Set upon a green island, in a castle made of purest white jade, a Princess stared out onto the crowds and watched another commoner in a boat sail by, sat as she was by a table closest to the window that divided her from the unseen world…
“Like hello...hello. Earth to Kagome!!!”
Unfortunately the musing of that Princess was interrupted by the loud exhortation of her friend, a loudmouthed blonde idiot streaked with pink, a certain fool by the name of….
“Kagome, Kagome. Like girl are you even listening...I was just going on about…”
“Yes, yes I know. Your trip to Akihabara. You told me about it for..” I pondered for one minute, annoyed I was snapped out of my literary musings. “20 time?”
No I was not a Princess in a castle but a castle nonetheless. A castle made of jade by the name of Mahoutokoro, set upon an island that gaved stunning views of the seat. A school oft buzzed by Bumajin contraptions called jets. I was but a robed student sitting in a room full of many identical desks, with mine in the corner and closest to the window. The year was 1992. In front of me, and also by the window was one Ashley Taylor (or the protagonist seat as Ashley called it), enthusiastically telling me about her latest trip to Bumajin Tokyo (or No-Maj as they say in her country). But personally I have been counting and I think she has visited this Akihabara so many times that I would rather listen to the Legendary Professor Binns give a lecture.
“Kagome!” my friend Ashley continued...suddenly yelling “You have to see it! There’s like anime, and manga and figurines, and cosplayers and maids and…”
I nodded along as Ashley listed all of the usual activities at this place called Akihabara, half-interested. Personally I saw not the enthusiasm for these Bumajin entertainment. It was always a huge robot or a completely awful depiction of Magic. How could these Bumajin even make a 40ft mass of steel stand upright without magic? Impossible. As a Witch at Mahoutokoro I did not need to transform into frilly dresses to use spells. And the only costume change was my robes turning a bright, golden yellow to signify me topping the Defense against Dark Arts class for the year...it was a memory I wished to have wiped with heavy use of Memory Charms. Having Ashley glomp me in the middle of the Garden of Peace YELLING AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE ‘YOU DID IT, YOU DID IT, YOU’RE THE BEST!’ to the stares of 50 onlookers was a memory I did not cherish.
“...oh and the Gundams...we should build one one day! They are like…”
“Oh look...the trash is still here…I’d have thought you failed as you don’t know our ways” came the shrill, snide voice of a certain someone making her unwelcome presence felt. A smirk on her face, a disgusting purple mob in place of hair.
“Why did we let trash like Ashley into Mahoutokoro anyway?” Himena continued jeering as she came closer to me with the nauseating stench of perfume, perfume that could not hide what a rotten person she was. “Ain’t that right, Hagurin..Shigurin?”
Besides Hime were her two lackeys, dogs on a chain, poodles to a master. They reluctantly looked at each other and then gave Hime a nod. Hagumu and Shigure. I’ll never forgive them for joining in Himena in tormenting Ashley and other Bumajin descendants. Even if they say ‘Hime made us do it’ over a hundred times.
“Did you cheat. I bet you cheated” the purple bitch asked. Hime, she may bear the name of a Princess but I would preferred to call her an appellation for a dog.
“Th-that’s” Ashley spoke up to defend herself, forgetting about her enthusiasm for all things Bumajin entertainment. “I didn’t—-”
“No-one asked you mudblood” Hime snapped back in English, a language only Ashley could understand. I did not know what the ‘word’ mean but I understood enough. I saw how Ashley shrank back, tears forming in her eyes. We use a different word in Japan but it meant all the same- You will never be one of us.
I felt, at that point, a well of rage forming inside me, like Fuji mountain itself about to explode.
Reaching into my robes I grasped for one of my ofuda, one specially made for purple haired bitches, and I put myself between Ashley and the dog in human form.
“Back off Aika” I menaced. “Leave her alone and get out!”
Hime smirked, as if ready to accept my challenge. But then she turned away and left. As much of a blood supremacist asshole (to borrow an American word my friend Ash had taught me) she was, she was still one of the top students in the school, an academic record she did not want to ruin by a magical brawl. And as she did her lackeys Hagumu and Shigure silently mouthed an apology to us. I gave them a look of silent fury to let them know I would not accept it. The two of them turned to follow Hime, cowards without principles.
Calming down, I took my hand out of my robe and embraced Ashley asking “Are you okay Ash?”
“I-I—why is she so mean? Why are these people so mean to me?” Ash asked, trying not to break down.
I pulled my blonde friend closer. I wonder what I should tell her. That the Magical World, for all it’s wonder and progress was still stuck in the Stone Age? That we had learned nothing from Grindelwald or Voldemort? That we were not the magical place, and Magical Japan, will never be the fantastic tolerant, accepting world of her imagination? That there will always be people who give her the wrong looks for being born to two parents without magic? What would my answer be? So I gave her the only answer I knew
“Ignore her...and everyone like her.” I whispered, patting down Ashley as she cried into my shoulder, tears of hurt that should not have flowed. If I could, if I had a chance, I swore I would hex...
“Class! Take to your seats.”
Me and Ashley pulled apart, our moment...ruined as we immediately sat down. Professor Natsume had come into the room, signifying the start of our school day.
“Class.” Natsume said in a booming voice “We have a new exchange student joining us today—”
I looked around the room filled with bums on seat, wondering why none had come to Ashley’s defence. Not even the kind Kako Natsume, the Professor’s daughter—no she would slink away from confrontation. Still if they knew what ‘Mudblood’ meant, would they…
“Please come in and introduce yourself Ms Flamel--”
My eyes turned to the door and making her entrance was a dour young girl of French descent, beautiful, silky blonde hair, kind eyes and more importantly she looked perfect in her Mahoutokoro uniform. Perfect.
Around me the class whispered. From Ashley came the cliché “She looks like a doll.” Meiyu wondered “Flamel...isn’t that the family name of one Nicholas Flamel?”
Ms Flamel turned to face the class but I could not help but feel her eyes were transfixed on me. I could not take away my eyes from her smile. Her beautiful smile.
“Bonj—” Ms Flamel began in the swetest of French, before realising her mistake and stopping. Cute, who said the French accent wasn’t cute?
“Good morning, I’m Torte Flamel. I have recently moved from France and I will be in your care.”
The classroom applauded, I clapped the loudest.
“Now let’s see here…” Professor Natsume said as she scanned the class “….why don’t you take the empty seat on the 3rd row, in the back”
3rd row...empty seat...in the back but that means...oh crap.
My face went red and I buried into the desk as the beautiful French Girl came closer. And as she did, I could feel my heart beat faster...and faster...and faster. When I heard the screech of the seat I could swear my heart would burst out of my chest.
I glanced up towards Ashley who had a sly smile on her American face. Seems she noticed too. Great, now I had to deal with her sinister plan.
As Torte Flamel sat down beside me I took a glance towards her. Her porcelain-like face, her long hair.
For the rest of the year, I would be seated beside a beautiful French girl, to whom I wondered how to talk to. It was love at first sight and I was in one of Ashley’s stupid Bumajin anime.