Tom Slater’s brain began to race. Maybe that day presented an opportunity to her. By telling Chuck the truth about his wife, Tom would be able to save the Australian as she hoped.

“Chuck, there is something I need to tell you.”

“Like what?”

Tom began to waver. She didn’t want to hurt Chuck’s feelings.

“Kimi-chan, you can tell me anything.”

Synopsis- Tom Slater reawakens to find herself in the middle of a Yakuza power struggle.

Thank you to Puddin for her help with this chapter.

Author’s note- The main character in the story goes by many different names. At the beginning he was Captain Slater, later on she became Hiromi Sato. The Swan Song committee calls her Agent Ripley. Chuck McBride refers to her as Kimi-chan or ‘my little sports car’. I won’t even touch the other aliases for the character, but say she is also is a Yakuza accountant and Saiko-komon.

Some of the constant shifting of names is meant to portray the schizophrenia that the main character suffers as they fight another persona for the control of the same body. At the same time they see the changes all of this is causing. Other name shifting is caused by who’s point of view it is.
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle had just sat down to eat dinner, when her cellphone began to ring. “Gabrielle Tanaka.....Yes I’ll be right there....No don’t send anyone. I’ll get there on my own.”

The Negishi Bay apartment tower was clear across Yokohama from where Gabrielle Tanaka’s apartment was. When Gabrielle arrived, she found her way blocked by police barricades.

Gabrielle took out her FBI identification and flashed it. “Please let me through.”

The Yokohama policeman that blocked Gabrielle was young and fairly inexperienced as he had only been on the force four months. “This is Japan. I can’t let you through.”

Gabrielle almost wanted to scream, but instead tried to talk sense with the young policeman. She mentioned the names of over a dozen members of the Yokohama police that knew her. It didn’t do her any good.

“Tanaka-san,” called out the familiar voice of Inspector Yoshida. The senior Yokohama policeman had begun to wonder what had delayed the FBI agent. “Let her through. She is on assignment here.”

“Is it true?” Gabrielle asked after being let to pass the barricades.

“Yes, Tanaka-san, regrettably it is,” Inspector Yoshida said as he led Gabrielle to the southeast side of the apartment building.

Gabrielle had to choke back the tears on the way over to Negishi Bay. It became a even more difficult task, when after rounding the corner, Gabrielle saw the two bodies on the sidewalk. One human sized, the other many times smaller.

Keiji Watanabe’s bodyguards had indeed shown Ai Toguchi and her pet daschund Cherry to the street. They did this by throwing them out a window from over thirty stories up in the air.

As she took a look under the sheet that covered Ai Toguchi, Gabrielle let out a gasp. Gabrielle remembered what she said to the wife of Keiji Watanabe less than a month prior. She had reassured Ai that the placement of the beeper would raise no suspicions against her.

Gabrielle felt one hundred percent certain that the Watanabes had connected Ai to the beeper. At the very least they had discovered Ai had turned informant.

“Tanaka-san, we have located the floor she jumped from. Do you wish to see it?”

Gabrielle didn’t give an answer till she placed the sheet again over Ai Toguchi’s body. “Yes, Inspector, I would.”
 

~*~
 
Roger Hyde’s arrival in Hong Kong was as unexceptional as the Cathay Pacific flight from Tokyo had been. After Roger collected his one checked luggage, he underwent almost no scrutiny from both Hong Kong customs and immigration officials.

As soon as emerged from customs, Roger went straight to the rental car counter. It was staffed by Eurasian woman who looked to be in her late twenties, though that was just a guess. Roger usually couldn’t tell, since Asian women aged very slowly as far as he could see.

Roger Hyde’s career, first as a member of the SAS, then later as a bodyguard in the Watanabe Yakuza, had made it almost to impossible to establish a meaningful relationship. A long time back Roger had a wife named Marjorie, but they divorced after less than three years of marriage. More recently the bodyguard had an on again, off again relationship with a Kanagawa Bank teller.

“How may I help you?”

“My name is Roger Hyde. I have a reservation.”

The rental car clerk was a model of efficiency. She had Roger’s reservation up in ten seconds flat. “Yes I have it here. Mr. Hyde, would you be interested in an upgrade to a Bentley? It will cost less than five percent more.”

Roger thought for a few seconds. His trip had a budget but he was well within it at this time. “That would be fine, love. Does it have GPS like my original rental?”

“Yes, it does.”

Roger drove out of the rental car parking lot about thirty minutes later. Hong Kong International Airport was on the island known Chek Lap Kok. A series of bridges would take Roger to the mainland and eventually to a hotel on Hong Kong Island. That’s where Hiromi Sato’s bodyguard would stay through Sunday as he checked the security arrangements for the future base of his employer.
 

~*~
 
“How is it?” Akira Sudo asked Hiromi Sato as she tasted a small bite of the steak prepared for her.

“It’s excellent,” Hiromi said after she swallowed the food. “Thank you.”

“If there’s anything else you need, Sato-san, don’t hesitate to ask.” Akira exited the private dining room moments later.

Akira returned to the table he shared with Ryuku Kinjoh and Katsuaki Koike. “Where were we again?”

“You were describing to me the chase on Sunday,” Katsuaki replied.

“Oh yes. Sato-san was so skillful she hardly needed any of us,” Akira said

“Hiromi-chan caused the demolition of at least one car,” Ryuku noted.

Akira nodded. “There was another one too she ran off the road. Sato-san’s driving was so outstanding, she make Ryuku-san here look like little old lady from Pasadena driver.”

Ryuku gave Akira a hard short stare. Akira immediately revised his previous comment.

“Sato-san make all of us, not just Ryuku-san here, look like little old lady drivers. Too bad she won’t be with us much longer.”
 

~*~
 
“Is dinner good?” Chuck asked his wife.

“Yes, very. The steak is cooked perfectly.” Hiromi said before taking a bite out of a french fry.

Chuck grinned. “That’s good. You seem to like those french fries too.”

Hiromi Sato craved french fries of all types. If they weren’t so fattening, Hiromi would eat them five days a week. “How do you feel?”

The concern Tom expressed was real. Tom Slater had begun to emerge again after being dominated by the Hiromi Sato persona for months. What had caused the change?

It was Chuck, the road chase from Sunday and the use of the recognition code. All three in combination had weakened the hold Hiromi Sato had over the body she shared with Tom Slater.

Tom Slater had been reminded of the Swan Song mission. The Army Captain had volunteered for the dangerous assignment and still felt it was her duty to finish it. That the Swan Song committee had made an attempt at rescue showed Tom Slater that she was still needed.

As for Chuck, Hiromi’s reckless actions Sunday had shown how little she cared for the man. Before she had to kill Agent Chrysanthemum, Tom Slater had developed very strong feelings for Charles McBride. So much so that it had been her that said yes to the man’s marriage proposal, without reservation, and with hopes one day to have a family with Chuck.

Tom felt absolute revulsion at how Hiromi had endangered Chuck. These strong feelings had allowed Tom to come bubbling up again but it remained a constant struggle. Hiromi was strong, and in her natural environment. She still had the ability to remain on top more often than Tom Slater could.

For the moment, Tom Slater was in control and could give serious thought to what her next steps would be. The Swan Song committee wanted Agent Ripley. How could Tom arrange that without placing herself in more danger? At the moment, she was being protected in a manner similar to that of the Japanese Prime Minister.

“Not too bad, Kimi-chan. I had a terrible headache on Monday but not now.”

Tom stopped eating and took her husband’s right hand. “I’m glad. Let me apologize for Sunday.”

“It’s all right, Kimi-chan. We’re safe now and that is what matters.”

As she went to put another fork full of food in her mouth, Tom Slater couldn’t help notice the female wedding ring on her left hand. The once male Army Captain was a married woman now. What would the friends and family of the formerly-male Tom Slater think if they ever found out?
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle Tanaka and Inspector Yoshida were in a vacant apartment on the 32nd floor of the Negishi Bay apartment tower. In addition to Gabrielle and the Yokohama policeman there was a team of crime scene technicians.

A window was open and in front of it was a foot stool. These weren’t the only indicators police had used to determine from where Ai Toguchi had taken her fatal plunge. A suicide note had been meticulously taped to the door leading into the apartment.

Gabrielle had read the note. In it, Ai had purportedly given a reason for taking her own life. The note had claimed that she was depressed and missed her late husband.

