A meandering stream ran through the narrow valley, next to a single field and a reasonably-sized house with a tiled roof. It was made of stone and wood and looked ancient, but clean and well-kept. A small road passed in front of it. Further in the distance, they could see a few more houses and fields. A very small village indeed.

  “What do you think?” Ma?l asked. “We can always look for another place.”

  “No. This is perfect!” she answered excitedly, pointing to an ancient wooden plate at the side of the door. The engraving was somewhat faded, but it read 旅館.

  “That’s a ryokan, a Japanese Inn!”

  They made their way to the reception, Ma?l walking behind Kaori, hoping against hope no one would notice the state of his clothes. His rash-guard was tight, hugging closely his muscular torso, but that was fine—people did wear those. The dirt encrusted judo pants and the straw sandals however would raise questions, but perhaps he could avoid notice.

  The reception had a counter, and Ma?l managed to get close to it unnoticed. Not a very challenging task, given that the receptionist—an older woman—was currently busy reading a book. She was hunched over, squinting. She only raised her head when Kaori cleared her throat.

  “Good morning. Do you have a room we can rent?”

  She gave her a surprised look. Walk-in customers were beyond rare in such a remote location. She looked at the both of them. A beautiful Japanese woman and a spandex-wearing Gaijin.

  What a strange couple! she thought, but she quickly discarded the notion. Customers were customers and there sure weren’t many at the moment. For all the talks of Japan’s increasing popularity, few people made their way down to Kagoshima. It was a shame really, the place was gorgeous.

  “Certainly. One night for 12,000 yen. Do you have an ID?”

  Ma?l understood that, and he handed his passport to the woman along with enough money for a couple of days. She wrote their details in a massive log book and gave them a sign to follow.

  They complied, Ma?l remaining a step behind. They reached the room and he managed to get in without her noticing anything, Kaori distracting her with a steady flow of questions.

  “Yes, we have a small outdoor bath, by the river. It’s not much, but the water is very good.” she said pointing to a corridor to the left. “We don’t have any other guests at the moment, so you can enjoy some privacy.” She gave Kaori a light grin and Kaori blushed. Outdoor baths in the mountains at such an establishment meant…

  The room was rather small, as is usual in Japan, but it was tidy and clean, although the decoration had gone out of style long before either of them were born. Kaori had expected that. Ryokan were nothing if not traditional, and such a small place in the middle of nowhere would have no need or means to keep up with the costs of redecorating. Wait. Traditional. She opened the cupboard, and smiled. Sure enough, it contained two yukata and a couple pairs of slippers.

  She handed the largest yukata to Ma?l with a triumphant smile.

  “Wear this!” she said. “It solves everything!”

  Ma?l eyed the garment with a puzzled look on his face. It was halfway between a formal kimono and a bathrobe.

  “Pajamas? It looks great, but I don’t see how that solves anything. It’s not like I can walk outside wearing that.”

  “Sure you can. We do it during festivals mostly, but apart from making you look like a weeaboo, no one will find it strange, I assure you.”

  “A what?”

  “A weeaboo. A Gaijin who is obsessed with all things Japanese. Kind of like you, actually.”

  “Guilty as charged.” Ma?l laughed.

  “Anyway, when staying in a ryokan, wearing a yukata is expected, no one will bat an eye if you go out like that.” She explained. “Here, try it on.”

  She turned around as he changed, and this time, she didn’t even peek.

  The yukata suited him really well, and having wrapped the large cloth belt around his waist, he felt remarkably comfortable and… dignified? Strange. He thought it would be like wearing pajamas, but no. The fabric had some weight and rigidity to it, yet breathed and didn’t feel hot. The belt was as wide as a cummerbund and thick, thick enough to provide a measure of lower back support. He took a few steps, appreciating how free his movements were and spun around in front of the full sized mirror on the cupboard.

  “This is awesome.” he said, watching his reflection. The yukata was dyed in pale blue with delicate white patterns, a Japanese ink painting softly animated by the movements of his body.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  “Why did you guys ever give up dressing like that?”

  “We didn’t win World War II, did we? We still wear yukata sometimes, when we watch fireworks and for festivals, but it’s a bit outdated.” Kaori said with a smile—he was a weeaboo alright but she felt pleased all the same.

