Where do you draw the line between the hole where the love goes and where the bullet pierced? Or are they just the same hole, same time, penetrating the same spots of the heart that now seek no more stimulation to beat? Every pump, bit by bit you could hear the blood gushing out, oozing with such excitement welcoming the sweet release of eternal sleep. It's a sign, on the edge of the golden lining drawn with black markers of death the boundaries must not crossed by the mortals. Dancing with the devil humming to tunes exclusive to the sky walkers, the people beneath all else are just tiny. Much poetic imagination of love bothered Ayato's head as he repeatedly trouble himself with Laito's question, is this an ultimatum? Or is he the only person in the game for her heart?
To his surprise, the day of the bride-to-be turns out more line ant with time than previously anticipated. Yui had arranged their meeting again outside of his hotel, she promised him a tour around the city before the wedding. So he put on his best suit, more importantly, his best behavior to meet the girl of his dreams.
He patiently stood beside the giant water fountain in front of the back garden, with a light tap on the shoulder a petite pastel-dressed girl appeared.
"Hope you have not been waiting for too long, there was traffic on my way here." her light panting reminded him of their previous dates where he would forget to pick her up and gets mad when she showed up late. Soon enough she figured he trick and apologizes intensely regardless.
"It's alright, where are we going?" he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, the palm of his head is sweating slightly like a prepubescent boy, get your act together Ayato!
"Great! I'm taking you to my favorite breakfast place, c'mon!" she took his hand and led him to her car.
"How come you have so much free time to take me sight seeing?" She paused her quick steps and turned to send a big smile his way,
"Thanks to you all of my the wedding arrangements are done yesterday, consider this a little thank you gift for helping me out!" At this rate he was just glad to be on good terms with her,
"Hey how come Shu never come to these things with you?" Yui continued down the busy road,
"He has matters to tend to, I can't expect too much from him, that would be needy and inconsiderate of me." She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the waves of crowd rushing up from the subway station. His heart was doing that thing again where it thunders against his chest ready to burst. She was so close, and her hand warm and soft like they were months ago. It is during moments like these he remembered the hollowness of those weeks without knowledge of her wellbeing, he began to question what had he done in his past life to deserve having his amazing woman by his side for even a brief moment; to be able to call her his again, he is seriously confused to how Shu could let her out of his sight without any worries.
Soon enough they stood before the grand train station she used to describe to him, all shimmering in rose gold from the reflection of the sun, the clock at the center of the neoclassical architecture from a period Yui adore so dearly. How nice would it be to get married in front of the Grand Station? She used to ask him, and he would bluff her off by saying how he'd never really marry her anyways. That even if he were, how impractical it would be to clear the crowd and reserve the square for even a hour. Then she would look sad and apologize to him for being insensible, then he would silently make plans in his head, contacts to call when the time do come. It was always in his plans to make her his wife, as a favor to her aging, unattractive self of course. Who would want her once she is old and not-sexy but a generous man like him? Moreover, who would he let to possess her but himself. Ayato admits that at times these alpha-male thoughts are genuinely backward in time, nonetheless it was the way he loved her, as his possession, as an extension to his part.
"Would you have agreed to Shu's mother's proposal if we didn't break up?" he had to ask, it was eating him alive,
"Of course not." he stared intensely at the flowing of the silky fabric of her dress, taking in the enthralling scene before him, "I would never do that to my fiancee."
He had to restrain himself from wrapping his arms around her habitually, but her height was just right to rest his head on.
"I'm sorry…" The bells that chimes at 12:00 swallows the rest of his apology, "I should've apologized the first time I saw you but, I'm sorry for what I did when we were dating."
He winced his eyes shut, afraid to face her after one of the few sincere things he have uttered in his life. He was prepared to be hated by her for eternity the moment he hopped onto the plane, but he told himself if she didn't hate him, it would be a sign that perhaps they are not over yet.
"I forgive you." the words he longed to hear from her lips, the light shown from her back makes her presence too angelic to witness with his bear eyes. But he could spot a tear at the corner of her eye,
"I almost forgot how much of a crybaby you are," he took a step closer so they are inches apart again and brushed away a tear,
"Thank you." Yui said with slight tremble in her voice, "I never thought I'd live to hear Ayato Sakamaki's personal apology."
"Hey!" he recovered from the sentimental moment and resumed his usual prideful self, "What is that suppose to mean?"
"Aren't you oh so smart? Figure it out Ore-sama." she playfully stretch out the syllables to 'ore-sama' and it was doing unspeakable things to his body
"Hey hey hey you stand still!" he was chasing after her like a child, and on his face was once again the smile identical to that night at the Sky Tree, was he happy?
On the other side of Paris, a striking gentleman was embodying the French way at the gate in front of the museum, with an equally prepossessing lady on his lap. She broke away from the kiss to gasp for air, on his lips and the side of his neck was signs of red lipstick smears, a satisfied look on his face from the couple's panting, intertwined bodies.
"It was true what people say," his French runs smooth like caremel
"And what would that be?" her thick Parisian accent exposes her upbringing,
"That French cuisine is truly delectable." The blonde beauty chuckles, ready to dive in for another breath-taking kiss. But at the corner of his eye another blond caught Laito's eyes. That has to be Shu, Laito said to himself, his eyes wide open but unnoticed by the woman deepening the kiss. It takes little for anyone, male and female, to forget Shu Sakamaki's face; especially when it was the same face that glared through him at first encounter. Those eyes belongs to a demon with the face of an angel Laito used to tell himself. Why is he with a woman who is not Yui? He broke the kiss again,
"Didn't you say you go to school in a university near by?"
"Yea, what about it?" the blond beauty adjusted his collar teasingly,
"Would you so happens to recognize that blond man over there and his female companion?" Laito gestured towards Shu's direction,
"What do I get in return if I answer your question?" she wipes her slender finger across her smeared lipstick, he brush aside one of her blond locks and whispered
"Anything you want." she smiled giddilyly,
"That's Professor Sakamaki from the Physics department and beside him is one of his PhD students who he is allegedly sleeping with." She climbed off his lap,
"So when do I cash in my prize?" Laito smirked, putting his fedora back on,
"Sorry sweetie, but I've found myself a more interesting target for the day." he strode down the street without a care for his fuming companion still at the gate
"Urghh! You Japanese are the worst! You weren't that hot anyways!" she yelled, but Laito was already too far down the street to hear her scream.
He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of Shu and his companion. This turns out to be more interesting that I've previously anticipated. After debating for a few seconds he sent the photo to Ayato. Why am I helping Ayato? Laito walked back to his hotel as he wipes the lipstick off his face, staring up at the cloudy sky, I guess Paris does change a person.