Chapter 5
It seemed it took weeks to reach the classroom where Mr. Nocturne had relocated. When we reached it, Ninamori and I that is, we were dumbstruck at what we saw. Old sketches by Da Vinci detailing the human body paired with passages from the Kama Sutra where on the projector being shown all over the walls. Nocturne looked at me and motioned for both Ninamori and I to sit. It was as if we were holding up the class but in reality, there were only four people present. The rest I'm assuming had either slept in or were sleeping off a drunken stupor.
I decided to test the water and said aloud, "Good Morning, Professor. How are you today?"
He closed a book he was writing in and replied, "Fine, thank you, yourself?" his voice was soft and unbelievably calm as if nothing had occurred the night before. As if being a nocturnal party animal was just another face. I replied, "Very well thank you."
He nodded his eyes glinting in the light cast by the projector and a terrible wolfish smile broke the barriers of his pasty facial features. As we took our seats, he waited for the rest of the class to gather while taking a prop skull while saying, "Alas, poor Yurok! I knew him well, Horatio!" This sparked the expected response as half the class looked at him. "What," he asked rather shocked they didn't know the famous line, "Know none of you of Hamlet?" The glass then nodded as the general ripple of muttering agreement arose.
"Good!" he replied, "Now do me the favor, anyone, who can complete this line," He hunched over and began after a diabolical cackle, "Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York!" Here, dead silence reigned until I was surprised by something I never expected.
Ninamori bolted from her seat and replied in a voice twice as ferocious, "And all the clouds, that lour'd upon our house, in the deep bosom of the ocean buried."
Nocturne clapped lightly and motioned for her to sit down. He then began his lecture and in truth I couldn't help but listen spellbound as he explained the relevance of history and the differentiations in cultures allowed for the expansion of sexual knowledge over countries and how sex was used time and time again for political gain. The lecture took an hour and a half and I couldn't believe the history of it all and how it was all true. It was shocking how so many alliances, empires, and holds on position were secured through sex and it didn't even have to be a repeat encounter.
It was after this that the new assignment began. "Now," Nocturne said aloud after he'd concluded his lecture, "the assignment for you is to take your partner who I've assigned you and go and a small informal date. This may seem bizarre by most standards but being as it is, you're all sensible adults and therefore, this project will be most beneficial. Take note of how your partner reacts to your presence in a date and report your notes first thing in the morning next week."
With that the class was concluded for the week and as I headed out, Ninamori came up and said, "Naota," her tone was the usual matter of factly, which meant she was completely inflexible, "for the date, so called, we're going to a restaurant called La Rosa. Have you heard of it?"
"Doesn't ring any bells, why is it one of those classy places that I know you're fond of going to?" I asked trying to get under her skin for simple petty amusement."
"No, simpleton, it's not. Didn't you hear the professor? He said, "Informal" which translates to casual, simple, or how else would you like me to say it?"
"No other way, thank you very much."
"You're welcome," her tone was in a mocking school girl fashion, "I aim to please. Anyhow, I'm expecting you to pick me up around seven so we can actually have a legitimate experiment. Can I count on you for that?"
"Yeah, sure. Seven o'clock how hard could it be?" I asked before returning to the apartment.
As I came up to the apartment door, I heard something weird going on inside. I turned my key cautiously in the lock and opened the door gently. I peeked inside and saw Haruko in the living room wielding an old fashioned sword with a small shield as if she were in some kind of a combat scene. I closed the door quietly as she went on noisily making the sword and shield whoosh and swish with each violent movement. She stopped a moment and after wiping her forehead with her hand, she took a drink from the bottle of orange soda on the nearby lamp table.
"What on earth are you doing?" I asked setting my bag in one of the dining room chairs, "Do you have any idea, how weird you look doing that?"
She took a rose from one of the many flowers in a vase of water and she put it between her teeth before wielding the sword so elegantly that it just seemed to effortlessly spin in the air like a helicopter's rotor. She then put the blade at my heart and replied, "I'm practicing for a play, Romeo," she struck a dramatic pose and yelled aloud, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
"Just because you have a sword and shield doesn't mean you're back in the Renaissance, you know?" I said half expecting her not to listen.
"This rapier," she said in a sensual French accent, "is a beautiful instrument and who are you to say that being in the drama department doesn't transport you back in time? If you truly believe that, Ta-kun, then you're in serious need of a reality check."
"Seriously, what are you doing?" I asked not really in the mood for any of her jokes, "you in a play just…doesn't sound at all natural. You're one to be working at the clubs as entertainment."
