Chapter 33: Birthday Girl Honesty and Apologies

"Thank you, your soups will be around ten minutes. Can I get anything else to drink for you?" The polished waiter asked as he looked at the four people sitting in front of him.

Everyone already had a drink, however just as Sho was about to excuse the man Mei spoke up. "A bottle of your finest red wine please?" With a smile, the waiter nodded, "Of course madam," Then with a final bow he walked away.

The round white cloth-covered table was situated just to the left of the stage which was currently being played on by a classical group, the soft melody giving a relaxing vibe to the room. Going around the table; Sho, Ume, Yuzu then Mei.

The place was packed, a light cheerful buzz emanated off the place, everyone was dressed just as formally as the four were at the moment. It was clear to anyone that the place was currently being used for many types of meetings, some business other personal, yet there didn't seem to be any sort of tension in the room. Well aside from the small ripple between a certain dark-haired girl and a blonde.

Yuzu offered a small smile to Mei when she turned back to her family, not bothered by her choice of drink which clearly Ume had slightly disapproved of going by the look she was giving her youngest daughter.

The woman had never been against them drinking alcohol, but Yuzu guessed since her mother knew 'something' was up, Ume must have assumed Mei was drinking because of that. Yuzu, however, knew Mei better than that, if she was drinking for such a reason she would have ordered a stronger drink; her preferred 'I want to forget' drink was vodka, the raven-haired girl drank red wine as a luxury, not an escape. So Yuzu was not bothered in the slightest, rather it reassured her that Mei was at least trying to have a nice night.

"Wow, this place sure is fancy Mama, how come you've brought Mei here before but not me?" Yuzu said as she looked at her mother with exasperation. Though she was quickly dismissed with a wave of her mother's hand.

"It was about a year and a half ago, you were staying the night a Harumi's and Mei and I fancied going out." Ume gave a sly grin to her blonde daughter who's jaw was dropping while Sho gave a light laugh.

"Anyways birthday girl, how was your day? Did you do anything special with Himeko?" Her mother changing her attention from the blonde to the young woman sitting next to her, and gave a smile as she prompted her to speak.

"Nothing in particular. We went out for a late lunch then we went back to her house for tea. We talked for a while and got caught up, though I did meet her fiance, he was a very nice man and she is happy." Mei gave the short explanation as she told the activities of her day, a small, almost none existent to the untrained eye, smile while thinking of how her friend had found happiness. Her day was nothing elaborate, but then again she didn't want anything like that. A quiet meet up with her best friend was one of the best ways Mei could spend her afternoon.

"W-When did that happen?!" Yuzu spluttered over her water, her eyes going wide at the thought of Himeko getting married... before her.

"Himeko getting married or her being happy?" Mei said, unimpressed at the outburst. Why did Yuzu find it so hard to believe something like that would happen for her friend. Her tone had taken a slightly colder turn, half intentional half unintentional, and because of that Yuzu had eaten her response and sat like a scolded puppy.

"He proposed to her two weeks ago, she mentioned it to me over the phone, but today was the first time I have actually seen him. He's a true gentleman, I don't think she could have found someone more fitting." Mei said as she looked towards her family, surprised, or perhaps irritated when the blonde spoke up.

"Seems a little soon though, right? Didn't they just get introduced to one another like eight or nine months ago?" Yuzu asked, curious as to how the girl's relationship had progressed so fast, yet a moment later she wished she had kept her mouth sealed shut.

"Not every relationship gives reason to doubt. She loves him and she is happy, and he returns that love without a hitch of betrayal." Bitter, it came out so bitter and aimed towards the blonde nobody spoke. Mei had made eye contact with Yuzu before she started taking and she was sure she actually saw Yuzu swallowing the saliva in her mouth.

Idiot, why did I say that! No, I didn't mean it to sound like that it just slipped out.

Sho gave an awkward cough and was eternally grateful when he saw their waiter returning. "Ma'am, sorry for the wait." Politely introducing himself back to the table, the young man poured Mei a glass before leaving the bottle on the table and excusing himself once again.

"...Sorry...I'm happy for her." Yuzu said her voice on the verge, maybe beyond the verge of trembling. Why did Mei saying that suddenly make her want to burst into tears? Her tone was accusing, aimed, cold. Her gaze much the same.

Her features softening at hearing the wavering voice, Mei took her sights off the blonde, all it was doing was causing her to lash out.

A seemingly impenetrable silence covered the table, all around them was laughing and happy chatter but it did not spread onto the Aihara table. The invisible field was broken when an arm placed a small bowl down in front of the three women then Sho, bringing their attention from one another to the waiter.

"Here you are, if you need anything please ask." A practised smile and nod of the head and the young man was gone again, clearly having other tables to attend to.

When Yuzu looked back up from her bowl, her eyes met with her mothers. Her seemingly furious mother. Yuzu felt like her mother was burrowing into her mind her stare was so intense. Yuzu knew exactly what her mother was saying: 'You better not have done that'. It was obvious. Ume didn't know Mei as well as Yuzu did, but what she had just seen gave her every reason to believe she had just figured out what was going on between the young couple.

Yuzu didn't move, her eyes fixed under the mighty stare down of her mother. Something she had never wanted to take part in. For her mother to look at her in such a way, where she was asking such a question. At her lack of a non-verbal reply, Ume's eyes seemed to open wider if it was at all possible; Mimicking the rise of a voice in a spoken argument. Mustering a shake of her head to her mother before stealing a glance at her girlfriend, who was acutely aware of the exchange going on between the mother and daughter.

Yuzu's gaze landed on her soup, taking the spoon in hand she tried not to focus on her mother's line of sight that she could still feel on her.

"Apologies, that ruined the atmosphere. I didn't mean anything by it." Mei said, feeling the guilt of the reaction she had just watched. Enjoy the night, or at least don't start an argument or start anything with the blonde for the night. How hard could that be? Apparently very.

This was the longest Mei had actually spent with the girl, talking and actually trying to make conversation but it was proving to be harder than Mei predicted. Especially when a certain event kept her mind awake, fueling her to retort and counter everything the blonde said. Why? Again Mei didn't know. She had told herself she would treat tonight as any other so as to keep their parents out of it, and yet here she was making passive aggressive blows when all Yuzu was doing... was being Yuzu.

"Ri-Right, well I'm glad you had a nice day. How's school, I haven't heard anything about your Univerity in a while?" Sho stated as he shrugged off the awkward encounter like a feather from his shoulder.

"It's going well. Top of, or at least near the top of the class. As usual." Mei said. Adding in small pieces of information when it occurred to her. This made everyone at the table smile in acknowledgement. This would usually be the blonde's cue to jump in and back Mei up, praise her to the world's end, but she didn't; She sat silent, her teary eyes still on her soup.

It was moments like this that Yuzu wished some of her 'cry babyness' had rubbed off in high school, she severely disliked that even being scolded in a harsh tone by Mei had her tearing up. It sounded pathetic to most and to Yuzu. So, in hopes of avoiding getting her head bitten off again, Yuzu sat quietly, her focus on finishing her soup.

The conversation continued somewhat normally. Sho had forgone any caution and had returned to his normal self, Yuzu did not. She kept a low profile at the table, only speaking when spoken to or making small comments, this of course only kindled her mother's curiosity and maybe anger.

The four entrees came and went and a long wait, or what felt like one for the youngest couple, finally their mains were here. More than an hour and a half had passed with the silent tension, and Yuzu thought as she observed her girlfriend that she might have actually been starting to enjoy the boring small talk their parents where initiating.

Sho was quick to fill any pauses in the conversation with stories from his travels in recent months. Yuzu listened, intrigued by the stories. The last time Sho was here was for two weeks before summer break and before that was Christmas and new year. It had been many months and he had many tales to tell.

"...And while I was there I met the cutest little baby boy, one of my students became a mother over the Christmas period and she came back to the school to show him to me. Said I was her greatest influence." Puffing up his chest, Sho gave off a wide smile as he relayed his story onto his daughters, Ume had heard this one over the phone several times now, clearly, the man was very proud of this little anecdote.

