Chapter 40

Rui's mind was blank, only the echoes of her tears flooded his mind. Looking at the crashing waves he thought of throwing himself into them to drown out the sound. As he turned to walk away he saw the very people he didn't want to see; the man that she chose over him, the woman he had to severe ties with and the two best friends that would not understand what he did even though they have known him their whole lives.

One by one he thought, he'd let them down one at a time. As he approached them he really didn't know what to say to the person that's she had chose, the very same person that took his side in every battle with Tsukasa, the person who bought him the same book Tsukasa tore during their first meeting the very next day. He loved him like a brother but hated him in the way that can only come about after loving.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Soujiro 3 words popped up in Rui's mind. The simple fact of the matter, "She chose you."

After giving him 5 seconds of courtesy to reply in which he said nothing Rui walked on and saw the second person he had to deal with. He considered dragging her with him but saw Akira's hand clutching her wrists and thought otherwise. But she came running after him instead. In the 20 seconds or so that it took her to get to him from the first clack of her heel that he heard he was once again at a loss for words.

He needed to be severe for her to move on and now he was rest assured that she had Akira to help pick up the pieces so as he felt her arms around his waist in death grip he said the worst that came to mind, "It will never be you. It was never you." With that he felt her hands slide off limp and continued to walk away.

He heard Akira running behind him with a quick pit stop at Shizuka's side and as the pace started again now it was a pair. He supposed today will be the end of everything then. So he waited for them to catch up with him his mind once again blank but he was sure that faced with the two loudest people among them he would just be required to reply.

Akira made it in front of him only 2 second before Tsukasa did and started the interrogation first.

"What did you say to Shizuka!" yelled Akira.

I repeated myself. Surprisingly Tsukasa beat Akira to the punch I was waiting for after which he said, "How could you be so cruel."

I gave a reply, which I knew would earn me another kick at least, "I felt like it."

Akira got his turn at me and said, "You could have just said all this before they go engaged and you waited till now. You could have just remained a recluse and waited for Tsukushi to return but you took Shiz as a fall back and now you leave her flattened and used. Who are you really?"

"I'm not too sure myself. I left my soul in that room, and now my world is colder and darker than ever. I leave Tsukushi to Soujiro and Shizuka to you. There is no one else left," said Rui.

The two of them stand stumped as Rui continued, "Give Shizuka what I couldn't, what I didn't. I'm leaving." Both of them stood I the same spot as Rui disappeared as he turned the corner.

************

Meanwhile at the other tail end Soujiro carefully opened the door to Tsukushi's room as would a thief in the middle of the night. He saw her on the bed sitting face buried in her hands knees close to her chest. Hearing the nearing footsteps she looked up and saw Soujiro's discomfort through her tears.

"He said… you chose me," said Soujiro.

"Mmm…" she nodded slowly in response as she wiped her tears.

"Why," Soujiro stated more than he asked.

She patted the spot next to her on the edge of the bed indicating that he sit down. So he sat, looking so close at her he felt himself blush. Then she leaned unto his arms and latched her arm unto his and said in a soft but horse whisper, "I can count on you right… Just like you can count on me. I promised to marry you didn't I. I'm sorry I went weak for the past day or so, but that's over with now. I closed that chapter but Jirou… I'm so tired. So…so… so tired."

Unsure what to do, to jump up and down in delight or to reprimand her for not standing up for her love, Soujiro just said, "Lean on me."