The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 103~♫

"Come!" She grabbed his hand, dragging him away from the restaurant.

He followed her, realizing the restaurant turned into a plain of flowers and lush grass. He tugged a long strand of blonde hair behind his ear without questioning it.

Birds chirped above them, and the sun rays heated his cheeks. Perhaps it wasn't just the sun giving him the fuzzy feeling.

Voices of playing women and girls in light dresses, which strengthened their curves without revealing them, reached him as they stepped down a small hill. A vast lake spread in front of him, and in the middle, floated a garden.

Stepping across the stone bridge, where young girls sang and played on musical instruments like harps and flutes, Aiyoku's steps turned light and full of vigor.

Just a few minutes ago, he was tired and on the verge of falling asleep standing, but now he could run a marathon without abusing his lungs.

"Where are we?" he asked as they stopped.

"Does it matter since you are here?" The blond woman turned around, fluttering her eyelashes.

"Well"—Aiyoku tugged his collar—"I would love to visit this place more often."

"Why visiting?" A woman with deep black hair asked as she danced next to him.

"When you can stay." Another appeared from behind him, almost like a ghost.

A squirrel ran across branches, jumping from one tree to another. Cats slept on flat stones or rubbed their bodies against the chatting women. Children played with dogs, crowning as they dashed across the greenery.

Everybody was happy, beaming with smiles and inviting Aiyoku to spend time with them. The world around him spun that he had almost lost a balance.

"Careful, my knight." The blond woman caught him from the fall.

"T-Thank you." He jumped onto his feet, embarrassed. "Who are you? I feel like I'm inside a dream."

That was the only explanation. How else he would leave the restaurant? How else he would find his water reflection with long hair as he used to without finding it strange?

The woman didn't answer him, only gestured him to follow her. The long veil behind her caressed the land. The animals cleared the path for her and him. For brief moments, Aiyoku would believe he had seen a girl with lush branches growing in place of her hair. Could those be Nymphs from Greek legends?

The tones of flute accompanied him all the way till the throne overgrown by leaves and flowers of seven colors. Staggering, the women around him pushed him forward, giggling and laughing as his face turned red. Sitting him, like he was their emperor, he assumed the place on the throne.

The blond woman sat next to his leg, letting her shoulder rub against his clothes suggestively. Aiyoku was a lady's man, but he had never laid a single finger on any of the girls that tried to date him.

Wishing he could move his leg without coming out rude, he sent her a stiffened smile, focusing on what was around him. Veils of white blossoms swayed down the trees. All girls danced, picked flowers for crown weaving, or played on pan's flute.

Everything brought peace into his heart, yet something was off. He couldn't place his finger on it. It kept evading him, staying on the edge of his vision.

Young women danced in front of him, trying to win his favor. Their dresses floated in the air like ripped petals taken by the wind for an unseen journey.

"Have a drink, young man," a woman of bold curves lowered herself, showing him her busy chest along a tray holding a goblet of wine.

His face blushed once more. "T-Thank you, but I'm a minor. I can't drink," he answered without thinking.

Children behind the throne giggled as the serving woman winked at him. "You are such a cute man."

Aiyoku was lost with words. No matter how fantastic this place was, he couldn't break the rules of his country. But this was just a dream, right? A bit of fun couldn't hurt? He pondered about taking a sip of that wine.

Before he could ask for the goblet, the music dimmed as the dancers cleared the place. The blonde woman who sat next to him stood up, gesturing him to follow her.

"Oh, great man, please, hear out my plea."

The middle Kamini didn't need to hear it twice, and he was on his legs.

"How can I help you? It will be my pleasure."

He let her lead him further into the garden, and more fantastic flowers of exotic shapes and their sweet fragrance filled his mind. A few of his steps wobbled as his head spun from all the colors.

As the colors turned brighter, the shadows darkened.