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]

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]

[unbr8kable]

It's pretty sweet.

...Thanks for coming.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Thanks for being here with me.

...this is pretty fantastic.

[unbr8kable]

You're pretty fantastic.

[Takes his hand under the water, which might not be proper onsen etiquette but perhaps he won't mind]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Takes it, readily, and squeezes]

Yeah, well. Takes one to know one.

You're amazing.

[unbr8kable]

Yeah, I'm pretty sweet.

[Chuckles, agreeable]

We shoulda done this earlier in the year. Now I just wanna hang out in the bath the whole time...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah, well. Best time woulda been summer.

Second best time's now.

[unbr8kable]

Sure.

...Though this's a better time for hot springs. In summer you'd be all sweaty.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Fall, then? Spring?

[unbr8kable]

[Shifts, considering]

...Fall's prolly best. Spring rains too much. Plus, there's chestnuts.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Kinda hard to beat chestnuts.