New Arrangements

The first thing that Kusumoto said when Noa finished explaining his situation was, "That's not how that works." 

Noa wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"Where do I even start," Kusumoto muttered. He grabbed Noa's wrist, examining it closely. "Yeah, I thought so. Did you ever agree to pay anything? You, specifically?" 

"…No," Noa said. "But I opened the envelope." 

"And that's all." He shook his head. "Well, good news and bad news, kid. The bad news: yes, that technically counts as a deal with fae. But it's not blood magic and it's not really binding. It's more like…do you know what a subpoena is?" 

Noa blinked at him. "That's a legal thing, right? Not a magical one?" 

"Yeah, but the same idea applies. You said it came with a letter, right? It would've said you owe them a debt, but it's not actually proof. They might've made the debt up."

Noa frowned. "I don't understand." 

Kusumoto rolled his eyes. "It's basically a summoning spell, kid. The Shijos want you to come visit and argue with them about it. That's all it is." 

Noa looked down at his wrist. "So…I don't owe them money?" 

Kusumoto grinned. "That depends on how well you can argue your case once you show up. But it wouldn't be a tough case to win, from what you've told me. The real question is whether they have anything on your mother." 

Noa nodded slowly. "…I don't know if they do or not." 

"Well, that's your problem to figure out." He leaned forward. "But I've got other questions. Because a paltry little summoning charm like that ain't a 'fae connection.' Whatever that Iseki rep was complainin' about, it wasn't that." 

Kenshin fluttered forward again, seeming to sense that the danger had passed. "Was it just Noa they were complaining about?" he asked. "Not me?" 

"They didn't specify," Kusumoto said. "But let's just say I have a feeling. And I think you might too, kid. Am I right?" 

Noa grimaced, but nodded. There was no point hiding it now. "I don't know how they got me being fae out of it," he said. "But I caught them using blood magic on the other volunteers...you too, Kenshin-san." 

Kusumoto folded his arms. "Explain." 

Noa did so, giving as much detail as he could. Kenshin just about fell out of the air in surprise before he was finished. 

"Well," Kusumoto said when the story was over. "That explains some things, but it also raises more questions. For one, I didn't think they had it in 'em. For another…" He looked between them. "Show me your arms. You too, Ken-chan." 

Noa rolled up his sleeve. The small red mark from the needle had almost faded, but he could still make it out. 

Kenshin swore. "I've seriously got one, too." 

Kusumoto glanced between them. "That's…mighty interesting." 

Noa waited, but Kusumoto just gave him a long, searching look.
"Well, I get now why they complained," he said. "And I know they're full of crap. We won't be taking a contract from them again in a hurry, if these are the sorts of tricks they're pulling. But also…" 

He sighed. "Look. I'm sorry about this, kid. But you're still not welcome back."

Noa blinked, taking a minute to realize what he was saying. "To work, you mean? Wait, why not?" 

"Because you've got a talent, apparently." Kusumoto stepped back, leaning against the wall again. "We employ people here who're more or less on the up-and-up. No one with any serious affiliations, no one who's liable to land the people around them in hot water." 

That was unfair. "But I'm not—" 

"If you can resist blood magic and turn it on the people who cast it on you," Kusumoto interrupted, "then you're dangerous. End of discussion." 

Noa looked down at his knees, contemplating that. "But you said the curse wasn't blood magic." 

"It's not." Kusumoto almost looked patient. "Wherever you picked that up, it wasn't the Shijos. Though I can't promise they didn't know about it, somehow. I'm surprised you don't seem to know about it, but some issues are above my pay grade. Anyway. You're out. Sorry." 

Kenshin swallowed. "A-am I in trouble for—" 

"No." Kusumoto shook his head. "But as a general rule, don't just bring random guys out here, all right, Ken-chan? Have a little discretion. Clearly neither of us knew where this one's been, and look where that's gotten us." 

Noa thought fast. "Are there…other things I can do for you? Maybe not you specifically, since you run this office, but like…someone else in the family…?" 

Kusumoto raised an eyebrow. "You sure you want to get involved in our problems, kid? 'Cause I'm not sure we're going to want yours." 

"I was thinking of working on this," Noa said. "This whole thing."

Kusumoto raised an eyebrow. 

"If Iseki's doing…fae business…then shouldn't you want to know more? In case it affects the Kusumotos more generally? Because I think whatever they're doing is bigger than just this." 

Kusumoto hummed thoughtfully. "You want to dig."

"Yes," Noa said. "But it'd be stupid to do it on my own." 

"What are you asking for, then?" 

"Compensation," he said immediately. "And advice. Maybe connections to other people that can help out, if that's possible." 

"Information brokering, huh? That's a dangerous job, you know. Tends to end badly unless you're real careful." 

"I don't plan on making a career of it. Just this one case." 

Kusumoto lifted his chin. "Tell you what—take a little time, sniff things out. Subtly." He went over to the filing cabinet, picked out a pad of paper, and scribbled something before tearing the note off.

"Go to this address in a week or two. Tell 'em I sent you and share what you know. Do a good enough job, we'll make an arrangement…otherwise, you can try to find another sponsor for this little project. Understood?" 

"Yes, sir," Noa said, already considering the possibilities. "I won't let you down."