Samurai Awakening Read online

  As May turned to June, the weather changed from warm spring to hot and muggy summer. David got an immediate response to his attempts at bowing. Classmates seemed more relaxed, but the best change was from Mizuki and her friends. With no ammunition to use against him, the comments from the Natsuki’s group died off dramatically.

  David’s week got even better when Rie surprised him outside the gym after practice.

  “Guess what,” she said.

  “Umm, you were late for practice?” David said. Rie gave him an exasperated frown, and then punched him in the arm.

  “I had a student council meeting,” she said. “We’re having a class barbeque at the beach this weekend! I’m going to have to get a new swimsuit.” Her eyes widened and then she was suddenly gone, leaving David to wait for Takumi alone.

  ‘She’s getting strange,’ David thought. ‘It’s like every time she treats me like… like a friend, she suddenly disappears.’

  A few days later, David found himself sitting next to Takumi and Rie in the back of the Matsumotos’ car, riding along a sea road with Yukiko at the wheel.

  “I hope that the three of you did not forget anything. I will not be back until later tonight,” Yukiko said as she turned into the beach’s parking lot.

  “We’ll be great! All of Class 2B will be there to kick off the summer,” Takumi said, even more excited by the party than David.

  “It was so nice of the Ashikawas to plan everything and stay to help with the food.” Yukiko’s casual remark seemed to suck the excitement out of the air as Rie stiffened.

  “They didn’t say anything about that at the meeting,” Rie moaned. Takumi suddenly gave all his attention to the grills, awnings, and the beach outside the window. Seeing his reaction, Rie nearly jumped across David to get to Takumi. “You knew!” Luckily, the car pulled to a stop behind a patio.

  Waving goodbye Yukiko drove off to do shopping in nearby Himeji. The entire 2B class seemed to be present, minus Chul Moo. It took David a few minutes to figure out whom the group of girls looking longingly at the parking lot were waiting for. When they saw it was David and the twins, the group turned back towards the beach. Other groups of his classmates were already playing volleyball, swimming, and lounging under the awnings.

  Takumi introduced David to the Ashikawas, Natsuki’s parents and the Matsumotos’ neighbors. Although not overly thrilled to meet the people who had raised his most outspoken critic, David did his best to bow as appropriately as Rie had taught him.

  “Oh it’s so nice to see you Rie!” Mrs. Ashikawa called to Rie as she tried to move quietly away. “You should come to the house, we miss seeing you. You used to be over all the time.”

  Forcing a smile in return, Rie gave a noncommittal reply and excuse before hurrying away towards some of her friends. Takumi continued to chat with Mr. Ashikawa, so David wandered away after a few forced smiles of his own. As he passed the volleyball net, he was pulled into a game by a short-sided team despite his weak attempts to protest.

  After his fifth miss in a row, David gladly gave up his position to Daiki, and headed back to the awnings where Rie was sitting. Shou intercepted him half way there.

  “Hey, a bunch of people are gonna go swimming. Go get ready!” Shou continued running from group to group, encouraging everyone to head over to the water. He ended with Natsuki and her friends, who were lying out on towels a bit away from everyone else.

  David headed to the awnings to drop off his shirt and sandals while people began heading to the water. Naoto and Kenta were already horsing around in the water, throwing the soccer ball and trying to catch it before it hit the water.

  “Hey Misaki, Ayaka, let’s go for a swim. How about you Miu?” Rie asked, turning to the girls next to her.

  “No thanks, I’ll go help start the food. I am in the cooking club.” Mie pointed to her apron and lack of swimsuit as she got up to help the Ashikawas. Ayaka and Misaki got up to follow Rie to the water.

  “Hey David! Want to go swimming with us?” asked Misaki noticing David nearby.

  “Sure! I’m from the desert after all, I can’t pass up water.” David was surprised by Misaki’s invitation, he rarely had a chance to speak to Rie’s other friends.

  “Wow, really?” Misaki asked, her eyes wide.

