There were indeed plenty of problems in Soul Society that needed dealing with, but Orihime Inoue did not need to know about them.
She was not good with matters like these. Telling her would only make her worry about Muten Natsu.
When Muten Natsu entered the bedroom after washing up, Orihime Inoue was leaning against the headboard, reading a book on Kidō that Momo Hinamori had given her.
When she saw him come in, Orihime Inoue closed the book and placed it on the bedside table.
"Not going to read a little longer?"
Orihime Inoue held one shoulder and rolled her neck a couple of times. "I'll go to bed early. I can always keep reading tomorrow."
Muten Natsu noticed the slight crease in her brow. "Does your neck hurt?"
"My shoulders are just a little sore... Don't worry." Orihime Inoue smiled. "I'm already used to it."
After all, she carried quite a heavy burden.
Sitting on the bed, Orihime Inoue swung her arms around. "You just do this... then this... and then this! It feels much better afterward."
"I learned a few things from Captain Unohana." Orihime Inoue had mentioned her aching back and shoulders while they were in the bathroom, so when Muten Natsu went to Soul Society, he had specifically asked Retsu Unohana how to relieve them. "Come sit over here."
Orihime Inoue sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him curiously. "What are you going to do?"
"Give you a massage to ease the fatigue." Muten Natsu steadied Orihime Inoue's forehead with one hand, then threaded the fingers of his right hand through her silky hair and gently kneaded both sides of her hairline at the nape of her neck. "Is this pressure all right?"
"Mmm~" Orihime Inoue clenched the hands resting on her lap and tilted her head back slightly, letting out a soft, wavering sound. "It's... just right..."
Muten Natsu shifted his gaze toward the light screen displayed by Myōki. "Knead here for about half a minute, then move to this spot."
He pressed both thumbs between her cervical spine and the tops of her shoulders, applying a little pressure. "This area needs to be pressed for one minute first..."
Orihime Inoue pursed her lips, but a sound she could not suppress still slipped out through her nose.
"Then massage it for two minutes." Muten Natsu moved his thumbs in small circles across Orihime Inoue's shoulders.
Her face turned bright red, and she was beginning to have trouble sitting upright.
"Next... you need to lie face down." Muten Natsu patted her shoulder.
"Can I hug a pillow?" Orihime Inoue picked one up. "Otherwise, it'll be really uncomfortable..."
She was putting it delicately. In truth, lying face down made it almost impossible for her to breathe, and it would start hurting if she stayed that way for too long.
Muten Natsu's gaze drifted aside despite himself. "Of course."
Orihime Inoue lay down while hugging the pillow. It still pressed against her, but at least it created a little space.
Muten Natsu rested his index, middle, ring, and little fingers on her shoulders, letting his thumbs point naturally downward toward the spots indicated. He first massaged them gently in clockwise circles, then switched to counterclockwise.
"Phew~" Orihime Inoue breathed out softly. "That feels amazing."
"That means your shoulders have been tired for a long time..." Muten Natsu realized he had just stated the obvious. He moved his fingers to the area behind and below the shoulder joint, close to her armpit, and began massaging in clockwise circles.
Orihime Inoue trembled slightly. "It's... a little ticklish..."
"Bear with it for a moment. You'll get used to it." Muten Natsu slowly increased the pressure. "How does it feel now?"
"Mmm~" Orihime Inoue let out a soft, adorable hum.
"Next is your back." Muten Natsu slid his hands downward, bracing four fingers against either side of her body while pressing lightly into her back with his thumbs.
Orihime Inoue hugged the pillow a little tighter, then gradually relaxed beneath his kneading hands.
As Muten Natsu's hands moved lower and his fingers reached the sides of Orihime Inoue's waist, he could not help pausing.
He had never looked closely before, but with Orihime Inoue lying face down on the bed, the graceful curves of her body were fully displayed before him.
The enticing fullness visible even from behind narrowed sharply at her waist, making the rounded curves below look even more pronounced.
Muten Natsu drew a deep breath and forced his attention back onto Myōki's records, following the instructions as he continued the massage.
Orihime Inoue shifted slightly and buried her face in the pillow, but even that could not completely muffle the faint sounds escaping her.
Only after the massage ended did Muten Natsu realize that he was drenched in sweat.
Orihime Inoue tried to rise. "It feels like I just threw off a whole pile of heavy rocks..."
Muten Natsu pressed her back down. "Your body has only just relaxed. Be careful not to strain yourself. Move slowly."
"Oh, I see..." Orihime Inoue blinked. "Then I won't get up."
Muten Natsu released her, and Orihime Inoue rolled over with the pillow still in her arms, ending up on her back. "Even the bed feels more comfortable now."
He lifted a hand and brushed away the strands of hair stuck to her face with sweat. "Since you like it, I'll massage you more often."
"Then I want to learn too!" Orihime Inoue's watery eyes sparkled. "I want you to enjoy... this feeling too."
"I already enjoyed it when you massaged me before." Muten Natsu rubbed her head. "I'm going to change into another set of pajamas."
Orihime Inoue ran a hand across her back. "My nightgown is soaked too."
"Don't move. You might catch a chill." Muten Natsu stopped her from sitting up. "I'll get you a clean one."
"Um..." Orihime Inoue pointed toward the wardrobe. "I put two of my nightgowns in your wardrobe."
Muten Natsu opened it and took out his own pajamas along with Orihime Inoue's white spaghetti-strap nightgown. "So that's why my clothes have smelled so nice lately."
"It's because we use the same fabric softener," Orihime Inoue replied shyly. Then, as though Muten Natsu were not even there, she began undoing the buttons of her nightgown.
Muten Natsu silently turned around and changed beside the bed.
After switching off the bedroom light, he climbed back into bed.
Because they had been sweating earlier, warm air lingered beneath the covers. It mingled with the fabric softener on their clean pajamas, creating a fragrance that was fresh yet mellow, like hot orange juice cupped between one's hands in winter. Sweet and warm.
Orihime Inoue shifted beneath the covers and tilted her head up slightly.
This had already become an essential part of their nightly routine.
Muten Natsu lowered his head and kissed Orihime Inoue's soft, moist lips.
Should he try that special kiss now?
Muten Natsu parted his lips slightly, but before he could reach an answer, he felt a gentle advance.
Together with Orihime Inoue's warm breath, that indescribable tenderness made him forget the question at once.
His eyes slowly closed. Muten Natsu wrapped his arms around Orihime Inoue's soft, fragrant body and savored the unique tenderness within that special kiss...
He sank into it completely, unable to pull himself free.
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