Disclaimer: We do not own the Harry Potter characters or world, but the over-active imaginations that produced this we will claim.
Rituals and Consequences
by mmagicwolf and WickerChair
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Herding Cats and Other Impossibilities
Saturday, 22 June, 1991
Raoul Chaput moved with the ease of an experienced warrior, skilled in hand-to-hand as well as armed combat. His glance around the first-class lounge for KLM revealed three immediate threats. The first was a young Japanese man in a business suit that still did not quite conceal the weaponry he carried. Raoul was reassured when he saw the distinctive glint of gold and blue of a lapel pin that marked a member of the extended Potter family. This man was safe, but the other two, he looked them over with an experienced eye and again caught the glint of gold and blue, watchbands this time, but still the mark of Potters. He discreetly flashed his own symbol, blue phoenix feathers dangling from a short necklace. The others also relaxed.
Despite the fact that the three were family and therefore not threats, Raoul was still aware of an undefined danger. An elderly man stood at the window, watching the activity outside. Raoul was surprised when he moved and, almost instinctively, bowed deeply to the man keeping his eyes on the others face as a mark of respect.
Warato Tsubo moved with the grace of a dancer and the deadly efficiency of an expert martial artist. His longish hair was restrained by a pair of hair sticks, and Raoul was certain that they concealed points as deadly as they were beautiful. The man was less than five feet tall, but Raoul had deep doubts whether he would survive an encounter with the man.
Raoul rose from his bow and introduced himself, "Raoul Chaput, fifth level savaté."
The elderly man smiled gently, "Tsubo Takumi, ah," he paused, "Takumi Tsubo, no official rank, merely experience."
"Warato-sama," protested the younger Japanese.
"Hush, Ryoku, this young man presumed that I had a ranking greater than his, but I have never been tested, have I?"
"No, Warato-sama, but I was trained by you and I have been tested as a ninth dan."
"Young man," said Raoul soothingly, "I am well aware of his expertise. He could teach me many things if he so desired, and I wished him to know that I was aware of his experience."
"A most excellent young man," commented Tsubo. "Ryoku, notice he is aware of his youth and of its follies. He seeks knowledge from those around him and is respectful. He is the kind of man from whom you should seek advice, rather than those fools without honor you go to consult."
"Hai, Warato-sama," responded Ryoku, "I am aware of their lack of honor, yet I must go see them."
"Just do not expect me to be happy about it."
The boarding call for the flight to Heathrow interrupted the conversation.
~O~
Raoul followed the elderly Japanese along the boarding ramp and asked, "Is Warato a title?"
"Hai, I am Warato Tsubo, Ryoku does the work."
"Work?"
"I was to take over the family business, but I was uninterested. Ryoku displayed the correct personality, so I passed the business to him. He is good."
"If I might inquire, what business does your family conduct?"
"Ah. Import and export, mostly medicinal ingredients."
"Would you be willing to teach me some of your skills? I know that we have little time, but still..." Raoul trailed off.
"Perhaps." Tsubo paused, "Do you know how to dance?"
"Somewhat. I learned to waltz as a boy."
~O~
Tsubo sat next to Raoul on the flight, their tickets had been arranged so. While waiting for the plane to get clearance for departure, Tsubo asked Raoul if he had ever seen a dancer.
"Ballet?" asked Raoul.
"Ballet has been tamed. I mean dance. Dance for pleasure, for seduction, for life."
"No," admitted Raoul. "I have only seen ballet."
"You seem a nice young man," said Tsubo. "I will teach you to dance. The first thing that you must remember is that dancing is fun, and that you are to always use the minimum effort to obtain the effect you want."
~O~
Tuesday, September 25, 1945
The Tokyo residence of the Tsubo family was silent, the visiting relatives returned to their own homes. The shrine was still draped in mourning colors, the incense sticks releasing their smoke gently upwards before the family portrait of Ichigo and Haruka Tsubo and their four children killed when the shield protecting their home in Hiroshima was breached. The only survivors had been the two youngest children Takumi and Ayame.
"Grandfather," protested the fifteen-year-old Takumi, "I don't want to lead the family! I just want to learn more about healing."
Ren Tsubo, closed his eyes, "Yes, Takumi, I know. I was Warato as well, but your father's death returned the title to me. I had no desire to resume the duties of sennar, but it is for the good of the family. I will teach you as much as I know of healing, but in return you must learn as much as you can about the duties and responsibilities of being sennar."
"Grandfather, why can't one of the other branches take over? Surely almost anyone else would be better suited to the position."
"You are my heir and the only one who can become sennar when I die. If you are unwilling to accept the responsibility, the other families will come into conflict. We must not display weakness before the Americans lest they destroy us completely. They have already taken control of the government and decide which decisions made by the Emperor will stand and which will be ignored. Our family has been neutral for more than a thousand years. We will not break that neutrality by allowing the family to come into conflict with itself. We hold the records, and we must remember our duty to Amaterasu."
"Grandfather, must I really become sennar?"
"Yes, Takumi, despite your interest in healing, you must become sennar. You will continue to learn healing, but you must learn to lead the family. I hope that you never have to take the title, but you must be ready to at least stand as guardian until the next sennar comes of age. If your sister develops the capability, the title will go to her, but you must be prepared if it comes to you."
"Hai."