Kami Cursed (Dragon and Phoenix)

by Julianne Price

  Then her hands were on him, touching his face, his hair, her arm slipping around his waist. The sick feeling left almost instantly, and all he wanted was sleep.

  *****

  I pulled Ryuu’s sneakers off and held back the covers so he could lie down. I’d never seen him sick before. Not even when we were younger. That a cursed object could do this to him was frightening. It made me realize that this thing he wanted to do wasn’t a game. And what’s more, neither one of us really knew what we were doing. That stupid box had almost given me a brain injury.

  His eyes looked darker than usual, maybe because of the bruise-like circles under them. I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but his pretty white skin was grey.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I’d wanted to take him to the doctor, but he had refused, saying he just needed sleep and that he wasn’t physically sick. Whatever that meant.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and fumed, angry that I hadn’t been there. He wouldn’t have grabbed the thing if I was there. That was my job- at least I think it was. “What were you thinking?” I demanded for the hundredth time.

  He sighed and his eyes settled closed, his long, dark lashes resting against his cheeks. “I don’t know. I couldn’t just let it go…out there where it could hurt people...”

  I sighed and brushed his hair back from his eyes. “Moron. Idiot.”

  He smiled without opening his eyes. “Yes.”

  When I left, Ryuu was sleeping deeply. He hadn’t even twitched when I tucked the covers around him and closed the shades. Some stupid impulse made me kiss the top of his head, like my mother used to do when I was sick. I was glad he hadn’t been awake to notice.

  I marched down the sidewalk, right past my house. I had a little errand to run before I went home. I narrowed my eyes, my anger building with every step.

  By the time I reached the temple, I was livid. I could feel the blood pounding in my face. I kept my voice pitched low as I approached the nearest monk. “Is Fumio here?”

  The man was watering plants in the little garden bed in front of the temple. “I’m sorry, he said with a soft smile, “but I don’t know of a Fumio.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Greg.”

  He nodded his head. “Oh, yes. He’s inside, but I think he’s meditating just now, so please don’t disturb him. You can wait on the bench inside if you’d like.”

  I smiled at him, though it probably looked more like a bearing of the teeth than a happy expression. “Sure.”

  Once I was inside, I walked right past the little wooden bench and toward the main sanctuary. I could see Fumio out one of the windows. He was sitting cross-legged in the little garden among drifts of fallen leaves, his head bowed, completely still.

  I marched up to him and stood there, waiting. Fuming.

  He was still for a few more seconds before he lifted his head and looked at me. “Kit! How are you?” He got a good look at my face and his smile faltered. “Is Ryuu with you?’

  I pointed a finger at him. “You should be ashamed of yourself!”

  He stood and dusted off the leaves and grass that clung to his rust colored robe. “And just what have I done to be ashamed of?”

  I wanted to slap the calm expression right off his handsome face. “Ryuu isn’t here right now because he’s at home in bed. Sick.” I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot. “How could you encourage him to chase after these… these… things?! He’s only a kid you know. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. And neither do you!” I was shouting now- standing in the middle of a Buddhist temple shouting at a monk. I didn’t care. The thought of Ryuu’s pale face made me want to strangle the guy, robe or no robe.

  He held up his hands. “Calm down, Kit. I don’t understand what’s happened. But I want to.”

  I turned away from him, mostly to keep from hitting him. I should have brought my bat. After all, I thought sarcastically, Ryuu had told me to never leave home without it.

  I spoke through my teeth. “He ran into a guy with a cursed thing, and since he was alone, he tried to take it away from the guy.” I rounded on Fumio again, glaring. “And now he’s sick. I’ve never seen him like this. And he won’t let me take him to a doctor.” I widened my eyes to keep the tears from falling when they suddenly sprang up from nowhere.

  Fumio slowly walked over and put his arms around me. I stiffened, ready to deck him, but his words stopped me. “You love him very much, don’t you?”

