Natsume Yuujinchou Go

Natsume Yujin-cho Go

That was heavy.

Thanks for helping me with that.

Sure thing.

I've gotta go get the textbooks.

It's hard doing after-school cleanup.

Nishimura, that...

Shouldn't we clean that drawing off the blackboard?

Drawing?

On the blackboard?

I'm heading out.

"Save..." "Take you..."

Natsume-kun?

It Must Not Be Bound

I see.

In the Earth Science classroom?

It's hard seeing things that

nobody else sees, huh?

Actually, lately a youkai's been showing up at my house.

Wait a second.

You can't see them, can you?

That's right.

About a week ago I started feeling a presence inside my house.

I heard sounds like something running around,

or tripping...

And then I started hearing voices in my dreams.

I want to go home.

Help me!

I couldn't really hear them,

but they were crying desperately for someone,

searching for someone, as if they were in extreme grief...

I didn't want to do anything risky,

but I thought that maybe another

youkai was suffering because of what my grandfather did.

So I decided to use the circle that my grandfather left me,

that let him see youkai.

Is anyone there?

Little girl.

Can you see me?

It's huge!

Calm down! Calm down!

If you can hear my voice,

I want you to help me.

I'm sorry, child of man.

I've no intention of frightening you.

I tried to take a shortcut,

and found myself trapped in this mansion.

My grandpa put up a lot of talismans and things when he was still alive,

so I looked at where the spells and talismans were,

1st Floor

This Room 2nd Floor

and drew him a map.

I hope you can make it out.

If I do,

I will leave a branch of flowers by the gate,

as a symbol that I have succeeded.

I was so happy.

I realized that sometimes I could save someone with that circle.

I'm glad.

Yeah.

Taki still believes that not all encounters with inhuman things have to be scary.

She's right.

But...

Hey, Natsume, open this can for me.

Snow Crab

Sensei?

S-S-Shiny-Fluffy-Sensei!

Stop it!

That was a meal.

Come to think of it,

I smelled youkai on that girl.

Oh, actually...

She used her circle to help a youkai?

Yeah. I wonder if that's where the smell came from.

I don't know about that.

What do you mean, Sensei?

That smell was still new.

I bet she hasn't seen it yet.

Let's go to Taki's house.

I also need to tell her that that circle might be a forbidden technique.

Taki

Hello?

Natsume-kun?

Taki, sorry for just showing up all of a sudden.

There's something I wanted to talk to you about...

Do you know her?

She's pretty.

Oh, Taki.

I don't mean to scare you, but...

Can't you tell, little girl?

It's me, Nyanko-Sensei.

He was worried that it might cause problems for you

if the neighbors saw a boy coming over alone.

And in this form you're not likely to squeeze me.

You're so mean, Sensei.

Natsume-kun?

Oh, sorry.

Taki, I have to talk to you about your grandfather's circle—

Hey, Taki.

I'll give you a warning as thanks for this delicious shiruko.

Your grandfather's circle is something called a "forbidden technique".

Sensei!

Of course, that's only what some people called exorcists say.

If they find out, you'll have trouble on your hands.

You'll be better off just getting rid of it, or throwing it in the trash.

My grandfather's circle

is a forbidden technique?

Taki?

Natsume-kun?

Taki, what was the youkai that left like?

It was big...

Kind of hairy...

But why?

So it was the thing I saw at school?

It's upstairs.

Taki, there is still a youkai presence in this house.

That youkai is back, then?

Where is it?

This way, Natsume!

Stop moving around!

Gotcha!

Let me go!

No way.

Natsume-kun...

Taki, you should get back.

If you won't let me go, then...

Now you've done it, rat!

Stop it, Sensei!

So was the youkai presence in my house the youkai that's right there now?

I can't see it.

Oh, no, Taki.

It's over here.

So what were you doing?

I'm a travel rabbit, as you can see.

My friend and I were traveling on a journey

where we did nothing but eat and sleep.

You're a rabbit?

You look like a rat.

Ignorant idiot!

You can tell if I'm a rat or a bunny by looking at my tail, right?

Yeah, it's cute.

What?

What's cute?

Oh, um, this youkai looks like a rat.

But it's actually a rab—

Can't you pay attention to me, child of men?

As we were traveling, we saw a big hairy youkai go into this house.

There were invisible walls and endless hallways,

and eventually I got separated from my friend.

And ever since then, I've been looking for them.

Then the voice Taki heard calling for someone came from this youkai?

What's your friend like?

A traveling rabbit like me.

Then the hairy youkai and two rabbits came inside this house and got lost?

Natsume-kun?

Yeah.

So if we find your friend rabbit, you'll leave, right?

Of course.

What sort of youkai would willingly hang out with humans?

Especially the ones who use magic...

They're the worst sort!

Are you okay, Natsume-kun?

What did the youkai say?

It says it'll leave if it finds its friend.

Mr. Rabbit, I'm sorry this house is so strange.

We'll find your friend,

so hang in there a while, okay?

You help too, Sensei?

I'll make sure to thank you.

Yes! You know just how to deal with me!

But what did the one at school want?

Hey, do you know what happened to the hairy youkai?

Sometimes it comes back and looks through the window, actually.

That one, right there.

A plum flower?

At this time of year?

That's the flower branch the youkai left.

Pretty, huh?

Yeah.

I think it's lasted a long time,

but the flowers are probably going to fall soon.

I was so happy that a youkai left a sign that we met, too.

It makes me a little sad.

Taki, get away from the window!

Nyanko-sense, take care of her.

Taki, you stay here.

Natsume-kun!

You're the youkai that Taki let out of her house, right?

Wait!

Why are you still hanging around Taki?

The words on the blackboard were your doing too, right?

What did you mean you're lost? Or that you were taken?

Child, did you read that?