Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 22:07:06 EDT From: Bwstories8@aol.com Subject: The Castaway Hotel-2 chapter 21 Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if: **You're not 18 or over, **If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, **Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this chapter. If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at http://www.teenboyauthors.org/thewolf, in the 'Other Stories' section. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com. * * * * * * * * The Castaway Hotel -Book 2 - by BW (Young-Friends). Copyright 2000 by bwstories44 Chapter 21 - A Nippon experience June 2000 On the final Friday of classes before spring break, I brought the boys home, and Sammy, Andrew, and I went back over our preparations for our trip. We would leave tomorrow morning, Steve was driving us to the Pittsburgh Airport, and I wanted to make sure that we would have everything we needed. I didn't want to forget anything important. Sally had agreed to stay with the boys again, while we were gone, so I had no worries there. During the evening I said my good-byes to the rest of the boys, as the three of us would be leaving very early Saturday morning. The boys all wished us luck and told us to have a good time, but I could tell they were worried about Sammy and Andrew's future with us, too. They didn't want to alarm the two boys, but they were just as concerned as I was that the grandparents would want them to come and live with them in Japan. Saturday morning we awoke early, dressed, and we were in Steve's car by 6:30. He drove us to the airport and we arrived shortly after 10:00. Our flight left at 11:30. We checked in, tagged our luggage, and grabbed a quick bite to eat with Steve. I checked my carry-on, to make sure that I had packed both boys' personal CD players, the CD's they had selected to take with them, a few hand-held games that they wanted to play with, and a selection of new batteries. It would be a long flight in total, the boys' first, and we weren't sure what we would be able to find to do while in Japan. We had come prepared. When our flight was called, we went to the plane and took our seats. We would fly to Chicago's O'Hare Airport first, have over an hour layover, and then take our connecting flight to Tokyo. We were scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 12:03 and leave again at 1:20. Both boys wanted to sit next to me, so I let Sammy have the window seat, I sat next to him, with Andrew on my right. I figured that once the seat-belt sign was turned off, Andrew would be in my lap for most of the trip. That way they could both look out the window. The boys got very nervous just before takeoff, and they clung tightly to my arms. It was a smooth lift-off but the boys seemed to hold their breath until we were safely in the air. I didn't realize it before we left, but the flight was basically an up-and-down shuttle. Almost as soon as we reached our optimum level, we started our descent. Both boys listened to their music or played with one of the games. The flight passed quickly and the announcement was made to prepare for landing. I made sure both boys were still buckled into their seats and the plane began its descent. I watched the boys as we began our approach for landing. Their eyes were wide and their knuckles were white as they gripped the armrest or my arm. Sammy was looking out the window, so his reaction was more severe than his brother's. He kept tugging at my shirtsleeve and pointing out the window. I think he felt that we were going to crash but he didn't say it aloud, as he didn't want to frighten his brother. I assured him that what he was seeing was typical for a landing and I think I saw him exhale after my comment. By the time the plane's wheels touched down on the runway, I thought both boys were going to draw blood from my arm. Their tiny fingers were digging through my shirt and into my skin and I was thankful that their nails had been trimmed. As we taxied up to unload, the color and smiles slowly returned to their faces. We made our way into the terminal, used the restroom, and grabbed drinks and some ice cream from the snack bar. When we finished our snack, we made our way to our departure gate. By the time we got to our gate, the other passengers were already boarding. We sat in the same arrangement as we had on our first flight. The boys seemed satisfied with that. As I said before, our departure time was 1:20 and we would arrive in Tokyo 4:05 p.m. The boys weren't quite as nervous about this take-off, but they weren't totally relaxed either. Once we were in the air, they were fine. Except for some bouts with turbulence, the flight was quite smooth. As I anticipated, Andrew spent most of his time sitting on my lap. During the early leg of the flight, I would point at different things through the small window and the boys would look at it. Finally, I left them on their own. They would listen to their music, play