Hello! Thanks to those of you who've read this far! There's still almost forty chapters left...yep, took a long time to write this. Here's the new FB character who makes a cameo: KyoLhadoman.
Disclaimer: Natsuki Takaya owns FB, and I don't own FB or anything else you may recognize.
Chapter 14
"Sire, is this the right address?" asked the chauffeur uneasily.
"Yes, it is," sighed Hatsuharu, reexamining the slip of paper yet again. Asheno had obtained Kho's address from the school earlier that morning. The car had stopped in front of a shaggy hill leading up to a row of dilapidated houses. Well, "house" was giving too much credit; these building were brick shacks on their last legs.
"This is where Kho lived?" Haku said, disbelievingly. "No wonder Asheno seemed so pleased," he added as a bitter afterthought.
"Let's get this over with." Hatsuharu, his face set in grim determination, stepped out of the car and slammed the door. Haku followed suit, still staring at the hill. He'd never seen Ghunene before. The memories of the mugging remained fresh in Hatsuharu's mind, however, and he felt himself becoming gladder by the moment that Kho was now at the Shoma compound. Even so, better to move quickly. The fancy car stood out in sharp comparison to the jalopies and overall condition of the neighborhood.
The two struggled up the hill, covered in slippery mud from the storm yesterday.
"That's weird," remarked Haku, as they ascended the top, "the door is just hanging open." Generally, no one in Hoth let their doors remain open, including residents of poor areas. The unpredictable weather made it too risky. Haku and Hatsuharu stepped over the threshold.
"Ohhh…" groaned Hatsuharu. Their eyes took in the cramped, dirty front room with empty bottles and trash littering the floor. In one corner was a minimal kitchen, with a wheezy stove, clogged sink, and a barely visible mini-refrigerator.
"I see why Kho never talked about his home life," said Haku. "Where's that woman, his guardian? Maybe she's out at work…or drinking."
"Drinking, I'd say, judging from the bottles."
"Doesn't smell too good either." Haku, cursing his sensitive nose, put a handkerchief over his face.
"Maybe you should stay out-wait, what's this? A pile of ashes?" For the first time, they noticed the large pile of gray ashes with a worn dress crumpled within it. They stared at the heap for a long time.
"I'm beginning to understand why Kho was out in the rain without anything on," Haku spoke slowly. "I get the feeling he inadvertently released his dzuni power and was terrified out of his mind. Maybe those eyes of his aren't just pretty. In any case, looks like we won't have to worry about his guardian."
"Ghosi…let's get his things, if he has any." Giving the ash pile a wide berth, Hatsuharu opened the small door that led to Kho's room, revealing the crammed cot and minuscule table. Haku followed close by.
"Not much here, as we thought," Hatsuharu said, kneeling down under the bed. "Here's a box." He opened it, and the boys saw the two stuffed snakes, the fabric swatches, a sewing kit, and the slightly torn photo.
"That little girl looks just like Kho," Haku said, taking the photo in his hand. He thought, I wonder which Shoma this girl was.
"Mother of Khosure. She dead," spoke Faran-Zhuku abruptly and matter-of-factly, inside Haku's mind. An image of the little girl in a pink dress with red flowers embroidered along the hem appeared before Haku's eyes.
"Daddy, am I your pretty little princess? Am I?" she sang in a high voice. The vision clouded, and faded. Oh no, thought Haku. I'm sure Kho doesn't know she's dead, and knowing him, he's fantasized that he'll be reunited with her. I can't tell him…A much worse question loomed: what about the other dzuni's parents? His own?
"Haku, careful, you'll ruin that photograph," Hatsuharu scolded, folding Kho's few clothing items on top of the box. Haku blinked and saw the photo crinkling in his too-tight grip.
"Sorry, here," he muttered, tucking the photo in a safe place under the clothes. Haku grabbed Kho's school bag and supplies.
"Let's get out of here," he strode out, fighting back tears. Hatsuharu had to hurry to catch up.
When they returned to the compound, Haku first went to Asheno to tell him that they'd completed their errand.
"Did you have any difficulty with his guardian?" Asheno asked.
"No, we didn't," Haku replied. Better for Kho if he didn't divulge the full details of Kho's guardian's complete liquidation. "Asheno, may I ask a question?"
"I'm in a good mood today, so yes, you may."
"Were you aware of Kho's living conditions?"
An affected look of concern formed on Asheno's face. "No, I had not known that he'd moved before today." Indifference replaced the fake concern. "Such a shame, that a Dzuni had to live in such a place."