"That's great Papa, I bet you did an amazing job teaching." Yuzu popped in, giving a smile at her father's achievements. Though only to choke moments later.

"Which brings me to my next subject of the evening. Yuzu, Mei, I know you two are still young but I'm getting older now. I want to know when I'm going to get some little grandchildren? I was thinking three maybe four, but I guess that much is your choice." Sho said, a smile on his face as he eagerly anticipated the replies, hoping to get an agreement. He did not. Not from either.

"W-What?! Papa, it's waay too soon to be thinking about that sort of thing. I mean we haven't even talked or anything!" Her cheeks crimson Yuzu stuttered her response to the man. Though he did not give in.

"Awe come on. I know it's still early but you can never start thinking too soon, I mean it's not like anything is going to happen to you guys so there really is no harm. So how many are we thinking!?" Sho said, his hands clasping together like a child.

Ume held her the bridge of her nose, she did not think this was going to end well. She could clearly see the fire in Mei's eyes at the mention of the conversation, something her kid of a husband was oblivious to. It being too late to intervene, Ume had no choice but to sit and watch the events unfold. She watched as Mei's small smile that had been plastered to her face at hearing her fathers stories slowly faded away, every time Yuzu shut the man down Ume observed as Mei's smile got smaller. When finally it was completely gone, all that was left was the glower her younger daughter had, but Ume couldn't decipher what she was glaring at. She wasn't looking at her father nor the blushing blonde, she looked to be in deep thought at the words being spoken.

"Papa I really don't think we're there yet!" Yuzu said in a rushed voice, perspiring under the pressure. Sho went to continue his pestering of the subject but was put to a stop as Mei spoke first.

"No, we aren't. Some of us still have other things they would rather do before they want to settle down. Children are the last thing going on in her mind, or at least with me anyways." Mei had kept looking at her hands while she spoke, though it wasn't until she had finished did she realise the grave mistake she had just made.

Both Ume and Yuzu gasped at the words and Mei suddenly felt like the entire world was watching her.

Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut? FUCK. It's true though... no, it's not. No, please stop looking at me like that. Mei looked around the table, all eyes were on her. Sho, his mouth hanging agape, not missing that blow at the blonde and having nothing to say to relieve the situation. His travels seemed to pale in comparison to what he had just heard.

Ume's eyes were wide with confusion, realisation and then rage. Before Ume had time to go off on Yuzu like Mei knew she would, she flicked her eyes to the blonde. Tears welled in the girl's eyes, her eyes just as wide as her mothers but her expression of hurt and shock pained Mei much more.

"Yuzuko Aihara! You better hope to god that I've misunderstood this or you will have my entire wrath to look out for. Explain yourself right now!" Ume was brutal when she spoke, her words and tone making everyone at the table flinch and cower. The woman may have been small and usually cheerful but she had a temper like nothing else.

Mei had only ever bared witness to Ume truly mad the first night Yuzu had gone out drinking late, but she hadn't been as forwardly cold as she was now. Even then Mei didn't think the woman was as angry as she was now, that night Mei had defended the blonde and asked their mother not to yell, tonight was a different matter. She would not put herself in front of the fuming woman right now, for fear of her life.

Even if the words were directed to the blonde, Mei shrank in her seat and when she looked up saw her father swallowing loudly in fear. She dreaded to think what Yuzu was feeling under such a stare.

While Yuzu crumbled under the use of her full name, Ume had many thoughts going on in her mind. Surely her sweet baby girl hadn't done such a thing. She loved Mei and wasn't shy about it, no way would she cheat on her, never. Yet the comment and actions of her younger daughter all night pointed that it was true. So who did she believe, her enraged raven daughter or a daughter cowering from her with a guilt-written, shocked expression?

The table stayed silent, apart from Sho's swallowing. Too long had passed and Mei watched as Yuzu managed to look away from her mother and to her. Hurt, confusion and sorry filled the eyes, they were taken from her and returned to her mother when the woman spoke again.

"Yuzuko, I refuse to be ignored! If you have disrespected Mei in such a way, so help me," Ume spoke again, her voice penetrating the already silent table.

"I- I... Mei?" Yuzu tried to speak, but she suddenly had what she thought was stage fright. She could feel the dooming stares of both Sho and her mother, her relationship with both of them relied on what came out of her mouth next, but she found it impossible to speak. If anything she felt that Mei required more of her attention than her parents did, and yet she found it near impossible to go against her mother right now.

It was too much for Mei, she hated this, she had put the blonde in such a position just because she couldn't keep her own bitter remarks in check.

"Please excuse me," Mei said quietly. Getting up from the table Mei didn't even bother to give a bow to her parents, her mind focused on getting out of that situation as fast as possible.

Tears? When did that happen? Mei wasn't sure, she hasn't even realised until they were already falling.

"Mei wait!" Yuzu pleaded as Mei walked past her to get to the exit of the restaurant. When she didn't stop Yuzu reached a hand out to grab onto the girl's wrist, only to stop when she remembered that doing so would break the unspoken terms of Mei and herself's relationship.

Mei kept her pace, almost as if she had felt the blonde going out to grasp her.

No, no, no. We can't run away from this any longer.

Getting up from the table in a hurry Yuzu forwent the calls of her mother to sit down, instead chased after as formally as possible, her girlfriend who was already out of the building.

Today was not the day to wear a floor length dress, it only allowed Mei to get the upper hand in running away. When Yuzu was finally out on the glowing street she glanced in every possible direction for the sobbing woman.

Shifting to the public, Yuzu turned to a young man at the front of the restaurant's doors.

"Excuse me, you didn't see a young, beautiful black headed woman run out here did you? She was wearing a red dress, and her hair is almost as long as her back? Umm, she might have been crying and running?" Yuzu hoped her brief description of her lover would be enough for the young man and it seemed someone was looking out for her as the man nodded.

"Yeah, just a moment ago. She tried to get a cab but there wasn't any here so she ran around the corner. I assume to get one on the next street." Explaining as he raised his hand and pointed to the right where the pavement only lasted a couple of meters before turning the corner.

"Thank you!" With a rushed bow and a shouted thanks, Yuzu rushed off in the direction of her partner, trying her best to lift her dress to ease her mobility.

As Yuzu turned the street she was met with her girlfriend hailing a cab, if she wanted to stop her now was her last and only chance. Making up the distance quickly Yuzu managed a ragged cry of her lover's name just as Mei was leaning to open the door to the cab.

At hearing the cry Mei's head flicked up, tears now, although less, still falling down her cheeks, seeing the blonde coming running towards her Mei pulled the door of the cab open as fast as possible; Hoping to escape the blonde before she reached her. Mei felt horrible for putting not only herself but Yuzu in that situation. She had made the blonde's mother look at her that way because Mei implied that she had cheated on her, when all the blonde had done was dream about someone. It hurt Mei a lot, but what she had done in there she felt was unquestionably uncalled for.

She was confused, again. She had obviously said those words because she was still hurting but she couldn't help but feel the teeny tiniest amount of truth in them. She wouldn't have said them otherwise. Yet she also knew that Yuzu loved her, the blonde had tried to show her that this week whether she was recipient to that love or otherwise. Facing the blonde was not something Mei felt she could do at the minute, she was a mess, she wasn't thinking right and most of all seeing the blonde... angered her?

Yuzu had put them in this situation, she was the uncooperative one, she refused to tell Mei who it was, she was the one who let Mei's mind wander. If she had just explained what had happened then they wouldn't be here, and yet Mei still felt as though she didn't have the right to force the blonde to talk and therefore didn't have the mental restraint to keep her retorts at bae. So she couldn't speak to her, not right now.

"Mei! Please wait!" Yuzu cried out, only just getting to the cab door in time to stop Mei from getting in. When she got there, Yuzu broke the new rules and took Mei by the wrist, removing her hand from the car door and slamming it shut before signalling for the driver they no longer required the taxi. Letting go as soon as the car pulled out, Yuzu tried to steady her breathing. Her heart was racing so hard she swore the people walking in the street could hear the pounding as loud as she could.

"I'm sorry!" Yuzu said as she released her grip, taking a small bow before going to study Mei's face. Shock was the primary feature, but then she looked away from Yuzu while trying to wipe the droplets on her cheeks. Her tears finally stopping as she tried to calm her nerves.

