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

VIII: Idea

A large group of middle-aged looking ogres came riding their horses into the Ogre Village. Many of them wore Japanese-fashioned armor and had a variety of Japanese weaponry at their sides. At the front, leading them further into the village, was a red skinned ogre with a fierce looking face. He had long straight crimson red hair tied into a low ponytail and a matching goatee. He wore tight fitting clothes under his armour like the rest, and a sheathed katana was at his waist.

This man was the village head, the chief of the Ogre tribe.

He bore no name but had swordsmanship skills just below the Sword Ogre's own, giving hint that he was stronger than the rest of the warriors of the village. He was a great leader and the village flourished under his leadership. He was also a firm believer of raw strength in combat but later on became more inclined to believe that even magic had its own strength in combat due to his wife's views about it. Nevertheless, what was still favored was the use of martial arts and weapons to slash, slice, and pierce through their enemies.

The Ogre tribe called him "Chief".

The villagers waved and greeted the group, happy of their safe return.

However, just a few minutes after, a certain blue skinned ogre scout wearing his signature scarf appeared at the side. The Chief reigned in his horse and the rest of the ogres behind him followed.

"What is it?" The leader ordered.

Blue Scarf Scout Ogre bowed his head as he placed a hand over his chest in reverence to his leader. "Okusama has requested your presence, my lord." He answered.

The chief snorted but then laughed heartily. "I understand, tell my wife that I will visit her immediately. You are dismissed."

"Yes, chief!" The scout then left.

And then the parade of returning ogres continued on their way, heading to the stables where they kept their horses.

ooo

Meanwhile, in the chief's residence, the head matriarch was smoothening over some details with the rest of the lower ranked leaders.

"So I will be taking the lead as planned. Do you remember what you have to do?" Okusama stressed out her last sentence as she spoke.

The rest nodded. "We are to only speak of what has been discussed and nothing else." They answered with sheepish smiles.

"I'm glad you understand." She smiled but there was an ominous aura yet again behind that devilish smile.

They gulped in response. She's one scary ogre indeed.

"I have finally arrived home, my dearest wife!"

A sudden booming voice caught their attention.

"The chief's here!" Someone gasped but was quickly shushed.

There were thundering footsteps echoing throughout the residence and became louder as it neared the meeting room. The shadow of the chief could clearly be seen through the shoji doors and the head lady calmly stood up to welcome her husband, the rest quietly following her lead from behind.

"Welcome, my husband." Okusama approached him with a hug and quick kiss on the lips.

The chief was all smiles at first upon seeing his wife but quickly smoothed his features to a serious one upon seeing his direct subordinates standing just a few meters inside the room.

"Hm? What are you doing here?" He asked and then sighed. "If you have something you wish to say, could you not do it a day after my arrival instead? I am in need of my rest after all."

"Husband, I was the one that called them here." She interrupted him before he could decide to really kick them out.

The chief looked at his wife and then to his retainers, before sighing again and taking a seat on his specially reserved cushion. He sat rather lazily but despite his posture, he was clearly not meant to be trifled with.

"So? What is this about?"

"A Unique Skill holder has been discovered amongst the ogre children." One spoke up and immediately sat in a seiza position with rest following their actions.

"Due to their special ability, we were thinking of adding them to the list of candidates for your children's personal royal guard." Another piped in.

"What do you think of this idea, my lord?"

They patiently waited for their lord's answer while avoiding their lady's burning gaze from the side.

.

.

.

The chief hummed and rubbed on his goatee. "What is the identity of this child? And what is their Unique Skill?"

"Oh! They are the nephew of the head blacksmith, milord!"

"It seems their Unique Skill involves having the ability to summon something akin to spiritual beings, they're called yokai, milord."

The other two who had not yet spoken, joined in the report.

Seemingly bored, the red skinned ogre nodded. "I see, I see. That seems like a good idea." He then waved them off. "You can go now. You are dismissed."

Before they stood up to get out, they stared pitifully at the okusama. Their eyes asking her if this much was fine.

She only smiled and they gulped again before finally leaving.

.

.

.

The house was finally quiet.

.

.

.

"Wife, are you hiding something from me?" The question was sudden but not unexpected.

Okusama laughed in amusement.

"Why do you ask?" She asked with crescents in her eyes.

"Your burning gaze towards them wasn't exactly subtle, you know." He answered.

She touched her cheek and pretended to look worried. "Oh my, it seems you found me out."

"Their reporting was rather short and precise to the point...which is unlike them since they tend to ramble when they report to me. I pity those poor men for being forced to report like this under your whims." He leaned against the wall as he said this, looking a lot less serious and more amused instead. "I understand that this has something to do with little blacksmith?"

"You understand perfectly." She nodded.

"Will you tell me now?"

"Hmm..." She hummed and stood up, walked towards him, and then sat at his side, his arm around her shoulder. "I suppose so. I do want little blacksmith to be a part of our children's personal royal guard though. I wasn't kidding about that."

The chief chuckled sheepishly. "The head blacksmith might threaten me in exchange for purposefully putting his nephew as a shield."

"Don't worry about that." She snuggled at his side. "I'll take care of that part."

"Why do you want that boy to be a part of our children's royal guard anyway? Are you scheming something?"

Okusama huffed in annoyance. "You idiot husband. Don't call it scheming! I'm matchmaking!"

"To our daughter? I thought our daughter already made it clear that her feelings for the boy was platonic. Besides, there are other ways to get them closer to each other."

"No!" She cut him off. "I meant to our son!"

The chief nearly collapsed at her words.

TBC