Chapter 5 – Reoccurring dream
"Ne, why are you crying?"
Opening his eyes to a crack, the boy could see the bleary shadow of a figure loom over him, a small smile playing on the shadow's lips.
The figure held out a hand. "Don't cry anymore."
The boy shook his head. He was told that he shouldn't trust strangers. And he couldn't tell if the one standing before him was a human or one of those weird things that only he seemed to see.
The figure before him was not discouraged. "Come on." The voice was soft and encouraging. "I promise I won't hurt you."
~.~.~.~
His eyelids felt extremely heavy. He couldn't open them an inch even if he wanted to. They were like heavy curtains waiting to be pulled open, but Natsume found it impossible to do so. In addition, his head was like a rock, and it hurt to turn his neck. He could feel a dull ache on his arms, legs and abdomen, but was too tired to care. Sleep was taking over, clouding over his thoughts and memories.
"Are you finally awake?"
Wait, he knew that voice. That was the voice of...
"MATOBA!" Natsume immediately sprung up, eyes popped open, scooting himself backward.
The said man was really there! With his long onyx hair and talisman eyepatch, there sat Matoba Seiji, leader of the Matoba clan. "Someone is energetic." came his deep voice, a smirk playing on his lips.
Natsume was feeling very dizzy. The heaviness he felt from earlier had yet to subside, his head made more dizzy when he abruptly sat up. He clutched the side of his head, his vision already blurring. His throat was as dry as the desert, not allowing any sound to emit from his lips. Natsume tried to swallow some saliva to moisturise his parched throat, but it didn't work in the slightest. Instead, it made him crave for water.
Matoba's smirk was still hanging on his face. Lifting himself off the ground, he came to stand beside Natsume. The sandy-haired boy tried to get away by crawling since his legs were soft as jello, but Matoba caught him by the wrist. "Not so fast, Natsume." He crouched down to Natsume's current height and steadied him, letting his back lean on the trunk of a tree.
Natsume didn't like this one bit. Matoba was treating him like a child when he didn't even want to be treated by him. "Let go of me." His voice came out weaker than he had expected it to, but at least he had a voice. His breaths came out ragged and raspy, puffs of white mist apparent in the chilly mountain air. The older male complied, letting go of Natsume's wrist gently. "As you wish."
Oh, how he wish he had the strength to wipe that smirk off Matoba's face right now! That smirk was fuelling his anger. "Wouldn't you like to know how you got here?" asked the older male. Natsume gave him his best glare through his dizzy haze. "I don't think I'd like to hear it from you, thank you very much." Good, his voice was back which gave him the ability to speak.
Matoba smirked and turned away, walking over to where he sat a few moments ago to gather his bow and arrows. "Well then, young Natsume. I shall leave." He examined his arrows and made his way to the east of the mountain.
The first thought that Natsume had was "Good, at least he's away from me." But then he realized the predicament he was in. Natsume was in the middle of a dark forest with no shelter or food. Add to the fact that he was weak and powerless should any ayakashi come to attack him. The sun was setting soon, and most ayakashi were active during night time.
As much as he hated it, he had no choice. Natsume ground his teeth together and clenched his fists tightly. "Matoba-san, wait!"
At the sound of his name being called, Matoba spun around to face Natsume with a dark eye. "Hmm~ And what do you want, Natsume-kun?"
He really wanted to slap that smirk off. So badly... But like it or not, he needed Matoba right now. If he wanted to survive that is.
"If there is nothing you wish to say to me, then I shall be taking my leave." Matoba made to leave for his destination.
"Help me... please." Ugh, he sounded pathetic.
"And why should I?"
Man, Matoba was not making this easy. Natsume furrowed his brow and tried to come up with a good reason for Matoba to help him, but he couldn't. They had been at each others throats since their first meeting and have always caused trouble for the other. Matoba wanted him to join his clan, but there was no way in heaven or in hell would Natsume become an exorcist. Ayakashis are supposed to be friends, not game for those with spiritual power to hunt on. He opened his mouth and closed it again, trying to find an excuse but ending up with none.
