Through Her Eyes
Nanashi Sonzai
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Shirei Kurai Night, Shi Kurayami, Sei Hikari, Tsuriai Kage, Hakai, Sozo, Jigen, and Nanashi Sonzai. And the few familiars and the plot. But I don't own Harry Potter or the songs or the various series that may or may not be referenced in this fic.
Summary: This is the story of Shirei Kurai Night, 18-year-old Miko with a bent for both languages and various arts, including those of Bushido and Ninjitsu. On holiday in London, she finds herself thrown into a place she has only read about, with no explanation beyond her own insights. But those might not be enough to return the young priestess to her home. For there is more to this young girl than appears on the surface.
A Side Note: Thanks for the warning, Spots on a Pony. I had no idea how close to being a Mary Sue Shirei had come.
Chapter Two: Realizing the Danger
Walking down the alley in a daze, Shirei's mind sped through any way this could possibly have happened.
'Why... HOW could this be happening! I thought all the artifacts capable of such things were lost when Aneki-sama took everything back from the ungrateful ones...' she thought to the Others inside her soul.
'We do not now, little one. Perhaps the Gifts that She gave to them have evolved beyond what they once had been. After all, none of us can use magic the way these people seem to... or that Auror could not have dragged you with him...' the ever calm voice of Tsuriai kept the young Incarnation calm, realizing that there was nothing that could be done about what had happened.
All they could do was make the best of it. After all, just because she couldn't use the magic of these wand wavers, didn't mean that she was without options.
These people didn't have Cipher Magic anymore, even in memory. And though it was taxing and extremely dangerous to both caster and the world around them, it was far more powerful and capable than anything she had ever read in the book series.
Shirei knew that she would have to be cautious though. She had not yet reached full status as a Cipher, any magic she did would have to be extremely careful and only of necessity.
She was a Master in many Arts, but only a few could help her here. Most of them that could help required Adept status, and she did not have that.
'Yes, caution would be my ally now, not recklessness. If I am here, it is for a reason. I must not waste any opportunities to further my knowledge as a future Cipher.' she thought decisively as she headed toward the Leaky Cauldron with thoughts to procur a room for the night. She would find someway to get recognized as a potential witch and go to a school until she was ready to go back, or whatever she was supposed to do was done.
Therefore, she should make a more thorough exploration of the world around her. She needed to figure out what it is that one of Her artifacts had sent a Cipher in training back in time and age for.
She decided to start by finding some books that she could use, like the ones she had gotten when she had arrived. She would have to adapt what the books explained into things she could do, since no Cipher could use the strains of Power that these people called Magic.
Long ago, before The Nameless One and the Others had been forgotten and had reclaimed all they had given, Wizarding Magic did not exist. It was something that had evolved since then, and because it had not been something that She had created, no Cipher could use it.
To be fair, and not make such a broad and encompassing statement, there were some fields of what was called Wizarding Magic that they could use, but Shirei couldn't remember what they were...
She shook herself out of her contemplations and entered Flourish and Blott's, looking for books on ancient magics and cultures. Getting some weird looks from the current shoppers for her strange appearance, she blushed, knowing exactly why they were staring at her.
'Why do they always look at me like I'm some kind of unnatural freak? Why can't people just accept others like they did back in Sozenryu? Did the Replacement effect them that much...' Shirei thought sadly, remembering her first incarnation as High Priestess of Shi.
People were much more accepting of others back then, and all followed the teachings of the First Cipher. She missed those days of peace and prosperity.
She found some books about the magics of lost and ancient civilisations hidden amongst some rather trivial books. For the sake of curiousity, she grabbed some books on magics that did not require wands. Satisfied that she had enough to start, she headed toward the counter.
"That is a lot for such a young lady." The desk clerk told her with a rather odd gleam in his eyes. Unsettled, Shirei stuttered slightly when she made her reply.
"W-well, I like to read..." her voice was weak and timid, and the look on the man's face softened. He began putting the books in the bag and then rang them up.
"Quite alright, miss. Quite alright. Now, that will be six galleons, as today is half off for any large purchase." he said kindly, noting the looks that the young girl was getting.
"H-how much is that in pounds?" she asked, looking him in the eye shyly, wondering at his change of heart.
"Twenty four pounds miss." he said with a gentle and warm smile, wondering how he could ever have been so rude to such a polite young lady.
Shirei handed him the required money with a quiet thank you for his politeness, and he put a bottomless and feather-light charm on the bag he gave her.
"Please, do enjoy your purchases and come again!" he called as she walked through the door, waving at her when she bowed slightly in acknowledgement.
Shirei walked toward a place were she could by writing supplies, knowing that she needed something to write her notes and adaptations down in. Turning into a small alley beside the nearest such shop, she placed the bag from Flourish and Blott's into her backpack, grateful for the magical nature of her pack.
'It makes me less of a target and it helps me keep my belongings safe.' she thought as she put her backpack back on and headed into the stationary store.
Looking around the practically empty shop, she spotted some scrolls of parchment, some inks and quills, and then came upon what she was looking for, diaries and journals. Heading over to the display, she looked at them carefully.
