Ei had done many deplorable things in her pursuit of eternity, but this had to be the single most immoral thing she'd ever done. It started out like any normal day. She thought she'd pop into the Serenitea Pot and see if Aether was around.

The traveler often redecorated with things he'd gathered across the nation, so there was always something new and exciting. Today, he had added a wooden fence behind which were two beautiful Sakura trees.

She wandered around the fence to get a better look. She had passed the folding screen when she saw those hot springs. Then she saw him. The traveler had let down his long, golden hair so it flowed down his back. His very bare back.

It took every ounce of self-control to stifle her shriek. She darted behind the folding screens. Her heart hammered in her ears.

Ei knew she'd better leave, quietly as possible. Her body decided, against her own will, to see if she could get a better look. Ei found a crack in the folding screen.

Right now, he was washing himself before he hopped into the spring. He sat upon a stool, completely naked. Despite his lean build, he was muscular in all the right places: rippling biceps, toned calves. The contours of his rear were remarkable; honed from countless duels and adventures. Ei bit her lip. She never knew a butt could look so attractive.

Aether dumped a bucket of water down his back, making his hair stick to his skin. He grabbed the hair in his fists, wringing it out. He knelt down and ran a damp rag across his legs much like one would polish a blade.

And in between his legs…Oh, oh. An unfamiliar tremor coursed from her privates. Ei's throat went dry while her nethers became quite damp. She knew she ought to leave and give him privacy, but her legs wouldn't budge.

Her hand drifted towards her arousal…it would be so nice just to…NO! she stopped that devious hand. Aether was her comrade and she would not ogle him like some voyeuristic pervert—at least, not any more than she already had ogled him!

Ei forced her eyes closed. Even then, she could still see him clearly. He began humming a waltz. The slow, rhythmic melody of his voice coupled with the sound of water pouring across his skin painted an all too vivid picture in her mind.

Whenever she pleased herself again, this would be what she thought of. No, this memory would be the only thing she could ever please herself with so long as she lived. Urgh, just thinking about him made her itch.

She permitted herself one more glance. It was beyond sensuous, the way he strutted, his chiseled body glistening in the sunlight. He was beyond beautiful. A scene she wished could last for eternity.

Ei started for the exit when disaster struck. Her foot caught on a stone and she tripped. In her effort to regain balance, she accidentally knocked over the folding screen which collapsed with a deafening THWACK!

The world did not move. Ei stood, frozen to the spot like a helpless deer. She dared not open her eyes.

"Hey," he said at last. "You can look, I'm decent."

Ei chanced a look and found Aether had a towel around his waist. Even that was too much for her. Her voice locked in her throat. What did she say? Hello, wonderful weather for a bath oh by the way I saw your dick. She was such a pervert. Deserving nothing less than death.

Aether guided her to a wooden building beside the hot springs.

"Just get changed in there," he said.

"Huh?"

"That's why you came, right? To have a soak."

"Er yes, that's why I am here."

"Great, we can wash each others' backs."

He smiled as if what he suggested was perfectly natural. Aether set the folding screen back in place, crossed into the hot springs and lowered himself into the waters.

Ei swallowed. If she backed out now, he'd know she wasn't here for a bath. He'd figure out she'd been admiring him. Then, all of Inazuma would soon learn their archon was a peeping creep. Worse, if Aether knew he'd think her the most disgusting perverted freak imaginable. He might never speak to her again.

There was no other option.

Ei entered the hut. She stripped herself down to her birthday suit, undid her braid, and wrapped a towel carefully around herself. Timidly, she left the shack.

Ei pulled up a stool and sat down. She let the towel fall to the floor. As she washed herself, her eyes wandered to the man sitting only meters away. Aether lay in the hot springs, his eyes closed. Had he peeked a glance at her when she wasn't looking? Part of her almost hoped he did. At least she wouldn't be the only peeping tom here.

Biting her lip, Ei drenched herself in another bucket. She rubbed down her long legs and her shoulders. Once satisfied, she wrapped the towel back around herself, took a deep breath, and entered the hot springs.

