It's so late Monday night that it's actually Tuesday morning! And this is gonna be a long post.
Red Hot Chili Peppers rock!
Well. My exciting day included finally getting a key for one of the practice tests for my CIW certificates. Yay me! I can now take practice tests as well as study from my books! My brain cell is going to be fried before too long.
It was really nice out again today. Hit 80 degrees! We have grape hyacinth in bloom. I'll try to get a picture of the daffodils tomorrow.
And here's my kitty. She's all sacked out on the recliner here, but looking very cute.
Now the long part of the post. More story!!!!
Takeda went to the market the morning after Hikaru’s hands turned silver. He was very worried about the boy, yet supplies were needed. At the vegetable seller’s stand he overheard a question.
“Nakamura dojo?” the vegetable merchant repeated. “It’s down this street to your right. At the end of the street, overlooking the sea.” He pointed the way.
The man that asked about the dojo was unfamiliar to Takeda. He was a small man dressed in the Western style. Small glasses were perched upon his nose. He bowed and thanked the merchant before leaving.
Takeda watched him leave and then asked the merchant who the man was.
“He didn’t say his name, Takeda-san,” the merchant replied. “I did not know you were here, or I would have had him speak to you.”
“Yes, yes,” Takeda said as he paid for his purchase. He hurried back to the dojo. The man was knocking at the main gate when Takeda arrived. “May I help you?” Takeda asked.
Somewhat startled, the man turned and said, “Yes, thank you. My name is Ashida Ginji. I wish to speak with Nakamura Yoshihiro.” He bowed.
“Master Yoshihiro is dead. Killed in battle,” Takeda said. “You came here for nothing.”
Ashida looked surprised. “When did this happen?”
“About ten days ago. Could you please leave now? Master Hikaru is ill and I need to see to him. I do not mean to be impolite, but Master Hikaru has been alone all morning and I really need to check that he is all right.”
“Yes, I understand. Forgive the intrusion.” Ashida bowed and returned to the inn where Yonaha waited.
“Did you see Nakamura’s son?” Yonaha asked.
Ashida sat down and ordered some sake. “No. I spoke with a servant. He told me Yoshihiro died in battle about ten days ago.”
Yonaha stared. “The second son also dead. Nakamura-san will be devastated. He has no heir.”
Ashida drank his sake in one gulp. The bitter liquid stung his throat. “Perhaps not. The servant said something about Master Hikaru being ill. There may be an heir after all.”
“A grandson?”
“A grandson.” Ashida set his cup on the table. Neither of the men noticed the large youth that ran off after overhearing their conversation.
Satsuo ran to the dojo to speak with Takeda. “Takeda-sensei! Takeda-sensei!” he shouted.
Takeda came to the main gate. “Satsuo-kun, be quiet! What is so important that you come yelling like a fool? Hikaru-kun was sleeping.” A touch of impatience was evident in his voice.
Satsuo caught his breath. “Two men at the inn were talking about Master Yoshihiro and Hikaru-kun. They said something about Hikaru being heir to someone.”
“So that is what he wanted. I spoke to one of them earlier. He must be a servant to Master Yoshihiro’s father. What does that man want now?” Takeda had a slight look of disgust on his face. “Thank you, Satsuo-kun. That cleared up a few questions.”
“May I see Hikaru?” the boy asked.
“Sorry, but he refuses to see anyone right now,” Takeda said. “It’s not just you. He doesn’t even want me around. I think he’s mourning for his father. Give him time and he’ll be all right again.”
“Thank you, sensei. Tell him I was here, please.”
“Of course, Satsuo-kun. That may help to cheer him.”
Back at the inn, Ashida and Yonaha were considering their next move. “I already checked,” Yonaha said. “The telegraph office is closed. Nakamura-san wanted news as soon as we contacted his son.”
“I know, but this is an unforeseen turn of events. The younger son dead. The possibility of a grandson. We need to tell Nakamura-san.”
“Yes. We return to Tokyo?”
“No, you return to Tokyo. I’m staying here until I can se this Hikaru and will send word then.”
“Of course, Ashida-san.”
***
After nearly three weeks at sea, the Athene pulled into Yokohama Harbor. Sam was not on deck to see their arrival, for she had been confined to quarters. Captain Harding had finally seen through the deception. Needless to say, he was quite angry with both Sam and her brother Anthony. She had been relieved of duties and confined to quarters. Anthony was still on duty, for he was necessary in the running of the ship, but he would face punishment later.
