lord Fujisaki."
"Are these your daughters?"
Lord Issa chuckled softly at Moka's inquiry.
"Yes. I suppose I should introduce them real quick. The oldest one is Rio. She's five. Kotori here is almost a whole year younger than Rio. Say hello, Kotori."
The girl with the baubles let go of his leg and shuffled aside. She bowed slightly.
"Hewwo."
"Hisae will be turning three next month and this little one is Amane. She can walk but I guess she's in no mood to. Hopefully she'll eat this time."
Moka grinned, drifting over to Kurumu's side. She touched her breast.
"I am Shuzen Moka. Your elder sister."
"One of your elder sisters."
Kokoa strolled up, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm Shuzen Kokoa. One year younger than Moka."
Akua scoffed, remaining where she was.
"Nobody care for your new happy family."
Moka smiled apologetically, gesturing back at Akua.
"That is Shuzen Akua. Our oldest sister."
"Why they not have same last name as us, Daddy?"
"Because they are vampires, like me. Your mother didn't want to get you mixed up in the affairs of the Shuzen Estate."
Rio nodded with lips pursed.
"Who are these other people?"
Lord Issa chuckled, shifting the toddler in his arms again.
"I can't exactly say. I met two of these women back when Kokoa's mother was elected as President of Fairy Tale. Can't say that I recall their names though."
"Kyuusai Kaiga. And my associate is Yashin Mujou."
Lord Issa nodded thoughtfully, turning his attention upon Kurumu and her friends. Kurumu immediately touched her breast, stepping forward with a slight bow.
"I'm Kurono Kurumu. A friend of your daughters."
"I can tell. You and the younger girl have been marked by her."
His crimson eyes settled upon Tsukune.
"What relationship do you have with my daughter?"
Tsukune laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm her-"
"Friend, Father. He is also my blood claim."
Lord Issa's eyes remained fixated upon Tsukune.
"You've given him your Shinso blood."
Both Moka and Tsukune blushed. Kurumu's heart fluttered, feeling compelled to speak.
"It was necessary, Lord Issa. His life was in jeopardy so Moka saved him."
Lord Issa took in a deep breath as he glanced about the rest of the group.
"And this young man has marked these other two ladies. What is your name?"
"Aono Tsukune, Sir."
"And is the child this young woman is carrying yours?"
Mizore touched her belly with both hands.
"No. This child belongs to Aoi."
"So it is yours."
"I said Aoi, not Aono."
"This is complicated, Father. And something that my little sisters don't need to hear."
Lord Issa smirked at Kokoa's interjection.
"If one of you ladies would volunteer to help make lunch for my girls, it would be much appreciated."
"If you wouldn't mind."
Ms. Yashin frowned when Ms. Kyuusai gestured at her.
"I don't know how to cook."
Rubi laughed brightly, walking by them.
"I could do that, Lord Issa."
"My thanks, miss…"
"Toujou. Toujou Rubi."
"I'll sit them down. Hopefully they will stay put."
Kurumu grinned as the father retreated with the two little girls keeping close to his legs.
"Come with me."
Rio frowned, reluctantly taking Rubi's offered hand. Rubi steered the child out of the room.
"Could you watch the girls while Ms. Toujou cooks?"
Ms. Yashin sighed, wandering out of the room in response to Ms. Kyuusai's question.
"Fucking loser. We are wasting our time here."
Kokoa huffed at Akua's remark.
"Most of us can speak Cantonese, Sister."
"Not care. He useless."
"We are here for a reason."
"You always coddled. This man abandon me. Make new happy family. Now he did same to you."
"It wasn't his choice, Sister."
Akua glared at Moka.
"He worthless. Akasha loved us all more."
Lord Issa sauntered back into the room with a sigh.
"I suppose I deserve that."
"Why any woman lay with you beyond me."
Lord Issa smiled thinly.
"I was a terrible father to you. Perhaps to all of you."
"You don't have to apologize."
"No, Moka. If Akua had not made an official challenge for the Eldest Daughter, you would have never met her. I was okay with never seeing Hanami's daughter again."
"Where is Fujisaki?!"
Lord Issa sighed at Akua's anger.
"I've been trapped here for at least six years. My memories before this prison feel so far away. After an argument with Gyokuro, I rushed back home to speak with Akasha. It was destroyed and as I picked through the rubble, Fujisaki Miyabi confronted me."
Lord Issa paused, glancing at the entertainment center.
"He spared little words with me. He blamed me for Hanami's death. It was an impossible fight. He would not die no matter what I did to him. After what felt like hours, I realized that he was Alucard."
The father sighed heavily, letting his hands fall to his sides.
"I did what I could but he won the endurance battle. After that, I spent what felt like an eternity drifting in and out of consciousness. I had no idea where I was or whom was in the room with me."
He took in another deep breath, gesturing at the room.
"And then I was brought here with Ms. Suukei Miryou as my warden."
"Where you had nice happy family and forget about us!"