  I clenched my teeth. “Jerk,” I hissed. I couldn’t stop crying now, and I was starting to shake. “He listened to you about all this curse crap and he got hurt.”

  Fumio just let me rant, patting my back as I hiccupped and snorted and called him all sorts of names. Finally, he released me, moving his hands to my shoulders as he looked into my eyes. “Better?”

  I nodded. “Sorry.”

  He laughed and dropped his hands, drifting over to study the big, brightly colored fish in the little pond. “I would never want anything to happen to Ryuu. He’s like a little brother to me. But being in danger- well, it’s just part of who he is, who he’ll be.” He looked unhappy.

  I swiped the back of my hand across my eyes, trying to wipe away my tears. “What do you mean?”

  The monk sank down onto a little stone bench and gazed up at me. “There’s something ethereal about that kid. I don’t have an ounce of spiritual power, but something inside me just knows that I should be in awe.”

  I laughed. “Uh huh,” I said doubtfully.

  Fumio sighed. “You don’t see it because to you he is still that little boy you befriended when you were a child.” He gestured to the big tree growing behind him. “But this tree was once a sapling, and before that it was nothing more than a seed.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Oh no you don’t. Don’t go all wise old man on me. You’re barely older than I am, Greg.”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners. “I’m sorry. What I meant was…how much will that little boy grow?”

  I sighed and dropped down onto the bench beside him. “You’re saying it’s going to get worse.”

  He looked up at the sky. “Who knows? But I think it’s a strong possibility. He’s been manifesting these powers since he was a small boy. At fourteen, he already has an almost effortless connection to things we cannot see.”

  His brown eyes met mine. “So, yes. I think it is going to get worse. Which means he needs to learn as much as he can now- to prepare.”

  I looked down at my hands. “And he’s gonna need help.”

  He nodded. “Obviously, if today is any indication.”

  I met his eyes. “I still think you’re a bad influence. Maybe if he didn’t think about this stuff all the time it would just go away.”

  He laughed. “Denial is never a good thing. For our souls to have peace, we need to live in the current moment fully, accepting it for what it is.”

  I shook my head. “So you’re saying we should just accept it, no matter how bad it is for him?”

  Fumio shrugged, the gesture reminding me how young he was. “Things are not bad or good. They just are.”

  I laughed without humor. “Unless the things are cursed.”

  He stared at me and I explained, one corner of my mouth drawing up into a smile at my bad joke. “Then they’re bad.”

  He smiled. “Well, okay. You got me there.”

  I stood and started toward the door to the sanctuary. “Thanks. I’m sorry for yelling at you. I know you’re trying to help him.”

  He smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Ryuu did the same thing for you. He ranted and raved and stewed and stormed every day until he managed to wake you up.” He shook his head in wonder. “I’ve never seen someone so young love so deeply. But it’s good to know that you feel the same way.”

  I stared at him blankly. “I’m not in love with Ryuu. He’s just a kid.”

  “Of course.” He smiled softly, like he knew some big secret. Monks are crazy.

  I left Fumio in
the garden and made my way inside. I hesitated as I walked past the statue of Buddha. Feeling slightly foolish, I sat down cross-legged and stared up at the statue.

  I didn’t know what to do, so I just sat there quietly. He stared at me, I stared at him. And we came to a mutual understanding. “Okay,” I said softly after a few minutes. I knew what I had to do, and I finally felt calm.

  I did love Ryuu. There were different kinds of love. He was my best friend in the whole world. The one person, besides my dad, who I would do anything for. So, I was going to start carrying my bat with me. And I was going to help him with this curse business.

  I nodded to the Buddha. “Thanks bud.”

  Then I stood and left the temple.

  *****

  Fumio stood in the doorway of the temple and watched Kit leave wondering, as he always did, whether he was doing the right thing by leading the children into danger. The girl- though he supposed she could be called a young woman now - turned the corner and disappeared from sight and he let out a sigh of relief. There was no use wondering about the future. He could only do what his heart felt was right at this very moment. He was about to turn away and head back to his chores when he saw a man coming up the path.

