Harry was sleeping quite heavily when Ruth decided to get up. She wasn't surprised though, she knew it was a long flight from London, and he wouldn't have slept in a while. When she got up, she stroked his hair gently and then took a quick shower. She didn't want to wash Harry's touch away, but unless she was staying in bed all day, she didn't have much choice.

Once she was dressed, she saw Harry's suitcase standing in her lounge. Without thinking about it too much, she made a snap decision. She unzipped the case, looking for her passport. She found it, in a back pocket and opened it. She started shaking as she looked at her own British passport. Freedom. God, she was actually free. After nearly four years living in exile, she could go home. She cried, unable to help it, clutching her passport like it was a prized diamond.

After countless minutes, her tears dried up and she smiled at her passport. Home, London, Britain and Harry were awaiting her with that passport. And her tears had completely changed to a happy smile.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Ruth said, smiling. She turned the corner and Harry blinked. Appearing as if from nowhere were orange gates lining a pathway, heading on a gentle slope upwards. "Fushimi Inari," she said. "The sunset from the top is beautiful."

"How long a walk is it?"

"About an hour," she said. "It's peaceful." He moved to hold her hand lightly as they walked through the hundreds of orange gates. She'd been right, it was peaceful. They passed a few Japanese couples going back down the slope, and a few western tourists too, who were obvious by the large cameras around their necks. But himself and Ruth were both quiet. Just enjoying each others presence and it was soothing to him. After so long without her, the joy of holding her hand couldn't be underestimated.

At one point, he turned to her in silence and kissed her deeply, holding her against him, just for the pleasure of it. She smiled against him. "I've missed you," he breathed when they parted.

"So have I," she said. "Come on, we're nearly there." He followed her and within five minutes they emerged from the numerous orange gates, to see the city below them like a painting.

"Wow," Harry said. "That's beautiful."

"It is," she said, sitting down on a bench. "I like to come here when I have some time and it's not raining."

"Worse rain than London?" he asked, sitting next to her.

"No," she said. "Just a different time of year. July and August are the wettest months. Took a while to get used to it."

"Sound like Britain," he grumbled.

She laughed. "You love everything about Britain, including the weather. I know you do."

"Yes," he agreed. "I suppose I do." Ruth reached for her bag which she'd brought up with them. Inside, there was a bottle of sake and two glasses. Harry took the bottle, looking at the Japanese characters before handing it back.

"It's rather strong," she said, pouring them each shot. Harry took a sip and his eyebrows shot up.

"Wow, you weren't wrong," he said. "It is strong."

"An acquired taste," she said, sipping her rice wine. "I like it."

She sighed happily and leant against his chest. "I've been thinking, Harry," she said quietly.
He felt his insides freeze, as that small sentence didn't bode well for him. What on earth could she have been thinking about which would have the need to be announced like that? "Oh?" he asked carefully and (he hoped) neutrally.

"It's not bad," she said, turning to face him. "Or, I don't think it's bad."

"Just tell me," he said softly. "Do you want to stay here?"

"No," she said, gripping his arm tightly in reassurance. "No, I'm coming back to the UK. It's just… when I get there, I don't want to return to Thames House. I think… I think I'm done Harry."

"Oh," he said, in a much different tone. Relief that it wasn't something more serious, and she relaxed slightly.

"You don't mind?"

"It's your choice," he said. "And of course I don't mind. I've imagined us working together again, but my imagination isn't as important as you being happy."

"I just feel… apart from anything else, I feel that if we spent all of our working lives and our personal lives together as well, it might get a little… repetitive. We might get a little bored of each other. I want us to last, Harry."

He stroked her hair lightly. He couldn't see that he would ever get bored of Ruth, but he also knew she had a point. At the end of the day, they would be able to talk to each other, without already knowing that the other person knew every little detail about it. "So you see us as… long term?"

"I didn't throw my freedom away for just anyone." He smiled at her and kissed her softly.

"No you didn't," he agreed. "You should never have had to do that for me."

"It's gone," she said quietly. "I don't want to focus on the wasted time now. Not when I'm coming home."

"Fair enough," he said. He kissed her deeply, and it was a long time before they came up for air.

More soon. Thanks for reading.