Tezuka was a witch hunter. The fifth in a long line, and one of the few remaining in the country. It was awkward, then, that his best friend was a witch, but it hadn't happened accidentally. Fuji had sought him out specifically, when they were both young and at one of the meetings his grandfather would hold with the witch clans in their area. Fuji had been the centre of attention at the meeting. Both witches and witch hunters alike were interested in him, both for the same reason – his potential for magic was incredible. Almost frightening, if you were twitchy about that kind of thing.
Fuji had grabbed him and pulled him away when the adults started talking. Tezuka hadn't thought anything of it – they were the only people their age at the meeting, and the long discussions were boring for kids to listen to. If this had happened a few years later, when he was less naïve of his and Fuji's different positions, he might have refused to go.
Fuji wanted to show him something. That was why he'd dragged him out into the garden of his grandfather's house, behind a wall where nobody would see them. He took a knife out of his pocket, and for a split-second Tezuka realized the danger he'd put himself in.
Fuji turned it on himself, though. He drew the blade along the middle of his palm, deliberately and deep enough to make Tezuka flinch, then turned his palm over and let his blood fall the ground. The grass sizzled underneath where it landed, and for a moment, a plume of smoke rose in the shape of a vague figure.
Fuji's eyes, which were a vivid blue and wide while he did it, creased closed into the same smile he'd wore indoors. He said, pleasantly, "What do you think?"
"That's illegal," Tezuka said, bluntly. "Blood magic is forbidden."
"What are they going to do?" Fuji teased, taking a step towards him. Without thinking, Tezuka took a step back. "Burn me?"
"I'll tell," Tezuka said, feeling his temper rising. He couldn't do anything, but he was hot headed, and he hated being challenged.
"No you won't." Fuji smiled, and leant forward to grab a hold of his wrist before he could move away from him again. Tezuka could feel slick, hot blood against his skin. "Because we're going to be friends."