Play Your Part, Shizuka
Chapter 10
Premier
When the clock neared the time Seto had said he would come to pick Katsuya up, the blond in question grew more and more anxious. Katsuya did not have much experience with dating, being a well-known troublemaker back at school. It was really hard to even grasp the fact that he was going out with Kaiba Seto of all people, which made everything seem a lot worse. The blond had no idea how he was supposed to act and the situation would have been the same even if Katsuya did not have to pretend to be a girl. Knowing Kaiba, he would probably try to impress Katsuya, well, Shizuka, as the brunet thought him to be, by taking him to a fancy restaurant where all the food had so strange names that they could not be written with kanji.
Just when Katsuya was about to jump out of his seat and call the whole thing off, a hand grasped his own gently. The blond lifted his gaze to his mother's smiling face and was struck speechless. His mother had never looked at him with such pride and it made his throat feel tight when he realized that the look was not directed at Katsuya, but Shizuka.
'I really shouldn't have agreed to this…' Katsuya thought to himself as he smiled back at Ayami. 'I'm only getting myself hurt. That's all I'm going to get out of this; a broken heart…'
The doorbell finally rang, causing Katsuya to shiver as his mother got up from the couch and went to open the door. At that moment Katsuya was very glad that Keith had left after figuring out that his presence was not desired in the household that night. In Katsuya's opinion Keith was never welcome, but he did not really have a say in the matter. He was still happy that the man was not present at the moment, since he really did not need the embarrassment that Seto meeting Keith would surely cause.
Katsuya immediately stood up from his seat when he heard footsteps approach the living room doorway. He subconsciously straightened his green knee-length dress in order to get any possible wrinkles out. He hurriedly brushed a few strawberry-colored locks away from his face, just a moment before Seto walked in.
A deep red blush spread on Katsuya's cheeks at the way Seto was eying him. His legs especially seemed to be interesting to the brunet. Not one to miss an opportunity Katsuya took this chance to take in Seto's appearance as well.
The brunet was dressed in a semi-formal blue jacket with pants that were a matching shade. He was also wearing a white button-down shirt underneath the jacket and Katsuya realized with gratitude that Seto had not put on a tie. That meant that Seto was not taking him into an opera or to any other place where Katsuya would make a complete fool out of himself.
"You look stunning", Seto commented as he lifted his hand up, offering Katsuya a blue rose. The blond's face heated even further at the gesture but he accepted the gift nonetheless, thanking the brunet softly for both the flower and the compliment.
The two teens had not noticed that they were alone in the room, until Ayami came back with Katsuya's coat. It was a darker shade of green than the teen's sleeveless, high-collared dress. Katsuya accepted the garment gratefully, since it would keep his broader shoulders hidden. Fortunately neither his mother nor Seto had noticed anything odd with "Shizuka's" strangely masculine appearance.
"Shall we go then?" Seto questioned from Katsuya, his tone and posture the epitome of politeness. Katsuya's by now calmed face reddened once again and the blond could do nothing more but nod mutely.
"I'll put this in water, Shizuka-chan", Ayumi said helpfully when she took the blue rose from Katsuya's grasp. The boy found himself to be reluctant to give the item up but released his hold on it anyway. Then he walked out of the house side by side with Seto, his hand resting in the crook of the brunet's arm.
"I wasn't joking back there", Seto spoke gently when the door to the house had closed behind them. "You look absolutely breathtaking." The brunet opened the door the backseat of a long, red car. Katsuya was actually feeling better now that he knew they were not going to be driven around in a limousine, even if the car looked extremely expensive.
"Thank you", Katsuya spoke to the brunet before climbing into the car. He waited until Seto had walked around the car and sat next to him before continuing: "You…look good too." After that Katsuya kept his gaze firmly locked on his own lap to avoid looking into Seto's eyes. There seemed to be something strange about them that night; the moment he looked into them he could not look away anymore.
The car started to move and Katsuya figured that the whole evening had already been planned out by the brunet, even down to the small detail of having his driver know exactly where they were going and in what order.
"So…" Katsuya started as he finally looked up at his date, busying his suddenly shaking hands by fixing his long ponytail. "What do you have planned for tonight?"
A smile came to Seto's face, like he was very proud of his plans and was sure that Katsuya would praise him for his genius when he found out about what he had prepared for them.
"First I thought we could go dancing, since it seems to be so easy for us", Seto started in a pleased tone of voice. "Then I thought we could eat something small while the driver takes us to another place." The brunet smirked slightly at Katsuya. "It's going to be a surprise."
