Disclaimer: The real-life locations mentioned in this chapter, in particular Nanushinotaki Park, are used as inspiration solely for world-building purposes. Furthermore, the events happening in this chapter are not, in any way, a suggestion to start jumping into random ponds.
Act 01
Chapter 03: The Statute of Secrecy
"Upon the signature of the International Statute of Secrecy in 1689, wizards went into hiding for good. It was natural, perhaps, that they formed their own small communities within a community. Many small villages and hamlets attracted several magical families, who banded together for mutual support and protection."
— Bathilda Bagshot, A History of Magic
April 6, 2004
The tourist maps that Anna had been given listed a grand total of 7 unique entrances into the Ministry, strategically placed across Tokyo. Following the hypervigilance of Muggle traditions, only a select few were available to foreigners.
As a consequence of symbolism and superstition, the numbering itself wasn't sequential; the fourth entrance was absent entirely, skipping from numbers 3 to 5 — through an hourly scheduled portkey via mailbox in Shibuya and a temperamental maneki-neko figure lost behind a convenience store in Daikanyama, respectively — making lucky eight the doubly auspicious gateway to the Ministry.
And the epitome of the Japanese sense of humour, as Anna would soon find out.
The scenic view, they called it. Bemused, she traced the number marked with a circle in glossy blue ink using her index finger, smoothing the creases already forming on thin paper as she stepped into Nanushinotaki Park. Above the swaying branches and stirring pink flowers, a pair of miniscule birds darted across the blue sky.
Anna took a deep breath. The air here smelled sweet and light, like a perfume of butterfly flowers with a hint of chrysanthemums. She saw the flower beds that lay between trees and wide shrubs, the contrasting vibrant colours of fallen leaves that danced in the chilly breeze as she ventured into the soothing quietude. Her shoes clicked on stone tiles as she followed the path heading out from the gates, which winded down to an intersection. Further ahead, her eyes landed on an old instructions board.
Curious, she bit her lower lip lightly, deep in thought while looking at the drawings on weathered wood. The trail to her right led straight to the park guardhouse, while the left seemed to point to a waterfall.
Humming softly, she adjusted the straps on her backpack and turned left, following a group of butterflies.
Taking in the tranquillity of the garden paths, Anna observed the blooms on the ground with interest, keen on finding mushrooms native to the area. The path here was made of soft earth and undergrowth from the looming trees, arched over her head in such a way that the sun crept through timid slivers of light. The shade heightened the scent of dogwood and pine; it mingled with the damp soil from early morning dew. The temperature was colder here as well, a micro-climate of its own.
Along the quiet trails she glimpsed clusters popping over moss, covering the wide girth of a gnarled trunk in earthly tones against darkened bark. After glancing around to check if she was indeed alone, Anna crouched and then carefully plucked a mushroom, holding it with two fingers by the stem as she gave it a critical look. She turned it over, touching the softness of the cap. Small and frail, she brought it just under her nose to breathe in the scent of moist soil and clean wood — it smelt fresh, making it a young-ish specimen. Carefully, she wrapped it in a handkerchief and kept it safe inside her backpack.
There were sing-song trills and chirps around her, in a soothing melody. A white noise reverberated, echoing from across the distance. Walking at a leisurely pace, Anna followed the unmistakable tinkling and gurgling of fresh water until she reached a small clearing filled with chrysanthemums. She closed her eyes and took in the sweet scent before continuing her walk, stopping at the edge of a bridge made of uneven old wood floorings — and without any security rails — that ran across a pond. A heap of rocks lay at the base of a waterfall, splashed by streams of crystal clear water that plummeted eagerly from a pointy cliff, frothy white foam churning and swirling in eddies against wet stone.
Frowning, she looked at the map and then at the flowing rivulets again, suddenly aware of a hot feeling that spread in her chest — irritation in its purest form, what a dreadful thing.
Anna closed her eyes, sighing raggedly. Millie's voice rang loud and clear in her mind, urging her to go sight-seeing. Explore to her heart's content. Take chances, she said. 'I'll lose my Gobstones if I even catch a whiff that you're spending your days alone at the flat, or staring out the window like a damsel in distress,' were her exact words, followed by a menacing wand wave that set fire to the lace doilies on Anna's narrow hall table.
Rolling her eyes at the memory, Anna folded the map and placed it back into her backpack. She headed towards the rocks, hesitating as she stepped on the soft — and very much moist — ground by the edge of the pond. Though clear, the water turned into a brown-ish colour as it went beyond the shallow end, mingling with dirt and colourful pebbles. Beds of water lilies spread over the basin, hiding the koi fish under wide green pads. Timid waves rippled when a dragonfly flew low over the surface, distorting her mirrored image as a thin ray of sunlight reflected a halo over her head.
"Serves me right for not staying put," she mumbled by way of complaint, carefully stepping on a wide — yet slippery — rock with one foot, then placing another forward, arms spread out for balance. The soles of her shoes were filthy. Making a face, she looked down at the water pooling underneath. "And down, down I follow, crashing bottom-first into the water hollow."
A little wobbly, Anna reached the end of the queue and stepped onto a small, walled platform made out of a natural rock formation, shivering slightly as the chill of a spring breeze rustled through fallen leaves that had drifted from the winding branches above. Her naked fingers hovered the rough surface, nails grazing over lichen and moss with a soft, almost reverent touch. The stone, she found, was slightly humid; as she got closer, droplets slithered down in slow motion from behind a small mound.
Intrigued, she scraped off the excess growth that had crawled over the gritty bumps and ridges, revealing 3 verses carved onto the wall:
古池や
蛙飛び込む
水の音
A dim glow like sunshine on diamond shone from inside the carvings as Anna traced them, her eyes alight with curiosity.
With a swift gesture, she took out the map and unfolded the latter section, going through the instructions at the end with the utmost focus. Not a minute passed before a faint crunch drew her attention. She cocked her head to the side, listening carefully; there were some voices in the distance, — but muffled and some ways further behind the chrysanthemums clearing, or possibly the guardhouse — not yet close enough to become a problem.
"Tap your cane against the wall to the rhythm of Bashō haiku (07)," she mouthed the words in a quick mumble, a frown settling between her eyebrows. Then, a tad louder: "My cane? Oh! Shouldn't be too difficult."
Looking around again for inconvenient passersby, Anna pulled her wand out and looked over the instructions again.
"Furuike ya," she dragged out the words, each syllable ripe with uncertainty. The tip of her wand tapped the wall once, then twice, in an unsteady rhythm that caused the dim glow to shine a little brighter. And then —
SPLASH
The ground from beneath her feet seemed to disappear and Anna fell back, arms flailing desperately as she cried out in surprise, plummeting into the pond.
And it was cold. Oh so very cold.
Coughing and groaning, she wiped away the moisture from her eyes. The pond itself wasn't so shallow after all; once she managed to resurface, spitting out bits of algae and pebbles, the water only came up to her armpits. Ripples formed around her in shuddering eddies that broke and renewed in turmoil when she tried to move, scaring away the koi fish.
Heart thumping, she felt something slick move on top of her head: it was a water lily trapped between unruly strands of hair, and it slid down onto her lap with a splash. She picked it up by its bent flower stalk with her wand and let it dangle, perplexed, regarding a small frog that all but glared at her before jumping right back into the pond.
