The Life You Live

Chapter 22

Kaya had many questions to ask of him. But soon discovered she had no need to ask them that night, as they retreated to their own little world of his room. It was simply enough to be with him.

To feel his touch, taste his lips, take in his scent, the confort of his arms around her, the presence of his body against her own, the sound of his voice in her ear. The rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear as sleep finally claimed her.

The spirit within stirred her to wake from her slumber. As Kaya opened her eyes she thought perhaps she had sleep until the following night. That was not the case, the dark curtains simply blocked out the risen sun. Despite the spirits prompting to awake and go outside to partake of sun high, Kaya had no desire to get out of bed yet. With her body cohabiting a nature deity her physical needs had been altered. She only needed to physically eat once a day and her drink of choice was water. Especially if she got it directly from a stream or rainfall. In a metropolis city of Tokyo, she simply had to settle for bottled water that was derived from a mountain spring. With her reduction of nourishment needs came in place of it a need to be outside for periods of time. In sunlight and barefoot so her feet could connect with the Earth.

With her eyes opened and adjusted to the darkened light settings, she could see the features of Akito now. The tightness in her neck told her she had slept in the same side sleeping position of facing him while being embraced. The eve before had been spent simply in the company of one another, exploring tender affections and getting used to one anothers subtle differences. She leaned in and placed her lips against his cheek so he could feel against his skin the smile that formed over her lips, before she puckered them into a kiss. Her hand resting against the exposed flesh of his chest that his v neck sweater had to offer.

. . . .

Bunji slept peacefully for the first time in what seemed years.

With Kaya’s scent with him throughout the entire night, as well as her presence, the deep, lonely part of him was no longer absent of what he once remembered. So when the next day came, Aften had popped in, about to begin their morning ritual, when he noticed Akito sleeping with Kaya. And a dopey smile graced his lips and he ducked out and let them be, leaving them to wake up naturally.

So when Akito woke up, it was the smiling, kissing lips that belonged to the woman he loved. So when his eyes opened, a loving smile bloomed over his lips and he lifted a hand to cup her cheek, a bit too groggy at the moment to close the distance and press a kiss to her lips. The loving smile turning lopsided and a little bit goofy.

Realizing it was probably dark inside, Akito lazily lifted a hand and both sets of curtains slipped open to reveal a brilliant, warm sun. The windows, even opening to let in the fresh, sweetly scented breeze. It was a lovely time of year. His favorite time. Because it reminded him of Kaya.

So when he finally stirred, he took in a deep sigh and sought her lips for a kiss. After offering her one that lingered, he drew away and hummed gently, saying, “Good morning love...” He took a moment to run his thumb along her features, searching to trace her lips so he could feel whether or not she was smiling. Heart tightening when he found that she was.

His features softened then, the groggy goofiness fading into something so very soft.

“Shall we go get breakfast?”

. . . .

Kaya was certain she would never get enough of his touch. It didn't matter the manner of which he touched her, just that he did sent pleasantries throughout her being. Or the way he spoke to her be it in name or in term of endearment, his whimsical voice warming her to her core.

She relished the tender kisses they shared upon waking up. The goofy smile of his taking her back to the last time she saw it many years ago. How many times had she worried when she began to search for him that things would be awkward at first if she did manage to find him. She had re played his voice of reassurance many times in her mind when all those years ago she had asked him discreetly if Haku would welcome Chihiro back later in life. I absolutely believe he would had been his answer the. Now here she was with him again, picking up right where they left off with what felt to be more love then ever before.