Lord Issa chuckled softly at the scathing accusation.
"It was like a dream. I was with Akasha and we had this little cottage away from the rest of the world. Away from the Fairy Tale politics that Gyokuro was mixed up in and the Shuzen Family antics. We started making our own family with Miryou."
He smirked with a slight shake of his head.
"It was confusing. I knew from the start that Miryou was a succubus. But there were two women here. Of that I became certain. Akasha became pregnant and Miryou often left for work. Akasha was in love with me and Miryou. She didn't mind sharing the bed."
The father paused again, wandering over to the wall to lean his shoulder against it.
"I was worried when Rio came so early. We nursed the tiny baby for several months together. Miryou would take care of my sexual cravings. And Akasha got pregnant again. My mind was so muddled that I could not say if it was my doing or not. It honestly wasn't until Kotori was also born months early that I confronted Miryou about the situation."
He laughed, turning to rest his entire back against the wall.
"Which was futile. She twisted my thoughts and left me with the belief that Akasha's womb was so damaged that this was the only way Akasha could have children. And somehow I was fine with that."
"Didn't you try to drink her blood?"
Lord Issa smirked at Moka's inquiry.
"It often crossed my mind when Miryou wasn't around. But when she entered this house, that thought was absent. She'd let me argue and chat with her but she was always in control. And I was only aware of that when she was gone. It was frustrating."
"What about this other woman? This Akasha living with you?"
Lord Issa smiled at Kurumu. The look in his eyes became distant.
"This Akasha died giving birth to Amane. Within hours, Miryou came rushing through that door. She was devastated. Her illusion over that girl faded when she accepted her partner's death."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"We had a good talk that night. The woman whom we had been living with was Akamori Hiyori. She was Miryou's classmate and friend. A young okami whom had been looking for a way to avoid going back to her small village and marrying whomever her parents found for her."
Kurumu's heart tightened as she felt tears threatening her eyes.
"Some sins cannot be forgiven."
Lord Issa looked up at her.
"Yes. She often said that after Akamori's death."
"And she never told you anything about Lord Fujisaki that could help us find him?"
Lord Issa sighed, glancing at Ms. Kyuusai.
"I wish I could help you. I tried arguing with Miryou since the notion of harming her never felt rational. But she would not let me leave. She needed me to take care of the girls. I knew that she was working with Lord Fujisaki and pleaded with her to let me help. But she believed that only God could defeat the devil. She was very Christian. Made me go to church every Sunday."
"How? The barrier around this cottage only has a key for one person."
Lord Issa glanced at Yukari and shrugged.
"We never actually left. It was all an illusion. These last few months I have become very aware of that barrier since we often ran low on supplies. Miryou was more withdrawn and her visits less frequent. It was often down to just the Sunday visit but she's missed two of those this month. She would fawn over her girls, barely taking notice of me."
"As if feel sorry for you."
Lord Issa smiled thinly at Akua.
"Miryou was a troubled young woman. She was only two months older than you."
"Yet you slept with her."
Yukari sighed dramatically in the following uncomfortable silence.
"Well you can leave now. I took that barrier down."
Lord Issa chuckled, nodding.
"Yes. Kokoa mentioned that. I believe we skipped your introduction."
"Sendou Yukari and I will be my Moka's wife."
Moka blushed, shaking her head as Yukari touched her subtle chest proudly.
"I only took her blood because she kept teasing me with it."
"And whom is this lovely maiden whom is with child?"
Mizore bowed her head slightly.
"Shirayuki Mizore, Sir."
"Shirayuki, eh? I recall that being the family in control of the central village in Hokkaido."
"Yes, Sir. Yukimura."
"Are you the girl that was supposed to get married to Lord Umizake's kid?"
Kurumu laughed brightly, stepping over to place her hand on Mizore's shoulder.
"That's right. His son is Aoi."
"You should relinquish your blood claim on this young woman, Mr. Aono. It's not good to play around with another man's wife."
Tsukune stiffened up with a nod.
"Yes, Sir! I only was taking her blood to help me transition into becoming a vampire."
Lord Issa frowned, turning his gaze upon Moka.
"This young man wasn't born a vampire?"
Moka blushed, glancing aside.
"No, Father. He was human."
"He received blood from Mother and me to complete his Rite of Ascension. Kurumu agreed to become my handmaiden in exchange for my blood."
The father's frown deepened at Kokoa's input as he regarded Tsukune.
"I trust that you aren't fooling around with any of my daughters."
"Absolutely not, Sir!"
"That is quite the sacrifice that you made, Ms. Kurono. And a rather strange one at that."
"I agree, Father. Moka should relinquish her blood claim on my property."
"Not without a fight!"
Kurumu laughed, stepping between the sisters.
"Hey now. I don't mind it being like this."
Lord Issa chuckled before taking in a deep breath with a grin.
"I've missed so much. Where is your mother, Kokoa?"