an electronic game, or watch the movie that was being shown. They also took a nap or two during the multi-hour flight. They both thought it was really neat when we ate on the plane, but they were both too excited to consume much. Some of the other passengers on the plane looked at us funny when the boys would call me 'dad', but especially when they noticed Andrew curled up on my lap the whole time. One nice lady sat down in Andrew's seat and chatted with us for a while. She asked about the boys and I told her that they were half Japanese, but I didn't elaborate. I also told her that I was taking them to visit their grandparents. She played around with the boys for a while and then she went back to her seat. Before she left, she gave both of the boys a stick of gum to help their ears on such a long flight. They thanked her for her kindness. Andrew was sleeping on my lap when the announcement came on for passengers to return to their seats and prepare for landing. I had to wake Andrew up and buckle him in his seat, but he wanted to hold my hand the whole time. As with the take-off, the boys were not as nervous about this landing as the first one. The boys gave a little cheer when they felt the wheels hit the runway and some of the other passengers gave them a little grin, a thumbs-up sign, or flashed them an okay sign in return. The boys were a little shy about being noticed so much, but they played along. The plane was soon parked and we began disembarking. We made our way along multiple corridors as we walked toward the baggage claim area. When we got to a point where they allowed non-passengers, I saw a man holding a sign with our name on it. He turned out to be the interpreter I had hired through my travel agent and he helped us retrieve our luggage and he showed us to our car. The chauffeur drove us to our hotel and we went in to register. I had reserved two rooms, one for the boys and me and the other for the interpreter. I wanted him close by at all times, in case I had a communication problem. We had the interpreter call the boys' grandparents and let them know that we had arrived safely. We made an appointment to visit them at ten the next morning and then we settled into our room. I felt that tonight might be difficult for the boys, as we were all adjusting to the time differences, so I planned no activities. Mr. & Mrs. Yamada had agreed, so I ordered dinner through room service and we never left the room. There wasn't much to do, as most everything was in Japanese, and I was glad that I threw a couple of magazines and a book in my suitcase when I packed. The boys had their music and the electronic games, so I didn't worry about them. I was reading a magazine when Sammy came over and asked to sit with me. I obliged him because he hadn't had as much time alone with me on the trip. Andrew had seemed to be fused to my lap during the flight, but Sammy was willing to share me when Andrew asked to join us. I thought that was sweet. Before it got too late, I bathed the boys and got them ready for bed. They wanted to run around naked for a while and I saw no harm in it, so I let them. I gave them another half hour to an hour before I talked them into bed. I went at the same time, not having had the advantage of napping on the plane like they had. We all slept soundly the whole night. The next day, we met with the boys' grandparents at their house. I tried to stay in the background and give them time alone. I was there only if the boys needed me. Otherwise, this was to be the time when the two generations got to know each other. I did not interfere as the two groups spoke to each other through the interpreter. The boys knew only a very few words in Japanese and they couldn't really speak the language. >From what I could understand, the grandparents were trying to tell the boys about their heritage and they were telling them a little bit about their father's life as a boy. They talked about what their father was like from birth until he left for the States to go to college. They tried to explain the reason for the estrangement between them, but the boys could simply not understand how parents could disown their own son and act as if he were dead. The grandmother tried to explain the Japanese traditions of respecting one's elders and honoring the wishes of the parents, but the participants in this discussion were from vastly different worlds and they could not understand what the other was trying to say on this topic. They continued their discussion until well past noon and I suggested that we take a break and go out for some food. Finally, I got everyone to agree. The grandfather suggested a restaurant not to far away, which served food in the Tempura style. This meant that we ate foods that had been deep fried after being dipped in a batter. The grandfather placed the order for us, as none of the rest of us were aware of what the items on the menu were. It was good tasting, though I never really knew exactly what it was that