Something seemed different. Hikaru noticed the change a few days after the strangers had visited with Takeda. The man had come only the one day, but the girl and woman would come over nearly every day. When they did come, Hikaru would feel a sense of calm that he had not felt since the accident at the dojo and after he received the news of his father’s death. Since that time he had been in turmoil. He felt angry at the world, at his father, at himself. Then there was the confusion. Confusion at what was happening to him, at what he was, at what he could do.
Hikaru was sitting at the back of the house, staring at the trees. It was just past noon and his lunch was next to him, untouched. He had been eating less and less as of late and that scared him. He was not feeling hungry like he used to. He would eat, but it left him feeling unfulfilled. He felt hungry for something else, but could not figure out what it was.
Takeda glanced out at Hikaru. He noticed the untouched food and went out to talk to the boy. “Hikaru-kun,” he said, “are you tired of my cooking already? You’ve hardly eaten.”
Hikaru looked up at his teacher and blushed. “It’s not that, sensei,” he said. “I don’t know what it is. I don’t feel hungry for food. There’s something else I need, but I can’t tell what.”
“You need to eat. It’s not healthy to go so long without food.”
“I know. I just don’t feel like eating right now.” Hikaru fought back a feeling of anger that had risen at Takeda’s concern.
Takeda didn’t notice Hikaru’s reaction and continued to express his concern. “I’ve also noticed that you’ve not been sleeping. I see you out here at night. Is something bothering you?”
This time Hikaru couldn’t suppress the anger he felt. A fiery rage swept through him and he shouted, “Leave me alone!” With those words, he leapt to his feet and promptly burst into green flame. He started to scream shortly thereafter.
Once he was over the initial shock, Takeda ran to the well for a bucket of water to throw over the boy. “H… Hikaru-kun, are you all right?” he stammered.
The shock of the water brought Hikaru back to his senses. He was soaking wet and scared. He was also silver. He looked at his hands, which had been engulfed in flame only moments before, and quietly said, “I don’t know, sensei. What is happening?” He could feel a sense of panic begin to flow through him, and with it the feeling of fire. The hissing of steam preceded the emergence of the flames. “Help me!” he cried.
Takeda tried to approach Hikaru, but the heat of the flames kept him back. His mind raced as he tried to think of a way to put out the fire that surrounded the boy. Suddenly he knew what to do. “Hikaru, this way,” he said and beckoned for the boy to follow. He led him into the house to the bath. “Get in the water. Quickly, boy, lest the whole house go up in flames.”
Hikaru climbed into the tub, sending up a great cloud of steam as flame hit water. Within moments the fire was out. “Thank you, sensei,” he said as he sank into the tub, letting the water reach his chin. “What is happening to me? Why is this happening?”
Takeda sighed. “I don’t know, Hikaru-kun. Let’s not worry about it for now. You just sit there for a while and try to calm down. We’ll sort it out later.” He turned to leave, but hesitated at the door. “You may want to take off your clothes, however,” he said with a smile.
Hikaru stood up long enough to disrobe and gave his wet clothes to Takeda, and then he sat down again. “Thank you, sensei,” he said as the water swirled around.
Takeda left Hikaru to relax and went outside with the wet clothes.
I may as well do the rest of the laundry, he thought. He went into the house to get the other things and returned to the well to do the washing. As he went through the clothing, he noticed that which Hikaru had been wearing showed no sign of having been on fire. Something was truly different about that flame.
***
Nakamura was preparing to return to Tokyo and wanted to stop to see Takeda once more with the hope he could speak to Hikaru. He had left much of the preparations to Yonaha and walked over to the small house where his grandson lived. When he arrived, he could hear Takeda in the back yard working on laundry.
Takeda looked up as Nakamura came around the house. He was mildly surprised to see him. “Nakamura-san, what can I help you with?”
“I’m returning to Tokyo later today, Takeda-san. Is there any chance Hikaru would be receiving visitors today?”
Takeda set the laundry aside. “Unfortunately, he’s not feeling well today. I’m sorry. I wish it could be otherwise, but he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
Nakamura was disappointed, but understood. “I see. That’s quite all right. I will send a letter once I get back to Tokyo and will explain things. Perhaps an invitation to…” His voice trailed off as the clatter of the door behind him announced the arrival of Hikaru.
