He opened his eyes, his eyebrows crinkled in confusion. He looked almost, hurt. I pressed my lips together, not really wanting to say anything.

The driver opened the door for us and I slid over the seat and out of the limo. I tried not to look at Ryou's face as he got out and the driver gave us our luggage. I was afraid that Ryou's face would be full of hurt, and I wouldn't be able to take it.

I watched Ryou tip the driver, then we both started walking up to the hotel in front of us. I stopped then slowly turned around; my mouth dropped.

"Wow..." I whispered. It was just like Tokyo, but the skyscrapers were taller, the lights seamed brighter; there were more people. I looked at the people; they were all different. One guy passed me and he was on his cell phone speaking some type of language I didn't understand. He had skin so dark he matched the sky, and dread locks. Another person passed me. She had olive skin wore a cloth around her head and some type of jewel between her eyebrows. Some one else passed me and they had on a black circular hat, and long black curls at the side of his temples. He wore nothing but black. It seamed like every one was speaking a different language. I looked over at Ryou. He shrugged his shoulders.

"That's New York City for you." He slug one of his bags over his shoulder and continued walking into the hotel. I read the sign; it said Marriot. Huh, that's a weird name for a hotel.

I was about o follow after him when a stand caught my eye. I looked over at it. It was selling giant soft pretzels. My stomach growled. I hadn't eaten anything since this morning. Because after that I was afraid of puking my guts up again. I shrugged as I walked over to the stand. My head didn't really bother me as much anymore, and my stomach seamed fine. Although my head feeling okay might be the result of the four aspirins I took before we started driving here.

"One pretzel please." He man go one for me and I handed him a five. I got my change then headed towards the hotel as I ate. Ryou had given me some American money so I could buy things.

I walked inside. Ahead of me was a wooden reception desk with a blonde haired green-eyed girl with sharp features behind it. I looked up at the tall ceiling and chandelier. The walls were a dark wood color than leaded up to a glass wall at the ceiling where the second story was. I could see he doors to hotel rooms through the glass.

There was a gold colored elevator to my left with white molding around it. The reception desk had white molding at its bottom too.

I saw Ryou talking to the blonde receptionist at the desk and stared walking over to him. When I got there the lady handed him two cards and then I followed Ryou to the elevator. He pressed a floor number then the elevator doors closed. I let out a breath. For some reason I always felt un-easy in elevators. The doors opened and I again followed Ryou, we stopped at a door marked 419. He slid one card into the slot as he handed me the other one. The little light on he door turned green and Ryou opened up the door.

We both stepped inside. The room had and walls and a window with a flat screen and a stainless seal mini-fridge. I dropped my stuff on the brown couch in front of me and sat next to it as I finished the rest of my pretzel. The carpet was a darker tan then the walls and had a diamond-ey pattern on it. I got up and walked into the other room. There was a marble bathroom and a giant king sized bed in the middle. On either side there was a dark wooden night table with an alarm clock.

I looked at the clock. Whoa, it was two in the morning already? I laid down on the bed ready to fall asleep. I closed my eyes then snapped them back open. Wait… There was one big bed, and two of us… I looked up at Ryou who was uncomfortably scratching the back of his head.

"Oh. I forgot this place only had one bed." Oh well wasn't this just wonderful?

"Uh…" I didn't know what to say. Ryou just shrugged his shoulders then turned around and headed towards the bathroom.

"I'll be in the shower." He called over his shoulder before shutting the door. I got under the covers and turned onto my side. I closed my eyes and let out a yawn. My eyes snapped open again. I didn't want to fall asleep. Because I knew that if I did the next thing I knew I'd be reliving that horrible day. I sat up and put my feet on the ground.

Suddenly I wasn't so tiered. Not really knowing what to do I walked out of our room and over to the elevator. I pressed the main floor button. He doors shut. I un-patiently tapped my fingers against my denim-covered thigh. I couldn't wait to get out of this small little space. When the doors opened again, I was back in the reception desk foyer room. I didn't really know where I was going; I figured I'd just take a look around. I walked through the foyer, which lead to this little lobby.

I walked under the arch that lead to it. It had the same shinny floors as the foyer and a couple of dark purple sitting chairs. In he far back here was a bar and right in front of me here was a big wooden staircase with gold colored rails and lining. I headed towards the bar in the back, opening the glass doors in front of it.

