See first chapter for disclaimer~
The three boys spent the rest of that summer with the doll-like girl when they weren't in school, the three rescuing her from the facility a couple of weeks before the start of summer break. Usually once a magical girl or boy finished middle school, they would begin attending Ashinaka, the Japanese school for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Kings and Clansmen.
Kusanagi Izumo would be turning fifteen during the next year, finishing middle school, so he was the typical student. Suoh Mikoto, however, was only turning thirteen that summer.
Kings are special cases, especially when the young King is the Red King - the third most powerful King in Japan - and has a fiery temper once lit. Once a King is Chosen by the Slate, they're sent to the school at the beginning of the next school year, regardless of their age.
That's why only Kushina Anna and Totsuka Tatara would be staying in Japan come September. While both will attend in the future, Tatara stayed to finish school and stay with Anna, and she was too young, even for the British school.
They spent that summer playing games ( often showing that Mikoto really was just another middle school boy, not thinking things through ) and laughing, though the mood of the entire group dampened with the rapid approach of September.
September 1st, all four were once again summoned to the Gold King's Tower, all feeling as nervous and uncomfortable as they did the first time they met the old man. Even Tatara wasn't smiling, instead shooting worried looks at the two older boys and the little girl.
Izumo caught one of his friend's looks and opened his mouth to speak, to try and reassure the two who would have to wait, when Mikoto thumped the younger boy on the head - hard.
Tatara hissed in pain, clutching his head. "King! That hurt!" He might have continued, but Mikoto's look stopped him.
"Don't be so gloomy. We'll be back whenever we're allowed." There was a silent and maybe when we're not hanging in the air between them.
Anna blinked at Mikoto and then at Izumo. "Promise?"
Izumo smiled. "Promise."
Mikoto caught Tatara's attention again, and the younger smiled, understanding what his King wanted him to do. Keep smiling and look out for Anna, that's what that look said.
Izumo rubbed his head and sighed, remembering where they are. "This Hogwarts place - can it really handle Mikoto's flames?" They'd asked several other questions about the place, but he'd never asked this. Now that they're about to go, he finally remembered.
"It's the best option. I've acquired permission," Daikaku snorted a little - the Headmaster of Hogwarts thought the Gold King needed permission to do something, "to bring Totsuka Tatara and Kushina Anna there for a quick visit should it ever prove necessary." Meaning if either party needs the other - to calm Mikoto's flames or because Anna lost control of her powers as a Strain as well as a Red Clansman.
Hopefully that wouldn't happen very often - they all knew better than to think it'd never happen. It will always be nice for the older pair to see the younger again, but that doesn't sound like they'd be able to share what had happened while they've been apart. A business trip. From what his uncle has told Izumo, they aren't fun.
"Is there anything else we really need to know about Hogwarts before we go? Or anything you feel you should remind us of?"
Daikaku had already taken the two to get supplies - including their wands, even though they didn't really get the point of the different sorts of wands, and robes. Mikoto hadn't been pleased with that. The Gold King thought for a moment. "They have a tradition of 'Sorting' new students into four Houses. Don't let something as silly as being placed in different Houses draw you apart. There are no classes on Saturdays or Sundays, and robes are required. As far as I am aware, they don't teach any physical defense."
The young Red King raised an eyebrow from his place next to the younger two, who had sat. "...Are they stupid?"
"I've never figured that out, myself. You'll have to decide."
Mikoto snorted.
"All your year mates, save for each other, will be eleven, unless some other country has sent some of their students to Hogwarts." The position of Blue King is still empty, but maybe in the next couple years that will change.
"Eleven year olds..." Izumo raised an eyebrow and sighed, rubbing his head. "Really. They sort eleven year olds into different groups. That they call Houses. Friendships between Houses aren't common, are they?"
"Stupid." Mikoto sat down with a thump.