"Yes, it is a shame," concurred Haku, silencing his impulse to ask Asheno why the hell he'd made their lives miserable on purpose. He hated the way Asheno looked so superior, as if he really had any control over them.
"You may go now. Oh, one more thing. Hotohori's arrival shall be delayed a few days. Her guardians inform me she is still too weak from illness to move."
"Thank you. Have a good day, Asheno."
When will it all end? Haku wondered as he walked towards the sickroom, where Kho was delirious from fever and Lhurone drifted in and out of a painkiller-induced confusion. Haku should probably try to talk to the ghost later, but did he want to?
"I'm afraid of what he'll say!" screamed a deeply-buried portion of Haku's psyche. You strong, the wolf had told him. "But can I handle it?" thought Haku. He opened the sickroom door. The fire roared.
"So little? What kind of place did Khosure live in?" Rhena demanded of Hatsuharu as she browsed Khosure's possessions.
"You don't want to know," Hatsuharu replied, checking on Lhurone, who was mumbling, "Yeeeaaahh, I wanna hamster gurng anh emmm…"
Rhena took the stuffed snakes and arranged them on a little table next to Khosure's bed. "I'll find a decent frame for this photo, it's half torn apart as it is," she decided, departing through the servants' door. The door closed with a soft click. Haku collapsed into an easy chair on the opposite side of the fire from the restless, rasping Khosure.
"Kho's not doing well, is he?" asked Haku wearily.
"Rhena said he's really ill, it's pneumonia. He kept asking for his mother throughout the night. I hope that wasn't his mother he accidentally killed," whispered Hatsuharu.
"No, he was talking about that photograph, I'm sure of it."
"Think Kho's real mother is still around?" Hatsuharu's eyes had a hopeful glint for a moment. It didn't escape Haku.
"Don't know." Haku shrugged his shoulders as noncommittally as he could, desperately seeking a way to change the subject before he betrayed the truth. He couldn't decide whether to tell Hatsuharu or not. "Oh, Asheno told me Tori's still too sick to come."
"Does he know about Tori's illness?"
"He doesn't seem to."
A woman's voice invaded Haku's thinking. "Honey, what's wrong with Tori? Can't we do anything?"
"It's not asthma, it's not lung cancer, it's not known to any medical source," answered a worried man's voice. "Maybe he'll outgrow it…I have a friend who…" The voices disappeared.
I can't deal with this now, Haku thought. "Hatsuharu, I'm going to take a nap."
"See you."
The wolf wasted no time. Instead of a peaceful nap, the visions sucked Haku into their grip once again.
"No," protested Haku, "can't you let me rest for just a little bit?"
"You behind, need catch up. Many year go by before I able to start." Haku resigned himself to his fate.
It was the morning after Shehure and Huki had saved Lhoru from the mudslide. Shehure and Huki sat at the dining table, Shehure reading the newspaper and Huki eating leftovers from last night's takeout. Outside, it rained steadily. Plastic bags sat on the floor next to Huki.
A sliding door squeaked open, revealing Lhoru standing in her pajamas, dark circles under her eyes.
"Good morning, how's our fragile little flower feeling?" chirped Shehure, folding the newspaper.
"Shehure! Don't be a pervert!" snapped Huki.
"Oh, I feel much better, thank you so much," Lhoru said, bowing deeply then stumbling.
"No need for bowing," Shehure said, catching her. "You'll know us well enough soon, I'm sure."
"Shehure—" began Huki.
"Tell us, Lhoru, how do you like housework?" queried Shehure. Confused, Lhoru blushed.
"I like housework very much. I'm good at it, if I may say. I cook, too."
Shehure grinned. "That settles it! You can stay with us from now on, and do the housework and cooking in lieu of paying rent. I'm sure Huki won't object, right, Huki?"
"Uh, no, I don't." Huki had to admit having a good cook in the house sounded very, very attractive.
"We'll give you your own room, Lhoru. It'll be much safer than living in a tent in the middle of a hilly forest prone to mudslides and the odd molester or two walking around. You can stay until your grandfather can take you back. How does that sound, Lhoru?"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly…" Lhoru started, slipping into the now-familiar pattern of frantic gesticulation.
"We wouldn't ask you to stay unless we wanted to," Huki interjected firmly, ignoring Shehure's smirk.
"Okay…I'll stay, then. But are you sure I won't cause you any trouble?" Lhoru said, hesitatingly.
