Arashi After Hogwarts - The Perilous Hunt
Title: Arashi After Hogwarts - The Perilous Hunt
By: arashiforyou
Genre: Fantasy/ AU/ Drama
Pairing: General
Rating: PG13
Summary: A continuation from Arashi at Hogwarts series. After a foolish attempt to confront Yami alone, Jun realized he fell for a trap. Luckily, his friends were there to save him, but at the cost of innocent souls and possibly Aiba's. Now with a broken heart and spirit, Jun must face the consequences he started years ago. Can Jun close the Gates of Paradise forever? Will Aiba wake up?
Chapter 7 - To Be Human Again
*Ohno's POV*
They all slept at Nakai's safe house. Ohno voluntarily took the couch in the living room and he let his members share the bedrooms upstairs. As the faint morning light filled the room, he woke up by the sound of footsteps. He stretched his sore limps and sat up, catching a glimpse of his uncle walking pass the entrance way. His uncle also stayed at the house, along with a Healer from the Ministry to check up on Aiba's condition. He got up and headed for the kitchen, where Naruse was making himself coffee.
Ohno quietly walked through the doorway and saw a letter on the table. He briefly glanced down and spotted his aunt's name sent to Naruse.
"Shiori-san is still in China?" Ohno spoke.
Naruse looked over his shoulder and strolled towards the table. He picked up the letter, glanced down at it briefly, and tucked it away in his front pocket.
"Ever since your cousins went to Hogwarts this year," Naruse answered, and he took a sip of his drink.
"Why would you send your wife to China?"
"I didn't send her. She volunteered," Naruse corrected him. "She believes she can find a solution...I trust her to go on her own."
Ohno nodded slightly and sat down, feeling a bit awkward in the atmosphere. He can't remember the last time he was alone with his uncle, and especially after a serious dilemma. Ohno could see outside the window it was foggy and thick. The cold weather was sinking in, and yet he felt surprising warm and safe next to his uncle. A man he once thought was a traitor, only to realize he was hero. Naruse's intentions was always good.
"Have you talked to Matsumoto yet?" Naruse asked, sitting across from him.
"I haven't," Ohno said. "I thought I'd give him some rest. I know Nino spoke with him last night, but he didn't tell me anything."
"He might need you," Naruse said, without looking up. "At a time like this, he'll need your support. If what Yami told him is true, Matsumoto carries a heavy burden."
"What can I do?" Ohno sighed. "All five of us haven't seen battle in years. We only use our UtaMahou for entertainment now. I know I said I'll help out, but I never asked you. Why did you come to us? It can't just be because we've been to Paradise before. You've been there too. And surely every Auror in Japan is on the job with this. Why us?"
Naruse set down his coffee mug and propped his elbows on the table. His eyes bore down at his interlocked fingers around his cup before he looked up.
"I would be lying if I said it's not because of your Paradise scent," Naruse started off. "It is because of that, and I'm also starting to think you and your friends will never escape from this, as well as I. Shiori did a vision for me, and she told me what I needed to know."
"What?" Ohno leaned forward.
Naruse frowned slightly with concern, "Arashi will have a concert...and the fans will be attacked by a swarm of Imperfects. Thousands will lose their lives, and both Muggle and Wizarding newspapers will cover it saying that Arashi will be no more."
Ohno felt his mouth hang open in shock. The very thought was making his hands shake with fear and anger as he stood up to try to calm himself. Indeed, they are having a concert soon for their new album release. Tickets are already selling, and rehearsal starts next week. Shiori's vision were always accurate, but vague on details.
"You are sure?" Ohno asked, his voice showing signs of panicking. "You're not mistaken? Maybe she missed something. A date? Where is it happening?!"
"Satoshi, it'll do you no good if you lose focus now," Naruse said. "That's why I looked for you. To keep you safe. No doubt that Yami had some plans for you, and I-"
"But a concert?!" Ohno said, his voice straining not to shout. "There will be more than 70 thousand fans out there completely exposed! Witches, wizards, and Muggles together. Not to mention our juniors and staff members. How can we protect them?"
