#the onsen resort was so relaxing

[raspberryspace]

2/28/24 - Onsen resort near Fukushima

[wufflesvetinari]

Hi! This is so bizarre, and feel free to ignore, but I'm planning a trip to Japan in November. If you feel comfortable, would you share some of your favorite places. And also where you saw the shows? It looked like such a good trip from what you've shared.

hey not bizarre at all, i love talking about it!!!! disclaimer that i don't know shit

so we chose to do something slightly unusual and skip kyoto, which is like. the big one other than tokyo. we did it because 1) we wanted to spend half the time in a less touristy place and 2) we think we will come back. so keep in mind that my experience missed a really big "essential" stop according to some. so we did 1) an urban leg in tokyo 2) an outdoorsy/quiet leg in nagano prefecture and 3) one night at a ryokan in hakone

in tokyo, staying in shinjuku was great for nightlife/people watching during said nightlife. it was also very central both for getting trains out of town and for easy access to harajuku and shibuya, which were my favorite neighborhoods. ginza was also a good contrast as like a very high-class commercial center. go to Bar Owls for a secluded li'l classy basement bar. our two super splurge restaurants in tokyo: X X

also a kind of overlooked neighborhood is yanaka, which is quieter with more historic buildings + a huge cemetery. yanaka ginza is a cute cheap shopping street themed around black cats

the show in this first photo is the samurai restaurant in shinjuku, which is VERY touristy but so much fun. the dancing and costuming and atmosphere were all super good

we also did a tea ceremony with MAIKOYA (where you are invited in to participate and given context for everything that is happening) and saw a sumo tournament with an english-speaking guide

in nagoya prefecture we based ourselves in hakuba for the hiking--it's an off-season ski resort and quite charming. i do think if i did the area again i'd stay in matsumoto nearby, which besides its castle has more public transport and central routes to a national park, the snow monkeys outside of nagano city, etc (we did not get to see the snow monkeys but they might be more present in november, idk). we saw several shrines and buddhist temples, and rode the ski lifts up happo-one to hike (bottom left)

LOVED going to a ryokan. hakone is a hot spring resort town and we could have spent more than a night there!! we stayed at kowakien mikawaya. they fed us SO well and we got a room with a private onsen (top two + the food middle right). very good, very relaxing concept for a vacation

my other bit of general advice is to double-check whether the things you really want to do need reservations, and do it EARLY. there's a great direct tourist train from shinjuku to mt. fuji, but tickets were sold out by the time we got there (it's better to get a service to buy them for you ahead of time is my understanding) and the same was true for the ghibli museum. but we had a lot of fun just meandering in neighborhoods between our booked activities so i don't feel like we were missing much

[cebwrites]

cover-up

oc x canon word count: 0.3k

Wearing the kimono of an onsen resort they're staying at to relax, Tae ends up running to his "husband", Yamato, in tears and burying his face in his senpai's shoulder.

Entirely taken aback at first, Yamato quickly falls into step when Tae whispers into his ear that they're both being watched and need an alibi, so play along and hold him for a minute or two. Once he's sure the enemy-nin have withdrawn, Tae leans back and breathes a sigh of relief.

It's unfortunate that Gai chooses now of all the times to barge in unannounced, while Yamato has one half of his kimono down and Tae's yet to move from where he straddled his senpai's lap. He apologized and closed the door faster than either could properly react.

After the commotion's - Gai, Aoba, and Naruto gossiping like high school girls - died down a little and the two of them have another proper moment to themselves, Tae says that strategy probably wouldn't work a second time; since he's taller than senpai and it'd be harder to believe he was his wife at a second glance.

Long after ghost ships, horrible mushrooms, clone mutiny, and laughable imposters are far, far behind them - when the two men have had a little more time to get to know each other better, Yamato brings up their little conversation again in passing.

How, sure, the whole "wife" angle probably wouldn't work again. But admitting with an averted gaze that he'd much prefer Taeru as his husband anyway. And that it was only right since they were both men.

Tae's expression remained unchanged as always, but Yamato knew better than most the way his tired eyes softened ever so slightly for him. Always just for him. Plus, the way his hands crept underneath the sides of Tenzou's flak jacket effortlessly conveyed more than he could put into words, and faster.

They kissed, uninterrupted this time under the pale moonlight, but across the village it felt like half the street shook with the force of Gai's sneeze.

[lagycart]

tokyo tohoku trip - day 3.

after a good night sleep, we woke up to really beautiful snow view at the resort, this snowy scene never gets old. and of course we enjoyed the onsen once again, it was just so so amazing. we had breakfast at the resort’s restaurant which is japanese buffet style, and they use many local ingredients as well. i love the variety and all the food is really fresh and taste so delicious, i ate quite a lot and was fully stuffed and satisfied.

played in the snow again for a bit because it’s a rare chance and i really enjoyed it. XD while waiting for the next bus, we also had coffee and coffee jelly soft serve and just chill at the lounge area which is relaxing and comfortable. the bus ride going back to town is lovely, there’s less snow in town of course, and we arrived at our next destination with really nice weather without any snowing.

sannai maruyama ruins 三内丸山遺跡 is a popular tourist attraction in aomori, and it looks beautiful with lots of history to learn, hence we decided to visit the place to just walk around. they do have free guided tours but the timing wasn’t very suitable so we just roam around ourselves which is totally fine too.

the place has a indoor section which plays movie (in japanese) and display some artifacts with description, but the outdoor section is the gem, and it’s just so beautiful. my friend visited this place many times but never once when it is covered in snow, and she love the view as well. the outdoor site has lots of buildings that you can get into, to see the actual site of the ruins and artifacts, and the structures are beautiful in its own way and great for photos. it was an awesome walk, definitely highly recommended.

we decided to go to ASPAM アスパム that is nearby aomori station for lunch, there’s a japanese restaurant with a great view of the bay area on the 10th floor - michinoku cuisine nishimura みちのく料理 西むら. we ordered their set meals which is mainly seafood. i had the baked hotate with egg, fish soup and hotate sashimi with rice and pickles. my friend ordered the kaisen don which has so much fresh seafood on rice. the food here is really good, seafood is fresh and taste is so appetizing, it was so satisfying, and the bonus is the great view outside the window which is calming.

after lunch, we head to aomori station as we need to take the local train to misawa station for our next hotel for the night - hoshino resorts aomoriya 星野リゾート 青森屋. this resort is one of many resorts under hoshino group of hotels, and this place has lots of unique activities you can do during your stay, besides food and onsen. the resort does pick us up from the station which is very convenient.

the resort area is quite beautiful with a lot of greens and flowers and trees. there’s an entire area filled with many things like shops, games, an izakaya, a performance show, and an apple juice tap, which taste really nice. the shop has lot of local souvenir variety, but it’s definitely slightly more pricey. we couldn’t catch the performance as all seats were already booked. but the nebuta float decorations are still beautiful to look at.

we took a short rest in our spacious hotel room before going to dinner. dinner was awesome, it’s buffet style and half of the food is cooked freshly at each stall, which is so good, the smell increase our appetites and everything truly taste good. i enjoyed so much of sashimi, grilled seafood, tempura, vegetables, and many other japanese dishes. for some reason, japanese buffet is very enjoyable and the variety just makes me happy. it was definitely a very satisfying meal, and i discovered i really liked apple tempura so much, didn’t expect that.

after a fulfilling dinner, we decided to take a walk outside the pond area, it’s litted with japanese style lanterns, there’s also a foot bath in the area, with a shrine in the middle of the pond with beautiful light up nebuta decorations. it was a very peaceful and relaxing walk, even if it is dark, but it just feel so comfortable with the beautiful night view, we also got to see stars in the sky, which is impossible in the city, that made me feel so good.

the night is not complete without a relaxing bath in the onsen, there’s an outdoor onsen in this resort, with a view of a nebuta float, how amazing is that. while the onsen was quite crowded, it still feels so good and comfortable as the onsen is quite spacious. the bath amenities is also very complete, so it’s super convenient. i love outdoor onsen so much because the bath is hot but the air is cooling, it’s super comfortable and relaxing and you get to stay in the hot spring so much longer. a relaxing hot spring is the perfect way to end the night for a good night sleep.

to be continued...

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Chapter 6 - The Onsen Murder

The two went inside the inn house and were guided to their room - It wasn't anything glamorous, considering it was just a small, modest resort for relaxation - But there was something warm and soothing about the modesty and simplicity of this place. Perhaps because it suited the mood and the atmosphere of peace created by the mere existence of the hot water.

As they settled comfortably inside, Kat stretched her arms a bit and went to sit on the ground in a comfortable position, tapping the spot in front of her and looking at the warlord expectingly. He, instead, merely stared at her with confusion.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Come here and let me check that wound of yours. That is why we came here, isn't it? Be thankful I'm even considering stepping so low on my ego and treating you after the great offense you oh-so-gracefully gifted me." she jabbed at him with a poisonous smirk, as he could only chuckle.

"Later. I have something to do first. Feel free to use the hot spring first." he spoke dismissively, ready to exit the room.

"Fine. But you have to promise not to bother me until I've finished soaking." she bargained, going to pick up some towels.

"Have it your way." and with that final reply, he exited the room, making the red head smirk.

"Victory." she chuckled as she sprung outside, and looking carefully left and right to make sure there was nobody peeping or something, she undressed and put a towel around her as she leaned a toe down into the hot water. 

With a small giggle, she crouched down and slowly entered the water, shuddering a bit at the pleasant feeling of her muscle gradually relaxing and relieving any tension and soreness from working so hard. Her elbows and head were resting back on the rocks separating the water from the ground, and the slightly chilly night air that was making it easy to breathe through the hot steam, made this experience very exciting.

"Oh, Kat, you've been working so hard, you deserve this vacation! Yes, Kat, you're the best doctor in the whole Sengoku! The only Physician Princess in the whole Japan!" Kat started giggling childishly to herself as she hit the water sheen with her fingers, making small threads of water fly around. "Kat, teach us how to be like you! Kat, you're so awesome, we want to be like you when we grow older! Kat, everybody loves you, you're a role model for everyone! ... Yeah, damn right I am. I better be." but this ended with an almost depressed sigh as she stopped altogether. "I always have to upset myself somehow, don't I? How pitiful. What the hell did you see in me, little tiger." she muttered to herself, looking up at the beautiful stars that were twinkling down at her. "Are you also looking at the same stars as I am? Is it the same moon I'm seeing as well? Could it be that we are somehow connected, even despite our beliefs and differences?" the bittersweet smile from her face was at least better than the pitiful stoic look she has that makes her look as if she wants to burn the whole world and all its inhabitants. That look of being dead inside, imprisoned in a jail of nothing but a frozen wasteland, alone and shackled by the darkness.

However, her outer monologue was interrupted by the loud sound of the door opening, revealing Nobunaga garbed in nothing but the loose kimono of his, holding a tray of sake and one sole cup.  "I was pretty sure we agreed you wouldn't bother me while I was soaking. Is that how much your word is worth, Nobunaga?" the girl looked away as she edged him with her words.

"The innkeeper brought this to our room. As instructed by my beautiful medic, I will not be drinking tonight. You have it. Soak as long as you like, Kat. You have all the time in the world to check my wound, after all." despite his sweet words, he still knelt by her side, putting the tray to float in front of her in the water, as he leaned to plant a kiss on her temple, leaving her in a true state of shock.

What... Just happened now? Was Nobunaga willingly affectionate to her, without being a complete prick? But why the hell would he do that, anyway? He knows she hates these stupid games of tag, so there's no point in doing them. Despite his characteristic forwardness, he didn't act as aggressive and forceful as before, which was quite the wonder.

What the hell is going on with people in this weird ass era anyway? Shingen, and now Nobunaga were so direct with her... Why weren't they as Drew? So easily hateable, so dislikable and annoying, so punchable, so.... So many other negative words.  This wasn't right... People shouldn't act so nicely to her. This can't be happening. This... This doesn't make any sense. Everything has a reason, and this hasn't, therefore it's a mystery that has to be unveiled. Finding the reason hidden in the context. 

Nobody is truly nice to another without having a reason for it.

Altruism is a lie.

Every action has an ulterior reason.

They must all want something from her. They want to use her for whatever plans they have. That's right, what else could there be? Nothing is as innocent as it appears to be, is it? 

How sad.

And thus, after more internal conflict, Kat finished the sake bottle and realizing how her fingers were starting to look like prunes, it was time to finally get out. It was beginning to feel a bit suffocating anyway, so might as well. She dried herself and put on only the inner clothing in which she would be sleeping in, and letting her hair cascade down her back in a crimson waterfall, she finally went inside the room, seeing Nobunaga with his arms crossed on the ground, sitting in front of a goban table.

"If you want to propose a bet again, I refuse." was the only thing she said, not even bothering to glance at him,

"No betting. I just want to teach you how to play in case I get bored or want to come up with a war strategy." he explained, a relaxed and content expression on his face.

"...Sure, I guess. Can't hurt to learn something new." she muttered softly as she sat down opposite of him, looking awkwardly at the table.

"Very well. As you can see, the board is empty now. There are two players - Black and White respectively - And since Black moves first, I will give you the honors. As they say, 'Ladies first', correct? A move consists of placing one stone on an empty intersection on the board. Although it is advisable to use your turn wisely, it is allowed to pass your turn at any time. A player's area consists of all the points the player has either occupied or surrounded, therefore, the player with the most conquered territory wins. A stone or chain of stones is captured and removed from the board when all the intersections directly adjacent to it are occupied by the enemy. These are the basic rules of Go." although he explained in words that anyone could understand, Kat could only nervously bite her trembling lip.

"Okay, I think I got the basics. What now?" she asks in a low voice, not daring to make eye contact with him.

"Now we play. As I stated previously, you shall be Black, so you make the first move." he pointed leisurely to the small vase of small black stones next to her.

"...I learn by example, not by theory. This is going to be the worst Go game you've played in your entire life." she muttered miserable as her shaky hand went to take a hold of one small pebble and put it somewhere in the middle of a row close to her edge, as if she was trying to somehow defend her own self by maybe creating a protective wall of pebbles... Or something.

"That is to be expected. Nobody is born a genius. It is through trial and error that we learn, and through hard work and perseverance that we succeed. What you did now was possibly the most basic first move for a rookie. Most people who play for the first time try a defensive approach. The strategies one uses tells a lot about a person. You can learn more about a person through a simple game, rather than through thousands of comprehensive conversations. Isn't that fascinating? I'd say it's as fascinating as your philosophy from the road here." the brunet man left the girl speechless, and she could only stare at him in surprise. Intriguing.

"Rookies are usually so afraid of losing quickly in a game that they think a good defensive approach is going to help them stall the opponent a bit. There are often cases when castles had to endure a siege, and they won, because they had proper walls and provisions, while the enemy didn't. Throwing flamed arrows, boiling oil... Even using the matchlock flint. The best offense is a good defense. If I play like this for 3 more games or so, you may believe I'm some kind of scared hermit that hides all the time, afraid of taking risks. Is this your way of saying to get aggressive and not be afraid of the consequences of an imminent death since it's obvious I will lose against you anyway?" she asked as she saw him confidently put down his first white pebble as well.

"It is just advice. You make of that as you will. It is not my place to influence anyone's decisions or strategies, otherwise I may as well play by myself." he smirked at her, making it obvious that he guess was spot on to begin with.

"In that case... I will place it here. It is allowed, isn't it?" she asked for confirmation as she saw the man nod his mess of black hair.

"Interesting move. So you did heed my advice. It is not often when players choose the not so safe approach." he hummed as he placed his own stone close to hers.

"If there is nothing to lose, than I don't see why I shouldn't take risks. It's just a game, at least for me. A game where the outcome is predestined. Might as well mess around with it as much as I like." she chuckled lightly, although her hand was still shaking.

