Chapter 28:

Planning

I hope Ana is feeling better. Seto kept glancing at his phone. It had been a few days since she'd called him, and he couldn't keep his mind focused on his work. Screw it. He pulled up a new tab on his computer and started outlining what he thought would be a fun thing for them to do within 24 hours. I should probably get her away from her family so they don't interfere. I guess we could do something in Domino city then, but that's six hours away. Oh, we could take the Blue-Eyes jet… The look on her face would be pretty funny, but what if she's afraid of heights?

Seto's eyes slid back over to his phone. It couldn't hurt to ask… Could it? He decided it would be better to know since based on her answer, it would require him to change his plans. He picked up his phone and messaged her.

Seto: Are you afraid of heights?

He sat there staring at his phone for a couple minutes, his hands sweating. Why is this so nerve-racking? It's just a text…. Is she busy? Should I try again later? Or was it weird of me to message her?

Ding! He let out a sigh of relief when he saw the response.

Ana: No.

Seto: Are you afraid of planes?

This time she responded right away.

Ana: No… You're not planning on having me jump out of one, are you?

He glared at his phone. Even in text, she still sounds defensive and snarky.

Seto: Of course not! Do you really think I'm a total piece of shit?

He sent the message, then realized he didn't actually want her to answer that question.

Ana: Well… Not a total one, I suppose.

Seto rolled his eyes before responding: Fine. That's all the questions I had.

He set down his phone expecting that to be the end, but it dinged again.

Ana: Amin-chan, you almost sound hurt. She sent a smiley face with its tongue sticking out.

What? I'm not hurt. And you can't hear how I sound through text! Ding.

Ana: I'm betting your thinking that I can't hear how you sound through text. Hehe.

Seto's face grew warm. She'd guessed right about his thoughts. He put his head in his hands and let out a groan. Since when did she learn to read me? He shook his head and focused on planning the trip. If she can fly, then anywhere within Japan should be doable, but where to take her? He researched trip ideas, but the more he read, the more unsure he became. She thinks she's doing this as a favor, so if I take her to a sightseeing place, she might get suspicious and outright refuse to go. It has to be somewhere that she thinks she's working, but not… Oh. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he thought of the perfect place. He picked up his phone and messaged Ana asking if the Sunday three weeks from now would work for her. She replied that it would as long as her doctor cleared her. Then she asked him what she would need to wear. He thought about it and replied casual clothes. When he finished setting up the time that he would pick her up, he called in Inu-san.

"You rang, sir?" Inu asked, looking excited.

"Uh, yeah. I need casual clothes. What do normal people where?" Seto asked, feeling a little self-conscious.

"Pardon? What's the occasion?"

"I'll be doing a lot of walking outside and touring." Seto kept it vague. He didn't want Inu to know his plans.

"Oh, I imagine jeans, tennis shoes and a t-shirt would suffice in this weather. If you're wanting to hide your presence a little more a ball cap would help."

Seto listened and decided that his answer was actually rather helpful. "Great. Now, where do I buy clothes like that?"

Inu seemed to hold back laughter. "I'll procure them for you. I feel that it would cause an uproar if you entered a department store yourself."

That's probably true. Despite my nature, I get approached by fans more often than not. "Alright, I'll leave it to you."

Inu left, and Seto was feeling pretty good about his plans.

His phone rang, and he groaned at the caller I.D. but picked it up. "What do you want, Dai?"

The old man chuckled on the other end of the phone. Seto wasn't sure how he'd got his number, but the only reason he didn't block him was because he called to talk about Ana. When Seto had said he was spying on Ana a little, what he really meant was one of her own was reporting to him about her. Ever since he'd visited the hospital of his own volition, the old man had somehow found out and made it a priority to call and report on how she was doing every few days. I don't know why he feels the need to do this. It's rather annoying, but it's nice to know that Ana's therapy is going well.

"It seems that Ana called you a few days ago." Dai sounded amused.

