BLISS
part 5
by Mike Loader and Lara Bartram
 
 
	It was almost daylight by the time the swarm finally passed.
	Slowly, somewhat dazedly, they made their way out of the 
temple gates, and wandered down the barren, cleared swath of dirt 
that led to their house.
	Nothing had been left in the path the ants had taken. Except 
for an occasional stump, it could have been a man-made road. A 
stump, and the gleaming white skeletons of animals and birds, 
shining in the dawn's light.
	"I guess this is why there weren't many trees," Akane said 
numbly.
	Ukyo could only nod his head.
	They almost didn't recognize their homestead.
	The palisade had vanished, as if it had melted away like 
ice. The only sign that it had been there at all were the empty 
postholes.
	In the spot where their house had been was a scuffed patch 
of earth, a gravel-and-slate floor, the remains of a hearth, and 
metal nails and tools. And shattered pottery, worn as if by acid 
in places. The wooden walls, the woven rugs, the hides... all gone 
without a trace.
	Gone, as if it had never been.
	Ukyo's hands tightened at his side, and he felt his eyes 
sting. All the work, all the effort, something to call home... 
wiped out overnight. And it had only been luck that they hadn't 
died horribly along with it.
	Akane had walked over to a corner of the leveled yard and 
sat, staring, at the tiny white skeleton by the far side of the 
palisade. He swallowed, remembering the pain-wracked howls and 
yelps that had awoken them. If it hadn't been for that...
	If it hadn't been for that, they would have woken two 
minutes later as the ants stripped the flesh from their bodies.
	Ukyo slowly walked over, took Akane's arm, and led her away. 
She leaned against him slightly, and he fought down the stirring 
her touch evoked. This was not the time.
	"Sometimes I think this place is going to kill us," she said 
dully. "It tries so hard to."
	He sighed. "Sometimes I think so too."
	"I'm not gonna let it." Her voice was still numb, but an 
angry, determined edge was in it too. "It's gonna have to fight to 
get me."
	"It will," Ukyo said, looking back at the remains of their 
house. "It will fight. We just can't let it win."
	"The house is gone." It was more than just a simple 
statement of fact; they had put a lot of themselves into building 
their home. "I don't know about you, but I'm not building on this 
site again."
	He nodded. "I've been thinking... the river down by the 
southern part of the island offers fresh water, fish, and a bit of 
protection. Plus it's closer to some of the plantain groves, and 
farther away from that damn temple and Canis Mountain. "
	"The temple saved our lives, you know."
	"I'd still rather have it as far away as possible."
	Akane nodded, a slightly distant look in her eyes. "Ukyo... 
how did we get here?"
	He frowned. "You know I don't know that."
	"Yeah, but look at what we _do_ know. No memories. A creepy 
temple in a place with no humans and no stone for building it. 
That transport, with the log and the flutes and the dead men and 
whatever that was in the hold... I think that temple's important. 
I think it might be the key to all of this."
	Ukyo thought for a second. "Maybe. But do we really want to 
go poking around in it?"
	"A month ago I would have said yes. Now..." Akane sighed. "I 
just want to stay alive."
	"First things first, then. We need to build another 
palisade, and I have some ideas for outbuildings and the new 
house."
	"Yeah, me too. Somewhere to hang meat would be nice."
	They knelt in the remains of their house and began to pick 
up the precious nails and tools. A slight breeze rose, blowing 
leaves and dust through the near-empty courtyard.
 
***
 
	Akane looked at the river. "Pretty. And it'll be nice not 
having to walk half a mile for drinking water."
	"Bathing water, too," Ukyo said, smiling slightly. "I'd 
suggest making a bathhouse if he had the materials for a real tub. 
As it is, we'll just have to make due with using the river."
	"We don't have the room for another outbuilding anyway."
	"We would if we enlarged the palisade."
	She glared at him, wiping a rivulet of sweat away from her 
eyes. "We just got done building this thing, and you want to 
enlarge it?" One hand waved behind them.
	The structure that she was pointing to was impressive... 
well, impressive by island standards. It was nearly three times 
the size of the original palisade, arranged in a roughly 
rectangular shape. No buildings inside it, yet, but it was a safe 
place to sleep.
	They had debated whether to build the house in roughly the 
same design as the last one, or to try something new. The idea to 
go with a new layout had quickly been adopted; they had learned a 
lot since setting up their first dwelling. And, too, building 
something new made it feel like they were improving their lot, not 
just struggling to stay the same.
	"So," Ukyo continued, "now we just need to build our new 
home in a manner that doesn't collapse and kill us as we sleep."
	Akane nodded resignedly. "Whose bright idea was it to build 
the damn house in the air?"
	"Yours, as I recall."
	"Oh yeah. Damn. Okay, back to work."
	They had both been uneasy about the safety of the palisade. 
Sure it would keep the wild dogs out when it was up, but what if 
the gate came undone? What if something tunneled under it? What 
if...
	The fact was, taking anything regarding safety on this 
island for granted was a good way to get killed.
	So they had decided to elevate the house. Ten long posts, 
cut from the trunks of some of the taller trees, would form the 
legs upon which the structure would rest, a good eight feet above 
the ground.
	All in all, it was probably a lot more trouble than it was 
worth. But they did it on the off chance that it wasn't, because 
it was better to spend a little unnecessary effort than to have 
your throat ripped out as you slept.
	And so the rest of the day was spent digging the postholes.
	"&@%!^*&#!ing postholes!"
	"What you said."
 
	The next day was also spent digging the postholes.
	"STRAIGHT, you moron!"
	"This is straight, you homicidal shrew!"
	*WHAM*
 
	Day three was spent putting up the posts themselves.
	"Sorry about that."
	"urgh gah whoosh."
	"The log just slipped..."
	"aaaaaaaaagh."
	"Does it hurt?"
	"..."
	And, of course, after that came the difficult part.
 
***
 
	Ukyo stood on the floor, and cautiously walked across it.
	"Okay... come on up, Akane."
	Gingerly climbing up the rope ladder, Akane walked across 
the newly-placed floorboards. "Huh. Well, it looks like we did 
it."
	He grinned. "We sure did! Look at that view!"
	They stood for a second and drank in the sight of the trees, 
the palisade, and the river far below.
	"We need to stick a balcony on this thing," Akane murmured. 
Ukyo nodded.
	Somewhat hesitantly, her hand snuck out to take his.
	Ukyo gave it a slight squeeze.
	And then the floor collapsed.
 
