Author's Note: So, I'm a little disappointed in this chapter, only because I know that I need a transition piece to carry the narration forward, but it's boring to me. So I had to resort to some cheap tricks to keep it entertaining. Please forgive some of the cliché stuff, but I promise more pain, anguish, and perhaps some love.
Chapter 17: the lull before the storm
Natalie Stevens was fresh out of Harvard University with a degree in finance and Japanese studies. Three months after graduation, she still had no gainful employment. She had turned down job offers, because none were from Japanese firms. Since she was a child, she had been fascinated by Japanese culture. Her parents thought their daughter's obsession for the foreign country was strange, given they were 6th generation Mississippi stock. Still, if it made their little "Natty" happy, who were they to argue?
One Monday morning, a letter had arrived to her addressed from Japan. She was overjoyed as she read the contents of the letter, informing her that she was being offered a position with Su-Tech, the hottest tech firm since Intel. In less than three years, Su-Tech had gone from a small start-up to a multi-billion dollar technology innovator. She threw a lavish party for her friends and family in celebration of the momentous occasion. Her dream was to be become the most powerful CEO in corporate history and it seemed like she had just taken her first step. Yes, Natalie Stevens had a lot to be grateful for on that day – her future seemed so promising.
That was almost two years ago and life had found a way of stomping down on young Natalie. "God, She's such a bitch," she screamed mentally as she typed furiously at her station, trying to meet her newly revised deadline. Her job was to analyze consumer trends, but somehow, she was also given the thankless task of being her boss's impromptu assistant. This meant more responsibility and a great deal more work for the fashionable young woman.
She was overworked, underfed, and worst yet, under sexed. But she continued to meet every one of her boss's demand, eventually matching pace with her superior and tormentor. Natalie made a vow not to let the demon woman break her. And her boss was a real demon. She wielded her authority judiciously, striking down any who would defy her will or fail to meet her expectations – and her expectations were always unrealistically high. Her ruthlessness was legendary. A common folklore floating around the office was that once upon a time, she was in love with a very kind man. This man, however, rejected her. In a fit of rage, she had him gutted and killed right in front of his friends and family. Natalie never believed the gossip. She would often remark, "Please, that bitch can't fall in love, you need a heart for that."
Natalie attributed her boss's cool detached demeanor and cruelty to jealousy. It was well known that her boss never completed her college education and her hatred for all things Tokyo University was also legendary. Many applicants were turned down, no matter how well qualified they were, simply because of their affiliation with the institution. Her boss was just a petty little girl with a god complex who couldn't make it to college. Though, how she became the Head of Marketing for Su-Tech was never in doubt. Even Natalie had to agree to that. She had never met anyone as cunning, cruel, and unrelenting as Mitsune Konno – the Demon Bitch from Hell as she was known by the employees of Su-Tech.
Mitsune proudly bore that title; it meant that she was doing her job right. She was there from the beginning when Su-Tech was just a lowly little engineering firm run and operated by her old friend, Koalla Su. They ran it together out of Su's room back in the Hinata Apartments. Su would come up with the inventions, while Mitsune sold it to the highest bidder. The company didn't make much, but it made enough to pay for Keitaro's home care and fund Su's budding bio-medical research.
Then the fire happened.
After the fire, Su left for Tokyo and used her vast fortunate to build Su-Tower, Japan's most technological advanced office building. Mitsune tagged along, thinking she could do something in the marketing department. It was Mitsune's brilliant marketing strategies and indomitable guile that spurred the company's fantastic growth.
Success, however, changed Mitsune. Gone were the days of easy drinking and relaxation. Her life was driven by one purpose – to sell the product. She rode her workers into the ground and accepted nothing less than maximum results. Natalie was one of those workers, but she refused to be brought down by anyone – she had a dream to fulfill.
"Done," she cried out with one last tap on the keyboard. She looked over to her watch and saw the time read 5:01pm. "Oh Shit," she yelled out, "I'm late." She hastily saved the file and attached it to a secure email, which was then sent directly to her boss. Just as she clicked the send button, her phone rang. The beeping light indicated that it was Ms. Konno. She picked up and could hear only three words before the phone line went dead, "Come here now."
There was fear in Natalie's eyes as she rushed her towards Ms. Konno's office. The door opened as she approached. Hesitant at first, Natalie summoned her full strength and entered the capacious office with her chin held high – show no fear she reminded herself.
The corner office was the envy of every up and coming executive, including Natalie. Its walls were actually glass panes, providing the occupant with a grand view over the Tokyo landscape. The desk was of modern design, a single plane of obsidian glass with four black steel columns to support it. On the desk sat three flat screen monitors, a key board, and a mouse. An executive phone system was sitting on the edge, along with a writing pad and a single pen holder. The office had its own black leather couch and a fully stocked bar.
