Author's note

This is an homage to "Tangled" movie and series. The final season premieres next weekend. I think I first liked Citrus because Yuzu reminded me of Rapunzel and the title of this fanfic is a direct reference to "Tangled: Ever After" as these one-shots kind of have the same spirit of that short film.

Also, since I Jump back and forth in time throughout this series, I'll start by clarifying Yuzu's and Mei's age at the start of each chapter from now on. I hope you'll notice the changes in personality I came up with for each "age".

For the previous chapters:

Yuzu succeeds: 18 y.o.

Mei Worries: 20 y.o.

Shou Scores: 20 y.o.

Ume craves: 20 y.o

In this chapter, Mei and Yuzu are 25 years old.

Yuzu was pursuing a Master's in psychology and her readings put her life and their relationship in a new perspective. She cared for her wife's well-being and was painfully aware of the codependent relationship they built over their nine years together and five years of marriage. Mei often told Yuzu to not treat their life as homework, but it didn't keep Yuzu from coming up with exercises for her and disguise them as natural situations. Mei never took care of Shiro and Yuki by herself. She was always a part of the Onee-chan combo she formed with Yuzu. While Yuzu played with them, Mei prepared snacks and took care of any minor injuries. Yuzu took the role of fun onee-chan, Mei was the caring and serious one. Yuzu blamed her parents for crippling her self-perception by repeating that Yuzu and Mei completed each other in everything. With the best intentions, they cast Mei in the "disciplinarian" parent and Yuzu in the "entertainer". While it was their natural affinity, it didn't mean that they had to stay that way. Mei was self-assured in all matters except for family. She avoided conflicts at any cost. Yet her parents' expectations put her in an awkward situation. When she had to reprimand either of her younger siblings, it barely registered as scolding as she was afraid they'd hate her. Yuzu often had to step in and deliver a proper talking-to.

"For someone who scolded hundreds of people in high school," mused Yuzu, "you're being a scaredy-cat when talking to five-years-olds"

"I don't want them to hate me," stated Mei. "It's easy for you to do it because you play with them all the time"

Yuzu tried to explain many times that Yuki and Shiro would never hate her, but it was hard to change Mei's convictions. Yuzu was patient with Mei getting out of her comfort zones, but as a good wife, she knew she had to let go of Mei's hands some times.

"It's been a while since it was just me and mom," said Yuzu, "Do you mind if I spend some quality time with her this afternoon?"

"Why would I?" Mei rubbed her nose against Yuzu's, "I miss spending alone time with her too, I can only imagine how it'd feel for you. Are Shiro and Yuki staying somewhere?"

"Well, I was hoping you would take care of them"

"By myself?"

"Yes."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea…"

"There's a movie I promised I'd watch with them, why don't you do it instead?"

"Then you'd be breaking your promise to them. That's not a good example for our siblings,"

"I'll make sure I apologize properly. I also made snacks for the three of you, so you can focus on playing with them"

"You're being unfair. I can't tell you not to spend time with mom, and I can't tell you to not bring Shiro and Yuki"

Yuzu made Mei sit on her lap. Mei knew this was Yuzu's way of making her feel like the little sister. It worked and it put her at a disadvantage while arguing, but she never protested. She knew Yuzu always made that move when it was for own good. Mei put her arms on Yuzu's shoulder in a tacit "I'm listening".

Acknowledging that Mei has given in, Yuzu made her best to give Mei the support she needed. "Shiro and Yuki will always love you even when they say they hate you. I had a little sister who told me she hates me once…"

Mei returned Yuzu's smirk. "I don't tell you this enough, but I also love you as my older sister."

"I know. It just proves I spoiled you too much… Since you're being a good girl, I'll be across the hall. If you feel you need me, text me and I'll be right over. You just have to sit and watch the movie with them. They do this thing where identify the character with our family. Any kind of parents are mom and dad, the pretty girls are you and me, and the kids and weird creatures are them. I read a paper on that and it says it's their way to conceptualize what the characters represent. In other words, they think mom and dad are mom and dad, in case you didn't guess. They think you and I are pretty; how cute is that? They think of each other as fun and goofy characters… Why are you looking at me like that?"

"This isn't another homework, is it?"

"No! I genuinely miss mom"

"Kiss me... I want to feel like your wife again."

Ume and Shou got an apartment just across the hall from their old one. They moved out when they felt the kids needed more space. Staying close meant Yuki and Shiro didn't feel separated from their older sisters.

