("The Book of Friends…?" The boy looked at the first page disinterestedly, "A book of scribbles?" But even when holding that thought, he kept flipping through the long pages. His mind idly wondering how the paper felt and looked so new despite being from his grandmother's time — then again… he wondered how old was his grandmother when she died anyways. He stared boredly at the odd glyphs… blinking as the scribbles slowly formed into names in his mind.

Yuzuri… Kanoka… Shinonome… Kaidori… Tatsueda… Hidaka…

"Oi, brat. Dinner's ready."

He looked up and back to see his foster father and nodded quietly. The man scowled before scoffing at the name of the book,

"The Book of Friends? More like imaginary friends. I heard about you, you little liar, and I want none of that nonsense here. You understand me?"

"…yes, sir."

"Hmph." The man stomped away, angry that he had another mouth to feed. It was enough to feed a random child he was not even closely related to. It was more horrible that he had to take care of a trouble-making, notorious liar. He had heard the stories and hated to have such ridiculous babble near him. It was shaming — downright embarrassing to be forced to 'like' an ungrateful brat with no benefits.

Natsume Takashi sighed before giving the book one last flip. Imaginary friends… The little boy wondered if his grandmother could see the same thing as he could. Spirits so he heard they were called. Spirits that were not real because they were spirits that only he could see… But if she could see them… If she had seen them… then he wondered if it would mean that they weren't just his imagination? That he wasn't lying… that he wasn't insane and ingrateful—

The boy determinedly shot up. He was going to visit the temple. At least the weird people without hair there wouldn't think him so weird. They had to have information on this stuff, imaginary or not!)

"Ta-ka-shi~!"

"Rinko." He merely replied as he quietly read a book in the middle of the empty club room. The senpai already graduated, leaving him alone in the kendo club. Or more like kendo hobbyist club in Ukiyoe. Natsume actually prefered it this way. Quiet, calming, empty — if he wanted real practice, then he could just sleep near Nura and play with the god-knows-how-bored youkai. For now, his legs were crossed on top of the cool wooden surface.

She beamed before her grin at finding him turned into a deep frown as she read the cover out loud, "Exorcism of Certain Youkai—" White hair flew as she tried smacking it out of his grip, but missed with his quick arm movement. His eyes continued reading the words. She continued trying to take the book or at least knock it somewhere far far away, but failed yet many more times. She shouted, "Takashi! Don't read such horrifying books!"

"Yadda."

"They're — They're murder! You can't—"

"I am."

"But — but — you're—" Her eyes teared as she tried coming up with a way to get her friend to stop. Finally, she yelled, "You're not trying to kill me, are you? I — I haven't been annoying you or disgusting you or anything like that, have I?" Natsume's eyes finally trailed off the book as he gazed up at the crying girl. "I… I'm so sorry if I had… I… I really deserve to die, don't I…? God, I'm so hopelessly pathetic…"

Golden brown orbs softened. "Rinko…"

"CHANCE!" She shouted; red eyes gleamed as she snatched the book, running to the window to throw it somewhere far away — anywhere but there. She panted before standing upright; her good deed done for the day. The boy seemed frozen before he palmed his face,

"It was an act… of course…"

"Of course, of course!" Rinko beamed once again, but more proudly, "Takashi would never hate me~!"

"I might reconsider that right now." The boy drawled, standing up as well with a sigh, "Did you have to throw it away? Now I have to find it."

"You are not!" The snake girl blocked the doorway in a flash, "Why do you even want to read such dangerous books anyways?"

"It's information, Rinko. It's just information on youkai… I already promised you and Grandpa Hii that I wouldn't hurt the Nura Clan in return for your silence on my abilities, remember?" Red eyes wavered in their determination as they both remembered that day. But her hands clenched,

"Still. I don't want you dabbling in that stuff. Exorcists are our enemies. Our enemies, Takashi."

"…Rinko." His weary tone made her glow in hope that she had won until she saw his eyes, "I… I didn't think you distrusted me that much. I'm… not your enemy. Whatever information I get won't change that."

"Ta—"

He pushed past her and left. Rinko fell to her knees. Her fists clenched and she punched the wood, holding her fist to her chest,

"Ow."

Her voice echoed in the empty room as the polished floor became more reflective.

"Ow…"

…

"Hey, Natsume-kun. You're not walking out with that girl again?"

The boy glanced over to his seat partner's worried face, but he merely nodded and grabbed his school bag, "Yeah."

"Why not? Did you two have a fight or something? You both seemed pretty close together."

