That night, Mai got little sleep. Within the confines of her hotel room, her surroundings felt distorted and hostile. She should be happy and relieved; she had survived a shooting. But the fact that she even ended up in a shootout still shook her to the core. Thus her body was heavy like an anvil when she awoke the next morning.

She lay under the bedcovers, listening to the buzzing traffic of South Town, listening to her own beating heart. She felt every inch of her body pulsate with life. Maybe a little shame too as she had been quite touchy with Geese during the incident. But her discomfort for him was the least of their issues back when. Hugging Geese and making sure that old goat didn't get his brains blown out came to her without much thought.

Sighing deeply, Mai moved out of bed and got dressed. She cast one lasting look on the red dress laying on one of the chairs before she left her hotel room and headed for the elevator.

The thing required a card key to operate, Mai had come to find out within the first week of staying here. She had been (un)fortunate enough to be given a card that gave her access to most floors of the tower except for the lowest basement floor and Geese's personal quarters.

Probably for the best.

As the elevator ascended, Mai began to ponder on what she should talk with Geese about or more so how to broach the topic of the shootout. As she reached the floor with the offices and whatnot, Mai concluded that she would not be staying here if the mere act of driving in a car with Geese Howard was a risk to her life, debt, and contracts be damned. Sure, it wasn't his fault so she couldn't fault him for that but it had happened and Mai felt like there was a big fat red target on her back now.

I quit.

Two simple easy words that could have flown out of Mai's mouth, the moment she stood outside the door to Geese's office. She lifted her hand to knock, though the anxiety and anticipation were mounting. Her heart and breathing quickened with her chest rising and falling in rhythm. Annoyingly, Geese had been nothing but courteous and forthcoming even if this entire charade started because he needed to interrogate her.

And yet he had protected her, making sure she was all right, saving her life, carrying her like a princess. Been so frustratingly and uncharacteristically gentle to her. Mai squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the thoughts of paying him back for all he had done. No, she couldn't back out now. This was something she had to do. For her safety and the honor of Andy.

Even if she was in the process of picking up the scattered pieces belonging to her broken heart after these grueling six months, she wouldn't let her previous thoughts about ending her life result in getting shot. All of that would be in vain if she got shot before she could realize her dream.

"Looking for Mr. Howard? He's upstairs, taking the day off," Ripper said from the other end of the hallway, by the elevator. Mai blinked slowly, shutting her thoughts up and allowing the present to step in for a moment. She swallowed and headed towards the bodyguard, inside the elevator. In silence, they rode upwards, just a few floors before they reached their destination.

"Hey, Ripper. Why did they shoot at us?" Mai asked, her fists clenching.

"Assassination attempt," he answered as if it was just routine for them.

"Yeah, but why?"

Ripper's jaw shifted just a bit, probably the most amount of emotion he had emitted during the time Mai knew him, shooting at a car notwithstanding. "…There's always someone out there hoping to hurt you no matter who you are."

Mai wasn't sure if she liked such a statement. Maybe there was truth to it if someone was a public figure. If so, how sad that was. Was she worried about Geese? No, not on a personal level that was. It was the same distant basic level of empathy that every person felt towards others because they weren't total sociopaths.

Either way the doors opened, and Mai stepped out, searching through the estate to look for Geese. She refused Ripper's help and set about searching on her own. That way, she could gather her thoughts without his looming presence. After fifteen minutes of navigating through various corridors and hallways, she found Geese in an indoor Zen garden.

Blurry beams of sunlight passed through the wide windows, occasionally obscured by passing clouds. Suppose that must have been interesting to look at as Geese seemed to bask in it, sitting on the wooden patio, enjoying a cup of green tea. He wasn't dressed in a suit either and Mai had seen him in other clothes before. For someone who wasn't Japanese, the hakama and kimono suited him well weirdly enough.

Now if only he'd do something about the American flags plastered all over the place.

