Shizuru threw her head back against the large smooth rocks that lined the hot spring. The heat enveloped her body, mind and soul. It worked on the tightest of knots, melting each bit of irritation and discomfort until it dissolved into the mist overhead. The older woman had found this place, like all the great treasures of old, by accident. The last commercial hot spring Shizuru had gone to for this part of her projects, she'd overheard the owner trying to sell a "cabin with a personal onsen". The owner had given Shizuru all sorts of tips, tricks and warnings, about how to run the small cabin, she was even so kind to accompany Shizuru during the author's first attempts at living in the cabin in the middle of nowhere. Though the owner had died without an heir, the little old woman confided in Shizuru that she was glad to have sold the cabin to it's rightful owner before passing.

It had taken many years for Shizuru to be comfortable living in the cabin alone, and even now the ruby eyed woman was still cautious, rightfully so, of course.

"Ah," Shizuru's eyes snapped open when Natsuki's contented voice sounded in her right ear. "Now that's the stuff."

Shizuru's eyebrows jumped, but after seeing the small tilt of a smile on Natsuki's lips, found the tan headed woman mirroring the action. Settling back into the rocks, the two women rested in the water for what felt like ages. "We should head inside soon. Before the fire goes out."

"I suppose so, but I feel so good. Because it's so cold outside, I'm not even getting dizzy with the heat from the water."

Shizuru hummed in agreement, but still made her way to stand, "Even so, we shouldn't stay in for too long. What?"

Shizuru instinctively tried to cover herself with a teeny, square towel she had left in the snow to hide from Natsuki's glittering gaze. "C'mon here," Natsuki gently tugged at Shizuru's wrist.

Natsuki had never seen a body like Shizuru's. No one ever hope to compare.

Shizuru's nipples perked when Natsuki brought the wrist to her lips, pressing a delicate kiss on the pulse point. The older woman felt an arm slowly wrap itself around her waist, Shizuru allowed it to bring her closer to the heat that was different from the hot spring, and much warmer than the sun.

Emerald and ruby locked, Shizuru blushed and moaned when a knee spread her thighs apart. Natsuki's brought her face as close to Shizuru's as she dared, breath tickling the older woman's lips.

Shizuru had spent so many agonizing years wondering if they would ever come to this moment, she wouldn't spend a second longer.

Shizuru's lips tested and tasted, the heat gathering in her lower stomach. Natsuki nibbled and pulled Shizuru closer until the older woman's slit meshed with the blunette's hip.

"Natsuki," Shizuru breathed when the bundle of nerves twitched against Natsuki's firm hip. Wrapping her arms around the blunette's neck, Shizuru opened her legs and her kiss, moaning inside Natsuki's mouth as the tan- haired woman rocked against Natsuki's leg. Natsuki broke the kiss to explore more of the older woman's body. Natsuki trailed kisses all the way down to the center of Shizuru's breasts. Emerald eyes flicked mischievously toward half lidded rubies before sucking in the left beckoning nipple.

"Ahn!"

Shizuru's head snapped backward and felt weak when Natsuki's tongue flicked hard and fast around the sensitive bud. "That…feels…so good," Shizuru rolled her hips when Natsuki switched to the other neglected nipple.

"Mmhmm…Whoops!"

When both women tried to kiss each other again, but missed and kissed each other's cheek instead, they giggled and agreed that this needed to move to the bedroom if they didn't want to pass out.

Dizzy and light, they gathered their things inside, threw in a log and placed a thick rug by the fire. "Now where were we?" Shizuru asked while straddling over Natsuki's naked body.

Natsuki's grin faltered when Shizuru swooped down to leave kisses on her neck. The blunette's heart began to pound in her ears, her lungs were starting to freeze and Shizuru's touch became all too real.

"Stop."

Shizuru leapt back as if the embers of the fire alighted her back. "What's wrong?"

"I-" Natsuki felt guilt twist in her stomach when she saw Shizuru's eyes widen with fear. "I'm sorry. You were kneeling on my hair. It's okay, com'ere."

Shizuru's body tried to resist the hands around her arms, but when Natsuki's kiss planted on her temple, Shizuru slowly opened up, allowing the heat to reignite.

Natsuki guided the older woman to her back, a steady hand teasing Shizuru's inner thigh. Shizuru gasped when the hand ghosted over the tuft of sandy colored hair, and wanting to make Natsuki feel good too, shyly trailed a hand from Natsuki's shoulder, over her breast until Shizuru's fingers fell from the erect, pink nipple.

Natsuki's head went blank. The blunette's body forgot how to function.

"Natsuki? NATSUKI!"

" 'M cold…"

"You're awake!"

Shizuru set down her manuscript and hastily dropped to Natsuki's side. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

Natsuki went to scratch her rib, paused and peeked under the thick blanket. "Um, clothes for a start."

"Right. I'll go get some. But here, drink this first."

Shizuru handed Natsuki a hot cup of strange liquid.

Taking a cautious sip, Natsuki eyes perked up when a sweet taste settled on her tongue.

"Whatever this is, it's good."

"It's just warmed up milk and honey. Will these be okay?"

Natsuki nodded, then raised an eyebrow when Shizuru stood awkwardly between her rocking chair and Natsuki's clothes. "I'll go to another room while you change."

Although while Shizuru walked away, Natsuki wanted to stop the older woman, tell her that it was okay to stay, the younger woman couldn't.

"Can we talk?"

Shizuru had holed herself up in the spare bedroom of the cabin for the rest of the night. Natsuki pushed inside the small room, and wrapped the blanket around her tighter, even with the small fire, the room felt impossibly close to zero degrees. "Sure, I'll come downstairs where it's warmer."

"Here's just fine."

The rush in Natsuki's response made Shizuru pause before sitting back down. "Alright."

Natsuki gnashed her teeth for seconds that stretched like years, until she finally moved to stand in front of the older woman. "I know you've changed. And I know you didn't mean to hurt me."

Shizuru recoiled and averted her gaze into the dying fire.

"…But I can't do this. And I'm sorry I forced myself to come with you here. But I think I should go. You're here to do your work, and I can't be here alone with you."

"You never need to apologize. I understand. Thank you for coming."

Shizuru's words came out genuine but, Natsuki watched as ruby eyes became blank, to show that the woman had run away very far inward of her mind.

When Shizuru had come out of her torturous mental maze, it was dawn of the next day and Natsuki was gone.

"Please be advised that this winter storm is just beginning. Do not travel to or from any of the prefectures affected by this storm as it is dangerous and easy to get sick and/or lost. We also advise that those who live in these areas, find adequate shelter and stock up for the incoming snow that is expected to come in a few days."