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"Touko-san, here I am!" Natsume said, reaching the woman in the garden.
The weather was fine that Sunday and Touko-san had asked her adopted son if he could help her transfer the plants for the upcoming spring. The boy accepted the request with assent and so after finishing his homework he reached Fujiwara-san in the open space under the house.
“Oh hey, Natsume! Don't worry dear, I've already finished transplanting the flowers.. if you want you can help me hang out the clothes. In this sun it won't be long before they dry."
"Of course!" The boy nodded and so the two began to hang the clothes on the lines.
They hadn't just started putting on the last tablecloths that they both felt drops of water on their skin. They looked around for the source of this drizzle but there was nothing where it could come from.
The sun was shining hot and, apart from a few dark clouds, the sky was clear. The birds continued to chirp in the nearby trees together with the chirping of the crickets and the good smell of freshly washed laundry mixed well with the smell of the loose earth.
Natsume turned to Touko-san, hearing her carefree laugh.
“Rain with the sun, the gods must be merry!” Chanted the older woman with another giggle.
“Better remove the clothes before it rains, honey.” Touko-san said, quickly grabbing the clothes and carrying them inside.
Natsume followed her to the porch where his bodyguard was dozing off in the sun.
"It's the first time this has happened to me... Nyanko-sensei, is this phenomenon really the fault of the spirits?"
The cat only opened one eye to see his protégé.
“Uh, probably. A large congregation of yokai can wreak havoc on the weather. Usually this happens for celebrations, you should ask the middle-ranks if they know anything.
Those two know all the gossip in this area.” Nyanko-sensei answered lazily.
Natsume nodded smiling and for a few minutes the two stood looking at the landscape from the porch.
The light but persistent raindrops clearly reflect the sunlight making them white to the observer's eyes. A light breeze moved the fronds of the trees, creating an atmosphere of serenity together with the song of the birds and that of the crickets. The good smell of wet earth was just starting to build when a scream ripped through the sky.
“Madara!” Someone shouted and the boy together with the named yokai turned abruptly seeing a dark figure flying quickly towards them.
Natsume realized only when they approached that it was a huge black cat with large yellow eyes that shone with their own light.
“Mammone!” Nyanko-sensei yelled in turn, who in the meantime had stood up. With lightning speed he leapt and transformed into his true form to hurl himself against the newcomer.
The two figures, one white and one black, fought with paws and bites. Meanwhile around them the rain had become more intense until the sky turned gray.
"Nyanko-sensei" The boy yelled worriedly but he didn't dare approach the two yokai fighting in the sky.
Then, as it all started, it suddenly stopped.
Madara threw the huge opponent yokai to the ground and then grabbed him with his fangs on the neck immobilizing him.
"Mammone! Stop it, you idiot." Madara growled. A hoarse laugh came from the newly appointed ayakashi.
“Good morning Madara, happy to see you. I see you're still in great shape. I've heard that you let humans beat you." Daid the huge black cat with bright eyes.
Nyanko-sensei lifted his grip and puffed back into his cat form.
“Umph you're behind on the gossip. Now I'm practically in possession of the Book of Friends and when I have it in my paws beating you and your court will be child's play "
“Ah, as if that were possible. My lady can make furs for walls out of you.”
“Are you still serving that stria? Maa maa, how low have you fallen.”
At these words, the huge black yokai changed his tone from amused to angry and growled baring his teeth at the other yokai present.
“Don't insult my lady! She is one of the most powerful strie in Japan and now that she is about to marry a god, her prestige will reach the threshold of Heaven."
“If she's so powerful, why are you here? I highly doubt you came to pay me a visit."
Mammone-san was silent for a long time turning away from Nyanko-sensei and in a petulant voice reluctantly asked:
"I need your help."
___
“Ahahahah”
"Nyanko-sensei stop laughing!"
The fat cat ignored Natsume and continued rolling on the floor with laughter.
Meanwhile Mammone-san stood with his shoulders hunched and his gaze downcast embarrassed.
As soon as he made his request and saw Nyanko-sensei roar with laughter he crouched in a corner sulking. The light, thin rain made his black fur shimmer but he didn't seem to mind getting wet.
His dark figure looked out of place under the sun that was slicing through the clouds.
“Hahaha, the day has finally come when you, Mammone, acknowledge my superiority and crawl down to ask me for help!” Nyanko-sensei coughed between giggles
“Do you really think that if I had any other options I would come to you?” Growled the huge black cat at the smaller figure.
Nyanko-sensei didn't let himself be intimidated and, gesturing with an amused air, continued:
"So tell me Mammon-san, why do you seek help from a majestic and generous figure like me?"
