Disclaimer for the series: I own nothing except my insanity and my weirdness.
Author's rant corner (ARC): I'm baaack. Tinkered with the canon a bit. He-he.
His brown eyes widened.
There were so many people! He had never been seen so many people packed in one place all talking and laughing with their magic wands in their hands and pointy hats over their heads. There were lots of kids of all ages too!
His eyes widened even more.
The castle was huge! It looked a bit scary viewed from the courtyard but it was still huuuuge! He and his friends could play so many games inside! And there might be monsters there too! Maybe he'd get to see a real dragon at last!
Little Hana's eyes took up half of his face. His father looked down at him and chuckled.
"Big place, huh? Feeling scared?" the old man teased.
The little boy shook his head violently, red locks falling over his chubby face.
"Nuh-uh! I'm a big boy! Boys don't cry!"
Then he looked this way and that.
"Yohe? Taka? Chu? Kus?"
His father smiled and ruffled the little boy's hair.
"They're probably on their way. Youhei's mom said that they might be a little late because there's a storm inside their house."
Hana nodded.
"Yohe mom awful witch! Magic always go bleh!"
His father laughed out loud.
"Right you are little guy. Anyway—"
Someone tapped the old man's shoulder and he looked around to find a woman with curly black hair smiling at him.
"Mr. Sakuragi! I'm glad to see you. I hope your trip went smoothly?"
"Oh yes! Thanks!"
The woman stooped down and smiled at Hana.
"And this must be little Hanamichi. How are you little one? Excited to start school?"
The little boy placed his head to one side then pulled her hair.
"I'm Hana Sakragi!" he grinned. "Your hair is like mama!"
"Hanamichi…" his father gently pried his fingers off the woman's hair. "Don't be rude. This is going to be your teacher, Ayako."
He grinned sheepishly at the young woman.
"Not true!" Hana protested and two looked down at him in surprise. "Teacher is s'posed ta be old and mean and look scary like this!"
He scrunched up his face to illustrate, his eyes becoming two slits and his cheeks puffing up. The two grown-ups laughed.
Ayako squatted before the boy and lowered her voice.
"I'll tell you a little secret Hana. I don't look like that because I'm really a fairy godmother."
Hana's mouth formed a perfect O.
"You're a fairy?" he whispered in awe.
"Yep! But don't tell anyone else or I might lose my powers and leave."
The little boy nodded his head vigorously as Ayako straightened up.
"Hana!"
Another little boy with dark hair slicked back over his head barreled into the redhead.
"Yohe!"
"Ah! Mrs. Mito!" Hana's dad waved to the frazzled woman trudging up towards the little group. "I see you've managed to solve your little weather problem."
As the three grown-ups talked, Hana updated his best friend on what he had heard.
"Are you sure?" Youhei asked skeptically. "I thought fairy godmothers were just for girls. Like that girl who slept a long time."
"She's our teacher. Teachers don't lie," Hana answered sagely.
"Okay but—hey look at that!"
The two boys stared at a wizard who looked like he was sleepwalking. He had messy black hair and droopy eyes. An ornate chest with hundreds of tiny feet followed his sluggish pace. A wizard hailed the man who stopped to talk. Well, actually the other wizard talked and the sleepy one just nodded. The chest settled down behind its owner.
The two boys looked at each other and grinned impishly. They looked at their parents who were still talking with Ayako then crept forward towards the chest.
"I think 's a spell," Youhei muttered.
"Nah! 'S alive. It's got feet!" Hana muttered back, sneaking glances at the sleepy owner.
"I've never seen boxes that're alive! But my dad spelled one before and it had teeth," Youhei insisted as they neared their goal.
"Oh yeah, I r'member. Last Christmas and it ran after your dad. That was cool!"
"Yeah!"
Flicking one last glance at the owner, the two boys poked the chest. It didn't move. Hana climbed over it then tried to hammer it with his fists. Nothing happened.
"See, 's a spell," said Youhei smugly.
"What are you kids doing to my chest?"
