Ritsu wasn't lying. Mother fucker, my back itches. It itches so fucking bad. I'm fighting tooth and nail to not rub my back up against a corner like a bear on a tree, but goddamn, this shit itches. Worth it, though. Totally worth it. In the course of two days and a total of eighteen hours, I had a brilliant fire serpent watching over my shoulder. And that's all I could ever ask for. But I could do without the fucking itch. My hand didn't itch and burn this bad, but Mars? Mars is going to put me through hell. I have no doubt in my mind. But I could live. I could persevere. No one and nothing gets the best of me so easily. I can handle it. Although, that night after Ritsu and I went home, I wasn't exactly having the easiest time sleeping.
I could hardly lay still in my own bed. Think of something else, Rei. Anything to get the hellish itch on my back out of my head. How about the unfortunate reality that I'll be leaving tomorrow? Because I know that's an inevitability. Kind of like when I get a tattoo on mostly impulse on my back like an idiot. I should've gotten it on my leg. That would look cool as shit when I go to a hot spring. But if I remember correctly, certain hot springs won't let people in with visible tattoos. I have one on my hand, though. I'm sure that's easier to hide than a big ass fire serpent. Especially one that ITCHES LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER!
"Rei…?" And all my twitching woke the sleepy baby behind me, "You alright?"
"Yeah," I lied through my teeth, "Aces. Why?"
"No reason," he snaked his hands up the back of my shirt, gently scratching over Mars.
"Oh, fuck me…" I sighed out in sheer ecstasy, "You have no idea how good that feels."
"Yes, I do," Ritsu kissed the back of my neck, "I told you getting a tattoo on your back would be hell for a while."
"I know," I bit the inside of my cheek, "But thank you."
"My pleasure," he moved his hands from my back to my stomach, "You feel better?"
"Yes," I pulled his arms around me a little tighter, "Thank you."
"You're lucky I haven't completely adjusted to the time here," Ritsu teased, "If we were back home and you had me up this early, I'd have to kill you."
"You wouldn't dare," I jabbed, "Because that would mean you having to deal with Daddy and you love nothing more than the fact that he likes you. That's not something you can hide from me. It's plastered all over your face."
"I do like that your dad likes me," he admitted, "I'm not trying to hide that at all. In fact, I've told you that. And I love you too much to kill you. Even if you did get me up at the ass crack of dawn."
"It's not that early," I looked over at the clock on my nightstand, "It's only eight o'clock. Hell, that's not early."
"I guess we could get up," Ritsu held me against his chest, "Or maybe we could stay here for just a little while longer. I like laying with you."
"Eww," I giggled, "You're all soft."
"Only on the inside, baby," he kissed my forehead, "And only for you. Tell anyone about this and I will individually break your fingers."
"No, you won't," I laid my head in his chest, "Start with the toes. Then, move onto the fingers. That way, while you're breaking their fingers, they're still focused on the pain in their toes. And they'll know what else is coming."
"You are a beautiful sadist," Ritsu cradled my face in the palm of his hand, "And never in my life have I ever been more attracted to you."
"I'm not sure what that says about you personally, but…" Then, something incredible caught my attention. A smell…A warm smell…One that gave my soul a hug, "Do you smell that?"
"Wait a second!" his face lit up, "I know this one! Frankie está…cocinando?"
"Muy bien!" I praised, my heart melting a little, "I'm impressed."
"I have been hanging around your dad a lot in the last week or two," Ritsu pointed out.
"You should hang around Daddy more often," I insisted, "You'll become fluent."
"Or around you," he corrected me, "I did pick that little bit up from you."
"I'm nowhere near as fluent as he is," I clarified, "I'm conversational at best. But we'll manage. I still love you even if you're not as fluent in Spanish as I am."
"Whatever it is," Ritsu decided, "We'll manage. But until then, we should probably go see what he's cocinando."
"Sounds like a plan," I got one last kiss, "But before we do that…Could you scratch my back some more?"
"Gladly," he ran his hands back up my back, whispering in my ear, "I told you so…"
"Fuck off!" I squeaked, "I'm not in the mood, Ritsu. I'm itchy, I'm in minor pain, and I just want the itch to go away."
"Tell you what," Ritsu got out of bed, "How much do you love me, Rei?"
"Depends on what your next move is," I watched as he got up from the bed and went into my bathroom. If he's doing what I think he's doing, I already know how much I love him. Nearly to the point of considering marriage. When he came back, a cooling sensation sent a shock through my body that my grandchildren would feel, "Oh, fuck…"
"You're welcome." He brought lotion. God fucking bless him, he brought lotion. My eyes rolled back in my head and I was in a good place again. The planets aligned, there were no wars, and everything was in perfect harmony. At least it was in my bedroom. Nothing could possibly go wrong. Granted, I still had the host club blowing up my phone because of the pictures from my birthday, but at this point, I don't give a shit. A part of me actually missed those morons. Because they had become my morons. I'm sure they'll all flip their shit about Mars, but last I checked, I didn't need their permission. Visible tattoos were probably against the Ouran dress code anyway, but I had the one on my hand yet. No one has said a word. I'll call that one a win.
