From the moment they left their room Brian felt the enchantment of this place surround them. He was sure Tim already knew what to expect. If he had chosen to keep silent then it was so Brian could discover the wonders himself, and that was kind.

The tower hall was lit with lanterns, the electric lights shut off. Brian saw Tim and Steve in the hall below and Mark followed him down the stairs.

"There you are, thought we'd lost track of you already," Tim said.

"Just exploring the room, fascinating place," Brian replied.

"Isn't it though, such a piece of history. It will be dinner soon, we're expected to dine at the Master's table with the boys and watch the entertainment."

"Good, sounds like fun."

Mark pulled Steve aside and they had a whispered conversation. Steve looked at Tim and nodded, but Mark kept on talking.

"What are you guys cooking up?" Tim asked.

"Nothing ... but do you think they'll expect us to entertain? I mean, that's what we do for a living," Mark said.

"I don't know," Tim replied. "They never asked me to. But it's in Namuko's nature to challenge boys, what were you thinking?"

"I was just asking Steve, they all speak English, right?"

"The boys? Yes, that's part of their education here. English is the language of business in the world market and the Japanese strive to be the best in that field. So if they ask, what will you do?"

Steve smiled. "Workin on it."

Tim laughed as the boys went back into conversation. Hedeko appeared and led them out through a tall heavy door to the rear of the castle. The grass was filled with running boys, a final moment of play before dinner. Kenji ran up and smiled.

"Mark, will you stay for my entertainment after dinner?"

"Of course ... what will you do?"

"A dance ... something sexy," Kenji giggled.

Mark smiled. "Brave boy, in front of all these people?"

Kenji laughed. "They're my friends ... they've seen more than that." He stopped to think a moment. "You and Steve should join with us, share the life we live, become one of us."

"How is that possible? I don't even speak Japanese, and I know very little about martial arts."

"Then you learn and we will accept you."

Mark nodded. "I will try."

Kenji smiled. "There is no regret when there is effort."

Dinner was grilled fish and rice after a spicy clear soup, even Steve ate with relish after declaring that Japanese food could be real good. Mark told him what Kenji had said while Brian and Tim listened. Steve was unsure but still willing to try; it was exactly what Tim wanted to hear. And then their entertainment on the tiny stage began.

There were several boys who demonstrated their skills at juggling and knife throwing, which was following by a boy singing a Beatles tune. Kenji walked up last and performed a dance with fans, which at least hid most of his naked body. There was silence as he moved to the sounds from an old record player, the music just as old and very traditionally Japanese.

To Brian it was reminiscent of the Geisha, Kiko, and the way this boy moved and turned his hands was sexy ... seductive. Namuko sat in the front row and appraised the dance. And when it was done the boy rushed to embrace the man, leaving no doubt in Brian's mind. Kenji was probably just the latest in a long string of boys that warmed Namuko's bed at night.

The man was fortunate, and physically Kenji was as well developed as Steve, the boy seemed pleased with himself. Namuko approached the embrace with great feeling, absorbing the boy's love and giving of himself in return. Kenji might be gay, but his performance spoke of culture and thoughtful grace. Yes, Namuko was very fortunate.

As was the case most evenings, everyone retired as the sun set. For the boys to maintain such a high level of energy they would have to get a good night's sleep. Steve didn't seem to mind the early bedtime, but then he had other thoughts in his head. Mark went off to bed with a smile and settled in next to Brian.

A sound awakened him ... the vibrations of a bell. Brian slid from the bed and opened the door to the balcony, and the sound became louder. He walked to the stone balustrade and looked over. Spread out below him on the playing field were the boys, Hedeko and Namuko as well, all kneeling and facing the mountain.

Brian looked up and saw the rays of the sun beginning to peek above the horizon; he rushed back inside and shook Mark awake. "Wake up ... its happening," He said. The boy followed him back onto the balcony and they waited. There was a flash of light as the sun popped up, and the mountain seemed to glow with its fire. Fuji-san was between them and the sun, it was magical.

