So not as long a wait as last time. See? I'm getting better. Anyway thanks everyone for reviewing and favoriting and just generally being way to awesome for me to handle. You guys are the best. Seriously. Please enjoy! I must warn you a bit though. This chapter's a bit angsty.

Warm and soft.

That's all Natori could think for awhile. That's all he wanted to think about.

Just warm and soft and Natsume.

Natori's brain shut off with a virtually audible click as his eyes fluttered closed so he could just feel.

Natsume's lips were pressed gently against his own. Not moving, not doing much of anything except being there. It was just a gentle touch but it enraptured him.

The kiss and Natsume's tender hand on his cheek were coaxing warmth to his face that probably left him flushed. Natori didn't even care. He couldn't care less about anything really. Granted he completely forgot about everything else but if he did remember anything then he probably wouldn't care about those things anyway.

Natori took his hand that was resting on Natsume's waist and pushed it up and back enjoying the feeling of warm cloth with a warm body underneath.

Natsume's breath hitched.

Natori smiled at the sound.

But then Natori's brain switched back on with a vengeance.

This is Natsume. This is real. It's not one of your screwed up fantasy dreams, Natori. Natsume is kissing you. What? Why is this happening? What happened? Is this really Natsume? It couldn't be. Natsume would never do this? Is this a youkai? Is he under some kind of spell? What the hell is going on?

Natori pulled himself away with a jerk. He stared at Natsume and Natsume stared back.

Natsume blushed a little. There was a hint of hesitance in his eyes but otherwise he just looked happy. He was smiling his precious little smile.

Natori for the life of him couldn't wrap his brain around it.

"Natsume…" he said after awhile. "What… What in the world…?"

And just like that, Natsume seemed to shut down. His smile fell off his face and the look of hesitance turned into acute awkward discomfort. Natsume snatched his hand away from Natori's face.

"I…" Natsume whispered. "I'm sorry. I… I thought…"

The poor boy looked away but not before Natori saw his eyes water over with tears.

No. Nononononononononononono! Natsume crying is bad. That's bad. He probably feels so embarrassed! Oh god! What do I do?

Help him understand that I'm not angry? That I in fact enjoyed it? But he doesn't need to know that. It was a mistake, obviously. Right? He wouldn't have reacted like this otherwise, right? Just an honest simple mistake.

"It's okay, Natsume," Natori said after awhile. He didn't really know what he was saying but he needed to say something or else Natsume will cry and that's the last thing he wanted.

"I… Sometimes, when you're half awake, you do weird things?"

Natsume flinched at the word weird. Damn. Wrong choice of words.

Before Natori could say anything else, Natsume disentangled himself from Natori and said, "Yeah. That's what it was. I was… um, dreaming, I guess. Sorry…"

Natsume stood up and murmured, "I'm going to take a shower."

"I… okay," Natori said weakly as Natsume walked away. What else was there to say?

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Natsume practically ran into the bathroom, shut the door, stripped (making sure that his leather bracelet was safe from any water as he placed it carefully on the sink), stepped into the shower, closed the shower door, turned the faucet on as hot as it would go, and cried.

His eyes stung, his throat closed up and was sore, and his chest hurt.

Shame burned in his heart and frustration burned behind his eyes.

Stupid, his mind chanted at him. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.

What had he been thinking? Kissing Natori like that? Just out of the blue? What was wrong with him? Of course Natori wouldn't want to kiss him. Why had he even thought that?

He'd just felt so safe and warm and at ease. He shouldn't have let that feeling carry over into something that would even be considered appropriate to act on. Because it wasn't. At all.

Natsume wiped water and tears from his eyes as he considered that it could have gone worse. After all, Miyu got cursed and yelled at for just telling Yukiko that she liked her. He had just skipped the part where they talked about Natsume's feelings and he just went ahead and kissed him. That had to be worse than just talking about it right?

