#hideki miyamoto

[yellowroseanddreamstorm]

Chibi Miyamotos!

[yrpspiritsintheshadows]

Imaginary Friends

Imaginary Friends

School was out for Geistville Elementary. As students hurried to the bus or for their parents’ cars, one student was left to wait in the playground as he always did.

Ken, honestly didn’t mind waiting to be picked up from school. It was extra play time as far as he was concerned, getting the full run of the playground and not have to share the area with anyone…

Except for one person. 

He had met her back when he still went to the preschool that was attached to the building. She was around his age and was always there waiting to play with someone. The other kids couldn't see her of course but Ken didn’t mind.

“Weeee! C’mon, Ayami, catch me!” Ken giggled, ducking under the jungle gym as his friend chased him, floating just off the ground. 

Her laugh echoed around them, the glow around her body illuminating the area.

Ayami, didn’t dress like the other ghost kids Ken had seen over the years. She wore a set of black and white armor,with flower like designs and crystals embedded into it. Her hair was pure white and one of her eyes was a bright green color, contrasting to her other eye, which was a pale blue color.

“I’m gonna catch ya!” She phased through the jungle gym, floating upwards as Ken bounded across the top. 

“Nya!”

She giggled before tackling him as the two children rolled across it, laughing up a storm, one having to catch his breath.

“That was fun! We haven’t rough housed in a while! It’s been too long!”

Ken sat up, grinning.

“Way too long.” He giggled, leaning back. “We gotta play more often.”

Ayami fiddled with her hands, unsure.

“I dunno… I’m not normal.”

“But you're my friend!” He insisted. “We never play except during school days and then during summer I never see you!” 

“But…” She looked down. “Would your parents be okay with a ghost friend?”

That was the problem she was worried about. For a while, she looked and acted very much like a human child. Ayami had been deceased for a long time. Ken never asked her about what happened and she didn’t bring it up either.

It was an unspoken kind of rule. Don’t ask about the things that would make either of them upset.

Ken poked her forehead, getting her attention.

“My daddy was like me when he was little. I’m sure he’d be okay with it… and you’re a nice ghost. Pleeeaaase?” He gave her the puppy eyes.

Ayami squeaked, covering her own eyes.

“Kennny!!! That’s not fair!”

“Please? Please? Please?”

“Ooohhh bother…” She giggled, lowering her hands. He was still making the face. “Okay, okay!”

“Yippee!” Ken threw his arms around her. “You know where my house is? I can tell you where it is or you can sneak in and hide with me and my brothers!”

“I can find you easily.” She winked. “That’s the cool part of being a Ghost Guardian.”

“Right! Maybe I can meet more of your ghost friends too?” He tilted his head. “If you're okay with it.”

“Maybe. Oh! If you ever come to where I stay, you can meet Dree Dree! And Jackie and Aggie too!”

“Oooo… Yeah! Yeah!” Ken giggled, holding out his pinky finger. “It’s a promise!”

Ayami giggled, looping her finger with his.

“A secret promise!”

“A secret play date!”

oooooo

Around early evening, when the sun was still high in the sky, Ken had a knock at his window.

He looked up from his game system, grinning at who he saw. Ayami was floating just outside of his window, her white hair blowing in the wind.

“Is it a bad time?”

He pushed the window open, leaning out a little.

“You’re good! Wanna come in?”

“Hm…” She furrowed her brow, looking down to where she could see through the window to the rest of the Miyamoto family. “Not yet. Wanna come outside and play?”

“I can! Hikaru helped me with my homework!” 

“Cool! I got done training early too.”

The two children laughed before Ken hurried to grab his coat, grabbing one of his toys too.

“Daddy?”

Eiji looked up, adjusting his reading glasses.

“Yeah, Kiddo?”

Ken smiled, giving him a bit of a puppy eyed look.

“It’s still daytime, can I go outside for awhile?”

Eiji hummed in thought, glancing outside. It would still be about two hours before night fell.

“Only an hour and a half. I want you back just before sunset, okay?”

“Okay, thanks!”

Ken hurried outside, meeting Ayami at the backdoor… This time, however, Okami was wary as she stared at the ghostly child.

