Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Lord Khuzdu

Long time no see, I know. Next snippet won't be that far away, I promise.

~~~

Korkut examined the scapula of the ram he slaughtered thoughtfully. The arcane web of cracks, lines and burns on the bone spread like a web up its flat surface. Yavuz bent over the bone with him, trying to make sense of it.

"Hidden truth… yurt with khagan's tuğ in front of it… a palace… waste and extravagance… and this crack…"

Yavuz traced the split, thick crack with a spot burn near the branching point thoughtfully. "This seems familiar." Her eyes widened. "This is the Bosphorus. I know those lines like the back of my hand."

Korkut gazed at her. "Then this… Beşiktaş… so the palace must be Dolmabahçe… Okay, I can see the association, he died there."

"But how can we expect to find anything there? People must have gone over everything there with a fine toothed comb a dozen times," Yavuz said with a thoughtful look.

"Maybe. But our direction is clear. We have to visit the Dolmabahçe palace." Korkut's voice was firm.

Yavuz stood up and walked to the group of shipgirls waiting at the edge of the clearing. "Hamidiye, Ali, with me. Barbaros, I'm leaving you in command here. Slow them down as much as you can. Try to give us a week."

Barbaros nodded grimly, looking at the people around them. "We will do our best, Yavuz. Bring him back."

- - -

The plain rental van pulled into the parking lot next to the Bezmialem Valide Sultan Mosque next to the Dolmabahçe Palace complex. It was nighttime in Beşiktaş, and the palace museum was closed and dark, but the traffic in Istanbul never stopped. Korkut, Ali and their auror contact, Murat, stepped out of the vehicle first, with Yavuz, Hamidiye and Muavenet following them, with the rather conspicious shipgirls wearing sunglasses and wigs to make them less noticeable. Korkut looked towards the palace. "Well," he turned towards Ali, "your show. You said you could get us in."

Ali smiled and pulled out a phone. He checked his messages, and led them towards the wrought iron gates of the park next to the palace. The gates, normally closed and locked for the night, were unlocked. There was a middle aged, rail thin man waiting for them.

Ali smiled. "Thank you for meeting us here, Ibrahim. Any problems?"

Ibrahim frowned and looked back at the palace. "It took some funding to get this access. Tell Mehmet the rainy day fund is looking rather threadbare."

Ali shook his head. "Don't worry about that. You sure we will not be disturbed?"

Ibrahim smiled at that. "The security is high in the Presidential Office area, but the museum only has three guards tonight. They know enough to stay in their offices for now, and I've put Hüseyin on that hallway to make sure. The cameras are 'undergoing maintenance'. We will be okay."

Korkut motioned with his head. "Okay, let's get going then. We don't have much time."

- - -

Yavuz looked around the room and huffed in frustration. "This is the room he died… but… why did we need to come here? I really don't want to start tearing into furniture unless I really have to." She walked to the mirrored wardrobe and examined herself. Her eyes were starting to sink, with lack of sleep from the last few days. Her compatriots did not look better.

Ali sighed. "We can turn this place upside down if needed but I don't think we will find anything. Preserved or not, people would have gone over this place a thousand times since then."

Korkut, on the other hand, was examining the bedspread. "Well well well… somebody did use some rather strange spells in here." He said. "The residue is very old. But linen is suprisingly absorbent when it comes to stuff like that." He pulled up the silk flag covering the bed, and ran his hands over the linen bedspread. "The residue is muddled to hell and back, but there are some spells intended to-"

Yavuz whirled around when Korkut was interrupted by a gasp and a thump. A woman was standing over the old shaman, who was sprawled on the ground beside the bed. The woman's eyes were flashing with anger, her delicate features twisted in a scowl. She was tall and slender, with light brown hair and pale skin. She was wearing a light green dress straight out of the Great War years. "How dare you!" she hissed. A moment later, she noticed the others in the room, with a gun and a wand pointing at her. "Ah… oh… Yavuz? Is that you? I… weren't you a ship? What is happening?"

Yavuz rubbed her forehead, then motioned for the others to lower their weapons. "Long story. Who are you?"

The woman looked at the battlecruiser and then the others. "I should ask you lot that. What are you doing here? Why are you disturbing His room?"

Yavuz looked at the ceiling in despair, then brought her glare to bear on the other woman. "We are trying to understand what happened to him. I have it on good authority that he is not dead. Or at least, not on the other side."

The woman blinked. "Wha- Wait! So that's what he meant!"

Yavuz looked ready to chew through a bar of steel in frustration. "What who meant? What are you talking about? Who are you?"

Her target wilted under the glare of The Battleship. "Professor… Doktor Mim Kemal Bey. He… he said that He deserved more… there was only Salih Bey… he came in that morning… pulled out a stick and there was a red light… Salih Bey slumped over… Then he waved the stick over the Paşa. He then fed him something out of a small bottle. Did something and Salih Bey woke up, in a daze. He then went downstairs. At the stairs… he looked straight at me. I was very surprised that he could see me. Told me to follow him and went into the room prepared for the embalming operation. Then the yelling started. Ah! I can show you!"

Yavuz frowned as she listened and looked at Murat. "So, Doctor Mim Kemal Bey, was apparently a wizard, secretly. And he did something to Mustafa Kemal Paşa. Salih… that's Salih Bozok. Well, that's no surprise. You could never find him more than a few meters away from the Paşa. Did you know anything about this?" At his head shake indicating that he did not, she turned back to the woman. "Okay, lead the way. Who were you, again?"

"Oh, sorry… I am… I am this place. I am the Palace."
- - -

A few minutes later, the spirit of the Dolmabahçe Palace led the group to the downstairs room that was used to perform the embalming procedure. The room, out of sight from the rest of the museum, was being used as a storage, full of furniture.

"Here," the spirit pointed towards a wall. "He used his… wand? His wand to… open up the bricks on this wall. He pulled one out, and placed a small satchel in it. He… he said he did this to give Him the second chance he deserved. That he would make sure He got the rest he deserved."

Korkut examined the wall. "Indeed, there is an old transfiguration. The plaster is paper thin." He pulled out his wand, and with a wave, the plaster fell away. In the small cubbyhole, there was a small satchel wrapped in a linen handkerchief. The old shaman pulled it out carefully. "There is a preservation charm on it. Good one." He unfolded the cloth. Inside, there was a small flask with a little potion in it, and a small notebook. He handed the notebook to Yavuz, and the flask to Murat.

The auror sniffed the potion and shook his head. "I was not bad at potions, but I am by no means an expert. Still, if I had to make a guess, I'd say the Draught of Living Death."

Yavuz nodded as he went through the small notebook. "Indeed. Apparently, Mim Kemal Bey thought Paşa's life was cut too short. It seems Paşa's dreams he discussed with Sabiha Hanım, about retiring to a small farm, made an impression about him. His condition was incurable, not without endangering the Statute. So… he concocted this plan. He modified the memories of the people who did the embalming. And thus, Paşa was buried without doing anything to his body." She frowned. "Mim Kemal Bey died in 1955… just two years after they transferred him to his permanent grave from the catafalque at the Etnography Museum in Ankara. He probably did not have a chance to do anything out in the open there… and his health was failing by the time they transferred him to somewhere with the necessary privacy. So, he is still alive, under the effects of the potion."

Murat shook his head. "However, we cannot directly bring him out. Draught of Living Death preserves the body, but it cannot cheat death forever. Besides, if I remember correctly, Paşa's liver was almost completely gone by the time he died. It would take a miracle to actually keep him alive after we counteract the Draught."

Korkut smiled. "Well, good thing we have a miracle worker at hand. So it seems we are going on a not-so-dead-body snatching adventure."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Just looking at the phone in bemusement, Harry slowly shook his head with a slight chuckle, "Well, things seem like they're interesting with Natsumi-Chan."

Stretched out under a sunbeam, Shiromizu hummed happily as she sunned herself, "Hai, it does sound that way, Harry. But I am glad that she's alright though, that's a load off. Especially considering what she was dealing with, anyways."

Giving a nod, the teen frowned as he scratched his chin a little, "That's true enough, I suppose. Still, I'm just glad that things have turned out well." Once he got a hum of agreement, Harry sat down and smiled at his older "Sister" as she had her eyes closed, "You seem relaxed."

Only yawning a bit, Shiromizu opened one eye and smiled, "And why wouldn't I be? Things are turning out well at Ginzan." At his look of interest, she continued, "Himawari-Chan is working on getting her driver's license so that she can be my chauffeur of sorts. That small company making Omniculars is up and running with both the military and government interested in them, so they should get a nice big order, and various small businesses are flourishing."

Lips twitching, Harry gave her a knowing look, "Not to mention all the video that Suihou-San has been sending you of Himawari-San and her boyfriend had put you into a good mood."

Unable to help herself, the Mizuchi grinned widely, "Can you blame me? Those two are so sweet when they're together." At the shake of the head she got, though she could tell that Harry was amused by it, she internally smiled, 'I wonder what those two are up to right now...'

**********************************

Coming out from between some shelves, Ryo softly hummed as he ran a hand along the wooden bookcase. It was much different from the ones he that he was used to, but... they were his and thus, he did not care. Under his palm he could feel the old, slightly worn wood before smiling a little.

Glancing around, he was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as he noted that some more of the shelves had been filled. This time with a series of large, heavy books called the "Encyclopedia Britannica" that had been sent by Harry. His finger tips itched a bit and he had to stop himself from pulling one out to read. As well, there were a number of novels, both general and of the light format.

In particular, he was looking forward to reading the one titled "Shogun" which had caught his eye.

Moments later, his smile brightened as he passed a window and came to a stop. Being as he was on the second floor of his library, he could see the field of sunflowers that belonged to his girlfriend. Opening the window, he leaned his cheek against his fist and softly sighed in happiness as he looked out onto the bright, yellow blossoms. Each one seeming to give off the joy of the sunny spirit that called the field hers.

For several minutes, he just stood there leaning against the window as he looked out onto the field. Part of him mused that the flowers were brighter than the Sun. Eventually, however, he straightened and disappeared, reappearing on the lower floor of his library. A cloth appeared in his hand as he walked over to one of the desks, upon which sat a "Tiffany Lamp". He had to agree, it was a beautiful object. Even more so when night fell and he turned it on to read by its light.

It did not take him long to clean off what little dust might be on it. After all, he kept his library very clean, he would have you know! Once he was done, he placed his hands on his hips and nodded with a smug smile at how the lamp shone in the afternoon light.

Unnoticed by him, Himawari poked her head past the door and fought not to giggle at the sight of her boyfriend standing there looking so proud... Not that she minded that too much. She enjoyed seeing him like that and it made her feel warm inside, like the light of the summer Sun on her flowers. Just the same, she slowly made her way to him before lunging forward and placing her hands over his eyes as he jumped a bit in surprise, "Guess who~"

Calming down a little, Ryo hummed as if in thought before smiling, "Himawari-Chan?"

Quickly pulling her hands away, the Sunflower spirit giggled, "Right first time!" When he turned, her boyfriend opened his mouth to say something, only to freeze as he saw her. Light blush on her face, Himawari leaned forward slightly with her hands behind her back, "Ryo-Kun? Is something wrong?"

Just shaking his head as he swallowed some saliva in his mouth, Ryo shook his head, "N-not at all, Himawari-Chan..." Unable to help himself, his eyes roamed over what was on display. Mainly because for once, she was not wearing her usual Kimono. Rather, she had on what looked like nearly skintight jeans that ended partway down her lower leg and a tight, blue t-shirt. One that had a sunflower on the chest and drew his eye to her modest bust, "No problem at all..."

Happily smiling, Himawari straightened and her happiness grew a touch at seeing his gaze follow her movements with a blush on his own face, "I was worried there for a moment."

Slowly nodding, the library spirit gave her a weak grin, "Sorry about that, Himewari-Chan." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "I'm... curious about why you're wearing that." Ryo realized how that sounded and brought up how hands as she frowned, "N-not that it doesn't look great on you, Himawari-Chan! It does!" Giving her another once over, he felt his cheeks heat a bit more, "Really great..."

Her own blush deepening, Himawari nonetheless gave him a bright smile, "Thank you, Ryo-Kun..." With her head tilted to the side, she slowly twirled around in front of him, "You really think that it looks good?"

Noticing how the jeans she wore really clung to her, Ryo nodded with his eyes fixed on what he could see, "H-hai..."

Brightly smiling, the Sunflower Spirit gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you." Pulling back a bit, she hummed as she bounced on the balls of her feet, "As to why I'm wearing it? It's because I'm heading to my next driving lesson."

That made Ryo blink some in confusion, "Your driving lesson?"

With a hum, Himawari nodded, "That's right." She made a gesture with one hand, "The people doing it are in one of the nearby towns and wearing a Kimono might catch attention."

Just blinking, her boyfriend gave her a once over, "And that won't?" Mumbling a bit, he shook his head, "Because it caught mine..."

That caused Himawari's blush to deepen followed by his own, "Um, thank you..." Giggling a little at his embarrassed expression, she tilted her head to the other side, "Well, like I said, I couldn't wear my Kimono and always wanted to try out more modern clothes." Looking down at her feet, she glanced at him, "I'm glad that you like them."

Briefly, Ryo had to bite his lip at how adorable his girlfriend looked before remembering something that he saw. Glancing around quickly, he walked up to her and placed his arms around her waist. This had the benefit, to his, and hers unknown to him, of placing his hands on her ass as he pulled her close, "I really do, my Cinnamon Bun."

Himawari didn't know that she could blush that much, but apparently so. Also glancing around, she hummed as she threw her arms around his neck, "Thank you, my Sweet Bookworm."

Leaning in, she shared a kiss with him that he returned gladly. When she pulled back, both of them were breathless and Ryo swallowed a bit, "Um, is it going to take you long? The lesson, I mean..."

For a moment, Himawari chewed her bottom lip, making him kiss her again briefly. More than a little flustered, she took a breath to calm herself before shaking her head, "Not so much for you as for me." At his confused look, she glanced around, "Lady Jin knew someone with a time turner and lent it to me. I've been using it to go to different driving schools each day for the past two weeks.... which is more like six for me."

Eyes wide, Ryo gained an unsure and worried expression, "Are you sure about that, Himawari-Chan? That means that you've been taking six lessons a day!" At her shy nod, he frowned, "Are you okay? I don't want you to get too tired..."

Moments later, his girlfriend shook her head, "I'm fine, Ryo-Kun." Seeing his uncertain look, she sighed a little though there was a slight smile on her face before she gestured towards her field, "As long as I have the sun shining on my flowers, or really it is day, I can't get tired because they lend me some energy. Even if there's... six of me elsewhere... or seven, since I also have been driving around with some of the Yokai here teaching me." Himawari reached up and cupped his cheek some, "There's nothing to be worried over, Ryo-Kun."

With a small sigh, Ryo looked down into her eyes before giving her a slight smile, "Just don't overdo yourself, Himawari-Chan."

Giggling as she shook her greenish hair, Himawari had a bright smile on her face, "I won't, Ryo-Kun. Besides, the courses are six weeks long. Combined, that will give me forty two weeks worth of driving experience by the end, or nearly ten months. Which means that I'll have plenty of experience when it comes time to drive Lady Shiromizu around and the same with you and Suihou-Chan!"

Lips curling into a wider smile, he leaned in and brushed their noses together and got another giggle, "Well, I'm glad that my girlfriend is so smart. Smarter than her boyfriend anyways."

Just slapping his chest lightly, she snorted though there was a definite twinkle in her eye, "I'm not that smart compared to you, Ryo-Kun."

Stealing a kiss, Ryo smirked, "Ah, but you are."

Red dusting her cheeks once more, she hummed, "Thank you, my adorable Book Worm." Pressing their foreheads together with noses touching, she hummed a little, "You know, if you want... I can wear one of my other outfits like this one to our bedroom tonight~"

Pulse pounding in his ears, Ryo swallowed some, but nodded, "I... would like that, my sweet Cinnamon Bun."

Both of them pressed more together with Himawari humming as they kissed, one foot in the air.

Unknown to them, Suihou was peeking into the room and had recorded the whole thing on a phone that Shiromizu had given her. If she could, she would be squeeing right now, but settled for her version of a massive grin, 'Sooo adorable... I can't wait to send this video to Lady Shiromizu~'

*************************************************

Harry and Shiromizu were both quiet for a couple of moments before the Mizuchi gave a small shrug with a smug smile, "I expect more video and such soon of those two being completely and utterly adorable together. Perhaps enough to rot my teeth considering how they are together..."

Sighing, though he had an amused look on his face, Harry cocked an eyebrow, "You're horrible."

Once more, the serpent gave a shrug, "Hai, and? I am a Mizuchi, it is my job to be amused at my attendants." Clasping her hands together, her cooing caused Harry to laugh, "But they really are sweet when they're together."

It took a few moments, but Harry managed to calm down some before he paused as he remembered some things, "Do you have some ideas for cars? Or anything else?"

Hands behind her head, Shiromizu cocked her head some but nodded, "I have a few ideas actually. There's a Mujina in town who is pretty young and learned at an automotive shop, so I might hire him on. Not sure about cooks..."

Lapsing into silence, neither of the two said anything before the nearly fourteen year old checked his phone and nodded a little as he got up for the suitcase which he grasped, "Well... Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan are nearly here."

Just getting up, Shiromizu slithered over and gave him a hug as her lower body shifted to legs instead of a serpent's body, "Hai, now you have fun down in Kyoto, Otouto. Hmm? And maybe pick something up for your poor Onee-Chan."

Harry, in reply, gave a small laugh as he returned the hug, "I will, don't worry about that, Shiromizu." As he pulled back, he gave her an smile, "I'll see you when I get back."

Softly smiling, the young Kami gave his hair a ruffle which got a pout from him, "Hai, hai, I'll see you then."

Moments later, both of them were laughing and they walked out of the apartment with Harry locking the door behind him. Soon after, they were standing outside waiting until a sedan pulled up and the rear passenger doors opened to reveal a smiling Ume and Sakura. Both former Hitobashira got out and walked over to Harry before hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek, "Good afternoon, Harry-Chan."

Returning the hug and kiss on the cheek, the teenage wizard smiled, "Good afternoon, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan." He then bowed towards the driver and the front passenger, "And a good afternoon to you as well, Akimi-Sensei, Miu-Sensei."

Both shipgirls had a smile on their faces as they waved back before Akimi, who was in the front seat, gave him a sigh, "Harry-San, I am not currently your Sensei right now. So, please, call me Akimi-San."

Lightly scratching the back of his head, Harry grinned a little, "Sorry about that, Akimi-San."

Turning, he gave Shiromizu one last hug before he placed his suitcase into the trunk of the car. Much to his confusion, however, both Ume and Sakura had him get into the car first before sitting in the middle of the backseat. Then the Twins sat down, one on either side of him before buckling in and closing the door. As the car started to move, both girls leaned into him with smiles as they placed their heads on his shoulder.

With a glance in the mirror, Akimi shook her head a little before chuckling, "Are you excited for this, Harry-San? Going to Kyoto during Gion Matsuri?"

Grin on his face, Harry gave a nod, "Hai, very excited actually. Though, um... I've never been on the magical side of the festival, just to the non-magical once with Mum..."

Rolling down her window as they drove, Miu placed her arm on her door, "It's something to see, Harry-San. In some ways, it's like the non-magical side but with magic involved. However. there's other booths and the like with people crossing back and forth from the non-magical to the magical."

That got an interested look from the teen before the Twins spoke, "From what we hear, with how things are going, there is going to be a Hyakki Yagyō this year. Which will be something to see, Harry-Chan."

Eyebrows raising, Harry looked at Miu and Akimi, who nodded with the Kitsune Battleship smiling, "Hai, that will be one of the events that is supposed to occur, for the first time since the war ended." Lips pursed together thinly, she gripped her steering wheel a bit harder, "I have never gotten the chance to see the Kyoto Gion Matsuri Hyakki Yagyō because it was banned after the war. First, because of the Occupation Authorities, and later because the Magical Diet passed laws to stop it." Relaxing a bit, she took a deep breath before letting it out. "Thankfully, however, things have changed and this is the first time that it'll occur after nearly seventy years of being barred."

Miu gave a small snort at that with a smirk, "It is sort of the biggest 'Fuck you' that the Kyoto Diet can give to the Tokyo one right now." Her tone becoming dry, she continued, "Though with the issues they got since Hokkaido broke with them and joined Kyoto, doubtful that they will notice at all."

Needless to say that got her a series of snorts and amused sounds from the backseat. That was until Sakura wagged a finger at her niece, "Language, please, Miu-Chan."

Glancing at her friend, Akimi snickered some at the blush on the crane hanyou's face at being repremanded by her Aunt for her language, "Hai, Oba-San..."

With a sharp nod, both Hitobashira turned back to Harry as they continued to chat.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- This will be a bit slow-running since I'm coordinating with some other folks, but this covers Delilah and Zamarad's pregnancy. Among other things.

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (I)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

25 July 2014
Spoiler: Waking Up

It was still dark when Delilah woke up.

Feeling Zamarad stir, she whispered to her love. "I'll make you some breakfast in bed before our fast begins at sunrise."

The Ifrit whispered back. "Thank you, love."

With a loving kiss, they began to start their day.

Delilah padded out in her normal sleeping T-shirt and panties along with Yosemite Sam fuzzy slippers. Meanwhile Zamarad sat in her nightdress at the antique hardwood vanity (a Christmas gift from Colombe) and ignited the candles in the candle-holders with a glance. She hummed a lullaby as she began to brush her red hair.
--------------------------

Delilah rubbed the bandages on her torso, scratching the healing flesh of her aching and sore bosom as she rooted in the kitchen cabinet for breakfast ingredients. Zamarad entering her life had necessarily resulted in a change to her diet with pork products off the menu in large part. Although she did get the occasional rasher of bacon and BBQ pork sandwich when on the job.

With that in mind, she poured herself a glass of milk from the refrigerator.

"Let's see, first thing first, talk to Mother when she wakes up about the geases and also I need to speak to Colombe about that." Delilah mused, "As for what to make for Zamarad, pancakes for breakfast?"

She sipped the milk as she thought, then suddenly paled as her stomach heaved. Hastily she dashed to the sink and began to retch into the basin.

"Ugh ugh ugh." She groaned as the vomiting stopped and her nausea began to ebb away. She grabbed a towel and wiped her lips and sighed. "The milk must have gone bad. I'll just pour it out and drink water today."

With that observation, the rest of the milk followed Delilah's vomit down the sink without the Muramasa revolver thinking of alternate explanations for a sensitive stomach. Yet.

Delilah hummed and began to cook the pancakes for her and Zamarad. Her smile faded and she frowned at the memory of finding out what Zamarad had done to reach her. She was not happy that Zamarad had risked being extinguished to try to save her.

Delilah sighed deeply, and then shook her head. She admitted to herself once more that if their positions had been revered, she would have made the same choice, taken the same risks, paid the same price as her love had to risk her very existence for the one she loved.

For if their positions had been reversed, Zamarad would have done the same as she had, walked out to certain death to buy time for those under her protection to have a chance for life.

Because in the end there was really no other choice worthy of the name for either of them in that instant of crisis when the trumpet blast sounded to stand with the sheep or the goats.

And she loved Zamarad even more for that. Because Zamarad and she were two flames in the fireplace. Two bullets in her chambers. Two sides of the same coin. Two halves of a greater whole. Someone who Delilah could let down all her masks and open her innermost heart and reveal the depths of her mind and soul to for she could love and trust Zamarad unreservedly and totally.

With that insight, she flipped the pancakes and whispered words of poetry that spoke to the very core of them both.

"I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not Honour more."
--------------------------

Meanwhile, upstairs in their bedroom, Zamarad frowned at a pair of small red spots on the white cotton of her underwear along with a stain as she stood up to get dressed. The Ifrit sighed and opened the bin to the laundry hamper to deposit the bloodstained panties for laundry day.

With that done, she began to hunt down her panty liners in her dresser drawer. She rubbed her temples to try to ease a mild headache as she got dressed in fresh underwear with the protective padding under her modest white wool dress. Finally finished with her preparations, the Ifrit waved her hand.

The candles extinguished themselves at her command and desire.

With a broad happy smile, Zamarad glanced over at the tank of repair fluid containing her love's true body, now fully repaired from the ordeal that was Kingsport.

The smile faded at the memory of her mad, desperate actions then. Realizing that Delilah was sacrificing her life to buy time to save the innocents in the town from the Abyssals that TOTEM had accidentally called to destroy their secrets there. Deciding to destiny twist the Mage responsible to stand trial and be punished for her misdeeds. Then leaving to face the Fiendfyre trap and risk Falling from the Dark energies, hatred, and insatable desire to burn all before her to gain that power to save Delilah. Then... plunging into the water, dying by inches as she guttered and weakened, pressing on to reach Delilah and save her love or fall at her side in death. For in life or in death, she would never leave her love's side.

Zamarad was upset with Delilah for making that choice, of course, yet smiled fondly at the memory of Delilah's face when she chose to walk into the flames to save and free others. Memories of a letter that Delilah had shared with her one night filled her mind. A letter written during the great Civil War that had forged Delilah into the hero that Zamarad loved with a burning love greater than any flame that any Ifrit could become. A flame that would warm her the rest of her life, along with any children that they might have before the end came for them.
Spoiler: Loved I Not Honor More

She smiled fondly as she warmed the bed to the proper temperature for a cuddle after breakfast as they waited for the sun to rise. Emerald eyes flamed with a warm love and ruby lips parted as she spoke words from one of her favorite English poems.

"I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not Honour more."
--------------------------

The first rays of dawn painted the sky through the window as Delilah and Zamarad cuddled together with the remains of the pancakes (and a bowl of sugar maple wood chips for dessert) on the plate nearby. Delilah smiled. "Morning prayers then."

"Ṣalāt al-Fajr." Zamarad agreed with a kiss.

With that she stood and walked to the basin that Delilah had installed in her bathroom to wash herself ritually for prayer using water from the house's well.

As she did, Delilah removed a hand-woven antique Persian prayer rug from the closet and cast a spell to align it properly with Mecca.

"Thank you," Zamarad spoke as she returned. She then recited the aš-šahādah statement of faith as Delilah stood next to her in reverent silence. Following that, Zamarad then began the prayer, bowing and then kneeling to place her forehead on the prayer rug as she prayed.

Finally finished, Zamarad smiled at Delilah as the ball of the sun crept over the hills fully. "And now we fast again for Ramadan," she spoke with a happy flicker of flame in her green eyes.

Delilah smiled and then rolled up the prayer rug carefully before placing it back into storage to await the midmorning prayer. "Indeed we do, and you are welcome, my love."

Delilah got dressed in companionable silence and then Delilah pulled out a book of poetry. "Shall we read for a bit while we wait for Mother to get up?"

Zamarad nodded "Indeed, I would be hard pressed to fast from poetry, my love."

Delilah chuckled and began to read Rudyard Kipling to her love.
Spoiler: Del Reads Poetry

As Delilah finished 'If', the fireplace suddenly ignited and flamed green. A bearded head wearing a turban with a jeweled clasp formed in the flames.

Zamarad smiled happily. "Uncle Muhammad!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- I had the writing bug hit me thanks to the chatting back and forth with Khuzdul. This is up for him to decide whether or not it is canon for down the road in his piece of the shared universe.

Atatürk

Arı Burnu Cemetery, Anzak Koyu, Gallipoli, Turkey

After The Statute Falls
Spoiler: Gallipoli

The crescent moon silvered the Gulf of Saros. The waves of what the poet Homer had called 'the wine dark sea' foamed and receded on the strip of beach. The night was quiet and still, with only the hoot of an owl and the slow, gentle hiss of the surf on the pebbles of the beach.

As yet another wave broke, like a ghost from the past a small destroyer shipgirl suddenly appeared. She skated across the waves with a middle aged-man in her arms to the beach and set him down there. Dark braids swing around her shoulders as she quietly spoke in Turkish. "I'm going to be here to protect you, you know. Yavuz would keelhaul me if anything happened to you, Paşam. Anyway, you don't need to come here, every expert agrees...."

The man, balding and yet in the prime of life, gave her a fond smile as he cut off her words with a raised hand. His voice, gentle but with steel in it under the velvet, spoke. "I know, I have had this discussion with you, Yavuz, and the others. No, I know in my bones that She is different. But I have to come here, have to see for myself. I have to pay honor to the past. Follow me if you want, but I am safe here, of all places."

His voice hushed as he looked at the slumbering hills and gullies leading up from the beach. His eyes misted as he remembered standing here on a night much like this one, amidst the wreckage and ruin of war and the debris of a defeated army in the sudden, shocked silence as the madly thundering guns finally fell silent.

His lips quirked as a stray thought struck him as it had before. At least it smelled better than when he had stood here in 1916. Nothing smelled so vile as a battlefield.

He had been here afterward, of course. Here, surrounded by the few men of his generation who had survived to witness the reborn nation whose birth pains had come here and the more numerous men of the younger generations whose blood had watered the valleys and hills as part of the price paid to give birth.

And the children.

Always the children, for they were the future.

With that thought, he touched the necklace that he had been gifted. A charm rested there, given to him by some of those who had brought him back. A gift and a reward for what he had done, it was enchanted to allow him to set aside his name, his fame, and his history to walk among his people as one of them without the wearying adoration of those for what he had done for them. But it would never work on the children, save to give them the wisdom to not inform their elders of who he was when he spoke words of encouragement to them.

After all, what was a Father without many strong sons and lovely daughters to look up to, to be inspired by, to love and be loved?

For they were the future.

He walked up the shore of the beach with the firm step of one who had been there before. Muavenet followed like his shadow, and he spared a smile and approving nod for the loyal girl.

The cemetery gates were unlocked, and he nodded in approval as he passed inside. The graves were neat and orderly, standing in serried rows with the cross for those those unclaimed and unidentified but never forgotten. To one side, a curved monument of concrete stood.

He gave a wry smile and respectful nod to it as the sky lightened with the coming of dawn.

He did not need the dawn's light to know the words on it, for he had spoken them here at the dedication of this cemetery.

And he had spoken more truly than he knew. Here, there was no difference, no animosity between the Johnnies of the Commonwealth and the Mehmets he had led to resist them. Here, they were lying together as brothers should in the shared country that they had given their lives to birth, in the ground that they had hallowed with their blood.

They had become his sons as well.

With that thought, a tall matron wearing a slouch campaign hat walked from the shadow of the trees to join him as he stood in respectful silence and contemplation.

He removed his sheepskin cap and nodded to her politely in greeting. "Gallipoli." His voice was full of respect, one old friend meeting another.

Her voice was hushed and filled with the love and respect that his men had for their beloved commander. "Paşam. Walk with me please?"

His smile widened as he walked with her up the road, then turned onto the marked path to Shrapnel Valley. "It would be my honor."

Muavenet fell in alongside him as an escort as they walked in reverent silence. Finally as they rounded a bend in the path, Gallipoli spoke quietly. "You're looking well."

He chuckled as they paused at the cemetery on Walker's Ridge, looking out over the shadowed valleys where men had lived, fought, and died. "I suppose that I am at that. I didn't expect to make it this far, you know. None of us did, really. Back then, just seeing a new sunrise was a gift from a gracious and merciful God."

The dawn gilded the waters of the Dardanelles and touched the hills and valleys as Gallipoli nodded somberly. "I know. Thank you for coming, Paşam."

He gave her a respectful smile, "I read the reports of you shortly after I came back. After Verdun nearly awakened, a survey was made by the Ministry of Magic. They even called in that Frenchwoman who was instrumental in handling Verdun to double-check." He shook his head and chuckled. "You can imagine the panic when they realized that you were fully awake and so close to Istanbul. Yet you did not cause any problems. If I may ask, why?"

She looked at him for long moments before smiling in approval and speaking. "You know in your bones why, Paşam. But for the records that your friend will no doubt give her mistress Yavuz -- the busybody -- I will say it aloud. Unlike my... relative... in France, those who fell here fell together as brothers. What happened to me that you were part of gave meaning to their deaths, meaning to their sacrifices, and was suitably honored. Here, there is no longer hatred between those who attacked and those who defended, those who were defeated and those who triumphed. Here, the mothers come to honor their sons of their birth and their adoption alike, loved and mourned equally."

She looked at the graves as her eyes became shadowed. "One of the Shayatin came to tempt me as I fully stirred. He... tried to get me to turn on my sons, torment them as Verdun would have." Her voice became harsh and powerful, stern as steel with the thunder in it of the cannons that had roared across these blood-soaked ridges in savage battle. "I refused and dealt with him."

He nodded sharply in approval, his face furious. His iron-hard voice was no longer that of a gentle old man, but the younger commander he had been in 1915. It was merciless with the authority that he had used to order his men to march to their deaths to buy time and save the critical hills as the battle hung in the balance. "Good. Their kind have no place here."

"No they do not." she agreed. "I could never do that to my sons."

"No," he said as they resumed their walk, "for they sacrificed their futures here so their homes and loved ones could live. I am glad that you watch over their well-earned slumber as is right and proper."

As the morning continued, they passed clusters of people. A elderly couple with tokens of remembrance grasped in their withered hands. A group of tourists with the accents of distant lands. A bus full of schoolchildren.

The last caused Kemal to pause and say a few words of heartfelt encouragement, reminding them to learn from their teacher's lectures here and use the lessons of this field trip in their lives.

They also passed more cemeteries, each named for a ridge, a hill, a valley written in blood into the pages of history.

The Nek, Lone Pine, Plugge's Plateau, The Farm, Chunuk Bair. The only difference was that as they climbed higher, the crosses became fewer and the crescents more.

Statues stood as witnesses to the grave-sites that they paid their respects to.

A Turkish soldier charging with a bayoneted rifle.

An ANZAC private carrying his wounded mate on his shoulders to the hospital.

An elderly Turkish man bringing his young granddaughter to honor the grave of her father.

Finally at the end of their walk, they stood on the hill of Chunuk Bair. The key to the Dardanelles. The key to Turkey.

Kemal surveyed the bronze of him in his field uniform with binoculars and a riding crop under a pith helmet looking out over the battlefield from where he had stood and commanded his men during those terrible days. His lips quirked and he shook his head. "I always hated the pith helmets you know. Stupid things. Still, I suppose it is not a bad likeness."

Gallipoli gave her own smile. "No, no, it is not a bad likeness at all. I'm honored to see you once more, Paşam."

"The honor was mine, Gallipoli. I have things to do, to insure that the nation that was birthed here is set to rights once more. After that," he stretched and cracked his neck, "I suppose I'll retire to that small farm and rest. Probably pay you a visit from time to time incognito when I do, though. If you don't mind the company of an old fart like me. I know how my men grumbled behind my back about the brass when I visited them in the trenches."

Gallipoli gave him a happy smile. "Not in the least, Lieutenant Colonel. It would be my honor for you to return to me then. I'll make sure that my sons are properly presentable for when you review them next."

With that she snapped to attention and saluted him, a salute he and Muavanet returned. The Father of Turkey lowered his arm and spoke crisply. "Very good. And the honor was always mine to be entrusted with the command of your sons." He turned to look at the battlefield and repeated as his tears flowed. "The honor and the glory was never mine, but theirs."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (II)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

25 July 2014
Spoiler: An Eid Invitation From The Fakhourys

Delilah's lips curled in a fondly loving smile at the happy expression on Zamarad's face.

"Uncle Muhammad!" Zamarad exclaimed at the sight of her mother's younger brother's head in the fireplace. The Ifrit princess then gestured and the flame roared to fill the fireplace as she took control of the Floo communication on her end.

Sultan Muhammad Fakhoury smiled from where he sat in his palace upon a hill overlooking Beirut and then leaned back upon his divan. "My Niece. It is good to see that the report that reached my ears from my sister was correct when it stated that you and your love were wounded but not slain."

Delilah spoke in turn. "Peace and long life to you, Uncle. It was closer than I wish to ever come to crossing the veil, but no. Wounded but not slain. You are well, I hope?"

Delilah smiled as Zamarad promptly sat in Delilah's lap. Delilah, as was the norm, hugged the Ifrit around her waist.

The Djinn nodded, "I am indeed. However, I have a bit of a... situation... that I wish your help with." He glanced to his right.

Delilah sighed, "Sadly both myself and Zamarad are too injured to actively participate in fieldwork." Her breath hissed as Zamarad shifted slightly, rubbing a sore spot on her bosom. "Mother has furthermore made me swear an Unbreakable Oath to not go behind her back and take independent actions until she clears me to do such."

Muhammad laughed and waved his hand, expanding the view on his end. Delilah's eyes widened as she saw the slender figure of sitting in a chair next to him. "Oh, this should be a simple matter indeed."

Delilah sighed and squeezed Zamarad. "You should take command of the fire in Mother's room and ask her to come in to listen to this one then."

The Ifrit looked distant as she linked with the candles and fireplaces in her love's ancestral home, then smiled. "She is on her way now."

Delilah smiled, "Good. How are you Scheherazade?"

The Storyteller smiled, "Quite well. I heard about your deaths and was rather upset. In fact I was planning to send my respects and attend your funeral when Muhammad told me that his sister had been told that you were in comas. I take it there is a reason for the death notice?"

Jèzebel de Breuil entered in her nightgown and limped to an armchair. "Delilah. What is it?" The elderly witch snapped out and then looked at the figures in the flames. "Oh. We are secure?"

Zamarad nodded. "Both my Uncle and I have control over the Floo connection, and I have tasted his essence. It is he, so we are secure as possible."

"Good. Tell me you have strong coffee brewing, Zamarad." Jèzebel sighed as she rubbed her temples.

The Ifrit looked abstracted again. "I have an avatar roasting some of the Hacienda Lealtad beans you like."

"Thank you dear. So, what's the crisis?" Jèzebel asked.