"I don't know," Naruse stood up. "We will find a way, but you must keep a calm mind and plan accordingly."
"Our staff doesn't know this, do they?" Ohno frowned. "We can't tell them or they'll panic too. We can't hide this threat forever, and it'll be bad if we cancel it now."
"It won't make you feel better if you think on the negatives," Naruse crossed his arms. "Believe me, I used to be like that too. During your early years at Hogwarts, I thought there was nothing I could do. I almost gave up, but I always find I reason to keep going. Whether it's to finish a task, or stopping a dark wizard, or finding something worth protecting. You have something to protect, don't you?"
"...yes..."
"And you're willing to do anything to stop those that will do harm?"
Ohno nodded.
"We will find a way," Naruse smiled kindly. "I promise."
Ohno glanced back at his uncle, but he could bring himself to share even a half smile. He was frightened about the future once again, something that Ohno hardly ever fears about. At least Naruse was there to give some reassurance. His uncle has changed so much over the years. After his marriage, he has become a changed man. He obviously have his family worth protecting, and Ohno has Arashi. He always did, but he wasn't sure it that was what Naruse meant.
Suddenly, Sho came dashing into the kitchen.
"Aiba's awake!" Sho panted.
Naruse and Ohno exchanged bewildered glances before they followed Sho up the stairs to Aiba's room. The Healer was standing next to Aiba's bed, along with Jun and Nino. Aiba was still laying on his back, but his eyes were open. His skin was slightly pale, and there were dark circles around his eyes. But he was awake.
"Aiba!" Ohno gasped, and came close to his side. "You're alright! How are you feeling?"
"A bit sluggish," Aiba muttered. "But I feel fine."
"And your soul?"
"I still have it," Aiba nodded. "I know I do. It's a weird sensation, but compared to the time when I was possessed, I felt nothing. But I know I'm still me."
Ohno looked up at the Healer just in case, who nodded back at him.
"There's something I need to tell you all," Aiba spoke. "When the ghost possessed me, I saw its memories."
"You did?" Nino frowned.
"I saw everything," Aiba nodded. "I know where Yami came from. I know how this all started."
* * *
*Aiba's POV*
Aiba was feeling a strange sense of deja vu. He remembered a ghost falling towards his body, and then he was floating on air. There was a vague mist that clouded his vision, but he remembered this time. The sky was dark and cloudy, and rain was pouring down hard on the rooftop. From the sky looking down, he saw five boys fighting until a massive portal opened that was three times the size of the building, and the souls of the dead fell into it. Aiba started falling into the portal as well, as if he was sucked into it against his will.
Suddenly, he was in a world of ruin. The city was completely destroyed and covered in ash. Buildings were crumbled and blackened, and the sky was dark gray with eerie streaks of light breaking through the clouds. Instead of ash falling down, they were rising up to the sky. Aiba was all alone.
He couldn't control his body, but he felt as if he remembered this place. A memory that wasn't his own.
His body traveled for him, and he spotted a beautiful woman in a dirty white dress wondering the ruined city. She seemed completely lost, and she was carrying a baby in her arms. Aiba approached the woman.
"Where am I?" He asked immediately.
The woman looked at him with dull eyes.
"Have you seen my lover?" She asked.
"What?"
"I've lost him," she sighed. "I have his child. But he is not here."
"What happened here?"
"My child was born," she answered. "My child created this world because of his father's memory of his home. It was once beautiful, but it has brought the city to ruin the moment his father left."
"What?!" Aiba gasped. "What are you talking about? What is going on?! Why am I here?!"
"You are dead, are you not?" She said, simplistically. "I saw a blinding light about a year ago. Hundreds of thousands of souls entered this land, one of them was my lover. You also fell from this light. I can tell. Your soul was sacrificed. But he was different. Despite his tainted sacrificed soul, I loved him. But now..."