"What? Did you look at her phone logs?" Seto rolled his eyes.

Dai sighed. "I do not invade my family's privacy like that. She told me a few moments ago when she was asking permission for the outing you two are planning. When I asked how she'd got in contact with you, she informed me she still had your number and called you a few days ago."

"Greeat. I didn't realize she needed your permission for every little thing." Seto's eye involuntarily twitched.

"… You really think an outing after being kidnapped is a little thing? She can't even walk outside alone without having a panic attack." He countered, and Seto couldn't think of a comeback.

He sighed. "So, you've called to say she can't then?"

"I've called to say she can on a few conditions. Firstly, where are you taking her?" Dai started his interrogation.

"Is it necessary to tell you?" Seto wanted to punch his desk but resisted since he didn't want to break his hand.

"You are taking my granddaughter, who has experienced severe trauma away from her home and anyone who can watch her. The least you can do is tell me your plans," Dai growled.

It seemed this was non negotiable. Seto sighed and admitted, "Kaiba Land."

Much to his chagrin, the old man burst out laughing on the other end and Seto went cross-eyed. He nearly threw his phone, but resisted.

Instead, he asked, "Is there a problem with that?"

Dai calmed down, but there was clear amusement lacing his voice. "None, but how do you plan on getting there?"

"Flying."

"… In what?"

"My private jet."

Dai chuckled. "The one shaped like that dual monster?"

Seto snapped. "Yes, in my Blue-Eye's jet. Do you need anything else? What we're eating? How many bathroom breaks we take? What souvenirs we plan to buy?"

Dai snorted. "No. That should be sufficient, I have no problem with her going if it's with you. Though, sometimes I forget that you're only a 17-year-old boy. I won't permit this to be overnight—"

Seto hung up before he could start talking nonsense. Great. Now Ana will know where we're going. So much for surprising her.

The next three weeks were long and painful. The only thing that made it better was that Ana occasionally called him to talk or would message him. She'd started going back to school, but still couldn't go anywhere by herself for long without freaking out. Concerned that this meant she would need an escort to the restroom on their day out, he made that comment to her. She thoroughly assured him she could go to the restroom by herself just fine. Finally, the day came for him to pick her up. He took sleeping pills that night so he would wake up rested to fly his jet in the morning. He woke up feeling more rested than he had in a while, but was also so nervous he wanted to throw up.

Seto flew his jet to the airfield which was about forty minutes from Ana's house. He then took a cab to pick her up. Inu had come through for him and bought him a pair of black jeans, a grey T-shirt, and a black ball cap to match. These are actually pretty comfy. They don't look too bad on me either.

Seto walked up to Ana's house and rang the doorbell. Hikari answered it and glared at him. He crossed his arms and didn't invite Seto in.

"What?" Seto asked out right. "If you have something to say, then say it."

"If you try anything indecent with my sister—"

"If your grandfather had thought that would be the case, he wouldn't have approved of the outing." Seto interrupted him. Pulling out his grandfather's authority was very effective because Hikari stuttered.

"Y-yeah, but still. He doesn't know how much of an ass you are, not like I do."

His comeback was almost laughable, but Seto didn't have time to respond as Ana came to the door. She'd dressed in jean shorts and a comfy blue blouse. A small tote bag was on her shoulder and she was holding a sun hat with a yellow flower in it. She pinched her brother in the side with her free hand, making him yelp.

"You're in my way." She said and shoved passed him.

"Ana—"

She shut the door on him before he could say anymore and sighed. Plopping her hat on her head, she looked up at Seto and placed her hand on her hips.

"Alright Amin-chan, where too?" She sounded almost excited.

"Wha?" His brain had frozen when he'd seen what she was wearing. Quickly, he shook his head and snapped out of it. Shorts are dangerous. Shorts are very dangerous. "You don't know?"

Ana frowned at him. "Why would I know? You never told me where we were going?"

