Date date date date date!

Also I had musical inspiration when I wrote this chapter. Actually I had musical inspiration for just about every chapter I wrote, and have been considering going back and editing the notes to add them. Anyways for this one a lot of my inspiration came listening to the Kare Kano OST A Lonely Figure/Groping In The Dark. Especially during the night scene ;3

CHAPTER 14: CONNECT

Unexpected was the knot twisting Ataru's stomach as he readied himself for the day. It really didn't make any sense. What was he getting worked up over? He was just seeing Lum after all, no reason to be anxious. Yet his body argued this logic with jitters and chills and all manner of nervous tics. Well, he supposed he couldn't blame himself, considering how much time had passed since he last saw her. And he'd be lying if he didn't admit to at least some curiosity about what lay ahead.

From her posters he didn't suspect she'd changed too much, maybe her hair was a smidge shorter, but her appearance wasn't the issue. How would she behave? After months spent apart, how would she react to seeing him again? Was she planning to punish him for the radio silence once they were face to face? Hmm. Maybe not, they already more or less made amends over the phone. No, she was more likely to attack him with an embarrassing display of love. And that could involve anything! Shocks, crying, perhaps even both; son of a bitch he hated the suspense! Ataru wrung his shirt in his hands, wrinkling it horribly, which only doubled his annoyance because now he couldn't wear it. Tossing it aside with a pile of rejected outfits he pulled a new one from the closet and changed again.

Best not to think about what could happen, Ataru advised himself; just get dressed, comb his hair, brush his teeth and go before it gets too late. Being late today, of all days, was out of the question!

Thankfully, despite his troubles, Ataru managed to make it with five minutes to spare. A record for him in all honestly, at least when it came to dates with Lum. He was breathless from having run, but punctual, and that was worth the extra effort. If only it wasn't so crowded, he mused, taking note of the people crisscrossing down sidewalks and in and out of stores. Senshoo was unusually busy today, even for a Saturday. Perhaps meeting in the middle of the shopping district wasn't the best idea, particularly if she felt inclined to shower him with affection. Which was a very real possibility. Lum never did have any sense of social grace. Ataru sighed deeply and hung his head. The day hadn't even started, and he was already exhausted.

"Darling!" And there she was, her voice ringing joyously from behind. Ataru felt a preemptive shock blaze through his whole body - apprehension and excitement all rolled into a rush of confounding emotions. He turned, slowly, caught sight of her, and froze.

No Advertisement was ever given to honesty, not in motion or static images, yet he was wholly unprepared for how grievously they'd lied about the woman coming toward him. Ataru knew who she was by sight, and still, he felt like he was seeing Lum for the first time. A subtle hint of age now touched her features, bringing refinement and polish to her face and elegance in every gesture. She moved like a breeze even when walking, gliding toward him with catlike poise that made it impossible to catch his breath. There was a spark in her orange-gold eyes, hinting at the untamable woman behind that dazzling Duchenne smile. With a hand she brushed her hair back as the wind teased at it, and he noticed then she'd dyed it to a deep navy blue that still held traces of her natural hue when sun-struck. Ataru was spellbound. Unprompted his eyes moved down her body, only to retreat quickly back to the safety of her face, lest he lose all semblance of control. She wasn't even wearing anything provocative; a high-necked black long-sleeved shirt and a short, red pin-striped overall skirt. However, the way she filled the outfit was enough to heat the blood in his cheeks. How, he wondered, could she have changed so much in only one season? Ataru forgot himself until her smile gave way to a concerned frown.

"Darling?" She asked, making him hyper aware that he'd been staring slack-jawed, definitely blushing, and quite possibly developing a drool.

"Nothing!" Ataru barked, shaking his head vigorously to clear out any devious thoughts - of which there were plenty in the making. What gives!? It was only Lum! Just...just Lum, just...just...dammit!

While Ataru was busy trying to screw his head back on right, Lum was making her own observations.

