Author's Notes: Hello! Welcome to my very first fanfic! :D It's been years since the last time I wrote anything worth mentioning. I hope this won't turn out that badly. T-T

Madara hopped out of Natsume's window. It was noon and he heard Touko called him over for lunch. But the cat paid her no mind and continued on his way. It was just one of those days wherein he didn't feel like eating. Nyanko-sensei refusing food—it's such a rare event indeed. His favorite squid wouldn't even make him change his mind.

Nyanko-sensei ambled down the familiar road he and Natsume always pass through on their way to school. His plump figure made the task extra difficult. True, he could just change into his noble form and fly to his destination but for some reason, he wanted to keep this one and walk. Really, if that Natsume were there, he would've jumped onto his shoulder by now.

The students were already pouring out of the gates by the time Nyanko-sensei got there. He saw some of Natsume's friends. Nishimura and Kitamoto were debating over something stupid again and Sasada kept on complaining about their constant bickering. Taki and Tanuma came out a little later, having small talk. They seemed lively.

Nyanko-sensei watched them with his slit-like eyes. Something about Natsume's friends just ticked him off. He let out a grumble of how weak and idiotic humans are before he went off again, this time, to his beloved Nanatsuji's.

Before entering the store, Nyanko-sensei transformed first to Natsume Reiko. As a cat, there's no doubt that the store owner wouldn't sell him any buns even if he could talk to him. In fact, he was definite that the said human would faint in horror instead. Madara wouldn't have that though. He even went as far as taking some money from Natsume's savings for those buns after all.

As he neared the counter, he saw a standee of the damned exorcist, Natori Shuuichi, smiling at him, holding a bun to his mouth with one hand. Nyanko-sensei snickered at the sight. That Natori brat was so faking that smile. He made a note in his head to tell Natsume about this later.

After he was finished with his business, Madara quickly turned into his yokai form and flew towards the far end of town. He landed among blocks of smooth stones, careful not to step on any of them. He placed the bag of buns on one of the rectangular pieces in front of him and lied down on the ground, facing it.

He has been coming here every single day and it didn't seem like he'd stop doing that any time soon. It's not like he had anything else to do anyway. Unlike humans, he could sit there for all eternity if he wanted to. Yes, unlike a certain boy he knew, he could live forever. He looked up at the block of stone in front of him again, staring at the letters engraved on it.

"Baka Natsume."