Post by Rika Lefcourt on Jun 22, 2010 13:22:55 GMT -8
Late February 2011
Cold
It is so cold, so damnably cold, she thought, pulling her muffler higher in an attempt to shield her face from the wind and the driving rain, which was mixed with heavy snow. Parts of her clothes were already soaked, water even coursing down her neck, her woolen gloves already clammy. Luckily she had avoided any close contact with the nearby creek, and thus neither her boots nor her pants were sopping wet. Still, the current situation was rather uncomfortable.
Another gust of wind out of the east kicked up spray that stung her face and tried to drag her off the mountain. She had spent several months here before, but in the past year she had almost forgotten about how bad this place could be in winter. The extremes met here. In summer the heat was unbearable, and in winter the ice and snow made climbing the mountain a suicide run. And in between the weather danced a tango of hell.
She turned away from the wind, trying to protect herself from the roaring elements. Maybe coming here had been a bad idea. Pulling herself up she finally arrived on top. As expected she was alone. Nobody with a right mind would have tried to climb this particular mountain in late January. Of course, that didn't mean that this place was uninhabited. Somebody lived here. She had lived here herself several months ago.
Making her way through the snow she headed towards a familiar sight. Stopping outside the small house made of stone she knocked on the door. It opened by itself.
“I've been expecting you,” said a familiar voice. “Come in.”
She obliged and the door closed behind her.
Inside it was a lot warmer than outside. It was small but actually quite comfortable. Slowly the woman removed her cap and then her gloves. The warmth felt wonderful against her face. “Master Chen,” she said and bowed deeply.
“Take a seat Rika.”
Nikaidô Rika, who was part of the famous Hojo family from Japan, obeyed. She found a spot near the fire and sat down.
“I've been expecting you, Rika.” Master Chen Li Yue was a small woman. Her age was hard to tell, but she seemed to be as old as the mountain itself. Her whole life Chen Li Yue had been learning and teaching certain arts. She had been a teacher at the Chinese academy for wizardry and witchcraft for many years and, upon her retirement, she had retreated to this mountain. There she had continued her way of life. “But it brings up one question. Why are you here?”
Hesitating at first Rika spoke up, “To finish my training.”
Master Chen chuckled. “I've taught you everything I could. There is nothing for you to learn anymore.” Except one thing, Chen thought. But I can not tell her that she is not human and rather one of them. It is not my place to do that.
“But when I left,” Rika began, “you said...”
“That you will come back, yes.” Chen straightened to her full height of barely 150 centimeters. “You have been a good student. Your time here is done, Rika.”
“There must be something.”
“And they say Kiku are so smart,” said a third voice. “You really don't live up to the hype. You're getting old, Rokuhana Rika.”
Rika's right hand instinctively twitched towards her wand. She knew the voice, but hadn't heard it for several years. Her eyes hardened, her fingers just inches away from her wand. Honestly, what were the odds of running into the most famous Black Lotus member of the recent years right here in China? Especially considering the past relations between members of the Black Lotus and the Chinese people?
“So, Rokuhana Rika, what say you?” She came into view and Rika noticed that, at least from her looks, she really hadn't changed at all. “Oh pardon me. Nikaidô Rika. That's how it is now, isn't it?”
“Misa Kuroi,” Rika finally said. “If you expect me to be happy about seeing you here, then you're horribly wrong.”
“Fair enough,” Misa replied and took a seat at the fire opposite from Rika.
“I have taught you what I know,” Master Chen finally said. The little confrontation was something she had expected, for she knew about the tensions between the different houses at Shirasagi, the Japanese academy for wizardry and witchcraft. And she also knew about the past Misa and Rika shared. Though, truth be told, there wasn't that much. Misa had been in a higher year than Rika, so their interactions hadn't been as intense as those between Rika and Black Lotus members of the same year. Still, Misa had left an impression and that impression wasn't necessarily the best.
So her journey to this place had been pointless? The thought was worsened by the fact that she had been forced to climb up the mountain. Master Chen had always made sure that her mountain was properly protected from unwanted guests and thus her protective wards had always prevented people from simply apparating on the mountain top. The only way up was to climb. “So it was all for naught?” Rika finally asked.
Chen's old eyes focused at Rika. She sighed. “Your biggest mistake, Rika, your only mistake, was always that you didn't understand. Even now you don't understand.”
The young woman returned the look. No, she didn't understand, but she was used to Master Chen talking in riddles.
“Your technique was always good, if not excellent. You've mastered every stance, every move, every flick of your wand some time ago. That was never an issue. But your mind was never set on the other important part.”
“Sword and mind must be united,” Misa suddenly added. “Technique by itself is insufficient, and spirit alone is not enough.”
“As I said, you've mastered the techniques, but...” Chen tilted her head to the side just a little bit. “But your mind is always off, wandering.”