Along with all her other peculiar wonders, Lum was gifted with an amazing ability to see past whatever character flaws Ataru happened to have on display. She didn't bat an eye at his bristling lack of warmth, or the angry look on his face as he fought to retain some semblance of self-possession. Lum's eyes had seen right down to the core of her dear husband, sighting the goodness within the man she'd come to know so intimately through the cracks of his detached veneer. However he may act on the surface, that was not who he was on the inside. And that was not all! Keenly she noticed he'd gotten taller too, the contours of his face were cleaner, sleek, and...he looked so tired. Lum's smile gave way to a growing concern for the quality of his sleep. Ataru caught her eyes before she had time to speak.

"What?" he asked, suddenly far more interested in whatever could be making her stare at him so strangely. A small gasp popped out of her mouth as his eyes sharpened and she could see the finer features of his face more clearly. Heat rose up in her chest so abruptly Lum had to turn away. Hidden from his prying eyes and mounting curiosity she burned bright red. The years left her, and for a split second she was reduced to a fidgety high school girl with a crush.

"Darling." She did not hide the astonishment in her voice. Ataru's interest was even further piqued, to the point where he was now inching around for a peek at her face. "I didn't expect you to look so handsome." Lum concluded with no small measure of admiration and a sly, coy glance over her shoulder.

Poor Ataru was overwhelmed with competing emotions. Didn't expect him to look handsome? Well obviously he would, he was very fetching in his own opinion. Why on earth did she feel the need to say that as though it were out of the ordinary? As per usual she was rude as ever, but damn it all, the way she looked at him was – at that moment he chose to blank out rather than dive into anything too strenuous. Just seeing her, the emotions it rekindled inside of him and the flutter of novelty that came with change, was enough to digest on its own.

Lum's laughter was the thing that snapped him out of his momentary stupor. She was facing him now and flush with joy. And again it was hard for him to breathe. How the hell could one person be so amazing and so vexing all at once?

"So where're we going first?" Lum latched onto Ataru's unguarded arm, prompting a wave of nostalgia to wash over him. And he could swear...he missed this. "I've only been to Senshoo once." Hold on. Ataru glanced from their arms to her eyes with a curious pinch to his brows.

"When were you here?" Ataru was ready to pull up his exact location on whatever date she listed, wondering how close they were to running into one another without him even knowing.

"July I think? One of the first couple of weeks." Lum's eyes traced the sky as if it held the answers, but she was unable to pinpoint an exact date there or in her memories. Not that she cared, as evidenced in the speed of which she threw up her shoulders in defeat. "I don't remember, we were shooting a rental Ad." Much the same as Ataru, she was also afflicted by the time-slip that came from the daily grind. Her Calendar was defined by projects rather than months. Dates were mostly irrelevant now.

"Oh?" Ataru asked more questions along their route to the theater in northern Senshoo, and he learned she'd been spending the bulk of her days in Butsumetsu where Go-Time's Japanese studio was located. They had quite a way to travel, so Ataru was open to idle chatter that Lum was all too willing to provide. He'd planned for a stop along the way to break up the journey and, depending on how things were going, give himself something of an atmosphere to work with. Surprisingly though, he had to admit, their unique brand of chemistry was unchanged despite the months. So their first conversation hadn't been a fluke after all, he thought to himself.

Stopping at Ginza Renoir was now more of a treat than an escape. And as an added bonus, it still delivered on the nice atmosphere. Without even realizing it they'd spent the time he set aside for travel reminiscing on past adventures, forcing them to rush the rest of the way to the theater so as not to be late. Lum seemed to enjoy chasing the minutes while Ataru struggled with this unexpected burst of physical activity after working a desk job for almost half a year. With luck on their side, they managed to arrive in time, if a second after, finding their seats in the dark while apologetically side-stepping people with better time management skills.

Although Ataru ensured the movie he'd chosen wasn't too frightening or romantic, Lum still clung to him. She didn't require any reason to do so, and in the privacy of a movie theater found no cause for restraint. Love was enough, actually seeing him again, in person, was enough. How she'd missed the feeling of his arm in hers, the warmth of his body next to her. Even the way he smelled brought back a slew of memories and feelings that captivated more of her attention than the film itself.