"Yuzu, please... I want to be alone right now, I'll explain to mother that you did no such thing tomorrow but right now I just need to clear my head." Mei said as she as held her hand out trying to get another cab, that for some reason seemed to be non-existent the only time she actually needed one.

"Mei wait, please. What you said in there, did you mean it?" Yuzu asked as she took a step closer to Mei, her heart still pounding as she waited to hear what the younger girl truly thought about her view on their relationship. When a lack of response came, Yuzu took a step forward hoping to get her attention and make Mei see just how serious Yuzu was at the moment. However, at the advance, Mei only took a step back.

"What does it matter?" Mei said coldly, doing her best not to make eye contact with the blonde. The remains of the blonde refusing the matter with her father ran through Mei's mind, having the perfect timing.

"You showed clearly that it wasn't on your mind, so it's pointless to discuss it." Yuzu managed a heavy breath in when she heard the words. Though now was not the time for getting angry, she wanted to resolve the issue with Mei and for that to happen she needed to let whatever blows Mei was going to make go.

"No Mei, I said we haven't really talked a lot about it. Not that I hadn't thought about it because trust me, I've imagined a little me and you running around a sweet little house a thousand times. Just because I've imagined having a family of our own doesn't mean we are actually ready for one. But if you wanna have a baby, we'll have a baby!" Yuzu said the last part a little too loudly, earning several disapproving looks from people, her cheeks turning ruby again when she realised how loud-mouthed she was being.

"Don't put words in my mouth Yuzu. I never said I wanted to have children right now." That's what came out, but what Mei was really thinking was that Yuzu had been imagining their little family. Children, a house, it all. That's what Mei wanted for their future, but how could Yuzu say she wanted that when she was having those types of dreams and not trusting Mei enough to know who the occupants where?

"Grrh, Mei that's not what I'm getting at, I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. I was saying that if you wanted to or were thinking about it you have to talk to me so we can figure out what is best for us, or else I won't have a clue what you are thinking. Listen... I'm sorry you feel like this but you have to believe that I really do love you, I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with or have a family with anyone other than you. You know that right?" Yuzu asked hopefully, praying that what Mei had said inside was just her anger and not her true feelings on the matter.

"I... I asked to be alone." Mei after almost answering the question, looked completely away from the blonde, bearing her back towards her and facing out toward the road, desperately wishing a taxi would rescue her right now.

Not feeling satisfied, Yuzu continued, her voice a little more forceful hoping that Mei would see that she really wanted this discussed and over with without any complications.

"You can't just run away from this, you have to talk to me and tell me what your feeling otherwise how can I fix it? You don't think I want to start a family with you? Or that I don't want to be with you? That I want to go around sleeping with everyone that comes my way?" Mei's eyes widened as she heard the blonde asking if she thought Yuzu wanted to act like some sort of slag. Of course, Mei knew Yuzu wasn't the type to go around doing that sort of thing.

"Well, I don't. I want to be with you, have children with you and sleep only with you!" Yuzu said again, emphasising her point by raising her voice, not as loud as before but enough so that she saw Mei's shoulders tremble and she hesitated.

Though it seemed Yuzu had spoken too late as a cab was just pulling up in front of the two girls and Mei immediately went towards it. She turned briefly to the blonde, her hand shaking as she rested it on the side of the car preparing to get in it.

"Forget it." Low and distant the reply came and as Yuzu watched Mei open the door and begin to take the first step off the pavement, her mind went into a panic. Was this it, was Mei really so upset with her that she couldn't even talk about her feelings now?

No, Yuzu refused to let this happen. She had had enough of this crappiness. She didn't care about what Mei might do if she found out, she cared about Mei knowing she cared about her

"IT WAS YOU!" Yuzu shouted at Mei's back, the girl froze. Unmoving. Caught between the blonde's words and stepping into the cab that was impatiently waiting for her to get in.

With lack of movement, at least Yuzu knew Mei had heard her. "It was you, Mei... Please just come back here and talk, I'm begging you not to get in that cab, please." Yuzu pleaded, her voice breaking at the end. She said the truth, now all she needed was for Mei to stop her retreat and come back to her.

"Impossible, don't lie Yuzu," Mei said after an eternal silence, stepping further off the pavement toward the car.

"Are you getting in or not?" The driver asked impatiently at Mei who was still not in yet. Feeling that Mei wasn't going to listen to her and jump in the cab, Yuzu lept at the opportunity. Taking Mei by her upper arms, Yuzu pulled Mei back off the side of the pavement, almost as if she was dragging her.

"No thank you, sorry for the inconvenience." Yuzu said in a rushed voice as she closed the door and turned back to Mei who was sending seething glares at her. Mei watched in something like shock as her second potential cab for the night drove away, now what did Yuzu think she was doing grabbing her like that?

"I'm sorry Mei, but I knew you were going to leave and we need to get through this." Yuzu pleaded, but she didn't move any closer to the younger woman.

"You were dreaming about a man, don't try and deny it Yuzu. If you aren't going to tell me the truth as you've already shown you don't want to, then don't talk to me about it. I'm still coming to terms with the idea that you even thought about doing that, unconscious or otherwise, but it doesn't mean I'm happy. I explained all this to you yesterday and after what father brought up I lost it, I'm not proud of it and as I said I will rectify it tomorrow morning, but don't lie just to get me to stay. I will not thank you for that." Mei said coldly, making a motion to return to the side of the road and hail yet another cab, but she was stopped as Yuzu moved to counter her movements every time.

She was not about to let Mei get away again. It was true that Yuzu was the cause of this and she didn't want to speak her mind but that was before she had seen the impact it was having on her girlfriend. Yuzu after yesterday had felt extremely guilty about not explaining what had happened to Mei, but today after hearing what Mei actually thought Yuzu broke. She would rather risk her relationship and tell Mei what had really transpired that let it fall apart over scenarios Mei made up to try and get some answers.

"Mei I'm not lying to you, I promise. Please just hear me out," Yuzu pleaded again, this time risking taking a step closer. Now with a little over two feet separating them, Yuzu waited in silence for Mei's verdict.

After a long minute of Mei eyeing Yuzu and the sincerity of her words, Mei spoke. "Fine, explain." Speaking somewhat coldly, Mei wasn't sure if she should be kind to the blonde for telling her the truth - according to Yuzu- or remain angry at her and her actions until she got the full story.

"C-Can we go somewhere a little more private? You do understand what I'm about to explain to you and I don't think the middle of the street is the right place to do it..." Yuzu said, her cheeks going red when she thought about what she was just about to say to Mei.

"Then where would you propose? As you seemed to have scared off all the cabs on the street." Mei said keeping to her cold appeal.

"Yuzu, Mei?" Sho's voice came from behind the two of them: A warning for what was coming. Mei looked around without a bother, meeting her fathers gaze but Yuzu knew better, she knew what was behind him.

"Yuzuko!" There is was. There was her raging mother. Yuzu cursed herself for leaving the table the way she did, but it seemed like the right thing to do, it had stopped Mei from leaving only now her mother looked infuriated.

"Ume, I think you should calm down? People are starting to stare," Storming straight past Sho, who had tried to stop the woman but having no luck, Ume made a beeline for her biological daughter. Yuzu debated risking making a break for it, but she knew her dress would only slow her down.

However as Yuzu waited for the impact of her mother's words, she kept her face to the ground and waited for the onslaught, but it never came. Instead, she heard Mei's voice, and saw Mei standing in front of her?

"Mother please stop. What I said in there was a misunderstanding that Yuzu and I have settled now. Yuzu has not, that I'm aware of, cheated on me or been with anyone else. If your anger should be aimed at anyone it should be me for ruining the lovely night you had planned. I'm very sorry for walking out and ruining the meal, but if it isn't too much to ask I need to spend some time with Yuzu alone, and for that to happen she needs to be alive." Mei said, starting with her apology and bowing to the woman, then giving a grateful smile to her mother's when she saw the anger in her eyes dissipate.

