Monday 28 January 2019

Chapter six, 2017, Christmas carols, segment one


Tokyo dressed for Christmas and Himekaizen for finals. Clubs shut down for the year with the very much unofficial Himekaizen Cultural Exchange Club as a glaring exception.

And glaring was also what Kareyoshi did most of these days.

Ryu didn’t like it, but letting one of the rapists off the hook did result in Kareyoshi losing the support of men in power.

It’s politics,” Urufu had said with distaste in his voice, and while their relationship had gone sour ever since Noriko became an item with him, in this case they agreed.

Ryu even asked his father for an opinion, but he fidgeted, and Ryu could see how uncomfortable he was with the idea of making exceptions to principles. His mother’s reaction was very different though.

Can you win?” she wanted to know, and when Ryu said they might she just told him to win. By now Ryu started to understand that in many ways she was far more ruthless than his father.

In the end they decided to win, and as Christmas decorations went up all over the city so did Kareyoshi’s stocks go down. The problem was that he proved to be too stupid to understand how precarious his situation had become. So he kept glaring, and the members of the club kept goading him.

All in all, Ryu thought, it was the worst case of a lose lose situation he had ever lived through.

Right now he sat in the inner room to the Haven café and did what he should have done for a week – he studied. Even Kuri had gotten the week free from work. Final exams were final exams after all, and for once he shared his time with her doing school things and wearing school clothes. There had been preciously little of that during the autumn that was about to end.

The room was crowded as usual. Gakuran, sailor uniforms and blazers mixed freely with the blazers in a clear minority. Students walked between café and inner room, and Ryu observed how the Irishima High students had become used to the informal atmosphere during the second term.

As always the Irishima High vice principal took his chair at one end of the large table.

Urufu occupied one whiteboard and Noriko another. In difference from more ordinary weeks they didn’t walk between whiteboards but stayed by one, and therefore stayed focussed on one subject.

All in all the café seemed more subdued with most students silently cramming for all they were worth. Only the occasional question to Urufu or Noriko broke the silence.

It pained Ryu a little to admit it, but with Urufu by her side Noriko’s academic capacity rushed ahead in leaps so great Ryu had trouble understanding what was happening.

Two more days, a short weekend, and then finals were upon them. He intended to do the most of those two days.

With a guilty look across the table Ryu dove back into his books. He shook off the discomfort of seeing Ai’s expression whenever Kuri’s hand caressed him. By now it was a different kind of discomfort. His love for Kuri was stable, but he still hoped Ai would find her own happiness soon.

Subject by subject he kept cramming, and as the evening grew later the world around called for his attention. It began as occasional voices, but when it became a steady stream of conversations Ryu realised most of those present had given up studying for the day.

He stretched, threw Kuri a quick hug and received one in return. For once she had been as busy studying as he.

You OK?” he asked and looked at her books.

Kuri nodded and smiled. “Yes. I’m able to read the books by myself now.”

Her achievement filled him with pride, or at least happiness for her sake. And it was an achievement. It meant her Japanese was better than his English even when it came to reading.

And?” Ryu asked.

And what?”

The finals,” he said, “what do you think?”

She leaned her head to the side, a very Japanese expression she had learned as a model. “Top hundred, but I won’t make the list.”

Top hundred was a lot better than he had expected. Somewhere, deep in his mind, an ugly thought lurked. That Kuri was all beauty and no brains. Ryu slammed down on it whenever he became aware of his prejudices, but it kept popping up, rearing its ugly head and reminded him of how he could eventually be wrong about his refusal to accept Urufu and Noriko being a pair.

And you?” Kuri asked in return.

Ryu grabbed her hand and rather than squeeze he allowed his fingers to embrace hers. “The list,” he said. “High thirty I suppose. My best result yet.”

It felt strange being able to make these kind of educated guesses, but as much a he might dislike Urufu, Ryu still admitted that the man in a boy’s body pushed them all to reach higher, achieve more and succeed better than what was humanly possible.

The secret, Ryu sullenly accepted, was that Urufu was trapped in the body of a teenager, or else none of the students here would have listened to him the way they did.

He threw a worried glance in Kuri’s direction.

Thinking of Ulf much?” she asked.

Ryu blushed.

You know,” Kuri teased, “thinking of my ex as your rival is fine, but thinking of him as mine isn’t.”

Did he really admire Urufu that much, despite feelings of dislike? Maybe, Urufu had changed his life after all.

Ryu wrenched those thoughts aside and faced Kuri. “I love you, and only you.” He gave what he had just said a moment’s thought, and then he took her hands in a firm grip. “I’ve never felt this way before. It’s not a crush any longer. I love how you make me feel loved, and I love how you make me trust you.”

They spent their nights together whenever her schedule allowed, and he knew her in ways he had never known anyone else. Still, the way she blushed and averted her eyes took him by surprise.

Saturday 26 January 2019

June 24, 2040, second breakfast


Yukio smiled at his wife and deliberately brought her a little less food than she needed – if she hadn’t already eaten before he woke up. He pretended he didn’t know, and she pretended she didn’t know he knew.

The rest will be here soon,” he said after he found a chair beside her.

Not across the table?” Kyoko giggled. “We’re in Sweden after all.”

Yukio grinned. Getting to know Urufu and Kuri had given them all an insight in the small details that differed between cultures. Stupid details that made people raise an eyebrow if the didn’t understand. This was one of them, and one he didn’t plan to adapt.

