by Phil Wheeler
He walked back into his room, and opened his suitcase. Taking out a T-shirt, walking shorts, and his favorite walking shoes, he quickly dressed and headed for the door. He needed to walk. As he passed streets with names like Aikokucho and Sennichicho, he marveled at the beauty of this land, with the mountains in the distance and the ocean close by it was unlike anything he'd ever seen. Heading down to the ocean, he walked along the waterfront for a while, and then turned to head back towards the hotel. The buildings in this area were mostly modern, but still had a decidedly Japanese look to them. He wanted to see some of the older areas, but needed to get back to the hotel and get ready. It would have to wait for another time.
Returning to his hotel room he showered and shaved, dressed in fresh shorts and T-shirt and put back on his walking shoes. Tomiko had said they were going sightseeing and he wanted to be ready. It was a little after 9 when he stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby. The local desk had copies of The Daily Yomiuri, an English language newspaper, and he bought one, and found a seat to read and wait.
Tomiko picked him up at 9:28. “I thought that we could go to Amami-Oshima Island.”, she said. “It is the best diving resort in Japan. The water is very clear, almost transparent and the sea around the island is blessed with bright colored coral reefs and tropical fish...” Tomiko had stopped talking, for it was evident by the look on Dylan's face that he was going to be sick.
“I don't do water very well. I'm sorry, it's just that, as a child I almost drowned, and I've been terrified of being in water over my head ever since. I really would like to pass on this – I'm sorry.” Dylan was apologetic, but his face was still white.
“That OK, I didn't know.”, said Tomiko, “we can do something else. Let me think a moment.” They were met at the hotel lobby by Tomiko's chauffeur. The Mercedes awaited outside. As they entered the car, Tomiko said, “I know what we can do, let's walk the city.”
Dylan was much relieved.
First stop was the castle town section of Kagoshima, dating back to the 14th century. Located in the northeastern part of the Satsuma-hanto Peninsula and facing Kinko Bay, the area still had many historic spots associated with the Meiji Restoration period. Tomiko's vast knowledge of the history of this area fascinated him, she was like a walking encyclopedia. “During the 14th century political reforms were undertaken to convert the country from feudalism to a modern unified nation. In 1866 two leaders of the most powerful regions, the Satsuma and Choshu domains, got together in support of the emperor. They challenged the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate, wanting to restore the power of the emperor.”
“Shogunate, isn't that something to do with samurai and swords?, he asked.
“That was very much the case. Shogun means a commander of force, and the Shogun were the military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. They were supposed to be appointed by the emperor, but the position was often hereditary.”
“So what happened with these two guys?”
“On February 3, 1867, the Emperor Meiji ascended the throne. The Shogunate ended on November 9, 1867, when Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu put his prerogatives at the emperor's disposal. He resigned 10 days later.”, said Tomiko.
That seems easy enough.” Dylan was surprised that so powerful a man would just step aside, but what he knew about the Japanese way of life was minimal.
“Almost. In January of 1868, the Boshin war started with the battle of Toba-Fushimi. Boshin means war of the year of the dragon. The forces of Choshu and Satsuma defeated the ex-shogun's army, and allowed the Emperor to strip Yoshinobu of all power. That was the true end of Shogunate power in Japan.”
They walked for what seemed like hours, and Dylan was lost in the history and the beauty of this place and each stop became a history lesson, with him the eager student. “Shiro-yama hill is known as the last hard-fought battlefield of the Meiji Restoration.”, she said. Walking the hilltop, he could see Kagoshima below, and a view of Kagoshima Bay in the distance with its quiet waves and the grandeur of Sakurajima.
Next, they walked the carefully tended paths of the Kyuiso-Tei-en Garden, also called Sengan-en. There was a view of Sakurajima beyond Kagoshima Bay, and the garden was a vision of cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, and azaleas. In the Shoko-shusei-kan Museum the materials and records of the factories which supported the modernization of Kagoshima by manufacturing cannons, boats and glassware called Satsuma-kiriko in the Edo Period in 17th century were preserved and exhibited. Everywhere they went the history of this ancient land was evident.
“In the States we have nothing to compare to this, our oldest buildings are hundreds of years old, not thousands.”, he said.
“True, we are an ancient culture. Sometimes, that has worked to our advantage, and sometimes it has not.” Their sightseeing over for the day, they'd returned to the car. Tomiko was sitting next to him in the backseat; she sat close, closer than she had to. He took a deep breath, inhaling the wonderful, almost primal, fragrance of her body. It was hard to keep his mind focused.
Chapter 28
“Dylan, what do you think of the Kibi?” After their day of sightseeing, they had gone to a local restaurant for a late lunch and Tomiko ordered for him. Kibi was a local delicacy – a tiny herring served sashimi style with a vinegared soybean paste. It had been served on a black plate trimmed with red dragons.
“Not only does it taste great”, remarked Dylan, “but the plate is beautiful.”
Tomiko was thankful that Dylan was enjoying himself. Too many times gaijin came to Japan and wanted American cuisine, and Americanized Japanese food. Dylan had proved different. This gaijin, this foreigner, was willing to try anything and liked most of them.
