PART FOUR: NATSU TO YUME
CHAPTER TWO: Because Even If I Fall Into an Unending Sleep, There's Nothing To Be Afraid Of
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DISCLAIMER: I don't own a thing, even though Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon both would be better if I did.
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NOTES: I have not had an easy time of writing this chapter, because my cat of fifteen years just the other dayhad his liver fail and had to be put to sleep. Please be nice to me, alright?
Also, if forgive me if there's an excess of horse lingo, it's just what I know best, you don't spend a nine years around a barn without learning a LOT.
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The lyrics for this chapter are Fragrance, by Gackt.
yukisaki sae mo mitsukerarenakute
kaze ni kiesou na kioku o
hosoi ito de yukkuri to hikiyoseru
I can't even figure out where I'm headed
Fading memory is slowly drawn
Towards the wind by a slender thread
zawameku kokoro no koe ni mimi o sumashi
"ittai nanno tame ni
umaretekita no ka..."
sou, toikaketa
I listen closely to the voice of my troubled heart
"What in the world
was I born to do..."
Yes, it's asking
tsuki wa kawarazu boku o mitsume
ima wa mada kotaete wa kurenai
The moon is always gazing at me
Even now, the answer has yet to come
kikasete okure yo
sono koe o...
misete okure yo
sono yume o...
samenu nemuri ni ochite mo
obieru koto wa nai kara
Please let me hear
The voice...
Please show me
The dream...
Because even if I fall into unending sleep
There's nothing to be afraid of
oshiete okure yo
shinjitsu o...
tsugete okure yo
sono tsumi o...
akai namida ni nureteiru
kakusareta kono sugata o...
Please teach me
The truth...
Please tell me
The crime...
As my hidden self is
Wet with red tears...
tada itoshisa dake ga ookiku naru
kako no namae sae
omoidasenai mama na no ni
mou dou ni mo dekinakute
Only affection is becoming greater
I can't remember anything
Not even the name of the past
I can't do anything anymore
tsuki wa kawarazu shizuka na mama de
ame o furasetsuzuketa...
The moon is always, quietly,
Letting the rain keep falling...
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It was two more hours before Shigeru had finished showing them around Pallet Town and the labs, and the sun was just beginning to set in the distance. He turned to face the newcomers.
"We should probably start getting back home, Jii-san might start worrying. Besides, dinner should be ready pretty soon anyway, so let's start back."
Harry nodded, and let a smile drift over his face as a Pidgey cawed out in the distance.
"Yeah, you're right. This is wonderful, but we have all summer, and I'm exhausted. You too, Reptile?"
"Yeah, I'm beat!" Draco sighed, brushing his bangs away from his face, "I could do with a good night's rest and some food."
Eventually, they reached Oak's lab once more.
"Shigeru, that you?" Oak called from the kitchen, and they could all smell the tempting scents wafting out of it.
"Yeah, Jii-san, it's me. How's Shura?"
Oak stepped out, and Harry was amused to see that he wore a pink apron with a cute little Bulbasaur on it, labeled 'Real men play with pokemon' in big, bold capital letters.
"He woke up about an hour and a half ago, but I think he dozed off again. Don't forget, rotten grandson of mine, that Bulma-san and her family have been worried about him, and he gave permission for them to come over for dinner. Be polite, please."
"Will Sasu-kun be here tonight as well?" Shigeru inquired, and none of them missed the slight twitch in his features. Oak chuckled.
"Yes, impatient one, he will be here tonight. It should be very…interesting."
Interesting, Harry thought to himself, Oh really?
DING DONG, DING DONG, DING DONG!
"Oh, that's them now," Oak exclaimed, fortunately remembering to remove his apron, "Good Lord, if Vegeta-san ever caught me with this on again, I think I'd die of embarrassment. Or something like that." Smiling slightly, he made his way to the door and opened it, only to be practically plowed over by two small boys wearing interesting-looking fighting outfits. A boy with dirty blonde hair and an amused expression stepped forward and offered his hand to the professor, and Oak took it, pulling himself up, smiling.
"Hello, Oak-sensei."
"Good evening, Sasuke-san, how are you?"
"Very well, thank you."
The boy, Sasuke, Harry reminded himself, gestured to a small child of about ten practically attached to his hip. The kid looked like him, the same dirty blonde hair, the same sparking green eyes.
"Sani, say hello."
"Konban wa, Oak-sama."
Oak's jaw dropped open, and he frustratedly tugged at his hair.
"Noooooo, don't call me that!"
Suddenly, the large group of strangers caught Sasuke's eyes, and he turned, raising a brow.
"Konban wa, are you the guys who came with Shura?"
Harry nodded.
