Mistakes and Memories

It was good he had the helmet on. It made him feel oh so much better about his face and reaction. As Lady Muika got on the bike behind him, he started it up and off they went. Once they were outside of some of the busier areas, he went a little faster than he should... But it helped clear his mind more so he felt it worth the risk for now.

They quickly reached the area to enter the woods and as they got off the bike Iyuki decided to leave it by the road for now. They could make better time NOT hauling it back. Taking a deep breath, the words he has practiced throughout the silent ride spilled from his lips. "If it was warm and comfortable...then I am pleased. I wished to make it so for you, as your Butler, My Lady. There is nothing to apologize for. We should hurry or else will won't get to soak..."

When they arrived at the entrance to the woods and dismounted, Iyuki began to speak. His words...didn't exactly help. She felt she'd really bothered him, what with how he'd reverted back to all that formal speak. She wanted to hit herself for it, she'd bothered him that much...

"You...I, I did bother you though...if I hadn't you'd still be calling me by my name." She replied, albeit a bit quieter her tone obviously filled to the brim with guilt. "I...I liked it when you called me by my name and I messed that up."

She supposed she deserved it though, she'd been the one to mess up; not him. Even though she knew she deserved it though, it didn't make it hurt any less. Feeling that, she pulled her hood up in attempt to hide her face despite the fact she was walking behind him.

If anything, she wanted to run back, if only to hide her face, but that would be another mistake and she'd just hurt him more.

No. No no no. He couldn't call her by her name. He had to call her Lady Muika. He couldn't do anything else. He was her butler.

Iyuki was hurting her and it broke his heart. But he couldn't... he couldn't... bear to see her hurting this much over something stupid. It felt like something in his shell cracked, and he stopped and turned around.

His eyes were a bit pleading as he bent over a bit. His hand went to her chin, lifting up her face... What was he doing...what was he doing... the part of him that hated her hurting pushed past the butler and he leaned down. "Muika..."

His lips pressed her cheek in a soft kiss. "Don't be sad... Please..."

Her eyes widened some in surprise when he stopped and turned towards her. For a brief moment she regretted her previous words, only now realizing she might have hurt him again by guilt which she hadn't meant to do at all.

A small, suppressed noise of surprised escaped her when she felt his hand on her chin right before...

She felt the heat return to her face, though not exactly due to embarrassment...at least she didn't feel it was full blown embarrassment like she'd felt so many times earlier that day. Unconsciously, her hand gripped the front of his coat in a shaky but tight grasp. Instinctively, she wanted to lean forward towards him, the only sign of that being the grip she had on his coat, but her feet were planted there as if they were made of steel.

"I..I just...don't want to hurt you."

"But its not your fault." Iyuki's lips had barely moved back. What was he doing what was he doing what was he doing... The parts of his brain that thought well were gone, all that was left was this one part, the part that moved his head over slightly.

"Your name...it...its easier to hold back when its Lady Muika. I am your butler I shouldn't do this. I shouldn't...kiss you. Like this..." His head moved down again, this time pressing gently on her lips, where he left them. His brain went into meltdown mode, most feasible parts jumping ship. Her lips were soft... she was gonna smack him. He should have asked. It was rude to just kiss and...

He just...

There was a moment were she was still, mostly due to her brain still processing what'd just happened, before her body moved on it's own; her only free hand moved to grasp his jacket much like the other one was as she leaned forward and gently closed the distance between them again.

She'd never kissed before but her body seemed to move itself, knowing how to go about it without difficulty while her hands remained firmly attached to his coat.

Iyuki was done with everything. In the second it had taken her to kiss him again, his brain had not only gone through critical meltdown, but his butler coding had almost reconnected. At the touch of her soft lips though, his brain resumed its all overboard statements. He had no idea what he was doing and just followed Muika's lead. His hand stayed on her chin while his other arm and hand slid up her arm and shoulder. It ended up cupping the back of her head, somehow. His brain didn't know, it just felt that and the kissing.

She stayed that way for awhile, just...attached to him. Thanks to all of those...mishaps at the park, it wasn't like she hadn't already...envisioned this as embarrassed as she'd been, though now that it was actually happening she still hadn't seen it coming.

When she needed to breath she pulled back, but not by much. She felt even in the dark the red on her face was visible. "S...Stop holding back then..."

