Chaos in Kadoma Ward – Chapter 20

‘I won’t forget this, Rin Hara.’

I’m locked in my spot on the sidewalk, the space between us too close for comfort and too far to get in a good kick and punch before I bolt.

Bidder Number Five’s lip twists, his eyes soft and sarcastic. I’d recognize him anywhere. That image of him bidding on me during Narumi’s attempt to sell me off as a prostitute is still burned into my memories.

I am so fucked.

I take a moment to read him. He definitely cornered me here on purpose. The other men with him stand in a protective posture, ready to come at me if I attack their boss. None of them carry bags, so it’s not like he was on his way to work. This meeting is deliberate. They’ve probably watched me walk to work on my own so early the last few days and knew just when to corner me.

Man, I like to think of myself as smart, but there are times when I’m really fucking stupid.

“Well, well. We meet again, Minamoto. You’re up bright and early for your shift at K&G Noodles. Are you really that excited about chopping vegetables every day?”

I dig deep to find my voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.”

“You don’t need my name,” he says, laughing. “And the fact that you don’t know it is a good thing for us both.”

“Fine. I’ll call you Five. What do you want, Five?”

If the name surprises him, he doesn’t seem to care.

“Maybe we should go to the café up the block and have coffee together. I know you haven’t eaten yet.”

I try to gauge his sincerity, and it’s difficult to pin down. He looks like he could be any other businessman here on Hikari, except for the graying, full head of hair he likes to swoop up and to the side. He’s dressed for success today, a sharp black business suit and a dark gray tie. It’s funny that this get-up has changed little from Earth to Orihimé to Hikoboshi. Neither have kimonos nor threatening young ladies on the street.

I look behind him and spot the café down the block. The inside is moderately busy, the tables by the window occupied, and it’s one block closer to the neighborhood police box I pass every day.

Hmmm.

“Are we going to talk or are you going to try some funny business? Because honestly, I’m in no mood for funny business.”

He holds up his hands. “No funny business. Only regular business.”

I take a small step back. “Fine. You go ahead of me. I’ll be a few meters behind. And these guys get lost. Understood?”

They look at their boss, and he nods. I watch them as they leave and walk away, down a street that leads to the butsu.

“Get moving,” I command Five, and with a shrug of his shoulders, he turns and walks towards the café. “And I’ll buy my own damned coffee when I get there,” I shout after him.

I lean on the building I’m next to and try to bring my heart rate down to a decent resting pace, but it’s no use. It beats in my chest like I’ve just completed a marathon. Counting to ten, I check my surroundings and no one is coming, so I follow behind Five with some meters between us. He enters the café, orders at the kiosk, and finds a seat near the back.

Okay, whatever he wants to talk with me about, it’s going to be rich, I can feel it. Maybe some excuse why he bid on me and why he’s following me? Does he want to offer me a better contract? I need to remain objective and not let any of his possible excuses worm their way into my doubts.

Because I have a lot of doubts right about now. I doubt Rin’s intentions. I doubt what’s come between us. I doubt Aka Matsuba and their crazy child tax and their obsession with animals. I doubt Aoi Uma and their quest to make people obsolete with their human-like androids. I doubt Kiiroi Yama can keep them all in check. Who’s left?

I sit across from Five at his chosen table, my hot coffee in my hand, and adrenaline pumping through my veins. If anything, the coffee can be used as a weapon. Because I’m certainly not going to drink from the cup with my hand shaking.

“So, how are you enjoying our fine city?” Five is suave, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs. He has something to hide.

“I like it just fine,” I say, cautiously. “Seems to be… vibrant and busy.”

“Vibrant and busy — two very apt adjectives.”

I sigh, putting as much feeling into it as Rin would. “Can we move onto the non-funny business already? I don’t want us to become buddy-buddy or anything, so there’s no reason for small talk.”

