v1.43 (last commit 2024-10-14T01:38:14+00:00)
*This scene is an excerpt, turned first person narrative, from the short story “Shogun’s Meditation”
Accompanying Song: Cigarettes After Sex, “Apocalypse”
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The first light of dawn seeped through the paper screens, casting a soft, golden hue over the Daimyo’s bedroom. I stirred slowly, feeling the warmth of the silk pillow beneath my cheek, the faint scent of jasmine floating in from the garden. Ren was beside me, propped up on one elbow, watching me with a soft gaze. I opened my eyes, still heavy with sleep, and found his face. His expression, so tender, uplifted my lips.
Silent reverie—there was no need for words, not in this quiet moment. The world outside was waking up, but in our little haven, time felt suspended. I breathed in the morning air, a mix of jasmine and the rich aroma of tea that had been left steeping nearby. The stillness was perfect, as if the world had conspired to give us just a few more moments of peace.
"Good morning," I whispered, my voice husky with sleep.
Ren’s lips curled into a smile. "Morning," he whispered, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek, lingering there, tracing the line of my jaw. I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes for a moment and letting out a soft sigh.
His hand moved lower, skimming the collar of my kimono and drifting down to rest at my waist. His touch was soft, almost reverent, as though he was memorizing every inch of me. I closed my eyes again, breathing in the warmth of his fingers, the calm rise and fall of his breath beside me. His hand slid down to my hip, pausing there, the thin fabric of my kimono doing little to separate our affection. I felt his fingers wander back up my side, grazing the sensitive skin beneath my ribs. A quiet sigh escaped me, his touch both soothing and charged, reminding me of the bond we shared.
His fingers trailed across my back, tracing the scars etched into my skin. His hand lingered on the deepest one, the scar on my shoulder—a remnant of battles past. I felt his silent acknowledgment, the understanding that these marks were not just signs of corporeal trauma but of otherworldly resilience, a testament to everything we had survived.
When Ren’s hand brushed against my bionic arm, I shivered slightly. The cool metal against his warm fingertips created a strange contrast, but as always, he didn’t falter. There was no hesitation, no discomfort. Just tenderness. He looked at me with the same adoration he always did, as though every part of me, even the parts that weren’t flesh and bone, was a testament to my internal fortitude. My lashes flickered as my eyes opened, holding him in a spellbound gaze.
"You have a way of making the morning feel new and special," I murmured, my voice still soft.
His smile widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Every moment with you feels present and infinite," he said, his voice a gentle caress. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to my forehead, and I brought my hand to his chest, grounding myself in the moment.
We lay there, talking quietly, sharing stories of dreams and future plans. Midway through a story Ren spontaneously coughed in my face, and I couldn’t help but laugh, a sound that felt light, carefree. His eyes sparkled when I did, and I knew he loved hearing me laugh as much as I loved the stories that brought me joy.
Eventually, as the sun climbed higher, we both rose from the bed. It was a reluctant movement, slow and deliberate, as though neither of us wanted to break the spell of the morning. I felt Ren’s arms wrap around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. Together, we stood by the window, watching the garden slowly come to life with the promise of a new day.
"I love you," he whispered against my ear, his lips brushing the sensitive skin there. "You are my lotus." Just before his lips caressed my neck, the touch of a single teardrop sent shivers down my spine.
I turned in his arms, meeting his teary gaze with a soft smile. "I love you too, now and forever," I promised him, my voice low but firm. "No matter what the future holds."
We held each other tighter, savoring time’s last grains tumbling through the glass. I didn’t want to let it go—the warmth of his exposed body pressed against mine. As the light grew brighter, I wished we could stay here forever, wrapped in the calm of the morning, far from the battles and chaos of the outside world.
But even as the moment slipped away, I knew we’d carry it with us. The peace, the passion, the quiet joy—we’d keep it, a refuge in the storms to come. Intertwined, we’d always find our love, no matter what awaited us beyond our eternal intimate sanctum.