On the night of 10 Dec 2007

Think we shall save the proposal photos for our wedding.
But after laughing with meal-lady and futon-man, we chatted and rested with fruits and green tea until we felt ready for onsen again.

We were excited because night would be colder and it excites us to make the long dash (or rather, "scurry") from the warmth of our lodgings into the dark winter night and finally into the misty boil of sulphur and minerals.

So in the rotenburo, we dared each other to make a dash for another, some distance away, and we both obliged. Dear was very nice and he'd said he'd follow as long as I want to go. He has been so since we met. I was worried about his rope-burn but it has healed surprisingly fast. Dont know if because of the onsen. Then we came back to the original one near the changing room. And it was so peaceful, I was perched on a stone, looking at the flowing river separated from the rotenburo by some large rocks and enjoying the night sky too. Then dear said, let's go back. But it, being the last night, I wanted to stay a little longer to enjoy this serenity I can scarcely find once I'm in Tokyo, not to mention, back in our little city. But did not want dear to stay longer than he had wanted and I'd follow him if he left so I answered "okay..you go first, I'd follow" as I continued to stare and bid my time. After a few seconds, dear had almost gotten out of the rotenburo and called out to me.I had wished that dear would stop hurrying me out of the onsen because it was so comfortable and such a wondrous sight at night. So I gave it a last look and quickly turned back into the changing room. After donning our yukata and brown jacket, we happily made our way back into the ryokan, our bodies gaining temporary immunity against the cold.

Back in our little Asa-giri, I began my nightly ritual of washing my face, brush teeth, put moisturiser etc etc while dear, separated from me by 2 shoji screens and a about 30 tatami mats sat near the window looking out in a self-entertaining manner. He was half talking to me, half talking to himself, saying that he could see the orion, etc, etc. I looked at my mask, was about to put it on and wondered if dear would want some too. I thought "probably in BKK" when dear called out from where he was "dear, what are you doing?"

I said, "nothing!" as I had completed my ritual, abandoning the mask and went to where he was. He moved back a little on the perch, sat me down to look at the sky. For a brief moment, I tried to look for stars as I thought he was going to teach me how to see the orion and other astronomical beings. Then he said, "Actually I've been wanting to ask you a question." Then I knew. *chortles* because that was how he starts. But I was very surprised and happy too. I turned round to face him and he got down on his knees. He opened the little heart shaped ring box and said, "Dear, we have been together for 3 long years..." then I was very happy so I interjected with somethings, i cant remember what. It was just emotional and very blur. I remember he tried again "we have been together for 3 long years.." then he asked me to marry him in Japanese and translated. So joked "pre-nup!" He promised to love me and my family too and promised him too. He asked for 2 children *chortles* anyway, I said "yes" (of course, of course, of course =)) he said not "yes" should be "hai!" to his questions. He said somethings in Japanese and translated each of them. I won't tell you. *keke* But if you want to use it to propose to your girlfriend, you can ask my dear if he'd willing to share with you.

So we took photos and chatted and laughed and he told me that his who knew..who had helped..that was how we ended our last night in the place that took our breaths away.