Her grandfather really didn't tell her? Oh, well. Whatever. He pointed to the cab, and they got in. When they arrived at the airstrip, he took her over to the hanger where his jet was stationed. Ana was looking around curiously, but froze when they opened the door to the hanger and she saw his Jet.

"We're not flying in that, are we?" She seemed very unsure.

Seto smirked at her. "You said you were ok with flying."

"On a plane! Not in a private jet and certainly not with you flying it." Ana actually took a step back.

He found himself a little irritated and hurt by her reaction. "I have a perfect flying record and I have my license. Also, your grandfather ok'd it. So, stop chickening out and get in."

"Grandpa, ok'd this?" Ana's voice rose an octave. She didn't seem to believe him. Seto told her to call him and ask, so she did. As she listened to the other end of the phone, a little color drained from her face. She slowly hung up and looked crestfallen.

Ugh, maybe I should have thought of something within driving distance if this was going to make her this upset. He sighed. There was no turning back now, and they headed to the jet. He helped her stow her bag and had her strap in. When he was sure she was secure and her helmet was fastened, he got into his seat and did his checks. He put his helmet on and checked the mic.

"Sakurai-san, can you hear clearly?"

"Unfortunately," she groaned.

Seto rolled his eyes and did the last check. Once everything was good, he started up the engines and maneuvered the jet to the runway. He could see Ana in his mirror. She was gripping the belt so tightly her knuckles were white. Maybe putting her in my Jet wasn't the best way to not induce a panic attack. When they were given the go for takeoff, he started the jet down the runway and within a minute they were rising into the air. He could hear Ana's heavy breath in his ear from the helmet. When they reached cruising altitude, he leveled off the jet. Ana was still gripping her seat belt with her eyes tightly shut.

"Sakurai-san." He tried to get her attention, but she didn't open her eyes. "Chi-san."

Even calling her by the nickname he gave her didn't get her to open her eyes. He sighed. They rode in silence for a couple minutes, but she still didn't open her eyes.

"Ana-san." It was the first time he'd called her name while not putting on a show for anyone else. The process felt very personal.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Look outside," was all he said.

She bit her lip but turned to look out the window. It was fun to see her reaction. Her eyes widened and for a moment she looked fearful, but her curiosity got the better of her. She leaned toward the window, looking out over the expanse of the sky. He enjoyed flying, not only because he was in full control of everything, but because up here with just the clouds going on for endless miles, he could disconnect from the world.

"Well?" He asked.

"It's terrifying and breathtaking."

He chuckled at her response.

"Also, did you call me by my first name?" Ana's voice sounded incredulous in his ear.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. You must have been hearing static." Seto feigned ignorance and noticed her pursed lips in his tiny mirror. He couldn't help but smile at her reaction.

"Next time you call me Ana, I'm going to call you Seto."

His heart stopped for a beat, which really wasn't good when he was flying a jet at thirty thousand feet. His ears felt warm. It had been years since he'd heard anyone but his little brother say his given name. Considering he had their lives in his hands right now, he decided not to comment and focus on flying. The rest of the trip was quick. It only took them about forty-five minutes to reach Domino City. Seto landed and parked the jet in his private hanger. He hopped out and was going to go grab some stairs for Ana to get down with, but to his surprise she tried to jump out too.

"Wait!" But it was too late, she jumped. Luckily, he was there to catch her. She looked into his eyes, rather surprised. "I told you to wait. Your fractures just healed. You shouldn't be jumping out of jets."

He set her down, and her face had turned a light pink. What? Was jumping out of it that strenuous. Then don't do it! He decided not to voice his thoughts and led her to a posh black car.

"What? Are you driving this too?" Ana frowned as he got into the driver's seat. She climbed into the passenger's seat, looking uncomfortable.

Of course I am. I don't want anyone chaperoning us. I just want it to be the two of us.

"Yes," he replied, and they set off. I just hope that she enjoys herself today, and that nothing goes wrong.