Phantasmagoria

Natsume Yuujinchou

Chapter 19

A Trip to the Hot Springs

The next day when he opened the door to his home upon returning from school, Homura found that it was eerily quiet. Recently when he came home there would be the sound of TV, or of bickering between the two youkai staying in his home. Now that they were always around it was kind of strange to be coming back to the silence that had welcomed him every time he came home before.

Sure enough, any ideas about the possibility of them having an early afternoon nap was instantly crossed out when he passed by their room—which used to be a mostly-empty spare room—and saw their futons neatly stacked in a corner. Homura changed and rested for a while, before deciding to put together some lunch just for himself and start doing a little homework.

Neither of them showed up for the rest of the day, and Homura spent it feeling it a little more stress-free without the noisy tengu. He made dinner then, thinking that if Suzuya and Kirinosuke were not going to come back tonight he could reserve their share for tomorrow's lunch.

They did come back later though, but Homura didn't say anything when he saw that they had grim expressions on their faces and won't talk about where they'd been, and for once, the three of them sat together and ate dinner without a single word.

Soon, summer ended and in came the first signs of autumn. It still wasn't that cold yet—at least, not enough to make anybody start bundling up, but both Natsume and Homura had noticed the significant amount of youkai that had already settled down and preparing for winter. That meant that they won't have as much trouble as the past few months regarding all those cases.

While Taki and Sasada—a weird combination, but it still happened sometimes when they gathered around—flipped through magazines for the season's latest collections and Nishimura and Kitamoto argued about where to go to their next trip which involved everyone, the remaining three were in a much more relaxed mood, instead just sitting silently and sipping their cans of tea.

Since it was already autumn the students had all gone back to wearing their gakuran, and Homura toyed with his collar. "Are you feeling better nowadays, Tanuma?"

The only black-haired male of the group nodded in answer. "There's not that much trouble in autumn, and even lesser during winter. I really only have to worry about spending summers when they're all out and about…"

"That's great," Natsume said. He really felt relieved. Tanuma had been facing a lot lately, especially after Homura transferred in. Not that he was doubting or blaming him or anything, but he couldn't help but feel that Homura's presence here had created some sort of stirring amongst the ayakashi.

"… What?" Homura asked dumbly.

"Like I said, a trip!" the famous actor repeated, all smiles.

Homura frowned at the bag the actor had sitting by his foot, and back up at his face, ignoring the lizard youkai crawling over his skin at the moment.

"You come here, uninvited, and most probably wooing all the female tenants around and creating problems for me, and you're asking me to go along with you on a trip?" Homura had heard about what Natori considered to be a trip had turned out to be something youkai-related after all from Natsume.

"Yep!" he chirped, sipping his tea.

If possible, Homura didn't want to involve himself with youkai for the time being.

When he thought that both Suzuya and Kirinosuke had somehow done something to the ominous youkai that ate that smaller one, something had happened to him after the incident. He started having weird dreams with maybe something in it, but he'd always be unable to remember when he woke up. And at around the same time there was a strange marking along his right arm, a black thing, kind of like a tattoo, kind of like the lizard youkai Natori has. At first he thought nothing of it and hopefully, maybe it'd go away soon, but he should've known better than to assume the best in everything.

It didn't go away. Of course it didn't.

He touched his sleeve subconsciously. It was a good thing summer rolled by to make way for autumn and it had pleasantly cooled down a little, so Homura wouldn't have to worry about sweating buckets when wearing long-sleeved shirts. He wasn't totally sure whether normal people would be able to see his 'tattoo', and he hadn't shown it to anyone so it was always good to have an umbrella ready before it rains.

'I don't want to go' was what he would like to bluntly say, but he wasn't sure with this actor before him. He was pretty positive the man would worm his way into getting him to agree.

So instead, he asked, "Why me?"

Natori set his teacup down with a soft clink. "Do you really need a reason to go out and have fun with your friends, Akatsuki Homura-kun?"

"Don't call me by my full name. Sounds creepy. Homura's fine," he said irritably.

The older man chuckled. "Fine, Homura-kun it is then. But really, I just want to get to know you, you know, meeting another person who knows what you're going through as well has to be greatly interesting," he finished with a smile. Homura could just see imaginary diamonds glittering all around him. No wonder Natsume said he found it stressing sometimes whenever Natori flaunted by to meet him.

