Eh. A rather short chap. I apologize for that…

/begin/

Raye sighed, stretched out on the tree branch of the Whomping Willow, which strangely accepted her presence without much signs of agitation, as if she were an old friend come to visit it again. Harry squinted into the sun, noting various thestrals hovering about it, or perched near her in the tree. She was sitting there, almost sullenly, her wand leaning near the trunk. "Raye, what was all that about?"

"What do you mean?" The answer was low and quiet. She was evidently not keeping a front up anymore. She looked so much older this morning.

"How old are you?" Harry asked, distracted by the random thought.

"… I'm twenty-nine, if you go according to Hermione's calculations."

"Then how old are you really?"

"I don't know. I've lived so many lives I can't account for all of them. I'm probably in my early twenties. I know I was younger than the books stated when I was up against the Death Eaters. Maybe twenty-seven."

"And what's between you and Lucius… and Sirius?"

Raye was quiet, so silent… "I imagine he, Sirius Black, didn't tell you anything." Harry thought he heard a note of pain in her voice.

"Uh, well…"

"Of course not." Raye looked towards the sky, and a small symbol appeared to glow on her forehead as she looked, Harry remembered from his astronomy class, in the general direction where Mars now lay. "How could he imagine, possibly predict, that we would meet?" A painful, hoarse laugh that reminded Harry of a familiar bark seemed to drag itself from her throat. "He would do anything within his power to ascertain that the ones he cared for didn't have to return to the fray. Fudge wouldn't let him do that, though."

"Raye…" She was eleven years older than him, and yet the empathy that radiated from him towards her was greater than he had felt towards anyone, with the possible exception of Sirius. Maybe not even Sirius; she too, had lost him, though what Sirius was to Raye he could not imagine with any feelings of certainty.

Raye leapt down from the tree, picked up her wand, and knelt at the willow's base. Her fingers dented the ground and she poked at the indentations with her wand. A Pensieve leapt into being from goodness knows where.

"It is not for me to describe the state of our relationships, not when he is gone and can't account for any of it. And Lucius," here her eyes flashed dangerously, "I shall not say much of for fear I'll flare up." Harry wondered silently if the term "flare" was all in earnestness, or if it was merely figurative.

Harry took a deep breath as Raye discarded memory after memory into the Pensieve. Did she have anything left in her mind? He looked up, worried. "Not to worry, Harry," she said, amused, "These are only copies of my memories, translated into English for another's benefit." Finally, she stopped, then prodded the swirling fluid-like substance with her wand. Raye seemed to struggle deeply with some internal conflict. "I won't allow anyone to view these, for they are sacred to me, but I believe you deserve to know. Sirius was as much to me as he was to you."

"I swear, parting from life won't make me reveal any of this."

Raye smiled thinly. "The terms you use do not bode well for the future, but it is in itself in such great turmoil, who will know what will happen?" She stepped back from the Pensieve. "Go ahead. I will stay behind to guard my thoughts." Harry nodded and stuck a finger in the substance, which practically rose up to meet him and pulled him in completely.

/scene transition/

Harry blinked. What was this place? A peaceful looking town… "Rei Hino! Where is it that you are going? Your parents will be here soon."

"Grandpapa, I don't want to go to Tokyo." Harry turned to see a young girl with familiar violet eyes stubbornly stamp her foot as her grandfather ran up to lead her back to the house. Harry followed the quickly. Raye looked no older than twelve. "I want…"

"I know. You want to go to England to help them eradicate the Malicious One. But how do you propose doing so? You are only twelve, my flower, and hardly able to complete your chores amongst the shrine."

"I could make weapons – "

"And who can use them, dear heart?" Rei remained silent, lower lip protruding ominously. "None in Okayama can wield your magic-bearing weaponry. Your bow will not provide arrows for any but yourself. Your knife bites the hand of whoever handles it." Here her grandfather grimaced, and due to the bandages around his hand Harry gathered why. "Your sword, while it works as a wonderfully crafted blade with everyone, does not reveal its secrets to any but you."

"I cannot stay here while people are suffering there." The beautiful tranquility of the Japanese garden they were passing through almost mesmerized Harry. He hurried on as Raye and her grandfather continued walking. A sudden pounding on the door checked their advances. A silhouette through the paper doors revealed a reasonably tall figure, bent over in what could be guessed to be pain.

Rei rushed to the door with hospitable haste, her father following at a slower pace behind. "Hello, sorry about the wait, sir." She pulled back, allowing the man to enter, her eyes wide in amazement.

"And what can we do for you? Food, a bed? Medical attention?" her grandfather asked. The man smiled weakly. His side had been punctured and his face was white from the pain. He was tall, and rather a handsome…

"Sirius…" Harry breathed, recognizing him from various photographs.

"There is no time," Sirius said. "Even as I came here, I was being followed. I dare not bring danger to Japan before its time." Rei's grandfather signaled to her and she stepped out of the room.

"You are injured. Our hospitality will be lacking if you are not tended to." Rei reappeared bearing medical supplies. As she tended to Sirius' wound, her grandfather continued. "What is it that you wish for in Okayama?"

