A/N: Here's the latest chappie! And I don't feel like writing a disclaimer, so I will just say I own nothing. Ta for now loves!
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By sheer luck Harry was able to remain upright as the portkey transferred him to the desired location. Soft green grass rustled under his worn trainers, causing an odd tickling sensation. Above him, clouds littered the sky the otherwise blue sky, perhaps a forewarning of weather to come. As Harry looked straight ahead, his emerald eyes widened in amazement. In the foreground stood an ancient Japanese palace, so large that it could be nothing else, and with the undeniably beautiful scenery, the place looked like heaven.
Somewhere in the back of his head Harry knew he should cease gaping like a goldfish, but he was inescapably mesmerized by his surroundings. Within seconds his view changed from that of the palace to that of the sky, with a complimenting bruise to his head, as Harry found himself flat on his back.
He winced as the sun burned his eyes. "I knew I should have listened to myself."
"Always have faith in your instincts," said a voice as a shadow covered the blinding rays of sun, offering Harry only a silhouette with disconcerting yellow eyes.
The two people involuntarily engaged in a staring contest until Harry forcibly pulled his gaze away from the scrutiny.
Another voice entered the fray, this one deeper and more weathered. "Try not to scare away our new charge just yet, Little Dragon."
The one acknowledged as Little Dragon gave a snort in contempt before walking away with a billow of robes that distinctly reminded Harry of Snape. A hand was thrust before his face; Harry realized he was still sitting in the dewy grass. He accepted it and looked to its owner.
"Hello Harry Potter, I am Kenichi Tai, and this is my home. Please forgive Kaida for her abrupt dismissal as well as her overall behavior. She is-" he was cut off by Harry.
"I'm sorry, but who?" he asked hesitantly, not wanting to interrupt. He received a small chuckle in reply.
"Do not say such things, young Harry, for it is I who should be apologizing. The one who managed to, eh, catch you off guard a few moments ago. That, my new friend, is Kaida. If you are as smart as they say, you would be wise to stay clear of her."
Harry nodded in confusion, but shook out of his stupor as Kenichi Tai started making his way down the cobblestone path.
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Harry peered into the doorway and, after mimicking Kenichi Tai's action of taking his shoes off on the tatami mats, stepped inside, almost slipping on the wooden floor with his clean socks. Following Kenichi Tai, Harry took in his surroundings as much as possible and mentally began making a map of the palace rooms. To his left Harry saw a room of ropes suspended from the ceiling and to the right side seemed to be a room full of practice dummies. Continuing his informational trot down the hallways, he saw many rooms like the previous ones, all of which Kenichi Tai explained the history and purpose of. By the time they were finished, Harry's head was swimming with knowledge, but his stomach was growling. He looked up sheepishly.
"Hungry are we? Yes, well, let us amble on over to the kitchens then," Kenichi Tai suggested.
Harry nodded gratefully and the two of them hastily made their ways to the dining area, where Kenichi Tai left his young charge momentarily. All around the low table were comfortable looking pillows and Harry, after a quick decision, sat on the one furthest from the door. Moments later, Kenichi Tai entered and lowed himself next to the young wizard, placing two steaming bowls of hakumai on the table. Harry stared at the rice for a moment, contemplating how to eat it with the two sticks beside him. He picked them up and, with his Gryffindor bravery, attempted to eat the minute grains of rice. He blushed scarlet when he failed miserably as the rice dribbled down onto his pants.
"It will take some getting used to, I am afraid," Kenichi Tai sympathized.
Harry's lips tweaked upward. "That's alright, sir, I do not mind the challenge."
Kenichi Tai shook his head with a grin." Now what is with all the formality? Please, call me Tai; I have a feeling we shall be great friends. You make me feel old like Albus otherwise."
Harry smiled and continued trying to eat, only managing to successfully place one half of the food in his mouth. Halfway through the meal another presence joined them, this one smirking as Harry, talentless, brought the chopsticks to his mouth.
Kaida leaned across the table and tilted her head to the side, shifting to be closer to him. "You're drooling, just to let you know."
Harry's eyes narrowed in embarrassment as he realized she was correct. He patted his mouth absentmindedly.
"Thanks."
Kaida said nothing in reply as she left the room in a swirl of dark robes.
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After dinner, Tai led him through the extensive palace, towards his new quarters, wherever they might be. Even though Harry had years of experience navigating large castles, Hogwarts had not prepared him for this. Each room, each corridor in this Japanese palace flowed like water in a river.
Harry wondered if perhaps there was a spell put on the floor to make you feel as if you were floating along with a gently-moving current.
He looked around.
