Meanwhile, halfway around the world…

Tokyo, Japan

"Tadaima!" The door to the small house swung open as a tall, lean figure stumbled through, bent under the weight of a backpack straining its seams. The boy kicked the door shut, shucked off his black sneakers, and set his backpack down. It immediately fell over, its contents spilling across the floor.

He sighed as he reviewed the bag's contents, lip curling with distaste. It's got to be illegal to assign this much homework on one night.

Shrugging, he kicked the bag aside, and ambled off towards his bedroom. Perhaps he'd start on his homework later. Right now, he definitely needed a break. Maybe for two or three hours…

He immediately fell onto the low bed, face buried in the pillow. Yes, a nap would be very good about now…

"Shinji? Are you home?"

The boy briefly raised his head to answer. "Who else would it be?" He let his face fall back into the pillow again. Must sleeeeep… Instead, it felt like he was being smothered, so he flopped over onto his back and stared at his ceiling for a while.

Shinji pushed a few strands of loose, electric-blue hair out of his eyes, willing his back to stop aching, and his limbs to relax. School had been absolutely killer today. Some drunken guy had decided to regale the entire bus with what sounded like a garbled version of David Bowie's "Changes," for the entire hour. Then, Ono-sensei had decided to unofficially make today "Let's Torture Shinji Day" by assigning him to read the part of friggin' Juliet in World Literature class.

He decided to block out the torture of soccer practice for now.

All he wanted to do was sleep…forget about homework and sleep…no chores or anything…

A quick rap sounded from the other side of the door. Shinji groaned at the disturbance. The door to his bedroom swung in, and admitted his brother. Shinji threw an arm over his eyes and rolled over, facing away from the door "Oi, Ken, just go away and lemme sleep."

Kenichi raised an eyebrow from beneath his thick glasses. "You should really be starting on your homework, Shinji," he warned. "You don't have time to take a nap right now."

Shinji waved it off. "Whatever." He snuggled closer to his pillow. "What's up?"

Kenichi ran a hand through his short, wavy hair; a contrast to Shinji's long and straight locks. "I'm leaving for work soon. Dinner's on the stove, if you're hungry."

"Gotcha. Maybe after my nap, though."

Kenichi shook his head at his younger brother's lax attitude. "Just straighten up and feed Moriko, okay? She's your responsibility, might I add."

"I know, I know," Shinji groaned, trying to hide under the pillow. "Just please, let me sleep!"

The elder brother rolled his eyes, as if to say, 'I can't believe I'm related to someone like you.'

"I'll be leaving now. You know my cell number." With that, he slipped out the doorway, neglecting to close it.

Shinji sighed blissfully. Ken's gone. At last, I can sleep! He pulled the blanket over himself, yawning and snuggling in. The blanket somehow slipped away. Grumbling, he reached over to pull it back up. He turned over, sighing softly.

The blanket slipped away again, and he shivered slightly. Shinji propped himself up on one elbow, groping blindly for the cover. As soon as he found it, he rolled back over, tugging it with him.

The bedroom was silent for a golden minute as Shinji felt himself drifting off to the distant shores of a tropical island, where all that awaited him were peace, birdsongs, and that hot girl from junior class B in a lime-green bikini…

Cold air danced up his spine as he realized the blanket had once again slipped off. Growling, Shinji propped himself up again, pushing wayward strands of his blue hair out of the way, dark chocolate-colored eyes even darker with anger.

"What the hell…" he growled as he spotted the blanket on the floor. Swiftly tugging it up, he uncovered a small furry brown figure. The creature turned its furry face up to the boy, bright eyes pleading.

"Moriko, you little scamp!" Shinji laughed, holding out a hand. "Alright, you can come onto my bed."

The tanuki chattered happily as she climbed onto the bed, and snuggled up at her master's belly. Shinji laughed as he scratched her behind the ears.

As the tanuki examined his socks, Shinji fell backwards, allowing his body to relax once again. He rarely got any personal time these days, what with school, soccer practice, cram school, chores, and practicing his magic. It's amazing that I haven't developed an ulcer already.

Shinji sighed, scratched his side, and prepared to be seriously lazy. Moriko yipped and curled up at his side, nuzzling him slightly. "Poor Moriko," he murmured, lazily giving her a good, long scratching, "you must be so lonely, stuck in the house with Ken all day."

The raccoon dog sneezed lightly. Shinji looked at her oddly, but said nothing.

