Chapter 3
When Mokuba had informed Jou they were spending time at a suite, the blonde's first thought was one of those ritzy places you saw on t.v. He had no idea what to expect regarding location or furnishings, just "fancy hotel."
"Fancy hotel" didn't even begin to cover it.
The hotel was only three stories high but wide enough to have enough parking for over two dozen vehicles on the base floor. As Kaiba pulled off the road and into the lot, a valet dressed in full attire despite the warm weather approached the car window. Kaiba slid the window down and pulled out ID, which the valet checked over briefly before pointing forward. "You'll turn left and go down to the spot marked B9. Here is your parking pass." Seemingly out of thin air, the valet produced a small envelope, which Kaiba took and tossed at Jounouchi. "Your hotel keycards will be in there, as well."
Kaiba nodded. Without another word, the valet stepped back, Kaiba rolled the window up, and he began his slow descent into the parking garage. Turning left, Kaiba followed the valet's instructions, and soon they pulled into the designated spot. Feeling the car turn off, Jounouchi stepped out and immediately moaned happily at the strong smell of ocean air.
"We're at the beach!" he shouted, his voice echoing down the garage.
"Keep your voice down, you idiot," Kaiba scolded, stepping out and stretching ever so slightly. Mokuba crawled out and giggled merrily.
"We're at the beach!" the younger Kaiba shouted, his call echoing against Jou's. Jounouchi hid his grin behind his hand as Kaiba shot a clear glare in Mokuba's direction but otherwise said nothing. The trunk popped open, and Jounouchi went to grab his things when Mokuba shook his head. "Just wait," he muttered, and Jounouchi frowned when another valet began to quickly approach them, this one equipped with a silver, mobile luggage rack.
"Good morning gentlemen!" the valet exclaimed, smiling warmly at them. The man was clearly no older than his mid-20s, with smooth features and short, black hair. "Might I receive your belongings?"
"Everything in this trunk needs to go up," Kaiba explained, pointing at all the luggage inside. Glancing up at Jounouchi, he asked, "You have the envelope?"
"Uh, oh, yeah!" Reaching back in the car, Jou pulled out the envelope and held it up.
"What does the keycard read?"
Peeking in, Jounouchi saw three keycards. "Uh, 212."
"Room 212 it is, then!" the valet heartily noted, already pulling bags out and placing them on the mobile rack. "I shall meet you all upstairs! The elevator is down the corridor here, to your right. Insert the keycard, and it will take you directly to the second floor."
"Thanks." Kaiba curtly nodded and circled the car, approaching both Mokuba and Jounouchi. Swiping the envelope from Jounouchi's grasp, he led the duo down the cement, open area to the designated elevator. Jounouchi waited, glancing back to see the lone man loading their bags, and shrugged.
"Surprised ya trust that kid to haul your stuff, Kaiba," Jounouchi noted as the elevator beeped and the doors opened. "I figured ya wouldn't trust anybody with yer gear."
"There are cameras in every corner of this parking lot," Kaiba remarked, stepping inside and swiping the keycard through the reader. The doors swiftly closed, and Jounouchi felt the elevator come to life. "If he even thinks about stealing our belongings, he'll have more to worry about than just a loss of a job."
"Seems about right." The elevator beeped once again, and the doors opened to reveal a stunningly bright and well-decorated hallway. Deep red, thick carpet seemed to bounce underneath their footsteps, and Jounouchi nearly recoiled at the yellow walls and golden vases spaced between light brown, wooden doors on their right. Kaiba continued to lead them, and Jounouchi's eyes widened at the long, panoramic windows to their left. He could see directly out to the beach city beyond, the bright blue sky cloudless and sprawling for miles beyond. "Wow…" he muttered, whistling with appreciation at the view. "This is gorgeous, Kaiba."
"Thank Mokuba," he shot back. "He picked the place."
Watching Kaiba swipe the card, Jounouchi stepped into the hotel room only for his jaw to drop. "This is…?"
Mokuba giggled and hurled himself onto the light blue sofa. "WE'RE AT THE BEACH!" he screamed, his voice only slightly muffled by the soft pillow. Even Kaiba let a smile cross his lips as he set the envelope down on a marbled countertop. Jounouchi slowly looked around, unable to fathom that this was a hotel room.
Directly in front of him was a kitchen, complete with refrigerator, stove top, microwave, and a marble-top island equipped with high chairs. Directly connected on the left was a carpeted living room with two sofas, a recliner, and a television built into the wall. Two empty, wooden cabinets were open, revealing space to put their belongings. Glass double doors led out to an open patio, where beyond he could see the boardwalk and even the ocean. A hallway past the kitchen seemed to lead back to the bedrooms and bathrooms.
It was as big as his apartment at home, and five times as luxurious.
"Don't block the way, Jounouchi," Kaiba remarked as he grabbed the envelope and dumped out its contents. Jounouchi blinked and quickly moved forward, taking a seat at the island counter. He watched as Kaiba slid one of the cards across the island and pulled out a piece of paper as well as a map of the boardwalk. "ATM seems to be down on the first floor," Kaiba read aloud from the sheet. "It says most places accept credit cards, but it's good to carry cash. The keycard counts as both access to this hotel and a beach pass, so don't lose it unless you want to spend the whole time in this living room. Beach closes at 22:00. Boardwalk extends both ways. Most restaurants are to the south while most entertainment is north. Looks like the ramen shop you noted, Mokuba, is just south of here." Setting the paper down, Kaiba began to look over the map, and Jounouchi watched the CEO's blues eyes dart this way and that.
Jounouchi smiled. Kaiba was clearly trying his best to maintain his composure, but his lips quivered with a smile, and the more the CEO scanned the map, the wider his eyes grew. He's excited, Jounouchi realized, setting his chin in the palm of his hand. The jerk is actually excited about something, for once in his life.
