A/N: Hello, Internet…

Hey, just a quick side note. I started posting the Good Old Days on Tumblr this week. Chapter one is up. My Tumblr handle is LumiOlivierLithium. It's 100% Frankie backstory. And I'm already nine or ten chapters deep, so…You know. It'd be a shame if this didn't go over. Because it's kind of really good. And I've already written him meeting Vanessa, so…Do what you will with that information. Now, if you'll excuse me…And a quick sidenote? Um…This chapter gets kind of heavy. Actually, the next few chapters are going to get kind of heavy, so…Please don't be mad at me. I promise it has a purpose. I love you x.

Also, to my FFN babies reading this in real time, always check my Ao3. FFN is kind of sketchy about particularly the view counts lately, so…If I don't post here, always check my Ao3 account. Chances are, it's there. But

The warm glow of the sun woke me up the next morning. I laid in bed, enjoying the peaceful silence in the coziest pension Karuizawa had to offer. What a beautiful way to start the week. A stunning view and a warm body to snuggle…up…with…Where the hell is Ritsu? I know he was here when I fell asleep. Did he leave? I rolled over and checked the nightstand. Hey! Ritsu didn't leave me. Not entirely anyway. At least he was good enough to leave me a note.

Went to get us breakfast

Waiting by the lake whenever you're ready

x

He's fucking adorable. I think I'll keep that one around. The last time he invited me down to the lake, he gave me my charm bracelet. I loved this bracelet. Maybe he's adding to it. Or maybe he's a sucker for nostalgia. Either way, I'll take it. I pushed myself out of bed and got myself publicly presentable. As much as I needed to be for this ungodly hour anyway. I say ungodly. It's barely ten o'clock. It's not the end of the world, Reila. You'll live.

With one last look in the mirror, I left our room and headed downstairs. Wow. It seems I've hit the lobby at rush hour. The dining room looked almost packed. Misuzu's got his hands full down here. If I didn't have a date, I'd offer to help him out, but I'll be working tonight anyway. I don't need to exhaust myself, "Morning, Misuzu."

"Reila!" Misuzu lit up, "Good morning, sweetheart. I just saw Ritsu come through here not too long ago. I was wondering when you'd come out."

"When did you see Ritsu?" I wondered.

"Probably…" Misuzu thought for a moment or two, "Ten, fifteen minutes ago? He asked me where he could get good coffee outside the pension at this time of day."

He hasn't been waiting long. I melted inside a little. He's too cute for his own good some days, "Thanks, Misuzu. I'm going to go find Ritsu."

"What's the game plan for today?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," I started heading for the door, "We needed somewhere quiet. Just the two of us."

"Aww…" Misuzu gushed, "You two are adorable. Go on. Go find your boyfriend."

"That was the plan!" I skipped off in search of breakfast and the cutie I came here with. Sure enough, I looked over toward the dock and there he was. Ritsu sat at the end of it, his feet dangling over the edge. I snuck up behind him and draped myself over his shoulders, "Hi."

"Hi." Without missing a beat, Ritsu stole a quick kiss and handed me coffee. I think I'll keep this one around, "I got donuts, too. I hope that's ok."

"Coffee and donuts and Karuizawa?" I laid my head on his shoulder, "You do get me."

"Last time I checked," he snaked his arm around me, "Someone has to."

"What can I say?" I shrugged, "I am an enigma."

"That's for damn sure," Ritsu giggled to himself, "By the way, there's the real reason I wanted you to meet here."

"What's that, baby?" I wondered.

"I wanted to give this to you in Osaka," he dug in his pocket, pulling out a dark blue box that I was starting to get all too familiar with, "But the timing seemed weird. We hardly got any time alone. Ideally, I would've given it to you as soon as I got back from Okinawa, but my ass was on the floor."

"I know," I kissed his cheek, "I know. I was there. I was coming off a shift at the Viper Pit when you came home."

"I know that now," Ritsu grumbled, "In hindsight anyway. But here."

I opened up that little box and found a new charm for my bracelet. Normally, I'd be able to figure out what they meant as soon as I saw them, but this one had me stumped, "A paper airplane?"

"It was the first time we were ever apart for a substantial amount of time," he explained, putting it on for me.

"And you still came home to me," I watched his shaky hands clamp the ring shut.

"Yeah…" Ritsu kept quiet. That's never a good sign.

"Ritsu?" I worried, "You ok?"

"Yeah," he wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight, "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Because a part of me was having a hard time believing that.

"I'm sure," Ritsu kissed the top of my head, "I'm fine. I just wanted a nice, quiet morning with you. Is that so bad?"

"No," I was still skeptical, but he made a valid point. There's nothing wrong with us having a little peace and quiet before we go back to Tokyo and deal with the bullshit again. There was still something off about him. And I knew something that could make him feel better, "Hey, Ritsu?"

