Natori had agreed to speak with Natsume on the matter concerning his current case. What he did not agree to was to have the meeting in the younger boy's room. In fact, he had expressly suggested that they go to a tea shop to talk.
Natsume had dismissed the idea, suggesting that the Fujiwara residence would be better since they were close by. Natori supposed he was a bit relieved that Natsume now felt comfortable enough to invite people to his home.
A soft knock came from the room's entrance, and Natori turned toward it. Touko appeared when the door slid open, a tray of tea, sweets, and refreshing slices of watermelon before her. As she took the tray into the room, and placed it on Natsume's table, she spared Natori a sweet smile. He smiled back, but was caught in a feeling that he was doing something wrong. When she left, the room felt a whole lot bigger and emptier than it had before she entered.
Natsume's own head was filled with different thoughts. His mind jumped around on various topics that Natori could possibly want to talk about. It seemed serious enough as Natori seemed cautious to even bringing the subject up.
The exorcist cast his glance around the room, fingers lightly tracing things within arms reach. Natsume almost laughed- Natori seemed like a pet testing out a new environment. But when Natori turned back to him and opened his mouth to speak, Natsume's shoulders tensed and he sat up a little straighter, his hands balled into fists and rested on his folded legs.
"So this is what a student's room looks like these days."
The tension flooded from Natsume's shoulders as he looked at Natori with a raised eyebrow. "You were once a student too." He paused for the briefest moment before, "I thought you had something important to say, Natori-san?"
The exorcist-actor nodded his head and sighed. He walked further into the room and took a seat opposite Natsume, his legs crossed in front of him in a state more relaxed than he felt. Nyanko perked up and sauntered over now that the atmosphere got serious. The imitation-cat couldn't hide his curiosity over the situation either.
Natori looked between the two for a moment, his mind sorting through ways of bringing up the issue. He picked up one of the teacups from the tray, taking a sip.
"I have a large case coming up," his gaze drawn once more to the minimal items neatly stored around the room. That was a lot easier to do. Easier than looking at the person he would soon ask to put themselves in danger for a job he still lacked information on. "There's been a string of people going missing in a mountain in the northeast region of Wakayama prefecture. The cause isn't too clear but it seems that it's a problem that they've been having for quite some time now.
"I...see." Natsume's voice was a bit distracted. "Will you be away for a while then?"
"Possibly. I'm not sure how long it would take to solve the problem. Hopefully not too long."
Natori turned back in time to see Natsume slowly nod his head before turning to share a look with Nyanko. He wasn't expecting the opportunity, but he used it to ask what he needed. "I would like you to join me for this, Natsume."
Natsume's head swivelled back to look at him and the two made eye-contact once more. Natori got a clear view of the shocked look painted across Natsume's features. The boy could not help the feeling of surprise that came from Natori being so open about the situation.
"You don't have to-" Natori started to speak but Natsume cut him off soon after.
"I'd like to help."
It was the exorcist's turn to be surprised, especially with how determined the boy looked.
Nyanko's gaze fell upon the boy as well, but he didn't say anything, still observing the situation.
"It could be dangerous." Natori tried to reason with him by giving the boy an opening to back out if he needed to, part of him wishing Natsume would take the opportunity.
"That means you would need all the help that you can get." Natsume was not deterred by his efforts.
As if waiting around just for that very moment, Hiiragi appeared in a cloud of smoke. Natsume startled, calling out her name in surprise. No matter how many times she did such appearances, he could not seem to get used to it.
The exorcist heaved a heavy sigh, already knowing what would come next. The shiki only stood to the side, remaining silent.
"Is there something you want to say, Hiiragi?"
"Natsume has already said what needs to be said."
Natori brought his hand to his face and heaved another wary sigh. He should have known he would be ganged up upon by his shiki as well as Natsume. He almost laughed at the situation. He lowered his arm to better look at his human companion.
"I suppose you would need to ask your guardians. I can help with that. You're on holiday now aren't you?"
Natsume nodded at Natori's question. He didn't need the help, but it was nice to know it was offered. The two of them had done trips before, and the Fujiwaras- especially Touko-san- had seemed to take a liking to Natori. She would on occasion even assign Natsume little errands when he was out to deliver food to the older man.
"We'll need the pig cat as well." Natsume was drawn out of his thoughts as Natori spoke. He turned to the exorcist and saw him looking toward Nyanko, "But I'm not sure it's wise to bring him along. As I said before, it could get dangerous."
Nyanko snorted before letting out a mocking laugh. "Ha! You think whatever is in that mountain is a match for the likes of my greatness? And you think you would fare better?"
"I seem to forget that there's something more to you beside that hideous pig-like appearance."
Nyanko's fur bristled, and he all but hissed. The pig-cat poised himself to launch at the exorcist-actor, but Natsume was able to grab and stop him in time. Natsume held him back by his red collar, plucking him midair, before placing him out of the way, to the side. The lucky cat harrumphed in irritation.
Natori made a weak attempt to cover up his laughter, "Well then, it seems we have a good a team as any."
"When will we leave?" Natsume spoke up staring the conversation back into seriousness.
"In two weeks time. It will be a little close to when your school reopens, but we'll be back before then." If anything were to happen at least it meant they would be running around in cooler temperatures rather than the midst of summer. "Pack a jacket, it might get chilly on the mountain."
Natsume nodded, his inquiries already answered without having been asked. All that was left to be done was to speak with the Fujiwaras. The boy reached for a slice of watermelon, absentmindedly bringing it to his mouth and chewed. Nyanko launched himself at the snacks efficiently emptying the tray.