The tones of the bell stopped and the boy's hands clapped three times, all in unison. The sun rose and the shadow of the mountain crept towards them, and then they were blinded by the fiery orb. They had to shield their eyes as the light lit the tower and field below. Hedeko had been right; he knew the sun's alignment was perfect this time of year for such a display. Brian put an arm around the boy who was still half asleep and took Mark back inside.

That morning ritual told Brian they began every day quite early. So after viewing the sunrise they washed up and dressed, walking back downstairs to see what the new day would be like and found Kenji waiting.

"Will you exercise with me this morning?" He asked Mark.

"Now? Before breakfast?"

"Yes, Steve awaits us in the dojo," Kenji said.

Mark gave Brian a helpless look and shrugged, following Kenji out the door. A half hour later Mark was glad Brian had shown him some basic Tai-chi, it kept him from acting the fool in front of all these boys. He stood next to Steve, the two of them bracketed by Kenji and Edward, and they performed the Yang style moves.

There were no looks from the others, it would be bad form to suggest that they were such great novices, the Americans were at least trying. The movements were slow enough that as new ones developed Mark and Steve followed. Not as gracefully perhaps, but that would come in time. The older boys stood at the front facing them, mentoring the younger in this most ancient form of exercise. But the session went on for almost two hours, and Mark was ready to drop.

Once they stopped Kanji smiled. "That was well done, now we eat."

The boys all ran to the kitchen building, they seemed to run everywhere. Mark and Steve had been given Gi, the traditional dojo uniform to wear and discovered they were to wear it most of the day, including at meals. Steve took two slices of grilled bread off the tray, a most un-Japanese foodstuff. But Namuko had the bakery deliver loaves of the bread each week; it was all made with high fiber grains, a good dietary supplement.

Steve also speared two fried eggs and proceeded to make himself a sandwich, mindful that other boys were watching and copying his moves. Apple, pear and tangerine juice were served, and tea for those who wished. After breakfast the boys all went to school for three hours, while Mark and Steve sat and listened in on the English classes.

A very cultured elderly man taught English to the ten to thirteen year old group. He used pictures projected on a screen to which the boys had to attach an English word. He also explained that a word might have more than one meaning, which of course brought forth a torrent of questions.

"Nagana-san," Kenji said. "If r-e-d and r-e-a-d are pronounced the same how will we know which is correct?"

"Red is a color, and yesterday you read a book, but this will be known only by the context of your speech to another person" Nagana-san said.

"Is it then possible to say I read the red book?" Another boy asked. "That sounds silly."

"We must ask our guests which way is the correct form of speech."

"Read the red book is a proper usage of the words, but as you have said, it does sound silly," Mark said. "Steve?"

"To make it more serious sounding you might say 'I read the book which is red.'" Steve said.

Nagana nodded. "Thank you, both are correct. We have many words in Japanese that mean the same thing. Love is such a word. There are twenty-three different words for expressing love."

"Twenty-three? Wow," Steve said. "How does that work?"

"In Japanese the word you use for something is also expressing a concept, do you understand my meaning?" Nagana said.

"To clarify the context, re-enforce a statement," Mark replied.

"Exactly. In English there is 'love for a mother,' in Japanese there is a single word that expresses that whole thought."

"You don't mean a contraction?" Steve asked.

"No, it is not like that," Nagana said. "In Japanese there is high speech and low speech, formal and ordinary is a better expression of what I mean. There you will find our contractions."

"Slang, you mean speech that has been altered, saying one thing and meaning another. Like saying bad to mean something is actually good," Mark laughed.

Nagana smiled. "It is like that sometimes, yes. Local dialects affect the entire national speech pattern, this happens in English as well."

Their dialogue went on for almost an hour, Nagana completely abandoning his lesson plan in favor of allowing his students to listen to the two American boys speak. The facts about a language were not just learned by grammar alone, speech was also vital to the understanding of proper usage. Nagana was a wise teacher indeed.

