Chapter Text
Having N and Megumi with her ended up helping Utahime keep her head on straight.
She was surprised by how well they seemed to work together, and by how competent they seemed.
Though, it was easy to forget that they both had to take care of themselves for a long time before she came into the picture because to her they were just kids. Teenagers, yes, but still quite young...
It also eased her nerves that Megumi was wearing his disguise, she'd forgotten he could do that. His disguise kind of reminded her of Ijichi, a familiar that belonged to the sorcerer Kusakabe.
Remembering Ijichi's Master brought her a bit of shame just because of what she had done with him…
She didn't want to think about it, but she still hoped that Ijichi was okay. His natural beast form was a mouse. It was a miracle that he had managed to work with The Crown at all, but under Naoya's reign, she was concerned if he was even allowed to live…
N led them to the rundown slum area that she said Haibara's safe house was located in. The only issue though, was that the area looked like a bomb had gone off in it.
Many buildings were completely wrecked, and the ones standing were completely dilapidated. It only took Utahime a moment to realize that this area was just outside the crater, or the dead zone, as Master Satoru called it.
“I heard this place got destroyed, but I didn't know it was this bad,” N said as they crept through the abandoned streets.
Utahime frowned and clutched the pendant that Master Satoru gave her to her chest. She found comfort in the subtle pulse of his mana within.
“What even happened here?” Megumi asked as he looked around, a frown firmly in place.
“I have no idea.”
Utahime kept quiet. She wasn't sure how the kids would react learning that Master Satoru had been the one that caused this destruction. In truth, she didn't want to tell them either because she still wasn't sure of exactly how he had done it. The dead zone as he called it was truly dangerous. It sapped the life from humans, and made witches severely sick. She had no idea how familiars would be affected, but she didn't want to risk it.
“We just make sure to stay away from the wards, the area is dangerous,” Utahime warned.
“Lucky for us, the street Mister Haibara's safe house was on isn't too close to that area so it should still be standing,” N said.
Thankfully, N was right, and a few minutes later, she stopped in front of a rundown building that looked like it was once a storehouse of some kind.
Utahime could sense some kind of ward placed on the door, and she held her arm out to stop the kids. “Wait, there's a ward in place, we probably shouldn't get any closer,” she warned.
“Oh! Don't worry, those are just to keep witches out,” N said before rushing forward.
Utahime reached forward to stop her, but she slipped out of her grasp, unharmed. She frowned and crossed her arms, electing to stay back with Megumi. “Be careful, N,” she said warily.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I'll knock on the door and tell him I brought friends!” She said before lifting her hand up to rap on the old door.
“Do you think you think this guy can really help?” Megumi quietly asked, frowning.
“Haibara is a good guy,” Utahime said. “I'm sure he will be willing to help us.”
Movement at the door caught Utahime's eye, and she partially stepped in front of Megumi to try to shield him as the door slowly opened.
“N? Is that you? You look so much healthier!” A familiar voice rang out.
“Mister Haibara! I'm so happy you're still here!” N exclaimed. “I got a job working for a witch! Can you believe that??”
Utahime looked in in surprise as she took in the rugged man standing before them. His hair was a bit longer than she remembered, more unkempt and uneven. The eyepatch he once wore was replaced by bandages, but the most glaring difference was his missing arm…
Her heart sank. What happened to his prosthetic??
“I've brought friends! This is Megumi, my boss's apprentice, and this is my boss too I guess? Miss Utahime!” N explained.
Haibara's eye widened. “Miss Utahime?” He said and rushed closer to her. “Oh my days! You're alive!” He said with a gasp before gesturing them forward, come on in, hurry, it's not safe out here,” he said.
Utahime put her hand on Megumi's shoulder. “What about him? He's a witch, will the wards hurt him?”
“Oh, right, here take this,” Haibara said and knelt down to place a silver charm at Megumi's feet. “It will mark you as safe.”
Megumi nodded and picked up the charm. “Thank you.”
“Of course, come on in, quickly now,” he said and ushered them all in the run down building.
He led them through a forgotten, dusty looking room, and down a flight of steps that led into a warmly lit room that looked like a small lounge area.
It was relatively clean, and modestly furnished, giving it a cozy atmosphere. Once they were inside, Megumi pulled his hood off, dispelling his glamour to reveal his real face.
“Can I get you anything to drink? Tea, coffee?” Haibara asked as he lit the fireplace in the corner.