"Come on," I got out of bed. Because if I would've kept laying there, I'd never move, "Let's go get breakfast, yeah?"
"Absolutely," Ritsu followed close behind me. If he didn't, the chances of him getting lost, even after all this time we've been here, would be high. It's like I told him our first night here. If he could find the elevator, he'd be golden. We had a thing about elevators.
As soon as we got in the elevator, I didn't get the same feeling that overcame us when we got into elevators. This was a little more depressing. Once we get down there, it'll be the last breakfast we have together as a family. For now, anyway. At least until the next time Ritsu and I come to New York again. Maybe the next time Abuelita's in town, we could come around, too. I'm sure Daddy wouldn't say no to that. He loves seeing Ritsu and me together. It'd be all over his face any time the two of us would walk into a room. And I kind of have a soft spot for the guy, too.
When we got downstairs, Ritsu and I walked into the kitchen to find Daddy at the stove and Abuelita at the sink, rinsing off the dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. I thought I heard them arguing about it down the hall. And one of those things about my relationship with Ritsu? Probably the best part? He respected my relationship with Daddy. He may not have completely understood it, but he respected it. He knew that if it came down to it, I'd pick Daddy over him in a heartbeat. Which was true for the most part. Depends on the situation. Now, though? Ritsu knew to let me go.
"Morning, Daddy," I stood on my toes, kissing his cheek.
"Morning, princess," Daddy put the spatula down and threw his arms around me, "Sleep ok?"
"Relatively ok," I didn't exactly tell Daddy I was getting a tattoo for the last couple days. And Carlos knew better than to say no to me.
"Buenos dias, niñita," Abuelita pulled me away from Daddy and glanced over my shoulder, "Buenos dias, Ritsu."
"Buenos dias, Abuelita," Ritsu smiled a bit. I don't care if someone says they're the most hardcore motherfucker to walk the face of this Earth. Everyone who met her would have a soft spot for Abuelita.
"I made pancakes, Rei," Daddy took the sheet pan full of them and brought them to the table.
"For the whole building?" I gasped, looking over the splendor that sat in front of us.
"For all of us," he shot an accusatory look at Abuelita. That's why he made so much. Alright, Daddy. I got your mental telepathy. The devil didn't make you do it, but Abuelita did, "And since it's going to be the last time we're all together like this for a while, I didn't just make pancakes."
"You made special pancakes!" I squeaked, about to come out of my skin. First, Ritsu puts lotion on my tattoo. Now, Daddy made churro pancakes. It's fucking Christmas! Well…not anymore, but still!
"I sure did, baby girl," Daddy kissed the top of my head, "Go on. Go sit down. You, too, Ritsu."
"You sure?" Ritsu offered, "There's nothing I can help with?"
"Sit down," Daddy ordered, "I got it."
"Alright," Ritsu took the seat across from me, playing with my fingers without a single thought in his head. He ran his thumb over mine, grazing the Q just below the knuckle, "How's your back?"
"Better," I reported, keeping my voice down.
"Hey, Ritsu," Daddy sat in his normal chair while Abuelita took the one next to him.
"Hmm?" Ritsu's ear perked up.
"When we first met," Daddy began, looking him over, "I asked you a question. Now, I want an answer."
"Uh…" Ritsu froze, "Yeah. Sure. What was the question again? I've been through a lot of time zones and learned to dance since then."
A little smile stretched across Daddy's face. Almost as if he already knew the answer, "You in love with my little girl?"
"Absolutely," Ritsu didn't even hesitate, "Without a doubt in my mind. I know she's your little girl, Frankie, but at the end of the day, I don't think of her any other way other than my girl. And I'd do absolutely anything for her. She knows that."
I'm not sure what I loved most; the fact that my boyfriend still didn't back down to Daddy, Abuelita quietly praying for Ritsu's safety, or the still silence in the room. It's just like the first time Daddy asked Ritsu if he loved he. Only this time, I wasn't nearly as worried. You got this, baby. Remember what earned you Daddy's respect in the first place. You stood your ground with me. It impressed him. And he loves you for it now. Although, the way he fully professed his love for me to my father? A little heartwarming, if I do say so myself.
"So," Daddy smirked, "How'd you tell her?"
"We were in the middle of a fight," Ritsu relaxed, taking my hand, "It was just before I had taken her away for the weekend. Before I met your…Delightful…Mother-in-law."
"May the bitch rot in Hell," Daddy raised his coffee.
"Absolutely," I was more than happy to drink to that.
"But we were in the middle of a fight," Ritsu went on, "We were arguing about whether or not she should go back to her penthouse for the night. She took it more as an insult than anything. Once things settled down, I didn't give her the option."
"And I stayed on the Kasanoda compound that night," I remembered, "That was…Definitely a night."
"Yeah," Ritsu shot me a wink, "But we got through it. Did we go to class the next morning?"
