Sunday, October 23, 2005

   Yep... bored again.

Sunday night and I'm not at work! How the heck did that happen?

---

I'm very tired/bored. I think it's the weather. It's cold and damp. The sort of day that sucks the energy right out of you and you end up feeling like you'd like nothing better than to curl up with a blanket and a good book. However, the book would have been unread as I probably would have fallen asleep. Did that make sense? It feels like I babbled there for a second.

---

Well, I didn't curl up with that blanket or book today. My brother decided we had to go to Sioux City to run around for a while. It was fun. We went to Menards (hardware/lumberyard store), Acme Comics (I bought some dice! Oooh.), Best Buy (oooh...electronics!), the mall (big mistake... too many people), Long John Silvers (for the seafood lover in you!), Michael's (craft/hobby store), and Target (excitement beyond belief). It was fun... gave us something to do. Otherwise, I would have been napping all afternoon.

---

Well, that's about it for my thrill-a-minute day. I think I'm going to go watch a DVD now.

Laters!

Comments (4) | Permalink

Saturday, October 22, 2005

   More sugar!!!!!!!

Saturday night at work & I'm slightly hyper.

---

I should be getting tired soon. I'm still fighting that cold, but feel much better than I did a few days ago. Amazing what sleep can do for a person.

---

I went to B&N today and sat and read Saiyuki #1. I ended up buying it. I shouldn't have, but I couldn't resist. It's so much fun. I'd love to get ahold of the anime now.

---

Hmm... my mind just went blank. I think I'll go now and do something truly mindless.

Laters!

Comments (1) | Permalink

   Boredom creeps in....

Late-ish Friday.

---

I'm bored. The computer is being super slow, but I'm not getting frustrated with it. I'm getting bored waiting for things. I was going to visit some of your sites tonight, but the slowness has put me right off.

---

Went to see the movie Doom today. My brother said it should be violent and stupid. It was violent and stupid. At one point I asked if we could put in the cheat codes and put the movie into God Mode and start punching everything in sight. I'm still trying to figure out why they made a movie off that particular computer game.

---

Well, I think I'm gonna go run some anti-spyware stuff now.

Laters!

---

P.S. For those of you that read my story scroll down. There's another part posted under yesterday's date!

Comments (1) | Permalink

Friday, October 21, 2005

   Sea monkeys. Air head. Land shark.

Late Thursday, not quite Friday.

---

Well, I feel better today than I have in days. I'm still a bit boogery and cough up a lung on occasion, but not quite as bad as it had been. Thanks for the well-wishes the past couple of days.

---

Not much went on today. I didn't fall asleep while reading a book like I did yesterday. At one point the book fell off my lap and landed with a THUD on the floor. Good thing it's a library book! Haha!

I did do some typing of story parts this afternoon. I've got one more ready to post now and a couple parts that could be considered "side stories" or "prequels" to the main story line. One of them is really short and the other is quite a bit longer. They're kind of fun and give us a bit of an insight into what Hikaru was like at age 6 & 12. I may do some other side stories if the whim hits me.

---

I'm also trying something different with the latest story part. If you look below, you'll see the next part of the story posted in its own separate "little" spot. Let me know what you think of the separation of story and regular post and we'll see if I continue to do it that way. This way, those of you that don't read the story won't have to scroll to the bottom of it to get to the witty closing remarks of my posts.

---

Well, 'tis approaching midnight and I should probably go to bed. I am still trying to get over this stupid cold, ya know!

Laters!

Comments (0) | Permalink

A Parting of Ways & A Coming Together

Nakamura stood under a tree outside the inn. He was waiting for Ashida to leave. His patience with his subordinate was beginning to wear thin. Whatever his aide had been doing in Kamakura since he was sent there two weeks earlier had caused much suspicion. Anyone that had been a friend of Yoshihiro’s tended to not want to have anything to do with them. Yonaha was the one that had indicated to Nakamura that Ashida was beginning to become obsessed with the boy.

Ashida came out of the inn and quickly walked away. Nakamura followed as Ashida went to a small, unassuming house and waited under a tree across the street. Ashida watched the house for a while, never approaching. Nakamura kept his distance, also watching.

Eventually the two foreigners and the Japanese woman that had been staying at the inn arrived at the house. They knocked and Takeda let them in. Ashida still watched.

Nakamura approached Ashida and said, “So, after all I have said about leaving my grandson alone, you still approach.”

“Nakamura-san, I didn’t see you,” Ashida said.

“Explain yourself.” Nakamura kept his tone calm.

Ashida suddenly felt very small. He tried to look his employer in the eye, but found Nakamura’s calm gaze somewhat unnerving. “S-sir,” he stammered, “I… I just thought you’d like to know more about Hikaru-kun’s friends and activities.”