The afternoon passed, and they walked the streets of the city. Tomiko had released the car and driver, saying that the only way to truly see the city was on foot. She was dressed similarly to him, in a T-shirt, shorts, and comfortable walking shoes, and as she stopped to look at an item in one of the many shops along the avenue he hung back some to admired what he saw. Her legs were long and slender, but not overly muscular, even without high heels, they were shapely. He was of the opinion that the only reason women wore heels was so that their legs and butt looked better, but Tomiko was in need of no assistance in that department, her legs were lovely. The T-shirt moved around her, blown by a gentle breeze, and by the way that it sometimes clung to her breasts it was obvious that she was not wearing anything underneath.
“Dylan?” Her voice snapped him back to the real world. She was looking at him, smiling, and it was obvious that she had caught him looking at her. There was no sign of anger or disapproval, but he still was embarrassed at getting caught.
“I'm sorry, I was daydreaming. What was it you said?” He was sure his face was turning red.
She looked at him for a moment, then laughed, “It appeared more like you were looking at my legs.”
Now, his face went from red to crimson red. “I apologize, I didn't mean to – I … I am sorry.”
“Don't be”, she said, “I like that you look.” She kissed his cheek, and was gone down the street, leaving him to stand there, again she'd managed to turn his head around, leaving him confused but strangely happy.
Chapter 29
For dinner that evening, they went to a place that Tomiko called, Gourmet-dori, Gourmet Street. The small eating establishment she had chosen served the local 'Satsuma' cuisine. Satsuma was the old name for Kagoshima Prefecture, and had a most distinctive culinary history. Dylan tried torisashi for an appetizer, and she hadn't told him until after he'd tried it what it was – raw chicken thinly sliced, both the meat of the bird and the heart are served with ground ginger and soy sauce for dipping – and had waited with some trepidation for his reaction but, other than a slightly pained look, he had pronounced it good.
The next course she ordered was Tonkotsu. “This is a pork dish; a stew made with miso”. Tomiko was beginning to enjoy
the Tour guide part of her job. “The pork is cooked very slowly so that it becomes very soft and even the bones can be eaten. A large amount of shouchu is added into the broth as well, which gives Tonkotsu a slightly sweet flavor in addition the taste of the meat and miso.”
“Tomiko, I have to confess, I have heard of miso, but I certainly don't know what sch-chew is – am I pronouncing that right?” Dylan was having a great time but was a little befuddled by all the new things that Tomiko was having him try.
Tomiko laughed at his attempt to master the strange words that he was hearing. “Almost got it right – it's pronounced “SOU – chew.”
Dylan, not wishing to be completely ignorant, said, “And miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermented soybeans and resulting in a thick paste, right?”
“Yes”, smiled Tomiko, “It's a Japanese culinary staple. Miso is still very widely used in Japan, both in traditional and modern cooking. It is typically salty, but its flavor and aroma depend on various factors in the ingredients and fermentation process.”
They were sharing each dish, and he enjoyed the intimacy that it afforded. “Ok, what's next?”, said Dylan, a grin escaping his face.
“How about a glass of Satsuma Shochu to wash down your meal?”
“Sat-what?”, replied Dylan, thoroughly mystified by the difficulty of the Japanese language.
“Sat – suma Sho-chu”, mused Tomiko, “It's what's in that dish, it’s a distilled liquor with an alcohol content of about 25%. The shochu that is unique to Kagoshima and is made from local sweet potatoes called 'Satsumaimo'”.
“Bring it on.”, Dylan said, not feeling nearly as brave as he sounded.
“Great”, Tomiko responded, and was secretly amused by the barely concealed look of trepidation on Dylan's face. “The final dish is called Kuroushi.”
“I'm almost afraid to ask,” smiled Dylan, “but, what is Kuroushi?”
“Black beef, not because of the actual meat, but the color of the skin. They have been bred here for over 400 years. Normally, it's served shabu shabu style, a hot pot of thinly sliced meat and vegetables, but can be prepared as a steak. I have asked them to do so ”
“Sounds great”, said Dylan. A steak did sound pretty good right about now. Dylan was feeling a little like a fish out of water. The language, the food, the accommodations, the people, were all so different than anything that he had ever experienced. Not that he wasn't enjoying it, on the contrary, he was beginning to think that he could learn to call this place home. Especially, if home include Tomiko.
Tomiko looked at the tall westerner. He was surprisingly attractive. Standing at just over 6 feet he was slightly stocky but looked to be in excellent shape. His sandy brown hair was somewhat unruly, short, and simply combed to one side. His blue eyes were beautiful, they demanded her full attention. He was fair skinned, and not overly hairy, for which she was glad. Japanese men generally were not hairy and Tomiko found it difficult to overcome that particular cultural bias.
Chapter 30
After dinner they returned to the hotel, and once again Dylan felt the bitter sweetness of time spent with her and the knowledge that it was about to end. They took the elevator to the 6th floor and walked down the hallway in silence. He unlocked the door to the hotel room, and turned to look at her. She gazed at him for only a moment, then entered the room, closing the door behind them. He followed her past the bathroom area and kitchenette and into the main room. It was like in a dream, this beautiful girl was here with him.