“Um… Is she okay?”

“She’s a nice doggy, don’t worry. Okami, c’mon! You can sleep while we play.” 

Okami huffed but followed after anyways, not wanting to let Ken out of her sight.

The children didn’t pay her much mind, since she kept up with their pace easily.

“I brought my bouncy ball. We can kick it around or something! See?” Ken pointed to the pale green designs around the black ball. “It glows in the dark!”

“Ooo, like me!” Ayami giggled.

“Yeah!” Ken moved back several paces, once he was sure they were a bit out of sight. “Ready?”

“Ahuh, ahuh!” Ayami got into position, bouncing in place. 

Ken grinned before kicking the ball her way, the girl jumping into the air a bit to kick it back.

“Nice!”

He ran a bit further in before kicking it as hard as he could.

Ayami squeaked as it barreled right towards her, turning her body intangible as it flew right through where her stomach would’ve been.

“Eeek! Sorry!” 

Ken ran up to her.

“You okay?”

“Yup!” 

Both children looked to where the ball had gone. They couldn’t see it anymore, having lost sight of it in the brush.

“... Uh oh.” They murmured in unison. 

“... I’ll go get it-”

“I’ll go with you!”

Okami whined, watching them leave. Her ears folded before walking after them. 

Ayami phased in and out of the brush, looking for the ball, the leaves lighting up as her essence phased through them.

“Hm… Not here…”

Ken looked around, humming in thought. He peered down the hill, seeing a faint glow from the paint.

“Found it-”

His foot slipped, as he started to tumble down the hill. Ken yelped, bracing himself for a hard impact… only for Ayami to grab his jacket’s hood, pulling hard to keep him from doing just that.

“Oof!”

He sighed in relief as she set him down. Okami whined from the top of the hill, pacing back and forth.

“I’m okay, Okami, promise!” He turned to Ayami, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry.”

Ayami shook her head.

“Don’t. You okay?”

“Ahuh!”

Ayami smiled before floating off retrieving the ball. 

“I got it!”

Ken smiled, bouncing in place a little. “Wanna play here?”

“Hm… I don’t think so. It’ll take a bit to get you home.” Ayami offered her hand to him. “Hold on tight.”

Ken blinked, doing so… squealing as she floated upwards for a moment, going higher than the boy thought possible, rising over the treetops.

The entire forest was revealed to them as Ken looked around in wonder.

“Wow…” He breathed. “This… Wow.”

“Not too much?” Ayami asked, smiling sheepishly. “Not scary?”

“No way!” Ken laughed. “We’re FLYING, Ayami! Really flying!”

She looked to the ball and back to Ken. “Wanna forget catch for a bit?”

“Yup!”

She dropped it before getting a better hold on Ken, keeping him close.

“Ready?” 

Ken gave her a thumbs up.

Ayami grinned, her green eye glowing brighter before she flew off at a rapid speed, the children laughing up a storm the whole way.

Dipping up and down back through the tree branches as Ayami made them both intangible, even through the earth itself as they popped back up.

Ken squealed as they flew through a particularly large tree, spotting a family of owlets before they phased out of it and onto the next branch.

“THIS IS THE COOLEST THING EVER!”

“And this is what I get to do all the time!”

After a while of flying like this, Ayami came to a stop in a particularly large oak tree that looked over the property. The two sat next to one another on one of the thicker branches, gazing out at the view before them. Ayami was a little tired, leaning against the trunk of the tree, while Ken was still bouncing a bit excitedly.

“That was… Seriously, you can do all kinds of amazing things and…” Ken rubbed the back of his neck, going a little red. “And I’m just the kid who can see ghosts…”

“Aww Kenny…”  Ayami pouted a little. “But you can do a lot of really neat things too. You can see what others don’t… and you aren’t afraid of those things either.”

“Not true… I have lots of bad dreams about bad things that happen to people…” Ken rubbed his arm. “I see people too that wanna get my attention because they can’t get anyone else’s. Like my big brothers’ first mommy and daddy. They haunted me all the time until Daddy was able to save Hika.”

