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Title: Can't Fight Love
Rating: T. Just… because.
Summary: Ray is in deeply in love with…? But what if she's married? Kai/Mariah/Ray. Who will Mariah choose? YOUR CHOICE!
Status: At the moment, it's going to be a very short story. May not even make it up to six chapters. This was just meant to be a one-shot, but I got reviews to continue.
Chapter three: If you're not the one
Ray had been waiting a whole week for Mariah to return from her honeymoon with Kai. Just the names Kai and Mariah in the same sentence made Ray feel extremely jealous. Ray and Mariah were soul mates. Ray and Mariah's bit-beasts were bonded.
When Mariah had finally returned, Ray had tried to get her alone to talk to her. He had finally succeeded the day after she returned, when Mariah came round to see him.
"Are you ok, Ray? You didn't look very well at the wedding. Did you get food poisoning from the food? Kai said they were some of the best caterers in Tokyo, and I made sure there wasn't anything containing nuts because Daichi's allergic…"
Ray put a finger to Mariah's mouth to shush her. She was always so caring, so loving that she worried about everyone, even Daichi though they didn't know each other very well.
"It wasn't food poisoning, Mariah. I…"
Why didn't he just say it? To just express it. The longer he prolonged it, the more time she spent with Kai.
Ray opened his mouth to speak.
"Mariah, I have to tell you something."
"What, Ray? Is something wrong? What's the matter?"
"Mariah… do you remember… just over a year ago, when you said that you loved me?"
Mariah gazed at the floor, her amber eyes brimming with unshed tears as she remembered. Remembered how he had hurt her.
"You hurt me, Ray. You were supposed to be my best friend, my boyfriend, my love. But… you just hurt me so much."
"I'm sorry, Mariah. I really am. I shouldn't have done that to you. I realise now because I realise that I didn't love her, it was just lust. I love you. I always have and I always will. I love you, Mariah Wong."
There. He said it. Mariah's mouth opened, but no sounds came out.
Ray was finally answered by a slap. A red mark across his face. The tears were now trailing down her face.
"You bastard! How DARE you! I've tried to be civil, Ray! I moved on because you hurt me! If it wasn't for Kai, I would have KILLED myself! You only care because I'm with Kai, that's all!"
Her small fists shook with fury. If she had Galux with her right now, he would be dead. How could he have the audacity to say such a thing?
"When Mystel was flirting with me, you always were acting like my boyfriend! And when I finally have the courage to tell you how I felt, two days later I find you with that red head and then you tell me that you don't love me like that, and that I should move on!"
She was angry with him; after all, he had put her in a rather awkward position for her to choose. She was married, to one of Ray's best friends. She had loved him but he had not returned her love. Now he was saying that he did, when she had love.
Perhaps she was sad, sad that this had come out now before all this heartache. Maybe she was sad for Kai, sad that Ray was betraying him.
Mariah eventually stopped shaking and looked back up to Ray. She had wiped the tears away. They had gone.
"I'm sorry, Ray. I really am. But… I'm married to Kai. We've just come back from our honeymoon, and we've already discussed children. I mean… it's too late Ray. I'm sure you'll find someone."
Ray stared at his hands, twisting them. This couldn't be happening. He loved her. He wanted her to be his wife. He wanted her to give birth to his children.
It just wasn't fair. He clenched his fists as he felt warm, salty tears threaten to spill from his golden eyes.
Why did he hurt her? Why was he so stupid? Why was this happening to him? He had betrayed the woman that he loved, and now she no longer loved him.
"Mariah… please… I love you."
The tears had finally escaped. Mariah leant forward and brushed them away with her thumb. He looked at her and saw that she was also crying again, also saddened by this turn of events.
"I'm married to Kai, Ray. We're in love. I mean… we've dedicated ourselves to each other. I'm Mariah Hiwatari. And I'm afraid it's too late."
"It's hurting me so much to see you like this. But… you can't just rush in and say that you suddenly love me. It's not right. It's not right for me, and it's not right for you. I already have loved you, Ray. But you betrayed that. You hurt me. I moved on, just like you said. You should too."
"Mariah… no…"
"Kai's always worrying about you and me. He kept on telling me that he thought that one day I would run away with you, because it's obvious that we do love one another. I do love you, Ray. But it's a best friend love. I fell in love with you a long time ago, but I fell out of love. I know it's hard. But I'm sure you'll find someone else. Someone who will love now and hopefully you will not hurt them liked you hurt me."
"Mariah! Please! You don't understand!"
"I do, Ray. But you must understand that I can't. I don't want to hurt Kai, my husband. I don't want to hurt you either, and the longer you go on about this, the more it's going to hurt you. And this is hurting me, as well. Please, Ray. Move on."
"I can't! Can't you see? I've loved you all of my life! I can't imagine it without you by my side! I'm sorry I hurt you! Please!"
"I AM by your side, Ray! I'm your best friend! I've always been there for you, and just because I'm married to Kai, it doesn't mean that I won't continue to be there for you. I do love you, as a good friend."
Mariah pecked him on the cheek, laid a hand on his shoulder comfortingly and left.
She paused outside the door. Wondering if she had done the right thing.
Maybe in time, Ray. We'll both move on. Someday.
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