Thanks to TrialAndError123456 for pointing out the mistake in the previous chapter. It's corrected... I think

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"So, would the two of you mind explaining what on earth you were doing in the middle of the Forbidden Forest?"

Kouichi guiltily looked away from Professor McGonagall. Now he understood why other students said she must never be angered. She looked as if she was she was a bull preparing to charge at a matador. He sat up straighter in his seat, and chanced a glance at Draco. He was sitting in the chair beside his, looking defiantly at the floor.

"Mr Malfoy, as a sixth-year student I expected that you would fully understand that the Forest is banned to all students unless accompanied by a teacher for a valid reason! Even more shocking, you have led one of our Japanese exchange students into danger, and yet you refuse to say a single word as to why the two of you can be loitering about in the Forest!"

Kouichi quickly spoke up. "It wasn't his fault; I wandered into the Forest myself and met him there by accident…"

Kouichi and Draco had been sitting together for quite a long time – at first, Kouichi had fully intended to return to the castle after a while, but since Draco had made no signs he was leaving the place, so feeling worried, he had stayed on. The two of them had just sat together for about three or four hours, until the gametaker, Hagrid, found them while he was looking for a forest creature.

"And there I was looking fer that odd dragon creature I saw the other day, when I saw these two boys jus' sittin' there…" Hagrid explained.

Professor McGonagall looked sternly at Kouichi, but her tone was gentler when she spoke directly to him. "Kimura, I do not blame you fully as you are new here, and do not understand all the school rules, unlike our senior students here. I – ah, Professor Snape."

Professor Snape entered the office with a slight frown on his face. "You have two of my students, Minerva?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Severus. Hagrid found these two in the Forbidden Forest, and I have received reports from their teachers that they have missed all classes since lunch. So far, they have both refused to give me a reasonable excuse for their conduct."

"Don't worry, I will personally take them in hand." Snape's face was expressionless. He dismissed Kouichi, but ordered Draco to follow him to his office down in the dungeons. Kouichi stared after them, but when Snape continued to ignore him he shrugged to himself and went back to the common room, thinking about the time when he had first met Draco…

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"Kimura? Kimura! KIMURA!"

"I'm here, Rengoku-san," Kouichi said hastily, quickly coming out from the back room where he had been washing his hands. His boss looked at him with a small frown.

"Where were you? You knew that they were coming today, weren't you?"

"I'm sorry," Kouichi apologised. "I was-"

"It doesn't matter," his boss said dismissively. "The English customers I told you about are here, in the front room. Go entertain them, they want someone who can speak English and help them locate a certain item."

Kouichi nodded, hastily straightening his worn Muggle clothing before going out to meet the customers. A tall, blond man with a pale face was sitting in the chair in the corner, accompanied by a teenaged boy of Kouichi's age, who could only be his son. Remembering the customs of the West, Kouichi extended a hand to the man. "Good morning, Mr Malfoy," he said calmly.

Mr Malfoy shook his hand. "You must be Kimura. This is my son, Draco. We are searching for a certain object that might have passed through your shop, but I'll prefer to talk about something else first. Are you familiar with the recent magical history of England?"

Kouichi nodded. "Yes, but I don't know all the details; I only know what information that is available in the international newspapers."

"Then, have you heard of this boy called Harry Potter?"

"Harry Potter?" Kouichi noticed that Draco Malfoy had suddenly tensed up for some reason, and was now scowling heavily at the floor. "Yes, I have heard of him. Thirteen years, as a baby, ago he became famous for being the only one having survived the Killing Curse from a Dark wizard, right?"

A brief, odd expression suddenly came over Mr Malfoy's face. "Yes, you are correct. I was wondering, do you have any idea what could have caused the curse to backfire?"

Kouichi gave a start, caught with a question he had completely unexpected. He thought quickly. "Well, for one it could be the mistake of the spell caster's wand; if a wand is damaged or functioning improperly the spell casted would be less effective. Another reason could be that the person was being protected by some sort of charm that is more powerful than the normal Shield Charm. Or there could have been a disturbance in the magical balance around the area…"

Mr Malfoy nodded approvingly. "Good, good, I see that Rengoku was being truthful when he said that you are a top student of the Darkness element. I am here to look for a certain item, as well as someone who is knowledgeable enough… I am working for a certain wizard who is of a high status in my country, and he is looking for a Japanese to help him in his work. Of course, if you are interested, I will let you complete your schooling here first before arranging for you to come over to England to help my master."