"I think so," I thought back, "I'm pretty sure we had school the next day."
"And then…" The tumblers started falling into place, "We ended up going to Hakone that weekend."
"Karuizawa," I corrected him.
"I know what I said." Can I keep him? I'm keeping him. He's mine now. No one can convince me otherwise. I mean, hell, we practically have matching tattoos now. The only difference between his and mine is that his doesn't still itch like a motherfucker.
"And what about you, baby?" Daddy wondered, "You really like this kid? I mean, I trust your judgment more than most, but you really don't think you can do better?"
"What the hell, Frankie?" Ritsu gasped, "After all that?"
"Hush," Daddy raised a finger to him, "I was talking to the young lady. You'd be wise not to interrupt her. But seriously, Rei…That's the one?"
"I don't know if I'd go as far as to say the one," I admitted, "In the grand scheme of things, we're still practically babies."
"Maldita verdad…" Abuelita mumbled to herself.
"Abuelita, por favor…" I begged, "But I know I can do better. I probably deserve better."
"Hurtful, Reila…" Ritsu settled me, "Might want to reel it in there."
"Let me finish," I shot him a glare, "I know you think I deserve better, Daddy. But that's the thing with Ritsu and me. There are times where I want to knock him upside the head with the end of the blackwood. Not quite take him down to the narrows, but I'd be lying if I said our relationship was perfect. Although, at the end of the day, I can't think of anyone other than you that would have my back more than Ritsu. And I don't know what I did to deserve that."
"Redeemed," Ritsu's voice broke, his grip on my hand tightening a little, "Love you, too."
"Alright then," Daddy nodded, "Looks like I can give this my blessing. Ritsu, if you ever need anything and you happen to be in the US again, let me know. I got you."
"With all due respect, Frankie," Ritsu shot him down, glancing at me from the corner of his eye, "I think she's got me covered."
"Well," Daddy got up from the table, "Don't you kids have a flight to catch?"
"Kicking us out already?" I awed, trying to ease the heaviness on his heart, "Come on, Daddy."
Without another thought, I threw myself into his chest, his arms wrapping around me tight, "Goddamn, I'm going to miss you, kid. Both of you."
"We'll miss you, too." I'm not crying. I'm not crying…I'm totally not crying.
"I love you, princess…"
"I love you, too." I'll be ok. I promise.
"Ritsu," Daddy ordered, "Take care of her for me, k?"
"My pleasure," Ritsu assured, sharing a moment with my father that, from our first meeting, I never thought would happen. Something about that mutual respect put me in a good place.
"Reila," Abuelita got up.
"Si, Abuelita," I hugged her tight, trying to hold those tears back. If there was anyone I could show weakness in front of, they were the three people in this room, but I stayed strong, "Te amo."
"Te amo también, niñita," Abuelita kissed the top of my head, "Por favor cuídate de ti mismo."
"Voy a," I promised.
"Podrías venir a visitarme también!" she scolded me. And she had every right to. It's been a few years since I've seen la familia en España. I'm sure they'd love to see me again.
"Si, Abuelita," I hung my head in shame while Daddy giggled a little in the corner.
"It was lovely meeting you, Ritsu," Abuelita smiled over my shoulder.
"Usted también, Abuelita," Ritsu gave her a nod. But there was no fucking way she was letting him off that easy. She held him close to her chest, not letting him go for a good ten seconds.
"Mama," Daddy saved him, "Ellos tienen que ir. Tampoco me gusta, pero tiene que hacerse."
"Entiendo," Abuelita let her vice grip loosen.
And with that being said, Ritsu and I took the elevator down and headed back to JFK. In an excruciatingly long flight (with an hour or so layover in Hawaii), we'll be back in Japan again to resume our normal, day-to-day lives. Although, there was something different about this trip back. I figured there'd be more tears at the gate, but there wasn't. Dry eyes all around. And I wasn't the only one who took notice.
"Hey, Rei," Ritsu put an arm around me once we got settled into our seats, "What's this all about?"
"What?"
"I've seen you in airports when your old man's involved," he pointed out, "Usually, you're a blubbering mess by now. Yet, here we are."
"Yeah," I nodded, "Here we are."
"So?" Ritsu wondered, "What's the occasion you're not all weepy eyed?"
"I know I can always come home, I guess," I smiled a little, "And I know Daddy's going to always be there. Even in our line of work, I know he's the one constant I can always depend on. I love you, Ritsu, but there's no guarantee that we'll always be together. One big, nasty, fight and we're on opposite ends of the Earth again. But I know where Daddy is. And I know where he'll always be. I know he says he wants to retire in Boca, but I know better. That would mean leaving the city he loves and there's no fucking way he'd do that. But I'll be fine. As long as I know where he is, I'll be fine."
"That's good," he pulled me into his chest, "I'm glad to hear you're doing ok, Rei."
"Well," I admitted, "I'm not…"
"What's wrong?" Ritsu lifted my chin up, checking me over.
"Itchy…" I spoke softly.
"What?"
"I'm itchy!"