Phantasmagoria

Natsume Yuujinchou

Chapter 9

Possession Is Not Something To Be Toyed With

"I'll devour you… I'll definitely devour you!"

"Uwaah!" Homura woke up with a start, a cry escaping his lips as he threw off the covers frantically. It wasn't until his eyes adjusted to the late afternoon glow that he realized he was somehow in a futon. Again.

He looked around, then down at himself. Not to mention, he was in somebody else's pajamas too. The only thing not ordinary in that fairly ordinary room was that there was a pillow right next to his, even though the person who had been lying on top of it earlier had already gone by then.

Who… have I been sleeping with?

He heard some voices downstairs, and panicked. He didn't even want to know how he knew he was in the second floor of a two-storey house, but he just did so there was no point in pursuing the subject any further. He was on his feet in an instant, and bolted out into the hallway and down the stairs, feet slapping against the mixture of cement—or was it woodwork? Or maybe even parquet? He didn't notice. He knew he was being clumsy and though he didn't want to fall embarrassingly down the stairs of a stranger's house, he'd rather be given the chance to run away than getting himself caught and questioned.

He had almost reached the front door and was just about to jump into his shoes when he felt fingers dig into his collar and pull, stopping him just paces away from freedom.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"Natsume!" Homura stopped struggling once he saw that it was Natsume who'd restrained him.

Natsume sighed as he let go of his newly-acquired friend. "You know, didn't it ever occur to you that just running away like that—in my pajamas, for that matter—would worry the people who'd went through a lot of trouble to haul your butt here all the way from the forest?" he said in a joking manner, but the tone didn't make a connection with Homura as it should have.

Right then and there Homura felt like a total and complete idiot.

He averted his gaze and fixated it on the ground as he watched his feet shuffle uncomfortably. The feeling of Natsume's pajamas clinging onto him just fine didn't make it any better. He knew they were about the same size, though he was taller than Natsume by about two to three centimeters. But he was feeling really small then, his back slumped and looking disheveled, wearing pajamas even though it isn't even nightfall yet when Natsume was wearing normal everyday clothes.

"I'm sorry," he started shakily. "I didn't know this was your house, although I should have, seeing as how I ended up here last time too. Plus, I ran away that time too…"

"Hey, hey, I was just joking. It wasn't much trouble. Suzuya helped carry you most of the way," Natsume said, ruffling his hair.

Homura nodded sheepishly, still a bit embarrassed. Something came to his mind suddenly, as if there was this tiny little detail he should have noticed but didn't. He spent a few seconds thinking about it.

"Ehhh Suzuya? You can see—mmphgf" His 'little' outburst was hurriedly muffled by Natsume's hands as he dragged them some way further than the kitchen where Touko-san might hear. "Shhh. Watch what you're saying, sheesh…"

"I-I'm sorry but… Ehh… Suzuya… You can actually see Suzuya! I didn't know that you can see youkai!"

"Well, of course you don't, I made sure to hide this fact from everybody else—though some people still found out anyways—and you wouldn't just announce that you can see what other people can't in public, do you? And I just found out you can see too when Suzuya mentioned you… By the way, how do you feel? Is your arm alright now? Are you feeling light-headed or weird or something?"

Homura's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "Why? Was that why I fainted?"

"You mean you don't remember? That scary youkai pushed me aside and possessed you. And it wouldn't come out. Suzuya already tried. I'll ask Nyanko-sensei to see to you later."

"Oh… I don't feel any changes, but I guess I'm a little fuzzy. My body feels heavy to move around in. Kind of feels like when you're having a really bad fever. And wait, 'Nyanko-sensei'?"

"Takashi-kun~ Come here and have dinner~" Touko's voice floated to their ears from the kitchen. There was the sound of chairs scraping against the floor too.

"Okay~" Natsume replied. "Look, I'll explain everything later. For now all you need to know is that you're possessed, we still don't know what that thing will do to you, and you're spending the night here, I'm not going to let you out of my sight."

Homura blushed at that as he followed Natsume. "But we have school tomorrow," he said quietly.

"Touko-san had already washed your uniform earlier, and if it doesn't dry by the time we're going to sleep, I'm going to hang it in my room. It'll dry by tomorrow. Then you'd just have to iron it before we leave. As for schoolbooks, don't worry about it. We don't have any scary teachers tomorrow, so we'll just share mine." Natsume turned around and gave a wink, and then they arrived at the kitchen of the Fujiwara household.

Homura paused at the doorway, not sure whether this is all okay. I mean, I'm a total stranger, and I'm going to spend the night at my friend's whom I haven't known for very long. And it seems as if his foster family is completely okay with it.