"… 'Interesting'?" he repeated with a frown.

Natori just laughed again. "Come on! It'll be fun! We're gonna go to this nice, secluded inn, and it has hot springs! If you would just hurry up with your packing, then after picking Natsume-kun up we'll be ready to go!"

"Eh? Is Natsume going too?" He leaned forward in his seat.

Natori was thinking how easy it was to persuade children to do what they're told by adding in some things that piqued their interest. "Well, to tell the truth, I haven't told him yet, since this is pretty sudden. I was planning to drop by the Fujiwara's afterwards. So? How about it?"

Homura seemed to hesitate. "Ah, um, that is… I do want to go, but how about…"

"Your shiki?" he finished for the boy.

The younger male frowned slightly. "Don't call them that. I don't treat them as my servants."

"Oops, forgive me. Well anyways, it's not like you've been taking care of them since they were little, right?"

"Huh?"

"What I mean is, they've lived a lifetime longer than you, surely a few days managing without you wouldn't kill them? And I've already met them earlier. It kind of surprised me to see someone other than Suzuya, you know? And they've already agreed to let you come…"

Why does this feel like he's asking them for permission to let me go on a trip with him?

He sighed. "Fine. Just… wait here. I'll go pack." He went to the kitchen, cut out a chunk of brownie and placed it on a plate, before setting it in front of the bespectacled actor. "Here, help yourself while I'm gone."

He could hear "Ooh, cake!" as he made his way to his room, shaking his head along the way.

He was humming to himself, stuffing clothes and stuff into his duffel bag. Now that he thought about it, it can't be that bad following Natori, after all he was the one who was gonna pay for everything.

"Well, at least I don't have to look at Suzuya's idiotic face again," he said happily, to himself.

Or so he thought.

A sudden movement and the soft rustle of clothes and wings pinpointed Suzuya's sudden appearance through his bedroom window. It looked like he was coming in as quiet as he could, with one leg already swung over the sill and his hands gripping the frame to support himself, but froze when he heard Homura speak.

Well, too late to take them back now.

"You…" He narrowed his pair of blue eyes. "Ahh, I regretted ever thinking whether I should stop by. I'm going back out," he said monotonously and turning his head away.

"W-Wait!" Homura flung himself to Suzuya's side and buried his face among the ash-gray feathers, not really caring if they tickled his nose. "Fine, I'm sorry!"

Suzuya pondered for a while, before changing his mind and stepped into his room. "I see you're going to follow Natori."

"Yeah, well, Natsume's going too, so… Had you guys… wanted to come along?"

The tengu raised a hand. "Nope, not at all. That man's shiki is also staying behind too, since he wanted it to be a gathering of 'normal people' having a 'normal weekend'. There's just one thing bothering Kii though. While Natori can simply apply his skills as an exorcist, and while Natsume can depend on that not-really-useful piggy kitty of his, you'd have nothing to go by if something happened when you were alone, so…" He produced what looked to be two identical necklaces, or actually, they were just a couple loops of thread with a few beads and a gray feather in the middle.

Homura looked at the two feathers. "Are these…?"

"Yes they're mine. In any case, just wear this on you at all times, and when you come across any problems hold on to it and call us, and we'll come to your aid." He put one around Homura as he was talking. Homura noticed that he could conceal it beneath his shirt without anybody noticing. "Give this other one to Natsume."

"… You really don't trust Sensei, do you…?" he asked before fingering the necklace around his neck. "Are you sure this thing works?"

"Hm. I guess you should know that I may not come whenever you need me as this is melded with Kirinosuke's magic and he should be the one to sense any danger. So if he can't find me in a short time he would most probably go on ahead."

"… I feel like those Red Indians in those Western movies," he said as he tucked it beneath his shirt.

"Ah. Those people that gather around and scream like madmen. I saw them on TV. Okay then, now that my job here is done, goodbye. And make sure you bring home some souvenirs. I don't need anything. Food. Just food. And also, Kii wants to know whether it's safe for him to look forward to mitarashi dango. Not Nanatsujiya's, though."

"Ahh… I'll try and look for it. I'll get something else if I don't find any then."

Suzuya nodded, preparing to fly off but suddenly stopped, turned around and smirked. "Well~ If it's such a bother then we can just 'hang out' with Taki and Tanuma!"

