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

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He no longer has her hands, either; the grip ddn't survive the fall,]

[But it doesn't seem to matter either way, because he's too busy laughing]

[unbr8kable]

[Huffs, though she can't keep up the righteous indignance for long before descending into giggles herself]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Just leaning against her as he laughs,helpless]

[unbr8kable]

[Pokes at his side as he does, but more just to touch him than anything,]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Gets an arm around her waist, to draw her close]

[unbr8kable]

[She never quite rolled out from under him, so it's fairly easy for her to stay close, even as the laughter begins to slow to something more reasonable. Her good hand stays warm at the small of his back, resting comfortably at his hip bone]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Leans in against her a little more, as his own laughter tapers off - for the companionship, but also possibly for warmth, because the time in the water has well and truly sapped any of his own,]

[unbr8kable]

[She does her best, staring up at the blue sky, and the top of the ridge seeming to touch it, and their clothes, impossibly far away]

...Maybe onsen now?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Onsen sounds like a great idea.

[unbr8kable]

[Shifts, pushing him up]

...C'mon. Can pick up where it's warm.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Don't gotta tell me twice.

[Gets to his feet, shivering a little. He probably doesn't need to lean in against her quite that much, but he defintiely is anyway]

Man, did you see that jump, though? We were awesome.

[unbr8kable]

[She doesn't complain, skin goosepimpled against his. She keeps her hand at his waist as they stumble for the stairs back up to the onsen]

That was so rad. We shoulda set up a camera...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Man, next time for sure. Can get like a tripod or something, maybe, set it up on the cliff.

[unbr8kable]

One at the bottom, too, to get the splash!

[The hot springs themselves are about halfway up, water fragrantly steaming even far from the water. For what it's worth, the sign at the entrance states the bath is coed but requires swim suits...she looks to him, raising an eyebrow]

Think somebody's enforcing the rules?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Who's even out here to check?

C'mon, we can do whatever.

[Tugging her toward them]

[unbr8kable]

The same guy checking for tats. Which--ours totally doesn't count, by the way.

[She follows along either way, through the--well, there are no facilities but a shoe box, the rest of the cozy space dedicated to a stone pool overlooking the falls. Grinning, she starts unhooking her underwear]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Ours totally count, dude.

[He notices her undressing - flushes, a little, and glances away as he peels off his own]

[unbr8kable]

Birthmark!

[She sighs, dropping the wet garments to the ground before hopping to the pool--hissing at the temperature difference]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Doesn't learn from her lesson, apparently, because he's right behind her - winces just the same]

Pretty weird birthmark.

[unbr8kable]

I know, right? Now, let's enjoy this bath.

[She pushes on, hot or not, and sinks under the steaming water in one fell swoop.]

Phew! That's--something!

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Sinks down next to her, gooseflesh shivering all up his arms]

Man, didn't realize how cold I was till I wasn't.

[unbr8kable]

[Curls him in, no space for goosepimples when you're up to your neck in hot water]

Yeah... Funny how walking around soaking wet half-naked'll do you.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Dunking his arms in, so he won't have them for long, either]

Hey, it was totally worth it.

[unbr8kable]

[Leans in against him]

Hey, I ain't complaining.

Plus--check out that view.

[She gestures at the falls]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Right? Can't believe we got a hot spring and a waterfall.

[Leaning back against her, easy]