Ugh, what a pain these days. Honestly, if Natsume could, he would make sure that this furball would not come here any longer. Maybe plug its tail or ears out. He had reached his limit, considering these fairly reasonable options. But who would dare to hurt a cute, little cat just like that? True, no one sane would even think about hurting such little, fragile creatures. But this wasn't that. This thing was just some furball, always showing up at the most inconvenient times. And at this point he was fully in the right to believe that it was all done on purpose. No way anyone or anything can cause that many accidents on purpose in the span of a few hours.
First was this morning, Natsume minding his own business by drawing a summoning circle in a more secluded area. Furball was somehow there, knocking over the bucket with the red paint, then tapping over the circle and ruining some parts of it. It stuck its tongue out, right at him, before running off.
Next was the card incident. The furball had replaced them all with mere playcards, U*o playcards to be exact. Who reads fortunes with those types of cards!? Not even a beginner would do something like that! But even then… How did he know it was this 'cat'? Simple, he caught it nearby, holding the stack of his actual cards. When seeing Natsume's dace fuming he spotted that wide grin on its face, mocking him accordingly. It took a few minutes of chasing but he got his cards back… But not without making a mess in his own hideout. Come to think of it, how did Furball even find it? Ah, no matter. It's a detail unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
But about the furball itself… If one were to guess they'd imagine it as a 'regular cat', wouldn't they? Wrong, it is not a 'cat'. At least not how you would think it is. Imagine one of those 'chibi' body types if you will and imagine it as the body— Round face, nubs as arms and legs. A very simplistic depiction of a body. Then add black, messy hair alongside the fitting cat ears and cat tail. Next the big, round, blue eyes. Lastly the clothes of course, something simplistic will do. Though the clothes were a little messy themselves, perhaps that came from running around too much. And violá, you're imagining Furball! That little pest of a male cat who does nothing but cause Natsume trouble the past few days. Either this troublemaker repeats his jokes or always manages to find new ways to get under the magician's skin. It was almost an endless cycle of frustration each day. The first few times he was ready to look past it, though with annoyance, but didn't think much of it. ' Must be a bored oNE ' he thought for a short amount of time. But the longer this continued, the thinner his patience became. And sometime on the same day he became furious beyond belief and used the rest of the time to chase the furball across school grounds.

This day was such a day. Like everyday. No day passed ever since where Natsume would eventually lose his patience and put his feet to work. They were carrying him fairly easily, him simply running around the school grounds and keeping up with the pace of this 'furball'. It was not that difficult nor did he break a sweat from running alone. He may not look like it but he is capable enough to keep up, partially thanks to the training he had to go through as an idol. You need a basic endurance to keep up with the daily training routine after all. This was like a jog.
Well, he had to focus on multiple things at once. Running was the easiest but catching the furball and keeping an eye on him were the tougher parts, especially since he is a cat. Of course it would be a little more difficult than before but not unmanageable nor impossible. He had caught this cat before, he can do it again! Though he probably looked like the biggest fool on campus right now… Not like he cared to begin with. People can look, whatever. All he wanted was to catch this goddamn thing!
What did he do now however? Replacing one of the main ingredients of a potion he was brewing with mere soda! Literally having replaced the fluids. Of course everything went horribly wrong, from the taste to the effects. It was horrid and the effects were nonexistent… At least in a small dose, he would never let anyone drink this in large amounts. Who knows what might happen? Regardless, when having made a grimace he heard snickering, turning his head into the direction and spotting who he didn't want to spot. And now he had gone out of his hideout to catch the one who thought this was funny to begin with, not aware of the consequences. Well, not even Natsume himself was aware but better safe than sorry.
"You little furBALL! Get back here right nOW!" He screamed almost from the top of his lungs. He had not been this furious in ages, having the mere desire to rip the cat's tail out, so that he may scream in agony and pain. Of course he would not go that far but who said Furball will get away with it that easily?
