Kizuna

(Natsume Yuujinchou x Tensei Shitara Slime datta ken)

Author's Note: This fanfiction was inspired by harunekoya's "Worthy of A Name" and "The Human Mask" featuring a human-turned-god Natsume, as well as reading Tensei Shittara Slime datta ken manga chapters. Please be warned that this fic will involve slash sometime later in the story so don't read this if you don't like slash stories. But, it will be mostly gen...probably...with hints of romance (or its the other way around?). This is a crack fic after all so no real deep planning was made in this story.

Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: OOCness (it is inevitable), may have failure in writing the game-like parts in this story, future slash pairing

I: Life in the Ogre Village

"Little blacksmith~ It's time for a lesson!"

Natsume Takashi looked up from his sewing and nodded with a small smile once he heard his uncle's voice. "Coming, uncle!" He said as he placed his work aside on one of the free tables inside the Japanese-styled house they shared, before standing up to follow the older ogre.

Once he was outside, he found his uncle waiting for him. They walked side by side despite their highly contrasting sizes. While Takashi was a willowy child, his uncle was more of a hulking adult male. His uncle had always had an exceptionally fierce face despite actually being more of a gentle giant. It was a surprising fact; Takashi could still remember his fear when he first met the man but eventually he came to know more about him after getting over it.

As they walked past the other houses, he noted that all of the houses were made in gassho-zukuri style where the roofs were shaped like "praying hands" and had three or more floors. It was somewhat of a random trivia he remembered one of his (before-life) friends were talking about. It was a rare style and couldn't be seen out of a certain place in Japan. He couldn't remember most of that friend's words but it gave credence to the fact that Japanese architecture had helped shaped this village's culture until now.

They soon arrived at the workshop where the other blacksmith ogres took the time to greet them. The closest one was a teenage male ogre with purple skin and long black hair tied into a high ponytail. He had a single black horn protruding from his forehead. Takashi often called him "Purple-oniisan" for lack of better distinction. There was also "Peach-ojisan" and "Natto-ojisan", two whom he weren't close to but could still speak comfortably with.

"It's good to see you, little blacksmith!" Purple-oniisan shamelessly petted Takashi's head as he moved closer inside.

"Stop it, nii-san!" He immediately protested and moved to smoothen his hair out.

"Hehe~ okay, okay. I'll stop now." The older boy grinned.

Smack

"Alright! It's time to get back to work!" Takashi heard his uncle shout to get their attention after clapping his hands together. The three blacksmiths immediately went to their stations and began working while his uncle pulled him to his own station where he would begin teaching him their smithing techniques.

Never before in Takashi's life did he think that he would be learning how to become a blacksmith, but because his uncle was one and the head blacksmith at that, it was a given he would have to learn. He watched carefully as his uncle took out a heated ore and began hitting it evenly and rhythmically with his hammer against the anvil. It was oddly soothing, he thought and there was a tiny itch in his head that seemed to be telling him to try it.

"Want to try it?" His uncle suddenly stopped and then handed him the hammer.

"H-How did you know, uncle?" He stammered in surprise as he took a hold of it into his hands. It was surprisingly just the right weight despite his thin stature. A normal human child would have a hard time lifting such a hammer but since he was an ogre, they were stronger than most humans even at birth.

His uncle gave a rather scary grin as he ruffled his nephew's silver hair. "You just had that look on your face." He answered. "Come on, let's get right to it."

"Yes, uncle."

ooo

"Little blacksmith! It's time for your magic lesson!" A feminine voice called out from outside.

Takashi paused and blinked in surprise. "Is it time for that already?" He muttered in astonishment. A large hand settled on his shoulder and he turned around to find Purple-oniisan staring at him with a grin.

"The head said that you can go ahead. Your lesson for today is over." The purple ogre told him while jabbing a thumb directed to his uncle who was concentrating on his own work at the back.

"Ah, um, okay..." He replied, a little unsure but with his hands already moving to fix his own area. Once he was finished putting away his things, he excused himself with a bow and left to meet with his magic teacher who was waiting outside.

Takashi found an older female ogre with light pink skin and long wavy sakura colored hair tied into a bun waiting for him. She had two long white horns protruding from her forehead and had red jagged lightning markings underneath her bright pink-colored eyes. She wore a formal kimono in pink and white hues of colors. She had a rather matron-like appearance and personality, and all of the villagers respected her.

The reason being that she was the wife of the head of the village.

"Okusama, I apologize for making you wait." He bowed deeply, immediately.

The village head's wife laughed lightly and told him to stop bowing. "You don't have to be so formal all the time, little blacksmith. Besides, I was the one who imposed on you to start attending these lessons. There aren't a lot of ogres who hold the talent to use magic after all." She then sighed in disappointment. "Most of the other ogre children want to learn how to use swords so they tend to neglect their magic training. I wish the others would be more interested in it like you and my daughter."

"Um, hai." He answered when she suddenly stopped talking.

A smile emitting a rather ominous aura suddenly appeared on her face. "While I'm glad you're attending these lessons, we shouldn't make the others wait. How about we speed this up?" She stated and proceeded to run, nearly leaving him behind if he hadn't sped up his steps as well.

It's a good thing ogres have rather high vitalities for monsters, I wouldn't have been able to do this otherwise. He thought in slight fear. I fear I may be punished by okusama if I hadn't been able to catch up to her.

"Fufu~ keep up now, little blacksmith~" He heard her laugh over the wind.

Aaaahhh!

TBC