Takumijo's personality changed whenever that man came to town. One day that association was going to get him in some serious hot water.
Things began to cool and slow down around midnight. The fellows had gotten rid of their female attachments, and Kenshin had received a phone call from his girlfriend to pick her up. Takumijo, as all of they expected, had left with Osamu and some of the guys at the bar.
"Let's get the hell out of here," Satoshi said. "Clubbing, I've discovered, now leaves a lot to be desired."
Ichiro already knew this but didn't comment. The only thing that had been accomplished was it got him out of the house but left him more depressed than ever.
"Where the hell are we going?" Takumijo asked half reclined and half seated in the back of the Expedition.
"Tokyo," Yori said as he wheeled the SUV with perfection.
"The freaking sun isn't up yet," Takumijo complained.
Yori ignored him. "Nobody told you to go barhopping with your friends."
Takumijo groaned. "Never drink tequila on an empty stomach."
"If you throw up in here, I'm going to dump your ass on the side of the road," Yori warned. "I just got this thing washed and detailed."
"Where's Ichiro?" Takumijo said suddenly realizing that Yori wasn't kidding.
"At his restaurant. He went in early to give Daichi a hand,"
Satoshi answered. "There's a convention for doctors in town and they're expecting a crowd of them to come to the restaurant for lunch."
Which worked out perfectly for them, Yori reasoned. Why get him involved?
"I think I'll take a nap," Takumijo said. "Wake me when we get there."
Another good plan. He and Satoshi could talk without Takumijo's groaning and moaning recovery. Let him sleep it off. He was more effective sober.
Amaya luckily had gone into work with her parents and wouldn't be home for another day or so. And Kenshin had to drive their manager Masaaki into the office and had already been briefed to lie to Masaaki if he asked any questions about their whereabouts.
Satoshi's cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket.
"Hello." Satoshi turned on the speaker.
"Hello troublemaker."
"Hello Ms. Gentry," he said nonchalantly. "How is California?"
"Too busy," Cristal replied. "And full of pretentious people."
Satoshi laughed. "But it's a great place to be if you want to be an actor. How's Yi-jun?"
"I guess he's okay. I haven't seen him in a couple of days.
He's been busy on the set so we haven't had much time to see each other."
"Has he met the folks yet?"
"Yes. Mom thinks he's great and dad liked him too."
"That's nice," Satoshi replied.
"What are you doofuses doing?"
Yori looked over him and smirked.
"We're out joyriding," Satoshi answered.
"So early in the morning? Does Masaaki know you're out?"
"Sure," Satoshi lied.
"How come I don't believe you?" Cristal asked.
Yori chuckled. "That's our Cristal. We missed you last night at the club."
"You guys went clubbing? Who went to jail?"
Both Yori and Satoshi laughed.
"No one this time," Satoshi answered.
Yori could tell that Satoshi had mixed feelings about the call. Things were left unsettled when Cristal announced that she was going to the United States. Of course Satoshi had other things on his mind at the time.
"We just needed to get Ichiro out of the house for a breather," Satoshi continued.
"How is he?" Cristal asked.
"Depressed."
"Have you guys had any word?"
"No," Satoshi answered quickly. "Nothing yet."
Yori looked over at him and Satoshi shook his head.
"When are you due back?"
"Next Saturday," Cristal answered.
"Give me a call when you get in," Satoshi told her. "I'll meet you at the airport."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later." Cristal hung up.
"That has got to be the shortest conversation ever between you two," Yori said.
Satoshi swept his bangs aside with his fingers. "The less I say to her the better."
"I'm not even going to ask you to explain."
"She chose Yi-jun," Satoshi replied. "No other explanation necessary."
Yori shook his head. Satoshi wouldn't know a good woman if she kicked him in the teeth.
Tokyo Metropolis came into view as Yori drove over the Rainbow Bridge...a suspension bridge that ran across Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Pier and the Odaiba waterfront. He looked down to check the navigation system. The hospital was located about three point five miles from the foot of the bridge.
Takumijo continued to snore peacefully in the back seat.
Yori found the hospital and drove into a parking spot. He turned off the car, got out, and walked to the rear and woke up Takumijo. Satoshi scooted out of the passenger seat and closed the door.
"Why are we at a hospital?" Takumijo asked getting out