Sunday, January 23, 2005

   Looooonnnnng post tonight!

I was a lazy bum today. I think I deserve to be a bum one day a week! I tried to sleep in, but a couple train whistles blasted me out of bed. What were they doing out on a Sunday morning?

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Oh.. about no Cartoon Network at my parents' house. They have cable. It doesn't have Cartoon Network! My brother figures that the cable company caters to old people... really old people... ones that don't appreciate good cartoons.

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And now... the long part of the post. Another part of the story!

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It was late in the night, perhaps after midnight. Takeda was walking along the side of the garden toward Hikaru's quarters. He had sent Satsuo home just before sunset. There was no point in him sitting in the garden all night. Takeda knew Satsuo would be back the next day. He'd worry about that tomorrow, for tonight his concern was with his late master's son.

Hikaru had woken briefly in the evening, but did not seem aware of his surroundings. The doctor was still at his side and looked up as Takeda entered the room.

"He still sleeps?" Takeda asked quietly as he handed a cup of tea to the doctor.

"Yes. Thank you, Takeda-san." The doctor took a sip of tea, and continued, "He did stir briefly a while ago, but did not wake."

"You've been here all day, doctor. Why don't you go home? I can keep watch and send word to you if he wakes."

The doctor was about to answer when Hikaru suddenly sat up and looked around. His eyes seemed to be burning with an inner fire. Both Takeda and the doctor caught their breath as Hikaru turned to look at them. "His eyes," the doctor said. "I never noticed his eyes were green."

Just as suddenly as he had sat up, Hikaru lost consciousness and collapsed. Takeda moved to make him more comfortable, but the doctor sat apart with a look of terror on his face. "I can do nothing more for him, Takeda-san. This is beyond my knowing. Forgive me." The doctor hurried out of the room.

Takeda went out after him. "What do you mean? Hikaru-kun need your attention."

"No. Hikaru-kun needs a priest. I've done all that I can. I am leaving now. I will make sure a priest be sent tomorrow. There is something in that boy that only a priest can drive out. Goodnight, Takeda-san." The doctor turned and left in great haste.

Takeda watched the doctor leave. He looked up and watched a cloud pass across the face of the moon. He turned back to Hikaru's room and took his place at the boy's side to watch the rest of the night.

***

Samantha sat staring out the window at the horizon. So many things had happened since that day in Boston. Her grandmother had been expecting her to come running home from school that day. She'd always known that her grandmother was gifted with the sight, but she'd never imagined that she'd have the gift as well.

Esther explained to Samantha that she was about to embark on a journey that would take her halfway around the world. At first Samantha didn't believe her, but the more Esther explained, the more she realized it was true. She was needed on the other side of the world.

After they talked that day, Esther went to Miss Sharpe's school and gathered Samantha's belongings and explained that she would not be coming back. She paid the rest of the tuition and thanked Miss Sharpe for her time. On the way home, she stopped at a clothing store and bought clothing for a teenaged boy.

Once home, Esther explained her plans to Samantha. "The only way for you to get to Japan, dear heart, is if we disguise you as a boy." With those words, she showed the clothing and brought out a pair of scissors. "And to do that, we need to cut your hair." Samantha cried as her grandmother trimmed her hair into a boy's style. She held onto a lock of her blonde hair and tied it with a ribbon -- a memento of who she was.

That evening Esther packed her bags for a train trip across the country. They would be leaving the next day, bound for San Francisco. So Samantha stared out the window at the horizon as the train began the last leg of the trip to San Francisco. Soon she would be facing a horizon of endless blue as she would be on a ship heading to Japan and the ghost boy. Samantha O'Riley was now Sam O'Riley and was frightened beyond belief.

***

For many sleepless nights afterward, Takeda would never forget the scream Hikaru gave the day the monk had come to the dojo. It was the morning after the incident in which Satsuo had injured Hikaru. The doctor had insisted that a monk be sent as Hikaru's illness was not the result of a knock on the head, but the work of forces unknown.

The doctor had brought the monk to the dojo, but himself refused to set foot inside until the spirits had been exorcised from the boy and the household. Takeda thanked the doctor and told him he would send word when the monk had finished. He showed the monk to Hikaru's room.

"Thank you, Takeda-san," the monk said. "I will begin shortly." He sat and brought out some incense and lit it, setting the cone near Hikaru's head. "You may stay if you like, or you may leave. Either way, it would be best to be silent at all times."

"I understand," Takeda replied. "I will go about my business, but will stop by to see if you need anything later." He bowed and went to his duties about the dojo.

Shortly after the monk arrived, Takeda found Satsuo waiting in the main room. "Satsuo-kun, why are you here? I said I would send word if he wakes."