Scheherazade rubbed her chin. "In brief, I and some friends who Delilah and Zamarad have worked with have an ally of ours that needs a safe haven to lay low for a time. He's aware of magic, but in somewhat poor health, liver disease in fact. So we were hoping to get that tended to while you took care of his safety with your hospitality."

Delilah rubbed her chin. "Human or something else?"

"Human." Scheherazade said.

The Muramasa revolver nodded. "Right, I think I have the genesis of a plan. I have a ranch out in South Dakota that is secure and secluded. There will be a few iron-clad ground rules, he will need to be escorted around if he leaves the immediate vicinity of the property since there are some rather nasty things that I am keeping an eye on there. Rather like if he spent time with Zamarad's parents in fact." Zamarad nodded in agreement.

The Djinn nodded at the unspoken message about things best left unmeddled with that Delilah was a Guardian of. "That is acceptable. According to what we know of him, he will be mostly reading and catching up on the modern world. He has been out of touch since just before World War Two."

Delilah nodded. "That I can do, and can certainly relate. You mentioned liver disease?"

"Yes, cirrhosis of the liver according to Lokhman." Scheherazade explained, "he has done some magical treatment of the immediate symptoms, but that is only a stopgap, so in perhaps... three months he will need a transplant desperately."

Delilah chuckled. "I know someone who might be able to get him into the Mayo Clinic. They are among the best in the world for no-maj medicine and of course we can afford it, probably have us pay and then you or someone else pay us back down the road. The trick will be finding an organ donor... wait."

Delilah looked at her mother. "You told me that Father knew Aztec sorcery, correct?"

Jèzebel nodded. "Yes, Nori knows some Nahuatl spells. What are you thinking, dear?"

Delilah spoke slowly, "I had a run-in with a Nahuatl spell-caster during 1917 in Mexico. Specifically, I remember him casting a spell to duplicate organs of a donor to then sacrifice to the Aztec deities to empower his spells. Organs like a heart... or a liver."

Zamarad looked at Delilah, "You never told me this, love."

Jèzebel frowned, "No that shouldn't be possible to talk about openly. That whole affair in Mexico is still classified under MIB protocols."

Delilah smirked, "About that, apparently being close enough to death made my geases lapse since Zamarad and I were technically dead for a few days."

Jèzebel's eyes narrowed as Scheherazade looked interested. "I... see...." A second Zamarad appeared at the door with a pot of coffee and a cup and Jèzebel floated the pot and cup to levitate beside her. "We will have to discuss that later, dear. Any other surprises?"

Delilah shrugged, "Just that Alondra called here last night while you were at my memorial service. I'm supposed to meet her on the first of August in Custer to talk about what we know about events on our side of the fence." The revolver looked at the fireplace. "Alondra is my primary contact with the no-maj US Government and would be the person I'd see about string pulling to get your friend into the Mayo Clinic."

Jèzebel nodded along, "I see." She sipped her cup of coffee and then smiled happily at Zamarad as the Ifrit stirred when her second avatar vanished. "Good coffee as always dear. Puerto Rican beans and an Ifrit roast, what is not to love?"

Scheherazade smiled , "I may have to ask you to bring some samples for us. In brief..."

Muhammad finished, "We plan to invite you three to our Eid-al-Fitr feat at the end of Ramadan. Scheherazade and her friend will be there along with Lokhman so we can plan face to face and you can meet him."

Delilah nodded and glanced at Zamarad. "That will be the twenty-ninth through the thirty-first if I remember my Islamic Calendar. The crescent moon should be visible in four days time."

Zamarad nodded as she agreed. "That is correct. Last night was the Night of Power, Laylat al-Qadr. The twenty-fifth of Ramadan."

Delilah smiled, "The holiest night of the calendar for the Maliki jurisprudence. Mother, I take it we can attend Eid in Beirut then?"

Jèzebel sipped her coffee and then spoke. "Yes, you can. I will come for the first day and then return here to hold down the fort for the network."

 

[darthcourt10]

Kab2

People, I bring you the next adventure of Not!Raikou, Doujigiri-San in person/sword.
------------------------------

3 August 2014

18:30 Tokio National Museum, Director's Office.

"Thank you Director for letting me use the computer for selfish reasons." Douji said bowing to the man that was the Museum Director.

"No worries Douji-San" said the Director playing the matter down. "This is the first time in all my years here that you asked to use the computer, I believed you didn't want to use any tecnology outside of the present at the museum."

"And this was my thought, but some friends taught me that I need to know some things before I return to defend Japan again and I was pointed at the internet to research knowledge."

She fixated the view in nowhere as she thought back about what happened seventy years ago "I agree that I gave too much credit to the bloated reports the military gave us during WWII, and when they finally told us we were losing I warned Kotegiri, but she assured me that we would win." she sighed, but then she put a disgusted face as she remembered someone. "But even then we didn't see the damn serpent that whispered in our ears." said Douji clenching her fist.

Knowing that she has referring Kamo, he said "And this was one of the reasons you retired to be a guide in this museum, to live an austere life here."

Douji smiled as she answered the implied question."Yes I did, but a recent discovery taught me that there are some things lingering still and my inactivity may have hurt someone, and after sometime thinking about it I resolved to make amends."

She sat in the desk chair and spread her notes about how to use the computer and internet, she would need them until she was more comfortable with it. Glancing to her notes before leaving, the Director saw something strange that catched his eye. "If I may ask before I leave, do you plan to visit this page?" he asked pointing at a certain written link.

Seeing his face, Douji answered. "I... think? The Sword of Corruption recommended me this link for research purposes. But I suppose it isn't true because the face you have now."

Scratching his cheek, he said "Well..., in a way it's true" he sighed "But I don't think it's for what you want, you see..."

After his explaining, a blushing Doujigiri only had one thing to say "Dammit Akutoku! I smelled something fishy about it, but not this!"

"Considering we are talking about the Sword of Corruption, it's no wonder she gave you that link" assured the Director, and viewing the time he bid goodbye. "I'm sorry but I have to leave, my family is waiting for me."

"It can't be helped, the fault is mine for believing that Akutoku wouldn't use this as a means to get back at me for the last time we battled." Not taking more of his time, Douji waited until the Director left and began to practice with the PC, slowly as she wanted to make no mistakes and learn the maximum possible for future uses.

As she noted the basics weren't difficult, and with each trial and error she learned some shortcuts and the like; after a game of minesweeper, witch she found entertaining, she began to browse the internet, navigating through pages, and stopped in a gameplay of Nobunaga's Ambition in Youtube, which she viewed as she remembered some things.

Her time in Nobunaga's possesion was short, but someone with a character as strong as him left its mark in everyone that passed some time with him, but he gifted her to his general Toyotomi Hideyoshi while Oda kept Kotegiri for himself, and they began the unifying of Japan. In 1582 while they were fighting the Mori she and Hideyoshi learned of the Honno-ji incident; After a quick truce and later peace with the Mori clan, they marched quickly toward Kyoto.

Enraged, she contacted Kotegiri to inform her in the case she didn't know already, and the reply arrived when they reached Osaka; between other things Kote told her that even if Douji wanted to kill the traitor she has to capture him alive, as the 'honor' of killing him had to be hers; agreeing with Kote at the battle of Yamazaki she went directly to the traitor's fortress, slaying anything that hindered her progress as she only had one goal, reach Mitsuhide and 'play' with him until Kotegiri came; but he was killed by bandits in his escape from the losing battle.

The only thing that Douji could give to Kotegiri were the bandits that killed Mitsuhide, pleading to Nobunaga's sword to kill them, as Douji used her electric powers to convince them that it was a bad idea to kill the object of their rage, thing that Douji regretted a bit once cooled down.

Luckily for Kote she got a second chance to correct that mistake, Douji's only regret was not been there to see him die by Kote's steel.

Thinking back, Kote was the first 'modern' sword that she acknowledged to have reached her power level as the sucesives sparrings at the service of Japan demonstrated, later joined by Kote's sisters.

'Enough reminiscence of the past, let's get to bunisses' thought Douji as th gameplay finished. She prepared herself for the task for what she learnt to use the PC and internet. 'First I'll research how is posted the history of Japan and after that I will see the history of Europe'.

Time passed as she read about the history of her country in the internet, seeing some mistakes but otherwise fairly accurate, so she passed to the european one. As the night turned to day she finished with the history of Europe prior to WWI. It was very brief, but it gave her some idea about the background that they were prior to 'The war to end all wars'. She didn't have the need to sleep if the situation required it, and today the museum wouldn't open, so she continued until around noon she reached the present day.

Now that she had the general idea about what happened in Europe at the surface, so now she felt ready to open what she sensed it was a can of worms; Germany's history after WW1.

As she began to read, she found a nation struck with many issues after the war, and how they tried to reach a normal status between their neighbours, and when they achieved it the Great Depression knocked them out, following the entire word example. No wonder why a charismatic new party raised in power with promises to bring them back to their old place in the world as a Great Power.
'Hmm, their symbol is the same Ehren had in her hilt, so they are related somehow.'

As she researched about the Nazis, only disgust came from what she found, but that wasn't all.

As she clicked at the 'Final Solution' a feeling of uncleaniness began to creep under her skin, and she became livid at the atrocities they had performed.

"How could we ally with these p.. no, these animals? Those in the know aren't worthy to be called people." She said fighting the urge to vomit at some photos of the Auschwitz camp. "The main perpetrators of this abobination were the Schutzstaffel or SS more commonly know." she then clicked at their main page.

In this page she found was what she was looking for. "So the SS motto is Meine Ehre heißt Treue, that means oh no..."

My honor is called loyalty.

Loyalty to those monsters.

Ehren was an SS dagger.

"Oh kami, what have I done?" she screamed as the implications of this revelation hit her, hands covering up her sorrowful eyes as she cried.
---------------------------

I hope it is of your liking, as always thoughts and comments will be welcomed and appreciated.

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord Khuzdul

Well, that took some doing. Mostly because I went on a tangent about Hamidiye's background that did not really fit in the scene, and had to be scrapped to be inserted later on. Oh well, short one for now. I am not sleeping yet, so maybe more soon.

- - -

The small group hopped over the low wall separating the park surrounding the monument, and picked their way through the trees. Ali and Yavuz led the way, trailed by Korkut, Lokman and their auror helper, Murat. Hamidiye brought up the rear.

As they walked up the hill towards the mausoleum, Yavuz looked around, then up to the structure. "You know…" she said, thoughtfully. "I will never forgive that man for making my first visit here to be sneaking in through the back, instead of walking the Lion Road as it should be."

Korkut smiled. "Well, considering what we know, it would have been rather pointless, I suppose?"

Yavuz laughed. "You know, I never thought I'd see the day. Magic is indeed amazing."

Murat chuckled. "Well, nonetheless, I suppose he could have done without a rather long nap under all that marble."

~ ~ ~

'Sorry about that kid… but needs must,' Muavenet thought, as she lowered the last of the poor soldiers manning the security office at Anıtkabir into his seat. She was good at what she did, and the night shift was even more threadbare than the usual, but it was still tricky to incapacitate three adult men in a small room without alerting anyone, especially in a seven year old body. The pellet the auror handed her, with stunning spells, helped, but still, it was a hair-raising few seconds. She shook her head, and then went to the console. It was a mere moment's work to ensure camera movements created the necessary blindspots. Thankfully, their exfiltration was to be magical. She really didn't want to complicate things even further.

'Well, the cover story only needs to hold for a few more weeks,' she thought to herself, as she checked to ensure there were no traces of her presence. 'After that, it would all be moot. Either we will get what we want, or… well… it will not matter anymore.' Her radio room came on.

"Yavuz, security is handled. I'm getting out. Your show now."

A moment, and the muted flash of a portkey departure later, the room held naught but three sleeping men, who would remember nothing but some grogginess over the long night come morning.

~ ~ ~

Atatürk's will requested no soldiers to be standing guard over his gravesite. Of course, the mausoleum above their heads and the entire battalion guarding it was not really in compliance with the letter of said request, but the actual grave room and the corridor leading up to it were free of people. Which meant that at this hour, once they climbed the wall behind the Misak-ı Milli Tower and got through the locks of the museum (made much easier thanks to magic), with a little help from a destroyer who had a worrying level of knowledge regarding security systems – Yavuz felt she really needed to sit Muavenet down and learn the full extent of her knowledge, and her sources. The destroyer scared her sometimes – they were pretty much home free all the way to the room containing the tomb.

As they stepped inside the room, Yavuz hesitated. It had been a hope of hers since she came back to visit this room, to pay her respects in person. Still, she never expected it to be under these circumstances, knowing what she did now. She closed her eyes for a moment, then steeled herself. "Well, I never expected this moment to be quite like this. Hamidiye, you take the foot."

The massive marble cover of the sarcophagus normally involved a portable winch to be wheeled into the room, but it was barely an impediment for two shipgirls.

Next, Murat and Korkut approached the revealed hole, which was filled with earth. A couple waves of their wands, and the soil moved aside, piling up at the foot of the grave. Underneath, a rosewood casket became visible. Yavuz and Hamidiye carefully stepped into the hole, and reverently raised the casket, setting it down next to the grave.

Korkut then ran his hands over the casket, brushing off some soil. "Looks secure," he commented, and then waved his wand. The casket's cover parted, and with another wave, it and the cover of the lead lining rose and moved aside, revealing the shroud covered body.

Korkut made to reach in, but stopped. He then extended a hand to help Yavuz out of the hole. "I think it would be better for you to do the honors, my dear."

Yavuz nodded, eyes brimming with barely held tears. As Murat helped Hamidiye to climb out, she reached into the casket, and gently, carefully untied and moved the shroud aside. Hamidiye came to stand behind her as the thin, pale, blond haired face was slowly revealed. She touched his cheek reverently, as Hamidiye laid her hand on her shoulder. A barely audible whisper came from her lips, a reverent "Paşam…"

She then drew back, and looked up at Lokman, standing at the foot of the casket. The physician nodded, and moved next to her. His deft hands made quick work of the wrappings. He pulled out a wand and waved it over the body. When he smiled, Yavuz let out a breath she did not know she was holding.

"He is alive, but barely. I can work with this. Let's get moving."

~ ~ ~

The rest of the night was a blur for Yavuz. Taking the body out, and then closing and reburying the casket, the portkey to the safehouse Lokman arranged (a remote villa all the way in Tarsus, for some reason), the tall, black haired woman with strange, yellow-green eyes that arrived moments later with a case full of potions, and then, the waiting, until the first lights of the sun, with a worried destroyer curled up in her lap, as the two worked behind closed doors.

Finally, as she was getting ready to strangle Hamidiye, who did not stop pacing since they arrived, Lokman came out of the room. She caught a glimpse of the tall woman smiling at something behind the door as it opened, and Lokman gave her a reassuring smile.

"Well, that took some doing, and more than I thought I needed, but it worked. He is quite weak, but considering what I used, he will regain his strength quickly, especially after he gets some food. You should go in. He is about to wake up."

Yavuz did not even notice she was on her feet. As she walked through the door, she felt Hamidiye and Muavenet fall in behind her.

The room was a rather plain bedroom, with a hospital bed set up in the middle. There were some medical equipment one would normally see in a hospital, along with a table full of multicolored vials that did not look like any Ministry of Health approved medicine she knew. As she entered, the tall woman gave her a smile. "I'll leave you alone. If you need any help, we'll be in the kitchen," she said in a strangely sibilant accent as she made her exit.

Yavuz barely nodded to her. Her focus was entirely on the man resting on the bed in front of her. He was dressed in a set of comfortable pyjamas, and looked much healthier than she remembered back in Ankara. As she watched, his cheek twitched, and then a pair of brilliantly blue eyes opened slowly. His confused gaze met hers, and she smiled.

"Good morning, Paşam. Welcome back."

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord Khuzdul

Another short bit.

- - -

Some time later, Lokman bearing a tray of light breakfast food was surprised to see his patient up and about, in a sense, with Yavuz and Hamidiye helping him. As he set aside the tray and moved to chastise him, he was stopped and took a step back under the glare. "I have spent far too much time in bed for the last couple of months, at least as far as I remember," Mustafa Kemal ground out. Lokman raised his hands. However, his patient's attention was quickly captured by the tray he was bearing a moment ago. "Now that looks like a very good idea." He looked around, and noticed the glass doors leading out to the garden. "But outside. I need fresh air." Muavenet scrambled to open the doors, and Yavuz and Hamidiye slowly led him out of them into the balmy morning air of Tarsus. "Warm… where exactly are we?" He asked as the two warships seated him on a garden bench, and Muavenet quickly placed a folding table in front of him.

"Tarsus," Yavuz answered, as she pulled a chair for herself, while Lokman and Hamidiye settled in two others. Muavenet, meanwhile, quickly scrambled onto the bench right next to Mustafa Kemal, and took command of his breakfast, quickly preparing a glass of tea and placing it in front of him, then shifting her attention to buttering his toast.

Kemal raised an eyebrow. "Tarsus? Interesting choice. Any special reason?"

Lokman coughed, embarrassed. "Well, your condition required some special care, and some rare materials. A… special friend of mine was the only one available to provide them."

Kemal raised an eyebrow at the old physician's blush, but let it go. "As far as I know, yesterday I was dying. So I'd be glad if you can explain just how I am having breakfast in Tarsus in 2014 and not dying in a bed in Istanbul in 1938." At Lokman's surprised glance, he sighed. "Yavuz – and that is another surprise – explained in general terms what happened. I was aware of the… magical… side in general terms, even if I did not really have anything to do with it. However, I was not aware that Mim Kemal Bey was one of them. Still, that leaves two questions: how, and why. I am assuming I will get a more detailed briefing regarding the why soon, so that leaves how, and since you are the doctor here – a legendary one, according to Yavuz – you are the best one to ask. Mim Kemal Bey's potion or not, I was at death's door. However, now I feel fine. So… how?"

Lokman smiled. "Paşam, you are fine… at least for now. I used a… substance few have access to, one that has extraordinary properties. You will learn more about it in time, but it requires some context, so I will leave that for now." He grew serious. "However, this… wellness is temporary. I was only able to procure and use a limited amount of said substance. You will be okay for some time, a month or two. But your disease is still present. However, that time window gives us an opportunity to actually do something about it. Medicine has improved quite a bit since your time. And beyond that, I can procure more of the substance in a few months, which would ensure any fix applied will last for a long time. But there are some restrictions you will have to follow – and no playing games with those like you did back then. You do not have to hold a nation together by your fingertips anymore. You will rest, and recover. And no alcohol! No games with 'a finger' either. No liquor at all, at least until I get the full dose into you. After that you can do whatever you want."

Yavuz almost laughed at the barely perceptible pout on the face of the Father of Modern Turkey sitting across from her. "Hey, it is just a few months, and then I promise, I will personally make sure you get the best Raki from Tekirdağ to celebrate."

Mustafa Kemal sighed. "Okay, okay. If I don't follow the advice of Lokman Hekim himself, who will I listen? I will do as you say." He then turned to Yavuz. "And that brings us to why. So tell me, child. What happened to my nation?"

Yavuz suppressed a nervous gulp. This was going to be a long talk.

 

[darthcourt10]

Third Summer Holidays - Summer THREE D, Split Point due to Keep Filesize Down

START

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

As the car left the base, Harry had a slight tinge of redness on his cheeks. While he wanted to blame it on how it was a hot, July day, he knew that he couldn't. Mainly because the windows were up and the AC was currently blasting chill air into the interior of the vehicle. So there was no need for him to be too hot. Though he would still blame the weather outside for it.

However, the real reason for him being flushed slightly was the fact that with how much room was in the backseat, both Ume and Sakura were pressed against him even as they held his hands and chatted.

Not that he minded too much, not in the slightest really as it was nice. Both of them were pretty soft and every once in a while, he caught whiff of the smell of their shampoo. Part of him blushed at the realization that the two were using the magical shampoo he made as the faint scents of cherry and plum blossoms met his nose every once in a while. He could still remember how their eyes and expressions had lit up upon him gifting them the bottles.

It also did not help that he could feel their soft skin under his rougher hands as they held his hands and entwined their fingers together. But he would be the first one to admit that it felt... nice. Especially now that they were once more alive and their hands were warm and filled with life.

Giving said hands a squeeze, Harry decided to distract himself by bringing up something that they had mentioned, "So the two of you have everything ready for Musashi-Oba's Kai Ni?'

Briefly blinking, the Twins brightly smiled before Sakura answered for the two of them, "Hai, Harry-Chan, that's right." She gestured with her free hand towards her twin, "Ooyodo-San worked miracles to get all the steel from those containers to us."

Taking over for her sister, Ume continued, "We've sent a number of our fairies with cutting tools and torches to cut the containers apart where they were, and the cut steel was placed onto various shipgirls, including cargo ships and even some of the Red Seal shipgirls. All of whom brought the steel to Yokosuka."

For a few moments, the nearly fourteen year old wizard considered that before nodding as he remembered something, "Awa Maru-San was one of those, right? Because I remember her making a lot of trips."

With a small nod, Ume smiled, "Hai, that's right. Her and a few of the Destroyers would take the train down to Kure or Sasebo with some of our fairies onboard. There, they went to one of the Container graveyards and started cutting apart containers before loading the steel onto her and some other cargo shipgirls. Then, they would sail back from there to Yokosuka, which only took a few hours, and offload for us."

Sakura hummed a little, "We would then take in the steel and melt it down in our foundries for use." She made a gesture with her hands, "We managed to make most of the armor needed and we now have all the guns for Musashi-San and nearly done for Sora-San. It should be a few weeks at most before Sora-San can be finished with her rebuilding."

Just nodding, Harry cocked his head to the side with a slight smile, "Sora-San must be happy about that."

A smile on their faces, the Twins spoke as one, "Hai, she is. Though we saved some of the steel for our own use."

That made Harry blink before he turned to them in confusion, "You did? What for?"

Much to his confusion, the Twins shared a look with their neice and Akimi before said Kitsune Battleship cleared her throat, "Ume-San and Sakura-San received permission to take some of the armor they were manufacturing and building the small hut behind our home with it where we already placed one of the Vanishing Cabinets. A sort of... safe around it, just to keep it safe. Their fairies will bring out the second as well. So that it won't get damaged on either end."

Eyebrows raised, he considered it for a few moments before nodding, "That makes sense..." Perking up, he looked at each of the others in the car, "Wait, does that mean that you have the partner Vanishing Cabinet with you now?"

Raising her hand, Miu smiled a little, "Guilty as charged, it is currently waiting in my hanger along with an Owl Box." She blinked and frowned a little, "That still feels odd to say and for it to be true..."

With a small shrug, Harry shook his head, "That's normal, a lot of Natural Borns say much the same thing."

Only nodding slightly, the Carrier chuckled, "I suppose that is true." Steering through the streets, she shook her head, "Though we're still going to have guards there in the form of some Koma Inu that our family knows." Upon seeing the interested glance, Miu smiled, "Otou-San helped keep them out of the Reserves by employing them as guards for our family property back after the war. Because of that, their clan is extremely loyal to ours out of thankfulness, even after their contract expired originally back in the late 60s."

Frowning in thought, Harry furrowed his eyebrows some, "Huh..."

Beside him, Sakura straightened her back a little, "We are extremely proud of our Otouto. Aki-Kun has done excellent work after all."

With a small nod, Miu smiled herself, "Hai, Otou-San has always been like that. A number of Yokai managed to escape being tossed into the reserves as he found household positions for them long enough for the post-war round ups to die off. And most of those, he helped to get jobs and the like as well after their contracts expired, so they are very much close to our family."

That only made the teenage wizard nod in return.

From there, the conversation turned to other matters as the car made its way out of Yokosuka and towards Kyoto. Eventually, Harry did cock his head to the side as Sakura mentioned something, "A tea ceremony?'

Light redness on her cheeks, Sakura smiled softly as she glanced towards her sister, "Hai, Otouto has given us access to one of the smaller tea rooms on the property for our stay. There, depending on the time, we shall prepare either Yuuzari no chaji or an asa cha for you, Harry-Chan."

It went without saying that it was not just her blushing as Harry had a slight flush to his cheeks before squeezing their hands, "I am not sure if I am worthy of personal attention in that manner."

Both girls smiled at that and giggled a little before squeezing his hands back, "Trust us, Harry-Chan, you are most worthy."

Ume hummed a little and tapped her chin some, "Though perhaps the three of us shall particpate in kōdō?"

Clapping her hands, Sakura brightly smiled, "Hai, that does sound wonderful as it has been some time since we have done such. And it would be nice to perform if it happens." A moment later, they heard a small growl and she giggled as she saw Harry flush a little, "Somewhat hungry, Harry-Chan?"

Part of Harry wanted to rub the back of his neck, but the rest did not want to let go of the hands he held. So, instead, he sheepishly smiled and chuckled, "Just a little."

Just as the Twins were about to say something, Akimi spoke over her shoulder with a slight grin, "Good thing then that Ume-San and Sakura-San both created a Bento earlier just for you." Ignoring the embarrassed flushes on said girls' faces, she continued, "Give us an hour or two and we'll be able to stop at an overlook for some lunch..."

That got her a nod from the teenage boy and so she turned back to the road.

_______________________________________________________________

Slightly confused about things, Shiromizu walked up to an apartment door in her human form and knocked on it. After a few minutes, the door opened and she blinked at the sight of Osamu there, "Osamu-San? You wanted to see me about something?"

Almost immediately, the other dragon relaxed and smiled before gesturing her inside, "Hai, though mainly something from my Otou-San." Seeing the worry that those words created, he shook his head, "Nothing wrong, but... I suppose that you could say that it is a favor of sorts."

Now that bit of information definitely made Shiromizu blink, "I... a favor?"

With a nod, Osamu smiled and chuckled as he scratched his head, "Hai, you could look at it as such and Otou-San told me to tell you he would consider it something like that."

Eyebrows furrowing, the Mizuchi followed the Wani into the small dining room after slipping off her shoes. Sitting down at the table, Shiromizu thanked him for the tea as she glanced around and raised an eyebrow in interest at the various pictures of him and Kurosawa. One image that made her blink, however, was of him in full dragon mode with Kurosawa laughing as she sat between his horns in a bathing suit, "Huh..."

Catching sight of where she was looking, Osamu glanced at the picture and warmly smiled, "Ah, that was earlier this year, actually. The two of us were at a cove in Kyushu, not far from the Ryukyu Islands. Lightly blushing, he remembered the night after, "She really is something..."

Just softly smiling, Shiromizu hummed, "She is, and the two of you are a good couple." Taking a sip, she continued to smile, "And both of you seem to be pretty happy."

Lightly laughing, the other dragon nodded, "Hai, we are pretty happy with each other, especially as I got permission from Amaterasu-Oba-San to reveal what I truly was to her without any issue."

Thoughtful, Shiromizu frowned slightly, "I always did wonder about that, I mean... it is obvious that the rules have changed some about the whole keeping secrets on the Kami side. But... not how or when."

Hand on his own mug, Osamu frowned in thought, "It was... about two or three hundred years before I was born, actually. Mainly, it was in response to what happened with Otohime-Nee-Chan and Urashima Tarō. Because it was partially due to how the rules were."

Rapidly blinking, the younger dragon furrowed her eyebrows, "Really?"

With a thoughtful sound, Osamu rubbed his chin, "Hai, partially because of how tragic it was. I wasn't born yet, but... according to what Otou-San told me? Nee-Chan hid herself away for a century or so in grief and shame for what happened. Because the whole thing was her attempting to rules lawyer the separation of mortal and Kami by bringing him to Ryūgū-jō instead of staying with him in the surface world. Because then, if he caught her in her true form, she would have had to leave like her Nee-San, Toyotama-Hime had to. But..."

Grimacing, Shiromizu gave a nod, "But in the end, in some ways it was more tragic because of what happened to him..." At his nod, she frowned, "Um... is he still alive? Urashima-San, I mean. Because their daughter is looking for him and..."

For a few moments, the other Kami was quiet. But then, Osamu shook his head a little in thoughtfulness, "Honestly? I don't know... Otou-San stated that he has spoken with the Yama Kings after Nee-Chan asked them about him, and they stated that he has not passed through their area. So either he died elsewhere, or he is still around and alive somewhere... Though in such a case as a very old man. But... if she does find him? Otou-San already stated that he would give him back his youth."

Only giving a hum, Shiromizu sipped her tea for a few moments before remembering what was her purpose there and blushing, "Sorry, we sort of got off track and, um... yeah..."

Lips twitching, Osamu chuckled a little and waved her off, "Don't worry about it, Shiromizu-San, I don't. Besides, you're learning more about things regarding us Kami, so it is useful." At her nod, he continued with a small sigh, "Though in a way, I suppose that does bring us to the point of the matter as Otou-San does have something to ask of you."

Shifting a little, she nodded a little, "Hai, though I am not sure what I could do that Senpai couldn't." Shiromizu frowned slightly, "After all, she's older and more powerful than I am."

Eyebrow raised, Osamu hummed, "I wonder..." Internally, he continued as she looked at him in confusion, 'Older, perhaps. But stronger? Well now, that is not quite true...' Clearing his throat, he took a moment to sip his tea, "It mainly has to do with both something that you recently did as well as the fact that you hold domain over all the waters of your mountain. In particular, attaching springs to spirits that do not have a proper home."

That made Shiromizu blink a little in utter confusion, "Hai? Though I am not too sure why that would attract Ryuujin-Sama's attention. And he did give me domain over all the waters of my mountain..."

With a small nod, he chuckled a little, "It has everything to do with it." Seeing how she was lost, Osamu sighed a bit, "Otou-San has, in his possession, the spirit of a human who died somewhat recently. Unfortunately, he has been unable to incarnate it as a proper Wani or Mizuchi, because they would likely lose their memories in the process. But if one was to attach them to a spring in their domain, one that could be powerful enough to birth a Mizuchi spirit..."

Blinking for a few moments, Shiromizu furrowed her eyebrows in thought, "That would allow for them to incarnate without losing their memories?" At the nod, she chewed her lip as she continued to think, "There's a few places on my mountain and such that could work, maybe? Though surely there's better and more powerful Mizuchi who could do this..."

However, Osamu shook his head a little, "Most have not bothered to learn the method that you have, Shiromizu-San. Besides which? There could be some... politics, involved here." At her worried look, he waved a hand, "Not in the way that you're thinking, just that some might well take advantage of such an oppotunity due to inter-court politics as they would be part of said Mizuchi's court. There is also the issue that it would be something that would need to be rewarded."

More than a little amused, Shiromizu chuckled some, "And being who I am, I care less about such things than most." Getting a nod, she tilted her head some, "Were they a good person?"

Now confused himself, the Wani nodded a bit in befuddlement, "Hai? A very good person as a matter of fact."

With a small shrug, Shiromizu sipped her tea, "Than I don't see an issue with doing such if they were a good person."

Relieved, though still a bit lost, Osamu smiled, "That is good to hear, Shiromizu-San. Granted, Otou-San will give you something for your troubles and-"

Much to his surprise, she waved him off, "It's not a trouble at all, and its helping out someone. Obviously, this person is important at least to Ryuujin somehow, but they were a good person. And that's all that I need to know." It went without saying that Osamu was somewhat bemused as Shiromizu closed her eyes in throughtfulness, "Is there any particular kind of spring that Ryuujin-Sama would wish for them to be connected to?"

Amused to some extent by the question, Osamu chuckled, "No, no spring in particular as long as the outflow of water would be enough to create a Mizuchi normally." Eyebrows furrowing, he gave her an odd look, "Why?"

Shiromizu didn't say anything right away, rather she placed some water on the table and used it to form a three dimensional map of her mountain. Motioning with a finger, she pointed at one spot in particular on the opposite side of her river from her mountain, "See this spur here?"

Leaning forward, the other dragon nodded, "Hai? What of it?" Blinking he gave her an unsure look, "Is that part of your mountain?"

Her lips twitching some, Shiromizu gave a nod, "Hai, it is, my stream travels through a re-entrant between it and my mountain. But... it is part of my mountain. As to why..." She waved a hand and the water "Blew up the image" and she pointed at one spot, "About... two hundred feet down at this point, there's hot water. An offshoot from where my own spring draws its own water actually though the point of separation is about two thousand feet down. With a drill, I could dig it up and have it become a hot spring. It would have enough flow to create a decent sized stream, not too far from Senpai's had been in size."

For a few moments, Osamu stared at the point before muttering a little to himself, "She might like that..." Seeing the raised eyebrow, he chuckled, "Remember how I said that intercourt politics could play a part? Well..."

The next few minutes went by as he told her the full explanation, which he had expected to have needed to do so before she would have agreed, only for that expectation to die as she had done so without knowing. Afterwards, Shiromizu slowly blinked in thought before giving him a look, "You know that only makes me want to do this more, right?" Getting a chuckle, she shook her head before grinning, "And I know exactly the repayment that I want..."

When she told him, Osamu stared at her for almost a minute before throwing his head back and laughing. Most Mizuchi would ask for gold, gems, the finest silks in exchange for a favor such as this and not just from Ryuujin. But Shiromizu's answer? It was just so her that the Wani had to cackle madly and fall out of his chair.

Especially as he could imagine the expression his father and sisters would be giving when he passed on what she wanted as a reward, which he would need to take a picture of for posterity and perhaps blackmail.

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

"I'm so sorry, Mom…" Hatsumo whimpered. "I failed you."

It was all out in the open, now. How the Tsu-class was separated from her platoon in the chaos just after the shooting began. How one of the smaller enemy fleets jumped and surrounded her. How, rather than standing her ground, rather than trying to break through and get back to her sisters… she fell to her knees begging to be spared.

Her older sisters just stared at her in shock as she sank back into the tub, shame all over her face. "You must be disgusted with me… you tried so hard to teach us all to be selfless, but I could only think of saving my own skin when you needed us the most!" She whined.

"Hatsumo…" Hoppou's voice was solemn.

"Almost every night, I lay awake, thinking… How much of a difference could I have made, if I hadn't just given up? Who could I have saved? What enemies could we have distracted, broken the ranks of? How many more of us might have lived?"

"Hatsumo."

"I don't even know why I thought surrendering would make them have mercy on me. They were there to kill us all anyway. But they let me live… made me a slave. Did they just want a trophy? Did they want me to live with the guilt of turning on my family? Were they going to force me to do horrible things, pollute my soul until I was broken into an irredeemable monster like them?"

"Hatsumo!"

Instantly, the Tsu-class shut up, blinking in surprise. "...wh-what?"

"You're right, Hatsumo. I needed you. Your sisters needed you. Unalaska needed you. And when our backs were to the wall, you let your fear consume you. But you survived, because of that fear…" There was a soft sigh on the other end of the line. "You survived, when so many others didn't."

"But… b-but I could have changed something!" Hatsumo reasoned. "I could have fought back! I could have rushed through their lines, tried to break their ranks while their attention was focused on everyone else! I could have saved someone!"

"You couldn't have saved them all." Hoppou said bluntly. "There were hundreds of them, and only one of you. War isn't like a trail of dominoes—one piece in the right place isn't going to just make everything fall into place. You might have made a small difference in the short-term… but it would only be a matter of time before you were overwhelmed and cut down. I don't fault you for choosing life over an almost certain death."

"Mom!" Hatsumo cried out in disbelief. "I betrayed you! Betrayed everything our fleet stood for! Just so I could live a little bit longer! Why won't you reject me!? Why won't you get mad at me!?"

"BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY LOST TOO MANY CHILDREN!"

Hatsumo jerked away from the phone, startled by the sudden shout. After a few seconds, she put it back to her ear; it was at this point that she could slightly make out another voice in the background: someone trying to tell her mother to calm down. There was a bit of back and forth that she couldn't decipher, then… 'grandma'? Was that supposed to be their mother?

When Hoppou spoke again, she was calm once more... but Hatsumo could hear the pain in her words. "...Before today, I was convinced only three of us survived that massacre: Blacky Smokey, Wokyuu, and myself. All of us, mauled within an inch of our lives. Everyone else… gone." A long pause. "Nearly three hundred souls. So many kind girls, killed for the 'crime' of not being hateful enough. Even with all my power, I can never take them back from the Abyss. But… you're still here. I can take you back. And I'm not going to let you tear yourself apart for choosing life over a senseless sacrifice. Understand?"

"But… Mom…" Tears began to roll down Hatsumo's face.

"No. No more guilt. No more blame. Coward or not, you are one of my children." Hoppou's voice softened. "Just come home. Please."

"...okay, Mom."

"Thank you, Hatsumo. We've all missed you so much." Hatsumo heard someone speaking in the background again. "Yes, Regalia, I'm going to ask…"

"Who is that, Mom…?" The Tsu-class asked, rubbing the tears away. "A Re-class?"

"Yes. Tanith's daughter."

"Hi, Aunt Hatsumo!" A cheerful voice called out.

"You can meet her when you arrive back home. But for now… a headcount." Hoppou's voice turned inquisitive. "How many more of your sisters are with you? Who else survived…?"

That question gave Hatsumo pause. "I… I'm not really sure how to answer that. I'm here with Tampa right now. Technically, it's just the two of us… but there are others."

"What do you mean?"

Hatsumo shook her head. "Tampa… someone else found her first, Mom. Did something to her. I don't know how to explain it, but… h-here." Rising from the tub, Hatsumo leaned over the side and held out the phone to the Ta-class. The battleship glanced at the phone, blinking slowly, but didn't move to take it.

"Tampa? Are you there?" Hoppou could just barely be heard coming from the phone. "Are you alright?"

The sound of her mother's voice was able to coax a response from Tampa—in a surge of motion that startled her sisters, she rolled over in the bathtub, snatched the phone from Hatsumo, and held it up to her face in trembling hands. When she spoke, however...

it wasn't just her.

