The Purple Heart

by Vincent Yee

A torrent of thoughts flooded through Minami’s mind. She wanted Hiroshi, who was about to ravish her against the wall. But from her mouth came some last remnants of reason, “Hiroshi… we can’t, we’re going to get caug…”

  Minami’s last words of reason were swallowed up as Hiroshi placed his hot mouth onto hers. He inhaled every last bit of hot breath from her body, depriving her of life-giving air. For a moment, there was nothing between the two as their lips formed a perfect seal. Hiroshi then inhaled slowly and shared his hot breath with Minami, who could feel it filling her lungs. She also felt another unimaginable sensation filling her very body. She couldn’t resist either, as she held onto him tighter than ever, wanting to pull him into her. Hiroshi pulled away from the kiss once more as he tugged at her dress revealing her breast. He hungrily placed his hot mouth on Minami’s nipple and she gave out another gasp that turned into a low pleasurable moan as her breathing became labored. She pressed her head once more into the wall and shook it from side to side as the ends of her hair gently whipped about her face. With both hands she pulled Hiroshi into her bosom.

  Hiroshi pushed her leg down and moved his hand along her warm hip. He slipped his hand onto the side of her underwear and eased it downward. It snagged momentarily until finally the underwear began to slide downward. Minami lifted her leg up slightly as Hiroshi skillfully eased it out from underneath her white shoe. Hiroshi immediately rushed his hand back along her thigh and around her firm ass and massaged it firmly.

  Minami’s arousal was seething through her entire body just when Hiroshi pressed his entire body up against hers and began grinding his crotch into her own. She felt the immense warmth emanating from his body as she worked to get his jersey off to no avail as his hands were all over her, reaching into every part of her body unchallenged. She felt the throbbing and pulsating sensation along his crotch as he rubbed against her with a grinding motion that aroused her even more.

  Hiroshi gently pulled her away from the wall, still entangled in their ravenous embrace and walked the short distance to the cot. In the next moment, Hiroshi slid on top of her. He moved his face up along her chest, inhaling her very scent, until he placed another firm kiss on her lips to find her tongue.

  Minami’s hand found the back of Hiroshi’s neck as her other hand slipped between his underwear and the hot skin underneath. Her fingers glided over his firm ass and Hiroshi responded by grinding into her as she instinctively spread her legs.

  Hiroshi placed both of his hands to the sides of Minami’s shoulders and pushed himself up and over her. Minami twirled her tongue along her lips and her breathing was short and rapid. Her eyes fluttered as Hiroshi simply stared down at the most alluring woman he had ever laid eyes on. Her wondrous eyes looked up at him in anticipation and her mouth was open slightly as her very lips seemed to pulsate with ardent redness. The right side of her dress was pulled off her shoulder, revealing her breast. The other partially revealed. She was the object of his every desire that he so urgently wanted.

  Hiroshi grabbed the left side of her dress and pulled it down to reveal her other breast, and sunk his teeth gently but firmly onto her nipple. Minami moaned as Hiroshi unzipped his pants and worked to get them down. Minami’s hands rushed down as the pants soon dropped over the end of the bed.

  Hiroshi then grabbed the back of Minami’s neck and slid his entire body in a fluid upward motion between her legs, and before Minami could anticipate it, he was inside of her. She arched her back to accept him before finally settling back down on the mattress. And like the well-oiled machine that he was, he slid in and out of her. Minami found that she could barely breathe as ripples of pleasure that had started small, slowly began building up like tsunamis within her. She wrapped her arms around Hiroshi and pulled him deeper into her and found that she had to dig her own teeth into his shoulder to keep from screaming. Hiroshi reacted to her bites and embraced Minami ever so much more, pressing himself into her body as he undulated back and forth inside her. Minami could feel all of Hiroshi deep within her and she wanted him, she wanted him so much and allowed all her inhibitions to dissolve away, letting only pleasure to roil her body.

