The apples gleam a bright ruby red in the gentle sunlight; Anthy plucks one from a low-hanging branch and bites. The apple juice squirts, dripping in a steady stream down her chin, and she hums in satisfaction. Next to her, Utena wrinkles her nose.
"That's disgusting," she says mildly, "You should have waited and washed it first."
Everything about her is mild tonight, even more so than usual; she's calmed down considerably since their younger years, since Ohtori and Akio, but there's always a fire in her eyes, steadily burning. Even now, her eyes are like embers. To Anthy, it speaks of their past, and what it took to overcome it; but maybe she's just being sentimental, which Utena has often accused her of being in their long years together.
It's strange, Anthy thinks, to be nostalgic for a time that never existed, for a childhood that never existed. Sometimes, it twists like a knife, especially when her friends ask her about her past; she's good at spinning yarns, of course, (a phrase that never fails to make Anthy laugh because of its double meaning, both of which are true) but Utena freezes, becomes as cold as stone. Most of their neighbors and friends learned not to ask long ago, but Old Hana down the lane is persistent. Anthy wouldn't mind, but it puts Utena on edge, and when Utena is on edge Anthy is, and when they're on edge they have nightmares. Anthy will never forget when they first adopted Kaori and Chiharu, three-year-old twins. They had had nightmares for months before they got the hang of it all.
Old Hana had been a great help then, taking over whenever the two young mothers looked as if they were on the verge of collapse, and often before then, sternly but kindly ushering them to bed and promising to take good care of their children.
Anthy was indebted to her, which was why she could never truly remain angry at the old woman, despite the nightmares caused by her nosiness.
Utena coughs lightly then, startling Anthy out of her daze. "Penny for your thoughts," She says, prodding gently. Anthy smiles warmly at her wife.
"I was only thinking of Old Hana, and her helpfulness with the twins, and her nosiness," She says, taking her wife's hand in hers, swinging their arms between them as if they were young again. Utena hums thoughtfully, and then suddenly makes a strange face, as if she'd bitten a lemon.
"Isn't it strange," She says casually, "That she's only twenty years older than us?" Anthy thinks over it awhile.
"Yes, it is a little weird," she says. Then she mock scowls at Utena, who looks slightly baffled.
"Now you've made me feel old!" Anthy exclaims, and her wife laughs quietly
"You feel old?" She asks, shoving her playfully. "I have silver strands in my hair!"
"Oh hush, they're beautiful!" Laughs Anthy. "Anyways, at least you don't have crow's feet!"
Utena harrumphs quietly. "Don't call them that," she says, "They're laughter lines! And they're totally gorgeous!"
The two of them glare playfully at each other, seeing who can hold out the longest, before breaking out into giggles
"My, my," says a dry, steady voice, "Look what I've found. Two pretty, young women ridiculously in love."
Anthy freezes, surprised, a grin still on her face, but Utena is not surprised in the least.
"At least I'm not an ugly old hag like you," she replies, straight-faced and equally as dry. Anthy doubles over, wheezing with laughter
Behind them, Old Hana cackles.
"You are as fun to spar with, as usual, Utena," she says, and Anthy doesn't have to see her wife to know the cloud that passed over her face in that moment, because it passed over hers too. She straightens up immediately, and Utena settles her hand on the small of her back. It is a great comfort to them both.
Nearly as one, they shake off the past and turn to greet their friend and neighbor together. She is smiling gently at them when they turn, her gentle, happy smile belying her ridiculing words.
They greet one another politely, then break out in grins.
"So, what gives us the pleasure of having you break onto our property once again?" Anthy asks teasingly. Beside her, Utena cackles. She really has a cackle that could put Old Hana to shame.
Old Hana gestures to a basket on her arm. "I made too many dango," she says, winking over at Utena. Anthy is the one who doesn't like to accept gifts, but she sighs and lets this one slide. The twins are visiting with all of their children, and they'll love the treats. It is very probable that Old Hana knew that. She voices this opinion, and the old woman laughs. Utena looks almost scandalized, before she too begins to laugh. Old Hana wipes tears of laughter from her eyes.
"You are a very forward woman," she says admiringly, and both Anthy and Utena light up with pride.
"She always has been, but nobody really noticed for a while," Utena says, and then freezes. Anthy stares at her, eyes wide with shock. Utena slowly covers her mouth, as if she could take back what she said by doing so. That's a ridiculous thought, of course, but Anthy sympathizes with her. Anthy smiles and takes her hand in hers, squeezing it tightly but gently.
"Let's go back to the house," she says carefully. "The children will be clamoring to see you again, Old Hana."
Old Hana, whose eyes had sharpened with glee when Utena spoke softened now, and the three old friend chattered and bickered all the way home, and although Utena was quieter now, she soon perked up and joined in on their lively discussions, just as Anthy knew she would.