My extreme thanks to Daxemon for the information on New York City. Luv ya!

Notes:
[1] Amerika e youkoso – Welcome to America.
[2] yoroshiku onegai shi masu The Japanese equivalent of 'nice to meet you', only a bit more formal.

Original characters:
Katie, a young orphaned girl
Freddie and Carlos, owners of the Serenity Club
Fusao Morigiwa, Ryo's Japanese cousin
The rest belong to Sanami Matoh. Thank you so very much!

#=#=#=#=#

Family Ties

Ryo gave a quick knock on the door while calling out "we're here" as they entered. Bikky and Carol sprang up from the sofa and ran toward the two men. When they had come within two feet of Fusao they stopped. Carol nodded to Bikky, and in unison they bowed and spoke, "Amerika e youkoso" [1]

Fusao broke into a wide grin, and with an equally respectful bow, he introduced himself to the people now standing in front of him. "I am Morigiwa Fusao. Yoroshiku onegai shi masu[2]. Please take care of me – I think those are the accurate American translations."

Ryo then called Fusao over to introduce his aunt and uncle. "Fusao, these are the only other MacLeans on this side of the Atlantic that are worth knowing, my Aunt Elena and her husband Rick. He's an honorary MacLean. They have been just as anxious to meet you as I have. Aunt Elena, Uncle Rick, this is my cousin who opened the link with my Japanese family. Without him I don't know how we would have communicated."

After the hugs and hand shaking were taken care of, Fusao offered the large bag of goodies to Ryo, explaining that all were gifts for him and his family. The tote contained all sorts of Japanese delicacies and treats: one never visits empty-handed – it is an unpardonable insult. After sampling one of each treat in the bag with varied reactions, the kids peppered Fusao with questions – everything from what he ate for breakfast to what kind of shows were on television in Japan. The adults stepped in to calm them down and give poor Fusao time to collect his thoughts when they got a bit too zealous or started asking questions they felt were best unasked.

In between conversations they managed to take many pictures, alternating who handled the cameras so everyone would have copies of the best poses. It was amazing that no one was blinded by the amount of flash used. Most of the shots were serious, but several caught even the adults acting childish.

At the same time, Ryo had been busy putting the finishing touches on a special dinner for the family. He had originally planned to do a traditional Japanese meal, but after some thought he decided that a typical American meal would be more appreciated. The one he decided on took little effort in the kitchen, since it was mostly cooked in the oven. Luckily the temperatures had been cool lately, so putting the oven on was no problem.

Beef is a very expensive item in Japan and rarely bought, so he had selected a prime rib roast for the main course. He cooked it to medium well done, and made baked potatoes to go with it. For the side vegetable he prepared honey glazed dill carrots, and of course the fresh green salad, the bane of Bikky's life, was included. All in all it was an easy to make, fast cleanup meal.

Fusao was impressed with the dinner, even to uttering "Itadakimasu" (I humbly receive) before the meal and "Gochisousama" (Thank you for the great meal), and remarking that he hadn't eaten so much in a very long time. He complimented Ryo on his culinary skill, embarrassed to admit that he was only adept at making cup ramen noodles. The conversation then turned to foods of each country, and how things differed. After listening to the conversation for a while, Bikky stated that he was glad that he was in America – Japanese people ate too many vegetables.

Aunt Elena and Uncle Rick had to leave right after dinner; they had squeezed the visit in between previous appointments, and they had to travel back home, a three hour train ride. They expressed their delight at having met such a charming cousin, and hoped that they could possibly meet again, possibly in Japan.

After helping them clean up the dinner dishes, Ryo gave the kids some money for a movie. He explained that he wanted some time to get to know Fusao too. Email friends are one thing, but to have them sitting in front of you brings the fact that they are actually real people to the forefront.

Once the kids had left, Ryo moved to stand by Fusao. "I apologize for their over-exuberance Fusao, but I did warn you that they had unlimited energy. Would you like another cup of tea? Dee, coffee?"

Both men nodded agreement and Ryo went to the kitchen to get the refreshments. Fusao and Dee were seated on the sofa, deep in conversation when he returned with the tray. He had added some fresh shortbread that Dee purchased earlier at the local bakery. When he returned he heard Dee explaining that they would go to visit Mother Lane tomorrow. Saturdays were a very busy day for her with the children. After placing the tray on the coffee table, Ryo picked up his cup and settled in the armchair to Dee's right.