"Wait a minute...a year ago?" Aiba frowned. "I was only here for a few minutes. How can it be a year later? And how can you tell I died for a sacrifice?"
"A sacrificed soul means an impure death, and time is an illusion in Paradise," she moaned. "Perhaps my lover thinks he's gone for a few minutes. But he hasn't returned."
"Lady, where the hell am I?!" Aiba shouted.
Aiba, himself, knew where he was, but his body was speaking for him. Only then did he realized he was being possessed by the ghost from before. These were the ghost's memories when he was just a soul wondering in the land of the dead. These were memories that happened fifteen years ago.
"If my lover had somehow went back to the living world, than our child is doomed," she weeped.
Aiba continued to watch as his body stared down at the baby. Its eyes burned a flaming red color.
"Doomed?"
"A child cannot be born here," she cried, talking mostly to herself. "At least, not naturally like in the living world. I knew something was wrong the moment I gave birth. It is impossible. It could only mean my lover was still alive and he has returned to the living realm. He must have been on the verge of death and that's why his soul was able to see Paradise. And now my child carries living blood. He cannot live in neither worlds of the living or the dead. He will be forever trapped in the world between and never truly be at ease."
"Your lover came back to life?" Aiba's body spoke. "Does that mean I might not be dead either?"
"I do not care about you, sacrificial trash!" She snapped. "If my lover does not return to Paradise, our child will be cursed to be neither dead nor alive!"
Suddenly, Aiba felt a painful tug at his back. He heard faint whispers of a voice chanting nonstop. Soon, there were echoes of a familiar voice.
"Aiba! Fight back!"
His friends!
Aiba tried to wretch away from the memories of the ghost, but more kept flooding in. Soon, he was standing by a calm oasis at night. A fire was burning next to him, and he saw a shadowy reflection in the water. Aiba watched through the eyes of the body whirled around and saw a boy standing behind him. His eyes were red and he was clothed in black.
"You... you're the cursed child."
"And you are a sacrificed soul," the boy spoke. His voice light and airy. "You are different than the others. It is as if you are stained to forever feel hatred for never dying naturally."
"I do...feel angry."
"Would you not like to leave this world?" The boy asked. "And live out a normal life again?"
"You can do that?"
"Of course," the boy smirked. "I am the Cursed Child. Forever bound to both worlds and at the same time neither. I live within the cracks in between where the shadows are my friends. I can open the portal, thanks to the Gate Keeper."
"Gate Keeper?"
"The one who opened the door for us," the boy explained. "He unlocked it with your sacrifice. Before, death was always a one way passage. But now I can open the doors however I please. If he locks it, we won't be able to go between the worlds. We must find him and remove him."
"Why should I return?"
"You have unfinished business, do you not?" The boy tilted his head. "You want to be human again, no?"
"...I do."
"This world is a fake material," the boy said. "A paradise, yes, but this oasis you created will never be classified as real. But if you live again, it can be real. Help me purge the living realm, and we can join these worlds into one."
"Yes!"
"We can finally...be whole again," the boy said, almost sadly.
Aiba used all his might to free himself from the memories. He had a horrible feeling if he followed the memories further, he'll lose himself into the ghost's hatred and resentment and longing to be human. Finally, he felt a powerful pull and a terrible cry of pain from the ghost being exorcism from his body. He saw a glimpse of Sho's face before he past out.
* * *
*Jun's POV*
Suddenly, he felt all eyes were on him. He glanced up and saw everyone with different expressions. Jun could only stare at his hands as the feelings of regret slowly started to pile up. He didn't want to believe Aiba's story, but he knows Aiba would never lie This all started because of him. He could only blame himself and it was all he could think. It was just as he told Nino the night before. It was all his fault.
After a brief silence, he felt a heavy thud slammed down on his shoulder. Sho had his hand gripping him tightly with his head bowed down. Jun didn't know what to do as he watched Sho slowly nod.
