Ich Werde Dir Immer Verzeihen

Chapter 3: Painful Love
It was only early morning, but Aya and Momoe were already opening up the Kitty in the House. Still, Aya almost dropped the clay pot she was holding when the phone started ringing. She definitely had not been expecting that.

Momoe answered the phone. "Hello, Kitty in the House," she greeted. "Oh Sakura, how are you?" There was a long pause before she said, "Oh, you can't? Well, have fun." She hung up the phone.

"What did Sakura-chan need?" Aya asked the old woman.

"She won't be able to come today," Momoe answered. "She's going out with a friend later."

"Oh," was Aya's only response. She put the clay pot down on the table and stole a glance out the window. She was really worried about Sakura. She often saw Sakura in the company of this orange-haired man who was obviously older than her. Aya wondered what was really going on between them.

Aya shook her head at the thought. Sakura wasn't the type of girl who would sell her body for money. She would never get involved in prostitution. But still, what if that man decided to rape her?

"Aya, you don't have to worry so much," Momoe told the younger girl. "I'm sure Sakura isn't involved in anything dangerous."

"Yeah, you're right," Aya agreed. Even so, she couldn't help but worry about Sakura.

o o o o o o

Schuldig knocked on the door to Sakura's house. He wanted to make up for what had happened yesterday. He had brought a bouquet of red, white, and pink roses. He would've gotten some chocolate, but he didn't want to look like a sap.

An older woman with a slight resemblance to Sakura answered the door. "Yes, how may I help you?" she greeted.

"I'd like to see your daughter," Schuldig replied. "These flowers are for her. My name is Schuldig, and I'm a close friend."

"Oh, Sakura isn't here, but I'll be sure to give her the flowers," Sakura's mother said. She studied Schuldig carefully. He was impossible to read, and the older woman became slightly suspicious.

Schuldig sighed heavily. "Sure," he agreed, handing the woman the roses. "Tell Sakura I came over, all right?"

Sakura's mother was taken aback at the absence of an honorific, but she didn't say anything about it. "Okay," she said, her voice cool.

Schuldig decided to take a quick peek into the older woman's mind to see where Sakura was. The young girl was out with a friend, but this "friend" was a handsome red-haired man with pale skin.

"That foolish girl…" Schuldig mumbled, not loud enough for Sakura's mother to hear. "Well, thanks anyway," he said to Sakura's mother. "'Bye." He walked off and got back into his car, but didn't start it up just yet. He was too frustrated by how naïve Sakura was being.

"Sakura, you idiot, why won't you listen to me?" Schuldig asked aloud. "Why can't you just accept the truth about Ran?"

Once he had calmed down some, he started up his car. He would make Sakura see the truth somehow, and then she would be all his.

o o o o o o

Ken flipped through the television channels, but there was nothing worthwhile on to watch. Soon he just threw the remote control at the wall and laid his head back. So bored, he said to himself.

"Ken-kun?" Omi said as he walked into the room. "Can I talk to you?"

Ken quickly sat up. "Sure," he allowed. "What do you need?"

Omi sat down next to the brunette. "Do you think it's right for us to be in Tokyo again?" he wondered, his voice distressed.

"Probably not," Ken guessed. "This place holds too many painful memories." He briefly thought of his former friend Kase Kouichiro, and how he had been forced to kill Kase. "I mean, just look at Ran," he continued on. "He's fearful for the safety of his sister and Sakura, but now he's so close to them." He let out a light sigh. "He shouldn't have gone out. He's gonna be so hurt when he sees how everything has changed."

Omi drew his knees up to his small chest. "He went to see Aya-chan, didn't he?" he asked.

Ken shook his head. "No, he went to see Sakura, just like yesterday," he corrected. "He hasn't forgotten about her. He still thinks about her. In his sleep, he mumbles her name a lot."

Omi didn't seem very surprised. "I guess Ran-kun still has some feelings for Sakura-chan," he said. "But he'll be so disappointed if she's found someone else."

"She has," came Yoji's voice unexpectedly. It seemed he had been standing in the doorway the entire time, but neither Omi nor Ken saw him.

