Work Text:
“You know,” Wuyang says, “I’m starting to think you’re not actually cursed by fairies.”
Mizuki squints at him. “Yeah, sure. That’s what a fairy would say.”
“I’m not a fairy,” Wuyang says, but it’s a half-hearted lie and they both know it; Mizuki has seen Wuyang in his true form’s full glory, pointed ears, turquoise outfit, glowing tattoos and all. This human-like shell that he keeps up is solely to operate as Mizuki’s friend (friend! something in him that loves humans and their ways trills. He and Mizuki are friends!).
Right now, they’ve holed themselves up after-hours at one of Mizuki’s three jobs – this one, a soba shop. What little remains of Mizuki’s earnings after he pays his monthly debts is spent entirely on lucky charms and salt, so when in need of food, they often find themselves here, scarfing down the leftover noodles from the day.
“Anyway,” Mizuki says, slurping down his food, “It’s time for Plan G.”
“We can’t do plan G. There aren’t even any witches to ask.”
“There are three,” Mizuki says smugly, and Wuyang almost falls out of his seat. At his aghast look, Mizuki adds, “I mean, not in this town. But we could travel to them.” (And something about it does warm Wuyang’s heart, that Mizuki takes Wuyang travelling with him for granted, even if it is just because Wuyang’s a fairy.) “There’s the Witch of the Wilds –
“
“She only works for Junkenstein these days.”
“ – the Spellbinder – “
“She’s two years’ travel away.”
“ – and the Divinator.”
“She’s – “ Wuyang pauses. Okay, so he actually hasn’t heard anything about the Divinator one way or the other, and she’s only a few weeks’ travel. If they absolutely have to pursue a witch, that’d be the one to do. “…maybe. But I still think witches should be our very last resort.”
“I’ve only put them this far back in the plans because you hate them so much,” Mizuki frowns. “What, is there some sort of fairy-witch rivalry?”
“In my studies of the fairies,” Wuyang bullshits, “yes, they don’t get along.”
Which is true! Fairies and witches don’t get along, not unless you’re one of those house fairies who just loves being enslaved by a human who stumbled upon just enough magic to bind them. Big name fairies, like those of the courts, tend to disdain witches, and witches avoid them for – well, Wuyang doesn’t know what witches are thinking, really, but probably witches avoid them too.
But Wuyang will still go, of course. If Mizuki’s going, Wuyang’s following. That’s just the way of things, and has been ever since Mizuki first appeared under one of Wuyang’s waterfalls, shivering and reciting mantras – since Mizuki yanked him aside and hissed, “I know you, fairy. Tell me how to break this curse” – since the moment their uneasy truce had turned to comfortable nights eating noodles and arguing about witches: Wuyang will follow Mizuki wherever he goes.
“A-anyway,” Wuyang plows on. “Witches, huh? What if she’s a fake?”
“Then we’ll kill her.” Wuyang stares. “I’m joking. We’ll spread the word and try another witch.”
“But not give up on Plan G.”
“Nope.” Mizuki stands, bringing his empty bowl with him to the bin of dishes that still need done. “Come on. Let’s talk our route while I work.”
--
They don’t actually end up making the trek for a couple months, because Mizuki needs to save up enough to give the Hashimoto an advance, lest he receive the beating of his life on return, cursed bad luck or no cursed bad luck. (It’s a bit of a rush for Wuyang, too, getting the permissions from Lady Illari of the Spring Court to leave the fairy lands for the trip. And reassuring Anran he doesn’t need an escort. And setting up his fellow water fairy, Ming, to take care of his various beloved streams and rivers while he’ll be gone. But he can’t exactly complain about that to Mizuki.) After they’re both prepared, it’s a two-week scramble to hitchhike and board trains (trains! A brand new human invention! What a fascinating thing!) across the countryside. When they finally get there –
The Divinator, it turns out, is a young woman with short black hair and a witch’s outfit made of what seems to be orange leather, and she is waiting for them outside her open door. “Well, come in already,” she says, turning and marching past the sign that reads THE GREAT DIVINATOR and, in smaller text, KIRIKO, into her hut.
The boys share a moment of stunned silence. “Well, that’s a little suspicious,” Mizuki finally says.
“She is called the Divinator,” Wuyang offers. “Maybe she foresaw us coming?”
“Yeah, I don’t like that at all.” Mizuki pulls his bag further up his shoulders, eyebrows furrowing. “Careful in there, kyōdai.”
Wuyang stops. “…kyōdai? What’s that mean?”
Mizuki ignores him and walks in. Typical. Wuyang sighs and follows behind.
The witch is standing behind a perfectly polished counter. It’s almost like a little corner store, clean and brightly lit, except for the enormous cauldron behind her and the potion in front of her. She slides it across the counter towards them. “The blue one is for you,” she says, pointing at Mizuki.
Mizuki picks it up, turning it over in his hands – tugs his hat up to study it closer. “So I am cursed,” he says to himself. “And there is a cure.”
“Or that’s sugar water and I’m bullshitting you,” the Divinator suggests. Mizuki’s eyes narrow.
“So what do you want in exchange?” Mizuki says. “Money? Favor? Weird magic ingredients?”
“Something better.” The Divinator’s eyes gleam. She points straight at Wuyang. “Give me your fairy friend.”
The world tilts on his axis.
“Hey,” Mizuki says, and it’s only when feeling a pair of arms around his waist holding him up then Wuyang realizes his legs have gone too weak to stand. “Hey, breathe, Wuyang. Hey.”
Wuyang gasps in air like he really had forgotten to breathe. “Haha,” he says weakly, to the surprise of everyone else in the room. “Ha. What, uh. If I were a fairy.” He glances desperately at a furrowed-brow Mizuki. “Which I’m not.” He looks back at the witch. “What exactly did you need a fairy for?”