Daikaku hid a smile. "They almost discourage cross-House friendships. Meals are served with the House you are Sorted into on your first day. Usually students take a train, but none of us will." He laced his fingers in front of his face. "Delivering you to a train in Britain would be too troublesome. The Headmaster will send me a message whenever you need to be picked up or Totsuka-kun is needed." He snapped, and the quartet felt strange - like they'd been pulled to another place. When they looked up, they were in a different room.
Anna blinked, looking around at the new place. It wasn't very red. She grabbed Mikoto's sleeve, tugging for his attention. All three boys looked down at her, Tatara tilting his head. Seeing she had their attention, she asked quietly, "Hogwarts? Goodbye?"
Mikoto ruffled her hair a little, avoiding her hat and bow. "Dunno, probably. We'll stay together as long as we can." His eyes met those of the Second King, challenging him to make them do otherwise.
"This is one of the hallways of Hogwarts, yes. We'll stay until the Sorting is over." He needed to set more wards just in case the young King lost control of his powers anyway. He turned to meet Izumo's gaze. "You two may wish to change into your robes."
Izumo sighed, Mikoto made a face, and Tatara laughed. "It's fine, it's fine! It'll work out somehow, King, Kusanagi-san. You just aren't used to them yet." His King glared; Tatara shivered.
"You say that now...Wait 'til you have to wear 'em too," Izumo muttered.
Daikaku smiled again. "Go change. I'll keep these two company." This really just meant he'd make sure they don't poke anything dangerous, and that he'd answer their questions. Izumo nodded, and the two went off to change.
Tatara watched them go, wrapped his arms around Anna, and looked up at the Gold King. "If their school starts today, will Anna and I be attending a regular school the year we come here? We'd leave during a year if we did." Even though he's never really been close to his classmates, he doesn't want them worrying about him. Anna tilted her head, silently repeating the question.
The Gold King knelt to meet their eyes easier. "If you want, I can teach you both what you'd learn in school. We'll go at your pace, so Kushina-kun can possibly finish what would've been middle school before she begins to attend this school. The two of you do want to stay together, correct?" From what he's seen, the only bond between the four of them stronger than the one between these two is the bond between Mikoto and Anna.
Tatara nodded while Anna said, "Yes."
Daikaku had the feeling that once they began attending Hogwarts, people would claim their affection was more than that of family members. It wasn't often two people would do things in sync. He smiled. "Totsuka-kun will turn fifteen the February after Kushina-kun turns eleven, correct?" They nodded. "You'll both be able to attend Hogwarts that year." Anna would be turning eleven halfway through the year, but he can arrange everything with this school's Headmaster.
The boy grinned, hugging the girl a little tighter.
"Thank you."
They stayed like that until Izumo and Mikoto came back, the latter scowling at the uniform.
Tatara grinned. "It suits you, King!" The glare sent his way just made him laugh.
They stayed like that for a little while longer before the Gold King herded them into the Great Hall, figuring that a staff member would be inside. He was right; the Headmaster was inside.
Dumbledore stood at the High Table, looking over at them as soon as they entered. "Ah. Mr. Kokujouji? The older two are the students you mentioned?" He smiled at them, his eyes twinkling.
Tatara, Anna, and Mikoto just blinked at him. Mikoto understood what he said, but he wasn't ready for the language switch. Izumo stared at the man, and Daikaku gave him a smile in return. "Yes. This is Izumo Kusanagi," Izumo raised a hand, "and this is Mikoto Suoh." He points at the boy.
Mikoto stared at Dumbledore. "He looks weird."
Tatara laughed. "Ki-" Anna stared up at him, and he cut himself off, remembering that he wasn't supposed to let people know about Kings.
Izumo sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I apologize. Mikoto was rude." Izumo's English was accented but intelligible, pausing at times. "What is your name?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Kokujouji didn't tell you? I'm Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts." He walked toward them, peering down at Tatara and Anna. "What are your names?" He took care to say the words slowly, to make sure they understood.
"My name is... Tatara Totsuka!" The simple sentence was clear, though he hesitated before his name. Western order was strange to say... "And her name is Anna Kushina." Anna nodded.
