A/N: I've actually had this extra short written for a while now, but initially planned to upload it after the whole story has been completed. But then I realized that a little depiction of other things on the side wouldn't hurt, right? I label this as extra because the events here will not directly influence the proceedings in the story, but it could explain a few things for later. So I hope you enjoy this short extra, and expect more in the future :)
"An errand, you say," Nyanko-sensei mused, closing his eyes in thought. Ahh, he suddenly felt so sleepy, that bento had been almost too delicious. Perhaps he could sneak in a one-minute nap, the other humans wouldn't even notice… Almost immediately, the youkai drifted off to sleep…
And abruptly opened his eyes, all the hairs in his body standing on alert. The surroundings had changed, or rather he was no longer in the Yatsuhara temple. He found himself in a wide expanse of darkness, empty save for himself. And the glowing bird. Nyanko-sensei leered at it. He hadn't been in a dream like this in so long, he wondered what it would show him after all this time. Not bothering to think up any more questions (asking any would be pointless), he decided to follow the long-tailed bird flying further into the empty horizon.
When the bird finally landed down on its destination, Nyanko-sensei padded to a stop with a huff. "So we finally meet, shop owner."
Said shop owner smiled, taking the time to caress the bird's cheek gently as it perched on his forearm. "The pleasure is all mine, Madara-sama," he greeted, bowing slightly. "You have come a long way."
"Feh. Nothing a quick trip to the world of dreams can't bridge." Nyanko-sensei made a show of attempting to cross his stubby legs. "So what is it that the great owner of the wish-granting shop wants from a benevolent creature of the countryside?"
He watched the bird dissolve into the shop owner before the man adjusted his sleeves. "The special guest has duly arrived in the Tanuma household, yes?"
The youkai raised a brow. "And what of it? Do you have any business with that monk?"
The shop owner's smile only curled. "Well, yes, I am acquainted with that distant man. But it is with the quiet one that I have entrusted an errand to."
Nyanko-sensei started in shock. "He… That man isn't Doumeki Haruka…?"
"No, he is Doumeki Shizuka, his grandson. Haruka-san has long since passed already."
The youkai smiled ruefully. How strange, he clearly remembered being told the same thing one summer's day… "…So? What's this about an errand? That lookalike also mentioned it just now."
It was then that the shop owner's smile reached its most mischievous. "Seeing as you have wholeheartedly accepted the bento that I made, I was hoping to ask a favour in return."
Nyanko-sensei blinked before giving him a smirk. So he had been had. A good play, the shop owner did. "And what kind of favour is this? Since I did accept your offering in this body, I may only be able to fulfil it as a cat, mind you," he pointed out.
But the shop owner wasn't easy to deter. If anything, the youkai swore that he saw a glint in those mismatched eyes. "That shouldn't be a problem. All I ask is that, while he goes about his errand, you keep an eye out for a bird."
"A bird?" the cat echoed.
He gave a firm nod. "You will know when you see it. Oh, and you may need to have more eyes on the lookout too. A whole variety of sights."
Nyanko-sensei merely scowled at that. What kind of cryptic message was this? He wanted to probe further, but he was already feeling the nudge of wakefulness take him away. "Fine," he conceded with a sigh. "But I better receive compensation when this errand is all over."
"Of course!" the shop owner chirped even as his image began to fade into white along with the dream. "I'm sure you will find… something interesting in your quiet countryside."
The youkai blinked his eyes open, and found himself back in the waking world and in the Tanuma household. A variety of sights, huh… An idea came into mind, and he whipped around to look pointedly at a startled Natsume. "Then, it's decided!"