Chiharu felt her heart ache as she watched her husband sink back to his sit. Guilt and hurt was shown all over his handsome feature.
It didn't take a genius to guess why her husband was acting this way because she knows it. No matter how hard Tezuka was denying it she knew what he really felt.
She suddenly felt her chest pounding as she watched Fuji and Echizen, it was heart breaking.
The greatest pain in loving someone is when you are near him but not near enough to have him.
But what hurt her more was the feeling of uneasiness in her heart as she glanced from Fuji to Tezuka.
She wasn't stupid and she was definitely not blind. She saw the painful expression on Fuji's face when she and Tezuka exchanged their vows, she knew that the person Fuji was in love with was Tezuka.
Chiharu clenched her hand tightly. Even if Fuji is hurting right now and she feels sorry for him, she would not give up her husband without a fight.
Tezuka belongs to me!
After Echizen had calmed down, Oishi and Kikumaru volunteered to watch over him for the night while the others go back to the reception.
Once they were back they continued the celebration but most of them were silent through out the night. So many things had happened in one day.
Once reception was over they gave the newly weds their final blessings and bid goodbye.
It was Inui and Kaido who last left the venue.
"I wish you made the right choice" Inui muttered as he shook Tezuka's hand.
Tezuka looked at him. "I wish I did too"
Tezuka let out a sigh as he rested his back against the cool frame of the bedroom wall. He was now in their honeymoon suite but he felt sick.
Honeymoon...
How could he touch her in the same way again when all he see is Fuji. She was beautiful, she had the body that any man would want to touch but he felt sick just thinking about it.
He shut his eyes tightly as he remembered Fuji's scent which filled his mind and his taste that lingered on his mouth forever.
When he had kissed Chiharu in the wedding he felt absolutely nothing. The kiss was soft but cold, it lacks the warmness and desire that he got from Fuji's kisses.
Ne Echizen, you have to be strong for yourself…
He suddenly opened his eyes as Fuji's words echoed in his head.
Remember when I was the one there?
Did Fuji suffer so much from his cowardice? What did he mean when he said that?
Wasn't it you who said that I should be strong for myself?
But he was strong, wasn't he? He always smiled and never let things get to him. Fuji Syusuke would never break right?
You said that the reason that people leave us behind is because someone who will love us more will come…
Are you really giving up on me now?
"Kunimitsu!"
Tezuka blinked in surprise as he went back to his senses. He saw Chiharu staring at him worriedly.
"You've been spacing out a lot recently" Chiharu observed.
Tezuka felt guilt swam all over him as he avoided looking at her. He didn't know how to face her after everything that had happened.
But he had come to a decision.
And he had to tell it to her right now.
"Chiharu I…" Tezuka began but found no words to utter as his mind went blank.
What was he suppose to say.
Chiharu felt her heart ache more when Tezuka refused to look at her. She had never seen him so hurt and confused.
What if he leaves me?
Chiharu clenched her fist.
She was not giving up her husband to Fuji that easily, she would fight for him and her future family that she will create with this man.
"Let's play a game Kunimitsu…" she whispered softly.
Tezuka blinked in surprise.
A game…?
"The rules are simple, questions only. I will ask a question and your reply should be in question form" Chiharu explained as she took a step away from Tezuka.
"The loser will obey whatever the winner desires…" she continued.
Tezuka merely nodded in agreement as he had no idea as to what his 'wife' was up to.
"Then, let's start. Do you love me?" she asked softly.
Tezuka eyed her, "Do you even need to ask that?" Tezuka replied.
Chiharu let out a soft smile as she took a deep breath.
"Are you happy?" She asked as a single tear escaped her eye. She cursed herself for being so weak but it just hurt.
Tezuka's eyes widened as realization struck him. His wife knew. And now she was hurting too…
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"
Chiharu bit her lower lip lightly as she tried to subside her sobs. She had to be strong or else she was going to lose him.
"If I told you I'm not, what would you do?' Chiharu asked.
"What can I do then?" Tezuka responded
"Shouldn't you be the one who should know that?"
"What if I don't know how?" Tezuka countered, he felt his chest pounding heavily. Once again he was hurting someone who did nothing but love him completely.
Chiharu let the tears fall continuously not able to hold it in any longer.
Why was this happening to her?
Especially on the day of her wedding.
Why was Tezuka so cruel?
"Why didn't you tell me? If you really loved him then why did you still marry me?" Chiharu half shouted as she poured out her feelings.
Tezuka felt terrible. In just one day he had hurt the two most special person in his life. He felt like a total jerk. If only he had been more honest to himself then none of this would have happened.
"I'm sorry…" he muttered out in defeat.
Chiharu suddenly hugged him tightly from the back.
"You lost…" She muffled from his back.
Tezuka remained silent.
"You lost, you have to follow what I say…" Chiharu gritted as she held Tezuka tighter.
