A Trip to the Onsen:

 

“An onsen is a natural, mineral rich hot spring where Japanese go to…stop doing that, Coco…soak away their aches and pains…Coco get off Heero’s laptop…or just to get away to relax. Bathing at an onsen is a centuries old tradition in Japan that shows no sign of abating, in fact, it is probably more popular than ever….hmmm….”

 

He typed a few more words into the laptop and a list of nearby hot springs (which was a meager list of only two places) popped up on screen. Absently pushing the pesky cat off his partner’s laptop again, Duo printed out the list and in mere moments was on the phone talking to the managers of the two hot spring resorts.

 

In less than twenty minutes, he had booked a weekend for both he and Heero at the one called Musoen – which had set him back a few hundred dollars, but it was all going to be worth it he was sure. He was going to surprise Heero this time around. After all, they were preparing for a trip to Japan soon and it was only right that they begin to practice all their necessary skills ahead of time.

 

An hour later…

 

“An onsen?”

 

“Uh huh.”

 

A long silence filled the room as Heero’s brows knitted into a frown of contemplation. Duo bit his lower lip and held on to Coco, who was making an attempt to climb up Heero’s dark slacks as the Japanese boy in question continued to peel out of his Preventer’s jacket slowly. Duo held his breath and waited anxiously for the dark-haired boy’s response. He had already paid for everything and if Heero said no…

 

“Why an onsen?”

 

Duo raised a brow. “Why not?”

 

“We already have a shower here…”

 

“Geez, Heero. It’s not just an ordinary shower.” He thrust an Onsen etiquette book against his partner’s chest. “Read that diligently, pal. I’m not even Japanese and I think I know more about your people than you do.”

 

Not that it was Heero’s fault in anyway. After all, the boy hadn’t exactly grown up in Japan and any exposure to his culture and people had been from hours spent in the library or on his laptop researching his heritage. But thanks to additional help from Trowa, Heero had finally managed to trace down his real family and in a few months, he was going to get to see what they looked like. But right now…

 

“I know what an onsen is, Duo,” he defended with a soft sigh. “I just don’t feel like going to one, that’s all.”

 

The braided boy’s face fell. “But it’s going to be fun, Heero. Just think, we are one step closer to…”

 

“Why would I want to take a bath in front of everyone else?”

 

Duo gave a snort of exasperation. “It’s no big deal and besides, I am sure that there are other people there who would be shy as well and wouldn’t want to spend more than five minutes in your presence either. So whaddaya say? It’s going to be fun, hmm? Pleeeeeease??”

 

He wrapped his arms around his lover’s neck, holding on tightly as he began to place soft, coaxing kisses along his neck and jaw.

 

“We can’t afford to go to an onsen, Duo. How much is that going to cost us especially considering the trip ahead?” Even his argument was beginning to sound weak to his ears. Duo’s lips against his skin were already driving him senseless.

 

The American smirked and whispered thickly against his lover’s ear. “But haven’t you ever wanted to…?”

 

The dull sounds of a fire truck a mile or so away filled the relative silence, Coco adding to the cacophony with its mewl of protest as Heero’s faced flamed with color at the words that were said to him.

 

“Duo…” he began weakly, trying desperately to salvage some tiny piece of dignity left. But he was failing miserably, for his partner had begun to pull him gently towards their king-sized bed with a wicked look in his eyes.

 

“What is it, Heero?” he teased. “Come over here and let me help you change your mind.”

 

And cursing inwardly at his weakness for his mate, Heero stepped towards a pleasure he could never get enough of.

 

__

 

Friday evening came much faster than he expected as he slowly made his way up the stairs and towards his apartment. He was sure that Duo would have gotten their things ready for their two-day stay at the hot spring and he wasn’t really sure he was looking forward to it now. Throughout the week, he had done his best to indulge in his partner’s enthusiasm. Duo had bought the stools that were normally used for taking the baths and it had taken a loooot of coaxing to get Heero to actually sit on the wooden objects naked. He hadn’t liked the idea and still wasn’t too comfortable with it especially knowing that they would have to be in front of other people.

 

With a heavy sigh, he trudged up the remaining flight of stairs – he would have used the elevator, but he needed the time to think – and came to a halt once he came to his floor as he noticed the suitcases sitting outside their doorway. Groaning softly, Heero opened up his mouth to call out to his partner, when the man in question stepped out from a neighbor’s apartment with a loud ‘Thank you, very much, Mrs. Olsen!’

