TrionDevelRR

Sumire Heanna, she had been outside leisurely sweeping her Shrine’s grounds as she waited for any potential visitors. She looked up to the afternoon sun, a hand against her forehead to block her eyes from the bright rays. It was a beautiful day, she had no clue why there hadn’t been anyone come by and pray, or just look around. She took a sigh, with a soft lift and fall of her shoulders. She took back to sweeping, though there wasn’t much more dust floating around. ;What, from all the inactivity and all. She was near finished with the chore anyway, about ready to wrap it up, finishing her daily routine. Maybe she would treat herself to a hot bath after, she did already have one of the wooden tubs filled now. She had freshly cleaned and refilled with a new round of water. She sighed quietly, envisioning it now. It was then that she heard a noise. Looking up, and turning her head around- she tried to find the source of faint whispering. She walked across the grounds with a swishing and clack of her sandals, in between- were poking out her toes with a row of a soft, lime green color upon the nails. Around a stone corner, she peeked and saw the back of a purple, pig-tail headed girl. She knelt, praying, and Sumire smirked. She recognized her now as Nozomi Tojo, her senior. She waited graciously, patiently while Nozomi finished. Nozomi opened her eyes, peeling her praying hands apart, as she heard the familiar clacking of a shrine maiden’s shoes behind her. She began to turn her face around, and was greeted by the sight of Sumire. Nozomi turned around fully now, shuffled on her knees. “Sumire?” She asked, surprised by not un-delighted to see a face she knew. She stood up, meeting the blonde in the middle as they walked to each other. “Well, I didn’t know you were a shrine maiden here! That’s fantastic.” She said, with a friendly smile. Sumire smiled back at Nozomi, nodding her head. She spoke next; “I’m just as surprised to see you here, too, Nozomi!” She admitted. “It’s a beautiful shrine.” Nozomi complimented the blonde, who in return blushed just slightly at the attention from the older flirtatious one. “Reminds me of the one I have near home.” She smirked teasingly, locking eyes with Nozomi, thus locking in fully now for a conversation. “You’re a Shrine maiden?” Sumire asked with interest, gripping onto the broom handle she still held onto- as she brought it along with herself. Nozomi nodded with a smile and soft chuckle. She tucked a loose strand of her long purple hair behind her ear comfortably. “Why, yes.” She said with pride, “You know, you should come and visit some time.” She suggested. “I’d love to.” Sumire responded, eyeing Nozomi up and down now. She caught her eyes again, “So…” She began hesitantly. “What did you wish for?” She asked, not holding back the bubbling curiosity and amusement at the fact the two had both been shrine maidens. Nozomi put a hand to her mouth and chuckled delightfully. “A bold question.” She teased. Sumire tightened her grip on the stick handle, slightly. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean-” Nozomi was already waving her hand away in the air in response. “Relax, Sumire, I was just joking with you.” She chuckled, and Sumire responded with her own light laugh of relief. She loosened her grip. She looked backward to the shed where she would need to be putting up the tool anyway. She looked back at Nozomi, nodding her head in its direction silently, subtly asking ‘Come along with me?’ Nozomi took the social cue, following behind Sumire’s steps as the two now walked in stride together. They both participated in comments and questions to each other on their own shrines they worked on, their own wishes and desires. Sumire stepped inside the small space to hook the small string loop on the end of her broom up onto a hook against the cold concrete wall. Stepping back, she shut the door- facing Nozomi again. They stood there for a small while, going back and forth- small banter and casual conversation mixed together. The two were catching up with each other, having been on a small break from school during this season. “-I really thought no one was going to show up, today.” Sumire admitted, slightly sheepishly. “So, I’m really glad I got to run into you here before you left!” She said, smiling. “Thanks, really, I mean it.” Her eyes nearly glistened with sparkles in the shining light of the sun cast down upon them both. Nozomi’s face was a little redder than before, and she could feel the heat of the sun upon her cheeks. Though truly, un-admittedly, it very well may have been a blush. She felt comfortable right now, friendly. Maybe almost a little too friendly, but she swept away the thought like how the maiden before her had previously swept about the pink petals; collected into a fluttering pile onto her grounds. It was impossible now though, to distract her thoughts, as the eager blonde scooped her hands up with her own- holding onto them. “I want to thank you, personally-!” She said, her eyes searching Nozomi’s as if looking for an answer to something. “I want to..” Sumire thought to herself, then realized the perfect opportunity- the best way to treat her friend after such a kind visit. “..Follow me!” She said, lacing her fingers in between just one of Nozomi’s hands now as she used the other to swing along with her in a jog. Nozomi had to catch up with her, her back bending a bit as she sped-walked with the shorter girl dragging her in tow. Leading her to who-knows-where. Sumire knew exactly where though, she had the perfect spot in mind. Nozomi caught up beside her, “Where are we going?” Then they came to a stop at a wall of various patterned stones. “Oh..this is..nice.” Nozomi said, trying not to sound rude, but not caring much to look at another wall of rocks. Sumire side-eyed her but smiled doing so. Almost in a mischievous-like manner. “Just wait and see.” She said, running her fingers along the empty cracks between a row of rocks set vertically. Soon, the wall began to part- opening like a door. Nozomi’s mouth dropped open, as she watched. Before Sumire ran off again- dragging her even more, Nozomi took notice of the details. There was a strip of wooden paneling between the rocks on this side and a completely different kind on the other. There were hinges- they were there, but barely detectable. Why, it’s like she’d found her way into a secret lair of sorts. But instead of a lair, a bath-house for one. Once Sumire released the hold on her hand- after which Nozomi kept hovering in the air. She was distracted by the secret bathing room before her- complete with a ceiling unlike the more open spaces on the outside. She finally dropped the hand back to her hips. “Wow…” Nozomi said, looking around and taking in the beautiful new sights she’d never seen here before. A beautiful stone wall with crawling ivy and white flowers with purple bleeding onto it’s gentle edges- running into a beautiful gradient. The flora smell was nice as well. And in the middle of it all, there sat a large wooden tub. “This is a part of the shrine only I have access to.” Sumire said pridefully, smiling with her chest puffed out for extra bravado. Nozomi stifled a snicker, poorly though- it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Sumire. The purple haired girl walked up to the brim of the bath, running her fingers along the edge and dipping her hands into the warm water as sudsy bubbles coated the back of her knuckles and hand whilst she swished them along experimentally. “Oh. Now this is nice.” She complimented, looking back behind her to smile at Sumire. Sumire’s expression had changed, Nozomi felt the tone shift as the blonde spoke- “Not many have had the privilege of soaking in here.” She said, stepping beside Nozomi and gazing into the soapy water with her. Nozomi noticed the multiple tools of luxury for such a simple bath outing. There was a pack of sponges, and soft looking brushes. Plus a removable shower hose attached onto a long silver pipe that held it up in a crutch. It was spit-polish clean, she could see her own reflection warped beyond the hills of bubbles. She was just in casual wear for her visit, almost feeling underdressed now as she saw Sumire’s reflection beside her own, in a long and beautiful Shrine maiden’s outfit. Her wide-opened sleeves hung from her above her wrists like a pair of angel wings. She had her long, cherry red skirt, flowing and spilling down her legs to touch just above her ankles. But, it wasn’t now that she should have felt undressed. As very soon, Sumire would have her stripped down further. It began when she put both her hands onto Nozomi’s shoulders and began to massage them lightly. “Would you like to try to go in for a dip?” She suggested coyly. Nozomi’s eyes fluttered shut in relaxation, not complaining at the treatment she was receiving in her tensed shoulders. She lolled her head to the side with a soft moan. “Hmm..?” She asked. Sumire stretched and pinched lightly at the shoulders as she massaged, and began to caress her hands downward. She slipped a hand underneath a short white sleeve of Nozomi’s own wear. Skin against skin, one warm- one colder. Nozomi shuddered slightly, though she was the one more cold-blooded, the sudden feeling of a soft warm palm wrapped around her shoulder felt unexpected, but incredibly nice. Sumire cupped her palm against the other shoulder as well and continued her slow, casual massage. Nozomi inhaled, taking in the beautiful scent and feeling the waft of warm air floating off from the tub and onto her face. Sumire nibbled on the bottom of her lip momentarily. “Okay!” She said, snapping Nozomi out of her daze, as her eyes snapped open. “Now, come here,” She said- once again grabbing her- this time her nimble fingers wrapped around Nozomi’s wrist. She dragged her behind a near-by curtain; one feature Nozomi hadn’t noticed beforehand. “Wait- wait, what’s..?” Before she could protest or ask any further questions, Sumire ran her warm hands back under Nozomi’s sleeves, silencing her as she grew goosebumps. “I want to treat you to a bath! Please, let me help clean you- it would be my gift to you.” She explained, sounding reasonable, but looking cheeky. “Oh- you..?” Nozomi began questioning, before being cut off by surprise. The hands slid away- quickly escaping her as they now faced frontward, placing them