The Heir of the Western Lands

Chapter 6

Author's notes: Here we are at chapter 6! There will be a little time skip since I lack the creative juices to give a blow by blow account of Harry and Rosie's childhood until they hit their teens. I went back to Chapter 2 and edited it to push forward the time line of ten years, so I could play with the characters of High School DxD. So Harry was born in 1990, not 1980. There will be a bit of Percy Jackson and the Olympians too, since Sirius's womanizing ways are about to backfire hard on him! XD Now since I don't have anything left to say let us go see the stats! We now have 23 Reviews, 247 Followers, 211 Favourites, 3 C2 Communities and 15 826 Views. Thank you everyone. Now let's get this show on the road shall we?

Last Edit: May 25, 2017.

Addendums: The explanations given in my story Sacred Magic; Wizards and Dragons chapter 3 about the three main branches of Human spell casters are the same in this universe. Most Youkais use the gifts given to them by their bloodline, per example a Kitsune will be able to craft illusions and use Fox fire, but for those who delve into magic to make it their art, their craft so to speak, they are using mostly Magician style casting. A rare few will try other styles, but they are scarce; what with Magi guarding jealously their secrets and the somewhat ridicule you feel when waving a wand when you are fully grown and not having grow up into a Wizard community.

Shinto Priestesses and Buddhist Monks can call Holy magic without invoking the God of the Bible and/or The Holy Spirit, since they are of a different Faith. It is the only way a Devil, be they Pureblood or reincarnated, can have access to Holy magic without grave consequences for themselves. Wizards, Magi and Magicians are harder to fool with the Mist used by the Greco-roman pantheon and their demigods to hide their activities among the mortals. The true clear sighted mortals are still pretty rare. Most pantheons also don't mix in others affairs without being asked to intervene first.

For an example, the Greco-roman pantheon won't interfere with the Egyptian Millennium Items debacle in Domino City and the Judaeo-Christian Factions won't lift a finger to kick Kronos' ass back to Tartarus during the battle of Manhattan since we all know Zeus is much too prideful to ask for help.

For mixed races unions, by example of a Devil/Youkai union, some Pillar Families' possess secret rituals existing to facilitate conception by selecting which traits to pass or not pass to their progeny. Youkais possess a higher birth rate than Devils and a Hanyō's fertility is rated by their human like appearance. The less human-like in appearance the Hanyō is, the less are their chances to reproduce. All human-like female Youkais, Devils Magical beings (Veelas, Vampires, Werewolves.) and Angels (Be they Fallen or not.) have a similar menstrual cycle than a regular human woman.

The myth about Angels being incapable of conceiving since the God of the Bible's Death is just that, a Myth. To avoid Falling, they must be bonded in Holy Matrimony before having consuming their union. Divorce is totally impossible for an Angel of Heaven, they are bonded with their partners till death do them part.

On Harry's twelfth birthday, his grandfather surprised him by taking him along with him to Supernatural Kyoto to see and present him to Lady Yasaka, Amaterasu's High Priestess and the Leader of the Kyoto Youkai Faction. His grandfather was friends with the Kitsune and had lent his aid and strength a few centuries ago to help her secure her political power and her place on the Youkai throne. From what he learned from his lessons, Supernatural Kyoto had been in a Civil War at about the same time as the Devils in the Underworld.

By securing Yasaka's place on the throne of Kyoto by booting the old dictator out (Literally, Sesshomaru had kicked him so hard that his corpse had to be extracted from the wall of the Throne room when the new regime took the palace.), the Youkais were then able to help the Anti-Satan Faction push back the Old Satan Faction into their ultimate retrenchments before retiring to go rebuild their lives and homes and thus letting the four heroes who would be the new Four Great Satans finish the job. Since that day, there was a loose three way alliance between the Anti-Satan Faction, Kyoto's Youkais and The Western Lands.

While Sirzechs Gremory, now Lucifer and Ajuka Astoroth, now Beelzebub both had the sheer power necessary to challenge Sesshomaru in a fight since they were both "super Devils", the Inu Taiyoukai had much more experience under his belt than the new Satans, enough that they took extra care to not ruffle the Dog General's "feathers" and made sure his subjects did the same. Not that Sesshomaru was as bloodthirsty and battle hungry as he was during the Warring States Era, having learned patience and gained experience as a leader since then, but better not poke the sleeping giant too much lest he woke up.

