Read No Ordinary Love for Free Online

Brooklyn he jumped and shrieked when he heard a popping noise or the police sirens blaring by, as if I lived in a crack den in the center of the hood.
    “Nyomi, maybe I should stay.” Still, he edged away from me.
    “Just go. I’ll be fine.”
    “Okay.” Zo rushed to the bedroom and slid the door closed.
    The person knocked again. “Please, open the door, Ms. Palmer.”
    “I’m coming, sorry.” I could have sworn I heard a sigh of relief from the person on the other side.
    What are you up to now, Kenji?
    Kicking away the boots that I left by the entrance, I opened the door. A teenaged boy with light blue hair to his shoulders gazed back at me and held a big box that looked about three feet long and a foot wide. Silver rings pierced his right nostril. Baggy jeans hung on his slim waist, yet he had the nerve to look me up and down as if I was the different one.
    “Are you Ms. Palmer?” A huge smile expanded over his face. Curiosity lingered in his eyes. That seemed to be the expression I got from people here. As I explored the city, many did double takes, kids pointed like I was a peculiar creature, and some even snapped a picture. The good thing was that they all seemed entertained by me passing them, so I never felt insecure. And if I was truthful to myself, I studied them with the same inquiring wonder.
    I tucked my Mace into my back pocket. “Yep. I’m her.”
    “This is a gift from Mr. Sato.” The boy handed the box to me. I grabbed the big package wrapped in shiny gold paper, thanked God it was light, and set it on the carpet.
    “You said I needed to sign something, right?”
    “Yes. You also have to answer the question in here.” He gave me a crimson envelope. “I’m to stay until you read and answer the letter.”
    “Alrighty.” I opened it with no problem and slipped the crisp red sheet of paper out. Black lettering decorated it. Kenji hadn’t wasted a lot of words. Only one sentences existed on the page.
    To my Naughty Tora,
    Be dressed and ready for a date with me at 8pm tomorrow.
    “How is this even a question?” I scrunched my face in confusion. “This is an order.”
    The boy shifted his face to the ground and did a horrible job of hiding his chuckles.
    So Kenji wanted a date, even after I harmed his special area. Maybe he liked getting kneed. I’d have to ask him tomorrow, right when I begged for the return of my recorder. After Zo’s consistent frenzy all night, I had to make sure that Kenji and I were cool. It wasn't right to come visit Zo in Tokyo and leave with a yakuza gang pissed at him.
    I’ll go on this date for Zo, I said to myself, like that was the only reason I would go, and ignored the way my body warmed at the thought of seeing Kenji again.
    “Do you have a pen?” I asked. “I have an answer for his order.”
    “Here you go.” He pulled out a rainbow-colored one and gave it to me.
    I balanced the sheet on top of the box and wrote down my own message.
    Dear Kenji,
    I’m sorry for kneeing you in your groin, but I don’t appreciate lots of unwanted groping. If you can keep your hands and lips to yourself, then I promise no further knee battles in your future.
    I will meet with you tomorrow, but not for a date. I would love to sit down and discuss a compromise to me carrying on my observations in Kabukichō District. I also want my tape recorder back. As I said before, it means a lot to me.
    Sincerely,
    Nyomi
    I considered underlining my name to prove a point that I wasn’t his Tora, but thought I’d pushed the situation enough with my letter. Let’s see what he thinks of this. I folded up the page, stuffed it back into the envelope, and returned it to the boy. “Thanks so much, and be careful out there. It’s pretty late.”
    He gave me a weird nod and rushed away.
    Once I closed the door, Zo jumped out of the shadows. “What is it?”
    I jumped. “Holy shit! You scared me.”
    “What did he get you?”
    I gestured at the big gold box. “I have no