Hello dears!

[Note: I had to remove and repost this chapter because the link messed up when I removed the author note I had XD So that's why you have two update mails and one with link not working. All is fine now!]

So, fun story, but I had more than half of his chapter written for days now, quite possibly since a week or so after I posted last chapter. Then I got caught up in other things, and forgot I did have the next chapter in WIP. But today I got quite a good writing mood, and so I decided to try writing for Secret of Dark Red, and unlike what I expected I didn't have to write a full chapter.

Just, you know, add the last scene. But yay! That means new chapter for you all!

On another note, the "dark exorcist" is called Katsuo Himura (Katsuo means "victorious child" while Himura means "scarlet, dark red + town, village"), and is finally introduced in this chapter. He does have Shikis, but they don't appear yet.

Special note: I just want to remind you all that I have a fanfic blog where you can ask stuff and follow my progress (chrisemrys dot tumblr dot com), but also that I am a writer and have my writer blog too (homeofwriter dot tumblr dot com). So, if you like my way of writing, it might be a good idea to check my original stuff :) I have currently one big novel and two middle length novels you can read, there's fantasy for two, one is science fiction too, and one is LGBTQ+. Then my blog also has fun stuff like pearls of correction, and small writings. Please go take a look!

Reply to guest reviews:

Hotaru: I'm glad you've been excited! Being secretive is quite the goal here, though I'm glad it feels interesting *winks* Thank you! And no problem, I enjoy writing and sharing it just as much!

Crow: I'm glad you love it, and that you think those good things! I've been nervous about writing all of those characters, because I'm used to focusing on two or maybe three characters, but it also feels fun to expand and write so many characters (even if not all at once). So I'm glad you think I write well Matoba and Natori, and I just hope I continue to do them justice! And you can finally know more about this exorcist~

Guest: I'm glad it feels exciting, and here is an update!

Winterfrost: Update you ask, and update you'll eventually get *winks*

Now, enjoy the update!

Chapter 3: Close call.

Madara snarled viciously as Hiragi appeared in his path, forcing him to stop. The Shiki had a moment of frightened surprise, not used to such hostility from the powerful Ayakashi. However, her mission was of utmost importance, and in the end she understood his wish to keep Natsume safe.

"You cannot join Natsume for now. Your presence will be noticed by someone you do not want around him. Natori is keeping him away from danger as we speak." She explained in her usual calm tone, though with a hint of agitation, as she worried about Madara not listening.

But the large fox was no fool. His eyes narrowed, but he made no moves. Indeed, the exorcist he had sensed earlier felt just as powerful as he got a twisted vibe. Madara could not hide his presence from him if he came too close, and Hiragi had done good stopping him far enough. "Who is he?" Madara demanded in a growl, equal part agitated and unhappy. "And I will not accept anything but the truth."

Hiragi closed her eyes for a few seconds behind her mask. It was not that she meant to stall telling Madara. No, it was that simply remembering what she learned with Natori closed off her throat for those few seconds. "He is from a small clan without anything worthy of noting, as far as Master or the Matoba Clan is concerned. However, a recent event… revealed his methods." Her voice grew small, as if speaking of it was too much and she could not do more than whispers. "He uses blood rituals to strengthen himself and his Shiki. Blood from Ayakashi and humans alike."

Madara seemed to freeze for a moment, before his mouth pulled back, fangs glistening as he snarled. However, deep down, the powerful Ayakashi felt fear gripping his heart. Natsume had only been faced once with a blood ritual, and it had shaken him. Madara never had the heart to let him know it had been one of the gentlest one, even if the scene that mad woman had let for him to discover had been bad. The great fox knew how disgusting those methods were, and he knew the best blood to use were those of the strongest. It usually meant powerful Yokai were choice target, but if this damned mortal also went after humans…

"He knows about Natsume, doesn't he?" He voiced in a low tone.

Hiragi let her head lower a little. "Almost all exorcists know about the blond boy who threw that Yokai through three walls with a single punch, and the large white fox that was with him. Only Matoba-san, Nanase-san and Natori-sama know more."

Madara felt his fur stand up, fury expressing in a growl. "Then why is here?! Who lead him to Natsume?" If that man found both Natsume and the Book of Friends…

Hiragi flinched back before speaking. "As far as we know, he has been… collecting informations out of his victims. I do not believe any has spoken, because he would have been here sooner if it was the case. It is highly possible he has been sensing yours or Natsume's presence as he progressed through areas."

"So this is why they were both relieved…" Madara muttered, thinking back on how Natori and Matoba had acted upon finding Natsume. "They thought they might be too late." He locked his piercing gaze with Hiragi. "That Matoba brat should be aware of the danger too, his Shiki have been following Natsume, and one came back earlier."

However, his question received answer when he picked Matoba's scent. Both Hiragi and he snapped their gaze in the direction it came from. It was the one Hiragi had come from, where Natori and Natsume still were. And where this exorcist was.