"Yeah, we are. I'm Harry Potter, it's nice to meet you."
"Sasuke Takahara, on your terms, it's nice to meet you as well. And this is my younger brother, Sasani Takahara, he's just turned ten."
Several minutes of introductions passed, when they could hear thundering sounds coming down the stairs, and Kira and Aoi bolted down the stairs, followed by a still half-asleep looking Gohan, who had somehow found the strength to pull on a pair of jeans and get out of bed. In the space of two seconds, Sasuke had leapt forward and threw his arms around his friend.
"Shura, it's so great to see you again!" he exclaimed, and only let go when the hybrid made a semi-serious effort of shoving on Sasuke's chest to make him let go. "Oh, sorry, Shura," he murmured, releasing him, "You alright?"
"Yeah," Gohan said, "Just a bit tired." In an instant, Sasuke had gone mother hen (it was definitely, in Gohan's opinion, inherited) on him and had come quite close to actually taking his temperature, complete with hand to forehead and more hugs. "Okay, okay, I get it! Just get off me!" He couldn't help it, he started to laugh, being thoroughly squished by an exuberant shinobi.
"Gohan?" An exuberant, female voice inquired suddenly, and a blue-haired woman stuck her head out of the kitchen door. "Gohan-chan, anata wa megasemeta!"
"Anou… konban wa, Bulma-san." Gohan muttered, staring at the floor, instantly going a bright pink when he was glomped tightly, being squished against the woman's chest. Sasuke snickered, before stepping forward to pry his friend loose.
"Bulma-san, please, he's had a rough trip-"
"Nii-san! Ani-san!" Two twin voices shouted, and they were all completely bowled over by two small boys, who tackled Gohan, who immediately collapsed to the floor, panting.
"Nii-san, what's wrong?" the one with black hair asked, worriedly, looking at the thirteen-year-old in innocent concern, "Did I hurt you? I never hurt you!"
"No, it's fine." Gohan muttered gently, wrapping his arms around his little brother and giving him a squeeze, repeating the gesture with the violet-haired Trunks, "I'm just really tired from the trip, could you two please take it easy with me? At this point, you guys might just break me." he inquired mildly, and was answered in identical, frenzied nods.
"Hai! Hai!" they said obediently, and Bulma sighed.
"Of course they listen to Gohan!" she said, staring at the sky, "Of course!" Gohan waggled his eyebrows at her, cheerfully.
"But of course, it's my natural magnetism, baby." he said cheerily, winking, and Bulma flapped a hand at him, jokingly.
"Sorry, darling, you're too young and I'm happily married." she told him, laughing, "You little flirt."
Harry began to smirk, he liked this woman, he thought to himself, watching Bulma give the hybrid another hug.
"I'm so glad you're back, sweetie." she told him under her breath, kissing his forehead. "You feeling okay?"
"Yes, yes, and yes!" Gohan huffed, "Why does everyone seem to think that I'm sick or something, I keep telling everyone that I'm just-" he yawned, "-Tired."
"Brat." A voice growled from the kitchen, and a man with a massive widow's peak and hair cut like a flame poked his head out. "So you're back already."
"Yep!" Gohan replied, beaming, bouncing up to his elder saiyan and throwing his arms around him, laughing as Vegeta struggled. "Did you miss me, 'Geta-san?"
"No!" the pure blood insisted, staring away from the knowing grin.
"Liar, liar." the hybrid said sweetly, "You know you missed me."
"I most certainly did not." Vegeta growled out, scowling, and his glare deepened when a green being flew in through the window.
"Piccolo-san!" Gohan chirped, and he rushed over to give his beloved mentor a tight hug, beaming when it was reciprocated, "I missed you so much! Did you miss me too?"
"Of course I did, kid." Piccolo said softly, and in seconds Gohan was bouncing around Vegeta again.
"Come on, 'Geta-san, be honest! Tell me that you missed me, you fluff ball in denial!"
"Oh yes, please do, 'Geta-san." Piccolo teased, laughing when Vegeta's glare turned back to him, "I'm going to go help Oak in the kitchen and make sure the boys don't kill him." He wore an evil grin, as did both Draco and Harry, oddly, and Sasuke was standing by the window attempting to control his laughter, which was coming out in snorts.
"'Geta-san, did you miss me?" Gohan inquired once more, strangely serious, and Vegeta stared insistently at the ceiling, before he raised a hand and patted the younger saiyan on the head.
"Yeah, I missed you."
