Disclaimer: I do not own Ai Yori Aoshi and Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi. This is the property of Kou Fumizuki, Pioneer/Geneon, and JC Staff.
Warning: This passage contains some very, well, "blue" material. This scene depicts masturbation, though I have taken care to use very vague, but sensual, language. This scene can be omitted from reading without any detriment to the overall story. For those of you who continue to read this passage, further author's notes on the "Interlude" will be included at the end of the epilogue.
Thank you.
Blue Monarch
Interlude
The shoji in her room was opened, bathing everything a bluish hue. Laying in her futon and staring out the now makeshift window, Aoi could see that only the full moon was out, distant and pale, against the midnight blue sky. There were no stars, the air was warm, and her mind began to wander.
She had always been so self-conscious of her robe becoming loose and undone in the night. She had been embarrassed when even a bit of flesh was exposed. She did not want to do anything inappropriate, even as she was beside her beloved.
She carried herself with restrained sensuality even in their most intimate of moments, untouchable and tempting. Wrapped up together on a single bedroll... She felt the most content in their trust and connection, for nothing physical marred it. For her, at least. She must have driven him crazy, now that she looked back on it. And maybe that was why he was so selfish.
Her beloved was not here.
Tonight, it was only her and no other.
Lying back on the soft fabric of the futon, the heavy blanket was thrown aside.
Aoi had undone her clothing, the robe spread open and her body bared to the night. She stared at the perfect moon, it being her only witness. She nodded, pleading for the moon to keep this secret, and closed her eyes.
Moonlight brought a sapphire glow to the pale terrain, and somehow, the illumination helped to guide her hands as they wandered this familiar, yet unacquainted, land. Mountains and valleys and plains of skin were mapped, and the environment's reaction to these pilgrims set the terrain ablaze.
Excitement filled Aoi as she continued on this self exploration. She was emboldened as each discovery pleased her.
Finally, her hands found a flower, a most fascinating flower. Long, slender fingers slid over the shape of petals and sampled the dewy readiness of nectar. With eyes closed, she nurtured it, concentration focused on testing and touching and coaxing it to blossom.
Effort and exertion caused the landscape to change and shift, tremors in anticipation of this spring.
One more caress and Aoi felt pleasure and heat bloom throughout her body. Her body arched and trembled with this blossoming; it was so joyous that she cried out and fell back onto the futon, letting bliss and exhaustion carry her accomplishment.
Her eyes slowly opened and she panted quietly. She realized that she had cried out for him, and with that thought, anger and resentment welled to the surface and spread throughout her body. The feeling smothered the heat, bringing it to smolder. She tightly wrapped that bitterness around her like a warm blanket, feeling insulated and numb.
She could not even have a pure moment for herself without him.
She was so tired, she did not know if she had to let go or force herself in order to cry.
She chose to stare outside and note that blackish clouds were moving to blindfold the moon. The air against her skin felt cooler. Her arm stretched out and closed the shoji. A final clack muted her surroundings in darkness. With one percussive sound, many more followed as raindrops hit the roof and any other surface outside.
Aoi pulled the now cold comforter about herself and turned onto her side, back to the shoji. All that she knew was that she was kept still inside this pristine house and that the free, torrential sky outside would do all the anguished weeping for her.