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Chapter Twenty-Six: Wet Reeds:

The night is too long to the sleepless.
The road is too long to the footsore.
Life is too long to a woman
Made foolish by passion.
Why did I find a crooked guide
On the twisted paths of love?

--“LV” from The Love Poems of Marichiko by Kenneth Rexroth 1978

That evening, Tsuzuki knocked on Anna’s door. He waited before she opened the door. He waited before she opened the door. Neither one spoke. She let him into the house. They went into her bedroom. Anna sat on her futon. Tsuzuki joined his beloved.

“We have to talk,” he broke the silence with. Anna pressed her lips together as she nodded.

“I know,” she said. Silence. Tsuzuki looked out into the darkness.

“They know everything now,” he said.

“Hm,” she replied.

“We have three days to break up.”

“I know.”

“I’m not letting you go.”

“Neither am I.” Silence. Tsuzuki kept his eyes to the pitch black.

“So what do we do?” he asked. Anna closed her eyes.

“Fight it, I guess,” she said.

“How?” he asked. She opened her eyes and shrugged.

“Just…” she said. "Any way possible. I guess…”

“We’re lost, aren’t we?” he asked. She pressed her lips together and nodded.

“Pretty much…” she said. Silence. Tsuzuki placed his hand on the futon.

“Hisoka has fallen in love with me,” he said. Anna glanced at him.

“What will you do?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to let him down.”

“Please don’t hurt him. Do it gently.”

“I will.”

“I don’t want to ruin things between you.”

“You won’t.” Anna breathed in the dark.

“I can understand how her feels,” she said. “You are so good to him and me.”

“Because I love you,” he said.

“Hm,” she said, nodding.

“I mean that. I really love you,” he said. She closed her eyes and smiled.

“So together we stay?” Anna asked. Tsuzuki smiled back at her as he gently held her hand.

“Looks that way,” he whispered. Anna held his hand as well.

“We’ll have to face Tatsumi,” she said.

“I’m not leaving you,” he whispered.

“I could end up in Meifu forever.”

“I’m willing to take that chance.”

“What will we to take that chance.”

“What will we do until then?” Tsuzuki moved in closer to his beloved.

“Spend what little time is left together,” he said softly. “Any more questions?” Anna smiled and shook her head.

“No,” she said. “We covered everything now.” Tsuzuki smiled at her.

“Good to know,” he said.

“Mmm,” she replied. They shared another kiss as the rain poured on through the night.

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