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o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
o  	This part of my collection offers a very wide variety of  o
o  stories. They have been submitted by people from all over the  o
o  world.  Also from alt.sex.stories (Newsgroups). There is no    o
o  particular order other than offering them to you in  alpha-    o
o  betical directories.                                           o
o   	Lest we forget!!!  This story was produced as adult en-   o
o tertainment and should not be read by minors.  Kristen Becker   o
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Journey to the East - Part 1 [MF, Mf, asian]
by Richard Rivers (r_rivers@cryogen.com)
(c) 1997

*

This story contains graphic descriptions of sex and should not 
be read by anyone under 18, or anyone offended by such 
material.  Blah Blah Blah...

The story is divided into seven parts, of which this is the first, 
describing a week-long stay in Japan.  Readers only interested 
in graphic descriptions of sex acts should probably wait for 
some of the later parts, or better yet, skip this story entirely.

The author does not mind constructive comments.  I suppose: 
"This is a piece of crap!" is constructive on some level, but 
what I have in mind would be more along the lines of 
technical pointers or anything that might help future offerings 
attain a higher level of craft.  Of course compliments are 
always welcome: for some reason my posts never show up on 
my own server and my stories don't all seem to get reviewed, 
so it is nice to know if anybody at all reads any of this.

Richard Rivers
12/97


A JOURNEY TO THE EAST


Day 1, Sunday:

Mr Ogawa gave me a pointed look.  "The father a great 
cellist, the son a programmer.  How can such a thing come to 
pass, Mr Sato?" he said.  Without waiting for my reply: "Only 
in America I suppose,"  he sighed.  "Forgive me this harsh 
assessment of your country Mr Sato, but to me that 
demonstrates clearly what is wrong with America: you take 
something of beauty, of spiritual value even, and within a 
generation you transform it into something eminently 
practical, utilitarian, but lifeless, spiritually dead.  Your 
values have been turned on their heads."

His words stung.  My father the well-known cellist emigrated 
to America before I was born.  He devoted himself to the 
pursuit of beauty in his music and the arts.  The 
contemplation of beauty is what drove him he told me many 
times as I was growing up, and I had broken his heart by 
never showing interest in music or any other art form.  
Secretly, I think he regarded me as his one great failure.

Mr Ogawa sensed my discomfort:  "Of course you must 
realize my observations are colored by envy," he added 
somewhat apologetically.  "You Americans have come to 
dominate the world with those values.  Perhaps all this is a 
waste after all."  He waved his arm at the window 
overlooking his elaborate estate.  "My retreat here in the 
mountains serves me well, spiritually, but it makes no money.  
In America this would probably be a bed and breakfast hotel."

"Mr Ogawa," I said.  "I would like to go over some of the 
details, some of the specifics of my work here..."

"Please, Mr Sato,"  he interrupted.  "I know you must have 
questions about your work, but you have only just arrived 
from America.  Your mind cannot be fresh, and besides, 
when I am on retreat I try not to involve myself in the day to 
day workings of my business.  You will be working with my 
personal assistant; she will report your progress to me."

As if on cue a light knocking sounded at the door. Mr Ogawa 
rose to open it.    

"Mr Sato, I would like you to meet my personal assistant, 
Megumi Yoshino."

"I am honored Miss Yoshino,"  I said, rising to my feet.  

"The honor is mine, Mr Sato," she answered, bowing 
gracefully.  Her accent was slightly British: Oxford or 
Cambridge I thought, the range a mellow reedy contralto, 
surprisingly full for the delicacy of her tall slender body.  Like 
Mr Ogawa she dressed in a traditional manner, a simple linen 
robe tied at the waist with a belt.  Her long hair hung about 
her shoulders.

She stepped forward and put her soft cool hand in mine and 
squeezed.  "Come with me," she said.  "You must be tired 
from the long trip.  I will show you to your room.  You should 
rest now."

We took our leave of Mr Ogawa and she led me away, 
walking before me down a narrow hallway which  turned 
many times. Gathering the robe in front of her with one hand 
she pulled the fabric tightly around her hips, the outlines of 
her thighs appearing and disappearing with each step she 
took.

The gentle rhythm of her slippers and the soft rustle of her 
robe made me think of sleep, how exhausted I was.  Yesterday 
the twelve hour flight from San Francisco, and today five 
hours in a car driving to the mountain retreat had finally 
overwhelmed me.  When we stopped in front of the final door 
Megumi put a hand on my shoulder steadying me.