Fusao took his cup and thanked Ryo. After taking a sip he placed the cup on the table and took two packages that he had earlier removed from his tote bag and offered one to both Ryo and Dee. Seeing the packages, Ryo quickly left his seat, declaring that he would be right back.

By the time he returned Dee had already opened his gift – a detailed wooden carving of a Samurai Warrior. Fusao was explaining that he felt it was the most appropriate gift he could offer to a man who battled everyday for the citizens who employ him. Ryo thought that he saw a hint of a blush on Dee's face as he thanked Fusao.

Ryo viewed the statue with the knowledge of one who deals with such finery. It was a beautifully done object d'art, finely crafted and looking to be a 'one of a kind' item even though he knew it wasn't. "That is excellent craftsmanship Fusao – and very appropriate for Dee. It even looks a bit like him, don't you think? The set shoulders, the furrowed brow, the air of a temperamental attitude..."

With the last comment both Dee and Fusao realized that Ryo was kidding around, but that didn't stop Dee from complaining about unfair comparisons. Still chuckling to himself Ryo seated himself again and picked up the package that Fusao had handed him earlier, and at the same time offered the package he had retrieved from his bedroom. "Here is something we picked up for you. After discussing the places you wanted to go while in the city, this struck me as something you would really appreciate and Dee agreed." They had thought of New York City mementos, but most of them were made in either Japan or China, definitely not something they wanted to give Fusao as a reminder of his visit.

Ryo's gift was a bit different than Dee's. Upon opening the box Ryo gave a quick gasp: Fusao had gotten him a beautiful crystal paperweight. It was a fitting gift on its own, but encased in the crystal was his mother's family crest. Ryo carefully extracted to paperweight to examine it in more detail. A whispered "oh my" escaped his lips.

Fusao smiled at Ryo. "I think you like it? I had it made for you specially."

"Yes, very much so. Thank you. I will keep this on my desk here at home, so I can see it while I visit the family online."

It was now Fusao's turn to open his gift. As he started to unwrap the first package he let out a happy sound. "You remembered! Oh, I shall read this on the way back home. Ah, there are more..." Fusao rapidly undid the remaining two books, doing a quick perusal of the contents.

What Ryo had gotten him were several books pertaining to the Guggenheim Museum. One dealt with the structure, the last major work of Frank Lloyd Wright, while the other two were different publications on the contents of the museum. Over the past year Fusao had expressed interest several times in wanting to visit the museum.

"And I see that you like your gift too. We'll be visiting there on Tuesday, before we go to the theatre. They are fairly close together, making it feasible to do both in one day, though we'll probably be a little tired the next day."

The smile that graced Fusao's face was like a child that had gotten his wish. "We will visit the Guggenheim? I am very happy. Thank you Ryo. And you too, Dee." Fusao turned toward Dee and asked, "Are you going to the museum with us?"

Dee shook his head. "No, I have some long overdue repairs at the orphanage, but I will join you for dinner after the show. You just enjoy your time with Ryo – that will make me happy."

Fusao demeanor turned serious. "I would have known." Seeing that neither Ryo nor Dee understood what he meant, he continued. "I knew that you were a pair by watching you the last hours. You resemble my friends at home. You are comfort, ah, no – comfortable, with each other. One makes the other happy. I am glad." Lowering his head and glancing up at Ryo he asked, "How long have you been a pair, if I may be so rude to ask?"

Ryo shifted slightly in his seat, leaning a bit more forward. He smiled gently at Fusao. "You are not being rude, Fusao, and we don't mind answering. Dee and I have been together seriously for over two years now."

Fusao seemed to relax a bit seeing Ryo took no offence to his question. "You have several states that allow unions between gays, yes?" He wanted to ask why they hadn't taken advantage of this, but decided that the question was much too personal to be brought up. They probably had their reasons. "In Japan, all that can be done is adopt a partner, make them part of your family registry. But all is still hidden – no one is accepted. My friends are unhappy with this, but can do nothing. I feel bad for them. They want to be happy but have no permission. And the government sees no reason to give them permission."

Ryo knew that his cousin was very much in sympathy with his gay friends. "You expressed interest in visiting Greenwich Village. But I think you are most interested in seeing the gay lifestyle here, aren't you? You sincerely want to learn, but don't know how to ask, am I correct?"

