#athyra writes

It was difficult to see Acacia in such a state of damage.

To Hoshimi Junna, Acacia was a city of beauty where tradition and spirituality met seamlessly with iron and the unknown wonders of foreign places she could only dream of seeing. Its people were a warm and hardy breed that excelled in fishing the mighty river that gave Acacia its life’s blood as well as farming its fertile soil. There were artists and artisans as well who produced crafts sought and craved by the faraway lands of Albion; silk, songs, poetry, and script.

It was her home and she was proud of being part of her precious city.

That was why whenever it was ravaged by youkai, she felt sorrow.

Acacia was cursed by the Fog. Every so often, a thick mist would blanket the town and carry with it creatures of misfortune. Most frequently, the Fog would bring shadowy creatures, evil spirits, and monsters that struck terror in the hearts of the masses, but there were also times it would infect the surrounding wildlife or spirits with darkness that caused mad hunger for human flesh. Because of this, Acacia was endlessly gripped in a cycle of fear, tragedy and despair.

For years, Junna studied the phenomenon of the Fog Night to bring salvation to her precious city, but both history and folklore gave only one solution: Kill the Kyuubi no Kitsune. The Fog only appeared whenever the Kyuubi was at large and subsided whenever the demon fox was slayed. This was objectively observed after Saijou Elaine, the preceding generation’s Tenkai, slayed the great youkai three decades ago. Her victory won Acacia over ten years of fogless peace, a time now celebrated by the annual Hoshitsumi Festival. However, as predicted, the Fog eventually returned and the Kirin once again demanded young women to fill the esteemed positions of the Hachi, the Eight Guardians.

Junna would never forget the selection process. No regular girl would do. She would have to have the right amount of latent ki in order to begin training, and because of this requirement, the current generation of the Hachi took longer than usual to gather candidates. As expected, the Tendou and Hanayagi Clans were the first ones to offer their daughters for the cause. They were ancient families with ki running through their veins, and with Acacia’s peace and the honor of producing a potential Tenkai on the line, they were the first ones to elect representatives. Tendou Maya and Hanayagi Kaoruko were heiresses to their respective clans’ seats, both talented and magically powerful. They were interred as Hachi candidates at the tender ages of five.

Just at their heels were their fierce rivals, the Saijou and the Isurugi Clans. These two families boasted many warriors in their line, from honorable samurai to generals that had once made Acacia wealthy. More recently, the Saijou Clan could even brag that they had Gallian Knights in their bloodline due to Saijou Elaine--then Elaine Alsace-- marrying into the family. Saijou Claudine and Isurugi Futaba hail from these families and were also selected as candidates when they were very young. Futaba was a childhood companion to Kaoruko and had the latent potential and a warrior’s heart, while Claudine was practically bred to be one of the Hachi being the daughter of the most recent Slayer.

Junna did not have the privilege of being a member of such illustrious clans but her family have served in the Hachi for generations as well. Descended from exorcists, the Hoshimi Clan were rooted from the same stock as the Hanayagi Clan many eras ago. Known for their archery and purification spells, they have proved vital in the Acacia’s defense. The main branch members of the clan still displayed potent powers in their bloodline, but since they had no daughters to elect for the position of a Hachi member, the matriarch sent the next best thing.

Her.

Junna did not possess Kaoruko’s mind-blowing magical talents or the precise ki control that made Maya so fast and deadly. She was not as physically powerful as Claudine or Futaba either. All she had going for was that her ki had the Hoshimi line’s purifying properties. Everything else she had to study, practice, and labor hard to achieve. Even her own biology proved to be against her as well for her eyesight prevented her from completely mastering the bow and arrow that the Hoshimi Clan was known for. Looking back, nothing came easy for her.

At least she had plenty of help along the way.

There were two members in the Hachi who did not come from any of the noble clans at all. Aijou Karen and Tsuyuzaki Mahiru were the daughters of common families that were simply gifted with ki. Karen’s family were servants of the Kagura Clan, a wealthy family that periodically had representatives in the Hachi, while Mahiru’s were simple farmers from the outskirts of town. Due to their unconventional situations, the three of them often worked together as trainees and formed a bond of camaraderie that they enjoyed even now.

At the thought of Karen, Junna’s mind wandered towards the missing daughter of the Kagura Clan. Karen would sometimes tell her and Mahiru of a girl named Hikari, who was the only daughter of the Kagura family. They were childhood friends, the brunette had explained, but Hikari was moved to Albion by her father for additional training just before Karen had been discovered as a potential candidate. Hikari was supposed to be the eighth member of the Hachi until she disappeared several years ago.

Due to a lack of promising young women to take Hikari’s place and also because of Karen’s stubborn insistence, the eighth seat of the Hachi remained vacant to this day.

Maybe if we actually had a full roster, Acacia would not be damaged so much.

Junna huffed as she watched the fishermen repair roofs and rafters destroyed to splinters the night before. With a notebook in hand, she had been overseeing the reconstruction of Acacia’s dockside buildings and making sure that the process went as smoothly as possible. Many of the townsfolk were still rattled by the mizuchi’s attack last night, even more so because the youkai rampaged so close to residences. The most she could do was be present as they rebuilt their homes and businesses, and lend her managerial skills to make the experience less difficult than it already was. But it seemed like fatigue made her lose focus, her attention wavering too frequently.

“Junna… oi, Jun-na~ are you still awake or are you sleeping with your eyes open?”

She blinked her eyes rapidly to fight off sleepiness that had been creeping up on her for the past hour, and when she regained her focus, she found Futaba waving a hand in front of her face. The redhead was still in near complete regalia, minus her heavy armor, and was mounted on her trusty pinto steed. Her clan’s distinctive byakko tattoo was prominently displayed in red ink on her left arm, reflecting Futaba’s proud heritage. Her unique halberd was nowhere to be seen, however, and the horse was also lightly geared.

“No, I’m fine,” she responded a little too quickly now that she was caught zoning off, “I just have a lot in my mind.”

“No, you’re not fine,” Futaba clucked her tongue and nudged her mount to circle Junna in scrutiny. “You’re tired, Junna. What are you even doing here? Didn’t you use a purification spell last night? You should be at Seishouya passed out like Kaoruko.”

The thought was tempting for sure, but Junna could not afford to rest just yet. She could sleep as much as she wanted once the work was done. “I’ll be fine, really. I was able to sleep for a couple of hours earlier,” She reassured her comrade. “I still need to calculate how much we can get Seishouya and the clans to subsidize the townsfolk. After all, it was my fault that--”

“Oi, oi… none of that!” Futaba poked Junna’s forehead when the latter began scribbling on her notebook. “It was a rampaging monster. What happened here is no one’s fault, you hear?”

Wincing and stepping away from the mounted woman to avoid another strike, Junna rubbed her sore forehead. Though miffed at the grinning redhead, Junna could not help but appreciate how quickly Futaba tried to cheer her up after the fiasco last night. She gave her a small, tired smile, “...thanks.”

“Don’t worry about the finances. I’ll help you out as much as I can with my clan. I’ll also make sure Kaoruko does too, so why don’t you take it easy, alright? I heard you had quite the rodeo last night.”

At the memory of the mizuchi, Junna flinched and uncomfortably re-adjusted her glasses, which reminded her that she was now wearing her last spare after her other pair got damaged. “It’s not a ride I want to get on again. It caused Acacia so much. We ought to be preparing for the festival, but here we are stuck in a quagmire of repairs.”

Futaba patted her on the shoulder, “It’ll work out. The only way we’ll fail to commemorate Kyuubi’s last defeat is if you let yourself get sick. Who else is gonna organize everything, yeah? You shouldn’t push yourself too hard, Junna.”

Junna shook her head and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll hold out. Besides, Karen has been doing most of the manual labor for me.”

Futaba laughed boisterously at that remark. “I saw her on my way here, hammering away and patching up walls. I’m surprised she’s even awake.”

“Well, you know Karen. The annual festival is the highlight of her year and would stop at nothing to make sure it proceeds as planned. And I do think that she’s truly remorseful of scaring the fishmonger’s daughter after getting thrown through their shop’s wall.”

Futaba’s laughter took on a tone of disbelief, “It always amazes me how...uh… sturdy she is.” She then cleared her throat, “Well, I just wanted to check up on you girls before I return to the outskirts to oversee the progress there. Kaoruko is out of commission and Kuroko is… well…” Rubbing her nape, Futaba sighed raggedly and shrugged, “It is what it is.”

Junna did not have the heart to inquire about Claudine’s mental state given the circumstances. The blonde was grieving and angry, and that would not go away so easily. All she could do was ease the load on everyone’s shoulders. “Go on ahead then. Don’t worry about us here. As soon as everything settles down, we’ll return to Seishouya.”

“Alright… hehe, I really shouldn’t worry huh? After all Mahiru is here too and she has a way with people. Well, I’ll see y’all back home later then.”

“See you there,” Junna nodded and gave Futaba a small smirk of her own, “and follow your own advice and don’t overdo it.”

With a good-natured chuckle and a charming wink, Futaba nudged her horse and rode down the street, skillfully dodging carpenters who carried lumber for repairs. Junna watched on until her friend could no longer be seen, and inhaled deeply to recenter her attention to the task at hand. On her notebook were detailed lists of damaged buildings, the resources needed for those properties, and the names of the workers who labored there. Junna kept careful records for she intended to try and compensate them for some of the reparations, believing that the people of Acacia should not shoulder such expenses on their own.

Satisfied that she had most of the ones on this street accounted for, Junna pocketed her notebook and began her trek towards the river bank. She spotted Karen laughing along with some men by the shop she had been repairing. The brunette was exchanging stories over tea and snacks while on break it seemed, and her bright demeanor mellowed out the expressions of fear and anxiety from the townsfolk. With a fond smile, Junna left her friend with her acquaintances and proceeded with her task.

“How are things here? Do you still need more materials?” She inquired a carpenter a block away.

“Ah, Hoshimi-san!” The man stood up a little straighter and seemed embarrassed to be interacting with a Hachi member in his state of grime and disarray. “We’ll need some more lumber here, I think, oh and some whetstones to sharpen our chisels and planes. Other than that, I think we’ll manage.”

Junna nodded mechanically and jot that down on her notes. “I will get those for you as soon as I’m able. Would later in the afternoon be workable?”

The man suddenly bowed respectfully, “Of course!”

“Um… there is no need to be so formal--”

“Everyone, I’ve brought some food! I’m sorry to keep you waiting but here are your lunches.”

“Ah, Mahiru-chan! You really are a blessing. You didn’t have to bring this all to us.”

Junna blinked not only because of the change in atmosphere but also at how fond and familiarly the townsfolk spoke with her soft-spoken comrade. The people typically referred to Junna like she was superior even though she was nothing special. After all, she was merely a branch clan member and she was not one of the top ranking members of Hachi either. So even though she expected respect, she also secretly longed for warm recognition as well. Perhaps she was too austere? But then, Mahiru was a sweetheart with an angelic voice and a disposition to match.

Not to mention her warm maternal aura and her cooking skills.

“Junna-chan?” Mahiru looked surprised, “I thought you returned home already. You don’t have to worry, I’ll make sure Karen-chan--”

“...doesn’t cause any more trouble, I know.” Junna chuckled as she approached her long-time friend. Truly, without Mahiru around, who knew how she and Karen would have turned out. The three of them were the ones who worked the hardest to be in the Hachi because of their circumstances. And when things became tough to the point of despair, Mahiru was always there with a kind smile and a steaming roasted sweet potato to cheer them up.

“You brought so much food.” The other woman had a heavy basket of cooked produce on each arm. Amazingly enough, she did not look troubled carrying them around.

“It’s the most my family’s farm can spare for the time being.”

“Are they alright?”

Mahiru smiled and nodded as she folded the cloth that covered a steaming basket of tubers and vegetables so that the workers could serve themselves. “Thankfully, our farm was spared from the attacks but a couple of others were not as lucky. Obaa-san spared no time in having my siblings harvest what they could so we can at least help feed those in need and she insisted that I take some here.”

“Your grandmother is amazing.”

“Isn’t she?” Mahiru giggled as she filled bowls with vegetables sauteed with onions and a few cubes of potatoes smothered in a simple sauce. Simply watching her serve their people energized Junna and made her momentarily forget about her fatigue. “Would you like some Junna-chan? It seems like there’s plenty for everyone.”

“Ah, thank you but it would be put to better use if the laborers eat it,” she responded with a small smile. “You made sure I ate before we left Seishouya, remember?”

“But that was hours ago and you’re still recovering ki. You must eat!”

“I will, I promise. That would be the first thing I’ll do once I return to the dormitory.”

“You better!” Though her voice was firm, Mahiru’s gaze and smile were anything but. She was sincerely concerned for her, and Junna felt the warmth of her care. Once again, she felt so grateful to have earned herself a family in the Hachi.

“Well then, I should get going, Mahiru-san. I need to make sure everyone receives all the materials they need so the repairs would be finished by the time the festival rolls in.”

“Alright, but also make sure you take breaks, Junna-chan.”

With a respectful nod, Junna bid her farewell to Mahiru and the workers, and continued on. Nearing the end of her responsibilities on this side of town, she took a moment to appreciate the cathartic flow of the water in the river. It was truly hard to imagine that such a peacefully flowing river could house a fearsome creatures. Looking off to her left, Junna spotted the tree onto which she had jumped in order to escape death. Its scars were still green where her weight had torn off some twigs and ripped away some branches. Nearby, a couple of women were repairing the railing where Karen had leapt from after the mizuchi had bulldozed the metal pipes into grotesque shapes, while further down, some men were patching up a stretch of stone walls by the water that helped prevent erosion.

Indeed, it was difficult to see Acacia so damaged but seeing the collaborative efforts of its citizen also renewed Junna’s hope.

It made her even more driven into helping the Hachi slay the Kyuubi no Kitsune.

Junna leaned over a stretch of railing that was luckily undamaged by the mizuchi and closed her eyes, renewing her resolve and tempering it carefully. She must persevere. Soon, the Kirin would decide if Maya would remain the Tenkai or if a new one must be chosen. If the latter was to be decided, then Junna was determined to get the Kirin’s Blessing and pick up where her esteemed comrade have left off.

The Fog must be stopped.

The Kyuubi must be slayed.

Junna’s reverie only went undisturbed for a few moments because a rambunctious clamor encroached on her peace. Children fretted and hollered nearby, accompanied by a woman with a gentle, tinkling voice steeped in fondness.

The woman’s voice was laughing as she herded rowdy kids, “Ah! Settle down, everyone. Everyone gets a piece, okay? But after this you should all go home to eat a proper meal so you’ll grow as big and tall as a banana tree like me!”

A banana tree…?

“Banana! Banana!” Children’s voices were saturated with glee and giggles as they chanted and encircled their chaperone.

“Hai, hai~ here you go. Your reward for being so brave last night.”

That voice…

“That was very brave of you…”

Junna blinked her eyes open as a long cherished memory of a miracle came rushing back into the forefront of her thoughts.

==============

The deep forest loomed ominously only several yards away. It was so dense that light scarcely penetrated its canopy, leaving it looking like gargantuan shadows slowly creeping up towards the town of Acacia. At fifteen years old and training to become a warrior that braved the Kiri no Yoru, Junna was no stranger to its intimidating presence but it never failed to make her shudder in trepidation. That was especially true tonight, for tonight was when she would prove to the Kirin that she was strong enough to be one of the Eight.

Clutching her hankyu bow in a tight grip, Junna steeled her resolve.

The Kirin’s Trial was a ritualistic test for any aspirant for a position among the Hachi. A candidate must survive a Fog Night with nothing but her drive, skills, and her chosen weapon. She was tasked with a small stretch of land around Acacia to defend against any youkai that might come and if she was successful in exterminating them, they would rise with the sun as one of the esteemed Eight Guardians.

Junna had dreamed of accepting her own ki gem from the Kirin’s priests for years. She wanted to be one of the stars that protected the people of Acacia, one of those legendary warriors after which stars were named. Her excitement escalated when Maya, Claudine, Kaoruko and Futaba passed their trials the year before with great heroics and displays of competence. She would be one of them. She would stand beside them as they fought for the well-being of their hometown and of its people. And if fate was kind and the Tenkai defeated the Kyuubi no Kitsune, she would be honored to be the namesake of a star within the constellation the priests would reward the new Slayer.

Immortalized in the heavens.

Her name forever carried by a celestial body.

Indeed, glory awaited her. And if that was the one thing that Junna could claim as hers and hers alone--not some debt from her parents or her clan’s matriarch--then she would strive for it with her own efforts. She would shoot up towards the sky again and again to find her path to the stars.

For her trial, Junna was assigned to an unexpected part of town. While Karen and Mahiru were given posts near the city for their own tests, Junna was tasked with a wide swath of land by the border of the deep forest. She had scouted the place beforehand, like a good strategist. She even looked into the history of the place and what kinds of youkai tended to show. What she found was a tragic story of a necessary evil. These vast acres of land used to belong to the Norinaga family, a small clan of brewers who used to farm rice here for their renowned sake.

The rice paddies were gone now though, because the Norinagas have all been executed.

Junna glanced at the sizeable yet traditional house behind her, where a different family now lived. After Saijou Elaine defeated the last Kyuubi and peace reigned, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before the great youkai would resurface again. The demon fox always returned, no matter how many times it was slayed, reincarnated every time. Its new manifestation was born in the Norinaga family. Records were vague, but it all concluded that the family was bewitched by the youkai’s powerful magic and went mad. Seishouya was forced to put them down for Acacia’s safety but even its pre-emptive strike failed to capture the revived demon fox.

And now that very same escaped Kyuubi no Kitsune thrived within those dense forests summoning the deadly fog.

Darkness came and with it the Kiri no Yoru. The Norinaga’s old farm was so close to the forest that it was choked by the Fog almost immediately, limiting Junna’s vision. Calmly recalling her training, she immediately switched using her ki senses instead. She saw the new family residing in the old Norinaga house huddling fearfully in their bedroom, their ki signatures stuttering like candle flame against a stiff breeze. She must not let them down.

She must not let herself down.

Junna jumped up on a tree’s branch for a better vantage point and rested her hand over the feathered fletching that protruded from her quiver. Even before she was chosen as a candidate, she had already learned to make the bow an extension of herself and even though she had poor eyesight, she had practiced kyuudo enough that muscle memory was usually enough for her to let loose an accurate arrow.

She was confident that she could take on whatever the Fog throws at her.

It did not take long before the first youkai screeched it presence. Junna momentarily froze at how loud it was, that deafening shriek of a giant black bird swooping down from above. With a wingspan longer than her bow’s length, it was the most massive crow she had ever seen. It also had five toes that ended in dagger-like talons and its beak was lined with fangs. She ducked and leapt onto another branch before the bird demon could snatch her away, trembling as the youkai ripped away a tree limb that was as wide around as her thigh.

Junna, focus!

She pressed her glasses snug on the bridge of her nose and notched an arrow. She aimed as the karasu beat its massive wings to gain altitude and let loose once she was confident with her shot. The arrow flew true and struck the bird in the breast, its silver tip multiplying the damage as it burned through the demon’s flesh. Junna was thankful she took time and wrapped blessed talismans on her ammunition.

The crow’s cries alerted the rest of its flock, so moments later, a whole murder of them was aloft. Junna’s green eyes widened in shock and trepidation. Three, four, no… seven! Seven pairs of wings were in the sky. Seven pairs of eyes trained at their flockmate’s killer.

All of the sudden, the only thing Junna could comprehend was fear.

Two birds dove at her and she narrowly escaped by jumping down from the tree. With adrenaline spiking and heightening her reaction time, Junna notched arrows, muttered long-memorized incantations and shot at the birds. She missed one by the feather but the second arrow found its mark and the karasu fell in a heap of black feathers on the ground.

Junna wasted no time in running away from there. She sprinted down the dirt pathways that used to border rice paddies, pouring ki into her legs so that she could run faster. It was a futile effort, she knew, for wings would always be faster than feet. Soon, the crows were right on her heels with talons at the ready.

She dove into the ground and lied there as low as she could. The crows clumsily collided with each other and crashed into the ground, rolling and squawking fearsomely as they snapped and clawed at one another. This gave Junna a chance to shoot them when they were grounded and easier to hit. However, she was only able to let one arrow fly before another crow dove behind her and nearly caught her by the braided locks of her hair.

Panting, Junna rolled over. Three… she was only able to get three and already fatigue was gripping her tightly. She pushed herself off the ground, grabbed her bow and ran. Ahead, she watched with dread as the rest of the murder perched on the house in the middle of the farm. They used their huge bills to peck at the wooden roof, eventually puncturing it. Inside, the farmer’s family cried in terror.

“No!” Junna screamed and angrily shot at the birds. One after another, she sent arrows their way, more concerned for the civilian’s safety than actually killing the youkai. The crows shrieked at the projectiles and a few flew away but one stayed behind and stuck its head inside the hole it had made on the roof. The ear-piercing scream of a child froze Junna in place. She stood there in the middle of the field, helplessly watching a demon crow fly off with a lifeless body of a little boy dangling between its toothed beak.

No… it can’t be…

Junna fell on her knees. This was her first test and already she had lost a life. In her grief, however, fury took root. She screamed as she stood and loaded an arrow, aiming at the karasu that had taken an innocent life. She doused the projectile with her ki, enough so that the crow would burn in holy energy, and let it fly. The arrow glowed as it left the bow and pierced the youkai’s eye. It fell down to the earth in ashes.

With it, the broken body of a child.

However, her anger dulled her senses and left her vulnerable to the rest of the murder. She was barely able to evade a set of talons that could have ripped her apart, but she was not so lucky when a second pair swooped and knocked her down a shallow ditch that used to be an irrigation canal. The fall bruised her shoulder and side, making her cry out in pain, while her bowstring snapped off the hankyu when its upper nock got caught in a piece of debris.

Blurs! Everything was a blur! Her glasses, where were they?

She froze when she realized that she had no means of fighting anymore.

It was over.

She failed.

I can’t fail… I must not fail!

Tears streamed down her face as she sightlessly stared up into the black sky. She could feel the stars twinkle beyond the thick mist, mocking her, telling her that she would never be one of them. Her other senses showed dark blotches flying in the night. In circles the crows flew, perhaps thinking of a way to dig her up from the ditch in order to consume her. Maybe it was better this way, Junna thought.

What good was a guardian who could not defend people unable to defend themselves?

The karasu squawked and then suddenly flew away from the trench Junna was trapped in. She sat up, puzzled, but unable to make out what was happening. She could not sense anything but nearby a youkai screamed and disintegrated, the darkness it carried dissolving into ether. Another followed suit, killed with such efficiency its vocalization was cut mid-screech.

Bewildered, Junna pulled herself up from the ditch, and once she had partially emerged, she perceived a shadow much larger than the crows she had been fighting with.

“The Oya…?” She whispered to herself in panic. How in the world would she be able to fight such a powerful being in her state? She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed that her comrades could find her and the farmers in time.

“Ne… you’re the one fighting them, right?” A gentle voice startled Junna for she had not sensed another presence around her aside from the youkai.

