The Theater an der Wien was surely the among the grander sights Ishizu Ishtar had seen; clad as she was in an appropriately lavish gold brocade gown, white-and-gold elbow-length gloves, with her hair in a chignon, she couldn't help but feel slightly out of her depth-at least, compared to the natural ease with which Seto Kaiba, looking rather dashing himself in a black tuxedo with a white bowtie, seemed to navigate the space, the German flowing easily and confidently from his tongue even as Ishizu clasped her hands in front of her and tried to look less lost than she was.

It had been a surprise when he'd asked her one morning, face half-covered in shaving cream, if she'd wanted to accompany him on a business trip; she normally wouldn't have been interested, as his travels often took him to the States, usually New York, where she'd already been before, but Vienna--that was as strong a lure as any, and she'd been glad he asked. After all, how could she pass up an opportunity to visit this new city, let alone the marvelous (or so she'd heard) Kunsthistorisches Museum?

And so here they were; after a day spent at the museum (her) and in various boardrooms in a skyscraper (him), the two of them had regrouped at the hotel, where, Seto was delighted to announce, he'd managed (as if money were any object) to acquire two tickets to a special performance of Elisabeth das Musical at the Theater an der Wien for the following evening, and would she like to attend?

After sitting down on the hotel bed and being on the receiving end of a rather excitedly delivered, in-depth summary of Elisabeth, she acquiesced-why not?

The next day Seto had, of course insisted on accompanying her to various shops located within Vienna's tangle of streets, for, in addition to having cultivated exquisite taste in many aspects of fashion, he also enjoyed watching her try on things, seeing how various dresses and gowns conformed to her body, emphasizing her assets, of which, to be sure, there were a considerable amount; Ishizu, rolling her eyes and blushing at his irrepressible cheekiness, played along until they found something they could both agree upon.

And so here they were-now seated in a private box located to one side of the endless balconies and rows of seats, because of course Seto Kaiba had managed to get the best seats in the house, and Ishizu had found, for the life of herself, that she couldn't understand a damned thing that was occurring on stage. Would subtitles really have killed them?

It also did not help matters that Ishizu did not particularly enjoy musicals.

During a pause in the action, she couldn't stop herself from huffing a slightly frustrated breath as she leaned over towards Seto, who was moving his lips in time with the melodies flowing from the performers' mouths. "Um, Seto, you do know I don't speak German, correct?"

"Nnn…?" Seto turned towards her almost irritably, for although he did not often have much patience towards the musical genre, Elisabeth, incredibly, had managed to pique his interest-and hold it. It was just something about the combination of the story, the thrilling aspect to the music, the raw emotion in the singer's voices-he'd be damned if he didn't admit that it had some kind of effect on him.

Besides, what was point of being forced to learn German during his youth if he didn't get to use it every once in a while?

It was rather too bad that Ishizu didn't seem to feel the same way…

"I mean, really, Seto, I've little idea of what is going on-"

"Yes, but there's something to be said, perhaps, for just listening to the music, the words-it's quite well-done; you're incredibly lucky that Máté Kamarás, arguably the finest Der Tod in the musical's history, is making an appearance with this cast…"

"Der Tod?" Ishizu repeated; he was clearly implying that this Máté fellow was important…

"Death. He's playing Death." Seto picked up his opera glasses, lying beside him on a low table and gestured for Ishizu to take them, which she did reluctantly; he guided her so that the tall blond actor came into view.

"That's Death?" Ishizu nearly wanted to scream with frustration at Seto's insistence. "Well, he's certainly menacing in a… pretty way, I suppose… he's the one who's in love with the Empress, correct?"

And she him. "Correct." Seto leaned back in his seat, satisfied, as Ishizu handed back the opera glasses and attempted to recognize any word in the program, anything that resembled the English she did know-yet the voices of the people on stage, the sounds issuing from their mouths that she had no hope of comprehending, had begun to grate, and as Seto watched her, she gritted her teeth and shuddered slightly.

Seto waited until the stage went black, denoting a set change, before leaning over and whispering in her ear: "You're not… overly fond of the German language, are you?"

Ishizu was not quite sure how to answer. The language was very precise and neat, or so she'd heard, having never studied it, but the guttural sounds often rang unpleasantly in her ears-she much preferred listening to Arabic, Japanese, French, even English, with its strange cadences… Is it that obvious?

Seto smirked, interpreting her silence correctly. "You cultural chauvinist, you."

Ishizu's eyes narrowed briefly and she adjusted her seating so that she faced away from him, looking rather cross at his assertion. "I am no such thing-it's just that I've never heard it in a context that I find pleasant-and this musical is just not my cup of tea…" So dramatic, and I can't understand a word that's being sung… not like the program is much help, seeing as it's also written in German...

"You've let the stereotypes surrounding Germany and its people sway how you perceive the language," Seto drawled definitively, crossing his legs and deciding the conversation was settled at that; he picked up the opera glasses once more and leaned forward to attempt to take in the scenery, the emotions on the actor's faces.

