Nathan Pedde - Tokyo Tempest

Yuki’s dad’s cell phone rang.

“Hello, Taikaso,” Mr. Tanamoro said. “Yeh Yeh. What’s going on? You are interrupting an important dinner… The what?…” A panicked look appeared on his face. ”We are not far… Yes, favorite restaurant… Yes, Freddi is with me… A car will be here in five? We’ll be outside.”

“What’s wrong?” Freddie asked.

“Problem. I need your help, my friend.” Mr. Tanamoro said.

Freddi looked over at Darren.

“Go.” Darren said, “I’ll be fine.”

Mr. Tanamoro looked over to Yuki.

“Are you planning on going home or…”

“Dad.” She said, “I was planning on hanging with Darren tonight.”

“That’s my girl,” Mr. Tanamoro said.

Mr. Tanamoro put a bunch of money on the table.

“Finish your meal,” Mr. Tanamoro said, “That should pay for it and a bit extra. It is Sunday night. Take him to a movie or something.”

Freddi and Mr. Tanamoro both left in a hurry.

“Its funny how normal that is,” Darren asked after a moment.

“The hurried departure or the obvious date set up for us?” Yuki said.

“Umm…” Darren said, “I… umm…”

Yuki broke out into laughter.

“They’re trying to set us up,” Yuki said.

“Does it bother you?” Darren asked.

“Not really.” Yuki said, “Japanese culture is that the men work long hours to support the family.”

“I meant the other part,” Darren said.

“What?” Yuki said, “You don’t want to be set up with me?”

Darren blushed again.

“Umm…” Darren stammered, “Umm…”

Yuki leaned over the table and kissed Darren on the cheek.

“I like you.” Yuki said, “I don’t know why, but I do like you.”

“I umm…” Darren said.

“Cat caught your tongue?” Yuki asked.

“Kinda.” Darren said, “I’m not sure what to do or say…”

“I understand.” Yuki said, “Things are changing very fast for you. I have patience. I can wait if I need to.”

Darren finished the last of the sushi. Yuki was done eating too.

“That was very good.” Darren said, “Way better than anything I have ever had back in Canada.”

“I bet.” Yuki said, “There’s even better food at other restaurants too.”

“So your dad wants us to go out to a movie.” Darren said, “Was there another movie you want to go see?”

“Not really.” Yuki said, “I want to go do Karaoke.”

“Oh dear lord.” Darren said, “I can’t sing very well.”

“That’s nice.” Yuki said, “I can. Let’s go.”

Yuki used most of the money her dad had left to pay for the meal and they left the restaurant.

“Wait.” Darren said, “Aren’t we going to that Katana Club Meeting?”

“That’s what they’re doing tonight,” Yuki said.

Darren and Yuki walked down the street. The lights of the city glowed in the distance. In all of the confusion of what was going on with his mom and his ex-girlfriend, he felt happy.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. A news article flashed on the screen. In big red letters, it said, ‘Emergency. Read this article.’

Darren clicked on the link and then stopped walking. The karaoke with the Katana club was forgotten.

Displayed on the phone was a live news report from a news agency in the United States. Darren turned the volume up.

A view of a female reporter at an airport. A large sign was displaying a long list of flights. After each flight was the red letters that said, “Canceled.”

“Reports are coming in that flights in and out of most airports in the continental US have been canceled due to ash,” The reporter said, “as well as parts of Mexico and Canada. Please stay away from the airports.”

The screen changed to show a shot of a stock photo of a male reporter, with a sub-title that said, “Audio Only.”

“Can you hear me? The noise was deafening.” The off-screen reported said, “The smoke and ash exploded from the Caldara, and I am worried about the people left at the scene. This is devastating. We are being told by the national guard to get out and leave, but there…” The phone cut out.

A news reporter came on the screen, “For those that are just tuning in, I will recap what we know so far. Twenty minutes ago, in the Yellowstone national park, the volcano has erupted. A hundred square miles around the park is inaccessible due to the falling ash, and there is ash falling up to a thousand miles away. This is bad people. If you are in the following states, you are to evacuate immediately. Do not stay home. Get out now before it is too late.”

Yuki pulled out her phone from her bra as Darren muted his. She fiddled with her phone and then a couple of moments later, the screen changed to a female Japanese news reporter.

“…Caldera has erupted.” The reporter said in Japanese, “Government officials have reported that while the eruption has happened in the United States, people will need to prepare for ash to fall on the islands. They say that anyone with respiratory problems needs to stay inside or get to an emergency facility. If any ash is to fall on Japan, it will be in light quantities and in sixteen hours…”

Yuki put the phone away.

“Is that what I think that it is?” Yuki asked.

“It is bad,” Darren said.

“How bad.” Yuki said, “My English is not as good as I thought.”

“Do you know what…” Darren said, “I’m looking for the Japanese word for a mountain that spits fire. Like Mount Fuji.”

“Volcano,” Yuki said the Japanese word.

“Right.” Darren said, “Do you know where Yellowstone National Park is?”

“Kinda.” Yuki said, “It’s in America somewhere.”

“Well, the entire park is a giant volcano. It makes Mount Fuji look like a pimple.”

“And that means?” Yuki asked.

“If the news report was correct, then things are going to get worse.”

“How bad?” Yuki said, “Tsunami? Earthquake?”

To Darren, it looked like Yuki had tensed up. He could almost taste the fear in her.

“Maybe, I don’t know.” Darren said, “I’m not an expert. I only know what I’ve read online. I don’t think a volcanic eruption can trigger earthquakes and tsunamis. And if they do, I don’t think they will affect us here. ”

“So what do we do?”

“Not sure. I don’t think the ash will get to us over here.” Darren said.

“What do we do?” Yuki asked.

Yuki held onto his arm while Darren looked into her eyes. A look of sheer panic showed in her eyes. She closed her eyes after a few moments and took deep breaths.

“I survived the Tohoku tsunami.” Yuki said, “My family was in the area. We climbed onto a roof and watched the water swirl around us. A helicopter had to come a day later to pick us up.”

Darren held her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

“I promise you Yuki, that no matter what happens, I will keep you safe,” Darren said.

Yuki and Darren looked into each other eyes for a few minutes. Yuki lowered her eyes and blushed.

“Thank you.” Yuki said, “I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome,” Darren said.

“We should go catch that train.” Yuki said, “Its getting cold out, and we need to get to your brother. He might be freaking out right now.”

“We will take a cab.” Yuki said, “It is faster.”

Darren started to take off his jacket.

“I am not cold yet, silly,” Yuki said.

Darren looked down at her open sports jacket and her white blouse. Yuki’s nipples showed through her shirt.

“Still.” Darren said as he took off his bomber jacket and put it on her shoulders, “I have this hoody, and you just have that thin jacket.”