“W-what… who are you?” She turned her head this way and that, looking for the source of that voice but her ki senses found nothing. Instead, her blurry eyesight spotted a white figure standing not too far away. All she could make out in the dark was a woman of tall stature holding two blades.

“That was very brave of you,” the stranger said as she approached Junna with a steady, unconcerned gait as if there were no youkai around that could harm them. The stranger kneeled down and handed her a short shaft that she immediately recognized as a tanto sheathed in varnished bamboo. “It’s okay…” the woman spoke in soft, kind tones like she was speaking to a child, and patted her head. Junna could not clearly see her features but she could make out the mellow green of her eyes. “Everything will be okay now.”

Junna opened her mouth to question the stranger one more time, to warn her that it was dangerous and that the farmer’s family was in danger, but she was utterly silenced by a fierce golden light that burned away the Fog. It shrouded the white-cloaked woman like a flaming veil as she stood afterwards.

She was like a tower of white and gold, an awesome beacon in the middle of a black sea.

Junna tried to reach out to her but the force of the stranger’s ki was so overwhelming that nausea set in. Compounded with her fatigue and injuries, she found it difficult not to succumb. All she could utter was, “Save them…” before her consciousness surrendered to the warmth of the golden light and the calming scent of pine needles.

===============

“Can it be…?” Junna straightened and marched towards the group of children encircling a blonde-haired woman with a bunch of bananas in her arms. The said woman did not have the same silhouette from her memories due to her peculiar pigtails but she was wearing a white cloak and her voice was uncannily familiar. Logically, there was no way this could be the same woman. Junna was not even sure if she had been hallucinating back then. In fact, she was uncertain if she was not seeing things in the present as well.

“That was five years ago… there’s no way…” She told herself but her feet would not stop. If there was even a fraction of a possibility that it could be the same person who had saved her during her trial, then she must meet her. She kept her life and the rest of the farmer’s family survived because of that stranger’s intervention. She owed her a great deal.

Still, doubt filled her mind. This woman in front of her had a normal human ki. It was a muted shade of yellow, pretty but nowhere near the magnificence the stranger back then had.

“Ah, it’s Hoshimi-san!” One of the children exclaimed, then suddenly most of the kids took refuge under the woman’s cloak as if Junna was some sort of disciplinarian they all wished to avoid.

“Uh, um…” Junna stammered, unsure how to start a conversation which was odd since she was used to dealing with people all the time. “I apologize but… have we met before?”

The tall woman blinked and a glint of recognition flashed through those expressive jade irises. She smiled genially, as if she was only meeting an old friend, “I can’t say but here…”

Junna blinked in bemusement when the blonde offered her a banana.

“Don’t you want one, Hoshimi-san?”

Taken aback by the sudden gift, she just automatically took the fruit. “I… err… thank you, I guess.”

“I’ve heard a few things about you,” the woman chuckled, “It’s hard not to! You’re one of the Hachi, right? A hero!”

Junna found herself blushing at the earnest praise. “I-I’m nothing of the sort but um… I feel like I know you.”

The blonde’s smile took on a more mysterious air. “Maybe we have met somewhere before.”

Tongue-tied, Junna felt awkward at being unable to find anything to say to this friendly woman. “Right, uh…”

“My name is Daiba Nana.”

=======================================================

Already, warning bells are going off at the back of Nana’s mind, particularly in Hikari’s cold voice. It wasn’t the first time that her housemate had berated her about getting too friendly with the townsfolk of Acacia and their arguments had never ended well. Nana understood Hikari’s concerns and a part of her agreed that it was better to keep her distance for self-preservation.

But this girl… no, this young woman in front of her was the same brave warrior she had saved all those years ago. Her features had a sharper and more mature feel now, but Nana could recognize those same pair of green eyes even after the flow of time.

Full of conviction and hope.

Much like her own, before despair shattered her.

Before she knew it, she had already introduced her full name to the pretty stranger.

Ah, she could practically feel Hikari’s stiletto against her jugular now if the latter were to find out about her blunder.

“A-Ah! I’m Junna, Hoshimi Junna,” the shorter woman seemed anxious and couldn’t quite meet her gaze. Even then, she still politely held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Daiba-san.”

The simple gesture filled Nana’s heart with warmth as she readily grasped Junna’s hand. “The pleasure is mine, and please, call me Nana, Junna-chan.”

As expected, Junna appeared taken aback from being referred to so familiarly but Nana persisted by giving her an encouraging smile. Though proud of the surname she had chosen for herself, she rarely heard it and whenever she did, it tended to bring up unpleasant memories.

“Uhm, c-certainly, uh, Nana-sa… Nana-?”

The questioning tone at the end, combined with the slight reddening of her ears, was quite adorable really. Judging from the awed expressions of the children around them, it seemed to be a huge deal for the Hachi to refer to someone so directly.

“Good! Now that we know each other’s names, we’re no longer strangers, ne?” Nana gave her hand one light squeeze before letting go. She then gestured at the children, some of whom were looking at them with inquisitive eyes while some were happily munching on the bananas. “We’d love for you to join us and take a yummy snack break, don’t we?”

She was hoping the innocent chorus of the children’s cheers would help Junna loosen up, but the latter seemed as tense as ever even after she hesitantly stood closer to the little girl who waved at her.

As the children chatters around them, Nana couldn’t help but find herself comparing the bespectacled woman to the faint memory from years ago. The image of the teary, despairing new leaf was now replaced by this calm and seemingly assertive Hachi. Donned in a light blue vest and an elegant top complete with a star crest clipped to the frilly collars, Junna does appear to be the kind of supervisor or instructor that civilians would instinctively obey. There was something else, however, that attracted Nana’s attention. Junna’s very presence or ki felt serene like the gentle wash of moonlight.

It was a pleasant sensation.

Her hair has gotten longer too… the braid looks nice on her.

Nana smiled as Junna reprimanded a young boy for playing with food while gently cleaning his face with a handkerchief. Perhaps it was the spark of pride for being the one to save Junna back then and now witnessing the fruition. And since she still carried the tanto, Nana assumed that the archer had learned to wield it adequately at least.

She barely managed to not wince when she was caught staring and hastily commented. “You’re good with children, Junna-chan.”

“Fueh-?” The shorter woman let out an odd but endearing noise before averting her eyes, her voice lowering to a bashful whisper. “I-I think you’re better with children. If it weren’t for you and those snacks, they would have avoided me.”

Nana playfully quirks an eyebrow at that, to which several of the children responded with cheeky grins.

“Hoshimi-san is scary!”

“Very scary! But strong!”

“Super awesome!”

“Scary strong!”

“I heard one time she stared at a demon and it fled!”

“That’s so cool!”

Junna’s face turned several shades of red, either from annoyance or embarrassment. Even then, she didn’t get angry at the children and merely adjusted her glasses.

“See? They adore you.”

“D-Don’t make fun of me please.”

“I’m not,” Nana chuckled at her exasperated expression. “You’re one of Acacia’s guardians after all. I really respect that.”

“You do?” Junna relaxed slightly, the curiosity in her gaze more prominent now as she peered up at the taller woman. “Uh, not to be rude but, you’re not from around here are you, Nana? I-I mean, I haven’t seen you around town… not that I know the name of everyone who lives here but I would’ve recognized you otherwise…”

“Hmm~ You’re correct. I don’t live here. Do you know the land across the sea, Gallia? I’m from a place further than that. Have you heard of Vertalis?” Nana gestured at the direction of the port with practiced ease. It was a well-rehearsed cover story that she and Hikari had drafted over the years. While it invited a lot of questions about the distant land, people tended to be more curious than wary due to how rare it was to meet someone from that far away. No one would be digging at their tale for lies and it gave them the leeway to present themselves as simple travellers.

“I’ve… heard about Vertalis. I believe some of the vendors sell produce, such as carrots, from there but those aren’t direct imports,” Junna says slowly, as if digesting the information. “In fact, they had to go through several intermediaries to get here. You’ve come a very long way…”

Junna trailed off and took out a notepad, scribbling comments and sketching a map much to Nana’s amusement and the children’s fascination.

“Yup! I’ve been around. You know what people say - go out there and expand your horizons~ I’m on my way to Albion actually but I decided to stop by Acacia to get some supplies and,” she patted her knapsack, where only one hand of bananas remained after sharing her purchase to the children. “I’m glad I did! These are some of the most delicious bananas I had for a while.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying your stay here so far.” Junna straightened up, her eyes gleaming with pride. Her gaze then trailed over to the twin katanas by her hip, which prompted Nana to add.

“For self-defense, though I haven’t had the need to use them much lately.”

Junna nodded slowly, seemingly deep in thought. While it was not uncommon for travellers to carry weapons, Nana realized that she probably stood out in this part of Acacia where there were mostly farmers and other more down to earth civilians. Youkai were known to prey upon other human settlements around the world too, such as Gallia and Albion, but those incidences were not as frequent as the Fog that plagued Acacia.

“Which is why I’m so amazed, great Hachi,” Nana tried to pull Junna’s mind away from her katanas, “I’ve been hearing about this Kiri no Yoru and how the guardians have to fight against packs of youkais to protect Acacia! It must have been quite the terrible fight last night.”

“It was…”

Nana’s shoulders drooped, for her remark only made Junna even more troubled instead of lifting her spirits. There was guilt in her visage as she surveyed the destruction around them.

“Oh oh! I saw one of the boss monsters! It was a huuuuge serpent-thing with antlers! But Hoshimi-san shot it down!”

“Yeah yeah! Hoshimi-san is so cool with her bow!”

Once again, Junna appeared at a loss at being the center of such positive attention. “I was just fulfilling my duties, it’s not that big of a deal-”

“But it is!” One of the smaller boys suddenly exclaimed. He cringed at the resulting silence and shrank behind Nana when Junna blinked at him. He was probably worried for interrupting the Hachi, but at Nana’s encouraging pat, he shuffled forward and gestured animatedly with his tiny arms. “You’re a heroine, Hoshimi-san! My dad’s a fisherman so I’m always scared that he’d get attacked by demons but you got rid of them! For us! I-I’m really grateful!”

Junna’s austere expression softened as she crouched down to the little boy’s eye level. “No, thank you, for believing in me, in us.”

Perhaps it was the circumstances, the way that the Hachi spoke, or even just that small gesture of kindness, for Nana felt a pang in her chest with a myriad of emotions. Relief that such an innocent young soul had such a dependable, sincere protector; envy that she was denied and robbed of a chance for a positive childhood; admiration for the woman with a noble heart.

“Well then, I should be getting back to work,” Junna straightened herself and motioned at the direction of the town. “You should all be getting back to your parents too. These areas aren’t repaired yet so it would make me feel better if you don’t linger for too long.”

A chorus of complaints was expected, though Junna patiently and firmly stood her ground until the children gave in. Still, it took more persuading for several to stop clinging to Nana. As she fondly watched the kids leave while waving back every few paces, she wondered if she would behave freely like them too, in another lifetime.

“So um, there are still a couple of errands I need to run,” Junna smiled up at her. “Thank you for the snack, Nana.”

“You’re welcome…” It’s been relaxing to converse with the Hachi and she didn’t want them to part yet. As she struggled to think of a reason to prolong their time together, Junna cleared her throat and averted her eyes.

“And since you’re new here, would you like me to s-show you around?”

Nana perked up, unable to contain her grin, though the timid and awkward part of her still compelled her to ask. “Are you sure? I mean, I’d love for you to accompany me but you have a busy schedule and I don’t want to be a bother… not to mention, you had a rough night, you should get proper rest as soon as you can.” She had noticed the bandaid on Junna’s cheek earlier and that her pale visage hadn’t improved over their snack break.

“You’re not a bother. Quite the opposite in fact,” Junna adjusted her glasses as she glanced over her notepad. “I just need to check in with some of the workers but I’ve done what I can for now. Talking to you and the children had re-energized me.”

“Really? That’s great to hear.” Chuckling in relief, Nana playfully curtsied. “Then please lead the way, Miss Hachi~”

Junna blinked at her antics but she unexpectedly took her arm in a light grip and began to lead her towards one of the arterial roads. It took a while for Nana to get used to following another person, for she had always been so independent and had to decide for herself which way she needed to go.

But this was refreshing, especially when her guide was so enthusiastic and obviously proud of her hometown.

While this wasn’t her first time in Acacia, it was certainly new to hear about brief backgrounds and highlights about specific areas of this culturally diverse place. For one, she didn’t know what the grand statue in the town square was supposed to be, and its significance to the residents. The abstract stone carving was a collage of the five mythical guardians that had protected the world in time immemorial: the vermillion phoenix of the Tendou Clan, the obsidian tortoise of the Saijou Clan, the white tiger of the Isurugi Clan, the azure dragon of the Hanayagi Clan, and lastly the center, the golden unicorn that was represented by the enigmatic Kirin and figurehead of the Hachi. She also learned about fun trivia such as the apothecary hidden from plain sight in one of the alleys and how it sold rare items like dried scorpions and apparently nekomata claws too.

Eventually, Junna led her to a boulevard teeming with people and carts carrying wooden planks and other materials. The hardworking Hachi excused herself briefly to speak with some of the workers about requests from the quartermaster as well as to confirm the allocation of manpower for the repairs. In work mode, Junna no longer stumbled over her words and spoke with the smooth confidence of someone used to managing people. It was inspiring really, just watching her.

If Nana remembered correctly, the market district should only be a few blocks down, where all sorts of vendors gathered in the form of actual shops, temporary stalls, or even just wares laid out on tarps on the side of the street. Her original plan was to go there to purchase food for her pantry and perhaps shop around for other necessities, and leave Acacia before noon. Alas, she had gotten sidetracked by the first grocery store that sold bananas and had soon found herself surrounded by children.

Now here she was, in the company of this well-adored Hachi.

Indeed, the workers and other passersby seemed humbled by having an esteemed member of the Eight amongst them. There was nothing but respect in the way they greeted Junna, from hearty words of gratitudes to sincere smiles. Apparently, she was the one who had established a program in which Kiri no Yoru victims can be treated cheaply at the town infirmary. Truth be told, Nana felt rather awkward standing off to the side, watching all these people vying for Junna’s attention.

Just as she was on the verge of simply slipping away into the crowds, Junna managed to extract herself and took hold of her arm once more. Though visibly tired, she also looked relieved now that she had completed her task.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, especially when I was the one who offered to show you around.”  

“It’s okay, you have many things to do after all.”

“It’s all taken care of for now! Um, you had some supplies you wish to purchase, right? Let’s head over to the marketplace then. I need to get some spare glasses as well.”

Fleetingly, Nana recalled how the young girl she had saved fumbled in the darkness, yet the children had claimed her to be a great archer. Perhaps she could pinpoint ki better than mere sight could do?

How do you see me then, human… or youkai? Nana was distracted from that depressing line of thoughts when Junna hastily greeted yet another enthusiastic person thanking her for protecting Acacia.

“Hehe, Junna-chan is like a celebrity~”

“How so?”  

“You have so many fans. Based on what I’ve heard earlier, you’re the reason why the injured folks were able to afford treatment. I think that’s really amazing.”

“Oh, that’s only possible because of the shared contributions from the four main families,” Junna shook her head and adjusted her glasses uncomfortably. “I didn’t do much.”

“Still, you started the program, didn’t you? Taking that first step is always something. Besides, everyone seems to… hmm, flock to you like bees to honey?”

“What kind of analogy is that?” Junna chuckled, her posture relaxing. “And I suppose it’s because the Hachi is usually not seen in public, especially not around this time. Because of our training schedule and nightly patrols, we don’t get to interact with the locals that often. They’re entitled to know more about the Fog, so naturally they would be coming to me to ask questions about what happened last night.”

“Hnn~ So modest,” Nana teased, leaning down so that she was peering up at Junna instead. “Maybe they want to talk to you just because?”

“T-That’s unlikely. I’m not Tendou-san or Saijou-san,” Junna frowned, her voice lowering rather wistfully, “I’m not like Karen or Mahiru-san either… people are more relaxed around them, while they always tense up around me. I wish they don’t have to be so reserved.”

“Is that so? I don’t get why though. I certainly don’t feel nervous talking to you.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re a traveler so you don’t have the preconception of the Hachi?”

“You should give yourself more credit. I think you’re a people person.”

“You’re better at it though, especially with the children earlier.”

“Like I said before, it’s only because of the bananas! Food helps along the process of making friends,” Nana twittered and patted her signature banana pigtails. “I suppose my special hairstyle helps too~”

“I don’t know how you got your hair to look like that. Karen wears her hair in pigtails too but… ah Karen is my friend, one of the Hachi that I usually team up with,” Junna shook her head, chuckling. She seemed rather fond of this Karen with the way her eyes softened even as she grumbled. “She is always so energetic and has a bounce in her steps so those pigtails sort of… flap like puppy ears.”

“Hmm, I can be a puppy too.” Nana pouted and pushed her pigtails upwards once more, smiling when Junna laughed at that.

“You really like bananas don’t you?”

“Yup! Not only they’re easier to find in the wild, they’re also quite nutritious. What’s your favorite fruit then?”

Junna fell silent for a moment, eyes furrowed as if taking this casual question as a serious inquiry. Nana patiently waited, even slowing down her pace for her companion.

“I don’t really have a preference but, if I have to pick something, it would be strawberries,” Junna says hesitantly, averting her eyes like a sheepish child. “I don’t really indulge myself often, since they’re rather expensive especially around this time of the year…”

“True, I like all kinds of food too but I rarely have funds to spare for the more pricey kind- urk!“ Nana was too immersed in learning more about her new friend that she inadvertently bumped into someone, right against her injured shoulder.

“Sorry about that!” The large worker struggled to regain balance with the various tools he carried, but he still managed to greet them amiably before continuing his way in a hurry.

Nana could only clutch at her shoulder and breathe deeply to suppress the burning pain.

“You’re hurt!” Junna quickly but gingerly ushered her away from the center of the road. “We must go to the clinic to get it checked out-”

“No, it’s okay, it’s not that bad,” Nana fought not to grimace and inwardly prayed that her scab did not tear.

“If you’re worried about the issue of being a foreigner, then it’s okay because I know the head physician. There’s nothing more important than making sure you get proper treatment.”

No one, especially not a medical professional, could see her wound. There would be too many questions about her accelerated healing and she certainly didn’t want Junna to think any different of her. Although, Junna’s sincere concern did make it difficult for her to lie.

“It was just a cut. It’s healing just fine - I had an encounter with… bandits back in Gallia. It’s been weeks. My shoulder is just a little sore, that’s all.”

“Oh… I thought maybe you fought against some youkais, ones that we Hachi failed to eliminate…”

“Youkai aren’t the only monsters out there,” Nana said quietly. “I just wasn’t expecting the pain. See? I’m fine.”

She carefully moved her arm, ignoring any stabs of pain, and mustered a small smile. Junna appeared unconvinced, though she seemed to be pondering over her words too.

“To my knowledge, there aren’t any bandits around these parts. Youkais have always been the main problem for us. I’ve never been out of Acacia so I don’t know what things are like out there…”

“Travelling is great, that I won’t deny. The adventures are fun and you learn so much about so many different things but still,” Nana’s smile dropped as she surveyed the busy street where people went about their daily lives with the certainty that they have a place to return to. “I’d rather have a… home, a place of belonging, y’know? Somewhere that would compel me to go back to if the trips become too much.”

“I suppose I’ve never really thought about such matters before,” Junna looked more troubled now but at least her attention wasn’t focused on the injured shoulder anymore. “I live at Seishouya, the Hachi’s headquarters, with my comrades, and my parents still kept my old room back at the Hoshimi compound. I guess I’ve taken things for granted, huh? Is that why you’re going to Albion?”

Nana had to take a moment to remind herself of her cover story. “Yes, sort of. I’ve never been there before, so maybe I’ll like it.”

“How about Acacia then? This is your first time here too.”

“Well, it’s only my first day so it’s hard to say,” Nana chuckled at Junna’s faint blush. The latter must have realized how brusque her question sounded, though Nana found such straightforwardness to be one of her charm points. It was true in a way that this was her first time here at Acacia, the Acacia that Junna was showing her. “Like I said earlier though, I’m glad I came here first. I got to meet you after all.”

“Aren’t you a flatterer,” Junna gave her glasses a habitual adjustment, her cheeks darkening.

“I’m just being honest. If I hadn’t met you, I would have left already without having enjoyed your company.”

“... I enjoy your company too.” Though a quiet mumble, Junna sounded like she meant her words and that truly warmed Nana’s heart.

Reassured that she really made a new friend, she allowed herself to relax more and chat about personal things, such as preference in clothing style and colors. She couldn’t remember the last time she talked this much about herself, about Daiba Nana, to someone who seemed just as curious to learn too.

As Junna led her around the marketplace and talked a little bit about each shop, she was making mental notes about the helpful archer instead of the surroundings. The basic layout hadn’t changed since her last visit, with commodities like rice, wheat and spice displayed on one side while handicrafts and tools were sold in more crowded formations on the other side. Junna’s love of literature and constellations were more fascinating than the stores.

She almost made a beeline for the book stall but sheepishly stopped in time to gesture at one of the cheaper bakeries. Under her recommendation, Nana managed to get a good deal on bread, cheese, a bag of flour and even some mushrooms. This was probably the best use of funds that she’s done in years. With her selling deep forest herbs and berries and Hikari selling the game she’s hunted, the two of them only managed to scrape by every day. They only invested in practical items like whetstones for their blades, rolls of fabric to mend torn clothes or to be used as blankets when it got too cold, and of course kitchenware.

Humming, Nana slung her knapsack over her good shoulder, pleased with all stuff she bought with more than enough funds to spare. Maybe she could buy one of the books that Junna spoke of. Fiction was a decent alternate reality to escape into whenever the real world got too stressful, and it was always fun to immerse herself in a good story. She knew that Hikari was an avid reader as well, from the rare times that she talked about her Albion days. Therefore, such extra purchase should be welcomed.

“What was that novel you mentioned earlier, Junna-chan? It was written by an Albion author, about a romance between two feuding families…” Nana trailed off at Junna’s silence, finally noticing just how pale the latter looked. “Let’s find a place for you to rest.”

“I’m okay…” Her wispy voice was the only warning Nana got before she swayed and toppled forward.

Nana instinctively caught Junna before she fell, though the impact jostled her injured shoulder and caused a groan to slip through her gritted teeth. Hearing that, Junna tried to pull away but she could only clutch at the taller woman’s cloak to remain standing.

“I’m sorry… I just n-need a minute…”

The sheer fatigue in her voice made Nana’s stomach churn. How could she not have noticed earlier? She should have insisted on making Junna go home to rest after her errands were completed. From the way she treated the people, it was obvious that she put them before herself and thus didn’t say anything during their shopping.

“Pardon me,” she lowered her voice firmly and wrapped one arm around Junna’s waist before the latter could react. While she wasn’t able to carry the shorter woman due to her injury and the full knapsack, she could at least support her weight as much as possible.

