Samurai Awakening Page 13

  Their shock deepened when Natsuki’s face suddenly came into focus in such detail that he could count every pore on her face.

  ‘Ewww!’ was all David could think before he was enveloped by her arms. He caught a brief glimpse of Hidemi walking next to her.

  “Aww aren’t you cute.” Natsuki’s voice boomed through him as he squirmed in her arms.

  The ōkami came to a sudden stop after flying around the corner. Its big head rolled as it took in the scene. David spotted it from between Natsuki’s arms. The ōkami growled but did not attack.

  “Oh so you’re why he’s running,” Natsuki said angrily as she turned on the wolf. Taking her bag, Natsuki swung at the ōkami. After missing once, she hit it on the nose. Yelping, the wolf backed away. Turning its massive head between the two girls, it growled once last time before it turned and fled.

  “You poor thing, you must be scared,” Natsuki said as she nearly suffocated David’s Kami in her arms.

  “Savior to cats everywhere. A true animal lover,” Hide­­mi said with a theatrical air. She smiled ruefully at Natsuki. “Though judging from that dog, you don’t love all animals.”

  Takumi barreled around the corner carrying David’s clothes and bag. Smashing into Hidemi, they both went flying. At the same instant, Natsuki froze then fell, David in the Kami’s form, still in her arms.

  Helping Hidemi up, Takumi bowed profusely as he apologized before turning to Natsuki who suddenly began giggling uncontrollably. On the ground, she squirmed as the Kami brushed against her neck.

  “Natsu are you alright?” asked Hidemi, confused as to why Natsuki was rolling around on the ground.

  “Yeah, I’m amazing, I dunno, I felt this… wow, it was so powerful that I fell down, and then it started purring and tickling me.” Natsuki finally managed to sit up with the puffball still in her arms.

  “Oh good, you found my uh…” Takumi bent closer, looking at the ball of fur nestling in Natsuki’s arms, “cat.”

  “Ta-kun?” breathed Natsuki. “What are you doing with all that stuff in your arms? I figured you’d be babysitting the new badminton star.”

  “Actually I had to pick up something from the bank so uh, David isn’t here,” Takumi said his hand reaching for his hair. He was just able to turn the embarrassed gesture into a flick of his hair. “He forgot his stuff so I have it.”

  “I guess he’s not into wearing clothes.” Hidemi brushed the dirt from her clothes, eyeing Takumi with more than a little disbelief.

  “So this is yours? What’s its name?” Natsuki asked, all her attention on the cute orange fur ball in her arms.

  “It doesn’t have one yet actually,” Takumi said, his mind running in high gear.

  “That’s horrible. Seeing as I saved it, I think I’ll call him Kou,” Natsuki said with her usual authoritative tone. Kou purred loudly in her arms. “See? He likes it.”

  “Well it’s been a while.” Takumi spoke desperately. Luckily, she was distracted by Kou and did not notice. “Why don’t I walk you home? That is if you don’t mind Hidemi?”

  Takumi looked pointedly at his classmate. Catching the point, she sighed and ran off around the corner. Natsuki eyed Takumi suspiciously.

  “What did you do that for?” Natsuki asked, scowling.

  “I uh, really need to talk to you. You mind coming over for tea?” David just caught the look on Takumi’s face before being overcome by the animalistic senses. Takumi was on the edge, as if he had never before been so unsure of what to do.

  “Is she going to be there?” Natsuki’s asked petulantly.

  “No, of course not, Rie is with David at, uh, school,” Takumi answered, stealing a glance at Kou while Natsuki was distracted. Takumi’s face betrayed a storm of emotions: fear, concern, and even disappointment.

  Picking up the bags and clothes, Takumi walked the rest of the way to the Matsumoto Estate with Natsuki in silence, Kou purring along the way.

