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A weak chuckle rasps out of me. « Oh, she was really polite. She told me she was going to let me have a shred of happiness before she ripped it away . . . she would never stop hunting you down . . . she was going to torture me until I begged her to kill me. All in all, it was really fun. She might not be entirely sane, though. Oh, » I add, « I think she has this creepy obsession with you. »
For some reason, this doesn't seem to surprise Veah.
« A shred of happiness before she rips it away ? » Veah shakes her head. « I'm getting you out of Tokyo city. It's not safe here. »
« That was just the rambling of a madwoman, » I insist. « And . . . I'm alive. » I kiss her again. « Don't you know what that means ? »
« I think it means you need more rest. »
« It means we're still married. »
Her eyes search mine. « We can go to the temple. I can get us an annulment― »
« No, » I say, surprising myself. « I . . . I kind of like Plan B. Just not, you know, the part where you die and I'm your widow. »
« You want us to stay married ? »
And suddenly, I remember something.
« I love you, » I blurt out. « I wanted to tell you that all night, but I forgot and . . . when I thought I was about to die . . . »
« It's okay, » Veah murmurs, holding me tightly. « Shh, Kaya. It's alright. »
« I heard my neck snap. That crack― »
« I understand, » Veah tells me quietly. « But you're safe now, and you're going to stay that way. I have a plane ready― »
The thought of leaving Tokyo behind is suddenly unfathomable to me. The neon lights, the vitality and the traffic and the people I've met . . . « I want to stay. »
« No. »
« But I― »
« Absolutely not. »
« Veah. »
« Kaya. »
« What if . . . what if it was only for a day ? »
« What do you mean ? »
The morning sunlight kisses her face in angelic paint. She is beautiful, and I am suddenly so, so glad I'm alive.
« A date, » I breathe. « Remember the date you promised me ? To take me all over Tokyo city and show me your favourite things ? »
« Kaya . . . » she threatens.
« It's a beautiful day to be alive, » I say brightly. « And we're married. Take me out on a date before we leave. Just for a day. That's it. »
« You're crazy, you know that ? »
« And you love me, » I tease.
« That's true. »
« Then what are we waiting for ? Let's consummate this marriage. »
She grins wickedly. « In other words, you want me to fuck you. »
I raise an eyebrow. « You know me so well, wife. »
« The perfect date, » I say, blinking as the sunlight stabs my eyes.
Veah laces her fingers through mine. « You sound awfully cheerful. »
« Because I'm alive, » I say, and it feels wonderful to even say it. To know it's true. Slyly, I add, « Although I did end up in Heaven. Quite a few times . . . »
Veah laughs as we walk down the sidewalk. « I did say if you wanted to be inside of me, it could be arranged. »
« And if we're keeping count . . . we did break a record of twenty-three. »
« Twenty-three ? Oh. Twenty-three. »
As we cross the street, I can't help but laugh giddily. « So where are we going ? For the perfect date with my wife ? »
Just the word wife is enough to send a thrill through me.
« First stop, » Veah says, pulling me to the front of a bakery. « Cinnamon buns. »
My jaw drops.
In Japanese, Veah leans over the counter and speaks to the woman in the baker's hat. The woman smiles, and behind her, the oven glows golden.
« You didn't, » I say, fighting to keep the smile off my face.
« I figured my first act as the wife of Kaya Lee Rivers should be to order her cinnamon buns. »
« You know the way to my heart, don't you ? »
It takes a few minutes for the woman to slide two warm, oozing cinnamon buns across the counter. Veah hands one to me, and I whisper, « I love you. »
« Are you talking to me or the cinnamon bun ? »
The sweet scent of sugar and flaky, buttery goodness is irresistible. « Do you want me to lie to you ? » I ask Veah.
« It's good, isn't it ? »
The first bite makes me dissolve. I might as well be a puddle on the side of the road right now. « If it's any consolation, » I say, « I love you, too. But you're second to this cinnamon bun. »
Veah watches me with those intense storm-grey eyes, her stare lingering on my mouth as I moan. The warm, soft texture combined with the rich, butter-sweet flavour . . . this is heaven on earth. When the cinnamon bun is finally devoured, I lick my lips.
« What ? » I say, squinting at her. « Why are you looking at me like that ? »
Her hand curls around my waist, and I stumble against her chest. The people on the sidewalk keep walking as though they don't even notice.
Veah's eyes are bright. Her mouth is a breath away from mine.
« You have something right here, » she says, and she kisses me. Cinnamon and sugar.
« I can't believe you just did that. »
« Come on. » She is laughing. « This is only the first stop. We still have an entire day to ourselves. »
And I change my mind. Heaven on earth is right here.
« I think you've taken me to all of Tokyo city, » I tease. « We've seen all the temples, all the restaurants―and by the way, if you plan on fattening me up, it's definitely going to work. »
Veah narrows her eyes as she drags me across an empty sidewalk. It must almost be evening now, because the sky is a brilliant orange.
Up ahead, I see a river.
« I think you're perfect the way you are, » Veah says softly.
Finally, around the bend, I see what it is she is so excited to show me.