Bet you all thought I was never coming back to this... Surprise!
The Escort
Chapter Thirty-six: The Proposal
The Hokkaido skyline was draped in mist. Outside Dr. Carter's suite, in the fenced courtyard surrounding the pool, Nowaki sat cross-legged beneath the small covered porch. The early morning was quiet, the other inn residents barely stirring.
Steam wafted up from the pool's water, curling as it ascended to join the low-hung clouds. In a corner of the yard amidst a careful selection of stones, a small bamboo-dipping fountain rose and fell, its watery tics measuring the new day's passing minutes.
His dark head bowed, Nowaki raised a hand to rub at the stiffness lingering in his neck, the result of holding certain positions for too long the previous evening as he'd pleasured Dr. Carter.
Despite how deeply immersed he was in the text that lay open in his lap, awareness of this ache passed from the periphery into the front of his thoughts.
With a barely audible sigh, Nowaki lowered his massaging hand and closed the cover of his book. One long finger caught in the pages in the off-chance he'd return to it. But now that his mind had shifted, there were other places in his body he was suddenly conscious of where stiffness had also pooled.
Wincing as he rose, Nowaki silently raced to catalog which aches came from last night's coupling and which he still carried from his disastrous date before Dr. Carter.
"… Aaron." Nowaki reminded himself.
He knew that he'd driven the doctor to frustration the day before constantly slipping back into the more formal address. Usually he was very good at remembering such things, but at this point in his life there was only one man with whom he wished to have such informal intimacy.
Hiro-san.
Even thinking the name filled Nowaki with warmth, despite the new ache that bloomed with it simultaneously.
He had purposely left his phone in his bag, tucked away in the suite's small bathroom, knowing that otherwise, carrying it with him, the temptation to call Hiroki would be too great. Rising up, Nowaki stepped over to the open screen and peered into the suite. Blue eyes stared longingly at the bathroom door.
Though he knew his stocking feet made virtually no noise on the tatamis, seeing the doctor's long form draped over the futon sleeping so soundly, Nowaki didn't dare to step in out of concern that his movements might rouse him. After all, Dr. Carter had said that he wanted to sleep in today and Nowaki was only too happy to oblige him. Especially since, even with how worn he was, he had been getting up ahead of the doctor each morning to have an hour or two to study before he roused and Nowaki cherished today's extra time.
Assured that his client was still fast asleep, Nowaki returned to his pile of books, the one he'd been reading still clasped in his hand. He withdrew his finger and set it atop the stack.
The other benefit of moving into the day later was that it would only come to its end faster. Then tomorrow…
Tomorrow I'll be back in Tokyo with Hiro-san.
While he knew it wasn't helpful, particularly while he was on another man's time, Nowaki couldn't help but wonder if Hiro-san was up already too and what he might be doing. His mind skipped over the most provocative possibilities and instead pictured his dear professor tucked into his apartment amidst his books, working on his dissertation or grading papers.
Maybe catching up on the laundry.
A dozen other images flickered through Nowaki's head. The peaceful domesticity of the scenes a sharp contrast to the finer things he was scheduled to accompany Dr. Carter on later. Even so, he would have traded any or all of the elite aspects of his upcoming outing to share even one quiet hour with Hiro-san.
Nowaki felt a soft pang in his conscience. Such thoughts made him feel as though he was being disloyal to Dr. Carter when the man had been remarkably good to him.
Yesterday they had had a full day, the doctor taking him shopping, buying him several new sets of clothes, despite his protests. Then they'd spent the rest of the afternoon visiting shrines and small museums, eating fine meals all along their travels. The conversation had been good and Nowaki had learned quite a bit of Hokkaido history too in the process. Then the day had concluded with a pleasurable soak in the suite's hot pool.
Or almost concluded…
Nowaki's mind flashed back to the antics that had filled the rest of the evening.
He'd done his best to fill the doctor's needs, but while most of the things he'd performed weren't anything he hadn't done with Dr. Carter on previous trips, somehow things had felt very different. Now when he was being sexual with Dr. Carter, he felt himself tensing up or drifting off at off inopportune moments.