Kurumu's heart twisted as Kokoa flinched. Both Moka and Akua looked away.
"Lord Issa. I regret-"
"No."
Kokoa cut off Ms. Kyuusai, turning to face her father. She touched her breast.
"She's here, Father. The last drop is here."
Lord Issa's eyes flickered for a moment before settling on the barrette. He swallowed with a nod.
"I see. And Kahlua?"
"Missing, Father. We hope that she is alive with Lady Chuujitsu."
"Lady Chuujitsu? Region Commander of Chugoku?"
"Yes. That's the one."
"Why is she involved?"
Kurumu looked at the other girls, wondering where they should start.
"We have a situation, Lord Issa. Lord Fujisaki has revived Alucard."
The father flinched at Ms. Kyuusai's statement.
"That's not possible. Akasha sacrificed herself to make certain that Alucard's main body would remain dormant. It would take Shinso-"
He gasped, looking at Moka.
"I'm sorry, Father. I was kidnapped."
"By Akua."
Akua scowled at Kokoa.
"Not my fault! I keep promise to Akasha but that boy interfere!"
"It was an illusion, Akua. Ms. Suukei took the rosary from Moka."
"The rosary?"
Moka nodded, reaching into her crimson tote and pulling out the rosary. Her father sucked in a breath.
"That's right. Akasha said that she had found a way to destroy him with that rosary but it would require sacrificing herself. I had hoped that she would abandon that project."
"Unfortunately this is the only path before us, Father. We need to find Lord Fujisaki."
"You realize that your mother will die if you take that to him."
Moka swallowed with a nod, holding the rosary to her breast.
"Momma has been gone for as long as you have been. Saying another goodbye won't be too hard."
"And we waste time here. This fool no help."
"I am sorry-"
"Don't apologize to this rude child."
Akua scowled at Kokoa.
"Child?! You only child here!"
"My tits beg to differ."
Akua blushed with her scowl deepening.
"My body fine! No advantage with flabby chest!"
Kokoa smirked, lifting a hand to touch the barrette.
"Do you want to go outside and see how little that will matter in a fight between us?"
"You got lucky! I win for sure!"
Moka laughed nervously, stepping around Kurumu to place a hand on Kokoa's shoulder.
"Don't provoke her, Kokoa. You might ruin your pretty dresses."
Lord Issa laughed heartily with a broad smile.
"This takes me back. All grown up but still quarreling like little girls."
"I not little!"
The father smirked at Akua's heated protest. His eyes became distant.
"Do you even need me now?"
"Course not. Never did!"
Moka laughed apologetically as Akua turned her back on him.
"She'll need time, Father. But I would like you still in my life."
"Me too, Father. We should also mention that six of the Shuzen family elders died at Lord Fujisaki's hands around Christmas."
Lord Issa gasped at Kokoa's revelation.
"Six? Which two survived?"
"Lord Musashi and Lord Uniki. I think that Lord Ikiro was prepared to take Lord Tomi's place to handle the family finances. I can't say anything about the others."
Lord Issa nodded thoughtfully.
"So the old man died. I'll have to reach out to Iroki."
Moka frowned, sharing a look with Kokoa.
"Iroki? You mean your older brother?"
"Is he even still a Shuzen?"
Lord Issa smirked at his daughters' reactions.
"When it suits him. Which it should in this case. Someone has to take the old man's place, assuming that I am still regarded as the Head of the Family."
"Mother held the role in your absence. You shouldn't have to fight for it."
"Good. I'll have to get our house back in order."
"While I know that you have family concerns and cannot aid us with the search for Lord Fujisaki, we are hoping that you could help us stabilize the Kanto region."
Lord Issa frowned, turning his attention upon Ms. Kyuusai.
"Why would I be interested in doing that?"
"Somehow Ms. Suukei managed to convince Tenshi to authorize a doppelganger pretending to be you as the new Commander of the Kanto region earlier this year."
"What happened to Lord Goshaku?"
"Assassinated back in April. Possibly by this doppelganger."
"Has this doppelganger been dealt with?"
"Yes. He died last night."
Lord Issa nodded, reaching up to stroke his chin.
"What are you expecting me to do?"
"Technically you are the region commander. If you feel that is too difficult to manage with your family duties, we would like you to officially step down and name a successor. You do have four surviving prefectural officers that you could pick from, though we should consider replacing Lord Hanaochi."
The father took in a deep breath, rolling his eyes.
"I won't pretend to know what is best for the Kanto region. Fairy Tale was always Gyokuro's thing. I only dealt with Fairy Tale when they wanted an assassination carried out."
Lord Issa stiffened up.
"Whom has been fulfilling my duty to Fairy Tale as an assassin in my absence?"
"That was Kahlua, Father."
Lord Issa nodded at Kokoa's input.
"What happened to the other three prefectural officers?"
"Dead. We want you to talk with the Fairy Tale personnel here and appoint a new prefectural officer for Kanagawa to replace Lord Sagami."