"And to your knowledge?" Ume said, looking around Mei's shoulder to see the blonde, who as now watching Mei, but her attention was quickly given to her mother.

"N-N-No Mama! I'm sorry for being rude, I just needed to make sure Mei was okay!" Yuzu squeaked and gave a dramatic bow to her mother, who had lost the fire in her eyes at hearing her daughters words.

"Well alright then, Sho lets go drinking!" Her anger disposed of like a mask, Ume smiled brightly and exclaimed to her husband. Yuzu and Mei let out sighs of relief at the statement and Sho a chuckle.

"Papa, would you mind dropping Mei and I off at the house first? We've got some talking to do and it's getting a little chilly out here." Yuzu gave a hopeful smile to her stepfather. When he nodded in agreement Yuzu let some of her built up stress leave her body. Sure she still had the mighty task of explaining to Mei what had happened, but the girl already knew who it was, all Yuzu had left to do was tell Mei how it was her in the dream when the younger girl was adamant it couldn't possibly be her. That was going ot be a very difficult sentence to get out.

"Do you mind Mei?" Yuzu asked as she looked over to Mei who was standing still. "No, that would probably be best." Mei nodded and began making her way to Sho's car that was parked moments from the four.

The ride back to their mother's house was a relatively quiet one, with Yuzu and the younger girl not speaking a word to one another. When the car finally stopped, Sho, being the gentleman he is, opened both doors for his daughters and gave them both a shy hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Again, I'm sorry if I ruined your present. I very much appreciated dinner, it was just as good as I remember it being. I would also like to apologise for any tension I caused this evening between you." Mei bowed genuinely sorry for her behaviour. Though their parents weren't having any of it.

"Nonsense Mei! All we want is for you to be happy, we can always take you out for dinner another night. Do you girls want me and Sho to come back later tonight or late morning?" Ume said with a raise of her eyebrow to her daughters, knowing full well that her younger birthdays weren't spent sleeping with her significant other, rather sleeping with them.

"MAMA!" Yuzu's cheeks bright again as she caught onto what her mother was suggesting, though it seemed Mei didn't quite catch onto the innuendo, answering casually.

"Whenever you would like to come home is fine, it's your home and it would be rude to keep you out of it," Mei said, curious as to why Yuzu was beet red.

"I see, well we might be a while, I'll text before we get here," Ume grinned as Yuzu continued to grow redder if it was at all possible.

"Thank you, we will see you later," Mei bowed again and began making her way towards the building, shortly followed by the blonde who gave their parents similar thanks and goodbyes.

"It's cool that Mama kept the room the same even after us being gone so long," Yuzu smiled lightly as she stepped into the room, admiring how it looked just like her high school years, only without all of their personal objects.

"Cool wouldn't exactly be my choice of words, but I see your point," Mei said as she sat on the bed and began taking her shoes off, standing a moment later with her back to the blonde. "Can you unzip my dress?" Moving her hair to the side in a single sweeping motion, Mei waited while Yuzu stuttered a 'yes' followed by the shaking hands on her back.

When the act was done, Mei graciously let the dress slide down her form, showing just how beautiful she was. Yuzu was captivated by the sight, she couldn't muster herself to look away, not for a single second. Mei's snow white skin, her prominent silky hair and the way it complemented her tone or her luscious body that Yuzu couldn't bear to be away from. Her smooth hips, perfect -to Yuzu- curves, her slender legs, everything. It had the girl mesmerised, unable to utter a word.

Though Yuzu's show was quickly over as Mei was soon dressed in her nightwear of matching short shorts and a long t-shirt. Still, Yuzu found her breathtaking.

"Are you getting changed?" Turning around Mei was not pleased to see Yuzu still standing fully dressed and watching her.

"U-uh Yes, sorry!" Yuzu gave an impulsive apology before turning and began trying to undo the small zipper on her back, but seemed to be having unrealistic trouble with it. Grunts of dissatisfaction were heard and foot stomping was almost an option for the girl, but then she felt a small warm hand on her back, accompanied by a heavy sigh.

"Let me do it." Mei had all but lost her superiority act and was now talking to the blonde in her normal, although relatively neutral voice. Although she often spoke to the blonde in a happier more content way, Yuzu was just happy she was starting to calm down, maybe she would actually believe the blonde when she spoke next.

"Thank you," Yuzu smiled at Mei, and the way even after the zipper was down Mei held her hand on the blonde's lower back for several extra seconds.

Soon the two were sittings on their old bed, a silent room that had so many words being spoken between the two; What they wanted to say but couldn't find the courage.

"This brings back memories don't you think?" Yuzu said quietly while running her hand over the freshly made bed, her mind wandering to their younger days together. Yet her reminiscent was stopped as Mei spoke up, facing the blonde, but not really looking at her.

"That's not what we're here to discuss Yuzu. Mother and father will no doubt be back soon so let's get this over with before they arrive home." Still not taking on a completely warm tone, Yuzu gave a sigh before she spoke again.

"Yea, I know that Mei but I don't know what to say, or where to start." Yuzu dropped her head in mortification and shame, for not knowing how she was going to tell Mei what had happened and stalling on the matter even after she had promised to explain it.

"Well let's start with the fact that you said it was me, yet in your dream, you were commenting in his penis and moaning out 'Meino'. I think that's a good place to start: how I am in any way related to that, because I guarantee you, that not either of those things applies to me.

Not as bitter as her previous words that night, Mei's words were still slightly hateful and dismissive to the blonde's claim of it being her.

"No, Mei really it was you!... I was emm, no you were there doing that and I was down, no emm you were dressed like them and I was like them too. Shorter hair a little, maybe? No. I watched-" Yuzu's unsuccessful job of an explanation was cut off as Mei raised her hand to silence the blonde, totally confused by what she was trying to convey.

"What on earth are you trying to say? Think before you speak," Mei said, no longer cold. Yuzu took a few deep breaths and Mei noted how pink her cheeks were at recalling the activities of the dream, scanning the room Yuzu's eyes lit up.

"Would, would you mind if I wrote it down instead? If you have any question then you can ask me?" Yuzu prayed Mei would take to her suggestion, she didn't think she would get the story out otherwise, or at least not in a way that Mei would understand. Her thoughts were all over the place and she was struggling to put a proper sentence together without being totally humiliated by what she was saying. But then again, she would be humiliated when Mei read what she was going to write.

Mei made a gesture for the blonde to do as she pleased, and at the blessing, Yuzu sprang from the bed to her old desk where she found a notepad and pencil. Grasping them, Yuzu made her way back to the bad and sat down crossed legged across from Mei. Who was trying her hardest not to look at the writing until the blonde was finished. The younger of the two waited silently as she watched Yuzu write, she was writing quite a lot, she had hesitated several times before continuing to write, seeming to decide to add whatever part she was debating about putting in.

A page and a half later, Yuzu put the pencil down and looked over to Mei. Was it wrong that she was slightly turned on by what she wrote, at the remembrance of the fantasy?

Looking between Mei and the book a few more times, Yuzu nervously handed the book over to Mei. She watched and waited and slowly Mei's cheeks got a little blush on them, turning the page Mei continued to read without stopping, her hand following the lines she was on. Following her progress down the page Yuzu knew exactly what she was reading, and what had made Mei's cheeks turn a little rosy.

You were you only you asked me to call you Meino. It really was you.

We were at home and I had just gotten home from the hospital and I was still dressed in my doctors uniform. The scrubs, white coats, anyway then you came into the room but you were dressed as a nurse.

Like a really really hot one. You came towards me and you straddled my hips 'cuz I was sitting on the chair in our room. I didn't question it obviously, who would?

We started making out You pushed me back into the chair and started kissing my neck and running your hands over my body, then we started making out.

It lasted a while then you got up and started to leave towards the door, but before you left you told me to get on the bed, I did of course and waited for you to come back.

You came back a second later with your blouse undone and your skirt pulled up. You umm looked pretty (very) h-hot. You also had a strapon on. (At this point the word was almost illegible, Yuzu's obvious attempt to disguise what she had written)

I didn't say anything and just layed still, you came over and pushed me flat on my back and started kissing me again. Then I was naked and you started feeling me. I ehh asked you what we were doing and you said 'You've been naughty today, ignoring me all day for the other nurses' Which I would never do just so you know, 'Since you were looking elsewhere I decided to show you who's boss. So I'm gonna fuck you so hard and you are going to love my dick.'