I was eating. The boys seemed to enjoy it too and we soon settled the bill and left. The grandmother suggested that we take Sumida River Cruise, so the boys could see what some of Tokyo looked like. From the boat we saw the Sumo arena, the Tokyo-to City Museum, the Tsukiji Fish Market, and the Rainbow Bridge (that spanned Tokyo Bay). Along the way we went under a dozen other bridges and the ride was relaxing, as well as quite lovely. The cruise took around forty minutes and we went from there to the Fukugawa Edo Museum. This museum contained a recreation of a nineteenth century Japanese neighborhood, done to extremely accurate detail. The museum also provided a sound and visual mix that added an authentic look and feel to this neighborhood. If this didn't give the boys some indication about their father's heritage, then nothing would. I was very impressed by the whole visit. After we finished this part of our time together, we parted company for the day and made arrangements to meet at the same time tomorrow. The boys, the interpreter, and myself went back to the hotel to freshen up and then we decided where to go for dinner. After discussing this with the interpreter, we decided on a Teppanyaki style Japanese restaurant, or a Japanese steakhouse. Although this wasn't exactly what I was used to, it was still very good and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The interpreter also advised me of a Japanese tradition, as we were both drinking beer with our meal. While socializing, you never refill your own drink and you never let your companion's glass become completely empty. I agreed to abide by this tradition. Now, besides having to watch how much I was imbibing, I had to watch the interpreter's glass and make sure that I kept him in beer. When we were back in the room, both Sammy and Andrew became very affectionate. They sat on my lap, kept kissing and hugging me, and they told me that they were glad that they knew that I would never disown them or pretend they were dead. They said they still couldn't understand how their grandparents did what they did to their father. They said they could understand them being angry with him, but they just couldn't comprehend why they wanted nothing more to do with him, ever again. It was even harder for the boys to understand why they told their friends and relatives that he had died and never spoke of him again. I tried to explain their grandparents' reasons again, but it was beyond their grasp. They just kept thanking me for not being like that. Once again, I gave them their bath and then gave them time to themselves. They did some things with each other and then they told me they were ready to go to sleep. I joined them and soon we were all cuddled together on the bed. At one point, I got up to use the toilet and Andrew got scared when he discovered I was gone. He wasn't comfortable unless he could touch me and know for certain that I was there. I kissed him good night again and he drifted back to sleep. The next morning we met their grandparents again and this time they suggested that we go to Ueno Park. We spent the first part of the day at the zoo and the highlights of the visit were the two giant pandas and the king penguins. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the show that the animals put on for them. When it was time for lunch, the grandmother suggested a Nake restaurant, which used an old-style cooking technique that consisted of a stew served in its pot. It was quite good and I had two helpings. Everyone else ate with chopsticks but I couldn't quite master them with this fare, so I was forced to use a fork. Everyone was polite enough not to comment about this. That afternoon, we went to the Tokyo National Museum. There we saw a collection of period clothing, samurai gear, swords, woodblock prints, Buddhist sculptures, martial arts implements, ceramics, scrolls, and paintings. Needless to say, it was the samurai gear, swords, and martial arts implements that captured the attention of the little ones and we spent an inordinately long time studying these displays. After that, we parted way again and our group returned to our hotel. The boys wanted to go for some western food, like we were used to at home. Reluctantly, the interpreter agreed and we found a nice Italian restaurant (Sabatini Pizzeria Romano) where we ate some good pizza. I guess the boys had become Americanized since they came to live with me, as they think this is more to their liking than the Japanese fare. I had wine with the interpreter and that seemed to improve his dining experience for the day. Our evening was very much like the previous two. First they had their bath, then they played games, and then they went to bed. We didn't have any deep discussion this evening but they still didn't let me out of their sight. I was beginning to get the feeling that they thought I just might leave them there and disappear. I know that they knew better than that, but something was nagging at the