Grown Ups

"Do you think it's fate, that it's like this? That I lost everything, just to wind up back in your arms," she trailed her fingers on his apparent collarbone. The sunlight beamed in the old attic and the room glowed with the surrealism that reminded him of his first visit to a palace. He wondered what it would be like in his palace – if he had one. Leblanc – coffee; Morgana napping on the barstool; Makoto sitting in a booth reading; Ryuji sipping soda. Yusuke and Futaba arguing, and Sojiro chuckling behind the counter as Haru shared fresh vegetables with him. In his own palace, he'd walk the flight of stairs to the attic and there she'd be. Ann – in the same apple of Eden red gown; roses. Roses everywhere. A rose bouquet; her large engagement ring. She'd be there; the source of his desire.

He hoped he was a good person.

"Maybe", he answered.

He was not.

"I love you." She whispered into his skin. Her morning breath tickled his bare flesh like the fresh spring breeze. He hated that he loved her back even though she abandoned him. He hated how her blue eyes glowed and how they made him smile. He ran his fingers through her hair and she looked up at him with those eyes he hated that he loved. They kissed.

The mercury morning poured through the window as she made her way on top of him and rode him to orgasm. They held each other, beads of sweat stuck to their skin. He kissed her, hungrily – greedily and scolded himself for loving her.

He was not. He was not a good person.

They spent the morning together. She pranced around in his old clothes. They made coffee and talked about the old times. She wrapped her arms around him; pressed her cheek to his back as he washed dishes. She felt at home. At peace. Her parents called multiple times, but she did not answer. He left the sign flipped on 'closed' on the door. It was their day.

But he was not a good person. The day wouldn't end well.

They sat in his bed, web browsing, and reading articles on their phones. She got up and headed off to the bathroom. He felt the need to touch it. He saw the blinking light of the notification. He had no right – but still, he was not a good person. He wasn't the night before, that morning – he wouldn't be then, either.

Ann, please call me back. I'm at a hotel near the airport. I won't go home without you.

Then he hit it, delete.

"Akira," Ann called from the bottom of the flight of the stairs.

He sinned.

"Yeah?" He answered.

"There's no more toilet paper…"

Evening came and they sat down for curry. She flicked through her phone and he stared at his empty plate. He was not a good person. He was not an adult. He was not mature, but he had to grow up sometime.

"Michael text you earlier," she looked up and Akira her blue eyes were filled with that something he knew would reappear, hope.

"You went through my phone?"

"I saw the text and I deleted it. I thought you would – I thought you would leave if you saw it."

"What did he say?"

"He's at a hotel near the airport. He won't go home without you."

"Why did you –"

"I still love you."

The silence she detested filled the space. It droned on; felt like it was mocking them. The morning was their daydream, the afternoon their respite; the evening their nightmare. He looked at her. She said the same words that morning. Why couldn't she say it again? He wanted so badly for her to say it.

"Akira –"

"I still love you, I know I didn't say it much when we were together – and even since you came back, but I do and I don't want you to go," He was a bad guy; he sinned, "and you're right. If you told me you were leaving, I would have said no. I wouldn't have taken it well. I would have begged you to stay and kept you from all your dreams. It hurt – but – I'm glad you didn't tell me. I would have been selfish. I would have held you back. I'm holding you back now – from someone good for you. Someone who does love you – maybe more than himself. I think he knows. I think he knows you're here. I think he knows we've been together and I think he still wants to marry you and make you happy. Go to him."

Ann stared in shock. The time that passed by quickly while they shared love and bliss suddenly passed by slowly. The seconds seemed as long minutes. Everything Akira said seemed too far from actuality. His tone – shaken; unlike him. His onyx eyes glossy; was he fighting tears? His face slightly reddened from something worse than embarrassment; mortification. He was not the Akira she remembered. He was not who she loved – even earlier that morning. He was a shell of himself. The remainder of a man she left behind. She wanted to say something but no words came to her. She wanted to tell him something that would heal, repair, comfort all the damage she had done to him – nothing. Nothing could fix the upset she felt; the anger; the disappointment.

"I have to go." She hurried upstairs; she pulled on a pair of his sweats. She ordered a cab through an app, but did not wait inside Leblanc until it's arrival. She disappeared out the door. Upstairs, sitting on the sofa in the attic, her red dress.

He covered his eyes with his hands. He was glad to be alone. No one would know if he cried.

It was more simple than the suite at the hotel on Central. The room was small; he only kept the nightstand lamp on. His suitcase stood by the door. He looked tired. The bags under his eyes were rather noticeable. She was tired as well.

They sat side by side in the bed. She had a change of clothing before she made her way there. She dressed simply; a white, long summer dress; sandals. He wore black pants and a good white button down; patent leather loafers; he was still dressed for the launch party, though he never made it there.

"I slept with him."

"I know, but it's fine. I abandoned you in your greatest hour. I practically gave you to him."

"It doesn't mean what I did was right."

