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Kashino Chiyuki-chan: Thanks again! Unfortunately we never have much time to read each other's stuff.

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AN: I wasn't planning on updating today but it's my Birthday! So here's the next chapter unfortunately it's just a filler. Chapter 5 will be up on Friday and it's a big one. Thanks for the reads, the reviews, and alerts. Please enjoy the chapter and leave a review ;)

Chapter 4

They had just finished dinner and were now on their way back to Kyo's house with plenty of leftovers. Once Kyo had asked about the movie dinner went very smoothly and there was no more talk about Kyo's family or yokai. Natsume still wasn't comfortable with Hiragi looking into Kyo's family but if Kyo was in trouble he wanted to help him. He would just keep the book he saw a secret for now. He trusted Natori but not the people he worked with.

They passed a few yokai on their walk but Natsume paid them no mind and they didn't seem to notice him; he wanted to keep it that way. It was all going fine to until he heard a quiet voice call him from the bushes. He cautiously walked over to them.

"Hi Natsume!" the little box boy squealed as he jumped out at him making Natsume fall backwards.

"What are you doing here?" Natsume asked as he looked at the boy who was currently sitting on his lap.

"I smelled you a few days ago and thought I would see what you were up to. It took me longer to get here than I thought," the child explained his ears going flat. "When I finally found you, you were spending all your time with him."

Natsume glanced over at Kyo and saw that his friend finally noticed that he was no longer following. He must have thought that something was wrong as he steps quickened. Then again from Kyo's point of view he was sitting awkwardly on the ground with a fox on his lap. Kogitsune growled.

"Now be nice. Kyo is a childhood friend of mine," Natsume admonished.

"Fine I'll be good," the boy grumbled not looking happy.

"Thank you," Natsume said as he patted the boy between his ears hoping to appease him.

"Natsume are you alright?" Kyo asked as he looked down at him with concern.

"I'm fine," Natsume said not wanting Kyo to think him any odder than he already did. Kyo cocked his head to the side as he looked at him then the fox.

"That's a fox," Kyo said as he kneeled down next to him ignoring the strange looks they were getting from passersby. "It seems to like you." Natsume nodded glad that the boy in his lap hadn't done anything more than glare at Kyo. "Do…do you think it will let me pet it?"

Natsume looked down at the fox boy silently asking permission for his friend. The child gave a quick nod of his head and Natsume gave him a smile in return.

"Yeah he won't hurt you," Natsume told him. Kyo slowly reached out his head and then gently scratched the boy behind one of his ear. Kyo smiled. Not one of his smirks or shy smiles but a real smile.

"I've never touched a fox before," Kyo said as he continued to pet the fox and in turn the fox child was relaxing more and more. "He seems awful tame for a wild animal."

"He's just a cub," Natsume said hoping that Kyo would believe it.

"He hasn't learned to be afraid," Kyo mumbled. "I bet he's hungry." Kyo reached into one of the to-go-bags and pulled out a piece chicken before tentatively holding it out. The boy's eyes got big as saucers and looked up at Natsume for permission.

"Go ahead," he said with a nod.

"Thank you!" the boy chirped as he took the piece of chicken and then ran back into the shrubbery. "I'll see you later Natsume!"

"I think that was a thank you," Kyo said as he held out his hand. Natsume took it and let the taller boy help him to his feet.

"It was," Natsume said before he could stop himself. Luckily it seemed that Kyo didn't think anything of his comment.

"So, that happen to you often?" Kyo asked as they continued on their way.

"What?" Natsume asked.

"Getting attacked by wild animals," Kyo explained.

"Not really," Natsume said with a shrug. Animals not so much but yokai; that was another story entirely. He just hoped that tonight went as smoothly as last night. He didn't want to lose the only childhood friend he had because of his ability.

"Today has been something. It was worth missing the last half of school. I can't wait to tell everyone I ate lunch with a famous actor. Not to mention that I got to pet a fox," Kyo said.

"I had fun too," Natsume said. And he did.

"We'll have to do something really fun tomorrow to top today," Kyo said nonchalantly.

"Don't you have school?" Natsume asked.

"Screw school!" Kyo shouted and then kicked a pebble rather forcefully. "Like I told Shigure this morning I want to enjoy my senior year."

"As long as I don't get you into trouble," Natsume told him wondering why it was so important for his friend to enjoy his senior year and why his cousin that seemed to be in charge of his welfare was letting him skip school to spend time with him.

"You really worry about that," Kyo said with a chuckle. Natsume shrugged. He knew it was better if he didn't make waves and if Kyo kept missing school because of him.

