Dripping from You Onto Me

Nothing happened. Naoe’s foot settled on the concrete and she stepped fully out of the park and into the parking lot. She did not vanish. She did not burn. A slight heaviness came over her and she felt as though it took slightly more effort to move or breathe, but that was it. Hazuki stood beside her in anticipation and waiting. Naoe turned to him with her sanpaku eyes wide with excitement.

“I’m okay!” she proclaimed.

Hazuki sighed in relief and Naoe let out a cheer of celebration and jumped into Hazuki’s arms without thinking. Hazuki was stunned but immediately returned her embrace. Naoe realized too late what she had done, but instead of pulling away, she paused to feel his arms against her shoulders and his large hands holding her back and waist in close embrace. He seemed even taller now that she was against him. Subtle desire and longing drove her to wrap her arms around him fully and press herself as close to him as she could. Warmth drifted over her and it was not just the morning sun’s embrace.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Thank you,” he replied.

They held one another for a moment longer. Strangers passed by, likely perplexed by the disheveled man embracing the air from their perspective, but Hazuki paid them no mind. Only Naoe mattered. He inhaled her scent of honey and plum as they stood there alone in their own world.

It was the first embrace Naoe had experienced in perhaps centuries. It was the first touch of safety Hazuki had felt in years. For a moment, it seemed as though time might freeze for them right there, and the merciful heavens would allow them to spend more time together. That was not to be the case though. Both of them could still sense that Naoe’s time was fading fast. Naoe looked up to Hazuki and he returned her gaze.

His hair was thick and uneven. Tiny scars lined his cheeks and mouth. His lips were full and dark. Naoe’s lips parted, but not to speak.

‘So this was what it felt like indeed,’ she thought to herself.

It was lovely.

His palm rested on her cheek and his hand held her face as he gazed into her eyes with protective longing. And that was enough for her. Naoe exhaled and they stepped apart from one another.

“Thank you for coming with me,” said Hazuki as he continued to hold her hand.

“Thank you for wanting me to join,” she replied as they began to walk once more.

Bobbling water called to them from a few hundred meters away. Just outside of the park grounds, a small neighborhood opened to a winding road that crossed over a tiny river. Bridges crossed over the gaps, covered in lush greenery and stone supports. Nearby, a shrine beckoned to Naoe in her thoughts. It was small, with a stone torii gate welcoming them from the edge of the road, flanked by two stone lanterns and several sacred trees wrapped in shimenawa ropes.

“Why isn’t your tree wrapped in shimenawa?” asked Hazuki as they observed the shrine.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what goes into getting such designations or blessings. Maybe I’m not a spirit or a kami technically?” pondered Naoe.

Hazuki realized once again that Naoe did not fully understand or know much about her existence, and a creeping thought made him wonder if there was any possibility of finding answers. The challenge sat with him as they bowed and continued on their way.

Up ahead was a dense forest. Hazuki didn’t slow as they approached the thicket.

“There’s a path over here that cuts through to the lake,” he said as he led Naoe.

Indeed, a gated drive met them not long after with signs guiding them towards a nearby fishing stop. Hazuki turned from the drive and set off down a dirt path into the dense forest.

Overgrown vegetation surrounded and enveloped them. The air seemed heavier and damp in the foliage. Naoe felt the temperature drop slightly as the canopy blocked the sun from above. Birds chirped and insects sang all around them. Civilization seemed to vanish and had it not been for Hazuki’s modern clothes, Naoe felt as though they might have been transported back into her time. Down they went until the path opened and up ahead was an enormous lake.

Its edges were lined with sand and stone. Small outcroppings of machinery and observation decks jutted up from the treeline in the distance, but no one was immediately around them.

It was as though they had the lake to themselves.

“This is a dam that’s fed by a few rivers. Apparently there’s a pretty waterfall not too far from here,” said Hazuki as they approached the lakeshore.

Paths dipped in and out of coverage from the trees. They wandered for minutes until there was a moderately secluded cove. Hazuki stopped here and suddenly realized he didn’t know what to say. Naoe seemed uncertain as well, as she did not dare meet his gaze. Hazuki released her hand for the first time.

“I’ll… I’ll be quick…” was all he could muster.

“It’s fine. Take your time,” Naoe responded as she looked away.

Hazuki set down his soap and towel and then began to undress. For reasons unclear to him at the moment, the air seemed colder now, and a slight shiver trembled through his body as he slid his layers of clothing off. Exposed skin was met with chilled spring air and his muscles tensed briefly to the graze. Naoe stole a secret glance and saw the tense and relaxation of fiber and ligament along his shoulders and back.

His shoulders were broad and his waist was thin. He was muscular and lean, but not bulky. Hair fell from his head and down to his collarbones in heavy layers.

Hazuki didn’t notice Naoe’s gaze as he unzipped his pants and sat on the ground to remove the legs. Standing was too hard so he had to balance himself on the ground. Once the pants legs were removed, he was only in his undergarments. There was a pause and he almost looked back to Naoe. Nothing was said, and he decided not to look back just in case she was watching. In his heart, he found himself wanting her to watch.

Naoe did in fact watch, though only in stolen glances. As Hazuki removed his final coverings and limped towards the water, Naoe could not stop herself from glancing at his exposed body. His injured leg was gnarled and dispositioned. It barely bent as he hobbled towards the water. His upper body was sturdy to offset the uneven steps. His healthy leg was toned and long from years of working to offset its injured counterpart. Watching Hazuki move was like watching the very earth shift in friction and resistance as an earthquake began.

Ripples ebbed out from his steps as Hazuki entered the water. Cold shot through his veins and woke him completely. Every fiber in his body tensed to react and after a few seconds it became familiar and his body released the tension. Hazuki took a moment to be grateful for the bath and to set his mind. His eyes closed and he breathed in several deep breaths to fill his lungs as full as possible. Even though the water was cold, a bath like this was a sacred reprieve from the low-pressure showers of the clinics.

Hazuki began to scrub himself clean. Neither of them spoke. Soap spread itself in circular motions as Hazuki washed. Soon he had scrubbed his body and went to dip his head in the water to wash his hair.

“Almost done!” Hazuki called as he turned to face Naoe.

Only, she was no longer sitting on the shore. She was at the edge of the water, barefoot and feeling the water ebb against her toes as she watched Hazuki without shame or reservation.