Chapter 15: The Tiger and the Tease

Thursday, 10:00AM, Offices of Nomura Holdings

Inaba was welcomed at the elevator by a thin man wearing a somber black suit. "You are Himeko Yaegashi?" She bowed.

He said, "Please wear this." The man gave her a plastic badge with the word Bijitā [Visitor] written in large red katakana letters. The words goei ni hitsuyou [escort required] were written in a smaller kanji script underneath it. She hooked the lanyard around her neck and let the badge hang down her front. The man then accompanied her across the trading floor towards the manager office in the back.

As they walked down the main walkway of the cubical farm, Inaba took the opportunity to discreetly look at the computer screens that were visible on either side. Most of them were in use.

Hmm. It looks like they are still running Orion-II. Pretty old.

Orion was the world standard for professional Trading Management Systems Software (TMSS). It was a complex software package with over a dozen different modules for the organizing, executing, tracking, and the profiling of various market trades of all kinds. The software modules were highly customizable and programmable. A quick glance at the taskbar on one of the computer screens told Inaba they were using only a small fraction of its potential capabilities. She herself had helped with the installation of the newer Orion-III system on her own father's servers a few months prior.

Inaba and her escort approached a large wooden door when it suddenly flew open. An older man with gray trufts of hair above his ears poked his head out into the room. He spotted Inaba's escort. "Sakuru, I need you right now."

"Sir?"

"That rumored leveraged buyout of Honshou Industries.."

Sakuru asked, "It's happening now?"

"Yes. It hit the newswires five minutes ago. We need to hurry."

Sakuru then turned and apologized to his guest, "I'm sorry, Ms. Yaegashi, there will be a delay before Mr. Nakamura can receive you for your interview. Please wait here. I'll fetch you as soon as I can."

Inaba bowed again, "That is quite all right, sir. I have no other plans for today. Please take your time."

"Thank you." He walked quickly into the manager's office. As door began to slowly close she heard Nakamura inside speaking quickly, "Wall Street has already purchased a half million shares at +2.5."

"You posted an SB to our staff?"

"Of course, but most of the spread is already gone." The door closed.

Inaba tsk-tsked. They should have prepared a cascade of triggers for preprogrammed buys with circuit breakers and set them up ahead of time with a 60-second go-nogo alert message-box. Then they could just hit the button right when the buyout was announced. That's how Wall Street does it. Easy.

Meanwhile she waited. After a few minutes she started to get bored. She started to fidget a bit.

She began to look around at all the cubicles.

I want another peek at their TMSS.

During her whole life she had never seen any trading systems except her father's own. She had gone crawling through those servers so many times she could move through them in her sleep. A big reason she wanted this job was to broaden her experience outside of her father's companies, to get new ideas, and to see new and different ways in how such businesses operated.

She discreetly listened at the manager's door. From the sounds inside she could tell that Nakamura and Sakuru were having an animated discussion over a computer terminal. She knew they wouldn't be looking for her for a while.

She casually crossed her arms to hide the red 'Visitor' emblem on her badge. Then she began a leisurely stroll down the aisles of the cubical farm.

She saw nothing that piqued her interest. But it wasn't long before she heard a loud yell, 'Booyah!'.

She noticed a few traders look up from their screens with obvious signs of disapproval on their faces. One of them muttered, "Gaijin baka cowboy."

She turned towards the source of the yell and walked in that direction. At the far corner of the cubical farm she spied a set of four cubes that were rotated inward to create a single large space. And inside she saw six computer screens mounted in a 3x2 configuration. The other traders had only two. A tall man had his back turned to her. She heard the clicky-clack of very fast typing. She discreetly stepped around to view the occupant in profile. The wall plate read, 'Steve Anderson / Senior Trader'.

He was a blond American, young and thin, with bright blue eyes. He was wearing light tan slacks that contrasted with the dark suits of the other traders. A brown sport coat was hanging on a hook. The top button of his shirt was undone and his tie was loose.

Inaba grinned. He could have easily passed for a standard-issue delinquent at any Japanese high school. And he looked young enough to be attending one.

