Ichijiku (Tigress)

Cold, rushing water caresses my skin after a hot day in the sun. The calm, lapping waves wrap around my naked skin like silk as I wipe away the dust and grime from a busy day.

Birds and frogs serenade me from nearby trees and lily pads spinning around me in the pond. The sound of hooves trotting in the distance provides a soothing cadence to steady my wandering thoughts. I take a deep breath and duck under the water, allowing an overflow of serenity to encapsulate every inch of me.

For those few moments, my mind and body hover in a blank plane of existence where I'm untouchable from the hardships of life, until I eventually must resurface for air.

Rubbing the water off my face, I open my eyes to a stranger five feet away from me at the pond's edge. A stranger who's unable to see me as he pulls his shirt off over his head.

My heart jumps in my throat as I glide behind a large mossy rock to peek out from. I've never seen such a man before. He's so handsome. He tosses his shirt aside and then works at the buckle of his trousers. With a soft gasp, I hide with my back against the rock until I hear him step in the water.

A frog disturbs the surface tension and I stay still for a few more moments to make sure my position isn't given away before I peek around slowly again. His bare chest stretches above the surface. Chiseled muscles flex as he moves deeper into the water. Tan skin gleams with rolling droplets in the sunlight as he rubs a wet cloth over his taut skin. He closes his eyes and leans his head back, giving me a better view of his blue dreads.

I should let him know I'm here. I think, but my mouth hangs open when I try to speak. I can only hide behind my rock and ogle him. No, I shouldn't be doing this. My conscience pipes up, making me shake my head and sneak to the other side of the rock towards my clothes on shore. As I move closer, I notice some of them missing.

On the bank, a black horse rubs her nose in my shirt and then pulls my socks and undergarments closer to her along the ground. Internally, I panic, but I try to keep a calm exterior as I duck my head to reach for the clothes when I hear a deep voice.

"Kuroashi! What are you nosing into?"

Just as I reach for my shirt, the man reaches for his horse and we're suddenly a breath away from each other. I glance at the dip of his hips and his eyes droop to the valley of my chest before either of us process what's happening.

"O-Oh!" He falls back into the water with a splash before I see anything, but I'm frozen in horror for a moment before I cover my chest and tuck in the water with a squeal.

His horse remains unbothered and continues rummaging through my clothes.

"I'm sorry, ma'am! I didn't realize anyone else was here." He quickly apologizes.

"I-I should be sorry," I squeak out, submerging every part of my body up to my chin underwater. "I saw you but didn't say anything. I had hoped to make a quiet escape."

"Well, I'm mighty glad I got to see your pretty face before you did." He chuckles.

"I can't say I wasn't fond of the view myself." I smile shyly. My neck gets hot and I pull my soaking hair to the front, shading my burnt cheeks.

An awkward silence stretches between us as we peek at each other. Fantasies of swimming over to touch him skirt the edges of my mind, but I force myself to be good when the sound of munching reminds me of why we met.

"Your horse is eating my undergarments." I giggle as my bra dangles from its snout.

"Gah! She's–Ashi!" He exclaims, hopping out of the pond with everything God gave him exposed to the elements. "Give that here, you nosy thing!" He laughs when she nickers, moving back and forth to make him work for it.

I grin when he finally snatches the bra from his mischievous mare and coaxes her to walk with him so he can toss it into my pile of clothes without letting me see him naked.

"Sorry about that," He rubs the back of his neck, before patting his mare fondly. "Kuroashi can be such a busybody sometimes, but at least she ain't crowbait."

"Crowbait?" I ask as I extend my hand to her and wait to see if she'll sniff me. When she bends her head, I stroke the fur on her cheek.

"Crowbait's just another way of saying she ain't a good quality horse."

"Oh, well I agree. She isn't crowbait. She's lovely." I coo.

"She's a good girl." He gives her a good pat on her shoulder. "Just doesn't know when to keep her nose out of the dirt and mind her own business."

"Does she take after her owner?" I tease.

"I've been known to get involved in another's business a time or two." He smirks. "But only on the odd occasion."

I look down with a grin as I comb my fingers through my soaking hair. My eyes cut over to him a few times. What I wouldn't give to touch him at least once.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"Choku. Choku Dan." His goofy smile reveals a set of pearly white teeth. "And what about you?"
"Ichijiku." I take a few steps toward the shore until I expose my shoulders again.

"Oh! Right. Well, Ichijiku, let me help you out." Choku moves back around the edge of the pond to his clothes before grabbing a large, red cloak. "Here, darlin', use this to cover yourself."

He holds it open for me and I gather my clothes as I step out of the water and on land. Wrapping me up in his cloak, the cool wind isn't so bad, especially when he's trapping me in his warmth being so close. He buttons the clasps and I find myself mesmerized by the look on his face.

"What were you doin' out here anyway, sweetheart?" His brown eyes sparkle under the setting sun. "It ain't often I happen upon someone as beautiful as you in this pond. It's not exactly easy to get to."

"I often come to the woods for an adventure. Sometimes I need to go for a swim; though, skinny dipping today was a first." I chuckle nervously.

"I'm sure not complaining." His gaze shifts to my lips for half a second before his cheeks tinge pink and he looks back at me. "I-I mean, unless that makes you uncomfortable, ma'am."

"I'm more uncomfortable that you keep looking at me like that without kissing me."

I don't know where my boldness comes from but I can't say I regret it when he dips his head and closes the distance. Warm, soft lips dance with mine and I melt against him, his thin cloak the only thing separating us. It ends far too quickly, but that's probably good considering how fast my head spins when he pulls back.

"Sure didn't expect to do that when I came out here today." He presses his forehead to mine and we're close enough I hear the beat of his heart.

"I didn't either. I doubt there's anything more surprising to top it." I admit.

"Really now? What if I told you this pond is on private property and you're under arrest?" He slips his hands under the cloak to snag my wrists playfully.

I might be worried except he's smiling far too big for him to mean it.

"I'd say, 'Well, I can scratch that off my bucket list.'" I giggle.

"Who puts getting arrested on their bucket list?!" His laughter bounces off the trees as he shakes his head in amusement.

"The same lady who just kissed you wearing nothing but your cloak."

That seems to flip a switch in his head as he lets out another yelp and goes to grab his clothes and shuffle into them.

"Shit, that's right! I meant to offer you a ride back to wherever you needed to go. I'm sorry. I've been hanging fire this whole time!"

"Hanging fire?" I ask. I think I like learning about his cowboy slang.

"Delaying or getting held up." He explains as his pants zip and he throws on his shirt. "Come on, honey, Ashi and I will have you home lickety split."

"Oh, thank you. I don't mean to inconvenience you. I can walk if–"

"Nonsense. It's no trouble at all, ma'am. Let me help you up." He lifts me up as I keep his cloak secured, then he stuffs my clothes in his saddle bags.

By the time he reaches my house, the crickets sing to us as the remaining daylight wanes. He helps me off Kuroashi and I take my clothes gratefully.

"Wait here and I'll change so I can give you your cloak back." I say as I fish my keys from my jean pocket.

"Don't worry about it, ma'am. I've got more at home, I promise."

"Oh...are you sure? It's yours. It doesn't feel right to take it."

"I'm sure, darlin'. I imagine it'll give me a reason to come back." He winks.