The black yokai took a deep breath and turned to look at Natume while completely ignoring Madara. His huge bright eyes carefully scanned the figure of the boy.
“I've heard great things about you Natsume-san. The rumors say that you are as powerful as you are generous so then please listen to me.
My lady is to be married tomorrow, and I have prepared for her a chest of the most precious stuff as a dowry. I thought everything was in place for the wedding but suddenly I can't find the box anymore.
From the investigation I conducted it seems that someone stole it out of envy and escaped to the nearby caves.
Now I don't have time to go look for them, I have to help with the preparations. But you, who are a powerful human, could go to the thief's den and take back what is not theirs."
Natsume swallowed. The intensity of the enormous cat's gaze unnerved him.
He had the impression that despite the obsequious words if he said no or wasn't able to retrieve the box Mammone-san would devour him without thinking too much.
What he had in front of him was a being that was used to being a predator and at that moment the only reason that he hadn't ended up in the fangs of the feline was because he asked for his help.
“And what will you give us in return for this job?” Nyanko-sensei asked.
He was lying on the porch again and was watching the other feline with narrowed eyes. For one last time, the huge black cat stood up on all paws.
“You will be among the guests at my lady's wedding. But don't be late to complete the feat.. you have until midnight to bring me the crate back."
And so saying he flew up and disappeared in the dark clouds.
“Umph, always the same dramatic being. Come on Natsume let's go, we have a dowry to recover and some sake to drink at the wedding tomorrow. Let's go to the middle-ranks to ask if they've seen anyone fleeing into the mountains."
The boy ran into the house to get his jacket.
He was very upset by the situation that had happened to him, he hadn't had time to refuse or ask questions, the yokai's gaze was so intense.
It wasn't a good feeling, it reminded him too much of when he was small and was chased by bigger monsters.
He looked for a moment at Nyanko-sensei waiting for him outside on the porch. It was in these moments that Natsume remembered that his friends weren't human beings. He took the umbrella and walked unsteadily towards his bodyguard.
"Come on boy, let's go!"
"Yes, Nyanko-sensei"
___
“A yokai fleeing to the mountains?” Hinoe-san repeated to the boy's inquisition. In her hands she had her usual pipe, from which smoke with the smell of incense came out.
“We saw a figure running away with something on his back heading towards the mountains to the southeast.”
The two middle-ranks said, trying to help Natsume with their usual enthusiasm.
The circle of his supernatural friends was all around him when the boy began his research by asking every ayakashi he knew for information.
Now he was in a clearing with all his friends from the Book of Friends who, upon hearing of his mission, had made their knowledge available.
The rain had stopped and only a few drops fell from time to time from the wet trees.
"If Mammone-san has asked you to do something, you better do it as soon as possible. He's not a yokai who likes to be told no." Hinoe-san continued as she took a puff on his long pipe.
“Do you know him, Hinoe-san?” Natsume asked Reiko's old friend.
“Umph, Mammone-san is a bully,” she said, puffing smoke and crossing her arms.
“In the old days he used to attack cattle but I hear that today he is under the service of a powerful northern stria.”
The human boy was silent for a long moment.
"You keep repeating this word.. What is a stria?"
At his word a surprised silence seized the Dog's circle.
“Madara! Idiot! Didn't you explain anything to Reiko-sama's nephew? Would you have left him in ignorance when he saw her at the wedding?” Yelled Hinoe-san angrily and started hitting Nyanko-sensei with her long pipe.
“Stop it hag, I would have been with him. Nothing would have happened to him!"
Meanwhile the rest of the circle ignored the scene and concentrated on the only human present.
“The strie are a very powerful race of witches. Their healing power is said to bring the dead back to life.” Said Chobihige, nodding his huge head.
“Their curses can be cast even from miles away. There's no hiding if you've made an enemy a stria." Continued the ox-like Chukyuu while his inseparable companion seriously bobbed his head up and down alongside him.
“Being invited to their wedding is a great honor, Natsume-sama.
You should hurry to find the chest, it's dangerous to anger a stria." The kappa finally whispered full of concern.
The boy smiled at him, thanking him with a gentle look. The situation was more serious than he thought if everyone agreed on the danger.
A wedding was also an important occasion for the ayakashi. If they hadn't found the dowry in time they would have not only angered Mammone-san and his lady but also insulted the groom.
“Natsume-dono, why don't you get on my back? You'd reach the caves in no time and I'd help you eliminate the thief. All you have to do is say my name.” Misuzu-san added solemnly.
