He slowly emerged from his sleep. He felt happy. He had his first love experience with a splendid man. He had spent an unforgettable night, so beautifully in the arms of Kazu-chan. He stretched an arm to touch his body but the place near him was empty. He sat up not understanding, but just at that moment the roar of the water coming from the shower made him smile. He had gotten alarmed for nothing. His man was just washing. Near the mattress he saw their clothes carefully folded and he smiled again: it must have been him when he woke up.
"My man!" he murmured in a low voice and felt an intense pleasure at those words.
Yes, he was in love with Kazunari. They had met just two days before, and yet he was completely conquered by the young man - and his way of making love! So strong, so tender and full of passion. Jun closed his eyes, smiling, and thought that in a short while he could see his nakedness. He wondered why the past evening he had felt ashamed? He had been silly. You cannot be ashamed in front of the person you love and who loves you. His hands, his body knew that body and had intimately enjoyed it - now his eyes would also enjoy it. And, he will ask his man to make love again. He would ask him to take him at last, to make him completely his own. Yes, he was willing to give himself to his man, he would welcome him into his body...
He heard the water stop. He opened his eyes again and looked with trepidation towards the door. In a moment he would see him coming back. He would greet him good morning, completely naked. He would pull away the bed sheet, offering him his own nakedness without veils, inviting him to come back near him to start again making love, this time in the daylight where they could admire each other. Jun waited happily feeling great emotion and realized he was becoming strongly aroused.
The door glided to the side and Kazunari appeared. And Jun felt the world crumbling on him: the tattoo covering the naked body of the young man made him at once understood that the other belonged to the yakuza! Kazunari saw him sitting on the mattress and smiling approached him and gave his good morning and crouched at his side. Jun covered his chest with the bed sheet, quite trying to build a wall between them:
"No, don't touch me!" he said with a broken voice.
Kazunari looked at him astounded, not understanding, but, still smiling, said, "Hey, Jun-chan, it's me, your Kazu!"
"No, don't touch me! No, no... nooo..."
Kazunari read fear in the boy's eyes and, amazed, he stopped, looked at him and asked with an uncertain voice, "What happened? What did I do to you? Why are you looking at me in that way?"
"You... you are a yakuza!"
"Yes, but I'm always Kazunari, no? I love you. Even a yakuza knows how to love. What's wrong?"
"I... I... let me go." the boy said, a rather hysterical tone in his voice.
"Quiet, hey, quiet. I don't want to harm you, you know that... I... I really love you."
"But you... a yakuza... don't you understand?"
"No, I don't understand, really."
"I... I am a common boy. What do you want from me?"
"To love you and to be loved by you. Do I ask too much? You said you loved me, I did believe you."
"I... I love you, yes... but I cannot... cannot..."
"But why? Take it easy, please! Let's try to reason. If I love you, if you love me, where is the problem?"
"That you live in violence, in abuse. And then, don't you understand? I'll always live in terror."
"Of me? Do I now scare you?" the pained young man asked.
"No, not you. You are sweet. But the others. And then, I'll live in the terror that one day they will kill you, don't you understand? Or perhaps your hands caressing me being red with blood no matter how much you wash them ?"
"I never killed a man."
"But you will, one day? Perhaps you would have to, one day? If you are not killed before that! What kind of a life, what life would it be? Let me go, please. If you love me, let me go."
"Jun, I love you."
"Then, please, forget me. I'm not the right person for you. Forgive me. I'm sorry."
"I too, am sorry. But... how can I help it? About forgetting you, Jun, I really don't believe that's possible. But I'll let you go, sure. I cannot do differently. I'm sorry." the young man said, feeling extremely sad.
Jun dressed in hurry and went out, turning just to sorrowfully repeat, "I'm sorry."
Kazunari, remained alone, sitting on the mattress he took his head between his hands and just repeated, "It isn't fair, it isn't fair, it isn't fair," and shook his head asking himself why the boy had fled from him in that way. Lots of boys seemed rightly excited at the idea of making love with a yakuza... Even seemed fascinated by it...
It was the first time that being a yakuza alienated him from a boy - and a boy with whom he was madly in love!