Awkwardly and slowly, the pair made their way towards an open area that had some benches and tables, most likely for customers of a nearby teashop. A few elderly men, upon noticing their approach, hastily vacated their spot for them.

“Thank you kindly.” Nana smiled as they fussed over the mortified Hachi, saying that they were about to leave anyway and she needed the seat more than they did, after everything she had done for Acacia.

“I can’t believe this… that elders would put me before them…” Junna sighed shakily, taking off her glasses to briefly rub her eyes. “Again, I’m sorry about-”

“That’s not what I want to hear, Junna-chan, and I should be the one to apologize. I didn’t realize just how tired you are.”

“No, that’s only because I purified the mizuchi…”

Ki depletion. That makes sense. So, she can purify youkais-? “We will take a break here, and then I’ll escort you back home, okay? You’ve done enough today,” Nana peered at the visibly dizzy woman, uncertain what she could do to help. After a moment’s hesitation, she unclasped her cloak and took off her coat to drape it around Junna’s slouched form. “I’ll be right back.”

“H-huh-? Where are you-”

Without giving her a chance to protest, Nana went to order a pot of hot tea. A nearby vendor caught her attention too, and she impulsively purchased the box of strawberries after a brief inner apology to Hikari about splurging their funds. Already, she could picture Junna’s visage lighting up with delight and that was enough of a reason. Truth be told, she felt self-conscious about this impromptu gift, considering they just became friends, but she couldn’t think of a better way to treat the hardworking Hachi.

Her money pouch was practically weightless by the time she was ready to return to the table. Junna looked rather small, covered by her large coat, and she was resting her chin on her interlaced fingers, valiantly trying not to doze off.

Before Nana could call out to her though, two women approached Junna and were greeted with a sheepish smile. The pigtailed brunette was gesturing animatedly while the dark-haired one was speaking in a quiet tone, both of them clearly concerned.

“We went all over the place looking for you, Junjun! Futaba-chan said she hasn’t seen you since this morning!”

“You should have gone back to Seishouya long ago. You must be terribly tired.”

“I can still-”

“Non non da yo, Junjun! You always tell us to take care of ourselves, so it’s Mahiru-chan and my turn to fuss over you now!”

“Karen-chan is right, Junna-chan. Come on, you can lean on us.”

Junna’s eyes were previously clouded in exhaustion but now there was a spark in them that could only be caused by the presence of her two friends. Even though Nana was only several paces away, Junna seemed so far out of reach then.

The pang of solitude reminded her that the Hachi had her own world and she was just a mere acquaintance. Therefore, she should act like one instead of overthinking things. She cleared her throat awkwardly, almost reluctant to intrude but still she would like Junna to enjoy the snacks she bought even if she wouldn’t be around to witness it.

“Here you go, something to give you a bit of energy!”

“Nana-?” The bespectacled woman blinked at the box of strawberries and pot of tea that she carefully placed on the table.

“Seems like your friends have found you, Junna-chan. Now that you’re in good hands, I shall take my leave.” She politely nodded at the two women, who looked surprised at their exchange. “Thanks for showing me around. I really appreciate it.”

“W-wait!” Junna struggled to stand up and might have stumbled if it weren’t for the pigtailed brunette’s reflex. “Your coat, thanks, um, for all of this… I-I’d like to repay you somehow. Oh, how about tomorrow? I’ll be functioning better by then, I hope, and besides there’s the upcoming festival that I’d like to tell you more about so, uh, if you’re fine with staying around Acacia a while longer?”

Nana was too taken aback by the invitation that she barely noticed Junna rambling and her friends exchanging significant looks.

“Of course. I’d love to spend more time here, with you,” she tried to keep her voice steady, accepting her coat back. “Please rest well, Junna-chan. I’ll… see you tomorrow then?”

“Yes, at noon… I’ll be here.”

Not trusting herself to speak properly, Nana could only nod at that and hurried away before her composure cracked. That fleeting bout of loneliness was washed away by the anticipation of seeing her new friend again tomorrow. Though emotional, the overall positive sensation was euphoric to the point that she felt as if she was skipping on clouds.

She considered her ability to mask her true feelings quite honed over the years but Junna easily pierced through her walls, like arrows even. That wasn’t a bad thing though, for a weight was lifted off her chest and this was definitely one of the most interesting days she’s had for a long time.

Nevermind having to hide her true identity. Nevermind that deadly duel against the strongest of the Hachi. Nevermind the countless problems that lurked in the future.

Instead of trudging through each day and simply surviving to maintain the facade of a peaceful life, she had something to look forward to at last.

I’ll be more observant tomorrow, Junna-chan. I’ll make sure you have a good time accompanying me!

A spike of angry ki caused her to tense for a moment but she dropped her guard slightly upon recognizing who was waiting for her by the edge of the town. She gulped nervously at Hikari’s icy glare and wondered if it was too late to beg for forgiveness. She did promise to would return before she woke up, with freshly baked treats too.

Not to mention I barely have any funds left… yikes.

“It is late afternoon.”

Nana tried to smile to diffuse the tension. “I’m sorry, I got caught up but uh, I promise I’ll whip up a delicious meal as soon as we get home… you must be really hungry.”

“I was.”

It was then that Nana noticed her companion wasn’t as upset as expected. In fact, having known the emotionless woman for years, she would even dare say Hikari looked… pleased? And what was the small white item clipped to her belt? Some sort of bear plushie?

“What is that-”

“Don’t ask.” Hikari hastily covered it with her cloak and stormed away. “Hurry up. Just because I got some stew earlier doesn’t mean I’m not hungry.”

“But really, where did you get-”

“Quiet. I do not want to hear another word from you.”

Grinning, Nana easily caught up to the fuming woman with a few strides but wisely remained silent as told. It was so rare that Hikari was in a good mood and she’d like to relish that for as long as she could. Their familiar bickering allowed her to calm down and regain control over her emotions at least.

It seemed like she wasn’t the only one who had a great time in town today. Once they had settled down and Hikari was more complacent with a filled stomach, Nana vowed to get the details.

“This is a flash grenade.”

Ruby gulps nervously, not because she understands what that Muggle terminology means but because of You and Chika’s serious expressions. Chika is seated in one of the couches with her arms folded and her characteristic ahoge drooped, while You is carefully inspecting the object before placing it back into the wooden box.

“Even in the Muggle world, this isn’t something accessible to civilians,” You says thoughtfully, her gaze trained on the item as if she could unravel the mystery. “Chika-chan and I have seen enough movies to recognize it. Even if it’s not a flash grenade, it’s… still a grenade, a bomb.”

“Why would they give me something like this though?” Somewhat frustrated, Ruby begins to pace around the her Prefect dorm, a habit she’s picked up from Kanan since her First Year. “I wonder what Osaka-san and Kazuno-san have in their boxes?”

After the end of the First Task, it was announced that the Second Task would be held after New Year’s. The official only stated that the item in the wooden box is vital to the nature of the Second Task, and that the champion should get to know their respective item before then. Each champion is also allowed to bring one more item with them in this Task, and the only hint was that the two items should balance each other.

Furthermore, there is one special condition that will be announced on the day of the Second Task, and Ruby had an iffy feeling about it so she’d like to prepare for the worst.

But, what is she supposed to do?

“Hmm, no other hint at all huh?” Chika slowly chews on her mikan pastry, her eyes not shimmering as usual whenever she enjoys her snacks, but rather filled with concern for her friend.

“No. I heard the Durmstrang principal was rather upset about the secrecy but that’s it.”

“I guess this is fair. Unnerving, but fair.” You pats Ruby’s head, prompting the latter to smile. “We’ll research more on the grenades, you can count on us! How about the other item?”

“Onee-chan suggested I bring the Kurosawa sabre. Since there’s so much we don’t know about the Second Task, the sabre can at least protect me.”

Truthfully, Ruby isn’t as keen on the idea. She would much rather bring a bottle of Dittany in case she gets injured but in the end, she agrees with her sister that prevention is much better than treatment.

“That’s a great idea, as expected of Dia-san! I bet she’ll be surprised when she sees you in action~” Chika also bounces up from her chair and wraps her arm around Ruby’s shoulder. “Hehe, she doesn’t know what you’ve been working on, right?”

At this, Ruby grins playfully and does a Rubesty pose. No matter how much she practices, she acknowledges that she will never be skillful in swordsmanship. Therefore, at her request, Chika had been more than happy to teach her the complex Charm that makes her Beater bats hover around her like sentient guards. Except, in this case, Ruby has utilized it on the Kurosawa sabre. The last time they dueled in the Room of Requirement, the sword was quite the force to be reckoned with.

“That’s our girl! Uuuaaaah, You-chan, I can’t believe our Ruby-chan’s all so grown up now.” Dramatically, the Head Girl flops against her girlfriend and pretends to wipe away her tears with the latter’s scarf.

“A true champion of Hogwarts! We’ve raised her well~” You picks up Chika and spins her around while pretending to sniffle.

Ruby chuckles at the duo’s familiar antics. The couple never excludes her from their theatrics and she always enjoys watching them interact anyway. Being around them makes her feel happy and at ease, all the troubles churning in her mind evaporating away. You and Chika truly are magical in their own special way.

Not to mention, they’re both very perceptive.

“Something’s bothering you, right? And it’s nothing to do with the Tournament.”

Ruby doesn’t see a point in hiding it. “I’m worried about Yoshiko-chan and Hanamaru-chan.”

The duo exchanges a knowing look. “Right, we’ve been trying to grab hold of them too but they’ve gotten pretty good at evading.” You chuckles quietly at the last bit. Years of running away from the You Watanabe Fanclub must have trained Yoshiko well.

“I’ve talked with Hanamaru-chan, but it wasn’t enough - that’s the bad thing about having my own Prefect dorm, I miss being roommates with her. Outside of my Prefect duties, I try to look for her but she must’ve learned from Kanan-san where the best hiding spots are around the school. There just aren’t any… right opportunities.” Exasperated, Ruby resumes pacing around the room. “The most I’d gotten out of her is that, she kept saying it’s her fault but Yoshiko-chan won’t accept her apology and insisted she’s the one at fault instead.”

This isn’t a fight where she could just make the two talk and compromise. There’s no side to coax into admitting fault and apologize, not when both parties believe they’re the guilty ones. Both are very reluctant to talk about the subject further. Hanamaru had requested her to drop the subject and she couldn’t bring herself to push it. After all, Hanamaru had never asked her for anything, so how could she refuse?

“You just focus on the Second Task. Leave Hanamaru-chan to You-chan and I!” Chika pumps up her fist. “No one can evade our MVP Seeker for long! And I’m sure Riko-chan can grab hold of Yoshiko-chan and talk some sense into her.”

Ruby trusts the duo and her future sister-in-law, she really does, but it’s gnawing away at her conscience that she hasn’t been helpful towards her best friends. This useless feeling, it’s all too familiar, like how things were years ago back in the Estate.

“Aww, don’t make that face, Ruby-chan! You have a lot on your plate and you’ve already tried your best, cheer up!” Chika’s smiles then shifts to a mischievous one. “Don’t you have something else urgent that’s coming up very soon?”

You catches the drift and snickers. “Oh yes, the fun stuff~ I heard you have gained quite a bit of following after your awesome performance at the First Task~”

Ruby twitches uncomfortably. A tradition that’s existed for centuries, one that each champion must participate. A mandatory ‘task’ that she really doesn’t want to be under the spotlight for.

“So, who’re you taking to the Yule Ball?”

A strangled whimper is all she could reply to that.

==================

“There! How’s Yohane-sama’s amazing skills!?”

“Thanks for styling my hair! You really are good, Yoshiko-chan!”

“It’s Yoha-... whatever, hmnff, as long as you recognize my awesomeness, little demon no.4!”

Even though Yoshiko quickly hides it, Ruby notices that fleeting hesitation and that confirms her doubts. Still, she decides to put that on hold for now so they can finish dressing up. She glances around at all the makeup and accessories as well as the various clothes they no longer need, and acknowledges that this is the messiest that her Dorm has become in a while.

She couldn’t help but smile as Yoshiko poses in front of the mirror, relieved at this arrangement. It definitely is more relaxing to be in her best friend’s company instead of a fan’s. She thought You was joking but there had been several ambushes in the preceding weeks, including the time she almost drank a glass of juice that has Love Potion in it! It was downright scary!

Is it really such a big deal, to be featured on the front page of the Daily Prophet as a champion’s partner?

After much consideration, Ruby had originally asked Riko to accompany her for many reasons. Even though You and Chika had volunteered, Ruby did not want to split the couple especially since this is their last year at Hogwarts. Riko was in charge of performing with the piano so Ruby would only have to open the dance floor as Hogwarts’ champion and she is done. It would also be nice to spend time with her future sister-in-law, showing their closeness under public scrutiny. Neither Dia nor Riko has expressed concerns for the public’s opinion of their engagement but Ruby still wants to show her support whenever there’s an opportunity.

But then, Yoshiko had demanded to accompany Ruby. In spite of her best friends’ situation, Ruby had hoped that Hanamaru and Yoshiko would go to the Ball together. What surprised her more though, is the fact that Leah asked Hanamaru and the latter agreed. It didn’t seem like Leah got along with any of her schoolmates, at least the ones within Durmstrang’s entourage, but she did not expect Leah to ask Hanamaru of all the people.

Sighing, Ruby half-heartedly fixes her cloak and tries to ignore the weird feeling in her chest. Ever since this strange turn of events, she’s been feeling restless and confused. She doesn’t get annoyed often, which is why she has no idea how to deal with this tension in her body. True to their words, You and Chika had hunted down Hanamaru, and Riko had a long chat with Yoshiko as well, but Ruby has yet to see any improvement in their situation. Why else would Yoshiko go with her and Hanamaru still going with Leah? And Yoshiko hadn’t complained that her girlfriend was going with someone else. Just what’s going on? This doesn’t make any sense!

“Why the serious expression, Ruby? The fallen angel-”

“Yoshiko-chan. Tell me what’s going on between you and Hanamaru-chan. Please.”

It’s now or never. Ruby feels awful for ruining the merry atmosphere but she can’t bear it any longer. As expected, Yoshiko’s grin drops but she continues to stare at her reflection in the mirror. Ruby patiently remains silent as her friend fiddles with the ribbons and puts on her earrings. The raven-haired girl then reaches up for the quill affixed in her bun but stops at the last moment and leaves it be.

“... I guess it’s been long enough. Lily’s urged me to talk to you about it but…”

Ruby panics at the sight of shimmering tears in her friend’s eyes but Yoshiko irritably wipes them away with her gloved hand.

“Goddamit. It’s just hard to talk about, especially… to you.”

“Me?” Ruby hasn’t expected that, and is more than startled when Yoshiko whirls around and enters her personal space in one swift stride.

“Who am I, Ruby Kurosawa?”

The husky tone and the proximity cause her to cringe and instinctively clutch at her chest. Her heart quickens in fear in spite of her mind inwardly screaming otherwise.

“... I’m sorry. I just wanted to see your reaction.” Yoshiko murmurs sadly and backs away, returning to her spot in front of the mirror.

“Y-Yoshiko-chan, that’s not… I didn’t mean-” Ashamed, Ruby tries to ignore the prickling ache from the scars of sectumsempra and boldly places a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder. Yoshiko smiles slightly at that, but the sight just makes her feel worse.

“It’s okay. I thought I’ve gotten over it. I thought we’ve all gotten over it, but it’s not that easy is it?” Yoshiko gingerly touches the mirror’s surface, her fingers trailing the shape of the quill before clenching into a fist. “I am Yoshiko. But I am also Yohane. I’ve accepted that. Or I thought I did.”

“Yoshiko-chan-”

“Things were going so well, y’know, between Hanamaru and I. Both of us, we thought we’ve moved on. But then, this one time, when we were kissing and things were getting heated between us, she… started crying. She was horrified and kept apologizing for thinking of...”

Ruby feels cold. No wonder this has been so difficult for her two friends to talk about. Back in their Second Year, Hanamaru had confided in her that she would involuntarily recall the first kiss she shared with the Yoshiko she fell in love with, and how guilty and conflicted she felt about being so intimate with the Yoshiko now. Ruby had tried her best to reassure her friend and always made sure to give the two privacy to sort things out, so things had never escalated to this point.

It was already painful to put herself in Hanamaru’s shoes, let alone Yoshiko’s.

“I told her it’s not her fault but, well, I’m just… I don’t know what to do anymore,” Yoshiko chuckles dryly and turns away from the mirror at last. “I love her, Ruby, but maybe she loves the Yoshiko I used to be more.” Yoshiko closes her eyes and shakes her head. “No, I shouldn’t doubt, I shouldn’t… I-I’m sorry to just dump this on you-”

Not knowing what else to do, Ruby hugs her friend tightly. “I’m the one who made you talk, Yoshiko-chan. I’m sorry I’m not helpful at all. It’ll be very hard, I understand that, but things cannot go on like this. I’ll be there if you two need an extra voice, anything, but please promise me you’ll talk to her. I w-will too. You’re both too important to me, I refuse to let the past get in the way of my best friends becoming h-happy.”

“Hey now, why’re you the one crying? You’re messing up my masterpiece!” Yoshiko laughs, sniffling hastily and hands over a handkerchief to Ruby. “Thank you though. I… I really appreciate it. I needed that. I really, really am grateful.”

Ruby smiles weakly, forcing away that horrible memory of Yohane almost killing her to the back of her mind. She needs to be strong, especially now.

“Heh, I remember you used to be a lot shorter than me.” Grinning, Yoshiko mischievously pats her head before tugging on her side ponytail. “Not anymore though. You’ve grown into your princely outfit for sure.”

“I’d r-rather wear a dress like you do. I look weird! Even the outfit I wore to the Banquet in our First Year is better than this…”

“What, you’re doubting Yohane-sama’s fashion sense? Trust me, you look great. Those two Gryffs will be all over you, not to mention your little fanclub-”

“Yoshiko-chan!”

“Fine fine. Why don’t you escort the great fallen angel to this Yule Ball and show the rest of the mortals what dancing truly is?”

Ruby stands straighter and chivalrously takes her partner’s hand, finding herself relaxing now that Yoshiko is smiling again. The expression still looks a bit stiff and her eyes are clouded with doubts, but overall she appears more relaxed at least.

The Christmas Banquet in their First Year was when her two best friends finally faced their feelings and confessed. Ruby fervently hopes that the magic of such dance would bring them back together once more.

====================

“They seem to be having fun.”

Ruby couldn’t help but mumble as she and Yoshiko sway along the waltz. It probably looks comical for any onlookers, that their attention is not on each other but on another pair. Indeed, after the first dance that each champion is obligated to start off the night, Leah and Hanamaru have remained on the dance floor and are seemingly absorbed in each other.

At first, the Durmstrang champion looks just as placid as she always does. She seems to despise the spotlight being on her just as much as she dislikes dancing for the formality of the Tournament. However, she is now chuckling at something Hanamaru said. That’s a positive expression, one that Ruby has never seen before. When did they get so close?

“That’s just the way Zuramaru is. She’s good at making us loners open up.”

Ruby frowns at Yoshiko, tugging so that the latter is close enough to hear her whispered words. “Even with the situation between you two, I don’t see Hanamaru-chan just agreeing to being Kazuno-san’s partner. It’s not like her.”

“Well, I agree this isn’t like her, but maybe she just wants to get her mind off of things. Maybe that Durmstrang champion has something I don’t?”

Ruby deliberately steps on Yoshiko’s foot, earning an angry yelp. “None of that, Yoshiko-chan. I was going to wait until after they finish dancing to get you two to talk, but I think enough time has passed.”

“W-Wait, now? But, what should I say?”

Yoshiko’s uncertain expression softens Ruby’s heart, but she recalls their earlier conversation and steels her resolve. “What you said to me. Knowing Hanamaru-chan, she would understand. If she continues to apologize, you just need to hug her and express your feelings until she can’t possibly think of anything else.”

“... where did you-? I’m gonna tell Dia-san that Kanan and Mari have been teaching you unnecessary things. Or was it those dunderheads?”

Ruby blinks. “What’s wrong with hugging? You-san and Chika-san hug all the time, they would cheer each other up that way.”

Yoshiko still looks dubious for some reason but sighs and nods. “Alright. Let’s go for it.”

After giving her friend’s hand one last encouraging squeeze, Ruby leads her around the crowd and towards the dancing pair. Leah’s expression darkens as soon as she notices her, which inexplicably irks her.

“What do you want?”

The Durmstrang champion is clad in a formal outfit fancier than her school uniform. The furred cloak is styled over one shoulder, with the school’s double-headed eagle embroidered proudly over the velvet scarlet. Her shoulder length hair is pulled to a sleek low ponytail, giving her a refreshing and regal demeanor in contrast to her usual slightly unruly appearance. If it weren’t for her vicious scowl and biting tone, she would have passed as a foreign royalty.

Hanamaru, dressed in a pretty but simple dress of white and dark crimson, drops her gaze nervously at their approach. If it weren’t for Leah’s tight grip on her wrist, she might have bolted from the dance floor. Ruby wistfully reminisces how she used to be the one fleeing from confrontations and Hanamaru being the one to give her courage.

Taking a deep breath, she firmly steps forward and reaches for Hanamaru’s hand.

“Kurosawa, what’re you-”

“Couples should spend the rest of the night together.”

“Ruby-chan, I-”

Ruby simply gives her dear friend a soft smile before nudging her towards Yoshiko, who’s been standing awkwardly to the side. Just as Leah is about to reclaim her partner, Ruby loops one arm around hers and drags her away. Soon, other dancing pairs obscure her view of her best friends but she trusts them to at least try to make it through one song together.

If glares could murder, Ruby is certain Leah has killed her a dozen times already. “You’ll pay for this!”

“I do apologize for interrupting your night with Hanamaru-chan, but-”

“Ha! I don’t really care, Kurosawa, but your friend’s stories are entertaining at least. Between a dreadful night with an eyesore, like you, she’s the better alternative.”

Frowning, Ruby tries to ignore the insult. “Stories?”

“Yup. She won’t stop talking about you and that girl… her girlfriend, I assume?” Leah rolls her eyes. “Like I said, rather than useless chatters, I do find her stories interesting.”

“I see… that’s why you asked her to the dance?”

“That’s right. She did Disarm me that time in the hallway. More impressive than you anyway.” Leah trails off, glancing between their connected hands and the fact that they’re swaying to the ballad. “... are we dancing?”

“Oh. I suppose we are-?” Truthfully, Ruby hasn’t realized that she’s taken the lead position with one arm loosely wrapped around Leah’s waist. She was too focused on getting the Durmstrang champion as far away from Yoshiko and Hanamaru as she could that the Pureblood etiquette ingrained in her soul must have automatically kicked in.

“This is ridiculous! Two champions dancing together?” Leah tries to back away but Ruby tightens her hold, worried that the former might storm back to her friends. “Hey, let me go! Do you have any idea how stupid we must look?!”

“I-I think we look okay, Kazuno-san. Um, in fact, I think you look quite nice.”

“What-? That’s not the point! We’re both donning the formal capes! No other pairs are like us!”