on her chest and beginning to make work of her buttons. Sumire began slipping Nozomi out of her buttons that the cotton material held close. “Sumire!” She gasped in shock, watching as Nozomi fiddled with the buttons quickly like untangling a pair of wires stuck together. With her shirt open fully now, Nozomi looked away with a slight flustered feeling building up inside her. Her long torso stretched with smooth, pale skin. Cupping her breasts was a purple bra- no, a tied bikini top. “Oh! Did you already take a look at the springs here?” Sumire asked, reaching out to touch the center of Nozomi’s abdomen and running her fingers down along the dip that led to her belly button, now visible with her shirt off out in the open. While Nozomi was distracted by the touch of fingers, Sumire busied her other hand with shifting off the rest of Nozomi’s shirt. “Uh- umm..” Nozomi almost choked on air. “No, I was actually.. Considering it- back when I got to the Kanda Shrine, but I hadn’t made up my mind.” She explained. “Woah! What are you doing?!” She asked, now looking down as Sumire knelt down and snaked her hand around her butt- unzipping the skirt she wore from behind. “Ah-!” She reached to grab for her falling skirt but hadn’t caught it as it dropped and pooled around her feet. Sumire grabbed onto her ankle, helping Nozomi lift a foot so she could fully remove the skirt, from behind in the way. Nozomi, almost caught off balance, placed a hand on top of Sumire’s head. While swiping the skirt off from around the opposite ankle now, Sumire smiled as she noticed the purple color of nail polish stroked across Nozomi’s toenails. She, too, displayed her personal image color on her feet. “Cute.” Sumire giggled, as Nozomi rolled her eyes at the eccentric girl. Her bikini bottom’s also matched with the set of purple. Sumire stepped back from Nozomi now, who watched as the other stripped off her own clothes. Under the billowing white miko shirt, she also hid a swimsuit. Slinking her arms out, and throwing it over her head, Nozomi eyed the soft, lime-green color she donned. A light, matching ensemble in contrast to her darker purple. Her fingernails included, also matched the green color scheme- just as Nozomi had purple on her fingertips as well. Again, Nozomi was taken off guard before she could ask any further questions. Sumire scooped up the taller girl with surprising ease. The girl of purple had her knees swung over Sumire’s forearm, and back held up with the other hand. It was at that moment she realized Sumire was trying to play a role; that of a knight in shining armor. Sumire princess-carried Nozomi back over to the wooden tub. Nozomi’s eyes opened wide. “Oh.” She said, beginning to squirm in Sumire’s hold a bit now. “Oh, no, no- now hold on a second-!” She protested, legs just beginning to kick and flail as Nozomi then tossed her into the tub with a splash. Nozomi arose from the water like Nessie, sputtering out specks of water and wiping her shut eyes that had a threat of being stung with soap when she opened them up. Once safe though, she removed her hands from her eyes to wrap with both around her arms- hugging herself as she began to shiver. Her teeth chattered momentarily, despite the warmth of the water- and steam slowly beginning to wrap her in a hug. “Y-y-y-yeesh, S-Sumire.” She stuttered out, rubbing her arms now, as her body adjusted to the new element it had been harshly dunked into. It wouldn’t be too long though, before she was back into a comfortable state of warmth within the water. Sumire walked around the tub behind Nozomi, planning to grab the bucket the other hadn’t known was just near behind her. There, she also took a seat upon a stool she pulled over. Putting it snug against the tub, being evermore closer to Nozomi. The plan was to douse her hair completely, of course. A long, wet silky layer of purple hair. Seeing Nozomi closer now, she had a realization. “Ah..” She said, reaching her hand into Nozomi’s hair. Nozomi turned around, looking outside the tub, seeing Sumire just before her. She had a slight feeling, like she was being trapped into a metaphorical corner. “What…what is it?” The older girl asked, as fingers ran through her hair on the side of her head. Sumire began to un-tie her left pony-tail. “Oh!” Nozomi said, going silent then, eye level to Sumire’s chest in it’s melon, honey-dew colored swim top. Sumire was sitting out on the other side of the tub, as she reached to un-do both of Nozomi’s hair ties. She sat back up again, admiring the full length of all that purple hair showing off. Most of her hair, from the surprise dip, had already been soaked wet- and the dry ends of the loosened ponytail’s tips were slipping right into the water gracefully. But of course, it was only half a fraction of the hair. So, continuing with the original plan, Sumire bent herself to the side of her stool, reaching for something as Nozomi watched from inside the tub. Then she sat straight again, pulling up a bucket with ease. Nozomi jolted, trying to pedal backward in the water, and out of the way. “Hey now-! I can just dip my head under the water, again!” She said with a wobbly smile, a little nervous as she saw the sizable bucket and the potential amount of water it could hold. Sumire quirked an eyebrow and giggled, “What for-?” She asked, as she lifted the bucket to the height of her head. “The bucket’s already full!” She explained, as Nozomi shrieked- feeling like she’d taken a polar plunge- as the water indeed doused the rest of her. Any remaining streaks of dryness left in her hair. “AAHH! SUMIRE!!” Nozomi pouted, trying to fight the wet drape of hair out of her face. Sumire bit her tongue suppressing another giggle at Nozomi’s expense. While distracted by the curtain of wet sopping hair, Sumire used the opportunity to hunch back over quickly, and grab at the two pieces of rope she had by the bucket prior. She scooped Nozomi’s hands into hers again, Nozomi held on back without thinking- none the wiser. But she didn’t expect her hands to be stretched upward with her arms, with the feeling of a slight scratchy nylon material wrapping around her wrists. “Sumire..??” She asked, somehow even more confused than she was before. She felt the maneuvering of the rope twisting around her and tugging, bounding her hands together tight. Sumire used the rest of the length to wrap and attach it around the shower head’s tall metal rod, continuing this- she unraveled the second rope. At this point, Nozomi had finally flicked the main parts of her hair from out of her face. A few strands still clung to her cheeks with water, but she didn’t take any notice- or didn’t mind. She had higher priorities right now. “Okay, really now, what are you doing?!” She exclaimed, then spied the second rope in the hands of the slippery and sneaky Sumire. “What the..?” She asked curiously under her breath- her hands were already bound, she didn't know what else Sumire could… “WOAH!” Nozomi gasped, as Sumire had reached her arms into the water, joining in with Nozomi’s bottom half. She held on both calves, dragging the legs out of the water, and hugging them with one hooked elbow as she made work on Nozomi’s ankles with the other rope. Nozomi began to squirm, to try and slip her legs out of the way, but to no avail. She was in Sumire’s hands and rope now, and was powerless to whatever scheme the wily girl was up to right now. She proceeded to watch as Sumire stood on the stool she had previously sat on. Going on her tip-toes, she reached and swung the rope around a small hook hanging in the ceiling. Nozomi’s eyes had been following her, and she just tilted her head in bewilderment, wondering why a hook would even have been there in the first place. Holding plants? So, Nozomi had no choice but to resign as her ankles dangled in the air now, she growled lowly in her throat with a rumble. “Wwwhat’s going on, now?” She asked Sumire, who had successfully tied her up, and now hopped back down to sit on her stool again. “Now…” Sumire began, pulling her hand up from where it was out of view, and in it held one of the clean beige sponges that Nozomi noticed earlier “We clean!” She finished, gleefully. “Oh..then why the ropes?” Nozomi asked in confusion, squinting suspiciously at the other. She watched as Sumire dipped her hand into the water, squeezing the sponge so it would inhale the soapy, sudsy water. She pulled her hand out as it seemed to have water pour off it like a spout. It was mainly the sponge though, so full, that had been leaking. Sumire gave it a squeeze and began to reach out for underneath Nozomi’s open arms. Nozomi’s body naturally tried pulling itself away from the sponge, she didn’t get very far. “Ah- w-wait no, I’m ticklish!” She said, on the edge of panicking as she failed to move her arm out of the way of the attack. With a slap, the soft squishy sponge pressed into her armpit, and Sumire began to rub it in circles. Already, Nozomi was squealing with laughter as she scrunched her toes together, tensing up. “Wow- you really are!” Sumire said, teasing as she hadn’t expected such loud boisterous laughter. She rubbed up and down the pit now, a different direction. Sumrie took in an inhale of breath for the split second the sponge was removed. She relaxed her muscles on her toe’s grip against themselves released. But besides the new position of cleaning, the only other thing that had changed in her predicament now, was the shift of tone in her laughter. Sumire delighted in the noises, wondering exactly how many variations and degrees of laughter Nozomi held inside of her lungs. “ST- STAH- HAHAH- SSUUM-!!” She couldn’t get a whole word out as Sumire continued swifting and swiping the sponge along her skin. Bubbles ran down her to her belly, and she felt a moment of cool relief. The warm sponge was taken away, and this was so Sumire could carefully reach over to the opposite pit now. “WH-?!” The torture of tickling continued on, tears of laughter formed in the corner of Nozomi’s eyes as she guffawed, and laughed whole-heartedly. “You look like you’re having fun.” Sumire said, smiling down at her friend who gasped for air. Sumire stroked the sponge down her sides like a paintbrush against a canvas. Just to change directions to her tummy- but she immediately caught that Nozomi’s sides were equally ticklish. She girl sucked in a breath as Sumrie now