Chocolate Fic For frostbittenlove
To: frostbittenlove
From: kissandcry
Title: Barely
Pairing: Kato Shigeaki / Aragaki Yui
Rating: NC-17
Summary: To take that one step, sometimes all you need is a vacation gone awry.
A/N: So, I kinda had the urge to name this “Winter Sonata”. To frostbittenlove, I’ll never write as well as you do (and I’m rather surprised at the length of this). Hope you enjoy this anyway! :D ♥
Katase Riichirou is an elite attorney who comes from a family of lawyers. Young and full of pride. Full of ambition. Full of intelligence.
He sits opposite a woman, hands folded neatly across his lap, a bemused expression upon his face.
Only, this situation calls for anything but bemusement.
At the other end of the table - Shiraishi Megumi. Flight doctor-in-training and medical intern. Comes from a family of doctors. Young, pretty, full of intelligence.
And also in deep trouble right now.
“Shiraishi-san,” says Katase. Shiraishi fidgets in her seat, bangs framing her frail face like two thin curtains. She looks akin to a deer caught in headlights; nervousness is a constant feature in her life at the moment. But there is a spark of defiance in her eyes as she looks up, sideways, to meet the lawyer’s cool stare.
“One mistake,” Katase repeats silkily, and Shiraishi feels that she has never met someone she wants more to throw a punch at. “Your mistake. It has caused my client his wife’s life, and until now he is still fighting for his.” The lawyer has a way of making her conscience - which had until now been clear and justified, crumble within seconds under his expressionlessly intense stare. The chair creaks as he leans forward, a groan that briefly breaks the room’s palpable tension but silently demands an answer.
No! Shiraishi feels her breathing labour as she recalls Hiyama’s despair, Fujikawa’s anguish and Aizawa’s disbelief when an undeclared medicinal allergy got ahead of them, so meagre yet so fatal. Doctors are not all-knowing, infallible gods. When it comes to saving lives, there is no right or wrong, only risks and what was best at the time. Finally finding the courage to lift her head, Shiraishi bites her lip, inhales shakily and-
“Aragaki!” Shige groans as he slumps in his seat. Yui is doubled over in fits of hysterical giggling at the other end of the table - kitchen counter, really.
“I’m so sorry,” She gasps, hiding her face behind her script to Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyumei 2010 New Year’s Special. “It’s just…you looked so, so serious.” Her laughing eyes peek out from behind. “I’m not quite used to it.”
Shige sighs and stands up, getting ready to take the pot off the boil. “Tell me why I’m doing this again?” This being, spending his precious day off pretending to be a fellow band member rehearsing an intense drama debate scene in a kitchen with said bandmate’s co-star who also happens to be his girlfriend. As a lawyer who isn’t actually named Katase Riichirou in the first place. In a dorama he isn’t even part of to begin with. He glances at the script Yui is holding, one hand stirring idly.
Yui props her feet onto the seat and tucks her knees under her chin. Shige’s eyes follow the line of her fingers, partially curled around the papers to where they idly brush against her ankle. “Because you’re the closest substitute to both a lawyer and Nishikido-kun I can find?”
There is a pause.
“Because you’re nice and helpful?”
Shige can almost hear her cheeky smile. He grunts incommitably and returns to the stove.
“Because you’re my boyfriend?”
Well.
He can’t really argue with that.
“Luckily Ryo is only guest starring for one episode.” He turns, palm hovering below the wooden spoon in case the food drips. “Try this?” he asks instead.
Usually, Yui is the one who cooks. Still she hops up lightly to him, tucks her hair behind her ear before bringing her lips closer to the spoon. Shige appreciatively watches the way her eyelashes flutter as she blows onto the curry gently to cool it down. It’s cute, and if he had any less self-control, he’d be grinning like an idiot.
Then someone’s keitai rings.
Shige’s hand involuntarily jerks at the sudden sound. Yui darts out of the kitchen with a surprised “Oh!” - it’s her phone, apparently -- leaving behind a Shige who lets out a small but rather ungainly yelp as the entire spoon tips over and spills.
When Yui returns, she looks a little sheepish.
“I have to go back to the recording studio.” She says, tucking the phone into her back pocket with a resigned huff. Yui doesn’t seem to notice how Shige is hastily rinsing the spoon a little longer than necessary, with three fingers oddly positioned away. “There’s a problem with the tapes, and…” She shakes her head and purses her lips together in an apologetic smile, sighs. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Shige replies, finally wiping his hands on the dishtowel. It’s abrupt, but neither of them can help it in their line of business. Their schedules are hectic, and barely match -- Shige being away on tour for months in a row while juggling his studies at the same time, Yui busy with filming and photoshoots during his free-er periods.
But they’re used to it, and will take whatever they can get.
