Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 154368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 617(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 617(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
I swallowed. “Kenji. . .is she okay?"
"Tora. . ."
My bottom lip quivered. “W-what?”
"I'm sorry, Tora."
My eyes started to water. "No. What are you. . ? What are you sorry about? What do you mean?"
"She was shot. She died."
The hallway went quiet. I didn't believe it. My mind couldn't process it. “No. . .”
Tears started running down my face.
“I. . .” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “I've arranged for her body to be transferred to a funeral home. We’re going to give her a proper burial after this war.”
I blinked, trying my best to catch up to this new reality. Feeling fucking weak, I pressed my hand against the wall. "Get back here right now."
"I can't, Tora, but soon."
“W-why not?”
"We can't come back just yet. We're getting cleaned and stitched up. We're still in Tokyo."
No.
“But. . .Tora, we are safe. We can't go back by helicopters. My father and brother are going to be looking at the air right now, since they know that is how we arrived.”
“Then, how are you returning?”
“We're going to get there by boat. We're close to a port. I'll be back by this evening."
I tried to steady myself.
Tried to be strong.
Tried to do what Hiroko would have done.
"Tora. . .I'm so sorry about Hiroko."
"I know.” More tears fell. "Just get back safely. I won’t be okay until you’re here.”
“I’m coming, Tora.”
“I love you, Kenji."
"I love you too."
There was a pause.
"How are you doing?" he asked.
I wiped tears from my eyes. "I'm fine, but none of that matters. I don't want to talk about anything else until you are back and I can hold you and see all of you and truly know you're safe."
My hands were shaking.
“Okay.” Then, he groaned in disgust and spoke, “I’m sorry. Hiro wants to talk to you too and he won’t fucking leave me alone about it."
“That’s okay. Let me talk to him.”
There was a shuffle on the other side, a few curses from Kenji, and then Hiro's voice came through. "Hey, sis."
I felt a small smile pull at my lips despite everything, but it never fully formed on my face. "Hey."
"Just wanted to let you know I'm okay."
"Yes." I sniffled. "I heard."
"Yeah. But I thought it was important that you hear my voice and I hear your voice."
Then, I finally smiled. “Well. . .that makes sense.”
"Your blood kept us safe.”
My throat tightened.
“I'm sorry about Hiroko. We did our best to keep her safe."
“I believe you.”
"But, you know, we'll say our goodbyes together."
"Okay," I whispered.
"So. . .due to the circumstances. . .”
I quirked my brows.
“No need for the Claws’ cocktail party tonight. We can do that tomorrow."
I let out a sad laugh. "Yeah, Hiro. Because that's what I was worried about."
"Just in case. I know you're excited about it just as much as we are, but tonight we must have respect for those that fell today. And the Claws need to heal."
"Yes."
"I love you, Nyomi."
"I love you too, Hiro."
There was another shuffle, and then Kenji was back on the line. “Tora?”
“Yes, baby.” I leaned against the wall. "Please be safe and get back here."
"I will, Tora. I love you."
"I love you," I whispered.
The call ended.
I stood there for a moment, staring at my phone. My hands were still shaking. Tears were still running down my face.
Through the door, I could hear a new movie playing. The music and voices sounded muffled as if they'd been shot underwater.
Inside the box, Zo and Satoshi laughed at something, in the sort of way. . .people laughed when they didn’t know grief was standing ten feet away on the other side of a door.
This icy numbness spread through my veins.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
Hiroko is dead.
I tried to find the silver lining in all of this. At least everyone else was safe. At least the war was one step closer to being over. At least they were coming home.
Okay. . .
I stood there in the hallway and could not stop staring at my phone.
Hiroko is gone. . .
In the short time I'd known her, she'd been more of a mother to me than my own mother had ever been. She'd shown me what it meant to be strong and soft at the same time.
I'd been planning to write a book about her life. About the women in the pleasure districts. About survival, resilience, and the kind of strength that most people never saw.
I’m. . .still going to write it, Hiroko. I swear. . .
She'd been my fairy dominatrix godmother, and now. . .she was gone.
Fuck. This can’t be real. What am I supposed to do without her?
Then, I thought about Zo. I was going to have to tell him. And Zo wasn't going to handle it well. He'd been friends with Hiroko longer than I had. He loved her. She'd been one of the people who looked out for him when no one else did, during his early years in Tokyo.