"We'll get through this. We'll go to couple's therapy –"

"I don't deserve you. You don't deserve this."

"We can make it work."

"We can't. I'm sorry, but we can't. There's a lot going on with me right now. I wouldn't be a good wife; I haven't even been a good fiancée. I'll come back to Brooklyn, but only to collect my things. I can't – we can't do this. You're too kind to me, Michael. You're too good." She pulled off the large engagement ring and handed it to him. He took the ring from her and placed it back into her hands, closing her fingers over it.

"Keep it." He kissed her cheek and as he leaned away Ann felt tears roll down her cheeks. Michael arose. He grabbed his suitcase and exited the room. Ann sat there; tears, her engagement ring in her hands.

She believed she did the right thing, though she regretted it tremendously. She threw herself into the pillows of the bed and sobbed. She desired a crepe.

Children ran back and forth and played in the long blades of grass. Various kinds of towels and picnic blankets covered some in an area a bit off from where the children frolicked. Something about butterflies and giggles; bikes on the dirt path; onigiri in lunch containers – it all felt like summer. A little girl with brownish hair and eyes reached up to her mother, though she stood very well for a one-year-old. The child extended her arms, opening her fingers to her mother and touching her face. Sae smiled greatly as she picked up Niijima Yohanna. The round faced little girl with coffee colored skin cooed as her mother rubbed her nose against hers.

Sitting in a foldable lounge chair, wearing sunglasses, Makoto watched with a smile on her face. Ryuji walked over to her, creating a makeshift seat on the arm of the chair; he handed his wife a boxed apple juice. He whispered into her ear, "I jacked this from the kid table."

Makoto giggled and gladly took the beverage from her husband. Her diamond gleamed in the sun and she kissed his hand as she took the drink from his possession. "Thank you." She smiled from ear to ear as she poked a hole into the carton with the attached straw. Nothing more grown up than one's husband handing them a children's beverage and pretending like it was contraband; it was silly; fun; delightful. Ryuji pulled out his own apple juice carton from his pocket and the Sakamoto pair toasted to their "adult" lifestyle.

What a glorious birthday party for the little Niijima.

Sae's new boyfriend, Hiroshi, suggested a picnic in Inokashira Park would be low budget and easy. She agreed with her pediatrician beau. The two had each other when they met for Yohanna's first checkup. Somewhere between signing documents and the lollipop he asked the older Niijima to dinner. Without much thought, she accepted. They kissed on their first date – but held off from sex until their third. They tried their best to be grown up about it, but it had been a long time for them both. The divorced pediatrician and the single parent attorney couldn't keep their hands to themselves.

When Sae told Ryuji and Makoto over dinner, they celebrated the end of her dry spell with a bottle of champagne and much laughter; how adult.

Yusuke sat by the lake sketching an image of the children at play. He wore his long hair in a bun and periodically blew away stray of hair that bothered his eyes. It was a lovely summer day and he was in a good mood. That morning Futaba made breakfast for them both as she told him he was seeing a man she really liked and wanted them to meet. He was glad she felt close enough to him to ask for his approval. Plus, it made sense since they were roommates and she wanted him to get to the know the tall partially dressed Latino male that walked through the apartment that one Wednesday morning. Who knew she had a thing for Latinos? Or younger men? Alejandro was a graduate student at the program she worked for…

Yusuke chuckled. Futaba and Alejandro both frolicked with the children. Their image would make a glorious piece, indeed.

Haru and Akira sat with Sae's doctor boyfriend, on a blanket nearby. They talked of their favorite television series and drank the contraband children's apple juice. They shared laughter and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. Akira, especially, was quite delighted to talk to Hiroshi. He admired the man a great deal and they shared the same taste in books, movies, and even video games. He was excited to learn Hiroshi went to school with his friend Takemi, who still had her own practice near Leblanc. The two made plans to abduct her for curry; Akira promised it would be on the house.

Haru was simply happy to see a cheerful Akira and be by his side. Though they no longer dated, her love for him never faded. She decided she would not date until she was emotionally available, but that wouldn't hamper on their friendship and supporting each other. They had dinner together every so often. He visited the apartment to see Morgana or to house sit if she was away for work. Post break-up she felt their friendship was stronger though she missed him often at night, and thought of him whenever she saw couples. She shared this with Makoto who understood her and told her the right person would come, someday, "when least you least expect it."

As Akira and Hiroshi made their plans to eat curry, Haru got up from her blanket and headed towards the picnic table for more apple juice. When she made her way there she saw a familiar face; one she hadn't seen the year before – or in previous years. Ann walked up to Haru and the two women stood face to face. They said no words; the chatter of the people around them seemed louder – as if to speak for them. Haru rubbed the back of her neck, nervously. Ann removed her sunglasses and sighed.

"It's been a long time," Ann began. Her ashen blonde hair was as long as it was when they were teenagers. She wore it in a high ponytail. She wore little to no makeup, her lips always tinted an apple red color.

"Yeah," Haru looked away. She was unsure what to say, how to feel.