“And I kept ‘em away from you at school, remember?” Ayami squeezed his shoulder, prompting a small smile from Ken. “Kenny, you just gotta practice. You’re still little.”

“Yeah… I wanna be just like my daddy when I grow up. I just… get scared sometimes… but Daddy says that this stuff happened to him too when he was little… same for my Auntie Naomi.” Ken fidgeted with his hands a little. “And I don’t have as many bad dreams anymore. Sammy helps me sleep better with Dreamster’s help. We play a lot when things get scary so I can sleep again.” He smiled a little. 

“What kind of dream stuff do you do?”

“Well…” Ken perked up. “Last night, I conjured up my oba-san’s house! It’s really, really huge!” Ken held out his arms as wide as they could go without causing him to lose balance. “And we played around the garden with her koi fish! The garden’s super, super big! It’s like a mini forest too!”

“Wow…” Ayami smiled. “And you did that.”

“Ahuh… and Okami helps me in my dreams too.”

“That’s cool!”

Ken smiled, looking down, seeing Okami at the base of the tree… giving him a disapproving look. 

“Yup. She loves me a lot. And I love her.”

Ayami smiled, closing her eyes as she leaned her head back. “So, you’re not just the kid who sees ghosts. Your daddy wouldn’t have known what to look out for with your brothers if you hadn’t seen their parents first.”

“Yeah… I guess so, huh?” Ken fumbled with his hands, frowning a little. “I just… hope no one’s in really big trouble, because of my new nightmares.”

Ayami squeezed his hand, taking it into her own.

“If they are, then we’ll get them out of it.” She gave him a grin. “That’s the job of a Ghost Guardian, to help people!”

“And… Memoria Coven members, can create Remembereds… or get spirit companions of our own when we’re old enough.” Ken smiled, a hopeful look coming to his eyes. “I wanna be that cool too.”

“And I have no doubts.” 

“Ayami…”

Ken hugged her tightly, startling her for a second before she returned the embrace, her glow brightening.

“Kenny...  I wanna help every step of the way. I promise.”

“And I know you will. It’s a promise… Okay?”

Ayami smiled, hugging him tighter.

“A secret promise.”

“A ghost promise!”

They giggled a little before Ayami helped him up, floating down to the ground.

Sunset was coming and they both knew Eiji and Carmen would NOT be pleased if Ken wasn’t home soon.

“Can we do this again tomorrow?” He asked as they hurried off for the house.

Ayami grabbed onto a tree branch, swinging down as she sprinted alongside him. 

“We sure can! More playtime, lots more play time!” 

“Yay!”

[yellowroseanddreamstorm]

My 17th and 18th entry for #Mermay2020 Hideki and Hikaru Fujimoto/Miyamoto from Spirits in the Shadows by Storm Arashi.

[yrpspiritsintheshadows]

Cooling Down

Cooling Down

Carmen had been waiting for Ejij, her computer set up in the family room that overlooked the deck near the driveway.  It was getting late though. Even late by investigation standards.

He’s never been gone till three.

Carmen fidgeted with her necklace, glancing down at the driveway again. This wasn’t like her husband. Especially when he had papers to grade in the morning.

“Please, be okay…”

I know this one had some bad memories for us… but they’d text me if something was wrong… Right?

Her hands went from her necklace to wrapping her arms around her midsection.

Bright lights rushed past her head, her hand gripping tightly at her husband’s hand as he tried to keep up with the medical staff.

“Don’t worry, I promise I’m gonna be right there. I’m right here.” 

“Eiji…”

He gave her a reassuring look, trying to hide the fear in his eyes.

“I love you.”

He’s always trying to take care of people. Even put up with having to be by my head during my c-section… 

I just want to be there for him too.

It wasn’t long after that the van pulled up. She watched as Eiji bid the team goodbye before heading up the deck.

She didn’t even give him a chance to open the door as she flung it open for him. His tired eyes met hers as he stepped inside the house.

“Hey…” He whispered.

“Hey…” Carmen frowned, cupping his cheek. “You okay?”

Eiji shook his head, bringing his arms around her.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” He whispered, keeping her close. He was just relieved to be home, away from all that nonsense.