Ms. Konno was sitting in her plush leather executive's chair, facing the Tokyo skyline. Natalie slowly approached her superior, nervous, but never daring to show a hint of her emotions. She stopped as she reached what she believed was a safe an appropriate distance from her boss. She was preparing for a tongue-lashing, but instead, came silence.
The sound of ice hitting glass could be heard, as Ms. Konno began to swirl the dark liquor in her cup. She then spoke, "Natalie, I read somewhere that you had a dream of becoming a powerful CEO, is that correct?"
She was dumbstruck by the question. Natalie had once written an editorial for the Harvard Crimson extolling the virtues of women being in executive positions, but that was years ago. In that editorial, she wrote a single line pertaining to dream. She hadn't mention her dream to anyone since, not even her loved ones knew of her secret aspirations. Finding her nerve, she responded, "Yes, it still is Ms. Konno."
It was silent again. Then Mitsune spoke, "I once knew a man who made a promise when he was five years old. It was a silly promise, but he worked hard to keep it. It was his dream to fulfill his promise to the one he made it with."
Not knowing why her mouth was moving, Natalie asked, "Did he ever fulfill his dream?"
"No," Mitsune said as her voice began reflecting a deep sadness, "he died before he could live his dream." Natalie could not believe what she was hearing - the Demon Bitch from Hell was actually expressing emotions. "Today is the fourth anniversary of his death," said Mitsune, wiping away the tears that were flowing down her face. "He died in a fire almost four years ago." The tears came cascading down. Natalie instinctively walked over to Mitsune and held her in her arms, patting her head as she wept onto her shoulder.
After several minutes, Mitsune managed to rein in her emotions, allowing Natalie to disengage. Her mind was racing. She had never seen a sliver of emotion from Ms. Konno before this night. Now, she could see the pain in Konno's eyes, as it reverberated throughout her body.
Mitsune saw this in Natalie's eyes, and placed her hand on her shoulders. "I was not always the Demon Bitch from Hell. There was a time when all I really wanted from life was good sake, good friends, and good times. Strange, how life has a way of changing a girl."
Before Natalie could ask the next logical question, Mitsune cut in, "I'll be leaving for awhile, so I'm going to leave you in charge of the operations here. And if you do a good job, you might get to keep it. Now go, I have some things to take care of."
Natalie was floored by her words, but before she could respond, Mitsune had her by the arms and practically flung her out of the office. Before the door was closed, Mitsune poked her head out and said, "Hey, Natalie, I really am sorry for being such a bitch to you, but I want you know that I always thought of you as a friend. So no more Ms. Konno, you can call me Kitsune from now on."
A figure stepped out of the shadows as Kitsune closed the door behind her. The young lady stood not much taller than Kitsune, her blonde hair shimmering in the pale moonlight. She walk towards the bar and poured herself some gin and looked over to Kitsune. She spoke out, "Kitsune, that's a name I haven't heard in years. Why the change?"
Chuckling at the sight of her friend's hair, she replied, "No reason, just felt the natural thing to do. Speaking of change, what's with the hair?" The young girl, ruffling her blonde tresses, giggled, "What, you don't like it?"
It had been almost a year since Kitsune last saw her friend Shinobu. Her grueling work schedule and Shinobu's studies had made it difficult for the old friends to meet up, but neither could ever deny the promise they made to one another – to be together on this day.
"I can't believe it's been four years since he past away," said Shinobu, her voice drifting into her memories. Kitsune, sitting on the couch with a drink in hand, replied, "It's been awhile, hasn't it." The two drank in silence. Much has changed since their Hinata days. Kitsune had become a top level executive, while Shinobu pursued her teaching degree in Tokyo University. They reflected on the past, and wondered what life would have been like if Keitaro was still with them.
It was Kitsune who broke the silence. "Where's Naru," she asked. "I'm right here silly," a voice spoke from behind. Kitsune turned around and saw Naru, standing in front of her office door. Kitsune's eyes began to narrow, her attention focusing on the expanded waistline of her best friend, then her eyes drifted upwards, stopping at her breasts – yes, they had grown. "Why Naru, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were gaining a few pounds," the fox said slyly. Naru, a vein throbbing in her forehead, her fist clenched, replied, "Now, Mitsune, you know I'm three months pregnant."
Kitsune couldn't contain the laughter trying to break free from her core. Shinobu was at this time already laughing, tears starting to collect in her eyes. Life seemed less vibrant with Keitaro gone, but happiness was not extinguished, not as long as the girls remember their love for each other. This alone assured of good times to come concluded the Tokyo University student.