The American was muttering to himself in English, "Hit 50.5, re-trade on counter, oops, dang it.." He pressed the backspace button a few times and re-entered the data. "There." He smacked the Enter key. After a few seconds the numbers changed. Then he did a fist pump. "Yes!"

Inaba was standing right behind him. She said dryly in English, "There is a better way to do that, you know."

The blond American sat up quickly in his chair. "Huh? What?" He looked up at her.

She leaned over him and started typing. "Do it like this instead."

Anderson said, "Hey, get away from my keyboard!"

She smiled, "Relax. I'm just setting it up for you."

"Setting up what?"

"A macro. Orion-II has macro capability. You can create a template for creating a sequence of arbitrarily nested interlocking trades with offsetting amounts. Type backslash at-sign in the macro box for the parameter substitution: stock symbols, amounts, percentages, or whatever, and it will replicate. It will save you a lot of typing."

"Wow, really?"

"Want me to show you an example?"

He looked up at her, "Yeah!"

"Okay, I'll just queue up a proforma trade sequence for you. Just a demo. Don't worry, I won't execute it. It just so happens that Honshou Industries received a leveraged buyout offer on the Nikkei a few minutes ago. It's too late to take advantage of the offer-vs-buy spread now, but you can get ready for the inevitable bounce when it overshoots. It always happens. So use the macro like this."

Her hands flew over the keyboard at high speed. "There. All set. All you have to do is hit the Enter button to execute it."

Anderson stared at his wall of computer monitors. He saw a fairly long list of of interlocking transactions ready to fire. But they were interconnected in a way that he had never seen before.

"What the hell did you just do?"

"I created what I call a 'futures reverse-short contract'. The first transaction sets up the delay, the second places a put on the underlying securities, and the third locks in the prices for the future short. See?"

He kept scanning the displays. "A 'futures reverse-short contract'? Lady, there is no such thing."

Inaba grinned, "Well, there is now. I wrote an undergrad paper on it in college."

"You mean you invented this all by yourself?"

"Yeah. It's only theoretical. That's why I set it up for a trivial amount, only 100,000 yen. That way the risk is negligible. Fire it off when the bounce happens in the stock price. Like I said, it's only a demo. Maybe I should reduce it to down 10,000..?"

He grabbed the keyboard back from her. "No.. don't change it. Just leave it exactly like that." He stared at the screens in rapt fascination. "Now explain to me the theory behind this."

"Well, it is pretty simple. It basically sets up a bet on a short that gets locked in with a variable time delay.."

As Inaba continued to explain, the man turned to look at her. He grinned.

This has got to be the only person in Japan who actually has the balls for doing real trading. And she's totally hot.

She stopped when she noticed he was staring at her. He excused himself. "Sorry, I am still terrible with Japanese customs."

He quickly stood up. He had an imposing height, perhaps 185 centimeters, six feet. He bowed deeply. "Permit me. My name is Steve Anderson from Lehman Brothers. Nomura signed me to a two year contract a couple weeks ago."

Instead of bowing back, Inaba decided to return his greeting American style. She simply held out her hand. "My name is Himeko Yaegashi. I am very pleased to meet you."

He shook the offered hand. As she shook his hand he said, "Yes, I'm delighted." He had a gleam in his eye. "Did you know that you are the first Japanese person who has actually physically touched me since I got here?"

She finally felt a twinge of embarrassment as she withdrew her hand. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"No, thank you. That was nice. I'm still trying to deal with people, customs, formalities, and a language I barely understand. It's been a pain in the ass. I'm afraid I'm not doing it very well."

"Well, we Japanese can sometimes be rather guarded when dealing with outsiders."

"Tell me about it. Everyone around here treats me like I have leprosy or something."

She smiled. "Give it time and I'm sure you will fit in eventually."

"Thanks. You know, your English is rather good."

"I started learning it when I was 5. I don't get to practice it very often. I enjoy talking with you."

"Likewise." He hesitated, then he said, "Uhm, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but you act just like an American. And this futures reverse contract idea of yours is pretty damn creative. You think outside the box, just like a real Wall Street trader does. You're the first person I've met here in Japan who is anything like that. I find it really refreshing."

Inaba began to blush. "Why, thank you."

