After making the arrangements for the visit the next day, they were sat in the living room talking before bed. As the conversation quietened Ageha stood and indicated to Tsukune.
"Again" he asked
Ageha sat back down "Tsukune how many senses are there?"
"Five; touch taste hearing seeing and smell"
Ageha nodded "And we have done a basic introduction on touch" Ageha stressed the word basic as she stood and went to sit by Moka taking her hand. "It is likely that you will face opposition from Succubae who have no doubt been either enticed or forced to work for Fairy Tale; how are you going to defeat them?"
"Well" he looked at Moka
"When Moka had her spat with Kurumu, Kurumu had no idea of her powers" her fingers moved against Moka's hand and Moka slumped back with a groan of pleasure. "Do you think you've mastered touch yet, that was the basic introduction last night" she let go of Moka's hand and waited until Moka had sat back up. "There are four other senses as well" Her voice took on a lecturing tone "Each of the senses can be used for pleasure, as a weapon, or to gather intelligence; from each sense you can learn a lot about someone, either individually or combined. Used correctly they can make an attack seem as if it comes from elsewhere" Ice erupted from everyone's drink and formed daggers at their throats "Who did that Tsurara or me. You can see it now can you touch it?" she waited looking around as they all felt the ice "Now break off the end and taste it"
There were a number of snaps "Tastes like my coffee" Sora said looking at Tsurara. She licked her fingers for the moisture there "Smells like it too"
"Is it real or an illusion?" Ageha asked
"Well since you ask like that I'll assume that it's from you, therefore it's an illusion" Moka said sat next to her still touching the ice with a frown as it melted against her fingers with a hiss.
"Can it hurt you?" Ageha indicated Moka's fingers
Moka looked at her intently "Illusions can't hurt me"
"Hold your hand up"
As Moka did so the ice formed into a dagger and leapt forwards spearing her hand. They all saw the dagger go through her hand and blood flow from the wound dripping down the ice. Moka's face reflected her pain as her colour drained and her hand jerked off the ice. She held her damaged hand in the other glaring at Tsurara.
"It wasn't me" Tsurara replied calmly as she continued to break the ice in front of her and eat it.
"Look again" Ageha said and Moka looked at her hand; there was no damage or pain. "Illusions can kill you quicker than reality" the ice vanished from in front of everyone with a pout from Tsurara
"That was tasty" She complained
Ageha glared at her then continued "You need to learn to see through illusions. To do that you need to learn about the senses and how they affect you" She stood again "Get along Tsukune; and you Kurumu, you can help with this session as well" she looked at Kahlua and Kokoa then Yukari after Tsukune and Kurumu had left "We won't be long and you can have a night sleeping with your daddy"
.
Moka looked at the closed door then back to her hand "Now I understand why Tsukune's mother had us training together for so long"
Akasha sat back "It's a pity that Sora didn't join you as well for that. You each have strengths and weaknesses. Between you four you should be able to counter most things. If there is something totally outside your knowledge Tsukune can create a shield to protect you all and give you time to work things out"
"When we trained Kurumu's illusions weren't that convincing"
Akasha shrugged "Kurumu and both of you two are still children; you may well be twenty and have had the benefit of training with Tsukune's mother but Ageha is a fully mature succubus"
Tsurara joined in the conversation "Mizore is stronger than I am, but I have more experience in other aspects" she stood and a clone appeared, It walked to Moka and took her hand. "Warm is it not" said the Tsurara holding her hand.
Moka shook her head with a smile "I know I'm going to regret this"
"Not really" The other Tsurara took her other hand "Who is real?" they both asked
Moka squeezed the hands and both gave like normal flesh "I don't know" she replied as she looked at the second to take her hand. "You I assume"
"No me" Tsurara was still sat in her chair. As Moka looked over towards her both clones vanished.
"The more I see the less I feel that we are prepared to face those in the human world"
"Ageha is one of the most accomplished succubae I have ever seen" Akasha nodded towards Tsurara "And Tsurara is one of the lead defenders of the Yuki Onna village. She is far more powerful than any who have left to live in the human world" Akasha smiled "Remember her lesson about seeing what is there and not what you want, as well as not underestimating your opponent or overestimating your own abilities"
"There is one more thing to remember, and it applies to all of you" Tsurara turned to Mizore and then let her eyes catch all of the others "When you fight against Fairy Tale you are fighting those who are opposing the Hades Lords. They will have no hesitation in killing you. This is not a school fight where the looser will acknowledge that they have lost and you are superior. If they fight in earnest you will kill them as quickly as you can; less they kill you"
"You will have to use your judgement on if they are totally committed or just following orders" Akasha said after a long silence "In this fight err on the side of caution and kill if you are unsure. It's not a game" she said after a pause.
ooOOoo
"My thanks" Akasha said as she was sat by Tsukune before he took his own seat. Perhaps an outdated but elegant courtesy that Tsukune managed without detracting from her own position. Having seated himself Akasha turned to the Kitsune council for their private and informal meeting "You're aware that I have talked to Lord Tenmei before coming here and that this meeting is not in contravention of the Hades Lords charter?"