Since there were Watanabe Yakuza nearby, but not in the apartment itself, Gabrielle and Inspector Yoshida kept their observations to themselves. If they had just been able to read the other’s mind, Gabrielle and Inspector Yoshida would both know they’d come to the same conclusion. The suicide was staged.

Gabrielle remembered how Ai loved Cherry, and couldn’t believe that the woman would kill her beloved pet. As Ai had told her debriefers, Cherry was like a child to her.

Gabrielle walked around the room, being careful not to touch any surfaces. As she did, a policeman entered the room and gave a message to Inspector Yoshida.

Inspector Yoshida walked up to Gabrielle within a few moment. “If we are done here, Tanaka-san, we have a meeting to attend.”

Gabrielle got the hint. The only meeting Inspector Yoshida’s could be referring to was one of the Swan Song committee. The news of Agent Concierge’s death had to have been relayed with the speed of lightning.

On the way downstairs, Gabrielle asked Inspector Yoshida a question. “Has anyone interviewed Keiji Watanabe as of yet?”

“No, Gabrielle-san, not yet. A colleague went to the Oyabun’s apartment but was turned away.”

“A interview will be conducted?”

“Of course it will, Gabrielle-san. We were asked to come back at another time. It was said that Keiji Watanabe was very upset.”

‘I bet he was,’ Gabrielle thought to herself as the elevator doors opened.

After they arrived at the Yokohama police station, Gabrielle took a moment to ask Inspector Yoshida another question.

“You don’t believe Concierge committed suicide?”

“No, Gabrielle-san, I don’t.”
 

~*~
 
“What do you think, Akira-san?” Katsuaki Koike asked. As Akira was close to Dai Hashimoto, Katsuaki had reason to be cautious as he probed the shareigashira’s view of the Watanabe Yakuza’s future.

“I don’t think it is wise to move Sato-san. We all have a need for her. I fear business will suffer without Sato-san.”

Katsuaki, Ryuku, and Akira were all business people at heart. They always had at least one eye focused on their bottom lines. All three shareigashiras were in agreement, then, Hiromi Sato’s departure from the Watanabe Yakuza would not be good for business. What were they to do next?

“This is just my opinion, but I don’t think Keiji-san will stay Oyabun for long.” Katsuaki said.

“He didn’t take over for long when Hideki Watanabe was killed.” Ryuku added. She, along with Akira Sudo, had been low level members of the Watanabe Yakuza at the time of the war with the Inagawa-kai. Back then, Katsuaki Koike had been the right hand man of a shareigashira named Goro Shigeta. When Shigeta was killed in 2003, Katsuaki was promoted.

“Other than Tiger-san, she is the only person worthy of being Oyabun,” Akira stated. “Sato-san has my respect more than ever after Sunday.”

Hiromi Sato hadn’t always been held in high respect by members of the Watanabe Yakuza. When Goro Watanabe had promoted his cousin and assistant to Saiko-komon status in 2003, resentment was the most common reaction, particularly from those, like Hideichi Ishimoto, who thought they had been unfairly bypassed. When Hiromi showed herself to be a genius at investing money, respect began to flow her way.

“Hideichi-san has ambition to be Oyabun. He has never liked Hiromi,” Ryuku proclaimed. “When Goro became Oyabun, Hideichi felt he should have become both a Saiko-komon and financial advisor.”

“You are well informed, Ryuku-san,” Akira Sudo said with a grin.

“I think it is always wise to have one’s ears open.”

“And with knife in your hand,” Akira said before letting out a loud laugh that caused Watanabe Yakuza and Yojimbo’s patrons alike to look towards him. “Ryuku-san is so right. That is why, if I were to become Oyabun one day, I’d make Ryuku-san my Tiger. Everyone will fear her.”

Katsuaki always found it amusing how Akira Sudo treated Ryuku Kinjoh. For some unknown reason, the young shareigashira known for his ruthlessness, feared his female counterpart and treated her with kid gloves. Rumor had it that Akira’s facial knife scar may have come from his once being too fresh with Ryuku. Katsuaki came to believe the rumor that very night.

While he didn’t fear Ryuku Kinjoh, Katsuaki Koike respected her. Ryuku had proved herself a capable and efficient Yakuza leader. She, like Hiromi Sato, had shown women could be strong leaders and that the old Yakuza belief in regard to female members was out of date now in the 21st century. Katsuaki believed a Yakuza should be judged on their merits, not their gender.

“I don’t know about both of you, but I wouldn’t want Hideichi controlling my money.”

“Nor would I, Ryuku-san. Hideichi is the only one I know who can make five hundred million yen into three hundred million yen.”

Dinner then arrived for the three shareigashiras.

Once everyone had their meal, Akira excused himself. “I will go check on Sato-san. Please enjoy your food while I am gone.”
 

~*~
 
“Dinner was excellent, Akira-san,” Tom told the young shareigashira. “Charles and I just ordered dessert. After that we will leave.”

“Thank you, Sato-san, for coming. I am honored by your presence.”

“Oh, one last thing. I would give Minni a raise. She was an excellent hostess tonight.”

“I’ll do that at once, Sato-san.”

“Your cook should get a raise also,” Tom told Akira Sudo, who then bowed before leaving the room.

Chuck spoke up as soon as he and Tom regained their privacy. “Would you like us to go somewhere after we’re through eating?”

If it had been a Friday or Saturday evening, Tom may have suggested a visit to a karaoke bar. However Hiromi was much too tired to do that. “ Lets just go back to the apartment.”
 

~*~
 
“Where were we?” Akira Sudo asked, once he was back at the table with Ryuku Kinjoh and Katsuaki Koike.

“We were discussing Ishimoto-san’s shortcomings in regard to finance,” Katsuaki replied.

“Yes, that is not his strength.”

“What is?” Ryuku asked contemptuously.

“If Ishimoto-san had no worth to the family, Keiji or Goro-san would have removed him long ago,” Katsuaki explained.

“I suppose so.” Ryuku was both angry and depressed by the news of Hiromi Sato’s demotion. The two had been friends dating back to their first meeting in 2000. As they were both rare high ranking female members of the Yakuza, Ryuku also felt a strong bond with Hiromi.

Ryuku Kinjoh had no ambition to be Oyabun. All she wanted was to be treated with respect, respect Ryuku felt she had earned by carrying out many difficult Yakuza duties and doing so to the best of her ability.

If it was deemed one day that Ryuku was worthy of being a Saiko-komon, the female Yakuza would be delighted, but only if she earned it. Ryuku didn’t want it to look as if her support of Hiromi Sato and the friendship the two women had were the only reasons for the promotion.

Ryuku, along with Katsuaki, viewed Hiromi Sato as the best person to lead the Watanabe Yakuza once Keiji Watanabe stepped aside. From a business standpoint, and the Yakuza was a commercial enterprise foremost, only Hiromi possessed the broad spectrum of skills required of an Oyabun.

Akira, maybe out of his respect to his mentor Dai Hashimoto, was noncommittal. He did, however, agree that Hiromi Sato was too valuable to lose.

“What is our next step?” Ryuku asked after about a minute of silence.

“Oyabun has already made his decision,” Katsuaki replied.

Like Katsuaki, Ryuku didn’t believe the explanation given for Hiromi Sato’s transfer to Hong Kong. Did Keiji Watanabe know his lie had caused a lessening of respect for him?

“We could all go and speak to Hiromi.” Ryuku suggested.

“I don’t know if that would do us any good. Sato-san may not want to challenge her grandfather. He is, after all, her closest living relative,” Katsuaki said.

Not one of the three shareigashiras had heard of Hiromi Sato’s outburst on the previous Sunday. Keiji Watanabe had forbidden anyone present at the time from discussing the matter.

“Akira-san, what does Dai think of this?”

“I don’t know, Ryuku-san. We haven’t discussed it.”

Katsuaki was of the strong opinion that Keiji Watanabe wouldn’t have demoted Hiromi Sato without at least informing Dai Hashimoto first. Had the Oyabun made the decision unilaterally, or after consultation with the ultra-loyal Saiko-komon?

“Maybe someone should approach Dai-san.”

All three shareigahiras at dinner that night feared Dai Hashimoto. None were in a hurry to volunteer for what looked like a suicide mission.

Katsuaki broke the silence. “What if we all go together? Tell Dai-san what we think, but in a respectful manner.”