Fusao nodded slightly. "When you admitted to being gay I was happy. It made it easy to ask questions. Gays in this country seem to have such a bad situation. But this I do not believe when I see what you have here in the city. And after meeting the two of you it is even less believable. I would like to, ah, ..." Fusao looked as if he were stumbling for words.

Dee felt he knew what Fusao wanted to ask. "You want to see the Village from a gay viewpoint, don't you?" Fusao nodded. "We have a favorite club we go to called Serenity that is very low key. They have great food and music, and you will get a better view of the reality of gay living here in New York. You'll see that we aren't all that different from you. We are like your friends and just want a little happiness in our lives."

Fusao grinned from ear to ear. "Yes, I would very much like to see this club, if you can take me. Will they allow me to enter?"

Both Ryo and Dee laughed. "They don't check you at the door to make sure you are gay. You will be quite welcome, right Ryo? They didn't question you the first time you went there. Why would you ask such a question?"

Fusao got a very serious look on his face. "In Japan it is very restrictive in entering a gay club. You must know what sex is in the club, what type of person, what the particular, ah, desires I think is the word that you seek. This is the normal for the clubs. Some even post signs that forbid foreigners entrance."

Ryo and Dee were surprised by this statement and Ryo answered, "That's not the way it is here. While there are private clubs, you will find that the on the average, the gay community is more accepting than most heterosexual groups. The club we go to is there for people to enjoy themselves, nothing more, nothing less. While the majority of the patrons are gay, not all the patrons are. Quite often gay couples come in with their straight friends. No one thinks anything of it at all."

Dee added his comments to the conversation. "There are a few places that do cater to special tastes, but they tend to be a smaller portion of the clubs out there. Usually if it is for a specific 'kink', the club will be private, with membership being a requirement for entry. And these types are usually hidden in some obscure location that isn't found easily by anyone who is not a member."

Fusao looked surprised at that statement. He shook his head and spoke rhetorically, "So you must know someone to get in the specialty clubs? Amazing."

"We'll arrange a walking tour through the Village that will give you the best view of the different sides of gay life here in New York. We do have some flamboyant specimens here. And we've had to arrest a few of them for being a bit too risqué, right Dee?"

Dee shook his head and laughed. "Then it is settled. We'll have dinner at the club after a walking tour of the area. I'll see if Carlos will hold a table for us that night. I'll just tell him we have a foreign visitor that wants to see the better side of New York."

They continued to talk until nearly 10PM, when the kids returned from the movies. Ryo knew he had to take Fusao back soon since he had an appointment with the hosting company at 10AM. After everyone made their goodbyes the two left for the hotel.

Once in the car Fusao leaned back, resting his head on the back of the seat. "You have an honorable family, and you are a remarkable person. I am very happy that I was able to meet with you during this visit."

Ryo clicked his seatbelt in place. "I'm glad that we were able to meet too. You have been very helpful to me as an intermediary with the family. You were the only one that could speak English and get my words to the family. I had no idea of what to do if I hadn't found someone that spoke English. I'd even thought of travelling to Japan and finding a local translator, but with my job it's difficult to take off for one or two weeks. We're on call most of the time. Even now I would have to go if they called."

"I can see that in a city this size there is much happening at all the time. And with your job there is always something to be busy about. It is a city that never sleeps, correct?"

Ryo chuckled, amused by the slight variance in English usage. It had become an endearing trait that he looked forward to in the emails. Fusao tried very hard to get everything perfect, and as far as Ryo was concerned, he was doing a very good job despite an occasional slip. "Yes, that is one of its other names. But sometimes it does take a nap."

Ryo dropped him off in front of the hotel, reminding him that he would pick him up tomorrow afternoon to go visit Mother Lane. Fusao nodded, thanked Ryo for the excellent meal and entertainment, bowing to Ryo before disappearing into the hotel lobby.

Fusao's schedule was quite full right now: on Monday they planned for some serious New York sightseeing and possibly a little shopping. Tuesday they would be visiting the Guggenheim Museum in the afternoon and then attending the Broadway production of Grease at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre that evening. Wednesday they would be touring the Village and going to the club later on that night. On Thursday Fusao was taking a late flight out, but he did have a scheduled meeting with the company that hosted his visit that afternoon.

