"If you only took me for your bodyguard instead of this pig-cat, this wouldn't have happened, Natsume-dono." Misuzu said. The Matoba clan's cellar was by no means small, but for Misuzu, it was only big enough to accommodate his head. He could squeeze himself in if he wanted to since he was a spirit, but he wanted to spare the boy of that experience; it wouldn't be pleasant for the ayakashi himself either.
"Who are you calling a pig-cat?!" Nyanko-sensei bounced off from the floor in an angry fit.
Misuzu paid the protesting cat no mind as he scanned the room for any exorcists that could hinder him from doing what he came for. "Shall we go, Natsume-dono? To think that you would be held captive here for so long, just what was your bodyguard doing?"
"Stupid! I dare you to babysit this brat for one day and see what happens! He'll be doing something stupid the second you take your eyes off of him!"
Natsume wasn't expecting to see his friend this soon and especially not here, an exorcist clan's mansion, of all places. He was happy, he couldn't hide that, Misuzu came here to save him after all, but he couldn't stop the anxiety from growing within him as well. The place they were at was an exorcist clan's mansion, and exorcists view ayakashi as either threats or slaves. As powerful as Misuzu was, Natsume wasn't sure if he could get off unscathed or not. Plus, Natsume had something that needed to be done. "Sorry, Misuzu, but I'm staying."
"See? He's doing it again!" Nyanko-sensei pointed a paw at the boy. "Misuzu, you're babysitting starts now! You tell him!"
"Sensei…"
"Natsume-dono, if you are thinking about the human couple, one of my followers confirmed their safety and that both of them are awaiting your return."
Natsume's eyes widened at the mention of the Fujiwara couple. They're both okay? Touko-san too? The events of how this all started flashed in the boy's mind- Touko-san's smile, the red-faced ayakashi, and the blood-stained sheets.
"Hmph. You'll have to do better than that, stupid horse. I told him the same thing over and over but the stupid brat won't listen." By then, Nyanko-sensei looked almost disinterested with the events unfolding before him as he busied himself with grooming his fur.
"Misuzu, is Natsume in there?" A new voice appeared from behind the wall Misuzu bulldozed. "Exorcists are closing in from the garden, it is best we move now before they arrive."
"Ah, Natsume-dono is here." Misuzu made room for the newcomer to enter.
"Hiiragi… Right?"
The figure that emerged looked very much like Natori's shiki, Hiiragi, but instead of the usual one-eyed mask she had a brown paper bag over her head with a black circle on where her nose should be. As the figure spotted Natsume, she immediately grabbed him by the hand and ran towards the door, "Then, as planned."
"Madara, fulfill your duty as Natsume-dono's bodyguard."
"Hmph. I thought you were doing that for the day." Nyanko-sensei transformed into a white beast and followed after the two while Misuzu went to where Hiiragi came from.
9/13/2016