No Ordinary Love (32 page)

“Talk to me! Damn it!” I yelled to this shadowed view of Tokyo. “Stop ignoring me.”

Me: Dragon?

Kenji: Go to your friend’s apartment. Finish your book and then go back to NY.

The phone dropped to my lap. A tear spilled out of my eye. I wiped it away, never happy when those damn things came out. Emotions were for the weak. I cried when I needed to, but the rest of the time I dealt with the crap and figured a way out.

Why can’t I do it this time? All I have to do is get my bags and go to Zo’s place. My journey with the Dragon is over. What’s stopping me this time?

I held in my breath.

Me: Why?

Answer me. At least be a man and answer me.

Nothing.

Within this shell of me, a storm rose—darkening clouds that hid the sunshine, cold rain, lightening striking against quaking earth. If I’d thought Dad had broken my heart, I had no real concept of despair. Kenji taught me that lesson that evening.

Me: You are a monster.

I remained on that balcony the rest of the night. By midnight, I’d grabbed a huge blanket from Kenji’s bed, brought it out to the balcony, and wrapped it around my body. I could’ve left at any time. No longer did I have a reason to be there. This was not my home, this cold cave hidden away from the world where despair coiled in the atmosphere.

Still, I couldn’t walk away.

Not yet.

Before falling into sleep, I yawned and grabbed my phone.

What the hell am I even talking about? You may be a dragon or whatever, Kenji, but I’m a tiger, one from Brooklyn. You don’t drop me through a text, after showing me the beauty of love. Sure, I said I would leave, but we both knew
…
that I would at least
…
come back to you, one day.

Me: I want to see you before I go.

Kenji: You should leave.

Me: Why?

Kenji: Nyomi, this is not something you want to push with me.

I didn’t know what stung more, the fact that his text was emotionless and inconsiderate or that he hadn’t used his nickname for me.

Me: I’m no longer Tora?

Kenji: You’re no longer anything.

Me: Interesting. My claws are out right now. If I’m not a tiger, then what am I?

“Asshole.” My chest swelled with pain.

You have the unlucky problem of not being the first guy to hurt me. Now you’ll have to deal with a much more experienced bitch.

Me: Meet me at Tokyo Tower at 12pm tommorow.

Minutes passed and then finally my phone buzzed.

Kenji: No.

Me: I finished the book on you and printed it. Do you want it?

That got an immediate response.

Kenji: Burn it.

Me: You burn it. I don’t destroy books. I publish them. Is that what you want? The first bio of the Dragon?

Kenji: This is a dangerous game.

Me: It always was.

Kenji: Where at the Tokyo Tower?

Me: Where is a good place?

Kenji: The Tower Restaurant in Foot Town

Me: Fine.

So many things had changed in just a day's time and I didn't even know why.

Chapter 35

NYOMI

After the text messages with Kenji, I couldn’t sleep. I ended up packing my belongings and taking a cab to Zo’s. Being that he was a true insomniac at times, he was up playing video games when I knocked on the door. His gaze dropped to the bags and then my puffy eyes, and there was no way I could get out of telling him everything that had happened. That morning he wore no shirt, just white pants and vanilla-colored flip-flops.

I probably shouldn’t have told him anything, though. “So do you know where this Tower Restaurant is in Foot Town?”

“I don't understand why you need to see him again.”

“Because everything changed just all of a sudden, in one day,” I replied. “I need answers.”

“You ever realize that sometimes you don't need to know why?”

“No.”

“He gave you an out.”

“I don't want an out, Zo. I want … ”

“What?”

“I don't know.”

“Leave him alone, and just go home before you get yourself in more trouble.”

“I can't. I … ”

“What Nyomi?” He groaned and placed his game controller on the table. “You what? Don't tell me you love him. That's bullshit. You're like me. We don't love. We use. We fuck. We take. We laugh. But we don't fucking love.”

“That's not true, Zo.”

“Come on, Nyomi. You're damaged just like me. You just don't know my story.”

