by Dave Ferraro
There was a crash from the antechamber, and Yumiko bolted upright. In one fluid motion, she slid open the paper door and flipped the lights on.
“No, no, no, no,” an exasperated voice greeted her. “S’bright.”
Yumiko sighed as she watched Tanuki attempt to sit up at the table, empty sake bottles littering the floor around him. “Really, Tanuki?”
Tanuki smiled, then grunted as he grabbed hold of the table with his paws and hoisted himself up. When he only fell over a moment later, he didn’t bother attempting to sit up again. “The room…I think the room’s a yokai. Won’t stop spinning.”
“That would be your head, from the sake,” Yumiko chided. “You only have yourself to blame.”
“Yumiko?”
Glancing back over her shoulder, Yumiko saw Reina enter the library with a smile, as she tossed a duffel bag casually to the floor.
“What’s that?” Yumiko asked.
Reina looked down at the bag, then shrugged up at Yumiko. “Mori said I should train to fight too. She says I lack discipline or something, but she has no idea how disciplined I am. I do yoga every morning, and totally eat rice cakes for days on end if I start to feel bloated. For days.”
“She’s only looking out for you,” Yumiko assured her. “If you’re going to deal with yokai, you have to learn to handle yourself.”
Reina grunted noncommittally and stepped up to the doorway, peeking inside. She raised an eyebrow. “Looks like somebody had too much fun last night.”
“You can never have too much fun,” Tanuki told her, then rolled his head her way. “My stomach is doing flip-flops.”
“Poor thing,” Reina said, stepping into the room. She lowered herself to the ground and gently pulled Tanuki into her lap, running her hand gently over his stomach. “Is that better?”
Tanuki’s eyes widened. “Yes. I mean, it’s a little better. I’m cold though.”
Reina pulled him closer and looked down at him with pity. “Poor fellow. Yumiko, you should get some water for him. And something to eat.”
“I’d rather not think about eating right now,” Tanuki disagreed.
Yumiko rolled her eyes, but fetched a bottle of water. When she returned, Tanuki looked as if he was enjoying himself immensely. He was staring up at Reina’s chest like it held the secrets of the world. “He’s a pervert,” Yumiko told Reina, handing her the water. “You’ve been warned.”
Reina looked down at Tanuki, but the raccoon-dog averted his eyes. “How can you say such a thing? He’s just a helpless little furball.”
“He’s a yokai who consumes twice his weight in sake on a regular basis,” Yumiko corrected her. “Just don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”
Reina snorted, skeptical.
“I need to run an errand,” Yumiko said, recalling the letter she’d left on the desk in the other room. “Do you have things under control here?”
“I think I can handle it,” Reina muttered.
“Okay. I shouldn’t be gone long.”
“Oh, take your time,” Tanuki called after her. “We’ve got this.”
Yumiko sighed.
Chapter Nine
The host club that Shou worked at was located on the opposite end of the red light district, near the train station. Yumiko enjoyed the noise of morning traffic as people milled about the streets, talking loudly into cellphones as they hurried along, and cars honked at each other, hastening one another.
At night, the buildings glowed neon, businesses vying for attention to attract customers, but most storefronts were silent and dark as the sun rose steadily into the sky. A few places boasted early hours, but they were few and far between on this side of town. But there would always be places open to collect money from men and women desperate to seek comfort in the arms of others, no matter what time of day they could manage to sneak away unnoticed from their loved ones.
Yumiko stopped in front of the host club, and turned toward the sound of a train rumbling along in the distance, although she couldn’t see it with so many buildings in the way. She glanced down at the envelope in her hand and, with a heavy sigh, pushed open the door to the club.
She paused in the doorway. It was dark inside, the lights low and curtains drawn, but it was a lot classier than she would have expected. There were booths lining the walls, with high backs to allow for privacy, as well as a dozen tables in the center of the room, with white table cloths and wine glasses. A man played piano on a dark stage, two couples dancing in a small open area before it.
