CHAPTER 14: "Soul mates"

DISCLAIMER: I do not own SA

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the long absence! I was so preoccupied with many other things. But wait's over! I just used this chapter in connection to the previous chapter. Is Asuka getting more irritating? Please tell me. Anyway, read on, enjoy and please don't forget to leave your reviews!

"Go," Takishima whispered, his breathe touching my lips. "You'll be late for class."

He gave me one last kiss, and ushered me to the entrance of the building.

"I'll see you around?" That sounded like a question. Takishima smiled at me.

"I'll see you soon." He said and turned away. I smiled at his back. He turned to me again one last time, "My Rank Number Two."

Those words didn't seem to hurt as much as before.

In fact, I liked it.

In class, I was barely concentrating. I scribbled some notes and drifted off again. My Psychology professor seems to talk gibberish things. This is so not me.

Good thing, the bell rang. I have to catch up on some readings in the library later.

Takishima, what are you doing to me! His lips on mine blasted in my head again like a rerun. I shrugged it off and hurried to the football field where my friends are.

"Hikari!" Akira shouted as soon as she saw me walking towards them, "Here!"

I waved at her and walked briskly. Just then, I heard someone sobbing. I walked towards the garden near the College of Law, across the football field. I followed the sound and I found a girl with curly, blonde hair, crying by herself.

Asuka.

Thoughtless, I went quietly towards her, and put a hand on her shoulder. She stopped and looked up.

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.

She sobbed a little bit and croaked, "What do you think?" Her eyes, even with tears, are full of fire.

I really couldn't say anything. What will I say? Suddenly, I wished I wasn't here.

"What happened?" I asked, not backing out.

Suddenly she stood up and removed my hand with full force that it hurt.

"I hate you!" she shouted, "I hate you for coming back! I hate you for ruining my life with Kei!" She then fell on her knees. I just looked at her crying her heart out.

"Why do you have to do this?!" she continued, "Now he's backing out on the engagement." She looked up and glared at me, "This is entirely your fault!" She stood up flail her hand on my face.

I just didn't know what to do.

"You know, we were there already." She kept on. "We loved each other. We did everything together. We were there to support one another. He was happy. We were happy." And she looked at me with cold eyes, "But then, you came along…and just ruin everything!"

It felt like cold water splashing on my face.

Was he? I didn't know…

"You ruined him, left him as a mess. I helped him recover. I took care of him. He was renewed. Everything was perfect. But then, you came back and try to ruin everything we have."

But I didn't know it was love then…

She suddenly, took my arms and held it tight. Really tight.

And, I was just there. I couldn't fight her off. Everything she said was true. I left Takishima.

"You are a whore! A bitch!" she shouted at my face.

I closed my eyes and tried to block everything, but it was all coming to me.

"He was betrothed for goodness' sake!" she scoffed. "And you, like some dirty secret, a mistress, ruined our relationship. I will never forgive you for what you did."

Am I really?

I felt her hands clutching my arms tightly. I felt my blood draining. I couldn't move. I wanted to ask for help but it seems like my voice has left me.

She then let go of my arms, blood gushing on my veins again. I closed my fist, not wanting to fight back.

It's not worth it.

"Look at this, Hikari." She said. I looked at her, not wanting to just feel helpless.

She raised her left hand and I saw a ring studded with diamond on her ring finger. "See this?"

I looked away when she suddenly, slapped me again using her left hand. The ring scraped my cheek. I smelled the blood.

"There. Perfect. For ruining my wedding and our happiness." She smiled. "I'm feeling much better."

I touched my check, and indeed, there was blood. I looked at her and while she turned away.

"Oh, " she said and snapped her fingers, "By the way, that is for the damage you did. I hope it marks."

I closed my eyes and swallowed…everything. Even my pride. My shattered-to-pieces, spat-and-walked-down-on pride.

I wanted to cry. I wanted to shout. I wanted to scream in her face that what she said was wrong. It was not true.

But, I knew in my heart that it is true. That everything she said was real.

I really wanted to cry. But I was not the one who's supposed to be hurt here. She was right. Asuka was right. I am the mistress. I am the one who left and came back. I hurt Kei and even the SA. I am the bad girl in this story. I am the witch who ruined the love story. Who got the prince from the princess. I am not the one who has the right to cry. I deserve this…

Don't I?

I didn't know it would be this complicated. I just wanted Takishima. I just wanted to say I love him, because I really do. Even before all of these came up. Even when we were kids. I loved him, I just didn't know. But even if I know he loves me, he's supposed to be with someone else. With Asuka. Who was with him at his weakest, when he was lost.

I know I was thinking about me all along. It was all for me.

What do I do now?

I sat down on the ground and leaned my head on my arms.

"Hikari?" Tadashi said, crouching "Are you ok?"

I smiled at him. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

Tadashi looked at me carefully, his brown eyes scanning mine. I covered my cheek with my left hand and raised my right. " I am Tadashi! Honestly." I laughed.

Tadashi looked at me for a second. Then, he shrugged and called out: "She's here!"

Megumi rushed towards me and hugged me. She looked at me with those concerned eyes.

"Yes, I am Hikari, don't worry." I assured her. Her lips curved up a little.

