A/N: Yes, I am shamelessly posting a too-crappy-even-for-my-own-taste kind of story.
Warning: Angst and drama ahead.
Disclaimer: I don't own PoT. This crappy story though is mine. Enjoy.
There is always that one love that will never be
Instinctively, Kyera's fingers curved at the dainty silver handbag that was on her hands as his eyes found hers from across the room. She wanted to run towards him and throw her arms around his neck, the way she did when they were in high school.
When they were still...well, not lovers, nor friends. They just...were.
But she didn't. Of course she didn't.
Instead, she stood there, lips in an almost smile, eyes lowered teasingly, in her mind a picture of his beguiling smile and beautiful eyes.
The first time I saw you, your eyes are laughing blue—mine you said were like dark fog the morning after a storm.
Her eyes found him standing there— this distance of mere meters not enough to dampen the heat and cold that were ever-present behind his clear glasses.
Those thin, clear lenses that hide the warmth appreciation of his eyes whenever he would look at her, and the glint of laughter whenever he is truly amused. There was a time—a once upon a time—when he would look at her with both of those ever present.
But that was all that was—a once upon a time, she reminded herself, pasting a half smile in her lips, her long, manicured fingers in a classic French tip running along imaginary lines in the haute couture she is currently swathed with—dark silver threads and crystals, like teardrops falling from a goddess' eyes.
'I wonder how would you look in silver, Kyera-chan'—you murmured when we were alone for the first time, you were holding a novel loosely in one hand, I was holding my silver racket. I remember dropping said racket, the clutter drowning your amused laughter.
The gentle breeze through my hair, and the rooftop became witness of how I fell for you.
Putting one foot forward, she stopped, tilting her face towards her right.
On your left please, Miss Atobe!
Turn around for me, Miss Atobe!
Smile, Kyera-chan.
She did as they asked, giving no more than a small, seductive smile on her lips painted the softest shade of coral pink.
'I like the color of your lip gloss—coral pink does wonders on your skin', you said that time you caught me holding the tube of the gloss and a mirror, either remaining in my hands as I tilted my head to look at you, and say 'Of course they do.'
You smiled a different one.
Numerous clicks and flashes after, she was ushered by a gentle push at the small of her back towards the entrance, the hem of her dress gliding like a hushed whisper at the deep red carpet.
She paused in mid-stride just after she passed the arch of the door to admire the room, and him.
He is—as always—dressed impeccably well in a dark and purple ensemble, his blue hair swept out of his forehead, posture smartly slackened with a hand on his pocket and another holding a glass with blood-red wine.
He looked every inch the successful and sought-after bachelor that he is—and her heart is both soaring and breaking just from a glance at him.
'You're going to be one of those overly successful men in the future, Yushi-sempai', I said, admiring the easy way you handle my compliment, 'and then maybe you're going to forget me...' left unsaid, but you looked at me as if you read them, and you chuckled, 'and you will be too, Kyera-chan. You'll be much more successful than I will ever be, and maybe you'll forget about me.'
Under the lights of the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling of this magnificent ballroom, with a strangely familiar, gorgeous platinum-blonde female on his side and numerous pairs of eyes admiring him from afar—he looks every bit the same man that she remember.
The man who stole her very first kiss that one summer night, with the fireworks exploding above them, both their team mates below, unaware.
'Keigo is going to kill me,'—you gasped after that first kiss, your voice smooth and rough and rugged, and you kissed me again.
The man she left with only just a kiss—a soft goodbye after that night he gave her the promise of forever.
(Forever, but not love.)
(She already had forever, what she wanted from him is love. Love he couldn't give.)
And I kissed you back—my lips tingling with the aftertaste of my very first kiss.
But those very same lips are now curling upwards at what could have been a sneer, or a smile, his eyes cold at her—his arms encircling another's waist.
Years hadn't helped in settling the tingles that run down her toes in that moment when his soft lips grazed hers, and the shiver she felt in her bones when he enclosed her in his arms and claimed her in a way that burns her cheeks and brings fever to her whole being.
Her heart was hammering like the sound of thousand drums beating—and she inhaled the scent that was all him. For many nights she dreamt of that perfect moment, and more often than not—those nights ended in a sob that never fails to wrack her frame, hot tears running hopelessly down her cheeks.
'I…like you', I fiddled with my skirt, cheeks burning and eyes tearing, 'I like you'. I can hear my friends calling, and I heard you give a sigh.
A forlorn one.
"Miss, this way please."