Rika lowered her gaze. It almost sounded like a reproach and coming from someone like Master Chen, it actually hurt.
“The weather is changing,” Chen noted. “It's time for you to go home, Nikaidô Rika.”
“But...”
“You need to go home, Nikaidô Rika. You must find your path by yourself. I can not tell you what you must do. This up to you.” With that Chen approached Rika and tapped two fingers of her right hand against Rika's forehead. “It's all in there.”
“Or maybe not,” Misa added snickering.
“Why are you here anyway?” Rika snarled at the slightly smaller woman. “Since when do Black Lotus care?”
“Judging by houses?” Misa laughed. “You out of all people should know better.”
Knowing that Misa was actually right Rika's right hand relaxed a bit. It was stupid to judge people by whatever house they belonged to. People had judged her in the past for bearing the name Lefcourt. Lefcourts always made Slytherin, so some had claimed, but Rika had ended up in Ravenclaw. But even then she had been a Lefcourt and all Lefcourts were the same, right? Just like all Hojo were the same, and all Nikaidô were the same... Rika looked away from Misa and then focused on the fire. History also spoke a clear language. Certainly most Black Lotus members had been caught up in the usual ways of this particular house, but not all of them had followed this path.
Whatever the reason for Misa's appearance at this place was, Rika realized that it wasn't important. Master Chen had made it clear. There was nothing here for her anymore. And Master Chen wouldn't do this without a very good reason.
Raising from her sitting position Rika didn't look very satisfied. In fact she was quite disappointed. But Master Chen had often talked in riddles. “I will do my best, Master Chen.” Her clothes had dried up rather quickly, thanks to Master Chen's skills.
Once outside Chen and Kuroi saw her off. Finally, when Rika was out of sight and earshot, on her way down the mountain, Chen shook her head. “Have you noticed it?”
Misa nodded. “She reeks of blood.”
Sighing the old woman added. “She has killed again. I heard from a friend in your homeland, that she was involved in the deaths of her uncle, his wife and three of her cousins.”
“You are concerned about her, master?”
“Rika is strong, but she has not yet found her true potential. The road ahead of her is full of dangers. Yes, I am worried. I fear for her humanity. I fear what she might become. She will do what she believes is right, no doubt. But there lies the danger. Her decisions will be based on her experiences and the things she learned throughout the years. Rika is a sword waiting to be drawn. But to what end? For the good? Or for the bad?”
“I don't know, master.”
“Neither do I,” Chen said with a slight chuckle escaping her. “Time will tell.” With that she looked at the cat which had joined them. It was a normal tabby, hardly impressive or unusual. A plain cat... in the snow, on a mountain protected from both muggle and magic folk. “What do you think?” Chen addressed the cat.
Suddenly the cat turned into a human. It made Misa twitch a bit. Animagi were one thing, but these guys were giving her the creeps. Gotoku neko. The ministry had listed them as magical beasts, but that was mainly because most of the old families were in fact gotoku neko themselves and had infiltrated human settlements for centuries. They had simply manipulated the ministry into giving them this status for their own protection. Today it was impossible to tell who in the ministry was a real human or a gotoku neko in human form.
“So far he has been right,” the man said. “Everything has developed exactly how he has foreseen it.”
“You could warn her,” Chen noted. There was this slightly annoyed tone in her voice. She didn't really appreciate this sort of scheming and plotting, especially not when it involved one of her favorite students.
“It would influence her decision, and you know that, Chen Li Yue. She would go to great lengths to prevent it and we can not allow such interference.”
Misa observed in silence, but then she too spoke up. “I'm surprised that you would not help one of your own kind.”
His eyes narrowed at her. “The politics of the old families and the ministry are of no interest to me. Rika will eventually find out what she is, that is an inevitable event. And she will have to make a decision. A very important decision.”
“Which is?” Misa was curious.
“Restore the Nikaidô to what they once were or maintain the status quo.” Which meant remaining part of the Hojo. As if he had read Misa's mind he continued. “The Nikaidô are one of the old families. Restoring them would shift the balance of power into an unknown direction. It's the one thing most people are afraid of. If she chooses this path she will make many enemies, but also new allies. However, should she decide to remain with the Hojo, the result will be similar.”
“So, one way or the other,” Misa mused, “chances for a war back home are high?”
Finally he turned a bit to face her. “Yes. And let's not forget that she has no idea what she really is.”
“Why did Shiori not tell her,” Chen mumbled.
“Protection,” he concluded. “The air on top is thin enough. Knowing that she is one of us would make it even harder for her.”
Chen nodded. “Still, I fear that this journey will destroy her. The way she dealt with her uncle, his wife and those three cousins of hers is proof enough that my fears are justified.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Divination, Chen Li Yue, is an art that neither humans nor gotoku neko have ever mastered. Nor will either of us ever master it. It's not possible. The future is absolutely uncertain.”
