Summertime of the Dead (15 page)

I cut through the Ginza Crossing, and turning down one of its fancy backstreets I started a grid search. There were lots of sushi bars and restaurants, and a sax blasting from a phoney jazz bar. And there were lots of fancy stores where women in designer
clothes were waiting for someone to come in. Not exactly a yakuza hangout, but you never know.

I passed the packed Apple Store and turned off at the gold-coloured Cartier building to continue my search. I took a turn around the Conrad and Peninsular hotels but all I saw was well-dressed rich people. I'd heard that Riko hung out in Ginza sometimes, but I couldn't imagine her in those places; she had no class.

When I got hungry I cruised across the Sumida River and pulling up outside a FamilyMart I bought a couple of pieces of fried chicken. I ate them while walking back towards Ginza and the river. There were brightly lit barges on the water and tourist boats going by. I could hear a tour guide's smooth voice and see the flashes from the cameras reflected in the water. Downriver was the bustling fish market where I used to go with my father as a boy, and beyond that were Ginza's huge hotels. It was a nice night and there was a cool breeze by the river.

My mind kind of mellowed then, and I tried to think of the name of the girl who'd tapped my helmet. She had a really nice face and good teeth. I like girls with good teeth. I remember seeing her talking to Miko one time. I even think she was at the funeral.
Maybe she was interested in me. It would be nice if she was. But then I felt so guilty I sank. Miko's ashes were still warm and I was thinking of someone else. And what sort of girl was she anyway? Tapping on my helmet when she knew what Miko had meant to me! I felt so angry when I thought about it. And where the hell are these yakuza cowards who were responsible for her death? I swear I wanted to find one so badly … Then a thought came to me. The only place I hadn't been to was the florist where Hiroshi threw the brick.

I went back to the bike, and kick-starting the engine I rode back across the bridge. All the way to the florist's I kept telling myself that no one would be there. But I kept the bike at full throttle all the same, and I was soon passing through Roppongi. I stayed on the outskirts of Shibuya to avoid the heavy traffic. Then crossing the tracks at Uehara station I headed down the long, narrow road that led to the shop. As I neared it I saw there was a light on and so I pulled up behind a parked car.

The street was badly lit and walled in with apartment blocks. There were shops on the ground floor, but they were all shut and the street itself was almost deserted. I took the nylon bag from under
the seat and made my way down to the florist's. I held the sword close to my side, in case anyone came, and I kept my helmet on because I'd left my hat at home.

I stopped on the opposite side of the road and peered into the store. All the flowers had gone, but there were two men sitting inside. They were eating a takeaway. One of them was dressed in a suit and tie, and he must have been about sixty. The other was in his twenties and he was wearing a T-shirt that showed off his muscles. I could see them talking, but I couldn't make out what they were saying.

There was a blind alley next to the florist's and the back door was open. If I could hear what they were saying I'd know if they were yakuza or not. I crept down the alley, but just as I neared the door I heard them coming out. I jumped into a doorway and hid in the shadows.

‘How long do you think it will take me to become a soldier?'

‘You've only been a trainee for a year.'

I was sure they were yakuza. I peered around the corner. Light from the doorway was shining on the two men, who were lighting up cigarettes.

The younger guy leaned on a parked car and took
a long drag. ‘But with your guidance, Basho, I'll get there. I want to be a soldier by the time I'm twenty-five. You know Suzuki made lieutenant by then.'

‘Yes, but he was Yoshio Kodama's grandson,' said the older man.

‘And even that didn't stop him from being killed.'

The old man looked away. ‘Suzuki wasn't killed.'

‘No. How did he die? Can you tell me?'

‘Sure. It's no secret,' said the old man. ‘He started dating Takahashi's daughter. It's always a mistake to date a boss's daughter. Then he made an even bigger mistake: he dumped her. Takahashi, taking it as a slight upon himself, had him kicked out. And Suzuki, with nowhere else to go, fell on his sword.'

‘He committed suicide? Couldn't he have done something else?'

‘What was he going to do, serve sushi? No, you can have a good career in the yakuza. But it doesn't prepare you for anything else.'