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Dinner, surprisingly enough, went off without a hitch, much to Gohan's delight and the newcomers' relief. Sirius got along amazingly well with Krillin and Yamcha, while Remus tended to speak mostly with Piccolo, who seemed to prefer the werewolf over Goten chattering in his large pointed ear. Sasuke and Sasani took great delight in telling Draco and Harry all they knew about pokemon, and Gohan spent dinner having a scientific discussion that no one understood, something about different types of nanomachines. Yes, quite complicated.
"Here, come on, minna-san, I'll show you to your rooms, you must be exhausted." Gohan said later, standing up from where he had been sitting at the table, "I was sleeping, and I'm exhausted."
"Sure," Harry replied, getting up as well, "It was very nice to meet everyone."
"And you guys too." Sasuke answered for the rest of them, waving. "You going to sleep?" This was directed at Gohan, who nodded sheepishly, "Well then, goodnight." Gohan bowed back in response.
"Oyasumi nasai." was the quiet reply.
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"So, what do you guys think?" Gohan inquired from his bed, covers pulled up to his chin, the comfort of familiar surroundings and his pokemon sleeping on him causing him to lose his slightly formal way of speaking. It wasn't very noticeable these days, him having spoken nearly nothing but English for the last year, but it was still there, nonetheless.
"It's amazing." Draco told me, "So peaceful. Beautiful. Like there's no reason to rush. Does that make any sense at all?"
"Yeah, it does." Gohan said, "I felt that way too, a long time ago. It's refreshing. What do you want to do tomorrow? I should have more energy in the morning, so what do you want to do?"
"I want to learn, or start to learn, anyway, how to ride." Harry admitted adamantly from the other end of the room, "When I saw Reika and Raika today, I was stunned, they were so….I don't even know how to describe it."
"Rettile, is that all right with you?"
"Yeah, Ice. For once I agree with Hero."
"Good then, now I can finally get some sleep."
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The sun shone brightly the next morning, when Sirius woke up. Through the curtains, sunshine poured in, and he sat up, just as a fully dressed Remus Lupin began to laugh at him.
"What?"
Remus snorted.
"Your hair, doofus. I never forgot how badly you get morning hair."
"Ah, shut up." Sirius grumbled, then looked around. "Where are the boys?"
"Waiting for you." The werewolf answered him, smiling, "They want us to go with them, whatever it is, and they're down at the front barn as we speak, so you should get going, you know." Sirius huffed slightly at him, but got up despite and pulled on a pair of blue jeans, a blue tee shirt, and boots. "Now lets go, we'll eat when we get back, Gohan asked me to tell you that."
"Okay then, let's go!"
They stopped dead when they reached the front barn, the one where Reika and Raika's field was attached. All three boys were standing smugly in a paddock to the side, Harry and Draco each holding a Ponyta by the reins, Harry with a friendly little gelding who was curiously nudging at his cheek and Draco with a sweet, demure mare who was exchanging a greeting with the blonde himself. Gohan, however, was holding three Rapidash, one of them being Reika, and the other two were large geldings, giant creatures about seventeen hands at the shoulders, while the Ponyta were only about fourteen or fifteen. They were all tacked up, but Reika was tacked up in an English bridle and saddle, whereas the others were garbed in a western fashion.
-Note- One hand equals 4 inches. In other words, Rapidash are BIG, while Ponyta are about the height of a large pony, or a small horse.
"Uh… what are we doing with those?" Sirius asked tentatively, and Harry grinned at him.
"Flame's going to give us a crash course in riding!" he exclaimed, and Sirius felt his stomach clench. He had ridden once when he was a child, and that had been the last time, seeing as he had gotten bucked off within five minutes. Remus saw this, and voiced his own thoughts.
"Are you sure about this? With my condition-"
"You should still be fine." Gohan broke in, tone soothing, "Please do not worry, I have spoken with Tate (Tah-teh) and Ken, they will not spook easily, not that they do anyway. Don't be scared, they have promised to be very gentle. Why don't you, Lupin-san, take Tate, and Siri-san can have Ken, and you can get to know each other. If you don't introduce yourselves, they will burn you."
Sirius winced.
Yeah, those flames could be a problem.
Smiling, Gohan handed them each their respective pokemon, and turned to Reika and hugged her tight, burying his face in her mane. They all suspected that he did this partly because he wanted to show Remus and Sirius (who were both looking a pale) that it could be done.
Gulping, Sirius turned to Ken, who eyed him with the same amount of distrust and apprehension.
"Um, hi there, Ken." he said, smiling nervously, "As you can probably tell, I'm not used to this, okay?" he turned to Gohan as if looking for guidance, the hybrid nodded reassuringly, "But I'll try to learn, and I hope that you won't buck me off." Ken snorted and turned his head away, horn pointing toward Sirius ominously, "And, uh, I want to be friends." He got one single brown eye in his direction, "And I'm willing to give this a shot if you are, and I hope that we can be a good team."
