'The exorcists always told me to choose, between human and yokai. I couldn't imagine doing such a thing. Because I was a human, and I had people who were precious to me. Because, even if some were scary, I had yokai who were precious to me too. And I could see them. Not like how the rest saw them, I really saw them. Giving their best to live, laughing and crying, loving and being heartbroken. I could see their kindness. I tried to walk the path between humans and yokai, the path that my grandmother tried walking on, the one that Natori-san abandoned. And the truth was that I found out that humans could be even more terrifying.'

Madara watched silently as Natsume addressed his exorcist audience. It looked like an attack on the boy, as if all of them had come to hunt him down. Well, calling it a hunt would not exactly be a lie. They were gathered together, surrounding and appraising Natsume as if dealing with a wild animal. Only, it seemed like there a an invisible barrier between them and Natsume, like they were scared of coming too close.

'Because all of you, you see but don't see. You don't see the suffering of a yokai dying in front of your eyes.'

An uncharacteristic scoff. Natsume's face was straight, and body relaxed. Anger brewed in his eyes.

'I actually wonder if you'd be able to see the pain of even a human anymore.'

A subdued shock of murmurs which Natsume all but ignored. He sighed, turning away from the group and towards Madara, careful to avoid his eyes.

'But what's the point. I could try explaining, but you don't even want to listen. It'd be better after all if all of you didn't meddle in matter you only half-understand. Don't meddle with the nature of the world.'

He levelled a glare over his shoulder. Madara grinned at their flinches with pride: over the years, Natsume had grown slightly taller and thinner. He had learn how to make his gaze sharp, and his power had grown enough to intimidate the most powerful exorcists of the time. They were all but frozen under Natsume's words.

'These lands, these ayakashi, are under my protection. Stay away.'

'Natsume...' Natori, almost inaudible, wore regret and sorrow on his face. But Natsume didn't save a glance for the person he had called his friend.

'And don't think for one second that you can use me.'

With that Natsume walked easily back to Madara, placing a gentle hand on his fur. 'Let's go, sensei.' He whispered, only for Madara's ears.

'I choose yokai.'

I watched Natsume carefully with narrowed eyes. 'Are you still angry at them?' It was a moot point. I already knew, but at least it would get him to open up.

'Yes. Of course. I'm so angry, I'm mad.'

'Is that a pacing back and forth, or cursing them kind of mad?'

'Neither! It's a punching a tree kind of mad.'

'What did the tree do to you,' I asked dryly.

Natsume elbowed me with no force or heat. Nevertheless, 'Hey, what did I do to you!' I quipped.

'Nothing!' Natsume cried, 'Nothing, I'm just angry.'

I chucked at his expression, so different from just a while a go. 'For the record, anger doesn't suit you.' Natsume just huffed, leaning back against a tree, crossing his arms and closing his eyes in a pitiable pretence to rest.

'...You know, that Natori looked like a kicked puppy by the end.'

Natsume quirked his eyebrow and I grinned in achievement. 'I didn't mean to be that harsh.'

I laughed, 'The low-ranks will be singing your praises by tomorrow.' Natsume groaned, burring his face in his knees, making me laugh even more.

I smiled, watching as Natsume fell into a light sleep. 'Well, I guess it's okay for even you to get angry one in a while.'