~Two weeks later (Hikari's birthday. I have NO idea when it is.) ~



Yamato's hands on her shoulders were the only real thing in her world at the moment. All she could see was darkness. "Matt, when can I take off this blindfold?" she asked impatiently, she was anxious to find out what this surprise was. "Hang on a second" was Yamato's response as his hands removed their warmth from her shoulders. The sounds of his feet scuffing the pavement and something plastic moving wafted over the silence, leaving her more curious than ever. She hissed in surprise when he snuck up behind her, laying his head on her shoulder and placing his warm hands on her stomach. "Go ahead" he whispered into her ear, making her shiver in delight. "You can take it off now." He kissed the side of her neck as she slowly reached up to untie the blindfold. The room was not very bright, but it still took a minute for her eyes to adjust, but when they did she gasped in surprise. "Oh Matt!" she exclaimed turning around and hugging him. "A hot tub? Indoors? How did you ever manage that?" she had never expected this sort of surprise for her birthday. "Why don't you go get your bathing suit on, so we can take a dip?" was the breezy reply. "But, I didn't." she stopped her half-hearted protest when she saw what was dangling from his hand. "But how did you get my bathing suit?" "Hey, your big brother is my best friend, he got it for me" he smiled endearingly and she couldn't help but hug him. "Thanks so much! Be right back!" she scampered off to the bathroom to change. He chuckled as he watched her go. "I am so lucky, thank you God" dumping his excess clothing in a corner he revealed his well built body, he stretched a bit, turning this way and that, making every muscle in his body flex before walking over to where the small boom box he had brought was hidden. He turned on the cd he had burned, there were some of the slower songs he and his band did, as well as a few songs that he just liked. He had even amazed a few people by putting on some english songs, a language few people knew he spoke. A quick breath was all his warning as his eyes were covered by soft hands. "Guess who!!" came the almost childish taunt. "Uhm let me think, is it.. Taichi?" she laughed softly and pressed herself against his bare back. "If I were Taichi would I do this?" she kissed the back of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. "Hmmm" he said slowly, as if tasting the words "I dunno, he may." Hikari was so startled at that mental image that she jumped back from Yamato, cringing. "EWWWWW, you did NOT just make me think about that" she said as sternly as she could while laughing so hard her stomach hurt. When they had recovered from their laughing fit Yamato extended his arm gallantly to the young beauty in front of him. "Help you in" he stated more than asked, and before she could answer she was in the hot tub with her head under the water. Her face went red from the heat of the hot tub as she watched with narrowed eyes Yamato's slow descent into the tub. She couldn't help but laugh when he affected a scared expression; it was so uncharacteristic it was comical. She leaned into the soft side of the warm pool across from Yamato and stared into his eyes for a moment. Then she exhaled slowly and let her mind and body drift. This action was not lost on her male companion; once again he thanked whatever deities were listening for sending him such an angel. Yes. I said it. live with it you LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!! KWA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!

Silently he picked up her dainty feet in his hands. "What are you doing?" breathed Hikari. "Just helping you to relax from your stressful day in the spotlight." he began rubbing her feet gently moving his thumb first in small circles on the pads of her feet, then he worked on each of her toes individually; handling them as if each one were more precious to him than even his guitar. Having thoroughly relaxed her foot he began moving his gentle massage up higher. The only clue he got that she was still awake was her small smile as she listened to the song on his mixed cd:

"It all started at the mall you were standing at the wall So I went to give my number couldn't wait to get your call I even promised you I would act and play nice romance your day's right We chat for late nights Weeks later while I'm kissing you You say what you're doing My hand going up on your leg I thought you knew and If you really want it baby show me so I wanted you from the beginning girl"

