The True Mate

CHAPTER NINE:

The bathhouse, in contrast to damp chill of the autumn night, was humid and warm and smelled of various perfumes applied by those who frequented it's waters. Tristan held Minori's hand tightly as they made their way into a small changing area. Removing his clothes quickly, he found long towel and wrapped it around his waist. For several moments he had let the distraction of this new experience keep him from fulfilling Minori's request to tell him of his home.

'If I tell him of my home... he'll know what kind of monster I really am... and more than that, he'll know I tried to keep it from him, which makes me even more of a monster, for seeking to hide anything from my mate.'

Keeping those thoughts quite private he turned and feasted his eyes upon Minori's skin as he undressed. It was like looking at pure moonlight, so soft and pale it was. All, except the part where the Phoenix, most beautiful and accursed of birds, covered Minori's back almost protectively. 'Perhaps he too has things he keeps sacred and hidden from me. I will not press him. For if we divulge everything about ourselves in the first nights of our companionship, then how will we spend the rest of this decade? Bored of each other? Sourly reading books to pass the time? No... it is best to work slowly and solve each other's mysteries in the same way I entered him the last time we made love: slowly, carefully, retracing your steps until with certainty you acquire that which you seek.'

Blushing a bit as this private comparison and feeling that it was a bit 'naughty' to think of such things while in public, he quickly absolved himself of guilt by speaking softly of the beaches of his home.

"There is a tavern, which serves blood pudding on Tuesdays and always has a new batch of local cider available to quench any thirst. And outside this tavern is a fair stretch of land, probably four hundred meters, that begins as rich soil and ends as fine white sand. When the tide is low, it is quite the walk to reach the water's edge, but when the tide is high..." he paused and smiled and felt compelled to kiss his lover, but refrained as it wouldn't be decent public behavior.

"Well, let's just say, many a drunk fool has stepped outside the tavern and been washed away by the roiling currents. Such are the dramatic waters of my coast. One minute they are docile and at a distance, the next they are practically begging to add your bones to their collection."

Well within the main part of the bath house now, Tristan silently took in the steamed surroundings. There were only five men, by his count, lurking in and out of the miniature fog, caused from the hot water. 'I did not realize the visibility would be so... partial... and romantic.' He thought to his lover, then slowly removed his wrap. Once he was fully naked, and standing so near Minori, who's body seemed remarkably natural with tendrils of condensed vapor licking up his thighs and belly, he felt that he might have an inkling as to what 'naughty' truly was.

'Suppose I ran my hands along your body until you climaxed into the public water... would that make me naughty? Or would I have to be sure to do so in front of one of those men, carefully timing it to happen between foggy swells, so that he could bare witness to your pinched and pleasured face? Is that what naughty means?' His mental questions and images flooded through him, leaking, he knew, directly into Minori. Despite his flirtatious thoughts, he remained self conscious and hid closely behind Minori, clinging gently to him, as they descended into the warm bath.

Minori closed his eyes as he slipped into the water; the images and Tristan’s voice in his head were… ‘Do either and you’ll be trouble. Honestly, who is the adult between us?’ he thought at Tristan with slight annoyance, willing himself not to become aroused, thankful the heat of the room hid his blush.

Wetting his lips he reached for the wash cloths and the soap. “Tell me more about your home.” He said lathering up a cloth and passed it to Tristan before lathering one for himself.

Holding the sudsy cloth in his hand, he stood still for a moment, stunned at the mental chiding he'd received from his lover. 'I do not intend to embarrass you, my lovely one. I merely... wonder at such things.' Blushing in a wash of concern he moved forward presently, and pressed his cheek against Minori's face, whispering as he did so,

"May I wash you, to apologize for my indecency?" Pulling his face back, he stared into Minori's eyes. 'I'm sorry. I am but an ignorant foreigner. But if I could do something for you now, I would have it be to wash you of the mess I helped lay upon your fair skin.' Lifting the rag, questioningly, he pressed it to Minori's breast and rubbed it softly in small circles. In the back part of his mind, the part he didn't think Minori could enter, he hoped the gentle motions of his rag were tormenting the pink nipple beneath it, and teaching Minori a lesson of respect to his elders.