Ataru was also having trouble focusing. He was too busy working over the moments leading up to now, and how thoroughly she'd shocked him (without a single volt of electricity, no less). Of course, she was still the same Lum at her core - case in point the way she huddled against him, wrapped tightly around his arm, head resting on his shoulder. But the way she carried herself was more refined than he expected. And she seemed less - what was the word - manic? Something like that. Whatever he thought would happen, this certainly wasn't it. He'd assumed she would tackle him, shock him, fawn over him in a frenzied expression of love. And none of that happened. Without a doubt he could tell how much she missed him (hell, his arm was starting to get pins-n-needles) but her affection was tempered with self-restraint. Ataru peered at her and she, feeling him move, returned his gaze with a warm smile. Swiftly he turned away, hoping she wouldn't see the truth in his eyes. On the screen his attention remained until the credits rolled and lights came on. And having neglected the movie in favor of their swirling thoughts, neither mentioned it at all as they departed for their next destination downtown.

Along the way they passed several Go-Time posters, which teased Ataru's curiosity, especially when he noticed Lum was ignoring them completely. He stopped in front of one to examine it, prompting Lum to do the same though she was more perplexed why he was staring at a poster when the real thing was next to him.

"Must be weird seeing yourself everywhere." Ataru remarked slyly, searching her face for a reaction. Truthfully some part of him still believed she'd only done it as a way of getting back at him for leaving without her, despite the story she spun about needing money. Maybe that was part of it, but surely there must have been a little vindictiveness behind her decision.

"I don't even notice them anymore." Lum answered without missing a beat, betraying nothing besides casual indifference. Really? Well, that was boring, and a little disappointing. Ataru had begun to pout when she added, "In the beginning it was a real problem." Hearing this caught his attention. "I couldn't go anywhere without a bunch of people noticing me." Lum heaved a sigh and there was a thousand-yard weariness in her eyes that spoke of the pains she'd endured better than any retelling could capture. Before now Ataru hadn't really considered the toll she'd pay for fame, and then it clicked in his head and his eyes brightened with realization.

"Oh, is that why you dyed your hair?" Although the hue wasn't exactly natural it was dark enough to be almost indistinguishable from anyone else with deep black or brown hair.

"Mhm! Now nobody'll bother us!" Lum smiled, gripping his arm tighter as she beamed at him.

"But your horns." Ataru poked an accusing finger at one of them.

"Didn't you notice? They're not visible in any of the shots." She pointed to the poster in front of them, and indeed, she was wearing a beret that hid her horns from view.

Come to think of it, most of the time Lum was either wearing a hat or some kind of head covering. How peculiar, to lose the horns yet keep the iridescent hair. Well he wasn't a designer, so for all he knew there was some mysterious aesthetic purpose behind using one and not the other. And then he remembered Hayashi and her very open dislike of the Oni - or aliens in general. Perhaps that was the reason? If so it wasn't very well thought out considering Lum was still easy to identify as the woman who first tried conquering their planet. Then again, she was right in that nobody had bothered them so far. Maybe without the hair nobody was making the connection? Curious, curious. While Ataru puzzled over the subject Lum's attention wandered, eventually coming to land on something in the sky.

"Darling look!" Ataru followed her gaze to find a blimp slowly ambling over the distant skyline of Rokuyō. He'd seen them before and wasn't quite so captivated by the sight as Lum and a handful of pedestrians who'd been alerted to its presence by her exclaim. In his indifference Ataru was able to spy a group of people, similarly distracted, heading toward her with neither aware of the other.

"Hey!" Ataru instinctively grabbed Lum's hand, pulling her stumbling back to his side. "Don't just stand in the middle of the sidewalk." He reprimanded her sternly, annoyed that she could be so oblivious, albeit secretly glad to have intervened before she got bumped or knocked over.

Lum regarded him strangely, unaware of the possible collision. Hadn't they both been standing in the middle of the sidewalk not a second ago? Because he stopped to stare at a poster?