Utahime shook her head, “No, it's quite alright. We shouldn't stay too long, we unfortunately are here to ask you for a favor,” she said, not wanting to beat around the bush.
Haibara motioned for them to sit on the couch as he took his own seat on a floor cushion. Not wanting to take the chair when he wasn't, Utahime sat across from him on the floor, and the kids followed suit.
“I'm so sorry to be so direct,” Utahime began with a sigh. “But I'm afraid we haven't much time. Though, if I may, I'd like to ask what happened to you,” she quietly said.
He smiled wryly. “You mean my arm?”
She bit her lip, but nodded, her cheeks warming just from the face that she was afraid she was overstepping.
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Well… The short of it is, Master Naoya confiscated it…”
Utahime gasped, outraged. “What?! He can't do that!” She blurted out.
He looked at her in surprise. “Of course he can, Miss Utahime. He's the king regent.”
“But Master Satoru and I crafted that for you! No one has a right to just take it!” Utahime insisted, frowning.
He smiled again, small, sad. “I know it sounds terrible, but I'm just glad that I was even able to get out of there with my life,” he said.
“They wanted to execute you?” Utahime asked, frowning.
He nodded. “I, and many others were deemed too weak to continue to draw breath,” he said, frowning. “The only reason I'm here at all is because Master Nanami snuck me, and a few others out, but not everyone was able to make it… all the others were executed in the square… ”
Utahime covered her mouth in horror. Her eyes watered just from imagining the terrible ways they might have decided to kill the innocent familiars. “What of— what of Ijichi??” she quietly asked, her heart in her throat.
Haibara smiled. “Master Nanami saved him too, he actually lives here with a few other familiars, he's not here right now, he went out to get some supplies, we usually take turns on who goes out.”
Utahime pressed her hand over her heart and sighed in relief. “Oh, goodness, I'm glad… are you still in contact with Master Nanami?”
He nodded. “In a way. I haven't actually spoken to him in almost a year, but he helps me sneak familiars out of the castle that have been deemed too weak to live… We can't save everyone, but we certainly do our best to save who we can.”
“That's perfect, because we need to sneak in!” N blurted out suddenly.
Haibara turned to her in surprise. “Whatever for? That place is incredibly dangerous nowadays,” he said, frowning.
“We have to rescue my Master,” Megumi said. “And my sister, she's been mind controlled or something. We need to get there as soon as possible.”
Haibara scratched the back of his head. “I dunno… I only help sneak people out. I cannot in good conscience lead you to your doom. It's just not good.”
“Please, we really need you to help us,” Utahime insisted. “This is to help Master Satoru.”
His eyes widened. “He lives?? But I thought he died!”
Utahime frowned. “Naoya has lied about many things. He seeks to own Master Satoru's power, but he has been doing his best to resist him for half a decade. I need to get to him. We have been trying to figure out how to break his shackles, once we do, we can put an end to Naoya's reign! The death will come to an end!” she insisted as she reached up to clutch at her pendant.
Haibara sighed and nodded once. “Fine. I have always wanted to repay your kindness Miss Utahime, and helping you and Master Gojo will be the least I can do.
“I can get you into the castle, but the path is dangerous, we'll have to wait until nightfall. We simply cannot do so before then, it's too risky.”
Utahime held back a disappointed sigh and nodded. She understood, she just wanted to get to Master Satoru as soon as she could. The wait would be beyond difficult…
“In the meantime, please make yourself at home,” Haibara said with a tired smile. “N, why don't you show Master Megumi around?”
“Okay!” N said with a smile and grabbed Megumi's wrist. “Come, I lived here for a few months some years back, I know the cool spots!” She said and dragged him off.
Utahime watched them go with a small smile before turning back to Haibara. “Thank you so much, Mister Haibara,” Utahime quietly said.
He smiled and scratched the back of his head. “Well, in that case, how about I get some snacks together?” He suggested as he stood up. “Miss Utahime, could you join me? I wish to speak with you,” he added.
“Oh, yes, of course,” she said and followed him down a connecting hallway to a cozy kitchen. A few dried meats were hanging by the wall, alongside some herbs and tea leaves.
The corner of the room was stacked with rice, and flour, and nearby was a bag of potatoes.
"Do you really plan on taking down Master Naoya?" Haibara asked in a hushed voice.
Utahime nodded. "We do... but it's going to be a long process. The first step is saving Master Satoru."
