Natsume Yuujinchou
Hey, Natsume!
They've got squid! They've got ikayaki!
It's almost time for the summer festival.
What are you just standing there for?
Buy it!
Buy me ikayaki.
People can hear you!
You can't eat squid anyway, you're a cat.
I'm not a cat!
Are you going to take the pleasures of squid away from a middle-aged man?
Don't say things that make me want to put you down.
Jeez... at least chew your food, Sensei.
The tentacles are the best part of the ikayaki.
Wait, squid!
Squid, wait!
You are the star of middle age!
What does that even mean?
Oh my, I'm sorry.
No, I apologize.
Blood!
She's gone.
Was she a youkai?
Her parasol...
That Which Is Not Human
What is this?
Are you all right?
What are you doing?
We're leaving!
Thank you for saving me.
You, too. Your arrival awoke me.
We're even.
I must look really lame, having a woman carry me.
No, she's a youkai, isn't she?
You're very heavy.
And strangely warm.
Are you human?
You didn't notice?
Natsume?
I've got you! I've got you!
I'm sorry.
I didn't know you were human, so I panicked.
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
Luckily, I fell on a very soft cushion.
Hey, Natsume! I'm not a cushion!
Natsume?
Are you the one with the Book of Friends?
I thought you'd be more impressive.
Bow before me and give me your name!
No, that's my grandmother.
I see.
But you're still Natsume, even if you're a wimp.
Natsume-sama, I have a request.
I am in need of your help.
Many youkai in this area
have been badly wounded and had their bodies drained of blood.
I was traveling through the forest
to see who was behind this, when...
I want to find out who that was, for my friends' sake.
If you were to help...
Hey, don't be so selfish.
You've got no reason to help her, Natsume.
I'd be going up against somebody
who drains the blood from youkai.
If I get involved
and something happens to Touko-san and Shigeru-san...
What to do...
Natsume-sama,
I didn't intend to scare you so.
I realize now that there's no reason for a human, like you, to get involved.
I'm sorry.
Forget about it.
Wait.
What about your friends?
Were they okay after they were attacked?
To me, my friends are like family.
I must protect the few I have left.
Farewell.
Sensei...
You decided not to get involved, right?
You're going to look depressed either way, aren't you?
You're very different from Reiko. She was always smiling.
That's right.
Takashi-kun, it's time for dinner.
Right! I'll be right there.
I don't think this'll improve your mood,
but you made the right decision this time.
She said that they were taking the blood of youkai.
That means that it might not be a youkai who's behind it.
I've heard that some humans use the blood of youkai in their spells.
Humans?
That feeling when I scratched them,
it didn't feel like a youkai, it was more like...
Why don't you decide what's more important to you:
humans or youkai?
But...
Hey, Natsume!
You idiot, stop this!
You finally made the right choice to not get involved, for once!
Sorry, this is who I am.
Give up.
When I thought that a human might be
killing youkai and stealing their blood,
I couldn't ignore it.
Thank you, master Natsume.
I didn't think it would be so hot out,
so I got too far from my river.
Be more careful!
If I hadn't come by, you would've dried up.
Anyway, going back to what you were talking about,
I've actually seen somebody taking the blood of a youkai.
Really?
This creepy black shadow attacked a youkai,
and somebody in a kimono was watching it.
Somebody in a kimono... Was it a human?
I didn't see their face, but I think so.
I knew it.
It's a human that's attacking youkai.
Why would they do that?
Sensei, that person had a scratch on their arm.
Is that a coincidence?
That's where I scratched the person yesterday.
Sensei?
Who was that guy?
I felt something really bad.
We're going after him!
Wait, Natsume!
Stop it!
You're so much trouble!
Scram!
You can see youkai, can't you?
And you seem to be carrying something interesting.
Who are you?
My apologies.
My name is Matoba Seiji.
Matoba...
Matoba the Exorcist.
I've heard he uses youkai as bait,
and performs nasty rituals to exorcise other youkai.
He's from the Matoba clan.
Him?
Natsume Yuujinchou
He's one of the Matoba.
You're the one who came into that temple.
I apologize.
I thought you were another youkai.
What's your name?
I shouldn't give him my name.
Are you the one taking the blood of youkai?
How much do you know?
Let's chat for a minute.
Are you okay?
I'd be a lot better if you dropped that sandbag thing.
What?
Who are you calling a sandbag?!
Hey, you! Where are you going?
A paper doll?
This is...
She must be badly hurt.
I need to let her rest.
Leave, servants of Matoba.
He is a friend to Natori.
I will not allow you to touch him.
Natori-san?
Return and tell your master.
Thank you, Hiiragi.
She's badly wounded, but will recover if she rests.
Anyway, I'm glad you're safe.
You idiot!
This is all your paper doll's fault!
How many times do you think I've been squashed lately?
But what are you doing here?
I heard the Matoba were active here,
so, as a fellow exorcist, I was worried.
It looks like they're gathering the blood of youkai
to use for some spell.
I see...
You couldn't ignore that, could you?
You haven't changed, Natsume.
No.
Anyway, that definitely bothers me.
Want to look into it?
Are you sure?
You always help me.
This time, I'll help you.
Natori-san.
For free?
You'll do it for free, right?
Yeah...
Great!
Thus, we left the winged youkai to Hiiragi,
and Natori-san and I left to investigate.
