Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 66993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Anytime he stayed at my place in Brooklyn, he jumped and shrieked when he heard a popping noise or the police sirens blaring by as if I lived in a crack den in the center of the hood.
“Nyomi, maybe I should stay.” Still, he edged away from me.
Yeah, right.
I turned to him. “Just go. I’ll be fine.”
I wasn’t fearless. I was just good at lying to my own heart. But my hands. . .they always told the truth. And they were shaking.
“Okay,” Zo rushed to the bedroom and slid the door closed.
I shook my head.
What a hero. . .
Chapter nine
Clitoria
Nyomi
With my mace now in my hand, I headed over.
The person knocked again. “Please, open the door, Ms. Palmer.”
“I’m coming, sorry.” I could have sworn I heard a sigh of relief from the person on the other side.
What are you up to now, Kenji?
Kicking away the boots that I left by the entrance, I opened the door.
A teenaged boy with light blue hair down to his shoulders gazed back at me and held a big box that looked about three feet long and a foot wide.
Silver rings pierced his right nostril.
Baggy jeans hung on his slim waist yet he had the nerve to look me up and down as if I were the different one.
“Are you Ms. Palmer?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” A huge smile expanded over his face. Curiosity lingered in his eyes.
That seemed to be the expression I got from people here. As I explored the city, many did double takes, kids pointed like I was a peculiar creature, and some even snapped a picture.
The good thing was that they all seemed entertained by me passing them, so I never felt insecure.
And if I was truthful to myself, I studied them with the same inquiring wonder.
I tucked my mace into my back pocket. “Yep. . .I’m Ms. Palmer.”
“These are gifts from Mr. Sato.” He handed the box to me.
I grabbed the big package wrapped in shiny gold paper, thanked god it was light, and set it on the carpet.
Then, he pulled out another package from a bag I hadn’t realized he had on the side. This was wrapped in gold too and appeared to be the size of a thick book.
Why is Kenji giving me gifts?
I took it and looked at the boy. “You said I needed to sign something. Right?”
“Yes. You also have to answer the question in here,” he gave me a crimson envelope. “I’m to stay until you read and answer the letter.”
“Alrighty,” I opened it with no problem and slipped the crisp red sheet of paper out.
Black lettering decorated it.
Kenji hadn’t wasted a lot of words.
Only two sentences existed on the page:
To my naughty Tora,
Be dressed and ready for a date with me at 8pm tomorrow.
“How is this even a question?” I scrunched my face in confusion. “This is an order.”
He shifted his face to the ground and did a horrible job of hiding his chuckles.
Kenji has so much audacity.
I rolled my eyes.
So Kenji wanted a date, even after I harmed his special area? Hmm.
Maybe he likes getting kneed.
I’d have to ask him tomorrow, right when I begged for the return of my recorder.
However, with Zo’s rising anxiety over my kneeing the Dragon, I had to make sure that Kenji and I were cool. It wouldn’t be right for me to come visit Zo in Tokyo and leave with a Yakuza gang pissed at him.
I’ll go on this date for Zo. That’s it.
I said to myself like that was the only reason why I would go. I also ignored the way my body warmed at the thought of seeing Kenji again.
“Do you have a pen?” I asked. “I have an answer for his order.”
“Here you go.” He pulled out a rainbow-colored one and gave it to me.
I balanced the sheet on top of the box and wrote down my own message.
Dear Kenji,
I’m sorry for kneeing you in your groin but I don’t appreciate lots of unwanted groping. If you can keep your hands and lips to yourself, then I promise no further knee battles in your future.
I will meet you tomorrow, but not for a date.
I would love to sit down and discuss a compromise to my carrying on my observations in Kabukichō district.
I also want my tape recorder back.
Respectfully.
As I said before, that device means a lot to me.
Sincerely,
Nyomi
I considered underlining my name to prove a point that I wasn’t his Tora, but thought I’d pushed the situation enough with my letter.
Let’s see what he thinks of this.
I folded up the page, stuffed it back into the envelope, and returned it to the guy. “Thanks so much and be careful out there. It’s pretty late.”
He gave me a weird nod and rushed away.
Once I closed the door, Zo leapt out of the shadows. “What is it?!”
I jumped. “Holy shit you scared me.”