"MOMMY/MAMA/MOM/MOTHER/MA!!"

The three Tsu-classes stiffened up, staring at Tampa with wide eyes. What had come out of her mouth was not just one, but multiple distinct voices layered on top of one another—each one calling out for the same person in their own way.

For several seconds, Hoppou did not respond. When she finally spoke, there was a tone, an emotion rising in her voice, that made the Abyssals' blood run cold:

Anger.

"What has happened to my babies…!?"

XXXXXXXXXX

"Alright then… as you can see, Ma'am, what was left of the original teak decking was stripped away and replaced. Being made of thinner synthetic wood sheets, it had degraded too much for restoration to be feasible. You opted to replace it with true plank decking—pricier, but much higher quality and greater life expectancy. We've applied a marine oil wood finish to prevent fading, mildew, and the like."

Gazing out over the aft of the Omega from the fly deck, Tanith nodded appreciatively. "Good, very good. She's looking much more like her original self. And what about the interior?"

"All the carpeting was ripped up and redone; the wood details were all painted, polished and re-finished; and we cleaned up the patchwork you all did on the walls and ceiling, so everything is sanded smooth and painted over." The contractor tapped a block of text on the clipboard in his hands. "We weren't sure if you wanted us to mess with this lowest deck, as it wasn't in the original designs…"

Leaning in to inspect it a bit, Tanith waved a hand. "You won't need to worry about it. That floor is purely engineering space for the new propulsion and power systems. Now, if you don't mind my asking about the style of furnishing for the guest and crew cabins…"

"Ooh, this is quite nice." Tanith looked over her shoulder to see the Jorogumo—Kaori, she recalled—exploring the upper deck with a playful, but intrigued expression, rolling a suitcase behind her. "If you're pulling out all the stops to refurbish an old boat this well, I can only imagine how lavishly you live at home…"

"Good afternoon, Miss Fujioka," Tanith greeted her with a hesitant nod. "Welcome aboard. For the record, though, most of our fleet lives in prefab buildings. This ship was salvaged and rebuilt practically from scratch by all of us—leaving the old, deteriorated cosmetics in place would just be a waste. Plus, we have the help of our uncle to pay for it."

Kaori simply nodded, grinning. "I heard as much—Harry Potter, child prodigy and son of the great battleship Nagato. You sure are lucky to have such influential family members."

Tanith sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Just remember, Kaori, that I accepted your application against my better judgment. While I (and likely my sisters, too) don't really care for fashion, our fleet harbors many orphaned children who will all need custom-designed and fitted clothes as they grow up. I would like you to focus your manic energy on helping them, before you get too distracted by visions of glamour."

For a moment, the Jorogumo's grin faded. "Yes, yes, I know: the children come first. I'm no stranger to the hard knock life." She leaned in. "But I do hope you keep your promise of a one-on-one modeling session. I'm not just being eccentric when I say you'd look stunning in the right getup."

"Er…" Tanith paused for a few seconds before nodding. "Yes, of course. I'm a battleship of my word."

At Tanith's answer, the Jorogumo's grin returned. "Excellent! Now, then, I guess I'll go ahead and set up in one of the downstairs cabins. Just call if you need me for something!" With that, she turned and strolled off, vanishing belowdecks.

Tanith did her best to keep in mind that, for all her energy and bravado, Kaori wasn't that bad of a gal. According to the Jorogumo, she'd pretty much been an orphan herself, with her mother captured and thrown into a Reserve by the Diet when she was a toddler. Without anyone to pass down knowledge of silk-weaving, she was forced to build herself up from nothing—selling her raw silk at a fraction of the market price just to afford basic living expenses, until she could master a human guise and get herself enrolled in a modern tailoring school. That took some real strength of heart… and also explained why she'd been interested in recruitment to begin with.

Could do with just a little bit less of the manic energy, though.

Something behind Tanith caught the contractor's attention, making him lean to the side a bit to look past her. "Uh… are you aware that there are wild animals roaming the deck, Ma'am?" He asked, pointing behind her.

The Princess glanced over her shoulder… and right there were the Kawauso family. They looked like they had been caught snooping around and had resorted to 'acting natural', stripping all their clothes and imitating the behavior of their wild brethren to avoid blowing their cover. "O-oh, them? Well…" she struggled to come up with an excuse. "You see… they're domesticated, former pets. Their previous owner was concerned they were... suffering from insufficient access to their natural habitat. We offered to take them in, bring them to our home where they'd be safe from… other Abyssals, or predators, or pollution, and whatnot."

Behind Tanith's back, an imp materialized. It snapped its fingers to get the otters' attention, then held up a sign that said 'HIDE BELOWDECKS NOW' in big red lettering. The Yokai quickly got the message, giving barely noticeable nods before scampering off.

"...oh." The man finally shrugged. "That makes sense, I guess." Internally, Tanith breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, then… if we have everything else handled, I think it's time that we discuss the matter of payment…"

"MOM!"

Hearing the voice calling from the pier, Tanith and the man glanced out over the aft deck—just in time to see a grey-black blur zip over their heads, hit the floor behind them, and tumble to a stop.

"Regalia!?" Tanith asked, stunned by the sight of a slightly-dazed and winded Re-class rising to her feet. "What are you doing!?"

"Grandma…" Regalia gasped, struggling to catch her breath. "Grandma got a call from Pearl Harbor—oh, god, my calves are gonna be feeling that for a few days…" She stumbled forward and leaned against her mother, gripping her arm and tugging. "Aunt Sunny and the others, they… they found more of us! Two more survivors!"

"...What?" Tanith whispered, eyes wide open. "Who?"

"Their names were Tampa and Hatsumo," Regalia continued; Tanith simply nodded, both names sparking memories of her long-lost sisters. "But something's wrong with Aunt Tampa… like, she's possessed, or sharing her body with some other Abyssals!"

For a moment Tanith simply stood there thinking, processing her daughter's words… before her gaze snapped back to the contractor. The man jerked when the Princess suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled it towards her… and then slapped a small yellow bar into his palm. "Gold. 99.9% pure, one full kilogram," she explained. "Speak with Admiral Goto or miss Yukikaze at the naval base, and they should cover the rest. On behalf of my fleet, I'd like to thank you all for the work you've done to help restore this ship to her rightful glory."

With that, Tanith and her daughter raced off… leaving a very confused man standing there, a solid gold bar in his hand.

"...wait. Did that Re-class just jump all the way up here?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (III)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

25 July 2014
Spoiler: A Matter Of Geases

The green flame in the fireplace subsided as the call from Beirut ended.

Jèzebel glanced at Zamarad and Delilah as they sat together in their chair and shook her head. "If I didn't know better, and I don't, you inherited some of Nori's luck. Not as badly as Colombe has it, but even restricted to here trouble seeks you out."

Delilah sighed and then kissed Zamarad's cheek. "Yes, Mother. I do suspect this is a defector from someplace else, perhaps Russia or Iran, who they need kept on ice. Maybe he is defecting from one of the extremists groups instead. That said, if we Portkey him out from the Fakhoury palace during Eid, well they won't know where he is. Hide him in the normal crowd then, since anyone trying anything to someone under a Djinn Sultan's hospitality right, never mind in the Sultan's own palace is just asking for the fate worse than death. And if we vanish with him, well even if they know that we are American, it's a big continent and the ranch is secured and well out of the way. Stealth rather than firepower is our shield here."

Zamarad nodded along, "I shall notify my parents of our plans for Eid-al-Fitr. It will be good to see Uncle Mohammad and my cousins once more. I suspect Mother will want to visit as well even if Father is unavailable." The Ifrit grinned happily.

Delilah and Jèzebel laughed, then Delilah spoke with a fond tone in her voice. "And what Emira Periezade Fakhoury wants, she gets."

"Indeed," Zamarad agreed as she rubbed her forehead, "She is certainly the ruler of her household."

Jèzebel Nodded, "True. But to more serious matters. You said that the geases are broken, Delilah? Elaborate."

Delilah sighed. "I discovered that by accident last night when Alondra called. I agreed to meet her on the first in Custer, and was going to pass over whatever the network has dug up about MACUSA. Zamarad was present for the call, and then afterward I mentioned GOLD FELIX and when she asked me what it was, I found that I could tell her about the never-built shipgirls."

The revolver tapped Zamarad on the shoulder. "Out of my lap please? My chest is a little tender from my injuries. Anyway after that I realized that the MIB geases no longer applied to me and I could speak and write about compartmented ops. Then I tested the Winters Network information and told her about Emily's death in 1886 during that CLEVER CORVID assignment."

Jèzebel frowned. "At least you picked one that is a dead-letter file and well buried."

Zamarad hopped out of Delilah's lap and headed over to sit on the bed. The Revolver shot her wife a smile and then continued. "Yes, Mother. Zamarad told me about an operation I didn't know of either in SCARLET WIND. Clever of you to use her as a way to read the incinerated papers in MACUSA headquarters, incidentally."

Jèzebel nodded slowly. "So no geases at all?"

Delilah sighed, "I'd assume the one that prevents someone necromantically compelling my corpse to speak applies. But no, no geases. I didn't test with Veritaserum since I'm on a bunch of potions anyway and I'd rather not mix that with what I am being dosed with. I remember that my classes in Ilvermorny warned against that."

"Yes, yes." Jèzebel said with a wave of her hand as she thought. "I can and will reapply the Winters Network geases. The MIB and Auror ones... that's tougher."

Delilah leaned forward and looked at her mother. "True, but this is not just one hell of a security hole but also an opportunity."

Jèzebel's eyes pinned Delilah. "Explain your logic, Delilah Naomi."

Delilah spoke clinically. "In brief. The Statute is falling and when it finally collapses Alondra and her allies will step in to replace MACUSA with whatever they have prepared, yes?

Jèzebel's lips quirked and Zamarad started to laugh at her response, "You assume competence not always apparent in the US Government, or MACUSA for that matter. But proceed."

Delilah continued, "Yes, when they take over they will necessarily uncover some of the Network's activities. You know as well as I that we did more than a few illegal actions not just under MACUSA and ICW law, but also under the US Criminal Code. Not all of which are outside the statute of limitations for our crimes. This gives us a chance to 'come clean' to the FBI and others before they start digging into our dirty laundry. Let them know not just what we did but why we did it. I admit that I'll take the fall for the bulk of them as your top field agent, but that will keep it from splashing as much on Tina, Zamarad, Michel, and the others. Also, this lets us hand over our information and responsibilities to Alondra and the others with a clean conscience so even when we are jailed the important things will keep going."

Delilah stared into her mother's eyes and spoke in a emotion-filled voice. "Dad got jailed and nearly executed by MACUSA for doing what was right in 1865 and you risked the same if they had fingered you. I'm willing to pay the price and do the time for my crimes, but this way I can make it all mean something just like Martin did when he got jailed in Birmingham in 1963. Last, I have the backup document site that I can give her now without the MIB geases."

Jèzebel looked at her daughter for long moments, then closed her eyes. "I'll think on your plan, dear. We have time before you meet Alondra, although I recommend you reschedule for the 8th of August. That gives us time to deal with our request from Scheherazade and also for me to gather the information."

Delilah straightened up in her chair. "I'll make the phone call now, Mère."

Jèzebel stood. "I'll get dressed and start the ball rolling. Let Alondra know that we plan to come in out of the cold in some form but are deciding how to do that. Your plan is attractive, but the risks...." She trailed off and sighed.

Delilah nodded.
-----------------------------

25 July 2014

J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.

FBI Special Agent Alondra David, natural born shipgirl of USS Pillsbury and retired USMC was distracted from her cafeteria meatloaf by the ringing of her phone. She looked at the number and her eyes widened.

212-335-4524.

A number that had been put into AT&T immediately after World War II by Del and her magical allies.

She flipped it open and spoke loudly, "Hello, you caught me in the cafeteria at lunch." The message was clear that this was an unsecured line.

Del's voice sounded. "I see. Just wanted to let you know that it will take a little longer to get the get-together ready than I had hoped. Can we reschedule for the 8th of August at 7 PM? Same place, just slip it back a week."

Alondra frowned slightly. She would get reamed out a bit for not having the data immediately on hand, but....

The shipgirl then spoke. "I can do that, Eighth of August."

"Good, good, Emma and I will be looking forward to meeting you then, maybe with a few other friends. Oh, do me a favor and bring a camera or two to take pictures and video. It's really beautiful country out there in South Dakota and you don't want to miss it." Del responded.

Alondra's eyes widened as she read the subtext. "Ahh, gotcha. Take care of yourself, Del. Dont; want to get your mother worried."

Delilah laughed. "No, no I don't want to do that. Call me if you really need me, but otherwise I'll see you on the 8th!"

"Take care!" Alondra said before hanging up. She then looked at her supervisor across the table. "I'll have to change the dates on my working vacation."

The gray-haired man nodded. "I'll make arrangements. Assuming this mystery meat doesn't kill us both."

Alondra chuckled and took a bite. "Optimist. You call this meat, I call this something the highway engineers at Dee Oh Tee cooked up to fill potholes in the roads."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (IV)

Fakhoury Clan Compound

Deir Qoubel, Lebanon (15 miles south of Beirut)

29 July 2014/1 Shawwal 1435 AH (Eid ul-Fitr)
Spoiler: Arrival in Beirut

With a crack of displaced air a trio of women and eight trunks appeared in the roped off space in the courtyard reserved for magical arrivals in the predawn morning. Delilah waved her wand and levitated the four trunks on her side while Jezebel followed suit. Meanwhile Zamarad approached the robed majordomo and smiled at her mustached cousin who was grinning at her. "Mus'ab! Ramadan Mubarak!"

"Ramadan Mubarak, Zamarad! It is good that you have arrived! Ramadan Mubarak, spouse and mother-in-law of my cousin!" Mus'ab smiled and gestured to welcome Delilah and Jezebel forward.

Delilah bowed. "Ramadan Mubarak! Two of the trunks are zakat alms from our family to those in need among those whom you know. The other six, and the containing chests are American delicacies intended for the Eid feast."

The Djinn's eyes gleamed as servants ruched to bear the space-expanded trunks full of assorted North American hardwoods away. "Redwood? Tell me there is redwood?"

Zamarad laughed and hugged her cousin. "As much redwood as you, your wife, and your children can consume and to spare! Two cords worth! The usual room for us?"

Mus'ab nodded. "The usual room." He glanced at Delilah with an unspoken question.

The Muramasa revolver smiled regretfully. "As usual I shall wait until after Ṣalāt al-Fajr prayers to join the celebration. I respect your faith as you respect mine, but I have not made the Shahada yet."

Mus'ab gave a nod filled with respect. "I shall see you for the feast then."

Delilah hugged farewell for now to Zamarad and then walked with Jezebel to the guest rooms reserved for the Sultan's niece.
-------------------

Delilah looked at her appearance in the mirror with a pleased smirk on her face. For this Eid, she and Zamarad had elected to attend in identical emerald-green silk dresses with the only difference in their jewelry.
Spoiler: A Butterfamily's Dresses

Zamarad had decided to go with her dragon's breath fire opal necklace and ammolite earrings both in silver. The Ifrit was flashing and flaming with all the colors of the rainbow from her ears and the fire opal a shifting inferno of purples and reds on her bosom. Delilah smirked smugly as she remembered the passionate 'modeling session' that Zamarad had given her the Christmas after receiving them as a gift. The smirk widened as she chuckled, remembering that the dragon's breath fire opal was, contrary to the no-maj's belief that it was totally synthetic glass, an alchemically imbued real fire opal that had the colors locked in by exposure to dragonfire.
Spoiler: Zamarad's Jewelry

As for Delilah, she had elected to wear in contrast an antique Zuni Indian necklace from the 1880s in turquoise, coral, and silver. The squash blossoms signified rebirth and fertility after all.
Spoiler: Del's Necklace


She adjusted the necklace on her aching bosom, and frowned slightly. She must have caught something since her stomach was delicate and her breasts were sore. Considering that she was still on healing potions after her very near-death experience, it was not surprising that she was off her A game.

Fortunately, the battleground for today was social and would not involve the revolver and wand hidden in a thigh holster. She hoped.

With that she laughed. Anyone starting trouble in a Djinni's palace would be asking for trouble indeed.

She smirked, gave her reflection one final look over, and then as a bell chimed to show that the sun was fully up, headed down to the banquet hall.
-------------------

Spoiler: An Eid Celebration

The room was awash in color, light and sound as the Fakhoury Clan, lesser and associated families, and guests mingled, talked and celebrated the end of Ramadan. Delilah, with Jezebel dressed in a 1937 Chanel black silk dress and diamonds at her elbow, entered and looked around. "I suppose we mingle until one of us gets contacted." Delilah pointed at a set of divans by a fountain along one wall. "I'll take those, so if you see Zamarad, I'll be over there."

Jezebel nodded, her aquiline face that of an eagle surveying its prey. "I'll see you once I finish mingling."

Delilah headed to the human buffet line, and then smiled at the sight of a familiar slender Arab woman. "Happy Eid, Schehrazade!"

"Happy Eid, Delilah. You are looking well." The immortal storyteller and information broker responded with her own smile. "No doubt there is a tale in it."

Delilah's eyes shadowed. "Several in fact, but not here and not in public. Later in private, I shall fill you in with as much as I can. Your... friend... is here?"

Schehrazade made a sound of approval as she added lamb with mint sauce and flatbread to her plate as they worked down the buffet line. "He is along with a few others I wish for you to meet. But as you said, not in public. I recommend the kibbeh nayyeh, a friend of mine from Tarsus brought it."

Delilah smiled and scooped the lamb, bulgur and spices onto her plate with a piece of flatbread. "I can't wait. I never got down that way in Turkey before, honestly. I heard some good things about it, and of course one of these decades I will actually take a vacation that does not involve extreme risk to life and limb."

They walked to the divans, then Delilah grinned at Zamarad, who had her own plate piled high with Lebanese cedar, Syrian Maple, and Aleppo Pine. "I see you have a craving for the food that you grew up with then, dear."

Zamarad hugged her spouse as they reclined on adjoining divans. "I really do want a nice aromatic cedar. Fortunately Uncle had several trees topple in a storm, so we are well supplied. It is good to see you Schehrazade."

"The pleasure is mine," the storyteller responded happily, "I also have some gifts to you from a third party and long-time ally of mine for services rendered to him and his."

"Oh?" Delilah asked curiously as she accepted a cup of Turkish koyu tea from one of the servers. She admired the strong dark color then sipped with a happy sigh.

Schehrazade grinned. "Verdun. You did us all a real solid, even though it broke one major thing loose that we had to tend to. Plus this is also," she had a exasperated expression, "reading between the lines with that old codger a combination of a few other rewards for services rendered for Hizir over the last 70 years or so. He's like that."

Delilah and Zamarad's eyes widened, "Hizir? Truly?"

"Yes, truly. Ahh, speaking of," Schehrazade grinned and waved. She then called, "Sinbad, over here!" before turning back to Delilah. "It's time to have you meet the people who came with me."

Delilah turned, and her eyes narrowed at the four people approaching with plates. The man in the lead she remembered from transporting her to Beirut from Bandr Abbas in 1945. The Muramasa revolver chuckled as he approached. "Sinbad the sailor then? I'll have to tell Jackie that she almost measures up to you."

Sinbad's eyes widened slightly and then he grinned and twirled his mustache. "Fox ears and tail? Hell on wheels on a quarterdeck? You know her?"

Delilah grinned. "Indeed I do. She's a long-time friend of my family, and took me around the world just her and me for a graduation present from Ilvermorny. Puked my way around the Horn though, doing it the hard way and swore never again." She rubbed her right earlobe, and Sinbad nodded respectfully as he recognized what ear she could wear a gold hoop in by tradition.

The legendary sailor laughed. "I'll have to get her address from you and drop her a letter. I taught her back in the day when I was in the Caribbean."

"No shit then." Delilah whistled, then grinned, "she learned from the best then. Who are your friends?" She looked at the four people joining them.

Her eyes narrowed. The tall and leggy black haired and olive skinned woman on the right had the same 'taste' to her magical senses as the Japanese shipgirls. Next to him, a robust man with a white beard was chiding a somewhat pale face blond man in his late fifties. On the other side of the blond man, another middle aged man stood. He locked eyes with Delilah and the Muramasa subtly tensed.

A hawk's eyes, a sniper's eyes. Just like hers.

Then her eyes lingered on the pale man. She had seen that face somewhere before.

Zamarad suddenly clutched her arm. She looked over to see the Ifrit's eyes were wide and naked shock was writ large on her face.

The Ifrit whispered in an awed and reverent voice a word that caused Delilah to pale and her jaw to drop in shock.

"Atatürk..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Eyes closed for a few moments, Harry took a deep breath before letting it out and opening his eyes to the small area that they had come to a stop in that was off the main road. Nearby, a brook gently burbled as it flowed over rocks and wildflowers rustled in the breeze. A small smile on his face, Harry chuckled as he looked at Sakura and Ume who had sat down on either side of him on the bench that they had produced to sit on, "This is nice."

Happily humming alongside her twin, Sakura smiled as well, "Hai, it is very peaceful here."

On Harry's other side, Ume nodded, "Hai." She then turned to Harry and giggled a bit as his stomach growled a little, "But I think that perhaps we should enjoy our food alongside the scenery."

Lightly blushing, the wizard rubbed at the back of his neck, "Um, sorry about that..."

Reaching out, Ume shook her head as she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, "No, you have nothing to be sorry about." Just sharing a look with her sister, she reached into her sleeves and produced a large bento box. At seeing Harry's raised eyebrows, she blushed a little, "We... thought it best that we share."

As he chuckled, Harry gave her a kiss on the cheek, "That sounds good." Following it up with kissing Sakura on the cheek, he continued, "I actually have some treats for dessert if you want them after."

The eyes of both girls lit up at that and they nodded as they spoke as one, "We would like that, Harry-Chan."

Placing a board across their laps to use as a bench, Sakura waited until Ume placed the Bento down before they began to unpack it. Once they had, she pointed at the various parts, "In this box, we have okowa that we made. And over here we have tariyaki meatballs alongside kaarage chicken. Finally, we have edamame and pickles for the rest as well as gyōza."

Eyebrows raised, Harry looked over the food even as his nose twitched at the smells, "It both looks and smells delicious. Though that is to be expected." Watching as Ume poured some green tea into some metal cups, he accepted his with a nod, "Though if you're still hungry there are the treats that I made."

Both twins shared a look at that before looking back at him, "Treats? You have mentioned them..."

Chuckling a little, Harry grinned, "Hai, I made some chocolate covered macaroons as a treat." The two teenage girls lit up with smiles at that which made him smile a bit more before he turned back to the food and broke apart his chopsticks. For a few moments, he looked over the food, "Hmm... which one first..."

Suddenly, he found a pair of chopsticks holding a gyōza in front of him. Blinking, he turned to find Ume holding it with a smile and some redness in her cheeks, "Here, try this one, Harry-Chan."

Also lightly blushing himself, Harry leaned towards her and ate said piece of food. Chewing slowly, he swallowed and gave her a nod along with a smile, "Delicious as expected." Feeling a tap, he turned to find that Sakura had one of the meatballs in her own chopsticks, "Hmm? You too?"

Unable to help herself, Sakura giggled a little, "Hai."

Only shaking his head, the wizard also ate that and complimented them both once he swallowed. Taking some okowa, he held it towards Sakura, "Here you go, Sakura-Chan."

The light blush that had been on her face deepened a bit, "Thank you, Harry-Chan." After she took it, Sakura smiled as she watched Harry repeat the motion with her twin, 'This is nice...'

Lips twitching into more of a smile, she selected another piece of food and held it out to him.

Meanwhile, watching the teens as they fed each other, Akimi sipped at her own tea and ate from a bento box, "Those three are adorable."

Grinning madly, Miu snickered some, "You're telling me." Motioning with a piece of chicken that was held by her chopsticks, she shook her head, "But I'm glad that they're getting the chance to enjoy themselves. You know, after everything."

Her friend only nodded at that before chuckling a little, "Hai."

Eventually the main meal vanished down into a group of hungry stomaches, though Harry ate the least out of all of them much to his amusement. Once they were done, however, he walked to the car and returned with a small, paper bag that he opened up before taking out an object that he held out, "Here you go, Sakura-Chan, Ume-Chan, chocolate macaroons."

Both sets of eyes of the Twins widened and they took one and examined it before smiling, "Thank you, Harry-Chan."

Kissing him on the cheek, they took a bite and began to chew the treats that they had. And when they were finished, they took another as offered, with their neice and Akimi walking over to take some as well. As they chewed, both Ume and Sakura were happily smiling, and even more so when Harry held out some for them to bite into, much to the amusement of the adults. But just the same, the two girls enjoyed it and the dessert. If there was one thing that they loved to do with their second chance at life, it was to try things that they had never done so, or had the chance to, before.

It went without saying that it did not take long for them to finish off the macaroons and, cleaning up after themselves (which included the Twins storing away the bench), they got back into the car and continued the drive towards Kyoto.

A few hours later, the Twins woke after dozing off when one of their fairies informed them that they had arrived in Kyoto. Eyes fluttering open some, their cheeks became lightly flushed as they realized that they had fallen asleep against Harry. Said boy was also, much to their relief, asleep as well.

Something which meant that they could enjoy their position of having their heads pillowed against his shoulder. A glance at the mirror had them meet the eyes of Miu, who simply smiled at them before giving a wink and going back to her low conversation with Akimi. Both Sakura and Ume were happy for that and they simply leaned against Harry some more with happy smiles. Closing their eyes, they took a deep breath and sighed at the smell of mint shampoo that Harry used as well as others, which they termed his smell.

When their eyes opened, Ume and Sakura's eyes met and their smile widened still more. After all, despite it being months, they still felt like it was a dream. A truly wonderful dream that they hoped to never awaken from.

Lips twitching a little, Ume sighed as she spoke with her twin over the shared connection that they had with one another as twins and as a single Installation, '{This is nice, isn't it, Sakura-Chan?}'

Humming softly, Sakura gave the barest nod, '{Hai, it really is. Both of us cuddling Harry-Chan feels... right. And he does make for a nice pillow.}'

For a brief moment, her sister had a wicked grin on her face, '{Oh yes, he feels nice to be against. And smells so nice as well.}'

There was a similar grin on Sakura's face as she nodded, '{Most definitely, and just think... in a few years, we might be able to do it more often without worry and with it being more proper than what it currently is. Aki-Kun has already given us his blessing to pursue Harry-Chan after all.}' Chewing her lip, she hummed a little with a flush to her cheeks, '{And then...}'

Also having a slight blush, Ume nodded very slightly, '{And then, we shall do things that would be quite... improper under other circumstances with Harry-Chan.}' Head tilted slightly to the side, and enjoying how the shift allowed her to feel that Harry definitely exercised, she hummed, '{Is everything set up?}'

With a roll of the eyes, her twin smirked, '{Hai, it is. Aki-Kun has given us the schedule for events as well as a map of the city. He is also willing to provide transport to wherever we may need. But tonight, we shall go out with Harry-Chan and enjoy some of the festival, while tomorrow, we shall perform the tea ceremony either in the morning, or evening. I think, perhaps, the evening?}'

Humming a little, Ume considered that before smiling, '{Hai, that does sound like it would be most nice. Though the next day we could enjoy a morning ceremony?}' At the nod, she tapped her free hand, the other holding Harry's, against her chin in thought, '{Though we shall have to go to the Kyoto Imperial Palace for a time as well to look around.}' Briefly, the physically sixteen year old paused before humming, '{Considering Natsumi-Chan, should we take him to see the Kitsune-Bi performance? Perhaps invite Natsumi-Chan through the Owl Box?}'

Sakura had a considering expression on her face while she thought over the matter seriously. Finally, however, she gave a small nod, '{Perhaps, it would show her that we are willing to work with her as well.}' Blinking, Sakura glanced at her twin, '{There is the others, however...}'

Lips twitching a little, it took everything for her sister not to giggle, '{True, but we have already spoken with Denryuu-Chan as well as Ishikari-Chan and Miitake-Chan about our plans and suspicions. They are in full agreement with them...}'

A giggle escaped from Sakura, '{Especially Miitake-Chan. She was especially excited for it.}' Pausing for a moment, she frowned slightly, '{Nothing from Mihara-Chan?}'

Just shaking her head, Ume gave the mental version of a shrug, '{She likes Harry-Chan, quite a bit actually. But not quite in that way, though she stated that if ever wanted she would be more than willing to, um... spice things up, in her words.}'

Both girls blushed heavily at that and what said words implied.

Quickly mentally shaking that off, she frowned a little, '{What about Ayase-San? She seems interested...}'

Once more, Ume shook her head slightly, '{She is, do not get me wrong. Very interested as a matter of fact, but...}' With her free hand, she made a back and forth gesture, '{It seems that she would rather be a Samurai in a way to him. Though I suspect that, perhaps, she has had a few... fantasies, regarding a loyal female samurai and her male Lord, if you catch my drift. Perhaps place her under Mihara-Chan on that list?}'

With a hum, Sakura gave a slight nod, '{Hai, we shall do that I think. But it would still be good to tie her closer to our Clan to be. Perhaps...}' Remembering something, she smiled slightly, '{Ah! She wishes to become a swordmaster, correct? Has she gotten a sword yet?}'

Briefly, her sister was confused before her eyes widened, '{No, she has not. Perhaps if we visit Fushimi Inari-taisha, we should pay a visit to Sanjo-San at his workshop? And make mention to Harry-Chan as well about how Ayase-San wishes to be a swordsman? I doubt that Sanjo-San would mind much making a blade for a Kami who protects us all.}'

Remembering the Kyuubi in question, who had learned under, and taken the name of, the swordsmith who had adopted and trained him when he was but a kit, Sakura nodded, '{Hai, I think perhaps that would be a good idea. And Harry-Chan would very likely wish to buy such a sword for her as well. Ayase-San would be very thankful for such a gift, I believe.}'

They shared a small, secret smile before going back to their conversation with Ume nodding, '{But we should talk to both Hachi-Chan as well as Shinano-Chan. From what I can see they are both planning similar things to ourselves. So it would be best to coordinate our actions so as to not have them collide and bring it all to nought.}'

Eyebrows furrowing, her sister nodded slightly in agreement. Having been trained in politics and such from a young age for their planned future as first being married off as wives, and then as consorts, the Twins had a good eye for things. Thus, it did not take them long to figure out the various plans and schemes that were swirling around Harry and then incorporate them into their own. While they were still unsure about whether the Duckies were interested in Harry or his cooking, they had very quickly figured out what the Submarines under Hachi were doing as well as Shinano and Regina's own planning. With their own plans, they were already planning on bringing them all together to make sure that all were on the same level.

Granted, they had wondered about Natsumi's reaction, but seeing her and Louisiana had soothed that concern rather quickly.

With a slight nod, Ume smiled a little, '{Though there are other things that are coming up to concern us. In particular Harry-Chan's party.}' A blush sprang up on her face, '{From what we have been told, they are likely to have it at the beach on Sarushima.}'

Her twin also blushed at that, and said blushed deepened as they remembered another fact, '{Which means that we shall be able to show Harry-Chan ourselves in our... swimsuits. Perhaps he shall like them?}'

Remembering that shopping trip, and how somewhat embarrassing it was, Ume nodded as she thought back to the one piece that her and her sister had bought. After all, neither one of them wanted to chance things in a two piece or, forbid the thought, one of those 'Bikinis'! With them, that was asking for trouble...

Biting her lip, Sakura glanced at Akimi and Miu, who were still busy driving and chatting with her friend respectively, '{It also means that we shall be able to see Harry-Chan in his swimming trunks... and just that.}' The blush of both girls deepened at that and they internally cursed how they had restarted puberty. Now chewing her lips, Sakura took a deep breath, which only made her flush grow as she could smell Harry, '{Though... I am looking forward to that as well...}'

Not long after, they got close enough to their family home to recognize some of the landmarks so, despite not wanting to, they woke the teenage boy between them. Blinking away, Harry looked around owlishly as he fully woke from his short nap, "We're almost there?"

In the front seat, Akimi had an amused tone to her voice as she answered, "Hai, we're almost there, Harry-San. Maybe... fifteen minutes at most."

Simply nodding, Harry stretched some before looking at Ume and Sakura who smiled at him. Lips curling into a soft smile, he glanced towards Miu and Akimi, who had gone back to chatting, and then back to the Twins. It was obvious that they were confused as to what he was thinking, but before they could ask, he leaned towards Sakura and gently kissed her before doing the same with Ume. Something that brought blushes to all three teens' faces, "Thank you, Sakura-Chan, Ume-Chan, for inviting me to your home I mean."

Despite feeling a little steam leak from her ears as her powerplants needed to let out the excess pressure, Ume swallowed and gave him a shy smile and squeezed his hand, "You are very welcome, Harry-Chan." Glancing towards the two in the front, she kissed him for a few seconds before pulling away, "Very welcome, indeed..."

On his other side, Sakura also squeezed the hand that she was holding before kissing him for the same length of time before telling him that he was welcome as well. Up in the front seat, Miu shared a glance with her friend and rolled her eyes, 'Who are those three fooling...' A sigh suddenly came from her, 'Though considering that they're all teens, I suppose that is to be expected.'

Exactly, or nearly so, as they had been told the car arrived at their destination. The door to the backseat was opened and Akiyama smiled at his older sister, despite her appearing far younger than him, "Onee-Sama... welcome."

Sliding out, Sakura nodded at him and bowed, "Thank you, Aki-Kun."

Both of them turned to find Harry also sliding out, though Sakura blushed slightly at the raised eyebrow and knowing look she got from her brother. However, the two members of the Konohana Clan, as well as those watching, observed Harry help Ume from the backseat. Once he was out alongside the twins, Harry bowed to Akiyama which was returned, "Thank you for allowing me to stay with your family, Konohana-Sama."

Waving him off, Akiyama chuckled a little, "You are most welcome, Harry-San." With a slight nod to one of his Shikigami who got Harry's luggage, he smiled, "And please, call me Akiyama-San, it is the least that can be done for all you have performed for my family."

The older man raised an eyebrow as Harry walked to the trunk and pulled out a box before he presented it with a slight bow, "Please accept this gift from me to yours. A bottle each of perry, blackcurrant wine, damson wine, and fifty year old firewhiskey."

It was not just Akiyama's eyes that widened slightly, but other members of the family who did as well. Gently taking the box, the older man looked inside before nodding, "Ah, the perry, blackcurrant and damson wines would be from fruit grown on your property back in Britain, correct?"

Straightening, Harry gave a nod, "Hai, brewed by Junyou alongside Aunt Rose with some help from Haruna-Oba."

Only nodding, the older man's smile widened a touch as he considered the gift before handing it to one of his servants. After all, he knew that he would enjoy the drinks and he might bring them out for a meeting or two, especially the firewhiskey as the war had made such rare in Japan. Most likely, it would help smooth out a few things...

Internally, he scoffed a little at how some bureaucrats in the Kyoto Diet were too worried that he wanted to make some changes rather than what those changes were. In particular, making the Magical Child Services section of the Diet better able to care for children in trouble, especially children born without magic to magical families. Not to mention the issues as they took over more and more government orphanages from Tokyo. Within his head, he rolled his eyes, 'One would think that they believe that I would destroy the entire bureaucracy and remake it in my image.'

Externally, however, he simply smiled a little and greeted his daughter as well as Akimi, who he considered as such as well.

Motioning with his hand, Akiyama had the gates open before they walked through them, with him smirking as Harry looked in awe around them at the traditional Japanese manor, "Oh... wow... this is your home?"

With a slight nod, the older man chuckled, "It is indeed, Harry-San. My family has lived here since the Heian Era when were were lowly court scribes. We have added to it over the years, of course, but some parts such as the main garden date to back then."

Still stunned, Harry only nodded as both Ume and Sakura took one of his hands and held said arm close, much to the amusement of their brother. Both girls smiled at Harry and giggled a little, "We would not mind showing you around our home, Harry-Chan, though..."

At their looks, Akiyama gave a slight nod, "Very little has changed since you were... last here, Onee-Samas. What has changed is mainly things such as having added electricty and central heating among other things." A sigh then escaped him, "I am afraid that with how things have been going, while I shall try to be around, there may be times that I must be at the Diet."

Only bowing, Harry gave him a nod, "Do not worry, Akiyama-San, I'll take care of both Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan."

Just chuckling as he smirked, Akiyama had a twinkle in his eyes at the flustered expressions on his older sisters' faces, "I am not worried, Harry-San, as I know that you will take very good care of my Onee-Samas and thus leave them in your care."

Even as Harry accepted, the older wizard internally grinned at how his sisters shot him glares.

It did not take them long after entering the building, with Harry putting on comfy slippers alongside the others, to reach the room which was to be his. The teenage boy had wide eyes as he noted that it was quite big, and his suitcase was already there. Hearing a gasp, he turned to Ume and Sakura who were blushing and giving glares to their unrepentant brother, "Is something wrong, Sakura-Chan? Ume-Chan?"

Turning towards them, they shuffled a little, "Ah, nothing is wrong, Harry-Chan, just... our room is right there." They pointed at one door that was just down the hall, "It seems that we shall be neighbours, of sorts."

Highly amused, Akiyama nodded some, "Hai, but I thought that perhaps you would not mind being so close together. Was I wrong, perhaps?" Getting nothing but blushes and glares, he smirked a bit before giving Harry a slight nod, "You may also use the bath we have in this section of the manor when you wish, Harry-San. It is a mixed bath, however I must warn you." His smirk widened as his sisters went a deeper red with steam coming from their ears, "Perhaps you might wish to freshen up before leaving for the festival."

Also blushing some from what he had just been told, Harry glanced at the Twins before nodding, "Um, maybe...?"