That had been it, the trigger point.
With a slight snort, Ken turned his head back, and lowered it slightly, Sirius tentatively reached out a hand and touched the flaming mane. Nothing but a slight warmth to his fingers. Grinning goofily, the animagus began rubbing the pokemon's nose, nervousness leaving him mostly when Ken leaned into it to scratch his head on Sirius' chest, watching where exactly he was sticking his horn.
"I did it! Remus, I did it!" he exclaimed, and received a grin from his friend, who in the last few moments had introduced himself to Tate with a large amount of success.
"Great!" Gohan was grinning, "Now I'm going to show you guys how to mount up, make note that you do it from the left side, even though these guys will do it from either. See, you do it like this. Left leg in the stirrup, hold the reins and the front of the saddle with your left hand as well -make note that I already tightened your girths, but next time you do it yourselves- and the back of the saddle in your right hand, and pull yourself up and swing your leg over, gently, so you don't hurt their backs." The boy demonstrated, mounting up in one fluid motion, settling himself lightly on Reika's back without so much a creak of leather, "See? It's snap."
Once they were all up, he began to speak again.
"Since you guys are riding western, you will hold your reins in only one hand, not like I'm doing, but in the hand closest to the fence, which is called the outside. Don't worry though, if you must switch them, you can. You need just a little bit of contact on their mouths, not much, and keep contact with their sides with your lower leg, but keep your heels off unless you're asking for speed. Sit tall and on your tailbone, make sure that you are touching the back of the saddle." Gohan stopped for a few seconds to observe, then started up again, "To start lets just walk, follow me, and keep one length, that is, the length of one of these guys, in between yourselves. Okay? To get them going, cluck and squeeze, gently, and talk to them, they'll get nervous if there's a rider but no guidance. Isn't that right, Reika?"
As they began walking down the fence line, Sirius gradually began to relax. Why had he thought this was scary? He didn't realize that he mused that aloud, and gently pulled back as Ken sped up, almost breaking into a trot.
"Oi, oi, I don't think that Harry would appreciate you running up his horse's butt, you know."
Ken snorted at him but gave into the light pressure on his mouth, slowing back. Sirius allowed himself to move with the rhythm, resting his free hand just behind the saddle horn.
This isn't so terrible.
"Anyone feel up for a trot?"
Beaming happily, Sirius nudged Ken forward.
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It was terrible that afternoon.
VERY terrible.
"I warned you, and Gohan warned you." Remus told him, watching as Sirius rubbed at his legs and winced, "He warned you not to push it your first time out, or you'd be in a world of pain, but you had to be the stereotype of Gryffindor and not listen to reason."
"Oh, shut up." Sirius growled, "I'm going to go soak." He reeled back as Remus brandished a large, cardboard carton of Epson salt at him.
"Here, Gohan told me to give this to you when you mentioned the idea of a bath. It's some muggle thing that's supposed to help-"
"Why would I need this? Hello, are we wizards or not?"
Remus shot a funny look.
"You mean you hadn't noticed? I thought for sure that you had. Try a spell, anything."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
"Fine," Sirius huffed, drawing his wand and pointing it at the container of salt, "Wingardium leviosa!" Not a thing happened, and Sirius stopped dead, gaping. That can't be right!" he shouted, "That was the first damn spell I learned! Wingardium leviosa! FUCK!"
"Sirius!" Remus said sharply, "Control yourself." he ordered, growl entering his voice. "Calm down this instant, before I make you. I can." Startled from his frustration, Sirius sat down right where he stood, stunned. "Better?"
A numb nod.
"Good. Now get over it, we can't use magic here, and it makes sense. We're in a completely different world now, of course we can't use magic. We'll be fine." Remus said calmly, ever the rational one, "Now why you go to the bathroom and soak to let it sink in?" This obviously wasn't a request, as he soon wrenched Sirius to his feet and then shoved him into the bathroom, "And don't come out until you can think coherently!"
"How'd it go?"
Remus turned to see Gohan peering around a corner, staring concernedly at the bathroom door.
"Will he be okay?"
"He'll be fine." the werewolf didn't know if he sounded reassuring, but he hoped so, for all of their sakes, "He just needs some time to cool himself off, he doesn't think properly when he's in pain."
"I did warn him." Was the child's response, "And Oak-sama wants to know if you'll consider helping him in the kitchen, I'm going to go show Leon and Rettile how to groom an Arcanine." With that, he ducked back into the hallway, out of sight.
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TRANSLATIONS:
Konban wa: Good evening
Anata wa megasemeta: You're awake!
Tate: Shield
Ken: Sword