Hot Spring Hideaway [Open]

[Okada Kaji]

At that moment, Jomei Koyanagi believed that Yume’s empathy knew no bounds. Yume hooked a delicate hand beneath Jomei’s elbow, and tugged at him, which prompted him to rise as if she were in full control of him now. He was the spider in this situation, yet a mishap with his room key had Jomei being lured into Yume’s parlor instead. The young man wasn’t beyond the concept of sleeping on a carpeted floor, though he was initially quite excited for the chance to stay in a cozy bed for the first time in many tendays. “Oh, I’m n-not immmposing, am I?” Despite his concern, Jomei had no qualm with leaning upon the idol again. In fact, a naughty part of him was taking satisfaction from it all. No, there was nothing suspicious at play, here: nothing at all.

When Yume checked Jomei for his coherency, he did not think she was already attempting to make a deeper connection with the verdant crystal. But when she asked, she’d feel a sensation in return— it was like a presence invading her mind, but a bit more than a confirmation. The verdant crystal attempted to entice her again, this time trying to convince of the pleasure she might be able to receive once she had the crystal to herself. She would never be told no again, and become purely irresistible. Poor Jomei would simply come with the package, most likely as her man-servant if she will him to be. This spider-man and every man would be her puppet with the verdant crystal in her control.

“Y-yeah,” Jomei gave a delayed answer. He still believed that Yume was asking if he was with her then, too intoxicated to comprehend the verdant crystal’s own scheming. Instead, he focused on Yume’s kindness and contemplated the details of the coming moments, which we knew were make or break for the evening. “I g-guess we can just head to your room now… and I'll crasssh for the night.” He then faked a snore, given his heart was actually racing, and he was anything but ready to fall asleep. “I... promise I don’t snore.”

 

[Yume]

This haze that entered her mind... It was nothing like the effects of alcohol. If she had to liken it to something she knew, it'd be more like those mind bending spells her mother would cast on her to quell her anxieties and boost her confidence long within her childhood. The feeling was nostalgic and for a while, Yume appeared to welcome it as she walked Jomei to her room.

Take the crystal.

She opened the door and helped the guy in. "Make yourself comfortable," she smiled, looking up at him. Were those eyes of hers such a bright avarice green before? Perhaps, and hopefully, in Jomei's inebriation, he wouldn't notice the change. Anyone who would might comment on just how similar she looked to the old Hokage Yamaguchi Kami.

"It's okay if you snore, it doesn't bother me at all!"

The world will bow to your feet. Even those against you.

Yume stretched her arms above her head and yawned, feigning her own tiredness just as Jomei did, and collapsed down on top of her futon. Which she now realised was only one. Should she be embarrassed? Hm, that would be the normal emotion wouldn't it? However, she found herself glancing at the male in her room and patted the spot next to her.

After all, you are your father's daughter.

Father. Yume froze, blinking rapidly a few times into mid-air. Her father's blood ran through her veins, of course--blood of a human man that was more frivolous, cunning and demonic than her mother, the actual demon. Her eyes stayed that green shade, though now clearer in sight. Wrapping her arms around her bent knees, Yume rested her head on top of them and looked over to Jomei.

'Oh... Aha... How sneaky of you,' she thought, sure that it could hear her or at least sense her intended message. Caught you. She must have been so out of it to let it affect her that far. 'That all sounds so fun, but what's in it for you?'

"Are you feeling a little better?" she asked Jomei. One arm unfurled itself from under her head and she reached out to brush her fingers against the male's cheek. Yume caught herself, and tucked her arm back against her again along with a rather shy smile. Those eyes lured.

'I don't need that kind of help, now do I?'

After all, she was her father's daughter. Just as much as she was her mother's daughter, nothing can change that.

 

[Okada Kaji]

What do we really leave behind when we give in to our inhibitions?

Jomei was beyond such an important question when he kicked off his loafers in the doorway of Yume’s suite. The nervous sensation bubbling at his core probably included such a question; in fact, it included many things, but he was a bit too far gone to ask himself honestly. And perhaps this girl looked a little too good for him to question where this dream of a night was going, or if he honestly wanted what he was now inching towards.

