Cymurai

001

SOFT PETALS from the gnarled cherry blossom branches encircling the revelers hung listless between the floating isles of the Ganymede garden park. The greenery topped islets of earth drifted serenely, gravitating to and from the many other occupied pleasure atolls like visiting boats on an endless river across the magnetic equator. In the low-gravity, the moon's winds stirred the pink petals to dance with a woman in light, silken yukata robes; their colors complimenting her laughter.

Bubbly and light, from the very moment he had met her, the sound of her voice had made his heart ache to be with her and none other. The day she became his wife and every day beyond was the epitome of bliss.

"Osuzu..." His voice was strong, clear, and adoring, he called her name.

Fine music and finer fruits sweetened the mood of the cyborg samurai and their families. Not in a century had the shogun's affirmation of her gratitude to her loyal samurai been so grand. Their swift, merciless strike against a building rebellion massing five times their own strength had dealt a devastating blow to the cowards and leeches who hid in the shadows of a great woman.

Raising a large strawberry, Osuzu playfully teased her beloved husband Zen'ichi with it, running it over his lips, daring him to bite into it, and pulling it away at the last second. He feigned shock, snapping at her hand intentionally, missing it by the narrowest of margins. She squealed in surprise and then giggled before she smashed it across his face – the juices, pulp, and seeds running down his cheek and chin.

Behind them on a nearby floating islet, Commander Asahi burst into laughter. The older man slapped his knee and tipped back his flat sakazuki saucer of sake. "Looks like she got the best of you, boy."

The good-natured Lady Asahi joined her husband's laughter with her own gentle voice. She bowed in deference to the Zenichi has he turned to look at them, but could not help but laugh harder seeing the mashed berry upon his face. This she had the good manners to hide behind the sleeve of her kimono though.

Zen'ichi blushed and returned the bow.

Osuzu's continued soft titter brought him back to the matter at hand. He turned to find her lovely eyes had hardened into a steely gaze, challenging him. What's the matter? Too much for you to handle? they said.

He narrowed his own eyes, picking up both a strawberry and the thrown gauntlet. "You little vixen," and reached for her shoulder. He would give her a quick taste of her own medicine and just maybe, brazenly follow it up with a kiss that would surely scandalize.

Today's event, though few outside of a very tight circle of friends knew, coincided with their fifth wedding anniver – ght circle of friends knew, coincided with their six– few... coin... weddying... annicir...

>COMPRESSION ERROR...
>READ CORRECTION COMPENSATION...

Zen'ichi closed his eyes as everything ground to a crawl. His head flared with brief, bright pain before subsiding. His vision skip-glitched and the voices of the jovial partiers returned.

His wife's face held a look of concern– No, it was a smile, accompanied by its own set of audio pops and scanlines. His peripheral vision fuzzed momentarily. He would have a diagnostic run–

His arm froze mid-reach, then shot out toward her with great speed.

Osuzu deftly tumbled backward, leaving Zen'ichi grasping at thin air. He struggled momentarily with his balance before his balance actuators kicked in, righting him. So that's how it was. He smirked internally.

They each leaped to their feet and locked eyes. He dropped his stance and center of gravity, readying himself to leap out to snatch her up. She did the same, mimicking his actions, taking up the lengths of her yukata in her hands.