Nowaki wonder if this was because something had shifted in him since the night Kobayashi and his business cronies had reduced him.
He'd had similar experiences for a few weeks after his one and only "date" with Usami Haruhiko and struggled to recall how he'd eventually recovered himself.
Once again Nowaki's mind drifted to Hiroki.
How strong Hiro-san must be to have endured all that he has and yet to have come so far in the world.
Pride for his lover and conviction of his own weakness swelled simultaneously in Nowaki's chest and he was suddenly breathless. Feeling strangely claustrophobic, he began pacing the perimeter of the pool's enclosed yard. The urge to cry out, to run, terribly trembled his lean frame, but rather than do this, he eventually collapsed down, long legs folding, sitting on his heels beside the bamboo fountain.
Heart pounding, Nowaki felt as though someone had suddenly pulled all the air from the world. This sudden and unexplained distress had happened to him more than once in the past few days, and was something else he just had begun experiencing since the incident with Kobayashi.
Rather than giving into the panic that so tightly gripped him, however, Nowaki focused his attention on breathing in time to the rise and fall of the fountain's bamboo dipper. Soon getting caught in its gentle rhythm, he felt himself begin to calm.
Extending long fingers, Nowaki brushed these across the surface of the water in the fountain's basin. The water still held the morning's chill and something in its crispness further grounded him. Lifting his hand he stared at his cool, wet fingers a moment before touching them to his heated forehead.
Like everything these days, even this simple action brought his thoughts back to his Hiro-san, the press of the man's lips against his skin.
Shifting out from behind his hand, Nowaki peered into the water-filled basin as if it could possibly hold the answers to all that troubled him. For several long minutes his blue eyes simply stared, transfixed, at his dancing reflection on the surface of the fountain's pool. He watched how the water would draw just short of smooth, only to break into ripples again when the next draught of the dipper fell upon it.
Seeing his visage assemble and shatter in time to the fountain, Nowaki found his lesson.
I need to be like this.
After every obstacle, I must gather and still myself again until the next challenge comes, otherwise I will never succeed.
And I have to succeed. I have to… for Hiro-san.
I must make myself worthy of him… To be able to stand by his side. I must show him that I am strong too…
With these thoughts Nowaki's eyes were pulled from the pool back to the porch where his textbooks sat.
I have to study harder. I need to, if I am to get out of this life… To make a new life with Hiro-san… One befitting him.
Looking back to the fountain, Nowaki bowed his head to whatever spirit lived there. Thanking it for the insight it had blessed him with, he inhaled deeply, his lungs open and heart steady again.
Nowaki rose now and after a stretch of his lean body, returned to his books and his hope. With any luck he'd be able to spend another hour with them before he had to shut both up for the day.
With a deep yawn Dr. Carter stretched and opened his eyes. He lay still another moment in the quiet, his muscles feeling pleasantly used.
As he reached over to pluck his watch from the nightstand, he noted that Nowaki's side of the bed was empty. Slipping the expensive timepiece onto his wrist, the doctor saw that it was just past 10:30.
As the last of his sleep left him, Aaron was struck by how silent the suite was. Usually he awakened to the smell of coffee and the quiet sounds of Nowaki shuffling about the suite's small kitchenette. A smile curled his lips at how lucky he'd been to find such a treasure.
A world traveler, he had a boy secured in almost every place he visited regularly, but out of all his companions, Nowaki struck him as particularly special.
His mind drifted automatically back to the previous day, their shopping trip. Most of the young men he "courted" would have jumped at the chance to have him spend money on them, even if they initially feigned otherwise. But with Nowaki, the discomfort was genuine, and, given his current profession, it also made him remarkable.
There were other things, however, that also set his companion apart: Nowaki's marvelous mind, for instance. Aaron recalled snippets of their conversation as they'd toured; Nowaki's facility for absorbing and recalling new information was astounding. It was a mind made for higher callings than being a pleasure boy.
