There are a lot of things that are going on in the mind of Dire Crowley—most of them pertaining to his strange, new student…who isn't even a student. Just some magic-less human, who somehow made it into Night Raven College. Speaking of him…

"Him…?" Crowley isn't one to assume anyone's gender, though it's hard not to, when Night Raven College is an all-boys academy. Of course, there have been exceptions…but only to students who were already attending. Yuu hasn't even been assigned a dorm—they're not even supposed to be here.

But there they are—looking through yet another book while Crowley searched through every map in the library for that unfamiliar place that Yuu said they were from. It does not exist, as the place that Yuu belongs is nowhere in this world. Not helping their situation is the fact that they are far too dazed to make much sense of anything.

Yuu is lucid enough to keep a conversation going for a bit at a time, though their attention quickly comes and goes, making their behavior a bit…eccentric.

"Are you truly from where you say?" Crowley looks away from the book in his hands. "You aren't lying to me by any chance?"

"Hmmm…!" The fact that Yuu has to think about it is concerning. It's just as concerning as the state of their worn-out clothing—do they really not have any other clothes?

…

Ah…of course not. After all, they do appear to have come from another world. And it seems their trip has left them with only the clothes on their back.

"This is certainly concerning." Crowley places his hand on his chin. "I can't let someone who can't use magic stay at this school…"

Though as an educator, to just leave a homeless teenager on the streets…

"Teenager…" Are they a teenager? Crowley knows better than to judge on appearances, from how tall or short that people of every age could be. "How old are you?"

…

…

No answer to that as well. Not helping is the look of confusion on Yuu's face as they're lost in deep thought.

"Zzzz…" Oh—it seems they have fallen asleep. How quaint…oh, well—at least they were sitting down. It sure would've been rougher, had they been standing up.

"I guess I should take responsibility for the time being…for I am gracious!" A smile spreads across Crowley's lips as he lightly taps Yuu with his foot. "Come along, Yuu. There's some place I need to take you."

It takes a total of three minutes to get Yuu back on their feet. It's not too difficult to wake them up, but their sense of balance is absolutely horrendous. They were in no state to walk on their own, without others thinking that they were intoxicated… So for their sake, Crowley allows Yuu to hold onto his hand.

It's something he starts to regret, when he finds Yuu purposely poking his claw-tipped fingers. Really, to do something so reckless…

"You have no sense of self-preservation, do you?" Crowley supposes that that is yet another side effect of their current situation. "Hmmm…"

He might have to have a little chat with the inhabitants of that "supposedly" abandoned dormitory. As soon as Yuu stops tripping over their own feet.

"Would you like me to carry you?" Crowley would prefer not to, but then Yuu has to go and say, "Yes!"

And so here he is, carrying this far too tiny teenager (?) on his back to the abandoned Ramshackle Dorm, which is as decrepit as ever. Though, with enough cleaning, it should return to its former glory…

"Hopefully." Otherwise…it should function well enough to keep Yuu out of the rain. And just in time, too, because it looks like it's going to rain.

"Zzzz…" Ahh, to fall asleep again, before Crowley even has a chance to tell them of their responsibilities…

"I guess the task of telling them now falls on you!" Crowley says to no one in particular…which isn't the case, as he knows that there are others who inhabit this dormitory. Ghosts are, after all, rather fickle when they want to be. "Keep an eye on this one when he wakes up. He is not to wander about the school, understood?"

Silence.

"Well, then…" Crowley brushes off as much dust as he can from the sofa before laying Yuu down. He has to keep himself from reacting to the way they curl into the cushions. It's far too cute a sight to keep quiet about…but he manages. "I'll be taking my leave!"

Crowley had barely taken one step out the door when it suddenly starts pouring. He stares at the rain as it falls from the sky, his expression as neutral as ever as he closed the door behind him. Such terrible timing…

"Nothing a little magic can't help." At least Yuu has a roof over their head. "Hmm?"