“That’s not true. Osaka-san is dancing with her senpai from Beauxbaton, and they’re both wearing dresses. Oh, Yoshiko-chan and Hanamaru-chan are in dresses too-”

“Have you even seen suits from Beauxbaton? And your friends are weird so they don’t count! Look at the rest of the room, everyone else is in suit-dress pair! Why is my logic not getting through your dumb brain?!”

Ruby dares to sneak a peek around, all the while making sure Leah doesn’t break free. Kanan and Mari had gone to Australia shortly after the First Task but managed to return here in time to attend the Ball. The married couple is putting on quite the performance at one corner of the Great Hall, along with a couple of alumni that Ruby recognized to have participated in the past dance competitions. Unlike two years ago though, Kanan is wearing a satin tux that shimmers in dark violet, while Mari is wearing a lovely turquoise cocktail dress.

Among the onlookers are Chika and You, who look ready to join the impromptu show judging by their excited grins. The Head Girl’s glossy suit must be handmade by her girlfriend, whose complementary mermaid dress gives her a mystic quality. Another quick glance to the unoccupied piano tells Ruby that Dia must have escorted Riko somewhere quiet, perhaps at the various food benches, but she isn’t given the chance to search further.

“Tch, you’re stronger than you looked-!”

The abrupt tug almost causes them to lose balance, but Ruby manages to use the momentum to twirl and dip Leah before returning to their previous position. Quiet applause indicates that there are people watching them and, judging by Leah’s frown, she definitely did not like that.

“I’m very close to giving the proverbial middle finger to the Yule Ball’s decorum and just leave this accursed dance floor.”

Ruby has no doubt Leah would go through with her threat, and a part of her is tired of having to put up with the hostile Durmstrang champion. However, the atmosphere around her is just so nostalgic that she doesn’t want anything to ruin this pleasant moment. Many things have changed since the Christmas Banquet two years ago, but Ruby is confident to say that they’re all mostly for the better.

Her friends are all here and, at the end of the day, they’re happy with their lives. Even Yoshiko and Hanamaru, Ruby believes with all her heart that they can sort through their issue together.

How about herself? She doesn’t know. She’s certainly come very far since the friendless scaredy-critter living a lonely life in the Kurosawa Estate. She’s content with the way things are already. There’s no need for more, just a bit of peace is more than enough for her.

“Let’s just have fun dancing, Kazuno-san. It’s the holidays, so we’re meant to relax. How about a truce, please?”

Maybe her calm tone is finally getting through to Leah, since she only sighs instead of struggling again. “... why do you have to stick to me anyway? Don’t you have a horde of merry friends to dance with?”

“They’re with their respective partners, and I really want Hanamaru-chan and Yoshiko-chan to make up. Things haven’t been going well with them-” Ruby stops herself, wondering if she’s revealing too much to someone who, technically, isn’t even her friend.

“Really? With the way Kunikida kept talking about her, I never would’ve imagined they had any problem at all,” Leah huffs, scrunching her nose in disgust. “And make up? More like make out.”

Ruby looks over her shoulder to see that her friends are indeed kissing. Although, unlike Leah’s exaggeration, Yoshiko and Hanamaru are simply sharing a chaste kiss. The exchange appears hesitant, but at least they’re both smiling at each other and that’s all that matters.

A warm sensation fills Ruby’s heart at that wonderful sight. Her steps become lighter and she really feels immersed in the calming movements of the music now. She has to blink rapidly to keep the tears at bay though, and she isn’t surprised to find Leah deadpanning at her.

“Seriously, are you crying? Hnff, you’re so weird.”

Perhaps the joy has emboldened her, for she blurts out an ongoing question before she could stop herself. “Why do you dislike me so much, Kazuno-san?”

Leah raises an eyebrow, as if not expecting her to be so direct. “I have my reasons, Kurosawa,” she says coolly, “Are we done yet? I’ve already put up with you long enough, not to mention I was unknowingly involved in your little circle’s drama.”

This is probably the longest and sort of civil interaction she’s ever had with the Durmstrang champion, so she doesn’t want to waste this chance. “The music is getting good! Besides, I’m enjoying dancing with you. You’re a good dancer.”

“Duh? Much better than you are. While we’re on this, why are you leading anyway? I’ll show you how it’s done.”

True to her words, Leah switches their position and smoothly demonstrates the movements, each and every step precise yet graceful. Their cloaks flutter slightly at each turn, adding to their dance as if they’re part of the routine.

“See that? Come on, match my steps, don’t be so clumsy.”

Sure, Leah is chuckling at her expense but it doesn’t feel as mocking as it was before. As the melody continues to play in the background, their discussion becomes more light-hearted the more they focus on various aspects of dancing and eventually about wandworks.

At one point, Leah even laughs at a joke she made.

“The Beauxbaton champion has drawn the Ukrainian Ironbelly.”

Ruby Kurosawa could barely hear the noise outside the tent. Everything is muffled except for the pounding of her terrified heart. The Hogwarts uniform has never felt so heavy, so suffocating on her body, and she has to loosen her scarf a bit just to breathe a little better.

Shizuku Osaka gives them a graceful courtesy and holds up the miniature Dragon for the officials’ view one more time. Before it could breathe fire like its real-life counterpart, a swift but powerful Freezing Charm tames the replica, which she then affixes onto her brooch like an ornament.

Composed and elegant, the black-haired Beauxbaton champion is just as what her school is known for.

“Please proceed.”

Leah Kazuno calmly takes a step forward and reaches into the bag to draw her opponent. The petite but imposing Durmstrang champion remains unfazed even as she reveals the miniature creature in her palm for the officials to see. The leopard-like beast has a body full of spikes akin to a cactus, and it is growling warily with its intelligent eyes glancing at its surroundings.

“The Durmstrang champion has drawn the Nundu.”

Ruby swallows hard. That’s another dangerous level-5 magical creature, one that requires teams of highly qualified wizards and witches to subdue! Just how insane is this TriWizard Tournament?!

While she is on the verge of hyperventilating, Leah taps the replica with her wand, stilling its movement through a non-verbal petrificus totalus. Scoffing, she coolly gives it back to one of the officials before smoothly healing her prickled hand.

Fearless and professional, the sharp-eyed Durmstrang champion is every inch the representative of her school.

“Please proceed.”

Ruby tries not to flinch as she places her hand on the hilt of the Kurosawa heirloom, desperate to rein in her composure. After one deep breath, she approaches the official and shakily reaches into the bag. A sharp sting almost makes her drop the miniature beast but she perseveres and holds it up high.

She blanches at the growling replica in her palm.

A human-like head, a lion’s body and a scorpion’s tail. It’s unmistakable what she has to face in the First Task of the TriWizard Tournament.

“The Hogwarts champion has drawn the Manticore.”

Her heart plummets and with it, strangely, so does her fear. A peculiar sense of numbness washes over her, a resigned sort of acceptance that this is her fate and she must overcome it. She glances down at her hand, where the miniature Manticore’s stinger had pierced her palm. The sight of blood, no matter how little, still makes her stomach churn, though it also boosts her confidence.

She had bled way more before, and she lived. She can and will do this. As if sensing her grim resolve, the replica grins up at her before hopping back into the bag.

The Minister of Magic clears his throat, garnering everyone’s attention, though she has difficulty concentrating on his speech. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Professor Koizumi gazing at her with concern, and so she stands up a little straighter and holds up her chin high. She will do her Head of the House proud.

“... that said, we understand these three creatures are highly dangerous and could not be subdued even by teams of trained Hit-wizards under normal circumstances. Therefore, these beasts were specially selected by our Board and collaborators. A warrior from the Goblin Nation, Arkus, has graciously offered his help should it be necessary to stop the Ukrainian Ironbelly.”

At this, a scarred and bearded Goblin bows brusquely, his stance just as regal and intimidating as the massive battle axe he is holding. Perhaps it is ingrained in her upbringing through the Patriarch’s lectures, for Ruby innately feels respect as well as wariness towards the small humanoid.

“And Mr. Scamander will also be on the standby to tame his Nundu, which he has kindly provided for this Tournament.”

Ruby nods at the amiable wizard, whom she has met a few times at the Estate as the Patriarch’s valued guest. Kanan and Mari have talked about him as well, having traveled around the world with the famous Magizoologist a few times last year.

“Last but not least, Professor Toujou of Hogwarts has already negotiated with the chosen Manticore, and the beast has agreed to act only within the rules of this Tournament.”

The ever-enigmatic Head of Ravenclaw gives Ruby an encouraging wink then, prompting her to smile back in relief. Everything seems to be well under control. While the Tournament is known to have caused deaths in the past, surely this one would be all okay with the way the Board arranged for various scenarios.

The officials then exit the tent with the Beauxbaton champion to debrief her, and the remaining adults follow suit to prepare the arena as well. Ruby suddenly finds herself alone with the scowling Durmstrang champion.

“How fortunate you are, Kurosawa heiress. I bet your Professor has already made a special deal for you to win.”

Leah’s expression is blank, her eyes carefully guarded, but her voice is as vicious as poison. Ruby turns to face her peer and she is vaguely aware that her legs are no longer shaking.

“No. She trusts me, and I trust her. Hogwarts will never resort to cheating.”

“Then what was that look of relief on your face?”

“Knowing that there wouldn’t be any casualties among the bystanders.”

Leah’s expression darkens. “Is that all? Aren’t you scared? I saw you shivering like a pathetic rabbit since the moment you entered the tent. You don’t belong here. You should forfeit, for your own good.”

“I’m scared, very scared.” Ruby couldn’t help but smile at the tremor in her voice. She really hasn’t changed much over the years, but she is also proud to acknowledge that she has become stronger too. “But I will not run away. The Goblet of Fire chose me for a reason. Thanks for being worried about me though.”

“You wish. I just don’t want you to ruin the prestige of this Tournament.” Leah snarls, her stance rigid and proud. “Think of the mess if there’s already death in the First Task.”

“Of course, I don’t want to die either,” Ruby’s grip tightens on the hilt of the sabre. “I… I’m scared of pain, I can’t handle it, but I know I can face death if things were to reach that point.”

“Oh?” Leah’s demeanor loosens slightly, as if she hasn’t expected such response.

“I’ve already faced it before.” The faint pink scars from sectumsempra are visible reminders of what she had experienced on that terrible night, but compared to what her precious friends and family have endured back then, this Tournament should be within her ability to handle.

She, Ruby Kurosawa, is Hogwarts’ champion after all.

========================

Judging from all the gasps, cheers and applause outside the tent, Ruby is certain that Leah has succeeded in her Task just as Shizuku had. Both champions did not take more than ten minutes to achieve their objective, which is to retrieve a wooden box that their respective opponent is guarding. Each of them is only allowed to cast five spells, whether it be a Charm, Curse, Hex and so on, and the box can only be moved through actual contact, not by magic. It is meant to test the champion’s resourcefulness, wit and raw magical power, as well as their physical abilities.

Ruby has no plan whatsoever.

Her knowledge of the Manticore is limited to what she has studied in her family library. All those articles talk of how extremely dangerous the violent magical beast is, of how its magically resilient skin render wizards’ spells useless and thus there have only been one or two recorded triumphs against such creature. How is she, a mere Third-Year, supposed to get past the Manticore’s guard?

She stares hard at her wand, hoping to draw strength and guidance from the Holly and dragon heartstring core. She wishes for her friends and her sister to be with her right now, instead of being in this tent alone with her paranoid mind. To be fair for each school, no one is permitted to make contact with the champion, not even their respective Headmaster. Earlier, Chika and You have already tried to sneaked in but were quickly dragged away by their House Head before the officials noticed.

Ruby would have welcomed the Gryffindor duo’s presence. Her bravado earlier has faded enough for the small critter part to emerge, causing her thoughts to sink deeper to the pessimistic end as the clock ticks by. It’s not because she doesn’t believe in her own strength but more because of the countless scenarios against such a terrifying opponent.  She does enjoy the thrill of challenges to an extent, perhaps due to the duo’s influence over the years, so she tries to focus on that positive thought.

“Hogwarts’ champion, please enter the arena.”

Whimpering, Ruby wipes at her damp eyes one last time before standing up. With every step she takes, the fear is gradually left behind and that sense of numbness has returned once more. There is no running away now.

A thunderous cheer greets her as soon as she enters the Pit, which has been modified to accommodate the spectators and the Task. A quick glance reassures Ruby that various officials are stationed around the arena, especially for the guest section to ensure safety. Whatever happens between her and the Manticore will not affect the innocents.

When she walks past the student bleachers, she waves bashfully at the applauding Ravenclaws and searches the crowd for her future sister-in-law. She soon finds Riko and relaxes under her encouraging smile. The House of Hufflepuff is deafening in their cheers with, surprisingly, Professor Koizumi and Hanamaru being the loudest. Ruby could feel her ears burning, half embarrassed but half elated as well at such display of support from her best friend and Head of House.

As if not wanting to lose, Chika and You lead the Gryffindor section in the cheers with their flamboyant banners and Charmed fireworks. It’s over the top, really, but also so very like them. Ruby couldn’t but wave back just as energetically at the Head Girl and the Quidditch star. Passing shadows overhead prompt her to look up and smile at Pana and Lucifer. The two familiars are gliding and circling to keep with her pace, as if to act as her escorts. Fiery words of encouragement soar through the sky after them, providing entertainment for the onlookers. Ruby doesn’t have to glance at the Slytherin section to know that it is Yoshiko’s work, though her peers must have pitched in to help her control this Charm in order for it to work on such grand scale.

By the time Ruby reaches the Professors’ bleachers, she is smiling not just to reassure her friends but also out of genuine joy and love for them and her school. The Hogwarts staff are also clapping politely, some more exuberantly than the others. Dia looks tense but she is smiling as well, with a familiar golden cat draped on her shoulder and a large wolf head peering over the seat beside her. Kanan and Mari must have pretended to be Dia’s pets to sneak into this guest section. At Ruby’s hesitant wave, Kanan howls loudly and Mari swishes her tail like a flag, prompting Dia to frown and tug at her friends’ ears. Undeterred, the married couple continue to make a lot of noise and motions, making Dia sigh in exasperation.

The familiar comical interaction loosens Ruby enough for her to remember to bow in front of the Kurosawa Patriarch and her parents. The old austere wizard is not smiling and only gives her a brusque nod, but those who know him well can see the fierce pride in his eyes.

Shizuku seems amused at the lively display at her entrance, while Leah is wearing the darkest scowl ever. Both champions look disheveled, with Shizuku’s hair ribbon somewhat singed and Leah’s cloak having claw-shaped rips, but at least they appear mostly unharmed.

Ruby allows a quiet sigh of relief to slip past her lips. Her fellow champions made it through and there are no injured spectators. She nods at the panel of referees and the official standing just at the edge of the arena.

“Are you ready?”

With one brisk turn, she takes out her wand and takes one step inside the field of boulders and rocks. A cool brush of magic indicates that a powerful protective shroud must have been activated, keeping both combatants trapped within the arena as well as to shield the audience. At this point, all Ruby could hear are her quickened heartbeats and the sinister rumbling from the enormous beast at the other end of the modified Pit.

The Manticore is grisly to look at, like a creative project gone horribly wrong. Whereas the Sphinx appears majestic despite having a human head and the body of a lion, the Manticore is like a mutated and bloodthirsty version due to its wild mane and rows of sharp fangs. Its scorpion stinger tail is poised high in warning as it paces back and forth in front of the wooden box, her objective. Its powerful paws make heavy sounds on the gravel, its predatory eyes trained on her the moment she entered.

“So this is what I’m up against, a little rabbit,” the sentient creature’s voice sounds disturbingly human without any hint of a growl. “Ladies first then, so the show won’t be over too quickly.”

The insult almost makes Ruby smile in bittersweet nostalgia. Everyone tend to underestimate her and for the longest time, she had believed their evaluation to be true.

Not anymore. I’m not strong, but I’m not weak either. She could feel magic flowing steadily between her hand and her wand.

“I’m ready.” She tells the official without glancing at him. A hush falls over the arena but she could barely feel the eyes watching for. The Manticore is grinning at her, slowly licking its lips. A vague plan forms in her mind and she exhales deeply.

As soon as the wizard signals the start of her first Task, she raises her wand and shouts. “Expecto patronum!”

The amused beast barely moves even as the silver black jaguar snarls at it, an empty threat due to its intangible form. In spite of the confused murmurs in the background, Ruby finds herself smiling as the sight of her Patronus boosts her confidence. She is no longer alone in facing this terrifying monster.

“Wingardium leviosa!”

The huge boulders tremble from the Levitation Charm but only the medium-sized rocks actually float towards the center. The Manticore remains unfazed, even yawning tauntingly at the gradually increasing number of rocks gathering in the middle. Ruby keeps her arm steady in spite of the strain of such area spell and pours forth even more magic.

“Accio!”

Her third chosen spell summons the Kurosawa heirloom from outside the arena and she directs it towards the growing rock pile. The Manticore tenses at last, growling in anticipation and pawing at the ground. Just as the creature begins to run, Ruby yelps a string of incantations, moving her wand in sharp jabs.

The fourth and fifth spell is a combination of an advanced Transfiguration and a Charm, developed by You and herself under Professor Minami’s supervision. Ruby almost buckles from the strain of magical output but perseveres, willing and shaping the rocks into the image in her mind while the sabre acts as a focal point.

Rocks gather and morph around the the sabre, forming a long tail that eventually connects to a massive body with four limbs and an armored head.

Gasps and shouts could be heard from the audience and the Manticore stops abruptly, wary of the animated shape blocking its path. The grotesque replica raises its rocky tail, the sabre’s blade glinting under the sunlight, and lunges at its living counterpart.

Its movements are awkward and jerky but there is undeniable power behind each of its pounding footsteps. The real Manticore laughs haughtily when it tries to swerve around the slower clone and almost got slashed by its surprisingly fast tail. The two creatures crash into each other soon after, tearing and biting and gouging with the scorpion tail. The Manticore is undeterred by its opponent’s body of rocks, clawing and digging through the cracks, breaking the Transfigured creature from raw strength alone. For such a gigantic beast, it is nimble and agile, cleverly dodging the Kurosawa sabre instead of parrying it, knowing the blade would injure it whereas no magic could.

Ruby shivers instinctively from all that noise of the savage fight, though she manages to force her legs to move. She runs towards the boulders, ducking for cover when she hears a snarl rather close by. Worse comes to worst, she still has her wand to protect herself even though it meant being disqualified for using more than five spells. She could vaguely feel the tug of her magic animating the replica and, with a pained grunt, she increases the output towards her creation and wills it to endure the assault longer.

As soon as the boosted Transfigured beast collides against the Manticore, she dashes towards the end of the field. Many times she is tempted to look over the shoulder, to see if the monstrous creature is chasing her, to check if her creation is still standing, but flight mode is commanding her action and all she could to do is keep going.

Almost there.

Her lungs burn from the exertion and her throat aches from the screams she keeps fighting down.

Right there, on that patch of grass.

She almost stumbles at the abrupt cut of magic, indicating that her stone creation is no more.

She dives for the wooden box, tucking and rolling, just in time to dodge the Manticore’s tail slash. Panting, she glares up in defiance at the grinning beast. Its mane is wilder than before, covered in rubble that is doubtlessly from when it obliterated the replica, and its magically immune skin is unmarred by any of the replica’s attacks.

Ruby rolls to the side just as its massive paw comes down on her, sprinkling dust and causing the ground to quake under the force. Before it could pounce upon her though, a silver silhouette leaps in front of her protectively.

Startled, the Manticore could only stare at the proud black jaguar Patronus, which shimmers brightly under its caster’s fearless gaze. The stalemate lasts for a while but neither side relents. Ruby barely dares to breathe, her wand not raised but gripped tightly and ready for action.

“… it cannot attack me. I can just jump through it and rip your throat out,” the Manticore’s fanged grin widens when Ruby glares back even as her legs begin to tremble. “Yet, I find myself unable to move in awe of its power.”

From the corner of her vision, she notices the officials and Professor Toujou already on the standby. Ruby’s friends are all at the edge of the arena as well, blocked by the shield but their wands already poised for action.

The announcer takes a step forward and speaks firmly. “The champion has already acquired the wooden box.”

”Silence, human. You don’t look tasty, but you’ll do.” The Manticore sits down on its haunches and growls menacingly at the wizard who dares to point his wand at it. Professor Toujou clears her throat, prompting the Manticore to relax slightly and roll its eyes. “I know I know, don’t harangue me, Nozomi.”

Ruby blinks when the beast suddenly grins at her. “I concede, Kurosawa heiress.”

A deafening roar from the audience follows the Manticore’s words, drowning out even the official announcement of her victory. Tears well up in Ruby’s eyes but she barely feels them as she finds herself buried under her friend’s tackling hugs.

Miraculously, she has overcome the First Task.

============================

Ruby finds her mind drifting away to blissful peace as she licks at her lollipop. It’s one of her favorite snacks but it’s been a while since she’s indulged herself in the treat. As a Third-Year and a Prefect, she’s decided to cut down on her sweets intake in order to present a reliable, mature senpai image and so far it’s worked. She does miss being in the background though.

Ah, this tastes heavenly!

Smiling, she notices her steps are bouncier than usual as she walks down the empty hallway back to her Prefect dorm. Most of her Housemates are in the Great Hall, decorating the place for dinnertime, while her friends are preparing for the celebratory party later the night in Chika’s Head Girl dorm.

The Gryffindor duo had successfully rescued her from her peers, allowing her to take a little break in her dorm before having to socialize for the rest of the night. Indeed, Ruby isn’t fond of being under the spotlight even though her responsibilities nowadays require her to be. Thankfully, her friends are all very understanding of her, knowing that she needs a little breather. Chika and You claim that they’re going to raid the kitchen anyway, while Kanan and Mari must be catching up with Dia and most likely teasing her and Riko’s recent not-so-secret engagement.

As for Yoshiko and Hanamaru, well, hopefully they’re on speaking terms again. Ruby frowns at the thought of her best friends, wondering what the problem it is this time. They do argue from time to time, but those have all been harmless bickering, something Mari reassures her to be a form of flirting.

However, it feels like Yoshiko and Hanamaru have been keeping their distance, either avoiding each other or always sticking to Ruby so that they’re never alone by themselves. Just what had happened? Ruby would rather that they have heated arguments so at least she could play peacemaker, but this is something else entirely.  

Sighing, Ruby ponders for the umpteenth time about romantic relationships. She does get envious of that special closeness she’s witnessed in her friends, of how happy her sister is with Riko and so on, but she also finds it stressful. There are so many things to think about, and she is doing fine being the supportive role within their group of nine without being attached to anyone.

What’s more to ask for, if she already has her friends and family?

Suddenly, she couldn’t move her legs anymore and, with her feet stuck to the ground, the momentum makes her bend over awkwardly. Flailing her arms for balance, the lollipop falls to the ground and is kicked away by a dragon skin boot.

Ruby peers up to find Leah glaring at her.

“You didn’t even sense me coming.”