You said that then pinned my arms above my head and kissed me again, much fiercer than last time. You were rubbing it against me and I kinda really liked. I moaned out your name like I always do, but you pulled back and then covered my mouth saying 'Not tonight. Meino, I'm going to fuck you with my dick so tonight I'm Meino.'

You said it so confidently. To start with I said no, that I'd call you Mei, but then you started teasing me and said you wouldn't give me anything unless I called you by your 'stage name'. So I did.

We were erhh role-playing, that's why you had that thing and didn't have your usual name, but Meino is just like the male version of Mei so I thought it was okay.

So we started to you know 'do it' with that, and you had tied my hands together with your white nurse's belt so I couldn't move my hands. It didn't last long as I ehh came pretty fast. This had been one of the parts Mei watched Yuzu hesitate on writing, now she knew why.

You said it was my punishment and once wasn't enough, so you put me on my hands and knee's and you went, went behind me. But you touched me in all the right places, like how you roll my ehh part in your fingers or run your hands up and down my waist and ribcage, it was just the same as real life so I knew it was you. A figment of my imagination or not.

Anyways, we did it a few more times in different positions and the final time we did it, you... you had me back in a similar position as the second time but we were both standing at the bottom of the bed, but you had me bent forwards so I was holding myself up against the edge of the bed with my hands. It was kinda the same as before but this time when you did it you hit me, spanked me. It wasn't hard or anything but you done it and sorta groped my ass. It wasn't bad, it... turned me on more. Then you put your fingers Ehh in my ahh eh, what I did to you the night this all happened, but a little more forceful well not forceful but more than I did.

That happened for a while and then we both collapsed onto the bed and you took the toy off. I was exhausted well in the dream anyway, and I went to cuddle into you but I woke up.

Yuzu waited anxiously as she watched Mei. Maybe she shouldn't' have written all that, maybe she should have just told Mei what they were doing not a map of how the night unfolded.

Mei was a fast reader, and yet the small pages in the notebook where taking her some time to read, Yuzu would have spoken up and asked if she was alright if not for the looming possibility that Mei would think her kinks were a little too much for her.

"Well... That was emm, detailed." Mei said after a long, long silence. Swallowing the built up saliva in her mouth, she hadn't meant to but while reading she had created a very clear picture in her head and god she liked what she saw.

It wasn't just Yuzu's imagination, Mei was subtly rubbing her thighs together, wasn't she?

"This... is what happened?" Mei asked as she looked up from the pages that were ever so intriguing to her, to the jittering blonde. Yuzu gave a fierce nod, hoping Mei's next words would be somewhat kind, she literally just told her something deeply embarrassing, if Mei were to judge her here and now Yuzu didn't know how she would take it.

Getting over the not so dormant arousal between her legs, Mei put the book down and looked over to Yuzu who was watching her every move like a hawk. "If this was what happened, then why didn't you just tell me? I came up with so many different people and scenarios that you wanted over me. It caused us so much more pain than necessary, why didn't you just tell me this in the first place?" Mei asked, relieved but confused at finally knowing what had occurred.

"Why? Maybe because we've never ever used one of those, or done anything like role-playing before? We've only slept together like..." Mei watched in amusement as Yuzu did a rough calculation in her head. "...like one hundred and ten times, one fifty max, but I seriously doubt we've had sex three times a week that many times. What I'm getting at is that we haven't been sleeping together for that long and you have never given any sign that you were interested in things like that, so I thought you didn't approve of it or something." Yuzu stopped for a moment to catch her breath and figure out what she was going to say next.

"You are so perfect and amazing I didn't want you to think I was super weird or for you to be grossed out by any of it. I mean it seems a little weird to me that I would dream about you like that when you have never done that before. Well, you've 'Punished' me before but nothing like what happened in the dream. So that's why, I thought you would really, really dislike what happened." Yuzu said, her voice still shaking, Mei didn't seem mad but she wasn't hugging her or holding her hand. So she wasn't angry but not happy?

"Yuzu first off, your math is wrong. We have slept together three times a week more than six times, a lot more if I remember." A small almost cocky smile to the blonde and Mei continued. "I have never shown an interest in that sort of thing because neither have you. I don't need something like that for me to feel pleasure from you, having you is enough for me. If you wanted to or have thought about using something like that how was I supposed to know? I'm not judging you for it Yuzu, loads of couples use that sort of thing, and if you want to try it with me then we can." Cheeks were so, so red. Mei felt they were so hot she could have cooked something on them.

The blonde seemed to jerk at the words, seemingly not thinking that that could have been one of the possible answers.

"You, you don't think I'm totally horrible or creepy?" Yuzu asked, just to make sure she had understood Mei right. "No Yuzu, I don't think you are creepy for having a dream about me." Mei gave a soft smile to the anxious girl in front of her. The amount of relief Mei saw in her expression was almost worrying, was Yuzu really so sure that this would have broken their relationship?

"You should have more faith in me Yuzu. I know I don't always show it, and I can sometimes be remarkably aloof and distant towards you, but I really do love you. If I couldn't accept something as small as what you like in bed then this relationship was never going to last. And like you said earlier, I want it to last, for a lifetime." Mei smiled to Yuzu and for the first time took her hand. "You need to trust me, believe that my love for you will be more than whatever it is you are troubled about."

Grateful for the gesture Yuzu gave Mei's hand a light squeeze back, but she needed more at this current moment. Leaping forwards, Yuzu took Mei in a soul-crushing bear hug.

"I'm sorry Mei, I will from now on," Her head tucked in the crook of Mei's neck Yuzu finally felt the warmth she had craved for the past week. It was not long before Mei surprised Yuzu by bringing her hands up and around the older girls slim waist, tightening the embrace.

When the hug ended the two sat side by side on the bed, and before long Yuzu looked up at the sound of Mei chuckling softly to herself.

"What so funny?" Yuzu prodded as she turned to Mei who was smiling with not only her mouth but her eyes, eyes that were shining brighter than they had in a while.

"Nothing, just that this is what you've been hiding." Yuzu frowned slightly at the words but the sound of Mei laughing soon returned the smile to her face. Bringing herself closer to the laughing girl, Yuzu drew her hand up to cup Mei's cheek.

"I love you Mei, and I'm sorry again," Yuzu said, bringing her head in closer to Mei who had stopped her giggling. The pair spent a moment looking at one another, both finding great interest in the eyes of the other, but a touch she had not felt in too long pulled Yuzu's head closer until her lips brushed over Mei's, ghosting them. Testing them, seeing if Mei wanted her to touch them.

She did.

When the blonde pulled back millimetres, Mei made up the space, connecting her lips to the blonde's, loving the feeling of them. The touch was like a lightning bolt of electricity to Yuzu and undoubtedly Mei as she pushed herself deeper into the kiss. Ending the innocent kiss, Mei continued to rest her forehead against the blonde's, their noses just bumping.

"I missed you," Mei whispered, her eyes closing as she felt the blonde against her without having any negative thoughts drilling their way into her mind.

Being in the same room as the blonde, talking to her, touching her without having the thought that Yuzu wanted another, was something Mei had missed more than anything in her life. She had felt like she was suffocating this past week, her life without the blonde was a solemn one for Mei and one she never wanted to experience again.

"I missed you more," Yuzu smiled as she stroked the back of her fingers over Mei's cheek. Mei managed a laugh before things went silent again. A peaceful silence, one both girls enjoyed.

"Would you like to get something to eat? It's pretty late and we only had a small bit to eat at the restaurant before we left," Yuzu asked, concerned that her girlfriend was as hungry as she was. It was still her birthday and nobody should go to sleep hungry on their birthday, Yuzu most certainly wasn't going to let her girlfriend go to bed without a proper meal.

"I would feel bad using mothers food without asking, especially after she and father just wasted so much on that meal. SO how about we just go out ourselves? The sushi place and the ramen hut that you used to love are just down the street if I remember correctly, we could just go and have a quiet night out?" Mei gave the suggestion and she thought she had never seen the blonde smile brighter than she did.

