A fresh winter breeze makes you tense up slightly - understandably so, you were wearing a backless navy blue dress standing on a patio, looking out at the snow covered garden before you - in the middle of winter.

The moon shone in all her excellence, creating an ethereal midst to your already unfamiliar (yet somehow familiar) world. Stars blink listlessly next to the moon, against the empty backdrop of a void of seemingly nothingness millions of miles overhead. 

Scents of roses, lilies and lavender cloud your senses, the sweet bitterness of the colliding smells nearly enough to burn your nose and bring tears to your eyes. Making it bearable, however, was knowing he’s with you.

Standing in a backless dress on a patio in the middle of winter is not enough to make you turn around and go inside the small building, where he makes some last-minute arrangements. He didn’t ask you to go stand on the patio - and he’d never dream about asking you. He’d be far too worried about you catching a cold or something. Knowing that, you sighed, looking at the breath you’d heaved take on its gaseous form, where the temperature is below zero. 

Just then, you feel the weight of a heavy coat being laid over your shoulders. Knowing perfectly well whose coat it is, you close your eyes and smile, waiting to be reprimanded for your harmless actions. 

“Did your boyfriend tell you to wait out here?”

“No. I came out here on my own.”

“Oh really? He must be a careless one, then.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He should know better than to let such a stunning, delicate woman like you walk around without something so simple as a coat. ...Afterall, who knows what would happen if another man put his arms around you?” He says as he wraps his arms around my waist, bringing me close to him - his chin resting on my shoulder and his breath so warm, so close - almost too close.

“I appreciate and acknowledge your concern, but contrary to what you may see, I’m perfectly capable of handling myself.” I say with a smirk and twisting out of the Boss’s grasp, giving him a teasing wink while walking inside the small, elegant restaurant. The air about it a thousand times warmer than outside. 

He puts his hands in his pockets, a smirk laid placidly on his face as he makes his way over.

“How exciting. You are a truly remarkable woman. But even one of your stature mustn’t wait out in the cold like that. You must understand this, no?

“No.” 

“Even the deadliest of gods can come down with a cold.” He sighs, walking beside me as we follow the waiter to our table.

“What a shame.” Or I should say, private room. 

The young man closes the door behind us after briefly explaining our waiter will be with us in a moment, the somber chatter of the other room being wiped from our world behind closed shoji. The only other thing present in the otherwise vacant room being a neatly set table with a white table cloth and two chairs across from one another.  

The minute the young man closes the doors, however, Seiichi wraps his arms around me again, tighter than before.

“You shouldn’t have gone out there. What if you’d caught a cold?”

“I’d be fine - I’ve been sick before. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, you know. You don’t have to worry like that.”

He lets out a sigh and mumbles into my neck; “I worry about you because I care. How are you feeling? Still a little cold?”

I shake my head and comment “No, not anymore. Thank you.”

Not satisfied, he sharply turns me around and holds my head in his hands, looking me dead center in the eye.

“You don’t have to pretend around me, remember?”

“What do you-”

“Your cheeks are red and frigid.”

“U-Um, excuse me -” a young voice interrupts us.

I didn’t hear the doors sliding open, when did she get here?

“I-I’m so sorry - if you’d like, I’ll come back a little-”

“It’s alright. Come in.” Seiichi says, taking a step away from me, his eyes falling from mine. Nonetheless, he guides me to my chair.

“Okay, I’ll start off by taking your beverage requests.”

When the doors slide shut after the young waitress - who seems to be no older than a high school student - I sigh and say almost inaudibly;

“I’m sorry I made you worry, Seiichi.” After hearing him chuckle, I look up to meet his gaze, and sure enough, he’s looking at me - eyes full of boyish pride, holding the warmth of the sun and all the gentleness in the world.

“I’m glad you’re okay, is all. Anyway, that girl. She’s just about the age you were when we first met, right?” He says as he rests his chin in the palm of his hand. 

“Yes. I suppose so.” I smile, looking down a bit, lost in nostalgia. Had I not met the Boss when I did, my life would be vastly different. Dare I say, I wouldn’t be alive today. 

“You’re still the same, in some ways.” 

“Oh? How so?”

“Well, you’re still cute. And you don’t think before you act.”

“Hey.” 

He chuckles playfully, “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

“Whatever. Anyway, you’re still a tease. I swear.” 

“You love it.” He smirks.

I’m getting tired of that attitude of his.

Wanting to get him back, I uncross my legs from under the table and slide my foot up along his leg, going as far up as I can, resting between his thighs.

In an instant, he jumps a little - hitting the table with his knee - taking a sharp breath in, his eyes going wide. 

I gently rub my foot back and forth along the length of his thighs, occasionally rubbing against the bulge in the middle.

His cheeks flush a tender, bright pink as he shifts in his seat.

Heh. Now who’s being the tease?

I can’t help the mischievous smile tugging at my lips as I look at the once cool man becoming a hot, blushing mess in a matter of seconds.

“Even in this situation, I can feel you getting hard.” I whisper, only then retracting my foot from its place between his thighs. At this, he growls, but doesn’t say anything.

“Yeah. I’m sure.” He says out of nowhere.

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry about it.” He growls back, looking impatiently at his watch.

“Damn. Where is she?” he irritatedly questions, looking at the door, placing a napkin on his lap.

“Heh. You think that’s gonna help?” I say, noting his eagerness to cover up. 

Then the door opens, and our waitress walks in, holding a cake.

“About damn time.” He spews, bouncing one leg and looking away from the girl.

“I’m so sorry about the wait, Sir.” The girl comments, a bit intimidated at the Boss’s state. 

Honey, don’t worry about him. He’s fine.

“Sorry, Mina - was it?”

“Oh, yes, ma’am. Mina.”

