Shenji's Gift

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 2 Shenji’s Gift

ALEX took a long swig of beer, then put the bottle of Beck’s on his coffee table and stood over the small trunk that seemed to take up way too much space on his living room floor. He kicked at it in frustration. What the hell was he supposed to do with the damn thing? His father had delivered it two days before. Dumped it off is more like it, Alex thought, remembering how his father had almost thrown the leather trunk onto the sidewalk outside Alex’s apartment. “Here,” his father said, unable to look his son in the eye. He pressed a small key into Alex’s hand, making sure he avoided any more physical contact than was absolutely necessary. “Your grandfather wanted you to have this. It’s just some papers, as far as I could tell. Nothing of any real value.” Alex glared at his father. “Naturally you would make sure of that first, wouldn’t you?” Silently his father turned and walked back to his red Mercedes AMG convertible, driving away without a backward glance. Typical. So damn typical, Alex had fumed silently. Couldn’t look him in the eye. Avoided any kind of physical contact. Obviously it was painful for him to even be in the same fuckin’ zip code as his son. His gay son. Asshole probably thinks being gay is catching, Alex had snarled inside. Then he hoisted the small trunk onto one shoulder and carried it into the living room.

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 3 There it had stayed for two days while Alex tried to avoid it—much as he had tried to avoid dealing with his grandfather’s death several months earlier. When Alex was young, he had adored his father’s father. Every chance he’d gotten he had run through the backyard to the house where his widowed grandfather had lived alone and followed the old man around like a happy puppy. It was his grandfather who had taught him Japanese, who had sung songs from the old country, and who had told him stories that set Alex’s imagination on fire. In his childish innocence, he thought his grandfather had captured the magical fish, killed the fire-breathing dragon, and been the mighty samurai warrior who restored honor to his shogun. He had basked in the love and acceptance his grandfather lavished on him so unstintingly, and he could not understand why his father’s face always turned so stony when Alex tried to retell his grandfather’s stories. One day when Alex was five, he had tiptoed into his grandfather’s house, intending to surprise him. When he peeked in the living room, he saw his grandfather dressed in a colorful robe, sitting cross-legged in front of his low table. He was singing softly and gently rocking back and forth. Alex was enthralled with the odd song. It was one he had never heard his grandfather sing before: odd intervals that repeated many times with a haunting rhythm. Then his grandfather stopped singing and bent over something on the table. Alex quietly crept closer and peered over his grandfather’s shoulder. There was a small round TV screen lying flat on the table, showing people walking around a city. Suddenly his grandfather became aware of Alex. He