  He was an older gentleman, with wide streaks of grey in his thinning hair. He walked slowly but with purpose- a man on a mission. Fumio waited for him, cultivating his face into a welcoming smile. Surely, the man was a fellow practitioner in need of some solace or advice.

  But as he drew nearer, the young monk began to wonder. The old man moved with strength and grace. His pace wasn’t slowed by age, but because he was approaching the temple carefully. Careful, but confident…as if he were approaching an adversary.

  Fumio descended the few low steps down to the path, and went to meet the man. “Can I help you sir?”

  The stranger’s dark eyes crinkled at the corners as his gaze swept over Fumio. It was almost, but not quite, a smile. The man had Asian heritage, he thought, though if he had to guess Fumio would say it was probably as diluted as his own.

  “I hope you can,” the man replied. “I have a very serious request for you.”

  The muscles at the back of Fumio’s neck tightened. “Is this perhaps regarding that phone call I received?”

  The man regarded him with hooded eyes. “Yes.”

  The monk let his breath out slowly, scrambling for composure. “Shall we walk?” He gestured to the manicured grounds where the monks often took walking meditation. It was a pleasing place, and currently empty.

  They walked side by side for some time, silent but for the soft shush of leaves under their feet. Finally, the man spoke. “You have continued to offer your guidance to the boy.”

  Fumio lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I would have done that anyway. I enjoy his company and I want to help him with the challenges he faces.”

  One corner of the man’s thin mouth quirked upward in a wry smile. “Our organization being one of those challenges?”

  Fumio shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

  The man stopped and placed a hand on Fumio’s arm. The monk’s eyes widened as a warm current of energy flowed between them like a live thing. “What you can give him is knowledge- limited by what you can find in books and legends. But what do you know about the power that is inside him?”

  With that, the man withdrew his arm and walked away.

  Fumio watched the man leave, rubbing his arm as the warm tingling faded. He sank down to sit cross-legged on the perfect lawn. Had this been a threat? But the man was right- how could he help Ryuu when he knew nothing about his power? He felt the burden of his age- or lack thereof- intensely. Ryuu should have gone to one of the older monks for help… but he had come to Fumio.

  He took a deep breath and asked for wisdom- something that he felt he totally lacked at the present moment.

  Chapter 11

  My eyes fluttered open and I sat up, wondering where Ryuu had gone. The dragon sat on the couch next to me, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. It was a long, sinuous thing, white and silver with just a hint of blue here and there. Light glinted off its body where it was coiled up in a pile of supple, glossy loops. It turned its topaz eyes on me, its silky fur rippling with the movement. “Hello.”

  It spoke. I was kind of surprised to hear its voice, all deep and liquid with just the slightest hint of lisp caused by its massive dagger-like teeth.

  I cleared my throat. “Um…hello.”

  It had long, long eyelashes that fluttered as it blinked at me. “You’re beautiful,” I breathed, watching the light play across its iridescent body.

  The dragon laughed, a deep chuckle that bubbled up from its scaled chest. “You’ve grown to be quite pretty yourself.” It tilted its head this way and that, flowing around me and up across the back of the couch before settling down again. “You’re hair is darker this time. I like it.”

  I lifted an eyebrow. “It’s the same color it’s always been.”

  The dragon laughed again. “As far as you remember.” He winked at me. It was startling.

  “You were in my dreams before,” I said slowly. “But Ryuu said he didn’t send you.”

  The dragon’s long tail lashed. “That boy is still growing. He doesn’t know what he’s doing half the time. Of course he sent me; he just didn’t realize it.” He preened. “I’m Ryuu’s spirit energy.”

  I peered at the creature, awed. “So you’re Ryuu’s dragon?”

  He chuckled again. “No.” A second passed. “Yes.” Another pause. “I belong to Ryuu and he belongs to me.” Enigmatic dragon. Big surprise- my dreams didn’t make any more sense than my waking world.

