A/N: My chapters are quite short, I think. It feels fine on a phone screen, but sometimes it looks quite pathetic on a big computer screen. It's because I don't like to write for the sake of it. Even though I am an amateur, I try to take example from my favourite writers, fanfic or otherwise, and put meaning and relevance into every paragraph I write. I try and put into words the story which seems quite magnificent in my mind, but that might just be because I know what is going to happen.

WE TOO, WILL BE STORIES IN THE END

Natsume and Madara were still in the bedroom. Madara had watched as the boy got up, folded up his futon, stored it away, and then sat down again, leaning against him, and sunk comfortably into his fur. They both revelled in the moment of quite contentedness before Natsume spoke.

'You said just now that a yokai's lifetime is determined by their power. The stronger the yokai, the longer they live.'

'That's how it is.' Madara said, noting how unusually nonchalant he was given the topic of discussion. Natsume was never one to panic needlessly. His aura was a serene and temperate one, yet Madara still expected to see some form of anxiety leak through.

'And that is what is going to become of me.'

'Yes, it is specifically that way round: the mermaids blood does not give you long life which leads to power - it give you power which leads to long life.'

'Tell me sensei, then, how does this work? The human body is not like a yokai's. It can't sustain life much longer than a century.'

'That's exactly right. A mermaid's blood is not some sort of super medicine; it's nothing short of a miracle, even amongst the yokai. It changes your body so that while you remain human, you become yokai too. You become god-like in your power.'

A long moment passed a Natsume took in the meaning of Madara's words.

'I never wanted anything. Many years ago I even stopped wanting a family, or a friend. I never wanted a bike or a cake for my birthday. I never wanted love. I never even wished for my parents to come back. This, I never wanted this either.'

His last sentence held such emotion that it would have been a sob but for Natsume's evergreen placid nature. Madara remained silent, guilt overtaking him. But he could not afford to be feeling guitly right now, not when Natsume nedded him. He'd leave guilt for later. It took several moments for the boy to collect himself. When he stood, Madara asked him: 'What are you going to do now?'

'I'll go to school for now. Please give me a few days to think, sensei.'

He paused again at the door, turning to face the beast. His face held a vulnerability completely new and unknown to Madara. His words were: 'How powerful are you, sensei?'

Madara's answer was arrogant, despite its truth, and never had his words been so selfish and selfless at the same time: 'Oh, a being like me, I am up with the gods.'

He didn't miss the relived intake of breath and ghost of a smile as Natsume slipped out the door.