Kitsune broke down and began to laugh, which was the final straw for Naru – a jovial laughter erupting from her lips. The three girls then came together and embraced one another. Yes, it had been too long since their last reunion – the girls of Hinata were once again together, all except for one.
"Hey, where's Su," Naru asked. Shinobu and Kitsune had no answer. Then Kitsune spoke, "Eh, she'll be here. She's a flake, but she wouldn't let anything stop her from being here right now." Shinobu and Naru nodded their head in agreement. No, today was their day together – Su would not betray that bond, forged by a common tragedy and strengthened by love.
As the trio began to celebrate their night together, sharing their memories over laughter and tears in the heart of Tokyo, a man was walking along a street - thousands of miles away.
A man in love can face many dangers for their beloved. Keitaro was such a man, but what he faced could make any husband to waiver. In his hand, a lunch box for his Motoko. In the distance, the building where she taught a Japanese language course for college students. In his way were the sorority sisters of Alpha Gamma Pi, offering the throngs of young collegiate men body shots of Apple cider for a donation to their favorite charity – Save the Abandon Pets Drive.
Young, vivacious blondes with ample mounds and form fitting outfits were tempting him to stop and partake in their charity event – delaying him from his quest. "Wow, American girls are so different from Japanese," Keitaro thought, trying to maintain his composure as one young co-ed wrapped his free arm with hers, pressing him into her bosoms. "He's so cute, I just love Asian guys," the co-ed beamed, squishing him between her wonders.
Blood was in the water, drawing the attention of the other predators. They came in, circling at first, appraising him in a dazzling array of blue, green, and auburn eyes. Then they struck. "Oh my god, he is so cute," one girl squealed, grabbing for his neck. Another, attaching herself like a lamprey to his side, just giggled. "Someone save me," he called out in Japanese.
Someone Japanese replied back, "Keitaro, is that you?" Keitaro recognized the deep timbre of that voice - a voice that he attempted to emulate countless times sitting in front of the bathroom mirror. "Seta, is that you," Keitaro called out again, struggling past the throes of women clinging onto him.
Seta stood there with a look of utter disbelief in his eyes. The boy that had haunted his dreams for the past four years – the boy who supposedly died – was standing before him, knee deep in sorority girls. "He always had a way with the women," a voice struck out in his mind.
Clearing the horde, Keitaro leapt up and embraced his mentor with genuine esteem. "Oh, he's gay," said one disappointed young girl. The questions came out rapid-fire. How've you been Seta? What are you doing here? I heard you got married to Mutsumi, how's she doing?
"Whoa, calm down Keitaro," Seta said, his hands firmly on the manic young man's shoulders. The look in Keitaro's eyes told Seta everything. He didn't know about the Hinata Apartments and his supposed death. Seta still had questions, but he thought to proceed with caution. His next few words were painfully measured and chosen. "I'm doing fine. I'm here for an archaeology symposium that's being held here in the university. Mutsumi is fine, she's back in Okinawa," Seta replied. Then he asked, "What are you doing here Keitaro, aren't you supposed to be back in Japan?" Keitaro was puzzled at his question. "Doesn't he know about me being moved to America for treatment? But it is Seta and he is quite forgetful at times, may be no one told him," Keitaro thought to himself. Then with a smile, he replied, "Well, I came here to America, because Haruka thought I could get better here, and well, I guess I did. Oh, hey, I'm about to go meet up with Motoko, you should come and eat lunch with us."
"Motoko," Seta repeated. He hadn't heard of that name in almost six years, not since the day of Keitaro's accident. Mutsumi never talked about that day; nor would any of the girls present. He tried to get Sarah to talk about it one day, but she just cried. He never mentioned it again. Motoko was a factor that he couldn't account for. Seta needed time and information. Thinking quickly, Seta responded, "Sorry, can't right now, but let's meet up for dinner. How about say six?"
Keitaro agreed and gave Seta his address. As he was walking away, Seta called out, "Hey Keitaro, let's keep dinner a secret for now. I'd like to surprise Motoko." Keitaro, thinking Seta's request a bit unusual but innocent enough, replied, "Sure, see you later."
Seta stood there smiling, but his mind was restive. Keitaro was alive and in America. Haruka had to be involved somehow, but why was Motoko here to? None of it made any sense, and yet, he could see the logic slowly emerge. Then a sudden thought flew into his mind, "Was that a ring on his left hand?"