When out in the open, Jun stopped. He had feared, but at the same time hoped, that Kazunari would call to him. He loved him, yes, he loved that man, but could not even think of tying his life to that of a yakuza. He had to forget him, to erase him from his life where he had so suddenly entered, with such a force... and such sweetness. Because Kazunari was a kind man, tender and passionate. He couldn't deny that. But how could violence and kindness cohabit? Which was the true Kazunari? The one he had known in the wonderful night? Something inside him answered yes. But, he asked himself, am I not just a naive boy? Even if Kazunari had assured him he never killed a soul, violence and death were integral parts of his life. No, he had to forget him, if only he could. He absolutely had to forget him.
Kazunari, dejected and tired, dressed again. He was trying to react, but he was really in love with that clean, fresh boy. But right, because he was clean Jun loathed him. Of course, they really were at the antipode, he and that boy, unhappily. Ah, if only he wasn't a yakuza! he thought for a moment, but he was aware that this was a meaningless thought.
Kazunari, trying to forget Jun, threw himself into the family business. And into looking in the gay clubs for a different boy each night. Soda was astonished. Normally his boss looked for a couple of boys each week: What was going on so suddenly? He had tried to understand it and one evening he even asked his boss, but Kazunari had dryly told him to mind his own business. Even with Tomoya, he became standoffish and of few words. His brother was disappointed by that inexplicable about face after their conversation in the bath tub, but Kazunari was unable to get Jun out of his head, much less from his heart. Several times he felt tempted to ask Soda to find him. All that he did know about Jun was just his name and the University he was enrolled in, but he didn't know his address nor anything else. But he told himself that it would have been pointless - the boy had bluntly said that he didn't want to have anything to do with him any more.
Jun was also unable to chase Kazunari out of his heart. He had almost ceased to study; his head was elsewhere. If only Kazunari would renounce being a yakuza. If he had found any honest work, he would have given himself to the young man forever without reserve. He would have been totally his. Kazunari was good, was kind and had said he loved Jun, and the boy felt, no, he knew, he was sincere. Perhaps, if he went to talk with him, if he asked him... Kazunari could perhaps even accept, for love. His Kazu-chan! Yes, he at least had to try. He knew how to find him, he clearly remembered where Kazunari's flat was. He could wait for him there, outside, ask him to talk. He hesitated for several days, but at last he made his decision. Probably he would be back home late that night, and then in order to really talk he must not be in hurry... So he warned them at home that he would not come back to sleep at home, that night. His father nodded yes:
"I hope you'll introduce her to us, if it's a serious thing. Do you take precautions? I wouldn't want to become a grand father before it is time." his father said almost ashamed for that speech which he felt compelled to give.
"Do not worry, father, nobody will become pregnant, there is no danger." Jun answered, trying to keep a serious face.
"Bah, everybody thinks that way, before." his father retorted returning to his newspaper. But he was happy his elder son had a girlfriend.
"What rubbish!" the mother said from the kitchen door, assuming a scandalized air and shaking her head unabashedly.
Jun went out. At nine 'o clock he was sitting in the small coffee shop in front of Kazunari's residence so that he didn't lose sight of the entrance and the vicinity. He waited for hours, until at midnight when the waiter said it was closing time. He paid the bill and went out. He waited leaning against a tree near the entrance of the residence. He started to fear that Kazunari wouldn't come home tonight. He thought that perhaps he was not even in town. If he didn't meet him that night, he would come back again until meeting him. He was now determined.
Kazunari was at the Two Ways. He had offered drinks to a group of boys and was chatting with them, evaluating which one he would have liked to have in his bed that night. The one who was called Masao appealed enough to him. He wore tight clothes, showing off a well built body and an agreeable swelling under the fly of his white jeans. And had a brazen smile promising a pleasurable night. But above all he had that hoodlum air that always attracted him in a hustler. The more they posed, the bad boys and the virile males, the more he loved folding them in half under his body, their legs in the air, and fuck them at his pleasure. It was sufficient for those boys, who started swearing that for sure they never ever had been or would be bottoms, once they saw his tattoo, to become more pliable and submissive than little lambs, and on the contrary they were proud they have been hammered in their asses by a real yakuza.
