Title: Free Hot Springs Night
Rating: T
Fandom: Tokyo Xanadu
Relationship: Takahata Shio/Tokisaka Kou
Wordcount: 1361
Short summary: Shio gets a free room for any night at Kamiyama Hot Springs.
It was during one of their weekly calls when Shio asked if Kou was interested in spending the night together at the Kamiyama Hot Springs. Apparently since Shio had been working overtime to help their understaffed kitchen, they gifted Shio a free room for any night, as long as the inn wasn’t completely booked.
“I would still have to work that day, most likely, but we could spend the night together?”
The biggest problem was finding a day where Kou could make the trip to the hot springs. Unfortunately, Kou hadn’t been “smart” like Ryouta and Jun and hadn’t chosen the easiest classes to start university with. While he had been able to see Shio weekly at first, once midterms hit, he hadn’t been able to see Shio in person at all. It looked like it would be another few weeks before they could see each other again, as Kou saw no breaks in classwork, studying, or his part-time jobs until the end of the semester.
“Well, that’s fine. If I request the date now, I’m sure we can still get a summer date.”
Shio never sounded disappointed that they couldn’t meet because of Kou’s studies or part-time jobs, but Kou was not going to let this large of a gap happen again. First, he would do well on his exams to make this semester worth the trouble, and then he was going to make sure he had that celebration with Shio afterwards.
*****
It ended up turning out a little differently than Kou planned.
Shio, unfortunately but not unexpectedly, had to work the day of their planned night at the hot springs. However, Ryouta, who Kou hadn’t hung out with in weeks, and Jun, who Kou lived with currently but barely chatted with during the past week, were both free to hang out at the hot springs. Shio had told Kou to come by in the afternoon to enjoy the bath, and after learning that Ryouta and Jun were also coming, was able to wheedle free dinner portions for Kou’s friends. This was a nice bonus since Kou wouldn’t have to eat dinner alone.
Kou, Jun, and Ryouta made their way to the baths, which only had a few other people soaking at this time. The three of them found a spot well away from the others and began chatting about school, but that quickly turned into a conversation about girls because of Ryouta.
“I don’t get it,” Ryouta complained, crossing his arms over his chest. “Kou still has girls falling for him left and right and he chooses a guy?”
“Way to be a hypocrite, considering how you confessed to Jun,” Kou retorted.
“Don’t bring up my black past!” Ryouta exclaimed. He sighed. “I meant, can’t you be less attractive to girls so some of them will be available for me?”
“I don’t think that’d help,” Jun said, smiling.
“Jun!”
“Besides, Jun is still more popular than me with girls,” Kou added.
“Damnit you guys!”
Kou and Jun continued to tease Ryouta until Ryouta gave up and changed the subject.
*****
After the three of them finished with their bath, they moved to Kou and Shio’s room. They had just gotten themselves comfortably seated when they heard a knock on the door.
“Dinner service for Tokisaka party of 3.”
Kou couldn’t contain his smile as Shio, of all people, entered the room with their dinner. Kou admired Shio as Shio set up dish after dish onto the table, arranging everything and making sure each dish was correct. The food looked and smelled mouth-watering.
“Sorry I can’t stay to chat. Hope you guys enjoy dinner!” Shio apologized before bowing out.
“This looks delicious! Let’s eat!” Ryouta exclaimed.
The three of them focused at first on eating, but Ryouta, being a talkative person, didn’t let conversation lull for too long. Of course, Kou had to be in the middle of chewing some greens when Ryouta commented, “Damn, you are thirsty for your man.”
Kou almost choked. Once he had calmly swallowed his food, he replied, “Well, it has been over a month since we last saw each other.”
“Really? Because you are overachieving at school?”
“And you are underachieving.” Jun jumped into the conversation.
Ryouta huffed. “No, I’m just normal. Still, over a month?”
Jun replied, “Well, you can’t survive a week without your parents’ food. At least Kou is functional on his own.”
Kou added, “Shio wouldn’t stand for it if I ate out all the time.”
Ryouta chuckled. “Is Kou’s food good?”
Kou shrugged. “I’m still improving-”
“It’s fine,” Jun answered. He smiled when he added, “The best days, though, are when Kou shares the food from Shio.”
“Lucky…” Ryouta, despite all his talking, had finished the main part of his meal and had moved onto the soup. “Hey Kou, can we be roommates-“
“No.”
Ryouta whined, “Why’d you have to reject me so fast?”
The three of them spent the rest of dinner teasing each other and talking about future plans. One of them was a promise to Ryouta that he would get to enjoy Shio’s cooking the next time Kou had food to share.
*****
“Did you three enjoy the bath and dinner?”
Ryouta and Jun had left about half an hour ago. Kou was currently lounging on the futon, checking the Internet with his phone. He looked up to see Shio sagging a bit against the door.
“Yes. It was nice to chat with those two.” Kou stood up to greet Shio more properly. “Everything went okay with work?”
“Things went smoothly for the most part.”
“That’s a relief.”
Kou moved to embrace Shio, but Shio held a hand up. “I know you had a soak earlier, but I’m feeling like a bath right now.”
“I’ll join you.” Kou already knew it was an invitation.
“Thanks.”
“No, thank you.” They finally had time together and Shio definitely looked in need of a relaxing soak.
Luckily, to their surprise, no one else was in the bath. The two of them sat down next to each other, enjoying the stars in the clear night sky.
“Ah, this feels good.” Shio smiled. He looked visibly rejuvenated compared to just a few minutes prior.
“I’m glad.” Kou took a moment to listen. It didn’t sound like anyone else was nearby. He scooted closer to Shio so that their arms and legs touched.
“Kou?”
“Since we don’t get to spend much time together now, I’m glad work went well and that we can enjoy the bath together.”
There were other words unspoken, but Shio just nodded. They spent a few minutes in complete silence. Kou decided it was safe enough to grab onto Shio’s hand. “There’s no one else in here…” he whispered.
Shio grinned, squeezing Kou’s hand. “Did they tease you a lot?”
Kou laughed. “Not really…” He was blushing though, remembering how Ryouta had commented on him being ‘thirsty for his man’.
“Kou?” Apparently Kou had become lost in thought. Kou leaned his head on Shio’s shoulder.
“Ryouta asked me why I chose a guy. He obviously didn’t get this.” Kou turned his face and lightly kissed Shio’s shoulder first, Shio’s collarbone, Shio’s chest…
Shio laughed. “He should probably wake up and realize that childhood friend of his is still waiting for him.”
While Shio was talking, Kou had moved to completely face Shio chest to chest. He continued to kiss spots on Shio’s chest while answering, “Chizuru?”
Shio had noticed by now that Kou wasn’t just going to stop on his own, so he lightly pushed Kou back. “I don’t really mind, but we also have a room here…”
Kou blushed. Well, he had been getting a bit carried away, but for Shio to stop him because…
“It’s fine. I’ve been in the bath long enough.” Shio stood up and pulled Kou up as well. In Kou’s ear he whispered, “I’m eager for more too.”
“We should head back then?” Kou said but already knew the answer. Shio’s reply was to tap Kou’s ass lightly before heading to the showers. Kou grinned. There was going to be more celebrating very soon, and he was looking forward to it.