Disclaimer: I don't own any Sakura Taisen characters. Any plot familiar to you is just a coincidence.
Author's note: Yuri's death is not a coincidence. I mean except the interference of Valentinov. Well, in my fic, it isn't. The reason is that I swore, at the time when I knew the true relationship of Maria and Yuri, that I would do something to him. (Okay, I admit that I am a little bit vindictive.) That's it. Enjoy
Chapter 6 Interlude -- moments
The rain had stopped. He stood in front of his door. A woman wearing red gloves rushed by his door. He shivered. Red gloves reminded him of the shot the night before.
"I'm too sensitive.. too sensitive.." he muttered to himself. He turned about to return home.
"Mr. Hippolyte Pavlov!"
"It must be my illusion.. illusion only.." he thought, "I must be thinking of her too much.."
"Wait.. Mr. Pavlov!"
He slowed down. "It sounds real.. Oh my gosh! There must be something wrong with my mind!" he thought.
"Please help, Mr. Pavlov.."
He spun round and saw Ayame, with a familiar figure over her shoulder. "I'm sorry, you're Miss.." he tried hard to speak out the name
"Fujieda Ayame," she replied, "Maria's sick."
He moved towards Ayame intending to help her but then he stopped. "What does that concern me?" he said coldly.
"Mr. Pavlov.." said Ayame, surprised.
"Bring her to Valentinov. He'll take care of her," he whispered.
"Is her room upstairs?" she kept herself calm.
"And so?" he continued to pretend.
"Help me with her," she said.
"Take her to Valentinov!"
"I thought that you really love her.." she muttered as if speaking to herself.
"Even so, she's not going to pay back with her love.." he murmured.
"You have no right to love her!" she said sternly.
"Neither do you have the right to tell me so!" If Ayame were a man, he would probably beat her up.
"I've made it wrong, Mr. Pavlov.." Ayame turned to leave, "I thought that you would treasure her through anytime, in any condition.."
"What can I do? Captain Yuri? I'm not Valentinov! How can I devote myself to someone who doesn't love me?"
"If that's your so-called 'love'.."
His face darkened. It seemed that he was then much aware of the word "love". He did not know why.. What is love really like? He did not know.. Yes, he had no right to love her.. Give up? Giving up meant being a coward.. yet going on meant insult! Who said that anyone in love would lose all their senses? I'm the one who won't! You have no right to love her! Ayame's words kept ringing up in his mind. As a friend of hers, he shouldn't be like this yet had she ever treated him as a friend? A friend would try to fire him? What else could he do? What if she tried to kill him once more? He had already told him about his feeling and what did he get in return? A bullet!
"Mr Pavlov, if a bullet could have broken away all you love, you really have no right to love! Coz you don't understand what exactly love is!"
"Don't need her…" he whispered, "I don't need her affectation!" he shouted hysterically. Yes, exactly with his rank, he could have had anything he wanted.
"Why do you confess then?"
Pavlov remained silent. That reminded him.. Why did he choose to stay by her side as her partner? Why did he give up the chance from his uncle? With the insult the night before, he could have easily set her to death without even a word.. Yet, why did he defend her in front of his uncle?
"If you are unable to say, I shall tell you the reason: you yawn for her affection!"
His face was as white as a sheet. Ayame decoded his words, revealed his every secrets.
She continued. "I don't understand, Mr. Pavlov.. Do you know it's hard to find someone whom you truly love? Why do you give up.. Why don't you sympathize this poor girl?" Her voice sounded so pleading that his heart softened. "Come on, Mr. Pavlov. This sick girl needs our care.."
No reply was needed. Action was the best response. He was convinced by Ayame.. Once again, his resentment was conquered by sympathy. He took over Maria, surprised to find how cold her body was. He ran upstairs. For the first time in his life, he realized, he wanted to be her knight, even for only a moment..
Lumilla took in the third glass.. Valentinov reminded her of that.. Even though she wanted to forget about it, she could not.. She was guilty of it.. Had she told her brother.. Now, the only thing she wanted was to drown it all with Vodka.. A moment of peace would be fine..
Author's Notes: After such a long time, a new short chapter is written... In fact, there is a background music for this fic.. If you have it... It is the acoustic version of Moments by Ayumi Hamasaki... I think that the theme is similar to this chapter...
