Friday, March 9, 2007

Again, Dreams

Sam woke with a start in the middle of the night. She had had that dream again. The dream where she was in a garden and Hikaru was defending her against some unseen attacker.

“Sam-chan, are you all right?” Midori asked.

“It was that dream again,:” Sam replied. “I haven't had it for a while.”

Midori went over to Sam's bed and sat on the edge. She reached for Sam's hand and said, “I know it's hard, but try not to let it upset you. You have a gift. You just need to relax and let its meaning come to you.” She was about to say something more, but was interrupted by a soft rap at the door. She turned up the lamp and opened the door to find Hikaru outside. “Hikaru-san, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?”

“I was worried about Sam-chan,” he said. “Is she all right?”

Midori was puzzled. “How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“She had a bad dream and just woke up a moment ago. How did you know that?”

Hikaru stammered, “I... I don't know. I just felt I had to check on her. She's all right, isn't she?” There was a very slight hint of panic to his voice.

“She's fine. Come in and see for yourself if that will make you feel better.” Midori stood aside to let him in.

He hesitated outside the room and entered only after hearing Sam call out to him. “I'm sorry to bother you, Sam-chan,” he said.

“You're not bothering me, Hikaru-san,” Sam said. “I'm actually happy you came. I was a little worried about you.”

“You were? Why?”

“I hadn't seen you since we arrived. I was worried about how you were adjusting. This is quite different from the house in Kamakura. How do you like the bed? This is they type of bed I slept in at home in Boston.”

“I pulled it onto the floor. It was too soft, but I do like the pillows.”

Sam giggled. “Yes, they are much nicer than what you had in Kamakura, aren't they?”

Hikaru smiled. He felt so much more relaxed now that he had seen Sam. “Do you like your room? Once Grandfather had you moved out of the servant's quarters, I mean.”

“Yes, it's very nice. I'm glad to be out of the basement. It wasn't bad, but I felt lost down there.”

“I don't like this house,” Hikaru said. “I feel trapped.”

“You're not used to this style house, are you? Give it some time and you'll feel more at home here.” She reached over and squeezed his hand.

Hikaru winced slightly as Sam had squeezed his injured hand.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” she exclaimed. “I forgot you hurt that hand this morning.”

“It's all right. You just surprised me. Can you tell me about your dream?” He sat on the bed next to her.

“Well,” she hesitated, “all right. It starts with me walking along a garden path at night, and something flies out of the darkness and knocks me off my feet. Off in the darkness there's a horrible scream, then you step into sight. You're silver and are carrying a bloody sword. There's blood all over you, and you walk over to me. I can't tell whose blood it is at all. Then you put your hand on my shoulder and collapse in pain beside me. That's when I wake up.”

Hikaru didn't say anything at first. He just held Sam's hand for a while as they both thought about the dream. Finally, he asked, “You always wake up when I collapse, right?”

Sam nodded.

“And from what you've told me before, you have the gift of sight, right?”

She nodded again.

“From what you have told me of this dream, I saved you from whatever it was that flew out of the darkness.”

Again, Sam nodded.

“What happens after I collapse?”

“What do you mean?”

“What happens after I collapse? Have you ever tried to stay asleep after that part?”

“I never thought about that,” Sam said. “I was always too scared by the sight of you collapsing that I'd wake up. Thank you, Hikaru-san.” She leaned over and gave him a hug. “I'll try to stay asleep the next time I have that dream just to see what happens.” She realized she had him in a spontaneous embrace and let him go with a quick apology.

Hikaru's ears had turned pink, and he mutter a quick apology as well. Midori was trying hard to keep from giggling.

“I, umm... I'm glad you're all right now, Sam-chan,” Hikaru said. “It's late and I probably should go back to my room. You're more than likely tired and need your rest.” He stood up quickly and went to the door. “Good night, Sam-chan, Midori-san,” he said and left the room. Closing the door behind him, he wasn't sure if he heard the girls giggling or not.

He quietly made his way back to his room, thinking about Sam's dream and also about Sam. He was almost to his room when a voice exploded in his mind, “I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU WENT BEHIND MY BACK LIKE THAT!" He stopped and looked around to see who spoke. There was no one about. Another voice, “OH, NAKAMURA-SAN'S GRANDSON IS SO SMALL, BUT RATHER CUTE...” Yet another, “I THOUGHT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED.” Voices were coming from everywhere, assaulting Hikaru's mind until he was completely overwhelmed and collapsed in the hall outside his room.

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