"No, please don't use Kii's meekness to dig up desserts. I'll find some for you for sure, so just… don't."

"Hmph. Fine. Farewell." And with a flutter of wings, he was gone.

Fujiwara Touko was sitting at the dining table, flipping through a magazine when the doorbell rang and she could hear muffled voices. Must be Takashi-kun's friends, she thought, and smiled on her way to unlock the front door.

As she'd guessed, it was Homura-kun again. He had been coming quite often these past few weeks, always bringing her desserts he'd made. It would also seem that he had grown attached to her, and they would spend time together sometimes, with him teaching her to make the desserts she never knew how. She liked him, nearly as dearly as she adored Takashi, even more so when she knew bits and pieces of his life from Takashi. Homura was like Takashi in many ways, although he needed a different approach for her to get close to him. And now their relationship had gotten much, much better, and she found herself looking forward to his visits, and with each visit Homura looked happier.

However this time, Natori-san came along with him, and they chatted while Homura trudged his way up to Natsume's bedroom. Apparently they had come to bring Takashi along with them on a trip, and Touko was happy to let him go. After about half an hour for him to pack, Touko gave Takashi, and Homura, some advice, especially emphasizing that they should not be too reckless. She had seen them and the others always getting caught up in some kind of mess a lot of times, but she couldn't exactly blame them.

Boys will be boys, after all.

"Are we really not going to get involved in youkai-related business this time, Natori-san?" Natsume asked for about the third time ever since they'd left his house and went into one of Natori's less expensive, more normal-looking cars. A flashy red sports car would attract too much attention if your destination was an inn way out in the country, after all. He was strapped safely in the passenger's seat, and Homura was comfortably sprawled out in the back, dozing off. He had explained to them earlier on that he tended to get sleepy easily in moving vehicles, so the other two weren't bothered with it.

As for Nyanko-sensei, they had waited a little for him back at the Fujiwara's, but he never showed up. So simple—they left him behind.

"What are you saying, Natsume-kun~? I've already told you that this trip will strictly be for relaxation purposes only," Natori answered, eyes never wandering from the road.

"Hmm. I'm just saying that if you do have some business to attend to, which probably you do, I really hope you wouldn't involve Homura much."

"Well, if Natsume-kun says so, but when the time comes I may have to have Homura-kun help out sometimes, mind you. He's been saying so himself, wanting to help you out in any way he could. Such a good relationship you two share, eh? Along with Tanuma-kun too." Natsume bristled at the mention of Tanuma's name. "But unfortunately, I don't think I'd be able to think up of an excuse for bringing along with me three high-school boys this far out, even if I say you guys are my relatives. I wonder why I get skeptical looks from people sometimes when I'm in disguise…"

That's because you look shady, Natori-san, but I'm not going to say that. The car fell silent again except for Homura's deep breathing and Natsume turned to look at the teen, who was then scratching the side of his head. It brought him back to when he came into his room and gave him the necklace, charm thingy from Kii and Suzuya. If it really did work like how Homura described it, then it would be very convenient for him. At least when he was in danger and Nyanko-sensei was off wandering by himself he could depend on the tengu and the fox-form youkai to help him.

"Natsume-kun," Natori said, pulling said teen away from his train of thought.

"Yes?"

"We're almost there. Please wake Homura-kun up from me, won't you?"

True enough, Natsume could just see part of the inn. He turned around and nudged Homura's leg.

"Homura, we're here. Wake up already."

"Ahh~ The air is so fresh here~" Homura said happily when they entered their room. He was already out in the veranda and enjoying the view while the other two were setting their bags in a corner. As they'd suspected, they had a little bit of trouble when they were checking in, seeing as how the three of them look nothing alike; what's more with Natori's glasses, hat and clothes that looked just a little more fashionable than a normal shirt and jeans the proprietress was obviously suspicious. Natori said they were cousins, and Homura helped out by saying that their mothers were sisters, hence the different surnames.

"Let's see… They have hot springs, and a small river somewhere around here, and a beautiful park where we can stroll around. I don't know where it is, but we'll just have to ask around later. So," Natori clapped his hands to bring forth attention from the two boys who were in the veranda before continuing, "want to bathe before dinner comes?"

"Okay," Natsume answered almost immediately, and they got ready. Homura was just about to follow after them too, before he realized that bathing together would mean that the both of them would see the tattoo-like mark on his arm.