With a nod, the older wizard gestured for them to follow and he lead them to the Twins room. Smirk falling away and eyes glistening, Akiyama opened the door and the two girls gasped at the sight of their room. It almost looked like they had never left at all and had been there recently. All their old furniture was there as was their beloved books and scrolls such as The Tale of Genji among others. On a small dresser, they could see a black and white photograph of them with a much younger Akiyama who looked to be eight in it. Neither Twin could quite believe it, but...

But... it was their room.

Gently placing a hand on their shoulders, Akiyama blinked away some tears, "Okaerinasai, Onee-Samas."

Tears in their own eyes, they placed their hands over the winkled, worn ones of their brother, "Tadaima modorimashita, Otouto."

Off to the side, Harry simply smiled and nodded as he gave them this moment.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (V)

Fakhoury Clan Compound

Deir Qoubel, Lebanon (15 miles south of Beirut)

29 July 2014/1 Shawwal 1435 AH (Eid ul-Fitr)
Spoiler: Father Of The Turks

"Atatürk..."

Delilah stared in slack-jawed shock at the pale-faced man approaching the table. Zamarad's identification of him made her brain spin since she had seen that face before.

So many times before.

Every time she had been in Turkey.

Statues.

Paintings.

Every Turkish banknote and coin that she had handled.

His name on streets, roads, city squares, bridges, airports all over Turkey.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

He had been granted the name he would be immortalized by in 1934 by the Parliament for his ceaseless efforts to successfully rebuild a modern, strong, prosperous, and peaceful state from the corpse of the dying Ottoman Turkish Empire in 1918.

Atatürk.

"Father of the Turks"

Her eyes narrowed and she spoke quietly to Zamarad. "He is who you said that he is, right?" Images of some magical imposter spun through her head.

Zamarad whispered back with awe in her shaken voice. "Yes it is. I saw him once before. In July 1917 when he passed through Beirut to take command of Seventh Army facing the British in Palestine. Mother was visiting Uncle and when he had to change trains, I saw him. There are some humans who have a destiny, those marked by fate to have their names written into history for all time."

The Ifrit gulped, remembering a younger man in Turkish general's uniform waiting for his train to be readied. A man with a strand of fate that blazed like an inferno to the eyes of her concealed form as she glimpsed him. A destiny written upon it in letters of fire that his life would be a fulcrum upon which rested the fates of nations for good and for ill.

Her mother whispering to her that what she had just seen was the sign of those whom God had selected for His own purposes to be forever beyond the touch of the Jinn. Warning and guidance both that no matter their powers over destiny and the strands of fate, there were those humans whom none should touch among the jinn for their lives were already claimed for their actions to decide the fates of multitudes.

Alexander the Great.

Augustus Caesar.

Justinian the Great.

The Prophet.

Genghis Khan.

Suleiman The Magnificent.

Tokugawa Ieyasu.

George Washington.

Napoleon Bonaparte.

Winston Churchill.

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov.

Adolf Hitler.

Atatürk.

"It is him, for I see the same destiny resting upon his shoulders that I did back then." Zamarad finished with awe and respect in her eyes.
---------------------

Delilah nodded, her brain whirring. Clearly the reports of Atatürk's demise in 1938 were somewhat in error. Even with the mausoleum that she had met a contact at once. She would have to ask how this was pulled off sometime.

With that she stood and bowed, extending her hand. "Welcome to our little gathering. I am Delilah de Breuil, a long-running American friend of the family." She glanced at the crowded room after names were shared. "Perhaps we should continue the meal in more private surroundings?"

The newcomers nodded and Zamarad smiled. "My uncle has arranged for a private spot out of the way of the noise. Follow me?"

Ali Yörük leaned close to Delilah and spoke in an undertone. "You are one of us too?"

The American revolver nodded slightly. "I am, although it is not widely known." She paused. "Perhaps some time we should go out shooting together?"

"I would like that."Ali responded. Then his eyes widened as, upon arriving in the small banquet room, Delilah pulled out a wand from under her dress and inscribed spells for privacy.

Zamarad, Lokman, and Schehrazade followed suit.

Then the Muramasa revolver took a deep breath. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Auror Delilah de Breuil, currently deceased."

Lokman coughed, "Deceased, how did that happen?"

The Muramasa smiled smugly, "Long story short, an Abyssal cult in MACUSA got visited by the Good Idea Fairy, and Zamarad and I came very near to death shutting it down. For various MACUSA domestic political reasons, it is much more convenient for me to have been declared dead until after the Statute of Secrecy falls. Anyway, I assume that it is time for all the cards on the table here?"

The others nodded and Delilah took a deep breath. "Right, in brief, Schehrazade contacted me about arranging a safe house in America for a VIP who also needs medical treatment. I assume that is you, sir?" She nodded to Atatürk.

Lokman answered. "Yes. I took steps to revive him but what we have is a stopgap. A full liver transplant is needed and urgently."

Delilah rubbed her chin. "I may have a line on that." She paused and took a deep breath. "I'm a spirit just like Ali Yörük, although actually born from a human witch. My mother is somewhere in the party out there. My father, however, was the sword spirit Muramasa-no-Norimune and I contacted her with a question that I got an answer for. She knows an Aztec spell used to procure multiple sacrificial organs for their bloody rituals that can make a second liver from the subject. The time I had it used on me back in Mexico, the heart would then be destroyed to empower a blood curse. But instead..."

Lokman finished, "You think it can be used as a replacement to magically clone an undamaged organ?"

Delilah nodded, "I think so. It is worth the attempt since we can then put it under a stasis spell and go from there. If not, we start looking for an actual donor. I also have a contact in the US government who can perhaps pull some strings to get into the Mayo Clinic, although we will need a physician."

Lokman chuckled, "I have admitting rights there under an alias and trained their head of cardiology. I have strings to pull."

Delilah smiled and relaxed visibly. "Good. As for the rest, for convalescence I also own a hunting and horse ranch out in South Dakota. It is isolated and I can put up guests there for a few months or more. Plus field trips to other parts of the US are a possibility if we wish to do that. I'm pretty isolated but have access to a few properties elsewhere, plus of course there's always the hotel and tourist option."

Ali laughed, "Hunting's good?"

Delilah grinned, "Deer, elk, bison, antelope, and grizzly bear." She then sobered and continued, "I brought along some Portkeys to get you all to there, who is going?"

Lokman spoke. "Myself, Ali, and Atatürk are definite. Some others will be going to and fro."

Delilah glanced at Zamarad, who nodded. "We can supply Portkeys to be picked up here for one of your allies to use to transport to and from. Eagle bone whistles that when blown will transport the person to the ranch. There are two ironclad rules out there, though. First off, if you want to ride around the local area, have myself, Zamarad, or one of the Lakota who manage the ranch in my absence along as a guide. I do not just hunt and raise horses out there, but also keep a watchful eye on a few magical things that over here would have jinn paying attention to them. So that is for your safety since blundering into some of the locations out there would be very bad indeed."

Atatürk nodded slowly, "You're the local expert, so that's acceptable. The other?"

Delilah sighed, "I'll have to tell the no-maj US government something. My contact there can get to one level below the President so we can keep it quiet, but, no offense, this is a matter of diplomacy and national interests. So I need to let my country's leadership know that there will be fallout for us hosting you when the news gets out eventually, sir. The good news is that they know of magic, in fact I'm helping them prepare for the collapse of the Statute, so this won't totally blindside them."

The legendary leader frowned and rubbed his chin. Finally he nodded slowly. "If the positions were reversed, I would wish to be informed of such a ploy by my subordinates. As long as it is kept quiet."

Delilah nodded in agreement. "My plan that I will pitch to Alondra, the shipgirl who is my primary contact over there, is to brief in the top levels, so perhaps five or six tops who know the full story. The rest will get a cover story about a sick wizard needing care."

Atatürk looked around the room. He caught the eyes of everyone who had came with him, reading their thoughts. Finally he then slowly nodded. "Acceptable. So, tell me about yourselves, hostesses."

Delilah smiled and sat down next to Zamarad, interlacing her fingers with the Ifrit's hand. "For starters, I have two older half-sisters, Colombe du Chasteler and Jacklyn Fox, the last being an associate of Sinbad. In addition I have three nieces through Colombe; yes the person responsible for sealing Verdun. As for my life, I was born in 1855 in America, attended the Wizarding School of Ilvermorny and graduated eleventh in my class, then went into the MACUSA Aurors. I mainly did domestic work inside MACUSA until 1941, we were very isolationist then as a culture. When I finally got over to Africa, I met Zamarad in World War Two in 1942 when I was assigned to magical operations in the European Theater of Operations. Late in the war, the Third Reich had the bright idea of releasing a Shayṭān that they had dredged up out of the Red Sea in 1938. I'm still not sure what they were thinking, but she and I put it down for good just after the war. Then after World War Two, I got assigned to be deputy head of Near Eastern Affairs and have coordinated with Sinbad, Schehrazade, and some other allies out here for the last seventy years off and on."

Schehrazade nodded and picked up the thread, "She has worked with me and some others such as Hizir both helping us deal with outbreaks and local troubles and using her influence inside MACUSA and the US to prevent outside meddling making things worse. She and I have been exchanging information since we met in early 1946 on her first assignment into Kurdish territories to put down a Black Shaman. As for Zamarad, she is the daughter of the powerful Ifrit Emir who is responsible for a chunk of the Sahara and the elder sister of Sultan Muhammad Fakhoury. So they are well tied in with the jinn who trust Delilah more than many other humans. I attended Delilah's wedding to her in 1946 as a guest of the bride's family, which speaks volumes for the respect that the Jinn hold Delilah in."

Awed whistles sounded from Ali and Hamidiye.

Zamarad kissed Delilah on the cheek, then began to nibble more cedar wood chips. "Delilah has proven her worth to the Children of Fire time and again. She is known to us as a trusted ally like Aladdin was. As for me, I was born in 1855 too and emigrated to America in 1945 to be with Delilah. I did meet you once before, in Beirut when you changed trains in 1917. My mother took me to see you at the station, one among many in the crowd."

Atatürk rubbed his chin and then sipped tea. "Ahh, so that is why you identified me on sight?"

Zamarad nodded, "Indeed it is. I saw your Destiny to be a name remembered in history upon that day, and now I see it again in you." The Ifrit paused, "You are not alone in that regard, of course. I have met a few others, such as the preacher in 1962..."

Delilah nodded, "Reverend Martin Luther King. My family has been involved in civil rights and trying to help our nation live up to the ideals of the Founding Fathers since before I was born. Always from the shadows for various reasons, but anything worth believing in is worth dying for, for the price you are willing to pay is what gives your ideals value."

Everyone at the table nodded solemnly in agreement.

 

[darthcourt10]

WickedestCard

Wooo! Finally not sick and managed to get another (if unrelated) snip done just in time for F:GO's Saber Wars. Which I'm going to really, really go for hard as it gives Saber Lily (AKA Best Saberface AKA the appearance reference for this story's Avalon) and some good mats. Now for the snip itself...I'll admit it's cause I'm being just a bit selfish and wanted to do a summoning scene including some of my favorite WoWs/AL ship in particular my AL waifu because I thought it would be fun. Granted I haven't done one before and I think I'm one of the few authors in this story that hasn't. So...lets see how this goes shall we!
-----------------------------

San Diego Naval Base
Summoning Chamber
1500 hours


In the summoning chamber there were several people waiting with baited breath as they finished the final touches. Several USN officers and shipgirls were gathered as well as a few magicals that were available to help out. The Admiral had even pulled some strings to get Magicite from Admiral Goto to assist with their attempt of summoning Never-Builds and paper-ships.

While the US Navy at the end of the Second World War boasted the single largest amount of ships ever seen there were more that had never been built or even gotten past the planning stage. Some would argue that the USN didn't exactly need to summon such shipgirls or others saying doing so was more of a measure to try and keep status as the largest navy among other things. However, many of the current upper brass knew that this war was only in a lull of activity. Soon enough, the battles will flare up and they'll need to man the seas in ways never seen before. The beacon from the that one dimensional event that happened a few years ago as well as the US having managed to repair the damage caused to its economy somewhat as well as having helped with the rebuilding of several Central American countries meant that their industry was finally able to start moving forward. Soon the Navy was expecting to launch brand new Destroyer and Cruiser classes instead of just repairing and building the same ones that they had been fighting with since Blood Week.

The brass knew that the Shipgirl forces, while powerful on their own, needed support and back up on the high seas. Not only that but many veterans and survivors from initial attacks nine years ago were more than willing to bring the fight back to the Abyssals and back the Shipgirls and steel ships that had been holding and pushing the line back. However, they were not blind nor ignorant of the change in how conflict was fought and kept up with summoning more and more Shipgirls. From the smallest Destroyer Escorts to the largest of Battleships, it didn't matter to the Navy and most of the personel. Another pair of willing hands and a 5 inch gun defending convoys meant just as much as nine 16 inch guns roaring to take down a Battleship class.

The Admiral's jaw tighten up as he walked into the Summoning Chamber where the Navy Band Southwest was warming up. They knew however that they were just the primer for this summoning and that somehow, somewhere, someone high up enough managed to pull some strings for a live broadcast. Though he was sure that they weren't the only navy getting to use it. Closer to the pool of water was large amounts of steel, various calibers of ammunition and gunpowder. So much so that many other countries would have been a bit green. Finally there was the roped off section of the viewing area where most of the visitors and personnel were gathered. Some modifications had been made to make this area larger to accommodate more people though security on who actually got allowed to be there was fairly strict. Most behaved themselves just fine but you'd never know if someone was a bit of a nutcase or cultist. Better to be prepared after all.

A quick nod from Admiral Jackson and the Ceremonial Band started with the anthem of the Navy, the well known tune of Anchors Aweigh playing as many of the gathered ships hummed along. As the band was playing the final stacks of material were rolled in next to the summoning pool which started to shimmer slightly with a pale blue light. Not only that but a Captain walked up carrying two baskets filled with letters and memos sent to them from various sources wishing good luck, for safe travel, a food package and even some letters from children asking for more shipgirls to help. As the officer placed the baskets on top of the steel and gave a crisp salute the final notes of the USN hymn finished and the Navy Band the Destroyers started up with a modern cover of Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.

A handful of members from the Navy Chaplain Corps took over, reciting prayer, blessing the materials and the summoning pool and helping with conveying the support from the onlookers. The pale blue light was now growing brighter as the air filled with the taste of salt water and many could feel a sort of reassuring pressure fill the whole chamber. In fact many were sure that a fine sparkling mist was enveloping them.

As the end of the same came near the speakers and monitors for the live broadcast came to life and on them was the scene of a huge stadium filled completely with people. The majority of them were wearing light up devil horns. A heavy guitar chord started and a single man in an exaggerated schoolboy outfit strolled up. And in both the broadcast and the summoning chamber a chant started.

"OI, OI, OI, OI,"
Spoiler: TNT LIVE

Everyone in the Summoning Chamber could swear that the mist shook with the beat of one the greatest rock songs, lights coming from the pool. The whole area pulsed and shook from the speakers, chanting and magic. Soon over the pool multiple lights started to join together and form silhouettes.

"See me ride out on the sunset
On your color TV screen
After all I can get, if you what I mean
Women to the left of me, women to the right
Ain't got no gun, ain't got no knife
So don't you start no fight

Cause I'm T.N.T! I'm dynamite!"

The entire area erupted in a shower of water and sparks before everyone had to look away from a blinding light. There in the pool was a tall, chestnut brown haired green-eyed woman clad in a somewhat familiar white officer's uniform, cut to emphasize her figure. A white pencil skirt and knee high socks completed a very professional look. Her rigging was also familiar, four triple turrets with 16 inch guns and a suitably large hull. A battleship if there ever was one and a Montana-class to be sure.

"T.N.T. and I'll win the fight!

Another burst of water surged outward as this time a woman with shoulder length black hair and heterochromia eyes, one blue and one yellow. A blue overcoat decorated with stars was draped over her shoulders. Along with that a black, white and red cross halter top, a black miniskirt and a single thigh high blue stocking completed her look. Her rigging though gave those that saw it some pause. It was long and narrow similar to the Iowa-classes, her superstructure like that of the North Carolina-class and her secondary battery layout like that of the South Dakota-class. The biggest mystery though was the three double turrets with guns exceeding 16 inches.

"T.N.T. I'm a power load! T.N.T. watch me explode!"

Another explosion of water throughout the area as another Shipgirl appeared. While a bit shorter than the previous two and not as prominent up front as the battleships, this Shipgirl had all the hallmarks of a runner and more importantly, that of an Alaska-class. The girl had charcoal colored hair, blue grey eyes and tanned skin and was wearing a top with white, red and blue horizontal stripes with a white star on each end of the top and matching skirt. To top it off her rigging was definitely similar to Alaska's three triple 12 inch guns though it seemed like she had even more AA guns installed.

"I'm dirty, mean, I'm mighty unclean
I'm a wanted man
Public enemy number one, understand?
So lock up your daughter, lock up your wife
Lock up your back door, run for your life
Cause the man is back in town, don't you mess around

Cause I'm T.N.T. I'm dynamite!"

A smaller burst of light and water followed this segment of the song as a significantly shorter and younger looking girl now stood on the water, looking to the older members of the audience like a new freshmen at highschool. She had her dirty blond hair in a ponytail and glasses in front of blue eyes. A beige blouse, blue blazer, a badge on her blazer with crossed turrets, and matching skirt gave her the look of a school hall monitor. Her rigging while not large was not exactly small either, slim and fast looking with four turrets. Two of them were double turrets and the other two were triples.

"T.N.T. And I'll win the fight!"

Another surge of lights and out stepped a girl similar in build the the one just before. In fact she had on the same uniform and rigging with the only difference being a blue sun cap on her head covering her auburn hair done in a bun. She had on a studious and serious face that due to her apparent age was quite adorable.

"T.N.T. I'm a power load! T.N.T. Watch me explode!"

Once more water surged and light flashed as one more girl of the same class appeared. Pitch black hair poked out from underneath a train attendent's hat which was done into two low ponytails and focused brown eyes compared to her two sister ships. The three took a look at each other and bright grins spread across their faces before focusing back to the front of the Summoning pool.

At this point all of the Magicite Admiral Jackson had managed to acquire was gone but a small amount of the other materials still remained and the stream was still going strong.

"T.N.T.!
Oi, Oi, Oi, Oi!
T.N.T.!
Oi, Oi, Oi, Oi!
T.N.T.!
Oi, Oi, Oi, Oi!
T.N.T.!"

The solo had just passed but the chanting and fist pumping reached an all time high as a final surge of excitement and power rolled through the Chamber. In one last flash of light the remaining oil, ammo, and steel disappeared and one more Shipgirl appeared in the pool with black hair and green eyes. A bit similar to the three before her in that she was dressed in a schoolgirl like uniform but where the theirs were a vibrant navy blue hers was a charcoal black with red accents and a white star front and center. Similarly she wore black shorts compared to the more traditional skirt but what stood out was her rigging. Two twin 5 inch gun mounts on either side and a set torpedo tubes but she also carried a shield in her left hand and a third twin 5 inch gun mount in her right hand.

With her coming forward, the water settling down and the stream being lowered Admiral Jackson stepped forward, a smile on his face thanks to the successful summoning.

"Admiral on Station! Present Arms!" an Ensign called out and the seven shipgirls saluted cleanly, though he took in how six of them had many of the hallmarks of newly trained soldiers and sailors.

"At ease. Ladies, thank you all for answering the call to arms for the United States. Please, one by one identify by name, class and designation." Jackson said firmly.

"Sir! BB-68 USS Ohio of the Montana-class battleships. I felt my sisters answer the call previously and I will not be left behind as they fight." the most armed and armored shipgirl said without hesitation.


"Admiral, 18 inch Fast Battleship prototype USS Georgia!" the battleship proclaimed proudly as she stood that little bit straighter as she introduced herself, "Myself, my crew and my guns are ready and willing to fight wherever it may be!"

"CB-5 USS Puerto Rico, fifth of the Alaska-class large cruisers sir! I can handle any task given. Though, which of my hermanas have been before?" the tanned girl asked after she saluted again.

"6 inch fast light cruiser design prototype and first of her class USS Dallas reporting for duty Admiral! You can count on my sisters and I to keep watch and order!" the light cruiser declared proudly, puffing her chest. Soon her sisters followed.

"Second of the Dallas-class light cruisers, USS Flagstaff Sir! Don't look down on us for our age, we're as tough as any shipgirl." Flagstaff said just as proudly as her sister.

"Third of the Dallas-class and machinery expert USS Ely Admiral, you can count on me for any minor repairs!" the third sister replied, as her two sisters gave her a look, "What?"

"Sir, lead and name ship of her class USS Gearing! One of the best there is, you can be sure about that." the destroyer proclaimed and Admiral Jackson couldn't help but give a quiet chuckle at how her salute was more natural and well practiced compared to the other girls' rigid and inexperienced ones.

"Thank you, all of you. Now we'll get all seven of you to the Mess to eat up to your heart's content and have you get the basics of what's going on. After, I'll brief you all on the war and the operations in more detail." He said, having had one too many shipgirl stomach interrupt his briefing and discussions before. Plus, the Admiral knew that a well fed shipgirl was more focused and aware. Jackson looked around at the already summoned shipgirls in the Chamber to have one escort them to the Mess. Once he found one he motioned her over and she gave a crisp salute after breaking away from her boyfriend with a quick hug and peck.

"Gambier Bay! I want you and your escort group to take these seven to the Mess and let the staff know to have the New Summon platters out. Give them a general overview of the Abyssal War and a run down on our allies, situation and the like. Afterwards, bring them to my office."

"Yes Sir! You can count on me Admiral." Gamby said with another salute and went to escort the newly summoned shipgirls before meeting up with some other Taffy 3 members as well as regulars from her escort convoys. As they left, if someone was looking they would have seen Admiral Jackson with a smile on his face.
----------------------------------------

And that's the end of that snip, what do ya'll think? Though, this does tie into an aspect of one of my other snips. With these shipgirls being summoned, that frees up some of the more experienced and trained shipgirls to transfer to Admiral St. John's command to bolster his forces at Guam. Which as a base has moved up in priority for both the mystery of a possibly unknown Elder Princess (which we know as CDP) as well as to help counter the new threat of Abyssal Sun Princess who broke out of the Sea of Japan and is building up her forces in the South Pacific.

St. John and Quincey are about to gain a whole lot of fire and air power in a couple months (as well as some discreet submarine support to help with investigations before Trieste is clear to transfer). Any guesses on who might might be stationed at Guam?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- It was a matter of time before the brains of this family noticed....

Mother(s) Know Best

Fakhoury Clan Compound

Deir Qoubel, Lebanon (15 miles south of Beirut)

29 July 2014/1 Shawwal 1435 AH (Eid ul-Fitr)
Spoiler: A Meeting Of Mothers

Jèzebel de Breuil raised a teacup to her conversational partner. "That's a good point, Peri. Nori certainly needed to be managed from time to time. Not as much now, and I must use a soft touch but she's a bull in a glass display cabinet from time to time."

Across from her, Emira Periezade Fakhoury slowly consumed lengths of redwood cut in the size and shape of thick chocolate bars with a happy sigh. "Oh indeed! My Rayhan every now and again needs to be guided back to the proper path of things. But always with velvet when one can, no need to let the stallion feel the reins and get fractious unless there's no other way."

Jèzebel's smile was viciously happy. "At least I'm back to talking to Nori. And yes, I did mess things up badly then as I have told you over the years." The smile became far more wistful as the Black Widow of MIB continued her chat. "Still this second chance with Nori is a gift and I'll not wreck it this time! I was such a silly, foolish girl back then! So many years wasted for myself and more importantly poor Delilah was so badly hurt with Nori absent in her life."

Periezade patted her wrist compassionately. "There, there, Jez. At least your daughter turned out more than well enough. I've been impressed with her character and ideals, you know, ever since I saw her tested by dear Rayhan in 1942. She truly was pure and refined with Fire, just like her half-sister Colombe. Her metal may have come from Norimune, but the polish and luster of it is all your doing. That's why I insured that the men would not interfere when Zamarad expressed interest in dear little Delilah in her letters." The Emira's smile was equally viciously happy. "You do know that it was almost a case of love on first sight with them?"

"Nooo...." Jèzebel said slowly with an unholy smirk as she refilled her teacup and then took a bite of pişmaniye spun sugar Turkish candy. "Del has it classified to a fare-thee-well with a Fidelius Charm, and even I can't poke at the details of that mission. Although I know enough from her prep-work before she left America to know that I don't want or need to know exactly what she was involved with then in Africa. What I don't know can't be revealed."

"Smart of you. I see where Delilah gets that admirable quality of hers. Curiosity can very much kill the cat. But I can spill this choice bit of gossip." Periezade paused to nibble on another redwood tidbit. "She showed up at one of our properties along with her half-sister Colombe, who we had dealings with." The Djinni looked sad. "Colombe had helped us before, so we let her in. Zamarad was sitting with me when Colombe asked for a certain piece of fairly dangerous knowledge about something we are aware of hidden in the desert."

Jèzebel nodded along as Periezade continued. "We tested Colombe with Fire. If she had been false or wished it for evil ends, the flames would have destroyed her, and she knew it. She passed of course, that Child of Earth is many many things, but not dishonorable nor a coward."

Jèzebel chuckled, "A loose cannon that is ideal to deal with a intractable mess with the maximum amount of noise and excitement, however...."

Periezade laughed like crackling timbers, "Colombe is perfect for that, oh yes. So she passed, then dear Rayhan pointed out that we didn't know Delilah at all. So without being prompted, your daughter thrust her hand into the brazier and demanded a trial! She announced to us all that she would be tested by Fire if we liked it or not. She spoke her name and her heritage, and her intentions in words pure and true from the depths of her heart, swearing upon her soul and steel that she would act to prevent the misuse of the information presented."

Jèzebel shook her head with a fond smile. "That's Nori's metal coming through in my little girl! When the time comes, she can be damn direct and as valiant as Colombe or Jacklyn or Nori can. I'm much more the spider in her web."

"I noticed. But Delilah actually impressed me a bit then. As for Zamarad, well she fell hard for that kind of a hero. My baby is always a romantic at heart."

"I noticed."Jèzebel said dryly and then chuckled as she finished the candy. "My daughter-in-law is damn clever with a twisty mind. She complements Del well. Two peas in the same pod greater than the sum of their skills and talents."

"Oh yes. So she was mooning over the redheaded Child of Earth, of course. So I elected to nudge that along a bit, since she was fated to marry a hero and Delilah is one. So I told her to serve them bread and salt. Then Delilah gave her some sweetgrass, which she shared with us incidentally, and I nudged her a bit more by poking that teenage rebellious streak she has. I pointed out that she needed to save herself for the planned wedding, which of course caused my daughter the romantic to spend more time with Delilah rather than let Mother stifle her." Periezade had a sly grin.

"Reverse psychology. Well done. I have used that a time or five myself to put people I needed to manipulate off balance." Jèzebel grinned.

"Thank you. However, the people that Delilah was racing to the treasure she was after attacked us then, and Zamarad got stuck in that damned ring. That could have been a disaster, they knew what we were and had prepared wards against us to trap and imprison us. Fortunately Colombe blew a hole in the trap and we were able to flee while Delilah held off their assault force." Periezade said quietly.

"Fortune or fate perhaps," Jèzebel said thoughtfully as she tapped her chin. "It did all turn out for the best in the long term after all. According to Delilah, when she saw Zamarad get enslaved she let that nasty homicidal sociopath streak of hers out to play. Nazis or no, I wince to think what she did to the strike force then. She's a vicious little bitch when she puts her mind to it."

"Takes one to know one," Periezade said approvingly. "Zamarad has her own nasty side. She can be an unholy terror in protection of her loved ones and what she believes in. Do you know that when we tested Delilah that Zamarad stood right there and told me, Rayhan, and Muhammad all to our faces that we would give Delilah a fair chance to prove herself or else? It took us ten minutes to calm her down enough to not make a scene and so Delilah had to cool her heels outside before I went to get her."

"I can believe it." Jèzebel laughed. "She gets that white-hot steel fist in the velvet glove from you, you know. I'd sooner publicly cross several MACUSA Presidents of my acquaintance than mess with her when she lets that mama bear of hers loose."

"Speaking of," Periezade said as Zamarad approached with a tray of American wood chips and baklava in her hands, "here she is. Hello daughter, what brings you here."

Zamarad bowed, glanced around the crowded room, and then handed the tray to the two matriarchs as she spoke in a voice that carried to the nearby guests. "I noticed that you did not have any dessert to enjoy, Mother, Mother-in-law, so I hit the buffet line for some of your favorites. After all, it is Eid and we celebrate with family, no?"

The Ifrit princess tapped one of the sugar maple chips with a fingertip and it began to smoke as she channeled a bit of her essence into it. "I would want you to enjoy the bounty before it is all gone."

Periezade nodded, her emerald eyes sparkling. "Bless you, daughter, now go and enjoy your spouse."

Zamarad bowed and departed past Jinn guests were were ostentatiously ignoring the matriarchs chatting.

Jèzebel's eyes narrowed and she spoke slowly as she picked up a balaclava square. "She's good, very good but that was a bit ostentatious, she's up to something...."

Periezade popped the smouldering maple square into her mouth and then began to giggle.

Jèzebel gave the Emira a look as the chuckles continued as the djinn doubled over with tears of mirth in her eyes.

"What's so funny, Peri?" Jèzebel finally snapped in a quiet voice after giving the nearby onlookers a glare that encouraged them to move out of earshot.

Periezade laughed and responded quietly. "She was passing a message with a bit of her essence containing it in that snack for me to consume. I'll tell you THAT in private. But when I tasted her flame... well..." The Djinni snickered and then gave a happy grin. "Remember my complaints about a lack of grandchildren from that quarter?"

"Yesss~~" Jèzebel said slowly, her mind working at overdrive, then her eyes popped open and gleamed as a broad smile split her face. "Merlin's hairy left nut! You don't mean to say!!"

"Burning for two although she doesn't know it yet." Periezade confirmed as matching grins of wicked glee spread across the face of both grandmothers-to-be. "It's very early and her first so she won't pick up the signs for a bit since she doesn't have the experience to pick up what that change in her temperature means. YET."

Jèzebel began to dissolve in laughter. "I won't tell them if you don't, Peri. Let's get out of here and I'll summon a bottle of Century Select firewhisky to toast the news. We can play politics anytime; first grandchildren not so much. So. Wager time. Which of those two figures it out first, and which baby name they pick?"

"Let's get the ground rules settled for the betting pool, Jez."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Picking back up the Du Chasteler side of things to keep the timing more or less synched. This is a sequel to The Board Is Set....

The Pieces Prepare to Move (I)....

28 July 2014

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: Ehren's Homecoming

Ehren smiled to herself as she stepped out of the Vanishing Cabinet and hefted her space-expanded suitcases full of souvenirs, clothes, and memories.

Japan had been quite an experience and she had actually enjoyed herself there. She had met aunts and cousins she barely knew existed, had seen sights that she had never dreamed of, and had made happy memories and even perhaps some friends there for a lifetime.

Her smile faded while her steel-blue eyes darkened as she remembered what had happened a bare week before.

Even with the near-loss of Aunt Del and Aunt Zamarad. Especially since she had found out that Aunt Del had arranged her schooling at Hogwarts this September as one of the last acts before her near-fatal mission for MIB.

She breathed in and out harshly as she closed the door to her room and leaned against it. She knew intimately how short and fragile life could be after Verdun. How the random merciless hand of chance and fate could remove a friend, a loved one, a member of her family from existence thanks to ill chance or enemy action. Leaving only memories behind of someone who should be there but was only present by their absence.

Grandmother Norimune was surrounded by those ghosts. Not least those of Grandmother Julie, the blond woman in Mutti's locket and Norimune's stories.

As was Mutti, not least the ever-present memory of Grandpapa Du Chasteler who she strove to live up to even two and a half centuries after he had passed onward.

As was she, for Vati was only present by his absence in her life.

She walked to her vanity and looked into the mirror there.

What would Vati, the true Vati, the good man who Hitler had deceived and betrayed say to his Tochter Ehren if he saw her now?

The young woman in the mirror gave no answer to her silent question. She walked to her desk with a firm stride and sat down.

Her fingers touched her battered and dented Stahlhelm with a SS shield painted on the side resting on her desk. Her hand then moved to a simply made but wickedly sharp trench knife mounted above the desk on pegs.

Trophies of Verdun, the helmet that had served her well there as she fought through Hell alongside her family. And the knife that had left a scar in her upper left abdomen as she fought her way to the breach to hold to the last. The first weapon that she had claimed in honorable combat.

Just like the dining room at Aunt Del's ranch had the trophy of the antelope that she had taken during her first hunt.

Words spoken over hand-brewed green tea to her two weeks before suddenly bubbled to the surface of her mind.

"Ehren du Chasteler. Honor is your name and honor is your very being. In the days ahead, you shall be stringently tested upon your understanding of true honor and faith. Prepare yourself, for your childhood is coming to an end, and the choices you shall make in the events ahead shall leave their mark upon you for all time. All necessary steps come with sacrifice as well as gain. You also have duties during this Kannazuki if you follow the path ahead of your feet that you cannot see yet. Let your honor illuminate it."

With that, her eyes widened as she realized what her helmet, her trench knife, her hunting trophy truly were.

Signposts illuminating the road that she was preparing to travel.

With that she took down her trench knife from the rack overhead and surveyed the waiting letters that had arrived since her absence in Japan.

Bless Kasuyu for picking them up for her and her family.

She picked up the first one, sealed with blue wax stamped with the House of Malfoy's signet and written in Narcissa's delicate hand.

She carefully broke the seal with the weapon of war that she had repurposed as a letter opener and unfolded the creamy paper.

Then her steel eyes widened in shock as phrases tumbled through her brain like Verdun's shells hammering her shields.

"Vacation to the Giant's Causeway...Abyssal Attack...Niobe injured...critical damage to boiler room...Draco cast spells...overstrained magic...in coma...awaken in time..."

Her tears spattered the paper as it shook in her clenching fist. "Nein... NEIN!!" she sobbed out, her hair flying around her violently shaking head, as she wailed out her shock and grief.

The door flung wide as Ehren, crying uncontrollably and with her face stricken, dashed toward her mother's room.

"MUTTI!!" Ehren screamed at the top of her lungs as Colombe opened her door.
------------------------

Malfoy Manor

29 July 2014

With a flash of green flame Ehren materialized in the fireplace as she Flooed from Belgium. Dressed in an unadorned black dress, her hair down, wearing her pearl earrings that were a gift from Draco the day they met, and with her eyes shiny with her now-controlled tears, she bowed formally to the House Elf.

"Please let Lord and Lady Malfoy know that I have taken their invitation to visit their son in his convalescence." Her voice was calm, controlled, and filled with the iron-hard resolve that let her keep her composure in this hour.

The servant vanished with a pop and Ehren stood at parade rest, breathing slowly and evenly in an act of self-control. Her eyes did not see the paintings, rich furniture, or fine hardwood inlay of the House of Malfoy's waiting room.

In the distance a clock ticked as she waited.

Finally the door opened and Narcissa, clad in a midnight green gown, appeared. She extended her arms and Ehren flew into them for a hug. "You got the letter about Draco then?" Narcissa asked gently.

Ehren made a miserable whimper before speaking in a barely-controlled voice thick with emotion. "J-Ja. I did Aunt Narcissa. I came as soon as I heard."

Narcissa squeezed Ehren in the hug. "He over-strained his powers. Rest and healing potions is what he needs. He will wake in time." She reassured the stricken dagger.

Ehren nodded jerkily. "I... understand. It is just Aunt Delilah was in a similar state two weeks ago and...."

Narcissa walked with Ehren down the corridor to the room where Draco slumbered. "I understand. Wait, Delilah, not Delilah De Breuil?"

Ehren blinked and blushed a pale rose. "Ja." The dagger sighed, "I... I need to speak to you about her and Mutti, it seems. I shall need your word of honor that you shall not relay the information to any save Uncle Lucius and Cousins Nimue and Draco. It is... as explosive as the information about Nimue."

Narcissa nodded in agreement. "Let us talk at my son's bedside then."

She gestured with her wand and the door she had led Ehren to opened.

On the far side Niobe sat in a chair next to a four poster bed where a pale-faced Draco Malfoy was in a deep sleep. The platinum-haired German protected cruiser looked up from the book she was reading to Draco. Ehren's eyebrows climbed slightly as she recognized the 1857 Bildungsroman novel Der Nachsommer about a boy's journey to manhood.

"Ehren!" Niobe closed the book and rushed over to hug her friend, which the dagger returned with crushing force.

"H-how is he?" Ehren asked in a choked voice.

Niobe sighed, "He took some minor physical damage. He's just absolutely exhausted now, he had to pour his spirit into his magic to heal me after I took a shell into my boilers fighting an Abyssal attack on the Giant's Causeway where were were visiting." The cruiser squeezed Ehren as her violet eyes dimmed, "He saved me, saved us all, but he drained himself. It's not serious, so I have heard. A week, perhaps a little more, and he will be all right."

"Thank God." Ehren responded in an emotion-choked voice. She then looked over at Narcissa. "As I said, I need your word of honor to keep this information within our family."

The two other women gave their word, then Ehren took a deep breath. "I have mentioned Mutti was born on the wrong side of the blankets. Although she did not know it at the time, she was adopted and later magically made a part of the du Chastelers. My birth Grandmother is Muramasa-no-Norimune who had two other children with other women as she wandered the world. Mutti's younger sisters are Jacklyn Fox... and Delilah de Breuil."

Narcissa paled. "I understand your distress now." She looked at Niobe. "Delilah de Breuil is... was a senior MACUSA Auror who helped with Verdun and was one of their top agents."

