Hello again! This is the second chapter! This chapter is a bit longer than the first one, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
I really enjoy writing Natsume's train of thought. Seriously, though, please tell me if there is some bits of it that doesn't make sense. I'll try to clear 'em up.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Natsume Yuujinchou, except for this fanfic's plot. And Yumeko, as there's no such thing as a youkai named Yumeko.
Chapter 2: Wish
"Tadaima, Touko-san."
"Okaeri-nasai, Takashi-kun. My, Nyankichi is not with you?" Fujiwara Touko-san, Natsume's distant aunt, greeted him.
"Well, Nyanko-sensei ran away again. I think he'll return later though." Natsume smiled. The Fujiwaras have always taken good care of him, even Nyanko-sensei. They really are kind people. "I'll be going to my room and change."
"Dinner will be ready soon, so hurry up." Natsume climbed the stairs and entered his room.
Natsume heartily enjoyed eating and conversing with Touko- san and Shigure-san. Dinner had been pork cutlets, and he thought how Nyanko-sensei missed a great meal. It's getting late, though. I hope Nyanko-sensei returns soon.
After dinner, Natsume took a bath and dressed in his pajamas. He was currently doing his summer homework when he heard Nyanko-sensei enter from his window.
"Sensei!" Natsume stood up and closed the window Nyanko-sensei left open. He saw Nyanko-sensei plopped down on the floor, singing something
about dango and squid.
"Oi, Natsume!" Nyanko-sensei greeted him red-faced and smelling of sake. "Come here, come closer."
Natsume kneeled down, picked Nyanko-sensei up and settled him on his lap. "Do you have something to tell me, Sensei?"
"I knew it; you really are different from Reiko. You're too soft, Natsume! If I told Reiko to do that, she'd kick me and tell me that I can't command her. Really, Natsume, you shouldn't be too trusting to youkai! Learn from Reiko! Instead of returning those names, you should've become stronger and put more names there!"
"Geez, sensei, you're too drunk. It's rare for you to talk about my grandmother, let alone praise her too much."
"N-n-nani?! I'm not drunk! Those youkai I had a drink with were talking about how different you were from Reiko, and how they felt oppressed when Reiko's with them! Now that I look closely, you really do look like Reiko! Same hair, same eyes, but the difference in strength is overwhelming! Reiko doesn't even need a bodyguard! And you're always getting caught up in those youkai affairs, even though you're weak. You really are one troublesome kid."
"Hai, hai, sensei, you really are too drunk. You should take a nap." Natsume settled the white cat on the floor near his bed. He stood up, turned off all the lights, and also went to sleep. "Good night, sensei."
Nyanko-sensei was murmuring something about butterflies.
Natsume lay down on his bed, and was thinking about what Nyanko-sensei told him earlier. Reiko-san must've been really strong to inspire terror on the smaller youkai. Even Nyanko-sensei's in awe. I wonder, what was Reiko-san like with humans? I never found out if she had relatives taking care of her. I can't help but think how lonely she must be to be always with the youkai. What were her dreams? Did she have someone like the Fujiwara's? Has she been always alone, with bullying youkai the only way to ease her loneliness? Where did she stay, if humans cannot accept her? Did she wonder how to make friends? Is she really like me? Or is it that even though she's strong against the youkai, she wants to have a human friend to understand her? I am indeed very blessed to have friends like Tanuma and Taki, whom I can tell about the youkai. Before Natsume went to drift into sleep, he whispered.
"I wish I had a chance to meet Reiko-san."
Natsume was wandering around, the whiteness of the fog almost blinding him. Where am I? He kept walking in circles, but not stumbling. What is this place? Is this the work of a youkai? Natsume almost lost hope in finding some way out when he saw a great tree in the distance. He went nearer and saw a tree that strangely looked familiar.
"Natsume-san!" said a small voice.
