Samurai Awakening Page 12

  “I think I’ll just go with the curry today, I still haven’t gotten used to eating the entire fish,” David said, trying not to think about the previous period. He waited while Naoto and Shou both got their lunches then reached for the food. His hand froze. Just as he had stopped at the ocean, his hand seemed to ignore his will. His eyes furrowed in concentration as he fought to make his hand take the curry rice.

  “Hurry up, I’m hungry,” a third year shouted from further back in the line. It was one of Koji’s friends. One of the students that had been there the day David was pushed around.

  David’s mind blanked in anger as his hand jerked to the fish. With fish bento in hand, he headed for their usual lunch spot. Takumi caught up with him as he passed the first tables.

  “What was that about? I thought you still don’t like eating the fish heads?” Takumi asked, confused.

  “I don’t. I tried to take the curry but I couldn’t make my hand do it. It was like someone else was controlling my body.” David’s eyes unfocused and he nearly dropped his bento in surprise as the voice wormed its way into his mind again.

  ‘What can I say? The fish looks so much better than that brown mush.’

  “What’s wrong? Your eyes keep glassing over,” Takumi whispered while supporting David’s arm. Takumi helped David over to their table, where they sat with Chul Soon and their other friends. Everyone was oblivious to David and Takumi’s hushed conversation as the latest gossip about their favorite new pop idols and baseball teams were discussed with equal interest.

  “I think I just need some time to get my head together. I swear I almost think I’m hallucinating,” David whispered.

  “After lunch let’s skip badminton and take a walk around the school,” Takumi said, casually eying the lunchroom. “I’ll show you some places you haven’t seen yet. That will give you a chance to clear your head.”

  Takumi spoke calmly. With a nod and grunt, David began eating, ferociously attacking the small stuffed fishes and accompanying rice and vegetables, completely ignoring the conversations around him. For the first time he ate the fishes as they were intended to be eaten: head, bones, and all.

  After lunch, Takumi dragged David off, making excuses to their friends for missing the free period games. Walking along, Takumi allowed David to zone out again as he kept up a one-sided conversation for the sake of any passersby.

  ‘I’m surprised you have yet to figure it out. Based on what the Matsumotos have said, you have had plenty of clues.’ The voice was clear and distinct in his mind, as if it had been waiting for the perfect moment.

  ‘Why won’t you leave me alone? What are you anyway? I must have knocked something loose when I ran into the shrine. Japan is driving me crazy.’

  ‘That was weeks ago. Do you not find it strange that you think in Japanese now?’

  ‘I’m a quick learner. I’ve been here three months, of course I think in Japanese.’

  ‘Really, you should not lie to yourself. Maybe if you learned to enjoy some of your more… animalistic instincts, you could be more flexible. You spend all your time thinking things out, why not just react?’

  Takumi guided David through the halls and buildings, keeping him out of the way of other students with a light touch. Moving away from the school buildings, they walked towards the Gym.

  ‘So you’re a split personality? You made me take the fish today, and the thing with the mouse, the ocean, and steak?’

  ‘Well it is boring just watching you all the time. And no, you are not crazy. Do you really think Kami just sit back and let the humans have all the fun?’

  ‘Get out of my head! Leave me alone. I’m just a normal kid. I’m just a normal kid. I’m just a normal kid.’

  ‘Repeating yourself will not help. You have never been normal. Besides, normal is overrated.’

  David and Takumi entered the gym. Students were everywhere, playing badminton and basketball, sitting in groups talking, or otherwise occupying their time. Takumi waved to a group of friends as they walked. Chul Moo lurked in a corner of the gym. As usual, a group of girls spied on him.

  ‘Hey, it is not all bad, right? With me around you can speak Japanese. And even though you are not paying attention, and I am only a few months old, I can already keep you from running into things.’

  David veered into a wall. Bouncing off, he shook his head trying to regain his balance. Takumi grabbed David and pulled him out a side door.

  ‘See? We are going to get along very well.’

  ‘Very funny,’ David thought with a scowl. Then as he thought about it, he chuckled. It was funny. ‘Where did you come from? Why me?’