It had been a hard night.

Carmen stroked his back, concerned at how exhausted he really was. 

“Let’s go upstairs. Get you into bed.”

“Okay…” Eiji followed her upstairs, keeping quiet as they walked down the hall. He peered into Ken’s room, seeing the boy was fast asleep, huddled close to Okami. 

Safe and sound.

He peered into Hikaru’s room, finding the teen halfway off his bed but soundly asleep from the way he was breathing.

“That can't be comfy.” He remarked as Carmen peered in after, giggling a bit.

“Oh, Hika…”

“I got him.” Eiji went in, lifting him back into his bed. Hikaru churred a little in his sleep, nuzzling into his pillow.

Eiji smiled softly, stroking his hair.

“Dream on.” He tucked him, back in, before going back to Carmen. She had a warm look in her eyes, cupping his cheeks.

“You’re such a dad.” She whispered, kissing him quickly.

He smiled sheepishly, kissing her forehead.

“I can’t help it… Is Hideki…?”

“Already checked on him. All curled up in a ball and asleep.”

Eiji nodded, touching his forehead to hers.

“Sorry.”

“Stop being so silly. You’re worried about them.”

“Not that… Sorry… I didn’t listen to you.” 

Carmen frowned, pulling him into their bedroom, closing the door.

“Why? Because you wanted to help someone with an object they didn’t know was haunted?” 

Eiji shook his head, changing into his night clothes before nearly collapsing into the bed. 

“No… because it turns out, she made it haunted herself. Carmen, she was using a spirit board and knowingly didn’t close the portal.”

Carmen froze up before getting into bed with him.

“Eiji… That’s horrible!” She looked him over. “Are you alright? Did anything-”

“Only Skyler got attacked. We cleansed the house, closed it up… and dealt with an old foe..” Eiji closed his eyes tightly, curling up next to her. “I said I didn’t wanna talk about it but… It keeps haunting me.”

Carmen laid beside him, resting a hand on his side.

“Eiji, you can tell me anything.”

Eiji buried his face into her hair, his shoulders shaking. He had been fine leaving the house… but after, it took everything to hold it together until he got home. 

He thought it didn’t hurt him anymore. After twenty years, he thought he was an expert at keeping things to himself about it.

“Carmen… I…” He shook his head, eyes stinging. 

“Shh….” She stroked his side a little, kissing his forehead. “You’re okay. It’s okay mi amor. You don’t have to.”

“It was the spirit that attacked me when I was a kid. The idiot who hired us managed to summon THAT ghost.” 

Carmen’s eyes widened in alarm, before hugging her husband tightly.

“Oh, oh, oh Eiji…”

Eiji closed his eyes tightly, biting his lip, tears running down his face, trying to fight down the memories.

“What’d I do that was so bad? I was just a kid…”

“Shh…” She kissed his head again. “Shhh… You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I just wanted to protect my sister.” He whispered. “I just… wanted to be a good big brother.” 

“And she lived.”

Eiji nodded, keeping close to her. He was exhausted, his mind was going at a thousand thoughts a minute.

“Shhh…”

He looked to her with a pained look.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop.” She touched her forehead to his, keeping eye contact with him. “Deep breath.”

He took a shaky one.

“Exhale.”

He released it, his body slumping a little. Sleep was creeping up on him. The whispered reassurances from his wife, the warmth of their blanket as she pulled it up over them…

Her very presence by his side.

“I love you…” He whispered, before his eyes slid shut.

What would I do without you?

oooooo

The next day, there was something definitely off in the household. Namely, when the boys hurried downstairs, Okami in tow.

“Hey, where’s Dad?” Hikaru looked around. “He’s always up right about now.”

“Or if he wasn’t, he’d be waking up as soon as Okami started making a racket.” Hideki added.

Carmen yawned, gaining their attention, to where she was at the stove. 

“You’re dad, had a really rough night last night guys. He really needs his sleep right now.” She explained, keeping her voice low. “So, we’re just letting him sleep in since it’s still the weekend.”

“Okay… Can I help with breakfast?”

“Sure can, Deki.” 

