I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you

Mikado did not cut an imposing figure. His large round eyes wore an expression of overwhelming mildness, looking out at the afternoon crowds lining the busy street with good natured curiosity. She wondered if more of these people belonged to her or to him, and who would win if it came down to a fight, then reminded herself not to think of people as belonging to anyone. Mikado certainly didn't.

"Anri?"

Anri realised the light had changed. Had she been staring? "Sorry. I was just thinking." They started to cross the road.

"About what?" asked Mikado, smiling. There was always so much unspoken affection in his eyes when he looked at her. She didn't know what to do with it. What expression would his face wear if she suddenly confronted him with her sword? Would he like her just as much if he really understood what lurked in her blood?

Anri blushed and didn't answer.

"That's ok," he said. "And it's probably better..." He trailed off and looked awkwardly at his feet.

With the number of things they were not supposed to talk about she wouldn't have to search hard for an excuse not to share her thoughts. Once again her life was in a constant holding pattern. In theory this would change when Masaomi returned, but who knew if that would ever happen.

Back before Masaomi left, when everything was simpler, she'd often been struck by fear that Mikado was about to break the subtle balance of their relationship by confessing. It really shouldn't bother her that this seemed much less likely to happen now, but it did. If Mikado really cared about her, would he have been willing to wait for so long? Why did it matter that Masaomi was not here? Sometimes she wondered if it was Masaomi that Mikado really wanted to confess to, and then she wondered if she would mind.

Could Mikado love both Masaomi and Anri? If he did, could Masaomi love both Mikado and Saki in return? Did love work like that?

yes yes yes yes yes

Saika loved everyone. It loved Masaomi and Anri and Saki. It loved Celty and Shizuo Heiwajima and Izaya Orihara. It especially loved Mikado.

Or was that Anri?

Was it Anri or Saika who wondered what Mikado's mind would taste like if she made him hers?

"I...I liked seeing that movie with you last week," said Mikado. "If you don't mind, I was thinking..."

"Excuse me, but I have to go," said Anri.

Mikado's face fell, but he quickly replaced his look of disappointment with an unconvincing smile. "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow."

I love you

Anri nodded and walked quietly into the night.