The Other Realm

by JooNE21

A fateful encounter between the Keeper of the Yūjin-Chō and an apprentice exorcist.. but what happens when the two meet again after 5 years and develop unexpected feelings for each other? would they break the rules or would they go on without telling each other how they feel? first story here, guys.. hope it won't bring you THAT much disappointment. a Natsume X OC story

1. The First Encounter

The Other Realm

CHAPTER 1: The First Encounter

[?] P O V

FLASHBACK

I sought refuge under the usual tree by the river. I ran away from home, after witnessing those creatures devour my parents. I wasn't so depressed about it though. They weren't that nice to me anyway.

"Sayuri-chan.." a voice called out as I sat on the ground. I looked up to the friend i made just 2 days ago.

"Ka-kun!" i stood up after i saw him emerge from the river's water.

Ka-kun was a dying kappa when i first met him. and somehow, i was able to help him with my so-called 'powers.' powers that were the reason for my parents to treat me differently... as if i wasn't their own child.

"Thank you.. once more." the Kappa smiled at me.

"Ka-kun.. i told you, it was no-"

before i was able to finish my sentence, the Kappa quickly went back into the water, as if it was running away from something.

"Kappa-kun!" i shouted, attempting to dive into the water. But..

"WAIT!" someone yelled.

i looked over my shoulder to where the voice came from.

it was a boy.

"you see them, too.. don't you?" the blonde boy asked me. he looked as if we were both on the same age. he looked older, actually. and he was good looking, too.

i stood there, frozen, staring at him.

how could anyone find this place? as far as i know, i'm the only one who knew this place existed!

"I-"

before i could answer him, my leg was grabbed and i was dragged into the water! It was the Kappa! he made me trust him only to get betrayed like this?

I struggled to free myself from the Kappa's strong grip. i was slowly losing consciousness as i ran out of oxygen. i thought it was all over for me. i was going to get killed by an odd creature.

just when i was was going to accept my fate, the boy's hand shone in front of me.

the next thing i knew, i was lying on the grass under the same tree. and the boy who saved my life earlier was sitting by the river, wringing out his wet shirt. i sat up and walked up to him..

"Thank you." was all i could say.

he gave me a warm smile that made my cheeks warm up. (-/-)

"i'm glad i could help. i couldn't live with myself watching a person die in front of me."

"what's your name?" i asked him.

"Natsume Takashi. you?"

i was going to answer him, when i heard a loud growl. he seemed to have heard it too. and it scared the hell out of him.

he ran away, leaving his wet P.E. t-shirt on the ground.

"so he ran away from school.." i concluded, smiling to myself.

END OF FLASHBACK