AWLL2 — Book 9 — Kami¶

Last updated through AWLL2.9 ch 64.

Book summary¶

AWLL2.9 Kami runs July 1995–August 1996. Albert’s “missing” scare is a false alarm the same night; security hardens. NIKA past 100 employees fights Dante, break-ins, and culture war — Terry/Skye dating denied; Michelle resigns for M & M, then breaks with Steve; Eve becomes office manager; Deborah Rice in-house counsel. Molly Kraus and the new JM dōjō reshape karate; Mary Whittaker enters as medical ally. Samantha marries Brian; María Cristina integrates toward household third; Willow is rescued then her pimp returns. Book ends with Lisa Glass missing and a knife ambush on Clinton Street.

Chapter summaries¶

Prologue — October 6, 2012, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Memorial/closure frame with Sensei Jim and Sakurako’s circle; honor and the 1994 dōjō path.
Chapter 1 — July 28, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Albert briefly “missing” → at Timmy’s; Theo/Outfit pressure re Lisa Glass; security upgrades; Molly spar challenge setup.
Chapter 2 — August 1, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Armed intimidation at NIKA (Scuderi orbit); Eve as backup; dalliance boundaries.
Chapter 3 — August 7, 1995, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Mary Whittaker, MD, runs Steve’s workup as research case; Birgit to Vermont.
Chapter 4 — August 13, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Molly Kraus mentorship; Michigan NASCAR; Michelle EPT+.
Chapter 5 — August 25, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Dante/LP non-compete; Hastings Mill / Chickasaw; dōjō ethics (sine missione).
Chapter 6 — September 1, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Naperville/Melissa intimacy without sex; office soap.
Chapter 7 — September 2, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Marcia/mom crisis; Felipe yellow belt; new dōjō prep.
Chapter 8 — September 11, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Dante settlement pressure; new JM dōjō blessed (Hiro ashes); Scuderi threat; M&M cash.
Chapter 9 — September 21, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — SDSU philosophy guest slot; departs for San Diego.
Chapter 10 — September 23, 1995, San Diego, California — Meredith Caldwell night (strip chess path); return to Chicago.
Chapter 11 — October 1, 1995, Racine, Wisconsin — First sex with virgin Molly; affair begins.
Chapter 12 — October 5, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Dante lawsuit call; Steve chooses “basic respect.”
Chapter 13 — October 10, 1995, Los Angeles, California — Jasmine Prager night; West Coast staffing needs.
Chapter 14 — October 12, 1995, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado — Remote offices; Terry/Skye dating request.
Chapter 15 — October 13, 1995, Denver, Colorado — Michelle monastery path; NIKA break-in discovered.
Chapter 16 — October 16, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — CPD + Katya/Global Security investigate.
Chapter 17 — October 20, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Marcia sole custody to dad; no unsupervised Steve until Jan 12, 1996.
Chapter 18 — October 26, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Terry/Skye denied; handbook exception path; Melissa wants talent.
Chapter 19 — October 28, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Melissa non-sexual intimacy; road toward Cincinnati.
Chapter 20 — November 4, 1995, Milford, Ohio — Fran Mercer; Connie/Anthony deny break-in order; Eve force show.
Chapter 21 — November 4, 1995, Mason, Ohio — Reunites Donna Woody and son Marcus.
Chapter 22 — November 4, 1995, Colerain Township, Ohio — First sex with Eve Falvey (secret from Elyse).
Chapter 23 — November 5, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Michelle pregnant monogamy crisis.
Chapter 24 — November 7, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Michelle resigns NIKA → M & M; moves in with Melissa; Eve for OM path.
Chapter 25 — November 14, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Lyusya visit; support-engineer hires.
Chapter 26 — November 19, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Eve starts as office manager; “Club” culture talk.
Chapter 27 — November 24, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Break-in = CPD recruits; Sakurako baby Hiro; Thanksgiving.
Chapter 28 — December 3, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Meet-every-hire culture; Molly thread continues.
Chapter 29 — December 8, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Donna weekend (prior lover); family nights.
