Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Voices Again

Hikaru woke to find himself in bed. He had no idea how he had gotten there. He could recall going to see Samantha and Midori at night, but that was the last thing he could remember.

“Ah, you're awake,” someone said. “How are you feeling?”

Hikaru looked to his side and saw his grandfather sitting in a chair with an open book on his lap. "My head hurts,” he said. “What happened?” He tried to sit up.

Nakamura helped him sit up and plumped the pillows behind him. “I was hoping you could tell me. One of the servants found you on the floor outside your room late last night. He said you were in quite a bit of pain.”

“I don't know what happened. I went to talk to Sam-chan. That's all I remember.”

“I see. Well, speaking of Sam-chan, she's been quite anxious to see you since she heard about your collapse. I'll send her in and have lunch brought up for the two of you. Be sure to eat something. Also, the doctor said you're to stay in bed and not get excited.”

“Yes, Grandfather.” Closing his eyes, Hikaru wished the pain would stop. He didn't hear Sam come into the room.

“Konnichi wa, Hikaru-san,” Sam said as she sat in the chair by the bed. “I can come back later if you wish to rest.”

Hikaru opened his eyes. “No, don't leave. I'd like you to stay, please.”

“How are you feeling?”

“My head hurts and the room starts to spin if I move too fast... or at all.”

“Then it's good that you're to stay in bed. I don't think your grandparents would want you to fall down the stairs.” She leaned over and smoothed out the covers.

“No,” he said quietly, “I don't think they would.”

There was a knock at the door, and a servant entered with tray tables that he set up for each of them. A second servant came in and served lunch. “We will return in a while to clear things away, Hikaru-san,” he said, and they left the room.

Hikaru looked at the soup and frowned. “I'm really not hungry,” he said.

“You have to eat,” Sam said. “You need to build up your strength.”

“It won't make any difference,” he said quietly.

“What did you say?”

“It's nothing. Never mind.” Hikaru started on the soup.

“Don't tell me it's nothing. Something is wrong, Hikaru-san. I worry about you. I came all the way here from Boston just to find you so I can help you, and you just push me away whenever I show signs of caring.”

Hikaru stopped eating. Quietly he said, “I'm sorry, Sam-chan. I don't mean to push you away. I just don't know how to react. I've never been sick like this before. I don't know what to do.” He paused. Even more quietly than before, he added, “I'm scared.”

“I'm here, Hikaru-san,” Sam said. “You don't have to be scared. Takeda-sensei has told me things haven't been easy for you lately. I have no idea what you're going through, but I want you to know that I'll be here with you. All right?”

Hikaru nodded.

“So talk to me. It always helps me to tell someone what's wrong. And finish your soup.”

Hikaru began to talk about all that happened since the day that Satsuo knocked him out at the dojo. Sam would ask questions when something confused her or comment as needed. She was right, Hikaru found. He didn't feel as scared now that he'd shared his secrets with her.

They had almost finished eating when there was another explosion of voices in Hikaru's head. “YOU WENT BEHIND MY BACK, ASHIDA-SAN! YOU IGNORED MY INSTRUCTIONS!” Another voice, “I WONDER IF THE CHILDREN ARE FINISHED WITH THEIR LUNCH.” “WHY WON'T HOSHIWARA TALK TO ME?” Hikaru grabbed his head and screamed, scattering food all over the bed.

“Hikaru!” Sam yelled. She reached over to to try to calm him, but he screamed again and lashed out. Sam got up to run for help, forgetting her crutches, and fell by the chair knocking over her own tray table. “Somebody, help!” she screamed.

The servant who had brought lunch was returning and heard the screaming from Hikaru's room. He entered to find Sam on the floor and Hikaru convulsed with pain on the bed. He went to Sam first. “Are you all right, miss?”

“I'm fine,” Sam said. “Take care of him.”

The servant looked at Hikaru. “I will be back,” he said. “I will get Nakamura.” He nearly ran from the room.

Nakamura came in a few minutes later. He helped Sam off the floor. “What happened? Did he hurt you?”

“No, I fell. I was going to get help and forgot my crutches,” she said as she sat on the chair again. “We were talking and he just screamed suddenly. I don't know what happened.”

Nakamura went to restrain Hikaru. “Can you reach the table there?” he asked Sam. “In the drawer is some medicine.”

Sam stretched over to the table. She could just reach the drawer. She found the package and handed it to Nakamura. “Here it is.”

“Thank you, Samantha-san. Ah, your tea has spilled, too. I need some water.”

Sam reached for her crutches. “I'll find someone. Just wait, please.”

“Two days, Nakamura-kun, two days,” came a voice from the balcony.

Nakamura and Sam turned to see a tall man with green hair standing just inside the room. He walked over to Hikaru's side and sighed. Like the night before, he touched Hikaru's forehead and whispered something that calmed the boy.

“Who are you?” Sam asked. “What did you just do?”

Nakamura held his breath and watched as the man turned to look at Sam. He reached out and lifted her face so he could see it better. Much to Nakamura's surprise, the man smiled.

“My name is Tôshi, young lady,” he said. “I quieted his mind. He'll rest now, but he needs to go somewhere else. Nakamura-kun knows where. You may go with him. I will allow it. You're quite special, dear heart.” He bowed to Sam and turned back to the balcony. “Two days,” he said as he left the room.

“Who was that?” Sam asked.

Nakamura sighed with relief. “I'm so glad you're all right,” he said. “I was afraid he was going to hurt you.”

“Who is he? How did he know to call me that? Only my grandmother calls me that.” There was slight panic in her voice.

Nakamura started to clean up the spilled dishes and food. “I think he's Hikaru's other grandfather,” he said. He stopped and looked at the bowl in his hand. “Do you know about Hikaru's mother?” he asked.

“I know she disappeared when Hikaru was small. Takeda-sensei told me that.”

“You've been staying with Hikaru and Takeda for a while now, right? Have you noticed anything unusual about my grandson?”

“What do you mean?”

“Appearance? Behavior? Anything like that?”

“Well, yes, I suppose I have. Why do you ask?”

Nakamura sighed. “I suppose he really should be the one to tell you this, but he's asleep now. His mother was a yôkai... a demon. Her people live on a hill on my family estate. Have you seen Hikaru's other form?”

“The silver one? Yes, he's quite... handsome that way.”

“That comes from his mother's clan. They're a rather beautiful race.”

“But Tôshi is different, isn't he?”

“Yes,” Nakamura said, “and that worries me. I suppose I should see if Doctor Hajime has arrived. I'll send someone to clean this up and change the coverlet on the bed. Will you stay here with him?”

“Of course I will. He stayed by my side while I was ill just a few days ago. It's the least I can do to return the favor.”

“Is there anything you need?”

“Yes, I'd like my sewing. Midori-san knows where it is.”

“Certainly, my dear,” Nakamura said. He left and a servant came in shortly after to take away the remains of lunch. Nakamura returned a little later with Sam's sewing and Doctor Hajime.

Hajime fussed over Hikaru for a bit and gave him some more medicine. “I gave him a stronger sedative,” he said. “It should keep him calm for the rest of the day and into tomorrow. Give him more if he seems restless.”

Nakamura left with Hajime, but came back a little while later. “I brought you a bell. If you need anything, someone will come and take care of you. Is that all right?”

“Yes, thank you, Nakamura-san,” Sam said. “I'm sure I'll be fine here.”

Nakamura took his leave, and Sam sat patiently at Hikaru's side, sewing and watching.

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