the wind is whispering (hikari week, day seven)
for hikari week, @sluggybasson107 and i decided to collaborate - for every entry iโve written, sheโs drawn an image. the picture above was created by sluggy, and with her permission, iโve posted it along with a story.
characters: hikari and tailmon
summary:ย when hikari moves into her new house, it's as if she's stepped into a fairytale. however, her storybooks can't explain the weird scratch marks that appear on her walls every night, or the trees seem to call her name. // also on AO3
a/n: this story is dedicated to @patamon - thank you for your constant support, kind words, and friendship. im grateful for you
โHold on tight!โ
The moving van jostled its passengers over potholes and gravel, giggles spilling from Hikariโs lips.
All too soon, the vehicle jolted to a stop, Taichi releasing a breath of relief.ย
โSee? It wasnโt so bad,โ their father joked. In the front seat, their motherโs face was tinted green, knuckles white against the passenger handle.ย
Unbuckling her seatbelt, Hikari gazed out of the window, brown eyes aglow with curiosity.ย
โCan we get out now?โ Taichi groaned. It had been six hours since he had last stretched his legs, irritation furrowing at his brow.ย
โOn one condition: you carry at least one box inside. This van wonโt unpack itself.โย
Before Taichi could agree, his door slammed shut. Hikari followed soon after, anxious to catch a glimpse of their new house.ย
Rocks crunched underneath her sneakers once she stepped out, the sun shining brightly overhead. A light breeze toyed with the ends of her hair, whispering in her ear. โWelcome home,โ the wind seemed to say.ย
Her parents had told her that their new house would be bigger than their cramped Tokyo apartment, that the air would be fresher and that she would have more room to play. Hikari, for her part, never doubted them, but a shock of surprise rooted her in place as her eyes took in the sight before her.ย
Their home sat in the midst of an open field, an impressive acreage that begged to be explored. Wildflowers reached Hikariโs knees, the petals of a daisy tickling her thigh. The open expanse of sky was broken up by treetops circling the property, an alcove of lush greenery.
It was as if Hikariโs fairytale books had come to life; she had been transported into an entirely new world.ย
โCโmon, slow poke,โ her father chided. He had been all smiles once the family decided to move; the moment his office job let him go without notice, he had been ready for a change.ย
Hikariโs mother, on the other hand, was still car-sick from the ride.ย
With a flourish, the moving van was opened. Boxes that were once stacked with great care now laid in a heap at the mouth of the door. โWe hit nearly every pothole on the way here, Hikari. But donโt worry; Iโm sure all your stuff is just fine.โย
He reached in, grabbing the first parcel with his daughterโs chicken scratch scrawled on the side. โOh, and guess what?โ he asked, placing the box securely in his daughterโs grasp, โYou get your own room.โ
With a gasp, Hikari embraced her father with a free arm. โThank you,โ she whispered before pulling away. Hugging the package close to her chest, she darted through the yard, flowers whipping at her ankles.ย
โHurry, Hikari, or Iโm going to pick the biggest room!โ Taichiโs head peeked around a doorframe before disappearing from view.ย
Kicking her shoes off on the veranda, Hikari set foot into what would be their family room. To the right stood the empty hallway her brother must have run down, his trail clear through the thin coating of dust.ย
Box in hand, Hikari made her way towards the first door. Before she managed to catch a glimpse of what lay inside, her brother urged her to โStay out!โย
The sounds of furniture being moved traveled down the hall; the moving men had arrived. She would need to find a room soon.ย
Curiously, the only other room off the hallway was a bathroom, the floorboards ending abruptly at the foot of an ornate, Western-style door. The knob shone in the mid-afternoon sunlight, the moisture in the air clinging to Hikariโs brow.ย
Wiping her sweaty palms on her shorts, she attempted to twist the doorknob, the lock remaining stubbornly shut. Setting her box down, Hikari used both hands to pull, the wood bowing against her efforts.ย
Out of breath, she leaned her forehead against the doorframe. Her parents chatted idly at the other end of the house, already arranging the furniture in their own room. Already, Hikariโs boxes had been stacked neatly at the mouth of the hallway, patiently awaiting her decision.ย
โPlease,โ she whispered, as if the door could hear her plea. And, perhaps, it did. Steadying herself, Hikari twisted the knob for a final time, nearly falling backwards once the door swung easily on its hinges.ย
Without having time to react, the dust seemed to move, scattering about the already dirty floor. A small, dark mass collided with the tip of her sneaker, slipping away just as Hikari tried to catch it.
