Saturday, February 26, 2005

   Stand on your own head for a change....

Friday has almost ended. I actually did something today!!!!

Last night my oldest sister asked me if I wanted to run around with her & her husband. So I did! We went to Orange City, Le Mars and Remsen. The place we wanted to go to in Orange City was closed, so we drove around looking at the buildings and houses. Then we went to Le Mars and had lunch and hit an antique store to look around. There's lots of cool stuff in there!!! I just wish I had money to buy some of it. Then in Remsen we looked for a friend of theirs and my brother-in-law talked to him for a bit.

I know... It doesn't sound like much of a day, but it was fun!

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Okay... as promised. The next part of my story. And to Pyroprincess: Kenshin & Vash will return soon. I think they've been hiding from me. And to those that asked about the dragon: yes, I will post it when I have it done.

Now... the story:

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San Francisco was an unusual place in Samantha's mind. She felt it was too busy compared to Boston. She had just arrived after about two weeks on a train across the country with her grandmother. Esther was out at the moment, so Samantha was left at the hotel by herself.

In the next few days, Sam O'Riley would be setting off to sea on a long trip to the other side of the world. She was scared and was not sure if she really wanted to go, but she was still having dreams of the boy. She wasn't frightened by the dreams anymore, but concern for his well-being seemed to be taking root in her mind.

The door to the room opened and Esther came in followed by a tall young man that looked somewhat familiar. "Hello, Sam, dear," Esther said. "Did you have a good lunch?"

Samantha nodded. "Yes, Grandma," she said, eying the young man.

Esther noticed Samantha's interest in her companion. "Ah, you're wondering about my friend here, aren't you?" she said with a laugh. "Well, I don't know if you remember him or not, but this is your older brother Anthony. He's been to sea for many years now, but he's been to see us in Boston."

"Hello, Samantha, or should I say 'Sam'?" Anthony said with a smile. "You've grown up quite a bit since I saw you in Boston." There was genuine warmth in his eyes as he smiled at Samantha.

Samantha smiled shyly back at her brother.

"Anthony is an officer on a ship bound for Japan," Esther said, "and he's agreed to take you on as a cabin boy. You'll have to work hard on the voyage, but you'll earn some money."

"Yes, ma'am."

Anthony added, "But I pulled a few strings, and you'll be my cabin boy. Captain Harding is a tough man and definitely would not be happy to find you're a girl, so we'll have to be very careful."

"I understand," Samantha said. "I've been watching boys my age to see how to act. I think I'll be all right."

"Good, I'll be there to help out as well. But now, tell me of Boston. It's been so long since I've been home."

So the afternoon was spent talking of many things - Boston, life at sea, and expectations Samantha would need to meet. Anthony stayed until dinnertime and then returned to the ship. Samantha was to be there the next morning at 8:00 for departure.

Samantha's evening was spent quietly. Neither she nor Esther seemed to find it necessary to speak. Night passed without incident as well, and morning was there before Samantha knew it. They walked to the pier quietly. San Francisco was coming to life as the day dawned. On a hill overlooking the bay, Sam got her first view of the ships. "There, the one at the left," Esther said as she pointed. "That's the one you'll be sailing on - the Athene."

Samantha turned and hugged her grandmother tightly before starting down the hill to the pier.
* * *
Hikaru could see Takeda-sensei sitting by his side in his room. Night had fallen and clouds were chasing each other across the moon. During the daylight Hikaru rested as best as he could, but when night fell, he became restless. Three nights had passed since he had found himself in the garden, separated from his body.

Earlier in the evening, Hikaru had watched Takeda as he went through some papers in his father's quarters. He tried to speak to Takeda as he ran to his side, but he was not heard. He followed Takeda to his room, but was unable to enter. Some barrier kept him from entering his room. He sank to the floor outside the door, watching, wanting to go inside.

Hikaru sat outside his room as the sky became dark. The clouds chased over the moon and found somewhere else to play, and the moon shone brightly. Shadows lengthened and shapes moved within them. The shadows moved, and Hikaru went to the stone bench. He could watch the shadows there.
Hikaru was not sure how long he watched the shadows, but the fear within him grew. He wanted the shadows to go away. A movement caught from the corner of his eye made him turn quickly. Instinctively, he held out his hand and a strange green fire glowed from his fingertips. There was a hiss and a yowl as a cat ran off frightened by the flash.

Takeda noticed a green flash in the garden and got up to investigate. He went toward the bench and stopped somewhat in fear. He could see the ghostly silver form of the boy whose side he had just left. The green light was fading from his hand. "Hi… Hikaru-kun?" Takeda whispered. "Hikaru-kun, is it you?"

Hikaru turned to Takeda. He tried to speak, but no words could be heard. He nodded.

"Oh, Hikaru-kun, can you ever forgive the wrong that has been done? A great wrong has been done here and I realized it only too late." There were tears in Takeda's eyes.

Hikaru looked up at his teacher. Their eyes met briefly and Takeda turned away. Hikaru's eyes appeared to be green flames.

"A letter arrived three days ago, after you were injured. Your father was killed in battle. My condolences at your loss. I only wish I could have told you then." Takeda's voice trailed off as he gave Hikaru time to take in the news.

Hikaru looked away for a moment before turning back to his teacher. He reached out to touch Takeda's arm, but his hand went through it.

Takeda shivered at Hikaru's touch, but continued, "I was going through some papers and found a letter your father wrote to you before he left. I know I should not have read it, but I found it to be worth the indisgression. Your father spoke of your mother in this letter. She may not be dead. She was taken away by her family." Takeda paused. "Her family is a clan of demons that live in the cliffs near your grandfather's estate. That means you are part demon. Forgive me. If I had but known, I would not have allowed the monk to perform the exorcism that caused you to be like this. I am sorry this happened, Hikaru-kun."

Hikaru looked up at the moon as he thought about what Takeda had just said. A few moments later he looked down at his hands. Again, a motion at the edge of his vision caught his attention. He turned to look and saw a shape step out of the shadows. He looked to Takeda, but it seemed the teacher had not seen it. He looked back again and saw that the shape was that of a strangely dressed girl. She was walking toward the bench and stopped as she caught sight of Hikaru's eyes. Wait, he said, reaching out his hand. The girl screamed and vanished.

Hikaru stared at the place the girl had been. She had seen him and was terrified.

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Laters!

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