Majutsu-shi no noroi

Chapter 3: I Guess We're Both Fucked Up

♥

Natsuko draped back the duvet cover, numbly, she stumbled out of bed. 

What is happening? 

Confused and disoriented by her last intense row with the Magician—Hisoka Morrow—she knew not what to make of her new surroundings. She stood unsteadily on her sore feet and padded naked over to the full-length mirror beside the closet. 

What she saw staring back she couldn't recognize as herself. 

Although her hair and body were clean (cleaner than it had been in quite some time) the bruises and wounds that covered her body sent her reeling at the sight of them. Blood soaked through the white bandaging around her hips, a mottled pattern of reds, deep blacks and greens covered her midsection in a nasty array. 

She could not see a single patch of pale skin beneath the canvas of damage. Shakily she slowly pulled back the closet door. Inside there was a variety of different clothing—pajamas, sweatpants, jeans, dresses—all in her measurements. 

Did he buy me a whole new wardrobe? Who is this guy? 

Confused but delighted she carefully slipped on a pair of grey leggings and black crew neck that bore the Hunter's Association symbol on it. Ironic. She had taken that test years ago when she was just 12 years old. 

And yet she never had a use for her hunter's license other than to flee to other countries to escape the people hunting her. In the drawer of the dresser, she found a hairbrush, simple make-up (minus the tube of brand new ruby red lipstick), hair appliances and... panties. 

"God. This guy just met me and he thinks he can just go and buy me lingerie?!" she whispered bewildered to herself, examining the various colours of lace and stringy menagerie. 

She grabbed the pale concealer stick in an attempt to cover some of the bruising on the right side of her face. It hurt to the touch, but it did help to fade the colour.

Running the brush through her hair, she came to the realization that it had recently been brushed. She ran a hand through the silky strands that held not a single knot. Suddenly she found herself daydreaming about the Magician slowly running the brush through her dark locks as she lay fast asleep. 

The thought gave her butterflies. 

Catching herself, Natsuko quickly dissolved the butterflies in her stomach and set the brush back in place in the top drawer. 

The second drawer held many pairs of woolen socks, itchy but warm and necessary for this time of year. She put her ear to the door and heard the Magician speaking softly and chuckling.

She twisted the knob and carefully stepped into the apartment. She slowly padded into the open concept kitchen and living room and saw him sitting cross-legged on the ground with Mitsu and Katsu purring happily on his lap, curled in a little ball together. 

"I have always liked cats you know," he spoke into his chest.

"They're my Aurocles. Everyone gets assigned an animal at birth. Mine was a cat, and I was just lucky to get two," Natsuko smiled. 

They looked so content sitting on his lap. She could see the Magician had changed into a simple white tee shirt and black sweatpants slung low on his hips. His hair no longer fell into his face but rather stood up, curling and twisting towards the sky charismatically.

As he stood, he cupped both spirit cats in his large hands and placed them on the sectional sofa behind him. The entirety of the apartment was average size but vibrantly decorated with coloured furniture, paintings, and sculptures. Almost the opposite of the room she just left.