Hikaru and Ken glanced back upstairs, exchanging a worried look.

“He’s okay… right?”

“Just tired.” Carmen gave them a reassuring look, motioning for them to come away from the stairs. “We’ll get him up later.”

“Alright.” Hikaru lifted up Ken before the smaller boy could make it back up the stairs.

“EEP! Hey, Hikaaaa!”

Hikaru let him hang off his shoulders by his ankles, eliciting a stream of giggles as Ken tried futility to get free.

“Nooope! C’mon, let’s see that parkour mastery of yours get you out.”

Ken grinned, mischief in his eyes.

“Okami, halp!” 

Hikaru was standing one moment, the next, all he saw was a bullet made of dark fluff running right at him.

“Oh, fri-”

THUD!

“OOF!”

Hikaru groaned, squirming out from under the massive dog, giving Ken a sour look. The little boy was happily cuddled up to her, getting nuzzled.

“I hate you.” He said, letting his head hit the floor again.

“I love you too!” Ken chirped.

Carmen cleared her throat, giving the boys a warning look.

“Take it outside.”

Hikaru held up his hands in an “I’m unarmed” position before getting up.

“Hey, I was just trying to keep him from waking up Dad.”

Ken pouted.

“I wasn’t gonna wake him up.”

“Maybe not but she-” Hikaru gestured to Okami. “Can easily wake anyone up by just jumping on the dang bed.”

Ken huffed before getting up.

“I’m goin outside. Call me when breakfast is done! C’mon Okami!”

Okami perked up, hurrying out the backdoor with him.

“Mom, you want me to…?”

“He’s fine.” Carmen looked out the kitchen window. “He knows not to go for a long walk before breakfast - and Okami’s with him. She’s fierce when she has to.”

“Duly noted… I’m gonna go tinker for a bit then.” 

And keep an ear out for Dad.

Dunno if he has issues with nightmares too but seems we all get them.

Hikaru quietly made his way back upstairs to his room to grab his toolkit. The hallway was quiet, the only sounds coming from downstairs.

He was quick, grabbing up his latest project and tools, heading out of his room… letting out a sharp gasp, stumbling back as Eiji let out a sharp gasp of his own, eyes going wide.

“Oh Poseidon…” Hikaru muttered, putting a hand over his heart. 

“Vitalis Above…” Eiji gasped, trying to slow his heartrate. “You scared the crud outta me.”

“You are so one to talk.” Hikaru replied, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you were sleeping.” He remarked, noting how Eiji was dressed.

He was wearing a grey T-shirt with light blue jeans, foregoing his hoodie for now.

“I…” Eiji grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I couldn't get back to sleep. I thought it was time to get up and I was gonna go outside. Maybe go for a run through the property.”

“Oh.” Hikaru leaned against his doorway. “Kenny’s already outside. He’ll love that.”

“You wanna come with?”

“Hm… Maybe. Maybe after food.”

Eiji’s stomach growled as his face turned red.

“Maybe food’s a good idea.” He chuckled. “Sleep well?”

“Yup. Had a nice dream too for once.”

Eiji was relieved to hear that. Hikaru's nightmares were still present but slowly fading. Enough that his therapist didn’t think he needed dream therapy after all.

“That’s wonderful.”

Good. That’s progress. Really great progress. 

He still was a bit out of it, the remnants from the night before trying to come through. He was trying to get his mind off of it though since trying to sleep only brought up hazy dreams about haunted dolls and spirit boards.

Eiji headed downstairs, motioning for Hideki to keep quiet, coming up behind Carmen. 

He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the back of her head.

“Morning.”

“Hey…” She gave him a gentle look. “Welcome back sleepy head.”

“Good to be back. Coffee?”

“Already brewed.” 

Eiji hugged her tighter before going to make himself a cup. 

“So, what are you gonna do after breakfast eh?”

“Go for a run, maybe take the kids, unless you don’t want the house to yourself.” He grinned, before glancing to Hideki. “You wanna go out with me and your brothers later?”

“Maybe. I was gonna call someone…” He murmured, his cheeks going a bit pink.

“Oh?” 

“Just a… really good friend.”

