Work Text:
Snow crunches under his boots with every measly step he takes up the path, breaking through the silence of the frigid air. He pulls his black cloak tighter around his neck when a gust of wind blows by, trying to remember the exact directions Sugawara had given him before he left.
Yamaguchi takes a break once he reaches a crossroad, two arrows held up by a battered wooden sign pointing in different directions. He sits down on a large slab of rock and digs through his bag for some water before pulling out the map, double-checking his route.
Back at Crow's Cauldron , an alchemical workshop, Yamaguchi is a novice alchemist training to one day open up his own store. He is working under Sugawara, a mischievous but reliable and accomplished alchemist of his own, who has allowed Yamaguchi to join him on his current project: To create an element that can transition between fire and water.
It's a difficult task that has them holed up in the workshop for hours, but they're reaching the end-stage of their potion too. The cauldron is in Sugawara's workshop and is stuck on a permanent simmer as of now, for they cannot advance to the next step without a special ingredient—a singular phoenix feather. It's an extremely rare ingredient, for phoenixes are difficult enough to come by as it is, and their feathers are extremely sought after.
Until they get the feather, there's no way they can complete the project. So the responsibility has fallen onto Yamaguchi, who is trekking up the mountains, alone but determined to prove his worth.
He is currently on the way to a place he's only ever heard in legends—the mountain witch's cottage, hidden deep within their village's tallest mountain, said to hold magic powerful enough to ward off a dragon.
No one has seen the mountain witch for decades. They are said to be extremely solitary and harbour a great distrust for the general population. Even if you were to find their cottage, it is unlikely you will see the witch.
There is only one way to gain the witch's help, and that is to learn their name.
It sounds like an impossible task, but Yamaguchi has no choice. He will try, and he will not fail.
Once he's sufficiently rested, he resumes his journey, turning left. As he walks, the pathway begins to get more winded, twisting and turning in odd places. More often than not, Yamaguchi nearly strays off course, but he keeps his eyes ahead and focuses on the correct trail as best as he can.
Eventually, Yamaguchi comes across a clearing. The snowy road has given way to a rocky, uneven opening. Ahead of him, he sees an old metal gate held up by steep stairs, accompanied by numerous flora. He pulls out the map again, taking a look at the vague drawing that Sugawara has created, and brightens up when the picture matches.
With a greater spring in his step, he heads up the stairs, nearly stumbling over a rather slippery one, and pushes past the unlocked gate. It creaks loudly under his hold and he winces, but his excitement outweighs his nerves as he steps into the place, looking around.
At first glance, it seems like an abandoned cottage. The cottage is quaint, resting on cobblestone ground, with red bricks for the roof and stone walls. Its windows are all fogged up from the cold and there's snow hanging off the edge of the roof. Crawling ivy covers the front door, giving the illusion that no one has been here for decades.
However, when Yamaguchi takes a closer look, he sees that it's not the case. There's a garden right by the cottage and its plants are blooming, the grass neatly trimmed and a variety of fruits in the midst of growing. The porch is also kept clean, snow shovelled out of the way.
The confirmation that someone lives here makes Yamaguchi grin. He heads up to the front door of the cottage, knocking with a fist. Then, he brings his hands back, rocking on the heels of his feet as he waits.
…There's no answer. Yamaguchi knocks again, this time calling out a meek, "Hello?"
His efforts are to no avail, but it's not like he didn't expect this to be a bit difficult. He walks to the side, trying to peer into the windows to look for any signs that someone is home, but he doesn't see any lights on. Then again, it seems like there's some sort of magic cast around the cottage, preventing him from looking into it in the first place.
Perhaps the witch isn't home?
A sudden rustling noise makes him jump. Yamaguchi turns around, eyes darting around the area, his nerves alighting. He doesn't actually know if the witch is friendly or not—maybe they don't like people trespassing into their homes? Should he have waited at the gate?
His worries melt away when he spots the source of the noise. A black cat pokes its head out from the gardens, where it was hiding between some strawberry shrubs. It stands out starkly against the vivid green and red of the plants, and when Yamaguchi meets its eyes, it tenses, disappearing back into the bushes.
"Huh," he mutters, walking closer. He takes care not to trample over any of the plants, tiptoeing around some particularly sharp rose bushes, and tries to find the cat again. But when he peers into the strawberry shrubs, he doesn't see its dark fur anywhere.
How odd.
Sighing to himself, Yamaguchi glances at the sky. It's overcast right now, but the journey up here took him about two hours, so he has to leave soon if he wants to return to the village by nightfall. He didn't bring any food with him either, so he should be going now if he wants to catch dinner time.
Well, it's whatever. The witch doesn't seem to be home anyway, so it's best he try his luck another day rather than wait around ceaselessly. With a firm nod to himself, Yamaguchi leaves the cottage, tugging on the gate and making his way back.
The next day, Yamaguchi returns to the cottage with a little wooden basket in his hands. The gate looks untouched from the last time he left it, and when he pushes it, it makes the same old creaking noise it did yesterday.
Yamaguchi heads towards the door, but he pauses in his tracks when he sees what's waiting on the doorsteps. It's the same black cat he saw yesterday in the strawberry shrubs, lounging on the porch with its tail wrapped around its body and its eyes closed in peace. One eye opens when Yamaguchi gets nearer, and like he was walking on glass, Yamaguchi carefully manoeuvres his way around the cat and to the front door.
He lifts his fist and knocks. And then he knocks again. And again.
When there's no response, he tries to speak, "Hello? Is anyone home? I've brought some snacks!"
Inside his basket, Yamaguchi has two slices of strawberry shortcake. They were made by Yachi, who was more than delighted when he asked for a snack that could perhaps bribe the witch out of the cottage and answer his calls. They're wrapped up neatly in brown parchment paper and sitting patiently in the basket.
