Chapter 6.

Warm rays of late afternoon sunshine washed over the town of Mahora as the day stretched into evening. The giant yellow orb of the sun was approaching the tree-line set against the background of the horizon. A gentle breeze tussled the hair of Kotaro Inugami as he stalked down the cobblestone street. He kicked a rock—barely more than a pebble—out of his path. He watched the small rock clatter against the uneven surface of the cobblestone. It bounced twice and smacked against the hard edge of the curb, finally coming to rest as it was rebuffed by the immovable object. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Maybe I'm just like that rock—too small to be worthwhile. Too easily kicked aside. Always bouncing around. Then finally hit a wall I can't push through no matter how hard I try.

He had gone to see Natsumi, a level of conviction strengthening his gait. As he had walked toward the dormitory, he still hadn't decided on what he was going to say to her, but he was confident that he would think of something when the time came. The girl's dormitory. He still felt strange to be there. Kotaro didn't know how Negi was so comfortable around so many older girls. As he climbed the stairs that led to Natsumi's room he thought to himself that maybe he should ask Negi about how he got along so well with all the girls in his class. He himself had never been able to get any of them to like him other Natsumi and Chizune—and Makie to some extent. But that last one hardly counted. Makie liked everyone.

Suddenly, he had arrived at her door, heart rate mostly in check. He had expected Natsumi to greet him at the door—even if it wasn't maybe the kindest greeting. What he found, however, was that not only was Natsumi not in her room, but Chizuru—who had invited him in—told him that she hadn't seen her since that morning.

'When she left this morning, she looked like she was headed to town, the way she was dressed. That's where I'd look for her.' Chizuru had said, giving him a sly look as she nodded her head toward the kotatsu in the living room. 'Too bad she left here…' Sure enough, Natsumi's cell phone was sitting on the table where she would usually put it as she got ready. It seemed to Kotaro that maybe the sneaky nee-chan was hiding something, but he didn't have the energy or the patience to try and ferret out the information. Chizune had let him leave without a proper goodbye—but barely.

Now, Kotaro was drifting away from the girls' dormitory on Cherry Blossom Street. There was little of the energy he usually felt remaining in his footsteps. He wasn't sure he wanted to know where Natsumi went. She had gone out somewhere without even so much as calling him, let alone telling him where she was going. Not only that, but she left her phone so that he couldn't contact her. Didn't she say that she wanted to figure this out together? That's what she had said the last time they were together, but what if she didn't really mean it… Kotaro stopped in his tracks, looking dejectedly at his feet. What if she changed her mind because I've been ignoring her…? He didn't know.

Since coming to Mahora almost a year before, Kotaro had found that there were a great many things he did not know. Negi and the others had taught him that lesson over and over. He had been so sure of himself—so confident. Now look at me, he thought as he rolled his head back to gaze at the setting sun, smirking derisively at himself. I don't even know my own feelings. How can I possibly know what she is feeling? Alright, well then. Just have to ask her. Kotaro nodded to himself in satisfaction. At the least, he could still be decisive.

Mind made up, Kotaro set off down the road. Let's see… Chizune said Natsumi had dressed to go into town. I guess that's the best place to—

A thunderous explosion wracked the night sky, sending a cloud of burning debris above the tree-line ahead of Kotaro. The warm orange of the sunset became the hellish orange of bomb-fire, heavily choked with black and grey.

"Damn!" Kotaro said. He caught himself from toppling over, setting his nerves. "What the hell was that? Are we under attack again?" As the dust cloud settled below the tree line, he could hear the faintest hints of chaos. He focused his chi in his ears and strained to hear in the direction of the blast. It sounded like something heavy falling to the ground. Trees maybe. No, not trees. Heavier. Buildings?

Wait. Where was that exactly? It looks like… OH NO.

The shopping district. Exactly where Chizune said Natsumi was headed. A cold sweat broke out over Kotaro's brow, a sense of dread filling his heart. He had promised Natsumi that he would protect her. I ignore her for one day and something terrible happens to her! He broke into a whirlwind, bounding from tree to building. The hairs on his back stood up straight. If he had transformed into beast form right then, all of the hair on his hackles would be reaching straight for the sky in alarm.

