matoba + natsume; closed

[befriender]

summary: pre-fujiwara natsume joins the matoba clan au



[ in a few short weeks, Natsume’s life had completely changed. his days tinted with fear of things he couldn’t understand, days of plastered smiles and lies, and days of wondering how long he had until being passed onto the next house had come to an end. what he now had were days filled with knowledge, protection and a sense of belonging. the initial shyness and awkwardness of coming to a completely new place had begun dissolving, and as each day passed on by, Natsume felt more comfortable within the Matoba clan.

giving a small smile and a bow to one of the maids as she passed by, Natsume hurried along the long halls of the house back to his room after his tutoring session. although he had objected at first, not wishing to be a bother, he was now glad for the fact that he did not have to go to school. it had always been difficult trying to study while deflecting whispers and rumors of himself and ignoring the yokai’s wandering about. within the house grounds, no stray spirits came in and no one in the household was rude enough to whisper about Natsume within hearing range.

as he quickly put away his studying materials, Natsume thought of his current caretaker, Matoba Seiji, the head of the Matoba clan. because of the man, Natsume had been able to learn he was not alone in the world, that he wasn’t crazy like so many of his relatives thought. not only had Matoba given Natsume a new place to stay, he gave Natsume a place that didn't need lies and knowledge about the yokai’s that plagued his life. Matoba shattered Natsume’s previous world and given him an even better one. the day Natsume entered the clan’s grounds, he promised he would do whatever he could to return the gratitude he felt. and for that, he first had to learn everything he could about the unnatural creatures hidden from normal world ]

…It’s no good if I keep running away in fear from them. I have to be stronger… Like Matoba-san.

Comments

[matobas]

[ I don't want you to be troubled by ignorant brats, my little one, Matoba had purred, ushering him towards the tutor that the clan had brought in - a distant relative of one of the associated clans, a teacher who would guide the boy through the regular high school studies. Outside of those lessons, conducted in a quiet wing of the mansion, the rest of the grounds are the perfect refuge - the vast gardens spread to the fringes of the forest, ringed by a wall and the usual strings of paper charms. No youkai, aside from the clan's shiki would dare to cross that boundary wall; they creep just beyond it, terrified of the presence that lurks within the clan's estate.

That presence himself currently sits at his desk, on the tatami flooring of the clan leader's quarters - paging through documents detailing the last several exorcisms. The whole process is well regulated, of course, the clan have to account for its surplus of funds somehow.

Matoba is, and has been, head of the clan for several years now. He had taken over from his father; that day had come as they had known it would - the old clan leader had fallen to the beast he had feared so much, and the seventeen year old Seiji had taken his place, only to fall prey to that same beast only two months later.

But, Nanase had saved both him and his eye, and now, at twenty-one, he has an heir of his own - though, not by any kind of blood.

Natsume is the most beguiling thing in his life - the boy is obedient to a fault, loyal to him alone - the perfect little apprentice.

In fact, as he sets aside his papers, he glances towards the dappled sunlight on the veranda of his quarters, wondering where the boy is. He would sometimes come and visit him after his lessons, and Matoba would ask after what he had learnt that day, finding him charming, finding him lovely.

He's young, but still - he's also Matoba's. ]

Natsume-kun. [ The boy's rooms are adjacent to his own, he won't struggle to hear him call. ]

Finished for the day, are we?