  ‘You helped create me. When you sacrificed yourself, I was created, and at the same time, I saved you. You would have died if I had not possessed you when I did. We are mortally linked. A new Kami and a dead human, two minds that will learn and grow together. I am the source of your power as a Jitsugen Samurai. You are the reason for my existence, and it is a good thing too, because there is definitely a need for us. Now then, let us go find something to hunt.’

  David and Takumi stopped before a room where a few students were practicing a martial art David was not familiar with.

  ‘I’m not going to go chasing mice just because you tell me to.’

  ‘Oh no?’

  David fell into a crouch, freezing as his will battled the Kami’s.

  ‘No way! People already think I’m strange. I won’t.’

  “Hey! That’s pretty good. I guess practice is starting to rub off on you,” Takumi said, speaking to David directly for the first time since they began their walk. Takumi pulled him up from his crouch. David’s movement had nearly matched one of the students practicing.

  “Sorry I’ve been a bit distracted,” David said. Shaking his head, he stood.

  “Oh I know. Figured I’d give you two a chance to talk. Grandpa said this might happen soon. He also told me not to interfere unless he, or she I guess, was about to give you away.” Takumi spoke carefully, bracing for the avalanche he knew would come anyway.

  “You knew! I thought I was going crazy!” David’s suddenly loud voice caught the attention of the martial arts students. Waving his apology, Takumi guided David outside, into the secluded area behind the gym.

  “Dad said it would be better if your Kami made the introductions, rather than one of us trying to explain things,” Takumi said apologetically.

  “Right, well it would have been nice to have a warning, you know, something like ‘Oh he might speak to you and make you chase after mice,’” David fumed.

  “They didn’t tell me until a few days ago! They only told Rie and I in case something like this happened at school. Anyway, what’s it like? I know your Kami is just awakening, but I’m dying to know.”

  “Awakening?” David asked, once again confused. They continued walking alongside the school’s soccer field, where a group of first years was playing.

  “Well your Kami is part of the one you saved Grandpa from, but it’s personality, powers, form, will all be unique. They’ll also be infantile, but with some kind of deep wisdom or something,” Takumi answered.

  David’s eyes flashed to a bright orange.

  “Who is calling who infantile? You will not even ask Natsuki out.” Takumi jumped back in shock, his body reacting to the change in David’s eyes, voice, and manner by falling into a familiar Matsumoto fighting stance. Takumi had never said anything to David about Natsuki, but by his expression, David knew the Kami had been spot on. David shuddered and coughed, clawing at his throat. His eyes returned to their normal blue again as he spotted Rie coming up behind Takumi.

  “That. Was. Strange,” David said, coughing again. “The voice came out of me!” After the voice remained silent and David recovered, he continued, “I don’t know if I would call an obsession with rare meat, mice, and string deep wisdom. Before today, he’s only said a few words, and only while I was falling asleep. I thought he was my conscience or something. The whole b
ody control thing is really disturbing, though it seems I can stop him if I concentrate.”

  David smiled to Rie. His host brother eyed him as if unsure who was in control of David’s body.

  “What’s his name?” she asked.

  Takumi jumped hearing Rie voice from right behind him. His eyes wide in shock he looked quickly between David and Rie, as if trying to guess how much she had heard.

  “What’s with you?” Rie asked, with a questioning look at Takumi.

  “Sorry, David’s Kami surprised me, it decided to say hello,” Takumi replied sourly.

  “Oh well, when I saw David earlier I figured it was the awakening and slipped away as soon as I could,” she said brightly.

  “I don’t know what his name is. I’ll check,” David said frowning uncertainly. His eyes unfocused as he searched his mind for the Kami. As he concentrated, the nearby soccer players started to leave the field, heading to change before class.

  ‘Hey, what’s your name?’ David thought. ‘Hello? Oh so now you shut up?’

  “He isn’t answering,” David said, unable to find the Kami within him. Rie simply stared back at him.

