Natsume Yujinchou is one of my favorite series lately. It's about a boy named Natsume Takashi. He has the ability to see spirits, but he keeps it hidden. Natsume is an orphan and is constantly shuffled from place to place. Because of his ability to see spirits, people think he's creepy or lying, so Natsume has led a very lonely life up until now. Finally, he's found a family that accepts him, but he also discovers his heritage.
His grandmother, Natsume Reiko, used to collect the names of spirits that she beat in duels. The name is a very powerful thing and by collecting the names of spirits in a book, she has formed contracts with them. Natsume has inherited his grandmother's book and now the spirits are after him in order to reclaim their names. A strange lucky cat that he accidentally freed agrees to be his bodyguard. Slowly, Natsume returns the names to the spirits and comes to grips with his power to see spirits and help both them and humans.
The anime is very pretty! I really really enjoyed it. It's so smooth and pretty. And there are a few potential pairings in this one.
First, there's Natori Shuichi, the famous handsome actor who also has the ability to see spirits and befriends and guides Natsume. They even take a Hot Springs trip together!
Then there's Natsume's friend, Tanuma Kaname. He has a weak ability to see spirits and often helps Natsume out when he can. He is a person that Natsume can just talk about spirits with without fear of rejection.
Then there's the spirits themselves. I've seen a few people pair Natsume up with his cat bodyguard, Nyanko-Sensei or Madara, in a human form. The series does not show him in a human form, but it's possible. There's also a cute little fox boy that seems to have taken a real liking to Natsume as well as Kai, another spirit.
So anyway, has anyone else watched the anime or read the manga? What are your thoughts? Who would you pair Natsume with, if anybody?