Narcissa took a deep breath and then spoke quietly. "She was killed two weeks ago putting down a rogue necromancer, according to Lucius's ICW contacts. He has had some business dealings with her mother and sent a letter of condolences when he heard the news."

Ehren nodded somberly. "That is what I was told when I was notified by Tante Jezebel. She was put into a coma from her injuries and... when I saw her, had passed beyond the veil."

Narcissa and Niobe hugged Ehren whose eyes lowered. "I'm so sorry, dear." Narcissa said in a choked voice.

"T-thank you. One of the last things Aunt Del did before that day was to arrange schooling for me at Hogwarts starting this year." Ehren closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I swear that I shall cultivate what she saw in me to arrange that on my behalf. I shall make her proud of my efforts there."

A.N. -- Some explanation here. The events referenced involving Draco are part of a planned Ship of Fools snip which will be out and cover them in more detail. Also I will note that Ehren is keeping the cover story of Del's 'death' up for now since she is on board with the need, so she's not lying to Narcissa. Exactly.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

It was shortly after Akiyama that showed his sisters their room that Harry excused himself to go and get changed. Watching as he entered his room, Akiyama smiled a little, "A most impressive young man, I must say."

Glancing at him, Sakura smiled a little and nodded, "Indeed he is and..."

Ume finished the sentence for her, "We are very happy to know him and be close as we are to him."

Turning to their little brother, they raised one eyebrow each, "You approve of him?"

Unable to help himself, Akiyama lightly laughed, "Hai, I do, or else he would not be here, Onee-Samas. Or have his room where it currently is." There was a slight smirk on his face as his sisters blushed, though when his expression softened a few moments later, he looked at his sisters, "Besides which, how could I not? After all, he has returned you to me twice."

Confused, the Twins frowned and tilted their heads in confusion as they looked at one another before turning back to him, "Returned us twice to you? What do you mean by that, Aki-Kun?"

Lips twitching, Akiyama chuckled as he gave them a shake of the head, "Hai, twice. The first time he gave me you two back was when he invited me to the Caldera, and where we met once more after so many decades. And the second was when he brought you back as the Kami that I knew you to be." Shaking his head slightly, he sighed softly, "The first time was more than enough for me to decide that he was an extremely honourable young man. The second? Our Clan owes him a great debt of gratitude for what he did. Besides which..." The smirk came back a little, "I can tell that you would be well taken care of, which I am most thankful for."

A small blush on their cheeks, the Twins softly smiled as they gave small nods. Suddenly pausing, they gained a thoughtful look on their faces and glanced at one another, "Otouto? You wouldn't happen to know of a property nearby that would be for sale... would you? A compound, perhaps?"

Eyebrow raising, he gave them a look and snorted a little, "As a matter of fact, I do." Seeing their looks, he smirked a bit and gestured, "The compound belonging to our dear... Okaa-San, as a matter of fact. The one her family bought and gifted to ours."

Both their eyes widening, the Twins glanced at each other before turning back to him as Sakura cleared her throat, "That... is still available? Truly?" Remembering it as it was just a two story home with walls around the property and enough room for a small garden as well as a pond, "I remember that she... did not quite like it and I would have thought..."

That got another snort from their brother who they looked at as he crossed his arms, "You are right that she did not like it much as she felt it too small. But it was where I stayed until our... Otou-San's unfortunate passing." Rubbing his chin in thought, Akiyama hummed, "Some of my children have lived there for a time with their wives or husbands until they were able to buy their own homes. Thus, it is in generally good upkeep." Giving them a look, he smirked a bit, "But it would be a good place for a, ah, Branch Clan to settle in with. A rather nice wedding gift, I suppose..."

Much to his amusement, both sisters blushed and would not meet his eyes which confirmed what he thought. Not that he minded too much and it would allow for them to be generally close, though he knew that they would most likely stay in the family compound. Of course, he would need to send some people over to look it over and perhaps perform any repairs, though it would be a few years yet before it would be needed...

Hearing a throat clear, he blinked and looked over at them, "My apologies, Onee-Samas, I was... deep in thought."

At that, their eyes narrowed in suspicion, but they shrugged it off as Ume turned back to their room and looked around, "We see..." Softly smiling, she looked at all their things, "It is wonderful to see our room in the state it was when we left..."

Out of the corner of her eye, Sakura caught a slight flinch from their brother and frowned, "Aki-Kun... what are you not telling us?"

With a soft sigh, Akiyama shook his head slightly, "When I arrived home from school... your room was empty, cleared of all your things. Everyone acted as if you had never existed when I asked what had happened, even the Servants, though blame them I do not. More than once, Otou-San looked like he wished to strike me, but..."

Their eyes narrowed with suspicion, the Twins nodded, "He would hold back at the last second." At his nod, they took a deep breath, "We see that the oath we bound him to in exchange for becoming... Hitobashira worked as we hoped."

Glancing at them, and understanding what they meant, Akiyama nodded, "Ojii-San, however, still had your things. He did not agree with Otou-San and what he had done, but the Elders as a whole had cut him out of everything as did Otou-San and Okaa-San." Hands clenched, he took a deep breath, "He did, however, have all your things placed into a chest that he secretly gave me. And, when after the war was over and Otou-San died, I took over. There were few Elders left and I had this room remade as I remembered it from all those years before. And I took care of it, as only my Shikigami were allowed to do so as I trust Okaa-San and the Elders not as I suspected that they might do something to destroy it. It became a... Shrine, as it were, to you, Onee-Samas."

Not saying a word, both Ume and Sakura reached over and took his wrinkled hand in their youthful ones. They stood there, siblings, in an understanding silence. Finally, the Twins gave him a nod, "Thank you."

He simply smiled softly back at them before nodding himself. Gesturing at the room, Akyama's smile returned, "Perhaps you would like to look at what is there?"

Brightly smiling, the two nodded before they turned towards their room. Pausing only a moment, they finally stepped inside where they had spent most of their youth. The first thing they noted was the Kamidana that was there and, they could actually sense, was for them. Looking around, they softly smiled at the many, many memories that came back. A wall scroll that hung from the wall, for example, had been made by Akiyama for his beloved Onee-Samas as a gift when he was but eight. It was rough, but they adored and treasured it.

Kneeling, they examined the bookcase where they had kept their books and scrolls. Gently, they ran their hands along the worn, but polished, wood. They could see their various books and such inside it. Including their much beloved copy of The Tale of Genji, a story that they had read and re-read many times over the years. Turning, they could see the tansu that they had used for clothing storage.

Each piece held its own memory and they relived them.

The Chabudai that sat in the room, where once the two of them had shared tea with Akiyama when the younger boy had a bad day. Often, once they were done with the tea, they would proceed to use some of their dolls to act out scenes from tales and the like. All to cheer up their beloved younger brother. Said dolls, as well, were in their proper places within a display case specially charmed to protect them from earthquakes, each one cleaned.

From where they were, they could see two mirrors. They had used both mirrors when getting ready for things. One of them, easily held, would have one holding it while the other used it. But there was a larger one that stood upright which they would use when getting dressed in their Kimonos as a final check of how they would look. It had been commissioned by their grandfather upon their birth. A grandfather whom, they had already heard, had died just a decade before and was one of the very few whom supported their brother.

Right then, they noticed a small, wooden chest. Upon seeing it, their eyes widened and they looked at their brother, "Is... is this...?"

With a small nod, Akiyama smiled as he looked at the chest, "Hai, it is as you believe, Onee-Samas." Making a motion with his hands, he gestured towards it, "Go ahead, open it."

Hands shaking slightly, the two reached out to the chest and undid a latch before they opened the side to reveal two drawers. Said drawers were slid out to reveal a Koto with seventeen strings and a Biwa. For both instruments, the wood shone and for several moments, the Twins stared at them with their eyes becoming misty. So many moments they could remember when Akiyama was younger.

They had been taught how to play from a very early age both instruments and they were among their most beloved possessions. Many a time, when Akiyama had been upset, they would sooth his hurts by playing for him. It always brought a smile to sit there and listen as well as watch as his sisters sang ancient songs and played for him. As well, it had been an escape for them as well. Because through the song and music, they could live the stories they told. More than once, they had fantasies of a Samurai coming to rescue them and their brother from their home, one enchanted by their music.

It was right then that a thought struck them and they glanced at each other before smiling, 'Perhaps... we shall play for Harry-Chan then.'

With a nod, they turned to Akiyama, with said man chuckling as he gazed at the instruments fondly, and with a bit of sadness, "I had them preserved best that I could, Onee-Samas, and they still work as I have them tested once a year on your birthday. But... I believe that they have missed you."

Softly smiling as they stroked the wood of their instruments, they hummed, "Hai, and we missed them as well." A small tear from from their eyes as they could once more hear the music within their minds, reliving those long ago days, "We missed them greatly in the darkness that we were caught in, but now... We no longer need to miss them."

That got them a smile back from Akiyama as tears brimmed in his eyes as well.

As they continued to examine the room, tears prickled at their eyes. But unlike other times, these were not sad tears... they were tears of joy. Because this room spoke to how much their brother loved them, and had missed and grieved for them after their disappearence and deaths. Turning, they walked up to their brother and hugged him tightly, "Thank you... thank you, Otouto."

Blinking away some tears, Akiyama simply nodded as his heart ached.

It ached as, seeing his sisters in this room looking back at him with smiles, made him feel like he must have died and been brought to paradise, where he believed that his Onee-Samas must have resided for so long. But... they were here, in the present. It was not some dream, conjured from a mind full of grief, but an actual fact. They were no longer missing from his life, no longer dead...

They were there, with him and he with them, once more reunited as brother and sisters.

Some time passed before the three finally separated from one another, eyes wet. But they were calmer now, still joyful with the world. With a small nod, Akiyama chuckled a little and leaned forward, "Perhaps, Onee-Samas, it is time to show Harry-San around our home? There will be some time for the festival after as well as dinner."

Understanding what he truly meant, both Ume and Sakura smiled at him before bowing and giving him a hug. After a quick bit of work to make themselves presentable, they left their room as they walked to where Harry's room was. Something that only took a few seconds to actually do. The fact that Harry was staying in a room so close to theirs... giving their grinning brother a narrow eyed look, they turned away as they came to a stop in front of the guest room.

With a deep breath, they took a moment in front of the Shoji screen before they cleared their throats, "Harry-Chan? Can we come in?"

From inside, they heard Harry speak up, "Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? Sure, after all it is your home."

Both girls had a slight smile and opened the door, only for their eyes to widen at seeing Harry standing there in a forest green Yukata with a Tanto sheathed at his side. Seeing that, they felt their cheeks heat up as they swore that their powerplants began to make "Doki-doki" sounds within their chest. It brought back all their memories of dreams and such where Harry was a Samurai, because right at that moment, that was how he looked to them. Like a young Daimyo.

Of course, considering how said dreams ended, one would not blame them for blushing even as they internally cursed their puberty.

In the corner of their eye, they could see the extremely amused expression of their brother who smirked at them. Hearing Harry ask if something was wrong, Akiyama waved him off, "No, no, it's nothing I am sure, Harry-San. Just... the summer heat, you understand. My Onee-Samas can get quite hot at times after all, and very thirsty as I am sure one can call it."

Rapidly blinking, Harry chuckled and gave a nod, "Well, I have some juice in my backpack from earlier if they want it."

Grin only widening, Akiyama chuckled, "Yes, I am sure that you could very well help them with their thirst." Ignoring the positively murderous glares from his sisters, he bowed a little, "Perhaps though, it would be nice for them to show you around the garden? We are quite proud of it after all."

Only nodding, the teenage boy smiled back, "I'd like that." Briefly, he paused with a frown, "But wouldn't being out in the hot Sun cause them to get hotter?"

Eyes gleaming, Akiyama made a show of stroking his chin, "One might think so, but I do not think that it would be the Sun that would make them hotter. No... but maybe something else?" Pretending not to notice the deepening blushes on his sisters' faces, he hummed, "But the breeze should cool them off as you are strolling along. Just keep them from getting too overheated, Harry-San, and they should be fine. Perhaps help support them by holding their arms with yours until it passes?"

Taking a deep breath, and promising to murder their brother later mentally even as Harry agreed, the two smiled, "Hai, we would like to do that, Harry-Chan..."

A smile on his face, Harry was about to notice something when he blinked at how the two girls twitched at their brother's snickers as he walked off stating he was needed elsewhere for now, "Poi?"

For some odd reason, they smile they had on their faces scared him, "It is nothing, Harry-Chan. Just little annoying Otoutos." Walking up to him, their expressions became much less scary as they placed their arms through his and gripped his hand, threading their fingers together, "Now, let us explore the gardens a little..."

While still confused, Harry simply nodded and went along with it as they guided him from the room.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Pieces Prepare to Move (II)....

30 July 2014

Malfoy Manor
Spoiler: Ehren Stands Watch

Claire smiled at Mother as she formed after the Floo trip from her home in Belgium. The piano hefted the suitcase containing a change of clothes and toiletries that she had packed for Best Little Dagger Sister, who had stayed the night. Claire's lips then curled in a fond smile as she heard the sounds of a piano in the distance playing the Moonlight Sonata.

To her trained ear and heart for music, the feel, the taste, of the emotions expressed in the music were unmistakable. Not to mention the technical signature of the person whose fingers were caressing the keys.

Ehren always did have a tendency to be a little too forceful on her piannissimo soft and quiet notes, after all.

Concern, worry, regret, hints of relief, and so much more in a rich texture of emotions all manifested to Beethoven's Piano Sonata Number 14, Opus 27/2's First Movement.

Emotions that dear Ehren would never let pass her lips in her guarded words or act upon as her will constrained her deeds.

But emotions that blazed brightly and high in the music that spoke from the heart. Expressing to those with ears to hear what truly was sheltered and protected in her sister's inmost heart of hearts under all the icy walls of duty, of honor, of loyalty that formed a mighty citadel around the priceless treasure within.

Such as Claire, who knew Ehren better than anyone else, perhaps even better that Ehren truly knew herself.

Not that Claire would ever reveal this current insight into Ehren to anyone but her own secret heart in turn. Ehren's unreserved loving trust in another was a fragile, delicate thing that if damaged would never truly heal. And even without Best Little Dagger Sister's trust issues, bleeding wounds, and scars hidden inside herself, the time was not right.

Any musician worthy of the name knew the importance of proper timing and development of her piece of music before it reached the note that completed the tapestry of sound and emotion that had been painstakingly crafted for her audience.
----------------------

Colombe entered the bedroom alongside Claire. Her breath briefly caught at the sight of Draco lying still in the bed, flashing back to the first sight of her sister Delilah scant days before.

But this was different. Unlike Delilah's waxen-pale near lifelessness, Draco was normally complexioned, breathing slowly and deeply. The image of a slumbering boy at the cusp of manhood, he was resting before the call sounded for him to resume his duties and responsibilities.

Cleopatra was sitting beside him with love and concern writ on her face as she gazed on the young man who had won her heart.

Colombe ignored that for now and focused on the other young woman present.

An upright piano had been moved inside, producing a fond shake of Colombe's head. Ehren, with her dress rumpled and clearly slept in, sat there paging through sheet music for her next selection after playing Beethoven. The dagger's head jerked around and red-rimmed eyes focused on her mother and sister as they walked inside.

"Mutti! Claire!" Ehren cried out as she stood up from the piano's bench.

Ehren hurried over to Claire's waiting embrace as the piano dropped the bag and rushed to her with her arms spread wide.

After a second to allow the sisters their private reunion, Colombe moved in and joined the hug of her youngest, who was trembling with emotions.

The rapier leaned in and whispered in the dagger's ear. "I told you that all will be well with your cousin. Family is there for family. Always. Claire and I brought you a change of clothing so you will be presentable should he awaken today."

Ehren's hug tightened as she nodded in understanding. "D-danke, Mutti."
----------------------

Colombe nodded to Narcissa as they entered the dining room for a late breakfast. "Thank you for putting up Ehren overnight. She was very distraught when she got the news and wished to be there for him."

Narcissa smiled, "It's understandable. Especially considering your family's recent loss. Please allow me to tender my personal regrets for the loss of your youngest sister."

Colombe sighed, "Yes. Finding out Delilah's condition was quite a blow to me. I," the rapier paused and continued in an emotion choked voice, "I was reminded of sitting the deathwatch for Papa du Chasteler when I arrived at Delilah's sickbed. Family is there for family, never more so than when Death enters the house."

Narcissa leaned in and squeezed Colombe's shoulder. "I understand. I was never truly close to Bella, and she was an absolute and utter monster, but she was my big sister. I mourned her when she was sent to Azkaban for life imprisonment."

Colombe hugged Narcissa back. "I understand. Father was forced to assist the Kamo government during the Second World War and afterward was imprisoned for war crimes that she did not truly commit. When I found out in 1946 that she was a convicted war criminal...."

Colombe closed her eyes and breathed in and out harshly, "I was so angry, both for what she had done, and more so for myself because I was not there for her, not there to help her avoid that dark path that she was trapped on. I hated myself for not being there for her as family should. Even though she did not know of me until decades later, even though I had been abandoned by her at birth, still. She is family and I had let her down. Even though it came out for the best, I still failed my father then and I can never truly expunge that failure."

Narcissa nodded in agreement then her eyes turned to Ehren who was determinedly eating oatmeal for breakfast. "Your daughter mentioned that she has just been accepted to Hogwarts. I wonder, have you purchased her school supplies yet?"

"Not yet." Colombe admitted. "I planned to this weekend now that we are home from visiting Father and her family in Japan, but Ehren got the news of Cousin Draco's status and..." She trailed off with a Gallic shrug communicating louder than words 'what can you do?'.

Narcissa smirked. "Well rather than stay here and go stir crazy, let me send a message to Dromeda and Dora, see if they're free. With luck we'll make a girls night out of this trip and do some serious retail therapy at Diagon Alley."

Colombe smirked as she watched Niobe enter and speak to Ehren. "That sounds rather delightfully like a plan. Perhaps Niobe too since she is Ehren's closest female friend? Nimue as well since she's family."

Narcissa grinned. "Oh most definitely. Niobe has quite an eye for quality fabrics and cut when it comes to clothing, after all!"

A.N. -- Why does my muse run away with deep psychological dives rather than just go straight to Diagon Alley for Lucius Malfoy Has A Heart Attack Upon Getting The Bills 2: Du Chasteler Boogaloo?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

In the hot, summer air one could hear the cicadas making their song, but also the sound of geta against the stone pathway as Harry walked with Ume and Sakura to either side. Both girls had taken an arm and hand which they held in their own. As they walked, the two pointed out various things and explained how they were. Coming to a small garden pond, they paused as they looked out over the waters where gold fish swam back and forth with lotus floating upon the water. Every once in a while, the summer air had the sound of an Shishi-odoshi going "Doink" as it gently hit a stone before lifting again.

Head tilted to the side as the three enjoyed the quite tranquil sounds of the garden for a few moments, Harry considered the pond with the small islands. There was a small, oval one that broke the surface. And, to the side, there was a larger, domed one covered in moss with a large stone rising above from the middle. For several moments, he did not say anything, only considering it before smiling, "Ah, I see it."

Softly smiling, Ume hummed, "You do, Harry-Chan?"

With a chuckle, he gave her a smile which made hers grow a touch before motioning to the pond, "The islands there, Ume-Chan." At her nod, he continued, "They are made to make one think of Mount Horai, where the Immortals live. A mountain perched on the top of a turtle that swims through the ocean." Harry gestured towards each island, "The smaller one is the head, and the larger one is the shell upon which Mount Horai is perched, the moss being the forest that surrounds the mountain."

Both girls brightened at that and nodded, "Hai, that is correct, Harry-Chan. But look closer, what do you see?"

Eyebrow raised, Harry turned to both of them before leaning forward to examine the island closer. It took a few moments, but his eyes widened, "It's moving!"

Just nodding, the Twins giggled a little, "Hai, it is."

Rubbing his chin in interest, Harry considered the islands in thought, "If I may ask, how do they do that?"

Lips twitching, Sakura shares a look with her twin before nodding, "The stone of the island is made from a form of volcanic rock called pumice. With a few minor enchantments, the rock is waterproofed and thus can float around after the top has been covered." She gestured at the shoreline, "On the bottom, there's rocks charmed to keep the island from going past them, thus ensuring that it won't bump against the edges."

Just blinking at that, the teenage wizard slowly frowned though that turned into a grin, "That... is very much neat and cool."

Said comments got giggles from the girls before they grinned slightly, "Hai, it is pretty cool, Harry-Chan. But it does make the garden special."

As he nodded in thought, Ume tilted her head to the side, "Harry-Chan? Is something wrong?"

Harry blinked before turning to her with a smile, "No, nothing is wrong, but... I just had an odd thought." At their motion to continue, he chuckled, "Well... I was just thinking about something that I came across recently, stone horses."

Interested, the two girls tilted their heads to the side, "Stone horses?"

With a nod, Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "Hai, they're basically as it sounds, horses made out of stone or metal. But... here's the important thing, they're animated to act like an actual horse. So you can actually ride them around like they were one and they never get tired." Looking at each one of them, he continued, "They're not just in the form of horses though, because you have ones in other forms as well. Like lions for example which are used to guard..."

Following his line of thought, the Twins widened their eyes before turning to the islands, "So you could make a stone turtle and have it actually swim like it was one. That would be..." Considering their thoughts, Ume and Sakura smiled, "That would be something to see, Harry-Chan. And something quite unique as well... would there be spells to make rock float?"

Not saying anything, Harry hummed in thought before giving a shrug, "I'd have to check when I get back to Hogwarts, maybe ask Professor Flitwick since he's a Charms Master, but... I can't see why there wouldn't be any. After all, wizards will often come up with spells for no other reason than to do so, and it is not like there are not other legends of islands on the back of turtles."

More than a little interested, Sakura shared a look with Harry, "Truly? There are legends of such in Europe and other places?

Slowly, the teen wizard nodded, "There are many tales of such creatures. Granted, they're not as nice as the one that carries Mount Horai on its back." Seeing that they were listening, he smiled, "They were not large, usually a mile around if you listen to the stories. Said creatures, called aspidochelone, would lay on the surface of the water as if sunning themselves. A few doing so long enough that heather and the like would grow on their backs. Meanwhile, great schools of fish would gather around them, which they would feed upon."

Tapping her chin in thought, Ume frowned, "But you stated less nice than the Horai turtle...?"

With a chuckle, Harry's lips curled a little into a smile, "Hai, and they were not. Because sailors would mistake them for islands and land upon them. Nothing bad would happen... until they lit a fire to cook food. At which case, the creature feeling the heat of the flames would proceed to dive down into the depths, carrying the sailors and their tied down ship with it." Shrugging, he shook his head, "Needless to say, they gained something of a reputation and some conflated them with demons since they obviously killed through deceit."

Only snorting, the Twins shook their heads, "Of course, because a creature that finds itself on fire would not want to get away..." Pausing, they considered the island once more, "Do you think that such creatures exist?"

For a few moments, Harry didn't say anything as he considered the question before shaking his head, "Similar creatures appear in mythology all around the world. Even Newt Scamander stated that he has had to wonder if they existed. But if they did, than they are likely extinct..."

Having noticed him trail off, Sakura blinked, "Harry-Chan?" Seeing his thoughtful look, she raised an eyebrow, "Did you think of something?"

Still looking into the distance, he slowly nodded, "Hai, I just remembered something that Shiromizu told me. Something that she heard at Kannazuki when discussion about the Statute came up." Eyebrows furrowing, he frowned, "According to her, the levels of magic are rising worldwide, and that usually we would be heading for a dip that would last a century or two more. But... she also mentioned that it is natural, like the ebb and rise of the tide. And also that there are creatures that go into hibernation during times of lower amounts of magic. There hasn't been any reports of them since the thirteenth century. Most importantly, reptiles hibernate, including turtles, which can live for over a century."

None of them said anything for a few minutes as they considered that before both Ume and Sakura had looks of wonder on their faces, "So, somewhere out there, maybe... such creatures could be sleeping, and getting ready to wake?"

Just humming, Harry gave a small nod before smiling, "Maybe? It would be a sight to see just the same."

Both girls considered that before smiling and giving a nod of agreement. Shortly after, they continued to walk along when Ume turned to him in thought, "Harry-Chan?" Getting a hum, she continued, "If you were to build a garden, what might you have in it for ornamentation?"

A little surprised at the question, Harry considered the question, "That would depend on the size of the garden that I had, I would think. But..." Head tilted to the side, he smiled a little, "I would think that among other things, I might have some nest boxes. Though I would make them look either natural, or as if they fit. Like... have a pagoda style one on top of a large rock, but enchant the rock to be extremely difficult to climb for creatures like cats and rats. You know, attract birds to the garden to sing."

Considering that for a few moments, the Twins nodded before Sakura smiled, "That would be rather nice, Harry-Chan. The dawn chorus is always rather nice to listen to, though..." Rubbing her chin, she gave him a thoughtful look, "How would you make such a thing look natural?"

For a few seconds, the teenage boy hummed in thought, "Well, there's a few that I can think of. Such as having a small hollow in a garden wall. With a bit of magic, you could expand the interior enough for a nest. Same with a small hollow in a tree... Or you could hide the nesting box within the foilage. Like have it covered in bark and thus look like part of the tree. You could place them in eaves as well, out of sight of humans, but usable by birds."

The Twins nodded as they imagined it and made a few notes. After all, Japanese gardens attempted to work and imitate nature. Something that bringing in song birds would work very well with. They then tilted their heads, "What else would you use?"

His thumb rubbing their knuckles gently, Harry smiled a little, "Well... maybe a butterfly and hummingbird feeder. Though wind chimes as well as suncatchers might be another thing."

Eyebrows widening a touch, Sakura hummed, "Ah, we have seen suncatchers! They catch the sunlight and refract it around, correct?"

Just nodding, the wizard chuckled some, "Hai, that is what they do." He gave a small shrug, "Set up the right way? Each breeze causes the spots of light from them to change and shift, like... a visible counterpart to a windchime."

Both girls nodded at that in agreement as they imagined it. Perhaps it might take a bit of work to make it fit, but... it would be something to see as well as they took internal notes. Slowly, they made their way around the pond until they came within sight of the small tea house. It was on another path and Harry considered it for a few moments before they moved on though both Ume and Sakura mentioned that they would see it in time, but they wished to show him other things.

As they walked, the three chatted about various things, though Harry did note that the two leaned into him as they walked. Another thing that he took note of was the number of flowering trees that were within the garden. Something that, he had to admit, made sense with how the family name was "Konohana".

It was something made more concrete as they reached one isolated part of the garden and Harry noted that there was a small Hokora there with a Torii above it. After a few moments, he remembered something that the Twins had told him and his eyes widened as he looked towards them, "Is this where your ancestor and his wife lay?"

With slow nods, the Twins considered the place in front of them, "Hai, this is where our ancestors, Konohana no Goro and his wife, Konohana no Ahana lay together." Heads tilted to the side, they considered Harry for a few moments, "Do you remember the story we told you?"

Dredging up the memories, Harry nodded, "Hai, I do." After a few moments, he continued, "According to rumour, your family is descended from Ashiya Dōman and the wife of Abe no Seimei through a daughter. One that Abe no Seimei gifted to the Kamo clan to be raised and whom married into it. Also, that many decades later, after being basically driven out of his home by his siblings, Goro found himself working as a scribe here in Kyoto in the Onmyō-ryō. How because of his position, he despaired as he would never find a wife, but one came to him... who was the spirit of the Tsubaki next to his home."

Softly smiling, the Twins nodded though it was Ume who spoke up, "Hai, though there is more to it than that." She gestured before them, "Goro-Dono worked in the Onmyō-ryō as a lowly scribe, as we mentioned, because no others would take him due to our family reputation. As well, he did not know much magic due to the fact that his older siblings prevented him from learning as such things were their right as they would inherit. When he came to Kyoto, a large storm broke overhead. Running, he sheltered himself under the leaves of a tsubaki not far from the road."

Realization on his face, the teenage wizard nodded, "The same one whose spirit he would come to love."

With a slight nod, Sakura chuckled, "Hai, not that he realized that fact for some time. But over that night, he stayed under the branches of the Tsubaki, huddled. It sheltered him from the storm and, when morning broke, he climbed out and saw the Sun rise. The sight, along with the freshness of the air after being washed clean and the scent of the tsubaki blossoms, gave him hope as he took this for a sign. Before he left, he bowed to the tree that had sheltered him and left an offering of food before heading into Kyoto. There, he gained the job of a scribe as his handwriting, one of the few things he had, was impeccable."

Ume then took over, "A few weeks later, Goro-Dono decided to visit the tsubaki to thank it once more. But as he made his way to it, he noticed a group of men with cutting implements and found them about to cut down the tree. He confronted them, and they told him that strange things had happened on that road. Things blamed on the tsubaki tree that stood there, thus they were going to cut it down. Goro-Dono, however, denied that the tsubaki was evil. After all, it had sheltered him that night during a storm! While unconvinced, the men decided that while our ancestor was a fool, he could deal with such matters."

Her sister smiled slightly and hummed, "And dealt with them, he did. For he decided to buy the plot of land that the tsubaki was on to protect it. At the time, it was outside the city, and thus the land was cheap. But it was also dangerous as it was outside the walls." Raising a finger, she shook her head, "At the time, there were Yokai, bandits, and various wild beasts roaming around. Goro-Dono was unconvinced, however, and still had a small hut built next to the tree that he felt had given him such good luck. Many thought him a fool and an idiot, yet..."

A small, thoughtful look on her face, Ume shook her head, "Yet, not once did anything ever happen to him. Once, a group of bandits attacked the gate close by, yet when the guard drove them off, one of them found our Ancestor sitting on a stone drinking tea, stunned that such a fight had happened nearby." There was an amused look on her face as she continued, "And that was but one such incident. Over the next year, Goro-Dono lived in his hut. During his days off, he would bring stones from the nearby streams and place them as a wall around his home and the tsubaki, protecting both. And in the evenings and when watching the Moon, he would sit under the tree's branches composing poetry. More often than not, poems about the beauty of the tree."

Looking around, Harry noted that there were small, raised ridges around. Exactly the sort of thing that one would expect from ancient stone walls, buried in the ditrus of centuries, 'I wonder...'

That said, he was unable to spend too much thought on the matter as Sakura continued for her sister, "Yet, at the same time, he despaired some. For his status as a lowly scribe and where he lived meant that his chances of ever finding a wife was nonexistent. Something he mentioned to the tree more than once. Yet, one night when the Moon was full and the tsubaki was in blossom, a beautiful woman appeared seemingly from nowhere. She was a traveler, she claimed, without a home and sat next to him. Goro-Dono shared what tea he had with her as they talked, and she listened to him compose poetry about the tree."

Simply gesturing with one hand, Ume smiled some, "Night after night, she returned and began to compose poetry herself, aimed at him as he did her. As always, he also composed poetry about the tree. And, after some time, they married and she, Ahana-Dono, because his wife." For a few moments, she paused as she considered things before shaking her head, "Over the years, she taught him much magic. Which he recorded, much to her amusement for their children and children's children to learn from. As he learned from her, he rose in the ranks of the Onmyō-ryō. Slowly, it was enough for a proper home for their family to be built, and he had a home built with a garden. The tsubaki sat in a place of pride for the garden, despite people telling him he should remove it, he would have nothing said about it. Him and his wife had children as well, though as he grew older, she seemed somewhat ageless and graceful as the day that they met."

Expression darkening, her twin grimace, "But eventually, the news of his success reached the ears of his family. His siblings could not believe that he had become successful, not after they drove him from their family. Thus they came to see themselves, and were filled with envy. Shortly after, they accused him of stealing secrets and magic from them, to ruin him. He retorted that he had done no such thing and what magic he knew came from his wife. It was something of a scandal, but after an investigation, which included him showing the spells he 'Stole', which his siblings did not know, it was ruled that he had done no such thing."

Only nodding, Ume sighed, "But that was not the end, unfortunately. For one day, they confronted him here, at his home. They hungered for his secrets and demanded he hand them over to them. Because they were the ones who they rightly belonged to as one was the Clan Head. But Goro-Sama denied them, stating that they had tossed him out, thus his clan would keep them. A fight broke out with Goro-Sama and Ahana-Sama on one side, and his siblings on the other. Said siblings were soon soundly defeated and were dragged from the home. Sadly, as they were hauled to their feet, the eldest, having been told of how his Otouto loved the tsubaki tree in his garden, sent a spell at it, cutting it off at the base."

With a slow, understanding nod, Harry's expression was filled with sorrow as he squeezed her hand, "Which was when his wife fell to the ground with a scream, dying as she was the spirit of the tree."

Just nodding, Sakura sadly smiled, "Hai, she admitted it to her husband then before she turned her wrath unto his siblings for their families to wither and die, as her leaves and flowers now would. Fearful, they fled for their homes, but died to sickness that swept through their families, killing all while leaving even their servants untouched. A sickness that caused them to wither away before they finally died." She gestured at the small shrine before them, "Goro-Sama held his wife as she died, and when she passed, had her buried here where their home was alongside the tree that was her true form. He gently removed the stump, roots and all, before laying the tree with her body side by side."

Sighing, Ume shook her head, "He lived for a decade more, though many stated that it was less living and more him making the motions. During that time, he passed along all the magic he knew to his children and grandchildren. All the secrets his wife had given him. Then, one morning shortly after, they found him here before where his wife was buried, a smile on his lifeless face as he had died kneeling here without a visible wound, though it was thought that he had passed due to his broken heart. Goro-Dono was then buried next to his wife, and a shrine erected for the family over them. And from there, they have watched over the family since."

None of them said anything for a minute or two. But then, Harry walked up to the chōzubachi that was there before purifying himself. Walking up to the Hokora, he bowed his head and clapped his hands, "Thank you, Goro-Dono, Ahana-Dono... for without you, I never would have met Ume-Chan or Sakura-Chan."

Behind him, both Twins were flustered at that, but before anyone could say another voice filled with amusement did, "You don't need to thank us, Harry-San, but thank you just the same."

The three whipped to the side to find a beautiful woman dressed in clothing from the Heian Era standing there. Ume and Sakura gasped as they could see a ghostly tsubaki tree behind her and bowed deeply, "Ahana-Dono!"

Lips twitching a bit, the former spirit of a tsubaki tree opened her fan to cover her face as she lightly laughed, "Please, my dear daughters, you do not need to bow to me for we are family." Closing her fan, her expression became gentle as she walked over and placed a hand on each of their shoulders as they looked at her in awe at her next words, "For you are more than worthy not to."

Swallowing, Ume looked at her, "Th-thank you, Ahana-Sama, though, how...?"

Harry blinked for a moment before his eyes widened, "Because of what they are, right?" At the looks, he found a light flush in his cheeks, "I mean, they're Kami, just like you."

A small smile on her face, Ahana nodded, "Indeed, Harry-San, you are correct in your deduction." Turning back to the Twins, she crouched down some, "And we are ever so proud of you."

Rapidly blinking, and feeling their mouths dry, the Twins swallowed, "Y-you are? And who is we...?"

Once more, the former tsubaki's lips twitched as she lightly laughed, which sounded like the rustle of leaves, "Myself, my husband, and your other ancestors. Each of us smile down upon you in pride." Glancing at Harry, she smirked, "And in the choices that you have made."

Understanding what she meant, the Twins blushed some before a thought occurred to them. Looking her in the eyes, Sakura chewed her lip some, "Our Ancestors... does that also mean..."

However, Ahana's expression darkened, "Your Otou-San? No, for he is not among the Honoured as he was too much like my Husband's siblings as is his wife, who shall not be joining us." Her gaze softened a moment later, "Your Otouto, however, shall be joining us when his time comes. For he is what it means to be Konohana and we see him as Our Son as much as we see you as Our Daughters."

The Twins smiled in relief at that before glancing at Harry, "Ah, about one thing..."

Grin on her face, the older woman shook her head, "Well..." Leaning in, she lowered her voice enough that Harry could not hear as she continued, "We are most pleased with your choice in husband. For it is not many who would go to the lengths he has already, raising you among the Kami. If things work out in the next few years, than your marriage shall be long and quite, ah, fruitful as befitting ones such as us."

Faces feeling like they were on fire, the Twins nodded as Ahana pulled back. The four talked for a few minutes more before Ahana left, though she did ask that the Twins bring the family to their shrine at some time for her to speak with them. Walking up to Ume and Sakura, Harry took their hands in his, "I'm glad."

Only nodding, the Twins looked down at their clasped hands before entwining their fingers together. Lifting their heads, they gave him a soft smile, "Thank you, Harry-Chan. For everything..."

With that said, first Sakura leaned in and kissed him on the lips for a few seconds before she pulled away. No sooner than she had done that, than Ume moved in and kissed him as well for just as long before pulling away. Both girls had a light flush on their faces, though were smiling while looking at the stunned Harry. Their flush deepened though once he shook it off as he returned their kisses before hugging them both

Eventually, they moved on with their tour, though Harry noted that the Twins had a spring in their step for some reason...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Prepare thine Pancreases! Claire gets Chocolates and Ice Cream, Ehren goes adorably Smol, Colombe once again reflects upon the Curse of the Du Chasteler Daughters that Papa hath laid upon her, and The Ladies of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black Shop Till They Drop.

The Pieces Prepare to Move (III)....

1 August 2014

Black Townhouse, London, England

Ehren Flooed into the foyer and brushed soot off her white short-sleeved blouse and dark blue skirt that she was wearing. Not for the first time, she sighed behind her normal cool and impassive face as she adjusted the black neckerchief with the brown leather knot to make it fall precisely straight down the line of buttons for her blouse.

She supposed that she should count her blessings that her preference for wearing uniforms did not extend fully to all the symbology of the Bund Deutscher Mädel that her current ensemble was based on. For starters, she would sooner run around in her underwear in public than even contemplate wearing any article of clothing with a swastika on it now.