She did not understand the majority of the words, but the beat appealed to her; all concentration on the song was lost though, when her lovely massage reached the backs of her knees. Normally she would squirm and laugh if someone touched that general area, but 'Matt seemed to know the exact right place to massage. She opened her eyes quickly, then deciding enough was enough, leaned forward and captured his lips in a sweet kiss. He responded quickly, and soon she found the kiss deepened. Suddenly she became very aware of where his hands were the one arm he had skillfully slid up her back and supporting her head, and the other hand. That other hand was traveling, she noted, and in a sudden moment of panic she broke off the kiss. Yamato stared at her with a confused expression on his face, but didn't move farther than a few inches away from her face. "I... I. 'Matt, can you move your hand, please?" even the simple sentence was a lot harder to say, thinking was starting to hurt. His hand moved, but not in the direction she had meant. "No, Yama, off my thigh. please." her voice was small, but it was at least sure.

No means no But I really wanna hit it girl No means no I can do it for a minute girl No means no I just want to get up in it girl No means no I can't believe you never did it girl

In your eyes I see where I want to be You were heaven sent here just for me As I close my eyes and I pray at night I can understand you gotta take your time

Yamato searched Hikari's eyes for something, a kind of clue, about what he should do now. All he saw reflected in the windows to her soul was his own face. "But 'Kari, I mean, why not?" he was clearly puzzled, "I, I like you a lot 'Matt" she said slowly, her mind whirling, but before she could finish her thought she was caught up in another kiss. This kiss had more raw emotion in it, and she found herself being drawn into it, like a moth to the flame.

Now getting back to my plans to have you I hate to ask you You say relax dude Tell that's is just been a month well that's true Caress you on your neck and rub your back too Always got money on me to pass you Come to think about it girl I never seen your tattoo I thought you really love me when you told me so now its time for you to prove it girl

No means no But I really wanna hit it girl No means no I can do it for a minute girl No means no I just want to get up in it girl No means no I can't believe you never did it girl

She came to herself again when he began kissing her throat. She was shaken to realize how swept away she had been. She barely had time to collect her thoughts before being kissed again, with less fire than before, but enough for Yama's hands to do their own roving, and she pushed away from her boyfriend again when they reached her waistline. "No. no Yama. not now." she pleaded quietly. He stopped his hands, and withdrew to the other side of the hot tub once again, taking deep breaths to calm himself. "Fine then 'Kari, we don't have to, but I thought you really liked me? I thought you were mature. Maybe a kind of birthday present." he trailed off, looking off to the side of the hot tub. "I AM mature, I'm just not ready yet. is that ok?" she was almost afraid to ask, it had been such a good birthday so far. "Yea, it's ok 'Kari, it's ok" he reached for her hands but was stopped when she pulled them close to her body. "Is it really? That's what you expect isn't it? Maybe they were right."

No means no But I really wanna hit it girl No means no I can do it for a minute girl No means no I just want to get up in it girl No means no I can't believe you never did it girl

In your eyes I see where I want to be You were heaven sent here just for me As I close my eyes and I pray at night I can understand you gotta take your time

When I'm pursuing it why you try and ruin it I'm the guy you're moving everybody's doing it Now it's looking foul thinking that I'm crooked now I'm not every juvenile thought you were a woman now I told you the truth I'm older than you by three years and after this time girl you wanna see fears Pressure from you peers what you don't need though why just save it till your married girl? No means no But I really wanna hit it girl No means no I can do it for a minute girl No means no

"Who was right 'Kari?" he asked while studiously not looking at her tempting lips. She stood up silently, and with an apologetic look got out of the hot tub. "Hikari?" it was almost a shout, but she didn't turn around, she just wanted to sort out her emotions. She knew there was only one person who knew her better than she did herself. She got changed and went to find him, leaving a desolate Yamato in her wake.

I just want to get up in it girl No means no I can't believe you never did it girl

No means no But I really wanna hit it girl No means no I can do it for a minute girl No means no I just want to get up in it girl No means no I can't believe you never did it girl

In your eyes I see where I want to be You were heaven sent here just for me As I close my eyes and I pray at night I can understand you gotta take your time

"I'm sorry 'Kari" his whisper could barely be heard above the sounds of a functioning hot tub "I can understand you gotta take your time"