1 week.
36 missed phone calls.
$2000 on car shipping.
1 apologetic letter sent home.
12-hour flight.
21:10pm.
I was finally here.
Tokyo.
Pulling my bag over my shoulder, I made my way through the terminal, looking like just another foreigner as I squinted at the signposts. 'Lost' was obviously written across my forehead as a lovely older lady helped me find my way.
"ArigatÅ." the woman beamed as I bowed my head politely.
"Learning the language already?" A familiar voice drawled from behind me as I turned to see Han leaning against a car with a smirk on his face and a bag of chips in his hand.
"Hai," I laughed, giving a small bow before I moved forward and wrapped my arms around Han's neck as he rubbed my back with his free hand. "It's nice to see you again," I breathed with an air of calm, feeling a little more free.
Han just nodded as we broke apart, but his eyes shone a little brighter with familiarity. Maybe me being here would be good for both of us.
Taking the strap of my bag, I tugged the bag up higher as I got a look at the car he was driving. Letting out a small whistle, I excitedly move around the vehicle in appreciation. It was a typical street racing car, but Han had obviously put a lot of work into it.
"Beautiful, right?" I nodded at the older man's words as he opened the passenger door for me. "Come on, Gaijin," Han said playfully as he moved around the car, throwing away his chip packet as he went.
"Hey!" I called out as I climbed into the small 2-door coupe, "I know what that means!" the laughter that Han let out lit a genuine smile on his face as he joined me in the car, still sniggering as he started the car.
Han drove me around Tokyo for a while before taking me back to the place he calls his home, so color me surprised when we arrive at what I can only describe as back alley nightlife.
Music is pounding from the building in front of us as my eyes open in surprise. Han just smirks at my expression before getting out of the car, leaving me to follow behind him.
Instead of walking into the nightclub, the older man takes out a set of keys and opens the door to the building connected to it. Moving out of the way, he lets me in first, and I stop in awe when I see the garage.
My eyes trail over the cars, bikes, tools, and the open door where I can hear the loud music playing. "You have a nightclub connected to your garage?" I laugh, facing Han, who was watching me closely.
His face morphs into an amused smile at my words as he walks further into the garage with me trailing after him like a little puppy dog. My fingers skimmed over car parts and machinery as they itched to grab ahold of them.
Han just stayed silent as he led me into the back corner of the garage where he opened the door to a square room, "This is yours," he said as he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
Peeking into the room, I was yet again surprised to see a makeshift bedroom. It looked as if Han had moved whatever he had stored in here to make room for me.
There was a small queen-sized bed pushed into the corner of the room, a bookshelf filled with books I probably wouldn't be able to read, a dresser, and other decorations that made the small space feel more homely.
Han cleared his throat as I walked into the room and flicked on the lamp. "I had some of the kids that hang out around here put it together. I figured you'd want some privacy, and the pods aren't as comfortable as they look".
I bit my lip at his awkwardness as tears burned in my eyes. Letting out a small cough, I nodded as I placed my bag down in the room. Sure, it didn't have much light or a window to the outside world, but it felt perfect for me right now.
"It's great, thanks," I tell him honestly as I sighed, placing my hands in my back pocket while we both stood in silence for a moment.
A smirk appeared on his face as I frowned, wondering what had run through his mind as he leaned on the door frame. "How's the jet lag?" He questioned as my frown stayed put on my face.
"Uh, fine?" I answered slowly; the awkwardness was gone and in it's place was confusion. Wow, did things get so weird that we were now making small talk?
"Want to see my world?"
The Tokyo street racing world didn't seem so different to the American, but something told me from the look on Han's face that I was about to be in for a big surprise. After being told to change into something less airport and more racing fashion, I glared at Han but still took heed of his words.
However, glancing around at the clothes the girls here were wearing or not wearing in some cases, I knew that whatever I wore, I would stand out like a sore thumb.
All eyes turned to Han's car as we drove through the crowd. You would think I would be used to it now, especially back in California, where people stare like you were their favorite celebrity but having multiple pairs of eyes on me in this environment was different.
I wasn't Rose Toretto here, family member and racer of the famous Toretto crew. I was a nobody driving along with a somebody. I was a foreigner, and nobody here had any idea who I was or had any expectations for me.
I smiled to myself.
Han stopped the car as he gave a quick look, to which I nodded softly before we both moved to get out of the vehicle. People immediately flocked to Han, especially women, and soon Han had a girl on each side as he just raised an eyebrow at me.
I had no place to judge, so I didn't.
Leaning against the car, I glanced around the scene in front of me. Bright cars revved as half naked women threw themselves at the drivers. Seemed like a regular night for me.
"Han!" I heard someone call out as people walked up to us; they all looked as if they were up to no good. They looked cocky and arrogant, as if they had nothing to prove. The main guy had a pretty girl stood next to him, gazing as if she wanted to be anywhere but there.
"Takashi," Han greeted back with a short nod. I eyed him and saw the emotions in his eyes that he wasn't portraying as he pulled out a bag of candy and began lazily eating from it, offering me one with a smirk.
"Whose the girl" 'Takashi' motioned to me as I pushed Han's hand away in favor of profiling the group. They seemed like bad news, and if Han was in with them, there had to be a reason. What did he have to gain?
The girl gave me a small smile, but I remained stoic. I wasn't here to make new friends, nor did I want to.
"Rose. She's a friend, practically family," Was all Han said, but the warning was there, and we all heard it. They just looked me up and down before walking away to their cars, only the blond turned back with a cheeky wink.
Han moves away from the girls and closer to me. "That's Takashi. His uncle is a member of the Yakuza," He tells me lowly as the two of us stand side by side, his nonchalant attitude contrasting to my wide-eyed expression.
"The Japanese mob?" The man just nods as he chews on his candy, "and that doesn't concern you?" he silently shakes his head as my eyes narrow at his secretive appearance "okay, keep your secrets," I huffed, taking the candy bag away from him with a huff.
The man just laughs, throwing an arm over my shoulder as he turns me towards the race that was starting. "Watch," He murmured in my ear as he quickly stole the bag back and throwing a piece of candy in his mouth.
The race seemed normal at first until the cars came to a bend; both cars smoothly sailed around the corner like a hot knife going through butter. I hadn't noticed the track was curved. This was no ordinary race like back home.
"What was that?" I questioned the older man who had lifted up his hand to close my mouth. Han smirked at me as I motioned towards the cars, which were both keeping up with one another and racing like I'd never seen before.
This was new, it was exciting, and I needed it in my life.
"That's drifting," He explained the art of drifting to me as we watched one of the cars race to the finish line before the other. My stomach tightened; it was like I was seeing racing for the first time. Was this how I felt back then?
Taking hold of Han's wrist, I turned to him with a pleading look on my face. "Teach me?".