Tezuka didn't move, didn't speak at all. He didn't know what he could do to lessen her pain.
"Please Kunimitsu I want you to stay..." Chiharu sobbed.
"Why do you want me stay? You will never be happy with me" Tezuka muttered.
"What about us? What about starting your own family?" Chiharu pressed on.
"I'm sorry…" was all Tezuka could say.
Chiharu held tightly on to him as she cried harder not able to utter out another question. Tezuka felt his heart ache as he listened to her sobs.
He knew how painful it must be for Chiharu. It was suppose to be the best day of her life but he turned it to her worst. Her wedding turned out to be a nightmare for her.
"I love you… I love you so much… so why…??" Chiharu sobbed harder.
Tezuka remained quiet as he listened to her. He didn't know what he should say to make her stop crying, he didn't know what he should do to take her hurt away.
"I love you more than he does… he doesn't deserve you Kunimtsu…"
Tezuka stopped at that.
Doesn't deserve him?
Tezuka closed his eyes softly as he gently pulled her away.
Chiharu gazed up at him in confusion.
"You don't know what you're talking about. Nobody has ever loved me the way he did and no one can surpass that. And actually, I'm the one who doesn't deserve him." Tezuka said looking straight at her.
That was right, never in his life did Tezuka felt so much loved. Fuji had always been there for him no matter what had happened. He has always stood beside him and comforted him with his smiles. His mere presence made Tezuka's day complete.
And truthfully, after all the things that had happened between them he knew he doesn't deserve Fuji. Fuji deserves someone who'll love him and care for him completely unlike him who did nothing but cause him pain.
Chiharu remained quiet. She felt as if she'd been slapped hard on the face.
"You don't know what he's been through. He had loved me with all his heart but all I did was cause him heart aches and pain. But I can't go on living like that anymore…" Tezuka said.
"I love him, I guess I've always been in love with him but I took him for granted and trampled all over his feelings again and again. But I want to be honest now. I want to be happy as well and I realize my happiness is him, that's why I'm really sorry..." Tezuka smiled softly as his own tears were swelling on his eyes.
Right then and there he didn't care if he cried, he just wanted to make it clear to Chiharu that he couldn't love her anymore.
Chiharu's eyes widened as she listened to his confession.
She felt her world crash before her eyes but she knew it was no use.
It was time to give up. It was no use fighting if you've already lost the war from the start.
It was over.
She let out a soft bitter smile.
This was the first time that she saw Tezuka give a true smile. It was beautiful but it didn't belong to her and she had to accept that.
She was just not what Tezuka wanted and needed.
"I don't regret meeting you Kunimitsu… I'm glad to have been you wife even if only for one day…" she muttered as she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Sayonara…"
Tezuka didn't know what happened next, all he could hear was the closing of the door and he felt as if a heavy load had been taken off from his heart.
He was free now.
He was really lucky that he had met Chiharu. She understood him despite the hurt she must be feeling right now.
"I'm sorry Chiharu… and thank you…" he whispered.
Now he was free to love Fuji.
'I guess this is goodbye… I just want you to be happy'
Tezuka stopped. His eyes widened as he recalled Fuji's words.
What if Fuji doesn't want him anymore?
What should he do to win back Fuji?
What could he possibly say to make Fuji change his mind?
Suddenly his phone rang.
He picked it up.
"Tezuka, it's Oishi. I'm sorry if I called out suddenly especially during your honeymoon but I have something important to say" Oishi explained.
"Don't worry Oishi, I'm not in my honeymoon… I… ended things between us…" Tezuka muttered softly.
"What?! Why?! What happened?" Oishi asked frantically, he was shocked that Tezuka could do such a thing.
"I realized I want to be happy too" Tezuka replied.
"Soka… anyways… the reason I was calling you is because I just heard from Eiji that Fuji is leaving for France tomorrow evening. Eiji said that Fuji might stay there for quite some time" Oishi said.
Tezuka stopped.
France?
Fuji was leaving for France?
"Tezuka? Tezuka are you still there?" Oishi asked worriedly on the other line.
"Aah, I'm still here…" Tezuka managed to say.
"Listen to me Tezuka, I don't know if you two could fix whatever it is between you but I know this is your last chance. Make the best out of it" Oishi advised.
"Thank you Oishi" Tezuka said as he hang up.
Listen to me Tezuka, I don't know if you two could fix whatever it is between you but I know this is your last chance. Make the best out of it.
Last chance.
Oishi was right.
This was his last chance to make things right.
There isn't going to be a next time.
One more chance for one last time.
TBC…
Waaaahhhh…. YEY..!! I've finally finished this chapter… hmm… although I feel sorry for Chiharu I'm relieved that Tezuka is finally free from her and his family duty…
Anyways… please review and I'll update soon..!! Also, after this I'll be posting a new story hope you wait for that as well… hehehe…
Thanks to all of you who reviewed in the last chapter.., it made me so happy..!! ^_^