  The room was suffused with a soft, glowing light, like afternoon sun. It shimmered over the dragon’s body. You wouldn’t think of a dragon having hair, but this one did. He had iridescent scales covering his long underside, but his back and his short legs were covered in silky hair that rippled when he moved. He had trailing whiskers of the same stuff that flowed from his vaguely canine face. I reached out a hand. “Can I pet you?”

  The dragon looked a bit taken aback. He pulled his head back and settled into his corner of the couch. “That’s not a good idea. Not without Ryuu here.”

  I frowned. “What difference does that make, it’s my dream.”

  The dragon grinned at me again. “No.”

  I edged closer. “I know I’m sleeping. Ryuu’s probably drifted off too. He was sitting right next to me. He is here.”

  Big topaz eyes stared into mine and I stopped my slow attack. “It’s not the same thing,” he said. “Ryuu sent me to you in that hospital place, but I’ve learned to find you on my own now.” He sounded very proud of himself. “So he’s not really here.”

  I really wanted to pet the dragon. “That doesn’t make any sense. Look, obviously this is all just my subconscious trying to comfort me. So why can’t I do what I want?”

  He chuckled. “Close. It’s Ryuu’s subconscious trying to comfort you- there’s a difference.” He winked again. I didn’t get it.

  “Fine. Whatever.”

  The dragon sighed and dodged my outstretched hand. “It will burn if you touch me,” he said shying away.

  A dragon afraid of being burned. My subconscious was crazy. “Why?”

  The look on his long face was suddenly ominous. “I need Ryuu to protect me from what’s inside you.”

  I stared at him for a minute, processing that. “Next time, bring Ryuu,” I said, disgruntled.

  The dragon was amused again. “I will. That would be… fun.”

  *****

  I clutched my shopping bag and shifted from foot to foot, bored out of my mind. Andrea nudged me and gave me an encouraging smile. I tried to mimic her expression, but my lips felt tight and I’m sure it was more of a grimace. The mall was supposed to be a safe outing for my first time hanging out with kids my own age, current age anyway.

  I was surprised when Andrea invited me to join her and some friends. I tr
ied to dredge up the memory of how excited I’d been at the prospect to do something normal, but somehow I just couldn’t muster the feeling anymore. My feet hurt, and the makeup I had globbed on to hide my bruised face felt greasy and heavy.

  “Ah…man! Move, let me do it.” A couple of boys from our group were arguing over the claw machine, wasting their quarters trying to grab a hold of a little basketball while the group of girls watched and laughed. A short, stocky boy with pretty green eyes took over the controls, shooting a look my way before he focused on the joystick. Andrea nudged me again.

  “I think Sean likes you,” she whispered into my ear. I stared at her for a minute, horrified. She just laughed. “C’mon,” she said loudly. “Let’s go look at shoes. This is stupid.”

  She tugged me along with her, and the other girls followed. They were in Andrea’s grade, and I didn’t really know them well, but they seemed nice enough, if a bit obsessed with the boys. I saw them darting glances over their shoulders to make sure the guys were following, which of course they were.

  I endured Andrea’s chatter as she pulled me up and down the aisles of the Shoe Depot. We’d been in and out of stores for over an hour and I was just plain ready to be done with it. I had learned my lesson after the first store. I didn’t share the tastes of the other girls, and every time I found something I liked I could tell that the others thought it was weird. I had looked forward to coming here so I could hang out with kids my own age for once, but I didn’t fit in. I felt like I was under a microscope.

  The boys finally returned. Sean sidled up to me and held out a patchwork rabbit with a floppy ear. “I missed the basketball,” he said wiggling the bunny.

  I reached out and took it. It was adorable, with big embroidered eyes and exposed stitches to make it look old-timey. “I thought you might want it.” Sean ran a hand through his reddish hair self-consciously. One of the other girls laughed.

  I realized the other girls weren’t looking at the stuffed animal with adoring eyes. I gritted my teeth. I was acting like a kid again. “Why would I want a stuffed animal?” I held it out to him.