Review Thanks:

Guest: Thank you very much for your long review. And since people give my story reviews I figured that the least that I can do is reply to them ;) True the yokai that attacked Natsume isn't evil. As for the lifeguard. Yeah poor boy. Maybe I should put him in a different story where he finds someone. And you are right about the Natsume episode! That episode was sad (like most of them). As for Monopoly. Use to play all the time with my sister and cousin, me and my cousin would always gang up on her. And they are cute dorks who deserve each other. And don't worry Natsume as lots of troubles ahead!

Made2352: Yes things are about to get very serious. As for that kiss…you'll just have to wait and see ;)


Chapter 51

"Would you just sit down already!" Yuki finally snapped. "You're making me dizzy."

"Sorry," Kyo mumbled, but continued his pacing anyway. Yuki was ready to smack him. Kyo had been pacing and acting nervous ever since the storm increased in intensity. To prove to the rest of the family that they had become friends they decided to share a room. Yuki was almost coming to regret that decision. His cousin usually got sick during storms not nervous.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know. Something with the storm…it doesn't feel right," Kyo said as he flopped down on his bed with a frustrated sigh.

"I thought that you couldn't feel things only see them," Yuki said as he frowned at the other boy.

"I can't, but being around Natsume I've picked up on things," Kyo said as he glanced out the window. "I just know that there's something wrong with that storm and I also have a bad feeling something's going to happen. I need to get home and make sure he's okay."

"Yes, well making yourself sick with worry won't do him any good and neither will rushing off into a storm like that and getting hurt," Yuki thought he should remind him as it looked as if Kyo was ready to jump out the window .

"I know," Kyo finally agreed, "it's just that…"

"You care about him," Yuki finished.

"Yeah," Kyo said quietly.

"Don't worry we'll get home tomorrow," Yuki told him.

~XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX~

Kyo could feel his anticipation mount as they got closer to Shigure's house. The drive back had been long and tedious. The storm damage being what took them so long. Some areas hardly got anything while others were hit hard. Where they were now though seemed to be hit the hardest. The devastation of the area changed the mood of the people in the car dramatically. Kyo had a feeling that they were nervous as he was. Yuki had even stopped listening to the news on the radio and ceased his writing; what he was doing Kyo had no clue.

As they finally pulled into the wooded area by Shigure's house the destruction increased. The road was littered with fallen branches and deep puddles of water. No one said as anything as they began their slow drive down their private road. The closer they got to the house though the worse the damage became. Kyo felt his heart jump in his throat when he saw that a tree had fallen through the front of the house.

He had jumped out of the car before it had come to a complete stop; Yuki right on his heels. He could hear Hatori calling after them saying that it wasn't safe, but the man was ignored. They walked through the front door of the house or more like what was left of it as it was off its hinges. The ground was covered in broken glass and rain water. But there was no signs of anyone. Kyo didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Where do you think they are?" Yuki asked.

"I don't know," Kyo said as he began to feel himself begin to panic wondering who or maybe what might have grabbed them.

"They're probably in the store room," Hatori said as he joined them. "It's the most interior room without windows."

"But the storm's been over for hours," Kyo said with a frown.

"I'm sure there's a reason and I'm sure they're fine," Hatori said with a little too much confidence making Kyo wonder if he was trying to convince them or himself.

Not knowing where else they could possibly be in the house the three of them made their way to the store room. The house was hit hard by the storm. As they passed the kitchen Kyo noticed that a fallen branch had shattered one of the windows and a second tree had fallen right in front of door to the storeroom making it impossible to open.

"Shigure!" Hatori shouted. "Are you and the boys in there?"

"Hatori! Yes were all here and alright, but we can't get out," Shigure explained his voice muffled.

"A tree fell. Just sit tight and we'll get you all out," Hatori shouted back. Kyo would have liked to talk to Natsume, but he knew now wasn't the time. "Let's get to work you two."

The three of them spent the better part of an hour working to move the tree. It was a lot heavier than it looked not to mention that it was jammed against the door. Almost like someone had shoved it there on purpose. Like it wanted them to be trapped. Finally they moved the tree and opened the door.

"It feels good to be out of there," Haru said as he stepped out of the room; followed a by Momiji then finally Shigure and Natsume.

Kyo pulled his boyfriend into a tight hug; Natsume melted against him. Knowing that he needed more comfort Kyo pulled him closer and that's when he noticed the bandage on the younger boy's back. He pulled out of the hug and that's when he noticed the hand shaped bruise on Natsume's slim wrist.

"What happened?" Kyo asked him. Natsume slowly shook his head and Kyo felt his dread grow. Something was really, really, wrong.

"I need to hide this," Natsume said quietly as he held up his satchel.

"Alright," Kyo said as he rubbed his hands up and down the smaller boy's bare arms. Natsume was too cold for his liking so he pulled the blanket up. "What happened to your shirt?"

"It got…ruined," Natsume told him.

"Then let's go upstairs and get you a new one," Kyo suggested.

"I don't know if it's a good idea for you boys to go up there," Shigure said with a frown.

