Anxiety gnawed at my stomach. It made it difficult to focus as I was whisked around being introduced to new people. I always hated pointless chit-chats, but for the sake of Yoongi I tried to make use of my non-existent mannerisms.

Plastering a perennial smile on my face, I shook their hands and nodded when they would expect me to. I also made the attempt to exchange a few words with them in Japanese, but I doubt I would hardly remember their name by the end of this trip.

Yes, the trip. It took Yoongi three days, ten calls and a lunch at a fancy Greek taverna to make me agree on going to this hiking trip with him and his friends. I wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea, but I decided to give it a shot since my summer vacation was going on.

Climbing a mountain is a challenge - A statement we all can agree upon and Mt Fuji is no exception. As planned by the group, the trip was scheduled around mid-August since it would be impossible to travel after that due to the changing weather.

I had not met Yoongi's friends before that and I felt a little awkward when I spotted them with their respective partners. Yoongi chose not to disclose the little information about us not being lovers yet, and I thought it would be in my best interest to play his fake girlfriend, even if it is for a little while.

We huddled up our bags with all the accommodations and necessities that would eventually lead us to the summit and set out on our journey.

We took the Keiko Highway bus from Shinjuku station to the start of the trail, that is, the fifth station where we decided to replenish our water supply and had a toothy lunch. Yoongi and I, along with others, bought hiking sticks as souvenirs with the little money that we all decided to spend.

The weather was a mix of fog and light drizzle with occasional rays of sun peeking through the clouds, but it was not bad as we had expected. Around noon we set off to climb the Yoshida trail by foot to reach the top and watch the coveted sunrise.

Within thirty minutes, we reached the sixth station from where we had a clear view of the town below and the breathtaking Lake Kawaguchi.

Since I was not much of an active person, I found myself stopping in between the twists and turns and soon I discovered myself to be the pacesetter of the group. Even though nobody complained, but the look of disappointment and irritation was clearly etched to their faces. Yoongi was a great supporter thoughout and encouraged me to move forward with his kind words and gestures.

By the time we reached seventh station, I was drained, but I had to pull myself up for the group's sake. I made a mental note never to travel in groups ever again.

As expected from a dormant volcano, the terrain is a mixture of barren wilderness with volcanic black ash and boulders in the pathway as we ascended. But we made some mandatory stops in between to take a few too many pictures and joke around.

By the time we reached eighth station, I felt the delirious fatigue hitting me hard like thunder. And as bad as it may sound, I was glad to know I wasn't the only one. We made our stop atop a mountain hut which charged us a sky-rocketting price to stay for only a few hours. But the offer to not take a little rest was too tempting, and we all ended up cramping inside a small room with coffee cups between our palms.

"How are you feeling?" Yoongi asked, shifting closer to me. We were pushed to one corner of the large room amidst people lying around the room like a dead pile after a massacre. My mind was numb with all the coldness as I wrapped the thermal blanket tightly around me.

"Nauseous." All I wanted at that moment was to lie down and take a really long nap, but with people occupying all vacant spaces around the room accompanied by the obnoxious snoring, it was difficult to not stomp each one of their noses with the tallest stilletoes that I have.

Taking note of my discomfort, he gave me a concerned look. "Do you want to go back? We've already climbed enough."

"Absolutely not! I did not just strain my glutes only to return back."

"You think you can make it?"

"I'm positive." Yoongi snaked his free arm around my waist protectively and pulled me closer to his warm body. I put my head on his shoulders and closed my eyes, exhaling a tired sigh before opening my eyes and taking a sip from the hot coffee.

It was already nightfall by the time we hit the trail. The lack of sleep was consuming all my energy, but the will to see the spectacular view was giving me the momentum.

Although the greatest reward on hiking in the dark were seeing the shooting stars that reminded me of Kimi no na wa scene except it wasn't that Animesque aesthetic. We also stopped along with several others to watch the fireworks celebration of the Hanabi festival from the town below.