Chapter 30 — December 11, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse hockey; Steve ends relationship with Michelle (support promise stands).
Chapter 31 — December 19, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Molly released from Sensei Matt to Steve’s school.
Chapter 32 — December 25, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Christmas; Albert to Florida with Jane; Racine standards freeze.
Chapter 33 — December 31, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — NYE; Amanda last nanny day / UK with Jon; María Cristina mentoring seed.
Chapter 34 — January 1, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — First sex with Amanda; wind-down dalliances plan; NIKA kids’ scholarship idea.
Chapter 35 — January 3, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Steve «Shihan» at Racine; Mary Whittaker arrives O’Hare.
Chapter 36 — January 12, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Mary visit; hire offers Irvin/Margaret; Stephie starts karate; Cincinnati road.
Chapter 37 — January 19, 1996, Colerain Township, Ohio — Advises Don Anthony on exiting drugs; FBI fallout.
Chapter 38 — January 23, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Father Basil on Michelle’s baby; Eleanora Velt hire; growth anxiety.
Chapter 39 — February 7, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Household equilibrium toward María Cristina; security thread.
Chapter 40 — February 18, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Daytona; Jesse birthday; Cincinnati clients.
Chapter 41 — March 3, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Dante sole-proprietor counter; Vermont/San Diego plans.
Chapter 42 — March 13, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Family to Montpelier Apple Orchard B&B.
Chapter 43 — March 17, 1996, near Montpelier, Vermont — Sex with Katy; SDSU seminar path.
Chapter 44 — March 24, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Home from San Diego; Board sole-proprietor plan; hire in-house counsel decision.
Chapter 45 — March 31, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Slow courtship plan with María Cristina.
Chapter 46 — April 2, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Japan orders / NIKA org talks.
Chapter 47 — April 13, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Eve “goodbye” window; Jasmine visit ends as lover.
Chapter 48 — April 19, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Interview Deborah Rice (3L).
Chapter 49 — April 23, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Deborah accepts (start June 3); Cincinnati with Eve.
Chapter 50 — April 29, 1996, Cincinnati, Ohio — Joyce on culture creep; Steve reasserts control vs Dave/Jamie/Karl.
Chapter 51 — May 2, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Pam reunion; Pittsburgh road.
Chapter 52 — May 11, 1996, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Tara advice; hires Robby/Teri/Lenora; Jodie internship; Therese shidōin prep.
Chapter 53 — May 20, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Michelle asks Steve as godfather to Nathaniel; tournament weekend.
Chapter 54 — May 28, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Jolene vs Therese; birthdays; Kara hooding; Deborah on staff.
Chapter 55 — June 10, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Intimacy list to Deborah; Nathaniel baptism; Dante pressure.
Chapter 56 — June 19, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Egon Zehnder pitch; Willow runaway rescue; Brian bachelor party.
Chapter 57 — June 29, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Karla Timmer arrives; shopping for María Cristina; Willow foster update.
Chapter 58 — July 3, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Michelle sex request refused; godfather out; Stephie’s 6th; Karla continues.
Chapter 59 — July 5, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Albert’s birthday; Samantha & Brian wedding (July 6); Noel furlough under guard.
Chapter 60 — July 7, 1996, on the road to Atlanta — Family Disney/EPCOT/KSC; return via Mammoth Cave.
Chapter 61 — July 17, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Home; María Cristina room/keys; Cindi drinking confrontation.
Chapter 62 — July 26, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Dave vs Cindi; Julia/Dave bleed; culture clash escalates.
Chapter 63 — July 28, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — «kami» culture speech; Michelle no-contact letter (Goldblum); Elena visit.
Chapter 64 — July 31, 1996, Chicago, Illinois — Dave may quit → IIT path; Noel prison visit; Lisa Glass missing; Willow’s pimp knife on Clinton Street cliffhanger.