Author's Note: Yeah, I haven't had one of these notes in a while, have I? Unfortunately, Chapters 5 & 6 didn't flow as smoothly for me as the other 4 did. They're both a little darker, not as "warm and fuzzy" or funny as the others, but I needed some kind of conflict in the story other than just a gaggle of city girls trying to make passes at Natsuno, and my other idea was in NO way going to work with this story. And, I'm sorry if either one has felt extremely out of character in any of these last three chapters (4-6). I feel kind of silly, though. I went back and watched some Shiki AMVs and I'm wondering where I had got the idea that Tohru was slightly shorter than Natsuno, now. (My bad, but it's way too late in the story to go back and change it!) I still have some ideas for this couple, but those are probably going to be completely separate stories. Oh, and by the way, for those of you wondering, yes that is a real Vampire anime Tohru's watching in this chapter. I'm wondering if anyone can guess it?

Update: I have a sequel story to this one, now, sort of a cross over, though, "Another Way Part 2" can be found here: s/9773784/1/Another-Way-Part-2

Chapter 6: We're Going to Be OK

Natsuno decided to keep the restaurant closed tonight. It was the final night of the festival, they would have little to no business if they did open. Add that to the unexpected visit from the priestess last night, and Natsuno felt safer with the doors locked, anyway. Tohru had settled down in his own room for a night of video games and monster movies, and he decided to give Natsuno some space to himself for a while. "You don't have to spend the whole night alone," Tohru said, "But you really do deserve some time to yourself."

Natsuno appreciated the sentiment. He sat in his room, in his own bed, propped up with a pillow and a book. He could hear the TV in Tohru's room, it sounded like Tohru had found some silly Vampire anime while flipping channels. All Natsuno knew was the words 'Vampire' and 'O-Part' were getting thrown around. Tohru sounded like he was actually getting interested in it. "How can he watch that stuff?" Natsuno grumbled at the irony. He stopped and thought about it. Monster movies were meant to be scary for humans, but ultimately with the humans often coming out as the victors, especially in most Zombie and Vampire films. For an Okiagari, however, it would be the 'monster' they associated with more, so the inevitable defeat would make the movie much scarier. "Exactly why I can't believe he can stand to watch it," Natsuno said rolling his eyes. "Oi! Tohru-Chan, turn it down or find something else would you?"

"Fiiiine!" came the reply from back down the hall. Tohru lowered the volume, but he couldn't help finding the show amusing, and he thought the writer's take on a Human and half-Vampire 'blood-bonding' was interesting. He sort of saw the half-Vampire's two servant characters as something like a Jinrou, though what they really were wasn't exactly explained in the episode he was watching. He didn't see it really scary, either, the Vampire was the hero character, even though it was hinted he was a son of Dracula. "What is it with Dracula's Dhampir sons always trying to kill him, anyway?" Tohru wondered aloud, recalling another anime and at least one video game with a similar premise. "None of his daughters ever seem to decide to go on a family killing spree." Tohru was laying across his bed, his feet on the wall his head just barely at the edge, propped by his pillow and arms, the remote in his hand-just under his chin, and all three of his bears next to him, one of the two from the festival on either side, and the first one Natsuno had given him, somehow perfectly balanced on the top of his head. Once the anime had gone off, he decided to swap over to one of his video games instead. He managed to do this without disturbing the stuffed animal on top of his head even once. Tohru was talented that way.

The night passed quietly, with Natsuno checking in on Tohru every now and again to see if he needed anything. Of course, the return reply was always, "I'm fine, but thanks." Eventually Natsuno decided he needed a little social interaction before the night was up and joined Tohru in his room for a few rounds in a fighting game.

Finally, things went back to usual, without the festival in town. The customers were back in and out of the restaurant at a steady pace. Natsuno's three admirers continued to come by, but they managed to miss a few nights. However, the week passed by without the old priestess being seen again. Natsuno and Tohru asked Seishin, when he came by, but he had never heard of anyone like her being in town.

"Maybe she really was only in town for the festival, after all?" Tohru said, as he helped Natsuno with the clean up.

