A/N: Hi, friends! *waves frantically*

How are things today? Pretty ok? That's wonderful. I'm incredibly caffeinated and feeling pretty damn good myself. I also have the theme song to Team Umizoomi in my head. Welcome to my duality. Now, how about a story about a mafia baby and a yakuza baby currently at odds? Again, I'm a multifaceted human being. Ok! Let's go!

But before I do that, you know how I got that story I post on Tumblr on Mondays that is basically a prequel to this whole mess? Well, I'm thinking about moving that to Thursdays, too. How does that sound? And if you don't know about the Good Old Days, I'm disappointed. Because it's a hell of a gem that exists on Tumblr that I post every Monday. Possibly moving to Thursdays. You know…Promotional reasons. But there are nine chapters up right now on LumiOlivierLithium dot Tumblr dot com. I'm still kind of figuring out the formatting, but it's all just following Frankie around. It's lovely. We've already met people we've only heard about here, but we're actually seeing them in the flesh here. I highly recommend it. Now, I need to go back to watching Team Umizoomi. Love you x

Once Ritsu was done puking and I got all cute, the two of us got in the back of our usual town car. According to Daddy, we got the town car after the Old Man died. And it's never changed. I'm pretty sure I came home from the hospital in this car. It wouldn't surprise me if my car seat was in this car a few hundred times over. But the car was quiet. I wasn't complaining, but apparently someone couldn't handle the peaceful quiet from home to Central Park.

"Hey, Rei," Ritsu wondered, "Where are we going?"

"Central Park," I told him, "We're going ice skating."

"Why are we going ice skating?" he looked at me strange, "You don't strike me as the ice skating type."

"What can I say?" I shrugged, "I've always been an enigma to you, Ritsu. Why should today be any different?"

"Valid point."

"I haven't gone ice skating since I was a kid," I admitted. Warm memories of the three of us going when I was little ran through my head. Mama was really good at it. Daddy wasn't bad either. But then, there was baby Rei. Who definitely started out like a newborn deer. My baby ankles and my uncoordinated legs. I could hardly walk when I first went ice skating, but once I got used to it, I got better. Considerably better, "Color me a tad nostalgic."

"I've never gone ice skating…" Oh, we're in for a fun afternoon. I could feel it. We are definitely going to be in for a fun afternoon.

"Seriously?" my sadistic little heart skipped a beat.

"Nope," Ritsu shook his head, "Can't say I have. In the one winter you've spent in Tokyo, have you ever seen anything freeze over?"

"True." Winters when I live in Japan and winters here are two totally different monsters, "But it's really easy once you find your balance. If you find yourself tipping left, start leaning right. Easy as that."

The driver pulled up to the rink in Central Park and Ritsu and I headed to the rental booth. Oh, it's going to be a fun afternoon. Or it's going to end up with us having to call Clara again. Having her fix Ritsu up once was plenty. Having her fix him up twice is killing Daddy's chances. Either way, Ritsu and I laced up our skates and started toward the ice. Although, once a certain someone got there, he might have gotten a little ahead of himself and already busted ass on the ice. I couldn't help but laugh hysterically. I felt bad about it, but damn, it was fucking funny. Bless him for trying.

"Aww…" I skated next to him, "What's the matter, Ritsu? Someone feeling a little overconfident?"

"It's not my fault the ice is slippery!" Ritsu pouted. He grabbed my hand and pulled himself back onto his feet, "I already told you. I've never done this before. Did you expect me to be good my first time?"

I could think of a certain first time where he wasn't too terribly bad. But that's here nor there, "No. It's alright. I'm not going to make fun of you too much."

But if he thinks I'm not telling Daddy when we get back home, he's sorely mistaken. Ritsu brushed himself off, "If you think you're so good, put your money where your mouth is."