It was also the reason Aaron had become particularly concerned about the toll Nowaki's lifestyle was taking on the young man. He'd found himself thinking often about the new bruises and the burns his escort sported. He'd also observed, that while still incredibly amicable, Nowaki was quieter this trip, pensive to the point of withdrawn at times.
Rising from the bed, the doctor slipped into a pair of light cotton sleep pants and pulled on his short robe. He moved from the suite's sleeping quarters and found Nowaki out on the porch so deep in the book he was reading that the young man didn't immediately notice his appearance.
Aaron studied the dark head bent so intently over what was obviously a math book. His light blue eyes dropped down noting the rest of the small stack at Nowaki's side. He had been aware that Nowaki had been slipping out of their futon early each day, apparently to do this.
Within him, Aaron felt something shift and swell at this realization: that what the young man had told him in the car the first day of their extended date was true and he was willing to work to change his life. Aaron wondered what he could do to encourage this further.
Nowaki looked up when he heard Dr. Carter clear his throat. In a flash his book was closed, and he, scrambling to his feet with an expression of chagrin on his face.
"Dr. Cart… Aaron-san," Nowaki automatically dipped slightly in apology. "I'm so sorry! I just sat down to read for a minute and lost track of the time. I don't have your coffee ready or anything else prepared."
The doctor sat down on the porch and motioned for Nowaki to do the same. Uncomfortably Nowaki joined him.
"You've been studying in the mornings, Nowaki?"
Dropping his eyes, Nowaki looked away. He felt the fear begin to rise up within him again as his mind ran through all the things Matsuo might next subject him to if he upset such a valued client. Nowaki bowed low where he sat.
"I'm sorry, Aaron-san… I didn't mean…"
Smiling Aaron reached over and gave Nowaki's head a bit of a ruffle before he could finish stumbling out his apology.
"What are you studying for, Nowaki?"
Nowaki had to fight not to cringe when the doctor first touched him, but hearing no rebuke in the tone he lifted his head. Dr. Carter's expression was merely pleasant and curious.
"I passed my high school equivalency and am studying for my college entrance exams."
A pang of guilt gripped Nowaki telling Dr. Carter this. His equivalency results had been delivered to him just shortly before this trip and with all that happened and he hadn't even told Hiro-san this yet.
"Oh?" Aaron's brows rose at this news.
Nowaki nodded. For some reason he felt compelled to reach over and pull the envelope with the results out from between the pages of the book he'd tucked it into. He held this out to the doctor with the air of a child offering his report card to his father.
Aaron took the letter and opened it. He was fluent enough to easily read the text and Nowaki's scores. Folding the paper back up carefully he handed the letter back.
"These numbers are remarkably high, Nowaki. You should be proud."
"I had an excellent tutor…" Nowaki said softly.
Dr. Carter missed the significance of Nowaki's expression when he said this, instead, his mind had raced ahead. All the parts of the things he'd been ruminating over regarding Nowaki had suddenly come together.
"Nonsense. As good as your tutor may be, you're the one who took the test."
Before Nowaki could counter this, Dr. Carter cut him off.
"When are your exams?"
"Next week."
"And do you think you'll score as high on those as you did here?"
"I plan to do my best." Nowaki replied with no small conviction.
At first Aaron chuckled at this, but then his face quickly fell into an expression that was significantly more serious.
"Nowaki…"
His tone mirrored this shift and Nowaki met his gaze, giving him his complete attention.
"I am a man of a certain age. I like my life a certain way… I want to be comfortable when I am not teaching or operating. I need to be, in fact, to be successful in what I do."
Nowaki furrowed his brow lightly at this strange declaration, but remained silent, waiting for Dr. Carter to continue.
"I think... I think that I could be very comfortable with you. We get along well.
"I know that I spoke with you on my last trip about securing your contract. Setting you up here for when I am in Japan. But I have begun to think lately that perhaps... Prehaps I'd be most comfortable keeping you with me."