For a moment, Crowley swore he heard something… Maybe it's just the rain…
…

…

It is not the rain—for Grim cannot stand it. He scampers out of his hiding place under the sofa, his fur bristling in shock. He hisses loudly at a raindrop that lands on his head, his claws almost unsheathing themselves in response to his sudden urge to fight something. What it is, he doesn't know, but when another drop lands on his head, he leaps onto the sofa and scares the absolute crap out of Yuu.

"Hyeek!"

Grim yells just as loudly as Yuu does, not having realized how close they were to begin with. He tries to jump off, but he is quickly trapped within the confines of their arms. The air is squeezed out of him, his claws now on full display as he swiped at nothing in his attempts to regain control of the situation.

"Who let you iiiiiiinnnn, Chiri…?" Yuu stares blearily at the cat in their arms…is it a cat? Uhhhh…blue eyes, fiery ears, and a pitchfork-like tail—yeah, that's not Chirithy. That's…that's…! "Oh hi, Grim-sama!"

That's the name!

"Let me go, dammit!" Grim struggles to break free from Yuu. He growls loudly when he feels them pressing their cheek against his. "You're too clingy!"

"But I liiiiiike youuuuu!" Not even Grim's claws can keep Yuu away from a good cat…like being. He's cat enough for them, okay? "Like, like, liiiiike!"

Just who did Grim wrong to end up like this? "Tch."

Grim heaves out a sigh as his body goes completely limp. It's better this way, he tells himself as he ignores the way Yuu scratches behind his ears. It does not feel good—nope, it sure doesn't!

"Aww, you're purring!" Yuu laughs carelessly, their cheeks stained with visible blush.

"That is not purring!" It is growling, Grim wants to say. Instead, his expression changes to one of pure ecstasy as Yuu's fingers come in contact with a spot that Grim could never hope to reach on his own. "Nnnnyyaaa…~!"

In any other situation, Grim would've been furious…but Yuu manages to block out all the raindrops that keep falling through the holes in the ceiling. They barely even react to it, mostly blinking each time one lands on their nose or head.

Really, it's only until sudden noise catches their attention.

"What was that?" For a brief moment, Yuu is alert.

"I don't…know." Whatever it is, it's causing Grim's fur to stand up on its ends. Wasn't this…building empty?

"It's been a while since we had such lively guests."

Apparently not.

"Gyaaahhhh!" The sudden shock had left an opening for Grim to slip out of Yuu's arms. However, instead of running off as he had intended earlier…Grim dives into Yuu's sweater, leaving behind a visible bump for all too see.

Yuu is too stunned to fully react, not knowing what to make of the three ghostly figures that floated in the air. One of the ghosts was especially short, and another was especially tall and skinny. The ghost in between them was pleasingly plump, with the three of them all wearing matching hats with cloaks.

"It looks like you'll be staying with us," says the plump one.

"Really?" Yuu tilts their head. "Huh…well, I'm Yuu…and this is Grim-sama!"

A hissing noise comes from the bump underneath their sweater.

"He's kinda grumpy right now," Yuu whispers to the ghosts. "Take it easy."

The ghosts only blink in response, now stunned themselves.

"Most people would've left by now," says the short one.

"Why?" Yuu asks, as though they haven't a clue in the world…because they don't. They really don't know.

Meanwhile, Grim has to choke back whatever screams he wants to hurl at Yuu, because obviously, the ghosts scared everyone else off.

"Everyone else got scared of us and left," says the plump one.

"Aww, that's not nice—Grim-sama, come out!" Yuu lifts up their sweater, exposing Grim to the world for all to see. "Be nicer!"

"Ggghh!" Grim freezes still, his eyes soon welling up with tears. "Uuuu…"

"It's okay, it's okaaayyy!" Yuu uses one of their hands to give Grim a few reassuring pats on the head. Their other hand remains on their sweater, still holding it up while Grim has his body pressed against them. "You wanna hide again?"

There is no response, because Grim refuses to admit that he's scared.

"Okaaayyy!" Yuu decides that they can let Grim borrow their sweater…for a bit. "Don't get your fur on it!"

Yuu removes their sweater and wraps Grim's body in a burrito-like fashion. They smile widely at the sight of him.