"Seriously as an adult you should be way more aware of your surroundings." Ataru whinged on studiously as he took up the journey again, unconsciously holding onto her hand while they walked. Lum however, was very well aware that he hadn't let her go. Not that she was going to say anything. Experience taught her that in rare moments like these it was best to keep quiet, lest he become suddenly defensive or... "-and as a woman you should definitely-" ...well sort of like he was being now. Stifling a small laugh she delighted at her husband's antics. It was nice to see he hadn't changed too much from the man she fell for. A little more polished and (arguably) mature, but still and all he was the same darling Ataru she knew so well. "-plus...hey, are you listening?"

"Mhm!" Lum lied guiltlessly, cheerfully, convinced whatever he said didn't really matter anyway. After all, she'd survived for months just fine without any of his advice or help; Lum liked to think she'd adapted quite well to life on Earth lo these many years. Ataru was less convinced and glanced at her skeptically. And it was then he noticed their hands. Discretely he looked at Lum, who was now staring ahead, appearing blissfully unaware of the situation. Ataru considered letting go...except, he didn't really want to. Besides, if he did now then she'd definitely notice and that might just make her argumentative. Or so he told himself. Since she wasn't gushing or making a scene, then, what was the harm?

Just this once.

Thankfully they endured no further distractions on the way to a Diner Ataru chose for a late lunch, or early dinner considering it was around 4:30 in the afternoon when they arrived. Lum was floating on cloud nine by the way she melted into her seat with a contented sigh, still swooning over him and the fact that they were on a real bona-fide date - the first in months. Ataru, though, was far more interested in expanding upon some of their earlier conversations. Like a curious child he peppered her with more questions about her trips abroad, intrigued by her visits to countries like Germany and France. Work wasn't normally something she chose to talk about on her time off, mostly because Lum didn't consider it an important or defining part of her life. Ataru was a bit surprised by that. In his culture work was an extension of yourself. For an Oni that idea was just silly. She reiterated the fact that she only worked because she couldn't stomach the idea of borrowing money from everyone. With young adulthood came certain responsibilities and expectations that needed to be fulfilled. Plus, having Ten in school meant she was charged with a host of new expenses such as school clothes and supplies. Thankfully she didn't have to worry much about food, which she now had delivered from her own planet. Earth food, she reminded him, was rather tasteless with few exceptions.

Over three courses consisting of appetizers, dinner, and dessert, they covered a wealth of topics. Even after finishing one cup of tea and then a second, their conversation never seemed to dip or wane. Lum wanted to know everything about his new life in Senshoo apart from his complaints about work. A subject Ataru thought would be harmless initially, before he realized answering some of them truthfully would incur her wrath. Where did he like to spend his weekends? Oh, you know, here and there – and certainly never in the company of other women. No sir, not him! What was his apartment like, and would she get to see it? Well, it was definitely an apartment that's for sure, with rooms and everything! And it was about then Ataru decided he wanted to know if she'd seen anyone from Tomobiki. Lum obliged, despite her suspicions, and he was both thrilled and surprised to learn she'd kept up with everyone, not just Shinobu and his parents!

Lum gave him little peeks into their busy lives; for one Sakura was getting married – and this turned into a conversation about the invitations he'd received and a plan to RSVP after rechecking the dates for any potential conflicts. Next, she spoke of Ryuu who, along with Nagisa, had finally broken away from her toxic father to run their own seafood stand - the squid was delicious by Lum's account, and both agreed they needed to pay it and them a visit in the near future. Then there was Mendō, whose schedule was consumed with familial obligations. Evidently he called Lum regularly to update her on his life (which sounded a lot like bragging to Ataru) and invite her to his place with rotating reasons – a party, a coronation of some kind, a new acquisition, really anything he could think of to get her to come. Ataru bristled at the knowledge that the entire time he was absent his rival was still trying to move in on her. Seeing the sour expression on his face, Lum assured her jealous husband she never took him up on any of these offers. And though Ataru huffed and said it didn't bother him either way, inside he was relieved. Lum knew this too, but let the illusion stand unchallenged.

