Disclaimer: Just own the words, not the folks.
Rendezvous - Chapter 4
I've quickly come to love having Seto's hand lightly placed in the small of my back.
Sunday night, he put it there to escort me to a quiet dinner for two on the small patio outside of his home office. Later that night, he used it to steer me into his study where we played Duel Monsters and Go until sometime after one in the morning. He then used it to show me to a guest room for the night, allowing it to linger a moment longer than necessary before bidding me good night.
Early Monday morning, he laid it there to direct me to the kitchen for a light breakfast. Monday afternoon, he used it to direct me from the game shop and into his royal blue convertible for a drive in the country and a picnic lunch. On Monday night that same hand led me back into his mansion, this time to a candle-lit dinner in his spacious kitchen.
Tuesday and Wednesday bring more of the same treatment and I'm very much enjoying our dates. It's too bad that we wasted all those weeks!
I smile at him as I climb into his Porsche Cayenne SUV, wondering where he's taking me on this beautiful Thursday evening.
"It's a surprise," he smirks at my inquiry.
We pull up at the front door of the mansion and he pauses, but doesn't get out. A second or two later, Yugi and Mokuba come barreling out the front door, burdened with overnight bags, backpacks and sleeping bags. I plaster a smile on my face and greet them as they climb in, hiding my crushing disappointment behind small talk.
When we once again pull up at the game shop, I'm at a complete loss.
"Seto…?" I inquire vaguely.
"I told you that it's a secret, Yami," he replies off-handedly as Mokuba and Yugi exit the vehicle with a wave.
"Bye, Yami! Have a good time," My little brother calls to me. I'm even more confused when I realize that the two imps only took half of their gear when they got out.
"You too, big brother!" Mokuba echoes, waving madly.
Seto smiles lightly at him and starts to pull off. I lean out of the window and wave good-bye as we drive away.
"Seto…" I try again a few minutes later.
"You'll find out when we get there, which will be in about two hours. You can take a nap if you want."
I fall silent at his statement. Two hours? He's certainly not driving so far for a night out. Glancing into the seats behind us, I realize that one of the overnight bags on the seat is mine. My breath catches in understanding.
We're going away together.
Somehow, Seto got my brother to pack a bag for me, so that he could take me out of town with him.
Wow.
Suddenly very nervous, I glance at the detached brunet beside me.
Am I ready for us to go on a trip together? No. Not really.
He's going to be so disappointed. What if he wants to stop seeing me?
I don't realize that I'm twisting the bottom of my shirt into a knot until I feel his warm hand on top of my own.
"Why are you freaking out, Yami?" he asks quietly, eyes never leaving the road as he slips his fingers between mine.
"I'm just not sure I'm ready to go away with you, Seto," I confess.
Oh, man. I so did not mean to say that…
Seto merely smirks in amusement.
"Afraid that I'll take you off somewhere and ravage you, Yami?" he teases.
Sputtering a denial, I feel a wave of heat covering my face and neck. Seto's smirk of amusement slips into a small, indulgent smile.
"I promise that it's not that serious," he asserts, squeezing my hand lightly before returning it to the steering wheel. "I have business in Miyazaki this weekend and decided to drive instead of riding in the limo. Yugi thought a change of scenery would be good for you and Mokuba decided to stay at your place with him."
"Oh," I acknowledge.
Seto goes back to driving in silence.
I hate to admit it, but I'm almost disappointed that the reason for this trip is so simple and that it really has nothing to do with me. Looking out the window, I lose myself in the scenery going by.
A lovely carved sign introducing the "Shinsen Ryokan" jars me from my daze.
"I-I thought you were coming here on business," I stutter as we pull up to the Traditional Ryokan hot spring.
"I lied," he grins at me.
Without preamble, he exits the SUV and begins gathering our things from the back. Taking a deep breath, I get out and help, noting that Yugi packed several days worth of items for me.
"How long will we be here?" I venture tentatively, following him to our check-in point.
"Until Sunday," he replies casually. I catch myself from reeling at the thought of nearly three days alone with Seto at the secluded hot spring.
After donning a pair of house slippers, we are escorted down a polished, wooden hall, past a large, beautiful, and obviously well maintained Japanese-style garden. Stepping into what will be our shared room, our Nakai-san explains that there are two sleeping areas and a private, open-air, hot spring bath included in our lodgings. Looking around the spacious area, I take in the low table and its accompanying chairs. I then catch site of a bamboo table set for two on the small patio outside of a pair of rice paper doors.
Though I've been to a hot spring hotel before, I've never been in a traditional Ryokan. I have to admit that I'm a little impressed and can't help feeling very special. After all, if Seto took the time to arrange this secret getaway, he must really like me. Despite my best efforts, I can feel the happy grin and bright blush creeping over my face.
Our Nakai-san goes on to inform us that we can have our meals served there or join the other Ryokan guests in the tearoom She further explains that tea and sake are are served in the garden and the shared, 24-hour, hot spring bath upon request.
I glance at Seto's perpetually impassive face to catch him raising an eyebrow at her mention of sake. Does he plan to get me drunk and… I shake my head at myself; now I'm just being ridiculous.
Why am I freaking out? Why can't I just enjoy Seto's company like I usually do?
Because we're not at home and this isn't our usual situation, that's why. At home I get to be a mystery to Seto; hold his interest a little longer. But here…
I sigh to myself, wondering how I'd planned to stay a mystery if I also want Seto and I to get closer.
"Yami, are you all right?" Seto questions as I quickly turn toward one of the rooms to put my bags down.
"Fine," I murmur, keeping my back to him and our Nakai-san.
There's no way I'm going to be able to stay here for nearly four days alone with Seto and not make a disaster of everything. With my luck, I'll trip in my house slippers and tear the door to our room. Or lose my towel in the shared hot spring bath. I can't even imagine the thousands of ways to embarrass myself and Seto in this place.
Kami, we have a private hot spring bath in this room! What if…what if Seto is turned off by my body?
What if he's really turned on? Am I ready for that kind of relationship with him?
"I'm really overthinking this," I mumble to myself.
Seto's strong hands wrap around mine, which are twisting the handle of my bag into a knot.
"Are you still that afraid of being alone with me?" he questions evenly, though I can hear the hurt and disappointment in his voice.
I look up to deny his misconception, but he's let go of my hands and moved to stare out the patio doors.
"Its fine, Yami," he asserts coolly, not looking my way. "We'll have dinner and then I'll take you back."
Shit. I've really hurt him.
Following my heart instead of my mind for once, I slip my arms around his waist from behind.
"Yami?" he breathes in surprise at my action.
"I'm sorry, Seto," I murmur, laying my head against his back. "I'm not afraid of being alone with you."
Tightening my hold, I take a deep breath and then plunge right in with the truth.
"It's just that I've loved you for such a long time, since high school really, that I still can't believe we're together and I worry that I'll do something to mess it up," I confess in a rush. "I really love that you planned this trip for us and I look forward to having a good time with you."
After a short silence, Seto turns around in my arms.
"Yami…" he intones, sliding his arms around me and nuzzling his face into my hair.
Basking in the warmth of his embrace, I've never felt so desired in my life; which is probably why I don't stop Seto from what he does next.
It's not my first kiss, but the electric thrill of Seto's lips followed by his tongue entwining with mine, blows away all the other kisses I've ever had.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I pull him tighter against me.