The game went on with little small talk between the two, and while Nobunaga was impressed with her carefree moves, the end was very close. He took her hand in his and turned it so he could kiss the inner side of her wrist softly. "Admirable effort for a first-time player."

"The end result is still that I lost miserably. No need for pity for the losers... But thank you, I guess." she muttered, looking away shyly.

"I have never seen your hands shaking before. Why is that?" his inquiry seemed to hold genuine curiosity.

"I am the kind of person who never dives in without any prior information. I don't do things without knowing what I'm getting myself into. I don't take risks of any kind. The first time is always scary. You go blindly inside a dark tunnel expecting to find some light, but you never do. I hate uncertainty and everything I don't understand properly or I'm not good at. It makes me feel mentally incapacitated, and for someone who finds her only important asset her brain, it's... Like going on a suicide mission without any armor or weapons and you have a target saying Hey, Kill me." she explains softly, looking down with furrowed brows, the bitter frustration taking over her expression.

"Even prodigies must practice to become close to perfection. Real life and Games are not so different, so when there are no stakes at hand, you should enjoy the simplicity of it and the reason for its making - Entertaining their users. You, Katrina, had me entertained with this game. It is a pity you had to feel pressured by it. Then, shall I propose something more to your area of expertise to appease you?" he asked, a smile on his face as if to disspell all her worries.

"Do you want me to look at your wound, you mean?" she asked, looking up at him with curious, innocent eyes.

"Yes." he nodded, slipping his kimono down one of his shoulders, revealing the clean bandage around his torso.

"Before that... I have to ask you something real quick, and I hope you'd answer truthfully. Were you really injured?" she asked, looking into his eyes for the truth.

"What makes you question my truth?" he asked, squinting his eyes suspiciously at her.

"A man with a festering injury cannot move as freely as you did during our trip here, and even now. And you didn't even go soak, even though this was the supposed reason you came here. What are you hiding from me, Nobunaga? Do you really not trust me at all that you even have to lie to me and come up with silly pretexts and even mock my medical skills?" Nobunaga analyzed the look in her eyes, the dejection she so evidently had painted on her face. Why was it that this woman - A woman like any other female in Japan - Seemed to confuse and intrigue him with her few, but heartfelt expressions, while all those other wenches he wanted nothing more than to ignore? Why was he feeling so uneasy, looking into her betrayed eyes? Was that a pang of guilt in his chest he was feeling? 

"If you don't trust me, then look for yourself." and thus, he wrapped his bandages, revealing a cut on the side of his chest. 

Katrina knelt in front of him, her hand gently tracing the wound, she gritted her teeth in anger and disappointment, wanting nothing more than to shout at him, and slap him so hard his face remains fixed to the other side of his neck.

"Do you really thing I'm stupid, Nobunaga?" she muttered, her voice so... Shaky. It was trembling with emotion, and she wanted to cry. Was it the disappointment in her, or the wrath acting up?

"Why would you assume that?" he raised his eyebrow, although his eyes were as cold and emotionless as a dead fish's.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?" after a few seconds, she got the courage to look at him, only to see the ruthless daimyo in Nobunaga's place.

"One shouldn't answer a question with another." he scolded her a bit too harshly.

"Don't be a hypocrite when you did that same. You are not the Nobunaga from earlier today. You're looking at me with such cold eyes, as if I'm your enemy. As if I'm plotting your death right in front of you. You had life and happiness sparkling in your eyes and smile during the day... What did I do that made you change like that so quickly? I don't understand you, Nobunaga. I really don't. Or maybe it is that you don't want me to understand you at all. Do you really hate and mistrust me so much that you have to lie to me like that? I'm not stupid, I know this is a recent wound you made yourself to mask your lie. If you wanted to get rid of me, you could have done it well enough back in Azuchi... Or you could have just let me go and stumble around until I could finally go back in my time. Why must you be so unnecessarily cruel to me?" she couldn't even raise her voice and cry at him, to show him the anger and disappointment she was feeling - Instead, her voice was soft and barely audible. It felt defeated. 

Nobunaga didn't answer, and they couldn't only stare at each other for a while. That is, until the girl broke the eye contact and got up, opening her bag and returning to quickly treat his wound and wrap it back up.

"Why did you do that to the man who lied, deceived and betrayed your trust?" he asked, being in deep thoughts.

"...How do you know I didn't put poison in that ointment?" she muttered, scuttering away from him.

"A fawn is incapable of killing the lion who injured her. She's too gentle for that." his hand was extended as he caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

"However, I am no fawn, I am a fox, and foxes oftentimes have rabies. If I bite you, you are dead. Surely you haven't forgotten how scared Drew was of me last time he saw me." she scoffed, looking away from him.

"Drew is not a lion. He's a maggot. Your provokations and fire will only excite, not scare me away. There is a reason for everything I do, but you will have to trust me with this one for just a little longer. Do you still trust me, Katrina?" as she heard that question, the girl could only look at him with an enigmatic look.

"Trust is earned. Did you do anything to deserve being trusted by me?" she asked back.

They continued to look at each other, as if they were trying to understand one another. That is, until an unsettling clatter was suddenly heard, which made the girl immediately snap her head towards the noise with an unsettled look in her eyes. She really looked like a worried fawn without her mother, but she didn't want to admit she looked completely innocent, pure and afraid in his eyes - The eyes of a cold, ruthless demon who could kill a whole country by just blinking - He could snap her supple neck so easily, and yet, he wants to use that hand to caress and reassure her.  It was very odd for him, as he, too, was the one to get her to this resort and ultimately endanger her - But he also knew he wasn't going to let her get hurt in any way, so what does it matter as long as the vile Demon King protects his little deer?

"What did you get us into...?" she asked in a barely audible voice as her eyes lethargically moved to his, questioning him closely.

"Get to that corner and take this. I will prove to you that your trust in me is not misplaced." the corner of his mouth twitched upwards for a split-second, as if he was confidently reassuring her to trust him with her life, and thus, with a reluctant nod, Katrina snatched the dagger from his hand and leaped backwards, standing in a defensive position.

As if on cue, three ninja-looking men burst through the now-destroyed door, with katanas in their hands, angrily glaring and shouting at the warlord. It was clear to Kat now that this whole trip was a ploy made by Nobunaga. He was expecting this attack. It meant, in her opinion, that he lured these men here, to attack him, when he was 'unguarded'. Does that mean that earlier, when he said he had something to do, he was communicating with his allies about this scheme of his? No wonder he had a dagger in his sleeve at ready.

"You finally decided to show up. You should be ashamed of yourselves, attacking a man getting treated by such a lovely princess. You obviously lack any skills to please a woman." the man chuckled enough to infuriate the enemies who grumbled and got in attack stances. However, without as much of a bother, Nobunaga elbowed one of the attackers hard enough for him to almost fall unconscious to the ground.  Why was that the hottest thing Kat saw?! She was half-sure she was kinda blushing after seeing such a manly display of martial arts. No, wait, that's not right - Why the hell is she thinking that at such a terrible moment? She's supposed to stay focused and alive, not make heart eyes at Nobunaga and how attractive he is when fighting.

The other two attackers were obviously afraid and hesitating, but as they were ready to strike again, two more people burst through, this time, they were allies - Hideyoshi and Mitsunari - Who easily tied up the perpetrators.

The tension quickly settled as Hideyoshi's usual motherly side worried over Nobunaga's well-being while Mitsunari merely smiled a tad awkward for having to keep this secret from Kat.

"Do you trust me now, Katrina?" Nobunaga turned towards the girl, but he wasn't smiling, smirking or... Anything. He was looking dead.

"I already figured out what was going on behind the scenes. What I want to know is... Who was the one who didn't trust me and whose idea was it to do that stupid wound on your chest. I believe this whole thing created enough unnecessary tension and I want to know the truth now that everything is settled." mimicking the brunet lord, Kat, too, changed her whole demeanour to one completely devoid of interest or emotions.

"It was my idea. I didn't believe we could trust you not to slip information to our lord's enemies." Hideyoshi shamelessly spoke out.

"... I should have expected that. You are mistrustful of anyone, it was evident since the beginning. I suppose I should apologize for any moment that I may have acted suspicious in your eyes, however, I also believe I have nothing to be remorseful about and that this is simply how you are." the girl sighed, crossing her arms and returning the dagger back to the warlord.

"Katrina, I am sorry, but ow we know that you're not with the enemy. Forgive me. When we return to the castle, I'll do whatever I can to make it up to you. Lord Nobunaga has many enemies, many of them were innocent-looking women like you. I cannot take my chances with anyone new that appears in his life so mysteriously." his expression changed drastically as he now looked at her like a big brother and patted her hair as if to comfort her.

"... Thank you, Hideyoshi. And I understand your worries, they are valid. I also understand that it is weird for the both of us to properly understand each other, considering that huge time difference between us, but I am sure that, with enough communication and explanation, we will be able to cross this perspective bridge we are separated by." with an empty, polite smile, she reassured the man as best as she could with her diplomacy.

"I would call this retreat a success, and although my entertainment was cut short, it was still enjoyable." that warlord smile of his came by again, and Kat could only look at him, lost in thoughts and trying to process everything that happened, until she was forcefully brought back to reality when she felt the hands wrapping around her leg.  She squealed in surprise and turned her attention towards the pitiful man, crying out for help. She hated this, why would he beg her like that? Don't do that! Don't involve her in these things, she has no power and nor does she want any kind of power. She can only treat wounds, but she's no God like Nobunaga to play with people's fates. Besides, those other two weren't killed, merely tied up, so why is he like this?!

"G-Get off, please, I can't help you. You fate is in Nobunaga's hands." she awkwardly tried to walk step away from him, only for Nobunaga to show his decision and play the judgement card.

"Don't you dare......." with a low growl, the lord took out the dagger again and plunged it deep into his chest, slicing him down harshly, earning gasps from the other 3 people there.

The room was deadly quiet, only the sound of the small sword getting sheathed was heard as Kat could only gulp and stare at the dead body in front of her and how the blood was pooling around him. This, at least, was just like in the movies. She wanted to ask why, but after Nobunaga asked her to trust him, she realized that she once heard "Everything Nobunaga does is for a reason." but which was this reason?

So she stepped in front of the fallen man and to the trio's surprise, she kicked his side, making him stare blankly at the ceiling, and she noticed the dagger he was hiding. Now it all made sense. Nobunaga does everything for a reason, and this was his way of protecting her.

Seeing this, she crouched down and ripped the dagger he was still clutching even now and much to the men's surprise, she slammed it down to pierce his skull, impaling his brain. She was angry - Oh, how angry she was - And yet, her face didn't as much as betrayed her. "Begging for help to the person you want to kill... Coward. You're nothing more than a forgotten, replaceable lackey." as she got up, she spewed those degrading words, not forgetting to kick him in the side again out of frustration. 

There is no room for pity for anyone in this era.

"So? We're done here. Are we going home or what?" she spoke casually as she wiped the blood from her face with the already stained sleeve of her kimono.

"Yes, we must return to Azuchi quickly. We are going to hold a war council." Nobunaga nodded curtly at her and thus they went outside, only three horses there, as expected. Kat stared at the beautiful horse, at Kaze, and seeing that Nobunaga was still discussing with the other two warlords, she got up on the horse by herself, leading it to the trio. She cleared her throat to stop them for speaking and, looking at Nobunaga, she extended her hand towards him. He merely smirked and let out an amused breath as accepted her hand and got on the horse behind her, letting her lead the horse once again, following Hideyoshi and Mitsunari.

Most of the ride back home was silent, no doubt there were all deep in thought at what just happened, and even more, they were eager to interrogate to two captives. They were shaking with fear after witnessing the harrowing image of not only the Warlord killing one of their peers so easily and with so much anger, but also, of a small, innocent and scared looking girl acting with such a freezing rage, doing harm to a dead body - Albeit one that, when alive, wished to kill her -  It was enough to inspire a complete stunning fear into them - So much that they started babbling non-sense, begging for mercy and all that...

And then, they said something crucial.

Abbot Kennyo was their leader.

"So the former Abbot of Hongan-Ji is behind all this, as we suspected." Nobunaga muttered to himself.

"...Beware the Demon in monk's clothing...  He sounds pretty... God-Forsaken if you ask me. That means things aren't going too well for us, huh?" Kat turned her head a bit to look up at the pondering warlord.

"Do you trust me, Katrina?" he asked, looking at her with a serious expression - And yet, his eyes weren't cold anymore. They were confident, serious and sure of himself, it was almost comforting to her seeing him being so reliable.

"I don't have much of a choice now, do I, especially after making such a show in front of me, doing that wound on yourself so you wouldn't piss me off more, and then saving my life from that guy. But you still owe me for not trusting me." she huffed at him, making him hum with amusement as he pulled her back on his chest, kissing her cheek.

"I'll make it up to you, little fox. I'll even let you bite my nose or my neck." he chuckled lowly, teasing her.

"I'll think about it." she chuckled, shaking her head at his proposition.

"Katrina." this time, his voice was more serious and somehow, solemn and... With a certain gentleness behind it. Somehow speaking familially.

"Yes, Nobunaga?" she replied with the same level of softness and with added curiosity.

"I trust you."

Hearing those words was enough to make up for the whole deceiving scheme from the day. A reply wasn't needed, or there was no word to explain what she was feeling in her heart, nor could it watch the velocity of it. Instead, she reached one hand behind her to grab his and made him lean forwards so he would embrace her torso, feeling the intimate warmth brought by the closeness of their bodies.  Her head was turned away from him, he couldn't see, but from her gesture, and the way she squeezed his hand, he knew that she was smiling. He wanted to see her lovely smile more - He barely had the chance to see her happy or display any genuine emotion that wasn't anger, disappointment, fear, hurt or betrayal, many of them caused by either him or her stupid excuse of a 'lover' as he wanted to call himself.

Nobunaga knew he wasn't the best with words - In fact, he was terrible with anything concerning his heart and that blasted word that only brought weakness on the battlefield - Love, they called it. He never believe in it. He hated it. He couldn't let any obstacle, no matter how little, stand in his way.

...And yet...

Perhaps this will to protect and trust her was steamed, or branched from, this foreign feeling.

Love.

He had a wife, he had two concubines, and he had sons. He had to, after all. He had to, otherwise he wouldn't have been a respectable Lord and if anything happened to him, he'd have had no offsprings to pass the throne to. However, he made them all run away from him, or had them killed. His own wife was a spy and tried to poison him, one concubine died of smallpox, the other ran away in fear of him. And his sons were either trying to kill and dethrone him or got themselves stupidly killed in battle. There was only one more, but he stayed cooped away in fear of being a disappointment to him again. Pitiful.

But she was different. This Katrina, this woman from the future... He wanted her more than he wanted anything. He desired her, he needed her around him. Her mere presence seemed to sooth his fears and worries, at least for the moment, and with her around, he was reminded how to smile and at least attempt to see the world from a much purer perspective, for a mere second.

He trusted her.

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[thenomadinside]

The Lalu: Overlooking Sun Moon Lake

If you haven’t yet visited Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) in Nantou county, you might want to consider adding it to your “places to visit” list for the future. Having claimed the title of Taiwan’s largest lake, it has become one of the most popular tourism attractions and easily attracts a few million visitors per year. I highly recommend visiting Sun Moon Lake after a few days in Taipei, as it provides a much needed slower change of pace following a busy schedule.

During this trip, Taiwan had just went through two typhoons and my mother was able to claim an amazing deal for an overnight stay at The Lalu via hotels.com. I’m guessing that they had an influx of cancellations from visitors leading to quite a lot of vacancies and were just trying to fill up the vacant rooms.

After receiving our room keys, we were invited to sit in a common lounge area, where they provided complimentary freshly toasted almonds, a cup of what tasted like a decadent version of lemon iced tea, and damp cloths to wash your face with. The common lounge area also had a classy bar and cafe next to it. After finishing the complimentary snacks, we headed up to our room. 