  Partnerships

  June,

  The first time we changed was as surprising to me as it had been for David. I finally felt real. I had a body, and was more than just a voice in the back of a thirteen-year-old human’s head. Unfortunately, David got a bit lost in my new senses. Luckily, it did not take him as long as I to find his way back from the depths…

  Takumi looked anxious, sitting quietly at the low table in the main room, stealing glances at Kou as he lay in Natsuki’s arms. Natsuki knelt poised and relaxed, a strong contrast to her usual confrontational and outspoken manner. Waiting for Takumi to explain why she was kneeling there in his house without a word from him, she seemed like the perfect representation of a Japanese lady.

  “You know, the more I look at Kou, the less he looks like a cat. But what in the world would you be doing with a tiger in Japan?” Natsuki asked looking up at her childhood friend. She stared for a few seconds, obviously expecting a response. When none was forthcoming, she lost the easy grace and refined manners that she used at home. Her calm demeanor fell away like a discarded scarf, her whole body tensed as she regained the intensity that she often displayed at school. Her graceful kneel turned into more the rigid seiza position students used at school when they got in trouble. “You invited me, but if you aren’t gonna talk I might as well go home.”

  Natsuki stood, Kou still in her arms. Takumi jerked upright as if to stop her, but then looked past her and sat. Grandpa and Masao entered from the rear doors of the room, looking imposing in the soft evening light.

  “I have already talked to your father and he has agreed to let you stay for dinner,’ Masao said. His voice was kind but with an edge that left no room for argument. “He actually seemed rather pleased.”

  “Please have a seat,” Grandpa added with his most heartwarming voice.

  Takumi ran out of the room to get tea for everyone, far more relaxed than he had been only minutes before. Once everyone was seated again, Masao addressed Natsuki.

  “Takumi said on the phone that you named him? What is he called?” Masao asked softly with a warm comforting smile.

  “I called him Kou, he seems to like it,” Natsuki said respectfully, her façade back in place for the elder Matsumoto.

  “Takumi told me you saved him from a dog. Thank you. I am worried about him, however, since we just got him. Would you mind telling me what happened?”

  “I was walking home when this orange blur flew under me,” she began.

  “Yes, I seem to remember you have an affinity for animals,” Grandpa said with a smile, as if reliving a memory. Natsuki blinked.

  “I picked him up then saw a big dog chasing him. It was a vicious looking thing,” she said. “Luckily, it stopped and growled so I beat it off with my bag. Then there was this crazy feeling, I fell and suddenly Takumi was standing over me while Kou tickled me. Takumi said it didn’t have a name so I called him Kou and here we are.”

  Moving in her arms, one of Kou’s paws slipped out of her arms. Grandpa raised a lone eyebrow. Kou’s paws were far too large for a regular house cat.

  “You were right, Takumi. It is a good thing you brought her,” Grandpa said softly from one end of the table.

  As Natsuki looked confusedly between Grandpa and Takumi, a scrape of wood on wood announced someone at the front door.

  “Tadaima!” Rie called, entering with the usual Japanese phrase for “I’m home.” Seeing Natsuki shocked her dumb. Through Kou, David was just able to see Rie’s quick glance take in the situation. With the tiger’s senses, he could almost feel her shock, anger, even pain. “What’s she doing here?”

  When none of the Matsumoto men responded immediately, Rie spun and ran back out into the night. Takumi rose to follow but a short command from Masao kept him in place.

  “Let her go. She knows her duty. That much has not changed, even if things are much more complicated,” Grandpa said, steel in his voice.

  “Sorry, but what’s going on?” Natsuki asked.

  “Rie!” David shouted. Natsuki looked around in surprise
for David as she tried to contain Kou. He was squirming frantically in her arms. Looking down, Natsuki saw not a cat’s eyes, but instead the deep blue of David’s.

  “Takumi! Quickly, a blanket,” Grandpa shouted.

  Takumi was off in a flash and back with a blanket from a nearby cabinet. Grabbing Kou from Natsuki, Takumi covered him with the blanket just as Kou transformed back into David.

  Taking a long look at David in his blanket, Natsuki let loose a blood-curdling scream. Before she could bolt, Grandpa agilely blocked her exit. Takumi attempted to calm her. Struggling to stand, David saw the fear in every aspect of Natsuki’s stance. After a brief pause, his eyes turned orange and he transformed back into Kou.