"Yeah, Rei?"

"What do you say we go back to the pension?" I suggested.

"For what?" he squeezed me tighter, "What's so bad about being here?"

"We can't have squishy fun time here," I argued, "I'm not that big of an exhibitionist."

"Oh!" Ritsu's so cute, "Ok. Shall we?"

"Yes please."

And squishy fun time, we had. But that's something we leave the do not disturb sign on the door for. Because god forbid someone walked in on us. When all was said and done, though, the two of us laid in the aftermath, doing our best to catch our breath. Not that the sex wasn't great, but this? This was nice. The calm after the storm was my favorite. Just Ritsu and me and not a care in the world.

"Don't make me go back," I begged, "Please don't make me go back. I don't want to go back and deal with your dad, Ritsu. I really don't."

"I know you don't," Ritsu ran his fingers up my spine, "But we can't fight him."

"I know," I pouted, "Not yet anyway."

"Believe me…" he grumbled, holding me a little tighter, "I wish I could."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it," Ritsu brushed me off, "It's nothing. You know, Rei, in a perfect world, we'd stay here forever."

"You think?" I laid my head on his chest, "Just the two of us? We'd probably be at each other's throats by the end of the week."

"No," he figured, "We'd have each other. At the end of the day, I think that's all we'd need."

"I don't know," I thought it over, "I'd kind of miss my dad…I got a soft spot in my heart for him."

"I know you do," Ritsu giggled, "I do, too. And he'd have my ass if I ever did anything to hurt you."

"But we both know better," I assured him, "You wouldn't do that. Unless you'd want Daddy to fucking kill you."

"Not willingly…" Ritsu let me go, "Come on. We should start heading back home."

"God forbid I'm a few minutes late," I joked darkly, "And I need to stop at home and get costumed up. I don't even know what I'm doing for a routine tonight."

"I'm sure you'll think of something. You always do."

"And you're sure you're doing ok, Ritsu?" I started getting redressed.

"Fine," he shook me off, "Hey, Rei?"

"What?"

"You know I love you, right?"

"Of course I do," I rolled my eyes, "That's not something I ever need to question."

"And you know…" Ritsu winced, "Sometimes, I need to do things in the name of keeping you safe, right?"

"But you know I can handle myself," I reiterated, getting one last kiss in, "Ritsu, if there's something bothering you, just tell me."

"It's not really bothering me," he admitted, "Just something on my mind."

"What's that?"

"I…" Ritsu hesitated. His hesitation makes me nervous, "I don't like you working at the club."

"I know you don't," I threw my jacket on and my bag over my shoulder, "But that's the shady shit I need to do in order to keep you safe. Got it?"

"Yeah…" he grabbed the door for me and the two of us headed out. There's still something Ritsu isn't telling me, but it's like Daddy said. He'll come to me when he's ready.

"Are you leaving already?" Misuzu whined the second we stepped foot in the lobby.

"Sorry," I dropped my bag and threw my arms around him, "We'll be back before you know it, Misuzu. No need to worry."

"You better," he demanded, "Come back in the off season when it's not so busy."

"Will do!" I swore. I loved Misuzu. Something about Misuzu reminded me of Ranka. Not sure what, but I'm not saying that's a bad thing.

The whole ride back to Tokyo was quiet. Normally, Ritsu would play with my fingers around his waist or at least check to see I'm still back here, but nothing. I know I had to be patient with this one, but dammit, he's making it really hard to be patient. When we got back into town, we pulled up in front of my building like any other time. However, it didn't give me the same warm, fuzzy feeling it normally gave me. Because someone is being distant.

"Hey," Ritsu offered, "You want a ride to work?"

"I appreciate it," I shot him down, "But I got it. Besides, that means us looking too chummy in front of your dad and that probably wouldn't be the best idea."

"Good call," he pulled me in, kissing me in a way he had never kissed me before. This was like the last meal on death row kind of kiss, "I love you, Reila."

"I love you, too," I kept my head about me, doing my best to not go into instant panic mode. Besides, when I walk into the Viper Pit, they can smell fear.

I went back into my building and started preparing for the night ahead. Because God forbid Ryoichi's favorite isn't there to keep his lap warm. I couldn't wait for the day when we could put the screws to that son of a bitch. Something in my gut said I didn't have much more time to do that. It's going to suck to lose my job at the Viper Pit, though. I like dancing on silks for money. I know I'm not being appreciated for my mind, but it's neat when my hidden talents can make me a little extra cash on the side.

