It was perfect. The sun setting beyond the horizon casting a smooth warmth on the sand. The waves crashed against the shore and roused a dulcet, gentle tone.There was a peaceful breeze rolling through the air. It was paradise, Hitomi thought as she lounged on the towel.

The solitude was truly relaxing, she'd be too nervous to let her guard down if anyone was around. The fact that they practically had a private beach at sunset was a blessing, and not suspicious in the slightest. Of course that may have been partly because of the company.

"You enjoying yourself, Hitomi?" The steady, friendly voice asked of her. Her eyes fluttered open and gratefully took in her companion as she answered.

"It's really comfy here. I feel like I could just pass out." She let out a deep yawn and rolled over on her side to look at Takemi while they chatted. He was… He was breathtaking. The formal suit he had on was incredibly flattering and gave him a distinguished look on top of everything else, even if it must be making him hot.

His friendly face was perfect when he had a welcoming smile on and his hair was always, always neat. It wouldn't be fair except she'd always rather have been able to look at it than have such things herself.

Usually when those deep, spotlight eyes looked at her she filled up with butterflies, but being alone with him in this beautiful place made it seem… natural.

"Well don't go and take a nap right in front of me." Takemi smiled at her and it felt like the sun was rising instead of setting. "Not that I mind too much. Your face is cute when you're asleep."

"T-Takemi!" She reached out and gave him a light shove. "Jeez! Don't say stuff like that! What if someone heard you?"

"Oh come on, who'd hear me? The snails?" Well, he made a good point. The snails only talk amongst themselves anyways, so who cares what they thought?

Hitomi still had to protest though. "It's still embarrassing! How can you keep a straight face over there?"

"It's easy as pie to keep straight with you here."

Okay, that was crossing a line. He had no right to be able to say something like that face to face with her. Even the little snails racing over the sand dunes were turning red from that! Speaking of turning red, it was getting pretty bright out.

"Hey, turn over." Takemi said as he got up and rustled through his briefcase for a small orange tube. "I'll put some sunscreen on you."

"Well, I don't want to get sunburn." Hitomi chirped as she rolled over and rested her chin on her arms. They should have brought pillows or something. "Warn me before you-EYUP!" She chirped when the cold cream hit her back and sent a shiver up her spine! "I-I said warn me!"

"Sorry, sorry, I just couldn't help myself. Here, I'll make it better." Hitomi was about to ask him what he meant, she really was, but it didn't take too long to figure it out herself as something pressed into her and spread the lotion over the small of her back.

It wasn't as uncomfortable as when it first hit her skin, in fact there was warmth bleeding into it now. She was able to relax with Takemi there, thoroughly applying sunscreen to her back. It was kind of like a massage with his fingers smoothly rolling over her muscles, kneading her skin, pampering her back.

Paradise.

"Lemme just take care of this." he said as his hands worked their way up her back. Mmmm, why are you stopping no-Whoa hold on!

"W-w-what are you doing?!" Hitomi blurted out when the tense fabric digging into her shoulders loosened.

"Well, I can't miss a spot, so I've gotta undo your swimsuit now." Hitomi could hear the smile in his voice. She could hear it because she damn well couldn't see it while trying to bury her face in the sand through her towel. She mumbled out what could have been an okay and Takemi started rubbing the lotion into her shoulder blades.

Trying to be completely unaware of the situation was really just making it worse though. She could feel every touch now. All the lathering and rubbing, the cold touch of sunscreen being poured on her and then his warm hands working it in.

Well, as long as-

Oh hell! His hands moved over her back and down her sides, very liberally making sure not to leave a single spot of her skin uncovered. Maybe those shivers weren't just from the sunscreen after all.

"H-h-hey! W-watch the hands b-buddy!" Even if it was Takemi, even if this place was perfect, even IF this was all a dream it was going a bit too far.

"Heh, sorry Hitomi. It's just, I can't help myself when you glow all purple like that."

Purple? What was he-

Oh nonono not again! Not these weird glowing lines again! Seeing the circuit-like lights trailing under her skin made enough enough! She pushed herself off the towel and straight into Takemi, causing them both to fall over onto the sand. The next thing she knew, she was perched over top him and her swimsuit was nowhere to be seen. Panicking once more Hitomi quickly covered her chest and tried to stand up, but her feet found no traction on the sand as it seemed to pour away from her.

The next thing she knew she was falling as the ground gave way.

Wait, what was that part about a dream?

Darkness enveloped the world. She fell for what felt like an eternity and at the same time the blink of an eye. This has to stop! I need to know what's going on! I have to wake up!

Anxiously, Hitomi struggled against whatever was holding her down as she tried to sit up. When she finally freed herself of her blankets and looked around the only thing that greeted her was her own dark room.

Breathing a sigh of relief she went to turn on her desk lamp but was startled when her fingers brushed against something plastic. When she found her lamp she saw that a bag of snacks had been left on her desk.

Takemi must have taken her home. Wait, but she never actually bought her snacks. Did that mean… Takemi?

The thought warming her chest was interrupted by a rather loud beep coming from her phone on the desk. "You have an unread message waiting for you, Hitomi."

H-huh? She didn't have any kind of message alert like that on her phone!