Five thousand years ago, deep in the wilderness of a region lost to time, two weary travelers approached a mythical land from different directions – one from the south and one from the east.
The first traveler is named Akito.
Trudging from a faraway civilization in East Asia, Akito last saw his family and village more than two hundred days ago. During that time, he’s had to hunt for his food, climb treacherous mountains, evade ravenous beasts, and endure storms so powerful he thought the winds would sweep him off his feet and send him to the heavens above. Akito is the bravest young man in his village. During the past year, unexpected flooding and unpredictable temperatures have made farming nearly an impossible task. Fearful that the village would starve to death and completely die out, the village elders made an incredibly difficult decision: They asked the inhabitants to select a volunteer who would travel on foot to a rumored land called Eden. Supposedly a vast garden full of fresh fruit, clean water, tamed beasts, and plant life to sustain an entire civilization, the elders believed Eden would unlock the secret to prosperity for generations to come…and ensure their culture would survive.
After a lengthy search process, Akito was chosen to embark on this perilous journey. He reluctantly agreed, tearfully saying goodbye to his kin, not knowing if he would ever see them again. Secretly, he believed he would not. No matter how much encouragement he received from everyone, he had no reason not to believe that this would be a one-way trip.
But off he went, into the vast unknown. Packing with him a modest number of belongings, Akito was determined to locate this fabled Eden. He could not fathom seeing his village crumble from within, which provided him with the necessary motivation for his risky journey.
“Do not fail us,” his father tearfully told him as Akito was preparing to depart.
“I will not. That’s a promise,” Akito responded. “Trust me.”
And with those words being said, Akito embarked on his path toward Eden.
After crossing several mountain ranges, raging rivers, and endless plains full of scant vegetation, Akito believed he would never find this Eden. He carefully followed a map drawn by an old traveler who claimed he once saw Eden in the far distance. Looking up at the stars as his trusty guide, Akito kept his faith through it all, determined to find his destination and save his people from extinction.
One day, more than six months after commencing his journey, he saw in the far distance an oasis in the middle of the desert. A single river ran through a patch of greenery at the bottom of an enormous valley. It took Akito several days to safely walk down the steep hill to get to the valley floor. A few times he almost fell to his death. He thanked his lucky stars that such a tragic fate did not befall him.
But here he is now, a few hours away from entering this oasis. Akito could see several tall trees bunched together, as if they were plucked from a dream. The soothing sounds of the river flowing toward the oasis calm him. Akito’s weary legs could not take him much further. He needs to rest. He wishes that this is the end of his journey. He does not know what he’ll do if this oasis is not the Eden that he heard so much about.
The second traveler is named Monifa.
Monifa hails from a civilization deep in the African continent. Unlike most young women in her hamlet, Monifa has not yet taken a husband and borne children. Instead, she’s found herself more interested in hunting prey, building houses, and protecting the residents from external threats. Everyone in Monifa’s hamlet considers her to be “the strange one,” a moniker derived from the nontraditional roles she successfully plays among her people. A tall, strikingly beautiful woman with a muscular, athletic build, Monifa feels much more comfortable working with her hands and risking her life to save others rather than taking care of children. She loves her young siblings with all her heart, but Monifa cannot comprehend caring for them all day long! She’d rather feel productive in the present instead of laying the foundation for the future. No matter how much her family tries to get her to find a husband, Monifa defiantly refuses to bow down to societal pressure. Despite this fire within her soul, Monifa still possesses a kind heart that wants to do what’s right.
One fateful day, a mysterious stranger wanders into town. Cautious that it might be a spy sent by a rival clan, the townspeople surrounded the man to ensure he could not escape. The man, sick and dying of thirst, begged for nourishment. Monifa rushed home to provide the man with water, freshly cut fruit, and bread. After satisfying his hunger and staving off dehydration, the man explained to the entire hamlet about this place he saw in a dream: A garden called Eden. He described the place as having unlimited resources, a claim that made everyone laugh…except Monifa. For some unexplained reason, he believed this man deeply. Something about his story felt genuine.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to sleep, the man was sitting in front of the fire in the village square, occupied with his own thoughts. Monifa approached the man and asked if she could sit with him. The man agreed, pleasantly surprised by this young woman’s hospitality. They spoke for the next hour about many topics but mostly focused on this magical place called “Eden.” She wanted to find it. She felt destined to locate it. The visitor could sense her earnestness.
