Chichiri Potter
and the
Sorcerer's Staff
Ch.3 By CuiThe train ride had finally come to an end. It was about 1:00 a.m. when it came to a complete stop. The train hissed, and let out steam to signal the arrival at its destination.
The children all tumbled off the train tripping over themselves and others, yawning and groggy, with hands over their mouths to cover their yawns.
They were soon wide-awake, though, when the school came into full view for their sleep-ridden eyes.
It was amazing. You could here more then a few gasps coming from kids who had rubbed their eyes and looked again to make sure it wasn't a dream.
The school itself was a towering mid-evil castle, with skyscraping towers that pointed themselves proudly, high above the children; who had to turn their heads way up, in order to see the complete, breathtaking, image of it all.
The castle was entirely made up of large, stone bricks, about the size of your hand when your fingers are spread out. All of these gray stones looked as though they were solid, shining metal, because of the starlight they were reflecting from the dark sky.
The castle was completely surrounded by a humongous dark lake that prevented anybody from just entering. Either you fly there, swim, or row.
And by all the boats that surrounded the edge of the station, it seemed as though the children were definitely rowing.
Several groans rose from the many students as one by one they realized what they had to do. Several muttering '..we just woke up! This isn't fair' and others saying, '..but its such a long way over..' but the loudest was….
"DAMMIT ALL!" all the children turned to see Tasuki bracing himself on the side of pole, " I ain't doin it! You can just forget it, I am NOT goin' on that damn dark water!"
"But Tasuki, no da.."Chichiri had positioned himself to yank Tasuki off the pole by grabbing one of his arms, but Tasuki still held tight, " NOOOOOOO, IIYE, IIYE!"
"C'mon Tasuki, let go!" Miaka had taken hold of one of Tasuki's legs.
Back on the train, to make up for the pillows, and in fear of being hit (Miaka had looked really angry, and Tasuki knew from experience that girls fight dirty when they're really pissed) Tasuki had bought Miaka tons of food from the snack cart. When she had a full belly they were all introduced, and instantly became friends.
Which was a surprise for Tasuki, since he always believed girls to be jerks. This Miaka girl was alright, as long as you kept her belly full.
They all felt like they had been friends before, so the friendship seemed meant to be, for all of them.
" You might as well give it up cuz I'm not letting go!" Tasuki screamed at Chichiri and Miaka.
" Hey!" They all turned to look at who spoke.
Chichiri's eye's lit up, " Tamahome!"
"That's right!" he gave them all a victory 'V' sign.
"Hey! You kids get off those boats! You don't even know where to go yet!" He ran over to pull kids off of boats that had already decided to row.
"But we're going to the school, right?" Miaka asked.
Tamahome instantly blushed, and looked away, "Ah, well, um that is," he cleared his throat, "um, YEs,"his voice wavered nervously, "but you don't know where in the school to row too." he finished.
The children looked at him puzzled. He cautiously walked away from Miaka, and in front of all the questioning faces, which oddly enough made him more relaxed. He felt in charge again.
"Well you see," he paused to make sure he had all their attention. Even Tasuki had stopped screaming long enough to listen, but he still hadn't let go of the pole. Chichiri still had hold of his arm, but Miaka had let go to admire this handsome new comer.
" While it is true you are rowing to the school," Tamahome gestured toward the boats, "all of you will be going to different parts of the school that have been reserved for your groups."
They all still looked confused.
Tamahome sighed, "Awright, its like this," he pulled four pieces of paper from his pocket.
Chichiri instantly recognized them as tickets. One of them was crimson, just like his; the others were a pearly white, an emerald green, and a deep shade of sapphire blue.
" These are your tickets. You with me so far?" they nodded.
" Depending on what color your ticket is, that decides what side of the castle you'll be stayin' in. If you have a white ticket," he held up the white one, "that means you're in the Byakko house, that's on the western side of the castle." He pointed to the west side of the castle, then turned to the boats, " On each of these boats is a compass, speak clearly into the compass and tell it where you want to go, the boat will row itself."
