Olivia felt neither the tea that had splashed onto her legs nor the cold air blowing in. All brain activity had stopped. There he was. Standing right there. In the flesh. Not a single coherent thought would form. Any thought or words were like trying to fit a circle peg into a square hole. Everything short circuited leaving her standing like a gaping fish. This was real, right? She knew that she had closed her eyes just before the knock at the door came. It would be just like her brain to conjure something like this up to tease her; to torture her. The sadistic side of her brain would want to make her squirm. Letting her think that everything was okay, that he was okay just to force her awake and make her relive it all over again. She had come to know the sadistic side of her brain too well in these past four days.

"Ooh, lookie, ya dropped yer cup." He said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. Olivia even tried to back up and force herself to put distance between them, but her legs wouldn't move. She was scared to touch him lest the mere brushing of skin make her brain decide she'd been happy too long and wake her up to make her realize the truth once more. Just like taking a brick and slamming it on an already cracked stained glass window and rendering it beyond all repair, she'd be broken. "Ya didn't hurt yerself, didja?"

She didn't want to breathe. It could blow him and this moment away. If she cried, it would prevent her from seeing him. Blinking even would leave her with a second of letting her see him. Mirage or not, she wanted to see all she could. If he was destined to disappear again, Olivia wanted to memorize every part of his face and his smile that she could. His mirage took a step closer, but she managed to retreat one step, staggering from forcing her muscles to work all at once. He just stared at her and didn't move again. Was this it? Was this when he disappeared again, and she'd wake up?

"It's alright." His voice was a mere whisper and reached out to her.

Even though he stood there with bruises and cuts in all the places that she remembered him having them in that alleyway meant nothing. The brain was a powerful, cruel organ. With enough depression and grief, it could form anything it wanted for the person to see. Sometimes she wasn't sure if the mirages and thoughts were to keep her just above the level of insanity or to dangle happiness right in front of her like a pinata just to take it away at the last moment. There was a thin line between power and torture, and her brain knew just how to teeter on that line. At her side, her hand twitched. To touch him or to make sure she was still living? Neither made sense right now and yet both did.

Olivia tried to move away when he made a move closer, but her legs locked keeping her in place. It was going to make her endure whatever this was whether she wanted to or not. Tentatively and without breaking eye contact, his gloved hand reached down and took her's. She tried to pull it away, but the thumb on top of her hand held on just the right amount to keep it in place. Just beneath her fingers, she felt the leather of the glove. The warm leather. It slowly moved until it was holding her's the same way she had held his when she was helping him write English. Cradling it as if it were the most precious thing in the world, he placed it against his chest and held it there. Warm. So, so warm.

Olivia stared at her shaking hand. With each definitive beat, she became closer and closer to accepting what she was terrified to; that he was here. Somehow, once again he had returned to her. Each beat reaffirmed his existence just beneath her hand. Tearing her gaze from her shaking hand, she looked up at him. His brows were knit together and his lips were turned downward into a saddened smile.

"Hey, Kitten." He whispered, his hand gripping onto hers even tighter.

All at once, the tears she'd been holding back since he came in burst out and fell down her face. An arm wrapped around her waist to keep her now limp body aloft and her other hand was released. Instantly, she wrapped both arms around him and placed her ear against his chest, closing her eyes. It was all here; the warmth, the scent, the arms around her, the beat of his heart… all of it. Each steady beat brought more tears falling from her eyes to her already soaked cheeks. As cliché as it sounded, the strong beat was music to her ears. It was undeniable, irrefutable proof that he was back. That he hadn't left. Those nightmares could leave; disappear just as she thought he had.

"T-That hurts a little. Still healin', y'know."

"Good." Olivia muttered through her increased tears and held tighter.

"Geez! Which are ya? Happy or mad?"

"Both!" Olivia exclaimed and sniffled before easing her grip slightly. "I… I just…"

I just missed you so much, you idiot.

Despite his protests, he didn't push her away or make any indication that he wanted her to let go. When his grip tightened around her, bringing her closer to him and his warmth, more tears fell. For sure, she thought he was gone this time. Gone for good just to leave her wandering through life without any purpose or direction. Without him here by her side, this whole thing of fighting whoever these people were that were after her meant nothing. Of course, she would've made sure that her friends were safe the best that she could. However, if she had been captured, she would've accepted whatever fate had awaited her. The energy for anything to do with living had left with that gunshot.