They came in many colors and materials, amd had many different enchantments on them. She spotted one that was black leather with silver tracery and purple moons on it in the section with charms for infinite pages. Opening the 4 1/2 by 6 inch book revealed unlined marblized white and silver pages with gilded edges. It was so beautiful. But what decided her on getting this journal was the ruby clasp set in silver. It was perfect.
Grabbing a red and black journal of similiar size from the same section, she headed over to the inks, trying to find some for her journals and notes. Spotting a beautiful purple ink that would change to other shades of purple as she wrote, she decided it would be for her black and silver journal. Grabbing a nice black ink, a red, and some color changing ink. she went look at the writing implements.
Looking at all the different kinds of quills made Shirei wonder how they always seemed so pristine. Noting that there were varieties of enchantments available on the quills made her look.
Ever lasting quills, self inking, self sharpening, unbreakables, all the different mixed and matched on different feathers. Finding the quill stand with all the enchantments, Shirei picked out four, one raven's feather edged with silver, one plain raven's feather, and two plain white feathers. She felt ready to leave after she grabbed some self renewing and non spilling ink pots and erasers.
Walking up to the counter with her choices, Shirei waited until she had the clerks attention before asking if the ink pots would refill with same color of ink that had been in it.
"Of course! What else would they do?" the young witch said ringing up the small Cipher's purchases.
"That will be two Galleons please." she said with a smile, happy to have such a large commission during the early morning shift.
"That would be eight pounds right?" Shirei asked nervously, looking around as she thought she sensed something approaching. The clerk nodded and held out her hand to receive her payment.
Shirei accepted the bag of supplies and handed over eight pounds, heading out of the shop so that no one would see her put them away so her hands would be free.
Going into the same alleyway where she had put her books into their proper locations, she took off her back pack and opened it, putting the two journals away first. Emptying the purple ink into its new ink pot, she put its stopper back in and placed it in her writing case. Repeating the process with the other 3 inks, she put her quills in the empty writing implement slot. Closing up the case, she put it and the shopping bag baack into her backpack to avoid attracting attention from others.
Heading back out into the street, Shirei looked around at the great number of people in Diagon Alley at seven in the morning. She shivered as she felt the bubling excitement and anxiety drifting off of each of their auras as they waited for the arrival of the Boy-Who-Lived.
'Knowing the ways of the Oblivion Cipher, I'm probably supposed to make sure that these people don't tear the Balance of the Universe apart!' Shirei thought with some disgust as she recalled the intense work she had had to do to correct the damage done by pollution in her own time, as part of her training.
'There are days I wish being a Cipher-in training wasn't so damn complicated-OOF!' Shirei was snapped out of her thoughts when a tall man with sallow skin and black robes and hair fell on top of her when they walked into each other.
"Pardon me, sir. I was not watching where I was going." She took the time to study him as he reoriented himself. He had black eyes, and his chin-length black hair was so silky it looked greasy in the harsh light of day. His nose was a prominant roman nose, and he had aristocratic features.
He smelled of damp and herbs, and when she used spirit magic to see his Aura, she saw he was also some kind of mind-mage.
'Who is this? I should know who this is, he's very familiar...' Shirei searched her mind after carefully checking her mental barriers for any cracks, she had no idea how her psychic barriers would stand against wizarding Legilimency.
'Wait a moment... Legilimency and Occlumency! The Fifth Book! This man is-' Shirei looked outward again as the man beneath her finally looked upon her, his face showing nothing but annoyance but his eyes glinting with curiousity and concern. He looked her over for a moment as he levered himself off of her.
"You should have been, but your apology is accepted." Severus Snape stated dryly as he observed the strange looking child before him. He had never seen a child like this before.
The dark violet hair looked completely natural, as did the pupil-less red eyes. This black and silver garbed child was definitely not human, as far as the Potions Master could tell. It was definitely magical, and most probably intelligent enough to be counted as a Being as opposed to a beast. The clothing also supported this idea, as it had a cultural look to it, so whatever species she was had some kind of society with history and traditions.
While Severus was pondering this newest curiosity, his pre-set portkey was coming up on the time it was supposed to take him back to Hogwarts. Unfortunately, he was completely distracted, although Shirei wasn't.
'He has a portkey, little one. And it's about to go off...' the peaceful and mystical voice of Jigen wafted through Shirei's mind with the slightest hint of urgency, and she quickly discovered why. The Potions Master still had physical contact with her, which meant she would be dragged along to his destination when the portkey activated. Shirei sighed, this just was not her day.
Severus had been about to ask the girl her name and origins when he felt a jerk at his navel. Everything around the two whirled as the portkey he had been carrying activated, wisking them both off to its destination. The Headmaster's office of Hogwarts.
Shiei landed hard on her back on the ancient stone floor of the office, knocking the breath out of her. It didn't help that the portkey was not designed with Ciphers in mind and made her highly nauseous. Or that her traveling companion landed on top of her.
All in all, this really hadn't been Shirei Kurai's day.
Please Review. Next Chapter Shirei meets Albus Dumbledore and the Boy-Who-Lived!