"...yeah." Seemed. That word was the perfect way to describe how their close their relationship was. "We're fine, Ienaga-san. No need to worry."

Her lips pursed, but the sound of running footsteps attracted their attention as they looked up to see Nura with a bag of drinks and snacks. The boy distributed them among the happy children, sighing after the long jog done and happily pumping his fist at the end. They sweatdropped while the classmates cheered.

"...Has he always been like that, Natsume-kun?" Kana finally asked as the boy collected notebooks to do homework for others. Natsume shook his head, contemplating as he watched the boy now wave to the others bye. The kid looked like he was in heaven as he left with the stack of books.

"...No." Natsume finally answered, palming his face as he knew exactly what the kid was doing. He patted the worried Kana on the shoulder, "Just give him some time. He's not being bullied so he'll eventually get tired of being so nice to people once they forget that he used to talk about youkai and remember his better sides."

"Oh!" She placed fist in palm in realization, "That makes sense." She beamed, "Jya, he'll stop lying then~?!"

"...perhaps." The brunet murmured, "Perhaps…" He repeated the word under his breath as he waved bye and watched her leave first for the bus home. The classroom was then empty and dark with the lights off. He remembered his own experiences and gently trailed his hand across the desk. His mind filled in memories of cruel words written in permanent marker. Then, the classroom was filled again with laughing children with mocking words and jeers — children whom all disappeared when he opened his eyes to see the empty classroom once again with clean desks and lingering presences of happy children.

"...in time he will, but this is where the lies really start, isn't it, Nura-san?" He left, slinging his shinai bag over his shoulder, "There's nothing wrong with being an excellent human." He would know as a person trying to be good. "However… never forget who you are."

Within him was a lonely side, distinctly separated from himself and the world, to the point where he had a different name. Around him was a family of youkai genuinely caring for him, wanting to prove it as loyal clan members and receive care back as individuals with hearts. And above him was the moon always giving him strength despite being ignored until night where it couldn't be anymore.

"You can't ignore the truth forever, Nura-san."

…

Sunday found Natsume on a free day from the Ukiyoe Pet Shop and on a train to Yatsuhara. He hummed as he read another book about spirits, listening to the music of nature that a monk once recommended. He really appreciated the cellphone given to him by Rin—

His hands clenched the metal more tightly before he sighed, feeling his own connection to youkai weigh on his lap more. It was a bit silly. He treasured his familial possessions more than ever after the car crash that changed his life, but he was giving it away one by one. Though it was really because Reiko was such an irresponsible grandmother. Honestly, how did she forget to return to that train station to help the big furry youkai get back to his little friend? Luckily he found that in the library books before he returned them (thankfully free of its long overdue charge with the nice librarian's dismissing smile).

Still…

He gazed at his cellphone. Was wanting information that bad?

…

"—and then he ignores me for the rest of the week. Can you believe it, Grandpa Hii?" Rinko pouted, "Are you even listening? Ne, ne—"

"I am." The long great white snake chuckled at his descendant who still visited him every week without fail. He was grateful for that, being old and unable to move as much as he did in the past. Hearing stories of everyone that his little Rinko met always made him feel closer to the family and a little less lonely.

He especially enjoyed the stories about his little girl's first friend in school; the little boy who saved his daughter from that awful youkai and helped her become more outgoing in school. And he could tell by the kid's eyes that he did the right thing truly for the sake of doing it. Perhaps that was why he allowed an individual with such potential to become powerful to remain unnoticed by the main family. It was with people like him that he could place his trust into. Yes, he chuckled at the very thought,

"Just let him, Rinko. He's not going to become an enemy suddenly because of some book~"

"But he's learning exorcism! Exorcist evil!" Rinko shouted incredulous that the old snake would defend him, "It's—"

"Now, now, Rinko, there are many reasons why people read books. To gain information, to gain power, to gain imagination… to gain support." Shirohebi, the ancient deity who watched over the school's many students for many years past, softened his red eyes, "Takashi is like our Nura-sama, Rinko. Except he doesn't have youkai blood within him, youkai sides that exist, or youkais constantly around him making their presences known and felt. He is alone. And…" Shirohebi closed his eyes as he could hear everything within his realm clearly, vividly. He had listened and so he knew, "Do try to understand him, Rinko. I know you know his past."

Rinko frowned as she remembered the information she herself searched up using family resources — the background of the mysterious best friend she had. It was only out of curiosity and fascination though she regretted it once she realized that it was a past he probably wanted to keep secret. After all, out of all the words and comments she heard, 'liar' was the one that appeared the most. Frequently, commonly, mercilessly.

