A bad day starts when China had eaten everything

The city was bustling with heaps of humans pacing quickly as if every second meant something. But perhaps, because she didn't fear death like humans would, every second did mean something in the meager time they were allowed to live and experience. Kagura admired the charming houses, their wooden structure filled with beautiful colored walls. The buildings all stuck together and aligned into a labyrinth where Kagura could see, at its end, a castle of blue.

"It changed a lot," she said to Okita. She had bugged him for weeks to visit the city, and he finally ceded to restock the food for the month faster than expected as the female inhaled most of it during her 'afternoon snacks'.

"You came here before?"

"Uh-uh, but only the castle didn't change. Before it was dirty and dull, and alot of things destroyed because of the war." Kagura tugged on her hood, making sure her red hair was not to be seen- or else people just might believe she was some banshee of some sort. Humans hated hair color like hers. "It was when I was only a hundred years old though."

"… How old are you?" They never really introduced themselves, and Kagura just integrated Okita's life naturally. He assumed she was around fourteen, "Are you an old hag? "

"Three hundred years old is hardly considered as old." Kagura frowned, "I bet you aren't good at courting. Women hate being reminded of their age, young or old alike."

"As if a man ever courted you." They retorted to each other on their way, strolling lazily towards the south-east of the city where artisans, crafters could be found. "Let's get what you need first, but tell me, do you think a mix of nettle and poison would go well to kill Hijikata?"

"Poor man. I'm a good witch, not going to help you and your devious plan." Kagura stared at a store offering gemstones. It immediately caught Kagura's eyes because of how unkempt it looked, and so was the name. "Abi's Gems," she read aloud, "Let's go in. We might find something for your sister."

Witches and sorcerers loved gemstones for their innate properties. The common people would use salt pink stones to fight against insomnia, but gemstones could be used to their full potential through magic. Protection spell, curses, restriction, and amplification… There were thousands of possibilities, and any good artifacts should possess a strong gem.

They entered the store with a ring as the bell danced, but no one seemed to be inside. Rather, it looked like a ghost store who's been abandoned by its owner since months and dust had accumulated to the point of inducing cough upon entering. The shelves were messy and dirty, and the carpets late of two generations of fashionable taste yet Kagura immediately plunged further into the room, observing the rows of gems.

Unlike the shop, each gem were obviously polished and cleaned, glittering preciously. Since the olden times had Kagura encountered charlatans who liked to trick apprentices into buying fake gems but she knew those were genuine. They radiated of power. Her fingers wrapped around a green marbled of blue gem as if it was sea itself, she closed her eyes and asserted the hardness— only hard gems were good, too soft and the stones were unstable added with magic. But this one was good for its kind, chrysocolla since healing and protection charms didn't need diamonds or the hardest kind of stones.

Okita made her break out of her thought, "How do you use one?" He asked as he grabbed a ruby, "Can you cast a hex on them?"

"There's a lot to do when you want to make strong charms, artifacts even more. You need to work the stone first, work its essence then work the magic." Kagura slipped further into the store, into a hallway behind the counter. Okita followed suit without thinking much; it was impolite but what kind of owners would let their business like so?

"You didn't answer all of my questions, though."

"You can cast hex and curses, that's why there are cursed jewelry or weapons. They are full of dark and hate, you can hardly purify them. Especially weapons, because some like to work the gems but also the iron if you see one don't touch it. Don't try to exorcize it because it doesn't work that way." She knocked over a door, sturdy it was , like it had been there for centuries. "Cursed weapons are like wands or scepters, but like a lot of things in destructive magic they aren't used, they use the users."

"Are you worried about me?" His mouth stretched into a dashing smile. Kagura was now part of his life, breakfasts and tea parties were all managed by her as well as house chores but it was the first she was interested in his job.

Before Kagura could reply, the door creaked open and they discovered a new, large room filled with columns of gems and tables with the tools to make jewelry. A girl was sat on one of the tables, a magnifying glass monocle over her right eyes and her hands gently sculpting a ring.

Kagura removed her hood, a thin smile stretched on her face. "Abi's tenth generation, you are."

Tenth generation?!

The girl raised her head in surprise, she had messy chestnut hair— short, and kind of frizzy. She didn't wear fashionable women dresses but was instead in a sort of dark overall, clothes clothing every part of her. No women, at their time, could wear pants besides noble women during their horse riding lessons.

Her hazel eyes widened as she stared at Kagura. Like she was a ghost, something supernatural that went beyond human understanding.

"My ancestors didn't," the female got up and strolled over them. "My grandparents and parents never saw you, I didn't think you'd greet first. I'm just an apprentice, my parents are on a trip, I can't offer you anything." She was obviously embarrassed, Sougo could note the way she fiddled with her hair. "I mean, you are our family's— our biggest patron. Over generations. You are her right? The Red Witch, the second."

Kagura stared at the stone in her hand, then scanned the girl. Okita almost felt uneasy for her, almost because just seconds afterward the witch had the warmest smile he had ever seen.

"You're a good heiress. I know it, you look right like every one of them— the good Abi's, same hair, same eyes. Talent runs in your vein, it's the Abi's blood. All good Abi's look alike. How are you called?"

"Alisha Abigail Hayes, but I'm called Abi in the shop, I mean you know, it's the tradition. I prefer Alisha, though."