However, things would take a turn the moment the cat climbed up a tree, rather quickly even, and standing on a tree branch. The magician stopped right in front of it, looking up with a grumble. "You gotta be kidding mE…" He mumbled alongside his grumble as Furball was looking down at him, sticking out his tongue and then laughing mockingly with a wide grin. Ugh, talk about a goddam pain in the ass… Of course. "FiNE, have it your wAY."
Without a warning he did what he deemed best in this situation: Climb the tree! It shouldn't be too different from mere rope climbing, just imagine the tree was a bigger rope! Or something… He'll manage somehow! If a small cat can do it, so can he!
Thus before knowing it he grabbed onto the tree branch, climbing up the tree, though rather slowly. Furball looked down with his big eyes, watching Natsume climb up, trying to semi-focus on it. His tail wagged, as if wanting to see if he could even manage to get up there. Not eager but perhaps curious. Though it would not last for a long time as Furball's face turned when hearing a voice from a bit further afar: "Nyeli, du hast dich hier versteckt! "
From moment to the next his attention shifted to this mysterious voice, ears wagging eagerly before he himself said happily and eagerly: "Annya!"
And just when Natsume had reached the branch Furball was sitting on and was about to grab him he jumped down in one go, perhaps unintentionally, and was right out of sight.
"What tHE— I almost had hIM!" The magician yelled in utter frustration, noticing too late that he started losing his balance, struggling to keep himself in position before suddenly falling over, right down onto the grass beneath the tree. It was very quick and luckily the height was nowhere near anything deadly nor could he break himself on the way down, probably, yet a quick pain went through his entire back all the same. Thus he lied there for a few seconds, having a hard time to even open his eyes. Yet once he did the next thing in front of him was an all too familiar face. A certain brunette with short hair and glasses and in her arms Furball who seemed to have gotten comfortable in her embrace yet was looking down on him with his own gaze all the same. His ears were a little down and the woman's face was a little worried. "Sakasaki-San, are you alright?" He heard it coming from her mouth, less stuttery than he is used to— Wait a minute…
"E… E…. EnchanTRESS!?" It shot out of his mouth in one go as he sat himself up. Out of all the people he could expect to see, this was not one of them. Nor did it make any sense. Maybe one of his upperclassmen who had graduated, that would make sense, but not her! She was not even a student nor had been! Usually he could draw a conclusion fairly quickly, but he had just fallen off a tree. He wasn't thinking too clearly for a few seconds. "What are you doing hERE!?"
"Huh? What I am—" She was about to somewhat respond yet quickly shook her head instead, then continuing with: "Not important! Are you alright?"
"YeAH, I'm fINE…" He responded as he was fully coming to himself yet again. "NoW, can you explain why you're heRE?"
"Me? Well—" Just when she was about to open her mouth she got interrupted before knowing it, constant 'nyes' echoing in their ears. When looking a little down the answer was an easy one, spotting the furball shivering in the enchantress' arms. He was clinging onto one of her arms as his ears had dropped completely, as if trying to cover them and block off sound. The furball was scared, wasn't he?
"Ah— Nyeli!" Upon this sight she lifted up one of her arms, placing it on top of his head and petting him softly, as if trying to calm him down. She even mumbled something in her native tongue, trying to be as soothing as possible. " Ruhig, ruhig… Keiner tut dir was… "
For a moment she herself looked rather calm, a soft smile forming across her face. Honestly, it would probably calm down just about anyone and even if only for a moment Natsume could not avert his gaze from this sight. In a way he admired it, watching her stand there with the furball in her arms, softly stroking his hair to put him at ease. It was different from what the magician usually saw, but he didn't hate it. Not in the slightest. In fact he felt slightly… Envious. Being in her arms, feeling her soft embrace and her soft hand going through the hair, able to nuzzle yourself against the palm of her hand… It must be somewhat of a bliss, having the worry melted away like that, let alone having the option to. Yeah, he somewhat wished that he was in this—
Oh god, what was he thinking here!? Why did it cross his mind!? It must be the side effect of her spell again! Yes, of course. A mere side effect! Of course… And thus he quickly stood up, dusting himself off and then speaking once more after having gotten himself back to reality: "I take this furball belongs to yOU?" He had crossed his arms while speaking however, narrowing his gaze at the brunette.
