What happened to NarutoFan671?

Damn.

A twisted part of me was enjoying that.

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I think... isn't it all the same girl?

What is that black stuff? It looks to me like ripped up nylon sheeting stuff?

Somewhat creepy but still cool!

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Yes, something like that. Her expression as you say, doesn't help.

Though their clothes are beautiful and very well painted.

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I dislike paintings like that where one character is looking at the viewer. It would be a so much more beautiful image if they were looking at each other and we were privy to an intimate moment.

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I'm trying to get back inside my character's head. It's been so long since I was in there. I will try and do a post when I can, or when the inspiration switches on.

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Um, yes, er.. hi! Hi everyone. I'm sorry I dropped off the face of the world but I had a very hectic autumn with an ill father-in-law which occupied my hubby a lot, because his mum couldn't cope so I was left at home doing everything and because things were so stressful my friends all rallied round and took me out lots...

Things have calmed down now so I should be able to get on here some more, well, after Christmas I expect.

Did I miss much? *goes to read thread*

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Yes, I need to post. I'm sorry, work has been manic recently and I seem to be out in the evenings far too much.

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I'm here and able to play.

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Not sappy at all, I loved it. I'm not pushing you for a fast reply, but I did need to get a reply of my own out there straight away.

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She sat down after a few moments of.... looking? Where are you looking?

Oh.

I grinned inside, part embarrassed and part thrilled by the realisation of what she might have seen, it was a liberating feeling. Then she was beside me and her hand lay open on the grass between us. Without hesitation I took it.

Getting easier, to be natural around you.

I gave a squeeze and launched into my nervous invite.

quote:

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"Yeah. I'm free. Definitely free."

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Gosh, some interesting things happened while I was away.

Hikari? Are you still there? *hugs*

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Perhaps he could go and talk to Chi? I'm sure Aoi will 'get it' when he goes over

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I'm so sorry I've been away so long. I've been pretty busy. I should be able to post faster now though, we finally got on top of a recent spate of manic work.

Hugs to everyone.

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quote:

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"I'm done, actually. Wanna take a walk before class?"

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Hiya

That sounds very wise.

You changed your avatar as well. No more Takeo?

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I was pleased, so pleased, I guessed right. Though to be fair, she'd led me by the hand so I could hardly guess wrong about her choice of food.

Then I teased her terribly with my own joke about eating.

quote:

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"Oh. Right. Well..."

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Sorry, Hikari, that one took me days and days to get right. I'm still not happy with it but it mostly works.

It's your turn in the main thread too *hugs*

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Oh, my…

We parted a fraction. Her breath on my chin burned me. Unable to help myself because touching her was the place I was meant to be, there was no other place on earth I wanted to be, nor would even be able to survive… I moved forward again against her and… This was not like that first crazy time on the pavement where my emotions had run riot with a need to show her what I was, nor that second mixed-up time in the tent when she had been confused. This time was like neither of those. Not one scrap like them. This time it wasn’t a crazy demonstration of need, nor a confused acceptance. This had feeling in it, true and caring, friendship, desire. This was a kiss. Our first.

I paused, waiting, I don't know what for. Just to enjoy this moment and seal it away in my memory. I began to move slowly back again and closed the gap slowly, and I knew she knew exactly what I intended. The feeling that she knew it was going to happen and seeing her calmly waiting, her eyes telling me “yes, I want this too,” was the most wonderful and exciting thing of all. I knew she wanted me to touch her. This wouldn’t be like those first two kisses that were stolen.

I didn’t know where to look, her eyes drew me, so dark and wide and gentle, that indescribable colour that isn't hazel or red, the most unusual eyes I’ve ever seen. Some autumn leaves have that hue somewhere between brown and russet, but with leaves they change so fast, in a day, and they die. Her eyes were so much the opposite of that, more alive than anything and unchanging, I wanted them to never change, the spangling flecks of gold that patterned the iris. I wanted to count each one but they seemed to mysteriously move and change. I wanted to look in her eyes. But her mouth… I glanced there and couldn’t tear my eyes away. I had never looked closely before. Her lips were a little parted, her top lip was shaped just so, where the skin was pulled up by the lines that joined to her nose… a perfect curve. And her lower lip. Looking at it made my heart do something odd and jumpy, a new surge of delight. So plump, so pink, so sweet-looking. My eyes were drawn there, helpless, like my own mouth was being drawn…

I lifted a hand from her waist and put the pads of two or three fingers to her cheekbone, I lay my palm there and smoothed my hand back, pushing a curl of hair with it, I found to my delight and surprise that there is this curve to the side of her neck below her ear that fits my palm perfectly, like it was made to go there. With my fingers behind her ear pushing up into her hair my thumb can graze across the lobe, smoothing it or spreading my fingers I can stroke the thumb downwards to caress the side of her neck. In wonder at this amazing discovery I tried out these movements and found a jumping pulse there under my thumb… So alive! I moved my fingers back and up and tangled them in her hair. The natural next instinct is to pull your hand forwards.

So I did…

This was mutual, we wanted this. In her eyes I could see wanting too, see it soaring in her and feel it pouring out. You don’t always need words to hear exactly what someone wants.

A breath, a rush, a whisper, an out of control want: “Hikari… Hai…” I moved slowly to show my care and my honesty, the truth in this was everything. And of course the approach itself is pleasurable isn’t it? It’s not just the destination that is wonderful, the journey too is exciting. When we stopped, noses rubbing just being this close to her was agonizingly delightful, exciting, the most exciting thing I’ve ever experienced. Or would do - for about five seconds… until we… I tried to imagine how exciting it would be when this journey reached its destination but couldn’t. My imagination wasn’t good enough. The journey there though? Pretty damned amazing.

Our mouths touched once more and inside my heart reached out and tried to touch her too. I kept my eyes open; with my lips I told her what my heart was feeling, with my eyes I let her see into what I was feeling. I passed the beating of myself to her through that gentle touch: This is me. This is my kiss. This is how I feel. Arigato.

At first we merely grazed together, the lightest and briefest of touches, so light it might have been imagination. I moved back, watching her carefully, her eyes were saying ‘yes’, they said ‘again’. I moved back, another slight touch, just a press. Then away again. Another pause, another careful look. Back in again a little more confident this time. Pressing again, soft as dreams. A little more, another break, another look. Back again. And again, and again, so many small kisses.

Then I stopped moving back between them and stayed in contact. Now it began to happen. It was slow and soft and as I moved myself against her, opening a little, closing a little, turning a bit to taste and reach different parts of her, exploring the shape of her lips, trapping that beautiful lower lip briefly between mine, I placed there every last tender part of me. I give this to you, all of myself, this is who you have made me become. And all the time the rush of her so close, her spicy scent. Deep down in my secret middle something special and new began to happen.

"Mmmm…" I thought I’d merely made that sound in my head but in fear realised I might have actually made a little moan against her.

I drew properly back, two inches and watching her, waited, heart thundering, my face wanting to tear apart into a huge smile.

* * * the journey begins * * *

Your turn.

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"It's not fair that you get to treat. I want to treat you."

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I would recommend you do not talk with western Ghibli fans but Japanese ones, try asking your questions on a Japanese anime forum, or try reading into Japanese religion, folklore and culture, particularly Miyazaki's take on these traditions.

Spirited Away might be the densest, most complex movie Miyazaki has made. Pom-Poko is another Ghibli that is full of Japanese folklore and traditional imagery.

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