"Well, what are we doing sitting here for?" Sho spoke. "Let's stop Yami."
Jun felt his heart throb painfully, "Sho..."
"You'll help us?" Ohno asked.
"After what happened, how can I say no," Sho said. "Naruse was right all along. We can't run away from this. They've attacked our fans, kidnapped me, possessed Aiba, and now they plan to kill Jun. This has to stop!"
"We've faced tough guys before," Aiba said, pumping his fist. "We can beat this Yami!"
"Together," Nino nodded calmly.
"Like always," Ohno added.
Jun could only swallowed the tight lump in his throat. His friends are being too kind, and he could barely handle it. After all these years, he knows that Arashi will be there for him. It comforts him knowing that he wasn't entirely alone in this fight, but that wasn't why he was worried. Jun was worried if others will forgive him, those outside of Arashi: the public, the fans, his co-workers. If they found out he was the cause of this incident, yet again, will they forgive him? Will they still want him around?
Jun wanted to utter his thanks to his band members at least, but his dark thoughts and worries made his throat stuck, and he could only bow his head.
"How do you plan to beat Yami?" Naruse said.
They all went silent again.
"Well," Naruse sighed, and crossed his arms. "Yami has probably vanished from the face of the Earth again. He's most likely gathering more souls from Paradise to recruit. You should return to your normal work, and if the slightest occurrence happens, inform me at once. I'll be at the Ministry."
Naruse left the room and the Healer followed him as well.
"Can you stand?" Sho asked Aiba, his voice gentle and soft.
"I'm fine," he answered. "We have rehearsal starting soon."
Jun closed his eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted again. "I've completely forgot about that. I was suppose to give Gin the concert plans I wrote down."
"The juniors won't be rehearsing with us in the dance room, right?" Nino asked.
"Yeah. We have to cover new choreography," Sho nodded. "And Ohno told me before he plans to make it extra difficult. Right, Riida? O-ohno? Are you alright?"
Ohno's face was slightly pale, and his brow was deeply scrunched in uncertainty.
"Riida?" Jun spoke.
"Ah, I'm...it's nothing," Ohno frowned.
"Hmm,"
* * *
*Nino's POV*
They've finally started rehearsing at the Kokuritsu Stadium. After rigorous training and practice at the dance room, they were ready to do it outside. Their new concert was going to be their most ambitious concert ever with new magic tricks to fool the Muggle audience as well as enchant the rest of the fans. The sun was beginning to sink behind the city buildings, and Nino was standing on the circular platform taking in the scenery. They were having their break before they start rehearsing again, and Nino noticed Ohno was looking unusually worried, sitting at the edge of the platform. Nino strolled towards him.
"What's up?" He said, sitting next to him.
"Huh? Uh," Ohno mumbled. "Just...cautious."
"About Yami?"
"And many other things," Ohno sighed. "It's been a month since we last saw him. And my uncle hasn't said anything new,"
"Well, it's not like we aren't doing anything," Nino said. "Sho and Aiba came back yesterday with a ghost captured. Remember? We're all doing our part."
"But is it enough?" Ohno rested elbows on his knees.
Nino leaned back on his hands, not sure what to say. Aside from preparing for the concert, it has been a tough four weeks. None of them have left Nakai's safe house, and they were still going out for hunts. While they wait for Yami's next appearance, they've captured three ghosts and four poltergeists. They haven't faced any spirits or Imperfects yet, and Nino was relieved. According to Naruse, spirits are the most difficult and most powerful. And of course, there's the sluggish, most human-like Imperfects. Nino couldn't bare think of facing an incomplete human that has no chance of saving. The very thought that the only option to get rid of an Imperfect was ending their life made Nino cringe. Hopefully, none of them will have to face one again.
All of a sudden, the main stadium lights were turned off and it became a lot darker. The only lights on were the spotlights on the front stage, and the faint blue dusk glow from the sky.
