My dear Magzillasaurus needs some time for herself. So I asked a lovely Reylo sister that also adores Dramione to help me out in between. Let me introduce you to my new beta lady: LadyRhy!

I have a question: A guest reviewer told me my fic was becoming dragging since the last ten chapters. So my question is: do you share his opinion? Should I speed forward to whatever I have planned (Malificent smile - you don't expect the rest to be a pinky fairytale, do you?)? Shortcut sea days? Or continue at this pace?

This review did set me back for a moment, doubting what to do. I hope my faithful readers will put me on the right course.

Take care and happy reading. (this chapter is safe *evil grin*)

Day Sixty-One

While Kagoshima was smaller and more provincial, Nagasaki was everything Hermione expected Japan to be. Metropolitan, with high towers and highways, full of people heading to work and minding their own business. Her travel guide described the reason why Nagasaki breathed with such a cosmopolitan vibe. The city was one of the few ports in Japan which had been allowed to trade with foreign countries, like China and the European nations, during the isolation period.

The city's vibrant energy surrounded the couple from the moment they disembarked the Arcadia. Despite the early morning hour, the commotion of commuters was already hitting its peak.

Today on the schedule was a full day excursion, including visiting a war site and the origins of porcelain manufacturing in Japan.

The group was greeted by a woman in her early thirties with a warm smile, a cute wicker hat on her head. Her flowery wrap dress fluttered in the wind and her arms clutched a pack of papers tightly. That exact, little detail pleased the academic side of Hermione so much that the witch selected a seat in the front row instead of her usual preference for somewhere halfway along. Draco took the window seat with a certain eager glee, recognising in the guide the Japanese counterpart of his swotty witch.

"Good morning, my name is Hitomi, I was born and raised here in Nagasaki but have travelled the world quite extensively. It's my great pleasure to be your guide for today. Today's itinerary starts with a visit to a local pottery, Gen-emon Kiln workshop, and a gallery in Arita. We'll have lunch at a local Japanese buffet before we return to Nagasaki, where we'll visit the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Statue before returning to the ship."

Hitomi was the first guide to lay out the entire journey and Draco appreciated it at first. Listening to her cheerful introduction, though,, he feared he'd be unable to enjoy the scenery in silence. For Merlin's sake, will the chatterbox shut up at some point or I am trapped with a Gabby Grindylow for an hour and a half this early in the morning? Luckily, the guide shushed and the first hour was passed in peace as they admired the view, him holding Hermione's hand on his lap.

When they'd nearly reached the arrival point the microphone came to life: "Arita was the first city in Japan to produce porcelain after a craftsman discovered kaolin at a nearby quarry, almost four hundred years ago. Kaolin is the clay mineral needed to produce porcelain." Flipping her stapled pages, Hitomi continued. "Several kilns were built, many meant for larger-scale production, which resulted in great prosperity for the town. As we approach, you'll notice the numerous long chimney's, each marking the presence of a Kiln, a thermally insulated chamber, like a type of oven. The kilns have been used for thousands of years, the first found in the ancient Mesopotamian region of Irak."

Draco came to the ironic conclusion, sighing behind a fist: I am sharing the ride with a Japanese Granger. He anticipated learning more from this woman in one trip than all the other excursions put together. Discovering a fact or two was never wrong, but he didn't need to know every tiny detail, either. Under normal circumstances, he would muffle the chattering. Yet, I'd rather endure the torture now than receive a lecture later...

With reluctantly luke-warm interest, he returned his attention to Hitomi. "The Gen-emon Kiln we're visiting today has passed their traditional hand-made porcelain techniques from generation to generation. You'll witness the famous craftsmanship with your own eyes." Hitomi paused to sip water, "I just ask that all of you to be careful as you enter the workshop. The ceilings are low because they created an extra storage area for dishes between the roof and the actual ceiling. Be mindful not to bump your heads."

The bus arrived at its destination.

Draco's first impression was of how much the workshop exuded history. Far from a big construction, the shop had a decrepit wooden cabin-look, except for the high red-brick chimney that rose in the middle. An enormous pile of wooden logs was stacked up under the porch.

When they entered through a double glass-panelled wooden door, the couple took in the ample open space. The low working tables were scattered around near the windows to make optimal use of the sunlight. Each table was occupied by a craftsman sitting on a thick padded floor mat, legs folded in lotus pose, all surrounded by multiple brushes and knives in vases and ink pots of all kinds.

Just like Hitomi had described, the ceiling was low. Hermione could walk freely around, but Draco was forced to hunch, like a few others, eyeing the wooden planks and porcelain craft above their heads to avoid being coshed.

