Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:48:43 +1000
From: Kangen <sakurakangen@gmail.com>
Subject: Finding You Chapter 2 of Many (/gay/college)

Hi Everyone!

At the time of writing, I still haven't gotten any replies, but then again,
this story only went live yesterday.

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Copyright (C) 2008.

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This story involves relationships between males aged 17-19. If you do not
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lengthy or brief, in Japanese or in English, (although preferably English)
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love talking to you.

Doumo arigatou gozaimashita.

And now, without further adieu.....


===============================================================================
FINDING YOU: CHAPTER TWO - Waiting
===============================================================================

The airport can be a pretty long wait. There's the queue to pick up your
board- ing pass, then the queue to check in your luggage (for me, just my
bike), then the queue to go through the metal detectors.. well.. you get
the idea.

   Anyway I was waiting in the loungey area just before you board the
plane.  You know, the place which has all these businesses that charge
prices that are conspicuously higher than those on the other side of the
ticket check - most probably because they have a total strangehold on all
business on that side of the gate, and they think they can rip off tourists
that aren't familiar with exchange rates. I wasn't fooled, and I wasn't
going to buy anything anyway. I was saving my money for when I was in
Japan. I had about $500, soon to become about 50,000 yen, but in the harsh
reality of high prices that is Japan, 50,000 yen wouldn't last me more than
a couple of days unless I could find some of my old japanese friends and
leech off their charity. I was sitting facing a set of large windows that
faced out on to the tarmac and runways. I saw the JAL flight I was to catch
land and begin to refuel. It was actually somehow peace- ful, seeing all
those great flying machines, one of the most visible signs of the
innovativeness of the human race, gracefully coming in to a perfect land-
ing, slowing, stopping, preparing to take another haul of people across the
planet.

I sat there, staring out the window for a while, until my reverie was
inter- rupted by a boisterous voice talking to me.

   "Quit staring at that photo and eat this!" the voice said, as a mildly
dis- gusting looking oporto burger landed in my lap.

   "I wasn't staring at the photo... the.. the planes.." I replied, still
look- ing out the window.

   "Yeah yeah, I believe you. Eat the burger." the voice replied.

   I turned around to face the origin of the voice.

   "Chris? What the hell are you doing!?"

   "I could ask you the same question.. as a matter of fact, I think I
did.."

   "Chris!"

   "..repeatedly, if my memory serves me correctly..."

   "But.. Chris! What about your high school and your future and.. uh..
how the hell did you afford this anyway?"

   He grinned, "You're not the only one with frequent flyer points."

   "Okay.. but what about school?"

   "It's okay, I have completed most of my subjects ahead of my grade.  If
I can make it in to Toudai, then I don't need to worry about completing
school."

   "Toudai!? But you don't even know Japanese!"

   "That's okay, I can take the English version of the entrance exam. If I
get a perfect score, I will be able to spend a few years learning Japanese
and then I can do a degree there."

   "..a.. perfect score.."

   "Yeah! No problem."

   "...right... but.. um.. I'm just going to go find him and come
back.. you won't have time to do all that.."

   "What makes you think you'll find him?"

   "Well.. uh.."

   "In fact, what makes you think he'll want to go back?"

   "Well.. I guess.. uh.. hmm.. I guess I didn't really think this
through...  but I'll find him, and he'll come back if I ask him. I know he
will."

   "I wouldn't be so sure. William, you're looking for a single needle in a
haystack of 32 million straws. If you're serious about going to Japan, and
you're serious about finding him, you're going to be there for a long
time."

   "I.. I guess so.."

   "So.. I took the liberty of getting the Japanese Toudai revision papers
too! We can go to Toudai together! Just like that manga
series.. um.. Love..  something.."

   "Love Hina... except you're not a quick-tempered girl and I'm not madly
in love with you."

   He gave his token half-smile. "Heh, well, you can revise on the plane."

   I sat in thought for a moment.

   "Okay, Chris, I'll let you come with me, if you answer me this one quick
question."

   He grinned, "Go ahead! Ask me anything."

   "Why are you so insistent on coming with me?"

   "Uh.. well.." He looked down. "I guess.. uh.."

   His hesitance suprised me - Not very like him - "Hmm?"

   He looked up again, grinning, "Well, someone has to take care of you.
Sci- ence knows you can't get into Toudai by yourself!"

   "Uh.. Chris?"

   "Yeah?"

   "Toudai was your idea."

   "Whatever dude, just get on the plane. They're paging us."

   --------------------------------------------------------------------

   Jacob walked into the lounge room and sat down in the old recliner.  His
Mum was still lying on the couch, idly watching CNN. It was clear that
she'd been crying. She had taken the day off work and he still wasn't quite
sure why exactly.

   "Hey.. Mum?" He prodded after a short silence.

   "Yeah, sweetie?"

   "Where's Will?"

   "He's.. gone away, sweetie."

   "Why?"

   "Do you remember his best friend, who used to come over alot?"

   "Oh yeah. His ex boyfriend."

   "He's not his ex boyfriend, dear."

   "Whatever. When is he coming back?"

   "We don't know."

   "Do you know where the fuck Will is going?" said Jacob, discreetly
probing to see just how upset his mother was. If she was very upset, she
would let the cuss slide.

   "To.. Tokyo-to, to find him.. the friend." She began crying. Jacob
walked over and hugged his Mum. He could be very mature for a 13 year old.

   "Hey.. that's good right? Reunited at last and all that?"

   "It would be good.. except that his friend is coming back, and Will is
left in Japan searching for him.. with no way for us to get in touch and
let him know..." She began crying in earnest, creating a small puddle of
tears on Jacob's shoulder.

Eventually her sobbing subsided and she said softly, "My baby is lost a
thousand miles away, labouring at a task that will be fruitless.."

   Jacob hugged his Mum again, "It'll be okay, Mum. I promise you. Will can
look after himself. We'll find a way to get in touch with him."


        -----------------------------------------------------------

Dearest Mother,

I am writing to inform you that you probably won't be seeing me for about a
year, perhaps more. I will not be in the country, and it will not be
possible for you to find me. Please do not waste your time trying.

   The reason I have left is for love. Please try and understand. I am gay,
Mum. It's not a phase, it's not a fad, and it's not a choice. Please don't
be mad at me. I am leaving to follow the love of my life, and if this quest
turns out to be fruitless, then I will return home as soon as convenient.

   I have taken many of my books, and some clothes. I also took some of
your cash and I've spent all your frequent flyer points, plus taken your
briefcases.

   Sorry about that.

   I know we have had our differences, but I fully intend to continue to
pursue an outstanding education while I am abroad. I will make you proud of
me, Mum, even as a gay man.

With Love,

Christopher

===============================================================================

In case you were wondering, Chris is a militant atheist, and religiously
replaces all mention of the word "God" in his idiomiatic speech with
"Science".

All for this chapter. A bit of a short one this time. Thanks for reading.

---

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 or MSN Messenger at the same address.  I
love talking to you.

Doumo arigatou gozaimashita.

-SK

(written in vi improved 7.1.. beats emacs any day)