Tenmiko One-shots

The Aikidoka And The Mage (3/4)

[AU]

Somewhere in Japan, in a deep forest, there's an hidden old cottage that was inhabited by a "Legendary Mage" and his assistant, a young girl named Himiko.

The Mage and the little girl had been living there for a long time, but they used to travel around the world outside the forest, looking for new ingredients for their potions and, sometimes, entertain the children of the cities and villages they visit.

One day, after a dangerous mission, the Mage disappeared without explain anything to her young assistant and leaving her alone. Himiko thought, at first, that he had abandoned her, but later on another theory flashed into her mind, a worrying one.

Perhaps her master has been kidnapped by the Mortal Enemy, an anti-mage he has always talked about. It's a creepy individual who constantly hunted the "Legendary Mage" since the dawn of time for envy and forcing him to hide. Somehow, the Mortal Enemy must have managed to find his location and overcome the magical anti-mage barriers her master set and sneak into the house.

Himiko felt guilty for not being able to do anything. She want to go and save her master, but that would mean getting out the forest and also exploring the whole world all by herself and that make the little girl nervous. Himiko has never gone out alone, her magical powers are not good enough yet and her master has never taught her how to use brooms to fly or how use teleport (although, Himiko already knew how dangerous this spell could be).

Perhaps, if she could find someone to accompany her, Himiko would be able to get out of the forest.
Simple, right? The only problem is, who would ever want to go with her on an adventure where she couldn't guarantee the maximum protection?

After weeks, Himiko understood that it was not worth waiting for a help that would never arrive. She took all her courage and decided to face any danger (more or less), put on her shoulder her bag with some useful items that would help her in case of emergency and, finally, leaved the cottage.

Himiko walked for quite a while in the forest, leaving small marks on tree trunks to avoid getting lost when suddenly, she heard what seemed to be a cat whining.

'Weird' Himiko thought, she has never heard or seen cats in the forest so far. She decided to follow the cries and came near some bushes and there, she found an injured black cat.

Himiko leaned over, but the cat immediately hisses at her.
"Nyeh, calm down I just want to help you" Himiko said and the cat actually calmed down, as if it had understood what she's saying, watching her with her big green eyes. It's a cute cat, Himiko couldn't deny it.

"Will you let me hold you? I promise to give you some food and the care you need for your wounds" she said to the black cat and this seemed to nod at her words, so Himiko picked up the cat and this started purring weakly.

"Nyeh... I was going out on an important mission today, you know? I'm afraid I'll have to-" Himiko didn't have time to finish the sentence, she heard a loud thud. Himiko immediately picked up her wand that she kept in her belt and looked around, trying to hold the big cat with her other hand.

"W-who is there? Show yourself!" the redhead shouted, no one showed but that strange thud turned soon into footsteps.

Himiko tried to stay calm and  cautious, even the cat started looking around, but all the tension, the anxiety accumulated and those steps getting closer and closer made her ran away as far as possible.

Himiko couldn't help but curse herself for not being brave enough, besides having a felling of having already experienced a similar situation months ago.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Sorry for the long absence, I'll be more active rechecking the previous stories and posting new one-shots.
I also decided to try writing a story based on this AU soon.