• CHAPTER 173 - PARADISE SUBSIDES

    Paradise never lasts forever; you need to go home eventually to live your own paradise.

    "This hot spring is amazing," I sighed lovingly and wrapped my arms around Kai's torso, pressing my cheek against his bare chest.

    "Finest in Japan," Kai nodded and rubbed my back. "Not even Matsuda and Orihime could top it off."

    "Perfect end to a perfect vacation," I sighed again and closed my eyes.

    It was hard to believe that it was our last full day on vacation already; the week went by so fast but it was completely worth it. Kai and me finally had a relaxing week to ourselves without having to worry about much of anything. We had originally planned to bathe in separate hot springs but since our encounter with the random Vampire the other day, Kai had been keeping his guard up.

    I inhaled deeply, absorbing the scent of the multiple herbs in the water. Our skin was dewey and glimmering in the moon's light that shone in the bare darkness. I never wanted to leave the hot spring or the mountain; there was no better paradise on the earth than those mountains. The spring was making me feel so much better; my nausea never went away but it had gotten a little better. Kai had suggested multiple times to go to the doctor but I refused.

    "I'm sending you to the doctor's when we return," Kai enforced, reading my mind.

    I backed away from Kai and frowned at him, crossing my arms, "No,"

    "You've been sick; you need prescription pills." he frowned back.

    I lightly splashed water at him, proving my defenses to be weak, "No,"

    "You're adorable when you're angry," Kai smiled.

    I beamed at him, "I'm not falling for it,"

    "You shall eventually," Kai shrugged.

    After I lifted my fingertips above the surface of the water, I grimaced at how pruny my fingers were. We had been in the spring for far too long. Though I was sure Kai wasn't pruny in the least bit; his skin was much too firm. I stood up and wrung my hair out and grabbed a towel that was draped over one of the rock walls. Kai soon stood up and followed after me, wrapping his towel around his waist and I wrapped mine around my torso.

    "I've never felt so relaxed," I sighed again. "My legs feel like jell-o."

    In a moment, Kai scooped me into his arms and smiled lightly at me, "Might I suggest carrying you back?"

    "I thought my scent was too much for you right now,"

    "I've calmed down a fragment. Besides, the bath herbs conceal a majority of your scent."

    My arms wrapped around his neck and I buried my face in his shoulder and he gripped me tightly and we teleported. We landed in the bathroom, still dripping wet. As soon as he set me on my feet, an overwhelming sense of nausea powered over me. I dashed to the toilet just in time to vomit mildly.

    "Doctor's," Kai shook his finger at me with raised eyebrows and a smile.

    "You were somewhat a doctor; why don't you examine me?" I grumbled.

    "I'm always up for a game of doctor," Kai chuckled. "But not when you're legitimately sick."

    I blushed and looked away, "Whatever,"

    No more bile wanted to come up so I flushed the toilet and stood up. During the time I had been hunched over the toilet, Kai had dressed himself in all but a shirt. I wrapped my arms around him and smiled weakly, exhausted. His arms wrapped around my shoulders and he kissed the top of my head. I smiled coyly and gripped onto Kai's butt, causing him to flinch a little in surprise.

    "Have I ever told you how cute of a butt you have?" I looked up at him and smiled while blushing pink.

    Kai laughed, "No, I suppose you have not,"

    I sighed and smiled and leaned my head against his chest, "Let's go to bed. We have a long trip tomorrow."

    "Indeed," Kai kissed me. "It's been a lovely vacation."

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    The next morning, I woke up alone in the bed with only my lingerie on somehow. The comforters were knocked off the bed and my legs were tangled in the thin sheets that occupied the rest of the space. It was odd; Kai and me didn't even do anything last night--in the means of going all the way. We did, however, have an intense make-out session that ended with me becoming nauseous again.

    For a short moment, I thought Kai had gone home without me. Instead, I sniffed the air after the scent of breakfast drifted into the bedroom. I stretched and flipped over and found a tiger lily on Kai's pillow next to me. I smiled and giggled like a third grader and held the flower close to my chest. My heart fluttered madly; I had never been so happy in so long. It was too bad I was sick during most of the vacation but it was still amazing.

    "You're awake?" I hear Kai's heavenly voice chime in. "I made breakfast."

    "Carry me," I smiled and stretched my arms out.

    Kai willingly scooped me into his arms after assisting me in untangling me from the sheets. Instantly, one of my bra straps nearly fell off; it had been snapped in half. Dear God, we really were intense last night.

    "You're welcome," Kai chuckled.

    "I'm amazed we didn't to 'it', to be honest," I bit my lip as Kai carried me into the kitchen and seated me on a stool. "Oh, how embarrassing. I feel like the whole world knows."

    "You are unique indeed," Kai smiled and handed me a plate of steamed rice.

    "I have a random question," I propped my chin on my hand as Kai sat next to me. "Did you ever kiss anybody when you were a human?"

    Kai paused for a moment and thought, "Yes, I believe so. It was so long ago; it's difficult to remember."

    "You say you enjoy my lips because they're warm," I gazed at him. "Did it feel the same way back then?"

    He shook his head, "No. And I was a heinous kisser at that time." he chuckled.

    "It's impossible to tell," I admitted; words couldn't describe how good he was.

    "Eat," Kai poked my bowl of rice. "We need to depart soon."

    Every now and then while we were eating, I would have to push the right side of my bra back up since the strap broke. After I was finished eating, I dressed myself and helped make the bed all tidy and finicky. We packed our belongings and, just as we were about to leave out the house I ran to the bathroom to vomit a little bit. Kai stared at me with a large frown on his face, probably on the verge of going straight to the doctor rather than home.

    "Just get me some crackers and water on the way home," I sighed and flushed the toilet. "I'm fine."

    We stepped out of the mountain resort home and locked the door. As we were finished packing our belongings into the trunk of Kai's car, I looked back at the majestic house once more. Kai wrapped an arm around my waist and looked at the house with me.

    "We'll return someday," he promised.

    "It's just...a utopia," I sighed. "I had never been someplace so beautiful."

    "You're a silly girl," Kai chuckled. "Let's depart."

    I nodded and willingly climbed into the passenger side of the car. Before Kai backed out of the driveway, he gave me a soft kiss on my cheek. I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, clenching my stomach. The nausea wasn't going away and I had a mild fever. It wasn't how I wanted to leave our vacation but it was all well worth it.

    "Ready to return home?" Kai asked, glancing over at me.

    My heart fluttered when he said "home" and I nodded, "Definitely,"

    My stomach dropped instantly and paranoia came over me. I didn't know what it was that caused me to suddenly want to hyperventilate. Somewhere in my conscience, I wished somebody could read the future for the unpleasant surprise waiting for Kai and me. I gripped onto Kai's hand roughly and shut my eyes, waiting for the paralyzing fear to fade away.