The sun blazed up above, setting the sky alight. A gentle breeze swept through the land, relieving some of the stifling heat that always accompanied such days in summer. A boy with golden eyes and dark blond hair rested in the tall grass, happy to get some peace for once. The boy, Natsume as he was called gazed at the passing clouds. A strange creature leaned over him suddenly. It had the face of a badger and its huge, hunching body was covered in a blue yukata. Natsume yelped in surprise and swung at it. The thing, a yokai Natsume decided, staggered back and clutched his aching head.
"Reiko?" It mopped.
"Ahh sorry" Natsume rose to his feet. "Are you okay?"
"It is okay Reiko, I am certain that it was accidental, it was wasn't it?" The yokai asked.
"Yes of course" Natsume said hurridly, knowing how unwise it was to upset any yokai. "I'm not Reiko, I'm her grandson Natsume"
"Not Reiko?" The yokai stared.
"No...she's gone, has been for a long time" A sad almost longing look crossed Natsume's face.
"But I have to return what was taken"
"Taken?" Natsume asked.
The yokai nodded. "Yes, am Hoshini, I knew Reiko well. A thieving yokai stoll something from her and I went in search to retrieve it from them. At long last I tracked the yokai down attained the object from them but now..." It sighed. "I cannot"
"Thank you for caring so much for my Grandmother" Natsume smiled, bowing his head.
Hashini looked down at the boy. The yokai was unable to fathom how the human could look so much like Reiko and yet not be her. The yokai felt deep regret for being unable to meet his promise to return the object. Human lives were simply too short.
"Natsume!" A voice yelled. "Oi Natsume brat"
Said boy wore a look of annoyance.
"Over here Sensei" He sighed.
A round pig thing...no it seems a cat appeared. He was the boy's self proclaimed body guard. Natsume referred to his as Nyanko Sensai.
"Natsume what are you doing now? Get me some sake" The cat leapt onto the boy's shoulder.
"Sensei..." Natsume mumbled.
"Here natsume" Hashini gave him an old, worn wooden box. "I know of a way we can return it to Reiko"
"Really?" Natsume asked.
"Yes, I will send you to her using your connection"
"Wha-"
The yokai tapped his forehead and all went dark.