They were received quickly and Harry was somehow awed at the nine tailed fox' beauty. While he was only starting to realize that girls were not oddly shaped boys, he knew enough to realize when true beauty was in his face. He still preferred his guitar and katana to girls though. Way less troublesome. Yasaka appeared as a young woman not much older than his mother, with a voluptuous figure and blonde hair with matching eyes. She was also dressed in a Miko kimono. After a respectful bow from her visitors, she took the parole with a sincere smile on her pretty face

"Sesshomaru-Sama, we are very glad to see you again in such good health. It has been a long time since your last visit to these Lands. We are most pleased to see you again. Pray tell, who is the young one by your side?"

The tall Dog General politely bowed his head at the woman's greeting and answered her question

"It has indeed, my Lady. Ruling my Lands and tending to my family and my subjects had I very occupied these last few years. Thank you for your concern, but do not fret for my health; I am still as healthy and strong as I was centuries ago. This one at my side is my eldest grandchild. Harry James Potter. My only daughter is mated with a British Wizard and the boy was blessed with a Westerner name to honour my son-in-law's family."

Yasaka then fixed the young boy of twelve with her wizened golden eyes. He stood in front of her in his natural form, tall for his age, a crow nest of tousled black hair touching his shoulders with dog ears standing proud on top of his head, a perfect mix of emerald green and golden almond shaped eyes on a heart shaped face still sporting some roundness of the remaining baby fat. For the occasion he was wearing a traditional kimono bearing the Crest of the House of The West and what she could rightly assume was his father's family Crest also. Strong clawed hands with calluses on strong and wiry arms, showing that he was taking his training seriously.

All in all, the boy was a very healthy and impressive Hanyō. His mother would have to beat girls away with a stick when he entered puberty, for his good looks would surely make him into a heartthrob.

Quite the little powerhouse also for his young age from what she could sense. Many of the traditionalists would frown on his existence, but Yasaka knew better. The boy would likely become an even bigger force to reckon with that he already was, what with his lineage; it was something to truly look forward in the near future. While the British magical community was still stuck in the Victorian Era, she knew from experience that mixing Easterner and Westerner ancestries would give the boy a wide range of powers. After all, one of the most powerful human sorcerers to ever live, Clow Reed, was of a mixed heritage. She then addressed him, curiously

"Well met, young Potter. We do hope that you are enjoying your visit in our fair city. Tell us, how is your spoken Japanese?"

The boy smiled at her and answered into a perfect Japanese dialect with a barely discernible accent

"Well met, Lady Yasaka. Your city is indeed truly beautiful. I am very partial to all the nature around us, mostly the trees. I love to climb them you see. It gives me a safe place away from my pest of a younger sister. She is like my mother, not very fond of heights."

Sesshomaru permitted himself an amused smirk along with his grandson. His daughter was somewhat acrophobic (She could deal with a plane just fine, not a broom though and she was not found at all of high places.) and his granddaughter too was the same, to a somewhat lesser degree. The boy could only have some peace of mind away from Rosaline and her attempts of asserting dominance over him high up in the trees when they were at home. Yasaka let out a small musical laugh with an amused smile. She really liked it when children where honest and stayed themselves.

Yes, sometimes protocol must be observed, but smothering them with rules, regulations and expectations was not the way to go. So satisfied with the younger male, she returned her attention to the older and asked

"What is the purpose of your visit other than presenting to us your grandson, Sesshomaru-Sama? Will we be also presented to your granddaughter soon? "

The General answered her

"I am here to unseal one of my late father's Fangs. The boy needs magical grounding against his Youkai blood before it overwhelms him at puberty and he has merited the honour to wield my deceased half-brother's sword, the Tessaiga. As for my granddaughter, well I would have taken her with me also, but she is grounded for the foreseeable future. She is still prompt to use her powers in front of the regular Humans when angry or highly agitated no matter how many times we warned her to not do it, so I forbade her to leave my Lands until she mature sufficiently.

The Japanese Ministry of Magic's Obliviators and the Mage Association's Enforcers have enough work already dealing with the catastrophic fallout of the conclusion of the Fourth Heaven's Feel Tournament, no need to add more problems to their workload."

