Disclaimer: Sadly Neither Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X or Harry Potter belong to me. If they did I would be rich. It's a good thing I'm not because I've already stored up my treasure in heaven. I don't need to make money off of Harry Potter. Ha! Beat that J.K. Rowling. No, just kidding. You know I love all of you.
8
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Kenshin jerked awake when the sounds in the room changed. The low murmur of voices increased to laughing and the scratching of quills turned to shuffling papers and chairs scraping against stone. He wiped his eyes to clear his sleep blurred vision.
'When did I fall asleep?'
Kenshin felt as if he had been somewhere else recently. He looked around the room, trying to get his bearings. 'There was a woman… and I," Kenshin's eyes lost focus as he tried to remember the dream. "That's what it was. A dream. Ne?" he muttered out loud.
"Did you have a nice nap, Cutie Pie?" whispered Honoré right next to Kenshin's ear.
The effect was instantaneous. Kenshin attempted to jump away in surprise, but forgot he was currently sitting in a chair that was pulled up to a desk. After an interesting display of waking agility Kenshin ended up sprawled on the floor on the opposite side of the chair from professor Honoré, who stood leaning forward with her head cocked to the side, laughter dancing in her navy eyes.
"You're a skittish one aren't you?" she questioned rhetorically.
Kenshin just blinked slowly at the teacher, still trying to wake up. After a full eight seconds of sitting on the cold stone floor he suddenly blushed, stood up quickly and dusted off his hakama just so he would have an excuse to look down. 'At least I managed to fall so I didn't hurt my ribs,' thought Kenshin abashedly.
"What did you think of my lesson?" came Honoré's chipper voice. She leaned forward even more in anticipation of Kenshin's answer.
Kenshin leaned back. 'She makes me nervous for some reason.' He shook his head, trying to rid it of the cobwebs that clung to his mind. "What?" said the flame haired boy.
"My lesson, how was it?" she said slowly.
Kenshin smiled sheepishly. "Oh, yes, your lesson. I thought it was very interesting. I've never seen such a spell before… Of course I haven't seen much of any magic before, so…" the boy trailed off meeting the taller woman's eyes. She smiled encouragingly. Kenshin looked away in thought. "I think that spell you taught will be very useful to the students." He smiled again. "You seem to be a very good teacher."
The blonde woman clasped her hands in front of her chin and with wide tearful eyes she gushed in a girly voice, "Really! Thank you so much, "sniff' I've never," she wiped her eyes, "gotten such a wonderful compliment before."
Kenshin shuffled his feet nervously. 'I wish she wouldn't cry. It makes me uncomfortable.'
"Mr. Himura?" Dumbledore stepped into the room. "Ahh there you are."
'Thank you God,' Kenshin looked to heaven in relief. (he seems to be doing that a lot lately) 'This woman is crazy.'
"Hello Albus!" said the woman, in a giddy voice.
"Hello Beverly," he replied with a charming smile. "It's time for Kenshin and I to go to lunch."
"Oh, I have another class soon, so I won't be able to join you," she said in a downtrodden voice. She looked at Kenshin who made the mistake of speaking to her.
"It's been insa…um interesting to observe your class Mrs. Honoré." Kenshin had almost said, insane, but stopped himself just in time.
"Oh you're just so precious! She threw her arms around the unfortunate boy and nearly squeezed the life out of him for the second time that day. Kenshin's vision actually went white for a split second and he felt several knives in his side instead of just one. When she finally released him he stumbled over to the door where Dumbledore stood trying to hold back laughter. Apparently this was a common reaction to one of the woman's hugs or the older man would have noticed his injury.
'If she does this one more time I'll have another broken rib,' thought Kenshin as he placed a hand against the wall for support.
"Good bye Albus" she grinned. "Bye sweetie!" she waved at Kenshin and he weakly returned the gesture with a pained look on his face.
As the two ambled down the hallway Dumbledore began with a chuckle, "So, it seems that Professor Honoré likes you."
Kenshin sighed loudly and rolled his eyes, not even trying to conceal his agitation. "What is wrong with her?"
Dumbledore laughed out loud at Kenshin's honest response. "Usually she's a pretty normal, composed individual, but when she sees something that she considers uhm… How shall I put it… cute, yes that's right, cute, she tends to act very immature and clingy."
"Alright then, I'll just avoid her."