Yamaguchi jumps when he feels a bit of fur brushing past his ankles, where just a sliver of his skin is exposed. He looks down to see that the cat is awake now, leaning towards the basket and sniffing curiously. With a smile, Yamaguchi sits down on the porch, opening the basket.
"Maybe the witch is out. I'll just wait here with you, then," he says, chuckling when the cat blinks up at him with wide, golden eyes. "You're cute."
He reaches into the basket, taking one slice of cake out. He's not too sure if cats can eat cake, and he'd rather be safe than sorry, so he doesn't offer it to the animal. However, the cat leans forward, trying to take a bite, and he yelps, pulling away.
"I don't think this is good for you," he scolds lightly.
The cat gives an indignant meow. He holds its gaze for a grand total of three seconds before he sighs, unable to help it.
Yamaguchi brings the slice of cake down, setting it gently on the ground and letting the cat lick tentatively at the whipped cream. He rests his cheeks on his palms, watching as it gets a bit of cream on its nose, and giggles when it starts pawing at its own face.
"Here, let me—" he laughs, reaching out, but just before his thumb comes in contact with its nose, the cat snarls, avoiding his touch. He freezes, lips parting in surprise while the cat bares its teeth at him.
After a bit, he brings his hand back, nodding. "Ah, sorry about that. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow. I don't think anyone's home today either."
He stands up, reaching for the basket, but after second thought, decides to just leave it. He did bring it here as a gift. anyway.
As Yamaguchi heads towards the gate, he brings his hands up to his lips and cups them, yelling, "Don't eat all the cake, okay? They're for the witch! Be good!"
He doesn't get an answer, but it's fine. Yamaguchi will try again another day.
The next time Yamaguchi comes over, he's panting by the time he reaches the cottage. His bag is a heavy weight on his shoulders and his feet feel like hell to drag up the stairs, but he pushes himself anyway.
When he reaches the front door of the cottage, he carefully sets his bag down and opens it, checking the contents. Indeed, the five bottles of potions he has brought as an offering or trade are still intact, swirling in their bottles.
A soft meow drags his attention towards the garden, where the black cat shows itself, hopping over some plants to trot over. Yamaguchi is still breathing unsteadily, but he wipes the sweat off his forehead and lifts up one of the potions, showing it to the cat. "Hi. These are for the witch! I made them a while ago, and I thought that they'd be willing to trade me what I need with these."
He sits down, breathing deeply. As his chest rises and falls, the cat peers into the bag, making Yamaguchi smile. "You're a very curious cat, aren't you?"
He takes out the other bottles, lining them up neatly in a row. "Suga-san gave me a station in his workshop for my own personal projects. This one is a simple healing potion. It's good for small scrapes and wounds." He points to the bottle with the sparkling, pale blue potion.
"This one is a strength enhancing potion. I make it pretty often 'cause we have a regular whose strength has weakened with old age, but he works in the farm, so he needs it for his job. And then this one is an enchantment potion, actually, it…"
Yamaguchi continues speaking to, or rather at the cat. He's not sure why he's running his mouth—he doesn't know if the cat even understands him, and even then, it doesn't seem to care, but he doesn't have anything else to do. He's ready to wait a little longer today, maybe until the sun sets, and see if the witch comes home. He's made the necessary preparations for it.
"I just realised," Yamaguchi says, cutting himself off from his explanation on the difference between protective spells made with a wand or a potion, "I haven't given you a name."
At that, as if it could understand him, the cat looks up, its ears flicking. Yamaguchi rushes to correct himself, "Ah, not that you're mine to name! Obviously, you probably belong to the witch. I just meant that I've been calling you the cat in my head, which is kind of vague and not very nice. What should I call you..?"
He holds his chin between two fingers as he thinks. The cat is still, almost unmoving, and it's unnerving, to say the least. Its eyes are sharp, and the gold of its irises is so intense it's almost like…
"The moon," he whispers in awe. "Can I call you that? Tsukki."
The cat's tail swishes. Hesitantly, Yamaguchi holds a hand out, and with bated breath, he waits. The cat eyes his outstretched hand for a bit before it steps closer, bumping its head against his palm, and Yamaguchi internally vibrates with excitement.
"Your fur is so soft, Tsukki!" he laughs, petting it a few times. The fur tickles between his fingers and sends a rush of exhilaration through him. "Do you want to wait with me, Tsukki? I've got some time to kill."
As if to agree, Tsukki lays down, its tail curling around its body as it sinks under Yamaguchi's pets. With a soft smile, Yamaguchi thinks of something to talk about, and starts sharing about his life.
He talks until his throat is parched and the sun is disappearing beyond the horizons. He never would've called himself a chatterbox, but when his company is a quiet and pliant cat, time passes faster than the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, the witch doesn’t show up today either, and Yamaguchi really needs to get going. With a reluctant sigh, he stands up, putting the potions back into the box they were from and setting them by the door. But, despite his failure, Yamaguchi doesn't feel as peeved as he did yesterday.
He hikes his much lighter bag up his shoulders, turns back to Tsukki, and gives it a little wave. "Bye bye, Tsukki. I'll come back again!"
The cat doesn't respond, of course it doesn't, but Yamaguchi thinks he saw its ears perk up just ever so slightly.
"So, Tsukki, huh?"
Tsukishima rolls his eyes the moment he hears the familiar voice, pun not intended, in his head. He turns around to see Kuroo enter the cottage, still in his panther form as he squeezes in through the open window and shutting it with his paws once he's in. Tsukishima has no idea why he insists on not using the front door, but he's half certain it's because the panther wants to mess with him.
Tsukishima himself is currently in his human form, or as most people would call him, the mountain witch. He has a kettle on the stove heating to a boil and a cup of tea waiting to be prepared, but it seems like he's going to be sorely interrupted.
"Aw, don't ignore me! You know I only ask important questions," Kuroo's voice echoes in his head, along with an exaggerated pout that he's probably wearing. It's a testament to how long they've known each other if Tsukishima can sense his stupid pout without looking.