His thoughts were interrupted by a tug on his sleeve. He turned around and saw a rather delicious looking red head with emerald green eyes. She asked demurely, "would you like to donate to a worthy charity." He turned his head, closing his eyes. The young girl could see that the man was troubled, but was surprised to see him turn his attention towards her again; his face had no remnants of the conflicts he was experiencing before.
"Sure," he beamed, massaging the back of his neck, "Why not?"
Meanwhile, in a small town in Japan, a young girl with a dark complexion stepped through the doors of the Hinata Tea House, her face betraying none of the sinister emotions lurking beneath the surface.
"Haruka," she growled mentally.
The said person looked up from her counter, her eyes widen at the recognition of the young lady standing in her store – "Su, what are you doing here?"
"Hello Haruka, it's been awhile. I thought I come and enjoy some of your fine tea," the island princess and CEO of Su-Tech responded. Haruka, carrying with her a pot of brewed tea, walked over to an open seat at the counter and invited Su to sit next to her.
"So what can I do you for," Haruka asked. Su, her smile still present, replied, "Did you know that I loved Keitaro, Haruka-san?" Haruka cringed at the question. She knew of course, but Su never mentioned her love for Keitaro after he had supposedly died four years ago.
Seeing the startled look in her eyes, Su continued, "Yes, I was hoping to marry Keitaro when I was old enough, but I knew he belonged to Naru, so I was content on playing the little sister. Still, when he died, it felt like all my happiness would go with him.
Haruka, regaining her composure, replied, "His passing deeply affected all of us Su, but the past is the past and we have to move on – it's what he would want for us."
Su made no response, but drank her tea silently. Haruka, uncomfortable with Su's sudden appearance on the 4th anniversary of Keitaro's death, drank her tea as well.
Finished with her tea, Su stood up and made ready to leave. Still grinning, Su then said, "I know Haruka, it's just hard to let go. I have to go now; the girls are waiting for me. Thank you for the tea." Su then opened her arms, inviting Haruka to a warm embrace. Haruka stood up and wrapped her arms around her former tenant and spoke, "I understand, it was good seeing…," her words lost to the sharp pain exploding from her side.
The sickening sound of a blade repeatedly piercing flesh could be heard throughout the empty tea house.
Haruka stepped back, wheeling from the pain. Her eyes lit up, as she reached down to touch the source of her agony – she felt something wet. It was blood. Her eyes darted from her blood covered hands to Su, mouthing the word: "Why?" Su's visage had darkened. Her eyes glinted with hatred, her brow furrowed with anticipation. She held the knife in her right hand, the blood dripping onto the floor. She then plunged the knife into Haruka's abdomen, piercing the liver. Haruka muffled her scream, as she collapsed onto the floor.
Hovering above her, Su began to speak in a cold and distant voice, "I know what you did Haruka. It was you who burned down the Hinata Apartments. You took away Keitaro and gave him to that whore. I couldn't believe it at first, but my Keitaro detector registered his life sign almost a year ago. At first, I thought it was a malfunction in the software, so I had the machine taken apart and put back together – bit by bit. I was surprised to see that the diagnostics checked out. The readings were correct – he's alive. It took me almost a year and a small fortune, but I found him Haruka."
Su then knelt down next to Haruka, lifting her head into her lap. Haruka could feel the blood escaping her body, the cold creeping in. Haruka tried to calm her mind, but she was losing to the confusion. Su's free hand began to gently probe Haruka's body. As her nimble fingers began to caress Haruka's face, Su then asked, "Did you know Motoko is carrying his child?" Haruka's eyes widen at the news.
She knew that Keitaro had woken up from his coma, but that was nearly a year ago. Haruka had yet to muster the courage to see her nephew and inform him of her terrible deed. She knew how much Motoko loved him and how attractive she had become. Still, Haruka could not believe that their relationship had progressed in such a short period of time.
Then fear gripped her soul.
Su saw this and whispered delicately into Haruka's ear, letting her tongue flicker around Haruka's earlobe, "Yes, Haruka. I'm going to kill her and that abomination in her womb. I'm going to set things right."
Haruka tried to speak, but the blood had seeped into her windpipe, constricting the passage of air. She hacked out crimson, but to no avail. All she could manage were short gasps, "No…Su…can't…hurt…baby."
Slowly leaning forward, Su kissed Haruka's forehead and gently placed her head onto the floor. She got up and meticulously cleaned her blade. Haruka tried to grab onto her leg, but Su easily pulled her off. Standing before her, Su spoke, "You won't have a clean death Haruka-san. Lie there and linger in your own festering guilt. Let your last thoughts be that of Motoko and her dead baby." And with those last words, Su left the Hinata Tea Shop, but not before leaving a c-note for the person who would have to clean up her mess in the tip jar.