Hiragi noticed that the large Ayakashi made an unconscious move forward. "Please, Madara. We have to trust that my Master will lead Natsume away before this man notices him. It seems Matoba-san is also acting for Natsume's sake this time."

The white tail whipped the air angrily. Yet, he knew. She was right. Natsume's only hope was to leave before the man realized who he was, which was what both Natori and Matoba were aiming for. His presence would only alert the exorcist, and if this man had been using blood rituals, then even Madara could not be sure of having the upper hand. However, he had no wish to stay idle. "Natsume has to be taken away somewhere safe. He cannot be kept in the dark."

Hiragi bowed her head. "I believe my Master know this. He has admitted he is hoping to convince Natsume to come with him for a few days; and it appears Matoba-san had a similar idea. The rest of the clans are tracking that man down."

There would have been a time Madara would not have cared so much, would not have accepted anything else than his ways. But since he had met that stubborn, good hearted Natsume, whose smile warmed his old heart; Madara had learned he would do a lot to keep him safe. Safe and happy.

"I will hide in the Eight Fields. I expect that Natori will bring Natsume there, and that you will tell me if I am needed." It was obviously painful to say this, unsure to stay away from the one he was supposed to protect. "You better all hurry up." He added with a grunt.

"We will." Hiragi nodded to Madara before flying back to Natori's direction. She too could not be seen, but her presence was smaller than the white fox, and so she could join Natori and Natsume again once they got far enough away.

The fox watched her go, not yet moving. This is why I told you so many times to not offer your help so freely. There will be one day where I cannot protect you from the evil of this world. And it seems those evils have caught up to you…

If the circumstances were different, Natori would feel fascinated by how easily Matoba worked with him, drawing Katsuo's attention by his simple presence while the blond walked Natsume away. However, while the younger male did not realize this, his senses seemed to picked Matoba and Katsuo's presences because he gazed their way. His brown eyes widened, and he snapped his confused eyes up to meet Natori's ones.

"Please, keep walking. I will explain to you as soon as we are safe." Natori whispered, allowing some guilt to show as Natsume's little frown had told him the other blond was putting hints together.

However, Natsume sensed the urgency in his friend's voice, the tenseness of his shoulders, and how Natori walked as a literal shield to keep Natsume out of sight as best as possible. His mind was working out everything that had happened since yesterday quite fast, though externally he nodded with hints of worry in his eyes.

Deep down, Natsume had to admit he had felt a shiver ran down his spine when his gaze had found the dark brown haired male that had been approaching Matoba. He had only seen the back of the man, but there had been a strong sense of wrongness, one that he could not even compare to the bad Yokai he had met in the past. If that wasn't enough, Matoba had kept his distances until the man had approached, as if he had no wish to be close to that man.

And Natori bringing him away as fast as possible while being subtle, as if they were taking the chance while Matoba distracted the man… No, Natsume realized as he glanced backward once. Matoba was distracting the man. Whoever this was, the two exorcists were trying their best to keep Natsume away from him, and the younger blond thought back on how the two had been acting since yesterday.

Who was this brunet? Why did he feel the need to put distance between them?

Unknown to him, Natsume's hand had grabbed Natori's sleeve, fingers a tight grip. The older male glanced at him, soon aware the other had not noticed. His red eyes softened, and he put a hand on Natsume's shoulder as he guided him away.

"Don't worry, Natsume. It will be fine, I promise." And Natori had every intents to respect this promise, as Natsume blinked up with surprise before offering him a shy, grateful smile.

Matoba let his umbrella cast shadows on his body, looking for all intents and purposes as if he was waiting for someone. It was the truth, as he had called Nanase to meet him, but of course his exact location was very purposeful. He did not need to look to know that Shuuichi was taking Natsume away. Meanwhile, his single eye stayed locked on the brunet that showed a grin as soon as he noticed Matoba.

"My, my, isn't this Matoba-kun?" Forest green eyes looked up and down as Matoba's lips thinned in distaste. "What a delightful surprise, I wonder what brings you here."

"I could ask the same, Himura." Matoba replied, polite smile in place, and yet it was infinitely colder than the ones he gave Natsume.

The man let out a laugh. "My job, that's all." But the way his eyes grew more intense betrayed he knew Matoba's presence was no coincidence. "So if you'll excuse me, I have to go." He gave a small bow, lips set into a smirk even as he turned and left.

Matoba watched him go; this man called Katsuo Himura, the exorcist that had been breaking quite a few rules for months now without their knowledge. Matoba did not care for Ayakashi, but even he followed the rules. And above all, how could Himura call himself an exorcist when he hurt humans too?

No, this man should be stopped, because he had become as bad as Yokai. More than that, Natsume-kun could not fall into his hands, not when Himura would waste all of the boy's potential in his blood ritual, or worse: Himura might realize how special Natsume is, and use him.

And that was not something Matoba could allow, not when he still worked the young man into accepting to join the Matoba clan.

To be continued…