"I suppose that's possible," Natsuno agreed, "But I still can't figure out what her purpose was in revealing herself to us. She had to know one or both of us knew there was something to her that the customers couldn't notice."

"I think she followed us back from the festival the first night," Tohru said. "The whole way home, I felt someone was watching us, but never could figure out who or where. You didn't act like you'd noticed anything, so I thought I was just being paranoid."

"She must have seen us bring the girl back to her mother and decided to follow us to see what we were up to," Natsuno said. "Maybe we'll be done with her considering what she saw."

Tohru nodded. "Say, Natsuno? Why didn't you tell Mr. Muroi about your little discovery?"

"You mean how you can eat normal food?" Natsuno asked. Tohru nodded. "Why would I? First off, it's not exactly something I can talk about in front of customers. Second, that truce we made was only between us and Seishin-Sama. Don't think I'm sharing any thing with that little witch Sunako."

"So, that means Sunako can't come inside the restaurant if she comes looking for him, too, doesn't it?" Tohru asked, suddenly realizing that not only had the truce only been made between the three of them, but the invitation to become a regular was only extended to Muroi Seishin.

"I don't care how sadistic Tatsumi was, in the end, it was Sunako's idea to turn the villagers. No one would have had to be killed if it wasn't for her dream to have an entire village full of Shiki," Natsuno said, "And, you told me how she told you she had high hopes for you. It sounds like she was simply trying to control you, because she knew you still held regrets for what you'd done. No, that little witch will find no safe haven within these walls. She's older than either of us, and had more time to learn what being an Okiagari is really like. There's no telling what kind of tricks she has up her sleeve."

"Natsuno…? Outside of your mother, can you name a single woman you've ever liked?" Tohru asked, almost teasingly.

"Your sister Aoi, Kaori, and Ritsuko-Chan," Natsuno growled in response, holding up a finger for each one. "Don't try to mince my words like that. It's not my fault the last six or seven women to come through our lives have all been total basket cases."

Tohru smiled, "Fair enough, I suppose." He sighed and closed his eyes, drawing a figure eight on the counter top with his fingertip as he fondly remembered the three girls Natsuno had listed. Tohru barely new Kaori-most of the school simply knew her as Shimizu's friend, she was the quiet tagalong, but from what Tohru remembered of her, she was pretty nice. Tohru's nail almost dug into the counter, though when his memories returned to his sister and Ritsuko. His eyes opened and he sighed. "I think I'm going to bed early, tonight," he said quietly.

"Tohru-Chan?" Natsuno gently caught his wrist, before he left the kitchen. Tohru looked up at him. Natsuno sighed.

Tohru shook his head. "Don't apologize, Natsuno, that's just not you. You haven't done or said anything wrong. As far as I know, my family survived, and I have my memories of Ritsu-Chan. I don't think I'll ever fully stop missing them, but I can never go back to them, either. It's good to remember them every once-in-awhile." Tohru smiled at him. He didn't mean to make Natsuno worry, but the memories had all came flooding back at once, and he wanted to be alone with them for a moment.

Natsuno smiled back and nodded. "Alright, I think I've got everything pretty much in hand. Thanks." Tohru gave him a smile and a quiet nod. Natsuno sighed and gently kissed Tohru's forehead, thinking anything more would be inappropriate at the moment. "Good night, Tohru-Chan."

Tohru smiled and returned the kiss, but making absolutely certain his lips were against Natsuno's, in order to get the point across that he was going to be ok. "Good night, Natsuno," he smiled sweetly, as he headed off to his room.

"Damn, I'm an idiot," Natsuno scolded himself in his head. Sure, it was Tohru who'd asked in the first place. "But still, I should have thought of a better way to answer him." Natsuno sighed.

As if Tohru could read his mind, Natsuno heard him call down the hallway toward the kitchen. "For God's sake, Natsuno! I said I'm fine!" Tohru smiled as he shut the door to his bedroom. He found it sweet that Natsuno was concerned, but really wished he wouldn't blame himself. He stopped as that thought hit his mind. Tohru had blamed himself for everything that had happened to Natsuno. But Natsuno's words just now; clearly Natsuno had never blamed Tohru directly.