"Ahh Mr. Kenshin that will be a problem. You see she teaches one of the classes you will be observing the most frequently."
"I don't know if I will be able to survive that," said Kenshin in a doomed voice.
"Oh, I believe you'll find a way to manage."
"Right," said Kenshin, not sounding at all convinced.
The two walked along without speaking for a while until, after a few turns Kenshin realized something.
"Excuse me Dumbledore sir. Where are we going? Wasn't that the turn for the Great Hall?" Kenshin pointed over his shoulder.
"Correct, Mr. Himura! You are beginning to get your bearings. Yes we are not heading to the Great Hall. I thought you might like to eat lunch in your room since you seemed so exhausted earlier."
"You saw that? I'm so embarrassed right now." Kenshin covered his face with his hands and took a deep breath.
"It seems that I am not the only one who enjoys teasing sleepy people," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
Kenshin gave the older man a long-suffering look. 'No one takes me seriously' he thought, annoyed.
"Why don't you take a rest after lunch," suggested Albus, "we can't have you falling asleep tonight, whatever it is that you are doing." Dumbledore gave Kenshin a curious glance.
Kenshin kept a neutral face. 'I'm not supposed to let anyone know what my training is about.' He kept his gaze directed forward. 'No matter how much I trust them.'
When they arrived at Kenshin's door Dumbledore stopped and turned to Kenshin. "Have a good lunch. I'll be back in about three hours at about half past two and a half to take you to your next class, so rest well Kenshin." The older man bowed to Kenshin and then walked back the way they came.
'Half past two and a half? Does he mean like… two forty-five? Oh who cares anyway. Sleep is sleep.' The short red haired boy entered his rooms. 'No one is making me leave here until I've gotten my beauty, errr strengthening sleep.'
7
Kenshin rolled over on the bed. He'd finally decided to make use of it because even though it was too big for one person he felt that it was a waste to leave the bed unslept in. Once Kenshin let go of his misgivings he had found it easy to climb into the bed and settle down. In fact his side stopped aching the moment he laid down, making his journey into a dreamless sleep all the more easy.
8
(2 years in the future)
Kaoru laughed and spun around in circles in the small grassy courtyard. The sun glistened off of her black hair that was gathered in a high ponytail at the back of her head. Even though the autumn weather outside Hogwarts was cool and overcast the enchanted courtyard remained sunny and comfortably warm year-round.
"Kaoru-chan, stop doing that, you're making me dizzy. You shouldn't spin around after eating anyway. I did that once and ruined my new dress when I threw up all over it."
Kaoru halted her motion and turned to look at the 'mature' seven-year-old. "Really?" she said with wide eyes.
"Yes," said Megumi as she took a sip of tea. The older girl was situated on a large quilt with all sorts of lunch foods spread upon it. She held the teacup in one hand and the saucer in the other, managing to look very distinguished… for a little girl.
"What color was it?" came Kaoru's voice.
"My dress? It was blue."
"I meant the puke."
Megumi coughed and completely lost her elegant appearance when the front of her blouse was stained with tea. She turned a look of ire on her now laughing cousin.
"Its not funny, Grrrr you, you…you raccoon!" Megumi would've stomped her foot had she been standing.
Kaoru was currently laughing uproariously while rolling on the grass hugging her sides. In a comical delayed reaction she stopped and then jumped to her feet while shaking her little fist in the air.
"Hey! I'm not a raccoon. I'm a Kendo master." Kaoru waved her arms around like she held a bokken in her grip.
Megumi smirked. "Whatever raccoon, your ringed tail is sticking out of your hakama."
"Is not!" said Kaoru after checking her backside. Little Kaoru didn't even think of the fact that she wasn't wearing a hakama and the other obvious fact. She wasn't a raccoon. But you can never be too sure so she checked one more time just to be sure.
"You actually looked Ohohohohohoho." (scary isn't it) Megumi's familiar deranged laugh made its appearance at a young age.
Kaoru's miniature heart shaped face flushedas she glared at the ground.
Eventually Megumi's laughing tapered off. "Hey I'm sorry Kaoru-chan," said the cinnamon-eyed girl still with a hint of laughter in her voice.
"Hmph!" Kaoru crossed her arms and turned her head away with her eyes closed.
"Fine, be angry then. It was only a joke," Megumi went back to eating her breakfast with sharp movements and an irked expression.