Minori eyed him closely and nodded not that Tristan had waited. The feel of his lover’s hands excited and soothed him all at once. “What did your home look like?” he asked and smiled, placing his wash cloth to Tristan’s shoulder. Gently he began scrubbing his lover’s skin, ignoring the pleasure Tristan inflicted upon his body.

‘Some day we’ll make love in water, but with just us.’

Nodding gently at Minori's mental statement, Tristan took a breath and began to answer his lover's verbal query. "The home I grew up in, the home I still returned to, whenever there was a break from studies at the University, was something of a small castle. At least, for me and my sister it was. You see, it was originally a ranch-house designed to house numerous families during harvesting time. But the surrounding soil was infertile."

As he spoke he pressed the cloth all over his lover's chest and shoulders, even sliding it up and down that swan's neck, that Tristan so badly wanted to bite. 'May I kiss you? No. Forget I asked. It was wrong of me.' His thoughts tripped over themselves begging for the tiniest break in Minori's defense, while his mouth continued its eloquent description of the place he once called home.

"With the soil, such as it was, they quickly abandoned all hope of bringing a solid crop. That's when my grandfather stepped in and purchased the property at a stunningly affordable price." With a slight chuckled, moving behind Minori to wash his back now, he continued, "The rather ironic thing, was that, the ground wasn't really infertile. The previous farmers had been planting the wrong crops. But grandfather was the kind of man who knew how to coax secrets from the earth and discovered that something did indeed prosper on that land: strawberries."

Chancing everything, he pressed his face into Minori's hair, kissing the back of his head, 'Forgive me for my weakness.' Drawing the cloth upward to wash away the kiss and cleanse Minori's hair, he quickly re-engaged himself in his story.

"Consequently, my home, is surrounded by a sea of wild strawberry plants. Grandfather found a great fortune with those little berries. He and grandmother sold bushel full after bushel full until it became quite the business. My father took over when I was still very young. I never cared much for business, and I think... I think that hurt him just a bit. But then my sister... she... well, she seemed to be a natural. Even at a very young age, she was enterprising enough develop her own recipe for strawberry sauce. On one visit home from University, I found a fresh jar of it in my room, resting on my pillow. And do you know what was under it?" He asked rhetorically, while rinsing Minori's hair of the white suds, and marveling at it's silky shimmer, even amidst such dull lantern light.

"A bill of sale. Not even seven years old, and she was charging me... her dear older brother for her special sauce. And it was pricey too. But the best part of the note was the small warning at the bottom, indicating that I would be brought before the council, or Mummy and Daddy, if I could not pay the required amount by the end of week." He laughed fully at this memory, but bit his lip to keep the memory from morphing into something else. The last thing he wanted to see was that innocent face crying out to him, 'Trissy, why?'

Minori allowed the kiss, secretly delighting in it. He smiled and closed his eyes listening to Tristan’s beautiful voice as it softly echoed off the walls and water. He wished to see Tristan’s home, wished to walk in the patches of berries and meet his family, meet this interesting little sister of his. He bet she was lovely and sweet and he loved the way Tristan laughed with the memory.

He decided he’d take care of his lower body himself and did so quickly. “Will we visit your family?” He asked softly. “Do you think they will like me?”

Tristan felt his heart stop beating. In the length of time it would have taken his vital organ two beat three times, he stood behind Minori, body seized with pain, and knowing that in the end, he could keep no secrets. 'How can I tell him? How can I admit to him... what I did?' Gently snaking his arms around Minori, turning him so that he could look into his eyes, he found that he didn't care about social protocol as much as complete honesty. Pressing his lips forward he took Minori's mouth in a desperate kiss.

'You will never meet them, my love. You will never see my little sister's smile... never know her laugh... because the man you are kissing right now... is less of a man and more of a monster.' With their mouths and minds connected, Tristan drew upon the memories that he had recovered the night that Minori underwent the rage of transformation. He willed image after image to his lover; the sound of his own heart beat more like the sound of stampeding hooves canceling out of the immediate recognition of his father's screams and his mother's wailing voice pleading with him, the warmth of their blood on his hands, the sound of gristle and bone twisting away from each other as he mutilated his mum and sought out his sister.