“Please, honored visitor, tell me how to find this Eden,” she asked. “I must know.”
The man wisely advised Monifa to “follow the north star,” which would lead her to Eden. The man then fell into a peaceful slumber, as if he had never experienced true comfort before in his life. The following day, Monifa decided to set out on a journey to locate this mysterious “Eden.” Everyone in the hamlet objected, especially her parents. They forcefully insisted that she not leave the confines of their hamlet, believing that she would inevitably die from this journey. After all, there are enemies on all sides of their town; enemies that would love nothing more than to kidnap her and turn her into a slave. Monifa reassured her family that she would not experience such an undignified end.
That night, with all the stars in the sky shining brightly, Monifa packed her things and walked out into the inhospitable jungle. With a sharp spear sheathed against her back, she confidently trudged forward, not knowing what the path forward would have in store for her. She believed, among other things, that if she were to successfully find Eden, the infinite resources of his land would help alleviate the tensions between the clans that inhabit her continent. This could be the end of war and suffering! Her days of guarding the hamlet against outside threats could come to a joyful end. The very thought of that possibility motivated Monifa to make this hazardous trip.
Like Akito, her journey to Eden was full of dangerous obstacles. Three hundred days later, hungry and sleep-deprived, Monifa looked over the horizon and saw a group of trees sitting in the middle of a wide valley. When she saw a lively river running toward the trees, she knew she had found it. It had to be Eden! This patch of territory could be nothing else but Eden, Monifa thought.
To be honest, Monifa could not bear the thought of having to travel further away from home. She did not want her supplies to run out before she had completed her objective. For the sake of her sanity, this place had to be the Eden she sought out!
After waiting for the sun to rise, Akito and Monifa nervously finish their epic journey. Full of cautious optimism, the two travelers did not want to consider the possibility that this oasis is not Eden, but rather something else entirely. The two world-weary explorers notice the noticeable lack of wildlife, at least the sounds of untamed beasts. This surprises the two of them, especially given the rumors that Eden is teaming with animals that can be eaten and conquered.
Akito enters Eden through a narrow entrance on the east side of the garden. Simultaneously, Monifa finds an inviting pathway at the south-facing part of Eden. Both travelers can feel their excitement grow with every step they take inside the garden.
Full of tall grass, clean water streaming through the river, trees bearing luscious fruit (some of which Akito and Monifa do not recognize), rich smells they could not identify, and a tangible feeling of peace and tranquility that they had both never experienced before, there is no doubt about it. This place must be the legendary Eden. There is no other possibility.
What else could it be?
In the middle of the garden is a vast field of green grass. Akito follows the river to the open area, impressed by the sights and sounds surrounding him. He could very well imagine several families from his village – including his own – living peacefully in this garden. He could help build several houses in this field! Everything would be perfect. No one would ever suffer from a lack of food, water, or shelter again. Suddenly, Akito notices several bushes in the near distance, all of them bearing the most beautiful flowers he had ever laid eyes on. Oh, how gorgeous they look! Akito, suddenly imbued with a renewed sense of purpose, sprints toward the flower garden. Excited to explore this botanical structure further, he ignores the ominous figure standing next to a tall rosebush.
Akito freezes in place. The figure, which appears to be a human being, turns slowly around to see who is creating these footsteps. Monifa reaches for her spear as she twists her body. Akito, in response, unsheathes his sword from his side. Soon, the two weary travelers are on high alert, with their weapons drawn, staring down each other menacingly. During their respective journeys, they’ve had to fight beasts that were threatening their lives. However, this is the first time they’ve ever encountered another human being. Neither of them speaks for a long time, as if they had anything to speak about.
“Who are you?” Akito asks first.
Monifa does not understand his language. But despite this, she can sense the strange man’s diplomatic attempt. She responds to him in her language, which she doubts he would be able to understand as well.