Nodding at the man gallantly bowing at her with his hand swept forwards to usher her, Kyera smiled and lifter her forehead as the flashes of camera flooded her vision, the clicks sounding far away as numerous questions were thrown at her.
Did she really have just retired from her modeling career?
Is she really leaving the glittering lights of London and Paris and Milan to start over again in Japan, her motherland?
Is it true that she will be leaving the glamorous life of the fashion world to claim her birthright?
Is it true that…
She smiled at them—lips stretched just enough to tease them, eyes subtlety lowered under the lights for that open, mysterious effect, her posture rigid and elegant, turning half to the right, before gliding a step to the left, the train of her silver embroidered gown following her every move, as every eyes but his in the room.
'Ah… Kyera-chan', you murmured sweetly to my ears, so sweet I felt my heart break, 'Kyera-chan', you whispered still.
She had always detested when he would follow her every move back then—his eyes phantom lights on her, making her skin crawl pleasantly—though she insisted she didn't care.
But now—she'd give up everything she has to have his eyes on her again. But she knows he wouldn't—because why would he?
'I…adore you as well Kyera-chan', you smiled—'I adore you more than I am capable of adoring anything else in this world.'
With her shoulders pulled back, her head held high, Kyera took perfectly measured steps forward.
Left. Right. Left. Stop, smile. Right. Left. Stop, shake hands and smile.
He said he'd adored her. Then, she thought it was enough.
Right. Left. She was at the middle of an adoring crowd, every single person wanting to talk to her, to hold her hand, to be near her.
Right. Left. She was two arms away from him- them.
'No. I want you', you said, your eyes dark and hot and vivid, and I burned.
Smile. Nod. Smile. Lifting her face towards the direction of them, her smile remained.
Her heart is shattering.
Their eyes met, and held.
Gray and blue and brown.
'I adore you in a way that is a sin—because I want you no more than I want you only for myself. I am a selfish man, a very selfish man, aren't I, Kyera-chan?' Your voice is pained and your eyes are dark blue and I kissed you and hugged you and wanted you all for myself too.
Do you still adore me, Oshitari Yushi? her heart whispered.
Gray left the stunning blue and warm brown.
Smile, nod. Turn her head halfway around.
A hand touched her shoulder, and smiling eyes peered down at her. Her chest hurt, but her smile lingered.
Do you still want me like you did on our second winter together?
"My father would like you to join us in our table, Kyera."
I nodded. "Of course."
Because I still want you.
...
'I will never love anyone but you, Yushi.' I whispered, eyes memorizing your every take of breath. Dropping a kiss on your forehead, I gathered the clothes strewn on the floor, and left before the sun breaks the horizon.
...
She looks beautiful, is what had been playing in Oshitari's mind as soon as he saw her standing there in her silver dress and coral lips and perfect smile.
'I am not that pretty, Yushi-sempai', you said, eyes downcast in what others would assume a coy look, 'I just look...a bit different.'
He had always thought she is beautiful though- beautiful in a way that hurts you just right. Beautiful in the way that her gray eyes were like the promise of morning-afters, with her skin glowing like the sun after a night of whispers and secrets.
'Ne, Yushi-kun?' you asked, voice so soft as if you are about to share your deepest secret, 'I do love you, you know.' I nodded, not trusting my voice to return those words to you, because I don't, love you, that is. "Ah."
Kyera Atobe is beautiful in the way that only she can be, and Oshitari Yushi had almost taken a step towards her to claim the beauty of her that was only for him.
Almost, if not for the feel of lips hovering his cheek, before finding his ear to whisper, "She's beautiful ne, Yushi-kun?"
Your eyes twinkled like stars that night, lips curved in a bewitching smile. 'Do you really think so, Yushi-sempai?' you asked, as if a child seeking reassurance, 'am I really beautiful?' I run a finger down the smooth, velvet skin of your cheek, cupping your chin and gazed in your eyes, "You are, Kyera-chan."
Your smile made my heart race for the very first time.
Tilting his face a little towards those lips, he found himself nearly kissing her. "Ah, she is." He felt her stiffen, before he added without missing a beat, "but your beauty is indescribable, Makino." He pulled her softly to him, his hand going from her waist to her face, eyes gazing intently at the warm brown of her eyes. The color of safe haven, of warm respite on winter afternoons.
Of curling up against affection and adoration that is Makino.
Makino. Makino. Makino.
Old glamour and perfection in a sheet of clean white silk and pearls. Deep red wine is her lips, and her hair a soft, gold sort of blonde in soft waves down her shoulders and back, a diamond pin holding her tresses away from her smooth forehead.