Swedes are just wrong about that part,” he said. “It’s not a business meeting.”

Kyoko leaned into him in agreement. “But I saw her playing with hands,” she said.

Kuri? Yeah, I guess. Urufu once said flirting involved a lot of footwork as well.”

In response Kyoko lifted a leg and draped it over his knee. “Works just fine this way as well,” she said and kicked out with her foot. “Besides it’s more comfortable this way.”

A quarter of a century with her hadn’t made Kyoko any less attractive in Yukio’s eyes. He leaned over and kissed her.

It’s finally over, the six of us. Are you scared?” Kyoko suddenly said.

Yukio pulled back his face so he could see her eyes. Apprehension played in them, but no fear. “No, not really,” he said. “A little sad,” he added after a few seconds of thought.

Do you regret it?”

Yukio shook his head. “Things come to an end. It’s just natural, and for us it’s a new beginning.”

A transition and restart,” Kyoko said and laughed. “That’s so Urufu to coin an expression like that.”

Yukio leaned his head to the side in confusion. “I don’t think he did actually, but I think he was the one who cemented it as one.” He shook off the last of his morning drowsiness from his neck. Above them the day promised to be sunny and almost warm.

He did a lot of cementing, didn’t he?” Kyoko’s voice suggested.

Yukio stopped studying the few clouds he could find. “What do you mean?”

Just thinking of Kareyoshi.”

The pig! I hope he’s still alive and rotting.”

Wednesday 23 January 2019

Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment ten


Cramped was the kind version. The bedroom in Urufu’s flat had been used as a storage for a long time, and it showed.

Noriko stared at the futon barely fitting into the small space of floor she just cleaned up in hopes that it hid how her lips turned into a thin line of disapproval. Guess I did hope we’d sleep all three in one room. But that had been a rose coloured fantasy of hers.

Sato-sensei gave them all a questioning look filled with misgivings when they turned up together earlier, but she didn’t protest. She just made certain both girls had the approval of their parents.

By now Noriko had all but given up on bedding Urufu in the near future. She’d get her opportunity one day, but not now with their lives in turmoil.

You look very young for being Urufu’s mother,” she heard Hitomi say from the living room that also served as Urufu’s bedroom.

That’s because I’m not. I’m his guardian,” Sato-sensei answered in her no nonsense voice.

I really like that woman. When I grow up I want to be more like her. Noriko smiled and eavesdropped some more.

Urufu stood behind her. He didn’t touch, but she could feel his eyes on her back.

You fine like this?”

We’ll make do,” she answered.

I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” she heard Hitomi say from the other room.

Don’t apologise to me. Urufu’s the one with dead parents,” came Sato-sensei’s cold reply.

Noriko slapped her hands to her face. With some luck it would serve to mute her giggling.

Amaya, dammit, she hasn’t done anything wrong. Don’t be like that, please!” Urufu’s voice, and she heard how he turned his head while delivering the admonition.

A pity Urufu couldn’t see how funny it was. Well, they were planning to spend the night here. Bullying Hitomi might not be the best course.

Secret, Urufu,” Hitomi said, and Noriko felt how his attention left her and turned to the other room.

With a sigh she gave the futon a last glare and joined him.

Urufu?” Sato-sensei’s voice was filled with worry.

We’re telling her,” Urufu said. “She came back. That kind of backbone should be rewarded.”

Noriko Found herself a place where she could feel Urufu close to her. Across the table she saw a small bookshelf, the kind you’d expect to find in any home. Then there were two big ones, from floor to ceiling. She threw them a glance, and then another one.

Oh my!

One was stacked with children’s books. A wild mix of picture books, adventure stories for grade schoolers, light novels and the occasional easy to read classic. It lacked the right to exist in this home, but then Urufu’s personality solved the riddle.

So that’s how you learned Japanese. She stared at him. You never do things half heartedly, do you? Noriko was about to throw her arms around him when the contents of the other bookshelf caught her interest. Ah, the other you.

She knew she shouldn’t be surprised, but she was. Volume after volume hinted at secrets unveiling unto anyone who would dare to read. All in English, and all about a corporate world that lay years ahead of her understanding.

You’re what?”

Hitomi’s sudden outcry banished Noriko’s inner bookworm and drew her back to the reason they were here. So he dropped the bomb?

You were the one who suspected something wasn’t right,” Urufu said. “Yes. Another dozen years in the Sweden I know and I’d retire with a healthy pension.”

You’re saying that you’re… No! Drop the act! I’m not an idiot.”

He is,” Sato-sensei said. “And it’s not as easy as you believe. He didn’t time travel back into his youth.”

I don’t understand.”

Noriko didn’t expect her to. She once spent an entire evening listening to Urufu and Kuri explain what had happened to them. It had taken Yukio’s and Kyoko’s combined persistence to convince her and her brother that the two foreigners weren’t merely foreigners but that they came from another world.

Hitomi, listen. You don’t need to believe me yet, but let’s pretend what I said is true. Let’s pretend there are forty or fifty of us here.”

Hitomi shook her head, but she smiled. “Fine, let’s pretend.”

Good girl. Noriko allowed a giggle to slip out and rose to help Sato-sensei who had gone to the small kitchen.

