Kaito's day starts as normal: he wakes up, he gets dressed, he goes for a walk. He greets friends, he greets acquaintances, he greets unnecessarily giggly teenage girls, he greets Aina.

In an hour's time, he's back at the office, and the day starts proper. There is a list of tasks waiting for him on his desk. It's fairly short. On good days, he'll get maybe two or three less complaints and requests than this. It's not that he doesn't care, just that he appreciates solitude, what little he gets. That's the price of being a leader: everything is your problem and nothing is easy. Aina once suggested he appoint a second to take on some of the workload, a 'vice-president' of sorts. Kaito toyed with the idea for a while, only to toss it aside when it became clear that the only person around with the right qualifications and experience was Uragiru. Kaito would sooner take Junko than that fool.

He reads the list of today's issues. It's nothing out of the ordinary. He recently helped settle a property dispute and the parties involved would be coming by to hammer out the final details. It would mostly be a lot of talking since official documentation didn't have quite the same meaning anymore. Other than that, he'd have to go and inspect the food stores for security issues and rendezvous with those in charge to hear the daily report. If the need arose, he'd head over to the Basement when all was said and done to unwind a little. He should be finished just in time to wash up for dinner with Aina and Junko-chan. Tomorrow would be more of the same.

After three years, Kaito has gotten used to the routine. He doesn't even need an alarm clock to wake up at just the right time. He knows all the people in town, if not by name then by face. Even when there are complaints or altercations between neighbors, he knows how to deal with it. It's always just little things, minor infractions like this. Sometimes, people forget what kind of world they're living in. The frivolous luxuries of olden times are dead and gone; survival and practicality are key. With every passing year, the illusions they keep up dislodge a little more, but the people still cling to them. Perhaps it's how they cope. If so, Kaito would prefer if they tried something a little more productive than complaining to him about a patch of grass his neighbor stepedp on without permission. He worries sometimes that they'll never let go.

It's especially irritating on days like today, when he has so much more to worry about. Three people have broken the border in less than a week. That's more than the entire course of the last three years combined, and though only two of them were a threat and both were dead by his hand, dread still coiled in his stomach at the thought of them. That last one in particular, and his rather foreboding final words.

Ryuuga. The name had passed the man's lips with a sense of reverence, to the point that Kaito had to wonder if 'Ryuuga' was an actual person and not just figment of the man's deranged imagination. He would have loved to dismiss it as exactly that, but his position and responsibilities won't allow it.

Kaito stands before the window. He wonders sometimes if the political figure who once had this office used to do the same, looking down on the people he lead. Their faces, happy and sad, calm and nervous, tell a million stories. What would he do if any of them came to harm because he went soft? What if the next breach is more than just a single man? There are things he is not willing to put these people through again, things the children like Junko would be old enough to remember this time.

He's going to have to start making plans. He'll gather together all capable men and women to help fortify the walls. If need be, they will teach those who can't. He will send out more hunting and scavenging parties, to find both weapons and medical supplies for Aina. Finding some penicillin or pain killers in some broken down clinic was bound to bring a smile to her face. If anyone else found their way in, he would jump straight to interrogation himself, maybe teach Uragiru a thing or two about how to do it right. These were all things he would have to plan out, and to do that, he would need a lot of time and zero distractions. That is where the problem lies.

Because he is distracted, he has been since he woke up this morning after a night of dreaming about it. He tries all he can, but his thoughts always go back to her.

He closes his eyes and sees her brown ones, large and brimming with tears. He sees her pain and betrayal. He opens them again and sees her lip quivering as she holds the bars of her cell in a death grip and refuses to look away. She seems to speak with her eyes: emotion no amount of words could ever impart . Her voice rattles in his ears, strong in some places, wavering in others, but always assured and always honest.

Yes, he believes that she's being honest when she calls him by the wrong name and tells him of a history that isn't his. He believes that she believes he is her friend, and in a way, he pities her. He had to break her last night, shatter her dreams. He thinks she may have loved that boy of hers, even if she doesn't say it. Maybe she doesn't realize it herself, she seems like the type.