When Kaoru finally opened her bright eyes they landed on a beautiful flower. "Ohhh… Kirei (beautiful)," said the raven-haired girl in awe. She trotted over to the small plant with her gaze fixed on the strikingly purple blossom. She knelt down and cupped the flower in her tiny hands. Not many flowers grew in the courtyards that Kaoru hadn't seen, but she had never seen this one before.
"Megi-nee! Look what I found," Kaoru called to her older cousin.
"What?" Megumi's voice still sounded irritated.
When Kaoru didn't answer Megumi set down her food and twisted around to look over at Kaoru curiously. "What is it?" Megumi finally stood and walked over to her cousin. "Oh that's a Florentine moss rose. It's used to slow bleeding and disinfect wounds, but it has to be picked by a girl or it's useless."
"How'd you know that Megi?" Kaoru looked at her cousin with respect shining in her eyes.
"My parents taught me" said Megumi sadly with a small sad smile. She tilted her head downward as if she was examining the flower more closely. Her bangs covered the top portion of her face and hid the tears shining in her eyes. 'I have to show Kaoru I'm strong,' she thought over and over in a mantra. Her mental chant was interrupted when Kaoru spoke.
"If I pick it, it will die." Kaoru eyed the flower sadly. After a moment of studying the plant she spoke again. "But it will die anyway." Kaoru reached down and plucked the flower from the ground with a generous amount of stem. She held it between her hands and inclined her head forward with her eyes closed tightly as if she was praying.
"Kaoru what are you doing?" asked Megumi with a bewildered look on her young features.
Kaoru opened her eyes and looked into those of her cousin's. "I'm asking the flower to live longer."
"Flowers can't hear." Megumi sat on the grass next to her friend.
"How do you know if you never talk to them?" said Kaoru with a hint of indignation.
Megumi just watched her cousin with a dark eyebrow raised. "I never talk to my food and I know that it can't hear me," she replied.
"It's not the same. Food isn't alive." Kaoru stood and looked to down at the other end of the small courtyard. "Oh now I remember I'm supposed to give this to him."
Megumi followed Kaoru's gaze and looked through the windows lining the walls of the courtyard. It was the first day of the new school term at Hogwarts and students were walking back and forth in the hallway on the other side of the glass.
"To who?" questioned Megumi. But Kaoru was already up and running to the glass door situated in the middle of the wall of windows.
"Kaoru!" Megumi jumped up and started after the girl. "Aunt Sybil said not to bother the students!" The older girl's waist length hair flew out behind her as she tried to catch up with her spry younger cousin.
Kaoru didn't hear Megumi, as the door had already closed behind her.
Megumi skidded to a halt and pressed her tiny hands against the glass windows. She watched as her younger cousin looked both ways down the hallway and then smiled when she found who she was looking for.
Inside…
Kaoru watched as the group of teenage boys approached her. They didn't seem to notice her as they talked jovially amongst themselves, until they were almost on top of her.
"Whoa there little girl" said a tall blond boy as he pulled his emergency brakes, barely keeping from running Kaoru over. "What are you doing here? Are you lost?" he asked kindly.
Little Kaoru just smiled at him and turned to the one she came to find. She tugged on the sleeve of his robes and the boy knelt down on one knee to be eye level with the tiny girl.
"This is for you," said Kaoru in Japanese. "It matches your eyes." She held up the flower to the boy with her bright smile still in place.
The sad eyed boy took the offered flower from Kaoru and gave her a slight smile in return. The slight upward turn of his lips would not qualify as a smile for anyone else, but on this particular one it was a rare thing indeed.
When his sorrowful gaze met hers Kaoru giggled coquettishly and turned to run back out into the courtyard. The boy watched her scamper outside and then looked back at the vibrantly toned flower. Finally he stood and the group of boys continued down the hallway, now teasing him profusely about his young admirer.
8
As Kenshin slowly floundered towards consciousness he had the niggling sensation that something was different. He shifted in his seat and his ribs protested painfully. 'Strange, this bed was so comfortable when I fell asleep. Wait… bed. I was in a bed.' The boy cautiously opened his violet-blue eyes and sat up in his seat. He cast an alarmed gaze about his surroundings and was rewarded with the sight of an unfamiliar room with regular rows of desks. The desk in the front of the classroom, obviously the teacher's, had a number of oddly colored and shaped bobbles along with a dish full of interesting looking candies. No papers could be seen on the dull surface of this desk. There was also a chalkboard along the wall behind the teachers desk
"Good evening Kenshin," came the voice of Kenshin's guide, from behind.
