kayla 44 - Phantom: glad you like~ (and i agree on the 'oh you missed 6 years but we're sending you in as normal anyway thing)
Juria: too much they would have missed... (we would make them start with second year anyway, cause we are evil like that~)
WolvesAngelz - Juria: here it is, finally~ (expect more cause we have a program where k-chan and I can work on chaps together now)
Phantom: wooo *luvs it*
Juria: =3
Yuri: ueeeee! *runs across the screen*
Black Phantom: *steps back out of way* well I've finally sorted this chapter...
Juria: Ueee! *runs across screen*
Kirsti: ...they're both at it?
Phantom: seems it...
Juria: *suddenly standing next to them* Where are you talking about?
Phantom: how you can be ever hyper,
Juria: ... *falls down when Yuri jumps on her*
Yuri: That was fun!
Juria: please get her off me...
Kirsti: *holds out box* bertie botts bean? *offering to Yuri just outta reach*
Yuri: Want! *reaching out, realizing she can't take, crawls over* Want! *grabs box*
Kirsti: not the whole box! *grabbing for box*
*fight for box*
Phantom: ...i am not that bad myself...probably because i don't have beans...*joins fight*
Juria: ... They are desperate... Well~ *turns to readers* I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter~ *quickly walks away, holding own box*
Chapter 4
Ran looked up the stairs that lead to the detective agency, her home. Next to her stood a large new trunk holding all of the things bought for her school, other than her owl Maemi who was dozing happily in his cage. She carefully pulled the trunk up the stairs taking the owl cage into her other hand and soon reached the door at the top. She looked nervously at the handle, wondering what the person that would have been sent to her dad would have said or done, then put her hand on the handle and pushed the door open.
"I…I'm back…"
"That took you a while!" Kogoro muttered from the table putting down the paper he had been reading and sent her trunk and Maemi a slightly confused look, "Right…"
Ran looked over to him nervously as she shut the door behind her, "I... did someone tell you?"
Instead of answering Kogoro sent an annoyed look to a cage on the desk that Ran hadn't noticed before. Inside it a white and light brown coloured hamster was running around, looking at the world outside its cage.
"They forgot to change it back..." He muttered.
Ran blinked at it, figuring it had been a 'demonstration.' "What was it?"
"My favourite sake cup, those bastards!" Kogoro all but yelled crumpling his paper.
Ran frowned lightly as she walked over, the hamster having burrowed its head in fear at Kogoro's loud yell. "Well don't blame the hamster, it didn't ask to, right?" she then looked down to the hamster with a small smile as it rolled out of its mini burrow onto its back and looked up to Ran sniffing slightly.
Kogoro sniffed himself, looking down almost teary eyed at it. "Sake cup!"
"Dad... you better not hurt it while I'm at school." Ran warned her hand forming a fist.
"If I hurt it I never get my cup back." He said opening the paper back out and hiding his head behind it. "Maybe you should tell that friend of yours you're not going to middle school with her."
Ran blinked, "That's right, Sonoko... and I'll be away so long." She said with a faint look of sadness.
There was a knock at the door followed by a more than familiar voice. "Anyone home? Ran, you were late for our shopping day!" It was Sonoko.
Ran opened the door to reveal Sonoko. "Sorry Sonoko, come in." she said smiling weakly.
Sonoko gave her a surprised look. "What happened?" She walked in then swirled around, planting her hands on her hips and raising her eyebrows at Ran. "Did someone die or something?"
"No no, nothing like that!" Ran said quickly trying to think of what she could tell her. "Errr, why don't we sit in my room."
Sonoko stared at Ran then notice her reaching for the trunk and owl behind her. "What's that?"
"I'll tell you in a bit." Ran promised pulling it into her room, the movement making Maemi shift slightly but he remained asleep as Ran pulled it in.
Sonoko stared at her for a while, glancing at the owl, following her after a short while, frowning at Ran's strange behaviour.
Ran closed the door behind them and reached out for Maemi's cage placing it on top of her drawer and laying the trunk down, all the while thinking of if she could tell her what she wanted to. "Well...Potter-senseisaidwecouldonlytellthoseclosesttous...andsheismybestfriendIknowshe'llnevertell..."
Sonoko stared at her friend, confused as to what had made her act so odd. "So?"
Ran hesitated a moment, "I... I won't be going to school with you this year Sonoko..." She said quickly.
Sonoko blinked, temporarily forgetting the trunk and the owl she had been staring at for a while. "What? W-why?"
"I have to go to another school..." Ran said looking down. "A letter came just a couple of days ago. Not just me, Shinichi's going to."
Sonoko frowned, "So you are just leaving me on my own?" She said, sounding upset and a little angry.
"I'm sorry Sonoko." Ran said growing sadder after seeing Sonoko's face. "But, well its not much choice if I don't go I won't learn to control..." She trailed off, feeling tears growing in her eyes.
Sonoko gave her a sad glance when she noticed. "I'm sorry..." She looked away, then frowned again as she thought at what Ran had said. "Control what exactly?"
Ran took a breath, "It's... I'm going to a place called Hoguwatsu, it's a school for... for... witches and wizards..."
The room fell into a small awkward silence, Maemi waking and looking over to Ran before looking to Sonoko.
Sonoko herself blinked confused, then stared at Ran with the small worry that something was wrong with her friend. "What?"
"I mean it, look." Ran reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter she had received only a few hours ago though it felt longer. "I'm only allowed to tell people who I know won't tell everyone," She said holding it out to her.
Sonoko took it, staring at the letter with big eyes, "Seriously?" She dropped herself on Ran's bed, reading the content of it. Then she pouted, "No way, how come I'm not witch?"
"You... you believe me? Just with that?" Ran asked in part amazement that she believed her so quick.