Although the severe and conservative paramilitary lines of her garb flattered her trim figure, she sometimes wished that her inclinations and preferences were for something different than what would have been seen on the streets in the Germany of her birth in 1937 when she dressed up semi-formally as part of the family.

Speaking of family, she looked at Aunt Narcissa who was smiling at her. "I sent Kreacher to tell Dromeda that we have arrived, dear."

Ehren blinked as Claire popped out of the Floo and joined her. She looked at her aunt and inquired in a quiet voice. "She is your sister, yes?"

Narcissa nodded. "Yes, my older sister. It's good to see her in my old house."

Ehren nodded slowly and looked around while Nimue and then Niobe joined them. Her eyebrows raised mentally at the old stained wood, clearly antique paintings, and general air of nobility. "It is a beautiful house, Aunt Narcissa."

A new voice answered her. "It is indeed. Good to see you Cissy!" Ehren's eyes shot up at the aristocratic brown-haired woman bustling in with a smile and trailed by a pink-haired young woman. "Sorry that we weren't here to see you; we were taking the chance to do a survey for Bridge Night. Who are your friends?"

Colombe popped out of the flames and smiled. "Colombe d'Aubigny du Chasteler at your service."

The pink haired woman smirked as her hair shifted to a purple-red. "Auror Nymphadora Tonks. Call me Tonks."

Ehren blinked in surprise, "Ehren du Chasteler, Mutti's youngest daughter. How are you doing that Tonks?"

"Oh this?" Tonks grinned. "I'm a Metamorphmagus. it made my Auror tests for disguise and concealment a snap."

"Ach, so." Ehren took a deep breath. "It seems to be a useful trick."

"It is, it is Ehren. I have to say that you are a little old to go shopping for a Hogwarts first year. Home schooling and fell through the cracks?" Tonks responded as they prepared to Floo to the Leaky Cauldron.

Ehren smirked smugly. "Not quite. I'm capable of doing this myself." With that she closed her eyes and breathed in an out, remembering Aunt Suisei's training as she watched her younger self grip her hilt.

Tonks blinked as the eighteen-year old girl in front of her shimmered and blurred, shrinking a half foot and visibly losing some of her already modest bosom. Then the girl opened her twelve-year old steel-blue eyes and adjusted one of her two braided shoulder-length twintails. Ehren's smirk grew smugger as Mutti, Andromeda, and Narcissa broke off their conversation to give her 'so adorable' looks.

Claire, began to hum a happy upbeat piano march piece at the sight of her now very little sister. Ehren's smile grew as she didn't identify it but it was as cute as she was.
Spoiler: (Later Ehren Swore Bloody Sibling Revenge On Claire When She Identified The Troll Job That Her Sister Pulled)

Colombe head-patted her smirking chibi daughter. "Well let's head to Diagon Alley!"
---------------

Diagon Alley
Spoiler: Shopping Trip!

Ehren grinned happily as she walked into the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley flanked by Claire, Niobe, and Nimue. She patted the file folder containing her revised and annotated action plan to get the school supplies that she needed. "First we need to get money and then begin the serious shopping, ja?"

Nimue, Claire, and Niobe grinned at her then their eyes flickered to Honeydukes and their grins widened.

Colombe shook her head fondly from where she walked behind the junior shoppers with Tonks, Andromeda, and Narcissa. The French rapier spoke quietly and thoughtfully, "I wonder if Papa was feeling this pride when he took me to Rue des Sorciers in 1718 for my school supplies. I would certainly hope so."

Andromeda and Narcissa looked at each other, then the elder Black spoke. "It is a special moment for any parent to see their child take her first step into our world."

Colombe nodded in agreement as she reached Gringotts. "Oui."

Getting the monies from the Black, Malfoy, and du Chasteler vault was easy.

The trouble came when the procession departed Gringotts.
---------------

"Mutti, pleeeease?" Ehren pleaded, giving lethal levels of Chibi Dagger Puppy-Dog Eyes to her mother as she pointed to Florian Flortescue's ice cream shop.

"You are here to get schoolbooks---" Colombe began.

"But I'm hungry, Mother!" Claire cut her mother off, dialing the Adorable And Cute But In Desperate Need Of Ice Cream Starving Piano Expression to 11 as she begged.

"Merde, but---" Colombe tried to get in control of the situation.

"They have a school shopping special on sundaes!" Nimue chipped in, followed by Niobe.

"----All right. One sundae each." Colombe finally caved under the cuteness, then facepalmed as the cheering children and shipgirl descended on the ice cream parlor like a wolf pack of U-Boats on a nightclub advertising half price on drinks and a live band for Ladies Night.

The rapier turned to the grinning members of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black who had watched the whole scene unfold. "Not. One. Word." Colombe huffed. The proud and happy smug grin put the lie to her words.

Narcissa laughed. "My lips are sealed, Cousin."
---------------

Following the ice cream and a detour to Honeydukes for 80% cacao 'school supplies' in quantity, the next stop was Twilfitt and Tattings for school robes for Ehren. The dagger posed in her new finely woven black wool dress robes (with Self-Ironing, Self-Cleaning and Size-Adjustment charms) over her school uniform (also enchanted as Ehren had picked out her clothing with an eye to quality), and smiled shyly. "How do I look, Mutti, Claire, everyone?"

The Piano gave a happy smile and a thumbs up as she clutched the set of dragonhide gloves that Ehren had picked out. "You look like a proper little witch Ehren!" she said, before starting to hum AC/DC's 'Back In Black'.

Colombe wiped a proud and happy tear from the corner of her eye with her thumb as she remembered asking Papa that when she came out in the sky-blue silk of her first Beauxbatons uniform. "Oui, a proper little witch, Mon joli petit poignard," she whispered as Ehren's smile lit up her face.

Tonks patted Colombe on the back and leaned close. "She really is a proper little witch and cute as a button."
---------------

Ehren smiled at Nimue as Narcissa paid the jewelsmith at Bowman E. Wright for the House of Malfoy Bloodforged signet ring that had been commissioned for Nimue. The Malfoy girl grinned and admired the solid gold with her coat of arms as second child with spells locked into place with a drop of her blood to protect her and also protect the ring from theft and loss. Most importantly of all, it could be used to transport herself back and forth from Malfoy Manor as a Portkey.

Which meant Ehren could see her cousin from time to time on visits. Ehren then walked to Nimue and whispered to her. "You have plans for the band, yes?"

Nimue smiled happily and replied. "I do, if we can get the band together to rehearse. Father already said that he could perhaps get us on the Wizarding Wireless with his influence. But won't you be at school?"

Ehren handed over a hilt pin to Nimue. "Keep this and I can use it to manifest and sing for us. Claire has a locket that will allow her to manifest too. So that leaves you and the shipgirls.

Niobe smirked, "We can leave one of our Faeries to play when we have to go on patrol and then pick them up when we return. That way we are in practice and you can work around us being at sea."

Ehren smirked smugly. "Sehr gut."
---------------

Next were schoolbooks, and another hit on Mutti's purse as Claire found the sheet music and a copy of Principles of Bardic Enchantment while Ehren was methodically running down her list of books needed with dogged determination. Andromeda in turn supplied Nimue with a copy of Magical Creatures of the Americas by Newt Scamander as a gift while Colombe was desperately trying to avoid Claire buying out the music section of Flourish and Blotts single-handed.

"So last is a wand." Ehren declared over the sounds of Claire asking for 'just three more books on magical music, Mother' as Colombe tried to buy her off with promises to come back another day since today was Ehren's big day.

"Oui, wands," Colombe said as she hauled a protesting Claire to the counter to pay for this day's terror raid on the music section, "before your sister bankrupts me."
---------------

Ehren's eyes widened as she entered Ollivander's. She unconsciously straightened up to full attention as she looked at the thousands upon thousands of wands in their boxes. Behind her Colombe entered with suspicious shininess in her eyes.

Ehren marched to the small chair set in the floor before the counter and sat down straight. Colombe took a deep breath and stood behind her.

Claire was about to join her sister and mother when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked back at Aunt Andromeda and the elder witch shook her head and placed a finger against her lips. Claire nodded.

A voice sounded in Colombe's ear and she started. "Cypress wood, twelve inches sturdy and unyielding. A fine wand, powerful but temperamental, wasn't it?"

Colombe nodded with tears in her eyes as she nodded to the elderly wizard who had popped up from behind the counter. "Oui, it was. How did you know?"

He smiled gently, "Us Ollivanders never forget a wand that we sell, Miss du Chasteler. You never came back to us after it was destroyed. Why?"

Colombe whispered in an emotion-filled voice, "Because I gave my word of honor when I left Beauxbatons to never use a wand for magic again. It is twenty-nine decades and I keep my oath I said upon that day."

"Nobility. Yess~. You know that Cypress wands only select wizards of nobility. My great-grandfather Geraint wrote that he was always honored to find a cypress wand that selected a witch or wizard because he knew that they would die a heroic death."

Colombe gave a wan smile and nodded, "I remember your -- great-uncle? -- told me that when it sprang to life in my hand. Papa was so proud of me that day...."

Ollivander smiled. "Regardless, it is good to see you again. This is your child?"

Ehren stood. "Ehren du Chasteler, sir."

Ollivander pulled out a tape measure. "Now, which is your wand hand?"

Ehren blinked. "I have trained to use either... right hand perhaps by preference?"

Ollivander pulled out a tape measure and began to measure her hand, wrist, forearm, then around her head. Ehren stood stock still despite her internal sense of discomfort, both remembering Vati being measured for racial suitability and classification with calipers by SS specialists and she had the uneasy feeling that Ollivander saw through her childlike form to the mature woman underneath.
Spoiler: Ehren's Wand

"Hmm, interesting, interesting. Let's see, eight inches, oak and dragon heartstring." A box floated down and slid open to reveal a wand. "Go on, pick it up and give it a whirl."

Ehren complied, waving the wand.

Nothing happened.

"Ahh! Alder, eleven inches, unicorn hair!" A second wand floated in and produced no result too. "Thirteen and a quarter inches, willow and Wampus Cat whisker! I import them from America. Only certified free-range Wampus Cats allowed at Ollivanders."

Ehren had barely picked up that wand when he shook his head. "Hmmph, not THAT one surely! Nine inches, Mahogany, phoenix feather!"

Another failure.

Ollivander grinned and five more wands floated down from the shelves. "Oh I love a challenge! Six inches, cypress and a horned serpent horn! Let's see how this one likes you!"

Twenty-seven failed wands later, the grin had broadened as Ollivander rooted around in the back. "Need something special for you, Miss du Chasteler... Aha!"

Another box floated down to Ehren and slid open. "Ten and a quarter inches, Ebony with a Thunderbird flight feather."

As Ehren's fingers touched the wand a bolt of electricity vibrated through her steel and her avatar.

She grasped it firmly and felt a click on a very subliminal level as it slotted into part of her spirit.

She could sense the power of the wand in her hand now, like a sliver of the Wakinyan mating dance in the thunderstorm that Aunt Del had shown her in the Black Hills one magical day.

Her lips curled in a smug smile filled with joy as she gestured with the wand -- no -- Her Wand.

Steel blue sparks of electricity popped and crackled down the length and around her hand and wrist while suddenly a wind smelling of ozone, rain, and the unspoiled expanses of the Great Plains blew through the store, whipping her hair around her head.

Automatically she turned to Mutti with excitement, wonder, and delight illuminating her face. She saw proud tears of joy trickle from her mother's eyes in this moment as Colombe gave her a watery smile of understanding.

"Ahh yes, Ebony, Ten and a quarter inches, firm and unyielding, with a Thunderbird tiercel's flight feather. Very powerful but very temperamental. The witch who wishes to master this wand shall have to master herself."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Eventually, the tour of the property wound down and the Twins guided Harry to the dining room. Upon entering, he noted Akiyama at the head of the large table with his wives to either side of him. Deeply bowing, Harry smiled at him, "Good evening, Akiyama-San."

From where he sat, Akiyama smiled and bowed back, "And a good evening to you as well, Harry-San. Hopefully you enjoyed the tour that my Onee-Samas gave?"

Lips curling a bit more into a smile, the teenage boy gave the hands of both girls a squeeze, "Hai, it was most enjoyable though a few things happened."

Just chuckling, Akiyama gave a nod, "I see." He then gestured around the room, "Please, come have a seat and dine with us."

Once more, Harry gave him a bow and let go of the hands of the Twins to their disappointment, and began to move towards one of the side tables. However, he was stopped as Ume and Sakura grabbed his hands and began to move him towards the head table, "Um..." Noticing the determined looks on the two girls' faces, he glanced towards their brother. However, he realized that there would be no help coming from that direction as he had a smirk on his face, "Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? Er... why are you pulling me along?"

Eyebrow raised, both Twins fixed him with a look, "Because, you shall be sitting with us for dinner and we sit by our Otouto."

Rapidly blinking, Harry simply allowed himself to be pulled along by the two. He did note that a number of those in the Clan were giving them knowing smirks or grins as they whispered among one another in amusement at the actions of their aunts/great-aunts. Granted, he was thankful that none of them seemed angry over the matter, which was a relief.

Upon reaching where the zabutons were, the Twins gave him a raised eyebrow before he proceeded to seat himself in seiza at the proper place on a zabuton. On either side of him, Ume and Sakura also sat in seiza gracefully, looking extremely pleased with themselves. A glance towards Akiyama and said man's wives did cause him to blink as the older women were extremely amused about something, while Akiyama had a massive smirk on his face.

Noticing the glance, Akiyama's smirk grew a touch as he raised an eyebrow towards his sisters, who had light blushes on their faces. However, he simply nodded towards Harry with a slight smile rather than comment, "Dinner will be served shortly, Harry-San. I hope that you do not mind it being obanzai ryori?"

However, Harry shook his head at that with a slight smile, "No, I don't mind at all, Akiyama-San. I look forward to whatever might grace our plates."

Only chuckling, the older wizard smiled, "Well, I do not feel like you may be disappointed as our cooks are quite good at what they do." Stroking his beard, he gave a hum, "Though two days from now, you shall be able to enjoy kaiseki ryori with us in a kawayuka dinner held along the Shirokawa."

Leaning towards him slightly, Hina smiled, "The resturant is run by an old friend of ours and has no issue with us booking reservations. I think that he would be quite pleased to see Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan."

After a moment of thought, Harry nodded some, "Huh, that does sound wonderful."

Ume noticed that he had a thoughtful frown on his face which made her tilt her head some, "Harry-Chan?" When he turned towards her, she continued, "What seems to be the issue?"

Briefly, he chewed his lip, but then the teenage wizard sighed, "Just... wondering how this will be explained." At that he nodded towards first her and then her sister, "I mean, won't people wonder? About what happened to you?"

The food was served before anyone could answer, with Harry thanking the servers which got him smiles from the Clan as they did the much the same thing. Once the servers were gone, Akiyama blew on a piece of food he had between his chopsticks to cool it before he answered, "The answer to that, Harry-San, is two fold as a matter of fact and we are using two plans."

Seeing his interested look, Sora, his crane wife, chuckled a little, "Akiyama-Kun has been spreading a rumour through some that we know that Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan were found in an old Kamo Era installation. Some will no doubt draw the conclusion that they were in some form of magical stasis, likely to be used as subjects for experimentation. Which would neatly explain how and why it is that we have acted the way that we have against the Elders of the Clan."

Right then, Sakura chimed in, "The other is that we're going to tell a... half truth, as it were."

Now really curious, Harry looked at her with a blink, "A half truth?"

Her Twin nodded and smiled a little, "Hai, a half truth. Mainly in that we were 'Summoned' as the spirit of an Installation. But what we won't reveal is which one..."

Sakura then took over after daintily eating a bite of food, "One must remember that most of the magical world, while they know about shipgirls and such, don't know specifics. But what they do know is that a Natural Born cannot be older than the ship that they represent. Along with the Floating Dry Dockgirl, Dewey, in Sasebo? They are likely to assume that we are one of the old Floating Dry Docks that were built shortly after the turn of the century for magical ships."

Eyebrows raising, Harry turned to her in surprise as he chewed some food. Swallowing, he gave her a confused look, "There were Floating Dry Docks here in Japan? At the turn of the century?"

As the Twins nodded, Akimi spoke up, "There were three of them." When Harry turned to her, she continued, "One was in the Seto Inland Sea and could handle ships of 20,000 tons. A second was later built and sent to Korea and the third went to Taiwan." The Battleship motioned with one hand, "It was mainly because they could be hidden in coves out of sight of the NoMaj to repair any magical ships that got damaged as they crossed the Pacific. They were all one off designs however with the ICW funding them in order to help keep the Statute since magical ships needed to be repaired somewhere out of view of non-magicals."

With an amused expression on her face, Ume smiled, "Being as one was built in 1900 and we were born in 1913, they would believe that we were the spirit of said Dry Dock, at least long enough to soften the blow when more information comes out. By that point, there wouldn't be the sheer surprise there otherwise might be."

For several moments, the teenage wizard thought through the process and slowly nodded as it did make sense to do it that way. While some might react badly, it wouldn't be a one-two punch that it would be of them being Installations and how they became such, if that ever came out. Part of him shuddered as there was likely those who would actually do it to someone just to insure that there would be a spirit.

Shaking that off, Harry gave them a smile and nod, "Well, that is one less thing to worry about I suppose.

The conversation turned to other matters from there. Eventually, as they reached dessert (which was a sherbet), Akiyama remembered something that his sisters had told him, "Ah, Harry-San, I just remembered something that my Onee-Samas mentioned to me." Leaning forward a little, he made a thoughtful sound, "Something about a potions research facility?"

Harry took a moment to swallow a bit of dessert before nodding, "Hai, it is something that I've been thinking about." Gesturing with the spoon he was using, he frowned in thought, "It... would be more of a research institute both to research potions and to help teach new Potions Masters."

Intrigued by the idea, Hina raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

Frowning, the nearly fourteen year old shook his head, "Well... think of it like a research lab at a non-magical university. You would have a number of Potions Masters, maybe even alchemists as well, working there. They could take a small handful of students who would help them with research while also learning. Being a dedicated facility, you could have every safety feature possible in case of an accident including a medical wing just in case of injuries." Harry gave a small shrug, "Might not be able to save anyone badly hurt, but it could stablize them to get to an actual hospital." Taking another spoonful of cold sweetness, he waited for a moment to savor it before continuing once he swallowed, "It would all be funded at least partially through research grants and such as well as partially through patents of potions they create. There would also be a database of potion research as well that they could consult and the like."

Now highly interested, Akiyama hummed as he stroked his chin in thought, "A very interesting idea, Harry-San. And it could be very effective as Potions Masters need years of training, which they would get. I could see such a place becoming very highly regarded. Do you have an idea where you might place it?"

Harry considered the question for a few moments before nodding, "I have thought about it being near Ginzan. No volcanoes nearby, but the geothermal means that you could keep greenhouses warm all year around for potion ingredients. It would be one of two with another in Britain..." A far off look entered his eyes, "In my head, I call it the 'Lily Potter Institute of Potions Research', after my biological Okaa-San. To honour her."

Slowly, the older of the two wizards nodded though he noted members of his family listening in, "Understandable, and that is a good way of honouring her. But the cost to build it would be no small amount."

Lips curling a bit into a smile, Harry smiled some, "Actually... it turns out that I could fund the construction of both. Though the government would also likely help fund it as well since it could become very prestigious. More problematic is getting people who could build it with magic involved as well as attracting the Potion Masters in the first place."

Only nodding, Akiyama hummed before smiling, "I think, perhaps, I could be of help there at least for the one built here in Japan, Harry-San." Glancing at Miu, his youngest daughter, he chuckled, "I know of a few Potion Masters enough to understand that they would very likely jump at it." Pausing for a moment, the older man smiled, "If you want, I can place out some feelers to gain an idea of some thoughts regarding it. But I think that Kyoto would be happy to help back it."

Bowing some, the nearly fourteen year old smiled, "Thank you."

Simply bowing back, Akiyama shook his head, "You are quite welcome." Internally, he hummed some, 'Being connected to such would only be a benefit after all...'

_____________________________________________________________

After dinner was done, the various members of the Clan filtered out into Kyoto to partake in the festival going on. Walking along the streets, Harry had Ume and Sakura holding his arms close as they held hands. Head tilted to the side a little, the teenage boy smiled at the two, "So, where do you want to go first?"

Both Twins considered the question for a few moments before glancing at each other, "Perhaps we should walk around, Harry-Chan? And just enjoy the festival?"

Slowly, Harry gave a nod to that and squeezed their hands gently, "I think that is just fine." As they walked, he noted that a number of old residents, who were obviously magical, did double takes at seeing Ume and Sakura, but said nothing. But Harry ignored most of that due to the feel of the two teenage girls holding his hands as they leaned into him, 'This... is nice.'

Unknown to him, both Ume and Sakura had much the same thought. To them, this was something right out of one of their dreams. Part of them almost expected to wake up to find themselves in their lonely caldera, and yet...

Yet, they knew that this was not a dream, nor a fantasy.

This was, in fact, real.

Right now, at this time, they were walking alongside the boy that both of them had fallen for. One who cared for them back and had for all practicality moved the Heavens and Hells themselves to bring them back, to give them a second chance at happiness. A chance that the both of them swore to grasp with all their strength and to use. Because now, they could live as they chose without worry.

No more where they chained to what their parents and Elders wished of them. For now, they had no more say in what would happen. They were not chained to their dark fates, full of loneliness and sadness, for the Sun had risen and they could not meet it with smiles. Now, the future looked bright and warm compared to what it had been even before they became Hitobashira. What would come would do so because they could chose for it to come. A truly great gift.

And one that they had been given by the boy that they now held close.

Yes, they knew that there was still a long road ahead of them. One that would have ups and downs. But it was a road that they would travel because they chose to, not because they were forced and ordered to. A road that they made themselves, and at the end? There was a destination full of warmth and care and, most importantly, love. It would be work aplenty, for they understood that Harry had been hurt, and hurt badly.

But they would work, with others, to heal those wounds. To close them until they were but scars, and work until those scars themselves were faded. While they would never truly disappear, they could make them fainter, and would aim to do so. In their minds, it was the least that they could do, to help their hero heal from his wounds. For giving them a choice, they would choose to do so.

With the noise of the festival around them, the Twins placed their heads on Harry's shoulders with small, happy smiles.

Something that was their choice to do so.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking along the streets of the ancient, Imperial Capital, the three teens enjoyed themselves as they looked around the festival. For his part, Harry enjoyed the feel of the Twins as they held his arms to themselves as well as their hands clasped together, fingers entwined. The Twins were also enjoying the feel of leaning against Harry with happy smiles as they walked.

Slowly, the sky darkened as the evening wore on and lanterns came on as they toured the festival. Snuggled against him as they were, the Twins happily sighed internally as so many of their dreams were coming true in this moment. Because Harry, along with their surroundings, were making them feel like they were characters from one of their favorite stories with the teenage boy being the Samurai and them the noble ladies. It was a wonderful feeling for them, to say the least.

At the sound of a gasp, all three teens turned to find an elderly woman looking at them in stunned amazement as she adjusted her glasses, "Konohana Ume-San? Konohana Sakura-San? I-is that truly you?"

Head tilted to the side, the Twins gave a small nod, "Hai? Those are our names, and you are...?"

Lightly blushed, the elderly woman bowed a little, "It is I, Sakuma Kasai."

Eyes widening, both Ume and Sakura gasped as they suddenly recognized her, "Kasai-Senpai?" At Harry's curious look, they shook their heads, "She is one who taught us a... few things back before our issue occurred alongside some of our, er, sensei."

Confused at the light blushes on their cheek, Harry still turned and bowed to the elderly woman, "Good evening, Sakuma-San. I am Potter Harry."

There was an intrigued look in her eyes as she examined Harry for several moments. Both of them looked each other in the eyes before she smiled, "Ah, I see." Turning to the Twins, she gave them a slight nod, "You have a good one here, Sakura-San, Ume-San."

Needless to say, that brought blushes back to the faces of the Twins, but they smiled just the same, "Hai, we know that."

Finger rubbing against her chin in thought, Kasai hummed as she continued to examine the two girls in front of her, comparing them to the memories in her mind, "I had always wondered... but it does good to see you now, even if you have changed so little compared to myself. Perhaps, we should sit down for tea one day, to catch up."

Once more, Ume and Sakura bowed with smiles on their faces, "We would like that, Kasai-Senpai."

With a small nod, the elderly woman grinned and cackled, "If only those old hags could see you now! They would be turning in their graves, you know." At the smirks, she let out a hoot of laughter, "And you know this! Excellent!" Calming down a little, Kasai walked over and gave them both a hug, "It is good to see you happy."

Returning said hug alongside her sister, Ume nodded, "Hai, thank you."

As she pulled back, Kasai gave them both a nod before motioning them on, "Well, don't let this old woman keep you from enjoying the festival. Shoo! And make sure to have some good memories though if you ever want to bring your young man by..."

Both teenage girls blushed, but laughed and soon they bowed to her alongside Harry and continued their walk. Once they were out of earshot, said boy tilted his head a little, "So you know her?"

Glancing at each other, the two nodded with Sakura speaking for them both, "She was our Senpai in regards to some... teachers... our parents hired let us say. It is good to see that she has lived as long as she has as she was one of the very few we liked and saw as a friend."

Somewhat confused, Harry gave a nod before glancing back to see the elderly witch still smiling at them before they were cut off by the crowds, "I see..."

Meanwhile, with Kasai, she stared in the direction that the Twins had gone and tittered a little to herself, "Who would have thought... Little Ume and Sakura finding someone in a foreigner!" Thoughtful, she tapped her cheek and hummed, "Though quite the handsome one and with good manners as well as personality. Heh, their father must be howling in the afterlife along with Sensei. Good for them."

Feeling a small tug, she looked down to find a young girl beside her with a confused expression on her face, "Obaa-Chan? Who were they?"

Expression softening, Kasai looked down and gently stroked the young girl's hair, "Just some girls that Obaa-Chan knew from long ago when she was trained as a Geisha, that is all. And that Obaa-Chan is happy to see now have a chance for their own happiness."

Still lost, the young girl simply nodded before taking her great-grandmother's hand and walking off.

Head tilting back to look at the darkening evening sky, Kasai internally sighed, 'Ah... if that was not a half truth, child. But to say I was a Geisha is not being fully truthful...'

As Kasai walked off with her great-granddaughter, Ume and Sakura went back to holding Harry's arms as they continued enjoying the festival. The three of them crossed from the magical to non-magical portions of the festival. At one point, they found themselves watching a Taiko performer beating his drum before Harry noticed a Tanuki walk into the space for the performance. Said Yokai looked at the performer, who narrowed his eyes playfully before the Tanuki pulled out the drumsticks which made Harry blink, "He's going to play a drum?"

Lips twitching, the Twins giggled a little, but nodded, "In a way..."

Confused, Harry furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced around, "But where's his drum..." Noticing what the Tanuki was doing, he cringed a little as the two drummers had their "Duel" before those watching, "Ah... I see..."

Once more, the Twins giggled, especially as they noticed most of the males also cringe a little, 'It is always something funny to see.' Their giggles increased a bit as the drum beats both grew stronger and faster at the reactions of some of the males, 'Extremely funny...'

It went without saying that after the performance was done, Harry had an odd look on his face as they walked away.

Soon after, they came across another magical performance, this one being an old Onmyouji sitting crosslegged on a mat with his eyes closed while three people played behind him with a biwa, a flute, and a shamisen. Without opening his eyes, the Onmyouji made a motion with one hand with smoke from incense beside him curling and twisting in the air into the form of a Asian dragon. The smoke dragon was soon joined by one made of fire, with ones of water and dust soon being added. Each one was roughly the length of a man's arm, but twisted and turned in the air as they "Fought" with one another until they fell apart.

All the while, the Onmyouji directed them with slow, graceful motions of his arms and hands, not opening his eyes once.

Leaves swirled around the dragons, transforming into birds that flew among the crowds, flittering to and fro. These were soon joined by balls of light, which danced and twirled through the air as the "Dragons" fought. It went without saying that there were many spectators who were awed at the sight before them. And more than a few had bright expressions on their faces.

Finally, the dragons' battle ended and the various other creations faded away before the Onmyouji opened his eyes and bowed to the crowd as applause erupted.

Even as they walked away, Harry could only shake his head in amazement and awe, "That was incredible..."

With a hum, Ume held his arm a bit closer, "Hai, such performances always are on the magical side. I wonder how it will be taken on the non-magical once the Statute falls?"

Considering that, the teenage boy chuckled a bit, "Somehow, I can't see them not sitting up with large grins at being shown and told about them."

That got him nods of agreement as they continued walking. But they didn't get far before Sakura noticed something and blinked, "Ah..."

Eyebrow raised, Harry looked at her before following her gaze, noting that Ume was also looking in the same direction. There was a prize booth with various stuffed toys on display. For example, there was a bunny with some bandages on it as well as a teddy with a cast of all things. However, Harry noticed that what the two girls were looking at was a teddy wearing a Samurai outfit as well as two on either side that wore female Kimonos, "Hmm..."

For a few moments, he watched as someone decided to try for a prize, but only popped a few balloons meaning a lower one. It did not help matters that his eyes caught that every third dart seemed to slip past a balloon, even when it hit. Twice more, someone attempted it before he walked up and placed some money down and took a dart. Both of the first darts burst their balloon.

And then he picked up the third dart and rubbed his thumb along it.

Sure enough, he could feel a slight tingle of a spell there and that the end of the dart was blunted just a touch. Obviously, it wouldn't pop the balloon if it hit, and he glanced at the owner who seemed unnerved before Harry smirked, "Well, third time's the charm, isn't it?"

The owner nodded and seemed to calm down, Harry lifted the dart and narrowed his eyes as he took aim. While he did so, his lips moved slightly and a small bit of his magic leaked around the dart before he threw it. Around the tip, the magic helped keep it on course and sharpened the tip, which allowed for it to hit the balloon and pop it. Nodding, Harry smirked and asked for two more tries, and each one he managed. Yes it was cheating to use a bit of magic.

But... the owner was obviously doing the same.

Once he got enough points though, he smirked at the Owner, who realized what had just happened and paled just a touch as he lowered his voice as he chuckled, "The Samurai and Hime bears, please. And I won't say a word..."

Grimacing, the owner reached over and took the three bears and handed them to Harry, who gave them to a very happy Ume and Sakura before he nodded to the owner and thanked him. As they walked away, however, he noted that a Kyoto Auror walked up and gave the man an evil smile before waving a hand over all the darts.

However, Harry chose to ignore that, for now, as the Twins were extremely happy with their prizes and lightly blushed, "Thank you, Harry-Chan."

Still holding the stuffed bears, they turned their heads and kissed him on the cheek before pulling away. Now lightly blushing himself, Harry smiled before returning the kisses on the cheek to them, "You're very welcome, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan." If anything, that smile widened as they held his arms tighter to them, "So where do you want to go next?"

Just blinking, the two girls considered that for a moment as they continued to walk through one of the magical sections of Kyoto. Sakura glanced at her sister before frowning, "Ah, well, it is a bit of a shame that we could not make our way to the Byōbu Matsuri... It has been some time since we have seen that."

Frowning, Harry hummed some, "That's being held in the Yamahokocho sections, right? The old Kimono district?" At their nods, he looked around before his eyes fell on something and his lips curled a little, "I think I know how to get there quickly."

Lost, the Twins allowed for him to pull them along until they reached their destination and their eyes widened at the sight of the carriages before them. Each one had a magical ox attached, one that could fly, "Gissha..."

Meanwhile, Harry walked up to one of the drivers who turned with a raised eyebrow, "Can I help you?"

Bowing a little, the teenage wizard smiled, "Hai, how much for a trip to the Yamahokocho?" Glancing at the surprised expressions on Ume and Sakura, he chuckled, "Maybe a long way around as well?" Rather amused, the driver told him and Harry paid despite the protestations of the Twins. But he only shook his head a little with a smile, "Relax, I don't mind. Besides... this will make it better for you since this is your first one back."

Deeply blushing, the Twins nodded and were helped onto the carriage, followed by Harry. As it lifted off into the night, they cuddled into him and kissed his cheeks with bright smiles. Of course, the teenage wizard had a small blush on his cheeks even as he returned their affection as Kyoto passed beneath them. After all it felt really nice for them to be pressing up against him.

Unknown to him, however, Ume and Sakura had a small amount of steam drifting from their ears. It took every bit of self control they had not to kiss him hard right at that moment. Because Harry had already been hitting on a number of dreams and fantasies of theirs. Especially the ones involving the kind, and powerful (as well as handsome and well mannered) Daimyo caring for the two Himes. After all, they looked the part in their Yukatas and with the Twins having their hair falling down their shoulders and backs. However, right then, Harry had gone and smashed that button hard, what with having hired a gissha to take them to their destination.

It was like something right out of The Tale of Genji and other such stories.

Thus, they enjoyed every minute of the ride as they made their way around Kyoto, even as they stopped themselves from showing their appreciation for the gesture. However, their smiles were extremely wide and bright by the time that they got off the gissha in the Yamahokocho area. After that, they slowly went from house to house that were participating in the Byōbu Matsuri. Folding screens hundreds of years old were on display alongside old armours and other heirlooms.

Standing in the entrance to the Sugimoto home, Harry considered the folding screen in front of him in thought, "You know... it never ceases to amaze one just how beautiful and detailed they are. Just imagine how much work went into each one..."

With a small nod, Ume nodded as she squeezed his hand, "Hai."

As they left the home, she leaned her head against his shoulder, much like Sakura did on his other side as they journeyed to the next home. Said home was a magical one, unknown to their neighbours. And the wall screen they had was magical which showed a young, Kimono clad woman under a sakura tree, petals eternally falling around her as she slept. Meanwhile, in a nearby body of water, cranes sometimes spread their wings and flapped them. All three were amazed by it and agreed it was incredible.

Hours later, they returned to the Konohana Compound, with Harry once more having hired a gissha to do so. And, of course, the Twins holding themselves back. Greeting their brother and members of their family, Ume and Sakura decided it was time for bed and nodded towards Harry as they retired to their rooms. Gathering their bath supplies, they left the room and entered the furo only to stop.

Mainly because Harry was in there as well.

For almost a minute, the teens stared at each other with blushes before Harry went to grab his items, "Um, sorry about that. I'll just-"

Before he could get any further, a hand on his shoulder stopped him and he looked up to find Sakura and Ume there. The two girls had blushes on their cheeks, but were also smiling as they shook their heads, "It's fine, Harry-Chan. Besides... Aki-Kun mentioned that this is a mixed bath. So please, there's no need to leave on our account."

Looking between them, the nearly fourteen year old swore steam was coming from their ears. A few seconds passed before he slowly nodded and they smiled at him. Just two minutes later found him dumping warm water over his head with a sigh, "Ah... that feels good."

Softly giggling, Ume looked at her sister with a nod, "Hai, it is after a long, hot day."

Her eyes twinkled as Harry kept glancing at her and her sister, as embarrassing as it was to some extent. After all, he was the first boy, no, man, to see them in this way outside their family. Just like he was the first man from outside their family that they had been in a furo with. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her and she glanced over to her sister and they had a silent conversation.

Not even half a minute later, Harry felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to find Ume and Sakura there, "Um, hai?"

Lips twitching some, the girls shared a look before their expressions softened with Sakura speaking first, "Would you like us to do your back, Harry-Chan? And hair as well?"

Then Ume nodded a little, a shy smile on her face, "Then you can do ours?"

Rapidly blinking, the teenage wizard swallowed before nodding, "Um, sure." Turning he took a deep breath as the Twins had another silent conversation for a few seconds before Ume began to soap up the cloth and Sakura took some shampoo into her hands. Gently, the two went to work with Ume softly scrubbing his back with the soapy cloth and Sakura working in the shampoo. A soft sigh escaped Harry as he closed his eyes, "Mmm... this is nice..."

Both girls glanced at each other and smiled happily as they continued their work. Once they were done, Ume filled the bucket with warm water and washed off his back with Sakura following with a filled bucket to rinse the shampoo from his hair. They gave him a minute or two to finish the job while they went back to their own stools. After he rinsed himself off, Harry made his way over and first scrubbed Ume's back followed by shampooing her hair, followed by doing the same with Sakura once he rinsed Ume's head and back. Then both girls took over as he entered the bath before they joined him.

Water reaching their necks, the three teens hummed in contentment. After a few moments though, Ume and Sakura slowly shifted as they moved along the sides of the bathtub. They made sure to keep an eye on Harry's reactions as they sided up to him and, finally, placed their heads on his shoulders. Said boy wasn't quite sure what to do, but, in the end, simply relaxed as it felt nice in any case. A comfortable silence descended on them as they sat there in the bath, none of them saying or doing anything.

Simply enjoying the company and the bath as it washed away any aches from the day.

Eventually, however, the three left the bath and dried off with Harry combing and brushing first Sakura's and then Ume's hair. Something that both girls enjoyed greatly, though they giggled madly when their best efforts barely had an effect on Harry's own hair using his own comb, much to said boy's amusement. Putting away their toiletries into their tubs, the three teens got dressed in sleeping Yukata before leaving the furo. Harry did walk the Twins to their room, which didn't even take half a minute.

For a few moments, the three stood there before Ume spoke up, "Harry-Chan? We really enjoyed tonight."

Beside her, Sakura nodded with her own smile, "And we're looking forward to the next few days even more now."