He walks her to the door in silence, leans against the frame as she slips on her shoes and turns around to say goodbye.
“I’m really sorry.” Yui repeats again in a small voice. Shige shakes his head in a slightly weary manner, but reaches out to tweak her nose playfully so that Yui swats back with a laugh.
“Don’t worry,” He says, “I’ll just call Yamapi over or something to finish it up. You missed a good meal, you know.”
Yui pouts at him from the steps, then her expression changes into something more serious.
“Shigeaki?”
“Hmm?”
She leans in then, one hand tugging on his wrist and the other on his shoulder as she stands on her toes to kiss him goodbye. Shige closes his eyes, inhales the scent of her hair and savours the fleeting taste of her lips.
When Yui pulls back, her cheeks are coloured with a soft pink flush, and there is a slightly crumpled train ticket to Hokkaido pressed into the palm of Shige’s hand.
…
Sometimes, Shige wonders if this is what a long-distance relationship feels like.
It’s not that he doesn’t like the daily messages they exchange, the phone conversations they hold every night till they both fall asleep. Or the little gifts they send each other - Polaroid pictures for her and self-drawn doodles for him. Or the way one sometimes surprises the other by appearing at their doorstep, tired and in the dead of night but always smiling, just for those few stolen hours of togetherness before they move on their separate ways again when morning comes.
Shige would never give this up for anything. Not for anything at all. But more than ever, he wonders if all this, is enough.
…
Sometimes, Shige also wonders if the gods or deities or whatever higher beings up there or even the world in general, are against them. He feels like shouting indignantly with a clenched fist raised to the heavens, preferably accompanied by dramatic effects of thunder and lightning.
“Um,” He ventures very coherently instead. It is the weekend after Yui gave him the ticket to a specially mapped out (and highly anticipated; apparently she spent a few months tracking both their schedules for this) skiing trip to Hokkaido, and they’re both standing numbly outside Sapporo train station. Opposite them, a stray dog with its snout covered in snow with frozen whiskers lets out a loud bark.
It isn’t quite a snowstorm, but with near eleven inches of snow blanketing the rather deserted streets and even more whirling around them in the howling wind, it’s pretty close. There’s no way they will be able to ski in this weather.
Yui turns to him, eyes wide and apologetic, even a little frightened. Then Shige realizes he doesn’t really have to say anything after all.
He takes her hand, then suddenly becomes conscious that he isn’t really helping since his own fingers are chilled to the bone despite their gloves. So he slips it into his leather jacket together with his own and squeezes lightly.
“Let’s go get some shelter first.”
They set off for the hotel, shoulders and elbows bumping awkwardly against each other.
…
Yui is unusually quiet, even for her. She’s watching the news, sitting with her legs crossed on the bed while Shige is preparing the bath. Cups of instant ramen and random packets of food, which they got from a nearby conbini, are scattered across the table.
In the bathroom, Shige is leaning over the bathtub with one hand under the tap and the other submerged in water. He listens to the muffled sounds coming from the television but at the same time, doesn’t really hear them either.
Instead, he wonders about what to do later before they have to return to Tokyo early tomorrow, about their tragically (because being stuck in a snowstorm of sorts with no place to go is, well, terribly woeful) cut-off vacation, about Yui’s disappointment and silence.
Then he thinks about their relationship, how he wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world but yet this doesn’t seem to be enough. How he can only see the unmoving present but not the future where in his dreams, everything ceases to be except Yui’s bright eyes and laughter, like the stars and gentle waves of the sea.
They’re both not the most spontaneous people around, simple and mild. Probably unexciting, even. There’s rarely anything new in the relationship, nothing better to offer Yui. More than ever, Shige wants to change that for her.
He watches her through the door crack for a long time, until Yui suddenly glances his way and catches his gaze. In that very moment, there’s so much in there. Too much to hold.
Shige quickly looks away.
…
When Yui is finished, she stands at the bathroom entrance barefooted, wrapped in a white, fluffy bathrobe. She’s blowing her hair dry with the hotel’s equipment when Shige looks sideways at her from the bed.
“What took you so long?” He says mournfully, “I bet there’s no more hot water left for me now.”
Yui laughs, tosses her hair back to get a better angle at the damp areas. “You don’t look very cold yourself, Shigeaki.” She says, tilting her head to the right. Shige has taken off his jacket and sweater, only leaving on a dark, long-sleeved top. Yui absently notes that black looks really good on him, how the shirt seems to mould itself to the sedate curve of his back and toned arms. When he stretches backwards to lean on his hands, Yui can see the shift of his shoulders beneath the material.
She blinks, realizes that she’s staring and proceeds to put the hairdryer away with a considerably redder face. Which, thankfully, Shige doesn’t seem to notice in the dim light.