Following Yume’s lead, Jomei entered a suite thrice as luxurious as what his purse of gold coins could afford him. It was the height of opulence that the hotel could offer, and a home away from home for such an affluent guest as the idol staying there. “Nice digs” Jomei complemented, quickly taking note of her posh accommodations. “Are you really an aidoru, or actual royalty around here?” He added, jokingly and unaware. Playfully, the spider bowed at the waist “it has been my pleasure in having your audience this evening, princess Yume.” He was doing wobbly curtsies, one after another, while Yume made herself comfortable first.

Moments later, Jomei slipped behind a changing screen, making reasonable alterations to his appearance, stripping off a few essential layers of his apparel unbecoming for getting a proper night’s rest. After all, he couldn’t possibly sleep wearing a blazer, vest, and the like; if only he had come dressed as comfortably as his present company, who was ready by the time they entered the room. When Jomei stepped out from behind the changing screen his belongings were all folded neatly in a square stack— appropriately layered top to bottom, light to heavy. Now the gentlemanly apparel he wore was reduced to a thin white cotton t-shirt, red boxer briefs, and brown ankle socks. He then set his precise little stack aside. He was as nervous as he was visibly excited. Then, he rolled onto the futon, flopping down with his featherweight form barely disturbing Yume, who awaited him somewhat eagerly. What was she expecting from him now? Was it a sudden fall to slumber like they both hinted at, or more?

The look in her eyes left Jomei unsure even now, even as she brushed a hand against his cheek in such a cherishing motion. He laid there above the covers, half of him turned to face her, and the other have twisted laying downward if only to hide how happy he was to be there. Her posture and the looks they exchanged suggested that he wanted to kiss her, or more, and that she might have let him, but he’d have to try. Unsure of himself and his inhibitions, Jomei blushed and pressed his face into the mattress. “This is too much” he knew, and he was in way over his head. He would not, and could not make a move. “Yes, I feel much better” he answered, playing along, but in truth, his stomach was in knots and he was nervous as hell.

Oh and the gem? Well, that became a mystery, and the known whereabouts of its location was now surely history.

 

[Yume]

Silence. The buzzing in her head went quiet, disappointing the girl slightly at the outcome. Did she scare it away, she wondered idly. Half of her was suddenly bored, unable to communicate with the curious being that housed within that crystal. The other half didn't care. There were plenty of other things to possibly amuse herself with, even at this time of night, if she wanted to.

Yume glanced at Jomei's form, then it went to the stack of clothes he neatly folded away in the other side of the room. Casually taking in her surroundings after that, she then finally returned her gaze on Jomei. The girl chuckled. What a drastic difference in appearance. It was kind of cute.

When he answered her back that he was fine, Yume didn't immediately voice a reply at first. Instead, the girl leaned towards him slightly, reaching out to slide her hand under his face that he was desperately hiding and lifted his head. Yume examined him closely. Jomei might think that she was too close for comfort in a multitude of levels; so much so that she was near him enough where just one shift forward could easily close the gap, if he wanted. But before even a muscle could move from the male, Yume let go of his chin and straightened back up in her seat.

"Hmm, you still look really red," she mused, with her head tilted to the side. "You sure you're okay?"

Well, if he wasn't going to make the first move, then she supposed nothing will happen tonight. Yume definitely was not the one to make first moves. So instead she stretched her arms above her head nonchalantly, before suddenly recoiling them close against her chest. A brief and silence wince crossed her features first, then she relaxed her arms by her sides, shooting Jomei an embarrassed smile. Having half-forgotten about the surgical scar that split right down the middle of her chest, Yume was reminded of it really quick once her arm just stretched a little too far.

"Well... I'm sure some sleep should fix you right up in the morning," Yume remarked, blatantly dismissing her unexpected chest pain from the conversation. She flopped back onto her futon bed, without even bothering to crawl under the blankets, and exhaled long and deep. The idol turned her body to face her company, now being at the same face level as him, it was easier to see his red ears. She smiled.

"Guess I'll see you in the morning?"