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 4 straightened up and said, “I thought you and your parents were at the beach today.” Alex sat on the floor and nestled against his grandfather. “Dad said it’s too cloudy so he went to work. Why do you have a TV on your table?” He peered more closely at it. “Doesn’t it have sound?” Grandfather took a deep breath. “It’s not really a TV.” He passed one hand over the screen, and the picture disappeared. Alex saw it was really just a silver plate. He looked up at his grandfather in puzzlement. “I’m not sure if I can explain things so you will understand.” His grandfather thought for a minute, then continued. “You know that many times during the day you make decisions. Today your Dad decided not to go to the beach, so you decided to come see me. Right?” Alex nodded. “Well, in another universe, your Dad made the opposite decision, and so right now, in that other universe, you are playing in the sand and having a good time.” “There are two Alexes?” “There are really many, many Alexes.” His grandfather gave him a hug. “But I’m very glad you are the Alex here with me. When you get older, you’ll understand this more. But for now, all you need to remember is that the universe is filled with many, many wonderful things. All we need to do is to discover them.” Alex pointed to the small silver plate. “What were you discovering there?”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 5 His grandfather got up and walked into his bedroom, returning with a photograph of a painting of an elderly Japanese man. “This is Ozuno from Mount Katsragi. He was a very wise man and a very powerful shaman, a Yuta. People claimed he could walk on the water and that every evening he would fly through the air on a colorful cloud and talk to the spirits.” “Is that true?” Alex peered closely at the picture of the man. His grandfather shrugged. “He lived a long time ago, so I don’t know. But I know his teachings have been carefully handed down from one generation to the next. Some shamans can do wonderful things that other people say are magic. But mainly shamans help other people. That’s the important thing to remember.” “Were you helping the people in there?” Alex asked, pointing to the plate. “No. They live in another universe. Like ours, but different. I was just looking for a friend.” “Are you a shaman?” His grandfather smiled. “You can always tell a true shaman by his deeds, not from his words.” “I don’t understand. Can I be a shaman?” His grandfather looked at him for a long moment. “Only the gods know that. But you can grow up to be a good, kind man and help other people. Now, how about something to eat?”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 6 That evening at dinner, Alex tried to tell his parents about the shamans and the people his grandfather had been watching, but his mother quickly changed the subject, and his father got an angry look on his face. Later Alex woke up to hear his father shouting. “I forbid it. I absolutely forbid it. My son will not spout a bunch of ignorant superstition.” He heard his mother’s softer voice speaking but couldn’t understand what she said, and then his father broke in. “Shamans don’t exist. As long as my son hangs around the old man, he’s going to keep picking up old-world nonsense. We’ll be moving to the new house soon, and he’ll be going to school. That will knock all this magical shit out of him for good. But you have to keep them apart. My son will not grow up with his head filled with peasant stupidities. He’s an American!” A few months later, they had moved to a much larger house in a wealthier section of Los Angeles, and within a year, his grandfather returned to Japan. Contact after that had become sporadic. Any letter Alex wrote was always answered promptly, but with schoolwork, sports—the usual constant activities of a popular American teenager—Alex’s letters had dwindled to almost nothing. The three visits his grandfather had made back to Los Angeles only seemed to emphasize the growing gulf between their lives. Looking at the dark, water-stained trunk, Alex remembered the last time his grandfather had visited. He had come down to UCLA to watch Alex’s swim meet. Alex had come in first in his two events and his best friend, Jonathan, had won his event as well. In the excitement of the celebration afterward, Alex had momentarily forgotten about his grandfather. He and Jonathan had their arms

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 7 slung over each other’s shoulders when Alex looked up to see his grandfather and his mother standing shyly on the sidelines. As usual, his father was too busy to attend even an important meet, but his mother was beaming at him. His grandfather was equally proud, but there was something else in his grandfather’s eyes. He knows, Alex had suddenly realized. He sees what no one else sees, that Jonathan and I are lovers. But there was no censure in his grandfather’s eyes. Only the same love and acceptance that had always been there—but now there was also something else. As if his grandfather knew things he could not speak of but wished he could tell. A kind of compassionate awareness. It was the same look his grandfather had given him later that week, just before he got on the plane back to Japan. He had tenderly caressed Alex’s cheek and said, “I am so proud of you, Alex. No grandfather could ask for a better grandson. I’ve made many mistakes in my life, but when I think of how blessed I am to have known you, I think the gods must not be entirely displeased with me.” He had taken Alex’s right hand between both of his and looked deep into the young man’s eyes. “Never forget how much I love you.” That had been the last time Alex had seen him. Alex gave a great sigh and nudged his grandfather’s trunk closer to the sliding glass doors overlooking the back yard, then sat on the floor in front of it. He unlocked it and raised the thick leather lid, then pawed through the contents quickly. As his father had said, it seemed to be almost entirely papers, mostly in Japanese. Newspaper clippings, a small photo album from when his grandparents had first come to the US. As Alex flipped through it, he was not

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 8 surprised that even as a boy, his father often looked as if he did not quite approve of whatever was going on around him. At the bottom of the trunk was a small, dark blue leather notebook tied with a white ribbon, and underneath it, a square object covered with blue silk. Curious, he untied the ribbon from the notebook and opened it. Written on the first page in his grandfather’s hand, in English, were the words, “For Alex—The Way It Happened, Somewhere.” Alex leaned over to the coffee table and grabbed his beer, then turned the first page.

