Chapter 11

Edo stared at them for a few moments. Kaiser and Asuka stared back at him.

He looked away. His adrenalin rose. He felt the need to punch something. His limbs were all pumped up. He looked back at them.

"Kaiser. It's been a while. How are things going?" he asked in the most nonchalant way.

"Phoenix?" Kaiser said, "What are you doing here?"

Edo forced a grin. "Funny you should ask. I'm actually wondering the exact same thing."

Asuka gritted her teeth. "Please leave, Kaiser."

Kaiser looked at her, puzzled. "Alright, then," he said, leaning in for another kiss. Edo clenched his fists. Asuka pushed Kaiser away. "Ryo... please. Go."

Kaiser stared at Asuka again, and then to Edo. He narrowed his eyes, but he turned his heel and walked inside his room. Edo looked at Asuka, who was staring back at him with guilty eyes.

But there were no exchanges of words, only silence. Edo's heart was pounding loudly out of anger, out of the adrenalin. He was still pumped up.

"I came back, just like I promised," Edo began, "I came back as fast as I can to check up on you."

"Edo-"

"-What was that?" Edo bellowed, gesturing at Asuka. "What the hell was that?"

Asuka looked stunned. "I..." her voice trembled, "I was confused, Edo."

"Confused?" Edo repeated, then laughed sarcastically. "I came here because I was worried about you. I got your ten missed calls, saw you running to your hotel in tears, and heck, I was so guilty when I had to leave you alone for some meeting, that I rushed everything up, to the extent that my manager scolded me," Edo felt his blood rise. "And this is what I get?" he exclaimed angrilly. He huffed, turned his heel, and walked away.

"No! Edo, please! I can explain!" Asuka said, blocking his way.

Edo glared at her. She took two steps back, intimidated. "I told you last night that you weren't ready," Edo said, "I knew it was a mistake. I wanted you to leave. But what did you do? You got drunk! You wanted to be fucked!"

Asuka winced at Edo's harsh words.

"I told you to stop, but you persisted," Edo said, "You continued to allure me! You wanted a fresh start with me. But you..." he clenched his fists, "...you do this!"

"Edo..." Asuka whimpered. Her eyes watered.

"I'm not going to wait for someone who is waiting for someone else," Edo remarked, "And if you expected me to, then I'm sorry to disappoint you."

"I'm sorry," Asuka said finally, tears falling from her eyes.

Edo's anger continued to rise. He walked away.

"Edo!" Asuka called, desperate. She ran and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. He stopped.

"Edo," Asuka's voice was weak and sorrowful, "I'm sorry. Please. Don't go."

For the first time in his life, Edo was willing to hurt a woman. He controlled himself, barely. "Asuka", his voice was cold and shaking from anger, "Get. Your hands. Off me."

"No, please…"

"Get your hands off me before I do it for you."

More tears fell from the girl's eyes. Her heart pounded. "Don't go, Edo. I can explain. I swear."

"I don't care anymore," He said. He turned his head to her. "Asuka. Don't push me. I've had enough of this. I can barely bring myself to respect you anymore."

Those words stabbed right through her heart. She stared at him. She stared at those cold blue eyes. She saw through his very soul. She saw the emotion of pain.

The worst kind of pain.

The pain of the heart.

Those blue eyes stared back at her. Stared back at her dirty, tainted soul. Stared back at her guilt, embarrassment, and fear.

Her heart broke. She made him feel pain that was worse than a battle scar. She hurt him, her savior... her love.

She realized that now. She loved him. She loved the man that now hated her. She mourned silently.

He had enough of it, he had said. He had enough of her.

"Asuka," Edo called her name, "Please."

He even had the energy to say please to a person like her?

Her tears fell on her face like a waterfall. Sadly, she freed him from her grasp.

He walked away, and she watched as he left.

Edo didn't bother looking back. He didn't bother saying goodbye. But there was no need to say anything.

Asuka ran to her room, buried her face on her pillow and cried.