The two of them prepared a late snack and tea while Noriko listened to Urufu as he tried to convince Hitomi of the impossible.

What if that kind of people were very successful, or at least very good at what they were doing before arriving here as teenagers?”

There was a short pause, and Noriko was tempted to look over her shoulder to see Hitomi’s expression.

Imagine that kind of people being given a chance to do it all over again. Then imagine the kind of people who would want to be in control of that happening.”

This time Noriko shivered. It didn’t matter that she lived in that reality. Hearing Urufu state it with that voice, cold and void of emotions, almost forced a scream from her. He was broken when he arrived here. Wasn’t that what they said?

She had to turn. With Sato-sensei’s hand on her shoulder, sending warmth, worry and sympathy along her fingers, Noriko ate Urufu with her eyes. I’m so happy I won you to my side, but what did you have to give up? And the answer made her cry. An entire life. You lost your life. Sato-sensei’s finger dug deeper into her, and Noriko leaned back into them for support.

I’m going to pretend I believe you. I’m going to, because then my father’s actions make a lot more sense.”

What did he do?” Sato-sensei said from behind Noriko’s back.

Hitomi looked at them. “He paid a lot of scary people a lot of money. There’s a diet member protecting Kareyoshi.”

Noriko felt Sato-sensei nod. They already knew that much.

He has a son. One of those who attacked Kuri. They got caught on security camera.”

That was bad, or good, depending on point of view.

My father managed to dig up something else as well. He can trace that son to the rapes.”

Noriko gulped and Urufu swore.

If you’re smart you’ll let the swine run,” Hitomi said.

Why?” Three voices. Urufu’s, Sato-sensei’s and Noriko’s.

As long as he gets away then Kareyoshi’s support goes away as well.”

Monday 21 January 2019

Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment nine


Ulf woke halfway into an ongoing conversation between Noriko and another girl. If not exactly halfway then at least a good part into it from what he heard. While he recalled the voice he wasn’t entirely certain who sat on the other side of Noriko.

A couple of times he could see slender legs sticking out in the train corridor, but he was facing the wrong way to see her face.

He heard the girl revealing some rather unexpected details about herself while he pretended to sleep, and then she said something absolutely astounding and he couldn’t pretend any more.

He yawned, something that wasn’t an act at all, and stretched his arms. “Sorry Noriko, I fell asleep.” Ulf turned in the seat and hugged her even closer to him. Oh, it’s Hitomi, he thought when he recognised the face behind Noriko’s head. “Hi, didn’t notice you getting on.”

Noriko didn’t seem to dislike being manhandled like this. Ulf felt her burrowing her face into his chest, and her arms wrapped around him in a way that was definitely frowned upon by most here in Japan. He didn’t care.

Hi, how much did you hear?”

What the…

Noriko squirmed in his arms, but Ulf just stared at Hitomi. “How?”

When the train moved. You started compensating for it.”

I’ll be damned. “Do you study people for a hobby or something?”

You were awake the whole time?” Noriko had finally made herself partially free from him.

A short laugh from Hitomi made her turn. “About half of the time. Anyway, I want in.”

And we’re supposed to because you gave us, what did you call it, leverage?”
Hitomi nodded.

Ulf stared at Noriko who stared back at him. “You never really had any friends, did you?” he said after a while.

When she only gave him a blank star he realised he had to continue.

Look, Hitomi, friendship doesn’t work that way. It’s not a fear based transactional system.”

She tilted her head sideways and let her eyes wander between Noriko and him. It made Ulf feel uncomfortable, as if she was assessing them both.

Hitomi,” Ulf started again, “you don’t make friends because they fear you’ll hang them out to dry otherwise. There’s this thing with enjoying each other’s company and all that stuff.” He shook his head in amazement. “What kind of people do you hang out with?”

Apart from the club? The blackmailing kind,” she responded without any hesitation.

Ulf shrugged and exchanged glances with Noriko. When she nodded approval he hoped he had guessed right. “You know,” he said and turned his attention back to Hitomi, “it’s your life, but I suggest you ditch those people.”

It’s not that easy, and besides, why should I?”

There’s a certain kind of naivete that only comes with cynicism. Ulf tried wiping a growing smirk from his lips. “Look, Hitomi, the day you get yourself a girl or boyfriend that kind of people could hurt the one you care for really badly.”

He only got a raised eyebrow in return at first. “So you heard that part?” she said.

What could he do but nod? “What if I did?”

Heard the part about me being interested in Noriko?”

Ulf shrugged again. This time Noriko moved uncomfortably in his arms as his shoulders shot up. He gave her what he hoped was an apologetic smile while he decided on how to answer Hitomi.

He came to a conclusion. “This is where you expect me to say: I can’t stand dykes? Or: Stay off Noriko, she’s mine?”

Hitomi didn’t answer, but the gaze she shot him was definitely an invitation for him to continue.

Well I won’t. I’m straight as straight can be, but other people’s inclination is none of my business. So that takes care of part one.”

Hitomi just nodded once for him to continue, and Ulf accepted her response.

I’d get pissed off like hell if someone made moves on Noriko, but in the end she decides who she wants to spend her time with or not. I hope she’ll keep picking me, and I’ll work my arse off to make it so.”

Two small hands hardened their grip around his arms. “I’m Japanese, not Swedish,” Noriko said and turned to fully face Hitomi. “You stay the hell away from Urufu! He’s mine!”

