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 restaurantsand 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.