As he approached her from behind she turned to face him. She took a step forward and encircled his neck in her arms, brought her face to his, and gently kissed him. It was like an electric shock passing through his body setting his every nerve on fire; pleasure touched every fiber of his being. She stepped back, and her eyes were full of desire. Reaching down to her waist, she pulled her T-shirt over her head, shaking her hair free so it cascaded all around her face. Her rounded breasts were small, with brown nipples standing erect in two perfectly circled dark brown areolae’s. She pulled at his shirt, and he barely got it off before she was in his arms again. The feel of her warm body pressed into him and threatened to send his mind into sensory overload.
Stepping back onto the living room rug she kicked off her shoes, then drew him to her. Kneeling down before him she unbuckled his belt and removed his clothing then moved to the bed and lay down. Her hair spread around her face like a dark halo. Stepping out of his clothes, he joined her on the bed. He undid the button on her jeans and slid them down her tanned legs, she wore no undergarments. As he moved towards her she spread her thighs apart and he lay between them. He kissed her lips, they tasted like sweet wine, and they made love. Their slow rhythm gained momentum, and it was soon over. He moved to one side, and lay there exhausted. He asked, “Will you stay with me tonight?”
She opened her eyes and looked at him. Instead of answering, she moved her body over him, brushing her breasts against his bare chest, and reached for her jeans. Dylan stomach knotted and grew cold. She was going to get dressed and leave. Why did he have to open his big mouth and ruin the moment? Tomiko grabbed her jeans, but instead of moving to put them on she reached into a pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Opening the phone, she quickly hit a number key and waited for the person on the other side to pick up. “Hello, Koji, this is Ms. Samuelson. Please pick us up down front tomorrow morning around 10 am. I won't need you anymore tonight. Have a good evening.”
Chapter 31
The insistent chirping of the telephone sitting on the nightstand by his bed slowly penetrated into his subconscious. Rolling over to look at the clock on the nightstand, he groaned. “Are you serious? Who is calling me at 2:30 in the morning?” He glanced back over his shoulder to look at Tomiko lying in the bed next to him. She was still asleep, but starting to stir. Not wishing to disturb her slumber, he rolled toward the night stand and reached for the phone. “Hello?”
“Is this Dylan Teague?” The voice on the other end sounded familiar.
“Yes. What do you want?” He was still barely awake, and resented the intrusion. It made him answer gruffly.
“Dr. Teague, this is Detective Carter Robinson, from the Cleveland Police. I realize that it's very early there, but I felt that you should know. There appears to have been an accident at your lab.”
The news caused him to sit quickly upright in bed, and it woke Tomiko. “What's wrong?”, she said.
“There's been an accident at my lab in Cleveland. It's the Cleveland PD calling to let me know.” He looked at Tomiko lying next to him. The bed sheet had fallen from her body as she moved to sit up. She made no attempt to cover herself, and he thought how beautiful she looked.
“Dr. Teague, are you there?, came the questioning voice on the phone.
“Yes”, said Dylan, taking his eyes from Tomiko's naked body. “What happened?”
“There seems to have been an explosion. Right now, the working theory is that a gas line ruptured and a spark ignited it. It was a very large explosion.”, the Detective said.
The pit of Dylan's stomach was icy. A large explosion? It couldn't have been his power supply, it was too stable. ”Was anyone injured?”
“Two bodies have been pulled from the wreckage, but have not been identified as of yet. There were two vehicles in the lot outside, but the blast makes it hard to ID anything. One vehicle appeared to be a late model Chevy Malibu, the other was a motorcycle. Did they belong to your employees?
“Oh my god, that's my assistant David's car, and one of the guard’s rides a motorcycle.” He sat there in stunned silence. David had taken him to the airport in his car, a blue Malibu.
Tomiko must have seen the look on his face, for she leaned against his shoulder, and said, “Something bad has happened, hasn't it? Dylan, please tell me what is wrong.”
I - it's the lab. It blew up.” He sat in stunned silence. Tomi
ko could hear the voice at other end of the line calling out, “Dr. Teague, are you alright? Doctor....”
“Dylan, give me the phone.” She took the phone from his hand, “Hello, this is Tomiko Samuelson, who am I speaking with?”
“Ms. Samuelson, my name is Carter Robinson, and I'm a detective with the Cleveland PD, is Dr. Teague alright?”, said the concerned voice.
“He is very distraught. It's just that it's very early here, and I don't know that we are awake quite yet.”
“I understand. Would it be possible for Dr. Teague to call me back in a couple of hours?”, asked the detective.
“Yes. Why don't you give me a number where you can be reached?”
The detective gave Tomiko the phone number. She reached across Dylan to hang up the phone and looked at him with concern in her eyes. “Are you alright?”, she asked.
Dylan hadn't moved since she'd taken the phone from him. He finally turned to her, tears in his eyes, and said, “It was David. He was in the lab when it blew up. I can't believe it, he took me to the airport.”