"You look great. Like – how are you keeping fit?"

"Makoto, Futaba and I take spin classes, together."

"Oh. That's great. You girls are really keeping close."

"Yeah. We figure it'd be like the 'girl's night out'. Futaba always says how great it would be if we all could go together."

"I'd love to go with you guys. I've always wanted to take a spin class."

"You should." Haru nodded and looked around feeling her mind was spinning as she struggled to find the right words to say to the woman that inspired the end of her relationship with Akira; a woman she previously called a friend.

"Haru –"

"Don't apologize. It was doomed before you came back."

"Still, I feel bad."

"Don't. You look great, and I love your line. I use it all the time. I wanted to call – I wanted to invest. I really believe in what you're doing and now that our little group has a little girl to look after, it's something Japan really needs; Yohanna needs."

"I saw the pictures. She's so beautiful."

"Yeah! So beautiful – and it'd be great if one day she could buy products for her skin type. Whether brown, white, whatever, you know? I want to invest."

Ann stared at Haru with amazement. She was shocked. It was a delayed reunion and it was more than awkward; but here Haru was – no contempt – offering her a chance. Akira wasn't a topic. And why should he have been? They were two successful women, backing each other. A man did not need to fit into that picture. Ann fought tears as she realized Haru had never stopped being her teammate; and despite Akira, never stopped being her friend.

"Yeah. We should really talk about this in greater detail. I'll be in Shibuya for a while."

"Okay." Haru smiled. She extended her hand to Ann who gave it a firm handshake in return. "How about Monday?"

Akira arose from the picnic blanket once Sae brought Yohanna over to change her diaper. Hiroshi stuck around and the three looked like the perfect family. He walked over to the picnic table and saw Haru and Ann chatting. His eyes widened at the sight of Ann, who he hadn't seen since that day in Leblanc. He felt his palms sweat. What could she and Haru and be discussing? What would he say to her? It had been so long and they didn't speak.

Haru walked away from the picnic table and passed Akira and with a smile. She rubbed his shoulder as she made her way, and he unsure if that was a vote of confidence. He inhaled deeply and walked over to the picnic table filled with food and contraband apple juice. He grabbed a carton off the table, sat down next to Ann and handed it to her. He did not look at her. He did not make eye contact. She did not look at him either, though she accepted the drink.

"No booze." She said.

"Yeah. Kid party. Sae's coworkers are here with their kids too. It's better this way."

"Yohanna is adorable."

"Yeah. Beautiful kid. Seeing her makes me want one, one day. I think; I guess. Ryuji and Makoto are planning for kids."

"Yeah. He told me in an email."

"You still talk?" He asked.

"Sometimes. Do you two still talk?" Ann asked with genuine concern. She feared she was the cause for many of Akira's failed relationships; Haru; Ryuji.

"Yeah. Sometimes." Akira ran his fingers through his hair.

Ann tried to open the juice carton. She found it particularly difficult as the straw that came with it was faulty and not strong enough to poke a hole. Akira extended his hand, offering to assist. She handed him the carton and he too struggled to open it. He then laughed at what he thought was weakness and laughed more to himself for thinking he was weak for not being able to do something so simple. Ann stared at him, confused. He looked back to her and shook the unopened juice box as if it and he were on display.

"I guess I'm old." Akira looked up into the sky. The cerulean atmosphere of the world above; the gentle summer breeze. He felt the nostalgia of the day he drove home with his comrades post their Phantom Thief days. He felt the warmth of the sun. Ann looked at him as he stared off; daydreaming. He was really in a world of his own; he always appeared otherworldly to her.

"Michael and I broke up." Akira finally made eye contact with her. She looked at him, in his onyx eyes; he wore no glasses that day.

"Because of me –"

"Because of me. He still wanted to get married but I told him it wasn't fair to him. Besides, I want to focus on my career and get this makeup line where it needs to be. Haru and I were just talking – she wants to invest. I may have a chance to do this through Okumura Inc."

He smiled, "I always knew you could do it." There it was, that smile that she'd kill for.

"Thank you."

"I can't open it, the juice box, I mean." He said in false defeat.

"It's okay. At least you tried," Ann folded her hands in her lap and lowered her head. She would do it; find the courage and the maturity she needed for that moment. She owed it to him; to herself, "I didn't. I didn't try to talk to you. I never gave you the chance to decide - on your part - what happened in our relationship. That was wrong. There were two people involved and I acted for one and I was wrong. I even did the same thing with Michael - I'm sorry."

Akira looked at her. The strange silence that made her nervous came back. He placed the juice box on the table and rubbed his hands into his jeans; the carton felt a bit sticky. Akira looked up into the sky once more. Ann reached out and held his sticky hand. He looked at her and smiled, "That's all I wanted to hear."

As they sat together among the children; their friends, and the summer breeze; holding hands; unbeknownst to them, the apple juice carton leaked from the bottom.

- Fin

Author's Note: Please review and comment. I will respond to everyone. Thank you for reading.