"Sounds wonderful", Katsuya said to the taller boy, imitating what he had heard Shizuka say many times. Seto gave a nod and Katsuya found himself actually not minding the way Seto was taking the lead. It was almost as if they were on the dance floor again.
&&&&&&&
Just like when they had left for their date, Katsuya found it easier to give up control every single time he did it. It seemed to be almost natural to have Seto pull the strings regardless what they were doing. The place Seto had taken Katsuya to dance was a small dance club that held lessons every afternoon. It nighttime it was probably the only place in town where even young people could dance the classics, such as waltz, like Katsuya and Seto were doing at the very moment.
The way Seto lead Katsuya across the dance floor was gentle yet determined. Seto decided each turn the two would take quickly and efficiently and then guided Katsuya to just the right direction with gentle tugs and small pushes. The song played on, the melody guiding the rhythm of their bodies' movements as they danced across the floor, not even once crashing into any of the other dancing couples. Perhaps Katsuya could ask Seto how he managed to do that later.
When the soft tunes of the waltz faded away Seto brought their dance to a stop with a small whirl as he captured Katsuya firmly against him. The brown-eyed youth felt his head spin for some unknown reason as the subtle scent of Seto's cologne filled his senses. Katsuya only stared through half-lidded eyes as Seto brought their hands, sill joined from their dance, to his lips and brushed a soft kiss along Katsuya's forefinger. Instead of the flaming blush Katsuya would have usually given as a response to such an action the boy's cheeks gained a slightly pink shade as he leaned up to give a tiny peck on the bottom of Seto's sharp chin. Katsuya smiled with satisfaction when he managed to get a surprised blink out of Seto before the next song started playing. It was a fast beat that had Seto grabbing Katsuya's smaller body in a firm hold as he began to spin and dance the way through the floor. Katsuya allowed he brunet to lead.
&&&&&&&
"Well, this sure was unexpected", Katsuya commented when he and Seto entered the car again. The wigged blond was currently holding a small trophy in his lap, the sign of them winning first place in the dance competition. "I didn't even know there was a competition going on." When Seto stayed silent at that Katsuya gave the brunet a glare that lost all of its fire in the warm smile that broke through it only moments later. Laughing softly Katsuya plopped the trophy in Seto's lap as he accused: "But you did know, didn't you? You took me here for the sole reason of robbing those poor people their chance to win."
"Can you blame me?" Seto responded as he brushed his fingers against Katsuya's cheek. "I had to show your beauty off somewhere."
"That's a lie and you know I'm not buying it", Katsuya said, his smile still warm despite his words. "You simply couldn't resist the chance to competite."
"Alright, I confess", Seto said and lifted his hands in surrender. "Guilty as charged. What's my punishment, oh Goddess of Justice?"
"Stop with the freaky speech", Katsuya snarled with no real venom as he pushed on Seto's shoulder. "And as for your punishment, you shall buy me triangle sandwiches for that 'something small to eat' that you mentioned earlier."
"Your wish is my command", Seto conceded as he grabbed Katsuya's hand, turned it around and planted a kiss on the pulse point. Even with his blush Katsuya still managed to sound miffed as he shot at the brunet: "I told you to stop talking like that."
&&&&&&&
Katsuya was happily eating his third sandwich when the car stopped. The boy took a glance out the window to see a small clearing around them and trees at its sides. He turned to his other side to give his date a questioning look.
"This is the surprise I promised you", Seto explained as he opened the car door on his side and climbed out. Katsuya was about to follow him from the other side when Seto beat him to it and opened the door from the outside. Katsuya was getting tired of Seto opening every single door for him like he was completely unable to take care of himself but swallowed his pride in favor of keeping his act going.
Allowing Seto to take a hold of his hand Katsuya followed the brunet out of car and into the shade of the trees. At first Katsuya had thought that Seto would take him to the edge of the cliff where the car was barked to see the city from above but now it was clear that Seto was thinking of something else when he came to a stop in a place where there was a spot of short grass surrounded by trees.
"Come", Seto ordered curtly as he pulled Katsuya to the area that could probably be called a small clearing in lack of a better word to describe the spot. Only when Seto let go of his hand did Katsuya notice the rolled up quilt Seto was holding under his arm. The brunet spread out the quilt on the grass with a few quick movements and then sat down on the fabric. He patted the spot next to him and Katsuya decided that he might as well trust the taller teen.
After Katsuya had sat down next to Seto, the brunet leaned back to lie down on the quilt. Katsuya followed his lead, like so many other times that night.
