You aren't all that worried despite the blindfold. You have trust issues but if nothing else, you trust Yuushi. And if letting him drag you around blindfolded will persuade him of it, so be it. Still if you don't get to your destination soon… He can't blame you; you're new at this.
"You'll like it, Keigo. I promise." He guides you by the hand, his voice excited. You smile and don't try to hide it. Something you know he likes. If only you could see him, you think wistfully.
"Okay, we're here."
You can hear the crinkle of grass and the laughter of small children. A park? The blindfold is taken away.
The horribly blue and white checkered table cloth, the wicker basket, the bottle of wine.…It can only be one thing. "A picnic," you state, a little in disbelief.
He grins winningly at you, adorably so. He holds up his hands. "I know, it's cheesy. But come, sit."
"Please tell me you didn't cook whatever's in there." You point at the basket. But you do sit.
"I, unlike you, can cook." He has a point; you've been known to burn pasta. "But don't worry; I asked the cook to prepare something. Of course I didn't tell them why." He starts getting out the plates and containers of food.
"Why not? Ashamed of me are you?" You're joking but the thought of him being embarrassed of you hurts. A lot. You pour yourself a glass of dark red wine, knowing he loves the richness of the flavor when you kiss.
"You know I'm not. If I was I wouldn't be doing this in broad daylight," he counters.
"Do what?" you ask. He takes the glass form your hand and puts down on the grass. He envelops you in his arms. And you melt as if on cue. Leaning back against him, something is different. "What's that smell? Did you change shampoos?" You inhale. Citrusy.
Not letting go, he reaches around you to take a sip of wine. After savoring the taste, he shrugs. "Yeah. You always looked, I don't know, sad."
You flush, wondering if you're really that easy to read. And then you start talking about anything, everything. The rest of the afternoon goes quickly with a lot of laughs, none of them strained, and brushing hands that promise even sweeter caresses. It's a nice way to spend the afternoon, outside with the one you love.
It's time to leave this little haven. You know he feels restless because the random touches are more teasing. You make sure to innocently rub against him when you fold the blanket. Making sure your arm touches his. He gives you a look. You laugh. So what, you think. There's no one else watching. As if reading your mind, he suggests, "Hey, let's go to somewhere more private."
There is a slight leer on his face. He looks calculating which you find makes him look hot. Such a cliché line, though, deserves just as trite a response. "Your place or mine?" you toss back. You have these repartees, each of you trying to outdo the other. It one of many reasons why he's perfect for you.
He thinks he's so smart. You chuckle. With a simpering smile that is perhaps a little impish you say, "Both. You go to yours I go to mine."
"I guess I walked into that one, didn't I?"
"I'm just trying to win here. But you're making it had. Were you always this competitive or did I just forget?"
"Seems you've forgotten a lot, Keigo." He pauses, cutting himself off. The light banter has proven to be tainted with old memories.
"Like what, Yuushi?" you ask. This can go two very different ways. He can answer you seriously, draw up painful memories and the fight will continue to cycle. Or…
"That I don't do uke." Or he can play it off like it's nothing. Your shoulders relax. The time of talking, and that time is soon, is not now.
"We'll see. First, we need a place."
He takes the blanket that you've just folded and swathes you in white and blue squares. He tugs you towards him and, ensnared, you are helpless to comply. You can feel the outline of his body through the thin blanket. You stay like that for a while. But then he steps backwards and you drop the blanket so there is nothing between you but a thin strip of air.
He leans closer as though drawn by an invisible string to close the sliver of emptiness. "I know. That's why I asked you, yours or mine?"
You touch his shoulder, strong and muscular. But at the same time bony. What a contradiction. You both are.
"Yours," you say firmly. Your mom has been brining women home; you'd stupidly told her about Yuushi's dinner date. Not what had happened afterwards, obviously. You thought she knew though; she'd said "Good night, Keigo," a little happier than she had in a while. It was almost as if she sensed you were changing.
"Yuushi! That you?" That voice. You and Yuushi turn around, the distance between you increasing. Taller, though not by much, lean and hair still as alarmingly red as ever, Mukahi Gakuto strode up to them.
"Oh, hey," Yuushi awkwardly greets him.
You turn to stare, not at the newcomer but at Yuushi. "What is he doing here?"
"What, Yuushi didn't tell you? I thought you told each other everything."
You never liked Gakuto's voice when he was at Hyoutei and you don't like it now. You have never wanted to punch anyone so badly. Your proverbial hackles rise.
"Yuushi and I have been seeing each other for the past three weeks. Explicitly." That stupid smile.
"He came to me after you so flagrantly unmanned him." Gakuto tosses his accusations at you. Each hit their mark with deadly precision.
You grit your teeth, knowing and hating that you can't order him to do laps.
"Gakuto-" Yuushi begins, trying to head him off but Gakuto keeps talking.
"What? Isn't it true or was that a lie you told me at dinner?" Gakuto returns, eyes wide with mock innocence.
"But now we're back together. So back off." How Yuushi can stand him is utterly beyond you.
"You broke his heart," Gakuto snarls at you. He turns to Yuushi, his tone softer but no less confused. "I'm your best friend; he's not going to get off easy. He broke your heart…"
"Gakuto, stop. We'll talk later." Yuushi's command is firm but not unkind. He touches his forehead, predicting a headache.
You're not sure who the last comment is directed at and cross your arms.
"You bet we will."
You bend down, exhaling slowly as you do, to pick up the checkered blanket. Yuushi comes and wraps you in it once more.
"I'll let you go once I've explained."
You nod, knowing you have no choice. Besides, it's not like he'll leave. This much you know.
"It's true that Gakuto has been with me a lot this week. We've gone to the gym, to parties together." Yuushi pauses before answering your question. "But not as a couple. People aren't that accepting. Gakuto was just playing with you; he doesn't like to see you so serious."
His explanation, or rather, his voice, calms you somewhat and you sag against him, bone tired. You duck your head, resting it on his shoulder. His bony yet muscular shoulder.
"Yuushi?" you ask into his neck.
"Yes?" He touches your hair, fingers brushing through the strands in the way he knows you like.
"Can I make love to you?"
There. You said it and you're not taking it back. While he was explaining himself, which he didn't really need to do because it was Gakuto and that said it all.
"Are you not happy?" Yuushi asks gently. "Do you not like it when I…Do I hurt you?" He's worried. About you. Someone so together and perfect was worried about you.
"No. I love it," you assure him. "You're always doing all the work. This time, I want to…." You pause, hoping he'll understand and fill in the blank. You need to do this.
"You want to be in control," Yuushi tells you, something in his expression is sad. He's still thinking of you as how you used to be. But you've changed. You feel different, better than you ever have. You want him to see the change, too.
"No, no. I want to make you feel incredible. How you make me feel." You smile shyly and he smiles back.
"Then, okay." Laughing, you kiss him. He kisses you back, hands strumming your sides like the violin he likes to play and the deal is sealed.
"Mine," he says. You think he's talking about which place to go and you agree without thinking.
"Yeah, yours." Your brain catches up a second later. Oh. "Well," you shrug, "it's true."
He has to rub it in, drive it home . "No, I mean you. You're mine."His smile widens and you blush but both of you are pleased.
"I know. And you're mine," you say softly, but he hears you. He catches your hand in his, fingers folding over each other, linking and never wanting to be untangled.