Natsumi! Please be okay! I'm coming!

Shielding her eyes from the rays of the setting sun, Natsumi peered down the last street of the Mahora shopping district proper. There wasn't much down this street—it was pretty small. This close to the east end of Mahora the river started sloping south while the train tracks ran northeast. The two converged, constricting the space on this end of town. Natsumi was looking down the last real cross-street before the train station. She was standing right next to the movie theater and could see the stone walls of the Maho-Bank at the end of the street. There were a few people milling about: a mother and her young son just finished with a show, a young couple headed into the department store next to the theater. Plenty of people enjoying a picture-perfect evening in Mahora.

But no scruffy-haired dog boy.

"What the heck! Where is that kid?" Natsumi leaned back against the wall of the theater, puffing her hair out of her eyes. Seriously, how could I forget my hair-pin and my phone? Something was off today. She had spent the entire afternoon scouring the Mahora campus for Kotaro. Upper campus, lower campus, Tatsumiya shrine, Library Island, the residential district, and now the entire shopping district. Heck, she had even looked on the beach fronts! Not that Kota-kun would be caught anywhere near a beach on his own. Where is that idiot?!

Her day was spent searching. Yes, for Kotaro—not that I actually found him, she thought—but also searching through her feelings.

[Several hours earlier]

After Natsumi stormed out of the dorm room that morning, she stalked around the streets of the campus for a while just trying to sort out why her feelings were all over the place. Feeling down about herself was something she was used to. It had come natural to her over the years. She had relegated herself to assuming the role of side character. Even in Mahora Junior High's drama club, a place she thought she could finally come out of her shell, the director had always cast her in the supporting role. It had happened so many times she had come to see herself as the characters as the she played. Mainly as the trusty friend who always watched her friend, the heroine, get the boy—never to be the love interest herself.

That had changed during the trip to the magical world, she thought. She and Kotaro had gotten close during the time she spent working for the "Chief". They had a pactio now. She was even able to become her own star during Ala Alba's assault on the Gravekeeper's Palace by helping to keep the team hidden from Fate and his allies. She and Kotaro were close—closer than she had ever been with a boy. But that didn't mean that she really knew what being a girlfriend meant.

She tried to figure it out as she searched for Kotaro. The only person in her class that she knew who had seriously dated someone was Misa Kakizaki. Natsumi liked Misa alright, but she wouldn't consider her a friend. Not enough to talk about romance. Natsumi suspected that there was something going on between Konoka and Setsuna. Anyone could see that, the way those two always pawed at and clung to each other. But Natsumi wasn't sure either of them were comfortable enough to talk about their relationship. And then there was Negi and his following. None of the girls fawning over him actually understood their feelings for him—she was sure of that. Not Asuna. Not Ayaka. Certainly not Eva nor Makie. Nodoka was maybe the closest, but Natsumi was pretty sure that what Honya-chan felt for Negi was closer to infatuation than romantic love.

That leaves me with no one to talk to, she thought to herself as she wandered into the World Tree Plaza. She arrived around noon with the warm Japanese sun at its apex in the sky. By the time she reached the plaza she was pretty exhausted emotionally. There was still no sign of Kotaro and Natsumi had nearly given herself a headache—her thoughts were running in circles with no answers.

At a loss, she leaned back against the plaza railing and stared up at the grandeur of the World Tree. The centuries-old bark, gnarled and twisted. Countless leaves sprouting from innumerable branches, each one fluttering about in the gentle breeze like a million tethered butterflies. Unbelievably old and unquestionably rugged, the World Tree was undeniably the most wonderful part of the Mahora campus.

"It really is beautiful, isn't it? Our World Tree."

With a start of surprise, Natsumi had stared at the man suddenly standing next to her. "Headmaster-sama!" Where did he come from? He wasn't there a second ago. I didn't even hear him walk up to me! "What are you doing here?"