For knowing youkai, Natsume Takashi was a liar.

"But…"

"Whatever information he knows, he won't use it for evil, Rinko. That's not why he's reading such books."

…

"Uwah!"

A small boy with messy black hair fell down after tripping over a rope. His eyes fearfully watched the forest around for the unnatural black shadow chasing him around. It stopped. He would have sighed in relief if it weren't for his mind remembering exactly why he was running so deep into the forest in the first place…

"No! The rope broke! The shrine — Wah! How do I fix it—"

Vividly bright light exploded from the broken shrine, flooding the forest for seconds until it receded. The boy watched with horror as the small door began to creakily open. His mind immediately wondered if he was going to be eaten by a more powerful demon now… until he saw it. He laughed, choking on saliva and spit at the hideous thing—

"A fat cat?!"

"Oi!" The maneki neko — white with orange and black markings on its head and back — shouted indignantly. The golden cat bell on its red collar tinkled as it jumped to kick him. The cat missed and made a mini crater with its above average weight on the ground as the boy rolled out of the way in his laughter, "I'm not a fat cat!"

"Then what are you? A pig?"

"Not a pig! Insolent human, I'll eat you—"

The boy paused in his laughter, freezing at the word 'eat'. He remembered tales his father told him about children being kidnapped in their sleep and eaten. He remembered all the times he had felt malicious intent from the shadows that only he could see, the bad presences that only he could sense. And he gulped with tears positioned to cry. But he wasn't going to in front of the arrogant cat statue that was way too funny to cry at. He gulped once again before defiantly glaring back,

"You, a little kitty, eat me?"

"I'm not a little kitty..." The maneki neko growled before changing into his youkai form. A large and majestic white fox loomed over him with great power. Only Kaname didn't know; his eyes unable to see youkai. He could tell that the youkai was large and powerful now by the way a strong gale of wind blasted outwards from the black miasma before him. He could seeing the shadow that engulfed his easily. But he couldn't see the real form of the maneki neko. And that made it all the more frightening. He didn't want to die. He tried scrambling away, but his feet refused to move. He didn't want to die. Not here. Not in a place he just moved into three days ago. Not with his unsuspecting father at home. It was unfair. He just escaped one youkai to be eaten by one he unsealed.

Would he be forgotten if he died to an invisible being? Would he be nonexistent from being eaten by something that shouldn't exist?

Sweat poured down from his being as he stared up in horror… But before the rush of wind could cascade upon his small body, a smaller rush of wind came from the east and he watched in stupor as a smaller boy ran out of nowhere, smashing his fist into an invisible being, sending it into the air after a resounding impact.

Smoke puffed out as the maneki neko came back into view. The cat laid knocked out on the grass. The boy smiled down, offering him a hand to pull him back up. He took it unconsciously, still confused and amazed by all that had happened…

"Are you alright?"

"A-ah, yeah… thanks…" He unconsciously spoke before blurting out suddenly, "Can you see?"

The small brunet blinked before smiling; his own black eyes widened at the bright honeyed brown orbs offered to him… Warmth bloomed in the hand that supported him back up as he spoke softly,

"Yes. You?"

"Only their shadows… and presences." He confessed; relief gushed into him at the fact that he wasn't the only one in this world who was crazy… "Are we the crazy ones…?"

The boy contemplated. He watched the other with curiosity, studying the pale skin and delicate body figure the other sported. He seemed so otherworldly in appearance that if it weren't for the casual human clothes, he'd think the boy was an ayakashi as well.

"Saa… but I think that being crazy once in awhile is a good thing."

"Really?!" He couldn't help but shout after years of troubles. The other grinned,

"Why not? Being crazy brought me to you~"

The black-haired boy blushed. No one ever liked being around him. He had a default catatonic expression. He randomly sported headaches when feeling ayakashi around. He could see shadows others couldn't. He had a Buddhist monk for a father. He couldn't really connect well to others around him…

And now this boy implied he was happy to meet him. It made an odd feeling bubble within.

"I-I'm Tanuma Kaname. Just moved here three days ago."

"O-oh, right, I forgot to introduce myself." The boy politely bowed his head, smiling. "Natsume Takashi. I really live in Ukiyoe Town, but frequently visit for the nature around."

Tanuma frowned, feeling really disappointed that the boy who could understand him didn't live close to him. However…

"D-do you want to be my friend?" Tanuma cringed at how badly phrased that was, but the boy didn't care as he shouted,

"I would be happy to!"