Sighing, I sat down next to him. “Zo, I think I fell in love with him.”

He laughed loud and with no restraint. “What do you know about love? Let me make you some sake. We can get drunk, maybe roll around a little bit and rub our uglies together and fuck his memory out of your mind.” He winked at me.

“What?” I twisted my face in confusion.

“Nyomi, the best way to get over a person is to be with another.” He touched my cheek and traced his finger down my jaw. “I'm willing to give you a few thrusts if you need it.”

I analyzed him a little more. “Are you high?”

“Maybe.”

“On what?”

“Coke.”

“What the hell? Since when do you snort?”

“One of my friends brought it by. What does it matter to you?”

“What the hell does that mean?” I jumped up from the couch.

“You come here to Tokyo, say you're going to stay, and then end up rushing off with some gangster out of nowhere. I call you for weeks and you don't answer. Not one fucking text, and then out of the blue you come rushing back here in the middle of the night because the gangster broke your heart.”

“Jesus, Zo. I just explained what happened.”

“No, Tora,” he spit the nickname out at me. “You pretty much ignored me as soon as some guy came into your life, after I've been there for you for all these years.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. “Zo, you're talking weird.”

“I care about you,” he whispered.

“I know.”

“I don't understand if it's love or not, but I do care about you.” He reached for my waist and pulled me in. “It hurts when you ignore me like that. You're the only person I talk to. Everyone else is out to get me.”

Out to get you?

“Are you sure you only snorted?”

“I might've done some other things.”

“With who?”

“Some new friends.”

What the hell is going on today?

Zo tightened his hold on me. “She never came back, you know.”

“Who?”

“Leona.”

“The photographer you messed up with?”

“Yes. I liked her.”

“I knew you did.”

“I think it broke my heart.”

“Maybe.”

“And you weren't there, Nyomi. You were off fucking your Dragon.”

I tried to pull away from him, but he held me closer. “I'm sorry. I should have answered your calls.”

“That's okay. Maybe … Maybe you can help me heal.” He rubbed his cock against me.

Bile rose in my throat. “Zo, what are you doing?”

“It's just been you and I for all these years. Maybe we should try again.”

I shoved him away. “No, Zo.”

“You're heartbroken. I'm heartbroken. Let's be there for each other tonight.”

“No.” I shook my head and edged away. “I'm sorry.”

“A year or so ago, you would have let me fuck you. Shit, months ago you would've jumped on your knees and started sucking my dick. That's how you got over your dad, you know. Fucking as many men as you could.”

“Let's stop this discussion right now.” I waved my hand in front of his face.

“Boo hoo. My daddy left me. I have such a horrible life,” he imitated me. “Maybe I should fuck every criminal in the world so my dad, the judge, can get wind of it and cry himself to shame. What did you want him to do, realize that he'd brought you to that?”

“Zo, shut up. You're going too far tonight. Are you sure you haven't been drinking, too?”

“I've been doing a lot of things since you fucking deserted me.”

“I didn't—”

“I tell you to leave that man alone and look what happens, he breaks your heart. And instead of being smart enough to let him leave you alone, you threaten him with what … ” He swayed a little. “You threatened him with a book, right?”

I didn't say anything more. A shadow passed by his balcony, or maybe it was some flicker of light from outside. Either way, it struck me as odd, but then Zo grabbed me out of nowhere, snatching me up and pushing me down to the couch. My heart stopped for a few seconds. I could've swore that in that moment I no longer knew who this man was.

He stared at me with watery eyes. “Fuck. What the hell am I doing?”

I tensed under his hold. “I don't know, Zo, but … ” I raised my knee to his groin and slammed it into his balls.

He shrieked and rolled off of me. “Fuck! That hurts!”

“Have you lost your damn mind?” I rushed up and kicked his side. “What the hell have you been sampling?”

“I don't know!” He clutched his balls. “Shit. I haven't even slept this week, just partying and sipping and … shit, this hurts. What is wrong with you?”

“Me?” I touched my chest. “You almost raped me.”

