Reality Strikes Read online

  He didn’t laugh. “Erin, this is serious. Death has marked you as his.”

  Chapter 12

  The Beginning of the End

  December 31-11:00 PM

  Do-over

  Walking the mile home along the railroad tracks was never harder than tonight. It wasn’t the bitter cold winter air and the threat of snow that made my feet heavy.

  It was Kenzo’s words that hit me to the core. Had the god of death really marked me as his? The whole thing reminded me way too much of the reapers in Supernatural who followed their charges until the day of their death. No, Kenzo had to be wrong. The handprint had been almost the same size as my own. The bronze statue at the Mukagawa’s didn’t even come up to my waist. Plus, the marks were fading. Despite my rigorous mile walk home my heart beat in slow motion. With every step I took, my body grew heavier. Kenzo’s words haunted just like the ghost. By the time I turned the key in the front door, I clocked in at three hundred and pounds.

  Hiroshi was having his usual weekend marathon mahjong game despite the fact it was New Year’s Eve. I waved at the guys as I continued down the hallway. Fudo called my name, but I just kept walking. The only thing I wanted was the comfort of my flannel pajamas and to be wrapped in the warm embrace of the down-filled comforter. Instead, when I opened the door, there stood Tori. I should have been thrilled to see her back in my little hovel of a room, but I really needed some time alone. Then again, maybe she was still angry with me and was going to give me the silent treatment.

  She took one look at my face. “What the hell happened to you?”

  I gave her a weak smile, grateful she was at least talking to me. “Too much partying while you were gone. Enough about me. I want to know all about your trip.”

  She looked deep into my eyes. “Don’t lie to me. Something is wrong!”

  I don’t know which felt worse, the pain of Kenzo’s revelation, or the fact Tori was going to badger me until she got the truth.

  Normally Tori would have raced to my side. Instead, she sat on the floor. “It’s Kenzo, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t want to talk about him.”

  She ignored me. “I told you he was no good. You never listen to me.”

  My friend forced me to lie to her. “Honestly it’s not about Kenzo. I was out with my friends Gina and Setsuko. We just hit too many clubs in one night.”

  “Actually, I wished I’d a chance to meet them while I was here. Especially Gina…you said she was my replacement.”

  There was bitterness in her voice. “Well, it was on your list. And I’m ever grateful you put it there because, without the nudge from you I wouldn’t have made new friends as quickly.”

  She cracked a half smile. “I knew you needed a push. You’ve been shy since I met you in kindergarten.”

  I got down on the floor and gave her a hug. “Thanks for being there for me. I don’t think I can handle losing my best friend, too.”

  At first Tori sat rigid, then I felt her shoulders relax.

  “Erin, I know it’s not your fault. You were only the messenger. Just give me a bit more time to get used to being adopted.” She gave me a quick hug and stood up. “Look, tonight is the beginning of shogatsu, the big New Year’s festival. I heard Hiroshi talking about how the whole village will be there. It’s all about good luck in the future. I think we both could use some, don’t you?”

  I knew she still hadn’t totally forgiven me for telling her the truth, but at least she was willing to try. Pushing aside my exhaustion, I said, “Sounds good. Let me just change my clothes and wash my face.”

  She gave me a smile. “Dress to impress. I bet Fudo is going to be there.”

  Just like her to play matchmaker as a distraction. “Think I might need a bit more time to get over the fact that my feminine charms aren’t as irresistible as I thought.”

  Tori waved the thought away with a flick of her hand. “You need to get back on the horse right away and start dating Fudo. Oh, and make sure you wear the geta he bought you.”

  I retreated to the safety of my closet. She had to be kidding. Walking in geta was like trying to navigate a series of potholes with a block of wood on your feet. They must have special classes in school dedicated to mastering the skill. Tori was right about one thing, it wouldn’t hurt to dress up a bit with most of the village at the festival. Besides, I had to give her some competition. She looked amazing in her black cable sweater and cranberry velvet pants. I threw on my black cords and a bright blue angora sweater that brought out the color of my eyes. “Will this pass the Tori fashionista meter?”