His eyes slid shut, fairly weighted down with stress. The gentle scratches became rhythmic, as his breathing slowed. Maybe I can get a good nap in now…

It was a few moments later that Moriko began barking, yapping loudly and insistently. "Moriko, shut uuuuuppp," Shinji groaned, rubbing his forehead. Grunting, he pried his eyes open to see a floating envelope hovering above his bed.

"The Council?" Shinji mumbled, recognizing the familiar envelope. "What did I do now?"

No answer came, as Moriko continued barking at the envelope, as though it were a threat to the tanuki and her master. Shinji sat up, muscles aching in protest, and snatched it. He hunched over as one slender finger slit open the flap, and then pulled the letter out.

His eyes darted from side to side as he scanned the contents of the letter. "A summons?" the blue-haired warlock pondered out loud, brow creasing in confusion. I haven't done anything particularly troublesome lately, so why are they calling me in?

Shinji sighed, and, using his fists, pushed himself off the bed. "At least Ken isn't at home. He'd have another nervous breakdown." He shuffled off in search of his shoes, shoving the letter into the pocket of his gakuran. "Hopefully, this won't take too long."

Standing at the entryway of the house, he paused sleepily for a minute. Wait…I'll never get my nap now!

"NOOOOOOO!"

Cassandra, official secretary to the Overlord of the Realms (Drell), sighed, as she went about her least favorite duty: stamping request forms. She'd neatly filed them into piles, and all that was left was to mark each pile with the appropriate stamp. "A toddler could do this," she murmured distastefully.

"Konbanwa, Cassandra-san," a soft baritone greeted her.

The blond secretary looked up, intrigued by something that was not paperwork. Standing before her was an all-too familiar boy, clad in a black button-up jacket and pants with electric blue hair falling messily around his face and shoulders. He grinned at her as one would an old friend, but still gave her a respectful bow.

"In trouble again, Shinji?" Cassandra lightly teased, grateful for the opportunity to divert her from terminal boredom.

"Not quite…I think…" Shinji dug around in his pants pocket for the summons, fishing it out. He brandished the horribly crumpled piece of parchment before Cassandra. "I received this a little while ago."

The blonde eyed the stamp at the bottom, signifying it to be Drell's, and therefore qualifying the boy for immediate entry into his office. "Head right in. He shouldn't be too terribly busy, I would imagine."

"Arigatou." Shinji flashed a dazzling smile, and headed off down the corridor. He didn't need to be shown to the office; he'd been there enough times already to know its location.

Cassandra chuckled and shook her head as she watched him head away, and turned back to her stamping. "I wonder what he's gotten into this time?" she mused.

Having arrived at Drell's office door, Shinji sighed and rubbed his forehead. With a bit of luck, this will go well. I hope…

"Come in," Drell barked. "No sense skulking around."

Shinji cautiously opened the door, and hesitantly peeked his head inside. Drell looked up from a manila folder, and broadly grinned. "Just the boy I wanted to see," he boomed. "Come in."

Shinji grinned weakly as he walked in. Why's he in such a good mood? He only looks this way when he's dealing out a punishment…uh-oh…

He stood nervously before the desk, warily watching the older warlock. "Have a seat," Drell nodded towards an armchair. Drell folded his hands as Shinji snuggled into the plush interior.

Drell smiled again, much like a shark eying a tiny clown fish. He pulled a rather thick manila folder from a stack, and flipped it open to the first page. He pushed his glasses a bit up his nose as he read off the information.

"Yamagi Shinji…age 17. Birth date: December 21. Nationality: Japanese…Family: brother, Kenichi, age 23…"

Shinji fidgeted in his seat. Why is he reading all this off? He should know this by heart, since I've been here at least once a month the past couple years!

"Attends Shibakouen High School… Senior class C…"

This has to be some sort of psychological method used to make me confess to something I didn't do. He's just using it to make me squirm…

"…with a lengthy list of minor infractions and convictions over the past five or so years."

"Yes, sir, I know," Shinji began, hoping to distract the heavy-set warlock, " but what…"

"Let's see… in the past year alone…illegal trespassing into the Warlock-Wastelands…"

"I got lost," the teenage boy muttered defensively, face flushing slightly.

"…use of magically enhanced pyrotechnics in a public park…"

"It was a science project! I didn't have a lawn to test it out on at home!"

"…cheating on standardized tests with enchanted ink…"

"Do you understand how many tests we have to take? It's insane! I don't have time to study for them all!"

Drell sighed abruptly and put Shinji's case file down. He rubbed his forehead. "Shinji, let me explain something to you."

The boy raised an eyebrow. "By all means, go ahead."

