Every shinobi that bothers to train is quite accustomed to waking up rested but aching. This was so familiar that it took Iruka several moments to register the distinctly unfamiliar room before he remembered the previous day's events and how he came to be in the guest room of the Rook, home of the Lovegood family. Now that his mind was well-rested and not busy with more urgent matters, he considered the fact that he was in a world little like his own, with his prospects of returning home uncertain at best, especially in the immediate future. He knew that at least some of his students and colleagues would be distinctly unhappy about his unwilling absence, and Naruto (he called his favorite student Hokage-sama or Nanadaime-sama only in official circumstances) would likely be frantically trying to find him or at least confirm if he was safe and well. Unfortunately, even sending a message back was beyond his current ability. If he'd ever signed one of the major summoning contracts, there might be options, but his chakra reserves had never been deep enough for summoning to be particularly useful. In any case, he'd have to do his best to find his way back from here while those back in Konoha looked for him by their own methods, and hope that between the two there would be a way back that didn't end with his foot in Suna and his head in Kumo. Space-time ninjutsu, when they went wrong, tended to go very wrong very messily; Iruka had been extraordinarily lucky on that account.
For now, his priorities would need to revolve around adapting to life in this new world and establishing himself enough to be able to research a way home: Get clothing, toiletries, and other such necessities. Learn the language, the culture, the politics and history, and everything he could of their form of jutsu. Find some form of employment and a place to live that wasn't dependent on the generosity of others. It was a daunting list.
Iruka rose to begin his day; he'd never finish a task without starting on it, after all. Putting on the garments Xeno had loaned him (the two men were close enough to the same size and the robes loose-fitting enough that they fit reasonably well, even if they did restrict his movement more than he would have liked), he took the stairs down to the washroom for his morning ablutions. Rested and refreshed he made his way to the ground floor, marveling at how bright and cheerful the Rook's interior felt in spite of having so few windows. A sharp crack outside the front door drew his attention as he stood in the kitchen, followed shortly by the front door opening to admit Xeno, carrying a paper bag that smelled strongly of fried food. The growl Iruka's stomach gave in response drew a quiet chuckle from his host, who set the bag on the kitchen table, turning towards the stairs. «If you could begin setting the table, I'll see if I can begin the arduous process of waking my daughter. For all the energy Luna has, she is anything but a morning person. Don't be offended if she doesn't register your presence until after breakfast.» It was at this point that Iruka realized that the younger man was still wearing his shoes, and casting his mind back, he recalled both Luna and Pandora wearing shoes when he had arrived the previous day, suggesting that shod feet indoors weren't out of the ordinary in this household.
After indicating which dishes would be required and where they could be found, Xeno headed upstairs. Iruka was just placing the last of the teacups as he returned and set a kettle heating water for tea. While waiting for his tea and his daughter, the younger man began pulling what appeared to be miniature containers of food out of the bag, before tapping each with his stick-tool and causing it to grow to a more reasonable size. A bleary-eyed Luna arrived just as the water finished heating, sporting pink pajamas adorned with horned horses vaguely similar to kirin.
Virtually everything in the breakfast was fried - the eggs, the fish, the thin strips of fatty cured meat, the potatoes, even the tomatoes. Iruka ate at least a little of everything, but kept his portion sizes relatively small; until he could find somewhere to train and keep himself in shape, he'd have to watch his caloric intake or risk ballooning like Mitarashi Anko had in recent years (though judging by the couple of times he'd sparred with her, it hadn't diminished her skills or her sadistic streak). Xeno informed his lodger that he had already placed an order for several doses of Linguanova Libation while he was out getting breakfast, and that it would likely arrive some time in the next few days. For today, they would be traveling to some place called "Diagon Alley" to shop for some clothing and other essentials for Iruka; clearly his mind had taken a similar direction to his guest's this morning.