As soon as I heard those words the butterflies came. I slid the sword from its mounting and gripped it tight. I was just about to step out when I heard …

‘And what about this Psycho Killer? You think he's an assassin sent by Tomi Yamamoto?'

The older man sounded bewildered. ‘Why would
Tomi Yamamoto kill Uncle Benni's niece? It serves no purpose.'

‘I suppose not,' said the younger guy, and sucked on his cigarette. ‘You ever meet Louise Tanaka? I heard she was a bit of a psycho herself.'

‘I never met her or any of the Tanakas. And I've never so much as spoken to Uncle Benni. The only person I ever meet is my lieutenant. And he doesn't say much when I do.'

I was considering leaving it. They weren't exactly big shots. But it was obvious that they'd taken over the florist's, which meant that the owner had paid off his son's debts by giving them the place … No, I couldn't leave it. They were the enemy.

The young guy suddenly perked up. ‘Tell me, Basho, who do you think is the greater godfather – Uncle Benni or Yoshio Kodama?'

‘I don't know,' said the old man, sounding bored. ‘They're from different generations.' He stamped on his cigarette. ‘Come on, let's lock up.'

I could feel my legs quivering as I stepped out of the doorway. Both men kind of froze when they saw me. And then they saw the sword.

‘It's him!' shouted the old man, and ran for the door.

I beat him to it and stabbed him through the back. Then I turned, expecting an attack. But the younger guy had jumped in the car and locked the doors. He was searching frantically for the keys but he couldn't find them. ‘Basho! Basho!' he shouted. ‘If you've killed Basho, I'll kill you!'

‘You'll have to get out the car first!'

‘Basho!' He started to cry.

‘You'll never make lieutenant blubbering like that!' I shouted. But I knew I couldn't get him and so I walked away.

‘You think that helmet hides your face, but it doesn't!' he screamed. ‘I'll remember you!'

I froze with my back to him. I couldn't leave him alive! I looked for something to break the window with, but there was nothing. I tried to kick in the glass but my sneakers were too soft. He started shouting into his cell. Then he looked at me. ‘There's a crew on the way! You'd better get out of here!'

I saw a lighter on the ground. I ran to the old man and took off his tie.

‘Please … tell my daughter I loved her.'

I ignored him, and ripping off the petrol cap I shoved the tie inside. Then I lit it. I tried to run
before it exploded, but BOOM! It was like a bomb had gone off! The car filled up with fire and smoke, and the guy just sat there burning.

I grabbed the mounting and bolted back down the alley. I put the sword in the nylon bag and walked out on to the street. Lights were going on all over the place and windows were opening.

‘What happened?' asked an old woman from her window.

A man in a kimono came to his door. ‘Sounded like a gas explosion.'

A young woman with a baby pointed from her balcony. ‘There's a fire down the alley!'

I kept the sword at my left side and slipped it under the seat. I was about to ride away, but there were too many people by then; it would have looked suspicious. And so I rode back towards the scene and pulled up like a passer-by. The car was ablaze and black smoke billowed from the burning rubber. People were running towards it with water. Men were shouting and a woman began to scream. I watched two silhouettes drag the young guy's burning body from the car. Then I noticed dozens more people standing in their nightclothes, their faces lit up by the flames. They stared in wonder at the bodies and
the burning car. Some of them seemed terrified but others looked on like happy children watching a horror show.

And there I stood in the aftermath of battle like so many samurai before me, but the feeling of power that I'd felt earlier had gone. I took no pleasure in killing the old guy. And I'd have sooner killed his apprentice quickly, with the sword, rather than blow him up. But then I remembered something that my father once told me when he was talking about the Warring States period. He said that war wasn't always waged against evil people. Sometimes it was simply waged against someone from the opposite side. I watched the flames until I heard the sirens. And then slowly I cruised away.

The dojo became loud with screams and shouts and the sound of bamboo cracking against bamboo. I watched Akeno closely. He was very slowly inching to my left. So slowly, in fact, that you could hardly see him move. And then he screamed, ‘
men!
' to indicate he was going to strike my head, and stamping his foot on the floor he struck. I blocked the blow and tried to counter but he was too fast. He attacked again. Our shinais rose and pushed against each other and then we pushed away. I tried to strike his
men
as he was going back but I barely caught his shoulder. Then we both struck at the same time. Our shinais cracked with such force that a section of bamboo broke off.