And about yourself?” Hitomi asked. Ulf saw a naughty grin spread on her face.

In his arms Noriko was busy giggling. So they’re in on some kind of joke I can’t understand. Oh well, as long as it’s just a joke.

Noriko got her giggling under control. Then she inlined her head as if to gaze at her shoes. “I’m sorry Hitomi, but I like someone else.” And with that she turned and grinned at him. “Urufu, text Yukio and see if I got that line right!”

Beside them Hitomi bent her head backwards and laughed. “That was a perfect delivery Noriko. I’ve read my fair share of manga myself.”

Ulf shook his head but sighed in relief. That turned out to be short lived though.

So, what’s the secret with Urufu, Kuri, Tomasu and Jeniferu anyway?”

You really really want in! He looked at Noriko who shook her head.

Not here,” she said. “You decide if she ever learns, but not here on the train.”

That made sense, but Hitomi still shot Noriko a cold glare.

For the third time since he woke Ulf shrugged. This time he made sure he didn’t force Noriko’s arms upwards like the last time. “You’re the only one apart from the old gang who decided to rough it out.”

You mean my returning to Himekaizen? Got nothing to do with you. I just hate being told what to do.”

Ulf grinned. “You’re a hard one being friends with. I think you’ll be just fine in our little group of dysfunctional maniacs.”

The train stopped at a station, let people off and on. Tired travellers passed them in the corridor, and Ulf used the time to allow Hitomi to chew on what they had said. Guess we’re telling her. He blinked. Haven’t I said that once before? Oh, yes, when we let Ryu and Noriko in on our secret.

I could call my guardian. It’s cramped but there’s space for the two of you to spend the night.”

Noriko might have wanted to spend it alone with him, and he himself definitely felt those urges more and more often, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Ulf looked at her to see if there were any signs of anger or disappointment in her face.

To his surprise there were none, but there was a mischievous smile. “Sounds great! Hitomi, join us!” she said.

Sunday 20 January 2019

Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment eight


Noriko wanted the luxury of a long evening with Urufu to never end. Working with him was fine, as long as it meant being together.

She watched her own face mirrored in the windows of a late train, sleepily noticed how it faded in and out of view as they passed between brightly lit parts of the city scape.

Waseda was an intense memory of elderly men and a few women giving them amused stares when they set up the workshop. Those stares had become progressively less amused as it proceeded.

In two years they could be my teachers. She blinked. Or are they called professors at university? She blinked again. Doesn’t matter, does it? With that she leaned into Urufu’s shoulder and resumed watching their reflections in the windows.

The next station offered a surprise when Hitomi unexpectedly entered and took a seat beside Noriko.

Evening.”

Evening,” Noriko answered. You know I’d like some more time alone with Urufu. Noriko wished she could have said that aloud rather than just thinking it, but she felt a little guilty about what happened to Hitomi after the chaos in 109.

You know I’m not angry of you,” Hitomi said. “I know you’re a tight group of friends.”

Noriko twisted uncomfortably in her seat. OK, she has something to say. Guess I’ll listen. “But?” she said and sat upright. She felt the absence of Urufu’s warmth as soon as the space between them widened.

No but.”

The train rattled on with Noriko waiting for Hitomi to continue.

Father’s been digging up some dirt on Kareyoshi,” Hitomi said when the silence told its clear message that she was the one supposed to do the talking. “Is he daft or something? I mean shouldn’t he at least pretend to hide his actions?”

That did bring a smile to Noriko’s lips. She nodded. “Yep, he’s daft. Urufu’s positive he needs to close his mouth before standing up not to overload his brain.”

How come he’s not in prison yet?”

Security by obscurity.”

What?”

Noriko grinned. “Another of Urufu’s expressions. Kareyoshi gives moronic an entirely new dimension, he says.”

I don’t get you.”

Noriko tapped Hitomi’s shoulder when the train stopped and passengers got off and on. There was no need of people overhearing them.

Privacy returned and Noriko raised her voice again. “He’s so incredibly stupid it’s hard to even believe he’s doing what he’s doing. The main problem is making people believe he’s involved.”

Better believe it,” Hitomi murmured. She stretched her legs, very beautiful legs a small demon of envy in Noriko’s head observed, and gave her shoes a thorough look. “Father says someone in the diet is pulling the strings,” she continued after she was done admiring her feet.

That information leaked as well? “For real?” Noriko hoped her acting was good enough for Hitomi not to notice that was old news. Still, where had Hitomi’s father dug it up? The link between Kareyoshi and the politician was supposed to be a closely kept secret for the simple reason Kareyoshi didn’t know about it himself. “What did you say your father worked with?”

Hitomi smiled. “I probably never did. Business,” she added.

It was as clear a warning as any that Hitomi had seen through her and knew that Noriko had just attempted to interrogate her. There was no longer a reason to be subtle about it.

What kind of business?”

The kind where you get to blackmail a lot of people.”

What?”

Nothing illegal, just very dirty. There’s a reason I spent my freshman year as an airheaded beautiful doll.”

And Noriko thought she had been cynical when she started high school.

But you aren’t, not any longer.” That came out wrong. “You’re not pretending to be one I mean,” Noriko added and snuggled up against Urufu again. She liked gloating a little and showing off what she had gained after so long. Childish? Probably, but she didn’t care.