Amenities: 5 out of 5 – Some amenities that they provided was an “onsen,” commonly known to be a Japanese bathhouse and yes, you are expected to be au natural. The men’s onsen was rather small but was clean and empty when I entered, so it felt like a private bath. Note: the onsen times for men and women are different and they have a co-ed common lounge area that you can sit and relax after taking your bath. The onsen is quite small actually and wouldn’t be able to fit a whole crowd of people which makes me think that not a lot of people use it a lot. – They also have an outdoor pool which during the day looks out of this world because you can see the skyline reflected on top of the waters. I noticed that it was mostly empty throughout the day and night, but that might be because of the lack of visitors. If you plan to use the pool, be informed that they don’t have a proper men’s locker room and only a public bathroom that had a shower which can fit a maximum 2 people.

After dinner, I went outside to explore the resort at night. I’d definitely recommend going out for a late night stroll after your belly is full and its almost pitch dark. The ambiance and resort looks totally different and transforms from peace to more romantic.

The morning of my departure, I decided to check out the gym and get an early morning workout in. It was located in the spa area in the basement and lacked any sort of charisma. To be frank, it seemed out of place and looked like a dungeon to this upscale resort. The gym was located in a windowless, poorly lit room that only offered very basic equipments such as a treadmill, ellipiticals, a few weights, and lat machines. It didn’t seem like a lot of the customers here used the gym but maybe visitors don’t exercise when they visit. I think it would have been really nice if the gym was placed on the eighth floor with a full span horizontal windows so that visitors can have an amazing view while working out.

Overall, the Lalu was an incredible experience even though it was definitely pricey. But hey, if you are on vacation and want to treat yourself, I would definitely consider treating yourself to this place at least for a night! After my overnight stay, I can absolutely understand why Chiang Kai-Shek chose this area for relaxation, recharging and refocus. I think it’s fair to say that this will be probably be the only opportunity I’ll have to stay at such a luxurious and upscale hotel again in my lifetime and it most definitely lived up to its expectations.

Happy Traveling! Jordan

[risingpakistan1947]

Witnessing the Mount Zao Japan,s Contrasting Landscapes

Perched on the border between Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures in northern Japan, Mount Zao is a magnificent volcanic mountain that boasts stunning natural beauty. What sets Mount Zao apart from other mountains in Japan is its mystical atmosphere created by the thick blanket of snow that covers the landscape during winter. The combination of snowfall and strong winds creates rare and spectacular natural formations known as snow monsters. Best places to visit in Singapore This phenomenon occurs when freezing temperatures cause moisture-laden clouds to deposit heavy snow onto the trees, transforming them into eerie, misshapen figures that resemble mythical creatures. These otherworldly shapes standing against a backdrop of pure white create a surreal sight that attracts countless visitors each year. Adventurous souls can explore this wintry wonderland while skiing or snowboarding down its powdery slopes. Mount Zao's unique blend of enchanting scenery and cultural experiences makes it a must-visit destination for nature lovers seeking an unforgettable adventure in Japan.

Discovering the Beauty of Mount Zao Japan

As the sun starts to rise over Mount Zao Japan, a mesmerizing sight unfolds before your eyes. The mountain's famous snow monsters come to life, creating a landscape that seems straight out of a fairy tale. These unique trees, covered in layers upon layers of ice and snow, create an otherworldly atmosphere that draws visitors from all over the world. Private Tour Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Hida Furukawa,Takayama But there are more than just the stunning snow monsters to discover on Mount Zao. The region also boasts hot springs to relax and rejuvenate after a long day of exploring. Imagine soaking in the warm waters while surrounded by nature's beauty – it's an experience like no other. For those seeking adventure, Mount Zao Onsen ski resort offers thrilling skiing and snowboarding opportunities during winter. With its challenging slopes and breathtaking vistas, it is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. If you visit during spring or summer, take advantage of the numerous hiking trails that allow you to explore the area's lush forests and hidden waterfalls. MOUNT FUJI SIGHTSEEING WITH PRIVATE GUIDE AND CAR Whether you're captivated by its snowy landscapes or enticed by its natural wonders, Mount Zao Japan is sure to leave an indelible mark on your heart. It is not just a mountain but an embodiment of Japan's awe-inspiring beauty – one that deserves to be experienced firsthand. So, pack your bags and embark on an unforgettable journey to discover the magic of Mount Zao for yourself.

Location Mount Zao

Mount Zao is located in the northeastern part of Japan in the Tohoku region, straddling the borders of Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. Its unique location offers visitors a whole host of natural wonders to explore. The mountain itself is an active volcano, and its surrounding area is home to an array of stunning landscapes, including crater lakes, hot springs, and dense forests.

Notable Attractions

Nestled in northeastern Japan, Mount Zao is a natural wonder that offers a breathtaking array of attractions. The first and most iconic feature is the Okama Crater, often called the Five Color Pond. This crater lake changes colors depending on weather conditions, ranging from emerald green in summer to deep indigo in winter. It's like witnessing a painting come alive before your eyes. 1 Day Tokyo Private Tour with English Speaking Guide As you make your way through the mountainous terrain, another awe-inspiring sight awaits the Juhyo Ice Trees. These mystical formations are created by a unique blend of heavy snowfall and strong winds, shaping the trees into fantastical shapes resembling creatures from folklore. During winter nights, when illuminated by colorful lights, these ice trees transform into an enchanted forest straight out of a fairy tale. Best places to visit in Malaysia But it's not just visual beauty that lures visitors to Mount Zao; it also holds spiritual significance for many locals and pilgrims alike. The sacred Buddhist temple known as Risshakuji Temple attracts countless devotees seeking solace amidst nature's splendor. Surrounded by serene forests, this temple is renowned for its ancient Buddhist artworks and peaceful atmosphere — a journey worth undertaking for anyone seeking introspection or tranquility. Mount Zao Japan truly epitomizes the wonders of nature with its surreal landscapes and spiritual allure. Whether you seek adventure or contemplation on your travels, this unique destination promises to captivate your senses and leave you with unforgettable memories of Japan's marvels firsthand.

Skiing and Winter Sports

Mount Zao in Japan is not only a paradise for ski and snowboard enthusiasts, but also offers a unique winter sports experience unlike any other. With its powdery snow, breathtaking landscapes, and world-class facilities, this mountain has become a top destination for winter sports enthusiasts from around the globe. What sets Mount Zao apart is its legendary snow monsters or juhyo, which are trees completely covered in ice and snow, creating an otherworldly sight that must be seen to be believed. Top 10 famous places to visit in Dubai Skiing or snowboarding through these enchanting forests feels like gliding through a winter wonderland. In addition to the mesmerizing scenery, Mount Zao Japan boasts exceptional opportunities for off-piste skiing and deep powder adventures. With vast areas of ungroomed slopes and untouched powder stashes, advanced skiers can unleash their skills and experience.

Mount Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Nestled in the picturesque mountains of Yamagata, Japan, Mount Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a haven for winter sports enthusiasts and relaxation seekers alike. It is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan, spanning over 300 hectares, this expansive mountain resort offers a comprehensive experience that goes beyond just skiing and snowboarding. This unique setting offers visitors the perfect blend of natural beauty and exhilarating adventure. After enjoying a relaxing soak in the hot springs, travelers can take advantage of the cable cars to explore the stunning peaks that dominate the horizon. With its stunning natural beauty and world-class ski slopes, Mount Zao Onsen Ski Resort has long been a favorite destination for outdoor enthusiasts. 10 best places to visit in Turkey Zao Onsen also boasts a vibrant shopping district where travelers can browse local crafts, souvenirs, and delectable treats. Zao Onsen Ski Resort also offers an impressive array of accommodations for visitors. The resort's commitment to preserving nature while offering top-notch amenities truly sets it apart as a destination for both adventure-driven and those seeking solace amidst tranquil beauty. Whether you're an avid skier or simply looking for an immersive cultural experience immersed in Japan's rich traditions, Zao Onsen Ski Resort has something for everyone. So, pack your bags, hit the slopes, or soak in soothing hot springs. There is something for every nature enthusiast at Mount Zao Onsen ski resort. So, experiencing the majesty of Mount Zao Japan is truly a transformative experience. In essence, appreciating the majesty of Mount Zao goes beyond simply admiring its natural grandeur; it is about connecting with nature on a deeper level and understanding our place within it. This mountain teaches us humility as we witness its power and resilience throughout the seasons. It awakens our senses and renews our spirit amidst tranquil surroundings. So why not embark on this journey yourself?

Read the full article

[staynozawa]

3 Japan Ski Sites You Must Visit

The fun of skiing in Japan

Are you looking for an adrenaline-rush holiday? Why not go skiing in Japan? Skiing is such a wonderful activity to help you stay in touch with nature. Japan provides you with remarkable snow conditions that make the country one of the best places to go skiing around the world.

The great thing about skiing in Japan is that even if you cannot make it during the winter period, ski resorts remain open through spring. You’ll also not have a problem with the available snow because there will still be plenty of it during the spring for you to plow through.

Indeed, people who love skiing prefer doing their thing in places where they experience endless power, friendly locals, great food, and relaxing onsens to look forward to. So, apart from choosing Japan, there are three sites you must visit in the country: the Nozawa Onsen in Nagano; Shiga Kogen in Nagano; and Hakuba Valley in Nagano.

Nozawa Onsen, Nagano

Did you know that Mozawa Onsen was a hot spring location before it became a much-celebrated ski destination? This site provides ski lovers the best way to wind down after sampling the various tourist experiences that Japan offers, including spending time on the slopes of hills and mountains spread across the country.

The Nozawa Onsen, Nagano skiing destination, has great ski reports, including the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, which is commonly referred to as Japan Powder Heaven. This resort comprises a large ski area that began more than seventy years ago.

Why you must visit this skiing site is that it has plenty of terrain to explore, and offers more than fifty kilometers of trails and pistes. It has an elevation of about 1085 meters and has about 297 hectares of skiing surface. It also has some difficult modul runs and offers great powder days between the marked runs.

If you’re an active skier, the environment provided at this exquisite Nagano ski resort, including the Nozawa Onsen ski resort rental, is quite welcoming. Besides that, get prepared to do your thing in a terrain park with jumps, rails, boxes, and an eighty-meter pipe to get your adrenaline pumping. Something you’ll find interesting about the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is that it is the only ski resort in Japan with truly family-friendly packages. For example, kids 5 and under who are playing with adults do not get charged for using the facility.

When you plan to go skiing in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano, you’ll find it in the northern part of the prefecture and within easy reach of central Tokyo. It will take you just two hours on a shinkansen ride to get to Liyama Station, from where you can use a shuttle that will get you to Nozawa Onsen within a period of less than half an hour.

Shiga Kogen, Nagano

Shiga Kogen will provide you with a shockingly long ski season because it is usually open from mid-November to the end of May. This skiing site encompasses 16 different ski areas, all of which can be accessed with one convenient lift pass.

When you visit Shiga Kogen, be prepared to sample the best range of traditional Japanese ryokan guesthouses, which are the epitome of Japan’s friendly hospitality. This skiing destination is also close to popular destinations such as the Jogokudani Snow Monkey Park.

To reach Shiga Kogen, it will take you about an hour and a half of shinkansen travel followed by a slightly more than one hour bus ride from Tokyo.

Hakuba Valley, Nagano

Another skiing destination you must visit is the Hakuba Valley of Nagano. This expansive ski area in the Japanese Alps comprises 10 different ski resorts you can shuttle between to make the most of the diverse area. You’ll also find the area great for your skiing encounters because it has plenty of snow and stunning scenery that make it a cool getaway from your life’s hustles.

The Hakuba Valley also has numerous hot springs that provide great avenues for relaxing after riding the trails. The valley is extremely English-friendly and is a popular site for international travelers, including those who don’t indulge in skiing activities.

You can access Hakuba Valley by shinkansen and bus in less than three hours from central Tokyo. The shinkansen ride will take you an hour and a half to reach Nagano Station, after which you can take an hour-long bus ride to Hakuba.

Want help visiting great skiing sites in Japan?

If you need assistance with finding and visiting any skiing site in Japan, Nozawa Snow Resort can help. They’ve been helping ski lovers with their skiing experiences, where to stay in Japan, and places they can have great and affordable food while in Japan.

[after-witch]

Thank you for opening asks Theo 💜 What about Scaramouche taking his wife to an onsen resort in the mountains. I feel like vacation with him would be a lot of forced relaxation.

Title: Mountain Composure [Yandere Scaramouche x Reader]

Synopsis: You could do with a bit of relaxation. It’s too bad that traveling to a mountain onsen with Scaramouche is the opposite of relaxing. 

Word Count: 3298

Notes: yandere, forced marriage, nsfw implications; misuse of an onsen

It would be nice if you could take in the scenery on the winding mountain roads, but the curtains on the sedan chair are firmly shut and you--along with your attendants--were given strict instructions to keep yourself out of sight.

Never mind that you were unlikely to counter many people who might glimpse your face on the road leading to a very well-fitted onsen, one you’d been told had been rented out for exclusive use by your husband. 

Never mind that sitting inside without the curtain open makes you feel like you’re in a box, in a cage. A gilded kennel with stuffy air and practically no light. He might at least have given you something to brighten it up.

But no matter. You content yourself with knowing that you’ll be able to take in mountain views from the onsen itself. And the fact that you’ll be able to enjoy its comforting waters soon enough is another consolation, one tinged with the ever-present knowledge that you must maintain your role and dignity at all times. You are, after all, still the wife of the Sixth Harbringer--no matter where you visit.

Soon enough, the sedan chair slows then teeters slightly before the attendants lower you to the ground. One of the Fatui assigned to the task (you don’t miss the look of scorn, of annoyance, in their eyes--surely they didn’t sign up to be the transportation for someone’s wife) opens the door and you let yourself inhale, taking in the fresh air before turning towards a woman standing before you with a polite, if nervous, smile. 

She’s probably been briefed on how to interact with you, on how to interact with your husband, so who could blame her if her smile doesn’t reach her eyes? Or if he hand trembles slightly when she gestures towards the large, slightly imposing gates leading inside the resort.

The interiors are truly tasteful. Gold and red hues surround you as you’re escorted to your private room. Well, not-so-private, once your husband arrives. The woman takes her leave with a hasty bow and you’re left to admire the setting. 

There’s a bed, of course, a large one with fine linens draped above, creating a canopy that could be tied or untied at your leisure. The furnishings are elegant but not ostentatious--rather tasteful, in your opinion, rather than gaudy. Yet even this seemingly simplistic luxury is miles beyond what you’d ever experienced before your marriage.

You’re idly examining the bed canopy with your fingers when you feel your husband’s presence at your back. Your muscles strain and you turn, attentive, your head bowed down and your hands clasped just-so in front of you.

“Is it to your liking?”

The question is mocking and a test all at once. You’re familiar with it by now.

You nod, slightly, elegantly.

“More than that, my lord. It’s beyond my expectation.”

He tsks, and you feel the back of your legs tense.

“Beyond your expectation? You think that it’s beyond my reach to come to a place like this?”

Your stomach drops, and you swear you can feel the scars on the backs of your thighs tingles.

“No, no--” you dare to glance up, regret in your eyes, “Of course not, my lord. I thought--I meant that, I--”

His lips twist. He laughs.

“Calm down, woman. You clearly need this rest more than I do.” His eyes roam over you, appraisingly. “How wound up you are…”

Only because you make me so, you think. You dare not reply back with anything but an acquiescing nod, an acknowledgement of his accurate assessment. And he is not altogether wrong; you just wish the rest didn’t have to involve him at all.

“I’m tired,” he says, without preamble or pretension.

You know your expectations, and move swiftly into action.

You begin by preparing the bed for your lord; tying back the canopy, ensuring every linen, every pillow, is smooth and ready. Then you turn back towards your husband, and unbutton his belt. Help ease the hat off his head, setting it with the utmost care on top of the provided cabinet, made from carved wood and gilded touches.