Lunch was followed by a walk around the grounds with Namuko, who seemed especially in tune with nature. The group of boys watched an insect moving across a plant. "The beetle crawls up on the leaf where he shakes his wings, why do you suppose?" He asked.

"He is angry," One boy suggested.

"He is drying his wings," Another said, and then added. "How do we even know if it's a male?"

"Ahh, a vital question, a clue to the answer," Namuko said. "The male has a blue body and a darker head, the female is uniformly black."

"He's showing off to find a girlfriend," Edward said.

"Exactly, this is his mating dance," Namuko said. "The female is attracted by the sound of his wings, and then she views the dance to find out if he is worthy. Many species perform this way."

"Do people act like that?" A boy asked.

"Yes, exactly like that. A man wears his new clothes, and shows off to the female, she then judges him worthy or not. Quite often he fails." The boys laughed at that.

They spent several hours wandering the tree line, turning over fallen wood and examining the insect life. Finally it was time to go.

"In our lives, as in nature, there is a natural order to things," Namuko said. "Behavior is controlled by need, ours and the little creatures that crawl in the forest. We are not so different as you might think. They signal their needs quite simply, our signals are more complex.

"A man who is angry gives off signals with speech, gestures and body language. With experience we learn to read these things. Just as a man intent on harming you will give off signals as to his intentions, you are learning this in dojo. The shift of a hip, the tension in a muscle ... all things that serve to alert us and assist in planning our defense. Learn your lessons well, my students ... you may go."

Mark and Steve followed the boys to the dojo, this time to sit and watch. Martial arts training in judo, karate and full contact boxing were hard work. The Kata was a formalized set of moves used in practice, the word meaning form, it was necessary to prevent injuries. Hedeko was there today, as was Mr. Saito, the instructor.

"I wish to have Kimi-chan demonstrate what is not possible," Saito said. "With judo only if you please.

Kimi took to the mats and Hedeko stood up to face him. A boy of ten facing a full grown man who towered over him. Kimi bowed and so did Hedeko, a sign of respect and understanding, this was about knowledge and not personal.

Kimi showed no fear as Hedeko crouched and sprang at him. Kimi parried an arm and grasped it, trying to use Hedeko's body mass to throw the man, even an attempt to throw Hedeko off balance with a leg sweep failed. Hedeko stood up with Kimi hanging from his arm.

The boy dropped off and faced his opponent. They bowed and awaited further instruction.

"As you see the boy is no match for the man, his size cannot defeat the man's defense. A mouse may not topple a lion, at least not with that method. Many times you will face an opponent with one thought and be forced to change your mind. What can Kimi do?

"To topple a giant, Kimi must attack the means of holding the giant above him," Saito said. "A man's legs are his strongest muscle, what shall he do? Kimi, do you have an idea?"

"I might punch him in the balls."

The boys all laughed and Hedeko feigned covering his crotch. Saito nodded. "That might work, but you would only get one chance and if you miss ... " Then he smiled. "Something like that might wound our giant here. It would certainly make him angry." Hedeko nodded and the boys snickered.

"The weakest place on a man's lower torso is the foot, the heel and the ankle ... "

Mark listened and decided that a boy defending himself from a man Hedeko's size was almost futile. And yet as he watched he saw Saito show the boy where he might damage a man greatly, bring him down and then finish him off with a blow to the neck. Clever, but he would never try it.

The boys finally paired up and he watched Kenji and Edward bow and then assume a fighting stance. They kicked and turned, taking blows that would have knocked him over. The punches didn't look like they were faked, the fight looked real. And finally Edward fell, and Kenji immediately stood back.

Edward said something, a curse word, and Kenji spat words back at him, both of them stopping only when Saito stepped between them. His words were slow and deliberate, and Kenji turned to leave the building. Mark couldn't believe it, the boys were friends. He looked over at Steve and they both shrugged. But Mark got up and followed Kenji outside.

Kenji was leaning on a tree, eyes red, he had been crying. He stiffened as Mark approached and turned away.

