Chapter 16: promises and pain / Iba Hachiro 2

Disclaimer: I don't own anything here.

Hey lovelies

Merry Christmas and happy new year where ever you are (even if it's late), and here is my new chapter, I hope you enjoy it, but any ways read, review and suggest. And to Lady of anime I love your idea about the other characters and I might use them, thank you!

The cats back, info-chan might make another appearance (maybe) and I'm going to make Mido's and Oko's chapter soon.

Love

Snow

p.s: vote on the new poll!

No one's POV:

The group of three continued to drink their coffee and eat cake in Wisteria's case, until it was late and they had to go home.

"Hey, why don't I escort you two home" said Iba eager to see where Wisteria lived, if only for future reference and to tell his mother, if only to put her mind at ease.

"I can hand..." Osano began to say before Wisteria stood up and said.

"Okay, why not it's not like I've got anything else to do" She said in a semi exasperated tone as she picked up her school bag and began to head outside, causing the two teenaged boys to grab their bags and swiftly follow her. Causing other patrons to watch in confusion while the owner smiled and shook his head.

"What's wrong sir?" Asked a waitress who had noticed the man's expression.

"Oh nothing, just I wonder if those boys know how much work their going to have to do with that girl" he said chuckling softly. The waitress shook her head, still confused at her employer's words, she returned to serving and clearing tables.

Meanwhile Wisteria, Iba and Osano where walking down towards the bus shelter for the next ride to Wisteria and Osano's neighbourhood. Osano was unfortunately getting rather irritated with Iba's presence and had made it known with sharp comments and cold remarks, while Wisteria was rather uncomfortable with him mainly because Iba seemed to know her but she didn't know him, it was an odd sensation for her, it was confusing and somewhat familiar at the same time.

"So, what's your home like?" Asked Iba trying to break the ice between the three of them.

"Oh, it's okay, but I don't think you'd like, after all there's no Champaign on demand" sniped Osano before Wisteria could say anything.

"Oh, I don't mind that, to be honest I prefer it that way" he replied smiling sweetly.

"Well I hope you like English tea then" said Wisteria just as they arrived at the bus station.

It wasn't long before the odd trio where on their way to Wisteria's home, however the bus ride was completed in an uncomfortable silence, the only voices being heard where the drivers and other passengers as they got on and off of the bus. This silence was held for the duration of the trip, when they exited at the end of Wisteria's and Osano's street and walked up to Wisterias home.

"This is nice, better than where I live at the moment" said Iba as he looked at all of the suburban homes on the street.

"Why is it too Posh of your refined tastes?" said Osano sarcastically.

"Partially, and the fact that living in an apartment complex there isn't any garden, making it rather dull to come home to, that and I'm the only person my age on my block" Iba admitted, not wanting to thing about where he lived at the moment.

"Well what I've got is small but better than nothing" said Wisteria modestly as she turned and opened a gate letting her guests into the front garden.

"I'm sure it'll be lovely" said Iba in a warm voice.

Wisteria sighed as she pried her chatelaine of keys and walked towards the front door and only to find it unlocked.

"It's unlocked, Snape must be home" she said, not particularly caring if the man yelled at her.

"Snape?" asked Iba.

"He's our chemistry teacher and he's scary as hell! And he lives with Wis" explained Osano.

"He has to be scary if only to get people to do thing correctly, I mean chemistry can be quite dangerous" said Wisteria as they walked into the house only to see the man himself.

"Potter! What time do you call this? And with boys? Really what where you doing?" Snape demanded without letting Wisteria answer.

"Excuse me sir, let her explain" said Iba surprised at Snape's behaviour towards Wisteria.

"It's alright, I had a study date and met an old friend of mine" lied Wisteria quite smoothly.

Snape opened his mouth as if to say something but only closed it when her words sunk in, after a few moments of looking both Osano and Iba down as if x-raying them.

"Okay you I know you, third period every Wednesday" he said pointing at Osano," but you I don't know, may I have a name for you young man?" he continued, now pointing at Iba, making the boy squirm.

"I'm Hachiro Iba, an old friend of Wisteria's" Iba replied.

Snape grunted and walked upstairs, not particularly interested in his student/landlady's gentleman friends, choosing to return to lesson his plans.

"Okay, would any of you like a cup of tea?" Asked Wisteria clapping her hands together and herding them into the living room. Once sat down in one of the chairs Iba looked around at cosy room, smiling at the care his old friend had taken into making her house into a home.

Iba's POV:
her home was so beautiful, warm and welcoming, it was much better than at home for me, her home was a mix of British elegance and Japanese enterprise. It was a great improvement to no.4 Privet drive, it was clean but not surgically clean like her aunts, it truly looked lived in. While I found it odd that there was a bird perch in every room I've been in so far, I just assumed that she was the proud owner of an avian friend.

I was so pleased that she was not only able to escape the Dursleys but also make a new warm and safe place for herself in such a short time, I simply wished that I could have helped her more back in Surry.