rubbed the sponge down slower. She held it, the air in her lungs that threatened to explode. Sumrie scrubbed her with the sponge, pressing into the soft flesh occasionally with a little more force. Of course, this opened the bear trap that was Nozomi’s mouth as she reacted wildly with screams. Her face looked happy though, her laughter- it tickled Sumire’s ears and gave her stomach butterflies. She grabbed a second sponge for a moment, dipping it in so she could wash the other side of her torso, simultaneously- helping the process along. She could feel the slight attempts at tugs on the rope and snickered. She saw Nozomi closes her hands into fists and splaying her purple painted fingers outward- webbed, over and over. Grasping at air, at nothing, as she shook her head and laughed, and laughed. “NO- NO-! AHAHAH!!” She couldn’t help herself. Her middle ached like she was forming a set of abs. This is when the sensitive tummy was now being touched with a sponge swirling around it like a dance. Like a figure skater, Sumire swiped and swayed around the sponge- tickling her friend and feeling the bouncing of her rock-hard stomach underneath. She paused for a moment, just for curiosity. Nozomi laughed still, but they slowed down as she took in more clean breaths. Her laughter slowed down along with her breath as he now wrapped her lips in an ‘o’ to blow out air. “Hwooo… oh….hah- Sumire -” Sumire pressed the sponge back into her belly, and she noticed it was softer now. Fleshy, soft like a tummy should be. Nozomi immediately flinched and wailed with a shriek of laughter as Sumire barely got started again. She cleansed her, rubbing the sponge until she felt the stomach hardened again with the work of laughter. She began to go down her legs, wrapping the sponge around her, both tickling her- but now balancing it with a smooth- and not underappreciated massage against her warm, softened skin, from the water. “W-Would it make a difference if I- hppFFFK-!” She snorted, clamping her mouth as another laugh tried to barge itself out. She had to let it out though, and that she did- Sumire watched eagerly as Nozomi finished a line of laughter. “I..If I asked why you’re doing this?” She asked, finishing her question. Sumire looked at Nozomi, as the sponge still trailed up and down against her clean shaven legs. She smiled, and reminded Nozomi of her position. She leaned into her face, barely, subtly. “Nozomi, I told you, I just want to thank you. I want to do this for you.” She explained, with a softer smile, one less devilish now. Nozomi gasped for air, and just nodded her head up and down, thoughtlessly, like she was agreeing with anything Sumire would say right now. Sumire laced the light lime green nails on her hand lace in between Nozomi’s opposing toes- dark and purple. She gave a squeeze, feeling the softened pink pad of her toes underneath, and the more wet- thin skin of her foot on the opposite side. It dewed with water droplets. Nozomi also let out a series of giggles as Sumire did so. “Everyone loves a good bath.” Sumire explained, simply. She nibbled her bottom lip and began to roll the sponge in a massage on the bottom of her feet now. Nozomi laughed with a face of red, and toes flexed, ankles trying- but failing- to flick around, as her body wanted to resist the ticklish feeling overwhelming her. “I’ll make sure to get your feet nice and clean, okay?” Sumire asked sweetly, yet she knew exactly what she was doing. The effect this was having on Nozomi- the effect she was giving her. She smiled at this thought. Nozomi’s smile remained to be the largest though as she heaved and gasped our boisterous laughter. Her ribs shook and throat strained, but Sumire still had another foot that needed more attention. She rubbed the other with the sponge in the same way, then poked a smidge of it between the web of her toes. This gave a new, intriguing laugh. So, it gave Sumire an idea. But first- she tossed the sponge in the water, letting it float. And when Nozomi noticed, she watched it sailing away like a ship passing in the night. “ Oh- hhh.. O-oh, okay…” She said, thinking herself finally free of this treatment. Her head snapped back over to Sumire though, when she heard the sound of rushing water. The blonde had begun running a hose, and was approaching her again. “Is that..for my feet?” She asked, a little on edge. “Oh, don’t worry it’s just a quick rinse.” Sumire said with a wink. She ran the water over Nozomi’s feet and let the suds run away- revealing the now squeaky clean feet underneath. Nozomi could only watch as she caught her breath. It did feel a little nice, a little ticklish- but nowhere near as bad. She flicked her toes against each other helping clear them of the excess soap. And also trying to shake away the static feeling of post tickle-trauma casted upon the heel and soles. Now, for Sumire’s idea, she was ready. “Nice and clean.. No bitter soap taste- I hope, hehe…” She giggled holding her foot by the heel and tilting it. “Huh?” Nozomi asked in genuine confusion, before Sumire dived in- lapping out her tongue against the bottom of the foot and trialing a ticklish streak along up to her toes with a lick. And thus, the laughter continued on, once again. The experiment- Sumire now darted a tongue in between the Big toe- purple shade wide and prominent, and the second smaller one, colored the same. It was still just as bright and beautiful, the color of Nozomi’s. She waved her toes around, like she could dodge the tongue and kisses that now sucked upon them. Enough attention on the toes, she kissed a trail down the palms of her feet, going over from one- directly to the other. Her feet bounded so close together, it was an easy and smoothless travel across. She suckled on the side of her Nozomi’s foot, taking in the delightful sound of her laughter. She held onto the other foot now, letting her nails tap against it- then lightly start scratching. And then that foot clenched and tightened, just as she sputtered out louder laughter and her whole body shook. “Oh..” Sumire said with a smile. She did it again, raking her nails across her feet lightly, for a reaction. And as expected, again- her ticklish nails seemed to be giving her a different sensation, one even more breathtaking. But of course, she didn’t want Nozomi to lose All her breath here. After all, there was still just so much more fun to be had with her. She gave a massaging kiss to the foot, and occasionally still stroked with a lick as she took her fingernails and occasionally brushed and tickled them against Nozomi’s feet. She removed herself for just a moment, enough for Nozomi to catch the breath she needed. The breath that Sumire needed to hear cleared out with joyous laughter, like her lungs were filled with swirling smoke. Yes, this would be a long day, and so Sumire continued on with the fun. Glad to have been able to see someone show up to her shrine today, afterall.

Sumire Heanna, she had been outside leisurely sweeping her Shrine’s grounds as she waited for any potential visitors. She looked up to the afternoon sun, a hand against her forehead to block her eyes from the bright rays. It was a beautiful day, she had no clue why there hadn’t been anyone come by and pray, or just look around. She took a sigh, with a soft lift and fall of her shoulders. She took back to sweeping, though there wasn’t much more dust floating around. ;What, from all the inactivity and all. She was near finished with the chore anyway, about ready to wrap it up, finishing her daily routine. Maybe she would treat herself to a hot bath after, she did already have one of the wooden tubs filled now. She had freshly cleaned and refilled with a new round of water. She sighed quietly, envisioning it now. It was then that she heard a noise. Looking up, and turning her head around- she tried to find the source of faint whispering. She walked across the grounds with a swishing and clack of her sandals, in between- were poking out her toes with a row of a soft, lime green color upon the nails. Around a stone corner, she peeked and saw the back of a purple, pig-tail headed girl. She knelt, praying, and Sumire smirked. She recognized her now as Nozomi Tojo, her senior. She waited graciously, patiently while Nozomi finished. Nozomi opened her eyes, peeling her praying hands apart, as she heard the familiar clacking of a shrine maiden’s shoes behind her. She began to turn her face around, and was greeted by the sight of Sumire. Nozomi turned around fully now, shuffled on her knees. “Sumire?” She asked, surprised by not un-delighted to see a face she knew. She stood up, meeting the blonde in the middle as they walked to each other. “Well, I didn’t know you were a shrine maiden here! That’s fantastic.” She said, with a friendly smile. Sumire smiled back at Nozomi, nodding her head. She spoke next; “I’m just as surprised to see you here, too, Nozomi!” She admitted. “It’s a beautiful shrine.” Nozomi complimented the blonde, who in return blushed just slightly at the attention from the older flirtatious one. “Reminds me of the one I have near home.” She smirked teasingly, locking eyes with Nozomi, thus locking in fully now for a conversation. “You’re a Shrine maiden?” Sumire asked with interest, gripping onto the broom handle she still held onto- as she brought it along with herself. Nozomi nodded with a smile and soft chuckle. She tucked a loose strand of her long purple hair behind her ear comfortably. “Why, yes.” She said with pride, “You know, you should come and visit some time.” She suggested. “I’d love to.” Sumire responded, eyeing Nozomi up and down now. She caught her eyes again, “So…” She began hesitantly. “What did you wish for?” She asked, not holding back the bubbling curiosity and amusement at the fact the two had both been shrine maidens. Nozomi put a hand to her mouth and chuckled delightfully. “A bold question.” She teased. Sumire tightened her grip on the stick handle, slightly. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean-” Nozomi was already waving her hand away in the air in response. “Relax, Sumire, I was just joking with you.” She chuckled, and Sumire responded with her own light laugh of relief. She loosened her grip. She looked backward to the shed where she would need to be putting up the tool anyway. She looked back at Nozomi, nodding her head in its direction silently, subtly asking ‘Come along with me?’ Nozomi took the social cue, following behind Sumire’s steps as the two now walked in stride together. They both participated in comments and questions to each other on their own shrines they worked on, their own wishes and desires. Sumire stepped inside the small space to hook the small string loop on the end of her broom up onto a hook against the cold concrete wall. Stepping back, she shut the door- facing Nozomi again. They stood there for a small while, going back and forth- small banter and casual conversation mixed together. The two were catching up with each other, having been on a small break from school during this season. “-I really thought no one was going to show up, today.” Sumire admitted, slightly sheepishly. “So, I’m really glad I got to run into you here before you left!” She said, smiling. “Thanks, really, I mean it.” Her eyes nearly glistened with sparkles in the shining light of the sun cast down upon them both. Nozomi’s face was a little redder than before, and she could feel the heat of the sun upon her cheeks. Though truly, un-admittedly, it very well may have been a blush. She felt comfortable right now, friendly. Maybe almost a little too friendly, but she swept away the thought like how the maiden before her had previously swept about the pink petals; collected into a fluttering pile onto her grounds. It was impossible now though, to distract her thoughts, as the eager blonde scooped her hands up with her own- holding onto them. “I want to thank you, personally-!” She said, her eyes searching Nozomi’s as if looking for an answer to something. “I want to..” Sumire thought to herself, then realized the perfect opportunity- the best way to treat her friend after such a kind visit. “..Follow me!” She said, lacing her fingers in between just one of Nozomi’s hands now as she used the other to swing along with her in a jog. Nozomi had to catch up with her, her back bending a bit as she sped-walked with the shorter girl dragging her in tow. Leading her to who-knows-where. Sumire knew exactly where though, she had the perfect spot in mind. Nozomi caught up beside her, “Where are we going?” Then they came to a stop at a wall of various patterned stones. “Oh..this is..nice.” Nozomi said, trying not to sound rude, but not caring much to look at another wall of rocks. Sumire side-eyed her but smiled doing so. Almost in a mischievous-like manner. “Just wait and see.” She said, running her fingers along the empty cracks between a row of rocks set vertically. Soon, the wall began to part- opening like a door. Nozomi’s mouth dropped open, as she watched. Before Sumire ran off again- dragging her even more, Nozomi took notice of the details. There was a strip of wooden paneling between the rocks on this side and a completely different kind on the other. There were hinges- they were there, but barely detectable. Why, it’s like she’d found her way into a secret lair of sorts. But instead of a lair, a bath-house for one. Once Sumire released the hold on her hand- after which Nozomi kept hovering in the air. She was distracted by the secret bathing room before her- complete with a ceiling unlike the more open spaces on the outside. She finally dropped the hand back to her hips. “Wow…” Nozomi said, looking around and taking in the beautiful new sights she’d never seen here before. A beautiful stone wall with crawling ivy and white flowers with purple bleeding onto it’s gentle edges- running into a beautiful gradient. The flora smell was nice as well. And in the middle of it all, there sat a large wooden tub. “This is a part of the shrine only I have access to.” Sumire said pridefully, smiling with her chest puffed out for extra bravado. Nozomi stifled a snicker, poorly though- it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Sumire. The purple haired girl walked up to the brim of the bath, running her fingers along the edge and dipping her hands into the warm water as sudsy bubbles coated the back of her knuckles and hand whilst she swished them along experimentally. “Oh. Now this is nice.” She complimented, looking back behind her to smile at Sumire. Sumire’s expression had changed, Nozomi felt the tone shift as the blonde spoke- “Not many have had the privilege of soaking in here.” She said, stepping beside Nozomi and gazing into the soapy water with her. Nozomi noticed the multiple tools of luxury for such a simple bath outing. There was a pack of sponges, and soft looking brushes. Plus a removable shower hose attached onto a long silver pipe that held it up in a crutch. It was spit-polish clean, she could see her own reflection warped beyond the hills of bubbles. She was just in casual wear for her visit, almost feeling underdressed now as she saw Sumire’s reflection beside her own, in a long and beautiful Shrine maiden’s outfit. Her wide-opened sleeves hung from her above her wrists like a pair of angel wings. She had her long, cherry red skirt, flowing and spilling down her legs to touch just above her ankles. But, it wasn’t now that she should have felt undressed. As very soon, Sumire would have her stripped down further. It began when she put both her hands onto Nozomi’s shoulders and began to massage them lightly. “Would you like to try to go in for a dip?” She suggested coyly. Nozomi’s eyes fluttered shut in relaxation, not complaining at the treatment she was receiving in her tensed shoulders. She lolled her head to the side with a soft moan. “Hmm..?” She asked. Sumire stretched and pinched lightly at the shoulders as she massaged, and began to caress her hands downward. She slipped a hand underneath a short white sleeve of Nozomi’s own wear. Skin against skin, one warm- one colder. Nozomi shuddered slightly, though she was the one more cold-blooded, the sudden feeling of a soft warm palm wrapped around her shoulder felt unexpected, but incredibly nice. Sumire cupped her palm against the other shoulder as well and continued her slow, casual massage. Nozomi inhaled, taking in the beautiful scent and feeling the waft of warm air floating off from the tub and onto her face. Sumire nibbled on the bottom of her lip momentarily. “Okay!” She said, snapping Nozomi out of her daze, as her eyes snapped open. “Now, come here,” She said- once again grabbing her- this time her nimble fingers wrapped around Nozomi’s wrist. She dragged her behind a near-by curtain; one feature Nozomi hadn’t noticed beforehand. “Wait- wait, what’s..?” Before she could protest or ask any further questions, Sumire ran her warm hands back under Nozomi’s sleeves, silencing her as she grew goosebumps. “I want to treat you to a bath! Please, let me help clean you- it would be my gift to you.” She explained, sounding reasonable, but looking cheeky. “Oh- you..?” Nozomi began questioning, before being cut off by surprise. The hands slid away- quickly escaping her as they now faced frontward, placing them on her chest and beginning to make work of her buttons. Sumire began slipping Nozomi out of her buttons that the cotton material held close. “Sumire!” She gasped in shock, watching as Nozomi fiddled with the buttons quickly like untangling a pair of wires stuck together. With her shirt open fully now, Nozomi looked away with a slight flustered feeling building up inside her. Her long torso stretched with smooth, pale skin. Cupping her breasts was a purple bra- no, a tied bikini top. “Oh! Did you already take a look at the springs here?” Sumire asked, reaching out to touch the center of Nozomi’s abdomen and running her fingers down along the dip that led to her belly button, now visible with her shirt off out in the open. While Nozomi was distracted by the touch of fingers, Sumire busied her other hand with shifting off the rest of Nozomi’s shirt. “Uh- umm..” Nozomi almost choked on air. “No, I was actually.. Considering it- back when I got to the Kanda Shrine, but I hadn’t made up my mind.” She explained. “Woah! What are you doing?!” She asked, now looking down as Sumire knelt down and snaked her hand around her butt- unzipping the skirt she wore from behind. “Ah-!” She reached to grab for her falling skirt but hadn’t caught it as it dropped and pooled around her feet. Sumire grabbed onto her ankle, helping Nozomi lift a foot so she could fully remove the skirt, from behind in the way. Nozomi, almost caught off balance, placed a hand on top of Sumire’s head. While swiping the skirt off from around the opposite ankle now, Sumire smiled as she noticed the purple color of nail polish stroked across Nozomi’s toenails. She, too, displayed her personal image color on her feet. “Cute.” Sumire giggled, as Nozomi rolled her eyes at the eccentric girl. Her bikini bottom’s also matched with the set of purple. Sumire stepped back from Nozomi now, who watched as the other stripped off her own clothes. Under the billowing white miko shirt, she also hid a swimsuit. Slinking her arms out, and throwing it over her head, Nozomi eyed the soft, lime-green color she donned. A light, matching ensemble in contrast to her darker purple. Her fingernails included, also matched the green color scheme- just as Nozomi had purple on her fingertips as well. Again, Nozomi was taken off guard before she could ask any further questions. Sumire scooped up the taller girl with surprising ease. The girl of purple had her knees swung over Sumire’s forearm, and back held up with the other hand. It was at that moment she realized Sumire was trying to play a role; that of a knight in shining armor. Sumire princess-carried Nozomi back over to the wooden tub. Nozomi’s eyes opened wide. “Oh.” She said, beginning to squirm in Sumire’s hold a bit now. “Oh, no, no- now hold on a second-!” She protested, legs just beginning to kick and flail as Nozomi then tossed her into the tub with a splash. Nozomi arose from the water like Nessie, sputtering out specks of water and wiping her shut eyes that had a threat of being stung with soap when she opened them up. Once safe though, she removed her hands from her eyes to wrap with both around her arms- hugging herself as she began to shiver. Her teeth chattered momentarily, despite the warmth of the water- and steam slowly beginning to wrap her in a hug. “Y-y-y-yeesh, S-Sumire.” She stuttered out, rubbing her arms now, as her body adjusted to the new element it had been harshly dunked into. It wouldn’t be too long though, before