"Ok now, that's just getting plain weird," Natsuno said, shaking his head and looking down the hallway. "This time, I KNOW he read my mind. I really should ask Seishin-Sama if he and Sunako have that connection, too." He sighed and smiled. "But, I guess he really is ok."

Tohru was his usual happy-go-lucky self the next night. Like he'd said, he had his memories and just needed some time alone with them. Once again, Tohru found himself invited to go out somewhere. The same bunch who had invited him to the festival were now asking him to "Go to a movie tomorrow night."

Before Tohru could answer, Natsuno walked up behind them. Tohru sensed Natsuno behind him and turned around to look at him. The whole table grew uncomfortably quiet, afraid Natsuno would have some excuse to keep him home. Natsuno smiled at them. "Come help me in the kitchen, Tohru-Chan, and we'll talk about it." Tohru nodded. "He'll have an answer for you guys when he comes back with your orders."

The two of them went back to the kitchen. "So, do you want to go?" Natsuno asked.

Tohru shrugged. "Well, it is one I've been wanting to see."

Natsuno smiled. "Tohru-Chan if you want to go, then go. I understand you don't like going out without me just yet. But, you will have some familiar faces with you. Or, you can ask them if I can tag along as a chaperone if you really want me there. I can fix you up a bottle or two of something to drink, so long as you don't get caught with it… For more reasons than one, of course."

"Are you sure that'd be ok?" Tohru asked. "To go without you, I mean?"

Natsuno looked up at Tohru, wondering, what it was he was really afraid of. "I won't force you one way or the other, Tohru-Chan," he said reassuringly. "If you want to go, then I won't stand in your way." He walked over and whispered in Tohru's ear, "And if it'll make you feel better, you can go with them, and I'll chaperone from the shadows." He smiled and winked.

"Natsuno!" Tohru smiled, he didn't care if anyone saw them or not. He didn't care that they were in a kitchen full of cooking food. He pounced Natsuno and kissed him.

Natsuno smiled and returned the kiss. He laughed, "I'll take that as a yes. Alright, go. I'll keep an eye on you from a distance. As long as the movie is over by midnight, or at least one o'clock, so you can get home before sunrise, there shouldn't be a problem. Aside from that, as long as they don't try to drown you in pigs' blood or something, I shouldn't have to kill anyone." He winked again.

Natsuno quietly followed Tohru and his friends to the theater; as he'd promised, he watched from the shadows. Tohru knew he was close, but no one else knew he was there, it was easy for him to do. Natsuno felt a little silly playing Tohru's bodyguard like this, but he understood Tohru's reasons for preferring this. The Shiki had put Tohru through a lot of trauma, Natsuno was all he had left familiar, he simply felt safer knowing Natsuno was close by, even if he didn't want to admit that was his reasoning.

Natsuno found a spot in the back of the theater where he could keep an eye on Tohru's group, and still watch the film. He was glad to see Tohru was having a good time, even if he didn't really find the movie that interesting himself. Natsuno smiled and rubbed the back of his head. Tohru had been showing great progress in recovering from what they'd been through, well as best he could being stuck as an Okiagari. He'd proven more than once he could control himself in a group of humans, and appeared to be making new friends all over again. "I think we're going to be OK," Natsuno thought satisfactorily.

The movie ended, and Natsuno slipped out of the theater before anyone could notice him. Tohru's friends made pit stops at the restroom, and Tohru decided to wait for them outside. "So, what'd you think of it?" he asked, knowing Natsuno was close enough to hear him.

"Not my kind of movie, but it was ok, I guess," Natsuno answered. "You want to head on home, or wait for your friends?"

"I'd have to wait for at least one of them, I suppose," Tohru said, "It'd be rude to just run out on them."

Natsuno nodded. "Alright, you'll know where I am when you're ready." Tohru nodded, as Natsuno turned a corner and found a wall to lean against with his hands in his pockets.

Natsuno felt a sudden shudder run down his back. Something wasn't right. He stepped away from the wall and looked around. That he could sense the aura from that priestess again. Natsuno's eyes widened, as he heard a shriek from the theater. "SHIT!" He darted back around the corner.

