Natsume Yuujinchou
I got it!
Wait!
Catch us if you can!
Are you okay?
He's gotten so mean!
Mom, I've gotten stronger.
I'm okay on my own now.
I'm sure I could help Natsume now!
Natsume...
The Fox Child's Watch
You want to go on a trip together?
Yeah.
You remember Yasui-san, from the Kariba Hot Springs?
From when I had you get me this tea cup.
Oh, on the summer trip.
Since then I've been chatting with him once in a while,
and he asked me to come help him with a pottery class he's doing.
Are you coming, Touko-san?
I promised to go shopping with some friends that day,
so you two go have fun.
The class is just going to be something simple,
with kids from the neighborhood.
I can turn him down if you're busy.
No...
Do you have plans with your friends?
No, I'd like to go.
Then, let's do it.
Yes.
Sensei?
What's up?
Were you moaning just now?
You must have been dreaming.
Does it still hurt?
If I lick it, it'll be fine...
I was planning on having the
middle-rank youkai take care of you
while I went to the hot springs.
What?
A hot spring?
Natsume!
You're planning on going to a hot spring without me?
See, you shouldn't move around too much yet.
The Kariba springs won't help a youkai's wounds.
Hinoe! Nobody asked you!
I heard you were hurt, so I came to visit.
That's some greeting.
Let me see.
You were hit with a cursed arrow, huh?
This'll take some time.
Will it?
He said it would heal quickly.
He wasn't lying.
From our perspective it's just a moment.
But it takes time for a youkai
as powerful as Madara to regain his energy.
It looks like he's lost a lot of blood.
Then he can't go on the trip after all.
I'll apologize to Shigeru-san and...
You should go.
There's an herb called "oborosou" that grows around there.
Oborosou?
It's a medicinal youkai herb. Normal people can't see it.
It grows in trees that are decades old.
If you grind it up and apply it to a youkai's wounds, they'll heal.
I don't need it, but take me to the hot springs anyway!
Fine, fine...
You want to go on the trip, don't you?
Madara-sama, we've come to visit.
Visit! Visit!
I heard that the white pig cat was injured,
so I came to see for myself.
Oh hello, Hinoe-dono.
Have a drink!
Don't mind if I do!
Hey, it's late!
You guys are making too much noise— Oww!
It would probably be worse for his wounds to stay here.
You seem sleepy.
Yeah, I was up late packing.
Want some coffee?
Sure.
Thanks.
There's a place that sells good lunches on the way.
We can have that for lunch.
All right.
Is this what it feels like to go on a trip with your dad?
It's a bit embarrassing, but it feels good.
Sitting across from him, I don't really know what to say.
Young people don't have much interest in pottery, do they?
I feel like I'm making you come along for my hobby. Sorry.
That's not true.
I really liked the tea cup I got last year.
I've always liked the feeling of pottery.
It feels cold, but somehow warm...
I guess it's how soil feels.
I understand that.
So I've always wanted to try making it myself...
It's new to have a conversation like this with him.
This is what humans wear on their arms!
I can see it!
I've often seen you come here to watch the human trains.
Who are you?
I'm the rock you're standing on.
I suppose you could say I'm the avatar of the rock.
I used to be worshipped by the villagers here.
Worshipped... Are you a god?
The humans decided to worship me on their own.
I never asked them to.
You come here to watch the trains often,
but they that interesting?
No, I just come here because I might see Natsume.
When he doesn't show up, I get disappointed.
But I come anyway.
Natsume... A friend of yours?
Friend?
Yeah! He's my friend!
I see you're wearing a watch.
A watch?
A device humans made to measure the time.
It wasn't moving a minute ago!
Do you think wearing that will make you more human?
More human?
No, I want to be a great fox like my mom!
Then, that's something you don't need.
It measures human time.
Human time?
It's Natsume!
Natsume's here!
Wait!
Natsume came to see me again!
I'm not as weak as I used to be, Natsume!
This wind feels good.
Yes.
Shall we go?
It's been a whole year...
I wonder if he's doing well.
Natsume!
That's...
The person Natsume lives with.
Yasuian Pottery School
Welcome, Fujiwara-san.
It's good to see you.
Takashi-kun, was it?
You came to get that pair of teacups last year.
Yes. It's good to see you again.
Come in.
I'll lead you to the studio.
Natsume, look over here!
What's this?
He's carrying a human item!
The beast thinks he's human?
He can't even transform! The brat.
Give that back!
Pass!
Give that back!
Here you go, partner!