Still dazed, she glanced around, spotting the map near the rock queue. It had slipped out from her fingers — now soaked like a clump of biscuit dipped in tea, slowly floating away.
"Blasted damnation —" Anna growled, stumbling and splashing everywhere, trying to stand up despite the weight of the water on her clothes, when someone — an angry male voice, she reckoned, still half deaf from the water inside her ears — shouted after her from the bridge. With trembling fingers, she quickly grabbed the limp sheet and tried to shove it inside her coat pocket, not giving a tinker's curse whether the thing ripped. The wand she covertly stashed inside a hidden coat pocket, away from prying eyes.
Heavy boots splashed in the water. Anna felt a pair of strong hands pull her out, startling her as she let herself be dragged onto dry shore. The breeze turned into a chilly wind as she reached the muddy ground encircling the pond. Her knees sank a few inches into the muck. Crawling on all fours, she reached a dry patch of grass where she sat down heavily, coughing her lungs out. The front of her dress and bombazine coat were smeared with mud below the waist, an unfortunate state of affairs that made her cough even more, as she was unable to express irritation in proper words.
Anna heard her rescuer address her in Japanese. Still breathing hard, she thought the tone sounded rather indignant, rising in temper with each unfamiliar syllable. Head spinning, she shut her eyes tightly and tried to catch her breath for a moment. Her heart was pounding like mad.
The scenic view, indeed! Should she ever be so unfortunate as to take this route again, she'd blow up the damned door instead —
"?!"
Startled, she tried to look up at the Muggle but was instead blinded by the early morning sun. She saw a dark-blue uniform, soaked from the knees down —
Standing on wobbly legs, she considered whether to Obliviate the man or just bolt out of there. Though in the time it took for her to make a decision, Anna felt a large hand grab her upper arm and she was suddenly herded towards a path with patches of hydrangeas on the sides, as the Muggle ranted furiously. Was she being arrested?
Her eye twitched. The nerve on this Muggle!
Before she could whip out her wand and deftly solve the situation, Anna decided to stay her hand. She remembered those bothersome pamphlets on proper behaviour for foreigners, the almost militaristic guidelines about when not to use magic — and the consequences of disobeying.
Grudgingly, she bore the humiliation. A modest guardhouse stood on foundations of stone some ways ahead; there would be a chance to escape soon.
Anna's teeth gritted from the cold. A breeze drifted through the garden, rustling a pile of red leaves stacked against a wide tree trunk, too feeble to sway her waterlogged coat. However, it felt like an icy wind during Scottish winter, sharp as a dagger, the sort that cuts through every layer with relentless precision. She was shivering by the time they reached the threshold, her every step a slow, burdensome task. Her legs were numb.
Mutters of 'baka' and 'gaijin' rumbled under the man's breath — the park guard she reckoned, a middle-aged fellow with weary lines on his face and a complexion tainted by acne spots. He looked livid, impatiently fumbling with jingling keys to an old lock.
"Can't we just sort this out in a jiffy?" Anna blurted, though she was promptly ignored.
Grumbling, the guard opened the door to the house and pushed her forward. Inside the room was sparsely furnished, with few decorations save for the odd potted plant or lopsided painting. The walls were bare for the most part, tinged light and darker yellow near the ceiling in blotches of overlooked humidity and mildew. In the corner, she spotted a telly-visor similar to her own, but smaller. There was a door leading to a loo with the window — wide enough to fit a slight adult — cracked open. Something to keep in mind.
With a grimace, Anna sniffed the air. An unpleasant mix of coffee and cigarettes lingered, as if part of the building's very walls. She coughed into her hand.
Anna was then directed to a chair opposite a large desk with a grunt and a dismissive wave. A trail of water and grime dripped from her hair and clothes onto the thick wooden planks, which groaned and creaked from age-old wear. Tilting her head down, she noticed how the water made the planks look even more discoloured. The original cypress (or cedar, she couldn't be certain) had been smoothed by years of use, bending downwards at the middle under her weight. From a quick appraisal, she could tell the walls were made of weathered wood, perhaps a relic of Edo architecture that survived the centuries through modern intervention.
An obnoxious creaking came from behind her as the door closed. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the guard give her a massive stink eye, shaking his head at the mess.
Hugging herself, Anna flopped down on the cushion-less seat, her bottom all but glued to the hard surface. She frowned, uneasy, readjusting her weight as she briefly wondered whether she'd been given a cold piece of marble to sit on. Perhaps the chair had been made for uncomfortable talks, after all — no doubt a vile attempt at causing innocent passersby as much discomfort as possible. She looked around, trying to determine any feasible escape routes to safety, should she be unable to placate the Muggle. Her wand was still kept safely tucked inside her coat, ready to correct whatever social faux pas she had obliterated.
Shivering, she rubbed her arms, trying to generate warmth over her soaked garments as the guard slipped into a small storage room. When he reemerged, he was carrying a blanket.
The action made Anna let out a breath of relief — one she hadn't realised she was holding.
"Thank you kindly," Anna muttered, wrapping the blanket around her body. It smelt old, like dust and stale bread.
Muggles were indeed walking oxymorons; one minute they'd shout at you for falling into a pond, and shortly after resolved to surprise you with a blanket.
Without a word of acknowledgment, the guard grabbed a shiny red felly-tone connected to a wall plug and began speaking into it, his tone harsh and call lasted little more than a couple of minutes, but it was at once followed by an angry index finger pointed at her — in what she supposed was an order to stay put. Overcome with curiosity, she complied.
Anna clutched the blanket further, feeling the soft wool under her fingers. She cocked her head slightly to the side, regarding the guard with baffled fascination as he then got up, threw a weary glance in her direction and started fiddling with a machine resting on a narrow table against the wall. The scent of brewing coffee filled the air, but she politely declined when offered a cup, earning only a grunt and a frown in return. She had always detested the taste.
After much grumbling, the Muggle — the guard, she reminded herself of niceties and formalities, trying not to look too conspicuous by staring — instead placed a mug of pippin' hot green tea in front of her. Grateful for the drink, Anna sipped slowly, feeling a cosy warmth spread through her chest, the kind that holds the cold at bay.
Crouching in front of the telly-visor, the guard switched to the news channel before sitting down at the desk with his arms crossed.
"Sakura terebijon," he rumbled in a helpful tone, nodding towards the device.
Anna regarded it with an unimpressed stare. She recognised the logo and the chatty woman dressed in a suit with but a glance; it was the same channel she had kept on at the flat for the past week or so. Just like before, the word 'Kira' featured heavily on the newscast. She found that the repetitiveness just tired her out at this point.
Bored, her eyes searched for something that captured her interest, eventually landing on the desk.
"That's the Lilium formosanum. Native to Taiwan, if my memory serves," Anna said good-naturedly, pointing at the blooming potted flower sitting on the desk. It rested at a corner, adjacent to a coffee stained mug.
The guard glanced up from the telly-visor with a bemused look before turning his attention back to the news. Anna sighed and, resigning herself to silence, turned her gaze to the ceiling, studying the mildew with a frown.
She was patient, but this was getting ridiculous.