Ishizu pretended to glare at him, refusing to let the matter drop. "That's not quite fair, Seto-I'm sure it's lovely in its own way, with its internal logic and such, but honestly, it's just not to my taste…"

Hmm… Seto lowered the opera glasses from his eyes and dropped them rather carelessly on the table, an idea occurring to him-a most delightful one-if he could get away with it, that is…

"You know, Ishizu, I myself find the German language to be quite appealing… I think I could convince you otherwise."

Ishizu turned back towards him, adjusting in her seat to fix him with the full extent of her skepticism. "Well, Seto, I'm afraid this musical is not doing the trick."

Seto smirked, eyes cutting into hers, their deepening blue transfixing, framed by dark lashes. "I have something slightly different in mind."

She raised an eyebrow, not daring to sense what was coming next, yet suspecting it anyway. "Oh, do you now?" The cheeky bastard-what are you planning, Seto Kaiba?

I think you'll like what I'm thinking, Ishizu… Seto waited for her to sit back in her chair, place her hands in her lap, and try to absorb herself in the tragic saga unfolding on the stage before he leaned over, gently resting a hand on her shoulder, innocently, benignly.

She felt him speak against her ear; a shiver tickled its way down her spine. "For example, Ishizu… ich finde dich sehr schön." Seto allowed his lips to trail down to her earlobe. "Wasn't that lovely?"

Ishizu blushed at his proximity, his contact-the location, the lack of privacy in this cavernous dimmed theater… His accent was heavy, not unlike the voices of the actors upon the stage… where the words trilling from their throats had seemed heavy and rather harsh at times, but coming from Seto… it sounded like an entirely different tongue.

She wetted her lips and whispered in reply, "What does that mean, Seto?"

His lips slid down to her neck, where he murmured huskily, "it means that I find you very beautiful, Ishizu." He pressed a kiss to her neck as Ishizu reflexively tilted her head to give him access, heartbeat having picked up considerably, his hand on her shoulder practically burning her bare skin; she nearly squeaked aloud as his finger dipped under the strap of her gown teasingly before his hand skimmed along her bare arm to rest on her brocade-covered knee.

The actors on the stage continued to sing, sing loudly and tragically about something to do with the Empress. Ishizu's breath caught on itself as she felt the beginnings of something, something wild and wanting-and completely inappropriate, given the location-stir between her legs at his simple touch. I-I don't understand-

Seto felt her back stiffen, lips still pressed to her neck, smirked, voice caressing the tender flesh. "Du bist mein, verstehst du? Als wir hier jetzt nicht wären-die Sachen will ich zu dir machen, in meinem Bett-irgendwo, dass ist mir egal… ah, so meine Ishizu, was soll ich jetzt mit dir machen?"

You are mine, you understand? If we weren't here now-the things I want to do to you, in my bed-anywhere, it doesn't matter… so, my Ishizu, what should I do with you now?

As Ishizu's breath grew shallow, the strange, foreign sounds doing something to her, Seto started, slowly, tentatively, to hike up her gown to expose her knee to him.

Ishizu turned her head abruptly, eyelids heavy and fluttering as need, pure need coiled and spread within her. "Seto…" -what is the rest of that sentence? Should I ask him to stop-could someone see us?

As if reading her mind, sensing her conflicting thoughts-the way she squeezed her inner thighs together beneath the gown-Seto lifted his head, pressed her forehead to hers, hand resting on her slightly trembling knee, and whispered: "No one will be able to see us, Ishizu-this box is practically private-if, of course, you'd like me to school you further in the merits of the German tongue..."

Ishizu blushed again. "Practically…?" she whispered, suddenly feeling confident, spurred onward, leaning forward so that there was but a breath of space between them like an afterthought.

Hmm. "Well, of course, it wouldn't do for you to get loud on me… think you can manage that, meine vorzügliche Ishizu...?"

My exquisite Ishizu…?

As she closed her eyes at his words, nodding her head firmly, erratically, Seto grinned darkly, pressing his lips against hers; he moved his hand upwards, sliding his hand under the rich fabric until he found what he sought.

Ishizu bit her lip as he brushed one finger on the outside of her panties-slow, dragging it out, incredibly, torturously slow, and managed to choke out, quietly as she could manage, "y-yes, please, Seto, please…"

Seto enveloped her lips in his for a brief moment, feeling a thrill of anticipation; as he broke away, leaving her wanting, he lowered his lips to her neck; yet instead of reaching underneath the cotton fabric to where he knew she burned for him, where she needed him intensely already, he decided to draw it out a bit longer-testing, teasing, what have you, and continued to rub her oh so softly through her panties in lazy, dragging motions that left her clutching at the armrest, chewing on her tongue in an attempt to remain quiet-don't want anyone to hear, to suspect-

"Seto…"

He nipped at her neck and continued his ministrations. "Ja, so… du hast noch nicht genug, was? Ah, meine Ishizu, meine beliebte Ishizu, du musst mir bitten. Ich möchte, dass du bettelst, Ishizu… Es macht mich an…"

That's right... you want more, don't you? Ah, my Ishizu, my beloved Ishizu, you have to beg me. I like it when you beg, Ishizu. It turns me on...