After returning home Ryo showered and headed for bed. Dee was waiting for him in the bedroom. He had the lamp on the night stand lit and was reading his latest American Iron magazine. Ryo laughed. "How many times are you going to read that article? You should have it memorized already."

Dee feigned insult. "It's not often they do an article on a biker I know. I just think it's great that they did this."

Ryo smiled. "So, constantly having your nose stuck in that magazine has nothing to do with the fact that he mentions by name that one of his riding buddies is a NY cop?"

Dee looked quickly at Ryo, then back to the book. "Nope, not a bit." Hmmm, it seems like Ryo read through the magazine too.

Ryo sat on the bed and took the magazine from Dee, placing it on the night stand. "So how'd you like my cousin? He said he was thrilled to met you, and happy that you could take time off just for him. He's really a very interesting person, and a lot less Japanese than I expected."

Dee agreed. "He's a down-to-earth fellow. A bit more modern than I expected, but I think we here in America have a confused view of Japan. We're kinda stuck with the pre-war image – kimonos and geta shoes and all that stuff – or the outlandish visual kei look. Only the elderly seem to keep that traditional dress on a daily basis anymore."

"Yeah, that's why at first it surprised me when he wanted to see Grease. I think they're stuck in the 50's with their image of us! They seem to really enjoy that rock and roll. And remind me to thank Rose for arranging those tickets for me. There was no way I could have found them at this late date."

Dee suddenly looked irritated. "Just buy him a bottle of something expensive and say it's from Fusao, otherwise he'll be wanting to thank you for the thank you gift, and we know how he would like to thank you."

"Stop being so cynical. He'll understand it's a sincere response for helping me."

"Yeah, and then he'll want to be helping himself to you."

Ryo decided to ignore Dee's comment; he was in too good a mood to allow it to be ruined by something so trivial. After a few moments pause Ryo asked, "Are you sure that you don't mind that it's just Fusao and I going to the theatre?"

Dee raised an eyebrow, seriously considering what Ryo had asked. "Eh? No way – I told you several times before that I didn't want to go. I'm not much for Broadway at all. And anyway, he's here to visit you, his cousin, not me. You need to spend the time with him. He's travelled a long way to finally meet you. And he's done a lot for you in terms of reuniting the Japanese side of your family." Smiling, Dee reached out and touched Ryo's hand. "Just go and enjoy yourselves - I'll meet you for dinner after the show. I have enough in odd jobs to keep me busy at the orphanage for days, so it kinda works out for the best for both of us."

Ryo smiled warmly at Dee. He knew that Dee meant what he said, and that he truly wanted Ryo to spend the time alone with Fusao. At times Dee could be ever so charming and considerate.When he's like this I can understand why I love this man. Quickly bringing his thoughts back to the present he barked an order to Dee. "Move over, you're hogging the middle of the bed. I've got to sleep here too, you know."

Dee pulled back the covers as he moved over to what had now become his side of the bed when he stayed overnight. "Then come here babe, I need a kiss, among other things. I've been a good boy all day and haven't molested you at all. And anyway, who says you're going to get any sleep tonight?"

Ryo looked at Dee. The man was radiating sex. How could he resist, how had he resisted those first years? "You aren't the only one that wants a kiss." Ryo turned off the bedside lamp and silently slid under the covers.

As he finally positioned himself in the bed, Dee moved closer, wrapping his arms around his lover. "I've been waiting for you to get back. It gets lonesome here in this big bed," Dee purred into his ear. "Is a kiss all you want? I can think of a few other things to give you..." Without waiting for a reply he pulled Ryo into a very deep kiss.

Dee broke the kiss first, his lips travelling across Ryo's cheek to his neck, then down to that delicious spot above the collarbone. With each kiss Ryo pressed his body closer, wanting to receive more of the exquisite pleasure that Dee was lavishing on his body. Ryo's fingers dug into Dee's back, trying to pull him closer.

"Someone is ready? What if I do this?" and Dee slid his hand down Ryo's stomach to his groin. After teasing Ryo with his fingertips for a few minutes, he took hold of Ryo's erection and squeezed.

Ryo moaned, pressing his manhood into Dee hand. "Please," he whispered. "Now," was all he said, and the evening's pleasures began.

