-Part 3-

The Non-Existent Love Triangle

 

 

Aya closed his eyes as the target, Kawaji, fell. Wiping away the blood, he sheathed his katana, and turned to regroup with the others.  Suddenly he choked on his breath as his eyes widened slightly to see Sakura step from the edge of the spotlight.

 

"Aya..." she said softly, still in shock.

 

"Now you know. I'm not a person who can meet up to your feelings. I am a person who has no right to be loved by anyone."

 

Aya sighed deeply, recalling the painful task of telling the other that he'd been seen. And by Sakura, of all people. Ken began to cry instantly, Yohji had stared in disbelief, and Aya grieved inside for making his beloved Ken cry for the second time.

 

"Death to Sakura! Kill Sakura!" Aya murmured, under his breath. A picture of Sakura and Omi had been pinned to the dart board, Omi having been cut away, and Sakura's face was now rittled with dart holes.

 

Ken walked downstairs, listening to Aya's murmurs and the incessant 'plunk' of the darts hitting the board. "Ran-chan?" he questioned softly.

 

"Kill Sakura, damn you Taketori! Death to Sakura..!" he shouted menacingly, flinging the dart. Suddenly he shook, feeling the younger boy hug him tightly around the waist. He looked down, his eyes softening as he dropped the darts to the floor to wrap his arms around his lover's trembling shoulders. "Ken..?"

 

Ken sobbed against Aya's waist, sliding to his knees, ashamed of his own pitiful appearance. "Oh Aya! What are we going to do? Omi won't talk to anyone during work, Yohji's under so much stress..."

 

"And you won't stop crying, my love.." Aya said softly, and he hugged the boy tighter. "Ken, I agree with Yohji, that I should have killed her on the spot.. but Omi wouldn't allow it.."

 

Ken cried harder, hugging Aya. "Why must our lives be turned upside down for the sake of one girl? Ran-chan, I just want her to leave us alone.."

 

Aya gently brushed aside Ken's bangs, and pulled the kneeling boy up to embrace him properly. With a soft kiss,

he smiled. "I promise this won't last much longer.."

 

Ken trembled with fear and anger. Clenching his fists, he looked at Aya with angry yet tearful eyes. "It won't last much longer, because I won't let it!" Ken spun on his heels quickly, and ran up the spiral stairs as he felt warm tears brim his eyes again.

 

"Ken!" Aya yelled, and held his hand out as if attempting to stop him but paused, and dropping his hand back to his waist, he glanced back at the dartboard, he sighed. "For everything you've put us through, Sakura.. you deserve whatever you get." he said softly, and hurried upstairs after Ken.

 

*              *              *

 

Ken and Aya rose their eyes as the bell on the door rang to signify they had a customer. Ken sighed disgustedly as Sakura walked quietly up to Yohji, and whispered that she wished to speak with Aya. As Yohji transferred the message to Aya, he scowled, refusing, and continued wiping the glass doors.

 

Yohji looked back helplessly as Ken shook his head 'no' in agreement. He smiled weakly as he saw Aya's scowl darken, and he patted Aya's shoulder warmly.  "Aya, the shop's not that busy, go and talk to her."

 

Aya finally realized that the urge from Yohji was a chance for Aya to rid himself of the girl, permanently. He glared at Sakura, and after tossing the cloth down into the bucket, he walked over to her. "There's a quiet place nearby. Would that be alright?"

 

Sakura smiled widely, and nodded. "Yes!" Aya tossed down his apron across a chair, and escorted Sakura out of the shop, and across the street to the tiny restaurant. 

 

Ken stared in disbelief. "Aya!" he cried. "Oh Ran.."

 

Omi set down the potted plant and hugged Ken. "Don't cry, Ken-kun. Aya's just going to talk to her.. He'll be right back."

 

*              *              *

 

"What is Ken to you, Aya?" Sakura asked quietly.

 

Aya paused, and cleared his throat. "And if I tell you he is my lover?"

 

Sakura looked down, and bit back tears before continuing to speak.. "As I thought. You see, Aya-san.. I had decided, that if he is your lover, that I was going to give you up. But if that weren't the case, I was resolved to come and speak with you today of how I feel. I... love you, Aya..."

 

Aya stared at her for a  moment. He'd known the younger girl had a crush on him, but he didn't think that she ever thought this highly of him. He stared at her, expressionless, and paused, to let her finish speaking.

 

"Anytime, anywhere, all I ever think of is you." She looked down again, clasping her hands tightly, and looked to Aya's face for some sort of emotion, but her face fell when she saw none.

 

"That is your misfortune." He said icily, staring absentmindedly out the window.

 

"Please do not say such things and change the subject! Aya, you feel for me too!" she cried, and squirmed in the seat with nervousness.

 

Aya continued to look out the window. A twinge of hatred surged through his body as his eyes hardening instantly at that comment. "I have no feelings for you, and besides, I am not a person qualified to receive the love of others."

 

Sakura's eyes widened and she jumped to her feet. "But, what about Ken!"

 

Aya remained unresponsive, still staring out the window. His eyes shadowed slightly, and he glared outside, biting his lip from yelling at her for that comment.

 

Sakura looked down, and sighed. "I just don't understand you Aya. I have no idea what you are thinking... nothing. You work in a flowershop, but really it's something different. But beyond that, I don't know anything at all."

 

Aya flinched at her final comment, and stared at her for a moment, glaring angrily. "That is none of your concern. Forget about it." Quickly standing, he exited the restaurant, and paused outside the shop, and exhaled deeply, placing his hands on his hips. With a glance to the sky, he walked back to the shop, ignoring Sakura's exit from the small restaurant moments later.

 

Ken seemed relieved by Aya's reappearance, but by the cold look in his eyes he knew things hadn't gone well. He watched as the redhead climbed the stairs that led to the apartment. Without a second thought, the brunette hurried after him.

 

*              *              *

 

Omi had gone outside as Aya returned. He knew things were bad, as he ran after Sakura. The young girl had paused in front of a window display, tears staining her cheeks in the reflection of the glass. "Sakura.."

 

"He told me he felt nothing.." she whispered. Omi's eyes widened slightly, but he remained silent. "He said he didn't deserve my love anyway..."

 

Omi frowned. "You know he is dating Ken, Sakura, and yet you still pursue him...?"

 

Sakura nodded tearfully. "I know, I just thought that if I tried.."

 

Omi's fists trembled and he narrowed his eyes. "You tried, and you make Ken-kun cry every night as a result!" he shouted. Sakura's eyes widened at the coldness of Omi's statement, and lowered her head as the younger boy ran away.

 

*              *              *

 

"Awe, thank you, Omi.." Ken said softly. "But you don't need to defend me.."

 

Omi shook his head, looking down. "I just can't stand it when people purposely sabotage love for their own benefits.." he said, thinking of his own family.

 

Aya sat and listened to the two boys talking quietly, when Yohji ran upstairs and stuck his head into the kitchen. "Thought you might like to know, Sakura's mom just called. Sakura disappeared about an hour after talking to Omi this afternoon."