December 1st 2008

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


It was odd how the weather could change so, what had started as a fairly bearable day seemed to have turned into something rather monstrous.  Cold winds blew through the open streets of Diagon Alley as snow slowly began to descend from the heavens; it floated weightlessly to earth before lying gently upon the illuminated cobbled pathways.  It was not a nice night to be outside that was for sure, indeed most normal people had made their way indoors around half six, by the time Koujirou’s black leather shoes begun to crush the freshly lain snow underfoot, Diagon Alley seemed almost entirely deserted.  Standing at the top of the street he seemed to simply gaze at the expanse before him.  It was like something from a Christmas card, the snow strewn across the floor, the little shops lining either side of the road.  It was picturesque, almost perfect.  Closing his eyes he breathed in the ice cold air, allowing it to fill his lungs before exhaling, it was good to get outside and breath the fresh air, it was something people took for granted, but not he.  Wrapping his black over robe around him he finally vacated the spot he had been standing in for the past fifteen minutes and headed down the street.

Had the lanterns not been lit then he would have passed through the alley totally unnoticed.  The outfit he wore was entirely black and enveloped his whole body in a shadow.  His long billowing black buttoned up over robe hid his white shirt and tie, only his silken black dress trousers and his pointed black leather shoes were visible, the golden buckle which done them up gleaming as it caught the lights of the lanterns which lined the street.  His hair, black like his outfit, was styled in a rather unorthodox style, it was long but not overly so, his side fringe drooped into his eyes but was held firm with hair product.  The remaining portion of his hair was left to sit atop his head in a messy yet elegant fashion, various quiffs and spikes giving him an interesting look.  As he walked, his head held high in a proud manner, one would notice that he wore a rather serious yet sad expression upon his features.  It was as if the man carried the weight of a thousand trouble upon his shoulders, his eyes seemed heavy and as he breathed he seemed to sigh with every outward breath.  One could have been forgiving for feeling rather sorry for the man, indeed Koujirou had that effect on people when he never knew they were looking, his face was the best indicator of his mood, for more often than not all that came from his mouth were twisted lies and curses.  His inner feelings were as black as the clothing which he wore and unlike the outfit there was no gleam of gold every now and again, nothing but vile schemes and emotional disturbances.

Flicking a long strand of black hair from his eyes Koujirou turned his body and made his way of the main high street towards the entrance of Knockturn alley, a place which better suited his personality.  The mere presence of his feet upon the pure white snow had turned the high street into tainted ground, at least, that was his opinion.  As he entered Knockturn, descending the steps which would take him on to one of its many streets, Koujirou’s keen gaze fell upon one of the many homeless hags which littered the pavements.  There was a smell which drifted into his nostrils which he could not quite describe and as her eyes met his she was met with one of  Koujirou’s most common facial expressions, that of disgust.  He stopped at the foot of the steps, his eyes piercing straight through her as she hastened to shuffle backwards towards the walls of one of the dirty brick buildings, away from the snow covered steps, and away from Koujirou.  Only when she was backed up against the wall and away from him did he continue on down the pathway.  For Kujirou could not stand the lower classes of society, indeed he found that lately he could not even abide those who deemed themselves “upper” class.  Their attiudes and fake belief of superiority irked him, when you stripped them down they were no better than the beggars and whores, they should be the first to leave the planet on the long journey that was death and he would send them on it, if only he had the means.  Spitting he tried to dispel the horrible taste that seemed to have enveloped his mouth but for the life of him it would not go.  He always did this, worked himself up into frenzy over small things, his hands which had previously hung loosely at his sides had clenched into fists without his knowing.  The wand concealed within his robes grew heavier and heavier as he approached his destination and some undesirables who lingered outside.