"You are tired Mr Sato," she said almost in a whisper.  "Go 
inside. Rest."

***

When I awoke late in the afternoon I realized that I had not 
even said good-bye; I had simply thrown myself down, falling 
immediately into a deep sleep.  Now I made an inspection of 
my small room.  A futon mattress with a low table next to it 
and a small writing desk were the only furnishings; the floor 
was covered with tatami mats.  Through a door there was a 
tiny but modern bathroom, and next to it a closet.  The room 
made me think of a monk's cell: a place for meditation or 
quiet relaxation, not a lot of diversions to trouble the mind 
here, yet it was cozy and comfortable.  I knew my stay here 
would be relaxing and peaceful.

On the writing desk I discovered a note from Megumi written 
in a beautiful feminine script.  She informed me that she 
would be in the garden that afternoon and would look forward 
to meeting me.  In the closet I would find clothing I could 
wear during my stay: Mr Ogawa, while not requiring it of 
guests, chose to dress in a more traditional manner when he 
was at his estate and it would please him if I did the same.

I showered and changed in to the simple black robe.  At first 
it felt silly to put on, as if I were preparing for a costume 
drama or a martial arts class, but it was so comfortable that I 
soon felt completely at ease.  With some difficulty I retraced 
my way out of the house and found the garden.

The estate of Mr Ogawa lay in a tiny valley high in the 
mountains surrounded by dense forest. The  ingeniously 
designed garden took advantage of a natural stream and 
several ponds that collected water in the few flat spots, and 
lush, fragrant plants filled it; groves of bamboo and ginkgo 
trees shaded the winding paths which traversed it, crossing 
stone bridges, leading to hidden alcoves or small wooden 
pavilions.

I set off at random, not sure where I might encounter 
Megumi.  My pace was leisurely.  The spring air felt soft and 
warm on my skin and the swaying plants sent wafts of their 
fragrance to me.  I had soon lost myself deep in the maze of 
the garden, and as I stopped to get my bearings I noticed a 
beautiful rose bush by the side of the path.  Its single large 
bloom caught my eye.  Kneeling, I brought my face close to 
inhale its fragrance; the scent brought with it a memory from 
my childhood.

It was the summer after my mother had died; I must have 
been five or six years old at the time.  My father kept a 
beautiful garden behind our house.  During my mother's long 
illness and after her death he lavished so much of his 
attention there, pouring out all the love he could no longer 
give to his wife.  Playing alone one day I happened upon his 
most prized rose bush.  Drawn by the beauty of the flowers 
my young fingers sought out the largest one and plucked it.  
As I held it to my face, staring into its depths, curiosity 
overcame me: what lay at the center?  From what hidden 
source could so much beauty spring, I wondered?  Probing, 
my fingers parted the delicate petals, warm and moist with 
the morning's dew.  Deeper and deeper I delved into the heart 
of the blossom, parting the smaller and smaller petals within.   
It was then that I became aware of my father standing some 
distance behind me, watching.  My instincts told me to run: 
he would surely be angry!  But something bade me stop, his 
face bore a look of such sadness. I felt I dare not move; I dare 
not say a word.  I silently stood holding the ruined blossom in 
my hand as he approached me.

"Kenji, no," he said softly, using my Japanese name.  Any 
other time I was simply Ken.  When my mother had died he 
had addressed me as Kenji and I had known right away, 
before he had said another word, that she had gone.

"I'm sorry Papa."  I was crying.  

He squatted next to me and put his arm across my shoulders.  
"Don't cry, my little Kenji," he said.

"I'm sorry Papa," I wailed, "but it was so beautiful, I couldn't 
help it."

"I know."  His voice was soft and soothing.  "I know it was.  
Some beauty must not be touched Kenji.  Some beautiful 
things are not for us, not for this world; when we touch them 
we destroy them.  Such objects you must enjoy from afar, hold 
them in your mind only, not your hands; their beauty is too 
delicate, too fragile to endure."

A shadow fell.  Megumi came close and knelt beside me, the 
perfume of her body mingling with that of the rose.  "It is 
beautiful," she said gently touching the sleeve of my robe.

"Yes," I answered in a whisper, still half lost in memory.

"Come, let us sit and talk."  She guided me to my feet.