	"owwww. ukyo?"
	"urgh."
	"hey, ukyo?"
	"yeah?"
	"i think we need better floor bracing."
	"brilliant, akane. that's just brilliant."
	"it was just a thought."
	"we'll start just as soon as i can move my legs again."
 
***
 
	Ukyo finished jumping up and down, nodded, and waved to 
Akane. "Okay, this one should hold."
	Akane tossed a good-sized rock up to him. Blinking, he 
caught it.
	*CRASH*SPLINTER*WHAM*
	"I think we need a bit more bracing in the middle."
	"aaaaaaaaaugh."
 
	"Okay, THIS time it's fine!"
	"Yeah. Now how do we get the test boulder down?"
	"Good question."
 
***
 
	The walls went up. While not as easy as it would be in a 
house built entirely on the ground, it was still a refreshingly 
simple task. Brush, bamboo, and light woods attached to a sturdy 
frame was really all they needed, and the panels and posts went up 
with surprising speed.
	The roof was a bit more tricky. Should it be flat, or should 
it be curved? How sturdy should it be?
	Their first crude attempt blew away shortly after they had 
finished it. The wind was a bit stronger, up at their current 
height.
	Eventually they constructed a flat board roof, atop which a 
triangular rush-and-bamboo superstructure was set. The 'attic', as 
Ukyo dubbed it.
	One of the biggest troubles they had been presented with in 
their old camp was the lack of space, particularly dry space. So 
they put up several outbuildings; a long wooden structure to serve 
as a smokehouse, another building carefully set downwind for the 
curing of hides, and a bakehouse for the rather second-rate bread 
they had been experimenting with. A boulder, with cuts to the 
appropriate places was converted to a crude stone oven.
	Finally, right beside the house next to the wall, a storage 
shed was built. The roof was braced and double-braced, and then a 
small bridge was built from the main house to it.
	The result was a balcony large enough for two chairs and a 
small table. They carefully rigged an awning from brush and bamboo 
poles, and when it rained on the fourth week into their 
construction they sat under it, watched the drops patter through 
the leaves outside the palisade, and drank in the sight.
 