  “Grandpa said that might happen,” she said finally. “We better go.” Rie started walking away from the gym. “It takes a lot for the Kami to mold itself to a human’s mind at first. Though apparently as time goes by it will get easier, especially after you change.” David stopped abruptly as the twins continued walking. A bell tolled the end of free period.

  “What change? Haven’t I already changed enough? Half my soul is locked in a piece of metal!” David raged, angry at once again getting only part of the story.

  “Later! We will be late for Japanese!” Rie called over her shoulder. Seeing David behind them, she ran back and grabbed his hand. After the slightest pause, her hand tightened in his and she pulled him towards their class.

  Of Dogs and Cats

  June,

  The first time was a challenge. I had been working up to it, but it was still far more exhausting than I anticipated. Finally, a chance to talk with David…

  The trio made it back to class just before the bell rang. Natsuki, Kaeda, and Yuka, were talking by the entrance and eyed them with evil smiles as they entered.

  “Oh look, it’s Rie and her new boyfriend David. I knew her standards were low, but I thought she had some self-respect,” Natsuki said. David felt his cheeks go immediately red.

  ‘Rie and me?’ he thought.

  “And living in the same house too!” added Kaeda quickly.

  “Scandalous,” added Yuka enjoying the innuendo. David was so stunned he barely registered Takumi lock his hand around Rie’s arm. The movement, however, brought his attention back to his host sister. She looked more dangerous and angry than anyone he had ever seen before.

  “My, my, Natsuki,” Chul Moo’s voice, so rarely used, rolled deeply from his throat. The girls jumped in surprise. “You must be jealous, everyone being so interested in Rie.”

  Chul Moo’s smile deflated Rie while Natsuki’s eyes went wide. Her mouth worked silently, but the door opened again and Nakashita, the Japanese language teacher, came in.

  “Alright everyone, take your seats so we can get started,” Nakashita said, completely missing the awkward atmosphere.

  The rest of the class was filled with whispering about David, Rie, Natsuki, and Chul Moo. Unbothered by the Kami, David had no escape from the stares and buried himself in his Japanese book. It only got worse as the day progressed.

  ‘I’ve never thought of anyone like that,’ David thought. ‘Now I know how Takumi felt, well, I guess he does like Natsuki. Rie though…’

  With the idea planted in their heads, the school was soon awash in rumors about Rie and David, plus the mysterious Chul Moo, who the students were always willing to discuss. By practice time, David was left out of the gossip as they focused on Chul Moo and Rie. The question of whether they were living together and dating was dropped in lieu of the popular interest in the unknown quantity of the other student in 2B.

  Although glad to be left out of the gossip, David found the idea that Chul Moo and Rie could be together even more confusing. Chul Soon seemed to sympathize with David as they met in the boy’s locker room after practice.

  “My brother just shouldn’t speak. People always tend to take his words the wrong way,” Chul Soon said with mock dejection. “Now that he’s the talk of the school he’s just going to be that much more sullen.”

  “Maybe,” replied David softly. Chul Soon talking about his brother made David think back to Jess and the latest email she had sent. They were becoming fewer and fewer. Her orbit was drifting away from him and he missed the connection. David said as much to Chul Soon. Just as he could not talk with his sister about being a Jitsugen Samurai, neither could he talk to Chul Soon, yet something about him made David want to confide in him, at least a little.

  “Rie has been so helpful lately. She reminds me of my sister a lot, but in a different way. I mean I guess she’s my host-sister, but then, I’m not sure it’s the same,” David said.

  With a smile and a wink, Chul Soon tried to console him. He was obviously interested in what David could not tell his sister that was dividing them, but had the tact not to intrude.

  “Rie and Jessica are both obviously very important to you. You should hold on to both of them, no matter the cost.” Chul Moo let his words drift away with a friendly smile. Leaving David with his own thoughts, Chul Soon got up to go find his brother.

  After badminton practice, David met Takumi to walk home. Rie had a student council meeting, so they left before her. David knew he could not talk to Takumi about Rie, and was sure he would not appreciate hearing about Jessica again. Besides, he had far more pressing concerns that Takumi could help him with.