The sky spread out above the two teens. No clouds were in sight and the small stars could be seen clearly from the dark blue background. The romantic gesture brought a smile to Katsuya's lips and he rolled to his side to look at Seto, only to see that the brunet had been looking at him the entire time.
"I though we came here to enjoy the view?" Katsuya questioned playfully.
"We did", was Seto's simple answer, to which Katsuya shook his head slightly before asking: "Then why are you looking at me?"
"You're a much more enjoyable view", Seto replied, his lips forming into a yet another smile. Katsuya was quite certain that he had seen Seto smile more that night than he had during the whole time he had known the brunet.
"You really think so highly of me?" Katsuya questioned, never having anyone admit admiration so openly to him. Seto nodded his head once and then pushed himself up and leaned over Katsuya. The teen left under the other's stronger frame blushed before questioning: "What?"
"There is something I have really wanted to do…" Seto spoke in a thoughtful tone. He brushed some stray locks away from Katsuya's cheek. Katsuya saw no reason to stop the brunet when he clearly was not going to harm him. He could smell Seto's cologne again and closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath through his nose. That was when he felt the lips that had landed over his own as Seto seized his lips into a hungry kiss.
It was incredible. Yes, that would be the exactly right word to describe what Katsuya was feeling while Seto kissed him with burning passion. It felt so right to be there inside the brunet's arms and to be kissed like that, like he was someone special. When Seto brushed his tongue across his lips Katsuya was more than willing to open his mouth and allow the brunet deeper access. This seemed like the only moment that had been real ever since Katsuya had started playing Shizuka's role. The dance lessons, the request for a date, even the date so far had felt like some really strange dream but this was so real and solid that Katsuya would have willingly become Shizuka to keep that feeling.
That last thought had Katsuya freezing as his eyes widened. This was Kaiba Seto, kissing his sister, his thirteen-year-old sister who had never dated anyone before in her life. And that was Kaiba Seto's hand sneaking up his thigh underneath his dress.
Apparently catching onto his partner's sudden freezing Seto pulled back to look at Katsuya's face curiously.
"What's wrong?" the brunet asked and Katsuya stared at him incredulously. His brows furrowed as his eyes glared at the brunet deeply. Then he drew his hand back and landed an open-palmed slap on the other boy's left cheek.
"What?" Kaiba exclaimed as he covered the reddening spot with his hand, looking surprised for a short moment before he is blue eyes turned icy as he glared right back at his date. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
"You're so lucky my older brother isn't here now!" Katsuya exclaimed heatedly as he shoved Kaiba off him and stood up with some small difficulty, turning his face away from Kaiba's own. He heard the brunet get up after him and registered the deep breath Kaiba took before saying: "You weren't resisting."
"That may be so but you did not show much responsibility either by initiating the kiss in the first place", Katsuya said with a huff. He backed away from the brunet and tugged his coat tighter around himself. He thought it was a good impression of a female who was suddenly feeling exposed, but it was also an effective method to hide the firm evidence of his gender that the kiss had managed to bring out.
"Look", Kaiba started then, his tone surprisingly calm. It was meant to sooth and Katsuya's chest ached from the knowledge that the tone would never be directed at him if he was himself at the moment. The wigged blond did not have any time to think about it any deeper than that when Kaiba was speaking again: "We both got a bit carried away. That is understandable. I promise you I will do nothing of the sorts again." Katsuya felt the brunet's warmth on his arm when Kaiba moved to stand by his side and grabbed one of the hands holding his coat together. "I apologise and hope that you will give me another chance."
There was no way Katsuya could have resisted. Seto's gestures and tone were both so gentle that Katsuya would have done anything for the brunet. Even play date with him once more. The shorter boy nodded his head and said: "I forgive you."
"We don't have practise next Thursday so how does Wednesday evening sound?" Seto immediately suggested. "I was actually planning on inviting you to see a movie, since it would probably be more comfortable for you."
"A regular date between teenagers you say?" Katsuya questioned as he finally looked Seto in the eye again. "I think I would like that."
"Perfect", Seto said in a clearly relieved tone of voice. Then he tugged on the hand he was holding and started leading the way back to the car. "Since the moment is already pretty much ruined, how about I take you back home now?"
"Sounds good", Katsuya conceded as he once again followed Seto's lead. "'Kaasan will be happy to see me back early. And that means some extra points for you." The brown-eyed boy winked at Seto as he said the last bit, earning a small chuckle from the taller teen. The date seemed to not have been such a fiasco after all; despite the way it had almost fallen apart at the end.
To be continued...