It was a rhetorical question, though of course it wasn't like he couldn't reply. When Yume rolled back onto her back with a hand resting lazily over her stomach, her yukata shifted. Much similar to back at the bar, it revealed the valley of her breasts and with it, the ugly, erythematous scar that distorted the otherwise eye candy. Yume had her eyes closed at this point, but she couldn't have fallen asleep that fast.

 

[Okada Kaji]

A little mockery from Yume must have been meant to test Jomei’s bashfulness; at least he thought as much when she noted his ruby red blushing. He considering cowering, planting himself facedown against the mattress and simply faking being asleep until the lie became truth. But no, his intrigue in Yume did not allow Jomei to end the night in such an empty way.

“You know, I can tell you have a kind soul,” Jomei said, suddenly. He propped himself up on an elbow— leaning on his side, and observed the beautiful Yume as if she were a work of art laying by his side. He would have been a fool to let this moment pass by without taking advantage of the spoils of passion. His vermilion orbs were searching her curves and contours, revealing the temptation he hid behind those kind words. “I have a way of knowing these things, Yume… You didn’t have to be so kind, yet you opened yourself up to me— you let me into your room, and even shared your bed with me. 'I… I feel like I owe you something in return.” He spoke with a bit of contemplation in his tones, as if he were unsure about where he was taking his words; a place of trust, or maybe lust. There was a hunger in her eyes, insatiable by any means except for one thing that would have left her fulfilled for the night: and it was not the penetrating sting of love.

“I did not want to seem intrusive, or dare I say dirty for peeking— but I just couldn’t help myself, hmmm...” His line of sight trailed down from her eyes to her bosom, most particularly her scar, which seemed so unsightly when compared to the rest of her perfection. “What’s the story behind the little cut right here?” He deliberately downplayed the severity of her scar, attempting to lessen the stress he might have caused by addressing the subject. Jomei was assertive, at least enough to sense her apprehension before; and now that they were on the cusp of a night spent so closely together, he built the nerve to chase after her truth. Just who was Yume, really?

He waited for her to explain with the patience and kindness expected from a best friend, wholly interested in the truth, or even the lie she might have shared. In reality, Jomei was no longer in the business of honesty, so he couldn’t have such expectations from Yume now. But her story; truth or lie, would be enough to inspire him to give her a taste of what he thought she wanted most of all. Jomei then sent out his free hand slowly, hovering over Yume before anxiously tracing over the folds of her robe. “Will you trust me? May I... have a closer look?” The question could not have been more rhetorical as he began to undo her garment only slightly. He placed his fingertips against the outsides of the vertical running scar, and ran them softly up the center of her chest, and eyed her with a look somewhere between an examining doctor, and the anxious lover wishing to explore every part of her.

“I noticed that you have been looking at my gem all night” he addressed suddenly, even smirking somewhat as he admitted it. “You can tell it's more than just a pretty bauble, I think… earlier tonight I felt a taste of your chakra, and it revealed things to me.” Jomei was smiling somewhat and arose to a kneeling position by Yume’s side, still on the mattress. He reached into his briefs and revealed that verdant crystal shard, which pulsated victoriously with bright light, knowing it was having its way. Jomei was prepared to hide it well until then, knowing that Yume would have probably searched his belongings later that night once he fell asleep. But now, he chose a foolish move instead, and handed her the gem as a show of trust, like a reward for sharing the story of her scar. “Here, you can touch it— play with it, feel its power in your hands.” He knew she would be eager to take the crystal, and instantly understand why he coveted it so much.

“Even now… with this crystal gem shard, if you allow me— I’m positive that I can heal your scar like it never happened... Place the gem over your heart and lay still.”

 

[Yume]

It didn't take long for Jomei to break the silence at all. Yume kept her eyes closed as he spoke. Her sixth sense noted where his eyes went. Was it narcissistic to say she wasn't surprised? What she didn't expect though, was him to label her as a kind soul. She didn't think she was. What did that even entail? Did he even know where she truly came from? For his sake, she hoped not.

What's the story behind that little cut indeed...

Yume's eyelids twitched for a second, but they remained shut. "... I dunno... What'd you hear from the tabloids?"

