Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Dreams, Voices... Yôkai

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 the 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 still recuperating 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.
* * *
Every night one of the staff would walk around the Nakamura mansion to make sure nothing was amiss. It was something he had always done. It made him feel more secure, knowing that the master of the house was safe. On the night after his employer's grandson had arrived nothing was out of place until he came to the hallway near the boy's room.

At first he couldn't tell what was lying on the floor down the hall, but as he came closer he saw that it was Nakamura's grandson. Why is the boy sleeping on the floor out here? he thought as he approached. Once he saw that Hikaru appeared to be in pain, he ran to wake his master.

“Nakamura-sama, forgive me,” he said as the older man opened the door, “but your grandson. Something is wrong. Please come.”

Nakamura followed the servant to where Hikaru was lying. The boy was curled on his side, clutching his head in agony. “Hikaru, what's wrong? What happened?”

There was no reply.

Nakamura directed the servant to open Hikaru's bedroom door and gently picked up his grandson. He brought Hikaru into the room and set him down on the bed. “Go and fetch Doctor Hajime,” he said.

The servant left and Hikaru moaned. Nakamura looked to see the boy open his eyes briefly. They were glowing bright green. A voice from the open balcony said, “I thought I told you to bring him to the estate, Nakamura-kun.” The name was spoken with mild sarcasm.

“Who are you?” Nakamura asked as the man walked over to the bed. “How did you get in here? Did you do this? If you harmed my grandson in any way, I swear I will make you pay.”

“Oh, do be quiet,” the man said. He looked at Hikaru and snorted. “Oh, he reeks of his father, yet looks like his mother.”

Nakamura took a good look at the intruder. There was something familiar about him, but he couldn't quite recall what it was. The man was tall and slim. He was dressed in traditional clothing – a dark kimono and katana at his side. His long hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and his face was framed by bangs of bright green. It was hard to tell in the partial light of the room, but it seemed his hair was dark green. The eyes, however, were the truly disturbing feature of the man. His eyes glowed bright green.

The man crouched by Hikaru's side. He placed a hand on the boy's forehead and whispered something before standing again. “You have three days to get him to the estate, Nakamura-kun,” he said. “After that, I come and get him myself.” He turned and walked back to the window. By the time Nakamura had reached the balcony, the man was gone and there was a knock at the door.

“Yes, what is it?” Nakamura asked as he opened the door. Once he saw it was the servant with the doctor, he relaxed and let them in. “Ah, Doctor Hajime, forgive me. Please come in.”

Hajime bowed in greeting and went to Hikaru's side. He gave a quick glance to the empty bed frame as he knelt by the boy's side. “Tell me what happened,” he said.

“I'm not sure,” Nakamura replied. “My servant found Hikaru collapsed outside the room. He was lying on his side, clutching his head in pain. I don't know how long he'd been there.”

“Had he complained about anything earlier in the day?” Hajime asked. “Headache, upset stomach, anything like that?”

“No, but he didn't eat much at supper. He said he wasn't hungry. He did ask for a fire to be built after supper.” Nakamura looked at the fireplace. If a fire had been started there, it was out now. “Do you know if anyone started a fire for Hikaru?” he asked the servant.

The servant nodded. “I built it myself. I made sure it was going strong, but now it doesn't look like there was a fire there at all.”

Doctor Hajime started to examine Hikaru and noticed the bandage on his hand. “What happened here?”

“He said he burned his hand on something this morning,” Nakamura said.

“Ah. I'll take a look at that, too.”

“Oh, I nearly forgot,” Nakamura added. “Hikaru had been ill about a month or so ago. It was right around the time his father died. I don't know all the details, but he was shut in for at least a week.”

“Thank you. I'll keep that in mind.”

Doctor Hajime went back to the examination, and Nakamura watched in silence. There was a soft knock at the door and Michiko entered quietly. “How is he?” she whispered.

Nakamura glanced over at her. “I don't know,” he replied. “Hajime hasn't said anything. Hikaru seemed to be in some pain when I found him on the floor, but he's quiet now.”

At last Hajime came over to where Nakamura and Michiko were waiting. “He's calm now,” he said. “I've given him a sedative, so eh should sleep.”

“What is wrong?” Michiko asked.

“It may be a combination of things. It's been very hot the past few days, so he probably got overheated. Also, Nakamura-san said he had been ill recently. That could also be a contributing factor. Then there's the burn on his hand. It wasn't treated properly and may have gotten infected. We'll have to keep an eye on that.” Hajime returned to Hikaru's side and made sure the boy was comfortable before gathering up his medicine kit. He handed Nakamura a small packet. “This is a sedative. It also contains a painkiller. Be sure he takes this if the headache returns. And try to keep him in bed for a few days. He shouldn't have any excitement until this passes.”

“Of course, Doctor,” Michiko replied quickly. “I will make sure he stays in bed... once we get it put back together, of course.”

Nakamura sighed. “I'll walk you to the door, Hajime. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

The men left the room and Michiko went to Hikaru's side. She knelt beside him and began to fuss. She adjusted the covers and smoothed his hair.

Hikaru moaned slightly in his sleep.

Nakamura returned after seeing Doctor Hajime to his carriage. “I'll stay with Hikaru tonight,” he said. “You go on back to bed.”

“Are you sure?” I don't mind staying with him,” Michiko said. “I can stay, too.”

“It's all right. I'll stay. There's no need for both of us to sit here.” He sat next to the bed.

“Well, all right. I'll come in the morning to see how he's doing.” She got up and gave her husband a kiss before leaving the room.

After Michiko had gone, Nakamura looked at his grandson. The boy moaned and opened his eyes briefly. This time Nakamura could see Hikaru's eyes were no longer glowing, but had returned to their normal emerald green. His thoughts turned to the man that had come in from the balcony. The man had done something to make Hikaru calm. What was it that he had done? Nakamura tried to recall what the man had said when he touched Hikaru's forehead. It was no use, he either couldn't remember or couldn't understand what the man had said. Then there was the man's eyes. His eyes had been glowing green just like Hikaru's. Or was it the other way around? Were Hikaru's eyes glowing like the man's? Nakamura thought about what the man had said about the estate. He realized this was the stranger that had approached him at the party over a week ago, ordering him to take Hikaru to the estate. Who is that man? he thought. What does he want with Hikaru?

Nakamura tried to make sense of who the man was and why he wanted Hikaru at the estate. It made practically no sense at all. He tried to get some sleep, but another movement from Hikaru caught his attention. He relaxed again once he saw the boy was all right.

The man's words came back to Nakamura. “Oh, he reeks of his father, yet looks like his mother.” It was spoken as an insult, so Nakamura had brushed it off at first. But now after some thinking had been done, it seemed that it was perhaps not entirely meant as an insult. It may have been an observation on the man's part. Nakamura thought about how the man looked: long hair with bangs of a different color framing his face, glowing green eyes, slightly pointed ears. Nakamura realized the man may have had a very good reason to say that. He may just possibly be Hikaru's other grandfather, Nakamura thought. If that man is Hikaru's other grandfather, then that means... “Oh, no...” A wave of unease swept over him. “That was no man. That was yôkai...” He was suddenly very worried about the welfare of his only grandchild.

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