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Once everyone was fed and in clothing suitable to leave the house (though it had apparently taken some convincing by Xeno to persuade Luna that her pajamas were not suitable for such), they once again departed by Floo. This time, they emerged into a dark, dingy pub whose patrons did not all look entirely reputable. Even on such a sunny day, very little light was entering through the filthy windows, and the smoky oil lamps that tried to illuminate the room were simply not up to the task. It was then that Iruka realized that he hadn't seen any signs of electricity or combustion engines anywhere; it would seem that this world was significantly behind the Elemental Nations technologically. Perhaps their jutsu largely eliminated the need for such things?
Xeno led his guest and daughter out the back of the pub, into a small alleyway enclosed on all sides by brick walls and occupied by several trash cans. Smiling slightly at Iruka's expression of confusion and moderate distaste, he reached out with his stick and tapped one of the bricks three times. The brick in question shuddered and retreated into the wall, with those around it immediately following suit or pivoting away, creating a rapidly-widening opening in the wall. «Welcome,» he said grinning as a doorway formed, «to Diagon Alley.»
The sight that greeted Iruka as the three stepped through the archway was certainly spectacular: People of all ages bustling about a winding street lined with strange shops, most of whose signs were utterly incomprehensible (though one read «Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.» and had another stick-tool, a "wand" apparently, on a cushion in the front window). While some of the shops' purpose was discernible (an herbalist, a bookstore), some were confusing or outright nonsensical (if you can clean a room with a wave of your 'wand', why the fancy brooms?).
The street itself was narrow, and paved with cobblestones, but it was the buildings that really drew the eye. Whatever architect(s) had designed them clearly did not believe in right angles, and if any wall was truly vertical it was likely by accident or coincidence rather than by design. Many of the structures were painted in color schemes that clashed utterly with their neighbors, and decoration skewed heavily towards the gaudy and ostentatious. While some of the brass, bronze, silver, copper, and gilded fittings and ornamentation were polished to a shine, there was still an overall sense of slight griminess to many buildings, and all showed clear signs of being decades (if not centuries) old. It was impressive, surreal, whimsical, and just the slightest bit ominous in the overall impression it generated in him.
As Xeno led them towards their first stop, Iruka caught sight of an imposing building of white marble towering over its portion of the Alley. On either side of its large bronze double-doors, dressed in scarlet and gold uniforms, stood a pair of creatures like nothing Iruka had ever seen. Short of stature, but with long fingers, toes, nose, and pointed ears, their dark eyes watched the passing humans with keen intelligence. «Goblins.» His attention snapped back to his host/guide at the unfamiliar word. «Fierce, proud warriors and master silversmiths, they operate Gringotts, the bank for Magical Britain. They're not overly fond of humans, but given the way many humans treat them it's hardly surprising. Our current Minister, Cornelius Fudge, has been especially disrespectful towards goblins, and indeed all non-humans and part-humans, though his Senior Undersecretary makes him look a paragon of tolerance by comparison...» Thus began Iruka's first lesson on the peoples, cultures, and politics of this new world.
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After several hours of shopping, the trio returned to the Leaky Cauldron (the pub through which they had arrived) for a lunch of sandwiches and fried potatoes. Trying several of the soft (or softer) beverages available, he found butterbeer too sweet for his tastes but gillywater quite refreshing, especially as a complement to the relatively heavy local cuisine.
Aside from toiletries and other miscellaneous items, Iruka had selected a complete wardrobe, with assistance from the store staff and translation by Xeno. With black robes vetoed by his translator («I'll explain back at the Rook»), he'd stuck with a color scheme of mostly earth tones, dark blues, and deep forest greens, with the cut of the garments being a compromise between his desires for quiet unencumbered movement and for an appearance that wouldn't mark him as a blatant outsider. Even if he couldn't understand the muttered words, it had been clear that some of those walking about in finer clothing were not at all fond of those walking around in garments closer to what Iruka was accustomed to. That, combined with what Xeno had told him about the current government and its treatment of other intelligent species, and it painted a picture of a fairly insular society, which meant that he needed to learn to blend in if he wanted to be able to function smoothly in this country.