He nodded, his brow furrowed. "I see... he's very powerful though. He can control the goddesses power too. It is so very dangerous."
"I... I believe in Master Satoru," Utahime insisted, stubborn. "If anyone can rival the divine, I know it will be him."
Haibara stared at her for a long time before nodding. "Alright... then... i believe in you too. Both of you."
She blushed and looked down. "Thank you..."
"If you need anything in the future, let me know. I'll do what I can. In fact, I'm sure I can get our little group to let a hand if needed."
“How many people live here anyway?” Utahime curiously asked.
“Aside from Ijichi, who we call Kyo now, there is a young lady, Aki. She's newer, but very helpful. The two of them help me run the safe house, aside from that there's four younger kids that are temporarily staying here,” he explained before reaching up to grab some bowls. “I'm called Yu now. We lost our old names once we were banished…”
Utahime frowned. “Did you want to give it up?”
“Well… no, but I was lucky enough to get to keep it after I failed Master Nanami. Once I lost the good graces of the crown, I had no other right to use it,” he said as he turned to her, a sad expression on his face.
She shook her head. “I disagree. I'm a stray too! I still use my name, and proudly might I add! Why didn't you correct N when she greeted you?”
He sighed quietly. “It wasn't the time to do so, though I plan on speaking with her later.”
“No. Do not. She still struggles with accepting her own existence as a familiar. Do you really want to confuse her more?” Utahime asked, frowning.
He shook his head. “It's not about wanting to confuse, it's about wanting to protect, and to stay safe. I could not do what I do if I still called myself Haibara. The name Yu keeps me safe, and so far, anonymous. It is easier to hide. Sneaking people out of the castle is not easy, Miss, and I've unfortunately lost a few along the way…
“Besides, it's just the way of things, Miss… ”
“Oh…” Utahime frowned and looked down, upset, and embarrassed about speaking out when he did have a point.
“Why do you keep your name?”
She bit the inside of her cheek as she quietly thought it over. Why did she keep her name? She was still conflicted about a lot. “Well, to be honest, I did go by another name once, but I still chose a full name… I didn't really think about it. Maybe it's just because I'm stubborn, I dunno…”
She never really thought about it before. With as much as she tried to follow the rules, the one rule that she broke without even care was the one regarding her name.
Strays weren't allowed to have proper names because they weren't considered proper beings. They used names with one syllable or even just a letter like N, but Utahime never considered that herself.
She'd chosen a proper name as her alias when she needed it. Perenelle. From a book. Following the way that her former master named her.
A pretty smile, and even prettier eyes came to mind right then, and she blushed just from the memory.
“I still call myself Utahime because… I like the name, because everything that I am is Utahime,” she slowly began, trying to find the words to explain the confusion in her heart. “Because I believe that we deserve to be treated… b-better,” she said before raising her head and looking him in the eye. “It just isn't fair to treat us like half beings! We aren't objects, we aren't beasts! So what if we can shape-shift? I bet some witches wish they could! We're people! We feel pain, and sorrow, and—and l-love…” Her face got hot and she looked away again. “We've lived, fought and died alongside witches for centuries. I just think… we at least deserve proper names…”
Haibara just stared at her, but he had a thoughtful look on his face, as if he were truly considering her jumbled explanation.
“My sister… She still knows me as Haibara… I haven't had the heart to tell her what happened to me…” he mumbled as he looked down at his hand.
Utahime looked up and hesitantly stepped closer to him. “Your sister… What's her name?”
He smiled slightly. “Yuzuki… She is a stray too, but her name was given to her by an elderly human couple that somewhat took her in. I don't actually know if they know what we are, but I keep that, and their location secret for everyone's safety. They are good to her, feed her, and keep her sheltered, and that's more than I could ever ask for.”
“You chose Yu because of your sister?”
“I did… I was hoping that she'd be more open with my new name if she knew it was inspired by hers…” he shook his head. “It's kind of funny, isn't it? I've already been Yu for five years, but I can't seem to let Haibara go…”
“Why can't you use both?” Utahime suddenly suggested with a smile. “You can be Haibara Yu!”
He looked at her in shock. “What?? I can't take on two names! That's— only witches have two names!”
Utahime put her hands on her hips. “Some humans have two names too, and not all witches have two either. When Master Satoru and I ran our shop, we met all kinds of folk.”
“I dunno… the more I think about it, the more I think: why not?”