Ishizu felt a threatening tear collect in the corner of one of her eyes; the syllables issuing from his lips, the almost-thereness of his fingers-she needed more, more, how cruel-how cruel he was-

"P-please, oh god, please, fuck, Seto…"

-God, each time, without fail, the way he got her to beg for his touch never failed to stir him; he dove back towards her neck, her ear, savoring the tiny, tiny throaty moan she made as he dipped his middle finger to rub against her-ha. "Sehr gut, sehr gut, Ishizu-fühlt sich gut an, nicht wahr?"

Very good, very good, Ishizu… Feels good, doesn't it?

She was already soaking; still, he played demure, coy, merely stroking, circling, enjoying, taking his time, until he felt her shudder, voice thick, nearly pleading: "more, please, I need-"

Seto nearly laughed aloud at her wantonness, her undisguised want, that lust that never ceased to feed his own-her wetness, that delightful softness and the way he caught her forehead crinkle oh-so-quickly as she slouched slightly in her chair, spreading her thighs under her dress, anything to give him more access-

"Na klar, meine Liebe…"

Of course, honey…

-As he pressed his finger inside that impossibly perfect tightness, she threw her head back and tried, tried desperately to stop from moaning aloud; desperate, feeling herself nearly coming undone, unraveling into ribbons, she clenched her fists on the armrests, a gasp emitting from her as he murmured against her skin:

"So mag ich dich, Ishizu. So mag ich dich…"

That's how I like you, Ishizu. That's how I like you…

Ishizu swallowed hard as one finger became two, his thumb circling her clit in tandem with the pulsing inside her; at that tiny motion moving against his lips, Seto felt a near uncontrollable rush of desire; but this was for her, her… edification, her enrichment, so he continued, cheekily stroking, parting her lips, sliding in and out in a steady rhythm.

A chuckle against her neck, a wriggle of her hips, then his lips moved upwards to her ear once more. "Oh, etwa so?"

Like this?

Ishizu's eyes were pressed shut tightly, her breath quickening, the pressure and feel of him filling her, a shudder rippling through her as his thumb found a perfect spot, right where the point of need burned brightest, and then she felt him suckling at her earlobe, then another heated whisper:

"Willst du kommen, Ishizu?"

Do you want to come, Ishizu?

The foreign sounds twined about her ear, his husky voice traveling down her spine until she nearly blanched, because she felt it coming on, the tide, the ferocious tide threatening to ruin her composure, such that it was, to ruin her utterly; she wasn't sure if she could keep quiet, despite her best efforts-a building moan rising from her chest, thick, heavy, uncontrollable; she glanced over at Seto, a hint of panic flickering in her eyes-

"Seto…"

His own need making itself known, Seto's voice came out a slight growl. "Du musst ruhig sein, meine Liebe… ich liebe das Geräusch von deiner Stimme, aber nicht jetzt… später, zu Hause, wird ich mehr dir geben, alle dass du brauchst… aber noch nicht, noch nicht…"

You have to be quiet, honey… I love the sound of your voice, but not now… later, at home, I'll give you more, everything you need… but not yet, not yet...

"Please-Seto...p-please…"

Seto smirked, pulling away briefly to press a kiss to her forehead, then, as she closed her eyes tightly, feeling something electric and frighteningly powerful begin to course through her, he lifted his other hand, ran his finger over her trembling lips, then, just as she felt it-the results of his handiwork, one final pulse of his fingers inside her-he pushed his other index finger into her mouth, between her teeth, stifling any cry as she bit down, holding back so as not to hurt him, a tear rolling down the side of her face, cheeks aflame; her head dropped forward slightly, shoulders heaving as she slowly caught her breath.

"Sehr gut, Ishizu. Sehr gut…"

Very good, Ishizu. Very good...

He languorously withdrew his fingers; she winced briefly, regretting the loss, before smoothing the gown back over her knees, bashful now that her need was sated-his eyes nearly eating her alive, a devilish smile on his lips-she sat up, crossed her legs under her skirts and folded her lands in her lap, pretending once more to be engrossed in the musical.

Seto's hand wandered to her covered knee and gripped it; Ishizu turned towards him and he leaned in, once again a minute distance between them.

"So?" His voice was low, teasing.

"So?" Her tone matched his.

"Did I manage to convince you of the quality of the German tongue?" Ha. As if she could deny it.

Despite herself, she broke out into a self-conscious grin at his gaze, his playfulness. Then, coyly-

"Well, Seto… You did make a strong case-but you'll need to work at it a bit harder to get me to appreciate, ahem, the German tongue…"

Seto looked positively predatory at her implication. "I love your wit." He closed the gap between their lips as the audience below and around them burst into applause, the heavy red curtain lowering onto the stage.

What good was knowing German, after all, if he didn't get a chance to put it to good use?