65From Aestheticism: The stories in this volume ran in various magazines between 1989 and 1992. This was well before the pro yaoi boom, but obviously the pro impetus was there. Generally the stories are odd and low-key examinations of the tristesse of existence- as in the classic 'I loved him and he didn't love back on account of he won't admit he's gay even though he says 'I love you Takaya' in his sleep (the title story, Beyond the Moon Desert). Then again, at least one story has full-blown weirdness, in that a group of friends all quit their jobs to go sailing round the world on a yacht looking for treasure (Blue Moon). The story is told from the pov of the teenager whom the leader of the group tutors. Teenager wants nothing more than to be one of this romantic band, but leader won't take him. (...) And then there's the complicated little foursome of this man and the kabuki onnagata actor he's mesmerized by and the actor's sister whom he becomes engaged to and then breaks off with (Ochiba no Tegami - Letter in a Fallen Leaf).
*The Sweetest Night* Ken thinks of their relationship as just friends but Mitsugu believes they are lovers... Are they really just "friends" when Ken is handcuffed and enjoying himself?
