Monday, March 21, 2005

   Sunday... I'd rather have a Sundae!!!

Yes...I'm thinking about ice cream.

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My thrill-a-minute day was filled with writing (the results will be down a ways), studying (#$%*#@ networking is so boring!), and eating (mmmm....food!).

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Yep... my current studying is Networking Fundamentals. It was so amazinly boring when I had the class. It isn't much better in review. Which reminds me, I better give the center a call tomorrow again and see if Tara found anything out for me.

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I got bored with TV around 8 pm tonight. So I came up here to do stuff on the computer. I was going to work on Kohaku's site, but ended up doing the following instead. Yep! It's time for more story!!! Sam's in this part!

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Running. Hikaru was running. He was in a city unfamiliar to him. He didn’t know why he was running or from what. Snow was flying all around him. And on he ran. Up one street, down another. Getting farther away from anything that he may have known. Getting farther away from himself.

Hikaru sat up suddenly, gasping for breath. It had been a dream. He looked around at where he was. He was in the guesthouse His plan had worked and he was in his body again.

Outside it was light. Daytime had arrived. Hikaru tried to stand. Slowly he made it to his feet. How many days had passed? Four? Five? He didn’t care. He wanted to go outside. A few steps were all he needed to make it to the door. After what seemed like an eternity, Hikaru was at the door. He slid it open and stood there, breathing in the fresh air. Another step and his legs gave out. He sat by the door, just happy to be outside.

Takeda was coming to the guesthouse with breakfast when he saw Hikaru fall. He dropped the tray and ran to his young master’s side. “Hikaru-kun! Are you all right? What are you doing here?” he said as he lifted the boy and carried him back inside the guesthouse.

“I saw it was daylight,” Hikaru said. “I wanted to go outside.”

“You should have waited,” Takeda said as he set Hikaru down. “You’re not strong enough to move yet. The doctor will be here to see you soon.”

Hikaru was quiet as Takeda set him down. Once back in the bed, he sighed. “Could you leave the door open?” he asked.

“Of course,” Takeda said. “I must apologize. I dropped your breakfast when I saw you fall. Just lay back, I will be back shortly.”

“Yes, sensei,” Hikaru said automatically.

A few minutes later, Takeda was back with breakfast. He waited as Hikaru sat up. Breakfast was spent talking about what had happened.
Hikaru was saddened by the news of his father’s death, but somehow was not surprised by it. “I was in a way expecting it,” he said. “Father seemed so distant the day before he left. It was almost as if he knew he wouldn’t return.”

“You’re right. Master Yoshihiro was preoccupied that day. He spent much time alone. I can only assume that is when he wrote this letter.” He took the letter out of his sleeve. “I’ve been carrying this since the night I read it. I am sorry that I read the letter without your permission.” Takeda bowed his head.

“It’s all right,” Hikaru said. “You didn’t know what was written there, so you need not be ashamed.” He took the letter from Takeda and read it for himself. When finished, he spoke, “When I am strong enough, I will find Shizuyo—my mother.”

Takeda looked at his young master and nodded in agreement. He was about to speak when a shout from the garden caught his attention. The two looked and the doctor appeared at the door.

“Ah, here you are,” the doctor said. “It’s nice to see you’ve awakened, Nakamura-san. Now, to see what damage has been done.” He shooed Takeda to one side and began his examination. A while later he declared no lasting harm had been done and prescribed much fresh air and short walks about to regain strength. “But no kenjustu until you can walk unassisted, and even then, you must not overexert yourself. You were hit fairly hard and spent too long sleeping. You need to gradually regain your strength.” The doctor stayed long enough to help Takeda walk Hikaru to the garden and then took his leave.
* * *
Three days into the voyage to Yokohama, Sam got sick. She had been all right for the first two days, but on the third, something went bad. She was working with the other cabin boys on deck when Captain Harding came along and began to quiz them on some of the operations of the ship. When he asked her what navigation aids were available, she hesitated and stammered out the first thing that came to mind. The other cabin boys laughed and Captain Harding berated them all. Sam, however, was taken aside and told the answer. “Thank you, sir,” was all she said before she was sick on the captain’s shoes.

She was sent below decks to the cabin she shared with her brother and told to clean up and then see the ship’s doctor. Captain Harding did not seem upset, but rather was mildly amused that it had taken three days for O’Riley’s young brother to become seasick.

Sam cleaned up and went to see Doctor Murphy. “Captain Harding sent me, sir,” she said.

