Till Human Voices Wake Us

Naoe was at the edge of the water, barefoot and feeling the water ebb against her toes as she watched Hazuki without shame or reservation.

“Naoe?” he asked.

“I wanted to feel the water. Even just a little. And I wanted to watch you,” she admitted.

Hazuki turned to face her as she took a few steps closer to him. In his mind he wanted her to remove her garments and join him, but he knew that was too greedy and indecent at the time, so he reserved himself to silently watch her enjoy the tide dancing against her feet. Waves lapped around her ankles and she hiked her kimono up slightly to guarantee it stayed dry. All the while she kept the blossoms firmly clasped in her hand.

Water flattened the hair on Hazuki’s head and chest against his body. He brushed the hair on his head back, fully revealing his face for the first time as he continued to watch her. Naoe met his gaze and admired his fully visible face.

“You’re very beautiful,” said Naoe as she watched him.

“You are too,” Hazuki replied.

“You should brush your hair out of your eyes,” she grinned in her smile that was never fully happy.

“I will moving forward,” he agreed with a smirk.

Sounds of nature and lapping water echoed between them as they stood meters and lifetimes apart.

“I don’t want you to go,” he confessed sadly.

“Me either. I’ll be back before you know it,” she answered.

“Is it scary? Going back to sleep?” he asked.

Naoe shook her head.

“Not scary. Just bittersweet. Even more so now.”

Hazuki scrubbed his head and Naoe found herself admiring the water streaming down his arms and chest like she had imagined. Even though the water was up to his stomach, she wished he would walk forward to a more shallow space. Womanly desire fluttered in her chest and legs and she blushed in appreciation.

Hazuki finished and paused. Naoe looked away, still maintaining a sense of modesty and decorum even though both of them secretly wanted otherwise. Towel cloth pulled moisture from Hazuki's skin and left him dry. Clothes returned to their proper place on Hazuki’s body and he was decent once more. Erotic secrets hung in the air like fog but neither of them acknowledged them. Trees beckoned them back into their lair and the couple set off back to the grove, hand in hand.

Hazuki made a quick stop at a store on the road back to the park but asked Naoe to stay outside. It was only for a moment and both of them felt a fear that Naoe might not be there when he got back. But she was. He returned in less than a minute with a single bag that he hid in his pocket as he approached.

“What’s that?” Naoe asked.

“You’ll see. We’ll have it back at the park.”

Night arrived and the sensation of separation grew. Hazuki realized this was likely his last night with Naoe. Naoe knew it was. Hours gathered like dew as they sat outside of his tent.

“I had a lovely day with you. I left the park!!” Naoe exclaimed as she reflected.

“You did a lot this season!” agreed Hazuki.

“You did too,” answered Naoe.

"You should keep talking to people. Many people are kind and gentle. Not all of them will hurt you," said Naoe.

Hazuki nodded after a moment of hesitation and Naoe took his hand.

“You’ve taken such good care of me. I have cherished this season. I will remember it forever,” she said in a poignant tone.

“Thank you for letting me. I missed you Naoe. Even when the drugs and horrors of life made my mind forget you, my heart didn’t,” said Hazuki as he held her hand once more.

“Thank you for helping me reconnect with myself,” said Hazuki.

“Thank you for doing the same for me. I had matcha again because of you,” said Naoe.

“Oh, that reminds me. You’re not just having matcha this season,” said Hazuki with a grin as he rummaged into his pocket and retrieved a small bottle.

“Is that?...” asked Naoe.

“You know it. Plum wine!” proclaimed Hazuki as he unscrewed the cap.

“Oooooohhhhh my gooooooooddddddnessssss you didn’t have to!” cheered Naoe as she clapped her hands in excitement.

Hazuki removed the cap and handed her the bottle.

“I’m going to cry again,” laughed Naoe.

“I wanted to send you off right. To thank you for all these days and to say I’m sorry for all the days we missed,” said Hazuki.

Naoe paused and brushed his hair aside.

“It wasn’t your fault. You’re here now. We’re together again. I am thankful for you,” she said softly.

“I’m thankful for you,” he replied.

With that, Naoe took a sip of plum wine and let out a sigh of ecstasy.

“Delicious,” she replied as she closed her eyes.

Sips were shared and soon the bottle was empty. Late night had arrived and fatigue mixed with alcohol had made Hazuki exhausted. As sleep crept into his eyes, he looked once more at Naoe who was sitting with her eyes closed humming to herself.

Moonlight highlighted her hair in a silver glow. Her song was melancholy and from a forgotten time.

Hazuki unzipped his tent and began to set out his bedtime arrangement. Doing so gave life to the reality that this was likely their last moment together for a very long time. After youthful years of not fully understanding the weight of waiting for three seasons, now Hazuki looked at the upcoming summer with regret. He would give anything to force spring to last just a little longer.

“Would you stay beside me until I fall asleep again?” he asked her.

Naoe nodded and moved near him as he stretched out and lay on his futon.

“Goodnight Naoe. I’ll miss you,” he said.

“Goodbye, Hazuki. I’ll see you when I wake up,” she answered as she lay down beside him.

Hazuki felt her press against him as her small breaths grazed the hair on his neck. Even though she couldn’t sleep in this realm, her eyes were closed and he knew it meant she would be gone soon. Fingers rested on his waist and the small of her back. He inhaled through his nose and savored the hints of honey and plum once more as consciousness faded. 

When he awoke the next morning, she was gone. All that remained were a handful of faded blossoms on the ground where her hand had been.