From Tokyo With Love - A Norman Reedus Fanfic Romance

Chapter 2 - You Had Me At Konnichiwa

NORMAN

"JEEEEZUSOHFUCK!"

'Didn't yell it too loud....did I?'  I pray silently, trying hard not to clench my eyes shut. In a vain attempt to dampen the sudden burst of pain.

I blame it on being tired. Forgetting, that is. Forgetting and rubbing my nose with the back of my hand.

Why else would you fail to recall the existence of four screws holding your broken snout in place? And a brand-spanking new eye socket made out of titanium to boot.

Poor Minnie!

Scared the absolute fuck out of her when I rocked up to the sliding doors of her Ryokan, two days ago. Looking like total shit clad in black denim.

"Mr Norm!  You....you bringing Yakuza with you?"

She whispered this fearfully. While peering wildly behind me....to see who might follow me off the street.

"Not this time, Minnie. But had I known?"

"Do you not tease! What happen....you put face under Tokitenku?"

"Nah, no Sumos. Just a windscreen and then a sidewalk in Germany. Now tell me. Is there room at your inn, Minnie? Or do I have to go down the road to Mrs Ryochi's instead?"

"Evil boy-child!"

Knew that'd get another rise out of her. There's definitely no love lost between the two pint-sized, Japanese Ryokan owners.

Mom moved my sister and me to Japan just after her separation from Dad. Got herself a job teaching English classes here. I have a huge love for this country and the many friends I made who still live here. So I try to get back at least once a year for a visit.

And for the past ten of those years? Minnie's Ryokan is always the place I return to. She treats me like a prodigal son and I try to keep living up to my reputation.

I pick up my phone and flick it into magnified selfie mode, taking a quick peek from all angles.

There's still bruising over my nose and left eye, but it's finally fading to autumnal shades of brown and yellow. The scarring is no longer the angry red of the first couple of months and is fading now to a shiny pink.

The doctors told me that all of it would be unnoticeable in a year or so.

***

It happened in Germany.

I went there to receive a 'Rising Star of The Year'  award at the Berlin Film Festival. On the next night, I took in an R.E.M concert.

Just as I was leaving the venue, the town car I was sitting in? Got the crap kicked out of it by a truck.

And as I said to Minnie, I did a Peter Pan from the back seat....straight through the windscreen. Ending my impromptu flight by faceplanting the sidewalk. One side of my mug took the brunt of the landing....totally shattering my nose and eye socket.

They rebuilt the old schnoz and then inserted some tiny screws to help keep it stable. It was a terrifying time, however. Waiting for the eye injury diagnosis. And wondering if I was gonna lose it completely.

But German doctors are fucking good and managed to replace the pulverised bone with a customised titanium socket.

Four months!

Sixteen long, mind-numbing and demoralising weeks stuck in that hospital. Undergoing operation after operation. Then battling through the slow healing process....while scuffling with my own head.