Thanks to Alicia, my amazing beta.

'It was yesterday at 7:15 pm our time, 2:45 am theirs. They didn't see it coming. Their wards didn't detect its presence. It killed one shadowhunter and injured three before they could stop it.' Maryse's voice was firm and serious, like every time she was in charge. 'They informed the Clave and the Clave decided to hand us the case, as we have been the other Institute with a similar attack. They requested Isabel to inspect the corpse, as she has previous experience. But this is important.' Maryse looked at Alec while saying this. 'This is not just our case. We have to collaborate with them. Although, I would learn as much as possible. This might be a golden opportunity to know more of our enemy.'

'Am I to go as well?' Asked Alec, because his mother hasn't included him on the mission, but no doubt she will know by now that wherever Isabel went, he would go too.

'Yes. And you should bring Clary with you.'

Alec rolled his eyes in exasperation. Everybody knew that he and Clary weren't the best of friends. He would protect the girl, teach her, make sure she was alive and well. But not for her, for Jace. He would take care of her until Jace was back. He owed that to his parabatai.

'The Clave thought that it would be a good opportunity for her to learn about our culture and have some field experience in something that shouldn't be too dangerous. I'm sorry. You are assigned as her tutor while away.'

His mother's words where final and he took them as orders, as always, without saying no or complaining. With luck, they would be back before tomorrow.

'So, when are we leaving?' Asked Clary with energetically. The girl has been feeling trapped and useless inside the Institute. She wanted to go out and find Jace, find her father and finish the situation they were in once and for all. However, she couldn't. They couldn't trace Jace or Valentine, there was nothing else for them to do than be ready, and they weren't. Especially Clary, and she knew it. Since her mother woke up, she has tried to learn about their culture, to become a good shadowhunter even if she didn't want to be one, because she knew that was the only way of getting Jace back. She trained everyday, Alec and Izzy helping her us much as possible. And now, after weeks of being inside, she couldn't be more happy to go out and do something, to feel productive for once.

'In half an hour.' Said Alec looking at a screen and checking something Clary had no idea what. 'Pack a small bag in case we need to stay the night. Talk to Izzy about it, she will have more info. I need to make some arrangements.' And with that he turned around, taking his phone out and calling someone on his way to the main door.

Clary sighed and looked at Alec walking away from her. She liked Alec, in a weird fond way, and she wanted to be her friend. In the last weeks she had learned the importance and true meaning of the parabatai bond and she couldn't help but want to understand and befriend the other half of Jace. But Alec… Izzy was right. Alec was just the kind of person that didn't let new people in.

Alec pressed the call button and went to the corner, trying to be away for praying ears. Three seconds later he heard the voice he was waiting for.

'Miss me already?'

Alec could help the little smile that appeared on his face. That was another thing, he smiling. He didn't notice how little he smiled before Magnus. Now, when he was with him, he smiled so much that the muscle around his mouth hurt sometimes, not use to the new activity.

'No.' He said and kicked himself mentally for the lack of romanticism in his tone. 'Sorry… It's just… There is this mission. A forsaken attack had happened.'

'Here?' Magnus voice was now serious, or as serious he could get without any blood or demons around.

'No, in Tokyo. The Clave has requested Izzy and I have to go with her and also take Clary and… kind of play babysitter. So… what I'm trying to say is that tonight has to be canceled. Sorry.'

'It's alright, Alexander. I understand.'

You understand too much. Alec said to himself, thinking he didn't deserve how nice Magnus being so nice to him mejor.

'Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow. Maybe we can go to that place under your loft that you like?'

'Taki's?' Magnus' voice was excited and Alec was relieved. At least he wasn't the world's worst boyfriend. Wait, are we boyfriends? We haven't talked about…

'I would love that.' Said Magnus interrupting his thoughts and small panic attack. 'See you tomorrow then. Call me if you need me.'

'We won't need you.' He said too harshly and kicked himself again. 'I mean, we will be fine. It's nothing too serious. We won't bother you.'

'You never bother me, Alexander.' His voice was too soft for someone that had just heard his… boyfriend? Say "I won't need you". Alec was starting to realize that Magnus could read him even on the phone, no need to see his face to understand what he truly meant. That realization filled Alec's stomach with something warm and new.

'See you tomorrow?' Asked Magnus when Alec didn't respond.