Suddenly, the world brightened around them. There were no chasing shadows. There was no maneki neko that tried to eat him. There was no shrine. It was just them and their friendship that blossomed within his soul. He made a friend. Tanuma suddenly felt the urge to rub the back of his neck, asking sheepishly,

"Are you leaving?"

Japanese schools had an one-day weekend. They both knew it. It was the same everywhere. Natsume pondered before smiling,

"At five."

So seven hours. Tanuma beamed, "Then wanna hang out at my place?"

"Sure," The boy amiably agreed as he followed. There was a bit of an awkward silence — well, awkward for him at least as the both of them weren't really talkers. After a while, Tanuma couldn't help but ask after years of thinking himself crazy,

"The… ayakashi. Do you think they really exist? Is it just us?"

It was probably a silly question. One of them could distinctly sense them and see their dark, pitch black shadows. The other could see them as if they were real people, humans, and animals. They were real, even more so to the boys who knew them almost all their life like they knew the birds and the plants and their own family. Ayakashi were just as familiar as the sun in the sky, the moon at night, the water they drank. They existed. Both of them knew especially with the wounds and scars dug deeply into their skins and hearts from knowing them.

"..." But Natsume was silent as he clenched his small messenger bag tighter. Inside it was the Yuujinchou that his grandmother made, filled with the names of many ayakashi. Inside it was the book detailing exorcism processes and sealing methods. Inside it was the cellphone given to him by a girl who was an eighth youkai and had a snake deity as a grandfather. Still, he did not know. He went through too many ridicules, saw too many ignorant people, and knew the short elusive feelings with spirits too well. They were too 'unrealistic'. "...It's not just us." He finally said despite the knowledge in his head from researched information, from consuming everything there is to know about those strange creatures. "...I think they're real."

But no matter how much he knew and experienced, in the end, it was only 'think'.

…

"Then why, Grandpa Hii…?"

…

Because he experienced the faces that called him 'liar' more.

"We're not alone, Tanuma."

They would be after the day was over. Their friendship and bond of understanding a feeling like a beautiful dream.

"They have to exist."

But everyone says otherwise all the time. Anyone that stands out is nailed back into the ground by the hammer of words and definite eyes blind to another world.

"They have to…"

But did they really when youkai weren't needed? When they could vanish with an easy exorcism? When millions — billions of people could live without ever knowing them?

…

"Well, why did you research him, Rinko? Why would you want information about your own friend and from so many sources?"

The girl blushed from being caught, but answered, hugging her knees, "Well, because he's so unreal for me, Grandpa Hii. Because of him, I can make friends in school and be happy about the scales you gave me. He's so nice and pretty and… sometimes he feels so distant like I can't touch him even though I'm so close. He's so amazing… that I'm relieved that he's not perfect — that he has faults and is really real. That he's not unreachable… ah," The girl realized; the lids of her eyes lowered, "Exorcists are generally the only ones that really know us, huh. Our weaknesses, our strengths… our existences. So… I was the one that was unreachable. An eighth of me is a lie, Grandpa Hii." It sounded so silly to the ears that she laughed, but it wasn't funny, "He really is too stupid to use that information for evil. I mean, we exist, don't we? He sees us everyday… We're really real, but I doubted him too." In more ways than one. She glared at her reflection in the fountain water, but smiled as she stood up, "Jya ne, Grandpa Hii~ See you next week!"

The snake smiled, "You too, Rinko." Once she left, he cried, "Uuuuu, my little baby's growing up so well~!"

…

No… Youkai were needed. They had a purpose. They had meaning. They lived lives just like humans, even coddling over kids that temporarily hated them like mothers and fathers. They helped. Natsume smiled at the cellphone he was given. And finally, they were individuals. And no matter how short or long, he would always cherish each of these meetings.

"Because, well, they just do."

He smiled, making Tanuma stare before smirking,

"You know… You really look like a girl, Natsume~ Probably even more pretty than one!"

Natsume pounded the black-haired boy one without mercy; the other laughed and the trip to home wasn't so awkward and long anymore. After talking for a long time about things they saw and school in general, the brunet left back to the fields. He was immediately crowded by low leveled spirits with two middle leveled ones as the leaders. They waved their support flags, shouting loudly,

"Natsume-sama! Over here! The human is over here!"

"Over here!" The bull-looking youkai echoed and he saw what he came here for; the monk prayed at the center with a beaded necklace in hand. It was a bit annoying when Chuukyuu A and B had continuously begged him to stop the exorcist with their eccentric methods, but he now found it satisfying that he could help the harmless, innocent ones that just wanted to live their own lives in the beautiful grassy fields. He called out,

"Anoo! Excuse me, sir, but can I request something?" The monk stopped mid-stance to gaze at the curious boy that appeared. "This may seem weird, but the youkai here are…"

And he spoke for the insignificant, unseeable ones… that were just as significant as everyone else in the world all the same.

