It was too late to turn back now. He breathed deeply and turned in the direction of the broomshed, where his young Hufflepuff friends had promised they would leave the Cleansweep for him on the day of the trials.

Shinrei Hikari had ran all the way to the broomshed once she was out of the DADA classroom. She parked the Rakurai there early this morning, after she had gone on a practice flight before breakfast. She now looked for Mahou, but it would seem the girl was nowhere to be spotted. Most probably she was already at the field.

The broomshed was empty and dark, with only a few dejected-looking brooms lying scattered about. A newly-polished Cleansweep stood propped against the wall, bearing a note. It hadn't been there this morning. Shinrei's Rakurai ("Thunderbolt"), the Japanese-edition Firebolt that Kanjou had given her shortly before she left for Hogwarts last term, was leaning against the wall itself, proud and alone and basking in a dim shower of late-afternoon sunlight.

She entered the shed and reached for the Rakurai. A strong, sudden wave of nausea swept over her, hammering her to her knees. Instinctively, she reached into her robes for the flask of Chishio Draught, flicking the top open and bringing it to her lips. She drank deeply, bargaining for life.

Jian saw her kneeling on the floor, drinking from a small container and breathing unevenly, her slender back heaving from the effort. The door of the shed slammed against the wall as he rushed towards her, all other things that bothered him forgotten.

"Shinrei!"

Her name rang and echoed eerily throughout the shed. Shinrei's vision was swimming but awareness was already kicking back in. The Chishio draught was of a stronger blend now and thus worked faster.

It was Jian. The voice was unmistakable. An instant later, he appeared before her, peering at her face with wide eyes.

"Konnichiwa, Hupi-san," she said softly. "What are you doing here?"

He had knelt down on the floor to face her. His eyes fell on the flask she was still holding in her hand. Its mouth was turned downwards, pouring out nothing-it was already empty.

He ignored her question. "Daijoubou?" He asked if she was all right, in her own language.

"Hai," she answered automatically. "Do not worry, Hupi-san. It is my pre-Quidditch jitters, as the Western people would put it."

Jian did not believe her. It was common knowledge in Gryffindor she was an avid Quidditch player, very enthusiastic about the sport. She had withstood two curses aboard the train but still remained standing. Her explanation made no sense.

"All right," he said evenly. "It is good that I found you here. I myself have these so-called...pre-Quidditch jitters, you call them, yes?"

She nodded, hesitantly meeting his eyes. "Yes," she replied in the lightest tone she could muster. She gave him a smile for good measure. How so easy for her to smile through all her lies. "It is good to have someone to empathise with. Something like that. Arigatou, Hupi-san."

"I am here to get a broom lent by a Hufflepuff friend," he said, almost out of the blue, not making a move to stand. They must present an amusing sight, half-seated, half-kneeling face to face on the broomshed floor. The Western people might very well think this was some strange Oriental ritual before Quidditch. "They are not trying out for the school team and wanted someone to put the broom to good use."

Shinrei nodded again and reached for her Rakurai that had fallen on the floor. "This is my Rakurai," she replied. "A gift from Kanjou-sama. I wish others could use it, but he placed a Hitorigo charm that would throw off anyone else who got on it."

Possessive, Jian thought, the way he claimed you to be his wife. He just nodded outwardly. "Yes." He looked around, looking at nothing in particular.

His thoughts were disturbed by her strange manner, claiming jitters for something that was capable of bringing her to her knees. She was ill, the way he had perceived her to be at the bookshop in Diagon Alley the day they met. Ill and hiding it.

"It is best we go to the Quidditch field now," he declared when she did not say anything.

Shinrei had been staring at him. He knows, she thought almost fearfully. It seems as if he knows more than he is supposed to. There was something about the way Jian had looked at her.

"Of course." Shinrei began to get up. This was not a very good place to be in. "We might be late already, Hupi-san." She was about to stand straight when the hem of her robes got caught beneath her sandals. She lost her balance and fell forward.

Jian saw her falling. It was a good thing he had not stood up yet. His well-honed instincts took over. Before he knew what he was actually doing, she was safely cushioned against his body, her fall broken by his arms encircling her waist.

Her breathing felt hot against his neck. "Miss?" he asked tentatively, thankful that she could not see him reddening.

"Gomen nasai," she sputtered, struggling to stand back up and push herself away from him. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to--"

Her words were cut off when she felt a callused hand reach for the right side of her face.

"What is--"

"Jian," she interrupted, very shocked. "Nani--"

"--this?" he finished.

Jian quickly released her and went to his feet, then showed her his palm. The dim late-afternoon sunlight illuminated the thick crimson liquid on the hand that had just touched her face.

Blood.

Shinrei drew away from him, stepping slowly backwards. "Nothing," she choked out, "it must be I got a scratch earlier today and I just did not see it. Do not worry. It's just a little blood."

"It is falling from your forehead, Miss," he said without expression. "It still is."

She reached for the same spot he had touched. True enough, she felt sticky, liquid warmth. The smell of metals mingling with herbs filled her nostrils.

Her blood.