“If that is the case, why have you not informed me of anything you have ascertained?” Again there was no indication of anger in Nakamura’s voice, yet Ashida knew he was furious.

“I… I haven’t…”

“Never mind,” Nakamura cut him off. “You are going to return to Tokyo at once. I forbid you from having any contact with my grandson or his household.”

“But, sir, I protest,” Ashida exclaimed. “There is more going on behind that door than you may realize. They are hiding something.”

“Enough,” Nakamura said. “Now you have overstepped you bounds. Any more of this and you will need to find new employment. Do you understand?” This time there was a slight tone of anger to his voice.

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, return to Tokyo and await further orders there.”

“Yes, sir.” Ashida returned to the inn to gather his belongings.

Nakamura stuck with him to make sure he actually left for Tokyo.

Once Nakamura was sure that Ashida was on the way to Tokyo, he went to the wireless office and sent a cable to his office to instruct them to inform him of Ashida’s arrival. He then returned to the inn and wrote a message to Takeda. He looked for Satsuo in the dining room, but the boy was nowhere to be found.

Satsuo’s father, however, was there. “Did you need something, sir?” he asked.

“Yes, I was looking for Satsuo-kun,” Nakamura replied.

“He’s not here right now. Is there something I can do?”

Nakamura held out the message. “I was hoping he would take this message to Takeda-san for me.”

“Ah, he’s running an errand for his mother right now. I can take it for you if you wish.”

“Oh, no, don’t go to the trouble. Thank you for asking, but I will have Yonaha-san deliver it for me,” Nakamura said, and left to find Yonaha.

Yonaha was enjoying some fresh air in the garden near the inn. It was there that Nakamura found him reading. “There you are, Yonaha-san,” Nakamura said. “I should have known you’d be outside reading a book. I sent Ashida back to Tokyo. Thank you for pointing his actions out to me.”

“Of course, sir,” Yonaha replied. “His actions were beginning to worry me. I acted out of concern for your grandson’s well being. I am also worried about the health of the boy. Please do not think me too bold, but I don’t think he is well. Wouldn’t it be best to take him to Tokyo and have your own physicians see to him?”

“You’re not being bold, Yonaha-san. You’re concerned and I appreciate that, but I feel it is best they stay here for now.”

“Of course, sir. Will we be staying here much longer?”

“A few days, perhaps. I’m not sure,” Nakamura said with a sigh. “But first, could you deliver this to Takeda-san for me? I don’t need a reply.”

“Certainly, Nakamura-sama.” Yonaha took the message.

Nakamura stayed in the garden after Yonaha left. It was a beautiful day and it was a perfect time to relax in the warm summer afternoon. He put Ashida out of his mind and just enjoyed the day.
***
Hikaru sat on a bench at the back of the house. It had been a few days since he was discovered by the strange yellow-haired girl at the beach after having been separated from his body at the funeral, and it was just over a day after being reunited with his body. He felt weak and a little sick. The girl was walking around the garden talking to him, and he could not understand a word of what she was saying. Takeda was inside talking to the strange foreign man and the woman named Midori. He didn’t care what was being discussed.

Hikaru looked at his hands as they lay in his lap. There were calluses on his palms from all the years of swordplay. He smiled as he remembered the calluses on his father’s hands. He remembered how gentle his father’s touch was as he showed him how to hold the sword. As he posed him into the correct forms.

First position. Second position. Third position. Images floated through Hikaru’s mind and he closed his eyes and turned his face upward to the sun. It was warm on his face. He stood up and grabbed a long, thin branch from the woodpile.

Moving out into the garden, Hikaru slowly moved into the first position. He could almost feel his father’s hands closing gently around his as he began his training maneuvers. He closed his eyes and went through the moves completely unaware of the girl watching him.

Inside, Takeda was suddenly aware of the silence out in the garden. The girl had been chattering away at Hikaru for quite a while, but had suddenly stopped. “Excuse me,” he said. “I need to check something.”
He got up and went to the back door.

“What is wrong, Takeda-san?” Midori asked. She and Dr. Murphy followed him to the back door.

“It was suddenly quiet,” he replied. “I was worried that something had happened. Have a look.” He moved aside so the others could see.

Dr. Murphy asked what Hikaru was doing, and Midori explained that he was practicing the art of the sword.

“This is the first he’s practiced since the day Satsuo-kun knocked him out,” Takeda said with a smile. “I just wonder why he’s using firewood…”

The three of them watched as Hikaru continued his practice and were somewhat surprised to see Samantha grab another branch and try to mimic his movements. Takeda watched with the trained eye of an expert swordsman, and was surprised to see the girl had potential. He would have to talk to Hikaru about that later. For now it was enough to see Hikaru trying to act as normal as possible. Takeda ushered the others back inside and they continued to discuss Samantha’s purpose in coming to Japan.

