Yay updates! Keeping this short because Rena's in a hurry. Ulrich and Yumi try to be cute. Odd tries to be a pest. Enjoy~
Yumi trailed her fingers through the water, a lazy smile on her lips. Beside her, Ulrich pawed at the water, drifting up beside her. Opening one eye, Yumi grinned playfully at the brunet. He grinned back, bumping his raft against hers. Silently, Yumi held her hand out to Ulrich. Settling into her float, Ulrich twined his fingers with hers.
They were floating together along Odd's island traveling river, in an attempt to avoid the adventure happy duo that was Aelita and Odd. While the pair had spent the morning planning all of the fun and exciting things they wanted to do that day—explore the woods, climb the cliffs, swim around the island—their friends had planned their escape. After sharing an island for almost two weeks with the wild couple, they were desperate for some calm, relaxing alone time.
It seemed to them that making for the river had been just the right choice. After assuring themselves that Odd and Aelita weren't going to come paddling around the next bend, the pair had finally been able to relax, and for a few hours had simply floated together, quiet and content.
At this point in their river-guided island tour, they found themselves deep within a cavern, through which the little river ran. Random opening in the rock above allowed in light without letting the sun shine directly on the drifters, giving the cavern a cool, diffused glow. The river deepened and widened out here, and was branched with lots of natural little offshoots and tide pools.
"This was a good idea," Yumi sighed appreciatively as she passed close to one of the tide-pools. Leaning over, she smiled at the various little fish and other sea life that looked back at her.
"I'm glad I thought of it," Ulrich said. Yumi rolled her eyes.
"If memory serves," she mumbled, leaning towards her boyfriend, "this was my idea." Ulrich closed the small space between them.
"Maybe you're right," he said, as he pressed his shoulder to hers.
"Maybe," Yumi said playfully. Ulrich smiled.
"Yeah. But this is my idea."
Before she could ask what 'this' was, Ulrich shifted his weight, rolling off the side of his raft and into the water. Yumi was able to get out a single startled yelp before the boy's grip on her hand had her rolling in with him.
"Ulrich!" she sputtered as the pair surfaced, Ulrich's fingers still laced with hers.
"Yes?" the brunet asked, floating in front of her. Yumi scowled at his smile.
"Is there a reason you decided I didn't need to be on a float anymore?" she asked.
"Of course there is," Ulrich said, all mock seriousness as he pulled Yumi close. "If we're both on floats, we can't get close."
"Is that so?" Yumi said, smiling playfully. Ulrich tucked her against his chest.
"And we just can't have that."
"Oh no," Yumi agreed, leaning in, draping her arms across Ulrich's shoulders. "We can't have that at all." His smile soft, Ulrich dipped his head. They kicked gently, keeping themselves afloat. Yumi's eyes slid shut as Ulrich's breath ghosted her lips, and she kicked just a little harder, lifting up, reaching to meet him—
"Geronimo!"
The pair had just enough time to realize that their moment had been effectively ruined before a second voice shouted, an excited 'whee!' announcing the arrival of their second interloper moments before twin splashes rang out through the cavern. Thoroughly doused by the resulting mini-wave, Ulrich and Yumi exchanged un-amused looks.
"Whoohoo!" Odd cheered as he broke the surface, followed a moment later by a head of pink hair bobbing into view.
"That was so much fun!" Aelita squealed as she paddled over to her companion. "Can we go again?"
"Of course we—oh, hey guys!"
Ulrich and Yumi cringed at the realization they'd been spotted.
"Hey Odd," the deadpanned.
"We were wondering where you guys went," Odd said cheerfully.
"Odd took me cave diving!" Aelita said, grinning brightly. "Now we're going to go explore the cliffs—Odd said really big seabirds build nests up there!"
"Really," Ulrich said, doing his best to look interested in Aelita's excitement.
"If you're supposed to be going to the cliffs, then what are you doing here?" Yumi asked. Aelita seemed to not notice the girl's annoyance while Odd, smirk in place, simply looked like he didn't care. Pointing to the whole in the cavern ceiling, maybe ten feet above them, he said,
"Me and my sisters would play in here all the time. I thought Aelita would like to see the fun entrance."
"That's great," Ulrich said, keeping his attention focused on Aelita. He didn't think he could fake as much enthusiasm for his blonde friend.
"Do you want to come with us?" Aelita asked, all excitement and innocence.
"Yeah," Odd added, tossing an arm around Aelita's shoulders. "You should totally come!"
While Yumi and Ulrich had been able to spare smiles for Aelita, they now turned pointed frowns in Odd's direction.