The only updates Ataru had to offer regarding people they kept in touch with from school involved Kosuke and Hokuto, not that there was much info to share anyway. Still, Lum was happy to hear they were pursuing higher education. Unsurprisingly she was also very supportive of Kosuke's decision to visit America for love. Ataru tried arguing on the side of education, if only because he could see her using this as a means to push him into something he wasn't ready for. Lum just scoffed at the notion Kosuke was only going for school, saying he could get an education anywhere and claiming love as the driving factor. He could learn something from Kosuke, she chided. Ataru just laughed and changed the subject.

Before either of them realized it, the sixth hour of the day had passed. By now their cups had long since been emptied and they were just taking up usable space. Lum still wanted to see more of Senshoo, so they both agreed to head out. She was taken aback by his insistence on paying, not expecting he had the money to cover both of them. But Ataru would have no argument. What greater show of manliness was there than covering the meal for two? The most he allowed her was a promise to pay him back.

Outside the change of hours transformed day into evening with a darkened eastern sky and smoldering horizon to the west. There was a chill in the air too that wasn't there before, reminding Ataru that it wasn't Summer anymore. Lum shivered, holding her arms against the biting wind.

"It's dark so early now." She remarked to the blackening sky which twinkled at her wordlessly.

"Well it is Autumn, the days are going to get shorter." Ataru said, matter-of-factly.

"You should have gotten my number in the Summer." Lum snapped coolly, giving him a sidelong glare that held more humor than malice.

"No sense complaining about what can't be changed." Ataru let the comment slide off his back without sticking. No way was he going to make her regret his much-needed vacation. Well, not most of it anyway. Sure, maybe he did wish he'd gotten in touch a little sooner, but that couldn't be helped now. At least he came through in the end, as always. Ataru was about to say as much, only for his mind to push a different plan forward.

"Oh yeah," he snapped his fingers once the idea hit him, then reached over to grab Lum's hand impulsively, pulling her as he urged, "come with me."

Hand in hand they walked, and for the first time that day, neither said a word. Nothing felt pressing enough to ruin the mood. Ataru was busy mapping out their destination in his head, and hoping the park wouldn't be too crowded. Meanwhile Lum relished these quiet moments of appreciation for her darling husband and the day she'd been gifted. She didn't know or care where he was taking her, just being with him was more than enough. Even if all they did was walk, with her hand in his, she didn't mind. Granted, she was a little more than curious where they were headed.

Knowing him as well as she did Lum honestly wasn't surprised when they came up to the stone archway of Chūōkōen park. Perhaps he had something romantic in mind; probably not, she told herself before getting too worked up. Her darling wasn't exactly the romantic type. Most of the time their dates were very simple, and there was nothing more typical than a walk through the park. Fine by her!

Lum let her eyes wander over the sights as they passed, noting the various winding walkways carved in stone and hedged by berry bushes that she assumed bloomed beautifully in Summer. Every patch of grass and lonely tree was edged off with cute little arching fences more decorative than functional, except for a swath of wider fields designated, she figured, for picnics or lounging under the shade of broad canopied trees (fuller and less orange in warmer seasons, no doubt). He guided her down a pathway which cut through rows of sleeping azaleas and clustering trees that pushed in on all sides. How intimate, she mused, moving a little closer to Ataru, who was still focused on the road ahead.

Without warning he stopped to scan their surroundings, giving Lum her first inkling that this wasn't just an aimless evening stroll. He was looking for something. And after a bit of searching, by the grin that sparked to life on his face, seemed to have found it. Gently he pulled her down a side path that rose with the hilly landscape up to a stone plateau with benches framed by a little black palisade. She assumed they'd sit, yet he surprised her by wordlessly releasing her hand and moving to lean against the railing with arms crossed and eyes staring dreamily out ahead.