Leaning up, she gave another small kiss before pulling back again; her grip tightening on his coat. "I...I haven't done that before...k-...kiss anyone that is...bu-but...I didn't dislike it..."

(OOC: OH MY GOD MUIKA WHY YOU LIKED IT JUST SAY IT I HAVE THIS WITH RIIIIN.

I am sorry Saito. Iyuki is so gonna spend just posts trying to work around her words. I am so sorry.)

(OOC: It is fine. I am sure Iyuki with get used to it with time.)

Iyuki was a bit broken by the rather long kissing session. Was it considered making out at this point? He wasn't sure. He was just glad he hadn't upset Muika with his actions. She was holding him close with her hands as much as he was holding her. They were apart now, long enough for his brain to think slightly again. Her words startled him and he smiled before turning red. "I-I...need..." What did he need? Air? Thinking time? To be a butler?

"To get used to it... please...wait. For... not Lady..." He stuttered after she kissed him again, not able to help the smile that appeared at her rather Muika worded words. His hand pulled her hood down as he continued to smile. Could he be both Butler and... kissing friend? What did this all mean for them? The hand on her chin pulled away as he covered his mouth, turning to look away slightly. "I...never had either... It...was rather nice."

She managed a small nod, "Y-yeah...s-same." She stuttered.

She couldn't deny liking it, but she knew it'd be something she'd have to get used to as well...the whole kissing thing anyway if they were going to do that more.

"Mh-Y-Yeah...it was." She added in response to his last comments, unable to stop a small smile of her own from appeared at his flustered reaction; not that she wasn't thoroughly red in the face and flustered herself at the moment.

They both were rather... Awkward. That was the word. The pair was awkward. Iyuki felt a bit bad about the way he had kissed her, still looking away. Should they... do something else? Well he'd start with this... "I...am glad I didn't overstep my bounds. I apologize for not asking you first. It is...not bad though, the kissing... I'd like...to more. Sometimes."

Still, they were standing in the woods at night, and the bathhouse did have a closing time... Iyuki sighed as his hand fell, gently pulling one of Muika's hands from his coat and holding it. "We should go wash up, Lady Muika."

And wash all the dirty things from his mind that kissing had unleashed. Why did her lips have to be so soft!?

"M...Mhmm." She replied, "M-Me too."

Speaking of the bathhouse, Muika suddenly remembered; she still needed to get her swimsuit. That was something she still needed no matter what...they'd were basically already home to get it. "A-Ah, my swimsuit just...lemme go get that." She said, her words coming out quick as she momentarily let go of Iyuki's and ran the small, remaining distance from where they were to the cabin.

Opening the door she made a quick line to the crate where her clothing was kept, grabbing the old looking duffel bag she had that she carried her clothes in. She grabbed a set of replacement clothes such as a identical, black spaghetti-strap tank top like the one she had one and...wait, if she grabbed an clean skirt...she only had the one pair of leggings though and...those were dirty so she couldn't just put those back on right after bathing. She mentally panicked for a moment, not knowing what to do.

Wait! She had a single pair of shorts, they were black too, like the skirt and top but they'd be better than wearing a skirt without the leggings. She usually used them for sleeping, since they only went down to about mid-thigh but she hadn't worn them ever since Iyuki had started living with her and just sleeping in her skirt and leggings...It would...be okay to wear these right? It was night and her hoodie was big so she could zip it up...so it'd be okay...

Making up her mind before she wasted another minute, she stuffed the shorts into the bag as well before finally grabbing her swimsuit they'd come all the way back to get and stuffing it into the bag as well.

Running out of the cabin she quickly made her way back to Iyuki, the bag hanging from her shoulder.

"S-Sorry, back." She said, moving to take his hand again though why was she blushing? The hand holding wasn't anything extremely new so...

Iyuki was planning on following her to the cabin and grabbing some sort of clean clothes as well, but he just stayed back. It wasn't as if his were too dirty, he could manage. He needed breathing room more though.

Just what had crossed his ridiculous mind with that stunt?! Why had he... done that... The heat rising from his face were felt by his hands as he buried it in them. He was BUTLER NOT...whatever kissing meant. What had kissing meant? What did it mean now? What...changed...

Iyuki wasn't one to bring up such issues though and by the time his mind had worked itself into an odd tizzy, the young man just wished to stop thinking.

Things would change utterly or wouldn't change much. For now, he would serve her. In any way she wished and if more kisses were on that wishlist... He wouldn't be against it.