Kenshin looked over his shoulder to see Dumbledore standing in the entranceway of the classroom.
"Where?" was all the flame haired boy could come up with.
"We are in my classroom Mr. Himura. You looked so peaceful sleeping there that I just moved you here so you could rest longer." The auburn haired man smiled mischievously at the bewildered teenager and started for the front of the room.
"Uhhh… Thanks?" said Kenshin slowly. "I think," he muttered to himself just as the wizard walked by.
The wizard stopped at the candy dish on his desk and picked a toffee off the top. The transfiguration professor tossed it over his head and Kenshin absently caught the missile candy. He mumbled a, "Thanks," around the candy now in his mouth.
Dumbledore picked through the candies a bit more until he found the one he was looking for. He put the lemon drop in his mouth and turned to face Kenshin.
"So, tell me about this tefelone thing you mentioned earlier. How is it like the floo network?"
Kenshin sat in silent confusion for a moment and then finally laughed in understanding. "The telephone? Well I've never personally had one, not that I can remember anyway. He leaned forward with his elbows on the desk and his chin in his palms. "But I know kind of how they work. You speak into one end." Kenshin shifted his chin to his left hand and extended his pinky finger in front of his mouth. "And you listen out of the other." He extended his thumb next to his ear. "You can talk to someone even if they're really far away. Your voice is turned into a Signal or something and it goes through wires and turns into sound again." Kenshin grinned, "kinda like magic, but not."
"Can you see the person you are talking to through this contraption?" asked Dumbledore as he walked around his desk to sit down.
"No," said Kenshin, "You can only hear them."
"Ahh, interesting," said Dumbledore, now seated behind his desk leaning back in his comfy teacher's chair.
A comfortable silence settled over the two. Each sat relaxed and in their own thoughts. Finally Dumbledore spoke.
"My students will be coming in any moment now." He paused. "This particular class made up of fifth, sixth and seventh years. They are taking this course specially to prepare for acquiring their animagus license."
"Oh? What's that?" asked Kenshin in a idle tone.
"Ahh You will find out Mr. Himura," said the older man just as the students filed into the room.
The class was very small, only about five students, two boys and three girls. The girls giggled when they saw Kenshin and turned to each other.
"He's so adorable! I wish my children were as cute as he is," said a blonde.
"You don't have any children Karen," said a girl with dark brown hair. "But I agree with you. He is just precious! Did Professor Dumbledore say why he's here?"
"Yes" said the third girl with rusty colored hair and brown eyes. "Dumbledore said that the Ministry sent him, but he didn't say why."
"Odd," said the first girl with a contemplative expression.
"Girls" Their professor's amused voice interrupted. "It's time to get started. Take your seats."
The girls quickly took the front three seats nearest to the teacher's desk.
"Now that we have determined that all of you have the talent and drive necessary to become animagus, we will start today on the decision process. That is, today we will attempt to find which animal you will transform into." Dumbledore paused and smiled in Kenshin's direction before continuing. "The animal you chose will hopefully best suit your personality. Let's start with just our favorite animals. Personally I like bumblebees and phoenixes. What about you Jon?"
A boy with freckles and light brown hair in the second row spoke up, "My favorite animal is… a dog I guess." The boy shrugged his shoulders.
Dumbledore nodded, "And you Miss Baker."
The blonde in the front row responded happily, "I absolutely love unicorns! But since I can't be a magical creature… a horse will do."
Dumbledore smiled, "both are noble creatures, the dog especially. Its loyalty knows no bounds." Dumbledore looked at Jon," I believe that while you are a very reliable person a different animal might work better for you." Dumbledore looked back at the blonde.
"A horse seems to fit your personality Miss Baker. It is a very free spirited creature by nature.
He spread his arms, indicating his next comment was for the entire class, " I want everyone to write on a piece of parchment their name and the names of the other four students. Under each name, including your own, write their most defining characteristic and what animal you best think suits their personality."
A rustle of parchment ensued the teacher's instruction as the students shuffled through their bags to procure their parchment and quills.