"Welcome to the Shoma house!" sang Shehure, oblivious to Lhoru's question. "We'll need to have an extra key made for you, and you can use the spare room on the second floor, it'll be a bit musty, so best open the window when the rain stops…Huki, be a gentleman and escort her upstairs."
Huki picked up the plastic bags. "Here, Lhoru, I dug out your things from the mudslide, including the picture of your mother." He handed a smaller bag to her.
Lhoru hugged the bag. "I don't know how to thank you, you've done too much for me already." She followed Huki up the stairs.
"Ms. Mileshi, relax. You're pushing yourself too hard. That's probably why you got sick. This room here is the bathroom, over there is my room…" pointing to doors as they walked down the narrow hallway, "…and over here is Shehure's room, which he rarely uses. Just slow down once in a while and be yourself. Ah, here's your room."
As Huki stepped through the door, Haku heard Lhoru's awed voice in his mind: "Mother said the same thing once. 'Slow down and be yourself.' The Prince really is so kind." So poor Huki was known as "the Prince" at Karori? For a moment, Haku imagined the throngs of lovesick girls pining after Huki at school. He must hate it, Haku thought, he doesn't strike me as the kind who'd respond well to that kind of treatment.
The room was plain and simply furnished, with an old bed, a wooden nightstand and a spacious dresser. Set in a corner of the house, there were plenty of windows to admit natural light. When the sun shone, it would be a pleasant room. Huki placed the bags in the middle of the floor.
"I'll lend you some of my clothes until yours have been washed," Huki said, walking back out the door, "Yours are filthy from the mud."
"Oh no—"
"I insist." Huki half-smiled, and started to go when a tremendous crash happened. Part of the roof gave way, giving rise to a clatter of wood and plaster, and a thick cloud of dust. Lhoru, shocked, turned away from the window she'd been gazing out of. A few feet in front of her, stood a boy with bright orange hair, wearing loose khaki pants and an old blue T-shirt, dripping from the rain. A bracelet of red and white beads wound around his right wrist, and he was a few inches taller than Huki. He took no notice of Lhoru; his back was turned to her.
"Ready to die, you damn rat?" growled Orange Head, curling his hands into fists.
"Back for another defeat, Lhado?" said Huki in a low voice. His purple eyes burned with annoyance and anger.
"Be a man and face me, you—" Lhado raised a fist. "Wha—yaaagh!"
Haku watched as Lhoru, concerned about the imminent fight, wrapped her arms around Lhado's torso from behind. A loud pop exploded, accompanied by a burst of reddish dust.
"Oh, no," groaned Huki, putting a hand to his head.
Lhoru found herself looking into angry amber eyes. She was holding a bright orange cat in her arms. But there had been a boy there only seconds before…Rain dripped onto her from the hole in the roof above.
"I heard a lot of noise, is Lhado back?" Shehure asked, appearing in the doorway. Huki buried his face in Shehure's shoulder, and Shehure saw the orange cat in Lhoru's arms. "Ah, I see…"
"Aaaahh! I hit him, didn't I? And he turned into a cat!" yelled Lhoru.
"Well, yes…uh, no, you see…" Shehure started.
"He's seriously hurt!" Determination came over Lhoru. "We must get him to a hospital so he can get some—" A piece of loose debris fell from the room and smacked Lhoru in the head. She swayed, and fell into Huki and Shehure.
Two pops occurred in rapid succession, followed by clouds of blue and gray dust. When she regained full awareness, Lhoru saw a purple-eyed rat and a large black dog looking back at her. The orange cat writhed in her arms.
"You're all animals!" she gasped. "I need to get help!" She started to stand up, but a bark stopped her.
The dog spoke, "There's no getting around this, so I'll just tell you."
The rat climbed up to the dog's head. "That idiot."
"Who're ya callin' an idiot?" hissed the cat.
"Be quiet, both of you!" barked the dog. The cat curled itself up, facing the wall, hissing. The dog returned its gaze to Lhoru. "Basically, I, Shoma Shehure, am the dog, Shoma Huki is the rat, and Shoma Lhadoman is the cat. For hundreds of years, the Shoma family has been cursed. We don't know how the curse came about, but here it is. Thirteen members of the Shoma family turn into animals of the Dzuni when they are hugged by members of the opposite sex. We also transform when we become physically weak, usually when we're ill. We have no special powers, other than being able to communicate with our respective animals. After a while, we change back to human form, but the durations of the transformations is fickle."