The worst of course, was the moment he found that adorable little child. Somewhere within in him, he must have know it was wrong, but the rage had control. and he didn't hesitate to chase her frail body through the strawberry patches, almost playfully letting her gain ground only to rip it away in a single leap, his teeth already inside her devouring her flesh and blood before she ever hit the dirt.

All of this he showed his lover, while his hands clutched Minori's slender shoulders and gripped tightly, the fingernails almost penetrating his skin. Finally he pulled away from Minori and tears flooded from his eyes, as if the kiss had somehow kept them at bay. 'I didn't even realize what I had done. Even when I awoke and found... my family... I could not accept responsibility....’ Burying his face in his hands, his shoulders, his entire frame crumbing into a torrent of bitter and silent sobs, he backed away from Minori, preferring in his shame, the anonymous fog of the bath stream, to his lover's touch. 'I'm sorry I did not tell you sooner... I'm sorry that I... was too weak...'

Minori watched it all as if he were the one committing the awful, heartbreaking acts of violence. He saw the horror and desperation in the faces of those who… The woman was beautiful. Catherine, her name sounded like a soft bell. Tristan resembled her. Fredrick, the man, Tristan’s father was a strong man with eyes the color of the sky and the little girl… Oh Kami, Anna, so bright and beautiful, shining blue eyes and sun colored hair. Minori’s heart wept for her loss the most. She was so small, so helpless, and so very scared. Her cries came through the most vivid, her death the most painful than Tristan’s parents.

It was true he’d never meet them face to face and his lover’s pain cause tiny rivers of tears to leave his eyes but there was something else Minori felt through the pain and the visions of torment and vicious maiming. It was that feeling of rage he’d felt in himself not so long ago and it was maddening. Tristan hadn’t killed for fun, hadn’t slain his family because he’d found some sick twisted pleasure in it, he’d done it because the rage came and stole his body. The demon spirit possessed him entirely for a game and danged with fiery bladed shoes upon his heart making him watch what he’d done. And there had been no one to stop him or divert the demon.

But, Minori didn’t blame Tristan. He wasn’t angry with his lover, how could he be when he knew the loss of control himself. Who he blamed, who he was furious with was Victoria. How could she let Tristan return to his family without watching him, without doing for Tristan what Tristan had done for him? She was the real monster, not his love.

Minori followed his lover’s path in the water and enfolded his shaking body in his arms. ‘Not a monster, never a monster. It wasn’t your fault, you didn’t know. It’s alright, shh, you’re not weak.’



Enfolded in Minori's arms he found it impossible to stifle the sounds of his writhing grief. Even his internal voice was strained, and he had difficulty forming full thoughts. 'Everyone... Minori... everyone I love. Somehow I find a way to kill them... even... even you... I killed you to change you... and then I selfishly asked for your love... I shouldn't let you wrap your arms around your murderer... but, Minori... please...' he pressed his face into Minori's neck and whispered, "Never let me go."

As if he were an animal, incapable of dignified sorrow, he let his trembling lips touch the moist skin. No fangs, just human teeth, gently nibbled at the swan-like muscle. The simple motion seemed somehow to soothe him, even though it was barbaric in nature. Holding his lover, their bodies entwined, Tristan writhed with immense sorrow.

Biting and kissing Minori's shoulder, his chest still heaving, the warm steam filling his lungs, he sensed the brewing anger within his mate. 'I feel it too. I've always felt it. I just didn't realize what it was.' He thought, barely grasping the severe depth of Minori's emotions. 'I hate her.' As soon as he'd uttered these mental words, he felt a gripping chill run through him. Perhaps it was a Vampiric taboo to speak ill of one's own maker, but he didn't care. She was no longer part of his life, all he had now was Minori, and he knew, instinctually, that would be all he ever needed.

"Meine Minori, Ich bin verloren ohne dich." 'I am lost without you.' He said breathily then lifted his mouth to reclaim those slender lips.

Minori, for once didn’t care about what was taboo in a social setting, he was concerned about his lover wholly. He desperately wanted to ease the stabbing ache inside of him. He didn’t think he’d be able to heal the wounds, wounds this vile Victoria had allowed to come into existence but he wanted to at least be able to cover them with a soothing salve and keep them from infection.