He looked in at the warm homey kitchen, and that loving family feeling bugged him a little. For a guy whose parents are always involved with work and are overseas as we speak, whose relatives don't treat him nothing much, and who doesn't even have friends until very recently, it was all…

It just made him realize that he might be the loneliest person on the planet.

His fingers twitched. He swallowed, and plastered a big fake smile on his face he hoped nobody would notice.

"I-I'm sorry, but I think I'll just head on home. I… have some food left over, and I'm afraid it'll go bad before I get to eat it, heh. I'm sorry to have troubled you so much, thank you for your kindness and hospitality. A-And I don't really mind going back in just pajamas, nobody will see anyway, it's getting dark. I'll wash it properly before returning it. Now I'll just go ahead and take my bag and leave. Good night."

He turned immediately before anybody could stop him, and ran towards the front door once again, only to have bumped into somebody else. It was a man, and it very well looked to be Touko-san's husband.

"Hmm? Are you Takashi-kun's friend?" Shigeru was surprised, yes, but this young man seemed to be—

"Homura!" Natsume caught up and took hold of said teen's hand. "I told you, it's okay! What's wrong with you?"

Homura sighed inwardly. It's all over now. I hate this so much.

"Um, Homura-kun, is it?" Touko-san wiped her hands on her apron as she approached them all. "It really isn't much trouble at all, besides, Takashi-kun said you're sick, and that you live alone. I may be poking my nose into people's affairs but I just can't leave a boy like you alone and sick. Let me at least treat you to dinner tonight, okay? We'll see how you're doing tomorrow before deciding on calling a doctor, if you want."

He turned to look into the older woman's eyes. There was nothing but kindness and concern in those dark brown pools.

Please don't do this. If you do this to me I'll just get my hopes up and I'll only end up hurting you in the end, and—

"…Okay. Thank you very much."

It was altogether very overwhelming.

Having dinner with the kind of family he always wanted. With everybody chatting about the day's events. Laughing. Smiling. To be able to actually eat food that was cooked by somebody else sincerely, and not have it placed in front of him with badly-hidden unwillingness, or thrown together sloppily, or just convenience-store-bought or instant ones.

To be able to eat with people he liked once again.

Homura lay in the futon Natsume had laid out for him, with the brown-haired teen lying sleeping soundly right next alongside, staring above at the ceiling.

Earlier Natsume had told him about what happened, and about how that pig-sized raccoon-faced cat was actually his youkai bodyguard. He had gotten a little worried, and had voiced it out, but Natsume seemed to trust the creature, so he decided to let be for the time being. Said creature was now gone; Homura had noticed the door open quietly minutes before. According to Natsume it had a bad drinking habit.

Homura didn't know cats could drink sake and eat squid like a gourmet. Or talk like a geezer. Or pounce on him and bite his head like that. He guessed it was for the better if he kept his mouth shut about any more complaints of the furry little animal.

He instinctively touched his arm as he thought about youkai and Suzuya. If that youkai really had possessed him, why didn't he feel anything weird? All he felt was a dull throbbing in the back of his head, nothing else. He sure didn't feel anything alien in his body. Nor did it show any signs of taking over his body and do weird stuff.

Sooner or later Homura couldn't think anymore, and his eyes slowly slipped closed as he drifted off to sleep.

About fifty minutes later Natsume slowly woke up from his slumber, lying in his futon and blinking sleepily. Something had woke him, but he didn't know what it is. He raised his eyes and squinted to see if there were any suspicious shadows outside his bedroom window; after all, it could be some time-insensitive youkai waiting out there to get their names back. But no, there were none.

He sighed as he turned and propped himself up on one elbow, intending to check on Homura, and got the answer to his waking-up problem.

Homura was sitting, a little hunched, but perfectly still. It almost seemed as if he was a marionette, waiting for his strings to be pulled so he could move around. In a sense, he was.

Natsume rubbed his eyes as he called his name softly. Maybe he was just sleep… sitting…? There wasn't an answer, so he sat up himself and peered under those thick dark bangs.

His eyes widened. They were not in any way Homura's eyes. Those dull empty black orbs looked as if they belonged to a demon. Oh no, his body's taken over? Nyanko-sensei! Natsume turned around quickly to where the cat had been dozing off the last time he'd seen it, but the creature was nowhere to be seen. Damn, he's out drinking again?

"Homura, Homura!" He shook the teen, trying to get him out of his trancelike state. But he slapped his hand away after a few shakes and stared at him in the eye.

Natsume froze. The gaze that held his was intense, and told him that he'd be dead meat if he tried anything reckless. Suddenly, the possessed Homura turned towards the door, and as it was opening to reveal a nonchalant Nyanko-sensei the youkai vanished back into the human's body and Homura's eyes shut as he flopped onto Natsume, unaware of what happened and back in his dream world.

