Beshimi could hardly keep his hands off Hikari as they were preparing breakfast that morning. For so long he'd been holding back his affection for her. It felt so good to express it freely! This state of bliss was like nothing he ever experienced in life. He had never wanted anything as badly as he wanted Hikari, and he had certainly never actually obtained anything he wanted that badly. There was nervousness too of course, but the stubborn excitement refused to be defeated. It pushed the fear down so it could celebrate in ecstasy.
Everything was ready to go out to the dining room, and Beshimi could hear the other three residents coming downstairs. As Hikari reached out for a platter of fish, he deftly grasped her wrist. "Hikari, wait," he whispered. As his hand glided around her dainty wrist to clasp her palm in his, he grinned with pleasure. Touching her this way was such ecstasy. "Hikari, may I see you tonight? Perhaps take you for a walk through the gardens? So that we can be alone."
After how hot and heavy things had gotten the night before, he hoped she wouldn't be too hesitant to be alone with him at night again, far out in the gardens. It should be easier to control himself if they weren't half naked and wet. Besides, they had so much to talk about. He would have to calm his ardor and be a gentleman. Hikari deserved to be courted properly.
Bless her innocent heart, she simply smiled brightly and chirped, "I thought you would never ask! Of course Beshimi, I would love to go out with you tonight."
He couldn't suppress a large grin, and he didn't even feel self-conscious about how inadvertently sinister it might look. Everything was so simple with Hikari. Glancing past her to make sure no one was near the doorway, he ventured to land a quick kiss on her lips before taking up one of the platters to take into the dining room.
Shikijō, Hyottoko, and Han'nya wanted to go to the training grounds that day. Beshimi went with them. Though he couldn't get his fill of being near Hikari and wanted to stay near her constantly, he imagined the others might notice that quite quickly. Plus, he worried Hikari might feel smothered if he clung to her too much. All nerves and excitement, he felt so volatile today. A good workout might help him feel more level headed. Plus, it was good to stay strong and practiced in order to better protect Hikari.
He found that despite all his nerves, he trained particularly well that day. Was it the confidence that came with having finally won Hikari? At moments he felt like he could take on anything.
The sun approached noon as Shikijō and Han'nya wrapped up a sparring match. He should be getting back to help Hikari with lunch, provided that the others planned to stop training and go back of course.
"It's about time to head back to lunch if we're going. But if you muscle heads want to keep training, I should at least go tell Hikari not to trouble herself to start cooking," he jested with his signature menacing grin.
"I'm in the zone, man. Let's stay out," Shikijō said enthusiastically. Shikijō could never seem to get enough of working out. "But I guess you should go let Hikari-dono know."
Beshimi nodded and turned towards the trail leading back to the house. He scooped up his yukata which had been tossed in the grass as soon as it started to get hot, same as the other men had, pulling it on loosely as he hit the trail running.
Han'nya glared after Beshimi. "Perhaps one of us should have gone. There's no reason why it always has to be Beshimi who carries messages to Lady Hikari."
"Come on man," Shikijō entreated, picking up his yukata from the grass to wipe sweat from his face. "Just let him be."
"Yeah," Hyottoko bellowed. He had been sitting in the grass taking a break while Shikijō and Han'nya sparred. "The little guy seems really happy and I don't see any reason to screw that up for him."
Han'nya kept glaring down the path, unmoved.
"Han'nya," Shikijō chanted, "I don't know what you're thinking about doing, but just stay here, alright?"
"Fine." Han'nya finally turned back to the two remaining men. "I'll let this go for now. Hyottoko, are you ready to spar with me now?"
Beshimi's excitement mounted as he neared the house. He didn't stop running until he arrived. After throwing open the front door, he sprinted towards the kitchen, but she wasn't there. "Hikari?" he breathed, still catching his breath from the run. He called her name louder from the doorway of the dining room.
Down the corridor at the other end of the main hall, he saw her white hair poke out the door of the library. "Beshimi?" she called back.
He ran down the hall to her, finally feeling peace when he got near her. Stepping close to her, relishing the feeling of looking down at her bright, upturned smiling face, he said, "Hikari, I've come to tell you that we aren't coming back for lunch today. I wanted to catch you before you started cooking."
