A/N: Natsume finally visits his shrine! I actually had this written a while ago, but I felt like I needed a bit more time to pass between Going Home and this chapter, so the ones in between were the result. I hope that all of you have found it worth the wait. As always, read and enjoy.

Divine Joy

When I was a human, I often forgot to savor the pleasures that being a human brought. Now that I am a god, I find that I am making the same mistake. Just as there had been joy in being human, there are joys in being a god. Little things, but all the more precious because of it.

There is no need to walk when he sheds his human form. This is just as well, as his feet are bare. His clothes change also, fading away to form into the white silk robe and elaborately patterned obi he had worn that fateful day.

A moment later he is enveloped in purple, as Hinoe shrieks in delight and flings herself on top of him.

"Mmmm—oh you look absolutely adorable!"

"Hinoe!" Natsume cries. "Stop. Please! Gah! Nyanko-sensei! Sensei, help!"

"What are you asking for help for?" Nyanko-sensei says, sitting contentedly on the ground, a bottle of sake in one paw. "You're a god now. Learn to deal with it."

"Hinoe, you really should be more respectful," the one-eyed half of the middle-class pair says with disapproval. "Lord Natsume is a god now."

"A god, a god," the cow spirit agrees.

"Hmph, as if that changes anything," Hinoe says, nuzzling Natsume with delight. "Ooh, it's so nice now that you don't have that human stink."

By this point Natsume has given up the fight, and merely sighs while he endures Hinoe's enthusiastic embrace.

"I wasn't aware that I stank, Hinoe," he says instead, smiling slightly.

"Well, it wasn't exactly a stink," Hinoe amends, "but you really were quite powerful as a human, and it was just… really strong."

"Hmm," Natsume says, assessing this. Though he is now used to the scent that humans give off, as of yet he hasn't had a chance to test Hinoe's claim. There had been no other human in this area as powerful as him after all.

"Come on then, we're supposed to visit Natsume's shrine, aren't we?" Nyanko-sensei says. He lists slightly back and forth, then hiccups.

"Can you even walk?"

"Pick me up, Natsume!"

Cradling the cat in his arms, Natsume follows in the direction of the middle class spirits, who lead the way deeper into the mountains. Hinoe follows behind.

It is an odd sensation to be able to head up the mountain and not grow tired. Natsume floats several centimeters above the ground, and if he pushes, he can fly rapidly in whatever direction he wishes, and land without being afraid of slipping. The earth is his anchor now, and Natsume feels the pull of its power even as he pulls back.

Spring is well under way. Natsume takes a deep breath, absorbing the scent of newly sprouted plants. If he listens, he can hear the buds of leaves unfurling, of flowers blooming, spreading up and out into a sun that grows warmer day by day.

"Do you feel this too?" Natsume asks. "Spring. Can all of you feel it?"

He lands on top of a blanket of lush, green moss, feeling oddly giddy with happiness.

The other spirits say nothing, merely giving each other knowing looks before smiling indulgently at him.

"Come, Lord Natsume," the one-eyed spirit says. "We're almost to your shrine."

The forest suddenly gives way to a semi-clearing, surrounded by drooping branches. In the summer most of the area will be covered in shade, but enough will be exposed to light to allow for flowers and other plants to grow. Close by there is a small yet active stream that runs from the forest and down, twisting past large boulders to disappear further among the trees.

"Lord Natsume…!"

"He's here!"

"Here…"

"Finally…"

"Lord Natsume has finally arrived."

"…arrived…"

"This is…" Natsume says, looking around.

"This is where your shrine is located," Hinoe says gently.

"But…" Natsume looks around, captivated by the gentle beauty of his surroundings. "Where…"

"Look past the trees," Hinoe says.

Then there, under the shade of still bare cherry trees, Natsume sees it.

He takes a step closer. Then another.

"You're a god of spirits," Nyanko-sensei explains. "There's no need to expose your shrine to foolish humans."

"When the cherry blossoms bloom this place will be truly beautiful," the one-eyed spirit adds. "Your worshippers picked a good spot."

"It's already beautiful," Natsume says.

He looks at the shrine. It is made of wood, but somehow Natsume suspects that this wood will never rot, nor will the walls crack with age. As far as shrines go it is small, only half his height and less than a meter wide, but something about it gives it a cozy appearance. The golden brown color is inviting, and the tiny gate strung with ropes and paper seals is welcoming rather than overly grand and forbidding.

"Do you want to try going in?" Nyanko-sensei asks.

"I'd like to," Natsume says. With a start he realizes that he means it. "But I don't know how."

"That's all right," Hinoe says. "We'll teach you. You have plenty of time to learn."

The words send a pang through him, but he pushes it away.

"Thank you." Natsume smiles. Once again he takes in his surroundings, noting some of the tiny spirits hidden within the trees, still too shy to approach him.

"Thank you."