"We'll be careful. Natsume's clothes and extra pair of shoes are in my room. He can't walk through the house barefoot with all the glass and water," Kyo then kneeled down low enough so Natsume could climb on his back.

"I can walk Kyo," Natsume said sounding a little more like his old self something that Kyo was grateful for.

"And what did I just say about the glass," Kyo reminded him. Natsume huffed, but finally climbed up on his back and Kyo was able to see another bandage that looked as if it went up his leg. Kyo shook his head. The two of them were going to have a long talk once they were alone.

"If it looks unstable up there at all I want you two to come down immediately," Hatori told them. "I'm going to call around and see if we can get this place fixed up."

"Right," Kyo said then slowly made his way up the stairs. Once they made it upstairs Kyo had to admit that he was surprised by what he saw. Things were practically untouched up here. He set Natsume down.

"I really do need to hide this," Natsume said as he clutched his satchel.

"Give me some time to think of a place. I don't think this house is safe," Kyo said as he walked down the hallway wondering what was up with the sudden need to hide The Book of Friends. He figured that it must have something to do with all of his injuries. Natsume nodded slowly as he nervously licked his lips. Kyo frowned. He needed to find out what happened while he was away.

Kyo let out a sigh of relief when he opened his bedroom door and saw that it hadn't been damaged at all.

"Alright you need to tell me what happened," Kyo said as he sat on the bed and pulled his boyfriend down so he was sitting next to him.

"I…" Natsume said then stopped. "I don't know where to start."

"Why don't you start with your leg," Kyo suggested.

"That happened at the water park. A yokai went berserk because he got too close to the miasma. He sensed my power and thought I could help. His friends took him and they left for the mountains," Natsume explained quickly. A little too quickly.

"Right," Kyo said having a feeling there was more to that story, but he highly doubted that Natsume would tell him. "What about that bruise on your wrist and that bandage on your back."

"That I can't tell you I'm sorry," Natsume said as he looked down at his lap making Kyo narrow his eyes.

"Did someone in this house hurt you? Is that why you can't tell me? Because if they did…" Kyo said feeling sick at the idea.

"No," Natsume was quick to cut him off. "Your family has been very nice to me. I mean it when I say I can't tell you. It's too dangerous."

"I don't find that any more comforting," Kyo said as he tiredly ran a hand through his hair. "Is there anything you can tell me?"

"Hide your book. Find mine. It tells the truth or at least most of it." Natsume said as he rubbed his forehead. "At least that's what I got from my dream."

"You had one of your dream vision things?" Kyo asked. Natsume nodded then scrunched his face up in thought.

"I've forgot something. Something about that book he wants me to find…" Natsume mumbled seemingly to himself.

"He? He who?" Kyo asked as he frowned at his boyfriend. "Is he the one that hurt you? Did you get hurt in your dream?"

"Ah…" Natsume said as he opened and closed his mouth a few times like he was unsure of what to say. "My injuries aren't that bad."

"Aren't that bad! We should just go home. Forget about breaking the curse. It's not worth you getting hurt like this." Kyo shouted, but stopped his rant when Natsume began to shake his head.

"It's too late," Natsume told him. "The curse just doesn't involve your family anymore. That miasma, it's dangerous for everyone especially if it's making yokai go berserk. Not only that, but…" his boyfriend paused here and scrunched his face up in thought, "'You'll be one of the few that can read it' that's what he told me."

"Again with this he! Who is this he?" Kyo asked.

"Like I said I can't tell you that, but he was talking about something that I could read and most people can't'…" Natsume said as his voice trailed off. He looked at his satchel, then out the door, then back to his satchel. "Oh! I completely forgot about that. The book!"

"Book?" Kyo asked curiously. "What book?"

"I found it here that first time I came. That morning you went to school. I only looked at it for a moment when Shigure took it. He said that it was an old family heirloom," Natsume said looking excited.

"That thing?" Kyo asked. He had seen it once or twice, but never thought much of it. "It's written in gibberish…." he stopped then felt like an idiot. "It's written in the yokai language, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Natsume said with a frown. "I can't believe I forgot about it."

"A lot happened in those few days," Kyo reminded him. Natsume nodded although Kyo had a feeling Natsume wasn't really listening to him. "You need that book?" Natsume nodded again. "Grab your extra pair of shoes and we'll go down and get it."

Natsume dug through his bag grabbing a new shirt and his extra pair of shoes. He then looked over at Kyo and frowned. "Um… the shirt I as wearing yesterday was yours and I'm sorry that I ruined it…again."

"And I told you I don't care about my clothes," Kyo said with a roll of his eyes. "It's you that I care about. So, ah what's up with wearing my shirt?"

"Oh that," Natsume said as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I was missing you so I…it's not as good as having you hear, but it helped."

"I…" Kyo stuttered as he felt his face heat up. What could he say to that?

"Let's go get that book. It's supposed to tell the truth," Natsume said as he hurried from the room. Kyo followed. After all these years they were finally going to find out the truth of their family curse.


AN: Does anyone remember the book that was mentioned way back in Chapters 2 and 3? Well it's back! And please, please leave a review. They really do make me happy :)