And why, after all that and all that he's done to push her down, does she keep invading his thoughts? Now, when he needs it the least?

It's a question that is still on his mind when the sun goes down and the moon comes out, and he's standing at Aina's doorstep waiting for Junko to run and let him in like she always does. Within seconds, she's outside and squeezing him around the waist.

"Nii-san! You made it!" she cheers.

Kaito quirks a smile for her benefit. He pats her on the head and walks through the door without a word. Aina is in the kitchen waiting for them, and dinner is on the table. It's venison tonight. The last hunting party brought home a real bounty this time. The delicious scent caresses his nostrils; he just wishes he were in a better state to enjoy it.

"Nice flowers," he says, gesturing with his chin at the bright yellow bouquet on the table.

"Thanks," Aina says over her shoulder as she pulls three glasses from the top cabinet. "Junko brought them in for me yesterday morning."

"It was mom's birthday," the girl explains.

She is immediately shushed by her mother, but Kaito has already heard. He looks at Aina with disbelief, as if expecting her to have aged several years in the moments since he last looked at her. She's a little flushed and avoiding eye contact, instead coughing into her hand and calling everyone to dinner. Junko immediately forgets everything that doesn't have to do with food.

"Come sit next to me," she says as she pulls him with both hands to the table. Kaito takes the offered seat, it's the same one he sits at every time he comes over, but Junko always wants to go through the steps.

She brushes hair out of her face before taking the first bite of her food. Some of it gets in her mouth anyway. Aina once asked him to try and convince the girl to get a haircut, after spending the last few minutes venting on the subject. He had tried for her sake, but in the end, not even Junko's little girl crush was enough to get her to part with her much too long hair.

"You should have seen me at the ballgame, Kaito-sama! We totally kicked the other team's butt."

Aina looks up warningly. "Junko…"

"What?" Junko says. "I said 'butt' not 'ass'."

Aina sighs and Kaito feels a laugh welling up that he holds back. He'd hate to usurp Aina's authority in any way.

They get through dinner entertained by Junko's stories, until she finishes her food completely puckered out and gets up.

"May I be excused?"

Aina nods and motions at the sink, where Junko obediently drops her plate. She scrambles out of the kitchen, only to double back at the last second and give Kaito a peck on the cheek.

"Goodnight!"

She leaves without another word. When her door closes, that's Aina's cue to go to the secret cabinet. It's secret only in name, left in plain view of Junko, who has never and will never see what's inside if Aina has anything to say about it. She unlocks the combination padlock and pulls forth from it a half full bottle of wine. Katio perks up a little at the sight, Aina rarely brings it out unless it's a special occasion, or she just thinks he needs a pick-me-up. She pours them each a glass, hers is noticeably less full.

"You never mentioned it was your birthday," Kaito says.

Aina pauses for a moment, then goes ahead and takes a drink. She winces slightly. Kaito doubts she going to answer, he's not even sure why he asked.

"I'm thinking of sending out another scavenging party," he says with the glass to his lips. He takes a long sip before continuing. "It would be good to have some extra supplies, maybe even more medicine."

"The last one only just came back," she reminds him.

"It might be necessary," he answers.

Aina looks down at her glass. She's only had two sips, but it's mostly empty and her nose crinkles from the smell. She was never one for alcohol.

"We could use some more gauze," she says thoughtfully before backtracking. "I mean, we're not running out, it's just good to always have reserve on hand."

Kaito says nothing, but silently agrees. She gives him a withering look, one he knows all too well.

"Are you worried?"

Kaito blinks, then gives a tiny chuckle. "About what? That man?"

Aina just looks at him, waiting.

"He was insane," Kaito continues. "Whoever he was talking about- Ryuuga or whatever- that person probably doesn't exist."

Aina bite her lips, fingers curling together as she looks down at the floor. "I know, it's just..."

Kaito draws himself a little closer, slowly so not to scare her.

"Just what?"

Aina takes in a long breath. "Nothing. I just want you to be absolutely sure. You know what we've had to deal with in the past."