“T-There's plenty of reasons why not!” He protested. “Like— what about when we contract with witches? It's within their right to name us, is it not?”
Utahime bit the inside of her cheek. “Well… maybe, we can keep one name, and our second name can change depending on what Master we are bonded to?” She carefully suggested.
His eye widened. “Like… a family name?”
“Kind of?” Utahime said. She was only thinking this all over now as they spoke about it. But the more she thought about it, the better it sounded to her.
It was a good middle ground, wasn't it? Strays get to have a name that is their own, and witches still get to keep their right to change their name once they are bonded.
It actually worked better than the current system in her opinion, because if a witch had multiple familiars, then they could all share a family name, and other witches would know who they belonged to! That way, there would be no need to worry about accidental theft or similar.
“In the town I stayed in for a few years, across the border, some humans used a way to name their family members like— if the patriarch is called Jack, then his son is Jackson. It could probably work similar to that, right?”
Haibara made a face. “I dunno… it sounds so complicated to me still…”
Utahime frowned and dropped her hands to her sides, a bit discouraged. “Well… Maybe you can think about it?”
He frowned, but nodded once. “I… suppose I can consider it… I don't mind you all calling me Haibara while we're in the safe house, but once we leave, you have to use my other name.”
“I understand.”
“Well, it sounds like the kids are done with their tour,” he said once the sound of footsteps running back down the hall could be heard. “Could you help bring the food trays to the other room?”
“Of course,” Utahime said and grabbed the other trays that he prepared.
When they walked in the room, they found N and Megumi huddled over a palm sized booklet that N promptly shoved in her pocket when they noticed.
“What are you two up to?” Utahime asked as she set the trays on the floor in front of them.
Megumi spoke up, “We were just—ow!”
N had elbowed him, and offered a not so innocent smile. “Nothing, just, uh, going over plans for once we get to the castle!”
Utahime frowned. “Remember, you're not coming with us.”
She grimaced. “But Miss Utahime! That's not fair! I have to come with you two! I want to help!”
She shook her head. “You can't. I'm sure Mister Haibara will agree.”
He did. “Miss Utahime is right, you shouldn't come. You can stay here with Kyo and Aki.”
N grimaced and looked at Megumi, as if looking for back up. He frowned and glanced to the side.
“I dunno, N… I don't want you to get hurt,” he quietly said.
She stood up with a scowl. “I can hold my own! I'm not weak! You're supposed to be on my side!”
“I never agreed to anything.”
“Tch, I thought you were my friend,” she mumbled before rushing out of the room.
Haibara sighed. “She's always been strong willed like that… finding a group to put her with was quite difficult… She doesn't get along well with people. Do you know what happened to her friends?”
Megumi grimaced and looked down. “They got murdered… hunters tried to take her to sell her, but I saved her. I couldn't save the others though…”
Haibara gasped quietly. “Goddess… that's terrible…”
“Master Satoru took her in a few months ago,” Utahime quietly said with a sigh. “I haven't had the chance to get to know her too well…” she explained regretfully.
“She really wants to help,” Megumi said, frowning. “Are you sure that she can't? She's actually a pretty good fighter.”
“In the castle, familiars are disposable,” Haibara explained. “We are no better than objects, tools. It's even more dangerous for strays. She will be killed if they find her, especially with how willful she is.”
Megumi bit his lip and clenched his hands into fists. “My… sister, I think— well, I guess she is a familiar too. Does that mean she has a master in the castle?”
Utahime shared a look with Haibara before hesitantly nodding. “She most likely does. Even though it's still dangerous, If a familiar has a master, then they are safer than a stray. Bonded familiars are somewhat given rights that they do not have otherwise.”
“Are bonds permanent?”
“No, they can be severed, so it's possible for us to save your sister,” Utahime said. “Though how easy it will be depends on what kind of contract she has. If she has a paper contact, those can be edited and broken with ease, but if she has a traditional one, then the bond will be harder to break, but it is still possible. We'd just have to track down the items that form the basis of the bond.”
He nodded slowly, his brow furrowed. “What do you mean by ‘edited’?”
“Paper contracts can be changed with a spell to allow another witch to just steal a familiar away from their Master,” Utahime explained, frowning. Her own experience with that quickly resurfaced, and she brushed her fingers across her scar. “It's quite dangerous…”
“Is there a way to tell the difference?”
She shook her head. “Not that I know of, at least not without asking.”
