Kaede frowned thoughtfully as he watched the strangers in the room. He flicked his eyes to the baffled redhead beside him. Hanamichi was eyeing the strangers as well.
"Kaede?" Kana called out softly. Her eyes were swollen similar to Chiharu's.
Kaede didn't have to be told that they found out about him. He glanced at the unfamiliar somber expression on Akira's face. Akira nodded slowly.
"Shit!" Akira mouthed.
"Shit!" Kaede said.
"I presume you know what this means," an old man in robes stated. He had an air about him that spoke unbent authority.
"Who're you?" Hanamichi asked, not at all intimidated with the old man and the other robe-wearing strangers. There were five of them all.
"My name is Albus Dumbledore," the old man answered with a smile. "And you are?"
"Hanamichi Sakuragi," Hanamichi replied. He glanced at Kaede. "I'm his best friend."
"Ah! You're the boy that turned into a baby," Dumbledore smiled.
Hanamichi shrugged. "What do you want with Akira and Kaede?"
A man with weird eye stepped forward. "Children should keep their nose off adults' business."
Hanamichi stiffened as he stared at the man arrogantly. He might be a pint in size but he didn't back down to anything. "I don't remember talking to you."
Dumbledore chuckled when the man glared daggers at the redhead which the redhead glared back. He had never seen a child not get intimidated with Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody.
"Calm down, Hanamichi," Kaede said as he clamped a hand on the thin shoulders.
Hanamichi sniffed the air haughtily. "'Che!"
Akira smiled at the cute redhead. "You better get to the library, Hana-chan. Dad just brought in a new book."
Brown eyes stared at Akira. "Bull!"
Rhine stepped in. He knew Hanamichi suspected something, but they need him out of the way. It's for his own good. "It's about quidditch. You always wanted to learn about it, right?"
"What's going on?" Hanamichi asked bluntly.
Every adult in the room stiffened at the question.
"Hanamichi," Kaede warned softly.
Accusing brown eyes looked at his best friend. "You're leaving."
Kaede nodded. "Akira and I."
The brown eyes widened then became glazed with unshed tears. The pink lips quivered as the redhead held his tears at bay.
"No, Hanamichi," Kaede shook his head. "You're not coming. Tears won't help you either."
Hanamichi gasped in shock. He looked at Akira for back up but the porcupine head turned away. Rejection came in full force, and it took all of Hanamichi's will not to cry openly.
"Fine!" he cried angrily. He glared at Kaede before turning away.
Kaede stared blankly at the other people in the room as he listened to Hanamichi's retreating steps.
"Well! That's settled! We'll be leaving in an hour," a woman with pink hair said to stifle the tension in the room. "By the way, my name is Tonks. That man over there," she pointed to a guy with shoulder-length hair, "is Severus Snape. Left to him is Remus Lupin, and the last is Alastor Moody. Akira had already been introduced to us, and we only sensed you a few hours ago. You're name is Kaede, am I right?"
Kaede nodded. He looked at Dumbledore and said, "I'm not going."
Kana gasped. "Kaede!"
Akira grinned. Yup! That's Kaede to you.
"You know what's going on," it was not a question as Dumbledore eyed the young man. "You're a seer."
Kaede didn't reply.
"What did you see?" Dumbledore asked. As Tonks had said, they had only sensed Kaede's ability hours ago as he tried to help his best friend.
Everyone strained as they waited for Kaede's reply. The war was upon them, and their defeat seemed more probable than Voldemort's.
"He's going to die," Kaede replied with preamble.
"Who?" Remus Lupin spoke for the first time. He had a feeling that he won't like the answer.
Kaede glanced at him. "The boy who lived."
The strangers gave their expected reply. Tonks gave a strangled cry. Dumbledore closed his eyes as he breathed in deeply. Lupin looked like he would have not heard the words. Moody looked angry. It was only Snape who retained a passive face.
"Seers are not always right," Moody pointed out.
Dumbledore smiled bitterly. "I hope so." He looked at Kaede and asked, "No one can save him?"
Kaede shrugged. "The future is undecided. It will be his choice."
"What do you mean by his choice?" Lupin asked breathlessly. There might be something to save his friend's son.
"If he had something to live for, he'll survive," Kaede answered. He turned to look at the path which Hanamichi took. "Someone special."
"Special? He had friends! Us!" Lupin cried out.
Kaede looked at him. "So?"
Lupin opened his mouth to snap at Kaede but thought the better of it when Dumbledore gave him a warning glance.
"Who?" Dumbledore asked.
Kaede shrugged again. "None of your business."
Akira burst out laughing at the incredulous faces. "That was harsh, Kae-chan!"
Kaede inclined his head towards Akira. "So?"
Akira grinned. He knew Kaede well to know that the fox was protecting the Boy Who Lived's secret.
"I presume you won't tell me," Dumbledore seemed to have gotten over the disrespect Kaede was showing. "Why is that?"
"You don't want me to answer again."
"You're pretty arrogant for a nobody," Moody growled.
Kaede didn't even flinch when the magical eye turned to him.
"Kaede," Kana begged softly. "Please apologize to Prof. Dumbledore. He taught us during our time in Hogwarts."
Kaede didn't budge. It was Akira who spoke up for Kaede.
"He didn't want to go. If you force him, he'll be ruder and nastier as the minutes pass," Akira explained.
"He won't be harm, Kaede," Dumbledore reassured with a smile. He too glanced at the path that the redhead had walked out. "He'll be safe."
"We all know that it's a lie," Kaede responded.
"If you don't help stop Voldemort, then even this world will be shattered with war and grief," Tonks said heatedly.
"At least I'll be with him," Kaede retorted.
Everyone fell silent at the final answer.
