Pottery

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The sun shone brightly on the campus as Orion and his sisters made their way back to class after their lunch at Baratie. Their Art class with Otohime was something they always looked forward to. Otohime, with her kind heart and unique mermaid features, was a favorite amongst the students, her eccentric teaching style as captivating as her personality.

Last week, the theme had been to depict emotions with color. Orion had been paired with Vivi, and they had chosen to portray greed and lust. The exercise had ended with Orion cleverly spinning the situation, claiming that Vivi was making him feel greedy, while he was awakening a sense of lust in her. The playfulness had only added to the charm of the class.

"Good afternoon, class!" Otohime cheerfully greeted, her voice echoing through the room. "Last week we painted our emotions. This week, we'll be diving into the art of pottery, shaping our emotions in a tangible form!"

The class murmured in anticipation. While the room buzzed with activity as the students moved to set up their pottery stations, Otohime began to pair off students.

"Orion," Otohime said, her eyes twinkling, "I'm pairing you with Akeno."

Akeno, a raven-haired beauty known for her teasing nature, giggled as she neared Orion. Her almond-shaped eyes crinkled at the corners as she looked at him, a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Looks like we'll be getting our hands dirty today, Orion," Akeno quipped, her voice a mere whisper that was meant for him alone.

Orion chuckled, meeting her playful gaze with one of his own. "So it seems," he responded. "I'm looking forward to what we can create, Akeno."

"Orion, I choose the emotion 'Desire,'" Akeno's voice was soft but clear, ringing in the air like a bell, causing Orion's eyes to flicker to her.

He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "How appropriate," he retorted, his voice low and mirthful. "I, on the other hand, choose 'Frustration.'"

Akeno laughed at that, a light, melodic sound that seemed to fill the room. "A perfect match then. Desire and frustration," she declared, her eyes shining with glee.

Orion and Akeno took their places in front of a chunk of raw, unshaped clay. As they looked at the lump of potential in front of them, they knew they were on the verge of creating something meaningful and unique. Akeno's chosen emotion, 'Desire', was to be intertwined with Orion's 'Frustration'. The concept was intriguing, and the pair was excited to see how it would come to life through their combined efforts.

The atmosphere in the art room was electric as they began to work on their project. The room was alive with the hum of the pottery wheel and the soft murmuring of their classmates. Orion could feel Akeno's warmth seeping into him as their bodies brushed against each other, their hands occasionally touching while working on the clay.

Orion was the first to make a move, his hands reaching out to hold the clay. The cool, damp feel of it was therapeutic, almost soothing, as it squelched under his fingers. Akeno's hands joined his over the clay, their fingers brushing, and a jolt of electricity shot through them.

The touch was brief, but the spark lingered, causing Orion's heart to flutter. He masked his surprise with a chuckle, glancing at Akeno, whose eyes were wide with surprise. "Well," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "looks like we're already creating a spark."

Akeno grinned at him, her eyes dancing with amusement. She leaned into him, her body brushing his, and murmured, "Let's see if we can turn this spark into a flame."

At her words, Orion moved to sit behind Akeno to reach for the clay better. Their bodies aligned, Orion could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat, matching his own erratic one. His hands, now positioned over hers, moved in perfect synchronization, shaping and molding the clay.

They worked in silence, the only sound being the gentle hum of the wheel and the occasional whisper of instructions. It was a dance, their bodies moving fluidly, creating an unspoken rhythm as they continued to shape the clay. The feeling of Akeno's hands underneath his was electric, a feeling that caused his heartbeat to quicken. He looked at Akeno, locking eyes with her. He could see the same spark he felt reflected in her eyes.

Akeno broke their eye contact with a soft chuckle. "Careful, Orion," she whispered, her voice tinged with amusement, "our creation might just end up embodying more than just desire and frustration."

Orion joined her in her laughter, his voice warm and teasing. "That would be interesting, wouldn't it?" he replied, his eyes filled with mischief. He leaned in closer, his breath grazing her ear. "What do you say, Akeno? Shall we give it a shot?"

"Don't you already have a girlfriend, or four of them?" Akeno teased, glancing over her shoulder to meet Orion's eyes.

A sly smile curved his lips, "I have a big heart, Akeno."

Akeno giggled, her laughter sounding like soft chimes in the stillness of the art room. "A big heart you say? Is that all?"

Orion leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "A big heart pumps more blood which makes some other things big as well," he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Her cheeks flushed, a soft hue of pink blooming on her otherwise pale complexion. But instead of shying away, she turned to look at him, her gaze bold and challenging. "Is that a promise or a threat, Orion?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Orion's answer was a low chuckle, a deep sound that sent a shiver down Akeno's spine. "Now that," he murmured, his hands deftly shaping the clay under their intertwined fingers, "depends on how you want to take it."

Their playful banter was interrupted by Luna, who strolled up to their station with a teasing grin. "Don't let me interrupt the flirty banter," she said, leaning against the table. "But I think you two might want to focus a bit more on your clay. It's starting to resemble a shapeless blob rather than an embodiment of desire and frustration."