Wow, she's a beauty. And she's assertive and doesn't give a damn about those stupid Japanese social customs. I wonder if she gets ostracized by those jerks because of it. Bet she does. And she's completely at ease talking to a strange gaijin. Steve my boy, you found yourself a live one.

He looked down. "I know my Japanese is terrible."

"Keep practicing. Immersion is the best way to learn."

Steve, it's time to make your move on this lovely creature.

He did not see a wedding band. It was because she had removed her ring just prior to the interview due to the prejudices in Japan about a married woman starting a career. But even if he did spot a ring it would not have deterred him.

He took a step closer and whispered almost conspiratorially, "Hey, can you help me with something? It's kind of personal.."

"Help you?"

"Yeah."

"With what?"

"This is going to sound embarrassing.."

"Go on."

"Do you know where I can find a decent hamburger in this town? I'm dying for a decent Kobe burger. I can get Kobe in New York City or Las Vegas, so you'd think I could find one in freaking Japan.."

Inaba didn't hesitate. "Go to Tsubame Grill. Three blocks from here. Real Kobe beef. But it's very, very expensive."

Anderson casually rotated the Rolex watch on his left wrist. The diamonds along the rim of the carapace sparkled under the lights. Inaba didn't miss the gesture. He said, "Money isn't a problem for me. I've been dying for a decent Kobe since I got here."

Then he smiled at her again. "Perhaps you could join me for lunch?"

That caught Inaba by surprise. Wait, is he asking me out?

Before Inaba could muster a response, they both heard a throat being cleared discreetly behind them. They turned around together.

The throat-clearing sound came from Sakuru, the assistant manager. Mr. Nakamura was standing next to him.

Sakuru spoke up. "Ms. Yaegashi, may I please ask why you are standing in the middle of a restricted area without an escort?"

Huh? Anderson glanced at Inaba's badge. He saw that it was red. That meant she was not an employee; she was a visitor. Oops. He thought quickly.

He stepped forward and made an awkward bow to his bosses. "Err.. Watashi ga shazai. Sore wa watashi no seidatta..*"

Inaba whispered in his ear in English and he whispered back. She nodded. Then he raised his voice and he started speaking to Sakuru in English while she translated for him. "It was my fault, sir. I saw her standing on the trading floor and I introduced myself to her. I was giving her a tour of our operations."

Sakuru replied in Japanese, "I see." He then addressed Inaba, "Well then, I suppose there is no need to introduce you two."

Inaba was a bit confused. "Sir?"

"This is Steve Anderson. Surely you have heard of the name?"

Inaba replied, "No sir."

"Mr. Anderson earned almost 200 million dollars for Lehman last year."

Inaba stared in disbelief. Then she turned to face the blond man, who simply smiled back at her. This was a real live Master of the Universe. And there she was trying to teach him new trading tricks!

She recalled that he had just mentioned that Nomura had signed him to a two year contract. They must have offered him an incredible sum to land him in Japan.

Anderson continued to smile.

That's right, Himeko. The great looking guy who was just hitting on you has more money than Zeus.

Anderson waited for the expected inevitable reaction. After all, this dashing, handsome and incredibly wealthy young American had just basically asked her out on a date. He waited for the girl to become totally flustered.

And soon she would be another trophy to add to his collection.

I'll have her bagged and tagged by the end of the weekend.

But the expected reaction didn't happen. Instead she replied matter-of-factly, "Well, it was nice meeting you, Mr. Anderson. Have a good day."

What? Hey.. wait a minute..

She left for the manager's office with Nakamura and Sakuru. Anderson was left alone standing there dumbfounded. He earned better than $10,000 an hour and she reacted like she couldn't care less.

What the hell? Steve, you just got shot down!

The only thing that seemed to interest her was the trading itself. He shook his head.

He plopped back in his seat and stared at the screen.

Hmm. He began to try to work out in his mind the subtle interplay of the contracts that she had just set up for him. After a few minutes he gave up trying to figure them out.

Then he spotted something else. The stock price for Honshou Industries had reached a peak and was finally starting to fall. This was the 'overshoot' that Inaba had predicted would happen. If he was going to run her mysterious trade sequence, Anderson knew that he had to execute it within the next sixty seconds.