Despite the dust mites, the room was charming. Though it was small, a window, directly across from the entryway, looked out into the forest. Summerโs sunshine illuminated the floor, casting cheerful shadows along the wall.ย
Hikari smiled; this would make a wonderful room. More specs of dust danced around her, flitting through the air with ease.ย
Once the moving van had been unloaded, and Hikariโs room nearly unpacked, the Yagami family sat down for take-out dinners, cartons scattered amongst the remainder of their boxes.ย
โSo, how do you guys like it here so far?โ their mother asked, looking significantly less green than before.ย
โWell,โ Taichi tried, a few stray noodles dangling from his chin, โThereโs nothing to do. Are you sure there isnโt a soccer club I can join?โ
With a half-hearted smile of sympathy, their father shook his head. โSorry, son. The school here just isnโt big enough. Luckily, summer break is almost over. Iโm sure you can find something to do before the new term begins.โย
If he noticed the way his son rolled his eyes, the older man didnโt comment on it. Instead, he turned his attention to his daughter.ย
โHikari, what about you?โ
Chopsticks hovering mid-air, Hikari took a moment to think. Silently, she chewed on a piece of onigiri.
โMy room is nice, aside from the little dust bunnies. The window has a really pretty view.ย Do you think I could plant some flowers, Daddy?โ
Wrapping more noodles around her chopsticks, Hikari looked up expectantly, patiently awaiting her fatherโs answer.
โBaby, what dust bunnies? I had a cleaning crew tidy up yesterday so that we wouldnโt have to do any chores once we got here.โ
Taichi, having got over his initial disappointment, chimed in. โI donโt know what sheโs talking about. My room was completely fine.โ
Hikariโs eyes flitted between the two, confusion furrowing at her brow. โBut I saw it,โ she spoke up. โThe dust bunnies ran away as soon as I opened the door at the end of the hall. One even crawled over my shoe!โย
Her own confusion was mirrored in the eyes of her father, a finger tapping his chin in thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, a look of understanding softening his features.
โItโs been a long day, my love. This house is very old, and itโs easy to let your imagination run wild. Donโt worry, those dust bunnies will disappear as soon as you wake up in the morning.โ
Satisfied with his own answer, her father continued his meal, steering the conversation towards his wife.ย
Taichi caught Hikariโs eyes across their make-shift table, sticking his tongue out.โI thought you had already grown out of your imaginary friends.โ
A flush crawled up the back of her neck, cheeks tinged pink. Instead of responding, Hikari hunkered down, finishing the rest of her supper in silence.
-
Later that night, after her parents had tucked her in, Hikari laid wide awake, ears trained on the noises of the night.
From down the hall, her brother shifted in his bed, the floorboards creaking beneath him.
An owl called out,its eerie song sending a shiver down Hikariโs back. Deeper within the house, a pair of footsteps meandered about the kitchen.
This house was old, she reminded herself. A few strange noises were to be expected.
Hikari did not expect, however, to hear faint scratching against the thin walls of her closet. Tucked beneath the comforter, she froze in place.
Heart beating in her ears, her breath came in fast spurts. โWhoโs there?โ she whispered, the cry of the owl startling her once more.ย
With bated breath, Hikari waited for a response, flinching when the scratching continued.ย
As if the source of the noise could smell her fear, the sound of claws scraping against the door grew louder, almost insistent.ย
Mustering up her courage, Hikari crawled out from underneath her blanket, socks muffling the sounds of her footsteps.ย
Moonlight shone through the window, stronger than any nightlight.ย
With every footstep, the scratching grew louder, more urgent.ย Despite sweeping the floor thoroughly, dust had already accumulated around the edges of the doorframe, her socks stained gray.ย
Hikari shivered, wrapping her arms around her body.ย
Reaching out, her trembling hand stopped short of the doorknob, an audible thud resonating from within.ย
The knob rattled on its own, twisting, turning until the door swung ajar.ย
Hikari leaped back, a gasp of surprise rushing from her lungs.ย
โYou know,โ a strange, soft voice whispered, โYouโre awfully small for a human.โ
The little girlโs mouth ran dry, fear rooting her in place.ย
A white paw, no bigger than Hikariโs own hand, peeked from the crack in the door. Two cerulean eyes gazed up at her from the shadows, studying Hikari with a ferocity she had never known.
