Dangerous Lines | Yuzuru Hanyu

50. The friendly doctor

Dreading that very first checkup was only normal for any woman. You don't know what's going to happen, if you'll like the doctor or even if your baby is okay.

When it came to Yaeko, she also had the little detail of covering up her whole identity in the process.

That was the first problem, because no one ever thinks of medical records when placing someone under witness protection. For Yaeko, or Yumi, in this case, her records were pretty much non-existent.

Agent Miura helped with what he could, assessing the situation and coming up with a few excuses for her. Still, lying wasn't something that came easy to her, even after so many years in the Yakuza.

Another detail that was certainly hard to hide was how her body was an instant image of her past. The tattoos that covered her skin were a huge indication of her past.
Of course, not every tattooed Japanese is a member, but it was how the designs were chosen and scattered around her skin in certain places that made it all so obvious.

When the young doctor looked at her with a slightly raised brow, Yaeko knew that her cover wasn't that convincing.

"Listen, whatever is going on, all I'm going to ask is for us to be honest with one another. For one, I'm going to tell you that I don't believe your story but I will also be honest enough to reassure you to tell you that whatever is exchanged in this room won't leave it. You promise me you'll be honest and I promise you that you can trust me."

It was a very direct way of telling her that her BS was pretty much unbelievable.

"Okay" she said gently, unsure of what to tell the woman that was probably around her age but scarier than any of the thugs she had dealt with in the past.

"So, how about you tell me your real name?"

"Yaeko. Takayama Yaeko"

The doctor looked at her for a few seconds, wondering if she should say anything about it but eventually chose to speak.

"Related to Kiyoshi Takayama, by any chance?"

Yae gulped dry, merely nodding in answer. The woman had told her to be honest and that's exactly what she was doing.

"How?"

As obvious as her tattoos were, the connection to her husband wasn't easy for most ordinary people. You were either inside the Yakuza or had suffered under their hand to be aware of the wakagashira's name.

"I'm originally from Nagoya, and the prevalence of the Yamaguchi-gumi is too obvious for most to ignore. The news that all of the leadership was arrested in Tokyo made news across all of Japan, but especially to us."

"Yeah. I can understand that."

"They didn't arrest the women, I take it?"

"They arrested everyone."

"But not you?"

"They wouldn't arrest who's helping."

"That explains why they told me to sign an NDA before I took you in. The older doctors were afraid enough to pass the case to me."

"The agency doesn't play."

"So... your relationship with the wakagashira?"

"He's my husband."

Yaeko saw the woman visibly gulp and nod.
"You're brave, I have to admit that."

"Am I? I think I just caved into the years of handling the whole thing."

"The child, is it his?"

"No."

Yaeko expected the judgment right away but it never came. If anything, it just made the woman look happier.

"Good. Let's make sure we take good care of you. After all, I owe you a lot for taking those men from my streets."

"Let's just hope they stay out of the streets."

"You're going to trial?"

"Yeah, they don't know when exactly. I hope it's soon because I don't want the pregnancy to be obvious. Things are already bad enough as it is."

Yaeko didn't know it then, but this woman, doctor Hana Takahashi, would soon become an ally that would help through the painful and revolting moments that would certainly come. Hana would be her helping hand and the ear to all of her doubts and uncertainties.

The woman had enough resentment for the Yazuka to support Yaeko completely and not only that, endure the judgment of her colleagues for taking such a mysterious patient.

Soon enough, Hana wasn't just her doctor. The woman often offered company and a shoulder to rely on during hard times. Yaeko found her presence to be needed and appreciated. Having someone by your side during a time like that who you trusted enough to be fully open about was something that she would never take for granted.

It was during one visit to her home that Yae saw Hana question what she had probably been wondering about for a while.

"So... you've been fully honest with me but we never really spoke about the father of your child."
Yaeko almost spit the water she was drinking at the sudden approach of the subject. "Damn... that much of a sensitive topic?"

She could only laugh at the way Hana chose to ask, but as she was learning, it was quite on brand for her friend.

"He's alive, if that's what you want to know." Yaeko quickly answered in a mocking tone.

"That's already a feat for any man who dared to sleep with the wife of such a higher-up Yakuza."

"I often thought it would be a close call. Sometimes I feel like he's a bit crazy to even try."

"Honey, if I ever had a man go that far for me, I would probably super glue him to my house, well the bed, most likely."

Laughing together relaxed the tension that Yaeko felt every time she was reminded of their distance. Hana wasn't wrong. Yae knew very well how valuable that man was in her life.