When Iruka had asked about obtaining a wand for himself, Xeno shook his head. «I would recommend waiting somewhat before that. You would likely find it easiest to work with Ollivander if you didn't need a translator. Also, until you learn to do without them, most spells require incantations which tend to be based on other languages, and trying to learn multiple languages with the Linguanova Libation can complicate matters.» A slight wry smirk appeared on his face as he said more quietly, «It can also attract or worsen Wrackspurt infestations; just look at Bartemius Crouch, one of the more serious cases I've seen.» He resolved to ask his host later about this Crouch, and just what a Wrackspurt was...
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Upon returning to the Rook, Xeno returned their purchases to their original size, and went to handle several chores and errands around the house while Iruka sorted his new belongings and found places for them in the guest room. That task finished, he sought out his host, finding him with his daughter at the kitchen table surrounded by scraps of parchment and moving photographs. At his polite cough, the younger man started slightly before looking up. «Ah, Iruka, my apologies! I was just getting a little layout work done; I often bring it home to get Luna's input. Her eye for aesthetics is admittedly better than my own, so those editions she helps with tend to come out looking far better. It's a magazine, you see, the Quibbler - wholly owned and operated by yours truly. My circulation is small, but the readers far more discerning than those who rely solely on the Daily Prophet for their news. Anyway, I'm nattering. You had something to ask?»
Iruka had to take a moment to get his brain back into its previous stance after the blast of enthusiasm from Xeno. «Yes, I was hoping there was somewhere nearby where I could exercise a bit, a field or meadow perhaps? A large forest clearing would actually be ideal, since I tend to prefer the quiet and solitude when exercising.» He really wasn't certain how, or even if, his hosts should find out about his abilities. While they were friendly and trustworthy, they were still foreign civilians and a lifetime of shinobi training made secrecy an automatic response.
«I'm certain we can find a good spot nearby; we're on mostly open ground, but it's fairly hilly. Why don't Luna and I accompany you to look for a suitable place? That way we'll be able to find you if we need to, not to mention that Luna and her mother know the land around here better than I do from their walks together.» Xeno turned to speak to his daughter, who promptly lit up with a smile reminiscent of another blonde of Iruka's acquaintance and nodded energetically before grabbing her father's left hand with her right and Iruka's right hand with her left and practically dragging the two out the door to the amusement of both adults.
As they stepped out, Iruka got his first good look at the Rook and the area around it. The home itself was a vaguely cylindrical tower of black stone. The door was of black-painted wood studded with iron nails and with an eagle-shaped iron ornament in the center around eye level. Overall, the severely drab and ominous exterior contrasted wildly with the warm, welcoming, colorful interior. There were sources of color, however, in the gardens around the house. Other than grass, almost none of the plants looked familiar, and some (such as the bush sporting orange fruit floating above its branches) were downright bizarre. Looking around, he found himself at the top of a small but steep hill, and saw that Xeno was quite correct in calling the area hilly. There seemed to be almost no significant chunks of level ground anywhere nearby. The ground itself was slightly rocky, covered predominantly in grass and low scrub, with the occasional tree scattered about. Farther away, he could make out a few isolated structures, one large cluster of buildings that was likely the town center, and several herds of fluffy white livestock being tended by humans and dogs.
Luna pulled her two captives down the winding path to and through a gate in a low garden fence. What followed was a somewhat meandering journey up, down, and around several of the nearby hills that left Xeno puffing for air. Eventually, the trio came to a small glen.
It was, in a word, beautiful. A trickling brook fed into and subsequently drained out of a large pool, perhaps three meters across and two deep, along one side of the glen. Nearby stood a small copse of trees (though to someone raised among the towering forests of Konoha, they barely counted as such), and the low grass was otherwise interrupted only by a few small boulders that ranged from knee- to chest-high. The stiff breeze that had whipped at their clothing much of the trip was more gentle here, and other than Xeno's deep breaths, only the quiet sounds of nature could be heard. In no direction could he see any signs of human activity or habitation, meaning this was likely a near-ideal location to train, at least his fitness and chakra. He'd have to leave the more destructive jutsu training for later and elsewhere, though - this place was much too peaceful to taint with combat practice.