she was back into a comfortable state of warmth within the water. Sumire walked around the tub behind Nozomi, planning to grab the bucket the other hadn’t known was just near behind her. There, she also took a seat upon a stool she pulled over. Putting it snug against the tub, being evermore closer to Nozomi. The plan was to douse her hair completely, of course. A long, wet silky layer of purple hair. Seeing Nozomi closer now, she had a realization. “Ah..” She said, reaching her hand into Nozomi’s hair. Nozomi turned around, looking outside the tub, seeing Sumire just before her. She had a slight feeling, like she was being trapped into a metaphorical corner. “What…what is it?” The older girl asked, as fingers ran through her hair on the side of her head. Sumire began to un-tie her left pony-tail. “Oh!” Nozomi said, going silent then, eye level to Sumire’s chest in it’s melon, honey-dew colored swim top. Sumire was sitting out on the other side of the tub, as she reached to un-do both of Nozomi’s hair ties. She sat back up again, admiring the full length of all that purple hair showing off. Most of her hair, from the surprise dip, had already been soaked wet- and the dry ends of the loosened ponytail’s tips were slipping right into the water gracefully. But of course, it was only half a fraction of the hair. So, continuing with the original plan, Sumire bent herself to the side of her stool, reaching for something as Nozomi watched from inside the tub. Then she sat straight again, pulling up a bucket with ease. Nozomi jolted, trying to pedal backward in the water, and out of the way. “Hey now-! I can just dip my head under the water, again!” She said with a wobbly smile, a little nervous as she saw the sizable bucket and the potential amount of water it could hold. Sumire quirked an eyebrow and giggled, “What for-?” She asked, as she lifted the bucket to the height of her head. “The bucket’s already full!” She explained, as Nozomi shrieked- feeling like she’d taken a polar plunge- as the water indeed doused the rest of her. Any remaining streaks of dryness left in her hair. “AAHH! SUMIRE!!” Nozomi pouted, trying to fight the wet drape of hair out of her face. Sumire bit her tongue suppressing another giggle at Nozomi’s expense. While distracted by the curtain of wet sopping hair, Sumire used the opportunity to hunch back over quickly, and grab at the two pieces of rope she had by the bucket prior. She scooped Nozomi’s hands into hers again, Nozomi held on back without thinking- none the wiser. But she didn’t expect her hands to be stretched upward with her arms, with the feeling of a slight scratchy nylon material wrapping around her wrists. “Sumire..??” She asked, somehow even more confused than she was before. She felt the maneuvering of the rope twisting around her and tugging, bounding her hands together tight. Sumire used the rest of the length to wrap and attach it around the shower head’s tall metal rod, continuing this- she unraveled the second rope. At this point, Nozomi had finally flicked the main parts of her hair from out of her face. A few strands still clung to her cheeks with water, but she didn’t take any notice- or didn’t mind. She had higher priorities right now. “Okay, really now, what are you doing?!” She exclaimed, then spied the second rope in the hands of the slippery and sneaky Sumire. “What the..?” She asked curiously under her breath- her hands were already bound, she didn't know what else Sumire could… “WOAH!” Nozomi gasped, as Sumire had reached her arms into the water, joining in with Nozomi’s bottom half. She held on both calves, dragging the legs out of the water, and hugging them with one hooked elbow as she made work on Nozomi’s ankles with the other rope. Nozomi began to squirm, to try and slip her legs out of the way, but to no avail. She was in Sumire’s hands and rope now, and was powerless to whatever scheme the wily girl was up to right now. She proceeded to watch as Sumire stood on the stool she had previously sat on. Going on her tip-toes, she reached and swung the rope around a small hook hanging in the ceiling. Nozomi’s eyes had been following her, and she just tilted her head in bewilderment, wondering why a hook would even have been there in the first place. Holding plants? So, Nozomi had no choice but to resign as her ankles dangled in the air now, she growled lowly in her throat with a rumble. “Wwwhat’s going on, now?” She asked Sumire, who had successfully tied her up, and now hopped back down to sit on her stool again. “Now…” Sumire began, pulling her hand up from where it was out of view, and in it held one of the clean beige sponges that Nozomi noticed earlier “We clean!” She finished, gleefully. “Oh..then why the ropes?” Nozomi asked in confusion, squinting suspiciously at the other. She watched as Sumire dipped her hand into the water, squeezing the sponge so it would inhale the soapy, sudsy water. She pulled her hand out as it seemed to have water pour off it like a spout. It was mainly the sponge though, so full, that had been leaking. Sumire gave it a squeeze and began to reach out for underneath Nozomi’s open arms. Nozomi’s body naturally tried pulling itself away from the sponge, she didn’t get very far. “Ah- w-wait no, I’m ticklish!” She said, on the edge of panicking as she failed to move her arm out of the way of the attack. With a slap, the soft squishy sponge pressed into her armpit, and Sumire began to rub it in circles. Already, Nozomi was squealing with laughter as she scrunched her toes together, tensing up. “Wow- you really are!” Sumire said, teasing as she hadn’t expected such loud boisterous laughter. She rubbed up and down the pit now, a different direction. Sumrie took in an inhale of breath for the split second the sponge was removed. She relaxed her muscles on her toe’s grip against themselves released. But besides the new position of cleaning, the only other thing that had changed in her predicament now, was the shift of tone in her laughter. Sumire delighted in the noises, wondering exactly how many variations and degrees of laughter Nozomi held inside of her lungs. “ST- STAH- HAHAH- SSUUM-!!” She couldn’t get a whole word out as Sumire continued swifting and swiping the sponge along her skin. Bubbles ran down her to her belly, and she felt a moment of cool relief. The warm sponge was taken away, and this was so Sumire could carefully reach over to the opposite pit now. “WH-?!” The torture of tickling continued on, tears of laughter formed in the corner of Nozomi’s eyes as she guffawed, and laughed whole-heartedly. “You look like you’re having fun.” Sumire said, smiling down at her friend who gasped for air. Sumire stroked the sponge down her sides like a paintbrush against a canvas. Just to change directions to her tummy- but she immediately caught that Nozomi’s sides were equally ticklish. She girl sucked in a breath as Sumrie now rubbed the sponge down slower. She held it, the air in her lungs that threatened to explode. Sumrie scrubbed her with the sponge, pressing into the soft flesh occasionally with a little more force. Of course, this opened the bear trap that was Nozomi’s mouth as she reacted wildly with screams. Her face looked happy though, her laughter- it tickled Sumire’s ears and gave her stomach butterflies. She grabbed a second sponge for a moment, dipping it in so she could wash the other side of her torso, simultaneously- helping the process along. She could feel the slight attempts at tugs on the rope and snickered. She saw Nozomi closes her hands into fists and splaying her purple painted fingers outward- webbed, over and over. Grasping at air, at nothing, as she shook her head and laughed, and laughed. “NO- NO-! AHAHAH!!” She couldn’t help herself. Her middle ached like she was forming a set of abs. This is when the sensitive tummy was now being touched with a sponge swirling around it like a dance. Like a figure skater, Sumire swiped and swayed around the sponge- tickling her friend and feeling the bouncing of her rock-hard stomach underneath. She paused for a moment, just for curiosity. Nozomi laughed still, but they slowed down as she took in more clean breaths. Her laughter slowed down along with her breath as he now wrapped her lips in an ‘o’ to blow out air. “Hwooo… oh….hah- Sumire -” Sumire pressed the sponge back into her belly, and she noticed it was softer now. Fleshy, soft like a tummy should be. Nozomi immediately flinched and wailed with a shriek of laughter as Sumire barely got started again. She cleansed her, rubbing the sponge until she felt the stomach hardened again with the work of laughter. She began to go down her legs, wrapping the sponge around her, both tickling her- but now balancing it with a smooth- and not underappreciated massage against her warm, softened skin, from the water. “W-Would it make a difference if I- hppFFFK-!” She snorted, clamping her mouth as another laugh tried to barge itself out. She had to let it out though, and that she did- Sumire watched eagerly as Nozomi finished a line of laughter. “I..If I asked why you’re doing this?” She asked, finishing her question. Sumire looked at Nozomi, as the sponge still trailed up and down against her clean shaven legs. She smiled, and reminded Nozomi of her position. She leaned into her face, barely, subtly. “Nozomi, I told you, I just want to thank you. I want to do this for you.” She explained, with a softer smile, one less devilish now. Nozomi gasped for air, and just nodded her head up and down, thoughtlessly, like she was agreeing with anything Sumire would say right now. Sumire laced the light lime green nails on her hand lace in between Nozomi’s opposing toes- dark and purple. She gave a squeeze, feeling the softened pink pad of her toes underneath, and the more wet- thin skin of her foot on the opposite side. It dewed with water droplets. Nozomi also let out a series of giggles as Sumire did so. “Everyone loves a good bath.” Sumire explained, simply. She nibbled her bottom lip and began to roll the sponge in a massage on the bottom of her feet now. Nozomi laughed with a face of red, and toes flexed, ankles trying- but failing- to flick around, as her body wanted to resist the ticklish feeling overwhelming her. “I’ll make sure to get your feet nice and clean, okay?” Sumire asked sweetly, yet she knew exactly what she was doing. The effect