Hisss…
The loud noise of the Bus grinding to a halt called Chris’s attention into focus. The ride was over.
“Tōkyō ni kitekurete arigatō!”
The bus’s intercom sprang to life with some words that Chris didn’t understand, nor did he care to. He jumped out of his seat and grabbed the bag carrying all his worldly possessions from the overhead carrier and then he was off the bus. The sun was just coming out, but it didn’t feel like morning for Chris. 17 Hours flying, another two on a bus. Chris had lost almost an entire day of time, and he was exhausted. To make matters worse, the bus was delayed 40 minutes. Which delayed his trip into Tokyo. And on account of him not seeing his ride anywhere around him, either he was too late and they left him, or they guy didn’t show up. Which meant Chris had to figure out his own mode of transportation.
He checked his watch, it read 9pm.
“Shit.. I need to change it.” Chris thought to himself as he rubbed at his eyes trying to force the tiredness away. At Least he knew what the time was back home, his kid should be awake right now. Chris turned and went toward a payphone. He put his money into the thing only to hear an operator speak to him in Japanese, when he tried to dial his son’s cell phone number, before promptly hanging up.
“Oh you gotta be kidding me…” Chris said exasperatedly as he looked around him, calling out to a man in a business suit passing by him.
“Hey! Hey you! English? Tell you speak English suit! I need some help here!” The man gave Chris a trouble glance before shaking his head no and picking up his pace in the opposite direction of where Chris was standing.
“Jesus Christ.. Just my fucking luck.” Chris muttered to himself as he took out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag, closing his eyes for a moment.
“I… speak english..” A soft, female voice came from behind him. He turned to face the voice and saw a young girl, probably in highschool standing in front of him in a hoodie slightly oversized for her and some jeans that were dirty. It was still early, but Chris figured this girl should be getting to school around now, so her presence there behind him confused him. Her holding out a phone to him was a welcome surprise however.
“Listen kid, I need to make an international call.. You sure I can use yours?” “Payphone.. Does not do international.. Me or nothing.” The girl said back to him, as she held out the phone.
“Well shit, alright.. Thanks!” Chris said with a smile to the girl as he went to take the phone. Just before he could she pulled her hand back with it and offered Chris a weak smile.
“Have Yen.. Mister? For bus fare. I let you use phone for bus fare.”‘God damn it…’ Chris thought as he realized what the kid was doing. He put his cigarette back in his mouth and took a long drag as he reached for his wallet.
“Alright you little shit… how much?” Chris asked after a moment, cigarette still hanging out of his mouth.
“5000 Yen!” The kid said excitedly, seemingly surprised Chris was actually playing along.
“5000? What do I look like, your personal bank? It's like a two minute call you brat.” “Bus fare.. And lunch! Cmon.. mister! Please?” The girl looked at Chris with pleading eyes, something about it softened him. As he sighed and took out the money she was asking for.
“Sure kid.. Fine. You should ask your parents for bus fare money next time.” Chris tried to scold her, but something in her eyes at the mention of her parents told Chris all he needed to know about her situation, he just shook his head and made the transaction.
“I’m taking as long as I want with this Brat, so Id go get that lunch if I were you. I’ll be right over here by the vending machine.” The girl just rolled her eyes and nodded, as she turned her back on him, walking off to handle whatever it was she needed to handle now that she had the money for it. Chris took a moment to take another puff of his cigarette, letting the smoke linger in his lungs for a minute before letting it out and looking at the phone. Without further preamble Chris dialed his sons number into the phone.
Ring….
Ring….
Ring….
‘Hello?’“He-Hey Junior! It’s dad, listen bud I’m just calling to let you know I made it to-”‘Haha! Got you! This is my voicemail, leave a message idiot!” “..... Who the fuck thinks that funny?” Chris didn’t bother leaving a message, instead opting to call again. Same result, his kid wasn’t answering. Five calls later Chris gave up figuring that his son was playing on his computer, so he dialed his former house phone number, figuring his wife would just call Chris to him.
Ring….
Ring….
Ring….
She also didn’t answer, instead, Their voicemail played, and an ensemble of voices spewed forth…
“Hey! You’ve reached Claire!” His ex-wife’s voice was first, the sweet sound of it making Chris smile for a moment, remembering fond times with the woman…
“And Carlos!” The second voice was foreign,but Chris had enough context clues from his son to know who Carlos was. Claire’s new live in boyfriend. A scrawny desk jockey working on his own computer programming start up. The man was maybe six years younger than both Claire and Chris, and although Chris had never met him, he couldn’t help but hate him…
“Aaaand Juniooor!” The third voice particularly flared up Chris’s annoyance with his ex as he stopped listening to the rest of the voicemail What? They share a voicemail now? Some sort of big happy family? And Chris had to pay for it? His house, Child support for Junior, and now he couldn’t get either of them to answer the phone. Finally the machine beeped, and Chris was able to leave a message.