Luna, meanwhile, was skipping happily through the grass, occasionally pausing to twirl about or dance to some imagined tune. It pleased Iruka greatly to see her doing so well after the previous day's events, and he could see his thoughts mirrored in his host's expression. «The resilience of the young.» Xeno's comment drew an agreeing nod from the chuunin. Both men moved to sit on some nearby boulders to relax and watch Luna play, as all three drank in the peace of the small glen in their own ways.
After twenty minutes or so, Luna skipped back over, addressed Iruka by name, and spouted a long stream of English that Xeno chucklingly translated as a verbal tour of all the highlights of the glen, descriptions of several of her walks here with her mother, the games she liked to play here, a number of rather fantastical accounts of creatures she claimed to have interacted with in the area, and some rather clear directions back to the Rook and to other local places of interest (he wasn't sure how much of the clarity was from Luna and how much was from Xeno's translation). Once the verbal deluge subsided, she pulled the two men to their feet and led them to the top of the tallest surrounding hill, where Iruka could clearly see the Rook on its own hilltop about a kilometer away, as well as a decent view of the surrounding countryside. Both Lovegoods then collaborated to point out the homes of several of their 'magical' neighbors, including a bizarrely-built house that clearly used this magic to remain standing and apparently belonged to the family of Luna's closest friend. Said friend was the primary topic of Luna's ongoing narration as the three made their way back to the Rook by a significantly more direct (though, Iruka noted, less scenic) route.
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Deciding to give Xeno and Luna some time alone as a father and daughter, Iruka returned to the glen at a brisk (but still civilian-speed) jog. Once there, however, he picked his pace up, running laps and increasing his speed somewhat each time he passed the pool until he was sprinting full-tilt. Maintaining his speed for two full laps, he then slowed back to a jog to cool down, and switched over to pushups, situps, and other calisthenics, all done on top of the chilly water of the pool to work his chakra control at the same time. Finally, once virtually every muscle in his body was crying out with exhaustion, he settled into a lotus position on the water and began to meditate. Iruka began to meticulously clear his mind of thought and emotion, painstakingly reviewing his memories of the past twenty-four hours to look for anything he might have missed in the moment and examine everything from an outside perspective. It was an exercise he'd been taught early in his genin career by his jounin-sensei to help him become more mindful and thoughtful and curb his tendency towards rashness that could get him hurt in the field.
The sun was beginning to set by the time Iruka jogged up to the garden gate of the Rook, painting the sky in a spectacular array of colors and adding new dimension to the already lovely view from the hilltop. Opening the front door, he came upon Xeno talking with an unfamiliar woman in the Rook's kitchen.
She was somewhat short, only coming up to Xeno's shoulders, somewhat overweight, and appeared to be around Iruka's age, with slight lines on her face and some minor fading in the color of her otherwise fiery-red curls. Her dress was modest in its cut, with a mildly faded floral pattern and signs of wear and repeated mending that suggested frugality, possibly due to limited finances. Next to her, on the table, was a covered basket from which came the scents of fresh bread and other foods, all of which smelled delightful. Hearing his entrance, she turned, her surprised expression melting into a polite smile with a hint of suspicion and apprehension.
«Ah, Iruka-san!» Xeno called with a jovial smile, «This is Molly Weasley, our nearest neighbor, and the mother of Luna's friend Ginevra that we heard so much about this afternoon. Her husband works for the Ministry and heard about Pandora's accident, and she was kind enough to bring dinner for us!» He then turned back to his latest guest, and given the use of his name Iruka presumed carried out the introduction in the other direction.
Much of Molly's suspicion disappeared at this, and her smile became warmer, though she still seemed to take a moment to look Iruka over with an appraising eye, perhaps judging whether he was some disreputable character taking advantage of the Lovegoods. He wasn't insulted, of course - he'd have wondered the same thing in her place, and that was without accounting for his profession as a shinobi. She stepped closer, dipping in a bow-like gesture and speaking with a somewhat more formal tone, which Xeno translated as her thanks for his aid to Pandora. Seemingly satisfied by Iruka's accepting nod and slight bow in return, she turned back to Xeno. A few more words were exchanged, her expression becoming one of concern and sympathy as she patted his hand gently before acknowledging both men and leaving via the Floo.