Yasaka acquiesced at Sesshomaru's actions on his granddaughter. It was essentially what she was doing with her own daughter. Her little ball of sunshine was seven years old and while she was not forgetting constantly to conform to the sacred Laws of their kind like young Rosaline did, she had not gained enough control over her still developing powers to be let out of her own Lands alone and without an anchor for her glamours. Perhaps she could visit the Western Lands with her daughter so Kunou could make a few friends who would not be subjugated to her rank? It was food for thoughts. Thinking about the Holy Grail Wars made her grimace.

That was a tourney she would prefer to see disbanded for good, but she had little say into the Magi's community. Fuyuki City was not in her territory either, so she could not order them to take it elsewhere. Fuyuki was Tohsaka lands and they had given their permission for the Heaven's Feel tournament to take place there. Coming back to the unsealing of one of the previous Dog General's Fangs, she decided to guide them. It was a rather slow day so far and a walk among her people would do her some good. With nary a thought, she used her power to change into something more comfortable and less flashy than her Miko outfit. Now wearing a more common lilac kimono, she took the head of the procession and then said

"Allow me to guide you to the temple where the Fangs are housed. Follow me please."

Both guests followed Yasaka, not even bothered by her display of magic or the change of her way to address herself. On the throne and in the palace she was Kyoto's Ruler, on the outside she was simply Yasaka the kyuubi no kitsune, mother of Kunou. Once they left the palace, she guided them into the packed streets towards the temples district. They passed the more popular ones and those dedicated to the more important deities of the Shinto Faith. Their little journey ended at an out of the way small building, everything about it screamed nondescript and unimportant. Harry could feel a compulsion try to make him turn around, but he didn't let it take root.

What he didn't realize at the time, was that his mental fortitude had made his grandfather even prouder of him that he already was and impressed greatly Yasaka, since he had brushed the compulsions away like it was nothing but a minor annoyance while they had been crafted by masters of the mental arts. The Kitsune moved forward and put her palm on the door, channelling youki in a very specific pattern. Once the "code" was entered and confirmed by the "system", the lock disengaged and the adults entered after opening the door, followed closely by the pre-teen.

Sesshomaru flared his power in a way to light all the lanterns, giving the previously pitch black and dusty room much needed light. The floor was octagonal in shape and made of dark blue tiles of a material unknown to the young hybrid and the adults didn't saw fit to tell him, so he didn't put any more thoughts on it. In the centre of the mosaic created by the tiles, there was a pedestal on which were two sheathed katanas laid horizontally inside what seemed to be a clear glass encased display rack. On the glass surface were etched innumerable seals. Harry stayed back near the door until he was called by his Elder once he and Lady Yasaka were done paying their respects to his great grandfather's spirit.

From what he knew, the Lady was not nearly old enough to have known his great grandfather when he was alive, but his legend still followed the Youkai people to these days. The previous General had been one of the few pureblooded Inu Youkais to not have been monogamous, but also one of the first to declare that the Human race was to be protected, not annihilated. When Harry was at the adults' side, he looked up to his Lord and waited for his instructions in silence. There was no need to ask, he knew by now that his Gramps would only instruct him when he felt he was ready to do so, not one second earlier and no amount of badgering would change anything.

His Elder took a great pleasure into instilling patience into his grandchildren, much to the ire of Rosie who still hadn't let totally go of her "I'm a Lady" tripe yet. Not that her attitude was garnering her much good will into their household. She was at the bottom of the pack and no matter what she tried; their mother would always be there to put her in her place each and every time. Uncle Padfoot had been severely punished for his brilliant idea to put that notion into Rosie's head. Being the General's exclusive punching bag for a whole month had made him regret it bitterly.

Now, his grandfather told him

"Put your right hand flat against the glass opening and flare your Youki like you are announcing your presence. Then take the katana on the upper rack once the door is open. Once you have Tessaiga in hand, draw her and your test will begin. But be careful pup, that blade is sentient and will reject you harshly if it finds you to be unworthy. If the sword accepts you as her new master, you will have a faithful and trusty partner at your side for as long as you live. Your great-uncle did great things in his lifespan with that sword at his hip. I have high expectations for you; I hope you do not disappoint me, Grandson."

The boy nodded and with a last glance at the Ruler of these Lands to gain permission to proceed, once the Kitsune authorized it with a nod of her head and a kind smile, Harry approached and did as he was told. Once the door of the enchanted glass encased display rack was opened, he took with reverence the sword that had been wielded by his late great-uncle Inuyasha. He knew that the sealed form of the blade would look like an unkempt and badly damaged katana, but he would not judge by appearances. He had studied everything he could find in the library of his grandfather's Keep about the Fangs of the Great Dog Demon.