"My pleasure," I was hoping he'd say something like that. Because nothing lit a fire in my belly quite like a little healthy competition. Not that it's really much of a competition. I've got all intentions of wiping the floor with his ass, but that's like putting a five year old with a box of crayons up against DaVinci and expecting the five year old to win.

I put my headphones in and looked for a song. Whenever it'd be Mama and me on this ice, she'd always go for something classical. In this situation, I could hear Vivaldi's Winter in my head. Mama liked Vivaldi. But…Sorry, Mama. Not feeling it today. I scrolled through my music and found a song I don't remember putting on here. But I put it on anyway. And I started sliding around the ice to the gentle guitar in the background.

I found out today that he's a liar…

Oh…I don't know where this came from. I don't think I like it. But the beat was nice, despite the lyrics hitting a little too close to home. I didn't get it, but I wasn't going to turn it down. Once it hit the chorus, I could get on board with it a lot more than I did. With every spin, jump, turn, I noticed I had gained an audience. And not just a couple people around the rink…I had him mesmerized…Every time I did the slightest movement, Ritsu couldn't keep his eyes off me. I had him completely hypnotized. But in his defense, I did come here to show off. And show off, I did.

"So?" I skated back toward the partition, "I told you I was good."

"How the hell?" Ritsu gasped, "Rei…I know you've always been an enigma since the day we met, but how the hell? Where did that come from?"

"I told you it was easy," I giggled, "Ritsu, you have to think, I've been in dance classes since I was three years old. That's one of those things that will come easy to me. Agility has never ever been a problem for me. It's half the reason why I can fight so well."

"I've always wondered that," he leaned against the partition, "Every time I've ever watched you fight or have fought you myself, you always seem like you're dancing in one way or another."

"That's a Mama thing," I remembered, "Mama always said that everything was a dance. It's just a matter of whether or not your partner's in step or not. If they're not, then fix it to the best of your ability. If you can't, attack or walk away."

"It's too bad I never got to meet your mom," Ritsu sighed out, "Every time I hear either you or Frankie talk about her, I get jealous."

"Don't give me that," I gave him a little shove, "Yeah, Mama was the fucking best, but if it makes you feel any better, you got Kiyomi."

"Yeah…" he grumbled, "I got Mom until I was eight and my prick dad took her away from me. I had to wait until I was sixteen before I got to see her again. And even now, I still have to sneak around in order to see her."

"At least you still have her," I argued, "I'd kill to see my mom again. But at least I got my dad. And he's not a massive asshole. Unlike some people we know."

"I know," Ritsu agreed, "I know he's done some shitty things, but he does have his moments where he's not a total asshole."

"I know," I could feel my skin crawl thinking about Ryoichi being sweet, "Believe me. I know."

"Not like that," he clarified, "You don't get to see what he's like when he's away from the club. And when he's not being a major dick. Those moments are far and few in between, but they're nice while they last."

"Ritsu," I groaned, "I'm off the clock and almost seven thousand miles away from Ryoichi. Can we not talk about him?"

"I'm not going to stop you."

"Come here," I offered him my hands.

"Why?" Ritsu got defensive, "So I can fall and bust my ass again?"

"Ritsu," I rolled my eyes, "I taught you how to waltz in a couple days. It's not much different other than that it's on ice."

"Of course," he scoffed, "Same thing. Why would I ever think they were different?"

"Alright, smartass," I hushed him, pulling him toward me, "I'm not going to let you go until you specifically tell me to. You're not going to bust your ass this time. Besides, if you go down, I'm going down with you, so I'm going to make sure you do not fall. Because that would mean me busting my ass, too."

"Fine," Ritsu's grip tightened. Someone is awfully riled up.

"Ritsu," my voice softened, "I promise. I'm not going to let you fall."

"Swear to me, Rei," he begged, "Do not let me go."

"I'm not going to," I squeezed his hands a little more, "It's alright. You'll be fine. Baby steps, ok?"

"Baby steps…" Ritsu took a few steps toward me, his feet shuffling on the ice. A couple times, he started slipping, but I still held him steady.

