• CHAPTER 170 - MOUNTAIN RESORT

    Time for a break. Sort of.

    "Why did you wish Akatsuki a happy birthday the other day?" Kai asked as we were packing our things to take to the mountain home.

    I sighed, "His birthday was at the beginning of June. I couldn't get him anything because he had turned into a Vampire."

    "I see," Kai tsked. "He's nineteen?"

    I nodded and continued to pack my clothes in silence. I had been feeling pretty gloomy since our last visit with Akatsuki three days ago. Neither Kai or me heard from him; we didn't know if he had already taken his life or if he was just trying to shelter himself from society completely. But I couldn't be so stressed out anymore; Kai and me were going on a vacation alone up into the mountains where we could spend our own time together in a danger-free environment--vampire-wise. Being perched on top of a mountain isn't necessarily the safest idea.

    "Are you ready?" Kai asked after he shut the trunk to the car with our suitcases and bags in them.

    I nodded and smiled cheerfully at him, trying to show him I was okay, "Ready,"

    "It's going to take a few hours," Kai warned, opening the passenger door for me. "We can't stop in every town."

    "Fine," I rolled my eyes and sat on the car seat. Kai handed me Momo and set his small kennel at my feet. I snuggled Momo closely. "I'm going to miss you, Momo."

    "Only you would speak to a cat," Kai chuckled after he teleported into the driver's seat. "And Kira."

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    .:{{Kai's Perspective}}:.

    After we had dropped Momo off at Matsuda and Orihime's house, Arisa bid everybody farewell and vowed to contact them after we would reach the house. We were granted luck and we took off once more for our extended trip to the mountains. Several times, Arisa pleaded for me to stop at gas stations to use the restroom. She had been excessively drinking iced tea for a majority of the way there and it would rush right through her.

    Five hours into the trip, we finally ascended up the mountains and reached the home--which was a couple hundred meters from the summit of one of the lowest mountains in the area. The large house came into view and I parked the car up front and stared at Arisa. She was long asleep and she was absolutely beautiful; she seemed so peaceful.

    Rather than wake her up from her slumber, I exited the car and approached the passenger side. I scooped her into my arms and flinched from the pain that rushed through me. The pain wa difficult to describe in my body but my throat was an inferno.

    As soon as we entered the house, I berthed Arisa onto the white couch and ventured outside to finish bringing our items inside. After bringing our suitcases into the bedroom, I seated myself on the couch Arisa was lying on. My hand cupped her warm face and the pain jolted me once more, causing me to exhale sharply. While I was caressing her sleeping face, I noticed the mark on my left wrist revealing itself yet more.

    "I can't guarantee we have much more time..." I mumbled quietly.

    I leaned over to kiss her right temple and I stood up, relieving myself of my self-torture. I stepped into the kitchen and commenced making our dinner. Arisa had been incredibly fatigued and nauseous; I was hoping a little vacation away from the danger would calm her down and nurse her back to health. Stress took too much of a toll on her; her immune system was still too weak. If Minoru and Kaiba don't kill her, it would surely be her lack of good health.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    Once dinner was finally over, I delved into Arisa's mind to see what was occupied in there. Earlier, it had been black with heavy sleep but it was soon lighting up from her awakening. She moaned and sat up on the couch facing away from me, rubbing her eye. For a long moment, she gazed around the house in confusion. As soon as she turned towards me, her face lit up as the sun and she stretched while still smiling.

    "Good late afternoon," I smiled back at her. "Dinner is almost finished."

    "It smells great," she sighed after stretching. "How long was I asleep?"

    "Since our trip was halfway over...so about five hours,"

    She groaned and pressed the ball of her right hand against her forehead, "God, I sleep too much," she sighed again. "I have to pee."

    I chuckled lightly as she stood up and occupied herself in the restroom. As soon as she came back out, I already had the plates and beverages placed on the table. She approached the tabe and I pulled a chair back for her to seat herself, and she did. I seated myself next to her and kissed her hand while lacing my fingers between hers.

    "Welcome to the vacation home," I greeted.