After about fifteen minutes of chewing on quills, throwing each other thoughtful looks, and snickering behind their hands the students passed their papers up to the front. Dumbledore picked up the pile and went to the front of the classroom. He looked at the chalkboard. Five pieces of chalk rose from the chalk tray and wrote each of the student's names on the board. Underneath the names, the chalk wrote all that the students had inscribed on their parchments.
"Hey!" said a boy with black hair indignantly. "Who said that I should be a slug! I could be defeated by a saltshaker. It wouldn't even have to be a magical saltshaker."
A ripple of laughter followed the boys comment and he glared angrily around at each of his classmates.
"Obviously someone meant that as a joke Mr. Zabini," said the professor as he fought to hide a smile of his own.
"Tsh whatever" said the boy as he crossed his arms and glared at the wall.
Kenshin hesitantly raised his hand, 'Mr. Dumbledore did say that I could ask questions during class,' he mentally reassured himself.
"Mr. Himura you have a question." The transfiguration teacher looked at Kenshin through his half moon spectacles.
Kenshin lowered his hand hesitantly and spoke in a quiet voice. "I know that some wizards are able to turn into animals, but is there any way to tell them apart… from a normal animal I mean?"
"Excellent question. Each animagus maintains a characteristic of their human appearance when they change into an animal. For example if you were to turn into a cat, Mr. Himura, you might have red fur or purple eyes." The professor gave Kenshin a close-eyed smile. "Does that answer your question?"
"Um, yes I think so," said Kenshin shyly. He felt like the whole class was watching him now. The self-conscious boy looked down at his desk.
Dumbledore gestured to all of the responses on the board. "These are all very interesting and informative thoughts," he said, "but we'll be using a different method to choose what animal you will one day have the ability to transform into." He grinned widely, "this method." The professor held up an old and battered hat.
"The sorting hat?" said the rusty haired girl, "I didn't know it could be used that way."
"Yes indeed Miss Bolander. The sorting hat can be used to make decisions based on your individual mental outlooks and idiosyncrasies. Would you like to be first?" Dumbledore lifted the hat slightly.
"Oh…sure." The girl pushed her chair back and walked around her desk to where the teacher stood. He placed the hat on her head and after about thirty seconds the hat said loudly.
"Owl!"
The girl removed the hat with a smile and handed it back to the teacher.
The blonde girl happily came to the front of the room.
"Mare!" said the hat
The brunette girl came next.
"Cat"
The brown haired boy was a hawk and the black haired a wolf. All of the students seemed pleased with their prescribed animals and sat thinking quietly to themselves about the benefits of each animal form.
The rest of the class was spent researching their animals and making sketches of them, so they would understand before transforming, what shape they needed to take. This task was easier for the artists of the class. Kenshin was just glad he wasn't the one trying to draw a bird in flight.
7
After class Dumbledore lead Kenshin back up to his rooms. 'to prepare for my individual lessons,' he thought. "Whatever that means," muttered Kenshin to himself as he sat at his table eating supper.
Not long after Kenshin finished eating a knock sounded at his door.
"Come in" said Kenshin. Fully expecting to see Dumbledore's smiling face. He was surprised when Mr. Jones walked in the door.
"Hello" said Kenshin, confused.
"I see you weren't expecting me, but that's alright. You see we really don't want the staff of the school knowing exactly where your training is taking place. So here I am to guide you." The man made a half bow as if presenting himself to Kenshin.
"Okay, So what do I need for training?" Kenshin stood from the dinner table.
"Bring your swords and your knowledge." The man smiled.
"That's it?" questioned Kenshin.
"That's it, " confirmed Mr. Jones.
"Alright" Kenshin walked over to the bedside stand where he had left his katana the night before. He tucked the sheath into his obi and looked up at Jones.
"I already have my wakazashi, so I'm ready," said Kenshin in a business-like tone.
"Lets be off then. Mr. Himura." The man walked out the door and Kenshin followed, making sure to note the path Jones took to lead him to the training area.
'Tomorrow I'll find my own way there.' Kenshin thought resolutely as he followed closely behind Mr. Jones.
'Left, alright, Right…Left. Down the stairs, straight past the statue of a woman in a sundress.' Kenshin watched the turns and landmarks closely. 'I don't want to get lost after all.'
"Here we are Mr. Himura." Jones held up a hand indicating a perfectly ordinary looking door on the left side of the long corridor. Kenshin looked back at the statue of the woman. ' This door is three doors down from the statue.' Kenshin made a mental note of this location.