“Yes. Well, Mina, I don’t think we’ve ordered the cake - we’ve only ordered drinks.”

“Oh, umm, w-well…” Mina trails off, glancing at the Boss. 

“Yes. I think you’ve forgotten the drinks, Mina.” Seiichi hisses.

All of a sudden, Mina collects herself and begins bowing what I guess must have been a thousand times, again and again saying “I’m so sorry, Sir! Please forgive me!” before dashing out of the room, almost dropping the cake on her way out.

“She’s cute.” I say, still looking at where she’d been standing only seconds before. 

Suddenly, I hear a chair moving, and before I know it, Seiichi has moved his char directly next to mine. 

“Wh-” my question is cut off before it gets the chance to leave my mouth. The Boss’s tongue cutting me off and opting to explore my mouth. It’s intense, and all the warmth he’d been showing me tonight vanished - replaced by an intense inferno, one I’m far too familiar with. This inferno is a stunning, blinding blaze of passion. 

I yelp into the kiss and arch my back when I feel his hand thrust its way between my thighs and feel his digits rub against the lacy lingerie covering my heated entrance. 

“S-Seiichi-”

“Hmm, wearing lingerie tonight? Were you planning ahead on tonight’s events…? Anticipating my touch…? Dirty girl.” He chuckles darkly. “I hope it’s the black one - you look especially sexy in that one…”

“Mmmn, we shouldn’t… what if Mina comes back…?”

“You should’ve thought about that before toying with me.” God, I swear I can hear the smirk in his voice.

“Do you want me to stop?” He asks, suddenly retracting his hand from my thighs. Without thinking, I grasp his hand and bring it back.

“Oooh. Rather risqué, no?” 

“Shut up.” I grunt, annoyed with myself for admitting I want this, but not enough to let him stop.

“Whatever you want” he chuckles out, breathing into my ear. He moves his hand from its former position to the inside of my thigh, tracing patterns before squeezing.

“You love it when I tease you.” He says with what I can only imagine is a sinister smile before taking his hand away. 

Before I can reach for it again, the door opens and I stop myself, my cheeks blazing. 

“Ahaha, sorry about before, here’s the champagne, as requested. I’ll be back in a bit.” Mina comments, placing the glasses and bottle on the table, not paying any particular mind to us. 

Probably still embarrassed about before. ...and I’m thinking about other things anyway.

It’s not like I myself am focused on the champagne or her either, tho. All I want is to feel Seiichi. 

But when I turn to face him again, I’m met with a soft gaze. It’s that face that could make me pregnant from the smile alone give me a heart attack - the warmth in that gaze, the happiness in that smile - I want it. I want to protect it all. 

“I wish I could take a picture of you now. Your cheeks are flushed, and you look like you want me. But you should take a moment to cool down for a bit - don’t want to get you overheated, afterall.” And he glances at the glass of champagne neatly placed in front of me. 

Not knowing what he’s getting at, I pick up the glass. But before I bring it to my lips to drink from, I see something sparkling at the bottom of the glass - a ring?

Surprised, I look back at Seiichi, and without missing a beat, I find that he’s already down on one knee. 

“Will you marry me?” He asks me, eyes full of sincerity and certainty - not a single cloud of doubt to be seen anywhere on his face. 

“Well. Say something. You were so full of chatter before - what happened? Don’t tell me you’re speechless now?” 

Overwhelmed with happiness I cry out, “Bastard!” as I leap out of my chair and throw my arms around him, joining him on the floor 

“Well, I did say ‘say something.’ Guess that’s good enough. But it’s not really a direct answer. Tell me, I want to hear you say it.” He whispers with a smile on his lips. 

He stands, my chin in his hands, his arm around my waist, holding me close. Promising to never let me wait out in the cold again -- even if it is of my own discretion. 

“Yes!! I want to marry you!” I yell out, tears falling from my cheeks as I jump up at Seiichi from excitement. 

To that he says nothing, but lets me know how he feels with a kiss, sweeter than any other. 

After some of the initial excitement, we settle down again, and Mina brings the cake back. When she shuts the door behind her, Seiichi gets close to my ear and whispers;

“Now I’m sure she won’t be back for a while yet, you’ve still got some paying to do for that little stunt you pulled earlier…” ...whilst lightly nibbling at my earlobe.

“Mmn, not my fault you’re so sensitive.” I whimper

He bites down on my neck and questions me; “What was that?” 

“You heard what I said.” 

“Oh really…?” He smirks at me, glancing over at the red velvet cake on the table, just in front of us.

“Well then, you won’t mind if I eat this cake all by myself then, would you?” Moving away from me, he leans back in his chair with the piece of cake brought in, reading “Congratulations!” 

“Hey!” I call out as I glare at him.

“Well, then? I guess you do mind. In that case, you’ve got to make it up to me, Mrs. Setoyanagi.” He says with an evil glimmer in his eye, setting the cake down.

“Remember, we may be in a private room, but the people outside can still hear us - and if you sing too loudly, Mina might think you're calling her. So, shhhhh…” 

We spend another hour or so in the private room, trying to be as silent as possible, aware of the guests beyond the shoji doors. But it’s not enough. We leave the restaurant and continue at Seiichi’s place, and I couldn’t be more content. I couldn’t be happier to call this man my fiancé. A mentor, teacher, boss, lover and now fiancé, soon-to-be husband. 

Now I share a bed with him. I listen to his heartbeat, see his chest rise and fall with every breath, and I know. I know now. I know his name. It’s something so small, so trivial, so simple. But it’s everything in our world. He’s trusted me with it, and now he trusts his future with me. I know he needs water to function in the morning. I know he has a thing for soy sauce. I know. Who would’ve thought I’d share a bed, so much love, and a future with the man who saved me all those years ago.