day 418 | vacation

[unbr8kable]

[There is more to Hachijo Island than just creepy hotels filled with fungus--though there are plenty of those.

But one doesn't need to visit one for impressive-looking black-sand beaches with tide pools and sea turtles frolicking nearby, or tall, green cliffs that fall off into the sea, or mountains to climb, or hot springs with views of the aforementioned cliffs and beaches or even overlooking a waterfall.

Nemesis comes ashore with satchel full, looking between the greenery and the water and the mountains rising nearby, and then over to Hurricane, grinning]

...Ready to relax?

Comments

[unbr8kable]

That could be anything. Just gotta try 'em on and see.

[Prods low at his hip as the path splits, one going further up, back towards the shore, and the other leading deeper inland, past some traditional looking buildings]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Ambling to a stop at the fork in the road to peer one way and then the other]

What do you think?

[unbr8kable]

[Leans in, looking down the fork herself]

I think you're in peak hoodie-wearing form... Or did you mean the road?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Flushing, a little, and nudges against her]

I meant the road.

[unbr8kable]

[Nudges back]

Well, whichever you prefer. One looks like it'll go to the top of the cliff. And the other... The sign says 'Urataki Falls,' right? So...that.

[crossmyheartandhope]

...man. A for real waterfall?

We can't say no to that.

[unbr8kable]

Don't gotta. C'mon.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Leaning in against her a little more, as they turn toward the waterfall]

Man, I dunno if I ever seen one in real life.

[unbr8kable]

Sounds like that won't be for long...

[From here, they can in fact hear the rush of water. It's not much longer down the path until the trees open up to a tall waterfall, splashing into a milky green lake. The path itself seems to continue on, disappearing into the rock.]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Would you look at that.

[He takes hold of her hand - shakes it a little, as though to make sure she's looking - looks toward her, to check the same, or perhaps just to see her seeing it]

[unbr8kable]

Whoa...

[She runs up to the low railing at the edge of the drop, eyes wide as she peers up to see where the water comes from, and down to see where it goes. She looks back to him, genuinely impressed]

What d'you think of that?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He keeps pace, as she approaches the drop, leaning out to look]

S'pretty awesome.

Look how tall this thing is.

[unbr8kable]

Yeah... Wonder how deep it goes. 'Case you wanted to jump off...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Dude. You think we could swim here?

I bet it's deep enough. We could totally swim here.

[unbr8kable]

Yeah, for sure. But you could jump from up there--

[She points to where water flows from the summit]

--To there.

[And she points down, to the pool of water below]

[crossmyheartandhope]

...oh my god.

We gotta do it.

[unbr8kable]

Hell yeah. Guess we should keep going up in that case?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah... there's gotta be a way to get up there, right?

[Reaches out to take her hand, already heading toward it]

[unbr8kable]

[Squeezes, following]

...The path keeps going around, right? Can check that out?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah... probly heads all the way to the top.

[Keeping hold as they walk]

[unbr8kable]

[She laces their fingers, swinging their arms rather than running for the summit.

The path continues upwards, curving around the lake towards the falls. A branch comes up to their right; a half-flight of stairs that smells faintly of sulfur]

What d'you think?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Might be the hot springs.

[unbr8kable]

One way to find out...

[She tugs him up the stairs to find a very simple bamboo doorway; through it is a simple, unmanned stone pool, filled with steaming water. The forest comes right up to the bath, ferns and vines dripping off the cypress wood rooftop and trailing up the simple, open fencing that separates the spring from the rocky slope of the mountain.]

Definitely gonna have to check this out later...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Holy crap.

How's this place even real?

[unbr8kable]

How did they keep this place a secret...? I woulda took you here forever ago.