There's no place like Home

Ai was waiting for Katia in the Forest of Dean. from there they would apparate to her cousin's manor. She couldn't wait to see Shen's face. She hadn't seen him since her father's funeral and will reading. She remembered him smirking at her when she discovered that she had been disinherited. He had called her a witch and said that it served her right for betraying the family. She would make sure that this anniversary was one that he would never forget.

"Just a few more minutes" She said, glancing at her watch. "Then it's showtime" Ai was dressed all in black, her hair hanging in curls down her back.

Katia was practically skipping when she headed to the Forest of Dean, a childlike smile on her face as she bubbled with excitement. She loved adventures. And this was definitely classified in her books as an adventure. She'd done her best to dress appropriately, she remembered it was the anniversary of Ai's father's death, so figured black was best. And she liked black. Almost as much as she liked grey.

She spotted Ai, heading straight over to her and raising her hand to her forehead in a mock salute, standing tall. "Ready to go, boss?" Katia asked in an almost joking tone, thoroughly excited. She'd told her housemates that she would be leaving for a short while, and had even told Cecily to tell the boss what she was doing. Katia figured that was a little important.

Ai smiled when she saw Katia.

"As ready as I'll every be" She said, smirking. She locked hands with the older woman, since she knew where they were apparating too. They landed right outside her family's estate. It belonged to Shen now, but not for much longer. She heard chatter in the back, and new that the anniversary was taking place in the courtyard.

"This way" She murmered softly. She began walking around the house towards the courtyard. When she entered it, everyone fell silent. Her eyes narrowed as she looked straight at Shen, who was standing on a small podium, holding a glass of Happoshu. at least, that's what she thought it was. He looked at her with an odd expression. "Mondai shen wa nanidesu ka?" (What's the matter Shen?) Ai mocked in Japanese. "Neko ga shita o eta ka?" (Cat got your tongue)

Shen seemed to have found his voice.

"Koko wlecome sa rete imasen" (you aren't welcome here) He snapped, walking down from the podium. "Nokosu" (Leave)He walked closer to her. Ai smirked and pulled her wand out, twirling it on her fingers.

"Watashi wa nokoshite okimasu. Shikashi, watashi wa watashi ga kita mono o shutoku shinai made" She snapped. (I'll leave. But not until I get what I have come for.) She pointed the wand at Shen. "Anata wa watashi kara subete o nusumi, ima, anata wa shiharawanakereba naranai" (You stole everything from me and now you must pay). Ai was aware that Katia probably had no idea what she was saying. She switched to English. Even though Shen hated English, he knew it well enough to understand her. "This should have been mine. He was my father, not yours"

"Anata wa sore ni ataishimasendeshita! Anata wa majodesu! Anata wa kare ni unzari!" Shen snapped. (You didn't deserve it! You're a witch! You disgusted him!)

"Crucio!" Ai shouted. She watched as Shen writhed on the ground in pain. The rest of her family watched in horror, but there was nothing they could do. As she tortured him, tears fell from her eyelashes. "All I ever wanted was to be loved!" She said, her voice choked. "I wanted his love. I didn't ask for magic, it chose me. You have no one to blame but yourself" Her wand hand remained steady. She finally lifted the curse, and Shen could barely stand. "You don't know what it's like to be despised for who and what you are, Shen" She spat.

"Anata wa hontōni watashi o son'nani kiraidesu ka?" Shen asked weakly. (Do you really hate me that much)

"Watashi wa anata o nikumu dore dake sōzō shi hajimeru koto wa dekimasen" Ai hissed. (You can not begin to imagine how much I hate you). "Crucio" Shen screamed in agony.

(OOC-I am stopping here so that you can post your reaction to what's happening if you like. I'll most likely finish him off in my next post. If Katia wants to say anything to Ai, she can. hope you liked my family reunion )

Katia trusted Ai as they locked hands, feeling the sensation of apparation before they arrived at their destination. She took a moment to take in the estate that she'd been brought to, wanting to familiarise herself with the outside, at least, before Ai was guiding her round the courtyard. It was different to what she was used to, that was for sure.

She stealed her face into a passive expression as they arrived at the place were the ceremony was taking place, wand wrapped safely in her fingers, listening to the conversation, even if she couldn't understand it. The man on the podium was the cousin Ai had been talking about, she was definite. It helped that he was the one she was talking to.

