Author's notes:
For all intents and purposes, god's of death from Britain are technically called 'Reapers' instead of 'Shinigami' (makes sense, different culture... different language, hence different name).
Disclaimer: Yanagi-sen and I are only borrowing the characters from Yami no Matsuei and Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter books to torment for a while... Don't look for Harry to be appearing any time soon in this fanfiction. We claim no ownership over any character that does not belong to us... Itami Korin and Ishida Nanjiro are mine... those I claim and abuse at will.
Special thanks to Kara Angitia who is currently helping Draco speak more British style English.
Enter
the Reaper.
Chapter eight.
Draco looked at the oar in Watari's hand in disbelief. How could the Japanese blonde even contemplate using that as a substitute for a broom? Apparently that mask telling them that this thing would work just as well as his Firebolt had been enough assurances for Watari... "Are you seriously going to use that?"
"It's no good for flying?" Hazel eyes looked over the wooden object in question, as though searching for a fault in it. "The Count said that this was perfect for me to use to learn how to fly..."
"I'm sure it is perfectly adequate... it's just... well... undignified!"
Watari looked at the oar, "How is it undignified?"
"It's... it's an OAR! That's not a broom!"
"Okay, so something that is used to clean up debris and dirt from the floor is more dignified to fly around on... when honestly oars are more associated with death?"
He clutched his broom to his chest. "You would NEVER use a flying broom to clean with!"
The shinigami sighed, "fine... let's stop arguing over what is more dignified. I see no problem with either an oar or a broom... the only differences being cultural acceptance of what is or isn't dignified."
"Oh all right... Shall we get started?"
"Hei hei!"
Draco demonstrated the proper way to mount and sit on the broom... or oar. "Just relax and let it do the work." He kicked off the ground and hovered a few feet in the air. Doing his best to follow the reaper's lead, Watari mounted the oar. Yelping, he nearly hit the ground... but stopped about a foot and a half short as his oar hovered shakily underneath him. "See... relax... let it support you."
Rising another two feet, the oar stabilized and 003 perched on the tip a few inches from where the blonde had the wood firmly gripped.
"Don't forget to breathe. Now to move lean slightly in the direction you want to go. The more sharply you lean the faster you'll go."
Going higher, the blonde leaned to the right and ended up twirling slowly in his ascent. "This is truly amazing..."
"You're doing very well." Draco skillfully ascended with him, close enough should he get in trouble, but not crowding. Flying was one of his few true joys, maybe he could finally have someone to share that with.
Looking down, the oar started to move with Watari, and soon the shinigami was upside down... and laughing as even the owl had enough sense to move so that she was right side up. "I don't think that this is quite right," the blonde laughed as he tightened his hold on the wood.
The wizard laughed. "I wouldn't be a good one to ask. As a Seeker I swear I spend half the match upside down."
"The match? That is part of your quidich game, ne?"
"Quidditch... yes. I was a Seeker. It was my job to try to find a small golden, flying ball in the middle of Chasers trying to score, Bludgers aimed at my head, and another team including another Seeker all flying around like crazy. It's absolute chaos... I love it." His smile fell. "i miss it..."
Still upside down, the shinigami looked thoughtful for a moment, "if there aren't too many people required to play... there is a possibility that we could play that with other shinigami?"
"Hmmm... too many for full teams... but we could make practice teams. It might be interesting. I doubt we could find anyone else to be another Seeker though."
"Promise Tsuzuki any sort of sweet and he will be the best at any position you put him in," Watari laughed.
"Hmmm... I suppose we should concentrate on teaching you first."
"I think that all of my blood is going to my head..."
"So roll back over." Flattening himself against the oar, Watari rolled over, and ended upside down once more... Draco couldn't help it and started laughing. Seeing that the broom seemed to be stabler than the oar, 003 fluttered over and perched near the bristles as the shinigami tried and failed once more to right himself. The Reaper drifted over to lend an arm for stability. "Here..."
Taking the arm, Watari managed to turn back upright, "Arigatou."
"No problem." He controlled his chuckles with difficulty. "Shall we move a bit?"
"Hei... and I want to go that way." Pointing forward, the shinigami started to slowly move backwards.
Helpless, Draco started to laugh again. "Lean forward... when you pointed your weight shifted back."
"At least I stayed upright?" Watari said blushing as he corrected his posture and started moving forward this time.
