Dauphine of Tsyu
Chapter 3
With the help of a stolen time machine, Kiyomi and Davis found themselves in the middle of London, England sometime in the 20th century. Despite their efforts to dress as the people of the time, they clearly stuck out in the crowded streets of London. Davis' hairstyle was quite extravagant compared to the simply combed and slicked hair of most other men in the time. Kiyomi's brilliant red hair also seemed to attract attention.
"So where exactly are we going, Davis?" Kiyomi asked as they milled along with the crowd in no particular direction.
"I'm trying to look around for a place to eat and sleep. Help me look for something called an inn," he told her.
"An inn?" she repeated. "Hmm…" She had no idea what an inn looked like or how she or Davis was going to find one without some help. She turned to a young man walking beside them. Before she could say anything, he muttered something that sounded like "Americans." The man looked up at an almost illegible sign hanging at the entrance to one of the older buildings in the area. He quickly bustled inside.
"Davis, what are Americans?"
"What?"
"I heard someone mutter, Americans."
"Oh! Americans are people from another country that also speaks this language. I'm an American, so they think you must be too. Most British people find them to be quite eccentric," he explained in a whisper. Kiyomi eyed the building that the red-haired young man entered. Not many people seemed to even notice it.
"Let's go in there. I think it's an inn," she whispered to Davis. He guided them out of people's way before examining the building. His expression was skeptical, once he took a look at it.
"I don't really know, Kiyomi. What kind of inn is called 'The Leaky Cauldron'?"
"Well it is an inn, isn't it?"
"Well, it looks like one, a really old one. Just, please let me do most of the talking, alright?"
"And the reading," she added.
"The reading?" he asked. Then it hit him. Kiyomi wasn't able to read the English language, only speak it.
"Now, don't get me wrong. I can read Davis, just not well," she warned.
"I'll do the reading too, then." He grabbed her small and delicate hand and walked in the two doors. Kiyomi leaned against Davis' arm and partially hid behind him as they entered. She was still nervous about being around human beings. Davis seemed to understand, for he drew her closer protectively.
Davis grew nervous as he watched the eccentric, even by American standards; patrons pay with gold, copper, and silver coins. "We have a slight problem," he whispered. "I don't have that kind of currency."
"Well let's just sit in that corner over there. We can at least get warm by the fire."
"You're right. We've been walking around in the freezing cold all morning. I'll see if I can exchange what we've got for some of those coins somewhere."
"Davis, I don't think that's going to work here. Why don't we just work for our stay? I've been watching the owner, and he seems kind enough to let us do that." Davis sat down with Kiyomi and seemed to be considering her idea. She saw the gears working as he thought of all the aspects of their situation.
"Well," he began, "our financial situation is not a problem. We need to get one of each kind of coin and our replicator will do the rest. What we really need to aim for is finding a residence and then getting you into school."
"School! We are hiding from the Helicon emperor, in the past, without being able to return to the present, and you are worried about my education!" she almost yelled the last part.
"Shhh! You can't go losing your royal temper around here, Kiyomi!" She winced at the fierceness in his voice. She cringed because he looked ready to strike her. Davis calmed down because he saw that his sudden rage had indeed frightened the young elf. When he took her hand, it trembled ever so slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I lose my patience easily, that's all. You okay?"
"Yeah I'm alright. It's just that no one has ever had to yell at me before."
"Well let's not do that again, alright? Perhaps you are right and going into a school would be too much. Then of course there is the fact that I can't have you hanging around all day—" he stopped mid breath and left the table. He casually walked to the bar and had a seat. Fearful of drawing attention to herself, Kiyomi refrained from calling out to him. She was quite shocked at the suddenness of Davis' departure. Then the same young man with wavy red hair and a freckled face approached her from a table nearby. She realized it was probably the work of a repelling spell.
"Pardon me miss, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," he told her. He cast a look over his shoulder at Davis, who was laughing with the bar tender.
"Oh sir—"
"Please, I only want to give you some advice since, you obviously aren't from around here," he explained.
"Well, I'm listening."
"If one wishes to be safe from anyone or anything, one would find that the safest place in the world is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I assure you it is the best school around and the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, won't ask too many questions. He is a great man and the best headmaster Hogwarts has ever had."
Out of the blue, Kiyomi asked, "What is your name? I think it odd that you still haven't introduced yourself."
"Oh, my name is Charley Weasley. I didn't quite catch your name either, miss."
"I'm Kiyomi Katagwa, and my friend over there is Davis Motomiya."
"So where are you two staying?" Kiyomi shrugged her shoulders.
"We still haven't gotten that figured out yet. You probably noticed that we were arguing," she said sheepishly. She shook her head. Charley took her hand and patted it playfully.
"That's all right, old mum. All good friends fight once in a while. Now, how would you two like to be staying with my family? I live in Romania, and I came down here to visit them, as a matter a fact," he offered.
"Oh that would be wonderful! Are you sure it wouldn't be any trouble?" she asked worriedly.
"Oh, not at all. My folks are very good hearted, and I'm sure my dad would love to have a muggle stay at his house. Especially one as odd as your friend." He glanced at Davis as he said this.
