Majutsu-shi no noroi

Chapter 2: Afraid of a Little Magic?

Natsuko was so distracted by the joy of seeing her Aurocles, she had totally missed the sounds of water shutting off and the presence of someone opening the door. Leaning against the doorway stood a man, tall and lean. His incredibly muscled upper body was exposed, decorated with beads of water, with just a white towel secured over his prominent hip bones. His flaming hair hung loosely around his angular face.

She sat shocked, staring at his high cheekbones, full lips, and burning eyes. He studied her with an amused expression, almost cat-like himself, cocking his head and tracing his bottom lip with a pointed thumbnail. 

"I'm glad to see you are awake, I was almost worried I wasn't going to be able to talk to you after all ♠." 

His voice was velvet against her ears— mischievous, daunting and dangerous.

Mistu and Katsu responded immediately by arching their backs and hissing menacingly (well, as menacingly as two tiny cats can possibly be). 

"Who are you and why are we here?!" Katsu demanded.

"Yeah back off buddy don't touch her or else you'll have to deal with ME!", Mitsu chirped threateningly, swiping a clawed paw in his direction.

The man laughed, "oh there, there. Cute little kitties. Your human is in no immediate danger, in fact without me she may have not survived." 

He pushed the door open and extended one outstretched hand. Past the man and beyond the door, Natsuko could see out into a complete kitchen with marble island, sleek cupboards, and gleaming fridge. 

"Now, I sensed your presence within that small satchel and figured you would be hungry. Go ahead, there is fresh maguro tuna for both of you out there ♥."

The cats relaxed their posture, glancing from each other to the open door, then to Natsuko. 

When their eyes met Natsuko's they screamed confusion, coupled with hunger and delight at the prospect of food. Natsuko nodded her head and both cats took off out the doorway, giving the man a large gap as they slipped past him.

Sensed their presence...Does that mean he practices Nen as well? The thought made her shudder, such an intimidating figure coupled with the potential to use Nen would render her incapacitated in the state she was in.

"So tell me..." he started towards her, graceful and agile.

Immediately her aura pulsed with curling flames of warning, anxiety shot through her core, 

"Stay back!" She cried desperately, holding out her right arm. 

Palm open, the force of her Wind Strike sent the man careening back into the door, shutting it with the force of his body. It was only of use for a few seconds. Nauseating pain shot through her abdomen and up her arm. She recoiled wincing, staring fearfully at the man.

He crouched, bracing from her wind attack. Anyone should at least have had apprehension in their eyes after that display, but his yellow irises seemed even more amused, dancing with the light of the late afternoon. 

"Very impressive. For someone in your state that is," he drawled, almost mockingly to her. 

"Well, if you show me yours, I'll show you mine. It only seems fair ♦." He extended both arms and allowed his aura to flow freely, purple and pink flowed from him like a steady breeze.

Natsuko was struck with a mix of terror and wonder. It was a rush of amethyst and rose, like a dancing, oily flame. It screamed danger, malice, horror, and seduction. It was as terrifying as it was beautiful. It froze her in place. Even if she wasn't cornered on this bed, trying to fight someone like this in her current state would be useless.