IT WAS the proudest day of Shenji Yamatu’s life. The twentyyear-old Japanese naval cadet stood proudly at attention, his eyes front, never wavering from Admiral Yamamoto who was speaking to the three dozen cadets graduating from their special training class. Yamamoto! Shenji thought, awed. What an honor just to be in the presence of the head of the Japanese Imperial Navy! Without moving a muscle, the young cadet willed himself to notice everything around him: the other cadets standing in three straight rows, the sun shining brightly, and the flock of birds wheeling overhead. It is a good omen these messengers from heaven play above us, he thought. He noticed anew the platform on which Yamamoto stood, draped with the Rising Sun flag as well as the Emperor’s Imperial banner, indicating the Admiral represented the Son of Heaven himself. Chrysanthemums graced the front edge of

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 9 the platform, further evidence that this occasion was far, far more than a mere cadet graduation. It had a religious significance as well, though so far Shenji was a bit mystified by that aspect. Most important of all, he noticed the sleek black submarine moored at the special dock. The Golden Ray was unlike any other submarine in existence: its advanced design enabled it to go faster, stay submerged longer, and go farther than any other submarine in the world. It was the pride of the Imperial Fleet—or would be if others knew about it. But it was top secret. “The Emperor’s Special Sword” was what the cadets had been told during the four months of training they had undergone on this special, private base. The submarine glistened in the sun, and Shenji thought the ship seemed—somehow—as proud as he was to be here. I must remember everything; I must absorb it all so that when I am Yamamoto’s age, it will still be in my memory, a blessing to my soul. “I know you have worked hard,” Yamamoto said. “The Emperor knows you have worked hard. The Son of Heaven has been glad to receive daily reports of your progress, and he is pleased with you. You have each agreed to this special mission, and you have agreed to do everything asked of you, in honor to the Emperor and for your homeland. You are the pride of your nation. There is no one else like you. Remember that. In a few moments your captain will explain why your service is different from other submariners and what you must do in fulfillment of it. In all things know this: you are the chosen ones of the Son of Heaven. In all things remember: you must be worthy of this honor. Always. And in all things.”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 10 The Admiral took a deep breath and seemed to look directly into the eyes of each cadet. “Do you swear to obey and to be worthy of your duty?” “Hai!” the thirty-six cadets shouted in unison. As Admiral Yamamoto walked stiffly from the stage and disappeared, Shenji’s mind flashed briefly over the last four months. After serving on a destroyer for a year, he had been told his application for submarine duty had been approved. But during submarine school, a man dressed in civilian clothing had approached him with the offer of a special assignment. “Your marks in class and in physical training are at the top of your class,” the man had said. “You show excellent leadership potential, and you are quick to defuse problems between your classmates. In addition, you show every indication of holding yourself to the highest standard of personal honor. You passed the psychological tests with flying colors, showing you have extraordinary aptitudes for our unique needs. I can tell you nothing more about the assignment I am offering you, but I can tell you that you will be serving your country in an honored way. There may be some times during your training and your service that you are asked to do things that will seem strange to you or that you would not do ordinarily. But once you choose to accept this assignment, you become part of a special naval brotherhood.” The man paused for a moment, then asked, “Do you agree to accept this assignment?” “I do,” Shenji had replied.

