ekaterin24; The Education of Doumeki Haruka, part two; R

[nebulia]

part one



"The Education of Doumeki Haruka"

Part 2: Adolescence

Part 2 rated R for sex.

Haruka wasn't going straight into a Buddhist monastery, after all. Soon after his junior-high graduation, Grandfather received a letter from an old friend of his who was a Shinto priest out in the country. As Grandfather explained at dinner that night, Kobayashi-sama had a grandson only a year older than Haruka who was training for the priesthood. He wanted Masahiro-kun to learn about Buddhism, and perhaps experience a bit of city life as well.
"City life?" Haruka scoffed. "Doesn't he know we're on the outer edge of Tokyo? The train only stops here twice a day."

"The Kobayashi shrine is partway up a mountain, where nearly everyone is a rice farmer. This is the city to my friend and his family. Besides, I suppose you boys wouldn't mind running an errand or two for me in the city itself."

Haruka grinned. He was always ready for adventure.

"Now let me finish telling everyone about the letter."
Grandfather went on to explain that his friend, knowing that Grandfather valued Shinto practices, as he valued Buddhist ones, suggested that Masahiro-kun might spend a year in the Doumeki temple to learn about Buddhism, and then Haruka would spend a year at the Kobayashi shrine, learning about Shinto and the countryside. And Kobayashi-sama mentioned he was also sending a special gift: a horse.

"Who will care for the horse?" Mother asked. "We are all so busy here."

"I will!" Haruka didn't even have to think before answering.

"You'll have to get up as early as I do," Mother warned. She usually had to rout Haruka out of bed in the morning.

"I think he'll do it." Grandfather's eyes crinkled as he beamed at his grandson in shared enthusiasm. "And I'll have both boys help you as well as us," he assured his daughter-in law.

Kobayashi Masahiro arrived the week before school began, riding one horse and leading another. He was shorter than Haruka but broader in the shoulders and chest, and his thick hair stood out nearly straight in a few places.

Haruka was the first after Grandfather to greet Kobayashi-kun. "I'm Doumeki Haruka. How was your journey?"

"Exciting!" Kobayashi-kun exclaimed. "I saw a train, and had to hold Kaze back because she wanted to race it. But she couldn't, tethered to Nokori."

Haruka helped remove Nokori's saddlebags, sneaking in a pat on the horse's brown-dappled flank at the same time.

As soon as the last bag hit the ground, Kobayashi-kun bowed formally to Grandfather. "Thank you very much for welcoming me into your home. Before I enter, however, I must bring Kaze and Nokori to your stable to groom and water them."

Grandfather gave Kobayashi-kun an approving smile. "Of course. Haruka, please fetch water from the well for Kaze and Nokori to drink. And for Kobayashi-kun also."

Haruka hauled the water buckets into the stable he and Grandfather had been cleaning and preparing for the past three days. Both horses were already in their stalls, and Kobayashi-kun was busy wiping down Kaze with an old feedsack.

"I've brought the water, Kobayashi-kun. Would you like to take yours first?"

"No; please water the horses. I'll get mine from their trough when I'm done."

Haruka started pouring out the buckets. "The horses are beautiful. How old are they?"

"Kaze-she's my horse-is four years old and has had two foals. Nokori is one of them, and is just over a year old." Kobayashi-kun's head was bowed over the cloth he was using. "Nokori will be your horse now."

"They're both beautiful. May I wipe down Nokori? I'll need to learn as I'll be taking care of her. We haven't had horses since I was very young, so I never learned to groom them."

"Certainly." Kobayashi-kun handed over a second feedsack.

Haruka had been watching Kobayashi-kun closely, and echoed his motions as he began wiping down Nokori.

"I suppose you have many horses back at home," Haruka offered.

"No; these are-were-our only two." The other boy kept his head bowed as he wiped down Kaze's belly.

"But, Grandfather said your family raised horses as well as being priests."

"We used to," Kobayashi answered shortly.

Haruka pondered his companion's change in mood. No matter; I'm going to continue to be friendly, he thought. "You had to sell the others, then?"

Kobayashi-kun shook his head. "Eat them."

Haruka's mouth dropped open. "I'm sorry," he finally said. "I'm very sorry."