"Hey, lady, what's your problem?" one of Tohru's friends asked the priestess, who was standing over him with a holy relic. They were confused both, by the woman's actions and Tohru's reactions.

"Your friend is a creature of the night," she replied calmly. "He's dangerous to be around."

"So, what, you're hear to exorcise him or something? Lady, you're crazy."

"If you don't believe me, just look at his eyes," the priestess replied.

Before any of them had a chance to see the change in Tohru's eyes, Natsuno had knocked the relic out of her hand. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he growled at her, his own eyes flashing their vacant blue lights.

"Natsuno…?" Tohru called out to him.

"Tohru-Chan, are you alright?" he asked, turning to check on the Shiki. "Look at me." He caught Tohru's chin and held him so that they're eyes met. Tohru sighed, calming down a bit, his eyes returning to their normal brown. Natsuno sighed, his own eyes returning to normal. By now, a crowd was staring and whispering. Natsuno turned back to the priestess and glared at her. "Take a look around you," he warned her, "And think about what could have happened just now." He turned back to Tohru. "Come on, Tohru-Chan, we're getting out of here." Tohru clung tight to Natsuno and followed him away from the theater. "Crazy old bat," Natsuno scoffed. He was fit to be tied. He lead Tohru away from the crowds and stopped to check on him again.

"Natsuno," Tohru sighed, leaning his head on Natsuno's shoulder.

"It's ok, Tohru-Chan," Natsuno whispered, wrapping his arms around the frightened Shiki. "I'm here. Are you alright?"

Tohru tightened his grip on Natsuno, breathing heavy. "I…I'm not hurt, just a bit shaken up. It wasn't the relic that had me so frightened."

"What?" Natsuno asked.

"She had the relic in her hand, between that and her aura, she was trying to back me to the wall," Tohru said, sinking to his knees. "I saw a stake and hammer hanging under her robe when she pulled out the relic. I don't think she's a priestess. … She's a hunter."

"Quite astute of you," a voice came from behind. Tohru jumped to his feet and Natsuno twirled around to find the woman standing there. "That's exactly what I am; a hunter."

Natsuno growled at her. "You stay away from us," he warned her. "I don't care who or what you are. You pull anything and I'll kill you here on the spot."

"N-Natsuno…" Tohru gasped. Natsuno had never killed a human, not once since he'd turned into a Jinrou. As a matter of fact, the total number of times Natsuno had even drank blood could be counted on one hand, and each time from a different donor. Unlike Tohru, he didn't have the other Shiki pulling the strings to force him to take lives.

"I miss judged you at the restaurant the other night," the hunter said, looking at Natsuno. "I didn't pick it up at the temple, either." A she pulled the stake from under her robe. "As your friend said, I had one on me. But I only had one." She used it as a pointing tool to point at Tohru, who was being shielded by Natsuno. "Your little friend back there is an Okiagari, I knew it the moment he set foot on the temple steps. Tell me, child, how many lives have you taken?"

Tohru let out a soft whimper and closed his eyes. Natsuno could feel the back of his jacket becoming damp already. "Damn you," Natsuno growled, "You've got some nerve asking him that."

"THAT is why I knew what he was," the hunter explained. "I've fought many Okiagari in my life time. I could sense the death of his victims on him. I knew he was a threat to society if left unchecked."

"Bullshit," Natsuno snarled. "Given the choice, Tohru-Chan would never even hurt a fly. You saw with your own eyes, he even carried that little girl onto holy ground to help her find her mother, and she was completely unharmed."

"Given the choice," the woman pointed out, "But that doesn't mean he hasn't."

"But I was wrong. He's a threat, but he's not the one I should have been worried about," the huntress said, turning her attention to Natsuno and using the stake to point at him, now. "I couldn't read you at all. You don't have the smell of death on you like he does. But you're a much bigger threat. You're faster, stronger, maybe even smarter, and I'm willing to bet you heal quicker."

"I'm also immune to the sun and your holy relics," Natsuno nodded, letting her know she was picking a fight she was ill equipped for, "And before you go making judgments on who's a bigger menace to society; we've done all we can to atone for what we've done. But lady, if I wasn't there tonight, in a matter of minutes, you could have undone a year's worth of progress. One wrong move on your end…" Natsuno stopped and spit. The thought of Tohru loosing control and slaughtering so many people just because this one woman scared him out of his wits was enough to make him sick.