“My name is Monifa. Who are you? Do you live here or do you come from far away?” Monifa, with her spear pointing directly at the man, observes him. He’s handsome, well-built, and conducts himself like a warrior. Perhaps he is one? He is bare-chested, revealing well-defined pecs, shoulders, and abdominal muscles. Monifa struggles to maintain eye contact with the man, finding herself distracted by his athletic body. Akito, who also doesn’t understand her language, keeps a cautious distance from her. He chooses to have his sword remain by his side but not raised in the air, motivated by not wanting to provoke this woman further. Akito walks away from the rosebush and creeps closer to her, hoping to achieve some sort of diplomatic solution to this tense standoff.
“My name is Akito,” he says. The woman doesn’t reply. He did not expect her to. Akito watches her spear closely, careful not to make any sudden moves that might instigate a direct attack. Somehow, he senses she has no desire to resort to violence. After a few moments of complete silence, both warriors begin to breathe easier. The woman lowers her spear to her side but does not put it away. The man resheaths his sword yet maintains a high level of alertness toward his adversary.
“What is the purpose of your journey to this place?” Monifa asks. She considers asking a follow-up question but resists after realizing the futility of such an endeavor. Why ask a question in a language he does not understand? What sort of response does she expect to receive?
Driven by the idea to extend a peaceful gesture, Akito unbuckles his belt onto which the scabbard is attached, drops it to the ground, and maintains eye contact with her. He then takes a few steps to his left, conveying his intention to de-escalate the situation. The man is now several feet away from his weapon, putting himself in a prime vulnerable position. Monifa sees this, contemplates its meaning, and takes several paces forward to get closer to the man. She gives him a warm smile to communicate friendliness.
The man and woman are now standing directly in front of each other. They warily scope out one another, wanting to fully comprehend the person in front of them. Akito is pleasantly surprised by the woman’s physical appearance. Intensely beautiful, with sharp angular facial features and piercing brown eyes, she might be the most attractive woman he’s ever seen in his life. His eyes then observe the rest of her. Akito’s heart stops when he fully takes in the woman’s entire figure. Full of strong, dense muscles from head to toe, this woman looks as powerful as a wild beast while maintaining an unambiguous femininity to her. She possesses broad shoulders, rounded biceps, bountiful breasts, and long thick legs that could only be possible from participating in decades of hard physical labor. Every single woman in his village is small, short, dainty, and physically meek. But not this woman. Her commanding physical stature is enough to make him feel intimidated while sending jolts of arousal throughout his system.
Has Akito ever felt this way before? He cannot recall. Probably not.
For the next thirty minutes, Akito and Monifa continue this silent, still dance. They look upon each other with complicated feelings of curiosity, fear, relief, and…lust.
Lust. A feeling both warriors have been taught to repress since their youth. As leaders in their respective lands, Akito and Monifa both feel compelled to uphold a certain level of “dignified separation” from such base emotions. After all, how can one be expected to lead their people into battle if they are unable to control their own carnal desires? That is not what leadership is all about. Both of these weary travelers know this intuitively.
However, they are also far from home. Are the rules different here in Eden?
Akito breaks the stillness by walking back toward the flower garden. Monifa blinks several times, as if being thrust back into reality. Without knowing why, she follows him. Akito smiles to himself when he hears her footsteps behind him.
Over the course of the next two hours, Akito and Monifa silently explore the garden together while maintaining a respectable physical distance. They keep a watchful eye on the other person, still unsure if a surprise attack is imminent. However, with each passing moment, that fear seems more and more unlikely. Monifa enjoys looking at Akito’s ruggedly handsome face. Akito, likewise, cannot remove his gaze from her immense beauty.
This is also the first time they’ve ever seen someone from the other person’s respective people group. Monifa has heard tales of people from the Asian continent, but she’s never met someone from that culture up close. Today, that is no longer the case. Similarly, Akito has seen drawings of people from the African continent. He may have also heard stories from his childhood from spice traders who travel the world by boat. But never in his life has he ever actually seen someone like her…let alone converse with (or at least, attempt to) in a tense environment. Impressed by her strong, muscular physique, Akito wonders if all women from her land look like this. Or is she the exception? Perhaps she is, which would explain why she was (in all likelihood) sent out here in the first place. Who better to traverse through the dangerous wilderness than someone who looks like her?