Then you reach for his trousers, and pull them down with as much indifference as you can manage. It’s not sexual, this ritual--and yet it is; with Scaramouche, you’ve realized, all things are complex and difficult. Even getting ready for sleep.

He says nothing as you retrieve his night clothes from the wardrobe, only eyeing you up as you dutifully button the night shirt, as you offer him slippers, which are rejected.

It’s only when he sits on the bed that you’re allowed to undress yourself. There exists no husbandly duty to help your wife prepare for bed--this was something you realized soon after your marriage--and you try to hold down the feelings of embarrassment as he watches you struggle with your clothing. A servant is necessary for this, and perhaps if he didn’t enjoy seeing you fuss and squirm, he might employ one. As it is, it takes you some time before you can put on your own night clothes and take your place beside him.

When you were a child, you sometimes imagined what married life might be. Based on the example of your parents, on the average people you saw in your little village, you imagined it might be nice. Most people married for love or at least, could expect love to come through mutual respect.

You remember once snooping on your older sister’s friends, some of whom were married, and overhearing talks of the marriage bed. It all came in whispers and half-understandings, but now, you realize that the softness they talked of, the kisses goodnight, the caresses, the comfortable discussions before closing their eyes, were not something you would enjoy.

Instead, you lay down on your side of the bed and wait your husband--who prefers to sleep on his side--to drape his arm across your shoulders, pushing you down and keeping you there with a pressure that felt possessive, not comforting or protective.

Early on in your marriage, once you had forced yourself to swallow the constant fear and revulsion of your situation, you would try to strike a conversation in bed. About his day. About your day. About plans. 

Although your marriage was not exactly willing, you thought perhaps you might come to enjoy the comfortable respect that married couples might enjoy, even in elite houses where marriages were made from contracts and alliances, not love. Yet it was not to be, and as always, you remain silent, hoping for sleep to overtake you soon.

**

You feel like you’ve only slept for a few moments when a servant’s low yet firm voice wakes you from a shaky, thin sleep. You glance to the side, and your husband is gone. Probably off to enjoy the men’s side of the springs. All for the better, since you will have some reprieve of him for a while.

The servant doesn’t look at you while you rise, but instead informs you that your husband insisted you try out the springs after your rest.

The smile that comes to your lips isn’t forced, for once, and you can’t help admitting that you’ve looked forward to this for some time.

“They truly are wonderful, Lady--”

But the servant stops themselves, and fumbles their words before dropping their gaze back to the floor. They’ve probably been told not to address you directly. It’s ridiculous, pedantic--he’s not even in the room and the servants must still dance around their words, giving you orders or asking for them without ever treating you like a distinct individual.

It’s tiresome. But that is what the onsen is for.

You let yourself be dressed into a simple gown before you’re led to the washing room.

This, at least, was all familiar ground. Not that you had ever been to such an elegant, such an expensive, place; but there were public springs near your village. Everyone was welcome, donating what they could to the family that ran it for generations. It was nothing extravagant.

Certainly nothing like the surroundings here; no elegant rooms with silk sheets, no meek attendants waiting to listen to your whims. But it was comforting all the same. Warm, both in the water and out; a friendly place to mingle with neighbors, family, friends.

There were no family or friends to be found here--nor any other guests, if you’d understood your husband’s directive correctly--but at least you could look forward to the a comfort that the water would bring. Warmth to soothe your pains, physical and otherwise. A bit of quiet solitude without having to worry about what was around the corner, the constant state of your life for so long now.

In the washing room, an attendant hands you a well-woven basket filled with soaps. You choose one shaped like a glaze lily and clean yourself thoroughly. It feels good to bathe yourself for once, and it’s a wonder that Scaramouche didn’t assign a female servant to keep an eye on you. 

Though perhaps asking one of his Fatui agents to help you soap up was going a step too far. It wouldn’t surprise you if he did have guards stationed outside the bath, and even if you were tempted to sneak away, you wouldn’t make it more than an inch out the door.

Before long, you’re prepared to go into the onsen proper. As you step through the curtained entryway, you’re met with the most endearing sight. A sight beautiful beyond words. A well-cultivated view, with a mixture of natural and man made waterfalls cascading into smooth stones surrounded by garlands of natural greens and flowers. 

Surrounding the springs themselves are an abundance of greenery, shrubs and flowers and you can see insects darting, here and there, adding to the beauty of the scene.

Above all, it’s peaceful. A peace that you haven’t known in so long.

It only takes a few moments in the water for your body to relax, and you let all of the tension melt out of your muscles, melt out of your mind. ‘

Let the water take it away, you think.  Take it and cycle it down those waterfalls, away from you, away from the onsen nestled in this nature. Let it go down the streams, down the mountain, into an ocean somewhere far away. Let it trouble no one else, especially yourself, ever again.

“Enjoying yourself?”

Every bit of warmth drains from your body, leaving nothing but a feeling of pure cold shock.

Before you--it shouldn’t be, he shouldn’t be--is your husband. Naked, stepping into the hot springs and approaching you with a languid air.

He can’t be here.

You’re so out of your sorts that you say so--

“You’re not supposed to be in here,” you say, and in the solitude of the springs your voice seems to resonate for miles.

The look you receive is nothing sort of a warning, and you fumble for words.

“I--I’m sorry, my lord, I didn’t mean to say it so rudely…” He’s approaching, and your mind feels electric in fear as you struggle to overcome your shock. “I just--isn’t this against the rules?”

Scaramouche smiles proudly--of course he does--and looks down at you as if you have two heads, or perhaps no head at all. Certainly not a brain.

“You know who I am. I can make whatever rules I like.”

You wish he couldn’t. You wish you could’ve enjoyed an evening in the warm springs by yourself, recuperating, letting all your pent-up frustration and self-pity melt away. Now you’ll have to manage him and yourself all at once.

He’s in front of you, now, with an expectant look on his face.

But what does he want you to do? At home, you understand; in public, you understand; at ceremonies and suppers and in times where you’re his ornament, set at his feet while he deals with daily annoyances of politics and audience-seekers, you understand. He’s drilled the expectations into you--by tutor and by cane. But here?

You don’t want to make him wait any longer, so you swallow against the tightness of your throat.

“My lord, I’m afraid I don’t know what you want me to do.”

You feel instantly stupid for having said it in the way his expression twists in annoyance. He sighs. Then glances to the left, on the prepared rock shelf.

Ah--there. A small cup for pouring water. You feel your cheeks grow hot, though whether it’s from the water or your embarrassment, you’re not sure.

The cup is silver, and it’s such an exquisite piece for such a mundane task. You wonder how much this single cup could be sold for in your village, how many mouths it might feed. But you scoop water inside, all the same, and watch as your husband wades incredibly close to you before turning around.

Without anymore hesitation, for you can tell his patience is wearing thin, you pour the water over his back. You can see his own muscles relaxing, the tightness in his shoulder blades resolving as he sighs. So you continue to scoop, to pour, noting with a bit of jealousy that the warm water is doing nothing to resolve your nerves, which are making your entire body feel as if it’s on on a wire.

Although you can’t see his face, you can tell he’s calm. Your fingers unwittingly ghost against his skin with the next pour, and you hear his breath hitch in pleasure.

And somehow this intimacy, this closeness, begins to unnerve you.

It shouldn’t. Should it? You are his wife, and he is your husband, and with that came all of the intimacy that it entailed. He’s been inside you. What is this compared to pouring water down his back? Yet the slight touch, the nearness of his naked and wet back, the trickle of water caused by your own ministrations, has you feeling shaken.

When he suddenly begins to turn, you can’t help the relief that flows through you, somewhat easing the tightness in your muscles. At least this is over.

You glance up at his face to see his expression and feel somewhat taken aback by what you find. He seems… relaxed. Peaceful. Almost the expression he makes when he sleeps, which is perhaps the only time you’ve seen him look so serene.

But then he speaks.

“Turn around.”

His words makes you jerk, and you almost drop the cup before recollecting yourself.

The surprise almost makes you ask him to repeat himself, but you catch yourself before making such an serious error.

You almost ask him to repeat himself, but you catch yourself before such a serious error. But you still can’t quite believe the words that have reached your ears. He’s always been insistent on a wife’s duty to a husband, and never missed a chance to add to your never ending list of expectations; sliding the shoes off his feet, mending his clothes, letting the servants know when they should make this or that dish, depending on his moods. 

Knowing when to make him happy or when to let him broil in his justified anger; knowing when to speak up, and when to keep quiet. He’s taught you all these things, for better or worse.

But not once has Scaramouche ever done something explicitly for you.

The clothing he ordered for you was meant to ornament you to his tastes, mold you into a pretty doll that he enjoyed admiring. The food you tasted was a boast of his resources, his power, not an attempt to please your palate. 

Even when he deigned to tend to your needs in the bedroom, there was an air of dominance about it. He was not making you feel good for your sake, but to show you that he was the master over your body. That he, your husband, could make you produce such noises and moans and toe-curls against your will.

The notion that he wanted to do the same for you was… was something else entirely.

But you don’t dare disobey. And without a moment to spare, you let him take the cup from your less than steady hands, and turn around. It’s but a few moments when you hear the scoop of the cup and feel the water down your back.

It feels nice and not-nice all in the same confusing jumble. He repeats his actions again, occasionally ghosting your back with his fingers as you had done; though you think his is intentional, rather than unwitting.

The quietness, the intimacy, the gentleness you’re experiencing at the hands of your husband is almost entirely foreign; and nerve-wracking, sure to be followed by a slap to your ears (to show you that it was a jest, and you fell for it, ha-ha) or some harsh, sniping reminder of your place.

But it doesn’t come. Instead you feel what he must have felt, the warmth again and again sliding down your upper back, trickles of splashes making themselves known. His stroking becomes more noticeable, infinitely more deliberate, as he uses one hand to pour water and the other to rub your back in a surprisingly comforting manner.

The mind and body cannot stay in a perpetual state of agitation. Eventually, some time, some way, you must let down your guard. You must let yourself feel good, if only for a few moments. You must let yourself feel happy.

And so you do.

You sigh, and let your shoulders drop, and enjoy the feelings brought on by his attentions. The warmth of the water. The gentle way his fingers stroke down your back. The quietness around you, the peace, the calm, the sound of the water and the feel of your own heartbeat and the sound of his steady breathing.

“How is this?” He asks, and in your state you don’t even feel alarm at the fact that he’s pressed closer against your back, leaning down near your ear.

“It’s lovely,” you say, sighing out the words with a calm you’ve never known since he took you away.

“Lovely,” he repeats, voice tight, all mirthful condescension.

You nod, eyes closing, waiting for more water to soothe your aches.

They don’t come. Instead you feel your husband’s wet body pressed against yours, the sound of the cup softly splashing away, the feel of his arms around your chest.

Your eyes snap open and you feel ashamed, suddenly, of enjoying all of this; even more so when you realize that there’s an uncomfortable tension coiling in you, something that demands to be given attention.

Your mind darts to one of the attendants walking in on you, scolding you, shaming you; or perhaps worse, saying nothing at all, leaving you to feel the weight of their stare the next morning when they were serving you a meal. What if word got out? You already hated the reputation of being his meek wife; surely even he would not want the reputation of doing something so unacceptable in an onsen, of all places.

“But--” you protest, turning your head slightly to see him behind you, “This is--that is, my lord, the rules--it’s not allowed.”

His grip around your arms loosens, and you don't have time to think about resisting when one of his hands grips your upper leg, pulling it up for leverage as he pushes you against one of the rock walls. His face is pink from the heat--and perhaps more--and you know there is nothing to do but submit to his will, as always (and perhaps, this time, thanks to his work, with less mental friction) when you see the determined look on his face.

“I,” he says, “can make whatever rules I like.”

[bump1nthen1ght]

Valentines Day (Male!Reader/Male!Lamia)

Pairing: Male!Reader/Male!Lamia

Warnings: Explicit content ahead! (18+ only!!)

Word Count: 1653 words

Summary: Hot water and an even hotter Lamia, what more could you need for a good night?

Request: Can I request a Male Lamia x Male reader NSFW or SFW?

A/N: Two fun facts for you! During the winter, snakes go through a sort of hibernation called brumation. They hide away in shelter and are partially-sleep until the warmer season arrives. Second is you probably shouldn’t have sex in a hot spring (even private ones), it’s not very hygienic.

“Gods, I hate this part.”

You don’t bother hiding your smile, Arthasius’s clenching his eyes shut with a grimace. He always squeaks and squeals when you pour the cold water over his head, but you both know it’s far easier to do it all in one go than to stretch it out. You roll your eyes as he dramatically whines, already pouring shampoo into your palm.

“Better than stewing in our own filth, my dear.”

“Hardly.” Artie feigns annoyance, yet still wrapping the end of his tail around your ankle, affirming that you're right there with him. You chuckle, rubbing your fingers and the shampoo into his hair. The scent is his favorite, cedarwood, causing him to crinkle his nose and flick out his forked tongue. “Aren’t you supposed to relax after a workout? Not be tortured by waters imported straight from the North Pole?

“It’s better to jump in the cold before the heat. It gives your muscles time to adjust to the temperature change.”

“…That sounds like something you just made up.”

You pause, tapping your fingertips against his scalp. Even with his skull in your hands, eyes still closed, Artie gives you a smarmy look.

“Alright, maybe that’s not the real reason, but I know there is a reason!”

“Whatever you say, dearest.”

Artie lets out a yelp when you playfully slap his shoulder (“Ah, so dishonorable, attacking a Lamia when he’s down!”) and reach for the bowl of cold water. Artie groans again, but you make sure to give him a countdown before dousing him. You rub in some leave-in conditioner before tying his long hair into an updo.

“See, now we can get to the good part.”

“Finally.” Artie props himself up on his tail, standing to his full height, the end of his tail unfurling around your ankle. Before you can make another joke about his bellyaching, however, Artie grabs you by the waist and pulls you into a bridal carry. The yelp you make is less than dignified.

“To the bath, my fair husband.” Artie simpers, wiggling his eyebrows and curling his lips in an imitation of arrogance. You chuckle, throwing your head back with your hand.

“Yes, to our ablutions, my love!” You gesture towards the large bath, filled with steaming water.

The two of you joke, but the private onsen in your hotel bathroom was quite romantic. Artie had picked a good venue for this valentines day, even paying the extra $20 to get flower petals to sprinkle all around the tub. Water rushes over the sides as the two of you step into the spring, only just big enough for you and your husband.

The hot welter melts over your skin, the both of you sighing as you sink down until only your heads are out of water. The smell of roses dances over the room, only making the decorative rocks and open ceiling seem more romantic. Artie’s hand lays across your collarbone and you easily fall back to rest your head on his chest. He kisses your temple, rubbing the tips of his fingers over your clavicle as you both look up at the stars.

You sit in silence for a bit, enjoying the heat and the beautiful sky, your bodies melded together in pure relaxation.

“This is way better than that Valentine’s Day two years ago, huh?”

“Oh my god, you are never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“You 're the Lamia who decided a ski resort was a fantastic vacation idea, my love. How can I not make fun of you?”

“I thought they’d have extra warm lodges and heat rooms! I’ve never been up a mountain, how was I supposed to know how cold it gets up there?”

“You’re lucky you’re cute, dear. Or else I wouldn’t have lugged your near-unconscious body to the nearest fireplace and revived you.”

Your playful jab is met with a splash in the face, causing you to whip around with dramatized betrayal. Artie meets it by blowing a raspberry into your face. When you try to get him back with your own splash, Artie grabs both of your wrists, pulling your back tight to his chest as you faux-struggle against his grip. “Ah-ah, you may have all the brains honey, but we both know I am far, far-” Artie sneaks his head into the crook of your neck, breath brushing against your ear while he easily holds you still, “-stronger than you.”