Hikaru walked by him, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Her name is Tomino.” He grinned, earning a hard elbow to his stomach. “OOF! Worth it….”

“Get outta my kitchen!” 

Eiji had to think for a moment before the name registered. She was one of his students and if he recalled right…

She’s also in the music club and trying to start some kind of band. Least that’s what hallway chatter’s led me to believe.

“So… It’s THAT Tomino? Very nice choice.”

Hideki’s face was bright red.

“No comments from the sleeping gallery.” He muttered.

Eiji held up his hands.

“No worries, I’m not gonna tease.”

Yet.

Awww my shark pup might have a crush.

“Good or no food.”

“I share that sentiment.” Carmen smirked, nudging her husband a bit. “Now, go.”

“Going, going.”

Ah… I love my family.

After breakfast, Eiji grabbed his coat, getting ready to head out.

“Last call! Whoever wants to go out and get some fresh air and sunshine, say “aye” and follow me. If not, you’re free to stay home and we’ll go out later.” 

Ken hurried over, Okami right next to him.

“I wanna go!”

He chuckled, ruffling his hair.

“Alright buddy, let’s go. Hikaru? Hideki?”

Hideki walked by, holding up his phone and putting a finger to his lips. Eiji nodded, giving him a thumbs up.

Hikaru looked down at his robot he was tinkering with before getting up, dusting himself off.

“Sure, why not?” He grabbed his sweater before hurrying out with them.

Eiji gave him a grin as they started walking towards the end of the yard and into the forest itself.

“So, ponte un sueter?” He guessed.

“Guuuh yes. She pulled that at pick up from robotics club when we ran late. In front of all my friends. Including Marco.”

“Oof.” He winced. “Sorry kiddo.”

“Can’t complain too much eh?”

Ken walked between them, giving his older brother a playful look.

“But big bro! Mommy had to say it TWICE remember?”

“Why you little-!”

Ken ducked behind Eiji, whining a little. The man rolled his eyes, patting his head.

“Alright you two, chill… though seriously, bummer. Her mom still does that to her whenever we visit too.” He made his voice sound a bit high pitched, covering his mouth with his hands. “CARMENITA!” He exclaimed. “YOU’RE GOING TO GET DOUBLE PNEUMONIA! PONTE UN SUETER VAMANOS!!!” 

The boys busted up laughing.

“PFFT! Oh gosh! Guess it’s a good thing I haven’t met her yet!” Hikaru laughed, throwing his head back.

“That’s Abuelita alright!” Ken agreed, giggling up a storm. “Ken! You’re too skinny!” 

Eiji snickered.

“Yup, that’s your grandma. Least on your mom’s side. My mom’s… a bit more chill.”

“Just a bit eh?” 

Eiji nodded, looking around them. The forest was quiet today, the only sounds coming from the nearby river that ran through it and the birds chirping overhead.

“Honestly, can’t complain. She helped pay for our house.”

Hikaru stopped short as they kept walking.

“Wait. Seriously, Dad, how rich are we!?”

“Eh, enough?” He shrugged. 

Hikaru shook his head, running a hand through his hair. 

“Seriously, what do I have to do to get on her good side?”

“Not knock over her favorite vase!” Ken quipped, a guilty look coming to his face. “Especially not the blue one with the tiny birds.”

“... Oh… Noodle incident?”

“Literally.” Ken and Eiji retorted.

This family is nuts.

I love it.

Eiji looked up towards the sky, sighing a bit.

“I needed this.”

“How bad was it?”

“Enough that I really don’t wanna talk about it. Let’s just leave it at never use a spirit board. Kay?”

“Um… Alright.” Hikaru frowned a little. “You sure you're okay?”

“Yeah. Just gotta keep busy.” He broke into a jog. “C’mon. keep up!”

Ken broke into a sprint after him, giggling.

Hikaru shrugged, picking up the pace. If this was how Eiji coped with the things that he was afraid of, then he could get used to it.

Definitely can get used to it.

Eiji glanced back at the boys, smiling.

I’ll be alright. 

I’ve got a lot more depending on me now and I’m not gonna let them down.