Aether always got gifts for his friends' birthdays. This year found him a little strapped for mora. With June 27 coming up next week, he had to double his usual workload.
Now, the pain he could manage, but today proved messy. Unfortunately, the Treasure Hoarders, Stone Lawlachurls, and Geovishap Hatchlings had an ever so wonderful habit of attacking people with mud. Aether returned to the Serenitea Teapot coated in filth.
Tubby took one look at him, became green, and barred him from entering his own manor. The adeptus told him, quite furiously, that she'd been cleaning for the better part of the morning and if he dirtied up all her hard work then she would permanently reduce the weekly stock of condensed resin and adventurer's handbooks. Aether decided this fight wasn't worth it.
Seeing he was amenable, Tubby calmed down. She offered him shampoo, a soap bar, and a towel. She said, "Go wash yourself in the river. I will clean your clothes. I will inform you when I finish."
Aether folded his clothes on the bank, undid the braid holding up his hair, and marched his muddy behind into the waters. It was cold. He bathed in streams before so he wasn't too bothered. A cloud of dirt permeated around his legs, expanding the deeper he went. By the time he was up to his waist, the cloud had nearly stretched the width of a waverider.
Down on the bank, Tubby picked up his dirt-stained clothes, with some clear disgust, and floated off. That poor bird had a dreadful task ahead of her. Well, so did he.
Aether got to scrubbing. But this mud was caked on him. No matter how hard he scrubbed, it refused to come off. And it was everywhere! Those wretched Geovishaps had somehow gotten mud on his chest, legs, and his freaking butt. How had all that gotten past his clothes?
To get it off, he scrubbed until his skin turned red. Eventually, he just resorted to power-washing himself with hydro energy. That worked, but he probably tore off some skin with it. No way would he try that on his nether regions.
He finished as best he could and dried off. Wrapping the towel around his waist just in case, he staggered out the water, shivering cold.
Well, what now? There wasn't a whole lot he could do in just a towel and Tubby hadn't finished with his clothes. Standing out in the open would give him hypothermia, but he did not want to get back in that cold stream. The hot springs it was then.
As far as he could see, the Teapot was empty. And yet…he felt uneasy. He had instincts for battle and they told him that someone was watching him. Aether hoped he was just being paranoid. That happened when one was walking around nude.
Soon, he stood before the wooden gates of the hot springs. It had a changing house beside the wooden fence leading inside. Purple Sakura trees gave it an ethereal air.
He stepped around the folding screen, ready to unwind in a relaxing warm bath. Then he saw someone already enjoying a soak. Yae Miko rested, with arms splayed across the rim of the pool and legs crossed at the knees. Miko laid eyes on him, he on her.
She was naked.
Aether's heart skipped about three beats.
"M-Miko, I'm sorry, I didn't know… I'll just go…" His heel clipped on a stepping stone and he lost balance. His world flashed red as pain shot across his head.
Man, he felt dizzy. His head hurt. Rubbing the sore spot he found the skin tender. Already it begun to swell. He'd been lasered into a freaking mountain but a simple bump on the skull always hurt.
The blue sky spun like a Geovishap Hatchling. He couldn't be entirely sure, but he thought he could see tweeting dusk birds and white pigeons circling. Or maybe those were red vultures? How had they gotten in here?
"Aether? Little one?" one of the pink vultures said. "Can you hear me?"
"Pretty bird," he murmured stupidly.
Wrapped only in a towel, Miko ran to Tubby and asked for an icepack. Tubby went off. When her panic for him subsided, Yae Miko was quite frankly pissed.
She had this whole thing planned out—this whole thing down to the tiniest detail. Aether would appear in the hot springs and see her naked form. He would be mortified, ashamed. Then she would jump him. She even planned what she'd say: "Gazing on the body of a shrine maiden is a crime punishable by death. I'll need much more than an apology." He, being the sweetheart he was, would meekly comply with her every whim.
Why did he have to go and get hurt?
Tubby returned with some medicine along with a set of instructions. The blue bird furrowed her brow.
"Please refrain from any mischief in this abode."
"Oh come now. Do you really think I'd take advantage of him?"
"Without question," said Tubby. "The master has worked himself quite ragged for you already, taking double his usual work."
"What do you mean?"
"June 27th, the day of your birth approaches. Aether hopes afford a fancy dinner for you. The master is kind, so please do not abuse his trust."
Tubby returned to her task of washing the clothes. Miko was silent. Had Aether really gone out of his way just for her? And here she was, thinking of ways to seduce him. An unfamiliar feeling lodged in her throat. Oh dear…this must be guilt.
She had to make things right.
The pink vulture came back. Aether felt something cold pressed to his head. It stung, but it helped with the swelling. Someone coaxed him to swallow some purple liquid. His headache slowly ebbed.
The sky stopped spinning and he could see the clear dearth of aviary wildlife. No birds. But he did see Yae Miko.
"My, that was quite a fall. Are you alright?"
"It's fine," he said. "I get hit all the time."
He meant it as a joke, but she didn't laugh. The shrine maiden knelt over him, wrapped in a towel that only accentuated the contours of her immaculate figure. Miko helped him to his feet and brought him into the hot springs, gently settling him down in her lap. Warm water soothed his aches and pains.
