Title: When Death Comes a'Knocking: Book 1 – Of Revelations

Plot Mistresses: Shiozaki, Shaynie, Librarycat, Literary Eagle

Spell Researchers: Fellow wizards, witches & omnyouji at my Yahoo!Group

Summary: A Harry Potter and Yami no Matsuei crossover. Voldemort has been making plans, the Tuatha de Danna are getting desperate. And the Shinigami may lose everything for the sake of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Post-OoTP.

Warning 1: PG-13 (will change)

Warning 2: This story features 4 main Shinigami – Shiozaki Kyo, Matsumada Takashi, Tsuzuki Asato and Kurosaki Hisoka. Both Kyo and Takashi are Original Characters. If you're put off by that, it's understandable. But please give them a chance. After all, the number of reviews this story has generated says something, ne?

Disclaimer: The following disclaimer applies to this and subsequent chapters, as well as previous related and unrelated works. This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, Yoko Matsushita, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books, Warner Bros. Inc., and Hana to Yume. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter 1

The trouble with free will

"My Lord."

The Shinigami bowed deeply, foreheads nearly touching the tatami-covered floor as they paid obeisance to the God of Death and Judgment. They might have even stayed in their pose of abject awe and deference had not a pale hand lifted in a languid gesture that managed to convey utter blasé ness and a mother's welcoming warmth. Not seeing that gesture, after all, when you're bowing that deeply you tend to only be able to see the floor in front of you, they did sense the graceful permission to be seated.

The 'Gods' of Death after all, were the servants of Enma-Daioh. They were as attuned to him as no other that served the Land of the Dead. None but him alone wielded their power in his sure grasp. And none could, for to hold the reins of power over the Shinigami meant that you were holding the very bridle of both realms; Life and Death. For the Shinigami were the damned that were given the power to walk between worlds.

Pure black pupils, ringed by almost liquid gold irises settled their gaze serenely over four of the 'damned'. Damned by no hand of god but by their own. Those unfathomable eyes saw past their mortal identities to the soul beyond and judged them in the instant it took for them to blink. The smile he gave them was filled with love and understanding. Never let it be said that Enma used the post of Shinigami as a punishment. It is instead, a way to salvation.

He let his immortal gaze linger on the four for a moment longer, and if it can be rightly described as such, he basked in their presence. For any parent would in the company of beloved children.

Kurosaki Hisoka. Trying to find understanding for a life misunderstood and shunned. He found the very things he yearned for in death.

Tsuzuki Asato. One with a past so long and deep and hidden, that none but him and the God of Death could see past the obscuring veils of time and prejudice. Asato had found some semblance of peace in the young and wretched life of Hisoka.

Shiozaki Kyo. Living a life of not believing in his own worthiness to be loved, only to be proven wrong by another. And only to lose a mortal's chance of happiness in earthly coil to save the very one who gave his life meaning. He had found that happiness again in death. He was unique in that.

Takashi Matsumada. Lover, husband, confidante, partner and as cliché as it sounds to others, soulmate of Shiozaki Kyo. To have his life saved by Kyo's death and after trying to live without half of his soul, had found that same lost happiness in an accidental death. The both of them lived their death as they would have lived their lives.

The four of them were part of the damned.

They are his children.

But these observations, seen as it were through the eyes of an immortal were lost to the one stranger in their midst. His was a kind not seen in these Hall for a long time. The color of his skin, pale and tinged with pink was enough of an indication that he was not native to the Islands. Any guess to his origin, to the uninformed observer, would have been hard-pressed as to the frank curiosity of the assembled Shinigami, he wore the strangest clothing ever seen.

An almost blinding purple robe covered his short frame. Yet the billowing garment failed to hide the paunch that seem to speak of soft living and gentle decadent habits. The soft skin of his hands were not lost upon the two trained bushi in the Hall; Kyo and Hisoka. Whomever this man was, his kind was clear. He was an administrator. But not one of the JuuOhCho. For one thing, no sane man would wear what appeared to be a dress to work. A dress that was covered in glittering gold and silver stars that they could have sworn were winking and flashing.

As the Shinigami settled back in their cushions, they averted their gaze respectfully from the visage of their god only to settle in curious examination of the stranger. The florid faced man was seated slightly ahead of them yet to the left of the dais and faced the space between men and god. It had the faintest smack of a trial, the man a clueless defendant facing judge and jury.

Tsuzuki, the senior of them all, if not the most senior employee in the whole JuuOhCho after Konoe Kacho, deferred to Takashi instead. The man, though having died at the age of 28 was a natural-born diplomat. The fact that in his mortal life he was a doctor helped. Not to mention that having Kyo as a husband and life partner, as well as having that said partner in close cahoots with the earlier mentioned Tsuzuki in chocolate raids had honed his skill of mediating fights over the last piece of chocolate in the shop. It would have actually been more preferable to Takashi to have Tatsumi or Kacho handling any meetings with Enma-sama. Yet only the four of them were requested specifically to this meeting.

"My Lord," Takashi again bowed deeply from the waist, only raising himself after giving the proper interval of obeisance. His hand had snuck out of its own conviction to clasp Kyo's cool one, seeking assurance. Kyo squeezed back comfortingly. No matter how unflappable you were, even the best would get slightly rattled in the presence of a god. "How may we serve you?"

Enma's sweet smile never slipped, a fact that reassured the Shinigami greatly. They doubted that Enma would look that pleasant should they have made some serious infraction that they were miraculously unaware of. What they were aware of however, was that Enma's forceful presence was somewhat dimmed. A fact that Hisoka was grateful to note. Strong he may have become in his empathy and shielding but no amount of it could withstand the full majesty of a deity.

