Trap 1

Author’s notes: It’s my first attempt writing a fanfic for this manga/anime. Watched the anime and absolutely loved it. And I really love Natsume : )

i think Tanuma can hear Nyanko talk? Or did I mistaken... Anyway, for the fic, let's assume he can.

Warnings: I am a yaoi fan so there will be yaoi influences. Though I am not confident if I can make this one a yaoi fic^^; And probably some OOCs (cries)

After returning the name to yet another odd looking youkai, Natsume slumped against the wall and sighed. The ritual always managed to drain him, though with practice, he was getting better and less tired recently.

Nyanko looked on with the usual annoyed look on his face as he grumbled to himself. “I really wonder if there is any value being your bodyguard. There won’t be any pages left in the yuujinchou by the time I take over the book!”

Used to his cat’s mumblings, Natsume conveniently ignored him and got up.

“Are you even listening to me, Natsume!” The pig-like creature was irritated with the lack of response and followed his master out of the room. Not that he was taking his bodyguard duties seriously, though. Sometimes he would get an unexpected snack, a sweet bun maybe, when he followed the boy to the kitchen. The cat was disappointed this time round, however, as Natsume merely went to the yard to collect the dried clothes.

“Touko san instructed me to bring in the clothes before she left just now, sensei.” Natsume chuckled at the deflated expression of his cat when he realized that there was no snack.

“Hn,” Nyanko spread his short legs and lay on the soft grass. If there was no snack, he would at least make the best out of the situation and enjoy the cool breeze. The peace was short-lived however. An odd sensation made the cat look up and turn towards his master.

“What…” Natsume hardly had time to respond when a sudden gust of wind blew at him and made him shiver. He closed his eyes to steady himself as a strange feeling passed through him. It wasn’t the normal type of breeze; there was definitely some unnatural power in it.

“Youkai,” Nyanko jumped up and was on the alert. “And a strong one. Be careful, Natsume!”

Then, there was quiet and everything returned to normal again.

“Perhaps he was just passing by?” suggested the browned haired boy.

Though puzzled, the cat said nothing more. He did, however, notice that his master smelt slightly different. Thinking it was probably a remnant of the passerby, he took no more notice of it and went back to sleep.

Natsume turned when he felt a tap on his shoulders. It was Tanuma.

“Oh, good morning,” greeted the boy.

“You seemed deep in thought. I was practically shouting your name just now, “ the black haired teenager fell in step with his friend.

“I’m sorry,” Natsume apologized sheepishly. He wasn’t deep in thought, but he really didn’t hear anything. Come to think of it, his responses did seem rather slow recently.

Tanuma frowned when the brown haired boy spaced out again. Something about Natsume didn’t seem right, but he couldn’t put his finger to it.

“Is something bothering you?” Tanuma asked gently, his tone surprising even himself. He flushed, and hoped fervently that he didn’t come across as being odd.

Natsume merely gave the boy his usual smile and shook his head. He turned to the side and coughed when the dry air tickled his throat. Then, he coughed again. And again.

Concerned, Tanuma spoke. “Did you catch a cold?”

“No, I’m fine.” Natsume’s speech was again interrupted by a bout of coughing. “It just doesn’t stop though. Perhaps it’s some irritation.”

“The cough is not natural, Natsume.” Nyanko poked his head out from the bag, startling both teenagers.

“Nyanko sensei! Don’t do that again!” chided Natsume as he carried the heavyweight cat out from his bag and placed him on the floor.

“What do you mean it’s not natural?” The cat’s words bothered Tanuma.

“I remember hearing this cough before. Did you go messing around with youkais again, you dummy?” The proud cat trotted in front of the boys as he posed his questions.

“No, I didn’t,” answered the boy defensively. He didn’t like the words “messing around”. It wasn’t like he enjoyed getting tangled with the spirits. They just came to him and if they were in trouble, there was no way he would stand aside and do nothing, right?

“The smell of the youkai breeze the other day is still on you,” Nyanko turned serious. “I thought nothing of it initially, but if the smell lingered for so many days, something is not right.”

“Nyanko sensei…” Natsume saw Tanuma’s alarmed look and mentally chided himself for allowing someone else to hear these disturbing words. “Don’t worry, Tanuma. Everything will be fine *cough*”

“Yes, everything will be fine when you are dead, nyaaan. And then the yuujinchou will be mine!”

“Nyanko sensei! *cough cough*” Natsume sighed in exasperation as the cat ran off and turned to reassure his worried friend. “We’ll take care of it somehow.”

Tanuma’s eyes darkened. “I’m sorry I cannot be of more help. If only I could see them…”

“You really won’t want to see them, trust me,” laughed the boy but he stopped suddenly and fell forward as though someone pushed him from behind.

“Natsume?” The black haired teen quickly caught hold of the boy and was shocked at the coldness of his body. “Hey, are you ok?”

“What…” His eyes started to close against his will and before he knew it, his mind cut him off from the world and he could not see or hear anything.

The surroundings were grey and cold. There was no one in sight, only shadows. Natsume hesitantly took a few steps forward and to his delight, he finally saw someone – or something.

It was almost formless, but Natsume could feel that it was smiling - sniggering to be exact.

“Soon, you will be mine. Your power is all mine.”

“Who are you?”

“Me? I am you. I will be you.”