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 11 “And do you freely agree to be bound by the rules and regulations that govern this assignment?” “I do so agree.” Then Shenji had taken a quick breath and added, “I will gladly do anything I am asked to do in the defense of my country and for the honor of the Emperor.” The civilian had seemed especially pleased when he left, and the next day Shenji had found himself one of a group of forty-eight young men, all with at least one year’s service in the Japanese navy. As their training had progressed, their numbers had been whittled to thirty-six, and from conversations he had held with the others, Shenji knew they were all puzzled about the mystery surrounding their selection. Other than the new technology of The Golden Ray they had to study, there had been little unusual about their training, nothing all that different from other training he and the others had been given before. Shenji’s mind quickly returned to the present as Captain Tamako briskly stepped in front of the cadets. “At ease, men,” he said, and the thirty-six cadets relaxed slightly. “Before you board The Golden Ray, there is one further ceremony to be observed. Just as The Golden Ray is one with Rising Sun, so you must become one with The Golden Ray and with each other. There can be no division between us; we must work in total harmony. While on board, we must be in total trust, with no barriers between us and our duty. “Form a circle around me,” the captain said, “and stand next to your Special Partner.”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 12 Shenji quickly moved next to Daiki, the young man who had been assigned as his partner only a week before. In many ways, the two men made an ideal team, Shenji thought. Daiki was an inch or two shorter than Shenji’s five foot seven but more muscular—unusually muscular for a submariner, but his strength complemented Shenji’s litheness. Between them, they had been able to quickly master any difficulty during their final days of training. In addition to their technical and physical prowess, Shenji had appreciated and been surprised by Daiki’s quiet humor. There was something about the other man that was very comfortable, very solid—but also a bit upsetting. Shenji couldn’t put his finger on it, but as they had trained together he had been very aware of Daiki in an unusual way. His body tingled and felt very alive when they were close to each other, and he found he kept glancing at Daiki in the showers, admiring the way the water coursed over his muscular body. It disturbed Shenji, but he quickly put the thoughts out of his mind. Daiki’s eyes twinkled at Shenji as they took their places in the circle, but before they could speak, Captain Tamako began speaking once again. “This private base has been chosen for a special reason,” he said. “It is a place sacred to the Emperor and to the Land of the Rising Sun. We will give honor to it in our ceremony. Since serving on The Golden Ray will require a special uniform, you must now remove all of your clothing and place it on the ground behind you.” Shenji and Daiki glanced at each other in surprise but quickly began to comply with the captain’s orders. Shenji

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 13 removed his uniform jacket, folded it and placed it on the ground behind him. His shoes, socks, shirt, and pants followed. He paused a moment, unsure of whether or not the captain really meant they were to be completely nude. “All of your clothing,” the captain had said, but surely he did not mean they were all to be naked outside. And where were the new uniforms? He glanced at Daiki and saw his friend had stripped completely and was cupping his balls, shifting them in front of his thighs. Daiki grinned and said softly, “Want to go swimming?” as he gave a quick tug to his foreskin. Shenji’s heart began to pound, and he quickly looked away, but he noticed most of the other cadets were now completed naked as well, so he quickly pulled off his undershorts. He felt his own penis begin to swell as his eyes—of their own accord—looked at the healthy young men around him. It was not the first time he had seen his fellow cadets naked. Nudity was not uncommon in Japanese society, and during their training, he had seen most of them in the showers or changing clothes. But it seemed so different to be standing nude outside, in the blazing sun, next to their new submarine. One or two of the cadets were brazenly sporting the beginnings of an erection. Shenji closed his eyes and prayed he would not get hard. But the warm sun and gentle breeze were caressing his cock in a most inviting manner. “Very good,” the captain continued. “You are now wearing your new uniforms. This is how we will be while serving on The Golden Ray—pure, honest and open with each other.”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 14 Before Shenji could fully grasp what the Captain had said, the officer continued. “We will honor each other as men and as servants of the Emperor. We will have no secrets from each other so that nothing can come between us and the execution of our duty. Partners, face each other.” Obediently Shenji turned to Daiki. “Partners cannot let false modesty or inappropriate shame come between them. Partners must know each other totally. To do this you must now begin to touch each other.” Someone gasped aloud, and the Captain continued, “Do not feel embarrassed. You are the personal servants of the Emperor. As your hands caress the body of your partner, know that you are honoring the Son of Heaven by honoring one of his personal servants with this sacred ritual.” Shenji’s hand was shaking as he reached toward Daiki, who smiled and leaned closer. Daiki’s hands lightly skimmed Shenji’s shoulders and down to his chest, where they circled his nipples. “Your body feels good,” Daiki whispered close to Shenji’s ear. “I have often wished to do this.” Shenji drew back quickly and looked at his partner in amazement. “You did? Why?” “Because your body is beautiful, as beautiful as your soul is,” Daiki said. He pulled gently on Shenji’s pert nipples, sending a stab of pleasure through the slender man’s body. “You are slender like the reed, but strong and graceful.” Shenji realized his cock was hard and looked down, afraid he would be punished, but Daiki’s hard penis was standing next to it. Shenji hesitantly touched his friend’s