***
 
	"Akane?"
	"Yes, Ukyo?"
	He suddenly felt the blush in his cheeks as she looked at 
him. He shook his head quickly. "It's nothing," he said.
	She nodded and smiled at him. "Okay, Ukyo." She returned to 
breaking open the coconuts with her bare hands.
	He glanced over at her, her profile highlighted by the rays 
of the setting sun. His blush increased and he went back to 
working on the repair for the roof of their hut. Even as he wove 
the thick leaves together, forming a nice waterproof mat, he 
glanced over at her periodically.
	"You'll finish that faster if you keep your eyes on it," she 
said playfully, knowing he was watching her.
	He quickly locked his gaze on the mat he was weaving, more 
embarrassed than before. He should have known better. She was 
incredibly perceptive, much more so than he. Sometimes he felt 
positively stupid around her.
	But this... this wouldn't wait. "Akane?" he asked again, not 
looking at her this time.
	"Yes, Ukyo?" she replied, turning to face him.
	"If I tell you something, will you promise not to get upset 
at me?" he asked almost timidly.
	She smiled widely. "What would I get upset over? You can 
tell me anything." Her tone suddenly changed. "Are you starting to 
get any memories back?" she asked excitedly.
	"No," he answered slowly. "I don't think so." With an effort 
of supreme will, he looked at her, looked her in the eyes. "Akane, 
I think... I think... I... love you."
	She gasped.
	"I don't know if it's for the first time or all over again, 
but I think I'm definitely in love with you." Again he blushed and 
looked away. "I'm sorry."
	"Don't be sorry, Ukyo. I'm not mad." She set down the 
coconut and stood, looking at him. "Why would you think I'd be 
upset over something like that?" she asked, approaching him.
	"I don't know, but..." He abruptly stopped speaking when she 
sat down right next to him. Her mostly bare thigh brushed 
teasingly against his. "I didn't want to make things uncomfortable 
between us," he continued, far more slowly than before as she 
slipped an arm around him.
	Almost giggling, she squeezed him around the waist. "Ukyo... 
Ukyo-chan, you act like I might hate you. You know I won't. Things 
can only get more comfortable between the two of us." Her smile 
decreased in size, but increased in warmth. She just hoped he 
understood what she was hinting at.
	It was her turn to blush when he looked at her and there was 
such a strength of emotion in his eyes, directed at her.
	"I really do, Akane-chan," he said quietly and stroked the 
side of her head, his fingers running through her lengthening 
hair. "I do love you."
	"I know, Ukyo-chan, and I love you too." She brought her 
hand up and ran it through his hair, pulling some down in front of 
his eyes playfully.
	He pulled away and shook his head, getting the hair out of 
his face. He didn't know what further to say to her. He had told 
her the secret he had been holding for too long, and now... 
Instead of speaking, he took her hand in his and kissed it while 
gazing into her eyes.
	"Ukyo-chan?"
	"Yes, Akane-chan?"
	"Are we going to be here for the rest of our lives?"
	"I don't know, Akane-chan. We might be. We might never be 
rescued, and I don't think it's wise to risk our lives on a raft 
to float out into the ocean when we don't know where anything is. 
We could be hundreds of miles from the nearest island."
	She nodded at him, his thoughts mirroring her own fears. 
Really though, the island wasn't so bad. There were much worse 
places to be stranded, she was sure, and she had Ukyo. That helped 
a great deal.
	He looked away suddenly, pulling his lips away from her 
hand. "Akane-chan..."
	"Ukyo-chan," she breathed. She pulled her hand away from his 
and put it to his far cheek, gently trying to make him turn his 
head toward her. "Ukyo-chan," she said again as their eyes met.
	He watched her lean up, her eyes half closed, and as her 
lips neared his, he closed his own eyes. The moment seemed to last 
forever before their lips finally came into contact with each 
other.
	A single moment of bliss as they held the kiss, and then 
they broke apart, each somewhat breathless.
	"Akane-chan," he said quietly as his eyes fluttered open.
	"Ukyo-chan, please... don't talk," she replied, her eyes 
still closed.
	He looked down at her, unable to do anything except comply 
with her wish. She looked so beautiful with her eyes closed, the 
slight blush in her cheeks and the fading sunlight caressing her 
skin. He hoped she wouldn't think he was too forward.
	He stood, lifting her in his arms, and strode to their hut 
with her hanging on to him tightly. He stopped in the doorway, 
looking down at her face. "Forgive me, Akane-chan."
	"No. No, Ukyo-chan. I don't need to." She lifted her head to 
kiss him again, far less tentative than before. "I love you, Ukyo- 
chan," she said when the kiss ended.
	Looking at her for a moment more, he entered the hut.
	Ukyo carried Akane into the hut and laid her gently down on 
his padded mat. He leaned down slowly while she reached eagerly up 
to meet in a kiss.
	With hands on either side of Akane's head, he leaned down 
and kissed her again, each working aggressively at the mouth of 
the other. It had been too long that they had existed together 
with their feelings burning inside them.
	Ukyo pulled his head away slowly, his lips reluctant to 
leave Akane's. Looking into Akane's half-lidded eyes, he could see 
the unshed tears of happiness, and he felt himself begin to follow 
suit. "I love you, Akane," he whispered and ran one hand down her 
cheek gently.
	Akane smiled and covered his hand with hers. "Ukyo.. shut 
up." She took hold of his hand and moved it away from her cheek. 
Leaving his fingertips in contact with her skin, she moved his 
hand down her neck. Down her neck and lower to smooth skin of her 
chest.
	The look in his eyes told Akane that he knew exactly what to 
do. Still smiling, she took her hand away and touched him gently 
in the side. With that feathery touch, she ran her fingertips down 
his ribs and watched him squirm ticklishly.
	She giggled very briefly until she was again surprised by 
the look in his eyes. He was not joking around, and in an instant, 
neither was she. Akane leaned up once more and kissed Ukyo, 
briefly though, and softly.
	Ukyo's hand moved down a little to the simple top Akane was 
wearing and caressed her breast through it. It was, at the same 
time, fabulous and frightening. It was exactly what he had been 
wanting to do; it and all those other things, the thoughts that 
had plagued him endlessly at night.
	But then, he had almost been in love with her at first 
sight, and being near her for so long, really getting to know her 
had only made his love grow. His physical desires were a natural 
result of his feelings, and they had been entirely innocent.
	So now, it was like he had just been offered the forbidden 
fruit. It was his one desire, and while he had been assured it was 
fine to partake of, he still wasn't quite sure.
	"Ukyo-chan," Akane asked breathlessly, "what's wrong?"
	"Nothing, Akane-chan, I just don't want to... I want to make 
sure you..."
	Akane smiled knowingly and slowly reached up to her top. 
Ukyo stared first at her face, then at the destination of her 
hands, which made Akane's heart beat just a little faster.
	She undid the tie that kept her top together and her breasts 
covered. Pulling aside the first flap, and then the other, she 
bared her chest to him. "If you don't... like them, Ukyo-chan..."
	Ukyo gasped, but he wasn't sure if it was in denial of him 
not liking what he was looking at, or simple appreciation. "Akane-
chan, I don't know what to say..."
	"Don't say anything then, you idiot." Her voice grew quiet. 
"I didn't think we came in here to talk anyway." This was it. A 
dagger of fear pierced her suddenly, made her want to flee from 
the situation, but she did not allow it to take hold.
	It was silly, irrational. It had been almost six months that 
they had spent on the island together and in that time, her 
thoughts hadn't always been chaste. She had even dreamed about it 
a few times, so there was no reason to be afraid.
	There had been a strangely surreal feeling to those dreams, 
but the way she felt when she had awakened was very real. Those 
feelings had finally come to a head and she would not hold them 
back.
	Akane took a big breath then leaned up and kissed Ukyo 
again. Her hands moved across his chest then down his arms until 
she was holding his hands. She took one hand and placed it first 
on her side, then moved it up slowly until it was covering her 
breast. The feeling was strange, but exciting, and she decided 
that for whatever reason she had been afraid, it was unnecessary.
	There was no pain, nothing to be afraid of, just a nebulous 
pleasure that she didn't know how to quantify. Akane just 
continued to breathe, trying not to give away just how much she 
was enjoying what he was doing. Not just yet.
	There was something of a standstill at that point. Ukyo was 
far too intimidated to try anything more, though he desperately 
wanted to. Akane was more important to him than that though, and 
he would not endanger...
	He squeaked, partially of fright, mostly of embarrassment as 
Akane took the initiative again and released the tie that kept his 
sloppily crafted shorts cinched up around his waist. His face 
glowed crimson as she pulled the shorts down a bit with her hands, 
then actually used her toes to yank them down the rest of the way. 
"Akane," he gasped.
	"I know, Ukyo, why..." she said, smiling. "I know why these 
instead of something else. I've known for a while now."
	Ukyo didn't think his face could possibly turn any more red 
than it had. "I just... didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
	"Stop, Ukyo-chan. There's no need to. I don't want to think 
about this, worry about it now. Right now, I don't want anything 
more than to just..." She didn't know how to express it. Or she 
was afraid to actually say it. It didn't matter. "I just want to 
be with you."
	The rest of it, the other things she wanted to say sounded 
too silly, too melodramatic even to her. Instead of words, she 
spoke with actions.
	The two kissed ferociously this time, their initial 
tenderness swept away in a tide of passion and desire. Tears were 
actually coming from Akane's eyes at the extreme need, want she 
was experiencing.
	Ukyo kicked off his shorts the rest of the way, tearing the 
seams in the process, and lay down fully on Akane, feeling her 
body press against his.
	He couldn't even figure out how, but they managed to get 
Akane's modest loincloth off, and leave the both of them naked 
with each other.
	"I don't want to hurt you," Ukyo panted, his entire body 
quivering.
	"I... I don't think you will," Akane answered, her eyes 
closed, her body seeming to move of its own will against Ukyo's. 
She groaned, her hips grinding upward against his. "I don't care."
	Ukyo attacked her neck and began to thrust gently with his 
hips, trying to find the proper spot. It took a bit, time that was 
enjoyable in its own way, where the two were able to feel each 
other with every misguided thrust.
	"Here, let me," Akane said, her voice low and sultry. She 
ran her hand down Ukyo's chest as he pulled away from her 
slightly. Her hand moved lower and paused. Again, something wanted 
her to stop, to not do this, but she would not listen.
	Grasping Ukyo gently in her hand, watching him shudder with 
the feel of it, she steered him to the proper point. "Now, Ukyo."
	He pushed forward slowly and entered her, drawing moans from 
both of them. "Ooh, Akane," Ukyo breathed as he penetrated her.
	Akane shuddered with pleasure at the feeling. She had been 
correct. There was no pain, only pleasure, and she couldn't 
imagine why she had ever hesitated. And Ukyo... She cared for him 
so deeply that there were tears in her eyes.
	It seemed like a lifetime and only a heartbeat at the same 
time before Ukyo stopped moving against her and only panted 
heavily in her ear as he lay atop her.
	"Ukyo?" Akane whispered, her entire body quivering with 
pleasure. "Are you all right?" She hoped so because she wanted him 
to keep going, the twisting in her stomach not at all unpleasant.
	"Yes, Akane," he answered, panting between words. "I... I... 
Wow."
	"What? You're done?" Akane asked, definitely missing 
something in the whole process.
	"Yeah. Couldn't you tell?"
	Akane snorted. "Not really. What about me?"
	Ukyo was slowly getting his breath back. "What about you? 
Didn't you..."
	"No," she answered briskly.
	"Well, I guess..." Ukyo shrugged. "I don't know what to do."
	"Then I suggest," Akane said, holding Ukyo's face in her 
hands, "that you figure something out quick. Before I get... 
forceful."
	Ukyo swallowed, his eyes wide. "Yes ma'am!"
 