He let her sob and wail away the rest of the sadness that had been taking her over. Not once did he make a smart ass or suggestive comment. The strong grip around her remained the same, if not stronger. He helped keep her from crumpling to the ground. Physically, emotionally, and mentally. When she slapped her weak hand against his chest, he didn't falter and kept her tightly against him. He must have felt just as much relief at their embrace as she had. After all, he hadn't seen her successfully escape. Her presence was proof enough that she was alright just as his was to her. Until the last tear had fallen from her face, he held onto her; his warm breath on the top of her head.

The hardest part about sobbing was the aftermath. The splitting headache and the hiccupped breathing added to the inability to breathe only aggravated her more. Even after they parted, she held onto his jacket, desperate for any sort of reassurance that he was there and wasn't leaving. Even after hearing his beating heart and the warmth of his body, she couldn't help but feel like it was a lucid dream. There was no way someone could cheat Death that many times in reality, right? Who could be that lucky? Olivia sniffled and started to speak, but both sides of her head were held by large hands. Her tired and strained eyes turned to look at him.

"Y'know somethin'?"

"Mm?" Olivia held onto his wrists, exhaling when she felt the pulse beneath her fingertips.

"Can't believe I'm actually gonna say this…" He cleared his throat.

H-Huh? Say what?

"But… y'know, yer after cryin' face ain't… that ugly. It's uh, kinda cute actually. T-That don't mean Imma make ya cry just ta see it. Unless it's happy tears, but, I'm pretty bad at makin' those come out. But I think I did okay this time. Ya said it was mad and happy, right? That counts for somethin', don't it?"

Olivia blinked and huffed a laugh. Of course, he would say something like that and take her completely by surprise, coming at her from left field. He was the one who always surprised her, and not only did he bring up something completely unrelated but would keep going on about it. Once a smile rose to her face, she saw one come to his as well.

"Yes. It does."

His hand came from around her waist and brushed some tears away making her eyes close and exhale. Now that she knew everything; how it felt to be without him, how it felt to not know, how she felt any bit of life she could feel from him would set her heart further and further at ease.
"But y'know, I ain't gonna stop until it's just happy tears. 'kay? So, be ready for that."

"I will."

"Cause Imma be stickin' 'round for a long time, 'kay? So, ya ready for that?"

Olivia smiled, laughing a little.
"Yes."

"Yer no fun… can't say anythin' ta get a rise outta ya anymore." He huffed.

"Goro."

"W-What? Can't just be callin' me like that from outta nowhere."

Olivia looked at him and smiled.
"I missed you."

She watched, fascinated at everything that he was doing or how he reacted. How he cleared his throat and looked away hoping to hide the pink that had come to his cheeks. Amazing that a one-eyed yakuza with a Hannya tattoo could be made uncomfortable with just three simple words. Torture? No problem. Being told that he was missed? Instant K.O. She smiled and watched him scuff his foot awkwardly at the floor, an obvious pout on his face.

"… When did my Kitten get so bold?" Goro pouted. "I ain't used ta it."

"Well—"

"That just means Imma have ta work harder ta get my Kitten all shy and cute again."

"Good luck." Olivia smiled and looked at him once more before heading to get the trashcan and pick up the shards of the cup that she had broken. If she didn't stop breaking him, they weren't going to have any to drink out of. She picked up the largest shard and put it into the can.

"Ooh, look at how cute she is just pickin' up somethin'." Goro came over and knelt beside her, moving her hands out of the way. "But! Can't have her fingers gettin' all cut up, now can I?"

"I—"

"Nope! Sure can't."

Olivia would've normally argued, but now she couldn't. With realizing everything she had and the thought of truly losing him, she had calmed down in some respects. She knew that he couldn't be pushed away just by her deciding to pick up some shards from a broken cup, but if she had decided to do it, she would've missed out on the view. A view that she wouldn't have appreciated as much as she did until now. A view that was well aware they were being watched but pretended not to notice. He was trying to focus on his task but ended up fumbling and dropping a couple of shards and having to pick them back up. She tried to hide her laughter and once he was done and they were placed in the can, he cleared his throat and stood up. Olivia smiled and put it back and turned to look at him.

