A/N: Hi all, this is actually my first time writing fan fiction so I'm anxious to know if this piece is any good or not. I've decided to do a natsume x matoba - this pairing needs more love! I can kinda see why there's not that many stories since Matoba seems a bit evil and can be a complete twat, but i reckon if the two were friends they could both learn something from the other, since they're like light and dark, yin and yang. Also, Matoba seems the type to be really over protective (or is it possessive?), it would be scary to see Matoba's reaction if another exorcist tried to recruit Natsume. But enough twittering from me, read and enjoy~

Warning: Shounen ai (boy meets boy)

Rating: T

Disclaimers: I don't own Natsume Yuujinchou or any of its characters


In a grand and lavish room fit only for the best of the best of society, at a deep mahogany and intricately carved table, depicting fire-breathing dragons and roaring lions, sat two men – one middle aged with short black hair and shadows under his grey eyes making him look older than he was and an aura of superiority around him garbed in fine clothes consisting of loose, black trousers made of silk and a handsome, navy coloured kimono. The other was much younger – around 19 – with long black hair tied loosely back with white ribbon and piercing black eyes wearing a dark grey kimono and black haori. As the two finished the lavish meals set in front of them the older man cleared his throat, drawing the younger's attention.

'We will be receiving a guest in a few days' time. He is from the countryside and will be visiting the city for the first time,' the older man announced, the younger simply narrowed his eyes.

'This is the first time I've heard of this, Father,' the younger replied. 'It's rare for you to accept guests, who is he to receive such treatment?'

'An important member of the Natori family, I'm sure you've heard of them, Seiji?'

'Natori – as in the exorcists?' His father nodded.

'Yes, they are quite an influential family in the court and are famous as the most powerful exorcists in the land,' Seiji mulled this over for a moment, looking down at the table.

'Then, this would be a chance to establish a connection with them and strengthen our position in the court,' Seiji said, more to himself than his father, and then looked back up to his father. 'But why would you need to do such a thing, as the head of the Matoba family surely you'd have no need for such a thing – especially one as tedious as looking after and entertaining an exorcist,' Matoba let out a sigh before explaining.

'It's always good to establish as many connections as possible – you'll never know when you will need them, it's always good to have a safety net. Many powerful families have fallen from grace because of scandals or have fallen out of the Lord's favour, and because they don't have a back-up plan they can't survive it and the family collapses. However, if I use this opportunity I can get close to the head of the Natori clan and maybe even form an alliance with him. You understand.'

'Yes.' Was Seiji's short, toneless reply, basically you're just shoe licking and using other people as always – of course, I'm not naïve enough to believe that there's such a thing as real relationships when it comes to politics, all anyone cares about is power in the noble's silly little game – half the time I think it's only because they've got nothing better to do. Well, I guess it's better for me that way, I've never gotten along with other people anyway; I don't need to make friends, I can get on in the court with my own power. No matter what father always natters on about having to use other people to get somewhere in life – that's the same as admitting you're too weak to do it on your own. How pathetic. Seiji was pulled out of his thoughts at his father's next words.

'I'll leave it up to you to ensure our guest enjoys his stay here, I'm sure you'll do your best to make sure he's happy and comfortable,' Seiji's eyes immediately widened, staring at his father in shock.

'What!? You expect me to entertain some old man just so you can get friendly with some family out in the country side,' Seiji spluttered, Matoba simply watched Seiji's reaction with mirth.

'It's seems you've misunderstood something, the Natori member isn't an old man – in fact I believe he's about the same age as you,' Seiji's eyes widened even further at this.

'But didn't you say he was an important and powerful member of the clan? How can he be so young?'

'I don't know. I was surprised as well when I heard this. Apparently he's some kind of child prodigy who was adopted by the Clan head – Natori Shuuichi – when he was visiting another country. Well according to the rumours anyway,' Matoba got up to leave before adding. 'I hope the two of you become good friends by the end of his stay, enough to make them invite you to their manor anyway – don't fail me Seiji. Now, I have work to attend to. Goodnight.' And with that he left. Seiji sighed, if his father thought he was going to try and make friends with this so called 'child prodigy' then he had another thing coming. Seeing as how this boy was adopted it was obvious he wasn't from an upper class background so it wasn't as if this boy was better than him so it wouldn't matter how Seiji treated him – the boy should be grateful he'd come this far in society, even if he was just being used by Natori Shuuichi. Seiji had seen Natori on a few rare occasions at important social gatherings, the man had a lot of charm and charisma and used it to his advantage – wooing all the ladies and gaining the trust of many men, but Seiji was certain there was another side to that man, he saw in his eyes when he smiled something akin to that of a sly fox.

Seiji stood up, following his father's example to return to his room when a girl wearing a maid uniform suddenly crashed into him – spilling a pot of scalding hot tea all over Seiji's fine clothes. Seiji stood there for a few seconds in shocked silence as his anger built up to a boiling point. The maid let out a gasp and quickly apologised, bowing low multiple times.

'I'm terribly sorry! Please forgive me, young master!'

