Kyouya heard a voice from nearby. He turned around to see Sakura, leaning against the clocktower, away from the thunder and lightning. He sighed and walked over to her, holding out his umbrella to her.
"Care to not get wet?" he asked, looking her straight in the eyes.
She shook her head, "I'm fine. Thank you. I actually enjoy the rain. It reminds me of my childhood… Ah, yes, happier days, indeed…"
Kyouya was confused, but didn't show it, "What are you doing here in Japan? You're accent is American. You act like an American. Everything about you screams "American". Why are you here?"
Sakura sighed, "I'm not obliged to tell you that information…"
Kyouya sighed, "You sound like you've said that a thousand times before…"
She looked at him. She barely knew him, but it seemed like he could see right through her. Could he maybe see all the pain and hurt she was dealing with at the moment? Could he see her weaknesses? Or maybe he could just read the atmosphere much better than she or Alfred could? She looked at him again.
"You sound like you know everything about me…" she said.
"On the contrary, my dear. I know absolutely nothing about you except that you're American and that you are very interesting…" he explained, adjusting his glasses.
Sakura made a face, "So what do you want?"
Kyouya sighed, "You seem like a direct person. So, I'll ask you directly: Is there something between you and that blonde boy?"
She sighed, "No. Alfred's just a dear friend. Why is that important to y-?"
Sakura was interrupted by a kiss from Kyouya. She was surprised, for sure. Her face was completely red and her eyes were wide open. When he backed away, she covered her mouth with her hand. She looked up at him, her eyes glittering in confusion and her mind churning. My first kiss… How will Alfred feel? What am I supposed to say? Do I even know how to talk at this point? I can't keep my thoughts straight! What was that for anyway? Kyouya could see Sakura was confused by his actions. Surely, she had at least heard of romance? Or something like that? He shrugged and stared at her, trying to make sure she regained some type of composure before he took his leave. As if reading his mind, she looked up at him through the rain, clutching his wrist.
"Wait. Does this mean that we're… together?" she asked.
He smiled and kissed her forehead, "Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't…"
Sakura watched Kyouya walk away. She felt a pain where her heart was. She put her hand over her heart, as if she was trying to make sure she was still alive. She ran her fingers through her hair and ran home, bittersweet tears rolling down her cheeks. She was happy, but confused. She ran straight to bed, jumping into it and burying her face in her pillow. Her sobs were quiet, as to not wake her aunt, uncle, or any of her friends. She heard a familiar voice coming from the room next door, even though it was nearly 12:00 in the morning.
"Sakura… I love you. Sakura, I love you!" Alfred's voice was soft and took a different tone each time.
Sakura covered her mouth with her hand. Oh my god… Great! This is great! She felt tears stinging her eyes. She didn't want to choose. She felt her heart being torn in half. Half wanted to pursue the mysterious Kyouya, with whom she had shared her first kiss. The half, most likely the bigger half, wanted to jump out of bed and run into Alfred's arms, yelling 'I love you too!' She silently cried herself to sleep, wondering what the hell she would do.
Alfred started to panic when Sakura didn't get out of bed after half an hour of calling her. He knocked on her door frantically, sweat rolling down his head. He was really just assuming the worst, even though it was really just the fact that she was just extremely tired. Alfred managed to get in her room. He busted the door a little in the process, but reminded himself that he would pay for that later. He found Sakura sleeping soundly with dried tears on her cheeks. Alfred perched himself on the side of her bed. He took a breath, then let it out.
"Sakura…" he started, as if she were awake, "I love you. So much…"
Her silent snore was all he could hear. He knew he shouldn't have said it while she was asleep, but that seemed to be the only time he could profess his love for her so that he wasn't talking to a mirror or look like a weirdo, talking to air or a broom. He ran his fingers along her cheek, tracing the tear path. Why was she crying? He kissed her lips softly and smiled, brushing hair out of her face. She let out a muffled 'Kyouya'. Alfred's eyebrows knit together and he stared at the sleeping girl in confusion. Then, he remembered the black haired, brown eyed boy who had left the note at Sakura's elbow. Alfred felt his anger swell. Was this that same person who was threatening to take his only love away from him? Alfred made a promise to himself that he wouldn't be beat by the upperclassmen. He left her room, slamming the door behind him, uncaring if he woke the sleeping girl. His anger suddenly turned to hurt. Was she really going to choose a stranger over her best friend?
"Fine. If you don't love me, then just say so!" he yelled at his mirror, throwing a football at it and breaking it.
"Alfred!" Sakura yelled, running into his room, "Oh my god, what's wrong?"
Alfred shook his head, his face red with anger and hurt, his eyes spilling tears. Sakura tried to hug him, but he pushed her away. She looked into his normally crystal clear blue eyes. Anger hurt and confusion clouded their depths. His hands were shaking at his sides and his chest was beginning to rack with sobs. Sakura was confused herself. What was wrong with Alfred?
"You love him, don't you?" Alfred asked quietly.
Sakura gave no response and Alfred asked again, louder this time, "Don't you?"
Sakura felt her tears returning. She nodded. Sakura looked up at Alfred, whose expression was, for once, unreadable. He turned on his heel and left the room. She followed him. She clung to his arm, trying to get him to look at her.
"Alfred, I'm sorry…" she sobbed.