"Very true..." He coasted carefully alongside. "Remember what I said... the more you lean the faster you will go. If you want to stop, sit up."
Leaning closer to the oar, the shinigami picked up some speed. The wizard easily kept pace knowing how unnerving it can be the first time, when speed gets away from you. "It would be very convinient to do our rounds in this manner," Watari mused.
"It's generally not a good idea for Muggles to see us flying."
"To be able to effectively do our jobs, it is sometimes necessary for shinigami to move about in spirit form... I am positive that reapers have an equivalent."
The smaller blond shrugged. "I'm sure we do... however they neglected to inform me of anything."
"Your abilities might be in some of the documents that I managed to pull up..." Sitting back up, the shinigami narrowly avoided flipping upside down again.
"You need to get used to finding your center of balance. If you are off balance you will either turn or rotate." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Documents?"
Nodding, the bottom of the oar brushed against the tops of the sakura trees. "I copied over several files from Britain's department... but I can barely read English..."
"Oh... could I... maybe, look at them?" He stared at the distant top of the office building.
"Certainly," Leaning forward to head to the office, the blonde did flip over... but managed to right himself this time. Snickering, Draco followed closely behind.
---
High above Tokyo, Watari had to smile... Even though Draco still insisted that his riding an oar was undignified, it was fun, and while in spirit form made the job of doing the rounds in his block that much quicker. Tucked under one arm were a couple of scrolls that he thought the little magic using girl would find interesting... though, they did need to be returned to the library the next day, but that was why photocopiers were invented, right?
Draco ghosted in beside him. "So, do you enjoy flying?"
"Hei, it is a lot more convenient than having to walk all over Kyoto..."
"So why are we in, or rather over, Tokyo?"
He pointed to the scrolls, "Hermione-chan might like to have a look at these for her studies..."
Draco scowled. "I'll wait across the street."
Watari shrugged, "okay."
The Reaper didn't look entirely pleased with their errand, but didn't make anymore comments. He hadn't forgotten how Granger neglected to apologize, even after he had. That kind of discourtesy was exceedingly rude, and insulting besides.
---
Landing near the shrine, Watari left his oar hidden up in one of the trees close to the main building. About to slip out of spirit form, the blonde turned and realized that the girl was staring right at him.
"Interesting. Do magic users here ride oars instead of brooms?"
Hazel eyes widened behind round glasses, "you can see me?"
"Of course."
"But..." the blonde looked deeply confused. "how?"
"With my eyes. Why? Is there a reason I shouldn't be able to see you?"
"No, absolutely no reason that you shouldn't be able to see me..." the shinigami lied through his teeth.
"Oh, I thought maybe you were wearing a charm or cast a spell or something. So, do you have anything interesting?" She eyed the scrolls.
Finally Watari slipped out of spirit form, not realizing that the shadows shifted slightly around him when he did so. "Ask where I got these from, and I cannot allow you to use them," he said holding up the scrolls.
"Okay, I won't ask." Her eyes gleamed looking at the scrolls.
"This is the information that you won't find without knowing where and how to look," handing the scrolls over, he smiles a little nervously, "and I also have to get these back to where I borrowed them from as soon as possible..."
She glanced at the number of scrolls. "Even with copier quills it will take a couple days to copy them all..."
"And here I thought you were more associated with 'muggle' inventions," Watari laughed, "photocopier?"
"Oh, of course. Only I don't know where to find one."
"There's a library just down the street..."
"Perfect... um, if you could help me... I don't think I'll be able to read the buttons or display."
"No problem... but let me call up Draco to let him know that I will be longer than I expected..."
"Hmmm... amazing, he's actually lowered himself to carrying a 'muggle' device?"
"Be nice, he is not having the easiest time adjusting to being here..." She rolled her eyes but was already glancing through one of the scrolls. Draco answered his phone quickly. Watari was tempted to hit Hermione with one of the scrolls… but that might damage it, and he didn't want to take that kind of chance. "Draco... I'm going to take Hermione-san to the library so she can get the scrolls copied. Basically, this will take a little longer than I originally thought. Why don't you go to the Cinapon shop and get a snack in the meantime?"
"I'm not really hungry. I'll wait in that little park we passed."
"Hei hei... I'll meet you there then..."
The call cut off. The scroll Hermoine was looking through rustled faintly. "I see I'm going to have to work on some translation spells..."
Starting on their way, Watari began to point out a few things on the scrolls... such topography of a place called Gensoukai.
