Fabulous readers,
Thanks to you for those of you who reviewed, favorites, or liked this. You're awesome. Keep being awesome.
-Walk up to the club like, "What up? I got a huge cock!" I'm pumped about the shit I got down at the disclaimer shop-
That night left a scar on Nanami's mind. It had her feeling like she had been cut open and left her for dead. She was unsure of what to make of it all. Tomoe's gentleness, his words. She played his voice over and over again in her mind. When she found herself alone, she often let her thoughts wonder to the memory of his touch upon her skin.
The teachers at her school droned on as she sat quietly in her desk. Many days had gone by since that treasured night. How long had it been? It seemed like an eternity ago, like a fantasy, or a dream. She sighed, waggling her pencil around her lips. She had been so scattered brained since then. It was something she couldn't help.
A cool breeze rolled in through the open window. Her hair shifted and swayed as the wind whisked by. She sighed and turned her gaze to her side where Tomoe sat. He was stareing ahead, listening to the teacher with a blasé look. He had his arms folded across his chest as he leaned back in the chair.
He hadn't made any attempt of romance on her since then. He merely went about normally, business as usual. Had it all been a dream? She sighed as she watched him, her mind drifting off into a world where he whispered to her and kissed her late at night.
It seemed foolish to wait around for him to do something again. Maybe she needed to usher things herself sometimes. She stared ahead, thinking about the various things that Tomoe would like. It seemed that he enjoyed simple things, sake on a full moon, a beautiful kimono. He was also a lover a tradition. Nanami's attention snapped to another fantasy.
Maybe simple was just the ticket. Maybe she could share a bath with him; she could offer to wash his back. After all, she was his love; wasn't it the duty of the woman to do simple things like that? A smile spread wide across her face as she envisioned a simple evening spent with him in the bath. It was prefect, but she had to execute this plan nonchalantly; she couldn't afford to come off as creepy, but how would she bring it up in a conversation?
Nanami busied herself after that by pretending to study vigorously, though she was simply running through options in her head. Lunch had come and gone, and she kept herslef silent. Despite her friend's attempts to get her to talk, she simply remained in her head, thinking, planning. When school had come to an end, and the bells chimed in the court yard, she gathered up her things and turned to Tomoe, waiting for him.
He gave her an odd look, though he made no comment to her until they had gone on their way home. He crossed his arms and looked down on her, raising an eyebrow with interest. "What has you so wound up?" he asked her as she beamed at him.
"Oh, nothing," she hummed as she dilly dallied ahead. "I was just thinking about how close we have grown. It's nice, don't you think?"
Tomoe glanced away from her, making no comment to her question.
"Do you think we've come a long way?" she asked as she turned to him, the hem of her skirt rippling out from her legs at the quick movement.
"I think there is still yet a long way to go," Tomoe muttered as he glanced at her before turning his gaze away again.
Nanami laughed. "I guess you're right. I look forward to advancing with you!" Her smile was genuine and her laugh was like the ripple of water flowing easily from her mouth.
Still, Tomoe remained silent. He merely followed her as the made their way back up to the shrine.
Asking Tomoe proved to be harder than it seemed. It was an embarrassing question. She couldn't just spew it out willy nilly. She sulked alone in the living area, muttering to herself. "Why don't we bathe together?" she practiced to herself in the room. "I can wash your back for you tonight. Won't that be nice, Tomoe?" She was so sure she had been alone.
"Nanami. I hope you are not ill. Sitting in here talking to yourself does not bode well," came a voice from behind her.
Nanami froze, her body tensing with embarrassment. She shuttered and dared to turn behind her, looking to see the owner of that voice.
Tomoe stood there, leering down at Nanami, staring daggers into her, deflating her and making her feel as though she were shrinking into nothing. She closed her mouth and made like she hadn't been doing anything. She let out an uneasy laugh. "Tomoe, I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Whatever," Tomoe snorted, "It would appear that the snake did not do his cleaning duties today. This room must be cleaned, and I fear you will have to leave it for now," he said as he shuffled in, picking up Nanami and placing her out of the TV room. He handled her like a child and talked to her just the same. Nanami fumed and crossed her arms. She wished that life could just be simple for once. No magic, no complications, no stuffy attitudes, just simplicity.
Such was life, however, and there was nothing she could do about it. She was feeling particularly glum and her glum expression was only mimicked in the weather outside. Clouds rolled down from the surrounding mountains, hovering over the shrine and adding to Nanami's self misery.