People such as this Victoria, Minori would never understand simply because he didn’t find pleasure in tormenting anyone for any reason. He’d been as thus since before he’d been hurt and beaten. He simply couldn’t bear the sight of other’s in pain, even when he was small and he’d first seen a stray, hungry cat with a broken leg, dragging the wounded useless limb behind it along the shore. His mother had sheltered him but there was still suffering in the world. It was then his mother had explained in her Buddhist background that no one could obtain enlightenment without suffering. To her, as she understood it, the world had light and dark, suffering and bad was the dark and happiness and peace was the light and there had to be both so people could learn and seek to better themselves and those ease those around them.

Even though Minori had chosen more of a Shinto religion, not that he was very religious in the first place, he still believed his mother had been correct and agreed with her on some levels.

Smoothing his hands soothingly up and down his lover’s back, he sent him warmth, understanding, and love through their connection.

“Such indecency!” He heard one of the others in the pool mutter in distaste from not too far off. “Leave it to foreigners to spoil good Japanese men!” The others agreed and it angered him.

Minori ripped his lips from Tristan’s, held him protectively and glared for all he was worth at them, growling. He felt his vampire fangs descending but he didn’t care, they needed to learn when to be silent and understand when another was in pain. Couldn’t they feel it from Tristan? His suffering was thicker than the fog filling the room in clouds.

Tristan felt himself emotionally yanked away from his grief, as his fangs thrust down suddenly. For second he wasn't sure why they had grown in so fast, but then he realized that his body was sharing in Minori's protective arousal. His tears ceasing and his own defenses picking up, he turned his eyes to the men. He saw their faces contort in confusion and surprise and he could smell their instant fear, so rank it was as if they had suddenly urinated at the horror.

'No, Minori... stay with me... ignore them, please...' he pleaded to his lover, yet he understood Minori's feelings, he understood the amazing passion behind wanting to protect something. He felt Minori take a few steps toward the men and they gasped and clamored over each other seeking the bath stairs. He could hear them shouting out words that didn't make any sense, until his dear lover digested them and let them fuel his anger further.

'Demon! Kappa!' They screamed. One fell to his knees in the struggle to get out of the water and fell into a deep prayer, trying to ward off the evil spirits he believed he had come into contact with. While it wasn't Tristan's first time ever being publicly sighted as being a Vampire, it was the first time he'd ever felt so dirty about it. Standing there, naked, his fangs protruding and his emotions still raw from the image of Anna's sweet eyes, he began to seethe.

'Minori... we should leave here... before we do something primal and upsetting. I don't want your first kill to be one you regret.' Reaching forward, he pulled Minori into a tight embrace and clamped mouth onto Minori's lips, letting his fangs barely piece his lover. 'Let us go to your mother... she waits to see you, and to hear my poem. Come.' His tongue slid inside, but did not get to fully enjoy the taste of Minori's mouth, for, numerous people, employees he assumed, stormed into the bath chamber wearing white linen kimonos and identification tags.

Appalled at the way the men had behaved, Minori scoffed. There were no water demons in this bath! Just idiot old men who had no compassion. Still now that he thought about it, the way they’d scrambled to escape, he laughed and returned Tristan’s kiss as several people entered. How silly, had he honestly been so frightening? He didn’t think so.

‘Hahaue will have something to laugh about tonight,’ he sent his lover as he broke their kiss.

“Sir, you’re frightening off the other guests. We ask that you please take your… guest and leave.” One of the bath house staff said with annoyance. Minori was certain that was also a request to never return as well, though it wasn’t said.

He smiled to his lover, feeling himself return to utter calm and took a deep breath then submerged his whole body, using his hand to shake out his hair beneath the water. A proper bath would have to wait it seemed.

Rising from the water he grasped Tristan’s hand and bowed his head to the staff. “We apologize,” He made his way toward the steps unashamed, keeping Tristan close in case one of these men tried to say something as well. He was aware that they watched every move he and Tristan made as they walked to their clothes and dried themselves. So he put himself between them and his lover.