He continued to study the screen.

Then he opened the macro box and typed in an extra zero and closed the box.

His hand hovered over the Enter key. More seconds ticked by.

He re-opened the box and typed in another zero. His hand hovered over the Enter key again.

And then he typed in one more zero.

Finally he pressed the Enter key.

Then he took out a small flask from his desk. He unscrewed it and took a swig of whiskey as he watched the numbers on the screens unfold.

Inaba was cursing loudly in the elevator. As soon as she spotted the stack of 50 résumés on Nakamura's desk, she knew the odds were going to be against her. Her college credentials were impeccable, but she had no job experience. And the way that Nakamura had perfunctorily ended the interview had made it obvious to her that she wasn't going to be hired.

She sat at the bus stop. She was in a foul mood.

Then her cell phone chimed. She didn't recognize the caller ID number.

"Hello?"

It was Anderson. "Moshimoshi, Himeko-san!"

Inaba rolled her eyes.

Oh this is great. It's Mister I'm-Totally-Irresistible again.

Inaba was tired of playing games. She asked him in English, "How did you get this number?"

"Sorry. I snuck in to Nakamura's office to get a peek at your application. I just wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"Yeah, on that reverse contract."

She scowled at her cellphone. "Look, Mr. Anderson, I am sorry but I do not think Nomura is hiring me or anyone else with less than 5 years experience. So you and I are not going to be colleagues. So no lunch date, sorry."

"Himeko, please wait. Don't hang up on me yet."

She was testy. "Why not?"

"I just cleared around 100 million yen on that contract you set up."

Inaba's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yeah. You're good, Himeko. Damn good."

"But that contract was for only 100 thousand!"

"Well, heh, I added a few extra zeros. I took a gamble on you. And it worked. Arrigato, Himeko-san."

Inaba was speechless.

"Himeko, I really do owe you a lunch."

She was resolute. "Forget it. All I was interested in was getting that job. And for the record, flashing your fancy Rolex watch in my face does not impress me."

"I realize that now, and I'm sorry about that. Please, just hear me out."

She said slowly, "I'm listening."

He explained the outline of his proposition to Inaba. He was indeed offering something that she genuinely wanted.

"So, does that sound good to you? Can we meet at Tsubame Grill for lunch so I can give you the rest of the details?"

She thought about Anderson's proposition for a minute. It was now obvious to her that until she gained some real-world experience in doing real financial trading that she wasn't going to get her foot in the door anywhere. What Anderson was proposing would give her that requisite experience. And she knew it would look very good on her résumé, although it would seem a bit unorthodox. Still, she knew that receiving a referral from a Wall Street Master would carry tremendous weight in the financial community.

She sighed, "I suppose I can hear out the rest of your proposal."

"Great!"

Then she quickly added, "And if I do agree, I want it in writing."

"Certainly."

"And Steve, just so we understand each other, I am happily married."

He didn't hesitate. "I understand. This is just strictly a business proposition."

"That's right. It is. As long as we make that perfectly clear."

"Of course."

"All right then. See you there."

Anderson closed his cellphone and leaned back in his chair.

So. He had guessed her motives correctly.

Then he started to grin. For you see, throughout his young adult life he had always managed to get whatever he wanted. Either through skill, or deceit, or both. And he never failed.

And now he very much wanted the alluring and exotic Asian tiger. She was intelligent, attractive, fiery, and dangerous. He was an adrenalin junkie, and the challenge that she presented him was irresistible: the chance to try to seduce a smart and beautiful married woman in a foreign country.

Himeko, you beautiful tiger. I'm going to tame you. Own you.

And I always win.

Friday, 6:50AM, Yaegashi apartment

Taichi was already awake and had just stepped out of the shower. He toweled himself off and put on his dressing gown. As he exited the bathroom he heard a loud squawk from another room.

He wasn't able to discern the direction of the noise. He entered the small connecting hallway. He checked the main bedroom where he had tucked in Iori last night.

The bedroom was empty.

On a hunch he checked the second bedroom.

