Chapter I: Ron Weasley and the Fugitive Homunculus

Ron had wondered for some time when he might finally get the chance to leave the country on an assignment.

Actually wait, that wasn't fair. He'd hopped over to France a few times. But McRemitz was the same age as he was, and she'd been all over the damned place. Of course, she'd started work as an auror a lot earlier than he had, but still!

That said, he hadn't expected to go quite as far afield as Japan on his first distant outing. Whoever this Averruncus character was, he'd caused some real mayhem at the primary gateway, and then he'd vanished as quickly as he appeared. The authorities on the other side had provided the department with a photograph of Averruncus, and at first it had startled him.

Unblinking eyes stared out blankly from a child's face. Messy white hair. Red eyes. Fate Averruncus scarcely moved in the picture, to the point that Ron had thought it was a muggle photograph at first.

The boy could only have been a construct.

They had quickly passed the photo along to the Germans, who verified that it was not in fact one of the Einzberns'.

Which left a whole lot of questions unanswered. Who was he? Whose was he? Why had he come across the gateway? And why in hell had he turned up in Japan of all places?

Part of him suspected the Einzberns anyway. They rarely left that castle of theirs, with who knows what going on on the inside. Who was to say they hadn't magicked up another one their homunculi for some eccentric nobleman on the other side? Maybe it had gone rogue? Maybe this was the beginning of some bizarre terrorist cell? They had little but the assurances of the German Ministry that this wasn't the case.

Ron drummed his fingertips on his lap as he watched the clouds.

Bazett didn't like portkeys.

Well, he didn't know for sure, but her face had quirked the second the word 'portkey' had left Director Robard's mouth, and so Ron had suggested muggle travel. So they were taking the long way.

Ron had flown in an airplane once before, back in '98. It had been a fair bit more uncomfortable than this flight, if only because of how distraught Hermione had been. Her parents were quick to forgive, but she'd had a hard time forgiving herself. It made for a… distressful trip.

The Einzberns though...

Lord Archibald had assured them the last Einzbern to leave Germany was quite dead. Though he was tight lipped as to the exact circumstances.

Archibald reminded Ron of a young Snape, so he trusted the man as much as he liked him, which was little. But Bazett took him at his word. In this case, he'd defer to her experience, even if it pained him.

He supposed the Einzberns wouldn't have the reputation they did if they handed out their constructs to the highest bidders. There were plenty of bad men with deep pockets who would delight to have one in their household. Old World or New.

Which left them right back at square one. A construct crossing the gateway with forged papers, and then resisting arrest quite spectacularly. And he could only imagine what this "Fate" got up to in Japan.

The Kansai Magic Association's letter had said little, only that he had been part of some sort of mischief, and that they'd rather discuss it in person.

Ron had not been knowledgeable of the political divisions within Japan, but those who were, were quite busy. Otherwise, he felt, he wouldn't have been sent in the first place. The lack of a central ministry or association as in much of Europe made these sorts of incidents quite an ordeal.

Ron resisted the urge to groan. If only to not bother his partner, who slept soundly in the seat to his left. She had graciously offered him the window seat, for which he was appreciative.

He wanted to stay on her good side. He intended to use this little excursion to check in on his distant cousins. Mum hadn't heard from her squib relative in nearly a decade, and, well, since he was in the area anyway!

Bazett hated getting sidetracked though, so he was waiting for the right moment to spring his plans on her. So far, no luck. But there was still plenty of flight left. She'd wake up sooner or later, and then he just had to catch her in a happy moment.

In the end, that moment never came.

Bazett removed their one enchanted suitcase (which contained both of their luggage) from the overhead compartment, and they followed along as they were ushered out of the plane. Most of the passengers were Japanese, it seemed, and Ron towered right over them. He'd always been tall, but here, he felt like he knew how Hagrid must have felt.

Bazett's dark eyes scanned the passengers nearest them as they moved, ever suspicious.

Surreptitiously, Ron confirmed his wand's presence at his hip holster.

But there was no trouble, and in no time they were on the tarmac.

Ron stretched languidly as he felt the sunlight, unable to repress the yawn that escaped him. He hadn't slept on the flight, unlike his partner. He found it somewhat difficult to relax enough to snatch a few winks when the only thing between him and the sky was a little bit of metal and faith in someone else's flying. Quidditch players tended to have that issue, he'd been told, though it was some years since he'd last taken a broom onto a pitch.