"Kaze and Nokori are the last," Kobayashi-kun explained, still facing away from Haruka. "Nokori was born only last spring, while we still had some meat from Na-" he broke off, and turned to scoop some water out of the horse's trough with his hands. After drinking slowly, he started again. "Kaze was the most sure-footed, for traveling on the mountain where we live," Kobayashi-kun stroked Kaze's mane, "and since she's female Grandfather planned to use her as a brood mare to restart our herd. But no one seems to have enough money to buy a horse, except people who would rather have an automobile."

"I don't know why anyone would want an automobile when they could have a horse."

Kobayashi-kun turned to Haruka, smiling a little. "I don't know why either." He reached into the saddlebag he'd brought to the stable and pulled out two currying combs, handing one to Haruka. "This is for you to use. I'll show you how to groom a horse, Doumeki-kun. Start at the top of Nokori's head, like this."

Haruka got busy with the comb. After a few moments of comfortable silence, he asked, "Kobayashi-kun?"

"Yes?"

"We're going to be spending an entire year in the same household. Perhaps we could use each other's first names?"

"Of course...Haruka-kun. Or shall I just call you Haruka? I don't mind if you call me Masahiro."

Haruka grinned. "Thank you...Masahiro."

Grandfather started them on lessons the next day. They discussed various points of Buddhism, with Haruka explaining anything Masahiro did not understand. Grandfather corrected him when it was necessary, which wasn't often, Haruka was relieved and pleased to discover. Masahiro also observed when they took care of temple duties, helping with practical matters such as cleaning and carrying. Handling dead bodies didn't seem to trouble him at all.

Apparently, Grandfather felt manual labor was important in training young men for the priesthood. He directed them in tending the herb garden, mowing the grass (the horses helped with this, as well as providing plenty of material for next year's fertilizer), and making building repairs that had been neglected when the family had not had the money or energy to take care of them. Masahiro turned out to know more than Grandfather did about carpentry.

"We don't have carpenters in our village, so we've learned to do most repair work on our own." he explained. He also promised to teach Haruka to carve during the coming winter. "There's not much to do up in the mountains during the winter, so we carve or do leatherwork. My father," Masahiro paused a moment, and Haruka recalled that Mashiro's father had been killed during the war, "made the saddlebags I brought here."

Uncle Taki was well enough to return home by the end of the summer, and brought out his battered landscaping book. Soon he was teaching both young men principles of landscape design as he planned to restore the areas where trees had been cut down and the grounds had otherwise fallen into disrepair.

Not all the physical work was drudgery. Masahiro taught Haruka to ride on Nokori, and to shoot a bow. He'd brought three bows with him. "Grandfather will want to teach you yabusame next year," he said.

"Mounted archery?" Haruka's face lit with enthusiasm. "I've read about that in one of the books someone gave us."

"People give you books?"

"As thanks for doing funerals and other services. Most people didn't have money or food to give the temple-some still don't. We have eighteen books and two scrolls, not counting the temple sutras and other Buddhist texts that we already had. I want to buy more when we have the money."

"You must be very interested in books." Masahiro frowned, inspecting his bowstring closely.

"I have learned so much from them, and I haven't read even half the books we have received so far. History, poetry, science, and," Haruka lowered his voice, as Keiko was due back from school and loved to eavesdrop, "two books about...intimate things."

"No!" Masahiro looked up eagerly.

"I've only seen a few pages of each of them. Grandfather mentioned he wanted me to read through them, but Father thinks I'm too young and will become inappropriately interested, so he keeps them hidden. I haven't been able to find them yet."

"What does your father mean by 'inappropriate'?"

"He gave me an hour's lecture on that subject!" Haruka ran a hand through his hair, cropped short for the summer. "Too much thinking about doing the marital act and, ah, other means of, ah, pleasure; looking at someone and imagining doing such things. Haruka slipped into an imitation of Father in teaching mode. 'Avoid lingering on unchaste thoughts; simply let them pass out of your mind as quickly as they enter. Dwelling on such thoughts is a barrier to maintaining a serene mind.'"

"It's hard to keep a serene mind all the time." Masahiro pointed out. "Especially when you see someone you're attracted to, or spend time with that person."

Just then Haruka heard the soft but familiar swish and thump of his father making his way toward them. He instructed both young men to sit in the temple and practice Zen meditation for an hour. Haruka was sure Father had heard the end of their conversation and wanted to make sure they cultivated a serene mind as soon as possible.