I sat down at one of the swirl-ey black chairs. The bartender looked in his early twenties. Had short, spiked brown hair and wore a nametag that said hello, my name is: Robbie

"Cherry Tequila Sunrise?" He nodded and turned around to make my drink. I sighed. So what, I wasn't gunna sleep for the rest of my life? I rubbed my temples. I knew I couldn't avoid this forever. I couldn't act like what I did to Masaya didn't happen. But what made it worse was I couldn't tell anyone. I wasn't suppose to show Masaya. Ryou told had me that if I ever showed anyone, that it could only be the one you were truly ment to be with. Or else… Some one could seriously get hurt.

My thought trialed back to Masaya's words in my dream…

"You lied to me, you said you loved me… Why'd you do this to me?" Did his mean he wasn't, you know… The one?

He bartender came back with my drink. I tried to smile politely, but it turned out to be more like a grimance. No. No, no, no. I did love Masaya with all my heart. He was the one. I drowned my senses with alcohol. I didn't want to think about this now; I didn't want to think about his ever. I took another long sip. I needed something stronger. Before I knew it he bottom of the glass was staring back at me.

"Would you like another one?" The bartender asked. I shook my head no.

"Can I have a Long Island Ice tea, please?" He nodded and turned back around to make me my drink. I messaged my temples some more. I think my airsickness headache was coming back. Either that or it was just stress. I felt terrible. Ever since I started trying to avenge Jake all I could think of was Masaya. Then there was he whole Ryou thing… What kind of person was I?

Robbie the bartender turned back around him my drink. I gulped I down till it was gone. He looked at me as if to ask if I was okay, but didn't say anything.

"Can I get a Jack Daniels?" I asked him.

"Sure thing." He turned back around a couple seconds later with a bottle and a glass. After he filled the glass up half way He went to put the bole back behind him. I jerked my head in the direction of the full bottle.

"Leave it." I said. Then I fished through my pocket for my wallet and took out two fifties so he knew I would pay for it. He nodded, took the money out of my hand and set the bottle down on the table. I finished the glass immediately, then started chugging the bottle. It burned all the way down, but left me with a warm feeling that helped me forget my pain.

I got up and started heading towards my hotel room. I better get out of here fast before me being wasted gets some random guy lucky. I stumbled up the stairs; forgetting that there was an elevator. Smart of me, huh?

Everything started to slowly blur up just a bit. Oh no, here comes the-

RYOU'S POV

I wrapped a towel around my lower half and stepped out of the bathroom. I ran my fingers through my damp hair. I can't believe I thought that Ichigo was actually going to kiss me again. I mean the whole kitchen thing was understandable, she was depressed and upset and vulnerable. My heart sank. Had that been the only reason why she kissed me? Well she obviously didn't feel sparks, or else she wouldn't keep rejecting me. My thoughts went back to this morning when I had woke her up. We had been so close; I had wanted her so badly… Let's face it, I still do; I always have. I've loved Ichigo ever since I laid eyes on her about almost ten years ago. But she was always with Masaya. I scrunched my nose up. I always hated that kid; he always had his hands around her. In front of me, like he was rubbing it in my face or something. I shook my head; I was probably just imagining things. I took out a shirt and boxers from my suite case on the floor. What happened to Masaya, anyways?

Just then I heard the doors lock unclick and let out a small beep. My eyes shot up. Who's coming into my hotel room? I realized Ichigo wasn't here; she must've gone for a walk or something.

The door opened and Ichigo walked through the door. She was carrying a big bottle of something; it was almost empty. She was stumbling all over the place. My eyes went wide. Was Ichigo… Drunk? She defiantly didn't seam like the girl who would get wasted.

She looked up at me and a huge clumsy grin appeared on her face.

"Hay Ryooouuuu." She smiled. She was walking over to me but then tripped over her own feet. I caught her before she fell. She kissed me on the cheek. I tried to ignore how tingly and warm it felt.

"Thanks for catching me." She said. Her eyes went down and I realized she was looking at my body.

"Whoa, somebody has a six pack." She said while running her hands over my stomach. I rolled my eyes and pulled her back onto her feet. I can't believe she drank the entire bottle. I eyed the bottle that had fell on the floor when she tripped. It was a Jack Daniels.

"Ichigo, you should probably go to bed." I smirked at her. She was a funny drunk person. She laughed.

"Oh I'm going into bed alright." She got really close to me. I took a step back. Wait, was she talking about- my leg his the bed behind me and I fell on it. She crawled on top of me; not that I minded, but she was wasted, she didn't know what she was doing. I didn't want her to regret anything in the morning.

She slid her hands back over my six pack and kept sliding them down lower and lower. She started kissing my neck, then her hands started sliding underneath my towel-

"Ichigo!" I grabbed her hands and pulled them to her sides.