  “No, it was just a joke, I like the beach though,” he said hurriedly after seeing her confused reaction. Sarcasm and other American jokes still did not translate well for him.

  “Oh I thought it was some kind of strange rule, you have to take water when offered or something,” Misaki said with a laugh.

  As the four walked towards the water, Natsuki and a group of her friends talking in loud voices closely followed them. David walked to the waterline, but froze when he reached it. Unable to make his body step into the water, he felt an unnatural, and for him a first, fear of the ocean. He felt the depths and mysteries of it swell out before him and somehow knew the ocean was something just completely not a part of him. David’s body tensed, his eyes glazed orange. Rie stopped. The salty blue water was up to her knees.

  “Are you alright?” she asked.

  From off to the side Natsuki gave a raucous laugh.

  “Oh look! David’s afraid of the water,” Natsuki said loudly enough for everyone to hear.

  David blushed red and tried to make himself get into the water. Unable to control the feeling of fear, and seeing Rie turn to face down Natsuki in his defense, David turned and walked swiftly down the beach before even more people were dragged into it.

  David just caught Rie ask, “Should I tell everyone what you’re afraid of Natsuki?” before they were out of range.

  Confused, David wandered towards a patch of rocks down the beach. Sitting alone and wondering what had happened, he watched the groups swim and play in the shallow waves. His attention waning, David’s thoughts drifted back over the last few months.

  Although he felt stronger everyday as he continued running and training, he was still surprised by the random changes affecting his life. Although he could speak Japanese, he never knew when a bit of culture shock might hit him. Worse of all, his family grew ever more removed from his world.

  His conversations with Jess especially were growing shorter since most things of importance in his life revolved around what was happening at the Estate. Masao insisted he keep his training secret. David constantly had to catch himself so as not to tell her about every success he made in summoning the metal, and his sister was not interested in badminton since she had never played. Instead, David relied on the twins. Takumi seemed determined to help him be more social, while Rie was just always there. He still harbored a secret fear that they would grow sick of his company.

  Aside from changes in his relationship with his family, the effects of the Kami were beginning to change him. The danger of running into barriers, like the inexplicable inability to get in the water, seemed to hang over him like a shadow.

  ‘There’s still so much I don’t understand about being a Jitsugen Samurai,’ he thought. ‘I’m still scared of my reflection. Is this part of it? Being afraid of the ocean, of water? Can I never go swimming again?’

  David knew from the way the Matsumotos had spoken that more sacrifices would be coming, and possibly soon. As he thought about it, he tried to remember back when he had wanted to swim. When he thought about the ocean, even now when he looked out across the waves he felt no hint of the fear or aversion that had been so strong only minutes before.

  David sat as still as the rocks around him. Lost, he searched his own mind for answers. As he sat, seagulls began to land around him on the rocks and sand. They squawked and jostled each other. Suddenly lunging, David dived after the birds nearest him, his eyes a bright orange glow in the early summer sun. Too slow to actually catch the wary birds, he leapt after them again and again. They easily fluttered outside of his reach, squawking at him angrily if he got too close.

  Coming up from behind him, Rie lightly touched David on the shoulder as he s
quatted on the sand, intently watching the birds. At her touch, David spun and stood at the same time—his surprised reaction a combination of attack and defense he had practiced with Grandpa. David suddenly had Rie on the ground, her arm locked in his. David shook his head and released her as his eyes changed back to their normal blue. He blinked.

  “What’s up?” he asked curiously. Rie stared at him for a second, then took a deep breath as if readying for a sparring match against Grandpa.

  “You know,” she said slowly. “You never said anything about my new swimsuit.”

  Surprised, David tried to think of something to say, but before he could, Rie lifted her hand. Embarrassed, but not completely sure why, David pulled her up.

  “Why were you on the ground?” he asked.

  “I slipped. Come on! Time for food,” she said as she trotted off towards the patio, David followed.