Sonoko smiled and winked at her. "You're my friend, why wouldn't I believe you?" She grinned, folding her arms behind her head. "Take pictures of the boys for me will you? And don't forget to write me!"
Ran chuckled at her, then blinked. "Oh, look at these," She went over to the trunk and quickly opened it, pulling out a photograph that Kaito had asked a wizard back in the Drunken Dragon to take of them all. She held it out to Sonoko who stared at the moving photo then took it.
In the photo, the eight of them were sat at the table, at least they originally were. The photo Ran looked up at Sonoko and waved to her smiling happily with Shinichi sat next to her smiling slightly. Next to them was Kaito waving excitedly as Aoko and Hakuba looked to him with a deadpan and behind them were Heiji and Kazuha who seemed to be deep into a to Ran and Sonoko silent argument while, looking at them all, was Harry who was smiling at them.
"Keep it," Ran said as Sonoko's eyes widened at the photo. "Just don't let anyone see it."
Sonoko gaped, "Sugoi! Oi, Ran, who are the others on this picture, besides the detective freak of course!"
Ran smiled then reached over and started to point them out, "That's Heiji, he's a detective like Shinichi only from Osaka, and the one arguing with him is his friend Kazuha." She paused as Kaito said something that evidently didn't sit well with Aoko and she quickly let him know. Ran chuckled before continuing, "The one who just got kicked out of the frame was Kaito, a magician, but 'normal' magic, and the one who kicked him is Aoko his childhood friend and the blond one is Hakuba a detective from England."
"Ehh, it's like a detective meeting!" Sonoko said, looking slightly surprised when Kaito got dragged back into the frame by Harry, "And that guy?"
"Ah, that's Potter-sensei." Ran said as Harry let go of Kaito's arm and returned to the side he was stood at. "He's going to be one of the teachers. He said his lesson is Defence Against the Dark Arts..."
Sonoko hummed, looking impressed. "A teacher huh? He looks young, pretty handsome too! Make sure you get me a picture of him ONLY." She grinned at Ran who sighed back at her.
"Gezz Sonoko…" Ran muttered even though she knew she was smiling.
"Ran! Come here will you?"
Ran jumped slightly at her dad's shout and Maemi hooted indignantly at the loud shout seeming to frown at the door. Ran noticed and reached into the cage gently stroking him trying to calm him back down. "What is it?"
"Ran?"
"Mum!" Ran hurried out of the room hearing her mother's voice followed closely by Sonoko.
As she ran in and hugged her mother, Kogoro looked even more annoyed as he stared at his new hamster. "She decided to show her face." he muttered, evading looking at Eri's face.
Eri sent him a glare. "Well, she is my daughter too!"
"P...please don't fight," Ran muttered sweatdroping at her parents, but Kogoro continued to glare down as if he didn't hear Ran,
"It took you a while to get here..."
Eri frowned darkly at Kogoro then smiled softly at Ran. "Are you feeling okay about this Ran?"
"Y...yeah, it's not like I'll never see you again." Ran said, feeling a faint nervousness that she was surprised had not shown up before as she glanced to Sonoko. "And I'll send lots of letters."
"You'd better." Sonoko ordered with a smile. "Tell me all about the place and what you learn! And don't forget to send me those moving pictures!"
Eri raised an eyebrow as Ran chuckled. "Moving pictures, I'd like to see that." She sent a look to Kogoro the silently said 'support her!'
"Right...Moving pictures." Kogoro muttered, but he was still clearly annoyed about his hamster-fied sake cup.
"Dear!"
Sonoko took the photo from her pocket and held it out to Eri. "Here, isn't it great?"
On the photo Kaito was running back and forth closely chased by Aoko who was swinging a mop at him aiming for his head, as the others looked on, some worried and others amused.
Ran sweatdropped slightly watching,'eveninaphotoshegotamop...'
Kogoro looked up and stared to walk over as Eri looked at the photo Sonoko was holding out.
"So... did Shinichi-kun know or was it a shock to him too?"
Kogoro froze, before he stared at the photograph with big eyes. "Wait, what? That detective brat is going too?" he growled slightly as in the photo Shinichi tried to evade the mop that nearly hit his head causing him to accidentally bumped into Ran, making both of them blush fiercely.
Ran nodded at him, "Yeah, he got the letter at the same time as me... we all got them together."
This seemed to frustrate Kogoro, and he muttered something before looking away, more annoyed then ever. "He'd better not try anything!"
"Man... why can't we use our wands now." Kaito moaned as he pulled his own school supplies up the street followed closely by Aoko.
"Because we aren't allowed to, besides, we don't know how to use it!" She reminded him with a frown.
Kaito pouted. "I know I know..." He then stopped and looked up the road checking how far they had left. "Well... we're nearly at your place."
"I can tell, I'm not an idiot!" Aoko said with a frown before her eyes caught someone stood talking to her Dad.
"Mum?" Kaito quickly grabbed his trunks handle again pulling it behind him as Aoko quickly did the same.
"Chikage-San, what are you doing here?"
Chikage turned around and smiled at them as they walked over to her, "Aoko dear, and Kai, I was just talking to Ginzo about your new... school."
Ginzo cleared his throat, "We thought it would be...wise, to have contact with each other about this."
"Mou, tousan!"
Chikage chuckled softly before looking to the two trunks with owl cages sat atop them, "Are these you new school things?"
"Yeah, we just got them." Aoko said, glaring at Kaito. "And I believe Bakaito here already fall in love with them."
Kaito just grinned widely in reply, which caused Ginzo to sweatdrop.
"Well, maybe you should come inside to get something to drink..."
"Yeah, I'm thirsty!" Aoko agreed grabbing her trunk dragging it into the house followed by Chikage and Kaito.
"We've already met people going and one of the teachers." Kaito told them as they moved into the kitchen.