Whatever Aina had been saying before, it was definitely not nothing, and the fact that she'd covered it up so poorly is setting off bells in Kaito's head like nothing else. He won't push for information, much as he wants to. Aina is a very closed off woman, and that she ever lets him in at all is a feat. Whatever it is, he'll let her tell him in her own time, and for now, he'll stick to what's important, as she will.

He places a hand over hers, letting the thick leather of his gloves warm her bare skin. His old friend draws herself up again, face dry and even.

"You know I won't let that happen," he says softly. "I can't. How could I ever face Yoikagi in the after life if I did?"

Aina smiles, though Kaito doesn't know how real it is.

"Well, for now I think we have other matters to discuss," she says. There's that look again. Kaito knows right away where this is going and it makes him want to get up and leave. "What are you going to do with her, Kaito-sama?"

Damn it, he was just starting to forget about her too. Now she's back full force, all brown eyes and hurt faces and rage and pain lying behind a gaze that makes his stomach twist, all for no goddamn reason.

"Her?" he coyly asks without thinking it through. Aina's answering frown feels rather like he's being stripped naked.

"You know what I'm talking about," she says. "And you know she's not with them, otherwise she'd be a corpse in a hole by now. You can't hold off on this any longer."

'You're such a mother, Aina,' Kaito thinks. He'd say it out loud, but now isn't the time for jokes. He takes his glass in hand, the remainder of his drink swishing around at the sides.

"I know..."

Aina gives an approving nod and laces her fingers together. Oh yes, very much a mother.

"So what are you going to do?" she asks.

Kaito downs the rest of his drink in one gulp.

It's past midnight when he gets to the jailhouse. Not even leaving early could stop him from taking the long route, reflecting on the past few days and thinking about what he was about to do. He doesn't doubt that Fujioka will try and play games with him again, which might also account for his slowness. If she's asleep when he gets there, all he'll have to do is carry her out. She'd be none the wiser. No arguments, no resistance, no talking.

That would be very sweet indeed.

He walks in and comes face to face with her. She's sitting against the wall, knees drawn up, eyes open and on him. He lets the door slam behind him with a loud crack that doesn't faze her. Kaito purses his lips. She's a hard woman to break, he'll give her that.

"Still awake?" he asks, his voice echoing around the room. It's much quieter in here than he remembers. "Makes me think you were expecting someone."

She says nothing and her stance doesn't falter. Only when he gets closer does she move to stand in front of the bars and watch him more intently. Her gaze searches his, and he inwardly smiles because she's not going to find anything she's looking for.

"Must be uncomfortable in there," he says, glancing down at the dirty stone floor. She herself is covered in all manner of dirt and grime.

Kaito reaches into his pocket. Fujioka tenses up but he withdraws only a silvery key. He unlocks the cell door and slides it open; never once does she look at his hands.

"Come on," he says, but she doesn't obey.

"What is this?" she asks. Kaito is definitely not relieved that she's talking.

"What do you think it is? You're not a bandit, so there's no reason to keep you here anymore. We're going to the town hall, where I live."

He starts walking out, slowly, because he doesn't hear her following. He looks over his shoulder, she hasn't even stepped out of the cell yet. Her eyes have gone wide and her mouth is open. It's the most vulnerable he's ever seen her and he has no idea how to feel about it, other than a great deal of impatience.

"Your other option is to stay in the cell," he says. "Take your pick."

She seems to consider this, then she's tentatively moving after him. She stays a good five steps behind him from there, all the way to the lobby of the town hall next door. Everyone has long since gone home, including most of the night shift workers. It's just them here with enormous windows and high ceilings galore. After so much time in a cramped cell, this must be disorienting for her. Even he gets a little dizzy sometimes.

"So now what?"

Her voice brings him back to reality. He looks down at her, but she's moved in front of him now. She's examining her surroundings, not touching anything, but not apprehensive either. She has her hands in her pockets, heedless of the dirt coating her fingers, and is almost casual in her demeanor. The last time Kaito saw her, she looked ready to burst into tears at a mere word. She must have had a lot of time to think things over, and he can't be sure if she's really gotten over it or if she's just a really good actress.

