-Reiji's POV-

His simple question was met with stunned silence. Reiji wasn't surprised. He raised the white stick to his mouth and took another satisfying puff of the cigarette before he elaborated, "Isn't it about time? You've found him; he's safe. And apparently moved on to greener pastures."

This caused a frown to appear on Takamiya's already haggard face. Obviously the translator didn't like hearing that. Reiji ignored the look and continued sarcastically, "He's moved on, so should you. Now you can go back to England and live out the rest of the fairytale with Kuroda. Happily-ever-after doesn't come twice to everyone."

Confusion took over Takamiya's features while the glint in his eyes shone wetly. He ran another hand through his hair out of frustration and respond with disbelief, "this isn't how I imagine things to end between us. Never like this. Perhaps if I could just talk to him—"

"What's the use?" Reiji interjected as he gestured his hand that was holding the cigarette at his friend to emphasize his following words. "Listen to yourself. You should know how things will turn out. You know him better than all of us."

The B&B owner paused for his words to sink in. His hawk-like eyes considered the translator as Takamiya visibly crumbled with the weight of his sudden realization. With the full weight of the truth on his shoulders, Takamiya dropped his head and braced both hands atop the counter as if defeated.

Satisfied with this intended result, Reiji took a last puff of the cigarette and extinguish it out in the amber liquid then drove his argument home, "Izumi chose to run away. He chose to sever all ties with you. He's already made his choice."

With each word he said, Reiji made sure it hit his friend with clarity. Takamiya was now clutching his head with both hands. Regardless whether it was done to block out his words or in acceptance, Reiji pressed onwards. He decided to deliver the final blow, "Now so should you. It's time to let him go, Takamiya. This is what he wants."

Reiji didn't expect a response from his friend. It was probably too soon. It was better this way. He should allow the translator some semblance of peace to think over what he had said. The man was known to be pretty stubborn after all. In fact, Reiji was counting on it.

The B&B owner rose from his seat on the bar stool and moved to grab his overcoat from the sofa. He spared another glance at Takamiya. The man hadn't budged at all; Reiji shook his head at the sight. Perhaps he may have gone too far.

Or so he thought. Two strides towards the door later, he heard Takamiya spoke up with a resolve he thought was lost for a few moments there.

"You're wrong Aoe. This is not what I want and I'll be damn if Izumi doesn't see that this is not what he wants either."

Reiji allowed a small smile to appear on his lips before he quipped, "…'if there is something you really want… there's no reason to worry about how you look to others, right?' That includes the brat."

Saying all he had to say, he continued the rest of the steps it took to reach the door and twist the doorknob. Again Takamiya's voice reached to him and arrested his movements.

"Aoe."

Reiji paused then turn around and was please to find his friend's countenance returned to the confident Takamiya he's always known before this debacle began. The translator's eyes was no longer lost or confused. Gratitude now shone within its depths. Reiji already knew what his friend wanted to convey before he even said it.

"Thank you."

Reiji nodded in return and made to leave once more. He opened the door and stumbled onto Kuroda Imai who was about to slide the card through the key reader and had dropped something he was holding.

"I'm terribly sorry. How clumsy of me…" Kuroda dithered before crouching down and gathered the pink bag he'd dropped on the floor.

For a split second there, Reiji thought he saw a scowl on the young man's face. But within a blink of an eye, it was gone; replaced by Kuroda's habitual pleased demeanor. Odd as it was, Reiji brushed the thought aside then inclined his head in greeting as well as apology.

"This is such a surprise! Won't you stay for awhile, Aoe-san? You've been such a gracious host to us back in Shanghai. It is only fair we reciprocate your generosity."

Reiji couldn't help but find the man's choice of words more than a bit grating at times. During the two weeks in getting to know the fellow, the B&B owner can say with much irony, that he rather prefer Izumi's straightforward bluster to Kuroda's polite façade any day. Fortunately, that fact he would never share with anyone if he can help it.

Takamiya had moved to stand beside Aoe on the threshold to join the conversation. His voice was full of light and genuine tease that he hadn't shown for while. "Imai-kun, Aoe was just stopping by. In fact, he was on his way out. So he won't be able to join us for dinner."

Reiji witnessed the immediate blush that tinge the fair skin of the slim figure and watched the man fidget with the bag. He raised a brow when Kuroda's delicate lips formed an 'O' when he gasped.

"Oh dear, dinner! If you please excuse me, I must check on the food that I so clumsily dropped. Aoe-san, it was a pleasure seeing you again. It is unfortunate you can't stay. Until next time then," spoke Kuroda hurriedly before he inclined his head and moved to bypass the two older men.

The inane chatter from the younger man was soon forgotten as Takamiya and Reiji shared one final look at each other before they parted ways at the door: one revealing determination, while the second wished the other good luck.