Old-man Konoemon shared much of her granddaughter's spaciness, but the breadth of his life and the gravitas of his position granted him an air of dignity that Konoka lacked. Now, his eyes were lost someplace beyond the present. Glazed over they may have been, but even so, it was as if he was seeing through the present into some unknowable future.

"I came here, Murakami-kun, for the same reason I go anywhere in Mahora. This is my school." Konoemon said, gesturing broadly with hands outstretched to either side. With one sweep of his arms he seemed to emphasize his position of headmaster while simultaneously acknowledging the importance he ascribed to caring for his charge. Lowering is arms, Konoemon half-turned his face to gaze down at her with a twinkling in his eye. "And it's my duty to look after my students. Come, Murakami-san, sit with an old man for a while." With that, Konoemon strolled unconcernedly to the nearest bench, clearly expecting to be followed.

Natsumi felt rather nervous. The headmaster never wanted to talk with her. He pulled girls from 3-A into his office all the time, but it was usually the troublemakers like Asuna—not her. What did he want from her? She didn't hesitate to join him on the bench, however—only a fool made the headmaster wait.

As she settled down next to the old man, Natsumi silently marveled—not for the first time—at his protruding cranium. It was a novelty that was just as unique as the World Tree whose broad canopy they were sitting under—if, perhaps, much less awe-inspiring. How did he develop such a strange appearance, and how did it not debilitate him? These questions returned every time she laid eyes on Mahora's headmaster. In truth, it was simply one of the mysteries shrouding the entire Mahora academy. Albeit a mystery that was sometimes taken to absurdity by illustrative denigrators. Even though she didn't agree with any of the headmaster's detractors, Natsumi did have to admit that Konoemon's appearance was rather comical. It was just so hard not to see him as a giant head doddering around.

Konoemon leaned forward and gave a soft groan as he started softly massaging his knees. A gentle breeze rustled their hair as they sat, taking in the unhurried commotion of the plaza. The old man didn't say anything for a time, simply gazing at those that passed them, and sometimes waving or nodding to students who bowed his direction. Natsumi didn't know what to say to him, or if he even expected her to say anything at all, so instead her mind traversed the circles of worry that had been plaguing her all morning. The silence stretched for so long, she started to wonder if she should just excuse herself. She stirred slightly as a means to cue that she was restless. When he still didn't speak, she moved to stand. Just as she started to get to her feet, however, he opened his mouth.

"You're not invisible."

Natsumi turned to regard him, utterly baffled. What? Why would I be invisible? Had she somehow accidentally used her Adjutor Solitarius and it malfunctioned? But no, she had been practicing with her artifact diligently since their return from Mundus Magicus and there was no way she cold have accidentally summoned her artifact. What is he talking about?

Headmaster Konoemon was sporting an indulgent grin. The type well-worn by old men who know more than they're letting on. "No, I'm not talking about anything related to your magic, my dear. Come, stay seated a little longer." He turned his gaze back to the immense deciduous before them as she sat back down. After a long breath he spoke with a distant emotion in his voice. "This tree is special to me, Murakami-san. Would you like to guess why?"

Cocking her head at the old man, Natsumi answered frankly for the reason seemed obvious to her. "Well, it's because you run this academy, right? You have a responsibility to this tree as its most important caretaker."

"That I am, that I am. An astute observation, as I would expect from one of Negi's charge." He shot Natsumi a sidelong glance that made him look nothing of the wizened wizard she knew him to be. No, there was a youthful vigor in his face instead, and something else she couldn't place. "But there is more to the tale," Konoemon continued, "You see, I met Konoka's grandmother under this tree."

Konoka's grandmother? Natsumi didn't know much about her classmate's grandmother, other than the fact that Konoka had mentioned once that she had died when Konoka was little. Natsumi wasn't especially close to Konoka, despite the fact that they had gone on a months' long adventure to another planet together. She liked Konoka, of course, and admired the girl's pervasive positive attitude (and she thought her newfound relationship with Setsuna was just adorable), but she hadn't ever spent much time talking to the chocolate-haired girl about her past.