Jones opened the door and Kenshin entered a dusty deserted classroom. To the left was the teacher's desk and seated in it was a slightly overweight middle-aged man. The door clanged shut behind Kenshin, causing him to start slightly.
"Come here boy," ordered the overweight man.
Kenshin complied and moved to stand in front of the teacher's desk.
"So what have ya learned today. In yer classes I mean."
"What do you mean?" Kenshin didn't want to sound stupid, but the question was too general to answer.
The man took a deep breath and explained, " How can ye apply the teachins of the classes ye've been in."
Kenshin scratched the side of his face thoughtfully and then crossed his arms. He shifted back and forth from one leg to the other and finally spoke.
"In charms, I learned that wizards, even young ones, are capable of being dangerous enemies. In Defense Against the Dark Arts…" Kenshin paused. "I learned a lot of things, about magical creatures, what a defense spell looks like and... well obviously not all magical people can be trusted, just like not all muggles can be trusted."
"In transfiguration I learned that even animals may not be as they seem."
The man smiled, "Those are all very good lessons. Yev've really thought this over haven't ya."
"Yes, well my master always told me that thinking made a good swordsman. Thinking and practice anyway." Kenshin smiled back.
"Well then my work is cut out for me. I don't need to explain anything to ya." The man stood up with a little difficulty and pointed to a door in the corner of the room that Kenshin hadn't noticed previously. "That there, be your real training room. Just go on through there. Your instructor is waiting for ye."
"Oh, you're not my teacher?" Kenshin looked back from the door at the middle-aged man.
"No, no. I'm just making sure ya know yer stuff boy, before I throw ye to the wolf." The man let out a hearty laugh. " I'm just kiddn' my boy, Your instructor's a scary one alright, but he'll follow orders." The man looked at the door as if he were scared of what was behind it. He looked back at Kenshin and held his gaze. "That one is from yer country, boy. Said he didn't like Japan whoring themselves out to Germany, that the emperor was weak. Strange fellow he is. So now he's helping the Ministry defeat the Japanese. I hope ya can learn from him. He seems awfully dangerous to me." The man stood straighter, " Well, come here every night at exactly seven o-clock. Do ye need a guide?"
"No, I can get here on my own."
"Well then, It was nice meeting ya" The man started to leave, but then turned back to Kenshin. "Be careful of yer teacher boy. I don't feel comfortable around him."
Kenshin nodded, "I will," but internally Kenshin was beginning to feel apprehension.
'What kind of person is he anyway? Oh well, he can't be worse than my master.' (famous last words)
Kenshin approached the door to the other room and slid it open. 'A sliding door, How odd.'
Kenshin stepped into the well-lit room. His eyes scanned the wood paneled walls and floors. He could see the colors reflected from his dark blue gi on the polished oak floor.
"This is what the Ministry sends me? A little boy," a voice sneered to his left.
Kenshin whipped his head around to the last dark corner of the room.
A lanky giant of a man slowly unfolded himself from his sitting position against the wall. He was dressed in a loose fitting long sleeve black shirt and pants of the same style. Kenshin noted the katana at his side with interest. 'I thought I was supposed to learn how to fight wizards. Why does this guy have a sword?' The man's earlier comment finally sunk in.
"Hey! I'm not a little boy." Kenshin glared up into the instructor's narrow wolf-like eyes.
'The eyes of a predator,' Kenshin shook his head. 'Where did that thought come from?' He brought his gaze back to the man's position just in time to see him flick his wrist. 'A wand! I didn't' see that before!'
Kenshin instinctively took a step backwards and reached across his body to draw his sword. His arm froze with his hand hovering over the hilt of his katana. His violet eyes widened.
'I can't move!' Kenshin's arm shook with the effort of trying to close his fingers around the hilt of his katana.
"I've petrified you. It won't work." The man's golden eyes narrowed as a feral smile spread across his thin lips. He started a slow advance towards Kenshin with his unoccupied hand resting lazily on the hilt of his sword. His wand hand swung loosely at his side.
Kenshin's eyes widened even further at his approach. In fact, his eyes were the only part of himself he could move, so he closed them to control the fear rising in his throat. Kenshin finally took a deep breath and concentrated on reaching his sword with all his will.
He felt the woven leather grip beneath his fingers as they curled around the handle of his katana, but try as he might, he could not remove the sword from its sheath.