“Just want one,” the Divinator shrugs, and her smile suddenly seems much less welcoming.
“Ah,” says Wuyang, feeling very faint. “I see.”
“Wuyang and I need to talk in private,” Mizuki says to the witch, setting the potion down firmly on the counter.
“Sure.” The Divinator props her chin up on her hands, elbows on the counter. She gives them both a wicked smile. “I’ll be waiting.”
Mizuki nods, curt. Then he takes Wuyang by the hand and drags him outside.
Oh God, he’s had Wuyang’s status as a fairy confirmed, and now Wuyang is going to get chewed out and bartered off to a witch, just like Anran warned him would happen when he said he was trusting humans. And the worst part is –
“Hey,” Wuyang says once they’re a suitable distance away from the hut, and then, “Hey” again, a little louder, when Mizuki continues marching along, dragging Wuyang by the hand. He finally comes to a stop, blows out a long breath, and – and before he can say anything, Wuyang says, “It’s okay.”
Mizuki stops short. “It’s – what?”
“I said it’s okay. I’ll do it.”
Because that’s the rub, isn’t it? That’s why he ignored Anran and his parents’ warnings, that’s why he followed Mizuki to a witches’ hut knowing that witches love to enslave fairies, that’s why Wuyang’s here. Because Wuyang was always willing to do it. Sure, it’ll suck to have to do all the chores and have his blood used in potions and whatever, but – Mizuki’s luck will turn up. He’ll escape the Hashimoto, and he won’t have to stand under waterfalls at ass-o-clock in fear of what will happen if he doesn’t, and he can live a life free and unburdened by the fairy courts. Like humans are supposed to.
Wuyang has his arms crossed, nodding along sagely to his own train of thought, when Mizuki grabs him by the shoulders and shouts, “ARE YOU INSANE?”
Wuyang reels back, but Mizuki’s grip is tight, keeping Wuyang rooted to the spot. Mikuki’s turned up his hat and pulled down his mask, so he’s only inches away – close enough that Wuyang can see the absolute horror on his face. And Mizuki – Wuyang’s never heard Mizuki yell, has only ever heard his voice express much of anything when it’s shivering in fear from forgetting his Lucky Lucky Good Luck Amulet of the day. The absolutely desperate look on Mizuki’s face – Wuyang has never even dreamed of seeing it.
“Um,” Wuyang says, flabbergasted by the whole thing.
Mizuki stares at him. “Did you really think I would sell you?” he demands.
“I mean – you should, to get rid of your bad luck. If you’re worried it’s not legitimate, I can check it for you. Since I’m a magic expert. Or, well…since I’m…” Wuyang chuckles weakly. “Cat’s out of the bag now, I guess, huh?”
Wuyang can’t even begin to decipher the emotions flashing across Mizuki’s face right now. “Don’t you hate witches?” he finally says, as if that matters at all.
“I can learn to like them. Probably.”
For a moment, Mizuki looks like he’s about to throw his hat to the ground in anger. Instead, his grip on Wuyang’s shoulders tightens. “Okay,” he says through gritted teeth. “Firstly. We are not selling you to a witch. Ever. No matter what you are.”
Wuyang stares. “…but you hate fairies?”
“I don’t hate you,” Mizuki snaps – then pulls back, like he’s shown too much of himself. He yanks his mask up onto his face again, pulls his hat low. “You – you’re crazy. You’re absolutely crazy. I’m not selling you to a witch. What kind of person do you think I am?”
A long moment of silence occurs. Finally, Mizuki sighs. “Let’s…give up on Plan G,” he finally says.
“What?!” It’s Wuyang’s turn to shout and Mizuki’s to reel back in surprise, now. “No way! You haven’t even tried the potion yet! What if it works?! You could have your whole life back!”
“If the alternative is selling you to a witch, then I don’t care.”
That’s…maybe the nicest sentiment Wuyang’s ever experienced in his life?
Mizuki shifts uncomfortably under Wuyang’s gaze. “This is crazy,” he grumbles. “Any sane person would choose to just stay cursed.”
“Well, we shouldn’t do that,” Wuyang insists. “Maybe we could barter with her. Like, I could work with her for a year instead of for life. Or we could give her something else she wants.”
“Something else,” Mizuki says through gritted teeth.
“Sure,” Wuyang placates. “Maybe we could do something for her? We don’t have time for a quest, but we could negotiate something for a later date. See if we could get the potion in advance.”
Mizuki nods curtly. “It’s our best option,” he says. Which isn’t true, but Wuyang isn’t about to press it any further. “But that’s – I mean, that’s not really what I brought you out here to talk about.” At Wuyang’s stare, he sighs, rubbing his face with his hands. “I just – I knew already, you know? About…you. And I’m not – whatever you’ve got going through your head, about me hurting you or whatever, throw it out. Because I’m not going to. Okay?”
“Okay,” says Wuyang, who has gotten hit with at least three emotional punches in the last ten minutes. “Yeah. Okay.”
“So yeah. Now we can go back.” Mizuki offers his hand for Wuyang to take again and Wuyang takes it, without thinking. It only later occurs to the both of them that there’s no need for Mizuki to drag Wuyang back to the witch’s hut, but they both remain silent as they walk along.
“So you’ve decided not to,” the Divinator says when she sees them walk in holding hands.
Mizuki nods. “There must be something else you want,” he starts, only to cut himself off when she puts a hand up to stop him.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” she says. “But my other offer is very dangerous, and you’ll have your bad luck while you do it. Are you absolutely sure that you won’t give me your fairy?”
“No.”
The Divinator’s teeth are all white as she smiles. “Alright,” she says. “Then I’ll need you to hunt down a yokai.”