Ginzo looked up from the tea he was making to Kaito. "Really, what kind of person was that teacher of yours?" He asked in a conversational sounding voice, but Kaito and Aoko recognised it as a 'you better have a good answer about him' voice.
"I think he was nice." Aoko said with Kaito nodding in agreement.
"He took us around the shops there to get our stuff and started to explain the way it worked to us."
Ginzo nodded with approval as he handed Chikage a cup of tea which she took before looking back to her son and Aoko.
"So, how long before you have to leave?"
"Didn't they tell? We have only a week, so it isn't much."
"A week huh?" Ginzo muttered with a frown, "They left it really late then."
Kaito nodded remembering the instructions and tickets Harry had left them with "We have to go to Tokyo main station at 10 ish... Potter-sensei said that the train leaves at exactly 11."
"We can get you both there on time, right Ginzo?"
Ginzo nodded in agreement, the station wasn't to far and the trunks and cages could easily fit into his or Chikage's car. "That won't be a problem."
"Thanks!"
The four of them drank their drinks in most silence after that, then Kaito spoke up saying he wanted to take his trunk home and to settle Miyuki into a large cage, plenty being left from when Toichi would keep his countless doves for his shows.
Chikage had offered to come help him but he insisted to go on his own and was extremely grateful when she did decide to stay at Aoko's for a bit longer.
He hurried home with his trunk pulling it up the road with him and let himself into the familiar house. A few things where missing from the year jump and some there when they weren't anymore, he must remember not to break that vase this time around, but over all it was all the same.
He pulled his trunk up the stairs, Miyuki hooting at the noise which woke her, then shoved it under his bed and put her cage on top of his chest of drawers. He then opened her cage and held out his arm which she obediently stepped out of the cage to carefully balance on his arm her claws only lightly gripping onto his sleeved arm.
"You can just go stretch your wings for a bit just try and come back while I'm awake okay?"
She clicked her beak in a way Kaito took to be a 'yes' then flew out of the open window.
He watched after her till she was only a tinny speck of white, then turned walking out of his room downstairs. But he didn't leave the house, instead he went into the study and looked to the portrait hung there. He couldn't help but stare a moment, even unmoving the image of Kaito's dad smiling to him made him stop to stare a moment. He then walked up to it slowly and gently rested his hand on it, being sure not to push on it.
"Hey dad..." He muttered to the silent figure. "I'm going away for a bit but there's something I can't leave..."
He then put force on his hand and, with a loud creak the gears turned for the first time in four years and he stepped through into the hidden room.
Kaito looked around as the overhead lights flickered on, even when he had been there he didn't move things from their original places his dad kept them so it all seemed the same, albeit slightly dustier.
"Hehe... just as I remember it..."
He was about to walk through to the closet space when he heard a click and the tape which played to him the first time he had ever entered the room played once again.
'It's been a while, Kaito. If you hear this, I'm probably dying or already dead. But Kaito, there is something I need to tell you, I am what you call at thief. I'm the world-famous phantom thief Kaitou KID'
"It...it's not worn away." Kaito looked over quick to the tape, the blanks from when he had head it all having been filled in, he was going to hear his dad's full message.
'I'm doing this to stop an organization from gaining a powerful jewel called Pandora, a stone that is said to grand immortality and glows red once you hold it up to a full moon. If you are old enough, I ask you to take the task of finding Pandora and destroying it on your shoulders, but please, be careful. The organization is powerful and dangerous. I love you, Kaito. Be strong for me'
The tape player beeped as the cassette reached the end of its message and Kaito felt something welling up in his eyes, how many years had it been since he felt that?
"...Dad..."
He reached out to take the tape out, much more careful than last time when the tape had all fallen out of it, when the player made a loud beep which made him pull his hand back quick as a voice came out once again.
'If you still listen, please turn this tape around, there is another message for you on the other side'
"Another side? Could he have..." Kaito reached out with a small frown and gently pressed the eject button. The door clicked open and he just as carefully pulled out the tape and it all came out in one piece. He looked at it a moment but seeing no label he turned it around the placed it back in closing the door and pressing play. There were a few agonizing moments of silence before his dad,s voice spoke out again, Kaito listening like his life depended on it.
'Kaito, this may sound strange, but I have to tell you about another world not so far away, a world with wizards and witches.'
"N-no way…"
There was a moments pause before Toichi started again, as if he knew Kaito would need a moment to process it.
'It was the world I was bornin Kaito, though due to circumstances I had to put my wand aside and give up on my true magic. I know you would have loved to see real magic tricks, even though I could only give you muggle ones' He stopped his talk again with a small chuckle.
"W...wand?"
'It was... Rather painful, and practicing magic tricks helped me to feel free somehow. In one way I am glad to find you aren't magical like I am, there are still some people looking for me and you having magical powers would make it... complicated. But on the other hand it's a shame, somewhere I had hoped to show you the real thing. I still have my wand, Kaito. Remember that small wooden box I once showed you?'
Toichi paused again and Kaito used the pause to try to think back, he had once found an ornate looking box that had been locked at the time no matter what he tried to do to open it. His dad had found him at the time and took it off him simply saying 'it wasn't the time'.
'It's on a shelf near the desktop, the key is in the drawer beneath it. I want you to take it, son, but do handle it with care. A wizard's wand is like a part of his hand.'
Toichi took a breath to talk but to Kaito's extreme disappointment the tape reached its end once again and whatever Toichi had said then he would never know. He sat still a moment wondering what could have been said then his mind raced back to what hadbeen said. He stood up and in an instant moved across the room and began rooting through the desktops draws almost like a madman,
"Where is it where is it...ah!" His fingers closed over a tinny key, he remembered finding it last time and deciding it had been for a trick set of handcuffs or something. It didn't look like much, a golden colour but no fancy design or anything, but Kaito kept an iron grip on it like it was the most precious item he had ever held including his now lost years as KID.