The first test was passed; the barrier around the katana hadn't kept him out. When Harry tried to draw Tessaiga, then things started to get somewhat hairy. A great and powerful wind rose out of nowhere, engulfing the young Hanyō, keeping him away from the two adult Youkais in case they felt like to interfere with this test. Then something invasive for lack of a better word entered his being and it felt like something was judging him, seeing if he was worthy. Harry gritted his teeth at this intrusion, showing his fangs since his lips had curled up. Then as soon as it started, it was over. The wind died out and in a flash of yellow flame like energy, the blade assumed her true form!

The blade then turned into an over-sized dog's fang, fitting for its name. The cross guard had turned into a large patch of fur similar to a dog's also. When observed on different lighting, the blade sometimes seems like made from ivory and other times from steel. Since the boy was not used to the weight of the true sword, he had to hold it with two hands. Suddenly taken by a great joy, Harry whooped and laughed with great happiness. Tessaiga had found him worthy! He had a veritable piece of Youkai history in his hands!

Sesshomaru was smiling openly, proud. Time had tempered his character and while he had been robbed of seeing his daughter grow and having any more children since his mate's death, he was glad to be there to see his grandchildren grow up. James Potter was a good man and a good father, but oftentimes a Hanyō child needed help from an older Youkai. Wizards were just more resistant Humans with a longer lifespan and access to magic. Supernatural, yes but still Human. To see this young boy, no young man, he corrected himself; brandish the Iron crushing Fang, said Fang having accepted him as his new wielder, was something amazing.

Such potential into such a young boy! Twelve years old and already possessing a magical core of an adult and a pool of Youki to match, it was unreal. But on the downside, having so much energy; be it magical or demonic, already, comes with control problems. But with Tessaiga, it would all even out. After all, you had to channel a shit load of power into that blade for the techniques.

Yasaka was awed. She had been somewhat septic at first, that Lord Sesshomaru would unseal one of his Father's Fangs for his grandson. No matter how strong he already was, she has been of the opinion that he wasn't ready for such a powerful Youkai sword. However, she has been proved wrong and was glad for it. Yes, the progress of Harry Potter would bear watching. After all, the future would be shaped by the next generation. It did appease her worry to see the boy try to wield such a big sword and having difficulty. He wasn't one of those aloof prodigies who saw everyone else beneath them. His trainers would have to help him increase his arm strength before he could use Tessaiga in battle.

Seeing Harry fall on his back after an overextended reach and start cursing violently in what she could guess was Portuguese only to get a solid cuff on the back of the head from his grandfather's hand once he was on his feet again for his troubles made her loose her restrain and she laughed out loud! It didn't help things by seeing the irritated glare sent her way by the cute kid while he was rubbing the back of his head.

Back on the Western Lands, Murphy's Law had just hit Sirius Orion Black in the balls, extremely hard. It seemed that one of his many ex-girlfriends (I use the term loosely since most of them were more friends with benefits and drinking buddies than anything else.) had one hell of a secret! On one side, he was elated! He had had sexual relations with Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love and seriously, his time with her had been the very best he ever had! On another side though, he was absolutely terrified! She had lied to him when she said she was on the pill, so he hadn't bothered with condoms because he had foolishly believed her.

Now nine months later, he was the "proud" father of an adorable little girl and he had to raise her! Since Aphrodite had had blood red hair and kaleidoscopic eyes when she had been with him, his daughter had inherited the red hair and the eyes of the form used by her mother, but she had his nose, the shape of his face and she was also magical like him, since she had the Black family metamorphmagus blood trait.

How did he know? Well, Andromeda's daughter Nymphadora was one and he knew the signs, such as hair and eyes changing shapes and colors at random intervals. Now as to why Sirius was so out of it? The Ancient Laws forbid the Gods to raise their demigod children themselves. So Sirius had just passed from the almost totally free of responsibilities bachelor life to the life of a mono-parental dad. It didn't help things that James, Lily and Remus were in stitches of laughter at his predicament and each time they stopped to take back their breath, they would see him with his horrified face with his newborn daughter securely cradled into his arms and they would fall back into hysterics!