She bolted towards me and pinned me to the table and she placed herself just a mere two inches from my nose. I could smell the intoxicating jasmine shampoo in her hair as well as the mesmerizing scent of the mint in her mouth. She smiled seeing that she'd my full attention and said, "There's an entire world you've yet to see, Ta-kun. A whole world. I've been fortunate enough to see not only this one but so many others. Don't ever say to me that I belong someplace because I'll only try twice as hard to defy you."
She then got off of me and asked very simply, "You know, if you're having trouble finding someone these days, I can hook you up with some very good friends of mine."
"Where the hell did you get that idea?"
"Why else do you hang around me so often and not the rest of the college community?"
"I have my studies to work on. I really don't have time to think about girls these days."
"What are you, gay? The only reason I ask is because most guys, especially at this age are sex crazed."
"Well, in case you haven't noticed I'm not," I began but the next thing I knew I was interrupted as she put me to the table again and was so close…so close. She took one of my hands and placed it on her firm but soft breast. I felt myself melt as she whispered in my ear, "Don't you even try to lie to me, kid. You're as horny as they come but you just do a good job of hiding it under all your attempts at academic looks."
"Please, give me back…my hand." I said rather meekly I must admit. But at the same time I didn't want the sensation to stop. She was so soft, so warm, and so…powerful.
She gave me back my hand and got off of me. I regained my composure as suavely as I could before asking, "Do you know of a restaurant known as La Rosa?"
"I know of it. Why?"
"I have to do some ridiculous assignment for Prof. Nocturne's class and it involves me dating the partner he's signed me up with."
"Oh, well in that case, be ready for almost anything. The restaurant has a very nice bar and grill, and most notably, a band that specializes in almost any kind of music. So, all I can say is just relax and have fun."
I nodded and headed off to my room. While I trusted what Haruko was saying, I just had this weird feeling of dread. Reaching my room, I thought, I might as well have another shower so after undressing and getting in the shower, I began to think about the madness that had happened what seemed a year ago. That concert, the powerful lights, the almost mind numbing music, it all just seemed all too real and yet at the same time, all too distant. I don't remember anything after blacking out. I didn't. I thought until I wore my head sore but I couldn't remember a single thing.
After I was washed up and my brain almost worn out, I came out of the shower and was drying myself off when I heard a conversation coming from the living room. I got silent a moment and listened with as much intensity as I could. I heard the following.
"Well, what do you think? Do you think our experiment is working?" The voice sounded like Nocturne's.
"He and that girl are the only ones that we've tried it on that it's actually worked its magic." Haruko responded, "Besides, you yourself said that to see effects would take time. Well, frankly, Professor," she sounded downright sarcastic at his title, "you were the one who came up with the experiment and guess what? From what he said this morning, the desired side effect did its work like it was no body's business."
"Well think about it like this," Nocturne began again, "if it does work on those simple little earthlings then things will be just fine for it's just a simple hop, skip, and jump till' we reach experienced adults."
"You'll have to wait until they begin their half of the experiment before you try anything. I know you're good at your particular type of messaging but we have to recreate the same environment to make sure it all works again, see?"
"Haruko-san," his voice I could tell was more menacing than usual, "you know of all people, I'm not a patient man."
"Well, you're just going to have to learn patience then." Haruko snapped back, "I don't care if I am speaking to the Duke of Gloucester, you can't just rush into your experiments. As I'm sure you know, to see a true legitimate result takes a lot of time."
The conversation died down to nothingness as I opened the door. I went to my room, got dressed in clothes I thought decent to wear to a bar and grill, and went to the living room to watch TV. Nocturne was busy meanwhile in the kitchen making a dinner which I couldn't think of off the bat but man, did it smell fantastic. The herbs and spices he added, a light dosage of cooking wine and the smell of the steaming vegetable were like heaven. I was so dazed I didn't realize I was almost drooling until Nocturne asked me if I was rabid or just hungry. Humility especially from him has been my greatest teacher so far but still, in my mind, ever since that summer with Haruko the first time she came, nothing could be worse.
"Hey Ta-kun." I heard Haruko call from my room, "what notes are you taking in Reggie's class."
"Oh, the usual." I replied, "How the world is pretty much run by sex and politics occasionally plays a part in it."
"Is that all you're getting from my classes?" Nocturne asked sounding somewhat offended, "Now I'm just sad. I know it's still early in the semester but there's more in history and sex combined than there are in military and history, science and history, etc."
"Could you give me another lecture, professor?" I asked seeing what I could get out of my professor ahead of the next class.
"Do your assignment young man and then you'll receive a lecture I'm sure on sexual deviancy," he replied after giving a cackle reminiscent of the story book witches, "If you aren't sexually deviant on this little experiment, then no lecture need be given."