We stopped and circled each other. Without
thinking I jumped forward and struck his right
kote
. It was a perfect strike and Sensei Kubo raised his hand to indicate a point. Akeno came again and I struck his torso, or
do
. But I was off balance and so there wasn't enough power to score a point. Then with two lightning strikes he struck my
do
and
men
. They were so fast I never saw either. He wasn't national champion for nothing. He made another forward thrust to my throat, but I dodged it. I caught his
kote
as he backed away, but it didn't count. Then we both leaped forward at the same time. I made a perfect strike to his
do
, but screaming, ‘
Men!
' he struck my head.

‘Enough!' said Sensei Kubo. ‘Well done, you two.'

My final blow had been good, but he was the winner overall. That said, I'd never done so well against him. We knelt on the wooden floor and bowed to each other. Then taking off my
men
and head towel I stood up.

‘Well done, Yukio,' said Akeno. ‘Your skill is really starting to show.'

‘Thank you, Akeno.' I was so happy to hear him say this I bowed again.

He left to fight Alex the Austrian, and Sensei Kubo came and stood next to me. He didn't say
anything, but he had a satisfied look on his face, proud that his protégé was doing well.

We watched the Lump fight G.I. Joe on the other side of the dojo. She looked funny in her kendo armour, like a miniature warrior. And what made her funnier was how aggressive she was. She screamed and attacked like a demon and she was so quick on her feet! She scurried around in circles so fast that G.I. Joe looked under pressure. I mean, he was only joking, but I could tell he was finding it difficult to line her up. Then she dropped on to one knee and struck his ankle. He pretended to be angry and complained to Anna, who was refereeing the bout. And so Anna explained the rules to the Lump. But the Lump kept peering around her shoulder; she was dying to attack G.I. Joe. And as soon as Anna was out of the way, she did.

‘She's like a bee attacking a bear,' said Sensei Kubo. ‘And she seems to have a natural talent. Maybe it runs in your family,' he said and went over to watch the bout.

I felt good then. He rarely paid compliments, and when he did you knew he meant it.

Then everyone in the dojo was lining up to fight the Lump. Akeno took G.I. Joe's place and
pretended to take it seriously. The others shouted advice as they fought and laughed and joked as she attacked. They really took to the Lump, and for the first time I was proud that she was my cousin.

When I was done for the day I got changed and waited for her at the entrance. It was a good ten minutes before she turned up. She came trotting down the stairs with her rucksack on her back.

‘Where have you been?'

‘Talking,' said the Lump.

‘Like you ever talk.' I was just about to tell her off but Sensei Kubo came out.

‘It was a pleasure meeting you, Mikazuki,' he said with a slight bow. ‘I hope you will come again.'

The Lump bowed with more than a little ceremony. You'd think she was bowing to the emperor or someone.

‘Yes, make sure you bring her again, Yukio,' said G.I. Joe. ‘I want to get even for some of those blows I took.'

The Lump laughed a little as she followed me to the subway. Then she pretended to be calm, but I knew she was buzzing. Her palm tree was tingling with static and her eyes were shining bright. I decided
to put her in her place. ‘You did OK, I suppose. But don't let it go to your head.'

‘No,' said the Lump.

I gave her a hard look but she held my gaze. I walked on for a bit, then stopped. ‘They want me to bring you again, and I will. But you have to stop hitting your opponent's feet. It's bad manners.'

The Lump looked up at me. ‘OK.'

I walked on, but I stopped again. ‘It reflects badly on me if you fight dirty. You understand?'

‘Understand,' said the Lump.

But I don't think she did understand. She was just humouring me.

We changed trains at Ikebukuro and then we took the Yamanote line down to Shinjuku. It was packed with people, but we managed to get seats, at least I did. The Lump squashed herself in between me and some guy and made us both uncomfortable. I was going to tell her to get up, but then I saw the newspaper headlines: ‘Psycho Killer Strikes Again'. And underneath the photograph of the two bodies in the alley it asked: ‘Serial Killer, Vigilante or Assassin?