The one good thing in this mess was that the Goddess had named the girl with the Black Family's naming tradition in mind. Sirius didn't like many of his birth family's traditions, but naming a child after a star or a constellation was something he approved. So his daughter's name was Aquila Borealis Black. He was a father! His days of bar diving were over! While he wasn't the most responsible being, he wouldn't dump her in an orphanage. He had only himself to blame for not using protection. The fact that monsters would be attracted to her sent as she grew older and it would be risking her life before she was old enough to defend herself was also a big point into keeping and raising her.

Inside the Western Lands, no monsters could find her. Heck, even Aphrodite couldn't just manifest herself without passing through the gates first. So at least, he was in a safe place to raise his baby girl. Now, if only the others would stop laughing at him and help him get her settled with Harry and Rosie's old baby stuff so he could go buy in bulk whatever Aquila would need. Aphrodite was of no help, since after informing him of the truth, said good bye to her newborn baby girl, gave him one last soul searing kiss and told him where to find Camp Half-Blood, she had marched herself outside of the parallel dimension to return to Olympus.

It was official, Sirius Orion Black was screwed! Then his mind drifted to the Chinese proverb/curse he heard about the other day. May you live into interesting times.

Back with Sesshomaru and Harry, after putting back Tessaiga into her sealed form and bidding goodbye to Yasaka and leaving Kyoto behind, the Lord and his grandson were on another trip. Both standing on a cloud of Yoki and flying through the air, Harry couldn't help but to look all around him. It was a day of firsts today. First visit to Supernatural Kyoto, first meeting with Lady Yasaka, the first time he could touch a Youkai blade and now, his first trip into the Underworld. Both grandson and grandfather were on Gremory territory, riding towards their mansion. Their visit was to serve a few purposes.

One was to pick up Harry's birthday gift, second was to go over business arrangements and maybe something else of importance with Lord Gremory and third, it was somewhat of an arranged play date between Rias, the daughter of Lord Gremory and Venelana Gremory nee Bael and his grandson Harry.

Both lacked many true friends in their age brackets and the adults in their lives would like to see them socialize more. But with Rias' status as Heir of the clan and Harry's assigned training and both their schooling, things were not always easy to arrange. It was not an easy thing to find a good balance between free will, freedom and necessary protection. Harry was just starting to get out of his funk, since he had been good friends with the daughter of the Head Miko of the nearest shrine in Okayama, but both had been victims of criminals Fallen Angels.

Sesshomaru had, at the end of last year, a rather heated meeting with Azazel, the Governor General of the Grigori and Baraquiel, the widower of the Miko who was also a Cadre into the Fallen Angel organisation, after "the incident" as it was called, since it had happened in his territory. Lots of good did it do, Himejima Shuri was dead and her daughter, if not dead, was nowhere to be found for now an entire year. When he had learned that the Himejima clan had thrown young Akeno out of their clan and into the streets for the only reason that she was born half Fallen Angel, it had taken all his self restrain to not commit genocide!

As it is, that clan was no longer in his good books so to speak and as punishment, they were now facing very hard times economically speaking. After dealing with the Himejimas, he had had strong words with Azazel and Baraquiel. His point could have been proven at the tip of Bakusaiga, but prior "the incident" his business relations with the Grigori had always been profitable, so he withheld his sudden lust for a more barbaric approach. It did felt somewhat good to dress down beings older than him like they were misbehaving teenagers though.

While Sesshomaru was in is true form, Harry was in his human disguise. After his very harsh punishment after his last stunt of being very lax about the importance of disguises, it had taken him a few long months before regaining the responsibility of choosing where and when he could undo his glamours. Now, he usually stayed into his human guise even into the Western Lands unless told otherwise by his parents, much to displeasure of the rest of the community who had decided to live into the parallel dimension for the purpose of not having to be disguised all the time. Or for special occasions; like when he took his true form to be presented to Lady Yasaka earlier today. After a good while of flying, both grandson and grandfather where finally in view of the Gremory Mansion.

It was bloody huge! It must be a real killer to clean! Perfect grounds for a hide and seek game though. Sesshomaru's Keep was rather big, but nowhere as big as that building but more easily defensible at first glance. Well, in Harry's opinion that is.

While he knew theoretically that the Devils were a whole other species, he had never met one before, thus he didn't know what kind of magical feats and other various things they were capable of. He had spoken with a few Fallen Angels before, Azazel had sat near him and discussed with him while he was waiting for his turn to be chewed up by his Grandfather, since Baraquiel had drawn the short straw and gotten his ass chewing first. The man, while weird and talking very much about girl parts, was patient and had even indulged him by letting him touch one of his wing and answering his questions.

