Chapter Text
It had been three days since Yamaguchi arrived.
Three days since he’d said ‘yes’ to something he probably shouldn’t have.
Ocean waves crashed far below him, distant and churning in the brisk winds. Only the echo of their salty wakes reached his perch atop a shining black balcony. The house itself–no, the mansion –nestled among jutting stone cliffs, carved smooth by eons of water.
Only temples or churches or museums were allowed to be this big, as far as Yamaguchi was concerned. He’d never been allowed inside somewhere that so clearly reeked of expensive taste before. He had to admit it was exciting. And a tad unnerving.
It seemed like even breathing near some of the giant glass art installations would tip them over and send shards ricocheting in all directions. Then he would be thrown out for sure.
Come to think of it, why haven’t I been thrown out yet?
Yamaguchi didn’t know how to act in fancy spaces, never had. They made his fingers prickly and he had to rub them to calm the itching.
Salty waves thumped against wooden support beams belonging to some unknown dock far away.
The soft billow of seafoam on the breeze stung Yamaguchi’s nostrils, tangy and sweet.
The soft sound almost lulled him to sleep and almost hid the front door opening two stories down.
But Yamaguchi had been waiting for it all day and he wouldn’t be so easily distracted. Had memorized how the opening and shutting would sound through the empty halls.
And now his mysterious host was home.
Something cold and electric zipped through his nervous system.
Yamaguchi’s fingers itched. He scratched them.
Footsteps echoed, almost as distant as the sea.
He’s coming upstairs! Quickly–! I’ve got to–! I– I have to–!
But he didn’t know what to do. There really was not anything to do. He’d been given no instructions. Just a short note with a flowery Enjoy yourself written in what appeared to be calligraphy ink when he awoke this morning. It had been positioned carefully atop the glass table along with an elaborate bouquet in the center of the guest bedroom Yamaguchi claimed.
Footsteps reached the base of the long marble stairs and began their journey up to Yamaguchi’s room.
He clutched the ebony handrail, ocean air caressing his white knuckles, leaving just a hint of salt carried upwards from the waves far below.
Every click click click of dress shoes seemed to reverberate in slow-motion as Yamaguchi ran through all the ways he could be killed or thrown out of the house.
God, why did I say ‘yes’ to a free vacation? That’s the oldest trick in the book for serial killers! I don’t even know him! I’m such an idiot!
The echoing steps reached his closed bedroom door.
Should I be wearing something more impressive than just the silk robe they gave me? God, three days and I didn’t even think to check the closet!
He readied himself for the door to open and to be faced with someone who didn’t want him here. It seemed only fair. He did nothing these three days besides eat the food that was provided each morning by tight-lipped staff and lounge around on another person’s furniture.
A soft, respectful knock on the ornate wooden door.
Yamaguchi flinched. He considered flinging himself over the handrail and taking his chances with the sharks below.
Someone cleared his throat. But it wasn’t a condescending nudge for Yamaguchi to say something. Instead, he recognized it as the shy straightening of one’s vocal chords.
Yamaguchi didn’t dare let go of the handrail just yet. He could still battle a shark if he had to.
“Can I… come in?” A voice so deep it vibrated Yamaguchi’s chest, even muffled by the door.
Yamaguchi swallowed the pooling saliva out of his mouth. “Sure.”
The doorknob clicked softly, as if it were being displaced very gently.
Yamaguchi’s lungs stopped moving in excitement and he couldn’t find a way to start them again. So he stood frozen, still gripping the handrail of the balcony and watching through the open archway that connected the inside of his bedroom to the balcony where he stood.
The door fell away slowly and Yamaguchi braced himself for whatever was going to be asked of him. Surely, it had to be a lot considering the pristine state of the mansion and the quality of the food.
There was quite some distance between the door and himself, but Yamaguchi felt anything but safe. He was in a strange place, after all, and likely his host knew a multitude of ways to slide across Yamaguchi’s bedroom and get to his faraway place on the balcony in no time.
He flinched reflexively before puffing his chest up and regarding his host with feigned confidence.
The first notable feature was his long fingers, which cradled the white knob like he might break it, despite having already opened the door.
Deep honey eyes relented and instead flitted up to the ceiling. Yamaguchi’s knees went a bit weak and their beauty.
The stranger’s physical traits of brilliant blond hair and extreme height seemed less impressive when compared to the way he carried himself. Anyone could be tall. But not just anyone could look so downright important. The stranger was big, but not hulking or bulky. He seemed to take up only space where he needed, which granted him an air of purpose and finality.
A dark suit and black-rimmed boxy glasses contrasted with paper-white skin.
“Um.” Yamaguchi began eloquently.
The man flinched. It was kind of funny to see someone so imposing act as if Yamaguchi could ever hurt him. When he spoke, a wisp of wonder tinted his voice, “You’re… wearing the robe.”