A Zen mind was excellent for developing archery skills, though, Haruka realized. He soon realized that the best method for shooting was to clear his mind of everything except the bow, the arrow, and the target, and let go. At first he'd needed Masahiro's guidance with every shot. The older boy often set his hands on Haruka's hips to turn him to the proper angle, and adjusted his fingers on the bow. Haruka wasn't accustomed to physical contact, especially from someone his own age, but he felt comfortable with Masahiro and found his touch as pleasant as Nokori seemed to find his grooming and patting. After a few months he didn't need such guidance, and by winter he was hitting the large target he'd helped Masahiro set up at the edge of the temple grounds. Haruka was still not nearly as skilled Masahiro, whom he watched avidly during his turn shooting.

"It will take me another ten years to be as skilled as you are now," he acknowledged.

"At least," Masahiro agreed smugly. "I received my first bow the day of my first shichi-go-san ceremony.

Haruka stared at him. "You were three years old! I'm sure you put the bow in your mouth."

"I did not! I'd seen Grandfather, Father and Elder Brother doing kyuudo so I knew what it was. It was only a toy bow, though, and the arrows didn't have any points. I couldn't actually hit anything until I was nearly five."

Haruka was catching up faster with horseback riding. He and Masahiro escaped on the horses as often as they could get away-usually only once or twice a week. Grandfather, Father and Uncle all seemed to be conspiring to keep them busy, and Grandfather often took Nokori to visit friends or parishioners in the afternoons or evenings. Masahiro showed no interest in riding alone, so if they were free at those times they focused on kyuudo.

Spring arrived and with it, more landscaping work. One unseasonably hot day Grandfather set the two of them to dredging the pond. Mother had gone into the city with Father and Uncle Taki for shopping and doctor's appointments, and Keiko was in school.

Grandfather came out to observe. "Good, very good. Now all you need to do is spread all that mud in the back garden to dry out a bit. Tomorrow you can mix it with the soil for planting. I'm going to visit some parishioners who are ill-and have wives who are good cooks." Grinning, he left them and headed toward the horse barn.

It seemed to take forever, but Haruka and Masahiro finally pulled up the last of the muck from the bottom of the pond.

"Aah! I am so hot!" Masahiro sighed. He wiped his forehead with the back of his arm, leaving a shiny greenish-brown streak.

"And so muddy!" Haruka laughed.

"You're even muddier from that fall you took. You're so clumsy!"

"I'm clumsy? You nearly fell into the pond twice!" Haruka playfully shoved Masahiro so his feet slipped in a patch of pond scum.

Masahiro grabbed Haruka's sleeve to steady himself-or perhaps to pull Haruka into the mud-and Haruka grabbed back.

Might be fun to wrestle, Haruka thought.

But Masahiro shook himself away and bent to pick up two of the muck-filled buckets.

"Let's get these over to the back garden. Then I want a bath."

After hooking the buckets onto yokes, they hauled the buckets to the dumping area. Then they fetched clean buckets, stopped by the well, and stumbled into the bath-house, a bucket in each hand for washing off before entering the bath.

"Sometimes I wish we had plumbing to do this for us," Haruka complained as they set down their buckets.

"Lazy!" Masahiro flicked water at Haruka. "You city brats are soft."

"This is hardly the center of Tokyo, country boy." Haruka tossed his fundoshi in the corner with the other muddy clothes. Mother was not going to be happy about the laundry this week.

"Mud right down to the last layer." Masahiro commented. "We'll have to clean it off our balls."

Haruka choked slightly.

"You've been too well brought up, Haruka. My brother and I say much ruder things at home." Masahiro grinned at Haruka from his washing-up stool, wiping a streak of soaked-through mud off his bare thigh.

Thwack! Haruka's cleaning-cloth hit Masahiro in the chest. They stared at each other a moment. Then Masahiro laughed. "If only your aim were that good with the bow." He tossed back the cloth and stood to clean his backside.

Haruka kept staring. What was so fascinating? They both had the same body parts, though Masahiro was a bit more muscular and had more body hair. And they'd bathed together many times before, though most recently he had felt oddly awkward. And now the strangest feeling was twisting in his belly....

"Ready to go in, Haruka?" Masahiro asked. His voice was quiet with a sort of compulsion that had an embarrassing effect on Haruka. Now he definitely was not ready to go into the bath with Masahiro, at least not without getting a certain part of his body under control. Haruka turned his back abruptly and dunked his cloth into the bucket, doing his best to cultivate a calm, pure mind in hopes his body would follow.

"Haruka, are you all right?" He felt Masahiro's hand on his shoulder.