"Thank you Beshimi. I figured that might be the case. I decided I would read until I heard from you."
"May I ask what you're reading, my sweet?"
Hikari blushed and faltered, "Oh, um, I…"
Beshimi's eyebrow raised, his curiosity piqued. Taking her hands in his and stepping even closer he cooed, "Come now sweetheart, you can tell me. Don't be embarrassed."
"Well, I…was reading some…romance," she whispered the last word, "in hopes that I can learn…things."
Beshimi chuckled before taking hold of Hikari's arms and guiding her farther into the library. They were all alone in the house, he remembered, everyone else far away. His heart thumped harder as he steered her to the wall inside the door, her back pressing against it as he loomed over her.
"Hikari, I admire your…initiative to learn the ways of romance, but," he framed her face in his hands, gently readying her, "the best way to learn is through practice." He lowered his lips to hers. For all her shy blushing, she met his kiss readily. He didn't have to coax her to get her lips to part, to let him slide his tongue in and find hers. Her dainty hands soon roamed his body, sliding up from his waist, easily slipping under the neckline of his loosely thrown on yukata. Her fingers grazed his collarbone, palms roamed his chest and shoulders, gliding because of the sweat leftover from his workout. As a heatwave engulfed his body, starting at his groin and blazing up, he closed the gap between them, pressing his body against hers, his fingers sliding back behind her head to entwine themselves in her silky hair.
The heat came, wave after wave. Oh god, if just kissing her made him want to throw her down and ravage her, how would he ever be able to court her respectfully?
Painfully, he brought their kiss to a close and took a step back from her, gently holding her forearms so she stayed in place. She was so generous with her passion, she might cling to him as he tried to step back. How exciting. Her lack of self-consciousness was likely to make her a good little lover, prior experience or no. Her face was flushed and her eyes still half-lidded, her hair a bit mussed from his coiling fingers. He had to get out of there before he devoured this sweet little morsel before him.
"Hikari," he rasped, grinning to hide his tension. "Let's pick this back up tonight. Right now, I'd better get back before the others come looking for me."
"Okay," Hikari breathed, composing herself. "I can't wait," she smiled flirtatiously.
Beshimi hummed a moan of approval before placing a kiss on her forehead, then slipping away like a specter, leaving Hikari to sink down to the floor on her butt and let out a long breath, fanning herself with one hand.
"After dinner," Hikari explained when they were in the kitchen together that night, "I'm going to go upstairs and freshen up a bit. So we won't be going right after cleaning up. Is that okay?"
"Fine by me," Beshimi replied. "In fact, I'd like to do the same thing." He took her hand and peered down at her. "I'll be waiting at the foot of your stairs. I want to escort you every step of the way tonight."
Most of the clothes which had been in Beshimi's chest when he arrived were similar to what he normally wore towards the end of his life. A few different shades of blue yukata, a few different shades of brown trousers, and some haori like the one he's arrived with. However, there were a few items he hadn't worn yet; a black yukata and dark grey hakama. Black was quite formal, and he only rarely wore hakama, but tonight was a special occasion. Hikari had said she was "freshening up." If she was taking special care to get ready tonight, Beshimi figured that he should too. He wasn't sure if fancy clothes were enough to make him appear more attractive, but he'd be damned if he wasn't going to put his best foot forward on his first night courting the woman of his dreams.
The yukata and hakama fit perfectly, besides being a little stiff with newness. He left the haori behind. Hikari seemed to be at least a little taken with his body, considering how quick her hands were to start roaming lately. Why hide it under a big jacket? He wanted to cut a more dashing figure tonight.
When he was ready, he went to the staircase as planned. Hikari hadn't come down yet. Good. He wanted to be there waiting for her, not keep her waiting. Before long, he heard her door open. His heart leapt.
When she appeared at the top of the stairs, he stifled a gasp. He couldn't have imagined Hikari any more beautiful than she usually was, but she outdid herself that night. Her abundance of hair was pinned up in a bun on the back of her head, curling tendrils hanging down like silk ribbons to frame her face. He'd never noticed what a graceful neck she had. Also to his surprise, she was wearing a long fabric yukata tonight rather than her usual silk kimono. It was a lovely yukata, the base color being black, littered generously with big pink roses. She wore a pink obi to match. Perhaps she wanted more freedom of movement tonight, or maybe she was worried she might get too hot…
She was blushing as she descended the stairs. Beshimi held his hand out for her to take before she stepped onto the landing.