"Your record in the Other Realm is longer than Merlin's beard…an almost impossible feat for a boy of your age, but an unfortunate fact nonetheless."

"I set a record? Cool," he grinned. "First time I ever did anything like that."

"What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?"

"Is this one of those hypothetical questions that guidance counselors ask to determine what your ideal career should be? 'Cause I never could come up with an answer."

"Let me be blunt." Drell looked Shinji directly in the eyes—a situation that left the teen slightly squirming. "With the way your record's going, you don't have much of a future. No decent college will accept you with this transcript, Shinji. You don't stand much of a chance at getting a good job."

Shinji bit his lip. His chocolate-colored eyes briefly studied the carpet.

"I'm worried about you. With a record like this, you may find yourself sinking into trouble…and I want to try and prevent that from happening."

I've always taken for granted that I could stay at home with Ken and get some average job…I've never been the traditionalist like Ken. I don't care about the honor and social position crap, about getting into the best school or having the ideal white-collar job. That's Ken's dream.

I just want to be happy. But…if this transcript of mine could prevent me from getting a halfway decent job, and providing for myself…

I can't be a burden to Ken forever. Someday, he's going to want to get married and have kids or something, and he can't do that with me around.

Maybe I really do need to grow up a little…

He exhaled slightly, shaking back the strands of blue hair falling in his eyes. "Okay. What do I have to do to get out of this mess?" Famous last words, eh?

Drell's eyes lit up, twinkling dangerously behind his bifocals. "There is a way to expunge the marks from your record…"

Westbridge, Massachusetts, United States of America

The Spellman house sat quietly as its occupants were gone, waiting patiently for life to return to the empty shell. Crickets chirped, the washing machine hummed as it ran through the spin cycle, and the wind sighed softly through the maple tree in the yard. This was peace and tranquility at its finest, on a lazy evening, the sky softly darkening.

Or it was until the occupants came home.

A flash of lightning and a tooth-rattling clap of thunder announced the arrival of the two witches (and cat) from the Other Realm. Zelda opened the linen closet door, looking tired, depressed, and in need of serious caffeine. Rubbing her forehead, she descended the stairs, heading for an armchair and some coffee.

Sabrina was in a much fouler mood than her aunt, and nearly slammed the door on Salem. Yowling in protest, the cat slunk into the bathroom to hide, muttering under his breath all the whole time.

The teenage witch stomped down the staircase, uncaring of the noise she made. At this point, she felt so angry that she was ready to pick up random pieces of furniture and fling them at the nearest representative of the Witches' Council.

Once again, she'd been rendered powerless. She hated it.

She'd thought—or hoped, rather—that the Gracey affair had been just a temporary fit of insanity on Drell's part. Perhaps a bit of uncouth nastiness for the plentiful headaches she'd caused over the years. But never, never, had she thought that this may be permanent…

That she would not be in control of her own life ever again.

Is this the price I must pay for the mistakes I've made?

It was unfair, and she couldn't do anything. It was a punishment that she couldn't fight.

"Honey?"

Zelda stood in the doorway, bearing two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Her soft face radiated concern as she watched her niece.

Sabrina wordlessly took a mug and sat down on the sofa. Zelda's lips quirked in a mirthless smile, as she gracefully moved to sit next to the girl. For a long moment, neither woman spoke. Zelda swirled the chocolate in her cup. "We need to talk."

Clichéd. Obvious. "There's nothing to talk about. The Council's got my future in their self-righteous, pompous, grubby little hands, and I have no choice." She took a sip of hot chocolate, to stop the aching in the back of her throat.

I won't cry. I won't give the Council the satisfaction of having me break down.

Zelda cautiously reached out a hand to stroke a lock of the younger girl's hair. "It can all be worked around," Zelda murmured softly.

"How?" Sabrina sharply turned around in her seat, blond hair flying and the liquid in her mug very nearly sloshing onto the carpet. "They own part of my life! How will I ever be able to go back to my friends…to school…to get a job, a home, a family, a life?" The teenage witch turned back to moodily contemplate her chocolate.

"We can give any number of 'explanations' to the school, to cover your absences. Vacations, death in the family, illnesses, doctor's appointments…" Zelda began smoothly. "As for college, your grades and extracurriculars should be enough to get you in anywhere you like."

"But Drell said I'd still be working off my debt come this time next year," Sabrina pointed out, narrowing her eyes at her aunt's sudden compliance with the situation. "I don't see how I can run around solving mysteries or whatever crap he wants me to do while being a student."

"We can defer you to the spring semester," her aunt calmly offered. "Or you can take a year off. It isn't unheard of."

