A/N: Here is part 2! If you haven't already, I'd suggest that you read my story 'We too, will be stories in the end' first, as it sets up the background for this set of loosely connected stories. Having said that, I hope you enjoy.

AN INCURABLE HOMESICKNESS FOR THE ROAD

Only few weeks had passed since Natsume and Madara had left, and while it felt like just yesterday, it seemed much longer at the same time. The life of a yokai was different in every way. With little to do all day, the pair, in just a few days, had settled into a relaxed pace of life. Even when they moved from one place to another, whether walking or flying, it was as leisurely as a stroll. It was funny to think that Natsume had though he was leaving his life behind when it was here, out in the open that he was really living.

That was not to say that he didn't miss everyone: he did, more than he could say. All he could do now though was just not think about it. Madara also did his best to help by never bringing up the subject, realising that Natsume needed to deal with it in his own way. Bless the poor creature, he hadn't once said anything about missing Touko-san's cooking, or even his nightly drinking parties.

Natsume knew for a fact that Madara had mourned the loss of those especially. Some time during the first week, he had caught the said spirit sitting alone in the dead of night a little away from where they had, well, set up camp, so to speak. With an empty sake cup held high in a silent toast to the sky, Natsume didn't even need to close his eyes to see the rest of the the Dog Circle around him. At that time he had slipped away unnoticed, feeling guilt bubble up at the pit of his stomach: never had he even considered that he wasn't alone in this, that he had pulled Madara away too. And Madara had led the way willingly, without a single word, just for him.

Even so, both of them were quite content, if not yet at peace. They would spent days upon on the banks of rivers. Madara would lie down in his beast form with Natsume against him, and they'd nap underneath the midday sun. They wandered quite aimlessly and bickered amiably, happy to watch the clouds in the sky for hours on end.

And there was also the fact that Madara had revealed his human form to him. It still felt so new, so different to him at times that he found himself just staring at his sensei at times. Of course he had taken a liking to this form as much as the other two and insisted that Madara stay in his human form more often, requesting that Madara walk beside him today. Madara in question would sigh deeply, and with a mutter of 'troublesome' would grudgingly comply.

So, in these few weeks, Natsume had concluded that for all the doubts and insecurities, that the pair of them would be just fine. He smiled as he patted his sensei's fur.

'Where are you taking me, sensei?' They were walking what seemed like a random path in a forest, Madara is his beast form, and Natsume at his side.

'To a yokai forest nearby. It's one of the few places in this world where you'll find only ayakashi; humans can't enter these places. It's the closest one, so I'm sure that there'll be plenty of yokai asking for their name back. We're going to need to do something about you though.'

'What do you mean?'

'You still look and smell too much like a human, even though you aren't anymore. The change is gradual - most yokai will still think that you are a human right now.'

'Won't a mask do?'

'Hmph. For now. Next time we'll have to do something about those clothes of yours.'