Comments (0) | Permalink

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

   Still hacking up a lung.....

I really hate this cold. I lost 4 hours of sleep last night to coughing. So, I'm on early-ish and will be probably going to bed fairly soon to try to see if I can actually sleep. Apologies for not visiting tonight. I actually could have made it to lots of sites tonight, but this cold has me drained.

Laters!

Comments (2) | Permalink

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

   I'd rather be sleeping

Tuesday night and I'm still hacking up a lung... I hate this cold!

---

Well, I've got three days off in a row after this. Tomorrow is going to be spent relaxing and trying to get over this cold. At least, that's what I hope to do. What actually happens could turn out to be something completely different.

---

Otherwise nothing is going on. My cold is bad enough that people checking in have asked if I'm feeling okay. My voice is trying its best to disappear half the time.

---

It's now time to give this little laptop a rest. I wish I could rest with it.

Laters!

Comments (2) | Permalink

Monday, October 17, 2005

   My brain has been replaced by .....

GOO!!!!!

---

'Tis Monday night at the motel. I'm not on wireless tonight 'cause a guest is using the wireless card. *sigh* Yippee for slow connection!

---

Just a little side note on last night's post about the pot smoking in the motel. I don't have anything against smoking pot. I just have a problem with so much of it being smoked that it can be smelled 5 rooms away! Besides... it is illegal.

---

Tonight hasn't been so bad here. I've made a few runs out to the rail yard. It's Monday...it's quiet.

---

I feel like crap right now. It's almost 11 pm and I've got just over an hour to go before I get to go home. Then, when I get there, I'm going to go to bed and sleep the sleep of the whatever... Stupid cold. One of the other desk clerks and I are going to beat another clerk for leaving her germs all over everything.

---

Well, I think I'm gonna post this thing and do something that doesn't require thinking. Shouldn't be too hard as my brain is nothing but goo.

Laters!

Comments (1) | Permalink

Sunday, October 16, 2005

   We don't make sense, but we do like pizza!

Sunday evening.

---

I've discovered that my blue lines don't show up in the Opera browser either.

---

I didn't post last night. It was too insane here to do any posting. There was a wedding reception in the hotel. A loud wedding reception. One of the rooms was also a place for smoking pot. *shakes head*

Other excitement in the motel was the breaking of a window. That wasn't related to the wedding party, but still....

---

Well. It's time to give this little laptop a break until tomorrow. It's getting warm....

Laters!

Comments (3) | Permalink

Saturday, October 15, 2005

   New arrival.....

'Tis Satyrday for all you Xanthans, but Saturday for all the Mundanes...

---

My brother and I went to see Tim Burton's Corpse Bride today. It was fun. A truly different film. Definitely NOT a kid's movie! The animation was beautiful. However, the bar scene was a bit over the top.

---

Well... I finally got story parts typed up! Yay me! So, without further ado, here's the next installment. With this layout, it's gonna be a long post! So, if you don't wanna read it, just skip to the bottom and comment, okay?

---

Samantha sat by the boy’s side as he slept. She was happy that she had finally found him, but was unsure what she was to do next. The man had left once he had seen she meant no harm to the boy and had come back later with some tea. Sam accepted the tea politely, thanking him for his hospitality. She smiled at him and looked back at the boy.

The man spoke, “O-namae wa?”

Sam looked back at the man. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t understand.”

The man thought for a moment and said, “Takeda desu,” as he pointed at himself. Pointing at the boy, he said, “Hikaru desu.” Then gesturing to Sam, he repeated, “O-namae wa?”

“Ah, I get it now. You’re asking my name,” Sam said. Recalling how Takeda had introduced himself, she said, “Sam desu.”

A knocking at the door took Takeda from the room again. “Sumimasen,” he said as he left.

Sam watched Hikaru sleep as she heard voices in the main part of the house. She couldn’t understand most of it, but was rather surprised to hear her name called by her uncle.

Dr. Murphy barged into the cottage under the protests of both Takeda and Midori. “Sam, are you in here?” he called.

Hikaru woke with a start as Murphy noisily opened the door to his room. “Nani?” he said as he sat up and looked around wildly.

Sam took him by the shoulders and laid him back again. “It’s okay, you’re safe. It’s just my uncle,” she said. “Just go back to sleep now. I don’t think he meant to come charging in here like an idiot.” She pulled the covers up to Hikaru’s chin. He calmed down somewhat and closed his eyes again. Sam stood up and left the room, pushing her uncle out before her. “I hope you’re happy,” she said. “That’s the second time you’ve scared him.” She slid the door closed.