It was hilarious though, the look on his face when his mother had asked him when he was getting married. Uncle Padfoot usually made the same face too when the subject of marriage was brought up. Back to the Devil Mansion, they went back to solid ground a few metres before the front gate. Harry went forward with the intention of knocking on the door, but one look from the golden eyes of his elder made him abort the move, all the while rolling his eyes at the boring ceremonial employed.

Soon enough they were met at the door by a servant and when proved that they were indeed expected, they were quickly ushered inside and taken in a long trip towards the Lord's study. Once they were bid to enter, Harry took a good look on Lord Gremory who sat behind a mahogany desk, since he was the second Devil he met (The first was the servant at the door, but it didn't really count since he didn't pay much attention to the man.). Even as used to the Supernatural as he was, since he was born and raised in it, seeing a man as old as or even older than his grandfather looking a bit younger than his father was very surprising!

He knew that Devils had a very long lifespan, but to still look that young was mind blowing! The guy was looking like a middle-aged looking man with long crimson red hair that was tied as a loose ponytail with a black hair band. He also had bright blue eyes and a short and red beard. It seems that his gawking had caught the man's attention for after a light amused chuckle, he said with a kind tone followed with a nice baritone tone of voice that made his hidden animal ears twitch

"Yes my boy; we Devils have a very long life span and are somewhat vain. We may look human but we are not. You will not find many of our kind looking elderly. Now, how about you tell me what your name is, my boy?"

Remembering his etiquette lessons, Harry flushed at his forgetfulness and his rudeness. Bowing like the Japanese people usually did, he then said

"Forgive my rudeness, Lord Gremory. I never met a Devil before and your youthful appearance took me by surprise. My name is Harry James Potter, son of James Charlus Potter and Rirī of the House of The West. It's a real pleasure to meet you, sir."

Sesshomaru nodded subtly in the background. Good for the boy to recognize his misstep and correct it quickly by his own initiative.

Richard Gremory was a very patient man and being a Gremory, he was very kind by nature, but he also had the sharp mind of a good politician. He knew when to be ruthless and when to show mercy. While open for critics and counsel, ultimately he was the one who was making the hard decisions for the good of the Clan. It was on such a counsel from the Lord of the West himself that Richard decided to go with "An heir and a spare" setup. While his eldest, Sirzechs, could no longer inherit the title since he had taken the mantle of Lucifer, his youngest, Rias, was his official heir and his grandson, Millicas, was the spare, just in case.

The saying was Human of origin, more precisely British and it was an interesting one. But one of his more famous traits was seeing the potential inside each person. That inner strength, that everybody possessed and just needed the right training to bring it out. It was such potential he saw inside Riser Phenex during some of his Rating Games that was making him seriously think over approaching the Phenex Family for a betrothal contract for his daughter's hand in marriage. That and the Elders were on his case since he had made several liberal decisions lately that made some waves.

Such as harvesting enough fur of his Fire Rats kept in breeding farms for a little something the Inu No Taisho had ordered for his grandson. So a few conservatives moves would likely see them back off for a while. It was just too bad that those old coots had survived the changes of regime with much political power.

But the potential he saw into this seemingly Human boy surpassed largely what he had seen inside the third Phenex son. Richard was no fool; he knew glamours when he saw them, even some as well done as those on the boy in front of him. He was a Master Magician after all. So to see a Hanyō with so much potential, so much untapped strength but so polite and very well mannered was like seeing fire and ice cohabit. That impossibility was made possible and it made him reconsider as to who arrange his daughter with or if he shouldn't be more Devilish about it and let his wife do the matchmaking. Snapping out of his thoughts before it become awkward, he answered with an honest smile

"There's no need to apologize so profusely, son. You are young and still learning. That you rectified your own mistake and even see it was more than enough. I'm not even offended. Keep up the good work and also give my compliments to your parents. They have raised a pleasant, polite and well mannered young man. I am Richard Gremory and it is nice to meet you."

Harry smiled at the compliment. He was proud of his parents and loved them. But now what was he supposed to do? He had made a social faux pas, apologized after seeing what he did wrong and been forgiven. It came back to his internal question. Now what? He wasn't a politician yet and he hadn't thought to bring with him his Game Boy Advance SP and his Pokémon Games. At least they were safe from Uncle Moony's meddling, since he had hid them into the Treasure Room into the Keep. But both adults seemed to be one step ahead of him since Lord Gremory said

"Why don't you go meet my daughter Rias while we discuss between adults, Harry? That way, you won't be bored."