"Yes Lady Bloodriver" the Chairman replied "He contacted me indicating that we were to follow your advice in a matter concerning the human world as if it was his. I must say that I was surprised since we have little contact with humans, and there has been no sanctioned visit in the last decade" He looked at the notes that had appeared in front of him "We are wondering about your companion for this meeting. I understood that he should be in school" his face showed nothing, but somehow imparted that this question was not his, but from the passed notes.
Tsukune smiled at the council and said nothing as Akasha raised her eyebrows. "The purpose of the academy is to teach to a level comparable with human schools and to instruct in the integration within human society. Tsukune has exceeded the level of education and needs no instructions about integration as he is a human" Akasha replied
"Human, then why is he here?" one asked
"Sora chose that" another exclaimed
"His correct form of address is Lord Aono" Akasha looked at the councillors who had objected "He is also my mate and head of house for both mine and my daughter's households"
"Your daughter can not breed with that" The second objector turned to another member of the council.
"You imply that my mate; the mate of a Hades Lord is unworthy of Sora; my wife" Akasha asked her eyes narrowed in anger "You are aware of the structure of a Vampire household I hope"
"That has nothing to do with his daughter. She will be mated with Kuyou as was agreed"
"She will not" Tsukune said quietly
"This doesn't concern you human"
"Actually it does, Sora is my wife. Kuyou is ignorant, arrogant, bigoted and I will not allow him to be alone in the same room as her or any of my household. I didn't come here to fight but I will if you continue to insult my houses" Tsukune smiled "And me" he added as an after thought. "Call Kuyou in here and ask him who welded his tails together and taught him some manners. I know he's here I can sense his presence."
The Chairman had watched Akasha during the exchanges from his colleagues. There was nothing about her that expressed concern beyond her irritation; rather it seemed to be proceeding in the direction the two expected. "I fear we are about to be given a demonstration of some sort" he said "You have managed to insult both Lady Bloodriver as a Hades Lord and her household and she is at liberty to claim against that insult. You have also insulted another named as a Lord by the Hades Lords again personally and against his households. Also as Sora is a wife in a vampire's household, to suggest that she is forced to go with another will bring down the wrath of all members of the household; I suggest an apology and then we can continue"
"She brought it here"
Tsukune frowned "Enough" he said "With that you go beyond insult to my mate who is a Lord. Apologise at once"
"No"
"Since you are low on numbers I won't kill him unless he insists" Tsukune said to the chairman. At the nod he received he moved his hand and the councillor shot up from his chair and hit the ceiling then thudded back to land just in front of Akasha "No apology" Tsukune said to the shocked figure on the ground.
"Never" he started to get up
"Oh well" Tsukune's hand move up again and stayed raised holding the figure against the ceiling "If you change I'll do the same as I did to Kuyou and weld those tails together" he said as the figure on the ceiling started to transform. His hand came down fast. This time the councillor was a blur as he descended to slam onto the floor.
Tsukune stood and fetched a chair. Picking up the unconscious figure he placed him on it in front of Akasha and drained the councillor of his yoki. "A little pain should bring him round" Tsukune said conversationally as he held one hand. Then he squeezed hard and bones snapped making a few members flinch. The councillor screamed in pain as he came round and Tsukune relaxed his grip and moved to the wrist. "Your contempt of me I can understand, a little. However the ease with which you display a similar contempt to my mate, a Hades Lord gives me pause for thought. Have you heard of Fairy Tale" He blessed Ageha as he felt and understood the small flutter of involuntary movement the question caused "You will apologise or I will break you, this is the last time I'll tell you, from now on I'll continue to break bones" Tsukune shrugged at the expression of contempt he received and tightened his grip. The snapping of the bones was heard again as the figure screamed noiselessly "I placed a ward around his head, I don't want a headache from the noise" Tsukune explained as he let the hand go. The ward could be seen to shimmer.
