Yay done with Chap 2, lets see how it goes shall we? Please review:D

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Natsume's POV

I wasn't really sure what to make of her staring wide eyed at me for more then five minutes. True that I had failed to see her before landing, but that did not give her the reason to continue staring blankly at my face without saying a word. "Um Nyanko-sensei, I think your aura is intimidating her from speaking." I whispered off to my bodyguard's ear. "Hmph, what a weakling not being able to withstand my magnificent youki*," Nyanko-sensei (no wait, now Madara in his true form) scoffed before shrinking himself into his cat form.

"Are you alright?" I held out a hand to the lady who looked like a university student, sprawled on the ruined ground. "Gin…." I swore I heard her whisper. "Huh?" I replied in confusion, did she accidently bump her head? Finally she snapped out of her dream-like trance only to look up properly again.

That was when I realized that she was no longer looking at me but at Nyanko-sensei now perched on my shoulder like a bird. " Your… Your cat," she stammered, "he was a big talking white beast before."

I stared at her in surprise when I finally realized that she was one of the very few in this modern era today who could still see and hear youkai perfectly well. "A human other than Natsume who can see ayakashi, hm… interesting" Nyanko-sensei crooned at her with amused eyes.

After helping her up, I quickly apologized and introduced Nyanko-sensei and myself. That strange look once hidden under her face quickly disappeared. "I'm Takegawa Hotaru," she replied with a cheerful smile, "I live just at the town right below this forest."

"Ano, Hotaru-san," my voice toned down, "is it true that you can see youkai?"

"Hmm, ever since young I have always come to this very forest everyday to play with the neighboring youkai…especially with a special one…" The same sad smile appeared again on her face as she bent down to clear the rubble. I probed no further and begun to help her with the clearing up of the debris strewn randomly around.

"By the way Takeshi-san what is your purpose in coming to this plain looking forest today?"

My head shot up startled, only to meet her curious chocolate brown eyes. Heat rose up my face and I broke the gaze, looking away embarrassed. "Um, the reason for my intrusion is…" I trailed off, waiting for Nyanko-sensei's approval on letting Hotaru in. He merely gave a hmph into the air telling me to do whatever I pleased before disappearing into a bush stating that he was going to find sake*. (Well, I guess that's Nyanko-sensei for you -_-|||)

I continued on in a serious tone, " I am actually the keeper of a powerful ayakashi binding book called The Book of Friends, one in whichever youkai's name given on the book would be at the keeper's mercy and forced to do as the keeper wish." Hotaru's eyes widened at that fact. "Don't worry! I'm not actually like that." I ensured her before adding in an inaudible sarcastic laugh, "well, maybe my the previous book owner, my grandmother was…"

"Anyway," I picked up, "Because of this fact I would try to return the names written in the The Book of Friends back to their original youkai owners who would be free from the contract at the same time. But from where I come from, I am famous within the circle of youkai, thus many youkai including those up to no good know my name very well and would go by any means to get the book into their possession. Unfortunately the book has currently been stolen by a evil youkai and me together with Nyanko-sensei are on his tail."

Pausing to let Hotaru catch up, I watched her features slowly turn from confusion into mild shock as she absorbed the information before freezing on the spot as if my words had strike a bell in her head. " Ano, Hotaru-san?" I waved my hand before her glazed eyes.

"Takeshi-san," She suddenly snapped out of her thoughts leaving me falling backwards, " Does the youkai you were chasing after have a goat's head and one red eye?"

" Yes, his name is Jaakuna no Yagi* and is one of the most infamous youkai in the ayakashi world. How did you know that it was him who stole The Book of Friends?" I questioned.

Hotaru explained, "Before your arrival, I was here visiting the shrine. All of a sudden that said youkai appeared without and wrecked the whole place. Thankfully I was hiding in a bush were I could not be seen. From what I recalled he seemed to have been holding an old green book in one hand and looking around suspiciously before disappearing into the forest that way." She pointed westwards where not a single sign of damage could be seen from mother nature.

I gulped nervously before thanking her for her information and started off where Nyanko-sensei had also disappeared before, westwards. "Takeshi-kun!" I spun around having heard my name called just as I was about to step into the trees.

Hotaru immediately blushed and looked down seeming to only just realize what she did. Feeling uncomfortable, I let my eyes travel away from her silent form. "Ano, Takeshi-san…" she mumbled still looking down, "is it fine with you if I were to tag along on your search?"

Eh? I stared dumbfounded at her. Despite Hotaru-san knowing the danger that prevails and not to mention only have met me for no longer than an hour she insists on accompanying me? "Hotaru-san I would prefer if you stayed behind to watch over your own village just to be safe that Jaakuna no Yagi would not trespass." I tried to convince her.

"No…Please don't leave me again…" She faintly whispered with her bangs covering her eyes. Before I had the chance to say a word, she whipped her head up only to reveal a pair of drastically determined eyes. "Takeshi-san, even though that you may think that I am foolish and reckless, I would still want to search with you for your missing book. Since young I know these mountain forests on back of my palm very well and I am sure that my knowledge would prove to be helpful in your search for the youkai."

She left me speechless, calmly waiting for my final decision. After listening to her resolve, I sighed and readily agreed. She followed after me into the forest and from the back I heard a soft "Thank you…"

Whatever her real motive was in joining me on the search for Jaakuna no Yagi and The Book of Friends in the forests where most of the youkai dwell, I silently made a prayer to god as we trudged deeper into the forest. Please don't let Hotaru-san get hurt.

To be continued…(maybe?)

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Translation:

Youki: An aura emitted from a youkai

Sake: Japanese rice wine

Jaakuna no Yagi: Literally means 'evil goat ' (had no idea what to name the youkai:P)

Author's Note:

Thanks for the reviews they are much appreciated

Sorry if its short…