OK peeps, REALLY sorry it's been so long, but what with one thing and another, I've been busy!
Anywhere, here's chapter 7!!
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Chapter 7
27th October, 2004
Finally, a decent nights sleep. The hostess here is really nice; she cooked me a lovely dinner and gave Mogs some fresh fish, instant friend there! Then she laid out some things for me to have a bath, along with a really nice silk robe.
No bad dreams!
Slept quite late, past 10 in the morning, before the hostess woke me with some green tea. She speaks really good English, so we chatted for a while, and she told me about some places I should visit whilst Im here. Decided not to go out anywhere today though; Ive been moving about so much, and so much has happened lately, I feel a need to just stop for a bit.
Thought a little more about what happened in Shanghai. Somehow, what happened there, and what I did; it all seems so distant now, like it had happened in a film, or perhaps a dream. I know it DID happen, but I just dont seem to think it really matters anymore.
Tomorrow, Im going to get some more credit on my phone, and call try to call mum. Good job I bought a tri-band phone and travel charger!
28th October, 2004
Called mum today, after getting some credit on my phone sorted out. She was worried about me as usual, and not too happy thatd Id not been phoning as much as I said I would. I considered telling her what happened in Shanghai, for about 5 seconds. No way am I telling her that! Shed have hysterics or something knowing her!
Anyway, she said dad is still moping around with face like a thundercloud. Hes padlocked my bedroom apparently, and wont let anyone in. She said he goes in there once or twice a week, and just stays in there with the door shut, for ages. I hope hes feeling a lot of guilt over what he did!
Once Id finished talking to mum, with another promise to call more often, Mogs and I went looking around Tokyo. God this city is absolutely PACKED with people, and most everyone seems to get around on bikes, though there IS a lot of traffic as well. The sheer number of electronics shops is staggering too, really puts Oxford Street to shame! I nosed around for a few hours, and ended up in an internet café. Spent about an hour there, surfing the net and mostly looking up stuff about Japan.
29th October, 2004
1 month until my 20th birthday. Whod have thought, this time last year, that Id be a homeless freak in a years time? Maybe its time I took a hard look at myself, decide where I want to go, what I want to do? I cant keep wandering idly around the world for the rest of my life, can I?
I got a card delivered this morning, from an M Sebastian. Its the same kind of card as that bald guy gave me so I think its from him. It was an invite to a Halloween party at the British embassy on the 31st. Not sure if I feel like going to a party but, well
At least itd be a taste of home; Japanese people dont seem to celebrate it.
Besides, its a fancy dress party, and its not like Ive got anything to wear.
30th October, 2004
A dress arrived this morning! Its black silk, done in the style of a Japanese kimono, with some matching stockings, some black shoes, a small black mask for my eyes, and a small witchs hat! There was a card with it, from M Sebastian again, that said Dear Miss Smith, I know you dont have much to wear for the party, so please accept this small gift of a costume, as a gesture of friendship.
So I guess I AM going to the party after all
Who is this guy? Does he want something from me?
1st November, 2004
Wow, what a party!
Mrs Takamura, the hostess of the guest house, helped me do my hair and makeup for the party. She made me up in traditional Japanese style, and with that and the costume, oh boy did I look damn good! Id not felt so pretty in AGES!
Arrived at the party at 9pm, as it said on the card, and there were already quite a few people there; queuing to go in. That Sebastian guy was waiting at the door for me and introduced himself properly at last. Marcus Sebastian is his name and he was dressed up to look like Dracula, right down to a long flowing cloak.. I tried to stick to calling him Mr Sebastian, but he insisted on Marcus. He introduced me to a few people at the party; most arent the sort of people Id normally mix with, business people and the like, but some were students attending special courses over here, so I wasnt completely out of place.
Danced a bit with a few people, but there wasnt really anyone there that caught my eye. Then Marcus asked me for a dance, and as hed invited me here, I couldnt exactly say no, could I?
Anyway, he was a complete gentleman. Didnt try to touch me anywhere he shouldnt or anything like that. Just seemed to want to make sure I had an enjoyable evening. We chatted a bit, and then I decided to bite the bullet, and ask him why he was doing all this for me.
He didnt answer right away, just looked at me quietly for a bit as we danced, then he said he just wanted to see I had some fun for a change. He said he knew everything Id been through in the past few months, hed seen it all the other night when I first met him, and he thought something like this is just what I needed to help me relax a little, try to forget all the horrid things that had happened.
He also said I didnt need to worry about him wanting anything; he didnt. He said he got all the thanks he needed just from seeing me smiling, and that there were no strings attached to anything. Hes got this really calming voice, made me feel like I was safe and nothing mattered except enjoying myself.
After that, he introduced me to some other girls, not far from my age, who were here studying Japanese. They seemed an interesting bunch, really smart and everything, but well, they all knew each other and me not at all, so it was kind of hard to join in their conversation.
Anyway, about 2am, I was really tired and a bit tipsy, so Marcus drove me back to the guest house and saw me to the door. Not once did he try to touch me or anything at all. Quite a gentleman!
2nd November, 2004
Woke up with the most horrible hangover this morning! I only had a few glasses of wine too! Guess Ive not had any booze in so long, Im not used to it.
Stayed in bed pretty late as I felt like [censored], serves me right for drinking on an empty stomach! Finally dragged myself up about lunchtime, but couldnt face eating anything. Just had a shower, and sat in the gardens for a few hours. Considering the time of year, its actually quite warm here, feels like its in the 20s.
My head finally cleared by late afternoon, so I had a little bit of rice with some tuna to eat. Felt MUCH better after that! Mrs Takamura fussed over me a fair bit, telling me I should eat more and take better care of myself. Shes a nice old lady really, reminds me a bit of gran. She kept going on about Mr Sebastian and how nice a man he was.
