Chapter One: Shouldn't Be Too Difficult

Tokyo, Japan
23 years later

"And in other news, the terrorist attack on the Oni Museum…"

Terrorist attack? The Hell? The red-haired, blue-eyed man twisted his head to get a better glimpse of the TV with the news broadcast on it. Why would terrorists attack a museum?

"Hey, kid! Get out of the way!"

Ack, ACK! Trying not to stumble as the other disembarking passengers shoved him out of their way, he grumbled. I thought the Japanese were supposed to be polite! Looking from the little notepad with the hastily scrawled instructions on it, and then looking at all the little kanji on the signage, a sigh came from his slightly parted lips. In addition to learning the language, I probably should have also learned to read the kanjis as well…

"Gabriel, Hey Gabriel! Over Here!"

Huh? English?

"Gabriel, you Idiot! Over Here!"

Gabriel blinked and looked at the frantically waving girl. "Umeko? What are you doing here?"

Grabbing Gabriel by the wrist and dragging him to where they could talk, Umeko then whacked him on the shoulder. "Uh, I'm Japanese. I live here."

Rolling his eyes skyward, Gabriel tried again. "No, what are you doing here in the Tokyo International Airport?"

Umeko grinned. "Picking you up. This little scheme of yours is soo outrageous, you need whatever help you can get! You're hopeless!"

"Gee, thanks. Umm, where are we going?" Gabriel asked as Umeko began dragging him again.

"Oh, to get your luggage and to then to find your apartment."

"Ah, Umeko, I'm only here for the summer…"

"What? So, do you plan to stay in a hotel for the next four months?"

"Umm…"

Umeko sweat-dropped. "How much planning did you actually do?"

"Well…"

"Gabriel!"

"I figured that I would just play it by ear! Y'know; just hang around in the hostels until the concert is over. And stay even longer if I have any chance for the race."

Seeing the look on Umeko's face, Gabriel grinned weakly. "What?"

Umeko closed her eyes and sighed loudly. Opening her eyes, she patted Gabriel on the shoulder. "The closest hostel to here is about 45 minutes away on the subway, and I know how easily you get lost. Remember the Hanover Incident?"

Gabriel made a face, "I thought we were never to speak of that again?"

Umeko smirked, "O-kay… and are we to replace it with the Tokyo Incident?"

Gabriel huffed, annoyance clearly visible. "Nothing's happened."

Umeko smiled, "Not yet, anyways."

"Either way, what should I do now? Oh wise one?"

Umeko smiled. "First luggage, then apartment. How much money did you bring?"

"I dunno… a couple grand, maybe?"

"That's it? Okay, looks like we'll need you to get a job as well."

Gabriel sighed. "Why did this sound so easy earlier?"

Umeko smiled, "Probably because you were still in your university apartment in Berlin when you thought up this scheme. And, like classic Gabriel, you didn't think everything through before buying the plane tickets and leaving for Japan."

"I did too think! See, I can speak Japanese! So Nyeh!"

"Okay, but did you learn how to read it?"

"Umm…"

"Do you even know when the race is?"

"Yup, here!" And Gabriel shoved the notebook under Umeko's nose.

Pushing the notebook aside, Umeko shook her head. "For someone who can write music, your writing is sure illegible…"

"I can read it…"

"Well that makes one of us." Umeko smiled at Gabriel, "Well, shouldn't we be finding you someplace to stay for the next four months?"

Gabriel grinned back, "I thought we were getting my luggage first?"

00000

Several hours later, Umeko and Gabriel sat in his new apartment. And after unpacking what he did remember to bring, and then buying all of the stuff that he had forgot, they were finally sitting down to take-out dinner.

Looking up from her box of Chinese take-out, Umeko asked around a mouthful of noodles, "Do you even know how to cook? Of will you be eating take-out for the next 122 days?"

Looking up from picking at his noodles, and picking out all the gross bits, Gabriel made a face at her. "Of course I know how to cook! And take-out? Gross much… Can't see how people can eat this stuff..."

"Hmm… So, how much cash do you have left?"

"After paying first and last months rent, and getting basic furniture, bedding, toiletries, stuff like that… I have 500 left."

Umeko made a face, "And rent is 650 a month…"

"Yeah, I know…" Gabriel sighed. "I'll still need another 800 to pay for rent, plus another couple hundred for food and transport…"

"Why don't you just ride you bike?"

"Only brought one, and that's my race bike. I need it to stay in top condition for the race. If I do well, then I might get a sponsorship…"

"Well, you can't be trusted on the subway," Gabriel scowled at that remark, "so it looks like you're walking…"

"Yeah, sounds that way… Unless I can get a cheap bike or some roller blades…"

"So, have you thought about jobs?"

"Umm… I was hoping you could do a little research and look around for people who might need musicians…"

"I'll see what I can do. But considering your talent and the fact that it's summer, it shouldn't be too difficult."