Something about Ritsu's hands being in mine put us both at ease. His grip loosened. And he put his entire trust in me. And in that moment, my heart shattered. I'm so fucking stupid…How could I ever think he would run off on me? His back was against the wall. We both know how Ryoichi can be. Ritsu came here on his own. Ritsu went through the Narrows. Ritsu had Daddy hand his ass to him. And me, too! I've put him through so much…He should've known I would've done something to get him out of this. But I'm stupid…So fucking stupid…

No, Reila. Don't you start fucking crying on me again. These streets have seen plenty of your tears in the last week. You don't need to shed any more. But I couldn't help myself. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. And that wasn't going unnoticed, "Rei…? You ok?"

"Yeah," I lied through my teeth with a break in my voice, "I'm fine."

"Hey, hey," Ritsu ran his thumb under my cheek, "What's wrong?"

"I'm…" my voice broke, "I'm so fucking stupid…"

"What do you mean?" he lifted my chin up.

"I actually thought you were running off with someone else," I wept, "I thought you were leaving me and never coming back."

"I don't run without you, Rei," Ritsu promised, "Never. But a lot hit you at once. You were dealing with that. Then, you had what happened to your dad on top of that. It's alright. You don't need to beat yourself up for that. Do you really think I want to marry someone I hardly know? Of course not. If my dad was so hard pressed to marry me off already, I'd make sure it'd be you at the other end of that aisle. But I couldn't come out and tell him I already had you. That would mean him using you against me or me against you and we're not doing that. I know it's you and me against the world, baby, but if it means keeping you out of the line of fire, so be it."

"Thank you," I wiped my eyes and pulled myself together a little more.

"If it makes you feel any better," Ritsu shrugged, "Sayori wants this as much as what we do."

"Ritsu," my stomach knotted up. Not necessarily at the thought of Sayori, but someone much worse, "Where does Ryoichi think you are right now?"

"With Sayori," he told me, "But Sayori's in Nagano by herself for a while. And I'm here. You know, Rei, there's a lot about Sayori that reminds me of you. I bet if you met her, you'd like her."

"Yeah," I chuckled to myself, "Because nothing says new best friend like meeting my boyfriend's fiancée."

"Not by choice!" Ritsu got defensive, "I already told you, Rei. Neither one of us wants this."

"I know…" I could feel the strangest warmth radiating from my chest. I think it's time. I know this wasn't his fault. I know I could've reacted a hell of a lot better than the kneejerk I did have. But I kept my voice down, "Hey, Ritsu…?"

"What is it?"

Without another thought, I threw my arms around Ritsu's neck and buried my face in his shoulder. He's been through enough. It's time I stop dangling the hopes of our relationship in front of him, "I missed you…"

"I missed you, too, baby," Ritsu hugged me tight, "Fuck, I missed you, too. Hey…You know what would make you feel better?"

"What's that, Ritsu?" I curled into him. Fuck, I missed this.

"You hungry?" Goddammit, this boy knew the way to my heart, "Want to go get some lunch?"

"Yes, please," I nodded. Then, something lovely clicked in my head. I knew exactly what I wanted, "You know, what? I know a hell of a place, too."

"And where's that?"

"You'll see."

The two of us kicked our skates off and got back in the car. The whole way back to Williamsburg, I stayed in Ritsu's lap. I didn't want to be anywhere else. I fucking missed this so much. Every once in a while, I'd feel a gentle kiss on the top of my head and I damn near fell asleep on him. But then, we pulled up to the cutest little supermarket on a corner with a bright green food truck sitting outside. Thank God. I don't have to go through a wild goose chase for this one specific food truck. Once this week was plenty.

"Really?" I think I caught Ritsu off guard. Again. I have a bad habit of doing that, "A food truck, Rei? In the year we've been together, you're either down for an upscale restaurant or you're down for the hole in the wall ramen place. Never in between. What's the occasion you picked up a food truck?"