“What? I wasn't going to rape you. I was seducing you.” He rolled over to his back. “You like creepy guys so I figured I'd be a bit darker—”

“And rapey.”

Noise sounded from the balcony. The lock clicked. The handle turned on its own, and a man with scars all over his face stepped in. “Are you okay, Ms. Palmer?”

Zo and I both screamed at the top of our lungs. The man shook his hands. “No, I'm okay. Please, stop. Kenji wanted me to watch over you.”

At the mention of Kenji, I calmed down. Meanwhile, Zo lurked in the corner, holding a lamp above his head. I doubted he was high anymore, or in desperate need to be fucked.

“You work for Kenji?” I asked the man.

“Yes, my name is Eito. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I'm fine, but—” I stopped talking as the man simply turned around, went back to the balcony, and closed the glass door.

“Who the hell was that?” Zo remained in his corner.

“Apparently that's Eito.”

“Jesus Christ!” Zo stormed out of the corner with the lamp still in his hand. “Did you see that guy's face? He would put Scarface to shame.”

“I've never seen him before.”

Zo left me in the living room as he headed toward his bedroom. “And the Dragon had him following you, probably to kill you or something.”

“Calm down.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“I thought we said I never had any sense to begin with?”

“This isn’t funny! You've got crazy people following you. Kenji gave you an out. Instead, you threaten him. Take the out.” Zo set the lamp on his bed. “You're going to get me killed.”

“Umm … first of all, that guy was trying to save me from being hurt by a drunk and high you, asshole.” I rushed after him.

“First we talk about why you just won't leave Kenji alone.”

“Look. I just want to see why all of a sudden he is done with me.”

“He’s a criminal and a psychopath.”

“That can’t be the only reason.”

“You’re insane.” He rummaged through his tiny closet.

“What the hell are you looking for?”

“My gun.”

I tensed. “Now that is a bad idea. I should not have a gun. We just established that I have no sense.”

“No, the gun is not for you. It’s for me.” He slung some brown polka dot pillows over his shoulder and slid some boxes to the side. “I need to have one just in case—”

“Would you relax?”

“No!” He faced me with a red face. “This isn’t funny anymore. It’s not cute. You’re playing with a dangerous man.”

I backed up and raised my hands. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not. You’re many things—smart, a great writer, but a very, very reckless little child that doesn’t understand when she’s in too deep. Kenji is right. Go back to New York and stop playing with death. This is not fiction.”

I sighed. “I know that.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Nyomi, I love you, but you have to go.”

“What?”

“Get your stuff and leave.” He returned to his closet. “You bring too much drama to my doorstep. The top leader of the Yamaguchi was walking around in my apartment for God’s sake. Some guy with scars and shit all over his face just scaled up to my balcony on the second floor, somehow got through the damn lock in seconds, and simply peeked his head in to see if you were okay. What the hell?”

“He was just—”

“Who does that when they come visit people? Bring criminals to their host's house?”

“Okay. It's not like you've been a knight in shining armor tonight.”

“You have to go.”

“What?”

“You heard me. This whole thing is out of control.” He slung more things out of the trunk as he continued to search for the gun.

“But, Zo—”

“I’m sorry, Nyomi. If you need money for a hotel tonight, I’ll give it to you, but I need you to respect my wishes.”

“Okay,” I whispered back to him. “I’ll go.”

For the second time in a week, a man has broken my heart.

“And for God's sake, get this mess cleared up with your dad,” he called after me.

“Go fuck yourself, Zo,” I yelled back. “And then eat a dick!”

Chapter 36

KENJI

Foot Town was a four-story building located in the base of the Tokyo Tower. An aquarium gallery resided on the first floor, as well as a reception hall and Tower Restaurant. The other floors above me hosted more food and shopping areas—McDonald’s and pizza spots, convenience stores and souvenir shops. An amusement park sat on the roof of Foot Town. Long ago, when I would come and visit my family after a long soccer season, I would take my young nieces and nephews there.