"What's going on?" Ohno looked around. "Why did they turned off the lights?"
"Sorry," an over voice boomed through the stadium. "We're having magical difficulties. We'll fix this soon."
Across the platform, Nino saw Jun looking irritated and marched towards the staff on stage. Sho and Aiba were still on stage partially practicing their footwork, or otherwise relaxing on the see-through staircase. Nino pulled out his wand.
"Lumos."
His wandlight was enough for himself and Ohno to see where they were as they made their way back towards the front stage. Nino was right behind Ohno when he felt a chill vibrate up his spine. He looked over his shoulder and glanced up at the dark stands. The blue night was setting in, but despite the darkness, Nino was sure he saw someone standing at the very top seat.
Perhaps it was a staff member who lost his way.
"I'll be right back," Nino called to Ohno, who nodded back to him.
NIno lightly jogged his way back and climbed up the long stairs. When he reached the top, he held his wandlight high but he saw no one. He was about to leave, but he felt the same chill again, only stronger.
"Who's there?" Nino called.
He reached for his back pocket where he kept his small glass orbs. There was a small pocket space between the wall of the stadium and the very back seats of the stand. Here, the sun nor the stage lights could reach. He only had his wandlight.
"Kazunari," a voice whispered.
He felt goosebumps shrivel up his arms.
"Who's there?" Nino said, his voice low and dark. "Show yourself."
"Please," the voice moaned, "Turn off the light."
"First tell me who are you."
"Kazu, it's me...please, I want to talk. The light hurts."
There are only two types of people Nino ever allows to be called by his first name: Ohno and his family. His mother and sister, however, are at work and never come to his rehearsals. He could feel his heart pounding against his ribs, and his eyes were beginning to feel itchy. He lowered his wand and the light faded away. At first, he was surrounded in pitch black, but gradually a dull light glowed from the dark gap until a spirit emerged.
Nino sobbed, "No...it can't be you..."
It was his father.
"Hello, Kazu," he smiled.
Nino didn't dare allow even a single tear drop to escape. He had to keep his eyes wide forcefully as it begins to shimmer his vision, and he swallowed a couple of times to make himself calm down. His father was nearly transparent with a mist like body and no visible legs. And yet his face was recognizable. Nino could never forget that face.
"This can't be possible," Nino still croaked. "I thought only the ones that died in the sacrifice comes back as Paradise spirits."
His father just remained silent.
"I guess you're here to try to take my soul," Nino frowned.
"No, my boy," his father said. "I just wanted to see you."
He could feel his hands shaking and he was overflowed with feelings for distress. Nino was conflicted whether he should throw the glass orb now and later. A part of him knows it's the best solution. A Paradise spirit eventually gives in to feed on human souls, and then later human flesh. However, a part of him couldn't even reach for the capturing spheres in his pocket.
"Why are you here?" Nino whispered. "Did Yami lured you here?"
"Not entirely," he said. "I came here on my own will. I do know Yami, and what he plans to do. I understand."
"Then why?" Nino said. "Do you know what happens to those who came here?"
"Please, Kazu. Listen to my story first," his father said. "I wasn't like this before. When I first came through the portal, I was nothing but a monster. It was my first instinct to consume a human soul. Yami provided for me just that."
"How can you-"
"The moment I absorbed one soul, I've come to my senses," his father quickly interrupted, and Nino became quiet. "It's like taming a wild beast. I have seen the error of my ways and I drifted as far as I could from Yami. He plans to breed every spirit to consume more and more souls. My body still retains its connection with Paradise. I still have my own mind, but my body is fragile and soon I will get hungry again. I know my fate will eventually become nothing but a wondering body that cannot process even the simplest actions other than to eat. I have been doing my best not to harm a single being."
"You...you have?"
"But I do not regret coming back," his father smiled at him. "Even though the light hurts me, I've been watching you practice for the concert. During my time in Paradise, I've cleared my head and come to realize the mistakes I've done."