this was having on Nozomi- the effect she was giving her. She smiled at this thought. Nozomi’s smile remained to be the largest though as she heaved and gasped our boisterous laughter. Her ribs shook and throat strained, but Sumire still had another foot that needed more attention. She rubbed the other with the sponge in the same way, then poked a smidge of it between the web of her toes. This gave a new, intriguing laugh. So, it gave Sumire an idea. But first- she tossed the sponge in the water, letting it float. And when Nozomi noticed, she watched it sailing away like a ship passing in the night. “ Oh- hhh.. O-oh, okay…” She said, thinking herself finally free of this treatment. Her head snapped back over to Sumire though, when she heard the sound of rushing water. The blonde had begun running a hose, and was approaching her again. “Is that..for my feet?” She asked, a little on edge. “Oh, don’t worry it’s just a quick rinse.” Sumire said with a wink. She ran the water over Nozomi’s feet and let the suds run away- revealing the now squeaky clean feet underneath. Nozomi could only watch as she caught her breath. It did feel a little nice, a little ticklish- but nowhere near as bad. She flicked her toes against each other helping clear them of the excess soap. And also trying to shake away the static feeling of post tickle-trauma casted upon the heel and soles. Now, for Sumire’s idea, she was ready. “Nice and clean.. No bitter soap taste- I hope, hehe…” She giggled holding her foot by the heel and tilting it. “Huh?” Nozomi asked in genuine confusion, before Sumire dived in- lapping out her tongue against the bottom of the foot and trialing a ticklish streak along up to her toes with a lick. And thus, the laughter continued on, once again. The experiment- Sumire now darted a tongue in between the Big toe- purple shade wide and prominent, and the second smaller one, colored the same. It was still just as bright and beautiful, the color of Nozomi’s. She waved her toes around, like she could dodge the tongue and kisses that now sucked upon them. Enough attention on the toes, she kissed a trail down the palms of her feet, going over from one- directly to the other. Her feet bounded so close together, it was an easy and smoothless travel across. She suckled on the side of her Nozomi’s foot, taking in the delightful sound of her laughter. She held onto the other foot now, letting her nails tap against it- then lightly start scratching. And then that foot clenched and tightened, just as she sputtered out louder laughter and her whole body shook. “Oh..” Sumire said with a smile. She did it again, raking her nails across her feet lightly, for a reaction. And as expected, again- her ticklish nails seemed to be giving her a different sensation, one even more breathtaking. But of course, she didn’t want Nozomi to lose All her breath here. After all, there was still just so much more fun to be had with her. She gave a massaging kiss to the foot, and occasionally still stroked with a lick as she took her fingernails and occasionally brushed and tickled them against Nozomi’s feet. She removed herself for just a moment, enough for Nozomi to catch the breath she needed. The breath that Sumire needed to hear cleared out with joyous laughter, like her lungs were filled with swirling smoke. Yes, this would be a long day, and so Sumire continued on with the fun. Glad to have been able to see someone show up to her shrine today, afterall.

Sumire Heanna, she had been outside leisurely sweeping her Shrine’s grounds as she waited for any potential visitors. She looked up to the afternoon sun, a hand against her forehead to block her eyes from the bright rays. It was a beautiful day, she had no clue why there hadn’t been anyone come by and pray, or just look around. She took a sigh, with a soft lift and fall of her shoulders. She took back to sweeping, though there wasn’t much more dust floating around. ;What, from all the inactivity and all. She was near finished with the chore anyway, about ready to wrap it up, finishing her daily routine. Maybe she would treat herself to a hot bath after, she did already have one of the wooden tubs filled now. She had freshly cleaned and refilled with a new round of water. She sighed quietly, envisioning it now. It was then that she heard a noise. Looking up, and turning her head around- she tried to find the source of faint whispering. She walked across the grounds with a swishing and clack of her sandals, in between- were poking out her toes with a row of a soft, lime green color upon the nails. Around a stone corner, she peeked and saw the back of a purple, pig-tail headed girl. She knelt, praying, and Sumire smirked. She recognized her now as Nozomi Tojo, her senior. She waited graciously, patiently while Nozomi finished. Nozomi opened her eyes, peeling her praying hands apart, as she heard the familiar clacking of a shrine maiden’s shoes behind her. She began to turn her face around, and was greeted by the sight of Sumire. Nozomi turned around fully now, shuffled on her knees. “Sumire?” She asked, surprised by not un-delighted to see a face she knew. She stood up, meeting the blonde in the middle as they walked to each other. “Well, I didn’t know you were a shrine maiden here! That’s fantastic.” She said, with a friendly smile. Sumire smiled back at Nozomi, nodding her head. She spoke next; “I’m just as surprised to see you here, too, Nozomi!” She admitted. “It’s a beautiful shrine.” Nozomi complimented the blonde, who in return blushed just slightly at the attention from the older flirtatious one. “Reminds me of the one I have near home.” She smirked teasingly, locking eyes with Nozomi, thus locking in fully now for a conversation. “You’re a Shrine maiden?” Sumire asked with interest, gripping onto the broom handle she still held onto- as she brought it along with herself. Nozomi nodded with a smile and soft chuckle. She tucked a loose strand of her long purple hair behind her ear comfortably. “Why, yes.” She said with pride, “You know, you should come and visit some time.” She suggested. “I’d love to.” Sumire responded, eyeing Nozomi up and down now. She caught her eyes again, “So…” She began hesitantly. “What did you wish for?” She asked, not holding back the bubbling curiosity and amusement at the fact the two had both been shrine maidens. Nozomi put a hand to her mouth and chuckled delightfully. “A bold question.” She teased. Sumire tightened her grip on the stick handle, slightly. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean-” Nozomi was already waving her hand away in the air in response. “Relax, Sumire, I was just joking with you.” She chuckled, and Sumire responded with her own light laugh of relief. She loosened her grip. She looked backward to the shed where she would need to be putting up the tool anyway. She looked back at Nozomi, nodding her head in its direction silently, subtly asking ‘Come along with me?’ Nozomi took the social cue, following behind Sumire’s steps as the two now walked in stride together. They both participated in comments and questions to each other on their own shrines they worked on, their own wishes and desires. Sumire stepped inside the small space to hook the small string loop on the end of her broom up onto a hook against the cold concrete wall. Stepping back, she shut the door- facing Nozomi again. They stood there for a small while, going back and forth- small banter and casual conversation mixed together. The two were catching up with each other, having been on a small break from school during this season. “-I really thought no one was going to show up, today.” Sumire admitted, slightly sheepishly. “So, I’m really glad I got to run into you here before you left!” She said, smiling. “Thanks, really, I mean it.” Her eyes nearly glistened with sparkles in the shining light of the sun cast down upon them both. Nozomi’s face was a little redder than before, and she could feel the heat of the sun upon her cheeks. Though truly, un-admittedly, it very well may have been a blush. She felt comfortable right now, friendly. Maybe almost a little too friendly, but she swept away the thought like how the maiden before her had previously swept about the pink petals; collected into a fluttering pile onto her grounds. It was impossible now though, to distract her thoughts, as the eager blonde scooped her hands up with her own- holding onto them. “I want to thank you, personally-!” She said, her eyes searching Nozomi’s as if looking for an answer to something. “I want to..” Sumire thought to herself, then realized the perfect opportunity- the best way to treat her friend after such a kind visit. “..Follow me!” She said, lacing her fingers in between just one of Nozomi’s hands now as she used the other to swing along with her in a jog. Nozomi had to catch up with her, her back bending a bit as she sped-walked with the shorter girl dragging her in tow. Leading her to who-knows-where. Sumire knew exactly where though, she had the perfect spot in mind. Nozomi caught up beside her, “Where are we going?” Then they came to a stop at a wall of various patterned stones. “Oh..this is..nice.” Nozomi said, trying not to sound rude, but not caring much to look at another wall of rocks. Sumire side-eyed her but smiled doing so. Almost in a mischievous-like manner. “Just wait and see.” She said, running her fingers along the empty cracks between a row of rocks set vertically. Soon, the wall began to part- opening like a door. Nozomi’s mouth dropped open, as she watched. Before Sumire ran off again- dragging her even more, Nozomi took notice of the details. There was a strip of wooden paneling between the rocks on this side and a completely different kind on the other. There were hinges- they were there, but barely detectable. Why, it’s like she’d found her way into a secret lair of sorts. But instead of a lair, a bath-house for one. Once Sumire released the hold on her hand- after which Nozomi kept hovering in the air. She was distracted by the secret bathing room before her- complete with a ceiling unlike the more open spaces on the outside. She finally dropped the hand back to her hips. “Wow…” Nozomi said, looking around and taking in the beautiful new sights she’d never seen here before. A beautiful stone wall with crawling ivy and white flowers with purple bleeding onto it’s gentle