A Ghost Story

Chapter 5

Gojyo found himself in the house, but everything was different. He looked around the house, wondering what had happened to all his stuff. The whole place was quiet except for the fire that burned in the hearth. He felt the warmth of the fire as he approached it and stood before it. Looking out the nearby window, he saw that the road was no longer there, and that it was replaced by plain dirt. Even a man, dressed like Hakkai was, rode down the dirt street.

“I must be dreaming” Gojyo said out loud to himself.

“And you are.” He gasped and turned around at the familiar voice, seeing Hakkai sitting cross legged on the couch. “You are in a dream right now, Gojyo. A dream world that you created. You sure do know a lot about my time, being so much older than yours.” Gojyo just looked at him with the same kind of shock as he had done before. Hakkai smiled and got up, walking over to him. This time, Hakkai took his hand and he could feel him! Gojyo could feel Hakkai’s hand in his!

“Hakkai, I can feel you!” Hakkai smiled.

"Yes. I entered your body and mind, helping you create this dream state. I did it once with your relative, but he paid it no mind. Lets try that handshake now. Hello Gojyo, I am Hakkai.” Gojyo smiled and took his hand, shaking it. Hakkai was no where as frightening now like he was as a ghost.

“Hello Hakkai, my name’s Gojyo.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Gojyo. Come sit with me and we can get to know each other more. Since we will be living together, that is.” Gojyo smiled and sat on the couch with him

“This is really weird.” Said Gojyo, looking around “Strange as hell.” Hakkai chuckled.

“Your vocabulary is quite unique.” Gojyo raised an eyebrow.

“It is? I wouldn’t think so. But I guess words change over time. You talk all proper and polite, no where near like me.” Hakkai folded his arms.

“I happen to be a gentleman. We speak politely in company.”

“Eh, whatever. Usually, only rich people speak like you do in my time.” Hakkai turned his body so he was facing him on the couch.

“Tell me, what is this time like? What are those strange, fast steel things that ride by? They make an awful lot of noise.”

“You mean cars?”

“That big thing you came here in.”

“Yeah, that’s a car. A truck really.”

Gojyo went on explaining to him about the various changes of technology. He told him all about televisions and phones, to washing machines and lawnmowers. They even got into a discussion about different types of food and drink. Even so far as to talk about music and movies, and instruments! Hakkai was fascinated by everything Gojyo was telling him, both shocked and surprised.

"Oh Gojyo, the world has come such a long way! Almost everything you have has replaced man power!”

“Yeah well, that’s just the way it is.”

“I think it is wonderful! When you unpack you must show me all these new, wonderful things! I am quite curious about them. Now, tell me about you.” Gojyo frowned at that and turned away from him.

“I rather not.” Hakkai blinked and unfolded his arms.

“I will not judge you, Gojyo. I was never one to judge a person no matter the reason. Everyone is human, we all make mistakes and we all have our flaws. Please, I really like you, Gojyo. I have not had a friend in many years. I miss having someone to talk to. If I know more about you, I can understand you better. And besides,” he chuckled “Who am I going tell who will not run away screaming?” Gojyo chuckled at that too and sighed. He looked at Hakkai and noticed the honest, truthful smile on his face. Gojyo did not know what it was, but something about Hakkai made him feel, secure. He never felt at ease as he does at this very moment in time. Or space, or dream, whatever it was. Hakkai just sat there with a friendly smile, waiting patiently.

“Well…I’m a love child. My father cheated on his wife with my mother, and I was born. Apparently, my mother died in childbirth and my father was left to care for me. His wife, my stepmother-“ he paused as he tried to find the words, although it was painful. “My stepmother disliked me. She hated me. Every time she saw me, she would glare…she hated everything about me. My half brother cared for me, as did my father. My dad said that he would make up for her love as much as possible, but he died when I was still young. He got sick and passed away. I was only seven or eight at the time. So I was left with my stepmother. She used to beat me a lot, and yell at me, throw things…but I never blamed her for any of it.

It was all my fault. She went crazy because I was born, from a woman that my father loved more than her and she knew that. I’m all my mother, and she must have seen her in me every time she looked my way…So I got old enough, got out of high school, dropped out of college, worked long hours at grueling jobs, and paid my way through life…mostly by pocketing some gambling money.”

Gojyo realized how much he was venting, and he did not notice it at all. He got caught up in his life story, letting Hakkai in on a little too much information. It had been a long time since he talked about it and it must have just rolled off his tongue. Gojyo was surprised when he felt a pair of arms encircle him. It was Hakkai.

“Oh Gojyo, that is a horrible story. It is a terrible thing for a child to go through. Yet you survived, and you have remained gentle. You are not a bad person at all. Even if you think that way, I do not believe it! You are a good person at heart, I can feel it. I may be dead, but I still remember the feelings of being alive. I feel your pain now, because I have taken this form in your mind. Oh Gojyo, I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you” Gojyo did not know what to do. Here was a ghost hugging him, and telling him what a great person he was. He could not help but smile, but could not bring himself to embrace Hakkai back.

“It’s okay. I made it through the rain, right?” Hakkai pulled away and smiled with a nod.

“Yes, you have.”

“Okay, now tell me about YOU. It’s only fair that you tell me about you after you heard my story.” Hakkai sat back in the couch.

“I am afraid I do not remember much, Gojyo.” He said sadly. “I would love to remember everything…but I just can not…not at all.”

“Not even a little? Anything at all?” Hakkai took a few minutes to think hard.

“I remember some things…I was an orphan. I never had any parents of my own. I grew up with the sisters at a church…then somehow I became a servant here. I remember something about it…how hard those times as a servant were. And there is…something else…that I can not quite remember. A person…a good person…I…I can not make out who they are, yet they feel so important. I already told you about Mr. Paul Revere…and the battle…but everything else is a blank. I am sorry Gojyo. I wish I could tell you more.”

“Hey man, it’s cool. Maybe you’ll remember soon. Uh, just think really hard I guess. Say, speaking of guessing, maybe I can suggest some stuff that might ring a bell and make you remember!” Hakkai blinked slowly.

“Um…all right.” Gojyo sat in deep thought.

“You said you weren’t sick?” Hakkai shook his head “Were you in an accident? Like, being thrown off a horse?” He shook his head no again. “Did you, like, fall off a ladder here or something? Wait, you did say it was something really bad…” Gojyo thought again. “Were you…murdered?” Hakkai sighed.

"Gojyo, this is not working. Nothing you are saying is opening up any windows of memory to me. I am sorry, I know you are trying.” There came a sudden loud, huge echoing banging that shook the whole house.

“What the fuck is that?!” Gojyo shouted.

“I believe someone is at the door!”

And with that, Gojyo sat strait up in bed. He clenched the sheets and was breathing heavily as a heavy pounding was coming from downstairs.