It wasn't long before my train of thought was shattered by the sound of a tray being placed on the coffee table in front of me. It was an English tea set, with everything being blue and white Cornish ware, a big chunky tea pot and jug, sugar bowl and mugs, alongside the tea set was a plate of what looked to be homemade buns, the type I hadn't seen since I left England, they were simple butterfly cakes with chocolate buttercream icing, something I had also missed from my family's travels.

I watched silently as Wisteria poured me, her friend and herself a mug of tea and placed the mugs in front of us, once again the English style tea with milk, I felt like a six-year-old again, allowed an illicit sip of English tea from my sitter's cup, and as soon as the hot liquid touched my tongue all of my troubles seemed to melt away. I couldn't help but close my eyes in relief and bliss.

When I opened my eyes, I saw that Wisteria had closed her eyes, a small smile appearing on her serine face, seeing her like this was a picture of true beauty, like a famous portrait or an angel from the stories I had heard as a child. No, she was far more beautiful than that she was a goddess in the making, my goddess in the making.

Suddenly there was a scratching sound at the French windows, I looked to the left and saw a rather fat looking black cat trying to get in.

"I didn't know you had a cat as well Wis" said Osano who was also looking at the cat.

"I don't, it's trying to move in with me" Wisteria replied offhandedly, as she got up and let the cat in.

"So, are you going to keep it?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"No, this time I'm going to take it to a shelter" she replied.

Wisteria's POV:

That bloody cat was back again, I swear that it's trying to move in. I can't let that happen though, it wouldn't be fair on Hedwig and there was also the fact that I wasn't equipped to look after a cat.

"Is it me or have you put on weight?" I asked the cat as I picked it up, the cat merely purred in response to my question causing Osano to snort.

"For someone so smart you can be so clueless, I think you're going to have more than one cat to deal with soon" said Osano smiling in a bazar fashion, causing me to look at the cat in a new way.

"Oh no you don't, I'm taking you to the shelter" I told the cat as I looked for a box or basket that I could carry it in, only for the cat to start squirming.

"I think she disagrees with you" said Iba chuckling.

"Well, I can't keep her, what about Hedwig?" I asked, and as if she was on que Hedwig flew in hooting happily, causing Iba's eyes to bug out in surprise.

"This is Hedwig?" He asked, and I nodded.

"She's gorgeous" he said in awe, causing Hedwig to puff up in pride, causing me to smile.

"Don't over compliment her, she's got a big enough ego as it is" I said light heartedly, smiling as Hedwig pretended to glare at me.

After a few minutes I managed to find an old hat box and stuffed the cat in it, once I had not only put the lid on it but also tied it on I headed towards the door.

The animal shelter wasn't far considering that it was at the end of my street, so handing the cat over was no problem and even told me that I could see her any time I wanted and that the kittens would go to good homes as soon as they are born, the idea made me smile but it made me sad at the thought of getting attached to the furry little beggar and her brood, but I simply can't allow it, so the hand over was quick and easy.

Once I got back both Osano and Iba were still in the living room, but to my surprise they weren't arguing or giving each other rude remarks either, they were there in silence, trying to find something to say.

"Well, now that's over with, would any one like to watch a movie or have something to eat?" I asked trying to hospitable.

"I can't Wis, Mom's expecting me home for dinner tonight, but thanks for the offer any way" said Osano blushing as he rubbed the back of his head.

"that reminds me, I've got to call mine" said Iba, going bright red with embarrassment, as he pulled out a green smart phone out of his bag and began to dial a number, I assumed was either his home or mothers.

No one's POV:

Meanwhile in the more cosmopolitan area of Kyoto in a penthouse apartment, a phone rang causing the only inhabitant in the room to jump with a fright, after a few seconds of gathering her bearings she went to kitchen and picked up the reciever.

"Hello, Hachiro residence... Oh, Iba I'm glad you called, I've been worried sick! When you didn't come home earlier I sent called your friends, but even they don't know where you are!" The woman exclaimed.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you everything when I get home" came Iba's voice through the phone.

"Okay, just be sure to be home before your dad gets home" replied Mrs Hachiro, her worries fading slowly.

"Like I said, I'll tell you about it when I get home" He reminded his mother calmly.

"Okay, be safe, bye" she said softly before hanging up the phone.

Hiroko Hachiro was a woman in her early forties with long black hair with the occasional fine silver streak, but her face belied her age, it seemed time as well as the years of travel had been kind to her, but she often wondered if she and her husband, Hitoshi did right by their son, mainly because of their line of work, they moved around so much, which was a rather life for her son, she was hardly around, more often than not, leaving him in the care of a nanny, and in each school, he wasn't there long enough to make any proper friends, after a while it was almost as if he'd given up, though nine years ago, a miracle happened, one day when he was six he came into the house they were renting, all smiles and laughter saying that he had made a friend.