At first she tried searching his face for some sort of answer to the obvious unspoken question. Why did they stop? And what was he looking a-oh! Lum's eyes followed his, falling with immediate wonder and awe on a great expanse of twinkling city lights and glittering cosmos. A small gasp fell from her lips, and she clutched her hands to her chest. Her darling, her amazing, wonderful husband, brought her a world of lights!

"It's so pretty." She sighed beside him. Ataru's eyes flickered to her and he had to fight against a smile. How clever he was, he just knew she'd love coming here. If there was one thing he could truly appreciate about Lum it was her shared love of natural beauty. Second to his self-congratulation, Ataru couldn't help noticing the starlight reflected in her gentle eyes. He stared, slowly but surely losing himself in their warmth until he was aware of a rising heat creeping over him. Quickly he looked away, doing his best to shake the feelings that gripped him so unexpectedly. Yet no matter how thoroughly he cursed his heart it wouldn't stop pounding. No matter the chill on the wind, he still felt hot. There was simply no denying the truth he kept privately to himself. And it only worsened when Lum's arms wound around his own and he felt the weight of her lean against him.

"Darling." Her voice was a quiet caress in his ears.

"Mm." It was all he could offer; afraid his own voice would reveal too much.

"I had a really nice time today." Lum's cheek pressed into his shoulder.

"Mm." Heaven help him. Ataru prayed for some leeway and was, thankfully, rewarded with a short stretch of silence. He used it to gather himself and bring his emotions to heel as best he could, along with a few other thoughts that were budding like spring flowers. One prevailed among them, and he was just coming to terms with it when she spoke again.

"Do you," Lum began then hesitated, afraid of what the truth would be should she seek an answer to this subtly desperate question. "Do you think-"

"Are you free next Saturday?" He already knew what was on her mind. And if he was truly going to commit to this, Ataru wanted it to be by his own decision. Not because he was asked or begged. Without sparing a glance, afraid she'd see the things his eyes couldn't hide, Ataru cut her to the finish line. And she, oh Lum, she could only stare at him, astonished and doubtful of her own ears, until finally a smile broke free of her stunned expression. How could she have ever doubted such a splendid man, who, in one single day rekindled all the love and admiration she held only for him?

Into the quiet evening air, she whispered her answer, "Yes."

Following that fateful date Ataru's world changed in subtle ways. His daily grind was faithfully consistent in its awfulness from Monday to Friday. Sunday was much the same; still a memorial for the death of his weekends. Only those faded Saturdays gained new vibrancy. Ataru would wake with enthusiasm to rival the dawn birds, hurry through breakfast, and made a game of seeing how many girls he could chase down before meeting up with Lum. It was great sport to race the clock and tease fate. She'd only caught him once and oh what a rush that had been! Hours after that would be divided between eating, walking, exploring, talking, and whatever main event they'd planned for themselves. Most times they caught a movie, and a few times patroned festivals hosted in Senshoo or the surrounding towns.

Ataru's favorite dates by far involved his hometown of Tomobiki. On those days she'd parade him around like a tourist, letting Ataru soak up the nostalgia and newness of their friends' changing lives. They'd eaten many a meal at Ryuu's seafood stand - indeed the squid was delicious. And Lum was even able to get him into one of Mendō's parties when he christened a new Octopus Art Gallery (as if the world needed such a thing). He never expected to enjoy seeing that bastard, but it was a necessary evil if only to swoon over and enjoy the comical antics of Ryoko. Naturally they made visits to Sakura's temple. And on a few occasions they double-dated with Shinobu and Inaba (when they had the freedom), visiting old haunts in Tomobiki they used to frequent.

Together, in this way, Ataru and Lum exhausted the daylight and stole portions of the night as well. Goodbyes were bitter-sweet. By then he was full of memories and sad to see the day come to a close. His only comfort lay in the knowledge that another Saturday would soon come, bringing more of the same. Ataru suffered little for these joys. Lum was an attentive and persistent companion, rarely letting her husband out of sight. She often occupied his arm and, willfully ignorant of cultural norms, had gotten into the habit of stealing a kiss against his cheek if he was distracted or she was feeling particularly romantic. When he happened to test her patience either due to his wandering eyes or inattention, she'd give him a zap that lacked much of the viciousness he was used to (just enough to get him in line while avoiding a scene). All this he tolerated well and, honestly, even enjoyed on some level. Of everyone he knew nobody but her could inspire such extreme emotions. She both riled and excited him, expertly.