 

“Oh, there you are, Heero!” he cried out in excitement as he walked up to the still figure to place a soft kiss on his lips. “I just dropped off Coco at the Olsen’s. They agreed to look after her for us. Anyway, I have everything all packed up and ready for take-off. All you have to do is drop off your stuff and we are on our way. We have to check in by eight or they will charge us for an extra day. Come on, hurry up!”

 

Heero had opened up his mouth to say something, but nothing came out as Duo had already vanished into the apartment again. It was going to be hopeless now, he figured as he stepped over his black carryall bag to make his way into his home. There would be no talking his way out of the situation. He would just have to make the best of it.

 

__

 

“Wow! Isn’t this awesome, Heero?! Smell that fresh mountain air…”

 

“It’s artificial, Duo.”

 

“Feel that wild country breeze against your face and in your hair…”

 

“It’s just a large fan…”

 

“Smell that delicious food…what’s it called again?”

 

“Okonomiyaki.”*

 

“Ah ha! You know you want some, Heero. You know you do, so just admit it.”

 

“I already ate and you already had one at the last stop out of a million we made on the way here. I thought you said we had to be here by eight, Duo? It’s almost nine-fifteen.”

 

The braided man refused to be perturbed by his partner’s sullen attitude as he made his way up the wooden stairs of the ryokan with a wide grin on his features. He walked up to the front desk and pressed the bell lightly, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their escort.

 

The Mousen had been about two hours drive from their apartment. It was located on the outskirts of the main city and so it served as a perfect spot for any one hoping to get away from the bustle of city life. Although there were no real mountains nearby, the Mousen had done a great job by renovating the landscape to resemble a typical Japanese hot spring set in the mountains. From a mile away, one could make out the low-rise ryokan that were built around the area. Surrounded by lush trees, it gave one a sense of peace and solitude. One could also spy the rising tendrils of smoke from the springs that were dotted around the landscape and Duo had whooped in delight as their car had almost passed one. All in all, Mousen was quite breathtaking and not too shabby a place for couples to spend the perfect honeymoon.

 

A few guests all dressed in the traditional yukata – which were of a dark blue color – walked around the premises. Most seemed to be heading for the baths as Heero spied bowls of washing items in their hands. Others seemed to be heading towards another room towards the west wing of the building and from the loud laughter and dull throb of a bass beat, Heero was sure that it was a party room of sorts.

 

“Karaoke…”

 

“What?” he blinked from his daze as he met Duo’s excited look.

 

“They are having a karaoke thing in there.” The braided boy pointed towards the room where the music was coming from. “It’s like a large dining room and you get to eat with other people and have fun afterwards. Let’s go once we are done at the onsen, okay?”

 

Heero was already shaking his head. “No…Duo…”

 

“Ah, here she is!” The American gave a light bow in response to the beautiful Japanese kimono-clad girl that had walked up to them. “Ohayo!” he greeted jovially, “We are ready for our rooms now.”

 

“Please follow me,” she invited with a warm smile as she led the couple towards their own quarters. “Mr. Winner suggested you stay in our V.I.P room. And he also said that his room is a few doors away from yours, so you are free to visit them if you like.”

 

Heero’s eyes widened as he tried to catch his partner’s gaze. “Duo!” he hissed sharply. Had the lady actually said ‘Mr. Winner?!’

 

The braided boy was suddenly deaf and dumb to his companion as he grinned in approval. “Arigato! Tell Mr. Winner, we will meet he and his party at the onsen at say…an hour?”

 

“Very good, Mr. Maxwell. And here is your room.” She pushed open the shoji-sliding screen to reveal a room so steeped in tradition, it looked as if they had stepped back in time. With its traditional tatami matting on its floors, the room had a futon, which was already laid out and prepared for them since it was getting rather late. A scroll painting hung in a smaller alcove within the room and the setting was completed with some modern amenities like a TV and a tea maker.

 

Duo had already made his way towards the other side of the room and was pushing aside the shoji screen to reveal the exquisite view to an onsen that was just a few feet away from a breathtaking rock garden with a pond in the middle. He stretched and took a huge breath of fresh air, before running back in to gush at his stoic partner in excitement.