The group dispersed, silently witnessing the level of detail the men and women exercised on each piece to create an elaborate, colourful artwork. Draco murmured to his frizzly-headed companion, "You have to have oodles of patience for this job."

"I agree," hummed Hermione, admiring the steady hand of the woman they observed. There was room to not gum away a mishap. "Hell, they aren't creating one piece. They are making several in sequence! Look how she's studying the example. I cannot guarantee I would have the patience."

Further away, a man gave shape to a new porcelain bowl, the wheel beneath spinning at a steady pace. "Draco, it seems so easy," she said in awed excitement. The craftsman moulded waves of yellow clay into the desired shape, dipping fingers into a bowl of water every so often to keep his medium lubricated.

"I have the feeling it's not a piece of cake," The wizard rebutted, watching the intense focus of the older man at the wheel. "Consider me impressed, Hermione. This is not mass production with a flick of our wands." At the next worktable, a woman coloured small flower petals on a teacup. Draco studied the level of detail on the tiny artwork admiringly. "I think my mother would appreciate a new tea set."

"I agree." In fact, Hermione contemplated purchasing a new set for herself and found it easy to come to a decision. "I would like one for myself, too."

"Let's go find a nice set." He laced their fingers and headed to the store. After some back and forth, the couple settled on a teapot and teacup combination depicting a peacock scenery for Narcissa - winking towards Lucius's favourite birds. Hermione herself fell for a delicate Asian flowery scene with a shrine in the forefront.

Away from any Curious George's (or Fred's), Hermione cast a cushioning spell to prevent breakage. Shrinking their bag would draw too many odd looks, since several people had seen them buy the pieces.

-oOo-

Draco's stomach roared just as the bus arrived at their restaurant. Rising early and a long journey on the bus with only one banana to satisfy his hunger wasn't enough for the wizard. Though he did kiss his little witch with gratitude for thinking about bringing a snack, in the first place.

"Is my Slytherin getting hungry?" Hermione studied the place they arrived at with curiosity. Seemingly more modern than the Arita village they just left, though she had no idea of what the place was called. Inside, they were delighted to find a nice looking restaurant with bright walls and large windows. The dark brown tables looked unusual, however. Each couple sat facing the other and had between them a heating plate.

"Do we have to cook our own food?" Two blond eyebrows disappeared under a flaxen fringe, seeing how other guests dipped the contents in a boiling broth and plucking them out seconds later, devouring the serving in one go.

"It looks like fondue at home." Hermione's face brightened with an ear-to-ear smile. She'd always loved to eat like this with her parents, one time even enjoying a fish fondue in London, comically fishing for their pieces of fish with a small net instead of a two-tined fork.

"What for a beast is that?" He noticed a critical detail. The locals were fishing their food out of the hot pots with chopsticks, and he was not a crack at that epicurean discipline. Can I cast a sticking charm to those sticks? If not, he feared he'd wind up with an empty stomach, frustrated at the countless hit-or-miss efforts sure to come.

"Back home, we have an oil-boiling pan to fry our food in it. Pieces of chicken, beef, pork, or sausage. You cook it to taste and it's nice to do because you cook with family around you." Hermione explained while sitting where the waitress told them to.

Hitomi requested their attention and they both turned. "We are in a Shabu Shabu restaurant, which means you can eat all you want, but you have to cook it yourself. At the buffet behind you, you'll find a large offering of fresh-cut vegetables to choose from. The waitress will bring a plate with a selection of meats, and you cook them just a few seconds in the pot between you. Your pots are boiling with a savoury broth."

As she spoke, a steamy pot of oxtail broth was placed between Hermione and Draco, the mouthwatering flavour stirring hunger in the witch and increasing Draco's appetite.

"You need to let the vegetables boil a bit longer than the meat. The meat only needs seconds, so swish it in the pot and eat it immediately," Hitomi continued to explain. "Enjoy your lunch."

The tourists rose from their seats as a herd, utterly famished, impressed with the variety of comestibles offered at the vegetable bar. Hermione selected a few Asian ingredients, heaping onto her plate some napa cabbage chunks or leafy greens labelled as tong ho, along with from some more recognizable broccoli, green onion, a few different mushrooms looking like shitake and a cube of tofu.

As usual, Draco copied her choices, trusting her taste. But where Hermione took two or three of each, Draco restricted his quantity to one a-piece, adding extra carrots, onions, and white cabbage to his hoard. He pulled a face at the tofu, skipping that tray altogether.

"You forgot the tofu," Hermione noticed, adding a few shiitakes to his pile. He didn't recognise the mushroom as such, but she knew he was going to like the taste.

"That tastes like bland chicken. No, thank you." For all intents and purposes, he set the bowl well out of her reach.

