Saiyuu no Ryokou: The Continuing Adventures of Yuriko

The Story So Far: It's been a long morning - Midori has confessed her youthful transgressions to her lover. As the sun literally dawns upon them, Yuriko is ready to face a new day.

 

Volume 2, Issue 19

""On the Last Day"

 

"Do you like it?" Midori's eyes were wet with unshed tears as she looked up at the idol. "I made it just for you."

"I love it," Yuriko breathed, as the warm of the newly risen sun bathed them. When it cleared the horizon completely, the blonde took Midori in her arms and kissed her. She could feel the warmth of the sun cutting through the chill air, and the warmth of her lover's skin on her face, and in her arms.

They separated slowly. Midori laid her head on Yuriko's chest. "It wasn't a good story, was it?" she asked. "The protagonist is completely unlikable - an immature, selfish jerk, in fact."

Yuriko grinned. "I prefer to think of her as a youthful, naive anti-hero." With relief, she could see and feel the writer relax considerably, even attempting a watery smile of her own. A thought popped into her mind. "That's why Gin-san and Natsumi-san call you Mi-chan."

"Yes," Midori muttered into Yuriko's chest. "I absolutely loathe that name."

Yuriko stroked the writer's hair soothingly. After a moment, she pushed Midori away slightly and turned so they both faced the new day together.

"Don't say 'It's all in the past,'" Midori threatened darkly. "Or anything else soothing."

"Never," Yuriko promised. She had plenty of her own family baggage - she had no need to criticize Midori for hers.

"How did you know about this spot?" Yuri inquired gently changing the subject. "Was it a special spot that you would come to, to think or to write?"

Midori smiled at the eagerness in the blonde's voice. "I'm afraid not, sorry. We all knew about it -it's a local landmark. Couples would come up her for privacy. And sometimes people would come up here to watch the sun rise together. I never did, but I wanted to. So, when we decided to visit my family, I thought that this would be a perfect time. Because," she lifted herself up on her toes and kissed Yuriko soundly, "there's no one on earth that I'd rather share this with, than you."

Yuriko beamed. "It's the best surprise I've ever had. Thank you." She leaned down to kiss Midori and wasn't surprised to be met with a very passionate response.

They didn't stop kissing, even as they moved away from the ledge towards the blanket. The air was warming rapidly, but still had a morning chill. Nonetheless, Yuriko unbuttoned Midori's blouse and removed it, before starting on her own. She gasped into Midori's mouth as the writer's hands cupped her breasts, thumbs lightly stroking her nipples. Yuriko fastened her own mouth on Midori's neck and listened with pleasure to the sounds her lover made. She could feel Midori's hand move down her back and beneath the waistband of her pants, and she gasped again.

After the first frenetic moments, the two women took their time making love, relearning each other's bodies, remembering what each other felt, sounded and tasted like. The ground was hard and cold, the sun hot overhead, but Yuriko felt as if she had died and gone to heaven.

****

The sun had risen over the forest. The sky was pale blue and Yuriko was sweating slightly in its glare. Midori had dressed again and was sitting with her back pressed against the rock wall, stroking Yuriko's hair leisurely. The blonde lay with her head in the writer's lap, her clothes draped haphazardly on various body parts.

"You should get dressed," Midori said. "What if someone sees you like this?"

"Oh, I don't know..."Yuriko mused, "I suppose they'd have one of their fantasies fulfilled at last, bringing some joy into their grey, dull life."

Midori laughed. "What if the person who found you was one of the three or four people in the country who wasn't a fan?"

"Oh, in that case," Yuriko bounced off the ground and threw her shirt on. "I'd traumatize them for life! You're right, I'd hate to be responsible for that." She tucked the shirttail into her pants, then buttoned them up.

"We'd better get back." Midori stood, brushing dirt from her legs. "Everyone will be up by now.'

"I'd like to say goodbye to Misono-chan," Yuriko said, as she scooped up the remnants of their early morning snack. "And I'd like," she glanced at her lover quickly, "to go home, as soon as we can."

Midori nodded forcefully. "Me too. Let's go back and say our goodbyes. I want to get on the road and get back before evening."

They walked back down the mountain hand in hand, except for the places where they needed both hands to scramble down the path.

***

"We were wondering where you were!!" Misono stood with arms crossed, pointedly tapping one impatient foot.

"Hah hah," Yuriko taunted. "We were out watching the sun rise! I know you're jealous."

The girl ignored Yuri and turned to Midori, "I don't mean to be uncharitable, Auntie Midori, but your choice of partner isn't at all mature. You two are supposed to set an example for me...and I just don't think I can find an appropriate role model in this conversation.' She turned away in a huff and flounced off exaggeratedly, while the older women smiled after her.

They had arrived with few minutes to spare. Natsumi and Eiji came towards them from the house, arms full of packed luggage. Yuriko handed Midori the canvas bag and offered the overloaded Natsumi her help. Relieved, the older woman agreed and let her take a few strategic pieces from her arms. Midori followed Misono and headed towards the house.

"I'm glad we got back in time to say goodbye," Yuriko said to Natsumi, as they loaded the car.

"I am too," Natsumi said earnestly. "I'm very glad that we were able to meet you, Yuriko-san." Midori's sister smiled warmly. "It's obvious to all of us that Mi-chan is very happy these days...thank you."

Yuriko blushed at the tone of the words. "It's more than just my pleasure," she stuttered inadequately. "I mean, I really..."

"We know," Natsumi said. "I know." She lowered her voice, so her husband couldn't overhear them. "When we were younger, I was really worried about her. After seeing you two together...I think I can stop worrying now." Seeing Eiji coming around the side of the car, she gave a short nod in the idol's direction, then left her to join her husband.

Yuriko caught up with Midori inside the house, where the writer had just joined the children in a breakfast of toast and marmalade. Midori handed over a piece of toast, which Yuriko bit automatically.

"You look thoughtful," the writer commented.

Yuriko swallowed a mouthful of tea and nodded. "Must be the fresh mountain air and sunshine. I feel very introspective today." She turned to Fuuma, who ate his breakfast quietly at her side.

"Are you going swimming again today?" she asked. Fuuma looked up, startled, and she realized that he was reading as he ate.

He swallowed, then wiped his mouth politely with a napkin before answering. "Yes, we're going swimming again today. Will you be joining us?"

Yuriko shook her head sadly. "I have to go back to work."

"You don't work," Yuuji said belligerently. "You're a singer - that's not real work."

Fuuma wagged his head. "Yuriko-san is going on a tour," he said authoritatively. "She'll have to practice songs and dance steps and memorize stage positions and things." Yuriko was once again impressed with the child's maturity. If he survived adolescence relatively unscathed, she bet with herself, he'd be yet another Yumi genius.

"Yeah!" Kurika jumped in, always ready to poke fun at her brother. "And she'll have to know the names of the capitals of the countries she's in - not like some people I know."

Yuuji stuck his tongue out at his sister and the two began to bicker. Midori took the opportunity to ask Yuri if she knew all the names of the capitals of the countries she was going to.

"Probably not," the idol said pleasantly.

"What's the capital of Malaysia?" Sakura asked the question as she walked by the group, having caught the last part of the exchange.

"No idea." She smiled at Fuuma, who regarded her with a serious and earnest mien.

"Kuala Lumpur," Fuuma commented and then, for the first time Yuriko had seen, grinned.

 

Continued

Saiyuu no Ryokou, all characters and situations copyright E. Friedman and Yurikon LLC. All Rights Reserved.