Mei plugged Yuzu's laptop on the TV and started the movie Yuzu had prepared. Tangled was the title. It was a retelling of the classic Rapunzel by the Grimm brothers. She was familiar with most of the literary versions of the fairy tales, she looked forward to how Disney made it "family-friendly."

"Yuzu-onee-chan made these snacks," she down between the kids with a platter that had heart-shaped cookies Yuzu made the day before, "they're yummier than mine, so make sure to thank her"

The twins helped themselves.

"I like yours more," said Shiro

"Me too," said Yuki

"Really?" Mei tasted another one. Yuzu's were better, no questions. "Why?"

Shiro made the best ferocious-looking face he could "I like the bears! Roar!"

Yuki tried to make a bunny expression that Mei wouldn't have gotten if it weren't for what she said, "I like the bunnies"

"Huh… Let's keep that a secret from Yuzu-onee-chan, alright?" Mei took all the "wins" she could get. Yuzu was the favorite Onee-chan, including hers, but she didn't mind being the Onee-chan with the best cookies… Best-shaped cookies…

As Yuzu predicted, the parents were the king and queen, Shiro said Yuki was Pascal; a funny chameleon, She got back at him by saying he was Maximus; a horse; Shiro didn't mind. Yuzu was Rapunzel. They didn't find anyone for Mei as far as they were.

Mei knew that her siblings probably associated Yuzu with Rapunzel due to the blonde hair and green eyes, but she couldn't help but see Yuzu in her teenage glory. Rapunzel was 16-years old Yuzu in every sense: idealistic, sheltered, pure and joyful.

The story was about her journey from the tower where she was locked-up to the kingdom of which she was the lost princess. Her dream was to see a floating lantern festival up-close. She made a deal with a thief, Flynn Ryder (real name Eugene Fitzherbert) to take her there. Along the journey, the two of them grew closer.

Shiro and Yuki jumped around during action-packed sequences. They didn't pay much attention to emotional scenes so she took the opportunity to explain what was going on. They asked a lot of questions but she managed to keep things interesting by telling them that they will find out if they pay attention to the movie.

By the time Eugene and Rapunzel got to the kingdom, she couldn't help but root for the two of them. She felt ridiculous for being moved by a kids' movie, but there she was.

Yuki and Shiro danced through a musical montage, Mei took a lot of pictures.

Yuzu prepared Mei for how the children would react to the movie, but she didn't say anything about how Mei herself would feel about it.

The song that marked the climax of the movie took her by surprise.

All those days chasing down a daydream

All those years living in a blur

All that time never truly seeing

Things, the way they were

Now she's here shining in the starlight

Now she's here suddenly I know

If she's here it's crystal clear

I'm where I'm meant to go

And at last I see the light

And it's like the fog has lifted

And at last I see the light

And it's like the sky is new

And it's warm and real and bright

And the world has somehow shifted

All at once everything is different

Now that I see you

She knew how Eugene felt. This movie moved her more than any romance she watched with Yuzu before.

"Mei-onee-chan? Why are you crying?"

Yuki's voice woke her from her reverie. Shiro and Yuki stopped doing whatever it was they were doing and looked at her worriedly.

"Are you hurt?" Said Shiro.

She wiped her tears, hugged both of them, and kissed them.

"No, no… You see, people don't just cry when they're sad or hurt… Sometimes they cry when they're happy… Sometimes when they see something so beautiful as I did just now… Let's watch. Look! Eugen is meeting the bad guys..."

When the movie was over, she could note the unsatisfied look on Shiro and Yuki's faces.

"We didn't find Mei-onee-chan," said Shiro.

"What are you talking about?" Said Mei " I'm Eugene"

They both sniggered "but he's a boy" said Yuki

"Are you a chameleon? Are you a horse?" She said smiling, "plus I make a good smolder"

Yuki and Shiro laughed heartily.

After giving them drinks of water. Mei got to explaining the end of the movie to her siblings.

Halfway through she heard a sneeze from the hallway. She knew that sneeze.

"Wait here", Mei gestured.

Ume and Yuzu were listening in on them, squatting beside the living room door frame...

"We just got here, I swear," said Yuzu

"We didn't hear about any smolder," sniggered Ume.

