It was a lazy Sunday afternoon at the Inn. All the indoor work was done. However, not that much could be done about the outdoor due to the rain that rolled in randomly. So how exactly had the manager decided to spend his unexpected free time? Easy, with some well deserved rest. Keitaro had grabbed a blanket and sprawled out onto the sofa in the front room.
It seemed, as everyone knew he was napping seeing as the normal chaos that normally surrounded the front room had left. It was almost unnatural that it was that peaceful. The man was breathing deeply, his chest rose in an even manner. Even the twenty-four year old himself looked completely at peace.
This shouldn't even be possible, considering what he had been though the last few years. He experienced fear and punishment on a daily basis. The worst part was that the ones he cared for deeply caused all of it. However, he could never bring himself to retaliate. Conflict just wasn't a part of his nature.
He was a hurt man, but now at least now he had something good in his life. It only occurred in the last week though. Some of the other residents didn't approve of it. She was eighteen so there were no legal objections. It was just odd to the others. They still saw Shinobu as their little sister in need of their protection.
The girl in question was happy about her new relationship. She had talked with Keitaro about them being together when he had awoken later that day. There was no real physical relationship. Not that Keitaro could take it anyway. He flinched at any attempt she made. All the years of negative reinforce had almost turned him completely away from any perusal of intimacy.
While she was angry with this, the others were rather happy. They saw it as good because that meant the new couple wouldn't rush into anything. While that was true, they also had their own ulterior reasons. While they did respect the decisions of their friends they didn't think it would be a good idea for the two of them to continue dating. The age gap was just a little large for their tastes.
While she legally was allowed to date him and he could date her, it was still slightly weird. He was just about the graduate from university; she was just about to get into it. A six-year age gap was just a little bit too much for them to deal with. She was three-fourths his age. How were they supposed to feel?
Sure some of them were supportive. Suu and Mutsumi were obvious supporters. One that really surprised the pair was Kitsune. They both knew she was still a friend of Naru's. What they didn't know was why Kitsune would approve. They both assumed that she would side with Naru. Something was obviously going on behind the scenes. However, what went on didn't concern them so they let it go.
Another surprise was that Haruka not only approved, but also encouraged the two. She had actually tried to get the two out the Inn that weekend. It turns out their plans to leave would have been ruined by the rain anyway. So it was good they didn't end up wasting their opportunity.
Motoko and Naru reacted how they both suspected, in objection. However, it was mainly due to the fact that she was like their little sister. They really couldn't make the age gap an issue because Motoko's sister had married a man ten years her senior and Naru's Mother outdated her father by eight years. So they both knew that it could work. It was just they didn't want it to work.
The new couple ignored them though. Not ignored per say, but disregarded is a better term to describe it. They respected their friends concerns, but didn't really factor them into their daily lives.
The female of the relationship was actually walking to the kitchen to fetch herself a glass of water. She had been rather parched for the last hour, but was too focused in her studies to notice it. She had been studying since after lunch. So she had been at it about three hours.
She had just finished dealing with Modern Literature. Analysis had never been her favorite part of books. She much preferred to read for entertainment, not to learn moral lessons. However, she was expected to know how if she were to enter her, and her new partner's, school of choice. Good ole' Tokyo University.
The entrance exams were coming up in a few months and she was ready to go. Now all she hoped for was that she passed her first time. Not only Keitaro and herself were confident in her abilities, but also the rest of the tenants at the Inn knew she could do it as well.
Now as she walked to the kitchen for her drink she noticed something. She saw Keitaro curled up with a blanket. She thought he looked so cute. He had even fallen asleep with his glasses on again. She walked over and knelt down by his face. She gently stroked his cheek with her palm. She smiled as he unconsciously rubbed against her.
Just before she stood up she got an excellent idea. She lifted the covers off the man then lay down next to him. She brought the covers back over the two then she snuggled into his body. She placed her head against his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat.
His cotton shirt was fresh and clean. She would know. She had washed it a few days ago. She deeply breathed in his essence. Her manager had a distinct smell. He smelled like fresh pine, with a hint of lemon. She loved it.
After taking a whiff of her boyfriend she intertwined their legs, and wrapped her arms around his torso. She didn't want her 'prisoner' leaving without letting her know. She had just gotten there after all. She grinned like the pixie she was. She buried her face in his chest before closing her eyes to rest along side of the man she cared for so deeply.
