I catch the shinkansen out to Kansai airport, dulled by reluctance, not really sure if I want to see tyger just at this time. Last night has pretty well sealed things for me, and Emi is the only thing on my mind. I wander around the terminal, waiting for the plane to land. Its time arrives. I stand waiting for an hour, much more, but no tyger emerges. I pass the minutes by calling and engaging in small talk with Satomi, Akiko and Miho. I can’t call Emi in case she wants to know what I am doing and when she can see me again. I make enquiries and am told that all the passengers on the flight from Heathrow have passed through customs. So tyger has stood me up. Oh, lucky man!
I log on to send tyger an email of equal parts reprimand and concern, but she has beaten me to it. She just bottled out, she says. A thousand abject apologies, she hopes the email gets to me in time. It would have, had I logged on last night, the night of the torii at Lake Biwa.