"I'm in Kanagawa?"
Ms. Kyuusai laughed, nodding.
"Yes, Lord Issa. This is Kunitama. Ms. Ohno can help you make your choice by perusing the thoughts of the staff. Lord Ageshio should be waiting for you at the main building."
"You'll have to show me the way as I don't know the town."
"This is my first time to Kunitama myself. I'll have Mujou accompany you."
"My thanks, Ms. Kyuusai. Since I will be out, I would like to do some grocery shopping. I hope none of you object to watching after the girls while I'm gone."
Kurumu murmured her dismissive acceptance of that arrangement which was echoed by the others.
"You buried Tenshi in your backyard next to Akamori's grave."
Ms. Kyuusai regarded him with a soft expression. Lord Issa sighed with a nod.
"Yes. I didn't realize whom she was until it was too late."
"It's not your fault. You had a charm which made you protect your girls."
Lord Issa grimaced, clenching his fists.
"She said that she was sorry that she couldn't save me."
Ms. Kyuusai smiled wistfully.
"Sounds like Tenshi. Dying with an apology."
"I'm sorry. Is there somewhere else that she should be buried?"
"No. If anything we should bring Miryou's body here. I'm sorry for delving into your memories to see what happened to my old friend. We should get back to discussing our plans for you."
Lord Issa managed a laugh.
"Yes. I have no desire to keep this position. I am curious about this naming a successor. I'm not well versed on every Fairy Tale policy, but I'm fairly certain that I can't do that. Only the High Court can authorize the region commanders."
"Well… that is another issue that we have. Lord Fujisaki wiped out the High Court."
Lord Issa balked at her statement.
"You're serious?"
"Unfortunately so."
Lord Issa nodded thoughtfully.
"Well that's good news."
Ms. Kyuusai made an amused sound which caused the father to smile.
"Sorry. I know that's terrible news."
"Yes. We will need our new region commanders to interview the prefectural court judges to determine whom would be most acceptable to fill those seats. I will understand if you prefer to leave that decision up to your successor."
"I certainly would. I don't know enough about the region to even consider doing that."
"Fair enough. Tomorrow Mujou will escort you to Tenfuku and Reizan to select new officers for the Tokyo and Saitama prefectures. Do you want to replace Lord Hanaochi or leave that up to your successor?"
"Successor. Do you intend to have someone watch over my girls while I'm running errands for you?"
"Lord Iroshu is willing to lend us Ms. Yutaka for the week if necessary. She's a sweetheart. Straight up refused my training so she was sterilized and sent to Wanza."
"She's one of your kind?"
"Yea. Mujou tells me-"
Ms. Kyuusai stopped her sentence at the sound of a knock on the door.
"Expecting company?"
Lord Issa chuckled, shaking his head as he wandered out of the room.
"Never. Before you showed up, the only person to ever knock on that door was Miryou."
Kurumu's heart fluttered as she looked to Kokoa whom nodded. Kurumu slipped around Mizore, prancing out into the hall as Lord Issa opened the door.
"May I help you?"
Standing on the porch was Yoshii Kiria, wearing a black suit over a yellow dress shirt. He staggered over, gripping the door. His eyes with the different pupils found Kurumu and he made a weak smile.
"I hope so."
And just like in all of Kokoa's visions, he collapsed.
"Is he dead?"
Tsukune chuckled from the armchair facing the opening to the hall. He waved at Rio whom had poked her head into the room.
"No. Shouldn't you be upstairs with your sisters?"
"Will he be okay?"
Kurumu was kneeling by the couch where Kiria rested. His head was propped up by a cushion with his hands on his belly. His blond locks had lost all of their luster. She glanced over her shoulder with a grin.
"Are you giving Mizore trouble again?"
"I'm getting a drink of water."
Moka laughed brightly, making a shooing gesture as she walked towards the girl.
"Then go get a drink. We'll take care of this man."
The girl drawled out an affirmative before scampering off. Akua huffed, sitting in the other armchair.
"Spoiled brats. Just like Kokoa."
Kokoa looked up from where she was sitting on the floor by the low table.
"Are you wanting a fight?"
Akua grunted as the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs carried to them.
"Rio? Are you down here?"
Kurumu smirked, sharing a look with Yukari whom was also by the couch. The witch smiled before turning her attention back to Kiria.
"I'm getting a drink of water!"
"Do I have to freeze you in place to keep you up here?"
Rio cackled from the kitchen with the sound of a faucet running.
"That's the third time."
Mizore sighed heavily at Moka's remark.
"It's hard to watch them all."
"What is Rubi doing?"
"Sleeping with the baby. I guess she was tired."
Little feet hurried across the room.
"Can we go outside and play?"
"No. Now come upstairs. Help your sister read."
"But that's boring!"
Kurumu heard the sound of Mizore ascending the stairs with Rio.
"When this guy wake up?"
"Can't say for certain. I don't have a clear sense of time in my visions. But he usually wakes up."