Eight children from the crowd of new students clambered on to the boat. One of them, a very pretty girl with crystal blue eyes and waist long white hair, spoke into the compass.
"West." The boat groaned as it moved away from the dock…and headed toward the castle.
"Good going Subaru!" a boy with golden eyes and messy white bangs in his face laughed as he slapped her behind.
"Hands off Tokaki!" she squealed slapping him in the face, hard. The others in the boat laughed at the familiar antics. Even Tamahome laughed Master, you're still the same
He held up the green ticket next, " If you have one of these you are in the Genbu house, that's on the Northern side."
Eight more students climbed onto a boat. This time a boy, with short black hair and piercing green eyes spoke.
"North." The boat groaned again and set off toward the castle.
"Now," Tamahome said more seriously then before, "if you have a blue ticket," he eyed the children even more tensely, " that means you're in the Seiryu house, you guys go to the Eastern side of the school."
Like before eight more kids went into a boat. Well I'll be damned, its Nakago Tamahome thought as a blonde haired, blue eyed boy walked past him, and into the boat. It took all he had not to kick the more defenseless twelve-year old Nakago right into the water.
A short-haired blonde girl spoke into the compass.
"East." The boat groaned again, and made its way to the school.
Yui Tamahome thought before turning to the remaining seven children.
" So, you guys must all have red tickets." He smiled over the familiar faces.
They all nodded.
"Well then that means you guys are in the Suzaku house!" he proclaimed proudly. "Get to know each other, you're gonna be seein' each other a lot!" he smiled. Miaka nearly melted at that smile.
Other then Miaka there were no other girls in the Suzaku house group. She turned to go to the boat when she suddenly remembered, "Tasuki!"
Chichiri and Miaka were back to pulling on Tasuki's limbs again, and he was back to screaming. The other children sighed and got into the boat to wait, as Tamahome went to help the three.
"What's wrong with you?" Tamahome asked Tasuki trying not to laugh, he already knew. Tasuki couldn't swim, he was terrified of water.
"Nu-nuthin!" Tasuki stuttered. The sun was starting to rise now, and the piercing rays told them all they needed some well deserved sleep.
Tamahome sighed, now was not the time to be making fun of Tasuki. They're kids now, and need to get to bed he told himself. Much to everyone's surprise, he yanked Tasuki off the pole with ease, and carried him to the boat, then threw him in, and pushed the boat before Tasuki could protest or jump off.
Miaka and Chichiri jumped on after him, saying thanks to Tamahome, and waving him off.
Thank Suzaku I still have my powers! I would have never been able to get Tasuki off that damn pole. Tamahome thought as he watched the kids off. Same old Tasuki, he laughed, I think Suzaku's making fun of me, probably watching me right now tryin' to deal with a twelve year old Miaka. Can't believe she doesn't remember me! He sighed Oh well, she'll remember soon enough, they all will. He looked back as the boat was soon out of sight. The Suzaku seven are together again.
On the way to the school Miaka, Chichiri, and Tasuki became acquainted with the others in the Suzaku house.
There was a tall, muscular boy, with short brown hair and smokey gray eyes called Mitsukake sitting next to a shorter boy with bright green eyes and an auburn color to his hair, that was pulled into a high ponytail with bangs, and little strands of hair in front of his ears, named Chiriko. In front of them, on the other side of the boat, were two more boys. But these two were different, they were beautiful, one of them had lavender hair all the way down to his knees, wrapped in a shiny braid that he slung over his shoulder, so everyone could see it. He had very long eyelashes and rosy pink eyes, the other had waist long brown hair wrapped in a low ponytail, he also slung his hair over his shoulder. He didn't nearly have as long eyelashes as the other boy, but he made up for it, by having the most beautiful golden eyes. They looked very much like pretty girls instead of handsome boys, and their names were Nuriko and Hotohori.
Nuriko raised his amethyst eyes, and caught Tasuki's amber eyes through his long eyelashes. Tasuki shivered from Nuriko's gaze, and, seeing this, Nuriko smiled.
"I think I'm gonna like it here." He said playfully as the boat finally reached the dock of the school.