Hi all!
Thank you to allll the people that wrote. I love you all!
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Please note, this copyright notice is retroactive to all stories I have previously posted on Nifty. They are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License, Copyright (C) 2008.
DISCLAIMER
This story involves relationships between males aged 17-19. If you do not approve of this, why the hell are you even reading it now? If you are a parent reading through the Internet logs of your young child, do not punish your child for reading these stories. He/she clearly has some questions about his development, and it is YOUR responsibility to answer those questions truthfully and honestly. If this material is illegal in your area, leave now. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. You know the drill. If you aren't supposed to be reading this, Don't (although some flames would be lovely to publicly dissect :)).
FEEDBACK
I absolutely love feedback. Please submit your feedback, good or bad, lengthy or brief, in Japanese or in English, (although preferably English) to:
sakurakangen@gmail.com
You may also add me on Google Talk at the same address. I love talking to you.
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.
And now, without further adieu.....
========================================================================= FINDING YOU: CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Are you still carrying her? =========================================================================
The comfortable environment of sitting around the low table, drinking tea or sake from a teapot with Tarou was beginning to really appeal to me. Although after the previous day, we knew to keep Chris away from the sake, at least for a while.
"Well then." said Tarou, "You're going to have to think of what to do now."
Chris suprised me by piping up first. "I want to stay here. I kinda like Japan."
Tarou raised his cup, "I have no objections, so it's settled!" he proclaimed, downing his sake.
I feebly raised my hand, "Um.. what about me?"
I was totally ignored as Chris stood, moaning something (in Japanese!) about kneeling seiza-style hurting his knees.
"I'm going to go study again, exams are only a month away." he said, angling his head to indicate I should follow suit.
I mentally shrugged and followed him to the rear of the house, where our rooms were.
We walked into his room, and I slid shut the door. As soon as I did, Chris began speaking again.
"I know you don't want to stay here any more."
I sat on his futon, which he messily left unrolled in the corner.
"I guess I do want to go back." I sighed, "Everything here reminds me of him."
"Which is exactly why you should stay."
I raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"You have many fond memories of Japan and he has soured them." he said, "So, you should make some new memories here, so that you don't grow to hate this place." He looked oddly serious.
I didn't say anything and looked at him skeptically.
"Besides, this can be a nice holiday that puts a big ocean between you and him for a while," he smiled, "I think it will be healthy."
I looked at him even more skeptically.
Chris grinned, "I don't have any ulterior motives! I swear!"
I laughed, "Sure you do. So long as I stay in Japan, you're the only person I could possibly date."
"Hai! Tadashii! Jya, sex shimashou!" (Yes! Correct! So, let's have sex!" pretty bad japanese though)
I blinked, "What? You said we were going to study." I said slyly.
"Well, you can moan in Japanese if you like."
I looked at him and rolled my eyes.
Chris nodded, "I know, I know, bad time and all that."
I smiled.
Chris grinned, "I'll try again tomorrow!"
My smile instantly vanished.
Chris tried again, "...day after tomorrow?"
Still nothing.
"...next week? next year?"
I sighed, "I'll think about it." I said, humouring him.
Before he could respond we heard someone walking in and taking off their shoes. Highly unusual - Tarou didn't have many visitors.
We snuck down to the end of the hallway to find out who it was. If Tarou was having a private discussion, we didn't want to intrude. We could hear their conversation, but not see their faces.
"Atsuko, ohisashiburi desune." (Atsuko, it's been a long time)
"Tarou, ohisashiburi desu." (Tarou, it has been a while.)
"Are you sure you weren't followed?"
"I don't think I was seen. Technically I'm on my lunch break from the concierge job."
"I'm sorry," Tarou said, "That's the best job I could manage without any risk of them finding out."
"I know, and thank you." the woman said, "You have always tried your best to look after me." The woman laughed, "You still drink sake from teapots I see."
"Of course," he said, "our two friends were quite suprised by that the first time around."
"Are they aware of the circumstances?"
"No, I haven't told them yet."
"Probably best to keep it that way for now. I am here because I think they may have found out where I live."
"Why? That apartment is under my name.."
"Yes, but my neighbors recently hastily vacated, and someone named Morisato Shin has moved in."
"Morisato? Hmm, you may be right." Tarou sounded concerned, "It could be them."
"I think, to be safe, I should move to a new place, under a different name altogether."
"Yes, but who.. Saburou is too young, and he is an Urashima to boot.. have you tried Chihiro? They wouldn't think to investigate the property of a Morisato."
"I considered it, but I have not been able to get into contact with her. I don't know where her loyalties lie anymore."
"She wouldn't betray her own mother."
"I am not so sure, recently she went off and married that man, and I don't know where she is at the moment."
"Well, that man got her pregnant."
"Yes, but more importantly, she acquiesced to Morisato demands, against my will."
"Hmm, this is true." Tarou said, "I will see what I can find out. Stay very careful, and keep using the Hayaka alias for now."
"I understand." the woman (who was Hayaka-san) stood up and walked to the doorway, bowing deeply. "Thank you so much for taking care of me and our children."
"Do not worry." Tarou said, "They may have gotten to Chihiro, but I will make sure they don't find out about Sabu. He will always be our son."
She bowed again and left.
You are listening to NHK Radio, from Tokyo Japan. In Today's Financial News,
Insurance firm Urashima Group, once a rising star against the backdrop of the economic slowdown, dipped 2 points today after increased pressure from Morisato Financial to accept their takeover bid. Morisato was the least affected 'zaibatsu' company at the start of the busted bubble recession, and has been able to solidify their position with numerous takeovers of other financial insurers. Morisato also dipped slightly today after reports that this takeover move may be considered anticompetitive by the regulatory committee.
Urashima Group CEO Urashima Tarou said in a statement yesterday that his company would "under no circumstances" accept any takeover bid from Morisato, citing an "unreasonable attitude" on the part of Morisato Financial and "incompatible corporate world-view". While there are some reports that Urashima may have a personal reason to oppose the takeover, NHK has been unable to find any evidence to substantiate these rumours.
A Zaibatsu is a large, family-run corporation that started off as a merchant house in Edo Japan. The most common example is Mitsubishi. The Zaibatsu support is what enabled the Meiji restoration and the start of Imperial Japan, and also what drove Japanese growth after world war two.
And that's all for this chapter. Only one strand furthered in this chapter. More on the other strands soon.
I absolutely love feedback. Please submit your feedback, good or bad, lengthy or brief, in Japanese or in English, (although preferably English) to:
sakurakangen@gmail.com
You may also add me on Google Talk at the same address. I love talking to you.
Doumo arigatou gozaimashita.
-SK (written in vi improved 7.2.. beats emacs any day)