Yukari sighed heavily as she brushed his bangs with her fingers.
"It's like something is eating his life force. How many healing spells do I have to pump into this guy?"
Kurumu reached over for her lavender purse, dragging it closer. She tugged out her phone, confirming that it was thirty three minutes after three. Lord Issa had left with Ms. Yashin for the Fairy Tale office to select the new prefectural officer. She had no idea if Ms. Yashin or Ms. Kyuusai were still in Kunitama.
Kurumu sighed, absently reaching for Kiria's hand. It felt clammy and cold. But she knew from the visions that taking him to the hospital would not help. That only guaranteed that they never found Fujisaki.
"I'm going to cast another spell. Maybe he'll wake this time."
Kurumu nodded as Yukari got down beside her. The witch made a diamond pattern with her hands upon her chest. After a moment, she dragged her hands away from her torso, trailing a blue light which she pressed into his chest. Kurumu felt his hand warm up.
Kiria coughed gently which caught the attention of the others. Akua hopped out of her armchair, walking up behind Kurumu as Kiria's eyes slowly opened. Tsukune settled in behind Yukari while Kokoa stood up with Moka drifting to her side.
"Where Fujisaki?! Tell us now!"
Kiria laughed weakly, moving his head slightly.
"Good day to you too."
"Stop fooling! No time!"
"Pardon my sister's rudeness. She had no parents for most of her life."
"You had parents. What your excuse?"
Kiria chuckled, his eyes meeting Kurumu's. Yellow with one pupil vertical and the other horizontal.
"Parents are nice."
Kurumu squeezed his hand firmly.
"What happened?"
"It all burned. I don't know if that was his plan but the humans."
Kiria paused to take a shallow breath.
"To contain the problem, they leveled Japan."
"Did Lady Chuujitsu do a divination?"
Kiria rasped out a laugh which turned into a cough.
"No. I'm from the future."
Yukari snorted in disbelief.
"Nonsense. You can't time travel and change something that would cause you to time travel. Time travel only exists when it has no significant impact on the continuity of the timeline."
"She said you would say that. Doesn't apply for a parallel universe."
Yukari gasped, looking over him.
"That's why you're dying. You're not supposed to exist here. How did you even get here?"
"To fuel the spell. Shizuka gave her life."
Kurumu felt a pang of sorrow. She gripped his hand more firmly.
"Kiria. You have to help us find Fujisaki. That's why you're here, right?"
"Yes. Cottage in Hokkaido. His shrine to Hanami."
"You got to give us more than that."
"I'll show you."
Kurumu felt him push a memory towards her. A power he had picked up from drinking her mother's last drop. She focused on the feelings, letting them take shape in her own mind.
She was standing in the center of a circle. She knew six people surrounded her but her attention was fixated upon the raven haired woman she loved. A black dress clung to her curves, dancing with the gentle breeze gracing the yard. The side of a cottage was behind Shizuka.
These people were holding hands. It bothered her that this Shuzen Issa guy was holding her love's left hand. His daughter, Kahlua, had hold of Shizuka's right hand. This cottage was the one this philanderer had shared with that whore Fujisaki had been using for years.
"Kiria. Listen up. You need to give these coordinates to someone that can cast this spell. They will need these to get to the place where we left Fujisaki on Monday morning around ten twenty."
"Yes, dear. I'm listening."
Shizuka pouted at him which made his heart flutter. He loved that look.
"From here, they need to go one thousand nine point eight seven six kilometers north. Three hundred seventy two point nine two two kilometers east. Ninety six point four five three kilometers down. The spell will also need to compensate for the barrier around Kunitama."
"Are you sure that they will be here?"
"Yes. My three daughters came to visit me at this location around noon that Monday."
Kiria grimaced at Lord Issa's input. He cared little for this guy but he was Kahlua's father.
"It is important that they go back in time to when we left him. It must be after ten twenty but we don't want them showing up too late. We have no idea when that madman left that shrine."
"Yes, yes. Don't want us to be there when they save the world. Is there anything else you want me to get while I'm there? Souvenirs? Groceries?"
Shizuka's lovely mint green eyes wavered.
"You're a fool. We could still help the people of this world."
He smiled, knowing that his love would die and that he would too.
"I know. But if we really can save another one, I'd be a bigger fool to pass that up."
Shizuka nodded with a sniffle.
"I love you."
And with those words, Kiria withdrew his mind from hers. He smiled gently, squeezing her hand with what little strength he had left.
"Did you get it?"
Kurumu forced a smile as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Yea. I can give that to Yukari."
He smirked with a soft look in his eyes.
"I've got others if you like."
Kurumu sobbed as he hit her with a fleeting memory of making love to his Shizuka. She shoved his mind away with a shake of her head.
"Dummy. Why do that now?"
He laughed meekly as she reached up to wipe the tears from her cheeks with her free hand.
"One more thing. You'll need my pendant about my neck."
He paused to take in a labored breath.