At some point, he must have noticed Mai's presence as he turned around, staring at her when she neglected to say something.

"Miss Mai. How are you holding up?" he asked, completely casual despite what had occurred less than twelve hours ago. Mai was cautious in coming too close to him. She had done more than enough of that during the shootout and the shame of the memory caused her stomach to twist and turn in ways that made her silently beg Andy for forgiveness.

"Awful. How can you be so calm?" she asked, her voice becoming grainy and hoarse. She noticed far too late that she had begun shaking. The shock had passed but its residue was still heavily felt.

"Because we're alive."

"Huh?"

A quiet sigh came from Geese before he stood up with the cup of tea in his hand. He drank from it liberally and Mai hated that she could see his throat move with each gulp. Not quite fitting of the gentlemanly front he put up, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. All he needed to do then was to belch and then he'd be the world's richest slob.

"I'll be frank with you," Geese dropped all casualness from his voice, speaking at Mai directly and factually like he was about to lecture her. "Although we were just at the wrong place at the wrong time last night, there've been attempts on my life for any number of reasons before."

"…Because of what? Business?" Mai raised a brow, partly facetious, partly confused as to why Geese wasn't locking himself down in a bunker, paranoid beyond mental stability. Maybe he wasn't as cool with it as he appeared to be.

"You'd be surprised at how much some people are changed by money."

Annoyingly, he had a point. Mai recalled reading too many stories about lottery winners getting blasted by their social circle because of money. Fair to assume, it happened to rich men and business folk as well. Mai wondered if Geese was also like that.

"So that's just your life then?" she shrugged, stepping aside when he walked past her with the cup. From one of the other rooms, Hein emerged with a teapot. He shot Mai a quick look before pouring hot liquid into the cup and leaving with a formal bow.

"I learned to live with it. When you leave this tower, you won't have to," Geese said and took a few sips of his tea. He didn't even blow at it first.

Mai hated the things he was implying. She had nothing of material value to offer those who did wish to kill her but at the same time, she was certain no one wanted to kill her in the first place. That could change, the longer she stayed here.

"That sounds like it's not worth anything at all."

"Are you worried about me?" Geese asked, genuinely surprised. A smug, self-assured smile formed over his lips then. "No need for that. I know the risks. I prepared for them."

"I'm not…well maybe a little bit because that's just a human thing."

"Ah, that's nice. I suppose it'd be good to reward that. You can have the week off," he said with no sarcasm whatsoever yet, Mai couldn't help but feel like he was mocking her in some way. Or trying to increase her debt with such a "reward". Mai would admit that just carrying on as if nothing had happened sounded like a challenge so she was thankful, and then maybe not with the way things had progressed.

"…I feel as if I am deeper and deeper falling in debt," she uttered, louder than she intended. When a musing sigh came from Geese, it occurred to her that he had heard every word.

"Saving someone's life isn't a loan you have to pay back. There's no need to feel indebted to be because of that. Go out, and have some fun. Annoy Billy if you must. I'll send him to protect you if it'll make you feel better."

Instantly Mai fought the overwhelming urge to say no and yet, she couldn't deny the wave of relief that came over her and slumped her shoulders just a bit. Guess just for today, she'd allow it. "…Fine. Is the reason why you're taking the day off that you're scared?"

Geese stared at her as if she had just made a horrible joke. Then he just smiled, assured and confident as usual. "Pfft, no. I'm actually more so just tired from being at a boring gala, stuck in traffic, and prevented from going to bed in a timely manner. Even I sleep in sometimes."

In all honesty, it didn't appear like that. He looked fresh. He always did. Suppose that just part of the image that belonged to Geese Howard. Still, Mai found some level of amusement by imagining Geese stuck in his bed, sleeping until noon like a teenager. That would at least be one time when he wasn't so self-assured and confident.