"Why would I be sexually deviant with Ninamori? I've known her since I was little and besides,"
"She's too much of a prude for sex?" Nocturne asked as he filled a plate with the great smelling stuff which I assumed was his dinner, "Trust me, this is what separates the men from the boys and girls from the true women. Tempt her with sexual fun and see where it takes you because if you don't she inevitably will."
"And just how do you know this, Professor?" I asked more than skeptical about this philosophy, "Has it happened before."
"Blame it on the human condition, Ta-kun." Haruko said coming from the back of the apartment, "Reggie here has set everyone up for either a tremendous sexual failure of the best carnal experience of their lives."
I knew that Nocturne from the beginning was bad news. A creepy little man whose only vision is not to teach anything but instead learn to enslave the mind of anyone he thinks needs a sexual boost.
"No, Naota." He said almost as if he'd heard my thoughts, "That's not at all it. Try reassessing the problem and see if you can come up with a different solution. In the meantime, why don't you watch some TV with Haruko while I go prepare for my night job?"
He got up and after handing Haruko the plate of food, went off to his own room. I sat down on the couch and turned on the weather forecast which promised light showers this evening but heat and sun throughout the rest of the week. Haruko sat down beside me and put the plate of food on the table in front of us and watched with a bored as hell look on her face. Realizing she'd be bored out of her mind if we kept watching, I handed the remote over to her which she eagerly grabbed and changed the channel. She changed the channel to HBO and the movie of the evening, The Phantom of the Opera. I sat back and watched the film for it was something I wasn't familiar with. To me, the movie was like one of those treasures you hear about but don't know just how good it is until you experience it.
It was long into the evening before I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find Ninamori standing in the hallway. She was angry, that much was certain. Her arms were crossed, her gaze sharp, it was just beautiful seeing her mad.
"I knew I couldn't depend on you showing up on time so naturally, after doing some digging around, I had to find you here. Care to explain?"
"There's nothing to explain, Ms. Ninamori," Noctrune said from behind me, "Naota was asking for some help on the project that I gave you today. Guidelines, if you prefer the more liberal term."
Just how that man got behind me without making a sound, I have no idea and what's weird was he was wearing a dark blue tuxedo with silver lining, a fedora and sleek black shoes. He put his hand on my shoulder and motioned me out the door so as to go on the date. I turned back to where I thought he was only to have emptiness greet me.
"What are you waiting for, Naota?" Ninamori asked while looking at her watch, "Come on, we're going to be late, lets' go."
I closed the door and headed down the stairs to the complex's entrance. We walked out into the parking lot and when we got to Ninamori's car, my jaw dropped. The car was a gem. A black Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec. I so desperately wanted to drive but thanks to Ninamori's through inspection of my various ID cards, such a thing was an impossibility. Besides, it was her car but at the same time, I so desperately wanted to drive it. The ride was smooth as silk and surprisingly quiet. I wanted to speak but considered it better not to since I was already late as far as Ninamori was concerned but then, if there's one thing I've learned from my summer with Haruko is that sometimes life is more interesting when you don't always go by the rules.
Within twenty minutes, we came to a stop right outside a lavish looking restaurant but before I could get out of my seatbelt, I felt the massaging mechanisms in the seat kick in. I relaxed and sank further into the seat as I felt Ninamori's cool hand touch mine.
"Naota," she said her voice unusually quiet, "I want you to enjoy this tonight. I've gone to a bit of effort to make sure you enjoy yourself by that, I mean pulled a string or two. So, I know this is supposed to be informal but I don't care. Just be yourself. This place has great food, a wonderful band, just relax and let's try to have fun."
She turned off the massage function and after I got out of the car, I escorted her into La Rosa. We were escorted to a table and after we'd gotten our drinks, a man's voice came over the microphone, "Ladies and Gentlemen, at five minutes till' we'll begin the numerous dancing song requested by so many of you out there but until then, please, enjoy our music and we hope you all have a pleasant evening."
Half expecting to see Nocturne, I turned and I inspected each member of the band and to my relief, no Nocturne or Haruko in sight. We ordered our meal and waited for the entrée to arrive. Ninamori looked very pretty although to be honest even though it was under the pretenses of an informal affair I knew that she'd done her makeup quite well. I sat back and let the music slowly begin to sink into my brain. Only then did I hear the sound of a voice I'd never thought I'd hear again, "Hey, Chief. How are you?"
AN: I know it's been a while since my last update but with university out of the way, hopefully that won't be much of a problem anymore. So please be honest and by that, of course I mean,
Read and Review. Thank You.