There was a safe spot to Apparate nearby; she had first read about it in the tourist guides when she arrived, a few months ago. Millicent had the good sense to insist they do some reconnoitring around the wizarding areas, as a precaution; 'So you're not left grasping at Billywigs,' she'd told Anna on a lovely Sunday afternoon, looking up at the clear blue sky with the exceptional scepticism of a displaced Brit. Though this one had been landmarked with distinction; once due to its gateway into the Ministry and twice, for hosting one of the few magical bookshops still running in Muggle Tokyo, if she recalled correctly. Quite the antique. Splendidly located, as well. Worth a visit, soon.
However, she'd want to go to the Ministry; thus making it far more reasonable to Apparate in Hibiya.
As she adjusted her position, Anna covertly observed the room. Perhaps she would be let go once she finished her cuppa — or perhaps, she thought, casting a sly glance over her shoulder towards the loo — she could be a tad more daring in her approach.
Reaching a decision, Anna loudly slurped the remnants of her tea. The guard gave her an agitated glance.
She set her now-empty cup of tea on the table and rose from the chair. "Terribly sorry, but I'll need to dash to the loo," she stated, as assertive she could muster, pointing to her bladder and then towards the open door. The blanket hung around her shoulders like a cape.
The guard shook his head and grunted, though before he could properly tell her off someone knocked at the front door. Anna bit her bottom lip to prevent a self-satisfied smile from blooming. Delighted, she promptly folded the blanket and placed it on the chair, almost sauntering towards the loo. She gave the guard's back an innocent glance as a tall, broad-shouldered man in a suit appeared at the threshold, looking rather puzzled. Upon seeing her, he gave a stiff bow.
Gesturing wildly, the guard pointed at her and then towards what she assumed was the direction of the pond, while the other man took notes. He pressed on, pointing at the water on the floorboards, voice loud and antsy. Anna gave the man an apologetic smile and a wave before entering the loo and closing the door behind her.
The word 'gaijin' resonated even through the door, muffled.
"Sneaky Muggle, calls the authorities and then brings me a nice cup of tea," Anna muttered through gritted teeth. "Pesky, pesky. Muffliato! "
With a quick flick of her wand, Anna swiftly dried herself. She regarded the small cubicle with a grimace, taking in the unique…odour and yellowish stains on the floor. The toilet seat was up, obviously, — she leaned in, just a smidge, to look into the bowl but quickly recoiled — though the sink was somewhat acceptable. She spotted a few meagre cleaning supplies in the corner: a mop and bucket, plus some odd items, and what seemed to be a cleaning solution in a large bottle. She squinted, making a face; everything was covered in a thin layer of grime, or not-quite-dust, as if no one had bothered to clean in a while.
Feeling charitable, Anna muttered a simple spell and the items came to life, swift and efficiently cleaning while she turned to the window. Latch unlocked, open half-way. As she expected, wide enough for an adult to squirm through. She opened it in full, carefully, the hinges groaning softly. The Muggles would have no trouble believing she slipped away without them noticing.
Once her work was done, she gave the loo a once over and nodded. Her pocket watch marked 9:15 on the dot. A series of Finite Encantatem took care of all working spells.
"I hope we'll never cross paths again. Ta-da. "
Closing her eyes, she focused, trying to imagine her destination in detail.
…
…
…
…
"...almost a decade working this job, detective. Sensei warned us, rest his soul, to keep an eye on the tourists —"
The detective nodded, quickly writing down in his notebook.
"— too many in Japan, causing all kinds of trouble. Just last year, yes?" the park guard waggled his finger. "An American falls in the pond an' then tries to lie his way out of a fine, sayin' he's looking for a gate — and I tell'im he's a drunk fool, there's no such thing this side of the park — I turn 'round for a second an' he's gone —"
Click . The detective pressed the button on the pen. The nip retracted.
"And what should the NPA charge the young lady with, Mr Hayashi? Falling into a pond?" he stared at the guard, grim and serious. "Trespassing? Ill-conduct at a park?"
"No-no, of course not! A right stern talking to from an authority figure works wonders with the youngsters; wouldn't want Kira to get his hands on another one, not for something so small," the guard leaned slightly, as if sharing a secret. "But be that as it may, there seems to be something strange going on around that waterfall; the previous warden said the same before he retired — there might be an overseas cult with their eye on Nanushinotaki Park. Please interrogate the lady, detective. Sir."
And just like that, the guard — Mr Hayashi — bowed deeply. Scratching the back of his head, the detective glanced towards the bathroom; he shook his head slightly, there was a ringing in his ears —
CRACK
A loud sound like a car crash alarmed the two men.
The detective was the first one to spring into action, dropping his notebook as he ran towards the bathroom. To his surprise — and that of the guard, who looked livid, grumbling under his breath — the door was unlocked.
Inside, the bathroom was empty. That much was clear, even as they inspected behind the door (and the ceiling, as a last ditch safety measure — one couldn't be too careful). The young lady must've sneaked through the open window; with any luck they'd still catch her. But what had caused that loud noise…?
With a frown, the detective sniffed the air, followed by the guard. It was with no small amount of confusion that the men noticed how it smelled as if someone had just blown dried their hair. And, upon further inspection, every surface — no, every nook and cranny — looked spotless.
"Everything's clean…" he muttered. A strong smell of bleach wafted in the air. Perhaps with a hint of lime.
For some reason, the guard stared down at the floor, embarrassed. He pulled open the toilet seat and peeked, muttered curses in between his words as he leaned back stiffly.
"Add in defamation to the charges, detective Moji. The little chit decided to call me unhygienic."
The detective stared, in silence. Fuming, the guard pointed at the toilet bowl.
"Look — she cleaned the entire fucking bathroom!"
...
...
As Anna manifested into being with a loud crack in a dingy alleyway, the blended scent of freshly brewed coffee and pungent iron immediately assaulted her senses. She winced, gritting her teeth as a sharp pain coursed through her hand. Her breaths came out fast and laboured; dazed, she tripped over her own feet and cursed loudly, leaning against the wall for support as blood pooled from her index finger onto the asphalt pavement. Messy. Drip , drip. Fresh tears trickled down her cheek, obstructing her vision as the droplets hung from her lashes. About a third of the nail was missing, lost somewhere during the Splinch.
"Son of a Bludger — Accio Dittany! " Anna cried, giving her wand a trembling swish. A small vial labelled 'Essence of Dittany' flew right into her hand; she wrestled with the stopper, wrenched it open with a loud pop and then poured a couple of drops onto the bleeding chunk of flesh. Soon, greenish smoke billowed upward and she let out a loud sigh of relief as the pain subsided. The wound now looked several days old, with new flesh stretching before her eyes.
Breathing heavily, Anna took a moment to collect her thoughts. She closed her eyes for a minute, resting her forehead against the cool, smooth wall she'd been leaning on. When she opened them, the first thing she noticed was how dimly lit the alley was, even during daylight. It stood crammed between tall buildings, a narrow corridor meant to discourage any tomfoolery. Littering was a different matter, it seemed; the ground was riddled with bits of garbage, here and there.
Where are the cleaning brigades?
She'd used this route before, though sparsely. For her last rendezvous at the Ministry, she'd been up since dawn and walked all the way from Bunkyo to Chiyoda with a spring in her step and a smile on her lips. No wonder she'd had trouble recalling this blasted place.
Weary, she vanished the blood from her hands and made herself presentable.