#=#=#=#=#

When Ryo awoke Dee was already up, a rarity for Dee. Just as Ryo was swinging his legs out of the bed, Dee peered around the partially open door.

"Ah, good, you're finally up. Did I wear you out last night? Maybe we did it once too often? A little too rough?" The smirk on Dee's face brought out conflicting emotions in Ryo. On one hand he wanted to smack that look right off Dee's face – he didn't need a running account of the events of the night before, but on the other hand, those memories were bringing a smile to his face.

Ryo stifled a laugh and steeled his face to look annoyed. "Well, if you're up so early, have you made breakfast? It would be nice for a change if I didn't have to make it."

The look on Dee's face reflected that he hadn't. He cautiously asked, "Will coffee do? I can make you some toast..."

He half-heartedly glared at Dee. "Never mind, I can get something myself." He probably hasn't eaten yet either, by the look of it. He came in here looking to see if I was awake yet so I could make breakfast. He's lucky that I love him, otherwise I'd let him starve. "Let me get a quick shower and I'll fix something." A quick glance showed a very relieved look on Dee's face

As he exited the bathroom Ryo could smell coffee brewing and what seemed to be bacon. Quickly pulling on some clean sweat pants and a t-shirt he went directly to the kitchen. Standing in front of the stove was Dee with his concentration split between the pan with the eggs and the frying pan in front of him. The toast had popped up from the toaster, and the eggs seemed to be in need of attention. Shaking his head in amusement he entered the kitchen.

"Here, let me do that, you take care of those eggs before they burn." As he took the frying pan away from Dee he gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You never cease to amaze me. Oh, where's Bikky?"

"He got up when I did and left muttering something about basketball practice. I told him to meet us at the orphanage around 6 o'clock. He also said we were perverts, again, and interrupted his beauty sleep."

Ryo blushed uncontrollably. He hated it when he knew that Bikky had heard them. Even though Bikky was getting older, at times Ryo still thought of him as a 10 year old. And he usually tried to keep quiet, but last night... well, last night Dee pushed all the right buttons and caution was thrown to the wind: it was an encounter to remember.

As Ryo was taking the breakfast dishes to the sink he reminded Dee that he was picking up Fusao around 2 PM, and that they would meet at the orphanage.

Dee was going to leave early for the orphanage. A few of the repairs that needed to be done were best done without the children around. Mother will be taking them to mass this morning, which would give him time to make the necessary repairs. He embraced Ryo for a kiss before leaving, but being Dee decided to try for a quick feel. Ryo quickly thwarted the feeble attempt by Dee to start something and pushed him out the door. As much as he would like to, this was not the time to spend the day in bed.

Mother Lane welcomed Fusao to the orphanage, as well as a select group of children. The school age children had been told of the visit by Uncle Ryo's cousin from Japan, and the younger ones had put together a presentation to entertain him. Fusao applauded loudly once their show ended, and they all went to the dining room for refreshments the children had prepared.

Several of the children went to talk to Fusao, asking all sorts of odd, and sometimes slightly embarrassing, questions. He tried to answer them all in the best way he could. Many wanted to hear him speak in this alien language of his, others just wanted to touch his face and hair. When things had started to settle down, one little girl stood in front of him, staring straight into his eyes. He was about to ask if she needed something when she moved closer and touched his cheek.

"You have eyes like Uncle Ryo. They are very pretty." At that, she turned and walked away.

Ryo had seen what took place and walked over to Fusao. "Her name is Katie. She's very special to me. When she came here she showed signs of physical abuse, there was evidence of past broken bones, and she was suffering from malnutrition. Her mental facilities are slightly hampered because of it. Her mother left her with a neighbor and never came back. I think if she had come back for her, Katie would be dead by now. Thankfully the neighbor turned her in to Social Services, and in turn she was placed here. She was very withdrawn but she's slowly opening up to others."

"You never put information about the children from the orphanage when you post their pictures, now I see why. Are there more like her living here?"

Ryo shook his head. "Sadly, yes. But Mother Lane has done wonders with them. No one seems to want to adopt children with deficiencies or problems, but Mother makes sure that all her charges feel loved. Just ask Dee, he can tell you stories. Ah, right on time; here comes Dee now."