Sam was lying in her bunk thinking about how she had been found out.
It was on a clear night about a fortnight into the voyage. She was working on some nighttime navigation exercises with Higgins and Jefferson, two of the other cabin boys. Star charts were being used and they were taking turns with the telescope looking at the night sky.
It was Sam’s turn with the telescope and she was standing on a barrel trying to find the North Star. “I’ve almost got it,” she said. “Just a little to the right… there! Higgins, I got it!”
“Great, O’Riley,” Higgins said. “Now get your fat arse down from there and let me have a go.”
Jefferson said, “Shut it, Higgins. He ain’t done yet. He’s got to figure longitude now.”
Higgins didn’t care and gave Jefferson a shove. Jefferson fell onto the barrel and Sam came crashing down on him. He instinctively reached up to catch Sam, but his hands came directly to her chest. His eyes widened as he realized what it was that he felt. “You… You’re, you’re a g… g…” He tried to move his hands away, but it was too late.
Sam punched Jefferson in the mouth. At least she had learned to hit like a boy. Anthony had taught her that much. Jefferson was knocked silly.
Higgins grabbed Sam from behind, also discovering what Jefferson had. “Sweet mother of God, you’re a girl,” he said as he pulled Sam off Jefferson. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, girl?”
Sam rounded on Higgins and took a swing at him. The blow never landed as her arm was caught from behind. She looked over her shoulder right into the eyes of Captain Harding.
“What is the meaning of this, O’Riley?” he asked. “Is it necessary for you to be fighting?”
Higgins blurted out, “She’s a girl! Captain, she’s a lying girl!”
“Enough, Higgins. Get him to Doctor Murphy and then send Mister O’Riley to my cabin.” The captain watched as Higgins helped a semi-conscious Jefferson to his feet and then turned to Sam. “You, on the other hand, are in more trouble than you can imagine.” He marched her to his cabin.
Sam shot a glance at the sky as she was propelled to the captain’s cabin. A shooting star sped past and she made a hasty wish that her punishment would not be too severe.
Once at the cabin, Captain Harding sat Sam in a chair and proceeded to move around the desk to sit there. Not a word was spoken between them, yet the tension was unbearable. He grabbed some paper and a pen and began to write.
Sam watched the captain as he wrote. If he looked up at her, she’d quickly look at the floor. She couldn’t quite tell if his expression was one of anger or disappointment… or both.
After what seemed like an eternity, Anthony finally arrived. “You wished to see me, sir?” he asked. Then he saw Sam sitting to one side with her eyes on the floor. “Captain? What has happened?”
Harding stopped writing and placed the pen carefully to one side. “How long were you going to keep up the charade, O’Riley?” he asked quietly.
“Sir?”
“Your ‘brother’ here. Or should I say your ‘sister’? How long did you think you could keep it a secret from me?” Harding’s voice was calm. No signs of anger were present.
Anthony looked at Sam. She nodded slightly. “He knows,” she said.
Even though it felt like the ceiling had just caved in on him, Anthony snapped to attention. “I take full responsibility for my sister’s action, sir,” he said. “We had hoped you would not find out the truth until we had reached Yokohama.”
Harding looked from Anthony to Sam. “You two really thought you could pull this off?” he said. “I’ll give you credit for trying, but you were stupid to think you could keep up the ruse for the entire voyage. What were you going to do once we reached Yokohama?”
“I don’t know, sir. We hadn’t figured that part out.”
“Hadn’t figured that part out?” Harding said with a slight laugh. “You were both playing this by ear, weren’t you?”
Neither Anthony nor Sam had anything to say at this point.
Harding thought for a while before speaking. “Fine. Mister O’Riley, you are too important in the operations of this ship, and therefore you will go about your duties as normal for the rest of the voyage. Your sister, on the other hand, is confined to quarters until we reach Yokohama. Once there, she will be put off my ship.” He raised his hand to stop either of the O’Rileys from protesting. “I don’t know why, nor do I particularly care to know why you two conspired in this deception. That is all. You’re both dismissed.” Harding went back to his paperwork.
