[Natsume shook his head slowly, thinking about it once more.]

At first I did. All I could think about was how I'd left so suddenly and was powerless, and how the.. thing, had been left behind for anyone with the right knowledge to take advantage of. How my foster parents might be targeted to get to it, by greedy youkai or dangerous exorcists. My anxiety was so bad that I spent most of my time as a dragon, just letting instinct take over so I wouldn't have to think. My friend had to put sleeping drugs in my tea just so I could get through the night without nightmares.

Then I regained my power... and soon after the thing itself. I finally felt like I could breathe again. After that I realized... my wish may have been granted already just by being brought here.