Who could understand, Kazunari said to himself, suddenly thinking about Jun's reaction, why the only one that really was important to me had to react in so a different way from all those big boys? Ah, Jun, where are you? Do you still think of me? Kazunari asked himself feeling sadder than had ever been. Bah, the only thing to do was to have in his bed that Masao, for that night, he thought looking the boy in his eyes. And to try to forget Jun, at least for some hours. The boy smiled to him and, under the table, put his hand on the young man's thigh, caressing him. Kazunari took his hand and squeezed it, then bent toward the boy and said "I'm going home. That friend of mine will bring you to my place."
"Mmmhhh, that one? A threesome?" the boy slyly asked, "but the price for a threesome is higher..."
"No, just we two. He will brings you to my place and pay you. Tell him your price."
"As you like." the boy said nodding.
Kazunari stood up, made a nod to the other boys and went towards the door. Soda signaled him that he understood who he had chosen. He paid the bosses bill and turned toward Masao and motioned for him to follow. The boy stood up with a happy smile and said farewell to his companions and followed Soda. When they were on the street, Soda asked him, "How much for all night?"
"Fifty." the boy shoot out.
"OK. But for that price you'll give me head before going up to the boss place," Soda said casually, opening the car doors with the remote control.
The boy get into the car and asked: "All right. Where?"
"Here." the man said opening his fly.
"Here? People are passing..."
"I've darkened the glasses, nobody can see us. Come on, hurry up!"
The boy was skilled -- gave him a hard on in minute. Soda closed his eyes and enjoyed those sweet lips, like those of a woman, that were gliding up and down his shaft. He liked getting head from those boys. It gave him the sensation of being even more virile having a man subservient to him. One day or another he would also have to try fucking one of them in the ass, he thought with amusement as he relaxed in the seat while Masao was sucking him with consummate art.
Kazunari was just reaching his residence when he saw and immediately recognized Jun. Instinctively he braked and his heart started to beat madly. He took his cellular and called Soda who at just that moment was re-buttoning his trousers. He answered.
"Soda? Pay the boy and send him back. I've changed my mind."
"But..." an amazed Soda objected.
"Pay him and send him back. And, don't show up until I call you tomorrow morning. Understood?" Kazunari said, and cut the communication.
Soda, perplexed, shook his head and then an idea floated into his mind and he smiled in a big grin, "Let's go, boy. A change in the program. We will have all night long ... for the two of us..."
Meanwhile Kazunari parked his car got out and headed towards Jun. The boy on hearing footsteps, turned:
"Kazunari... I was waiting for you..." he hesitantly said.
"Jun, are you back?" the other asked, almost unbelieving.
"I wanted just to talk with you..."
"Do you want to come upstairs?"
"If you want... but just to talk." Jun confirmed, but he felt a strong emotion at the proximity of the young man.
"Understood. Come. I'm happy to see you again."
"Me, too. Sure, me too."
In the elevator they didn't speak. The entered the flat and sat at the table on low cushions. Kazunari offered him something to drink.
"Kazunari, I'm not sure I did right, coming here..."
"I'm happy to see you."
"I... I thought a lot about you, in these days... about us..."
"I too, didn't have any other thought. I love you, Jun."
"I, too. I too love you." the boy immediately answered with a distressed voice as he looked him straight in his eyes.
Then Kazunari bent towards him and embraced him. Jun emitted a deep sigh and responded to that embrace. The young man drew nearer sliding on the tatami and kissed him. The boy returned the kiss with passion. Kazunari pushed him on the tatami going on him with his body and was pleased to feel the boy's erection.
"No, please..."
"Do you want me to shut off the lights?" the young man asked sweetly, caressing his body.
Jun sadly smiled: "No, it will be no longer necessary, but I wanted to talk with you, before. I came to talk with you."
"I desire you. I love you."
"Yes, but... I, too. I love you, and desire you, but..."
"But?"
"Kazunari... give up being a yakuza, please! And I will be yours forever, I swear. I want to be yours."
"Give it up? It is not like giving up attending the University, or like giving up one's job, don't you understand?"
"But you can all the same, if you want to, can't you?"
"Jun, I'm the first son of Yamaguchi Noboru, first son of Naiki, for generations yakuza. My father is dead, but in a while I have to assume his place. I have to take his place, I was raised for that. It was my father's will. How can I simply say, ' I give up?'"