  After they enjoyed plates of fried noodles and drinks, everyone lined up in front of a watermelon. Using a blindfold and a stick, Shiori, a classmate originally from Okinawa, showed everyone the art of watermelon smashing by missing beautifully and sending up a shower of sand. As each 2B student attempted to open up the watermelon, the rest shouted, attempting to misdirect the blindfolded student.

  David smiled, reminded of the piñatas popular during Arizona birthdays. His face clouded a little then, as he remembered he would never go home.

  ‘I’ve made my choice,’ he thought and fixed a smile to his face. As Takumi stepped up to take his turn, a group of boys quickly stopped him from putting on the blindfold.

  “No way!” Kenta said. David recognized the burly boy from the student council.

  “Yeah, you and Rie go last. Otherwise none of us will have a chance,” Tsubasa added. Only half joking, the wiry boy pointed to the back of the line.

  Laughing, the rest of the class joined in and pushed the twins to the back. Since their point was quite valid, the twins merely smiled and let their classmates maneuver them. Either one of the Matsumotos would have easily been able to crack open the watermelon due to their training.

  About halfway through the class Kenta pulled David to the front of the line. Known for clumsiness, he was sure they expected an entertaining show. Kenta blindfolded him, spun him around, and then handed him the stick. Well-schooled in the ways of the piñata, however, David stopped and listened to the shouts around him in order to orientate himself. He then took a few steps forward and brought his stick down on the melon.

  Cracking it perfectly in two, David was greeted with cheers and slaps on his back. Those who had yet to go smiled ruefully, playfully punching Tsubasa and Kenta. After David got the first and largest piece of watermelon, his classmates divided up the rest and set out to enjoy the quickening dusk before lighting off fireworks and talking the rest of the evening away.

  ‘I bet I’m the first Jitsugen Samurai with even a little international experience,’ he thought thinking back on the watermelon. ‘Maybe I really can do this.’ He smiled as flames spouted around him from a hundred different rockets and sparklers.

  Awakening

  June,

  The moments of clarity were like the first glimpse of prey, yet they lacked something critical. The visions were little more than a teasing temptation, like visiting a zoo and suddenly realizing you’re the one behind the bars…

  In America, David would have been well into summer vacation. In Japan, however, he was displeased to learn that summer break was much shorter and that the first of three semesters lasted until the middle of July. So it was the Monday after the beach party, with plenty of school to look forward to, that David was suddenly woken up by the strange voice in his head.

  ‘Wake up! Go hunt.’

  Grumbling, David sat up and looked around for the source of the voice. Rie poked her head into the room, and, seeing David, smiled. He eyed her warily.

  “Finally getting used to the early mornings, right? Let’s go!” Rie’s energy was contagious. Suddenly wide-awake, David got himself ready as soon as she retreated from his room.

  The morning’s practice was the best yet. He kept up with the twin’s steady pace for a good portion of the five kilometer run, falling back only in the last two kilometers. He started practice already tired and sweating, but at least no longer splayed out on the floor unable to move. After the usual empty-handed basics, David took up his wooden sword and joined the twins in sword basics. Its weight had been hard on him at first, but as his arms adjusted, even that was becom­­ing comfortable in his hands. Rounding out the session were brief sparing matches. The twins were still so beyond his level that he practiced choreographed fights called kata when they sparred.

  David was especially glad for his ability to heal quickly. Even with the handmade set of armor that Grandpa gave him, David still received so many bruises from the twins that people at school would surely become concerned if he did not heal before classes began. Like the rest of the Matsumotos, David’s new armor was in the style of the old samurai, but was made with modern technology and materials. The way Grandpa smiled when he received it made David wonder if there was more to the armor than met his eyes. It was completely black and un-adorned, unlike the twins’, which seemed to have been painted by kindergarteners.

  ‘I don’t know about the skirt… Couldn’t they update that design at least?’ David had wondered. Takumi had shaken his head just enough to warn David not to comment aloud.

  After practice, everyone changed and got ready for the school day. David joined Rie and Takumi in the main room for breakfast. The twins, already in their school uniforms, ate a traditional Japanese breakfast. Entering from the kitchen, Yukiko carried tea for the twins.