"I don't have a problem with food trucks," I smiled, "They're all over the place here. I love me a good food truck. Daddy recently showed me this one and I sort of fell in love with it."

"I know your dad came from some humble beginnings, too," Ritsu blinked the stars out of his eyes, "But even he doesn't seem like a food truck type either."

"It's because of those humble beginnings that we come here," I pointed out, "Why do you think I don't give off the same vibes as any of the other members of the host club, Ritsu? Because things weren't always the land of milk and honey for us. That's why I'm not the spoiled ass rich kid. Or at least I don't come off that way. A lot of our power did come from the Old Man. That's not something we can deny. But that power was earned through a lot of Daddy's blood, sweat, and tears. And from what I understand, a lot of his old paychecks were dropped at this food truck. When they weren't going to rent or utilities or groceries."

I remember Daddy telling me stories about the way things used to be. And I'm glad they got better for us. But I couldn't help but wonder what they really were like. To have a firsthand experience of them. That really must have been something. But I digress. I walked up to the window and waited for someone to come and take care of us. I'm sure the truck is already open. Hell, I'd hope so. This is peak hours for them! There's no way it's closed.

"Sorry!" a gentle voice squeaked from inside, running toward the window, "Prep time ran a little…Reila!"

"Hi, Ari," I smiled sweetly.

"What can I get for you, kariña?" Ari hung out the window with a notepad in front of her.

"Two orders of taquitos and a big ass horchata," I ordered, "And an empanada. I'm feeling spicy."

"Six-fifty," she told me, catching a glimpse over my shoulder, "Who's the shadow with you? Did Frankie hire you a bodyguard?"

"I wouldn't call him that," I shot Ritsu a look out of the corner of my eye, "Although, I'm pretty sure he would kill a man for me."

"It's true," Ritsu confirmed, "Barehanded and everything."

"This is my boyfriend Ritsu," I pulled his arms around me, "He's in town with me until January."

"That's sweet," she awed, "You know, the way you two talk to each other kind of reminds me of the way your parents were."

"Really?" I felt such a warmth in my chest. It almost made standing outside in the hellish cold worth it.

"Absolutely," Ari nodded, handing me my horchata. God bless, "Give me a minute and your food should be done, ok?"

"Ok," I immediately stuck my straw in my mouth and took in that sweet nectar of the gods.

"Hey, Rei," Ritsu wondered, "What the hell is horchata?"

"Are you serious?" If I didn't know any better, I'd think Ritsu just stabbed me right in the heart, "You can't tell me that in the year we've been together, I've never had you try horchata."

"Not that I can remember."

I pulled my straw out of my mouth and stuck it in Ritsu's. Although, given his eyes damn near fell out of his head, I don't think he was expecting that. But I didn't care at this point. He needed to experience God's gift to humanity, "Drink."

Slowly, but surely, Ritsu took his first drink…and the straw didn't leave his mouth. Mine. This was mine. I yanked the straw back and Ritsu caught his breath, "Oh, fuck…"

"RIGHT?!" I squeaked, "It's magical! It's so fucking good!"

"What is it?" Ritsu gasped, "No. Don't tell me. I don't want to know. I don't want the magic ruined for me. Fuck, Rei, that's good shit."

"Yeah, it is!" I tapped on the window, "Hey, Ari?"

"Si, niña?" Ari cranked her neck back, "Did you need something?"

"Can we get another horchata please?"

"Sure," she got another cup and handed a full one to me, "Here. On the house."

"No," I pulled a dollar out of my bag, "You don't have to do that."

"It's one, Reila," Ari insisted, "It's alright. Go ahead. Take it. You're not putting me out any."

"Thank you," I had a feeling Daddy scammed plenty of free shit from this very truck back in the day. It appears to be generational.

"No problem!" she handed me a bag full of yummies and sent us on our way, "Tell your dad I send my love, ok?"

