Chapter 40

DianeJoplinspenttheafternooninherhotelroomsurfingtheJapanesesectorofcyberspace.Thehotel’sin-houseMitsubishiconsoledidafairlygoodjoboftranslatingtheKanjionthefly.SheporedthroughsomanynewsstoriesandfeaturesrelatedtotheYakuzaandtoKenzoYamamotothatshenowconsideredherselfsomewhatofanexpertonthetopic.Severalhourslater,eyestiredfromtheconstantstreamofwordsscrollingdownthescreenandthevoidinherstomachscreamingforattention,sheorderedroomservice.

Tenminuteslaterthebellrangandsheopenedthedoor,abitself-conscioussinceshewaswearingonlythewhiteterry-clothrobewithnothingunderneath.Therewasnoonethereexceptaroomservicerobot,itssensorsblinkingrapidly.Thetrolleymovedsmoothlypastherintotheroomandpositioneditselfatrightanglestothedeskandthein-houseconsole.Xybo,sensingfood,wasonthealert,itstailwaggingexpectantly.Dianewonderedwhethernowthatrobotswheredoingeverything,thepeoplewhousedtoworkinhotelswerenowallmakingrobots.Thegoodthingwasyounolongerfeltlikeyouwerepelledtotip.

Shehadopenedthecoverofthetrolleyandmarveledattheexquisiteartisticcreationsofstickyriceandcolorfulsliversofrawfishandseafood.Theblobofwasabiwascarvedintotheshapeofanexoticdragonpletewithscales.Sheknewthatwithintheoblongsofstickyricehidageneroushelpingofwasabisosheleftthedragonintactwhilesheate.Shehadthentakenaquicknapafterinstructingthehouseputertowakeherupat6.00PM.Thatwastwohoursago.

Herfatherhadappearedinherdreams,urginghertobevigilantandtotakecareofherself.Hisfacehadbeenwrackedwithguiltandinthedreamhehadbeggedhertoforgivehimforleavingherallalone.Thenhehadaskedhertosearchforthemakerofconsoleandfindoutwhatitwasfor.Dianewasn’tsurewhethershehadsubconsciouslyinjectedherownwillintothedreamorviceversabutwithYamamotodeadtherewasnotmuchmoreshecoulddo.TheconnectiontoTakahashiwastooremote.Thenhermotherhadalsoappearedinherdreams,faceaswhiteasthesnowthatwasfallingoutside,tracksofdriedtearstrailingdownherface,blackwithdislodgedmascara.Hermotherhadspiritedherfatherawaywithoutsayingaword,justthatlookinhereyesthatsaidshewassorrybutatleastnowtheyweretogether.

AndDiane,allalone,hadcriedinhersleepandwokenupwithtearsstreamingdownherface.Herpillowandpartsofherhairthathadcoveredherfaceasshesleptweresoakingwet.She’dshoweredandchangedandspentanhouronthein-houseconsolesearchingforsomethingveryspecific.Shewasabouttogiveupafteranhourwhenanobscureout-of-dateinvestorrelationssitegaveherwhatshewaslookingfor.KenzoYamamotosatontheboardofTokyuNanotechnologyCorp.,astart-uppanyformedlessthantwoyearsearliertoresearchandmanufacturechipsbasedonnanotechnology.WhatwasinterestingtoDianewaswhoelsewasontheboardofdirectors.OneAkioInoue,seventyfiveyearsoldandtheforemostmindinJapanesemicroprocessordesign.FurthersearchesonAkioInoueresultedinsomethingevenmoreinteresting.SeveralnewsarticlesindicatedthatInoue,amasterconsolebuilder,hadbeenhospitalizedjusttwoweeksago.Hehadsufferedastroke.OneofthearticlesstatedwithauthoritythathewasbeingtreatedinaprivatewingattheTokyoMedicalUniversityHospital.AndthatwasalsolocatedinShinjuku.

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Dianeemerged,throughtherevolvingdoors,fromtherelativecalmenvironmentoftheKeioPlazaHotelintoatideofmovingfleshandmeltingsnow.Shinjukuhadadifferentfeelatnightthanitdidduringthedaytime.Itwasstillcrowdedwithprettymuchthesamemixofpassers-by.Yet,underneaththeharshartificialdaylightoftherelentlessneon,thepeopleseemedmorealive.Thestressoftheirdaytimejobshadbeenreplacedwiththeanticipationofpleasureandrelaxationatthenumerousbars,restaurantsandgamingparlorsintheneighborhood.