"That's up to you," he says, calling her bluff. "Personally, I don't care what you do, which is why I'm offering you a choice."

He closes some of the distance between them. She has to crane her neck all the way up to see his face.

"I can have a room made up for you, and you can stay a while," he starts to say. As he goes on, his words take on a darker, more threatening tone. "If you don't want that, I can have you escorted outside the wall at sunrise, and no one will get in your way or try to attack you. You can leave in peace." He bends low over her. "Just know this: if you choose to leave, that's the end of it. I never want to see your face again."

She doesn't shrink under his scrutinizing gaze, but he can see the faint sheen of sweat hovering above her brow. It fills him with satisfaction. So she isn't as impenetrable as she pretends. Did she ever think she could trick him for long? She can't even stand her ground anymore, as Kaito sees when she turns on a heel and shambles toward the door. He almost thinks she might walk right out into the darkness. It's not definite that he would go after her if she did, but then she turns again.

"I think I'll stay," she says, strong in a way that goes against the wobbling of her eyes. "For a while at least."

Kaito nods. "I take it this isn't an easy choice for you."

A tiny smile flashes, so fast Kaito almost didn't see it.

"I have friends on the outside," she explains. "I need to find them again, but I can't leave either. Not like this."

"You think they can hold out without you?" he asks persuasively. Somehow, he's not surprised when it doesn't work.

"As long as they're all together, they can do anything."

She walks passed him to the long staircase, and waits on the first step for him to come and lead her upstairs. They go all the way up to the third floor. Kaito has done this a million times before, but he can hear her breathing getting heavy. At the top of the floor are two endless lines of doors. Most of the rooms are empty, both of people and furnishings. All the offices are on the second floor. Kaito's is just below his bedroom. It's three doors down on the right. Her room is right beside it, four doors down. There is just one little problem, and he can't wait to tell her what it is.

He stops in front of his door, pushing it open. Haruhi leans over to look inside, her brow furrowed. She takes in the sparse furniture: a couch, a night stand, a bed, a bookcase. The closet is open on the opposite wall, but it's too dark to see inside. The colors are mostly muted blues, greys and browns, and there is the distinct 'lived in' feel to the place that any good home should have.

"This is your room," she says.

Kaito's eyebrows go up as if to mock her.

"Really?" he says.

She eyes him suspiciously.

"I suppose I should have explained," he says. "The maids have all gone home for the night, your room won't be ready for you until tomorrow. So unless you want to go and sleep on the floor, you are welcome to spend the night."

He leers at her, though his heart's not really in it. Fujioka stands her ground, engaging in their never ending staring contest with all the gusto he's come to expect, before turning away and walking into the room like she owns it. Kaito's eyes follow her.

"Really?"

"Of course," she answers without missing a beat. "You're absolutely right. After the last few days, I'd sleep in a pile of hay before I took the floor again."

She pulled back the covers, on the side that doesn't have an indent. She settles herself down under the wool blankets, seeming taken aback for a moment at how warm they are.

"You understand you're agreeing to share a bed with me, right?" Kaito asks calmly.

She takes a long, exaggerated long at the bed she's laying in. "Obviously."

He shrugs as if in defeat and strolls along over to her, standing so that she can't see anything beyond the span of his body. He wants to make it as clear as possible to her how much bigger he is, and when he sees her face, he knows she's got the message loud and clear.

"I'm not afraid of you," she says.

He grins, all his very white teeth on display, and lets his eyes trail up and down her lithe frame. "Are you sure about that?"

"Completely," she says, and she rolls over to face the wall, pulling the covers over her head. "You would never do anything like that. I know, I know you."

'No, no you don't,' a childish voice in his head longs to scream at her, mixed in with so many other things he would bombard this infuriating woman with if he could. He can't, though, both because it would ruin everything he's trying to build up, and because she's right. About this one thing, if nothing else, she is absolutely right, and there is no way he's going to let her hear it.

"Goodnight, Tamaki," she says before falling asleep.

Kaito can't even think of a decent response.

When Fujioka wakes up the next morning, she finds him asleep on the couch.