They heard a sob and watched Tsukune look at the face, the sobbing was cut off as the ward shimmered again, and the figure tried to scream again as Tsukune sat back down then gestured towards the mans arm, there was another clear snap in the room as the bone broke.
"I apologise for the insult I've given you Lady Bloodriver" He said after Tsukune had broken a number of bones and then had moved onto the man's joints.
"I accept" Akasha said gently
"I want to talk to you again about Fairy Tale" Tsukune said to the figure slumped on the chair "But that is for later, for now you'll sit over here and wait" Tsukune dragged the chair and occupant out of Akasha's sight changed and extended his ward to cover the chair as well. Then he returned to sit beside her.
"Fairy Tale?" the Chairman asked
"The reason we came to talk to you" Akasha said as if there had been no interruption. "There is an organisation, rather a number of organisations that use that name. Their aim is to control the human world. It has long been in the covenant; in fact it is the second article, that any interference within the human world is proscribed. We the Hades Lords will not allow any relaxation of this article at all. With that in mind it has been decided by all three of us that a representative from our realms be placed within the human world to ensure our will is followed" her eyes followed the expressions and the looks towards Tsukune "Lord Aono is a human and is our representative. I don't know how much of your history is preserved"
"Enough to know what Lord Aono is now after that display" the chairman replied
"As you know we as Lords don't tell any race what to do, rather we advise you of the laws. The leaders of the various clans have always been allowed to sanction visits to the human world. They know that we are not adverse to interaction, but interference in their politics and attempts to control as rulers" Akasha shook her head "Fairy Tale will cease its operations and aims as it contravenes the laws of the realms, we are telling you first and informally as there are indications of links between a Fairy Tale and the Kitsune" Her tone changed "Also since we were coming here, we thought that we would take the opportunity as a household to meet Sora's mother" she looked at the councillor who had need on the receiving end of the abuse "And her father"
"Personal reasons aside" the chairman was worried and it showed in his voice "All that is understood, I'm now concerned with the questioning regarding Fairy Tale Lady Bloodriver, you know our policy here regarding torture and the death sentence" Tsukune's jaw dropped "Something surprises you Lord Aono?"
"I assume from your comments that you're opposed to torture and the death penalty here?"
"Most assuredly; which is why we didn't interfere as you said that you wouldn't kill if you didn't have to" he looked quizzically at Tsukune "You had information to the contrary?"
"Only the behaviour and attitude of Kuyou"
"That's a serious accusation against one of our own. Do you have proof?"
"His stated intentions; along with his actions when attacking two of my wives and myself. He had arranged a photographer to record our execution, although I'm still unsure what crime we're supposed to have committed. The photographer is not attached to my house and can verify my claims"
"Get Kuyou and guards this is a formal meeting" the Chairman turned to another, then back to Tsukune "You said he was nearby"
Tsukune concentrated "He was but now he's running. I assume that there are bugs in here" he looked at the uncomprehending faces "Listening devices; he was listening to the conversation" He smiled "I need to get Kurumu and Yukari before I talk to him" Tsukune indicated with a thumb over his shoulder "if you want I'll get Kuyou at the same time"
ooOOoo
Akasha smiled at the expressions and glances towards the door after Tsukune had left. "You needn't worry, he will bring Kuyou here" she shrugged "Mostly unharmed if he cooperates. Tsukune doesn't like violence."
"That display earlier doesn't comfort me" One said
"Notice that we didn't hear a sound, Tsukune told him what would happen and then did it, stopping at the first opportunity. He doesn't like it but knows that it is the rule of might within the realms and therefore must when need drives use it"
"The two he mentioned that he wanted to get?"
"Kurumu a wife and a succubus and Yukari our daughter and a witch; I'd imagine that he and Yukari have been looking at truth spells since he feels her presence is required. Kurumu will of course make things easier with her charm."