"I didn't think you'd be back so early," Tsukishima says in lieu of a reply. "Did you even complete your mission?"
"Hah!" With a poof, the panther disappears, replaced by a man with a lazy grin and the messiest bird's nest for hair ever. "You underestimate me."
Kuroo tosses a bag of rosemary herbs onto the couch, roasted with dragon's fire. Tsukishima gestures to the jar on the shelf and Kuroo goes to dump it in their collection.
"Anyway," Kuroo says, dragging a seat over to the table. The kettle has started to boil. Tsukishima keeps his eyes resolutely on the metal. "What's up with that alchemist? The poor guy is coming back every day to look for you."
Tsukishima huffs. Yamaguchi, as he introduced yesterday, is one of the most persistent guests Tsukishima has had the unfortunate opportunity to deal with. He voices this out to Kuroo, who only laughs. "Yeah, sure. Normally, you'd have driven the guy off with a curse by now. Why haven't you?"
"He's already seen my familiar form. I can't sneak up on him with a curse if he knows I exist."
"Bullshit. Someone seeing our familiar form doesn't weaken our magic."
Our, as in Tsukishima, Kuroo, Bokuto, and Akaashi. They're four familiars who have banded together through a series of circumstances and come to make a living at this cottage here. It's a small, quaint area, supposed to be for just the four of them. Kuroo and Tsukishima do most of the foraging, while Akaashi and Bokuto take care of the garden or watch for strangers from the sky.
It was a simple life for a while, one that Tsukishima quite liked. They may all have different familiar forms, but they get along well enough, and a life isolated from society is one Tsukishima can enjoy.
Unfortunately, one day, someone caught wind of Tsukishima's massive power as a familiar and mistook him for a witch, which is how the rumours of the cold mountain witch started. It spread like wildfire before he could even think of how to stop it, so he gets regular visits to his cottage from people who desire his help, and each time, he rejects them by cursing them or ignoring them until they go away.
"Most people don't come back because the journey here is so treacherous," Tsukishima says. He picks up the kettle as it starts whistling and turns off the heat with a flick of his fingers. "I don't understand why he's not the same."
"Well, maybe he really does need the help," Kuroo muses. "What does he even need?"
At that, Tsukishima pauses. Throughout all of Yamaguchi's stories, he has never once shared what it is he's come here for. Perhaps he's saving the request for the 'witch'. "Who cares? He probably just wants to make use of my magic, like everyone else. I don't care what he wants."
"Doesn't explain why you won't chase him away, then."
Tsukishima purses his lips. "I don't recall asking for your opinion."
"Oh, I'm just saying. You're not usually this patient. I saw you, by the way." Tsukishima sets two cups of tea on the table, because despite how annoying Kuroo is, Tsukishima can do him favours. "When you were your cat self, and you were laying with him as he talked about his workshop or whatever."
"Suga-san's workshop," Tsukishima corrects, barely thinking about it. "He has a bench for himself, but it's Suga-san's workshop."
"...You were actually listening, huh?" Kuroo laughs, a little disbelievingly. "Wow. I can't believe you like him."
Tsukishima nearly burns his tongue from how hard he jerked with the cup pressed to his lips. He chokes, setting the tea down and fanning his face. "Sorry, ahem, hah?!"
"You like him," Kuroo repeats. "The green-haired alchemist. That's why you let him call you Tsukki, too, even though you always get mad at me when I do it—"
"I do not like him!" Tsukishima snaps. He winces when he realises how defensive he sounds. "Besides, that stupid nickname was just a wild guess for him. I don't know how he managed to get it, but it's not my full name, so I'm not going to let him in, anyway, and—"
"Calm down, race car. I'm just teasing." Judging by Kuroo's tone, he's not just teasing, but Tsukishima shuts up so as to not give him more to laugh about. "Fine, you don't like him. But you have to admit he interests you more than other clients have ever interested you, for some reason. Maybe you just find him that intriguing."
He huffs, looking away to stare at the wall. "That doesn't mean anything. I'm sure he'll go away soon enough. I won't entertain someone like him."
Kuroo just shrugs. "If you say so."
Truly, Tsukishima won't. People like Yamaguchi only desire to learn his name so they may enter and use his resources. They don't take into account the hard work it requires to maintain his complex inventory, and more than that, they don't actually care for Tsukishima himself.
It's a stupid concern to have. But just once, Tsukishima wishes he could meet someone and get to know each other without any pretense. Just once, Tsukishima wishes someone would get to know him and just leave it as that.
As long as Yamaguchi requires whatever it is he needs, Tsukishima refuses to let his walls down.
For the next few days, Yamaguchi continues to return. He's like a particularly dedicated pest, Tsukishima thinks, with the way he's always panting by the time he makes it to his cottage. Tsukishima spends his time basking in the sun outside, and he's beginning to recognise Yamaguchi's footsteps or the pace of his unsteady breaths.
Every single time, Yamaguchi comes up with a different offering for the 'witch'. He'll set them at the door before sitting down on the porch, and he'll spend the whole day talking to Tsukishima while he waits for the witch's arrival. He does it because he's convinced the witch is receptive to the gifts, but Tsukishima is not—it's Akaashi who's always bringing them in. He says it's rude to just leave them out there.
Yamaguchi likes to talk, he notices. He doesn't speak at the speed of light like Bokuto does, nor does he constantly beat around the bush the way Kuroo enjoys to, but he has a lot of stories to share. Tsukishima isn't sure why he's always lending a listening ear.
He speaks of a warm, homely store, powerful mages, a reassuring teacher and supportive friends. He speaks of old projects he's done and sweet desserts he likes to eat, and Tsukishima wonders how he doesn't run out of things to talk about.
…But, in a way, it's nice. Tsukishima has never had that kind of life—interacting with the townsfolk constantly and holding up a smile 24/7 just sounds exhausting to him. Although, with the way Yamaguchi describes it, it almost makes him want to dip his toes in and try out a life like that, too. Yamaguchi manages to make even the mundane sound exciting, and for someone whose life is wrapped in boredom and apathy, it's a refreshing change.