"As much fun as that sounds," Ulrich began,
"We'll have to pass," Yumi finished. "Maybe next time."
"Okay," Aelita chirped. As she began paddling for the water's edge, Ulrich fixed Odd with a scowl.
What? Odd mouthed. Behind him, Ulrich could hear Yumi climbing back into her float and starting to paddle off.
Thanks for nothing, Ulrich mouthed back. With that he turned as started paddling after a retreating Yumi, quietly cursing Odd under his breath.
A little alone time with his girlfriend, he wondered as he swam. Was that really so much to ask?
Sprawled out in the warm, white sand, Ulrich sighed his contentment. After the incident with Odd and the river, it had taken a few days for him and Yumi to scrape together another chance at some alone time together. But they had, as Aelita and Odd's late night movie fest had left the pair fast asleep on the pull-out couch—and left Ulrich and Yumi with a chance at a chaos free morning.
As quickly and quietly as they could, the pair had pulled on bathing suits and gathered towels and, grinning from ear to ear, had snuck out the front door and down to the shore of a very inviting beach. Of course, they'd moved a little away from the house—they didn't want to be so close that Odd could sense their peace and quiet—and then they'd laid out their towels, propping up an umbrella they'd found on the porch, and promptly picked up where they'd left off a few days previous.
For two blissful hours they'd enjoyed the sand and surf all to themselves. After cuddling in the sun, they'd turned their attentions to more productive matters—building a giant sandcastle. Yumi had early on decided that she was fashioning her own dream house, the one she fully expected Ulrich to build for her with his bare hands one day.
She'd decided what every room would be as they built, cheerfully pointing out their one day chef style kitchen, the bathroom with a Jacuzzi-tub, nurseries for all twelve of their children (Ulrich had made an odd choking sound at this revelation, before discreetly sweeping away a tower of bedrooms), and the guestrooms where Odd and Aelita, and Jeremy and Emily would stay.
"If Odd's mysterious contact gets things between the two geniuses figured out," Ulrich observed, as Yumi decorated the window with a few small seashells.
"I'm sure they will," Yumi said. She eyed her work critically before leaning back on her hands, a content smile on her lips. "And even without outside help, it's only a matter of time before those two lovebirds get together."
"You think so?" Ulrich asked. Yumi nodded.
"We did, didn't we?" A small smile graced Ulrich's lips. Climbing to his knees, he moved around their elaborate sandcastle. Smiling in return, Yumi lay back as Ulrich crawled over top of her.
"And we didn't need any of Odd's matchmaking."
"Not one bit," Yumi agreed. Lifting her arms, she wrapped them around Ulrich's neck.
"So," Ulrich breathed, leaning down to nuzzle Yumi's neck. "What should we do now?"
"How about a swim?"
As Ulrich blinked his confusion, Yumi pressed off from his shoulders, scooting across the sand and out from under her boyfriend. With a mischievous look in her eyes, she climbed lithely to her feet, smiling over her shoulder as she made her way towards the water.
Still on his hands and knees in the sand, Ulrich watched her as she splashed into the ocean.
Sitting back on his haunches, he sighed as he watched Yumi sink down to her waist in the water. Turning around, she trailed one hand through the water, wiggling her fingers at Ulrich, inviting him to join her. A smirk tugging at his lips, Ulrich rolled onto his back, leaning on his hands as he watched Yumi. Lowering herself further into the water, she tugged tantalizingly at the tie to her bikini top.
And then a door slammed in the distance, and Yumi's expression fell.
Ulrich sighed.
Moment ruined.
Again.
"Sandcastle!" was the blonde's single battle cry, a moment before Yumi and Ulrich's sandy dream home disappeared in a yellow and purple blur. Somewhere nearby, Aelita splashed into the surf, shrieking her joy.
"Hi, Odd," Ulrich said, staring at his friend.
"Hey Ulrich!" Odd bounced up, brushing sand from his shorts. "How's the water?"
"Better on the other side of the island."
"Odd, come on!" Aelita shouted, waving for the blonde to join her. With a salute to Ulrich, Odd turned and dashed for the waves, doing a fantastic belly-flop into the too shallow water. Aelita giggled as the stunned blonde slowly sank out of view.
As Ulrich looked down morosely at his destroyed sand-home, Yumi dropped gracelessly into the space next to him.
"There goes our afternoon," she sighed. Ulrich nodded mutely, eyes still on the fallen castle. Raising an eyebrow, Yumi leaned forward, looking past him. "It's just a sandcastle, you know."
