One Kiss in Tokyo... Read online

  It had been very exciting for a young boy. Right up until the point an official-looking letter had been delivered to the door and his father had disappeared for a few days, returning with only the fedora. ‘It seemed Uncle Stuey took the wrong artefact’ was all he’d said before he’d dumped the fedora onto Avery’s head and disappeared into his study.

  Avery had been lost. Uncle Stu—crazy as he’d been—had been the most normal person in the family. They’d joked about working together when he was old enough to join his uncle on the expeditions. It had never occurred to him that might never happen.

  Nothing else in the world had seemed certain after that.

  Joining the air force had been the steadiest part of his life. Stu had left him a little money that he’d used to part pay for college and medical school. With no family or home to support back in the US he was now almost debt free. A great position to be in.

  Why shouldn’t he date the woman he wanted to?

  As they darted among the crowds, recognition dawned in his brain. This time he did reach for her hand and tugged it. ‘Hey, this is that place, isn’t it?’

  She gave him her most innocent expression. ‘What place?’

  He wrinkled his nose. ‘I can’t remember what you called it. Ha-something—the crazy crossing?’

  People all around them had their phones in the air, ready to capture the moment that the lights changed. A few seconds later it happened. And it seemed like the whole world moved.

  ‘Watch out!’ said Katsuko as she pulled him back against the wall of a building.

  It would be so easy to get swept along with the momentum of the crowd. He climbed up a few steps to get a better view. ‘Wow.’ It was almost like a form of dancing or synchronised swimming. And it wasn’t slow—it was fast. People dodged around each other instantly, heading in all directions. Some moved in straight lines, some diagonally.

  ‘How do they do that?’ he wondered out loud.

  Katsuko smiled at him and shrugged. ‘What can I say? We’re naturals. Welcome to Hachiko crossing—the busiest crossing in the world.’

  As the throng of people disappeared quickly the lights changed again. Within a few seconds people started to accumulate at the sidewalks all over again.

  He folded his arms and faced her. ‘You mentioned this place and I said not tonight.’ He was still gazing in wonder. ‘I didn’t expect it to be quite like this.’

  ‘Well, get used to it. The place we’re going for dinner is diagonal to us.’ She pointed to a silver and blue high-rise building. ‘Are you chicken?’

  ‘What?’

  He finally dragged his eyes off the crossing to face her. There was no doubt about it. There was a definite smirk on her face. She was baiting him. Again.

  ‘You think I’m chicken?’

  She leaned forward, as if their conversation could be heard by others. ‘I think you’re a Hachiko virgin. Let’s just call it survival of the fittest here.’ Her voice was low and he had to move closer to hear. Somehow he knew it was a deliberate act. And the choice of words?

  He didn’t have a single doubt that over the next few months Katsuko Williams was going to drive him crazy. Good crazy.

  ‘Do you want to take a bet on this?’

  She looked at him curiously. ‘And what exactly would that bet be?’

  He liked it. She’d take the bet, whatever it was.

  ‘Who can get across quicker?’

  She laughed out loud. ‘Are you crazy? You, the slow-moving, never-been-here-before American, against me, the agile local girl?’

  Every word made his skin prickle. He loved her feistiness. He loved the challenge in her eyes. He glanced over at the throng with his chin held high. He could hardly see any gaps between all the bodies. ‘I played American football. That’s not a crowd. That’s just a smooth path to home.’

  She shook her head. He could tell from her expression that she thought she’d already won. She waved her hand. ‘I guess it doesn’t matter, but what do I win?’

  A group of rowdy workers passed by, singing at the tops of their voices. ‘A kiss,’ he said suddenly.

  He’d touched her. He could smell her. But he wanted to taste her. Taste those lips.

  Her brow furrowed and she pulled back a little. ‘Not a chance.’ She was surprised but she didn’t seem repelled. Although she might flirt with him and taunt him a little, there was still a whole host of invisible barriers surrounding her. She put her hands back on her hips. ‘Loser has to buy dinner. That seems fair.’

