Author's notes:
For all intents and purposes, god's of death from Britain are technically called 'Reapers' instead of 'Shinigami' (makes sense, different culture... different language, hence different name). This fic is a continuation of 'Enter the Reaper'.
Disclaimer: Yanagi-sen and I are only borrowing the characters from Yami no Matsuei and Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter books to torment for a while... Don't look for Harry to be appearing at any time in this fanfiction. We claim no ownership over any character that does not belong to us... Itami Korin and Ishida Nanjiro are mine... those I claim and abuse at will.
The
Reaper's journey.
Chapter one.
003 fluttered her wings as Watari looked around, more than a little unsure of their current surroundings. He knew that foreigners were somewhat odd, but he hadn't believed that they were this unusual, was that man wearing a dress with twinkling stars? A glance at his partner, assured the shinigami that this might be normal behavior. Part of him was relieved that tourists never looked like this in Japan. Then again, this was China... and he hadn't been out of the country for the past couple of decades.
Draco looked around them. "Nice to see familiar sights again."
"Foreigners truly are unique..."
"This is what a wizarding community looks like... sort of."
The shinigami nodded and continued looking around at the people... and noted that some were carrying broomsticks much like the one that Draco's father had destroyed several months ago when Lucius Malfoy had attacked the boy. "Maybe we can get you one of those flying brooms again?" he said brightly.
The boy sighed and looked at the brooms wistfully. "You have no idea how expensive they are..."
"Not a clue... but if we don't get the absolute top of the line, then maybe it won't be as expensive," not to mention that over the past thirty years or so, he had managed to save up a bit of money... and invest, mostly in his brother's business... not that he was willing to share that bit of information with anyone else.
"Maybe... I refuse to get a student broom though. I'd rather not fly then use one of those pieces of junk."
"Would you rather we go back and talk to the Count and see about an oar?" Watari winked as he pulled Draco to one of the vendors with brooms... even though they still hadn't even located the inn where they were supposed to stay yet.
"I'd sooner walk." He sighed and hitched his bag higher up on his shoulder. "Any chance we'll be getting rid of these soon?"
Pulling the oar out, Watari took the bags from Draco and hung them from their handles on the oar. Turning the oar so that the broadside was flat, he called Puss up to ride on the back. Mewing happily the small shikigami jumped up and promptly curled into a small ball. Hovering in the air, the blonde smiled at his partner, "Better?"
"Yes, thank you." He stretched his back. "Where is this hotel or inn or whatever it is we're staying at?"
From the pocket on his coat a small paper is retrieved, "Anoo, I think that we still have another block to go... "
The smaller blond sighed. "I hope this one is better than the last place he got for us."
"That last one wasn't that bad..."
One eyebrow rose elegantly. "Oh really? If it 'wasn't that bad', I'd hate to see what you consider bad."
Gliding down the crooked street Watari ignored all the odd looks he was recieving for riding an oar instead of a broom, "I would have to say that doors falling off of hinges and missing sections of the roof are where 'bad' starts to apply."
"Those can't even count as shelter..."
"When we are missing the roof is when I start to protest..."
Draco shuddered. "I should hope so. We have to be getting close."
Floating around a corner, Watari stopped in front of a large building that had obviously seen much better days. "I think this might be it."
"It has to be better inside... doesn't it?"
"Not really," Watari sighed. Draco was looking a little wild-eyed. He held out his arms to Puss, wanting a little reassurance. Blinking, the small shikigami sat up and jumped into Draco's arms. He held the creature close, petting it. He was obviously reluctant to enter the place. Watari on the other hand seemed to have no problems with going in. The smaller blond followed hesitantly. It didn't take long before they had the key to their room. Draco was close on the scientist's heels, cradling his shikigami. He looked around, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
Once in the room, the shinigami set the bags on the floor and started searching through one of them. "I know that i packed it in here..." he muttered.
The Reaper stood in the center of the room, looking around in horror. "you've got to be kidding me..."
"Draco calm down... the place is clean, has a bed and isn't falling apart."
"I... I guess so..."
Watari was still rooting around in the bag when Draco wandered into the bathroom... A shrill shriek rings out. Running into the bathroom, Watari almost expected to find someone trying to kill his partner... "Draco!"