"Kenji? What happened with Edward?" Mark asked.

"Nothing ... " But that was a lie.

"That was real, is he angry with you?"

Kenji nodded. "He tried to hurt me, I stopped him."

Mark knew Kenji was the better fighter. "Why would he do that, he looked so angry?"

Kenji's shoulders slumped. "I ... I was his companion ... do you understand?"

"I do, is he jealous now?"

"Yes ... and that makes him angry," Kenji said. "We met here, at first it was a childish thing, only later ... this year ... Edward said he felt attached to me. I am the gay boy, he is not ... I did not understand him. But he says there are feelings between us, and I do care for him ... but it is not love. And now ... "

"Kenji, I understand ... I'm in love with a man, you know that. Brian is everything to me," Mark said.

Kenji nodded. "I have such deep feelings for the Master. I love him with every part of my being. He will be mine, even if it is just for a while until I grow. But can you understand? Just being with him until I am sixteen means the world to me, I will have everything I want and need."

"Yes, I know," Mark said.

"It will end, I know this ... I will go from here someday," Kenji said. "But even four years with him will mean a lifetime of peace and understanding. I see Hedeko-san, I know what they had together, and look what he has become. I want that too, I want to grow knowing that I had such great love and will find it again."

"Does Master Namuko know of this?"

"Yes, he knows everything about me. He says I must make Eddy understand, it is my burden. But he will not listen to me, he is indulging his wounded ego and that is wrong. I want love ... the time for play is over."

Kenji looked into Mark's eyes, and then he smiled. "You are kind, I see you wish to share my troubles."

Mark nodded. "I would help if possible because I know what you feel. I have love, and that's worth fighting for, even if I were to lose the battle, it has to be defended."

"We may understand, I just wish Eddy would. He is angry at me when he should be happy for my success. That is what a true friend would do ... a friend like you," Kenji said.

"I will think about this, I will let you know what I discover," Mark said. And then Kenji hugged him.

The finest part of any Japanese house was the bath, for clean was mandated in such a close society. Bathing was a ritual that did more than wash away the daily grime. Namuko had a large bath house with six wooden tubs and broad tiled floors. The men bathed first, the boys after in two groups separated by age.

It was not that the younger did not know what the older looked like naked, but the elder boys needed their privacy, this was understood. Kenji led Mark and Steve to the baths that evening to bathe with the younger boys. It had been a long day in those uniforms, and it was time to get clean before sleeping.

Edward was there and kept the length of the room between himself and Kenji. The other fourteen boys in their group talked and laughed, probably aware of the tension but ignoring it politely. If anything the other boys were curious about the naked Americans, as young boys everywhere strive to understand the differences nature hands out.

Kenji showed Mark and Steve how the bath proceeded. Standing on the tile floor above the drains there was the first rinse, the scrubbing of every body part and then the final rinse before soaking; it kept the tubs clean for the next person.

Kenji washed Mark's back and he in turn washed Steve's, then Steve washed Kenji. After the rinse Kenji slid slowly into the tub.

"It is very hot, you will feel concerned," Kenji said.

Steve stuck a toe in the water and quickly withdrew it. "Oh My God, it's boiling," He said. Mark laughed, and repeated the experiment. "Wow, that's more than I can handle, Kenji, how do you do it?"

Kenji sighed. "Fill the buckets with cold water from the tap and pour them in here, I would rather have your company than watch you suffer."

Four buckets of cold water later Mark and Steve felt better as they slid into water a lobster would hate. The heat seeped into them and they both felt a little better. And then Edward walked over. "May I join you?" He asked in Japanese. Kenji looked up and slid over as the boy climbed in.

"I am ... I am a fool, Kenji-san ... I must apologize for disrupting the harmony of your being. I beg forgiveness for trying to hurt you today."

Kenji nodded. "I'm sorry your feelings are hurt, we must talk and not fight ... we are not children anymore."

Edward tried to smile, he was still in pain. "I do not understand the reason for your choice, but it is not my place to criticize. I was not prepared for your rejection."