	"You know, it just occurred to me, that we don't exactly 
have any sort of birth control," Akane said as she lay in Ukyo's 
arms.
	"Odds are pretty low," he mumbled in response, squeezing 
her.
	"Maybe, but they're high enough. I don't want this to be 
ruined every time by me worrying if I'm pregnant or not."
	"Ruined? I did my best."
	Akane giggled and shook her head. "I know, but that's not 
what I meant. I want to enjoy this moment with you, just laying 
here together." Akane considered things for a moment. "I think 
you're the perfect man for me."
	"I knew, the moment I saw you, that you were the only one I 
ever wanted."
	"The moment? What if we had been related? What if we _are_ 
related?"
	Ukyo sighed, sending a breath across Akane's neck and 
causing her to shiver. "If we are, then so what? We won't ever 
know for sure. And it doesn't change the way I feel about you. 
Just stop worrying, Akane." He propped himself up on one arm, 
looking down at her. "And it's all right for you to lust after me, 
but I'm not allowed to declare my love for you?" he asked, arching 
an eyebrow.
	"Hey, don't change the subject. That's not the point."
	"Oh? Then what is the point?" Ukyo countered.
	"The point is that I don't want this to be a bad 
experience." It was Akane's turn to sigh. "I do love you and I 
don't want things to change." A baby would definitely change 
things.
	Ukyo kissed her neck and settled down again. "They won't. 
Things won't change as long as we're together."
 
***
 
	"Well, I guess I don't need to worry about separate rooms 
any longer."
	Akane looked back at Ukyo. "Separate rooms? What would you 
want separate rooms for?" she asked.
	"Well, nothing now. Before though..." He shook his head, 
smiling a bit ruefully. "I was sure that one night I wouldn't be 
able to hold myself back. You tempted me every night."
	"Ah, well, sorry about that."
	Ukyo laughed a little. "Don't be sorry at all. I've never 
been so happy while I was so miserable."
	"Sweet talking will get you everywhere." She kissed him 
quickly on the lips. "If we keep this up, we won't accomplish 
anything."
	"We? My dear, I am only your willing partner. You are the 
mastermind of all this." Ukyo put his hands and Akane's hips and 
pulled her close to him. "Don't think that I will take the blame 
when we waste away from dehydration." He grinned lecherously at 
her.
	Akane pulled away and winked. "I'm going to gather some more 
wood for the fire. Keep it... lit for when I get back."
	"That won't be a problem," responded Ukyo, his eyes roaming 
over her bare skin.
	Akane smiled at him and left the house, not even bothering 
to use the ladder.
	He watched her go then poured himself a small cup of palm 
wine. He still got nervous with her and he didn't know why. The 
way they felt about each other was very clear, and it didn't 
appear that there was much that would change that. He downed the 
contents of the cup, hoping it would start working quickly.
	Akane returned a bit later with some wood. "This should be 
good. It's pretty hard, should burn for a good while." She 
deposited the wood in their crude stove, adding some smaller 
branches on top of them. "So what have you..." Akane trailed off 
when she saw the glassy look in Ukyo's eyes.
	"Jus' fine, 'Kane." Ukyo burped and Akane could smell his 
breath.
	"Ukyo!"
	"Was jus' a little' No hard done."
	Akane shook her head. "You can't even stand up straight."
	"Sure I can. See?"
	"I see you swaying back and forth like the drunken nitwit 
you are. I was only gone 15 minutes. How did you accomplish this 
so fast?"
	"'Kane, I love you," he said, sitting down on the floor, 
looking up at her.
	Akane gave her most annoyed sigh. "You're just lucky we 
don't have to do anything today, or I'd be really pissed." She 
stood with her hands on her hips, looking even more annoyed than 
she sounded.
	"I love you." Ukyo held his arms out for her.
	"You already said that. Lay down so I can try to sober you 
up. And I'm not cleaning it up if you puke." She watched him 
recline with a goofy smile on his face and shook her head.
	"Sometimes I wonder about you. Makes me surprised we even 
lived this long," Akane continued, turning her back on Ukyo and 
starting some soup and mentha tea. "I don't want you to make this 
a habit. If you start getting trashed every day..."
	"I only do it cuz I love you."
	"Right. Just lie there and don't talk. And when this is done 
you had better not argue with me. I'm not in the mood to deal with 
you." Akane continued to mumble under her breath, cursing the 
stupidity of men.
	It was ten minutes later, Akane trying to make Ukyo eat a 
little barely warmed soup and keep his hands to himself, when she 
smelled it.
	"Do you smell something?" she asked, looking around.
	"I love you," Ukyo repeated, resting his head in her lap.
	"And I love you too, but what's that smell?" It was kind of 
a sweet odor, heady, like strong perfume, but not overpowering. 
She inhaled deeply trying to figure out where it was coming from 
and was immediately dizzy.
	Vision spinning slightly, she could barely see the smoke 
hanging in the air, swirling out of the fire. "Ukyo, the smoke..." 
she said, pushing his head out of her lap and crawling across the 
floor.
	"'Kane, don't leave me!" Ukyo whined, waving his arms 
around, trying to find where she had gone off to.
	Coughing a little, Akane replied, "I'm not leaving you. I 
just want to find out what's up with this smoke." She coughed 
again and was finding it increasingly difficult to coordinate her 
arms and legs. She looked behind herself at Ukyo and it seemed 
that entire floor was sloping away.
	Akane clutched at the rough floor, afraid of sliding down 
it. She didn't know how long she'd be able to keep her grip since 
she could already feel her arms getting tired. "Ukyo, hold on!"
	"I think I'm gonna be sick."
	"I'm gonna fall! Try and grab me!" Her arms wobbled and she 
fell to the floor. She started screaming as gravity took hold of 
her.
	Ukyo stopped her though, catching her in his arms, and she 
kissed him gratefully for it. Ukyo responded in kind, finally 
getting some action, what he had been waiting for all morning.
	"Ukyooooo..."
	Ukyo could only murmur in response, too busy attacking 
Akane's neck and shoulders with his mouth.
	"When did your haiiiiir turn reeeed?" She stared up at him 
with a glazed look on her face, her hands holding on to his hair 
and shaking his head for emphasis.
	Pausing for a moment, Ukyo looked back at her, tongue 
hanging out of his mouth. "I think... I think when yours did..." 
That started him giggling, and she joined him.
	"Uk... Uk... Yo," Akane stuttered through her giggling, 
"have you ever thought what it would be like to me a ban?"
	Ukyo ignored her and removed her top.
	"I mean, me a ban." She began giggling all over again as 
Ukyo undressed them both totally. "Be a man..."
	"No, 'Kane," he answered, handling Akane as if she were a 
rag doll.
	She giggled the entire time.
 