But Natori had such a shocked, no, horrified expression on his face when he asked Natsume what was going on. Natori was probably disgusted when he realized Natsume was kissing him. But even then, Natori didn't yell at him or tell him to get out or anything like that. Natori had tried to be understanding.

But kisses are personal things and Natsume just took one just because he thought Natori might have wanted to kiss him too. But it was obvious that Natori didn't. Which was fine. Natori could kiss or not kiss anyone he wanted to.

It just hurt when he kissed someone else. Natsume thought back to the many times that Natori had to kiss Yukiko for the movie. He thought about how today, they were supposed to shoot the ending scene where the couple, happily reunited, claim each other's lips in a kiss and then the camera pans out and the audience is left to believe that the two will stay together for the rest of their days as deeply and completely in love as they were in the final frames of the film.

And as much as Natsume thought it was selfish and how much he wanted Natori to be happy, he wanted that.

He wanted that happy ending.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

For awhile, Natori just stared at the door that Natsume disappeared behind.

What had just happened?

Obviously Natsume had kissed him. Natori was still half-asleep and thought that he could have been dreaming. But then he realized that he wasn't. So he stopped kissing Natsume and had asked what was going on and Natsume had shut down.

It had to… no it… what?

His mind couldn't continue on one track of thought for long before it derailed and found another track to go on. His thoughts were a jumbled mess and he didn't know what to do.

It couldn't be possible that-

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"

Natori looked and saw Momoka fly toward him like a speeding bullet. Streamlined and angry.

She hit him right between the eyes and he reeled back. When he recovered he could feel Momoka bouncing on his head and really pulling at his hair.

"Humans!" she shrieked. "I knew they were stupid. Stupid stupid humans. I knew it! Why? Why, stupid human? Crocodile-smile human? Why did you break Natsume's heart? Natsume is only kind and good and helpful. Natsume needs-deserves to be kind to. To be good to. To be helpful to. Why are you not kind or good or helpful to him?"

"Owowowowow! Momoka! Stop!" Natori shouted. He tried to use his hands in order to bat Momoka away but she was able to maneuver away from any flailing hands that could come her way.

"No! I will not stop until you kiss Natsume again and tell him that you are stupid and that you misunderstood. Because that is what you are. A stupid misunderstanding human!"

"I didn't misunderstand. Don't you get it?"

"NO! You do misunderstand. And because of that Natsume misunderstands. Only you can make him not misunderstand! Now go and make him understand!"

"He's showering right now!"

"So go in and 'shower' with him!"

Natori heard a harrumph from the other side of the room and he sighed.

"I'd really appreciate it if you didn't put in your two cents, kitty."

"Fine," said the demon. "I'll just go and check on Natsume."

The cat waddled off and disappeared behind the bathroom door.

Natori was left with an angry Momoka until his phone rang.

He checked the caller id and found that it was Endo.

"Endo. Now's not a good time," Natori answered.

"You're late. Just get over here. Bring Natsume too if you can…" was Endo's reply.

Natori was suddenly struck with a feeling of unease.

"Endo, forgive me for being blunt but normally you would be ripping my head off now. I'm late and you want Natsume and not "princess" to be on set? What's going on? Something wrong?"

Endo sighed wearily. "You know, how Yukiko said these past couple weeks that she's going to leave?"

Natori scoffed. "Is she saying that again? Don't worry about it, Endo. She's not going to do it. She's just threatening everyone so that we do what she wants. Nothing major. Just get her an iced tea and she'll calm down."

"No, Natori, listen to me. She left. She's gone."

Natori tried to say something multiple times but all that came out was strangled stutters. Then when he was finally able to articulate clearly he said, "Are you sure?"

"Positive. We searched her trailer, her hotel suite, we checked in with her manager and she said that she was told by Yukiko to book her a flight to the states that left at six am this morning. So our lead actress is long gone and we have one last scene to shoot."