The blond was standing on the lid of the toilet, clutching Puss. His face was pale, almost sickly. Wild silver eyes seek out Watari's. "Get me out of here!"
"Wha... What's wrong?"
Something skittered across the floor. "Aiiie... there... see!" Following the small creature across the floor, Watari recognizes what he is seeing... a cockroach. Thankful that he hadn't automatically taken his shoes off when he entered the room, the shinigami stomped the insect flat. Now Draco turned rather green. "Eeew..." He shuddered. "Can we leave now!"
The older blonde chuckled, it seemed that his lovely partner wasn't going to have an easy time coping with a few of the problems associated with their current living conditions. "As soon as I spray the room we can leave."
"Thank goodness." He checked the floor before stepping down. He shuffled out of the tiny bathroom as quickly as he could.
---
It was funny the way the shopkeeper kept trying to sell a broom to Watari... to replace the oar that the shinigami rode. Draco was looking through the different models. Some he discards immediately with a scorned expression. Moving closer to where the Reaper was, Watari tried to lose the other wizard's attention. Turning, the smaller blond levels a cold gaze on the shopkeeper. The man suddenly found work to do on the other side of the shop. Draco smiles slightly at Watari. "Problems?"
He chuckled and placed a gentle kiss on the boy's forehead. "Not anymore..."
The blond ducked away, embarrassed by the public display of affection. "good..." He turned back to the brooms. "not much here..."
"Maybe there is a better shop where we can find something you like?"
Draco shrugged, then his eyes fell on another broom. It was sitting by itself against another wall. He went over and pulled it out. Under the dust, it was lacquered black with dark twigs. He stroked the smooth wood and checked it for straightness. "What a beautiful broom..."
"Is that a good one?"
"It's a couple years old... not really cutting edge anymore, but... It's lovely." His voice had a distinctly wistful tone to it. Waving the shopkeeper over, and almost knocking 003 off of his shoulder, Watari asked the man how much this particular broom cost. Once the man quoted a price, Draco's expression fell. He put the broom back, fingers running over the black lacquer. "It's too expensive." He sighed and walked out of the store.
Hazel eyes focused on the shopkeeper, and with a smile he adjusted his glasses, "Would there be any way that I could convince you to maybe lower the price?" The man smiled as well, obviously pleased to have someone to bargain with. "Or maybe even a trade of some sort," Watari looked thoughtful.
---
Grinning like a little kid at Christmas, Watari came out of the shop carrying a long wrapped package. "Dray-chan" he called out in a sing-song voice.
The small blond was standing at an open air booth across the narrow street, looking at some dried plants and bottles of powder. "I'm over here." He pointed towards something and the witch behind the booth picked it up.
He held the package behind him and stood next to the young wizard. "Close your eyes and hold out your hands..."
Draco's head tilted and he looked at Watari questioningly. "Okay..." He closed his silver eyes and held out his hands. The package was carefully placed into the young blonde's hands. The boy's eyes flew open and he looked at what could only be a wrapped broom in shock. "What's this?"
"Open it and see..."
Hesitantly, like he was afraid it was a dream, Draco unwrapped the end of the broom. When the deep black wood was revealed he started to shake his head. "No... no, it's too expensive. I can't afford it."
Watari smiled reassuringly at his partner, "I thought that was the one you wanted?"
"It is... I do... but... I can't repay you, even in a year." Draco looked crestfallen that he couldn't pay for the broom. He had missed flying terribly over the last few months, missing that freedom.
"Get me a new solar-powered calculator and then we'll be even." The shinigami winked.
"But..."
"Do you want this or not, young man?" The witch was getting impatient.
"Oh, yes... um... one of those small pouches please." Standing around quietly, Watari watched as Draco bought the ingredients for his potions. Once the herbs and powders had been paid for, the blond turned back to the scientist. "Watari... are you sure... it wasn't too much?"
"I'm sure... since I traded for it instead."
Carefully, since he was holding a 6 foot broom and a bag of potion ingredients, Draco hugged the shinigami. "Thank you thank you thank you..." Hugging the teen back, he suggested that they head back to the room to drop off the day's purchases and then try out the new broom. Draco was nearly skipping back to the inn. He grimaced before entering though. "there better not be any of those bugs..."
"They're probably dead by now..."
"Oh good... I don't think I could have slept knowing they might crawl up on the bed." He shuddered.