As he sunk down with a content sigh, the back of his head came in contact with two very soft and very squishy…oh no. Aether tried getting up but she held him down.
"M-Miko, I can feel your…"
"Shh," she chided. "You've earned this."
Her fingers kneaded his shoulders, firmly but also with tenderness. Bit by bit, his muscles began to unwound.
Miko began humming. He didn't recognize the song but she hummed it like a gentle lullaby. The lilt of her voice lent the tune an almost hypnotic cadence. As her hums drifted into his ears, her hands lovingly rubbed him down.
Between the hot spring, her shoulder massage, and the humming, all worried thoughts melted away. His eyelids grew heavy. The journey had been so long and Miko's breasts were soft as a poofy white cloud. It would be so nice to just let go and surrender himself to this heaven.
Miko leaned over until he could see the violet of her eyes. Without a trace of mischief, the shrine maiden planted a kiss on his cheek.
She was so beautiful. The longer he stared at her the more he wanted her—the more he needed her.
Miko smiled. "Your little one is getting excited. Would you like to kiss me?"
He couldn't help himself anymore. He angled his face and brought his lips to hers. She tasted like tofu and a sweet lip balm. Miko let him have a moment in control where he pressed his mouth to hers. Then she took over, opening her mouth and inviting him in. Her tongue traced every crevice of his mouth, spreading her taste across his senses. Meanwhile she drew little circles around his nipples. She came away nibbling his bottom lip.
"You're a good kisser," she whispered. Aether felt a little swell of pride. Her finger traced down, down his belly to the edge of the towel. The bulge was plain for anyone to see.
"Aether? Would you be okay with me…?"
"Please," he said. "Be gentle."
Miko hesitated. Suddenly, her hand retreated.
"It seems, I'm taking advantage of you again. You can't consent like this; dazed and confused. And anyways, it wouldn't be fair if I took you when you could hardly fight back. I just can't do this to you. I'm sorry."
Aether wanted to argue, but her voice sounded so heavy. Despite all her teasing, Miko never wanted to hurt him. He gently clasped her hand.
"Then stay until I'm better. I'll give you consent then."
Miko sighed. "Aether. I came here with some rather improper motives. I got you hurt. Please, let me make it up to you somehow. Tell me what you want, anything, and I'll do it."
Aether's head sunk into her bosom. So soft, so warm…His caveman brain chose then of all times to moan, "Boobs."
"My, how loquacious," she smiled. "Would you like a closer look?"
Slowly, with a sensuous wink, she reached behind herself. In wide sweeping movements, she unraveled the towel from her waist and tossed it aside.
Aether's jaw dropped. Miko's hourglass figure curved in all the right places. Long, bare legs tapered from a flawless pair of buttocks. Her waist pinched inwards around a ridiculously cute bellybutton. And her breasts—her magnificent breasts—floated atop the water's surface.
"Whoa," was all he could manage.
She grabbed him, and gently lowered his head onto her bare breasts. Miko combed his scalp, humming that lullaby melody. Her skin was warm and soft against his cheek. She smelled sweet like candy. After this, he knew that a simple pillow would never satisfy him again—he could only sleep on Yae Miko's breasts.
"Aether," she said. "Do what you like."
Inches from his face hung a pink, perky nipple. It was so inviting, so perfect. Once more his caveman brain took control and his mouth clasped her nipple
Miko squeaked. Intrigued, he licked her areola prizing out another adorable yelp. He bit, rolling the tip between his front teeth. Miko let out a very shameless moan. The Guji had sensitive nipples. Who knew?
"Hmm," he groaned. "So good."
Aether would've given anything to go further. But he was so tired. And anyways, he couldn't make love with a headache like this. Miko deserved him at his best.
"Miko," he yawned. "Will you be here when I wake up?"
"Yes, I promise."
"Then," he swallowed, "we can…?"
"Certainly," she said. "If you're up for it."
"Yay," he grinned. "You wanted to make it up to me, right? Swear you'll come back every day and hold me like this."
"What? Naked?"
"I meant lovingly, but that too," he said. "Promise you'll always be here waiting for me and you'll be forgiven."
Miko started. "Um… Aether, that sounds like marriage."
"It basically is. I love you," he said moments before nodding off into deep sleep.
Miko found the whole situation oddly bemusing. She originally came here hoping to seduce him. Okay, fine, to dominate him. Instead, she ended up pampering him. He left her a speechless, blushing mess.
Yet, she rather liked this. His lean, muscular body pressed against hers. His head resting firmly on her tits, his towel-covered butt resting atop her thighs. That peaceful expression on his face was beyond adorable.
Gods, she wanted him. Just thinking about the things she wanted to do to him made her quiver with excitement. Well, it was mostly one thing with fifty variations. But no. Miko could never take advantage of a helpless man. She could wait, and the wait would only build up her anticipation for the main event.
Besides, they were married now. There would be plenty of time to indulge in her every single fantasy.
She eyed his erection beneath the towel, feeling that familiar quiver course through her. Oh, this was going to be so much fun.