Cold
It is so cold, so damnably cold, she thought, pulling her muffler higher in an attempt to shield her face from the wind and the driving rain, which was mixed with heavy snow. Parts of her clothes were already soaked, water even coursing down her neck, her woolen gloves already clammy. Luckily she had avoided any close contact with the nearby creek, and thus neither her boots nor her pants were sopping wet. Still, the current situation was rather uncomfortable.
Another gust of wind out of the east kicked up spray that stung her face and tried to drag her off the mountain. She had spent several months here before, but in the past year she had almost forgotten about how bad this place could be in winter. The extremes met here. In summer the heat was unbearable, and in winter the ice and snow made climbing the mountain a suicide run. And in between the weather danced a tango of hell.
She turned away from the wind, trying to protect herself from the roaring elements. Maybe coming here had been a bad idea. Pulling herself up she finally arrived on top. As expected she was alone. Nobody with a right mind would have tried to climb this particular mountain in late January. Of course, that didn't mean that this place was uninhabited. Somebody lived here. She had lived here herself several months ago.
Making her way through the snow she headed towards a familiar sight. Stopping outside the small house made of stone she knocked on the door. It opened by itself.
“I've been expecting you,” said a familiar voice. “Come in.”
She obliged and the door closed behind her.
Inside it was a lot warmer than outside. It was small but actually quite comfortable. Slowly the woman removed her cap and then her gloves. The warmth felt wonderful against her face. “Master Chen,” she said and bowed deeply.
“Take a seat Rika.”
Nikaidô Rika, who was part of the famous Hojo family from Japan, obeyed. She found a spot near the fire and sat down.
“I've been expecting you, Rika.” Master Chen Li Yue was a small woman. Her age was hard to tell, but she seemed to be as old as the mountain itself. Her whole life Chen Li Yue had been learning and teaching certain arts. She had been a teacher at the Chinese academy for wizardry and witchcraft for many years and, upon her retirement, she had retreated to this mountain. There she had continued her way of life. “But it brings up one question. Why are you here?”
Hesitating at first Rika spoke up, “To finish my training.”
Master Chen chuckled. “I've taught you everything I could. There is nothing for you to learn anymore.” Except one thing, Chen thought. But I can not tell her that she is not human and rather one of them. It is not my place to do that.
“But when I left,” Rika began, “you said...”
“That you will come back, yes.” Chen straightened to her full height of barely 150 centimeters. “You have been a good student. Your time here is done, Rika.”
“There must be something.”
“And they say Kiku are so smart,” said a third voice. “You really don't live up to the hype. You're getting old, Rokuhana Rika.”
Rika's right hand instinctively twitched towards her wand. She knew the voice, but hadn't heard it for several years. Her eyes hardened, her fingers just inches away from her wand. Honestly, what were the odds of running into the most famous Black Lotus member of the recent years right here in China? Especially considering the past relations between members of the Black Lotus and the Chinese people?
“So, Rokuhana Rika, what say you?” She came into view and Rika noticed that, at least from her looks, she really hadn't changed at all. “Oh pardon me. Nikaidô Rika. That's how it is now, isn't it?”
“Misa Kuroi,” Rika finally said. “If you expect me to be happy about seeing you here, then you're horribly wrong.”
“Fair enough,” Misa replied and took a seat at the fire opposite from Rika.
“I have taught you what I know,” Master Chen finally said. The little confrontation was something she had expected, for she knew about the tensions between the different houses at Shirasagi, the Japanese academy for wizardry and witchcraft. And she also knew about the past Misa and Rika shared. Though, truth be told, there wasn't that much. Misa had been in a higher year than Rika, so their interactions hadn't been as intense as those between Rika and Black Lotus members of the same year. Still, Misa had left an impression and that impression wasn't necessarily the best.
So her journey to this place had been pointless? The thought was worsened by the fact that she had been forced to climb up the mountain. Master Chen had always made sure that her mountain was properly protected from unwanted guests and thus her protective wards had always prevented people from simply apparating on the mountain top. The only way up was to climb. “So it was all for naught?” Rika finally asked.
Chen's old eyes focused at Rika. She sighed. “Your biggest mistake, Rika, your only mistake, was always that you didn't understand. Even now you don't understand.”
The young woman returned the look. No, she didn't understand, but she was used to Master Chen talking in riddles.
“Your technique was always good, if not excellent. You've mastered every stance, every move, every flick of your wand some time ago. That was never an issue. But your mind was never set on the other important part.”
“Sword and mind must be united,” Misa suddenly added. “Technique by itself is insufficient, and spirit alone is not enough.”
“As I said, you've mastered the techniques, but...” Chen tilted her head to the side just a little bit. “But your mind is always off, wandering.”