He was at a loss for words. There was no reason at all. Sighing, Matoba walked over to Natsume, shocking the young boy. "Very well. I shall help you." The statement shocked the boy even more as his eyes widened into dinner plates.
Natsume was sure Matoba was up to no good. Why else would the calculating male help him? "Why the change of heart?" he boldly asked.
The other male shrugged nonchalantly. "It would be such a waste if you were to die now, wouldn't it Natsume-kun?"
Said boy glared at him with a fiery gaze but accepted the reason. Matoba was, if anything, a sly person. He might just wanted Natsume to live longer so that he could work in his clan. "What happened to me, anyway?" He looked like he got into a street fight. He had dark bruises over his arms and legs. He took a wild guess that his abdomen was covered with bruises too. He felt weak and powerless, all the energy drained from his body.
"You were poisoned. By an ayakashi." stated Matoba as a matter-of-factly. "It was one which had venom in its tentacles. When it grabbed you, the poison must have seeped into your skin, causing you to faint."
"I fainted?" He couldn't remember much. He did remember an ayakashi grabbing him, calling him his lunch, but what happened after was a big blur.
Matoba inclined his head slightly. "What can I say? You're weak."
Natsume glared at him again. Sure he was weak, but he didn't have to make it sound so blunt.
"Luck sided you, for I came along. The ayakashi I dealt with before extracting the poison from your body." Matoba looked at Natsume from head to toe which made the boy squirm. "It would seem the spell was not entirely effective. There is still some poison left in your body."
Natsume nodded at all Matoba said, not knowing whether to believe him or not. However, the signs of his body told him that Matoba was not lying. He had indeed saved him from the ayakashi and the mere thought of it left an unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"We should be going." The sun was just over the mountains, the sky bathed in bright red light. In a few more minutes, night would be upon them. "There is a cave not far from here. We can use it as shelter for the night."
A cave? "Isn't your clan here, Matoba-san?" The little ayakashi mentioned exorcists in black yukatas. And he was pretty sure the Matoba clan wouldn't camp under the stars. They would have some secret house somewhere in the shady parts of the forest or something.
Matoba made a face in what Natsume supposed was a look of confusion. You couldn't tell, since his confused face and mad face looked almost the same. "What would make you think so?"
"That means your clan isn't here?" Then which exorcist clan was it? According to Nyanko-sensei and Natori-san, there were only a handful of clans left, and the only clan they knew of who wore black yukatas was the Matoba clan.
Matoba shook his head, making his long hair swish around. "No, I am here alone." Matoba crouched down once more, back facing Natsume.. "Hurry up."
Natsume was dumbfounded. "And do what?"
"Climb on to my back. It is clear that you are in no condition to walk." stated Matoba like it was the most natural thing for him to do.
"I can walk on my own, thank you." Really, who did he think he is? Matoba was an enemy of Natsume's, not his best friend.
Matoba faced him. "Would you rather walk and waste our time or would you rather let me carry you so we'll be faster?"
He had a point. In his current condition, Natsume would just be deadweight. Even so, Matoba seemed bent on carrying this deadweight with him. "Alright." Natsume had to give in.
"Hold my bow and arrows, Natsume."
Natsume did as he was told and climbed on to Matoba's back, letting the taller male carry him. It was embarrassing, he had to admit. He swung the bow and arrows over his shoulder and hooked his arms around the young man's neck to balance himself.
Even with a teen on his back, Matoba walked at a brisk and even pace. It was as if carrying Natsume was an effortless act. As they trekked through the undergrowth of the thick forest, Natsume found himself getting sleepy. The dizziness from earlier had returned with full force, hitting his head with sleep. Matoba's back was so warm too, the even pace they were going at rocking him further into sleep.
"Rest." said Matoba. His voice vibrated through his back, making Natsume feel the deepness of his voice.
Taking it as permission, Natsume slowly drifted off into the land of dreams.
Thank you for reading everyone!
I hope that this chapter was no too boring for you. Please don't forget to review and favourite! They motivate me to do better!
