Consequences Unforeseen

July 7th - 13th 1991 - Kris, Susan, Robin and Yoshikawa.

July 7th - 13th 1991 - Kris, Susan, Robin and Yoshikawa.

Time stopped for Bill Douglas. Things that normally would never register with him, bugged him incessantly. His invisibility on the streets of Tokyo was now challenged by the behavior he found it impossible to conceal.

On the surface it manifested as irritability. The moisture laden Tokyo air accosted his lungs and made him cough, sweat and occasionally on the breathless side.

The merest touch against him on the subway, or a noisy infant at the station. The constant politeness of the Japanese merchants and shopkeepers brought the worst out of him in response.

God help anyone who told him that 'his Japanese language skill was very good.'

Kris returned to this different persona - one she had not known existed. He never quite reacted with a snap or a barbed remark, but she could feel the tension under the surface.

The party she planned for the 13th was in final preparation with friends from both overseas and local already confirmed to be there. She was edgy as to how the whole thing would play out...

Making things worse for her was the presence of this other woman in her house. She ignored it with as much indifference as she could muster but finding that the majority of the kitchen items she'd been in the habit of knowing where everything was, had been moved around and stored elsewhere, bugged her more than the fact that Susan walked around naked practically the entire time.

"It's sooooo hot and sticky!" She'd walk around moaning and then drop herself down prone on the wooden floors of the living room in a dead dog impersonation in front of her and Bill - like they wanted to see her exposed like that. Kris thought to herself, "The arrogance of this bitch!"

She was pissed at the entire situation but never took it out on the man himself. This 'visitor' had begun to overstay her welcome in Kris's opinion.

When, instead of making love endlessly on her first night back Bill explained instead in graphic detail the happenings in Hong Kong and the financial outcomes. "I've fucked up and lost all your and our money," he finally said, taking the blame for something that was obviously out of any personal control.

Unaware of the even larger implications for his work, because he never once mentioned specific details of any project he was involved in, she never the less felt a sea change in his attitude and his intolerance even stretched to having Susan around. This one thing made Kris feel better and she secretly beamed every time Bill put Susan down or was sarcastic to her.

For Susan's part, she knew she was being a bitch and didn't like Kris for no other reason than it was patently obvious that Bill Douglas was long gone in terms of any potential for another sleepless night with her.

She had also, internally at least, decided that Bill's mission had gone tits up and with it, the need for her protective services to Kris. She felt like she had become an unenthusiastic tourist in Tokyo and the only bright spot on the horizon for her was the forthcoming arrival of Robin, who'd now also be on a 'tour guide's holiday.' The two of them were superfluous to any forthcoming events. "Perhaps Robin and me can go have some fun," she thought to herself...

Preparations for the party began in earnest that morning - Monday the 8th of July 1991. A working week to go with the party scheduled and confirmed to all attending for Saturday July 13th.

Bill Douglas decided to make himself scarce, realizing that he'd simply be in the way and in all probability get himself caught up in any disagreements that arose out of thin air between the ladies of the house. Kris was long gone by the time he'd woken up and he found the house empty. Kris he knew full well would be shopping to stock up on everything she needed to complete her food plans, but "Where the fuck is Susan?" Troubled his mind as he slid down the fireman's pole center of the spiral staircase.