009. Don't tell Yuki.

I decided not to spoil the mood, or the view and let Hazuka slip away and return my gaze to the cleavage before me instead. Sadly that is also right when Yuki let me go and stood back up as well. "You look alright, but maybe Grandmama should look at you?"

I shuddered to think of looking at her old wrinkled boobs instead of Yuki's, but also wished to spend more time with Yuki at the same time. "Don't worry, I'll be fine…" I said and purposefully stumble to sell my act of being more injured than I actually was.

"Kenji!" she shrieked and grabbed my arm. "No, you are coming home with me right now!" Then she put my arm over her shoulder and held me close, pressing her soft tit into my side. I couldn't believe that worked so well! I held her tight to my body, enjoying the warmth of hers against mine as we slowly walked to her home.

As we approached her home though I began thinking her grandmother might get the right idea about my intentions. I told her I was feeling better and had her step away so I could walk on my own. And it was a good thing because just then the tiny old crone opened the door to meet us. "You're late Yuki, and what are you doing here mister Matsumoto?"

She'd said that with such suspicion that I knew she was on to me. But luckily for me, Yuki missed the insulting overtones completely, "He hit his head Grandmama. Could you look at him please?"

The old woman gave me her evil eye and I could feel her mind burrowing into mine, but after a second she relented, "Come inside by the fire and let me have a look." Then she turned her back and retreated inside. Yuki happily grabbed my arm and lead me right into her home and up to the hearth. I'd been here a few times when I was younger, but not for many years.

The ancient withered lady returned with some herbs and practically pushed my face into the flames as she examined me for several minutes. I was poked and dabbed with a few until she said, "You'll be fine. I suspect your real pain in your pants." I was so flabbergasted that I didn't know what to say, but she did. "Let me see your knee."

"Oh, right…" I said, forgetting completely about my scraped knee. She gave it the same treatment before applying some kind of salve that tingled. I was actually glad I came now, and not just to spend time with Yuki. Her grandmother was a pretty good medic.

"Alright, shows over," the ancient lady finally declared. "It's time for you to leave mister Matsumoto, and time for Yuki to sluff my bunions."

That sounded like my cue to leave so I stood to leave and Yuki surprised me by walking with me to the door. I went out and she followed me out. "So I'll see you later Kenji," she said before I got very far.

"Oh, er, yeah," I said uncomfortably. I didn't really know what to say, but had to thank her somehow, "Thanks again… for looking out for me."

She smiled back at me in the glossy orange light of the setting sun and looked so beautiful I just wanted to kiss her. But did she want me to? Was I reading too much into her friendliness? I came closer to her, back up to her door. 'I'm going to kiss her,' I decided. Just a quick thank you on peck on the cheek. If she didn't want it I could explain that away easily enough.

I leaned in and then… "Yuki! I got the file ready!" the old woman shouted from inside and that broke my resolve and ruined the moment.

"Well… bye," she said simply after I stood there silent for another moment before she ducked back inside and closed her door.

I was so stupid! I was so embarrassed and frustrated I ran back home through the darkening streets, hard and fast until I was huffing and puffing in exhaustion near the top of the hill. The nearly full moon had risen and was no longer red, but shed its bright pale bluish light over the darkening town, and the view was really breathtaking up here.

"Mooooo!" I heard coming from the old temple ruins nearby. I rolled my eyes and walked closer and sure enough, Ushi was standing there nibbling on the vines around the ancient stone obelisk. That couldn't be good for his digestion I worried as I cautiously walked up, not wanting to spook the large beast again, grabbed the harness and Ushi now allowed me to pull him away from the vines.

The moon was much brighter and pale white by then when something made me look at the hole in the vines where Ushi had chewed away to expose the stone underneath. There chiseled in on the rock was the character for 'healthy', but it was also the first character of my given name. I pulled back the vine to look at the next character in curiosity and was surprised that the next one was 'rule', completing 'Kenji'. Then I had to continue, though I knew it was probably just some crazy coincidence. The preceding characters really freaked me out. 'Pine' and 'base' declared 'Matsumoto'.

I told myself I was just being silly however since my name was actually a fairly common one. This was probably some history or tribute to some ancestor of mine. I release Ushi's harness to pull more and more on the vines, exposing the text around my name, but there wasn't any. It was only this name as far as I could tell. Breathing hard from ripping away the vines Ushi turned as he cocked his head and turned to walk away. I moved after, not wanting to lose him again, but then I could hear Kouki's voice carrying from our home as she called out "Kenji!" to call me home.

Ushi was similarly called, so I caught up and took his reins again and walked him back before yelling "Coming!" I stabled Ushi back in the barn and returned to our small home to find Kouki had dinner ready. Neither of us spoke about what had happened earlier as she served me up a small bowl of rice and vegetable stew.

After eating in silence I just had to talk so I asked, "Did you know my name is on that old stone obelisk in the temple ruins?"

She sighed and scowled at me, "Please don't tell me you are a vandal now!"