“Don’t you want to take a bath?” Yui asks, sinking down onto the bed next to him. Shige watches her run her fingers through her hair. She frowns a little when they meet little tangles here and there. Yui smells a little of vanilla, a heap of something warm and soft to the touch.
He also can’t help staring at the pale triangle of flesh near her neck, exposed by the ‘V’ collar of the bathrobe.
“Later, perhaps,” Shige says after hastily clearing his throat, “Don’t feel like moving.”
Yui makes a thoughtful sound and turns her attention back to her hair.
“What are you watching?” She says after a while.
“Nothing in particular,” Shige murmurs. There is a long-drawn, tentative lapse, only punctuated by an all-too-cheery advertisement featuring peach flavoured vitamin drinks and gigantic dancing fruits.
“Yu-“ He speaks up suddenly, at the same time Yui opens her mouth to call his name.
They both fall silent, an Eternal Thread of Spotless Awkwardness tensing up again between them both.
“Um, so.” Shige says again. Either his vocal ability is being severely undermined by bad weather and luck, or he just gets very tongue-tied around a freshly showered Yui who is currently wearing nothing but a bathrobe and underwear. “Is there anything you want to do now?”
Yui fidgets, picks at the stray threads of cotton in her lap. Then she looks up at him, swallows, and levels him with a determined stare.
“What are you thinking of now?” She throws back.
Shige blinks, and she can feel his breath hitch slightly as his lips part in surprise.
…
They’re both sitting on the bed and Shige is kissing Yui. He has one hand cupping her jaw, shoulder pressing into her arm. It’s slow, delicate and explorative. Yui concentrates on the feel of Shige’s thumb circling her cheek, the way his lips tenderly mouths and meets hers.
When they break apart, Shige’s eyes are bright and his chest is heaving slightly. The television is distracting, so he reaches around her for the remote and flicks it off. Yui is blushing again, one hand clenching the knot of her bathrobe tightly.
“Do you want to do this?” She asks in a small voice, almost a shy lilt. Part of her wants to die for being so polite at a time like this, but she can’t help it, not until…
Shige looks at her, and his eyes are intense. Like the lawyer she was rehearsing with a few days ago. Only this time, his gaze sends a line of warmth cascading into her stomach, and she’s far from wanting to hit him.
“Do you?” Shige asks back, low and husky and teasing. The question is entirely serious though, and he learns later, when Yui shifts onto her knees and leans over to kiss him back, that no words could ever serve as a better answer.
…
It’s a little embarrassing for Shige at first, that Yui would be the one who’d make the first move. But that embarrassment soon dissolves into a moan of pleasant surprise as she fingers his belt loops to pull him closer, knuckles grazing his waistline. In response, he runs fingers through Yui’s hair and down her neck. They both fall backwards onto the bed and Shige rolls her over, pins her down with his arms.
They can’t take their clothes off properly with the other staring, so they accelerate the kiss for distraction and shift against each other awkwardly. Yui’s fingers are trembling as they find the hem of Shige’s shirt and tug upwards, while Shige’s hands shakes on the knot tying her robe together. They break apart to allow Shige to untangle himself from his shirt, breaths coming in heated staccatos between them.
“Shigeaki,” Yui says breathlessly, “T-the…”
“Yeah,” Shige somehow manages to get out dazedly even without hearing her question. Lips wet but mouth dry, he crawls off the bed for the lube and condoms in his bag (why he even brought them in the first place was beyond him, but now he was thankful for it).
One side of Yui’s robe has fallen open and she traces a finger down her chest as she watches him rummage, lying splayed across the bed. When Shige returns, Yui gazes into his darkened eyes as he lowers himself between her legs, one hand slipping into the robe in search for her hips.
“I think,” He whispers. “I may need bigger pants.”
Yui is torn between chuckling and letting out a small moan as Shige strokes a line from her hips towards the inside of her thigh.
“Dirty talking already, Shigeaki?” She tilts her head back defiantly and lifts a knee to nudge Shige’s leg, smiling when it earns her a gasp. “You need to try harder.”
Shige only laughs good-naturedly, a low sound at the depths of his throat. He kisses Yui again, this time teasing with a little tongue and then licking into her mouth. She fumbles for his belt and runs a finger up the seam of his zipper, making him jerk involuntarily into her hands.
“Yui,” Shige groans, moreso aroused than exasperated. He can’t look when Yui coats him, rolls the condom on with shaking fingers. Maybe one day he will finally be able to. But now, he’s half hard already even before it has begun. His hands dig into the thick material of Yui’s robes, clutching at the sheets. When Yui is finished, he has to bite down onto his lip to not cry out with the loss of her touch. She reaches out to cup his face, brushes hair out of his eyes. The only sign that she’s nearly as out of control as he is are in her wide, desperate eyes.
