Requiem For a Dream
Slaying the Dreamer
Not that having roommates bothered her, having spent the past seven years of her life in a dorm room, but she was uncomfortable with the idea that she might not be able to even speak to them. A deep sigh, pulling her bag to the open closet doors revealing a rather forlornly bare space, and unpacking her few items within, placing her dirty clothes into a small basket on a shelf until she found out what to do with them.
Soon enough, she stood at the window with empty bag in hand, staring out into the vast forest surrounding the Satoshi main house, wondering where Souichiro had gone, and why he had left to begin with. Did he not live here also? This world was confusing, and she had found solace in the understanding he had shown her so far. And what if he was the only one who spoke English?
“Hermione Granger?” The voice was soft, coming from the far side of the room to which she had been shown. Jumping, she turned to see two figures - mirror images of each other in every way imaginable - stepping from the shadows. “I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to startle you - we just came to tell you that it’s time for dinner.”
A slow nod, setting her bag down to walk towards the door, only to pause and glance back to the girls. “Who are you?”
“Akiko and Eriko Satoshi.” The same girl answered. “She is Eriko.”
“It’s nice to meet you…but…I’m surprised you speak such excellent English - I was afraid no one here would…”
“As members of the clan that began Mahoutsukai, the clan which remains its heart, we must be capable of speaking many languages - after all, this is the best university for our kind in the world, and students from all over the world come here. You are the first from Britain for over a hundred years, however, so you are being given a great deal of honor in the hopes that others will follow where you lead.”
“What do you mean by that, Akiko?”
“She means, you are the first student to have been housed in the clan compound - most are given small apartments in the university itself.” The second girl finally spoke, her voice much less kind than that of her twin, though not unkind necessarily. “It is a great honor for you to live among us.”
“I see…I am very grateful, of course, but-”
“It is not playing favorites, do not begin to think of it as such. The recommendation came from another, one who has been in contact with us since the beginnings of your academic career. You see, Hermione - by allowing you to live among us, you have become in effect a member of our clan.” Eriko gave a bit of a laugh. “Which means you will be expected to not merely succeed in all endeavors, but to excel. Not to mention the private training you will receive.”
“What do you mean, ‘private training’, Eriko? I don’t quite understand.” Confused now, and slightly worried, she looked from one face to it’s mirror, then back. “I wasn’t told-”
“You were told as a member of the compound you would have other obligations than classes, though, right?”
“Yes…”
“Well,” Akiko laughed. “You’ve just become a daughter of the clan, which means you will be training with Eriko and I…It’s a physical regimen, mostly, so that the body can handle greater amounts of magic to flow through it. You’ll also be learning wandless magic, and even more intense wordless magic. It’s hard…even for us, sometimes, when we’ve been raised with it. But Minerva McGonagall assured our elders that you would be the perfect choice.”
“Professor McGonagall recommended that I live with you?” She seemed startled, but as Akiko stepped away from her sister and grinned, hooking her arm through Hermione’s, she was even more confused. “What?”
“She did, because she knew that as we were the only ones of our generation, we desperately needed someone to bond with. And she thought you would be the best choice.” Eriko had a tone that suggested she wasn’t entirely in agreement, which annoyed Hermione, but when she smiled and started walking off, the words tossed casually over her shoulder erased any hint of annoyance. “But then, I do not bond well with anyone but my sister…perhaps you can become another to me.”
“Don’t mind her. She’s the resident anti-social bitch.” Akiko laughed, dragging Hermione with her to the dining area. “It’s okay, you’ll just be eating with us - the rest of the clan, the elders that is, are usually busy warding the grounds and teaching and such.”
“What about your parents?” Hermione seemed puzzled, and as Eriko visibly flinched at the word, she wondered if she had said something wrong.
“Our mother died when we were born. Our father died in a battle to soothe an enraged Kami in one of the southern prefectures.” Akiko murmured. “We have only our grandfather, but as he is the head of the clan, we don’t get a chance to see him often.”
“…I’m so sorry…”
“Do not be.” Eriko’s tone was not pained, though the smile she held was not quite real enough to fool either of the two girls with her. “Something you learn growing up a Satoshi - part of life’s beauty is the very impermanence of it all…”
Author's Note:
Gomen nasai~! :: Bows low.:: Sorry~! I've been so caught up with school and Japanese and host mother and madness that I haven't even thought to write on this story in ages. I am so sorry – and I can't promise faster updates, which disappoints me even more. I thought I could finish them on the weekends, but my weekends have become rather hectic – not to mention daily quizzes and almost weekly tests. ;-; This chapter isn't the best, but since it's mostly touching base with a flashback in Moonlight Sonata, it had to be done. Coming up next (soon, with any luck) the dinner, complete with foods Hermione doesn't know and the use of hashi (chopsticks. This word also has two other meanings, one of them being bridge. I have no idea, but there you have it). Anyway, I need to sleep nao. Waking up at 6...thirtyish in the morning (the alarm goes off at 6, but we argue for half an hour) really takes it outta me. Atode!