Anthony waited by the door for Samantha. Very quietly she said, “I’m sorry, Captain Harding. I know it was wrong of me to deceive you. But I really did learn things from you, and I appreciate that.” There was a brief pause in the pen scratching. She left with her brother.
“Don’t tell me what happened,” Anthony said. “I don’t want to know.” He walked her to the cabin and shut her in for the night. He noticed her tears, but said nothing.
That was about five days ago. Sam was still in the cabin when she heard the shouts that they had arrived at Yokohama. She didn’t move when Anthony came in.
“Sam, we’ve arrived. Time to go,” he said.
She got off her bunk and grabbed her bag. As she left the cabin, she caught sight of Higgins and Jefferson. They both looked away quickly as she passed. She climbed down the ladder to the boat that would take her to shore. Anthony followed.
The trip to shore was quick and neither of them said anything.
Once ashore, Anthony took her aside and gave her a pouch of coins. “Here, this should help you get by,” he said.
Sam took the bag. “Thank you.” She turned to leave, but Anthony stopped her.
“Are you sure about this, Sam? This is a big step. You’re only 16 years old. You don’t know what’s out there and you don’t speak the language. Don’t tell me not to worry. You’re my sister and I have to worry.”
“I’m sure, Anthony. This is something I need to do. That boy’s life is depending on me. Now I have to find him.” She gave her brother a handshake, which he turned into a hug, and broke away to head toward Yokohama and her destiny.
***
Hikaru could hear the temple bells ringing in the distance. It was a low, mournful sound that made him feel even more alone. His father was not coming home, ever. True, he still had Takeda, who had been his teacher all his life, but Takeda was not his father.
Then there was the problem with his hands. The silver color had not stopped there, but had continued spreading up his arms through the night until his entire body was covered. Even his hair had become silver. As the silver color had spread, marks appeared on the inside of each forearm. On the left was the symbol for fire; the right, metal. The change had made Hikaru feel alone more than anything. How could he ever be a part of everyday life again? People would never see him as a normal person again, so he hid in the guesthouse, not leaving his bed.
Takeda returned from his shopping. “Hikaru-kun?” he called as he crossed the garden. He found the boy still in bed. “Why are you still there? Didn’t you wish to go outside?”
Hikaru did not answer, but rolled over, turning his back on his teacher.
“I won’t allow you to stay in bed all day,” Takeda said. His voice had taken on the edge he used with the students. “Get up.”
Hikaru didn’t move.
Takeda was about to take action when he heard Satsuo calling from the main gate. “I’ll be right back,” he said. “You get up.” He left to see what Satsuo needed.
Hikaru rolled onto his back and sat up. Takeda was right. Lying in bed would solve nothing. He needed to regain his strength. He slowly made it to his feet and had made it to the door when Takeda returned.
“Good, now walk to the garden.”
Hikaru glared at his teacher. “What did Satsuo want?”
Takeda gave a stern look in return. “Nothing that concerns you right now.” He pointed at the bench in the garden. “I know you are strong enough to walk there on your own. I will tell you what Satsuo said with lunch.” He went to prepare the food.
Hikaru slowly walked to the garden bench and sat down. The sun was warm on his face and a slight breeze played about the courtyard. Takeda appeared with lunch a short time later. As Hikaru ate, he told of why Satsuo had stopped by. “Your grandfather has sent men looking for your father. I don’t know what he wants, however.”
“Grandfather…” Hikaru said. “What is he like?”
“A stern man, Hikaru-kun,” Takeda said. “Master Takeshi is used to being obeyed. When your father married Shizuyo, it was against his father’s wishes. That is why we left the family estate and came here to Kamakura.”
“So my grandfather doesn’t know about me?”
“He may. I told the servant that was knocking at the gate that you were ill. He may figure it out that you’re Master Yoshihiro’s son.”
“I see,” Hikaru said. “That is something we will worry about later. First we have to clear up the affairs of the dojo. Then we will consider my grandfather’s business here.”
Takeda looked at his young master. The boy was maturing into a young man despite the physical changes he had undergone. Perhaps the bloodline of his mother’s clan had something to do with that; perhaps not. There was no way for Takeda to know for sure.
Wow! That was a lot! I told you I'd been writing a lot lately.
Laters!
Pining for the fjords?!?! 
I need to get my butt in gear.... 
I had something truly cool for this subject line, but a crash of the computer made it go away! 
Hi there! I'm Allergy Girl! 