  Hiroshi pressed his hot lips onto Minami’s. He wanted to taste her, breathe her, and suck the very life out of her, leaving nothing but pleasure in its wake. She was absolutely beautiful, sensual, and desirable. Minami could barely endure his hard determination and the length to which he would go to pleasure her any longer. She could barely breathe but she didn’t care. The torrents of pleasure that squeezed her like a snake coiling itself around its prey was beyond her comprehension. Until finally the sensation that she’d never felt before erupted throughout her entire body and tensed up every single muscle in her body as she wrapped her legs tighter around Hiroshi’s waist. Then, Hiroshi thrust deep into her as pleasure released itself and quaked through his hard body.

  Minami lay on her right side next to Hiroshi, who held onto her with his left arm. There was a tranquil silence between them as Minami played with the fingers of Hiroshi’s right hand. She had her leg slightly draped over Hiroshi’s lower body. Minami’s dress clung clumsily to her body with a good portion of it bunched up around her waist. They had pulled the blanket over themselves. Minami traced her fingertips along Hiroshi’s right arm, first from his wrist, up his forearm, along the ridge separating his bicep and triceps, and then to the rounded curve of his right shoulder. She massaged it slightly and then asked, “I thought you hurt your right arm?”

  Hiroshi looked down at Minami whose gaze was fixed on his right shoulder. She looked so relaxed as the ends of her lips curled upward in a slight smile. She was absolutely luminous with a soft beauty that captivated him. He replied, “I did.”

  “But it didn’t seem to bother you just now,” Minami asked teasingly.

  Hiroshi smiled and spoke, “Well I was doing more gripping than pitching this time. Ouch!”

  Minami had pinched his right shoulder evoking the desired response as he flinched. “Bad boy,” said Minami teasingly.

  Hiroshi playfully shifted his weight to roll Minami onto her back and planted his full weight on top of her. Inches separated their two faces from one other. She had a great smile on her face, as she looked deeply into his soulful yet determined brown eyes. Hiroshi looked into Minami’s wondrous eyes and they glistened back with serenity. He lowered his lips toward hers when they suddenly heard the door of the barrack creak open and they looked at each with a stunned look.

  “Hiroshi, son, we’re back!” yelled out Mr. Satoh as he and his wife entered the barrack. The two parents walked slowly back toward their unit and when they parted the partition, they found Hiroshi by the window buttoning up his shirt. The sweat soaked jersey was draped over his left forearm. They looked at the bed, with the sheets pulled neatly over it, to see Minami sitting on the side of the bed facing the parents. The parents offered a smile and then looked at Hiroshi.

  “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Minami, she’s the girl that I met here,” said Hiroshi calmly.

  Minami straightened up and bowed respectfully to Hiroshi’s parents. “It’s nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Satoh,” she said.

  “Ahhh. Minami-san,” replied Mr. Satoh. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

  “She’s the girl that caught the home run ball,” Hiroshi said with pride.

  Minami bounced the ball slightly and it fell back into her hand. Then with a mischievous smile, Minami said, “Yes, it was an amazing home run.”

  T W E L V E

  In the days following the baseball game, it was common for Minami and Hiroshi to be seen walking hand in hand. They had hidden their relationship up until the baseball game when Minami and Hiroshi finally met each other’s families.

  Other people had a great deal of respect for Hiroshi, especially the kids. Hiroshi had become their hero when before there was none. Scores of children would run up to him chanting “Home run! Home run!” which became Hiroshi’s new nickname. More often than not, Minami was swept aside as t
he children swarmed around Hiroshi, who would entertain them graciously. He would crouch down with a cheerful smile, throw a ball here and there, and unexpectedly sign autographs.

  Even the older Japanese Americans would come up and respectfully offer their congratulations. Younger men would come up to him, pat him on the back, and share a laugh with him. However, Minami wasn’t too happy when young women approached him for an autograph.

  Minami too enjoyed watching Hiroshi, but she didn’t see the baseball player, or the waterboy, she saw the man. A man who was young, in the prime years of his life. A man who was confident and a bit cocky, but yet profoundly humble, graciously generous, and a virile lover. He was the man she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. He was the man she would love forever if only he would also love her the same way.

  It was after dinner the following Saturday evening when Hiroshi and Minami scurried away from their parents, who had started to eat dinner together. The Satohs had enjoyed meeting Mrs. Ito and the rest of the family earlier in the week. Mrs. Satoh was enthralled with Yoshi and doted over him, as she never had any children after Hiroshi.