Now, gazing at the softly wrinkled face of old-man Konoemon as he surveyed the nearly surreal serenity of the World Tree Plaza, she was struck again how strange it was that she had such a close connection to the history—the story—of this place she called home. The actress part of her latched on to the narrative, longing for connection to the main characters of Mahora Academy. Natsumi broke herself out of her revelry and turned to give her whole attention to the old man, "Headmaster-sama, you met your wife here, underneath the World Tree?"

Konoemon cracked a wry grin very much in a manner of a much younger man. "And what a fortuitous meeting it was. Just there," he gestured to a spot above them at the top of the grand staircase near the railing overlooking the rest of the plaza and further on to the city. Somehow, Natsumi felt a gentle surging energy gather around the two of them as he continued, his voice laden with memory. "I was a young man then, just appointed Headmaster. I had struggled to find my direction for the academy. Many decisions I had made were rash, ill thought through. The students were suffering, the staff frustrated. But I was blinded by misplaced conviction. I could sense the spirit of the school beginning to crumble around me.

"That day, I came to this sacred, mysterious place searching, striving." Natsumi felt the pain in his voice, could somehow see a young Konoemon standing at the railing, hands gripping the rail-top, knuckles white with tension, eyes searching for answers, staring at the campus but not real Konoemon continued,"I remember my worries coming to a head in the worst way. My thoughts were so dark…"

Natsumi could sense the emotional memory radiating from the gentle old man as he sat on the bench next to her, heavy lidded eyes staring off into the past. Even the very air around them seemed tight with anticipation. Without knowing it, she held her breath.

"I might have done something horrible to myself—probably would have, if not for Aiko." All of a sudden the atmosphere changed, the darkness surrounding them being stripped away as if by the mere mention of her name. Natsumi had never heard her name mentioned before, but thought the name fit what she did know about the woman perfectly; Konoka had described her as very calm and loving. As Natsumi refocused on the Headmaster's face, she noticed the slight gleam of wetness collecting under his eyes. His voice caught as he continued. "Inoue Aiko was a beautiful soul. She was one of the young teachers and part of the magical staff. Extremely skilled in the healing arts and always looking out for the other staff, magical and non-magical alike."

Konoemon gestured again to the spot at the top of plaza. "She saw me standing there from the bottom of the staircase." He cocked his giant head to the side, bushy eyebrow tails hanging strangely from his face. "I always wondered how she was able to tell what I had intended on doing." At this point, Konoemon rose from the bench with purpose, obviously expecting Natsumi to follow him as he began ascending the stairs to the top level of the plaza. The strawberry-haired girl had to nearly jump off the bench to catch up.

"She dropped the books she was holding and rushed up this very staircase, heedless of the people staring at her in wonder, confusion. I was too lost in my thoughts to notice her even as she reached these final steps." The headmaster and student reached the top level of the plaza where the base of the world tree dominated the court in front of them, filling nearly half of the field of vision. Konoemon lead them to the very spot he had mentioned in his story, this time caressing the railing with the light touch of age, respect, and sagacity. His wrinkle laden face took in the place anew, burdened with memory. Natsumi could feel her heart racing as the old man's tale reached its climax. As he spoke the next words his voice caught with emotion. "Just as my foot began to rise to top this railing, Aiko flung herself against me, wrapping her arms tight around my waist. She held me tight, refusing to let go, and uttered words I could not possibly forget. 'Stay! Stay with me!'

"I was shocked out of my downward spiral, suddenly very aware of the person holding me. Instantly, a surging of calming strength flowed into me and I sank into Aiko's tender ministrations." Konoemon turned, his gaze shifting across Natsumi briefly before settling on the enormous profile of the World Tree. As he leaned against the railing, Natsumi noticed his voice shift to a softer, more hollow tone, emphasizing his age. "I never figured out if it was some healing magic she poured into me, or a trick of the World Tree, but she saved my life that day. And every day after that. From then on, she rarely let me out of her sight if she could help it, somehow always finding time to both teach her classes and help me run the school. Her encouragement and patience are the main reason this academy has become the shining beacon it is today. Certainly." Headmaster Konoemon began moving unhurriedly towards the Tree. "Natsumi-chan, come with me.