"It will be hard to find her home without it."
Kurumu sniffled, feeling his hand grow cold.
"Her first home? The one north of Unayama?"
"Yea. So remote. The world burned around us. We didn't know for weeks."
"Is my sister there?"
"Yes. Did I do good?"
Kurumu's breath caught in her throat as his eyes became vacant.
"Yea. You did great."
"Sorry. Your mother. So sorry."
Kurumu could not find her words. And then he was gone. There was nothing there. It took her a long moment in tears to gather her thoughts. She shook her head in frustration.
"I didn't get to tell him."
"Tell him what?"
Kurumu sniffled, glancing up at Yukari. The witch also had reddish eyes and wet cheeks.
"About Kaneshiro."
"Don't worry about that, Kurumu. You heard him. He's not the Yoshii Kiria of our world. You'll still get your chance to convey Mr. Kaneshiro's words."
Kurumu managed a smile at Kokoa's reassurance.
"I guess we now know why you never naturally went along to the final fight with Fujisaki."
Kokoa smirked, placing a hand on Moka's shoulder.
"Yea. We're going after Kahlua."
Yukari shook her head, wagging her finger at the magic circle that the Headmaster was carving into the yard near the cottage.
"This is stupid. You can't just cast a spell that breaks the laws of space and time."
The Headmaster chuckled as he continued drawing lines with his staff.
"Nonsense, Ms. Sendou. Your little gateway spell to Mononoke does that."
"But that's different. Your world runs at a fixed time. They're not going to a fixed moment in time. They would be going back to this world in this time."
"Don't worry, Ms. Sendou. I can cast this spell. Our friend, Mr. Nurari, taught me this decades ago."
"Then why not have him take us there?!"
The Headmaster continued to chuckle while working on the magic circle.
"I'd rather not trouble him when all we have are coordinates."
Yukari scowled with wavering eyes. She wagged her finger at him.
"But he must use coordinates like everyone else. His ability to connect tunnels around Japan must work about the same as a magical gate."
"Ms. Shuzen saw our victory with this spell. I refuse to alter the course of the future for my sake."
"That doesn't mean that this is the only way!"
Nobody responded to Yukari's declaration. After a few moments, the witch began to sob. Rubi drifted over to place her hand on Yukari's shoulder. Yukari instantly turned and placed her face in Rubi's chest, her body shaking with grief and frustration. Rubi smiled softly, caressing Yukari's back and shoulders.
The sun had set on the horizon with the stars and moon pushing the darkness aside. It had been around five when Lord Issa had returned with groceries. Lord Ageshio and Ms. Ohno had been with him but had left after a brief visit. They had picked a new prefectural officer but Kurumu had not been engaged in the banter to recall the name.
They had helped make dinner and had shared a meal. There had been a few questions asked about where the blond man had gone. They had told his girls that Kiria had left since that was easier than admitting to burning his body.
About a half hour ago Ms. Kyuusai had returned with the Headmaster and Master Touhou. They had explained the situation and Ms. Kyuusai had gone inside to help Lord Issa manage his girls. Now they stood in the yard, waiting for the inevitable.
Kurumu smiled at the touch of Mizore's hand on her shoulder. She slipped her arm behind Mizore's waist, leaning against Mizore's shoulder. Mizore sighed, moving her hand over to Kurumu's other shoulder as she stepped in closer.
"Thought I told you to get rid of that thing already."
Tsukune chuckled at Master Touhou's admonition. He held up his right wrist which was still encircled by the black chain of the holy lock that had been crafted for him in Hong Kong.
"I feel reluctant to just take it off. It feels like I've worn this thing for years."
The diminutive elder huffed, sporting a white robe over a black one.
"What does a youngster like you know about years? It was only a few months."
"Hey, Tsukune."
Tsukune looked up as Kokoa sauntered over to him. She stopped and thumbed over her shoulder to where Akua stood with Moka. The older vampire sisters had parted with their pink dresses, favoring the sports bras and leggings that they had worn yesterday for the upcoming fight.
"Any chance you could teach me the technique that you used to block her dimensional sword?"
Tsukune laughed nervously, glancing in the direction of the sisters.
"Maybe. Why?"
"I'd like to pound that girl another time to prove a point. I regret telling her that my victory was a fluke."
Master Touhou snickered, bringing a hand up to stroke his chin.
"I could be persuaded to teach you the trick if you were willing to wear something for me."
Kokoa smiled softly at the elder.
"I'd rather make a deal with Tsukune."
"I'm a little surprised that you bested her. Even if our fight might have been an illusion, I was constantly on the defensive against her."
"Big Sis isn't that tough if she isn't willing to kill you. I just want to know your sword blocking technique in case her frustrations push her over that edge with me. As confident as I am in my ability to take a beating, I don't stand a chance if she decides to cut me up."
"I can try teaching you."
"Hold up, Mr. Aono. You shouldn't be giving away something like that for free."
Tsukune frowned at Master Touhou.