Every so often Lum's little peculiarities caught him off guard. The way she appreciated something mundane, or her innocent questions born of an innate desire for knowledge, would strike him as endearing. Feeling inspired he'd find it within himself to dote on her publicly, holding her hand, sharing food, and sometimes he'd offer up a poorly disguised compliment. His wallet was always open for whatever Lum happened to fancy. Being with her could, at times, even douse his hunger for skirt chasing, leaving him reflective and pining for more of her attention when she'd gone home.

Of course, not all their meetings inspired joy. There was still the matter of redemption to contend with. As part of his forgiveness Ataru found himself subject to the demands of Lum's friends on three separate occasions. And no amount of sweet talking or begging could soften their hearts. Every offer - movies, dinners, even granting them permission to do whatever they liked behind closed doors (an offer more for his benefit than theirs, surely) - was coldly refused. Nor did they humor his advances the way they'd done in the past. Even Ran, who'd abandoned her mission of revenge, treated Ataru with unfeeling indifference, referring to him by his surname rather than the 'darling' moniker she'd stolen from Lum. Foolishly, in a quest to win her over, he let slip that he'd been learning to cook, which backfired on him splendidly.

At once Ran set him to work on a feast for her dear Rei, and almost immediately Ataru realized he was in over his head. Firstly, he couldn't understand any of her cookbooks, never mind matching ingredients. Secondly, all he could really manage was eggs and rice. In short order he'd made a mess of her kitchen, partially on purpose and partially because he was simply inept. So, a new task was set upon him - clean-up duty. Lum, shouldering some of her husband's burden, helped with the cooking, but it was Ataru who was stuck with the piles of dishes and disheveled kitchen afterward. What's more Ran refused to let him use anything that was automatic, relegating him to the primitive task of washing everything by hand while she and Lum enjoyed tea and lost themselves in a romantic movie. By late evening Ataru's hands were pruned and his pride bruised, but Ran had granted her pardon and delighted him with a genial, 'you're forgiven darling.' And for such a simple fool that was enough to ease the indignity he'd suffered that evening as her servant.

Benten's manner of justice seemed inspired by Ran's in that once again Ataru found himself playing the part of a maid. In keeping with her nature, Benten wasn't given to cleanliness and more often than not prioritized the upkeep of her bike to her ship. That mentality was reflected in her living quarters. Ataru had hoped at the very least she'd let him work on her bike, but that was off the table. Nobody other than her was permitted that great honor. Instead, Ataru would have the privilege of picking up after months and months of neglect in the form of dusting, vacuuming, and organizing her entire ship so that for once, as she said, she could work on her bike without the guilt of neglecting her chores. She toiled happily, chatting with Lum who reclined blissfully on a lounge chair nearby, while Ataru slaved indoors. He did what he could to salvage the day, taking peeks at Benten's intimate wear and snooping through anything that seemed mildly interesting. Stupidly he managed to out himself by announcing his intention to start on the laundry, triggering every alarm bell in Lum's head. The two came in on Ataru doing questionable things to a handful of Benten's clothes and, following a swift beating, he was confined to the kitchen and living quarters, minus the bedroom and laundry. At the end of his day of labor Benten's pardon was given tersely and in tandem with suggestions for Lum to drop the dead weight and join her in the glorious life of a bachelorette – apparently his disappearing act really ticked her off. Ataru couldn't tell, even as they laughed, if they were joking or not, finding he didn't like it either way. For once he was actually happy to leave Benten and her home among the stars.

