A/N: I present to you my Natsume Yuujinchou project. I hope you will enjoy my take on this wonderful world with its inspiring characters.

WE TOO, WILL BE STORIES IN THE END

'No!' Madara roared, his cry infused with his spiritual powers so that every yokai and human around was blown away and knocked unconscious, and the wind ruffled the grass of the field and the trees for miles.

Natsume was the only one who was unaffected. He lay on the ground, face up, frozen still and wide-eyed as he was a moment ago.

The wildness and terrifying anger of the great white beast didn't give way as he instantly transformed into a human form - one which Natsume had never seen before - and kneeling, straddled the said boy and placed his hands on the ground on each side of his face.

Without a moment's hesitation, he pressed his mouth to Natsume's, drew from the boy's unmoving lips and spat the blood to the side, repeating the action again and again until there was nothing left to draw out anymore. By the time he sat up, his breathing was heavily rugged, and his lips tainted red, matching those of Natsume.

He made no effort to move from where he sat on Natsume's legs, only looked down at the boy with an unreadable expression on his face. The wind blew in their hair and seemed too loud.

'Sensei...?'

Natsume's voice was quite, still frightful, but with the smallest glimmer of hope.

Fool! Natsume no baka! Look at what happened! After every time I warned you, not to get involved with youkai, to stay away from exorcists! And what did you do? Get involved with youkai, meddle with exorcists! Aho! You brought this upon yourself! You brought this upon yourself.

That's what Madara would have liked to say. He would have liked to scold the boy all the way back home, and demanded for Manjuu as compensation. He would have liked for them to have their usual arguments.

Sensei! You've become too heavy to sit on my head!

Aho! It my winter coat, get it?

Winter is months away, Nyanko sensei. Anyway, you are supposed to be my bodyguard, but you are out drinking all the time.

Who just saved you then?

Just about. I could have died, sensei!

That's fine with me - then I can have the Yuujinchou. Don't forget why I am doing this - the Yuujinchou, Natsume. The Yuujinchou.

Hai, hai.

He would have liked to pretend that it was all fine, it was just one of their normal encounters. But he couldn't. He couldn't give the boy looking up at him hope where there was none. So he remained still, looking at Natsume as his face fell and his arm draped across his face to hide his eyes. He stayed silent as little, almost inaudible sobs rang in the air, his own mind too, anguished.

Damn it! Damn it all. I'm sorry. I failed you.

It was only when the trembles subsided that he stood, transformed back into the beast and bent to let Natsume climb onto his back.

The only worlds he offered were: 'Let's go home.'