Hitomi stretched her legs out once more and smirked. “You know, the first week was perfect for someone like me. Always visible but never really noticed.”

Huh?” Noriko gave Hitomi a careful look. No, she had never been an airhead to begin with. Which mean she represented competition, and Noriko wasn’t about to let anyone wiggle between herself and Urufu.

Don’t worry, I’m not really interested in him that way. You at the other hand...”
Huh?”

The smirk turned into a grin. “I’m actually not that interested at all, but if I am I believe I swing both ways.”

That was unexpected. “Why did you tell me?” Noriko said and edged closer to Urufu.

I’ll tell you later, but I need to explain what happened first. You see, that first week really was perfect. Me and that other girl in our wing and Ryu and the Watabes in the other. Well, I guess Nori as well before people knew he was a motor mouth.”

Noriko listened in awe. That was so calculated. But it did make sense. The two beauties in one wing and the popular boys in the other. “And then Kuri happened?”

Hitomi nodded. “Yes, but it wasn’t all bad. Not everyone from our wing bothered with 3:1, so the two of us had our admirers who never cared to look more than skin deep.”

Noriko could see where this was going. “So you pretended to be the beautiful airhead for the first trimester?”

Uhum. Urufu was a problem after he got together with Kuri, because then she started coming to our wing, but still not that bad.”

Oh! And then the club with us getting the new club room in your wing?”

The way Hitomi shook her head told volumes, but at least she smiled. “The entire circus moved right into my turf. Suddenly I was invisible.”

It all made sense. Early the second trimester Hitomi mostly dropped her pretence. “I think I like this you better.”

I was getting there. I want in, as really in. I want friends.”

Aren’t we friends already?”

I mean close ones, which is why I told you all this.”

I don’t understand. “What you just told me could hurt you a lot if it got out.”

I know. Good friends need that kind of leverage on each other.”

Are you for real?

Friday 18 January 2019

Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment seven


Christina was discharged from the hospital the same evening as the attack, but Ryu had to stay two nights.

Ulf wondered where things had gone wrong, and now, a full week later with finals looming on the horizon he felt the need to be at several places at once.
Kareyoshi had to go. This time Ulf hadn’t even pretended to be as meek as he usually was when Amaya turned grumpy. He even skipped the ‘mother dear’ part when he demanded to know what happened to the men who attacked Christina.

Amaya sulked since three days, but Ulf got a full feed of news. Assaulting an arrival was apparently a no-go, and this was the third time Kareyoshi had been involved.

Ulf found himself rushing between meetings. Nakagawa, the Wakayama parents, Sano, the creepy duo representing Swedish interests, the Swedish university students, the club, and somewhere in all that he tried to squeeze in time for Noriko and himself to be alone as well as time for studying and training.

Right now he sat beneath the windows in his classroom with Noriko snuggled up using him as her backrest.

Yukio would have been proud. An unseasonal spell of relative warmth allowed them to keep the windows ajar, and the curtains bulged around them like slowly moving clouds indoors. Yukio would have been extremely proud. Even Ulf knew enough manga to understand that the scene deserved a full page.

He was dead tired and dug his nose into her hair. For the first time since forever he just relaxed and enjoyed doing nothing together with the person he needed closest to him.

She healed him, or maybe, as Noriko surprisingly had suggested, Christina did the healing, and Noriko herself enjoyed the rewards. Ulf didn’t agree. He could feel how Noriko made him whole again in a way he hadn’t been since his daughter died. Maybe Christina had started that process, but Ulf knew the day when he was fully healed still lay ahead of him.

It scared him. Not that he had broken at the death of his child, but that he hadn’t noticed how broken he became. His pride lay in knowing himself, and he hadn’t.

Sleeping?”

Ulf hugged Noriko closer. He could feel her breasts under his arms but pretended he didn’t notice. “No, just enjoying what you’re giving me.”

She didn’t move away, so Ulf guessed she pretended as well. Her face turned upwards and her hair caressed him. It was longer now than last summer. Then she turned her head and Ulf felt small hands grabbing his neck. Hungry lips sought his.

What we’re sharing,” she said after the kiss. “Not giving or taking. You said so yourself.”

Somehow she managed to turn around in their embrace, and now she sat straddling one of his legs. There was nothing sexual about it, or at least mostly nothing. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t notice what pressed against his thigh, but there was no intention.

Ulf hugged her closer and rested his face on her shoulder. “I’m happy you never gave up on me. Thank you!”

Worth waiting for,” she answered, and he could hear how hoarse her voice had become despite her whispering. “Worth waiting for,” she repeated. She started shaking in his arms. “Worth waiting for.”

He let her cry against him. Too much tension during the autumn, and now when the two of them finally found a moment to relax it all ran off her. He felt no sorrow in her tears. Relief, happiness and a lot of love all mixed together reached him through her sobs.

He just held her and kept his silence.

A moment of shared solitude. A moment of bliss. A moment to call their own. A moment, he hoped, that would stay with him for long years to come.

They fell asleep in each others arms. When Ulf woke dusk was rapidly cloaking the room in ever fading light and he shook Noriko awake as well.

Time to go,” he said.

She blinked back at him through unruly hair and shook her head. “Just a little more.” Her arms wrapped around him again.

They sat on the floor until all daylight had vanished and temperature dropped.

