Summer Wars: Aftermath Part 1

Chapter 7

When Natsuki opened her eyes, she found herself staring into Kenji's sleeping face from less than fifty centimeters. She blinked rapidly, trying to remember how they had gotten like that. She scanned the room as well as she was able. Yes, this was the North Suite of the Clan Wing. From the strength of the light, it must be somewhat past dawn.

She had never been this close to him before. She took the opportunity to study his face while the light slowly brightened. There was a tiny scar at the edge of one eyebrow. She wondered what had caused it. A fall? A sports injury? Come to think of it, she didn't think he played sports, but maybe he had when he was younger.

He sighed, just a slightly heavier breath. A tiny smile curved his lips that sent a shiver down her back.

Kenji's eyes flickered and half opened.

"I was dreaming," Kenji murmured.

"What about?"

"I don't remember, but it was a happy dream."

"I'm glad."

She could see his realization of their position when his eyes opened wide.

On impulse, Natsuki leaned forward and kissed the tip of Kenji's nose.

"Wh-what was that for?"

She grinned at him. "Because you're cute when you sleep."

Her grin widened at the flush that rose up his face.

"Of course, you're cute when you blush too." She giggled when his blush got brighter.

"I–I–what–" he interrupted himself with an audible gulp. "How long?"

Natsuki twisted her head until she could look out the door at the light shining on the mountains.

"I'd say it's about nine," she said. Her stomach rumbled. "Definitely time for breakfast."

She paused for a moment. "Actually, I think I want a bath first. I'll feel much more like eating when I can smell the food instead of myself. How about you?"

"Uh, I, well, you can go first."

Natsuki giggled at his blush.

"Silly, this is the luxury suite for clan leaders. There's more than one bath. Come on, I'll show you."

They both tried to sit up before they noticed they were still connected by their hands. The attempt got them tangled in the coverlet before they managed to get disconnected. This time, Natsuki was blushing as much as Kenji.

#

Natsuki led Kenji to one of the side rooms where a huge bath, at least eight feet square waited already steaming. A pile of fluffy towels and robes waited on a bench by the door.

"I see someone has already turned on the heat," she said in satisfaction.

"Natsuki," Kenji said hesitantly, "you said there were separate baths."

"I meant separate from the main family baths," she said.

"Oh, I guess I'll wait until you're done." Kenji started to back out of the room.

Natsuki put her fists on her hips and tilted her head. "Kenji, we just spent an entire night in bed together."

Kenji gulped and blushed brightly. "B-but that was just sleeping."

She covered her mouth and giggled. "You really are cute when you blush, but I think we're going to have to work on that. Watch this."

Natsuki walked to the wall and loosened a rope tied to a stanchion. As she paid out the line, a bamboo curtain unrolled from the ceiling and separated the tub and most of the room into separate areas.

"See?" she said. "Separate baths."

"That's not really..." he gulped to a stop.

"Look, Kenji, if it really bothers you that much, you can wait in the other room, but I'll warn you I feel like a good long soak, so it'll be a while." She watched him for a moment. "I promise I won't ravage you. Against your will," she said with a grin. "It's up to you, but I'm going to have a bath." She turned away and stepped out of sight behind the curtain.

Kenji stood there shifting from one foot to the other. A few seconds of rustling out of sight, and then quiet splashing and a loud sigh announced Natsuki entering the bath.

"Come on in, Kenji," Natsuki said, "the water's heavenly."

Kenji dithered for a moment, then stripped and stepped into the steaming water. He lowered himself into the water and echoed her sigh.

After a few minutes of quiet ripples, Kenji cleared his throat. "Thank you for helping me, Natsuki," he said quietly.

There was silence for a moment. "I should be thanking you," she said. "You saved us all."

"You were the one who beat Love Machine. You and Kazma."

"But you kept him from killing us at the end." Her voice had a strange catch that Kenji hadn't heard before. "What happened to you was because of that. Because you gave everything you had to save us. I told your mother that last night."

"Wait, Mom's here?" Kenji said.

"Yes, she arrived late last night."

"And she...saw us in bed together?" His voice wobbled.

"She and Aunt Mariko are the ones who put us there," Natsuki said with a smile in her voice, "so there's nothing to be embarrassed about, she already knows about us."

"Us!? What do you mean?"

"Don't you remember? You proposed to me last night, so we really are engaged now."

"What!?" Kenji bolted to his feet, then dropped back down in the water to his chin.

Natsuki's laughter pealed though the room.

"I'm sorry, Kenji," she said when she finally got her laughter under control. "I'm just kidding, but I can practically feel that blush from here. We really are going to have to work on that."

"That wasn't very nice," Kenji muttered. "I almost had a heart attack."

"What's the matter? Aren't I good enough? Cousin Shota will be upset when he hears that."

"That's not–I mean, you–that is," Kenji sputtered to a stop when she started giggling again.

"That's enough for me," Natsuki said after fifteen minutes of desultory conversation. "I'm ready for breakfast now."

The sudden splashing from the other side of the screen caught Kenji by surprise. "Oh, uh, I guess that's a good idea." He tried to ignore the sounds coming from the other side, but he could feel the heat climbing his face anyway. He edged to the end of the screen and reached out, trying to snag one of the towels and a robe.

"Here you go," Natsuki said. Her hand reached around the screen with a towel.

Kenji snatched it and quickly wrapped it around himself. He was just in time to see Natsuki leaving, wearing one of the robes and toweling her hair dry. He quickly dried himself off, pulled a robe around himself and followed her.

Kenji found her standing in the sliding doorway staring northward across the mountains. He stepped up beside her and stood in silence.

"I still can't believe she's gone," Natsuki said quietly.

"She was an amazing woman," Kenji said. "I only knew her for one day, but I think I'll remember her all my life."

"I hope I can be like her."

"I think you already are well on your way."

Natsuki reached out and gripped his hand. "Thank you for being here, Kenji."

"Whenever you need me, I'll be there for you."

"Let's get that breakfast, shall we?" Natsuki said.

"Sure. Uh, do you want to change in here or should I?"

"No need to change at all," Natsuki said. "When we don't have guests, no one cares if you lounge around in a bathrobe all day. Let's just go eat. Then we can get dressed. I'm hungry!"

Natsuki turned and led Kenji out by the hand she still held.