Sleep had been restless, disturbed by dreams that weren't really nightmares but also not very good either. So when he woke and found it was light again, he had fought back tears and left his hiding place for a toilet run.
Servants had brought him breakfast, but he didn't care.
When Sohryu came for the second visit, Touda had just been brought lunch. The young dragon looked at the plate.
"Wow, you get caramel pudding!" he exclaimed. "I only got some boring stuff today. It was green and icky and tasted like cardboard in milk."
Touda watched the older boy take the bowl with the pudding and then climb into the wardrobe with him.
"This is really my favorite. Have you ever tried pudding?"
Touda shook his head.
Sohryu held out the bowl to him. "Try it."
He shook his head again.
"Oh, okay. Mom always says to have lunch first anyway, then I can have dessert. Want me to get the noodles? I think they're fried and with eggs and vegetables. They're good. Not like eating cabbage. That's yucky. And it stinks."
"'m not hungry," Touda mumbled.
Sohryu frowned a little, still holding the caramel pudding. "Mom tells me we need to eat to grow up. You, too."
Touda again shook his head. He wasn't hungry, just lonely. He wanted to go home.
And then his stomach rumbled, begging him to differ. He clutched it, feeling embarrassed.
"See!" Sohryu triumphed and scrambled out of the wardrobe to get the noodles. He came back in and set the plate down in front of Touda.
"Eat."
He did. Reluctantly. But after the first few bites the hunger woke and he ate quickly. Sohryu smiled widely, almost beaming with pride.
"Told you they're good. Here, have the pudding!"
"You can have it."
The little dragon shook his head, longish strands bouncing. "No. It's yours."
Touda reluctantly took the bowl, then met the eager, blue-gray gaze.
"Share?" he offered timidly.
Sohryu blinked, then grinned. "Sure!"
They ate the dessert in silence, Touda feeling amazed at the strangely sweet and smooth taste. He had never eaten anything of the like before and it was a whole new experience.
Sohryu came back every day. He brought along toys which he explained to his new friend, and they started to play. Touda was reluctant to be in the huge room, but whenever Sohryu was there it didn't seem so big. New clothes were laid out to him and he washed himself, dressed, and then went back into the wardrobe for the night. He had pulled the bedding and cover in there, creating his own little safe haven. It felt like a cave, like a strange kind of embrace. He ate more and whenever he had pudding, he saved some for Sohryu, who beamed at him each time.
On the fourth day Sohryu brought him a book.
"Genbu's teaching me to read and write," he declared proudly. "I can already read this book!"
And he demonstrated it by reading passages out loud. It was an adventure story and Touda listened to the tale, feeling safe with his new friend. When Sohryu had finished, he held the book out to Touda and pointed out the different letters.
"I can read," Touda mumbled.
"You can! Wow! Can you read everything?"
No, he couldn't, and he shook his head.
"I didn't go to school a lot."
Golden eyes evaded blue ones.
"Why not?" Sohryu asked curiously.
"My father couldn't pay for it. I taught myself." Touda chewed on his lower lip, suddenly so very much aware again of their differences.
"Genbu would teach you!" Sohryu declared.
Touda looked at him, wide-eyed.
The dragon jumped up and grabbed his friend's hand.
"C'mon! We'll go over to him right now. You and I can go to school together! It'll be so great!"
Before Touda could protest he was pulled along and for the first time in four days he left the room. He was overwhelmed by the size of everything, by the bustle of people, and he whimpered softly to himself. He followed Sohryu instinctively, too scared to lose his only friend to fight the grip the dragon had on him.
They reached the palace of the Protector of the North and Sohryu simply walked inside. Touda felt even more intimidated.
They reached a small room, well, at least smaller than every other one they had passed through, and Sohryu called for Genbu.
Touda had seen the old shikigami before, that horrible day his father had left him here, and he shrank back as the God approached.
"Sohryu, I see you brought a friend."
"That's Touda. He can read and write, too. But he never went to school. Can he come to school with me?" Sohryu asked.
Genbu stroked his beard, dark eyes under bushy eyebrows looking at the young shikigami who tried not to be there.
"So you can read?"
Touda nodded meekly.
"And write?"
"A little."
"Who taught you?"
"Suzutoku. He lived in my village. He had some scrolls he taught me."
Memories of his life in his home village came back and tears rose once more. He so much wanted to go home.
Genbu still stroked his beard. "Well, I don't mind having another pupil. You have to be punctual, you have to study hard, and I expect you to do your homework on time."
"Yes, sensei," Touda stammered.
Sohryu beamed. "We will!"
Genbu scowled at the young dragon. "Might I remind you of your missing homework, young Sohryu?"
The dragon sighed, looking scolded. "Yes, sensei."
"Now, lessons will be tomorrow. Go and play. And Sohryu, remember your homework!"
"Yes, sensei!" Sohryu called, already racing out of the palace, pulling Touda along, who was too stunned to understand much.
Realization only came back when they were halfway between Genbu's palace and Sohryu's.
He had a teacher.
He would share lessons with Sohryu.
Wow...
His life changed from then on. Lessons were interesting, challenging and he soon discovered he liked sitting in the classroom, listening to Genbu, doing writing and reading lessons, math and geography, history and so much more. What he was really good at were math and strategies. He loved history and the great battles fascinated him. Touda began to read books, holed up either in the wardrobe that still represented a safe environment, or in Genbu's study. He borrowed books and always brought them back in mint condition.
Weeks became months. And Touda became more open. The servants still brought his food to the room, but now he stopped hiding. Sohryu still shared caramel pudding with him and the two spent all day together. Touda kept wondering when his father would come, but his young mind was busy with so many new things, it was no longer such a pressing matter.
He also got to know Sohryu's mother, who was a warm and loving woman, who talked to him as if he were her son's equal, and he saw his new friend's father again, but only from afar. The God was a fearsome man and Touda tried not to get noticed by him.
"Say, what kind of shikigami do you turn into?" Sohryu asked as they were in his room, playing a game.
Touda blinked. "I... I'm fire."
"I know that, silly. I mean, I'm a dragon. What are you?"
Touda fiddled with a game piece, a well-worn figurine of a warrior. He had only once changed his shape and his father had told him never to do it again. He still remembered the shock and horror in his father's eyes, as well as the flash of disgust.
He had looked into a pond to see his reflection and the horror had looked back.
He had asked why he was such a fearsome beast and his father had refused to answer, had just pulled him along. Ever since things had been changed. The people in the village had looked strangely at him, as if all had seen his other shape with their own eyes, and some whispered behind his back.
Sohryu leaned forward. "You don't wanna tell or you don't know?"
"I... I'm nothing, really."
"I bet you don't know how to change!" Sohryu challenged him gleefully.
Touda ducked away, feeling a lump rise in his throat.
"See? It's so easy!"
And suddenly there was a miniature dragon in the room, with three pairs of wings, long tendrils growing out of his snout, and glistening, gleaming blue-gray scales.
"Try it," Sohryu called.
"No," he whispered. "No, I can't. It's bad. It's hideous!"
And with that he jumped up and ran out of the room.
Sohryu never asked again. Touda had no idea why, but he was glad his friend didn't try once more.