Hello! This is my first fanfic so if my characters seem a bit OOC, please tell me immediately. I accept comments and criticisms as it is my first time writing.

The youkai here is my own OC, as I don't know if youkais with abilities that I wanted existed. This is just the first chapter so please be patient!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Natsume Yuujinchou... but I wish I did...

Chapter One: Encounters

It was in the midst of one fine summer afternoon that Natsume Takashi decided to take Nyanko-sensei out for a walk. They were walking for almost an hour around the park, and the wind gently breezed around them.

"Oi, oi Natsume! Let's go buy some squid! Natsume! Squid! Squid!"

Natsume sighed. "Now, now, sensei. Dinner will be served later when we get home. You're eating too much again."

"Nani?! What are you saying?! I'm not eating too much!"

"Really, sensei, you should be dieting. How will you protect me with that fat body of yours? *sigh* And you call yourself my bodyguard?"

A vein popped in Nyanko-sensei's head. "You're the one who's not eating 's why you're so weak, and this majestic beast is protecting you!"

And both Natsume and Nyanko-sensei started their constant bickering.

Suddenly Nyanko-sensei stopped and sniffed at the air.

"Nyanko-sensei?" Natsume asked, a bit worried.

"Sake! I smell sake!" And Nyanko-sensei promptly ran off.

"Oi, matte! Sensei!" Natsume held on to Nyanko-sensei's leash tightly, but was forced to let go. He almost tripped but quickly regained his balance as he saw Nyanko-sensei leaping, the cat's body bouncing to the forest.

Natsume sighed again, shaking his head. Nyanko-sensei sure is having fun drinking again.

It was five o' clock in the afternoon, and Natsume started to return home when he heard something. It was a small voice.

"—elp me." Natsume strained and tried to hear the words. "Please… someone… help…"

Natsume glanced around and heard the small voice again. "Over here. Over here." He followed the voice and was surprised to see a small, female youkai tangled in the stems of some bushes.

"Please….help…" The youkai was small, almost three inches. Her long, black hair was caught and some parts of her azure kimono were stuck on the stems and small twigs.

Natsume asked, "Are you alright?" as he gently tried to untangle the youkai's hair free. Once he loosened her hair and lifted her carefully from the bush, he laid her on top of her palm.

"Oh, thank you, human! Since you can see me, you must be Natsume-san, the one whom the others were talking about."

"Your welcome, and yes, I am Natsume. What is your name?"

"I am Yumeko. I was resting on top of the tree over there," she pointed to the tree near the bush where Natsume found her. "when a bird rested on the branch where I sat. It tried to peck me, so I lost my balance and fell."

"I see. I am glad that you are alright. Where do you live, Yumeko-san? I'll bring you to your home."

"You can just put me down here; my home resides inside the tree I was resting at. But I thank you Natsume-san! I shall never forget your kindness!"

Natsume placed her on the ground and accepted her thanks. When he made sure Yumeko-san made it safely, he made his way back home.

This is just the beginning, though I might be slow on updating. Reiko might appear on the 2nd or 3rd chapters. Need some reviews! Thanks for reading!