Let's see…What to wear, what to wear. I'm thinking something white. Something that plays up the innocence factor. And I'm sure it'd be something to stir up good feelings in Ryoichi, too. The pure entity he wants to keep close to him. Someone to keep in his pocket. His precious little bluebird. God, I need a shower. White leather. I'm thinking white leather. I do love me some leather. And leather loves me. I had a white leather dress hanging in my closet for such an occasion, too. Perfect. I wonder if I can manage to score some angel wings in the props closet at the club. Probably. That's pretty standard.

I threw my leg over my bike and headed straight for Shinjuku. Still, deep down, I couldn't shake Ritsu out of my head. I couldn't help but rack my brain for possibilities of shit that could be bothering him. Something in that kiss didn't feel right. It felt right, but it didn't feel right. I just wish he'd tell me. Still, I had a job to do. Two of them, to be exact. I needed to play into Ryoichi's hands and I needed to dazzle the crowd. Before I could do that, I needed to go see one of my favorite madames.

"Reina!" Minako awed.

"Hi, Minako," I threw myself into her chair.

"What's the matter, honey?" she wondered, "You seem down."

"It's nothing," I shook her off, "Just a little down. Nothing to be worried about."

"Alright," Minako knew better than to push me. She's seen what I can be like when I'm pissy and I didn't need that before going on, "So, rumor has it, you got upgraded to the penthouse suite."

"Yeah," I scoffed, "Lucky me."

"Be careful, Reina," she warned me, "There are girls here that would kill to be in your position. There are girls that have been here for years, clawing for that position. Some might get jealous."

"It wouldn't be the first time I've had a target on my back," I pointed out, "Likely not the last. Hell, I probably have one on me now and don't even know it. It wouldn't surprise me."

"The life you live outside this club concerns me, Reina," Minako finished me up, "But as long as you know. Just be careful, ok?"

"Ok," I nodded, already feeling some of the glares from outside, "Thanks, Minako."

"Go on," she sent me off, "You make my job easy."

"I got some damn good genetics," I bragged, "My mom was a beautiful woman and my dad isn't the worst looking creature in the world."

"I'm sure he'd appreciate the compliment," Minako giggled, "Go. Get out of here. Good luck tonight."

"Thanks," I hopped out of her chair and walked upstairs with a fuck you attitude plastered on my face. Hopefully, that'd be enough to where I don't have to throw hands with anyone. I really didn't have that kind of energy in me tonight. When I got to the upper floor, I noticed Ryoichi wasn't here. Oh, well. He told me I wasn't going in the cages anymore, so I made myself comfortable in his throne.

"Excuse me?" one of the bigger bouncers thought he'd be menacing, "What the fuck do you think you're doing in the boss's chair?"

"I was told to sit up here," I wasn't moving. Ryoichi had a hell of a taste in furniture. This was nice.

"You don't belong up here," he threw me out of the chair, "Downstairs with all the others like a good little whore."

"Ex-fucking-cuse me?" I snapped, ready to punch this asshole right in the mouth, "No, no, no, motherfucker. I was told to be up here."

"By who?"

"By the big boss," I was always taught to throw my weight around only when the situation called for it. Granted, I might be a little thing, but a bitch had power here. Just a little bit, but enough to shut this prick up, "When he's not here, that's my seat. Maybe you should be downstairs, mopping the cum off the floor instead of up here, pretending to have a pair, you fucking shit stain."

Slow claps echoed behind me while the asshole in front of me backed off. Damn right, he did, "Good girl, Reina…Good girl."

"Ryoichi…" I got up from the chair, letting him take it, "You were testing me?"

"I wanted to see what you'd do," he admitted, patting his lap, "And I liked what I saw. Very biting. Now, come here. Come sit."

I sat back down on Ryoichi's lap, feeling my skin crawl, "So, how'd I do?"

"You passed with flying colors," Ryoichi snaked his arm around my waist, "More importantly, how was your weekend?"

Seriously? He wants to make small talk? Instead of getting defensive, I gave him exactly what he wanted, "Pretty good. It was quiet. Peaceful. It was nice. I got caught up my sleep, which was absolutely wonderful."

"That's good to hear," he ran his fingers through my hair. That was just done. A part of me wanted to beat the shit out of him for it, but I calmed myself down.

"What about you?" If he was looking for me to give shit away, maybe I could do the same.

"Me?" Ryoichi looked at me strange.

"Yeah," I nodded, "How was your weekend?"

"Not bad," he told me, "I had the whole compound to myself. It was kind of weird."

"I'm sorry," I awed, "What was the occasion?"

"The kid went on his class trip this weekend." I know, dude. I went with him, "He should've come back today. I tried talking him out of it."

"Why?" I wondered.

"I told him he should've stuck around," Ryoichi went on, "Spent a little time with his fiancée, but no. He insisted on his class trip for whatever reason."

HIS FUCKING WHAT?!