A knock at the door broke the moment, and Jounouchi turned and watched as the valet from earlier entered, pushing the luggage rack full of their bags and goodies inside. "Here you are, sirs!" he exclaimed. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"Where is the lobby to officially check in?" inquired Kaiba as he stood tall. Jounouchi's eyebrows pinched together when he saw the brunette whip out his wallet.
"The valet at the parking garage has already informed the owners. You are officially registered." Bowing slightly, he explained, "We know paperwork is quite troubling, so you will find the appropriate items to complete slid under your door this afternoon. We try to make things as seamless as possible here. So long as you drop off the paperwork at the front desk, located on the first floor, by 18:00, you are perfectly fine."
"And the down payment?"
"I already paid it, Seto," Mokuba noted. The younger Kaiba was now sitting upright on the sofa, the pillow lying in his lap.
"I see…" Whipping out two 1000 yen bills, he handed it to the valet and stated, "Thank you very much."
"No, no, thank you, sir!" the valet heartily responded, bowing twice at the trio. "May you enjoy your stay here!"
Without another word, the valet backed his way out and shut the door, leaving their luggage on the rack. Jounouchi and Kaiba both approached and grabbed several bags. "Your room is the first on the left," Kaiba stated. "Bathroom should be attached. Our bedroom is in the back."
"I won't try to enter your room," Jounouchi remarked, guessing the CEO's train of thought. Kaiba smirked and nodded before lugging his bags down the carpeted hallway. Jounouchi smirked over at Mokuba, who was smiling widely.
"You excited, Jou?" asked Mokuba.
Jounouchi looked out the patio to the ocean beyond. "Yeah, Mokuba," he stated. "I really am."
"Wanna get some ice cream instead of ramen? Start this off right?"
Laughing at the kid's priorities, Jounouchi nodded and said, "Let me drop this off in the room, then we can go!"
Rushing back to his room, Jounouchi plopped his bags down, patted his pants for his wallet, and exited to the hallway. "We alright to head out, Kaiba?"
"We aren't getting lunch together?"
"Mokuba wants ice cream instead."
Kaiba scoffed, and Jounouchi could mentally picture the brunette shaking his head. "Tell Mokuba to keep me posted on where you guys are," he stated. "I'll grab lunch somewhere else."
"Sounds good, man." Jounouchi returned to the living room and gave the raven-haired boy a thumbs up. Mokuba hopped off the sofa, and the two quickly grabbed their keycards and exited the suite.
Jounouchi felt his heart skip a beat. He was officially on vacation.
It was mid-afternoon by the time Kaiba finished unpacking, and his brother and the blonde had still not returned. Probably gallivanting all over the boardwalk, he thought before sighing heavily. He turned and plopped down on the edge of the bed, the soft purple sheets barely creasing underneath his weight. Clasping his hands together, he pressed his forehead against his thumbs, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
I need to make the best of this, he repeated in his head, letting his shoulders sag as he did so. I cannot let Jounouchi or work ruin this trip for me. We're here, he's with us, I have schedules in place, and it makes Mokuba happy having someone extra along.
It was easier said than done, of course. Kaiba hadn't meant to make constant quips in the car, but the mutt's questions irritated him to no end. But if we're going to be here, and I'm going to be relaxing, he's going to see a side of me that I don't want to show. And if I don't let my guard down, I'm not genuinely on vacation. He groaned and huffed out a large breath of air before shaking his head and standing back up.
Fuck it. Pulling out one of the wooden drawers, he picked out his dark blue swim trunks and black rash guard t-shirt and began changing out of his clothes. He had considered this all the way to the shore, the fact that Jounouchi would see the side of him only Mokuba saw. The side that was excited for the roller coasters. The side that wanted to play all the mini-golf courses. The side that smiled at the idea of sitting on the beach all day. So what if the mutt sees how I am around Mokuba? No one would believe him of all duelists if he went to the press and talked. Beyond that, this is my vacation, and I will act how I damn well please.
Tossing his clothes into the yellow, plastic laundry bin, Kaiba swiftly pulled on his swimming trunks and shirt before digging out the sunscreen. SPF 100. He smiled. Mokuba knows me too well. Getting a large dollop on his palm, he lathered his arms, legs, face and feet before slipping into a pair of black flip flops. He grabbed his sunglasses and glimpsed over at the body-size mirror, smirking at his reflection. This is my vacation, he repeated to himself. And I will act how I damn well please.
Within minutes, he grabbed his wallet and keycard, shoved them in the pockets of his trunks, rushed out the door, down the elevator, and out the back onto a large, wooden patio that extended to the boardwalk. People walked to and fro, but their portion of the boardwalk was clearly in an isolated position, as the number of people passing was shockingly low. Low in a good way, Kaiba reflected, as he crossed over and descended the stairs across from the hotel that led directly to the beach.
Hearing the sand crunch underneath his feet sent a shocking jolt of joy through Kaiba, and for a full minute, he let a smile cross his lips. He found a nice spot on the beach, which was nearly deserted despite the time of year, and slowly sat down. The cold ocean water lapped up to reach his feet, and he wiggled his toes lightly despite wearing sandals. Leaning his arms forward to loosely wrap around his shins, he continued to smile, feeling the warm sunlight basking against his back. The smell of the ocean surrounded him, filling his lungs with clean air.
No, I will be the adult here, he determined with a sense of confidence. Jounouchi is here to spend time with Mokuba. Mokuba's happy, and that makes me happy. And I can't picture how even the mutt could ruin a moment like this. He sighed and mentally nodded before slipping out of his sandals, letting the ocean water graze against his feet. He shivered, smiled, and moved closer to the water, making a mental note to thank his brother for pushing for a beach vacation.
His first vacation.