***
 
	Dawn broke. More like it slammed over Akane's head and 
jabbed her eyes.
	Groaning, Akane started to sit up then decided against it 
and just covered her face with her arms. Whatever had happened, it 
had hit her hard, like being hung over, but five times worse.
	Eventually managing to open her eyes without her head 
exploding, she looked over at Ukyo. He looked positively dead, 
just about the same way she felt, except for the gentle rise and 
fall of his chest.
	"Ukyo..." Akane groaned, closing her eyes again. "What the 
hell happened last night?"
	She waited for a bit, listening to the jungle waking up, and 
tried again. "Ukyo?"
	"Do it again, Akane..."
	This got Akane to open her eyes and look at him. "Ukyo!" she 
yelled, immediately regretting it. She smacked his arm for 
emphasis, squinting her eyes as her head throbbed mercilessly.
	Ukyo's eyes opened slowly, staring up at the ceiling. 
"Akane, whatever you were doing, don't stop," he said dreamily.
	Akane was ready to pound on him and not stop, but settled 
for talking at him from between grit teeth. "You idiot. Don't you 
know what happened last night?"
	Ukyo turned his head slowly toward her and smiled. "Yeah. I 
love you for it."
	Akane rolled her eyes. "Not _that_. I remember that just 
fine, but that smoke... And you were drunk off your ass. What was 
that stuff?" she asked, holding her head.
	"I don't know, but can we do it again?"
	"No!" She winced, trying to teach herself not to yell like 
that when her head was in such a delicate state.
	"Akane?"
	"Don't tell me you're going to be sick."
	"OK, I won't."
	Getting very slowly to her feet, Akane walked over to the 
remains of their fire, long burned out and poked at the remains 
with another stick. The wood that she had gathered had been 
reduced to ash, but when she prodded at the dust, she could smell 
it again. That must have been it. "I think I figured out what 
happened." She turned only to see him out on the balcony, his head 
hanging over the side.
	She shook her head as he made various retching noises.
 
***
 
	"It was this." Akane and Ukyo were standing in front of a 
medium sized tree with several low branches that looked dead 
hanging off. "I just broke off some of these branches, the bigger 
ones, and tossed them on the fire."
	"And you think that is what caused... our behavior?" Ukyo 
asked, looking at the tiny leaves that adorned the branches.
	"It must have been. There's no other explanation for the way 
I started acting. Or why we were asleep for two days after that." 
She looked over at Ukyo just in time to see him put one of the 
leaves in his mouth and chew. "Stop!"
	Ukyo's eyes narrowed as the strangely sweet and bitter taste 
invaded his mouth and spit the leaf out.
	"What if that's poisoned!?" Akane yelled at him.
	"Akane, relax. It's not..." Ukyo's eyes bulged and he 
clutched his hands to his chest. Making strangled gurgling noises, 
he fell to the ground while Akane watched, horrified.
	"I told you to relax," he repeated and stood up, earning a 
deadly glare. "I don't know what it is exactly, but apparently 
it's some kind of hallucinogen. I don't feel any effects now so 
it's probably just the smoke."
	"But I just burned some branches. That seems kind of 
strange."
	Ukyo just looked at Akane.
	"Oh, right. Anyway, guess I'll try to avoid this next time."
	"You guess you'll try?" Ukyo asked.
	Akane smiled a little. "Sure. You heard me."
 
***
 
	"It just hit me. We must be somewhere near the equator."
	Ukyo, skinning an unlucky dog that had ventured too close, 
asked, "Why do you think that?"
	"Well, how long have we been here? A while now. It's been... 
almost nine months, and we haven't seen any big change in weather. 
No seasons, so we must be close to the equator."
	Ukyo nodded. "A wise deduction."
	Akane nodded too, not sure just what she was expecting. A 
gold star or something for figuring it out, but when it came right 
down to it, it just didn't matter. "Well, _I_ thought it was 
important."
 