He shook her off, onto the couch. She winced at the impact. Alfred didn't look at Sakura. He wordlessly grabbed his bomber jacket and went out the front door, slamming it so hard, it nearly came off the hinges. She covered her mouth with her hand. She had never seen Alfred this angry before. She had seen him hurt worse, but that's another story. She started to sob and curled into a ball on the couch. After crying for what seemed like hours, she sat up and picked up the phone. She called her friend, Feliciano.
"Hello? " his Italian accent brightened her a little.
"Hey, Feli." Sakura sniffled.
She could almost see his frown through the phone, a look of worry gracing his normally cheery face, "What's wrong, ve~? Are you okay?"
"Alfred hates me…" she sobbed, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
"Stay there! I'll be right over!" the Italian declared.
"Italy, you're thousands of kilometers away. How can you possibly-?" she started.
"It's okay. I'm at Japan's house! Should I come by myself?" he asked.
"Oh. No. I can't take many more people…" Sakura choked.
Feliciano nodded, "I'll see you in a few minutes, okay?"
She nodded, hanging up, "Okay…"
When his phone clicked off the other end, she curled up into a ball again, sobbing. About 10 minutes later, Feliciano opened the front door with the spare key. He ran over to Sakura, who was still curled in a ball sobbing. He sat her up and hugged her, understanding that all she needed was comfort. Sakura clutched Feliciano's shirt, sobbing and sobbing. The Italian man rubbed the American girl's back softly. Sakura clutched the scarf that Alfred had given her tighter in her hands. Feliciano saw this and looked at her. He brushed his hand against the scarf.
"Hey, I remember seeing this before. Alfred used it as a bandage during World War Two. On England's leg to be exact." Feliciano said, noting the red stains.
Sakura sniffled, "Yea. He washed it all out for me and gave it back. He takes it when he goes to war. To remember me… And when he's home, I take it. So, even when he's at a G8 meeting, he's always with me…"
The Italian smiled sadly. He could feel danger hovering in the peaceful air. That's why he had been at Japan's house. Everyone except Alfred and Arthur had been there. A strong power was rising in Asia and needed to be stopped. The American girl sobbing in his arms could be a victim of a gruesome massacre, more so than what Germany described the Holocaust as. He shuddered at the very thought. When her sobbing quieted, he told her a story and she fell asleep, tears still rolling down her cheeks.
Alfred sighed as he sat at the bar, ordering a beer. He stared at the empty one in front of him, sighing and putting his chin in the palm of his hand. He paid no notice to Ludwig, who happened to be sitting right next to him.
"I'm such an idiot…" Alfred muttered.
He put his head on the bar, muttering to himself. The piano started to play and Ludwig sat back in the stool, humming a little and watching Alfred with curiosity. The young dirty blonde was muttering to himself like he was crazy. Alfred was still oblivious to the fact that Ludwig was even there, let alone the music playing in the background. He was too busy moping and being angry. How could he have been so stupid? She probably hated him now. Ludwig noticed the distress on the younger man's face and put his hand on Alfred's shoulder to get his attention. Alfred looked at Ludwig with slightly hazy eyes. Behind all the alcoholic haze, there was confusion, frustration, anger and hurt.
"Yea?" Alfred asked.
Ludwig frowned, "You should be careful. You're underage in your own country, right?"
Alfred rolled his eyes, "Yea. But it doesn't matter… I just feel like shit right now…"
Ludwig sighed, "I can see that. Is something bothering you?"
The younger blonde sighed, "Nothing you would bother telling anyone."
The older blonde took a sip of his own beer before turning completely around to face Alfred, "I really don't tend to share personal information. Some things need to be kept quiet. I understand…"
Alfred sighed, "I just… See, it's one of those deals where someone loves someone who loves someone else…"
Ludwig chuckled, "Ah yes. The dreaded love triangle…"
"Triangle… That's the one with four sides right?" Alfred asked
Ludwig sighed, "No. It has three…"
They both sighed. Wait, why am I trying to teach a geometry lesson in a bar? I don't even know anymore. All I know is that this kid is slowly getting drunk. I should get him home before he gets himself in trouble…
"Hey, kid…" Ludwig started.
"Alfred." Alfred corrected.
"Whatever. Alfred, you look tired. You live around here?" Ludwig asked, standing up.
"Yea. Why?" Alfred asked, looking at Ludwig oddly.
Ludwig sighed, "Don't give me that look. Come on, I'll get you home."
"I'm jusht fine…" Alfred slurred, wobbling as he tried to stand, "Shheee?"
Ludwig shook his head and led Alfred down the street, holding his shoulders for support. Ludwig made a promise to himself to never get this upset over any woman. Alfred muttered something about going home at the elevator, but Ludwig followed Alfred up to Sakura's apartment to be safe. Alfred didn't notice, but Ludwig did that the door was open. There's only one person I know who would leave a door wide open like that…
"Italy…" Ludwig sighed out as the brown haired man exited the apartment.
"Ve~ Doitsu! What a quinky dink!" Feliciano said, smiling cheerily.
"Yea. Take care of yourself, okay, Alfred. Get some sleep. Hopefully, I'll see you at the next G8 meeting…" Ludwig said, patting Alfred's head as the younger blonde walked by.
Alfred looked over his shoulder, smiling a little for the first time that night, though it was still sad and tears were leaking again, "Thanks… Ludwig…"
"Well, I guess we should both head back to Japan's, huh?" Ludwig asked Feliciano
Feliciano nodded, "Yes. I think we're going to be needed more if anything else comes up between these two, though."
Ludwig sighed as the two entered the elevator, pushing the button to take them to the first floor, "I had a feeling you'd say that… And I have a feeling you're right…"