Artie’s voice is sinfully deep, the tip of his forked tongue flicking against your neck and sending a shiver down your spine. He always knows exactly what to say to get you hot.

“That so?” You counter, pressing yourself against his body and grinding your ass down on his sensitive slit. Artie bites back a groan. “Well, I think I know the trick to keeping a strong snake like you in check, don’t I?” You throw your hips back again, the tip of Artie’s cock already poking out of his sheath. Artie moans, pressing his mouth against your neck in a wet kiss.

“Maybe you do.” He shutters, nipping at your pulse point. “I think I have to tame you then, little one. Can’t have my greatest weakness out and about for anyone to see, hmmm?”

This far into your marriage the two of you don’t often buy into this kind of dirty talk. It was enticing when you were younger, but after a long day of work and adulthood, both of you prefer the sweetness of sex right before bed, of soft kisses and understood gestures. Perhaps it’s the moonlight, the flowers, the languid movements of the hot bath water that has you melting at Artie’s cheesy whispers.

Artie’s fangs graze against your jugular, nipping and sucking on all your sensitive spots. You arch your neck backward, mouth open with a breathy moan. He releases your wrist to slide a hand down your chest, allowing you to card your fingers through the hair at the base of his scalp. Artie takes his time, tapping your nipples and massaging your stomach before palming your cock. His tapered cock pokes in between your thighs, rubbing lewdly against your crotch.

Artie’s thumb presses against your weeping head, his hand wrapping around your shaft with a languid squeeze.

“Still feeling confident you could best me?” Artie whispers, bruises and hickeys blooming across your neck as continues to kiss it. Your answer is a whimper, wetting your lips as he starts a lazy pace of jerking you off. But it’s all to lure him into a false sense of control, the gasp Artie let’s out when you grab his dick making it very worth it.

“You bet.” With your neck contorted you press against a kiss to his cheekbone, tugging at his base as you start him with a fast pace. But Artie’s quick to catch up, nipping at your shoulder before matching your stride.

Steam billows around you as you jerk each other off and sweat begins to drip down your temple; It becomes easy to get lost in the sensation. Artie’s kisses grow sloppy against your skin, pawing at your chest while you spread your thighs even wider. You grip the back of his neck, contorting your shoulder to its limits just for a touch of Artie’s back muscles. You grip his tapered head, running your thumb over his oozing tip just the way he likes it. He responds with his other hand massaging your balls, keeping his grip tight around your shaft as he jerks it faster and faster. Water has spilled over the sides of the spring, waves rocking back and forth with your lust.

Your shoulders begin to shudder as the knot in your belly tightens, your whole body slicked with sweat and weak against Artie’s hold. He gives a stuttered laugh.

“Close? And here I thought I was facing my greatest challenger.”

“Trust me, I have plenty of gas left in my engine.” You bluff, hands shaking as you try and make your husband cum even faster. You can tell that he’s close; The rattle of his tail has begun to shake and the smooth muscle of his tail is beginning to tense. “After all, I wouldn’t want to miss seeing your pretty face cum.”

“Awww babe, you think I’m pretty?” Artie whines with a forcefully babied voice, breaking you out of the scenario with a laugh.

“Honey, in character!” You chide.

“I know, I know. But I can’t help it.” Artie kisses your shoulder once more. “You’re just too cute.”

His words make your heart sore, even after 10 years and with his drooling cock in your hand. If anything, you’ve never felt more swept off your feet.

The small talk dwindles when the two of you feel the crests of an orgasm coming, hearts pounding and limbs beginning to shake with adrenaline. Pre-cum soaks both of your cocks and your hands, your limbs flushed with the heat. Your head tosses back as moans escape you.

“Fuck.” Artie growls. “I’m close.”

“M-me too.”

The sound of slick and skin fills the small outdoor bath, heavy panting and whines reaching a crescendo with every moment.

In a proud moment of yours, Artie comes first. His tail rattles a rhythm while his lower half flexes, cum splattering all over your crotch and thighs. You can’t let out a sassy remark however, your own climax hitting you just as hard, decorating your chest.

The heat and muscle exhaustion heat you all at once, both sinking into the water and letting it overflow onto the tile. Your head finds rest on Artie’s chest as he finds some in the crook of your neck, your bodies still intertwined. Artie still has a loose grip on your cock while he pets your belly.

“What a great..” you yawn, “Valentines day.”

“Yes, my dear.” Artie kisses your forehead. “It truly was.”

[yakocchi]

A Naughty Kiss in the Sweet Chapel (Epilogue) // Eisuke

"Nothing has ever been such a nuisance as (this) emotion that cannot be logically explained."

o… i guess ive been gone for over a month. sorry yall, ig there wasnt much of note LOL

anyway speaking of only few things of note, eisuke’s wedding epilogue is finally out! whyd it take so long and with essentially zero kbtbb content in between? it_is_a_mystery.png

below the cut, briefest + blandest summary in the world

so continuing from the route, they do a lot of public weddings, including one where eisuke is a Prince and mc a princess. mc was very into that. apparently very good with the PR, these sort of weddings. but tbf my anti-capitalist mind wouldve been like "smh my head rich people" if i saw that plastered on the news anyway between all that (apparently they had a “wedding night” for each of these weddings… bruh), eisuke tells her to think of what she’d like for their honeymoon. so after some thinking, she finally says that’d she’d like to relax with him at an onsen. Yes, unsurprisingly eisuke is like “wow kind of basic, lady” but LOL w/e, it’s not like he’d deny her even if she wanted to sit in a trash can for a week. so later he drags her to a very fancy private resort in Central America in the rainforest with AI macaws and stuff (they say “colorful birds” so… macaws). the onsen part is a fancy waterfall with warm water. later it’s revealed that ota helped design the whole thing, which added context to earlier where ota was with eisuke at the penthouse going like “okay like, im working here, but meanwhile u…” + got startled when mc walked into the room. also lots of boning sprinkled about. happy end

eisuke is surprisingly pretty cute in all this lol. it’s more like “im grumpy that you are all focused on the ring all the time instead of me, so im going to yeet u into a pool”… it feels both uncharacteristic of him and at the same time the correct amt of petty for him lol it's cute to see him actually be openly yakimochi OK!!

[abysscronica]

Addicts [Denjiro/Kyoshiro x reader]

female reader

TW: lemon, sexual harassment

***

«You look like a fine woman.»

Ego. Lust.

You smiled lightly behind your white mask, your head bowing just a little in front of the grotesque man.

«I am not worthy of your praise, Orochi-sama.»

His slimy grin widened.

«I can see why the CP-0 sent you to negotiate with me, after our last meeting.»

«Your words flatter me, my lord, although I am not allowed to carry out negotiations on my own. I am only here to hear your requests and refer back to my superiors.»

«And hear you shall!» he uttered, raising his cup of sake «You are my honoured guest now! The Kyoshiro family is coming to the palace tonight, you're joining for the banquet!»

It was not an invitation.

You could refuse, sure. But the Shogun of Wano Kuni was likely planning to make a move on you, and you rathered save your right to decline for later.

You didn't need your Devil Fruit power to see that this man was undressing you with his eyes. As a matter of fact, he was not trying to conceal it at all.

Plus, he said that name.

And you cursed yourself, you did, because your heart should not have missed a beat, and your stomach should not have churned that way.

You had to keep a firm grip on your emotions if you wanted to get a grip on others' as well.

«It will be my pleasure.»

«It's decided then!» he clapped his hands «Servant! Show this lady our bath chambers, so she can freshen up for dinner.»

Ego. Pleasure in commanding others, almost a sexual-addiction to power.

One of the few men lined up alongside the walls bowed deeply before getting to his feet.

«Yes, Orochi-sama.»

«Thank you, my lord.»

You bowed as well and stood up to follow the vassal outside the hall and in the labyrinthine corridors of the palace.

Eventually, he stopped in front of a wall made of fusuma and slid one of the panels aside to reveal a large wooden bathroom.

«You can use this onsen as long as you like, agent-san.»

«Thank you. And please, call me Kyōkan*.»

«Kyōkan-san.» he nodded before taking his leave.

You entered the bathroom and closed the fusuma behind you.

A long, warm bath was nothing but welcomed, and you allowed yourself to relax in the hot water, the white mask of the Government resting on the edge of the tub.

Your eyes trailed to it, fingers extending to brush its borders.

Lucci would have noticed that second of hesitation in me.

Out of all the members of the Government you had the pleasure to work with, he was the only one who truly terrified you.

Normally it was not easy to scare you. People's emotions reveal their true colours, and they were like an open book to you. If this wasn't enough, you could always resort to your ability to influence others' feelings.

But you never dared with Lucci.

The aura around him always had the same shades.

Bloodlust. Sadism. Hunger.

Being anywhere near him made your skin crawl, and you could swear he knew, and he liked it. You feared that, if only you tried to interfere with such brutality, he would sense it and attack you on the spot.

You let out a quiet sigh.

Good thing that he wasn't there then.

-

Once you finished, two handmaids escorted you to a changing room and dressed you up in a ceremony kimono.

After they styled your hair into Wano traditional hairdo, you were ready to join the banquet.

It wasn't your first time in that secluded island, so you were used to the geisha and the shamisen music that accompanied the meal.

As a matter of fact, you were studying the culture of Wano, coming there any time you had the chance. It was only possible thanks to your position and because the Government wanted to collect information on the samurai as well.

Aside from the geisha, you were the only woman in the room, and the only one sitting with the men around the long table.

When he spotted you, Orochi gobbled down another cup of sake and patted the cushion beside him, despite having already two geisha clinging to him.

«My lady, please, join me for this meal.»

«I'm not worthy, Orochi-sama.»

«Oh, come on!» he sputtered, rubbing his mouth with his sleeve «Come here, I command you.»

Of course, you small man.

You sighed internally and complied.

As soon as you kneeled down, his arm wrapped itself around your shoulders, pulling you closer.

«What a stern grace.» he husked, inches from your ear «I wish I could see what you hide behind that mask.»

Beneath my kimono, you mean.

His lust was now amplified by his tipsy state, and it hit you like a wave of nausea.

«Orochi-sama, the Kyoshiro family has arrived.»

«Hm?»

The Shogun briefly turned to the servant and gave him a bored gesture.

«Let them in.»

The man bowed and pulled the door open.

Half a dozen samurai walked in the room.

Your eyes quickly scanned them before landing on their imposing leader.

Napping Kyoshiro.

You saw him subtly studying the people around as well, his gaze maybe lingering for a second on your figure before he turned his signature grin to the Shogun.

«What a wonderful banquet, Orochi-sama. I didn't know we had foreign guests.»

«Oh, Kyoshiro!» Orochi chimed, patting his huge hand on your back with too much strength «That's right, you never had the honour to meet this woman! They send her when they're crushed by my overwhelming power! Isn't that right, Kyōkan-chan?»

You felt like coughing your lungs right on the table, but you managed to quickly straighten yourself up and keep your composure.

«I'm a diplomatic agent from the World Government.» you clarified, ignoring his question «The Shogun allowed me the honour to be here tonight.»

Like he didn't know all of this already.

«Oooh, this is interesting.» Kyoshiro commented, his grin never faltering «May I have the pleasure to sit beside our guest?»

Your heart suddenly beat faster.

«Fine.» the Shogun nodded «Oi, you there! Pour me more sake!»

The samurai scattered around the table, and the blue-haired man came to sit right beside you, the silk of his cape brushing against your kimono.

As soon as he settled, his charismatic aura enveloped you, making you feel safer and agitated at the same time.

Damn you, Napping Kyoshiro.

Keep calm. Orochi mustn't realize we know each other already.

You knew you shouldn't have used your power to sense the samurai's emotions right now, you knew it was stupid and totally unnecessary, but you told yourself you were only doing it for investigative purposes.

You closed your eyes and inhaled.

So here we go.

Bitter entertainment. Disgust. A mind with a thousand intricate thoughts that flow one on top of the other. Eyes that do not move but see everything.

And that was only the first, thin layer.

There was an abyss below that, a dark pit you only dared to scrape on the surface. Again.

Pain.

And rage.

Rage.

Rage.

Rage.

You swallowed, your head feeling slightly dizzy from the depth of his darkness.

You were about to switch off your power, when a new ripple of emotions spread on his colours.

Excitement.

Different kind of excitements, with a light aftertaste of concern.

Shit.

His feelings caused a wave of adrenalin to wash over you.

They were so intoxicating it was a straining effort to detach yourself from them, finally killing your abilities. At least for the moment.

I'm behaving like a stupid, clueless girl. You're a WG officer, Y/n, act like one!

«I've heard a lot about you, Kyoshiro-oyabun**.» you said «I'm happy I had the chance to meet you, at last.»

Kyoshiro chuckled, pouring you a cup of sake.

«Likewhise. They were rumours in the capital about the masked woman from overseas. Usually the Government agents don't show themselves to the commoners.»

You shrugged.

«It is my duty as diplomatic to learn about the local culture. Besides, I find the customs of Wano fascinating.»

«If this is the case, I'd like to show you around. I'm the boss of the yakuza, after all, what better guide can you find?»

He laughed and stretched his cup towards you. You touched it with yours and your fingers brushed together, causing a shiver to run down your spine.

I really shouldn't drink tonight.

And yet, you couldn't help yourself but peeping, again.

Excitement. Sexual tension.

Great.

«Oi, oi, Kyoshiro!»

The Shogun's grip, which had grown loose in the past minute, suddenly slid around your waist and tightened.

«Don't you go and flirt with Kyōkan-chan now! It's already decided that she'll spend her last night here at the palace!»

«I wasn't flirting.» the samurai smiled, but you didn't miss how his eyes briefly flicked to Orochi's hand on your hip «It is my duty as well to make sure our valuable guest stays safe.»

Jealousy. Rage. Homicidal drive.

...ancient homicidal drive?

«Gufuahahahah, isn't our Kyoshiro dependable?» the Shogun laughed, spitting food on the people around.

«Absolutely.» you agreed, lifting your chopsticks to eat.

«I need dependable warriors, you know, Kyōkan-chan. Now more than ever!»

«And why is that, my lord?»

«Because the prophecy finally turned into reality!»

The entire atmosphere of the room changed in an instant.

Even without using your power, you could see Orochi's eyes sparkling with obsession, while exasperation slumped on the shoulders of servants and samurai.

«It happened! Like I've always said! But the Government doesn't need to worry about this. We'll crush the rebels like the low insects they are! They were always just a pathetic bunch of jesters, even twenty years ago!»

The fire of emotion that suddenly burst beside you almost startled you.

The overwhelming rage was so melded with the acute, bitter pain, it was impossible to tell them apart anymore.

You turned to Kyoshiro.

His large pompadour had fallen over his face, concealing his features as he sipped at his sake.

But the violent struggle of his emotions was too much to bear, even for you.

Your hand slid toward him until you could lightly touch his leg through the kimono.

Kyoshiro's sharp eyes twitched, and his grip on the cup tightened for a second.

Then it was all gone.

The pain, the rage.

You dissolved it like snow in the sun, releasing a thin sense of peace through his veins instead.

His body suppressed a shudder and his blue irises darted on you.

You offered an imperceptible nod and moved your focus back to the Shogun, trying to keep your panting under control. Tricks like that required a big amount of stamina.

«Nobody can take this power away from me! Wano will be mine forever! I have Kaido on my side!»

He kept on bragging for the rest of the night, guzzling down more and more alcohol.

You had to be slow and careful in releasing Kyoshiro from your spell, which required time and more energy. You couldn't risk it though: giving such violent emotions back all of a sudden would be dangerous for him and the people around.

By the end of the dinner, however, the process was complete.

«Sooo, Kyōkan-chan.»

Orochi pulled you against him, his drunken muzzle hovering inches from your neck.

«I think it is time I show you to your chambers.»

Yeah, you wish.

«Orochi-sama.» Kyoshiro called, standing up abruptly.