Though slightly irked by the loss of her snack, Ruby is more unsettled by how angry her fellow champion looks. “W-Why have you used partial petrificus on me?”

“To test you - just when I thought you to be a worthy opponent! But look at you, your guard is pathetic,” Leah snarls as she paces around Ruby. Since there is no wand in sight, it must have been a wandless, non-verbal petrificus, implying the witch’s skill and power. “Beside, what was with all that earlier?”

“What do you mean?”

“That circus out there! All that cheering, even that dumb Manticore, being all buddy-buddy with one of your Professors! I knew it, there must’ve been a deal going on.”

Ruby says calmly. “I did not cheat, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

Leah then aggressively enters her personal space, their faces now barely an inch apart. “The TriWizard Tournament is not a game.”

Even though the flight alarm is going off in her head, Ruby is able to keep her voice steady. “I know.”

“Then why do I feel like you’re holding back?”

“I’m not.”

Leah growls in frustration, this time taking out her wand and points it threateningly under Ruby’s chin. “My instincts have never proven me wrong, Kurosawa.”

Ruby winces at the derisive way the Durmstrang champion utters her surname but she maintains eye contact. The silent stalemate continues for a while, neither relenting. Ruby notices for the first time that Leah is actually shorter than her, despite the latter having such an intimidating aura that made her presence so much larger.

Leah suddenly whirls around to deflect a Jinx and easily parries another Hex. Without thinking, Ruby breaks free of the Body-Bind Curse and grips Leah’s wrist before the latter fires off an offensive spell.

“I’m okay, Hanamaru-chan, Yoshiko-chan, please put away your wands.”

Hanamaru looks wary while Yoshiko’s expression is dark, but both lower their wands as they briskly approach them.

“What did you think you were doing, to my friend?” Yoshiko’s husky and menacing tone jostles an unpleasant memory in the back of Ruby’s mind but she forces it away.

Leah ignores the newcomers and continues to glare at Ruby. “So, you can move. You dispelled my Curse non-verbally as well.”

Ruby neither admits nor refutes that statement. After that night at the Estate, they’ve all worked so hard on wandlessly countering Body-Binding Curses. She hasn’t encountered any situation she had to utilize this skill until now.

“Oi, I’m talking to you.” Yoshiko stomps forward and uses her superior height to glare down at Leah. A familiar Ashwinder slithers out from her sleeve and drapes around her neck like a scarf. Leah looks disgusted at the hissing snake and raises her wand the same time Yoshiko raises hers.

“Expelliarmus.”

Hanamaru now holds both of their wands, her expression shadowed by her glasses. “No fighting in the hallway, right, Ruby-chan?”

Ruby swallows hard. Her best friend is rarely upset but it is obvious that this is one such time. “R-Right. Guest or not, y-you’d have to follow the rules here, Kazuno-san. Yoshiko-chan, really, I’m okay.”

Yoshiko huffs and folds her arms, while Leah nods curtly, seemingly taken aback by the turn of events. If Ruby isn’t mistaken, she even looks somewhat impressed as Hanamaru returns her wand back to her.

“You got lucky, Kurosawa.” Leah yanks her hand out of Ruby’s grip, reminding the latter that she’s been holding it this whole time. “Heed my words - I will be the victor in the end.”

Ruby exhales tiredly, watching her fellow champion storming down the hallway with the fur cloak billowing behind her. Durmstrang seems like a stressful environment to study in, or is there more to Leah’s drive in winning the Cup?

“Are you okay, Ruby-chan?”

“Yeah, just surprised and exhausted,” she smiles weakly at Hanamaru, noting the deliberate space between her and Yoshiko. Her two friends aren’t looking at each other and the tension is thick. She also notices that Lucifer is nestled in Hanamaru’s hood instead of Yoshiko’s like usual. Seraph the Ashwinder flicks its tongue at Ruby’s questioning gaze and nods imperceptibly before hiding under its master’s sleeve once more.

The door creaks loudly as it is pulled to a close.

She smiles nostalgically at the noise, wondering when the next time it would be for her to open this equipment shed, if ever again. Her heart thuds mournfully at the sight of this old building basked under the setting sun, like it has already blended into the scenery as a forgotten relic of the past. Shaking her head, she turns away resolutely and walks towards the plank that serves as the bridge between the port and the small boat.

Briskly, she hops onto the rickety boat, not all all deterred by the way it bobbed up and down along the waves. Her hand fondly brushes against the rusty walls as she enters the steering room, her steps gradually slowing to a stop. She bows respectfully before reaching for the small photo frame that hung from above the helm.

“I’d love to take you with me, Jii-chan, but you’d probably prefer to stay here by the sea, wouldn’t you?”

The elderly man is grinning back at her, his lively spirit nicely captured within the picture. Very carefully, she placed the photo frame onto the table she had set right beside the helm.

“I’ll be back in a few months, don’t worry. Maybe I’ll have some neat tricks to show you, maybe I can even reel in a big bluefin tuna! But, you’d prefer that I catch one with my own power, ne?”

The quiet echo of her own voice saddens her but she reigns in her emotions and manages to exit the boat with a placid expression. To her surprise, there are people waiting for her by the equipment shed.

“Kanan-chan!” “Kanan-chan!”

Kanan Matsuura steadies herself in time to catch an orange and silver shape. The two 12-year-olds sure have grown so much! It only seems like yesterday when she first played dodgeball and bug-catching with her childhood friends in the nearby park, all carefree and happy.

“I’ll be back after the first term, I promise, Chika, You.”

Chika’s characteristic ahoge is droopy as she woefully peers up at Kanan, while You has burrowed herself against Kanan’s side.

“Promise?”

“Promise.” Kanan musters up her most easy-going smile and playfully wraps each arm around the girls’ shoulders. “When have I ever broken a promise to you two?”

“True…but! This ‘private’ school, why is it so secretive?” “Yeah, why can’t we go with you? Or I can ask Shima-nee or even Mito-nee to go with you?”

“It’s okay. A Professor is coming to escort me there. Don’t worry, she’s been very nice and helpful.” Honestly, the young girls’ worried faces are enough to make her heart melt. It’s staggering to know that there are still people in the world who cares this much about her, that she isn’t alone.

And that’s enough for her.

“Come on, it’s already getting dark. Your families will be worried if you don’t get home soon,” Kanan ignores the stifling feeling inside her chest at uttering these words, and gently nudges Chika and You away from the port. “I’ll be fine.”

The two girls only manage to walk a few paces away before turning back to give her one last tackling hug. Kanan almost stumbles from the force but she embraces them just as tightly.

“Write to us as soon as you get there!” “Remember to tell us all about the school!”

Kanan waves at them, calling and exchanging words with Chika and You even as the duo walks away. It is only until the two girls are out of sight that she allows her forcefully cheerful demeanor to drop.

Her expression probably looks awful right now but at least there is only one witness.

“They truly are worried about you. They are good girls.”

“They’re like little sisters to me,” Kanan says proudly, not too startled when a woman materializes out of thin air near her, as if she’s been concealed behind a veil of invisibility all this time. “I try to be someone they can look up to but it’s been hard.”

“I understand. Have you packed up everything?”

“...yeah. I guess I have. I’ve already cleaned up everything back at the house and here too,” she glances at the boat and the equipment shed one more time before turning to face the new arrival. The beautiful woman has cascading hair as blue as the sea itself, which is also her namesake. Her kind amber eyes and her deep, sonorous voice have a calming effect on Kanan, the same feeling she has whenever she is out by the sea.

Indeed, in spite of the unknown future, Kanan feels relaxed around the witch named Umi Sonoda.

“As we had discussed before, you may return here during the Christmas break, and you can always Owl them letters.”

“Right. Owling letters. That’ll be interesting,” Kanan allows a small smile to appear. “Birds always seem to like You. I’m sure Owls would too.” A thought then occurs to her, that both of her childhood friends have experienced odd events as well, ones that could count as displays of accidental magic. Perhaps, in a few years or so, they would also get that special acceptance letter?

And they could all study together in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

As if reading her thoughts, the woman speaks softly. “That is indeed possible. I have sensed something special in those two girls.”

“Of course. They are very special, especially to me.”

“You are special too, Kanan.”

“... I don’t know about that. What I do know is, I’m ready to leave this place behind,” Kanan chuckles wryly and picks up her small backpack.

“Are you certain? We are ahead of schedule so there is no need to rush. It is your home after all.”

“It’s okay. I’ve… said my goodbyes. Besides, it’s not my home, not anymore.”

“Kanan…”

“It’s not a home if no one is there.” She thoroughly believes this thought, even when Grandpa was still alive. It doesn’t matter what city or what sort of house she lives in. As long as the people she cherishes is there to welcome her home, then she will call it just that.

“I see.” The witch sounds a bit sad but respectful. “I hope you will like Hogwarts then.”

“Me too. I mean it when I told you that I’m looking forward to it.” At this, Kanan shuffles awkwardly and tries to meet the woman’s gaze. “While I really appreciate you coming here to pick me up, but I could’ve gone to King’s Cross myself, uh, Umi.”

It still feels slightly odd to be calling her so familiarly, but after spending the last few weeks in her company, especially after everything she’s done for her, ‘Sonoda-san’ seems too distant. When she first called Umi directly, the witch had been very happy, and that was enough of a reason for Kanan to continue calling her that. Moreover, this sense of closeness makes her feel connected to this new path in life.

“I am certain that you could. I am accompanying you because I want to. Humor me?” Umi smiles kindly as she holds out her hand.

The image is superimposed with the one from the night Kanan first met her. The witch had come to her home, requesting to speak to her guardian. After Umi was told that there weren’t any, not anymore, and learned about the teenager’s predicament, she had held out her hand and offered to take her away.

It was like being given a lifeline.  

It’s been surreal to learn about the world of magic, that the nifty little tricks she’s done throughout her childhood are actually due to magic. As fascinated as she is though, she remains skeptical of how she would fit in this new world. She prefers things to be simple and she thought that she would stay in this seaside town even after she grows up, watching over her little world because she is familiar with everything here.

But her grandfather isn’t here anymore, and she is given a chance to escape this shattered dream. Everything’s changed and it’s too painful to call this town her home nowadays.

With a deep breath, Kanan takes Umi’s hand and allows the latter to Apparate them away. She doesn’t want anything and doesn’t dare to wish for more. She’ll do whatever she could, to find a place she could call home again, a new world to watch over.

Perhaps, Hogwarts has the answer she seeks.

====================

Within the massive extravagant painting, the Black Jaguar swishes its tail languidly with its head rested on its crossed paws. In spite of its relaxed demeanor, its sharp eyes remain predatory as it stares at her from its perch high in the tree. The progenitor of the Kurosawa family rarely deems to speak and usually remains in his Animagus form to impose an intimidating presence on whoever is summoned to the main manor’s grand office. Likewise, all the portraits of past Heads of this prestigious Pureblood family are silent as they cast their judgemental gazes upon her.

Dia Kurosawa remains unmoved in her seiza position, her back straight and her expression serene. Her legs are numb and her heart is beating fast from all the pressure, yet she does not allow any hint of discomfort to slip through her rigid demeanor. She needs to be every bit as indomitable as her name.

The Patriarch calmly sips his tea and does not offer an explanation as to why he has summoned her to his office. The silence, however, is merely a test and an inaudible conversation has already begun between the heiress and her grandfather.

Despite years of cultivating her patience and the austere image of a Pureblood heiress, she is quite relieved when the Patriarch finally speaks.

“Time passes by within a blink of an eye, does it not?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“I still remember when you first bonded with your wand. Your parents, many of your relatives, and even myself, have wands of dragon heartstring core. But a wand of phoenix feather core has chosen you, just as it had chosen our great Founder in the past. It pleases me, Dia, that you have shown such potential already. I believe you have been taking well care of your gift?”

“I have been keeping it safe and polished, just as it is meant to be.” At this, Dia allows a hint of a smile to grace her features. The carbonado necklace is a possession she prizes above all else, a symbol of recognition from her family. While it is traditional for a Kurosawa to receive a jewel in association with his or her name after bonding with a wand, hers is more special than anyone else’s. The priceless black diamond can store magic, a powerful accessory that can eventually act as a shield against even the worst of Dark Magic.

Certainly, the item is meant to be given to the significant other, like how her father had given his carnelian brooch to her mother, but Dia does not foresee herself ever finding such a person in her life. Therefore, the carbonado necklace is hers to keep and it will protect her.

The Kurosawa doctrine is to ‘strike before stricken’, which Dia believes in as well, but it does not hurt to have that extra defense should all else fail. Because, really, she would rather avoid any confrontations even though she is confident in her own ability to take on anything.

“Very good. Once you have proven yourself worthy, you will receive the heirloom that our great Founder and I have chosen for you.”

The Kurosawa sabre.   

Her heart sinks even though she has expected it already. She is the heiress after all, and nothing is more symbolic and prestigious than the sabre which is said to rival the famous Godric Gryffindor’s sword.

The Patriarch speaks further of her responsibilities and expectations now that she is going to Hogwarts, and only dismisses her once he finds her responses satisfactory. After giving him and the Black Jaguar portrait a respectful bow, Dia exits the office in a graceful manner. It is only after she is well out of the main manor that she picks up her pace, relieved to be out of that stifling place.

Her gaze sweeps over the extensive Kurosawa estate, both enjoying the beautiful scenery but also conflicted over her desire to leave her home. She has seen the world beyond, from the galas that her family has hosted to the other formal events the Patriarch took her along with as a guest. While the prospect of fully presenting herself as the heiress is daunting, she also cannot wait to explore the endless possibilities that the society offers.

Perhaps, in time, she will finally be able to hold her head up proudly of who she is, instead of forcing herself to maintain this facade.

She exhales tiredly once she arrives at her home, a moderate-sized building in comparison to the main manor. Only her immediate family lives here, though her relatives visit often due to the various meetings that her father holds or the apprentices who bring items from the family apothecary to her mother. One day, she would like to have her own private housing, one that can be granted to her if she shows the Patriarch how much she accomplishes.

She must do well in Hogwarts if it meant earning her miniscule freedom.

After briefly greeting an uncle by the engawa, she enters the living room to find her parents enjoying the afternoon tea together. It is really only under the comforts of their own home that her parents appear this relaxed. Unlike the many arranged marriages that her relatives had, her parents are fortunate to actually be in love with each other and therefore the atmosphere at home is more pleasant than some of her cousins’. At least, that’s what she had heard, since there is no cousin near her age, the closest one being a decade older.

She urges her parents to enjoy this rare downtime together instead of sending her off, assuring them that she can get to Hogwarts by herself. After a few more exchanges, both her parents solemnly wish her the best of luck, her father giving her an encouraging nod while her mother sends her a small smile.

Dia pushes aside the persistent yearning for a pat on the head, or even a hug, and politely excuses herself to get ready for her trip. As soon as she enters her own room, she notices something out of place. Warily but calmly, she casts a spell to reveal the hidden presence.

“Pigi!”

Her 10-year-old little sister, shivering, slowly steps forward with her head lowered, most likely expecting a reprimand. Sighing, Dia puts away her wand and speaks quietly so that she doesn’t startle her easily-frightened sister.

“You are too young to be able to master the Disillusionment Charm, Ruby. However, you have improved a lot.”

“R-Really-? Thanks, Onee-chan!” A bright smile morphs on the little girl’s face, a cute expression that matches the bunny plushie that Dia had given her years ago. She then notices the traveler’s cloak that Dia is already wearing, and quickly runs forward to cling to her.

“Y-You’re l-leaving already?”

Dia so badly wants to return the hug but she could sense house-elves close by. Open display of emotion is considered a sign of weakness and Ruby’s standing within their family already isn’t very good. Not wanting to be reported to him through the house-elves as they are ordered to do, Dia simply pulls away and speaks firmly.

“You should get back to your lesson. I believe your Transfiguration tutor is already outside at the engawa.”

Ruby flinches, her doe-like eyes welling up with tears at the rejection. Dia grits her teeth and desperately hopes for her sister to understand her intention.

“I will return for the Christmas break. I expect you to show even more improvements by then.”

“O-Okay…” Ruby tucks the plushie under her chin and, as if in a burst of defiance, hugs Dia one more time. “I’ll miss you, Onee-chan.”

Not trusting herself to speak, Dia merely nods and stands as still as a pillar even long after Ruby leaves her room. She glances at the big modified broom collecting dust at the corner, recalling the innocent days when she took her little sister for flights around the Estate, when they had more freedom.

Just a few more years. Once she’s a legal adult, surely, she can do something. But what? All the other Kurosawas followed the Patriarch’s wish and became Aurors, Curse-breakers and so on. Those few who rebelled or were considered blemishes in the family name were cast out. She does not want that to happen to her and most of all, not her precious little sister.

Indeed, what lies in her future? Their future? Frankly, she is very afraid.

Smiling humorlessly, she begins to pack her luggage for school. Hogwarts will be a temporary refuge for her. She has five years to become used to the fact that her life is already planned out for her. There is no point in struggling against it.

She will take what Hogwarts has to offer, and return the favor by being an exceptional student that both her family and herself will be proud of.

She shall invest just the right amount of her heart, no more and no less.

==============================

“Thank you very much for coming! Take care!”

She plasters the shiniest smile she could summon onto her face and bids her guests farewell with just right balance between exuberance and poise.

As soon the last of the guests disappears from the fireplace via Floo Powder, she flops onto the carpet like a cat that just lost all its bones.

“Aaaah, I’m so tired! My face hurts from smiling too much!”

Mari Ohara proceeds to close her eyes and begins to nap there and then. Combined with the fragrance of coffee, the lulling quiet cackles from the fireplace and the melodious violin in the background, she’s truly immersed in this heaven of her home. While her family owns many properties around the world, this mansion on the private island is her personal favorite!

When something prods at her arm persistently, she whines and peeks open one eye. “Daaaaad!”

“Now now, those guests are esteemed members of Ilvermorny Scholars. It’s always vital to have connections! You never know when you need favors.”

The Head of the Ohara household strokes his beard with theatrical flair, his crooked grin belying his serious words. If it weren’t for his friendly demeanor, the way he dresses would have a commoner mistaken him for an important governor or even royalty!

The influential businessman chuckles as he continues to nudge at his daughter’s arm with his toe, and laughs harder when she playfully punches his shin. “But dad, they’re all so boring!”

“That they are, that they are. But honey, it’s through such connections I was able to get the best of the best Hippogriffs for you years ago, hmm?”

Mari pouts, unable to refute. Her Starbright is her darling and indeed the most amazing pet ever. The magical creature always seems to know where she wants to go and has always been watchful of her. Between even the world-class broom and her beloved Starbright, of course she prefers flying on her Hippogriff!

“But you’re right, I’m worn out too! Or, what is it that you youngsters say nowadays? I’m pooped?” Her dad also slumps onto the carpet beside her. The two share a cat-like grin before synchronizing in lying spread-eagle. Before they could close their eyes though, a loud cough makes them wince. They warily look up to see Mrs. Ohara looking down at them, her arms folded.

“If only all those guests could see you two right now. Whatever would they think?”

“That we’re super awesome?” Her dad offers.

The stern expression on her mom doesn’t last long as she crouches beside him and flicks his beard. The corner of her lips twitches a bit as if she’s trying hard not to muffle laughter. “Yes, yes, you’re the best.”

“Did you hear that, Mari-chan? Your mom approves!” Laughing, he struggles to sit up and cheerfully kisses his wife, who returns the gesture just as passionately.

“Eeww, no public display of affection please,” Mari covers her eyes but giggles when her parents lean in to peck her cheeks as well.

Her mom even ruffles her hair fondly. “I think you should go get ready, Mari-chan. You’ll be late for the train if you don’t hurry.”

At this, her dad groans loudly. “Oh that’s right, my baby girl’s going to Hogwarts! I can’t believe it’s already time!”

“Dad, I’m fifteen already.”

“Yes, and ready to date, you’re at that age, you can’t deceive me!” He lets out a scandalous scoff. “I can see it already, the moment my beautiful daughter steps foot into that castle, all those stupid, hormonal boys-”

“Dad, I like girls.”

“- girls are going to be all over you so I’m gonna Jinx them before they even-”

Mari rolls her eyes and zones him out, though her smile remains on her face and unlike the case with the guests, this one comes from the bottom of her heart. She came out to her parents not too long ago, but it seems like her dad’s already gotten used to it as if it’s old news. Sure, there may be slip-ups here and there about the gender stereotype, like now, but she could truly feel her dad’s effort in trying to make her like it’s the norm. Her mom is only too happy at the prospect of possibly having two daughters in the future.

Geez! She hasn’t even gone on a date with anyone and her parents are already planning way ahead!

Still, she loves them and she knows that she’ll always be her dad’s perfect little princess. Giggling, she gives her parents a loving hug before skipping towards her room to pack up. She isn’t wholly surprised that her house-elves have already prepared all the necessities while leaving room for her to place extra items.

Grinning mischievously, she stuffs a few more dresses and bags of her favorite coffee beans into her luggage. And, just because she could, she hops from the balcony of her room and is safely caught by her clever Hippogriff.

“That’s really dangerous, dear.” Her dad knows she would pull this stunt and thus is already waiting for her by the foyer. Mrs. Ohara also comes out of the house a moment later to stand beside her husband. Starbright approaches them without needing Mari to give instructions.

“I only do that because I trust Starbright will be there for me. You too, dad~”

He shakes his head as her overly sweet tone. “Gosh, I’m so going to miss you around here, princess. Well then, as promised, we’ll let you get to the station by yourself, on this ol’rascal here. Make sure nothing happens to her, capsice?”

The Hippogriff paws at the ground once, with its neck ramrod straight, to show that it will do its utmost best in escorting its mistress.

“What was the other thing you promised, dad?”

“... no mushy farewells, I know.” After taking a deep breath, Mr. Ohara gazes affectionately at her and smiles. “Enjoy yourself at Hogwarts, stellina, and definitely tell us if anything happens! In bocca al lupo!”

“Crepi! I’ll miss you both.” Mari winks back and, with a nudge to Starbright, the young witch-Hippogriff pair then takes to the sky.

She hums to herself, thinking for the umpteenth time that she’s probably the most fortunate person in the whole world. She has parents who love her, accepting her unconditionally and always providing anything she requests within reason. They spoil her really, and she knows that, and so she always tries to be the daughter they can be proud of. In spite of her complaints, she really does enjoy helping her father increase his influence and obtain more connections with important figures around the world.

Naturally, she’s excited about Hogwarts, but she’s also been to Beaubaxton, Durmstrang and even Ilvermorny a few times while accompanying her parents and they are all amazing schools! Therefore, going to Hogwarts only feels like being on an extended trip, rather than ‘her home for the next five years of her life’.

Indeed, she has everything she’s ever wanted. She’s happy, so what else could she possibly need at Hogwarts?

Mari grins as she urges Starbright to fly faster.

Well, she can always wish for more, can’t she?

stellina - my little star

In bocca al lupo - Italian slang equivalent to english slang of ‘breaking a leg’

Not even a week has passed since the visit to the hospital, two letters arrived at Hogwarts, one they had been hoping for and one unexpected.