"Of course, that sounds amazing!" Getting from the bed, Yuzu handed Mei a hoodie form the closet and took one for herself.

"Yuzu I'm still in my pyjamas, I need to get changed," Mei said while putting her clothing the blonde had given her down on the bed. Though severely confused when the blonde threw her hoodie over her head, smiling brilliantly at Mei while holding a black pair of leggings out.

"It's your birthday, and there is nothing more annoying than having to put a bra back on when you have just taken it off. So" Yuzu picked up the hoodie the girl had layed on the bed. "We are just going to relax in these hoodies and no one will ever no. Besides, it's your birthday you should be super comfortable. But you have to put these leggings on or you might catch a cold." Yuzu gave a cheesy grin to Mei who was shocked beyond understanding at the minute.

Yuzu had already put the hoodie over Mei's head and was in the process of lifting her arms through the sleeves. "But that is very inappropriate," Mei said, not fighting what the blonde was doing. It did seem like an awfully hard task to put her undergarment back on and the idea of just masking her lack of one with an oversized baggy hoodie was very tempting.

"No questions!" Yuzu grinned at Mei standing in her hoodie, a grin on her lips too. It took moments for Mei to discard her shorts for the leggings and soon the two were walking down the street hand in hand with knowing smirks on their faces. Something about doing this seemed absolutely ridiculous to Mei but the other part loved the freedom she had only just discovered.

"So which one do you wanna go to?" Yuzu asked as she held onto Mei's arm. Her smile never leaving her lips, she didn't know if she would very be able to stop smiling now that she was on the same page as Mei.

"I'm more of a sushi person, but if you want we can go to the ramen place I know you like that one more?" Mei said as they turned the corner to the two upcoming fast food stalls. Smiling with a roll of he eyes at the reply she got, "Sushi it is!" Yuzu gave a quick skip of her feet in excitement.

"I really did miss talking to you Mei, it feels like forever since we did something like this," Yuzu hummed happily to Mei as they entered the makeshift restaurant.

"We had takeout, and lots of it before I left last week?" Mei said with a cock of her brow to her girlfriend, knowing what she meant but playing with her all the same.

Yuzu only smiled as she walked Mei into the restaurant, not giving into the bait her lover was laying out perfectly for her.

The row of food chains was well hidden down a small street, hidden to most and so few tourists where there and Yuzu felt the place was homier. Each restaurant or bar was relatively small, only holding about a dozen people at a time, though the one they were going in held about twenty people at a time with chairs outside and smaller booths inside. This restaurant was a little on the expensive side, but nothing that Yuzu didn't mind paying for the quality of the food they got.

"Do you wanna sit inside or outside?" Yuzu asked as she neared the counter for ordering. In reply Mei pointed to a small booth at the very back or the place, it was cosier and seemed more intimate to the younger girl, that and it was getting a little too cold outside.

Yuzu smiled and told Mei to go and grab a seat while she ordered the food.

"Good evening, what can I get for you?" An older man smiled down to Yuzu. "Good evening! I have a little list I would like, would it be okay to get about half a dozen of each of these types of sushi?" Yuzu asked with a bit of embarrassment at asking for so much and for special treatment for a dish or plater that wasn't actually on the menu.

"Of course, go ahead when you're ready," The man gave a cheerful smile as he readied his pen and pad.

"Okay, can I have Akami, Tobiko nigiri, Toro, Saba, Tekkamaki, Kappa Maki, Sake Nigiri, Maguro nigiri, Uni, and can I just get two Mushi Ebe?" Yuzu, when she was finished, blushed as the older gentleman laughed at her.

"Do you have anywhere to put all that sushi?" The man laughed looking at Yuzu's small frame. "Can I get any drinks for you?" He smiled as Yuzu puffed up her cheeks.

"Umm just some Ginjo Sake, please. Umm, could I ask a favour? Could you put all the sushi on like a big plater, and make it look really pretty, like colour coordinate them? It's my girlfriends twenty-first today and sushi is one of her favourites, so I just want it to look extra good. I'll happily pay any extra fees for the time and effort too." Yuzu smiled at the man, who nodded with a bright, understanding smile. "I'll bring it over as soon as it's ready." Yuzu nodded and walked over to Mei who was patiently waiting for her partner to get here.

"That took a while, what took you so long?" Mei said as Yuzu sat down opposite the questioning girl. "Oh, I was just taking my time to make sure I ordered the right food. I was trying to remember what all your favourites are." Yuzu grinned to Mei who was sceptical at first but decided to let it go.

"How did your job go yesterday? I wasn't actually sleeping when you came in, I waited up for you to get back to make sure you got home alright but you were tired so I just let you sleep. I think you sighed a total of eight times in the five minutes you spent in the room after your shower before you got into bed." Mei said, feeling only slightly guilty for pretending to be asleep.

"What?! You should have told me, Mei!" Yuzu exclaimed at the realisation, but Mei just shrugged her comment aside and waited for the blonde's explanation. She might not have really wanted the blonde to get the job, but as long as she had it Mei would want to know how her day had been. Yesterday being her induction, Mei hoped it had all gone well.

"It was good. I started just getting shown around the place, where things go and where certain things are. I met the bosses first then the other front staff, there were three others on last night but I was told including me there are seven in total. I met the kitchen staff and the chiefs as well and they were all super nice. Since yesterday was quite busy I was sorta shadowing a girl for the first three-quarters of the night, her name was Makiko but she said for me just to call her Maki. So she was really nice and showed me how to do most things, she also said that she works most weekends so I'll see her a lot." Yuzu rambled on and on, finally able to tell her first night working to someone.

"So it got really busy around half seven and I got a little confused with the number of orders, but they all said that they were all the same and I'll pick it up quickly." Yuzu said as she watched Mei smiling adoring at her.

"I'm glad you had a good time then. I'm sure you'll get the hang of things quickly." Mei commented as she looked to the coming waiter.

"Ladies, your sake," The younger waiter brought over two small cups and pored each of them before standing. "If you would like more, please don't hesitate to ask." A bow and he was gone, Mei, however, looked up to the blonde.

"Alcohol?"

"Well, it's your birthday. Plus we're having sushi, what else would we drink with it?" Yuzu smiled and took Mei's hand in her own. "I know you don't really like celebrating your birthday, but I want you to at least try and have a nice night." After a kiss to the back of Mei's fingers, Yuzu gently played with the gold ring on the girl's right ring finger. (I know in the manga they have it on their left hand but Yuzu is gon' give our girl a real ring so I'm changing this part).

"A little alcohol isn't going to hurt anyone and it's just a sociable drink so it's okay." Yuzu looked up to Mei from the ring, a small smile was spread over her lips as she watched the blonde play with the ring on her finger, "Okay," Mei answered and decided to allow the blonde this one drink. Or maybe a few, they were celebrating after all.

"What sushi did you end up ordering?" Watching the kitchen to see if any food was coming to their table, Mei felt her tummy grumble at the sight of it going past her.

"A couple of different ones. But I didn't order any squid or octopus," Yuzu grinned to Mei who visibly cringed at the mention. She hated squid and octopus with more than necessary passion, Mei didn't dislike the taste but all she could imagine was the living tentacle covered creatures. Something she did not like to think about when eating, so as a rule, Yuzu chose not to eat those things when Mei was there even if she did like squid.

"Good," Mei replied, a silence falling over the table at the lack of any conversation topics in the blonde's mind.

"You look pretty," Yuzu blurted out the words before she had a chance to second guess herself. A pair of leggings and a light blue two sizes too big hoodie is not something Mei would have classed as something pretty, but then again Yuzu wore stuff like this all the time and she always looked good.

"Uh huh." Mei hummed to the blonde, not feeling the need to return the compliment when she had already commented on the girl's dress earlier that night.

"...Mei?" Yuzu said unpretentious, catching Mei's attention. "Yes Yuzu,"

"I'm sorry I hurt you..." Her voice was hushed and apologetic, a tone Mei wasn't used to the cheerful blonde using. "Yuzu we discussed this, I said it was fine and that there was nothing to worry about," Mei tried to reassure but it seemed her words didn't quite hit home.