 

“Isn’t this great, Heero? Isn’t it?! Man, now I really can’t wait to see what the real Japan looks like!” He didn’t wait for Heero’s reply as he spun to face the smiling woman. “Thank you for everything. We will get settled in now.”

 

And giving them instructions on how to ring for room service for any help they might need, she made her way out of the room. Once the door was slid shut behind her, Heero opened up his mouth to ask in exasperation.

 

“Quatre?? What is Quatre doing here?!”

 

Duo, who was now unzipping the carryall to pull out their bathing needs, mumbled out quickly. “He and Trowa and Wufei, too. They sort of heard we were coming down…”

 

“They sort of heard? And how did that happen, Duo?”

 

The braided boy got to his feet and began to remove his clothes quickly, still not facing his irritated mate. “Well, we had lunch earlier in the week, and it just…came out.”

 

“It just came out.”

 

“Uh huh.”

 

“Fuck.”

 

“Geez, Heero. These are our friends.” Duo tied the sash of the kimono around his waist and picked up his washbowl. “It’s not as if they haven’t seen us naked before.”

 

Heero raised a brow as if wondering if Duo had grown an extra head. “I don’t know about you, but they haven’t seen me naked.” He hated to admit that the kimono made his lover look even more feminine than necessary and with Duo now tying his braid within a smaller towel, it was all he could do not to mention his observations out loud.

 

“You are male. I am male. Hopefully, those three are male, so what’s the big deal? Now, get dressed or I’m leaving without you.”

 

Duo now had a scowl of impatience on his features and as Heero was about to protest again, a light knock on the shoji had them blinking in surprise. Duo opened it up carefully, only for another grin of excitement to come to his lips as he noticed who stood waiting.

 

“Wufei! Good to see you, man!”

 

The Chinese boy was already dressed for his bath and he gave a small nod and smile of acknowledgement. “Maxwell, Yuy. Good to see you two again.” He eyed Duo’s kimono and noticed that Heero still stood in his jeans and shirt. “Isn’t he coming?” he asked the braided boy.

 

Duo shrugged lightly. “Dunno. Are you ready to go?”

 

“But what about…?”

 

“Don’t worry, he will meet us there. Won’t you, Heero?” Duo asked with a smile even though his eyes spoke of instant death if the dark-haired boy refused or tried to argue. At the resigned sigh Heero finally gave, Duo tugged lightly on Wufei’s arm and began to lead him away. “Let’s go before all the hot water runs out!”

 

Both Heero and Wufei figured it would be useless to remind Duo that they were at a Hot Spring and that the chances of the water ever going cold was pretty much non-existent.

 

__

 

Half an hour later, found four gundam pilots sitting within the soothing, warm waters of a cozy and rather secluded part of the large onsen. Since it was evening and the clouds of smoke from the water were getting heavier and heavier, it was rather difficult to make out each other’s expressions at the moment.

 

Wufei and Duo had found Quatre and Trowa in the showers and had spent about ten minutes talking about everything and nothing while they scrubbed themselves clean. Duo had kept stealing glances towards the door, hoping that the familiar figure of the Japanese boy would show itself soon, but each time proved fruitless. Heero had not come in. And even now, they had been in the onsen for a while and still no Heero. Duo had tried to keep up with the conversation around him, but it was hard to do so, while his thoughts and mind remained on the one person he had done this for.

 

“Heero, you idiot,” he muttered to himself, as he stared at the water blindly. “You idiot!”

 

“He will come, don’t worry,” Wufei mumbled as he closed his eyes and leaned back against the rocks with a soft sigh of content. “Just give him some time, okay?”

 

“I guess he’s just a bit overwhelmed or something,” Quatre added with a small smile as he turned around to allow Trowa access to his back. He giggled lightly at how featherlike his partner’s fingers were on his skin, but quickly stopped as he noticed Duo’s glum look.

 

“He’s not coming,” Duo said firmly, not lifting his gaze from the water. “I know him. I shouldn’t have forced him to come with me. I was just stupid enough to think that I could get him to enjoy something like this.” And fighting down the well of disappointment that rose within him, he made as if to rise out of the water.

 

Wufei cracked an eye open. “Where are you going?”