As Minori led them from the bath and into the changing area, Tristan remembered his lover's spicy little chiding from earlier, when he asked who was the adult between them. It seemed, at least for the time being, that Minori more than fit that role. 'I am smitten.' Tristan concluded as his body relaxed away from the sorrow and the anger and the tension and he let himself be completely shepherded by his love.

Committing to memory the adorable sound of Minori's laughter, he quickly dried himself. Watching Minori, who stood rather defensively between Tristan and the employees, he couldn't help but notice that his Beautiful Harbor was becoming a safe port, his sweet soft eyes growing feral and even more beautiful, and his languid body, becoming even more appealing, in it's stark contrast to the night environment.

'I suppose now is not an appropriate time to tell you that I desire you.' He thought to his lover, and smiled. Quickly pulling on the kimono, and putting his foggy-lensed glasses on his face, he waited expectantly for Minori to come to his side and adjust his garments to social standards. 'I love you, Minori.'

His thoughts were not met with a scowl as he had expected, for he surely was misbehaving in Minori's terms, rather he felt something warm and mutual emanating from the darkly featured Vampire before him. Still he found himself hoping that his bad behavior would result in sweet torture at some later time.

'How oddly masochistic of me,' he thought. 'When I was still with Victoria, I spent days on end suffering her induced thralls as elongated punishments for the slightest social disgraces... and now I step out of line on purpose, hoping for torment. But I suppose the torment itself feels different if given by an angel rather than a devil.' In a short time, they found themselves outside, under a veil of stars. The cool air swept away the light-headed euphoria of the baths and calmed Tristan's heated body.

Minori cast a glance at his love as they walked across town, passing people here and there and felt oddly at peace. He felt oddly invigorated just now and yet at peace. Stopping to purchase a bundle of red flowers called Japanese lanterns, incense, rice balls, and some sake, he wondered if he’d worried Tristan in the bath house. The way Tristan had turned him around and kissed him… He’d been in control then and he’d only been upset of how rude, how inconsiderate their words had been. But it was comforting to know Tristan was looking after him, keeping him safe, and helping him to keep the demon spirit calmed inside of him.

As they came upon the shrine, a simple yet beautiful place that sat upon a hill that was illuminated with many softly glowing lanterns, Minori took a deep breath and caught the lovely scent of incense and autumn in the cool breeze. He wondered if there were places like this in Cornwall. He knew the English had a different religion but places of serene worship were beautiful no matter what the religion was. And he had a thought. Perhaps Tristan would allow a slight delay in their journey to Cornwall. Perhaps he’d indulge him one thing he’d always wanted to see since he was a small boy. To go to Kyoto and see the place his mother had once told him off. It was a shrine to Inari with many orange and black tori gates and a long path to walk guarded by Kitsune statues.

Well he could ask later, for now as they passed through the black and red tori gate of this shrine, he was content to just be on their present course.

The walk wasn’t far, a simple matter of a small trip along the garden path that wound around the main shrine proper and behind where the ashes of those in this little sea port were buried. Grave markers both grand as beating gold filigree to as simple as rounded rocks and narrow, tall slabs dotted the yard. There were a few people, not many, also milling about saying prayers and talking with their deceased loved ones.

Minori headed toward the back rows, toward a tall, elegant marker. It was made of strong granite and polished to shine with his mother’s name, Shizuka, in kanji etched into the front. It had taken him five years to save up for this though it wasn’t the most elegant and elaborate, it was beautiful and suited his mother’s spirit well.

Quietly, he knelt and said a silent prayer to the Kami, then prepared the offering of food and drink, placing it delicately upon the small, stone alter. He noticed that someone else had been here before him and thought that a little strange. But he didn’t mind, was happy his mother had had another visitor.

Lighting a stick of incense and placing the flowers upon the marker, he smiled. “Hello Hahaue, I hope you are doing well. I have many things to tell you but I want you to meet someone first.” He reached for Tristan’s hand and tugged him gently down. “His name is Tristan-kun. He’s from England.” Turning his head he looked at his lover expectantly.

Little did they know the visitor to Minori’s mother’s grave stood in the shadows near by, watching, waiting. He’d known Minori would come soon, he never failed too. It was the one place he could count to find the boy.
Never had he seen something so serene. It reminded him of the time he and his family, before little Anna's birth, had visited Cologne Germany and attended the Midnight Vigil for Christmas. When they entered the famed Dom Cathedral his eyes lit up at the rows and rows of candles outlining the dozens of alcoves and shrines celebrating the patron Saints of his Father's religion. It was so dark, so gothic, and so beautiful.