Ai switched to English and her ears perked up, turning to look at the man who was now closer, before Ai shot an Unforgivable at him. Katia wouldn't have been able to help the smirk that peeled on her face even if she tried. Not that she didn't. Katia held up her own wand more as a warning for the other people who were watching, though none looked like they were going to try anything.

These people deserved nothing short of what was coming to them. It was taking all of her self control to leave this one to Ai to deal with. Though Katia was in no rush to get home.

Ai glared down at her cousin as he screamed in pain and agony.

"Ai! Teishi suru!" Ai turned to see her mother looking at her, pleading with her. She relinguished the curse for the moment, leaving Shen on the ground, gasping for breath. (Stop!)

"Dōshite watashi ga?" (Why should I?) She snapped harshly. Tears filled her mother's eyes.

"Anata wa watashi no musume, aida. Watashi wa anata ga ī hitonara shitte imasu" Her mother said softly. (You're my daughter, Ai. I know you're a good person).

"You don't know anything about me!" Ai shouted, tears streaming down her own cheeks. "Where were you? Where were any of you?" She looked around at the people that had gathered. "I lived alone. for seven years I was alone. But not anymore. I have found where I fit in. People who understand me. Shen, sayonara" She said harshly, pointing her wand at him again. "Avada Kedava!" The green light hit him square in the chest and he slumped to the ground, lifeless.

"Shen!" Ai's aunt screamed, running over to her son. "Anata wa kare ni nani o shimashita ka?" (What did you do to him?) Ai smiled grimly and walked over to her cousin's body. She took a knife out of her pocket and with one swoop, sliced his hand at the wrist. She picked up the hand. "It's done" She said, turning to Katia.

Katia raised her eyebrows as a woman stepped forward and shouted something that had Ai releasing her cousin. Well this would be interesting. This woman was important enough to stop Ai for a moment. Katia watched Ai out the corner of her eyes, keeping track of the girl's reaction. Whoever it was, this was an important moment, Katia was sure.

She felt a pang of sympathy and longing at Ai's words. It wasn't often she felt sympathetic, it wasn't even a word she spoke of very often. But those words. People who understand her. She felt sympathy to someone she barely knew. Though in those few moments, she felt like she knew Ai more than she knew her own friends. Those few moments of tearful confession she felt like she knew Ai for a long time.

The sight of familiar green light brought a smile to her face however, watching Ai's cousin become lifeless on the floor. She watched Ai take out a knife and slice off the man's hand, her smile widening into a grin, briefly wondering what Ai's family must've thought to that. She could barely contain her excitement.

"Congratulations, Ai. The place where you belong is ready to accept you. You and everything about you," Katia didn't know why her voice sounded so soft to her own ears. The Japanese girl had grown on her more than she thought. "Let's be heading off, shall we? No need to spend more time amongst these pitiful people. We have what we need," her eyes flashed and she twirlled her wand, a spark of fire jumping from it. "I assume you're done?"

Ai nodded.

"Yes" She said. "Let's get out of here" She apparated back to the Forest of Dean and waited for Katia to arrive. When the older woman did she took the hand she had taken and placed it in a plastic bag that she had brought with her. It was kind of gruesome to hold, but she didn't mind too much. "What do I have to do now?" She asked Katia, quietly. She wasn't sure where they went from here but Katia had said she knew how to find the Dark Lady, or whatever she was called.

Katia watched as Ai disapparated, taking in the faces of the people that surrounded her. The dirty muggles that had caused Ai so much pain. The muggles that had caused her friend so much pain. A slightly sinister smile took over her face as she raised her wand, shooting fire towards the podium where Ai's cousin had been talking, setting it alight, before apparating back to the Forest of Dean without a second's hesitation. Sure, she didn't cause any lasting damage, but the screams of those filfthy people had made it worth it.

She watched Ai put the hand in a bag, a softer smile on her face. "Now you can keep that as a souvenier, if you'd like. I'm not sure if the Dark Lady will want to see it or not, though you'll be coming to our next meeting. I'll tell you when it is, they're done very much by word of mouth," Katia stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Ai in a hug, breathing in deeply. "Welcome to the Avengers, my friend."

When she pulled back, there was a large smile on her face. "This'll be so exciting! Together we'll let those Muggles know that they can't treat us like trash. They are defenseless against us. They'll realise that soon enough."

Ai embraced the hug.

"Thank you" She said softly. "I'll await your owl for the next meeting" She looked down at the hand. "Hmm, I wonder if I could sell this as a souvenir in Knocturn Alley" she mused, smirking.