Dee had just finished taking a shower; he had been painting one of the rooms upstairs and he needed to clean up before greeting Fusao. Ryo told him about Katie, and that maybe Fusao would like to hear some stories about Mother. Dee's eyes lit up – if nothing else, he liked to tell others just how loved Mother was, both by him and by those that called the orphanage home.

It was 9 o'clock by the time they got back to Ryo's apartment. He had dropped Dee at his apartment right after he took Fusao to his hotel. Tomorrow was a school day so that meant getting Bikky off to bed by 10. Ryo decided that he'd give the email a quick look then he'd head for bed too. Tomorrow he had promised Fusao to take him shopping, and he'd need all his energy for that. Those daytime shoppers can be quite a bother at times.

#=#=#=#=#

The next two days Ryo spent with Fusao. The sightseeing and shopping trip was very successful, so successful that Ryo doubted he could fit everything in his suitcase. The trip to the Guggenheim was the best thing that Ryo could have planned. Knowing that Fusao dreamed of seeing it in person, he happily watched as Fusao explored the museum like a small child, excited with each new scene the next room held. And his excitement continued when they went to the theatre. Commissioner Rose had gotten Ryo some of the best seats possible, and Fusao was enchanted. Dinner afterwards was non-stop chatter from Fusao, letting Dee know what they had seen and done over the course of the day.

After dropping Fusao off, Ryo asked Dee if he wanted to stay over; he said he was in need of a massage after two days of walking, and another one planned for tomorrow. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, all he could say was 'yes'. But something in the eyes said that Ryo should have defined massage.

#=#=#=#=#

The three men had spent most of the day visiting the various areas in Manhattan that were gay-centric. Greenwich Village had come a long way from its hippy days. Now Chelsea was an upper class area, populated by the more established couples. Further south was SOHO, which was home to the younger crowd. The shops and clubs they found here were more exuberant and lively. They ended their tour by moving into lower Manhattan. Serenity was located just off Christopher Street, toward Sheridan Square.

It was already dark out when they entered the club. They left their jackets in the coat room and proceeded to the main area of the club. The band wouldn't appear until 10PM, so there were fewer people here at the moment. Once it got to 9 o'clock it would be close to full. Dee waved to the bartender, who in turn motioned toward a booth to their left. Moving to the table they spotted the RESERVED sign. Carlos and Freddie rarely reserved tables; both Ryo and Dee felt quite honored to be a recipient of their kindness.

They had just settled into the seats when Freddie arrived. "Ah, this is your cousin Fusao Morigiwa from Japan? Welcome to Serenity, sir. I hope you enjoy the evening. You are in very good company."

Fusao smiled and replied, "Yes, these are two very dear friends. They have guided me through New York City for the past few days. They have made me feel very welcome here."

Dee told Fusao that Freddie and the bartender Carlos were co-owners of the club. Dee had been coming here for years, even before he met Ryo. "Right Freddie? We go back a long way."

Freddie smiled and agreed. He then asked what they wanted to drink. They all decided on beer; none of them really wanted to get drunk that evening. Before going to get the pitcher of beer, Freddie dropped several menus on the table. Fusao looked at the menu, definitely confused and undecided as to what to order. Ryo suggested the daily special, stating that's what they usually did when they had dinner here. The special today was roast pork, sweet potatoes, and green beans.

When Freddie returned with the pitcher and glasses they gave him their orders. He said it would be about 20 minutes before the orders were ready, but that was fine – they weren't in any hurry.

"So how did you like your tour of the Village?" asked Dee as he reached for the pitcher. He had been watching Fusao and his reactions as they walked through each area.

Fusao literally snatched the pitcher from Dee. "Friends serve friends when drinking," and proceeded to fill both Dee's and Ryo's glass. Gathering the gist of what Fusao did, Ryo then took the pitcher and filled Fusao's glass.

Getting back to the question that he had been asked, Fusao replied brightly, "It was very enlightening. There are many businesses here that are run by gay people. And not just shops; there are hotels too. It is very open here. There is so much to see. The park with the statues was amazing. Do they ever have difficulty with others that try to intrude?"

"There have been some instances of trouble, but nothing major recently." Dee seemed to be thinking of past events. "New York seems to have accepted that we exist, and we won't disappear just by hating us."

"But there still are those that harbor ill will toward any one of our persuasion," Ryo added. "Usually they work alone, or with one or two buddies, but as Dee said, nothing major lately."