Aoki was sitting bolt upright in bed staring at his unexpected sleeping partner. He had his blanket completely wrapped around him like a shield.

Iori was wearing nothing but a nightshirt. From their positions Taichi could see that she must have been positioned behind him with her arm wrapped around him like a body pillow when he awoke.

Iori sat up herself and yawned. "You don't have to shout so loud.."

Aoki stammered, "W-What are you doing in my bed?"

"Hey, I was cold."

Aoki turned to Taichi. "Taichi! Help me!"

Taichi gave Iori a stern look. He crooked his finger towards himself. She took the hint and got up and meekly entered the hallway with him, but not before she had grabbed Aoki's blanket and wrapped it around herself to keep warm. In response Aoki dived under the bed. Meanwhile Iori wrapped the blanket even tighter and muttered, "This apartment is like an icebox.."

Taichi wasn't happy. "Iori, what the heck were you doing with Aoki in there?"

She looked annoyed. "Hey, I woke up freezing my ass off. You were already getting showered. Aoki gives off heat like a radiator, so I tried to warm myself up before I froze to death."

Taichi gently but firmly escorted the entoweled girl back to her bedroom. He was frowning. "Iori.."

"Oh, c'mon, Taichi. It's no big deal. Besides, messing with Aoki is harmless fun. You know I don't mean anything by it."

He closed the bedroom door behind them and crossed him arms. He kept his voice low. "Harmless fun for you maybe, but not for him. You can't toy with Aoki's feelings like that. You did the same thing to him at the restaurant. He's not mature enough to handle it, so stop it."

"Not mature enough? We're both the same age."

He growled, "Well he isn't ready for it, so knock it off."

Iori gave him a small mischievious grin, "Aw c'mon, it was just some harmless fun. I can't help myself."

Taichi got closer and his eyes were stern. "No."

"But it was only.."

He interrupted her. "No. No means no. If you can't control yourself, if you absolutely feel compelled to flirt around with somebody, then play your silly teasing games with me, not with him."

That got Iori's attention. "What? With you? But I can't.."

"You heard me. He can't handle it. If you have to mess around then mess around with me instead."

Now it was Iori's turn to look embarrassed. "I.. I can't tease you like that. You know that. It wouldn't be right."

And so Taichi drove the point home. "Exactly. If you can't do it with me, then don't do it with him. End of discussion."

Iori looked down. "I understand. I'm sorry."

"Apologize to him, not me."

She meekly nodded.

Then he added, "Go get dressed first. I'll make breakfast."

She shook her head. "No, after I apologize I'll make the breakfast. It's the least I can do."

"All right."

Twenty minutes later Iori, Aoki, and Taichi were seated around a low table eating a modest breakfast of rice omelettes that Iori had whipped up in the kitchenette. The omelettes were quite tasty. Taichi had to admit that Iori was a good cook. This was not surprising, as she had many years of experience making meals for her mother and step-fathers when she was quite young.

During the meal the three of them started gabbing. Taichi had about 15 minutes before he had to leave for work.

Iori asked, "So how is Kiriyama doing?"

Taichi put down his napkin and said, "Really good. I chatted with her on the phone yesterday."

That phone call was awkward. It was because Aoki was still under a strict court order that prevented any contact with Yui. Aoki pressed his ear next to Taichi's and listened as he spoke with Yui on his cell. He had clutched Taichi's shoulder in a vice grip. When Aoki heard her tinny voice coming out of the earpiece his eyes lit up like sparklers. He got so excited that Taichi was afraid his shoulder would be dislocated.

Yui had asked Taichi if Aoki was present. Taichi replied that he was. She asked him to pass along a message, that she was thinking of Aoki every day. Then Aoki had Taichi pass back his own message, that he would love her forever. And so the trio basically played a game of telephone tag with Taichi acting as the middleman. Taichi grew increasingly uncomfortable as he forwarded their innocent little mash notes back and forth like a pair of high schoolers in a classroom hiding them from the teacher.

Taichi explained to Iori, "The hospital transferred Yui to a rehab facility on Suragawa Street." He gave Iori the address. "She's got at least four to six months of intensive rehab ahead of her, maybe longer. It will depend on how hard she works at it."