Every trace of smile had disappeared from his face.

«A word, please?»

«What is it now, Kyoshiro?!»

«I am sorry to intrude, but this is about your safety.»

That seemed to do the trick. The shogun begrudgingly released you and followed the samurai on the platform outside.

You couldn't hear their words, so you sat quietly waiting for them to return.

When they finally walked back in the room, Orochi's face was distorted in a gruff pout.

«We decided you'll stay at Kyoshiro's mansion tonight.» he stated.

You smirked below your mask.

«As you wish, my lord.»

«If you please, Kyōkan-san, I will escort you to my house.» Kyoshiro stated.

Once again your heart betrayed you, pounding in your chest.

You stood and bowed to the Shogun.

«Thank you again for granting me such a honour, Orochi-sama.»

«Yeah, yeah.» he grumbled, hardly looking at you as he pointed at two geisha «You and you! Follow me to my chambers!»

-

The yakuza arranged a palanquin to carry you through the Flower Capital, and you reached the red light district in less than an hour.

Once in the palace, Kyoshiro dismissed his men and personally led you to the guest room.

Your stomach was now fluttering in anticipation.

You had a precise idea on how the night was going unfold, since it happened before.

It was kind of surprising how Orochi still thought you had never met each other. You were sure now: boss Kyoshiro held the Flower Capital on the palm of his hand. Much more than Orochi, he was the one the people respected and trusted.

You met Kyoshiro the first time a couple of years back, while you were researching the lifestyle of the local courtesans. You were usually very discreet, but it didn't take long for the owner of the pleasure houses to hear about you and formally invite you for a tea ceremony.

You knew it was a veiled threat, but you also knew he couldn't really touch you without causing a problematic accident.

However, the encounter didn't go as either of you had planned.

The samurai's irreverent charm was inebriating, while he was at the same time agitated and intrigued to meet a woman who could read him, even if he disguised it very well.

But no act was good enough with you.

Using your power on him was an obvious precaution at first, but the whirl of emotions coiled beneath that icy layer of control shook you.

You were drawn to him.

You toyed around with his interest and, before you could realize it, you ended the meeting in his bed.

The second time you saw him, he intercepted you in a small izakaya at the fringe of the capital, years later, after you made thoroughly sure the yakuza knew you were around.

You remembered sitting in the izakaya your last night in Wano, playing with your food, thinking he wouldn't show up, after all. But he came.

This time, he took you to a secluded ryokan in the old part of the city, where the whole personnel was on his payroll, so nobody would talk. That was more than one year ago.

«What about another drink, my lady?»

Kyoshiro's smooth voice stirred you from your memories.

«Of course.»

He moved a small table to the terrace outside the room.

It was a transparent night, a soft breeze carrying the cherry petals through the buildings, creating beautiful pink falls.

The samurai poured two small cups of sake and lightly knocked his against yours as you sat across him.

«Kanpai!»

«Kanpai.»

You drank and paused to inhale the fragrance of the cherry blossoms, so typical of the capital.

«How did you convince the Shogun to let me stay elsewhere?»

Kyoshiro moved the glass from his lips, smirking at you from behind his pompadour.

«I just made him see how risky it was to keep you in his palace. He did just upset your Government colleagues, after all. Who knows what you people can do. He wouldn't be safe.»

You chuckled.

«What makes you think you are then?»

His grin only widened.

«This.» he stated, caressing the handle of his sword «Although I should be wary of you. You have quite a dreadful power, my lady.»

A frown settled between your eyebrows.

«I was careless.» you admitted «I should have known you'd figure out.»

The samurai shook his head.

«I had my suspicions before. I just didn't know the extent of it.» he leaned down his cup «And maybe I still don't. But yes, you were careless. You should have trusted my self-control.»

Kyoshiro stood up and walked around the table until he towered over you.

With his ten feet of height, his silhouette completely obscured the light of the moon, projecting a wide shadow over you.

His right hand slid on the hilt of his katana.

«It wouldn't be wise of me to let you go free, Kyōkan-san. You know too much. I'm sure you understand.»

«I understand.» you assured, putting down your sake «But what will you do about it?»

«The only sensible thing would be to make you disappear.»

«Like you did with the Oiran?»

Surprise. A tinge of embarrassment. Resolution.

But no guilt or any strong feeling.

A little frustration as he realizes he's giving me the answer.

You smiled.

«So you will not kill me either?»

A frown twitched on his face, but only for a second, then his wide smile spread back to his features.

It took only an instant for him to drop on his knees and unsheathe the sword, the blade suddenly inches from your throat.

«I told you, you're too dangerous to be left alive.» he hissed on your face.

His breath smelled like sake and cherries, but it wasn't a bad mix. It sent the blood rushing through your veins.

His nose was now brushing yours, and the gentle weight of his pompadour leaned against your head.

There was not enough oxygen reaching your lungs, and your lips parted in attempt to calm down your racing breathe.

«Then kill me.»

His grin hovered closer and your eyes locked with his.

You did not use your power, but you could see the thoughts flowing behind his gaze as he secretly struggled with himself.

His blade swung in a flash. A second later, the two cut pieces of your mask hit the floor with a thud.

Before you could even realize your face was now uncovered, you felt his warm lips against yours and his arms wrapped around your waist, pulling your small frame into his lap.

Your body instantly relaxed and you melted in the kiss, soon granting his tongue the access he was asking for.

You tasted the alcohol on him while your fingers fiddled with the laces of his cape, freeing him from it and sneaking under his kimono to probe his muscles.

Kyoshiro was much older than you, you guessed probably in his early fifties, but his body seemed sculpted in marble.

He was so tall and wide you felt like a small doll in his hold.

The samurai effortlessly lifted you and brought you inside with one arm, your mouths always hungry for each other while his other hand managed to release the ribbon of your obi.

He gently leaned you down on the futon and his lips moved to your neck as his fingers slipped inside your kimono.

Your gasps of pleasure filled the room.

When his mouth eventually started to take care of your bare chest, you let out a louder moan and his hand slipped on your mouth, his face coming up to yours.

«We need to be quiet, my lady.» he blew in your ear «My servants are loyal, but I don't want to burden them with unnecessary secrets.»

Kyoshiro observed you biting down your lip with a lustful smile before going back to your breasts. He asked you to be quiet, but you could swear he was trying to make you break that promise, so you moved your knee just enough to grind against his growing hardness.

He grunted on your skin, his fingers digging into your hips.

«T-Take me, Kyoshiro-oyabun.»

You felt his grin on your chest and he raised his head to look at you in the eyes.

«As my lady commands. I just need to make sure she is ready.»

His hand lowered to your womanhood, playing with your clit briefly before slipping two digits inside your entrance.

Your whole body tensed against his and you had to bite down your wrist to contain yourself.

He watched your torment with a growing smile before positioning himself between your legs.

The samurai relished in the prolonged moment, his large hand caressing your stomach and crawling up to your chest before slowly moving your arm from your face, his lips brushing against yours instead.

His wide grin was still there, but you noticed a droplet of sweat rolling down his temple.

He entered you slowly, making you feel every inch of his length. A low growl rumbled in his throat as your walls clenched around him. You shivered and he quickly muffled your moans with his own mouth.

Kyoshiro left you the time to adjust to his size, you were so small compared to him after all. Then he started thrusting inside you, slowly at first, but his impatience caught up to him eventually. The sight of your body reacting to his ministrations was too much to bear even for his self-control, and he picked up pace, his hands grabbing your thighs to keep them spread for him.

You couldn't help but let your power go free and drown in his emotions.

Excitement, lust. Feverish desire, frenetic desire.

You arched your back to meet his torso, your bodies grinding against each other, faster and faster.

He was driving you crazy.

Kyoshiro pressed his trembling lips on yours in an attempt to muffle your voice, his ragged breaths breaking against your mouth.

Pleasure.

Pleasure.

Pleasure.

Pleasure.

You hit your climax together and you rode the waves of the orgasm with him, his fingers entangling with yours as he pressed your hands against the mattress.

He finally collapsed beside you, both of your body covered in a thin layer of sweat, both of you struggling to catch your breath.

«What a woman you are.» he panted after a while, his thumb brushing along your jaw «It's such a lunacy to keep this face concealed all the time.»

You let out a strained chuckle.

«Don't play with me, oyabun. It doesn't work.»

«I know.» he smiled, his strong arms wrapping around you and pulling you in his chest «I wasn't playing.»

Despite his words, you felt like this man could play you anyway he wanted. And it was your heart's entire fault, now pounding in your chest.

«Will you kill me now?» you whispered.

His grin fell into a frown, and you were surprised to see how is mouth was able to do a perfect symmetrical turn in an instant.

«I should.» he admitted «But I won't.»

You buried yourself in his warm hold, your hands palming his wide chest and your face hiding in his neck.

«And why is that?»

His fingers traced paths of goosebumps on your back.

You couldn't see his expression anymore, but you heard a silent sigh leaving his mouth.

«Don't play with me, my lady.»

Your stomach churned.

What a fool I was to fall.

Kyoshiro pressed his lips against your temple before pulling away.

«I should let you rest. A long travel awaits you tomorrow.»

«Wait.» you grabbed his arm before he could leave the futon «Stay.»

His sharp eyes hesitated on yours for a few long seconds before he finally gave up and lay down beside you.

«I'm not that smart, am I?» he chuckled, his arm encircling your shoulders again when you rested your cheek on his chest.

You had never dared to use your power on him in such a moment, when the defences were down, and the famous boss Kyoshiro was laying naked beside a woman.

But you had cheated so much already that night.

You closed your eyes.

The dark abyss was always there, covered in that layer of coldness and schemes you always sensed. It was the things spreading on the surface like waves.

Affection. Dread. Sadness. Affection. Warmth.

And then something like... addiction?

Kyoshiro grabbed your hand.

«Stop.»

He was looking down at you, his gaze serious and firm. For once, he was not smiling.

«Sorry.»

His mouth curved into a pout and his eyes sharpened.

«You were gifted with a terrible power, my lady.» he murmured «I may be a fool, but yet again, what man could escape?»

You frowned.

«What do you mean?»

Kyoshiro hesitated, letting go of your hand and moving his focus on the ceiling.

«How do I even know if what I'm feeling when I'm with you is real?»

Your heart missed a beat, but you didn't let it get to your face.

«It doesn't work that way. I can influence your emotions by touching you, but I can't create permanent feelings.»

His gaze slid on you.

«And don't drug do the same?»

You stared at him.

He's right.

How could I believe such a man would fall like this for me if it wasn't for my Devil Fruit?

You took a deep breath and pulled away.

«Maybe you should go.»

His gaze stayed on you as you turned your back at him.

«Kyōkan-san.»

His arms surrounded you from behind and he pressed his mouth in the crook of your neck, tearing a small gasp from your lips.

«Just like you, I wear a mask every day, but I can't lose it anymore. All the mad emotions you sense from me, I can't let go of them. Not yet. And my face is forever frozen like this, no matter what happens next.»

You listened to his confession, trying to steady your feelings.

Then you rolled in his arms to face him.

«I like your face the way it is.»

Your hand crawled up to his cheek, your thumb traced the line of his nose, his eyebrows, his mouth.

Kyoshiro closed his eyes and let your fingers explore his features, a ragged breath leaving his throat as he kept you close.

«Let me take away a bit of that pain.» you whispered, leaning your palm on his chest «Just for tonight.»

«Very well.»

But before you could activate your Devil Fruit, he pushed you on your back and rolled on you.

«No, not like that, my lady.»

He leaned over and captured your lips with his.

-

You were sleeping in his arms, a protective warmth enveloping you, when a soft bustle across the fusuma woke you up.

Kyoshiro shifted, sitting on the mattress and pulling the blanket over your body.

«What is it?» he hissed.

The servant didn't dare to open the door, kneeling and bowing in the corridor, but his choked voice betrayed an urgent excitement.

«I'm terribly sorry to disturb, Kyoshiro-sama!» he scream-whispered «But she's back! The oi– she came back!»

She?

The samurai immediately shuffled out of the futon, grabbing his kimono and throwing it on his shoulder.

«Bring me to her immediately!»

He left the room in an instant, leaving you without a word.

You waited without moving for what seemed like an eternity, but when his warmth began to fade from the sheets, you decided it was time to go.

You got up, put your clothes back on and quietly walked down the stairs, heading for the exit.

The palace was dark and silent, deeply buried in the night.

On your way out, you passed a tearoom, and the glimpse you caught made you freeze on your steps.

You leaned right behind the door, peering inside.

Kyoshiro was holding a woman in his arms, impossibly tight, completely hiding her into his kimono. What little you could see of his face was contorted in desperate relief.

Your heart broke.

I guess drugs cannot fight real feelings.

You quickly passed by, trying to reach the exit as soon as possible along the dais that lined the inner garden.

However your steps probably alerted Kyoshiro, because just when you were about to reach the doors, his voice called you from behind.

«Kyōkan-san?»

You stopped but didn't turn.

«I figured I should leave you to your reunion.» you murmured.

«My lady, I think you misunderstood.»

«It is really none of my business.»

You resumed your steps but he grabbed your hand, forcing you to turn this time.

Your eyes sharpened at the huge man in front of you.

«Don't underestimate me, samurai.» you hissed «You may have forgotten, but I am still a CP-0 agent.»

«Use your power.» he blurted not letting you go.

You blinked.

«What?»

«Ask me about that woman and use your power on me.»

«This is really not something I'd rather do.»

«Please.»

Taken aback by his sudden beg, you hesitated.

«Fine.» you eventually hissed, switching your Devil Fruit on, your guts curling in your belly «Think about that woman. Who is she to you?»

Kyoshiro closed his eyes and let his feelings flow.

Relief. Relief. Affection. Urge of protecting her. Love.

You frowned.

Fatherly love?

He let go of your hand and his gaze met your confused one.

For a while, none of you spoke.

«I don't know why I just did that. I should have let you walk away.» he whispered.

You inhaled and your fingers took a light grip of his kimono.

«Come with me.»

«What?»

«Come away. Leave this place with me.»

Kyoshiro took a deep breath and gently detached your hand from his vest.

«I can't.»

You offered him a sad smile.

«Goodbye, Kyoshiro-oyabun.»

You turned to walk away.

«The day is coming when Wano will be completely changed.» he said, stopping you once again.

The cherry blossoms were falling in the garden and all around you.

«When that day comes, if I'm still here...» he paused «I would like to leave with you, Kyōkan-san.»

You shifted to look at him in the eyes.

«Y/n.»

«What?»

«My real name is Y/n.»

«Y/n.»

He let it roll on his tongue, savouring its taste. Then he smiled.

«Nice to meet you, Y/n-san. My name is Denjiro.»