One day, after Yamaguchi has left to head home, Tsukishima transforms back into his human form. He looks at the gifts Yamaguchi has brought this time—chocolate chip cookies packaged neatly into a little white box, and with a bit of hesitation, bends down to pick it up.
When Tsukishima enters the cottage, Akaashi spots him first. His eyes drop down to the box in his hands and noticeably widen, but thankfully, he doesn't say anything.
The same can't be said for Bokuto, though. "Oh! Tsukki actually brought the gifts in this time?"
"Shut up," he responds gruffly, dumping the box on the table with a lot more force than required. The cookies jump and rattle inside. "Like Akaashi-san said, it's a waste to just leave them out there and let them get cold."
"If I didn't know better—" Kuroo calls from across the cottage. Tsukishima enchants a pillow and shoots it at Kuroo's head with magic before he can finish his sentence. It thumps against his target and Kuroo lets out a yelp.
"You guys can have the cookies," he says in lieu of acknowledging anything, his heart twisting oddly when he looks at the box. "I don't want them."
He retreats into his room before he can think further about warm stories and freckled boys and persistent alchemists who don't know when to quit it.
A few more days pass simply, a continuation of a mundane life with no particularly thrilling experiences. The only difference is that Yamaguchi hasn't visited in a while, but it's not like Tsukishima is keeping track, or god forbid even waiting for him. Ridiculous.
Tsukishima is inside the cottage today, having just woken up, and is looking through the cabinets for some tea, when he hears a knocking on the window. He looks over and sees a familiar snowy owl perched on the ledge.
Frowning to himself, Tsukishima walks over, unlocking the window and pulling the panel up. Bokuto never comes back early from his daily patrols, and never without Akaashi. "What is it?"
"I saw some griffins circling the area," Bokuto says, his voice uncharacteristically serious. It's loud and firm in Tsukishima's head and he has to hold back a shudder at the intensity. "Keiji is keeping watch nearby. I came to warn you just in case they escape our sights. I think they might try to attack the garden."
Tsukishima wrinkles his nose. It's not the first time they've had predators invading the garden. Bokuto and Akaashi are particularly protective of their work, as is their right, but Tsukishima has also grown to love the garden. The strawberries are very nice.
"Okay," he says with a nod. "I'll keep watch from here."
"Thanks, Tsukki!"
"I told you not to call—" he sighs, but the owl is already flapping his wings and flying away before Tsukishima can finish his reprimand. "Ugh."
Tsukishima heads back into the kitchen, leaving the window open so he may listen for danger. He doesn't have to wait particularly long. Right after he successfully finds and brews a pot of tea, he hears a sharp cry and a wave of unfamiliar magic entering the area.
Rushing out of the cottage, Tsukishima slams the door open and cranes his neck towards the sky. Indeed, as Bokuto had suggested, there are three griffins circling above, their claws long and menacing. They're focused on the garden, but when Tsukishima shuts the door, the noise attracts their attention.
Damn it. Normally, Kuroo is the one who deals with situations like these. He's a much more fearsome creature than Tsukishima can ever hope to be, but Kuroo isn't here right now. He's been on a journey to get some supplies from the neighbouring mountain, and he shouldn't be back any time soon.
Alright, then. Fine. It's not like Tsukishima isn't powerful. He can definitely make do.
He holds a hand up, gathering his magic into his palm. They form as a white ball of light, which he aims at the griffins, waiting.
One of the griffins lets out a battle cry, raising its claw. Its wings spread into a straight line before it dives, soaring towards Tsukishima's outstretched hand. He releases his magic with a grunt, shooting the bolt of light over, which knocks straight into the griffin's wings.
It lets out an unholy screech that has Tsukishima covering his ears with a wince. The other two griffins take the opportunity to attack, their beaks unhinging. One of the griffins manages to land a hit on him, its claws dragging down his arm and tearing through his skin, and he lets out a pained yelp.
Trying to gain time to breathe, Tsukishima dashes towards the gate. The griffins are hot on his heels, their ferocity amping up when Tsukishima attempts to shoot another ball of magic at them. Just as he makes it past the gate and onto the main road, one lands on his head, its claws digging into his hair, and he hisses, trying to shake it off—
"Duck!"
The voice is sharp and Tsukishima's knees give out as he drops down, heeding the request. His eyes fall shut while an overwhelming wave of magic overtakes the area.
When Tsukishima reopens his eyes, there are frantic hands cupping his cheeks and panicked eyes looking into his own. Yamaguchi's cape is falling off his shoulder and his voice is filled with worry when he asks, "Are you okay?!"
Distantly, Tsukishima realises that this is the first time they're truly looking at each other, face-to-face, no disguises involved.
He doesn't answer immediately. Tsukishima glances up at the sky and sees the griffins fleeing. His mouth parts in surprise.
"Hey, you're bleeding."
His head snaps back to Yamaguchi, who is brushing his fingers against Tsukishima's arm. The sleeve there has been torn to shreds, and thick blood is trickling down the length of his arm, staining his pale skin.
"Oh," he says lamely. "Yes, I am."
"Don't move. I have first aid supplies in my bag." Yamaguchi drops his bag onto the ground, the bottles inside clattering noisily. He digs through it for a bit before pulling out a smaller box, which he opens to reveal a hoard of medical supplies. "Let me clean that up."
Tsukishima watches, stunned, as Yamaguchi works efficiently. He cleans up the blood, stops the bleeding, and dresses the wound with bandages coated with a healing salve. The moment the bandages go on, Tsukishima feels a cooling effect and the pain goes dull, and he breathes out a sigh of relief.
"I can't believe those griffins just attacked you like that. That must've been scary," Yamaguchi says sympathetically as he packs up his things.
