Secret Bath

“You sure you have everything?” the girlfriend asked the next morning as Naoko stood in line to board the airboat. The couple wasn’t joking about this thing last night. This thing… Whoa! This strawberry pink monster could eat up nine football fields and still be hungry for more. It could even put a whole luxury airline to shame. Naoko’s jaw just dropped at the sight of it. I am to get on that thing?!?, his thought was. Holy shit!

“Yes,” he said. The young couple wore him out yesterday. They practically dragged him to many different stores in the circle. They only got about five minutes to rest. When the sun went down, they offer him shelter for the night.

“Do you have anywhere to stay for now?” the boyfriend asked. Naoko shook his head.

“Not really,” he said. The girlfriend clapped her hands together.

“Stay with us tonight!” she cheered. Naoko blinked at her, bewildered.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yes, yes!” the couple insisted. “It’ll be fine!” Again, they dragged him all the way home. The couple happily fed him, prepared a bath and bed, and gave him useful information about the airboat. Naoko was just happy to get some sleep afterwards. Yet, the young couple just had to talk to him about the trip to the fifth circle on the big airboat.

“It’s a big boat!” the boyfriend bragged at dinner. “I’ve only gotten to see it once.”

“The boat crosses the wide pink Hedone River,” the girlfriend added. “Bigger than the ocean even.”

“Leads all the way to the fifth circle and beyond,” her boyfriend summed up. Despite all of talking that they did for most of the day, the couple drew their mouths closed at that question. The girlfriend only giggled at their guest. The mouse boy raised an eyebrow at her.

“What?” he asked. She and her boyfriend gave him a little smile. The girl leaned in so that her nose almost touched Naoko’s.

“It’s a secret,” she whispered. The mouse looked really confused now.

“Huh? Why?” he asked. The boyfriend patted him on the shoulder.

“You’ll have to see tomorrow,” he said. Naoko somehow had a sinking feeling after hearing those words.

Which leads back to today.

“Now remember,” the girlfriend said. “Stay seated in the boat as you cross the Hedone River. It’s a big river. And you’ll need plenty of milk when you get to the fifth circle.” The mouse looked at her puzzled.

“Milk?” he asked. “Why would I need that?” The girlfriend only giggled. Her boyfriend only smiled and shook his head.

“You’ll see when you get there,” he said. The mouse still didn’t get what was going on.

“Guys…” he said. The boyfriend stepped forward and turned him around.

“Get going now!” he said. “The boat’s about to leave!”

“O-Okay…” Naoko said as he moved further into the line. He came up on the boarding ramp. The mouse boy walked up the way up to the deck before looking back. The boyfriend gave him a little salute.

“Give your bride a kiss for me when you find her!” he called from the ground. His girl playfully hit him in the side. Naoko only gave him a small wave.

“Right…” he said. The attendants of the boat ushered him inside. The inside looked just as white like clouds in the sky. There were only about seventy people on board. Naoko looked among the seated passengers to see if he could find Austin. He nearly jumped at a tap on his shoulder. The mouse quickly turned around. A girl in a white angel cosplay-type costume looked up at him.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said. Naoko looked at her for a long second.

“Uh…” he said. “I’m looking for my friend.” He completely turned to the attendant. “His name is Austin and he’s a puppy boy. Have you seen him?” The attendant gave him a funny look.

“Sir,” she said. “The boat’s about to leave, could you please sit down?”

“But,” the mouse said.

“Please sit down,” she repeated. The woman ushered Naoko over to a seat near the window.

“Miss, please!” he said as he was forced to sit down. “Please tell me. I have to know!” The attendant turned to walk away. She glanced over her shoulder at him.

“We don’t keep of everyone who boards this boat at first,” she said. “Your friend might not even be on here.” Then, she walked back to the cockpit. Naoko frowned in unease.

“Okay…” he mumbled to himself.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” a man’s deep British accent filled the white speakers above. “Welcome aboard the boat, White Cherry! Please fasten your seat belts and prepare for takeoff.” Naoko snapped back into the attention. He quickly buckled up at the instructions. The mouse felt the floor vibrate under him as the airboat began to take off. He gripped his seat as tight as he could as the airboat began its climb and ascent into the sky. To his surprise, his ears didn’t hurt. Every time that he and Midori went up into the mountains, she would have to give him a piece of gum to soothe the pain. He smiled at the welcome change.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” the pilot said over the intercom. “Welcome aboard your flight to the fifth circle across the Hedone River. We will be in for a long trip. So, kick back, relax, and enjoy the etenraku music selected by yours truly!” The heavenly music flowed through the speakers. Naoko turned his attention to the view outside. Swirls of pink floated right by him. The music combined with their slow rhythm drew him into a drowsy state. He began to try and fight back in vain.

No!, he thought in desperation. I want to stay awake! I want to see the whole river for myself! Don’t let me fall asleep!

The harder he tried to fight, the sleeper he felt. After a good forty minutes, tantalizing dreams of Midori finally claimed him on the slow, graceful trip across the Hedone River.

Midori-chan…

“Oi!” he heard someone yell at him. “Oi! Get up! It’s time to off! Oi! Oi!” The mouse slowly opened his eyes as he turned forward. A man dressed in a flashy fuchsia suit and rose pimp hat leaned in just inches from his face. Boy, did that mouse let out such a yelp.

“Crap!” he yelled. The man rubbed his ear as he clinched his teeth.

“Easy there, man,” he said. “Damn, you’re loud.” The mouse boy looked all around him. There were no people around; just him and this guy right in front of him.

“Where did everyone go?” he asked. “Did we land? Where are we? How long have I been asleep?”

“Yes, you have landed successfully,” the other man replied. “You are just outside the fifth circle of this heaven. You were asleep for most of the trip. Everyone else got off of the boat already.” Naoko gave the man a straight look.

“Who are you?” he asked. The man stood back with a proud grin on his face.

“I’m Eros-Aphrodite!” he bragged. “I’m here to guide you through this circle to the next destination.” The mouse blinked at him for a long time.

“Okay…” he mumbled. The mouse gathered up his things and rose to his feet. He was about to walk off when Eros-Aphrodite held out his arm to block him. Naoko gave him a strange look.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“You do want to head off now, right?” the man asked. The mouse blinked at him.

“That’s the point…” he said as he tried to leave again. The pimp guide slightly pushed him back.

“Before we go,” he said. “You’ll need to undress some.” The mouse boy raised an eyebrow at him.

“Why?” he asked. Eros-Aphrodite blinked at him.

“You mean you really, don’t know?” he asked. The mouse shook his head. The pimp broke out into a huge grin. A snicker escaped from his lips. Naoko really looked confused now.

“What?” he asked. Eros-Aphrodite looked up at him.

“Come with me,” was all he said.

“Okay…” the mouse mumbled as he followed behind. They came to the door of the airboat. Eros-Aphrodite counted down in his head from five before drawing it open. A gust of steam blasted right in Naoko’s face. His jaw dropped as he took a step backwards. They had stepped into the heaven’s biggest hot springs. The first thing that the mouse saw was girls in towel basically heavy petting with their lovers—men or women. So much tongue, so much groping, so much fingers in the process. All in the heated water too. This was… just… a… a… a hell of an orgy! Eros-Aphrodite turned to his young red-faced companion.

“Welcome to the fifth circle of this heaven,” he said. “The circle of the deflowered.” Naoko’s nose bled as all words vanished from his mouth. Then, it all went black from there.