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[It's a traditional (ish) style Japanese tea shop. Not that Itachi's Japanese but all it takes is a little homework and the realization that the manners and customs are incredibly close to those of the Fire Country, add in enough Westernization to appeal to Londoners, and the business is doing well.]

[Of course for those who are in the know the tea shop is a front for a much more interesting business of information dealing and, rumor has it, assassination--or any kind of underground contract you might wish to procure.]

[But on the surface and at least in part it's a fairly popular "Oriental" novelty tea shop. The proprietor is rather young and quiet and strange, but the ladies he hires who do most of the serving and dealing with customers are quite charming. All in all, it's growing in reputation.]

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Maybe if there's no other option.

[He's so used to living under stress these days. It will get worse, but he doesn't need to know that.]

Is there anyone I should watch out for?

Many.

[Itachi continues to sip his tea with all the calm, arrogant elegance he's always had.]

The churches of the Old Ones, the gods of this place, are varying degrees of dangerous. In the same manner, you should be wary of anything associated with them. They control the power of this world, and most of the magic. You may pursue that as a study if you wish, it is certainly an interesting subject.

[And he knows how Al's mind is ever inquisitive and thirsting for knowledge.]

The magic is connected to the Old Ones, and their madness taints it along with all else here.

The human trade is quite alive here. Do not be caught alone or undefended by strangers. The main streets and roads are relatively safe--back alleys and the river risk the potential of monsters, literal and figurative.

[Al carefully picks through the information, finding what he can come back to, what's important and what can be filed away.]

Exactly what types of monsters are we talking about?

Deep Ones wander from the river at times. Other monsters twisted by this world or the churches will escape to lurk in the shadows. Horrors are common here. In much the same way that it is unpredictable outside the safe zone in Adstringendum, if you wander from the main centers of activity you take your life into your hands here.

The human monsters are easier. Slave traders and head hunters, deranged maniacs driven over the edge by the madness here, or simply cultists seeking a convenient offering.

The veneer of civilization here is only that.

At least the human side of it is familiar. I'll be very careful.

[He pauses a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself.]

How long have you been here?

Nine months.

[Calmly he sets the tea down.]

I estimate about four years for you. Am I wrong?

Nearly. It's March 2012 in the city. It's been about three years since I last saw you.

... I'll be nineteen next month.

You've grown.

[and now he doesn't mean the obvious physical changes.]

[Al smiles back, finding the faint praise buried in Itachi's words.]

... they elected me the Ombudsman of the city several months back. And then the Commander of the guard managed to die after challenging the Animus, triggering a terrible fire and creating powerful monsters through the city.

He left me as his second. I haven't found a replacement yet.

[Most of the city, suddenly reporting directly to him.]

[Itachi is silent a moment, then lifts his hand, lightly poking Al's forehead. The stiffness... Melts. Something gentler that Al may remember. The fondness more visible as a real smile emerges.]

I'd like to hear about it. All of it. If you wish to share it with me.

[He is interested, genuinely. For all their parting was... Strained, Al is like a brother. Bitter-sweetly, how he wishes he'd had the ability to raise his own brother. Too late he realized his own narrow approach and the consequences. And... With Al, at least, Al has become a fine adult. At least from what Itachi sees.]

[Perhaps there's little more he can teach Al--after all they are, through the magic of world hopping, roughly the same age now. Not to mention Al's experience has clearly matured him, but in a good and strong way--from the potential he once held to that of a true adult, growing and evolving. Such a contrast from the still naive child Itachi left behind.]

[Al smiles, and it's like the years have been stripped away. All that steel in his eyes softens. That sweetness, that goodness is still there, but it's been tempered with harsh experience, failure as well as success.]

I don't even know where to begin. It seems like a lifetime since you left- so many things have happened. It's gotten both better and worse.

Vincent, Ms. Unohana- Sasuke is still there. So are a handful of the others.

[Names of people he was close to. Should he be happy at news of them or sad they never got home? Ah, but Unohana was unflappable and Vincent... Was not a man to worry about. Sasuke... Maybe it's an alternate chance for him. Itachi nods, picking up his tea cup again.]

Begin where you wish. I'm sure we'll have ample time for you to share anecdotes in the days to come--assuming you will be staying with me.

[Itachi assumes it's a given at least in terms of most ideal, but hey. Al's all grown up, Itachi won't act as caretaker if Al has other plans.]

I'd love to stay with you. I'm sure you'll put me to work.

[Luck has certainly been with him. And if Itachi showed up here, then... well, some of the others might. It's a dull fearful ache in the back of his mind. Still, some part of him still wonders if this is a dream.]

Now, when was it that you left, exactly...? My mind is a little bit fuzzy.

[Not even dignifying the work comment with a response. He is going to put Al through the wringer. It's a given. Can't grow if you don't push yourself, even as an adult. He takes a sip of tea instead, and if there is an ominous way to drink tea while looking utterly serene, both Unohana and Itachi know how. So it's settled, he will have Al with him and they'll catch up and Al will get to learn this world with Itachi's "gentle" guidance. Poor Al.]

[The question, then.]

June.

[He remembers well enough.]

Right before the Animus turned everything into a beach. It was really lovely.

[Al beams.]

Do you remember Negi Springfield?

[Itachi shakes his head.]

I don't.

He had just started living with me at the time... but I've been more or less with him for the past two years.

He's a wizard -- kind, smart, still a little innocent, but very strong. He's very good to me.

[Ah if he recalls right the little redhead?]

He makes you happy it seems. I'm glad.

[That kind of simple happiness is one Al deserves.]

He makes me very happy.

[Al beams, thoughtful- and when he speaks it's easy to tell how in love he is. How he's healed. He'd been such a mess after Sasuke left.]

There's an age different between Negi and I. I told him to ask again once he got older. He waited years for me... and then he finally did ask.

I'm glad.

[Considering the abusive dynamics Al had been getting himself into when Itachi left... It's a relief to know Al's found something healthy.]

Will you try to get back there?

If I can, absolutely. Even if they don't need me, I can still help everyone there.

[Ah, what a responsible attitude. Itachi's glad to hear it. He really is proud of Al--the more he hears, the more he's sure Al's grown up well.]

And your brother?

[Al can't even pick it out these days. He just is now.]

There was a point recently where we all suddenly were the age we were supposed to be. Ed's automail started to compress his chest and make it nearly impossible for him to walk. He just had surgery to correct the ports. Less than a week ago.

[Which would account for most of Al's worry right now.]

Someone that noisy is unlikely to be laid up from that for long.

[Which is Itachi's way of saying don't worry about Ed. Ed's too tough to let anything keep him down. But of course, he says it his own jerkish way.]

I'm sure he'll be up and bursting eardrums long before any of the healers desire it.

[Al laughs.]

He was already complaining about the bedpan two days into it all. He was too drugged to stand up by himself, but I already know he'll be all right.

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