The memory of that day, brought a smile to Hiroko even now, she remembered meeting the young girl, Wisteria for the first time, she was smaller than everyone else in her year, and she seemed to be shy around the adults, every time a loud bang or crash occurred it caused her to flinch, it didn't take long for Hiroko to find out why, and that why took the shape of the girl's uncle, Vernon Dursley and his wife Petunia along with their son Dudley, they were the most unpleasant, narcissistic people, Hiroko and her family ever met, she was surprised that the girl came from such a horrible family even if she was only their niece, she was such a sweet child.

Hiroko had her suspicions, she suspected that Wisteria was being mistreated by her relations but she couldn't prove it until one day she saw Iba carrying Wisteria, she had not only a black eye but bruises all over her tiny body, as well as many cuts, cigarette burns, along with many other injuries it infuriated her that this had happened to a child of all people, so she went to the police and they went through the standard procedures, but sadly nothing came of it, the Dursleys had lied through their teeth to save their skin, however a few choice words on both Hiroko and Hitoshi managed to scare them off for a while, but Hiroko figured that it wouldn't be long before the abuse started again, but she and Hitoshi kept trying, everything short of abduction.

When the time came for the Hachiro's to go it broke their hearts to say good bye to the little girl they saw as one of their own, and leave her behind, it shattered both Iba and Hiroko when they saw the look of betrayal on her face, and they hoped that she'd recover from it one day but it would be unlikely, she only hoped that they'd meet some day and explain things to the girl when she was old enough to understand.

Back in Wisteria's neighbourhood

Iba hung up on his mother and decided to speak to Wisteria some more, Osano on the other hand bid the two a good night and went back home to his family only to mobbed by his four younger siblings asking him when was he going to bring his girlfriend over, causing the tangerine haired boy to go bright red and to begin to stutter out multiple denials as Ms Najimi laughed, internally she wondered the same thing, she liked Wisteria, she brought Osano out of his shell since his father died he basically helped raise his siblings while Ms Najimi worked and tried to bring in some form of income, yes there were times she regreted saddling her son with the responsibility at such a young age, it led to him losing out on a lot of thing s in life.

But now thanks to their new Neighbour from abroad he's coming into himself, and less of an extension of his father, he was starting to enjoy himself at school and was expanding his social circle and living his life again, all because of Wisteira, she brought her boy back to life, she was slowly healing the whole in the Najimi's hearts.

Meanwhile with Wisteria, she was confused about so much, especially when it came to Iba, she knew the boy from somewhere but she couldn't put her finger on the memory, she remembered having a friend in primary school for a while but he eventually abandoned her, she believed that Dudley somehow managed to scare him away but she wasn't sure about that any more.

Suddenly the was a loud coughing sound, that brought Wisteria out of her thoughts, causing her to look up and see Iba looking at her with a soft warm smile.

"Are you alright Wisteria? You seem to be spacing out on me" he said in concern.

"I'm fine, I was thinking" Wisteria answered sadly.

"What about?" Asked Iba.

"My earlier years, my primary school years sadly, I remembered a few things" Wisteria replied.

"About School?" He inquired.

"I had a friend, the friendship ended shortly after I assumed that my cousin scared him off though" said Wisteria sadly.

Iba sighed sadly at Wisteria's lack of memories of him, but he reminded himself that not everyone remembered every friend that they've had in their lives, so he decided to be patient with her and thought about how he could go about getting her to remembering him and their promise.

"Wisteria, what else do you remember?" He asked.

"Not much why?" She answered with a question.

"When I was younger my parents and I would move around and when I was six my family where in England for about half a year, when I made a friend, when she stood up to her bully of a cousin for me, he was teasing me because of my long hair and my popularity with the girls" Iba began to explain.

"And you think that friend was me?" Wisteria asked, confused about what Iba was saying.

"Well back then you had black hair and green eyes, and we were smaller back then as well, you were the first person willing to stand up to your cousin let alone standing up for the new foreign kid" he said smiling brightly.

"Honey, I was the only one who was stupid enough to do so, plus I loved getting under Dudley's skin" she said in a slightly malevolent tone.

"Well someone had to do it, anyway do you remember the promise I made you when we were kids?" He asked.

"I don't really remember the finer details of those years, except the constant pain I was in because of Dudley and his gang" answered Wisteria, rubbing her throbbing temple trying think back to that year, but with little success.

"Perhaps in time you'll remember" Iba said sadly with an undertone of hope, his blue grey eyes glowing with emotion. After a few more minutes of talking Iba and Wisteria decided to call it a night and turn in for the night.

Once Iba arrived home he was instantly intercepted by his worried mother, whom he told everything to, about how he found his old friend and how she had changed not only in appearance but also in personality, it broke Hiroko's heart to hear about the change in Wisteria's personality from the warm kind girl into a cold teenager who was trying to stop the hurt, it was then they swore that they would do anything in their power to help her and to make sure she had people to turn to again.