"Thank you."

"Aw. Everythin' my little Kitten does is just so cute!"

"Goro. How did… How you are here?" Olivia asked, looking up at him. He just stood there, his demeanor completely different than how it had been before. Is this what it would take? Would she have her dream and happiness end just because she asked a question?

"Honestly? Ain't too sure myself. One minute, Kiryu-chan took ya and I heard ya… screamin'. Next thing I know, I'm wakin' up in a clinic. Ain't no one around but the doc. When I asked what happened, he just said someone brought me in there. Said I looked like shit. Well, not them exact words, but close 'nough. I asked what'd the person look like, but he didn't say nothin' 'bout it. Just told me that he'd never seen the person before." Olivia furrowed her brows. "Real helpful, right? I'd like ta meet the person sometime… thank 'em… y'know?"

"Yes. I do." Olivia grabbed a rag and smiled at him again, looking his frame up and down earning a shocked gasp.

"Stop makin' eyes at me! Yer violatin' my innocent body!"

Olivia snickered and pointed to his chest.
"I was looking at wound."

Yeah right. Liar.

"Oh. That ain't any fun."

She went over to the tea that was still on the floor and began soaking it up. It was still all so hard to take in. He was really here. Goro Majima had come back to her again. Was it this good luck charm that he had? In Kazuma's apartment, he had commented on how his good luck charm was just meant to keep him here, but not safe. Sounded like a useless good luck charm in her opinion, but if she had it to thank for returning him to her, then by all means, it would become the best good luck charm in the world. The curiosity was still there, even though she tried to keep it caged. Whatever it was, he didn't want it to be touched by anyone else other than him. Understandable. It might confuse the spirit that would protect the person if more than one set of fingerprints were on it.

There we go.

She held onto the rag, an old one probably as old as that informant had been and headed to the trashcan with it. Might as well throw that away too. There wasn't really any washing it. There was hardly any detergent as it was, and the washing machine was run down and when she tried to do her laundry before it shut it down three times. Nodding her head, she turned around and jumped at how close Goro was. She hadn't even heard him come up. Geez.

"You scare me." Olivia placed a hand over her heart feeling the rapid beating. No wonder he was sent for stealth missions.

"Hey."

"What wrong?" His face was deadly serious. It was an expression that she had only seen a few times in their whole relationship.

Goro moved closer, locking eye contact. Even if Olivia wanted to look away, now it felt impossible. Part of her wanted to put distance between them, while the other part wanted her to be as close as possible to him. It wanted her to just feel that warmth again. He must've felt the same. His hand cupped onto her face and her heartbeat quickened.
"All jokin' aside." He whispered, a thumb brushing along her cheek. "I missed ya."

Being unable to breathe was supposed to be an uncomfortable feeling, but in that particular moment it felt necessary. Like too much breath would break them apart. On the other hand, she wished her heart would slow down even if it was just for a few seconds. Between her heart slamming against her ribs and her lungs unable to produce adequate oxygen, she was at his mercy; completely. All of it from a simple touch. But it was his touch. That's what made the difference.

"I kept thinkin' that yer screamin' was the last thing I was gonna hear. That yer sad face was the last thing from ya I was gonna see. I was sittin' there thinkin' how nice it would be ta see ya smile again and hear yer laugh. How much I took ya for granted… how much I worried ya. Kept thinkin' 'bout how much I I love… havin' ya 'round. I thought 'bout how much of an idiot I am. Thought 'bout ya the whole time."

He made eye contact with her the whole time. Olivia felt her lip quiver and more tears gathering. While scrambled and awkward, the words were coming from his heart. That's all she could ask for. That was better than she could've asked for. Despite the tears in her eyes, she smiled which remained even when a tear fell down her cheek,
"There it is. A happy one."

A spark was such a cliché, but that's what it was. Like the shock from static electricity. It penetrated deep into her heart and passed into her soul. Just like the first, more happy tears fell, and her eyes closed. This was it. The feeling that she was missing. The one she could get only from him. After all this time, and all the pain she found the person on the opposite end of her red string of fate. A one-eyed yakuza with a sharp tongue and a murder count through the roof.