She sat on the porch, knees curled to her chest where she hugged them. She was trying to make herself as small as possible, wanting to sink away into the world. With any luck, she would disappear. Behind her, Mizuki ran across the floor, washcloth pressed to the wood as he cleaned. He had gotten a scolding from Tomoe and now had no choice but to work. He grumbled as he ran, but paid no attention to anyone else. Nanami wasn't even entirely sure if he knew that she was there.
Maybe she was too meek around Tomoe. Perhaps that had been the reason why Tomoe had left her that night. She had stayed so still as he touched her; and she did not made a sound; she didn't do anything. He left so suddenly, leaving her only with confusion. She sighed and watched as the world around darkened and enveloped itself in a nest of misty clouds.
Grey loomed all around and hung low, brushing against the green trees. The air grew heavy, thick with humidity as the clouds began to release a steady rain. The weather had been doing this frequently. Almost every night clouds came to visit the shrine and turned the soil to mud.
Nanami sighed and wiggled her toes, reaching out with her leg to touch the rain as it fell. She sighed as the cool water brushed across her foot. It was refreshing, something nice after a long day at school. She allowed herself a smile, and she sighed, content in that moment.
She could have stayed like that all night, just watching the clouds roll by and toy with the trees, drenching the leaves with droplets of moisture. There on that rainy mountain, she could forget her worries and just relax.
It would have been nice if Mizuki had noticed her. Fate, as luck would have it, was often cruel to her. She heard Mizuki's fast footsteps, but didn't think to jump out of the way. The snake had been so enthralled with his duties that he ran straight into Nanami, knocking her over and sending her off into the the mud outside. She screamed and slammed her hands down in the squishy earth.
It was cold, and slimy, a total shock to her warm body. She shivered and stood up, bringing her arms up to hold herself. She shook the mud away from her hair and wiped her face. "Mizuki!" she cried as her familiar stared down at her, still not fully registering what had happened.
There was a thunder of footsteps from deep within the shrine, something wicked came their way. Both of them shrank, fearing Tomoe's wrath, Mizuki especially.
The fox was not impressed. He stared down at Nanami in the mud. She couldn't help but give him a pathetic look. She sniffed and tried to wipe the mud from her skirt. Her clothes had been ruined. "Tomoe," was all she managed to let out.
No angry growls came from Tomoe, no glares, no scolding. He merely reached out to Nanami, picking her up from the mud and held her up to him like he had done earlier that day. She was shocked and stayed silent in his arms. She really was like a child. She sniffed and covered her face as Tomoe soothed her, patting her back. As he left the room, the gave a quick shout to Mizuki. "Clean up the mud from the floor, you stupid snake," he barked before he carried Nanami off to the bathroom.
She was sadly silent as Tomoe shut the door. Her pride had been diminished for the day; and she simply did not have the energy to put on a brave face.
"Honestly," he said as he turned to Nanami who merely sniffed and stared down at her feet. He raised her chin and began to wipe way the mud from her eyes and cheeks. "You'll catch cold if we don't get you cleaned up," he murmured. He turned from her and began to fill her bath.
Stem bellowed out and clung to the corners of the room, leaving Nanami with that suffocating feeling from before when the rain had begun to fall. She inhaled sharply, letting the heat fill her lungs. By then, she had been chilled to the bone. She shuttered and made to remove her blouse, lifting it over her head and struggling to get the soggy clothes off of her.
Mud fell from her and dirtied the floor that Tomoe had probably just cleaned. She felt terrible about it as she continued to struggle. There were warm hands that came to her aid. They helped her with her clothes, and tossed them away before leading Nanami to the stool by the wash area.
He was gentle with her, even courteous as he washed her body with a warm cloth and used the shower head to clear away all mud and soap. Nanami did not struggle; she did not speak; she merely sat and let her familiar wash her.
He too was silent as he began to wash her hair, lathering the shampoo against her scalp. She enjoyed the feeling of his fingers through her hair and even allowed herself give a small smile. She leaned back, sitting up taller as she ran her washcloth across her body.
She did not feel as weird being so exposed around him as she had last time. This moment was hardly sexual anyway and therefor was easier for her to handle. She did not mind Tomoe seeing her, or cleaning her in such ways. His hands, as always, felt nice and sent a rush of electricity through her body that made her feel alive.