The pre-teen smiled and accepted. It was better than listening to adults talk about boring subjects. The same servant who answered the door and showed them to the study entered when called by the master of the place and bid him to follow, which he did. Before they got far though, his grandfather told him

"Do not draw Tessaiga. You aren't trained to its use yet. You can take your true form if you wish; no one here is a risk to our existence."

Harry nodded absently, but stayed in his human guise all the same. His harsh punishment had had for subconscious effect for Harry to associate his true form with bad things. It was to the point of if he was not told to train his demonic powers, he almost never used them anymore outside of spars, training or special occasions, leaning more and more toward his human heritage, his magic. He was still actively using his supernatural physical attributes, so it wasn't a total loss. It wasn't the perfect solution, but at least he was no longer breaking the International Statute of Secrecy and the Sacred Laws of Youkai Kind. It would have to do until he could find something to even the odds.

He was led toward a totally different wing of the mansion, then to a bedroom with a sign on the door that was written in Japanese "Rias' Room. Private Property". The servant knocked on the door and was bid to

"Enter!"

While he would normally focus on making a new friend of the cute redhead with pretty turquoise eyes, it was the black haired girl with her that took all his attention. Harry then said with a shocked voice

"Chibi-Miko Akeno? Is that you?!"

At the unusual nickname, Rias frowned but Akeno went rigid. The black haired girl turned around slowly, not believing her ears. There was only one person who had the balls to give her a nickname like that and repeating it so much that it stuck around. She had made friends with a foreign looking black haired boy with strange emerald/gold eyes about the same age as her about two years before her mother's untimely demise. He would come to their Shrine almost every day for a few hours after school and most of the day the Saturdays and holidays. He even stayed the night a few times!

But as far as she knew, he wasn't part or aware of the Supernatural! Once the violet eyed girl turned around completely, she had to realize that her ears hadn't deceived her. He was really there!

"Harry?! What are you doing here?!"

He answered with a radiant smile

"I came with my grandfather; he wanted to take me to my first trip to the Underworld since it's my birthday today. He currently is with Lord Gremory in the study, talking about boring adult things. Lord Gremory said he had a daughter around my age and asked a servant to take me here while the grown-ups are talking. I can't believe we finally found you! We looked for you everywhere after…well you know…"

He finished awkwardly. He wasn't about to talk out loud about her mother's death and her time on the streets after being kicked out by her mother's family. Seeing as both girls had trouble to understand why a regular human at first glance could be here and having a member of his family able to travel between the worlds, he took out his pendant from his shirt, held it in his hand, then channelled magic into the runes engraved on the emerald. In a somewhat adult-tall twister of wind that came from nowhere to engulf the boy, the glamours came down and once the wind died down, Harry was standing in front of both girls in his true form. Their reactions were not exactly what he was expecting though.

Akeno gasped out loud and said with surprise

"You are a Hanyō? Of course! That explains so much! You were always so fast and strong in school! Way ahead of everybody else, even the adults! The occasional growling coming from your throat and the dog-like mannerisms! I understand now why my…my mother…was always snickering when we were playing together…"

Overwhelmed by her conflicting emotions, she sat on her King's bed to digest everything. Finally, Rias, came out of her catatonia and ran towards the newly arrived hybrid. Once she was in his personal space, she let out a high pitched girlish squeak, which made Harry cringe since it hurts his hearing, before saying out loud

"You're so cute!"

Before he could do anything, she started to rub his ears and soon, he was putty into her hands. Once Akeno recovered by discovering that her old childhood friend who she thought was just a normal human boy was in fact a Half demon from the Ruling House of the local prefecture's Supernatural sect, she joined Rias into rubbing and petting his dog ears, all the while giggling at his bliss like expression. He was out of it for a while, even after both girls stopped petting him. He only snapped out of it when Rias decided to ponder out loud if he would look better with pink or purple nail polish for his claws.

Needless to say, it made both girls laugh out loud to see him look at them in horror before diving under the bed for a safe place to hide. Poor Harry, he hadn't yet learned that there were no safe places inside the Gremory Mansion where Rias and Akeno couldn't get him, except the places where you don't take your guests to.