A whole week of doing nothing at all and absolutely everything felt almost overwhelming. Until now, Mai only had the weekends off and then she'd spend those alone, isolating herself and sleeping in. And today, she stood in the bustling streets of South Town with Billy a few feet behind her. They hadn't talked since they left the tower and Mai was grateful for that, going about her day like he wasn't there.

But the fact of the matter was that Billy was indeed present, buzzing like a fly but never annoying; just keeping an eye on Mai while she moved through the streets. The first stop was using her paycheck to get new clothes. While at the tower, shelter, and food were readily available, though Mai ate alone pretty much all of the time. So, with the extra money, she figured she could spoil herself a little.

She passed through one shop's window and laid eyes on a rather nice outfit, fitting the autumn weather. A wooly cream-white sweater, a black skirt with white dots, and fitting gray stockings. Very few things in life made Mai happy these days but traces of old joys rippled within her and she entered the store without a second thought. Mai may be feeling like garbage, but she could at least be good-looking garbage.

The shop assistant was immediately ready to help, picking up all the pieces that composed the outfit from the window as she talked about all the hottest new trends of the season. Mai listened with half an ear and spotted Billy standing by the door with a sullen look on his face. It was fair to assume Lily hadn't dragged him out on any shopping trips.

"I think it would quite suit you," the shop assistant said, and Mai smiled – genuinely.

"I hope so. I like it."

There was little conversation after that thankfully while the items were scanned in. In the meantime, Mai's eye for fashion caught a handbag and a pair of stylish, light blue jeans; both were added to the total. After everything had been paid for, Mai bid her farewell to the shop assistant and left the store with Billy following behind like a schnauzer. Feeling a little better, Mai continued down the street until she passed by a flower shop.

"Hold this," she handed the numerous shopping bags to a disgruntled Billy before she headed inside the shop, almost overwhelmed by the aroma of the flowers.

"Welcome," the florist greeted from behind a counter, busy wrapping a bouquet of white and yellow roses; fitting for a wedding. Seeing it stung just a bit, as Mai was well aware that she would forever be unmarried. Ah, how she wished she could become a bride. Andy's bride. Now that would be a dream come true.

"I'd like to order a bouquet. Can I pick the flowers?" Mai asked.

"Of course!"

In the Hanakotoba, the flowers chosen had a specific meaning which would help Mai express herself and be fitting of their purpose. A bundle of random flowers would absolutely ruin that. For this reason, she settled for exactly four flowers; the yellow camellia for longing, the zinnia for loyalty, and the forget-me-not for true love. Finally, the alstroemeria for the phrase of "Such strong connection that language is limited when trying to explain it".

That was quite apt. Who cared if the flowers didn't go so well together in an arrangement?

Mai was thankful that her grandmother had taught her flower pressing and Hanakotoba when she was a little child. It was not a skill she ever imagined she'd be using until the passing of both her grandparents. Grandmother wanted the red poppy for her funeral, symbolizing a person who was fun-loving for that fit her quite well. For grandfather, it was the edelweiss for courage.

After getting the bouquet, Mai made her way to the final destination of the day. It occurred to her that she had never told Billy of her plans, not that it concerned him. He was just here to make sure no one got the idea of gunning them down because of Geese being…well, Geese.

"Oh, cock…" was the first thing that came from Billy once they stood outside the gate to the graveyard. He turned to stare at her, with his staff resting on his shoulder and the shopping bags hanging from it. Mai returned the stare, watching how he shuddered with discomfort.

"I…I'll let you be alone," he said and she entered through the creaking gates, thankful for this victory.

It felt strange to be in the graveyard again after these past weeks. It felt somewhat wrong considering what Mai had been doing. Even more so because she wasn't breaking down once she stood over the grave. Terry had requested that Andy be buried alongside their father and Mai had no say in that but it wasn't like she had a wish for anything else.

Andy was her boyfriend but he was Terry's brother and Jeff's son first.