  “Dad and Grandpa are still working and will eat later. Good Morning David, ready for breakfast?” Yukiko asked.

  “Definitely, I’m starving. I’d really like some meat if you have it,” David said with an air of distraction. Yukiko and the twins stared at him, but he pulled at a loose string on his uniform pants and didn’t notice.

  “Of course. Have a seat,” Yukiko said, uncertainty in her voice. “Anything in particular? I have some steaks thawing I could get.”

  “That would be great! Thanks! Oh, rare please,” David said, still missing the others’ stares. Takumi and Rie glanced at each other as David sat down and Yukiko left.

  “What’s with the breakfast of just meat?” Rie asked quietly. David started to answer, and then stopped, confused.

  “I don’t know.” David lapsed back into silence as he waited for Yukiko, trying to figure out why he had such a craving for meat.

  ‘I normally just eat whatever the twins are having. How strange.’

  Yukiko returned with a plate of steak cooked well, the way he usually liked it. After David gave his thanks, he took a ravenous bite and nearly choked. Grimacing he swallowed convulsively.

  “David! Are you alright?” Yukiko gasped.

  “Yeah! I was just surprised, I guess. It’s pretty well done,” he replied. Catching himself, he continued, “Uh no, I mean it’s fine!”

  He tried to reassure Yukiko that he did not need anything else, and she retreated to the kitchen while the twins finished their meals. David wolfed down the rest of the steak, licking his lips while Takumi watched him over the rim of his soup bowl.

  “Must be a gaijin thing,” Rie muttered with a grin. “We better go, or we’ll be late.” Rie gave David a final sidelong glance before getting up.

  As David and the twins walked, he was so preoccupied that he missed Rie and Takumi whispering all the way to school. David’s first three periods passed in a daze. It was not until fourth period, when Fukiko, the English teacher was up at the front of the classroom talking about subject changes and “be” verbs that David could let his mind wander free. Along with David, many of his classmates were dozing or staring out the window. Only a few hard chargers actually took notes, or at least worked on their homework.

  ‘At least this is one class I won’t have to worry ab
out passing,’ David thought.

  ‘Without me you would fail every test. Or do you think you would know the Japanese meaning for all your English words on your own?’ Unlike the few times he had heard it before, the voice in David’s head was distinct, the tone mocking.

  ‘I so don’t need my subconscious giving me a hard time.’

  Fukiko looked around the room at the lolling heads and vacant eyes. Turning, she began to write assignments and page numbers on the board.

  ‘Like I am your subconscious… give me some credit.’ The voice spoke once more before Mizuki’s call to attention jerked David out of his reverie.

  Standing with the rest of his classmates, David tried to catch Takumi alone as they walked to lunch, but was unable to get him away from Naoto and Shou. Getting in line for lunch, Rie and her friends Ayaka and Misaki followed close behind. Chul Soon waved to him from a seat in the lunchroom, having already gone through the line. David put the last lesson’s strangeness up to hunger as his stomach rumbled.

  “Hey David, how are classes going? Can you help us out with the English homework again? Fukiko-sensei gave us a lot!” Naoto grinned hopefully from the front of the group. Just behind, Shou glanced over hopefully.

  “Classes are good, though I think just about everyone was out in English today. Takumi can get you a copy after I finish, right?” David said. He was happy he could finally use better Japanese. Most people figured he just had an inclination for languages, though David still made mistakes on purpose to throw off any suspicion it was far more.

  “Yeah, I can. English is easy now that you’re here. I sleep in class and still get the homework right.” Naoto laughed again, stretching and yawning widely.

  “It’s bad enough you copy David’s English, but it’s even worse that you copy his Japanese… but then so do I.” Rie’s sudden input elicited a string of giggles from the girls behind her.

  “Hey give the guy a break, do your own homework this week.” Takumi’s friends eyed him as if he had just stabbed them. Takumi on the other hand just eyed the bentos, Japanese boxed lunches. “Looks like today there is curry or stuffed fish.”