The first letter was from the Kurosawa Patriarch, with a seal of approval for Dia to visit Riko. This was most likely due to the hospital staff and the Sakurauchis’ requests, as he had disregarded Ruby’s prior inquiries. However, Dia must be cleared of her charges before she could be allowed to step out of the Estate. While the heiress was never formally convicted, any smidgen of doubt is still a stain to the family name, and there are laws to abide to as well. From the Ministry’s standpoint, Dia is not guilty yet not innocent either, especially since there have been no leads to who the true perpetrators were.

Therefore, for the time being, Dia and Ruby’s parents will be meeting with the Sakurauchis to discuss what they could do in this situation, to help Riko’s recovery. As the former Chief Warlock whose words carry a lot of weight, the Patriarch has also exerted his influence and connections with the Ministry. Several of the Kurosawas from the Estate are allowed to join the Auror team that has been investigating Moonstruck and the slip of security on Hogwart grounds that led to Riko’s kidnapping.

It isn’t the best scenario, but it is at least more than they could have hoped for.

The second letter was from Hanamaru’s grandmother, about how her grandfather is sick with a flu and wishes to see her. Without access to owls, Muggle relatives usually send letters to a specific address, which is actually an outpost under the Muggle Liaison Office’s jurisdiction. Because of this extra detour, the letter took longer to be delivered and so Hanamaru doesn’t know if he has already recovered or if the flu has worsened.

As much as she tries not to let it show, but she must miss her family especially after the rather traumatic hospital visit. Ruby is able to convince Hanamaru that they will be fine and she should visit her family.

Yoshiko requests to go with Hanamaru, a gesture that the rest of the group appears rather happy about, especially the brunette. At the end, Ruby has managed to include herself, along with Chika and You, in the meeting today between her parents and the Sakurauchis, while Kanan and Mari decide to stay behind at Hogwarts. The staff, some of the Professors especially, is sympathetic to their situation and is willing to turn a blind eye to their supposed surveillance.

And so, it is with heavy heart that Yoshiko treks towards Hogsmeade with Hanamaru and Professor Hoshizora, who volunteered to accompany them. To get to Hanamaru’s home, they would have to travel either via Apparition or Portkey since there is no fireplace at her house, and even if there is one, it’s not connected to the Floo Network anyway. Therefore, a special Portkey has been arranged to be activated at a designated spot to bring the girls to the Kunikida residence.

Yoshiko walks a little ways behind the chatting pair, still feeling a little awkward in spite of that heart to heart conversation with Hanamaru at the bus stop. She has, however, acknowledges that she needs to stop pushing away her important people and stay close to Hanamaru for as long as she could. She promised her that she would try.

“Okay, here we are!” They stop just outside of the train station, and Yoshiko wistfully recalls the last time she was here, with Ruby and Hanamaru, running from the supposed Grim and receiving help from the golden cat.

“Thanks for taking us here zura~”

“No worries, I need to get some supplies from Hogsmeade anyway so this is on my way nya~” Professor Hoshizora was the one to bring the petite Muggleborn to Diagon Alley, so it makes sense that Hanamaru feels most at ease around her. After all, her memory is clear up until her arrival at King’s Cross Station.

“So, just remember to touch this badge again at 5pm nya, both of you,” the gamekeeper hands a riceball-shaped badge to Hanamaru. “And it will bring you back here, where I’ll be waiting to take you back to the Castle. Unless, of course, if there’s any emergency, just tap on the badge with your wand and someone should Apparate right over to you! Any questions? No? Good!” She thoughtfully rubs her chin as she peers at the teenagers. “Hmm, you sure you don’t need another person going with you two nya?”

The ponytailed witch looks concerned at their wellbeing, rather than having them leave the castle grounds unsupervised. Yoshiko appreciates that, but she still replies firmly. “I’m more than enough to protect her, Professor, but thank you for offering.”

Lucifer pops out from under her jacket then, hissing as if to protest that it is a fine bodyguard too. She doesn’t know how the bat knows, but it’s rather miffed at her for wandering around the Muggle world by her lonesome. Since then, her loyal minion has been attached to her side since her return, even during daytime like now.

Professor Hoshizora laughs. “I see you’re both set then! Well, lemme tell you a lil secret nya~” She lowers her voice playfully. “The Trace is actually just a myth, meaning you can use magic in the Muggle world. We trust that you will not abuse magic and follow the standard protocol of the Statue of Secrecy, so it’s okay if you want to show off some tricks for your family nya~”

“Oh, but I can’t use magic, not really anyway. It comes and goes zura…”

“That’s why she’s here, isn’t she?” The Muggleborn professor laughs again and ruffles Yoshiko’s hair, ignoring her protest. “As awesome as magic is, it’s always good to spend time with your family. Have fun nya~”

Though slightly annoyed, Yoshiko is grateful for the Professor’s effort in lightening up the atmosphere. She could tell Hanamaru’s feeling anxious, in spite of her cheerful tone while conversing with the older witch.

Yoshiko holds out her hand, and without any hesitation Hanamaru hands over the badge to her, though her fingers remain in contact with the Portkey. Minutes later, upon the activation time, she feels this unpleasant sensation of something hooking her navel and flinging her into the sky!

The world spins around her, disjointed scenes of clouds and forests and roads and whatnot. The nauseous sensation continues to swirl, particularly in her tummy, even after they land ungracefully at a small clearing.

“Ugh, no wonder the Apparition license is so popular… I bet anything’s better than Portkeys.” She fights down the urge to throw up and shakes her head slowly a few times. “As soon as I’m of age, I’m so gonna-” Before her mind begins to form plans for the future, she bitterly stops herself and tries to focus on the present. Lucifer rolls out of her jacket, coughing sickly from the Portkey travel, but the bat still nudges her hand as if to comfort her.

“T-This feels like my first time on a car zura…” Hanamaru isn’t faring any better, her back resting against a tree as she attempts to get her breathing under control.

Pocketing the badge, Yoshiko struggles to get to her feet and wobbles towards her companion. After a moment’s hesitation, she extends her hand towards the brunette to help her stand up. “So, did we arrive at the right place?”

“Yes, this is close to our backyard actually, I recognize it!” Hanamaru’s eyes light up in excitement as she gestures at the pebble-paved path behind the shrubs. “Come on, Yoshiko-chan! I bet Obaa-chan’s waiting for us!”

Without waiting for a response, the smaller girl pulls her along the forest trail and past a jizou statue, the foliage gradually thinning. Lucifer faithfully glides behind them, its presence bringing a certain amount of comfort to Yoshiko, but she still gulps nervously at the spiritual atmosphere from the surroundings. She tries to remind herself what the merpeople Chieftainess told her though that doesn’t lessen the feeling of being unclean.

“Yoshiko-chan, just a bit more.” Hanamaru looks over her shoulder and gives her an encouraging smile then, her grip on their intertwined hands firm and steady. Yoshiko relaxes slightly, finding her being here upon these holy lands acceptable as long as she’s accompanied by the temple maiden.

The path widens until it reaches the edge of stone pavement that meanders around a wide expanse of grass and bare soil tops. There are trees and shrubs here and there, carefully arranged and maintained in a way that Yoshiko is certain would form some sort of pattern if seen from the sky. Some flowers are just starting to bloom, adding splashes of vivid red, violet and yellow to this otherwise lush and green scenery.

A moderate two-story house is located just ahead, near a greenhouse that has a shelf of miniature bonsai trees right beside its open door. The old temple is further ahead, along with many slabs of grey that Yoshiko assumes to be weathered tombstones from ancient times. Strangely, she doesn’t feel uncomfortable at the thought of this place possibly haunted by ghosts. Rather, she likes to think that the spirits of the deceased guard the Kunikida residence just as much as they do for the temple.

Hanamaru’s serene expression shows that she most likely grew up thinking along the same lines too. She slows down a bit as she scans the the yard before letting out an excited yelp. There, beside a heap of fallen leaves and some gardening tools, is an elderly woman wearing thick-framed glasses and a similar gentle smile.

“Obaa-chan!”

Hanamaru runs towards her grandmother, who opens her arms wide to accept the girl’s greeting hug. As the Kunikidas exchange words joyously, Yoshiko couldn’t help but watch over them with a small smile. There’s envy, or rather longing, for growing up with such a loving family. Simple gestures or just the cozy atmosphere itself are indicators enough that Hanamaru is very close to her grandmother. Looking around, Yoshiko could almost picture a miniature Hanamaru exploring the yard and helping her grandparents with the gardening.

“It is good to have you back, even for just the afternoon, Maru-chan. I see you have brought your friend-?” Grandma Kunikida’s eyes crinkle at Yoshiko’s hesitant approach.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am. I am Yoshiko Tsushima, Hanamaru’s friend,” she politely dips her head and holds out her hand.

“Oh~ You’re that Yoshiko-chan, the one Maru-chan always talks about in her letters,” the elder chuckles as both of her hands clasp warmly over Yoshiko’s. “I’ve always wanted to meet you in person.”

“U-Uh-? Thank you-?” Uncertain how to respond to such enthusiasm, Yoshiko drops her gaze awkwardly. Normally, she would have been overjoyed that her girlfriend would talk to her family about her but, as the situation stands, she’s just Hanamaru’s friend.

“O-Obaa-chan! Um, where’s Ojii-chan? How is he doing zura?” From how flustered Hanamaru appears, does that mean she still mentions her even after her memories became jumbled?

Yoshiko isn’t sure whether to feel happy about this or not.

“He was just napping until moments ago! He has gotten much better, thankfully, but he still likes being cooped up under the kotatsu, that ol’rascal. I came here to roast some sweet potatoes, y’know, his favorites,” Grandma Kunikida gestures at the house. “Why don’t you talk to him dear? I’ll have Yoshiko-chan help me with the prepping and cooking.”

Hanamaru glances at her hesitantly, so Yoshiko gives her a stiff nod. This is the purpose of their trip here after all. Surely, she can be alone with her former girlfriend’s grandmother for a period of  time.

Surprisingly, once Hanamaru is out of sight, the elder does not grill Yoshiko with questions about school or her granddaughter. Despite her easy-going manner and slow pace, Grandma Kunikida is rather focused on her task and only instructs Yoshiko every now and then to set up the fire pit.

“Erm, I’m done with the skewers. Is there anything else I can do to help, Kunikida-san?”

“Please, just call me Obaa-chan too,” the woman’s wrinkled smile is kind as she beckons for the girl to come sit beside her. “And yes, if you could please hand me the lighter and my gloves…”

“O-Okay!” Yoshiko is rather surprised but glad at such mundane request and sense of familiarity. The elderly woman’s relaxing and accepting aura makes it easy for her to feel included at the Kunikida residence. Again, Yoshiko is humbled by this down-to-earth and simple atmosphere of Hanamaru’s grandmother.

After Grandma Kunikida starts the fire, a stretch of silence descends upon them. Yoshiko tries to think of a topic, uncomfortable with the lack of conversation, yet only apologies come to mind. The elder probably doesn’t know the full story of what had transpired at Hogwarts and how she, Yoshiko, is the cause of Hanamaru’s suffering.

A quiet crackle from the smoking twigs prompts the elderly woman to prod at the sweet potatoes. Yoshiko fidgets and swallows dryly, deciding it’s now or never. She takes a deep breath and opens her mouth to speak.

“Something happened to Maru-chan at school, no?”

Yoshiko narrowly avoids biting down on her tongue. “Pardon me?”

Grandma Kunikida folds her wrinkled hands over her knees as she stares contemplatively into the fire. “The letters she sent us seem different after the end of January. Her Head of the House had sent us a letter explaining to us what had happened, how her magic had been compromised, but Maru-chan did not tell us any of that.”

“She… didn’t-?”

“Maru-chan never lies to us, so I’m certain that she did this for an important reason.” The elder shifts slightly so that she faces Yoshiko, her eyes solemn but kind. “Jii-chan and I do not want to push her. Still, she is our precious granddaughter, the only family we have left after our son and daughter-in-law passed away. We’d like to hear her story too.”

Yoshiko’s fingers subconsciously curl into a fist, though she doesn’t avert her gaze. “...if Hanamaru herself doesn’t tell you, then it’s not my place to either. I can tell you though, that she always thinks the best for her friends. She… she could have just came home, came back here to all of this, yet she chose to stay with us, because she wants to be of help.”

“And? What do you think of her decision to stay?”

Yoshiko lowers her head in shame but she’s unable to stop the words from pouring out of her heart. She couldn’t bring herself to avoid the question or lie to this elderly woman. “I-I want her to be safe. I don’t want her to be hurt again but the truth is, deep down, I… I’m happy that she chose to stay. Close to me, willing to still stay by my side, I mean.”

Grandma Kunikida nods patiently, giving her a few moments to gather her thoughts.

“I need her, um, Obaa-chan. Even after everything that’s happened, she continues to mean a great deal to me, and she calms me like no one else can. R-Recently, I realize that…” I still love her. Yoshiko ignores the heat crawling up her neck and ears and tries to keep her voice from wavering. “...I’m still weak, but never again will I let her get hurt, not while I’m around.”

Yoshiko meets the woman’s gaze as earnestly as she could, and is unprepared for the quiet chuckles that follow. Grandma Kunikida is slouched over her seat, one hand covering her mouth to muffle the laugh.

“Erm-? What did I say?”

“Oh don’t worry dear, I just wasn’t expecting you to tell me… this much, and so truthfully too. Then again, I should have expected it - you’re every bit the good girl I’d imagined you to be, Yoshiko-chan.”

This time, Yoshiko is very aware of the blush burning her face, especially after the woman gives her an affectionate pat on her bun. “Eh?”

“Maru-chan talks about many things and many of her friends in her letters, although I don’t think she’s realized the topic always goes back to you. Yes, even nowadays.” At this, Grandma Kunikida gives her a significant look.

“R-Really-?” Alright, this time, Yoshiko couldn’t help that flutter of joy in her chest, but now she’s more worried about how the woman would react if she finds out their past relationship.

“Ho ho ho, look at you, what an adorable child! We old people don’t last this long on this planet for no reason! We see and sense things young people can’t. Had I disapproved of you with my granddaughter, I wouldn’t be talking to you, would I? Well, Jii-chan did throw a minor fit, but he got over it after I talked sense to him.”

Yoshiko gapes. Grandma Kunikida laughs again.

“I heard you were quite taken with the kimono my granddaughter wore to the Christmas party?”

“Ah yes, thank you for sending her the- wait no! That’s not what I wanted to say-!”

At her frantic gestures, Lucifer flies nearby in her defense. Grandma Kunikida watches the bat with interest and attempts to coax it with some snacks she takes out from her pocket.

“I’m okay, Lucifer, this is um, alright, I’m not in any danger,” physically at least.

The clever bat looks between her and the elder, and decides food is the priority. It swoops down and perches on Grandma Kunikida’s shoulder, crooning when it’s fed and caressed behind the ears.

“Tch, that was fast,” Yoshiko complains half-heartedly, relieved that her minion’s intervention saves her dignity from crumbling further. Grandma Kunikida probably decides that it is enough teasing and seems content with Lucifer’s company.

“You girls lead a very exciting life at Hogwarts, though I understand that there have been quite a few dangerous incidents. You’re right, I would have preferred to have my granddaughter back here with us, where it’s safe, but that’s not the path she has chosen. Jii-chan and I respect that. I was going to ask you to keep an eye on Maru-chan, but that’s not necessary, is it?”

Yoshiko says seriously. “I will protect her with my life-”

“That’s not what I want to hear, dear,” the woman admonishes quietly as she covers Yoshiko’s hand with her own. It feels warm and protective. “It’d upset me if I hear anything were to happen to you. I want you to take care of yourself too, Yoshiko-chan. I may not know what had happened, but you’ve been hard on yourself, haven’t you?”

“How did you-?” Had she been that obvious, or is the elder that perceptive?

“It’s just a haunch, from our conversation. Your expressions are rather stiff, as if you haven’t allowed yourself to feel.” Grandma Kunikida chuckles gently. “It’s okay to want to be happy. I’m sure that would make Maru-chan happy as well. Now, give this old woman your best smile, hmm?”

Yoshiko hastily wipes at her eyes and tentatively makes a pose, which feels both nostalgic yet unfamiliar since it’s been a while. Nodding, she gives the woman her best grin.

“Obaa-chan~ Ojii-chan wants some pork buns now but I can’t find any in our freezer-” Hanamaru walks up to them, blinking at her applauding grandmother and the posing girl. “Umm, what’s happening zura?”

“Pork buns, you say? That Jii-chan, a bigger glutton now that he’s recovered from the flu...”

“Oh, so Hanamaru got that from her grandfather huh… ack!” Yoshiko slaps a hand over her mouth but it’s too late. Hanamaru glares at her but bursts into giggles a moment later, while Grandma Kunikida watches them with a fond expression.

Yoshiko clears her throat and tries to appear nonchalant. “What do we do with these sweet potatoes then? They’re about to be done, right?”  

“They are indeed. You’re both welcome to enjoy them while they’re fresh!”

Hanamaru glances at the sweet potato longingly but determinedly tears her gaze away to face her amused grandmother. “Actually, if you don’t mind, Obaa-chan, I’d like to take Yoshiko-chan to town, to get those pork buns for Ojii-chan but also to walk around the neighborhood zura?”

“Hmm, it’d be a nice change of scenery. I’ll bring these to Jii-chan for now,” Grandma Kunikida makes a playful gesture of shooing them away with her broom. Lucifer smartly takes flight and circles overhead. “Don’t dawdle though. You know how your grandpa gets when he doesn’t get his food, fu fu.”

“Like how Zuramaru gets when you don’t feed her bread?” Again, words slip out of Yoshiko’s mouth before she realizes it, so naturally and smoothly that it takes both girls a few moments to process what just happened. This is the second time!

“Mou! Yoshiko-chan is mean!” Even then, Hanamaru looks rather happy as she tugs at the taller girl’s arm. “Okay, Obaa-chan, we’ll be back soon!”

As much as she enjoys Grandma Kunikida’s company, Yoshiko is rather relieved to take a little breather. As they walk towards the main entrance to the temple and down the stone stairway, she has to suppress the urge to skip and hum to express this liberating sensation.

It’s nice to feel normal.

“So, did something funny happen zura?”

“Hmm? Why would you say that?”

“W-Well, I haven’t really seen you smile, not really,” Hanamaru looks a bit wistful at that.

“Is that so…” Yoshiko awkwardly rubs the back of her head, unaware that she’s been smiling. “It’s just that, uh, you have a good family, Hanamaru. It’s nice.”

“Really? I’m glad to hear that!”

“So your grandpa, he’s all better now?”

“Yup! If he hadn’t asked for those pork buns, I would’ve fallen asleep in the kotatsu too,” Hanamaru chuckles sheepishly, but her eyes dim in sadness a moment later.. “It’s good to see him so energetic. I was so afraid when I got the letter. He’s old… they’re both old, a-and I’ve b-been away…”

They stop at an intersection, though there is no need to since there are barely any cars in this quiet neighborhood.

“Will you come here again with me in the summer, Yoshiko-chan? Ruby-chan and everyone else too, I’d like to introduce them to my family zura.“

Yoshiko’s throat aches a bit but she manages to squeeze out a word. “Okay.”

Hanamaru’s demeanor lightens at that. “Something to look forward to! First though, those pork buns for Ojii-chan zura~ He wants to talk to you too, Yoshiko-chan, so we should hurry~”

“Heh, yeah, it’s better if I bring some offerings to him.” And if that doesn’t work, Obaa-chan probably will have to save me.

“I think he likes you too. He showed me some of the letters I used to send, before my memories were… yeah,” Hanamaru glances at Yoshiko curiously. “Those letters said you used to pose a lot, something about little demons and being fallen angel Yohane?”

Yoshiko is mildly surprised that she isn’t as bothered as she thought she would be. True, back then, she was ignorant and silly, but at least her antics had made her friends happy and she had believed that identity to be real. It’d be wrong of her to denounce the memories of that time, when things were perfect as they were.

“Yup, I used to collect black feathers. It’s just that… things had happened and, well, I just found more important stuff to do than indulge myself in the fantasy.”

“Do you still believe in it?”

“Believe in what?”

“Being a fallen angel,” Hanamaru pauses, her voice lowering apologetically. “I shouldn’t have asked that, when I didn’t even know what happened-”

“It’s okay.” Yoshiko looks up into the blue sky, smiling at the sight of Lucifer circling underneath the clouds. “I’d been angry and depressed for a while, and now I’m just… honestly, I’m not sure how I feel, or how I should feel.  In a way, I’m still one heck of a mess just as I had been before I went to Hogwarts. Fallen angel? Perhaps I really am.”

Her definition of fallen angel is different from Yohane after all.

Hanamaru is about to reply when she notices the surprise in Yoshiko’s gaze. Turning, she smiles at the sight of the playground just ahead of them. Gently tugging the stiff girl, she leads her into the small park.

“Do you remember?”

“Yeah, I do,” Yoshiko mutters hoarsely, glancing around the swing set, the monkey bars, the slide and the sandbox. Everything seems so nostalgic, so precious. “Heh, they’re smaller than I remember, then again we… we were just little kids. There’s no one here though.”

“Mostly elderly people live in this area, I think you’ve noticed that from our walk here. The few children here are all grown up or have moved out of town already,” Hanamaru says a little sadly. “No one comes to play outdoors anymore.”

“Their loss,” Yoshiko shrugs and approaches the swing, hesitantly touching the chains. “We had fun here, hadn’t we?”

“We did,” Hanamaru seems to be thinking about something. “Can I… tell you something?”

“Sure? What is it?”

“I-In spite of how nice everyone is, a small part of me still isn’t sure, because of how my memories are all over the place. Classmates I don’t remember, friends I should be close to, magic I should know. But… only you, Yoshiko-chan. I’m certain I’ve met before Hogwarts. I didn’t want to say anything because I don’t know what’s real or not but now that we’re here, now that you’ve said that you do remember playing with me here, I’m relieved.”

“I didn’t know it bothered you that much,” Yoshiko says guiltily and struggles to find the right words to express her thoughts. “It’s only recently that I remembered this playground though…”

Even though it wasn’t me, it was Yohane. I didn’t even exist back then.

“I’m just glad you do now. That will always be one of the most special memories in my life,” Hanamaru smiles up at her. “The first time I’ve witnessed magic zura.”

Yoshiko almost spills out everything then, about Yohane and Horcrux and all that, but she couldn’t bring herself to ruin the joy and the utter trust in those ochre eyes. Instead, inspiration strikes her and prompts her to extend a hand towards the shorter girl.

“Come on, let’s go up there.”

“Eh-? Up the slides?” Though giggling, Hanamaru takes her hand as they carefully climb up the tiny steps. The platform at the top is almost too small to fit the two teenagers, and they could easily sit on the railings.

“Hmm, there’s no one around us right?”

“No, I don’t think so-” Hanamaru checks the surroundings, blinking up at Yoshiko when she takes out her wand. “What’re you-?”