“That is possible.” Akira replied.

“Would Dai see us?”

“I think so.”

Katsuaki noted Ryuku Kinjoh’s silence. “Are we all in agreement then?”

Akira gave a quick nod of the head.

Then it was Ryuku’s turn to answer, “Yes, I am.”
 

~*~
 
Tom was almost finished with her dessert. “I’m glad we had dinner here tonight. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, Kimi-chan, I am.”

Tom Slater had done a lot of thinking over the last few hours in regard to her Swan Song assignment. She was certainly in a delicate situation. If there was anything on the positive side of the ledger, it was that the failed attempt to ‘capture’ Hiromi Sato had probably secured Tom Slater’s safety for now. There should be little or no suspicion directed towards the Yakuza accountant.

That didn’t mean Tom Slater could be complacent. She was still a undercover agent living in a world where suspicion was the norm. Tom needed to make contact with the Swan Song committee, but how could this be done safely?

Without an answer for now, Tom decided to talk about something else. “You were right, Australia is too cold right now for my taste. I heard it snowed there the other day.”

Chuck laughed. “Yes, it does that where Uncle Harry lives. Aunt Zeny will have the baby in late August or early September. Maybe we can go to the baptism and visit then if you want.”

Tom told Chuck she liked his suggestion. The baptism of Zenaida and Harold McBride’s latest child wasn’t likely to take place before October.

By then Tom Slater hoped to see his Swan Song work done. How would Chuck react when he learned his wife was really a double?

For now Tom would have to live almost day to day. Too much uncertainly lay ahead of her for any long-term planning to be done. Particularly in light of the tenuous hold Tom Slater had on her body at present.

Chuck and Tom exited Yojimbo’s at almost 9 p.m precisely. Yuri, Kimo, and six other bodyguards were waiting to protect Hiromi Sato as she drove home for the evening.

“Thank you for coming, Sato-san,” Akira Sudo said. Ryuku Kinjoh and Katsuaki were also standing near the restaurant’s back door.

Katsuaki bowed towards Hiromi Sato. “I am glad, Sato-san, that no harm came to you on Sunday.”

“Thank you for your assistance, all of you.” Chuck and Tom were in the Fairlady and on their way less than a minute afterwards.
 

~*~
 
With the meeting of Watanabe shareigashiras over, Ryuku Kinjoh said goodbye to her host. “How is your Jaguar? I hope it isn’t too badly damaged.”

“It will recover, Ryuku-san.” Akira then grinned, “The damage is not as permanent as when you used your knife against me, but the lesson I learned from each was equally valuable.”

“That is good to hear, then. Let me know how it goes with Hashimoto-san.”

“I will.”

“Till next time Akira-san.” Ryuku then surprised Akira by kissing the part of his face she had once damaged. After this sign of affection was over, Ryuku sauntered towards her BMW convertible. The sharegashira’s feet were killing her and the first thing Ryuku planned to do on her arrival home would be to soak her feet. At the same time, she was thinking over what she, Akira, and Katsuaki had discussed that night.
 

~*~
 
Chuck and Tom had traveled only three blocks when they had to stop for a red light. As she waited, Tom noticed a man meandering down the sidewalk.

It was a full moon, and the street was well lit. To Tom’s eyes, the man looked like a homeless person. His clothes were disheveled and he carried a paper bag in a fashion that made you think it was the most valuable possession the man had. Maybe because there was some kind of liquor bottle in it.

The traffic light then turned green, but Tom continued to think of the homeless person as she continued on her way home. In the United States, some people thought that society had failed the homeless and that the government should come to their assistance. Others countered that these vagabonds had made ‘their own beds’ and most preferred not to get assistance. Therefore, spending money on them was a waste.

The American news media tended to agree with former, and the entertainment industry was almost without exception in agreement. Americans who didn’t see helping the homeless as a noble cause were often portrayed as greedy and selfish.

If it was true about those who refuse to help the homeless, Japan was a nation almost entirely consisting of greedy and selfish people. The homeless in Japanese society were shunned and treated badly even more than they were in America.

As she drove Chuck and the Fairlady home, a Swan Song memory popped into Tom’s head. One of her secretaries, Suki Kobayashi, lived only a few blocks from Yojimbo’s. Tom Slater would always think fondly of Suki because they had known each other while growing up. What was Suki doing right then? Did she have a boyfriend?

Tom Slater had to wonder what would happen to Suki, Aki, and some of the other women who worked at Watanabe Trucking. They were much more like friends than employees to Tom Slater. Before her breakdown, Tom often had lunch with her female co-workers, and she had grown to enjoy this. When Swan Song ended, would any of these women and their families end up homeless like the drunk Tom Slater just encountered?

As she continued the drive home, Tom began to recall the ladies day out she had invited Suki to join her for. Suki had so enjoyed that day, as did Tom. When dropping off Suki at her apartment, Tom had handed her secretary an envelope with a generous bonus inside it. Should Tom Slater do that again, to make up for the almost certain loss of employment Suki and others at Watanabe Trucking would suffer?

Tom had fallen into a trap inadvertently. Her concern for Suki and the recollection of the December shopping trip, was also a reminder of somebody else there that day. Tonichi Ogawa aka Reina Shimizu aka Agent Chrysanthemum, the other undercover Swan Song agent.

Just as she had with Suki, Tom had rewarded Chrysanthemum with a bonus. A generous check made out to Momoko Ogawa, Tonichi’s wife. On being told of the check, Chrysanthemum had said how much she missed her wife.

Tom had promised Chrysanthemum she would see her wife and son again. Only two months later, Tom found herself in the position of having to kill Chrysanthemum in cold blood. Tom Slater suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of that action.

The feelings of guilt began to come back for Tom Slater. As they did, the Hiromi Sato persona began bubbling upward again. Tom fought desperately to remain in control.

“Kimi-chan, what are you thinking about?” Chuck asked his wife. It was his and Hiromi Sato’s custom to talk when riding together in the car together. Since leaving the restaurant, the wife of Charles McBride had been unusually quiet.

“Nothing in particular,” Tom replied. Chuck didn’t know it, but he had just come to Tom Slater’s rescue. “I really need to relax more.”

Chuck smiled. Maybe Hiromi was re-thinking what her grandfather had planned for her. Life would be much simpler and safer if Hiromi would just agree to move on. The couple had money, each other, and dreams of a family one day. Did Hiromi really need to be part of the Yakuza to be happy?

“Kimi-chan, I have the perfect solution to take those burdens off your mind .”

Tom laughed. “Yes, I will enjoy taking you for a ride.”

Chuck laughed very hard. “We can do that too but what I meant was I would give you a massage.”

Now it was Tom’s turn to laugh. “You can do that for me too.”

The massage and lovemaking would have to wait. As soon as she and the Fairlady were about a half mile from the apartment house, Tom could tell something was wrong. There was too much traffic in the area for that time of night.

Tom had to slow down the Fairlady. Keeping her left hand on the steering wheel, Tom used her right to speed dial Yuri.

“Yes, Taro-san, what can I do for you?”

“Is there something wrong? There’s a great deal of traffic tonight.”

Yuri was silent for a few seconds. “I’m sorry, Taro, but Toguchi-san fell from an apartment window sometime after 7:30 tonight.”
 

~*~
 
Grant Williamson wasted no time in calling the latest Swan Song meeting into session. “What do we know so far?”

Inspector Yoshida was the one to answer Grant’s question. “Agent Concierge fell to her death from the thirty-second floor of the Negishi Bay apartment building.”

“Accident? Suicide?” Grant Williamson asked.

“Homicide.” Was Gabrielle Tanaka’s confident reply.

“That is the opinion Tanaka-san and I both hold but there is as yet no proof. A suicide note was found at the scene.”

“Inspector, tell me what we know so far.....”
 

~*~
 
“Why wasn’t I told earlier?” Tom asked Yuri once she and Chuck were on a elevator heading upstairs.

“Your grandfather asked me not to tell you until you arrived home.”

Chuck noticed how tightly Hiromi was holding his hand right then. “I think we should go visit your grandfather now.”

“Yes, we should.”

Tom and Chuck found Keiji Watanabe in his office. The elderly Oyabun greeted his granddaughter warmly. “Thank you for coming.”

“I’m here for you, Grandfather. How are you?”

“All right.”