She felt herself start to drift away. Her body started to become heavy. She gave a sleepy yawn before letting her body rest.
About ten minutes later another resident came into the front room. It was the Molmolian Princess Kaolla Suu. She scurried into the room on her way to the kitchen but stopped and stared at the cuddling pair on the couch. She smiled as she looked at how adorable her friends looked.
The princess suddenly got a slick idea. She bolted back to her friend's room as quietly as possible and retrieved Shinobu's digital camera. She turned it on then started to take photos as quick as possible from any angle she could get to.
Eventually the camera reached its limit. Suu frowned at the small size of the chip. She could make one that was bigger. In fact, that was exactly what she was going to do. She turned the device off then headed back up to her room to begin her new project.
The rain continued on for at least another ten minutes before the clouds sent a lighting bolt crashing into the ground. A second after the bolt dissipated the thunder came and rocked the Inn.
The man that previously lay alone on the couch stirred. He opened his eyes, and tried to move but found himself unable to. He looked down and saw a head of blue hair. He smiled as he felt his new darling's breath against him. She had unconsciously, or consciously, matched their breaths. So as he breathed, she breathed also. He thought it was actually rather cute.
He tried to move the woman, but found himself unable to even lift his arms. He looked to his sides to see that she had pinned his arms against his body. He sweat a little as he realized that he would not be going anywhere until she said he could. He felt a little uncomfortable, but accepted his fate nonetheless. If he tried to wake the woman up she would be slightly perturbed. Not only at the fact that she was disturbed in her sleep, but also at his seeming 'reluctance' to show physical intimacy.
So he just lay there and acted like a life sized teddy bear for the woman. He craned his neck then hesitantly kissed the top of the sleeping woman's head. He breathed in her smell then sighed. He liked her smell. It reminded him of fresh oranges. He rather enjoyed one after a hard day of work.
After enjoying the smell he lay his head back down then stared at the ceiling. He blinked occasionally, but his mind was blank. There was nothing on his mind. He felt at peace, in fact he hadn't felt this way in a long time. He was usually a worrywart. However, at this moment he just relaxed.
The woman that lay on his chest sleeping was snoring softly. He chuckled and smiled at how cute the noise she made was. He kissed the top of her head again as he smiled. Good thing she's not awake, or she may try to push it further.
He was actually surprised at the directness of the woman. She had always tried to instigate the physical connection. He supposed it was his training to avoid woman that made him actually reluctant to try and pursue physical contact. He had wondered why the once shy girl was so direct, but he remembered her answer when he asked her a few days ago.
They had been seated on the roof when she responded with; "I wasn't going to be the shy little girl forever. I knew it would take a little forwardness to show you I was serious." After that being said she latched onto the man next to her and pressed her lips against his. She had tried to press closer to the man, but he pulled away. She frowned at him before pouting. He shook his head ridding himself of the thought.
Keitaro lay there for a few more minutes before he felt her hair start to tickle his nose. He tried to lift his arms to scratch his nose, but still found it that they were pinned against him. The irritation grew from a slight itch to almost painful. The felling spread, infecting his whole nose. He twitched his face trying to alleviate the annoyance, but to no his efforts were to no avail.
His face contorted as he tried to prevent the sneeze, but he could not stop the inevitable. He breathed in sharply before letting out a thundering sneeze. His chest jerked shaking the woman who formally slept peacefully. Her head bounced up then slammed onto his chest.
She groaned before fully opening her eyes. She looked up and gave a sleepy little smile to the man she was using as a pillow. "Good afternoon," she said she wrapping her arms around his neck freeing the man's arms to wrap around her. She pulled herself up raising her to eyelevel.
"In most cases I would be angry, but in all actuality," she purred. "This isn't a half-bad way to wake up." She giggled before kissing the man underneath her. She pulled back with a full smile on her face.
At this moment the sun broke through the clouds sending beams of sunlight into the front room. The new light cascaded down on the young woman outlining her features. She looked even more stunning than normal. Her eyes were warmer, her hair shined and her smile became almost like that of an angel. "Yeah, it really is." He said from his tangled position looking up at the woman with a smile of his own.