Shige’s hands move to slide the robe off Yui’s shoulders. His mouth chases after where his fingers left off, trailing slick hot kisses down her neck and shoulders, drawing out her more ragged gasps. He rolls his hips against hers and unhooks her bra when she arches her back for more friction.
“Is this ok,” Shige says, and doesn’t even recognize his voice anymore. It’s a distant sound somewhere from the depths of pleasure -- dark, rough, pleased. Yui’s nails dig into his arm, moans his name in response.
He slides his palms over her shoulders again, down the curve of her breasts, belly and hips. When he moves his hand into her underwear, her eyes drift close and swollen lips fall open in a faltering ‘yes’. Shige’s fingers ply her soft skin, between her thighs. He watches raptly as all concern and tension ebb from her expression, prepping her, before probing his fingers into her tight warmth.
Yui’s eyes fly open, trying not to buck and thrash against him at the same time. Shige murmurs incoherently into her ear to soothe her and kisses her sweat-laced temple hard.
“Shige,” Yui cries. He slows down, then occasionally speeds up, waiting for Yui to get used to the sensation before hooking her leg over his shoulder and circling her clit. She begins to gasp in breathy, audible pleasure.
“Now, now, nownow Shigeaki, now…” Shige looks down at Yui, takes in the sight of her long dark hair spread across the pillow, her flushed cheeks, her parted lips so wet and inviting and full, vulnerable eyes. Something comes undone within him, the pounding of blood uncoils in his ears, and he obeys.
Shige moves deep into her, and Yui’s arms wrap around his back as she pushes up against him. They’re both struggling now, chasing down a kind of closeness that lies beyond the movement of their hips rocking against each other. For all the right angles, for all the right touches. Yui’s voice is like a bell in Shige’s ears, coming in high gasps and raw, breathless moans while Shige’s is deeper with exertion. He can feel the last of his grip being stripped away with each thrust. And Shige realizes, sbefore the white light explodes behind his eyes, what he needs, what he really wants is…
“Yui,” He finally stutters out loud. “Yui, look at me.”
She does, speechless and utterly, completely undone and their eyes meet. Yui reaches out and finds his hand, grips it so tightly there’s sure to be bruises afterwards. They come nearly at the same time; Shige’s strangled shout muffled in Yui’s neck while she arches upwards and shudders against him with a cry.
Shige finally collapses against her shoulder and Yui lies back with a haggard head, trying to catch their breath. With closed eyes heavy with drawn-out exhaustion, stinging with sweat and abandonment, they still see each other -- through the furious, rhythmic pounding of their hearts.
…
When Yui awakes, she finds herself curled against Shige’s chest. His lips are pressed against her hair and his hand is draped over her hip, fingers ghosting her stomach.
Tentatively and achingly, she tries to shift around. Their legs are tangled together inside the blanket and when she moves, her ankle brushes against his shin.
Shige’s sleeping face is peaceful. Yui stares at it for a few moments, lips unconsciously drifting into a smile, then his eyes flutter open in a way that hints at feigning sleep for some time now.
“Morning,” He greets. His voice is a low, sated rumble. Yui snuggles against him and murmurs her bleary response.
Then the alarm rings.
“Shigeaki!”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t believe it, you actually still remembered to set the alarm?” Yui says incredulously. She’s not sure whether to be impressed, or just… well. Impressed, really.
“Unbreakable habit,” Shige smirks. He sits up and stretches, then gently smacks the round lump he assumes is her ass. “C’mon, sleepyhead.” he says, “The train will leave in an hour or so.”
Under the covers, Yui finds Shige’s shirt and slips it on. “I bet you’re just hungry for breakfast,” She teases, and exacts revenge with a pillow before hopping out of bed and into the bathroom before Shige can catch her.
…
There’s no more blizzard outside, just the breaking of the winter sun across a light greyish sky. The snow is piled up to nearly sixteen inches high now. It’s early morning, and they’re the only two walking across a wide stretch of pure white, dotted occasionally with snow-laden trees.
“Next time,” Shige says with a grin, “If we’re going on any more trips, let me do the planning.”
Yui pouts defensively, lobbing a handful of snow at his hair - which he unsuccessfully ducks.
“Hey! I’m helping you carry your luggage here!” Shige complains as she runs around him, giggling.
“Alright,” She answers, then tugs her bag away from him. Shige is about to protest that, you know, he was only kidding and he’s strong enough so just let him carry it, thank you very much, when Yui slips her hand into his and holds it there.
Surprised, Shige stops in his tracks. But her eyes are bright and her laughter is clear - and together with the pureness of the backdrop, it’s beautiful. So somehow, he just lets her be, lets her tug him forward. Even with bare hands, the warmth of her skin is impalpable and Shige thinks it can lasts forever.
They never let go, and their fingers remain -- locked peacefully around each other while everything else drifts away.