Natori could feel the dread sinking in. "And by bring Natsume you mean…?" He knew the answer he just sincerely hoped he was wrong.

"I mean that, it's one scene Natori. The boy's not an actor but he looks so much like Yukiko no one will know the difference. And I think that since it's you, he'll be more comfortable and could possibly pull it off."

Natori's heart clenched with guilt at the thought that maybe that wouldn't be quite true anymore.

"What about other actresses? Can't we find someone else? Just for the last scene? Someone else that looks like her?"

"I've tried a few other actresses. Some of them didn't pick up and others said they wouldn't be able to get here in time for the deadline."

There was a pause.

"Natori, I know you want to protect the boy. I know that you're scared about your feelings for him but if this movie doesn't make it through, we all lose. We lose money, we've wasted this entire summer to shoot the damn thing… just please, Natori. At least talk to him about it. I'm begging you."

Natori nodded deciding not to touch the "feelings" comment with a ten foot pole. "Okay. One condition."

"What's that?"

"If I talk to him about it, you have to pay him. Whether he does it or not."

"I'll think about it-"

"No, Endo. You pay him regardless of what happens. He didn't have to come out and do this for us. Do any of it. He came because we needed help and that's it. And it's hard work that he does. Pay him."

"…alright."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Nyanko-sensei walked into the bathroom and heard Natsume crying.

His heart gave a little lurch in response but he ignored it and instead grunted, "Natsume. You should stop that. It's really pathetic."

Natsume gasped which might have been able to be interpreted as a laugh if one didn't know that the poor boy was crying.

"I know. I know. I just… It's so stupid. I shouldn't be reacting like this."

"The interesting things that I've learned about humans, Natsume, is that they often don't do what they should. Especially you, you brat. And besides… with things like these there's no 'should' about them."

The shower stopped and Natsume got out and grabbed a towel and started to dry himself off.

Nyanko-sensei saw that he at least succeeded in making the human smile. At least a little.

"Nyanko-sensei…" Natsume said after awhile.

"What?"

"How… how do I face him after all this? It's so embarrassing. I never- I never did that before. I don't think I've ever felt like this about anyone before and to know for certain that they don't feel the same… I just-"

"How do you know he doesn't feel the same?"

That seemed to throw Natsume.

"What do you mean 'how do I know'? He obviously didn't want to kiss me and he said that we do 'weird' things when we're half-asleep. Me kissing him was weird and he's right. It was weird."

"No, Natsume. He's the one that made it weird. His head is so far up his own ass that he doesn't see it. But you do, don't you?"

Natsume thought back to this morning when he had been so sure that it was right. That kissing Natori was right. That the two of them together was right.

But that wasn't true anymore.

"Nyanko-sensei, maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there. Or maybe I want it to be there so bad I'm starting to make things up or see things… and I…"

Natsume could feel his throat close up again and couldn't say another word.

"Natsume," Nyanko-sensei said. "look for it again. If you can't find it again then it was probably a fluke. But if you do find it again then it wasn't."

Natsume nodded. He was agreeing. He wanted this more than he's ever wanted anything for awhile. He'd give it as many chances as he could. He'd leave any and all possibilities open except for losing Natori's friendship if that was all he could ever have.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Natori was sitting on his bed. Momoka was now gently pulling at his hair trying to convince him that shooting the scene with Natsume was a wonderful idea and should have been the case all along.

"Don't you see?" she said. "Natsume will of course accept because he loves you and then that will be your proof, you silly human. The proof of Natsume's love for you. And you kissing him will of course be proof to him that you return his feelings of love and devotion."

Her voice took on a dreamy quality as she said, "And then you will just know that the other is right for you. And you will want to get married and be making the love all over the world."

Natori had his head in his hands and he tried not to think about asking Natsume to do the scene as a test. A test that could determine once and for all if Natsume felt the same way about him as he did about Natsume.

But that wasn't what this was. It couldn't be. Just because Natsume may not want to kiss Natori on set does not mean that he wouldn't kiss him ever.