Finally, after exploring every part of the garden, Akito and Monifa find the back pathway, which leads to a gorgeous lake. It is here where they finally see the wildlife in this part of the world. Winged creatures, four-legged beasts, scaled beings that slither on the ground, and bugs that fly from all directions – the lake is where Eden’s civilization truly resides. The two travelers cannot believe their eyes. They remain still for a long time, taking in the sights and sounds of this paradise on Earth. It is at this moment when they both break their silence. Akito and Monifa begin speaking in their native tongues, not to each other, but to their families back home. They know they cannot hear them from this far, but they hope that their messages can float through the air and nestle in the dreams of their people.
This looks like the perfect place to set up a new civilization, Akito thinks. He bends down to drink the water from the lake. It’s as sweet as he had hoped it would be. Monifa follows his lead and does the same. She gasps, pleasantly surprised by the water’s divine taste.
She then finds a large red fruit hanging from a nearby tree, plucks it, and begins to eat it. Akito comes closer. Monifa generously offers him a taste. They eat together, enjoying the nourishing fruit, laughing, and smiling at each other.
Is this what Heaven is like? Akito and Monifa sure hope so.
After eating a few more pieces of fruit and tasting some of the leafy greens growing from the ground, Akito and Monifa lie in the grass, happy and content. Their bellies are sufficiently full. They remain like this, looking up at the cloudless sky, for several minutes. No one speaks. What could they say that would come close to accurately capturing their actual feelings?
Monifa tilts her head to look at Akito. Suddenly, a wave of emotions overcomes her. She feels safe around him. She feels a sense of security, peace, and joy around this man that she’s never felt for another human being. Slowly, she extends her hand and places it on Akito’s knee. He instantly sits up, surprised by this gesture. Akito stares at Monifa’s beautiful face, noticing the longing in her glances at him. Akito takes her hand into his and kisses it. Monifa giggles. Akito smiles.
Back home, Akito has many suitors who are interested in him. Like Monifa, he’s rejected every single advance, out of hope that the perfect mate for him is out there, somewhere. Is this mysterious woman the one he’s been looking for? Could this be it? Is she for real? These questions swim around Akito’s head as he pulls Monifa closer to his chest. He feels the warmth radiating from her silky skin. Monifa listens to Akito’s heartbeat as if it were music playing from the gods. Finally, he cups her face with his hands and kisses her deeply, languishing every moment. The two travelers do not want this moment to end.
When their lips come apart, they both know what’s about to happen next. They don’t need to speak the same language to understand this. There is, however, a universal language that both Akito and Monifa speak with masterful clarity:
Love.
Hand-in-hand, Akito helps Monifa stand to her feet. He leads her back into the garden. After a few minutes, they find a small patch of grass surrounded by dense flower bushes. Their weapons are still near the lake, for what they are about to do next will not require them. They are no longer afraid of each other. That time has passed. They are now about to express a shared love that knows no cultural or language boundaries.
Akito and Monifa are now standing in the middle of this grassy patch. They stare into each other’s eyes. He caresses her beautiful face. She reaches down to feel his growing arousal. At first embarrassed by his conspicuous hardness, Monifa laughs it off as a trivial thing to worry about. This is the exact reaction she wants out of him. Just as he’s about to laugh alongside her, Monifa explores his solid pecs with her hands, greedily feeling his raw strength and power. She can feel considerable dampness forming between her legs. Akito slides his hands across her broad back, feeling every mound of pure muscle. He leans over to kiss her again. She returns the favor by stroking his wide shoulders with her fingertips.
After more kissing and caressing, they finally decide that enough is enough.
Monifa steps back and removes her clothing, article by article. Wearing a headscarf, a leather belt, sandals, and a long piece of colorful fabric wrapped around her body to make a dress, Akito stops breathing as he watches her remove each item. She carelessly lets everything drop to the ground. Soon, she’s completely naked. Akito’s heart races as he looks upon her flawless body. Sturdy, athletic, bulky…yet curvy and feminine at the same time, she is perfect in every way. Her plump breasts bounce up and down as she saunters toward him. His eyes cannot stop staring at her engorged clitoris, much larger and meatier than he’s ever seen on a woman before. Akito had no idea it could get so big!
She kisses him again. When they come apart, he realizes that now it’s his turn to undress.