He opened the drawer above and pushed around the items inside until he found the box again. It was a red wood box with delicate looking patterns of lines swirling and twisting around each other. He set the box down onto the desk then holding back the urge to ram the tinny key into the just as tinny keyhole he put it into the lock and turned. With a small click the lid opened slightly and after taking a small breath Kaito pushed the lid open fully.
Sitting on a black velvet cushion was a long thick wand , it's colour going from a soft red at the base down to a light brown at the tip and along its length was covered in a slightly darker old looking pattern.
"This is d...dad's wand?"
Kaito touched the wand lightly as if to check if it was really there. At his touch the tip glowed lightly and some golden sparks flew out. In Kaitos mind an image came to the front, he was seeing something as if they were in front of him right now. It was his dad, as alive looking as he had been that day before the accident with a wide smile as he held a Kaito much younger than him who was grinning widely at his dad. The image lasted probably less than a second but Kaito retained every detail of it keeping it clear in his memory and the tears which had been teasing to fall before fell freely down his face as he held the box close.
"Thanks dad."
Hakuba sighed heavily as he leaned his trunk against the outer wall of his house. He stood there a moment to both rest himself and to prepare himself for the 'telling off' his mother would doubtlessly give him then he pressed the intercom and waited for an answer.
'Who is it?'
"I…it's me mum..."
Her reply was almost instant and Hakuba could hear the worry that she had been in still in her voice, "Saguru, how did you find it? You have any idea how worried I was about you?"
"Someone dropped me off." Hakuba said mostly to reassure her, after all she didn't know he'd been living here alone for quite some time as far as he was concerned and knew the way around here easily, shop appearances may have changed but the roads layout was the exact same.
He glanced around at the few people walking across the road who were staring looking somewhat baffled by his very old fashioned travel trunk. "Can I come in, I don't want to be stared at..."
"Yeah, come in young man, we have a lot to talk about!"
Hakuba winced as this time he heard not her worry but her anger then quickly walked in as the gates unlocked themselves. He dragged the trunk up the stairs then upon remembering he didn't own a key he knocked on the doors.
His mother was there in an instant, she had probably been waiting for him. She was frowning at him and her hands where on her hips in the traditional 'angry mother' pose and Hakuba couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by it.
"Start explaining!"
"We'd love to hear your story." He glanced behind his mother and saw his father, staring with an identical look of disapproval and anger.
He couldn't help but wince again at her as he attempted to begin explaining. "I... sorry I ran off..."
"You better be young man." His mother said and Hakuba could tell that despite trying to be angry at him she was strongly holding back the urge to hug him.
Hakuba glanced behind him as he heard a scratching sound and saw Watson, smaller than he remembered her, perched on top of his trunk looking at it curious before looking to him in a way Hakuba felt seemed one of confusion. He glanced again at his trunk then turned back to his parents.
"I...he said someone would explain to you while he took us to get our stuff..."
"Oh, we got our explanation." His father said folding his arms, "A wizard huh? I must say you made the day a little less understandable."
'…You have no idea...'
His mother chose now to drop the serious face and pulled a slight tongue at her husband. "Told you he didn't throw the book!" She said before looking back to Hakuba. "They said you only have a week... nice start for our stay in Japan!" she was trying to keep positive, but both Hakuba and his father could tell she didn't like it.
'I've already been living here for years…' He couldn't help but think before trying to reassure his mother. "We can send letters and stuff so it's not like you won't hear from me all year..."
"Do you have any idea what they will teach you there?" His father asked.
"Well the books are about things like Transfiguration, Herbology, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures... and the one who took us there said he was a teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts"
"Promise me you'll write a lot, honey."
Hakuba nodded, even when he was older she liked him to contact her often and it was one thing Hakuba didn't seem to mind. "The others got owls that are meant to carry the mail but Potter-sensei said I'd be ok to take Watson." As he said this Watson leaned forwards and gently held his finger in her beak a moment.
"I guess this is the part where it's a bad thing to be a stubborn detective." His father muttered rubbing his head slightly.
"Maybe I should have chosen another!" His wife teased clearly to distract herself.
Hakuba thought a moment then quickly put his hand into his pocket pulling out a photograph taken in the Drunken Dragon. "Here, keep this... I'll be seeing loads of them from now on anyway..."
She took the offered photo glancing at it then her eyes widened as she stared at it. "It's moving!"
"Interesting..."
Hakuba couldn't help but smile slightly as his mother giggled slightly at the photo. Aoko had yet again pulled out a mop and was chasing Kaito, "It's like watching a silent movie."
"Be glad you can't hear them..." Hakuba muttered as Kaito jumped over Heiji who then began to silently scream at him making the others in the photo cringe.
The photo seemed to cheer his mother up though and she smiled warmly at Hakuba. "Well, let's get you something to drink, honey." She said before whispering to him. "I think your father needs some time to process this."
"Maybe that's best..." Hakuba whispered back in agreement as he watched his father stare at the photo.
He reached back and Watson flew off down the wide corridor into the kitchen followed by his mother. He grabbed his trunk by the handle, the books thudding against the edge as the angle changed and he went after his mother leaving his father to ponder how the photo worked.
'Guess I could read up on these books in the week…'
Back in the Drunken Dragon Harry was sat at a desk writing away on a piece of parchment. Behind him Heiji walked up looking over his shoulder at the letter.
"Whatcha doin?"
Harry glanced up behind him a moment then dipped his quill and returned to writing. "Travelling to Osaka by muggle means would be one inconvenient and two would probably draw attention so I'm asking the ministry to temporarily link up to a Floo Network." He explained before pausing in his writing and looking to them both. "Either of your houses have a fireplace?"
Kazuha shook her head, "No' me!"
"I 'ave one in tha yard, why ya askin?" Heiji asked curious.