  She gave a flick of her shiny geometric-styled hair. It seemed to all move together. There was never a hair out of place. What would she look like if it was all mussed up? He was beginning to realise that that move seemed to indicate she’d made up her mind. ‘I still plan on collecting that kiss,’ he murmured under his breath.

  She took a few steps in front of him and he grabbed the back of her black fitted jacket before she disappeared into the crowd completely. By the time they reached the edge of the crossing people were packed around them. He tucked his head on her shoulder and stood right up close. He had the perfect excuse. There was no space around them at all.

  He pointed diagonally across the street. ‘That building over there? That’s where we’re headed?’

  She nodded. ‘Twenty-second floor has one of the best sushi restaurants around. We can sit and watch the madness of the crossing.’

  ‘Sounds good.’ He glanced upwards. He could sense the people around him leaning forward a little, ready to move the second the lights changed. He lowered his mouth to her ear. ‘See you at the front doors.’

  He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face as he darted out from behind her, making a beeline for the building. Once he was in the middle of the thing it wasn’t quite so daunting. The Japanese people were endearingly polite. They seemed to have a sixth sense for stepping out of the way—in the right direction. The only blips on the horizon were the number of crazy tourists who were standing in the middle of the crossing, holding their phones above their heads and filming. Didn’t they realise as soon as the traffic lights changed colour they could be squashed by oncoming traffic?

  He couldn’t see Katsuko anywhere. But how on earth would he in this crowd? He kept his eyes on the prize, the glass doors, now just in front of him. If the crossing had been empty, it would probably have taken around twenty seconds to run from where they’d started to their final destination. But the sea of people made that impossible. How long would the lights actually stay on red?

  He dodged out of the way of a few more people. Any second now he would be dizzy with the amount of zig-zagging he was doing. But the prize would be worth it. He would pay for dinner no matter what. What he really wanted was the kiss.

  The crowd thinned a little as he approached the faraway sidewalk. There, standing with an amused expression on her face and her arms crossed, was Katsuko. She looked as if she’d been there for a while.

  ‘What?’ He glanced behind him and back to her again. Yep, it was definitely her. Red skinny jeans, black T-shirt embellished with sparkling sequins in the neon lights and a cropped black leather jacket. She was laughing now.

  He thudded in front of her, pretending not to be breathless. ‘How on earth did you do that? Where did you come from?’

  She kept laughing as she spun around and the automatic doors slid open in front of them. ‘You’ll have to be here twenty-five years to keep up with me.’

  He still couldn’t believe it. The lights had changed behind them and the crossing was instantly filled with traffic. She walked over and pressed the button at the elevators. ‘I’m going to have the most expensive thing on the menu.’ She glanced at him sideways as they stepped inside. ‘And I might even have some wine.’

  ‘You can have as much wine as you like. I still want to know how you di
d that. Is it a trick?’

  ‘What? Like you trying to get a quick getaway?’

  The elevator slid smoothly upwards. He was smarting. He was thinking about that kiss a lot more than he should. It might have sounded like a joke. But it wasn’t really. A bet had seemed simple. A way to get permission to kiss her. And right now he wanted that way more than he should.

  The doors slid open at the twenty-second floor and they stepped out to a restaurant that had glass panels all around. There was a perfect view of the Shibuya shopping district with all its chaos.

  Avery checked the queue of people ahead of them. ‘I take it this is a popular place, then?’

  She nodded. ‘Once you’ve been you’ll want to come back. Guaranteed.’

  He looked at the queue ahead. Even though the restaurant had gorgeous views—particularly of the crossing below—people didn’t seem to stay long. Their orders were taken, then they slid along a bench in front of the chefs as their meal was prepared. Once they reached the end they picked up their plate and took it to one of the tables to eat. Most of the sushi dishes were prepared within a few minutes so the queue moved along swiftly. He was kind of amused that the people seemed to eat their dishes equally quickly then leave. There was no lingering over a meal like most Europeans and Americans did. The Japanese didn’t seem to waste any time anywhere.

