Chapter 6

Madara rolled around, spending some precious time in his maneneko form. Gods, how he missed this. He never would have thought it possible, but being able to just roll 'round and 'round was a blessed gift. He could do it forever.

He was restless and tired at the same time. He was allowed a little break.

For the umpteenth time that day, that morning whose sun had risen only an hour ago, he cursed the fool Natsume for wandering off on his own. Probably got snatched up by something too. Probably when the idiot was helping it get its foot out of a ditch or something. That seemed just like what he would do, too, and that was the most infuriating part.

He screamed into the pillow. It still didn't ease his frustrations.

He was just about to pull out his claws when there was the sound of chimes ringing through the house. Grudgingly, he sheathed the sharp points for a later time. With a great puff smoke, he was standing as Natsume Takashi again.

Or, more precisely, he was lying curled up in a ball under his blanket because he refused to crawl out. The houseguests probably weren't for Natsume anyways.

Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed by a few soft raps on the screen door. "Takashi-kun? Are you up?"

Repressing a sigh as best he could, Madara sat up. "Yes?"

"Your friends are here to see you. Atsushi-kun and Satoru-kun, I believe?"

Kitamoto Atsushi and Nishimura Satoru. The spirit hardly knew them, despite the many times he'd accompanied Natsume in his frolicking. He did know, though, he didn't have the energy to bother with their antics today. Screw stupid Natsume and his reputation. "Tell them I'm asleep."

"…Takashi-kun, are you feeling all right? You're not sick, are you?"

Madara appreciated that, despite the conspicuous worry in the older woman's voice, she still hadn't barged in to check on her "foster son." It wasn't everyday you found a human with a notion of propriety and privacy. "No, Touko-san. I'm just a little tired from yesterday."

"You did search all night for that poor cat… I wonder where he is now?"

Madara grumbled. "Probably enjoying a buffet of sardines."

That managed to bring a giggle to Touko's voice. "Sleep well, then. I'll tell them you don't feel well."

Her footsteps softened as she walked down the hall, away from the door. Madara gave a sigh of relief. What he'd said was the truth – he was tired. Tired of yesterday night, of the past week in general.

His options were growing limited. Where else could the fool be?

There were some protests – Madara could hear through the floorboards – but it was soon quieted.

After what only seemed like a few minutes, the same footsteps from before approached. Madara didn't even bother tensing this time.

"Takashi-kun? Dear?" She continued without waiting for an affirmative. "I'm going to go out and get some groceries. I wanted to cook calamari today, but I forgot to get some of the ingredients. Would you like to come?"

As tempting as that sounded, he wasn't feeling the hunger. (There was definitely something wrong with him. Damn Natsume, he would pay for any mental and physical damage caused by the stress, once he found him!) "No, I think I'm going to sleep a bit more. Thank you for asking."

"Have a good rest, then," were Touko's words as she disappeared down the hall again.

Time passed differently for spirits. What seemed like minutes to them would probably feel like hours to humans, and thus to Madara, it felt like he had just closed his eyes when the doorbell rang again.

Madara cursed, darkly and creatively, before rolling over and stuffing his ears with his pillow. Just when he thought the infernal noise had stopped, it came again. "What is it this time…" he grumbled, voice so muffled he could barely understand himself. He made his mind to ignore the chimes, but after two sets, the bells didn't stop.

They kept ringing, and ringing, and ringing…

Madara threw off the covers and stomped out into the hall, down the stairs, and to the front door. He threw open the door, his best glower in place.

"Natsume…?"

"Natsume-kun!"

His eyes widened. He immediately slammed the door behind him again.

Of all the people to come visit him, at this point in time, these two were the worst. Not because of their personalities or anything like that, but simply because they knew more. And, it was slight, but they had some spiritual sense.

There was a quiet knock on the door. "Natsume, are you OK?" That was the Tanuma brat, the one always sticking his head into other's business.

"You're not sick, are you?" The Taki girl was with him too, the one whom all the nearby spirits superstitiously avoided.

Madara faked a cough. "Uhm, sorry guys, I'm not feeling too well. I don't want to give it to you, so I'll have to refuse whatever it is you came for."

"We were just wondering if you wanted to come with us by the riverside, but if you're sick…"

"Yes, very sick," Madara interjected.

"Do you need any help around the house? Do you have medicine? Do you-"

"I'm fine, Taki. Touko-san already took care of everything."

"Oh… We'll come by tomorrow, then?"

That wasn't much better, but it was a day, at least. "Thanks for coming by guys."

"It's no problem. Hope you get better!" the girl said.

Oddly enough, Tanuma was silent. Madara heard from across the door, "What are you doing? Come on, let's go!" and the sounds of scuffling. After a few seconds, the boy seemed to give up and his presence disappeared from the front yard as well.

The spirit slid down the door, leaning against it in exhaustion. "How does Natsume do this nice act every day, 24/7? This is even more tiring than swearing off sake…"

Little did he know that that would not be the last of his troubles that day.