Aoki said, "She can do it. She's a fighter."

Iori replied, "Yeah. I'll go see her today. Give her some support."

"I only wish I could go with you."

She tried to cheer Aoki up. "Fujishima will have that restraining order removed in no time flat. Then you'll be able to see her all you want."

"Yeah.."

"And when Fujishima gets your criminal record cleared I am sure that you'll have no trouble getting a job."

"Thanks. I hate sitting doing nothing in the meantime."

"Just be patient. Everything will be fine."

Aoki sighed and resumed staring at the wall with his chin on the table.

Iori cleared the dishes from the meal. Taichi jumped up to help. Then she returned and sat back down with him again. The two men propped up their chins with their hands. They both looked morose. She understood.

Iori turned to Taichi, "And how is Dereban?"

"Inaba wants to go with me to have dinner at her father's house tonight so she can apologize to him about the wedding."

"But she's still on her walkabout.."

Taichi sighed, "I don't know what's going on with her. I don't even know if she's returning home tonight afterwards or not."

"I see." Iori began to think. "You know, something is odd."

"Hmm?"

"She should be here with us. I could have sworn that you two kissed and made up at the hotel."

Taichi said simply, "We did. The fight's over."

"Then why is she still running away? Something's not right."

"Like what?"

"Dunno yet." She thought some more. "Taichi, do you mind if I double-check a few facts with you?"

"Sure, go ahead. Ask me anything you want."

"I just want to confirm, did Inaban do the whole kiss-and-make-up thing with you at the hotel?"

"Yeah."

"So she apologized to you over and over and then she babbled how much she loved you, right?"

"Uh, well.. yeah.."

"And then, while she was gazing lovingly into your deep brown eyes, she finally lost control and lunged at you like a tiger and wrecked another one of your dress shirts, yes?"

There was a pause. "Iori.."

She caught the pause. Her eyes were fixed on his. "Hmm." She read Taichi's mind. "Oh, I see. It was you who started things with her this time, not the other way around. My mistake."

"Hey! That's private!"

She teased him, "Ooh. You naughty boy."

"What? We're married!"

Aoki grinned, "Dude, I'm with Iori on this one. It's about time you started wearing the man pants with your wife."

He sighed, "I can't believe you two are both ganging up on me."

Iori raised her hand, "Taichi, you're right. Sorry for getting us off track. The point is, if Inaban is still running around alone out there, and she's not fighting with you, then something else must be bothering her."

"Yeah, and whatever the problem is, she's avoiding me because of it."

She thought some more. "No. She's not staying away from you; she's staying away from us."

"Huh?"

"Taichi, I don't think this particular problem involves you, at least not directly."

Taichi recalled the SMS text message that he got from Inaba. I need some time alone. It's not you, it's me.

"Iori, you're exactly right."

"Hmm."

"So why is Inaba running?" Then Taichi thought some more. "Hey, perhaps it is that thing you were talking about earlier where you want to confront her about something? Where she can't run away until you finish reading her the riot act?"

Iori shook her head. "No. That's something else. I still need to do that, but that's not the problem that's keeping her away now. There is something else going on here, a more immediate problem. And it is making her avoid us."

"What is it then?"

She thought some more, then she looked up, "Oh of course."

"Yes?"

"It's obvious.."

Taichi tilted his head. "What is?"

"Don't you see it?"

Taichi propped up his chin with his hand. "Nuh-uh."

Aoki got it. He said, "Heartseed."

Iori grunted, "Duh."

Taichi smacked his forehead. "Of course! I should have caught that. He's back and he's messing with us again. But he hasn't disclosed to us the phenomenon yet."

Iori leaned forward. "And don't you find that just a little bit weird? In the past he has always explained to us up-front about whatever crazy crap he intended to inflict on us. Unless.."

Taichi leaned forward as well. "Unless he already told Inaba what he's doing."

"Yeah."

"And she's keeping it a secret."

"Yeah."

"From us."

"Uh-huh."

"But why?"

"Taichi, remember what happened during the age reversals?"

He nodded. He thought back to that event, when Number Two was inhabiting his sister, Rina. She had met with him in private and ordered him to keep everything secret from the others. Otherwise she threatened to harm all of them.