  “He’s going to love you in blue.” Then she threw me a box of Little Pockys. “You’re going to need these. The celebration lasts forty-eight hours.”

  We walked towards Shiso Temple, nestled high on a hill in the middle of the village. Piles of snow from last night’s storm lined the sides of the road. The cold air hit my lungs as my mind played the parting scene with Kenzo over and over like a continuous loop on a tape recorder. He had to be wrong. I couldn’t be cursed—especially by death.

  I still felt a distinct chill coming from Tori. Maybe if I could get her to open up about her visit, it could bring us closer together. “You still haven’t said a word about your trip.”

  “It was no big deal. They told me my father used to pick his toenails clean at the dinner table.”

  Just like Tori to try and dodge the secret with a joke. “No way. That was definitely a TMI moment.”

  Tori slowed her pace as the throng of people, most dressed in traditional kimonos, formed a huge line edging towards the temple grounds. “This is going to be fun. Most of the village is here.”

  Her use of a distraction told me she wasn’t going to confide in me, but I was determined to get my best friend back. The crowd pressed against us. I scanned the mass of people and wondered if we’d run across Hiroshi and Fudo amongst the tangle of bodies. I grabbed Tori’s hand. “Please tell me what you learned from the family.”

  She stood with her feet glued to the ground as the crowd pushed its way around us towards the main temple. “I can’t. It’s too painful.”

  Pulling Tori away from the crowd, I led her over to a small bench. She wiped off the film of snow with her scarf. “I need to sit down. The story still makes me weak in the knees.”

  I held her hand. “It’s okay. Go on.”

  Tori moved so close to me her warm breath was on my cheek. “You can’t tell anyone.”

  I tried to hide my joy that she was letting me back into her life. “Of course not.”

  Tori kicked at a lump of snow. “You’re not going to like the news any more than I did.”

  I gripped her hand tighter. “It’s about your father.”

  Tori pushed my hand away. “You knew and you didn’t tell me.”

  I took hold of her shoulders. “Tori, I swear I told you everything. I guessed your father had a secret when I saw him too many times in the family photo album—but I had no idea what it was.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Turns out my parents couldn’t have children, so they wanted to adopt. They contacted their relatives in Japan in hopes of adopting a cousin. For years my father came here, but never had any luck until one of the cousins had a child with a man from Hokkaido. It was a one-night stand. The Mukagawas had married local men for centuries. It caused a huge scandal, so the family suggested my parents adopt the baby.”

  “Adoption isn’t something to be ashamed of, so why didn’t your parents tell you the truth? Why make up stories?”

  Tori gulped down a mouthful of tears. “I guess to protect the family secret. But at the cost of betraying me?”

  Fighting my own tears, I stroked Tori’s face. “Maybe because they never thought of you as anything but their daughter.”

  Tori threw her arms around me. “You are the best friend ever.”

  We hugged each other so tight a group of people stopped and stared as we sat on the bench, oblivious. Tori wiped her tears away and gave me a
weak smile. “At least I’m half Mukagawa.”

  The old Tori was quickly returning. I pulled her up from the bench. “Enough family drama. Let’s go tie a fortune to a tree.”

  Her face lit up. “That’s a great idea.”

  We walked along the street hand in hand, trying to find a way to sneak in line. I nudged past a few people until someone grabbed my shoulder.

  “Erin, come stand with us.” Fudo looked quite handsome in a black and grey patterned kimono dotted with tiny white cranes.

  Tori stood next to Hiroshi dressed in one of his crazy jumpsuits. She reached out and gave him a high five. “Guess it’s officially party central. Elvis is in the house.”

  Poor Hiroshi nervously stroked his sideburns. “Y’all make fun me?”

  Tori hooked her arm through Hiroshi’s. “No. I’m a huge fan of the King and you too.”

  Fudo whispered in my ear. “I am so glad you came. We can start the New Year together.”