With a little regret Ulf loosened himself from her embrace, rose and began closing the windows. He took her hand and together they made their way down to the shoe lockers. A bit guiltily he helped Noriko climb the closed gates to the school before he pushed at the rails with both hands and rolled over to the other side.

Wow!”

It had been deliberate, and Ulf greedily drank Noriko’s admiration. I used to like showing off like this back in the days as well. It had worked to a degree. He wasn’t a real athlete in any of his lives, and Noriko grew up with Ryu who definitely was.

Wow what?” Ulf said, trying his best to sound nonchalant.

You really are as strong as you’re clumsy.”

So much for impressing your girl. He smirked. “I made it, didn’t I?”

Idiot bro would have...”

Yeah, I realised myself,” Ulf interrupted her. “Just felt like it,” he added and took her hand. “Eight o’clock, at Waseda,” her reminded her.

They had a rather well paid two hours of work ahead of them. A hundred thousand, and he needed those jobs since studying and running between meetings cut into the time he had available for customers. With a bit of luck it would lead to more short stunts like this one.

They walked under trees dressed for the coming winter, along more and more heavily trafficked streets until they arrived at the station. For once they took the same train, and Ulf thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to spend a little more time with her. It didn’t matter that the train was crammed. Right now it was easy to pretend that it was just the two of them going somewhere, anywhere.

Tuesday 15 January 2019

Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment six


What the hell? “Down Ryu!” Christina backed away from her attacker. “Down!”

From the corner of her eye she saw how Ryu sank down on his knees, and then she jumped over him, down the escalator. It would probably hurt later, but she desperately wanted to get away from that knife.

Below her Yukio screamed at the top of his lungs.

Kill the bitch!”

She landed on one foot, lost her balance and crashed down metallic steps still moving upwards. Then all of a sudden she was saved in Yukio’s embrace, and the entire world came to a stop and they both fell.

What?

Yukio let go of her, and she saw him staring up the escalator. Surprise turned into rage in his eyes and then he rushed upwards, stepping on her arm on his way. It hurt, but Christina didn’t care. Somewhere up there Ryu stood facing the attacker she had fled from.

When she followed Yukio’s dash with her eyes, understanding that someone must have pushed the emergency stop dawned on her. That was the reason the world stopped earlier.

Above her a red blazer swirled, then it was hidden behind Yukio’s back.

Ryu shouted, Yukio shouted, and behind her, clearly audible through a bedlam of hard heeled shoes running up the escalator, her personal body guard shouted.

She tried to get up only to be brusquely shoved to the side by her body guard as he ran past her. With both hands against the glass wall she righted herself again and started climbing the unmoving stairs.

Ryu, what’s happening?

Her foot hurt. The foot she had landed on, and her arm hurt where Yukio’s foot had clamped down just moments earlier. Just like she had done during the brutal first years as a model in her previous life Christina pushed the pain away and marched up the stairs.

Kill the bitch? I’ll give you bitch!

She barely made all the way up when Yukio backed into her, almost pushing her down the escalator. For a few moments Christina balanced precariously, feet halfway outside the step she stood on, before she grabbed the hand rails and righted herself again.

She began her ascent again, but Yukio was in her way, and when she tried to pass him he held her back.

Stay here!”

She tried to pull away, but Yukio didn’t let go.

I said stay here!” he repeated. “You should let your body guard handle this.”

You just ran up there yourself.”

I’m… I was stupid.”

Christina knew he really meant to say he was a boy and she a girl, but she respected him for changing his mind. Then panic took hold of her again and she forced herself free.

Ryu! Ryu!

Two steps was all she needed to leave the escalator, and doing so she realised she should have been able to see him even from where Yukio tried to keep her safe.

Miss Ageruman, he’s safe.”

Christina whirled in the direction of the voice.

Her body guard stood shielding Ryu who sat on the floor clutching his arm. One assailant lay prone on the floor and another two Red Rose uniforms were manhandled by the body guards Vogue provided.

Ryu, what happened?” Christina said and rushed to him.

He cut me,” Ryu said and pointed at the prone body.

I’m sorry for resorting to violence, Miss Ageruman,” her body guard said. His smile belied his apology.

She looked around at an unnatural scene of normality. The place was crowded, but no more so than the mob that usually flocked around her. Nothing smashed, nothing torn down, just her body guards trying to handle everything as discreetly as possible while they waited for police to arrive, and Ryu sitting on the floor bleeding from his arm. Behind the crowd some people were even shopping as if nothing had happened at all.

Miss Ageruman, if I may suggest, you should probably escort your boyfriend to hospital.”

Christina nodded numbly. Of course, hospital. Ryu was bleeding. Hospital was probably a good idea. She looked at him. He was bleeding.

What the bloody hell is going on?”

Ulf? Yes, we were going to 109. I have a job to do here. She turned and looked at Ulf for help. They said the job was important. Should I finish it before we go to hospital? No, Ryu’s bleeding right now. She searched for an answer in the eyes she probably would love until the day she died. Maybe just do part of the job?

She’s going into shock. Get an ambulance here!”

Ambulance? Why? I was told to escort Ryu to hospital.

Hamarugen-san, it’s on its way.”

Thank you!” Ulf turned and looked behind him. “Noriko, could you get hold of Thomas and Jennifer? I’ll stay here so we know which hospital they’re going to.” Then he turned again. “Ryu, you OK?”

