Gerald

I drank another cup of coffee before I looked at my watch one last time. Today marked three days since I last seen Phoebe, and I have not heard from her. She and I spent the entire day together with Haruhi at the winter carnival my university was hosting and afterwards when Phoebe got a sitter on short notice after I asked her on a last minute date, she and I went to some dance club in downtown Tokyo. I was not expecting to stay more than a few hours, let alone make out and completely sexually molest Phoebe atop of a cocktail table. It just…happened. One minute we were congratulating Arnold and Helga on their engagement and the next I found myself being dry humped against my crotch. She kept worrying about Haruhi half the time we were there but I eventually got her to relax, drink a little, and get on the dance floor to one of her favorite songs- though she had to drag me halfway. Sighing, I slid my mug back against the wooden floorboards. This was all my fault.

"Yo, Gerald, you alright, man?"

I shot a quick glance in my buddy's direction. I gave him a small smile before nodding, falling back against the tatami mat and a few scattered pillows. "Just thinking."

"About?" Robert pressed, still clicking and pattering his fingers away at his game controller. I met Robert my second week in Japan. He went to some community college right outside the skirts of Kyoto where his father was temporarily stationed. He and I met under unusual circumstances to say the least. Arnold and I were lost, driving aimlessly until we found a familiar road or expressway when we damn near ran into Robert on his bicycle. Robert was an even six feet, dark complexioned, muscular African-American male- much like myself. When Arnold turned to look at the map I had in my lap, he swerved onto the shoulder of the road and almost knocked over Robert. Profanities where thrown here and there and it took Arnold and Robert's girlfriend, Sheila, who was nearby to breakup an almost fight between he and I. It was Sheila who invited us all back to the apartment she and Robert shared a few miles back for some tea and cookies where we went from complete enemies to good friends. "Don't tell me it's about Phoebe."

"I haven't heard from her in three days, man. I hope she is ok."

"Why wouldn't she be?" Robert paused briefly to bang against the 'x' and 'y' buttons of his controller to shoot an alien invader before bolting from his seat to do a victory dance. Robert was very much into videogames and the Japanese culture itself. He was attending community college with hopes and ambitions of becoming a game designer for Sony. I applauded and admired his goals and wished him the best. It was nice to see another African-American male with dreams to be anything other than the stereotypical basketball player or lyrical rapper. With him being from Kansas and leaving the United States due to his father's deployment, I could empathize on his hardship and struggles; being in Japan, especially, since we were some of the few black faces around. People at home nor abroad expected much from us. I made it a duty to support Robert and he would do for me in my political career. I was no expert in Japanese politics or foreign policy, but I took a huge interest and though about setting up camp here if need be. With Phoebe and Haruhi already stationed here-maybe permanently- I had to look at various options for my future; but one thing was for sure though. Phoebe was most certainly going to be in it.

"She left so abruptly without an explanation that I figured something was up."

Robert raised a single brow, chugging down a can of soda. "Did you two…you know…do it?"

"Really, Robert?"

"Just a simple question." He chuckled. "From what you told me, I was surprised you didn't break out a condom then and there, flip her over, hike up her dress and-"

"Enough, Robert. Thank you." I raised my hands, waving erratically. Though Robert was becoming more of a better friend as time progressed, one thing I could do without was his crass attitude. He was very open about talking about anything pertaining to sex; regardless of we were in public or in the privacy of our apartments. Robert had no problem talking about how well Sheila blew him last night or give Arnold and I advice on how to properly please a woman- not that I needed any. There were a couple of times Arnold and I gave subtle hints for him to keep that kind of talk in private where wandering ears could not hear, but Robert did not care. He simply continued on with his lecture on the proper techniques of backwards cowgirl while sipping his tea.

"Just sayin', man."

"What are we discussing, fellas?" Arnold came in with the three bento boxes we ordered from this late night sushi place. I was never a fan of raw fish, let alone seafood, until I came to Japan. My addiction was officially wasabi. "Did I miss anything interesting?"

I shook my head, stabbing a California roll with my chopstick. "Just Robert being Robert."

"Not that you all complain."

"We do!" Arnold and I said in unison, chuckling.

"Keep your sex life to yourself please."

"Arnold, you need a sex life."

"I have one, thank you." He quipped, nursing down a forkful of rice with some green tea. "I just don't want anyone else to know about it."

"I don't see why you two are so prude about sex. It's natural and beautiful."

"No argument there." I chimed. "However, I don't need to know what you and Sheila do in and out of the sheets."

Robert scoffed, taking another bite of his crab roll before wolfing down a few spoonful of rice. "Well, I figured it'll help seeing as how you are trying to get Phoebe back in your life. I thought you could use a few pointers."

I grew quiet, beginning to trace the outline of my box with my fork. I thought about Phoebe nonstop for the past few days. I kept replaying the scene in the club over and over again, repeatedly asking myself if I took things a little too far. I couldn't blame my actions on the alcohol because we had very little and I could not lie to her and say I regret any of them because I did not. I actually would do it all over again and maybe take things a step further if she was willing. I have not seen Phoebe Heyerdahl in almost four years since she moved away from Hillwood to Japan because of her father's promotion. I was young and stupid back then, lusting after women, giving into my sexual desires when I had a woman- the right woman- in front of me the whole time. Phoebe was far from perfect but she was the woman I knew in my heart and soul I was supposed to give my last name to. Although I did not expect to come to Japan and find her married with a kid, it did not change how I felt for Phoebe; if anything, it intensified it. The young woman that left Hillwood almost four years ago was now a full-fledged woman that displays more confidence, opinion, attitude, and sass. She is more outspoken and fearless of people's judgments. Physically, she was no longer the thin, frail young lady I subconsciously handled with care in fear of damaging her. No, Phoebe graced curves and valleys; hills and mountains that made me salivate more than Pavlov's dogs. Her breasts grew much suppler as her hips grew wider from child birth; not to mention that she finally had an ass that I could grab. At the dance club, I had a hard time keeping my hands to myself. I had naughty, risqué thoughts about Phoebe and I but I kept them and my urges to myself out of respect. But when she began twirling her hips against my pulsating member confined within my tights slacks, I threw all caution to the wind and could not help myself. Phoebe was too irresistible for words and it made me yearn for her more. It was something about watching her catalyze from a timid, bashful girl into a confident, sexy woman that made me gain not only a new found respect for Phoebe but awaken a hidden lust that I never knew existed.