'Why, you!' Seiji roughly shoved the young girl over, looking down at her with eyes brimming with anger and disgust, glancing at the black collar around her neck, 'how dare slave filth like you do such a thing to me, do you really want to die that much!?' The girl whimpered and cowered away in fear.

'P-p-please forgive me! I-I'm new here, s-so …'

'Stop your blabbering, wench, you should consider yourself fortunate to be taken in by us and allowed to wear such clothing instead of the rags your kind usually wear' Seiji let out a sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose, allowing his sudden rage to simmer down, 'I don't have the patience for this, it's just one thing after another today. I'll let you off the hook this time but…' He looked down at the girl with a bored glare, 'If something like this happens again, well, I'm sure you realise there will be consequences.' The slave was barely able to squeak a terrified reply before Seiji stormed out the room.

(A few days later)

Seiji was wandering around a path in the front grounds on a fine spring afternoon, admiring the cherry blossoms as they danced through the air on a slight breeze. The Natori guest was supposed to arrive this morning but he has still to show up – does this person have no manners whatsoever? There's so much I could be doing right now instead of waiting around for some tardy guy whom I don't care about – I have a feeling I'm not going to get on well with this oh-so-important guest. Seiji closed his eyes and took in a deep breath and let it out again, trying to calm himself and clear his head of overly negative thoughts as he sensed a headache coming on. Upon hearing the soft pattering of rushed footsteps his eyes snapped open and he turned to face the runner, wary in case they had ill intentions – one could never be too careful about such things when in a position like his. As the stranger came into view, Seiji realised it was one of the household servants and relaxed his stance. The servant bent down on one knee when he reached Seiji, slightly out of breathe after searching around the whole house and grounds for the young man.

'Young master, the Natori guest has arrived. He should be with his carriage which is parked in front of the manor,' Seiji nodded and dismissed the servant who hurried back to the house to continue his duties. Well, at last. I'm expecting an apology from this brat – how dare he make me wait. Seiji walked back to the house at a leisurely pace, determined not to hurry and make this Natori guy wait for a while. After emerging from the garden path and arriving at the front of the manor Seiji was able to quickly locate the carriage and walked over to be met by the carriage driver.

'Ah, you must be Matoba Seiji-sama. My apologies, Natori-sama said he was going for a walk while he waited to be greeted. I believe he went over there,' the man pointed over to a second path on the other side of the gardens. Seiji clenched his fists into tight balls. So he thinks he can send me on a wild goose chase and run along after him after he made me wait so long. So he got bored for waiting for a few minutes, while I was waiting for over three hours for this brat? Seiji strode to the path with determination to make the Natori member sorry for his rudeness and for making Seiji run after him like some kind of servant. After setting down the path, it took Seiji another three or four minutes before he found another person. A lone figure stood by a large pond, one hand resting on a large cherry blossom tree gazing across the calm surface of the water. Getting closer, Seiji could see the figure was wearing a beautiful light pink kimono with red, green and gold embroidery of flowers and leaves. Who is it? Perhaps one of the Natori's female attendants? No, her clothing is too fancy for an attendant, perhaps she is also a member of the Natori family and travelled with the other – but wouldn't we have been informed of such a thing? Unable to draw a conclusion from his speculations, Seiji decided to ask the lady directly. Approaching closer, Seiji called out.

'Excuse me? Do you have some business in here, my lady?' Seiji tried to give his best gentlemanly smile, but probably failed and looked like a wolf about to devour a sheep. The figure turned round with a pleasant smile on her face, and Seiji's heart missed a beat when he saw the beauty of her face. Her skin was a delicate pale white like the moon, her face a perfect oval, eyes golden and framed with long lashes and her hair a rare dusty blonde colour and, although short, it shone beautifully in the dappled sunlight and swayed slightly in the breeze. When she spoke it was like the singing of song birds, the chiming of a wind chime, the playing of a harp, something so lovely one could be content to listen to it all day.

'Yes, however I was drawn in by the beauty of this garden while I was waiting to be received. Are you perhaps the owner of this household?' The beauty asked. All Seiji was able to do for a few moments was stare into the other's eyes before snapping out of his reverie and realised she had asked a question.

'Huh?' Seiji, realising he had just made such an unintelligent and rude noise cleared his throat and answered the sandy haired woman's question. 'Oh, no. I am the Matoba family head's son and heir – Matoba Seiji – my apologies for greeting you late. But may I ask who you are? I was only informed of a male member of the Natori family visiting us, and speaking of which I haven't seen him yet – was he unable to come?

'Male?' The woman cocked her head to the side. 'But-' The lady was unable to finish her sentence when suddenly, out of nowhere, a girl wearing maid clothes frantically rushed over to the pair but as she was about to reach them she lost her footing and tripped over, knocking Seiji over and into the pond.


Dun dun dun! Seiji's not going to be very happy about that, is he? I'd really really appreciate it if you could review, as I said before I want to know if my writing is any good or if it's complete poop and constructive criticism is extremely welcome - but be gentle, its my first time Love you all :), over and out!