Hiromi and Chuck sat with Keiji for over fifteen minutes. Few words were spoken during that time. Riko did come by to ask if Chuck or Tom wanted any food or refreshments. They said no.

“Sir, is there anything we can do for you now?” Chuck asked.

“Yes, Charles, could you leave us? I’d like to talk to my granddaughter in private.”

Chuck got the unspoken message. Some Yakuza business was about to be discussed. Was Hiromi still angry about her demotion?
 

~*~
 
“Now we don’t have anyone at all inside the Watanabes?” Grant asked Inspector Yoshida. The Deputy FBI had stopped counting Agent Ripley as a Swan Song member ever since the Firecracker debacle.

“No, we don’t.”

Grant shook his head in frustration. What else could go wrong with Swan Song?

Gabrielle felt guilty and frustrated. The feelings of guilt stemmed from what Gabrielle saw as her many Swan Song deficiencies. She had failed Tom Slater in Hong Kong, and more recently Ai Toguchi.

Ai Toguchi couldn’t be saved, but Gabrielle could still redeem herself by resurrecting Tom Slater. Gabrielle hadn’t given up hope for her friend.

“Was Ai Toguchi ever told of Hiromi Sato’s true identity?” Grant Williamson asked.

“No, she wasn’t,” Gabrielle replied. If Ai Toguchi had known, Tom Slater would be a dead woman for certain.

A Yokohama policeman came into the room where Gabrielle and Inspector Yoshida were seated. Inspector Yoshida was given a hand written note.

“Sir, we may have come into important Swan Song information. Can we recess the meeting while I go investigate?”

“Of course, Inspector.”
 

~*~
 
Once Tom and Keiji were alone, the Oyabun showed his granddaughter the beeper. “This was found on your car.”

Tom examined the beeper before handing it back to Keiji. “How did it get there?”

“It was placed there by Ai-kun.”

‘Ai Toguchi was working for Swan Song?’ Since when, Tom asked herself. When she got briefed for Swan Song a year ago, no mention was made to Tom of a second undercover agent.

As Keiji went on describe the discovery of the beeper and Ai Toguchi’s confession, Tom Slater struggled again with the Hiromi Sato persona for the body they shared. Tom won the battle but it was a close thing.

Keiji discussed some Yakuza business with his granddaughter for about ten minutes. No mention was made of Hiromi Sato’s impending transfer to Hong Kong. Tom was asking herself, would Keiji Watanabe re-consider that decision based on what just happened to Ai Toguchi?

The answer was no.
 

~*~
 
“Before her demise, Agent Concierge sent her controllers a message,” Inspector Yoshida proclaimed once the Swan Song meeting was back in session.

“May I see the message, Inspector?”

“Sir, I just had it sent to your email account.”

Grant took time out to read Ai Toguchi’s message from the grave.
 

~*~
 
When Tom got to the apartment, she found Chuck already in his bathrobe. “Kimi-chan, are you all right?”

Tom gave an honest answer. “Not really.”

Chuck gave his wife a big hug. “I’m here for you, Kimi-chan.”

“Thank you. Can I still get that massage you offered earlier?”

“Of course, my little sports car. Do you want it before or after we take a bath together?”

Tom smiled. She had a very thoughtful and loving husband. “Before.”
 

~*~
 
Can we consider this information as reliable?” Grant asked Inspector Yoshida and Gabrielle Tanaka. The email had been sent by Ai Toguchi less than ninety minutes before her death.“

One can never be sure,” Inspector Yoshida replied.

Gabrielle, like Grant Williamson, had been given a copy of Agent Concierge’s email. Concierge had written her controllers to say Hiromi Sato was moving to Hong Kong sometime late in July. A reason for the move hadn’t been provided, but Concierge did inform the committee that Hiromi Sato was greatly angered by her impending transfer.

Since none of the Swan Song members were privy to the internal politics of the Watanabes, the possibility that Hiromi Sato’s move to Hong Kong was due to the Yakuza branching out into that Chinese city couldn’t be dismissed. Neither could the committee discount the possibility of the email being used by the Watanabe Yakuza to mislead Swan Song after discovering that Ai Toguchi was an informant.

“It is almost six months since Ripley met with Swan Song in Hong Kong. I would think seizing Ripley would be easier there than in Japan.”

Maybe,” Inspector Yoshida said. “But the January meet was just a debriefing. The Chinese authorities are not likely to approve our conducting a military style raid.”

“Would that even be necessary? Ripley went to Hong Kong in the past with only one bodyguard accompanying her.” Grant was thinking out loud, throwing out ideas in order to get feedback.

“If what Concierge says is true, Ripley isn’t just visiting Hong Kong but taking up residence there. I think we have to assume security will be tight.”

Gabrielle took time to put in her two bits. “As we have seen already, the failure of Operation Firecracker has made the Watanabes take extra precautions with Hiromi Sato.”

Grant Williamson winced at almost every mention of Operation Firecracker. The Deputy FBI Director was getting heat not just from his superiors at the Hoover Building, but from Japanese authorities also.

In barely three days time, the Firecracker chase had become big news in Central Japan. Sunday’s events had become the topic on both talk shows and blogs. Members of the media who tried to gain information from the Japanese police or Self Defense Forces were told ‘no comment’.

The bunker mentality taken after the Firecracker fiasco wasn’t working. Rumors had spread both in the Japanese public and on the internet, about a secret military operation going badly wrong. Two members of the Diet(Japan’s parliament) had begun to ask difficult questions of Japanese authorities.

Gabrielle had to assume the Watanabes heard the same rumors. It was Gabrielle’s opinion that they shouldn’t cast suspicion on Hiromi Sato, but it was hard to tell. Gangsters tend to be a paranoid lot.

“Officials in Hong Kong are unlikely to grant us permission to snatch Hiromi Sato while she is in that city.”

“We can try to seize Ripley when she attempts to leave Japan.” Grant Williamson said.

“Or we can ask the Chinese to make an arrest.” Gabrielle added.

Grant Williamson was thinking of something entirely different. “Inspector, you told us earlier of some plans that were being prepared. Have you heard anything yet?”

Inspector Yoshida shook his head. “Not as of this time.”

“The committee is to be notified at once when anything is learned. This meeting is adjourned.”
 

~*~
 
Tom Slater got the back and neck massages from Chuck she so eagerly wanted. Chuck had big hands but the Australian knew just how to use them to make his wife feel better.

When Tom felt sufficiently relaxed, she reminded Chuck of what else he had to do. “Make love to me.”

“Of course I’ll make love to you, my little sports car,” Chuck said with a big grin. “Let me get undressed.”

Tom had to get her own clothes off too. In less than a minute, Tom Slater was a naked female laying in bed, a naked man ready to penetrate her, but first Chuck would kiss his wife all over.

This felt good to Tom, but she wanted more. Tom softly whispered in Chuck’s left ear. “I want you inside me.”

Chuck immediately obliged his wife. Tom laid back in her bed with her legs spread wide. It only took a few moments for Tom to get her wish. Chuck’s warm large penis was inside her, and she was in the strong but loving arms of her husband.

Tom needed love about as much as she needed freedom and self control. The stress from the Swan Song mission, as well as the danger, had increased for Tom since Agent Chrysanthemum’s death. Nothing short of Tom Slater’s safe arrival at some Swan Song safe house would make the danger go away.

To deal with the stress, Tom Slater needed a diversion to make it fade if just temporarily. Tom found it in the arms of Charles McBride. The man loved Hiromi Sato emotionally, and more important right at that moment, physically. Tom Slater needed some strong love after all that had happened over the last four months.

The stress must have been affecting Chuck too. For he was taking a longer time than normal to climax. Tom Slater didn’t mind, she felt secure and wanted in Charles McBride’s arms. Down deep, the Tom Slater persona was still male, but he had a female body and with it female needs. Chuck filled these needs, and that made Tom Slater very content for now.
 

~*~
 
Inspector Yoshida didn’t go home right away after the Swan Song committee broke up. Instead the Inspector went to his office where he spent time deep in thought as he smoked.

Operation Swan Song was a complete mess so far as the Inspector was concerned. Five agents were dead, another had suffered a breakdown of some kind. The original target of the operation, Goro Watanabe was dead. If Swan Song brought Dai Hashimoto, Keiji Watanabe and other high ranking Yakuza to justice, would this balance out with the human toll of Swan Song?

