The Devil beside Me

Little Falcon: I haven't written a single essay since I started this story (Is that a good thing or a bad thing?). Needless to say, I am entitled to close this book before starting another one so here's the second half.

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!

Her Slice

He can't leave! Why would he leave? Isn't he supposed to…? Her train of thoughts suddenly stopped as she felt immense guilt immerge from her chest. …be always there for me. When was it that she became so dependent on him? His unfaltering presence made her think that it was permanent and now that she realized that its not, she felt so unstable.

Her usual tumble down the dormitory steps felt more painful than usual. Somehow, she found it harder to stand back up. Why can't he leave? That question echoed in her head several times as her feet tried to remember how to walk.

"Ichigo-chan," her two other teammates were waiting for her outside as she finally made it out.

Pushing all her reflections aside, she ran up to them. "Kashino… he… he…" her voice was uncontrollably shaking.

After exchanging worried looks, Hanabusa and Andou looked at her awkwardly. "We know. It was his request not to tell you anything," the playboy's tone was monotonous and lucid this time.

"Why would he…" Again, it was as if she ran out of words to complete her question. With a hard swallow, she tried asking at a different approach. "Graduation's only a few days away… why would he…"

"He doesn't want you to send him off," Was it her imagination or was Andou's tone a bit coarse?

"Why wouldn't he…" Looking around, the others together with their Sweet Spirits stared at her as if she's the only one who hasn't figured out the answer.

"Ichigo…" Her Sweet Spirit hovered right in front of her face. "Sometimes… you have to figure things out yourself," a meek smile formed on Vanilla's lips as with the others.

Knowing that time is running out, Amano Ichigo ran out of the academy and to the nearest bus stop, just in time to get on the transport. Drumming her fingertips on the bus' window frame, hundreds of questions flood her mind enough to make her wince. Why are you smiling…? His deep, rich tone drowned everything else in the background. Why are you crying? These were the things he asked… the last things he asked that night. You definitely love someone… if you don't hate them for not loving you.

A rough bump on the road woke her up. It had always been a bad habit of hers: sleeping through bus rides carelessly because she knew that he would definitely wake her up. A few minutes passed and finally the airport was in view.

Her sudden relief was immediately overtaken by her confusion. What will I tell him? If I told him not to leave… will he stay? Ichigo sank back to her seat as the planes' deafening noises grew louder at every second.

Surrounded by thousands of people, departing and arriving, all shapes and sizes, she incredibly saw his silhouette effortlessly. It was like everything was black and white and he was the only one with that perfectly combed blond hair. He was only a few feet away yet somehow she felt they were miles apart. Her voice got caught in her throat as she watched him pick-up his suitcase and head towards the departure zone.

Kashino… Kashino… Her mouth formed the words but no sound to support it. Kashino… "Makoto…" it was only a faint whimper… barely audible even for her but it made him stop and look back… as if he heard her calling him clearly.

His caramel colored eyes widened in shock to find her here. Without letting go of his baggage, Kashino raised his eyebrow in question as another flight announcement resounded through the place.

Why are you leaving? Can't you wait until graduation? Why don't you want me to know you're leaving? Was it something I did? What…why… Through all the questions plaguing her head, she shut her eyes for a moment to block it all out before… "Don't leave," Clutching her chest, she tried to control the numbing pain inside. "Stay… stay with me," her chestnut brown eyes begged.

"Why?" He asked automatically as if unaffected by her statement. "Why would I?" Breaking their eye contact, he looked at the passengers boarding his intended flight.

Her heart stopped beating for a few seconds. Why? Why would I want him to stay with me? "Be…because… I… love…you-" she said stiffly as she avoided his penetrating gaze. So, please don't leave me alone.

There was a pregnant pause before she heard him shift. "No, you don't… but thanks for saying it," his remark was gentle… and casual.

But when she met his eyes, she wished that somehow she can take back what she said. The pain in his eyes was so great that it was almost tangible. Kashino Makoto who has been known for his stone heart and stoic face was now evidently hurt by her words.

Was it so obvious that she was lying just to keep him by her side? I'm not lying… am I? Right then and there, she felt obligated to apologize. She had hurt the only person who had supported her every step of the way for the sake of not being left alone. Intolerable self disgust made her insides churn horribly.

Closing the distance between them, Kashino stood a few inches from her. "I love you… for so long. I wanted you to tell you that ever since," he smiled and reached out his hand in the intention to touch her face but he stopped midway. It fell to his side then he turned away. "Take care of yourself, Ichigo," that was the first time, she ever heard him call her name. The first time…

"Kashino, are you sure?" His Sweet Spirit rested on his shoulder as he sat on the seat assigned to him.

Propping his elbow on the arm rest, he leaned his head on his hand heavily. "I've been looking at her eyes for the longest time, enough to know that even though she's looking at me, she's not really seeing me," with a long sigh, he looked out the small window as the plane became airborne. "How can she afford to look at me? When her eyes are still fixated only on one person?"

Chocolat sat quietly as a distance as her partner's tears remained unshed but shaking in his eyes. In the end, it was her who cried for him. Having your most awaited words said forcefully by the person you value the most… shattered would be an utter understatement.