"You can go with them, Akira," Kaede said with a nod at Akira. He turned away when Akira returned the nod. "Good day," he said to the silent group.
Hanamichi sulked in the corner of the bed. Instead of the going to the library as he often do when left alone in the Sendoh mansion, Hanamichi chose to stay in their room. Kaede had returned a few minutes ago and the two of them hadn't spoken a word to each other. It unnerved the redhead that the fox could be so calm.
Kaede effectively blocked the pillow that Hanamichi threw at him. He grinned inwardly as he hugged the pillow. He stared at the sulking redhead at the foot of the bed with unconcealed adoration.
"Come here, Hanamichi," he spoke softly.
"No!" Hanamichi raised his chin in defiance. He glared at the fox when he sighed dramatically.
Kaede narrowed his eyes at the redhead.
Hanamichi could only yelp as he was lifted off the bed and floated towards Kaede. "Stop it!"
Kaede gently lowered Hanamichi over him. He hugged the redhead tight in exchange for the pillow.
"Let go of me!" Hanamichi pounded on the wide chest angrily. But Kaede wasn't even hurt. After a few more punches, the small face crumpled tearfully.
"Hush, Hana," Kaede whispered.
"Don't go," Hanamichi whispered tearfully. He placed his head on top of Kaede's heart and listened to the steady beat.
Kaede stroke the red strands absentmindedly. The two fell silent as they thought of what may come.
"I may have to go," Kaede admitted softly.
"They can't force you, fox," Hanamichi pointed out.
"But mom can."
Hanamichi pouted. He snuggled closer. "Most girls must have loved laying all over you," he said without thinking.
Kaede raised an eyebrow at the honest observation. "Oh? Why is that?"
Hanamichi giggled. "Because you feel like one gigantic teddy bear!" He squeezed Kaede for emphasis then frowned. "Teddy bears are much softer."
Kaede chuckled. "Is that so?"
Hanamichi raised his head and smiled at the fox. "You're much warmer though."
"Flattery will not get you anywhere, Hanamichi," Kaede informed with a small smile.
Hanamichi pouted again. He always hated it when Kaede discovered his plans before he actually finished the execution. "KJ!"
Kaede didn't respond.
Hanamichi gasped as he felt Kaede's magic consumed him. "Fox!" His body was on fire. It hurt to breath and he couldn't move much.
"Trust me," Kaede whispered.
Hanamichi calmed down at the order and relaxed to let the fox do his thing. It took some time. And when it was over, he suddenly felt so small. And it was dark. He panicked and tried to scream. What came out of his scream made him stop and felt his environment fearfully.
Kaede slowly peeled away the layers of cotton on top of his chest and let out a red kitten.
"MEWWW!" Hanamichi cried in indignation. The amber eyes glared angrily at Kaede and he raised his paw to scratch him.
"You want to come with us, don't you?" Kaede asked gravely. He bit back his smirk when the small paw froze in mid air.
Hanamichi immediately brightened up. He lowered his paw and flicked his tail back and forth happily.
Kaede smiled at the kitten. But he lost his good mood when he sensed someone at the door.
"Shit!"
Hanamichi blinked at Kaede confused. He mewed when Kaede sudden grasped his small body and sat up on the bed.
"Come in!" Kaede shouted.
Hanamichi cringed. His ears were very sensitive and he felt like they were near a boom box when Kaede shouted. He purred contentedly when nimble fingers caressed his ears. Now he knew why cats love the fox.
Kana entered the room hesitantly followed by Kiyomori. Kaede almost sighed with his parents' predictability.
"Kaede," Kana said tearfully.
"Mom, please, don't cry on me," Kaede cried, exasperated.
Kana smiled tearfully. She sniffed and walked to the bed. She spotted the small kitten and lovingly lifted him from Kaede's lap and cuddled him. "Hello, Hana-chan."
Hanamichi purred. He raised him paws to Kana's face and tried to wipe the tears away. His paws were so small; they were soaked before he could banish all the tears.
Kana giggled at the affectionate kitten. "Now I know why Kaede love you so."
Hanamichi cocked his head in confusion.
Kana looked at Kaede. "He's aware."
Kaede nodded.
Kana's eyes clouded over and she looked at her silent husband. "We don't want you to go. But you're more powerful than any wizard we know. Professor Dumbledore thinks so too." Kana gave a sarcastic laugh. "And to think that we didn't want you to go to Hogwarts when you were young because it might stop you from joining the war."
Kiyomori walked to Kana and hugged her. The kitten felt squashed and tried to wiggle out. Kana laughed at his efforts and let him go to Kaede. Kaede cradled the small feline and lay back on the bed.
"I won't go, mom," Kaede informed gravely.
Kana's lips quivered as she choked back her tears. "Kaede…"
Kaede looked at his parents with cold eyes. "I made my decision. And you can't make me go."
Kiyomori gently helped Kana stand as he nodded to his son. "Good decision, son."
Kana let her husband led her out of the room. He sobs lingering in the room affecting the affectionate kitten.
Hanamichi the kitten looked at his best friend worriedly. He knew that Kaede's decision was for him.
"You shouldn't worry," Kaede said softly as he stared at the ceiling. "Akira won't leave as well."
The kitten nodded his head before curling contentedly over Kaede's chest.
Kaede looked at the ceiling as it formed a dark image. A skinny boy with green eyes stared blankly at him as the darkness slowly closed up around him.
Author's notes:
Hi! I decided to post this finally. I had finished this couple of years go but didn't like to post it since I felt that I should continue more but I don't have the heart to add anymore chapters for this fic. The original plan for this fic was a meeting of Harry and Kaede but I didn't like it as after I read the sixth book. I decided to finish this as it is.
Sorry if I disappoint.
The seventh book of Harry Potter will be out soon.