A/N: Writing for myself really make me appreciate all the people who write on this website or otherwise so much more. It is so difficult so be able to have good ideas for stores, then to put those idea into words. I try my best!

WE TOO, WILL BE STORIES IN THE END

Saying goodbye was hard. Especially when he couldn't actually say goodbye. When he had to be subtle about his appreciation. When he felt so guilty, so selfish, about it all.

And what made him more guilty was the fact that somewhere, a small little part of him was excited to leave: to start a new way of life. That part of him that was looking forward to the people and yokai he would meet, the places he would see. For now, he quelled that part of himself away.

The last week was coming to an end. He had spent time with each of his friends, even those who lived in other towns. He had slept over at Tanuma's and they had hung out with Taki all day. He had humoured their yokai related requests, much to their pleasure. He had gone on a weekend camping trip with Nishimura and Kitamoto, and together they had biked around the countryside, played in shallow rivers, cloud-watched on grassy hills, and slept under the stars. They had had so much fun that the trio were reluctant to return. He had even volunteered to participate in class events, to the class rep's excitement, and had taken the bus to go meet Shibata, thankfully not getting him involved with serious yokai matters this time.

He had sat with Touko-san and Shigeru-san in the summer afternoons, talking over cool barley tea. He had thanked them, and told them how much he appreciated their kindness. It was embarrassing for both parties and the Fujiwara's were quick to stop him: family members didn't thank each other for things like that, they reasoned.

Lastly, he had gone to visit Natori-san, who, delighted to see his uninvited guest, had insisted that he stay the night. They had laid out two futons on Natori-san's insistence to make it seem "proper", despite the perfectly usable bed and couch in the apartment. However, they had ended up not sleeping that night, instead talking about everything from family to the weather, to yokai and themselves. Natsume wanted to tell him, he really did, but how could he? But just like that time with the yuujinchou, Natori-san had just said, much to his shock: 'It's okay, Natsume. You always tell me everything as it is. So, if it is something you have decided in your heart not to tell me, it's okay.'

He was truly blessed to know people who were such good friends to him.

It was after all that when Madara had asked him: 'You've taken care of all your humans, but what about the yokai?'

Natsume frowned, trying to find the meaning in his sensei's words. 'What do you mean? They are yokai, right? They'll...'

Madara sighed. 'You know, Natsume, I really can't tell if you are being so oblivious on purpose. How can you of all people not see? Seriously.'

Natsume waited for his sensei to explain.

'Look Natsume. You know how loyal the Dog's circle is to you. For the love of sake, you even have Hinoe and Misuzu wrapped around your little finger. Quite literally, in Hinoe's case.'

'It wasn't intentional.' Natsume muttered.

'But you agree, right. You could ask anything of them, even if it meant them going to the ends of the Earth, and they'd still do it, whatever it was and come back to celebrate with a sake party in your room.'

'I wouldn't ask anything like that of them!'

'Natsume, you are missing the point.'

'Sorry.'

'You agree that all those yokai are loyal to you.'

'Yes.'

'And you understand that the Eight fields is their home.'

'Yes.'

'So if you tell them, or if they find out that you are leaving-'

Natsume's eyes widened in horror. 'They'd follow me. They'd leave their home behind, just for me.' He finished.

'And I think that I know you well enough to know that you definitely won't let that happen.'

The next time the Dog's circle came into Natsume's room at night for a sake party, they were delighted when Natsume joined in, instead of curling up in the corner in his futon as always. They always had a great time at their gatherings, but it made them all the much happier on the occasion when Natsume joined in.

From that night, Natsume joined in with the parties everyday, even if he had to sneak out on occasion. He would talk and laugh with them. They taught him youkai games, and he taught them the few human games he knew in return, which they would play until they collapsed from happy exhaustion. As their eating and drinking continued throughout the night, at some point Natsume would fall asleep, much to everyone's initial panic, and Madara would take him home, muttering something about excessive effort. For only he knew that that all of this was Natsume's own way of saying goodbye when he couldn't.