"Hey~ What happened, Natsume?" The cat said as it padded its way to the two humans.

"Nyanko-sensei! Where have you been! That youkai was taking over his body when you were gone!" Natsume hissed angrily.

"There's no need for worry. It doesn't seem to be harming him, or show any signs of talking…yet."

The next day after a hearty breakfast and a noticeable extra lunchbox for Homura, he and Natsume started off to school, with Nyanko-sensei sauntering alongside on his little feet. At first Touko-san was adamant about Homura attending school, seeing as how he was still 'sick', after all, you don't just haul somebody home with you, someone who's unconscious. She insisted that they go see a doctor, and that he needn't worry about the payment since he's a guest, but friends take after your personality—or was it the other way around?—she guessed. Like Takashi, he was being stubborn and shy and grateful at the same time, making up excuses that would've won him a debate championship, but he really did seem fine so she let him go. Not before putting a word in with Natsume about the precautions they'd have to take, that is.

Homura shifted his bag and the lunchbox Touko-san had given him to his right hand as he raised his left arm to eye-level, inspecting it. His eyes widened when he saw that where the wounds should have already healed and the scars gone, there was some kind of a mark on him. It looked as if it was drawn on him with ink.

"Natsume?"

"Yeah?"

"Look at this. Can you see it?" Homura showed him the mark when they stopped.

Natsume frowned. "Did the youkai leave that on your skin?" He tried wiping it with his thumb, but unfortunately the mark didn't smudge. So it wasn't ink. But it wasn't exactly like a tattoo either. And they weren't sure whether a mark like this could be seen by normal humans, if it could then they'd have to get to the infirmary as quickly as they can and get it bandaged somehow so others won't see and ask about it.

Homura nodded. "I think so."

"No need for assumptions, it would just get you nowhere. As for that mark, it's made by a youkai so it can't be seen by normal humans, so no need for additional worry," Suzuya said as he suddenly flew down and landed in front of them. He folded his wings and there was a luminescent blue light surrounding him, and when it faded away it revealed a gray-haired, blue-eyed human-looking male of about eighteen. What's more, he had on casual clothes and looked like any other normal human, other than the obvious distinctive hair and eye colors. He had on a typical blue T-shirt and jeans. Even if he had a laid-back expression it didn't cease to make the humans' eyes widen disbelievingly and the cat's ears to perk up with interest.

"Suzuya… you, what, how…?" Homura stammered. In truth, it amused Suzuya to no end, watching the humans' bewildered expressions and apparent loss of voice.

"I told you before, right? I'm a high-class youkai. Even I could look human at times too. Hmph, not like the little piggy kitty over there, if he transforms I'd bet it'd be a big fat old geezer with a protruding belly." He looked away as the cat positively seethed with anger.

"Oi! This is not my original form, tengu! I could eat the likes of you in seconds, you hear me?" Nyanko-sensei raged, paw flailing around in the air.

Suzuya shook his head, disregarding the infuriated kitty. "As I've said, assumption means nothing. With the existence of that mark, it would seem that the youkai inside of you had already begun to make you 'his'. Remember the last time it hurt you?"

"Why should I forget about that, it hurt like crazy," Homura muttered under his breath, and started walking to school again. Sure, they still had lots of time since Natsume had originally intended for them to talk things out on the way, but if they linger too long they're bound to get left behind.

Suzuya fell into step beside Homura, staring straight at his eyes, not minding the road ahead. He didn't need to worry about rocks tripping him up right then—it was unimportant. Natsume was at his other side, holding Nyanko-sensei comfortably in his arms.

"Well, I think that time it intended to leave you with a mark it made, somewhat as proof that you've fallen victim to it before. And with that, it channeled to you a curse of sorts."

"A curse?" Natsume echoed. They really couldn't handle with curses at the moment. No, not ever. If it meant having to get rid of the youkai he'd have to get in touch with Natori or Hiiragi, not that he minded, but he didn't want to trouble the young actor. Plus, somewhere along the way Matoba-san would hear snippets of this. He'd know there was another youngster with the ability to see.

"Yep. Through it it could gain control over your body and lead you to it, or the other way around, and possess you. For what, I don't know, but this is a youkai powerful enough to devour the other scrawny youkai and also, it wouldn't get out of your body, so I'm deeming its requests to be bad news. We have to be very careful about this one, if it has too much dark energy in it it'll suck out your life force and take over your mind eventually, and once it gets through every obstacle, every shred of humanity you have left is pretty much doomed."

Homura smiled forcefully. "I really wish you'd stop being that blunt and scare the hell out of me."

Suzuya shook his head, smiling too. "No, you're the blunt one here. Anyways, I'll ask around while you're at school. And if we can't find something you may have to call an exorcist. It could get dangerous."