Walking with Minori along the garden path, enjoying the soft glow of the lantern light on his lover’s skin, he felt truly that he was walking into a sacred place. The gravestone, when they finally arrived, sent chills down his spine, for this was not a nonchalant visit, he felt suddenly that he was truly asking this woman's everlasting spirit for the right to claim her son as his mate.

Patiently waiting for Minori to introduce him to his mother... his Hahaue, Tristan found that his hands were almost shaking. 'I wonder, if I wasn't a Vampire, if I wasn't something that thrived on death, would I be so nervous right now? Would I understand how important this really is?' But Minori's love and ease and charm settled his spirits and when Minori cast his sweet eyes in Tristan's direction, he knew it was time to make this relationship an honorable one, and seek the approval of his lover's kin.

"Hello, Mother of my Precious Minori. I am... so honored to stand here. I never thought in my life, I would have someone beside me that I loved so intensely. So, Mother... if it is agreeable to you, I would keep him by me forever." Kneeling suddenly, wanting to be nearer to her spirit, wanting to humble himself, he continued with his request.

"It is true that I've only known your dear Minori for a short time, but ours is not a simple bond. I promise you that if ever my weakness brings Minori pain, I will not ask for mercy when I cast myself down into hell. But I also promise you, that I will not give up lightly. I will protect him; care for him... save him from the shadows of doubt and suffering."

He was feeling that perhaps his words were too dramatic, but he couldn't stop them, for they were, in deed, the truth. "Please... allow me to love him. Allow me to love him forever... Mother."

Slumping forward a bit, angry with himself for dirtying the knees of Minori's kimono, he sighed and glanced at his lover. Those eyes, so deep, he thought he could lose himself in them if he wasn't careful. Crawling a bit closer to the stone, he laid a hand at the base.

"I brought no offering of food and drink. But I did bring something. Minori hopes you'll like it." He smiled slightly and began the poem, "Drink to me only with thine eye... and I will pledge with mine...” Gently he proceeded, and when he finished he lowered his head, and pressed a soft kiss upon the soil. Turning his head, he gazed up at his lover, and saw flickers of red lantern light dancing in his beautiful eyes.

Minori was deeply touched and captivated wholly by his lover and his words, the sincerity of them, the way he approached and treated his mother’s grave. It was as Shizuka were alive and standing before them now not an urn of ashes buried in the ground with a beautiful grave marker. He was so lost in how lovely Tristan was he nearly forgot everything else he wanted to tell his Hahaue.

Smiling softly, he tuned back to the stone. “Hahaue,” he said gently, “I am going away with Tristan-kun and I do not know when I will return. It may be a long while but I will come to see you again. I will not forget, you have my word and when I return I will tell you all of our travels.”

Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, he imparted the same news he’d always had to tell her. “Daifu still hasn’t returned. I went home last month to see but everything was as I left it, even the letter. But he will return someday, just like you said; you just need to wait a little longer. However, I can’t. I hope that doesn’t upset you. The last I wanted to say was, I’m a little different now Hahaue. I am happy, well, warm, and…” He smiled as he squeezed Tristan’s hand, knowing his mother would be happy. “Open again. We have Tristan-kun to thank for that. Watashi aijou omaesan.”

Minori bowed and turned to his lover. “I’m ready to go. There is one place in Japan I would like very much to see, but we can discuss it later. For now,” He perked a brow. “I think we should find a different inn to stay in tonight, don’t you?” Surely the maimed body of the man would have been found by now and the local authorities looking for guests to question. It would be in their best interest to pick an inn near but not on the other side of town and make their entrance and exit as discreet as possible.

He made his move, Minori was never one to loiter around a place, he did his business and left. Slipping in and out quietly as he could through the grass and graves, Daisuke approached his little brother and that horrible foreigner that had taken him away from their home. “Minori, don’t… don’t run. I have to speak with you.” He called.

