It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

The Beach

Deep red suited her well. The velvet dress hugged her body, kissing the top of her knee. There was a long slit up her left leg, pausing an inch below her hip. Her dark hair had been straightened, causing it to fall mid-back, tickling her pale, bare skin. The necklace glinted beneath the lowlights of the fancy restaurant, as did her mother's diamond bracelet which fit her left wrist perfectly. She'd done her makeup well, red lips, thin eyeliner and soft highlighter.

"You're dressed appropriately," Reiji said as he sat opposite her. He wore a white dress shirt with a red waistcoat and a black blazer. He didn't wear a tie, she noticed, and the first two buttons were left undone. His hair had been swept out of his face, his glasses clean and shiny on his face.

"Thank you," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear, "as are you."

"Move the chair."

"Pardon?"

"Beside me, I prefer when you're beside me." She didn't argue and did as he said, sitting beside him at the round table for two with her back facing the nearly empty restaurant.

"Oh wow," she breathed, looking out at the ocean from the view she now received as she sat in front of the wall-length window, "it's beautiful." Reiji nodded as he looked at her.

"It is," he said softly before clearing his throat, "do you know what you're going to order?" Her eyes met his and she pursed her lips, glancing at the menu.

"Hmm... the carbonara," she said, "if that's alright."

"Perfectly," Reiji said, closing the thin menu and putting it aside, "I'm also going to order that."

"There aren't many people here," Athena said, glancing around.

"I prefer it like this," Reiji said, looking out the window at the waves crashing against the sand.

"We should go down there after dinner," she said, "it would be fun."

"I don't think that would be wise," he said.

"I suppose you're right," she pouted, turning her attention to him, "you really do suit short hair."

"Thank you," he said.

"What made you cut it off? It was longer than mine."

"It was annoying," he said, "hard to clean properly and in the way constantly."

"Oh no," Athena whispered, "I forgot to sew Teddy."

"Kanato hasn't come to bother you, though it'd be best to do once we return."

"I agree," she said with a chuckle, "it's as if he's a child."

"He's a rather difficult child," Reiji said, "still, I understand why he turned out this way."

"What happened to him?" Athena asked, "I only know about you, I know nothing about your brothers."

"It isn't a pleasant topic, Darling," he said softly, taking her hand in his and pressing a kiss to her knuckle, "we'll save it for another time."

"Alright," she said, "what would you like to talk about?"

"Hmm," he placed their hands on the table, his wealthy watch catching on the light as he did so, "when would you like to have a child?" Athena's eyes grew wide with shock as her cheeks burned a hot pink.

"I-I don't know," she whispered, "we... we haven't even had... you know... that."

"Sex?"

"Yes," she squealed, pulling her hand away and fanning herself with both hands, looking anywhere but him.