[lagycart]

tokyo tohoku trip - day 4.

waking up early morning after a good sleep, we enjoyed another scrumptious buffet breakfast at the resort, i really do love all the food options they offer, japanese variety is just so good, and the western side is amazing too, fresh ingredients and also cooked in very appetizing and delicious ways.

before checking out, we had to also visit the other onsen that is a short walk away from the main buildings, as both my friend and i love onsen so so much, this onsen is an indoor one, and it is also very very comfortable to soak yourself in and just chill. i really can’t get enough of onsen.

our destination is morioka in iwate prefacture, which is south of aomori. the shinkansen ride is comfortable and we were very surprised to still see snow when we arriived, as my friend has lived here many years during her studies, this place almost never snows although the weather gets cold. snow did make the town scenery much more beautiful and aesthetic though.

our lunch place is a popular and iconic noodle place - pairon 白龍 本店, which sells jyajyamen, a variety of black sauce noodles 炸酱面, which originates from china. the noodle they used is thick and fat, has a chewy texture which is enjoyable. they put lots of green onions and cucumber with the meat sauce. meat sauce is quite salty though. mix it all up and you may slurp your noodles away, the store do provide aprons to protect your clothes from the black sauce. when you have about two or three bites left, you may hand your bowl back to the staff and they will add soup to your remaining noodles. it is interesting to see how a simple noodle dish transform in order to allow customers to enjoy the different ways of having noodles. it is worth trying this once as it is one of the three famous noodles in morioka.

after lunch, we decided to stroll around the town, the sakurayama jinja 桜山神社 is just a few minutes walk away and the place is so picturesque and great for photos and just to enjoy the beautiful scenery. the river side view is also amazing, simply covered with lots and lots of snow, it was somewhat calming and relaxing and everywhere you see, it looks like a wallpaper. we visited a local sake brewery 酒蔵あさ開 as well, to get some local sake as souvenir. the staff here is very friendly and we tried a few sake while browsing, they also offer a tour if you make reservation in advance. after getting sake, we went to a cafe to relax, this is one of my friend’s recommendation as her favorite spot, 茶廊車門, we ordered coffee and just chit chat and watch snow from the window. the cafe interior is very old with lots of history, lots of miniature decorations which is interesting.

our last stop before leaving morioka is to have dinner at my friend’s favorite izakaya - MASS～かまどのある家・酒をよぶ食卓～. my friend did make a reservation in advance as space is very limited as well. the izakaya staff is very friendly and nice, we ordered lots of food based on their recommendations - sashimi, meat tartare, steamed vegetables, oden, fried fish, grilled pork, and hojicha ice cream too. the alcohol selection here is mainly japanese sake and soju. during the meal, my friend’s friend also came over to say hi as they have not seen each other for quite a long time, it was a great time chatting and get to know each other, it’s a super interesting and enjoyable night, completely stuffed and satisfied with the good food as well.

taking the shinkansen again, we travel towards south, while my friend is heading back to tokyo as she has some work to take care of, i stopped at sendai to stay a night and explore. i got to my hotel quite easily as i booked a place that is close to the station. then i went to the nearby convenient store to see what food and snacks they have to offer, as this is one of the charms of travelling to japan, visiting the convenient store. i bought some snacks for the night and decided to come back again tomorrow morning to get breakfast since i did see some interesting new food.

heading back to the hotel, the best way to unwind and relax is to soak in the bath. the hotel is really nice to also provide bath powder and other toiletries and coffee and tea options too, and they also provide pajamas which is super convenient, so i don’t have to bring pajamas in my suitcase, it helped to save luggage space.

to be continued...

[darkdreamtheorist]

Worldbuilding Helluva Boss: Mictlan & the Aztec bathhouse

What do other hell-scapes around the world look like in the Helluva Boss canon? Take Mictlán, one of four death houses in Aztec Hell, where sick and old souls endure a four year journey to reach their resting place. Now imagine a stop before that, where the souls would soak in lava pits or ice floes or steam off while served the best foods the mortal realm has to offer. Who would design such a place?

Why, Tlazolteotl, that's who! goddess of vice, filth, lust, and adultery. Tzoltea to her friends. She's also the patroness saint of purification and STEAM BATHS! She conceived the resort after having a day at the spa herself from all corners of the Mortal Realm! At a Pantheon mixer in Olympus, She was given a medallion by Dionysius to an Atlantean bath complex, bathing in the scalding, tepid, and frigid thermae (read/bathhouse); then Ratatoskr, messenger squirrel of Odin, lead her 'round Yggdrasil to a steam house far off a Norwegian village over some mountains followed by a feast at Glasgow during Oktoberfest; soaked on a hot spring in Osaka with a Tanuki, who discussed how using a dragon emulated the natural Onsen effects w/o finding hot spots. Off to the fiery cauldron of Kauai, her last stop, and fire dancers in a luau with some fruity mai-tai n pig on spit!

Such a relaxing holiday, she can't enjoy it on her own, so she got up to design a resort in Mictlán, Tzoltea's Tantalizing Thermae: A sprawling sauna/pool house retreat inspired by her holiday in the mortal world, complete with cabanas, poolside bars, floorshows, an int'l buffet, and the main attraction: three types of bathing experiences from the very countries she skinny-dipped into-- Spicy Maui Lava Pits; Norwegian Spring Saunas; and Floe-ing Fjords! No soul will go restless and grieving when in respite!

To keep thermal conditions of each bathhouse at optimum temperatures, she hired a big fat femme dragon-gator demon with elemental properties who loves a good soak (and vaguely looks like BL ZeBub from Devil & Daniel Mouse) to heat the lava pits and chill the floes when necessary thru secret tunnels while also securing the resort from non-guests dipping a toe w/o reservations. Plus they gets to wear a wonderful one-piece Bandeau swimsuit in charcoal black with a Leuco Dye decal logo that shows a volcano when in the lava pits and glacier in the floes. they should be doing their security/lifeguard duty, but they sneak a chance to skinny dip on one of the pools during off-hours.

[bokutoslittlebird]

Family Vacation

Bokuto x reader x Akaashi

Author’s Note : no incest, I promise ; the request included some slight BokuAka interaction, however I made it more than slightly ; the hot springs resort is loosely based on three different locations under the Kinosaki Onsen in northern Hyogo [Mikuniya Ryokan, Yutouya Ryokan, Nishimuraya Ryokan]. Each one offers different things, but they all have some common aspects that I liked: seafood served during winter months [November - March], traditional ryokan, and options for the hot springs [indoor, outdoor, and family] ; holy fuck is this wrong.. but holy hell is it erotic

Warnings: introduction of the Bokuto family, best friends to lovers au, playful teasing [about reader’s virginity], some mlm [Bokuto x Akaashi] interaction, fingering, face-sitting, handjob, blowjob, cum eating, spit exchanges and mentions, no penetrative sex, virgin!reader, virgin!Bokuto

“Oh, [Y/N]! I’m so glad you could make it!”

“Thank you for having me, Bokuto-san,”

“Oh, dear, call me Fuyumi! You’re practically family, anyways,” she smiles, eyes crinkling as she does. Her smile makes you smile, bowing in respect as if you haven’t known her for years.

The Bokuto family always spent their winter vacation before New Years at an Onsen in Hyogo. Yasurai-fukurou was well known for their hot springs throughout the year, but their meals included seafood in the winter. Kōtarō and Shinjiro both love seafood, especially crab, so it made sense the Bokuto family would come to this place specifically. Winter meant snow, and snow meant the garden view from the spring was gorgeous, having the silver lining the green foliage as the pebbles along the ground glistened with melted snow, cold and slippery. It was Kōtarō’s and Machiko’s favorite season, so it was an added bonus. The family had the money to spend, treating the members to a relaxing trip. Even Keiji, Kōtarō’s friend, joined them his first year at Fukurodani.

You didn’t usually attend, yet you always wanted to. Your family celebrated holidays differently, so you often found yourself swamped with family activities around December, only getting free to hang out by the time school started back up. Always wishing to go, you finally got your wish this year. With the stress from school this past semester, your family decided to let you choose what to do, so you declined spending the holidays with your family. Instead, you were free to spend that quality time with the Bokuto family. Fuyumi practically begged Kōtarō to invite you, knowing you’d be alone, so you didn’t have to worry about inviting yourself. There was one problem, however.

“[Y/N] should room with us!” Machiko points out. “She can’t board with boys!”

“What do you take us for? We’re her best friends,” Kōtarō waves off his sister. “I worry Amaya might try to wrestle her,”

“She could use the practice!” She pipes up, only to be shut back down. “I wouldn’t hurt her,”

“Why not let the girl choose herself? It is where she will stay, in the end,” Shinjiro said. Although he was right, you suddenly felt your heart tugging in two different directions. Machiko and Kōtarō gave you the puppy dog eyes, begging to choose them. A heavy sigh came from you as you weigh the options presented in front of you.

“I trust Keiji and Kōtarō, I’ll room with them,”

“No!” The two girls dramatically shout, falling to their knees. Fuyumi laughs, patting your back.

“Good choice, dear,” she compliments. You know why. Her daughters may be considered mature and adults, but they are both hectic and chaotic in their own way. At least with Kōtarō, he has Keiji with him. There’s no reason to mull over the decision, you know full well that Keiji and Kōtarō wouldn’t hurt you.

Once settled into each room, your bedding laid between the two of them, the trip to relax in the ryokan was in order. The two genders were separated, of course, so you sat in the spring with Machiko, Amaya, and Fuyumi. It wasn’t a bad thing, being with the three, but you knew Machiko and Amaya like to tease you.

“Gosh, [Y/N], you’re so innocent! You’ve never done anything?” Amaya’s face made it seem like she was much more malicious than on the surface. “Even I had a couple boyfriends that I had special adventures with before your age,”

“Excuse me? Amaya!” Fuyumi scolds her daughter. “You never told us this,”

“Why would I? You and dad never allowed me to have a boyfriend until I graduated. Kōtarō even had a girlfriend in his second year,” she pouts, puffy cheeks making her less malicious and much more adorable. Though unintentional, her words make your mood sour, Kōtarō’s slipping from her lips. Machiko notices this, however.

“Well, Kōtarō is a boy and I told your father to make sure he doesn’t do any of that dating stuff, but it seems like he did,”

“You know, I’m kind of tired. I’m really relaxed,” you mention, moving to exit the water. “I should lay down and take a nap,”

“Oh, are you sure? Dinner will be served soon,” Machiko holds out her hand, as if to stop you. You’re quick about getting out, rinsing yourself off before wrapping a robe around your naked body.

“I’m sure. Wake me when dinner’s ready,” you cheerfully smile, waving to them as you leave the setting. Your smile falls, an artificial thing as you continue to pad towards the room. Passing the window leading to the garden, you notice the cascading of the white snowflakes, shimmering in the light from the outdoor lamps. It’s peaceful, the way it floats down to the ground until it rapidly melts, joining the slush forming on the pathway. A sigh leaves you, heart aching from the words Amaya let spill.

It wasn’t her fault, you tell yourself that as you continue to the room. Amaya doesn’t know, but Machiko does. Machiko has always had the older sister intuition, knowing when her younger siblings had something to hide or something embarrassing. Whether it was from her years of travel around the world, or just a trait of hers, she could pinpoint things that made you want to crawl in a hole. What does Machiko know, exactly? Your big, fat crush on her little brother.

Kōtarō has been your crush as long as you’ve known him, aka since you guys were waddling around with chubby legs. Your family and his family live near each other, so it made sense for you two to play a lot as children. As the years passed, your admiration for him evolved into a crushing thing, yet your young mind wouldn’t allow such a horrid thing to be spoken. No, it festered until you broke down one day in high school and confessed to the dark of the night, the only witness of your confession was the moon. You confessed that you loved him, you were in love with him, nobody else could compare. It hurt even more now, knowing you were falling in love with him while he was loving someone else. Even Keiji probably loved Kōtarō, knowing how close they were. You wouldn’t put it past them to be in a relationship, either. Each thought accompanied a step you took, each one bringing tears to prickle your eyes as you finally shut the door to the room, and your problems.

With the dark encompassing the room, you found yourself easily situating yourself on the ground to cry, curling up in a ball as you did so. A pathetic scene, you knew it was, yet you couldn’t help yourself.

After you left the ryokan, Shinjiro happened to be talking to the boys in front of him, both of them flushed red from the warmth of the bath and the topic at hand.

“I knew something was off in the way your mother encouraged you to invite her! I never thought it’d be that, however,” his guffaw had Kōtarō sinking into the water, bubbles coming from his nose as he huffs. Keiji looks at him pitifully, but doesn’t do much of anything else.

“She doesn’t even like me like that. This trip was a mistake,” Kōtarō mumbles, his mouth going back under the water. Keiji sighs, looking into the water where his distorted hands lie. Before he can speak, Kōtarō beats him to it. “I have to go to the bathroom. I think I’ll leave early,”

“You sure it’s just that?” Shinjiro teases. “Or are you going to wait for your lovely friend?”

“Okay, maybe it’s a bit of both,” he huffs, cheeks puffed out. Keiji lets the words die on his tongue, letting Kōtarō leave the spring without any reason to look back.

Shinjiro sighs, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks into the water. “Maybe I went too far. I shouldn’t tease him about his crush, it seems like it’s important to him. I don’t think she sees him in that light, anyways,”

“She does, actually. I think she’s been in love with him for a while,” he confesses. Shinjiro’s eyebrows rise as the words sink in. However, he is quick to understand. No longer laughing and joking, his smile is more bitter and sad. A pity smile.

“And you’ve been in love with her, haven’t you?”

Keiji turns his head to the side, yet he nods. The red dusting his cheeks is no longer just the warmth of the water. Shinjiro moves closer to Keiji, putting his hand on the younger man’s back.

“Then tell her. You both need to confess, not let this fester and turn into something ugly. Don’t let this ruin your friendship with Kōtarō, either. It’s not worth it,”

“I know. I know, Bokuto-san,”

“When you gonna call me Shinjiro? Or even dad? You need to let loose, Keiji!” He laughs again, getting Keiji to crack a smile.

While Keiji ponders how he should go about this, Kōtarō trudges up to his room for the week, unaware you’ve also turned in early. His mood has taken a turn for the worse, hair deflating as he pouts. No matter what, he’s always found himself finding your validation to be the most important. Throughout the years, he’s reached out to both you and Keiji for validation, finding them both to be important to him. While he knows Keiji partially does it just to make him happy, which he is thankful for, he knows yours is genuine. Even when he forced himself to move on, knowing you didn’t see him in that light, he found it hard. You followed him into his dreams, gleeful chimes of your laughter as the future he aims for bloomed into an obtainable goal. Yet, he’d wake up to see the empty space beside him, a brutal reminder that his dreamt future would stay in his head, playing on loop until he could do something about it in the real world.

When his door comes into view, he sighs, relief flooding through him. As he gets closer, he hears a soft voice from inside. Leaning his ear against the shut door, he hears you — a squeak of his name, accompanying a soft mewl, most likely held back due to the thin walls. Even he understands what you’re doing, it’s not like he’s never thought of you that way, finding himself wishing you could relieve his stress in the best way possible. As to respect your privacy, and settle his nerves, he quietly creeps away, to his parent’s booked room. He decides to use the toilet in there, giving you a few moments to finish your own business.

Leaning against the door once more, he doesn’t hear your heavy breaths or your moans and mewls, so he slides open the door to see you under the covers, laptop shining in your face as a movie plays. “Hey, what’re you doing here?”

“Huh?” You jump, turning to see Kōtarō’s large frame at the entrance of the room. It’s scary, the way he seems to have popped up after you finished, or attempted, getting off on thinking of him. “Oh, Kō. It’s just you. No more hot springs for you?”

“Oh, no, I found it to be getting too hot,” he lies, rubbing his neck. The robe you’re wearing is the one you put on after exiting the spring, so his perverted little mind knows you’re completely naked underneath. Not only that, you’re probably nice and slick from thinking about him—

He stops himself, hearing your voice. “Did you hear me? I asked if you wanted to watch the movie with me,”

“Oh, sorry, off in my own world. Uh, sure, what is it?”

“Crown for Christmas. A sappy romance Christmas movie, from America. It’s very predictable, but it’s cute. My mom loves it, so I brought it to watch,”

“Oh, that’s interesting,” he hums, lying on his own bedding. He didn’t move closer to you, giving you some space, but he finds himself panicking when you move closer.

“Can’t see if you’re all the way over there, dummy,” you giggle, pressing play. He can’t find it in himself to focus, the movie being background noise to his thoughts. The hot springs help to add a special glow to your skin, making it seem smoother than before, and you smell so nice, not to mention he can feel his cock throbbing at your soft voice calling out his name. What would it be like if he used his own fingers, would you be able to hold back? Or would you come completely undone as you came on his fingers— even better, his cock? Just the thought has him groaning, head shoved into his pillow as you pause the movie, probably confused.