Sensing that both Ryo and Dee would and could talk openly here, Fusao decided to ask questions. "How do you handle people that hate you, umm, hate gays that is? Does it happen often?"

Dee smirked. "They used to harass me, but once they found out that I didn't really care what they think, they didn't have any fun doing it. I wouldn't respond to their tactics. I've been bi since my teen years. In all that time it has always been the heterosexuals telling everyone how to live, how you must seek out an opposite sex partner or your some kind of sicko. I've never heard a homosexual telling anyone that they HAD to be gay. It's not our style. We're a lot more giving and understanding than the heteros. Live and let live. Just don't tell me that I have to live your way."

Fusao sat and thought about Dee's statement, finally replying, "Yes, you are correct. Never have I heard anyone stating that I must be gay. Are those your feelings also, Ryo?"

"Pretty much so. I didn't know I was gay until I met Dee. And then it took two years to admit it. With as long as it took for him to wait for me to come around, not once did he tell me that I was gay, or that I had to be gay. He let me find my own path to his door."

Ryo shifted in his seat a bit. "If I hadn't been so focused on finding the answers to my parents deaths, I may have realized it sooner. Once that had been removed from my priorities I was able to take a good look at myself, realize that vengeance was no longer my life's goal, and find a new goal."

"Do others harass you?" Fusao asked Ryo.

Ryo blushed a bit, slightly embarrassed by the question. "I haven't really come out to a lot of people, so very few know about me. Those that do know are friends and will say and do nothing to harm me. This is a new world for me, one I'm still adjusting to."

Fusao slowly nodded. "Ah, I see."

Just then Freddie arrived with their dinners, and any serious conversation was shelved for the time being. After they had finished their meal, Carlos came over to talk with the men. He only had a 15 minute break, but he wanted to at least say hello to this foreign cousin of Ryo's. Freddie did the same on his break.

Dee turned to Fusao after Freddie left. "You know, they are a couple. They've been together for years, for as long as I've known them."

Fusao looked disbelieving at Dee. He then looked toward Carlos. "Really?"

Both Dee and Ryo nodded yes.

It was about time for the band to show up, and the racket coming from one of the rooms off the main floor seemed to prove the point. A single guy started putting the equipment out on the stage, and the sounds of a guitar tuning up floated out of the side room.

Ryo spoke to Fusao. "This band is really good. They do a county style rock and roll, heavy on the guitar; a sound that's a lot like the early rock and roll."

The three had a pleasant evening, staying through the band's last performance. Fusao was enchanted with the club. When the band played, many couples got up and danced. His eyes took in every movement on the dance floor, a smile playing across his face as he watched the couples. These were happy people, enjoying themselves without any concerns for what was thought of them. He watched as Carlos and Freddie chatted with the patrons, smiling and laughing with them.

Before leaving, Fusao wanted to speak with Carlos and Freddie, to compliment them on their outstanding establishment. Standing by the bar he looked between the two. "You have an excellent club. You make many people happy by being considerate of them. You treat them like your personal friends; this is a special place for them. Thank you for allowing me to be here this evening. I have enjoyed the visit very much." With that, Fusao bowed and said, "Arigatou gozaimasu," a very polite form of thank you in Japanese.

Carlos and Freddie knew that Fusao had given them the most heartfelt thanks that he could possibly express, and both felt very touched. Freddie smiled and said, "You are most welcome to come here any time, we will welcome you as family."

Carlos nodded and added, "The same goes for me. Now you have a safe trip back home. We'll be waiting to hear from Ryo when you will be coming back to see us."

Fusao smiled, shaking both men's hands. "I would like that very much."

Ryo had very little to drink since he was the dedicated driver, but in actuality none of them had enough to endanger their senses. As they walked toward the parking garage Fusao spoke up. "I will not see you again until my plane leaves, but I have a request. May I have a picture of you two, together? Just for me to see?"

Both knew what Fusao was requesting. After a quick glance at each other, they each put an arm around the other's waist. "Why not?" Just as Fusao was to click the shutter, Dee turned and kissed Ryo. Fusao wouldn't know it until he was reviewing his pictures on the flight home, but he managed to capture a faint blush across Ryo's face in the picture.

#=#=#=#=#

See you November 15th if all goes well.