In an unhurried manner, old man Konoemon shuffled close to the great truck, gently resting a wizened hand against the rough bark. Natsumi couldn't help but notice the similarity between the furrows and grooves of the exterior of the tree and the taut, bony waves of the grandfatherly hand, both silently speaking the span of years endured, matured, weathered. Konoemon gestured for Natsumi to place her hand next to his. As she did so, she felt a pulse of energy wash through her hand, up her arm. Her eyes grew wide as she began to sense a deep part of her respond to the power of the World Tree. A gentle but insistent thrumming of power rose within her, coming into accord with the external rhythm. The two energies settled into a balance of countermelody that brought Natsumi into the dichotomous state of deep peace and sharp focus. The air around her seemed to brighten. What is this? Shifting her gaze upward, she saw a soft white glow emanating from the enormous trunk, fading out into the contrastingly dark air of early afternoon sky.

Abruptly, Natsumi felt a hand on her shoulder forcing her attention back to the Headmaster. He had one bushy eyebrow cocked, staring at her with one inquisitive eye, his smile betraying his amusement. "You are catching on to the use of magic remarkably well for how short a time you've had it," he said softly before a small chuckle at her look of eye-widened surprise. "Yes, I know about your pactio with the dog-boy. No, no, I approve," he continued, preempting her defense of her magical partner. "Kotaro-kun has a drive I've rarely seen in one so young. He suits you well, Natsumi-chan.

"But I sense some hesitancy now that we are connected to the Tree together." Konoemon must have sensed her confusion for he turned his head towards the trunk that they still touched with their palms, "You see, part of the purpose of the World Tree is to act as a conduit between our world and the magical world. A sufficiently skilled magi can repurpose that capability as a bridge between any other magical soul connected to the Tree, as we are now. You might be able to feel some of my essence if you focus."

Natsumi wasn't sure what she was doing, but a small part of her mind felt another presence just out of mental reach beyond the dominating thrum of the Tree.

"Yes," Konoemon intoned in a serious manner. "Skilled indeed. Murakami-chan, the reason I brought you here to the World Tree is this: you need a push. I can sense it in you, through the Tree." With a heavy sigh, Konoemon lowered his hand from the ancient bark, instead taking her hands in his. Natsumi glanced around hesitantly, feeling self-conscious about the fatherly gesture from the Headmaster of the academy but curiously, no one was watching them. In fact, no one even seemed to see them. Is this more magic from the World Tree?

Konoemon continued as if he did not even register her concern, "I too needed a push in the right direction. Aiko-dono came into my life at just the right time to get me headed down the path I was meant to walk. It was because she stayed with me that I was able to become the man I did. Without her, this school would be nothing." Natsumi could feel her throat constricting with second-hand emotion. Tears trailed down wrinkled cheeks as Konoemon spoke. "Even still, it felt next to impossible for me to confess my love to her. I was so sure that I was a burden to her, keeping her from achieving her dreams by needing her support to run the school. It wasn't until we took a walk together one day to Tatsumiya shrine that I finally could accept that she needed to hear the truth from my heart. As we walked the hallowed walkways of the shrine I could feel her pulling away from me. As we talked, the space between us seemed to widen in a way that it never had before. I could sense myself losing her with every step, every breath. That's when I knew that if I did lose her because I didn't give words to my feelings, I would never recover from the grief. That was the spark I needed to confess to her—to take action over my own life's story."

Natsumi would never know if his choice of words in ending that tale were targeted to her or not. In the moment, she was steeled by the bolstering feeling of resolve flowing through their linked hands. Throughout his story she had felt a power pass into her from his palms, remarkably different in tone and color from what she felt from the World Tree. With the Tree she felt a wash of magic, waves ringing out like ripples through the air. With Konoemon, a cutting sense of purpose rushing right through her hands, up her arms, and into her heart, her soul. It very nearly overwhelmed Natsumi.