  “And you’re saying I can go outside like that?

  “Absolutely. In fact, it might work to our advantage. No one would expect people on the run to be walking leisurely in the streets wearing yukatas!”

  She slipped into her own yukata, and opened the door.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “We.” she said “are going for a bath.”

  There was a perfectly good shower in the room, but her tone left no place for discussion and he followed her lead.

  They passed the traditional half-curtains of the bath house and followed the corridor to a tiny room. It contained a small bench, a few shelves, and a single door leading to the baths

  Kaori began to undo the sash of her yukata. Ma?l looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise.

  “Where is the men’s bath?” he asked.

  “There isn’t one. Small Ryokans in the mountains, like this one, don’t have separate installations for men and women, so it’s a mixed bath.” she explained as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Ma?l had heard about those, but he’d always assumed they were an exaggeration, either an enduring story from the old days or a social oddity, like swingers’ clubs.

  He looked stunned

  “Oh, come on. You’ve already seen me, don’t make a big deal out of it.” she said with a slightly reproachful smile.

  “But that was the storm, it’s not like we had a choice.” he defended himself.

  “You mean you didn’t take a look over by the river this morning?”

  Busted.

  “So did you! And you weren’t subtle about it either!”

  “Then what reason is there to be coy now? It’s tradition.” she said with a seductive grin as she removed her belt, allowing the yukata to reveal her naked body, her perky mounds coming free from the fabric. She dropped the yukata to the floor and spun around slowly, allowing his hungry eyes to feast on every inch of her nakedness. She was a vision of alluring grace and beauty.

  “Well, this is me” she said, looking at Ma?l.

  “I… I can see that.” he replied, turning a bright shade of red.

  “Your turn then. Right now, all I can see is your son and he seems rather enthusiastic.

  “My son?…” Ma?l followed her gaze down to his nether regions. His engorged member was pushing hard against the fabric, threatening to make an unscheduled appearance.

  Enough with the shyness, you fool! He removed his yukata, spun it above his head and draped it over his shoulder as one would a jacket, his muscles proudly flexed. He walked the length of the room, mimicking the exaggerated gait of a runway model. He dropped the yukata with a theatrical gesture and turned to face her, tilting an invisible hat and darting toward her what he hoped to be a smoldering look of seduction.

  “And this is me!”

  She exploded with laughter and clapped her hands like an audience requesting an encore

  “Bravo! Come, let’s get cleaned up, properly this time.”

  They folded their yukata carefully before walking into the bathing area. There were a couple of shower heads around knee level, and tiny stools for them to seat. Unlike Westerners, the Japanese took their showers seated close to the ground. They washed themselves quickly, and Kaori led him… outside.

  The door opened into a partially enclosed terrace facing the mountains. Large blocks of stone formed a meandering path to a single pool of translucent azure. Ahead of them, they could see the serpentine curves of the river flowing lazily along its rocky bed, filling the silence with the gentle gurgle of water brushing over polished pebbles.

  He entered the bath and sank into it before nestling himself against the stones. She followed him in and climbed on his lap, draping her arm around his head, the side of her breasts pressing gently on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in. The waters welcomed them both, enveloping them in a warm embrace. Ma?l released a murmur of contentment. Kaori purred.

  How could this be real life?

  He lightly ran the back of his fingers along her figure. She peered deep into his eyes and gave him a warm smile.

  “Thank you,” she murmured softly, “for saving me.”

  Before he had a chance to reply, she grabbed his head and pressed her lips tenderly against his. Time stretched, blissful seconds lasting an eternity as her burning lips seared their brand into his soul. She released him, but his strong hands pulled her onto him and he pivoted, delicately placing her back against the stone. His face above hers, his eyes burning with passion.

  Kaori shivered with desire and anticipation as his hand fondled her mounds of pleasure.

  The door creaked open and a voice called out.

  “I brought you some towels.”

  Ma?l froze like a child, his hand caught in the coochie jar, then rolled off, sliding deeper into the water. The hell with that Obasan!

  Kaori muttered a "Thank you" and they waited with batted breath. The old lady did not come in.