Mogs was a bit restless today and kept fussing around me and bumping me with his head. Guess he could tell I was feeling a bit rough!
4th November, 2004
Got another invite from Marcus today, to a small fireworks display tomorrow night at the consulate. Dont think Im going to go though. Never really cared a lot for fireworks, and Im beginning to think maybe he fancies me or something.
Maybe its time I thought about moving on again?
Was going to go and do some exploring today, but Mrs Takamura said the weather forecast was pretty bad and that Id best stay in
Sky looks fairly clear to me, but she can understand the weather forecasts on the radio, not me
5th November, 2004
Another package came today, from Marcus. A lovely red dress, with a golden dragon embroidered on it. Guess Ive no choice now; its pretty obvious what Marcus wants, and Id much rather avoid any messy situations. I wrote him a short note saying Im sorry and stuff and sent it back with the dress; then I checked out of the guest house and headed out of Tokyo. Mrs Takamura tried pretty hard to persuade me to stay; Im sure I heard her on the phone as I left the guest house.
Spent a few hours picking up some supplies and stuff; then took a cab to the edge of the city, and walked into the countryside. Japans a beautiful country and I think Id like to explore the countryside for a while; maybe visit some of the temples and stuff you see on TV.
Oh, it didnt rain yesterday.
6th November, 2004
Japan really is a beautiful country. The city was great and all, but now Im wandering through the countryside, its so much better. The air is fresh, and though its starting to get chilly, its stayed dry.
Ive been heading roughly south today, back towards Kagoshima. Theres an airport there where I can get a flight out, but Im not in any kind of rush; enjoying the countryside too much!
Been thinking a little about Marcus; was I maybe just too suspicious about him? He didnt try to make any moves on me or anything
Maybe I misjudged him? Oh well, guess its too late now. I dont really want to go back to Tokyo and its not like I owe him anything.
Reached a load of rice paddies by midday; didnt feel like wading through them and getting soaked, and it looked quite a long way around, so I flew over instead. Well
I say flew
Ive been trying to get some better control so I just floating over them, my feet just a few inches above the water. I guess to anyone watching, it would have looked like I was walking on water! Dont think anyone did see me though.
Later in the afternoon, I came across a farmhouse and stopped to see if I could get some fresh milk for Mogs. Its kinda funny
Japanese people dont seem to go for milk much. They didnt have any at all so I just bought some fresh bread from them and carried on my way. Made camp just inside a small woodland in the early evening and made up a campfire to toast some of the bread and heat some soup.
7th November, 2004
Been studying my map a bit this morning and realised Im not far from Hiroshima. Ive heard so much about that city in history; how the yanks nuked the place at the end of WW2. I think Ill go take a look as my guide book says its quite safe.
Spent most of the day either walking, or flying; but taking my time really. Theres no rush to be anywhere after all.
Next town I get to though, I must call mum.
9th November, 2004
Came across a small town today, not far from Hiroshima, and Ive finally got a signal on my mobile so I called mum for a bit. Told her I was OK and stuff, and where I was. She wants me to come home, she said shed talk dad round but... Well, I just dont want to go back there; not yet anyway.
I should arrive in Hiroshima tomorrow; there are a few sites Id like to visit such as the museum and ground zero.
10th November, 2004
Arrived in Hiroshima today. Its kind of hard to believe this city was levelled by an A bomb once, its so clean and beautiful; until you visit the museum that is. In there, theyve got fragments of ruins, and in one corner, what was the corner of a building, with the shadow of a person burned into it. That
was quite a thing to see; to realise all that was left of that poor person was a pile of ash, and their shadow burned into a wall.
Whilst I was looking at all the pictures and remains, I started to see similar images in my mind. Flashes of terrible wars and 1000s of bodies. Made me feel quite faint so I had to have a sit down; I guess I went all pale too as a nice young man in museum uniform asked me if I was OK, and got me a glass of water.
His English was pretty good and he told me not to worry, that the pictures had this effect on people sometimes; but that it was important people saw what happened. But it was more than that
The images I saw in my mind definitely werent of Hiroshima; or ANYWHERE I recognised. They didnt even look like they were on earth, most of them
After I felt a bit better, I left the museum and sat in a nearby sushi bar for a while. This place, though the people seem perfectly normal; feels
tainted somehow. Like theres an undercurrent of unease pervading the people here. Its almost like no-one really wants to live here, but stays anyway; perhaps from some sense of duty or something. Not sure Id want to live somewhere where so many people died so quickly.
Decided to head out of the city before night came. I dont want to sleep here; its giving me the creeps.
11th November, 2004
Pitched my tent a few miles out of the city last night, in a small field. Didnt sleep very well either, kept tossing and turning, and seeing more of those images again in my mind.
Im going to head back to Kagoshima today, and see about a flight out of Japan. Something tells me its time to move on from here.
13th November, 2004
I arrived back in Kagoshima late in the afternoon and checked into a cheap hotel near the airport. I went to the airport to check some flight prices, and HE was there
Marcus. He didnt see me I dont think; so I just got out of there as quick as I could.
Why was he at the airport? What does he want?
The next nearest airport is Tokyo, and I dont want to go back up there
Ill try again tomorrow; maybe he was just taking a flight out himself?
14th November, 2004
Its no good; he was there again. This time he definitely saw me, as I heard him call my name, in my mind.
He wasnt alone either. As I was pegging it for the exit, two guys tried to grab me, so I just shoved them out of my way and jump into the air, and just flew out of there as fast as I could. I cant go back to the airport now, and I cant stay in this hotel much longer either; its FAR to close to the airport for comfort.
What does he want? Why wont people just leave me alone!? What am I going to do?