“You said you’ve become fascinated by magic because of… me, right? Well, I’m gonna recreate that,” Yoshiko wraps one arm securely around Hanamaru’s waist so that they are practically hugging. The proximity makes them both blush but she tries to ignore her pounding heartbeats as she grins down at the flustered girl.

“Are you ready to fly with me?”

Her grin widens at Hanamaru’s confused expression. With a careful Ascendio, they’re propelled into the sky. Startled, the smaller girl clings to Yoshiko, whose grip tightened around her to ensure that she wouldn’t fall. Using a few Hover Charms and Descendio here and there, Yoshiko is able to stabilize their flight as they weave and fly around the playground.

Pleased by the success, Yoshiko finds herself laughing and is soon joined by Hanamaru. They continue to chuckle even as they glide over the monkey bars and land safely beside the sandbox.

“T-That was unexpected, but amazing, Yoshiko-chan!” Hanamaru leans against the taller girl, her legs slightly wobbly.

“Heh, it’s different than flying with a broom, isn’t it?” Yoshiko keeps her steady, breathing her soothing scent and the lingering fresh breeze. This must be what freedom feels like, as fleeting as it had been. What they experienced just now is theirs. Not Yohane’s.

This belongs to her. With Hanamaru.

As the thrill gradually fades, she becomes conscious of their closeness again but she couldn’t bring herself to let go. Grandma Kunikida’s words echo in her head, that it’s okay for her to be happy too.

Before she loses her nerve, she leans down and kisses Hanamaru’s forehead. The brunette jolts slightly in surprise, but she then responds by tiptoeing and kissing Yoshiko’s cheek, her lips lingering as she glances at Yoshiko’s.

“I… I think that’s what’s missing. We weren’t just friends, were we? Please tell me the truth, Yoshiko-chan.”

Swallowing hard, Yoshiko embraces Hanamaru and whispers against her ear. “No, we weren’t just friends.”

Hanamaru makes a small sound, burrowing her head against Yoshiko’s shoulder. They stay like that for a while, relishing in each other’s warmth and touch. The tension is replaced by something more familiar and comfortable.

“...I think I know what you’re thinking zura. You didn’t want to push it because I don’t remember that we were a couple. You didn’t want a preconception to confuse me.”

“How well you see through me…”

“But the thing is. I-I still find myself… well, you seem distant but you’re kind, and today I see for myself that you could be funny and a bit of a dork too-”

“Hey!”

“-and I think that’s how you used to be zura. So, it doesn’t matter how you’re like, I…” Hanamaru’s voice is so quiet and muffled against her jacket that she has to strain to hear her. “I’m still attracted to you. Because, you’re, you.”

“Hanamaru…”

In spite of the Imperius Curse. In spite of everything that’s happened. In spite of Yohane. Hanamaru still ends up liking her, just as she couldn’t ignore her feelings either.

Horcrux be damned. The whole mess with the Fallen be damned.

She may not have been the one to save Hanamaru from Dementors back then, but the fact stands that a Patronus was summoned, and somehow she was still able to cast it while Yohane couldn’t. Maybe...

“I don’t know if this would do anything but, we’re here at least, so why not?” Yoshiko pulls away a bit, though she keeps one arm around Hanamaru. “Expecto Patronum!”

Silver light burst out from the tip of her wand, and the shimmering coelacanth swims around them freely and magnificently. An evanescent trail of light envelopes them, filling them with such positive energy that they find themselves smiling.

“Looks familiar?” Yoshiko watches her Patronus maneuver around the playground, similar to how she had flown with Hanamaru earlier.

“Y-Yes, it saved me from those Dementors,” Hanamaru murmurs, entranced by sparkles of light and the coelacanth’s corporeal form. “I was so scared, so very scared, but this concept of fear seems so… impossible zura, now that we’re standing here with the Patronus.”

“It’s an amazing spell, isn’t it? It’s said to be the only way to defend yourself against a Dementor, but not much is said about its other uses and that’s why not a lot of people bother learning it.”

“But it’s so beautiful…”

“Right? I believe there’s more to the Patronus Charm. It reveals your inner self and hints at your Animagus form - heh, it’d be hilarious if I turn into a fish though. Most importantly, it reflects the caster’s soul, or at least that’s what the merpeople Chieftainess told me. She saw my Patronus and told me that it’s proof of my worthiness.”

As Yoshiko says these words aloud, she recalls how her Patronus is able to damage Yohane’s wings, which are practically pieces of her soul. The correlation must mean something, though she doesn’t understand magic enough to figure out what.

“Anyway, I always feel a bit better whenever I cast this spell. It’s reinforced by positive thoughts after all. And the coelacanth, it’s a nice reminder.”

“The living fossil that we learned together from the encyclopedia zura,” Hanamaru giggles, reaching out a hand towards the silver fish. “Shiira-kansu, ne?”

When her fingertip comes in contact with the Patronus, Yoshiko feels an odd sensation of cold water trickling down her body and she gets tunnel vision on the coelacanth. Moments later, the vision returns to normal again, except the scenery looks slightly different.

Hanamaru has reverted to a little girl, her eyes wide with terror as she stares blankly at something behind Yoshiko. Yoshiko glances down at her hands, which are tiny as well, before turning around.

Dementors seem to glide towards them in slow motion, their tattered cloaks fluttering and their rotting bodies oozing of despair. A faint voice at the back of Yoshiko’s mind reminds her that this must be a flashback, but she’s mostly rooted in fear and consumed by a child’s young mind, unable to process her thoughts. All she could do is pull at Hanamaru’s hand as they try to run away from those foul creatures.

Little children’s legs could only move so fast and so far, and soon they stumble at the edge of the sandbox. Yoshiko spreads her arms wide, willing her tiny body to shield her friend from harm. The Dementors descend towards them, enclosing upon them, ready to suck their souls dry.

Hyperventilating now, Yoshiko fervently hopes for her angelic powers to manifest, to defeat this evil and protect her precious friend.

Something hurts within her chest, the pain so agonizing that she’s forced to her knees, but that is soon overcame by this sense of joy and hope. Light bursts from her body and the coelacanth Patronus swims around them, warding off the Dementors and chasing them away.

Yoshiko blinks at this miraculous turn of events, and only jolts out of her trance when she notices Hanamaru slumping behind her. The little girl must have been overwhelmed and thus had lost consciousness. Yoshiko herself is close to passing out as well, though she couldn’t look away from the brilliant Patronus.

Then she realizes that the Dementors are still around. Perhaps her magic isn’t as strong as a child, and the coelacanth is already doing all it could to keep the creatures at bay. Whenever it swims to chase one away, the others would attempt to close in on them.

It would only be a matter of time before the Patronus fades.

Then how did she save Hanamaru? How were the Dementors vanquished? This is a flashback right?

She finds her answer soon enough in the form of another Patronus, a Raven, powerful in its bright light as it soars straight through the Dementors and repelling them far away.

A dark-haired woman, her mother, stands in front of her determinedly while her father wraps protective arms around her small form. Yoshiko sniffles, clinging to her father’s warmth as he murmurs comforting words and caresses her back. The coelacanth fades not long after, its magic depleted, and exhaustion washes over her like a tidal wave. Before she nods off, she sees her mother speaking with the wizards and witches who just Apparated into the playground.

Her vision darkens but she remains aware.

She floats aimlessly in the darkness for who knows how long, and suddenly she finds herself facing a fallen man.

The fireplace nearby is littered with charred kindling and the Floo powder is scattered all over the expensive-looking carpet floor. Ornaments are shattered, portraits torn and furnitures upturned, a clear sign of an aftermath of a vicious battle.

Yoshiko discovers that, unlike the flashback earlier, she couldn’t really control her movements. There’s something viscous about the atmosphere too, adhering to her thoughts and weighing her down with malicious intent.

The red-haired man struggles to sit up, but all he could do is to slump against the wall. Amusement fills Yoshiko’s mind as she watches the wizard raise his wand with a trembling hand.

Nothing happens. Not even a spark from the tip of the wand.

Panicking now, the man utters incantations after incantations yet he’s still unable to cast a single spell.

“You Pureblood rely on your magic too much.” A familiar voice, Yohane’s voice, comes out of Yoshiko’s mouth. She tilts her head slightly, and one of the hooded figures behind her steps forward to wrench the wand out of the wizard’s hand.

“You won’t be needing this anymore after all.”

Yoshiko feels vile magic pooling at her back and, from the edge of her vision, she could see black feathers materializing. She flexes her wings in a silent command, and the hooded figures leave the room at once.

The reason becomes obvious when a Dementor glides in, and its terrible effect immediately shows as the wizard begins to quiver.

Yoshiko wants to scream, anything, to stop the creature from nearing the man. Alas, trapped in Yohane’s body, all she could do is watch in sheer horror as his soul is sucked out of his body.

A Dementor’s Kiss.

The man collapses, his eyes still open but blank with nothing inside of them.

Yohane does not laugh, though she’s obviously pleased from the way she kicks a broken plate out of her path as she exits the room.

“Oh, I didn’t notice you were here too.”

Abruptly, Yoshiko’s vision darkens again, the despair and dread dragging her down into that void of nothingness. She doesn’t even have a corporeal form, wherever she is, wherever this is.

Wandless.

Helpless.

What’s happening to me?

Did my soul leave my body or something?

The more terrified she feels, the deeper she sinks and it becomes harder and harder to form thoughts. This is different from her mind just blanking out when she loses control and those black tendrils burst out. She feels like she’s losing something, something important…

Is this what dying feels like?

“Yoshiko-chan!”

Someone’s calling her.

“Yoshiko-chan, snap back to your senses!”

She could feel it. Hope and light, somewhere far away and out of reach.

“Please, Yoshiko-chan!”

A familiar soft cry, a bird that is tragically misunderstood like she is.

Her vision is filled with light, forcing her to blink several times to adjust to the sudden brightness. A shimmering Patronus in the form of an Augurey flies around and encompasses the trail of light around her and Hanamaru.

“Y-Yoshiko-chan! You’re awake!” Hanamaru chokes with emotions, gripping Yoshiko’s hands so tightly that it’s almost painful. Lucifer is also perched on Yoshiko’s shirt, hissing softly in concern.

Yoshiko peers at them rather dumbly, trying to gather her thoughts and process what in Satan’s name just happened. “You saved me…”

“F-From what? What happened zura?”

“I… there was… it was all so dark, I…” Yoshiko says slowly, squeezing Hanamaru’s hands as if to reassure herself that she is back in her body. “Did you see anything-?”

“Y-Yes, h-how you saved me from the Dementors when we were little kids, here at this playground, but then I came to my senses and saw you’ve fainted zura. I-I kept calling your name but y-you wouldn’t respond. Lucifer tried too, it even bit your finger but nothing worked.”

Yoshiko takes a deep breath, pressing her hand against her chest and sighs in relief at the sensation of heartbeats. She’s back to reality now, from wherever that was.

“Is this-?”

The silver Augurey lands gracefully beside her before fading. “I couldn’t cast any spells, no matter how hard I tried, so I thought about what you said about souls and the Patronus Charm a-and, well, it somehow worked a-and it helped me wake you up.” Hanamaru shakes her head, as if unable to believe her success.

“T-That’s amazing… you’re able to cast an advanced spell, a Patronus Charm too...”

They both smile tentatively, though it’s obvious they’re still in a state of shock at what just transpired. Yoshiko rubs her aching temples, fragments of that scene with Yohane scaring her for many reasons.

Unlike the aftermaths of her previous connections, she doesn’t have a nosebleed, meaning this is something else.

Or that Yohane has recovered and is on the move.

And the poor man who was executed by a Dementor was unable to cast magic, most likely because he was hit by that same spell that affected Mari and Hanamaru.

Unlike the childhood memory in the playground, if Yohane can acknowledge her presence, it would mean that event has just occurred in the present. Yohane and the Fallen had attacked the man in his home before he could escape.

A Pureblood, a prestigious one too, based on all the fancy decorations.

The Black Jaguar insignia on the broken plate.

The Kurosawa emblem.

Cold fear settles in the pit of Yoshiko’s stomach.

“T-The Kurosawa Estate! It must be! We must get back to Hogwarts now and let the others know!”

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

She grits her teeth and barely manages to dive behind an ornate mirror to avoid a powerful Stunner. A mere moment later, the glass shatters under the house-elf’s onslaught and forces her to vacate her hiding spot. The magical creature’s eyes are wide in turmoil, unable to fight against the powerful Imperius Curse forcing it to attack its liege.

She’s learned a few useful wandless spells for dire situations, yet she is unable to even summon magic. The terrible disruption remains, causing her great pain and almost paralyzing her when she tries to forcefully pour out her magic into the form of a spell. As the house-elf stiffly moves towards her, she mutters a silent apology before flinging a heavy book towards it.

While the servant is distracted by the impact, she lunges forward and smears her bloodied hand upon its brow. The house-elf shudders once before its energy seems to shut down as it closes its eyes and slumps to the side. Feeling her adrenaline receding, she crawls towards the wall, her body aching from exhaustion. She fruitlessly taps the corner of the shelf, hoping to activate the hidden passageway, yet nothing happens since there is no magic output. It seems that while ancient blood magic still works due to the bond between master and servant, she is practically a Squib and utterly defenseless.

It must have been that tea.

Grandfather had summoned those that remained within the Estate for a meeting and, as per tradition and decorum, tea had been serviced before discussions were allowed to proceed. Though fond of tea, she had been nervous and had only taken a small sip.

When the Wards were first breached, her relatives were shocked to discover that they could not cast even the simplest of spells to subdue the intruders. Cloaked trespassers aside, there was a legion of Dementors whose terrible presence alone was enough to incapacitate her relatives and even the Kurosawa patriarch. Having relied on and grown dependent on magic for so long, the formidable former Warlock and the rest of her family were easily overpowered.

Those who weren’t in the meeting were disarmed by a few Imperio’d house-elves and the Dementors. The number of house-elves then quickly dwindled down after they deliberately injured themselves, once they discovered having betrayed their masters even though they were controlled against their wills.

Those black feathers… such malignant magic...

Even without her magic, she was able to keep those intruders out of reach at first due to her sabre. Then, the winged witch commanded a different group of people to attack her with weapons like axes, halberds and swords. No matter how confident she was with her sabre, she was terribly outnumbered and, without her wand to cover this flaw in her defense, a blade slipped through her guard and disarmed her.

In spite of her injured right arm, she’s ambidextrous and has trained to fight like a Muggle. She knew there was no winning the fight then and successfully fled the room. She evaded Curses and Jinxes, using the layout of the Estate to her advantage when the intruders gave chase. In that moment of panic though, she had ordered Pana and Elicchi to leave the premises carrying the Kurosawa heirloom so that it would not be broken or fall to enemy hands. She did not know who are still free within the Estate but she knew that the Floo Network is compromised and the Wards are overwritten.

Knowing the two intelligent owls, they would have flown for Hogwarts to her little sister and her friends. And knowing them, they will definitely find a way to come here to save her.

However, by coming here, they would all be placed in grave danger and Dia despises herself for being the reason.

Alas, what else could she do in this predicament? Help isn’t coming, not from those outside the Vow, and she doesn’t know how long she can evade capture.

Her vision blurs precariously, prompting her to bite the inside of her cheek to jolt her back to consciousness. The copper tang of blood makes her stomach lurch. She breathes deeply, hoping to clear away any vestige of lightheadedness so that she could plan her next course of action. The deep cut on her right arm throbs, reminding her that the makeshift bandage to staunch the blood flow won’t be enough. The enemies had time to study her fighting style, and had improved their counter since they knew the sabre’s weakness against purely Muggle-forged weapons.

“...I ...I’m sorry…”

“It’s not your fault.” Dia tries to block the vivid image of Riko from the Pensieve, but her faint whisper hasn’t stopped haunting her since that day. “...it is mine.”

Anger overwhelms sorrow and fear, and she regains the strength to move again. With a pained gasp, she concentrates all her energy within herself and is relieved when the transformation slowly takes place. Though her world has become much larger from the new perspective, her sharpened senses now allow her to pick up even the slightest sound from down the hallway. She tests her injured foreleg, finding the limp acceptable before running out of the room. She uses her small size to squeeze under an armored statue without alerting a passing Dementor, though she almost falters from that shroud of despair.

It doesn’t affect her as much as it would have been if she was in her human form. She’s grateful to have learned Animagus magic, for it is her only defense against such horrid creatures now.

Even if she was able to use magic, she would still be defenseless against Dementors. She hadn’t been able to cast the Patronus Charm since...  

She hastens her pace, fueled by rage and hatred. That winged witch, the leader of these intruders, most likely knows what her Animagus form looks like due to Riko’s memories. It’s only a matter of time before she’s found or succumbs to her injuries. However, there are still many things she could do, things that only she knows about the Kurosawa Estate.

Riko Sakurauchi made a thoughtful hum, her lone eye staring at the blueprints spread all over the bench. Theoretically, the designs appeared adequate, the improvements as functional as she had calculated them to be. Now all that remained was the practical aspect of her modifications. It was not a matter of being a perfectionist, for a failure in these weapons could mean the death of whoever wielded them.

And so she ran simulations, fired upon dummies herself and meticulously recorded every single test to ensure that there would be no failure, not in weapons modded by the underboss of the Kurosawagumi.

Her new position in the Family meant significantly less time for her to tinker with her toys, therefore she always devoted her rare free time to her workshop. Her creativity was allowed to run rampant and nothing pleased her more than productivity. Perhaps she should indulge herself in another drinking night with Chika. Their highly entertaining discussions about various kills tended to do wonders for her artistry. These blueprints were the proof of that.

Rounds from her enhanced shotgun echoed thunderously in her spacious warehouse as she tested the last of her modified models

The decimated mannequin prompted a small smirk from her otherwise composed features.

She wiped her greasy hands on a towel and slicked back her long bangs before pinning them with some hairclips. She got a long day ahead of her if she wanted to compile all the notes and ran one last series of tests. Frowning, she resisted the temptation to rub at her remaining eye, feeling the strain from overexerting it. She thought that she had more or less gotten used to having her vision cut in half but this was one of the few moments she wished for her lost eye.

Alas, it was gone. No use wishing for the impossible.

Several light knocks on the door broke her out of her reverie. Sighing, she didn’t need to glance at the monitor to know who the visitor was. Few people dared to bother her while she was shut in her lab and, at this early hour, there could only be one candidate. She deliberated for a while, knowing her uninvited guest would politely keep on waiting until she made her choice.

Riko sighed again, opting to deal with this as quickly as possible so she could resume working. Upon her brusque press of a button, the thick metallic door groaned and slid open, closing as soon as the silver-haired woman stepped inside.

“Riko-chan.”

She only spared You Watanabe a glance as she fiddled with the spare gun parts on the bench. She heard You walking towards one of the side tables and carefully placing a plate down on it.

“I brought some sandwiches. I heard you pulled an all-nighter, from Kanan and Chika-chan.”

“Of course those two yahoos are still awake.” Riko scoffed, forcing unwanted images of the Twilight Tigers from her mind. Kill or fuck or both, those two thrived best at night after all.

You chuckled at that as she gingerly sat down on the corner of a couch, the seat full of cluttered junk and broken blades. Silence then fell upon them while Riko busied herself with organizing the firearms and scribbled notes. Such aloof treatment did not deter You, who seemed content at simply watching her work.

Though You had exceeded her welcome, the extra presence in her lab was a mere itch and Riko soon forgot she even had a visitor. It was only when she had to retrieve something from the pile beside You that she remembered her being here.

Prickled by the intensity of those blue eyes, Riko growled softly. “What?”

“You’re not gonna eat?”

Riko glanced at her greasy hands, the many components strewn around the shop and those sloppily pinned notes scattered all over. Her lone amber eye narrowed with a clear unspoken message of ‘really, now?’

“Take a break, Riko-chan.” You smiled easily, though there was a tenor of stubbornness in her tone. Huffing, Riko went to wash her hands and took the plate towards her computer desk. She sat down with an irritated glare at her cup of stale coffee and began to set up the programs to run simulations.

After a while, Riko had enough.

“Stop staring at my scar.”

“Sorry, I was just…” You sounded startled and chagrined, though Riko was unable to see her expression due to her blind spot. “No, it’s nothing. Sorry.”

“Just what?”

“It’s nothing-”

“Speak.” The underboss said quietly.

You exhaled and shifted a bit, the couch squeaking from her movement. “...I thought you dislike showing your scar.”

“I do, but I was alone in my lab, wasn’t I?” Riko said succinctly. “Until you came by.”

It was a clear indication that it was time for You to leave, but either she didn’t catch it or she chose to ignore it. Riko subconsciously clenched her fist.

“...does it hurt?”

“Really?” Riko slowly turned around to face You fully. “After so many years?”

“I was just wondering…” You grumbled with her hands folded in her lap.

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m just worried about you.”

The honest answer wasn’t unexpected but Riko still found herself at a loss for words. She unwittingly found her gaze trailing You’s form, from the scruffy silver hair to the familiar accessory tied around her right bicep. The frayed scarf, its pink hue losing color over time, looked so out of place with the rest of the woman’s immaculate outfit. A gift from a blissfully ignorant child to an equally naive kid, now worn by the Family’s most revered capo.The irony was both amusing and disheartening.

So long ago. It was… so, so long ago.

There was a brief tug within her chest, so brief that she barely felt it. Still, she acknowledged the ache and, after a moment’s hesitation, stood up from her seat. She kept her gait smooth, the limp imperceptible, and stopped in front of the capo.

“You.”

You looked up, her expression guarded.

“I can take care of myself.”

A flicker of wistfulness in those blue eyes. “I know.”

“Then why?”

“As your… friend, I can still worry about you, can’t I?” You got up slowly to match their heights. “I’ll always, worry, about you, Riko-chan.”

Riko doesn’t know what to say to that. When You tentatively cupped her cheek, she fought with every fibre of her being not to recoil. It wasn’t as if she disliked body contact, no, but rather the tender touch that lulled her under this sense of vulnerability.

You’s palm felt calloused, no doubt littered with many tiny scars from all the fights, but it was just as warm as her lips. Riko’s eye drifted shut as she returned the kiss just as carefully, as if anything more would shatter this delicate illusion of peace.

However, time did not and could not stop or rewind. The river continued to flow and with it, carried away the past.

They broke away a moment later, breathing in each other’s scent and standing intimately close. Riko gazed at You’s lost expression and wished she could have looked at her properly with both her eyes. Alas, her eye was gone and so was their time. She gently rested her forehead against You’s, her voice nothing more than a murmur.

“I’ve long found my place. You should too… You-chan.”

The silver-haired capo closed her eyes as if savoring the moment. Her hand left Riko’s cheek as she placed a light kiss against the scarred eye. Nodding wordlessly, You walked away and left the warehouse.

It was only after the door clicked shut that Riko returned to her seat, this time not bothering to hide her limp. She brushed her hands through her bangs and stared blankly at the screen for a few moments, her finger tapping half-heartedly on the table.

“A bet, you say?”