It became horribly clear during the funeral. Mai tried not to think of how she stared at the name edged into the gravestone back then, wishing she could dig up the urn and magically, by some miracle, Andy was there, smiling alive and well. He would hold a present for her; like the first gift he gave to her on her birthday. All would be well and they could go home together.

That feeling still lingered six months later, albeit not so strongly. During all this time, she never thought to talk to Terry, Joe, or any of their mutuals. She isolated herself because she couldn't bear the agony of Andy's absence. She couldn't handle how everything reminded her of him.

She still felt so weak without him.

The funny thing was that Mai wasn't unaccustomed to grief. Her grandparents' passing struck her hard but back then, she always had someone's shoulder to cry on. Now, she had no one. This time, it was her fault; isolating herself and shutting her friends out.

Mai sighed, remembering the conversation with the lady during the charity gala. They shared experiences of grief and talked about the best ways to cope. Mai had alluded to living a tortured existence in grief and that was when the lady had said the following;

"We as people learn to live in acceptance of the loss, not in spite of it. Of course, there will be times when we have bad days but it's just a reminder of how much we loved them. There will be a day when you can think of him and a smile will come to your face instead of tears. We can't get over it, but we'll get through it."

To Mai, that sounded like platitudes, she had heard times before but she couldn't scream it in the face of the lady who related to her so well. People dealt with grief differently and some handled it better than others. Some were never to overcome it or live in its acceptance; Mai felt like one of those people and felt defeated by her sorrows.

"You're stronger than you realize," the lady had said when Mai couldn't give any positive affirmation to the conversation. Those words, she latched onto immediately. She didn't know why and now, she was still unsure. But they had struck her something fierce in a way she could not explain and she only got a headache trying to figure out the reasons.

Instead, she picked the fallen leaves off the grave, scooped them in her hand, and put the bouquet by the gravestone. Mai liked to think Andy felt a little more at ease with her presence when she came to visit. She closed her eyes, remembering his smile, his shy tendencies, his heartfelt but testing displays of affection. His bravery and his passion.

His smile and his voice. It all became crystal clear in her mind.

"Mai? Holy shit, it's you!" a voice said, not belonging to Andy or Billy. Mai fluttered her eyes open and turned around to see Joe Higashi of all people standing there and staring at her with his mouth hanging open.

"Joe…" she began a little awkwardly. She stood up, unsure of what to say or how to react when he rushed towards her and pulled her into a tight hug.

"It's been way too long!" he exclaimed in pure joy.

Mai was a little more lukewarm. "Yeah."

It had been around six months, like so much of everything. Mai had caught wind of Joe traveling back to Japan to reflect after the funeral so he must have returned recently. She sighed and looked at the grave, once she was released, listening to the wind rustling the leaves of the nearby trees. Some fell to the ground, yellow in color but not quite the warm orange so commonly found in the autumn.

Maybe Mai should think of something to say while the silence lasted. Maybe even look him in the eyes. The sound of footsteps crushing against the gavel distracted her and Mai initially figured other people had come to visit their loved ones. Instead, it was an incensed Billy.

"What in the bloody hell are you doing here?!" he cursed, his hands tightly clenched around his staff and the shopping bags.

"Pole boy?" Joe was completely indifferent. "Long time no see."

The nickname was like gasoline to fire for Billy's mood.

"Loud obnoxious knobhead," he jeered, scowling at the amused chuckle he got as a response.

"Knobhead?" Joe raised a brow. "You gotta work on your insults."

Either that was meant as a hard jab or Joe legitimately had no idea what knob actually meant in the realm of British slang. Both were equally plausible but Mai was not here to entertain either of those possibilities, let alone these two knobs having a go at each other. She pinched the bridge of her nose and cleared her throat. "Would you take your fight elsewhere? This is a place of rest for the deceased."

Both men stared at her for a bit, then marched out of the graveyard until Mai stood alone. It occurred to her that she had quite a lot to explain to Joe with this. She wondered if he'd find her actions inexcusable.