"You may serve me as you have all along, children," Enma replied. His smile slipped a notch and to the Shinigami's rather amazed realization, Enma actually shot the stranger an almost annoyed look. "We have here a representative from our brethren in the British Isles. May I present to you, Mr. Banalius Fudge, Head of the Summoning Division of Britain's Bureau for Processing the Dead."

The Shinigami's eyes widened. A fellow Shinigami? And a Brit on top of that!

Mr. Banalius Fudge suddenly found himself the recipient of four sets of astonished gazes and he fluffed himself up importantly. Banalius had held the seat of the Head of the division for over 20 years and had gotten quite comfortable in it. He naturally assumed that such frank amazement was his due after all.

He had a most unpleasant shock when the young boy with wheat-gold hair spoke up. "I never really thought that there were other Shinigami in other countries," and immediately offered the deity a hasty half-bow. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, my Lord."

Enma waved aside the apology good-humouredly. "No offense taken, Hisoka-kun. Mr. Banalius Fudge, may I present the most powerful Shinigami of Japan's JuuOhCho?"

With a start, Takashi realized that Enma was speaking in both Japanese and English at the same time. There was this odd quality of duality in his speech, gone the instant you tried to focus on it but there again when your mind was elsewhere. Ah, he is a god you nitwit, Takashi berated himself. Why worry how this Fudge is understanding us and us, him?

Then he immediately flushed a deep red at having been referred to as 'the most powerful'. Heck, all four of them were blushing, especially Hisoka.

"Yes, yes, good to meet you." There was a forced note of joviality in the man's voice, a certain pomposity that immediately raised their hackles. Enma's included. "Head of Britain's Summoning Division for over 20 years! Though I prefer to think of myself as a wizard first and foremost! Pride of self and all, eh?"

The Shinigami stared at him wordlessly, mouths agape. Never, in all of their years of service to the Meifu had they actually heard of any Shinigami actually saying something as ludicrous as that! Didn't the man realize that they all held this position of power through the grace of their God of Death? To actually believe that identity of self and Shinigami could be differentiated like that threw them in a loop.

And what the hell did he meant by 'wizard'?

Enma let out an imperceptible sigh.

"Children," he began. "The British Bureau for Processing the Dead has a request of us. One that I feel can only be completed by the four of you. Will you listen to it?"

The Shinigami immediately turned around to Enma and again bowed as one. "As we serve you my Lord," they intoned.

"Thank you," Enma smiled again. "But first, we must start at the beginning. Magic here in Japan and in the British Isles differ in many ways. For one thing, their practitioners of magic are called wizards and witches. They utilize magic in the use of wands and it is in their realm that the most prestigious school of magic is located. That school is called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And it is there that our story begins. . ."

The Shinigami settled themselves in for a long wait.

Enma was once again, alone in his Hall of the Dead. The four cushions before his dais showed the imprint of weight settled heavily for a long time, the fluffiness lost. The cushion seat next to the four was even more heavily pressed down.

The telling had taken the better part of an hour. To their credit, the Shinigami had taken in the startling information of wizardry, evil villains and helpless Tuatha De Dannen, their British counterpart, with no hesitation. But he could see the questions literally burning in their eyes. While they appreciated this new discovery of heretofore unthought-of workings of the world's Realms of the Dead, they were puzzled as to why they were the ones chosen for this new assignment. An assignment that would have them travel beyond the shores of Japan for over a year. More if needed.

"My Lord," Kyo had spoken up hesitantly. "I thought each Shinigami is tied to their JuuOhChos? To cross the borders of our jurisdiction is an offence punishable by eternal purgatory. . ."

"And that hasn't changed," Enma had assured him. "Though we are forced to make allowances this time. The threat faced by the Tuatha De Dannen must not be taken lightly. More than just Britain is at stake if they lose this upcoming war. Japan itself may be in danger if this threat isn't stopped."

"This threat you speak of, my Lord, why can't the Tuatha De Dannen handle it? Surely they number the powerful among them as well," Hisoka had shyly ventured.

"Now that," Enma had sighed again, "is another long story."

By the time his tale had finished, the Shinigami were almost pale with confusion, disbelief and information overload. But they accepted their charge willingly as well. He had bequeathed to Takashi, unofficial leader of the group, the necessary files and documentation to clear up any misunderstandings and to make it all official. Banalius Fudge had been sent to his guest quarters with cool politeness and efficiency. His flustered queries were given the assurance that the four Shinigami would travel to England with him in three days' time. Enough to get their affairs in order though not enough to arrange for everything else. But that was the beauty of being a god. One word from you and mortals would be falling all over themselves to ensure the Shinigami's smooth, safe departure.

To compensate for the last-minute assignment change, they were also assured that their wages would be paid as usual, as well as a monthly allowance and a sum set aside for any necessities they would need while in England. That last part had been offered by Fudge, which Enma graciously accepted. He couldn't help the little smirk that crossed his ageless face when Fudge obviously wilted at the acceptance. It was clear that Fudge had only offered to look good. He had expected to be refused. Enma had noticed that the Shinigami caught his smirk as well. They tried valiantly to control their laughter.

To add insult to injury, Enma sweetly assured them that the stipend they'd be receiving from Britain's Bureau for Processing the Dead would be quite generous. After all, he was perfectly aware that they were asking a huge favour from the Shinigami and he just wanted to look after their best interest, don't we all?

Fudge had looked slightly sick at the end of it but nevertheless, agreed.

Enma cast a last, jaundiced glance at the seat recently vacated by Banalius Fudge. His next thought was surprisingly un-god-like.

The trouble with free will, he thought sourly, is the idiots you get with it.

to be continued