dancing on bones (our souls of iolites and emeralds)

Chapter 21

In the meantime, it fell onto Kusuo to make sure Dudley was able to defend him. Both inside the Dursley household as well as at school. Which meant, Dudley's academic performance fell somewhat under Kusuo's responsibility.

At six years old, the twins were able to attend the same Kindergarten as Dudley. Compulsory education for children in Britain for the win! He was sure the Dursley's wouldn't spend money after them for any other reason.

At six years old, Dudley sat down next to Harry with his new, normal kids textbooks and while Kusuo scribbled a perfect recreation of the Mona Lisa on a sheet of paper as he came to a slow, horrifying realization: Dudley Dursley was dyslexic.

Being dyslexic wasn't the reason behind Kusuo's horror. Not at all. No, it was the effort Kusuo would have to put in to ensure Dudley gets properly educated. Having a learning disability wasn't something bad, as long as it doesn't stop the person from pursing education. And that, was where the problem lay.

Vernon and Petunia were the type who thought their darling son was a genius. They would absolutely refuse to believe any diagnosis of Dudley's impediment. Would refuse to go to a doctor for it. And thus, it wouldn't end up in Dudley's file and his teachers wouldn't know to account for it. Dudley would end up absolutely hating schoolwork and class and that would effect his education and scores.

Thus, to Kusuo's horror. He would have to be the responsible one. For Dudley's education. Him.

Dudley better appreciate it. He hadn't spent half this effort behind Yuuta.

So, at six years old, Kusuo had Dudley on his left hip, Harry at his right, and spent their evenings reading to them aloud from books, covering up letters as much as he can with his tiny hands and making sure Dudley got each and every word and letter correctly.

It helped that he had already taught the children to speak clearly beforehand. Cruel, perhaps, in hindsight, but something Kusuo considered important in the light of this new revelation.

//

That was only the first of the problems Kusuo had to face in KG. Some problems, like making sure Dudley was properly taught the basics, were new to him. Others, like integrating into the class and not getting pointed at and bullied for his oddness, were old. Kusuo was used to them.

Another new problem, something that he noticed after he started correcting Dudley's learning curve, was the cultural classroom differences between Japan and Britain. In Japan, people wait until they are called on to answer a question. Standing out too much in any way, shape or form, was not tolerated. Initiative was appreciated only as long as it was kept on the down low. As a result, within the first three months of classes, Kusuo was firmly in the category of 'that weird introverted kid'. High on the easy-to-bully ladder and low on the friendship ladder. The first, Kusuo took care of expediently and with generous help from Dudley. 

(and Harry, much to his surprise. His usually, sweet, shy brother screamed at a particularly rude boy who had been getting far to touchy. Harry had tackled the child to the ground, pulling his hair and demanding an apology to his 'awesome-ist twin ever' as Harry dubbed him. Kusuo would be lying if he said that his heart hadn't warmed at his brothers words.) 

The later, Kusuo didn't really care about. Not at this juncture.

Kusuo was polite when addressed to by adults, short and to the point when talking to kids and made sure to keep out of sight when throwing down a bully who was harassing him and his family.

//

"This is beautiful," his teacher said to him as she read through his notebook. "Felix, you have a gift with words--the pen of a poet and a mind of a Philosopher."

He had waited years to show more of his intellect. Intelligence above that of your average gifted child. Years spent fighting the madness that came with pretending to be someone he wasn't.

No more, he vowed to himself vehemently, I refuse to be someone I'm not.

He had done that for a lifetime. Never again.

"Can I show this to someone after class? You can be there if you want."

He nods.

"He wrote this," his teacher told the principle, who she'd called over, "It's simple, but the meaning is so profound."

"I call it the Tale of Three Justices." Kusuo told them.

The principle gave him a long thoughtful stare before turning to the KG teacher in a whisper.

Felix Oleander Potter was a prodigy.

::

(There once were three men who met God.

The first man was a thief who pettily stole from the rich.

The second was a murderer who killed in a fit of passion.

And the third was a serial killer who murdered for justice.

In the eyes of God, all three sins were equal.

And from God, they faced true justice.)

::

Six months, that is, one semester into the new term, Vernon and Petunia were called to a meeting with Kusuo's teacher.

"Your nephew is a genius," she proclaimed with no fanfare. Kusuo, sitting on one of the kiddie chairs behind the two adults, blinked. Harry and Dudley, sitting on the chair besides him, puffed up in pride. Vernon and Petunia did not.

"Are you sure he didn't cheat?" Petunia asked, eyes narrowed. "Dudley was the one we sent to gifted school. Kusuo is a bit slow and doesn't like people. We had to drag him out of the house for the first day."

"Quite sure," said the teacher, a pretty blond in a white blouse and jeans. "Have you had him tested officially?" The teacher's eyes took in Vernon's sour face and corrected herself, "Any of them?"

"No," Vernon grumbled. "We don't see a need to. Boy's a bit slow and he's dragging Dudley down with him. That's all."

The teacher very carefully swallowed her impulse to say it was the other way around. Kusuo didn't need to read her thoughts because he could just see it on her face. Enough was enough though, so Kusuo turned to Dudley and tilted his head. Dudley, bless his soul, knew what to do next.

"What are you talking 'bout?" Dudley asked eagerly. Petunia tensed, having recognized the signs. She knew very well what was coming next.