By Maia
Ryu shut the door cautiously behind him and slowly turned to
face Sakura.
He gulped.
Sakura slightly smiled at Ryu's apparent discomfort. He was
always uncomfortable when he had to deal with emotions in such a
straightforward manner.
"Ryu…" Sakura began, yet not knowing how to
approach the topic.
Ryu looked up at Sakura. He cared for her, of course, but it wasn't
the way that he felt about Chun Li. With Chun Li, he felt as if
he had found his soul mate, his other half. She…completed
him.
The two heard laughing erupt within the room.
*Damn…why does this have to be so difficult…* He
thought with frustration.
"Ryu!" Sakura pulled him out of his line of
concentration. "I need to know about us."
"Us…" Ryu trailed off.
"Yes. US." Sakura refused to look Ryu in the eye. She
knew deep inside what was going to happen; yet wanted to 'hear'
it…or rather 'needed' to hear it.
"What's happening to us. You and me, Ryu. Where do we stand."
The tension was building up so much that neither noticed the door
had cracked open.
~ Back in the room ~
"Let me go you, you mmmphh…!"
Ken's hand clamped over Chun Li's mouth. "Tsk, tsk, tsk.
That word should not be in your vocabulary young lady. I'm
disappointed in OW!"
Ken jumped up and cradled his hand. He peeked at it and found
teeth marks adorning the right side.
"YOU BIT ME!" He stated unbelievingly. He was also not
pleased to see the sight of Chun Li holding her stomach in the
fit of laughter.
"Why you little-"
"Now, now Ken. You know better than to use such language."
Chun Li teased, while taunting her finger in front of his face.
Ken swiftly grabbed the finger and planned to trap her in the
corner. However, he heard the creek of the door opening. Then
voices pursued. Both of the occupants looked at each other.
Chun Li yanked her hand out of Ken's grasp and went toward the
door to close it, so that Ryu and Sakura could have privacy. She
lightly took the knob and closed, but was stopped by Ryu's voice.
"Sakura, I love you."
She froze. Closed her eyes and trembled, then shut the door.
She turned around to see Ken eating. Forcing a smile, she walked
toward him.
"Ya know, I think that I'll have some of that."
~ Back in the hallway ~
Ryu briefly pieced his thoughts together, although to him it
seemed like eternity. He loved Chun Li. That he was sure of. And
that was all he needed to know.
He spoke with a shaky voice. "Sakura, I love you."
Sakura looked up at him. "But." She insisted.
He sighed. "But it's not the kind of love that I thought
that we had shared. I'm sorry. When Chun Li-" He stopped as
he saw Sakura's lips tighten at her name.
"Do you love her?" She asked hesitantly. "In the
way that you thought we had loved each other?"
Ryu shook his head and looked down. He hated the fact that he had
to hurt her. He didn't want to, and never intended to. But he
couldn't just deny his burgeoning feelings for Chun Li. He became
startled when she grasped his hands into hers.
Sakura smiled. "I understand."
They settled into a silent moment, which was broken by Sakura's
rumbling stomach. They both laughed.
"Why don't we go and get some food." Ryu suggested.
Sakura grinned widely and nodded as the two entered the room.
~ Back in the room…again ~
"Are we interrupting something?" Ryu asked, smiling at
Chun Li and Ken.
Both were glaring at each other while participating in a not-so-friendly
game of paper-rock-scissors.
Ken looked up and grinned. "No, absolutely not!"
"You're just saying that 'cause you're getting you butt
whooped." Chun Li stated simply.
Ryu and Sakura laughed as Ken glared playfully at the woman.
Chun Li then abruptly got up. "Well, I'll be heading back to
my room now. Night all." She swiftly walked toward the door,
but knew that Ryu was pursuing her from behind.
"Wait."
She turned around questioningly. She wanted to cry just by
looking him in the face. But she couldn't.
*Remain strong. * She chanted over and over again in her mind.
Ryu smiled at Chun Li's beauty. "I wanted to talk with you."
"I'm sorry. I'm really tired. We can talk later." She
said rather hoarsely.
Ryu face creased in concern. "Are you feeling ill?" He
brought his hand delicately up toward her face, But was surprised
when she pulled back as if his touch burned her.
"I'm fine." She answered sternly. She couldn't bear his
touch. Not when knowing that he was only concerned in a 'friendly'
way. She loved him, and couldn't bear it, she just couldn't.
Without another word, she closed the door behind her and ran
inside her room.
Ryu stood dumfounded. "What just happened?" He asked.
But no one could answer.