โFear is not very becoming on you,โ the voice stated. Creaking on its hinges, the closet door swung open wider, revealing Hikariโs late-night visitor.
Fur as white as the moon, a small cat sat perched on the threshold, disdain curling at the edges of its mouth.
Hikari could only stare, hair standing on end. โWho are you?โ she asked once more, pretending not to notice the tremor in her voice.ย
The cat sat languidly, comfortable in the midst of Hikariโs fear. โI am called Tailmon. You must be the one they call Hikari.โ
โThey? Who are they?โ Previous exhaustion forgotten, adrenaline pumped through Hikariโs veins. Stepping closer, she allowed herself to stare at her visitor openly.ย
Despite being on the smaller side, her feline friend appeared to be an average house cat. Tailmonโs eyes glittered in mirth, as if Hikari should have known the answer to her own questions.
โThe soot sprites, of course. Theyโve been keeping an eye on you. They wouldnโt allow just anyone into this room.โ
Realization dawned on the young girl. โDo you mean the dust bunnies? Daddy told me I imagined them.โ
Tailmonโs tail twitched back and forth,ย her hmmph hardly discernible. โParents are often the most unimaginative creatures you will ever meet.โ
Feline eyes stared up at her, as if daring her to disagree. Crouching down to Tailmonโs level, Hikari offered a small smile. Pairs of little eyes peeked around the corner, dissipating as Hikariโs eyes began to focus. They danced just beyond her peripherals, skirting around her vision.
โWhy me?โ Hikari asked, breaking the silence. โWhy did the soot sprites let me in this room?โ
โIt wouldnโt be any fun if I told you all of the answers right away. Sometimes,โ Tailmon paused, grooming the back of her paw, โYou have to take things slow.โ
Hikari nodded as if she understood, but it was as if Tailmon could see right through her.ย
โWould you like to go on an adventure?โ the feline asked, tail flicking behind her. Opening her mouth to speak, Hikariโs reply was cut off. โIt would help answer some of your questions.โ
The moonlight projected long shadows onto the floor, Hikariโs finger tracing lightly over the outlines.ย โMommy doesnโt like it if I go outside without telling her. Where would we go?โ Her voice was hushed, lips pursed in worry.ย
Anxiety welled inside her stomach, Hikariโs late-night visitor eyeing her with indifference.
Gusts of wind rustled outside, the chirping of crickets growing louder.ย ย
โI canโt tell you where we would be going, only that you would be back before the sun peeked over the horizon.โ Tailmonโs eyes darted to the window and back. โIf everything goes smoothly, that is.โ
Outside of her window, the moon seemed to glimmer, beckoning Hikari closer. Through the thin walls, she could barely make out the sound of her father snoring. If Tailmon could be trusted, her parents wouldnโt even notice she had been out of the house at all.ย
โDo you promise Iโll be back soon? I donโt want my parents to worry.โ With as much courage as the eight-year-old could muster, Hikariโs eyes bore into Tailmonโs. The cat was unperturbed, silent under the little girlโs scrutiny. Outside, the wind rippled through the treetops, almost whispering.ย
โCome.โ
With a final flick of the tail, Tailmon rose on all fours. โI will not make any promises, Hikari. But if you wish to join me, we must be leaving soon. The trees are calling and they are most impatient.โ
Tailmonโs lithe frame slipped through the bedroom door, paws silent against the floorboard.
Haphazardly throwing a jacket over her thin, cotton pajamas, Hikari padded after her, quietly shutting the veranda door behind her.ย
Once she was outside, the moon embraced her, lighting her path with a dim glow. Wildflowers hugged Hikariโs ankles, almost pulling her towards Tailmon.
An ear twitched, the catโs head turning ever-so-slightly.ย
โThe soot sprites were right about you, Hikari. Follow close behind me; I wouldnโt want you to get lost.โ
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