Mei didn't want to make a scene in front of her younger siblings, "Hello mother, Hello Yuzu-onee-chan"

"Hello," said Ume hugging and whispering to Mei, "Sorry but you were so cute"

Yuzu was making puppy eyes. Mei sighed and put her arms around her "Thank you for the movie. It was beautiful. I wish all those romances you make me sit through were half as good:"

"Oh?" Yuzu was surprised, "I know it's good… But for you to say it's good, it has to be a masterpiece."

"Mei-onee-chan, Mei-onee-chan" Shiro was pulling at her skirt, "When do we watch another movie together"

Mei squatted and held his hands. "I don't have any more movies. But I'll look for some" Mei was already mentally begging Yuzu for recommendations.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Their bedtime's at 9, we have to go." Ume took Shiro's hand "Next weekend, I want quality time with you, so work it out. Good evening you two"

"Alright. You too. Say hi to dad"

Yuzu hugged Mei from behind, "If I knew you'd do so well, I wouldn't have made heart-shaped cookies"

"Can you keep on making them?"

"Nah, you're competing for the favorite Onee-chan spot now"

"With Shiro and Yuki, maybe. But you know that you're there forever for me and Matsuri"

Yuzu kissed her, "You are not getting off this easy. You're my wife now and I'm so hot for you."

"Yuki and Shiro think you're Rapunzel, and I agree with them"

"I guess I can see why you'd think that… And why are you Eugene?"

"He gets to kiss Rapunzel. Do I need another reason?"

Yuzu reenacted the last kiss of the movie.

"You know, there's a TV show that continues the story… you can watch that with them."

"Thank you" Mei tried to hide her excitement for learning there's more to the story. "I just regret not having watched it with you. Do you have more movies like this one?"

"Like Tangled? Oh, yeah. Rapunzel and Eugene even make a cameo. It's even better than Tangled. It's called Frozen"

"Let's watch it tonight then"

"Okay. You know, Yuki and Shiro even found a character for you there"

They watched Frozen in their bed once they had dinner.

Mei couldn't understand why Yuzu thought Frozen was better. Tangled had a story. Frozen had a catchy song.

The character Shiro and Yuki associated with Mei was Elsa. Yuzu seemed to like her.

"I don't get why this is better…"

"I thought you'd like it more for the sisters' element in it"

"It's not a bad movie. They tried too hard to make this NOT a love story. They could have had a villain without making him a treacherous love interest."

"I don't know… I watched the movies separately so I didn't make the connection"

"So you agree Tangled is better"

"No"

"Why?"

"Mei, it's the first time I see you fangirling about something…. What do you have against Frozen?"

"I don't know. It's just that Anna is a blatant copy of Rapunzel."

"Would you say she's not Yuzu enough for you?"

"You could say that…"

"Objectively, who's the better Mei? Eugene or Elsa?"

Mei knew where this was going.

"You're better equipped to reply…"

"There you have it…Frozen and Mei for me, Tangled and Yuzu for you"

"I suppose…"

Yuzu and Mei always ended their serious and trivial arguments with a kiss, whether the issue in question was resolved or not. It was something they agreed on when they were younger and became second-nature over the years.

Yuzu sensed Mei was getting in the mood.

"What if Rapunzel and Elsa hooked up?" She said suggestively.

"I love you, but you said something I can't forgive"

Taken aback, Yuzu stared at her.

"Rapunzel's Eugene's" Mei went on, mildly amused that it was the first time she's gotten Yuzu on the ropes all day.

"You said you thought Now I see the light reminds you of us, right?" Said Yuzu

"Yes."

"I'll make Let it Go stick in your head even more"

Suffice to say Yuzu's lived up to the following verses:

Let it go, let it go

Can't hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Turn away and slam the door

I don't care what they're going to say

Let the storm rage on

The cold never bothered me anyway

The last part made her throw the covers.

Both of them woke up with colds.

"I'm sure the cold bothers me..." said Mei.

"I wish my hair could heal us right now…" said Yuzu.

Author's Note:

This chapter has been proofread by demosthenes56

While not the most ingenious plot, I wanted to give homage to that beautiful movie before the third season of the series premiere. I

Don't worry, things gonna pick up again in two weeks with a double release: A chapter in "The Other Side" and another in "Ever After".

The one in Ever After will follow 35 years old Yuzu and Mei with side-dish of HaruMatsu. It's a commission based on a recent Artwork that has been posted in r/CitrusManga.

See you soon.

Thank you all for the follows favorites an reviews. It's what keeps us humble fanfic writers going.