Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter or MCU/Marvel, all rights reserved to J.K. Rowling's and The Walt Disney Company.
Chapter Five: Familiar, Coming Clean, and Getting Ink
Kneeling in front of my Sensei with Yumie still wrapped around my arm, I relay the series of events that led to the current situation as well as what might turn out to be a new magical tree in the forest.
"Mm, undoubtedly an interesting series of events, but what made you want to save the snake Elizabeth" he asks in French, though the question does make me think.
I braved fire and pain, though not death for Yumie, and I have to wonder why? I have killed plenty of animals myself and I only talked to her once, so why take the risk for her? I might not want to see an animal die in fire, but I also took the risk of burning myself, even burning my hands in saving her. Closing my eyes, I think on the issue, but as I do I feel my magic reaching out to her and connecting us, if only slightly right now.
Looking at my sensei, "My magic responds to her Sensei, and, I feel like having another companion will be nice as well" I say, looking down at Yumie and holding her closer.
Taking a moment to look toward me and then at Yumi he takes a moment to think to himself before turning to me again, "I had a wizard friend around hundred and fifty years ago who always had an animal companion, some form of magical dog if I recall correctly, and after asking about it, he told me that the animal was his familiar" he says, seeming to reminisce a bit.
"A familiar? I've heard of that but, did he tell you anything else?" I ask, hoping to see how I could make Yumie mine, if that's fine with her, and what that could do to the both of us.
"Yes, well, from what I remember you have reach out with you magic, completing the bond when and if the animal in question accepts. This should tie your familiar's life span to yours while increasing its overall abilities, and you should be able to make use of your familiars' magical abilities in return as well" he says after taking a minute to think back on what his friend shared with him.
"Wow!" is one of the first things I have to say, impressed by what the bond can offer to both of us.
"Wow indeed" he responds before chuckling a bit at my reaction.
Looking down at Yumie I ask in parseltongue "Would you like to be my familiar?" before relating what my sensei just shared with me. In response she simply nods after a moment, seemingly happy enough with me and what the bond can offer as well.
Smiling at her acceptance I push my magic toward the bond I feel connecting us and I feel her accept the bond in return, seeing her glow suddenly before her brown scales turn black. Blinking in surprise at the change I begin to look closer, seeing that her scales look to be vantablake black now with a dark green hue being shown in the spaces between her scales. She also grew about half a foot, measuring at about two feet in length now and three inches at her thickest.
"How are you feeling?" I hiss out my ask, worried about the change, even if I'm sure that the bond shouldn't have hurt her.
"Good. Better than good, actually. I've never felt like this before, I feel stronger" she responded as she looked herself over.
"Good" I reply and smile at her before looking over to my sensei, "Do you think you can check her over Sensei? Make sure she's fine and can tell me any changes about her? Other than the obvious color changes." I ask him.
"Perfectly fine Elizabeth" he replies, happy to help.
Looking over to Yumie I bring her closer to me "My Sensei is going to check you over, okay? I trust him completely, so will it be okay if I hand you over to him Yumie?" I ask.
Yumie takes a moment to look Izo over before turning back to me, nodding her consent and I had her over to Sensei Izo, his hands having a slight glow as he uses his chi to scan her.
Looking over to me as he finished "Well I can tell you that firstly, she's no longer a magical variant of a Japanese Mamushi but an Acid Shadow Snake," he says with a smile, keeping me in apprehension.
"And that would be?" I ask, doing my best not to sound impatient while also pushing for an answer.
He simply chuckles at me "Before, your familiars bite could melt flesh if left untreated, an Acid Shadow Snake takes that to the extreme, their venom acting like acid to organic matter, burning its way through a victim" he says.
I have to sit there with my jaw open at that information before opening it, "And the Shadow part of its name?" I ask.
He looks down at Yumie and then back at me "Whereas before she seemed to have chameleon like properties to her scales, this has been taken to the extreme for one aspect, as you can guess, the Shadow aspect. With her color alone she would be all but invisible in shadows, but she should be able to magically blend into them now, and when she gets more control over her new magic and form, even travel through shadows to attack and escape prey and predators alike" he explains to me.
"Wow" is all I can really say, looking down to explain what my sensei just told me, but she seems to have understood him just fine, maybe a side effect of the familiar bond. Looking back to my sensei "how do you even know so much about this kind of snake Sensei?" I have to ask; my curiosity being piqued.
Looking at me directly, he gets serious at the question, startling me because of how rare that is outside of training, "I've said this many times Elizabeth, but I am old, very old, and through out my life I have been a part of two assassins organizations; the Hand as founding member before it lost its path, and creating the Chaste to fight the hand. Suck snakes are very rare but their venom, when found, has been used in our trade" he said. Though his gaze sharpened when I widened my eyes at the two names he spoke, recognizing both of them.