They existed and they were his friends.

…

("Sorry, I'm late!"

"It's alright, Fukunaga-san."

The girl with long wavy white hair and snake-like red eyes shouted, panting from a long run. The girl blushed when she saw half of the duties already done. It was her turn to do the classroom duties this week with Natsume-san yet so far for the first three days, she kept turning up late because of the pesky youkai made of cats and with two golden bells for eyes, Sunekosuri.

So far, Sunekosuri was only constantly tripping her with his cats placed around the place. But lately, the actions were steadily becoming bolder. But it was not like she could fight back being one-eighth youkai… and she didn't want Grandpa Hii to worry or the Nura Clan to be bothered with her measly problems.

Still, it made her feel horrible to be late and make her classmate do a lot more than half of the work. She was just a mediocre existence that didn't fit in with anything and yet here she was troubling the nicest guy in class!

Fukunaga Rinko closed her eyes, ready for a scold or anything… just to feel his warm hand patting her shoulder,

"It's really alright, Fukunaga-san. We can finish up the rest together."

She looked up to see a beautiful smile — the guy had looks pretty even to youkai standards. And a warm smile… even to her, the gloomy girl that didn't stand out. She always tried not to stand out, being an awkward existence. She never reached out and played — or even talked to her classmates, unsure of what to do. She wasn't human… yet she longed to be. Especially now. The boy smiled and waited for her answer… even though she was known to be silent. She nodded,

"Mm… thanks…" Her voice were whispers, barely audible yet he heard it,

"It's no problem."

And she set to work, feeding the classroom fishes and helping place the chairs back down since they were only placed up for easier sweeping. With her former classroom duty partners, it would have felt like an awkward silence. But now, it was a cozy one. The both of them relaxed into the routine of cleaning the entire classroom up, doing the occasional extra duties that the homeroom teacher assigns, organizing things, and then later writing a report in the book.

She never felt more in place than right now… which made her feel especially bad that she was late again. She snuck a look at her partner, Natsume. The guy was famous for always helping people — doing odd jobs and favors if people asked. Of course, he didn't go so far with his nice personality as to be a gopher. Even he had limits and with his fangirls around, no one dared to even ask anymore of him than of any other student. It was easy though to befriend him. He got along with new people easily even though he was like her. Silent and polite.

What made her attention really attracted to the boy was how free he seemed to be. The boy did as he wanted to. In class, he'd look out the window, sleep, or doodle without hiding it from the teacher. He didn't follow the unspoken rules of school: listen to the teacher, follow the trends, and do what everyone is doing. Rinko guessed she was fascinated by his open identity. He was himself and didn't hide it.

"I'm going to leave for a while to take out the trash—"

She snapped out of thought before flashing straight towards the trashcan, "A-ah, you don't have to. It's my turn today and I was late… you can just go home now and I'll finish up the rest, Natsume-san."

She really wanted it. To do the rest (which was really just her part of the job) to atone for her tardiness. The boy probably sensed it as he nodded politely,

"Then, I'll be leaving now, Fukunaga-san. Thank you for the hard work today."

"Hai! You too!"

She quickly said as the boy picked his school and shinai bags up and left. She stared determinedly at the classroom… though unconsciously frowned at how much darker it felt without him around.

She was alone again.

She sighed as she tied the trash bag and began taking it outside.

"Wah!"

Of course, that stupid youkai wouldn't leave her alone though. Cats ran forming the large Sunekosuri; two shining cat bells made up his big bulky eyes. Sunekosuri laughed,

"Want to play?"

She flinched as the cat claws dug into her shoulder — an action contrasting sharply against Natsume's gentle reassuring pat. She unconsciously swung her arm back to get his claws off, "Get away from me!" Her red eyes widened with panic as she realized too late that she was holding a trash bag. Sunekosuri slashed through the bag, causing its disgusting contents to fall on her. The cat youkai laughed,

"How fitting! Trash with trash!"

Cats shot out from under Sunekosuri's clothes, tackling her into the small pile of filth. The youkai roared louder,

"Ahahaha! You're trash, trash, trash! An useless half-hearted failure that shouldn't even exist! A mere measly eighth of a great me! No! Weaker than even that because that snake's just pathetic—"

"Grandpa Hii's not pathetic!"

"He is! And you're even more so! Just your pathetic presence brings disgrace to him — to all of us youkai — Buwah!"