She sat opposite Aether, as far away as she could. Oh gods, his body was even more mesmerizing up close. Ei averted her face before he could see how nervous she was.

"So, how goes your archon duties?" he asked casually.

"F-fine," she managed. "How is your quest going?"

"Not much to report," he replied.

Silence.

Unable to help herself, Ei met his amber eyes. Either the steam had reached his face or he was blushing.

"Sorry," he said, "I just…never bathed with someone else like this. It's…nice."

"Yes," she agreed. "You are excellent company. I enjoy this cock."

"Wait, what?"

It took her five whole seconds to realize her slip up.

"I meant talk! I enjoy our talks!"

Ei had once heard that embarrassment was the social counterpart of physical pain. Embarrassment alerted one of threats to their social well-being. Seemed apt. 500 years dueling the Raiden Shogun paled in comparison with this. At least then, she had a way out by dying. There was no way out here.

"Ei, I know you were checking me out."

Her face exploded like a pyro slime. She struggled for something she could say but all that came out was bunch of nonsensical stammering. At last, she buried her face in her hands.

"You probably think I'm a pervert."

Aether adamantly shook his head. "No way. I could never hate you. Honestly…?" His finger spun little circles in the water. "Honestly it made me happy. I kind of wanted to show off."

Ei couldn't speak. Could barely think. He knew. He knew she was watching. Not only that, he liked it. So, all this time, he had been flaunting himself to her like some preening peacock!

"You pervert," she gasped.

"Hello pot, my name's kettle," he replied.

"I recognize the hypocrisy inherent in my own statement, but you basically flashed me!"

Ei folded her arms across her chest. Aether laughed at her embarrassment. Bit by bit, she allowed herself to see the humor in it as well.

"I'm sorry," he said more gently. "I did like it. A beautiful woman checking me out really does wonders for the self-esteem."

Beautiful?!

"Do you mean to say," she swallowed. "Do you mean to say you're attracted to me?"

He nodded. Ei's jaw dropped. No doubt about it now, Aether was full on blushing. Not only that, he was hard.

Silence.

"So, we're two people attracted to each other," he said. "What should we do?"

Ei stood up. Normally, she loathed impulsive actions. People who did anything without a well-formulated plan frustrated her. But in what was undoubtedly the most impulsive decision of her existence, she threw her towel away.

Wind blew goosebumps across her skin. Water dripped from her shoulders across the lengthy frame of her body. It was embarrassing, humiliating. But Aether stared at her slack jawed. His eyes soaked in every inch, every crevasse. The only words he could manage:

"You're beautiful."

He adored her. He wanted her so badly it made him stupid. Ei had slain gods, carved islands in half with ease, summoned a storm to shut off her nation. But in this moment, she never felt more powerful. All her embarrassment and shame became triumph.

Feeling brave, Ei crossed over to him. He watched, transfixed by the motion of her legs, the bounce of her breasts, the sashay of her hips. Her body had utter control over him.

She knelt over his legs and planted a hand on his chest, pressing him against the pool rim. Her hand trailed up from his nipples towards his neck, his cheek.

"Ei," he said breathlessly. "Please kiss me. Do whatever you want to me…"

She brought her lips to his. Her mind erupted with joy. He tasted of mint, of sweet madame and dango. Delicious. She wanted more. Ei opened her mouth and drove her tongue into his, relishing the texture of his teeth, of the roof of his mouth, of his tongue encircling hers. Each moment sent a new spasm of lust through her. Their bodies drew closer. If the sight of his naked form would remain forever in her memory, the feel of his lips would remain in her body for eternity.

"Ei," he moaned. "I…"

"Shh," she said. "I love you. May I … take you?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Then I believe I must punish you for your immodest display."

Ei picked him up and lay him on the bank. In one fell movement, she tore off his towel.

Up close, his manhood was even more immaculate. Tall and erect. She ran two fingers down his length, prying out the most delectable moans. Her finger prodded at the tip dripping precum. He convulsed and groaned as she fondled his balls.