There were voices ahead, dim and distant. She heard a thousand shoes clicking on the pavement in hurried steps; the consistent roll of several vehicles moving along the road. All muffled by the strong concealment spells placed in the area. Groaning, she blinked once, thrice, trying to adjust her eyesight to the shadows.
With heavy steps, Anna moved towards the street. She sidestepped some cardboard boxes and broken bottles of firewhisky, the soles on her shoes crunching over fallen bits of glass.
As she walked towards the edge of the alley, a sudden wind coming from behind made her shiver. It felt…odd. Out of place, like a hand mirror in the tablecloth drawer.
Eyes narrowed, Anna turned around, clutching her wand. The alley was empty. Silent, save for the faint rustling near the wall that blocked access to the other side of the street.
Her jaw clenched. "Who's there?" Anna demanded. "Show yourself at once. Homenum revelio!"
The tip of her wand glowed for a moment, producing a thin, ethereal wisp that began to emanate slowly, gaining consistency until it turned a silvery hue, spreading outwards like a ripple in water. Anna's jaw was tense as she watched the mist move through the alley while her eyes swept the area. She tapped her heel in a rhythmic motion; the quick drumming helped her focus. With each obstacle, the mist seemed to pulse, seeping into every crevice and corner — though it never lingered. It only flowed.
Once it reached the back wall, the mist dissipated. She stared, sceptical.
Nothing. Not even a shadow. Whatever it sought, the spell couldn't find its target.
A seagull crossed the roofs above, crying out as it blocked the sun for only a moment. Something on the ground — a fleeting glint, like a knife catching a flame's flicker — made her glance down. She lowered her wand and, carefully, picked up a small shard of glass. A fine frost had formed along its edges, where the mist had just brushed past.
The spell isn't supposed to do this, she thought, feeling unsettled. Perhaps the wards malfunctioned or interfered, causing a strange after-effect…?
No, not necessarily. She felt — it was difficult to explain even to herself — but it was as if she was being observed. Though it was made abundantly clear that regular spells wouldn't help. She'd need a different approach to tackle — whatever this was.
She bit her lip. Something else to report to the Ministry.
Shaking her head, Anna dropped the piece to the ground where it shattered further. A few bits got lodged under her shoe; she stepped on them, grinding the fragments to powder beneath the sole.
Giving the alley one last critical look, she scurried off towards the open road.
Once she stepped out, the feeling vanished.
The main street was rather crowded. Anna watched as pedestrians hurried up and down the road like ants, though they didn't spare her a glance — even as she emerged, dazed, staring up at the sun in the sky with a hand over her eyes, as if she'd just walked out of a cavern for the first time in a decade. Squinting, she glanced left and right, watching with mild interest how the Muggles ignored her presence and carried on without a word in edgewise — no sorry for bumping into your hindquarters, or a simple gomenasai — as she tried to mix in with the crowds, looking very much out of place among the salarymen and business women heading out to work.
No longer feeling observed, Anna smiled to herself. She idly spotted a few vacant stares in her direction. Spellbound, the faceless amidst the throng were careful not to touch her, before turning away as if nothing had happened.
Should be a mellow variant of the Forgetfulness spell — combined with a Confundus Charm for added safety, no doubt, she reckoned, noticing how the area of effect stretched a few ways down the road. There was a faint blue-ish glow around her, unnatural (or rather, magical) in its presence; it glimmered under the sunlight, with little dust-like particles that swayed gently and brushed against her face. As far as she could tell, the Muggles were unaware of the magic around them; oblivious as they were, they couldn't even sense it — much less see the subtle shifts in the air, ever-stirring the world with endless change.
By the time she reached the crosswalk, the glow had vanished. It left a feeling of loss that lingered heavily in her chest, as if she was now exposed. Pursing her lips, she glanced around with subtle derision; a few of the Muggles were already giving her funny glances. Business as usual.
She crossed the road and then took a sharp turn left. From then on, it was a short walk to the shopping courts in Hibiya. During those first few weeks, she'd wandered the area enough to know her way around without requiring assistance. The hub was a lovely place despite the crowds, and splendidly situated given its proximity to key landmarks. Anna gazed into the distance as she hopped onto the escalator heading to the upper level, gripping the handrails to steady herself as it carried her upward with a smooth glide. She spotted the Imperial Palace roofs in the gap between the towering skyscrapers, with a fleeting view of lush gardens peeking through. Maybe she'd visit again, soon.
As she sped along the row of shops, Anna couldn't resist stealing glances at the windows and admire the humble colours (even her most casual robes were seldom so demure; these lacked a bit of flair — and what a fine thing flair was!); the elegant cuts (high and low, though she noticed a trend of formality); the myriad of items and gear ranged from stationary to household appliances (many of which still baffled her, as she stared wide-eyed in wonderment); the beautiful assortment of candy that reminded her of Honeydukes —
— she glimpsed a familiar figure inside the shop: with glasses, white hair and a dark suit, carrying bags and bags of sweets, practically a full year's worth; though perhaps it was for charity —
Frowning, Anna slowed her pace just to confirm, — though she didn't stop, she carried on walking — startled at the sight; her stomach lurched, a keen feeling that she'd intruded in a private moment made her cheeks flush in embarrassment. Guilt, and a sense of pending matters made her nervous. She'd pay her debt — and soon. Just not now. The law of the land came first.
A few ways ahead, she reached a wooden door with a small, transparent panel in the top-middle and a rather homely outdoor rug, snugly pushed against the bottom threshold. Curious, she peeked inside and saw a counter — with no clerk. It was always empty. On top of the counter stood a maneki-neko figurine, its gaze seemingly fixed on her. Its raised paw swung up and down in a steady rhythm, as if waving in eager anticipation.
Glancing over her shoulder, Anna stepped on the rug with both feet, standing right in front of the door. She briefly wondered whether the Muggles could see it, as no one seemed to pay any attention to her. It was likely the effect of yet another Muggle-repelling charm. Deep in thought, she gripped the handle (a sleek, elongated metal loop made of clean brass), knocking 7 times. Slowly, with a 3 second interval in-between. The lock opened with a click and she pushed the door open, revealing a compact, square-shaped foyer, bare save for the counter.
As the door closed behind her, Anna produced two silver coins and dropped them inside a small slit on the neko's head. With a swish, a ticket appeared out of thin air, levitating as if waiting for her to pick it up. (08)
Bracing herself, Anna took a deep breath and held out her hand.
...
...
Tap.
A single water droplet fell from an intricate ceiling, one with faded motifs once meticulously carved onto the rock. The chill in the tunnel was harsh, a permeating kind of cold that digs into the bones. One that's not entirely natural.
It was always colder up in the mountains.
Tap. Tap.
Wrapping her coat closer to her body, Anna slid the ticket through a gap with numb fingers. She rubbed her hands together, exhaling into them to produce some warmth. The resulting hot air came out condensed, in a cloud of faint steam that moistened her skin and returned some feeling to her fingertips.
"Business?" A middle aged lady inside the booth squinted over half-moon glasses. With a flick of her wand, the ticket vanished into thin air.
Anna bit her lip. "Er, I'll need to talk to someone about — well, something I've witnessed last night. Maybe reporting it would be more adequate —"
"Hai," the lady nodded politely. "Business?"
"Right, right. Report, yõkai," she tried, scratching her head. "Tokyo?"
