Thank you for reviewing, jade, Fk306 animelover, Little Kunai, Sora Hoshi, -sama, Love Doesn't Love Me, Emily, and XxBreakingxxPointxX!
jade- Thanks for the info!
Sorry if the chapter seems short, and for taking so long. I'm finally getting to her big reveal! XD
-Chapter Ten-
Morning came, Tuesday dawning upon Hogwarts with a calm serenity, most probably the calm before the storm. Something was going to happen today, something big. And so Hikari went to breakfast with that firmly entrenched in mind, and left quickly to gather her things together for her classes. Her ankle was just fine now, but she was still careful to favor it, just in case. So it was, she didn't see the twins, and likewise didn't talk to them. If she had, maybe then she would have remembered why the Kazekage's return today wasn't exactly a good thing, and perhaps a whole heap of embarrassment could have been averted . . .
...
Taiki bounced in place, hardly pausing long enough to accept the little pin he was given. He attached it to his shirt without question, then went back to bouncing. He was so excited!
A firm hand descended heavily on his shoulder, finally stilling him. Makoto smiled fondly down at him, a glint of humor in his eyes. "Calm yourself, Taiki. We will be going soon enough."
Taiki nodded obediently, then took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. His sensei was right, but he could hardly help it. He was going to see Hikari soon! Not that anyone knew that, but still . . .
The Kazekage entered the room, dressed in his robes of office. Green eyes flickered over them, and then he nodded, satisfied. "Good, you're here. I will explain now the purpose of the pins you were given. They have a long-lasting translation charm cast on them, enabling you, the wearers, to understand the English language. For instance, you may not be able to tell, but that is what I am speaking at this moment. If you were to take the pins off, you would hear only a garbled mass of sounds. With these, you can understand, and be understood. You will be able to cast jutsu while wearing them, as long as you focus on speaking Japanese and make the correct hand signs. Now, are there any questions before we leave?"
Mariko raised her hand. When called upon, she asked, "What are the students like?"
The Kazekage shrugged. "Many are older than you but have no experience in combat. Only those who fought in the battle last year know something of fighting, but the adults are more experienced. Do not expect quick progress from those you teach. Personality-wise, however, many are friendly. There are four main groups among the students. The Gryffindors, valuing courage, daring, nerve, and chivalry the most; the Hufflepuffs, hard work, fair play, tolerance, and loyalty; the Ravenclaws, intelligence, wit, wisdom, and creativity; and finally, the Slytherins, with ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness highly prized. Slytherin seems to hold the most troublemakers, but the other Houses have their fair share. Hufflepuff is the most rounded of the Houses, so one does not always know what to expect from them. Anything else?"
Kohaku was the one given permission this time, and his expression was hopeful. "Will we be allowed to explore?"
Their village leader nodded. "Stick together at first. I'm sure you know what culture shock is, and you may unwittingly insult someone. Try not to take offense to anything, as the students do not yet know much at all about us either. Yes . . . Taiki, was it?"
The boy nodded. "Is there a way to distinguish between the Houses?"
"Thank you for reminding me. The Slytherins are green and silver, and their mascot is a snake. Yes, that generally has bad connotations in their world as well. Gryffindor, a lion, with red and gold. Hufflepuff is black and yellow with a badger – you can find out there what that is – and Ravenclaw is blue and bronze with an eagle. All of you, never underestimate the danger of what looks to only be a stick when it's pointed in your direction. I trust you to be able to avoid any wayward spells, but I will also warn you that Hogwarts has its fair share of pranksters. Are there any more questions? None? Very well, then." The Kazekage pulled out a roll of parchment and held it before himself. "This is called a portkey, and it will take us to the castle. We will appear just outside of the main doors, which open up to the main hall – which is not to be confused with the Great Hall, the school's general assembly room and meal hall. Once I speak the password, we will gone. Make sure you are in contact with the scroll at all times until I give to word to release it. Is this understood?"
And chorus of "yes's" answered him, followed by the genin and their teacher reaching out. Once he was satisfied, the Kazekage spoke.
"Kraken, Hogwarts."
...
"What the heck is a Kraken?"
That was asked by a very befuddled Kohaku as he steadied himself against an amused Taiki. The latter pushed his friend away, and the raven-haired boy just managed to stay upright in his dizziness. Ninja though he was, a portkey seemed to be able to throw anyone for a loop on their first time, although some fared better than others. Case in point, Makoto was steady as a rock, and Mariko looked only slightly woozy as she found her footing. Taiki had braced himself for the ride, so he was the better off of the three genin.
