I'll come back and check for errors. Un-betad. Written in a rush. Like a challenge to myself, haha. Shout-out to December Sapphire for bugging- I mean, suggesting I watch this beautiful show. ;D To be honest this was going to be a Byakuya fic, but it didn't turn out that way... proves that Natsume Takashi is on my mind too much.

Please review! And enjoy!


He didn't move.

The sounds that one could hear in complete silence. It stretched beyond the simple courtyard he was in, beyond the thick walls that circled around him. If you listened, you could hear; the birds, the wind, and even the sakura petals falling on the ground. That's what everyone could hear.

Takashi could hear voices of tiny yokai marching along the ground, the trees groaning from the wind awakening their long nap, and the faint whispers of the spirits that glided in the forest.

"Oi, Natsume."

The details beyond what any human could see. Each individual grain of sand or the subtle wisp of hot tea.

"What are you standing there for?"

It was a curse.

Who wanted to see the details when there was just as much beauty in seeing it from a distance?

"Natsume! Answer me before I punch you."

He closed his eyes. Even as a child closing his eyes never helped. The monsters that would crawl out of the ground or walls would still come closer until he could feel cold touch of something slithering up his arm or grabbing him. Being young, it was the only way to avoid looking straight into the eyes of a monster - no, yokai - and not screaming in fright. The only sounds he could hear back then were the disappointed voices of guardians and the beating of his heart pounding in his head. Drowning him.

"Why are you closing your eyes when I'm talking to you?" Hiss.

But maybe - he opened his eyes - Takashi could hear the rustle of pans as Tougo-san prepared for dinner, the sliding of the door as Shigeru-san came home, and the annoyed shrieking of his sensei.

Closing his eyes as a child never helped him hide from the monsters nor did it help him leave this world and its fears behind.

"Dinner is almost ready, you troublesome girly!boy! And if you are not there to sneak me pieces of shrimp tempura then I, the most noble of beings, will eat you! Huh? How do you like that?!"

But it had helped him find this home now. That was peace and -

- that's all he ever wants.

"Natsume! I will drag you to h-"

"Sensei."

Nyanko-sensei stopped his pestering and looked at him, rather disgruntled, "What?"

"...Have you been saying something?" Takashi smiled appologetically.

"What?!"

"I'm sorry, I was trying to listen to the world."

"What kind of abstract nonsense is that, you idiot?! Trying to find life's meaning in the grass while your sensei is talking to you?!"

Takashi laughed in reply. It was wonderful to listen to the sounds of the world. His world. His eyes strayed to the kitchen where he could hear his guardians laughing. He got up from the floor and headed towards the kitchen to find out what was happening because - for once - he knew he would be welcomed.

This peace, this home, and these sounds; Takashi could listen to for the rest of his life.

...

...

Gah!

"Are you ignoring me, Natsume?!"