HerfirstplanofactionwastogettoknowtheShinjukuarea,especiallythelocationsofimmediateinterest.She’dbookmarkedthelocationsontheARunitsothatitwouldpullthemupautomaticallyasshewalkedintotheirvicinityorondemandifsherequested.OntheARunit’sremendation,sheheadednorthtowardstheimposingtwinmonolithsoftheTokyoMetropolitanGovernmentBuilding,whichwaswheretheallegedYamaguchi-gumioyabunMinisterTakahashisupposedlykepthisgovernmentaloffices.ThevoiceswerenowsayingthatitwastoodangeroustoattempttoapproachhimandthispieceofadvicemirroredDiane’sownthoughtsonthemattersonosurprisethere.

Fromthenewsarticles,itwasobviousthatTakahashiwasconstantlysurroundedbyawallofYakuzameatheads.ShewouldeitherhavetoreckonwiththeYamaguchi-gumithugsortheminister’sofficialgovernmentbodyguards.Nevertheless,shehadavailedherselfofasteakknifefromtheroomservicerobot’sdinnerserviceinventory.Itwasoneofthosekniveswithaserratededgeandapointedtip.Anothersearchhadarmedherwithvaluableinformationonhowtouseit,ifshedidindeedhappentogetcloseenoughtotheoyabun.Shecouldslicethroughhisjugularorjustpushitbetweenhisribsrightintohisheart,twistingasshewent.Shehadstudiedtheexplanatoryphotoscarefully.Theheartwasontheleftsideofthebody.Shecouldhearhersthumpingawayatthethoughtofmurder.Sheshuddered.TheconnectionbetweenTakahashiandKenzoYamamotowastooremotetojustifysuchanactionbutitwouldn’thurttohidetheknifeinthelegpocketofhercanvasbattrousersanywayjustincasetheopportunitypresenteditselfandshechangedhermind.

DianewalkedpasttheperimeterwallsofwhattheARinformedherwasShinjukuCentralPark.Shewasn’tthatinterestedinthepark’shistorybutwasintriguedwhentheARtoldherthatinsidetheparkwasamassivemakeshiftshantytownofTokyo’shomeless.Andsurelyenoughafewmetersupahead,oneofthepark’sinhabitantswasurinatingagainstthewall,abowlofsteamingNishininstantnoodlesheldaloftinonehand,anotherhandatthecontrols.Themanworeanill-fittingbatteredsuitthathadoncebeenbluebutnowhadturnedbrownandshinywithfilth.Oneofhisbrokenleathershoeswasmissingthefrontsection.Dianecouldseeadirt-cakedbigtoecrownedwithablackovergrowntoenailstickingoutliketheheadofanagingtortoise.Dianecrossedthestreettogivethemanawidebirthincasehewasdangerousbutnotbeforeshewasassaultedbyapowerfulwhiffofstalevomitandalcohol.Shefeltsorryforhimbuttherewasnothingmuchshecoulddo.

Shetookarightwestwardintotheskyscraperdistrict.Youcouldn’tmissit.Theskyabovethissectionwasfluorescentwhiteandtheairwasalivewiththesoundofvariousformsofelectronicactivity.Behindherthegovernmentbuildingcastaninvisibleshadow,itstwintowersweighingheavilyintheair,oppressive.Alightsnowwasfallingbuttherewasverylittleactualsnowontheground.Itwasasthoughtheglareofneonandthestampedeofeagerfeethaddissolvedthesnowintotheconcrete.ItwascoldbutDianewaswellpreparedwithlayersofinsulatedclothingandablackwoolhatwithleatherflapsthatcoveredherears.WithherpuffyblackNorthFacejacketandEvisucanvasbatpantsshecouldeasilypassforaboy,whichexplainedwhynobodypaidheranyattention.HerrucksackcontainingXyboandtheconsoleinanestofhoteltowelsaddedtotheurbanlook.

OneofthevoiceswasbackagainaskingDianeaquestionthathadnotoccurredtohertoask.Whatwasthatsalarymaninblackstilldoinginthelobbyofthehotelwhenshecamedownfromherroom?Shehadn’treallynoticedorpaidattentionbutnowthevoicehadremindedher,shedidrecallthattherehadindeedbeensomeoneofasimilardescriptionsittingthere.Dianestoppedinhertracksandeverythingspedupasthecrowdofpeopleshiftedpastherinbothdirections.Sheturnedaroundandscannedthepeoplebehindher.Therewastoomuchfleshandtoomanyblack-cladsalarymen.Shedidn’tevenknowwhatthemaninthehotelactuallylookedlikebutshewassureshewouldrecognizehimifshesawhimagain.

Thevoicehadmentioneditoutofthebluesotherehadtobesomethinginit.Shedecidedshewouldbemorevigilantandstayalert.Itwasobviousthatifindeedthemanhadbeenwatchingher,hewasjustfollowingherandnotactuallyplanningtodoheranyharm.Otherwisehecouldhaveeasilyfoundoutherroomnumberandpaidheranunwelevisit.