'Something's wrong. He should be on top of me by now.' Kenshin opened his eyes.
The man had halted his progress about halfway across the room and was watching Kenshin with interest. 'Sizing me up is more like it.' thought Kenshin wearily.
"I put you into a full body bind, you shouldn't be able to move. Not even your eyes. And yet you were able to grab your weapon. How did you do this?"
Kenshin's glared at the man and opened his mouth (with difficulty) to speak, but his tongue couldn't form any words.
"Oh of course. Finite incantatum." The man smirked. "How forgetful of me."
Kenshin took a deep breath of free air and stretched his legs. 'Finally I can move easily. I thought he was going to leave me like that.' Kenshin cracked his neck. 'It was like straining against a boulder.' He flexed his fingers and then shook out his hands at the wrist. Then he gave the much taller man a death glare.
"Just what was the point of that? I thought you were going to kill me."
"You didn't answer my question." The man had lost his smile and had his full attention focused on Kenshin.
"Question?" Kenshin blinked slowly, trying to remember. "Oh, that" He lifted his hand in front of his face and wiggled his fingers, inspecting them closely. "I don't know exactly. I just concentrated on moving my hand…and then I did." Kenshin smiled lightly and then dismissively shrugged his shoulders.
"I see." The man stood straighter. "I was wondering if the Ministry had made a mistake, but it seems you have potential. I will 'instruct' you." The word 'instruct' was annunciated with a vitriolic sort of tone that Kenshin fortunately missed, else he would have run the other direction.
Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you going to do that anyway?"
The man laughed. It was a ruthless and unnatural sound. "Don't be a fool. Why would I teach a weakling." Then he laughed again as if Kenshin had said something utterly ridiculous.
Kenshin winced, 'I wish he would stop laughing. Its really creepy."
"You're not the one I was expecting, but it seems the Ministry was able to cover their incompetence. They were wise… or lucky to have found a replacement." The man turned his back to Kenshin.
"What do you mean by that?" Kenshin eyed the tall man suspiciously.
His new instructor ignored Kenshin's question and asked one of his own. "What's your name Boy?"
"uh.." Kenshin was caught off guard and answered without thinking, "Himura Kenshin." Kenshin waited a moment in vain for the man to give his own name in return. Finally he spoke in an irritated voice.
"And yours would be..?" Kenshin trailed off, obviously waiting for a response.
The thin faced golden-eyed man glanced over his shoulder at Kenshin. "Hajime Saito"
Kenshin sighed and rolled his eyes, 'This is going to be a long two weeks. At least with the types of people I have to deal with on a daily basis.'
"Lets stop wasting time Himura," came the Saito's calm voice. He walked to the center of the room and turned around to face Kenshin. "I already know you have skill, but do you possess what is necessary for your, 'missions'" Saito smirked to himself when he said the last word, as if it were a private joke."
"What do I need?" Kenshin questioned with large violet eyes.
"The intent to kill." Saito answered in velvet tones. "To destroy your enemy before they tear you down." His voice took a patronizing turn, "Didn't they tell you what your assignments would be?" Saito managed to look down at Kenshin even though he was halfway across the room.
"Yes!" spat Kenshin. The man's condescending attitude was quickly grating on Kenshin's nerves. He closed his eyes and took a slow breath to calm himself. "I just… didn't… think of it that way." The young boy raised his eyes to his instructor.
"I see. You've never killed before. I didn't expect that you had. Hopefully that won't affect your ability to carry out orders."
Kenshin kept silent. He found that this subject made him extremely uncomfortable. 'I'll just deal with it when I start missions. No use in thinking about it now.' Kenshin shook his head.
"What are we waiting for Hajime sensei? Aren't you supposed to teach me or something?" Kenshin walked to stand across from Saito in the center of the room.
Instantly there was a wand leveled at his chest.
"Lets begin then," Saito smiled cruelly, baring his teeth. "Crucio"
Kenshin dropped to his knees when the first wave of pain hit him. The muscles in his throat spasmed and he was unable to draw even enough breath to scream. White stars exploded in his vision. He could feel his bones splintering and ripping his fragile insides to shreds. Every joint in his body burned. His head pounded so hard he couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything but hurt…
Then as suddenly as it started it stopped.
Kenshin gasped, which caused him even more pain, and fell at Saito's feet. The young boy's violet eyes were wide as he pulled in uneven breaths. The golden-eyed instructor looked down at Kenshin dispassionately.