"I just…" Natsume said not sure how to voice his thoughts. Kyo sighed as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I have a feeling that you and me are a lot alike," Kyo said quietly. "Come on." The taller boy then grabbed him by the arm and began pulling him down the street. "Can't have you getting attacked by anymore fox cubs."

Natsume looked at the hand wrapped around his arm curiously. Kyo seemed to be a very tactical person or at least with him. Not that Natsume minded it was just different. When they made it back to Kyo's house Natsume heard lots of voices; lots of loud voices. Kyo let out a long frustrated sigh as he hesitated to open the door.

"More family?" Natsume asked.

"Unfortunately," Kyo said as he ran his hand tiredly through his hair. "I have a…rather large, annoying family. Is your family big?"

"Ah…" Was his family big? He knew that he use to stay with family but they kept getting more and more distant until there was no blood relation at all. A look of understanding crossed Kyo's face.

"If they start bothering you don't be afraid to tell them off," Kyo said as he opened the door and the loud voices intensified.

~XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX~

When they walked inside they were immediately greeted by where were yous and what's in the bags. Kyo looked around the room and saw two extra people were added to the mix; Aya and Haru. Kyo wasn't happy to see either. Aya was weird and Haru…well Haru had a temper and he did not want to expose Natsume like that.

"Did you have fun?" Tohru asked. During their meal Kyo had excuse himself to call her so she wouldn't make dinner for him and Natsume. He told her that he went out with another one of Natsume's friends just not who.

"We did," Kyo said feeling slightly smug at the thought of telling them. "What are you two doing here?"

"I came to meet this childhood friend of yours," Aya said dramatically. "I ran into Haru on the way here, lost of course, so I thought that I would bring him along."

"And how did you find out about Natsume?" Kyo asked as he glared at the dog who shrugged in response.

"You worry too much Kyo," Aya said flippantly. Kyo turned his glare to Aya. He would not let his family hurt Natsume.

"So what did you boys do this afternoon?" Shigure asked. "Tohru mentioned that a friend of Natsume's took you out to eat."

"Yeah he…" Kyo said and looked towards Natsume who was currently talking to Yuki. By the way Yuki had his head bowed and the flustered look on Natsume's face he had a feeling that his cousin was once again apologizing for the incident this morning. "Do you mind if I tell them?" He didn't want to say incase Natsume didn't want everyone to know.

"Ah…yeah," Natsume said as he excused himself from Yuki and stood next to Kyo. A little closer than what was necessary but he figured that his family was just overwhelming him.

"It must be someone good if he's asking permission," Aya muttered looking excited.

"It was Natori Shuuichi," Kyo said as everyone looked at them with jealousy.

"The Natori Shuuichi! The one that's filming here?!" Aya shouted. Natsume nodded. Aya's eyes got wide and before either of them could react Aya grabbed Natsume by the arm, pulled him into the living, and made him sit next to him on the couch where he began to ask questions not giving Natsume time to answer.

"Leave him alone," Kyo said as he grabbed the man by the back of the shirt and flung him on the floor before sitting down next to his friend who seemed to relax by his presence.

"Kyo's so mean," the man whined.

"That's because you're an idiot," Yuki said. Natsume looked confused and slightly upset by the display.

"Aya is Yuki's brother. He always acts this way," Kyo explained. "He pisses me and Yuki off. We yell at him. He whines. Shigure babies him." He pointed to show Natsume that was exactly what was happening.

"Ah…you have a very…interesting family," Natsume said as he looked around at the group but at the same time his eyes had a faraway look like he was seeing something else entirely.

"That's putting it mildly," Kyo grumbled.

"How did you meet him Natsume?" Tohru asked looking nearly exciting as Aya.

"I…ah….tripped and he caught me," Natsume said.

"How romantic," Aya with a big dramatic sigh.

"I wouldn't call it romantic," Natsume said looking embarrassed.

"So Natsume's a childhood friend of yours?" Haru asked ignoring Aya completely.

"Yeah what of it," Kyo said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Haru shrugged and didn't say anything else.

The rest of the evening went fairly smoothly. They all seemed interested in the meal he had with the famous actor. Kyo took most of the lead on the conversation. Natsume was asked a few times about his friendship with Natori but his answers were often vague or they were dodged completely. At least his family picked up on the subtle queues and stopped asking.

After a few more rounds of question Tohru suggested that they play a game which they did. At first Natsume seemed hesitant to join in but he eventually did, so Kyo tried to enjoy himself as well. Up to a point. Once Aya started whining again that was it. He excused himself for bed and a moment later he heard Natsume do the same. When they laid down for bed that night Kyo was happy when he didn't hear any crying.