Everything seemed to have gone perfectly. Minori was satisfied with him and so, too, he hoped, was Minori's mother. Anxiously holding Minori's hand, not even caring if he were breaking the physical taboo again, Tristan gripped him tightly, the last of his nerves draining into relief.

As they turned from the gravesite, Tristan smelled someone close by, but dismissed the scent as being someone come to mourn. But when the sharp voice sounded behind them, his own body perked up in response to Minori's instant agitation. He turned and saw the one from the place where he had found Minori.

Still gripping Minori's hand, Tristan felt a slew of emotions pass between them. He felt pity, friendship, trust, and something else that made him look away for a moment. He sensed that they had been lovers. That in itself was not something that worried Tristan; it was the splay of emotion that Minori returned toward the man. For this was not some rough customer who forced himself into Minori, this was someone who Minori could turn to for comfort and extra love-making.

All in all, it would have been easier to decide a course of action, had this been a vile creature instead of someone who had actually brought happiness to Minori.

Hesitating a moment, Minori finally turned to Daisuke, giving him a formal bow. “It is nice to see you again Daisuke-san.” The hurt and disappointment upon his friend’s face stung a little.

“Not Nii-san, Minori?” Daisuke asked, secretly blaming that damned white man for tainting his friend. It had to be something he’d said or done. Why else would Minori have had a loss of temper in the tea house?

Minori cocked his head to the side with a frown. “Why have you come?”

“To speak with you and visit your mother.”

Minori wet his lips, tightening his grip upon Tristan’s hand. The he lifted his chin in a display of finality. “I’m not going back. I’m going with Tristan-kun, Nii-san-“

“It is absurd! You only just met him. Why? Did he promise you love and devotion? Did he promise to show you all the places you’ve only dreamed of going? What makes you think he’s not like all the rest of the clients who come to us who promise things and never come through or only until they find someone else or get bored? What reason did he give you? What assurances did he say? Please Minori help me to understand? Help me understand so I can make everyone else understand. Okaa-san is beside herself with worry and hasn’t stopped weeping and she’s terrified what happened in the past will happen again.”

Okaa-san was crying for him? Guilt filled Minori so much he wanted to cry himself. He hadn’t meant to frighten her or worry her or anyone else in The Dancing Fountain he cared for.

“I don’t know how to explain this Nii-san, but I know it’s real. I know with all my heart what Tristan has said and shown me is true. I swear to you, he’s not like them! He’s so gentle, so kind. I love him so much it almost hurts to breathe and when he looks at me with love in his eyes I feel undone. Please Nii-san tell Okaa-san that. Please believe me. Where ever it is Tristan-kun and I go, we’ll be alright. I’ll send you letters.”

Daisuke listened to Minori’s passionate words. What ever this man had said or done… Minori wasn’t one to give in so easily in matters of the heart. He knew first hand how guarded Minori was and it made him terribly jealous to know this strange who’d simply blown in the other night had been able to do and touch something no one else had. “Minori-“

“Please believe me Nii-san; you know I could never lie to you.” Minori pleaded almost desperately. In all honesty he’d more than paid for his freedom and he could go and do what ever he wished. It was comforting his friends were so protective of him but he could take care of himself, he didn’t make rash decision, well this didn’t count really, but he was very reasonable.

He still didn’t like it. “Make me one promise, and make him promise it too. Promise me that if he ever hurts you or is cruel to you, you’ll come home or at least go some place safe and send word to us. We’ll come get you. Promise me that and I’ll convince Okaa-san of your feelings.”

Minori immediately nodded his head, “I swear on my honor and my life.” But he didn’t believe he’d ever need to follow through with such a promise or ever have too.

Daisuke remained still for a long time then bowed to the foreigner, knowing he’d lost, knowing Minori wouldn’t be swayed once his mind was made up, and hoping the boy was right. He just couldn’t argue, he’d never really been able to argue with Minori, he always gave in, most people who truly knew him did and he never asked for much. This however, was a big thing but it wasn’t like anyone could deny him, not after the agony and torture he’d gone through to save them all when he was much too young to even know of such things.

“Please take good care of him.”

They walked together in silence for some time. They had no need of words anymore, yet Tristan let him be, not throwing any thoughts his way, only subtle reassurances of love and promise.