"So, you're the one keeping the little Okiagari under control, is that what you're trying to tell me?" she smirked. "Please, they're all the same, a kid could have fell and scrapped his knee on the steps back at the theater, and this monster would have reveled in the scent."

"Not him," Natsuno growled. "We've found another way. A better way. We've already seen the chaos that occurs when frightened people learn the truth about Okiagari and Vampires. We won't be the ones responsible for brining it down upon this town." Natsuno took a step or two backwards he could feel Tohru clinging tightly onto his shoulders.

"Just what are you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "You're like nothing I've ever come across before." She held the stake flat by her side and took a step or two closer, as if she were trying to figure him out. "You're Okiagari, and yet, you seem alive, you don't seem to have killed humans before, but perhaps some of your own kind. You seem determined to hang on to your humanity, and to fight for the humanity of that one as well." She pointed with the stake again.

"You point that thing at us one more time, and I'll shove it down your throat!" Natsuno growled. "If you must know, you're looking at two closely related Okiagari; the weaker more timid Shiki, and the stronger determined Jinrou. There may only be two of each left, we don't know. But the two of us, we're not the ones you should be afraid of. We came here to look for a better way of doing things, and we've found it. I don't need human blood to survive, and he's able to use mine to sustain himself. No one has to get hurt our way. But, you're right, I've never killed a human before, and I'm pissed off enough right now that I would gladly make you the first exception." Natsuno's eyes shifted toward his shoulders, where he could still feel Tohru's trembling hands. With every threat of violence Natsuno made, Tohru's grip had tightened, as if silently begging Natsuno not to give in to his own inner monster. Tohru knew the weight of taking a human life, it wasn't something he wanted Natsuno to ever have on him. Natsuno sighed, he knew they had to get Tohru somewhere safe soon, if they dallied too long, they would have the sun to contend with, as well. "But right now I have something…" Natsuno shook his head, "SOMEONE more important to take care of. So, if you ever run into any more of our 'clansmen', do yourself a favor and run the other way, and pay attention to your surroundings. You may be powerful, but you're getting up there in age, one wrong move on your part and everyone around you will pay the price. But if I ever see you again, I will end you!" Natsuno gave Tohru's hand a gentle pat. "Come on, Tohru-Chan, we're going home."

The hunter stood still and watched the two Okiagari leave. She decided to heed Natsuno's words and leave them be, rather than give chase. A smile crossed her lips. These two creatures of the night were fighting to survive on their own, while holding on to their humanity. They had each other, and that was all they needed. "Those two," she said as she turned to walk away, "Are going to be just fine."

Natsuno lead Tohru home safely and into his bedroom. Even though it was unnecessary, the two of them were breathing heavy. Natsuno had shut and locked every door behind them on the way to Tohru's bedroom. He sat the blond Shiki, who had been deathly quiet for a long time now, down on the bed. "Tohru? Tohru-Chan?" Natsuno sighed, clasping both hands over Tohru's, hoping to get some kind of verbal response.

"N-Natsuno," Tohru mumbled weakly. He couldn't bring himself to look Natsuno in the eyes, but hearing the concern in the Jinrou's voice, he felt obligated to speak. "I'm sorry, Natsuno. It seems I'm always causing you trouble."

Natsuno slid up on the bed next to Tohru and hugged him tight. "Don't talk like that, Tohru-Chan," he said calmly. "What matters is we're both safe now." He ran his fingers through Tohru's hair. "Tohru, look at me," Natsuno pleaded. Natsuno's parents had taught him against religion as a child. He didn't know for sure if there truly was a God or not, but as he begged Tohru to look up at him, he silently prayed, "If you do exist, we're doing all we can down here to make it. Please, don't undo all I've worked for in a single night." Tohru turned his head upward, so that his eyes could meet Natsuno's. Natsuno smiled when he saw Tohru's 'puppy-dog' face. "Everything's going to be ok, Tohru-Chan," he assured him with a gentle kiss. "I'll always keep you safe."