"I know, and we will speak of this. But we must not show offense to our guests, English if you please," Kenji said.

Edward looked at Mark and then Steve. "Forgive me for being rude," He said in English.

Mark smiled. "Your language is beautiful, as are you."

Edward blushed, even in all that hot water. "I am ... I am not a gay boy."

"Then you will make a young lady very happy someday," Mark said. "I didn't say that to make you uncomfortable, your beauty is deeper than just that face."

"Thank you," Edward said.

"I understand what happened between you and Kenji now, can you remain friends?"

Edward looked at Kenji. "We must, there is no room for dissent here. The goal the Master sets is hard enough."

"I see what you do every day, how is that so hard?" Steve asked.

Kenji and Edward smiled as one. "It is what you do not see that we must endure," Edward said. "Kenji has faced his first challenge, mine awaits me."

"What challenge?" Mark asked.

"I had mine on Fuji-san, Edward does not know what his will be, only the Master determines that," Kenji said.

"Your spiritual journey, you mentioned that," Mark said.

"For each boy it is different. But the Master only sets a task that he is sure will succeed, it is not cruel. Five of us took the climb, two days up, one day down. It was cold at the top, very cold, and we only stayed long enough to see the sunrise," Kenji said. "It was like looking at the face of a god." Then he smiled. "Hedeko came with us and he said I must have had altitude sickness."

"Edward, when will you face your challenge?" Steve asked.

"This summer I suppose, the Master has warned me to prepare ... but I don't know what to expect," Edward said. "Tomasu had his fourth challenge just before you arrived, but he is sixteen and will leave us at the end of summer. It took him four days to accomplish, the Master was happy to see him return."

"Return from where?" Mark asked.

Kenji and Edward laughed. "We don't know, he won't tell us. I'm not even sure he knows," Edward said, "You see why I worry?"

"You should not worry, you have the strength," Kenji said.

Mark felt well cooked by now, but the Japanese boys showed no signs of leaving the tub. Then Edward looked at him, a question in his eyes. "Does sleeping with a man make you stronger?"

"Physically stronger? No, I don't see it as just a physical thing. I am stronger mentally, emotionally," Mark said.

"I'm thousands of miles from home, without love I wouldn't be here," Steve said.

Edward nodded. "He gives you courage, and that is strength. And Kenji-san, what does it give you?"

Kenji smiled. "It gives me peace, and the knowledge that my greatest friend has overcome his first challenge. For the Master told me that your first challenge would be to overcome this obstacle to our friendship and realize it was blocking your path to greater knowledge."

Edward looked surprised. "He said that?"

"Yes, all challenges are not physical, Eddy-san. Your mind is a far worthier subject. I give you the happiness of your success." Kenji said.

Edward had tears in his eyes. "I am such a fool ... and so relieved."

"That's it ... he doesn't have to climb a mountain?" Steve asked.

Kenji nodded. "In many ways he already did."

And when they went to bed that night, both Steve and Mark told about what they had seen and heard that day. Tim smiled, knowing Namuko was a wise old man. Brian could see the wisdom behind the challenge. Life was more than a physical endurance test, the emotional was just as important.

Both men found comfort that night, Mark sharing his body as only a boy with his talents could. Steve found himself climbing a mountain of pleasure as Tim took him to the heights and once again showed him the future of what they shared. What Steve wanted would be a challenge, he was still unprepared, but they were closer ... always closer.

The tones of the bell woke them once again and all four gathered on the balcony to watch the sun. The boys below on the field clapped three times and rose, forming a circle around the Master. Namuko gestured to Edward who stepped from the circle and bowed before the man. Namuko tied a yellow belt around his dojo uniform, a sign of his passage through the first level.

Mark could see the other boys all wore their different colored belts now, he had only seen the everyday white ones before. Yellow and green, red and black, the latter being the fewest, only three boys wore those. Edward had achieved his status, a challenge well met. And then Namuko bowed deeply to the boy, respect had been won as well, and all the others bowed too.