  I looked at his face and was glad we found each other in the crazy crowd. What a great comfort to enter the New Year with friends. Hiroshi was along for comic relief. I looked at my boots and felt guilty I hadn’t even tried to wear the geta.

  Fudo followed my gaze. “Don’t worry. I didn’t wear mine either.” He pulled up the hem of his kimono to reveal a pair of snowshoes.

  When we arrived at the temple veranda, a line of monks dressed in long black robes sat behind tables, each holding a wooden box and a set of sticks. I pointed to one of the boxes and asked Fudo, “What is it for?”

  “Watch.”

  The woman shook the box until one of the sticks fell out of a hole in the bottom. Fudo stood quietly as the monk turned the stick over in his hands and then picked a small paper from a long rectangular box. He pointed to something in the woman’s hand. “That’s her fortune.”

  “Wow, it must be a good one. She looks really happy.”

  Fudo took my arm. “Now we’re going to follow her so you can see what she does next.”

  The lady walked carefully in the snow in her high-platform geta until she came to a large ginkgo tree next to a stone lantern. She reached way over her head until she was able to grab one of the branches. She tied her fortune to a small leafless branch.

  Fudo whispered in my ear, “When the wind blows across the treetops, the spirits will grant the woman’s fortune.”

  If only life was that easy. I loved all the rituals of Japan, so I was more than happy to follow the New Year’s tradition. “Sounds wonderful.”

  Tori chimed in, “Just be sure if you get a bad fortune to tie it really low on the tree. That way it won’t come true. “

  It never occurred to me that some of the fortunes would be less than favorable.

  “What do you mean? How can you get a bad one?”

  Fudo laughed. “Some of them are terrible. Like, you will die from cancer this year. But most of them are very good. Do not worry.”

  I was worried. I’d had enough bad luck since I arrived in Japan. My body still wasn’t back to one hundred percent thanks to my bout with Hashika and the god of death. I could use some good luck for a change.

  The monk handed me the box that felt so heavy I almost dropped it. I slowly shook the sticks, almost hoping nothing would fall out. One did. I took the fortune from the monk’s calloused hand and gave it to Fudo. “I could tell by the monk’s scrunched up face, next year isn’t going to be very lucky.”

  As Fudo read the paper, his brow raised higher and higher. “Well, it says you will have a very successful year but someone you love might die.”

  Kenzo’s face popped into my mind. I knew his work at the PSIA could be dangerous, but I pushed the thought away. I turned to Fudo. “I have an idea.” I grabbed Tori’s ring finger. “What happens if I tie it here?”

  Fudo stood with a horrified look on his face. I was making a joke out of a centuries-old tradition. Tori held her hand with the fortune up high in the air. “Thanks, now I’ll have to hold my arm up for a year.”

  Hiroshi let out a chuckle as he pulled a camera out of his pocket and took our picture. “Y’all funny American girls.”

  Fudo grabbed my hand. “Here, it’s against the rules, but take mine. You deserve good luck.”

  I walked to an ancient moss-covered ginkgo tree on the far side of the temple. I stood on my tiptoes and tied the fortune to a sturdy branch. “There.” I walked back to Fudo. “What did the fortune say?”

  His face lit up. “You will find your true love.”

  January 2-4:30 PM

  Sayonara, Tori

  “Flight fifty-six twenty to Los Angeles is boarding at gate B twenty.”

  I stared at Tori and couldn’t believe it was time to say good-bye. Japan had almost torn us apart. In the end, it made our friendship stronger. I gave her a hug I hoped would last the six months until I’d see her again. “Thanks for coming to my rescue. If you hadn’t flown all the way here, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

  Tori squeezed my hand. “I didn’t want to miss my last chance to kick your ass.”

  I gave her hand a squeeze back. “I love you, too.”

  The loud speaker crackled to life. “Security check line is experiencing delays.”

  She gave me a hug so strong I felt my lungs collapsing. “I couldn’t have accepted the news of my adoption from anyone but you.”

