Nathan Pedde - Tokyo Tempest

“Yeh. Best to leave here.” Darren said, “Get past the roadblocks and then into the countryside.”

Darren looked outside. Rain poured down from the sky as torrents of rain drenched everything outside.

“We’ll leave tomorrow.” Darren said, “I have no intention of leaving in that.”

Darren and Yuki lounged on the couch. They ate the last MRI they had. He knew that he was too used to this.

As the day turned to night, they fell asleep on the couch in each other’s arms. In the middle of the night, something woke Darren up with a start.

A stink filled the apartment. A foul odor that smelled of sewer.

Darren grabbed the flashlight and shined it at the apartment. Pouring out of the bathroom was a layer of brown water on the floor.

“Gross,” Darren said.

“What is that?” Yuki asked.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but water is coming out of the bathroom,” Darren said.

“It’s still raining out.” Yuki said, “But I guess its a good time as any to leave.”

Darren and Yuki gathered the last of their supplies and packed the child carriers. With brown sewer water lapping at their feet and running down the stairs, the process of packing the carriers down the stairs was more laborious. The carriers were now heavier than they were before.

But the process was uneventful. With the carriers and the bikes at the bottom of the stairs, Darren pulled the master key ring. He put the key to the stairs in the door handle of the stairwell. He let the keyring hang from that one key.

“What are you doing?” Yuki asked.

“I don’t want to carry that heavy thing around anymore,” Darren said.

“And?”

“If someone else wants to venture into that sewer smelling building to find what we didn’t get, then that’s fine.” Darren said, “They can have it.”

“I guess that’s true.” Yuki said, “I don’t plan on coming back here anytime soon.”

Darren pulled his jacket tighter, as well as his fedora. His scarf hung loosely on his jacket, waiting to go if the ash started to fall again.

“What time is it?” Yuki asked.

Darren looked at his watch.

“Its four in the morning,” Darren said.

“The time to leave is now though,” Yuki said.

With rain still pouring down from the sky, Darren left the apartment building. The land was as dark as it could be, but near the horizon, the moon shined brightly in the night sky. Using that little light, they rode through the streets away from the apartment.

They kept away from the Color Gang Hill. Darren had no intention of running into them again. If he was lucky, he could get into the standing part of the city without too much trouble.

The rain stopped after an hour of riding, but his feet were already soaked. Darren knew that it was going to be a miserable day.

He had searched his dad’s apartment for better shoes that fit him, but his dad had small feet.

The reddish sun rose into the sky as it became easier to see. The terrain stayed the same, though. The caked muck mixed with ash was everywhere. Wrecked cars, trucks, and boats were scattered along in almost random places. Darren followed Yuki as they navigated their way around the wrecks and into the city.

The city was the remains of Tokyo. The city had been wrecked by near-constant earthquakes and aftershocks. Parts of houses and buildings had been damaged, and Darren began to see more bodies lying in the streets. He didn’t look too closely at them to see how they died. He didn’t care too much to find out.

Stepping from behind a couple wrecked cars were a half-dozen teenagers. The teens looked dirty, with their clothes covered in ash. Wrapped around their waists were a strips of colored fabric. Darren and Yuki were ambushed by a color gang. They all held weapons, like pipes and chains.

Darren saw that in amongst the colors was Michio Asahara and his little sister Emiko Asahara. They both looked similar to when Darren had seen him last. Their clothes were dirtier, and their faces were a little thinner. Strapped to Michio’s waist was a samurai sword.

“I see that we meet again.” Darren said, “Long time.”

Michio smiled, “I see that you remember me. I like that.”

“I try not to forget people,” Darren said.

“Have you considered my previous offer?” Michio asked.

“We have, and we won’t join you,” Darren said.

“Thats is a pity,” Michio said.

Darren had his handgun out and aimed at Michio.

“He’s got a gun.” Michio said, “Fancy that. Do you know how to use it.”

A color gang member leaned into Michio.

“That’s the one that we chased in the wastes a couple days ago.” The gang member said.

“The monster that shot Gigi?” Michio asked.

“Yes.” The gang member said, “He’s the Dark Rider.”

“I see that I have a reputation,” Darren said.

“Gigi died cause of you,” Michio said.

“He shouldn’t have attacked us.” Darren said, “Then I wouldn’t have had to do that.”

Michio glared down the barrel of the handgun.

“Get going.” Michio said, “Don’t let me run into you again.”

Darren and Yuki rode away from the color gang.

The route that Yuki lead Darren down wasn’t straight. The way was more of a zigzag. Multiple times, the street came to an end, and they had to turn. Numerous times they came across roadblocks, both man-made with guards behind them and unintentional ones made by falling rubble.

After a couple hours of riding, and a few miles down the road, Darren checked his watch. His watch said that it was eight in the morning.

They had ridden past many bodies scattered along the streets. The burned out cars, and buildings were everywhere. Darren felt eyes watching him as he rode past.

“We should stop and find shelter soon,” Darren said.

Yuki looked at the ruined landmarks.

“I know of a place,” Yuki said.

“What place?” Darren asked.

“The Katana Club,” Yuki said.

“Katana club?”

“Yes. Its close by, in a small industrial area.”

“Its partly hidden from view and has no window.” Yuki said, “If we can get there, we can be safe for a few hours. Dry out.”

Clouds of ash threatened to block out the sun. Darren and Yuki pulled into the mostly empty parking lot that the Katana Club was based out of. Darren could see piles of ash that coated places where the rain didn’t wash it away. He wondered if it was still falling from the sky or if the eruptions had stopped.

“Why isn’t the club in a high school?” Darren asked.

“Cause the high school said we already have a sword fighting club. Denied the club. So we pooled money together and rented this place.” Yuki said.

“Are we going to find anyone here?” Darren asked.

“I don’t know.” Yuki said, “I doubt it.”

The two of them pulled up to a simple metal door. No lettering was on or around the door.

“I’ll go in and check it out,” Darren said.

“I should,” Yuki said.

Darren turned to look at Yuki. She glanced nervously at Darren.

“Cause if there’s a member of the Katana Club in there,” Yuki said, “then they’ll recognize me, while they’ll see you as an invading Gaijin and probably attack first. Ask questions later.”

Yuki walked up to the door and stood beside it. She took a key from her pocket and unlocked the door.

“Hello.” Yuki said, “Anyone there? It’s Yuki.”

She stepped into the small Katana Club. Darren watched her shine her flashlight around the club.

“Its clear,” Yuki said,

Darren followed her into the club with their bikes.

The Katana club was a small twelve foot wide by fifty foot long space. Inside the club was a large area where floor mats were laid down on the floor. Couches and other comfortable places to sit lined the walls. A big screen was up against the other wall.