The cats that formed Sunekosuri's head were scattered, flying in the air by a fast roundhouse kick. Rinko's eyes widened when she looked up to see Natsume. She shivered, thinking that the glare was aimed at her… until she saw that it was for Sunekosuri, who reformed a few meters behind her. Rinko was immediately ashamed that she was exposed as being an eighth youkai.

"Na—"

"Who do you think you are?!" roared Sunekosuri as his angry cats began charging the boy. The boy simply jumped over them to punch both eyes of Sunekosuri, causing large chimes as the bells sung for mercy. The boy didn't care as he landed on the ground before him and swept his legs out, causing the headless Sunekosuri to fall down flat on his eyes again.

"The question should be… Who do you think you are?"

"You'll pay for this!"

"Wrong. I already did with interest unless you need more."

Sunekosuri whimpered, hiding from the sight of his raised fists, "Stop! Stop! What do you want?!"

"Leave Ukiyoe Town and never come back here again."

"Hiiiiiieee!"

"I'm counting."

At that, Sunekosuri dispersed into a mob of cats and ran away. Natsume didn't even give the youkai another look as he turned to Rinko. Hand was about to extend to help her up when he noticed her flinch. He himself unconsciously did so at the sight; hand faltered before decidedly placing his school jacket on her shoulders,

"Sorry, you had to see that ugly side of me…"

"No." Natsume froze as Rinko's hand lightly pulled his shirt. The girl looking up determinedly, "It wasn't ugly! You fought him so bravely and won so easily — I... I really am trash, aren't I? I can't even defend my grandpa's honor! I can't even do anything right! I can't even fight back! I'm… just an ugly failure who shouldn't even exist… just an eighth of a youkai…"

She thought that he was going to leave her, but felt something that said otherwise. Once again she felt a warm pat on her shoulders; the hands more firmer — not in a way that it hurt like Sunekosuri's claws... but in a more protective way that made her feel secure. His voice was gentle as always, something she thought that she didn't deserve.

"You aren't ugly or weak, Fukunaga-san. Not even trash. Everything deserves to exist, even you. And you bravely live your life proving that each day, struggling past the prejudices that come with being part youkai and trying to find your inner self. You fight for your grandfather's honor by showing the world his gift to you: these beautiful white scales." She widened her eyes, blushing when she felt his hand caress the white scales around her eyes. They were really a product of her failure to fully transform into a human.

"You give me too much credit, Natsume-san."

"Do I? I'm just saying the truth. What I see before me isn't trash. What I see before my eyes is a beautiful girl with more strength than she thinks."

Rinko was mesmerized by his honey brown eyes — they shone brilliantly with sincere warmth. She quickly looked down and away from the eyes,

"...then... Then, what about me being an eighth of a youkai? I'm just a halfway sorts of existence. A failure."

"You're just a bit confused then because you're not halfway. You're an eighth of the way."

The girl glared while he chuckled, "Kidding, kidding. But at least you got some more life in your eyes now~"

Rinko looked back away with a faint blush, but oddly felt better after glaring at Natsume for that. Natsume smiled as he caught her off-guard by snatching one of her arms and pulling her off the ground covered with trash,

"Being an eighth youkai just means that you're special. You're not a failure, but a talented individual. It's alright to be yourself, Rinko~"

And once again her eyes widened to see the world around her move — the boy tugging her forward with a smile and movements as free as the wind. She remembered why she was captivated by the boy named Natsume Takashi. He had the courage to do whatever he want and to fight by his beliefs. Even if he had to take down a youkai three times bigger than him. After a fresh run through the trees, they reached the girl's locker room. Takashi pick-locked the door (and she would later forget to ask how he even knew how to) and then the shower room's,

"I'll do the rest of the classroom duties. Go ahead and use the showers, Fukunaga-san."

The use of her last name again snapped her out of whatever fantasy she was thinking.

"A-ano… thanks, Natsume-san." For everything. "U-um… can we be friends?"

Natsume blinked before smiling, "Sure, Fukunaga~"

It was only long after he was gone and she had thoroughly showered that she realized in newfound depression that she left him to finish the classroom duties again. And she forgot to ask him how he knew youkai — the guy not at all surprised by the recent events.

But… she blushed as she got a friend. It was the first time that someone told her that being an eighth youkai was alright. Perhaps maybe now, she had the courage to become stronger.

…

"Natsume-kun…"

"Yeah, Fukunaga?"

"...call me Rinko."

Natsume arched a brow before shrugging, "Sure, Rinko. Just call me Takashi then."