"Nothing," she repeated, beginning to panic, "an old wound, that is all, Hupi-san." She looked around wildly, then snatched her broom and flask from the floor. "I have to go." She dashed past him, out of the broomshed and down the path to the Quidditch field.

Jian stared after her. When she was gone from sight, he mechanically went over to the Cleansweep he would be using for the trials. There was a note attached to the broom, addressed to him and signed by the Hufflepuffs who had been with him last Sunday.

"Good luck," he read the message in a whisper. He removed the note from the handle. It came away stained by the blood still on his hand. Shinrei's blood.

She needs the luck much more than I do, he thought. He placed the note in his robes pocket, took the Cleansweep propped against the wall and left the broomshed.

Carina walked out slowly several minutes after Luis. She carried her broomstick tightly in one hand. It wasn't a Firebolt or a Nimbus, but it did its job. And anyway, they would be selecting on player, not broomstick. Her father had refused point blank to buy her a modern one. Not a lover of Quidditch her father. But being a....what she was, she had had plenty of time to practise around bludgers and quaffles, quite qualified in the arts of both balls.

Looking up, her brow furrowed with worry as she saw the brilliant flyers above her. Could she get into a team with everyone so good?

Well, it was worth a try.

Looking at the ground, she slipped quietly into the growing crowd around Anders and Madam Hooch.

***********

Running up to the Common Room, Mahou Amberstone threw off her Hogwarts robes, throwing open her trunk. Once there, she pulled out one of her 'sportier' outfits.

~*They want me ta be sporty.. fine. They donnae want me ta be outdoorsy.. fine!*~ She angrily threw on a pair of spandex shorts, emerald green in colour, and a grey sweater with a white stag stitched on the front. Sitting on her bed, she threw on a pair of grey knee-high socks as well as some green slipper-shoes.

Mahou grabbed her broom, pulling on a different hat: a green ballcap with a grey bill. She wasn't in too good a mood right now. With Blackfoot in tow, the half-elf raced outside to the Quidditch trials.

Once there, Mahou stood by herself, her hands on her Firebolt, with her fox beside her. She stood near the group, listening to Madame Hooch and Anders, a rather sour expression on her face.

Shinrei did not lose speed as she ran blindly from the broomshed. Along the way, she met several other students headed for the shed. She was thankful she left the place--and Jian--just in time.

As she ran, she decided to stay away from the him as much as she could. She had hoped he would make a good training partner in martial arts given his unique background, but the idea seemed a little absurd now. She felt too much. He knew too much.

Upon reaching the field, Shinrei looked around and was very relieved to see Mahou already there. She walked over to the Irish girl and got in line beside her. She ignored the lower-year Hufflepuffs nearby who began to whisper excitedly at her arrival. She could pick out the words "princess," "ninjas" and "one hundred."

"Konnichiwa, Mahou-chan. I was very concerned when you ran off from the classroom." She smiled slightly, though her face was considerably paler than its usual red-bronze colour. "Are you all right now?"

She glanced at another girl nearby, one whom remembered was the last to be Sorted during the First Night Feast, and nodded politely. "Konnichiwa."

Mahou stood there, in her spandex shorts, knee-high socks, and sweatshirt. She clutched her broom in both hands, leaning on it a little. Upon the arrival of Shinrei, Mahou looked over. "I be.. more aware," she told her mysteriously. Leaving it at that, the Irish half-elf turned her gaze back to the others, watching a group of Hufflepuff First Years chitter like excited chipmunks. Raising a brow, Mahou looked away, hearing every word they said because of her accentuated hearing.

~*Sporty, eh?*~ she asked herself softly in Elfin. ~*Less outdoorsy, eh? Hmph.*~ Mahou kicked a stone angrily, sending it skittering across the pitch. ~*At least they donnae ken.. at least I still ha'e tha' much.*~ Taking a sidelong glance at Shinrei, Mahou didn't offer a smile, a nod, or even a wink. The other girl would be able to tell that Mahou was more than a little miffed at the whole situation. I mean.. there were plenty of other folks talking in DADA. Was it her fault the Prof. was too deaf to hear them all? She had not brought up that point in speaking to him for fear of losing more points.

So, she just twirled her broom like a bo-staff, rather intricately at that. She seemed to have been doing this out of habit for a long time.

Shinrei simply nodded after a few moments of observing Mahou's various reactions and remarks. She had no time or energy to deal with such complexities in other people. It was difficult enough to sort out her own so-called complexities.

Besides, she barely had a clear understanding of people in the West. The loss of Gryffindor points because of her various thoughtless acts were proof enough of her ignorance. Painful, but true.

So she remained standing, not speaking, looking at nothing and everything at the same time, waiting.

***********

Turning his attention back to the assembled students, Anders thanked them in his soft voice for coming. "I've never had to coach others before," he said. "When I played professionally, however, I'm sure that I managed to pick up enough tips and ideas to pass on to you. These being the trials, you all need to perform your best. And by that, I don't mean your showy moves. I mean proving to me and Madam Hooch that you are capable of basic manoeuvres and display the ability to obey instructions and to play together with others as a team."

He took a breath.

