Like a Puzzle

Kiryu is like that puzzle.

She finds new pieces, new information about him everyday and she doesn't know how to deal with it.

Eijiro would probably tell her that she is better off not understanding Kiryu. She understands why and yet… Lila sighs deeply. It seems like she is more worried about Kiryu these days and not her husband.

Earlier she felt distraught and cried a lot. But all of it went away.

"So, how much longer?"

Lila still half dazed does not understand what he is saying at first. "You came out here to arrest some dangerous people right?"

"Ah." Lila nodded. "Another hour or so."

"Think you will be okay until then?"

Lila understood his concern. The weather seemed to get colder and colder as each minute passed by. "I will be fine."

"Are you sure about that? You keep checking your watch, and nervously fidgeting with your clothes and hair. You only do that when your very restless."

Lila blushed at his accurate assessment. Why is she so surprised by this? Kiryu seems to know everything about her.

"Well until they come here it is basically a stake out, the waiting game. Your not used to this kind of thing I am sure." He trailed off. "I guess I am boring you? I should put more effort into being more engaging."

Lila frantically shook her head.

"Sometimes I forget that you only just started getting involved recently. Your in charge of our people right now and doing a good job so I forget." His gaze softened. A gentler look flashed through his eyes.

"Then maybe we should play a game."

"A game?"

"Fifty questions."

Kiryu raised his eyebrow. "Fifty? That's specific."

Despite his words Kiryu nodded. Suddenly so many questions appeared in her head and Lila realized why. Despite being so close since they were children, she always refrained from truly getting to know him. There were many things that she could have asked him but she never did that. She kept so many questions to herself the past few years.

This is just a game though, so she cant ask them.

"Whats your favourite colour?"

"Black."

Lila blinked when she heard him say those words. Black? But Kiryu doesnt like the darkness…

"Its your hair colour."

Red creeps up onto her cheeks again. It is a crime for her to be blushing at Kiryus direct and forwardness, but she doesnt stop blushing. What is with him? It seems like if she asks him anything, he will somehow find a way to direct it to her.

Lila took a deep breath. "Favourite book?"

"The long walk or the running man."

"Alice Caroll looking through glass."

Kiryu raised his eyebrow. "You're really going to say that now? You know the enemy is--"

Lila cuts him off. "I know. But isn't it cruel? How could they twist a childish fairytale like that."

"Your mother is the Queen they were looking for this entire time. Back then they had to surrender, but do you think they will do that now?"

She understood that and that was why her mother was staying away from her.

"I like that story, it is a follow up tale regarding Alice adventure in the wonderland. It is a story for children but I still read it occasionally. A mystical world like that which is so different from your own."

"I see."

"What about your choice?"

Kiryu's lips curve to a smile. "I am trying to run away from something or I am running reckless ahead, which do you think it is?"

"Both."

He is trying to escape her and yet still forge a path towards the future for her sake. This man is filled with contradictions left and right, but there is no doubt that he is doing these things because of his strong convictions. His strong convictions are his feelings towards her.

Sometimes she feels guilty being with Kiryu like this. Look at her trying to find happiness when the situation is like this. But when her husband returns next month, she wont get many chances to spend with Kiryu like this.

Lila realized how insensitive that sounded and she immediately covered her mouth.

Kiryu chuckled. "Relax, your right."

"Still." Lila protested. "I didnt mean to say it that way."

"It's okay, you didn't say it to intentionally harm me did you?"

Lila shook her head and watched as he pulled out a packet of five stars from his pocket. He fiddles with the lighter around his neck and lit the cigarette. Small clouds of smoke appear in the air.

This person doesn't get angry with her, even when she does something careless. It looks like he wants to get angry but he never goes through with it in the end. She wonders how come he could do that? Haruka always gets angry when she endangers her life.

He doesnt get angry but he tremble whenever she does stupid things.

"Kiryu, you still smoke?"

Kiryu paused but nodded. "Well not as often as before, maybe half a pack in a day. It isn't good for my voice right?"

Her gaze softens when she hears him say those words. It seems like there are things about him that she still knows very well. He still treasures every single word she told him before.

"Is that the case?" Lila raised her eyebrow.

"Well maybe a pack depending on the day."

Lila laughed when she saw how panicked he suddenly became.

"Damn." Kiryu mumbled. "You always seem to get to me."

No matter how much of a puzzle Kiryu is, she will learn things about him bit by bit. If she could reach out to him with confidence like she did in the past, would something change?

She hesitantly extended her hand out to her surprise Kiryu grabbed hold of it. For a moment she froze until he said. "Lets wander around for a bit. I don't think they are coming this way anymore."

Lila slowly nodded her head and allowed Kiryu to drag her along. Her gaze fell on the hand that was pulling hers. So warm and so familiar. She recognizes this warmth, the warmth of the person she loved for so many years.