"Mm~! Ne, ne, so how do you know youkai?"

Natsume stared… before deciding that he really didn't understand girls after all. He really did wonder how Rinko changed from quiet to the genki girl. He had only saved her after he came back to school, having forgotten to change his shoes. But… his father had once said to not question girls when they do weird things so he'll listen to his late old man.

"My grandmother was said to have a lot of spiritual power. She passed it down, I guess."

"Oooh~" Rinko grinned as she remembered Sunekosuri flying in the air with a human punch, "That's cool; for me, it's just because Grandpa Hii is a youkai — he's actually a land deity at this school~ Wanna meet him?"

"Err… sure?"

When Rinko grabbed his hands and dragged him out, Natsume wondered if the tables had turned. Meeting Grandpa Hii was interesting; the land deity was a large white snake in the school fountain. The snake greeted him with a hiss of many thanks,

"Thank you so much for taking care of my granddaughter. I'm a supposed to be a land deity, but I'm always being such a burden to my children."

Rinko giggled, "You're just being dramatic, Grandpa Hii. I'm alright so cheer up~"

"Uuuu, you're so brave, Rinko" cried the large snake as it ate the bento. Natsume felt his smile twitch before asking,

"Are you two of a clan?"

The two exchanged glances; Grandpa Hii answered, "Yes. We're both of the Nura Clan around here. Why?"

Natsume bowed, "I have a favor to ask. I wish for both of your silence about me and my abilities. If they find out, then I want it to be by my own volition."

Grandpa Hii's red eyes narrowed, "Will you cause any trouble for our clan?"

"I won't."

"Very well. In exchange, take good care of my Rinko."

"Grandpa!"

"Sure, we're friends anyways~"

Rinko pouted; cheeks inflamed with embarrassment. The white snake beamed; just yesterday Rinko was friendless and having trouble with Sunekosuri. Now, she was a cute girl acting her age~ He liked the boy already. Rinko grinned, "It'll be just our little secret then~"

Natsume smiled, "Thanks."

"No problem~" Both replied before the three began talking about trivial things.)

"How could I forget?" Rinko smiled to herself as she remembered her dear friend. She couldn't wait until Monday. It's been so long since they talked to each other and she wasn't going to let him go any longer. She wanted to talk about more trivial things. She wanted to waste time with him. She wanted to always feel that experience that he was really real. That he was her best friend.

…

Once Natsume left Yatsuhara Fields, he sidestepped a pounce from the large furball that sounded like a cannonball firing through the winds. He wasn't surprised, having heard the thumps of the fat cat,

"You followed."

"Of course I did, Natsume Reiko." The cat answered, changing to a much larger beast with long white wisps for fur.

Natsume frowned. It was always her that they confused him with, but he had long understood what they meant after his first accidental encounter with an ayakashi that wanted its name back. That was years ago.

"I'm her grandson."

That made the beast stop to closely eye him… before blinking, "You did look a bit different…"

He twitched. He hated it when people confuse him for a girl, "I'm a boy. I'm a lot younger than Reiko. I'm—"

"Cute unlike her." The white beast grinned.

"I'm not cute!" The boy protested with a deadly glare.

"Is too."

"Is not!"

"Is too."

"Is not!"

"How's Reiko?"

The boy was about to shout, but then the question connected and he answered truthfully, "I heard she died young."

"Sou ka… humans really do live such short lives… Ne, kid, do you know where the Book of Friends is?"

Natsume crossed his arms. He heard that many times before as well, "Is your name in there?"

The white beast looked taken aback that the boy did know before scoffing, "Of course not. I, Madara the Great Ayakashi, would never lose to a puny human."

"Says the one knocked out by said human's grandson's punch."

The beast's face held a faint blush as it growled, "It was a fluke."

"Uh huh. So what do you want the Book of Friends for?"

"It doesn't matter to you. It's not for human hands. Give it to me."

"A human made it. It's not for you to decide."

"Just give it to me, boy!" The beast growled, raising his head high imposingly. The boy wasn't impressed as he stood his ground,

"It was my grandmother's. I won't give away one of the few things I have left of my family."

"And what will you do with it? Abuse its power?"

"I'll keep the book. And I'm giving away the names."

"!" The beast's golden eyes widened, "Why? You might die."

"Then that'll be the end of me."

"..." Golden eyes looked down at brown before the beast changed back into his maneki neko form, "In that case, I'll be your bodyguard."

"...what?"

"Someone has to protect the idiotic weakling. In exchange, I'll take the leftovers of the Book of Friends when you die~ All mine; yay~!"