Kouichi was taken aback. "Thanks for the offer, Mr Malfoy, I'll consider it, but I don't know if I can leave my family here."

Mr Malfoy shook his head. "It doesn't matter, my master is patient. He can wait. I will give you my address so you can contact me whenever you think that you are ready. And one more thing… My son is interested in the culture of Japanese wizards. Will you do us a favour and bring him around the city? I will pay you."

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"Guys, look at this."

Hermione spread out her newspaper before Takuya and Davis, pointing at an article. The Japanese boys exchanged bewildered glances, before looking at what she was frantically pointing out to them. They both took in the bold headline of the articles and both gasped loudly at the same time. Within a few minutes, the paper was passed around all the Japanese students at the Gryffindor table, and all of them reacted in the same way:

JAPAN PLAGUED BY DISASTER – YOU-KNOW-WHO'S INVOLVEMENT SUSPECTED

Late last night – early morning Japan time – several incidents occurred in a small suburban area just outside of Japan's mega city, Tokyo. Several Muggles and wizards were found dead of the dreaded Killing Curse that is the signature of You-Know-Who. The exact number of victims is uncomfirmed, but officials say that the number is at least eight. The Dark Mark had been set over the bodies, a sure sign that You-Know-Who was involved. England officials have met up with their Japanese counterparts, but are clueless as to why the Dark wizard has extended his network to such a far away country.

In a separate but apparently linked incident, Oasis Gardens, a park popular for camping activities, has been found destroyed, wth trees uprooted and grass dug out. No one witnessed the destruction of the park, and the damage has since been repaired by magic. The public is advised not to panic, as this might have been the work of a group of pranksters taking advantage of the unstable situation in the magical community caused by You-Know-Who.

"Hey, Kari, Oasis Gardens," TK said suddenly, a strange look coming over his face. "Wasn't that where there's a gate – I mean, where I went with Tai and the others for the summer camp almost ten years ago?"

"You mean… Oh!" Kari's eyes suddenly became very round. "Oasis Gardens? But – I'm sure it's purely a coincidence. We can't do anything about it now anyway."

Davis stared at them. "What are you guys talking abou – Ow! What did you kick me for?"

The others along the table near them were staring suspiciously now. TK shot a warning look at Davis, then went on with his breakfast without another word.

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"You mean that's the place where you first went to the Digiworld?" Davis scratched his head. "Oh yeah, you guys told me that there's a gate there… I don't think that Oasis Gardens being destroyed was in any way related to the Digiworld."

"But I think it's worth checking out," Kari said slowly. "I think maybe I should write to Tai and ask him to check it out or something, it won't hurt, right now he's on his semester break from college."

The Fire Academy students were huddled in a corner, all having finally found time to gather during their lunch break. People stared at the group as they passed, but the Japanese students ignored them, continuing to talk in anxious whispers.

"You know, maybe we're all being a bit to paranoid." TK shrugged. "If there's anything wrong with the Digiworld, Izzy would be the first one to find out. You guys know that he spends more time at his computer studying the Digiworld than he spends time sleeping. Who knows, maybe Izzy might be checking out what happened right now as we speak."

"You've got a point there." Kari folded her arms. "But I'm still not really convinced that nothing is happening."

"But there's been nothing happening since we defeated the darkness," Yolei argued. "Besides, aren't there more Digidestinied out there? They should be the ones taking care of it, we have to trust other Digidestinied to be able to guard the Digiworld."

"You know, I've been thinking…" Ken said slowly, but his voice trailed off as he looked into the distance.

Davis shook his head with an exaggerated sigh. "Ken, since when weren't you thinking?"

Ken shrugged. "Hasn't it ever occurred to you that it's odd that all of us turned out to be wizards and witches? I've been in contact with another Digidestinied in India, and she told me that all of the Digidestinied at her place also turned out to be wizards and witches. It's quite a startling coincidence, don't you think? There're aren't many chances that six kids randomly chosen out of millions can turn out to have magical blood."

"So you're thinking that all Digidestinied are wizards?" Cody asked.

Ken nodded. "Precisely. Besides, Tai, Matt, Izzy, Joe, Sora, Mimi…"

"All of TK and Kari's old gang." Yolei nodded too. "Wizards as well…"

"And remember those kids that Arachnimon and Mummimon kidnapped?" Ken said suddenly.

"Of course we remember, you would too if you had been chasing after a truck for nearly half a day, without lunch or dinner…"

"Well, I've been keeping in touch with them, and guess what?"