Jun and Sakura came running and rushed to my side. Sakura hugged me, "Good thing we found you!" Jun swallowed, "Akira will be hysterical!"

"Well, she already is." Yahiro appeared from behind the cherry blossom tree. "Amazon number two coming right up."

As if on cue, Akira appeared in the garden, followed by Ryuu and Finn, both of which are trying to console the fuming Akira. When reached to where we were, she stopped. Her fiery eyes turned to water. She suddenly hugged me and said: "Oh Hikari! Why are you always in trouble?! Why do you always scare us like this?!"

Yahiro cleared his throat. "For the record, I was not—"

WAPAK!

Megumi's board, out of nowhere, hit him on the head. Smoke came up his swelling head.

"Hey, I was just joking!" He said, caressing his throbbing and swelling head.

Ryuu patted my head. "What happened to your face, Hikari?" He pointed at my blood-drenched cheek.

Everybody went closer to me.

"Oh no, there's blood." Finn exclaimed.

"Who did that, Hikari?" Tadashi asked.

"It was her, wasn't it?" Akira released me and whispered, but loud for everyone to hear. "It was that bi-" She clenched her fist.

"Hey." Tadashi moved closer to her and touched her hands gently. "Don't let it over your head."

Akira closed her eyes. "Tadashi I…"

"It's ok." He nodded with a smile, "I get it."

Akira looked at him, "We need to start it now." Tadashi noded.

"Start what?" I croaked.

Akira looked at me with eyes glistening with tears. "Plan two."

Everyone looked at Akira, Tadashi and me.

"We're pushing through with that?" Yahiro said.

"Wait, isn't that like baiting Tadashi?" Jun asked.

"And Akira…how about?" Finn asked searching Akira's face.

"Don't worry about me." Akira said, "I'll be fine."

"Akira, it isn't necessary." I finally said. "What you did.." I looked around. "What all of you did was more than enough and I'm really thankful for that. But this…is between the three of us. I don't want any other person to be involved."

"We already talked about this Hikari." Tadashi said. "And we all agreed." He looked at everyone and continued, "Hey, it's not like I'm going to die or something. It's just a date. One date." He stressed the word: one.

He looked back at me and patted my head. " I want you and Takishima to be happy. That's what friends do right?"

"But what about…" I looked at Akira who looked away.

Tadashi followed my gaze. "She'll be alright." He came closer and whispered, "Maybe she'll admit how much she loved me after all of these."

I smiled. Tadashi can really do everything for her, even if she's kind of harsh sometimes.

What an unusual couple.

He cleared his throat, "and besides, I have my pastry prize after I complete this mission, aye maam?" Tadashi saluted in front of Akira.

Akira laughed, but traces of sadness filled her laughter. "You really are one of a kind."

Tadashi came closer. "…and that's what you love about me." He held Akira's hand.

Akira cheeks became bright red. "You…"

Tadashi came so close and whispered something in her ear that made her blush even more.

"Tadashi! That's…" Tadashi put his finger on his lips, motioning Akira to be quiet.

Sakura groaned, "What's that all about?" Everybody laughed.

Jun placed an arm on Sakura's shoulders "It's a secret between them, baby. C'mon let's get you home."

Finn shouted at Sakura, "Wait! Sakura, can I ride with you?"

Ryuu snatched Finn's hand and said, "Let's go to my house instead. My Koala gave birth."

Finn gasped. "Really?! That's great! Let's go!"

Ryuu winked at Tadashi and said, "Yup, let's go honey."

Megumi tried to scream to call Jun. She wrote down: How am I supposed to go home?
Yahiro smiled, "I can give you a ride if you want." Megumi blushed. She scribbled in small letters: Thanks.

And that leaves me, Akira and Tadashi.

I stood up when Akira asked me, "Did she really do that to you?"

I nodded, "She told me Akira backed out in their engagement."

"Well great then." She said "Definitely deserves it."

"Was she there when I left him?" I looked down.

"Hikari…" Akira held my hands, "No.. Well…she.." Akira was stuttering.

"Yes." Tadashi finally said, "Asuka was there for him, Hikari. He was messed up but he wasn't ruined because of her. They've known each other for years as well. They go on business trips together, since Asuka's dad are best friends with Kei's dad. They got engaged a year after."

Something pierced through my heart.

"Was it…a mutual decision? Or a forced engagement?"

Akira exhaled, "Mutual. Both of them agreed to it."

So no one forced Kei. He did went into this himself.
"I feel like I'm ruining a relationship." I admitted.

Akira held my hands tighter. It feels like she's sheltering me from all these pain. "No, don't feel that way." She said, "He loves you."

Tadashi followed, "We know Takishima. You should too. He may have loved her but he never stopped loving you."

I can't contain it anymore.

"How do you know?" I sobbed.

"Because we're SA. We're best friends. We know each other too well that we could pass beyond family." Tadashi smiled.

Akira said while holding hands with Tadashi, "We could pass as soul mates."

Tadashi smiled and kissed Akira's forehead. "Yes, and we will help Hikari, Ms. Rank Number Two, to get hers back."

Will Hikari back off or push through? Will Plan 2 succeed or back fire? Next chapter: Hikari and Kei will talk. Plan two will be done! How will it affect the SA?

But for now, please don't forget to Read and Review this chapter. Thank you!