"Where you going to?" Machiko rolled over, stretching her back against the plush mattress of the cheap love hotel bed. "Jimu? Where you going to?"

 The man - Jim - looked at her. The girl (in Japan all unmarried women are considered girls) blinked up at him, her luminous dark eyes still fogged over from sleep. He pulled out a cigarette, feeling around for his lighter. Machiko rose swiftly, pulled her purse to her and lit the cigarette for him from the lighter she found there.

 "Thanks," said Jim shortly. He inhaled the smoke deeply before resuming in his effort to get dressed. He turned his shirt right-side out and slid it on; he'd already pulled on his pants and now hunted for his socks.

 Machiko still sat in bed, holding the sheets up to cover her bare breasts. "Doko e iku~~~~?" she whined. Where are you going?

 Jim sniffed hard, flicked ashes onto the carpet, and scratched his exposed stomach. "Isn't it obvious?"

 "You leave?"

 "Yeah. I'm leaving." He took another puff on the cigarette before setting it down in the ashtray. His shoulders rose and fell as he stretched. Sighing, Jim sat down on the bed to pull on his socks. Machiko slid up behind him and wrapped her thin arms around his middle. She felt him tense slightly at her touch - he hesitated in his actions, but only for a second.

 "Why leave so soon?" she queried softly in his ear.

 "I want to get back to my apartment," he told her. "Someone's picking me up to take me to the office in the morning. I need to be at my apartment." This last part was mumbled into the cigarette as he took another drag.

 "What about me?"

 "What about you?"

 "The trains stopped running."

 He pulled away as she kissed his neck; she embraced him tighter, molding her body to his.

 "You can stay the night here," he said. "I'll pay."

 "Jimu," the girl murmured. "You stay with me."

 He sighed through his nose. "I can't stay here - I already told you."

 Machiko pouted a bit. "Stay a little more."

 "Dekinai," he sharply replied. I can't.

 "Doushite!" Why? She sounded petulant.

 "I already told you!" he repeated. Jim struggled to pull his shoes on as Machiko clung to him.

 The pair was silent a moment, then the girl spoke. "You promised you take me shopping tomorrow. Buy me diamond. Remember? Jimu remember?"

 Jim sighed again. He vaguely recalled saying something like that, but he'd been promising her an engagement ring for some time now.

 "Jimu? Remember tomorrow?" pressed Machiko.

 "Yeah, I remember! Christ, what's so important about tomorrow? I've got a meeting tomorrow; it's important that I be there. Wakaru?" Understand?

 She pulled away from him a little and he took the opportunity to button up his shirt.

 "We can do lunch?" This was a phrase the girl had picked up from the salarymen she knew. It was very American.

 "I'll see what I can do," Jim answered.

 "Promise," she said.

 "I can't promise! I've got a meeting. It's very important."

 Machiko had a sinking feeling inside her. He was so distant from her, but she wouldn't give up.

 "Do lunch tomorrow! We can go shopping some other day," she offered.

 "I told you I'll see what I can do." Jim didn't look at her.

 "You promised me a diamond."

 "I know what I promised you."

 "We get married."

 "I said I'd get you the ring."

 "Married!" Machiko insisted.

 "I can't promise that right now," Jim said. "But I'll get you a ring if you want a ring. I bought you that new dress."

 "Saa…" She looked down, picking at the little fibers that stuck out on the covers of the western-style bed.

 "But," the girl continued. "You promised we get married. And go to America. You take me to America, nee?"

 "Plane tickets are expensive," Jim returned.

 "Diamondo mo," she muttered. So is a diamond.

 "Hmm?"

 "Nothing." Machiko fell back against the pillows, arms limp at her sides. She watched Jim adjust his clothes in the mirror. He turned to her before he was about to go.

 "See ya," he said and moved to the door.

 "Wait!" Machiko leapt from the bed, her lithe form stumbling across the floor. She grabbed Jim's elbow and looked into his face pleadingly.

 "What now?" he sighed.

 "You promised! Diamond! Married! America!"

 "I told you - I'll buy you the damn ring." He tried to get away from her persistent tugging. It was wrinkling his suit.

 "Jimu! Jimu!" Her voice grew higher, more frantic with each repetition of the man's name. "Jimu! Promised…" The girl's voice broke.

 He shoved her hard; Machiko landed in a heap on the floor. Without a word Jim made a hasty exit. She didn't look up, but instead stared at her hands which shook in front of her. Bits of dirt from the carpet stuck in her palms.