The lady paused for a long moment, giving Anna an odd look that made her wonder whether she had actually managed to convey her 'business'. Fidgeting, she spotted an elegant quill scribbling away on a piece of parchment and, without thinking, tried to lean over the counter to see —
Anna jumped as the wooden gate behind the booth swung open with a loud, whining creak. Startled, she glanced at the lady, who responded with a smile and a bow, holding a pamphlet with both hands. She slid it under the gap separating them, bowing again — this time more deeply.
She turned the pamphlet. Her brows furrowed once she read the title. "Thanks, but I've got a million of these by now…"
"Arigato gozaimasu," the lady bowed a third time. "Three, left."
The booth window closed sharply with a snap .
Gritting her teeth, — and not just from the chill — Anna shoved the pamphlet inside one of her coat pockets and shuffled out of the tunnel, raising up a hand to shield her eyes as she squinted at the blinding sunlight beyond the gate. Once she reached the threshold between stone and grass, the beauty of a bright spring morning greeted her as she stepped into the Atrium proper.
Out of nowhere, a shimmering shape resembling a swan flew past in a flurry. Anna's eyes narrowed as she watched it leave an almost transparent trail of mist behind, glittering against the sun in quickly fading puffs. Baffled, she frowned; it was a Patronus, and it was going full speed up the mountain. One, two, three, left — it too was heading towards the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. With one last efficient twirl, it disappeared through the sharp roof of a temple-like structure.
"Definitely not normal," she muttered, feeling rather unsettled.
For some reason, all the gondolas were stuck at the summit. The Courtrooms, if she recalled correctly, were accessible only by lift — or good old-fashioned leg exercise, as Apparating was forbidden within the premises of the Ministry. With her lips pursed, she glanced at the few witches and wizards skulking about the Atrium, — which was more or less a wide platform with a stone dais in the middle — and quietly walked towards the towering memorial for the Hiroshima and Nagazaki victims.
A cataclysm that made wizarding Japan withdraw entirely.
"Seimei, Yasunori, Akechi, Ashina…" Anna muttered, eyes stinging as she inspected the tablets with reverence. Entire wizarding families had been decimated, several generations dead in the blink of an eye. Clans left without leaders.
Their memory would live on, in history and forevermore, in this last graveyard for the fallen.
All because of Muggles — Muggles and their stupid wars.
Anna's stomach lurched at the thought. This place always gave her heartburn.
Closing her eyes tightly, she took a deep breath before initiating her trek up the mountain, a journey of rocky paths and carved stairs she was not looking forward to. At least the air was fresh; the scent of pine and flowers wafted from the surrounding forest, blessedly lacking the heavy odours of urban Tokyo. With an unsteady hand, she clutched the wooden rails that bordered the stairs, venturing a glance beyond the edge of the mountainside, and gulped at the view. They were high up, — higher even than Mount Fuji, in location unknown, high above the clouds, inside a protective dome made out of magic. Hidden from the prying eyes of Muggles. The entirety of the mountain had been made invisible (09).
Three, left. One foot after the other. Breathing heavily, Anna stopped at the landing in front of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and leaned against the rails for a bit. It gave her some time to collect her thoughts as she looked down, wondering how painful the drop would be if she were to tumble all the way from here.
She shuddered.
Clouds gathered at the base of the mountain peak. If she narrowed her eyes just so, then she could see little clusters of houses miles below.
Past the Torii gate, Anna entered an empty lobby. While she was busy analysing how the area had been charmed to become, at least, twice as wide as the structure seen from the outside, a wizard with huge glasses suddenly appeared next to her. He beckoned her to follow.
"Come come," he called, leading her through yet another flight of stairs until they reached a long hallway with dozens of doors, left and right. Anna frowned, but followed without a word. By the time she sat down — after being hastily ushered into an empty office — she was out of breath again.
"Nihongo?" the wizard asked, standing very straight at the threshold.
Anna shook her head. "English only, I'm afraid."
The wizard shot her a concerned look. With a stiff bow, he apologised profusely before leaving the office in a hurry, words tumbling as Anna stared after him, bemused. Minutes later, the wizard returned with 3 others, a delicate tray with a steaming teapot and two cups levitating behind a twitchy looking witch carrying a clipboard.
Nervous hands poured Anna a cup. With a respectful nod she picked it up, gripping the handle elegantly, her pinky raised as she'd been taught in polite company, while her other hand steadied the porcelain saucer. Before she could take a sip, a faint rustle made her glance over her shoulder; a group of clerks dressed in light blue robes stood by the open door, peeking inside unashamedly.
What's going on…?
Everyone stared at her in anticipation.
Hesitating, she placed the cup back on the saucer with a soft clink . The tea sloshed inside but didn't spill over the brim. "My thanks for accepting such an impromptu meeting," her voice was calm and measured, though her hold on the handle grew firmer. "This may be an unwarranted report, — and I apologise if so — but last night I seem to have encountered a yõkai in Tokyo —"
She heard the word 'yōkai' murmured behind her. Hovering near the desk, the witch with the clipboard attempted to translate her words.
"Seem to — or did so," the witch asked, though Anna noted a slight tremble in her voice.
"Did so, without a doubt," she replied at once.
The witch nodded, but not before her gaze flicked between Anna and her colleagues, carrying a subdued emotion that, for a moment, gave Anna pause.
Fear. They were afraid.
She gulped. The witch waved a helpful hand, silently beseeching her to continue.
"— hum, we were some ways to the East, beyond Ginza. I'm not sure where exactly, but we were out for dinner at this lovely house, hidden away in a residential neighbourhood — there were no skyscrapers or anything. We could see them from the road, so we weren't too far away from the city centre, I believe."
Whispers. The wizard — whom Anna assumed was one of the department heads, sitting at the desk — adjusted his glasses. "We? "
He pinned her with a pointed look. Anna didn't flinch under his gaze, though her hands fiddled with the hem on one of her coat sleeves to manage her nerves.
"Yeah, myself and a group of Muggles. From uni, you see. Been mingling rather successfully, I should mention," she explained quickly, already predicting a round of intrusive questions. "I'm the exchange student from Britain. Over there we, er, we have the regular sort of ghosts. Oh, and centaurs. Nonetheless, I'm quite certain I've found a Nurarihyon —"
Someone gasped, dropping a clipboard.
Anna bit the inside of her cheek. Uneasy, she glanced at the faces around her, and attempted to diffuse the tension. "Bit of a misbehaving fellow at first, but everything got sorted out quite neatly towards the end. I did ask him not to return, although I'm not sure whether he'll heed my request. Sauntered off into the distance on a palanquin, like a grand king of old…"
She squeezed the handle on her cup, tighter. An awkward silence stretched, ready to snap as the head wizard studied her, inscrutable, his true motive half-hidden, as if trying to confirm something she wasn't privy to — perhaps a secret. Like he tried to find a catch in her words, but failed to find one. After a moment of consideration, he nodded to himself, weary, as if carrying unseen burdens.
The wizard rose from his chair in a slow, resigned motion, bowing low. Thanking her, for whatever it was she had done. Anna noted how his jaw clenched, wondering if the frustration was aimed at her.
Carefully, she placed her untouched cup of tea on the table and got to her feet.
"Arigato," he muttered politely. And just like that, the conversation ended.
Was this it?
How underwhelming, she frowned, feeling beyond baffled. There hadn't even been an opportunity to mention what happened at the alley.