"Homura-kun? What about you?" Natori asked, already halfway out the door.

"Uh, y-you guys go ahead. I'm feeling a little lazy from the nap I had just now, so I'm just going to hang out by the entrance hall."

They had told him to be back in time for dinner and, jokingly, not to doze off in one of the comfortable-looking couches or he'd lose his food. Natori had also warned him not to go outside if he could, that they should go together, all three of them. Even though he had made it sound like it was for his own safety, to Homura it was just as if he didn't want him to ruin his fun. Later it looked like the baths were empty so he went in for a quick soak.

After a hearty dinner the three of them parted ways—Natsume off to the baths for the second time, Natori out to buy some snacks and drinks at a convenience store, and him back at the soft green couch he was sitting on before at the entrance hall, watching TV with a couple of foreign tourists who smiled and greeted him. Soon however, the tourists rose to retire to their rooms, and after a 'goodnight' Homura was left alone by himself again. Not like he minded. He would just wait for Natsume to come by and tell him that he finished so they could go back to the room together.

"Homura-kun?"

He looked up, but it wasn't Natsume like he was expecting. Natori was back, with a couple of plastic bags in his hand.

"I take it that Natsume-kun… hasn't finished yet?" he asked.

Homura nodded.

The actor chuckled, and Homura noticed some of the nakai talk animatedly with each other as they walked past. "Natsume-kun really does like taking baths, doesn't he? Oh well, let's just wait for him here."

"What did you buy?" Homura peeked into the bags, trying to catch a glimpse of the contents in hopes that his favorite snacks were included.

"A-a-ah~ We'll go through them later. You're free to grab a drink though."

"Thanks," he replied, fished out a can in random, and sipped the cool liquid. Mmm. It tasted somewhat like grape juice, but it had a tangy twist to it. Homura brought his knees up to his chest, hugging them, and sipping his juice occasionally as Natori talked about his newest photoshoot and how a fan had snuck into set, and then on to the drama series he's acting out. He apparently plays as a cop with side-swept hair who teams up with a rival detective to catch a drug-smuggling ring. He said that even though the plot seems typical there are several surprising twists to help maintain the series' popularity, and since it's action and stuff the show would be widely enjoyed by the male audience too.

Honestly, halfway through Homura just didn't care anymore.

It wasn't because he was being rude, but he was the type who likes all the juicy details, but doesn't like being given spoilers. And also because he was getting sleepy again.

"… but he turned her down instead! And left her there in front of that gift shop! Now what do you think about that, Homura-kun? …Homura-kun…?" Natori turned to find, feeling a little offended, Homura already sleeping, with his knees still hugged to his chest and his head leaning towards him, and the can held loosely in his hand.

He was just finding it a little bit cute and thought of snapping a picture just to spite him, but he realized that the boy's face was flushed.

U… Uh-oh. Could it be…

Natori looked over to the can in his hand. Ahh, he had forgotten to ask the store attendant to separate the alcohol and the normal drinks. Looks like Homura pulled out an alcoholic one. He pried the can free from his fingers and realized that there was still a quarter left. He didn't even finish a can… This guy can't hold his liquor much, he thought, then realized something else.

Homura's yukata sleeve had ridden up a little, and Natori noticed something strange. He set the can of alcohol down on the little table beside him and pulled up the sleeve some more, revealing the dark marking trailing down his arm. He knew it was headed downwards, towards his fingers, by the tips of the marking where it was thinner. So that was why Homura didn't want to bathe with them earlier on.

He needed to find out why he had the marking, and somehow he thought that Natsume didn't know about it. He sighed. Turns out this trip wasn't exactly going to be a no-youkai outing after all.

Natori gulped down the rest of the alcohol in one breath, lifted Homura up onto his back and made his way back to their room. At any rate it was already late and they are to go to bed. Natsume had most probably forgotten about telling them he had finished and went back to the room by himself, so he would dwell on it before sleeping, and deal with the rest of the situation tomorrow.

Wheeee~~~ Here comes Natori for the second time in this fic~~~ ( —w-)/ There's not much in this chapter, and though I intended to fit in the whole thing in this chapter, it was too long so it had to be in two parts. Which means all the action are in the next chapter, folks! Stay tuned!

Oh, as a side note, for those of you who don't know, nakai are staff in inns.