"I don't see the harm in it."
"A pretty girl needs something from you. You should ask for some kind of compensation."
Tsukune blushed, glancing away.
"I'm not going to ask Kokoa for that!"
"I could give you my blessing to marry Moka."
Tsukune blushed darker, faltering back a step.
"I think that's a bit too soon."
"Take it, Tsukune. You won't be getting a similar gesture from anyone else in this family."
Master Touhou snorted, turning his back on the pair.
"Tenmei. How much longer are you going to take with that?"
The Headmaster chuckled as he steadily moved about.
"Patience, Fuhai. I have to make sure that the paradox factor doesn't kill a geriatric like yourself."
"Big words coming from a dead person."
Kurumu smiled at the exchange, having heard these two bicker since their arrival.
"What is this paradox factor?"
The Headmaster kept his attention on his task.
"Mr. Nurari abuses the laws of space and time but mostly over inconsequential things. He tries to avoid moving passengers in a manner that would have them existing in two places at the same time. Only a few young individuals ever experience the pain of paradox."
"Pain of paradox?"
"A person cannot exist in two places at the same moment of time. Do you understand how teleportation works, Ms. Kurono?"
"I can't say that I do."
"In teleportation, there is an instance of time in which you do not exist. Think of it like a stopwatch. In one second you are here. The next second you are there. But in those microseconds between those seconds you are nowhere. Teleportation is inherently time travel into the future."
Yukari sniffled, pulling away from Rubi's chest but remaining in the embrace.
"And long distance teleportation requires more energy because of that absence of presence. That is why traveling through gates is safer. You connect points of space without fretting over the time skip."
"Correct, Ms. Sendou. But for this particular spell, we will be sending people to an earlier time. They will exist in two places at once."
"But Mr. Nurari does that all the time when he delivers mail."
"Mr. Nurari is able to withstand the pain of paradox, Ms. Sendou. He does not force that burden upon anyone else. Nor does he exercise his power whenever he pleases. That is why all of Fairy Tale receives mail on Friday. He visits every single community with mail service in what appears to be the span of nine hours. I can only imagine the agony such a feat must require."
Yukari grimaced, getting free of Rubi's comforting hold.
"Just because her vision had you cast this spell doesn't mean it is the only way possible! Can't you contact him? He must have the power to take you there!"
"And on some Friday evenings he runs bus routes to ferry students back home from their high schools and junior highs. Every prefecture in Japan benefits from his suffering. Do you feel entitled to make demands of such a person?"
Yukari's lip trembled as she looked down.
"But you'll die."
"Yes. The caster of the spell will perish. But I have accepted that."
There was a heavy moment of silence. Mizore nudged Kurumu.
"Do you think Mr. Nurari is Santa Claus?"
Kurumu had to laugh despite the grim situation.
"I can't imagine that. Santa has a white beard and is stocky and jolly."
The Headmaster chuckled, glancing up from his work.
"Who knows, Ms. Kurono? Perhaps there are other entities in this world that can do what Mr. Nurari does. I have only had the pleasure to meet one."
Kurumu managed a smile as he resumed his task.
"Will this paradox pain be hard on those that are going?"
"Vampires have the fortitude to endure it. It wouldn't surprise me if they pass out after several hours of this strain but it should go away once they reach this point in time."
Kurumu nodded thoughtfully, imagining this explained why the visions of her going along always ended with her blacking out even when she was not obviously killed.
"Why aren't they in pain now? Shouldn't both versions of them suffer from the paradox pain?"
"Part of the spell, Ms. Kurono. This spell puts the burden of paradox upon those we send."
"They do win, right?"
Kokoa nodded at Yukari's inquiry.
"Yes. I checked Akua's future after dinner. Everything goes as expected."
"And it will be fine with just the four of them?"
Kokoa sighed at Yukari's persistence.
"Yes. It wouldn't surprise me if this works without Akua but she insists on going."
"I must go. Keep promise to Akasha."
Kokoa smiled softly, regarding her sister.
"Watch over Moka. She'll need you after the fight is over."
Moka bit her lip, placing a hand on Akua's shoulder.
"Are you sure that you won't come with us?"
"No. Someone needs to chase after Kahlua. I'll need Yukari for that and Kurumu will keep me from strangling this brat."
Yukari laughed with her face betraying her sorrow.
"You're the only brat here. You should have included asking Mr. Nurari in your visions."
Rubi sighed, stepping over to place her hands on Yukari's shoulders.
"I wish that we could help you, Mr. Aono."
"You have done more than enough, Rubi. It sounds like this paradox pain might be too much for you."
"I wouldn't mind."
Yukari snorted with a shake of her head.
"Now isn't the time for your masochism."
Kurumu laughed softly at Rubi's pout. The Headmaster picked up his staff and let out a sigh.
"It is done. Time to circle up around our travelers. I would prefer Ms. Shirayuki and Ms. Shuzen at my sides to diminish the drain on our other participants fueling the spell."