back of their minds. They hadn't said anything to me, but they did a lot of whispering with each other when I was out of hearing range. The next day with the Yamadas was spent seeing more of the historic Japan. We went to the Ekoin Temple first. It was built in 1657 and it is reputed to be the place where retiring sumo wrestlers bury their topknots. It was originally built as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the great fire. On the grounds there is also a memorial to lost pets, a tower that is said to serve as the final resting place for the unidentified dead, criminals, and those who have lost their lives in various disasters. Its nickname, the Shrine of the Rat Boy, is based on a Robin Hood-like Japanese figure from the 19th century. After that, we walked around the outside of the Imperial Palace. You can't get inside the palace except for two days a year, so we just looked at the exterior. It gave us a little feel for the Japanese Royal Family. As we were coming back around, the boys spotted the place they wanted to eat. It was the Boat House Caf^Â and they served burgers there. It sat right on the edge of the Imperial Moat. I don't think that's what the grandparents had in mind for today's dining establishment, but they let the boys have their way. The boys and I ate, while the other three just nibbled. After lunch, we went to see the Sensoji Temple. This is Tokyo's oldest temple and was built in 628 A.D. It was rebuilt in 1958 after being destroyed in World War II. Legend says that a gold statue of the goddess Kannon was fished out of a nearby river and the temple was built to house it. You can even get your fortune told there. After checking out the Temple, we sat in a park so the boys and their grandparents could talk some more. I checked out some nearby shops while they were talking, to let them have a private conversation. When I came walking back, Andrew spotted me first and he came running up to me and leapt into my arms. Sammy wasn't far behind him and soon I was carrying both boys, held tightly to my chest. I think the grandparents were kind of shocked as both boys kissed me on the cheek and hugged my neck. Like I told you, the boys didn't like for me to get out of their sight and I forgot that and got away before they noticed. Next time I won't wander so far. Before we went our own way, the grandparents asked us to meet them at 6:30 tomorrow morning. They had something special that they wanted to do for the boys. We agreed and I announced to the boys that they would have to go to bed earlier tonight. I informed the interpreter that we were going to eat at Victoria Station that evening and that he could go on his own if he wasn't interested. He quickly accepted the offer and the boys and I went and had steak and the salad bar at this new place. The boys enjoyed it almost as much as I did. I gave the boys their baths and we all went to bed shortly thereafter. We would have to get up somewhere around 5:00 to get ready and have time to eat breakfast. Service in the hotel restaurant, where we ate breakfast, was a little on the slow side, but I did enjoy their coffee. Before we went to sleep, the boys wanted to know why I left them earlier that afternoon. I explained to them that I was just giving them time alone with their grandparents and I was only looking at some of the shops, but they made me promise them that I wouldn't do that again. I promised and they seemed satisfied for the time being. The next morning Mr. & Mrs. Yamada announced that we were taking the boys to Tokyo Disneyland. I believe that this was their concession to how westernized their grandsons had become. The boys were flying high now, as they had never been to Disney World, Disneyland, or any other major amusement park in their young lives. They informed me that they had always dreamed about this happening, but they never thought it would ever come true. We entered the park and we did the whole enchilada. We made our way thru Critter Country (southern US animals), Fantasyland, Westernland, Toontown, Adventureland, World Bazaar, and Tomorrowland. We did the rides, watched the shows, and tried the eateries. Their grandparents had a difficult time keeping up with them and they didn't understand some of the boys' excitement or their choices, but they said little and let the boys have a good time. The grandparents wanted to leave at dinnertime, so I had the chauffeur return them to their home and I stayed with the interpreter and the boys. We ate in the park and then made our rounds back to some of the boys' favorite sites. I couldn't have pried them away from there if I wanted to. They were so tired by the time we got back, I just put them to bed and I would give them their baths in the morning. They thanked me several times for the day and I told them that it was their grandparents they should thank in the morning. They agreed but they thanked me again for letting them stay. They said they would have had to leave much earlier if it