Akito loosens the strap on his pants, allowing it to fall down and pool around his ankles. Monifa audibly gasps when she sees his erect penis shoot up in the air, ready and willing to take her. There’s something incredibly erotic, something deeply “female” about the experience of seeing a man get instantly hard around you. It gives her a unique feeling of power that she has never experienced before. After removing his moccasins and cloth bands around his forearms, he joins her in being fully naked. They stand there, wistfully, looking into each other’s eyes. Suddenly, both of them remember their childhoods. They remember being told by their parents about the rituals of mating. They recall their lessons about reproduction and learning how they are expected, as adults, to perpetuate their species. They must, in the near future, find a mate and create children with them. As youths, this lesson felt silly and didactic. But today, in this moment, this lesson feels imperative.
It feels like a sacred calling.
Akito guides Monifa down onto the grass. She enjoys the feeling of the cool, soft green grass against her taut naked skin. He reaches down to feel the wetness between her legs. Akito massages the head of her hard clit, further turning her on. Waves of pleasure roll through her, a feeling she never wants to stop. Just as she reaches the verge of climax, Akito pulls away, as if he knew she was close. As if he intentionally chose to do this, as if he wanted to finish her off himself. Monifa makes a sound of protest. Akito responds by lowering himself on top of her.
Sweat drips down his face. His breathing becomes rapid. Monifa closes her eyes, ready for his welcoming penetration. Then, inch by inch, Akito enters her. All it takes is this single moment for both Akito and Monifa to lose their innocence forever. Finally, they experience something that they’ve been taught to do but have never, up to this point, actually done. But those days are now over. From here on out, these two are living in a whole different world.
Akito thrusts deeply into her, in and out, in and out, in and out, slowly at first, savoring the moment. Monifa opens her eyes and finds herself mesmerized by Akito’s handsomeness. His kind eyes, angular jaw, and deep cheekbones make his face look like it was chiseled by the gods – or by an artist who intuitively understood male beauty. He can feel the tension build within him. Monifa’s cheeks are now scorching hot, as is the rest of her body. Her heels make an indent in the dirt below her as her feet writhe around wildly. Akito’s manhood fills her completely in a way she didn’t know was possible. Akito, from his perspective, cannot describe in words the way her heat and wetness feel around him.
Luckily for the two of them, there aren’t any other people around. Even the wild beasts near the lake are nowhere to be found. As if they knew to stay away. As if some unseen force is compelling them to keep their distance. Akito continues to thrust into her as he leans over to kiss her. They exchange saliva. He tastes her tongue. She digs her fingernails into his side. A gentle breeze cools them off at just the right time, just seconds before it all ends.
One final thrust later, and Akito orgasms. He spills his seed deep inside her, an endless stream that seems to go on forever and ever. Monifa climaxes shortly after he does. She lets out a guttural scream that could probably be heard by anyone within a mile radius of the flower garden. Her breathing intensifies. Akito groans. Once his spasms subside, he remains inside her, as if his life depended on him being physically and emotionally attached to her. Anyone who were to witness this moment would see quite an epic sight: A beautiful man and a beautiful woman, bodies interlocked, tired and spent of energy, engaging in a pure act of physical love.
Moments pass. Monifa, still in a daze, gains some mental clarity. She cannot recall the last time she ever felt this at ease. She feels completely unguarded. She’s naked, far away from her weapon, and has a strangely powerful man on top of her. Yet, she feels the safest she’s ever felt in her whole life. She doesn’t feel any sort of vulnerability around him, this mysterious man who just walked into her biographical tale. Akito finally pulls out of her, causing both of them to moan. Then, they laugh together, relishing the silliness of it all. Is this what love is like? If so, then they want to experience this all the time, without end.
After a long time, Akito and Monifa stand up. They decide to explore the rest of Eden. But, they will do this without getting dressed. Why bother? Who will catch them? Who will care? The weather is idyllic. There’s no need to put clothes back on. Feeling naughty, Akito and Monifa leave their clothes on the grass and walk hand-in-hand back to the lake.
What a sight it must have been! The trees, animals, and plants are all witnessing two beautiful human beings stroll through Eden. Two gorgeous, muscular, powerfully athletic bodies marching side by side toward the water. Akito’s tanned, golden yellow skin and Monifa’s glistening, dark black skin radiate in the afternoon sunlight. Their muscles appear pumped and taut, like poetry in motion. The two lovers spend the next hour splashing around in the lake, cooling off, and cleaning their exhausted bodies.