  I waved good-bye to the best friend in the world, grateful her dare had sent me on an adventure that changed my life. Instinctively, I felt for the piece of paper tucked in my jeans pocket. In the crazy whirlwind of the last few weeks, I had forgotten all about my other major accomplishment. Not only had I won back my best friend, but I’d completed her to-do list, thanks to Tori taking number one off the list. She realized landing a boyfriend in Japan, especially a rocker guy was pretty much impossible.

  As Tori vanished into the sea of travelers, I crossed off number eight. There certainly had been some major dirt hidden in the Mukagawa family closet. More than either of us could ever have known.

  January 2 6:00

  The Truth Hurts

  For tonight’s viewing pleasure the JumboTron featured five people dressed up in bright yellow egg costumes dancing to a techno beat while they stirred their cup of noodles and kicked up their gigantic white feet. I had to give them an A+ for hand and foot coordination. Not one of the eggs missed a beat.

  “Don’t we have the stupidest commercials?” Kenzo asked as he snuck up behind me.

  I chuckled. “I think they are fun. If I ever need a laugh, I just have to turn on the TV.”

  He squeezed my shoulder. “How are you doing? You haven’t called me, so I take it that means no more sightings.”

  I had to admit I had been surprised nothing happened at the temple on New Year’s, but my ghost only seemed to show itself when I was alone. Tori had been by my side—until today. I didn’t like the look of concern on his face. “No, nothing has happened, thankfully. Well, except I got a crappy fortune at the temple.”

  He brightened a bit even though it still seemed like a dark cloud was hanging over him. “Oh, I’m glad you followed the tradition. What did the fortune say?”

  “That someone I loved might die.”

  He shivered. “It’s cold out here. Let’s head to a café.”

  “No, love hotel tonight?”

  He gave me a weak smile. “I could use some quality time on the hydro-massage.”

  I laughed. “So could I. My body still gets achy from the leftover ravages of Hashika.”

  Kenzo took my arm. “How about some Shabu Shabu for dinner tonight?” He rubbed his hands together. “It’s crazy cold.”

  The Siberian winds seemed to have kicked it up a notch. The way the wind whipped through the skyscrapers made the chill factor even higher. Kenzo, always the gentleman, used his long leather trench coat to block the wind so I didn’t get the brunt of the blistering cold. I smiled when I noticed his typical rocker uniform had been replaced by a black tailored suit.
It reminded me of the ones Sam and Dean put on when they were posing as FBI agents. Kenzo must have come straight from PSIA headquarters. Things were heating up.

  “Thanks for the gallant gesture,” I said eyeing his trench coat shield. “And Shabu Shabu sounds perfect.”

  At a brisk pace, Kenzo led me to a minuscule restaurant located down a tiny alleyway. “Best Shabu joint in Shinjuku.”

  Kenzo’s passion for food guaranteed the place would be good. The fragrance of meat mixed with onions and garlic greeted me as we walked through the door. My mouth watered like I hadn’t eaten anything in days. I had only tried Shabu Shabu once before at Tori’s house. Her mother was an excellent cook and I especially looked forward to when she made Japanese meals.

  A waiter led us over to a low table with a steaming metal pot in the middle. As soon as we sat down on the floor cushions, a variety of plates materialized in front of us. Thinly cut beef, two kinds of mushrooms, firm tofu, green onions, and napa cabbage.

  Kenzo lifted the lid off the bubbling pot, “The vegetables go in first to flavor the broth.”

  “I’ve had Shabu Shabu before.” I picked up the large serving chopsticks that lay on top of the meat. “I put the beef in and swish it around, but just until it turns light brown.”

  He smiled. “Very good.”

  Like most meals with Kenzo, we devoured the rest of our meal in silence. I tossed the tofu and some udon noodles into the pot. “The broth is the best part.”

  “It is,” Kenzo said as he used a small strainer to fish out the fat the beef had left behind. He ladled some broth into his bowl and tossed in a few noodles and tofu pieces. “The perfect meal for a cold night.”

  The warm broth slid down my throat along with some noodles and I dreaded going back out into the cold. “I wish we could have the meeting here.”

  He sighed. “Me too. But our conversation is top secret.”