Following a nod from the wizard, one of the clerks waved his wand and two pamphlets came flying from a solitary table at the corner of the office. Startled, she had no choice but to accept them. Her brows furrowed even deeper when she read the title on the covers: 'Attention: Maguru serial-killer is trouble. Guide to survival' and 'How to behave in Japan: A guide for foreign students'.
She tried exceptionally hard not to roll her eyes.
As Anna was led away by one of the clerks, she surreptitiously glanced over her shoulder and saw a group gathered around the desk, arguing in hushed whispers. The words 'tsuki' and 'mangetsu' were murmured over and over, like an alarming mantra. (10)
With an eerie groan, the door closed behind her.
...
...
April 7, 2004
There were whispers around campus in those first few days, the kind that became impossible to escape even the ears of someone like Anna.
It was mid-afternoon when she left the Engineering building, face flushed and hair swaying in the wind as she made her way down the back stairs rather than the front, carrying an old leather suitcase in hand. It was rather heavy; originally she had applied a temporary, albeit lesser version of the Feather-light charm to keep it manageable, though hours later it was wearing off. Had she been asked, Anna would've replied that the blasted thing was in mint condition. Time wears all things down, however; the surface layer had started to peel off somewhat, having turned brittle and dry with age; there was a bit of rust around the lock and the hinges screeched when she opened it over the flimsy side; and though there was some staining here and there, otherwise it didn't look too shabby.
It did, however, stand out.
Nothing had prepared Anna for the bemused stares and murmurs in her first programming class. Having gotten lost in the maze that formed the several departments on campus she arrived a few minutes late to the start of the lesson, quietly looking for a seat as a heavy silence fell upon her arrival. She found one at the farthest workstation from the classroom door and sat down, surrounded by a majority of wide-eyed male students who made no effort to hide their staring. Unsettled, she placed her suitcase on the table and then folded her hands over her lap, sitting very straight as she fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. Even the tenured professor, a middle aged man in a dark suit, pulled down his glasses and stared at her, perplexed.
Shifting awkwardly in her seat, Anna gave the class a curt wave and a tight lipped smile. When this didn't break the silence, she decided to show her dedication towards academic pursuits by taking out her own technology based notepad. Under the scrutiny of at least 30 pairs of eyes, her sweaty hands struggled with the lock on the suitcase for a few unnerving seconds before she took out a huge, foldable portable computer, which she had borrowed at the behest of the kindly fellow running the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. (11)
Satisfied, Anna smiled to herself, placing the computer on the table. She unfolded it, watching the small square in the middle light up and display a few words of welcome. Once she looked up again, all hell broke loose.
Class had ended then and there, with the professor sitting down heavily with his head in his hands after coming over to tell her something in unintelligible English. Anna stared up at the man, slack jawed and bewildered, as he gesticulated at her and then wildly at the door before turning around in defeat like a perfect symbol of martyrdom.
Meanwhile, the rest of the students had gotten up from their seats and circled her, pointing and talking in excited whispers as if she were a Demiguise in a cage; she identified the words 'baka' and 'sugoi' being repeated often, though she was too overwhelmed to ask for clarifications.
She was eventually escorted out by a member of the department's support staff amidst a round of applause — a short, gangly fellow dressed in a blue uniform, whom she had seen trimming the bushes and tending to the bins across campus. He hadn't given her time to properly close her suitcase either; in a polite yet firm manner, he ushered her out of the classroom speaking very fast Japanese despite her protests, and then led her along a labyrinth of hallways before practically pushing her out the back door.
"Well, I never! —"
Appalled, Anna turned around just in time to see the door get closed shut with a loud 'click'. Her face felt like it was on fire.
What in Merlin's name had just happened?
Mustering what little was left of her dignity, Anna stood a little straighter as she gathered her bearings. She clenched her jaw and gripped the handle on the suitcase tightly until her knuckles turned white, taking a few wobbly steps forward in what she reckoned was the correct path towards the cafeteria.
Swallowing hard, her eyes reddened as she held back tears.
As Anna dragged her feet through the beaten paths and roundabout walkways between department buildings, she kept replaying the past half hour in her mind; she had committed some sort of social faux-pas, for certain. Whatever it was, she'd need to figure out how to avoid it next time. Perhaps a re-read of the Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles would shed some light into it — although she could always ask her little group. Rumours about the uncultured foreigner who got kicked out of class should be flying by the time she ordered a piece of shortcake.
Oh, what she wouldn't do for the ability of precognitive sight! She would've never stepped foot in that class.
The birds chirped, hidden in the blooming greenery above. With a cloudy disposition, Anna trudged through the cherry blossom road, feeling a tad lightheaded. Petals drifted down in a gentle sway, but the air felt somewhat heavy in her shame.
Only there was a grease that lingered with every step she took, not unlike the opening ceremony — though much less intense. Like a distinct smell that filled her nostrils. Indeed, her nose felt a tad stuffy but it was not from congestion. Agitated, she whirled, looking around aimlessly, searching for something, anything , amongst the passersby, between the trees, until her gaze landed on a bench nearby and she locked eyes with a most undesirable individual, wolfing down a muffin —
— and then felt a sudden jolt of anxiety running through her body like a shiver. Startled, she jumped as her suitcase opened and the computer fell on the ground with a loud crash. The case followed suit as if out of spite, the cold iron on the handle twisting her fingers as it painfully slid off her hand.
"Ouch, blasted — galloping gargoyles," Anna hissed under her breath. People were staring, a mocking kind of pity that bordered on schadenfreude . She closed her eyes for what felt like an eternity, taking a deep breath, lips pursed in a grimace, pinching the bridge of her nose. When she dared to look at the damage, she was instead struck by a familiar figure hunched awkwardly, wide eyes darting back and forth between her face and the ground.
She leaned back at once, sucking in a breath.
"You've dropped a perfect replica of the 1989 Macintosh Portable," the young man told her in a soft-spoken mutter, biting his thumbnail as he considered her. He spoke in flawless English, with no hint of an accent. "Also known as the 'Luggable' in some circles. There are far better options for coursework nowadays."
Anna's brows furrowed, but she kept silent. With her right hand, she reached for her other forearm to feel up the comforting, hidden contours of her wand's handle as the words for a Bat-Bogey hex rose in her throat. However, the gesture itself would not go unnoticed — despite her attempts at subtlety.
He continued: "It weighs approximately 16 lbs or 7.3 kilograms, depending on your preferred unit of measure. That should explain why your suitcase suddenly gave out. The pain in your arm would be a consequence of continuous muscle straining," his face was unreadable as he glanced at the ground behind her. "A pity. Perhaps next time you'll invest in more suitable equipment."
Her eyebrows shot up. She looked at the awkward young man up and down, feeling her jaw clench with an ill-concealed grimace as her brain worked furiously. Deep shadows that suggested some kind of chronic insomnia. Beaten sneakers. Worn jeans. A wrinkled white cotton shirt. The same outfit from not two days ago.
"Are you quite well?" she blurted out stupidly.
"Yes," he said, after a pause. Then with a long, pale finger, he pointed at something close to her feet. "There's a set of quills all over the ground."