“Heck no! The Book of Friends is mine! Take your paws off the boy, I'll take Natsume in search of the thief!" Yelled Nyanko-sensei who in the meantime had managed to free himself from Hinoe's fury.
In an instant, it transformed into its true form and very quickly grabbed Natsume and soared away from the Dog's circle.
“Nyanko-sensei, do you know where to go?” the human boy asked his bodyguard.
"Don't worry, there's only one place for a thief to hide in caves." The huge white yokai murmured a little more sulkily.
Natsume just had to cling more strongly to his friend's fur and trust as always that he would lead him to the destination.
___
The sun had already set and the rain had returned more insistently when the two reached the mountains.
In the dark Natsume could hardly see and the rain made visibility more limited. With one hand he clutched at Madara's fur and the two walked into the opening in the rock in front of them.
"I should have brought a torch too.. " The boy murmured under his breath but the sharp ears of the ayakashi heard him anyway.
“Umph, stay closer to me.” The older of the two said. His white lupine form glowed gray in the total darkness of the cave.
The couple walked for a while until they began to hear a giggle echoing in the cave. At the back of the cave there was a dim light. The two exchanged a silent look and tried to get closer as quietly as possible.
Around the corner from which the two decided to spy, they saw a small figure hopping and humming around a hearth. They were small, wearing a red robe, full of hair, and on their head a crown of flowers.
The cave was filled with various items. There were various broken things such as umbrellas, bicycle handlebars and chairs. There was even a board that was missing a leg. But there were also blankets, canvases and cushions, and all this gave the idea of a well-kept nest, albeit full of objects.
Immediately the boy's eyes focus on the huge wooden box leaning against the wall. It was carved with designs resembling ears of corn and fruits. It had a huge padlock still fortunately closed. The dowry of the stria had not been damaged.
“Wait here Natsume, I'm going to eat it in one bite and then we can get the case back.” Said Madara and in a feral way headed towards his named prey.
“Nyanko-sensei, wait!” Natsume tried to whisper but his bodyguard ignored him so the boy had no choice but to follow him, hoping to resolve everything in a more peaceful way.
At the sight of the two intruders, the yokai gave a scream of terror.
“Intruders! Intruders!” Cried the furry creature.
“Shut up, furball, and give us back the box!” Growled Madara.
"No!" They answered in the same angry tone, and with a leap they stood in front of the trunk.
"We just want back the dowry you stole.. " Natsume tried to reconcile. Apart from taking something he shouldn't have, the yokai hadn't hurt anyone and the boy was sorry to hurt them.
“Kebukai-sama did not steal any dowries. Kebukai-sama just found the trunk abandoned in a corner so Kebukai-sama took it.” Said the little creature.
"As usual, it's obviously all Mammone's fault." Madara muttered to himself as he heard the explanation.
"Listen, little useless being. We want the box whether you like it or not so get off before I hurt you." Nyanko-sensei's huge form continued to say.
“No, no and no! The chest belongs to Kebukai because Kebukai found it!” The little yokai started squealing as he jumped up and down the trunk making a mess.
"We can give you something in return." Natsume tried to convince.
Usually in this type of situation where an ayakashi held something hostage, it could be redeemed by exchanging for something else.
Similar problems had happened to him in the past, and an exchange of favors had resolved the tensions in the bud.
At the boy's words, the little hairy yokai stopped and stared intently at Natsume. His small black eyes reflected the light that came from the hearth making them even more penetrating.
"Kebukai-sama knows who you are... Kebukai-sama has heard of you... you are the human who owns the Book of Friends... give it to Kebukai-sama and you can have the case." The creature finally said after a long silence.
Upon hearing those words Madara began to growl menacingly.
“The Book of Friends is mine! Don't you dare put your furry little hands on what belongs to me!"
Natsume, on the other hand, had taken a step back trying to hide behind Nyanko-sensei's large reassuring form. He placed a protective hand on the bag he always carried over his shoulder that contained his grandmother's book.
"I can't give you the Book but we can make another exchange if you want." The boy tried to reason in a conciliatory tone despite his fear.
He had a bad feeling that the situation was not going to be resolved easily. Kebukai's black eyes hadn't stopped staring at him the whole time without blinking. It seemed to Natsume that the cave was getting darker and darker.
“...No… Kebukai wants The Book of Friends…
Give me that!"
And so screaming, from his small figure long strips of hair stretched out to grab the only human present in the cave. Natsume tried to squirm and keep his grip on his purse but with every strand of hair he freed himself from, three more took their place.
Nyanko-sensei was also surrounded by Kebukai's black hair, the more the two wriggled the stronger the grip became.