To her left, Yumiko heard a woman shriek happily at the advances of a man, but Yumiko couldn’t see what was going on exactly, which was probably for the best.
“Hello,” a perky girl with a ponytail greeted her, dressed in a long black dress with a short jacket over it. She flashed a smile at Yumiko and walked over, carrying a black wallet.
“Um, hi,” Yumiko replied awkwardly, offering her a reluctant smile. “I’m looking for Shou Fujiwara.”
The girl squinted at her, then shrugged. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Fujiwara is already engaged at the moment. He’s a very popular man.” She handed Yumiko the black wallet, and Yumiko opened it, curious, to see headshots of dozens of beautiful men gazing back at her. “We have a wide variety of men to choose from, one of the widest in town. If you like Shou, may I suggest Akira? He has a beautiful singing voice, if you enjoy karaoke.”
“No, I’m…good,” Yumiko said, politely handing the menu back to the woman. “I’m actually here to deliver a letter to Mr. Fujiwara.”
The girl put out her hand. “I can give it to him.”
“Unfortunately, I was told that I had to hand it to him directly,” Yumiko said, standing her ground. “I can wait.”
Sighing, the girl looked Yumiko over. “He might be awhile. You may as well hand it to him now. Just don’t linger. He has a paying client who doesn’t deserve the distraction.”
Yumiko blushed and bowed to the girl as she pointed out the booth Shou was at, in the far corner.
As she approached the booth, Yumiko slowed, tilting her head to listen to what Shou might be saying to his client, but his voice was low and intimate. When she drew closer and saw his head near a young woman’s, Yumiko paused to study the scene a moment. Shou was dressed casually, in a cotton t-shirt, but one that showed off his chest and arms. The girl was obviously dressed to impress, in a stunning dress, her hair and makeup done flawlessly to showcase her attributes and hide her flaws. She was a beautiful girl, however, and Yumiko had to wonder why she sought unattainable men, whom she had to pay for affection.
The girl giggled at something Shou said, and he leaned forward to fill her wine glass, smiling at her easily. Yumiko didn’t know why she felt so troubled by the sight. Was it because Shou was so good at being so charming? Or was it because Yumiko didn’t like seeing him in that position, forcing enthusiasm for strangers, no matter what they looked like?
Shou looked up suddenly and met Yumiko’s eyes. She glanced away quickly, flustered at having been caught staring. Pretending that he hadn’t seen her watch him, Yumiko stepped up to the table politely and bowed. “I’m sorry to disturb you,” she said. “But I have a letter for Mr. Fujiwara.”
“Oh, what is it?” the girl asked, eyes sparkling as Shou accepted the envelope and opened it. His eyes scanned a single page quickly, before he looked up at Yumiko sharply.
“Mori is leaving?” he asked.
“For a short time,” Yumiko replied. “If you need anything in her absence, please let me know.” She bowed again, hesitating as she noted the troubled look on his face. But as soon as he noticed her eyes on him, his face melted into an easy smile, even as his eyes narrowed.
“Thank you,” he told her. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m busy at the moment.” And he turned back to the girl, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. The gesture was so intimate that Yumiko flinched, and quickly turned to walk away. She had to force herself to keep from running from the club. She didn’t know why,
but it left her with a bad taste in her mouth.
“Have a nice day,” the girl by the doors said cheerfully as she exited.
Yumiko paid her no heed, and stopped to catch her breath outside, leaning back against the wall beside the door. She didn’t know Shou. He could do what he wanted with his life. Seeing him engaged in…whatever he wanted to be doing was none of her business. But she couldn’t rid herself of the uneasy feeling that he wanted to be in that room even less than Yumiko.
***
“You naughty, naughty thing!”
Yumiko froze as she stepped into the library. She watched as Reina chased Tanuki around with a broom, swatting at him with angry, wide strokes. “I did warn you,” Yumiko said, trying her best not to sound as if she were gloating.