"We can tell lies and discern the truth"
"Yes but do you know what questions to ask and what relation to the human world that answers have?" Akasha smiled "If the reply was that the bank account was registered in the Camen Islands or that certain documents were held in Zurich that would have little meaning to you. Tsukune may not have your ability, but he uses what he has to the fullest" There was a pause "He is also the Lord of all things concerning the human world and has the sanction of all three Hades Lords to pursue his enquiries in all realms however he wishes" She recognised some of the expressions on the faces before her "I'd better reiterate; Lord Aono is our representative and will be accorded all the honours due. His duties will cross all realms ours as well as the human world. He is allowed unfettered access and his requirements will be given our top priority. If he feels that he needs to remove any individual either by incarceration or death then that is his decision and has our full backing" There were stunned looks at that statement "These organisations are trying to destroy thousands of years of our work. The full integration of our societies may happen, but first we have to get all races aware of their own responsibilities. There will be no domination over the humans. If the worst comes to the worst we are safe here in our realms. But those still in the human world would all die, a lot of the races can not afford to loose that many individuals" she paused "That scenario is not one we as Lords want to happen, the integration will continue, the realms will open and Fairy Tale will disappear. If there are complaints make them open, we will listen. Oppose us and then you'll suffer the consequences." There was no mistaking the threat in her voice.
"Then Lord Aono is a Hades Lord" one asked
"How can he be, he's human" Akasha smiled "You'd better listen to the thoughts of your women, they can tell you the source of his power, you don't want to miss the voyage of discovery do you"
"I could well do without it" the Chairman replied for him after looking around "But why do we fear humans to the extent of returning to our realms. In your worst case scenario surely those left would have the power to defend themselves?"
"When was the last time you went to the human world?" Akasha asked
"I went a few hundred years ago" one ventured
"Then let me bring you a little closer to the problems. Now a human can get to almost anywhere in the world within twenty four hours" she watched as the faces openly showed surprise "Their law enforcement routinely carry weapons that will kill all but the strongest monster. They can call for heavier weapons if they need them. Communications are a second or two between any locations in the world. Within a few seconds a picture of a monster can be available to any human with the technology. Certainly available to those who'd hunt them" she looked at the faces now shocked "Sixty years ago, during one of their wars that killed tens of millions they dropped a bomb" there were blank looks "A single device from the air that exploded and whipped out a large city killing tens of thousands instantly. There are now over six thousand million humans in the world. They could loose at a thousand to one against us and still recover their numbers within a few decades we however would be wiped out. This is the hornet's nest that Fairy Tale is poking and we, all the races, are in line to be wiped out if they succeed."
"From the air"
"They use machines called aeroplanes, the slow passenger transports travel at five hundred miles in the hour. The ones developed for killing can travel over a thousand. They have also left the planet and stood on the moon."
"We should have never left" the Chairman sighed
"Why did we leave" Akasha asked him
"You well know Lady, because there was a war brewing between ourselves and the humans. It would have inflicted serious losses on us all"
"That was before the development of their weapons; when their numbers could be measured in the tens of millions. We however have not developed much from then; we've taken their developments in housing clothing and some of the other things to make life here easier, but their biggest advances have been in how to kill each other as easily and quickly as possible"
ooOOoo
They sat in silence until Tsukune came back, dragging Kuyou and accompanied by Kurumu and Yukari.
"Tsukune how many died in Nagasaki and Hiroshima" Akasha asked once he'd put Kuyou in a chair and sealed him.
"I can't tell you exactly, two hundred and fifty thousand during and directly after" he sighed "Up to half a million I suppose in total taking into account all the factors; radiation sickness, diseases and starvation" his eyes reflected his sadness "Why?"
"We were talking about the advancement of weapons and the Second World War"
Tsukune shook his head "Weapons from that era are museum pieces. Modern weapons are far more efficient. Guns are guns to a large extent but their efficiency and effectiveness have increased. Rather the threat is from the other things that have been developed like rockets and missiles" he looked at the council "The bombs dropped on Japan were dropped from a plane that had to fly above the target. They were fifteen to twenty kilotons; the modern warhead can be four hundred and seventy five kilotons" he smiled grimly "A single missile that can be launched from thousands of miles away can have eight warheads. A warhead is smaller in size than I am, where as the two bombs dropped were huge by comparison at least twice the size for five percent of the destructive capacity"
"The reactions of humans to attempts to dominate their world" Akasha prompted
"Look at the propaganda from that war, the sides dehumanised each other. Since I've learnt to read English I've looked at some of the web sites and some of the literature. No prisoners was common and taking of heads ears and other body parts for trophy's to send back home appeared to be standard practice for some of the troops who fought against Japan in the Pacific. Some prisoners were subjected to experiments, others forced to work until they died or were killed on the Japanese side. If the world found out about the realms and decided that they were a threat then I hate to think of the consequences"
"How many died in that war" the Chairman asked
"Who knows but I think that sixty million is an accepted figure, twenty million combatants and forty million civilians, other estimates put the figure at almost eighty million which isn't beyond possibilities by any means"
"So we would be hunted down and killed" A member asked
"If you're lucky you'd be killed. More likely you'd be captured and subjected to experimentation. There if you're lucky they might give you anaesthetic before cutting you open, but I wouldn't count on it" he turned away "If you wish to know more then I'll prepare reading material for you. There are a number of factual documentaries you can watch and books that you can read. It's not a subject I want to think about in all honesty."