Amano Ichigo stood frozen on her spot as she watched his familiar form grew distant and then finally, out of sight. It was in the moment when she knew that no matter how hard she calls or no matter how fast she runs, he was already gone. It was in that moment, when she was certain of his absence…. that tears welled-up in her eyes and trickled freely down her chin.

"Why… why didn't he stay? I told him I…" having no concern as to whoever hears her cry, she let out her sobs openly in the middle of the airport. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… Kashino.

"Did you see him off?" To her surprise, Henri Lucas was the one waiting by the academy's gates when she arrived. With a great effort, Ichigo managed to nod her head.

How strange, before her heart beats like crazy at the mere presence of this person… now… her heart was barely making a sound even if she was sitting so close beside him. The moon felt so radiantly beautiful that night but she can't even lift her head.

"Your first love was well made," the professor commented on the pastry she gave him yesterday. "Did you learn it yourself?"

"He taught me," she said under her breath. Saying his name now felt painful.

"Really? When?"

"A few days before you arrived… it's a funny coincidence," even if Ichigo wanted to sound fine, she felt pathetic.

"Hmmm, I wonder about that… there were a few people who knew about my sudden visit here. I think one of them was him,"

Her pupils dilated in reaction. Then that means… he taught me that to… but why?

I love you… for so long. I wanted you to tell you that ever since

When she thought her tears already dried up, here they came blinding her vision at the mere recall of his voice. "Why…"

"Ichigo… I think he's trying to teach you something different altogether," Henri Lucas rose from his seat and began to walk away. "When you're trying to bake a cake… you start with step 1…."

Upon hearing his statement, her tears stopped forming. Step 1…

Everyone looked so formal wearing their black toga inside the covered courts. Today was their last day in the Academy… tomorrow would be their first step in reaching a higher goal. Energy filled the atmosphere as the principal began the ceremony.

In the few days that passed, Amano Ichigo's old self returned much to everyone's surprise. The reason, however, was still a mystery.

Her chocolate brown eyes looked forward but her mind was miles away. The first step… was moving on. It took her countless hours and several sleepless nights to figure it out. He wanted me to confess to Henri-sensei… for my first love to end… so I can proceed to the next step. Miraculously, Ichigo went up the stage, received her diploma and went down without a single mishap.

I know what to do now… her toga wrinkled as her fist clenched in sheer determination.

"Finally for our batch's top student…" The principal's proclamation somehow made her flinch. Their batch's top one is now in Germany… she was probably pertaining to the batch's top two. "Kashino Makoto,"

Her neck almost snapped as she sharply turned her head around to look at the person marching from the back and up the stage. Perfectly combed hair, strong cheekbones, confident eyes and an aura that commands the attention of every person in the room. It was as if he never left at all… he is as she remembers him to be.

After receiving his diploma, Kashino swept the batch with a glance before resting his caramel eyes on her then he began his speech.

Her legs weighed like lead as she approached them. The two other Sweet Princes took a hint and became scarce. The cherry blossoms scattered in the air like confetti as their eyes met again.

"I thought you went to Germany," she slowed her steps.

"I did… but I came back," he shoved his hand inside his pocket.

"Why?"

Kashino titled his head before letting out a sigh. He turned sideways and faced the shimmering pond. "I should've left you when I still know how… apparently, I was too late," he sighed.

A slight blush crept on her cheeks as Ichigo too faced the still waters. "I can answer your questions now…" she said enthusiastically. Honestly, it took her a lot of reverie to be able to pull out these things from her subconscious.

The Sweet Prince arched an eyebrow in bewilderment.

"That night… I was crying…" Kashino immediately understood that she was pertaining to the night before he left. "Not because I got dumped, or even because I'll miss him… but because I realized that its going to be alright without him,"

"That night… I was smiling because… I was thinking of someone who'll get mad if he saw me crying like that,"

There it is, that arrogant smirk that made him Kashino Makoto entirely. The one that made her temper snap, the one that made her feel she challenged and mocked at the same time, the one that made countless girls fawn over him, the one he made when he first saw her… the one that only he can make.

"Can you answer another question?" This time, it was his turn to approach.

"Only if you call me by my name again, Makoto,"

He felt ten feet tall with the way she is looking at her now. "Why are you smiling now, Ichigo?" Just like that event in the airport: he reached out his hand to touch her face, only this time he really did. Tenderly, his fingertips grazed her smooth skin. It was like the last few days never happened… like all the hurt never really felt and all the damages never really inflicted. Everything forgotten by just having him call her name.

"Because I was asking myself if you're position in my heart have indeed changed," she placed her hand on top of his. Their eyes never letting go of each other's.

"And? Has it?"

"Even before I knew it…" their fingers interlocked as they grew closer. This time… he knew… from her voice and her eyes… and with his heart… she was telling the truth. The truth he never imagined to be possible.

"Higher than Hanabusa's?" His arm wound around her waist.

"Obviously," she brushed away a strand of stray hair from his eyes.

"Andou's?"

"Definitely,"

"Henri-sensei's?"

"Apparently,"

His lips hovered above hers as he placed his forehead on hers. "Pastries'?"

"Do I really need to answer that?" Ichigo hooked her arms around his neck and chuckled.

"No… not really," they sealed their lips finalizing the romance that took several years in the making.

Little Falcon: There! Hopefully, with this I'll be able to bring myself to write another essay (much to my teachers' delight). Read and review, okay?