Harry quickly turned back to the note jotting down Heiji's address, he had been told them before coming in case any of them left for home not believing it. "We'll need one to get there..." He explained vaguely before finishing the letter and folding it up. "Fawkes!"
Heiji and Kazuha frowned a moment then jumped back as the spot on the desk next to Harry seemed to randomly decided to burst into bright scarlet flames. It burned for a few seconds and the flames stopped and in the centre of where they had been burning stood a large bird about the size of a swan, its feathers all a deep crimson apart from a splash like marking on the end of its long tail feathers which was golden coloured. Even without an amount of 'Magical Knowledge' Heiji and Kazuha could guess what the bird on the desk in front of them was.
"Is tha…"
"…A phoenix?"
Harry nodded as he stroked the phoenix's head which leaned into his hand enjoying the touch. "This is Fawkes... he came to my help a few years ago and he's stayed with me since. I named him after a phoenix who belonged to a great wizard I knew." He picked up the note which he had put into a envelope and held it out to Fawkes and spoke directly to him. "Okay, get that to the Floo Office please?"
Fawkes nodded taking the letter then once again there was a burst of flames for a few moments and when it cleared the bird was nowhere in sight, Kazuha and Heiji staring at the spot it was in disbelief.
"Sugoi," Kazuha breathed. "Never thought I'd see a real phoenix."
"When yah thought ya'd seen everything..."
Harry chuckled at them both, "You just wait, in my first year I saw a three headed dog...named Fluffy."
"Three headed?" Heiji exclaimed his eyes wide.
"Not exactly a common occurrence so don't worry doubt you'll meet one."
"One ding." Kazuha asked curious "Wha's a Floo Network?"
"Well... it's another way of travelling through fireplaces, basically we go in one come out another...can be a bit messy though... all wizard fireplaces are connected but we have to ask the Ministry for special permission to link a muggle's fireplace."
"Righ..." Heiji muttered still trying to get used to the 'muggle' and 'wizards' thing.
"So, how do we know when dey are done?"
"Fawkes will-"as he had began to answer Kazuha's question there was another burst of flames making Harry jump slightly and a rather self-proud looking Fawkes was stood in the spot again "...come back..."
Harry sighed at Fawkes who seemed to ruffle up his feathers smugly seeing he had made Harry jump and held out a second note to him. "Okay, Fawkes I want you to 'fly' to Osaka, don't go scaring them, and give this note to a woman called Shizuka Hattori, no showing off got it?"
Fawkes stared at him a moment then clicked his beak taking the note from him then he flew out the window disappearing into the sky in seconds.
"So, wha' now?" Kazuha asked Harry as he walked away from the desk to a large fireplace that was a few heads taller than Harry.
"Well, Fawkes should get there before us so they'll be sufficiently warned so we best get going." He reached to the ledge next to the fireplace and picked up what looked like a small plant pot of dust. "Right, come over to the fireplace..."
Heiji and Kazuha grabbed their trunks and owls which had been put at the edge of the room and watching Harry's movements curiously walked up next to him.
"Right, now you have to be careful with this, say it wrong and you'll come out somewhere else..." He said holding out the pot knowing from experience how being unclear can send you to the wrong fireplace. "You have to take a good handful of this powder, stand in the fireplace and then say where your going, in this case its filed under 'Hattori Residence' then drop the powder into the fireplace." He looked to Heiji first. "It's your house so perhaps you should go first?"
"Yeah, righ'..." Heiji stepped forward and took a handful of the powder which when it caught the light seemed to be a silvery colour. He walked over to stand in the fireplace with his stuff next to him despite how ridiculous it made him look. At a nod from Harry he threw the powder down into the bottom of the fireplace. As it hit the dusty stone floor green flames erupted from the small pile. At first he felt scared being stood in the middle of flames as any sane person would but he quickly noticed they were harmless and at a nod from Harry he cleared his throat, "Hattori Residence!"
Kazuha stepped back as the flames roared fully covering Heiji then they died down into nothing with Heiji and his stuff nowhere in sight.
Harry looked into the empty fireplace. "Well, he said it clearly so he could be fine, your turn now."
Kazuha nodded taking a handful and following Heiji's example she stepped into the fireplace and dropped the powder copying Heiji's words, "Hattori Residence!"
At the exact same moment in Osaka Shizuka Hattori looked away quickly from the note she was reading and the large bird who had delivered it to the fireplace outside. A large amount of soot was coming from it followed shortly by a very sooty Heiji who coughed a moment on the floor with his trunk and a cage holding a rather annoyed looking owl following him.
"Heiji!"
Heiji stumbled to his feet still coughing as he moved his stuff out of the way. "I nevah wan' ta do tha' again!"
Mere seconds after Heiji had moved his stuff soot began to be forced out once again and Kazuha quickly followed with her own stuff. She shuddered standing as the soot fell off her and pulled her own trunk and owl away,.
"Tha was weird!"
"Kazuha, are you okay?"
Shizuka went to walk over to them then jumped back as a third person came through the fireplace.
Harry coughed as he slowly sat up, his glasses askew on his nose, "Told you flying is better."
"Yah did..." Heiji agreed, even if he himself had never been flying he doubted when flying you got as covered in soot.
Shizuka looked over Heiji and Kazuha making sure they were both alright then looked quickly to Harry watching him close. He was pulling off his soot covered glasses which had a large crack through one.
"Every time..." He muttered with a frown as he stood up pulling his wand out of his robe pocket then tapping the broken glasses with it, "Reparo!"
"Mum, dis is Potter-san, teacher a tha school I'm goin to."
Shizuka frowned lightly at him as the cracks in his glasses fixed themselves and the soot lifted off before he slipped them back on putting his wand back in his pocket. She then smiled slightly and bowed her head politely as he looked to her. "Nice to meet you Potter-san."