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 15 hard-on. “Oh yes, touch me there,” Daiki pleaded as his fingers lightly fondled Shenji’s balls. Shenji marveled at how thick Daiki’s dick was and how smooth the skin felt as he drew it over the large mushroom head. “Your foreskin is so soft,” he marveled, “and see how your cock head wants to poke out of its cover.” “It wants to see your cock and to play together,” Daiki replied, and then he began to suck on one of Shenji’s nipples. When his friend cried out in surprise at the pleasure, Daiki raised his head and smiled. “I’ve wanted to do this, too,” he said, moving his hard dick so its uncapped head lightly slid up against Shenji’s sensitive member. “Ahhhhhhhh,” Shenji groaned, and the two hard-ons lightly rubbed against each other. Automatically he cupped his partner’s ass in his hands, crushing their bodies together. Daiki pressed his mouth to Shenji’s lips, which opened instinctively. Their tongues twisted and caressed each other, seeking, eagerly exploring. The more deeply they kissed, the more pleasure poured through them. Never had Shenji thought this would be possible—and to do such things outside and in front of other men… but it felt wonderful to play this way with his Special Partner, and if doing so was bringing honor to the Emperor, well, Shenji was more than willing to obey. “Enough!” came the Captain’s voice. “It is good you all are taking such pleasure in each other. But now comes the second part of the ritual. Draw together in a circle around me and put your arms over the shoulders of the cadets on either side of you.”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 16 Shenji noticed that while he and Daiki had explored each other’s bodies, the Captain had stripped naked as well. Though the Captain was older than the cadets by more than a decade, his body was firm, the small buttocks high and rounded. His large penis was matched by his large balls. “Look at each other and take pleasure in the sight,” the Captain commanded, as he turned so all the cadets could see his smooth hard dick. The plum-colored head pulsed slightly as the blood coursed powerfully through the officer’s erection. “We are thirty-seven pure servants of the Emperor. Our bodies are dedicated to his service. You have all been chosen for your perfect bodies, for your pure spirits, for your questing minds, for your devotion to the Emperor. “Notice how firm my penis is, how glad I am to show it to you. You should always take pleasure in such a sight. When a man is hard, he is being totally and fully a man. It is something only a man can do. As men you know how good it feels to have an erection; you should equally take pleasure when another man shares his erection with you. It is a special bond only men can have with each other, and it honors both he who looks and he who shows.” The Captain slipped into the circle between Shenji and Daiki. “Look at each other,” he said to the cadets. “Look at how different all of our cocks are. All are erect; all are proud. Look at the different sizes of your penises, the different shapes, yet all are beautiful.” Shenji looked at his fellow cadets and the pleasure was almost too much. Thirty-seven naked men, thirty-seven hard cocks, all straining upward from their bodies, gloriously proud in the sun. He had often wished he could honestly