Back at their seats, they observed a few tables around them to try to get an idea of what to do. A waitress thankfully moved to advise "Put carrots in first together with the bok choy, they need more time to boil. The tong ho only dip, they cook very fast." The woman watched Draco having trouble with his chopsticks, and used a rubber band to tie them up for him, repeating the merciful gesture for Hermione with a smile.

"At least, I'll be able to eat." The wizard sniffed at the boiling pot. "This broth smells delicious."

As a starter, the waitress brought a plate with three soup bowls, "We have shio-tonkotsu, a soup made of pork bones, and scallion oil and seafood aromas. The other is kimchi, spicy vegetable soup. As of last, we offer tounyou-collagen, a mix of oxtail soup and soy milk."

Both wrinkled their noses at the soup with milk. Hermione simply gestured at the first two choices and started to taste from the pork and seafood soup, "I like tea with milk, but soup with milk is a bit questionable. This one is surprisingly tasty."

Draco tasted carefully from the spicy soup, "I didn't like the idea either. Damned if they added something salty and tangy to this soup. It's spicy, but my mouth isn't on fire." He used his sticks to stir the pot, in the meantime. Halfway through, they exchanged bowls, "I like my soup the best. This shio-soup is good, I'll grant, but that tangy taste in mine brings the soup to another level."

"Oh, mister, you are probably referring to the miso." The waitress was cleaning the nearby table. "It's a soy-based seasoning."

Draco nodded, flashing an understanding look as if he knew what soy was. "Ah, yes. Soy." Hermione snickered.

-oOo-

"Is your fondue as good as this shabu-shabu thing?" Draco still tasted the soft ice serving with a thick dollop of chocolate sauce and a big spoon of chocolate rice crispies. Their dessert at the end, also self-service. Yet, the delicious wagyu beef paired with a crunchy cooked napa cabbage was his favourite, he decided. Halfway through the meal he'd gotten out of his chair to pick up some more of those odd-looking Japanese vegetables that were surprisingly delicious.

"Yes, it is. I can't say which one I prefer." Her own soft ice serving had a combination of oatmeal flakes, raisins and Draco's rice crispies. Not only did she discover new tasteful vegetables and an unknown cooking style, she'd had great fun watching Draco boil his servings and combining tastes... even if he stole her greens before he ultimately went after a refill, at least he brought enough for both of them.

"We'll do that when we're home, then." Cooking together isn't that bad, after all. "Hermione, do you have a pepper-up with you? I shouldn't have drunk that last sake," he murmured, feeling slightly light in his head. He had tasted different sour shochu cocktails instead of switching to soft drinks at a certain point like his much wiser witch had. He'd been curious to sample the colourful concoctions, not aware of how much more alcohol it contained than he'd first thought.

Hermione looped an arm around his elbow, grinning. "I might have."

"I love you." He pecked her cheek.

-oOo-

Chatterbox Hitomi started to describe their last stop the moment the bus took off. "We'll be visiting the Peace Park and the Peace Statue next." As they rode along, she distributed a leaflet about the site. "I won't fill your heads with trivia, since much of it you can find described inside the booklet. I just want to reflect on one particular point: Nagasaki Peace Park is meant to remind all people of the horrors of war, but also express hope for peace. People said that no nature would grow on the spot for seventy-five years and yet, all the grounds are surrounded by trees and the memorial itself is set on a green carpet of grass. The flowers and artworks were donations that were sent from all over the world in support of the city's prayer for peace."

The four-page leaflet was filled with information about the iconic site. Draco and Hermione inched closer to each other and spent the hour-long bus journey reading about their last visit on Japanese soil.

"We must take a picture of this statue," Hermione said as she pointed at a big sculpture. "Harry will like to see this too." It depicted a man sitting cross-legged, one hand pointing towards the sky, the other with a hand stretched horizontally outward to his side.

"The open hand outstretched symbolises world peace." Draco kept finding himself comparing the way Japanese people approached their war and its devastation, to the way the Wizarding community tried to forget its own violent past. "The closed eyes convey a silent prayer asking that the souls of the victims find a resting place in peace." He felt Hermione's eyes studying his profile. He took a deep breath, rubbed his face and the back of his neck. "Purebloods should visit these grounds," he quietly remarked. "To see with their own eyes how Muggles pay the respects to the fallen victims without trying to sell the message of how wrong the other party was."

When he'd boarded the Arcadia in Southampton, the last thing the wizard expected was to be educated about the ways Muggles tackled their past, despite their role in the conflict. "The superior race my arse," he muttered.