Andthenitdawnedonher.Herfatherhaddiedundersuspiciouscircumstancesandshehaddisappeared.TheFBImightbeafterherandthisguymightbealocalFBIguy.HedefinitelylookedJapanese.Yet,hedidn’treallylookliketheFBItype.ShehadseenFBIagentsinactiononmanyoccasions.ThatguywasdefinitelynotFBI.Thatmeantonlyonething.HewasprobablyYakuza.WhywouldtheYakuzajustfollowherthough?Weretheywaitingtoseewhatshewasgoingtodo?

Shecontinuedwalkingpastaphalanxofmassivebrightly-litdepartmentstoreswithnameslikeOdakyu,Keio,MitsukoshiandIsetan.TheirdisplaywindowsofferedDianeaconvenientmirrorofsortstoscanthecrowdsforanyonewhowaspayinghertoomuchattention.Therewasnothingoutoftheordinaryalthoughatonepointshethoughtshesawadarkshadowingtowardsherinthewindowandwhippedaroundonlytofindthatitwasatrickoflightanditwasjustaforeignerinastylishly-cutblackSherlockHolmescloakwalkingpast.Dianenotedthatthemanhadprobablyhadabittoomuchplasticsurgeryashisfacewasalltautandshiny,notapimpleanywhere.ObviouslyAmerican,probablyinthemoviebusiness.SomekindofHollywoodproducer,shethought.Everythingfromhiscloak,scarfandblackcrocodileskinbootslookedexpensive.ThereweremanyofthoserichforeigntypesinShinjuku.

ShecrossedtheWestExitofShinjukustationandfeltawarmgustofstaleairblastedfromthedepthsofthestationbytwogiantairvents.Therewasafaintbutunmistakablesmellofsweatingfleshandurine.DianewrinkledhernoseasshetransitionedintoatotallydifferentsectionofShinjukuconsistingofsmalllaneslitwithevenmoregarishneons.TheARinformedherthatshehadjustenteredKabukichotheredlightdistrictandhometosomefiftythousandYakuzagangmembers.Closerinspectionofthesignageinfrontofthemostlysmallishlookingestablishmentsconfirmedthis.

Someofthefacadeshadbacklitboardsshowingphotosofscantily-cladJapanesegirlsdancingaroundmetalpoles,dressedupasnurses,mangacharactersorschoolgirlsorjuststandingthereasthoughtheywereinthebikiniline-upofsomebeautypageant.AbovethephotoswerevariouspricesinJapaneseYen.IntermingledbetweentheseestablishmentswerewhatlookedlikenoisyvideogamearcadesbuttherewasthisthunderingmetallicclinkingsoundandwhenDianelookedthroughoneofthewindowsshesawpeople,mostlymenandyoungboys,sittinginfrontoftheseelaboratelookingmachineswithplasticbowlsofwhatlookedlikelittlesilvermetalballsandmoreballspouringoutofthemachinesmakingthatloudthunderingnoise.

TheARdescribedthesenoisyestablishmentsasPachinkoparlorsandstartedexplainingtherulesbutDianeoverrodeitwithaflickofaswitch.Thesmalllanespulsedwiththesoundofmusic,puter-generatedbeepsandmelodies,thechatterofclienteleandthesoundsofthosePachinkoballs.Atthecornerofoneofthelanes,agroupofdrunkensalarymenleeredatherbutshejustkeptonwalkingpastgangsofyoungmenwithcrazyhaircutsandblacksuitstryingtostuffleafletsinherhandsandspeakingtoherinJapanese.Itseemedasthoughtheywantedhertogointooneofthoseplaceswiththehalf-nakedgirlsinthepictures.Dianejustshookherheadandkeptonmoving.

AccordingtotheARunit,KabukichowasthecapitalofTokyo’ssexindustry.Itwassexpackagedineveryformimaginable.Therewerestripclubs,role-playingclubs,S&Mclubs,nudeshows,pornographiccinemas,unlikely-lookingbathinghousesandmassageparlorsallpackedoneontopofeachotheroneithersideofthesesmalllanes.AlltheseserviceswereannouncedboldlyinJapanese,EnglishandChineseinflashingorpulsatingneon.

TheARunitexplainedthatintheeighteenthcenturyShinjukuhadbeenarefugeorrestingplaceforlong-distancemuterstoTokyo.ThenameShinjuku,itsaid,translatedroughlyas“newlodgings”.Itwasjustamatteroftimebeforetheinnsrealizedthattheirclientelewaswillingtopayformorethanrice,sakeandaplacetosleepforthenight.ThequintessentiallyJapanesesolutionwastohaveyoungfemale“riceservers”servefoodtotheguestswhocouldthenrequestadditionalservices.OnceagainDianeoverrodetheAR.Thiswaswaytoomuchinformationandtherewerealltheseyoungguysinblack,drunkensalarymenandelaborately-dressedandmade-upyoungJapanesegirlstolookat.Someofthegirls,despitethechill,woretheseimpossiblyshortskirtsthatrevealedpartsoftheirunderwearandexposedpaletranslucentlegstotheelements.Thisisreally,reallycrazy,Dianemumbledtoherself.