Murphy looked over Sam’s shoulder into the room as she closed the door. “Second time? Samantha, what is going on? Who is that and what were you doing in his bedroom?”

“That is the boy I’ve been looking for. His name is Hikaru.”

“He’s the one you’ve been looking for? But you said yesterday that you found him. Sam, what are you talking about?” Murphy was confused.

Sam looked at her uncle. He had a look of concern and confusion on his face. “All right,” she said, “I’ll tell you what I have figured out, but not here. You’ve probably upset Takeda and you’ve definitely upset me. Let’s go back to the inn.” She grabbed Murphy’s arm and led him to the front door.

In the front room, Midori was talking to Takeda. She had apologized for the rudeness of Dr. Murphy and was explaining that they would be leaving as soon as possible. Takeda was clearly upset at the intrusion and was about to go retrieve Murphy when Sam came into the room with her uncle.

“Midori,” Sam said, “I’m taking Uncle Patrick back to the inn for a talk. Could you apologize to Takeda for me, please? I don’t think my uncle meant to be so rude.”

“Of course, Sam-chan,” Midori said. “Is there anything else?”

Sam thought a moment. “Yes, tell him I’d like to see Hikaru again if I could. Thank you.” She left the little house followed by Murphy. They walked back to the inn in silence. Sam was upset at her uncle’s actions, but in a way was glad that he had seen Hikaru.

Once at the inn, Murphy grabbed Sam by the arm. “Talk to me, young lady,” he said. “What is going on? I want to know what you were doing in that boy’s room.”

“Let go of me,” Sam said and pulled away from Murphy’s grasp. “You want to know what’s going on? Fine, I’ll tell you. That is the boy from my visions. I found him at the beach yesterday.”

“Sam, there was no one at the beach with you yesterday. How many times are we going to go through this?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps until you accept what I’ve been saying since yesterday. Now, are you going to let me talk?”

Murphy shook his head in frustration. “Fine,” he said, “you want to talk? Go ahead and talk. I just reserve the right to give my opinion when you’re done.”

“Of course. That’s perfectly all right,” Sam said and proceeded to explain how she had encountered the silver form of Hikaru on the beach and how she seemed to be the only one that was able to see him.

“I know that, Sam,” Murphy said. “That doesn’t explain why I found you in his bedroom.”

“I know, I know. Just listen. After you and Midori found me yesterday, I brought him back to the inn. He stayed by my side last night after we argued. This morning after our argument at breakfast, he…”

“He was in your room last night? Sam!”

“Patrick, please, he didn’t see anything. I fell asleep in my clothes! After breakfast, he followed me outside. He found me a place to get out of the rain. Once the rain stopped, Hikaru started to look for something.”

“Hikaru?”

“The boy. His name is Hikaru. He took me by the hand and began to look for something. We stopped at the temple first. A man came out and asked me something while Hikaru was inside. He came out as if something had scared him and took me by the hand again. He took me to that house, made me knock on the door and then led me to his side.”

Murphy had to interrupt here. “Wait a minute. He led you to his side? He was this silver boy that only you can see and was sleeping on the floor at the same time?”

“Yes, it’s strange, but I think that the silver Hikaru is his spirit or soul or whatever moves a person. He then laid down into himself and woke up briefly. He said something and took my hand. Then he fell asleep again. That’s why you found me at his side in his room.” Sam fell silent.

Murphy thought about what Sam had told him. “Well, I can’t say that I approve fully of what you did, but I do believe you. I’m sorry for yelling at you. I guess I forgot that you’re Esther’s granddaughter and see the world in a different way.”

Sam looked up at her uncle. “Thank you for finally believing me. It means a lot.” She stopped for a moment. “You’re going to be leaving soon.”

Murphy was briefly surprised, but smiled as he realized what Sam had said. “Yes, the Athene is leaving in a few days. I’ve got to go back to Yokohama. Midori will stay here with you. She’s agreed to help you out. She says it’s her destiny to help you.”

“Destiny…” Sam said. “Destiny is such a strange thing.”

“It sure is,” Murphy agreed. He tosseled Sam’s hair and moved toward the door of the inn. “Now, let’s go in and get something to eat. I’m starved.”

Sam laughed and agreed that food did sound like a good idea.

---

Well...at least Dr. Murphy doesn't think Sam is nuts anymore!

---

I guess it's that time of night for me. I'm feeling rather tired and have a bit of a sore throat. I think I got a cold from either my Mom or the one girl at work. I do know that my ears are a bit itchy and it's driving me nuts!

Laters!

Comments (4) | Permalink