I know this might seem confusing, especially since it is so short and basically comes out of nowhere in particular, but I've decided to make this story a kind of vignette/drabble story. So chapter lengths will vary and while everything will be interconnected, they may not necessarily flow one into another. Since this is a 'when the muse hits' rather than a 'chapter by chapter plan out'; because while I do have chapters planned out, they don't exactly fit a coherent schedule or timeline.

So I hope you enjoy regardless, please ignore grammar or spelling errors.

Summary: After turning eighteen, Natsume realises that staying with Touko-san and Shigeru-san isn't the smartest or safest thing to do anymore, so moves to a small house in the forest. Once they realise he's moved to a place free of other humans, the four 'child' spirits who have come to care for Natsume like a parent decide that they can't stand being lonely any more. Intended Drabble-series, family-fluff. Kitsune, Kai, Tama, and Kirinoha.

Unconventional Family.

When you learn to work together.

Natsume tried not to scrub at his face when he saw Kitsune's little ears pop around the doorway between his kitchen and yard, the sandy-haired young man was sitting at the dining table, writing out his budget which, between having four new housemates, to the last youkai who decided to barge through the west wall rather than the window, was being thrown in disarray.

"Kit, the schedule right now is for me to do human things, is there an emergency?" Natsume could hear the annoyance in his voice –though not directed at the fox –and tried to rein it in.

"No."

"Do you need something to eat or drink?"

"No."

"Then what's wrong?" Natsume smiled softly at the little head popped around the corner, and he could see the concern and confusion in Kitsune's eyes.

"What is Nii-sama doing? I can feel your irritation from the backyard."

That startled the youkai-seer, and he sat up straight. He knew that youkai were much more perceptive to changes like emotions, but he didn't know they were so able to sense it. He laughed to himself before his eyes flickered to the three other figures in the opposite doorway to Kitsune.

"I am doing what humans call a budget, would you like to see? All of you?"

Though bashful, not one of Natsume's boys hesitated as they clambered onto the two chairs beside him, Kirinoha balancing a curious Tama on the table so he could see.

"What is this, Natsume?" Kai asked, eyes scanning the paperwork and the numbers and symbols. He recognised nearly all of them from his time in human school but couldn't see the use of them. "These are for your mon-ees right?"

Kai wasn't sure what he said, but it was good to feel the light renter Natsume's energies all of a sudden.

"Money, Kai. It's money. Yes, this is a 'budget' and humans use it to keep track of their money, what their spending, what they need, and to make sure they're not spending too much in one place."

Kirinoha looked confused, having spent the least amount of time with the humans, until Kitsune piped up, "Money is human trade. They earn it and then trade it for food and stuff."

"Oh, not like us then." Kiri realised as he looked at all the numbers, understanding more of the scribble now than before.

Natsume nodded as he pointed out different things, small, like 'house' and 'repairs' and such. The children seemed to understand, but he could see when they were growing bored.

"Why don't you go and play while I finish this off, when we'll think about going out to the spirit park or something, alright?"

Kirinoha and Kitsune were off almost immediately, but Kai hung back, and in turn the other two did as well.

"Natsume, why is this one circled so much, like the 'repairs'."

Natsume mused for a second. Kai was perceptive, especially of human affairs –or at least in comparison to Kirinoha and Kitsune, Tama would be as perceptive of Natsume if he could respond yet –Kai has spotted the food budget, which was tight. Unlike rent and school, the food and repairs, as well as clothes and the various utility bills were ever changing, and while the repairs would have been nothing to worry about had the children not been living with Natsume, they were a problem now. He couldn't but the food bill to supplement the repairs, but there weren't so many other things he could shift to make up for the rather rude youkai.

Nyanko would call him a soft-hearted fool for it, but Natsume's first thoughts couldn't help but straying towards eating less to make sure his four housemates ate well, despite knowing that the children could all go out and fend for themselves. It was just in Natsume's innate character to put others –especially children he cared for –before himself.

"That's nothing to worry about." he assured them, wanting them to understand, because it would help them grow, but also wanting them to live with him worry free. They didn't need to act like burdens when mostly Natsume was grateful for their company.

But Kai of course knew better, that was a food budget, and while they didn't eat as much as Nyanko, put together Kirinoha, Tama, Kitsune, and himself put away a lot more food than just Nyanko and Natsume would alone.

Narrowing his eyes, Kai was unforgiving in dragging his Youkai brothers outside to have a chat, leaving Natsume –concerned about the move but not overly worried –to finish up his budget.

Later that evening, when three baskets of foods and rices appeared at the door, Natsume couldn't help but quickly find the children and gather them close before preparing their favourite meal for dinner.

The children had been far too quiet that afternoon and while Natsume knew that youkai could very well fend for themselves, he couldn't help but worry about them. Especially since he had found almost all of them under circumstances where they couldn't fend for themselves. But now he knew what they had been doing, and he had given Kai's hair and extra affectionate pat that evening before bed in thanks.

When two weeks later it happened again, and a week after again Natsume grinned to himself. That evening when the kids were asleep Natsume snuck down and cut up the schedule, putting it outside for the bath fire.

After all, for the last month, there hadn't been a single fight over Natsume's attention or affection and the kids deserved a treat.

Tomorrow, Natsume thought as he settled down into Madara's furs, still surrounded by youkai children who refused to use their own bedroom, he'd treat them all to human ice cream.

He wondered how long it would take them to realise there was no schedule anymore.

I hope you enjoyed this little drabble about the kids finally getting along. I kind of thought it would be cute.

Please leave a review, and thank you ever so much for reading.

~~Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3