Kurumu shivered as everyone moved towards the Headmaster. She absently took Mizore's left hand in her right as they approached the perimeter of the circle drawn in the grass. Kurumu managed a smile when Rubi steered Yukari around them, holding her hand out. Rubi matched her smile, clasping her left hand while holding Yukari's right.
The Headmaster dropped his staff behind him, taking Mizore's free hand and offering his other to Kokoa. Tsukune and the other vampire sisters wandered into the center of the circle as Kokoa took Yukari's free hand. Kurumu's heart fluttered, knowing this was it.
"Before you go, I do want to say a few things. I want to start with asking your forgiveness, Mr. Aono. While I don't regret my choice, I never imagined that it would require so much from you. I had only sought you out to appease a silly mother whom insisted on having a dangerous seal removed."
Tsukune had such an understanding smile.
"I know that endangering me was not your goal. Your school preaches coexistence. It is a dream that I will gladly take up."
"My thanks, Mr. Aono."
A pensive look crossed Tsukune's face.
"Out of curiosity, how did you know about my ability to break Moka's seal?"
The Headmaster chuckled with his face hidden beneath the shadows of that white hood.
"You could pull your school record, Mr. Aono. It traces your heritage back to Koga Yasutaro. At least so I hoped. People were not compelled to use their surnames until 1875 so there was some guesswork on my part. But as this request for Ms. Akashiya's sake had been made years ago, I had time to determine if my candidates possessed the Yasutaro's ability to break magical items."
"You knew that I could break magic things?"
"Yes. I visited an arcade that you frequented and gave you an enchanted coin. It was supposed to mess with the machine and allow you unlimited play. It didn't work."
"You were at the arcade? I don't recall ever seeing you there."
The Headmaster chuckled at Tsukune's frown.
"Of course not. I was wearing a disguise."
"How did you know this Koga Yasutaro?"
"He was an acquaintance of mine, Ms. Sendou. I knew him before I met Akasha. As fascinated as I was with Yasutaro's ability to break magic things, establishing Fairy Tale and pursuing Akasha's dream for coexistence became my focus. We shared letters for several years but I rarely visited him."
The Headmaster paused with a sigh.
"The last time that I saw him alive was at his wife's funeral. The couple only had one boy. Masahiko. He was fifteen and had inherited his father's ability to break magic items. Thirteen years later I attended Yasutaro's funeral. Masahiko had a little boy by the name of Yamato. The mother had died in childbirth. It was not an easy task to find Yamato's descendants."
"I understand, Headmaster. Thank you for everything."
"No, Mr. Aono. Thank you. Alucard's existence was the only reason why I decided to continue living with my soul in a gem. I am glad that I can finally rest, knowing that the world will be saved."
"Enough with the stalling and cast the spell. I got a hot date with Akasha that I don't want to be late for."
The Headmaster chuckled at Master Touhou's gruff protest.
"Fuhai. Remember your purpose. Protect them so that they can carry out their task."
"Don't worry. I got this, you useless old fart."
"Say hi to Akasha for me."
Master Touhou stiffened. His fists clenched as his head turned away.
"I will, old friend."
"We shall be back soon with news of our success."
"I hope so too, Mr. Aono. My successor is starting up school next Monday. I can't have the person carrying on my dream of coexistence skipping classes."
They all shared a laugh though it lacked feeling. Master Touhou let out a sigh.
"Just do it, Tenmei. I'll see you soon."
"I'll be waiting."
Kurumu shivered when Mizore squeezed her hand. She felt her spirit being pulled towards the center of the magic circle. A brilliant column of light flared up, swallowing the four in the center.
"You better come back safe! I won't forgive you if you mess this up!"
And then the light was gone with no trace of her friends.
A soft thud drew her attention to the Headmaster whom had slouched to his knees. She heard the jewel shatter as his shoulders went lax. Kokoa and Mizore let go of his hands, allowing his arms to fall limp at his sides. The energy about them dissipated.
Mizore sighed, giving Kurumu's hand a slight squeeze.
"I don't know about you, but I'm tired. Are we spending the night here?"
Rubi let go of Kurumu's other hand, wrapping her arms about Yukari whom sobbed softly in her chest. Kokoa sauntered over to place a hand on the Headmaster's shoulder.
"Rest easy, Mikogami Tenmei. You earned it."
Kurumu swallowed thickly, looking at the cottage.
"We should tell Lord Issa about this."
Kokoa nodded, starting off for the house.
"Yea. I'll see what Ms. Kyuusai can do about getting us to Unayama. I want to find Kahlua before we head back to Yokai Academy."
"We should have asked Mr. Nurari."
Rubi sighed, steering Yukari towards the cottage.
"It's okay. The Headmaster wanted this."
As the others walked further away from the circle, Mizore squeezed Kurumu's hand.
"We should go."
With a heavy heart, Kurumu nodded. Like so many other times, she left the dead behind.