Tsukishima opens his mouth, wanting to retort, because he's a powerful witch and he does not get scared just 'cause a bunch of griffins decided to mess with his day. But doing so would reveal his identity, and Yamaguchi isn't supposed to know. So he clamps his mouth shut and shrugs instead.
"I'm glad you aren't hurt too badly! Oh, are you here to see the mountain witch, too?"
"...Huh?"
Yamaguchi gestures to the gate and the cottage that lies beyond. "The mountain witch. They're rumoured to live here, and they aid anyone who learns of their name. I haven't gotten the chance to meet them, though. They never seem to be available. Oh, but their cat is always home. I wonder if Tsukki's there?"
"It was probably chased off by the griffins," Tsukishima mutters.
"Oh, that's true! I didn't think of that." Yamaguchi offers a hand out, and to his own surprise, Tsukishima takes it, allowing him to tug him up. "So, what are you here for? Do you need supplies too?"
"Uh… no. I was just passing by," Tsukishima lies through his teeth. This is so awkward. Yamaguchi really does have no idea who he is.
"Wow. That's unfortunate timing, then." He lets go just then, drawing his hand back, and despite the lack of contact, Tsukishima's palms still feel like they're tingling with a burning sensation. The bandages are tight around his arm when he tries to push the gate open for Yamaguchi to pass.
Yamaguchi thanks him with a small smile, and Tsukishima, for a moment, isn't able to drag his gaze away from the sight.
"Do you want to wait with me? Unless you have somewhere to be, which is totally fine!"
Tsukishima tilts his head. "Why?"
"Why? Well, it's nice to have some company. I spend most of my time just talking to the witch's cat. I'm sure it's sick of me by now," Yamaguchi chuckles.
Wow. He couldn't be more wrong.
"...Sure," Tsukishima forces out, and Yamaguchi's smile widens as they enter the gates together.
They sit down on the porch, thighs brushing against each other, and wait for the mountain witch. At least, that's what Yamaguchi thinks they're doing. Tsukishima is busy trying to find a way to escape without actually leaving the cottage.
Yamaguchi talks to him like he's a new friend, sharing stories that Tsukishima has already heard of before and introducing friends that Tsukishima already knows by name. Halfway through, he pulls out a sandwich he packed for his journey and shares half with Tsukishima, who takes it without much thought.
They talk until evening, even if it's just Tsukishima giving clipped answers or sarcastic responses that, surprisingly enough, make Yamaguchi laugh. By the end of it, Tsukishima even finds that there's a small smile playing at his lips, and he's unable to stamp it down even if he tries.
"I have to go now. It's a long journey back for me," Yamaguchi sighs, standing up. Oddly enough, Tsukishima's chest aches. "Thanks for waiting with me. I realised I never gave you my name!"
Tsukishima blinks. He hadn't noticed either.
"I'm Yamaguchi Tadashi," he introduces, holding a hand out again. Tsukishima barely hesitates before taking this one. "And you are?"
Tsukishima's lips part.
Yamaguchi doesn't know he's the mountain witch. There's simply no way he could have figured it out. Tsukishima has been so careful not to give his identity away.
So the only reason he's asking is—
"Tsukishima. Tsukishima Kei," he whispers, shaking Yamaguchi's hand firmly.
—out of a genuine curiosity and desire to get to know him?
Yamaguchi beams and it steals the breath out of his lungs. "It's nice to meet you, Tsukishima! Travel safely when you go home. Bye!"
Tsukishima nods, and with that, he watches Yamaguchi go, just as he's done so many times. But for some reason, this goodbye feels a little more permanent, and his heart thumps unsteadily in his chest.
He shouldn't get his hopes up. The moment Yamaguchi finds out that he's the mountain witch, he'll no longer treat Tsukishima with genuine, heartfelt kindness anymore. Tsukishima is a witch first and a person second. Others desire his magic more than his presence. He can't entertain the feeble mortal concept of friendship.
(But maybe, just maybe, Yamaguchi could be the exception to that.)
When Tsukishima returns into the cottage, he's surprised to see Akaashi and Bokuto already inside, sitting on the couch together. They must've flown in through the back windows and transformed while Tsukishima was busy.
Akaashi is the first to speak up. "You gave that boy your full name," he says.
Tsukishima looks away, trying to ignore the implications. "I know."
"If he ever says your full name around you, it'll force you to reveal yourself, even when you're in your cat form." Akaashi regards him with a long look, like he's trying to peer into Tsukishima's head and figure out what he's thinking. It's too bad, though, because Tsukishima himself has no idea what to feel right now. "You gave him a lot of power."
"I know," he repeats, a little softer. "It's fine, Akaashi-san. I don't mind."
"So you're going to reveal yourself to him?" Bokuto asks, his eyes wide. "That boy has magic too, doesn't he? If you reveal yourself, it'll tie your magic together. You'll be bound to him as his familiar."
Ah. Tsukishima didn't think about that. He's been an individual familiar for so long that he forgot having a partner is… an option. Especially with how much he lives in solitude, only surrounded by others of his own kind.
When he doesn't reply, Akaashi threads carefully. "Do you want to have a partner?"
Tsukishima's instinctual response is to say no. Why would he, when he's survived alone for so long? He's spent almost all his life holed up in the cottage, making a name and living for himself without even leaving this mountain. It seems a bit redundant to change his current life.
Besides, gaining a magical partner opens so many pathways for failure. What if their magic isn't compatible? What if Tsukishima grows to resent them for being too annoying?
(What if Yamaguchi hates him and rejects their partnership?)
But a deep, quiet part of Tsukishima admits that living alone for so long gets lonely. Sure, he has Akaashi and Bokuto and Kuroo by his side, but they're more like companions by chance. They're friendly, but they all have their own goals and don't spend a lot of time together at the cottage.
Tsukishima yearns for a deeper connection, and the fact that Yamaguchi could be the one to give it to him both excites and terrifies him.
