"Sometimes I see these lights...

It was much before I had met Sensei and I had been just a young boy. On my way back back from school, for some strange reason, I hesitated going home. I came to the front door steps and reached out my hand to the doorknob, but a rush of feelings swept over me.

Excitement... in a "home".

Fear... of becoming attached.

Hurt... from previous memories.

I tried not to think of these too much but for some strange reason, that day I couldn't help but let my weaknesses overcome me. I slowly retrieved my outstretched hands and instead, walked back out of the gates. Behind me I could hear happy laughter and maybe it was the seed of negative thoughts but strangely I had the feeling that they were only that happy because I was not in their picturesque family.

Why was the moon hiding its face that day? Was it too ashamed of seeing my pitiful existence?

Thoughts like these got worse every step I got away from home and by the time I reached the nearest park, I had the feeling that I wasn't going to be going home that night. I sat on the worn down swings and let the creaking chains sing a lullaby for me in the darkness. Let the yokai come and eat me, that was what I was thinking at that time. It would be better off if I didn't have to endure this for any longer than I had already had.

But suddenly from the corner of my eyes, I saw a strange glow of soft green and yellow. Enchanted by the peculiar sight, I put my book bag into the bushes and followed the light. Like the cluster of stars in the milky way, the lights too resembled a glowing pathway to some unknown yet faroff destination. Seeing this sight, I was filled with awe and there was this longing inside of me to belong within that cluster.

Cluster of stars, of light, of people...

Before long, the lights eventually dispersed and the scene was replaced with the darkness again. After that, I sometimes saw them and sometimes didn't, but after moving up here I haven't been able to return to that place again.

Sensei, do you know what kind of yokai those were?"

But Nyanko-sensei, in his Madara form, was already curled up into sleep around me.

I smiled and looked up at him before closing my eyes as well.

I knew that I wouldn't have to rely on those light yokai again...


a/n: Thank you for reading. I have to say, Natsume is a person I would've loved to meet in real life... I mean I get all warm and fuzzy whenever I watch him haha... wait... is this love?! Well anyways, sorry it's so short despite how long it's been since my last update. But hopefully more writings will come forth :) Cheers