A Hot Spring's Warmth
TL/ED: SupremeTentacle
"Whew…"
I couldn't help but let out a relaxed sigh as my body sank into the bathtub. I'd recently finished making myself a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn equipped with a hot spring.
The bathtub that the hot spring fed into was made of high quality Japanese cypress. It was quite wide, and could fit at least two people regardless of how they stretched themselves. It was an open air bath without a roof, so you'd be able to see the moon glimmer and the stars sparkle if you chose to look up. The only artificial source of light was a dim lamp, so the dazzling starry sky was mirrored atop the water's surface.
At first, I wanted to it so the inn was accompanied by an eternal night, but soon realized that it would not only be disorienting, but also have the potentially inconvenience. That was why I ended up giving the dungeon floor a proper day night cycle that mirrored whatever was outside.
"This sure feels nice, doesn't it?"
I spoke to Shii, who happened to be floating about in the water. For some odd reason, Shii seemed really fond of bathing. The slime had the tendency to hop in the bath and join me whenever I decided to use it. At first, I expected it swell up as soon as it entered, but nothing like that ever happened. Instead, bathing caused Shii to gain a sort of sheen and lustre. It was almost like it would cycle all the dirty fluids outside its body and take in cleaner ones after getting in the water.
"Are you done yet, Onii-chan?"
Illuna slid open the bathroom's sliding door, and smiled happily as she entered.
"Oh, hey Illuna. I thought you said you weren't going to get in till a bit later?"
"Hehe. Sorry."
The young vampire giggled and broke into a innocent smile as she apologized. It was one that I, her supposed older brother, found cute as could be.
"Hey Onii-chan, can you please wash my hair?"
"Sure. Grab a seat and I'll be right on it."
"Yay!"
She cheered as she sat herself down on a chair near the shower. I followed suit and pulled up a second chair, settling myself down behind her as I grabbed the showerhead.
"Ehehe."
"Sounds like someone’s in a good mood."
"Yup!" Illuna nodded happily. "It's because we're spending time together again, Onii-chan!"
Now that she mentions it, I been too busy to pamper her lately. I should probably take her out to play in the fields sometime soon. Oh, I know! We could have a picnic. I guess we'd have to invite everyone else, but that could make for a whole day's worth of entertainment.
The bathroom door opened as I started excitedly fleshing out my picnic plans.
"Hey Illuna, I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Hi Onee-chan!"
"Oh, it's just you, Leffy… Wait! Why the hell are you here!?"
"Better question. Why are you staring at me like that? You look like an idiot."
"B-Because I don't know why you're joining us in the bath."
"What, can't I?" Leffy frowned.
"W-well, I mean you can… It's just…"
I didn't mind Illuna joining me because she was still just a kid. Leffy, however, made for a much more questionable bath buddy. Her body was on the verge of maturity, just at the point where I wasn't sure whether or not I was supposed to think of her as a kid.
"Oh, I know!" Illuna said. "You must've wanted to be together with Onii-chan too! Right, Onee-chan?"
"D-Definitely not! I-I just wanted him to wash my hair because he's good at it and hasn't done it in a while!" Leffy's cheeks reddened as she denied Illuna's assumption.
"I-I see… Alright, why don't you go ahead and get in the tub so I can get Leffy cleaned up, Illuna?"
"Kaaay~!"
Illuna, who I'd just finished washing, happily assented and entered the tub. She was soon replaced by Leffy, who naturally moved over and took the younger girl's seat.
I couldn't help but let my eyes be drawn to the creamy white skin that peeked out from between the strands of her glossy silver hair. I followed the contours of her body and traced her womanly figure all the way from the nap of her neck, through to her cute, rounded shoulders, and eventually all the way down to the slender curves that made up her back.
Oh god damn it, what am I doing!? Alright, alright. Empty mind, pure heart. Empty mind, pure heart.
I took a quiet but deep breath to calm myself down, all while hoping that Leffy wouldn't notice my fast-beating heart. Only after I regained my composure did I finally start to wet her hair.
"Nnnmff…"
She would occasionally leak hot, captivating sighs as I washed her. Hearing them forced my heart to hit the gas and accelerate once more.
E-Empty mind, pure heart! Empty mind pure heart! Calm down already, heart! Why the hell are beating so quickly? This is Leffy we're talking about here, you know? She's just a lazy dragon that never does anything but eat sweets!
"alright Leffy, I’m done."
I breathed a sigh of relief as I finished rinsing the bubbles out of her hair.
As soon as I was done, the ancient dragon relaxed herself and let her body lean back against my own. She was warm. Feeling the gentle sensation of her skin on mine caused my heart to kick itself into overdrive.
"W-What’re you do—"
"That felt great, Yuki. But are you okay? Your breath was getting all ragged. Was my naked body really that charming?"
She broke out into a mischievous grin as looked up at me from below.
She totally knew!?
"S-Sure does sound all high and mighty coming from someone whose body looks just like a kid's. There's no way you'd ever turn me on."
"D-Did you just say I looked like a kid!? That's real rich coming from the person that totally just finished panting all over me!"
"I-I was only panting because my nose was stuffed! It had nothing to do with you!"
"What kind of awful excuse is that supposed to be!?"
"Geez. Come on, Onii-chan, Onee-chan. You guys are going to catch colds if you don’t get in soon."
"…"
Neither Leffy or I could come up with any sort of excuse, so we both quietly ended up getting in after getting reprimanded.
"Ahhh… This feels great. I never knew hotsprings were this relaxing," Leffy smiled.
"Yup! It feels super good, right Shii?"
Shii bounced around underwater as if to agree.
"Glad you guys are enjoying it."
And so, the four of us leisurely relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. Quite a bit of time passed by without any of us saying anything, but I didn't find it the slightest bit awkward. In fact, I enjoyed the silence quite a bit.
I know I'm not old enough to have kids just yet, but I think I'm starting to understand how it feels to be a father.
"I admit that this makes for some good scenery, but remind me again why you suddenly decide to make this whole thing."
Leffy was the first to break the silence. Her curious gaze was set on the grassy plains that lay beyond the hotspring's confines.
"Well, I was kind of thinking about making myself a castle."
"Huh?"
"You know, a castle? A giant ass fortress? I decided to make this plain so I could get some space ready for it."
"Er… I’m not sold on your obsession with castles," said Leffy,"But fine. Let’s work under the assumption that yes, this is all for the sake of a castle. Why exactly did you decide that the castle needed an inn with a hot spring right next to it?"
"Dunno. I'd already finished building it by the time I even considered asking myself that."
"U-Uh huh…"
Leffy seemed to acknowledge and accept my reasoning, or rather, my lack that of, despite clearly being confused.
A bit more time passed in silence, only to be interrupted by something suddenly beginning to shake.
"Illuna? You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah… Just sleepy."
All the warmth and comfort had caused the little girl to start drifting off.
"Try staying away just a bit longer, ‘kay? Let’s get you to bed."
"Mmkay…"
I took Illuna's hand to steady her and stop her from shaking.
"Would you mind helping Illuna get dressed, Leffy?"
"I don't mind."
"Thanks. And as for you Shii, you can prob—Woah!"
I looked inside the water only to find that the slime had stretched and lost its usual shape. It was so large and stretched so thin that looked like it was on the verge of dissolving.
"Are you alright?"
Shii shook itself up and down, indicating that it was perfectly fine. I somehow managed to understand that it was planning to soak a little bit longer, and could get out by itself once it was done.
"If you say so."
I smiled wryly as I got out of the bath with Leffy and Illuna in tow. A ray of moonlight illuminated the area around us as the three of us made our way back over to the changeroom.