Coyote Tricks: A Coyote at Hogwarts

Sorry this chapter is a bit short, I'm not very good at pacing out my chapter lengths it seems. Anyway, this chapter is rated R for psycological nudity and a little M/M snogging.

The Leaky Cauldron

As the others finished processing, Kit took Hanako aside, placed his coyote charm on her and adjusted its illusion so she would appear Human without having to strain her abilities. After everyone was done, the Ministry provided a set of cars to take them to their temporary accommodations. This turned out to be an Inn and pub called the Leaky Cauldron. A rather unimposing building located in a back alley. A sign of a witch stirring her brew hung over the door. As they stood there discussing the front, it became obvious that Yuki didn't see what they were talking about.

"Do you sense it?" Shippo said.
"Yes," Toshiro said, "there is some sort illusion or glamorie over the building. I assume from Yuki's reaction it encourages ordinary Humans to ignore the place."
He turned to Yuki and giving her a quick kiss continued.
"With your spirit sense you should be able to break through it though. Just concentrate on the building I'm pointing at and you should be able to see it."
Yuki squinted at the building indicated then suddenly her eyes widened.
"Oh yes, I see it now." She said.

The inside was in Kit's opinion a dark musty place. He noted the use of candles and lanterns for lighting. He realized the ministry too had been gas lit. The feeling of magical energy of the mortal world was concentrated in both places he realized. Such energy disrupted modern electrical power. Unlike Kit's rather blasé reaction, Yuki was fascinated by the entire place. She was poking around in every corner, talking with the few patrons of the pub and soon struck up a prolonged conversation with a woman in one of the wall paintings on the artistic merits of the painting's background.

The innkeeper eventually took them up to their rooms. Each had their own room except Hanako who shared Kit's. The overnight bags they had packed had been delivered to their rooms.

They had just settled in when Toshiro knocked at the door.
"You should apologize to Father." Toshiro said to Kit.
"Why?"
"Because you embarrassed the clan at the ministry and he interceded in your behalf."
"Feh! The little twit had it coming."
"Agreed but that still doesn't excuse your behavior."
Kit contemplated the ins and outs of Japanese reasoning for a moment and decided it wasn't worth fighting over.
"Alright, I'll go do it now."

Kit found Shippo in his room looking out the window.
"I wanted to apologize for my behavior at the ministry." Kit said. "And thank you for stepping up for me."
"It was no problem," Shippo said. "The little twit deserved it. I guess Toshiro has been giving you the clan honor speech?"
"Yes," Kit said with a little grin.
"Its alright, I don't hold you to the same standard. You weren't raised Japanese or Kitsune. Besides I can't stay mad at you."
They were silent for a few moments.

“I’m happy to see you moving on with your life.”
Kit looked at the Kitsune, whose back was to him. Was there an underlying tone of disapproval?
“You mean Emily? She is rather cute isn’t she?”
“Yes she is; you going to ask her out?”
Kit stared at Shippo’s back. A small part of him wanted to continue playing this game, extracting a small measure of the pain that Shippo had caused him. He couldn’t however, not when it was hurting him just as much as it hurt the Kitsune.

“As a matter of fact…no,” Kit said. “There is this problem with seeing anyone now. You see the only person I want to go out with is the person who betrayed me.”
Shippo’s shoulders slumped as he looked down at the floor.
“Kit…” He started to say.
“SHUTUP!” Kit yelled grabbing the Kitsune and pushing him against the wall. “I don’t want to hear it.”
They were silent for a moment staring into each other’s eyes.

“I talked with Botan and Kurama and I understand that Koenma left you no choice. It hurts, it really hurts, I try to understand but…I just want…I want…”
Kit pulled Shippo close and kissed him passionately. The desperate embrace lasted a few moments before Kit pulled back.

"Bleeding Fairies!" A man in the picture over the fireplace said.
"Here now John, hush up! Can't you see they are having a moment? Leave them to have their snog in peace." A woman's painting across the room commented.

“I want it to be like it was before but I don’t think it can till the hurt goes away.”
“Kit, I’ve had and lost three life mates. The hurt will never go away but you can learn to accept and deal with it, let me help you.” Shippo’s voice had a desperate tone to it.
Kit stared out the window unable to meet the Kitsune’s eyes.
“I don’t know!” Kit said tears in his eyes. “I want you so badly but I can’t…. Just don’t ask me to commit yet. I…we need to go slow.”
“I understand,” Shippo said.

Kit turned and moved to the door.
"I need to check on Hanako," he said.
"Yes," Shippo said. "I'll see you later."
The door closed. Shippo sighed and turned to look out the window.

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Author's Note: Update 9/3/2006 Of the changes I've made to the original this is the chapter where it starts to tell. If you've read the first version you can tell I was starting to patch up the relationship between Kit and Shippo but that has changed now.