"Wait, Hiiragi, you're Hiiragi, right? Does Natori-san know you're here? Is he here too? How did you know I was here? And isn't Misuzu coming with us?" Natsume bombarded the ayakashi with his questions. He was confused but he was more worried about his friends being here than anything else.

Hiiragi didn't respond, she just continued running through the corridors of the mansion while dragging the boy along with her.

"Natsume, as usual, you're such a busybody." In that moment, Hiiragi abruptly turned to a corner, slid the sliding doors open and shut it behind them as quietly as possible. "Right now, master and your ayakashi friends are here to save you."

"Save me? B-but I came here of my own accord!" Natsume's voice was shaking. He should've known from the start. If he just disappears without a trace, they'd think he was in some sort of trouble and "rescue" him. Now… Everyone would get hurt because of me. Natori-san too… He might get shunned by the other exorcists for meddling with another clan's affairs.

Thwack!

"Ow…"

Hiiragi delivered a light chop on the boy's head and with an exasperated sigh, removed the paper bag from her head. Even under the paper bag, she was wearing her one-eyed mask. "As I've said, you're such a busybody, Natsume."

"Hmph. You tell him, Hiiragi! Misuzu was too much of a chicken to reprimand the brat!" Nyanko-sensei was already back in his lucky cat form. He has only been watching them the entire time, but he then decided to speak up as if finding an ally who could tell off the boy who has always been finding himself in trouble.

"Everyone came here on their own accord as well."

"B-but-!"

"Master is aware that you came here on your own and that's why he came to save you."

"Then he should know that I don't require saving, right?" Natsume reasoned. It just didn't make any sense. If Natori knew that he wasn't kidnapped or forced to stay here by the Matoba clan, why would he come to save him? "You'll have to tell everyone to go back before anything happens."

"Something has already happened, Natsume." Hiiragi said firmly. "Master is on a separate mission, your friends are against the exorcists, and I was tasked to bring you back."

Natsume wasn't expecting this. Hiiragi has always been one to pick on him for little things, but it was the first time she has spoken to him in such an unyielding tone. Because of his actions, he has put everyone's lives in danger. "I… I'm sor-"

"Master, your friends, and I all know what you're like, Natsume. You are but an awkward and gentle child." Hiiragi continued. Her voice was still firm yet it was much more soothing. "And that's why, we came to save you from yourself."

"Hmph. That's how it is, stupid Natsume." Nyanko-sensei butted in and once again, transformed into his ayakashi form and gestured for the two of them to get on his back.

"Rely on us more, Natsume."

Natsume couldn't bring himself to respond with anything other than a curt nod. I am truly blessed with good friends.

9/15/2016