"Leave your place to others, I pray you. You are good hearted and kind. How can you even think of being the boss of a gang of yakuza? No, not you, if you love me. I pray you!"
"I do love you, be sure that I do. But you? Do you love me? If you loved me, you would accept me as I am," Kazunari said with a frown.
"I love you, yes, but it is stronger than me. I'm too scared. For you, for you. Of course I accept you as you are. What I don't accept is not you, but the yakuzas, don't you understand?"
"And you don't understand that I'm yakuza the same way I'm Japanese, or male, or a Yamaguchi? I didn't choose all that, I'm just born that way."
"But if you wanted, you could renounce being Japanese, for example. Many have done that, right? Look at the nissei."
"You make it sound easy. Look, look at what scared you so much!" Kazunari then said undressing to the waist and showing to Jun the tattoo covering his virile torso like a multi coloured vest, "Do you see it? This tattoo cannot be erased, exactly like the fact of being a yakuza. Forever, do you understand? It cannot be erased, never, do you understand? It's part of me, now... and it scares you!"
Jun brushed the tattoo with his fingertips, softly: "It is beautiful, terribly beautiful. No, it is not this that scares me, but what it means. It is beautiful, as you are beautiful."
"It is beautiful, but it is my mark. Do you know that because of this I cannot enter public baths? That at the beach I cannot even be bare chest? That I can never have a normal life like you can? I cannot go to a public pool, cannot be member of a sport team. But at least, as a yakuza, I've other advantages."
"But at what price? Even at the price of losing me?"
"It is not me that has fixed this price. It is you, even if you insist you love me. And you say you love me!" Kazunari almost yelled.
"I probably am a prisoner of my world like you are of yours, Kazunari. But at least in my world I'm not forced to kill, to steal, to be afraid day after day of being killed, or to see some of my beloved ones being killed. They killed your father. When will it be your turn? I don't want to have to cry looking at your body lying dead in a coffin, don't you understand that? And certainly not because somebody killed you just to become richer, don't you understand that? Do you doubt I love you? If I didn't love you I would not be here, now, to plead with you, to implore you, to beseech you!"
"Jun, oh Jun! If our worlds are irreconcilable, if I am not able to renounce for you, if you are not able to accept for me, what remains for us to do? To say farewell for the second time?"
"To say farewell for the second time. I'm afraid yes. But, if you want... I told my father that tonight I won't sleep at home. I would like, if you too desire it... I would like you to... to make love with me."
"Well, then. Let's us not talk about it any more. Come out here, let's make love again, for tonight. And tomorrow we will just say bye, as if we had really to meet again the same evening, without any farewell, without asking each other for impossible things. For the last time."
Jun nodded yes. They stood up and went into the other room where Kazunari made the bed come out. Then he slowly undressed Jun, with love, caressing him, kissing him and admiring him with dreamy eyes. And Jun opened his companion's trousers and lowered them together with his boxers, admiring at the same time the beautiful virile body and the rest of the tattoo that completely covered the lower part of the body like a kind of shorts, to the knees.
"How beautiful you are!" the boy sighed caressing quite shyly his member which was tattooed like a snake that was powerfully raising his head.
He lowered to lightly suck with his lips one nipple of the young man, around which was painted a camellia flower. Kazunari embraced him pulling him against his body, lifting the boy's feet from the floor then went down onto the mattress lying with the boy under his body and kissing him on the mouth with burning passion.
"Will you take me, this time?" Jun asked in a whisper, almost ashamed for the request, caressing his back.
"Really, do you want it? I could harm you, even if I don't intend."
"Even if it will be painful, take me, please." the boy sweetly answered, thinking that being penetrated couldn't be more hurtful than the fact that it was their last time, and he looked the young man in his eyes, and felt lost in them.