  Hiroshi and Minami walked along the fence with the barracks off to their left side. It gave them the feeling that they were away from everyone else, but not too close to the fence, because it would remind them that they were imprisoned. Minami clung loosely onto Hiroshi’s left hand with both of hers and swung it every now and then.

  It was one of the things Hiroshi enjoyed, these simple strolls with Minami. But he just wished so deeply that he could whisk her away. It just wasn’t fair that they were imprisoned, deprived of the opportunity to just be free and their patriotism second-guessed, he thought.

  Since he’d met Minami, Hiroshi started to worry that he couldn’t be all that he could be to her. He felt that his desire to build a future for himself and Minami was being robbed from them because he didn’t know how long they would have to stay in the darned prison camp. He wanted to be with Minami, but the prison camp wasn’t the place to do it. Yet he kept his spirit up and, like everyone else, he made do given the circumstances. He just hoped deep inside that Minami wasn’t disappointed.

  “It’s a nice night,” remarked Hiroshi breaking the silence.

  “Mmm… it is,” replied Minami as she managed a small smile. She kept her eyes fixed downward, watching her feet appear from underneath the hem of her dress with each step she took. It was another favorite floral sundress of hers. Hiroshi was wearing his usual jeans and a white tank top that showed off his broad shoulders and muscular arms.

  It was a warm night for the start of summer. The night sky was clear, with the moon hanging high above like a pearl floating in the dark ripples of a dark bluish sea. The stars glistened silently as if they were beckoning for the stargazers’ attention.

  “It’s been quite a week hasn’t it?” asked Hiroshi.

  “Mmm… it has,” replied Minami.

  “Can you say more than a couple of words tonight?” asked Hiroshi teasingly.

  “Mmm… maybe,” said Minami as she looked up at Hiroshi and giggled softly.

  “Sometimes, you’re just too adorable.”

  “I’m only playing with you, Hiroshi.”

  “It’s been a long and short week. I never thought that I would earn such a reputation just playing baseball.”

  “You were amazing. You inspired so many people and you’ve given us something to be so proud of.”

  “Are you just saying that because you really think that, or you think that’s what I want to hear?” inquired Hiroshi with a smirk on his face.

  Minami broke away from Hiroshi’s hand and stepped in front of him. She gracefully spun around and walked backwards.

  “Well I don’t know Hiroshi, or, should I say Home Run? Don’t you just love all the attention?” said Minami playfully.

  “Well Miss Minami Ito,” Hiroshi responded nonchalantly, “I would have to say that all the attention has been fun. But it gets a little tiring.”

  “Oh, it’s getting tiring?” Minami decided to chide Hiroshi further. “Are you saying you didn’t enjoy it when all those women came up for an autograph?”

  Hiroshi smiled back as his eyes widened in astonishment and he simply said, “I didn’t notice the younger women.”

  Minami knew she had Hiroshi and pursued it further. “Oh, so you noticed that they were younger?”

  “Hey, I didn’t give them a second look,” said Hiroshi as he struggled to redeem himself.

  Minami was thoroughly enjoying this moment. She knew that Hiroshi didn’t mean a thing by it, but she did take some delight in watching him squirm a bit. It was just a natural thing for a girl to do, especially to someone who had earned the nickname Home Run.

  “Oh, Home Run actually ignored all the younger women,” said Minami sarcastically. Then in an animated girlish fashion she spoke, “Home Run, can I have your autograph?”

  Hiroshi had just enough of Minami’s childish if not somewhat seductive behavior as he lunged toward her. Minami gave off a playful squeal and tried to turn but she wasn’t fast enough as Hiroshi’s arms wrapped around her. She playfully struggled away to no avail.

  “I’ll show you an autograph missy,” said Hiroshi as he firmly pulled down the neckline of her dress.

  “No, no, no,” said Minami as she let out a giggle as Hiroshi planted a firm kiss on her neck. She then buried her head into Hiroshi’s shoulder to muffle her laughter. And soon enough, they were both sharing a laugh and a warm embrace.