Yoongi and I walked on the path that loops around the mountain top which was illuminated by the silvery sheen casted by the moon overhead and the light emitting from the hikers head lamps along the zigzag trail.

At this point, when my hiking spirit was splitting into half, Yoongi kept on motivating me with supportive words which were partially the reason for keeping me sane from everyone and everything around.

I let out a shiver when a gust of cold wind made contact with my bare face and I started to feel dizzy due to the rising altitude. Stopping by a dark corner, Yoongi told the other group members to continue moving on their trail while he held my hair as I emptied the contents from last day on the rugged terrain.

After exhausting myself, I sat on the rocky ground with a loud thud as Yoongi proceeded to wash my face and mouth with the little water we had.

Yoongi sat beside me and held my weak body into his all the while I was busy inhaling from the portable can of oxygen. People walked on their trails with their headlamps as they gave us concerned looks. A few even stopped to give us warm water and energy bars. Such nice people.

But what felt amazing even during that hour was Yoongi's presence beside me and I was really grateful for it. Not even once did he leave my sight and glued to my weak body, radiating his body heat in the process. I wish I could repay him in any other way than saying a small thank you.

Yoongi's touches were magical. They would always energize the drained soul inside me - both spiritually and psychologically; although, I wasn't sure of the physical one at the moment, but they sure had a reaction going on inside of me.

"I should've never brought you here."

"It's fine." My voice was hoarse from all the puking.

"Even at this hour you're telling me it's fine? You must be really out of your mind." He rubbed my palm between his and blew warm air on it. The power of EVE medicine tablets had already started working its magic to cure my headache.

"It's just the altitude. Now let's get go. We're already behind." I detangled myself from his warm hold and attempted to stand up, but with my half swollen eyes and seemingly jelly legs, I tripped and fell into Yoongi's arms in a very graceless fashion.

"Let's rest for a few more minutes. Then we can go." He gave me a shaky smile and engulfed me in his arms.

"No! At this rate we'll end up missing the sunrise."

"Your health is much more important than the sunrise."

"Don't do this to me. This is like a one time opportunity. I don't even know whether I'll come to Mt Fuji again or not, so please?" I pleaded with my puppy eyes mode on which I'm pretty sure looked nowhere near cute. Had we been under a different circumstance, he probably would have cringed.

He let out a heavy breath which resulted his shoulder to sag momentarily. "Fine, lean onto me."

My eyes pooled with tears full of happiness. I really don't deserve this sweet human being.

"That'll just strain you more." I protest.

"Shut up and do as I say." I gave him a sullen pout and circled my right arm around his neck as I planted half of my weight on him. He started by taking smaller steps, the stamped hiking stick keeping him upright as he continued to support me for the rest of trail till we reached the ninth station.

The number of people climbing in the dark was surprisingly exaggerating compare to a mass exodus, where everyone needed to reach the peak immediately to be saved from whatever is about to happen down below. A few volunteered to shout, "Ganbatte!" at the top of their lungs, encouraging the other hikers to pull through their exhaustion.

The ebony sky had already started to slowly fade into shades of diluted indigo by the time we reached the last torii gate of the Fuji-san shrine. Yoongi spotted his friends and we took our spots beside them, anticipating the much awaited sunrise.

A number of mantra-chanting pilgrims with jingling prayer bells, wearing straw hats, pure white robes, and white canvas foot mittens climbed to the summit to watch the spectacular view along with several others.

I like the part about the Buddhist worshippers leaving their footwear on top of Mt. Fuji to make it seem taller, to ensure the mountain goddess doesn't get jealous.

A peach glow started breaking on the horizon miles away from us. The sky which started flushing pale streaks of light now dripped a plethora of colours, scattering them around the vast canvas like blood seeping up from a deep cut on a living person and in sudden reaches spread to all directions, diminishing the purple with a fusion of pink, orange and crimson.

The clouds which stood below us in a blanketed layer of silvery sheen, suffused with the gold in the sky and very cautiously took the colour of dark apricot. The rays of light flared upwards as the red rim of the sun pushed itself over the cloud bank as if the malevolent Phoebus Apollo was lazily stretching it's limbs after a deep slumber.