    She giggled, "It's beautiful,"

    I observed the house as well and as in awe internally; the house was surrounded with wall-tall, two-way windows and a majority of the internal decor was mostly white and some dark brown for accents. The view out the back of the house was incredible; the back half of the house was supported by beams attached to the mountain side as well. The view continued for miles, eventually fading into a fog-like disappearance.

    "Thanks for dinner," she kissed my hand as well. "It looks great. I'm glad to have somebody to cook for me." She teased with a smile.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    With the warm water trickling down our skin, my arms wrapped around Arisa and I leaned in to kiss her. Her lips tasted like the shower water and were incredibly plush and warm. Her face was drenched in water and she constricted her arms around my torso. I nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek, completely consumed by her.

    "You're warm," Arisa whispered. "The water makes you warm."

    "Then let's stand here forever," I suggested into her ear.

    Our moment was interrupted by the ringing of the phone in the other room. I kissed Arisa's ear, assuming it was a wrong number and they would hang up right away but it continued. I sighed irritably and tried to pull away from Arisa but she tightened her arms around me and kissed my neck.

    "Don't go," she pleaded quietly. "Let it ring."

    "It could be important," I sighed. "I did forget to contact Matsuda and Orihime."

    Arisa sighed and leaned her head against my chest. I kissed her head and climbed out of the shower and I turned to her, "Perhaps you should accomplish what a shower is for," I smirked and departed after wrapping a towel around my waist.

    "Yes?" I answered the phone, though my hair was still wet.

    "You never contacted us," Matsuda sighed. "Did you arrive safely?"

    I nodded, "Yes; Arisa slept a majority of the way. I think she might be getting sick."

    "The stress is still too much for her," he confirmed. "She should unwind and feel better after another day or two."

    "Yes. Goodbye." I beckoned and hung up; I desired less time on the phone and more time with Arisa.

    When I reached the bathroom again, Arisa was already out of the shower and drying off her hair. She smiled warmly at me and wrapped the towel around her torso, "Matsuda?"

    I nodded, "Yes," I approached her and scooped her into my arms, despite the redundant pain. I seated myself on the ground against the wall and had Arisa seated in my lap. I buried my face in her condensating neck and inhaled deeply.

    "I'm happy we're here," Arisa closed her eyes and held my head close to her neck with one hand and kissed my ear. "It's nice to be away from everything."

    "Someday, we'll venture to the natural hot springs," I whispered. "And hike the mountain."

    "Sounds great," she mumbled and kissed my ear again.

    I breathed deeply and concentrated more on her than my pain. My throat was welling up in fire but I couldn't allow it to reach me. Her skin was incredibly soft, smooth and moist. There was no better feeling in the world to me than the feeling of her skin and her breath. There was no better sound in the world than her voice in delicate whispers. I wanted her, but the risk of injury again was too great.

    "I love you," she whispered and kissed my cheek. "I'm sorry if I get sick."

    "It's fine," I kissed her. "I love you too."

    I could tell she was in heat by the mere sparkle in her eyes. She would stare at me with the most lustful, beautiful eyes. The risk was much too high; I couldn't make love to her at the moment. She kissed my lips and my cheek and my neck and tightened her embrace. I shook my head in polite refusal and pulled away slightly.

    "Arisa, we can't," I smiled sentimentally. "You need more sleep."

    Arisa stared at me tiredly with her beautiful violet eyes and sighed in defeat, "I suppose,"

    I stood up and carried her into the bedroom and sat her down on the commodious bed. I vented through her suitcase to pull out a nightgown and a pair of thick socks. Even though she didn't desire me too, I assisted her in dressing herself. Every breath she exhaled increased my internal pain and I attempted vigorously to retain my sanity. Once she was dressed, I tucked her into the bed and kissed her forehead daintily.

    "I love you," I nuzzled her nose with mine. "And good night."

    "I love you too," she giggled lightly. "Good night."

    After promising I would return later in the night to lie with her, I entered the living room and stood at one of the enlarged windows. I glanced outside into the falling day and was captivated; the sight at sunset was truly beautiful. I had only been to the residence once but it was never for a whole twenty-four hours. Every beautiful object I laid my eyes on, Arisa would instantly come to mind. Unfortunately, all beautiful things must set at some point.