  Katsuko turned to face him. ‘What do you want to eat?’

  He made a face. ‘To be honest, I’m not really sure. Although I’ve eaten in Japanese restaurants all over the world, I’ve never been in one in Japan before. What do you recommend?’

  ‘Is there anything you don’t like?’

  He gave her a taunting smile. ‘I’m pretty much a guy who’ll try anything.’

  She rolled her eyes. ‘You never stop, do you?’ She gave a shake of her head and stuck her hands on her hips. ‘It’s going to get old, you know.’

  She pointed at a nearby menu. ‘I’d recommend starting with some nigiri and some miso soup.’ He smiled. Nigiri was one of the basics. A slice of raw fish pressed over some vinegared rice. ‘Then my favourite from here are the fatty chu-toro—that’s tuna—super-soft aori ika—that’s squid—and fresh, local aji—that’s mackerel with ginger and negi.’

  Avery nodded. ‘All sounds good to me. You’re the expert here. I’m just happy to watch the cooking and get eating.’ They ordered drinks at the bar and Katsuko sipped her wine as she spoke rapid Japanese to the chefs. They slid along the cream leather bench and watched in fascination as the chefs expertly sliced, chopped and prepared food. The preparation time was minimal. These guys were complete and utter professionals. Avery pointed to one small plate of food with a few nigiri. ‘That would probably take me hours to prepare,’ he said to Katsuko as he took a drink from his beer. ‘I think I could watch them all day.’

  ‘I couldn’t,’ she said quickly. ‘I just want to eat.’

  As they slid along the bench, following their food being finished, Avery was fascinated with the whole experience. When the food was plated they carried it over to a table overlooking the Hachiko crossing. He had used chopsticks before but just wasn’t very good with them. Katsuko laughed at his efforts and leaned over to reposition them in his hands, her warm skin touching his.

  ‘Watch out, Katsuko,’ he warned with a smile. ‘I’ll think you’re trying to deliberately touch me.’

  ‘I’m trying to stop your food landing in your lap,’ she said smartly.

  He ate for a few minutes, looking down in awe at the still crowded crossing. It was teeming with people and after a few minutes they started pointing out the people they thought would never reach the other side in time. It was almost like a kids’ game.

  ‘This food is delicious. You’re right. I will come here again.’

  She nodded. ‘It helps to eat it just after it’s prepared. Sushi should be eaten at the optimal fish and rice temperature. It tastes best then.’

  He noticed a few of the other men around glancing in her direction. Katsuko was bright and lively. It didn’t hurt that she was the prettiest woman in the room with a whole lot of sexy thrown in there too.

  ‘Who texted you earlier? Was it an admirer? I bet you’ve got a few on base.’

  She didn’t flinch at all. ‘Nope. No admirer. It was my grandmother.’

  ‘Your grandmother? You mentioned her before. How is she?’

  ‘Still here.’

  He was surprised by her blunt answer. ‘What does that mean?’

  She took a deep breath. ‘Let’s just say I’ve always had the distinct impression that my mother and subsequently me are the biggest embarrassments of her life. In fact, it’s not really an impression at all. It’s fact. She’s said it.’

  ‘She what?’ It seemed like such a harsh thing to say. And even though Katsuko said it so matter-of-factly there was no hiding the glimmer of hurt in her dark brown eyes. His insides automatically coiled upwards.

  Katsuko took a sip of her wine. She was trying so hard to appear indifferent. Did she know she couldn’t look indifferent no matter how hard she tried?

  He reached over and touched her hand. ‘Tell me more about your grandmother.’

  He was definitely curious. There was a story there. But he was more curious at Katsuko’s reaction to her grandmother’s text.