Takeda looked up and Nakamura turned to see Hikaru standing in the door. Both of the Nakamura men were surprised to see the other, but it was hard to tell who was more surprised. Hikaru at seeing his grandfather, or Nakamura at seeing his grandson silver.
Hikaru felt a wave of panic and he closed the door. Stripping his clothes off as he ran, he returned to the bath and quickly got back into the water to prevent himself from bursting into flame again. What was his grandfather doing there?
Nakamura stared at the door. “What was that?” he asked. “Was that Hikaru? What happened?” His voice was calm.
Takeda realized he had been holding his breath and let out a sigh. One of his worst fears had come to light. Nakamura-san had seen Hikaru in his demon form. He gestured to Nakamura. “Please, have a seat,” he said. “You are correct in assuming that was Hikaru. As you can see, he has some of his mother’s traits.”
Nakamura sat on the bench. “I was concerned about how much of his mother would be in him,” he said. “Now it’s apparent he shares her ability to change.”
Takeda looked at the older man. “But he has a lot of his father in him as well,” he said quietly.
“That’s good to hear. I can see the resemblance.”
The two men fell silent for a moment. Takeda broke the silence. “Excuse me a moment, please. I wish to check on Hikaru.”
“Of course, I understand. He did look rather distressed at my presence.”
“Thank you,” Takeda said and went into the house. He followed the trail of clothing to the bath. Listening at the door, he could hear the boy moving about within. He knocked. “Hikaru-kun, are you all right?”
The boy didn’t answer.
“May I come in?” Takeda had to listen carefully to hear Hikaru’s answer. He slid the door open and found the boy in the tub again. “Are you all right?”
“What is he doing here?”
“He came to see you once more before returning to Tokyo. I guess he saw you.”
“I guess so. Is he shocked by my appearance?”
“Mildly. He seems to have had some idea that you may have some of your mother’s traits.”
“Ah,” Hikaru said as he sank down into the water.
“Do you want to talk to him? He’s leaving for Tokyo later today, and he did come over to say ‘Goodbye.’”
Hikaru shook his head and sank even further into the water until it lapped at the tip of his nose.
“I can’t say that I understand what you’re feeling, Hikaru-kun, but it would be nice if you would say something to your grandfather. He is a busy man and needs to return to Tokyo soon. Will you at least meet him?”
Hikaru’s answer was only to slip completely underwater.
Takeda sighed and left the room to return to the back yard where Nakamura waited. “Forgive me for making you wait,” he said. “It would seem Hikaru-kun still doesn’t want to see anyone. I apologize for his rudeness.”
Nakamura smiled sadly. “He’s not being rude at all. He seems to have inherited his father’s stubborn streak.” He stood up. “I’ve taken up too much of your time, Takeda-sensei. Forgive me.”
Takeda was surprised at the older man’s use of sensei. “It’s been no trouble at all. I just wish Hikaru hadn’t been so rude. He’s usually not this way. It’s just that since the accident at the dojo and the death of his father, he’s been going through so much.”
“Accident? What happened?” Concern edged Nakamura’s voice.
Takeda looked mildly embarrassed at mentioning the accident. “I’m making more of it than it actually was, but Hikaru was knocked out by one of the students. He was unconscious for several days after that.” He fell silent.
Nakamura remembered what Satsuo had said at the inn about hitting Hikaru. Now he knew what had happened. He could tell Takeda was not comfortable speaking of it. “I see,” he said. “You don’t wish to speak of it. I understand. It should be Hikaru-kun that speaks of it, if it is to be spoken of at all.”
“Thank you, Nakamura-san. I’m glad you understand. It’s been difficult these past few weeks, but I’m hoping things will be under control again soon.”
“Yes, and with that, I must leave now. Give my regards to Hikaru, please. I do wish I had had the chance to speak with him.”
“Of course, I’ll let him know you’re thinking of him.” Takeda hesitated. “One more thing, Nakamura-san, please say nothing of what you saw today.”
Nakamura smiled. “Don’t worry. I will keep this to myself, sensei. Now I must go. Sayônara.” He turned and walked around the house out of sight.
Takeda sat down on the bench with a sigh. He was happy that Nakamura was so understanding yet was angry with Hikaru for being so self-centered. He sat for a few minutes and then returned to the laundry that sat unattended by the well.