Reina looked up, frowning. “Well, you could have warned a little harder. This little perv copped a feel. And right after I was holding him for like, an hour, thinking he was looking up at me all thoughtfully. But no, he wasn’t even looking at my face.”
“It was one moment of weakness!” Tanuki insisted desperately as he gasped for air, hopping around the room to avoid her blows.
Yumiko sighed and crossed her arms. “Reina, stop it before you break something.”
Reina threw the broom at Tanuki, who easily dodged it, and scampered past Yumiko, and out of the room. “Horrible little thing.”
“It’s just how he is,” Yumiko shrugged. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t want to get used to it,” Reina replied, fuming. She took a few calming breaths before dropping into a chair. “He’s just so cute. You want to protect him and comfort him. And now I feel all violated.”
“I’m not making excuses for him. He deserves your wrath.”
“Ever thought about getting him fixed?”
“He could make it so the doctors couldn’t see him.”
“Good point,” Reina sighed. She cocked her head. “How’s Shou?”
“Also a pervert.”
Reina rolled her eyes. “Men.”
“Um, hello?”
Yumiko looked up as Brian’s voice drifted up the hall.
“Speaking of,” Reina mumbled, leaning back in her chair.
“Brian’s nice,” Yumiko said.
“Brian?” Reina grinned at her. “What happened to calling him Mr. Mathis?”
Yumiko chose to ignore her as Brian entered the room with a bow.
“Good morning,” he said, then looked around. “Where is Madame Mori this morning?”
“She left,” Reina announced.
“Left?”
Yumiko smiled reassuringly and walked over to greet him properly, taking his briefcase from him. “She’ll be out of town for a few days. It seems that she may have a lead on your condition.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. You should be pleased. Perhaps we can break this curse more quickly than we imagined.”
“That would be wonderful,” Brian said, although his countenance didn’t seem to agree with his words. He blinked, and gave Yumiko a curious look. “So, you have the day off.”
“What?” Yumiko set his briefcase down on a desk, and glanced back at him.
“You can get out of this stuffy library,” Brian told her. “What do you plan on doing?”
“Well, I have to keep up my studies,” Yumiko said. “Practice and…research.”
Brian cocked an eyebrow. “I think you could use a break. Everyone needs to unwind once in a while.”
“I…really shouldn’t.”
“Come with me to Kakunodate, in Akita Prefecture.”
“Kakunodate?” Yumiko echoed weakly. “That’s at least-“
“Three hours from Tokyo,” Reina interrupted. “Perfect! You need to get away, Yumiko.”
“I-“
“You’re going.”
“You-“
“I’m staying here,” Reina said determinedly. She smiled sweetly at her. “I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone. You should go have fun.”
Yumiko looked skeptical. And obviously, Reina fancied herself a matchmaker.
“If it makes you feel any better, it’s a business trip,” Brian told her. “I have to pick up a book, for research. Mori should really have it in her collection, and it’s hard to track down.”
“A book?”
Brian grinned at her. “Of course, we’ll have some time to take in some sights while we’re there.”
Yumiko turned to Reina, but at the resolved look on her friend’s face, Yumiko realized that she would have little chance of getting out of this. She looked to Brian and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Mathis. I would love to accompany you on your trip.”
“Wonderful!” Brian said, his smile wide. “And please, it’s Brian.”
Yumiko could feel Reina’s triumphant grin without having to look at her. “Well, Brian, let me grab a few things and we’ll be on our way then.”
“And take your time,” Reina said, walking them to the hall. “You should make a full day out of it. I’ll do enough reading for the both of you.”
“We appreciate it,” Yumiko muttered.
Chapter Ten
“Your friend doesn’t do subtle very well,” Brian noted as they took their seats aboard the train that would whisk them to Akita Prefecture. He let Yumiko have the window seat, and gripped his armrests tightly as the train began to depart.
“No, she doesn’t,” Yumiko agreed. She lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t like traveling by train?”