"Only it isn't. I can't properly enjoy myself until I apologise correctly. You left on Thursday in tears, you cried your way to Gramps and you cried when you came home. You've cried yourself to sleep three of four nights this week and I haven't shown how sorry I am for causing you all that pain. I made you do the thing I hate seeing you do most, and worst of all you couldn't even look at me or ask for comfort. I am supposed to be the person you come to when you need help and I made it so you couldn't, I made you suffer alone. So I'm sorry, for all of it. You shouldn't have had to leave, and you shouldn't have had to hide your feelings from me, so this is my formal sincere apology." Bowing as best she could while sitting down, Yuzu wished Mei could see how sorry she felt about the whole ordeal. Especially when it was resolved so easily when she just told the truth.

"You don't need to say that Yuzu, I can already see how sorry you are, and I've made mistakes this week too. Grave ones, that I pray I will never make again, but you shouldered that blame to try and make me feel better. I know you feel guilty, but there really is no point in dwelling on the past. So how about we just focus on our future and pretend this past week of horror didn't happen?" Mei lifted the blonde's chin with her hand and wait for the smile she knew was coming.

"Okay," Yuzu responded, her hand reaching up to take Mei's in her own, kissing her inner wrist before allowing it to be returned to her partner.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear..." The waiters trailed off, but Yuzu caught on quickly, "MEI" At the continuation, everyone joined in again "Happy birthday to you! Hip hip! Hooray! Hip hip! Hooray! Hip hip! Hooray!" The restaurant was lively as all the other tables present seemed to join in the song, all shouting 'hooray' along with all the staff.

Yuzu was grinning like a mad man, her eyes fixed on the display in front of her. There was one main waiter in front holding a small cupcake with a candle in it. Behind her, Yuzu saw two waiters holding a large wooden board, of which she couldn't quite see the display on it. Behind them were the few other waiters the restaurant had, all singing to Mei who had a face of horrification.

Her cheeks were bright red and she was suddenly very aware of her lack of clothing, everyone would see. Though she didn't quite have time to think about that as the waiter placed the cake down in front of Mei and Yuzu spoke up, excitedly kicking her legs under the table at the surprise.

"Go on Mei, make a wish!" What could have been a scowl to the blonde later, Mei took a moment before blowing out the candle on the small desert, erupting the whole restaurant in applauds.

Soon after, the large wooden board was placed down in the centre of the two, Yuzu took in a breath of shock and delight when she saw it.

Like she had requested it was colour coordinated, but the design made her smile gaily to Mei who was still sitting silently as she eyed the sushi presented to her while the staff trickled back to work.

In the centre of the board was a large '21' made up of the tuna-based sushi's, going from a darker red at the bottom to a lighter more vibrant red at the top. The Tobiko nigiri she had ordered were positioned around the twenty-one with three on each side, Yuzu thought they looked like fireworks. Along the bottom, the Tekkamaki and Kappa Maki were made into large swirls, extending along the entire length of the board. The two Mishu Ebi placed in both top corners of the board. Yuzu thought it was breathtaking and quickly brought out her phone to snap a few pictures.

A few more moments passed and after Yuzu was finished taking her photos, she looked up to Mei who still hadn't spoken. "Mei are you alright?" Yuzu asked as she put her phone down, worried that she had upset the girl by her lack of response.

"I'm fine, I would have appreciated some sort of warning though. I didn't really appreciate that sprung on me." Mei said while she admired the design of the food in front of her. Then she looked properly at the food in front of her, then to the blonde.

"Yuzu there is like sixty pieces of sushi here, this is going to cost a fortune," Mei said as she eyed all the food on the board, Yuzu had ordered many of her favourite sushi', but spending this much seemed a little too much even for Mei.

"One, don't worry about the price, and second I didn't know they were going to do that. I swear it. I just asked them if they could make the food look pretty because it was your twenty-first. Nothing about singing or causing a scene." Yuzu defended herself as she watched Mei. She was slowly letting a small smile form on her lips as she looked over the beautiful arrangement of colours in front of her.

"Thank you, Yuzu,"

"Can we take a picture together?" Yuzu asked nervously while holding up her phone and pointing towards the food before they started eating it. Mei didn't even think before she nodded in agreement. Yuzu was about to shuffle around to Mei's side of the table but stopped when she heard the man who had taken her order's voice.

"Would you like me to do that?" He gestured to the phone and Yuzu gave him a grateful smile.

"Please," The two sat at the back of the booth and had moved the plater so it was facing away from them towards the camera, Yuzu had wrapped one arm around Mei's shoulders the other was holding the board at a slight angle so that the camera could see it better. Mei, like Yuzu, had one hand holding up the plater the other she had been told to put around Yuzu's waist as if the waiter was a real photographer. The waiter counted down from three and Yuzu was happy to see Mei giving a rather lively smile.

It got to three and the photo was taken with the two girls, Yuzu more than Mei, smiling brightly to the camera. The second photo Yuzu waited until the last moment, before turning her head and giving Mei a kiss on the cheek. The man only chuckled as he saw Mei's cheeks heat up in embarrassment. Handing the phone back to the blonde, he walked away wishing them a good night, leaving the two alone.

"Why did you do that?" Mei said while rubbing her cheek with her first, questioning her girlfriend's planned act.

"Cuz it made a really good photo and you owed me one from last Thursday when you guessed the takeaways wrong, you still have to give me a kiss on the cheek, but we can do that another day." Yuzu grinned as she looked at the picture on her phone, it was taken fast, swiftly, so much to that Mei was still smiling while Yuzu was kissing her. That along with the great show in front of them made Yuzu love the picture even more. Going into her setting, Yuzu instantly swapped out her home screen picture for the newer one. After all, that one was just of her goofing off with Harumi and as much as she loved her best friend, Yuzu loved this picture more.

"So let's eat!" Yuzu exclaimed as she motioned to Mei to take first dibs. Yuzu was happier than she thought she could have been with the way this night had gone. Given, the outburst at their first stop had been slightly unnerving for her, but it lead to this, and this was happy. Both Mei and Yuzu were happy, for the first time in over a week they were both happy in the others company.

A week may not have seemed like a long time, but when you spend every day of your life with someone in a relatively happy environment you get used to it. It was safe to say that both Mei and Yuzu never wanted something like this to happen again. It no doubt would eventually, but they hoped it would be a ways away.

Several hours had passed when the two were just finishing off the last of the sushi, both stuffed full but Yuzu was confident she had some space left to finish the few remaining pieces.

"If you are full don't force yourself to eat more, it will just make you feel sick and give you a sore stomach," Mei said as she took her final sip of sake and placed her chopsticks down.

"I know, but I want to eat it unless you want some more?" She replied with her chopsticks holding out one of two remaining pieces of food to Mei who quickly shook her head, "No thank you," With the few words the sushi was gone, disappeared into the oblivion that was the blonde's stomach.

"Do you want another drink before we go?" Yuzu said through a still slightly full mouth, motioning to Mei empty cup. "I've already had five Yuzu, I'm sure our bill is high enough without adding any more to it," Mei said as she recalled all the drinks they had had that night, along with enough sushi to adequately feed four.

"Nonsense," Yuzu grinned as she motioned Mei's small glass to the waiter who was quick to bring the bottle over. Filling both cups, the young woman smiled and excused her self after making sure everything was fine.

"Really?" Mei said with a raise of her brow and cocked her head to the side, eyeing the blonde and her intentions. However, she only grinned "Kanpie!" Raising her glass to Mei Yuzu waited for Mei to follow suit before giving a gentle clink of their cups before taking a small sip, smiling all the while.

Following the sip was the last piece of sushi before the older girl placed her utensils down with a satisfied sigh. "That was amazing," Yuzu said as she looked over to Mei looking for some sort of confirmation from her girlfriend.

"It was," There it was, and she was smiling. It wasn't as big as Yuzu's grin but then again Mei's smile wasn't as big as Yuzu's was, so the small smile that rested on her lips was enough for the blonde.

