unspoken: desire
The sun was setting. Kuina lay outside in the fields, in front of her house, watching the colors of her sky melt and fade and change. Soft and gentle pink, bright gold, fiery orange. Like a faraway field of flowers.
The breeze stirred around her, and the blades of grass rustled in waves. She closed her eyes and breathed in the warm scent, her favorite smell, the smell of soft green grass. Nothing made her feel more relaxed, more safe. It was easy, laying here, to forget about all of the things you were worried about. To forget about all of the things you were afraid of.
Here she was just part of everything else.
A little white flower caught her eye, bobbing in the wind near her face. It was tiny, but pretty, shaped like a small cup with curled petals. She smiled at the flower. There were no other flowers around that she could see. It was kind of like her. All alone.
She wondered what flowers thought about, if they had thoughts. This one was so small and fragile, but it seemed to hang on bravely in the evening breeze, standing upright. Why? What was the point of being a flower?
Petals, leaves, pollen. Letting out a sweet scent.
Movement caught Kuina's eye and suddenly a bee was there, landing on the petals, peeking inside. The bee danced back and forth, pollinating, reaching inside with quick and business-like movements. A flap of its shimmering wings made the flower shake lightly. The bee flew away, made a slow circle, and then lighted again on the white petals. She watched, unmoving, as the bee drank its fill of the flower's nectar, burying itself deep inside the flower's center.
She felt her cheeks growing warm remembering solemn little talks from her childhood, about what happened between a man and a woman. And this was not unlike that. Yet always before she had had an uncomfortable feeling when thinking about it. But now...
If it was as beautiful as a bee and a flower...
She put a hand to her breast, wondering.
Would it be nice? To be a flower? To be tasted and enjoyed?
Would... he like it?
What would he be like? What would he do?
Kuina closed her eyes, feeling her face warm as she pondered. The sky above glowed pink and violet, the stars growing brighter as the last rays of the sun faded. The moon was visible high above, waxing full. Faraway birdsong drifted across the expanse of the sky, traveling on the wind.
"Zoro," she murmured aloud, just the hear the sound of it. "Zoro."
"What?"
Kuina's eyes opened wide in fear and shock. "Zoro?"
He was standing aside, his arms folded across his broad chest. He looked angry with her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "I didn't hear you."
He looked like he wanted to return the question, but refrained. "Kuina."
Her face felt hot, and so did her body, yet under his scrutiny, the heat grew even worse.
"I..."
He looked away. "You... don't look well."
She put a hand to her cheek. "I don't feel well."
"You should go back inside."
Kuina bit her lip, looking up at him. "I..."
She gazed up at him, with hope in her eyes. The image of him picking her up and carrying her home crossed her mind and her heart beat faster in response. And when they got inside, maybe he would bring her to her room...
"No." He cut her off, sharply. "Go back inside. I have to go."
"Zoro, wait." Her cheeks flushed and she opened her mouth to protest.
But he was gone.