FIN.
From: kissandcry
Title: Barely
Pairing: Kato Shigeaki / Aragaki Yui
Rating: NC-17
Summary: To take that one step, sometimes all you need is a vacation gone awry.
A/N: So, I kinda had the urge to name this “Winter Sonata”. To frostbittenlove, I’ll never write as well as you do (and I’m rather surprised at the length of this). Hope you enjoy this anyway! :D ♥
Katase Riichirou is an elite attorney who comes from a family of lawyers. Young and full of pride. Full of ambition. Full of intelligence.
He sits opposite a woman, hands folded neatly across his lap, a bemused expression upon his face.
Only, this situation calls for anything but bemusement.
At the other end of the table - Shiraishi Megumi. Flight doctor-in-training and medical intern. Comes from a family of doctors. Young, pretty, full of intelligence.
And also in deep trouble right now.
“Shiraishi-san,” says Katase. Shiraishi fidgets in her seat, bangs framing her frail face like two thin curtains. She looks akin to a deer caught in headlights; nervousness is a constant feature in her life at the moment. But there is a spark of defiance in her eyes as she looks up, sideways, to meet the lawyer’s cool stare.
“One mistake,” Katase repeats silkily, and Shiraishi feels that she has never met someone she wants more to throw a punch at. “Your mistake. It has caused my client his wife’s life, and until now he is still fighting for his.” The lawyer has a way of making her conscience - which had until now been clear and justified, crumble within seconds under his expressionlessly intense stare. The chair creaks as he leans forward, a groan that briefly breaks the room’s palpable tension but silently demands an answer.
No! Shiraishi feels her breathing labour as she recalls Hiyama’s despair, Fujikawa’s anguish and Aizawa’s disbelief when an undeclared medicinal allergy got ahead of them, so meagre yet so fatal. Doctors are not all-knowing, infallible gods. When it comes to saving lives, there is no right or wrong, only risks and what was best at the time. Finally finding the courage to lift her head, Shiraishi bites her lip, inhales shakily and-
“Aragaki!” Shige groans as he slumps in his seat. Yui is doubled over in fits of hysterical giggling at the other end of the table - kitchen counter, really.
“I’m so sorry,” She gasps, hiding her face behind her script to Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyumei 2010 New Year’s Special. “It’s just…you looked so, so serious.” Her laughing eyes peek out from behind. “I’m not quite used to it.”
Shige sighs and stands up, getting ready to take the pot off the boil. “Tell me why I’m doing this again?” This being, spending his precious day off pretending to be a fellow band member rehearsing an intense drama debate scene in a kitchen with said bandmate’s co-star who also happens to be his girlfriend. As a lawyer who isn’t actually named Katase Riichirou in the first place. In a dorama he isn’t even part of to begin with. He glances at the script Yui is holding, one hand stirring idly.
Yui props her feet onto the seat and tucks her knees under her chin. Shige’s eyes follow the line of her fingers, partially curled around the papers to where they idly brush against her ankle. “Because you’re the closest substitute to both a lawyer and Nishikido-kun I can find?”
There is a pause.
“Because you’re nice and helpful?”
Shige can almost hear her cheeky smile. He grunts incommitably and returns to the stove.
“Because you’re my boyfriend?”
Well.
He can’t really argue with that.
“Luckily Ryo is only guest starring for one episode.” He turns, palm hovering below the wooden spoon in case the food drips. “Try this?” he asks instead.
Usually, Yui is the one who cooks. Still she hops up lightly to him, tucks her hair behind her ear before bringing her lips closer to the spoon. Shige appreciatively watches the way her eyelashes flutter as she blows onto the curry gently to cool it down. It’s cute, and if he had any less self-control, he’d be grinning like an idiot.
Then someone’s keitai rings.
Shige’s hand involuntarily jerks at the sudden sound. Yui darts out of the kitchen with a surprised “Oh!” - it’s her phone, apparently -- leaving behind a Shige who lets out a small but rather ungainly yelp as the entire spoon tips over and spills.
When Yui returns, she looks a little sheepish.
“I have to go back to the recording studio.” She says, tucking the phone into her back pocket with a resigned huff. Yui doesn’t seem to notice how Shige is hastily rinsing the spoon a little longer than necessary, with three fingers oddly positioned away. “There’s a problem with the tapes, and…” She shakes her head and purses her lips together in an apologetic smile, sighs. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Shige replies, finally wiping his hands on the dishtowel. It’s abrupt, but neither of them can help it in their line of business. Their schedules are hectic, and barely match -- Shige being away on tour for months in a row while juggling his studies at the same time, Yui busy with filming and photoshoots during his free-er periods.
But they’re used to it, and will take whatever they can get.
He walks her to the door in silence, leans against the frame as she slips on her shoes and turns around to say goodbye.