The two eeped and Hana tumbled to the ground looking like red ball. He scrambled up immediately and stood behind his friend. The two held a frantic whispered discussion before Youhei sighed and pointed to the box.
"We saw it move," he explained.
The man laughed, his blue eyes twinkling behind black bangs.
"So you decided to investigate. Well, well I never expected to find future detectives here. Wanna know what's inside?"
The two boys nodded eagerly. The man tapped the lid, which sprang open. Hana and Youhei inched forward and peered inside. Their eyes widened. Lying on top of a pile of clothes was a small boy sleeping soundly with both hands wrapped around a stuffed fox.
"This is my son, Kaede," the man whispered. "He might be your classmate so please be nice to him, okay?"
"Why's he sleeping in here?" Hana asked.
"Oh, because he wanted to. It was his idea actually."
The sleeping boy stirred and slowly opened his eyes. The first things that met his eyes were two blobs of brown and red. He blinked his eyes and Hana's round face came into focus. He frowned then glared.
"Why'd you wake me up? I was having a nice dream!"
"I didn't wake you up! 'Sides you shouldn't sleep in boxes! It's stupid!"
"Is not!"
"Is to!"
"Is not! Hey! What're you doing with my clothes? G'away!"
"Uhm…boys…" the dark-haired man looked around. He wasn't used to dealing with his son fighting other kids. He wasn't used to dealing with people, period. Fortunately Mr. Sakuragi came to his rescue.
"Hana! We just arrived and you're already fighting!" Mr. Sakuragi gently pulled his son away from Kaede and plonked out Youhei from the pile of clothes he had burrowed into.
He turned apologetically towards the other wizard, bowing.
"Sorry about that. My son can be quite a handful. My name is Sakuragi, Hasu Sakuragi, and this is my son Hanamichi."
The other wizard bowed also.
"Kentaro Rukawa. My son's name is Kaede."
"Rukawa…you're the owner of the famous Rukawa Company that sells the fastest and best broomsticks!" Mrs. Mito suddenly pushed forward and grabbed Mr. Rukawa's hand. "I am so pleased to meet you!"
Mr. Rukawa took a step back in fear and looked hopefully at Mr. Sakuragi. Unfortunately the other man was busy lecturing his son on the merits of making friends. There was a witch who was watching everything with a small mischievous smile. His son had climbed down from his bed and was glaring at the redhead kid. He glanced around wildly, wondering where he could get help, and saw little Youhei.
The small guy saw his panicky look and took pity on him. Grabbing his mother's robe he pulled hard.
"Mom! Let the guy go, you're scaring him!" he yelled in a loud voice.
Mr. Rukawa blushed deep red. Mrs. Mito stopped pumping his hand and began fussing over him. Mr. Sakuragi finally stopped his lecture and came over to lead the woman away from the highly embarrassed man.
A bell chimed all over the quadrangle.
"It's time!" Ayako said, clapping her hands. "Get your things kids and let's all go to the main hall where you will know which house you will belong to."
Mr. Rukawa and his son stood facing each other. He looked at each other for a minute then nodded at the same time. Little Kaede tapped the chest and walked into the castle.
Mrs. Mito transferred her fussing to her little son.
"…and don't fight too much and be sure to eat your vegetables and take care of your friends especially little Hana since he's the smallest among you and—"
"Mom!" Youhei interrupted in an exasperated voice.
"Oh my little baby's all grown up!" Mrs. Mito tearfully crushed Youhei in a hug. "Write everyday, okay? Mommy loves you!"
"Mom!"
Mr. Sakuragi squatted in front of little Hana. His son looked torn between crying and excitement. He smiled.
"Just have fun, okay Hanamichi?"
Hana nodded then flung his arms around his father's neck. Mr. Sakuragi heard him sniffle a bit but just hugged him in return.
Youhei finally managed to get away from his mom.
"Come on Hanamichi!" he yelled. "Let's go to school!"
ARC: Well, that's the start. Please review!