He sips his coffee while making eye contact over the lip of the cup. “A woman of action. Okay. Let me start with the basics.” He leans forward, unfolding his legs in a long, fluid motion, and I lean away, clutching my cup and ready to throw the scalding coffee on him, even if that would be a waste of good coffee.

“I’m not who you think I am. I work for Shiroi Nami corporation.”

I’m sure my face gives away how surprised I am.

“I came to that bidding to purchase you for Michio Hayashi. Well, purchase your freedom, that is. At the time, as you know, he had your brother, and he was intent on employing you both and reconnecting with your people on Orihimé. When I couldn’t secure you, he switched plans, and the rest is history.” He sweeps his hand out. “But, as you can probably guess, things here in Shin-Osaka and on this Northern Continent are about to get dicey. We’ve heard rumors that Aka Matsuba wants Kiiroi Yama to join forces with them against Aoi Uma. But Okamoto, the CEO of Kiiroi Yama, intends to remain neutral if he can.”

“What does that mean for Shiroi Nami?”

“It means that while the Northern Continent goes to war, the Southern Continent will experience an influx of refugees, refugees who will want something new… Something different for their future.”

The café door opens and Rin steps through it, his eyes scanning the crowds until he sees me. I almost jump from my seat and cheer with joy. People part like the tide pulling back to let him through, his uniform and sword signaling to everyone that he means business. I swallow watching him approach the table.

Five looks up at Rin and smiles before setting his cup down on the table. “Rin Hara, it’s good to see you again. I was just having coffee and a chat with Miss Minamoto.”

Rin grabs a chair from another table and sets it down between Five and me. Relief cascades over me from head to toe. I was afraid of what he’d do.

“Great. Let’s continue that chat,” he says, glancing between Five and me. “I hope you’re telling Yumi the truth about who you are.”

“I just did,” he says, pulling a smaller version of my tablet from his front pocket and checking it. “Markets open in an hour on the Southern Continent, so let’s make this quick.” He finishes his coffee in another gulp. “You and Kiiroi Yama can’t stop the upheaval between Aka Matsuba and Aoi Uma. Whatever’s going to happen there is inevitable. But there’s no reason to lose everything we’ve ever hoped for here on Hikari because two corporations can’t play nice. We’ve gone in the wrong direction, and it’s time to put things back on track.”

“And how do you plan to do that?” Rin asks.

Five’s smile widens. “Miss Minamoto has more than that animal chip technology she sold to Tamura. Something we’re very interested in.”

My body grows cold, and I’m not steady enough to drink the coffee to warm me up.

How does he know that?

“Shiroi Nami are the best buyers for this information, so please don’t count us out. When the time is right, your presence is requested in Kitakyushu, should things not work in your favor here.”

Five stands up from the table, smooths out his jacket, and looks down at us both.

“I hope she was worth the hassle,” Five says, a sly smile curling his lips. “This all would’ve gone much better if we hadn’t detoured.”

“Detours are half the fun,” Rin replies.

“A statement I can’t argue with.”

He turns and leaves the café, walking off down the street towards the butsu.

“Well, that was interesting,” I breathe out, only now aware I had been holding my breath, waiting to see if they would start a fight in public. I try to set my coffee cup on the table, but my hand shakes, and I spill half of it. Rin catches the cup and sets it aside, grasping and steadying my hand.

“Interesting is one way to put it. I’ve been tailing you for weeks with the local drone patrol, hoping he would show up.” Rin lets go of my hand to point upward, and now I know why it always feels like someone is watching me. Because they are. I would be angry, but I’m too relieved.

“Did you know he tried to buy me for Shiroi Nami?”

“No. Not for sure. It was only after we returned to Hikari that I suspected he did. It was either that, or he was working for one of the prostitution brokers, and I couldn’t chance it.”

I blow out a long breath and push back in my chair, letting out the tension in my shoulders and wincing. “I’m glad you didn’t. Where’s Kitakyushu?”

“It’s the main port on the Southern Continent.”

I nod, my brain detached from my body, and all of my attention sapped dry by the earlier adrenaline surge. I’m suddenly beat. Dead tired.