Out of all Lum's friends, Oyuki was the one Ataru worried over most of all. Not only was her home planet of Neptune notoriously cold, her personality was equally frigid and he'd become well acquainted with her volatile temper when sparked. The very idea that he could be on the receiving end of her ire was terrifying and had him shivering before they even arrived. Ataru imagined she'd force him to work in the ice fields again with the other men. However, upon learning that both Ran and Benten had given him chores, Oyuki decided on a different avenue for redemption. Thus, for the remainder of the day Ataru was charged with entertaining and caring for B-Bo, Oyuki's abominable friend, who, unfortunately, still remembered Ataru very well. Suddenly working in the snow mines didn't sound so horrible. And yet here he was, subject to the passive aggressive wrath of an oversized snow beast, forced to play the part of a nanny and a toy simultaneously. B-Bo was not gentle, and any games he wanted to play seemed to involve Ataru getting smacked around or tossed or flipped or spun until his stomach threatened to spill. If not for his interminable endurance Ataru might not have survived by the time Oyuki and Lum came back from their trip to a market in the neighboring Orion Nebula. Oyuki's forgiveness was given swiftly and with the added bonus of a kiss on the forehead that turned him into a snickering mess. If this was his reward, Ataru would gladly babysit B-Bo any time she'd like! Lum wore her disapproval openly, her anger tempered by a healthy fear of the snow queen's unmatched power. Her only course of action was to bid her friend goodbye and drag Ataru off, since he hadn't yet recovered full use of his beaten body. With that his torment in pursuit of forgiveness came to an end. And Autumn stretched on.

By the season's end Ataru's apartment no longer felt so dark. It became a place of rest and reflection, and somewhere to keep his belongings. Over the course of their dates he'd also amassed a few new trinkets to adorn his plain white walls and bare countertops. For the first time in a long while Ataru felt like he was rich in experiences. More than that, he felt like himself again. He felt whole. Lucky even! Ataru was amazed at how vibrant his life had become since Lum returned to his side. Once again he'd managed to catch her. And he hoped, deep down, that their game of tag would never end.

And so here our dynamic couple is at last! Writing this chapter was certainly interesting because in it I wanted to show some progression in both their personalities. Ataru we've sort of walked with through some of his growth and development, but all of Lum's changes have been happening behind the scenes. I wanted to continue a trend that was established subtly in the manga, which is that Lum tends to tone herself down quite a bit over the course of the series. At the same time, I wanted to keep her sass and wit intact, as well as her joyful nature. There also seems to be a running gag that Lum actually enjoys squid, so that was thrown in there too since I think it's adorable.

Thus Autumn has come to an end! It was shorter chapter wise, mostly because the bulk of the season was the two of them reconnecting. Winter is coming (lawl) and it's gearing up to be a very romantic season indeed.

A note about Nagisa; so I'm aware there is a lot of discourse about Nagisa. Some people love him and think he's perfect for Ryuu, some people absolutely despise him and have said some less than kosher things about him. Me personally? I have no issues with Nagisa. I feel that because he was introduced so late and hasn't had as much character development as some of the others it's hard to judge the type of person he will become. He came into Ryuu's life in much the same way as Lum came into Ataru's, in the sense it was out of nowhere and he immediately latched onto Ryuu. I don't really think it's fair that some judge him so harshly when he behaves very similarly to Lum and Ataru in many instances.

In my personal headcanon Nagisa is a person who can help Ryuu grow into herself as the woman she clearly wants to be. I've never seen him as the type of guy who has the same issues as Ryuu, in that while he may present as a girl it doesn't matter to him or effect how he views himself, whereas with Ryuu presenting herself as a man or a woman takes a big impact on her mental state and effects how she sees herself. I think that kind of self-assuredness is what Ryuu needs to find her own strength and be the best version of herself. So while I am a major fan of the BentenxRyuu ship, I don't see it as something that would actually happen because Ryuu is very fixated on being what she considers a 'normal girl', and Benten is a free spirit who I don't see settling down anytime soon or limiting herself to Earth the same way Lum has. They have different priorities and life goals methinks. Anyways, I hope that provides a little insight on why I kept Nagisa and Ryuu as a thing :3