"Davis is a muggle?"
"Well obviously. He has no magic power or strength against it. Otherwise he would have resisted my repel charm."
"If Davis is a muggle, what am I?"
"A witch, obviously."
"Umm, Charley? Have there been other muggles…strange muggles around here?"
"Well, I've only just got here today, but those two seem to fit the bill." Charley nodded his head in the direction of two men probably a few years older than Davis. One had extremely long and untamed brown hair. The other had neat blonde hair and very lovely blue eyes. They hadn't seemed to notice Kiyomi but they were watching Davis with great interest. Kiyomi yearned to use her acute elven ears to listen to their conversation, but it was too risky. Finally, when they seemed to agree on something, they both got up from their table and began walking toward Davis at the bar.
"I think your friend knows those two."
"Oh no, someone has followed us. We've got to out of here, Charley," she said in an urgent whisper.
"Kiyomi, go to the back over there. I'll get Davis." Charley waited for Kiyomi to get safely out of sight. Then he walked over to the now very tense conversation between the muggles.
"Davis, where is she? You can't hide her anywhere. You know that," the blonde one said to him.
"I told you both, I am not going to help you do anything. All you want is money. Where have your morals gone? I can't believe I used to look up to you two."
"Like you're any better? You broke my sister's heart for a piece of scum. Now, hand over the dauphine before we make an even bigger scene here," the other ordered. Charley walked up and placed a hand on Davis' shoulder.
"Hello gentlemen. Pardon me but I have a bone to pick with Mr. Motomiya. Come with me sir." He winked at Davis' alarmed face out of the corner of his eye.
"Wait a minute—" Matt began. Suddenly his expression grew dreamy, and he collapsed on the counter. Tai also found himself snoring on the counter beside him. Charley placed his wand back in his sleeve and lead Davis to the back of the building. Kiyomi waited anxiously by the back door.
"Come on, this way," Charley instructed. He opened the door and they came to a dead end. Before they could say anything, he tapped three bricks with his wand and the wall opened up.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley."
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I was really glad to have Davis by my side again. Diagon Alley was an amazing place full of shops and people of all descriptions. It was a little too much to take in at first, though. Charley had to half drag both of us along as we gaped at our surroundings.
"Come now miss, the muggle is taking this all better than you. Surely you've seen a magical alley like this wherever you're from."
"Of course not! Why this is the first time for me to see—" Davis nudged her slightly. "Well, I've never seen anything like this in all my life."
"So, Charley, I hardly think that one would live here. Why, exactly are we here?" Davis asked. I sensed that he didn't have much trust in Charley. I, of course, didn't feel this way, for I had a knack for knowing peoples intentions. Charley Weasley was indeed a good man.
"Well, Kiyomi, here, insisted that I get you two out of there. This was the quickest place to hide. While we're here, I need to pick up a gift or two for my family. Then we'll head over to the Burrow," he explained. He magically donned a green robe and his eyes twinkled brightly as he walked. I was also impressed that he gave no impression that he was attracted to my beauty. In fact, few people in the wizarding world even acknowledged my presence. At home, well, on Tsyu, I was used to the staring and the gawking of almost everyone around me. Then again, maybe humans are a little more self-controlled. Davis was an exception.
Charley excused himself and entered a store. Now Davis and I could talk. "Davis, who were those two? Were they looking for me?" I asked. Davis nodded.
"Matt and Tai were two of my friends since I was 13. Kari is Tai's little sister, and T.K. is Matt's little brother. You know, Matt and Tai also formed a group of bounty hunters when this war started and have been competing with my group since. You should feel pretty lucky that I found you before they did, Kiyomi. They're pretty serious about finding you."
"I'm sure they were," I said sadly. Davis walked me over to some chairs in front of an ice cream shop and we both sat down. He looked so tired and stressed. He gave up his life for me, I realized. He must truly feel something for me. "Davis, I never said sorry for being quite mean to you when we first met, and I need to thank you for doing this all this for me. I would give you something of mine, but every thing I owned is lost."
"No, don't worry about it…Kiyomi," he said.
"Tell me, do you know why the emperor wants me captured?"
"Well not really."
"It has something to do with crushing the hopes and spirit of my people, but he wants me for another reason."
"What would he want a 16 year-old girl for?" he asked stupidly. I stared at him annoyed.
"Tell me the truth Davis, why would someone want a 16 year-old girl?" I said with my hands on my hips. He blushed as his eyes flicked from my red face down to my tapping foot. "He has a son, you know. He wants to marry me off to him, and has been trying to do so for a while," I said quite seriously. He still didn't lose his blush or the childish expression on his face.
"Have you ever heard the expression 'momen tai'?" he said as he drew closer to me. My heart pace quickened as I shook my head slowly, still looking into his eyes. "It means don't worry. I will always be with you, and I will never let anyone try to hurt you. Especially now, since you've stolen my heart." He grinned and I smiled. I wrapped my arms around him and held on as if my life depended on it. With Davis, I always felt safe. As Davis held me, I looked over his shoulder. A girl in a cowboy hat smiled as she watched us. I smiled back.
*~**~*