Lopsided grin on his face, Harry chuckled as he ran his fingers through his still damp hair, "Hai, same here really. Today was really great, and I can't wait until tomorrow." Seeing the Twins share a smile, and a silent conversation, he raised an eyebrow, 'Huh, I wonder-'

His thoughts were cut off as Sakura took a step forward and kissed him before deepening it slightly beyond what they had shared previously. Not that much, but it was noticable as her fingers ran through his hair briefly. When she pulled away with a shy, embarrassed smile, he only had time for a breath or two before Ume copied her sister.

As she also pulled away, Harry blinked, "Um, wow..."

Giggling, the two girls ducked into their room, "Good night, Harry-Chan. Sweet dreams~"

Several seconds passed before Harry nodded, "U-um, good night and sweet dreams to you as well, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan..."

With that, he walked a bit drunkenly towards his room while the Twins peaked out of a small crack in their door. Once he was inside his room, they closed his door entirely and looked at each other before grinning and giggling madly.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- I'll be flipping back and forth between arcs a bit to keep the timeline straight here since obviously what happens to one branch of the family impacts the other. So to help people keep the stories straight here's the links to the most recent goings on in this arc. Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' 5 and Mother(s) Know Best

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (VI)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

30 July 2014
Spoiler: A Daughter In The Family Way

Jèzebel de Breuil sat down heavily behind her antique stained mahogany Chippendale slant-front writing desk that Grandfather had bought in 1785. Slowly a happy grin formed on her face and she laughed out loud in the privacy of her office.

The cackles of glee caused the magical painting over the bookcase to animate. Her younger self cocked her head and blinked painted eyes. "So what's so funny?"

Jèzebel smirked. "Just that Del finally put a bun in Zamarad's oven. It's early still and she's not showing, but I wagered twenty Dragots on my daughter being the first to figure out what is going on. Peri's going to corner her husband and give him the good news. As for me...."

The painting cocked her head curiously. "How early is early?"

Jèzebel shrugged, "According to Peri, it is a week or less."

The painting started to giggle hysterically, producing a glare from the living witch. "What's so funny?" Jèzebel snapped out.

"Well our daughter carried on the tradition." The painting gasped out between chuckles. "Five days ago when you and Nori were at her memorial service Delilah and Zamarad snuck in here and stained that desk you're sitting at. At the top of their lungs no less. They tripped one of the hidden security wards so I peeked in to find them enthusiastically engaged in amorous congress in a state of nature."

Jèzebel stared in shock at the desk before slowly removing her hands from it as she began to cackle. "Just like Nori and I did the day before we sailed to Japan? Snuck in here and began to dance a blanket hornpipe on the desk to spite my fool of a father?"

The painting nodded frantically as she doubled over laughing, clearly having trouble catching her breath.

Jèzebel clenched her sides as she howled in mirth. "Oh my, oh my.... I'll have to deed her my desk now, to insure that yet another de Breuil is quickened in the proper place when my firstborn grandchild starts getting rebellious."
-------------------

After painting and witch alike managed to somewhat regain their composure, the painting cocked her head and asked. "So, what do you plan to do about Delilah's little deed?"

Jèzebel shrugged. "Lock the door to here? She's a big girl and it is not like she will run off and abandon Zamarad once the child is visible." Jèzebel's face twisted with emotion. "Unlike... that's not fair to Nori but..."

"You are still somewhat upset with Norimune about abandoning you back then." The painting finished, looking at her future self compassionately.

"Of course I am!" Jèzebel snapped out as her face flushed. "It's wrong of me, because she did come back, but a century and a half can't be repaired overnight. As much as I wish it otherwise."

"Which is why you confide in me. I didn't directly experience all those things that happened to you, so I can act as a check on you, or as you prefer to call me in private 'The Better Angel of My Nature'. After all, you admitted that you made a terrible mistake back then and needed sound advice." The painting said analytically. "So, first principles, you want to be with Nori and rebuild some of what you had back then, yes?"

"Yes, yes I do." Jezebel admitted slowly as tears glimmered in her eyes. "Damn me, I do miss her even now and even as badly as we hurt each other. Delilah was right to try to bring us together, because I never would have had the strength on my own and Nori... is Nori."

"Just so. Well, for starters Nori deserves to know the happy news directly from you. You know that she will try to do better with her grandchildren to redeem what happened with her children, yes?" The words from the painting were compassionate and yet with a undertone of steel inside the velvet glove.

Jèzebel nodded slowly. "So, to her face or by letter is the question."

"Face to face. This is the best chance you will have to help her move past her mistakes as a parent, and yours. Plus, do you really want to ship those Cuban Romeo y Julieta rum-flavored magical Churchills that have been maturing in your cigar humidor since 1947 to Japan via owl mail?" The painting advised in a firm voice as she stared into Jèzebel's eyes.

"That is a good point. At least I made a large purchase back then, since Jacklyn will want some too. Speaking of, since Peri will be contacting Rayhan, I need to send her some of those to allow Zamarad's family to celebrate the birth."

"So what are you waiting for?" The painting asked as she leaned back in her chair and then pulled out a cigar holder and box of cigars from someplace.
-------------------

Spoiler: Informing The Grandfathers

Majal Alsaqr, Sahara Desert, Algeria

31 July 2014

Periezade Fakhoury walked to the fence of the horse paddock and gave a fond smile as she saw her Rayhan speaking with several of the lesser ifrit who acted as grooms in this hidden Unplottable valley where the Emir had his horse stud.

Rayhan turned from his conversation and waved her over as he finished giving instructions to allow his prize stallion to be put to stud with two selected breeding mares. His red eyebrows raised as he saw the fire of mischief in his senior wife's eyes as he admired her trim figure that was curvy in all the right places.

As beautiful and captivating now as you were nigh eight centuries ago, he thought fondly as she reached him. "Light of my life, what brings you here? Perhaps a ride?" He asked.

The Djinni Emira smiled, "Later I shall ride with you. But first, some news. I saw Zamarad at Eid and have news to relay about our daughter."

"She is well, I trust?" He asked with concern in his voice. He had nearly lost her and that had shaken him slightly, although he would only reveal it to Periezade.

"Better than well!" The Djinni's smile split her face as she pulled out a cedar-wood cigar case that had come through the Owl Box that linked this part of his realm with the home of Zamarad's mother-in-law. She opened it to reveal rows of cigars glimmering with magical charms to keep them fresh and sweet while fire danced in her eyes. "Our daughter is burning for another, although she knows it not. But in nine moons time, she shall give birth to a new flame formed of her love and Delilah's."

Rayhan's fiery red eyes opened wide in shock and joy. "At last! She shall be a mother then!"

Periezade nodded as she extended the box. "The Children of Earth have a custom to savor these items they call cigars with fire when a birth is imminent. Jèzebel mentioned that when we spoke at Eid about the important matters such as the raising of our grandchild, and has sent me these from her private holdings of them. She acquired these shortly after the marriage in anticipation of this happy day. The father is supposed to enjoy them and share them with those he favors to spread the joy of the celebration."

Rayhan nodded and pulled out a dark torpedo-shaped Romeo y Julieta cigar, feeling the hand-rolled rum soaked tobacco waiting for his flame to spark to life. He hummed happily in anticipation as his smile grew and he looked at his wife. "Traditions should be upheld. My moon and stars, you shall be the first to celebrate the birth of a new Child of Fire born of the Alnaar and Fakhoury." He pulled out a second cigar and handed it to Periezade, who took it with her own smile.

"After we celebrate, and I hand these to my wazirs and allies, shall we ride out together and enjoy the moonrise over my domain... alone?" His voice lowered and flames of love and desire sparkled in his eyes as Periezade nodded eagerly and blushed happily.

Then at an unspoken signal, two Cuban cigars ignited, and the jinn breathed in the flavorful smoke of the hand-rolled tobacco leaves. "This is quite an enjoyable custom, is it not?"

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

Norimune walked alongside Jèzebel to her office. The nodachi looked over at her old lover and spoke quietly. "So, what's the urgent news that had me come out here?"

Jèzebel closed the door and activated a variety of security and privacy wards. Finally secure, she then moved to a cabinet and disarmed a half-dozen magical alarms and traps before spinning the combination lock securing it.

The witch finally swung it open as Norimune watched. She then turned with a half-dozen dark brown cigars with shining gold bands in her hands. A smile split her aged face as she handed them to Norimune.

The Muramasa's face twisted in a puzzled look as she looked back and forth from the cigars to Jèzebel. "Cigars, Jez? What's this about?" she asked curiously.

Jèzebel's face split in a happy grin as she cut one for smoking and then handed Norimune her cigar cutter. "Congratulations, Nori! We're going to be grandmothers! Zamarad is a week along with Delilah's child growing within her. I'll let you know the due date when I divine it. Also the baby shower of course. since you are family..."

The witch trailed off as Muramasa-no-Norimune's eyes rolled back in her head.

Still clutching the cigar, the nodachi's avatar fainted dead away in delighted shock.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Slowly, the room where the Twins slept brightened as the Sun slowly began to peak above the horizon just before five in the morning. Both girls woke to the sound of birds singing in the morning light and laid there before stretching with soft groans of happiness. With that done, the two just laid back with smiles and luxuriated in the feel of sleeping in their old room once more with it looking like the day they left so long ago.

It was a wonderful feeling, to say the least.

Both Twins turned to each other with bright smiles on their faces and a twinkle in their eye. Voice soft, Ume nodded as she shifted and stretched once more on her futon, "This... is nice, isn't it, Sakura-Nee?"

Happily humming as she mirrored her twin sister in stretching, Sakura's smile widened, "Hai, it is. And to think that we can now go back and forth to enjoy this whenever we want." Gaze softening, she let out a sigh, "Truly wonderful and we are now blessed."

Mind wandering back to the day before, Ume's cheeks pinkened, "Very blessed..."

Already knowing where her sister's thoughts had gone, as hers were the same, the other Twin lightly blushed as well, "Hai." Glancing at Ume, Sakura's smile became one that shone with happiness, "Yesterday was wonderful, was it not?"

Lips curling a little, Ume giggled, "It was at that! Every bit of it..." Chewing her lip, she looked around before turning an expression full of glee towards her sister as she giggled again, "We were so improper yesterday with Harry-Chan!"

Rapidly nodding, similar giggles escaped from Sakura, "Hai! We were not just holding his hands, but also holding his arms against us! Not to mention the kisses we had, like on the cheek! And in public too!"

Eyes twinkling, her sister nodded, "Oh yes! Then there were the ones on the lips as well! Where everyone around us could see!" She kicked her legs a little as she held her hands in front of her mouth as she gave a squeak of happiness, "Our parents and the Elders would have had a fit to see us acting like such!"

The two of them quietened at that reminder with serious expressions for several moments. That was, until they looked at each other. At that point, they collapsed to giggles.

When the two of them calmed down, Ume glanced at the door to their room and they listened. Not hearing anything, she turned to her sister and blushed before dropping her voice to a whisper, "And then there was the bath that we had together with Harry-Chan last night as well."

Just blushing herself, Sakura nodded though her eyes had a gleam of joy, "Hai, though that was enjoyable as well."

Finger making circles on the floor beside her, the other girl hummed but nodded. After a moment though, Ume spoke up, "Very enjoyable as a matter of fact. Harry-Chan was so very gentle as he washed our backs and hair... but that felt so nice. His rough hands against our skin as he brushed the cloth along our backs."

Blush on her face, Sakura made a sound of agreement, "It was also enjoyable to wash his hair and back. He seemed to really enjoy it when we did so as well."

Quirking her lips some, her Twin nodded, "Hai, he did. It was nice to see him relax under our touch. Though..." Blush deepening, she glanced at her sister, "Sitting in the bath cuddled up to him was even more nice, I personally think."

Cheeks stained a dark red, Sakura nodded alongside her sister, "It was very nice and enjoyable." She then wagged a finger at her twin sister, "Though that is as far as we will push things for now. Neither Harry-Chan nor us are ready for anything more and we need time to work so that he will be willing to accept such in time. But for now..."

Ume gave a small nod with a smile, "For now it is enough." A pout appeared on her face as she gave a huff, "As much as we might wish otherwise."

Also pouting, Sakura sighed, "Hai, that is true. Puberty truly is an evil thing." That only got her a nod of agreement and a sigh from her sister before she shook it off. A moment later, however, she perked up, "Though, perhaps could do much the same for the rest of his stay? Aki-Kun did give his permission after all."

More than a little thoughtful, her Twin nodded, "He did, and I do not mind such as it would be nice to do so." Lips curling a bit, Ume looked towards her sister, "After all, it gets quite hot in Kyoto in July. Best wash the sweat and any road dust off each day to prevent one from smelling."

Needless to say, both girls blushed at that. It did not help matters that Harry was the first boy outside of their family that they had shared a bath with. That... made it rather special to them. Though during their time they had kept on glancing at him for such reasons as well. And the dreams it gave them...

Shaking off such thoughts, Ume got out of her futon before making her way to her sister's and slipping in. A moment later, the two were cuddled together with happy smiles as she hummed, "This... this is nice as well."

Just nodding as she stroked her twin's hair, Sakura smiled, "Hai, it is." Softly sighing, she laid her head on her sister's as they cuddled before her smile widened, "Though I do know how it could be better."

Curious, her sister pulled back some, "Truly? How could it be better?"

Glancing at the door, Sakura leaned in with a small giggle, "If Harry-Chan was here with us as well, between the two of us as we cuddled with him. It would be far better indeed."

Briefly considering that, Ume nodded with a shy smile on her face, "It would be indeed. But... perhaps a bit too far yet and improper." At the nod, she giggled some, "Though we've been very improper already!"

Just biting her lip, her sister gave a hum, "Hai, very improper indeed!"

After a few moments, Ume looked around before smiling, "Though I know what the next best thing would be." At the curious look, she stretched out her hand towards the table where the three teddy bears that Harry had won for them the night before sat. The "Male" teddy looking like a Samurai in his felt armor while the two beside him were clad in female Kimonos. Motioning with one hand, Ume watched as the three stuffed toys floated off the table towards them before grasping them out of the air. Then, she held them between her and her sister, "There we go."

Happily humming as she held the teddy bears close and between her and her sister, Sakura smiled, "Ah! Much better..." A small giggle escaped her as she looked at her sister, "But not as good as if it was Harry-Chan."

Only nodding, her twin made a sound of agreement, "Oh yes, not as good as that, though I think that few things would be." Softly sighing, Ume stroked the heads of the teddies, "Yesterday, though, was everything that we could have hoped for, Sakura-Nee. And we still have two days left to spend with Harry-Chan..." Finger pressed against her lip, she looked towards the small chest where their instruments were, "Have you thought..."

Sakura finished for her, "About practicing in order to get out skills up to play for Harry-Chan? Hai, I have... and I know how." At the curious look, she smiled, "Remember the time room?"

It took a few moments, but Ume's eyes widened as she remembered, "I do... it was a building designed to act like a time turner of sorts. You could get a group of people inside and turn back time for them for several hours. It was how they were getting so many working shifts." Furrowing her eyebrows, she frowned slightly, "But would that work for us even? What with..." She gestured at the both of them, "That?"

Thoughtful, her sister shook her head and gave a small shrug, "I cannot see why not. We have them within us after all... though we could use the time turner as well as have. We could be inside our base, use it, and practice until all the rust has fallen off if we only wished to. It would all be mental at least."

Chewing her lip in thought, Ume frowned, "Still... it may be a bit risky." She then looked at her sister, "Though it should be noted that we can invite Harry-Chan back here whenever we want for such an experience as well."

For a few seconds, Sakura considered that before giving a small nod, "Hai, that is true enough." Squeezing the teddy bears to her, she shyly smiled, "And maybe walk around holding his hand some more before we play for him."

Lightly blushing, her sister nodded, "Hai, that would be nice..." A moment later, she hummed, "Though we need to plan out today as well."

Slowly, Sakura also hummed in thought, "Hai, though mostly we shall be walking along with Harry-Chan and holding his hands." Feeling her cheeks heat up, she giggled, "And in public! So very improper!"

Once more, the two burst into giggles before Ume leaned towards her sister, "Especially if we lean into him with our heads on his shoulders! Very improper to do in public!"

More giggles escaped from them before her twin gave her a look, "Though... it has become easier over the past year." Chewing her lip, she continued, "He has, after all, become taller by a few inches."

Lips curling, Ume had a small, wicked grin on her face, "Which makes it easier for us to place our heads on his shoulders."

Cheeks red, Sakura nodded with a similar grin on her face, "Hai, it does at that. And Harry-Chan still has a year or two from what I read to keep growing. Which means that he will be tall enough to hold us both close to him, and we won't need to bend over to place our heads on his shoulders. And then..."

Both girls looked at each other and burst into giggles though they did enjoy the image that was in their heads, a lot.

After they calmed down, however, they began to discuss how they should go about their day. Meanwhile, in his room, Harry was also awake and thinking about the day before as it stared up at the ceiling in deep thought with his eyebrows furrowed. Nothing passed by his lips as he simply went over what had happened. Mainly because he was still confused himself.

Now, he would not deny that he had enjoyed the day before, because he really had. And a lot at that as he found being with Ume and Sakura to be fun. Both of them knew a lot about the history of Kyoto and were able to point out various sights with him looking forward to more over the next two days. That said, however? There was more to it than just that.

Practically the whole time, the girls held his hand whenever possible and also held his arms close. More than once they laid their heads either on his shoulders or against his head as that was a bit easier for them due to the fact that he was still shorter than either of them since they were nearly sixteen to his nearly fourteen though he was slowly catching up to that. Every time he thought of that, however, he imagined an older version of himself holding the two close with their heads pillowed on his shoulders or upper arms... sometimes against his chest as well. An image that never failed to make him feel warm.

It did not help matters that through out the day before, his attention was drawn to other things as well. Such as how soft and warm both girls felt when against him. Or how the scents of their floral shampoo (which he had made for them himself with the blossoms that they were named for being used for said shampoo). Then there was the soft feel of their lips against his cheek, or against his own lips as well from time to time which even now made him blush a bit.

Then there was also the night before when they took a bath together. No matter how much he tried, his mind always, always drifted back to that. Their silky skin under his hands as he washed their backs, or the smoothness of their hair as he shampooed them. Or the feel as they washed his own back, nails lightly scratching his scalp as they worked shampoo into his hair. Even the feel of them next to him in the bath as well, though he remember his stunned realization that both girls could compare with Hamakaze or Ushio without their Kimonos and Yukata making them look slimmer.

His thoughts made him shift a little each time he went over the memories. Not in discomfort, but in something... else that was only partially embarrassment. It brought a warmth to his heart and made him happy as well. The memory of their small, happy smiles that they gave him still made him smile even now. But...

But...

Unfortunately, each time he had felt some shame as well at his thoughts. It felt like he shouldn't be having them about the two girls. That it was wrong to feel like he did, to enjoy it. As if he was taking advantage of them, even though he was starting to realize in their case, and with the other girls, that there was no truth behind such a feeling. That he was not taking advantage of them, that they wanted him to feel good.

And was that not a surprise when he came to that realization? Harry was many things, but an idiot was not one of them, though he was somewhat confused about why it took him so long to realize that was what they wanted, for him to enjoy the closeness. That the fact that he enjoyed having them pressed close, showing him affection was something that they enjoyed as well.

That was something of a shock to realize.

Going over everything, Harry could only now stare a little at the realization. Not just for Ume and Sakura, but with a number of the other girls as well. Each and every one of them enjoyed him giving them affection, which he did not mind, but also enjoyed returning it and seeing him enjoy it in return.

Upon realizing that fact, he had just stared at the ceiling for several minutes in abject shock, even as a small voice in the back of his mind argued otherwise. That no, they didn't enjoy it as they were just being nice and polite to him. That no one would ever want to return it and enjoy it as much as he had in giving it. Yes, there was Hoppou and Nagato, as well as Shiromizu. But, well... he had an easier time accepting that idea from the three of them. After all, weren't Mums and sisters supposed to enjoy getting and returning affection? Same with Wanko and the Fleet of Laughter, they were family so it was perfectly normal though he had still had issues accepting that. But others outside that very small group feeling the same?

It... shocked him.

Yet, Harry found that he was unable to deny that. The more he looked at what had happened in the past with his interactions with the girls with that realization in mind, the more he could see it being true. It was there, plain as day, that they enjoyed giving him affection in return for his own. Something that made him feel warm inside even more. And something that he found himself wanting more of, even now.

However, that thought brought back the shame once more, somewhat stronger than before. Why? Why should he deserve it? And how dare he want to have more of it? Wasn't it enough that they were going out of their way to do so already? How could he possibly ask for more? He should be ashamed of himself for thinking, for wanting more than he already had. It was wrong.

But... but something told him that feeling such was wrong. A small voice in the back of his mind, but one that had gotten slightly stronger over time. It had started as a small whisper, barely audiable years before. And now it was stronger, a soft voice just above a whisper.

No, it said, it was not wrong of him to want more. That he should not be ashamed of wanting more, to be given more. It was both normal and right for him to feel that way. And that he did, in fact, deserve it.

The other voice, the one that told him it was wrong, always argued with it, telling him that it was wrong for him to feel that way. That it made him abnormal to feel like that. It was unnatural for one like him to even get it. Because it was... freakish.

Around and around the two voices went in his head during the times of quiet, like now. Yet, Harry noticed that the one that was telling him it was okay to feel that way was slowly, ever so slowly, becoming stronger. And the one that told him that it was wrong, unnatural and freakish, was also slowly, every so slowly, becoming weaker.

One thing that he had noticed, as well, was how the voices sounded. The one that told him it was okay to accept that he could be cared and loved, that affection could be freely given to him and that he both deserved it and that it was okay to want more? That voice often sounded like the various girls in his life. At the start, it had sounded like Nagato, his mother with her stern yet caring tone. Or Hoppou other times, with her gentle, but childish voice. Over time, others had joined it as well. Sometimes it sounded like Natsumi, sometimes like Hachi, or Iku. Shinano, Regina, Imuya, RO, Shioi, Taigei and Ryuuhou, Niiyodo, Ume and Sakura, and the others it also sounded like at times.

Every once in a while, the voice also sounded like someone else. A soft, warm, caring tone that carried nothing but love for him. Other times a deeper, rougher, but no less loving one as well. Voices that had drifted up to him from deep within the depths of his mind, from mostly forgotten memories, nearly lost.

His biological parents, Lily and James Potter.

Meanwhile, the other voice, the one that told him it was wrong, unnatural, that he was a freak to even think such and should be ashamed of it? Said voice often had the low growl of Vernon, the shrill tones of Petunia, the petulent and whiny voice of Dudley, as well as the sneering voice of Marge. Not to mention the voices of some of his neighbours and such as well, all of whom turned a blind eye to things.

With his recent realization, however, that the various girls truly did want to give him affection, that they were not just being nice, that bad voice seemed to have been struck some sort of blow, and the other one seemed to be given strength as it told him it was okay to feel the way he did. That there was nothing wrong with it, because the girls wanted him to enjoy it, to enjoy being with them. And with the voice telling him such, memories of various dreams came up. Of him and Natsumi, him and Hachi, him and Iku, him along with Ume and Sakura not to mention the others... of them being together. Dreams of him holding them close, kissing and... other things as well. Of watching messy haired children combining their features together.

It... was his most secret dream. To have a loving family one day, to be a father. Being a parent who could give his children all that he had not had. For laughing daughters and sons, as well as a wife or more, under the Sun giving him smiles. To see them holding out their hands towards him with happy, loving looks. Hands for him to reach out and grasp.

The other voice told him in the shrill tones of his aunt and others that it was wrong, that it would never, ever happen. And that he should be ashamed of himself, that he should hate himself, for having such dreams involving his friends. Because it was wrong to do such...

But now, the other voice, the gentle and loving one that carried those of whom he was close to, argued otherwise. And had done so for years now as a matter of fact. His realization just that morning had made it all the stronger as well. Because if it was wrong... if he was wrong... freakish...

If that was true, then why did his friends feel the same?

Oddly, the other voice didn't have an answer, just... bluster. Telling him he was mistaken, that it was impossible. Yet, as he looked at his memories and using just a touch of logic, Harry... could see that it was wrong. That he was not mistaken in this case, though it confused him just the same and he didn't quite know how to react.

Finally, however, Harry got out of his futon and to his feet before getting ready. As he was passing the door to the room of the Twins, he paused as it opened to reveal Ume and Sakura there. Both girls looked at him for a few moments and he at them. He noted that their Yukata was slightly loose from sleep. But that was soon dismissed as the both of them smiled at him before giving him a hug followed by a soft kiss on the lips as well as a good morning. One that he returned fully as he felt their warm, soft bodies against his.

As they walked towards the dining room, he had a brief image in his head. One that made him have an odd, happy smile. Both Twins noted said smile, but said nothing at all as he escorted them to breakfast. Instead, they entwined their fingers with his and held his arm close to them like they had in the day before. Meanwhile, Harry briefly considered the image he had before turning his attention to Ume and Sakura.

The image of a small bit of green breaking through the soil from a seed after a gentle rain...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

The warm, early summer morning Sun shone down on Kyoto as another day of Gion Matsuri happened. For those up and about, it was warm, but not yet with the heat of July that would come later. Besides the odd, fluffy cloud it was another nice, sunny day.

Down on the streets below, Harry walked with Ume and Sakura at his sides once more. Like the day before, each girl had each taken an arm and were holding it close to themselves. So, too, were they holding that hand in theirs with fingers entwined with Harry's. Not that said teenage boy was going to argue against it as all of it felt nice.

Briefly, he looked over their forms and noted that they had on the same Yukata as the day before. In their cases, said Yukata had the images of branches on them that were covered in ume blossoms or in sakura blossoms. The branches were also mirrored so that they came from opposite sides depending on the girl in question. A light blush came to his face as he noted that said Twins had caught him examining them, "Um... sorry..."

Giggles escaped from them, but they simply gave his hand a squeeze with smiles on their faces, "You have nothing to be sorry about, Harry-Chan." Light blushed sprung up on their faces as they hummed, Harry's own blush deepening at their next words, "As long as you do not mind us doing the same."

Chuckling a little in embarrassment, Harry gave them a slight smile, "Um, not sure why you would, but... okay?"

For a moment, he thought that he said something wrong as both girls gave him a raised eyebrow. That was followed, however, by them making a show of examining him with smiles on their faces as Sakura spoke, "Trust us, Harry-Chan..."

Ume then took over from her sister, "We do not mind at all."

If anything, that caused Harry's cheeks to burn more, but he nodded just the same. Giving them another glance, he tilted his head a little as he decided to change the subject, "Um, right, I noted that my Yukata was clean and fresh this morning, I take it that the same is true for yours?"

Only nodding, Sakura smiled a little, "Hai, that is right, Harry-Chan. Aki-Kun used his Shikigami last night to wash and freshen them up. That way, we would have clean Yukata for the festival today."

Slight frown on his face, the nearly fourteen year old boy hummed, "That makes sense."

Leaning towards him, Ume cupped one hand beside her mouth, "Aki-Kun also placed temporary charms on yours to keep it from getting too damp with sweat and to prevent stains from such."

His lips curling a bit, Harry gave a slight nod as he chuckled, "I'll have to thank him then." Tilting his head, he realized something, "I take it that there's similar for you as well? But permanent?"

Quickly nodding, the Twins smiled, "That's right. It is a bit more expensive, but keeps them nice for longer."

Making a sound of agreement, Harry shook his head a bit. His attention was grabbed, however, as Ume pointed at a stand, "Ah! Look, cotton candy!"

With a glance at their expressions, Harry began walking towards it with them, "Well, let's get some." Upon teaching the stand, he looked at the ones on display, "Hmm... which ones do you want?"

None of the three noted that an older teen did a double take at seeing them, in particular the Twins when his face flushed slightly. Though he did give a slight glare towards Harry. Meanwhile, the Twins made their decisions and soon after, they got the large cotton candy as Harry paid for their treat. Somewhat to the teen's annoyance, he watched as they each took one of Harry's hands and walked away, but not before kissing said wizard on the cheek which made the teenager glare and grumble.

Moments later, he winced as his uncle whacked him upside the head with a glare of his own before they went back to work.

With Harry and the others, meanwhile, the Twins happily munched on their sweet treat which made Harry chuckle a little, "I don't think that I need to ask if the two of you are enjoying it."

Licking her lips a bit, Ume shook her head with a smile of her own, "No, you do not, Harry-Chan." Her gaze going back to the cotton candy, her expression became somewhat saddened, "You do not."

Concerned a little, the teenage wizard frowned, "Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? What's wrong?"

Both girls jerked a bit out of their thoughts before sharing a look. With a soft sigh, Sakura shook her head before answering, "It's nothing, really, Harry-Chan. Just..." Pausing for a moment, she continued, "This is the first time that Ume-Chan and myself have really been able to enjoy the festival and this is an example."

That made Harry blink and frown before he furrowed his eyebrows, "It is?" At their nods, his frown deepened, "But I thought that you had gone to the festival before?"

Once more, the Twins glanced at each other before they sighed and Ume spoke up for the both of them, "Hai, we have, Harry-Chan. It is hard not to have gone to Gion Matsuri as we lived in here in Kyoto. But..."

Her sister then took over, "But growing up, we were always escorted around by either our Otou-San, or another male relative. Never would we have gotten the chance to do as we are right now and simply walk around to enjoy it at our own pace alone."

Eyebrow raised, Harry blinked, "But you're not alone, Sakura-Chan, because you're with me."

Smiles slightly saddened, they nodded, "That is true, but..." They made a mirrored motion with their cotton candy, which made Harry realize that they meant with a male outside of their family, "Still, it was at their pace and we only visited certain places that had people that they knew. We never got the chance to play at the games. Or to really enjoy the treats."

Raising the cotton candy she held, Sakura shook her head and gave a small snort, "Nor would we have gotten the chance to try such a treat. For it came from the Western world and therefore was not something that we should have. Our... parents and Elders at the time would be furious with us at the moment if they were here."

Not saying anything, Harry thought over what he had just been told. He felt a surge of anger about what he had been told, but then took a deep breath before releasing it. Kissing each of them on the cheek, and getting a blush, he smiled as he squeezed their hands, "Then we'll just have to make up for it, won't we?"

Returning the kisses, the Twins nodded as they softly smiled, squeezing his hands in return, "We already are." In their eyes, Harry could see that they were being completely truthful. Of course, a moment later, they held their treats out, "Here, have some, Harry-Chan."

Lips twitching slightly, Harry leaned forward and took a bite of Ume's before taking a bite from Sakura's. Once he swallowed, he gave a slight chuckle, "It's good, nice and sweet as it should be..." Not really thinking, the wizard continued, "Sort of like you."

Both girls blushed at that but still smiled just the same before kissing him on the lips for a second or two, "Thank you, Harry-Chan." At his bashful nod, they giggled before taking another bite of their treat, though they had a slight blush on their cheeks at the same when they realized that they had bitten down where Harry had, 'Indirect kisses...'

Soon afterwards, Harry hired another gissha to take them through the town. Holding his hands still, Sakura and Ume enjoyed leaning against him as the cart flew through the air towards its destination. It did not take long for them to reach it, much to their slight disappointment, but they got off and thanked the driver before continuing their walk as he drove off.

As he looked around, Harry raised an eyebrow in interest at what his eyes fell on, "Fushimi-Inari Shrine?"

With slight nods, the Twins smiled before Ume spoke up, "Hai, though we'll be coming back later for an exhibition of Kitsune-Bi Masters." She made a gesture with her free hand, "But we're here to have a look at a famous Kitsune smith who resides in the forests here on Mount Inari."

Head tilted to the side, he considered that before nodding, "Huh... I remember Natsumi-Chan talking about the small Kitsune community that lives here. A number of whom have their own small businesses." At their nods, Harry began to walk alongside them only to slow and stop at something he saw at the gate to the Shrine, "Um..."

Confused at why he stopped, the Twins turned and felt their eyebrows raise. Mainly because there, in full view of everyone, was a female humanoid fox in Miko garb sweeping the stairs. Yet, it was only children and teens who gave her a second glance as all the adults simply nodded. Even an Auror in Kyoto robes walked past with barely a glance besides a slight bow. Slowly blinking, the Twins shared a look with each other before turning to Harry, "Um..."

They all looked around before spotting another Kyoto Auror walking along on the look out for trouble. As he passed them, Sakura reached out and tapped him on the shoulder, "Um, Auror-San?"

Blinking, the man turned to them with a frown, "Hai? Can I help you?"

Once more glancing at the Kitsune Miko, Sakura coughed, "Um, we were wondering about the Miko over there..."

Lost, the Auror turned to look at said humanoid fox with her tail swishing behind her, "The Miko? What about her?"

With a glance towards her, Harry gave an unsure grin, "Well, I saw someone who looked just like her in an old photograph at Ume-Chan's and Sakura-Chan's home. And, well... Fushimi-Inari Shrine is famous for Kitsune..."

Expression relaxing, the Auror chuckled, "And you were wondering if she was a Kitsune?" At his unsure nod, the Auror looked at the Miko and hummed for a moment before giving a shrug, "Maybe? A few are Miko there... anyways, I wouldn't worry about it too much in any case, just be respectful."

Nodding one last time, he wandered off as the three teens stared at him, and then at the Miko. A frown on his face, Harry let go of Sakura's hand to reach into the kinchaku at his side to pull out his phone. Taking a quick picture, Harry pulled up the photo and stared at it alongside the two girls.

Mainly because, there on the photo was a perfectly human looking Miko.

For several moments, they just stared at it and then at the Miko before looking back at the picture. Scratching his head, Harry frowned, "Uh... what the Bloody Hell?"

Also scratching her head, Ume frowned, "Maybe only those of a certain age could see their true forms? No adults seem to be reacting unlike children..."

Hearing a sound, they looked up in time to see another humanoid fox, also in Miko garb running up, "Nee-San! I'm baaack-"

Said Kitsune tripped and was going to go flying across the pavement thus shut her eyes ready for the impact...

One which never came as two strong arms grabbed her just in the nick of time, "Whoa there! Careful!" Eyes opening, the Kitsune lightly blushed at the sight of a green eyed foreigner there, "You okay?"

Fringe of hair falling over her face, the Kitsune bowed to him once she got to his feet, "H-hai! I am really sorry about that!" Straightening, she glanced at the Twins and blinked before her eyes widened. But a moment later, she calmed herself down, "Th-thank you, my name is Osaki and I work here as, uh... a Miko. Yeah, a Miko!"

Eyebrow raising, Harry nodded and bowed back to her, "You are very welcome, Osaki-San. I'm just glad that you are alright."

Ume's lips twitched a bit as she watched the apparently young Kitsune look up at Harry. That blush on her face as well as how her hair fell over her face some? Well, Ume could not help but want to coo, 'So cute...'

Her thoughts trailed off however as the other humanoid fox was suddenly surprised by two friends and turned into one of the well known fox statues of the Shrine for a few seconds before turning back. Eyes wide, she shared a look with her sister with the same thought going through their minds, 'Wait, is that...?'

Meanwhile, Osaki was smiling at Harry and gave him a bow, "Still, thank you. May Inari Okami bless you."

Just nodding, Harry bowed back as the Kitsune walked off to meet her sister and what looked like two normal teenage friends. Taking Ume's and Sakura's hands in his once more, he began to walk off though he wondered what was with their odd expressions. And once told, he had a thoughtful look on his face, "Huh..." Then he remembered something, "Wait... I wonder if they're the ones that Shiromizu told me about?"

Interested, the Twins turned to him, "That Shiromizu-Sama told you about, Harry-Chan?"

With a slow nod, Harry glanced back at the humanoid foxes, "Hai, it was something that she heard about at Kannazuki. Apparently Inari-Sama has a group of servants who keep forgetting to bring back souvenirs for her."

For several moments, the Twins blinked at that before shaking their heads. They still had smiles on their faces, however, at how amusing such an idea was.

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

CFB Comox, Vancouver Island, BC
Morning

Four CF-220A Raptors roared as their engines, PW5000 turbofans built by Pratt & Whitney Canada, went to full military power. The air superiority fighters, purchased in the late 2000s, rocketed down the runway, before rotating and taking off on a routine air patrol.

Near the eastern coast of Vancouver Island was Canada's westernmost airbase. Built during World War II as RCAF Station Comox out of concern over a Japanese attack on Canada's west coast, what was now known as Canadian Forces Base Comox had long been home to maritime patrol, anti-submarine, and search and rescue aircraft, along with interceptor aircraft up to 1980, all of which were tasked with safeguarding this part of Canada. With the Abyssal War and expansion of the Canadian military, this military facility was revitalized.

Following Blood Week in 2005, CFB Comox was expanded to accommodate more aircraft, including fighter jets from the RCAF and the newly reformed Canadian Fleet Air Arm, which established squadrons of CF-182 Sea Harrier IIs at CFB Comox and CFB Shearwater for the STOVL carriers. Comox would also become host to airborne radar aircraft, starting with American E-2 Hawkeyes and E-3 Sentry aircraft, forward-deployed to both provide extra radar coverage and to symbolize continued Canadian-American cooperation. Then, the RCAF began basing their own airborne aircraft, first using loaned E-2Cs before they acquired their own aircraft. Bombardier developed the CE-171A Globaleye, an AEW variant of their Global Express 5000 business jet equipped with the Swedish Erieye radar system developed by Ericsson Electronics. They were quickly supplemented by shorter ranged CE-138 Guardian 400s from Viking Air, derived from the legendary DeHavilland Canada DHC-3 Twin Otter. There were long term plans for an AEW design based on the CSeries under development from Bombardier. The Royal Canadian Navy was operating E-2C Hawkeyes aboard HMCS Shannon for now, though plans were to replace them with a derivative of the DHC-5 Buffalo as the AEW bird aboard Canada's aircraft carriers,

Today, a USAF C-17 Globemaster III arrived after flying from Yokosuka via Oahu. The plane had flown out to Japan to deliver equipment and supplies to the US forces in Hawaii, and the American units stationed in Japan and Korea. However, the Globemaster III was making an extra stop in Comox before returning home in the States, to offload a quartet of passengers. If the Canadian forces personnel welcoming the arrivals were surprised by their appearance, they hid it well as the senior officer greeted four Abyssals, representatives from the Fleet of Laughter.

