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Fandom: Natsume Yuujinchou
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Characters: Fujiwara Shigeru and Touko, Natsume Takashi, mentions of Nyangoro (AKA Nyanko-sensei, Nyankichi and Madara!), Nishimura and Kitamoto
Spoilers: all episodes just to be safe
Disclaimer: I don't own Natsume Yuujinchou
Notes: Ishiyama is a name I chose for whoever it is that organises where Natsume goes to live since we're not given a name in the manga or anime. This is only the second story I've ever written (and the first in this fandom) so any feedback is welcome even if I doubt I'll write anything again. I'd love to see someone re-do this idea though and add all the details in that I just don't have the skills to write (conversations are so not my thing!)
Fujiwara Shigeru had lived in the same house since he was a child. He had left briefly for university but had soon returned to settle into a job. His marriage to Touko had been a good match and they lived happily, although sadly they had never had any children, so when Shigeru received a phone call about a young relation Natsume Takashi that needed somewhere to stay Shigeru after discussing it with Touko had said yes. His relation Ishiyama had explained that they needed him to promise to keep Takashi-kun for at least a year. Shigeru had questioned Ishiyama as to why it sounded like such a hardship to look after Takashi-kun, was he a boy off the rails perhaps? It had been explained that Takashi-kun had been a known liar as a younger child and he was a little creepy at times but the family thought that being more in the country might help Takashi-kun. Shigeru noticed that they didn’t say what it would help Takashi-kun with, but as he’d already said that he’d take the boy he wouldn’t renege on his word.
Touko had been excited about looking after Takashi and had made sure that the upstairs room was clean and fresh smelling with everything ready to make up the futon. Shigeru in his own way was excited about receiving the boy into his home. He felt a little sorry for Takashi, that he’d lost his parents at such a young age and glad that he could help him.
Takashi was due to arrive a few days after the end of the school year and would start the new school year at the same school the Shigeru had attended in his own adolescence. Takashi had a couple of boxes that were to be sent down early before he’d arrive with the rest of his belongings. He was coming by train and would arrive late afternoon. Both Shigeru and Touko were looking forward to it and had told their neighbours in the area about the relation that was coming to stay with them.
The day of Takashi’s arrival Shigeru drove to the station to pick him up, Touko fairly buzzing in the passenger seat. They arrived at almost the perfect time, the train was to arrive in a few minutes. As they watched the passengers leaving the gates pushing their tickets into the slot on the gate they spotted a young boy weighed down by two heavy looking bags. He was a slender but a good looking boy with brown hair. He made it through the gates and began looking around. Shigeru and Touko moved forward to greet him and introduce themselves when he spotted them and started to move towards them also. After introductions, “Touko-san and Shigeru-san are fine Takashi” they set off. Touko was talking up a storm pointing out things to Takashi as they drove home. Takashi seemed a nice lad, he spoke to them in polite language, not keigo but not slang either. He responded carefully to Touko’s enquiries as to the journey on the train and what activities he enjoyed but Shigeru noticed he didn’t volunteer information and he didn’t ask questions. As Shigeru looked in the rear view mirror to catch a glimpse of their new charge he saw the boys’ expression pale, his eyes going wide. His eyes which had been focused out the window where very hurriedly averted to back into the car onto the back of the seat Touko was seated in. Shigeru saw no more than that glimpse as he shifted his eyes back onto the road. When he glanced again in the rear view mirror Takashi seemed back to normal and Shigeru could almost believe he’d imagined the expression he’d seen on the boy’s face. Back at home Touko had watched Takashi easily and efficiently unpack his bags of clothing quickly deciding places for things and emptying his bags. Shigeru had retreated to his study to do some work and didn’t see either Takashi or Touko until it was time for dinner.
The next morning after breakfast Takashi followed their suggestion and went out and about the neighbourhood to acquaint himself with the area. He’d been greeted by neighbours and introduced himself repeatedly, wondering how he was supposed to remember new names again for more new neighbours that he would only know for a year at the most. Takashi didn’t hold any hopes for longer than a year. More moves than he cared to count had taught him that. He recalled the youkai he’d seen yesterday from out the car window and shivered. He really hoped that he could keep the Fujiwara’s from thinking he was creepy, but to do that he needed to make sure that he didn’t say or do anything that would lead them to think strange things about him. He really wanted a whole year and they seemed so nice. Their house was warm and he hoped against hope it remained that way. He wondered what his new school would be like and how long it would take before he’d be labeled as ‘creepy’ there. His last school hadn’t been too bad. The other students had stayed away and he’d never tried making friends with any of them. He hadn’t joined any club and just focused on school work and trying to remain unnoticed, because if they didn’t notice you, they didn’t notice the odd things about you any more.