"Just remember one thing. I have a wand, you don't. If you want to live you have to disarm and kill me." Saito towered over Kenshin's prone quivering body. All the boy could see was Saito's shiny black shoes.
"When you're able to stand we'll get back to training." The ministry cooperative walked out of Kenshin's field of vision and leaned against the wall. He fished around in his pocket, pulled out his lighter, and lit the cigarette that had mysteriously appeared in his mouth between the time Kenshin hit the floor and he had made his caustic reproof.
As the pain in his head faded into a throbbing ache, Kenshin was finally able to think again. 'That hurt more than anything I've ever felt before. Not even the beatings I've gotten during practice with my master hurt this much. Even my teeth hurt.' Kenshin slowly pushed himself off the floor into a sitting position with his legs out in front of him.
The movement made him nauseous.
"Uhgg" 'I'd better not move around too fast or I'll have to take another bath today.' The constant ache of his broken ribs had increased to a constant sharp twisting pain in his side. He was having trouble breathing and felt a bout of vertigo wash over him. Kenshin closed his eyes and willed his stomach to settle. After about a minute he felt ready to attempt standing.
'I don't think I feel well enough to fight Saito though, so maybe I should wait a bit longer before standing. ' Kenshin threw the taller man a vicious glare. Saito stood smoking and looking unconcerned with the ire directed his way.
'Did he have to use such a,' Kenshin struggled to think of a word to describe it, 'such a painful spell?' Kenshin laughed bitterly but stopped when the motion caused the knife in his side to twist.
'Painful! What a major understatement! What did he do to me?" The thirteen-year-old sat pondering this recent horrific experience and finally came to one conclusion,
'He'll never be able to cast that on me again. That's for sure.' Kenshin took a deep breath and, using his katana and sheath as a crutch, slowly pushed himself from the floor while trying to keep his nausea to a minimum.
Saito pushed himself off the wall and flicked his cigarette to the floor, stepping on it as he made his way towards Kenshin. "So you're finally ready to start training. It would have been easier on you if you had just stayed down, but children never like to do things the easy way." Saito stopped about four paces from Kenshin and raised his wand, another incantation at the ready to cause his 'student' suffering.
The wand was cut in half before so much as a syllable left the Japanese wizard's mouth. The two thirds left in Saito's hand showed a clean cut. Saito looked at it in a bored fashion and then looked down into the narrowed eyes of the flame-haired boy with his sword at his neck. For a moment Saito just watche Kenshin as a trickle of blood ran down his neck and then he raised his amber hued eyes and looked over the boy's head at the wall.
"It seems you learn quickly Himura. I concede." Hesitantly Kenshin lowered his weapon still eyeing Saito as if he expected some underhanded attack. He backed away slowly until there were a few paces between them.
Saito looked at what was left of his 'wand' without emotion.
"I'm glad I didn't use my real wand that time," he muttered to himself as he tossed away the remnants of the false wand and flicked his wrist. Another wand appeared in his hand. Kenshin tensed at the sight of the weapon. Saito looked up at Kenshin.
"I see that you can barely stand" said the lanky man as he noted Kenshin's trembling form. "Very well… We are finished for tonight."
Kenshin let out sigh of relief and gave in to the darkness that had been clawing at the edges of his vision.
Saito raised an eyebrow at the small flame-haired boy out cold on the floor. "I suppose I shouldn't have expected even this much from a child. Oh well," Saito grinned sadistically. "I have two weeks to turn him into what this war needs." The merciless man walked from the room, leaving Kenshin passed out on the floor.
7
(older brother corner)
Banned wizarding commercial:
A dark scene. Two figures emerge, one from either side. Both are wizards wearing the order of Merlin medallions. Staring at each other in anger both of them draw their wands. One wizards wand is 11 ½ inches long and topped with a phoenix feather. The other's is only 3 inches long. The wizard with the shorter wand looks embarrassed while the other smiles.
Voice "Size really does matter. For those wizards who are less endowed we have created the Viagris Giganticus charm."
The two wizards appear again. This time the one with the smaller wand from before pulls out a five foot staff and then winks at the audience and smiles widely.
(older, older brother corner)
Beware when you sleep! You never know where you might wake up when mischievous wizards are around.
Viagris Giganticus charm? That sounds like something a loser would come up with and send to people by Spam owl.