Journey of Natsume Takeshi

Chapter 16: Into the future...

Chapter 16: Into the future....

Ten years later......

"Ah, this brings back memories..." a man jumped down from the tree onto the road. "Hey, you should be wary of people here." his companion warned. "It's fine, Seiji. You worry too much." Seiji sighed. "Oh well, it's been ten years." The blond haired guy started walking towards the main town, his companion followed. "Wait up, Takashi!"

The school in that town rang, signalling the start of another day. "Okay class, take out your books," the teacher walked in, with a book in hand. "Hey, Teacher Sasada, what's the purpose of studying?" one of the students asked. Sasada glared at them. "You're here and you're students. So shut up and study!" Then, one of the students stood up. "What's wrong, Sho?" asked the teacher. "There are people in the garden." replied the student. "People? Aren't they teachers or the school staff or something?' said the teacher. "Nope. I've never seen such beautiful people." replied the student. Feeling a sense of familiarity, yet doubting what the student had said, Teacher Sasada leaned out of window.  Sasada was surprised. Before her eyes, was the man that had disappeared right before her eyes, together with Nishimura and Kitamoto. "Teacher? Hey, teacher?" the students stared at her blank spaced face.

Teacher Sasada picked up space and raced down the stairs. "What just happened?" the student called Sho and the others were stunned. "Natsume!" Sasada called. The blond guy looked up."Sasada!" Natsume greeted. "You came back?" said Sasada. Her students peered from the classroom. 'Who is that? Teacher's boyfriend?" "Who's her boyfriend?" another teacher entered. "Where's Teacher Sasada?" he asked. They pointed downwards, towards the school garden. "Huh?" the teacher was puzzled as he leaned near the window. He noticed Sasada and a guy which he knew from his distant past. "Natsume!" he raced down the stairs. On the way down, he called his best friend who was working in a office nearby the school. As they reached the school garden, all of them met each other at the same time. "Kitamoto, Nishimura." Natsume smiled. "It's been a long time." Sasada burst into tears. Natsume flinched. "Sasada..." "Why have you returned?" said Nishimura. "And you haven't even changed since ten years ago! You looked exactly like that day." "Of course. As the one from the Natsume Clan, they don't age easily. " said Matoba. "But you seemed like you haven't aged too, " said Nishimura, frowning at Matoba. Matoba laughed. "Secrets are meant to be secrets." "Tch." scoffed Nishimura.

"It's nice seeing you again," smiled Natsume. "You guys have been doing well." "Of course. We waited for the day you will return." said Kitamoto. "This place feels so nostalgic." said Natsume. Students being kept in the classrooms, couldn't bear it anymore, charged towards the school garden. "Oi, you teachers aren't supposed to be teaching, aren't you?" "Oh? students are so energetic nowdays." smiled Natsume. "Who are you?" demanded one of the students. I have never seen a guy as beautiful as you." Natsume flinched and blushed. "Is that so?" "What, are you jealous, kid?" Matoba wrapped his arms around Natsume. The students were paralyzed on the spot. "Don't tell me...!"

"What have you come for, Natsume? I thought you couldn't live in this world anymore?" said Sasada. "I've come to say thank you for everything. I'm truly happy what you have done for me, I really appreciate it." said Natsume. "Seiji and I, we will be together soon, after that, we can no longer leave that world. So this is our last chance." "So it's true..." Sho and the others became gloomy. "We knew, Natsume. Go on, have a safe journey and a happy life." Sasada, Nishimura and Kitamoto smiled. "We will always support you." "Thank you so much, guys. I'll never forget you guys." Matoba and Natsume vanished. "Ah! They vanished." said Sho. "They realized you guys already have a family?" said another student, Kai. "He noticed, even though we haven't met for ten years." said Nishimura. "Now kids, go back to class!" "Ehh?! You teachers are the ones skipping!"

"You'll never escape again, Takashi." Matoba kissed Natsume, and thus, the family bloodline goes on.