  She shrugged. ‘What’s to tell? I see her when I have to, which isn’t often as she doesn’t particularly like me. She wants the whole world to jump for her. I’ve learned the hard way not to do it. The more I get involved the more I get hurt. Adulthood has taught me to move into self-protect mode.’

  He didn’t know quite what to say. Lots of families were fractured, lots of families were broken. His own wasn’t ideal. But this? This was a whole other story. Was her grandmother her only living relative?

  ‘Do you have other family in Japan? Aunts, uncles, cousins?’

  She shook her head. There was an air of sadness about her. ‘No. My mother was an only child. I think my grandmother had some cousins once, but I’m sure she treated them the same way she treats everyone else.’

  ‘And how is that?’

  She met his gaze square on. ‘With disdain. With disapproval.’

  He released her hand and leaned back in his chair a little. ‘Those are harsh words.’

  ‘She’s a harsh woman.’

  He signalled to the waiter.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  He gave a rueful smile. ‘I’m ordering us more drinks. I don’t care if we’re supposed to eat and run in here. I want to know more.’

  She bit her lip and he wondered if he was pushing her more than he should. But she’d been the one to mention it, and he wanted to know more about her. He gave her a moment as she pulled something from her bag. Her lips were still perfectly red but she slicked something over them that gave a waft of strawberries. He could sense delaying tactics easily.

  He tapped his fingers on the table. ‘Your grandmother must be quite modern.’

  Katsuko let out something resembling a snort, then covered her face in embarrassment. ‘I don’t think anyone would describe my grandmother as modern.’

  He held up his hands. ‘She’s texting. She must own a mobile phone. What age is she?’

  ‘She’s just over eighty. My mother was a late baby. She thought she couldn’t have any children.’

  ‘Then she must have been delighted when your mother came along.’

  Katsuko sighed. ‘You’d think so. But I think she’d got used to having no children. She’d accepted her fate. My mother was a shock. I don’t think she ever really adjusted to having to replan her life.’

  Avery pried a little further. ‘You said she was unwell—she’s in a wheelchair?’

  Katsuko nodded. ‘Her rheumatoid arthritis has been severe for as long as I’ve known h
er. She’s been in a wheelchair since I was tiny. Her muscles are wasted. She has fibrosis of her lungs and kidney problems too. Every joint is affected. Her fingers are all disfigured. She doesn’t use a phone. She uses a tablet.’

  ‘Who takes care of her?’

  Katsuko swallowed and glanced out of the window towards the busy crossing. A classic avoidance technique if ever he’d seen one.

  ‘She has help.’ Katsuko bit her lip again. She seemed annoyed.

  ‘What kind of help does she need?’

  Her gaze was fierce. She was obviously regretting this conversation. ‘Every kind of help. Someone washes her, dresses her, prepares her food and amuses her for the day until they have to do it all again in reverse.’

  Avery’s brain was spinning. He wasn’t quite sure of the healthcare system in Japan. Who helped when someone needed care at home?

  But Katsuko didn’t even let him ask the question. ‘I pay for it. Don pays for it. She wouldn’t let us help her. She told us in no uncertain terms.’

  There it was again. That flicker of hurt. That deep-seated resentment.

  ‘Why on earth does your grandmother treat you that way?’

  Katsuko rested her elbows on the table and ran her hand through her shiny hair. She glanced around the restaurant, looking at the other people around them. She straightened in her seat and looked at him. ‘Do you see anyone who looks like me?’

  He frowned and looked around. Was it a trick question? ‘Of course. There are lots of Japanese people in here.’

  She shook her head. ‘Look again. Look hard. Do you see anyone who looks like me?’

  If this was test, he was going to fail.

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  She sighed and held up her hands. ‘In Japan, I’m known as hafu—it’s the term we use for biracial.’ She glanced over her shoulder. ‘I can’t see anyone else in here that looks like me. Japan is one of the least ethnically diverse countries in the world. Some people think that people like me—hafu—aren’t fully Japanese. My grandmother has always felt that.’