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 17 look at another man’s body but had been ashamed of his desire. Now the Captain was saying it was good to do exactly that. He felt his penis growing even larger as he looked at the others. “You are all feeling the surges of erotic energy flowing through your body. Some of you feel as if you are about to explode. Do not!” The Captain’s voice grew stern. “This male energy is sacred. It is a gift from heaven. We are, today, dedicating our male energy to the Emperor, to heaven. It is as much a tool as is the submarine in which we serve. By pledging our sacred life essence to the gods, we signify our membership in our special band of warriors.” Nice words and ideas, Shenji thought, but he was not far from coming. How on earth would they ever last, cooped up nude in the close quarters of a submarine, without spurting all over? “Close your eyes and breathe deeply,” the Captain instructed. “Feel the cleansing air flow from your nose into your chest. It does not stop there; feel it reaching all through your body—your stomach, down to your hard cock and filling your balls, your ass. It flows down your thighs, your legs, to your feet, to your toes. Hold it. Hold it… feel the air filling your body totally. Now, exhale.” Shenji—relieved—let out his breath in a great sigh. “Again!” the Captain instructed. Over and over the cadets drew in great breaths, held them, and then released them. “Open your eyes,” the Captain said. “What happened to your straining erections? Your cocks are plump and heavy,

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 18 but the urgency to have an orgasm is gone. And how do you feel? Filled with energy, with life. You have channeled your life essence back within yourselves. This is something you will do many, many times a day as you feel yourself becoming overly aroused. It is one of the most sacred tools you have. You must never cheapen your energy by indulging in quick, thoughtless orgasms. Instead, use your sacred energy to reach higher levels of maleness. Now turn to your Special Partner again.” Shenji and Daiki faced each other—both tingling with anticipation at what was about to come. “Bow to each other, and deep in your hearts, truly honor your Special Partner for the esteemed man he is.” After the cadets had done so, the Captain continued. “Sit down facing each other, with your legs around each other, with your cocks touching.” Daiki grinned as he nestled up to Shenji. “This feels so good,” he whispered. Before Shenji could agree, the Captain instructed, “Look deep into your partner’s eyes as you caress his cock and balls very lightly. Breathe deeply, but breathe together. Breathe as one. Let the breath unite you as you look into your partner’s eyes. Feel the pleasure he is giving you and be grateful. Let your gratitude flow from you on the breath. Let your gratitude flow out from your fingertips as you caress your partner. Breathe in the pleasure, and breathe out your gratitude and respect.” As Shenji followed his Captain’s instructions, he felt a frisson of energy inside that began to grow. He gazed into Daiki’s warm, brown eyes and bathed in their look of

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 19 acceptance and pleasure. As the two men gently touched each other and breathed together, Shenji lost track of individual sensations. Instead, the separate feelings began to merge into one overwhelming golden haze. It seemed he was experiencing the feeling in Daiki’s cock, as well as the feeling in his own. There was no Shenji separate from Daiki; as they breathed together and pleasured each other, they merged into one man, one soul. No sooner had Shenji realized this than the Captain’s voice broke through the erotic haze that encircled them. “Put one hand on your partner’s heart, then put your other hand over his hand covering your heart. Take three very deep breaths as you continue looking deep into your partner’s eyes. Make the third breath especially large and hold it… hold it… keep looking into your partner’s eyes and silently thank him for being your friend. Accept that thanks… hold the breath… now let it go.” Shenji felt Daiki’s final breath caress his face, and it was only when he noticed a tear trickle down Daiki’s cheek that he realized he, too, was crying, overwhelmed by his emotions. “Help each other up and then embrace each other,” the Captain said. As Daiki’s strong arms slid around his body, Shenji felt an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort, even as his body was tingling with energy. He took delight in feeling his cock nestled against Daiki’s. “You feel so good,” Shenji said. “I don’t think I want to ever move.”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 20 “Me too,” came Daiki’s whisper. But after a while he wiggled his hips playfully. “Of course, there’s moving away, and then there’s moving against each other.” Shenji growled, feeling their cocks growing harder again. How would they be able to fulfill their naval duties, manning The Golden Ray and ensuring she took her place at the forefront of the Japanese fleet, then maintained it, when all around were attractive, nude fellow cadets? As the days, and then the weeks, flew by, what had once seemed so strange and overwhelming began to become… well, not exactly routine, but an integrated part of their work. Their jobs as crewmembers of a technically advanced submarine took long hours plus enormous energy and discipline. But when off duty, the crew was also led through regular tantra drills, deepening their abilities to draw on their erotic energy and share it with each other. Whenever they could, Shenji and Daiki spent time together, especially savoring the twice-a-week times the crew was permitted to explore their feelings for their Special Partners in any way they wished. It was after one of these treasured times together that Shenji looked deep into his friend’s trusting eyes and knew he could no longer keep silent. He kissed Daiki’s eyes and lightly caressed his mouth. “I love you,” he said softly. “You are more to me than anyone in the entire world.” He kissed Daiki tenderly on the lips and smiled. “Who knew there was such happiness to be had? And who knew my mate would be another man or that I would find him while serving the Emperor in the navy?” Daiki growled playfully, then rolled over on top. “I love you too. Who knew that two men could feel for each other

