Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Waiting

After the doctor had left, Hikaru went to sit at Samantha’s side. Takeda explained as best as he could to Midori about why Hikaru had been silver. At first Midori was concerned, but her fears faded as she recalled how Samantha had always spoken of the silver boy she needed to help. “It’s all right, Takeda-san,” she said. “I understand. Sam-chan always spoke of Hikaru-kun before we met you.”

“I had forgotten about that as well. Sam-chan is a rather unusual young lady, isn’t she?” Takeda said with a yawn. “Pardon me. It’s gotten rather late now. I think it’s time to get some…” He stopped talking as he remembered Sam and Midori shared a room. “Excuse me a moment,” he added and went to talk to Hikaru. He came out a moment later. “He’s not going to leave her side, so you’ll have to use his room tonight. I better go clean it up for you.” He hurried off to Hikaru’s room to survey the mess.

Midori smiled to herself as Takeda hurried off, then went to her room to get some fresh clothes for morning. Hikaru didn’t look up as she entered the room. She met Takeda in the hall as he came out of Hikaru’s room. He was carrying some wet clothes.

“It’s clean now,” he said. “Good night, Midori-san.”

“Good night.”

Three days had passed since that night and Samantha had yet to awaken. She had broken an ankle in the fall, but a fever had set in the next day, and Hikaru would not leave her side. Takeda and Midori both offered to watch in his place, but he would just shake his head and refuse to move. Even when the doctor came by to check on Sam, Hikaru would not leave her side.

Takeda sighed as he returned to the sitting room after another attempt to get Hikaru to move. “I don’t know what to do, Midori-san,” he said.

Midori looked up from her mending. “He still won’t move?”

Takeda shook his head. “It’s been three days and he won’t leave her side. Not even to eat. I took the hibachi in to him, but I don’t know if the fire went out on its own or if he did it. You’ve seen how he gets if he doesn’t eat.”

Midori set aside her sewing and looked at Takeda. She could see the concern in his eyes and understood his feelings, but the tired look on his face worried her. “Takeda-san, would you like some tea?” she asked. “You’ve been working so hard.”

He smiled at her and said, “Yes, I would like that very much. Thank you.” He sat down by the table and watched Midori as she went to the kitchen. He was glad she was there, but his thoughts turned to Hikaru. Something needed to be done about him. Demonic heritage or not, it was bad for the boy’s health, both physical and mental, to stay by Sam’s side for three days. Takeda knew that Hikaru didn’t sleep like normal people, but he could see signs of exhaustion on his face. Something was bothering Hikaru, but he wouldn’t say a word about it.

Midori came from the kitchen carrying a tray with three cups of tea and some biscuits. She set two of the teacups on the table near Takeda along with a plate of biscuits. “I made some for Hikaru-kun. I hope he’ll have it.”

Takeda reached for a biscuit, but said nothing.

Midori took the tray back to Hikaru. She set it next to him and said, “I brought you some tea. Please have some.” She held the cup of tea out to him.

Hikaru didn’t respond.

Midori insisted, “Please, have some tea. It’s fine tea and is good for you.”

“I don’t want it,” Hikaru whispered. “Leave me alone.”

“No, I won’t leave you alone. You’ve neither eaten nor slept for three days. You’ve not moved from this spot. It’s not good for you.”

“I don’t want it,” he repeated.

Midori set the cup down. “All right,” she said quietly. “I know that normal food doesn’t satisfy you, and I know that you don’t sleep like normal people. But I also know this: you’ve been sitting here for three days. Takeda-san and I are just as worried about Sam-chan as you are, but we’re not starving ourselves. You’re just making things harder for Takeda-san by sitting here, and I don’t think Sam-chan would be very happy to see you making yourself ill on her account.”

Midori’s last words stung the hardest, and Hikaru held his breath. When he let it out and spoke, there was a slight sob to his voice. “I’m sorry,” he said. “This is all my fault. She got hurt because of me.”

“Oh, Hikaru-kun, is that what’s been bothering you all this time?” Midori asked. “I’m sure she doesn’t blame you for anything. And I’m sure she wouldn’t want you making yourself sick worrying about her.”

Hikaru held back the tears, but his voice still betrayed his feelings. “I’m so sorry, Midori-san. I don’t mean to make you worry, but I want to apologize to her as soon as she wakes up. I can’t leave until I apologize.”

“All right, I have an idea. You can stay here, but you have to eat something and try to get some sleep. Can you do that?”

Hikaru nodded.

“Is there anything in particular you’d like, aside from the fire?”

“No, this is fine. I’ll drink the tea you brought. I do like the flavor.”

Midori smiled as she got up to leave. “Thank you, Hikaru-kun. I’ll be sure to light the hibachi for you. Be sure to have some fire. You need to keep up your strength. For Sam-chan as much as anything.”

Takeda looked up as Midori came in. He was relieved to see her smiling. “So, did you get him to drink the tea?”

“Yes, and he wants the hibachi lit” She sat at the table to drink her own cup of tea. “I found out what is bothering him, too,” she continued.

“Oh, what is it?”

“He blames himself for Sam-chan’s accident. He won’t leave until she wakes up and he can apologize to her. I tried to tell him she won’t blame him for anything, but I don’t know if he accepts that or not.”

Takeda smiled. “He really cares for her. More than he realizes, I think. Well, I’ll go light the hibachi for him. I hope she wakes up soon. I’m getting too old for all this worrying.”

Hikaru finished the tea Midori had brought in. She was right, it was good, and the warmth spread through him, making him feel more relaxed. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep. He did not hear Takeda come in and light the hibachi, nor did he notice when Sam opened her eyes and looked about the room. She reached over and took his hand and went back to sleep.

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