But Natori was reminded by his mind, in a voice that sounded suspiciously like Momoka, that it shouldn't matter. If Natsume did feel the same then he would jump at the chance, wouldn't he?

If the positions were switched, Natori would definitely take the chance. And now that he had just a taste of what it would be like to be loved by Natsume, he would embrace it like a long lost friend.

Natori looked up when he heard the door to the bathroom open. Natsume wore a bathrobe and had a towel around his shoulders. He was flushed pink from the shower and Natori briefly forgot why he was so distressed.

Natsume looked back at him like he was searching for something. For what, Natori had no idea but if Natsume wasn't going to be awkward or weird about this then neither was he.

Momoka fluttered over and landed on Natsume's shoulder looking incredibly pleased with herself. "Natsume. Natsume. Crocodile-smile human has something to ask you," she sang.

Natsume's eyes widened for a split second but then returned to their normal size as he trained a look at Natori. His face was unreadable. Natori wished that there was some kind of emotion there. Anything that would give Natori any idea as to whether asking him would be a fantastic idea or the worst he's ever had.

"Natsume," Natori began. "Endo just called."

There was a beat of silence. Natsume gave him a hesitant smile. "Is he yelling for us?"

Natori returned the smile although there was a pit of worry growing in his stomach.

"Um, not exactly," Natori said. "Apparently, Yukiko followed through on her threats to leave this time and is probably half way to the States right now."

Natsume's brow furrowed. "What? How…? Why?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. So we have one more scene to shoot and no lead actress to play the lead heroine for it."

At this point, Natsume searched Natori's face for something again. Like he was trying to put a puzzle together.

"What are we going to do?" Natsume asked.

Natori sighed. For the first time in his life, he wanted to look away from Natsume. He was so afraid that Natsume wouldn't find what he was looking for. That the lack of whatever Natsume was searching for would drive him away. He was scared that he didn't know what Natsume was thinking. He didn't know how close Natsume was to leaving him and that just one extra little push would be enough. And if it wasn't today then it might be tomorrow or the day after that.

"I don't know," he finally answered. "Endo wants you to fill in for Yukiko for the last scene. Is…"

Natori could feel his voice beginning to crack. He cleared his throat and swallowed. "Is that something you'd be willing to do?"

Natsume's eyes widened and his jaw became slack. His face reddened. Natori didn't know how long they stood like that looking at each other.

When Natsume began to speak again, it was quiet and tentative and also a little rough.

"You mean… instead of Yukiko doing the last scene… it would be me?"

There was a pause.

"Yes."

"And I would dress up as the main character and I'd be doing the last scene with you?"

"Yes."

"The scene where the characters are supposed to kiss?"

"…yes."

Natori could see Natsume's answer before he said anything. The boy just looked so upset. He was clutching at the towel around his neck and shaking a little bit.

Natori tried his best to ignore the sting in his chest like someone had pierced his heart with a fire iron. He tried to ignore how the back of his throat closed up and his eyes began to hurt. His vision blurred and that was that.

He pulled Natsume into a hug so that the boy wouldn't see the tears in his eyes.

"You don't have to, Natsume. It's alright. Whatever you want. No matter what, I'm here for you, okay? No matter what. Nothing's wrong with not doing what you don't want to do. You shouldn't have to feel pressured to do anything you don't want to do. And I'll be the first. To make sure you don't have to do anything you don't want to."

Natori could tell he was babbling. It was really only about three-quarters for Natsume. The rest was for himself.

He shouldn't care whether or not Natsume loved him back or wanted to kiss him or do anything that other couples did. He should care whether or not Natsume was happy. Happy and smiling and not upset.

It didn't matter.

It didn't.

Then why did he feel so rotten?

A bit of angst for your Sunday afternoon. I'm a terrible person. But thank you guys so much for reading and please tell me what you think if you're so inclined. *kisses*