  Running under the table, Kou leaped into Natsuki’s arms. Immediately, she calmed down and sat, though she still looked horrified. Kou, standing up in her arms, looked into Natsuki’s eyes.

  “Do not worry. The elders will explain everything. This is new to David and I as well,” Kou said. His voice was completely different from David’s and surprisingly deep for having come from such a small body.

  Natsuki looked like she wanted nothing more than to flee. Restrained by Kou’s presence, however, she simply nodded dumbly. Grandpa sat, soon followed by Masao and Takumi. Takumi eyed Kou warily, as if he expected him to transform again.

  “Let me tell you a story,” Grandpa said, beginning to tell Natsuki the same story he had told David just over two months before. As he talked, David and Kou had time to have words of their own.

  ‘I told you it would not be all bad. See? Our first time as a tiger and we are already making new friends.’

  ‘I don’t know about you, but Natsuki is not my friend… Eww, is that her? Ugh! It’s like she bathed in perfume.’

  Kou shuddered in Natsuki’s arms, but the humans ignored him.

  ‘We have new senses you are not used to. I’m sure you would not smell much better.’

  ‘So what then? You’re, I’m a tiger? It’s hard to concentrate. If I try to see, smell, or use my senses they’re too strong. It blocks everything else out. For a while, before you fell asleep, I couldn’t even find myself. I was just lost, then you woke up, and Rie brought me back.’

  ‘We are a tiger. From now on, I am you and you are me. If we need to be a tiger, we are. If we need to be a human, we become your old form. Right now our personalities, our perspectives are very different, so things will be a bit awkward, but eventually we should both be able to guide either form. It will take us time to learn how to see well with such alien eyes.’

  “The main point is that David is now possessed by a Kami, apparently a Tiger Kami,” Masao said finishing the story that Grandpa started, his eyes locking onto Natsuki. She looked down at Kou, his overly large orange eyes too cute to resist.

  “Let’s have some dinner. Kou, I think you should change back into David for now,” Masao said with the full authority of generations of Matsumotos. Kou looked between Natsuki and Masao, as David and Kou tried to decide if she could handle his absence.

  “Very well, I will be in our room, though I am not sure how long it will take to switch back. We have only done it the one time.” Kou jumped out of Natsuki’s lap. Running away awkwardly on his new legs, he headed for David’s room.

  Kou looked everywhere. Trotting under the bed and around the corners… he sniffed and saw the room through new eyes and senses. The colors were slightly off, and despite the fact he could not turn on the light, it was still easy for him to find his way around.

  “I was right. You don’t smell good,” Kou said.

  ‘Ok, let’s do this,’ David thought, eager to get his normal body back.

  “Well, last time you wanted to take control. Your will was greater than mine, so if you want to change back, and I do not fight you, you probably will,” Kou replied.

  Kou closed his eyes and retreated into himself, attempting to leave control to David. Unfortunately, it was not as easy to let go of his new body. David mentally closed his own eyes and concentrated on being himself, but the image of his furry paws kept butting in. He fought to pull his thoughts away from the new smells, sounds, and feelings that came in rushing torrents, trying to remember the old David. When he opened his eyes, he could barely see in the dark.

  ‘Something isn’t right.’

  David could feel his legs and body. He reached up to touch his face and felt fur on his cheek. His arms were still covered with fur, and one hand was still a tiger paw. His tail twitched under him.

  ‘Let’s try together. Use this memory, when you were looking in the stream and saw me through your eyes.’

  With Kou’s help, David imagined himself as he was in the memory. When they opened their eyes a few seconds later, David was his old self.

  “I’m surprised it doesn’t hurt, except for the initial jolt I can’t really feel it at all.” David stopped, laughing at the casual way he spoke about transforming into a tiger to the Kami possessing him while he dressed. “I was pretty scary there for a second.”