“I’m really sorry.” Yui repeats again in a small voice. Shige shakes his head in a slightly weary manner, but reaches out to tweak her nose playfully so that Yui swats back with a laugh.
“Don’t worry,” He says, “I’ll just call Yamapi over or something to finish it up. You missed a good meal, you know.”
Yui pouts at him from the steps, then her expression changes into something more serious.
“Shigeaki?”
“Hmm?”
She leans in then, one hand tugging on his wrist and the other on his shoulder as she stands on her toes to kiss him goodbye. Shige closes his eyes, inhales the scent of her hair and savours the fleeting taste of her lips.
When Yui pulls back, her cheeks are coloured with a soft pink flush, and there is a slightly crumpled train ticket to Hokkaido pressed into the palm of Shige’s hand.
…
Sometimes, Shige wonders if this is what a long-distance relationship feels like.
It’s not that he doesn’t like the daily messages they exchange, the phone conversations they hold every night till they both fall asleep. Or the little gifts they send each other - Polaroid pictures for her and self-drawn doodles for him. Or the way one sometimes surprises the other by appearing at their doorstep, tired and in the dead of night but always smiling, just for those few stolen hours of togetherness before they move on their separate ways again when morning comes.
Shige would never give this up for anything. Not for anything at all. But more than ever, he wonders if all this, is enough.
…
Sometimes, Shige also wonders if the gods or deities or whatever higher beings up there or even the world in general, are against them. He feels like shouting indignantly with a clenched fist raised to the heavens, preferably accompanied by dramatic effects of thunder and lightning.
“Um,” He ventures very coherently instead. It is the weekend after Yui gave him the ticket to a specially mapped out (and highly anticipated; apparently she spent a few months tracking both their schedules for this) skiing trip to Hokkaido, and they’re both standing numbly outside Sapporo train station. Opposite them, a stray dog with its snout covered in snow with frozen whiskers lets out a loud bark.
It isn’t quite a snowstorm, but with near eleven inches of snow blanketing the rather deserted streets and even more whirling around them in the howling wind, it’s pretty close. There’s no way they will be able to ski in this weather.
Yui turns to him, eyes wide and apologetic, even a little frightened. Then Shige realizes he doesn’t really have to say anything after all.
He takes her hand, then suddenly becomes conscious that he isn’t really helping since his own fingers are chilled to the bone despite their gloves. So he slips it into his leather jacket together with his own and squeezes lightly.
“Let’s go get some shelter first.”
They set off for the hotel, shoulders and elbows bumping awkwardly against each other.
…
Yui is unusually quiet, even for her. She’s watching the news, sitting with her legs crossed on the bed while Shige is preparing the bath. Cups of instant ramen and random packets of food, which they got from a nearby conbini, are scattered across the table.
In the bathroom, Shige is leaning over the bathtub with one hand under the tap and the other submerged in water. He listens to the muffled sounds coming from the television but at the same time, doesn’t really hear them either.
Instead, he wonders about what to do later before they have to return to Tokyo early tomorrow, about their tragically (because being stuck in a snowstorm of sorts with no place to go is, well, terribly woeful) cut-off vacation, about Yui’s disappointment and silence.
Then he thinks about their relationship, how he wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world but yet this doesn’t seem to be enough. How he can only see the unmoving present but not the future where in his dreams, everything ceases to be except Yui’s bright eyes and laughter, like the stars and gentle waves of the sea.
They’re both not the most spontaneous people around, simple and mild. Probably unexciting, even. There’s rarely anything new in the relationship, nothing better to offer Yui. More than ever, Shige wants to change that for her.
He watches her through the door crack for a long time, until Yui suddenly glances his way and catches his gaze. In that very moment, there’s so much in there. Too much to hold.
Shige quickly looks away.
…
When Yui is finished, she stands at the bathroom entrance barefooted, wrapped in a white, fluffy bathrobe. She’s blowing her hair dry with the hotel’s equipment when Shige looks sideways at her from the bed.
“What took you so long?” He says mournfully, “I bet there’s no more hot water left for me now.”
Yui laughs, tosses her hair back to get a better angle at the damp areas. “You don’t look very cold yourself, Shigeaki.” She says, tilting her head to the right. Shige has taken off his jacket and sweater, only leaving on a dark, long-sleeved top. Yui absently notes that black looks really good on him, how the shirt seems to mould itself to the sedate curve of his back and toned arms. When he stretches backwards to lean on his hands, Yui can see the shift of his shoulders beneath the material.
She blinks, realizes that she’s staring and proceeds to put the hairdryer away with a considerably redder face. Which, thankfully, Shige doesn’t seem to notice in the dim light.