“Not by bullet train. It’s unsettling,” Brian said. “But it’s much better than traveling by airplane.”
The mention of flying brought Yumiko’s mind back around to Mori and her mysterious trip to America. Yumiko had the feeling that her sensei was being intentionally vague. But what reason would she have?
With a frown, Yumiko watched the train station disappear from sight, then buildings and concrete fell away in favor of rice paddy fields and forests. Yumiko was lost in thought, and didn’t discern the stops that they made along the way, and barely paid heed to the scenery that passed by as she stared vacantly through her reflection.
“You’re always so serious, Yumiko,” Brian said, drawing her out of herself much later.
Yumiko blinked and turned to find his blue eyes boring into her own, steely and hypnotic. His eyes were so beautiful, framed by thick lashes. She felt like she could lose herself exploring the hues of periwinkle and turquoise. It was like staring down into a vast lake, the water clear and rippling with the current.
Swallowing hard, Yumiko forced herself to look down, focusing on Brian’s hands, folded neatly in his lap. “The world is a serious place.”
“Not all the time. Or, at least, it doesn’t have to be.”
“It does for me. If I’m to survive, I can’t lose focus.”
There was silence for a few minutes before Brian touched her cheek, and she flinched.
Brian pulled his hand away, looking guilty, and Yumiko instantly regretted her reaction. To salvage the contact in some small way, Yumiko offered him a shaky smile. “Sorry. I was lost in thought.”
He nodded and looked past her, at the whir of green and brown flowing by the train. “Tanuki told me about your past. About being spirited away, and returning to find your mother gone.”
Yumiko stiffened. “Tanuki has a big mouth.”
“Don’t blame him,” Brian shook his head slowly. “I asked him. I wanted to know. I wanted to know more about you.”
She chanced a look up into his face and met his serious eyes. They held hers, as if holding on with an iron grip. Now that they had her attention, they refused to let go.
“I want to know why such a beautiful girl walks around with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Why she seems so sad all the time.”
“I’m not sad,” she said automatically, then recognized it for the half-truth that it was. “I’m determined.”
Brian’s lips drew into a pressed line. “Yes, determined to be isolated and driven by
your quest. But do you even really know what you’re fighting for?”
“My life.”
“Are you sure about that? Are you even sure your mother was taken from you?”
“She was gone,” Yumiko shook her head. “She wouldn’t have just left.”
“Not without a reason.”
“She wouldn’t have. Ever.” Yumiko sighed and leaned back against the headrest, tearing her eyes from his, no matter the amount of pain and loss she felt from losing contact. “And when I turn eighteen, I will die if I can’t fight Kagami and come out triumphant.”
“So you think.”
“So I know,” Yumiko said, her voice ringing harsher than she’d intended. “He said that I would be his. He will consume me, body and soul.”
“He said that?”
Yumiko frowned. “Ame-Onna did.”
Brian looked thoughtful for a moment. “Do you think that perhaps, it’s not what you think? Why go to the trouble of waiting until you’re eighteen if he’s just going to devour you?”
“Because he’s a yokai. He feels superior to humans. We are food to him.”
“That’s not how Tanuki feels, and he’s a yokai.”
Yumiko swallowed hard, recalling her earlier conversation with Tanuki. Why were his words still troubling her?
“That’s different,” she whispered.
“And maybe so is this situation you’ve decided is your horrible fate,” Brian told her.
The train slowed to a stop and a man’s voice came over the loudspeaker, announcing that they had arrived at Kakunodate. Yumiko looked out to see a neat, clean station with vending machines and advertisements plastered over the heads of passengers as they marched to and fro like ants, hurrying to their destinations. As she stepped off of the train behind Brian, their conversation dispersed from her mind. The sound of cicadas greeted her and she smiled at the warm air that brushed her hair from her shoulders. It was spring, but it felt like a summer day with the sun high in the sky, warming her skin, and the happy chatter of people filling the space around her.