"It was our home," Ulrich countered. Yumi rolled her eyes.
"Feeling some domestic pride?" she teased. She frowned when Ulrich's only response was to sigh.
"What?" he asked. "A man's home is a matter of pride!"
"And Odd violated your pride?" Yumi asked.
"You know it."
With another sigh, Yumi lay back on her towel. Finding her sunglasses, she pushed them on, assuming a tanning position while waving with one hand to the water where Odd and Aelita were splashing about.
"Go defend your honor, Ul."
The brunet didn't need any more urging. A splash sounded a moment later, and then Odd's panicked shouts filled the air, while Aelita happily cheered Ulrich on. Yumi sighed.
One day without Odd bursting in, she thought. Is that so much to ask for?
The sun hung low in the sky, the sunset splashing bright pinks and brilliant golds across the sky. From their spot on the front porch the couple watched the natural light show with bright, wonder-filled eyes. Leaning against Ulrich, Yumi sighed happily.
"Isn't it lovely?" she whispered, leaning her cheek on his shoulder. Ulrich hummed.
"It really is," he whispered back. It was a few moments before Yumi realized Ulrich's gaze wasn't on the distant sunset, but rather on her, his eyes warm. Smiling, Yumi swatted playfully at him.
"You're such a flirt," she mumbled. Ulrich rubbed his nails against his shirt.
"What can I say? I have style." Yumi snorted.
"I couldn't tell," she said. "Is it hiding behind that giant head of yours?"
Ulrich laughed, wrapping an arm around Yumi's shoulders and hugging her close. Laying his cheek against her hair, Ulrich sighed.
"We finally have some alone time," he whispered.
"About time," Yumi agreed. "That only took how long?"
"Too long," Ulrich said.
After the beach incident, the pair had resigned themselves to never getting another moment alone on the island, complaining good naturedly as they were tugged off on island wide games of hide-and-go-seek and pulled into ridiculous cooking competitions with Odd. More than once Odd and Ulrich had broken out into competing in various tests of manliness, and whenever she got the chance Aelita liked to drag Yumi off for girl bonding time.
While neither Yumi nor Ulrich disliked spending such time with their friends, they'd been highly disappointed at the realization that they were as close to having an island getaway style honeymoon as they would ever get and would have no chance of enjoying it fully.
Although it seemed that they might just get a little bit of that moment now.
"I'm glad we were able to come here," Yumi said. "Even if it's not exactly what we'd hoped for."
"Yeah," Ulrich sighed. "Nothing like a summer trapped on an island with the dastardly duo." Yumi laughed.
"It could be worse," she assured him. "We could have all had to go home for the summer."
"This is true," Ulrich agreed. His expression fell. "Or even worse," he said, "I could have been stuck here with just Odd." Yumi gasped in mock horror, before dissolving into giggles.
"Now that would just be terrible," she said, trying to sound serious. Ulrich nodded solemnly.
"I think I would have to escape."
Yumi looked thoughtful, as she imagined Ulrich paddling away from the island on his mattress, Odd bouncing on the shore in the distance.
"Japan's not too far," she said. "You could join me there."
"Where there's no Odd to bother us," Ulrich agreed, pressing his lips to the top of Yumi's head.
"Hmm," Yumi agreed, tilting her head back to meet Ulrich's lips with hers. Locking lips with his girlfriend, Ulrich ran his fingers through her hair, the other hand wrapping around behind her. Slowly turning, he lowered her down, until she was laying on her back.
"Ooh," she breathed playfully, smiling against Ulrich's lips. "Someone's in a hurry."
"We have to move quickly," Ulrich agreed. "There's no telling when that blonde menace might return."
Yumi's response was her hands on the hem of Ulrich's shirt, tugging it purposefully upwards. Ulrich lifted his arms, allowing Yumi to pull the shirt over his head and toss it aside. While she worked, Ulrich's hands toyed with the hem of her shorts, pawing at the button and zipper. With Yumi's help, the shorts were quickly discarded, Yumi's tank following a moment later.
For a moment Ulrich could only stare at the beautiful woman below him. Laid out before her boyfriend in nothing but her black bikini, Yumi allowed a small, tantalizing smile to grace her lips.
"Are you just going to look?" she teased. "I thought we were hurrying."
"Oh, right."
Leaning down, Ulrich's lips found Yumi's pulse, nipping and sucking playfully. Yumi moaned softly, one hand tangling in the boy's hair while the other trailed down his back, fingering the hem of his swimsuit. As Ulrich's lips trailed along her jaw, his hand pulled teasingly at the edge of her top.