That vibrating baritone shook Yamaguchi’s bones again and he struggled to breathe. But there was business to attend to and questions to ask. “Who are you?”
The distance between them made reading his face impossible. But his wobbling voice gave him away. “I… uh…”
Yamaguchi’s heart went out to the guy, even though he knew he owed this stranger nothing. This was a free vacation, Yamaguchi just chose to take it. But he felt sure somehow that this guy did not have the heart to throw him off the balcony and into the gnashing waves and rocks. So, he approached, stumbling with his air of fake confidence through the ebony archway and inside the house once again.
The man straightened up, his suit tightening around newly-tensed shoulders.
“So,” Yamaguchi continued closer, drawn by something unexplainably cozy and warm that emanated from his host. He felt like home, even though Yamaguchi was certain they had never met. “If you won’t tell me who you are, then what should I call you?”
He was close enough to see the pink flush sinking into porcelain skin. “Tsu— Kei. That’s my name. Kei.”
Yamaguchi felt a strange sense of power wash over him. “And what am I doing here?”
The stranger who may or may not be called Kei avoided eye-contact yet again. Instead, he walked stiffly over to the small table in the center of the room. “Did you like the flowers?”
Okay, yes he might be hot, but that did not give ‘Kei’ the right to ignore him. “What. Am. I. Doing. Here.”
Pale fingers skated across the table’s surface. “Did you enjoy the food? I had them prepare everything fresh in the kitchen downstairs.”
“Kei.” Yamaguchi sighed. “This is all very nice and I’ve never felt so spoiled before in all my life, but you have to tell me if you’re going to kill me.”
His host spun around, spluttering and finally looking Yamaguchi dead in the face.
Goddamn, his jawline is strong. And his eyes really are That Pretty. Oh, man. I wonder if he would fuck me if I asked.
“K—Kill you?! I— But— That wouldn’t make any sense.”
Yamaguchi shrugged, keeping a safe distance and plopping down on the giant bed he’d been assigned on his first day here via a strand of golden yarn leading him down a hallway. “I don’t know, man. You seem to be hiding your identity from me pretty well since you haven’t even told me your full name. Pretty sketchy.”
Kei turned even redder. “But if I was going to kill you I wouldn’t be worried about you knowing my identity? Logically, you wouldn’t be alive to tell anyone.”
“Oh. Right.” Yamaguchi’s stomach twisted and he scooted a bit further away. “So—”
“Kei Tsukishima.” His smooth voice crackled with obvious nerves. “I’m the manager of an electronics company and I have a lot of money.”
He wanted to be annoyed, but the awkward way the man spoke almost made him collapse laughing. “Um, okay? And what does that have to do with me?”
“Because I’m… a fan.”
“Of me?”
Kei nodded solemnly.
Something cold settled into his chest. A stalker, maybe? “…Where did we meet?”
Those golden eyes averted themselves again, like Yamaguchi was some medieval maiden undressing in front of him. “We… haven’t actually met before…”
Okay, definitely a stalker.
Yamaguchi shifted, trying to grab for something to defend himself. But all he found were pillows.
“Then… was I just a lucky winner for this trip? Just out of the goodness of your heart?” Doubtful. This guy didn’t seem like someone who had much spare goodness in his heart for charity. Especially with how many glass sculptures there were in his home. If you’re that into charity, why not donate some money?
“No… I… know who you are.” Pale fingers shifted and rearranged his golden tie. Tight. Then loose. Then tight. Then loose.
“But I don’t know who you are.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Okay, where are the damn knives when you need them? Yamaguchi was sure he’d glimpsed some steak knives in the kitchen yesterday when he explored on his own, but considering the kitchen was a few stories down, those wouldn’t be much use to him here. “Doesn’t that seem a little creepy to you?”
“Well yeah, it is, but I…” Kei’s fingers moved onto his suit sleeves. He picked at the hems. “I’m sorry. This is a mess.”
Yamaguchi poised himself to make a mad dash to the door if need be.
But something in Kei’s unsteady voice gave him pause. “I’ve really fucked this up. You can go if you want.”
Yamaguchi snorted.
Kei startled and whipped his head around to Yamaguchi again. “What?”
He giggled. “‘Go’? You booked my flights, idiot. I can’t ‘go’ until next week. And I don’t have the money to make that kind of getaway, even if I wanted to.”
“You… don’t want to? But you said it yourself, I’m being creepy.”
Well, that remains to be seen. “Well, you haven’t tried to kill me yet.”
Kei scoffed. “Would you just drop the whole killing thing? There are other things I could do.”
A shiver crawled up Yamaguchi’s spine. “Oh?”
Kei spluttered, turning red. “N—Not like… I mean… not like that. I just mean… you have every right to be wary of me.”
Yamaguchi crossed his arms. “You’re damn right I do.”
Golden eyes stared intently at Yamaguchi’s shoulder.