'Yeah, see you tomorrow Magnus.'

'Take care, darling.'

'You too.' Said Alec before hanging up with a soft sigh. He wasn't getting better in this romance talking thing, and he doubted that he ever would. Why did those things never come to him naturally as they did to Izzy or Jace? Maybe his parents were right and his best was not good enough. Maybe Magnus deserved someone better. But he couldn't keep thinking about it, there was a mission to take care of and things to prepare.

Clary had to apply a new rune in order to be able to understand Japanese, or any other language for that matter. After that was done, they went through a portal that led them to another portal that led them to a really modern Institute where they were sorrounded by a majority of asian shadowhunters. Probably Japanese, but she wasn't that good distinguishing them from Chinese, or any other east asian. Maybe she should start paying more attention, now that she had Magnus as a friend. Now that she was thinking about it, she didn't know where Magnus was from. How rude of her. She should have payed more attention to the warlock, she should have asked him to have a tea or something together and get to know him instead of only going to his loft for help. Because she cared for Magnus, she had learn that he was a beautiful person, inside and out, and wanted to be his friend. She would change that as soon as she was back. Who knows? Maybe it was also a way to get closer to Alec. Killing two birds with one stone.

'Welcome.' Said a thirthy-something years old guy walking towards them. She could notice that he was handsome in a sober way. Not her type, but there was something about him that made your eyes stay on him. 'My name in Satoshi Masaoka. I'm the head of the Tokyo Institute. You should be the experts that the Clave has sent to help with the creature.' It wasn't a question. He was sure of it and Clary knew then that this was someone that took his job even more seriously that Alec. Great.

'Alec Lightwood.' Said Alec introducing himself and taking the hand that Satoshi was offering. ' This is my sister Isabelle, the one who made the autopsy on the Forsaken. And this is Clary Fray…'

'Valentine's daughter.' Said Satoshi looking straight at her. Clary held his gaze. 'I know who you are. I don't know why you are here.'

Clary was about to say something, but Alec was faster. 'The Clave made the decision. They thought it would be beneficial for both of us.' Alec's voice as serious as the other guy and, for a moment, Clary thought that he was defending her and her presence there. But maybe it was wishful thinking.

Satoshi looked at her as if he was making sure she would not be a threat to them. After some seconds he nodded and looked bak at Alec and Isabelle. 'A pleasure having you here. Please, follow me. I'll show you where you can leave your things and I'll explain the situation in detail.'

They followed Satoshi. Alec was the first to start talking, all business as usual. Clary was just amazed by the Institute. It was so different to the one she was use to. This was not an old building turned modern. This was a really high tech new building, with the glass and lights the shadowhunters were so fond of. It was somehow similar to hers, but at the same time, something completely different. She couldn't believe she was in another country, the thought was still surreal, as was the fact that she could understand what people were saying, but she couldn't read what was on the screens. The magic on the runes were a funny thing, still new to her. She wasn't paying attention on what was being said or where they were going. She felt as Simon felt the first time he saw the Institute. She couldn't stop looking at things, being amazed. She didn't know how Alec and Izzy weren't more in awe. She new it was their first time there, but they walked the corridors as if they were born there. Maybe they were used to it and she hoped that she would never get used to it. She didn't want to.

They ended up in a small room with files on the table and on the screen. A picture of the dead forsaken and close ups of different parts of its body. The text was in English.

'Do you have the report of the warlock that put on the wards?' Alec asked.

'No. He disappeared. We think that he had something to do with the attack. That he was the one letting the forsaken in.'

'Why would he do that?' Asked Clary surprised.

Satoshi turned to her for the first time since they were there. 'Because he is a warlock.' He said as if he were lecturing a small child. A stupid small child. 'They have no loyalty. Probably Valentine, or whoever sent the creature, paid him more to open the wards than what we paid him to keep them closed.'

She wanted to say so much. Call him on his bigotry and racism, and let him know what she thought of warlocks. Let him know that she had grown up with Dot, the sweetest human being she had ever known. A person that had given her life to save hers and her mother. That she was friends with Magnus Bane. That all he knew of warlocks was that they were a kind and loyal race. But she couldn't. Izzy was faster.

'Maybe he was attacked by the forsaken. He could also be a victim.' She said with no doubt on her voice.