Once back in the room, Draco nearly had another fit when he saw the almost dead roaches still twitching on the floor. "Aaahh... I'm waiting in the hallway for you." He left, pale and green again.
---
Wandering around the odd town, Puss made his way along a high wall, watching the odd humans milling about in their market. There was another section of the market though, darker, more secretive. The kind of place where one could find things that weren't supposed to be accessible. Jumping down onto the closest available awning, then to window flower box and finally to the ground, the small shiki began purposefully trotting over to where the other section had been.
Entering the darker area... Puss can sense the eyes on him. Some are merely curious, some fearful, some however are very interested... and a bit threatening. To his right a little girl held out a piece of a cookie to him. Although he was tempted, he passed up on the sweet... he was not Byakko. Others passed him in the street, cloaked in dark robes. The few children who played here had a wariness that most young ones did not.
When a hand came down directly at him, Puss hissed and agilely leaped away before starting to run away. A concentration of energy raced towards him... some kind of spell no doubt. There was a muffled curse from behind him and quick footsteps. Still scampering he rounded a corner and bounced off of someone's shoe. Giving a mournful mewl, he attempted to play on the person's mercy... spells were something that he didn't want to mess around with.
"What's this?" A dark shape bent over and picked up the small cat-creature. Large emerald eyes blinked at the man now holding him as sensitive ears heard cursing from behind. "Who's there?" The man stepped towards the corner.
Coming into view, yet remaining partially in the shadows, a man with brown hair and a scar that cut down through his left eye leaned against the wall. "That's my pet." he claimed.
"Is it? It didn't seem to willing to stay with you." The man's voice was snide and condescending.
"It just arrived." Puss hissed at the scarred man.
"And doesn't like you... I wonder how you came to 'own' him?"
"It was acquired by a Japanese omnyouji for me," he lied through his crooked yellow teeth.
Curling up in the hands of the man who held him, Puss purred up at him. "Why do I not believe you? Oh yes, because you are lying. Occlumency is just a handy talent to have..." He pet the creature gently.
A woman tapped the scarred man on the shoulder and informed him that it wasn't a good idea to bother anymore with the 'hei hei'... accidentally killing their clients was never a good idea. Growling, the man turned back into the shadows and both disappeared with the aid of a charm.
"Well now... that was interesting." The man looked down at the cat-like animal. "So do you have a master or are you a wild creature?"
Emerald eyes looked woefully up at the dark haired man, in what Nanjiro always called his 'puss in boots' impression. "mew."
"Hmmm... you don't speak I see. Well, I have things to attend to in the main market, you're welcome to tag along." With a happy mewl, Puss scrambled up onto the man's shoulder. "Hmmmph." The man turned towards the more brightly lit market. He stalked down the narrow alley, robes billowing around him.
At one booth that specialized in cheap but good quality potion ingredients, a girl cooed over the kitten and offered it a few bites from her lunch (which it gratefully accepted). "I'll take some of that. And if you have any lavender as well."
The girl picked up the small animal as her husband got the items requested. "We just received a shipment of lavender the other day... so it's quite fresh."
"Excellent." The husband was packing the lavender when his wife exclaimed in slight surprise that this was the same creature that had passed there earlier that morning. "He was a few seconds away from being captured by some rather... unsavory characters. Would you know if he has a master or mistress?"
"He probably belonged to that young man... short blonde hair, gray eyes... had an odd name though, something along the lines of Draeishian?" The woman informed as she handed the kitty over.
"Do you know where I could find them? I'd like to get this thing back before he gets snatched."
The husband pointed down the road, "They went that way when Draeishian's friend said they were going to their lodgings."
"Thank you. And thank you for the herbs." He bowed slightly and headed in the direction they had indicated. There were a couple of inns and a hotel down in this direction... with a creature this rare, the owner must probably be in the hotel at the end of the road.
He walked toward the most expensive place in the little wizarding community, keeping his eyes open for a young man with short blond hair. The kitten leapt off his shoulder when he passed one of the smaller inns. "Huh? Here?"
"mew!"
"Okay... if you say so." The man turned to follow him.
---
Two floors later, they were outside of one of the rooms where someone inside was apparently having definite problems dealing with the insects in Asia. "Here I presume..." He knocked on the door.