"I should be going soon. There's still much to prepare." Natori placed his empty teacup back onto the tray, and stood.
Nyanko took the tiniest break in pigging out to spare him a cursory glance, "You call yourself an exorcist yet can't even gather information quickly?"
Natori's eye twitched behind his glasses while Natsume called out his bodyguard's name in admonishment. He balled his hand into a fist ready to hit Nyanko over his head, but another beat him to it. Hiiragi towered over the cat creature, the hilt of her sword still planted firmly upon his head.
"Please do not insult my master. Let us work in harmony for this case."
Natsume still had to hold Nyanko back as he hissed, wiggled, and fussed, claiming that he was being bullied. He was swiftly ignored as Natsume gathered the empty tray in his other hand and stood up. Natsume and Natori made their way downstairs, Hiiragi behind them keeping out of the way.
They found Touko-san and Shigeru-san in the living area on opposite ends of the low table. The two of them watching a television programme with their own tray of tea and fruit between them. When Touko saw Natsume and Natori enter the area, she muted the volume, and turned toward them.
"Oh, Natori-san, are you leaving so soon? Since you're here already, why don't you stay for dinner?"
Natori was slightly taken aback by the open invitation. He covered it up with one of his movie-ready smiles.
"I'm afraid that I have to decline such a wonderful offer, Fujiwara-san. I still have matters that I should attend to now."
She sighed, her hand resting delicately along her cheek. She looked in thought, possibly thinking of ways to get the man to stay, but Shigeru spoke up.
"Is there something you boys needed then?"
Natsume opened his mouth to speak, when he saw something shift at the corner of his eye. His glanced in the direction to see that Hiiragi had followed them.
Natori filled the silence. "I'll be going on a trip to Wakayama prefecture soon, up to the mountain, and if it's possible I'd like Natsume to join me."
Touko's eyes lit up at the idea, while Shigeru spoke.
"That's quite far isn't it?"
"Oh, but a trip to the mountains sounds wonderful! Takashi-kun?" Touko called out to him as he'd been quite quiet throughout the exchange, and he turned and tuned back into the conversation at the sound of his name.
"Ah...If it's too much trouble, I can stay." He was a bit flustered being caught off guard. Hiiragi's presence still clearly weighing on his senses. His eyes darted to her once more, she looked back at him with a tilt of her masked head, before he turned back to his guardians. They were completely unfazed by the extra presence in the room because, Natsume had to remind himself, they could not see the shiki.
"As long as you're back in time for school, Takashi. There's no problem." Shigeru dispelled the boy's worries. At least partly. "What will you do in the mountains?"
Natsume bit the inside of his lip. He didn't know how to explain what they would do since he didn't know what Wakayama had to offer.
"We'll do a temple stay." Natori offered the information without batting an eye, his smile still shining.
"I've done one of those some years back," Shigeru stroked the prickly hairs of his beard, remembering the past. "It was an interesting experience. I'm sure you will enjoy it as well. You should try chanting the sutras."
A hesitant chuckle escaped Natori unwittingly. "Thank you for the suggestions."
"Oh," Shigeru continued to stroke his beard as a thought occurred to him. "How will you get there? It's a bit far isn't it."
"How could I forget." Natori smiled, looking sheepish enough to be believable. "We'll take a plane to Osaka before transferring to the trains to get to the mountain."
"A plane?" Natsume looked at Natori, shock brightening his eyes. He had never used such transportation, never had reason to, and never thought he would have to. "I don't have a passport."
Shigeru and Touko shared a looked between themselves.
Natori looked at the boy. "You don't need one to travel within the country, as long as you have your ID card."
"Okay." There was nothing more to say. Natsume didn't know how to feel about the whole ordeal since he had nothing to compare it to.
"Oh, Takashi-kun. Your first plane ride, how exciting!" Touko gasped in her excitement, her hands clasped before her chest. When no one said anything more, she turned her attention to Natori, "And are you sure we can't convince you to stay for dinner, Natori-san?"
"You've already done so much. I don't want to impose any further."
"Touko-san." Shigeru called out to his wife to quell her over-enthusiastic manner. She sighed, accepting the refusal.
"Thank you for letting Natsume accompany me on this trip."
"Oh nonsense. Thank you for inviting him."
"Boys need to get out more, explore more beside around home."
Touko laughed sweetly as she looked to her husband.
Natori felt a budding of guilt in his stomach. The Fujiwaras so willingly pushed for Natsume to go out to "have fun," when in reality, he would most likely be heading into danger.
The four said their goodbyes, and Natsume saw Natori to the door.
"You know Natsume, if you really don't want to-" Natori spoke, the guilt momentarily getting the better of him, but Natsume ignored the statement.
"When will we head out?"
"I'll come back in two weeks."
"It's fine, I can meet you at the station."
Natori sighed, Natsume really was stubborn. The exorcist allowed himself a small smile. He wondered if whilst not being fully related by blood and only having been with them a short while- all things considering- Natsume had acquired Touko's stubbornness. From the times he had met the woman, he could see the similarities between the two.
When Natori involuntarily broke into a small laugh, the others around him looked at him in question but he didn't answer it.
"Alright then Natsume, I'll see you later."
"Good-bye, Natsume." Hiiragi bowed at the waist before straightening and trailing off behind her master.
Natsume stood, with Nyanko perched upon his shoulder, as he waved them off.