Blinking, Anna's eyes snapped to the half-dozen pheasant and swan quills scattered over books, the loose sheets of paper and colourful inkpots. One of the latter had broken, spilling bright purple ink across the grey stone mosaic and producing a long blotch over the cover of a notebook. The laptop was broken in different places and a few of the pieces stuck out from the crevices, like smashed cogs from a very complex watch. It was a mess. Pity she'd have to wait until home to repair it.
Anna turned towards the young man with a tight-lipped smile but his face was utterly blank. Indisposed, she dropped to her knees and started gathering her belongings, quickly shoving everything back into the suitcase without a care. The side of her pinky and ring fingers became stained with slick purple, prompting her to quickly scrub off the excess ink on the ground but to little avail. Biting her lip in annoyance, Anna ignored how she was leaving fading blots here and there, and continued cleaning up. A simple spell later on would take care of it.
To her surprise, the young man followed suit. From the side of her eye she saw him lower his body in such a way that he was not quite kneeling but rather perched like an oversized bird of prey, following her every move with unabashed interest. She noticed the front of his battered sneakers moved under the cloth, as if wiggling his toes inside in expectation. There were people around, shooting them curious glances and the last thing she wanted was to add (more) kindling to this particular fire.
Suddenly, Anna felt a faint pain behind her eye, like a pinprick. She used two fingers to apply pressure on her right temple, accidentally leaving a small smear above her eyebrow. The discomfort hadn't devolved into a migraine.
Yet.
"I'm sure I can manage so you're welcome to leave now," she said in a sickly sweet voice while picking up shards of glass off the ground, careful not to cut her fingers. She could smell him from this short distance, a strong scent of clean fabric that seemed at odds with his overall shabby appearance.
"Indeed," he agreed, not moving a muscle. A minute later, almost as an afterthought to himself, he murmured: "You're carrying art supplies and a book on Python for beginners, more specifically the Japanese version."
She avoided his gaze. "Yeah, those were mandatory for class."
"They're also for different courses."
Anna tensed, biting back a scathing remark. This seemed like the beginning of a covert interrogation. Slowly, to give herself time to think, she picked up the broken laptop battery and used the flat side to sweep a few of the smaller pieces over a sheet of paper. She attempted to change the subject: "Say, weren't you with that kind gentleman the other night in Ginza?"
For some reason he ignored her question entirely and started tapping his thumb against his lips. "Are you aware that, upon exiting the premises, you've accidentally left behind a yellow umbrella? The bakery staff should be allowed to withhold it for safekeeping for about, say, 7 business days — until they're legally bound to deliver any unclaimed items to the closest police station."
"Right. I'll pick it up later in the week, thanks for letting me know," she replied, feeling her heart thump in her chest. "But I do owe your friend money from the takeaway —"
"You're welcome. And that is indeed correct; an exact amount of 1600 yen."
"— and as charitable as he was, I should hate to be in his debt," she finished, a tad more forceful than she intended. The direct, unblinking stare was bothering her.
"It would be unnecessary to return the value — whether in full or even partially," the young man replied mildly, as a breeze caused a few strands of dark hair to brush against his jaw. Still, he wouldn't make any mention of moving away from her. He rolled his eyes up to the sky, deep in thought. "It was raining that night, though; walking all the way back to Bunkyo would take over an hour, according to my estimations. That is, without the added risk of pneumonia associated with lacking proper clothes — and you are otherwise in good health, despite not having returned to fetch your umbrella."
Anna paused her cleaning to look him warily in the eye. "Sharp of you to notice the evils of a mild drizzle, though I'm afraid the UK can boast of far worse. Anyhow, I'd still like to pay your friend back. Here," she said as gently as she could muster, rummaging inside the breast pocket in her coat. She took out a few coins and banknotes from inside a small pouch. "This should be enough, I hope."
"That's three times the amount you owe," he said, looking strangely disappointed as he glanced at the coins. On her end Anna frowned, tried to check the numbers on the denominators. "But as I said, it would be unnecessary to insist further — not to mention pointless. Think nothing of it."
She pursed her lips. "While I appreciate how considerate you're being, I simply cannot accept —"
Without warning, the young man extended a hand towards the suitcase and picked up a pheasant quill between his index finger and thumb, raising it up for contemplation slightly above his head. Anna followed the gesture with her eyes; the feather seemed to sparkle under the sunlight, an iridescent sheen along smooth vanes.
The utter nerve!
She'd had enough. As waves of red hot aggravation spread inside her chest, the remaining inkpots cracked loudly inside the open suitcase, spilling all over the lining. Swift as a Seeker, Anna took the chance to snatch the quill back, taking advantage of the young man's momentary distraction as his wide-eyed gaze shifted towards the suitcase in bafflement. She dropped the item into the case and closed the top and then the clasps, which fell into place with an irritated 'click' that reflected her own mood.
Huffing, she picked up her suitcase and pulled herself up. Much to her chagrin, the Feather-light charm had waned off almost entirely and she couldn't help but to favour her left side due to the excess weight. The pinpricks in her head worsened slightly, but she stood her ground.
Her undesirable shadow followed as expected; the young man pulled himself up, all long limbs and vacant stares, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. Giving him a pointed look, Anna briefly regretted not having pushed him onto the ground and then walked away, so she could enjoy polite company elsewhere.
She shook her head, chasing away the thought. It occurred to her that she might also be amiss in matters of etiquette, anxious as she was over the incident in class, among other matters —
Though just as she was contemplating some choice words, Anna's phone rang in what would be the first call she had ever received.
It was Sarah.
"You'll want to press the key with the green icon," he muttered after a pause, eyes trained on Anna as she fumbled miserably with her flip-phone.
"I don't see a bloody key, the buttons on this fellytone aren't working as they should," she hissed, mashing several buttons together as the blasted device kept ringing.
"Fellytone," the young man repeated blankly, once again nibbling on his thumbnail. "A key is a button; look for the green icon on the right side next to the wheel, then press it. Do not press any other keys while you attempt this action."
"Don't be silly, that can't be it. I'm positive that — oh?" Her eyes lit up as she heard a voice from within the device calling her name. "HELLO, THIS IS — ANNA— FROM ANNA'S PHONE,"she replied as if out of breath — and much, much louder than her usual mellow tone, while staring at the name on the screen which she kept at arm's distance.
Next to Anna, the young man observed her as if she were a curious specimen from a different species. Once again, people sent them odd glances. Some shook their heads in disapproval, keeping a distance.
"Why are you yelling? Hello?"
" HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? "
"Are you okay? I can see you from over here, we're with Yasunaga near the tennis court; wave if you need me to come over —"
"WHY? WHAT'S WRONG?"
Anna fumbled with the phone, holding it at an angle where she could still see the screen from the corner of her eye, but which was closer to her right ear.
"Do you know who's that guy you're with?" Anna nodded vigorously, narrowing her eyes towards the individual in question. He stared back, impassive, but almost certainly listening to every word, close as he was. "That's Hideki Ryuga, he's one of the two geniuses who got top scores at the exams this year. Is he bothering you? People have been saying he's really weird and a bit of a creep, so be careful — holler if you need me, I'll run over to you asap —"
Taking a couple of steps away from the awkward young man, — this Hideki Ryuga — Anna looked over in the direction of the tennis court, seeing Sarah wave at her. She waved back with her phone in hand, almost dropping it to the ground. Then, in a somewhat lower voice she said:
"There's no need to bring me a sapling; I can't see how it would help — but I'll come to you in a jiffy. Right. Be there in a few."