"But I want to go next year!" Sabrina howled. All rationality and maturity had been thrown by the wayside at this point. "They can't screw up my life! They just can't!" She scowled at her aunt. "And why are you taking this so CALMLY?" She nearly shrieked.

Zelda sighed, in the same manner used for Aunt Hilda's taste in movies, and complaints against Salem's crank calling. She rubbed her head, before closing her eyes wearily.

"We don't have any options," Zelda stated plainly. Her pale blue eyes seemed to droop as she studied the younger girl. "Technically, they have the right. You have a criminal record—although a minor one—and have yet to serve any punishment. Be grateful they didn't turn you into a cat," she added.

Sabrina slumped in her seat, miserably. "I don't have a choice, then."

"Quite plainly, no."

The teenage witch sniffled, rubbing her eyes. Shoot…and I didn't want to cry. But I feel so helpless again…

Zelda put a comforting arm around her niece. "We'll make it work, somehow. I'll ask Hilda when she comes home." The younger girl nodded, miserably. "Go upstairs and get ready for bed, dear. You have school tomorrow."

"I'm not in the mood," Sabrina grumbled, but obediently zapped her chocolate away and started for the stairs.

Once her niece was safely upstairs, Zelda fell back against the sofa. She turned her chocolate into an espresso, and massaged her forehead, willing the dull ache to ease. Ted…I feel like I've failed you, somehow. I was supposed to make sure that she turned out okay…and now this has happened.

What will I do?

Yes, Shinji Yamagi is an actual character from the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch comic books/manga. He's a teenage Japanese warlock who attends the same magical night school as Sabrina, and ends up enrolling in her human high school, as well. Shinji also has a huge crush on her, and becomes locked in a love triangle with Harvey, as the two vie for Sabrina's affections. (Hmmm, I wonder what he'll be doing in this fic, wink wink!) His brother Ken is also a character from the comics/manga, but he isn't going to play as big a role as Shinji.

Shinji's familiar, Moriko, is not from the manga, however; she is my own creation. Tanuki are a type of feral canine that bear a strong resemblance to raccoons. They are native to Japan and other parts of Asia, and have lately been introduced into Europe. Japanese folklore depicts them as playful shapeshifters who enjoy a good joke. Moriko's name is Japanese, and is quite simple: "Mori" is "forest," and "ko" is "child" (It also is an ending for Japanese girls' names). Her name, therefore, is translated as "forest child," or "child of the woods."

And one more thing! The manga reboot gave most of the characters astrological signs. (But no specific birthdays, boo) Shinji is a Sagittarius; I picked the Winter Solstice as his birthday as a fun contrast. Sabrina is a Gemini, by the way. Check out the astrological compatibility between the two; it's a fun little detail that Tania del Rio added to point out their connection to each other.

In each Author's Note, I'll try to briefly explain any non-English terms used. Since Shinji and his brother are Japanese, there are going to be a few Japanese terms. I'll try to briefly explain them with some context if you're not familiar with them.

"Tadaima" means "I'm home." When you come home, you take your shoes off and set them on a mat by the side of the door. It is impolite to wear shoes inside a home, since the Japanese view the soles of shoes as being especially dirty. You would wear socks or slippers inside the house.

"Sensei" is the term used for "teacher," and not just for the "wise master" in martial arts. If, for example, your teacher were named Mr. Jones, you would call him Jones-sensei. It could also be used for someone like a doctor or professor.

"San" is a term of respect, and is roughly the equivalent of "Mr.", "Mrs.", and "Ms." in English. So, if you met a man named Mr. Brown, he would be Brown-san. When Shinji speaks to Cassandra, he is calling her roughly the equivalent of "Ms. Cassandra."

A "gakuran" is a boys' school uniform; it typically consists of a dark-blue or black pair of slacks and button-up jacket, although this can vary from school to school. (A fuku is that cute little sailor suit you see on just about every Japanese schoolgirl.)

"Konbanwa" means "Good evening." "Arigatou" is a basic way to say "thank you."

Just as a fun side note, the name of Shinji's school means "grass park," and is borrowed from the anime Sailor Moon. It's the Japanese name of the school Sailor Venus attends.

Yes, it's angsty!Sabrina. A unique change of pace, but she'll cheer up soon. (Oh, and Ted is the name of Sabrina's dad.) Sorry that this Author Note is so long, but there were a bunch of terms to explain. Future ones should hopefully be shorter.

Next Chapter: School days are back again, as Sabrina is reluctantly packed off to high school. Unfortunately, she's in for a nasty surprise…