Sugino

"I honestly don't know what you and the demon eater see in that guy," Sugino commented to his beloved Muu-chan who was helping him scope out yet another suspicious location. "I mean he-"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Turning their heads toward the voice, the two observed as a bright light shone and a woman with a demonic aura was thrown through the wall of the building.

"Yikes," The mountain god murmured, whistling, "Now I see why they're so concerned about getting this kid back. Than energy..." He shook his head, "I think we found our hideout, Muu-chan. Let's get outta here."

Natsume

As the demonic woman stepped closer to him, Natsume focused all of his energy on one defensive action that he really wasn't sure would work. After all, he usually punched or kicked his opponents, not headbutted. "I said... GET AWAY FROM ME!" He snapped as she finally came within range. He lunged forward with all his might, headbutting the woman and then falling to the ground, still completely unable to move.

Minamoto whistled, impressed, "No doubt about it, they've got to be related," He sighed and moved to pick up the teen's chair, not in the slightest bit afraid of his attacks, as he was human. "That answers several questions... The last one is, where's the Book? Watanabe, search him." That was the last thing Natsume heard before succumbing to a deep sleep brought about by the stresses of the day topped off by the attack that had taken more out of him than intended.

Ichinomiya Residence

"Kan-chan, you have to take your medicine or you won't feel any better!" Youko demanded for the tenth time that day.

"But it's bitter," Kantarou moaned, "I don't like it."

"I didn't ask if you liked it, just-"

Haruka, who had been silently observing their interaction from the doorway, turned his head, "Youko, I think somebody's at the door."

"So answer it!" The annoyed kitsune snapped, "What am I, your-"

"Youko-chan~" Kantarou genuinely smiled for the first time since he'd gotten home, "Go answer the door and take care of our guest."

"Okay!" Youko bounded off to answer the door, silently cursing herself for her inability to defy Kantarou.

With a sigh, Haruka took Youko's place beside Kantarou, and instantly, the man began talking, happy that the tengu seemed concerned about him. "It's alright Haruka, I don't need the- mmphugh!" He was silenced when the pill that Youko had been so gently trying to coax him into taking was forced into the back of his mouth.

"That's for the headache, and for lying." Haruka warned, standing up, "Quit whining and try to get better." With this said, he returned to the doorway and peered into the kitchen, ignoring his master as he choked on the pill. Youko was standing with Tanuma, the young man they'd been with earlier, and an older man who, like Natsume and Kantarou, had a significant amount of spiritual energy.

"I'm sorry, but Kan-chan isn't seeing any visitors right now, he's-"

"Youko," Haruka called as he came up behind her, "That's Tanuma, the other boy Kantarou was so eager to help."

She looked up at her fellow youkai with a nod of recognition, "I'll let you talk to them then, I'm going to go see if Kan-chan took his pill yet."

When she left, Haruka caught the elder man's scent, and a wave of realization washed over him, "Out. Get out." He growled, glaring at the man.

"What? But I've only just arrived! That's no way to treat a guest, demon-eater." None other than Shuichi Naotori teased as he removed his hat with a grin. "So the rumors are true, then, you have succumbed to a human."

"That's none of your concern." The tengu replied, turning his attention from Naotori to Tanuma, "Why did you bring him?"

Tanuma seemed nervous, locked under Haruka's seething glare, "I- he was worried about Natsume."

"It's already being taken care of."

"Hey demon-eater, we found-" Sugino, who had invited himself in, came up behind Natori and wrinkled his nose as if he'd smelled something most foul. "So this is the kind of company Kantarou keeps? Why do you hang around again?"

Annoyed with the jab at his master, Haruka snapped, "He was just leaving."

"No I wasn't; I just got here." Naotori repeated, turning to look at Sugino, "Wow, it's just a congregation of youkai here!"

"What's all the ruckus? I'm trying to sleep." Kantarou mumbled, limping into his kitchen. (A/N: He ordered Youko to stay put until further notice)

"You must be Kantarou Ichinomiya," Naotori greeted, trying to look around Haruka who was now trying to push him out the door.