"Maybe," he finally answers Akaashi's question, glancing out the window. He can see the garden from here, where he first met Yamaguchi as a cat. It's embarrassing how fiercely his heart thumps when he recalls that simple day.
Akaashi lets out a muffled laugh. Bokuto's eyes are getting shinier by the minute. Tsukishima really needs new friends. "As long as it's something you want, Tsukishima, then we support you," Akaashi replies.
"Love is in the air!" Bokuto weeps. "Oh my God. Love wins!"
An intense blush hits Tsukishima's cheeks. "Who said anything about love?" he barks, stalking off into his own room. Before he shuts the door, he hears Bokuto's happy crying and Akaashi consoling him. He really needs new friends.
By the time Yamaguchi returns to Crow's Cauldron, it's late, the sun having already set. His stomach is grumbling at the idea of Ennoshita and Daichi's cooking, who are in charge of making dinner today. Maybe they made soup? He could really go for a bowl right now—
"Oh, Yamaguchi, welcome back!"
Entering the store, Yamaguchi is greeted by Daichi and Sugawara at the counter, along with a customer on the other side. He has ruffled black hair and long limbs, and he's leaning over the counter with his arms propped up on the surface. His eyes widen when he looks over at Yamaguchi, but the expression fades into neutrality so quickly that Yamaguchi wonders if it was a simple trick of the light.
"Hi," he replies, hanging his cloak by the entrance and dumping his bag on the ground. "Am I interrupting business?"
"No, you're alright. This is Kuroo-san. He's a traveller who stopped by for some resources, but now he's just staying to chat," Daichi explains.
Kuroo gives Yamaguchi a casual smile. "It's a lovely store. You must do good work here."
He says it mostly to Daichi, a teasing lilt to his voice, and Daichi gives him a little flick on the forehead that has him jerking back with a yelp.
"There's food on the table further inside. Hinata and the others are still eating!" Sugawara informs him cheerfully. He pauses, eyes raking over Yamaguchi's form. "What happened? You don't usually get so battered up when you visit the witch."
Yamaguchi glances down at himself. There's dirt on his pants and his hair is probably a mess from the fight he had with the griffins earlier. "Ah, I ran into some trouble, but I'm fine."
He gives them a brief rundown of the day's events, as well as mentions Tsukishima, excitedly recounting the meeting of a new friend. As he's speaking, he notices a rather… odd expression on Kuroo's face. "—and so, um— are you okay?"
"Never better!" Kuroo says loudly, and it's like the dam bursts when he breaks out into peels of laughter, banging his fist on the counter. Daichi gives him a bewildered look. Sugawara mutters something about hyenas and disappears into the workshop. "That's a really interesting story. Do you visit this mountain witch often?"
"Yeah! You know of them? They're a great legend around here," Yamaguchi says enthusiastically.
Kuroo's smile grows a little crazed. "Oh, just rumours. I heard they're rather difficult to get a hold of, though. Have you had any luck?"
At that, Yamaguchi deflates. "Not really. At this point, I'm wondering if I should just give up."
"No!" Kuroo gasps. Yamaguchi jumps. "I mean, I just think you should try again tomorrow. Call it a traveller's intuition, you know?"
"That sounds like crap," Daichi mutters. "You're awfully suspicious for a mere traveller, Kuroo-san."
"I've been told that's part of my charm, Sawamura-san!" He winks and Daichi scoffs, crossing his arms. "Anyway, this is my cue to leave. I do have places to be, after all."
"Alright. Thanks for visiting our store."
"Believe me, I'll be back." Kuroo waves, walking towards the door, and Yamaguchi shuffles to the side to make space for him. Just before he leaves, he rests his hand on Yamaguchi's shoulder, giving him an assuring smile. "Good luck with the witch. When you visit tomorrow, be sure to say hi to Tsukki for me. Bye!"
He disappears before Yamaguchi can truly process what he said. When he's gone, Yamaguchi gapes, staring at his retreating figure. "How does he know about the cat?"
Daichi frowns. "What cat?"
"Ah, nothing…" He shakes his head. It's whatever. He's probably just tired and confused and misheard what Kuroo said. "What's for dinner today?"
"Oh! Stew and bread—Ennoshita tried out a new recipe today."
"Sounds delicious," Yamaguchi replies cheerfully, heading to the dining room where the rest of Crow's Cauldron is sure to be, his stomach rumbling at the idea of warm food.
“Tsukki!” Yamaguchi chirps as he pushes past the gates he’s grown so familiar with, walking up the steps towards the cottage. A basket dangles from his fingers. “I brought cake again!”
He bought these from the bakery, this time. Yamaguchi takes a loop around the garden, searching for the cat, but when he doesn’t see his furry friend anywhere, he pauses. The cat wasn’t here yesterday either. Did something happen to it?
Yamaguchi frowns, heading up to the doorstep. He stops in his tracks when he sees a jagged stone laying there, gold and covered in moondust.
Setting the basket down, Yamaguchi squats and picks up the stone. It looks to be a rune, and he can feel magic emanating from it. When he flips the stone over, he sees kanji written on the back.
“Tsukishima,” he reads, hesitating on the last word. “Hotaru?”
Something clicks. He gasps. “Oh, oops! Kei! Tsukishima Kei?”
Before Yamaguchi can wonder why the name of the boy he met yesterday is written here, a soft meow catches his attention. He looks up to the rooftop, where the black cat is crouched. It leaps off, landing on the grass next to him, and an intense wave of magic floods the air.
Yamaguchi’s heart pounds as something tugs at his gut. He feels his own magic bleeding from his fingertips, swirling, reaching out to some unknown force. Afraid something is about to explode, he reaches for his wand, only to be stopped by a blinding flash of light.
When the light fades, Yamaguchi pulls his arms away from his face and sees a very familiar boy standing in place of the cat.
A beat of charged silence passes. Yamaguchi’s eyes roam the boy’s face—the same one he spent all of yesterday talking to. When he looks into the boy’s eyes, sharp gold irises that seem to glow in the sunlight, everything pieces itself together.