Ah, I forgot. He belongs to Noriko now. Christina beamed at her friend who came into her field of vision. And I love Ryu now. There was warmth in that thought, and a sense of security. But he’s bleeding.

Urufu, will he be OK?” Noriko asked, and Christina could see how scared she was.

Ask him,” Ulf said.

I’m fine sis. I think.”

At the edge of her vision Christina saw the two standing Red Rose uniforms being led away. They vanished through a door into the heart of the building where only personnel had access.

I should be signing autographs. She rose on wobbly legs and made for the crowd.

Miss Ageruman?”

Christina, what the hell are you doing? Stay with Ryu! He needs you.”

Kuri, do as Urufu says!”

Kuri-chan, what’s going on?”

Ko-chan?

Christina’s world went white, and then black.

Sunday 13 January 2019

Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment five


There’s something fishy about that story.”

Yukio nodded, and Ryu gave him a long stare as they listened to Kuri’s reaction to what Yukio just told hem. All in all Ryu agreed, but being in that room when the old people told the story about the runner would have been better. As it was he had to rely on what Yukio said.

It’s too easy,” Yukio said in agreement.

Aren’t you the one who tries to make everything easier?” Ryu retorted as they passed across the great Shibuya intersection.

Kuri had some job at 109, and being a Sunday the Himekaizen members of the club were all together for the first time in months. They were joined by Jeniferu who tagged along with Tomasu a bit further back. Always a bit further back these days. Something had gone out of her eyes, even though Ryu guessed he was one of the few who saw the feelings she tried to hide.

After searching for Jeniferu and Tomasu Ryu was grateful to find Kyoko together with the pair, and less so for finding Noriko hand in hand with Urufu halfway across the street.

You know,” Yukio said, and Ryu realised Yukio must have given the teasing retort more thought than in was really worth, “I try to make things as easy as possible while still keeping the important stuff there.”

Now it was Ryu’s turn to give things a thought.

Interesting, please continue,” Kuri said.

Ryu looked at her, because there had been a warmer tone to her voice than he had expected. Her blue eyes hidden behind that golden halo were always harder to read than those of other girl. If that was because he loved her, or her being a foreigner or her real age hiding her true feelings Ryu didn’t know.

I guess making things too easy means you have to lie,” Yukio said. “Not lying by telling lies but lying by telling too little of the truth.”

And?” Kuri passed through a sliding door.

Yukio and Ryu followed her, but Yukio waited with his answer until they were indoors. “It’s just been a little more than a week, but there’s something nagging at me.”

About their story?”

Yeah. Ah, man, I can’t explain, but it’s too easy.”

So they’re hiding something,” Kuri said and entered an escalator.

Ryu followed her a couple of steps below, and Yukio quickly joined. Together the three of them rode it a floor up with people around them staring at Kuri as if they couldn’t believe there was a life sized version of the face plastered to electronic bill boards all over Tokyo.

Smooth, really smooth, Kuri, Ryu thought. Does the word discreet even exist in the thesaurus you use? He shook his head and followed her up the next escalator all the while Kuri’s body guards made a futile attempt to keep the mob of fans from getting too close to her.

At the third floor she signed her first autograph and at the fifth the twentieth. Ryu decided their earlier conversation had to wait.

Kuri, aren’t you even worried in the slightest?” he wondered during a brief break in photos taken and her signing just about anything people handed to her.

She smiled. “As long as we’re moving my body guards should handle the rest,” Kuri said silently.

Aren’t you afraid you’ll sign some dirty contract by mistake?”

Kuri’s shoulders swivelled and suddenly Ryu had her face so close their noses touched and her hair embraced him in golden velvet. She gave him a wet kiss and he felt her arms around his neck.

Around them people shouted, some voices in delighted surprise, but others carried an annoyed tone to them. While not a Japanese style idol Kuri still had her fans out there who expected her to live up to the impossible ideal of a sexy virgin.

I love you,” she whispered when their lips parted. “I love how you care for me. I’m happy I met you.”

Ryu grinned. He felt equal parts elation and embarrassment running though him. “You didn’t answer my question,” he said in an attempt to regain control.

Autographs,” she said. “I have a legal document where the distinction between my autograph and my signature is made explicit.”

The Billion Dollar Empress. You’re my girlfriend, so I forget who you once were. “I see,” Ryu said. He hoped he sounded calm, but inside of him sensations of anxiety and outright fear quickly built and burned. You’re my girlfriend, and you’re older than my mother.

The short seconds it took for thoughts and feelings to run their course was enough for Kuri to widen the distance between them, and Ryu felt her hand pulling him toward the next escalator.

Behind him Yukio followed. Ryu saw him mirrored in that glittering world of glass, spotlights and cloth that was 109. Further behind Ryu knew the others tried to catch up, but with the mob of fans gathering around Kuri they were bound to be stuck a floor or more below him.

Kuri, I really do love you, older and all, but right now you’re behaving more like an elementary school kid than the seventeen you look. Ryu growled, a satisfied growl he admitted, but a growl still.

He winked at Yukio, turned and followed Kuri up another floor, and then another.

The crowd around them thinned, and Ryu guessed Kuri’s body guards had finally managed to take control of the situation, but then his world changed from one of casual luxury to one of mad chaos.

He’s got a knife!”

