"Mmm~" Orihime Inoue pursed her lips and let out a soft, breathy hum, her hazy eyes half-lidded. "That feels so good~"
Muten Natsu applied a little more pressure, the bath oil letting his fingers glide smoothly into place. "Does it really feel that good?"
Sitting on the plastic stool, Orihime Inoue had only just opened her mouth when an odd sound slipped out. Only after Muten Natsu eased the pressure a little was she able to answer. "Even better than before~"
Muten Natsu kept kneading Orihime Inoue's shoulders. "I've gotten a little better recently."
These days, Muten Natsu had often helped Retsu Unohana with massages. Although, sometimes, as the massage went on, things would... drift off course. But whenever he was seriously giving a proper massage, Retsu Unohana also gave him plenty of professional guidance. After a while, Muten Natsu's massage skills improved by leaps and bounds.
Steam rose through the bathroom, washing away the sweat from her nap and replacing it with a fresh, relaxing comfort that soothed both body and mind. Paired with Muten Natsu's professional massage, Orihime Inoue went completely soft. She swayed on the stool, then leaned straight into him.
Muten Natsu turned slightly and supported her body. "Tired?"
"Let's rest for a bit~" Orihime Inoue rubbed against him as she turned around, biting her lower lip and raising her hand.
Muten Natsu stiffened. "...Weren't we supposed to be resting?"
"I mean I want you to rest." Orihime Inoue tentatively resumed what she had only briefly tried earlier before hunger interrupted her, her large, watery eyes looking up at him while she watched his expression closely.
Muten Natsu lowered his head, meeting Orihime Inoue's gaze.
Her bright eyes were full of concern and anticipation, so pure that he almost didn't dare look too long.
"Let yourself be happy~" Orihime Inoue parted her cherry-red lips, her warm, damp breath brushing out and making Muten Natsu's already unsteady heart lose all resistance.
...
Muten Natsu squeezed out the foam from the carbonated mousse shampoo and worked it into Orihime Inoue's hair. "I told you to stop for a moment, but you wouldn't listen."
Orihime Inoue sat obediently on the little stool, letting Muten Natsu clean her hair as she muttered softly, "I thought rinsing with hot water would be enough. I didn't think it would clump up..."
"Now you know?" Muten Natsu patiently rubbed through her hair. As her bright-colored locks turned smooth again beneath his hands, he felt a unique sense of accomplishment.
"I know~" Orihime Inoue leaned back without the slightest hesitation. "I'll still do it next time."
Muten Natsu steadied her. "Hm?"
Orihime Inoue gave him a cute smile. "That way, you'll wash my hair for me~"
"Even if you don't do that, I'll still wash your hair." Muten Natsu helplessly pinched Orihime Inoue's cheek. It felt especially nice.
So he pinched it again.
"Mmm~" Orihime Inoue's rosy cheeks puffed up slightly. "I want to pinch you too."
He had already pinched her twice, so it was only fair that she got to pinch him once.
With that thought, Muten Natsu crouched down so Orihime Inoue could easily reach his cheek without standing up.
Orihime Inoue lifted her hand, but instead of pinching his cheek, she wrapped her arms around Muten Natsu's neck.
She raised her head slightly and kissed him on the lips.
"Hehe~" Orihime Inoue revealed a tiny triumphant smile and playfully stuck out the tip of her tongue. "Fooled you~"
"You..." Muten Natsu gathered her hair together. "Careful not to get foam in your eyes. Close them. I'm going to rinse it now."
"Okay~" Orihime Inoue obediently closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm water rinsing over her.
"All done." Muten Natsu put down the showerhead. "The foam's all gone. You can open your eyes now."
The instant Orihime Inoue opened her eyes, Muten Natsu's kiss landed on her lips.
Caught off guard, Orihime Inoue still skillfully wrapped her arms around Muten Natsu's neck, answering his gentle advance.
The bath took far longer than either of them had expected. By the time they left the bathroom, it was already time to rest.
In the warm bed, Orihime Inoue pressed herself closely against Muten Natsu without anything in the way, her moist eyes carrying a trace of confusion. "Muten, I feel like I've become a little strange..."
Muten Natsu held the soft, sweet-scented Orihime Inoue in his arms. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know why, but I always want to do things like this..." Orihime Inoue kissed Muten Natsu's cheek. "This... and this... and this too... I never used to think like this before, but now, whenever I get the chance, I want to do these things..."
"I'm the same." Muten Natsu raised a hand and tucked Orihime Inoue's hair behind her ear, then leaned close to her warm, jade-like earlobe. "It's a sign of intimacy and care."
Muten Natsu's breath tickled Orihime Inoue's ear. "Intimacy... and care?"
"When we first met, our relationship wasn't this close. What we knew about each other was limited to our identities and names, and that was enough to support ordinary conversation between us," Muten Natsu said gently. "But as a relationship grows closer, if you want to communicate on a deeper level, you need more information. If I want to give you a birthday present, I need to know when your birthday is. If I want you to like the gift I give you, I need to understand your tastes. If I want your attention, I need to find a way to attract it..."
Orihime Inoue blinked. "That sounds like so much work~"
"It's not work. Because we're close enough, your happiness reaches me too, and I can feel it with you." Muten Natsu's fingers slipped between Orihime Inoue's, interlacing with hers. "When the distance between us becomes even smaller, the information we can see with our eyes and hear with our ears is no longer enough to support an even deeper exchange. So we need other ways to feel each other. The affection you enjoy is a sign of our intimacy."
Feeling the warmth in his palm, Orihime Inoue pressed on, "Then what about care?"
"Care means that when I'm helping you feel happy, you also want to make me happy." Muten Natsu kissed her earlobe. "Just like you did earlier."
"So it's not strange that I like doing these things...?"
"It's adorable."
"Then..." Orihime Inoue whispered, "make me even more adorable, Muten~"
"I want to see more of your adorable side too..." Muten Natsu held Orihime Inoue and shifted their position, his gentle kisses warming her body.
Orihime Inoue lifted her weak arm and pressed the back of her hand against her lips, trying to block the sounds slipping out beyond her control.
"Your voice is adorable too." Muten Natsu caught Orihime Inoue's wrist and moved her hand away from her lips. "I want to hear it more clearly."