A man stood alone some ways away from the line of passengers. He wore a suit, and on his right hand was a rather conspicuous ring (if you knew what to look for). The other passengers seemed not to notice him. He had eyes only for them.

Though Ron supposed they were a rather conspicuous pair. Bazett was as tall as many of the male passengers, and her hair too was red, though of a darker shade than his own. Ron had noticed many eyes on them early in their flight.

"Must be our man," Ron said, keeping his voice low.

"Indeed," she replied, her tone even.

The suited man's right hand did a little flourish, and Ron felt the air shift subtly around him.

Immediately, Bazett broke from the crowd, and Ron moved with her. The passengers didn't notice, and neither did any of the airport officials.

Bazett bowed as they neared the man. "Greetings," she said. "The Kansai Association sent you?"

The man bowed in return. "Yes, and you two could only be the aurors?"

"Bazett Fraga McRemitz," she introduced, indicating to herself, and then, with a hand toward Ron, "and Ron Weasley. Konoe-dono sent for us."

Ron let her do all the talking. She was his superior, and though her enchantments had imparted upon him knowledge of the Japanese language, it didn't make him necessarily comfortable speaking it. Bazett had already been proficient in Japanese, though he didn't know when she might have learned it.

"Right this way," the man said, after greetings were out of the way. They followed silently behind him, as he led them behind some sort of great transport canister.

All three of them glanced around to ensure the absence of prying eyes (though the notice-me-not charms would take care of the bulk of those). Their privacy secured, the man offered an elbow to each of them. Ron closed his eyes as he gripped the man's elbow.

With a crack and a familiar tug behind his navel, they were gone.

When he opened his eyes, Ron was greeted with a pleasant sight.

It was an immense Japanese mansion, built in a fashion he knew to be traditional. He'd seen something similar (to his eye) in an old samurai film once. Silently, he thanked Hermione for the slight familiarity it granted him; he'd never much been one for the muggle pictures until after he and Hermione had moved in together after the war.

He glanced around. Old trees surrounded the entrance to the mansion, and behind him, a long stone path disappeared into the distance, trees and arches following the whole way. If he hadn't known he was in Kyoto, he might've thought he was in the middle of the woods.

Their escort moved forward, past unlit lanterns and toward the grand entrance.

Ron caught Bazett's eyes, and raised his eyebrows. He'd expected fancy, but damn!

Bazett's smirk was so slight, it almost wasn't there. She then made to follow the man, and Ron kept pace with her.

They passed under one final arch, and into a grand courtyard. Cherry trees were planted around its edges, and pink blossoms fell lazily, dancing lightly in the breeze.

Would cherry trees be blooming? Ron didn't know. Might've been an enchantment to keep them pretty, but this wasn't Ron's domain, and it never had been. Herbology bored him to tears. Still, they were quite pretty.

Smaller buildings whose purpose he didn't know preceded the entrance to the main building. Ron followed silently, noting a lack of ambient magical energy past a certain radius around the compound.

'A bounded field.'

They climbed a short set of stairs onto what Ron could only call a patio. Their escort slipped off his shoes, and set them down, flipping their direction to face out toward the courtyard. Bazett followed suit, and, resisting the urge to make a comment, Ron copied her. These were traditionalists alright.

The inside was near as grand as the outside. A huge entrance hall greeted them, with smooth and shining wooden floors, and walls covered in that queer paper. At the far end, stairs led up to a landing.

Their escort led them forward further, toward a series of circular mats that sat in the middle of the hall. He gestured toward them, and Bazett knelt down onto a mat in the Japanese fashion. Again, Ron followed suit, though his knees screamed at him for doing so.

"Konoe-sama will arrive shortly," their escort said with a bow of his head.

And then the man walked away, his light footsteps making scarcely a sound on the wooden floors.

The second the man was out of earshot, Ron finally let himself grumble.

"Why do they kneel like this? Why can't I just sit down?"

"It's tradition, and we are here as representatives of the British Ministry; I won't have you cause a diplomatic incident on account of laziness."

Ron mockingly clutched at his chest. "You wound me, McRemitz." Then he squirmed, trying to get comfortable kneeling this way. It was fruitless. "I don't think I could come up with a worse way to sit if I tried."