Rika lowered her gaze. It almost sounded like a reproach and coming from someone like Master Chen, it actually hurt.
“The weather is changing,” Chen noted. “It's time for you to go home, Nikaidô Rika.”
“But...”
“You need to go home, Nikaidô Rika. You must find your path by yourself. I can not tell you what you must do. This up to you.” With that Chen approached Rika and tapped two fingers of her right hand against Rika's forehead. “It's all in there.”
“Or maybe not,” Misa added snickering.
“Why are you here anyway?” Rika snarled at the slightly smaller woman. “Since when do Black Lotus care?”
“Judging by houses?” Misa laughed. “You out of all people should know better.”
Knowing that Misa was actually right Rika's right hand relaxed a bit. It was stupid to judge people by whatever house they belonged to. People had judged her in the past for bearing the name Lefcourt. Lefcourts always made Slytherin, so some had claimed, but Rika had ended up in Ravenclaw. But even then she had been a Lefcourt and all Lefcourts were the same, right? Just like all Hojo were the same, and all Nikaidô were the same... Rika looked away from Misa and then focused on the fire. History also spoke a clear language. Certainly most Black Lotus members had been caught up in the usual ways of this particular house, but not all of them had followed this path.
Whatever the reason for Misa's appearance at this place was, Rika realized that it wasn't important. Master Chen had made it clear. There was nothing here for her anymore. And Master Chen wouldn't do this without a very good reason.
Raising from her sitting position Rika didn't look very satisfied. In fact she was quite disappointed. But Master Chen had often talked in riddles. “I will do my best, Master Chen.” Her clothes had dried up rather quickly, thanks to Master Chen's skills.
Once outside Chen and Kuroi saw her off. Finally, when Rika was out of sight and earshot, on her way down the mountain, Chen shook her head. “Have you noticed it?”
Misa nodded. “She reeks of blood.”
Sighing the old woman added. “She has killed again. I heard from a friend in your homeland, that she was involved in the deaths of her uncle, his wife and three of her cousins.”
“You are concerned about her, master?”
“Rika is strong, but she has not yet found her true potential. The road ahead of her is full of dangers. Yes, I am worried. I fear for her humanity. I fear what she might become. She will do what she believes is right, no doubt. But there lies the danger. Her decisions will be based on her experiences and the things she learned throughout the years. Rika is a sword waiting to be drawn. But to what end? For the good? Or for the bad?”
“I don't know, master.”
“Neither do I,” Chen said with a slight chuckle escaping her. “Time will tell.” With that she looked at the cat which had joined them. It was a normal tabby, hardly impressive or unusual. A plain cat... in the snow, on a mountain protected from both muggle and magic folk. “What do you think?” Chen addressed the cat.
Suddenly the cat turned into a human. It made Misa twitch a bit. Animagi were one thing, but these guys were giving her the creeps. Gotoku neko. The ministry had listed them as magical beasts, but that was mainly because most of the old families were in fact gotoku neko themselves and had infiltrated human settlements for centuries. They had simply manipulated the ministry into giving them this status for their own protection. Today it was impossible to tell who in the ministry was a real human or a gotoku neko in human form.
“So far he has been right,” the man said. “Everything has developed exactly how he has foreseen it.”
“You could warn her,” Chen noted. There was this slightly annoyed tone in her voice. She didn't really appreciate this sort of scheming and plotting, especially not when it involved one of her favorite students.
“It would influence her decision, and you know that, Chen Li Yue. She would go to great lengths to prevent it and we can not allow such interference.”
Misa observed in silence, but then she too spoke up. “I'm surprised that you would not help one of your own kind.”
His eyes narrowed at her. “The politics of the old families and the ministry are of no interest to me. Rika will eventually find out what she is, that is an inevitable event. And she will have to make a decision. A very important decision.”
“Which is?” Misa was curious.
“Restore the Nikaidô to what they once were or maintain the status quo.” Which meant remaining part of the Hojo. As if he had read Misa's mind he continued. “The Nikaidô are one of the old families. Restoring them would shift the balance of power into an unknown direction. It's the one thing most people are afraid of. If she chooses this path she will make many enemies, but also new allies. However, should she decide to remain with the Hojo, the result will be similar.”
“So, one way or the other,” Misa mused, “chances for a war back home are high?”
Finally he turned a bit to face her. “Yes. And let's not forget that she has no idea what she really is.”
“Why did Shiori not tell her,” Chen mumbled.
“Protection,” he concluded. “The air on top is thin enough. Knowing that she is one of us would make it even harder for her.”
Chen nodded. “Still, I fear that this journey will destroy her. The way she dealt with her uncle, his wife and those three cousins of hers is proof enough that my fears are justified.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Divination, Chen Li Yue, is an art that neither humans nor gotoku neko have ever mastered. Nor will either of us ever master it. It's not possible. The future is absolutely uncertain.”