"Wizards and witches too?"

"Precisely."

"Wow, Ken…" Davis shook his head. "For someone who doesn't talk much you sure do have loads of contacts."

"So, you're thinking…"

"The Fire Academy students too?"

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Draco Malfoy took a deep breath, raising his wand. He had no idea why he had been ordered to do such an odd thing, but he wasn't stupid enough to rebel against the Dark Lord, at the cost of losing his parents…

"Kouichi, I'm so sorry…"

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"Kouichi, we need to talk."

Something was wrong…

Kouichi looked up, and was startled to see his brother glaring angrily at him. He closed his book and stood up. "What's the matter?"

"We need to talk."

His mind spinning…

Kouichi glanced around edgily. "This is the library, we can't talk too loudly or-" The next thing he knew, Kouji had grabbed him by the neck of his robes and slammed him into the wall with brute force. Kouji's eyes were narrowed.

"Tell me, big brother, what have you been keeping from me? It's been two whole weeks, and all you've done is avoid me."

"Kouji, stop it." Kouichi tried to gently prise off Kouji's hand, but his grip was strong. He frowned. "Don't make me do something I'll regret."

Felt somehow… quite good…

"What have you been keeping from me?!"

"Kouji!" Kouichi suddenly felt something inside him snap, and he hit out at Kouji with all his strength. Kouji fell to the floor with a gasp, holding a hand to his cheek where there was a thin, black gash. His brother looked up at him with a genuinely shocked expression, and for a second Kouichi's vision went white, and there was Duskmon leering back at him…

"Kouichi…"

Kouichi looked at the ruler he had been gripping in his hand. Somehow he felt incredibly angry. Why is it that whatever I do, I have to worry about him? "I don't need to tell you everything, do I? It's not like I have some sort of responsibility to report to you every single damn thing that I do! It's not like I can't take care of myself, you know."

"Kouichi…" Kouji's voice shook with slight fear. "Kouichi, is something wrong?"

"Yeah, there's something wrong with me all right – having a jerk like you as a brother!" Kouichi pulled out his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"

Kouji jumped out of the way just in time, pulling out his wand and preparing to cast any protective charms. He gazed at his older twin in fear. "Kouichi… What are you trying to do? Stop it!"

"Go to hell!" Kouichi exploded, raising his wand again, the incantations for a particular curse coming into his mind, the chanting to call upon the deepest secrets of Dark magic…

There was a loud bang, a scream, and Kouji lay unmoving on the floor…

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"That Slytherin kid attacked his own twin brother!"

"Yeah, and more than six people saw him using an Unforgivable Curse! Do you think…"

"He's a Dark wizard? What else can he be? He's a Slytherin, that's where all those kind of people come from."

"He tried to kill his own brother! He must be mad, that kid…"

Kouichi heard nothing, as he sat slumped on the floor, leaning weakly against the wall. He was just outside the hospital wing, where Kouji was, but he hadn't been in to see his brother yet. When Kouji had collapsed, several Gryffindors had rushed him to the hospital wing, while a senior Ravenclaw Disarmed Kouichi. Fighting off several students, Kouichi had run off after Kouji but had been unable to bring himself to enter the hospital wing after his brother.

"Kouichi?"

It was Takuya, but Kouichi ignored him, feeling worse every minute. He had no idea how he had lost control of himself like that; but at that moment he had just felt like attacking the person nearest to him – who happened to be Kouji. The feeling suddenly made him recall something that had happened to him about five years ago, and he felt so disgusted with himself, with what he had done…

"Kouichi, what happened?" Takuya knelt down beside him and grabbed his shoulders.

"Stop it, Takuya." It was Zoe, and Kouichi felt Takuya's hands let go of his shoulders.

"But…"

"Takuya…"

Zoe pulled Takuya up. "Come, let's go in…"

Kouichi felt the movement of people past him, into the hospital wing, where he heard Takuya exclaim loudly, "Kouji!" That made him feel even worse, and he closed his eyes tightly.

What's happening to me? Is… Is it happening again?"

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Harry didn't know the Japanese students very well, but he felt terribly worried all the same. He hadn't thought much about it when he had brought Kouji to the hospital wing along with Ron and Hermione, but now his mind was whirling. Why had the guy's twin brother attacked him? It was as if he was possessed or something, and judging by Kouji's reaction back there, the way Kouichi had been acting wasn't normal. Was Kouichi really a Dark wizard? There had been those rumors…

Kouji lay in a bed, his eyes closed but his body trembling badly, as though he was asleep and in the middle of a nightmare. Madam Pomfrey was anxiously bending over him, wiping his pale face with a sponge soaked in a healing potion. Several other Japanese students were there too, talking amongst themselves in hushed tones. Dumbledore and Snape were there too, both twirling their wands and muttering under their breaths, but nothing seemed to help.

