********* (I Love You) Interlude X: Abilu (Bathe)Follow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is for Mokoto of Quetzalcoatl, who helped inspire me to write again...I owe you the world m’dear. Special thanks goes out to Alma of Bismarck, for helping with the kanji. I hope I managed to get em all right ><

This is from Hitomi’s point of view, so you know what that means...her thoughts are in Japanese. Have fun reading...

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)

Kasho IV- Suriyoru (Closer)

Part V- Secrets (Hiou)

Kasho VI- Hanarebanare (Apart)
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(Chapter XLV)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35;mid=1131636452150807743;num=4;page=1

(Interlude IX)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35;mid=1133800951265217703;num=2;page=1

(Aki XLVI)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=113501144625653958#1135182494202893613

(Chapter XLVII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1138039094120547425

(Aki XLVIII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35;mid=114115196869295116;num=2;page=1
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Bonus Story: Rainfall Memories
*****

夏は秋に入り、 そのうち冬入った。

私は彼を捜し出そうとした。 しかし成功しなかった。

私は、彼の思い出が 私の心のä¸ã‹ã‚‰å†ã³é€€è¤ªã›ã‚‹ã® ã‚’ æ„Ÿ じた。

ゆっくりただまさに退褪せた夢になる私達のã‚ス。

それにもかかわらず、 私のé‚はまだ彼と復することを会していた。
***
Interlude X: Abilu (Bathe)
***
The nicest thing about having a place to yourself...

Is that you don’t have to share it with anyone.

As I walked through my cream-colored living room, I tossed my felt hat onto a small brass hanger shaped like a hippogryph’s head that seemed to randomly jut out from a wall, where it then hung cockskewedly. Heading towards the bathroom, I then shrugged off my dust-ridden and magic burned sorcerer's coat, dumping it carelessly upon a random chair. It had been a long day of practicing military maneuvers and preparing for a possible invasion by the beastmen, and I had finally gotten so worn out that I didn’t give a damn anymore about how things were laid out.

It had only taken me two weeks before I realized that I hated bring a dog of the military, and that I was placed under tighter control than I ever was when I was back home by the local Tavnazian government.

It sucked.

Horribly.

Sliding soundlessly into the bathroom, I did a half twirl around, shutting and locking the door behind me in one smooth motion. As soon as I did so, the noise outside immediately quieted down and disappeared, leaving me in a relative peace and solitude that I found I was only able to truly experience when I shut myself away like this.

My slender fingertips of my right hand all the sudden reached out away from my body, and towards a small metal handle that was inset against the wall. Giving it a quarter-turn to the left, I immediately saw a steady stream of slightly steaming clear water gush out of the faucet next to and slightly above it, only to splash off of my other hand which I held out in the stream’s path to test it’s temperature. Once I was satisfied with it, I then turned the other twin handle one-eighth of the way in the opposite direction, allowing some cold water to mix into the bath also.

Satisfied, I turned away for a moment to let the tub fill up to near the top and I started to undress in front of my full mirror that I had found that the previous occupant had apparently forgotten when he or she moved out of here shortly before I came.

I slowly unbuttoned my white shirt from the top on down to the bottom and then unzipped my black skirt from the back, taking both off and tossing them into a clothes hamper nearby the door.

Looking at myself for a moment in the mirror as I started to undo my braided long black hair, I couldn’t help but be stuck by a single thought.

I’m still a bit too fat...not too skinny, but still not where I wish I would be, comfortably inbetween...

Inwardly, I sighed as I set the ties aside on a nearby sink counter and then reached behind my back to unhook my lacy black bra, raising my elbows some to give a sort of lift to the process. It took a moment, but I finally managed to un-snag the hooks and let the straps fall down off my shoulders and onto the ground at my feet.

My ears still stick out...and I also have a big nose...

My breasts are also slightly lopsided...

My hands trailed down to my waist, and I hooked my index fingers around my panties and slid them off, letting them lay in a silky black mess that I stepped out of as I turned back towards my bath, which was nearly full at this point. Killing the lights off with a simple flick of the light switch, I then smiled as I climbed into the dark waters.

Immediately, the warmth flowed over and around me as I slowly submerged my body below the surface, my hair immediately starting to float way from me as I started to recline in the tub, letting my face barely breaking the surface as I closed my eyes. Immediately, the stress and tensions started to drip away from my aching muscles, and my mind gradually became clear of all worries.

I wonder...

What kind of dress and mask should I buy for this “Yule Ball”?...

I have never really worn a dress before...

My mind started to float back for a moment to yesterday, when I had a red envelope delivered to my residence by a floating moogle who wouldn’t go away until I had deposited a small amount of gil into his waiting hand. When I tore open the envelope, I was rather shocked to find that I was invited to a dance, and that I had already had a date selected for me. When I asked one of the other girls about it, she was slightly surprised to learn that I had never heard of the traditional Tavnazian Yule Ball before.

I know I look good in dark blue, and I want to look good for Di-

My date.

I wonder if there might be something at that dress store just down the road that would fit...

Lazily without thinking about it, I allowed a hand to break the water’s surface, and draw a small three point spell in the air. Immediately, a small burst of fire shot out from it, landing square upon a rolanberry candle that sat nestled in a small wax-covered alcove set in against the wall. Even without opening my eyelids, I could imagine the small wick leaping to life as the scent of berries slowly started to saturate the room. It was a pleasant smell that brought back the precious few fond memories of my youth that I had, as rolanberries were one of very few plants that could survive the harsh conditions of my homeland, and certainly was the only one that produced anything that was soft to the touch, sweet to the lips, and perfect to the nose...

I have to admit that when I first came here, I was quite surprised that there were rolanberries here too. It almost makes me think that both this place and my home are alike to some degree, whether it be pleasant or not.

Memories...

The ball was only a week or so away...

And I needed to focus on the present. One cannot go forward in the future if you are always looking at the past, I guess.

I stayed in that tub until the candle had burnt away, and the smell of rolanberries disappeared from the room. As I got up out of the bath and started to towel myself off, I couldn’t help but wonder...

What lies ahead for me...and when will I have to go back home again?

-fin Interlude X: Abilu (Bathe)