"Yes, Takeda-sensei. I just... I..." Satsuo stopped. The boy clearly had not slept well, nor had he eaten, for his stomach growled loudly.

Takeda smiled. "Come, let us take care of that before it decides to do all the talking for you." He took Satsuo through to the garden area and then brought out breakfast. "Hikaru-kun still sleeps. The doctor said it's best to leave him sleep. He'll wake when he's ready."

"But what if he doesn't wake, sensei? What then?" Tears started to well in Satsuo's eyes, but he tried to keep them in. "I never meant to harm him. I just forgot which sword I had."

"I understand. I know you meant no harm, but you're a strong young man and accidents will happen. It's not your fault."

"But it is," Satsuo whispered.

"Not at all. I had a look at Hikaru's mask. There was a broken strap. It was probably frayed and would have torn at any time. It just happened to be just when you started to spar." Takeda's words had the right effect on Satsuo, for the boy seemed to be relieved at the sound of them.

"Thank you, sensei. Your words are very kind. May I see Hikaru?"

"Yes, but be very quiet and don't go into the room. There is a monk praying for him right now. It is just for blessing to help in recovery." The last was added hastily to ease Satsuo's concern.

They went to Hikaru's door and watched as the monk prayed. Satsuo did not notice, but Takeda was aware of a slight movement from Hikaru. It seemed an expression of pain crossed his face briefly. The monk was unaware of it as well.

"We better leave," Takeda said. "Hikaru is in capable hands as you can see." He led Satsuo away.

"Thank you, sensei. He looks so small. He never seemed so small at lessons."

"Well, Hikaru-kun is small for his age. He always has been, but you'll remember he is stronger than he appears. And I have the memory of the bruises that prove it." Takeda rubbed his arm at the memory.

That brought a smile to Satsuo at last. "As do I, sensei." He put a hand to his backside and said, "I think I was unable to sit for a day after that one."

Takeda laughed. "You deserved it, if I remember correctly. Now, there's nothing more for you to do here. You may go home now, Satsuo-kun. I will send word if he wakes." He walked Satsuo to the main gate and waved as he left.

The rest of the day passed without interruption or incident. Takeda checked on the monk's progress around noon and brought him a small lunch. Hikaru appeared peaceful again.

In the afternoon, the monk found Takeda and they spoke for a while. "I will continue my prayers this evening," he said. "I feel the presence of something in that room that needs to be driven out. I must confer with my master, but will return later."

"Yes, of course," Takeda replied. "Your prayers are greatly appreciated. I thank you on behalf of young Master Hikaru. While at your temple, could you also say a prayer for Master Yoshihiro? Sadly, he was killed in battle and I have not been able to tell young Hikaru the news."

"Of course, Takeda-san, I will say a prayer for the late master's soul." With those words the monk left. He returned just after sunset.

Takeda sat and watched while the monk continued the prayers that evening. He noticed that he had brought a different kind of incense and had some scrolls as well. The scrolls were placed at the doorways of the dojo's main hall and Hikaru's quarters. Another was at the main gate.

Late into the night, the monk prayed. Takeda could see the waxing moon through the open door. A noise from Hikaru turned his attention back into the room. The boy was moving and moaning as if in a nightmare. The monk's prayers continued, but he seemed to have become louder and more forceful in his tone. Hikaru continued to thrash and Takeda went to restrain him.

The monk had another scroll, which he placed on Hikaru's forehead as Takeda held the boy. The placement of the scroll caused a reaction that neither Takeda nor the monk had expected. Hikaru broke from Takeda's grasp and sat up. His eyes seemed to flare and the lamps in the room flared at the same time. A most unnatural scream came from the boy as the monk's chanting and prayers became louder. The scream pierced the night for a brief time and Hikaru collapsed unconscious in Takeda's arms. The lamps settled back to their normal glow.

"It is done," the monk said. "The demons plaguing this boy have been driven out. No demon or evil spirit may enter this room or the dojo again. I will let the doctor know and he will continue to treat the boy for his injury, but my work is finished." He gathered his things and stood up to leave.

Takeda made Hikaru comfortable once again, and went to show the monk to the main gate. He thanked the monk for his services and turned back to the buildings. As he passed the garden on his way to Hikaru's room, something caught his eye near the bench. He wasn't sure, but he thought he'd seen something glint in the moonlight. When he looked again, there was nothing there, and he went to sit at his young master's side.

In the garden, a young man was suddenly aware something was not right. He looked at his hands and found he could see through their ghostly silver form. Hikaru screamed again and no one could hear.

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Time to run around like a maniac again.

Laters!

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