"Headmaster, do you know what curse it is?" Pomfrey asked worriedly. "I'm afraid that if we hesitate any more, the boy might die…"

"It is a curse that I know nothing of," Dumbledore sighed. He looked at Snape, but Snape too shook his head. "It is a form of Dark Magic from the east, where they have many spells that the west do not know about."

"You mean another one of the Japanese students attacked him?" Pomfrey asked, shocked. "Why on earth would someone do this kind of thing to someone else?"

"It was his twin brother who attacked him, Poppy," Dumbledore said grimly. "By the name of Kouichi."

"Where is Kimura?" Snape asked, turning to the students, who were huddled together.

"We passed him outside," Takuya said, his voice shaking. "He was just sitting there, but he wouldn't talk to any of us."

"Get him in here," Snape ordered. "He will have to tell us about the curse that he used-"

The double doors of the hospital wing burst open, and three boys ran in; Harry recognised them as the students from the other Japanese school – Davis, TK and Ken. Ken was pulling out his wand as he ran to them, and when he reached them he paused only for a moment to gasp out an explanation.

"It's the Curse of Trapped Death," he said quickly. "The victim's spirit is trapped in the world of the dead, and without the spirit the body will start to rot until the spirit is unable to return to it." He raised his wand and pointed it at Kouji. "Ta – Ko – Na – Chi – So – Finite!"

There was a burst of white light, and when Harry recovered his vision, Kouji's body started to relax, and then he went totally still. Ken pointed his wand at him again, started to chant again. Harry felt himself shiver inwardly as he watched, transfixed; he had no idea this sort of magic existed. Then he felt as a strong magical presence enter the hospital wing, and when the feeling disappeared, Kouji opened his eyes.

There was a loud shout, then Takuya flung himself at Kouji, screaming hysterically. Zoe and Pomfrey quickly pulled him back, and Kouji slumped back onto his pillows, still looking very pale. As Kouji looked around, frowning as though he was unable to understand something, he murmured, "Where's Kouichi?"

"Dude, Kouichi attacked you," Takuya said uncertainly. "What exactly happened back there?"

"There's something wrong with him," Kouji said slowly, rubbing his head as if he had a bad headache. "I don't know what, but it's just like…"

"Now, now, don't think about that, you'll tire yourself out." Pomfrey patted his shoulder, and pushed a small cup of thick milky potion into his hands. "Finish that, that's an extra powerful Healing Solution…"

"But… Where's Kouichi? I need to talk to him…"

"Dude, just drink the potion," Takuya said shakily, approaching the bed. "I'll speak to Kouichi for you, you have to rest-"

"You can't tell me what to do, Takuya!" With sudden strength, Kouji pushed Takuya away, and the cup of potion fell to the floor and shattered. Kouji made to get up, but Pomfrey pushed him down.

"Lie down boy, you'll only injure yourself more." Kouji had no choice but to lie down, and indeed he did look very pale and sickly. He closed his eyes.

"Okay, but I'll be out of here by tomorrow."

Dumbledore sighed. "I guess I'll leave him to you, Poppy. Severus, I'll come with you to see Kouichi, if you don't mind. I would like to ask him some questions."

"He won't be expelled, right? Sir?" Takuya quickly asked.

Dumbledore shook his head grimly. "That I do not know. Using a Dark Curse on someone else would already warrant being jailed. Severus, come on."

Harry watched as Dumbledore and Snape left the hospital wing, then looked at Kouji. Something was seriously not right here… Then he turned to Ken, who looked slightly exhausted.

"Thanks."

"It was nothing." Ken shook his head. "That was something only Darkness students learn, back in Japan. If I hadn't come here to perform the counter-curse Kouji might have died. Besides, you have no reason to thank me, since I just did what I had-"

Ken's voice suddenly trailed off, and he gazed into the distance, as though disturbed greatly by something. He then closed his eyes tightly, and started to rub his temples as though he had a bad headache, his face contorted into a grimace.

"Ken, are you okay?" Davis asked anxiously. "Is it because of the-"

"Darkness." Ken suddenly

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