Orion chuckled at his sister's comment, giving the clay another push. "Oh, don't worry, Luna. We're just warming up," he replied, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

The soft hum of the pottery wheel filled the silence as Orion and Akeno continued to work on their creation, their hands moving in perfect harmony over the clay. It was a dance of sorts, their bodies moving fluidly, creating an unspoken rhythm.

Their banter continued, a mix of flirtatious remarks and soft laughter echoing around them. Their classmates, including Hinata, Winry, Yachiru, and Orihime, occasionally glanced their way, their eyes gleaming with curiosity and amusement.

"I bet you've never made pottery with so much… energy," Orion mumbled into Akeno's ear, causing her to chuckle.

"Is that another one of your euphemisms, Orion?" she teased, her eyes gleaming with mirth.

"Maybe it is," Orion murmured, his hands moving skillfully over the clay. "Or maybe it's just a fact."

Akeno shook her head, her raven hair brushing against his face, filling his nostrils with the scent of her floral shampoo. "You're full of surprises, Orion," she stated, her voice carrying a hint of admiration.

Orion grinned at that, leaning in closer to whisper in her ear. "And you, Akeno, are an enigma I wouldn't mind unwrapping."

Her laugh echoed in the room, causing a few of their classmates to look their way. "Then I suppose we're a match made in heaven, aren't we, Orion?" she asked, her tone teasing.

"I suppose we are," he agreed, a playful smile curving his lips. "Now, let's finish this masterpiece of ours, shall we?"

As Orion and Akeno neared the end of their pottery session, their creation stood before them - an embodiment of 'Desire' and 'Frustration'. The raw, unshaped clay had morphed into a tangible form under their skilled hands.

Their masterpiece was an intriguing blend of the two chosen emotions. It was a form resembling the outline of two entwined bodies, the curves suggesting a sense of yearning, capturing the essence of 'Desire'. At the same time, the sharp, almost jagged, lines created an impression of tension, mirroring the 'Frustration' Orion had chosen.

The most captivating feature, however, was the distinct gap where the two forms almost met but did not - a space that represented unfulfilled longing. The gap - the missing connection - was a testament to the underlying frustration, the constant push and pull, an almost tactile rendering of their chosen emotions.

Orion admired their creation, a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment filling him. He watched as Akeno's eyes traced the lines of the form, a small smile playing on her lips. It was evident that she was as pleased with their creation as he was.

"Are you ready to present it?" Akeno asked, her voice filled with anticipation. Orion gave her a nod, a smirk gracing his lips. "Absolutely. Shall we?"

Hand in hand, they walked towards Otohime with their creation. The room fell silent as all eyes turned towards them. Orion felt a sense of exhilaration at being the center of attention, something he never shied away from. His philosophy in life was to give as good as he got - or better.

Otohime's eyes widened in surprise as she took in their artwork. "Orion, Akeno, this is...," she paused, struggling for words, her eyes taking in the intricate details of their creation.

Before Otohime could continue, Orion stepped forward, presenting their creation with a flair of his hand. "Desire and Frustration, Teacher," he declared, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. He felt Akeno squeeze his hand, her laughter bubbling up like a melody in the silence.

"What an intriguing combination," Otohime mused, her gaze thoughtful. She looked up, her gaze meeting Orion's. "The rawness of the desire, the palpable frustration... it's truly an artistic masterpiece."

Otohime let out a soft whimper, her face flushed. "I almost can feel the desire. It's burning within me," she whispered, her fingers tracing the raw edges of the pottery. Her gaze was locked onto the piece, a far-off look in her eyes. "And the frustration that comes when desire is not answered...this is..."

She let out a moan, the sound so soft that it was almost inaudible over the hum of the pottery wheel still spinning lazily nearby. The room was eerily silent, all eyes glued to the teacher, watching as she lost herself in the rawness of their creation.

"More than just art, it's a manifestation of raw, palpable emotions. This is what true artistry is," Otohime finished, her voice laced with a profound sense of admiration.

Orion and Akeno shared a look, their eyes twinkling with satisfaction. They had managed to stir emotions within their teacher – a feat they considered a great accomplishment. Orion, ever the showman, gave Akeno a slight nod, indicating that it was their moment to shine.

Akeno understood and turned to their teacher, her voice soft yet firm. "This was our intention, Teacher. To not just create a tangible representation of 'Desire' and 'Frustration' but to make anyone who beholds it experience those emotions."

Otohime turned to Akeno, her eyes wide and filled with awe. "Akeno, Orion... you've surpassed my expectations." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I must say, the gap, the nearly-there-but-not-quite-touch, it's an excellent representation of the frustration that accompanies unfulfilled desire. It is as if I can feel the ache of wanting, the frustration of almost but not quite achieving. I... I'm speechless."

Orion chuckled, his heart pounding in his chest with pride. "Thank you, Teacher," he said, his voice smooth, dripping with satisfaction. "It seems our little 'dance' around the pottery wheel paid off, didn't it, Akeno?"

Akeno gave him a playful shove, her laughter echoing around the room. "You can say that again, Orion. We did indeed create a masterpiece," she agreed, her eyes meeting his in a moment of shared triumph.

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