Very very slowly, she said, "It's nice to meet you." That is what she's supposed to say, right?
"How long will it be until you two will be attending our school?"
Tatara and Anna only blinked at Dumbledore, so Izumo quickly translated.
"Oh. Three years," Tatara rubbed the back of his head.
This time Dumbledore was the one to blink. "You must be older than you look, Anna."
She stared blankly at him. Mikoto coughed, "She's seven."
"Her birthday is in December. I understand that that is allowed?" The look he gave the other man said that if it had not been allowed before, it would be now.
"As long as she can keep up, there are no issues..." A ten year old attending Hogwarts? It's possible, but usually they wait until the next year...
"I will keep up." She will do anything to stay with her new family.
Tatara wrapped his arms around her again, watching Dumbledore. "We will stay together." If she isn't able to keep up, he'll wait a year.
The Headmaster smiled, "I see I have no need to worry. Mikoto, Izumo, the other students will be here soon. You should go wait outside the doors with the rest of the new first years."
Mikoto glared. "No. We promised."
Dumbledore reluctantly agreed to let Mikoto and Izumo stay with Tatara, Anna, and Daikaku at the High Table, summoning two more chairs for the first years. Staff flooded in the hall along with the older students; most students gave the five Japanese a curious look before they began talking to all their friends once more.
With the students and teachers settled, the rest of the first years walked in with a green robed witch leading the line. She placed a stool in front and a dirty hat on top.
"What's the hat for?" Tatara asked, leaning forward to get a better look.
"A hat?" Anna blinked up at him, unable to see the hat from her position.
"Here." He pulled her onto his lap, seemingly unaware that some teachers and students were watching them.
She smiled, leaning forward to look. "Thank you, Tatara."
The hat sang a song, but none of them cared enough to listen and translate. If that is what would Sort them, they wished it'd either stop singing so they could get this over with and spend the remaining time with each other or keep on singing forever so they'd never be apart.
They watched with interest as students were called up in what sounded like Eastern order to try on the hat. Several names were called before "Kusanagi, Izumo" rang through the hall.
Daikaku stopped Izumo from going with a hand on his arm, "Remember not to let being in a different House change your relationship. And say goodbye before you go." Dumbledore frowned over at him at those words.
Izumo nodded, giving Anna and Tatara a sad smile. "See you in December." He walked down to the stool, sitting and wearing the hat. Everyone watched as he sat there for a minute or two - it felt longer for the quartet.
Finally, the hat bellowed, "RAVENCLAW!" He left the hat on the stool, looked back up at the High Table, gave his friends another sad smile, and turned to walk to the Ravenclaw table. He didn't notice if anyone clapped or not. It didn't really matter if they did or not.
The three still sitting at the High Table watched Izumo join the Ravenclaws, some talking to him while some ignoring him. He seemed to get a welcoming speech, though someone said something that made Izumo look at them sharply and Mikoto growled for all he couldn't hear the remark.
The Sorting ceremony continued, the three watching Izumo or the hat until "Suoh, Mikoto" was called.
Daikaku just gave Mikoto a look, certain the young King remembered what he'd told his friend not long before. Mikoto nodded, tried to stuff his hands into pockets covered by robes, and walked down to the stool. He sat on the stool with the hat on his head, smoke rising from the hat after a couple moments. Tatara and Anna blinked in surprise, looking at each other, then back at their King.
The smoke continued, stopping only after the hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" Mikoto dropped it on the stool, looked back up at Anna and Tatara, waved, and strolled to the Gryffindor table. He met Izumo's eyes, before being greeted by his new House.
Anna noticed two red haired boys sit next to Mikoto after a while. She thought their last names sounded very similar, if not exactly the same.
The ceremony finished after the very last names were called; Dumbledore said something that the young Clansmen didn't listen to and then something that they did. "You may have noticed that we have three guests up here, companions of one of the new Gryffindors and one of the new Ravenclaws. The Japanese school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was damaged recently, so those two are going to be attending our fine establishment. Welcome them as you would anyone else; they will be attending all seven years. Now, let the feast begin!"