edges- running into a beautiful gradient. The flora smell was nice as well. And in the middle of it all, there sat a large wooden tub. “This is a part of the shrine only I have access to.” Sumire said pridefully, smiling with her chest puffed out for extra bravado. Nozomi stifled a snicker, poorly though- it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Sumire. The purple haired girl walked up to the brim of the bath, running her fingers along the edge and dipping her hands into the warm water as sudsy bubbles coated the back of her knuckles and hand whilst she swished them along experimentally. “Oh. Now this is nice.” She complimented, looking back behind her to smile at Sumire. Sumire’s expression had changed, Nozomi felt the tone shift as the blonde spoke- “Not many have had the privilege of soaking in here.” She said, stepping beside Nozomi and gazing into the soapy water with her. Nozomi noticed the multiple tools of luxury for such a simple bath outing. There was a pack of sponges, and soft looking brushes. Plus a removable shower hose attached onto a long silver pipe that held it up in a crutch. It was spit-polish clean, she could see her own reflection warped beyond the hills of bubbles. She was just in casual wear for her visit, almost feeling underdressed now as she saw Sumire’s reflection beside her own, in a long and beautiful Shrine maiden’s outfit. Her wide-opened sleeves hung from her above her wrists like a pair of angel wings. She had her long, cherry red skirt, flowing and spilling down her legs to touch just above her ankles. But, it wasn’t now that she should have felt undressed. As very soon, Sumire would have her stripped down further. It began when she put both her hands onto Nozomi’s shoulders and began to massage them lightly. “Would you like to try to go in for a dip?” She suggested coyly. Nozomi’s eyes fluttered shut in relaxation, not complaining at the treatment she was receiving in her tensed shoulders. She lolled her head to the side with a soft moan. “Hmm..?” She asked. Sumire stretched and pinched lightly at the shoulders as she massaged, and began to caress her hands downward. She slipped a hand underneath a short white sleeve of Nozomi’s own wear. Skin against skin, one warm- one colder. Nozomi shuddered slightly, though she was the one more cold-blooded, the sudden feeling of a soft warm palm wrapped around her shoulder felt unexpected, but incredibly nice. Sumire cupped her palm against the other shoulder as well and continued her slow, casual massage. Nozomi inhaled, taking in the beautiful scent and feeling the waft of warm air floating off from the tub and onto her face. Sumire nibbled on the bottom of her lip momentarily. “Okay!” She said, snapping Nozomi out of her daze, as her eyes snapped open. “Now, come here,” She said- once again grabbing her- this time her nimble fingers wrapped around Nozomi’s wrist. She dragged her behind a near-by curtain; one feature Nozomi hadn’t noticed beforehand. “Wait- wait, what’s..?” Before she could protest or ask any further questions, Sumire ran her warm hands back under Nozomi’s sleeves, silencing her as she grew goosebumps. “I want to treat you to a bath! Please, let me help clean you- it would be my gift to you.” She explained, sounding reasonable, but looking cheeky. “Oh- you..?” Nozomi began questioning, before being cut off by surprise. The hands slid away- quickly escaping her as they now faced frontward, placing them on her chest and beginning to make work of her buttons. Sumire began slipping Nozomi out of her buttons that the cotton material held close. “Sumire!” She gasped in shock, watching as Nozomi fiddled with the buttons quickly like untangling a pair of wires stuck together. With her shirt open fully now, Nozomi looked away with a slight flustered feeling building up inside her. Her long torso stretched with smooth, pale skin. Cupping her breasts was a purple bra- no, a tied bikini top. “Oh! Did you already take a look at the springs here?” Sumire asked, reaching out to touch the center of Nozomi’s abdomen and running her fingers down along the dip that led to her belly button, now visible with her shirt off out in the open. While Nozomi was distracted by the touch of fingers, Sumire busied her other hand with shifting off the rest of Nozomi’s shirt. “Uh- umm..” Nozomi almost choked on air. “No, I was actually.. Considering it- back when I got to the Kanda Shrine, but I hadn’t made up my mind.” She explained. “Woah! What are you doing?!” She asked, now looking down as Sumire knelt down and snaked her hand around her butt- unzipping the skirt she wore from behind. “Ah-!” She reached to grab for her falling skirt but hadn’t caught it as it dropped and pooled around her feet. Sumire grabbed onto her ankle, helping Nozomi lift a foot so she could fully remove the skirt, from behind in the way. Nozomi, almost caught off balance, placed a hand on top of Sumire’s head. While swiping the skirt off from around the opposite ankle now, Sumire smiled as she noticed the purple color of nail polish stroked across Nozomi’s toenails. She, too, displayed her personal image color on her feet. “Cute.” Sumire giggled, as Nozomi rolled her eyes at the eccentric girl. Her bikini bottom’s also matched with the set of purple. Sumire stepped back from Nozomi now, who watched as the other stripped off her own clothes. Under the billowing white miko shirt, she also hid a swimsuit. Slinking her arms out, and throwing it over her head, Nozomi eyed the soft, lime-green color she donned. A light, matching ensemble in contrast to her darker purple. Her fingernails included, also matched the green color scheme- just as Nozomi had purple on her fingertips as well. Again, Nozomi was taken off guard before she could ask any further questions. Sumire scooped up the taller girl with surprising ease. The girl of purple had her knees swung over Sumire’s forearm, and back held up with the other hand. It was at that moment she realized Sumire was trying to play a role; that of a knight in shining armor. Sumire princess-carried Nozomi back over to the wooden tub. Nozomi’s eyes opened wide. “Oh.” She said, beginning to squirm in Sumire’s hold a bit now. “Oh, no, no- now hold on a second-!” She protested, legs just beginning to kick and flail as Nozomi then tossed her into the tub with a splash. Nozomi arose from the water like Nessie, sputtering out specks of water and wiping her shut eyes that had a threat of being stung with soap when she opened them up. Once safe though, she removed her hands from her eyes to wrap with both around her arms- hugging herself as she began to shiver. Her teeth chattered momentarily, despite the warmth of the water- and steam slowly beginning to wrap her in a hug. “Y-y-y-yeesh, S-Sumire.” She stuttered out, rubbing her arms now, as her body adjusted to the new element it had been harshly dunked into. It wouldn’t be too long though, before she was back into a comfortable state of warmth within the water. Sumire walked around the tub behind Nozomi, planning to grab the bucket the other hadn’t known was just near behind her. There, she also took a seat upon a stool she pulled over. Putting it snug against the tub, being evermore closer to Nozomi. The plan was to douse her hair completely, of course. A long, wet silky layer of purple hair. Seeing Nozomi closer now, she had a realization. “Ah..” She said, reaching her hand into Nozomi’s hair. Nozomi turned around, looking outside the tub, seeing Sumire just before her. She had a slight feeling, like she was being trapped into a metaphorical corner. “What…what is it?” The older girl asked, as fingers ran through her hair on the side of her head. Sumire began to un-tie her left pony-tail. “Oh!” Nozomi said, going silent then, eye level to Sumire’s chest in it’s melon, honey-dew colored swim top. Sumire was sitting out on the other side of the tub, as she reached to un-do both of Nozomi’s hair ties. She sat back up again, admiring the full length of all that purple hair showing off. Most of her hair, from the surprise dip, had already been soaked wet- and the dry ends of the loosened ponytail’s tips were slipping right into the water gracefully. But of course, it was only half a fraction of the hair. So, continuing with the original plan, Sumire bent herself to the side of her stool, reaching for something as Nozomi watched from inside the tub. Then she sat straight again, pulling up a bucket with ease. Nozomi jolted, trying to pedal backward in the water, and out of the way. “Hey now-! I can just dip my head under the water, again!” She said with a wobbly smile, a little nervous as she saw the sizable bucket and the potential amount of water it could hold. Sumire quirked an eyebrow and giggled, “What for-?” She asked, as she lifted the bucket to the height of her head. “The bucket’s already full!” She explained, as Nozomi shrieked- feeling like she’d taken a polar plunge- as the water indeed doused the rest of her. Any remaining streaks of dryness left in her hair. “AAHH! SUMIRE!!” Nozomi pouted, trying to fight the wet drape of hair out of her face. Sumire bit her tongue suppressing another giggle at Nozomi’s expense. While distracted by the curtain of wet sopping hair, Sumire used the opportunity to hunch back over quickly, and grab at the two pieces of rope she had by the bucket prior. She scooped Nozomi’s hands into hers again, Nozomi held on back without thinking- none the wiser. But she didn’t expect her hands to be stretched upward with her arms, with the feeling of a slight scratchy nylon material wrapping around her wrists. “Sumire..??” She asked, somehow even more confused than she was before. She felt the maneuvering of the rope twisting around her and tugging, bounding her hands together tight. Sumire used the rest of the length to wrap and attach it around the shower head’s tall metal rod, continuing this- she unraveled the second rope. At this point, Nozomi had finally flicked the main parts of her hair from out of her face. A few strands still clung to her cheeks with water, but she didn’t take any notice- or didn’t mind. She had higher priorities right now. “Okay, really now, what are you doing?!” She exclaimed, then spied the second rope in the hands of the slippery and sneaky Sumire. “What the..?” She asked curiously under her breath- her hands were already bound, she didn't know what