ARRIVAL

"Hey Hachi, what were you doing in there?" Shin asked Nana as she came out.

"Just getting a towel for the young master in the tub," replied Nana laughingly. She hurried over to the toilet and knocked on the door.

"Nobu, I've brought your towel," she said to the door.

"Thanks Hachi," Nobu said, extending his hand through a small slit in the doorway to take the towel. Nana handed him the towel and hurried towards the kitchen, her face an impassive mask of blankness. She began arranging some more food she had brought on to various plates. Satsuki lay in Yasu's lap. Suddenly, she sat up.

"They're coming!" She yelled excitedly, just as Nobu walked out of the bathroom.

"Really? How'd you know?" Nobu asked her. She rushed towards the door and pressed her ear against it.

"Cos I can hear their footsteps!" Satsuki pulled on her mother's sleeve impatiently.

"Now, now, it could be anyone who lived along this corridor," Nana said to her daughter. But she too was excited. It had been a long time since she last saw Nana. Not to mention Ren. In fact, it had been a long time since she had seen any of them at all, since they had been so busy. The Black Stones had hit Tokyo hard, since the release of their album, Lucy. They all heard the footsteps coming closer. Then Satsuki pulled the door open.

"Auntie Nana!" She screamed happily as she ran out the door.

"What's this auntie business?" A voice carried down the corridor into the apartment.

The rest of them heard a mild thud.

"Ouch," Another voice said. "God, you're like a freaking bullet."

Nana and Ren appeared in the doorway, with Satsuki hanging on Ren's arm.

"See Mom, I TOLD YOU it was them," Satsuki said happily. But Nana ignored her daughter. She was staring at Nana. Her eyeliner was just as dark as ever, the fingers still wearing her Vivienne Westwood rings, and she was wearing her favourite ripped jeans. Ren's dark hair was spiky as usual, with his padlock dangling around his neck and he was holding a bag.

"HACHI!" Nana exclaimed, and ran to hug her. Nana K. breathed in her familiar scent. She hugged her back, and held back her tears. There was so much she wanted to tell her, about now. And there would be time later.

"Hi guys," Ren announced to Yasu, Shin and Nobu. Nana O. turned to greet them too.

"Hello Baldy! Shin, Nobu, don't forget we've got another photo op on Wednesday. Ginpei will kill us if we're late. It's for a big thing."

"God Nana, we're on holiday. Remind us tomorrow," said Shin, lighting a Blast cherry flavoured cigarette. "Anyways, you guys need to get ready, the fireworks will start soon!"

Nana K. nodded and said, "I've laid out your stuff in your old room Nana. You guys just go take a bath."

"Hold on Hachi, I've got something here," Ren said, pulling something out of the bag he was carrying. It was a large, box, wrapped in shiny black paper. A large, bright pink ribbon rose sat on top of it. "Here you go," Ren said grinning, handing it over to a wide-eyed Satsuki. She took the box with an enthusiastic "Thank you Uncle Ren!" and proceeded to show it to Nobu, Shin and Yasu. Nana K. looked at Ren and Nana O.

"You shouldn't have! You'll spoil her silly," Nana K. said, smiling at Ren.

"Actually, Nana picked it out," Ren replied, nudging Nana's shoulder. She smiled at Nana K., and said "I thought it was just what she needed, as the god daughter of two rock stars."

Nana K. turned and saw Satsuki unwrapping her present. As she opened the box, she drew out a small black dress, complete with stockings. It was a total mix of Nana K and Nana O's style. Rock, but still vintage and cute. It had lacy sleeves, with lace fringe at the hem and sparkling pink beading sewn on the hem, collar and sleeves which made it appear to have shimmering pink lights. Satsuki held up the dress, her mouth slightly open and her eyes shining happily. Nana went to look closer at the dress, then squealed.

"It's ADORABLE! Nana, you shouldn't have!"

"Haha, it was nothing Hachi. I'll go take my bath now," Nana added, and went off to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Satsuki was prancing around showing her dress off to Shin, while Yasu and Ren were talking about Blast's newest song. Only Nobu sat alone, and he was looking out the window, down to the lake. Nana looked at him silently, observing. His hair was as blonde as ever, and he wore it spiky, as he usually did. Ginpei didn't let him grow out his hair, as they needed to keep their punk rock image. His fingers were linked, and he leaned against his hands as he stared outside.

Nobu felt the light breeze on his face. The sounds of laughter, conversation, water running was faded. Being here, with everyone, reminded him of how things were last time, especially with Nana. It had been a while since he had been so near her. Light caught his eyes. The sun was setting. It brought back a memory, years ago, on the very same day. Down by the banks of that same glittering lake he was staring at, he had confessed himself to her. How he had promised her he would make her happy. He longed to turn it back. Turn it back and take responsibility. Fulfill the promise he had made. His eyes filled. The memory was too painful, too full of hurt. A quiet voice broke through his thoughts.

"Nobu."

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N.B. Sorry it took so long to post this up! Thanks to my one reviewer, SilverDragon21 It meant a lot to me.