Then, overcoming his shyness, Jun lowered under his companion's body, licking and lightly sucking it, kissing and caressing all over, until he could reach the throbbing snake that he started to lick, kiss, suck with devotion. Kazunari, who was balanced on his knees and elbows felt an intense pleasure shiver and turned around so that he too could unite to his mate in a passionate sixty-nine. Jun was at this point all a quiver and the increasing excitation made him lose little by little the modesty that still held him back. When Kazunari started to lick him under his firm full balls, pushing his way toward the still virgin hole, he widened his legs offering himself to the young man. Kazunari had never felt such an intense desire for a boy as he was feeling for Jun, for that boy unskilled and a little awkward in bed, but that was able to easily make up for his inexperience and clumsiness with his beauty and the spontaneous sweet way with which he was offering himself to the young man. That boy, he clearly felt, wasn't doing sex, like the thousands boys he had up until that moment, but was really making love, was making a gift of himself to him. And the young man, for the first time, was completely concentrating on giving pleasure more than grasping for it. For the first time sex appeared to him not just as something exciting, but also as something pure, bright and wonderful.
"Oh, Kazu-chan, make me yours." the quivering boy begged.
"Jun-chan, do you want to receive me inside of you?" the other answered turning around and kindly starting to prepare the boy and himself, almost in fear for what his mate was asking him.
Jun, his eyes looking straight into those of his companion nodded yes. Kazunari, put on the condom and rested his swollen hard glans on the throbbing little flesh rose.
"I could hurt you... perhaps." he said hesitant and worried.
"Don't think about that, just take me." the boy answered with a tone full of sweetness as he caressed Kazunari's muscled strong chest
Kazunari had another thought. He took a glass small jar from a corner and spread something on the boy's hole and massaged it for a long while. Jun felt a fresh and warm sensation at the same time and let himself go in those tender caresses and into the sensations they were giving him. Kazunari spread the same cream on his erected and sheathed member also and again laid the tip on the waiting inviolate anus. With extreme delicacy and care he started to push while he caressed the body that lay waiting to feel Kazunari's tool inside himself. Little by little, Kazunari pushed open a way into Jun who welcomed him with a slight tremor. As he was sinking into him with caution and anxiety, Kazunari was feeling such a great warmth and pleasure wrapping him that he felt a strong sense of gratitude for how the boy was giving him his virginity. They didn't talk, they didn't need to. Their eyes were speaking in their behalf: Do I hurt you? Don't worry, I want you in me. I like you so much. I worship you. Isn't it hurting? Doesn't matter, go on. But I love you. I too love you. And we have to part, after that? We have to part, unhappily. I'm sad. I too, my beloved. You are so beautiful. You are wonderful...
Didn't talk, but they were talking to each other, while Kazunari continued slowly and carefully to make his way inside the boy that welcomed him without the least resistance. Happiness and sadness: those two were the sentiments blending in the hearts of the two lovers, surfacing in their eyes. And finally Kazunari was completely inside the boy. Jun gave a sweet smile and pushed against the young man, to let him feel how happy he was to have him inside.
Then Kazunari exhaled with an imperceptible sigh and relaxed for a moment before resumed his motions and started to move in a slow and long to and fro movement, still afraid of hurting him. Jun drew the man to him and offered him his lips. Kazunari kissed him with gentle passion and continued the loving movements of his rod. Completely relaxed, Jun was enjoying the virile intimate massage and felt happy to once again be in the strong arms of Kazunari.
He recalled their first embrace, during the earthquake and the emotion he had felt in that moment and then thought of what he was feeling now and he felt the anguish of their imminent separation. He struggled against the tears that were forming behind his eyelids and succeeded in chasing them back. He didn't want Kazunari to interpret them as physical pain tears. The physical pain was almost absent. In fact Kazunari had been incredibly careful and gentle that Jun thought that his ability to be so gentle and yet so virile at the same time was an unbelievable miracle. He thought that it was a miracle that he himself, who just one month earlier knew nothing of sex at all, and even less about love, now was so intimately and deeply united to Kazunari. That earthquake had really put his life in turmoil... even if he was not to meet again the man he was madly in love with.
Kazunari was immersed in a set of thoughts filled with joy, astonishment and sadness while making love to Jun. He had discovered that in this world there really existed somebody splendid, whose external beauty, even if extraordinary, was dimmed by the internal beauty. And this "somebody" had made a gift to him of himself without hesitation and had fallen in love with him and had caused him to love... and now he was about to lose him. This boy that didn't act macho and even while being penetrated, was more masculine than many of the macho boys he had up to then. This boy that didn't become enchanted by his wealth or by his power, and he held his own with him in spite of his apparent fragility and that completely disarmed him.