"All those of you trying out for Seeker will come to the far end of the field with me, where we will practise catches and dives. I'll be up in the air with you watching your technique, but don't let that put you off. Madam Hooch will put the rest of you through your paces and then well...we'll see how it goes from there."

With that, he heaved a leg across his Meteor Shower and zipped lightly and quickly to the other end of the field.

Nathan smiled at Niki. "I'm glad, too," he confessed, "I mean, why the hurry? Time enough to grow up, haven't we? Besides... another year at school close to you..." He shrugged and grinned, but just then Anders announced the procedures of the Trials.

"Well, there I go then," he said, "ready to start trying for Seeking. You're going to watch, I hope?" he asked while throwing her his best "I'm gorgeous and you know it"-wink. "Keep your fingers crossed..." He blew her a kiss and then flew to the others who were trying out for Seekers.

**********

Andy followed Anders to the opposite side of the field where Seeker tryouts would be held. He was very excited. He was dressed in his flying outfit and had his broom with him.

"Come on now broom," he said. "Don't let me down now." He mounted on his broom and hovered over the ground slightly.

Jian Hupi took a deep breath when the Quidditch coach gave the instructions to those who were aiming to be Seekers. He had read up on Quidditch even when he was still at the temple, but it had never occurred to him when the time would come that he would be made choose as to which position he "wanted" to play.

When he was finally prompted to make such a choice, it had been surprisingly easy. Seeker because of the challenge at speed and awareness. He had likewise signed up for Keeper and Beater, but being Seeker had an immense appeal to his bagua zhang background.

He walked quietly with the other potential Seekers to the opposite end of the field. When he saw fellow Gryffindor Andy mount his broom and take flight, Jian followed suit.

Once in the air, it was strange that he no longer felt anxious or afraid.

Mahou looked at Anders when he mentioned Seeker. Smiling softly at Shinrei, she straddled her broom and flew with the grace of an elf to the end of the field where Anders was. Mahou hoped beyond hope that her hat wouldn't fall off in these endeavours.. not to mention she hoped to be on the team. But if someone were better than her.. so be it.

Marvo saw Andy enter the field. "Hey look there is Andy. I'm so glad they let him try out. Big advantage his has might. being virtually weightless and indestructible!"

He grinned and waved.

Raphael blinked rapidly, and watched as the Coach leapt on his broom and took off. Glancing down to his own broom, lying inert on the ground under two very heavy rocks, he personally started to question his sanity. Damn impudence. All the brooms hated him. He attempted to send a grin to Nathaniel and Sarah, and with the grimace on his face still visible, he kicked the rocks off the broom.

It first of all thwacked him in the armpit. He grabbed it bodily and started to sprint across the field, holding the broom at head level, it's knobbly handle and butch brush wobbling and trying not to engage.

The magic caught. Raphael named the broom 'Butch' mentally.

And then he leapt up, and let the broom pull him along until he managed to get his feet around it, cursing when he realised he still had his boots on. He sped across the field, for a minute or two, upside down and with his hair brushing the grass, until he righted himself. Only then did he swing his leg off the broom, and sat sideways on it while he undid his boots.

He zipped over to the stalls and handed the boots to Branwen, letting Butch whine like a car in second gear trying to go slowly, while he locked his ankles around the broom and handed the boots to her (being the only Ravenclaw member he could see around), before grinning at her upside-down face and zapping back over to Anders Grimalkin.

"Er," he said to the coach while hovering with the broom pointed up like a bucking horse, "I put down my name for everything, er, Seeker, and - runner? Slipper? Chaser? - as well as keeper and, er, beater. Does that mean I'll have to go back to Madam Hooch a while as well?"

Anders leaned over towards Raphael and stroked the boy's broom gently. It calmed down a little, but still shuddered angrily from time to time. "Yes," he said, softly. "We'll do the Seeker runs first, then you can fly back down to her."

Whilst he was waiting for everyone who was coming, Anders let himself momentarily enjoy being in the air again, looping lazily around the hovering students, making brief notes in his head on their overall bearing on the broom, the way they seemed to react to him coming anywhere near...

His eyes roamed the stands and met Nimue's gaze. He smiled at her and chanced a little wave before coaxing the broom into a rather impressive (but totally showy) backwards roll before coming to a halt in front of the assembled students.

Nimue had given a little wave back, blushing slightly. Nimue's face as she watched Anders reflected that fact that whether he was being showy or not, she enjoyed the display. He was so at ease in the air. She turned to her friends and they swapped comments about the various flyers.

A bright pink object could be seen moving at a leisurely pace towards the stands. Finally, it fought its way up with a bit of a hassle "EXCUSE me, coming through! Oops, sorry, let me help you up...oh, I know, aren't my mittens great? I got them from- move it, Brain Geraldi, don't make me hurt you- only joking. Pardon me, coming though!") and plopped down next to its friends.

Yvette had somehow managed to get her pink coat back from her fifth year friend (who had most cruelly hidden it from her) and now sported it as well as a ludicrous pair of fluffy earmuffs.

"Did I miss anything?" She asked cheerfully, freckled nose already quite red from the cold.