"Yumeko-san? What are you doing here? What is this place? Is this your doing?" Natsume realized that the tree he saw was a larger version of the tree where Yumeko-san lives. He saw the small figure of Yumeko-san sitting on one of the branches of the tree.
"Natsume-san, I really can't thank you enough for helping me in my time of need. I simply want to return the favor."
Yumeko leapt from the branch to the ground, and Natsume saw that she also grew in size, and as she landed, she was now standing as tall as Natsume.
"You see, Natsume-san, youkai of my kind can grant wishes, but our lifespan is too short. When I was stuck in those bushes, I thought that it was surely my end, but you have saved me! That is why, Natsume-san, I can sense that there is something that is bothering you. Perhaps I can be of assistance." Yumeko held up her right hand and touched Natsume's head. She closed her eyes.
A stream of images whizzed in Natsume's head and he took a step back. Those images were memories of youkai whose names were returned. The memories of those youkai with Reiko.
"I see." Yumeko muttered. She moved her hand back and let it fall to her side. "You want something that has to do with Natsume Reiko. Would you like to tell me what you wish?"
Natsume was surprised. This youkai can grant wishes? But could I trust her? Nyanko-sensei told me that I was too easily caught up by the youkai's whims. Should I decline her offer? I don't think she's like the others, though. And if I refuse, she might do something dangerous. Natsume's silence was broken by a soft chuckle.
"Don't worry, Natsume-san! I'll explain everything to your white cat later! And you can trust me; I simply just want to return the favor. This is all that I can do, though, that is why I will insist that I let you grant your wish."
Natsume smiled. I think there is no harm in trusting this youkai. Maybe, with her help, it might be possible. He cleared his throat. "Well then, Yumeko-san. I would accept your offer of thanks for helping you in your time of need. I don't know if I have something to wish for, though. I think I already have everything that I could possibly have; maybe even more than that."
"I think, Natsume-san, that you still have something that you want to fulfill. Something related to Natsume Reiko-san, I suppose. That is what your heart told me earlier."
Natsume remembered what he thought about before going to sleep.
"If you can really fulfill wishes, then I have something that I hope would be granted."
"If it's in the realm of my power, then I can do it."
Natsume breathed deeply. I hope I made the right choice in trusting her. "I wish I could meet my grandmother, Reiko-san."
The tree before them slowly glowed, until a bright light enveloped their already-white surroundings. Yumeko smiled.
"And with that said, I shall fulfill your wish. You can now meet Reiko-san."
The bright light further enveloped their surroundings, erasing everything, even Yumeko-san, from Natsume's view. Everything disappeared from the white light.
Natsume woke up with the wind gently shaking some leaves that landed on his face. Leaves? Natsume slowly stood up, smelling the earth beneath him. He glanced around the area where he was; he was in a forest.
The forest looks familiar, albeit younger than he remembered. I know this forest. Why am I here?
Natsume decided to walk around in search of a way to get out. He realized that he was wearing his school uniform. Why am I wearing my school uniform? Is this Yumeko's doing? If so, then I must be…
His train of thought was suddenly stopped when a figure suddenly appeared from the trees on his right. The figure crashed on him and they both fell down, the figure on top of Natsume.
"Aaargh! It hurts! What kind of person are you, walking in the middle of a forest?!" shouted an angry female voice.
Natsume winced in pain as he opened his eyes. He saw a girl, around sixteen years old, wearing her school uniform. The girl had the same amber-colored hair and eyes as him.
It can't be…
Suddenly a big, black, bulky-looking youkai wearing an old kimono and a mask appeared. The girl immediately stood up, shouted "Outta my way!" and ran, the youkai chasing her, calling. "Come back here, Natsume Reiko! I will not lose to you!"
Natsume was in shock. Somehow, this was how he had met his grandmother, Natsume Reiko.
He stood up, the pain from the crash almost gone, and ran while following the youkai.
Thanks again for reading! Criticisms and reviews are most welcome, as long as they don't sting that much.