"Your perky arse," Hermione joked to lighten up the mood, but contemplated what had just unfolded before her eyes. Could Draco surprise her more? Would she have ever believed that this pompous childhood git could have turned into a man able to reflect on the customs of his "own kind," as he'd so charmingly referred to the wizarding community, and see they needed some readjusting? Hermione Granger, before this cruise, wouldn't have believed it for a second. And yet, here she sat next to a solemn wizard who understood the underlying message spelled out before him by those he'd once deemed lesser than himself. Hell, not even Harry would dwell on the symbolism of a peace park like the one ahead this way.

"Perky, eh?" He bit her shoulder playfully, willingly allowing her to lighten the mood. "I think I'll need to visit Angelo and his gym. All the sweets of late aren't good for my physique."

"Your favourite gym trainer will love to see you pay him a visit." Hermione gave him a wide grin.

"Did I say I was going alone, princess? You're going with me to protect my virtue. Hell if I'm enduring his ogling on my own."

"Ah, he's only bark and no bite." Still, she smirked good-naturedly, "You go for a gym session, I'll go for a hot-stone massage tomorrow."

"Absolutely not!" Her gaze clouded but he was quick to deter the inevitable tirade about independence, "I like those massages too, love. Listen, let's not get carried away. You like to go to bingo, so do that while I suffer under the maniacal attentions of that Italian tosser. Then we'll go relax with a massage." He dropped his voice suggestively as he continued the train of thought. "And end the day with a lazy shagging."

Her eyes narrowed. "Lazy shagging?" She spoke very low to avoid eavesdroppers.

Knowing he had her full attention, he tapped his finger against his lips, one of the corners curling up in amusement. Draco shrugged. "You know what I mean. Take all the time in the world, explore every inch, mark each point of attention."

The narrowed gaze transformed into a wide gleaming stare, "Each point?"

His pointer finger grabbed her chin, raised it slightly and pulled it closer closer to his. His grey eyes bore into her brown pair. "I won't skip even one. I'm nothing if not meticulous in my work."

"All bark, no bite." Hermione rubbed her nose affectionately against his.

"If it's biting the lady desires, what am I if not her humble servant?" This playful Hermione was his favourite. No doubt about it.

-oOo-

When the group boarded the bus again for its return journey to the Arcadia, it happened calmly. Apart from one or two souls, the majority were deep in thought about the beauty of the place they visited and the symbolism it silently screamed.

Between Hermione and Draco, there was no difference in how greatly it had affected them. It was confronting to look at the remains of steel-enforced concrete walls in the grass, a former prison bombarded to pieces. A hundred and thirty-four people had been killed instantly.

The statue depicted on the leaflet was gigantic, towering in their minds even as the bus took them further and further away from it. Draco had remarked how he had felt like a house elf-sized wizard next to it. The black monolith marked the atomic bomb hypocentre, stone circles devastatingly illustrating the waves of destruction it originated. One fell silent for far less.

What had impressed Hermione the most was the glass showcase underneath a river, showing the city's original ground level. "They rebuilt the city on a three-metre-high pile of rubble," she'd read from the plate next to the windows, climbing the stairs to the exit point. Contemplative in light of this detail, the witch took a deep breath and took the city passing by her window in with a fresh pair of eyes.

Just like Hogwarts had been rebuilt from its destruction, Nagasaki breathed revitalizing energy and peace on the remnants of destruction. For this moment alone, every pound she'd spent on her cruise was worth it.

-oOo-

"I'll knock some sense into my father, so he uses all his damn weight on that board and introduces field trips to Hogwarts. The new generation should see this. This and Honolulu, to receive a lesson in humility and avoid a repeat of our own war at all costs," Draco ruminated later that evening. "Books describe it decently, perhaps, but seeing it with your own eyes is another ball of wax." He lay spread on the bed, recovering from their recent lovemaking session. The lazy approach had a faster ending than he'd originally planned. Exploring your fiancée's beautiful body at a slow pace and remaining in control of your libido was harder than he'd first thought.

"You should start with the Pureblood, old fashioned society, first." She perched her chin on Draco's chest, hooking a leg between his. Her finger traced a drop of sweat all the way down to the indent in his belly.

"That will be easy peasy. We just need to describe how awesome this cruise is to the ladies," he snarked. "We should make copies of our pictures so my mother can influence her high-society friends. The men will stand no chance." His laughter rumbled through his chest, and she joined in.

Their next destination was Hong Kong, two days from now. Another overnight stay, like in Sydney. And less history-laden than Japan.

As Hermione's eyes closed, she thought of how long it had been since she ate some decent wontons. She could nearly taste them on her tongue.

A.N.:

A special thank you to reader Loveofironbull, Arita was already on the planning, but your suggestion just had me pay better attention to the details.

Next port: Hong Kong