None of that mattered to her. What mattered was the way one hand moved slowly down her body to wrap around her waist and the fingers she felt in her hair. What mattered was the way that he looked at her and his desperation to make sure that she was smiling. Even when he broke apart from her, he didn't pull away. When her eyes opened, she saw him looking at her. His lips were red, but a smile was there. It was awkward and slightly embarrassed, but it was there.

Everything about him was in a new light. His ink black hair shined just as bright as his smile. A brown eye that reminded of dark cinnamon looked away whenever he noticed she was staring too much. In that earthy hue was his soul, not in the way of those cheesy romance novels, so obsessed with lust, but with the kind of beauty that expands a moment into a personal eternity, a heaven that you wish to be a part of. A heaven that she was part of. In this personal eternity; it was just him and her. There was no war, no pain, no dying. No impending doom around each corner. Just the unspoken words.

She loved that he was taller. When she reached up, her harms hung softly at his neck, resting on his shoulders. Olivia looked back into the cinnamon gaze that was trying to peek at her before standing on her tiptoes and reversing the roles. Not as experienced as him by any means, she hoped that she could make his world stop just as he had hers.

The hands that rested on her hips gripped tighter and something changed. The breathing between them was no longer sweet and innocent like the crystals of the first snow landing on the ground. It was the heat stoked in the fireplace that one sought after when they couldn't take the snow any longer. It was the heat that all desired, but none admitted wanting to stay in the crisp snow where it was easier. Olivia gasped when the floor left from beneath her feet

When her eyes focused, she realized she was sitting on the kitchen counter. The warm hands had picked her up like she weighed nothing. The cool countertop tried to cool down her heated body, but it was no use. He stepped in between her legs and reversed their roles once more. His kiss isn't at all like those movie stars, but one steeped in passion that ignites just as quickly as the fire. It is the promise the realness, of the primal desire that lives in us all. And with it, he shows that he's awake, connected with, and embraces himself as he is. He retains this even as he pulled her by the back of her knees to the edge of the counter, never once breaking their connection.

Olivia closed her eyes, letting him step further between her legs. She wasn't some horny little teenager that ended up getting aroused every time a man touched her. But him, he knew just where to place his hands. How? They'd never even been close to this sort of connection, but here he was already knowing her body like he was reading a map. Her hands traveled down his chest, earning a strained sound of restrained passion. Still wrapped in that warm embrace, she tugged at his belt, ripping it from the buckle.

He broke their connection and reached down, placing his hand over hers.
"Uh-uh." He managed through his breathing.

Dazed, it took her a moment to realize he had said something.
"But—"

When he was sure she wasn't going to continue, he rebuckled his belt. Had she… done something wrong? It was her first time even attempting something like that, so it wouldn't shock her if she had. Olivia didn't have to wonder long.
"As much as I would love ta play with your body and learn every curve," He admitted, his bare ungloved hands—when had he taken those off—trailed up her thighs from the outer side and working its way to the inner parts just to reach back out and to her hips, traveling up the sides of her body from underneath her shirt to rest at her ribcage, leaving searing fire and goosebumps wherever he touched. "this ain't the time or the place. Ya deserve better than this place." His hands moved to her back and back down the same path he traced before.

Now I know how his blade feels…

Her eyes closed and she let out a soft exhale when his lips brushed against her collarbone, to her neck, and up to her ear.
"I can promise ya one thing though."

"W-What's that?" Olivia exhaled, chills running the length of her spine.

"Once this is all over, I'll leave as many marks on any place of yer body as ya want." He tangled his fingers in her hair brought his lips to the crook of her neck, placing soft kisses from there to her jawline. "Sound like a deal?"

"Y-Yeah."

"Good." He chuckled and placed his forehead again her's. When she opened her eyes, she saw his was closed. "Gotta say Kitten, I'm impressed."

"At what?" She spoke, placing a hand on his chest. His heart was beating as wildly as hers was.

"Didn't think someone could capture The Mad Dog. 'specially a Kitten." He broke away and replaced his hands on her thighs, thumbs stroking the bare skin. "Much less tame 'im."

In hindsight, probably a good thing I didn't put on pants.

"Huh?" Olivia asked, blinking.

"I know ya got ears dammit." He looked away and frowned.

"Goro."

"Hm?" He mumbled, but didn't turn to look at her.

"I love you."