"Geeze, guys. Get a room."
Their gazes fell in tandem.
"You have got to be kidding me," Ulrich grumbled against Yumi's lips. She sighed, running her fingers through his hair before lighting pushing him away. They sat up just as Aelita and Odd dropped down on either side of the them, the later holding a massive plate of nachos.
"Hi, Odd," Ulrich deadpanned, while Yumi shrugged back into her top. "I thought you and Aelita were at the store."
"We were," Odd said, stuffing a nacho into his mouth. "We got back a little while ago."
"We didn't hear you come back," Yumi said, her expression flat.
"We came in the back!" Aelita announced, grinning brightly. "Odd said it would be easier to bring in the groceries that way."
"I'm sure that's why you snuck around the back," Ulrich said, scowling pointedly at Odd. The blonde looked unaffected by his gaze.
"Nacho?" he asked, offering the plate. Ulrich snatched the entire plate, hugging it protectively as he stuffed a handful of chips in his mouth. As he and Odd began a mini-wrestling match over the snack food, Yumi looked at Aelita and sighed.
"Did you and Odd have a good time?" she asked. Aelita nodded, all innocence as she delved into the story of she and Odd's mainland shopping adventure.
So convinced of Aelita's innocence was she that, as she listened, she missed the quick, conspiratorial look Odd and Aelita exchanged over her shoulder.
Perched together on the blonde's desk, Odd and Aelita leaned against the window panes as they watched the couple down below. They were snuggled into one of the hammocks that littered Odd's vast backyard, a few of the torches that ringed the pool lit. Every now and then one of their heads would pop up, and they would look around suspiciously before cuddling back into the other's arms.
"They're really cute together," Aelita observed.
"Yeah, I guess they make a good couple," Odd agreed. He grinned. "Yumi's the only girl who could kick Ulrich into shape when he decides to go on a brood, after all." Aelita laughed, flashing Odd a bright, green-eyed look.
"Do you want to go down and see what they're up to?" she asked, just as Ulrich's head popped up, scanning the yard for a moment before Yumi pulled him back down. Odd eyed the couple, and Aelita could see the emotions warning on his face. Harassing the couple had become one of the highlights of this trip for Odd, and yet he knew it was driving Ulrich and Yumi nuts.
Sighing, Odd leaned back on his hands, shaking his head.
"We can let them have one night in peace," he decided. He watched the couple for a moment, a smirk spreading across his face. "But we'll get them again." He winked at Aelita. "There's still half a summer left, after all."
Aelita grinned, also leaning back. Her shoulder brushed Odd's and, after a moment, she leaned in close.
"Okay," she said. "I guess we can let them have one night." Odd laughed.
"You're becoming quite the prankster, Princess."
"I have a good teacher," Aelita said. "Looks like Jeremy isn't the only one learning this summer." Aelita grinned, while Odd continued to laugh.
"I like the way you think, partner, " he said. Wrapping an arm around Aelita's shoulders, he continued, "Let's let the lovebirds have their night. I think you and me have some business to discuss." At Aelita's curious look, he asked, "Do you know anything about April first?"
"What was that?" Ulrich's head popped up, peering over the edge of the hammock. Sighing, Yumi's hand landed atop his head, pulling him back down.
"Calm down, Ulrich," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "They're not down here."
"How can you be sure?" Ulrich asked, trying to take another look. Rolling her eyes, Yumi tugged him close.
"Because I'm not blind." At Ulrich's confused look, she motioned towards the house with a tilt of her head. "Don't be obvious about it, but check out the window to Odd's room." After hesitating for a tactful moment, Ulrich performed an overly dramatic yawn-and-stretch, causing Yumi to shake her head. Directing his gaze towards the house, he spotted to figures illuminated by the faint light coming from Odd's room.
"They're watching us," he mumbled, quickly turning back to Yumi. "That's not a good sign."
"Sure it is," Yumi said, pressing herself close. "If they're watching us from up there, it means they can't sneak up on us down here." Ulrich considered this for a moment.
And then he captured Yumi's lips in a kiss. Yumi blinked for a moment, and then gladly returned the kiss. She gasped when they finally broke apart.
"I guess that means you believe me?" she asked, although she cut herself off with a moan as Ulrich's lips found her collar bone.
"Less talking, more making-out," Ulrich mumbled into her skin. A lazy smile spread across her face as Ulrich's kisses moved every southward. And then she grabbed his face in her hand, forcing him to meet her eyes, then her lips.
"Okay," she whispered when they pulled apart again. "More making-out. I can handle that."