Yakuza Tour Guide (18+)

6. Loose Lips

*Additional info and translations in the comments!

Do you remember Asian James Dean? You probably thought that we were done with him, but nope. He's going to be a pretty consistent pain in the ass. Because, the thing about Asian James Dean is that he has a big mouth. So, when he sees Tatsu with red haired, freckled me hanging off of his shoulder, Asian James Dean can't help but blab to the other yakuzas the moment he gets back to their headquarters.

Apparently, he really talks me up, too. He even gives them a rough estimate of my measurements - bust 100cm, waist 58cm, hips 85cm - which they eat up. Imagine if the other Yakuza knew that he was actually off and my hips are definitely wider than 85cm? They would probably lose their minds. Anyways, Asian James Dean goes on and on about how Tatsu has some beautiful foreign girlfriend who he's head-over-heels for and then does a super serious impersonation of Tatsu standing up to him.

"Apologize, now," Asian James Dean says, dramatically tilting his head and cocking one eyebrow. He even deepens his voice, though he could never match Tatsu's heartstopping, seductive tone. "Or do you want to end up at the bottom of the harbor?"

There's a bit of laughter, followed by speculation about whether or not he's gotten in my pants yet, whether or not I'm an escort, whether or not I'm into "kinky shit," and whether or not I know that Tatsu is affiliated with the Yakuza. The answer to these questions, in order, is: I wish, no, more than I'd care to admit, and absolutely no. If I knew Tatsu was in the Yakuza I would have been running back to the airport after my first day in Tokyo!

So, Asian James Dean is a blabbermouth, but he's pretty harmless. He's more concerned with whether the "carpet matches the drapes" than with my relationship to Tatsu. There is somebody else in the group, though, who has a big, big mouth. He pipes up and asks a simple question, one that doesn't arouse any suspicion, but which is going to be very important later.

"You're sure she's a foreigner," he asks. "Did she speak Japanese?"

"Eh? I doubt it," Asian James Dean replies. "If she did, I'm sure she would have slapped the shit out of me for what I said."

That answer seemed to satisfy the one Yakuza, because he spent the rest of the conversation deep in thought. He was thinking that Tatsu's having a girlfriend, a foreign girlfriend who might not know he was a Yakuza, presented a very interesting opportunity. The only question now was how to make full use of the opportunity.

***

I wake up in my hotel room to another call from the front desk. Yesterday, I was confused, but this morning I'm giddy because I already know what a phone call from the front desk means. I rush to the phone and pick it up.

"Courtesy call," the same woman from yesterday says in her serviceable English. "Your tour guide stopped by the front desk. He apologizes, but he will be busy with work today."

My heart sinks, but I'm not too surprised. It is a Tuesday. Most people have jobs and if Tatsu really is a tour guide, he must have other customers, right? Although, he doesn't really seem like a tour guide. I'm pretty sure the whole thing was just a dumb ruse to get me to go out with him, which I'm fine with. So, if he's got a regular job, it would make sense he couldn't see me every day.

"Oh, thanks for letting me know," I say in Japanese.

I'm about to hang up when she adds, in Japanese. "He left an envelope at the front desk and said to check your phone."

That perks me up a bit. Tatsu left something at the desk for me? I have to clear a bunch of stuff off the bedside table to even reach my phone, but when I do, I see that I have five new text messages from Tatsu. Normally, five texts from a guy, all at once, would be a red flag, but I'm already grinning as I open the phone.

Mom has also texted me a bunch of times, but I ignore all of them and skip right to Tatsu's messages. Something tells me that if Tatsu's texting me this much, it has to be something good. He doesn't disappoint.

Text Message Number One: "Sorry, I'm adulting today. I'll see you later tonight, but in the meantime, he's something to keep you occupied."