Song: Leave Your Lover

Oh, I'm in love with you and you will never know

But if I can't have you I'll walk this life alone

Spare you the rising storms and let the rivers flow

I fingered at her lace wedding gown, my eyes unable to shone with joy at the sight of the material before me.

"When are you leaving?" I finally asked the dreaded question that's been burning within my mind, keeping me up at night.

Odango turned around to face me, a saddened look across her face. "Tomorrow, " she answered solemnly.

I gnawed at my bottom lip as I watched her move back and forth from the room to her bathroom.

It went on like that for a few more minutes before the silence started to suffocate me.

Getting up from her bed, I made my way over to her and stopped her from packing some more.

Her brilliant eyes stared up at me, shimmering. "Seiya, what are you doing?"

"Is it possible for me to replace him?" I asked her, searching her face for any deceit.

She just continued to stare up at me as if I were a stranger. "What do you mean, Seiya?"

I took in a deep breath and reiterated the one question burning within my mind since our kiss, "Would I ever be good enough for you?"

"Seiya, I don't understand what you mean, " she stated, but the look on her face and how she was looking away from me now gave her away.

I turned her face back towards mine, my face stern. "Odango, please answer the question. It's been driving me nuts for weeks."

A sigh escaped from her. "It was a mistake, Seiya. We were both being irresponsible and stupid. We shouldn't have done that at all. It's better that we'd forget about that and move on with our lives, " she deadpanned and moved to resume her packing, but I refused to move.

"You're lying. That wasn't a mistake and you know it, " I snapped, arms crossed across my chest as I waited for her to admit what I already knew.

Odango shoved at me. "It was a mistake, Seiya. Why can't you see that? I'm getting married tomorrow for crying out loud!" she shrieked, giving me another shove.

I narrowed my eyes and huffed, "Well, then, why did you enjoy our kiss so much to the point you almost fell in bed with me? Huh, Odango! Go ahead and lie to yourself because I kno-."

SLAP

I turned back around, not even bothering to cup my reddened cheek.

She glared at me through tear-filled eyes as she jabbed me in the chest. "Don't you ever talk to me like that again! You don't know what you're talking about at all! It was a mistake, a mistake! Get it through your thick head and just stop hoping for something that'll never happen!" she hissed, jabbing me even harder.

"Fine, but look me in the eyes and tell me that you genuinely didn't enjoy our kiss and I'll leave you alone, " I demanded, looking into her eyes intensely. "Tell me that you didn't feel anything and I'll move on."

Odango refused to look at me.

I turned her face around to look at me. "Tell me that my precious brother makes you feel happier than I ever do …" I demanded once more, scanning her face with my eyes.

She nibbled at her lip nervously, her face showing her uncertainty before it became devoid of emotion. "I'm happy with Mamo-chan. I love him with all my heart and we're getting married tomorrow. There's nothing that you could do to change my mind, Seiya, "she claimed, yanking herself from my grasp and moved to resume packing.

I watched her pack up her last remaining things into her suitcase. "You know that you don't want to do this, Odango. You do have feelings for me, " I stated once again, watching her flinch for a moment before she looked into my eyes.

"Seiya, Mamo-chan makes me happy and … I love him …" she started.

I countered, "But I could make you happy as well and you do love me."

Odango bit at her bottom lip, moving over to me. Her hands cupped my face, sending an unnaturally cold feeling through my body at how she was looking at me.

"I do, but … Mamo-chan's the one for me and I love him with all my heart. He makes me happy and feel safe, " she paused, thoughtfully running her thumbs across my lips. "But if we'd had met sooner, maybe we'd -."

"Usako!" bellowed that dreaded voice from downstairs.

I finally let out the breath that I was holding. My heart sinking at the look within Odango's eyes as she called back, "Yes, Mamo-chan?"

We heard him start climbing up the stairs. "Are you ready to go yet? It's almost time for us to meet my parents, " he reminded her.

"I am. I'm just talking to Seiya!" she called once more, her gaze falling upon me.

Odango gave one last caress to my lips before embracing me, her body shaking against mine.

"I wish that it didn't have to be like this …" she whimpered into my chest.

"Then come with me. We could start our own lives together, " I whispered to her, squeezing her tight and not wanting to let go.

Odango pulled away from me, her face hardened. "You know that that's not possible, Seiya."

My heart broke at that reminder and I bit my bottom lip as Mamoru appeared in the doorway of Odango's old room.

"Ah, there you two are. Usako, we should be leaving soon, " he chuckled as he moved over to Odango's side and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I know, Mamo-chan, but Seiya and I had some stuff to talk about, " she said, tilting her head up for a kiss.

I looked away when he kissed her. My heart fell into the pit of my stomach and all I wanted to do was throw myself into a volcano, but I held fast for the sake of my sanity.

"Hello, Seiya. Is everything going well for you? Mom has been worried about you, " Mamoru asked me, offering a warm smile that almost made me vomit.

I returned his smile with a forced one. "Yeah, everything's going very well for me, " I lied, watching as Odango subtly bit her lip and a saddened expression came across her face.

"That's great!" he bellowed, squeezing Odango (who cringed) as his side. "I can't wait to hear you sing at our wedding tomorrow!"

Staring at Odango still, I nodded. "Yeah, me neither …"

Steeling myself, I cleared my throat and made my way out the door. "Anyway, I should be going. I have a previous engagement to worry about today. I'll see you … both of you tomorrow, " I declared, zipping up my jacket.

"We're grateful that you'll be at the wedding, " Mamoru smiled at me once more, but I ignored him as I gave Odango one last look. I hoped with all my heart that she'd say something, but she refused to look at me.

"Yeah, anything for someone I care for, " I mused with a shrug. "I wish you both the best since I won't be able to stay at the wedding for long."

He nodded at me. "We understand that. I'll tell mom and dad that you had a gig to do."

"See you two tomorrow, " I called over my shoulder and left, leaving pieces of my heart behind with the one who got away.

Maybe next time I'll be able to have her ...