Anyway, Matoba-san was very young.
When I heard he was the leader of the clan,
I expected somebody older.
Youkai are my boys.
Screw with them and you'll end up at the bottom of the river.
He was young, but he had that ridiculous eyepatch,
long hair, and parasol thing going on.
I'm sure he has his reasons.
If you have long hair, you can trade it to youkai
and make negotiations easier. As for the eyepatch...
I'm sure there's something.
I'll look into the matter tonight, so you can go home.
All right.
Okay. Let's go, Sensei.
It's not often I see the young Natori sighing.
Nanase-san?
What do you want?
Nothing. I heard you screwed up.
You took a job from us. That's not like you.
I haven't made a mistake.
I sealed the old well
where the youkai were appearing from,
and I chased away the rest.
Chased away?
You've gotten nicer.
I'm not as powerful as the Matoba clan.
I wasn't strong enough to do more.
Even your sarcasm is half-hearted.
It's like you're trying to hide the issue.
You're the same as ever, Nanase-san.
Why would I hide something from such a major exorcist?
I see.
Then the reason you took the job wasn't because
you wanted to keep us away from that town.
Why would I do that?
Who knows?
I've got a photo shoot.
Bye.
Natsume Reiko has a grandson, doesn't she?
I haven't met him in a while, but yes.
Where does he live?
That's none of your business.
Natori.
The head of the clan is investigating something in that town.
Don't interfere.
Our boss is very short-tempered.
Lately, I feel like I've gotten used to people's kindness,
and that I'm relying on it too much.
Having him help me while hiding the Book of Friends...
I need to thank him.
Get eaten!
A dream?
What's that?
Sensei?
A piece of the the paper-masked youkai I got rid of
got stuck to your clothes.
Well, it's a youkai, but one somebody made.
Somebody made it?
They create a paper mask that draws in spiritual energy
and uses it as a body, which they then control like a marionette.
It was probably touched by some of your power or mine, and activated.
I, especially, am very powerful.
A human made that youkai.
Is that why I felt evil from it?
Where's Natori-san?
He hasn't come back since last night.
He's been up all night?
Why would he do that for a youkai?
You're helping youkai, too.
But Natori-san is...
He probably thinks he's
gotten into a lot more trouble than he's asked for.
Trouble?
You mean Matoba-san.
That's right.
Natsume, now's your last chance to back out.
I can protect you from youkai,
but it's different with humans.
Especially that Matoba guy. He's pretty bad.
Sensei...
I'm back.
Oh, you're here.
Natori-san.
You haven't slept, have you?
Rest a bit.
I'm fine.
Lack of sleep isn't enough to dim my smile.
Don't worry.
That's the kind of weird stuff you say
when you haven't gotten enough sleep!
Yeah?
He sounds the same as ever to me.
I looked at the places where things have happened,
and they're moving from west to east.
This is where it started.
I didn't know there was a village here.
Let's ask around.
It's the real Natori-san!
We watch you all the time!
Thanks.
All right, thanks.
Over there!
Hurry, fools!
Maihane Udon
There's Udon at stake!
Three plain udons.
Okay...
Oh, and have there been any strange rumors floating around?
Strange rumors?
Like there's a place where monsters appear,
or maybe somebody strange hanging around?
Somebody strange...
Besides him, I mean.
Well, there was that guy with the long hair
and the eyepatch who was staying at the inn.
Thanks.
That was fast.
I guess the cat's good for something, once in a while.
What do you mean once in a while?
But it's too easy.
It's like a trap, isn't it?
Yeah, but it feels like...
Anyway, let's go see.
Yato Inn
Yes, there is someone like that staying here.
But who are you?
We're searching for my brother, who's run away from home.
So, please don't tell him about us.
I see...
Oh, just a moment.
Yes, hello?
Yes.
A mudslide?
In the end, Natori-san and I
were forced to stay there until the road could be fixed.
Yes, I'll be staying here tonight.
Yes.
I'm fine.
I'll be back tomorrow.
We ended up staying at the small inn
where Matoba-san seemed to be staying.
Natori-san is late.
Matoba might've caught him.
There's bad energy gathering.
Where are you going?
You're going up against Matoba!
Those wimpy punches of yours won't work on him!
But...
I'll go instead.
Don't open the door for anybody until I get back.
Fine.
Be careful, Sensei.
What's wrong with this door?
I'm useless as ever, huh?
What was that?
A youkai?
Something's come in!
What are you doing here?
You're a nuisance.
If you interfere anymore
we'll make an offering of your blood, too!
One of Matoba's servants?
An offering?
Come with me.
You seem to have strong spiritual energy.
I don't know who you are,
but to youkai who only know the taste of lower-class blood,
you'll be delicious.
Delicious?
What is she?
Now, sorry, but I'm taking your blood.
Get off me!
She said she wanted the blood of people with strong spiritual energy.
Sensei and Natori-san might be in danger.
Oh, my.
We keep running into each other.
Your cat isn't with you today, is he?
Bring him.
Natsume Yuujinchou
Exorcist
No, Natsume's gone!
It's because you were screwing around! What are you going to do about it?
How can you talk when you're just sitting on my head?
What?
Want me to strangle you while I'm up here?
Excuse me. I'll be borrowing Natsume while you're busy.
Oh, no!
Natsume Yuujinchou
Watch us next time!
You are the star of middle age!