"You don't know what you're doing; you're wasted." She smirked at me.

"Noooo," She said like a six year old, while shaking her head. "I know exactly what I'm doing." I opened my mouth to say something when she crushed her lips to mine. My heart pounded so loud it was ringing in my ears. She tasted so good. I deepened the kiss. She slid her tongue into my mouth. My eyes snapped open. What was I doing?

It took all I had to pull away from her. I looked into her brown eyes; she looked hurt. She seamed like she was searching my eyes for an answer. Her eyes started to blur up with tears. One fell and landed on my cheek. She pushed herself off of me angrily, so she was back on her feet again.

"What Ryou. You don't like me? Am I not good enough for you?" She yelled at me while tears cascaded down her face. She turned so her back was facing me.

"No, Ichigo. You have no idea how hard it was for me to pull away." I admitted while got up, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned around to look at me.

"Then why did you?" She was walking closer and closer to me until I tripped over the bed again. Ugh, why hadn't I seen that coming? She caged me with her arms at either side of me. Like that would stop me from leaving.

"Remember when I left all those years ago? When I got into the cab, and you were trying to tell me something?" My heart ached. Of course I remember. I nodded without looking at her eyes.

"I think about that day a lot..." I looked back up at her. Her eyes were looking at me expectantly. Waiting for an answer.

"Yeah, me too." I sighed. I couldn't help but notice how detached I had sounded. Like my mind wasn't even here. Well, it wasn't…

Flash back

"So I guess this is goodbye." Ichigo said picking up the last fluffy pink luggage bag and loading it into the taxi. No, this couldn't be goodbye. She turned back so she was facing me again. All I wanted to do was brush that one strand of hair out of her face, crush her lips into mine and tell her I loved her..

"I guess so…" I said quietly, watching the love of my life get into the cab. She was leaving me… And there was nothing I could do about it. Sure I had had my chances… But I was too much of a coward to do anything about my feelings for her. I felt like punching myself in the face. You're such a coward Ryou. It's not too late; just tell her!

"Ichigo-"

"Yeah?" She answered looking up at me. This was all my fault. She wouldn't even be leaving if it weren't for- I saw here fingers intertwine with Masaya's. I sighed. My heart squeezed in pain at their hands. What kind of friend was I? She was leaving because she loved him. Didn't I want her to be happy?

I looked into her eyes. I saw the light behind her eyes… Of course that was what I wanted… For her to be happy…

"Never mind." I mumbled. Why would telling her matter now? She was deeply in love with Masaya. What was I expecting, for her to just drop everything the second I told her? For her to just drop her plans for her life, and the man she loved just to be with me? I felt my eyes pinch. I couldn't see straight. Was I crying? I didn't need to check; I knew I was. I had to tell her I loved her, I can't live without her. I opened my mouth then quickly shut it. Like I said. Nothing I could say now would matter…

"Bye Ryou!" Ichigo yelled waving her hand out of the window as the cab slowly started pulling away from the curb. Realization hit me. What was I, stupid? What if I never saw her again? Screw being a good friend, screw Masaya. I didn't care about either. Life was meaningless if all I did was stay friends with her.

"Wait!" I yelled as the cab began to pick up speed. I ran. I needed her, I needed to be with her. She was mine; she always has been. I loved her… I started to slow down as I watched Masaya and Ichigo's figures get smaller and smaller, along with the cab. I had lost my chance… And now she was gone forever…

I let out a small whisper…

"I love you…"

I blinked hard, trying not to cry all over again.

"I just need to know…" She whispered. I looked into her eyes again. They slowly slid closed as she leaned in to kiss me. There was no doubt in me that I still loved Ichigo. Her eyes closed and there was absolutely no room left between our faces. I started breathing harder. Her lips were just about to brush against mine; when I lowered my face so that her lips would meet my nose.

Her eyes shot open, looking hurt all over again.

"Ryou…" I pushed her gently so she wasn't on top of me anymore; now she was next to me. I hugged her close to me as she cried into the groove of my neck. She was so wasted it probably didn't register in her head that the person she was looking to for comfort was the same one who had made her cry.

She lifted up her head ever so slightly so that her mouth wasn't buried into my shoulder.

"I think I love you Ryou…" My heart fluttered. The half of me that her body was touching felt tingly and warm. I loved being close to her, to be around her… I needed it. But like I said, she was wasted. She didn't know what she was saying…

I kissed her forehead as she fell asleep.

"I love you too Ichigo… I always have…" But she couldn't hear me; she was fast asleep