Yuzu stands at the window looking out on to the city lights, their glow giving a faint blue on her face. She is still wearing her casual clothes from the day, she didn't feel like being in a rush to change. Distant clouds give ominous flashes of lighting as she turns to look at the front door of their small apartment, typical for a young married couple.

Yuzu turns and slowly walks to a nearby table as her eyes drift to a nearby phone. She had got a call from Momokino, calling to congratulate Mei on her appointment to Chairman of the Aihara Academy. While Yuzu was happy at the news, she wondered why Mei didn't call and tell her herself.

The door to the apartment unlatches and quietly opens, catching Yuzu's attention

"Welcome home Mei!" Yuzu says as she stands, presenting herself with a smile.

Mei does not answer, nor does she make eye contact. She brings in a feeling of melancholy into the apartment, causing Yuzu to feel uneasy.

"Hey, everything ok?" Yuzu asks.

Mei snaps out of some spell she was under as her sad eyes meet Yuzu's.

"Um yeah, I guess, "Mei answers with a subdued demeanor.

Mei takes a seat at the table as Yuzu serves a drink to her. Smiling, Yuzu sits in the chair closest to Mei. Mei just stares into the glass of clear liquid.

"Mei, what's wrong? Did I do something that I should not have?" Yuzu inquiries.

"No, you did nothing wrong," came a quiet answer.

"Did something happen at the meeting with the board of directors at the Academy?"

Mei says nothing but just nods while looking down.

"What? Mei, you're beginning to scare me."

"The board has approved my appointment to the Chairman of the Academy, providing I finish college first."

"That's wonderful Mei! Everything we worked for is paying off-"

"They also added another condition."

The line filled Yuzu with sudden dread for some unknown reason.

"What is it?" Yuzu asks.

"The board's more conservative majority didn't feel that a woman married to another woman would be the best role model for the students so they..." Mel sadly says.

Yuzu claps Mei's hand, "What? What did they say?"

"They will consent to the appointment if our marriage is annulled."

Yuzu pulls back in disbelief, "You did tell them no right? You did find some compromise that didn't involve our marriage right?"

Mei doesn't look at Yuzu, she sits still and quiet. A horrible realization hits Yuzu hard, chilling her to the bone when she remembers the phone call from earlier.

"Oh God, you consented to the condition did you?"

Mei closes her eyes tightly to prevent tears to escape from her eyes.

"I had no choice, they would have bogged down everything and it would take years, even decades of court battles go get-"

"I can't believe what I'm hearing! You threw away all we are and all we were going to be, for this appointment?"

"Yuzu, please understand, they control-"

"THEY DON'T CONTROL ME!"

"YUZU YOU ARE BEING IN MY WAY!"

Yuzu grabs her shirt at her chest as Mei's words cut through her heart.

"I'm in your way?" Yuzu says as she angrily rises from her chair and begins to leave the room, "Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore."

Mei rises to follow Yuzu to the bedroom and stands as a sullen witness as Yuzu hurriedly puts clothes in a duffel bag. Yuzu pushes past Mei and moves down the hallway.

Mei realizing that what is happening tries to get Yuzu to stop by grabbing the bag. Yuzu pulls hard causing Mei to fall back against the wall causing a picture to fall off the wall and cracking its glass cover.

"No, Don't leave, " Mei whimpers as she regains her footing.

Yuzu opens the front door, looking back angrily as she does.

"I'll be at moms, You can have your lawyers send over any documents needed to be signed there."

"Yuzu, we can-"

SLAM! The door closes hard.

Mei stands for some time, staring at the door. She slowly walks and picks up the shattered picture on the way to the living room and slumps on the sofa. Lighting flashes as rain begins to pummel the windows of the living room. Mei looks at the picture through tear-filled eyes.

It was their wedding day picture with a crack that ran between them now.

Mei embraces the picture as she lays on the couch with her legs curled up to her chest.

And cries bitterly into the stormy night.