Leaning closer after noticing my reaction "Now I know that you have your own secrets Elizabeth, but how is it that you know those names, of which I'm sure both should never have crossed your path" he asks.
My own heart rate starting to increase I look away from him as I rub the side of my arm "I don't think you would believe me Sensei" I say, apprehensive about his reaction.
"I've seen a lot of things in my life Elizabeth, reincarnation is very rare but hardly unknow to me" he says with a slight smile, though a slight tension is still held in his posture, hardly noticeable to anyone but those who share our radar like sight.
My head quickly snapping to him, my mouth open in shock I can only mutter a "how?" before falling silent.
Now he lets out a laugh at my reaction, "Come girl, incredibly talented you may be, and even childish, but you know and are aware of far to much to truly match your age. Now tell me Elizabeth, what secrets have you held so close, and how do you know those two names?" he asks once again.
Looking at my sensei I take a deep breath before slowly letting it out, "Well, you have to understand that when it comes to anything related to who I might have know or family, its all a blank, but, well, I remember I used to be a musician, I loved to read, I had hobbies, and I had my vices, but even still, I can't even remember my old name" I said, hoping he would understand.
Nodding, he seemed to accept everything I said, though considering how sharp and experienced his senses were, he could easily tell if I was lying. "And? There seems to be more to the story than that" he said
Hesitating for a moment I think on what I'm about to share before resigning myself to coming clean about it all, knowing if there was anyone I could trust it was the man who took me in, gave me a home, and trained me.
Firming my resolve I begin again, "I can tell you for certain that this isn't my original world, because I remember reading about some of the things I'm living now. Though it was Harry Potter being the boy who lived rather than me being the girl who lived. And I also read about those two organizations as well, though they were part of a different story and even watched shows with them, but I can't trust everything I might know since like I said, these worlds were two stories. Even the worlds with the organizations you talked about had multiple timeline, so what I might know is even less reliable because of that" I say, feeling a weight off my chest being able to share that, and a bit amused at his open mouthed shock.
Quickly composing himself he clears his throat "I must admit you managed to do something that hasn't happened in a long time and that is to truly and utterly shock me. I know you aren't lying, and I am well aware reincarnation is possible, but from another universe is a first for me. Yet I am happy that you have no ties to either mentioned organization, even if I am shocked at both being stories in another universe. But, I have heard of the multiverse theory so I suppose anything is possible" he says, sighing at the end.
Shocked that he's heard of that have to ask, "You have?"
Again he laughs at my reaction, taking his chance to recompose himself further "I do read Elizabeth, more than happy to take my time feeling the words on the page, and such a term is not only in the realm of scientists but science fiction as well. I don't just sit around acting as the wise master, I enjoying taking part in what the world and its people have to offer" he says with a smirk.
Bashfully I rub the back of my head, chuckling in embarrassment but enjoying the new closeness we seem to have after both of us have shared some of what we've held to ourselves.
"True" I laugh out, but looking back at Yumie wrapped around my arm, enjoying my heat I ask "Since she is such a rare species and rather noticeable when not is shadow, is there a way to keep her safe? Hide her?" Worried about the safety of my friend and familiar, I hold her closer to my chest.
Rubbing his chin he thinks over various options before seemingly coming to a conclusion "I do know of one method that can be used, which is to use a chi infused ink to tattoo her likeness onto you. Then, she can merge with her image, becoming one with you, able to lave and return at will. She can ever merge or interact with any magical tattoos you may get, both of which can grow with you" he says, pleased with his plans, even Yumie nodding along.
"That's great!" I say, happy to have a way to keep her safe and close to me, though he got me thinking when he mentioned magical tattoos as well.
"Can you, or, do you know someone who can do a magical tattoo as well?" I ask, having something in mind already.
He looks at me before nodding "I know someone, and it seems you have something in mind already. I can contact the man I know for your magical tattoo, and I will do your chi tattoo, we'll work at the same time, next week, does that work for you?" he asks.
"That would be perfect, thank you Sensei" I say with a smile, bowing to show my thanks and respect.
ΩΩΩ
A week goes by quickly, spending the time both training and bonding with my new familiar and friend Yumie, as well as exploring the ability she can share with me.
Blending into shadows was an incredibly interesting experience, feeling as if they were covering me and Yumie like a thick blanket, turning the world into a gray monochrome as we look out. Even able to blend seamlessly from one shadow to another as long as they were connected.
Even Sensei Izo had difficulties sensing us in the shadows, making it near impossible for most others to be able to do so.