When they get out, they find a large boulder to sit down on. The smooth surface looks like it was designed by a master mason artist. Monifa playfully reaches down and fondles Akito’s small soft penis. He instantly feels embarrassment, suddenly remembering seeing paintings of male warriors from her continent. Every single man depicted in those renderings has a massive endowment between their legs, an anatomical feature that Akito is unsure if he could match. He looks into Monifa’s eyes, admiring her gentle touch and compassionate attitude. Can he live up to the high standards that she must have for her male suitors? Akito cannot help but believe that her standards must be highly discriminatory.
Inspired by a combination of insecurity and machismo, Akito becomes erect again, much to the pleasant surprise of Monifa. This time, Akito stands Monifa on her feet, turns her around, and bends her over the moss-covered boulder. Monifa grits her teeth. She spreads her legs for him, allowing Akito to enter her from behind. She braces herself against the boulder as he pumps in and out of her.
For their second intimate experience together, Akito thrusts with relentless urgency. Monifa can instantly tell the difference between this coupling and the first one they had. This seems more personal, more emotional, more insistent. She reaches down to stroke her engorged clit, further heightening her pleasure. Akito’s forceful thrusts get more and more intense, as if he has something to prove. Perhaps he does?
Monifa lets out an animalistic growl, deeper and more primal than any sound he’s ever heard from any wild beast. When Akito lightly tugs on Monifa’s lengthy silky hair, the sounds of her moaning make him even harder, as if such a thing were even possible.
“I love you,” Monifa speaks in her native tongue. Akito cannot understand her, yet he somehow knows what she means, in an odd but esoteric way. Monifa digs her fingernails deeper into the boulder’s bushy moss. Akito knows his climax is impending. The same goes for Monifa.
One final deep breath in, and Akito gives her one last powerful pump. He begins pulsating deep within her. Monifa climaxes after jerking off her clit, a considerable amount of fluid gushing out of her as her vaginal walls contract intensely. Akito doesn’t understand what’s just happened, but he knows he must have achieved something noteworthy. He then falls on her. She lays her breasts on top of the boulder, wheezing and out of breath. They remain that way for a long time. Akito’s softened, sticky penis remains deep inside her. He is also breathless. Their heartbeats are perfectly synced, a harbinger of things to come, perhaps?
Once they come apart, Akito confusedly looks down at the puddle forming underneath them. Where did that come from? Monifa giggles, kisses Akito on the cheek, and grabs his hand. They walk away from the moss-covered boulder and approach one of the tallest trees in the garden.
Monifa chooses the tree with the widest branches. She and Akito lie down in the shade, snuggle for a few moments, and fall asleep.
An hour later, Akito wakes up. He blinks several times. After regaining consciousness, he looks up and sees Monifa’s gorgeous face smiling down at him. He cannot remember what he dreamt about during his nap, but whatever it was, he is certainly glad to reenter the real world. They share a deep, passionate kiss. Monifa mounts him, like a traveler riding a stallion.
By now, the sun has moved its position. They are no longer covered in shade. However, the temperature has cooled down considerably. Akito estimates sundown must be at least five to six hours away. Before he can think about this further, he gets distracted by the sensations of Monifa’s strong callused fingers wrapping around his soft penis. He lets out a quiet moan. Monifa licks her lips. After he gets hard again, they make love for the third time today. Unlike their previous experience together, this time the pace is slower, more languorous, more intentional. Akito and Monifa engage in this beautifully erotic dance once more. At first, she lifts her hips up and down methodically, wanting to savor every inch of him occupying her sensitive slit. Soon, she bounces with more ferocity, desiring yet another satisfying climax. When it does arrive, Monifa looks up to the sky, joyfully screaming in delight as Akito groans with his own release.
For the rest of the day, Akito and Monifa engage in nonstop carnal delights. They spend the next six hours exploring a different part of Eden, making love, resting, and walking further into the garden to see what plants and wildlife it has to offer. As it approached sundown, Akito and Monifa have lost track of how many times they’ve made love. Ten times? Fifteen times? Twenty times? They honestly don’t know. What they do know is that after a long night of sleep, they’re bound to get hungry again. Hungry for the flesh of their partner.