The oriental brightness spread and spread like peanut butter on a toast till it kissed us bare in the faces. It was the sweet morning air that broke everyone from their trance and they straightened their backs to celebrate. They clapped and jumped and cheered.

It felt surreal. In fact, everything felt surreal. The sickness that I felt earlier left my body like an evil spirit leaving a human body after purification.

I turned my head towards Yoongi only to catch him gazing down at me intently. His skin looked like the warm honey donut glazed out under the morning sunlight and his inky eyes which hypnotizes people to get lost in its deep wreaths, now sparkled with an unfamiliar emotion. But my eyes gradually lowered to his chapped pink lips which were now falling towards my direction and I wasted no time in catching them with mine.

It felt like my body was electrocuted as the contact made sparks fly in all directions. I fluttered my eyes shut so as to prevent the hypnagogic dream from chasing away as his lips danced against mine in a slow, languid tempo. My mind turned into mush as I could think of nothing but the overwhelming feeling.

My legs were on the verge of giving up, when he dug his calloused fingers into my skin, keeping me flushed against him. It was supposed to be a small kiss lasting for a few seconds and when he began to pull away, my lips chased his fervently and I grabbed the front of his jacket so he couldn't withdraw.

He groaned, low and deep - the sound of which thundered against my chest. We were so into the kiss that we barely registered the holler of approval from Yoongi's friends. His hand moved from my chin to tangle in my messy hair. He kissed me back with lips, desperate and demanding.

It was the lack of oxygen that made us pull away and we both breathed heavily with our foreheads connected and eyes still closed.

A warm, fuzzy feeling started to spread inside of me like a warm butter sliding on a hot toast. I didn't know what to say or what to feel anymore. The emotions jumbled inside of me as I let the soft breeze cool our flushed faces.

"Took you long enough to kiss me," I murmured.

"At least I'm not a prude like you." He snickered, opening his eyes at the same time I opened mine.

"We are not doing this on top of this mountain, are we?"

"I originally swore by it, but since I've a sharp tongue I can't really help it."

"Take me at your mercy just for today. I don't really wanna ruin this moment."

"Then let's not." With glimmering eyes, Yoongi's hands reach out to caress my cheeks and I almost melted against it "So, should we try it once again?"

I release a happy sigh and closed my eyes for a second before opening them again to meet his. "Yes please, but..." Yoongi looked at me expectantly "...before you do that, put this lip balm. Your lips are chapped."

He let out a hysterical laughter, snatching the lip balm from my palm, uncapping it before applying it on his lips. "I was so in need of this."

"You're welcome." I beamed.

One thing is for sure, I look like a zombie. With my eyes all red and puffy accompanied by a runny nose. My hair was a mess, my back hurts, my cheeks feel dry and my bad breath had the stench of vomit in it. I couldn't just look anymore awful yet Yoongi kissed me. But I wouldn't have it any other way. He kissed me bare, in front of the elemental nature with all honesty and pure passion that only promised truth and love.

This heightened feeling and shared camaraderie and celebration when we reached the top, with fellow adventurers shouting with delight and Yoongi making me feel all alive all over again - made it all worth it!

After applying the chapstick, he put it inside his pocket as he locked his eyes with mine yet once again. I leaned up on my tiptoes to brush a soft kiss against his lips, lingering longer than necessary. "Better."

He grinned and turned me around in his arms. Resting his chin on the crook of my neck, he hugged me from back, threading his fingers through mine and keeping it in front of my stomach.

A quaint smile grazed my lips and I looked ahead of me, watching the beautiful sun gracefully elongating its blazing arms. The moment was serene. An air of bliss consumed my whole being and I leaned back against Yoongi's hard chest as we watched the Aurora coating us with its afterglow.

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AN: I really hope I would be able to accomplish my dream of climbing Mt. Fuji someday (perhaps with my own Yoongi?)

Votes and comments are extremely appreciated.

Thank you once again for reading this story.