If he had wanted, he could have had the boy for his own, but he didn't want him through force. He didn't simply want a beautiful body. He wanted a Jun that was in love with him and who loved him so much he could accept the fact that he was a yakuza. For the first time in his life Kazunari regretted being born into a different family, even that of simple workers or honest employees. He was irrevocably tied hand and foot. He couldn't help that. He couldn't erase his tattoos as he couldn't erase his belonging to his family. Even a king could abdicate, but not a yakuza, never! Jun, who was now giving himself to him with such a great passion, would have suffered for that no less than himself, he was sure about that. Jun, to whom he was the first man. Jun who had offered him his virginity, but hadn't been able to offer him his life. He could understand the boy, but... And, he on the other hand, what did he offer to the boy? A last love night. It had to be at least unforgettable.
His long experience with so many hustlers and various boys for eleven years of his life had taught Kazunari the most refined loving techniques and that, together with his talent, and also now with his desperate love for Jun, made him an instinctually formidable lover.
That night Jun experienced delirium in all his senses. He knew paradise. For hours he felt as if time had stopped and the world ceased to exist - he was only conscious of his own pleasure and of the marvellously strong painted body wrapping him and permeating him at the same time -- melting together in his own body.
Nothing in those hours outside Jun existed. Jun was such a splendid boy, one who undoubtedly came out of a daydream. That night they gave to each other without restraint -- completely. And, when at last they reached the final rapture, it was sweet and so intense that they were stunned. Quivering, one in the arms of the other, they were amazed it was over. They remained tenderly connected with a real and true sense of nostalgia for a paradise lost.
They fell asleep that way -- holding on tight to each other, reluctant to admit that all was over. In the morning Kazunari woke up first. Jun still was curled up against him and the warmth of the boy's body moved him. He lightly caressed him, thinking with pain that in a while the boy would wake up, would don his clothes and would at last step out of that flat and his life, forever.
And so it happened.
Jun returned home on the bus, crying. His face was turned against the window to hide silent tears, that seemed not to want to stop coming out, from the other passengers. He had known paradise, and had lost it.
Kazunari still in his bed, keeping the traces of Jun passage, curled up and fell back to sleep. He didn't feel like facing the day, the world, or his daily life. But, then he had to. His devoted Soda had another surprise. Kazunari didn't go out any more searching for one boy after the other as he used to do. He seemed to be no longer interested in sex, and continued to sleep in his pied a terre.
One day Kazunari ordered Soda to find in a very discreet way, Takeda Jun's address, mark his house on a map and obtain information about his family. Soda had contacts at the University and without any difficulty he obtained the boy's address. He found the house and made investigations about the family. Doing those inquiries he found out who Jun was and understood. So, his boss had fallen in love with the handsome boy in the red fundoshi they had seen that day on the beach. Yes, he really had to be in love, and that explained the strange moods of his young boss. But then, why they did meet any more? What was on his boss's mind? What was happening? Soda really wanted to know, but he knew that his boss wasn't in the right mood to ask him about the boy.
Soda made a complete report to Kazunari when all the data was collected. The Takeda family lived on the ground floor of an old wooden house they owned in the old part of the city. They rented out the two small flats on the first floor. The family was composed of six people: father, mother and four children. Jun was the eldest, then there were two sisters and a thirteen year old brother His mother was housewife. His father worked as a keeper at the castle. The father's salary, with the two rents, allowed the family a modest but dignified life. All four children were enrolled in public schools. The mother took ikebana lessons and tea ceremony instruction twice a week now that the children were grown up. His father fished for a pastime. The older sister was a member of the school swimming team and the younger loved photography. The youngest brother took kendo lessons. The Takeda family was the classic traditional, average Japanese family.
Kazunari listened in silence showing no emotion at all to Soda's report, but Soda knew him well enough to know with just how much interest his boss was mentally recording all this information. Yes, definitely the young man was in love. But what did he have in mind -- kidnapping the boy?