"Err, same to you..." Harry said looking at the large amount of soot in the air and on their clothes, "Sorry about the mess."
"It's fine, Mr. Potter." Heizo said walking up behind Shizuka with his usual expression that would have nearly any criminal confessing in minutes.
Harry however didn't notice him right away instead pulling his wand once again and waving it through the air saying 'scourgify' and all the soot lifted off them into the air then just disappeared. He then turned to face Heizo, "There, sorry again."
Heizo continued to look at Harry with the same look as before then turned to Heiji. "Hand me that trunk." He said before taking it from Heiji and dragging it inside
"Righ'..." Heiji muttered more than slightly annoyed as Fawkes flew out of the window and landed carefully on Harry's shoulder chirping into his ear.
"Maybe I should call mah dad..."
"Ya should'" Heiji agreed as Kazuha pulled out a phone.
"Do you want me to wait?" Harry asked unsure if he should stay around if they had any final questions.
"Yah wan somethin?" Heiji offered.
"Err, no no its fine." Harry said turning to leave. "You better sort things out with your parents..."
Just as Harry was saying this Heizo came back out again. "Abou' tha, bein a teacher, could yah tell me more about tha school?"
Harry couldn't help but feel slightly off about talking to this man who doubtlessly had a 'normal' education in mind for his son planned out but he nodded trying not to show it. "Sure."
"Why don't we all go in then?" Shizuka suggested placing a hand on Heizo's folded arms as if trying to calm him though Harry noticed no physical change in his attitude.
Hattori nodded in agreement glancing to Kazuha who was just closing her phone. "Ya comin?"
"Yeah, okay" She said slipping her phone into her pocket and following Shizuka and Heizo who was dragging her trunk. Harry followed after them with Fawkes sitting on his shoulder having to duck when going through the back door into the kitchen.
The kitchen was neat and well kept but not to the point where it looked unused. Harry took a seat at the table the others were sitting at while Shizuka poured a few cups of tea onto a tray.
"Drinks?" She said offering a few cups to them.
"Yeah thanks," Harry said taking a cup along with Heizo and Kazuha while Heiji just shook his head. They sat in a most silence for a moment having their drinks before Harry decided to break the silence.
"So what would you like to know?"
Heizo lowered his cup and stared again at Harry. "All we heard tha our son has to go to a magic school, so now I wan ta know wha' he'll do dere." He said before calmly drinking his tea again.
"Well, I teach students how to defend themselves against other spells, and he'll also learn loads of other things... potions, charms... there are loads of different subjects like in a mu... normal school."
Heizo nodded still staring at Harry making Heiji deadpan him.
"Dad, ya creepin' him out!"
As if agreeing Fawkes chirped then seemed to glare at Heizo a moment but Harry stroked his head softly and he seemed to relax.
"I do?" Heizo asked Harry with a small smile, "Ya don' ave a conscience, do yah, Mr. Potter?"
"Dad, keep tha fer yah interrogations."
Heizo ignored Heijis warning, "It's mah job ta be scary, Mr. Potter."
'A job you do brilliantly from what I can see' Harry thought but he made sure to keep that thought to himself.
At this point the term 'saved by the bell' is the easiest thing to say as the front door bell rang making Kazuha stand up.
"Ah, tha's probably mah dad."
"Then go bring him through here please Kazuha." Shizuka said and Kazuha stood up going to the door. A few short moment later she returned closely followed by Toyama who looked to the small group gathered around the table his eyes resting on Harry a moment longer taking a good guess from the robes that he was one of the 'wizards.'
"Not interrupting, am I?" he asked walking up to them.
"No, no of course not." Shizuka assured before looking to Heizo. "Heizo was just talking to Mr. Potter here..."
Harry stood up and walked around the table to be stood next to him and away from Heizo and offered his hand to "Harry Potter, teacher at Hoguwatsu."
Toyama smiled as he shook Harry's hand. "Yah caught a nice group ere, Mr. Potter. Policemen are quite tha stubborn type."
"I'm learning that," Harry muttered making Toyama laugh.
Back in Beika Shinichi finally reached his house pushing open then front gate grateful to finally be home, his arm was getting tiered from dragging his trunk and his owls cage who at Ran's suggestion was now named Conan. He sighed as he finally reached his door and pulled out his key.
'At least now I can figure some things out…'
"Shin-chan!"
Shinichi blinked a moment before he felt arms grab him around the sides then proceed to hug the air right out of him. "M-mum?"
Yusaku chuckled from behind Yukiko, wearing the glasses which in a few years would have become 'Conan's' glasses, "Hello son, thought we'd come over."
"D-dad? How long have you two been here?"
Yusaku paused glancing at his watch before returning to his drink. "A few hours, give or take."
"Why, don't you like us being back?" Yukiko asked with a pout finally releasing her son from her hug.
"I'm just surprised, that's all."
"You are surprised?" Yusaku asked with raised eyebrows, "I never thought Yukiko's driving could be caught up with."
"…They caught up with..?" Shinichi blinked in disbelief at his dad who only shrugged.
"He claimed his engine was powered by 'dragon's fire.'"
"Well, it's nice to have a change now and then." Yukiko said with an uncaring air brushing it off as if she could think of a hundred more interesting things to talk about, which she probably could.
"Is that possible?"
"You tell us, Mr. Wizard"
Shinichi deadpanned her. "It's not like I know more than you..."
Yusaku smirked glancing at his trunk and owl who was still asleep, "Got all your stuff?"
"Yeah, a professor from school and two students helped us pick them up."
"How nice, already making friends huh?" Yukiko asked with a very wide grin, "My Shin-chan gets around in no time."
"Mum..."
Yusaku smirked sitting down on a chair next to the phone, "So, what's going on, where and when?"
"We have a week before we need to go to the main train station of Tokyo, where the train to school leaves at eleven."