"I will!" I waved her off and slipped my hand into Ritsu's, "Hey…Do you know where we're going now?"

"Do I ever know where we're going when we're in town, Rei?" Ritsu teased, "No. Where are we going?"

"My happy place," I didn't want to freeze my ass off, but I needed to be on a rooftop. Fortunately for me, I knew somewhere that could very nicely accommodate us.

"The Narrows…?" he started to sweat a little.

"Different happy place." Something tells me Ritsu and I are going to stay away from the Narrows for a while. At least together anyway. If Daddy wants me to handle business, I'll go on my own. We don't need to put Ritsu through that again. He didn't need to have flashbacks. Not like that. The two of us headed to an abandoned building just barely still in Williamsburg. Or so a lot of people thought. I pushed the door open with my hip and reveled in the confused as fuck look on Ritsu's face.

"Uh, Rei…" he wondered, "What are we doing in a homeless shelter?"

"This isn't exactly a homeless shelter," I explained, "A few years ago, our family and one of the other major families in town went in together on this building. It's not quite a homeless shelter. It's more like a halfway house. It's for people that have been through homeless shelters, but the homeless shelters were shit. People who have kicked addiction that need somewhere to crash while they get on their feet again. People who have been kicked out of their houses for one dumb reason or another. I've met some cool people because of this project and I'm glad we did it. But we're not hanging out down here. The roof is wall to wall windows and heated."

"Can I ask you a question?" Ritsu followed me into the elevator.

"Sure," I laid my head on his shoulder, "What's on your mind?"

"This feels like something your dad spearheaded," he thought.

"Nope," I shook my head, "You want to know who really spearheaded it? Who went to the other family and asked if they'd get in on it? Because her aunt got kicked out of her house for stupidity and didn't think anyone else deserved to go through the kind of shit her aunt did? When she was barely thirteen?"

"You spearheaded a major project when you were thirteen?" Ritsu wrapped his arms around me.

"All because the building became available," I confirmed, "And no one should go through what Veronica did. She crashed on her couch shortly after Victoria kicked her out. And that got me thinking, since that building was about to get demolished anyway, why not make something out of it? Renovate it and make it habitable. So, we did. And this happened. And it's been here ever since."

"That's amazing," he leaned against the back wall, "You know, Rei, be the hard ass bitch on the outside all you want. You're soft and squishy inside, aren't you?"

"It's called basic human decency," I shrugged, stepping out onto the roof. Nobody up here. Good, "Sometimes, people just need a chance. Why prolong the suffering when you have the means to do something about it?"

"That was beautiful…" Ritsu pulled up a couple chairs and joined me.

"Thank you."

"And…" he stared down at the ground, "Can I ask you one more thing? Speaking of prolonging suffering and all that?"

"I don't give a shit, Ritsu," I allowed, "Ask me everything and anything."

"When this is all over," Ritsu wondered, "When January comes around…Are you going to come back to Japan with us or are you going to stay here?"

That…That was a question I should've expected. And I knew it'd be coming eventually. But here we are. And one I didn't even quite know the answer to. But given all the bullshit we've been through in the last few days. All the bullshit I've been through in the last week. Just…All the bullshit in general…I didn't need to prolong his suffering anymore. Why should I prolong my own? I knew we both fucked up with this, but now, we're doing the best we can with what we've got to make shit suck a little less. And we're running out of time to make shit suck less for a lot of people. It's time.

"Ritsu…" I could hardly speak above a whisper. Yet, a little smirk made its way across my face, "We got a syndicate to take down, baby. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather not do that all on my own. It'd be nice to have someone watching my back. Now, Mori already said he's not joining up with the family. I asked him. Daddy asked him. Not happening. And I already told Daddy why I don't want Kyoya hooking up with us. He'd try to take over. Fuck that. I've worked too hard to get what I got and I'm not letting him take that away. Now, you wouldn't happen to know where I could find someone to make sure I don't get hurt, would you?"