"My name is Sirius Black, and I have arrived from England. Doubtless, you have heard of what is going on there?" Rei looked up, then thought better of talking.

"Yes, I have heard of the events. So what brings you to humble Okayama?"

"We have heard much of a smith here, in Okayama. The wizards and witches in England have wands and magic, but so do the Deatheaters. I was sent here in hopes of acquiring such weapons that might aid our cause there."

"I dare to say that it will not do you much good. The weapons made are good in themselves, but the only one who can use them is the smith." Harry doubted Sirius could sense Rei's embarrassment.

"There has never been an occasion in which to manufacture weapons for other people," she said rather hotly.

Sirius looked at her, surprised. "Well, if you would like to see some of the weapons, you are welcome," her grandfather said. "But the smith is unused to creating things for other people."

Sirius frowned. "Can the smith not come to England? I'm sure, given the time and occasion, forging weapons for another will not be all too difficult for one so talented."

"I'm not inclined to allow that. Still…" Rei's grandfather turned to her. "Rei, fetch the bow and sword. Don't bring the knife."

At Sirius' puzzled look, the old man replied, "The knife bites the hand of anyone but its forger. I don't believe you would like to experience that."

"Er, no." Rei returned with the bow and sword, offering them to Sirius. "These are marvelously made," Sirius murmured. "I don't believe I could get a demonstration…?"

"Of course. Follow me. As our walls are made of paper, I don't like to hold demonstrations in the building."

"Naturally." Harry hurried to keep up. Sirius' anticipation caused him to walk briskly, almost passing Rei's grandfather. They arrived in a martial arts training ground.

"Rei." Rei took the bow from Sirius, despite his startled look, and soon a bolt of light hummed between her fingers. She aimed carefully, then released. The unfortunate target lit up in flames as the light hit it. She then took the sword from Sirius. She stood still in a fighting stance for a few moments, then…

"Yee-ah!" Harry couldn't blame Sirius for starting; he had, also. Rei had leapt into the air, bearing down on another target. After she hit it, she leapt clear and the target teetered crazily for a split second before it exploded. She turned back to her grandfather and Sirius. "Was that satisfactory?"

Her grandfather glanced up at Sirius. "Then, you are the smith?"

"Rei Hino," she replied, bowing.

"I understand your apprehension on allowing her to come to England." Rei looked up, disappointed. "It will be your decision, sir, but I cannot stress enough how much she is needed."

Rei's grandfather was startled. "What? I tell you, Rei cannot forge for another."

"We shall see, sir. I only dare to stay till midnight. Please give me your answer by then." Harry could hardly keep from rushing out to catch Sirius as he sank to his knees in pain. Not that it would have been affective, anyway. It's only a memory, Harry. "Now, if I could trouble you to give me a room…? I think I will take you up on that offer."

Rei led Sirius to a vacant room, rebound his wounds, and left the room with a bow and a, "We will wake you a quarter till midnight, if it is satisfactory to you."

"Thank you."

Rei slid the door shut and sighed. She took a deep breath and suddenly squared her shoulders. She entered the room her grandfather was in. "Grandpapa…"

"My dear. It seems your time has come. You are ready to face the world." Rei was taken aback.

"Then you are letting me go?"

"Yes."

"Thank you! But, why did you change your mind. You say I cannot forge for another…"

"The fight should not reach Japan. Remember that, my flower. That is why I am sending you to England."

"I will not disappoint you, Grandpapa. I promise."

Harry watched as the scene appeared to be fastforwarded. There was no sound. Raye was fixing supplies, her grandfather murmuring incantations, and then time appeared normal again.

Rei knocked on Sirius' doorframe. "Sir, it is 11:45." Sirius woke immediately.

"Thank you."

"There is food set in the other room. Please eat before you go."

"Thank you," Sirius replied again, stifling a yawn. "I am indebted to you and your grandfather."

"No, it is I who am indebted to you." Rei blushed as she said it, and she bowed herself out.

Sirius' ability with chopsticks, Harry was pleased to see, was excellent. Was all of this actually in Japanese, then? Sirius must have traveled a lot. "My granddaughter will be accompanying you to England. She has been spoiling to assist your people, and I cannot deny her this opportunity that Heaven has smiled down upon her."

"I thank you, and I'm sure England does, also." It soon approached midnight, and Sirius and Raye prepared to leave.

"I will miss you, Grandpapa."

"And I you. Remember, my flower. Do your best for Japan."

"Thank you, sir. I will make sure she arrives in England safely."

"Go in peace, both of you."

Rei had, in her possession, her sword, bow, and knife. With a flick of her wrist, her sword became a wand which she tucked into her sash. The two of them had traveled to the outskirts of Okayama. Sirius now turned to Rei. "Do you know how to disapparate?"

"Not effectively. I know how to do it, but actually performing it is another matter."

"Of course. I will make a portkey, then." Sirius prodded a rock with his wand. "Take hold, now."