  ‘Why would you? It is just another part of you, as I am a part of you. As with everything, I am sure we will get better with practice.’

  Back in the main room, Takumi was just bringing out the last dish for dinner when David entered. Apparently, Yukiko was out for the evening, but had left dinner.

  “So why exactly do I care about all of this?” Natsuki asked. “As far as I’m concerned David can take his special new powers back to America.” Her temper had not subsided in the few minutes David had been away.

  “Although I hate to agree with you, that’s exactly what I thought at first,” David said, stepping around the table to sit. “About a month after I arrived in Japan, I was killed and possessed, then the next thing I know I’m being attacked and summoning lumps of metal. And of course, now I can turn into a tiger. Don’t get me wrong, Kou seems great but I didn’t ask for any of this.” David glared angrily at Natsuki, who in turn bristled.

  “Let’s eat,” Masao interrupted, breaking stony silence. After a few bites, David turned to Takumi.

  “I don’t know why you had to invite her. I agree with Rie, she’s horrible,” said David.

  “That’s it. I’m going home.”

  Masao restrained her with a look.

  ‘Be nice to her. I like her. She did save us,’ Kou thought.

  “She saved you! Not us.” Realizing he replied to Kou aloud, David looked around at the Matsumotos with an embarrassed grin. Looking up from his soup, Masao sighed and slowly put the bowl down.

  “Unfortunately, it is not that simple,” Masao said soberly. “Natsuki what you described earlier was a bonding. With David and Kou being so young I do not know the extent of the bond, but you are now more a part of this than anyone but David.”

  “Why’s that?” asked David hotly, eliciting an elbow from Takumi for his tone. David bowed slightly as way of an apology. Masao ignored the outburst.

  “The Jitsugen Samurai were not loners. The Kami would choose a Partner, usually someone of the opposite gender, someone who they felt an obligation towards,” Masao said with a look that David was afraid implied Natsuki was his new Partner. “The Partner gains some of the physical benefits of the Jitsugen Samurai and is the only other person that can wield the Seikaku.”

  Looking to his father to continue, Masao went back to his soup.

  “Due to the bond, Natsuki will begin to grow stronger as you do David.” Grandpa smiled. “In addition, whenever you are in your animal form, Natsuki will be drawn to you, wherever you are. Natsuki, you can try to ignore this, but the pull will be very strong. I am afraid you are both in this together.”

  David, while trying to process what Grandpa and Masao were saying, caught Takumi’s wide grin. He was surprised that Takumi would be happy to have Natsuki as Kou’s Partner, whatever that entailed. Looking closer, David saw the smile did not quite meet his eyes. Frowning David looked back at Natsuki who was just as horror struck as he was.

  “I guess this means
you’ll be coming back to train with us,” Takumi said with a strained, overly enthusiastic voice.

  “What about Rie? Can’t she be my Partner? She already knows how to fight, and then I wouldn’t be stuck with the princess,” David said quickly, trying to find some way out of having to be Natsuki’s Partner. Natsuki, spit out the soup she had just drunk. David’s eyes flashed orange.

  “I could not help it. She saved me. I had to return the favor, and I felt a connection with her,” Kou said. David’s mouth twitched in an involuntary smile caused by Kou as his eyes unfocused and Kou continued the conversation within the privacy of their mind.

  ‘Besides, she is cute, if lacking some of the more feline charms, right? I am sure you will get along… err, eventually.’

  It took the rest of dinner and well after for Masao and Grandpa to convince Natsuki and David the choice had already been made. While Natsuki could try to avoid the situation, the pull would be too strong for her to resist.

  “It seems like I don’t have much choice. I’ll be here for training. But I don’t talk to David. As far as I’m concerned he doesn’t exist, just Kou,” Natsuki said, finally giving in to the elder Matsumotos.

  Punishing Practices

  June,

  The first days were the hardest for us. We shared bodies, yes, but our thoughts were different. David and I spent hours talking in the confines of our shared minds. Sometimes it was a struggle, and sometimes a fight, but the hardest part was not over thinking…