Suppose the Watanabe Yakuza leadership is decimated by Swan Song, what happens next? Inspector Yoshida asked himself that very question. Hell if he knew the answer.

The police Inspector rarely thought this deeply. He always thought of himelf as a thief catcher, pure and simple. The Watanabe Yakuza belonged in prison, and Inspector Yoshida would work very hard to make sure it happened.

To best enable the prosecution of Keiji Watanabe and Dai Hashimoto, US and Japanese justice officials alike needed the knowledge and testimony of Agent Ripley. Without it, all the Swan Song work would accomplish was the jailing of some small fish. Little will have been changed.

It was while he smoked his sixth cigarette of the evening that Inspector Yoshida got some inspiration. Without Concierge’s inside information, it would be difficult to pin down Ripley’s whereabouts from that day on. What if Ripley’s movements could be made more predictable.

Inspector Yoshida had contacts in law enforcement throughout Asia and Japan. What some westerners would call the ‘Old Boy’ network. These unofficial links could be useful, and the one Inspector Yoshida had in mind was particularly close to him.

However, the hour was getting late, and his contact was likely to be retired for the evening. Inspector Yoshida decided to call it a night himself. Before he left his office, the Yokohama policeman called a colleague still at the Negishi Bay apartments for an update. When the call was over, Inspector Yoshida went home for the night.
 

~*~
 
Tom was using both hands to press Chuck’s buttocks when she began to feel a familiar feeling from the cavity between her legs. Sure enough, Chuck had reached climax and warm sperm had begun pouring into his wife’s vagina.

“I love you.” Tom told Chuck. She meant it too. It felt so good for Tom to be alive again.

“I love you too, my little sports car,” Chuck said as he rolled off the top of his wife. His penis had come out of Hiromi Sato on its own, limp after its recent workout.

Tom cuddled up close to Chuck. Chuck used his left arm to draw Tom in even closer. A clock in the bedroom said it was past 10:30.

“Want to take a shower now?” Chuck asked.

Tom shook her head. She didn’t want the evening or Chuck’s loving embrace to end. “No, let’s do it in the morning.
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle had been unable to go to sleep after she got back to her apartment. The FBI agent felt so alone and in need of someone to talk too. A solution soon popped into Gabrielle’s head. She would call her sister Candace.

Candace Ishii was a sometime political volunteer and full-time housewife living in Sacramento California. She had gotten married to her husband Robert when she was only twenty-two years old. Robert worked as a government lobbyist and they had a one-year-old baby boy named Michael Lawrence.

The youngest of the three Tanaka sisters didn’t waste much time after greetings were exchanged. “Where are you, big sister?”

“Yokohama Japan.”

“Work or pleasure?”

“Work. I’m here for the bureau.”

“It is good to hear from you. Mom and Dad have been wondering where you were A LOT.”

“Now you can tell them.”

Gabrielle hadn’t spoken to her parents since Mother’s Day, and that was the only time they had chatted since Christmas 2007. The wayward Tanaka daughter still had a uneasy relationship with her parents, and even with her sister Roxanne.

Candace, on the other hand, was the one Tanaka who always seemed happy to hear from Gabrielle, and vice versa. “Got anything interesting going on?”

“Kind of.”

“Oh....want to talk about it.”

“Candace, you’d think I was nuts if I told you.”

Gabrielle’s sister laughed. “Want to tell me any way?”

“Another time. I just need someone to talk to now. You aren’t too busy?”

Candace laughed. “A mother with a fifteen-month old too busy? Always, but never for her sister. So is it a guy or a woman?”

“A little of both, Candi,” Gabrielle said over the phone. It was only Gabrielle’s youngest sister that knew of her less than straight sexual orientation.

“Transgendered then. You got me intrigued, big sister.”

“I’m glad you find it interesting.”

“You know me, Gabrielle, I’m always open minded. When will you come home again?”

“I don’t know. This year I hope.”

“When you do, bring them along.”

“So Mom and Dad will faint?”

Candace laughed very hard. “They may do that but, sister, I think you need to be honest with them. You feel estranged from Mom and Dad?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Don’t. They love you very much. Mom and Dad want the best for you, just like they do for me and Roxanne too.”

Gabrielle changed subjects. She asked Candace about her son Michael. The boy had begun walking two months previous.

“You should see Michael now. He can really motor.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

Gabrielle and Candace talked about their sister Roxanne a little. As they did, Gabrielle began to yawn. It may just be time for her to go to bed.

“Candace, I’m about to fall asleep. It has been good talking.”

“The same here, big sister. What’s the name of that friend?”

“It’s Tom....I mean Rebecca or Hiromi” Gabrielle confessed nervously. Even with her open mind, Gabrielle wondered if Candace would really accept Hiromi/Rebecca one day. The pressure from their parents and sister Roxanne might result in Candace re-thinking her support of Gabrielle.

“You really got me intrigued now. How many people is this friend of yours?”

“Two. I did say you would think I was nuts.”

Candace laughed. “I remember you telling me that. Take care, Gabrielle, and be careful.”

“I will. Bye.”
 

~*~
 
Tom Slater worked hard the next morning to keep the guilt she felt over Agent Chrysanthemum from overwhelming her again. As the Fairlady neared Kanagawa Bank, Tom tried convincing herself she had no choice at the time.

It wasn’t an easy task. For Tom was alive, and Tonichi Ogawa dead and his remains God knows where. If Tom was to overcome the guilt, she would have to prevent it from increasing. That would only happen if Agent Ripley extricated herself from the Swan Song mission without harm coming to Charles McBride.

As she waited at a red light, Tom glanced over at Chuck. He was fast asleep, which was unusual for the Australian when in a car with his wife. Chuck’s usual habit was to hold on for life and limb as Hiromi Sato did her grand prix driver impersonation.

Since her re-emergence, Tom had begun to drive more cautiously. Maybe that helped Charles to fall asleep that Thursday morning. The Australian had mentioned to his wife that morning how drained he felt.

The alarm clock went off at its customary 5:50. Tom Slater, with half open eyes, extended her right hand out in order to turn off the alarm.

When that was done, Tom turned to Chuck. Chuck had barely reacted to the alarm clock. “Sleep well?”

“Yes, but not long enough. How are you, Kimi-chan?” Chuck asked as he wrapped an arm around his wife.

Tom gave her answer, but in a non-verbal fashion. She did this by taking Chuck’s penis in her left hand.

Chuck barely reacted. “Want to sleep some more?”

“Make love to me. Please?”

Chuck hugged Hiromi Sato tight. “You will wear me out one day, Kimi-chan, but yes, I will make love to you.”

Shortly after they got on the road that morning, Chuck fell fast asleep. The sound of his snoring filled the tight confines of the Fairlady. It was music to Tom Slater’s ears, it signaled that Charles McBride was alive.

On the way into the office, Tom Slater did a great deal of thinking as a CD in the car played Japanese pop music. Sometimes Tom would take a time out to sing the lyrics herself.

Agent Ripley was in a near impossible situation. Cut off from contact with her controllers who, if Tom was guessing right, had lost trust in their field agent. Ripley also had no ally left within the Watanabe Yakuza. She was all alone, and with dangerous people surrounding her on every side.

Tom knew a little of what happened during the time that the Hiromi Sato persona had been in control of the body they shared, but not everything. Hiromihad pushed life to the very edge, especially the previous Sunday when she threw a fit in front of her grandfather. Getting angry at a Oyabun was not a smart move if a person wanted to live long.

Couldn’t Tom make contact with the committee? There were two methods for doing this that had been explained to Agent Ripley before she went undercover. Both looked risky to Tom now. Trying to turn herself in by just appearing at say a Yokohama police station or a Swan Song safe house didn’t seem possible either. It may have worked when Tom traveled with just one car of bodyguards, but was out of the question now that the number had gone up to three.

Tom Slater could draw only one conclusion after everything was weighed. She had to abort her Swan Song mission when the first opportunity to do so presented itself.

Then there was what to do about Chuck? If Tom either turned herself in or arranged for the Swan Song committee to grab her, Chuck would be left dangling. The Watanabes would almost certainly kill the Australian, if only to silence him.

The days that lay ahead for Tom Slater would be both full of danger and tricky. There was also the unknown caused by the Hiromi Sato persona. Tom was in control for now, but could she have a relapse?

Chuck began to stir in the front passenger seat. As they were only a few blocks from the bank, Tom gave her husband a nudge with her left elbow.