She is the most beautiful woman for him.
I adore you, Kyera-chan.
Chuckling, coffee-brown eyes laughing up at him and Makino lets herself be pressed against him. "You're always so good with words, Yushi-kun that sometimes you leave me wondering if all of them are real."
If any of them is real.
'Do you ever lie, Yushi-kun?' you asked me, intrigue in your eyes. 'I do when it counts,' I said after a moment, 'and I don't when it counts.' You stared at me, more questions in your eyes. I left you with a drop of a kiss at the top of your perfectly combed and braided hair, 'Break is now over, Kyera-chan.'
He hummed, pressing a kiss at the corner of those laughing lips, before murmuring once more. "Have I ever lied to you, Makino?"
I wonder if you have told me anything that is true, Oshitari Yushi. Chuckling once again as if she found his question amusing, Makino whispered, "No, you haven't."
No, you haven't, she repeated with a heavy heart, because until now, you haven't told me you love me, because we both know you don't.
The rim of the glass touched her lips, hiding the rueful smile of acceptance.
Your love for me is the only lie in your life, and you've never told me of it.
Not yet. Not ever.
He felt a whisper-soft breath on his forehead, before soft lips pressed themselves gently on the skin above his brows.
'I will never love anyone but you, Yushi.'
He heard her as she said those words, as she moved from the bed, rustling sheets all around them. He heard her soft gasp of pain as she slid down the bed, her footsteps as she picks up the pieces of clothing he took off of their bodies the other night.
He heard and felt her move as she dressed herself once again, the opening and closing of the door as she left.
He heard and felt her, and yet he remained on his side, closed eyes and even breathing. He'll talk to her the next day, he promised his self, and then they will plan their wedding.
A beautiful, Greek-inspired garden wedding, with her in a flowing silvery white dress and looking like Aphrodite, and he will be there waiting for her at the end of the flower-covered aisle. He planned to order thousands of iris of the purest white, her favorite.
He had it all planned.
But two weeks after, he heard she left for France. Keigo subtly told him to not follow her; Yushi only chuckled.
'I won't.'
Five months, and her name graced the front page of a famous magazine, her seductive smile for all the world to see.
Three years, and her name was known all around the world.
And six months ago, Atobe Keigo told Yushi she is engaged.
'You lost your chance, Yushi.' The former Hyotei captain said in a quiet voice, eyes a sort of understanding onyx, and Yushi wanted to scoff and tear his friend's head off of his shoulders.
"Ah." He nodded, a soft smile in his lips, eyes hidden as he gazed at the lifestyle magazine at the coffee table in his friend's living room.
Her smile is frozen desire, he noted mentally.
But he believes he has never lost his chance...I just didn't take it.
"Good to see you again, Kyera-san." Makino smiled, her eyes warm and steel, a reminiscent of her court presence.
Nodding, Kyera returned the greeting, winter chill. "I heard the two of you are getting married soon. Congratulations."
Leika told her, in the pretense of 'updating' her. Kyera wasn't amused then.
The beautiful blonde shook her head, soft waves staying as perfect as they are. "I'm afraid yours will be much earlier. We haven't set a date but yes, he proposed to me already."
He. Yushi.
The glittering diamond was enough proof.
"Beautiful ring." Kyera admired, thinking it will look better on her ring finger.
Makino chuckled, eyes laughing as if to mock the other woman. "Yours is more beautiful, I believe so."
"Ah."
They shared a glance, a smile, a nod, before turning away.
For Makino, to return to where Oshitari Yushi is smiling at her- or is it really at her?
For Kyera, she run for the door.
As for Oshitari-
"Where are you going, Yushi?"
"Ah, outside for some fresh air." He smiled at Makino, and before the woman can ask some more, he added, "I met Ayame-san while you were gone. I believe she is looking for you. Something about escaping a certain former flame of hers?" He chuckled, but Makino saw the way his eyes flickered towards the door.
"Alright." She relented, bringing herself to kiss him. His lips felt soft and chilly. "I'll go talk to her."
"Ah, you do that."
And then he was walking away from her, and even though he felt her eyes following him, he never stopped.
He walked out the same door Kyera Atobe had vanished to.
And Makino closed her eyes and felt her heart break.
That's the first lie you've told me, Oshitari Yushi.
I'm in a melancholic mood, so.
Anyways, do drop me a thought or two about this third one-shot of mine. Is it too dramatic? Angsty? Hmm...weird? Is it even understandable? hahaha. Whatever.
Next few stories will be lighthearted, I hope.
YUNA