"Who owns these?" she asked.

"Huh? They're mine."

She gave his testicles a squeeze. "I said, 'who owns these?' Tell me the truth."

"You! They belong to you."

The mighty traveler was putty in her hands. He needed her. More than need, he wanted her. She tilted up his chin so her eyes met his.

"Aether," she said. "Am I being too rough? I'm sorry. I just wanted to take charge."

"Are you kidding?" he said with a grin, "I love this side of you."

"Pervert," she snickered, beginning to massage his shaft.

"I mean it, Ei. I love this playful, flirty side of you. It makes me feel…wanted."

"You are wanted, my dear. Allow me to show you just how much you are wanted."

Aether awoke when Ei stirred in his embrace. They lay, their backs against the futon, her cheek resting on his chest. Now, she slowly blinked awake and met his eyes with a lethargic smile. He brushed a stray strand of hair off her face so he could better appreciate her beauty.

"You were amazing," he said.

"As were you," she replied. "I've never gone that long before."

In his defense, Ei wanted to test every sex position in existence. Every position. For someone who isolated herself for 500 years, she knew a lot about sex. At one time, she dominated him, forcing him to beg for release. Then she'd let him take command, reducing her to a whimpering mess. They'd nearly broken the bed in all their heated passion.

Ei planted a kiss on his chin.

"Ei, does this make us…a couple?"

"No. It makes us master and servant. You are now my concubine, whose sole purpose is my sexual gratification."

He swallowed. Suddenly, Ei burst into a fit of giggles. A joke.

"Oh, you think that's funny, huh?" he said.

With a smirk, he reached for her armpits and gave her a wicked tickling. Ei laughed, begging him to stop. She kicked and squirmed against him. He flipped her onto her back, pinning her waist beneath his. Then he redoubled his tickling attack.

"Who's the master, now? Come on, tell me who's your master."

"It's y-you," she cried. "y-you're m-my master!"

"That's better," he said. Aether bent own, to a still giggling Ei, nuzzled his nose to hers. "Now, your master decrees that you will give him a kiss goodnight and he will use your boobs as his pillow."

"Pervert," she teased.

"Wrong answer," he said. His fingers gave her another fierce tickling until she was crying. If sex with her was addictive, then her laughs were outright soul-fulfilling. But Ei would not stay idle for long. The archon broke free, pushed him down. She smashed her breasts into his face as if to suffocate him. Both breasts slapped his cheeks with meaty claps.

"How's this for a boob pillow?"

"Mmm, mm, mm," was all he could say.

"What was that?" she snickered. "You'll have to speak up I don't speak pervert."

He broke his mouth free and cried, "Mercy! I yield!"

"Foolish man. This battle has no surrender."

She shoved his face back in between her breasts. Oh gods, this was the best kind of torture. Ei's groin damp against his stomach, her fingers interlocked with his, and her laughter filling his ears.

But all things must end. Eventually, Ei let her lover free so he could breathe. By then, they were both tuckered out. They lay side by side, chests heaving as they laughed. Aether had never felt so happy.

Suddenly, Ei brushed his cheek. The love shining in her violet eyes was as breathtaking as the night sky dotted with stars. He clasped her hand, holding it against his skin. He swore he'd never let her go.

"Ei," he said. "Let's get married."

"Yes," she agreed. "We'll bathe together and make love every night. And maybe… we could have a family."

A family…Aether never really thought about starting a family. Traveling all the time didn't leave much time for matrimony, much less children. Maybe, that could change.

The thought of Ei holding their newborn children made him smile. He could already imagine their Teapot filling up with scampering rugrats. Nights out on the porch, just soaking in the sun while the little ones played.

"Aether?"

He realized he'd been daydreaming.

"Sorry," he said, "I was just imagining it. Our kids. I can't wait to meet them."

Ei guided his head to rest on her breasts. Aether purred like a very happy cat.

Before he drifted to sleep in her tender embrace, Aether thanked the stars for Ei and everything that led them to this point. Above all else, he thanked the hot springs. Best invention ever.