"Gerald!" I shot up to see Arnold and Gerald throwing rice at me. I shrugged it off with a quick sip of my coffee. "You still there, man?"

"Yeah, I just got sidetracked a bit."

"Still thinking about Phoebe, huh?" Arnold asked; concern laced within his voice. "Still no call?"

I shook my head, checking my phone in my jacket pocket. No missed calls or unread text messages. "Nothing. It's like what happened that night didn't happen at all."

"You know why she ran out the way she did?"

I shrugged, taking another bite from my bento box. "No. She had this fear in her eyes and started to tear up. Before I could even ask what was wrong, she pushed me away and ran out the front door."

"Did you follow her?"

"Of course I did, Robert." I shot back with more anger than I intended. "What type of man wouldn't go after the woman he loves after seeing her breakdown like that."

The room fell silent for a few moments, Arnold, Robert, and I beginning to eat and stare effortlessly at out half-eaten meals. I suddenly lost my appetite. The mere thought of Phoebe was enough to make my stomach churn. I felt so stupid for rushing into things the way I did. I should have kept it non-adulterated and kept my hands to myself. Maybe I would have gotten to see her again; let alone a phone call. I stood to get up and take the rest of my dinner to my room before there was a light tapping against the door. I echoed out that I would answer before I opened and revealed a frazzled Haruhi.

"Haruhi." I said, surprised. "What on earth are you doing out here so late!?"

"My mommy told me to come here because it would be safer."

That piqued my interest as I escorted the little girl in. I introduced her to Arnold and Robert before picking her up and taking her to the sofa. "What do you mean?"

"Okaasan and papa where having an argument and mommy told me to come to this address because it would stop daddy from hitting me again."

"Again!?" My voice rose a couple of octaves; my blood beginning to boil as she handed me a paper napkin with my address scribbled in purple crayon in Phoebe's handwriting. I clenched it before slamming a fist against the floorboards. "Dammit!"

"How did you get here?" asked Arnold, wrapping a blanket against the shivering three year old. "You didn't take the trains did you?"

She shook her head. "One of papa's driver's took me before he could find out okaasan let me out the backdoor."

"He will pay!"

"Calm down, Gerald." Arnold soothed, coming towards Haruhi and I. He forcefully grabbed the napkin away from me before smiling at Haruhi. "What type of argument did your mommy and daddy get into?"

"Okaasan was being hit by papa." She grew quiet, beginning to cry. " I went over to papa to tell him to stop hurting okaasan but he pushed me and hurt my arm."

"The bastard!" I roared. I zipped up my jacket and raced over towards the door to put on my sneakers. "Watch her until I get back."

"Gerald!" Robert yelled. " Think rationally for a moment. Let the police handle this."

"Excuse my language but fuck the police!" I snapped back, opening the front door. "Domestic violence in Japan is not handled as harshly here as in America; especially since one of Japan's elite is the one blackening his wife's eye!"

"Robert is right, Gerald." Arnold came over, placing a calm hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off, angry. "I understand politics is different here than in America but let the authorities handle it. You don't want to be thrown in jail…AGAIN…and risk your scholarship!"

"So I am supposed to sit by and let Phoebe get beat on by some other man?"

"No, but you going over there to cause more trouble will do more harm than good!"

I growled, knowing Arnold and Rob where right. Me going over there was going to stir the pot more so than simmer it. Not only was Kato financially connected, he was also very well politically tied. If anything, he could spin the story and tell authorities I caused the disruption and began hitting Phoebe and they would not think much of it. I let out a small huff of frustration before punching in the wall next to me. I was conflicted in emotions. I couldn't risk my life, let alone my future, but then again the woman I love was currently getting slapped around by her prick of a husband. I made my decision and decided to head over to Phoebe's home anyway. Damn my scholarship and damn my potential jail time. I may not know what would be in store for me when I get there, but I sure as hell was ready to find out.

I ignored Arnold and Robert's hollers as I grabbed my keys from the countertop and raced down the stairs. I knew I was making a rather brash and unwise decision but me contemplating on what to do was not going to solve anything; let alone save Phoebe. Before I could even get inside my car, I watched a white Mercedes pull up in front of my apartment complex and push out what seemed to be a human body. I called after the man driving the vehicle but he sped away halfway down the block before I could get a good glimpse at him. I could have ran after the car but the person on the ground seemed to need intense medical attention. I kneeled down towards the body and unwrapped the blood stained bed sheets that covered the face. I let in a sharp breath before I quickly cradled the limp body in my arms, racing towards the car to head to a nearby hospital. It was Phoebe.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait my kittens! I been super busy lately. My finance and I are doing intense wedding planning and I am studying for midterms. Can't believe it's almost here! Wow! Anyhoo, I hope you all like this chapter. I love my readers and reviewers and I look only to better myself as a writer. I added in BlackRob88 into this chapter as promised and HannaCabrodi and Neptune will be making another cameo appearance soon so be on the lookout. Have a great rest of the week and stay tuned! You never know; I may update this weekend.