“It’s you,” he whispers. “You’re Tsukki. You’re the cat?!”
“I’m not just the cat,” Tsukishima grumbles. He jerks his head towards the cottage. “I’m the witch.”
“You—” Yamaguchi blinks. “Oh.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“It’s a lot to process!” he defends.
He feels a little foolish, for a moment. He’s spent so long trying to catch a mere glimpse of the witch, only to have been talking to him the entire time. All the days he’s spent at this very doorstep, waiting and waiting and waiting—
“Do you regret it?” Tsukishima asks, seemingly reading his mind. “The time you wasted.”
He sounds resigned, like he already knows the answer. Yamaguchi’s voice feels stuck in his throat. “I-I don’t—”
“But you’ve got my name now,” he adds with a lazy shrug. “So, what is it you need? My magic? Some supplies?”
“Wait,” Yamaguchi rushes to say, hopping off the steps and towards Tsukishima. He’s a lot taller than he expected, and he hastily places some distance between them so he’s not craning his head so much. “I don’t get why you’re talking to me like I’m a stranger. Aren’t we friends?”
Tsukishima gives him a bewildered stare. “I lied to you for so long. I wasted weeks worth of your time.”
“They weren’t wasted,” Yamaguchi disagrees.
“Because you still got what you wanted in the end?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Because I gained a friend. I got to meet you.”
Something shifts on Tsukishima’s face.
“I mean—! Obviously, I’m still a little surprised. I don’t like that I was deceived, but I get why you did it, you know? And I have been inviting myself here over and over, so it’s not like I was very polite either.” He clasps his hands together, peering up at Tsukishima with a shy smile. “So let’s call it even?”
“…Even?”
“Yeah.” He gestures behind him, where his basket still lies. “I brought some strawberry shortcake. I was so worried Tsukki would eat it all the other time I brought some, but now that I know you’re the same person, I guess it all works out. Wait, are you even a person?”
“I’m a human, yes,” Tsukishima snarks, but his shoulders have dropped, no longer as tense as they were before. He follows Yamaguchi to sit down on the doorsteps, legs splayed out, and he peers into the basket, eyeing the cakes.
Yamaguchi laughs, pulling a slice out and handing it over. “Here!”
As they eat, Tsukishima explains more about who he really is. Yamaguchi has heard of familiars before, but it’s his first time actually meeting one. He can’t help but stare in awe, listening to Tsukishima’s melodic voice, and Tsukishima’s voice falters when he catches him staring.
“Stop looking at me so intently,” he mutters, shoving a hand at his face. Yamaguchi yelps, pulling back.
“Sorry!”
Tsukishima turns away with a huff. His ears are tinged red. They chew in silence for a bit before he mentions, “This one tastes different from the one you brought last time.”
“Really? I’m impressed that you can tell.” Yamaguchi wipes his lip, licking off the frosting there. “This one was bought from the bakery. The previous one was baked by Yachi-san.”
“…I liked that one better.”
Yamaguchi brightens, asking before he can really think about it, “You’re welcome to visit us one day! Just give me a heads up, and I’m sure she’d be happy to bake for you again.”
“Actually, if you allow it, he’s stuck with you for life,” a new voice says. Yamaguchi jumps, turning around to see someone leaning out the window, his elbows resting on the ledge. His jaw nearly drops to the floor.
“You’re the customer from yesterday!” he gasps.
Tsukishima wrinkles his nose. “You visited them?”
“I just happened to pass by,” Kuroo says with a grin that says he definitely was not just passing by. “Yamaguchi-kun, right? Since Tsukki’s true name and form have been revealed to you, he’s technically bound to you as your familiar. So long as you accept it, he’ll become your companion, aiding your magic and whatever else you need. And he’s a real powerful familiar too.”
“Stop it,” Tsukishima scoffs. “It’s not a necessity. Just a possibility.”
“Then I’m just putting the offer on the table, since you clearly won’t,” Kuroo snickers. He waves, disappearing and shutting the window, and Yamaguchi turns back to Tsukishima, excitement building up in his chest.
“You don’t have to listen to him,” Tsukishima begins, averting his eyes. He’s finished his cake already and is fiddling around with his fingers. “Our magic is bound, but that doesn’t have to mean anything—”
“I’d love to,” Yamaguchi blurts, interrupting him. His cheeks flush when Tsukishima looks back up at him in surprise. “Be your companion, I mean. That sounds great!”
Tsukishima gives him a singular nod. “Then I will assist you to the best of my abilities.”
“It’s not for that, silly,” Yamaguchi can’t help but laugh. “I don’t want you around for your magic. I just like you.”
Tsukishima’s eyes grow wide. “You what?”
“As a friend!” he rushes to correct, waving his hands around frantically. He didn’t realise he came off so strong. “I meant you’re my friend! And I like being friends with you!”
He’s cut off when he hears Tsukishima laughing softly, a hand shielding his lips. Tsukishima shakes his head, his eyes irrevocably fond, and Yamaguchi’s breath hitches at the lovely sight.
“That’s so lame,” Tsukishima says, standing up and turning towards the cottage. He places his hand on the knob and glances back with a tiny smile. “Come in. I’ll make tea.”
“R-Right!” Yamaguchi stutters out, hurrying to his feet and following after Tsukishima.
They spend the rest of the day inside the cottage, sitting around the dining table and chatting. Yamaguchi meets the other familiars, who share stories about Tsukishima despite his grievances, teasing him relentlessly. Tsukishima also shows Yamaguchi his collection of rare ingredients and other things he’s foraged over the years, and Yamaguchi fawns over them all.
Finally, as the sun is setting, Yamaguchi stands at the doorstep, the empty basket now held in his hands. He’ll have to inform the others at Crow’s Cauldron about his new companion, and Tsukishima has to settle his things before he can really consider moving, so they’re not returning to town together tonight. He’s saying his goodbyes to the others when Tsukishima approaches him and asks, once again, what it was that Yamaguchi originally needed when he made his first trip here.