"Huh? Uhm… Sort of." She responded, her hand however focused petting the small male in her arms. This one was by now purring as if there was no tomorrow.
"Sort oF? ListEN, there's no 'sort of' when it comes to owning a pET."
"Nyeli isn't a pet!" Ann suddenly protested, even sounding like Natsume had just insulted her. Was he wrong though? That should be—
"He's little brother!" She continued, no stuttering while she disregarded one word she had swallowed, not minding that she had been talking in her usual broken speech.
"He'S… WhAT?"
"Little brother!"
"LitTLE… broTHER?"
"Yes! Little brother!"
Furball? Her little brother? How would that even— Actually, on second thought, nothing unthinkable. Both being so close that they're just like siblings. He has at least one such relationship. Maybe he answered a little hastily in the heat of the moment. After all, just now he had not been thinking straight again… How out of character for him. Ugh, maybe he hasn't slept well recently. That might be it. Thinking of a way to escape the enchantress's charming spell might have tired him more out than he liked to admit. And work on top of it all… Plus training.. Hah, things get busier and busier these days. He probably had barely enough time to rest. Yeah, what else would it be? Tonight he should try to just sleep then…
"A… Anyway! I… Uhm… Sakuma-San said that… Nyeli followed and… Picking up…" It seemed the brunette calmed down by then however, given she started to stutter between her words once more. And as on cue Furball's ears move up, wagging happily for a moment as the word: "Papa!" came out of his mouth. Sakuma-San?
"Rei-Senpai's younger broTHER?" The magician asked, simply to make sure, receiving a nod as a result. "And you're picking him UP?"
She nodded again. "Yeah… Sakuma-San asked me to. Did Nyeli cause any trouble?"
Did the furball cause any trouble!? What kind of question is that!? And with that Natsume's gaze became sharp, him folding his arms once more and then responding: "Oh where do I even beGIN?" The list was long, did he even have enough time to tell her everything?
"B… Begin?" She stuttered, as if not sure how to react before shaking her head. "Nevermind. I think I got an… idea."
"Are you sure about thAT?" He asked the brunette, not certain if she could imagine the severity of the trouble this cat was causing, and she nodded once more.
"Yes. A very good one. I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't going to cut IT." He mumbled quietly to himself, not really caring if anyone would hear him. Sorry was really not cutting it, not giving him back the lost time caused by Furball. Hours he could've spent on other things but no, he was busy chasing a tiny cat-like thing of a furball. Honestly, if this was someone the Enchantress knew, perhaps even her assistant, she should make it up to him instead. Perhaps he should demand compensation but he wouldn't know what exactly. So she got lucky once. But not next time, he'll think of something until then. Furball will surely come back and try stirring trouble, Natsume was somewhat sure of that.
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"Nothing imporTANT." He responded quickly, almost scoffing. He just wanted to get this over with at this point, not being distracted any longer. "You got what you came fOR, didn't yOU? You can take Furball home with yOU."
Upon speaking up clearly once more he felt a glare on him, a tiny one. Thus it didn't send a shiver down his spine, why would it? One glance down and he noticed the cat trying to look imitating, though it was anything but. Though doubt and dislike was more than visible in it. How fitting, Natsume would only respond in kind. The Furball better get out of his sight yet that would depend on her decision.
Luckily she would agree shortly after, though perhaps a little confused at first. "Uhm… Yeah, sorry. We'll be on our way. Have a… Nice day."
"If anyone should apoloGIZE, it's Furball over hERE."
Though all said 'Furball' did as a response is stick his tongue out, not even daring to show Natsume any respect. Of course not, he didn't even expect it from a cat like him. Nor did he care honestly, at least not right now…
" Komm Nyeli, du könntest das Bett deines Papas warm halten. " Those were the last words he heard from the Enchantress's mouth before she turned away and walked off, only being responded to with a quick yet cheerful 'Nye!'
The Enchantress and the Furball knew one another, somewhat close perhaps… Who knew she had an assistant of her own. But the pranks might make sense now… But if not, they will probably in the long run.