"Hikari," he breathed, "you look…stunning."
She lifted her other hand to her face coyly then dropped it again. "Thank you Beshimi. You look very handsome tonight too."
Beshimi turned towards the stairs and offered her his arm to take, which she quickly did before they began their descent. He was going to be a gentleman tonight and he didn't care who saw. He had offered no notice to Shikijō, Hyottoko, and Han'nya that he wouldn't be joining them on the balcony after dinner, and neither would Hikari. It was none of their business. Let them wonder, he thought to himself. They were going to have to find out about this eventually. He planned to be private about his relationship with Hikari, as was traditional and polite, but he certainly wasn't going to hide from anyone.
Reaching the ground floor and crossing the main hall, they would be within view of the balcony, though its occupants were most likely looking away from the main hall and out over the lake. Someone would only see them if they looked back into the house at that moment. In a way, he wanted someone to see him walking with Hikari on his arm, both dressed nicely, very obviously on their way to spend some time together as more than casual friends. How could he not feel proud that Hikari was now his woman? At the same time, he knew it was a reckless sentiment. Hyottoko and Shikijō had shown some evidence that they might be supportive, but Han'nya, well, Beshimi wasn't going to worry about him tonight.
After they had passed the balcony, there was no way of knowing if any curious eyes followed. Whatever would be would be. Beshimi and Hikari went out through the front door.
The air felt particularly fine that night. The sun had just set and the purple sky was still bright. At night in the garden, dai-doro and lanterns lit up by themselves. With all its enchanted scenes, narrow paths, quaint bridges, and beautiful smells, the gardens surrounding their home had always had the potential to be a romantic wonderland. This was the first time that they had walked through it simply for pleasure and without a destination. The farther they got from the house, the more excited Beshimi felt to have Hikari all to himself. Hikari never let go of his arm while they walked.
They walked through a few sections of gardens until they reached the first pond on the path. Small and shallow, it was nothing like the larger pond they had swam in the night before, but it had its own quaint charm. The tree's crowded close around it, making the atmosphere cozy and magical, and there was a simple stone bench on the shore. Without exchanging a word they went to it and sat side by side. Hikari nestled in close and Beshimi put an arm around her. She was always so free with her affection. How exciting it was to be able to return it freely. During traditional courtship, this level of closeness would be scandalous, ah but nothing about their love was traditional was it? Beshimi never expected to find love after death, and Hikari…Hikari was like no one he had ever met. She was unhindered by societal customs. She knew what felt good and she did it. Who would have thought that an angel would be the freest of all? Did she have any ritual? Any law?
There was so much he wanted to ask her. All day he had wondered where to start before finally choosing what he thought was the best path of conversation.
Gazing down at her lovely face he began, "Hikari, I feel so close to you, but I know almost nothing about you. I'm ashamed to say I've always felt too nervous to ask you personal things. I didn't want to pry into your privacy," he paused, "but now that you're mine, I suppose I can ask."
"Of course, Beshimi! Ask me anything," she chirped.
"Where do you come from, Hikari?" he asked eagerly. "And how did you come to be here? What did you do before we arrived?" He chuckled at himself for getting carried away. "I suppose I want to know everything."
Hikari giggled, "Alright, well I'll try to keep it simple because I'm very old."
Beshimi turned on the bench so he was facing her more, one leg still dangling off, the other bent across the bench so he was in a half cross-legged position. He wanted to watch her as she told her story. He still wanted to be touching her however, so he took her hand to hold in both of his.
"Many years ago, when humans first became as they are today, Kami made the angels. Kami made us out of pieces of Itself, but that did not diminish Kami, for Kami is infinite. And although we are all pieces of Kami, we are all unique. Kami is good and wanted angels to enjoy autonomy and individuality. Kami made us to help care for humans, but also to enjoy life ourselves." She paused. "Do you understand?"
