Chapter Five: Arrival in Japan and Sudden Problems

The stewardess came around and woke the passengers that had slept through the Captain's announcement. Jackie woke up feeling as if she hadn't slept at all and couldn't understand why. "We will be landing shortly. Please put your trays up, return your seats to the upright position and all belongings away. You have thirty minutes to use the lavatories before the seatbelt light comes on. Thank you" the stewardess said. Jackie rubbed her eyes as she stood up and got in line for the lavatories. She looked out the window and saw it was getting light outside. She figured by the time they landed, went through customs and baggage claims, it would be almost time for breakfast. Her stomach grumbled in agreement.

They landed, passed through security and baggage claims in record time.

Tomishiro approached and asked, "Are you ready for breakfast? I called the office and found out that the car won't be here for another thirty to forty minutes, so we have time." Komiko and Mina both said "Yes" right away. Jackie looked displeased at having to still be in his company. As they walked to the restaurant, he walked beside Jackie. He leaned close and whispered to her, "I meant everything that I have said to you, so get used to me being around." She looked at him and hissed, "I told you, I'm not interested in becoming your plaything. Go home to your wife, girlfriend or whatever, just leave me alone." He smiled and replied, "I don't have a wife, girlfriend or whatever waiting for me. That's why I want you." "Go twitch in a corner then" she sneered at him. He laughed loud enough for her cousins to look back over their shoulders at them and smile. They entered the restaurant and ordered breakfast. Jackie ate even though she kept complaining that she wasn't hungry. After they finished, they went to the front lobby of the airport to look for the car. They saw a driver holding up a sign with Jackie's name on it. "There it is" Komiko said and started to head in that direction. Jackie grabbed onto her arm and stopped her from taking another step. Komiko looked at her in confusion. Jackie said, "He's not our driver. Watch his eyes, notice how they shift around suspiciously. The car is dirty and so is his uniform. Most importantly, why doesn't his sign say 'Ichibana/Takahashi Party? Am I right Tomishiro?" Her saying his first name caught him by surprise. Jackie turned to him and waited for his reply. "She's right, that's not our driver. Wait here and I'll find out what's going on." He alerted security and headed outside to confront him. The man saw them coming and hopped into the car. He does away before they could get to him. Jackie was smiling but it didn't reach her eyes, instead there was a vicious glint in them. Mina stared at her open-mouthed and Komiko just shivered.

Tomishiro returned. "Apparently your reputation precedes you. I think someone is out to stop you from competing. What gave him away so quickly?" he asked. "Your driver would have been dressed in a clean uniform and the car would have been clean as well. Your driver would have used a dry erase board and not a filthy piece of cardboard with a gastly scrawled name on it. I have traveled before and know what to look for" she replied. He nodded and smiled at her perceptiveness. "I called the office while I was outside with security. Our driver reported a mechanical problem. They are sending another car but it's going to be a while before it gets here"Tomishiro explained. "No need, we can get there by taking the train to Izu then catch the bus from there. I have memorized the schedules and routes. I can get us to our destination" Jackie told him. Right now, she only trusted herself to get them there safely. He nodded in understanding. "Just be careful on the trains as well. There are a lot of perverts and punks that like to ride the trains" he warned them. Mina and Jackie laughed. "That's why some of us ride standing up. We can defend ourselves better. In the back of a car there isn't much room to move" Mina said, suddenly understanding Jackie's thoughts. "They, the people that sent that man, may have a back up plan. Crash the car, snatch us and the family can't compete with only seven members. We take the train and the bus, there are two many witnesses and we are able to defend ourselves better. We can also blend into the crowds somewhat"Jackie added. Tomishiro nodded in agreement, it was the safest way for them to go. "I will wait outside with security while you go up in the elevator to the rails. Take the train facing to your left. It will be the yellow one. I will call the office and the house and make them aware of the change of plans and why. Get going, I think I see that car coming back" he said.

