Yes I'm well aware I still fail at updates. I apologize sincerely.

But at least I try to keep certain dates- and anniversary is one of them so celebrate ^_^

Thank you all for your reviews though... without them it would likely never get updated... ^^;;

Disclaimer: Still don't own them. And a bit glad I don't or we'd never get updates....

She wasn't sure why she was doing it, nor was she certain that she hadn't completely over dressed. It wasn't like she'd attempted anything above casual, except that after such a long time she felt that she should be dressed up to make an impression.

Not to mention the little voice creeping inside her head that screamed she wanted him think she was pretty.

So there she was, something the front of her blue dress for the umpteenth time, and trying to figure out whether to go in with the coat fully unbuttoned or just the top couple. Her hand strayed up to her hair hoping that the mess was still in place, and her frizz hadn't gotten out of control just yet. She'd like to keep it in place until he saw her. At least her make up hadn't had time to wear off although she did add another layer of lipgloss… just in case.

She forced herself to stop fidgeting and finally walked up and opened the door. She didn't dare put it off any longer, or she'd run the risk of missing him.

The tea shop was fairly un-crowded for the early evening. She took a quick glance aground, and frowned when she didn't see him. She wondered vaguely if maybe the whole conversation had just been some ridiculous prank, but than that seemed less likely some how.

She ordered herself one of their fruit teas, and was debating about getting a crêpe when she heard the door open. She did a quick glance before finishing her order, but there had been several individuals and she didn't think she saw Kaito. She gave her name to the attendant and was about to reach for her wallet when she "felt" the person who had stepped into line behind her freeze.

The jolt caused her to turn, and she found herself face to face with the man she was suppose to meet there. She had been all so ready to prep herself, and now that he had finally arrived, she felt every thought she'd so earnestly come up with fly out altogether. It took no more than a quick glance as well to know that Jii-san hadn't informed him of who he was going to meet.

Kaito's eyes went wide as he stared at the girl. For a moment she completely forgot what she was doing, and failed to hear the waitress call "Miss?" In some ways she found herself just as surprised as Kaito appeared to be as she faced him in line. Actually seeing him there at such a close proximity-

"Kaito-" she said more to herself than him. She was still lost at looking at his face, unaware of the woman calling to her from behind the counter.

He didn't speak to Aoko immediately, but rather stepped next to her and threw a smile at the server, "It's alright. I'll cover it- and while you're at it I'll have one of those teas as well, and a crêpe-" he gave a quick look to the menu, "But with chocolate and crème rather than strawberries if you will…"

The girl smiled at him shyly and nodded, "Yes sir-" she threw a glare at Aoko as she took the money Kaito handed her. Aoko on the other hand was still trying to get her bearings back before she realized she should probably protest this. She looked at him and tried to ignore her trembling fingers clutching to her purse, "Don't be silly you shouldn't have to pay for this! I have it-"

She lost her words when Kaito shot her a grin and winked, "This way you have to sit down and have tea with me. I mean…" she watched as something flickered in his eyes, "Unless you don't want to… In which case-"

She shook her head and pushed her wallet away before she dropped it, "No. No… I… I do. Really…" she added seeing his smile flicker. He turned back to finish getting his change and she found self looking him over.

He looked almost the same except for that his clothing and face had both added several years of maturity. A simple button up dress shirt and slacks that hung to him in a way they might a model. Nothing too out of the ordinary, something even a buisnessman might wear, but on him you would say they were made for a model.

He looked older without having chnaged at all, but her body was telling her it had noticed the change and liked it.

Stupid libido. Stupid idiotic emotions.

He tilted his head towards a table, and she gave a nervous smile as they headed to a more private seat in the shop. As they sat down she was better examine the details of his face, the lines that had etched in just barely around his eyes and mouth. Added that hint of maturity, and taken away from the teen boy he use to be.

She saw what seemed like half hidden shadows under his eyes, and for a brief moment wondered if he'd added a touch of conceler to hide them. It was silly, but then with as much disguising as Kaito had to do it would make sense. There was also something about the way the shadows and lines had been blended into his face that reminded her why she was their, remind her that it was Jii who had called her there.

Except it wasn't what bothered her the most.