The Kazekage offered a small, miniscule smile, the most he ever seemed to give around those outside of his family. "It is a creature from Greek mythology, servant of Hades, their god of the underworld. Kankuro thought it would be an amusing password, for some unknown reason."
Taiki grinned. "Well, at least few would be able to guess it. Who would ever expect a Suna ninja in Great Britain to use a Greek myth for a password?"
"That is a good point. Come, it is still breakfast time here. Stick together," was the final instruction before they went in.
...
The great doors opened ponderously. Massive and a union of wood and iron, they were no doubt also protected by a multitude of spells, and would stand up to many of the worst of attacks. What a ninja would be able to do to them, though, was a question that would remain unanswered. Yet for people who could split rocks with their fist and obliterate forests with one release of power, even the strongest defenses would seem so utterly frail . . .
No shinobi, however, had any intention of testing the doors' strength. There was no need to, and any such creations would at least be an alert should a rampaging enemy ninja break them down, though a much easier time would be had sneaking through the many windows and secret passages. There was no worry about Death Eaters and other dark wizards in the doors' regard, for they were created to protect against them. "Hakuna matata," Muggle-borns who had seen The Lion King might say.
The doors, though, were not what Gaara was thinking about as he led his ninja through them. Instead, his thoughts were focused on the three genin, and more specifically their behavior. The youngest, Taiki, almost seemed as if he was expecting something, his neck craning as he turned his head this way and that.
Gaara dismissed it as simple wonderment. He himself had been barely able to contain his own upon first arriving. The castle was like nothing he had ever seen before, so much grander, larger, and sturdier than the Hidden Countries had ever been able to boast. Besides, Kohaku and Mariko were behaving in much the same way as their teammate. It was all so new, and there was so much to see.
His mindset such, therefore, he was completely unprepared for what was to happen in the next few minutes . . .
Kankuro and Temari joined the group not far into the entrance hall, where students were beginning to gather as the word was passed along. Gaara gave the thickening crowd only a passing glance before turning to his siblings, and offered them as much of a smile as he ever did in the presence of others. "Good morning," he greeted them. "This is the team that will be aiding you for the next month. Team Four, these are my siblings, Temari and Kankuro. Temari, Kankuro, this is Oushi Makoto, Nori Kohaku, Kuma Mariko, and Taiki. Team Four."
Kankuro beamed at the gathered newcomers. "Maa, welcome to Hogwarts! It'll be great having the help, since the groups are a little big. We've got the Houses grouped together by two, but with seven Years and extra people in each Year, the groups are bigger than Academy classes. There's seven groups per day with an hour each and a break on Sunday, but that will be more than enough for all of us. Gaara, remind me to thank you for roping me into this . . ."
Gaara shrugged. "You complained that you were too bored. This is an important diplomatic endeavor. Who better than you two?"
Kankuro made a face. "Right. I'm still finding a way to get you back for this. So! Any questions that my esteemed brother has not answered?"
"Just one, Kankuro-sama," Kohaku piped up after given permission. Gaara suspected his presence encouraged heightened manners. Otherwise, the boy might not have even raised his hand or waited to be called on. "Are those 'portkeys' always so nauseating?"
Temari smiled and shook her head. "We're told you get used to it after a while. Gaara?"
He nodded. "It's true. Only the first few times are at all disorienting, and by then one can figure out how to land properly."
Kohaku grinned. "Good to know. Thank you, Kazekage-sama. Hey, Taiki-" He broke off, confused, and whipped his head around. "Where'd Taiki-kun go?"
They all blinked and joined him in the passive searching. The youngest of the genin had disappeared, none of them having noticed at all until that moment. Gaara stretched out his senses, searching for the young boy's chakra signature, but stopped when Mariko announced her discovery.
"There he is!" she exclaimed, relieved. Everyone looked to where she was pointing, and saw the genin was in the middle of the crowd of students, constantly looking for something now. They wondered at this strange behavior, Makoto getting ready to call him back to the group, when-
Taiki let out a glad cry as he finally spotted what he was looking for. "Onee-chan! Onee-chan!"
The shinobi blinked, watching in confused shock as the boy tackled someone in a flying hug, the other Hogwarts students scattering away in surprise. The girl he glomped stood her ground in this, and familiar laughter rang through the air.
"You made it!" her voice cheered. "Oh, look how you've grown!"
And then she looked up at the other shinobi, expression sheepish, and Gaara found himself looking . . .
. . . straight into the eyes of Hikari.
Japanese-English translations:
(See previous chapters)