The human girl gives you a big grin. Those amethyst eyes are filled with an innocence that only a child could possess, blissfully unaware of the harsh world they have yet to see.

“Uh-huh! And if I win, you have to do anything I ask!”

No fear, just absolute trust and adoration. Such traits usually lead to certain death in the ruthless tundra that they live in but ah, she is with you, is she not? You are perhaps the Continent’s most feared Witch, infamous for surviving through many catastrophic wars unscathed.

This child is under your protection. Unwittingly yes, nevertheless still your responsibility. You pride yourself in never leaving any task unfinished, and so you could not bring yourself to abandon her. By chance, you had stumbled upon this orphaned child and had taken her with you on a whim. You had observed humans for centuries yet failed to understand, even now, how they have thrived in this world in spite of their countless shortcomings.

You simply want to understand, and it appears this child is just as curious as you are.

“You have heard stories about me. Surely, you can see the improbability of ever winning the bet?”

The girl furrows her brows, trying to process the difficult words you just uttered. She learns fast, as she always has, and the characteristic grin is back on her dirt-smudged face again.

“Oh I’ll find a way! This bet has no deadline, so I can just keep trying, can’t I?”

“I suppose you can.” You couldn’t help but sigh in mild exasperation. If anything, the child’s zest is impressive. Whenever she has a goal in mind, she strives to achieve it despite her young age and limited resources.

You had no idea how to raise a human child but somehow, between the two of you, an unlikely pair in this desolate terrain with sparse villages, she had grown from a toddler to an energetic kid who could climb trees on her own.

There is a slight swell of pride, much like the vague memories of when you learned to cast your very first spell and brew your first potion.

“Very well, you have a lifetime to learn how to get past my defense and land a hit on me.”

“Even a simple scratch counts!” The girl then holds out her pinkie. “I learned this in that last town we visited - it’s like a promise. You can’t go back on this bet.”

Amused, you crouch down to her level and hook your gloved pinkie around her tiny one. “Very well. I look forward to your attempts, Kanan.”

The girl laughs, a sound full of vitality and optimism. “Just wait, I’ll definitely win this bet, Dia-onee-san!”

With that proclamation, the child wraps her small arms around your neck and hugs you as tightly as her tiny body could muster.

Having lived a long, long time without any emotional upheaval, you are rather puzzled by this spur of warmth in your chest at that moment. Anticipation? A challenge to your monotonous quotidian life? Finally, a factor your power has no control over?

You find yourself smiling and returning the hug.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

“Gotcha!”

The ponytailed girl smirks, full of confidence and thrill as she leaps down from the tree branch. Her amethyst eyes are sharpened from various experiences and refined like a beautiful gem, blazing in a way only a lively adolescent could cause.

Her movements are agile and her strikes are a force to be reckoned with. You are certain that she is beyond any average human and could probably become a powerful Knight in due time. You are the one who trained her after all.

The sword she wields is also imbued with your magic and can cut through even the thickest of armors.

Alas, you are the Diamond Witch. Nothing can hurt you, not even an enhanced weapon.

“Not again?!” After your automatic shield deflects and flings her into the bushes, she rolls for a bit before bumping against a trunk. Grumbling, she sits up and rubs her head.

Seeing her pout and her dirt-covered face, you couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle. This human is quite troublesome in a way. She always gets into trouble, returning to their little cabin with scrapes and torn shirts. It’s nothing your magic couldn’t amend of course, but it’s exasperating to scold her again and again not to be so reckless.

“I did catch you by surprise, didn’t I? I saw it in your eyes.” Kanan scowls, seemingly indignant about your reaction. “So, what did I do wrong this time?”

“Nothing. You did catch me by surprise - I was not able to sense you until you jumped from that tree.” You subconsciously reach towards her messy hair and dust off all the leaves and dirt. She squirms a bit, possibly embarrassed about being treated like a child. That’s something you also don’t understand as time passes by. She will always be a child in your eyes, but just because she has grown to your height, she’s been insisting to be treated like an adult.

“Then how come your barrier still tossed me away like I was a fly or something?” She stands up and rests her large sword on her shoulder, not at all troubled by the weapon’s weight. It’s sometimes hard to superimpose the image of this muscular adolescent to the twig of a child from a decade ago.

“Because my shield is automatic, like an instinct. It is my ultimate defense, and why I was called the Diamond Witch.” You give her a patient look as you fix the rips in her sleeveless shirt.

Perhaps it’s time for another trip to the nearest human village. There are only so many times magic can mend a piece of clothing. You have always avoided any interactions with humans, but Kanan is free to do whatever she pleases. Some of the human confections she brings back from time to time taste rather delicious so the idea isn’t completely bad.

“Whaaaaat! Then I’ll never be able to win then?”

“Well, that is exactly what I have been telling you. It is impossible.”

“No it isn’t, I’ll prove you wrong.” As expected, Kanan’s dampened spirit doesn’t last long. A familiar smile brightens up her features as she laughs. “Remember the time I fell into the river? You thought I was going to drown.”

“I did.” You definitely remember the inexplicable clench in your chest watching the pre-teen plummet under the unforgiving torrent; the difficulty to breath as you urged your broom to fly faster and poured your magic to freeze the water, and the subsequent sigh when the girl popped her head out of the surface, mostly unharmed.

That day, the girl had learned how to swim, while you had learned to believe in the human’s adaptive ability a bit more (but also to keep a closer eye. Apparently this is something known as a rebellious phase when it’s hard to rein in a growing teen’s behavior).

“But I surprised you, didn’t I? Just wait, I’ll find a way somehow.” Kanan rests the sword against the tree trunk before starting her usual warm-up exercise. She appears ready for another go at this bet.

“But I have already told you… you know what, never mind. You have always been too stubborn to listen.”

The adolescent grins cheekily. You shake your head and stare at her in contemplation.

“What is it that you wish to acquire, anyway? I believe I have already provided anything you need. I have been compliant with your requests, perhaps except for wanting to see the ocean. That should come soon enough, however, for we have journeyed far and should reach the coast-”

“Oh that, yeah, I look forward to it. I like swimming and I’m good at it~ As for what I want as prize for winning the bet, uh...” For some reason the human looks embarrassed then, looking away and rubbing the back of her head. “I think I had something else in mind when I was a kid, but now…”

“But now-?”

“Y-You’ll see!” Kanan’s cheeks are still flushed when she faces you with a determined smile. “Anyway, Dia-san, I’m gonna do some laps and I’ll be back before sunset, okay?”

Though intrigued, you nod at the ponytailed girl and allows her to pull you into her arms. It’s become somewhat of a custom between the two of you, that she would hug you whenever she leaves your side for a while. And every time, there is that rush of warmth that lulls you into a sense of peace. You somewhat miss her childish way of calling you ‘onee-san’, but this is fine as well.

“Do not be late.” You whisper against her ear and chuckle when she hastily pulls away wearing an even deeper blush.

“I won’t!”

You watch the adolescent’s ponytail fluttering behind her as she jogs down the hill, her silhouette becoming smaller and smaller until she could no longer be spotted by your excellent vision.

More and more, you find yourself smiling for no particular reason. You are content from just gazing at her and waiting for her return.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you…”

The ponytailed woman smiles upon meeting your gaze as she hurries towards you. Those expressive amethyst eyes are full of relief and something else, a particular softness that coaxes a smile from you as well.

“You know I do not like crowds, Kanan.”

A light breeze brushes past your long hair, its dark hue almost blending in with the evening sky. Almost. The lights from the summer festival in this seaside town is giving you the illusion of daytime. So full of bustling crowds, lanterns and torches and so much noise! This is definitely the closest you have touched upon a dense human population since the last war.

You do not fear being discovered as the Diamond Witch, not at all. Rumors of your existence should have faded into the sands of time. There are soldiers mingling with the civilians, some local ones and some who had come from other places via ships, but none of them recognize you. In fact, they are more interested in your companion, either attracted by her beauty or her startling strength when they competed in friendly matches.

No, you simply do not like being surrounded by people, that is all. It is only because of Kanan’s plea that you accompany her to the festival in the first place, but there is only so much you could endure.

Here, at this secluded hill that oversees the port, you are finally able to regain your bearings and breathe in clean air in peace.

“Right, sorry about that.” Kanan at least seems apologetic as she sits down beside you. “I hope you did enjoy it, just a little bit?”

“... a bit.” You admit reluctantly. The various snacks sold at the stalls and the simple arcades were refreshing for you, never having experienced such human activities before. After all, you have never ventured this far into their world and would have never done so if Kanan wasn’t with you.

Indeed, you had fun, and fun hadn’t been a frequent emotion in your long life.

“I’m glad to hear that!” Even at a quarter-century of age, the woman’s smile still holds that childish edge and guileless warmth much like when you first found her.

“Why are you here though? Shouldn’t you be with your friends?”

You know for a fact that Kanan has settled down into this seaside town quite well and has made many friends, even with the out-of-towners who frequent by ships. Though her swordsmanship is just as good as a Knight’s, she chooses to live a humble life as a fisherman. Now as an independent adult, she is making an honest living here while you still live like a recluse in a hut within the forest. She visits you often enough, but it just isn’t the same anymore.

Many times, you have wondered if you should just let her be and continue with your wandering. At the end of the day, Kanan is a human and should be with her kind.

Who are you to stop her?

“The festival’s great and all, but I’d rather spend time with you,” Kanan laughs sheepishly and scoots closer to you. “When was the last time we just watch the stars together, just the two of us, just like old times?”

“... indeed, it has been long.”

Neither of you speak for a while, content with each other’s presence close by and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere blessed by the night. It takes you a few moments to notice Kanan’s hand covering yours, but you do nothing to reject such contact. In fact, the warmth from the contact is pleasant and welcomed.

“Perhaps it is time that we part ways.”

Startled, she squeezes your hand and places her other hand on your shoulder so you would face her. “W-Why do you say that? You don’t want me around anymore?”

“No, that is not it. It is… simply time that we move on. You have your own life, while I-”

“I don’t understand. I-I want you to be in my life.” She shakes her head vehemently. “You are my world, Dia.”

You are unprepared for the slight quickening of your heartbeat when Kanan’s warm hand cups your cheek. The way she utters your name also sends an odd tingle down your body, and you find yourself lost in those beautiful amethyst eyes.

“Remember the bet?

“I do.”

“If I win, you’ll have to stay with me,” Kanan’s firm voice leaves no room for argument. You lean against her hand when her thumb whimsically caresses your cheek.

“Certainly, but you have never been able to land a hit on me, have you?”

“That’s…” She drops her gaze. “I don’t want to hurt you… but really, you have no weak point. No matter what I do, I can’t get past your shield.”

“But you are touching me right now, are you not?” Suddenly, you no longer care about anything else in the world. All those centuries of knowledge and self-preservation become nothing but a muffled whisper as you divulge your one secret to the precious human in your life. “Any time you touch me or hug me, my shield is never activated.”

“E-Eh?” Kanan doesn’t seem to understand your words, so you elaborate for her with a small smile.

“If you hold a knife while hugging me, you could easily stab me in the back-”

“Don’t joke about stuff like that!” Kanan recoils away, and you fleetingly lament on the loss of contact. “I would never do that to you!”

“It is your only chance.” You tilts her chin so she would look at you instead of down at her lap. “It is the only way to get past my defense.”

“I will not do it. I’ll find some other way to get you to stay. With me.”

Kanan leans close and gently presses her lips against your own. The rush of heat is like nothing you have ever experienced before. Through this chaste kiss, you could feel both her determination to convince you as well as her uncertainty at such an intimate gesture. Most of all, however, you could feel the missing piece between the two of you.

This is love, is it not? The emotion that drives humans, that makes them protective of one another and allows them to thrive even under unfavorable circumstances.

You did not understand love but you are starting to. You close your eyes and smile into the kiss as Kanan’s arms wrap securely around you. Her embrace makes you feel more invincible than any magic ever did, and you allow yourself to relax and melt against her.

The blissful daze is suddenly shattered by the whistling of something piercing through the air. One moment Kanan is hugging you, the next she has shoved you down and covered you with her body. There are several muffled sounds, and a pained cry escapes her gritted teeth.

Stunned, you could only lie there and stare at the many arrows embedded in Kanan’s back. The clamoring of metal and frantic footsteps of strangers soon enter the surrounding but you could barely pay them any heed. All you could feel is the hot liquid soaking through her shirt and staining your dress.

Her breathing is shallow, alarmingly so, and blood is trickling down her chin. You grasp desperately for those arrows, aiming to heal her wounds as soon as you yank those out but deep down, you know it is already too late.

“Dia… “ She gasps weakly, her voice barely audible beside her ear. “I…”

You do not understand why she is smiling at you.

And you never will.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

“Are you here to visit Kanan-chan too?”

You nod solemnly at the young woman holding flowers, vaguely recognizing her as one of Kanan’s friends from the town. With your face covered in veil, it is easy to blend in with the rest of people coming to mourn for Kanan’s death.

The Knights, who had come all the way from the other side of the Continent, talked about the Diamond Witch and how dangerous she was. The folks from the seaside town would have none of it, enraged by the murder of a beloved resident. Against the might of the united people, the few troops had no chance and they were soon banished.

With the outsiders gone, the locals had fallen into a forlorn trance as they prepared for Kanan’s burial. They think she would have liked being close to the sea, and you approve of their decision to rest her on the very hill when she had hugged you for the last time.

You reach out to touch the tombstone, its surface cold and foreign, so unlike the spirited woman you once knew. You could still feel the phantom brush of her lips against yours, and the heat from those beautiful amethyst eyes. Her voice, ranging from bubbly young to tenderly mature, speaks of a bet made long ago, and you find yourself on your knees as the words repeat in your mind.

There is terrible pain in your heart, a wound invisible to naked eyes and impervious to any healing spells you know. You clutch at your chest as you rest your forehead against the tombstone, an unfamiliar wetness leaking from your eyes onto the stone surface.

Dia Kurosawa tightened her high-ponytail before hopping onto the ring. She had properly warmed up earlier with the punching bags and was more than ready to try her mettle against a moving opponent. It had been a few weeks since her rib injury had suspended her duties, far too long to confine someone in idle restlessness let alone the kumichou of the Kurosawagumi.

“You sure?” Her trainer and her confidante asked, though the rhetorical question was a jab to rile her up. Kanan Matsuura was a woman of few words when she wanted to be, but she had a certain way with them that caused whichever effect she desired.

“I make my own kills,” Dia said evenly, “I have been warming the bench for too long.”

Kanan let out a gruff chuckle, agreeing to her inactivity in past two grand missions. “Then come at me, and I’ll decide whether you’re ready or not.” She placed her orange-tinted glasses on a nearby table and pulled off her dress shirt, leaving only a black tanktop on. Her violet eyes had a gleam of amusement as she rolled her shoulders and cracked her knuckles. “I wouldn’t want Riko to get angry. Oh definitely not.”

“The infamous Twilight Tiger is scared?” Dia also shrugged off her yukata so she was only clad in her sports bra and shorts. The cool air felt pleasant against her exposed skin, especially around her injured area. It was always a good idea to allow a wound to breathe, and any bouts of pain were inconsequential.

“Of Riko? Of course. It’d be unwise not to,” Kanan smiled. It was just a playful jest since nothing could faze her, but no one wanted to be under the scrutiny of the underboss’ lone chilly eye, not if they could avoid it. Even the Family’s ace assassin was no exception.

The mild humor then vanished just as quickly and Kanan gave her a curt nod.

There was no winning a raw fistfight, not against the best fighter of the Family, though Dia still enjoyed sparring and pushing her limits. She clenched her fist tightly under the training bandages and charged, her muscles coiled like springs. In her younger years, she had been scrawny, mostly bone and skin, but intense training had toughened her body. Sinewy muscles flexed and stretched under her pale complexion, making her jabs quick and powerful. Her legs, though not much of an asset in terms of power, gave her all the leverage she needed to swerve and outpace her opponents. She dodged most of the punches and kicks Kanan threw at her.

“You’re still favoring your left side,” the assassin grunted just before sending a powerful jab at her. Dia saw the attack coming but couldn’t react fast enough to dodge or parry it. Kanan’s fist rammed her middle, causing her to stagger but she bounced back up without as much as a grimace. The impassive expression in spite of the pain had Kanan smirking, like she always did whenever she approved of something. Even back in Russia, she never made accolades to a job well done simply because it was expected to happen. In their line of work, failure meant death, or worse, the safety of the Family.

Dia returned to her stance after rolling her shoulder, the yakuza-style tattoos flowing over the joint and deltoid like breathing water. She had earned every single one of those artworks, each worth a life snuffed, an enemy killed. She remembered the first she had gotten, back when she was sixteen. She just returned to the States then, a fiery youth ready to fight for her inheritance and her family’s legacy. That single sakura emblem had been joined by a myriad of other effigies since then; on her back, shoulders and right arm. The eight-headed Orochi and the immortal phoenix were typically reserved for higher profile kills; she didn’t get any of those until well into her nineteenth year. But being the heart and soul of such operations meant that those high profile targets were reserved only for her, and she had earned them well as the heiress of the notorious Kurosawagumi.

Emerald eyes spied similar artwork on her sparring partner’s body, which teemed with markings from her vicious upbringing. The muscular woman’s style depicted her origin, symbolic and predominantly inked in black. An eight-pointed star was inked in bold under her clavicle, a symbol for thievery of the highest caliber. She remembered Kanan telling her once that she earned that tattoo by stealing a minister’s daughter and all his riches right under his nose. As Dia dodged another punch to her right, she saw the white claws of a Siberian Tiger on Kanan’s shoulder blade, a symbol for the old regime in which authority was bestowed only to the strongest. Though mostly hidden by her tanktop, Dia knew that, under the beast’s jaw, were human skulls crushed by ruthless fangs, denoting the wearer’s high proficiency for murder. A myriad of stripes, interlaced with other motifs, climbed up her entire left arm for each and every single brutal kill for the Family.

Indeed, the phantom Twilight Tiger was their trump card, her presence indomitable. Even in the ring, and despite Dia’s own skills, Kanan was difficult to take down. She had always been a fortress, any strike a juggernaut, but the kumichou was nothing but patient and tenacious. She would chip her down, brick by brick if she must.

Her opportunity came when Kanan suddenly lunged at her in a reckless tackle. Dia leapt and hooked her legs around Kanan’s shoulder and neck, using the momentum to shove her opponent down. As soon as they crashed on the ground, Dia swerved to the side and tightened her thighs around Kanan’s neck in a triangle choke.

Anyone else would have already lost or would soon lose consciousness by this point. Alas, Kanan managed to avoid the brunt of the submission and wrestled out of the maneuver with one arm wrapped around Dia’s waist. One abrupt lift and slam later, Dia found herself sprawled on her back and wheezing.

“You shouldn’t have done that, especially in your injured state,” Kanan rasped, looming above her. “And against me.”

“I should have known better, yes.” Despite the slight prickle to her pride, Dia knew to acknowledge her mistakes. It was near impossible to get past Kanan’s guard, so she should have realized it had been a bait the moment she landed a chokehold on her.

“Aw, you’ll always be better at katana than me,” Kanan chuckled, not to console her but to invite her to another round.

Dia narrowed her eyes and smiled defiantly, accepting her friend’s offered hand to help her get up. The sparring match resumed for the better part of the hour with heated intensity. Punches made way for real blades; combat knives, short swords, and katanas. Their exchanges were as vicious as if they were out to slit the throat of a target. They have always trained like this because neither saw a point in training with toys.

It was also sign of utmost trust that could only be built from a lifetime of camaraderie, indomitable faith in each other’s abilities to dodge potentially fatal strikes. Besides, it was always better to learn and practice how to dodge since failing to do so would result in a stab wound or worse, than play along and get killed in action. Such training also taught restraint and precise movements, key skills for assassins and professional criminals.

“If only you weren’t still recovering,” Kanan grinned even as the tongue of the katana slid perilously against her jugular. “That was beautiful.”

“Naturally,” Dia could feel the cool steel of the switchblade pressed against her abdomen, its lethal fang ready to bite into her flesh at any moment. “You still went easy on me.” It was not an accusation but a statement, and Kanan neither acknowledged nor denied it.

They held each other’s gaze for a moment, both taking controlled breaths as the adrenaline steadily ebbed away.

“That’ll do.” Kanan’s stance relaxed, prompting both combatants to lower their weapons and putting them away. “You were able to hide the obvious weakness on your right after a while. If you can keep that up, I don’t see why you can’t join us in the next mission.” A teasing chortle left her lips then. “Not that my verdict mattered - you intend to go back to your duties anyways.”

“Of course. It has been far too long and I grow restless.” Dia flicked her disheveled ponytail to rid herself of the strands that stuck to her sweaty skin, embittered by the reminder of her rare fumbles. She had miscalculated in a skirmish almost a month prior, and in order to dodge a bullet, she threw herself off a bridge onto a speeding truck, injuring her side in the process.

“I would just chill and laze about if I were you.” Shrugging, Kanan wiped at herself with a towel and began to clean up the mess they had created in the ring.

Dia merely gave her a withering look.

Kanan shrugged again.“Well, then don’t let such injury happen again.”

“It shall not.” A soft, yet icy voice, spoke from the edge of the ring. The kumichou looked over her shoulder and found Riko Sakurauchi standing there with a towel in one hand, while her iconic cane was held in another. Her lone eye held no warmth, only the abyssal chill that Dia knew well. Her faithful right-hand was displeased with their spar it seemed.

“Ah, busted~ Welp, since I’ve already ticked you off...” Kanan lit up a cigar and took a long, slow drag as if to savor it. Grinning at Riko’s murderous expression, she exhaled the smoke away from her direction and held up her hands in a playful gesture of surrender.

“You’re incorrigible.” Riko tapped her cane on the ground once, a quiet but menacing sound, though Dia could tell that the younger woman wasn’t as vexed as she appeared to be. “There’s a mess in the bar. Go clean it up.”

Kanan laughed. Her partner, Chika Takami, must have fallen asleep in the Family’s private lounge after celebrating the success of last night’s mission. The stab-happy assassin would have to be manually relocated, a feat that could only be done by the other Twilight Tiger, if they wanted to avoid unnecessary casualties.

“Gladly. Excuse me then, and good luck, boss~”

Slinging her scrunched-up shirt over one shoulder, Kanan eagerly hopped off of the ring and strolled towards the exit, her ponytail bouncing with each step. On her nape was a small symbolic mikan tattoo, inked personally and zealously by her lover upon such a vulnerable spot.

The sight never failed to appease Dia, to see her oldest friend enjoying life to the fullest, to be the best killer for the Family without losing her humanity. Once Kanan was out of the door, Dia approached the second command of the Family, who wordlessly wiped at the sweat and grime off of her face. Riko’s finger fleetingly brushed over the ridged skin beneath Dia’s left eye, and the subconscious gesture had her smiling faintly.

That scar was perhaps the most significant tattoo she had above all others. Her choice, her anchor.

“You are not going to reprimand me.”

Riko’s lips quirked at that, the frost melting in her lone gaze. “What’s done is done. I’m just relieved to see you recovering well.”