"She has?" Ken repeated. "Who is it, and how did you find out?"

"I saw Sakura at a nearby movie theater, and she was with-" Yoji hesitated, "-Schuldig," he finished uneasily.

"From Schwarz?" Omi exclaimed. "But why?"

"I don't know," Yoji admitted. "Although it's not what you'd expect. I don't think I would call their relationship 'romantic.' Schuldig seems to be highly possessive of Sakura. When she asked me about Ran, he grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the theater."

"He probably just wants to manipulate her!" Omi pointed out fearfully. "He might try to rape her!"

Yoji leaned against the wall. "I know," he agreed. "But if Sakura trusts him, there's not much we can do."

Ken laid his hand on Omi's shoulder. "Don't worry," the brown-haired florist requested. "Ran's with her. If there's anyone who can protect her, it's him."

Omi forced a small smile and nodded. "Of course," he said. "How could I forget?"

o o o o o o

Why was it that whenever Ran went somewhere with Sakura, there was always an awkward silence? He never knew what to say. It was especially true now, since it had been two years since he had last seen or spoken to Sakura.

He always thought Sakura was pretty, and not because she resembled his sister. However, she had matured over the last two years. Her face was no longer that of a cute girl's; it was now of a young woman's. Her hair was still cut short, but it hugged the sides of her face more. She had a more womanly figure, with slimmer curves and fuller breasts. Ran realized he was staring, so he quickly turned his face away.

Ran cleared his throat. "Sakura, I want to know how you've been," he began. "Did my absence affect you at all?"

"I've been fine," Sakura answered nervously. "I really missed you, but when I went to Paris to study, I didn't have time to think about you much. I'm glad I can see you again. Are you going to visit Aya-chan soon?"

Ran's violet eyes became clouded. "I don't know," he confessed. "I don't want to put either of you in danger, but I still want to see you. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. There's this deep emptiness in my heart."

Sakura laid her hand on the redhead's. "Ran-san, it's all right," she comforted. "I understand, but I'm not scared. I came back to Japan in hopes that I would see you again."

Quite suddenly, Ran touched the earring in Sakura's left ear. "My sister gave you this, didn't she?" he guessed.

Sakura nodded. "She told me you had brought them for her birthday," she added. "When I told her you were wearing one, she gave me the other."

Ran's hand went up to the earring in his ear. "Does wearing that earring make you feel closer to me?" he wondered, but it was not a cruel question.

Sakura blushed slightly. "Yeah, I guess," she answered uneasily. "I was afraid I would forget you. I didn't want that to happen, so I wear this earring everyday."

Ran sighed heavily. "Sakura, I always pushed you away," he remembered. "I was so cold towards you. I said I didn't deserve to be loved, but I wonder if that really matters now."

Sakura knew where this conversation was heading. She had to come clean now. "Ran-san, I have to tell you something," she said gently, pulling her hand back. "You see, I've been going out with someone else for the past month."

Ran's gaze became cold. "Who?" he wanted to know, his voice emotionless.

"Me," answered a sly voice belonging to none other than Schuldig. He stepped up behind Sakura and wrapped his arms securely around her shoulders. His blue eyes held a devious look.

The anger and hurt in Ran's face was unmistakable. "Sakura, explain," he demanded firmly.

"Ran-san, it's not what you think!" Sakura said fretfully, her heart racing. "I'm not in a romantic relationship with him!"

"Oh, you're not?" Schuldig whispered mockingly into Sakura's ear. "Then why do you kiss and hug me?" He cupped her chin in his hand and lightly kissed her cheek. It was all done slowly, as if he wanted to infuriate Ran as much as possible. And it seemed to be working, for Ran was clenching the edge of the table tightly and his orchid eyes were filled with rage.

Sakura was not very pleased with Schuldig's actions, either. "You're the one who does all that!" she corrected, trying to push him away. "You only wanted me to give you a chance. You love me, but I never said I loved you."

"I've heard enough," Ran decided, standing up. "This was a mistake. I'm leaving now."

"Ran-san, wait!" Sakura pleaded, trying to hold back her tears.

