A/N: Anyone else think that 'slice of life' should be a genre on this site?

WE TOO, WILL BE STORIES IN THE END

The few days which Natsume had asked for became few weeks, and then a few months. It wasn't that Natsume ignored the topic, but more that he didn't know how to deal with it. But Madara was taking no more. This was for Natsume's sake. When Natsume walked into the room, he was already there waiting for him, sitting up and gesturing for him to sit too. Natsume lifted an eyebrow as he sat opposite, reaching out to pet the cat's fur.

'What is this about, Nyanko sensei?'

'You know very well what this is about. Now talk.' He said, a paw pushing Natsume's hand away.

Natsume frowned. 'Don't worry sensei. It's not like anything is going to happen so soon.'

'Don't be an idiot and start taking this seriously.'

'I'm not being an idiot, you are! I have a life so let me live it! What do you know about this anyway!' Natsume shouted.

Madara flared. He instantly turned into his white beast form, breathing down on Natsume's shocked face. In a moment, the mask cracked and the months of mental anguish showed on his face. Typical self-isolating fool, Madara though as he turned his gaze downwards. It was terribly unlike Natsume to get seriously riled up like that.

'I do know.' Madara's voice resonated loudly, but was gentle. 'I have been alive since the early years of the human race. I have met more humans and yokai than I can remember. Once upon a time, I had a family too. I had friends as close as brothers.'

Natsume sat stunned to silence. He never really knew anything about his sensei's past. And what he had just said...

'I'm sorry.' Natsume whispered.

Madara huffed. 'You very well should be. See if I ever try and help you again.' Of course he was not angry at all and his words held no truth, and damn Natsume for being able to see that so easily.

The said boy smiled a little as he said: I truly am sorry, so don't be angry anymore, sensei.'

'You start talking. I'll decide for myself whether I'll be angry or not.'

Natsume sighed. 'I really don't know. I really meant it when I said that I could just not do anything... it isn't like anyone is going to notice, right? I could just go to school as normal, then go to university, get a job, then...'

Madara took advantage of the pause. 'Then what, Natsume? Get married? Have children? Watch them grow old? If that's what you are planning to do, go ahead: do it. Heavens help me, I'll stop you.' He knew he was being harsh as he saw the pained expression on Natsume's face, which lowered even further, but he couldn't afford not to be.

'I just can't stand the idea of leaving them all, but just the thought of them growing older in front of me...'

'Think about this Natsume: these couple of months, have you ever felt at peace around them? Has a moment passed in which you looked at their faces and not wondered how much time is left?'

Natsume's silence spoke for himself.

'Every moment you spend with them will be filled with pain and dread. Every day it will become worse, you'll be killing yourself inside.' Madara sighed tiredly at Natsume's unresponsiveness. 'Your timeline and perspective has already changed. Your friends, they probably haven't even thought about much further in the future than summer exams, but you are already thinking of what will happen half a century later. They are thinking about submitting their homework on time, and you are thinking of the type of life you will lead. Do you see? It's not the same anymore.'

'Even if that is the case, what else can I do? I can't go to Tanuma and Taki, I can't go to Natori-san, and definitely not the exorcist clans. For this, the yokai of the Eight fields can't even help me. What else can I possible do?'

Madara looked at Natsume solemnly. 'There is one thing you can do: disappear.'