Yakuza Tour Guide (18+)

11. Friend of a Friend

It's not that the rest of the evening was uneventful. We kissed and cuddled in our private booth. We talked. Tatsu was a perfect gentleman and we went right back to being our goofy selves together. Both of us were done dancing and done fucking after the restroom. He drove me back to the hotel and we had a goodnight kiss.

I asked if he wanted to spend the night and he said, "Tomorrow. I have one more surprise planned for you."

Closing the door, I leaned up against it and smiled. I felt... satisfied. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was really living, if that makes sense. My phone started to ring and I saw that it was my mom. I let it ring and resolved that I would call her in the morning - if only so she would stop nagging me and let me enjoy my vacation.

I told her where I was going. I even told her how long I would be there, where I was staying, and to not bother me, for once. She can't help herself, though. I skimmed through the texts and everything was about how I should be back at home, studying, or looking for more scholarships, as if I don't already have a pile of scholarships and as if I don't already spend just about every waking moment studying.

I'm the first one in our family to go to college. That was always mom's dream before she got pregnant. She spent my entire childhood making sure I got the best scores, took every AP class, and played lacrosse, because every good college in the state has a women's lacrosse team. I've been living her dream and I'm pretty sure she resents me for it. Would it be so much to ask that, for one week, I get to live mine?

The call spoils my good mood, so I have a quick shower and go right to bed. Tatsu didn't give me a particular time to wake up, so I let myself sleep in with my phone volume set to the max. It isn't my phone that wakes me up early, though, but a call from the reception desk. Groggy, and just a bit hung-over, I answer it and it's the same woman who seems to be at the front desk every morning.

Apparently, there's a detective in the lobby who wants to see me.

On official Tokyo Police business.

I mean, what the hell? What the actual hell!? Why would a detective want to see me? I just got to Japan. Did I do something wrong? I mean, I'll admit, I don't know all of the laws in Japan, but all I've done is go on a few dates and do a little sightseeing...

It doesn't even occur to me that it could have anything to do with Tatsu. I double check to make sure that my passport is in my purse and am greeted by... not what I was expecting. It's a woman who is probably in her forties, but looks like she's in her thirties. She clearly takes care of her body, and has a very pretty face. The only dead giveaway that she's not some thirty-something are her very weary eyes.

"Hello," she says in English, showing me her badge. "I'm Detective Ryōshi."

"I'm Mepu," I say in Japanese, clutching my bag tighter and feeling a lump in my throat. "You wanted to see me?"

"Ah, you speak Japanese? Perfect. I just wanted to buy you some coffee and talk."

"Talk about what?"

She studies me for a few moments and smiles. "Why don't you come with me and I'll explain?"

***

"It was incredible," Tatsu says, smiling as he crunches some numbers on his laptop. He's seated on the other side of Megumi's desk, which he frequently does while working. "She's really something."

"Mhm. The sex was that good," Megumi asks.

"No - I mean, yeah, but that's not what I was talking about. She's just... special."

"Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to hear about your love life," she asks, sipping on her coffee. "Y'know, considering our history?"

"Eh? You're not jealous, are you?"