He looks up, seeing your dazed expression — yep, totally confused. He sighs and shrugs, apologizing. “Are you okay? You seem.. tense,”

“Tense?” That’s one way to describe it, he supposes. “I’m just.. dad was teasing me earlier. That’s why I left. I’m.. remembering what he said,”

“Oh, I get that. Amaya kept teasing me about girl stuff, so I left. Machiko tried to stop me, but I was already out of the water,” you admit. It’s not the full truth, but that’s okay.

“Girl stuff? Like what?” Kōtarō never shied from girly stuff, including the weird stuff that happened to girls like puberty and the menstrual cycle. You chalked it up to his older sisters being shameless, never making it seem gross. Even when you started your period in class, Kōtarō was there to help you, a knight in shining armor.

You wish they were less shameless.

“Oh, um, you know, the romantic stuff,”

“Like? Boyfriends?”

“Yeah, I’ve.. never had one. No experience on my end. Amaya was teasing me because she had a couple of boyfriends before my age, so it.. it didn’t hurt my feelings, but it made me feel some kind of way, you know?” Your attempted explanation was kind of butchered, trying to explain it without giving too much detail. Kōtarō wouldn’t judge you, of course not, it wasn’t something to judge you about.

He knows the feeling, being inexperienced.

“W-Well, if you want any experience before going into the dating scene, I could.. always help you,” he whispers. His words hang in the air, settling into both of your minds. He’s berating himself for using such a lame line to try and get in your pants, but you’re trying to find a way to say yes without seeming desperate. However, “I mean! I have experience, so I could help you! I’d say I’m pretty good at doing stuff. Oh! It could be like.. any advice or something.. hands on,” he whispers the last part again, his confidence melting like snow on a summer’s day when your face falls.

It isn’t you don’t want it, you just would prefer him to not word it like that. It reminds you of Amaya’s words and the pain in your chest, the churn in your stomach. “If you’re gonna be like that, maybe I should ask Keiji,” you huff, turning your body away from his. Focusing on forcing your stomach to stop twisting in knots, you don’t even notice when Kōtarō closes the laptop and presses himself against you. Well, not until you feel something pressing into your back. “Kō—”

“Don’t be like that. I’ve never actually gone all the way, I’ve been saving that for someone special. I can help, though, if you’d let me,” his breath fans over your ear, sending shivers down your spine. His arm snakes under you, pulling you into his stomach while he lays on his back.

“Kōtarō!”

“You’re stressed, gotta loosen up a bit. I’m helping,” he just says, making sure your legs are hooked over his. With the lack of clothing under the robe, your nether region is spread open towards the door, sending your adrenaline skyrocketing. Kōtarō is quick to ease that, his thick fingers spreading open your folds while his middle finger rubs against your sensitive clit. “You’re absolutely soaked, do I turn you on that much?” He’s grinning, you know he is. Gritting your teeth, you keep your mouth closed as you focus on the feeling of his fingers, now sliding up and down and collecting your slick.

Kōtarō doesn’t want to tease you for too long, slipping his middle finger into your cunt as you mewl, hand coming to cover your mouth. “What a reaction. I wonder..” he trails off, pulling his finger out, only to add in three fingers. You’re arching, legs tending against his as he fingers you, lips pressing themselves to your hair and ear. When his tongue flicks out against your ear, you squirm and he grunts, his left arm keeping you firm against him. “Sensitive, are you?”

He doesn’t get any vocal confirmation from you, but the way you’re clenching around his fingers tells him all he needs to know. He makes sure to keep his thumb bumping against your clit, adding pressure. You can feel the familiar feeling, the beginning of an orgasm as he pumps his fingers into you. With a squeal of his name, your nails dig into the meat of his arm, liquids spilling out of you and all over Kōtarō’s fingers. The squishing sound enters your ears, legs tensing as you mewl, his fingers rubbing themselves against you some more.

“You’re so wet.. I bet it’d be easy to slip my cock in there, wouldn’t it?” His voice is low, a rumble in his chest as your cunt clenches at the thought, your wildest fantasies so close to coming to fruition when someone clears their throat. You pop up, Kōtarō jolting and keeping you on his chest as he moves.

Keiji is looking at the both of you, a heavy blush adorning his cheeks. The room is dim, only the lights from outside the inn illuminating him. He’s right at the door, right in front of where Kōtarō was just fingering you. Kōtarō’s hand finally leaves from between your legs, glistening wetness shown in the lamplight. “If you want to give her experience, you need to go over everything involved in foreplay, Kōtarō. There’s more to prep,”

“M-More?” your voice is small, barely a whisper as you find more slick oozing from you, Keiji entering the room. He kneels down in front of you, still held against Kōtarō’s chest.

“Has he even kissed you, yet? Or did he go headfirst into fingering you?” When you shake your head, Kōtarō himself sucking in a breath, Keiji knows he was right. With the elegance he always exudes, Keiji tilts your chin up towards him. “Then, allow me,”

The kiss is gentle, yet not simple. His lips are firmly against yours, molding perfectly as he keeps your chin tilted. As he deepens the kiss, you find your hands grasping at his own robe, feeling yourself lighter than you were when you had entered the room. Keiji moves to pull away, a brisk kiss on your lips once more before swiping his tongue over your bottom lip, sending heat all over your body.

“Akaashi..” Kōtarō whines, his grip on you tightening. “This is supposed to be my time with her,”

“Well, you’re going too fast. Why not elongate the time spent together, hm?” His voice sends tingles down your spine, his hands removing you from Kōtarō’s grasp. “Lay back, Bokuto-san. You’ll get your turn,”

Your brain is going haywire as he speaks, undoing Kōtarō’s robe with unconscious grace. He’s not doing it on purpose, you know he isn’t, it’s just how he is. Once Kōtarō has been disrobed, you find more heat springing to your cheeks as his muscles ripple and flex. The lack of light prevents you from seeing everything, but you’ve always found yourself insatiable when thinking of his broad frame and what hides under his clothes.

“Give me your hand, [Y/N],” Keiji’s voice has you coming back down to earth, yet you find yourself once more shy with Kōtarō’s legs spread, his cock heavy and so large in Keiji’s hand. You comply, though, your much smaller hand joining Keiji’s around Kōtarō’s girth. It’s so much, the way it feels and the heat of the skin under your fingertips. A soft groan comes from Kōtarō as Keiji moves his hand, his other hand shuffling you between his legs.

“This is called a handjob, [Y/N],” Keiji says. You nod in understanding, realizing he’s teaching you. “Moving your hand up and down the shaft is the basic function of it, but you can also use your fingers to tease the slit, like so,” he demonstrates, swiping his thumb over the small slit, puffy and red where Kōtarō’s cum is dripping from. The simple act has Kōtarō throwing his head back, moaning as his hand covers his mouth. The walls are thin and if his family is back, they probably have a good idea of what’s going on.

“I see,” you hum, continuing to move your hand up and down the shaft. Keiji nods, seeing you’re understanding.

“Or tease his balls, like cupping them or massaging. Don’t squeeze them hard, though. It won’t feel very nice,” his hand moves to cup and tease Kōtarō’s balls, the man himself laying on his back as his face turns red, the ministrations getting to be too much. “There’s also a blowjob, but we can teach you that next time,”

“N-Next time??” You squeak, jumping a bit. Whether it was a one time thing or the beginning of a relationship didn’t cross your mind. His words, however, seem to please you more than imaginable.

“Of course, darling. We’re not done here, either. Why don’t you let Bokuto-san show you what other kinds of pleasure he can give you?” At Keiji’s words, Kōtarō pops up with a bright smile on his face.

“Sit on my face, baby,”

“Oh, woah, wow, uh..” you stop, unsure how to politely decline. His mouth and nose, down there? Not to mention your weight on his head? You were sure he’d regret his decision. “I don’t think”

“I’ll be fine. C’mon, I gotta show you what else my mouth can do besides dirty talk,” he winks, sending more heat to your cheeks, making you feel rather hot for a winter’s day, clad in only a robe. Keiji seems to read your mind, taking your robe from your shoulders, the belt falling undone easily from the previous activities. Once you’re down to your birthday suit, Keiji presses a kiss to your shoulder blade, a whisper to go that sends you crawling closer to Kōtarō’s face. He grins, eagerly taking your thigh and placing it on the other side, keeping your drenched cunt close to his face. He says something, but only a muffled noise comes out, his tongue swiping along your folds.

With your back to him, Keiji wishes he told you to face him and watch, yet he finds the scene of you erotic. He may have a bit more expertise than you and Kōtarō, it seems that’s all that’s needed. He smiles, gaze catching on the way Kōtarō’s fingers dig into the fat of your thigh, making indents. Completely forgotten, Keiji spits a glob onto Kōtarō’s cock, him jumping at the feeling. With a few more pumps of his hand, he flicks his tongue against the head.

Kōtarō’s moan has you mewling, the sound acting as a vibration as your fingers tug harshly on the silver and black strands. Though not as long as they were in high school, there’s enough to grasp and pull on. The wet sounds from behind you has your head turning, eyes falling on Keiji’s mouth wrapped around Kōtarō’s cock. It’s an erotic scene, his head moving up as more of the length is revealed, his blue eyes settling on your own as you feel a nip down below. So focused on Keiji, Kōtarō wants your attention all on him. Keiji chuckles, almost like a hum, that vibrates around the cock in his mouth that has Kōtarō moaning.

The tongue that flicks against your clit has you squirming, restrained mewls and moans leaving your lips as hands tug on his locks. Kōtarō licks and suckles on your clit occasionally, then moves down to prod and swipe over your entrance. The position makes it easy for him to breathe, but he moves down further. New position has you squealing, hands flying to your mouth as you squeeze your eyes shut to focus on the pleasure. Another moan from Kōtarō that sends shivers down your spine, heat to your core, accompanying the obscene noises of Keiji sucking Kōtarō off.

With Kōtarō’s nose bumping against your clit, his tongue’s only focus is on your pretty little cunt, sucking and swirling his tongue. The sensitivity from earlier makes quick work of you, hunching over as your thighs tighten around Kōtarō’s head, his strong hands keeping you from hurting him as you gush all over his face. A moan comes from him as he laps at your juices spilling over his face, his own orgasm coming as Keiji takes him down as far as he can. Globs of white cum spurt from the side of Keiji’s mouth, a gagging sound as he struggles to swallow it.

A hand on your shoulder has you leaning back, falling against Keiji’s chest with his cheeks puffy. Kōtarō manages to look up at the scene, gaze fuzzy as he watches Keiji kiss you once more, cum seeping from where his lips meet yours. When Keiji pulls away, his tongue is out, pushing the dripping cum into your mouth where the rest lies. It’s enough to have Kōtarō hard once more, a dark and heavy blush settling across his cheeks and nose.

The thick appendage pressing into your back once more has you gasping and jumping, some cum spilling out your mouth and down your chest. As it travels between the valley of your breasts and over the perk nipples, Keiji takes it upon himself to lap at the milky droplets. You gulp down the rest in your mouth, making a show of it by tilting your head up, throat contracting as you swallow it all. Kōtarō finds himself unable to look away from the scene.

“Ah, seems like someone’s still raring to go,” Keiji breaks the silence, eyes glancing back to look at Kōtarō’s cock, once more standing tall and proud. He then looks to you. “Shall I let you handle this one alone?”

[bills-pokedex]

Happy Birthday and a happy new year Bill from me and Kairi! So, Kairi's got a set of masks, one for each day without repeating a pattern, and is already putting together a list of places to visit once the crisis is over, and at the top of her list, is Lavaridge Town, followed by Fallarbor town. do you and Lanette have a handy tour guide for Lavaridge?

LH: Bill is apparently not answering asks he tried very hard to get me to ignore are from last year, so I'll go ahead and take over from here:

1. Thank you! I'm saying this for Bill, because we all know he's very appreciative about well wishes.

2. I know this is going to be breaking away from the usual format, but the truth is that though Lavaridge is a tourist destination, the number of tourist spots are . . . limited. Part of this is because space is limited; Lavaridge is built into the side of Mt. Chimney, which up until recently was an active volcano, so it hasn't really had the ability to build up. Most developers who've even considered taking projects there just end up building in Mauville instead—not Fallarbor, as Fallarbor suffers pretty much the same issue except we're in a valley and not on a mountain.

As for what is there, first, there's the gym, of course, which is one of the two reasons why you're going there. You'd think I just mean you're going there to win a badge, but it's also a landmark for anyone interested in Hoennian history or the history of pokémon leagues in general, as Lavaridge's is one of the oldest gyms to remain in a single family—as in, it's remained in the Moore family since the Hoenn League existed. And before that, the Moore family had been staples of Lavaridge, essentially leaders of the proto-gym that had existed there before the formalization of the league in the 1950s. Moores have basically been battling in the name of Lavaridge for at least a century, and that's not even mentioning the fact that one of them had been the Hoenn League's first fire-type Elite Four member and one of the original Elite Four. Needless to say, historians and history buffs in general have a lot of reasons to drop by the gym, but many of them visit to take a look at the age-old techniques still perpetuated and taught by the current gym leader, Flannery.

The other reason you might go there is to relax. Because it's the town furthest up Mt. Chimney, Lavaridge is home to a number of hot springs, as well as nutrient-rich volcanic mud and sand. Naturally, there are at least eight onsen in the area, including one attached to the pokémon center. Or, at least, they call themselves onsen and had at one point been traditional onsen, but they're now more all-inclusive spa resorts that surround or at least claim one of the hot springs in the area. And all of them are well-recommended by tourist websites and personal experience alike. Most tourists to Lavaridge come just to relax at any one of these—and to give their pokémon a chance to relax as well. As I've mentioned, they try to be all-inclusive, so they're hoping you're not just relaxing there but also staying and eating. (You could stay and eat elsewhere—including the other onsen—of course, but really, there's a lot to be said about convenience if you're going there for a relaxing trip.) Out of all eight, I would personally recommend the Mirakaross first, but each of them are fantastic for just melting the stress away.

Besides these two things, there are a few more spots worth noting, namely:

The Hino Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Japan and also one of the few shrines in Hoenn dedicated to just Groudon. (There was a sister shrine in Mossdeep dedicated to just Kyogre, but it was largely damaged by the floods that took place a few years ago with Kyogre's last awakening.)

The Lavaridge Herb Shop, the oldest traditional medicine shop in all of Hoenn. (Warning: Although its products are mostly for pokémon, pokémon generally don't like the bitter taste of herbal medicines. Go there if you're curious, but don't buy anything for Kairi.)

The Jagged Pass Preserve . . . or in other words, the rugged trails leading up to Mt. Chimney's caldera. It's great for hikers as it's a tough walk and a spectacular view once you get there, but it's also great for trainers, as the terrain and local pokémon combine to form an excellent challenge for pokémon gearing up for a gym battle. Two warnings, though: 1) If you go all the way up to the caldera itself, be careful, as Mt. Chimney is still very much active, and there are volcanic gases, a giant pool of lava, and occasional magma up there. 2) Don't go looking for Team Magma's hideout. Though it's been cleaned out by police, no one's quite sure if there's anything dangerous still in its depths.

The Lavaridge-Mauville Cable Car. I know. It doesn't sound exciting, but it's worth it for the view.

The Lavaridge Volcano Museum. If you're interested in science—and of course you are if you're here—then you really should make time for the Volcano Museum as well. Not only will it teach you about the inner workings of, well, volcanoes, but you'll learn all about each of Hoenn's own as well as the formation of the region itself. Not to mention the history of Mt. Chimney, naturally.

Lavaridge is also home to several fire-based festivals, including Hoenn's largest fireworks display during the appropriately-named Fireworks Festival . . . but that's in late July, unfortunately. On the other hand, there's also the smaller Hino Festival, which is a month-long festival starting in early March to celebrate the end of winter.

Other than that, it's really recommended that you go to Lavaridge to rest and relax—which, honestly, after this year and the past year, I think we all deserve it.

Enjoy, anonymous and Kairi!