'Maybe. I'm afraid we will never know.' Satoshi said, not convinced at all.

'I assume the wards have been taken care of.' Said Alec changing the topic.

'Yes. After some checking we have a warlock that it's gonna be taking care of all the issues with the Institute. She applied the wards and are now running perfectly.'

'We should call her in.' Said Izzy. 'I will need her opinion on the forsaken.'

Satoshi nodded.

'What is her expertise?' Asked Izzy looking at the pictures of the forsaken on the screen.

'Healing and potions. She used to be our healer when our medics couldn't do more. She has been working for the Institute for thirty years.' Explained Satoshi.

'Why use another warlock for the wards then?' Asked Alec.

'That's not her expertise. And he was the best for that. Have in mind that there's only five warlocks officially living in Tokyo. We don't have the luxury of High Warlocks like the Americans.' There wasn't malice in his voice. It was just a statement. As if the mere thought of having a High Warlock was more of a problem than a advantage. 'She is the only one we can more or less trust, giving her long history with the Institute.'

Alec nodded and Clary was amazed in an angry way that he wasn't saying anything on the warlock topic. She looked at Izzy but she was focused on the pictures and files, already working. It was as if they were talking about tools and not people. Then something hit her. That was the way shadowhunters looked at warlocks. As tools, as something to be used and then discarded, interchangeable. Was she like that to Magnus? Now that she thought of it maybe the warlock thought that she was like them, only turning to him for his magic. She felt ashamed. She didn't want to become one of them. She didn't want to disrespect the memory of Dot.

'I will start working.' Said Izzy. 'Can I have this room for myself before going to see the corpse?'

'Of course, anything you need just ask. I will show you to a room when you can wait, or if you prefer I can appoint someone to show you the Institute.'

'I would like to see the Institute and learn about how you do things here. If it's possible and we have your consent. I'm sure we would learn form you.' Alec said with a small nod, as a gesture of respect.

'Of course. I will appoint someone to show you around and answer every question that you may have.' And after that they left Izzy to her work.

Okay, maybe Alec had something for east asian men and he didn't know till now. Maybe. Because the head of the Tokyo Institute was definitely hot. Not Magnus hot, no one was Magnus hot, but normal hot, mortal hot. He needed to focus. He was there on oficial business and he couldn't be less than perfect, not after the wedding. He knew that his mother had sent him there to prove to the Clave that he could still be a good leader, even with his "thing" with Magnus, even with her not talking to him for something other than work. He also needed to prove to himself that he could do it, that he could take care of things, built relationships and act as a leader. What he wasn't suppose to do was check out Satoshi or try to see if he had or not a thing for asian guys.

'Welcome. My name in Satoshi Masaoka. I'm the head of the Tokyo Institute. You should be the experts that the Clave have sent to help with the creature.' He also had a nice voice, not as nice as Magnus. Alec pushed the thoughts of the warlock and his soft and deep voice out of his mind. He needed to be a professional, to show Satoshi that he was his equal. To built a relationship for the future in case it was needed.

Everything went smoothly until the warlock comment. He was liking the guy. He appreciated that he took his work seriously, and was tempted to tell Izzy "see, I'm not the only one". But then Satoshi said that thing about warlocks and loyalty and he knew that he would never get along with the guy. At first, he thought of saying something, but then he remembered that was the norm. That was the way shadowhunters always looked at warlocks and that would have being hypocritical of him. He used to be like that. He would have said exactly the same thing were he in the other guy shoes and a glittery warlock hadn't appeared in his life and opened his eyes.

He couldn't judge the guy, and he also knew that he couldn't bring the topic and try to change Satoshi's mind. It was clear that he didn't know of Alec's show on his wedding a couple of weeks ago. He couldn't be the warlocks advocate, not now, not so soon and in a time when he needed all the help he could get to find Jace. He felt sick, knowing that he couldn't put his heart before his brain, but he also knew that this was the logical thing to do. He only hoped that Magnus would be as understanding with his decision as he was with everything else.

He left Izzy working and went with Clary to see the Institute. Maybe he could learn more about the relationship they had with the few warlocks they had here and maybe help in a very subtle way. Because one thing was for sure; the warlock that had put on the wards didn't let them in. He wasn't a traitor. He was a victim.

TBC

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