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 21 the way we do? Truly, it must be a gift from the gods.” He kissed Shenji passionately and squeezed him as tightly as possible. “I pray we can always be like this, serving the Emperor, and living with our band of brothers.” He scrunched up his face and rubbed his nose against Shenji’s while fondling their hard cocks. “And making love with each other. We are blessed.” The next day, the captain informed the crew they were approaching a small series of islands off the coast of the Dutch East Indies. “Our maps say some of these islands are uninhabited but have a source of fresh water. We will observe closely, and if this seems to be true, a reconnaissance party will investigate further.” Daiki was in the group of explorers who went ashore and came back with not only fresh water, but a variety of food, as well. “There was no sign of people, but it is paradise,” he exclaimed. “What a beach! It stretches almost all the way around the island. And inland there is a wonderful waterfall. Lots of fish in the river, and, best of all,” he added, his eyes taking on that special gleam Shenji knew promised plenty of delights, “there are so many places we can steal away to make love.” Shenji looked down and noticed both of them were sporting hard-ons. “Surely the captain will give us permission to have fun together while we’re here.” And he did. The crew was divided into two. While one group refilled the submarine’s water supply and gathered fresh food, the other was given liberty to relax any way they wished. Shenji and Daiki slipped away together every chance they got. Once as they made love under the trees bordering

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 22 the beach, Shenji said, “As much fun as it is to see the others naked and to watch their cocks bobbing while they walk around, more and more I only want to hold you in my arms.” He looked deep into Daiki’s eyes as he said, “It is you alone I want to kiss, and your body I want to explore. No one can even begin to compare to you.” “I know,” Daiki said, caressing his friend’s body. He cupped Shenji’s firm ass and squeezed. “You make me burn for you with a flame deep down inside. I want to do everything to you, and I want you to do everything to me. No barriers. We must be truly one person.” “Yes,” agreed Shenji, his mouth and tongue ravaging Daiki’s. Their lovemaking grew in intensity, as if their very souls were pouring through their bodies to mate with each other. Every inch of skin was inflamed, so sensitive to the other’s touch it was almost painful—yet nothing could be more desirable. Never had they known such exquisite pleasure, in the giving as well as the taking. No words were necessary; they both seemed to be led by the same higher power that was guiding them into a pure realm of the soul. Afterward, utterly sated, and yet more filled with love than ever, they dozed in each other’s arms, sheltered from the sun by the leaves of the trees. Shenji didn’t know how long they had napped when he realized he was hearing a new noise. He lay still, savoring the feeling of his lover next to him, and the gentle breeze brushing over his nude body. It was a couple of minutes before he realized it was the sound of engines, but not the engines of the submarine. Whatever it was, it was coming closer.