***
 
	"Um, I don't want you to worry or anything because it could 
just be one of those things, but..." Akane toed the dirt a little, 
looking at Ukyo's back.
	"Is there something wrong?" he asked, not turning around.
	Well that would make it a little easier. "Just that... I 
haven't... I didn't..."
	"Didn't what, Akane?"
	"I didn't have my... time of the month." For some reason, 
she was expecting Ukyo to be upset about it.
	"Your... Oh. Is that a problem?"
	"I don't know. It might be. It could mean that I'm..."
	"Pregnant," Ukyo finished for her.
	"Right." The whole exchange sounded very cold to her. 
"You're not upset, are you?"
	Ukyo turned then and shook his head. "Of course not. Why 
would I be?"
	"I'm not sure, but..." She shrugged helplessly.
	"You're not sure yet?"
	Akane shook her head.
	"Then, I guess we should just wait to start panicking after 
you are." He smiled a little, which made her feel better. "Whether 
you are or not, there's not much we can do. If you are..." Home 
abortion? No way. And they couldn't just go and visit the doctor.
	"You're right. I just don't know about this."
	"Until we're sure, there's no use in worrying about it." Not 
openly at least.
 
***
 
	"Ukyo?"
	Ukyo swallowed. He knew that tone of voice. It looked like 
she was sure. "Again?"
	"Yeah. I think that's what it is. I think we screwed up."
	Ukyo's jaw clenched. "We did not screw up. We are simply 
being presented with a new challenge, and we will get through 
this. There is nothing wrong with what's happened. We should be 
happy."
	Akane shrank back from the look in his eyes. He was right, 
of course, but he wasn't the one that was pregnant either. This 
was something she was going to have to deal with, not him. Of 
course he'd be helpful and supportive, but she would still be 
taking the risk, dealing with the pain. "I'm afraid now, Ukyo."
	Taking care not to get cross with her for her reaction, he 
nodded. "That's fine, Akane. But this is something we will get 
through. No matter what." He bent down a little so they were eye 
to eye. "Don't forget that. And I'll be here whenever you need me. 
You won't be able to get rid of me."
	"Thanks, Ukyo." Akane hugged him, afraid to let go in case 
things got went horribly wrong.
	"If you ever need anything, just tell me. Now this is your 
time to relax; don't overdo things," he responded, holding her 
tightly.
 
***
 
	Akane woke up in the morning and staggered out to the 
balcony. Holding on tightly to the rails, she made her way out to 
the roof of the storage shed, leaned over the side of the palisade 
and threw up.
	This had been her normal schedule for the past two weeks, 
and it wasn't getting any better. Leaning on the flattened tops of 
the logs that formed the palisade, she closed her eyes and waited 
for the nausea to pass.
	Ukyo walked up behind her silently and set some water next 
to her. He knew she didn't like him to try and baby her, 
especially when it was "just a little morning sickness" even if 
she did end up drinking an entire gourd of water when she was 
done.
	He would wait on going to the river. It was always more 
pleasant with Akane along, and she liked to go after the vomiting 
passed. Instead, he decided to go for a little walk, follow the 
river for a bit upstream. When he returned, Akane would probably 
be ready to go.
	He took along a bag in case he found anything interesting, 
grabbed his stick on the way out and left. Trying not to be too 
cheerful for Akane's sake, he didn't start whistling until the 
house was out of sight.
	He followed the river until he reached the waterfall. This 
was one of the defining reasons they had moved to their current 
location, to enjoy to enjoy such a beautiful and picturesque spot. 
It was almost perfect, possibly too perfect, but Ukyo had long 
ceased caring about such things.
	He took in the sight for a few moments, then started his 
walk around to the top of the waterfall, and continued onward. 
There was a slight danger of the ground caving in, the same way it 
had before, but he wasn't going to be too worried about that 
unless he went higher up the mountain.
	He planned on keeping to the waterfall's plateau though and 
not going up the mountain. That was taking just a little too large 
of a risk, and he didn't want to do that to Akane. Ukyo didn't 
even want to think about the fact that there would eventually be a 
baby in their midst.
	Ukyo hadn't realized how far he had gone, using the 
opportunity to think about the way things were going to change 
fairly shortly. Akane had morning sickness, and who knew how long 
that would last. Then she'd start to show and be less mobile, and 
he'd have to do almost all the work to make up for it, leaving 
less time to care for her.
	The best they could do would be to store extra meat and 
fish, as much as possible, make sure they had plenty of skins for 
whatever they might need them, and... just be prepared. Not much 
of a comfort really.
	Sighing at the daunting time ahead of both of them, Ukyo 
stopped walking to drink some water, the sun beginning to acquire 
its midday heat. He sat in the shade of an immense palm and 
relaxed, trying not to think too hard about what the future would 
bring. It was too uncertain to do that.
	He leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree and 
closed his eyes. It was impossible not to consider the future. 
Akane... she was the only thing he had. If something happened to 
her, he didn't know what he'd do. Probably go mad.
	The sound of growling shattered his contemplation and caused 
him to open his eyes very slowly. Not more than three feet away 
stood the largest, ugliest wild dog he had seen. It was brutish, 
almost wolf-sized, and was completely unkempt. The other wild dogs 
were wild, but their coats were in fairly good condition. That was 
how they were able to make decent skins from them, but this one...
	The fur was long and matted, sticking in clumps, looking 
like it had tangled with something larger than itself and lost. 
What that could have been, Ukyo didn't want to know.
	He started to stand slowly, and the dog advanced, one half 
of its face mangled, the socket crushed and devoid of an eye. Ukyo 
froze. His stick was some protection, but unless he could get to 
his feet, he wouldn't have the speed or power to protect himself.
	It was the only thing he could do. If he could just stand up 
enough, just make the dog back off, then he could fight the thing 
off. Slow or fast, how should he do it? Whatever way would let him 
live.
	He started to rise again, bringing his stick up, but the dog 
seemed aware of what he was attempting and attacked.
	Launching itself at him, saliva flew from its gaping jaws, 
yellowing teeth gleaming in the light. Ukyo watched the beast come 
closer and closer, his arm seeming to move in slow motion to swing 
his stick. At the last moment, he put his other arm up and watched 
as the dog clamped its mouth down on it.
	Time seemed to speed back up as blood spurted out of the 
wounds and he screamed in pain as the teeth scraped against the 
bones of his arm.
	The weight of the animal slammed him back against the tree, 
smacking his head against the trunk. Ukyo fell to the ground with 
the dog still on top of him, tearing at his arm. He was dizzy, 
with the world swimming in and out of focus, but the fire in his 
arm and chest kept bringing things back to reality.
	Weakly, he batted against the ribs the dog with his stick 
and fist. He would have been dead if not for the fact that the dog 
was occupied stripping his arm of any muscle and wasn't going for 
the throat.
 