Anna slid off Tatara's lap to her own chair, the boy putting whatever red food he could find onto her plate. The staff next to them watched for a little while before they turned back to their own meals. Daikaku smiled at them, and Tatara smiled back, putting food onto his own plate.
They spent the rest of the meal in silence, Tatara often looking over at where Izumo and Mikoto sat at the tables below. Once it was over, Dumbledore spoke again, though Tatara and Anna didn't listen, much more interested in watching their friends.
Both Mikoto and Izumo looked back at their friends - Izumo smiling and Mikoto just looking - before they followed their new Houses out the doors of the Great Hall.
Anna swallowed, dropping the hand she had stretched out toward them. She wanted to tell them not to go, but she knew they had to.
Tatara smiled down at her again, giving her a quick hug. "We'll see them again in December, remember? Let's go home and study so we'll impress them next time." He had a feeling that a lot of the time that they weren't studying would be spent with him changing hobbies and her watching, but he didn't mind if she didn't. Everything looked so interesting - he wanted to try it, but sometimes it stopped being so interesting after a bit.
She nodded, looking over at Daikaku. "Go home?"
He shook his head. "I have to set up another ward just in case."
Tatara blinked. "How long do you think that'll take?"
"Not all that long. Wait here, will you?" At their nod, Daikaku walked away to sit in a corner. They saw a brief flash of his Aura, the golden light fading quick enough that the others in the room might have thought it just a trick of their eyes.
Anna looked up at Tatara. "Is your schoolwork hard?"
"No." He shook his head. "It's just boring sometimes." He grinned at her, "Worried? Or do you just want to start so we'll be ahead of them when we get here?"
She looked at the ground. "I want to stay with Tatara, Mikoto, and Izumo."
He ruffled her hair. "We'll stay with them, and we'll stay together. Nothing will change that."
They stayed like that, the older smiling down at the younger, until Daikaku finished the ward. They looked around the Great Hall one more time before returning to Japan.
"Why don't you two finish this school year, then we'll start homeschooling."
The two nodded, Anna going to grab her school bag. "We're late."
Daikaku shook his head. "You aren't going to school today. I've told your schools that you're sick. I've informed the school that Suoh-kun and Kusanagi-kun attend that they won't be returning; I told them that they were switched to being homeschooled."
Anna stared up at Daikaku, a brief flash of annoyance crossing her face. "Then why aren't we?" Being homeschooled already.
He blinked. "I was under the impression that Totsuka-kun didn't want to worry anyone with his disappearance."
"If they're told I'm getting homeschooled, that's fine. I mean, when Anna and I go to get ice-cream or clothes, they'll see I'm okay." Tatara tilted his head, watching the Gold King.
Daikaku stared, rubbing his forehead with a sigh. "Should I inform your schools then?"
Anna nodded, making a soft noise of agreement. Tatara just grinned at him.
The Gold King sighed. "Brats." He tilted his head, making the call.
Tatara walked in fascination. When the Gold King spoke, they and the person on the phone heard. When the person on the phone spoke, the entire room could hear.
The two phone calls took very little time, Tatara playing with the girl. When it felt like Daikaku was done, Anna asked, her voice as soft as ever, "When will we start? And what first?" She could tell from the bits of thought she collected just from looking at people that Daikaku planned on teaching them himself, instead of assigning a Gold Clansman to them. That was a good plan. The man who had tortured her in that facility for Strains had been a Gold Clansman after all.
Daikaku rubbed his head. "Tomorrow. I'll sort out what you know already and what you still need to learn. Go play somewhere. Just come back before dark."
Tatara nodded and grabbed one of Anna's hands, pulling her off to the rest of HOMRA that was still in Japan and their usual hangout; Bar HOMRA, owned by Izumo's uncle.
Daikaku watched them ago and groaned. What did he get himself into with these kids?