“Well holy shit! You guys are just Precious, I mean really. It’s adorable, one big happy family, getting to record that little voicemail message. Really. Well Anyway, this is Chris, y’know, the guy you made Junior with. I was just calling our son to let him know his dad made it safe to Japan. Maybe you could let him know that I’ll be calling him tomorrow around seven? That’d be greeeat Claire, or Carlos if you’re hearing this. By the way, this the same phone I bought for the house…? Or did you use a little of my money to buy a new one?” The line went dead after that, and Chris sighed. There wouldn’t be a point in calling his son now, the anger he felt toward his wife would just spill through into the conversation with Junior.
“Might as well get this back to the kid.” Chris muttered to himself as he took out another cigarette and lighting it. He took another minute then, taking a drag of his cigarette and shuffling his feet, giving the girl a moment to return for her phone. She didn’t show.
‘Aw c'mon kid.. You’re really going to make me look for you?’ Chris thought to himself as he took another long drag. He gave her another minute, still she didn’t show up. So he flicked away his cigarette and bought himself a soda and waited some more.
‘What are the odds a teenage girl forgot her phone.’ Chris thought as he leaned against the wall beside the vending machine.
‘Not very likely.’ ‘don’t care either way, I’ll just put the phone down here and focus on getting a ride toward the base.’‘She could be in trouble.’Chris heard a small yelp from behind him as he argued with himself, the noise prompting him to sigh deeply and press his hand into his face.
‘Why the fuck did you think that you prick.’‘You should go take a look.’ ‘It's not my problem… If she needs help she’ll call out, someone will go to her.’‘You heard it, do something.’Chris growled to himself, as he poked his head around the corner, toward the sound of the yelp; sure enough the girl that lent him her phone was being pushed into a darker part of the bus depot by two other kids, maybe a year or two older than her, and dressed like the kind of punks you’d see corralling a girl into a dark alley at the crack of dawn. They’ve probably been out here the entire night, up to no trouble. One was pushing the girl against the wall, the other seemed to be blocking the alley, both were facing away from where Chris was.
“God damn it.” Chris muttered under his breath, looking at the unopened can of Soda in his hand
‘She needs you.’ The voice in Chris’s head reiterated as Chris watched the ordeal the girl was going through.
“Its not my fuuucking problem…. I need to get moving…” Chris whispered to himself, as he looked around the bus depot area. It was empty, security was either changing shifts or grabbing coffee inside the main terminal area. She was on her own.
‘She helped you.. You owe her.’ The voice urged.
“I paid her. It wasn’t a favor.” Chris muttered.
‘She’s not much older than Junior’ Chris sighed again as he watched the guys bothering the girl chuckle as they tormented her, she looked distressed and they looked pleased. The voice won this time
“Issho ni jikan o sugoshite mimasen ka” The one pressing the girl against the wall said, Chris had no clue what it meant but he figured it was nothing good. Neither boy had noticed Chris approach, both of them busy tormenting the scared girl, who said nothing, only whimpering silently to herself.
The first boy blocking the entrance to the alley was the one Chris focused on, He took the boy by surprise, starting by bashing the Full Can of Soda over his head with as much force as he could muster. The can burst open with a Hiss as the Soda sprayed all over Chris and the kid.
“Aaah! Yameru!” The kid who just got walloped screamed as Chris Kicked the back of his knee in Forcing him to the ground. He’d then wrap an arm around the kids neck, isolating one of his arms to prevent him from fighting back. By this point the one closest to the girl had jumped back, watching his friend get manhandled he began to reach into his pockets.
“Hey! Stop that fucking shit right now you prepubescent little shit!” Chris shouted at the boy, as he grimaced and squeezed harder on his friends neck, tightening the hold.
“Ya-meru… Tas-uke!” The kid in Chris’s grip muttered in between jagged breaths, Chris watched the other kid stop what he was doing, genuine worry for his friend painted over his face. The girl watched this all happen in stunned silence.
“Now.. Girl.. Be a fucking doll and translate huh? I want two things from these jokers.” Chris waited to see the girl acknowledge him with a Nod before continuing.