It won't be as easy as last time!
Give it back!
Sorry, sorry! Take it back!
That's the problem with beasts.
That's the place my mom told me never to go to.
This is where we'll fire the pieces we make in the pottery class tomorrow.
They'll be done the following day, and you can take them home.
I'll look forward to it.
You must be tired today.
There's a hot spring out back.
Go enjoy yourselves.
Thank you.
I can't get close to Natsume like this!
Thanks.
Let's change places.
You've grown up.
Since you've come to live with us.
Everyone always tells me I'm a wimp.
You've grown stronger.
I can tell, since we live together.
This is a nice hot spring...
Why did Natsume come to such a horrible place?
Didn't he come to see me?
Natsume Yuujinchou
It stopped.
I see...
it's only alive when I'm moving.
Make sure you don't get any air into the clay.
Natsume!
Lift me up, wimp!
Me too! Me too!
You're such a wimp!
Won't I get any bigger?
We're going to start the firing.
Can you help me with the kiln, Takashi-kun?
Sure!
Beast child, you must not meet with the human anymore.
Why?
If you do, one of you will be sad.
Listen well: everything in this world lives in its own time.
And they are not always the same.
Humans have their time and youkai have theirs.
And beasts their own.
I don't understand.
Natsume's time and your time are different.
You must hurry.
You must find a partner
and have children, and teach them wisely,
like your mother.
That is what it means to live in a beast's time.
In the same way Natsume has his own time to live.
And it is very different than yours.
Do you have your own time then?
I've lived the time of a rock.
I was here far before the humans or youkai were born,
and I'll sit here until time itself ends.
You'll always be here?
If I leave this place, I will disappear.
That's what I am.
Aren't you lonely here all alone?
From my perspective, it's not that long a time.
Not that it's short either.
We seal the clay in here for the rest of its time.
Then it takes the form we gave it.
Everyone, let's take a break until the pieces are done baking and ready for painting.
Takashi, what are you going to do?
I've promised to go see Yasui-san's other works.
It's not often I get to come here, so I'm going to go wander around for a bit.
I thought it would be easy to find him,
but I guess I was wrong.
He's got his own life, I suppose.
I know you...
Oh, hello. It's Mister Natsume.
It's been a long time.
Oh, right.
Do you know what that little fox is up to?
Oh, him?
He's no good, Mister.
He's grown up to be a little delinquent.
A delinquent?
He gives us all kinds of trouble.
Look at this scar!
You weren't bullying him again, were you?
Of course not!
I see.
There's one other thing I want to know.
Mom, I don't understand.
I just wanted to be with Natsume.
Don't be so scared.
We wouldn't do anything with Mister Natsume here.
You met Natsume?!
He wanted to see you!
Really?
Natsume...
But he seemed busy.
He said he was here looking for an herb.
Herb?
Yeah, it's called "oborosou", it grows in old trees around here.
Oborosou...
Takashi!
We're going to start the painting!
Okay!
If I could do something for Natsume...
We bake them for twelve more hours and they'll be done.
That's all for today.
What's wrong?
Excuse me. I'll be right back.
Hey, Sensei, you need to get back to bed!
It's going to rain pretty hard.
I'm sure he'll be fine, though.
That's it!
Natsume...
I'm going to give it to Natsume!
I'm almost there!
Hey!
Natsume!
Natsume! Natsume!
You found these for me, didn't you?
Thanks.
Natsume, the god saved me...
Look!
If I leave this place, I will disappear.
That's what I am.
He told me not to meet you anymore.
That one of us would be sad.
But... but that's not true, Natsume!
The watch is broken now...
But I remember seeing it move!
I remember meeting the god, what we talked about, and how he saved me...
So I'm sure you and I will... will...
I didn't understand everything that the fox child told me,
but I think I understood the meaning of what he learned from the god.
He may have seen
how youkai and humans live their different lives
longer than anyone.
Natsume!
Goodbye!
You put Nyangoro's face on it.
Yes.
It's nicely made.
Good for you, Nyangoro.
Meetings and partings, just a moment apart.
Even so, I want to treasure them all.
Through the Autumn Wind
Natsume Yuujinchou
I've gotten involved with another youkai.
We need to do a bunnygirl cafe for the cultural festival!
We can't have bunnygirls!
What's wrong, Natsume?
Festivals are for having fun!
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
Have a cat cafe where everybody can admire my beauty!
Natsume Yuujinchou
Watch us next time!
You're planning on going to a hot spring without me? Oww...