He sighed quietly and absently picked at the snacks that Haibara prepared before standing up with one of the trays. “I'm gonna find N…” he said before shuffling away.
Utahime watched him go with a frown before turning to Haibara. “They're both good kids…”
“I know… N means well, and I can tell Master Megumi has a good heart,” he smiled wryly. “I wasn't much older than them when I lost my arm and eye… I don't want the same to happen to them.”
“I'm sure N will come around,” Utahime said as she quietly picked at the dried fruit and nuts Haibara prepared. “Thank you for offering to let her stay here.”
“Of course, she is kind of like a little sister to me too. Shortly after I was banished, I actually rescued her from an angry witch that was trying to kill her. She was stealing food, you see.”
“Oh dear…” she mumbled, her heart going out to the poor girl. Utahime knew quite well what it was like trying to find food as a stray.
“I took her in, and connected her with the friend group that she was traveling with, because at the time, I didn't have the ability to look after her…” he sighed quietly and shook his head. “It's terrible what happened to them…”
Utahime nodded, her heart heavy. She could understand the suffering that N had to go through. She lost her own companion when she was a young child, and nearly starved to death many other times. Finding Master Satoru that day in the garden had truly saved her life.
“It'll take at least an hour for us to navigate the path to get to the castle,” Haibara said after a beat. “You might want to rest while you can.”
Utahime looked over at him with a frown. “How exactly are we going to get in anyway?”
“Underground,” he said with a wry smile. “The castle has an underground network that is the size of a town, maybe bigger. It might span the entire city for all I know, but I haven't been able to map it all yet,” he said as he dug out a large folded paper from his pocket. “It will be strenuous, some pathways lead through the sewers.”
She frowned from just imagining how unpleasant that would be, but it wasn't enough to deter her. Nothing would be. She was determined to get to Master Satoru as soon as possible. “I understand, thank you again for doing this for us,” she said with a small smile.
He nodded. “It's the last I can do to help.”
“And, I'll tell Master Satoru what happened to you. We'll get your arm back, or we can even make a new one for you!” She said with a smile. “But it might be awhile. There's a lot we have to do first…”
Surprise filled his face. “Oh no, Miss Utahime, you don't need to do that.”
“It's okay, we will. Don't worry,” she said with a smile.
He smiled back. “Thank you… really.”
.
.
Utahime ended up falling asleep on the floor by the fireplace, but woke up to the sound of hushed arguing.
“It's too late—! You—— it's the only way!” N snapped.
“N! Why would you—? This isn't—” said Haibara.
“Megumi! Don't just— there!”
A different softer male voice spoke next. “M-Maybe we should calm—”
Frowning, Utahime stood up and quickly rushed into the kitchen where the arguing was coming from. Haibara stood there with another familiar with short blonde hair, and Ijichi beside him. Across from them stood Megumi and N. Everyone was tense.
“Uh, what is going on?” Utahime hesitantly asked, not liking the tense atmosphere. Everyone's mana felt off. There was anger, confusion, and fear filling up the space.
Haibara sighed heavily, and gestured to the woman beside him. “Well… Utahime, this is Aki. She—”
“That boy needs to go,” Aki cut in, frowning. “He cannot stay here!”
Utahime frowned as well and glanced at Megumi. He had his hands clenched into fists, and his mana felt quite heavy. It felt off too, more than everyone else's. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. For some reason, her instincts told her to back off.
She stayed put.
“We're leaving anyway!” N snapped, a scowl on her face.
Utahime moved over to stand between everyone. “Whoa, what is going on? These kids are my responsibility. I know they'd never do anything wrong, so why is everyone so tense?”
Aki crossed her arms. “He's a witch!”
“We were allowed in as a group,” Utahime explained and turned her frown to Haibara. “Didn't you tell her?”
He sighed. “I did, but—”
“He violated our rules!” Aki said as she hid behind Haibara. “He's dangerous!”
“He didn't do anything, I know he didn't,” Utahime insisted, unhappy with how hostile everyone seemed. “If anything, I'm sure whatever happened was an accident!” she said and turned to Megumi. “Right?”
He crossed his arms and averted his eyes. “It wasn't…” he mumbled.
That's when she noticed.
It wasn't a visual change, it was something she could only sense. An instinct.
N crossed her arms. “Now I have to come with you guys.”
Utahime's heart stopped. “N, why would you—?”
N cut her off, “It's Nobara now, Miss Utahime.”