 

“Out. I need some fresh air.” He spun around to get out, when his gaze fell on a pair of feet that were unmistakable. He sucked in a harsh breath as his gaze slowly rose to take in the slender legs that were powerful, the lean hips hidden by the small white towel, the flat torso to the broad chest and shoulders and into the rather flushed visage of his partner. “He…Heero?”

 

The Japanese boy mumbled something and without catching any of his comrades intrigued gazes, he walked closer to the onsen and gingerly stepped into the waters. He sat stiffly beside Duo’s suspended form and took a deep breath, before reaching out to tug the long braid gently. “Sit down, Duo.”

 

Not having the strength to protest much, the American obeyed quietly, his gaze still locked onto his lover’s as if wondering if he was seeing an apparition of some sort.

 

“Well, isn’t this nice?” Trowa drawled lazily albeit teasingly (and for a second, Wufei thought that the hot water was beginning to get to the taller pilot). “We are all one big happy family…Quatre, are you okay?”

 

The blond waved a hand lightly in dismissal, even though his face looked a tad bit too red. “I am fine, honest.”

 

“You look like you are about to pass out,” Wufei commented dryly as he stretched and began to swim towards the edge of the onsen. “I am going to reserve us a table for tonight. You are all going to eat dinner, right?”

 

Seeing their nods of approval, the Chinese boy gave a nod and jumped out of the water lithely, revealing a very naked rear that had the four gaping in surprise. They wouldn’t have imagined the Chinese boy being so ‘carefree’ as this seemed to snap Duo out of his trance to snicker.

 

“Nice ass, Wufei.”

 

“I know, Maxwell. I know.”

 

And leaving them with a playful wink, he made his way towards the ryokan, leaving the four to stare at each other in silence.

 

“You should get him out,” Heero finally muttered as he noticed Quatre’s face becoming quite flushed. “He is likely to pass out in here soon.”

 

Duo nodded in agreement as Trowa finally led his partner out of the hot waters much to the blond’s weak protests.

 

“We will see you two at dinner,” the uni-banged pilot said quietly and in mere moments, Heero and Duo were left alone in relative silence. For a long time nothing was said, as each remained lost in their thoughts. Finally, Duo gave a soft sigh and slowly slid into the water. He still had the sense that Heero hadn’t really wanted to come here and that he was only doing this to please Duo.

 

Great. Just great. Me and my forceful nature. I should have just…

 

“Aaargh!”

 

He sputtered and tried to rise to the surface, but his legs were tugged again and he found himself flailing his hands to ward off his attacker. Holding his breath, he spun around quickly, only to squeak soundlessly as he noticed the impish look on his lover’s face.

 

Heero….

 

He felt something hard tug in his chest and smiling happily in relief, he mouthed out the words ‘Idiot’ before rising back to the surface to gulp much needed fresh air. Heero came out a few seconds later, holding up his fingers with a challenging look in his eyes.

 

Duo knew what it meant and he scoffed, while panting harshly. “So, what? I wasn’t prepared this time. We are just going to have to do it again. And this time, I will show you that I can stay underwater longer than you can, pal.”

 

He took a deep breath and sank under again. Heero followed soon after as both boys dared the other to leave first. Their gazes remained locked, smiles of pleasure on their visages as they moved closer to each other.

 

It had taken plenty of guts on Heero’s end to finally walk through the shower stalls to scrub himself. And as he had cleaned himself, he had felt the first pangs of guilt fill his being as he realized how selfish he was acting. Duo had gone out of his way to arrange this mini-vacation for them and all he had done was whine and complain.

 

Enjoy it while you can, Heero. Enjoy every moment with him as much as you can…

 

And just as their noses touched, Heero wrapped his arms around his lover’s waist to pull him closer still.

 

“Thank you,” he mouthed quietly as his heart began to pound a bit faster. He released Duo’s braid from within its confines of the towel, allowing the thick strands to float all around them.

 

And as he claimed his lover’s lips in pure, unadulterated gratitude, Heero figured that learning about his culture with Duo at his side was going to be one experience he was never going to forget.

 

TBC…

 

 

Definitions:

 

Okonomiyaki – Japanese style pizza usually made with lots of vegetables.

 

Ryokan – Traditional style Japanese inn

 

Yukata – kimonos worn by guests. Usually provided by the ryokan.

 

Shoji – paper sliding doors.