Rin’s hand reaches under the table and grasps mine. I’m too worn out to push him away.

“You’ve been avoiding me, Yumi. Any particular reason?”

The subject change makes my hands shake even more. I glare at him, and he raises his eyebrows, squeezes and releases my hand.

“Yeah, that’s what I figured.” He rubs his face and sighs before folding his arms over his chest and leaning back. “I’m sorry. I either read the situation wrong or I moved way too fast for you, and that’s my fault, not yours.”

I said yes to the kiss. His lips had hovered above mine, and he asked me for permission. And I gave it.

“I’m sorry. Again.”

Why is he saying he’s sorry? I wanted it, wanted that connection so badly I felt physical pain when I pulled away from him.

But he’s falling on his sword, determined to fix things.

That’s admirable.

It’s also frustrating.

I nod, my brain vacant. “I don’t want either of us to go to jail because of this contract thing. I’m your proxy. You can’t have a relationship with me.” It’s a lame excuse, and I know it.

I’m frozen in time. My anger is gone. My confidence is totally shot. Where’s the girl who whipped out and decked Gen Miyazawa in the face when he insulted her family? I want to open my mouth and fix things, fix this awful mess I made but I fear I’ll just make it worse.

I raise my eyes to meet his. The look of sympathy he gives me makes my heart ache. This man could’ve kept me in a closet, not fed me, abused me, or any of the other horrific things that happen around here behind closed doors.

But he didn’t. I believe he actually cares for me, and I’ve ruined it.

“You look like death,” he says, and I bark out a laugh.

“I was just thinking the same thing about myself this morning.”

“Have you been sleeping okay?”

I shake my head. “I’m afraid I’ll have a migraine again soon. But I should get to work.” I chuckle, my humor taking a rueful bent. “Kotashi says my noodles are pitiful, and I’ll never be any good at them.”

Rin scoffs, waving his hand and rolling his eyes. “He says that to everyone. Don’t take it personally.”

I stand up and grab my coffee cup, unhappy about the mess I’ve left on the table. Rin doesn’t move, but instead rests his hand on my arm. We’ve gone back to our platonic physical contact.

“You should go back to the apartment and stay home today. Really. Get some rest. Please.”

“I can’t,” I say, also falling on my sword. This was the hill I decided to die on, right? This was the only job I could get, the only place that would take someone like me.

Yet, it’s wrong. So wrong. This is not the person I’m supposed to be here.

“You can, and you should. You haven’t had a day off from there in three weeks, and it’s not like it’s been the best place to go every day. Even workaholics like me take days off.” When I don’t answer, he continues, “I insist.”

“Okay,” I whisper, my voice a meek squeak. I glance around the café, now filling up with more people on their way to work. This is not how I expected today to go.

Rin rises from his seat and puts his arm around my waist.

“Come back home and sleep. Eat a lot of food. Sit on the couch and read. I don’t know,” he says, waving his arm, “take a bath and relax.”

I shut my eyes, his words a dagger to my heart. He’s way too nice to me.

I am totally falling for him, and I’m lost as to what to do about that.

“Okay,” I repeat. He nods his head, satisfied, and leads me out of the café and towards his apartment.

This is not how I wanted things to go on this Hikoboshi mission. I thought I’d come here, learn all about these people, investigate their culture, find common ground, and use my skills to bring us together.

Instead, I nearly die, I’m sold into a quasi-slavery, and within eight weeks of meeting someone new, I morph into a prepubescent lovesick girl with no future and no way out.

What do I do now? Do I trudge on, denying my feelings, and continue to go to a job where I’m not wanted, won’t learn anything, and be of no help to anyone?

As sad as that is, that’s the easy path.

Or do I break out of this mess and take my life back? How do I convince Rin that it’s important for me to be… well, me?

I let him lead me all the way back to his place, get back into my pajamas, and go back to sleep. Sleep is a better idea than crying, anyway.