"Wait," Nyanko-sensei said. "Why are you so interested in saving the human, tengu? I don't see how you're required to lend him a hand."

Suzuya narrowed his eyes as he gave the cat an unpleasant sidelong look. "Stay out of my business, beast." Then his features softened as he shrugged. "Well, in a sense I am required to help him, he was the one who named me, so as much as I hate to admit, he kinds of have this power over me."

"But why? You could just break his neck and swallow him."

"I've thought of that, yes, but it's an interesting turn of events in my otherwise very bore-filled days. So I've decided to tag along with you humans until you shrivel, that is, in the near future."

The two high-schoolers flinched and felt their insides bubbling at the choice of topic.

Nyanko-sensei huffed and adjusted himself in Natsume's arms. "Well, if it's a human exorcist you want, we know of two, but it's better if we just stick to one."

Homura turned to look at Natsume. "Really? You know someone like that?"

"Y-Yeah… How I knew them was more of a coincidence, really…"

Homura cocked his head to the side as he mused about the apparent graveness of his situation. Sure, he would die one day but he didn't want his body to be invaded by something when he did.

Suzuya raised an eyebrow as he stared at the human, amused. Natsume, too, was looking at him funny.

"You seem relaxed for someone who's possessed and is in danger of having to obey its requests or get eaten," the human-form-taking tengu remarked.

Homura just shrugged as he focused on the school they were getting nearer to.

That's because I can put up with my situation right now compared to the events I've been pushed to accept.

Getting burned…

Excessive bullying…

Fighting…

Almost dead because of blood loss in that 'accident' that involved an avalanche of stones…

The death of the only person capable of changing him… And at such a young age…

Homura closed his eyes for a moment, reliving all those memories within him. As usual, 'that day' was a huge blow to his chest, so he stopped before he could go any further.

Getting possessed is no big deal. As long as the damned youkai in me makes no ridiculous requests, I'll do it. I don't care whether it's threatening me by making me hang on to a thread only to have it cut off, if I don't want to do it, I won't. After all, Suzuya and Natsume are by my side to help me.

Because I'd been dumped near Death's doorstep so many times now.

Unknown to the two humans, the cat and the human-looking tengu had been sharing a secret conversation.

'I've never seen you around here before, much less heard of you.'

Suzuya smiled as he kept on walking, the building called 'school' human youngsters go to getting nearer by the second.

'I'm not that interested of others. Nor are they interested in me. I just tend to stay huddled in some tree.'

'Is that why you decided to get caught up in all this human mess? Getting involved isn't always a good thing.'

'I'm just passing time. Besides, humans are the most interesting beings on this planet. All the different kinds of reactions they make…so amusing.'

'… You seem to be wound up tighter than I thought.'

'Hahah, anybody that's been alone for any amount of time would come to terms with that sooner or later.'

'Meet up with me later. I still don't trust you. If you're after the Yuujinchou, I'll snap your wings and pull out your feathers one by one.'

'… Yuujinchou? What's that?'

'… Uh-oh.' Nyanko-sensei sweat-dropped as he thought about the way he had just easily mentioned the Yuujinchou.

Natsume will lock him up in the bathroom for a week if he hears about this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE~~~

And so, we're finally catching up to the plot. I actually have a number of youkai-related events involving Natsume, Homura, Tanuma and Taki, but, seeing as how I failed to fit this possessing-youkai event in two-three chapters, I think Phantasmagoria will either have a lot of chapters, or I'll make a sequel when I make an abrupt ending/cliffhanger. We'll see, I guess. If there's a lot of people asking for it, I'll probably continue on with my ideas/make a sequel, but if not, I'll just cancel some of the events and get on to the real ending.

So tell me what you think, 'cuz I'm not so sure if this story is that popular to deserve such a lot of chapters/sequel.

Oh, and before I forget, one more thing. This is pretty important so please take note of this.

I'm fully aware that in their second year Natsume and Nishimura and Sasada are in one class, Tanuma and Kitamoto in one and Taki in another, but since I've already made it so Natsume, Nishimura, Kitamoto, Sasada, as well as Homura are in one class and Tanuma and Taki in the same class, let's just leave it that way 'cuz I can't really find a way to edit that part… ^_^

And since I'm writing this now instead of waiting for the 4th season of Natsume Yuujinchou next January, I guess I'll just edit the events from there or insert them in the storyline randomly, or even unknowingly… Argh, I really should have waited until the whole series ends until I write this fanfic, don't I? =u= I have to make sure not to totally copy Midorikawa Yuki's ideas exactly, too…

Oh, and if you readers have an interesting event to share, you can always review or PM me! Who knows, maybe I can elaborate on that…