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 Shitara 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

VII: Death

"As I have said before, we have much to discuss." Misuzu reiterated as he laid his body around the Glass Leaf Tree while Takashi sat with his back against the trunk.

The young ogre nodded in return and leaned in with an eager expression. He had a lot of questions but he reigned it in for the meantime; it would be better if he listened first and then asked the other questions later.

"Where should I begin?" The yokai asked first after settling down.

Takashi paused and then took a moment to rub his chin as he pondered over where to begin. Eventually, he came to a decision. With bright and expectant eyes, he turned to look at Misuzu. "With my death." He answered confidently.

Misuzu grinned. "Kukuku ~ a daring choice. As expected of you, my lord." He stared deep into the ogre's eyes as he said this. "Very well then, let me begin."

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Upon your death, we had heard a voice. It was a peculiar and unnatural voice.

Perhaps we had heard it due to our connection to you but deep down we knew, there was a desire to accompany you even after death.

Spirits like us live for a long time...when we become involved with humans, there is sometimes a deep regret or longing. Foolish as there some are who dive deeply into a relationship with a human, there are others who keep their distance, never interacting with them. To those in between, the moments or encounters where us spirits meeting humans, become a simple memory...a nostalgic event to prevent whatever negative emotions attached to that particular memory, from taking over us. Some fail to do so and become entrenched with resentment for becoming forgotten, not realizing that that human may have already passed away.

I, who was in between...had foolishly become attached to you.

But that fake cat whom you call so fondly by a certain name -

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"You mean, Nyanko-sensei?" Takashi found himself interrupting.

Misuzu simply nodded.

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Madara had been the most aggrieved upon learning of your death. His attachment to you was even greater than both mine and Hinoe, as well as the others.

So when that voice spoke...

It had not introduced itself nor explained itself fully...it only stated something which changed our thoughts about your death.

《The individual [Natsume Takashi] will be reincarnated and given the Unique Skill [Book of Friends].》

It had stated your status which relieved most of us, knowing that you would live again but why it had happened was a true mystery. Unfortunately, we had not been given enough time when it suddenly announced another message.

《Confirmation pending...seeking confirmation for renewal of the contract known as the [Book of Friends] with the individual [Natsume Takashi]...(Y/N)?》

It had not deigned to give us more information, only a choice.

A choice which I somehow do not regret.

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Misuzu stared at his master who seemed to be in deep contemplation over his story.

"Shall I continue, my lord?" He asked, causing the young ogre to look up with surprised eyes.

"Ah, y-yes! Please do so, Misuzu!"

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Upon accepting the choice, we had ended up in a dark space. And then the voice proceeded to give us more information.

It had told us that due to your strong wish of remaining in contact with the spirits you would have had to leave behind once you died, it decided to create a unique skill suited for that purpose. But the creation of your skill would end up bringing many spirits over to this world, creating a slight scale of imbalance in the number of souls within the system created by the voice's creator.

To prevent that from happening, we were transformed into [demons], spiritual lifeforms similar to [spirits] and [angels], and then sent into the Spirit World that exists alongside the Material World which in whole, makes up this world. And because names hold power, and our names were already given to us upon the birth of our awareness, we became Named demons the moment we were transferred in.

While we were indeed demons, what made us different from the other demons were that we were exclusively tied to you and your Unique Skill. Meaning, we could not be summoned by another, even by accident. An additional trait that had been granted to us was that we could stay within the Material World for a few days upon being summoned even despite being provided no material body. However, after the four-day limit was up, we would be then forced to return back to the Spirit World.

We further decided that in order distinguish ourselves from the other demons, we decided to revert to calling ourselves yokai. It was a simple matter and even the other sentient demons ended up agreeing with it.

I do not recall how long we have been in the Spirit World but before I knew it, I was summoned by you, milord.

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"Misuzu, I've been wondering...why do you not call me Natsume-dono like you did before? Ever since you were summoned, you just simply call me 'milord' instead." Takashi asked, looking a bit hurt. "I feel like you're distancing yourself with me, are we not friends?"

Misuzu dared not blink and simply stared.

"You must understand, milord. I am a now a Named demon. If I carelessly call you as before, you will end up getting Named which is akin to me branding you as my subordinate instead. You must remember that you are our master first and foremost despite our friendship. Additionally, my magicules may end up drained as a risk on the event I name you so my existence is on the line as well." He explained.

Tears began to form in the corner of the young ogre's eyes. He blinked in surprise and started trying to wipe it away with the sleeve of his kimono.

"Huh? Why am I crying?"

"What are you feeling now, my lord?"

"Me? I'm feeling..." Takashi closed his eyes and closed his hand on his chest, over where his heart beated steadily. What is this feeling? It's...

"..relief. I'm feeling relieved by your answer."

He chuckled at himself.

"You probably find it amusing to have such a silly master, don't you, Misuzu?" He asked, although it seemed to be a slight admonishment at himself for crying so easily.

"It is alright, milord."

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"Hey, Misuzu..."

Takashi was lying on his back against the grassy floor now.

"What is it, milord?" The bull-like yokai asked.

"Did Nyanko-sensei and Hinoe..." He trailed off, a little afraid to finish the question.

"You can summon them next time if you want to."

The ogre child smiled.

"Thank you, Misuzu."

TBC