"Welcome back. It is fine, shall we head out now?" Smiling as Muika came back, he took her hand gently and gave it a quick kiss. He could do that... "Would you like me to carry your bag as well?"

"Y-yeah." Muika nodded, before looking down at her bag. "I...It's no problem, you don't have to do that. It's not heavy so..."

She didn't mind it but really it wasn't any problem for her, she didn't want to trouble him.

Iyuki sighed, the long suffering sigh of one dealing with silly people. He reached out and gently tugged the bag away, holding it and then walking towards the bike. He'd need to stow the bag in the bikes compartment and when they reached it, it was what he did.

Getting everything together and put away, Iyuki held out the helmet for her to take with a grin. "Real baths are important for health you know. No more pond ones, please Muika."

Without any room for objects he tugged the bag from her arm, she allowed it though a bit confused by the sigh; almost wondering if she'd said something wrong as she followed him to the bike.

Out of slight embarrassment, she had to avert her eyes at his next words. She didn't...always use the pond and even then it was more for just quick rinsing...sure it wasn't as clean as using a bathhouse but...

"R-Right." She replied, taking the helmet. "N...No more pond."

She didn't always use the pond...

Iyuki had been worried....so many diseases could be caught like that so he just smiled at that agreement. Then, after their usual ride, they arrived in front of the rather empty bath house! It was later than most people visited but stayed open for a while yet.

Parking the bike, Iyuki was glad for the ride. It had helped clear his head. He stretched and gave a wide grin. "A bath will be nice, I can stop smelling of chlorine."

He kept his mouth shut on the protocol Muika was breaking by wearing a bathing suit in there for now. However, he pulled out some money and handed her enough. After shopping tomorrow they would be very close to nothing, if he was judging correctly but... with the supplies stocked up and him working the day after next... It should be fine until the next payday. He led her up the bathhouse, avoiding saying anything about the event in the woods for now and held out his pass.

Then he entered the men's side with one last smile shot at Muika.

With her bag in hand, she arrived the bathhouse with Iyuki giving a nod of agreement about the chlorine as he handed her money. She felt a bit bad taking it but she knew it wasn't exactly something to object to.

She managed a small smile in return to Iyuki as he entered the men's side, trying to keep her promise to smile more even though their whole park visit was over with. She felt it was a promise she should keep in general, not just for that time.

As she was permitted she entered the empty woman's side, thankful it was empty and that they'd come later so it would be as she moved to untie her hair and change to her swimsuit.

She was quick to hurry herself to bathing, wanting to get that smell of chlorine off as well as just finish her bath as quickly as possible while still getting clean. Still, she was a bit slower than usual; her mind stuck on everything that'd happened today. Her fingers went up to lightly touch her lips, unable to control the heat returning to her face at her mind went back to what'd happened prior to coming here.

It took a moment, but finally she pulled her mind from the thoughts; shaking her head to focus on the bath. The water was warm, it felt nice; better than the cold chlorine water and cold pond water.

When it was time to just relax for a bit, her hands went up to toy with her untied hair; her mind once again mulling over things she wished she could just put off for later. Though, really there wasn't any running from them and she was aware of that fact.


It wasn't long before she exited the bath, now clean as she moved to change into her extra clothes. She was a bit hesitant when she moved to put on her shorts, almost moving to put on her leggings under them...but...they were dirty so she couldn't just put them back on...

After a few moments, she shook her head and finished changing; her dirty clothes already back in her bag. She moved to her hair to tie it but stopped before her hands eventually moved away from it and back to her sides. She'd keep it down...

Iyuki spent a good amount of time rinsing himself off, relishing in the feel of the hot water beating on his sore body. There were a few other men in here though most looked just as worn out as he did. As he scrubbed his hair clean, the young man looked up at the mirror and frowned. His arms were definitely more defined than before. Straightening up, Iyuki noticed he had lost some of his softness and it was being replaced with... more defined muscle. Not much, but a bit.

One of the older men called out to him in a teasing tone and Iyuki replied in kind with a small smile. The men laughed and as he rinsed off he went over to the baths near them to talk. It would keep his mind off of unnecessary things... and they reminded him of his brother.

----

Ending up soaking longer due to the conversations he had had, Iyuki had crawled out feeling a bit light headed. His legs would love this though, they had been stiffening already. Drying off in the waiting room, he quickly got dressed again and it was then his thought dove to Muika and that...rather heated kissing.