Meanwhile, the enemy yokai started humming to himself.
“The Book of Friends, Kebukai-sama had the Book of Friends… Kebukai-sama wins against the human and Madara-sama …. Kebukai-sama is strong.. Kebukai-sama is so strong!”
Hearing that little creature sing his victory Madara began to roar, taken from a rage born of humiliation. With his muzzle trapped between the strings of hair, the huge ayakashi tried to bite the hairy Yokai.
Failing this, there was nothing left but to try to purify the being.
"Natsume, close your eyes!" Nyanko-sensei said suddenly returning to his sealed form and, the moment he was free of the hair, he gave off a blinding white light.
Natsume obeyed the command and along with the blinding ray, he also heard Kebukai's screams of anger and pain.
When silence remained, the boy reopened his eyes on a cave empty of inhabitants but full of objects. The flame of the hearth was extinguished and the little light that remained was that of the ashes.
Nyanko-sensei had already walked over to the trunk. With a poof, he reverted to his true form and took the crate between his jaws.
"Let's go, boy," He said in a disinterested tone as he crouched down to lift Natsume onto his back.
"Yes, sensei." The human boy replied in a weak voice, tightly clinging to the fur of the white ayakashi.
When out of the cave and flying away Natsume couldn't help himself and turned around to take a last look at the mouth of the now abandoned cave.
A hand tightened tightly on the shoulder bag that contained Reiko's legacy.
___
The crowd was jubilant as the two veiled and elaborately dressed figures finished exchanging ceremonial sake.
Natsume clapped and smiled with them at the sight of the bride and groom.
When at the stroke of midnight Mammone-san appeared from the darkness with his huge shining eyes to ask about the box, the boy didn't have time to point it out that the yokai took it to disappear as quickly as he had arrived.
Nyanko-sensei snorted at the sight of the invitation card left instead of the trunk and as soon as he arrived at the ceremony the next day he disappeared leaving the boy alone.
"He's probably already gone to get drunk." Natsume murmured to himself as he looked around.
The ceremony site was in a clearing with a beautiful temple surrounded by sakura trees. Although the season had already passed, all the trees were in bloom and were scattering their petals among the crowd of those present. The sun was shining brightly but Natsume was surprised to feel light and fine raindrops on his skin.
The guests didn't seem to notice and indeed the boy saw one or more of the ayakashi present extend their arms to the sky to catch the drops of water with a smile. Their faces looked like they were receiving a blessing.
“Don't worry about your guardian. He is together with other guests to toast with sake.” Said a melodious voice behind Natsume.
The human boy turned abruptly and found himself in front of the bride with Mammone-san behind her like a huge shadow.
The stria was dressed in an elaborately embroidered white Japanese wedding dress with a snow-white veil that hid her face. She was tall and Natsume had to turn his neck to be able to see her face.
Hiding her hands in the sleeves of her dress, the veiled lady continued.
“Mammone-san told me what you did for him. I personally thank you for restoring my dowry and promptly correcting my familiar's mistake.”
So saying, the woman made a slight bow directed at the boy who, embarrassed, could only reciprocate.
"Don't worry ma'am, it's been a pleasure." the human boy tried to dodge the thanks with difficulty. He usually always had Nyanko-sensei by his side when he had to meet such powerful yokai.
He didn't know exactly what etiquette one should follow when faced with a stria.
Mammone-san muttered something in a low, sulky voice from behind the prominent female figure. She raised a hand to silence him, having surely heard what the huge black cat had said, and continued as if nothing had happened.
“However, you did us a huge favor that you didn't have to do. Please accept this as a token of our deepest gratitude."
From her sleeves she pulled a fan and ceremoniously held it out to the boy, who accepted it with trepidation. Curious, he opened it and was surprised to see a beautiful scene of apple blossom trees embroidered on the canvas. They were so well made that they seemed to move on a mysterious wind.
"Enjoy the celebrations." said the somewhat amused voice of the stria, seeing the boy sincerely surprised by the beauty of the object.
“You better treat it with due respect. That fan was embroidered by my lady herself and she is not one to give her art to anyone.” Intimidated Mammone-san before returning to follow her mistress.
Natsume was silent for several seconds as he watched the two figures being greeted by the crowd with cheers of celebration. In the end, the boy was left with a happy smile.
The weight of what had happened in recovering the dowry eased seeing the happy figures of the spouses who, at the incitement of the crowd, had begun to dance to the rhythm of a pressing music.
He pressed the gift given to him tightly to his chest and set out in search of his bodyguard.
He had to make sure he wasn't too drunk that he couldn't fly them, home anymore.