Although the sensation was rather wonderful, he could see that it made it very difficult to remember where one was going.
Harry would have to pay very close attention if he did not want to repeatedly lose himself in this enchanted place, possibly embarrassing himself again in front of the aloof and yet quite captivating Kaida.
As Harry and Tai floated up a flight of stairs, Harry noticed a doorway at the top, with no landing or floor space around it. It was simply a door, and nothing else. Hanging in the doorway were vines of white flowers, very Japanese looking, Harry thought to himself, although he did not know their name.
"I hope you will find this satisfactory, Harry. I would not want to give you anything less than what you had at Hogwarts, I simply couldn't live with myself if that were the case. Albus and I have always had a bit of competition as to how finely our respective schools were run. Just a bit of fun really, but do tell me if there is anything you should desire."
After Tai finished his little speech, Harry finally glanced at the room he was now inside. The simplistic elegance and serene beauty of this room put Harry at ease at once.
Two large windows, painted black around their edges, framed the large mattress set right onto the ground in the center of the room. The bed was made with white satin sheets and black satin pillows. Apart from that, the room included a lone wardrobe and a bamboo mat in the far corner of the room, which Tai soon told him was the "meditation corner."
The white walls and black ceiling gave the room a striking, yet oddly calming atmosphere, and the black Japanese symbols which graced the otherwise unadorned walls seemed to glow with some unspoken power or knowledge.
But what was most extraordinary about Harry's new home was not what was inside this room, it was what was outside of it.
Outside the windows was the most magnificent view Harry had ever seen. White-capped mountains and lush green landscapes below made him take in a breath sharply. In the distance, Harry caught a glimpse of a cascading waterfall, long and narrow like a stream of water from a faucet.
Harry searched for words as he turned around to face Tai.
"This is brilliant, sir."
"Oh, come now, come now. I told you to call me Tai and I expect you to do so. But I'm glad it suits you, Harry. Truly I am. Now, why don't you take a short rest until this evening. You might just need your strength."
And after that rather unsettling remark, Harry was left alone.
After staring out at the scenery for a long moment, Harry collapsed onto his bed, expectedly exhausted by his trek about this Eastern wonderland.
He knew this would be an experience unlike any other. He just wished that he knew what to expect next.
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"Napping, are we?"
Harry awoke with a start, eyes darting towards the door, where a dark-haired girl stood leaning against it, staring across the room at him.
Finally, Harry had a chance to see what this girl truly looked like. Kaida had been so quick and flighty before that he had not had a chance to see her face. Plus he had been too humiliated to look her in the eye.
But now, he realized that she was quite beautiful, with creamy skin, yellow, almond-shaped eyes and full lips. She had a lean, lanky body, which went well with her sleek black hair. But what was most noticeable about her was her expressions, which were intense and penetrating, as if she could read your mind.
She spoke again. "I am afraid we were not adequately introduced, so I came to rectify my somewhat unfriendly behavior."
"Are girls really allowed in the boys dormitories?" He asked, wondering how it was she managed to get into his room.
"Dormitories? Girls and boys? There are not enough pupils here for anyone to care about that sort of thing. Besides, we are treated as adults here, mostly. As long as you attempt to act like one."
Harry wondered why she had bothered coming all this way to speak to him. She looked as if this exchange was deadly boring, like she had somewhere else to go.
"Well, er, how long have you been here?"
"Since I was seven. Longer than most, but I have no real family, so Tai's home has been my home for quite some time."
"Oh, uh, I'm sorry. I haven't got any family either."
"Well of course you haven't, everybody knows that. You're Harry bloody Potter."
At that, Harry could not help himself, he laughed.
"Yes, well, being that I'm quite some way from England, I thought maybe—"
"Well, you thought wrong. The entire wizarding world, and I do mean world, knows who you are. We just aren't as threatened by Voldemort's wrath since he's an English fellow."
Harry had to laugh again. He had never heard anyone refer to Voldemort as an English "fellow."
"So, everyone here has no trouble saying his name then I suppose?"
"Actually, Tai and I are the only ones around here who call him by his true name. Everyone else refers to him as the Lord of Darkness. Only, they say it in Japanese."
Harry realized that he should probably stop lying down and act like a gentleman.
"Would you like to sit down?" He asked, gesturing towards the bed.
"Oh, no. I probably shouldn't. I need to be going anyway, I just wanted to pop in a make sure you didn't view me as a total witch. Well, you know what I mean."
Then, she actually smiled at him, a bright, glowing smile, and then she suddenly turned and exited the room.
"Bloody hell," Harry whispered to himself. Now that was quite a woman.
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A/N: Well, we hope you enjoyed. Please read and review!