"Man, what's keeping Su," Naru asked, trying to fight off a drunken Kitsune from fondling her breasts, "and what's gotten into you, you haven't acted like this in years."
It was true. After Keitaro's death, Kitsune's personality completely changed. Her life had become a strict regiment of discipline. Her caloric intake remained constant throughout the week; her exercise routine was adhered to religiously. She imbibed no alcohol, not even during formal functions. Kitsune was devoted to increasing her performance, both physically and mentally.
The Kitsune massaging Naru's ample mounds had been the fox of Hinata, not the Demon Bitch from Hell. "What could have changed her so much," Naru wondered, still battling Kitsune's lecherous hands. Hoping to call in reinforcements, Naru yelled out, "Help me Shinbu."
Unfortunately, Shinobu was lying on the floor in a drunken stupor, mumbling incoherently about cakes, naked, and Keitaro. The vein in Naru's forehead began to throb at the sight of her inebriated friends.
Suddenly, a bright light flooded the room, blinding Naru and Kitsune. "Crap, shut that fucking light off," growled Kitsune, letting lose her demon wrath. "What a potty mouth Mitsune," Su responded.
Naru, watching Su approached them, called out, "Hey, about time you showed up." Su ran up to her friend and swallowed her in a hug, and replied, "Sorry, there was something I had to take care of."
Kitsune, upon hearing Su's voice, straightened up. The sly arch of her eyebrow was replaced with a solemn expression that startled Naru. "Kitsune, what's wrong," Naru inquired. Su interjected, "Are we calling you Kitsune again? Good, it suits you." Su then turned her attention to Naru, then spoke once more, "Naru, there's something we have to tell you, but it's going to be difficult, so please sit down."
Naru felt the anxiety rise in her, though she didn't know why she was feeling so anxious around her friends. The jovial atmosphere in the room disappeared, replaced by heaviness in the air that Naru felt weighing her down.
Kitsune spoke with a sober tone, "Naru, there's no way of preparing you for this, so I'm just going to say it. Keitaro, he's alive."
At first, Naru didn't understand what her friend was trying to say to her, though the words were clear and plain. "Stop joking around Kitsune, that's not funny," Naru replied nervously.
Su jumped in, "It's no joke Naru. When Keitaro first came back to the house, I upgraded my Keitaro radar device so that it could tell me the moment he woke up. After the fire, I never thought about replacing the equipment, but I had a spare system back in Momol. About seven months ago, my sister Amalla contacted me. She told me that one of my machines was acting funny. When I went back home to see what the problem was, I discovered that my detector had located his life signs. I spent nearly a week examining the equipment to see if there was an anomaly that could account for the readings, but I found none."
Naru's heart began to quiver as Su continued on her story. She heard the words but couldn't register its meaning. "Keitaro's alive," she repeated to herself. The long dormant emotions began to surface.
"We found him, Naru," Kitsune said with a gentle smile. She knew it would be hard on her friend. Naru was the last of them to move on after Keitaro's supposed death. She had clung on to hope, while the other girls despaired. She stood by him, loving him even though the doctors said he was gone from them.
She had suffered day and night, and yet endured. Naru Narusegawa would not leave her love – only death could separate them. Death did separate them. For three years, Naru mourned Keitaro's passing. So deep was her devotion that Naru once thought of committing suicide – not to end her pain, but to be with her true love. But she could not betray his memory. Keitaro would want her to live and be happy, and for him, she would do what she could to live her life without him.
She enrolled in Kyoto University and graduated a full year early. After school, she opened her own tea shop in Kyoto, which is how she met Keisuke Myamoto, her husband. He owned the music store next door. They had known each other from their days in Kyoto University, but did not grow close until Naru opened her shop. A few months later, Naru was able to open up her heart again to a man who was as gentle and as kind as her true love had been. She was three months pregnant with their first child.
Naru placed her hand over her womb, feeling a sickness growing in her. "It's not true," Naru uttered in a pained voice, "It can't be." Her disbelief was fueled, not by the merit of their evidence, but of the terrible implications behind their words. Though she loved her husband and look forward to raising a family with him, there was always a doubt that gnawed at her. Today, her doubt was confirmed – she had once again betrayed her true love.
The tears began to cascade as the suffering of years past began to consume her. Kitsune and Su ran to Naru, huddling around her. They embraced her, trying to shield her from the misery of her own inner turmoil.
Shinobu slept through the whole ordeal, dreaming of her sempai's hands as they rubbed sun tan lotion across her naked body.
"Oh sempai," she cooed as the sound of weeping could be heard throughout the Tokyo night.