"So cuuute!" There's a babying tone to their voice. Under any other circumstances, Grim would've loudly complained, but for now…he'd rather just lay low.

"For now." Meaning he will get his revenge, just…some other time.

That still doesn't stop him from spitting out a ball of fire from his mouth when a sudden growl from Yuu's stomach catches him by surprise.

"Sorry, sorry!" Yuu sheepishly apologizes, with the same, dopey smile on their face. "I guess I haven't eaten."

It certainly looks like it, from how scrawny Yuu looks now that they're only wearing a black tank top.

"Now, now—that isn't something to treat lightly," says the tall and skinny ghost. "As our guests, we should treat you with more hospitality. I am Avery."

"Given the situation, we'll do as best as we can," the short ghost pipes up. "I am Boris."

"And I am Claude," the plump ghost chimes in. "It's nice to have guests again."

"Heehee, it's nice to meet alllll of you!" Yuu winks at the three ghosts, throwing up a V-sign. "Please take care of me~!"

There's a charm to Yuu that endears them to the ghosts, from the way they speak, to the manner in which they interact with them. It's a nice change of pace, from what they're used to.

The three ghosts look at each other for a moment and then nod their heads in an act of silent understanding. It involves their new acquaintance, Yuu, and their companion, Grim…but mostly Yuu.

The rain outside will make any outings difficult for Yuu, putting them at risk of catching a cold. Knowing that, Claude is the first of the three ghosts to disappear. Right after him, is Avery, who heads in the direction of the school's cafeteria.

That leaves behind Boris, who starts directing Yuu and Grim to clean up a little. Yuu happily complies, though it takes Grim some convincing to come out of Yuu's sweater.

He hisses at Boris when the ghost moves closer, wriggling even further into the sweater.

"Be nice, Grim-sama!" Yuu lightly chastises him. "You're being rude!"

"You're taking this too easily!" Grim retorts, his fur bristling in anger. "Why are you taking their side?!"

"Because they're being nice!" Yuu smiles widely. "C'mon—you want fish? I can get you fish…I think."

Yuu can certainly try, though maybe it'll have to wait until tomorrow…

"I want canned tuna!" If Yuu is going to get him something, then it might as well be what Grim really wants. And canned tuna is exactly that! "At least three cans!"

"Okaaaayy!" Yuu laughs again. "See? It's not so hard to cooperate, is it?"

Grim mutters under his breathe as he reluctantly comes out from the safe confines of Yuu's sweater. He still hisses at the ghost nearby him, stopping only when Yuu's fingers scratch under his chin. It takes every fiber of his being to not lean into their touch.

Whatever is going on now…it doesn't look like he's leaving Yuu's side anytime soon. For better, or for worse.

…

…

…

A/N So like, I'm doing a minimum of 2K+ words per chapter, to encourage me to update often and just otherwise, keep me writing. Expect the chapters to get longer though, because this is just me ending it here cuz I feel this is good enough.

ANYWAYS, this fic just has a found family aspect that is typical of most of my fics. I just…can't stop it. Crowley, here, is just a Reluctant Dad, while the ghosts just straight up adopted Yuu.

Expect Grim to act more catlike in this fic, because I cannot be stopped. He will just have to deal, because I am the owner of two cats who like to make their presence known. And as mentioned on tumblr, Yuu's age is ?, so there's not much on her just yet. Though, if you look closely, you can make out some things on a physical level.

At the current moment, most others view her as male, due to Night Raven College being an all-boys school. So the assumption comes from there, and Yuu isn't exactly saying anything, because she doesn't know.

Also, I gave the ghosts names because I cannot deal with nameless characters. TOO MUCH EFFORT. Anyways, many thanks to shuuenmei for the talks had in the Bread and Bitter Discord, and SilverStar56, for all the tumblr asks that have been keeping me active.

Anyways, that's all I have for now, do tell me if you see any mistakes. Otherwise, feel free to review! I crave validation, and it honestly keeps me going.

Until next time, everyone! KD out! XD