Ran ignored Sakura as he walked out of the café. He had absolutely no intention of talking to her anymore. He was completely frustrated with her.

He halted suddenly, right in the middle of the sidewalk. He had no reason to be angry with Sakura. She hadn't meant to hurt him. She was only being honest. If she hadn't been, then he would have been hurt even more.

But why Schuldig? It didn't make any sense. Schuldig had used Sakura and had played with her feelings. But, she had said she was only giving him a chance and that she wasn't in love with him. Ran believed her there, but that wasn't the issue.

The issue was Schuldig. Since when was he in love with Sakura? Or was he only trying to manipulate her more? Ran just couldn't bring himself to trust Schuldig.

Ran let out a heavy sigh. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, he had been hurt by Sakura's honesty. Still, he was glad that Sakura told him the truth. He did have a right to know what was going on between her and Schuldig. Maybe sometime later he could go apologize for being so cold towards her.

o o o o o o

Schuldig grabbed Sakura's chin and forced her to look up at him. "Why didn't you listen to me?" he demanded to know. "Do you really think he has feelings for you?"

Sakura pushed Schuldig away. "You were wrong," she said, her voice rising. "Ran-san hasn't forgotten about me. What is wrong with you? Why are you acting so jealous?"

"You little-" Schuldig slapped Sakura hard across her face. He then roughly seized her arm and jerked her closer. "Listen, Ran still sees you as a substitute for his sister," he told the young girl through gritted teeth. "He only decided to come today out of total pity for you. It won't be long before he ditches you." He took Sakura's chin into his hand and held his face close to hers. "I just don't want him to do that to you," he said, almost whispering.

"Schuldig-san…" was all Sakura said. She turned her face away, and lightly touched the slap mark on her face.

Schuldig sighed heavily. Sakura didn't believe him; she was actually becoming frightened of him. "I don't mean to be jealous or possessive," Schuldig admitted, taking Sakura into his arms. He gently kissed her brown hair. "I want you to trust me, Sakura."

Sakura clutched Schuldig's arms slightly tighter. "I do trust you," she replied in a quiet voice.

She was lying. It was pointless to lie to Schuldig, since he always knew. But he didn't say anything. He just held Sakura in his arms for a little longer.

o o o o o o

Ran was once again stretched out over the couch. He had returned to the trailer much earlier than the other florists expected, but, much to his relief, no asked about how his day had went. He was very thankful for that. He still felt a bit hurt and angry, but not as much as he did earlier. He was actually trying to make an effort to understand Sakura's feelings.

Ken stepped into the room. "You went to see Sakura, didn't you?" he guessed, leaning against the doorframe. "Then there's something you should know."

"If it's about Schuldig, then I already know," Ran interrupted. "He showed up, and made the truth about his relationship with Sakura painfully clear."

"You can't believe that guy!" Ken reminded. "Yoji saw Sakura and Schuldig together at a movie theater, but to him it didn't seem like a romantic relationship."

"I know, I know," the redhead assured. "Sakura said herself she wasn't in love with Schuldig. She was just giving him a chance. It was what he said that made me angry."

Ran sighed heavily and sat up. "Sakura said she has been going out with Schuldig for over a month," he continued, his orchid eyes becoming clouded. "I've just ignored her these past two years. It wouldn't surprise me if she has fallen in love with Schuldig. At least he seems to acknowledge her."

Ken was completely taken aback by Ran's submissive attitude. He gripped the older man's shoulder and shook him vigorously. "Have you forgotten about Schuldig's nature?" the brunette exclaimed. "He's a manipulative bastard! What if he just wants to use or even rape Sakura?"

Ran's eyes turned sharp. "I don't trust him anymore than you do," he admitted. "But we can't do anything if-"

"-Sakura trusts him," Ken finished. "Still, we should make sure Schuldig doesn't try anything on her."

"Of course," Ran agreed. "I will make absolutely sure that Schuldig does not hurt Sakura in any way." His voice was low and cold, as well as dead serious. He would never, ever allow Schuldig to even think of hurting Sakura. He was prepared to do anything to ensure her safety, no matter what it was.

He would even go as far as to return to the life of an assassin.