http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PFCFEEVqJ0&feature=related
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What Hurts The Most
What hurts the most was being so close, and having so much to say, and watching you walk away. TakumaXTamakiXRyou.
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What Hurts The Most
MazdaKitsune
"I beg your pardon?"
"Well... you heard what I said." The male lifted his hand to scratch at his head, a pink flush adorning his cheeks as he cast his gaze aside. The young man was not really in the mood to repeat his words, especially when he had stayed up the whole night working up the courage to speak to her, coming up with a well-formed speech that totally went out the window when they were finally face to face in front of the forest. Red locks were teased by the gentle breeze as amethyst eyes returned to scrutinize the face of the brunette in front of him, trying to gauge her reaction.
Kasuga Tamaki was silent as Onizaki Takuma made his confession to her, no shock registered on her face, though she had been mildly surprised, thinking that she had misheard him or something. Now though, she simply ran over the words in her head, thinking carefully. This was much too sudden for her, she was still getting over the death of her grandmother and trying to fit in with her role as Tamayorihime, and here he was, asking her to be with him. But honestly, it wasn't that much of a surprise either. He had been with her from the start, from the day she first came, saving her in the forest from a demon up till the end when Logos was defeated. He was the very first Guardian she had met, and she did have an interest in him as well.
So why was she hesitating?
Why was it that a part of her was screaming "YES!", and the other part pulled back, refusing to accept his love?
"Takuma-kun.... this is too sudden," Tamaki finally spoke. "Is it alright if you give me some time to think about it? I'm sorry, it's not like I'm turning you down, but I've got a lot of things going on in my head, I need to sort them all out one by one."
Takuma looked away again before he shrugged. "It's.. It's not like you have to accept.. baka. I was just asking. It's a question, nothing more. But.. yeah... See you later, then."
He turned and walked away, and Tamaki stared after the tall boy for a while before she too turned and walked... to the storehouse at the edge of the temple, where the Tamayori's Diary and other records were kept.
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A figure stood leaning in the shade of the structure, wearing jeans and a tank top, a jacket tied about his waist. Wild and untamed brown hair fell to his shoulders, russet-red eyes watched her as she made her approach to him. The other male teen was a year older than her, but he had muscles and a figure that girls would die for, along with a wolfish attitude that she found particularly annoying at times, for he always had the tendecy to make her blush at certain times.
Yes, Kutani Ryou was a wolf in many ways, not limited to his power and the Guardian line he descended from. Dog he was at one time, but circumstances and fate had turned him into a wolf, so sometimes he reckoned it was all for the best, and lived up to his name. But he could sense something was wrong, seeing the serious look on Tamaki's face as she stood in front of him, not meeting his eyes. His Tamayorihime was confused, a storm of emotions brewing inside her, and he knew it didn't mean anything good. "Oi, onna. What's wrong?"
Tamaki stayed silent for a while again, then took a deep breath. "Ryou-kun, we need to talk."
Talk. That certainly didn't sound good. "What is it?"
"Takuma-kun.... he.... asked me if..." She hesitated, and he raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to speak, but the words seemed caught in her throat. After a minute of silence, he sighed and stated in an emotionless tone.
"He asked you to be his girlfriend, didn't he?"
Her head came up sharply, but she didn't say anything else. How could she, when what he said was true? She couldn't speak to even confirm his words, but settled for a tiny little nod instead, looking away to the side. There was no way she could explain this to him, and a part of her wondered why she felt so guilty inside when there was nothing between then except for their relationship as "Princess" and "Guardian".... if that was the case. She knew that all of them, all six, held some kind of feeling for her, showing her that they loved her in their own ways. He was no exception, except that perhaps he was a bit more open with it, more in a flirtatious way that sometimes made her heat up with embarrassment. She had to admit, although he could be highly annoying with all his lewd remarks and his "rapist" actions, she felt rather fond of him, especially that aloof expression he always had, and those strange russet red eyes of his.
"Oi, did you get your tongue cut off or something?" Ryou looked down at her, noting her strange behaviour, and he didn't quite like it. What he wouldn't give to grab her by the shoulders and kiss some sense into her.... but he knew she was confused enough already. It wouldn't do her any good to get her riled up now. But honestly, he didn't like it when she gave him that kind of expression, nor that silence. It made him feel restless. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair to muss it up. "Enough with that face already!"
Tamaki gave a start at his sharp tone, though familiar with it by now. He always used that tone with her when she was feeling down or helpless. It reminded her that he had gone through much, much more than her, and she didn't have the right to feel that helpless when he could pick himself up and go on. "Ryou-kun..." True, he was the outcast of the group, though her Guardian in his own right and powers. Always alone, always keeping to himself, always aloof... he was a lone wolf, and she wanted nothing more than to take that loneliness away from him.
He knew it too. That's why she was hesitating. That's why she had to talk. But he was used to it. After all these years, he was already used to being a lone wolf. "Turn a dog loose into the wild and he becomes a wolf..." he murmured under his breath before he straightened and said something that he never thought he would.
"Go with Takuma."
"E-Eh?" Brown eyes blinked bewilderedly at him, and he said, not exactly willing to repeat himself again.
"I said, to go with Takuma. Just accept whatever that red-head tells you. After all, Onizaki is completely capable of protecting you just as well as I... iie, maybe even better."
"Why?" She asked, still numb from the shock of his words, and even he didn't know what to say, what to tell her. Instead, Ryou just reached out and pulled her against him in a crushing hug, taking a deep breath of her scent. "Because it's meant to be."
"Ryou-kun, I..." Tamaki couldn't say anything, because she knew it must hurt. It HAD to hurt, to let her walk away to another. And he'd be left watching from the sidelines again, alone and aloof, to return to the shadows when he was not needed any longer. And she knew of the strength he must have possessed in order to return to that lonely existence once more. Her grip on his shirt tightened as tears gathered in her eyes. He was letting her go.... he was.....
The sound of far off footsteps made Ryou's ears twitch, and he raised his head to sniff the air before letting her go, stepping away. "Go. Takuma's approaching. I think it's time for tea."
"But-"
"How many times have I told you not to make that kind of face?" He barked. "Go!"
Tamaki took a step backwards, now beginning to feel the red-head's presence. "Gomen nasai," she whispered, barely perceptible under her breath, and turned. Her steps were slow and normal at first, but gradually, they picked up speed and she was running towards Takuma's figure.
Onizaki Takuma was, of course, surprised when she caught on to his arm and held tight, concerned and a bit awkward when he saw her eyes brimming with tears. "W-What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Tamaki shook her head, dashed away the tears before forcing a smile, pointing at the small bag he held in his free arm. "Is that Taiyaki?"
"A-Aa... do you want one?" And with a blush on his face, he offered her the bag, trying hard to look nonchalant but failing miserably with his red cheeks and averted eyes, eliciting a giggle from her.
From his place within the shadows of the store house, Ryou watched with arms folded. It hurt, alright. It hurt to see the 'princess' he loved and was devoted to the most happy with another of his fellow Guardians, but it was worth it. He knew Takuma was a rough, but dedicated person, and he had never seen another so fiercely in love with Tamaki, so he relinquished her to him. After all, they said that if you loved someone... you had to let her go.
But he had so much to say to her still, and it hurt to see her walk away, even though he let her.
His heart hurt the most.