Why oh why did they put up with them?  Why did they let them walk the streets?  Delinquents, trouble makers, people with bad hygiene, they should not be here.  A long sigh escaped his lips as he prepared to walk past the group and into the bar they called The Black Chimera.  Koujirou wished that the wizards who loitered outside would give him an excuse to send them on their journey and as he was perhaps two feet from the entrance his prayers were answered.  Drunk, two of the four wizards who Koujirou deemed undesirables, stood side by side, their bodies wide enough to block the narrow alley way in which he walked.  Brushing some hair from his face he raised his head, his eyes meeting there’s, though the effect his cold gaze had upon the drunks was not the same as the hag back yonder.  Instead of fear paralysing their every muscle the drunk closest to him smiled and as he spoke the smell of stale bear which hung on his breath contaminated the air around Koujirou:

“Your lot shouldn’t be round these parts boy!  These be  Cináed’s streets, why don’t you run off home, leave the big bad wizards of Knockturn to their Saturday night drinking....Aaaah hahahahaha!”

As his laughter ceased he pushed Koujirou’s right shoulder, a strong prod which seemed to push the small man’s shoulder back.  Both men’s gazes fell once more upon him, though his eyes did not meet their, instead he gazed at the mark which the undesirable had left upon his robe.  How dare he, although the naked eye could not see anything where the man had touched him Koujirou could see it.  Dirt, festering around the murky fingerprint which had emblazoned itself into the fabric, for a moment he felt paralysed, unable to do anything but seethe at  the drunk’s actions.  Releasing he had been holding his breath Koujirou breathed out slowly before taking in some of the contaminated air.  What happened next was like slow motion, the man had once more reached towards him, probably to touch him again.  Koujirou’s left hand delved into his robes withdrawing his wand.  Before the weapon was fully drawn he had already uttered the incantation and as he levelled his wand at his would be prodder, a fiery red whip erupted from the tip, wrapping itself tightly around the drunk’s throat before a light tug from Koujirou pulled him to the floor.  There was a yelp similar to the sound which occurred when one kicked a dog as the man’s airwaves constricted around the tight hold of the magical robe.  More impressive than his magic casting ability Koujirou’s right hand managed to unsheathe a long silver katana, seemingly from nowhere.  Holding it vertically the blade was long enough to touch the second man’s neck, backing him against the wall with no where to run.  All he seemed able to do in response was smile nervously, incoherent mumbling spewing from his mouth as he tried and failed to gain Koujirou’s sympathies.  After a moment of staring Koujirou became aware of the two wizards who had not taken part in the blockade, they had of course drawn their own wands and as the fiery rope tightened even further one of them spoke to the infuriated Kojirou:

“Let’s just all calm down, no harm meant friend.  We will just lower or wands, dispel our curses and sheathe the err....sword and we will all go our separate ways.  Yeah?.....”

His eyes betrayed his inner feeling, fear, definitely fear lingered there, but Koujirou was in no mood to get his face in the Daily Prophet.  At once he dispelled the fiery robe which had bound his first target and slowly, very slowly, he sheathed the long silver katana, placing it with great care in a scabbard hidden under the long black over robe.  There was a considerable amount of wretching as the man gagged on the influx of fresh air and after a brief moment of silence Koujirou walked towards the door of the Black Chimera, pushing it open and entering, bringing with him the cold chill from outside.

The roar of laughter and the smell of smoke and booze began to make him nauseous almost immediately and he hastened to sit down at the nearest table he could.  It had been foolish to reveal himself like that to the men outside, very foolish indeed.  Koujirou was already walking a thin line with the law, indeed, he could slowly feel the mask in which he hid behind slipping away.  It was only a matter of time before everything was found out, only a matter of time before the Auror department put two and two together, but by then it would be too late.  The mechanics of his war machine were already in motion; all he needed now were pawns, marionettes that he could control from behind the curtain.  A small sinister smile began to form around the corner of his mouth, a plan was in motion and a plan always excited Koujirou.  Shuddering with excitement he rubbed his hands together:

“Oh how I have longed for this day, the day when I cast my shrouds of secrecy away and reveal my true self....”

Stopping abruptly he gazed around his surroundings as he realised that he had just spoken those words out loud. Darn, best just act like it was deliberate, only psychopaths frequented this place anyways, it was not like a muttering man was a rare occurrence!  Narrowing his eyes at those who had noticed he offered them a fierce stare, daring them to speak against him.  With that he relaxed back in the wooden chair, stretching out his arms, loosening up the joints.  His keen eyes took in every detail of the bar, scanning for them, seeking them out.  Where oh where were his pawns........