As the significance of what Dr. Carter was saying began to sink in, Nowaki's eyes widened. Within his chest his heart began to beat wildly.
"Dr. Cart… Aaron-san."
Aaron raised his hand, stopping Nowaki short.
"Just hear me out Nowaki."
"I am not saying that I am in love with you. This is not a confession. But I do think that you and I could come to an arrangement that would benefit us both.
"I am going to be traveling in Japan for another month before I head back to Washington.
"You take your test and get your scores… Good scores.
"Given my position at the University, I know I can get you in."
Seeing the wonder on Nowaki's face, Dr. Carted continued. "I have connections with people in government here as well. Several who owe me favors. Given this I'm sure I could get whatever documents… visas… etc. that you would need to travel quite quickly.
"You can leave this life, Nowaki. And don't tell me that you're content with it as you did the last time I was here, because I can clearly see that isn't true.
"Come with me to Seattle, go to school, live with me in my house… I will of course expect certain things of you, but I won't be too demanding.
"We can make it work so that we're both comfortable… Or certainly more so than either of us has been."
Nowaki was completely bewildered by the turn in his morning. The things that Dr. Carter was saying… What he was offering. If he had only proposed all this the last time he was here, things might have been so different.
But then I would have never met Hiro-san.
"I am overwhelmed by your offer Dr. Carter… and your kindness." Nowaki's voice was solemn. "But my contract…"
"I can call Matsuo-san this afternoon and have it turned over to me. You agree to my offer, this arrangement, for two years and I'll release you from any further obligation from both the contract... And myself if you wish it."
Nowaki shook his dark head. "But, there's more than that, now. I have additional debt."
Hearing this, Aaron frowned. "How much?"
A rare blush crept up onto Nowaki's cheeks. He knew that both Dr. Carter's tenacity and his manner here were the result of his American upbringing, but this style of conversation felt so invasive.
Seeing the young man's unease, Aaron realized he was perhaps pushing too hard, coming on too strong. He wanted this to work out: both for his interest and Nowaki's. So, rather than press forward he relented.
"Never mind," he offered this with a wave of his hand. "Whatever the amount, Matsuo-san is first and foremost a businessman. I am sure that the three of us can come to some sort of arrangement, Nowaki. One that is beneficial to all of us."
But Hiro-san…
Aaron rose before Nowaki could offer any more protestations. "Look, there's a lot to think about here and you don't have to accept my offer right now. Take some time.
"But do think about it... Seriously."
"Although given your circumstances and if what you told me about desiring to make something of yourself is true, Nowaki…" He let this last sentence drift off unfinished.
But Hiro-san…
"I'm going to jump in the shower and have a quick shave. Then how about you and I go out for coffee this morning?… What's left of it... And grab a bite to eat in town." Dr. Carter's voice was light once more, almost as if their seconds-old, life-altering conversation had never happened.
"We have a lot of sights to see today."
After another quick ruff of Nowaki's stunned, dark head the doctor stepped back into the suite, leaving Nowaki alone on the porch with his books and his thoughts.
Nowaki's mind reeled with all that had just transpired. There was so much possibility in what Dr. Carter had just offered. Despite the circumstances, it was in many ways a more than fair exchange and not so different than what he was doing now.
I could get away… Start a new… Make something of myself…
But Hiro-san…
What had initially appeared to be an abbreviated day looked like it could now stretch out for an eternity with all he had to consider.
Nowaki reached out to gather his books and take them inside so that he could finish getting ready for the day himself. As he did, he noticed his hands were shaking.
So it is now officially Thanksgiving Day here. And what am I thankful for? The fact that I am writing again, and that I have readers who have not given up on me completely.
You may have to go back and re-read this story. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd forgotten it. I need to read through it again myself. But I have the rest of the story more or less planned out already. Even when I am not putting these little tales of mine down on paper, I never cease writing them in my head. Anyway, I am now actively updating my stories again and hope to add to this one relatively soon.
Thank you so much for reading! I would love hearing from you and what you think of the canon riff plot twist!
Next chapter back to the Kamijou household.