Her eyes had glanced up at his hairline. Well she'd always been strangly attracted to his hair, the idiotic mop that was about as disobediant as he was. His hair was still as messy as ever, and really had the same rolled out of bed look it did when they were in high school, except now she saw a few streaks of grey. Not one or two hairs, but several together; it was something that aged him more than the soft lines and dark shadows.

They were well hidden, but she had the dying urge to reach out and touch them. In many ways she wanted to simply push them away, or make them disappear. She wondered if Kaito had simply not noticed them, or hadn't bothered to hide them thinking it enhanced his look. Of course it might be harder to hide the grey hair, unless he wanted to dye his whole head-- and it wasn't like he'd planned on seeing her.

More than likely she wouldn't have ever noticed if she hadn't been actively searching for it, really when Jii had left her staring at the phone, she hadn't been certain what to expect. She knew even at the worst of times Kaito wasn't one to seek solace in alcohol, or suicide. She knew she wouldn't find him with slashes on his arms, or in a drugged state. But the small hints of exhaustion led her to believe that perhaps Jii had cause to call her.

"Still as dashing as ever am I?" she was thrown out of her assessment as she heard him chuckle at her. Looking up at him she wonder exactly how long he'd noticed her staring at him… Probably a while.

A blush blossomed on her cheeks and she rolled her eyes, "Silly. It's been a few years, you'll have to give me a few moments to get use to seeing you as more than a gangly teen."

He smirked, "Oh? And just look whose talking miss-I-got-curves!" His smile widened, "Bet guys finally stopped thinking you were a man…"

"Kaito!" She made a face even as he laughed at her across the table. Except she saw something in his eye as he laughed, as though the laughter didn't quite reach to the rest of his face. She felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny, and suddenly it felt more like she was talking to a stranger than an estranged friend.

The bridge between them started to shrink as they talked though. They ate and drank several cups of tea forgetting in the first place why they were even there, at least until Kaito looked at his watch and said, "I completely forgot. I should probably call Jii- I was suppose to meet him here at-" he froze and looked back up at her. All at once the easy expression that had made its way across his face disappeared. Like a child who discovered mommy had been lying to him, he watched Aoko warily.

"Jii called you here didn't he?" for a moment she wondered if he was going to bolt, and she sat precariously in her seat wondering now what?

She bit her lip, "Why would you think-"

He groaned and she could tell he was about to get to his feet, "Stupid. I'm so… He did call you. Look I'm really sorry- I'll make sure he doesn't try something like that again. You'll be left alone alright? Sorry for disturbing your-"

"Kaito!" she said firmly. "Whose calling who stupid? Do you think I'd be here if I didn't want to be?"

Kaito scowled and looked away from her. She saw a hint of betrayal cross his face, and anger except that a moment later it was erased. Stone. She couldn't have figured out what he was thinking for all the jewels in Japan. "Kaito it's not like that. He simply called and said he thought you might want to see me. He was a little worried about you-" there was the flash of annoyance again but she chose to ignore it, "Though you seem alright to me. I didn't come because of him… I… I wanted to see you- I just wasn't sure you wanted to see me…" she stared down at her hands where they were trembling once more in her lap.

"What?" apparently that was enough to jerk Kaito back to her side.

"We didn't exactly leave on the best terms. I mean they weren't as terrible when I found out about… well… you know… but-" she found herself looking out the window rather than meet his eye. "I didn't think you'd want to see me, but he at least gave me the opportunity. I figured if you hated me I'd-"

"Hate you?" She was thankful their was at least an expression on his face. "Hate you? Aoko why would I hate you? You had every right to be angry towards me! With everything else going on, I figured it was probably for the best we were losing touch, but hate you?" He shook his head in shock, "I could never hate you. You were my first and the best friend I ever had."

She found herself smiling risked being seen as forward as she reached across to the table to grab his hand and squeeze it before quickly letting it go, "Good, because try as I might I really couldn't hate you either, and missed you pretty badly. Do you have any idea how boring life is without you sending off fireworks, or causing a garden to grow in the middle of my kitchen?"

She saw his smile return, but the distance was back in his eyes. She wondered just how long it would be before she was able to regain his trust completely again.

Or how long she'd have to go before she found exactly what had happened since she'd last seen him.