*~ I Don't Love You, I Can't Love You ~*
*~ Chapter 28 ~*
*~ I Have Feelings Too ~*
She smiled and suppressed the giggle. It was just that he was acting like a little kid. Marley wouldn't stop fidgeting and hopping from foot to foot. He kept getting some odd stares but it was his returning smile to all the passers-by that made her find it almost cute.
As the announcer in the station signalled that a train was entering, Uma reached forward and pulled Marley back beside her with his wrist. He looked back in only slight question and she explained, "You have to be careful around trains, Marley. Don't stand too close to the tracks."
"Ah, I see," he said with a smile and pulled his wrist out of her hand just enough to replace it with his own hand. He turned back to watch the train pull in to the station as Uma looked down at their linked hands.
She felt odd and a little awkward holding hands with him but she just sighed and didn't say anything because he seemed so happy and excited.
They boarded the train and even then he didn't let go - if anything when Uma relaxed her hand he tensed to keep hold of it. She looked up to give him a puzzled expression but he was too busy watching the countryside fly past the window to notice.
Instead she looked around the carriage to see if anyone was watching. There were only around five people and they were all too engrossed in their own lives to pay them any notice.
Uma sighed. You're only holding hands, Uma, chill out. Ryou wouldn't mind. Its fine.
She grit her teeth and nodded to her reflection in the window, agreeing with her inner thoughts. She was just being paranoid. Marley and Uma were friends and friends can hold hands too, right?
Sure they can. Just have fun today.
"Okay," she said aloud and Marley turned to look down at her, "So you seem excited already, do I really need to take you all the way to the beach?"
Marley's smile broadened and he chuckled loudly. Uma smiled back with a tad of a blush as he drew a few glances from the others around them.
Ryou was pacing in the kitchen withing his hands behind his back.
"Ryou, calm down," Keiichiro advised from the workbench as he continued to apply icing to a cake beside Taruto who was sprinkling an ice cream sundae with Hundreds & Thousands sweets, "I'm sure you're just over thinking things. They probably all have their own reasons. Whether or not they are acceptable, is another case. Worrying over uncertainty is almost like worrying over nothing."
"Keiichiro, Ichigo's mother called in because she sick," Ryou pointed out as he continued to pace uneasily, "And it just so happens that Kisshu is absent and likewise Masaya."
Just then Pudding bounced in to the room and stopped beside Taruto who handed over the Sundae with a smile. Pudding smiled back delightedly and bounced out again to go deliver the order.
Ryou continued without taking notice of his young employees actions, he was too caught up in his own world of concern, "Now I have no way of reaching the alien boy but the human boy won't pick up. What if, say, Kisshu's gone to visit Ichigo? What if Masaya is there too? What if something happened? What if that is the real reason why Ichigo isn't here today? Aren't I supposed to look after these girls considering what I've put them through? What if I've failed her? It means I've failed them all, doesn't it?"
"Ryou!" Keiichiro snapped and Ryou stopped pacing and looked back at the man with desperation in his face. Keiichiro's expression was calm and collected as always. He walked over to stand with his younger friend and placed both hands on his shoulders. He gave him a small confident reassuring smile, "You are just fantasising a nightmare. Go visit Momomiya-san and make sure she is okay. It will set your mind at rest knowing she is safe. Okay?"
The blond man nodded as Lettuce entered the kitchen and walked right up to Pai who had just placed a cake in the oven ready to be cooked. They greeted each other silently with a cute shy smile from Lettuce and a small smile and nod from Pai.
"Okay," Ryou nodded in agreement and began to make his way past to leave but just as he opened the door he stopped because as he glanced over he watched Lettuce peck Pai's lips quickly with smallest and sweetest kiss she could manage.
He let the door swing shut again and walked the few steps to stand beside them. Lettuce turned to his unannounced arrival and jumped at his confused expression.
"Are you guys...?" Ryou asked pointing between the two of them.
Pai stared back at Ryou for a few moments, then looked to Lettuce and in that moment Lettuce realised that Pai was letting her decide. If she wanted them to be together all she had to say was 'yes'...but to Shirogane...in the end all that came out was, "Erm...well, err..."
Pai could see she was quite clearly flaffing and decided to step in and save her. He turned his attention back to the oven and twisted a few dials as he explained, "No, we played a game that Kisshu showed me. She lost and the price was a kiss. Other than that we're friends."
"Oh...right," the blond thought about it and then nodded, thinking how plausible it was that Kisshu would come up with a game like that - most likely intended for Ichigo, no doubt, "Well then, I have to get going. As usual, Keiichiro and Zakuro are in charge 'till I get back. See you soon."
Lettuce watched him leave and then turned to find Pai staring back at her. She blushed in shame and lowered her gaze, "I'm sorry."
"If you don't want them to know anything then I won't say a word," he whispered to her and then turned back to his cooking as he added, "But, please, remember that I have feelings too. It was you who first pointed it out, I believe. Please, don't forget that."
"WOW! This is amazing!" Marley shouted in pure joy as he flew around the empty beach.
Uma was struggling to keep up as her feet sank in the sand with every step she took. But she was enjoying herself too. She laughed, "Marley, wait up! I can't fly like you, y'know!"
They had spent most of the afternoon here now and they were the only one's left on the sand. That left Marley to roam around with his alien powers comfortably without causing alarm as the sun was beginning to set out to sea. Just then she tripped on a clump of seaweed rooted deep in the sand and fell on her front. The wind was knocked out of her and she wheezed as she rolled on to her back. But when she caught her breath again and Marley's face popped up over her she began to laugh again.
He smiled and held his hand out to her. She took it and got up.
"Would you like to?" he asked holding both her hands and guiding her slowly closer and closer to him.
"Like to what?" she asked as his arms encircled her.
Uma slowly realised that they were standing closer than need be and that his arms were now clasped around her waist tightly, holding her against him. He leaned forward and whispered in to her ear, causing his warm breath to tickle her neck and almost turn her legs to jelly, "Would you like to fly? Would like to fly with me, Uma-chan?"
No! I was wrong! This isn't safe ground anymore! Ryou wouldn't be happy about his, Uma! Say no! Just say no!
But the idea of flying was so desirable that the more she gazed in to his large, sparkling eyes the more she felt attracted to the offer, "Yes."
Slowly they began to rise from the sand on the beach and ascend in to the vast sky. All the while, Marley kept his eyes focused on her and she too couldn't tear her eyes from his stare. She felt mesmerised, as if she couldn't control her own body anymore.
But when he placed his hand on her cheek and began to move in, she shut her eyes and placed her own hand over his mouth, "No," she opened her eyes again to see the pained expression quickly be replaced with annoyance.
"Why?" he moaned.
"Because!" she cried probably more urgent than needed, "I have a boyfriend! I can't go around spending time like this with him and then doing the same with you! That's called having an affair and that's wrong. So, I'm stopping it before it even starts. I don't want to hurt him, Marley."
"Then...then don't go around with him anymore," he shrugged as if it was the simplest solution to their problems but of course it wasn't that easy, "Just...stay with me instead."
"Marley," Uma shook her head and saw the pain cross his face again before anger washed over his features.
Suddenly they were on the beach again and then she was alone. The teleportation had left her feeling a little dizzy but she looked around and realising he had run away somewhere, the only thing she could do now was go home and hope he would be okay.
"Oh, Marley..." she sighed.
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