  Minami and Hiroshi stood there together, both holding one another and gently swaying their bodies from side to side to the swirls of a cool wind.

  Hiroshi arched his head gently back and Minami turned to meet his gaze.

  “Hey, it’s a clear night. Let’s do some stargazing. I think we can see some bears,” offered Hiroshi with his boyish smile.

  “Mmm… that sounds good,” responded Minami. “Let me go get a jacket. It’s kind of cool tonight,” said Minami as she turned toward her barrack.

  “I’ll meet you over at the mess hall, then. They should just be wrapping up dinner service now, so it should be empty by the time we get there.”

  “Mmm… sounds good,” said Minami. She tilted her head upwards and gave Hiroshi a quick kiss and a smile to go along with it as Hiroshi smiled back. He looked back at her and she just liked the way he looked at her. It was the kind of look that would make any girl feel entirely desirable. She giggled and then turned to walk toward her barrack. As they started to walk away from each other, their hands clung to one another until the last possible moment when distance finally broke their clasp. Then she heard Hiroshi shuffling off in the direction of the mess hall.

  Minami brought her arms around herself to ward off a sudden chilly wind. She thought how odd it was that when she was with Hiroshi, she was entirely oblivious to such things. But that was probably the indescribable effect he had on her that made her fall for him. She looked up at the night sky. It was a beautiful night to share, she thought. They hadn’t had much time together lately, let alone privacy, since the baseball game. She bounced up the steps of her barrack and pushed back the door. Some of the families had already returned and were settling into their nightly routines. They bowed to Minami in an understated manner and Minami returned with a bow of cordial respect. She was now known as Home Run’s girlfriend and thought how amusing that was.

  She entered the empty unit and walked over to her side of the bed. She rummaged through a pile of clothing, which she had draped over with plastic to protect it from the sand. There hadn’t been much of it lately, but it just became good practice. She found her jacket and held it up by the shoulders. What she wouldn’t do for an iron, she thought and lowered the jacket when the infamous home run ball came into view. It was sitting on top of a table that she had been able to salvage some time ago. She used it to hold her personal items. The baseball was one of those items, just sitting there to be admired. No one would see it except for her and perha
ps her family, but it still sat there proudly as part of the prison camp’s history. She picked it up and held it in her hand, admiring it, remembering how she raised her hands up when it almost magically appeared in her hands. She blew off some dust and suddenly had the great idea to get Hiroshi to autograph it. She placed the baseball in the pocket of her jacket, put it on, and left the barrack.

  Minami stepped out into the cool night and began walking toward the mess hall. It was a relatively quiet night with a few people walking about. The edges of the barracks were eerily illuminated by the moonlight from above as windows glowed a soft yellow from within. As Minami passed one barrack after another, she could hear a few murmuring and chattering voices, but nothing really intelligible. She turned left and down towards block twelve when a slight chill slithered down the back of her neck and quickly disappeared.

  She walked past the bathroom and saw a couple of men exiting it and turning away in the other direction. They were chatting softly before they disappeared altogether around the corner. She passed the darkened laundry room and finally arrived at the mess hall, which was indeed closed up for the night. She turned left, walked alongside it and found the ladder propped up against the side of the mess hall.

  “Hiroshi,” Minami called out quietly as she looked up. There was no response. She called out again and a little louder, “Hiroshi.”

  “Looking for your boyfriend?” asked the voice.

  Minami instinctively spun around and was startled to find the one man she didn’t expect, Kiddache.

  He stood about five feet away from Minami, hovering ominously over her despite the distance. He was smoking on a cigarette and had just taken a drag, bringing the cigarette down to the side of his leg. The stream of smoke escaped from the right side of his face. The stern look from his eyes bore down on Minami.

  The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Just when she didn’t think things could look worse, a lone dark cloud passed in front of the moon, reducing Kiddache to a shadowy figure. But she could still see his eyes as they glinted from the ambient light and every time he brought the cigarette to his face, they seemed to glow red like the devil. He then exhaled one last stream of smoke and flicked the cigarette to the ground. Being between two dark, empty buildings with Kiddache was unnerving. Minami’s instinct told her to get out of there as quickly as possible.