Sarah chuckled. "A.S.A.P., Anna. It means 'as soon possible'. And please stop shouting into the speaker; you'll make me go deaf 30 years too soon. See ya."
She hung up.
"Well, goodness me," she muttered, cheeks flushed, as she closed the phone with a dry 'click' . With slightly shaking hands, she placed it inside her coat pocket again. "Awful sorry about that, but — well, anyhow. Need to dash. We've had an…interesting chat. That's definitely a word."
Ryuga seemed to look somewhere over her shoulder. Anna closed her eyes tightly for a few seconds, stuffy nose scrunched up in a painful grimace. The air felt greasier than disembowelling frogs for Potions.
"You're unwell. Perhaps the mild drizzle wasn't so mild after all?" he asked, looking at her with an odd expression. She didn't like it one bit.
Anna managed a half smile. "Just a trick of the light. Now, off I pop. Oh! And take this; please make sure to give it to your friend, and tell him I send my best. Cheers."
"As I've explained before —"
Muggles.
Afraid of yet another elliptical conversation, Anna quickly shoved a handful of banknotes into Ryuga's free hand, jumping at the short window of opportunity available to her when he removed his thumb from his mouth with a pop. Without another word, she picked up her suitcase and rushed over into Sarah's direction.
Ryuga didn't follow or call after her. She didn't look back either, instead focusing on the group ahead. From a distance, she noted that some people she knew, others were known to her but mere passing acquaintances that she had never spoken more than a few words to. However, she couldn't help but to notice that a girl was glaring at her from behind large round glasses.
"Everything cool?" Sarah asked, patting the seat next to her once Anna dropped her suitcase to the ground with a sigh. She raised an eyebrow. "Did you know there's a purple stain on your face?"
"Yeah, it's a novel fashion statement. Look, I think I need your help with something, please and thank you," she said, swaying on the balls of her feet. "Reckon I just committed a rather abysmal social faux pas in one of my first classes. Got kicked out and everything," the last part she added in almost a whisper, cupping a hand next to Sarah's ear to stress the need for secrecy.
Sarah got up immediately. "Shit. A social what? Doesn't matter — just tell me everything. We'll fix it. Let's go grab a bite," she said, picking up her backpack after wishing her goodbyes to the others. Once they were a fair distance away, she added: "Kyoko's real jealous, dunno if you noticed how she gave you the stink eye. Wouldn't stop going on about Ryuga and how he was talking to you. I think I made things worse when I called and said he was a weirdo and a creep."
"Brilliant," Anna sighed. The pain was fortunately subsiding by the time they climbed the steps to the cafeteria, the air blissfully soft in her nostrils as she took a deep breath. "Can't say he was that awful, just a tad awkward. Didn't make much of a first impression," she switched her case to her right hand in order to balance the weight. The charm had faded entirely. "Sticks out like a sore thumb, if I may say so. Bit of a tosser."
"Yeah, well, she's down bad. Can't understand why, but whatever floats her boat. Saw the guy from across a crowded room and all, just like in your regular rom-com."
"Right," Anna squinted at the term rom-com. "He was strangely attentive, though. Beneath all that…sticking out and whatnot. Verbal and visual."
"Let's keep this Ryuga talk under the old Stetson for now, the poor girl might have a heart attack if she knows we're talking about her crush," Sarah said, looking around for a free table at the back.
"Why do I feel like I just dodged a bludger?" Anna mumbled, looking over at one of the wide windows showing the campus outside; there was a commotion near the tennis court, with a significant crowd gathering nearby.
"A what — a blugger ? Do you mean a bullet?" Sarah asked, distracted, brows furrowed as she navigated around a pillar.
"Yup, exactly," Anna agreed quickly, taking the cue. She looked away from the window, uninterested. "Today's been a lot, seems like I'm forgetting my words."
Sarah made a face. "Bah. Anyway," they sat down at a corner table, away from prying eyes. "I'm guessing whatever the hell happened has to do with that thing you're carrying. Looks like a piece of luggage from good ol' Victorian London."
"It's a perfectly suitable carry-on," Anna rebuked good-naturedly, though eyeing the container Sarah pulled out of her backpack with a disapproving look.
"Cupcake rosé? Tastes like watermelon," Sarah offered.
Anna rolled her eyes. "Thanks, but I'll pass. I'm not too keen on bathwater."
"I thought you didn't drink at all."
"I don't, but Millie insists I should at least try two different types of alcoholic beverages per year to keep my palate sharp," she said, inspecting her nails. "Of course, I only allow myself to be persuaded because I know she wants company when going on a binge. It's good for morale, you see. And I only ever sip."
"Of course," Sarah agreed, taking a chug off her container. "I can actually see you nursing a warm beer all night long. So, about this hullabaloo: what gives?"
Anna tried to explain.
Sarah spat out her drink and then burst out laughing.
...
TBC
...
Wow, I'm really honored that so many people have taken an interest in this story (on FFnet and AO3 alike)! Thank you so much, all your comments, favs and kudos give me inspiration to keep writing.
This chapter was so long already I had to take the last section and fit it for the next update. Which will be sometime in September or October, depending on work.
Chp 4 will be a shorter interlude to end Act 01. From then on, there will be some time skips to match the manga timeline.
...
I should say that, while I personally see L as someone who can read people impeccably (let's call him a true master in understanding human behaviour, reactions and motivations), he was slightly tripped by Anna's otherness. The ancient laptop, the quills and inkpots, shouting at the phone in public — he had to recalibrate his thought process very quickly. And he succeeded to a point, improvising like when he steals Misa's phone at To-Ho. Only this stumped him far more given some of the unpredictable circumstances surrounding Anna. Even L can get caught by surprise every once in a while.
So, L indulged his curiosity before getting to the tennis game with Light. He took the chance and is now a smidge more informed. Other than eccentricity and a penchant for being rather obtuse, there should be nothing particularly interesting about Anna Green. And certainly nothing that could distract him from the Kira case. The amusement is gone. Right?
I also took the liberty of 'borrowing' some aspects of Japanese culture to shape this side of the wizarding world. For example, the restriction into the Ministry (out of 7 entrances, foreigners are only allowed to access 2) is a direct reference to izakayas that won't allow in non-Japanese individuals. And, in the case of Mr Hayashi, the Muggle park guard, the comments on over-tourism paint the frustration I've seen directed at some less well-behaved foreigners through interviews and documentaries.
Question: how did you find the 10k+ chapter length? Ideal? Too much? I'm wondering whether I should update more often (but with shorter chapters) or if this length is easier to read.
...
Notes and translations:
07 - Based on Matsuo Basho's haiku, 'The old pond'
08 - This scene was very much a highly specific bit of self-indulgence based on the Japanese idiom 猫に小判 neko ni koban, which means 'a gold coin for a cat'. Meaning: it would be a waste to give money to a cat. Its English synonym would be the famous 'pearls cast before swine'.
09 - Given that a significant percentage of Japan's landscape consists of mountainous areas, I thought it wouldn't be too farfetched to assume its magical community made the Ministry premises along the peak of the tallest. Who's to say much of the folklore about kami wasn't partially inspired by Japanese wizards making their home atop a mountain?
10 - 'Tsuki' = 'moon' and 'Mangetsu' = 'full moon'
11 - Clearly Arthur Weasley.