"Those weren't mistakes," Nino quickly said. "They were...accidents."
"Even still, my biggest regret was never seeing you become a man," he continued. "Kazu, I came back here because I want to correct my wrongs. I want to make up the pain I've caused for you, your sister, and your mother. I want to be human again."
Nino was working on shear willpower not to cry.
"You can't just come back," Nino said venomously. "Nothing you do can change the past, but it's not like I blame you for what you did. There was no reason for you to come back. I turned out...fine."
"Please, give me a chance," he pleaded. "Will you not give your old man a chance to live again?"
Nino ran his fingers through his hair in turmoil, fighting the inner conflict with himself to do the right thing.
"Kazunari, I love you," his father nodded. "You are my precious son, and I will always love you. Can you forgive me?"
"Nino!"
It was Jun. He could hear hurrying footsteps. Nino's throat was stuck again, and he knew if he blink, a waterfall will spill from his eyes. He saw the scared look in his father's eyes as Nino pulled out a glass orb. He didn't have to look behind to know that his friends were watching him.
"A spirit!" Sho gasped.
Nino raised the orb to his head, ready to throw, but he paused.
"What are you waiting for, Nino? Capture him!" Aiba yelled.
His father looked back with pitiful eyes, and Nino couldn't budged. All his father wanted was to be human again, and Nino finally heard the words he's been wanting to hear for so many years, but in the most undesirable situation. All of a sudden, Nino started to question his motives and Yami's envision. A world were families can be reunited. Lost loved ones can come back. Was it really so bad?
"Nino!" Jun shouted.
He flinched, but he watched as his father drifted away and faded into the shadows.
"No, he got away!" Sho grunted. "What's wrong? Why didn't you capture him?"
"He couldn't," Jun spoke softly. "That wasn't just any spirit. It was his father."
A hush silence spread between them. Nino lowered his head and gazed down at the glass orb, his hands were still shaking. All the hunts he's been doing were done almost instinctively. A dark humor inside him was slowly growing with each hunt, as if it was a game, but he forgot to see the seriousness. Dealing with life is never a game. All the ghosts and poltergeists they've been capturing were once human. They were once a life before they've become a monster.
"I don't understand," Ohno frowned. "How can your father return as a spirit?"
"He came here on his own will," Nino answered, surprised that his voice was controlled. "He wasn't a sacrificed soul, but he still wanted to be human again."
"But even still," Sho said. "You know what will happen to him now that he's here. He is dangerous to our society. Why didn't you capture him while you still had the chance?"
"I couldn't," Nino groaned.
"But why?" Jun spoke. "He was the father you've hated. The one who did terrible things when you were a child. Why did you let him go?"
Nino whirled around and shouted. "It may have been a short time, but I still loved my father!"
He hurled the glass orb at the wall and it shattered to pieces. He bumped past Sho and angrily climbed down the stairs. He betrayed himself and let a few tears slip away, but he gazed up a few times to stop himself. He was surprised at himself for what he just said to them. He thought he had moved on from his past thanks to Ohno's love, but he realized that wasn't the answer. In the end, nothing was more worse than not knowing whether his father loved him or not. And now that he knows, he still can't move on from the feelings of remorse.
The seeds of doubt was planted in his heart.
"How can I continue on this fight?" Nino gasped quietly.
------------------
end chapter 7
;A;
To Chapter 8 - http://arashiforyou.livejournal.com/50573.html
so i guess it is a bit important to read the previous story before reading this one XD
if you're interesting in the traumatizing back story to Nino, you can check my Master List and find the Fourth Year at Hogwarts under the chapter, Nino's Memories (prepare for feels)
maybe i should add angst to the genre. i really need to stop writing such depressing settings XDD
I thought it'll be interesting to share this picture. this is the image i had when describing the Paradise burnt city world
something like this
here's a link to see it bigger (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii270/father77/city.jpg