"Do you want dessert?" Raising her hand to the second menu on the table Yuzu stopped when Mei took her outstretched hand. "No Yuzu, I'm full and you are well past full. How about we just finish these drinks then get the bill?" Mei said, her voice soft and understanding. She knew that Yuzu was only trying to make tonight as nice as possible, and although not usually one to turn down dessert, Mei felt stuffed. She wanted a nice relaxing walk home, before going to bed.

"Whatever you want," A smile and Yuzu waved the waiter over again, "Hi could we get the bill, please?" Yuzu as she smiled up to the older man who Yuzu had first spoken to when they arrived. "Of course, I hope everything was to your liking tonight," The man said as he addressed the two young women, "It was lovely thank you," Surprising to Yuzu it was Mei who offered the man thanks, and she gave a small bow and he grinned in pride at her kind words.

"Thank you, I'm glad to see you enjoyed it, I'll be right back with your bill,"

"So, how's your day been?" Yuzu asked as she rested her head in the palm of her hand, looking over at Mei who was, as usual, sitting with perfect posture.

"Well, my time with Himeko was nice. It was good to get caught up and meet her future husband, and it was good to see mother and father together. The meal, although cut short was nice too. Best of all, we fixed our little problem and I've had a wonderful evening, so there really isn't much else I could ask for," Mei smiled over to Yuzu who was letting a sigh of relief out at hearing Mei's day hadn't been a total disaster.

"Good, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you hadn't enjoyed today when it's so special."

"Ladies," A small plate with a recipe was placed down on the table and the man bowed and walked away. Mei immediately went to pick up the paper, but before she had time to read it Yuzu had plucked it from her grasp.

"Nuh huh, since you won't let me buy you a present I'm paying for this. It will make me feel less guilty for not being able to get you anything." Yuzu smiled, and it almost faltered when she saw the bill. This really would run her card dry. So very dry.

"Yuzu I can't let you do that, it is bound to be near the two hundred mark for how much you ordered. At least let me buy half or three quarters." Mei said as she reached for the bill, but Yuzu only swatted her hand away.

"Near yes, but not over."Giving a soft laugh at Mei's pouting face. Yuzu took her card out and placed it on the plate, but Mei quickly took it off. "Yuzu I'm serious, I don't want you wasting all this money." Mei was speaking in a slightly more assertive tone. As if that would change the blonde's mind.

"Mei put my card back." It wasn't hard or fiery, but Yuzu was serious, and Mei knew it. Reluctantly Mei placed the card back down on the plate, but in compromise took her own card out and placed it on top. Seeing they were done, the waiter returned to collect the plate along.

Both smiled at him as he did but just before he turned Yuzu spoke up. "Oh, actually can I look at that for a second?" Gesturing to the plate, the waiter turned instantly and lowered the plate to her head hight. Snatching Mei's card off the top Yuzu smiled.

"That's better, thank you." Smiling with a nod, the man walked away over to the till where he would take the bill from the blonde's card alone. When Yuzu returned her gaze to Mei she was met with a frightful glare. Handing the card across to the girl, Yuzu thought she saw her hand shaking, "Sorry Mei." Yuzu said as Mei took the card from her hand and stuffed it back inside her purse. Even if she was trembling under Mei's stare she still had the biggest grin on her face.

"Only your not sorry at all, you knew you were going to do that," Mei spat in a not so light-hearted tone as she eyed the blonde. "Yeah I know, but I said it was my gift to you and so I was going to pay for it either way. So no need to be grumpy about it, just smile and be happy," Yuzu said as she readied her purse to leave.

Returning the card alongside a recipe to the blonde, the two were wished farewell as they exited the restaurant and began the walk back to their mother's house. As soon as they left Yuzu took hold of Mei's hand and didn't let go until they were at the door of the apartment.

It was half ten by the time the two had gotten in and were both changed into their pyjamas again, relieved of their hoodies and trousers swapped out. Mei was sat in bed book in hand as she waited for Yuzu to come back, when she did it was a surprise to see the girl in only a tank top and her underwear.

"Why are you still not dressed yet? You have been in the bathroom for over ten minutes." Mei queried as she eyes the blonde, refraining from looking at her lower half. Yuzu only smiled as she made her way around to her side of the bed.

"I am changed, I was feeling a little hot so this is fine... Unless you want me to put something else on?" Yuzu said confidently, but then it occurred to her that she and Mei hadn't slept holding or even touching each other in a while and perhaps she would want the blonde to be dressed the first night they did.

Mei gave a shrug of her shoulders as her eyes went back to her book, scanning the contents of the page leaving Yuzu to her own devices on what she wanted to do. Slipping under the sheets the older of the two shuffled up to the younger.

"Hi," Yuzu whispered as she leaned closer. When she had Mei's attention, Yuzu raised her hand to the book and lightly pushed the pages closed. "Do you wanna put the book away?" Yuzu smiled as she layed a feather-like kiss to the pale exposed shoulder in front of her.

"I really don't feel like doing that tonight Yuzu," Mei said as she reopened her book, Yuzu frowned as she sat up. "I wasn't asking for that Mei, I wasn't expecting to do that tonight I just want to cuddle. It's been ages since we got to cuddle and I missed it," Yuzu pouted as she waited for Mei to look at her, which she eventually did. Closing her book and placing it on the nightstand, Mei looked at Yuzu for several more seconds trying to decipher if her words were true or if she would try something when they got into bed.

Eventually, her fatigue gave through and Mei shuffled down under the covers, facing inwards on her side. Her wishes fulfilled, Yuzu dropped down in front of Mei facing her with a wide grin. "Thanks," Moving forwards, Yuzu waited until she was close enough so their noses were just about bumping, her hand slipped over onto the dip in Mei's waist and she smiled brighter.

"I missed you so much, and I missed this," Yuzu said as she slowly moved her hand up and down the length of Mei's side. Leaning in, she connected her lips to Mei's in a slow sweet kiss. Mei didn't reject the advance, but let her lips sink into the blonde's touch. She had missed this too, very much.

She felt she had become somewhat dependant on the blonde these days, she craved her touch every day, relied on her cuddles and sweet nothings at night to relieve any stress she may have had or just to feel content. A night without her felt sad and lonely for Mei now, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

When the kiss was broken, Yuzu left one more peck on her lips before settling down on the pillow. Mei moved back and switched the lamp off before she returned to the blonde's side. Their eyes adjusted to the dark but Mei felt like hers were closing anyway.

"I'm tired," Mei managed to say as she watched the green emeralds in the dark room. She saw the blonde smile before she got a kiss on the cheek, "Then let's go to sleep," Yuzu said as she stopped the rubbing of her partner's side, reduced it for faint tapping.

Turning in the embrace, Mei got comfortable and waited for the blonde to wrap her arms around her and hold her tight. And that she did, wrapping one arm under Mei's waist the other over it Yuzu snuggled up into Mei, her nose coming to rest at the nape of Mei's neck. Although some may have thought it strange, Yuzu cherished the smell of Mei, her warmth and her love.

"I love you." Whispering into the girl's ear, Yuzu closed her eyes and prepared for sleep to take over her but the feeling of Mei taking hold of her hand stopped her. Her hand was moved up and then she felt soft lips on the back of her fingers, then her palm and then her inner wrist.

"I love you too," Mei said quietly, her hand though moved down slightly, didn't let go of the blonde's hand. Yuzu didn't care for the slightly awkward position her arm was in, a smile was plastered on her face as she relayed several kisses to the back of Mei's head.

"Goodnight Mei," Snuggling up a final time both were consumed by their exhaustion and sleep soon washed over the pair.

"We're back," Ume said a little too loudly as she walked into the apartment, but to her surprise, it was silent and dark. Confused she walked, a little wonkily, down the hall to her girl's room. Knocking several times for good measure, Ume opened the door to find the room dark as well.

With the light from the hall illuminating the room, her eyes soon fell on the bed where she saw her two beautiful daughters cuddled up, holding the others hand and both had content smiles on their faces as they slept. Ume could only smile at what she saw, things had obviously gone well for the pair this evening and for that she was grateful.

"They're asleep," She said as she quietly closed the door, leaving the couple in their little bubble again.