Nine Lives

20. Fire

Seijurou crouches in front of the old dust covered bookshelf. He is near silent as he rifles through the books and journals there, searching for the right ones. He plucks a journal from the shelf and flips through it, placing the thin black covered book on the pile beside him. He needs to hurry and find all of them.

A rustling from the next room causes the human Seijurou to freeze. His heterochromatic gaze locks onto the open doorway. He listens as the floorboards creak under the intruder's footsteps and holds his breath. He's ready to flee at any moment. To shift back into his cat form and run into the woods behind the old house.

"Akashi?" A deep voice calls. Seijurou lets out the air from his lungs in a sigh of relief. The tall green haired familiar steps into the room cautiously. His eyes land on Seijurou and the red head stands.

"Shintarou. Thank you for coming."

"The air around here is worrisome."

Seijurou nods.

"There have been rumours going around lately about plans to rid the town of witches. I think they plan on destroying this home. I want to get everything of importance out before they come."

"I see. What about the boy?"

"I placed a charm on Tetsuya to protect him for now. I'll have to hurry back to him after I've finished here. It's his middle school graduation today so I can't force him to stay hidden."

Seijurou kneels back down, turning back to the books. Midorima watches him from his place by the door.

"And what am I doing here?"

"I need you to deliver these journals once I locate all of them."

Seijurou places another on the pile before standing to walk to another shelf.

"Deliver? Not keep?"

"Yes. Originally I had wanted Shuzo to hold them for a while, but he has nowhere to keep them safe and I don't trust his current master. Yours either for that matter."

Midorima frowns as he watches Seijurou place another book on the pile.

"We are keeping the Kuroko Book of Shadows already; a few more books would be no problem."

"Yes, but these journals are a bit more personal to my master. I'd prefer to keep them away from prying eyes, and last I checked your collection room is open to all the Takao witches."

Seijurou bends down to count the number of journals in the pile before nodding and tying them up with string. He dusts off his clothes and straightens his back, glancing around to make sure that's all he needs.

"Then who am I delivering these to?"

"I'm going to have Reo look after them."

Midorima's eyes widen at this.

"Mibuchi!? Why?"

"Reo is human and, unlike most familiar's, will understand the importance of these journals and keep them safe in my stead. These contain her hard work and love and they need to be treated with equal dedication. He will undoubtedly protect the journals and their contents for my master."

"Why do you trust him so much after he took advantage of you?"

"He did no such thing."

"He took advantage of your vulnerability after the passing of your master for his own desires."

Seijurou sighs. "He merely saw an opportunity and acted upon it. If that's considered taking advantage of me than I did the same to him. I consented and used him to help ease my pain."