He wondered why until he realized that his robe had crinkled and one side had fallen down to reveal his freckled shoulder. Oh, so it’s like that. “Why do you know me but I don’t know you?”
Kei spoke as if in a trance, still fixated on Yamaguchi’s bare shoulder. “You’re videos.”
Yamaguchi smirked privately, feeling suddenly very sexy. This man has how much money? And I’ve reduced him to speechlessness with one shoulder. “Figured.”
“You… figured?”
“I mean, I make porn of myself and post it online. I have lots of admirers.” This was true. Although, most of these admirers threw a couple bucks at him from behind the mask of anonymity. None of them had invited him for an all expenses paid trip before. And certainly none of them had met him in person.
Kei’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he forced a swallow down his long throat. “You…”
“What? Did you think you were the first?” This was mean. He knew it was mean. But he was feeling a little drunk with power.
Kei’s face smushed into a pout and he looked down at his shoes. “No. You’re beautiful.”
Yamaguchi’s heart and dick fluttered in unison. “I know.”
Kei looked like he wanted to come closer. Like he wanted to take Yamaguchi on the bed right then, but something was holding him back. Maybe propriety? That would be silly given their strange introduction.
“So, what do you want?” Sex? Probably sex. You want me to blow you, right?
Kei sighed. “I… want you to marry me.”
He almost laughed, but Kei’s face was stoic. Probably going for the long-con. So instead he opted for, “What.”
Kei continued quietly, not taking his eyes off of Yamaguchi’s bare shoulder. “You’d be set for life.”
Oh my God he’s serious. A shadow passed over Yamaguchi, chilling him. “But, you don’t even know if you would like me.”
Kei shrugged simply. “I would.”
Yamaguchi’s world imploded with a small pop before his brain kicked back on. “But you don’t even know me!”
Kei just shrugged again. His gaze traced carefully and guiltily up to Yamaguchi’s face, like he was somehow breaking some unknown set of rules by looking at Yamaguchi’s eyes directly. “I know I want to marry you.”
Well, this is a unique opportunity. Fuck you, Ushijima for saying that making porn videos isn’t a real job. This is fucking crazy. Maybe a little too crazy.
Kei continued, voice growing stronger, more sure. “You wouldn’t have to worry about money ever again. I’d take care of that. You could live wherever you wanted in the world. I’d pay for it, no questions asked.”
“But… then you would just uproot your life and move anywhere with me?” It seemed a little unrealistic, but maybe life was different for rich people.
“Oh, no. I’d continue living here.” He said this like the whole thing was obvious. Which it very much was not. “You’re free to live however you’d like.”
“Then, you wouldn’t want to live with me?”
Kei hesitated. “It’s not about what I want.”
“It’s about what I want?”
Kei was silent. He nodded.
Yamaguchi took a deep breath, pulling his robe up and cutting Kei off from the drug that was his bare skin. “No.”
A small gasp as Kei’s golden eyes flickered down to the ground.
He waited for Kei to blow up. For him to make some demands.
Instead, he just shrugged. “Okay.”
Yamaguchi almost missed the small waver in the word.
Kei’s broad shoulders straightened up, pulling his clothes taut. His shirt and pants still crisp and clean. He turned to leave. “Well, please enjoy the remainder of your vacation. You won’t have to see me again.”
Yamaguchi rolled his eyes. What a drama queen. “I meant ‘not yet’.”
Broad shoulders tensed. Yamaguchi kind of wanted to touch them just to see if they were as firm as they looked. Maybe even massage them to help the tension bleed out slowly.
“I’m not ruling you out. Because just between you and me, you’re quite pretty.”
A delicious flush crept up the back of his pale neck.
“But I want to get to know you first.” Yamaguchi said, with more confidence than he felt.
He nodded, still facing the door.
Yamaguchi wished he could say that he wasn’t checking out Kei’s ass. But that would be a lie. Jesus, you’re tense everywhere, aren’t you?
“That’s… fair.” It sounded like Kei was admitting defeat.
What? He doesn’t want me to know him before marrying him? It occurred to Yamaguchi that he might be stuck in a fairytale. But not the Disney kind. The much darker, more dangerous kind. He cleared his throat with finality, even though his palms were sweaty. “I haven’t seen you at all these past few days. What, are you under some beauty-and-the-beast curse that can only be broken by marriage?”
Kei snickered as he turned back around. A minute amount of tension released itself from his shoulders. “Wha—?”
“Or maybe a true love’s kiss?”
A deep pink filled Kei’s cheeks, which was the desired effect.
Yamaguchi giggled. “So, spend the rest of this vacation with me, okay? Stop avoiding me. I want to actually meet my husband-to-be.”
Kei’s face stained an even deeper cherry-red. “I— Okay. Then you’ll make your decision?”
Yamaguchi already knew he would probably say yes.
It was crazy, yeah.
Maybe a little too crazy.
But hey, Yamaguchi was already a little crazy.