HPX 4

Well, I can update over the summer. I learned that with my other fic. The show will go on.

Random girl: how did I cut you off? Whatever. Here you are. I'm glad you like it. Thanks for reviewing. I have my rude points too, as you may have seen.

Twin cats: here, don't cry. Here's more you can know, just don't expect to find it in any encyclopedia. Thanks for reviewing. Where's your quote from. It sounds familiar.

Sessho-luver: another cool review. Keep up the good work.

CHL: he's a'comin'. Patience. Just keep reading and reviewing.

Sorry to anyone I may have been rude to earlier. I'm an idiot sometimes.

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The kitchen was nearly empty. Earlier, Toya, Yuusuke, and Keiko had taken turns reading aloud the information on the mission. Put simply, it was this: Voldemort was an evil wizard. He had discovered and was now using the two other worlds to his advantage. This upset the balance and was becoming dangerous. Their mission was to go to Hogwarts as teachers and protect the school and students; one in particular named Harry Potter. In addition to this, they were to teach the children different things that would be useful in resisting his onslaught should things go from bad to worse. The challenge was not to give too much away while they were at it. They could acknowledge the existence of the other two worlds, in fact it was encouraged, but they could show no actual connection to it themselves. Dumbledore was under the impression that they were licensed 'aurors,' similar, they were told, to demon hunters. They were to refer to Koenma and the like as their 'ministry' but were warned against using it too often. What was convenient was that, when it came to matters of "magic," Koenma and company was who the English Ministry of Magic dealt with. All this, of course, had been "summarized" by Koemna himself in twenty pages of fancy political writing.

As for wizarding background, they were informed of Voldemort's previous rise to power, educated in a few aspects of wizard culture and society, explained to of the workings of the school, and given a brief history of 'magic' and the Ministry there of. This crash course consisted of about one hundred pages. Needless to say, it was late.

After their 'reading party,' Touya and Jin departed with their personal readings and Yuusuke sat backwards in a chair at the table with his, Keiko reading 'over his shoulder.' Kuwabara, bored, had left long before.

Yuusuke stretched and yawned. "I can't do this anymore. My head hurts." He gathered up the papers and stood. "I have to go to bed. You comeing?" (They share a room. Hee hee. Don't think dirty, they aren't married, and this is Keiko.)

Keiko looked over at Kurama, involved in his own reading. "I think I'll stay with him." she replied softly.

Yuusuke nodded, understanding her concern. He bent down and pecked her on the cheek. "He'll be OK." he murmured in her ear, his arm over her shoulders in a half hug.

"I know. I just want to make sure he isn't up all night." Kurama flipped another page as if he didn't even notice their presence. Maybe he didn't. "I'll be up in a bit."

Yuusuke nodded and went upstairs. (awwww. Do'n't it just make you wanna puke?)

Keiko looked over at Kurama's mug. When Touya had begun to read, she'd gotten him a mug of tea. Though he sipped politely from it from time to time, she saw that it remained mostly full.

Kurama himself poured over the information in front of him. He seemed much better composed, but only to those who didn't know him. His face was set, his stare; icy. The panic had left his features. He sat, calm and collected, sifting through the words indifferently.

But Keiko knew better. When Kurama was angry or upset, he always put up this calm façade. He was still pale and his fingers twitched occasionally as he failed to control his trembling.

Keiko was beginning to wonder if he was actually reading the words in front of him when he turned over the last page and put it with the rest he'd read. He gathered them together, straitened them out, and deftly stood.

"Thank you for staying up with me." he said to her softly and retreated to his room. She watched him until he disappeared behind the door, sighed, and picked up his mug. She emptied the rest of its contents into the sink and went to bed.

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yup, that's the end. ALATIL just took a dive, so I'm a little upset. So much for that. I'll figure something out.

See ya in two weeks.

Liebe sie von Doomschneider.

6-8-05