“Don’t you want to take a bath?” Yui asks, sinking down onto the bed next to him. Shige watches her run her fingers through her hair. She frowns a little when they meet little tangles here and there. Yui smells a little of vanilla, a heap of something warm and soft to the touch.
He also can’t help staring at the pale triangle of flesh near her neck, exposed by the ‘V’ collar of the bathrobe.
“Later, perhaps,” Shige says after hastily clearing his throat, “Don’t feel like moving.”
Yui makes a thoughtful sound and turns her attention back to her hair.
“What are you watching?” She says after a while.
“Nothing in particular,” Shige murmurs. There is a long-drawn, tentative lapse, only punctuated by an all-too-cheery advertisement featuring peach flavoured vitamin drinks and gigantic dancing fruits.
“Yu-“ He speaks up suddenly, at the same time Yui opens her mouth to call his name.
They both fall silent, an Eternal Thread of Spotless Awkwardness tensing up again between them both.
“Um, so.” Shige says again. Either his vocal ability is being severely undermined by bad weather and luck, or he just gets very tongue-tied around a freshly showered Yui who is currently wearing nothing but a bathrobe and underwear. “Is there anything you want to do now?”
Yui fidgets, picks at the stray threads of cotton in her lap. Then she looks up at him, swallows, and levels him with a determined stare.
“What are you thinking of now?” She throws back.
Shige blinks, and she can feel his breath hitch slightly as his lips part in surprise.
…
They’re both sitting on the bed and Shige is kissing Yui. He has one hand cupping her jaw, shoulder pressing into her arm. It’s slow, delicate and explorative. Yui concentrates on the feel of Shige’s thumb circling her cheek, the way his lips tenderly mouths and meets hers.
When they break apart, Shige’s eyes are bright and his chest is heaving slightly. The television is distracting, so he reaches around her for the remote and flicks it off. Yui is blushing again, one hand clenching the knot of her bathrobe tightly.
“Do you want to do this?” She asks in a small voice, almost a shy lilt. Part of her wants to die for being so polite at a time like this, but she can’t help it, not until…
Shige looks at her, and his eyes are intense. Like the lawyer she was rehearsing with a few days ago. Only this time, his gaze sends a line of warmth cascading into her stomach, and she’s far from wanting to hit him.
“Do you?” Shige asks back, low and husky and teasing. The question is entirely serious though, and he learns later, when Yui shifts onto her knees and leans over to kiss him back, that no words could ever serve as a better answer.
…
It’s a little embarrassing for Shige at first, that Yui would be the one who’d make the first move. But that embarrassment soon dissolves into a moan of pleasant surprise as she fingers his belt loops to pull him closer, knuckles grazing his waistline. In response, he runs fingers through Yui’s hair and down her neck. They both fall backwards onto the bed and Shige rolls her over, pins her down with his arms.
They can’t take their clothes off properly with the other staring, so they accelerate the kiss for distraction and shift against each other awkwardly. Yui’s fingers are trembling as they find the hem of Shige’s shirt and tug upwards, while Shige’s hands shakes on the knot tying her robe together. They break apart to allow Shige to untangle himself from his shirt, breaths coming in heated staccatos between them.
“Shigeaki,” Yui says breathlessly, “T-the…”
“Yeah,” Shige somehow manages to get out dazedly even without hearing her question. Lips wet but mouth dry, he crawls off the bed for the lube and condoms in his bag (why he even brought them in the first place was beyond him, but now he was thankful for it).
One side of Yui’s robe has fallen open and she traces a finger down her chest as she watches him rummage, lying splayed across the bed. When Shige returns, Yui gazes into his darkened eyes as he lowers himself between her legs, one hand slipping into the robe in search for her hips.
“I think,” He whispers. “I may need bigger pants.”
Yui is torn between chuckling and letting out a small moan as Shige strokes a line from her hips towards the inside of her thigh.
“Dirty talking already, Shigeaki?” She tilts her head back defiantly and lifts a knee to nudge Shige’s leg, smiling when it earns her a gasp. “You need to try harder.”
Shige only laughs good-naturedly, a low sound at the depths of his throat. He kisses Yui again, this time teasing with a little tongue and then licking into her mouth. She fumbles for his belt and runs a finger up the seam of his zipper, making him jerk involuntarily into her hands.
“Yui,” Shige groans, moreso aroused than exasperated. He can’t look when Yui coats him, rolls the condom on with shaking fingers. Maybe one day he will finally be able to. But now, he’s half hard already even before it has begun. His hands dig into the thick material of Yui’s robes, clutching at the sheets. When Yui is finished, he has to bite down onto his lip to not cry out with the loss of her touch. She reaches out to cup his face, brushes hair out of his eyes. The only sign that she’s nearly as out of control as he is are in her wide, desperate eyes.