An answer wasn't really expected, but she still left a hefty silence following it. She knew what rumours spread around in those, grounded in reality or not. Aside from the persistent rumour of her being of demon blood, the most recent rumour... The one of her hospitalisation was in disarray. Her good friend, understandably distraught had brought her into the lobby of the hospital, right in front of public eyes. A million stories were brought on from that one scene.

"I got shot," she answered finally and truthfully. What made her decide to tell him the truth tonight, she didn't know. At the very least she kept the details sparse. "Someone out there tried to kill me."

Her eyes opened instantly the moment he touched her skin and her hand grabbed onto his just as it trailed upwards. Red lips parted slightly in almost negligible surprise, her eyes kept reserved and emotionless, but it was apparent that she was mentally questioning his actions.

When Jomei confronted her about her interest in the gem so straightforwardly, Yume couldn't help but blush and avert her gaze in mild embarrassment. A little uncharacteristic of her to feel embarrassed about something she had done... perhaps that was the alcohol. Let's just blame everything stupid she might do tonight on that accursed liquid.

Like complying and agreeing to take that gem in her hands.

Sitting up, her entire body filled and flowed with indescribable warmth, and a breath hitched in her throat. The blush on her cheeks didn't seem to subside, and her breathing now sounded just slightly quickened. She couldn't quite "play" with the gem, per se--the best she could do was clutch it close to her chest while the hum in her mind increased in intensity. It was sounding closer to a voice now, urging her to just keep the crystal and acquire all the power she possibly could. She could feel this way forever.

Jomei's voice telling her to lay the crystal over her heart to heal the scar was barely audible, let alone clear. It echoed faintly, like a dream, and she did it for the first few moments. The scar heated up; once again, another wave of life energy washed over her.

It lasted for only a few moments though. In a flash, the hand that held the thing stuck out and Yume slapped the crystal back into Jomei's possession. She was still breathing a little heavy, cheeks still flushed, but at least she was relieved she regained some control now. Yume woke up from that dream, realising just how much the gem was trying to manipulate her into giving. Clearly there was a catch in there somewhere.

And she hated being used.

"No, that's okay," she eventually replied, falling forward and resting her forehead on his shoulder. "I'm fine..."

 

[Okada Kaji]

The verdant crystal shard bounced across the futon and landed in the palm of Jomei’s hand as Yume rejected his offer, unexpectedly. And it was safe to say that Jomei was taken a bit by surprise, but he was implying that he would use the crystal to heal Yume, not that it was a gift he was bestowing upon her to keep. But he wouldn’t realize the intricacies of her refusal then, just the fact that Yume wasn’t ready to lose the scar on her chest. Despite how willing Jomei seemed to offer Yume aid, he was relieved to have the crystal back. In just the passing moment without it, he felt naked without it, even though he did not credit it for being such a source of power to him. The verdant crystal would never be as potent or influential towards Jomei as it sought to be in Yume’s hands. It’s light dimmed and its power faded once it was back under Jomei’s direct control. With a nod, Jomei made the crystal disappear again, and probably wouldn’t discuss again that night, unless prodded.

But then, as they laid there, Jomei thought about the truth behind the idol’s scar again; a story he did believe when she told him. He was full of quiet speculation when Yume explained that someone used an actual gun in an assassination attempt against her, and probably would have succeeded if the projectile hit only a few inches to the right. “Really… you took a bullet like that, and lived to tell the tale?” Jomei said this with his face half buried in a pillow he took for himself. “Color me impressed.” Hey then yawned, and stretched, feeling actual tiredness coming over him; or at least he convincingly made it appear as such. He was innocently getting comfortable, and trying to wind down for the night once the crystal exchange changed their course from the hormonal misguidance Jomei felt before. Knowing of the internal struggle Yume was facing, all Jomei wanted to do now was give her some peace of mind, and a peaceful night’s rest. With a look of concern, he asked: “huh, who’d ever want to take a shot at you, Yume?”

 

[Yume]

The subject about the crystal was quickly dropped. She was glad that he didn't question it further--it would be very difficult to explain just how much of an effect it had on her. Sure, the feeling was amazing. Power and life coursed through her like nothing other, but it came at a terrifying price. Unlike Jomei, who seemed to be quite in control of the crystal's influence, Yume had a harder time maintaining her consciousness. The feeling still lingered within, so a distraction of some sort wouldn't be a bad idea.