The weeks slipped by and Shigeru realised Takashi had been with them around a month already and he barely knew the boy still. He found that essentially Takashi seemed like a really good kid, but reluctant to show his true self to them. He didn’t ask them questions about themselves or the area they lived in but Shigeru realised it wasn’t a lack of interest, it was a fear of overstepping his bounds. When Takashi brought Nyangoro home and asked if he could keep him it was the first time Touko had seen such a hopeful look on his face and it was also the first time that Takashi had reached out to them. Touko and he had readily agreed to keeping the cat hopefully encouraging Takashi to be more open with them.
More months passed with the slow turning of the seasons, spring had moved into summer which had had Takashi fainting from the heat. He seemed to spend days with friends Nishimura and Kitamoto from school. Shigeru and Touko were both pleased that he’d gained the two boys friendship so easily. It wasn’t easy moving into a new area and they had both noticed that Takashi had no correspondence with friends from his last school. Summer slowly moved into autumn and Touko had been concerned the night of the festival when Takashi stayed out without letting them know where he was. Shigeru felt far more comfortable with that behaviour. It was something he would have done as a boy, too caught up in having fun to remember to tell your parents where you’d gone. Shigeru hadn’t had a chance to meet Natori but Touko assured him that he seemed a responsible young man and they had both again been happy that Takashi had friends. Winter saw more illness for Takashi with a number of fevers. Each time the boy was sick Touko would worry and make nutritious soups and teas for them all.
They had been looking after Takashi now for nearly a year and apart from the occasional odd thing that he would do they had never seemed to have run into the reasons why his relation Ishiyama thought that they wouldn’t keep Takashi for at least a full year. He was a good boy, he’d made friends and settled into life here. He wasn’t a very open boy and when asked he was always ‘fine’ and ‘nothing’s wrong’, even when he looked tired, sick or exhausted. Touko had a few times given Takashi a telling off for his thoughtlessness, but whilst such moments were worrying at the time he always remembered with them with fondness. Boys will be boys after all.
One afternoon he found himself finishing up his work early and packing the rest into his bag to take home with him making a beeline for meeting Takashi on his walk home from school. He knew Takashi’s schedule pretty well now and sure enough there was Takashi walking with his two friends Nishimura and Kitamoto. He hoped he hadn’t interrupted or embarrassed Takashi by meeting him on his walk home and as he was so reticent it was hard to tell. He’d been so pleased when Takashi had come to him the next day asking about the girl he’d mentioned the previous night. Anything that would draw Takashi out and let him realise that this was his home and he was allowed to ask questions and be himself was a good thing. As he remembered the girl in his story to Takashi he was struck by a number of similarities in Takashi’s and her demeanor. They both seemed to be lonely and a little strange. Late that afternoon after hearing such a loud noise from upstairs and then seeing the destruction of the room the image of the girl and Takashi almost seemed to overlap. The similarities of the situation were obvious as were Takashi’s lies about what had happened. Shigeru’s heart constricted at Takashi’s desperate lies and promises to pay them back for the damage. If only he would realise that there is no need for a child to pay back for damages - damages are expected! And that Touko and he just want Takashi to be himself and tell them when things bother, upset or make him happy.
Ishiyama’s call was almost a year to the day. It was the start of March and he said that he thought he’d found someone who could take Takashi off their hands. Ishiyama seemed amazed that they wanted to keep Takashi “for as long as he wants to stay” and had asked to speak to Takashi to see whether or not he truly did wish to stay. Takashi’s eyes had widened with shock, his jaw dropping slightly at the question and realisation that they wanted him to stay. He looked up at Shigeru eyes still large with surprise not saying a word. Shigeru could hear Ishiyama on the other end asking if Takashi was still there. Takashi stammered out that he was and that he wished to stay on with the Fujiwara’s. Shigeru had watched with some amusement as Takashi had wandered dazed from the room with Nyangoro following after him. Well, Shigeru thought, maybe one day he’ll tell us his worries and problems, but gaining Takashi’s trust would never happen overnight but if the tears he had seen in Takashi’s eyes were any indication asking him to keep staying with them had been a definite step in the right direction.
- Location:my place
- Mood:
creative - Music:yoshida brothers
Comments
I've been re-watching a lot of the episodes while doing assignments (I like background noise) and have had a few thoughts about writing from Kitamoto's, Taki's or Tanuma's perspectives.
Either have to write it in the next few weeks or let it peculate for a few months when I'll have time to think again. If I do I think I'll run it past a beta for grammar problems...