“I fell asleep?”

“Yes, you did. We’re almost at the bank too.”

“What did your grandfather say last night?”

“Not much.”

“He still wants us to move to Hong Kong?” Chuck asked cautiously.

“We didn’t talk about it but, yes, I think he does.”

Chuck studied his wife’s face. None of the anger showed from the previous Sunday. Instead Hiromi looked thoughtful, or perhaps resigned in regard to her demotion.

The Fairlady pulled up outside Kanagawa Bank a few moments later. “This is where I get off. Love you, Kimi-chan.”

Tom and Chuck shared a brief but passionate kiss. “Love you too. Call me later on, please?”

“Of course. Till then.” Chuck gave Hiromi one more kiss. As Chuck prepared to climb out of the Fairlady, Tom had something else she wanted to say.

“I’m sorry about Sunday.”

Chuck turned his head towards his wife and smiled. “It’s all right, Kimi-chan.”

“No it isn’t, I was very bad to you. What I did was incredibly dangerous and stupid.”

Chuck, who was already half out of the Fairlady, climbed back in the car. He immediately took Hiromi Sato’s hand. “Kimi-chan, you don’t need to apologize. I understand what you did and why. You were protecting the two of us.”

Tom was amazed by the love Chuck had for her. He deserved better than a psychopathic Yakuza accountant or the male Army Captain turned into her ringer. What would be Chuck’s reaction when he discovered the truth?

Only one reaction could be expected from Charles McBride. He would want nothing more to do with the person who both impersonated Hiromi Sato and deceived him for so long. Tom Slater had grown to love Chuck, but was not under any illusion about her future with this man. There was none.

Even if Chuck might not appreciate it, Tom would work hard to ensure that he survived Swan Song. For Tom Slater, it would be an act of love.

“Kimi-chan, if I had been in your shoes, I would have done the same thing.” Chuck told his wife. The Australian had heard the many reports and rumors about what had happened Sunday. Whoever was after his wife, it didn’t matter. Chuck would always want to protect Hiromi Sato.

“You deserve someone better than me.”

“Nonsense. I love you.”

Tom Slater’s brain began to race. Maybe that day presented an opportunity to her. By telling Chuck the truth about his wife, Tom would be able to save the Australian as she hoped.

“Chuck, there is something I need to tell you.”

“Like what?”

Tom began to waver. She didn’t want to hurt Chuck’s feelings.

“Kimi-chan, you can tell me anything.”

“Chuck, I....” Tom began to say, but then her cellphone started to ring. A quick glance at the caller ID told Tom the caller was one of her bodyguards. “Hiromi Sato.”

The caller was bodyguard Yuri. “Sorry if I’ve interrupted you Boss. Right now you’re illegally parked and a policeman has taken notice.”

Hiromi glanced to her right and saw the policeman Yuri was referring to. A member of Yokohama law enforcement was in the process of trying to cross the busy road Kanagawa Bank was on. If not for rush hour traffic, Hiromi might have already been dealing with the policeman.

“I better get going,” Chuck gave Hiromi a quick kiss. “We can talk later. Either on the phone or when we get home. Is that all right Kimi-chan?”

“Yes, of course. Love you.” Chuck then climbed out of the Fairlady and walked toward the bank entrance.

As Hiromi drove to Watanabe Trucking, she listened to the morning news on the car radio. The never-ending American Presidential race was still going on, but there was other news too.

Thursday was Tom’s first day back at Watanabe Trucking in almost a week. Everyone there had heard of the Sunday incident. In addition to the customary bows Hiromi Sato normally got when walking through the outer office, four office employees said they were glad she was well or safe.

Once she was in the office and the door was closed, Tom went straight to her desk. It had been moved back to Watanabe Trucking from Negishi Bay the night before.

Tom slipped her shoes off and put slippers on instead. Then, after she placed her purse on a corner shelf, Tom headed straight to her private bathroom.

The first thing Tom did was go pee and after that she washed her hands.

As she dried her hands off, Tom looked at her appearance in the mirror. Tom’s hair was a little askew. With the help of a comb that was placed next to the sink, Tom began to comb every hair strand of hers back into place.

Tom paid tremendous attention to her appearance. She was a professional businesswoman and as one Tom would have to be professional looking. Her hair, clothing, and makeup were all in need of constant care.

When he first became female, Tom saw the need to always look her female best as a chore of necessity. Tom vowed to never become vain about her looks. She would do just what was minimally necessary to maintain her appearance.

That plan went out the window after Tom discovered that Hiromi Sato had a live-in boyfriend. That had been one huge shock, but adjustments had to be made.

Tom began to pay more attention to her appearance in order not to raise Chuck’s suspicions. As time went on, the reasons for the upkeep changed. Tom did it so to look her prettiest, not just for Chuck but the world in general.

After she got her hair straightened out, Tom focused on the lipstick she wore. Having recently kissed Chuck, Tom had to touch it up.

Tom had undergone extensive mental changes, and she would be the first one to admit it. The once male Army Captain hadn’t just grown accustomed to being a woman, but actually had come to enjoy it. It would be very difficult for Tom to adjust back to being a man again, and if the truth were known, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to return to her original gender.

Just the previous night, Tom had realized that Hiromi had dumped her birth control medication. Thoughts of motherhood now often filled Tom Slater’s female head.

If Chuck was out of the equation, life as a woman certainly wouldn’t be bad. As Tom learned, being female had advantages and disadvantages. She had grown to like the advantages, even without taking into consideration the mental changes Tom had undergone. If he went back to being male physically, would the mental changes reverse? The last things Tom wanted were to be thought of as a guy was girly or gay.

Tom thought of Gabrielle Tanaka for a moment. While Hiromi Sato had maintained control during Operation Hornblower, Tom had been stirred enough to recall what happened that night. Gabrielle had cared enough to make an attempt at rescuing her friend.

Once Swan Song was over, where would Tom and Gabrielle stand? The answer seemed even foggier than that of Tom’s possible relationship with Chuck. There was sexual attraction and tension between her and Gabrielle, and Tom liked the FBI agent.

This was offset by the fact Gabrielle had twice declined requests to be intimate. The first time was understandable, the second not so. Tom had reason to question Gabrielle’s desire to have a relationship.

There also was the fact that Gabrielle Tanaka’s allure for her was almost entirely heterosexual. Only the persona and mind of Tom Slater felt attracted to women. A year inside the body of a heterosexual woman who had a live-in boyfriend had decreased the physical sexual attraction Tom Slater had felt for women.

Once finished with her lipstick, Tom took a moment to twirl her body around. Everything looked to be in place and in perfect order, including the large breasts Tom now had after Chuck had talked her into having implants.

When her relationship with Chuck was over, and if Tom decided to stay female, she was inclined to have her breast implants removed. DD breasts drew Tom Slater more attention than she desired, plus they were literally a pain in the neck.

Tom hadn’t finished in the bathroom as yet, when she heard a knock at her office door. Like clockwork, Aki and Suki had come to bring their Taro her phone messages, newspapers and morning tea. Some months back Hiromi timed her secretaries for an entire week. Aki and Suki would come into the office, with the exception of special occasions, only after seven minutes had passed since Hiromi closed the door behind her.

“Come in,” Tom called out. It was time to go to work.

By the time Aki and Suki came in, Tom was back in her office area. “Good morning, Taro-san.”

“Good morning, Aki, Good morning, Suki. What do you have for me today?” Tom asked as she headed towards the back of her desk. On the way there she closed a cabinet door that was slightly ajar. The first thing Tom did once she was seated was hit the start button on her desk computer.

Tom took the messages from Aki and began to glance through them as Suki poured some tea. There were more messages than normal for a weekday. Six Watanabe shareigashiras had called wanting to speak to Hiromi Sato.

Then there were the usual messages related to Hiromi’s Yakuza work and ownership of Kanagawa Bank. There was two additional messages. One was from a lawyer representing the Maruha corporation. Maruha was the majority owner of the Yokohama Baystars baseball team.

As the Swan Song committee suspected, Goro Watanabe was part owner of the Baystars. The attorney who wanted to speak to Hiromi Sato was inquiring if the Watanabes planned on retaining their share of the sports franchise. The matter had been brought up once since Goro’s murder but Tom still had no answer. Keiji Watanabe had not made up his mind yet.