She had changed into a pink robe made of fine silk that clung 
to her, sliding over her as she moved, revealing briefly the 
form of her body beneath, elusive, as the shapes fleetingly 
seen or imagined in the gently roiling eddies and waves of a 
river; the soft fullness of her hips; the graceful curve at the 
small of her back.  She lead me deeper into the garden until 
we reached a small pavilion overlooking one of the ponds.

"Since you will be with us for two weeks I thought I should 
tell you a few things about Mr Ogawa and this estate," she 
said as we sat down.  "He is not your typical businessman as 
you may have noticed; he is very interested in matters of 
aesthetics, the arts and culture.  To him all his money and 
power are but means to a higher end.  Twice a year he brings 
his wife and daughter here to the mountains to live for a 
month in relative isolation.  Only a few staff members such as 
myself accompany him during these times.  For him it is not a 
vacation; he views this time as essential to his physical and 
spiritual well being.  He returns to a simple way of life, 
dressing in a traditional manner and living according to the 
ancient ways."  She touched the sleeve of her robe.  "We don't 
normally dress this way," she laughed. "Only when we are 
here."    

"You are lucky," she went on.  "Not many outsiders have 
come here to stay as you are.  It is only the pressing nature of 
this project that has made him relent.  Still, you may not see 
much of him; he keeps an office in the guest house but he 
rarely comes there.  The ancestral family home is located on 
the other side of this garden, and he spends most of his time 
there in meditation and study.  You may meet him, or his 
wife and daughter walking here in the garden from time to 
time if you come each day."  

She turned towards me more fully. "Take full advantage of 
this opportunity, Mr Sato.  You have much work to do, but 
there are many hours in the day.  Use the time to your benefit, 
as I do;  I look on this time as very special and use it for my 
own rejuvenation, in my own way."  She took a deep breath 
and closed her eyes, as if lost in thought.

"How long have you worked for Mr Ogawa?" I asked.

"Four years," she answered.  "I know," she laughed at my 
expression of surprise.  "I'm only twenty eight.  I was 
studying economics in Britain when we met at a party thrown 
by the Japanese ambassador.  Mr Ogawa went home and 
made some very thorough investigations of me, my family, 
everything, before making a most generous offer of 
employment.  He has taught me many things these past five 
years, made me very happy."  Her eyes fell: she clearly felt 
embarrassed.

I wondered about Megumi and Mr Ogawa: surely there had to 
be more to it than that.  A wealthy man such as he would not 
simply meet a young student at a party and immediately hire 
her as his assistant.  Even if he wanted her as his mistress he 
could arrange that in some other way.  Yet she was beautiful, 
I thought, maybe too beautiful for him to resist, and he was a 
wealthy enough man to have anything, anyone he wanted, 
any way he wanted it without bowing to the opinions of 
others.  Still, doubts crowded my thoughts.  She must surely 
endure the assumption that her worth to Mr Ogawa was 
something other than what it seemed.  The scorn of those who 
dismissed her as using sex to achieve her position must have 
stung her many tomes before.  She must know exactly what is 
going through my mind, I thought.  She is blushing because 
of what she knows I am thinking.  I became embarrassed 
myself:  To have condemned so quickly someone who had 
only shown me kindness made me feel ashamed.

We sat in silence for a long time looking out over the pond.  
"Come," she said, "I will take you to my favorite place,"  and 
she lead me along the winding paths until we reached a large 
pond.  Across the center an ancient stone bridge stretched, 
arcing with perfect symmetry, reflected in the water.  
Climbing the rough stones we stopped in the center of the 
span.

"Stop here," she whispered.  Afternoon was just giving way to 
evening: the hour when the light begins to soften bringing out 
the richness and contrast of colors, when all the senses are at 
their most heightened, the body poised and ready, as in 
ancient times when the coming of the night meant the arrival 
of the unknown, the mysterious dark.  "This is the center, the 
heart of garden."  Her voice had almost disappeared.  "Stand 
still.  Let your senses open, experience the beauty of this 
place."

We stood close, side by side.  "Close your eyes," she said.  
"Breath in deeply, fill yourself."  

I breathed deeply, eyes open wide trying to fill my senses with 
the beauty of the place, but mostly with her beauty;  as I 
gazed on Megumi's body an aching desire welled up within 
me.

***
Fin, Part 1of 7  

Richard Rivers
12/97