Akito and Monifa remain together for ten days. Even though they are still unable to speak each other’s language (despite each of them learning a few phrases in their partner’s native tongue), they realize that their idyllic time together must eventually end. Their mission isn’t to find a partner. Their mission is to locate Eden, verify whether the legends surrounding Eden are true, study the environment, and report back to their people what they found (or didn’t find). Soon, they will need to depart for their respective homes. They knew this day would come. They didn’t know when that would be.
In the meantime, they spend their days walking around Eden, writing notes about the plantlife and animals that live there, taking mental pictures of the scenery, and enjoying carnal delights with each other. Soon, our travelers have documented every single square inch of Eden. Their notebooks are full of written observations. Plenty of reporting to be done when they return to their respective homelands! They know that they have one final sleep left in the garden before they must go their separate ways.
Finally, Akito and Monifa wake up one morning and engage in one final carnal encounter before departing. By now, they are intimately familiar with each other’s bodies. They know how to touch each other. They know which parts not to touch. The tallest tree has become their preferred resting place. After eating a hearty breakfast, Akito and Monifa enter the garden, find a grassy patch near the lake, and make love one final time.
Monifa lies on her back and spreads her legs out wide. Akito mounts her, kisses her several times, and enters her. After dozens of thrusts, Akito spills his seed inside her for the last time. She savors the moment, knowing the risks of their carnal activities. He knows it too. They both know what will happen as a result of their lovemaking, even though they cannot articulate it into words that their lover will understand. Monifa touches Akito’s muscular chest. She cannot bear the thought of not being with him. Akito flips himself and his lover on their sides, then reaches over to cup her rounded butt cheeks. Her hard glutes never get tiresome to feel. He will dream of this during his journey back home.
At long last, Akito and Monifa get dressed, pack enough fruit and fresh water into their bags, and get ready to exit Eden. The two lovers are overwhelmed with emotions. The last ten days have been heavenly. They’ve spent every single day making love, exploring the garden, teaching each other their native languages, and making love some more. But as painful as their separation will be, they know they must return home and report their findings. After all, that’s why they made this journey in the first place.
At high noon, Akito and Monifa exit the garden and stand in the middle of the valley plain. They can hear the river flowing in the distance. They share one final kiss. Tears roll down their faces. They’re trembling. They can barely stand up straight. They want to delay the inevitable, but they know that would only make their separation more painful. Their hearts beat as one now. There is an invisible string, quilted by the gods above, that connects their souls. There is no doubt about that. This string cannot be seen, but it can be deeply felt by both Akito and Monifa.
One final embrace. One final kiss. Then, Akito walks to the east while Monifa walks southbound. They trudge forward, unable to bear the thought of being apart. The two lovers trek through the wide valley, weeping uncontrollably as they take each step. Akito and Monifa periodically look back to see each other. Finally, they are out of sight.
They are now alone.
When Akito returns home, more than a year after he left, he is greeted by the village elders, residents young and old, and his family. Every single day on his journey home, he thought about Monifa. He prayed she would return to her continent safely. Monifa, likewise, spoke a silent prayer every night, asking the gods to watch over and protect Akito.
Similarly, the moment Monifa steps foot back into her hamlet, she’s greeted by an enthusiastic welcoming party. However, everyone stands still in utter shock when they see her physical appearance.
Monifa’s belly is large and full. She was careful throughout her journey home to protect herself…and her unborn child. Soon, she will become a mother. The child’s father, thousands of miles away in a foreign land, does not know about the existence of his child…yet he has frequent dreams about fatherhood. Monifa’s mother smiles at her daughter, happy that she finally found a mate. The leaders of their respective villages decided to send a large party to settle in Eden, a land that was no longer a fantastical rumor. Akito and Monifa, naturally, agreed to be the leaders of these two parties.
Genealogists in the modern day estimate that close to 70% of the entire human population can trace their lineage back to two historic individuals: Akito and Monifa. They replenished the world that was on the brink of starvation. They bore many children together, who in turn traveled the world and had children of their own.
History has forgotten their names. But their legacy lives on nevertheless. There’s poetic beauty in this. There’s something wonderful about two people who loved each other deeply being the two most important human beings to ever exist.
May their legacy continue forever and ever.
Akito and Monifa.
The Adventures of Ryan Takahashi 