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 23 “Daiki, wake up,” he said, sitting up and quickly shaking the other man as he looked around. “What’s that noise?” Daiki slowly stood and looked around. “Planes!” he shouted, pointing to the sky. At that instant, the formation of enemy planes dove toward the beach, their machine guns strafing a trail in the sand toward the men there. Shenji was frozen in shock, unable to move, watching the line of bullets approach the trees. “Come!” Daiki yelled, seizing Shenji’s hand and racing further into the trees. He tripped, pulling Shenji down as well, but before Shenji knew what was happening, his lover rolled on top of him, shielding him. Suddenly Daiki jerked violently, then went completely limp. “No!” Shenji cried, frantically pushing his friend to one side so he could see what was wrong. But there was nothing he could do. Three bullet holes stitched their way across Daiki’s back, one going right through his heart. The bullet had partially penetrated Shenji’s chest as well, cracking his breastbone. He gathered his friend’s body in his arms. “Oh Daiki, Daiki,” he wept over and over, rocking his lover. “You can’t go. You can’t.”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 24 ALEX turned the page, but there were no more words. He wondered if what he’d read could possibly be true or was just another of his grandfather’s wonderful stories. The universe is filled with many, many wonderful things, his grandfather had told him. Alex hoped that in at least one of those universes, Shenji and Daiki had managed to live together in happiness. He flipped through the notebook until he found a faded photograph tucked tightly between the pages. It showed two young Japanese men from the waist up, their arms slung over each other’s shoulders as they grinned madly at the camera. In the dim background, several nude men were playing in the surf. Alex peered closely and recognized his grandfather. This must be Daiki, he thought, examining the other handsome, sturdy man, wishing he knew more about him. His eyes grew misty as he looked at the two men about his own age. They were obviously so happy, so filled with life, so delighted to be with each other. When had the photo been taken? How long after this had Daiki given his life for his lover? As Alex started to put the notebook onto the coffee table, a small white envelope slipped out. Curious, he opened it to find a small lump of metal. He rolled it around in his hand for a moment before he realized what it was. The bullet that had killed Daiki and injured his grandfather, Shenji. “Oh, grandfather,” Alex whispered around the large lump that had formed in his throat. “I wish I had known. I wish you were here.”

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 25 But I am, he heard his grandfather’s voice say in his head. I am part of you, and always will be. Alex remembered the silk-covered box, and he lifted it from the bottom of the trunk. It seemed very heavy for its size. He set it on the coffee table and removed the blue silk to reveal an ancient black lacquer box. Opening it, he saw the inside of the lid had been covered with small pieces of mother of pearl in a variety of hues. Alex looked more closely and saw they formed a picture of a man sitting on a colorful cloud, flying through the sky. Inside the box was the silver plate he had seen his grandfather looking at years ago. People. Alex remembered there had been people walking in a city. Curious, he picked up the plate and turned it over. But it was just a plate. Oh, grandfather! he thought. He looked back into the trunk and noticed a photograph of a painting of an elderly Japanese man. Alex thought he remembered seeing it at his grandfather’s house, but he wasn’t sure. An ancestor, perhaps? Suddenly he had an idea. He cleared everything off of his coffee table and cleaned it, then went into the backyard and clipped a calla lily from one of the bushes. Back in the house, he put the flower into a narrow black art deco vase. He positioned the silver plate in front of him, and the vase behind it. The photo of the painting went on one side of vase, and the photo of the two young men on the other. He hesitated for a moment and then reverently put the notebook and the bullet on either side of the silver plate. He sat cross-legged on the floor in front of his shrine and took a deep breath. As he slowly exhaled, Alex looked at

Shenji’s Gift | Edward von Behrer 26 his grandfather’s photo. His heart opened, and he thought, Thank you. Then he looked at the silver plate and began to sing, softly, a song with odd intervals and a haunting rhythm he didn’t know but seemed to have heard sometime in the distant past.

About the Author

EDWARD

VON

BEHRER’S mother was surprised when he

came home from his first day of school in tears. “They didn’t teach us to read today, and you promised they would. That's the only reason I went,” he wailed. His cousins still talk— decades later—about the stories he spun during his summer visits to their home in Chicago a few years later. Obviously he was fated to write. That sort of thing seems to happen to a lot of Southern guys. Even those who fled the South ASAP.

Copyright

Shenji’s Gift ©Copyright Edward von Behrer, 2010 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Art by Anne Cain [email protected] Cover Design by Mara McKennen This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America October 2010 eBook Edition eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-628-6