“I don’t want you to feel obliged to give it to me,” he denies shyly, holding his hands behind his back.
Tsukishima gives him an unimpressed look. “You don’t owe me anything, so neither do I. Just tell me what it is.”
A few moments later, Yamaguchi has a singular phoenix feather in his hands, kept carefully in a crystal case.
“Your potion better work. These aren’t easy to get,” Tsukishima is saying as he leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed. Yamaguchi holds the case up, his eyes wide with awe as he takes in the vibrant red and orange of the feather.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmurs, holding the case to his chest. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hurry home before it gets dark.”
“No, really, thank you. I don’t know how to repay you.”
Tsukishima lets out an exasperated sigh. “I told you, there’s nothing to repay. It’s no big deal. Just don’t drop it on your way home or something. I’ll curse you to an eternity of flames if you dare lose it.”
Yamaguchi giggles. In a burst of impulsivity, he pushes himself up on his tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss to Tsukishima’s cheek. When he pulls back, his cheeks are burning as hot as a dying phoenix’s flames.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he rushes to say. “Thank you again!”
He runs off before he can hear Tsukishima’s response, but judging by the stunned look on the latter’s face, Yamaguchi doesn’t think he’d have been able to get a word out anyway.
Tsukishima doesn’t know what he was expecting before entering Crow’s Cauldron, but it’s not to be met with a chaotic mess of people rushing around, yelling over each other and laughing heartily.
From the moment he steps in, he can feel the sensation of warmth and home surrounding him. Which doesn’t make sense, considering it’s his first time here, but he can see how this place shaped Yamaguchi’s personality.
“Oh, shit, he’s here!” someone yells. “Somebody get Daichi-san!”
“He’s still in the kitchen,” someone else calls. They run up to Tsukishima, and it takes him one look at the silvery hair and robes to know who this is.
“You must be Suga-san,” he acknowledges, bowing his head. “Thank you for having me.”
“Oh my God, he’s so polite?” another person whispers. Tsukishima casts them a glare. His hair is bright orange and he’s hiding behind a taller, black-haired boy. Those must be Hinata and Kageyama, Yamaguchi’s closest friends.
“Did he just glare at me?!” Hinata gasps. Kageyama glares right back.
“Alright, alright, let him settle in,” Sugawara scolds. “Sorry about the mess. We’re still preparing a dinner feast for you. Yamaguchi’s in the workshop, let me show you!”
Sugawara leads him through the maze of people, greeting those they come by with either a high-five or a hard smack to the shoulder. When they arrive at his workshop, he pushes the door open, and Tsukishima pokes his head in to see Yamaguchi at a bench, stirring a large cauldron.
Yamaguchi looks up, jumping back when he sees them. “Tsukki! I didn’t know you were here— ah, shit, sorry, give me a second—”
“Is this what you’ve been working on?” Tsukishima asks, walking in. Sugawara not-so-subtly closes the door behind them.
“Yeah! Look at this.” Yamaguchi reaches for his wand. The potion is clear and colourless, but when he waves his wand, the surface bursts aflame. Like liquid fire.
“It just has to simmer overnight, then it’ll be ready for packaging in the morning. I’m so excited!” Yamaguchi sets his wand down on the bench once he gets rid of the fire, bringing the potion back down to its colourless form. “Is dinner ready?”
“Doesn’t look like it,” Tsukishima says. A gasp leaves his throat when Yamaguchi loops their arms together, pulling him out of the workshop and towards the back of the store. “Hey—”
“Hi everyone! Tsukki is here!” Yamaguchi announces just as they enter what looks like a dining room. A bunch of people are already seated with cups of juice and beer in front of them.
Tsukishima flinches when dozens of curious eyes turn to him, zeroing in on him like a hawk. A bald guy’s hand shoots up, pointing at Tsukishima. “Ayy! Bring him here, I want to talk to him!”
“Do I have to?” Tsukishima asks Yamaguchi tiredly.
“What, he thinks he’s too good to talk to me?!”
“You’ll be alright,” Yamaguchi laughs, pulling at his arm. Tsukishima finds that he’s unable to resist.
Tsukishima spends dinner wedged between Yamaguchi and Yachi, who is the only one he finds bearable. She also prepared strawberry cake for him, so she’s automatically one of Tsukishima’s favourites.
Crow’s Cauldron is a rowdy group that asks too many questions and is too loud and way too energetic for Tsukishima’s good, but he can tell that Yamaguchi treasures this place greatly. Even as Tanaka threatens to break Tsukishima’s legs if he ever hurts Yamaguchi’s feelings, and Nishinoya asks if he can transform into a cat for them all to see, and Hinata almost spills soup onto Tsukishima’s lap—
It’s nice, oddly enough. Tsukishima could get used to this.
By the time dinner ends, Tsukishima is returning plates to the kitchen, where Yamaguchi is washing up. He leans over, their cheeks brushing together, and Yamaguchi squeaks in surprise.
“This place is exhausting,” he sighs.
Yamaguchi laughs softly. “Don’t lie. I know you had fun.”
“Mm. If you say so.”
Yamaguchi turns off the tap, looking at him with a small smile. “So, what do you think? Do you want to stay?”
Despite his complaints, his answer comes as easy as breathing. “Yeah. I will.”
“Awesome.” Yamaguchi’s answering smile is so bright it could rival the sun. “Okay! If you’re staying, then you better help me wash these dishes!”
“What— now?”
“Obviously, Tsukki! Don’t you dare slack off!”
“Okay, okay.” He dodges Yamaguchi’s attempts to flick water at him, laughing under his breath. “Stop splashing me, I get it!”
Yamaguchi’s laughter rings in the air, infectious and carefree, and Tsukishima thinks that as long as he has Yamaguchi by his side, he’ll be satisfied anywhere he goes.