"It's been many years since most were in the human world, that's why they asked" Akasha said quietly.
Tsukune nodded in understanding "I'll send you some works to read in English about that war and the subsequent wars"
"More wars"
"The world has had a least one war somewhere for the last hundred years, either declared or otherwise, there are about ten ongoing conflicts at the moment"
Into the silence Akasha said "They killed more in what they call the Second World War than the total world population when we created the realms. From human research the population then was about sixty million. Our population has remained fairly static, some races actually increasing their numbers but there is little difference overall. Theirs has increased a hundred times to over six thousand million" She said the figure slowly and clearly. She nodded as the figures finally sank into the few that had failed to understand earlier.
ooOOoo
Tsukune brought the chairs to face the council and Kurumu applied a charm whilst Yukari set a zone with a series of spells. Once the zone had been set Yukari sat next to Akasha and held her hand and watched as Tsukune and Kurumu started their questions. As the questions and answers proceeded Tsukune elaborated and explained the significance of each answer to the council. The members of the council that were concerned and upset at the treatment of one of their own soon sat regarding the two with implacable disgust.
.
"What do you want done with them" The Chairman asked Tsukune once the zone and charms were released "This falls within your mandate from what Lady Akasha has told us?"
"Incarcerated until this is over and restricted to the realms afterwards. You can not afford to loose any of your population. However the assets in the human world will go to the holding companies to help combat the other factions. This was a small operation with limited recourses I'll finish with it later when we return home."
"Thank you for your understanding Lord Aono" Kuyou started at the title "The assets here will go to Lady Akasha for the insult"
"Lord Aono" Koyou asked
"Lord Aono of the human world" the Chairman replied "He has followed our customs and you'll live. If you'd been caught in the human world you would now be dead something we as a race could ill afford. You might bear Lord Aono a grudge but when you finally have them you will bring up your children to respect both him and the other Hades Lords"
"He can't be a Lord he's a weak human" Kuyou persisted "He has no standing here"
"Weak, I thing not; look at your cousin Kuyou. Lord Aono did that without effort, then reflect that you are far too weak to be considered to sit on this council. He dealt with you easily at the academy and caught you without effort here. If he is so weak what does that make you? As to his standing here, he has the same standing as a Hades Lord and will be acknowledged as such" He turned to the door of the council hall and indicated two guards that had appeared and were standing awaiting any orders since it had been declared a formal meeting "Incarcerate them and seal their powers until Lord Aono orders their release. Kuyou will additionally be incarcerated for a period of not less than five hundred years for his crimes whilst at the Youkai Academy. During this time he will reflect and relearn. When they petitions for release after Lord Aono has completed his task and given his authority that will only be allowed after successful testing" he paused to glare at Kuyou "If you don't reform we will not allow your release and your case will be passed to the Hades Lords for their decision as to your fate. We will accept a decision for your death. In simple terms Kuyou either accept our society or die, we will not have you destroy all of us and all we work for because of your own perverse ideology"
ooOOoo
Once the formal meeting was closed, Akasha stood "Now we have to join the rest of our family, finish our visit to Sora's parents and have lunch, I'm sure you Mr. Chairman have a lot to do communicating what you've heard and seen here to your other two enclaves" She waited for Sora's father to join them and took his arm leading him out "Tsukune and Yukari can tell you about the advances in human fertility treatments" she said as they walked, her arm supported him as he stumbled.
As they sat in the garden after lunch it was only because she was down on her hands and knees looking at a plant that Yukari felt Tsukune make a connection with the earth. She surreptitiously looked under her arm to see Tsukune and Akasha sat as a zone of silence formed around them. That they would need to talk privately didn't worry her; what did was the strength of the zone as she watched it grow. They wouldn't hear a bomb go off if it was placed next to them.
"Don't worry Yukari we just need to talk, we're not fighting" A whisper of Tsukune's voice came from in front of her. She looked at the ground where a small Tsukune face had formed. As she watched it winked at her with a smile then vanished. Looking under her arm again she saw Akasha watching her with a smile. Her finger lightly touched her lips as she indicated that Yukari should keep quiet.