The three women took the elevator up to the railway station and bought their tickets and they waited for the train. It came after a short wait and because it was heading away from the city, it was almost empty. It was a pretty quiet ride until a few stops before theirs, a group of four punks got on the train. They were shoving people around. "Heads up" Jackie said as her and Mina got to their feet. Jackie leaned against the wall by their luggage. The punks saw the three women alone at the back of the train car and headed their way. "Man, no matter where you go, you run into street trash" Mina said as she got to her feet. "Hi ladies, we want to have a party with you" one of the punks said, grinning. One of his buddies reached out for Jackie's backpack. "Touch that bag and you will never use that hand again" she said through clenched teeth. "No miss, you don't understand. Everything on this train is ours including you three" the head punk said. He tried to make a grab for her and that was his big mistake. Jackie hit him hard, hard enough to smash him into the wall behind him. The one that had tried for her backpack, found himself in between Jackie and Mina. Komiko, still seated, let fly with a kick to his jewels. He dropped to the floor. Jackie turned to the last two. They just shook their heads,raised their hands and backed away. One couldn't stop staring at Jackie. He snapped his fingers and said, "She's MMA, Night Wolf. Aaaawwwwooooo!" His imitation of a wolf's howl was pathetic. He bowed to them in apology and helped his terrified friend get their two buddies off the train at the next stop.

"Well, I hope that will be the last time they try that stunt. And what was that little guy babbling about anyway?" Komiko asked. "He recognized me from my MMA days. It had his buddy scared but I don't think the other two learned their lesson yet" she replied. They reached the Izu station and were amazed at how peaceful it was. As they stood there taking in the scenery and gathering up their luggage, several people from the train came up to them and thanked them for what they had done to those punks. One person directed them to the bus stop they needed. The bus that would take them to the village had just pulled in and was unloading its passengers. Komiko spoke to the driver and paid their fares as the other two brought their luggage over. "There's a bus stop there but unless someone is going to meet us there with a vehicle, we will have to walk two miles up the road to the estate" she explained as she got ready to get the luggage loaded. Jackie looked pointedly at the amount of luggage and stated, "Well, Tomishiro said he would contact them and let them know of the change in plans. Let's hope they got the message in time." They got all the luggage loaded with help from the driver.

Jackie slipped him a tip and told him,"Have dinner on us." He smiled and introduced himself as Hiro. They made several stops along the way. Some people were apparently heading into the city as their manner of dress would imply but they soon noticed school kids getting on. Komiko asked Mr. Hiro about this. Mr. Hiro explained that the children took his bus because it stopped right in front of the three new schools. He also explained that there were three boys from one family that attended the high school but didn't always didn't have the money for the bus fare thus they were late for school a lot. "How much would it be for the three fares until the end of the school year?" Jackie asked. Mr. Hiro told her and she paid it. They drove just a short way before Mr. Hiro stopped by three boys walking along the side of the road. "Climb on boys, some generous person has paid for your fares until the end of the school year" he said to them. The boys were shocked to hear this but they smiled broadly. They asked who paid for them but he wouldn't tell them. He handed each boy a bus pass after he stamped them. The oldest one just stared at it for several moments before putting it away.

The boys still stunned, sat down in the front, across from the three women and Jackie pulled out her law book to hide her smile. One of the teens was looking at a Martial Arts magazine. He looked at one featured picture, then up at Jackie and back again. His mouth fell open. He nudged his older brother. His brother looked at the picture and back again several times too. Jackie smiled behind her book. The older brother shook his head and said, "It can't be her, she's in America." The bus came to a halt and Mr. Hiro announced that it was the women's stop. He got out with Mina and Komiko to help unload the luggage.

Jackie held back for a moment, pushed up her sleeve to show off her distinctive tattoo and said, " It's a small world. You never know who you will meet. Do great in school and you will open new possibilities. Bye." The boy with the magazine followed her off the bus and Jackie signed her picture for him. He got back on and waved to her as his brothers sat there dumbfounded. The three women waved back as the bus took off again.