"A week? That's not much..." Yukiko muttered pouting slightly before a sleepy hoot from Conan drew her eyes to his trunk.
"Well until then you better show you mum your new school things before she tears open that trunk." Yusaku suggested with a smirk.
"Mou, Yusaku!"
Shinichi sighed at her then walked over to his trunk carefully moving Conan's cage off the top and lying it down to open it. "Fine, I'll show you."
A week passed and as it does with every year Tokyo main station found itself full of parents and their kids with old fashioned trunks and bizarre pets who don't seem to board any train out.
Leaning against one of the walls with a trolley carrying a trunk and cage, Kaito was looking out across the station trying to spot any of the others. It wasn't a long wait before he spotted someone.
"Aoko, over here!"
Aoko looked over then waved wide at him rushing over, her father following with her trolley, "Kaito!"
"Morning Aoko." Chikage said watching Ginzo walk up.
"Have you been here for long.?" He asked putting Aoko's trolley next to Kaito's.
"Oh, about 5 minutes, Kai's been really excited..."
Kaito rubbed his head slightly, he had been up early excited and Chikage had ended up taking him once he woke her accidentally making noise dragging his trunk down the stairs, "Sorry mum."
Chikage sighed but there was a clear amused smirk on her face. Kaito smiled at her then turned his eyes back to the busy station. "Ain't seen any of the others yet..."
Aoko nodded looking as well, "Now you mention it, where would they be now?"
"Hey, Saguru, aren't those the two from the picture? She's the girl swinging the mop right?"
Kaito and Aoko looked over quick to a blond haired woman was walking over looking rather excited and at her side was Hakuba behind him a man pushing a trolley with a rather indignant looking Watson sat in a cage.
"Yes, and the other one is here too..." Hakuba sighed eyeing Kaito.
"Hey Haku!"
"Hi, Hakuba-kun!"
Hakuba nodded politely to Aoko as he walked up next to them, "Good morning Nakamori."
Kaito waited a moment then frowned at the lack of greeting for him then smirked dangerously and with a quick flick of his wrist Hakubas hair was a pillar-box red.
"Kaito!"
Kaito winced back from Aoko still with a grin while Hakuba simply sighed, his mother staring at his hair in bafflement.
"Even though red suits you, you should go and wash your hair, Saguru."
Kaito grinned wider at her comment then looked to Hakuba, "If your mum's this cool how are you so boring?"
"Blame his father hun." She said with a smile.
"I won't take that as an insult." said man said standing behind her, making her turn to him with a playful frown.
"You should!"
"H-Hakuba-Keibu?"
Hakuba's dad looked up to Ginzo frowning a short moment before he recognised him and smiled, "Ah, Nakamori Ginzo, it's been a while. Nice way to meet again."
"Are you...Ginzo Nakamori? I worked with you on a few KID cases, Yusaku Kudo."
The men turned to Yusaku as he joined them, Shinichi and Yukiko just behind him.
"Ah, mister Kudou, of course I remember."
Shinichi watched his dad a moment as he caught up slightly with the other two then looked back to the group only then noticing Hakuba's most recent hair shade.
"Don't ask…"
Shinichi was about to ask anyway when Yukiko caught him staring, "Shin-chan, no staring!"
Shinichi groaned slightly as Hakuba's mum recognised her, "Oh, you're that actress, right?"
"Yes I am!"
"Ah, you're that pretty o..." Kaito quickly stopped himself as he saw a shadow of a glare pass over her face. "...pretty young lady who took lessons from dad!"
"Right." Yukiko muttered still feeling slightly miffed, "you called me oba-san..."
Let it not be said in his time as a teenaged magician and as Kaitou KID Kaito didn't learn quick recovery, he bowed low to Yukiko with a smile. "Ah do forgive me, I was but a young child and did not understand true beauty when I saw it." He flicked his wrist and held out a rose to her which she then took with a smile.
"Well, at least you understand now."
"Yukiko-san!"
Yukiko looked away from the rose and sweatdropping Shinichi went to Ran who was hurrying to them with Eri next to her and Kogoro following behind with her trolley.
"Ran-chan! How are you doing?"
"I'm okay, thanks!"
"It's nice to see you in the country Yukiko." Eri said.
Yukiko grinned happily. "Well, it's not every day you hear your son is going to another school, so we decided to stop by. Guess what? They actually were able to catch up with me!"
"Knowing you mum, that isn't anything good..."
"Tha School really caught some good ones."
"Ran-chan!"
The last of their group finally arriving, Heiji and Kazuha walked up to them their parents just behind, Kazuha wasting no time in running up to Ran talking while Heiji just grinned at Shinichi giving the 'usual greeting'
"Oi, Kudou, yah confessed already?"
Shinichi promptly turned beet stuttering out. "B-baro!" while Kaito chuckled at him before turning to Heiji with a smirk.
"And have you Hei-chan?"
Now it was Heiji's turn to turn red as Kaito laughed at him, "I' -I... I' ain't like tha!"
Hakuba's mum smiled at them then glanced down at her wristwatch. "Well, maybe we should go and look for." She pulled out Hakuba's ticket from her pocket, "Platform 2 1/3 before you guys miss the train!"
"Brilliant idea!" Hakuba agreed but he cast his eyes sceptically around, "Only there 'is' no 2 1/3 as far as I can see..."
"Then you should look harder!"
They all looked around just in time to see a trolley race past with Yuri pushing it with one hand grabbing Heiji by his arm to drag him to the wall he was stood by then as they were all expecting a great crash the two of them disappeared into the wall leaving them to stare at it baffled.
"...What the..."
Shinichi sighed slightly, "Well, we should have known." And leaving Hakuba to gather his mind again he walked up to the wall, tested the tip of the trolley against the brick wall, then took a breath and shoved it into the wall following after it.