	Akane walked out slowly, still taking swigs from the gourd 
and spitting them out, trying to get the taste of stomach acid 
from her mouth. Same damn thing for two weeks and it was still 
almost debilitating. She should have been over the weakness bit.
	And Ukyo was probably already down at the river and she'd 
have to take care of things by herself while she felt like crap. 
Akane massaged one temple as she walked toward the river. Her head 
hurt too.
	"Ukyo?" she called out, expecting him to answer back as 
usual. There was none however, just the normal jungle noises. 
"Ukyo?" she called again, her pace beginning to pick up.
	This time she was answered, but it was a faint scream, 
echoing through the trees.
	Headache gone, Akane was instantly running, trying to find 
the source of that scream. She knew the source, of course, but 
wherever he was, she knew she had to get there quick.
	After that one short scream, there was nothing more, nothing 
else for her to follow, but something in her told her to just 
follow the river. Ukyo liked the river. Out walking, it would be 
the most natural way for him to go. He might have fallen, slipped, 
hit his head, hurt his ankle...
	Akane ran as fast as she could, careful not to kill herself 
in the process.
 
	Ukyo was being flayed alive. He was dying and very slowly, 
very painfully. He had never discovered who he was, but he had 
found love with Akane and he could almost die happy.
	Searing pain ripped through his arm and an enraged canine 
shriek rang in his ears. The weight was suddenly removed from his 
chest and he was allowed to lie still. It was the end.
	In fact, he was being lifted, floating, rising up... Then 
the voice of an angel...
	"You're gonna be fine, Ukyo. Just hang in there. Don't give 
up."
	Then the pain returned, his entire body bouncing violently, 
though he was in the embrace of someone. Was it true, that hell 
must be conquered to reach heaven? Maybe that's what it was. Ukyo 
only hoped he would not be deemed unacceptable for his weakness, 
and passed out.
 
	Akane was sucking in the air as she moved as fast as her 
feet would carry her with Ukyo's near dead weight in her arms. She 
would have shifted him to a fireman's carry, but there were some 
nasty wounds on his chest that she didn't want to take any chances 
with.
	The worst thing was definitely his arm though. That fucking 
dog had clamped down and wouldn't let go, like a toothed vise. 
Only after she had shattered its ribs and come close to breaking 
its neck had the thing let go.
	And then she had snapped its neck like a twig, crushing it 
under her foot, even as it had tried to bite her. Still, the empty 
socket seemed to burn with an unkillable fury, making Akane doubt 
her own sanity for a few moments.
	Ukyo's groans had snapped her from her confusion, and she 
had ended carrying him back. Back to the house... She changed 
direction, going for the river instead. The flowing water would 
help, or at least she thought it might.
	She set him down gently on the ground, watching the blood 
flowing freely from the wound in his arm. Sucking in a breath, 
nearly scared witless, she ran back to the house to grab some 
supplies that could be easily used for first aid if necessary.
	Oh how they had been hoping it would never be necessary.
 
	"I'm here, Ukyo. Hang on," Akane spoke breathlessly as she 
lifted him and carried him into the water. The water seemed to 
work, rouse Ukyo from semi-unconsciousness. "I'm gonna sew you up 
now, so hold still," she said soothingly.
	Akane grabbed the palm wine and held it over his arm. It 
would hurt like hell, but it had to be done. Gritting her teeth, 
Akane poured the wine over the open wounds.
	Ukyo's eyes snapped open and he howled in pain, struggling 
in Akane's grasp.
	She didn't let go, holding him tightly until she started to 
pour the alcohol over the claw marks on his chest. "I know it 
hurts, Ukyo. Just hold on. Just a little more..." she said calmly. 
It really wasn't going to be just a little more since those gouges 
wouldn't close up on their own... That was what she had brought 
the bone sliver and fishing line made of sinew for.
	"Hold still now, Ukyo. This is gonna hurt, but it has to be 
done," warned Akane, gripping his arm tightly. Whether he was 
listening or could even hear her, she didn't know, but it made her 
feel better.
	With shaking hands, she fixed the line to the sliver, 
normally used for hooks or traps to catch fish, and brought the 
point to the ripped open flesh. "Hold on, Ukyo," Akane repeated 
and pierced his skin with the needle.
	Ukyo's cries were weaker this time, and that worried Akane, 
but it had to be done, and there was no anesthetic on the island 
to be found. He would have to cope with it or... or not. But he 
was strong, he would make it. A few stitches wasn't anything.
	As efficiently as she could manage, Akane fixed up Ukyo's 
arm, pulling the skin back together as best she could, hoping it 
wouldn't tear. The last step for the moment was wrapping a thick 
leaf around the arm and tying it to hold it all in place. 
Hopefully.
	The wounds on his chest weren't bad, mostly deep scratches, 
but there were a couple puncture wounds where the dog's claws had 
dug in too deep. They'd do with some bandaging, but would heal 
with very little problem. No, the big worry was his arm. Would his 
arm hold up?
	Gathering Ukyo in her arms, his frame slightly bulky, but 
nothing she couldn't handle, Akane headed back to the house. For 
the moment, she needed to watch over him, make sure he simply had 
a torn up arm and not some disease from the dog.
	"Shit, Ukyo, why'd you have to go out? Why didn't you just 
wait for me?" They were questions she couldn't help but ask, 
feeling like she should have been there for him, kept him from 
going out. "Ukyo, you idiot, wake up..." She didn't even notice 
the tears rolling down her cheeks.
 