"Ma-" His voice cracked. Damn adolescence anyway. And now he couldn't stop thinking about things from one of those two books Father kept, the one that had nothing to do with the marital act, or with women at all.

"Ah."

Damn, Masahiro was gazing down at him-down there.

"Would you like to do something about that?" Masahiro was using that voice again, and it sent fire running through Haruka's body like a cupful of sake. "I'd like to, if you want it too. I like you very much, Haruka."

Haruka squeezed his eyes shut, realizing why he felt so awkward-and so aroused. His attraction to Masahiro had been at the edge of his thoughts for weeks, perhaps, but hadn't become clear to him until now.

"I...I like you very much also. And I want to do something about, ah,” he looked down and then quickly up at Masahiro's eager expression.“this..." he gestured. But what do we do? And how much does Masahiro know about such things?

"I know of two things we could do." Masahiro responded to his unasked question. "The one, ah, could be uncomfortable for one of us, and I'm not very sure how to do it. But we could touch each other."

Masahiro leaned closer, resting a hand on Haruka's thigh. Haruka gazed at him this time without embarrrasment: the hopeful smile on Masahiro's perfectly oval face, his broad shoulders and chest, and his firm thighs with an impressive erection jutting out between them.

"Yes," Haruka breathed.

Masahiro reached out and touched the back of his neck, raising the tiny hairs there and making Haruka shiver. His other hand slid across the top of Haruka's thigh and curled around his erection.

Haruka nearly bit through his lip.

Masahiro's hand pumped slowly at first, then sped up as Haruka rose slightly on his knees and thrust in response. The two of them leaned against each other, balancing awkwardly for the minute it took for Haruka to reach orgasm. Masahiro caught him in his arms as he nearly fell.

"Ahh, there." No one had held Haruka in years. This embrace in the aftermath of his first sexual pleasure with another person was unlike anything else, as thoroughly, warmly satisfying as a fire in midwinter.

"Masahiro." He put his arms about his friend-his lover?-and took a deep breath. "Now, your turn?"

"Yes; please. You can keep rubbing my back like that for a little while first; I like it." Masahiro smiled. "Your hands feel so good."

Haruka ran his hands up and down Masahiro's firm back, still slick from washing, then around Masahiro's hips and onto his thighs. He was fascinated with those thighs, nicely muscled and with fine dark hairs lightly scattered across warm skin.

Masahiro's breathing was as rapid as if he'd been running.

He seems more than ready, let me do what he just did....

It was so different from touching himself. He didn't receive any direct sensation but took a surprising amount of pleasure in feeling Masahiro's very hard organ in his hand, hearing his rough breathing, and catching the scent coming off his skin, a rich scent like that of a freshly-groomed horse.

Masahiro took a bit longer than Haruka had. He leaned in close, hands braced just above Haruka's knees for balance. Masahiro began thrusting uncontrollably.

"Yes," Haruka whispered. Then it happened, warmth spilling over Haruka's hand as Masahiro gasped, his head dropping onto Haruka's shoulder.

They were both pretty sticky now with semen and sweat. Haruka suggested they wash each other off, which led to another round of mutual pleasure. After that they agreed to each clean themselves. That was a wise choice, because they were still washing when they heard footsteps followed by the door opening.

"You've finished, I see." Grandfather said, eyes crinkling.

He seemed a little too amused to be referring only to the pond-dredging. How does he know? We'd washed it all off by the time he came in,hadn't we?

"And you have all the water buckets. Is there enough water left for me to wash up while you enjoy your bath?"

There wasn't, so Grandfather made Haruka run out wearing only a towel to get another bucketful.

The next morning at the start of lessons, Grandfather handed over both the erotic manuals.
"You'll want to know about all of this, for yourselves, your future wives, and possibly for assisting your parishioners." He grinned at their expressions. "Yes, people will come to you with questions about their private lives. Erotic skills can smooth over many marital troubles, especially if a couple hasn't been properly educated in that aspect of married life. Also, some people find themselves in situations that make certain positions difficult and others more desirable, such as a difference in size, fertility difficulties, or infirmities."

Haruka felt like squirming at the veiled reference to his own father. No wonder Father had kept the books-or had Grandfather already given him advice?

"As for this one," He held up the book Haruka desperately wanted to share with Masahiro, especially now, "some men find other men more appealing than women. Some women have the same sort of interest, but I have been unable to find a book for them, only a few instructions in books on varieties of erotic practices." Grandfather sighed. "Western morality has had an unfortunate influence over the last hundred years, and many people with such inclinations suffer from guilt."