"Yes. Please, go on," he urged. He had begun to lazily play with her hand, rubbing the smooth, soft contours, the delicate bones, so graceful.
"Kami made us so we could move between worlds. Like Kami though, we cannot be seen on the human plane. But we can watch, and we can help sometimes. And when humans leave that world there's always an angel waiting for them, ready to help them with the next step. Kami made us beautiful, so humans would trust us and love us."
"Do all angels look like you, Hikari?"
"No. You see, different things are comforting to different people, so angels come in all shapes, sizes and colors. But there are a few traits we all share, like our white hair."
"So…you weren't born to anyone? You have no parents or family?"
"No," Hikari conceded simply and smiled. "I've always been as I am right now. Oh, and I've always lived here, though it certainly hasn't always looked like this. Like I said when you first arrived here, this place is not far from the human realm. Angels typically only have the same things humans do. We may have the very best of what humans have, because we can have whatever we can imagine, but we only advance as far as humans do.
Take the castle for instance. When I first made this my home, there were no structures. Then I had a hut, then a house, and now the castle, and I expect that one day the castle will change too. We try to update things as human culture changes. It makes humans comfortable to see the kinds of things they're familiar with when they come here."
For the first time, Beshimi was struck by the gravity of what Hikari was. She was ancient, and she had seen everything. How could a being like her even be interested in sitting here talking to a miniscule human like himself? Furthermore, how did a being like Hikari hold on to such human aspects such as she displayed? Meeting her, observing how down to earth she was, how easy to talk to, no one would guess that she was an ancient being who had watched history pass.
But it didn't frighten him. In fact, it only made him love her more. For the first time it occurred to him that after eons of human companions coming and going, maybe Hikari needed to be loved just as badly as he did.
"Hikari, how many people have lived here with you?"
"Lots!" she chirped. "Some stay longer than others. Some want to go right back to earth and try again. Some are happy to go back into Kami. Most have family already in the afterlife and they go to wherever they are. That's something which you could do too if you like."
"There's not a chance that I'd leave here Hikari, not while you're here," he sincerely asserted. Though he could think of one person he may want to see…that was a rumination for later. And even if he did want to see her, he'd want Hikari by his side when he did. "Hikari," he went on, "in all this time, you never fell in love until now?"
Hikari flushed, smiling up at him. "No Beshimi. You're special."
He figured he blushed as well, if the heat rising to his face was any indication. "Hikari, that brings me to the next question I want to ask-"
Wait. Something was wrong. Beshimi's gaze darted from Hikari to scan their surroundings.
Hikari picked up the sudden change in him. "Beshimi what is it-oh!" There was something knowing in her exclamation.
He locked eyes with her again, remembering the night many months ago when he'd been trying to conceal himself from her in a tree, but she knew he was there. She could feel when someone was near. He grasped her upper arms firmly. "Hikari," he whispered, "I'm quite sure I already know, but please, tell me who is here." He was hissing terribly and cringing at it.
"It's… Han'nya."
Beshimi growled. "That bastard!" he cursed, then caught himself. "Uh, I'm sorry Hikari. I just…don't know who he thinks he is, trying to spy on a spy and get away with it. I hate to cut the evening short, but I won't allow you to be put on exhibition. I'm taking you home." With that he stood, holding his hand out to her to help her up as well. She looked stricken, but she took his hand and slowly rose. What was the matter with her? "Hikari?" he pulled her close and searched her eyes. Her little brows were knit. Was this…disappointment? God, her expression was breaking his heart!
"Hikari," he said softly, taking her face in his hands, holding it closer for more privacy. He figured that Han'nya now knew they were onto him and likely fled, but just in case… "I promise you, I'll settle this in the morning. I'll confront Han'nya and make everything right. Then we can go freely wherever we wish. I only don't want you to witness anything ugly tonight. That's why I'm taking you home…I'm so sorry this happened, I…I should have spoken up to the others immediately, told them how things will be. It's just that…things like this are kept private where I'm from, not to mention that it's no one else's business."
"I understand, Beshimi," she assured him. "I trust whatever you think is best."
He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. Her confidence in him made him feel as tall as Shikijō. He hooked her arm in his and led her back towards the house.