Filch would have loved to hear about this. Maybe he should write him a letter one of these days.

Ron couldn't suppress a laugh at the thought of how Filch would look if he received a letter from him. He wasn't sure if the man would be shocked or appalled.

After a few quiet and painful minutes, a robed figure appeared upon the landing ahead of them, walking toward them with calm, measured steps. His robes were fine and elaborate, and again, he was reminded of those samurai movies. The man's flowing eastern robes looked like they cost more than Ron's own yearly salary; that was how he knew it had to be the head of the association. Unlike many in Britain who claimed the title of "Lord", this man actually looked the part.

As he neared, Ron realized that man's robes were in fact those of a priest. Was that the traditional wizardly ensemble in Japan? He had no idea. He'd have to ask Bazett later. Either way, the man was tall, and quite broad shouldered, though his robes obscured his form heavily. The man's kindly dark eyes regarded them gently. He wore rounded rectangular glasses, and he had big ears that jutted out. His short black hair seemed to be receding ever so slightly, and his face was gaunt but unwrinkled. His air was one of experience and confidence.

Ron couldn't hazard a guess at his age if he tried.

As he finally stopped before them, he bowed his head to them.

"Welcome," he said. "Bazett McRemitz?"'

Bazett bowed low. "Yes, Konoe-dono."

Lord Konoe's (was he a lord, actually?) eyes met Ron's own. "And you must be Ron Weasley."

Ron bowed in imitation of Bazett, though he felt very silly doing it.

Konoe's eyes glittered. "I've heard of your family, you know. Very ancient, I'm told."

Ron nodded in a way he hoped came off respectfully. "Oh, we're pretty old; not wealthy though." The Japanese words felt strange on his tongue. He offered his best disarming Lockhart laugh.

Konoe met his laugh with one of his own. "Come along, we have much to discuss, and there are ever prying ears these days."

Bazett rose as Konoe motioned for them to follow and Ron rose with her, nearly falling over as he tried to extricate himself from his prior kneeling position.

Ron tried to not be too impressed as Konoe led them wordlessly through a sea of rooms and hallways. They passed internal courtyards decorated with gardens of stone and sand. Women in maid uniforms stopped in the halls whenever they neared, and bowed deeply for their master. Doors made of paper set within wooden frames slid open by themselves.

Finally, they arrived in a room much cozier than the gargantuan entry hall. Mats were laid out for them here, just as they were out front, but here they were set around a low table.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable," Konoe said amicably.

This time, Bazett sat cross legged, and Ron followed her lead, taking the seat immediately to her right and praising whatever gods lived here for their mercy. It was much more comfortable this way.

Konoe sat opposite them.

"What do you know?" he asked, not unkindly.

Bazett answered immediately. "The Kansai and Kanto Magic Associations have been at odds for some years, primarily over the usage and promotion of western thaumaturgy. The Kansai Association, your Association, considers itself the defender of traditional Japanese magic. According to our sources, relations have become tense. You, Eishun Konoe, have been a mitigating factor."

"Your sources are not incorrect," Konoe replied. "I believe that matters are settled for the moment, but whenever pride in one's heritage is concerned, there is potential for conflict. Many here are proud of our traditions, of our ways." He laughed dryly. "Believe it or not, my tenure as Chief of the Kansai Association is the most peaceful we have seen in…perhaps two hundred years."

"And why is that?" Ron found himself asking.

Eishun smiled. "I suppose there is only so much that filters back to the ears of your Ministry." He reached into the folds of his robe and withdrew a small square photograph (polaroid? was that what it was called?). He slid it across the table for the two of them to share a look.

It was definitely a muggle photograph, with no movement. The girl that stared up at them was young, perhaps… ten years old, he figured, or close enough. She had long black hair and blunt bangs. She wore eclectic muggle clothing, and had a big smile and dark laughing eyes near identical to those of the man sitting across from them. She was flashing a v for victory. Or a peace sign. Whichever.

"Your daughter?" Ron asked.

Konoe smiled contentedly and nodded. "Konoka," he supplied.

Bazett glanced from the photo of Konoka to the face of her father, and then back. "And her mother?"