"According to the teachings we follow and pass on-as your family does, Masahiro-kun-there is no sin in such activities, as long as one does one's duty to continue the family line, and does not create a scandal. Unfortunately, many other Buddhist sects, and many Shinto believers, are more in agreement with the Westerners." Grandfather made a face as if he'd just eaten sour tofu. "Over my lifetime, their influence is spreading. I want to ensure that you boys will do what you can to counteract such beliefs. Sexuality is to be enjoyed, as long as it does not involve adultery, an undesirable pregnancy, passing on a disease, or other harm or scandal. Even courtesans have their rightful place, as long as one is discreet and is careful not to pick up a disease. It is a way for women in difficult situations to make a comfortable living, and to provide satisfaction for unmarried men and widowers who have such a need." The corners of Grandfather's mouth turned up slightly.

I wonder if that explains some of Grandfather's evening "visits." Haruka carefully did not look at either Grandfather or Masahiro.

"What about widowed ladies?" Masahiro asked.

"They must be careful not to conceive a child. There are many ways to do that, and I shall teach both of you."

"There's a modern way," Haruka put in. "Shinobu's father keeps some of the items in the back of the store. They cover the male organ so the seed can't get into the woman's body."

"I am familiar with those items."

Damn. Grandfather knows everything.

Haruka and Masahiro excused themselves soon after dinner that night to study. As soon as they shut the door of Haruka's room, Masahiro brought out the book from his sleeve.

They skipped the introduction and moved directly to the illustration at the start of the first chapter. It showed all the sensitive spots on the male anatomy and described ways to stimulate them for pleasure.

"Riiight there," Masahiro murmured, drawing a fingertip down the back of Haruka's neck.

Haruka shivered. "You touched me there yesterday afternoon and it had the same effect. Did you know?"

"Of course, didn't you? Or did your father forbid you to read love poetry?"

"No, he's not that strict. But this book is much more educational than any poem. Where is the next location? Ah, there." He reached for Masahiro.

Haruka and Masahiro's time together at the Doumeki temple was approaching an end. They were both grateful they would have another year together, this time with Masahiro's family. One evening at dinner, Grandfather asked Masahiro what his grandfather would most like as a gift.

"A radio. He wants to learn about modern events. Also, my mother and brother are both fond of modern music, and we have heard the radio has many music programs."

"Most families have a radio these days," Mother commented.

"We don't." Haruka pointed out. He noticed Father looking at Mother, and then at Grandfather. Apparently that was a matter they had argued over privately.

"We have enough money from my work with the Americans to buy an excellent, sturdy radio, one that will survive the trip out to the shrine and be a suitable gift," Father said. "And we will still have enough left for a smaller radio for our home."

Grandfather cleared his throat. "And what about this winter's coal? And cooking fuel?"

Uncle Taki broke in. "I received my first installment of back pay from the Army this afternoon. More will be coming over the next several months."

Grandfather grumbled something about sons and modern ways, but Haruka could tell he didn't mind so much.

Other matters had to be arranged. Grandfather gave permission for Haruka to ride Nokori to the shrine, and to keep her there for a year. "I understand Kobayashi-san wishes you to learn yabusame, so you must have a horse. I can manage for a year without her, while you are up in the mountains learning and working. I trust you to bring honor to the Doumeki name in your learning and your conduct."

"I will, Grandfather."

"And enjoy yourself too, Haruka. I don't think that will be too difficult."

It wasn't. Kobayashi-ojiisan knew as much folklore as Grandfather-many of them stories Grandfather didn't know- and his storytelling, though different in style, was just as entertaining and enlightening. Both young men worked as hard as they had at the Doumeki temple, riding around the countryside to repair and maintain the small roadside shrines as well as helping at the main shrine. They played just as hard too-yabusame in the summer and fall, horseback riding and playing in the snow in the winter, as well as their activities at night in the small room they shared.

Too soon spring came round again and Haruka had to return home, alone. "I'll be back in the fall, on my way to the Buddhist monastery for my year there," he promised.

"And I'll visit when I come to the city," Masahiro smiled.

They parted regretfully, but knew that their duties would keep them from being together always. Their relationship gently faded into affectionate letters, kindled by occasional (and, when possible, passionate) meetings, and was a hidden yet valuable foundation for both men as they began their adult lives.

All following parts can be found at ekaterin24's journal here.