Inside someone told another person to just stay up on the bed until he could find the roach... then it would be safe to get down again. A blonde with long wavy hair opened the door, "Hei? Can I help you?"
"Would this belong to someone here?"
The man looked at the small creature. "Puss?"
"Is that his name? He was being pursued."
"Hei... he has a tendency to wander off alone." Taking the small kitty, Watari moved out of the doorway, "Please come in, I hope that Puss didn't inconvenience you in anyway..."
"It was no problem. The couple at the potions stand told me to come this way." He stepped into the room.
"Professor Snape?"
Watari looked from Draco perched up on the bed then at the man who had returned Puss. "Ah, you know each other?"
The younger blond checked the floor, then jumped off the bed and came to the door. "Professor Snape was one of my teachers." Nodding, the shinigami let the shiki jump to the floor where it promptly darted over to Draco and rubbed against his legs purring loudly. "Puss, where did you go? Where did you find him, Professor?"
"He was about to be snatched by a rather unsavory looking character." Snape responded while Watari invited him in and started fixing some tea for the three of them.
"Thank you, Professor." Draco smiled at Puss and pet him. He looked back at Snape. "Professor... what are you doing here?"
"I came here to purchase some rarer ingredients..."
"Oh. I'm sorry, I'm being rude. This is Watari."
The blonde bowed deeply, "It is an honor to meet one of Dray-chan's professors."
"Dray-chan?" One of Snape's eyebrows rose. Draco spluttered and blushed.
"Hei... Dray, short for Draco... and chan is a term of endearment." The blonde chuckled and handed some tea to Snape and Draco.
"Endearment? Really? And how did you end up here, Mr. Malfoy?" Draco looked away, expression hardening.
"He was removed from his father's custody for reasons that are not polite to discuss in proper company... and since Britain's Departments did not want to deal with someone from the Malfoy family, he was sent to Japan and placed in my care." Watari answered for his partner, not really lying but not telling the full truth either.
Snape nodded. "I'm glad he was taken out of there. I just wish I had been told. I was your Head of House, Draco." He admonished the boy gently.
The shinigami sat down on the bed and pulled the smaller blonde back with him, "the entire situation was rather abrupt, and Japan has no ties in any manner with your magic user school." Draco let himself be cuddled to the scientist's side. Occasionally he still had nightmares of his father. He knew Snape had to be giving him 'that look', but he didn't really care at that moment. Puss snuggled in and he pet the creature absently. "While I may be less than magically inclined, I can assure you that your ex-pupil is learning eastern magic from some of the strongest practitioners in Japan." The shinigami stated as he smiled down at the young blond.
"Good. I would hate for his education to be discontinued. So you are, muggle? Or squib perhaps?"
"I don't know what a squib is..."
"Wizard-born but without magical ability." Draco murmured.
Watari chuckled, "Unless my mother was not telling her family anything... then I would suppose that the term 'muggle' would fit, especially since that was what you yelled at me on more than one occasion."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Chuckling, the shinigami looked over at Snape and gave a smile to assure the man that he is willing to protect the teen to be best of his non-magical abilities.
"Are you continuing your potion studies?"
Draco sighed. "I have my textbooks."
"He appropriated a section of my lab for his potions."
"Good. And how about your other subjects? I know transfiguration has not been your strongest."
Watari sighed, "Before he was taken from his father's custody, he experienced enough... damage to his life force that it was slightly altered... making the wand he used previous to that, somewhat useless now."
Snape frowned and his sharp eyes watched Draco petting his 'cat'. His penetrating eyes met Watari's gold, he obviously didn't fully believe the story and was concerned. He scowled. "A new wand should be found for you then."
A small song started to play and the older blonde pulled out a small silver looking item. Opening it, he excused himself and slipped out of the room. Draco sighed and sat up against the headboard. "How are things... in England? At Hogwarts?"
"Things at Hogwarts are the same as when you left them." Snape responded, "You have changed in the short time that you have been gone."
"Have I?"
"Yes, you..."
"MEW!" Puss jumped up and started jumping across the bed.
"Puss!" Draco tried to grab the cat-creature to get him to settle down. "Puss... calm down!"
The reaper was still attempting to catch his shiki when Watari returned. "That was Maria Wong that called me... looks like we get to go meet her, since she refuses to set foot in this area."
"Okay. I'm sorry, Professor, we have to go."