  “Ok, so first, what is Natsuki’s problem, and second, what else have you neglected to tell me about my new house guest?” David spoke as soon as they were out of earshot of anyone near them. Laughing, Takumi checked around again, the closest person being Chul Soon walking off in a completely different direction.

  “That’s rich coming from you, Mr. Exchange Student. I told you what happened in elementary. You like Rie. I mean she’s your friend,” he quickly amended, “so Natsuki doesn’t like you. Plus, she thinks you don’t have to work for anything, which really annoys her. Any chance to get a few points, she’ll take, but I think she’s still the old Natsu inside,” Takumi said. “Hey I need to stop in the bank real quick, mind waiting a second?” Takumi turned just after the grocery store.

  “Uh sure,” David said, already distracted by his own thoughts on the day’s events. Waiting in front of the bank, David’s eyes wandered around the old buildings. Across the street, where darkness gathered in the space between two buildings, a glint caught his eye.

  Deep in the shadows, two large yellow eyes glowed, staring at David. As he shaded his eyes to see better, the shadows deepened and moved. A dog slowly stepped forward. Larger than any David had seen before, it was a super-sized, black haired wolf with interesting patterns of white fur around its snout and ears. David relaxed, taking it for a stray. Then the wolf changed in an instant. No longer was it a cute stray, its hackles raised, teeth bared, it turned into a vicious and horrifying version of its previous appearance.

  Pushing back against a wall, David felt the fear rise within him, the same fear he had felt during the day on the beach and during Jahangir’s attack. He stared back into the intelligent yellow eyes, unable to look away. He knew what it was; he had seen them in Grandpa’s visions. The ōkami seemed to smile. The look of confidence a hunter might have right before making an easy kill. Then it sprang.

  David dropped his bag and took off down the road. While two months of training had helped him improve, he was no sprinter. Still, with the ōkami hot on his heels, panic surged through him. Quickly tiring, he ran without paying any thought to his direction.

  ‘Run! It is going to get us!’ David’s Kami was suddenly awa
ke and powerful in his mind, as if fed by his adrenaline.

  ‘I’m so not a runner.’ David fought desperately, willing his legs to move faster.

  ‘It is almost here David, run! RUN!’

  Before the ōkami could reach him, David’s body convulsed. A strange sensation, as if he was suddenly in a giant wind tunnel, ran through him. His perspective shifted. Unable to feel his own body, David panicked, screwing his eyes shut.

  “Hey! Stop that. I cannot see!”

  The Kami’s voice growled aloud, echoing hugely in his suddenly sensitive ears. Opening his eyes, David found he was far, far too close to the ground. He was weaving in and out of overly large trees and bushes, cutting front yards and skittering along property walls. Orange furred paws flitted into his view then disappeared just as quickly. The sense of déjà vu was overpowering. All the strange dreams since the mountain trip came back in full force and clarity.

  His tail flicked against a bush.

  ‘I have a tail,’ he thought, dumbfounded even as his new body moved of its own accord. It was as if he was in an immersion tank, all his senses cut off with only vague inputs making it through.

  The ōkami, nearly on top of its prey, slid to a stop when David, in a nearly instantaneous transformation changed into a small orange fluffy ball, which sprouted legs and took off. Stopping only briefly at David’s clothes, the ōkami sniffed deeply then growled. It sprang after the racing orange puffball even faster than before.

  David and the Kami turned a corner trying to lose the ōkami. Though not in control, as he reached for his various senses they exploded into his mind, forcing him to draw back from the raw power of the animal body. It was strange and even painful to open himself to the sensations of the ground under his paws or the brightness of the early evening in his new eyes, yet it was even more horrible to be without any sense. Whenever he pulled back, he was left with such a profound sense of isolation he immediately reached back for some input. How strange and comforting even the barest sound or touch was when you were cut off from them. Aside from his new connections to physical senses, David also felt the Kami’s surprise along with his own emotions as they suddenly passed under a pair of legs. Even more surprising was the sudden jolt as two hands lifted him high into the air.