His face switched like a light to red and he groaned. That's why he had been so social. He didn't want to think about everything. He wouldn't! His hair clinging to his face, he grabbed all his stuff and left the room. The young man breathed a sigh of relief and ran his hand through his hair, pushing it back off of his face where it stayed. She hadn't been waiting for him to get out... Good.

Now that she thought about it, how was she going to thank him for troubling himself for bringing them all the way home and back...

She'd had a plan. Had.

It...It wasn't going to...to mean anything but she'd planned on kissing his cheek or something. She'd seen people do that as giving thanks...Hell it was even a common greeting in some places...But out back near home they'd...

So a kiss on the cheek seemed so...simple...in comparison now.

Muika stuffed her face against her bag, giving a small groan as she sat in the changing room; not having willed herself to leave just yet. Now what was she going to do? She could just...kiss him again...

She pushed the bag more against her face, as if that would somehow help make the red leave. After a few more moments, she stood and removed her face from the bag with a giant huff of breath. Slipping on her hoodie and zipping it a little over half way before she finally left.

When she noticed Iyuki waiting she stepped back just behind the wall of the women's side and peeked out; losing a bit of confidence she'd managed to build up. "S-Sorry." She apologized, still partially glued to her spot half way behind the wall. "You didn't wait long...did you?"

Iyuki was blowing on the bits of his hair that was falling into his face, the person watching over the bathhouse hiding a smile as she tried to not watch the young man be rather dorky. It was entracing and distracting and that is what he wanted to do. Be distracted.

As he heard Muika exit though he hadn't wanted to be that kind of distracted. She... was wearing shorts. His blush returned and his head shook in denial. "Not long at all. I was worried I may have made you wait, this makes me feel better."

Don't look down... Oops. His eyes glanced down more, seeing skin where he hadn't before. It SHOULDN'T be distracting. It really shouldn't. The rest of his hair slowly fell back onto his face as he made his way towards her a bit as his eyes slid back up to remain glued to her face. Her hair was down too... Iyuki's face was red and he was so flustered, which was when he realized something.

She couldn't ride back like that. She couldn't at all. Her legs would freeze and... well he'd heard girl's skin was sensitive and such from the beauty things they did. "M-Muika you need to cover your legs up! They'll get stung while riding! H-Here!"

His hands moved on their own, the same as his mouth and mind. In one perfectly synchronous foolish move, Iyuki undid his belt and dropped his pants, stepping out of them to try and hand them to the girl half hiding. It also bared his argyle boxer briefs to the world. "T-Take them! They can cover your skin..."

His only response was a surprised noise that was really more squeak than anything. "I-I-I-Iyuki, it..it...it's fine! Really...Really it's fine!" She said, her words coming out in a rush. "M-My...My leg's will be fine. Really, they'll be..."

He'd just removed his pants and offered them too her with hardly any thought! Before she hadn't thought her face could get any redder but in this instance she was proven wrong.

"I-I-I can just...just sl-slip my leggings back on!" Even if they were dirty they felt to be a better alternative than...well, this. "P-Plus y-you'll get st-stung if...!"

Neither of the pair had noticed the older woman go into convulsions on the floor at this scene. Her laughter rang out amidst the rushing words each were throwing at each other. Iyuki's face was stern as he shook his head. "No, I can take the stinging. I've had to before. You need to wear this to protect your legs. I let the steam help take some of the chlorine smell out I promise."

Iyuki then set the pants down in front of Muika, turned and left the bath house. He was determined to do this! He would do this! The old woman's laughter grew stronger as she heard him leave.

As he got to the bike though, the whole scenario crossed his mind and he finally turned red as he looked down. What was he going to do now? He couldn't turn back after this...

He just...He just left...He just left her here with his pants. All she could do was stand there in shock, mouth slightly agape as the old woman continued laughing. He'd just...

She glanced down at the pants before looking back towards the exit, then back down to the pants and so on for a good few more moments before her face heated up again. With some form of noise of frustration she did as Iyuki asked in a rush, feeling absolutely ridiculous as she buckled the belt tight enough before walking out of the building as fast as she could.

"Here." She said once at Iyuki, keeping her head down as she held out her now removed hoodie to him. "T-Tie it around your waist or...or something...it's...b-better than nothing."