122nd Spell: The Flying Ship

Later that night, Meru and Gyoku went down into the cellar of Wataka Mansion for the Zashiki Agreement Ceremony while Haru and the other Wataka siblings followed. Meru then lifted a loose floorboard in the cellar, revealing a series of golden orbs. Datsu stepped forward and picked up one before showing it to Gyoku.

"Is that Datsu's orb?" Haru whispered to Rui.

"Yes," Rui confirmed.

"But what about the one I've seen him carrying all the time?"

"That was a manifestation of Datsu's real orb, which was buried here."

Meanwhile, Datsu held his golden orb out which Gyoku held with him.

"Do you solemnly swear to pay tribute to me every night?" Datsu said to Gyoku, who looked nervously downward.

"I do," Gyoku said firmly.

"Do you solemnly swear to let me come and go from the place you dwell should I choose to?" said Datsu.

"I do."

"And do you solemnly swear to let me go if I decide to dwell in another person's abode?"

"I do."

"Then I, Datsu the Zashiki-warashi, shall accompany you to your new place of dwelling, Gyoku Wataka," Datsu declared.

From the golden orb emanated a warm light that illuminated the cellar completely for a moment before it died down. Next, Datsu gave the orb to Gyoku who watched as the orb shrank to the size of a thimble which he pocketed. Gyoku then bowed to Datsu, who bowed to him in turn.

That Sunday morning, Meru proceeded to take Haru and her children down to the beach below the cliff Wataka Mansion stood on with their belongings in tow. She waved her wand at a particular spot where a large sailing ship suddenly appeared. It resembled the junk ships the Chinese used in medieval times with sails that displayed the Wataka family crest depicting a ship riding a wave that was about to break.

"What is this?" Haru asked.

"Kō-tei," Meru stated. "An enchanted ship that's been in my family for generations which can fly as well as ride the waves."

"Fly?" Haru couldn't believe it. "I've never heard of a boat that can do that."

"Anything is possible in the Wizarding World, Ryuji-kun," replied Meru. "Now let's get to Aomori Station before the M Line leaves."

Rui and her siblings immediately boarded the ship while Haru did the same. Haru then brought his belongings onboard while Meru manned the steering wheel at the ship's helm. Like an airplane pilot, she pushed the steering wheel upward which made the ship ascend from the seawater and into the air. She steered it along the coast while Haru held on for dear life along with Rui and her siblings. In a matter of minutes, they were flying over the city of Aomori and towards the parking lot next to the train station.

"How is no one seeing this?" Haru wondered.

"Like the carriage that brought us to Wataka Mansion the first night, this ship is enchanted to be invisible to Manai," explained Peri.

After the ship landed neatly in a parking space with the gangways lowered on both sides to keep the ship upright, Meru herded her children and Haru into the station with their belongings in tow. They approached the ticket reader and pulled out the special magenta-red tickets they got in the mail with 'Platform 13 1/4' printed on them. Gyoku then checked his blazer pockets and a concerned look came over his face.

"I forgot something on the ship," Gyoku said. "I'll catch up with you guys in a bit."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Meru offered.

"No, Mom, I'll be fine," Gyoku insisted. "Just go ahead with my sisters."

Before Meru could stop him, Gyoku immediately ran back into the parking lot.

"You should wait for him here," Meru said to Rui.

"Sure thing, Momma," Rui accepted.

"Can I keep Rui company?" Haru offered.

Meru raised an eyebrow at Haru. "For what reason, Ryuji-kun?"

"Just so Rui doesn't have to be alone while waiting for Gyoku," said Haru.

Gaane and Fuyou snickered.

"What's so funny?" Peri asked her younger twin sisters.

"Seems odd that Haru is so willing to stay with Rui," Gaane said.

"Like maybe he wants to kiss Rui while Mom isn't looking," Fuyou joked.

"No way!" Haru objected. "I wasn't going to do anything like that."

"How can I trust you won't do anything to my daughter while I'm gone?" Meru asked sternly.

Annoyed by this accusation, Haru opened his trunk and pulled out his enchanted school kimono. While the kimono itself was sakura-pink, the sash was white to reflect his placement in Byakko Clan along with the white tiger emblem on the back. Unfortunately, the forearms of the kimono were still white from when Dōmeki-sama punished Haru, Rui, Hikari, and Nayu for entering the storage house without permission in spite of defeating Warumo.

"I will wear this," Haru said as he put the school kimono one. "So if I try to lie to you about not doing anything to Rui while you're gone, the robe will continue to turn white."

Meru looked between Rui and Haru before glancing at the clock in the station, revealing it was ten minutes to 11 AM.

"Very well," Meru sighed. "You can stay with Rui for now. But as soon as Gyoku comes back from the boat, get to Platform 13 1/4 right away before the train leaves at 11 AM on the dot."

"Yes, Ma'am—I mean, Lady Meru," Haru said, bowing politely.

Peri, Gaane, and Fuyou then used their tickets to pass through the invisible barrier that separated the regular train station from the one wizards used. From Haru's perspective, it looked like they vanished into thin air. Meanwhile, Meru held up a gold-colored card that looked like a train pass and slid it into the ticket reader which made her traverse the barrier as well. Five minutes later, Gyoku ran back from the parking lot.

"What was it that you forgot?" Rui asked her brother.

"Just something Haru found that I want to examine further," Gyoku explained.

"And what is this thing?" Rui inquired further.

"Maybe we can talk about it later," Haru said, eyeing the clock nervously as five minutes had gone by. "We have a train to catch!"

"Right, sorry," Gyoku apologized and picked up his belongings. "Let's go!"

Haru and Rui then picked up their things before heading to the ticket reader. Gyoku went ahead of them and put his ticket into the slot. But instead of swallowing the ticket like it did for Haru, the reader made an electronic beeping noise followed by the ticket being ejected.

To be continued…