With a short nod, Kuroko turns and faces the building.
Immediately upon entering there's a small lounge area and podium where a hostess should be. Kuroko glances around, It's eerily empty. The lights are dim and the only sound is that of muffled music from somewhere in the back of the building.
"It's down the hall." Sei says, motioning to the hall directly behind the podium. Kuroko takes another breath and starts down it. The hall lights aren't on, but there's an open door at the end of the hall. Pink light pours through the frame and Kuroko can see smoke swirling inside.
"Do people smoke in here?" Kuroko asks quietly.
"It's incense." Sei sniffs the air. "Frankincense. For Protection and Spirituality."
"Oh." Is all Kuroko says in reply as he keeps walking.
He pauses outside the door to take another deep breath before tentatively stepping in. The room looks like an old classy bar where jazz bands would play at.
The actual bar is to Kuroko's left and lit with pink coloured lights under the counter. There's a bartender with short black hair serving a man in a white dress shirt.
To Kuroko's right there is a small stage with a nice black piano sitting alone under a spotlight. One the main floor sits multiple round tables and chairs just before the stage and rounded red leather couches along the walls. The music, coming from speakers in the corners of the room, is indeed smooth jazz.
Kuroko scans the room quietly before anyone notices him. People Kuroko doesn't recognize are sitting at the tables, chatting amongst themselves is small groups or drinking. There are about twelve people total. Some of them look strange, dressed in robes or with cloudy, billowing features.
Kuroko peers at small group of the strange looking people for a moment, trying to focus on their features through the smoke. A sudden gasp catches Kuroko's attention, distracting him. He turns to where he hears a chair scraping against the wood floor just in time to see Kise standing and staring at him with wide eyes.
"Kuroko-cchi!!" He exclaims. Kuroko's entire body tenses up at the blond's outburst. Suddenly every head has turned to look at the newcomers. All conversation ceases and for a horrible moment Kuroko thinks his heart is going to stop.
"Deep breaths." Sei's voice says calmly in his ear. He feels the familiars hand on his shoulder and immediately exhales. Kuroko's shoulders relax a bit as he focuses on Sei's words for a moment. "Keep your eyes forward and walk with confidence."
Sei moves his hand from Kuroko's shoulder to the small of his back and gives the blue eyed boy a gentle push. Kuroko's first step into the room is stiff but he keeps going. He can feel the eyes of the other witches on him as he walks but he doesn't look at them. He keeps his eyes on Kise and Aomine's table.
As he reaches the table and his friends, the chatter and conversation has resumed. He can still feel eyes on him but he ignores them. He's an urban legend, of course they were going to stare. Kuroko breathes out calmly and smiles tensely at his friend's surprised faces.
"Tetsu! I thought you said you weren't going to be a witch?" Aomine says as he stands to greet the boy.
"I decided to give it a chance." Kuroko says, his voice shaking only slightly.
"Well It's good to see you here." Aomine says honestly. He pats Kuroko on the shoulder and grins at him.
"I'm so happy you changed your mind! You look great!" Kise exclaims. Kuroko looks at him and raises his eyebrows.
"Kise... you look..." Kuroko glances down at his yellow and white robes and back up at his slightly clouded and shifting features. "Like a dog."
Kise's face falls immediately. "A dog?! You're not even going to compliment my clothes?! Just my form?!"
YOU ARE READING
Nine Lives
Fanfiction"Kuroko knew his mother practiced witchcraft. It was a fact that he never doubted. But for her to leave behind a familiar to take care of him. It was nearly inconceivable. Just as inconceivable as Kuroko being dead for two days." After an accident t...