"What I can tell you is this, Murakami Natsumi," he said as he fixed both eyes on the strawberry-haired girl—quite a rare occurrence for the usually ocular-obscured old man. "What I sense from watching you and Kotaro is that you two would push each other to be the best each of you can possibly be. I have not seen a much better match in all my years as leader of the Kanto Magic Association. But you, like me, need a push." With an intense look in his eyes he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Let this be the spark that sends you out to be the confident lead I know you can be!"

As he spoke this, Natsumi felt an indomitable push of magical energy that solidly flung her backward. She staggered and lost her balance, landing hard on her bottom.

Suddenly, Natsumi found herself back on the bench she had been sitting on with headmaster Konoemon. She looked around in a state of bewilderment, absently rubbing her now sore backside. Konoemon himself was nowhere to be found, nor was there any evidence psychic or otherwise that he had been present with her. Was any of that even real? Shaking her head in confusion, she looked back at the World Tree towering over the plaza. As she gazed at the soft green of the leaves rustling in the breeze, her mind began to reach out, unbidden, to try and sense the pulse of the tree. And there it was, easy to find now that she knew what to look for: a subtle, persistent flow that permeated the air around her. Well, clearly it was real.

Natsumi turned her thoughts inward as her gaze fell to her hands. Headmaster Konoe is right, I'll never get what I want—what's best for me—if I let life choose for me. He believes I can be the lead. He believes in me. I need to tell Kotaro how I feel! Emboldened by her headmaster's confidence in her, she leapt off the bench, taking the stairs out of the plaza two at a time, headed out to find her love.

Now, as Natsumi leaned against the rough brick of the theater, she just felt frustrated. Even if I know I have to confess to him, I'm not going to be able to if I can't find him! Her determination hadn't waned nearly as much as her patience with Konoemon's words still ringing in her head, but the hours spent searching every nook and cranny of where she thought he would be were wearing on her. With a heavy sigh she pushed herself off the wall to set out once again. I guess the next stop is Eva-san's cottage. Not that I really want to go there alone…

Just as she was planning the quickest way to Evangeline's home, an enormous blast of sound hit Natsumi's eardrums as a solid wall, followed quickly by a jolting rumble of the ground—strong enough to knock her off-balance. She let out a panicked scream as she landed in an ungraceful heap on the street. Her mind struggled to comprehend what had just occurred as she picked herself up carefully, assessing her body for injuries. Distanced screams and shouts of confusion and anguish reached her ears, mixed with nearer voices edged with alarmed curiosity. What the HELL was that?! Luckily, her body seemed intact, and a quick scan of the street revealed no one in immediate danger, just dazed and confused.

Quickly, Natsumi hurried to the end of the street and peered around the corner. What her eyes saw, her mind didn't want to believe. The entire block a few streets down was engulfed in flame, buildings torches of blazing fire in the near twilight. Horrified, Natsumi scanned the disaster, grimly noting more than several bodies lying motionless around the ground before the inferno. Oh God! What happened? Are we... A cold shiver raced down her spine in stark contrast with the fiery destruction before her. Is Mahora under attack?!

Without any further thought, Natsumi breathed her artifact incantation under her breath—"ADEAT!"—and her school uniform transformed into the long red ballgown, and loose brown cloak of her Adjutor Solitarius. She barely felt the large costume hat settle itself on her head before she put the mask up to her face hurriedly to ensure no one saw her magical transformation. Now completely invisible to humans and magical folk alike, Natsumi Murakami rushed towards the site of the disaster, desperate to help.

End Chapter 6.

Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! I honestly did not know if I'd ever get back to Shadows. Five years later and here we are! Obviously, I'm very sorry that life did not allow me to get this chapter out any sooner—in fact, I'm not sure how many readers this chapter will have after such a long hiatus. Mainly, I want to try and finish Shadows for me and my son who I am now reading Barriers (minus the smut, obviously. Haha!). Well, if any of you are still here and reading this chapter, I'd be more than happy to talk again! Please leave either a review or a PM if you liked the chapter. Thanks as always for taking the time to read my writing, and in the words of Glyph, "Have a pleasant day."

-Grimbt.