Kantarou sighed, "Haruka, stop pushing. It's rude." He ordered, adding, "Come here and hold me up." Deciding that he had no choice, Haruka retreated to his master's side and did as he was told. "You must be Shuichi Naotori. I've heard a lot about you. Albeit not many good things..." Noticing Sugino, he asked, "Did you find anything, Sugino-sama?"

"I did." The tengu grumbled bitterly, "But I'll not speak in front of your... company."

"It can't be helped," Kantarou muttered, "I don't like this any more than you do, but there's no way I can take on Ibaragi in my current condition."

Blinking, Haruka stared at his master in disbelief, "You... You planned this?! You planned to have him come here?"

Kantarou looked up at his subordinate tengu sympathetically, "I'm sorry, Haruka, but what else can I do? We can't very well leave Natsume-kun there... For his sake, and for the sake of the Book, we'll all have to grit our teeth and try to get along for now."

"Who's gritting their teeth? I'm pleased to meet you, Ichinomiya-sensei."

Kantarou's eyes narrowed as he glared at Natori, "You're a sick, vile individual; your tactics are cruel and unusual and the thought of working alongside you makes me ill. Your entire family is a disgrace to humanity and exorcists, and you disgust me."

"Um, wow. Is this what you call getting along?" Sugino chided, attempting to bring peace. Though he wasn't a fan of humans, particularly these two individuals, he really didn't want to get caught in the crossfire of an exorcist's duel. That just spelled disaster. Kantarou, however, was having none of this.

"If not for Natsume, I would likely order Haruka to kill you in cold blood here and now." He added, which earned stares from everyone in the room.

"Kantarou? That's not like you..." Haruka commented, surprised at his master's words, though he wasn't in objection to this proposition.

Hurting from standing upright for so long, Kantarou leaned into the tengu and added to Natori, "I might not be much of a threat to you now, but piss me off enough and it'll be the end of you. Haruka is mine, you hear? So stop ogling him like he's your last meal." Malice was nearly visibly dripping from his words as he said this. Nobody else in the room had seem to notice the interest Natori had taken in the tengu, but when attention was drawn to him, it was made apparent that he was thinking of something while staring at the tengu. "I'd rather die with his name than allow the likes of you to get your filthy paws on him."

Adjusting his glasses and looking away from Kantarou, Natori defended, "I was just thinking how strange it is that he puts up with you."

Kantarou ignored this petty jab and said, directing his attention to Tanuma, "Thank you for coming to visit us, Tanuma-san. You're welcome in my home any time. I'm just sorry it was under such negative circumstances."

Feeling rather intimidated after Kantarou's threats, even though they hadn't been meant for him, Tanuma averted his gaze, "Well... I... I wasn't sure if I should bring Natori-san, after what Haruka-san said..."

"No, no, you did the right thing!" Kantarou assured him, suddenly cheery, "You're just trying to help Natsume-kun, right? He's lucky to have friends like you."

"If that's how you feel, you won't be upset that we want to help too, will you?" A voice that was only familiar to Tanuma came from the entryway as Sasada and Taki peered inside, smiling.

"Sasada-san! Taki-chan!" Tanuma stared at them, clearly surprised to see them.

"Oh? You didn't know they were following us? I sensed one of them on the train, but I thought you knew..." Natori commented, looking at them.

Kantarou was taken aback by the sight of two attractive real live high school girls in his home. Seeming to be distracted by this, he said, "No, no, of course not! Youko-chan, get the lovely ladies some tea, will you?"

"Pervert." Haruka mumbled, surprised that he was actually missing the Kantarouwho was spewing death threats moments prior.

Any Fruits Basket fans will know what I mean when I say: High school girls~ High school girls~ Another pair that'd get along well: Kan-chan and Shigure. Now I'm getting ideas. Ooooh boy.

On a more related note: Lots of new faces here. Sasada and Taki- especially Taki- will get more face-time in the next chapter. Why? Because Madara hasn't come out, of course!