"I can see why they sent you," Konoe replied, laughing, before withdrawing the photograph into the folds of his robes. "My wife is indeed a part of the current peace, as is Konoka. My father-in-law is the head of the Kanto Association. My marriage to Tomoko was arranged to bring peace between our two factions. I even took their name, as my own family was of far lower standing."

Ron frowned slightly. Even in Britain, family meant a lot if you had any political aspirations. Things had been getting better, but even now, the highest positions in the Clock Tower were primarily held by those of lordly pedigree or their hangers-on. He was given to understand this was even moreso the case in Japan. If these were the arch traditionalists, he couldn't imagine them just handing their spot to a man without the… correct background. There had to be something else.

"You were already Chief of the Association before your marriage?" Bazett asked, her voice betraying no emotion or judgment.

"I was," Eishun answered, a decided note of pride evident in his tone.. "Which brings me to the second relevant aspect of your investigation. Sadly, I don't have a photo on hand for this," he said, laughing though he sobered quickly. "Tell me, do you know of 'Ala Rubra'?"

Red Wing. They were a famous name, if only due to the Welshman who had led them, Nagi Springfield, the Thousand Master. So called due to his alleged mastery of over a thousand spells. Ala Rubra had played a pivotal role in eliminating the sorcerer many called the Lifemaker. But that was twenty years ago, and on the other side besides. Ron frowned yet more deeply, his brow furrowing; he let Bazett take the lead again.

"Of course…" she replied slowly, "…but I was unaware of any connection to them."

Eishun Konoe closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. When he began to speak again, he was smiling, but his eyes remained closed. His smile was tinged with something close to sadness. "To answer your earlier, unspoken, question, I made a name for myself as one of their number; I fought alongside the Thousand Master in the Paradise War. When I returned to Japan after the war, few in Kansai could measure up against me. I was the obvious choice, whether I wanted the position or not."

Ron kept his face blank, but he knew he'd be gaping if he wasn't on official business. A companion of Nagi Springfield? Eishun Konoe could only have been an exceedingly powerful mage, his lacking family name be damned. Had Director Robard known before he sent them? Glancing at Bazett's flat expression, he knew she was probably thinking similar thoughts.

"I… must confess, Konoe-dono, that the other members of Ala Rubra are not well known," Bazett finally said, "I apologize for any slights we–"

"–no apologies are necessary, McRemitz-san. If I wished it to be public knowledge, it would be. I never wished for fame. I only wished to help."

That reminded him of a certain someone.

"And that is not why I raised the subject, besides." He reached into the folds of his robes once again, and withdrew yet another photograph. Konoe slid it across the table just as he had the picture of his daughter.

This photo too was a muggle one. On it, a horde of girls in school uniforms posed, laughing and smiling in front of an old Japanese temple. A few faces stood out to him, if only for their obvious non-Japanese origins. Exchange students? On the right edge was a very curvaceous woman, who could only have been their teacher, and on the left, a white boy in a suit. A teacher's aide? Near the center he saw Konoe's daughter smiling widely.

Konoe reached across the table and indicated the boy on the left.

He was older than the schoolgirls, that much was clear, and taller than most. He couldn't have been more than sixteen. His suit was green, and his red hair was tied back into a ponytail. His smile was slight, but not unhappy. One of the girls was pulling him closer to the middle of the group.

"Were you aware that the Thousand Master had a son?" Konoe said suddenly.

This time, Bazett actually frowned. "No," she said, confused. Then she looked back down at the photograph.

Ron realized it at near the same moment.

On the rare occasions when Hermione got drunk, she liked to regale him with long diatribes about some subject or another. When she got really drunk she'd bring out the books. One night, he had learnt more about the war in Mundus than he had in seven years at Hogwarts. His favorite parts were always the pictures, of course.

The boy was a mirror image of the photograph she had shown him of Nagi Springfield. The boy's hair was somewhat shorter, and he didn't seem to have the same exaggerated swagger the Thousand Master had, but his eyes were the same color, his hair the same deep red, and his face was only slightly rounder.

"His name is Negi. Nagi was never very original with names," Eishun said with a laugh. "He teaches English at Mahora Academy."

A small, quiet, part of Ron wanted to protest the fact that a boy his age was allowed in an authority position over so many girls his junior, but frankly, he had heard of stranger teaching arrangements. Hogwarts was… innovative, in that regard.

"And he's a wizard?" Ron asked.