Red Rose uniforms?

Ageruman-san, watch out!”

But that school is closed.

Down Ryu!”

Kuri?

Down!”

Legs so white he could hardly see where they ended and her panties began flew above his head.

Golden hair sailed across the escalator.

Yukio roared.

Ryu’s head connected with a red blazer.

Hurts!

He fell.

Tuesday 8 January 2019

Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment four


Noriko shivered as she took a few steps and found herself a seat beside Urufu.

Adults played ugly games. He’d said as much outside the Stockholm Haven café a little earlier. Just how ugly she slowly began to understand.

She could do math faster than him, but sitting here right now, feeling the need for him to protect her, she realised she couldn’t do people faster than him, if at all. People couldn’t be calculated. You had to go by gut feeling, and that wasn’t her way of coming to conclusions.

Still, the part about ‘our own people’ shocked her. It implied they’d still have unsuspecting people transit downstream into the unknown as long as those people weren’t ‘our own’.

Will I become like them when I grow up? She hoped not. Her mother hadn’t, and her father at least not very much.

Christmas,” Urufu said. “We don’t care any more. The pig’s gone by Christmas or we’ll act.”

Do you have any idea...” the scary old man began.

Not enough,” Urufu interrupted. “Christmas or I’ll call in a favour each from Christina and her grandfather. You really, really, really don’t want to mess with them.”

Now you arrogant little...”

You really don’t want to mess with me neither. I’ll blow your cover to Nathan Cooper. He got his daughter raped. He’ll believe anything I say about science fiction style dark operations if I make it convincing enough.”

Mister Hammargren, you can’t,” Nakagawa-sensei said. “We play dirty, but the Americans would use direct violence.”

You want to test that theory?”

You little...” the scary man tried to edge in.

Shut the bloody hell up! My girlfriend and my best friend here are the only decent persons in this room. I’m not. Push me and you’ll find out just exactly how low I’m prepared to go.”

Noriko watched he ping pong match of words in fascination. Urufu’s words reminded her he wasn’t just her boyfriend but also a man with a lifetime’s experience of power games.

When silence suddenly swept the entire room in an uncomfortable blanket of angry thoughts Noriko decided she needed to voice her own opinion.

Christmas. We need to. We’re the ones hurting, not you.”

From out of nowhere Urufu’s hand found hers and she felt his grip harden. He’d been there and saved her once. He knew. She squeezed back.

An unexpected giggle reached her from Nakagawa-sensei. When she looked at him the expression she got in return was one of satisfaction rather than irritation.

Well gentlemen, seems we got ourselves a deadline,” he said, still smiling.

The scary man turned and glared at Nakagawa-sensei. “You really expect us to blindly do what a couple of kids tell us to do?”

Their former principal dressed his face in a harder expression. “The arrivals aren’t really kids, and as for the kids in question, they have a right to expect us adults to protect them.”

Look, Nakagawa-san, we had no part in your allowing things to degenerate like this in the first place.”

You do now,” he said. “Since the moment you suggested we stall you became involved.”

I fail to...”

You failed to tell us you knew abut the Hitler Jugend central in the other world.”

Hitler Jugend?” Urufu asked, and Noriko felt his grip harden until it almost hurt.

Nakagawa-sensei met Urufu’s eyes. “In you old world Red Rose is still very much operative, and it seems their version basically bought Himekaizen and merged the two high schools into one disgusting right wing power base rather thinly disguised as a place for education.”

Urufu gasped and Noriko stared at his face. A thin line had replaced his earlier arrogant smirk. “I see,” he said.

You know something?” Nakagawa-sensei asked.

Urufu shook his head. “Not really know. It’s just a feeling. This world, or at least this Japan seems a little less nationalistic than the one I remember. Just a feeling.”

The scary man nodded. “The runner said the same thing. According to him there is a trend towards a higher degree of openness.”

How many,” Noriko began, “times has he transited?”

He says he can’t remember.”

That stunned her. “Not even a guess?” she tried.

Hundreds of times.”

Hundreds of… how old is he?”

We don’t know,” Ai’s father replied. “Things get strange with a runner. You transit late June and arrive early April the same year. It’s like a short jump backwards in time, well apart from transiting from one world to another.”

You mean he could have spent several years reliving spring 2017?”

Ai’s father nodded. “He probably did as well. At least he spent many decades in the twenty first century. Maybe a hundred years in total.”

When was he born?”

She got a genuine smile in return. “I waited for you to ask that question. 1937 in a world very different from this one. No world war two among other things.”

This time she shuddered. The very thought of being disconnected from reality scared her more than she would have thought. Every deviation, every single one experienced by someone who transited meant that reality was no longer what it was supposed to be.

Somehow she had learned to accept the small changes Urufu and Kuri told her about, and a few not so small ones, but a reality where the most important event of the last century had never occurred made that reality entirely alien.

I feel sorry for him,” she finally said. “There’s no longer a home for him.”

There never was,” the scary man said. “He was probably mentally unstable long before he transited the first time. The ancient boy waiting to transit in Sweden is no longer sane in any sense of the world.”

What do you mean?”

He’s mentally broken. I wouldn’t consider him a functioning human. He’s a repository of memories with a manic need to transit to the next world.”

Noriko wanted to throw up, but with the support from Urufu’s firm grip on her hand she managed by merely shuddering once again.