The ability to shadow travel is still a ways off for both Yumie and I, but sensei told us that when we master the ability, we should be able to shadow travel to almost anywhere in the world we have been to. Almost anywhere because some places do have protections against it or are in their own realm of sorts.
But finally the time has arrived for both of my tattoos, sensei arriving with an older looking Japanese man wearing traditional robed and carrying something in bound leather, sensei holding the same.
Bowing to both of them I turn to the man my sensei brought and respond in Japanese "Thank you very much for taking the time to come sir, I am Elizabeth, its very nice to meet you" I say before bowing to him again, showing my respect.
The man nods in approval of my manners, responding in Japanese in turn "I am Asakusa Horiyasu, Izo speaks well of you, and he says you already know what you want? Tell me" he says, rather stern in his demeanor.
Nodding to the man "Yes Hori (tattoo master)Horiyasu, I would like a full back tattoo in traditional Japanese style, a great full moon at the top of my back with a beautiful Sakura tree at the forefront of the moon, at the middle of my back, petals falling in the wind." I say, taking a sip of tea sensei set out before continuing.
"At the bottom of the Sakura tree, I would like a field of red lily flowers in full bloom and a great stag resting at the side. Lastly, I would like raven inside the Sakura tree and a spear resting at the side of the tree. The staff of the spear should be five feet long with a slight curve at the tip, and the blade being a foot long Viking spear point. Will that be fine you Hori Horiyasu?" I ask.
"That is fine, though both me and Izo shall tattoo you traditionally, using the tebori style, single and few needles dipped into ink, then pushed into you, are you prepared?" he asks.
Thinking of something that should have occurred to me earlier I look to my sensei "What about my fast healing?" I ask him.
"Both the chi and the magic of the ink should help with that, as well as your consent to the processes, allowing both to settle in permanently into you" he says with a smile
Smiling I nod my thanks to my sensei before turning back to Horiyasu "I'm ready, thank you very much for taking the time to come and do this" I say and bow before taking off my top to expose my back and laying down, my left arm out for my teacher to access while Horiyasu works on my back.
Each part of the tattoo has a deep meaning to me, with the full moon representing the night I almost died and was reborn, the Sakura tree being the one I healed and found my familiar while also representing renewal and the fleeting nature of life. The flowers and stag are obviously for my mother and father, with the spear being my weapon of choice outside of my claws and magic, representing my Sensei as well.
And lastly the ravens, they represent to me the fact that I will kill my enemies, representing the lives that I will take in the end, because I will have vengeance for what was taken from me. And those that are like Voldemort and his ilk can die all the same.
The world is not just black and white, something I understand, but letting those that will wantonly hurt and kill go unchallenged just makes future victims. There is a time for mercy and those that deserve it, but there are also those who do not want it or will never deserve it.
I will have to make that judgment and live with my decisions, but something inside me, buried deep, makes me think I can live with that just fine, almost giddy at chasing down my prey. But for now, I put those thoughts to the side, deep in the back of my mind.
For the next ten hours I lay their as both men work on their respective tattoos, my sensei turning my arms as needed and finishing at the ten-hour mark, with Hori Horiyasu resting at that time as well.
Through all the training and mental discipline I have gone through I simply slip into meditation as they work, clearing my mind and finding an inner calm.
Hori Horiyasu works for three more ten-hour sessions, taking breaks in between each session to drink or take a short nap, with my healing and will power making it easier to get it all done in one go.
By the time you Hori Horiyasu leaves, taking with him both his payment and my sincerest thanks, my back is full of his beautiful artwork. A large white and textured moon that seems to have a slight glow with a backdrop of black, and vividly pink and brown Sakura tree with slowly falling petals that drift on an invisible wind as raven flutter about and land through the tree.
Rich and deep red lily's can be seen at the bottom of the tree and my back, also shifting from the invisible wind, a stag resting among the flowers before prancing off into the distance, a realistic spear glinting silver in the moonlight resting on the tree trunk.
If you look closely among the pink flowers you can also see the vantablack scales of Yumie, having already merged with the chi tattoo originally on my arm, now resting among the flowers. Interestingly enough I can still feel her, even inside the painting on my back, and hear her inside my mind if we want to talk.
Turning to my sensei I bow low "Thank you Sensei, thank you very much" I say, doing my best to show how much this meant to me.
"I'm happy your happy Elizabeth, and glad both works have turned out so well. You have a week to rest and let the magic settle in, then, we move to your last addition to your martial arts, Kali knife fighting incorparting your claws" he says with a smile.
I simply smile back at him, this man who has become a grandfather to me in all but blood, "Yes Sensei!".