"Wait!" The boy shouted before groaning as the cat was already not listening, hopping about in lala land, "Argh, whatever, do whatever you want."

"Yatta!"

And so, he gained an ugly cat as a pet. (Though he would later find out that it was an adorable cat to girls, especially fanfiction writers.)

…

"Ooooh, ohh! You do have a brain, Natsume!"

The cat got a bonk on the head; Natsume sighed, "And what pointed that obvious fact out?"

Nyanko pouted at being hit before gloating with his observation, "You live in this town because it's sooo full of youkai that the fear enables even the stupidly weak humans to see them. And it even hides your stupidly strong spiritual power and presence. So now, you don't have to care about having youkai issues. If you see a youkai, then humans around you see them as well and they have the same chance of being eaten first!"

The boy nodded; that was why he chose Ukiyoe Town (minus the last one). Even though he won't cower down from peer pressure anymore — he swore not to after his last foster family — at least he won't be called a liar here if something does happen. And something almost always does happen.

Still. Natsume bonked the cat on the head again.

"Ittai! What was that for?!"

"No talking, sensei. The Nura Clan resides here."

"...mmph." The cat shut his mouth quickly, looking around cautiously to sigh in relief. He whispered viciously to the boy's ear; an easy feat considering how Nyanko-sensei was sitting on his shoulder, "Tell me that earlier, aho!"

"I thought the great Madara would know."

"It's been years since I was sealed!"

But still, Madara knew the stories. He had heard about the First. And then, the Second as he led the Golden Age. The Clan was bound to still be strong and dangerous. And probably even arrogant from their past glory.

And arrogant weaklings meant trouble still. Because they brought the very strong ones to attention. Attention in a place not his territory was something even Madara didn't want. Especially with the Book of Friends to worry about.

Natsume smiled teasingly, "It'll be alright. Though fat, you make a perfect cat."

Nyanko growled, "I'm not fat or a cat!"

"Then you're a fat cat."

"Not a fat cat either! Or fat and a cat!" He hissed when he saw the brat open his mouth again, "Hmph. Where's your home anyways?"

The boy nodded. An arrogant Nyanko was better than an anxious one. The boy walked up the stairs to third floor and unlocked the door furthest from the stairs,

"Here."

The cat hopped off his shoulder with a fancy twirl in the air before observing the place with a sniff, "Could be better. Your family?"

Natsume's hands froze midway to the knob to close it before answering, "Gone. I live alone."

"What about the law?"

Just because Madara didn't like humans, didn't mean that he was ignorant of their ways. Natsume shrugged,

"The landowner sympathizes with me. Apparently, she had ran away many times before as well. She gives me cheaper rent and takes care of the legal guardian stuff since no one really checks. I got a job at the pet store to take care of money issues."

Madara whistled impressed. "You're like Reiko. Always alone."

Natsume paused again, but that went unseen by Nyanko as the cat found the kitchen and gobbled noisily on cookies.

"Always alone… I heard she died alone too, Nyanko — sensei? Nyanko-sensei? Madara?" Natsume looked around to see only darkness. No cat. No anything. He shivered as he wondered… would he die alone too?

No. He shouldn't think of such morbid stuff. The boy went back to reading some books he checked out from the library. He blinked in memory; the cellphone still laid in his pocket. Staring at the books, he sighed,

"I still want to read them… but I guess I'll apologize. I get it." He remembered the Buddhist monk at Yatsuhara Fields who blindly purified the areas, "Information is dangerous… but I really won't use it like that. I can see my own actions and that's the difference."

…

"I'm sorry—"

Two pairs of eyes blinked as they said the same thing at the same time. They then laughed, bursting into chuckles and giggles as they released all tension and anxiety. Natsume held out his hand,

"Can we still be friends?"

"Of course." She said as she shook it firmly. They walked to their classrooms together.

This was his Book of Friends, Natsume thought as he felt his heart calm to a lull. Old friendships that still felt new despite the passing time. New friendships created mutually despite the differences. None of them were imaginary. They were all real and they were all a very big part of his fun life.

A/N: Written for Bunpoushihou. Your review has brought to my attention that I actually do know the story behind Rinko's and Natsume's meeting and it was in my Google Docs somewhere. Edited it to add Madara and some Yatsuhara (don't know where Natsume Yuujinchou is located in) sidestories as promised in Chapter 1.

Btw, does anyone know the difference between 'past' and 'passed'? I'm really curious if I used the word right since I have no beta reader. I'll really consider writing a chapter including an idea from the review of the person with the best explanation.

Published April 22, 2014.