"An incredibly talented one, yes," Eishun replied. He then pointed at the temple they were posing in front of. "That temple is here in Kyoto. Near the end of April, my daughter and her class came to Kyoto for a field trip, but in truth, it was an excuse for Negi Springfield to relay a message from my father-in-law. Konoemon Konoe is the dean of Mahora Academy, and many among his staff are magical, though the schools at Mahora are mundane."

Bazett leaned forward. "Why Negi? Why not someone else?"

Lord Konoe could only shake his head. "My father-in-law is old and inscrutable." He took a deep breath, closing his eyes again for a moment. "During their stay in Kyoto, they were hounded by an errant mage from within my Association. I don't know how many supported her from the shadows, but I do know that she was able to recruit several mercenaries for her purposes. One of said mercenaries was your Fate Averruncus, and he was easily the most powerful of them."

Ron chewed on the inside of his lip. "What was this mage's plan? Why recruit a homunculus from Mundus?"

Konoe's gaze was steel. "Chigusa's plan was to set the Associations against each other at all costs. To do so, she would kidnap my daughter, and use Konoka's latent magical potential to summon and bind an elder demon with which to assume control of my own Association and then smash the Kanto Association."

Bazett gasped. "An elder demon? In Kyoto? She would break the Statue of Secrecy for some… some rivalry?"

Eishun's face fell. "It goes… somewhat deeper than that, but I do not feel it is relevant to your investigation. Rest assured that she has been taken care of, and every effort is being made to root out any co-conspirators."

Ron was drumming his fingers on the table. He looked down to the photo again, and then back to Eishun. "And Fate?"

Konoe let out a tired breath. "My daughter, her teacher, and her class came to visit. Whilst here, Fate Averruncus ambushed me. Ambushed my entire staff. I was petrified before I even realized our bounded field had been pierced. Every mage stationed here was petrified in a matter of minutes. Only Negi Springfield and the few of his students who know of magic managed to escape." Eishun shook his head. "From here, I know only what Negi told me. I spent the remainder of the night a stone prisoner within my own home."

"Your petrification was undone so easily?" Bazett asked, bringing her hand to her chin. "Surely a mage capable of getting through your bounded field could have made it permanent. Or simply killed you."

"Absolutely," Konoe replied. "He spared us. The petrification was low level; any proficient medical sorcerer could have undone it." Konoe grunted, air leaving his nose. "I struggle to understand his goals. Chigusa would not have begrudged him doing away with the Association leadership, and yet he didn't.."

Ron cut in. "Chigusa being your rogue mage, correct?" To Konoe's nod, he continued. "Then what happened to your daughter?"

Eishun's gaze returned to the photograph still resting on the table. "Averruncus took Konoka. Chigusa tapped into my daughter's dormant reserves, and summoned some hundred demonfolk to hold off Negi Springfield and his students. Then, she began and completed the ritual to unbind the elder demon Sukuna, which the Thousand Master and I had defeated and sealed some eighteen years ago."

Ron crossed his arms and leaned back. "I don't see how this story has a happy ending. A demon of this caliber, a small army of lesser folk, and a construct mage capable of blindsiding a companion of the Thousand Master? But it can't end badly, or else our ministry would have heard of it. You've managed to keep it quiet."

"I'm not at liberty to divulge Negi's secrets," He looked from Ron to Bazett, and then back. "But he was able to restrain the demon and prevent its rampage. He fended off Averruncus long enough for my father-in-law to send reinforcements from Kanto. I have been asked not to divulge her name, but she is a True Ancestor beholden to my father-in-law."

If Ron had been drinking something, he would have spit it out all over the table and made an absolute fool of himself.

Bazett's mouth was a firm line, and her eyes were wide. "And this True Ancestor…" Bazett finally managed, "... she defeated the demon, I assume?"

Eishun nodded sombrely. "With a single spell, I'm told, and the demon has since been resealed with her aid. My daughter was rescued, and in the end, there were no human casualties. Memory magics were used on those few mundanes who witnessed any of it. As far as the mundane government of Japan is aware, nothing has occurred. Fate Averruncus fled, unable to face both Springfield and his ally. My agents have been unable to track him down, hence my request to the British Ministry for assistance." He quieted, taking a deep breath. "Would you like some tea?"