After receiving an invitation from Ottawa, the Fleet of Laughter held a debate over who to send to witness their sisters, the Wardens, acceptance into the Canadian military. This had been complicated by the plans to send a delegation to Porta, but in the end, it was decided that Sonata would go. She would be accompanied by Yolanda as well as the two Na-class destroyers who had found the Wardens and the Canadians on New Hope Island would go to Canada to be there for Tandy and the others. To avoid issues with their normal bodies, the two destroyers remained in their avatar form during the flight.

Thanks to the vanishing cabinets provided by Harry, the four selected were quickly escorted from Avrora to Yokosuka to board the USAF aircraft flying back to North America; the plane was only carrying letters and some personnel returning home or going on leave, and thus had room for the Fleet of Laughter's "delegation." The four abyssals largely kept to themselves on the flight, playing with a deck of cards. The other passengers were surprised and a little apprehensive, but mostly ignored them or tried to rest on the long flight.

On the tarmac of Comox, Sonata and her escorts were soon escorted to a vacant hangar, where they were met by Nelly and Toria. The Ne-class heavy cruiser gave them all hugs, before leading them to the mess hall for their first breakfasts in Canada.

******

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Little Dipper was sitting with her boyfriend as his family had breakfast. The destroyer still could imagine how things had changed since they were discovered and returned to civilization. Her boyfriend making use of the accumulated paid leave from his very, extended deployment, and so the two went to stay at the family home for two weeks.

To her surprise, Little Dipper was treated like family, and his two older sisters took her along for some shopping during the past few days. While a little bit awkward at first, his parents quickly warmed up to the destroyer, and help her get used to life in a proper home. She learned more about her boyfriend's life before that fateful voyage and learned the basics of playing hockey.

About the only hiccup that happened was when she had to clean her normal body. Out on the driveway, she brought out her normal body and reentered it, leading to some neighbours staring as her boyfriend and his father washed her like a car if a car looked like a strange mix of a whale and a dog. She giggled as she was scrubbed all over, leaving her body squeaky clean. A Calgary Police Service constable did come in to control the onlookers, but aside from news reporters, its was little more than a curiosity.

Little Dipper was a little nervous as she was about to enter training along with the other Wardens. Their lead instructor was going to be Rainbow, one of the first ships to serve what became the Royal Canadian Navy. Being obsolete for frontline duties even in her previous life, she and Niobe spent much of their time since their summonings training recruits and shipgirls alike. Both earned a reputation as taskmasters, though ones who would give their students all the support they needed while training.

While Little Dipper downed another gulp of orange juice, she wondered how the others were doing.

*******

Bruce Ferguson was staring numbly at the sight in front of him. Nathan and Tasha had apparently been playing in the local playground when a bunch of mean, older children began to pick on Nathan for his glowing eye. He wasn't sure what actually happened, but all he knew was Tasha became very protective of her little (and only) brother. She adamantly stated she did not hit the bullies, but whatever she did, left them bawling, covered in mud and dirt, and perhaps needing to change their clothes. Tandy was looking at her daughter with gleeful pride and Bruce could only shake his head as his mom promised to get his kids some ice cream while his dad muttered about enrolling Tasha into minor hockey.

May God have mercy on our souls once she enters elementary school.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Geta clacking on flagstone, Harry glanced around as Ume and Sakura lead him along the path. When they first arrived at Mount Inari, he had thought that they would be taking the trail to the summit. He was only partially right.

They had split off from the main path partway up, though they had visited the Shrines on the way. Said path had been somewhat hidden and lead off to the side. After a few minutes or two, they came to the end of the path and Harry blinked a little as in front of them was a Torii up against a cliff face. It only took him a few seconds to realize what was going on and he looked at each of the Twins, "It's a sort of portal, isn't it? So that anyone who doesn't know about this place and comes across it, they would think it to be a dead end."

Smile on her face, Sakura gave a nod, "Hai, that's right, Harry-Chan."

Lightly smiling himself, Harry gave a chuckle as they walked towards the Torii, "Well... let's see what there is here then."

Reaching the Torii, they hesitated only briefly before stepping through. Around them, the rock seemed to ripple as it swallowed them up and then they were gone. For Harry and the Twins, they found themselves before a somewhat bustling street. One that would not have looked out of place elsewhere in Kyoto with stalls lining the street and Machiya houses on either side. There was only one major difference...

There were Kitsune everywhere that the three glanced.

No matter where Harry looked, there were Kitsune there. From ones that only had the one tail right up to Kyuubi. Some Kitsune were hawking their wares from their stalls or storefronts, others were enjoying games or eating as well as looking at what was being sold. But, for the most part, they were all Kitsune.

Blinking, Harry glanced at the Inari statues before tilting her head, "Huh..." Looking at the Twins, he frowned a bit, "So, um... what is this place?"

Softly giggling, Ume shook her head as they began walking, "Well, most people here in Kyoto call this place 'Inari Town' due to not just being on Mount Inari, but because a few hundred Kitsune and their families live here. Most of them also work here in the workshops and stores as well."

Interested, the teenage wizard tilted his head, "Workshops and stores?"

This time, it was Sakura who took over, "Hai, that's right." With her free hand, she gestured around them, "Inari Okami is the Kami of Merchants as well as blacksmiths, sake makers, and the like. The Kitsune here see their work as honouring Inari Okami. And they have been here doing such for a very long time."

With a slight nod, Ume took over, "Many of the Kitsune here are masters at their chosen craft, having perfected it over centuries." She gestured towards one storefront which showed porcelain on display, "That store is owned by a Eight Tailed Kitsune named Tao." Turning to Harry, the former Hitobashira smiled, "He traveled to China in his youth during the time of the Ming and went from town to town to learn how to create porcelain. For the next century he travelled and learned, even from workshops that made things for the Imperial Court! After which, he returned here to Japan and set up shop with his wife, a Huli Jing."

Nodding, her sister hummed a bit, "While he creates blue and white porcelain in the Ming Style, as well as painted as done by his wife, he is most well known for his orange and red porcelain. The colours of a fox." Head tilted to the side, she considered the workshop, "Him and his wife are true masters of the craft for all that they work out of a small kiln."

Ume made a motion, "They are but one of those who work and live here..."

As they walked, the Twins pointed out other shops as well. Wood carvers who had long since mastered their skills back before the Sengoku Jidai. A painter who had crafted a wall screen for Oda Nobunaga himself. Off to one side, a Kimono and Yukata maker who had made clothes for Tamamo no Mae when she had been disguised though they had never met in person. Said Kitsune's son was currently married to a Jorogumo who was learning at the hand of her mother-in-law.

There were others as well. One example was a small cafe and bakery that Harry spotted which looked right out of a history book from France with how it seemed to be set up. Looking inside, he could see a number of pastries as well as breads that were on display. The smell alone made his mouth water. Though he did do a double take at seeing the framed certificates and such along the wall.

In particular, one that had a blue ribbon which he boggled at.

For a few moments, he blinked before looking at the menu he could see and raising an eyebrow, "Huh... the prices are not too bad."

Glancing at them as well, the Twins nodded, "Hai, it would be hard for most to afford them if they were. Though the main baker here went to France shortly after the opening of Japan to learn how to make Western pastries." Frowning in thought, they hummed, "They came back shortly before we were born actually. Their pastries are famous for how good they are, same with the breads."

All Harry did to that was nod in thought before another scent caught his attention. Looking around, he found the source in a nearby restaurant and, in particular, the stand in front of it which had a long line of Kitsune, "Tofu?"

Unable to help themselves, Sakura and Ume giggled at his reaction. Lips twitching alongside those of her twin, Ume nodded, "Hai, it is a restaurant that specializes in tofu dishes. They have been selling such since the 1400s and the main chef is an expert. As for the stand..." She giggled again, "It mostly sells fried tofu and Inarizushi among other things. They are quite delicious, though we can visit once we're done."

His own lips twitching, Harry shook his head, 'Fried tofu, huh? I suppose that since this is a Kitsune community...' They continued to walk, though they paused in front of one store where a Kitsune was blowing glass. Two others were there as well using Kitsune-bi to heat up the glass as needed. Watching for a few moments, Harry tilted his head in thought, "Huh... now that's neat."

With impressed expressions, the Twins nodded before examining a sign that was there, "It says here that the Kitsune who work here are all brothers and that they learned how to blow glass in some place called... Glasriket?" Eyebrows furrowed, they turned towards Harry, "Does that sound familiar, Harry-Chan?"

Just thinking for a few moments, Harry gave a nod, "I think it might be a place in Sweden? I know that Eugen mentioned it a few times as a place to go for beautiful glasswork." As they continued on, he glanced back at the workshop, "Pretty neat to see that though."

Sakura gave a small nod, "Hai, but it is something of tradition here." At the interested look, she smiled and gave his hand a squeeze, "During the festivals, especially ones to Inari, the various craftsmen and such here open their workshops to the public to show how they work. They see it as a way to honour Inari Okami." The former Hitobashira gave a small shrug, "It also attracts new apprentices as well through interest, though they hold workshops here as well to teach young Kitsune and others the very basics of the craft."

Eyebrow raised, Harry gave a slight nod with a look of respect on his face, "That's honestly pretty awesome." Looking around again, he turned back to the Twins, "By the way... how old is this place? From what I am hearing it has to be a pretty old community."

Neither Twin said anything right away, just thinking over what they knew. Finally, however, Ume spoke up, "Well, it is said that at least two Tenko were born and raised here."

That bit of information made both eyebrows Harry had shoot up to meet his hairline, "Two Tenko? That would mean that that this place has to be over a thousand years old, right?"

Lips curling, the Twins nodded, "Hai." They then gestured around them with the hands not holding Harry's, "The original town was settled after the Shrine was first built in the 700s and was originally created to serve the Shrine and the pilgrims, Kitsune especially, that came here. Since then, it has changed some, but more in what was here. It actually predates Kyoto as a town!"

Surprised, Harry stared at them for a few moments before nodding slightly, "Huh... neat." After a minute of thought, he shook it off to consider later. Instead, he turned towards Ume and Sakura with a questioning expression, "Where are we going anyways? You mentioned that there was a place that you wanted to show me?"

In reply, they pointed towards one building where smoke was rising from a chimney. Obviously it contained a forge and even now, one could hear hammer blows, "We thought that perhaps it would be a good idea to visit the forge of Munechika Kokaji for a blade. In particular for Ayase-San."

Surprised, Harry considered it briefly before giving a small nod, "A sword for Ayase-Chan? I can see her loving that and I have been thinking about buying one or having one commissioned for her." Head tilted to the side, he hummed, "She's actually pretty good at swordsmanship after all and works hard at it." A slightly amused look crossed his face and he chuckled, "I don't think that I should ask the price, since very likely it is the sort of thing where if you ask the price, you can't afford it."

Both girls were a bit bemused at that before Sakura spoke up, "Well, so you know the tale of how the sword, Kogitsune-Maru was forged, Harry-Chan?"

A little amused, Harry nodded some, "Hai, I do. Especially as Natsumi-Chan's family has said blade." Ignoring the looks of surprise on the Twins' faces, he hummed, "From memory, Munechika Sanjou forged said blade here on Mount Inari with help from an avatar of Inari-Okami themself. Said blade being considered Munechika's masterwork."

With a slow nod, Ume smiled, "Hai, that is the very basics of the legend. But what the NoMaj side don't mention is that shortly after, Munechika found a young Kitsune that had been orphaned. Taking it into his home, he raised it as his son. As well, he taught the Kit everything he knew about the forging of swords. To honour his Otou-San, the Kitsune took the name Kokaji, which originally had belonged to Munechika himself before he had taken the name Sanjou. The Kitsune became a true Master of the Forge and Munechika named him his Heir before his death. But Kokaji-Sama had listened to his Otou-San, who had told him that one never stops learning. He went on a journey to improve his technique, learning from other smiths. It is said that he learned from such august names as Masamune and Muramasa for example. But he did not stay just in Japan for he also travelled to China to learn secrets from the smiths there as well."

Right then, Sakura took over, "From there, who knows where he travelled? Some say he even reached Europe and learned how to create swords from there as well. One blade of his seemed to have water on it from the whirls on the steel."

It took a moment, but the nearly fourteen year old wizard's eyes widened, 'Wait a second... that sounds like...'

Meanwhile, Sakura continued, "Eventually, he came back to Japan and settled once more here in Kyoto. In particular in Inari Town with a slight of his own." A frown graced her face as she became thoughtful, "He is very picky about who he gives his blades to, however. And they can be quite expensive, but... they are very good ones."

Chuckling some, Harry shook his head, "I can imagine."

When they reached the smithy, he noted that the curtain that covered the door had a crescent moon on it which made him raise an eyebrow. Upon entering, however, he eyes widened at the swords that were on display. Not all of them were purely Japanese as he counted what looked like at least one dirk as well as a western style cutlass as well as a dao. There was even a pair of large, crescent shaped blades attached to revolvers. But most of them were Japanese in form.

However, what truly caught his eye though was not quite the design. Each one of them is as beautiful as they were deadly. Works of art, yes, but no less weapons for that. Not a single one of them was a display piece, each one was a weapon through and through for all that they looked utterly stunning. From the smallest pen knife to a Nodachi. Each one was a piece of art... and as deadly as any real blade.

Examining them closer, Harry could only shake his head, "Amazing..."

Moments later, he jumped as a voice spoke up, "Thank you, it is always good to hear compliments on one's work."

Turning, Harry's eyebrows raised at the sight before him. Said voice had come from a red haired man who had said hair short and slightly spiky with him being a bit taller than the average Japanese man. On top of his head, two fox ears twitched while nine tails weaved through the air behind him. More than that, what made Harry blink was that said man, who was likely the smith they had come to see, was shirtless which revealed a muscular physique to the world, covered in a light sheen of sweat from the heat of the forge.

Unable to help himself, Harry stared for a moment, '... If he ever meets Jersey, she would so try and see whose abs are better... and probably grind cheese like she tried that one time.'

Beside him, the Twins raised an eyebrow each before internally shrugging, 'Harry-Chan will probably look like that as an adult but better.'

Somewhat amused, the smith chuckled a little as he examined the teens with his own golden eyes, "So, how can I help you?"

Quickly shaking off his surprise, Harry coughed before bowing, "I take it that you're the smith, Munechika Kokaji?"

Lips curling into a smile, the smith nodded, "That's right, and you would be Potter Harry-San, owner of Juuchi Yosamu and Tsukiakari no Suzu."

Jerking back a little, Harry nodded, "Um, hai? How did you...?"

Even more amused, Kokaji smirked, "Know? I make it a business to know who has what swords. So... come to have a look at my own blades? Or do you have another purpose?"

With a small nod, the teen nodded some, "Hai, I was wondering if it would be possible to commission a blade from you?"

Not answering, Kokaji hummed a little before giving Harry a searching look, "For yourself? Or..."

Shaking his head, Harry smiled a bit, "Actually for a friend of mine, her name is Ayase and she's a Light Cruiser shipgirl of the Sendai class."

Only rubbing his chin, the smith hummed for a moment, "Shipgirl, huh? Does she even use the blade?"

Bowing, Harry nodded, "Hai, she does know how, but... right now she makes do with practicing. I have been thinking about getting her a sword for some time now, but..." He gave a helpless shrug and the smith knew that he was commenting on the lack of smiths who made actual weapons, "I've been pointed to you as a solution though."

Not saying anything right away, the smith scratched his chin in thought, "I see..." Fixing his golden eyes on Harry, he cocked an eyebrow, "Tell me everything about her."

Blinking rapidly, Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "You want me to tell you about her?"

Simply pulling a pad of paper from nowhere, the Kyuubi nodded a bit, "I do." Looking up at Harry, Kokaji gave him a serious look, "While there is nothing that I can do in regards to whom might use my blades further down the line, I have always attempted to make sure that their first owners and masters are ones who are worthy of them, would treat them right, and, most important, use them for the right reasons. That is my biggest rule and why I sell so few of them."

Only nodding as that did make sense to him, Harry was silent as he thought, 'Ayase-Chan... hmm...'

Unknown to him, Kokaji raised an eyebrow and gave him a very slight smile, 'Very, very good.'

After a short amount of time, the nearly fourteen year old boy nodded, "Ayase-Chan is someone special, who really deserves such a blade. It is not just because she is loyal, because she is, deeply so. Not just because she has honour, far more than most of those who considered them Samurai in my opinion. But there is more to it than just that. Within her, beyond her steel, there is a strength of character. One that she shows if only one would look. A strength greater than even the steel that would have made up her hull if she had only been built..."

For the next half hour, Harry described her in his own words. What she was like in his view, who she was, and whom she could be. Every so often, Kokaji asked him a question which he took a few seconds to think over before answering. The smith didn't do much, however, simply nod and make notes in regards to what he had heard. Only once Harry was done did he speak up with something besides a question as he nodded, "Well, that is quite a bit of information, Potter-San. In regards to forging a sword for her..." He hummed for a minute or two as Harry waited quietly and patiently, something he internally nodded at as far too many would be asking him for an answer after less than half a minute. With a small nod, Kokaji looked at the pad of paper, "I shall have to consider this closely. But I will inform you of my decision on the morrow, likely sometime in the evening."

In reply, Harry simply smiled and bowed, "That is all that one could ask for, and I thank you for even considering it."

Waiting until the teens left, Kokaji looked at the paper in his hands in thought, "Hmm..." Reaching for a tail, he plucked a few hairs from it before releasing said hairs into the air whereupon they formed birds, "Go to Yokosuka Naval Base and observe this Ayase. I wish to get a good grip of her character on my own before I give an answer. Go."

Moments later, the birds took flight and left the workshop, heading towards the distant Naval base as the Kyuubi hummed and considered what he had written.

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Welp. It took me a few days. But for some reason I went ahead and made this: A scene integrating Zombieland Saga unambiguously into the HatSG universe. I tried to make some tweaks here and there to make it all feel more naturally in the setting (such as Kotaro putting in a garden for produce, and changing out the minivan from the series for an all-electric one, plus him being an amateur potions master of potions that don't actually need magic to make). But I also never passed this by Harry to approve of first, so don't expect this to suddenly become canon just because I wrote it or anything.

And don't expect me to do any more snippets. At least, not for a while. ZLS can be easily slipped into this setting without any major plot changes, so I don't see me making any snippets adapting scenes directly like I did below - as you can tell, the only way to make that interesting would be to make tweaks and changes* that really aren't worth the effort.

So what I might do - or anyone else that saw ZLS and is interested in doing so - is do little "behind the scenes" snippets. For example, Kotegiri is looking for Kamo Government scientists, and any rumors of tampering with the Undead will get her attention. But even then, I'm not sure if it's worth it - this was chiefly an exercise in getting the ideas out of my head. Regardless, I hope you enjoy this.

* Changes - other than bits related to the Abyssal War - being, for example, the girls being shown their performance at the Death Metal concert, and Saki getting excited that they were there (one of my favorite bits from Episode 5 was how excited Saki was in participating in local Saga events and features, such as doing a commercial for Drive-in-Tori and the Gatalympics, and how it looked like her and Kotaro were bonding over their mutual love for these things, so I thought it would be fun to expand on that), along with a lot of dialogue changes that are only justified by me not wanting to directly 1:1 repeat that scene in the episode. I have read far to many fan fics that are just that.
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Zombie Magic Saga


Saga Prefecture, October 2014

Kotaro Tatsumi sighed, taking in the crisp mourning air, tending to the Victory Garden in the property's old playground. It was funny. Had the war never happened, he'd have never once thought about growing his own produce for the Zombie Land: Saga project. But in retrospect, it should have been obvious. Until Death Musu- No, that was only a placeholder to not get laughed out of the building for RIP-Fes… Drop Dead Beauties…? Green Face then… Still terrible, but good until something sufficiently Idol-worthy presented itself. Anyway, until the girls were able to become economically self-sufficient and/or find a sponsor, money would be tight as a corpse's skin. Same with the van. Sure, a traditionally powered van was a Hell of a lot cheaper compared to the electric commercial van he bought. But with gas prices being what they were with the war going on, and routine maintenance on top of that, and the Project would faceplant before the girls made their third performance. So it made sense to get the more expensive – but cheaper to maintain – all-electric minivan. Like the little plot of bean sprouts, tomatoes, and pumpkins, it was a little extra upfront cost for long-term savings.

All to save Saga – even before Blood Week, the prefecture was on the decline. With the aging population and mass migration of the youth to the more important urban centers such as Tokyo and closer Osaka, Saga Prefecture would without a doubt someday be subsumed into the surrounding prefectures should the government decide to reshuffle the boundaries again. And with Blood Week destroying the port, shelling huge swaths of the developed areas, and leaving a sense of unease about future attacks, it was no surprise to see a mass migration in the decade since.

But things had changed.

Saga Port had been rebuilt, bigger and more capable than ever before, and was one of the modestly important launching points for the Asiatic Convoys to and from Korea, China, and Russia. The destroyed buildings and residencies had been rebuilt. And yet they all sat empty. People were still too afraid to move in. But that would change with the ZLS Project…

To say nothing about Sakura.

The Necromancer Producer paused in his musings.

Sakura had awakened. Fortunately, she didn't recognize him. He was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to maintain his façade if she did. Although… She didn't remember anything else from when she was alive either. Or rather, nothing identifying, such as her family, or friends. Just things she would have been expected to know as a teenager in Pre-Blood Week Japan.

Kotaro clenched his jaw at the unbidden sense of hurt at that. But then again… If Sakura were to remember her past, and all the cruel twists of fate that taunted her with achievement, only to take it away at the last second, as if she were some sort of Cosmic Plaything… Then the knowledge that the very day she was to mail in her audition paperwork was the day she died in nothing more significant than an every day vehicular manslaughter, it just might take away the spark that had motivated her towards the end. Return her to the listless living zombie waiting to die she had been before discovering Iron Frill.

Tatsumi was stirred from his road to depression by the sound of a scream.

'Is Tae biting Sakura again?'

Then there were more screams.

Different screams.

"Good morning everybody!"

"…Oh. They're awake. Looks like it's show time then."

Kotaro stopped by his office on his way to the dungeon meeting room – and judging by the sounds of people moving around from upstairs into the basement, Sakura was at least observant enough to think to guide the girls down there, or else was willing to let Romero lead the way – and poured out a small cocktail from the portable potion's lab he had set up. He would always be grateful to the Master for his help. Not just for helping him give Sakura another shot at happiness, but for teaching him so much despite not being a wizard.

One draft of Pepper Up later and Kotaro Tatsumi once more had the energy to ignore his guilt at how he had to mistreat his old friend and power on through on this mission to Save Saga Prefecture from oblivion.
------

The chamber was quiet as the grave. The dark, dank, musty chamber that looked out of some sort of horror movie. Junko did her best to be as small and unassuming as possible. The little girl Lily, the courtesan lady, and the girl Sakura seemed nice enough, and with everything going on the Idol needed as many friendly faces as she could find. The Saki girl just looked mean, threatening violence at almost every turn if you so much as looked at her… And then there was the Tae girl.

The less said the better as far as Junko was concerned.

'The first thing I'm doing is find a phone and call the police. Papa and Mom must be so worried about me…'

"Good morning dead ladies, congrats on your awakening…"

Junko and the others looked up at the… Eccentrically dressed man that walked into the room.

'Who wears sunglasses inside?'

When no response was forthcoming, the man gained an angry expression on his face and marched right up to them… No, right up to Junko, leaned within inches of her face and started screaming.

"I SAID 'CONGRATULATIONS!!'"

The man took a moment to, apparently, admire his work at how the patchwork zombie idol curled up and whimpered at his antagonism before marching right back to the blackboard at the center of the room, a smile on his face.

"I am your mysterious new producer," he said, clearly feeling as though this were a momentous occasion, "THE Kotaro Tatsumi! And Your job my Livingly Impaired Darlings is to become Top Pop Idol Sensations and save Saga from oblivion! bwoom!"

With a flamboyant gesture, he flipped the blackboard with his self-proclaimed title and name written on it to reveal… Possibly the ugliest chalk design any of the girls (save perhaps for Tae) had ever seen. The man had clearly put a lot of time and effort into making his own self-portrait look professional and attractive while… While the girls were just glorified circles with some distinguishing marks tossed on as afterthoughts, sketched across the bottom of the blackboard.

'"Ultimate Pop Idols"?'

"Using each of your unique Legendary qualities, you ladies are going to put Saga Prefecture ON THE MAAAAAP-ah!!!!

It was quiet for the longest time after that… Well, except for that Tae girl chewing on her own hair. Then from the far end of the row of seats came a dismissive tsk sound from the hoodlum, Saki.

"Man, this blows. What the fuck are you goin' on about ya damn fag?"

Junko, face blushing maidenly, gasped at the other girl's atrocious language, and leaned into the older Yugiri woman as if to physically remove herself from the uncouth personality of the Biker Boss. And yet she couldn't help but look on, to see how Mister Tatsumi would react. If he was anything like her own manager, he would toss her out on the street like a rat. And yet, rather than ranting or raving, the Producer simply smirked with superiority and spoke with an arrogant tone in his voice.

"Awww, what's so tough for the Big Bad Biker to understand?"

Saki's face twitched in irritation, but seemed to keep her temper under control enough to answer.

"You said we're all dead, right? Well how do you explain this pal" she asked, flexing her scarred, putridly colored hand experimentally, "'Cause I sure as Hell don't look like any stiff, y'see?"

"Awwww! You poor dumb girlie-whirly can't figure it out? Maybe it's cause your teeny-tiny delinquent brain got all rotten!"

"Hey watch yer mouth Old Man! Don't talk to me lik-!"

"IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A ZOMBIE NOW! You died, threw your life away over some dumb prideful, asinine biker garbage Chicken Race and got cooked alive in a gasoline fire like a cheap cut of beef, and now you've come back to the World of the Living, how else do you think you can explain it!? What, you mean to tell me you've seen plenty of living, breathing folks walking around with a green face?"

The Biker shoved Kotaro's hand away from where it was gripping her chin condescendingly, but other than that she held her piece. It wasn't unexpected. Saki Nikaido had rolled with some tough guys before. Any one of them – and herself – could break this weirdo like a twig, but she knew to recognize and respect guts when she saw it. And if this guy had the guts to talk to her like that when he clearly knew her reputation as the Baddest Bitch in Kyushu, she was willing to let him have his turf. Besides…

He had a point. In retrospect, Suicide by Chicken didn't seem like the most badass of ways to bite it now that she had time to reflect.

'Damn, Reiko must be pissed at me… Hope she's been feeding my Tamagotchi.'

"Each of you rotting, shambling corpses had your wretched, meaningless lives robbed form you in the very flower of youth. And now that you are zombies you would never last more than a half-hour in regular society – as Sakura here can tell you. BUT! Fortunately for you brain-dead, human-shaped fertilizer sacks, I have devised that as Pop Idols you shall be given a purpose in this cold uncaring world and a place to stay! SO BE GREATFUUUUUUUuuuaaagghh-!"

"…"

"…So. Pop quiz girls. As a Zombie Pop Music Idol Group what is the number one rule in ensuring you don't end up getting your brains blown out with a shotgun, getting dragged into a woodchipper by a barn rope, getting incinerated by a flame-thrower, or being force-fed a live grenade? SAKURA!"

The girl jerked upright, startled at being put on the spot by the sudden question.

"Uh- uhm.. I, I dunno. M-maybe d-don't let Tae bite people?"

"DON'T LET THE FRICKIN' NORMIES FIND OUT YOU'RE ZOMBIES! DUMB ZOMBIE!" With a flourish the man in shades woke up the laptop that had been sitting on his desk and played a quick compilation of rather gory clips from some famous Zombie movies. Which indeed, in fact, included a shot of a zombie getting force fed a grenade before its brains splattered the camera.

Sakura and the girls looked on with varying degrees of horror at the sight.

"Damn, brutal! I didn't know they made a sequel!"

Except for Saki.

"See girls?" Kotaro said nonchalantly, "That is the sort of reaction you are going to face if you get careless. Even if your putrid Undead flesh could be overlooked, fifty years of cinematic conditioning means that the gut reaction for every single man, woman, and child in the world will be to go straight for the shotties and Molotov cocktails.

"Fortunately for you, with a few safety precautions, I can kinda-sorta tell you that you might probably have a shot at maybe being decently okay. Step number one is that while on Idol business, you are to refer to yourselves only by numbers rather than your real names – for one thing some of you might have living relatives that would recognize you, and having both faces and names match would be to convenient of a coincident. For another, without names to Facebook, no one will be able to narrow down your real identities and find out that you should be a pile of ashes in an urn somewhere.

"Any questions?"

In the next seat down from Saki, the other Ex-Idol zombie, Ai Mizuno, raised her own thoughts on the… Circumstances.

"Right, I get that we're zombies. I am well aware one does not simply survive…" bright light and burning pain, waking up in the ambulance long enough to hear the paramedics to talk about her, not even bothering to tend to her before she blacked out from the pain "But what I don't get is why exactly you want us to be Idols."

That at least seemed to get this mad man to take something seriously, going by the set of his features not hidden by those sunglasses and his voice.

"It is so that you can save Saga."

Ai had to take a moment to process that. She turned to the red head next to her that had led them all down here, but all she could offer was a nervous laugh and a weak smile. Seeing this chick was just as clueless as the rest of them, Ai sighed in defeat and asked the obvious question.

"Right. What and How."

"How what?"

It took a great deal of self-control to keep Ai from yelling at the clearly loony tunes mad man.

"What are we saving Saga from, and How are a bunch of Zombie Idols going to do that exactly? In fact, why me specifically? I wasn't even from Saga, I'm from Hyogo!"

"Why, the 'How' is obvious!" Kotaro said passionately, "with your cute smiles, mesmerizing movements, and siren songs, you shall gather people from all over! First on this little island, and then from all across Japan! And maybe, ZA WORUDO! And with them comes tourist money! And that money will trickle down to the local businesses, and that economic stimulus will attract entrepreneurs, and with them, NEW RESIDENTS!

"And from 'what' you ask? Well, I'll show you! ROMERO! LIGHTS!"

With a peppy little bark, the undead toy poodle jumped into Junko's lap and used her as a springboard to bite a pull string above their heads. To the zombie girls' amazement, it turned off most of the overhead lights of the chamber while also bringing down an old film projector behind them and a film screen in front of them. Without missing a beat Kotaro pulled out a pointing baton as the projector showed a series of charts and graphs concerning Saga Prefecture.

"As you can see here, in the collapse the Japanese asset bubble in 1991, Japan's economy stagnated. This has resulted in a massive concentration of economic activity into the major business centers of the country. In particular Tokyo and Osaka. Therefore, the young people moved out of Saga Prefecture and never returned. The remaining population are all retirees and older, and that demographic continues to climb as the younger residents age or move away. If this trend continues, then Saga's population will no longer be able to support its existence as a Prefecture, and within some thirty years it will likely be absorbed into Nagasaki and Fukuoka. THEREFORE!"

The girls started at the sudden yell (especially Saki and Lilly, who had quickly gotten bored and were drifting off). Romero took that as his cue to let go of the strand he had been dangling from, allowing the projector to recede into the ceiling.

"Therefore," Kotaro repeated, at a much more reasonable tone, "If Saga is to survive, you girls must dance and sing your way into the Hearts and Minds of the people! Bring them to Saga with your charm! Take their minds and worries away from the war going on for but an hour and-!"

"W-war? What war?"

The producer stopped his tirade at Junko's cry, and everyone turned to her when she shot to her feat, restrained but palpable horror on her face, her whole body shuddering. Kotaro scratched at his cheek as he observed the Undead young woman.

"Hmmm. Right. Only one of you girls was alive when it happened."

"It? IT?!" Junko demanded, growing all the more shrill and maddened as she continued, causing the girls nearest to her to lean away, "Oh sweet Buddah! Papa was right! That Cowboy President really did it!

"He blew it up!" she screamed, holding her head in her hands as she sank to her knees and sobbed, "They all blew us all to Hell! Damn them! DAMN THE-!"

"PUT A SOCK IN IT YA DUMBASS ZOMBIE!"

The next thing Junko knew was suddenly finding herself back where she was sitting, and with a great deal of pain in her nose. Then she looked around to see the Producer lowering his foot from a high kicking position… Where she saw her headless body groping around. Then the 80s Idol noticed that, no, she wasn't sitting back in her seat – Her head had gotten wedged between the prison bars behind her seat after Mister Tatsumi apparently kicked her in the face.

"Oh my goodness!" Sakura gasped, "Don't worry Junko-chan, I'll help you!"

What followed was a short farce where first Sakura, then Yugiri and Lily, then Ai, and then finally Junko's own body all worked to free the girl's head from the predicament she had found herself in. After freeing her plopped them all on the grimy floor, Sakura gave Junko her head back, and it was a very embarrassed Undead Showa Era Idol that found herself back in her seat. Properly this time. Kotaro, at the very least, had the decency to look mildly ashamed as he pinched his nose in agitation.

"Right, I should have expected that when speaking with a Cold War child. But no. The world didn't go up in a nuclear fireball. The world outside isn't a giant Fallout game, and you girls are not Ghouls. In fact, the Cold War ended when the Soviet Union ran out of other people's money and broke up in 1991. No. The war in fact is a lot more conventional… Well, other than the sea demons that look like super models shooting World War Two era naval guns that is."

"Wait. What?"

"It's true Sakura-chan!" Lily said, "It was all over the TV for weeks! Papa was so scared about what would happen!"

"Really?" Ai scoffed, "Sea Demons? You can't be… Serious…"

Kotaro's only response was to pull up a Wikipedia article for Blood Week, showing to all the girls present, except for Tae (who was more interested in trying to bite a fly out of the air), and Lily, (who had lived through that dark chapter personally) the small collage of the Abyssals and Shipgirls fighting, and the devastation left in the wake of the assaults.

All of the girls looking at the images were stunned silent for several minutes, soaking it all in when Kotaro played archive footage from YouTube of contemporary news anchors talking about the seven days of constant bombardment across the world. Saki watched with a Biker's fury at what she saw as cowardly sucker punches by spineless punks with more balls than courage. Yugiri was floored by the clear and present advancements of technology implied by what was being shown, far beyond what she ever knew in Saga in the 1880s. Sakura's eyes teared up at the stories of innocent lives, snuffed out in an instant, and families destroyed without rhyme or reason. And as for Ai, what floored her most was her own personal connection to the tragedy: The Date of Blood Week's infamous Day 1.

'That… That was… That was… The day, after I died…'

That fact circled around in her head, over and over in an infinite loop. How Iron Frill's fans' last good day before devastation rained down ended with seeing their Idol getting flash-fried by Hot Lightning.

"Next year, it will be the tenth anniversary since these monsters, called Abyssals, started attacking," Kotaro said, utterly and shockingly serious, "And while they are not defeated, Man is holding them at bay. In fact, certain fleets of these Abyssals have even turned against their fellow sea demons and are currently our friends and allies in this war.

"Saga's port was heavily damaged during Blood Week, on top of the widespread devastation of the coastal areas. And between the loss of lives, businesses, and industry, and the simple fear for the lives of their families, the people of Saga Prefecture fled in droves in the months since, and they have stayed away. Even with Saga repared and now a vital convoy link with Asia. This is why you Undead Zombies are so vital – through your music and dance, you will show all of Kyushu, no, all of Japan, that Saga is a safe and wonderful place to live once again.

"THIS is why I chose you girls. I knew that each and every last one of you had something special about you, each possessing a quirk attractive to one demographic or another of the population that is vital to the community that is Saga Prefecture. And all seven of you together will combine those traits into the group that will take the world by storm when you became Idols. And you are going to take the first step in proving it tomorrow evening when you perform at the Shachi-no-Mon Public Concert over at Saga Castle."

It was a fine speech. The sort that would move an audience to believe that the mad cap scheme of the Heroes, the last-ditch effort to save the day, just might actually work, and in the quiet pause that followed, one could imagine that the girls were convinced to.

"Clearly delusional."

Kotaro just scoffed at Ai's misgivings.

"I'm serious! We are rotting corpses! Idols don't lose their heads just because they got kicked like a soccer ball!" she retorted, gesturing to Junko, who blushed again at being reminded of the 'incident' earlier.

"Oh that's not what the crowd thought last night."

Ai was cut off short at the declaration. And it's phrasing.

"Wat."

"You had the whole place jumpin'! Didn't you Sakura?"

"Wat."

Sakura gave a small, nervous laugh.

"Well, those metalheads did seem to like the performance."

"WAT?!"

"Check it!"

Once again, the Zombie Girls watched as Kotaro pulled up another edited series of clips. There they saw all of them, there on a stage. Except for Sakura they all seemed dead to the world, when suddenly they started… Headbanging (though their version involved the whole upper body) to the harshest guitar music most of the girls ever heard. Then the Saki-On-Stage started screaming into a bullhorn.

In the room, Tae and Saki suddenly shot to their feet. Tae started headbanging again. Saki, on the other hand, looked at the video on the screen with a stunned, almost haunted expression.

"W-where is that?" She asked.

Kotaro smiled, suspecting that he just might have the Ex-Biker hooked, whether she knew it or not.

"That was your first public performance. At RIP-Fes 2014."

"WE WERE AT RIP-FES?!"

"You know it?"

"HELL YEAH I KNOW IT! My girls an' me always wanted to go! And you mean to tell me that I was on the fucking stage?!"

"Hell yeah you was girl!"

"YYYEEEEAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

"Now let's get started with today's rehearsal! Go go go! GOGOGOGOGOGOGO!"