It had all ended too soon for her liking. She had been cleaned and was ushered off into the tub where she sat, soaking in the hot water. She peered at Tomoe from where she sat submerged.
He was busy clearing away the mud from the tile floor, but soon stopped upon seeing her stare at him. "What is it?"
Nanami grumbled. "It seems like you see me naked a lot these days. It's hardly fair."
Tomoe blinked, he straightened, still clutching to the shower head. "Did you still want bathe with me?" he asked as he recalled what Nanami had been practicing earlier that day.
She flushed a bright shade of red and sunk lower in the tub.
"I didn't think you were ready. You seemed highly flustered with our last interaction. I didn't want to hurry you," he said honestly. Nanami could hear him sigh. She had been staring down at the water in her bath, not wanting to look Tomoe in the eye. There was a rustle of clothes, causing Nanami to look up again.
Tomoe had loosened his kimono and had begun to pull it from his body. There was a hot sting across her cheeks as she came to realize what was happening. She ducked in the tub and turned away, heart thumping, head spinning. She could hear him washing himself, but she dare not look. Perhaps he had been right. Maybe she wasn't ready. She had wanted to wash him, treat him so gentle like he had done for her, but her body was frozen in the water.
She had retreated inward, and refused to move. The water stopped running and the bathroom gave way to silence.
Tomoe had slipped into the bath beside her; he was quiet for a long while.
Water drops filled the silence, giving her something to listen to and focus on.
"Nanami," came that silky-smooth voice in a echo.
She shuttered and turned to him. His hair was wet, sending droplets of water down the sides of his face. Droplets dripped down his exposed chest and pooled in the water below. He smiled as he held out his hand for her.
All she could focus on were his lips as they mouthed her name again. She did not hear him, she only saw him. She drifted towards him, coming to sit beside the fox she dared to love.
The water did not hide much. She couldn't help but graze her eyes up and down his body as she sat next to him. He was truly beautiful. His build, his shape. His kimonos often gave him the appearance of being scrawny, but such was not the case. He was tall and lean, toned in all the right ways.
She had been so busy staring at his body that she did not notice his gaze upon her. When she realized, she adverted her eyes, a blush blooming across her face once more. A faint chuckle echoed in the bathroom and Nanami could feel Tomoe's hands upon her again. He directed her body to move in front of him, situating her between his legs so that she was facing him. He placed her hands upon his chest and leaned back, a true smile upon his face.
He sighed and she relaxed in the warmth of their bath, letting the water cradle her and comfort her. Her fingers traced along the muscles, sliding down his chest and feeling him.
They stayed like that for a long while, with Nanami touching him and exploring his body. She had never seen a boy, never touched one. She gulped as her hands slid across Tomoe's thighs. He was no boy.
She feared to go further. She looked to him as if to beseech him for direction, but his eyes were still closed with that smile still garnishing his face. She hesitated, and her body gave a slight shake. Tomoe now looked to her as her body trembled. His gaze was serious, consuming. His hand slid from its watery bed and cupped her face. With such care and tenderness, he brought her lips to his and kissed her.
She felt good, and wondered if Tomoe felt just as pleased. Her hand still lingered over him in the water. Her fingers twitched, but she did not move closer. It was only after his hand pressed to her's that she came to touch him. He had guided her there and encouraged her to touch him. He was warm, hard. It was not at all as she expected it to feel.
She had thought it would be soft. She winced as Tomoe's tongue slid across her lip. Her hand clenched and she gripped onto him.
For a brief moment, their lips parted as he pulled away to let loose a sharp gasp. Had she made him feel good? Nanami was wracked with delight. Her body tingled all over as she explored him further, ushering further gasps from Tomoe's lips.
They stood like that for some time, kissing in the warmth of their cocoon. Nanami had felt him, pleased him. She grew bold and kissed him back pressing her wet body to his. He held her close and played with her damp hair, guiding her hand with his fingers. She was delicate with him as he instructed her. Her chest swelled and she could feel a satisfaction that she never felt before.
After sometime, Tomoe pulled away from her, breaking their kiss. His eyes were hazy and his lids were heavy, giving him a dreamy appearance. He pulled her hand away from him and held it up, examining it. "You're getting pruny. We should probably get out now," he muttered. He did not seem like he wanted to get out, but Nanami listened him regardless.