else Sumire could… “WOAH!” Nozomi gasped, as Sumire had reached her arms into the water, joining in with Nozomi’s bottom half. She held on both calves, dragging the legs out of the water, and hugging them with one hooked elbow as she made work on Nozomi’s ankles with the other rope. Nozomi began to squirm, to try and slip her legs out of the way, but to no avail. She was in Sumire’s hands and rope now, and was powerless to whatever scheme the wily girl was up to right now. She proceeded to watch as Sumire stood on the stool she had previously sat on. Going on her tip-toes, she reached and swung the rope around a small hook hanging in the ceiling. Nozomi’s eyes had been following her, and she just tilted her head in bewilderment, wondering why a hook would even have been there in the first place. Holding plants? So, Nozomi had no choice but to resign as her ankles dangled in the air now, she growled lowly in her throat with a rumble. “Wwwhat’s going on, now?” She asked Sumire, who had successfully tied her up, and now hopped back down to sit on her stool again. “Now…” Sumire began, pulling her hand up from where it was out of view, and in it held one of the clean beige sponges that Nozomi noticed earlier “We clean!” She finished, gleefully. “Oh..then why the ropes?” Nozomi asked in confusion, squinting suspiciously at the other. She watched as Sumire dipped her hand into the water, squeezing the sponge so it would inhale the soapy, sudsy water. She pulled her hand out as it seemed to have water pour off it like a spout. It was mainly the sponge though, so full, that had been leaking. Sumire gave it a squeeze and began to reach out for underneath Nozomi’s open arms. Nozomi’s body naturally tried pulling itself away from the sponge, she didn’t get very far. “Ah- w-wait no, I’m ticklish!” She said, on the edge of panicking as she failed to move her arm out of the way of the attack. With a slap, the soft squishy sponge pressed into her armpit, and Sumire began to rub it in circles. Already, Nozomi was squealing with laughter as she scrunched her toes together, tensing up. “Wow- you really are!” Sumire said, teasing as she hadn’t expected such loud boisterous laughter. She rubbed up and down the pit now, a different direction. Sumrie took in an inhale of breath for the split second the sponge was removed. She relaxed her muscles on her toe’s grip against themselves released. But besides the new position of cleaning, the only other thing that had changed in her predicament now, was the shift of tone in her laughter. Sumire delighted in the noises, wondering exactly how many variations and degrees of laughter Nozomi held inside of her lungs. “ST- STAH- HAHAH- SSUUM-!!” She couldn’t get a whole word out as Sumire continued swifting and swiping the sponge along her skin. Bubbles ran down her to her belly, and she felt a moment of cool relief. The warm sponge was taken away, and this was so Sumire could carefully reach over to the opposite pit now. “WH-?!” The torture of tickling continued on, tears of laughter formed in the corner of Nozomi’s eyes as she guffawed, and laughed whole-heartedly. “You look like you’re having fun.” Sumire said, smiling down at her friend who gasped for air. Sumire stroked the sponge down her sides like a paintbrush against a canvas. Just to change directions to her tummy- but she immediately caught that Nozomi’s sides were equally ticklish. She girl sucked in a breath as Sumrie now rubbed the sponge down slower. She held it, the air in her lungs that threatened to explode. Sumrie scrubbed her with the sponge, pressing into the soft flesh occasionally with a little more force. Of course, this opened the bear trap that was Nozomi’s mouth as she reacted wildly with screams. Her face looked happy though, her laughter- it tickled Sumire’s ears and gave her stomach butterflies. She grabbed a second sponge for a moment, dipping it in so she could wash the other side of her torso, simultaneously- helping the process along. She could feel the slight attempts at tugs on the rope and snickered. She saw Nozomi closes her hands into fists and splaying her purple painted fingers outward- webbed, over and over. Grasping at air, at nothing, as she shook her head and laughed, and laughed. “NO- NO-! AHAHAH!!” She couldn’t help herself. Her middle ached like she was forming a set of abs. This is when the sensitive tummy was now being touched with a sponge swirling around it like a dance. Like a figure skater, Sumire swiped and swayed around the sponge- tickling her friend and feeling the bouncing of her rock-hard stomach underneath. She paused for a moment, just for curiosity. Nozomi laughed still, but they slowed down as she took in more clean breaths. Her laughter slowed down along with her breath as he now wrapped her lips in an ‘o’ to blow out air. “Hwooo… oh….hah- Sumire -” Sumire pressed the sponge back into her belly, and she noticed it was softer now. Fleshy, soft like a tummy should be. Nozomi immediately flinched and wailed with a shriek of laughter as Sumire barely got started again. She cleansed her, rubbing the sponge until she felt the stomach hardened again with the work of laughter. She began to go down her legs, wrapping the sponge around her, both tickling her- but now balancing it with a smooth- and not underappreciated massage against her warm, softened skin, from the water. “W-Would it make a difference if I- hppFFFK-!” She snorted, clamping her mouth as another laugh tried to barge itself out. She had to let it out though, and that she did- Sumire watched eagerly as Nozomi finished a line of laughter. “I..If I asked why you’re doing this?” She asked, finishing her question. Sumire looked at Nozomi, as the sponge still trailed up and down against her clean shaven legs. She smiled, and reminded Nozomi of her position. She leaned into her face, barely, subtly. “Nozomi, I told you, I just want to thank you. I want to do this for you.” She explained, with a softer smile, one less devilish now. Nozomi gasped for air, and just nodded her head up and down, thoughtlessly, like she was agreeing with anything Sumire would say right now. Sumire laced the light lime green nails on her hand lace in between Nozomi’s opposing toes- dark and purple. She gave a squeeze, feeling the softened pink pad of her toes underneath, and the more wet- thin skin of her foot on the opposite side. It dewed with water droplets. Nozomi also let out a series of giggles as Sumire did so. “Everyone loves a good bath.” Sumire explained, simply. She nibbled her bottom lip and began to roll the sponge in a massage on the bottom of her feet now. Nozomi laughed with a face of red, and toes flexed, ankles trying- but failing- to flick around, as her body wanted to resist the ticklish feeling overwhelming her. “I’ll make sure to get your feet nice and clean, okay?” Sumire asked sweetly, yet she knew exactly what she was doing. The effect this was having on Nozomi- the effect she was giving her. She smiled at this thought. Nozomi’s smile remained to be the largest though as she heaved and gasped our boisterous laughter. Her ribs shook and throat strained, but Sumire still had another foot that needed more attention. She rubbed the other with the sponge in the same way, then poked a smidge of it between the web of her toes. This gave a new, intriguing laugh. So, it gave Sumire an idea. But first- she tossed the sponge in the water, letting it float. And when Nozomi noticed, she watched it sailing away like a ship passing in the night. “ Oh- hhh.. O-oh, okay…” She said, thinking herself finally free of this treatment. Her head snapped back over to Sumire though, when she heard the sound of rushing water. The blonde had begun running a hose, and was approaching her again. “Is that..for my feet?” She asked, a little on edge. “Oh, don’t worry it’s just a quick rinse.” Sumire said with a wink. She ran the water over Nozomi’s feet and let the suds run away- revealing the now squeaky clean feet underneath. Nozomi could only watch as she caught her breath. It did feel a little nice, a little ticklish- but nowhere near as bad. She flicked her toes against each other helping clear them of the excess soap. And also trying to shake away the static feeling of post tickle-trauma casted upon the heel and soles. Now, for Sumire’s idea, she was ready. “Nice and clean.. No bitter soap taste- I hope, hehe…” She giggled holding her foot by the heel and tilting it. “Huh?” Nozomi asked in genuine confusion, before Sumire dived in- lapping out her tongue against the bottom of the foot and trialing a ticklish streak along up to her toes with a lick. And thus, the laughter continued on, once again. The experiment- Sumire now darted a tongue in between the Big toe- purple shade wide and prominent, and the second smaller one, colored the same. It was still just as bright and beautiful, the color of Nozomi’s. She waved her toes around, like she could dodge the tongue and kisses that now sucked upon them. Enough attention on the toes, she kissed a trail down the palms of her feet, going over from one- directly to the other. Her feet bounded so close together, it was an easy and smoothless travel across. She suckled on the side of her Nozomi’s foot, taking in the delightful sound of her laughter. She held onto the other foot now, letting her nails tap against it- then lightly start scratching. And then that foot clenched and tightened, just as she sputtered out louder laughter and her whole body shook. “Oh..” Sumire said with a smile. She did it again, raking her nails across her feet lightly, for a reaction. And as expected, again- her ticklish nails seemed to be giving her a different sensation, one even more breathtaking. But of course, she didn’t want Nozomi to lose All her breath here. After all, there was still just so much more fun to be had with her. She gave a massaging kiss to the foot, and occasionally still stroked with a lick as she took her fingernails and occasionally brushed and tickled them against Nozomi’s feet. She removed herself for just a moment, enough for Nozomi to catch the breath she needed. The breath that Sumire needed to hear cleared out with joyous laughter, like her lungs were filled with swirling smoke. Yes, this would be a long day, and so Sumire continued on with the fun. Glad to have been able to see someone show up to her shrine today, afterall.