It was easy to see that Edward was changed after the ceremony, he joked and kidded with the other boys, and he sparred against Kenji in the dojo. The skill of both boys after two years was astounding; it would only get better with time.

After a few weeks, Tim and Brian began to teach their boys about combat. The Kata began with defensive moves which were taught first, for without that knowledge there could be no offense. The moves were taught in slow motion, an extension of the Tai-chi they still practiced every morning. The two were closely related, the former teaching balance and fluidity, the latter giving purpose and focus to the contact.

Brian was careful, Mark could not afford to stumble and get hurt. In ten days they would return home and the boy would once again engage in what he did best, writing and planning to resume the role of Adam. Tim was also cautious, Steve was more reckless, and the discipline of what they were doing was slowly bringing him confidence.

At night Steve visited the heavens as Tim brought him closer and closer to one orgasm after another. Sometimes it was so intense that he managed the occasional orgasm without being touched. And yet Tim delayed any other contact, afraid of doing something wrong before they went home.

It brought Kenji and Steve into a strange and honest discussion one afternoon as they walked among the trees.

"What is sex like for you, Kenji?" Steve asked.

"I worship the Master's body, and call him sugar, he likes that," Kenji said. "I learned to ride his horn, and that takes much patience. I am so small."

"I haven't done that yet, but I will," Steve said.

"The pleasures of a boy come from his size and willingness to learn of a man's desires, you will accomplish that moment. You have toys?"

"Toys? You mean like a rubber toy to ... ?" Steve asked, blushing at the thought.

"That and other things that increase pleasure. It is the duty of a boy to practice and please his man. For if it is painful that should be endured alone, a man must see only the pleasure he gives," Kenji said.

Steve smiled. "Tell me more."

By the end of the fourth week, both boys could speak a bunch of Japanese words. Much of them were the names of common objects, but there were a whole string of cuss words in there as well. The Japanese boys were thrilled to teach them the language and a lot more.

Steve had learned to balance his adolescent body, getting past that gangly awkward stage when he preformed the Tai-chi moves. Both he and Mark had a good routine now, and yet the combat moves would take years of practice to develop. But that wasn't the only routine they worked on. They would entertain on the night of their final dinner.

Some things in American life were shared knowledge. Mark's life had been focused on acting and comedy so he knew a good deal about the subject. He was pleased to learn that Steve had some of the same knowledge, and so they pooled those thoughts for their act. The dinner was grand, the boys all happy and smiling. But tomorrow morning they would take the four hour ride to the airport and leave Japan behind, there was also room for some sadness.

Kenji got up to introduce them for the show. "Our American friends will be missed," He said, the sorrow etched on his face. They had become close to him, especially Steve. But parting was only another phase of the friendship, and Kenji was assured that they would meet again.

"In their lives, my friends entertain people on television. I have not seen them, but they assure me that someday I will. Now Mark-san will explain what we are about to see."

Mark stood up and stepped up on the tiny stage. "Thank you, Kenji-san. Steve and I want to leave you with a smile, but this is the first time either of us have done this performance. It needed to be something you would understand, although your English is very good, it had to be something simple."

He smiled. "Many of you have watched films and television, others have not, but we all know baseball. You will have to listen closely, for the humor is in the words. Many years ago two famous American comedians named Abbot and Costello gave us this to laugh about."

Steve stepped up on stage and became Costello. "So I hear you're going to manage the baseball team? Can you tell me the names of the players?"

Mark smiled. "Well, let's see. In the infield we have Who on first, What's on second and I Don't Know is on third." The boys seated before them all giggled.

"Yeah, that's what I want to find out," Steve said.

"I say, Who's on first, What's on second and I Don't Know is on third."

Steve shook his head. "Are you the manager?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to be the coach too?"

"Yes."

"And you don't know the fellow's names?"

"Well I should," Mark replied.

"Well then who is on first?" The Japanese boys laughed, catching on to the game.

"Yes," Mark replied. Steve looked concerned.