Quite soon he understood how far off he was. Kazunari called him and dictated a detailed list of presents for - the Takeda family. Each present related to the family member's interests and also included various foods and drinks, for a total included several zeroes. The boss gave him orders to have everything nicely wrapped and delivered to the Takeda house in a manner that would make it absolutely impossible to determine the source of the presents! Soda was astounded: he understood his boss less and less! "What was the sense in giving such a rich assortment of presents and remaining anonymous?" he asked himself. But, he followed instructions and saw to it that all was executed properly.
One morning Mrs. Takeda heard a knock at the door and when she opened it saw messenger from a home delivery service.
"There are several parcels for the Takeda family. May I deliver them to you, madam?"
"Parcels? What parcels?"
"End of the year gifts, madam."
"And from who?" the woman asked, amazed.
"I don't know, madam. I presume that will be written inside the parcels. I only deliver them. Where do I put them?"
"Well... here." the woman hesitantly said and with astonishment watched two porters unload parcels and more parcels from the company truck ... "Are you sure it's all for us?" she asked while the errand boy was counting them and asked her to sign for them.
She looked at the parcels when the men left. All were wrapped in the same, identical, expensive handmade white and red paper, and each had a slip of yellow paper on which was written in elegant calligraphy the name of one of the family. She desired to open one of them to see who was sending such an extravagant number of gifts, but she thought she had better wait for her husband. Perhaps the City Council was sending gifts to their employees? The elections were approaching, but it was strange, it never happened before. It was evident that all the gifts were from the same person, but who was it? And what did the parcels contain? They were of several different shapes. Some were light and some were heavy... The woman moved them into the living room in a row by the names written on them. Six were simply labelled "Takeda Family" and then there were two for her husband, two for her, and two for each for the four children. The eighteen parcels lined up excited her curiosity.
The younger children came home and she had difficulty convincing them to wait for their father. Then Jun came home and asked her lot of questions, "Who brought them? What did he tell you?"... and frowning he seemed more pensive than she was. At last the father returned. No, he hadn't expected any gifts, certainly not so many and not obviously from the same person. "Bah!" he said at last, "Let's open one of them and see who's sending them." Jun was tense and wanted to open one of the parcels for all the family. It contained six big wrappings of expensive roasted meat, and no gift card.. Then the father decided to open another parcel, then one more. In the end everybody was opening a parcel with their name on it. Jun was afraid he would find a card from Kazunari in one of the two parcels that had his name, but in none of the parcels was there any hint about the sender.
Everybody looked in ecstasy at their gifts: a very expensive fishing rod for his father along with a set of fine fishing accessories; a portable tea set for the tea ceremony for his mother and a splendid ikebana flower bowl; Jun found an original copy of a Ueda Akinari story he had told Kazunari he loved which confirmed the origin of the gifts to him, plus a roll of cloth to make a splendid yukata. His eldest sister found some very beautiful and modern swimming suits and the little sister a camera with a complete set of lenses-- from wide angle to zoom. His little brother found a precious katana and a complete kendo uniform. Everyone was very excited and showed each other their gifts.
Then Jun, wrapping his gifts, said: "We have to send them all back to the sender."
"Why?" his sibling chorus said as one voice.
"We cannot accept such expensive and precious gifts from... who knows who!" he said decisively and looked at his father hoping to find in him an ally.
But the man was caressing his splendid fishing rod. "Well, to send them back... to whom? Perhaps he just forgot to put in the tags," and then, in a second moment, "Perhaps... I don't know... We didn't ask for them, right? And, our names were on the parcels, and all the gifts are appropriate, so whoever they came from knows us very well... possibly Uncle Naoya, who knows..."
"Father! Can you imagine Uncle Naoya, stingy as he is..."
"Well, he is not stingy, he's thrifty... He doesn't have money problems, and, who knows, perhaps he thought that since he hadn't sent us a gift in years... After all I am his younger brother -- right? He likes me -- right? Perhaps he just had some qualms of conscience for having forgotten us for so long..."
"Oh, father! You daydream. Can you imagine if he really had sent all that... that sort of good things, that he would forget to put his name on every single parcel!" Jun rebuked him. But he felt all the family was against him.
And he certainly couldn't tell them he knew from whom all those gifts were coming -- from a yakuza, to which he had given himself in love! Who knows which piece of information would have disturbed and upset his family most? He wondered rather than insist.