Natori had long suspected that there was something unusual about Natsume; aside from the book of forbidden magic that he carried around. The teen's spiritual energy shone like a blinding beacon. It was unlike anything Natori had ever experienced from a human. Natsume seemed unaware of this fact about himself. It was ironic that he often stood with a slouched posture even though for those who were sensitive he stood out like the sun at midday.

Out of simple curiosity, Natori inquired into Natsume's parents. He quickly found that to be a dead end. Natsume's mother had died due to post-partum complications and Natsume's father was killed in a car accident. There was nothing to hint at Natusme's strange powers. They seemed to be unremarkable in every way.

Natori dug further back into Natsume's lineage. His maternal grandparents were still alive. This was shocking until Natori had the unfortunate chance to meet with them. They were unpleasant and Natori saw no traces of power on them.

On the other hand, Natsume's paternal grandparents were strangely elusive. Rieko was clearly a powerful person, but it was her husband, or more accurately, lack thereof that caught Natori's attention. The official government records never listed her as married. Natori supposed that whoever got her pregnant might have been simply a lover, but after the stories he had heard about Reiko, he doubted that she would settle for such a fickle bargain.

Dead end after dead end plagued Natori's research. Finally he was forced to turn to someone he disliked working with. With no small amount of annoyance and resignation, Natori found himself at the Matoba estate.

"What have you done now?" Matoba sighed with his usual air of superiority as Natori was ushered in.

"Why would you ask that?" Natori shot back.

"Because usually you've messed something up and need me to fix it. Or you need my resources to solve a problem," Matoba let his head cock to the side in a bored manner.

Natori hated that observation.

"I have a very simple question for you, that is all," Natori sighed.

Matoba arched an eyebrow.

"It's about Natsume," Natori admitted.

That got Matoba's attention. He leaned forward in his seat.

"I'm listening. What in particular?" Matoba then added, "He's still at school at the moment."

"Why do you know that?" Natori forced himself not to recoil.

He might be older than Matoba, but that did not mean that Matoba didn't creep him out.

"I have my reasons," Matoba shrugged.

Natori made a mental note to dispatch one of his own shiki to take care of any of Matoba's that might be hanging uninvited around Natsume.

"So what is your question?" Matoba prompted.

"I know you've done digging on Natsume's lineage," Natori didn't even attempt to soften the bluntness of his accusation, "What do you know of his family? I want to know everything you know."

"Is this a formal request?" Matoba steepled his fingers.

"No."

"Then I can't answer your question," Matoba hummed, "Unless of course, you are willing to pay."

Natori grumbled. He reached for his wallet.

"I don't want money. I already have plenty of it," Matoba carelessly waved a hand, "I want one of your paper dolls."

"Why?" Natori frowned.

"That is my own business," Matoba sniffed.

Natori pondered his options. Each clan had secret spells. The Natori clan had mastered the art of commanding paper generations ago. The paper dolls he carried around were just one example of that. They were also, coincidentally, not something well documented anywhere (Natori would know. He had only found this spell listed once in the back of a very old book). It was understandable that Mabota would want one to study. That was just fine. Natori knew that

"Fine. Only one," Natori sighed, pulling out his paper dolls.

"I only need one," Matoba nodded eagerly.

Natori handed over the requested item. Matoba seemed pleased.

"Very well. I will tell you what I know about Natsume's family," Matoba drawled, "Since you are coming to me, I will presume that you read through the public records about his parents."

Natoir nodded a confirmation.

"The unusual part about our mutual friend is on his paternal grandparents side. Reiko was an interesting character. Many youkai seem to know her name, but none give a conclusive picture of her. Despite the conflicting opinions, they seem to all acknowledge that she was a powerful human. In a different situation, we would have welcomed her into the clan," Matoba nodded.

"A different situation?" Natori frowned.

"My grandfather knew of her, but did not attempt to recruit her because he did not believe that females belonged in the exorcist world. As such her power and talent has unfortunately fallen outside the clan's boundaries. I have been working hard on regaining it," Matoba sighed.

Natoir resisted the urge to shake his head. He really wasn't that surprised either by the actions fo Matoba's grandfather or by the fact that Matoba was obsessed with recruiting Natsume.

"Do you know anything about Reiko's husband?" Natori turned the conversation back to his real goal

"Mmh. Yes. You mean the youkai," Matoba leaned back.

Natori grimaced slightly. He had suspected that much.

"It is not the first time an interspecies marriage has been recorded," Matoba shrugged, "It is the first time that the descendants of that kind of marriage have lived long enough to procreate on their own. Natsume is truly one of a kind."

Natori didn't like the way that Matoba referred to Natsume. It made the teenager seem like a scientific specimen, rather than a human being. Natori realized with a start, that Matoba probably did view Natsume this way.

"And the youkai? What do you know about him? Is he still alive?" Natori asked.

"Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, he is not still alive. He was a fairly human looking youkai, tall and slender," Matoba shrugged.

That set off alarm bells in Natori's head.

"Did you know him?" Natori asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I did. He claimed he was gentle, that he never harmed anyone. You know just as well as I do that youaki always lie," Matoba sighed.

"You exorcized him," Natori groaned in realization.

Matoba had the gall to look offended.

"I'm not a monster. No. I saw use in him. He was the original source for my own created shiki. Quite useful too. My only regret was that I was unable to fully synthesize his ability to shape-shift."

Natori felt sick. This was the first time he had ever felt such a thing towards a youkai.

"You killed Nasume's grandfather," he accused.

"I did nothing of the sort," Matoba scoffed, "He was willing to help and he quite liked being put to good use. If I hadn't gotten to him, someone else would have."

Natori knew when to give up arguing with Matoba.

"Does Natsume know any of this?" Natori rubbed his temples.

"No. I was keeping it for an opportune time to bait him," Matoba paused and gave Natori an annoyed look, "but since you now know, I don't think that dangling that information in front of him will be as enticing."

"Is there anything else?" Natori asked.

It seemed that Matoba was in a sharing mood today.

"Mm. Yes. Keep your eyes open. Rieko was rumored to have a book of forbidden magic. The Book of Friendship or something equally sinister. If you find it, I would very much like a look," Matoba nodded.

"If I ever found something like that, I would destroy it. That should be your reaction as well. Your family has already dabbled too much in forbidden magic."

Natori glanced at the eyepatch Matoba wore.

"Guilty as charged," Matoba smiled blithely, then just as suddenly as it appeared, his smile dropped from his face, "Was there something else that you needed?"

The temperature of the room seemed to drop. Natori saw that he had overstayed his welcome.

"No. That was it," Natori stood, "I'll see myself out."

"I'm sure you will," Matoba snorted, "Just make sure you don't help yourself to something that doesn't belong to you."

Natori didn't even dignify Matoba with a response.