It took Ron a fair moment to register the question, the suddenness of the subject change catching him off guard. "I– sure. Thank you Lord Konoe."

Bazett too accepted his offer, and then they waited quietly while Konoe called for a servant.

Ron's mind was whirling. This had been an interesting assignment already when it was just a homunculus on the run. Now the son of one of the finest British mages of the last century was involved, as was an as-yet unnamed True Ancestor vampire. He didn't even know what to begin to make of it all, and by the look on Bazett's face neither did she! So they sat, and waited for their tea. Ron shuffled in his seat, glancing back down to the photo, and trying to picture the boy teacher in the picture doing battle with an elder demon.

It felt… absurd.

But Harry had defeated a dark lord when he was only seventeen. Was it really so strange?

When the still steaming tea was brought to them by one of the pretty maids that they had seen outside, Ron fought the instinct to take a sip and immediately burn his tongue. Hermione had gotten on his case about that sort of thing.

Lord Konoe waited patiently for the tea to cool, watching both of them.

"I'm sure you now have more questions than answers, but I'm afraid there is little more that I can say when it comes to Fate Averruncus." His hand returned to the folds of his robes once again, but this time, it withdrew an envelope. He handed it to Bazett gingerly. "In that letter is everything you need to claim an audience with my father-in-law. He should be more than willing to allow you to speak to Negi Springfield, and even my daughter's classmates who were involved. I cannot promise you that he will allow you to question the vampire, as he is rather protective of her, but I've made all of the proper entreaties on your behalf. With any luck, you'll be able to discover something you can use to further your investigation, and this sorry episode may be brought to a close."

"Thank you, Konoe-dono. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated."

They quieted again.

Ron finally risked taking a sip of his tea.

ACK!

Later that night, as they readied for bed in their shared hotel room (he really needed to save money for the wedding), Ron realized that he'd run out of time.

If he didn't broach the subject with her tonight, they'd be on their way to Mahora Academy for their audience with Konoe's father-in-law, the head of the Kanto Magic Association. And then if they did discover something, there was little chance Bazett would be willing to turn around and come all the way back to the opposite end of Japan. If he wanted the chance to reconnect with his mother's family, he'd have to bring it up now.

"Bazett?" He called from his position sitting on his bed.

"What?" she replied, clearly distracted. She was rifling through some of the files they'd brought with them. Several papers were laid out across her own mattress.

"I was wondering if you'd be willing to make a bit of a detour?"

Bazett dropped the paper she'd withdrawn. Her dark eyes were suspicious, and her frown was fierce. "What sort of detour." She said, making it a statement.

Ron put on a brave face. "Ah, well, I have a second cousin, you see. Or third? Or once removed? I can never remember how it works. Anyway, on my mum's side of the family, there's a squib. He moved to Japan some years ago and settled down with a Japanese woman, and had a son last we heard. Mum hasn't heard from him in ages. Since I've got the wedding coming up and all that… I was hoping to maybe track them down."

Her face softened somewhat, but he could tell she was still annoyed. "And where does this squib cousin of yours live?"

"Well, lived," he said, "like I said, mum hasn't heard from him in nearly a decade. Hasn't answered her letters or anything. He might not even be there anymore, but I thought I'd at least make the effort, y'know?"

"Fine!" She exclaimed, exasperated, "but where is it?"

Suddenly, Ron came up short. He had to think on it for a second, and even with the language spell, he wasn't totally sure if he'd pronounce it the right way, "Ah…. Fuyuki, I think it was?"

Bazett's expression totally changed. "Fuyuki?" she repeated, sounding much younger all of a sudden. "You're sure that's where they lived?"

Ron nodded, "Pretty damn sure."

Bazett blew air out her nose, then smiled, a genuinely rare thing for her. "I've got a friend who lives there, actually. I wouldn't mind paying him a visit."

"A friend?" Ron asked with a smirk. "I didn't know you had any of those."

"Oh shut up Weasley." She returned to her papers, but the smile didn't quite leave her face. "He might even be able to help you out; he works in the church."

That gave Ron a bit of pause, the Church could be prickly at the best of times. But hey, he wouldn't turn down help, even if it was from some stuffy priest. He laid down, glad it hadn't come to a shouting match or a guilt trip. Maybe he'd be able to track them down after all!

After all, there couldn't be very many redheads in Fuyuki, could there?