***
 
	His first sight was a welcomed one. Akane was standing, 
stretching, arms raised above her head, hip thrust out to one 
side, womanly attributes accentuated nicely. Especially since she 
was naked from her waist on up.
	"I couldn't think of anything better to wake up to," Ukyo 
weakly said, making an effort to sit up.
	"Don't do that," Akane warned and sat down next to him. 
"Just rest until you're strong enough. Don't try to force things." 
She pushed on his chest and forced him to lie back down.
	"My arm hurts," he said simply.
	"I'm not surprised. It's in pretty bad shape. I think it was 
luck that you didn't get killed by that thing." Akane toyed with 
the container of palm wine. She'd have to bathe his arm in it 
periodically, but she wouldn't be very happy doing it.
	"How bad?" There was so much unspoken in the one short 
question he asked.
	"Bad, but not too bad. Deep bites, to the bone. But that's 
all." If she took proper care of it, he would escape the encounter 
with only a scar on his arm and not a stump.
	"It hurts, Akane."
	"I know it does." She moved so that she was cradling his 
head while on her side, and ran her fingers through his hair. 
"I'll have to clean it again."
	Ukyo nodded and closed his eyes.
	"You want something to drink?" Akane asked.
	"To dull the pain?"
	"If that's what you want. I'll get a cup." Akane started to 
rise.
	"No, don't."
	"You're such a baby, Ukyo. I don't need to take care of you 
like this. You're not hurt that badly."
	"Maybe not, but I like this. I like having you close to me; 
it makes it hurt less."
	Akane shook her head, still running her fingers through his 
hair. "Oh does it now?" she asked quietly, lowering her nose to 
the top of his head and breathing in his scent.
	"Very much so. The only thing I can think of when you're so 
close is how much I wish all my limbs were functioning so I could 
carry you to the waterfall."
	Akane kissed the top of his head. "And then what would you 
do?"
	"I'm not sure yet, but just feeling your body in the water 
is enough."
	"Enough for what?"
	Ukyo tilted his head back a little, trying to see Akane's 
face. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
	"You bet," answered Akane, smiling. They stayed that way for 
a bit, just looking at each other, before Akane lifted the palm 
wine and took a drink. "Want some?"
	Ukyo nodded and drank when it was offered. It was strong, 
and in the shape he was in, it would probably knock him out in a 
little while if he continued drinking. "Akane, I love you. I don't 
think I can say that enough now."
	"Shut up and have another drink."
 
***
 
	"Akane!"
	"Hold still, damn it!" Akane poured the wine over his arm, 
trying to keep him still. "It's not that bad!"
	"Yes it is! It hurts!" Ukyo yelled back.
	"Get a grip on yourself! You want this to get infected? Is 
that it? I'll stop if you do."
	"Good! I don't care!"
	"Well, I do," she answered him and poured more of the 
stinging alcohol over the healing gash. "Act like this again and 
I'm gonna..." With an annoyed sigh, Akane shook her head. "Just 
don't make it this hard."
	"Akane..."
	"Don't even try, Ukyo. I'm not in any sort of mood to deal 
with you. I'm about at the end of my rope right now, and I know 
you don't want to make me upset."
	Ukyo shook his head sadly.
	"Good." Not quite shoving his arm away, Akane stood. "I'm 
going out."
	She sat at the edge of the water and tossed small rocks out 
into it. They sank beneath the slow moving current, even as Akane 
tried to follow their progress. A lot like the progress she felt: 
down.
	Sometimes she hated Ukyo, for no reason that she could put 
her finger on. She just wanted to hit him every time he opened his 
mouth, every word, every action... That frightened her. Why would 
she hate Ukyo? She loved him, and she knew why. She loved him and 
didn't ever want to be without him.
	Another rock sank in the water. So why did he infuriate her 
like that? Why?
	A question Akane couldn't answer. Another one to go along 
with all the others. Things she had no explanation for, things she 
had long given up on trying to figure out. And yet, still they 
haunted her. Questions of why and how, where, and even who... 
Questions she had no answers for.
	It was fitting. After all, her whole being was a person she 
had no answers for. No memories except what had transpired on the 
island over the past eleven months.
	For the first time since she had awakened on the island, 
Akane put her head down and cried for herself.
 
***
 
	"Are you gonna hold still, or do I need to knock you 
unconscious?" The look in Akane's eyes was absolute seriousness. 
She wasn't kidding.
	"Go," Ukyo replied, nodding his head once.
	Akane cut the end of the line with the knife and pinched it 
hard between two fingers. "Ready?" Her arm tensed.
	Ukyo started to nod, but before he could finish, Akane 
pulled on the line. He released a sound that resembled a squeal 
and immediately clamped his hand over the wound.
	"All done. That wasn't so bad, was it?" In one hand, Akane 
was holding the homemade suture.
	Ukyo's face slowly turned red and it was quite obvious he 
was trying to hold something in. "Gyaaahh!" he finally cried out.
	Walking away, Akane said, "I'll get the wine."
	"Gyaaahh!"
 
***
 
	Akane woke up early, Ukyo draped all over her, and expected 
the usual intestinal rumblings. Surprisingly enough, they weren't 
there. She removed Ukyo's arms from her and sat up.
	It felt good not to have to go out and throw up for once. 
She took a deep breath and was finally able to enjoy the morning 
air in a way she hadn't for a month. Maybe it was only a temporary 
relief, but she was going to take advantage of it.
	Trying not to wake Ukyo, she headed outside and soaked up 
the morning sun in a way she hadn't been able to for weeks. This 
time, her stomach gurgled, but not for the usual reasons. Akane 
looked down at her stomach then and noticed the change.
	It was slight, but it was there, a definite roundness she 
hadn't noticed before. Maybe it hadn't been there before and this 
was only the beginning. Her first step to becoming a water 
buffalo. Akane was, at the same time, excited and dismayed. She 
didn't want to get huge, but...
	"Akane?"
	Akane turned a dazzled Ukyo with her smile. "Good morning!"
	Ukyo looked confused, made even sillier by the mass of 
morning hair. "Why are you so happy?"
	"Because I don't feel sick this morning!"
	Ukyo scratched his head. "Well, that's good."
	Leaning up to kiss his cheek, Akane giggled. "Well it sure 
feels good to me. Finally I can look out at the sky in the morning 
instead of down at the ground."
	"Oh." It was obvious Ukyo wasn't awake yet.
	"And look at this." Akane took a step back and turned to 
show her profile to Ukyo. "See?"
	Ukyo looked at her. A little more. "No."
	"Look!" Akane pointed to her stomach.
	"You've gained weight."
	"Yeah! It should only..."
	"Maybe we should cut back on the red meat then." Ukyo looked 
down at himself to see if he could judge any weight gain.
	Akane sighed. "No, I've gained _weight_, you nitwit."
	Ukyo blinked at her and shook his head.
	"Idiot, the baby."
	Ukyo cocked his head to one side. "The baby? You mean that's 
the baby?" he asked, pointing to her stomach.
	"Somethin' like that." Akane looked down at herself again. 
"The beginnings of one anyway."
	Ukyo shook his head again. "It's too early in the morning 
for this."