had been up to their grandparents. I couldn't argue, so I just kissed them good night. The next day was to be our last one actually seeing Tokyo. The following morning we would catch our plane and be on our way back home. Thursday we had a very laid back day, especially after the previous day. Our chauffeur drove us around the city, stopping at the Yamada's request so we could take a walking tour. We got to see a little bit more of the modern aspects of this ancient city. For lunch we had Rabatayaki, a traditional style of meats and vegetables prepared on a grill. It was quite tasty and another new experience. We did some more walking tours after lunch and kept going right up until dinner. It being our last night with them, Mr. & Mrs. Yamada wanted us all to dine together. We went to a restaurant and they ordered a collection of dishes for us to share. This way we could sample several different things and double up on what we liked the best. We had Kamameshi (a rice casserole dish with meats and vegetables), Tonkatsu (a pork cutlet coated in batter and deep fried), and Yakitori ( chicken grilled on skewers, though they explained that you could order any specific chicken part to be used). It was very enjoyable and I liked them all. Sammy seemed to like the Kamameshi and Andrew favored the Yakitori. It worked out well and everyone was satisfied. There was a very emotional farewell when we dropped the grandparents off at their home, but the older couple was far more emotional than the boys. The boys did thank them for the good time but, when we returned to the hotel, they seemed quite relieved that it was over. They didn't talk much after we were in our room, but they were never more than an arm's length away from me. Tonight they horsed around in the bath and they had a splash fight that nearly drowned me. I was giving them hell (in a fun way), smacking their bare butts, and I tickled them until they cried 'uncle'. They went to bed in a good mood. We had to be at the airport before 10:30 the next morning. Our flight left at 11:25 and we were scheduled to arrive at Chicago two and a half hours before we left Tokyo, at 9:00 a.m. Aren't time zones and the rotation of the earth fascinating things? We would catch our connecting flight at 10:31 in Chicago and land in Pittsburgh at 12:48 p.m. Steve was supposed to be there to meet us. The boys were able to relax and enjoy this flight much more than the one over. They took turns on my lap but sometimes I had both of them at once. The flight attendant complimented us on how nice it was to see a father and his children enjoying each other's company so much. Sammy and Andrew just smiled and replied nearly in unison, "We love our Dad." The movie was entertaining and it made the flight go by more quickly. We were only a few minutes late landing in Chicago and we hit the watering holes, one to empty and the other to refill. We went on to our next gate, got on the plane, and we were soon in the air again. The return trip between Chicago and Pittsburgh was quite rough, because of bad weather. The boys were a little frightened during this leg of the journey and I might add that I was a wee bit nervous too. We all sighed deeply when we landed that final time. We went to collect our luggage and then we looked for Steve. We never found him, though, as we were met by Sally and the boys instead. Sally had picked up our new van, loaded up my gang, and they came out to retrieve us. I can honestly say that I was thrilled to see them all again, as were Sammy and Andrew, and the other boys were equally as thrilled to see us. They helped us carry our luggage and Sally offered to drive so I could rest. The boys told me about their vacation and Sally told me they were all perfect gentlemen while I was gone. I asked her if we were talking about the same group and the boys gave me raspberries for the innuendo. We verbally sparred with each other during the whole ride home, until Carlos announced that the boys should show me more respect. I agreed with him but the boys all playfully ganged up on Carlos and told him to stop sucking up. That is, everyone except Sammy and Andrew. After some more minor ribbing, Carlos started laughing and joking with the boys. I leaned over and asked Sally what she had found out about Carlos' situation and she told me that she'd fill me in once we got back. There were obviously some things that Sally didn't want the others to know about. I knew that she wouldn't be like that without good cause, so I dropped my interrogation at that and we drove along. She did want to know about the trip, so I told her my version of the story while Sammy and Andrew told their brothers about their adventures. It was a wonderful feeling when the van pulled into the driveway and we were finally back home. * * * * * * * * If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at http://www.teenboyauthors.org/thewolf, in the 'Other Stories' section. E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.