TheARunitwasconstantlymarkingoffplacesDianeshouldnotventureintoandasDianemoveddeeperintoKabukichoshenoticedthattheunithaddesignatedhugeswathesoftheareaasdangerous.TheARdisplayedasnippetofadditionalinformationontheglassesthatmadethehairsonthebackofDiane’sneckstandonend.Younggirlswereroutinelytrickedintogoingintosomeofthesebarsandrackinguphugedrinkingbillswhichtheyhadtopayoffbyengaginginthesextrade.Dianeshudderedatthethoughtthatearliershehadbeentemptedtoenteroneofthebarstoseewhatitwaslikeinside.OnceagaintheARwasprovingitselfinvaluable.Shegavethoseareasawideberth,constantlycheckingthemapintheAR’scheapplasticglasses.TheARwasalsodividingthetinymapofKabukichointoareaswithtranslucentcolor-codedoverlayslabeledwiththenameoftheYakuzagangthatcontrolledit.TheYamaguchi-gumiandsomeChinesegangcontrolledmostofit,includingtherealestateandthevariousdodgylinesofbusiness.

Dianeturnedroundacornerintoalanethatwasnotascrowdedorasbrightlylitastheothers.Asshepressedforwardcraninghernecktopeepintooneofthewindowsofasmallbar,shegotthatpricklingfeelingagainatthebackofherneck.Shestraightened,turnedroundandhermouthopenedinsurprise.TheforeignerintheblackcloakwhoshehadseenonthepavementinthebusinessdistrictofShinjukuwasstandingthere,thatplasticfacelitupwithblueneonfromoneofthefacades,hisleftarmreachingforsomethingtuckedintohiswaistbelt.ThefewpeoplewalkinginthispartofKabukichostoppedintheirtracks,withtheexceptionofthreesalarymenwhojustwalkedstraightpasttheman,oblivious.Theforeignerwasn’tlookingather.Hewaslookingbehindher.Dianewhippedherheadaround,herthoughtscoalescingaroundthesteakknifeinherpocket,thevoicesinherheadscreaming,willinghertostayalive.Shestifledagaspassherealizedtherewasanothermanbehindher.ItwastheJapanesemaninblackshehadseeninthelobbywhenshewascheckingintotheKeioPlazahotel.Shewassureofitandsherecognizedthebulkyearpiece,hisphone.

Theforeigner’shandcameawayfromhiswaistbandandtherewasthisthinginhishandthatlookedlikeagun,exceptthebarrelwasshapedlikeafunnelexpandingoutwards.Dianethoughthewasn’tasyoungasshehadpreviouslythought,morelikeinhisfifties.Yethewasfastandhewasn’tAmericaneither.TherewassomethingvaguelyEuropeanabouthim.ThegunspasmedinhishandandDianeexpectedtohearagunshotbuttherewasnosoundatall.AllDianecouldseewastheairinfrontofthemansuddenlyealiveandassumesomekindofblob-likeshapebutitwasn’tactuallyablob,justasectionofairmovingseparatelyfromalltheotherairaroundit.Andthevibratingmassofairrushedpasthercausinghertotakeadeepintakeofbreath.ShewhirledaroundagainandallshecouldseewastheJapanesemangototallystiff,bothhandstohissides,andjustfallstraightdowntothepavement.

Dianeturnedroundbuttheforeignerhadalreadyreachedher.Thinbonyfingerswithastronggripgrabbedherandpulledherinthedirectionshehadefrom.Thentheforeignmanstartedrunning,pullingDianealongwithhimandastheyturnedthecorneranothertwomenjoinedthem.OneofthemwasBlackandtheotherwasCaucasianbutDianecouldsweartheywereidenticaltwins,justdifferentcoloredskin.Theykeptrunning,scatteringcrowdsofJapanese.Dianehadlostanywillshehadtoresist.Thelightsweredancinginhereyes,thethunderofPachinkoballsthreateningtodeafenher.

Yet,thevoicesweretellingherthatitwasOKandthatthismanwiththeslopingjawhadsavedherfromtheYakuza.TheyreachedoneofthemainstreetsborderingKabukichoandDianenoticedthattherewasamassiveblackvanwithheavilytintedwindowsidlingonthecurb.Oneoftheothermenslidopenthevandoorsandshewasbundledinside.Shehalfexpectedittobesomekindofdeliveryvanbutwasamazedtofindalltheseputersandplushleathersofasinside.Themengotin,slidthedoorsshutandsatdownontheleathersofasbreathingheavily.ThevanbegantomovesilentlythroughtheeveningShinjukutraffic.