Lhoru heard a pop, pop, pop, and three naked men appeared before her. "Eeeek!" she yelped, face burning, averting her eyes hurriedly.
"And when we transform back, we're always naked," Shehure cheerily finished as he strapped his hekasho back on. "Sorry, Lhoru, if you saw things you weren't ready for." Huki and Lhadoman quickly dressed themselves.
Eventually, Lhoru recovered sufficiently to face them again. Lhadoman continued to sulk, facing the wall. "You are all right, aren't you? You're not hurt?" Lhoru asked the three.
"Lhoru, Lhoru, the transformation isn't painful, stop worrying about us," Shehure shook his finger. "But you should be worrying about that bump forming on your head this very second. Oh, Lhoru, now that you've met the cat, what do you think?"
"The cat! That's right!" exclaimed Lhoru happily. Huki frowned. Lhoru walked over to Lhadoman. When she reached out for his shoulder, Lhadoman twitched.
"Don't touch me!" yelled Lhadoman belligerently. "What the hell is a GIRL doing in this house anyway? I can't believe Asheno would ever allow that! It's bad enough I'm here in the first place!"
Asheno! Haku stiffened at the mention of the hated name. Their talking about Asheno confirmed his suspicions that these visions were about the recent past. These might even be the parents of the current Dzuni. He could be looking at his own father even now.
"No, keep watch," Faran-Zhuku interrupted, "You see this because need know all about previous Dzuni. Especially see and know all Asheno do."
"Well, it's true that a big family secret has now been revealed to an outsider," said Shehure, hand on chin. Still, he didn't look so very concerned. "I will have to tell Asheno, the head of the family, about you. It'll be up to him to decide whether you stay or go." Huki's face visibly tensed and a dark shadow passed over it. In Huki, Haku recognized all the signs of a victim of Asheno. He himself had a similar reaction whenever he heard Asheno's name. Suddenly, Haku swelled with sympathy for Huki, and quite possibly Shehure and Lhadoman as well. Lhoru would probably suffer much when Asheno was told, Haku predicted.
"Of course. I have stumbled upon a very big secret, and it's only right you should tell your family head," said Lhoru. "I will obey whatever decision he makes."
"In the meanwhile, why don't you go downstairs and look after that bump? There should be an ice pack in the first aid kit in the living room," suggested Shehure. Lhoru nodded and trotted away.
As soon as he judged Lhoru safely out of hearing range, Huki turned to Shehure and whispered in a furious tone, "Asheno will order her memory erased won't he?" His arms fell limply to his sides. "Just like last time," he finished, bitterly.
"I have no reason to think he'll want to erase her memory," Shehure reassured Huki. "Last time we had no choice because too many people found out about the secret. But it's only one girl now."
"It's not right for a girl to be in this house! It's too dangerous!" Lhadoman bellowed as he stormed out.
"I'm charging you for the damage to the roof, and apologize to Lhoru later!" Shehure shouted back.
"Not that I care, but where has that moronic cat been?" muttered Huki.
"He's been training in the mountains for the last four months with Shoma-mharu, so I heard. Fighting bears or something like that," shrugged Shehure.
"Stupid cat. He'll never win." After his dire pronouncement, Huki also stomped back to his own room.
Alone in the room, Shehure looked thoughtfully at the pile of debris under the hole. Slowly, he shuffled over to a window, leaned against the wall, and watched the falling raindrops. The sun in the room had diminished so that his profile stood out in sharp profile next to the window. The face looked relaxed, but the eyes were bright, alert, thinking. He began humming.
Hatharu hel mhane khe aha, Spring is still far away,
Su nalu rhizano ghobere, And within the cold ground,
Shedal thathu lesim surokha ashu Starved seeds await warm sun
Su dho mhedosh han. And fresh silvery rain.
This man was trapped within a curse he longed to free himself from. He too, Haku was sure, had felt the pangs of hopelessness, anger and frustration, but most of all, the sadness. Everybody who fell under the curse's insidious spell, suffered.
"I want to be free, too! I understand!" Haku desperately hollered, before he remembered Shehure couldn't hear him.
"Lhoru may be the one," Shehure mused to himself. "She just might break the curse." Fright crossed his face. Then he smiled sadly, and started chuckling wryly. "Have faith in yourself, Shehure. Spring may not be so far away."
Haku sat up in bed, the vision gone. "Spring may not be so far away" rang over and over again in his head. The drawing of flame tree blossoms hanging on the opposite wall dominated his view.
"I want to be free," Haku said to the flat, unfeeling flowers. "I will be free."