He couldn't help but wince as he walked into the wall, an odd feeling of coldness surrounding him as he passed through then as soon as it came it went away as he heard hundreds of voices all talking at once mixed in with owl hoots, cats meows, and countless other sounds mixed in. He looked around, then seeing Heiji quickly moved his trolley just in time as his parents closely followed by Ran and Eri came through onto the platform.
Heiji was still slightly disoriented and attempting to regain his bearings before out of the crowd Kirsti walked over to them.
"Ah, Yuri!" She shouted grinning before spotting Heiji, "and Heiji, where are the others?"
"They're all on the other side!"
"Correction, not all of us are..." Shinichi added as Heiji finally freed his arm that was still in Yuri's hold.
"Ah Shinichi, are you all coming through then?"
Shinichi nodded hearing a few others follow through the wall behind him as his parents walked up to them.
"You must be the students Shin-chan talked about."
Kirsti nodded to Yukiko, "Yeah, I'm Teshigawa Kirsti and this is Iwamoto Yuri!"
Yuri smiled nodding her head as her name was said then looked back out to the bustling crowd. "Tousan should be around here with Kaasan and Reece-Kun... I'll go looking for them, see you guys on the train! "
"Yuri wa... Ahh gone again," Kirsti sighed sweatdropping as the crowd swallowed her. She then turned to the others as Kazuha, Hakuba, Kaito, and Aoko all finally walked up, "Er, guess I'll take your trunks and owls… or hawk..."
"Tha woul' be good." Kazuha agreed as Kirsti grabbed her trolley putting a cage with a barn owl sleeping in it back on top before pushing off down the platform. "This way then!"
"Oi, stay close Ahoko!" Kaito called behind him as they moved into the crowd.
"Bakaito, I can take care of myself!"
"Bags here!"
Fortunately, the shouts volume startled both Kaito and Aoko stopping the argument before it really had a chance to start much to Hakuba's relief. Kirsti stopped her trolley in between a large pile of trunks and cages taking a smaller bag off it leaving the trolley in the middle.
"Just leave them in the pile and the trunks will be in your dorms when you get there and birds will all be put into the owlery."
They nodded moving their trolleys taking the bags they were told to keep their robes in to change into on the way there.
"So, now what?" Hakuba asked standing up from the cage Watson was sat in.
"Well now...now we hope Yuri managed to get a compartment," Kirsti muttered looking at the train's windows attempting to see if she had one of them.
"Train will be departing soon! Will all students please board the train!"
They looked out over as they saw their parents making their ways over to them. Yukiko smiling wide at Shinichi though there was a faint worry. "Good luck, shin-chan!"
"I'll be fine mum..." Shinichi muttered as Chikage hugged Kaito close.
"Write home okay?"
Kaito nodded into her hug, "I will, promise."
"I'll try not to make my letters too dull mum..." Hakuba muttered.
"You'd better! Don't try to make them too weird either, I don't think your dad can cope with that." She smiled slightly at her husband and even Hakuba had to smile, after all it was true.
"Be careful, okay hun?" Ran nodded to her mum, not trusting her voice so she hugged her instead. Kogoro watched then looked down.
"Try to learn how to change sake back soon."
Ran laughed slightly letting go of her mum, Kogoro had named the hamster sake cup as if calling it that name enough would change it back. "Love you dad, and you too mum." She said also hugging Kogoro who was having a hard time not being emotional.
"Good luck son."
Heiji glanced at his dad and snorted slightly, "I don' need I'."
"Just keep an eye on my daughta alrigh'?"
"Dad I can take care o' ma'self!" Kazuha said with a frown indignantly.
"Bye dad, don't try to fall apart without me." Aoko said with a joking smile at her clearly emotional father.
"I'll try..."
Chikage smiled at the pair of them, "Don't worry dear, I'll keep an eye on him."
"Hurry up guys! The train's leaving!"
Aoko looked to the door where Yuri was looking out then smiled to her dad before grabbing Kaito's arm pulling him onto the train. Kaito moved to the side to let the others in the door then looked out of the small open window next to it.
"Bye mum!"
"Good luck son!" Yusaku shouted as Shinichi closed the door behind him, turning to smirk confidently at him in a silent conversation before following Yuri, Kirsti, and the others down the trains corridor.
"Come on, quickly!" Yuri said as the whistle blew and the train started moving. She opened the door to a fairly large compartment with only one boy sat in it looking out the window, his hair slightly messy light brown as his darker brow eyes watched someone out in the crowd.
Kirsti walked in moving to the window, "Oh you got this one, nice job." She said before turning to the boy, "Hey Reece."
The boy, Reece, blinked then looked to her with a smile. "Hey Kirsti, good summer?
"Yeah!" Kirsti said as Yuri moved to lean out the window slightly to wave out it to her parents. She turned to the others who were still stood in the doorway. "Oh these guys are starting school this year but they'll be with us, laties."
Reece nodded, then they looked out the window again seeming to see who he was watching again waving slightly Kirsti also waving to Frank and a woman who looked like her with a different hair and eye colour then the train moved out of the station and the crowd of parents pulled away replaced with trees. Later if any of the seven of them would wonder how after pulling out of Tokyo they went straight into what seemed like woodland, they'd peg it down to magic.
Juria: Awesome...
Phantom + Kirsti: ...*sat staring at empty box* guess...
Juria: *quickly hides her half full one* Well, stay tuned, because we have enough material to write twenty chapters!
Phantom: ...*falls down alseep at thought of work*
Juria: We can still work on it together...
Kirsti: if you didnt then we'd never got to the school with the rate she writes,
Phantom: sorry readers...
Juria: maybe I should hug you... *stretches arms*
Phantom: *pulls 'black phantom' cape over head* nooo!
Juria: Then write... *insert evil laughter and chase*
Yuri: O_O
Kirsti: ...scary...
Yuri: D-don't forget to review... *hides*