Iori explained, "I suspect something like that is happening here. She is being forced to keep a secret from us."

Taichi sat up. "That has to be it!" Taichi recalled what happened to him. "Boy, it was tough for me to keep that secret back then." He looked into space. "Inaba's suffering.. I didn't realize.."

Iori's face had a look of concern. "And it will be even harder for her than it was for you." That was because Iori knew that Inaba was fundamentally a worrywort, someone who was always insecure, someone who always doubted. She was a natural skeptic. And she was skeptical about her own abilities and motivations most of all.

Taichi replied, "True. She doesn't take that kind of pressure well."

"No, she doesn't."

Taichi stood up. "Then we need to let Inaba know that we are all on her side. No matter what secret she is being forced to hide from us. We have to give her our full support. 100%."

Aoki jumped up too. "120%!"

Iori stood as well. "Good. We're united. Meanwhile, I'll try to find an opportunity to chat her up in private. I'll do some pillow-talk with her. I bet you 10,000 yen that I can figure out her secret."

Taichi knew Iori all too well. "No bet." Then he added, "And when you figure out her secret?"

Iori's face was impassive. "And then we'll see."

"But.."

Iori checked her cell. She saw the time. "Taichi, you're going to be late for work."

"Huh?" He checked his own cell. "Argh! I can't be late again!" He turned to leave.

Iori grabbed his wrist with her good arm. "Taichi, wait a sec.."

"Hmm?"

"Remember that huge fight that Inaban and I had when Yui got hurt, when we stopped being friends?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Well, when you see Inaban for dinner tonight please tell her that I forgive her. And I apologize too. Tell her that I want us to be friends again."

He smiled. "That's great. I appreciate it. I will tell her."

"Thanks."

"I gotta go." She released his wrist. Then he leaned in and whispered, "And no teasing Aoki while I'm gone."

She crossed her heart. "Scout's honor."

He left.

Aoki had finished helping Iori clean up breakfast. He was now in the other room watching the TV. Meanwhile she made an excuse to stay in the kitchen. She sat down on the kitchen stool by herself and looked out the window.

It was because she needed some time alone to think.

Inaban, you and I are far more alike than I ever realized. Thank goodness for Taichi for giving me that insight. But it really worries me. Because if you really are like me..

.. then I am very, very worried for you.

What is going on in that head of yours? What game is Heartseed playing with you? With us?

I know you are keeping a huge secret from Taichi. You can't fool me. Heartseed must have boxed you in. Don't worry, I'm here to help you. I'll wheedle the secret out of you. Then I'll help you decide if Taichi should be told.

I'm your friend, Inaban. Don't worry. I know how to keep secrets better than anybody. And so I promise you, Inaban..

She stood up.

.. that if we decide to keep your secret from Taichi, we will.

A/N:

* English translation: "I am sorry. It was my fault."

A/N Update (2014/11/07):

As I indicated previously, the remaining plot of this story was fully developed after I finished chapter 9. However that does not mean that the entire story was necessarily set in stone at that point. In my stories I typically sketch out some optional side-branches and subplots that I may or may not explore depending on various circumstances. Steve Anderson was one of those side-plots. Originally I wasn't planning to do much with him, or even give him a name. But looking back at the story as a whole, I was starting to feel rather bad for being so mean and cruel to our poor heroine. (I wasn't doing it out of a sense of maliciousness; it is only because the plot dynamics require it.)

To that end, I decided to devote half a chapter here for Steve Anderson. I did it mainly to provide an opportunity for Inaba to get back her self-esteem and self-confidence. (I can't have her actually landing a fulltime job as it would take her off the stage for the rest of the story.) This was a nice compromise. It shows that Inaba can indeed be successful in the world of high finance - and in fact she's quite gifted - while keeping her onstage for the rest of the story.

A/N Update (2014/12/06):

In celebration of the new second season of Mushishi, I have just posted a complete 11,000 word novella, The Master of the Hill. It is the first story on FFN that is based on material from the second season of the anime. You can find it by clicking on my handle at the top.

-HuuskerDu