I Can't Stand You

Diamonds / You Feel Like Home To Me - Ebisu

Curled up on the couch in Katsu's cottage was like being in heaven. Her apartment was cozy and dark. There were string lights with stars around the windows and on the ceiling. For someone whose life was so bare and organized before, it was definitely a change for him.

It had been two weeks since the incident, and Mizuka had come by to clear him for light activity, like coming up to the loft.  He could also bathe again.  But he knew the real reason she had come by was to clear him for gentle sexual activity.  She had come by to help Katsu out.  Mizuka was a very sexual person, and he could respect that.

He was finally able to come up the narrow, steep stairs to her loft, and he never knew that he could miss a place so much.  He gazed up through the window of her slanted roof and watched the trees lazily sway in the breeze above.  Katsu had her face buried into his chest lovingly, breathing him in deeply as she laid with him.  Their legs were entangled.  He was so in love with her.

He whispered as loudly as he could to her, a new skill he had reacquired yesterday.

"I have to tell you something."

She looked up at him.  he could finally tell her all of the things he had wanted to say for the past couple of weeks.

"What is it?"

"I really enjoy our time together. I waited every night to come to the store to see you."

She giggled through the tears that he could hear building.

"I waited for you to arrive every night.  And you never let me down."

He felt his face flush with flattery and embarrassment.

"Coming to see you had gotten me through the days. I have boxes of porn stuff stacked in my apartment, still shrink wrapped. I just needed a reason to come and see you.'

She kissed him gently. Raising a thumb, he wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I'm here. I'm okay.  Everything's okay."

She took his hand in hers and cradled it against her cheek.

"I know it is.  I can't stop thinking about that night in the hospital.  Sitting there, waiting for word on your condition, espeically since you practically died in my arms.  Having you inside of me while I waited.  Your seed. I was afraid I'd never have you inside of me again. That night as I laid in the hospital, all I could think was the last bit of you anyone may ever have was inside of me. I tired to savor every moment.  I even tried to hold it in."

She put a hand over her lower belly, now crying. He kissed her cheek gently.

"It's okay. I'm here. Come on, let's take a warm bath and get calmed down before we go to sleep."

He needed to be thoroughly scrubbed, anyway, especially after two weeks of sponge baths.  She nodded, helping him up, down the narrow stairs, and into the and into the bath downstairs. Entering, she carefully sat him the on the platform of the circular tub before turning on the water Still wearing his yukata, he watched her, smiling as she chose salts and herbs to put in their bath.

"How about bubbles?"

"Yeah."

She poured a thick, pink liquid out of a bottle under the faucet, making the water foam instantly. It smelled like cherry blossoms. He untied his yukata and let it fall off of his sore shoulders before throwing it aside and sliding into the running bath.  It felt amazing against his tired, sore skin: a different sensation after laying in a bed for two weeks.  She happily stripped her clothes off and stepped in next to him, sitting and leaning up against his good shoulder. She began to cup the rising water over his chest. The tears had stopped, instead now she had a small smile on her face. She looked ethereal in the bubbles.