2: Lost
Edited 9/20/16
The lone drone of conversation in the background makes him aware of familiar surroundings. The soft fabric of a futon presses up against the side of his face as he opens his eyes to see the screens of the bedroom he is in.
"It's about time brat, I was starting to think you were never going to wake up."
Natsume Takashi looks up into the familiar eyes, already letting the tears come from his, making streaks on his human skin.
"Sensei?"
The beast youkai lowers his head to nuzzle the child and curls tighter around the boy.
"I'm here, Takashi. I'm here."
…
Touko Fujiwara watches several of the little spirits run around the garden in an attempt to help her collect tonight's supper and attempts to muffle her laughter at their antics. Instances around the house had definitely changed since she had answered the door several weeks ago.
The woman, Hinoe, had appeared out of nowhere on her doorstep to tell her of the accident. Now there are little youkai she had only rarely seen running around her home. The Natsume Clan youkai living in the area respected their privacy enough to stay out of parts of the house but both she and Shigeru had come into the kitchen or the yard at times to find several gathered around the table or fridge or in the middle of a game in the grass.
At first they had been worried about the rapid increase in youkai because while they occasionally saw a few around town or on the old roads, there had never been so many before and youkai attract exorcist.
But the town is a no man's land in Spiritual Japan, one of the many areas treated like a buffer between youkai and exorcist territories. With the increase in numbers the air seemed lighter and the little town a little friendlier, the flowers seemed to bloom a little brighter and the leaves greener. Several superstitious locals who knew Fujiwara Shigeru had married a woman with a distant relation to an Exorcist clan had come for a visit, remarking upon the changes of the town and the new red wooden gate that encircles the large property protectively. 'It's a gift from my in-laws' Shigeru had explained and whatever secret thoughts the locals had about the connection between the changes in the Fujiwara household and the table scraps and offerings at local shrines disappeared before their eyes, dead trees gained new life, homes repainted overnight with beautiful colors, old wooden floors becoming straight and unwarped or lost items found laid out on the front path in the mornings, they kept to themselves. Of course no one but her and Shigeru could actually see the spirits, a wedding gift from her distant relations.
"They are often violent when they move to the forest and the wilds but the ones who live around humans can help you in your daily lives if you let them. You won't be able to see the powerful ones without permission but the minor ones will be visible. Those are often harmless enough and they often miss people who believe in them, who need them." he had said before blessing the house with the Natsume seal, a mark that allowed her and Shigeru the coveted sight of the exorcist. She and Shigeru had never actually met a Natsume exorcist since, although they were members of a branch house and received news like such.
"Politics are a troublesome creature. It was meant to be a backup plan of Riko-sama's in case the main branch or the main family came under attack. The branch members and families who were allowed to integrate into 'normal' society would act not only as financial support but as a much needed hidden network of information and hidey holes. Often when a clan announces itself as an exorcist clan they cut all ties to the human world to some extent. Rieko knew this when she had the idea to gather drifters who could see like her and ban them together in one family. She kept the branch families aware, informed and loyal. It was one of her greatest achievements," Hinoe had explained over a cup of tea on one of the nights she had stayed as their guest. They had sat out on the back patio, the couple knowing the youkai woman would appreciate being outside. The summer night had been warm, but to discuss the lost clan members and the lonely child Touko had felt a cold sadness clench her heart.
Now they had to wait. Her and Shigeru and the youkai, both clan and local. Wait for the little child she has promised to take care of. They weren't the first choice by any means but the other smaller branch families who were considered ideal sizes in ideal locations could all either not afford or did not have room for another child.
'Such a shame,' Touko thinks as she helps several of the little youkai pull up a carrot, 'That such a sweet child has to go through so much sadness and pain.'
Yes, now everyone waits for the Natsume heir apparent, the littlest orphan of Reiko's family.
