– Allure –
Crystal clear water laps gently at my feet, refreshing and cool, the sand soft between my toes, I wade deeper into the water, enjoying this opportunity to just be myself, it's not often I can do that these days. I walk further out until the water reaches just above my waist before dropping below the waves to sit beneath the waves. It's such a peaceful feeling I lose myself for a moment. Enjoying the small shells and sealife rushing past me as the tide goes past. Eventually the need for air becomes too much and I stand back up, preparing to go back to shore when a familiar voice startles me, Kyoko stands on the shoreline, the light of the sun highlighting her beautifully in her flowing dress, so long the hem brushes across the sand, her slim legs accentuated by the open slit in the middle, she takes a step towards me, calling my name. slowly my eyes raise raking across her form, the flowing sleeves of her gown falling slowly reveal her bare shoulders, the only thing keeping the thin nearly sheer dress up her tiny hand clasped tightly at her chest. "Kyoko" the word leaves my mouth hesitantly, "what are you doing here?" "Where else would I be silly? Aren't we on our honeymoon?" she purrs. That's right, isn't it? We decided our honeymoon would be in Bali, but this scene, it feels so familiar somehow, we've been in Bali before… She moves towards me, slowly wading through the shimmering sea, the dress fluttering behind as she does. A sudden strong breeze comes from behind me flaring the dress out from her almost violently, just as she drops her hold on the front, I realize it wasn't a dress at all, but rather a dressing gown. Shyly she peeks up from under her eyelashes, my mouth dries out as the urge to scoop her up and carry her back to our room becomes nearly impossible to resist. "Do you like it Kuon?" she asks, as she twists to and fro, modeling her newest swimsuit, a strapless one-piece, pink with little rosettes attached all over. Mentally chastising myself, I take a deep breathe to settle my nerves. "It's adorable Kyoko, but you know I think it might look a bit better over there" I rush towards her sweeping her into my arms, swinging her round and round as she squeals for me to put her down. I oblige after a moment only after getting a bit dizzy, allowing myself to fall back into the shallows, tugging her gently down with me. "You're ridiculous you know Kuon" she giggles as she rights herself against my chest "shhh I'm Corn the fairy remember?" she erupts in laughter "of course your highness how could I ever forget!" she exclaims between giggles, before tracing a finger down my chest "Do you still need some help breaking that curse?" a scandalous twinkle in her eye as she slowly leans closer, I smile as she closes the distance "I do remember needing some help with that" I raise my hand to gently cup the back of her head, leaning forward I close my eyes.
Suddenly the water is gone, everything is dark, and there is a strange not quite heavy but also not exactly light weight in the center of my chest. Slowly my eyes adjust as my brain rushes to catch up, looking around I realize I'm in my bedroom, in bed, the sheets are warm, glancing over at the clock reveals it's only about 3 in the morning, far too early to be awake. Sighing I start to readjust to go back to sleep when the weight on my chest moves, 'what the?' it lets out a contented squeak as it curls back into a ball. Right Kyoko, she's a squirrel right now, it's been nearly 8 months since she was suddenly turned. This sleeping arrangement however is a bit newer, usually she sleeps in little-kyo's bed over on the dresser, but she's been getting restless lately, honestly we both have she hadn't been able to sleep for the past few weeks before I convinced her to try sleeping on the bed with me. Of course she insisted it wasn't proper, scribbling pages upon pages about the impropriety of sharing a bed before marriage! I'd had to go out and get her an entire new set of notebooks that same night! The wedding is still around 10 months away, but with some coaxing she finally agreed to sleeping on the bed, well more like bribery… she now has a doll sized closet full of squirrel sized princess dresses, and another filled with squirrel pajamas. The only thing that could convince her sharing a bed wouldn't be improper was getting squirrel clothes…. The image of her modeling the outfits like a little fashion show plays in my mind a soft chuckle leaving me. I reach out to stroke her gently "what am I going to do with you?" sighing I stretch back out determined to be a good squirrel bed though I know I'll be stiff as a board in the morning. I close my eyes hoping perhaps I can will myself back into that dream, a dream of a hopefully not to distance future, when my Kyoko is fully herself again, human, able to speak so I can hear her voice. That thought finally lulls me back to sleep. the sea and sand doesn't greet me, but a smiling laughing Kyoko does, there's nothing better than seeing that smile.