Jomei shifted about in bed, getting comfortable while she was still oddly wound up from the crystal's energy. She peered down at her scar when he mentioned about it. Hunching forward, her red hair hid whatever expression that she had. "Nothing impressive about that, Jomei-san," she mumbled. "I just had a good doctor."

Within the next second, and it was sudden too, Jomei would find extra weight slumped over him. Yume's upper torso pressed against him tightly in a hug. "Thanks," she said, closing her eyes, "for not making it a big deal."

The implications of her words were probably obvious. Everyone in the company, her fans, they were all up in arms about it and tried their hardest to make sure she was safe so much that it suffocated her. Yume reopened her eyes once she heard him question a little more about the shooting. Who out there had motive to kill her? The possibilities were endless.

She lifted herself suddenly to look at him, underestimating just how close she had gotten. Face to face, her green eyes blinked slightly wide-eyed in confusion. They were close. Very close. So much so that her lips had touched his jawline--not in a kiss. Just a touch. Yume realised what was happening first, but the task of moving away from Jomei took a little longer. The back of her hand moved up to cover her mouth. The pinkness in her cheeks was still the same, but she otherwise didn't look to embarrassed.

"I don't know," Yume replied to his question. "It could be anyone."

She dropped her hand from her lips, resting it on Jomei's shoulder apologetically as she peered down at him.

"Sorry about that."

 

[Okada Kaji]

Jomei’s reaction was a bit timider than he would have hoped to be when Yume advanced onto him. The idea of an intimacy of any kind was new to him and learned of through light novels. Well, as a boy, he occasionally heard the squeaking of a bed frame and grunts of his father grinding into concubines. Back in the days of living in that mountain-cliff condominium, Benjiro Matsui never set much of an example for young Jomei, and it showed now, as he hardly grasped the intentions of Yume’s affection. He was perplexed, wondering if this was her really advancing into the start of a night long tryst, or some motion he was meant to accept, and simply roll over and go to sleep.

Jomei might have been the luckiest chap in the land of fire, at least he was considering the idea when Yume tapped her cheek against his. He was bashful-eyed and rosy-cheeked when she leaned upwards, over him like an angel descended from heaven. She could have been coming to take his spirit away from the earthly plane, and he wouldn’t have put up a fight in the slightest. But feeling so enamored and intoxicated, Jomei couldn’t stop contemplating the origin of her scar, and they mystery of the assassin who attempted to take Yume’s life away. Jomei was quiet after her skirting response to his previous question; he sensed something cryptic about it. He sent mixed messages as his thinking spoiled the moment, and he’d continue staring up at her quietly while his mind worked busily to theorize who’d want to harm her, and why.

“It’s ok… really,” he replied, awkwardly looking to his left and right, anywhere but face to face, into the eyes that looked down onto him longingly. “W-welp, we should get some rest, it’s getting late." Nervously, Jomei waited for Yume to move off of him, and corrected himself to being below the covers of the bed. He retreated from the tension between them, and curled up into a sleeping pose, facing her as he began drifting off to sleep, on his side.

// Topic Left //

 

[Yume]

Ah. He did nothing. Yume pulled away from Jomei and sat there on the futon with a calm smile on her face. "You're right, it's late. Sweet dreams."

As he appeared to drift away into sleep quite quickly. Yume sighed, leaning back on her hand and peering up at the high ceiling for a few good minutes. Soon after, a shadow obscured her vision and grinned at her. A ghost, though it wasn't the same ghost she met at the bar. She stared back, unblinking and unimpressed.

"It's like you want to eat him, Little Princess."

She scoffed a breath and closed her eyes. "Don't say things like that," she murmured, shifting to stand up. Heading towards her closet, she rummaged through her belonging to find her headset. Propping into her ear, Yume slipped outside of her room. She flicked to the correct frequency and exhaled.

"Oppa?" she murmured cautiously, but she soon breathed out a smile. "You're awake?"

She'll let Jomei sleep in comfort and luxury in her suite. When he wakes up in the morning though, Yume wouldn't have returned. She was gone, however, the belongings left behind in the room would reassure him that it wasn't just a dream.

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