Nighttime in the city of Tokyo looked like a glittering, otherworldly kind of day. Thousands of streetlights speckled the highways, like glowing green, orange, and blue jewels.
Sitting snugly in the driver's seat of the little sports car, Kaoru Hanabishi allowed himself a grin. Streetlights, headlights, and neon signs flashed past him as he drove the Tokyo highway at a stately one hundred twenty kilometers an hour. He was tempted to take a glance at the rather pretty dark-haired woman next to him, his wife.
My wife, Kaoru thought. He still could hardly believe it. Every time he said the words—my wife, Aoi—he was surprised to hear himself say them. It felt almost like a temporary situation, some sort of formality that would soon be revoked. But it wasn't, and knowing that still made him want to jump up and dance.
When he, Miss Miyabi, and Aoi-chan had decided to break their secret to the others, everyone was quite surprised. But, to his relief, there was no bitterness, resentment, or tears. Indeed, Tina had been thrilled over the news, offering her congratulations by way of a crushing (and rather embarrassing) hug.
And when Kaoru had explained that he and Aoi-chan would be leaving for a honeymoon in Florida, Tina had desperately wanted to come along, eager for a chance to visit her home country.
Kaoru had objected to that. Even though the intrusive, occasionally hyperactive blond had promised to stay well out of the couple's way—I'll have my own room at another hotel; you won't even know I'm there, she had promised—it still bugged him, just on principle.
But Aoi-chan had asked him, in the gentle way that he could never say no to, to let Tina come. It won't cause any harm, and couples do it all the time.
And so, Tina was behind them now, in her big, beat-up Pontiac, following them home from the airport.
Next to him, Aoi-chan blinked and stretched her arms. "It will certainly feel good to be home," she said. "We had a great time, Kaoru-sama, but I can't wait to be back in my own bed."
Our bed, he thought with a smile, recalling a honeymoon night that had been nothing short of explosive. "Bed?" he laughed. "I'm glad just to be back in my own country! You're right though, I'm looking forward to getting back, too."
He saw her shift a little in the seat. Still sore? he wondered. On their first full day in the States, Aoi-chan had wanted to go to the beach. Kaoru was game for the idea, but became concerned when he saw her clad in her favorite skimpy little bikini. Not that he minded the way she looked—he didn't mind that at all!—but he was worried for her sake. He had tried to explain to her that Florida was not Japan; that the cool, wet climate they were both used to just didn't exist in Miami. But Kaoru's beautiful little wife was not only gentle as a summer breeze; she was stubborn as an ox.
When they had returned to their hotel room that evening, she was so badly sunburned that they couldn't make love; she flinched every time he touched her. He had to settle for rubbing the soothing lotion all over her back and legs, which, he though with a blush, was still pretty interesting.
They were coming to an intersection, and Kaoru gently pressed the brake as the light turned red.
"KAORU, LOOK OUT!" Aoi shouted, startling him. He barely had time to jerk his head around to his right and see the blinding headlights of the other vehicle barreling toward them, before his world exploded with light and noise, and then went black and silent.
-
He opened his eyes to find himself sitting on the median, cars and flashing lights all around him. Tina was sitting next to him, her arm around his back, supporting him.
"Wha…what happened?" he asked, dumfounded. "Aoi-chan?"
Tina shook her head. "They…took her, Kaoru. She'll probably be at the hospital by now. Somebody broad-sided you at the intersection," she recounted angrily. "I saw the whole thing. Looked to me like he was trying to beat a yellow light. I think the cops are questioning him now."
Kaoru looked over to his left to see a rough-looking long-haired young man conversing with two police officers. He quickly looked away again; the flashing red and blue lights made his eyes hurt.
"What about…"
"Miss Aoi?" Tina finished for him. She paused, rubbing her weary eyes. "She…didn't look too good, Kaoru. I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you, but I just don't know."
Kaoru leapt to his feet in a flash, but the sudden drop in his drop in his blood pressure made him quickly sit down again, head in his hands. "We have to get to the hospital, Tina-chan. Come on, let's get out of here!"
She shook her head. "We can't, until they take our statements. If we leave now, we could both be arrested." She gently stroked his shoulder. "Just wait, Kaoru. Everything's gonna be okay, alright?" Her words seemed to sooth him a little.
A few minutes later, Tina watched as Kaoru gave his statement to the police, stumbling over his words. He's in shock, she thought. Tina was no doctor, but she knew his mind must be whirling.
The policeman Kaoru was talking to jotted down a few more notes. "Alright, thank you, Hanabi—
Kaoru was up and running before the man could even finish his sentence.
"Come on, Tina-chan, let's go!"