Doctor Murphy looked up from his book and smiled, “Yes, he said you’d be coming. Have a seat, O’Riley, and let me take a look.”

Sam hesitated, and then sat down.
Murphy went about his business. “Everything seems to be fine,” he said. “You may have a touch of food poisoning, though. You had the stew last night, didn’t you?”

Sam nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Well, you’re not alone. I’ve seen three others with the same symptoms. Here, drink this down and you’ll be better in no time at all.” He held out a glass of white liquid.

Sam took the glass and drank. As she finished, she spotted a photograph on the doctor’s desk. It was the same photograph she had in her belongings in her cabin. It was a photograph of her parents.

Murphy noticed her reaction to the picture and laughed. “Don’t worry Samantha,” he said. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Sam looked at him. “Who are you? How do you know me?” Fear was mingling with the knot in her stomach.

“I’m your uncle Patrick,” he said. “Your mother is my oldest sister. Andrew told me all about you after your grandmother talked to him about your mission.”

“But…he never said anything to me.”

“I know. We didn’t want you to get frightened any more than you already are, but he decided it was best that I know. Just in case,” he said with a wink. “Now, get back to work, O’Riley, and tell Captain Harding that I want to talk to him.” He pointed at the door.

“Yes, sir,” Sam said and went to find the captain. She felt somewhat better from the medicine and from knowing she had another ally on board the Athene.
* * *
“When I awoke the next morning, I didn’t realize that I had slept for five days,” Hikaru said. “But I don’t know why I was in the guesthouse. Takeda-sensei moved me there.”

Satsuo had come to visit Hikaru as usual in the afternoon. He was happy to find Hikaru sitting in the garden, and was content to sit and talk with his friend. He still apologized for his clumsiness that caused the injury. “I’m sorry, Hikaru-kun, I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know. Takeda-sensei told me what happened. Don’t worry anymore. It was an accident and I don’t blame you.” Hikaru looked up and saw Takeda bringing a tray with tea out to the boys. “Let’s have some tea and you can tell me what the other students have been doing.”

Satsuo took the tray from Takeda and handed a cup to Hikaru. “Many of them have gone to other dojos to continue training, but some are waiting to return here.”

The two sat silently for a moment, drinking their tea. Hikaru looked up at a tree and sighed. “That may not be possible, Satsuo-kun,” he said. “My father will not be coming back, and I cannot run the dojo myself. Takeda-sensei has been sorting through my father’s papers.”

Satsuo looked at his friend and thought about what he had just said. “Your father?” he asked.

“Killed in battle,” Hikaru answered. “He died with honor, yet…”

“What?”

“Yet he left the affairs of the dojo in disarray. It may be that we never reopen. However nothing will be decided until I am stronger.”

“That is true. You must regain your strength first, but I hope that the dojo will open again.” Satsuo finished his tea.

“I don’t know, Satsuo-kun. It is something that I need to consider at length.” Hikaru set his tea down. He noticed his hand turning silver. He pulled it back quickly and tucked his arm into his kimono sleeve. He glanced at Satsuo, but his friend had not seen. “I… I think I need to lie down for a while,” he stammered.

“Should I get Takeda-sensei?” There was a tone of worry in Satsuo’s voice.

“Yes, please. I’m sorry, Satsuo-kun, but I’m very tired now. I need to rest.” His other hand had turned silver as well. He tucked it inside his kimono.

Satsuo went to look for Takeda and returned shortly with the teacher. “He was talking about the dojo and his father, then said he was very tired.”

Takeda nodded. He could see by the look on Hikaru’s face that something was wrong. “Thank you, Satsuo-kun. I can take care of him. Would you please open the door to the guesthouse?” He helped Hikaru to his feet and began to take him back inside.

Satsuo waited by the door. He made sure that Takeda got Hikaru into bed. “I will say goodbye for now, Hikaru-kun. Sleep well.” He bowed and then left.

Takeda turned to his young master. “What is wrong? You don’t seem over-tired. Did Satsuo say something to upset you?”

“No, sensei.” Hikaru pulled his hands out of his sleeves. “Satsuo-kun said nothing. It’s just…. this.” He held his hands out so Takeda could see. The silver seemed to have crept farther up his arms almost to his elbows. On the inside of each forearm, a mark had appeared. On the left was the glyph for fire; the right, metal. Those had not been there before. “What is happening to me?”

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Oooh... a cliffhanger! Haha!

Laters!

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