“I want his wallet, and whatever he was reaching for on the ground in front of you right now, tell him to do it quick while his friend here is still awake.” Chris squeezed a little more for emphasis, the boy in his arms futility trying to pull his arm away, find only enough leverage to keep from being completely choked out.
The girl repeated what Chris said to the second boy, and he did as he was asked, pulling out his wallet and a pocket knife. The boy under his weight also pulled his wallet out with his free arm and tossing it into the pile.
“Now Kid, I want you to take their ID’s, and I want you to take out the money in their wallets. Do it now.” The girl obliged.
“Now read their names out to them.” She did as she was told.
“See? Now she knows your name, and where you live. Which means I do. If you bother her? Or any other girl again, I’ll come find you. And I’ll do more than choke one of you out. Am I clear? Repeat it girl.” Chris said with authority, The girl did as he asked shakily.
Both boys nodded their agreements, and Chris let the one he was holding go shoving him toward his friend.
The boy who had the pocket knife rushed over and scooped up the wallets, fear plain on his face. He went for the knife as well, but all that earned him was a strong kick to the side from Chris knocking him over.
“Knife's Mine pencil dick. You lost your privilege” Chris said, shaking his head no at the kid who in turn nodded and ran off with his friend who screamed
“Gaikoku hito kureijī koko kara deyou!”
Chris sighed as he scooped to pick up the knife, looking at the girl who stared at him with wide eyes.
“Kid, not that it's any of my business. But maybe you should stop whatever the fuck you’re doing and head home huh? If this is the first thing that happens to you today, any plans you might have.. are probably shit.” Chris said, placing the knife in his pocket and handing over the girls phone.
“You are.. Good man! Thank you!” The girl exclaimed as she lunged forward and hugged Chris, who in turned recoiled slightly.
“Yeah.. sure whatever you say kid… Home Alright? Home. Take that money and Go home. And uh, my advice? Call the cops on those kids.” The girl nodded her affirmation and dialed a number on her phone, as he ran off toward the well lit terminal. He could only hope she was calling her parents. As he also stepped back toward the light of the terminal, he saw a man in dark clothes standing near the alley, holding a sign with his name on it in Plain English. The guy probably saw all of what had just happened. Chris groaned and walked back toward the Vending Machine to collect his luggage.
“I have it inside the car already Mr.Bell.” The man with the sign said as he leaned against his car, looking at Chris.
“Well, aren't you just a ton of help!” Chris exclaimed loudly, walking over to the man with a wide smile.
“Man, Where were you Five minutes ago! Y’know, right before I almost got stabbed!”“I was here Mr.Bell, just pulled up in fact. I got stuck in some traffic, accident you see, but.. You seemed to have had that handled just fine.” The man with the sign smiled and opened the door for Chris.
“Sure.. Whatever you say.” “I’m sure you’re happy to know I’ve taken the liberty of collecting your weapons for you, the wrist knife and the pistol anyway.. The assault rifle and the rest you’ll need to check out at base.” The man said as he entered the car’s driver side, Chris following suit and climbing in.
“Thanks guy, mind taking me home huh? I’m hungry and I could use some sleep.”“Sure thing Mr.bell, you should look into taking Classes for Japanese.. You’ll need it.” “Yeah no shit…”Chris rubbed at his eyes again.
“You did a good thing just now Mr.Bell.. That girl will remember it.”Chris didn’t reply, just letting the man talk.
“I won't mention it in my report if you don’t want me to.” The man said as he began to drive toward the base.
“Yeah uh, probably better if you didn’t guy. Wouldn’t want the first thing the higher ups see about me being a fight.” Chris replied as he looked out the window. The rest of the ride was one of silence, Chris even managing to close his eyes and get some sleep. Before long he was being jostled awake by the abrupt stop of the car he was riding in, the driver looking at him with an amused face.
“We’re here Mr.Bell, welcome to the NSF.” “Yeah Thanks.. Point me to the Chow-Hall will you? I'd like to see the kind of slop Japan feeds its soldiers.” Chris said, as he stepped out of the car and collected his gear. He listened to the mans directions as he attached the wrist knife to his left arm, and put the pistol into a Thigh holster the man also provided.
His eyes didn’t wander much, maybe it was because he was tired from the trip or the whole ordeal at the bus station. But all Chris wanted was a hot meal, and a bed to call his own. Eventually he stepped into the Chow hall, his bag still at his side he made his way to an empty table, only nodding politely to anyone who made eye contact with him. Once he situated his bag, he silently made his way to the chow line, picking up his breakfast and heading back for his seat.
Deadnaut