"I mean the fellow's name."

"Who."

"The guy on first."

"Who."

"The first baseman."

"Who!"

"The guy playing first base."

"Who is on first." And the boys broke up laughing as Steve slapped both hands on his cheeks and looked at Mark like he was crazy.

"I'm asking you who's on first."

"That's the man's name."

"That's whose name?"

"Yeah."

"Well go ahead and tell me."

"That's it."

"That's who?"

"Yeah."

Steve grabbed his hair and tugged on it, frustration all over his face. He gave a big sigh and continued.

"Look, you got a first baseman?"

"Certainly," Mark replied.

"Who's playing first?"

"That's right."

Steve smiled. "So when you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?"

"Every dollar of it."

Steve slapped his face again, which made the Japanese boys howl at his discomfort.

"All I am trying to find out is the fellow's name on first base," Steve whined.

"Who."

"The guy that gets the money." Steve was losing it.

"That's it."

"Who gets the money on first base."

"Every dollar, but sometimes his wife comes down and collects it." Mark was starting to laugh now himself, Steve was playing the physical comedian very well.

"Whose wife?" Steve said, avoiding Mark's eyes to keep from laughing.

"Yes," Mark said. "What's wrong with that?" And then they both broke up laughing. The boys in the audience loved it, applauding loudly. Mark knew they should end right there. It was too funny to go on. He gave Steve a hug and they took their bows.

Tim and Brian had been laughing too. This was a side of their boys they had never seen, but they should have known it was there. The act was clever and the Japanese audience loved it, who knows what these two would do in the future?

Namuko stepped up on the stage and the boys quieted down. "Nagana-san would be very proud of you boys, your English skills are strong like your bodies. American humor is strong too so we must thank these guests for entertaining us." The boys applauded once again. Namuko laid a hand on Mark's and Steve's shoulder, fondly squeezing them both.

"There has been much learning this past month, on both sides of the ocean. We will welcome you at any time, please return to see us. The sun will not seem to shine as brightly, nor the moon's glow seem as strong without your presence. But we will stand under the same sun, the same moon as you, even with the miles between us. Thank you all for coming."

He hugged each boy and then gave them over to their friends. Hedeko smiled and hugged, as did each and every boy there. Both Edward and Kenji had tears to share as well. A long time might pass before they saw one another again, another lesson in life.

Kenji led Steve back to their table and picked up a box. "This is for you ... a special gift. Do not open it until you are home and quite alone."

"What is it?" Steve asked.

"It is ... it is for your pleasure, you will see," Kenji said. "It will make a boy worthy of being with a man."

They went to bed that night surrounded by the stones of antiquity, Brian and Mark shared their practiced love making, Tim and Steve shared their own pleasures. They slept deeply until the sound of the bell awakened them. For the last time they went to the door and onto the balcony to view the sunrise.

The boys clapped in unison, and then turned as the sun lit the playing field. Mark looked down at the boys facing them, and watched them bow towards their friends above. It was a quiet and generous gesture, very much like the Japanese people themselves.

Hedeko drove them to the airport, and they found the three Japanese shadows awaiting their arrival. The questions were few, the wait short, and then it was time to leave. Hedeko hugged them all and urged them to return soon, and then he bowed and left before they could see the emotion in his eyes.

The plush seats in the first class section were familiar, as was the roar of the engines on takeoff. Both Mark and Steve were glued to the window as they crossed the coast, leaving Japan behind but not forgotten. Steve turned to Tim with tears in his eyes.

"Thank you for bringing me, that's the best adventure I've ever had."

Tim gave him a hug and smiled. "I love you very much, baby ... we'll come back, I promise you."

Steve cuddled in his arms while across the aisle Mark smiled at Brian. "They are so much in love, thank you for loving me."

"That's sweet, keep it up and I'll make them turn the plane around."

"If only," Mark said. "But we need to go home now ... we have work to do."


On to Chapter Twelve

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"Adam Conquers Earth" Copyright © 2011 Chris James. All rights reserved.
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