The second message was from Omar Rafique. He had another computer update ready for Tom’s PC and was wondering if he could stop by the office some time that day to install it.

Since re-awakening, Tom Slater hadn’t thought of the ghost program that had once been on Hiromi Sato’s computer. There were some memories and details from the time the Hiromi Sato persona was in control that Tom had no clue about.

Suki then spoke. “Taro-san, you asked me to remind you of the doctor’s appointment you need to make. Do you want to place the call or should I?”

Hiromi Sato was due for her annual gynecological exam. While preparing for Swan Song, Tom Slater had had one of these performed. It was every bit as unpleasant as he’d had heard it was.

Another question Hiromi had for herself- Did she want to re-start her birth control? “I’ll place the call, thank you for reminding me. Nice nose you have now.”

A big smile began to form on Suki Kobayashi’s face. “Thank you, Taro-san. I have you to thank for it.”

“You’re very welcome, Suki,” Tom said to her employee and long ago first-time crush. Suki, Aki, and the rest of the people at Watanabe Trucking worked hard for Hiromi Sato. Did Hiromi ever thank them or pay a compliment for a job well done? Not that Tom could remember while the Hiromi Sato persona had control of the body they shared. “I may join both of you and the others for lunch later. If that is all right.”

“We will welcome you, Taro-san,” Suki replied.

“Is there anything else you need, Taro-san?” Aki asked.

Hiromi had her usual shitload of work to do. “No, Aki, there isn’t. Thank you.”

Before Aki and Suki were out of the office, Hiromi was already busy. The sheer amount of work asked of Hiromi Sato was tremendous. The good news was, Tom Slater hoped to end her Swan Song mission in no more than a month but preferably a whole lot sooner.
 

~*~
 
“No, I can’t help you. Sorry,” said the landlord of the building that housed the Hong Kong branch of Kanagawa Bank. Roger had come to the office to make a complaint but had just been given the shrug off.

‘What a bunch of fucking idiots these people are,” Roger thought to himself as he left the office. ‘This place is a firetrap.’

Roger’s first day in Hong Kong wasn’t half way complete, but the British bodyguard already felt frustrated. The day started off on a sour note when Roger tried to view the house Hiromi Sato would begin to live in before July was out. It was being fumigated and off limits till Friday. Roger had wasted almost an hour before finding this out early that morning.

As he drove back down Victoria Peak, Roger timed how long the trip from Hiromi’s house to her Kanagawa Bank office would take. Roger tried doing this in a manner reminiscent of how Hiromi Sato drove any car she was behind the wheel of. In other words, like hell on wheels.

Therefore it was good that Roger got the Bentley for a car rental. Roger wasn’t certain yet if the Fairlady was coming to Hong Kong, but one way or another Hiromi Sato would be getting herself comparable transportation for her new home.

Later in the day, Roger would time the drive back to Hiromi’s house, plus do the same back and forth to where East China Commerce Bank had its office.

Once he got to Kanagawa, Roger began his inspection of the bank’s offices and the building it was in. While he went from room to room or floor to floor, Roger wrote notes to himself in a small pocket notebook he kept.

Kanagawa took up parts of two floors in the building that housed its offices. Hiromi’s office was on thirty-eighth floor. Roger saw it was being used for storage and told the office manager to change this at once.

Roger did a visual inspection of all entrances and exits to both Kanagawa Bank and the skyscraper. It was while doing this work that Roger made a discovery. All of the stairs that were to be used in the event of fire, were either blocked partially or in full. Some fool companies in the building were using these vital areas for storage.

Most of Asia has fire codes. That didn’t mean they were obeyed. Roger recalled there being a hotel fire somewhere in the region during the 1990’s. Many guests were killed because the hotel, which had fire doors, kept them locked at all times to prevent people from leaving without paying their bill.

Blocked fire exits were of serious concern to Roger. If someone wanted to kill Hiromi, a large fire set somewhere beneath Kanagawa Bank would do the job. Hiromi Sato could end up trapped in a skyscraper without proper exits.

As result of Roger’s findings, and the indifference shown by building management, the bodyguard would recommend to his boss that she keep her main office at East China Commerce Bank. A inspection of that Bank, and the building that housed it, showed none of the problems found at Kanagawa. East China’s offices were located on the third floor of the building that housed it.

Both Kanagawa and East China had their office on Hong Kong Island, which was where Hiromi Sato’s new home was also. In addition to his bank inspections and trial runs between Victoria Peak and the banks, Roger spent his day familiarizing himself with Hong Kong geography.

Roger had never lived in the Chinese city and had a great deal to learn in preparation for Hiromi Sato’s arrival.
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle-san, did you sleep at all last night?” Inspector Yoshida asked as he waved for Gabrielle to take a chair in his office. As was the Yokohama policeman’s custom, he was sipping on some coffee.

“Very little,” Gabrielle saw the coffee cup in Inspector Yoshida’s hand, evidently his ‘rocket fuel.’

Inspector Yoshida began to speak in a grandfatherly tone to Gabrielle. Tetsuro was only Gabrielle’s father’s age, but sometimes felt like he was much older. “Gabrielle-san, you must not take Swan Song too personally.”

“I’m trying not to.”

Inspector Yoshida didn’t think Gabrielle tried hard enough. “You feel much affection for Agent Ripley. I do understand that, but you must separate your personal feelings from your professional responsibilities. Otherwise both will become muddled.”

Gabrielle listened to what Inspector Yoshida was saying. He was indeed right, but Gabrielle had let Tom Slater steal her heart. She couldn’t help feel for Tom, and every Swan Song miscue caused great pain for Gabrielle as a result.

The investigation into Ai Toguchi’s death was still young. One interesting thing had been learned. Almost no fingerprints were found in the 32nd floor apartment that matched Agent Concierge’s.

“There should be more than a few smudges,” Gabrielle said after reading a preliminary report given to her by Inspector Yoshida.

“Agreed.”

“That building probably has security cameras everywhere. Has that been looked into?”

“Yes, Gabrielle-san, it has. The cameras on that floor were malfunctioning at the time.”

“How convenient.”

“I agree, Gabrielle-san, but it is no surprise. The Yakuza is very thorough when they cover up their crimes.”

“Have they conducted an autopsy yet on Ai Toguchi?” Gabrielle asked.

“It is being done as we speak, Gabrielle-san,” Inspector Yoshida said before someone began to knock on his office door. “Enter.”

A young policeman came in and handed Inspector Yoshida a note. After they were alone again, Tetsuro told Gabrielle what the note said. “Keiji Watanabe has agreed to an interview. It will take place at 10 a.m. tomorrow.”

“Can I go?”

“Yes, Gabrielle-san, you may. We will both attend,” Inspector Yoshida said before sipping on some more coffee.

“Anything new on that military operation that is being planned?”

Inspector Yoshida put his coffee cup down. “The SDF is, there is an American saying I can’t recall. Yes, they play their cards close to the vest. A Major Ido said no details would be shared with Swan Song.”

“That’s interesting.”

“Yes, it is. I feel the SDF thinks there is a leak somewhere. Not that I blame them.” Inspector Yoshida didn’t share with Gabrielle his concern about several members of the Yokohama police.

Gabrielle still got the message. Tom Slater was in deep trouble and this just caused more pain for Gabrielle Tanaka.
 

~*~
 
Tom Slater was safe for now. She was just being worked into the ground on Thursday. Ever since Aki and Suki left her office, Tom hadn’t even a single moment to daydream.

Not long after she got settled in, Tom Slater was informed of another heroin shipment to arrive in Yokohama. These drugs weren’t destined for the Watanabe Yakuza but the Inagawa-kai. The two Yakuzas may be enemies but they were regularly business partners. Yokohama is Japan’s largest port and the Watanabe’s control of it often resulted in jealousy.

If the Watanabes were toppled, as was Operation Swan Song’s objective, a vacuum would be created in Yokohama. One that another Yakuza, or some surviving remnant of the Watanabe Yakuza, was certain to fill. Tom Slater saw this, and had begun to question if the carnage of Swan Song was worth it if the only result was another Yakuza ended up taking over Yokohama.

Tom again began to feel dirtied by her involvement in the business of selling and dealing in narcotics. ‘Will you ever feel clean again?’ Tom Slater asked himself right after Ryoji Ishii left her office. Ryoji, who was one of Tom’s assistants and destined to be the Watanabe Yakuza financial advisor after Hiromi Sato’s departure for Hong Kong, had just come in to discuss the incoming heroin shipment.