"I want this stone," Kagura threw the gem at her, "Alisha. You are going to be my supplier, study hard, don't disappoint the first Abigail and all that followed. If you need anything then call me, I'll hear you. Make that a pendant; a nice one, for an elegant lady."

"It will be ready quickly, I promise. No more than a week, I'll work hard."

Kagura didn't say more and caught Okita's wrist, dragging him out of the shop. He hadn't spoken much, as opposed to his usual demeanor but it was almost fascinating. He had thought he was born special, for having an eyesight good enough to see spirits, but she was a witch. A witch that lived more than a century, in that short, childish woman.

"Their family had been at our service, free supply in exchange for our magic," she explained.

"What kind of favors do you get them?"

"It depends on what they need, a long time ago I had healed the fourth generation Abi's husband. Or sometimes they ask for charms, protective spells during dangerous times, I'm making a healing pendant for your sister."

She was talkative today. It wasn't like he discussed with her often, at most it was what would they be eating, about Mitsuba's condition, they weren't close. They weren't meant to, either.

"Why did you come to find me?" He suddenly asked. "You obviously have allies. You have the skill, even if you can't purify you should be able to escape or injure them."

"Are you insecure now? I am an extraordinary witch, after all." He couldn't see her face because of the hood covering most of her face, but he was sure he had heard the smile beneath. "There are beings that weave fate and they brought me to you. I don't understand it either but like the Abi's, they look a lot like the first one. Even you Sadist, you look like someone I knew."

"Me?"

"Yeah."

Silence took over again as they walked up to the main streets where they would be most likely to find cheap food. Okita was a man to appreciate gastronomy but with his limited budget, he had to feed the monster of a female too. If she didn't bake so well; he may have kicked her out.

It was when Kagura was negotiating the prices for some bread that Okita felt it. A shadow. It wasn't a small sprit by the aura it had, the pressure he felt all of sudden in the bright streets. It had to be something inhuman too because it was insanely fast— most spirits and demons were slow and proud, but this one was like a wild beast.

"Oi China, be quick and we'll go home. There was something like a demon right now," he purposely leaned in and whispered to her ear as to not be listened.

Kagura's eyes widened before quickly accepting the current price and taking the bag full of hard, traditional bread before following behind Okita. She was being hunted, this was why she avoided promenading out of Okita's property. His home was safe, but the city wasn't and it was going to be Doom if she were to be caught.

"What was it?"

"I don't know, maybe a werewolf, a brollacan, no a Cu Sith— it was like a dog, white."

"A white dog?"

"We don't have the time to talk China," he started to run. His only weapon was some sacred water and a dagger, he didn't think of bringing his sword just for a city outing. He underestimated China's enemies. A hellhound wouldn't appear normally unless there was a reason.

And that reason was China.

He grabbed her hands, she was too slow for him— wearing a long dress that got into her foot. If China died there would be no more hope for Mitsuba, he wouldn't allow it.

It was in a panic attack that Okita missed the stunned stares of three men walking in black.

"Isn't that Okita?" Yamazaki was absolutely bemused at the desperate face the young exorcist had. He usually was poke-faced, playful at most but ever since Mitsuba had fallen ill he never showed such… passion.

"It was a woman, right? I saw long hair, and she's too small to be a man. No, Sougo told me he had gotten a servant recently," Hijikata stared at the street the couple just escaped. "By servant did he mean he had gotten a lover? A wife?"

"Our son had grown so fast Toshi!" Kondo was crying, deeply moved by the scene. "But why did he not tell us?"

"Don't tell me he's using her for his fun? He's going to ruin the woman! He didn't bring her to the Gods!"

"Our Sougo isn't like that—" Kondo paused, then wore a solemn face. "Oh no, our son sinned. He's so young and reckless, maybe was he lonely because of we didn't give him enough love Toshi! It's all our fault!"

"Enough, we should go after them quickly! We can't let Sougo ruin this poor woman."

It had been such a long time since the last update, sorry— I had to do my share of research for the world building as well as the plot.

Help to read:

Chrysocolla (gem): Hardness 2-4; strengthens lungs, enchances metabolism, emotional balance and helps clear subconcious imbalances. =Wicca

Brollacan: A creature of the night that is shapeless = Scottish faeries

Cu Sith: dog Faerie, shaggy hair and size of a calf, hunts in silence. Also known as Black angus. = English/Wales/Germany myth

: Thank you very much for leaving a review and taking your time— here is the next chapter, I hope it didn't disappoint you!

talesofwar: Here it is! Sorry for the wait.

chantal027: I am well aware of my weakness at pacing and my style had always been vague/lyrical. With so much information I'm glad you ended up understanding the previous chapter! I fell in love with this AU with Mahoutsukai no Yome as well as Discworld series and The Ocean at the End of the Lane! You'll see Okita working soon ;D

Calico Oon: I have no idea how many chapters there will be, while I plan the plot in my head I don't really divide it into chapters. I just go with feelings, but I don't think this fanfic will take more than 15 chapters unless I have sudden plot ideas. Thank you! I'm glad my descriptions pleased you!

Jenchen.H: I'm honoured, I'm very sorry for the time it took to post the second chapter but I hope this will be worth it in the long run! HijiMitsu will play indeed an important part of the story, they are so beautiful and I'm ashamed I haven't really worked on them in a fic before. Thank you for taking your time in leaving a review— It really motivated me to work on this fanfic!