Shige’s hands move to slide the robe off Yui’s shoulders. His mouth chases after where his fingers left off, trailing slick hot kisses down her neck and shoulders, drawing out her more ragged gasps. He rolls his hips against hers and unhooks her bra when she arches her back for more friction.
“Is this ok,” Shige says, and doesn’t even recognize his voice anymore. It’s a distant sound somewhere from the depths of pleasure -- dark, rough, pleased. Yui’s nails dig into his arm, moans his name in response.
He slides his palms over her shoulders again, down the curve of her breasts, belly and hips. When he moves his hand into her underwear, her eyes drift close and swollen lips fall open in a faltering ‘yes’. Shige’s fingers ply her soft skin, between her thighs. He watches raptly as all concern and tension ebb from her expression, prepping her, before probing his fingers into her tight warmth.
Yui’s eyes fly open, trying not to buck and thrash against him at the same time. Shige murmurs incoherently into her ear to soothe her and kisses her sweat-laced temple hard.
“Shige,” Yui cries. He slows down, then occasionally speeds up, waiting for Yui to get used to the sensation before hooking her leg over his shoulder and circling her clit. She begins to gasp in breathy, audible pleasure.
“Now, now, nownow Shigeaki, now…” Shige looks down at Yui, takes in the sight of her long dark hair spread across the pillow, her flushed cheeks, her parted lips so wet and inviting and full, vulnerable eyes. Something comes undone within him, the pounding of blood uncoils in his ears, and he obeys.
Shige moves deep into her, and Yui’s arms wrap around his back as she pushes up against him. They’re both struggling now, chasing down a kind of closeness that lies beyond the movement of their hips rocking against each other. For all the right angles, for all the right touches. Yui’s voice is like a bell in Shige’s ears, coming in high gasps and raw, breathless moans while Shige’s is deeper with exertion. He can feel the last of his grip being stripped away with each thrust. And Shige realizes, sbefore the white light explodes behind his eyes, what he needs, what he really wants is…
“Yui,” He finally stutters out loud. “Yui, look at me.”
She does, speechless and utterly, completely undone and their eyes meet. Yui reaches out and finds his hand, grips it so tightly there’s sure to be bruises afterwards. They come nearly at the same time; Shige’s strangled shout muffled in Yui’s neck while she arches upwards and shudders against him with a cry.
Shige finally collapses against her shoulder and Yui lies back with a haggard head, trying to catch their breath. With closed eyes heavy with drawn-out exhaustion, stinging with sweat and abandonment, they still see each other -- through the furious, rhythmic pounding of their hearts.
…
When Yui awakes, she finds herself curled against Shige’s chest. His lips are pressed against her hair and his hand is draped over her hip, fingers ghosting her stomach.
Tentatively and achingly, she tries to shift around. Their legs are tangled together inside the blanket and when she moves, her ankle brushes against his shin.
Shige’s sleeping face is peaceful. Yui stares at it for a few moments, lips unconsciously drifting into a smile, then his eyes flutter open in a way that hints at feigning sleep for some time now.
“Morning,” He greets. His voice is a low, sated rumble. Yui snuggles against him and murmurs her bleary response.
Then the alarm rings.
“Shigeaki!”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t believe it, you actually still remembered to set the alarm?” Yui says incredulously. She’s not sure whether to be impressed, or just… well. Impressed, really.
“Unbreakable habit,” Shige smirks. He sits up and stretches, then gently smacks the round lump he assumes is her ass. “C’mon, sleepyhead.” he says, “The train will leave in an hour or so.”
Under the covers, Yui finds Shige’s shirt and slips it on. “I bet you’re just hungry for breakfast,” She teases, and exacts revenge with a pillow before hopping out of bed and into the bathroom before Shige can catch her.
…
There’s no more blizzard outside, just the breaking of the winter sun across a light greyish sky. The snow is piled up to nearly sixteen inches high now. It’s early morning, and they’re the only two walking across a wide stretch of pure white, dotted occasionally with snow-laden trees.
“Next time,” Shige says with a grin, “If we’re going on any more trips, let me do the planning.”
Yui pouts defensively, lobbing a handful of snow at his hair - which he unsuccessfully ducks.
“Hey! I’m helping you carry your luggage here!” Shige complains as she runs around him, giggling.
“Alright,” She answers, then tugs her bag away from him. Shige is about to protest that, you know, he was only kidding and he’s strong enough so just let him carry it, thank you very much, when Yui slips her hand into his and holds it there.
Surprised, Shige stops in his tracks. But her eyes are bright and her laughter is clear - and together with the pureness of the backdrop, it’s beautiful. So somehow, he just lets her be, lets her tug him forward. Even with bare hands, the warmth of her skin is impalpable and Shige thinks it can lasts forever.
They never let go, and their fingers remain -- locked peacefully around each other while everything else drifts away.
FIN.