As if he knew his wife was bothered by something, Charles McBride took that moment to send Hiromi a vase of red roses. Their arrival in Hiromi Sato’s office couldn’t have happened at better time for Chuck’s wife.

“Thank you for the roses,” Tom told Chuck barely a minute after the roses were placed on her desk. The thoughtful gesture had moved Tom Slater to tears. “I really needed them.”

“I’m glad you like them. Is everything all right, Kimi-chan?” Chuck could tell Hiromi was crying.

“Just having a tough day here. That is all.”

“Want me to come over and have lunch with you?”

“No, I’m all right and you’re busy.”

“I’m never too busy for you, Kimi-chan. I love you very much.”

“Love you too. I’m going to have lunch with some of the office staff today.”

“Ah, a gossip session,” Chuck said with a good hearted chuckle. “That should help cheer you up, Kimi-chan.”

Tom glanced at her watch. She had better get back to work. If not, she would have to do a working lunch. “I have to go. Love you.”

“Love you too, Kimi-chan. Talk to you later.” Chuck then hung up the phone.

There was enough time for Tom to have lunch with the other female office workers at Watanabe Trucking. The forty minutes she spent in talk and gossip with these women, proved to be very refreshing for Tom Slater. Afterwards it was so much easier for Tom to return to her Yakuza work.

The breakroom at Watanabe Trucking had a television set. Since the women were more interested in talking, the sound was turned down low.

That didn’t prevent one employee from overhearing some news. “That poor man’s family.”

“What poor man?” Another employee asked.

“Didn’t you hear about Toyo Ito? He was in that accident on Sunday that everyone is talking about.”

“His poor mother,” One woman in the room said. “Today was supposed to be her birthday. This was the worst possible gift she could get.” All the women, Tom Slater included, felt sorry for the mother of Toyo Ito. The worst thing that can ever happen to a mother is to have their child die.

Omar ‘The Indian’ Rafique came to do the computer upgrade of Hiromi Sato’s computer just as she was leaving her office for lunch. A member of her security detail stood over Omar as he did his work. By the time Tom was through with her lunch break, ‘The Indian’ was gone.

After lunch, Tom spent some time in thought about how she would contact the Swan Song committee. To find a method that wasn’t risky would be no easy task.

Throughout the day Tom returned those phone messages left by Watanabe shareigashiras. The conversations with all six of these men followed a similar pattern. Expressions of well wishes were made to Hiromi after her recent escape from danger on Sunday. The six shareigashiras each vowed that they would personally see to Hiromi Sato’s safety in the future.

The real reason for the phone messages didn’t take long to surface. The shareigashiras who spoke to Tom on Thursday all expressed dismay at her impending move to Hong Kong.

“We need your wise counsel more than ever, Sato-san.”

“I will still be available. You can reach me in Hong Kong any time.”

“Hong Kong is far away. Won’t you re-consider?”

Tom had to be careful. If she spoke the wrong words and they some how got back to Keiji Watanabe, there could be fatal consequences.

“Our Oyabun thinks this is best.” Was Tom Slater’s cautious reply.

One shareigashira asked Hiromi Sato to speak to her grandfather. Another said they might say something to Keiji Watanabe.

Tom got a interesting phone call late in the afternoon. A moving company called to set a time to discuss Hiromi Sato’s move to Hong Kong. It looked as if Tom would be taking not just her belongings to Hong Kong, but all of the furniture in her Negishi Bay apartment.

Before she went to work at Watanabe Trucking that day, Tom had set a time she wouldn’t work past, 6 p.m. When 5:45 rolled around, Tom called Yuri to tell him she would be leaving in fifteen minutes.

After she cleared her desk and turned off the computer, Tom went to use the bathroom. Before she got there, Tom Slater got a sudden brainstorm.

Tom went to the cabinet that had its door ajar earlier. Inside it were over a half dozen liquor bottles. Scotch, Vodka, Gin were just a few of them. In all the months Tom had been at Watanabe Trucking, she had never once gone in that cabinet. Hiromi Sato didn’t care for any alcohol stronger than a glass of wine.

‘This might just work.’ Tom thought to herself as she examined the bottle of scotch. When she was through, Tom placed the bottle back in the cabinet before heading to the bathroom as she originally planned.
 

~*~
 
Akira Kudo called his fellow shareigashira just after 6 p.m. “I spoke to Dai this afternoon. He will see us Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Can you be there?”

“Yes, Akira-san. Have you spoken to Ryuku-san yet?”

“I have. She will be coming with me. See you on Saturday then.”
 

~*~
 
Chuck and Tom got to their apartment at 7 p.m. Juanita had spaghetti and meatballs on the table for the couple ten minutes later.

Tom Slater had always loved Italian food. Hiromi Sato had a taste for it too, but usually ate it in small amounts in order to control her weight. That particular evening saw Tom splurge on the good tasting food like never before in her time as Hiromi Sato.

“You’re hungry tonight I see,” Chuck said with a laugh.

Tom put down her fork. “I better not eat too much or I will gain weight.”

“I thought that was your plan. What were you about to tell me this morning when Yuri called?”

Tom knew if she told Chuck the truth that she would hurt him terribly. Sooner or later Chuck would find out. Wouldn’t it be better if Tom told him rather than have her husband find out by some other means?

“Did you know I’m really from Mars and have taken the real Hiromi Sato’s place? I’ve been sent here to study the Yakuza.” Tom said, giving a clever but untruthful answer. She just couldn’t make herself tell Chuck the truth.

Chuck laughed his head off. He still remembered the absence of the scar on Hiromi’s left leg but the woman in front of him acted too much like Hiromi Sato not to be her. She possessed that mix of female contradictions that drive men insane but which no heterosexual male can do without. Chuck was glad that the angry Hiromi of a few days earlier seemed to be gone.

Tom wondered if Chuck had his suspicions about his wife. There were plenty of clues around, if one wanted to see then, to show that the Hiromi Sato now working for Keiji Watanabe was an impersonator. Charles McBride had to be either dumb, in love or in denial. He certainly wasn’t the first.

“You’re the prettiest Martian I ever encountered then my little sports car. Tell me if I’m wrong, but you’d like to get pregnant?”

“How did you know?”

“You haven’t taken any birth control since June at least. I haven’t seen your pill bottle around lately.”

Chuck stopped eating and came around his wife’s side. The tall man crouched down so he and Hiromi were looking eye to eye.

“I’d like us to have children together too. Two would be a nice number, wouldn’t it?”

‘Why don’t you tell him the truth? You will end up breaking Chuck’s heart.’ Tom thought. “Yes two would be nice. Zeny was so happy and little Zarah was adorable. I’d like us to be like that.”

Chuck smiled. “Yes, but after this next one Uncle Harry and Aunt Zeny will have six. You don’t want six children do you Kimi-chan?”

“No, two or maybe three.”

“You’ll be twenty-nine this November. That would be a good age to start. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes.”

Chuck kissed his wife. “Kimi-chan, let’s get away from this life. I know you can’t just walk right away, but let’s get out in say two or three years from now. Give your grandfather back the banks. We have money. You and I can buy a farm in Australia and raise a family there.”

Tom felt so guilty. Chuck had these dreams and he didn’t know they would never come to fruition. “I’d like that too.”

After another kiss, Chuck stood up again. “We have time, Kimi-chan. Let’s finish dinner.”

Once Chuck was back in his chair, Tom had a question to ask. “What do you want to do tonight?”

“Anything you want, Kimi-chan. You choose.”

Tom and Chuck finished dinner. After that they showered together before going out to the living room to listen to music while cuddling together on the couch till it was time to go to bed.
 

~*~
 
Keiji Watanabe was preparing for bed, when his private phone began to ring. The retired Oyabun was not fast of foot, therefore one of the many people he employed answered the phone for him.

“Hideichi Ishimoto is on the line. He says he wishes to speak to you.”

Not till Keiji was alone in the room did he begin speaking. “Hideichi-san, it is late. Why are you calling?”

“My apologies, Oyabun-san. There is a matter of grave urgency that needs your attention and would be best spoken about person to person. I am downstairs, do you have time to see me tonight?”

Yes, Hideichi-san, come upstairs at once.”
 

~*~
 
To be continued in Part Thirteen