Sayuri's POV
   I left after Shinpachi and Heisuke arrived. Souji had texted me, inviting me for coffee.  He was my closes friend. I knew him since grade school. We did almost everything together, but since I got married he kinda distanced himself. Every now and then we would get together and drink coffee and just talk about the good old times.

    Today he decide to pick me up and take me to a coffee shop. But am certain that it was because the old shop where we usually go doesn't have the sweets he likes. During the drive he was really quiet on his own world. And everytime I looked at him he would try and hide the black eye that was fading. It was the one he received from Sanosuke.

    When we arrived to the shop, he got off the car and opened the my door for me. Always a gentleman. I still couldn't understand why he was still single. "So how did you fine this place?" I asked as we went inside. "I had a date here. More like a set up  by Hijikata and Saito." He said annoyingly.

   I couldn't help it but laugh. "Hahaha. Was it that bad?" I asked. He guided me towards a table my the window. "Don't get me started. The only good thing about the date was the coffee and the sweets." He said winking at me. "Let me go order for us, I'll be right back." He made his way towards the register to order.

   The place had a home kinda touch to it. And it had alot more sweets choices. I could see why Souji liked the place. After a few minutes he came back with our order. "So..." I said taking a sip of my coffee. "So...what?" He said eating the sweets first. "So are you going to tell me why you have a black eye like Sanosuke." I said.

   He looked up from his cup. His face expression changed. He looked mad. "I don't want to talk about it." "Well neither does he, that's why am asking you." He looked everywhere else except me. "Souji what happened? You don't trust me anymore?" I said. Quickly he turned and looked at me. "Don't say that. Your the only one I trust the most." He said grabbing my hand.

   "Then, tell me. I promise I won't punch you and give you another black eye." I said giving his hand a tight squeeze. *sigh* "You can't give me a black even if you tried. I have cat like reflexes." I rolled my eyes at him but smiled at the same time. "Besides, it's not me who should tell you the reason of our little fight. It's not my place to do so, it's his. That is if he has the guts to do so."

   I shooked my head. "I don't know why you married him. He doesn't deserve you. Any man would...give anything to have a wife like you." He said. His green eyes never leaving my eyes. "That's not true. Besides he's not a bad person. And I love him." At my words Souji's expression changed back to angry. "He doesn't deserve your love!"

   He hit his hand on the table, making everyone jump from their seat. "Souji, calm down." I said then turn and apologize to everyone looking at us. "Am sorry, it's just...can we just talk about something else?" I looked down to my cup of coffee. Sometimes he forgets that we know each other since our childhood. So I know when he is keeping things from me.

   Looking up, I look in his eyes. "You know about them don't you? About Sanosuke and Chizuru." I said with a small smile. His eyes widen. "H-how did you" "I've know for a while now. Am not dumb. Especially after catching them in his office a year ago, I knew it still continued." My eyes filled with tears threatening to fall at any moment.

    "I saw them at the coffee place we usually go. That's why I brought you here." I smiled and the tears finally fell. "And you confronted him, and both of you ended qith black eyes." He nodded. "Souji, you didn't  have to do-" "Of course I had to! How can he be doing that to you!? How can she!?" I took a couple of deep breaths. "You don't deserve that. You deserve so much more." He said wiping the tears off my face.

    "Souji. I don't know. It's kind of late for me to find happiness." He shooked his head. "No it's not. It's never too late. You just have to look what's in front of you." I smiled at him and looked out the window. "For me it is late. But even though I know about them, I still love him. That's why I married him." Souji sighted and removed his hand from mine. "But it's just hurting you. Do you think I haven't notice that you look skinnier and have dark circles around your eyes?"

    Once again he took my hand and looked in my eyes. "Why haven't you seen how much you mean to me? That I would give anything to be the one you loved. The has been in love since we were kids." I was lost for words. "I never told you because I saw how happy you were in your marriage. That's why I distanced my self. It hurt to see how much you love him."

    "Souji...I...I dont know what to say." I said. "I don't expect you to say anything. I know you don't see me more than just a friend." More tears fell from my eyes. "Souji am sorry. Am so sorry." He stood from his chair and moved to my side and hugged me. "Don't apologize...there is nothing you have to be sorry about. Am ok being your friend. I just want to see you happy."

  I didn't say anything for the rest of the night. I only cried. I cried for Sanosuke, for Souji. But mostly for me. Because I couldn't tell him the truth. That in fact it was late for me. That time was running out.

Harada's POV
    Waking up the next morning with Sayuri's side of the bed empty I made my way down stairs. I heard her getting home early but she never made it to bed. I checked the living room and kitchen and no sign of her. I went back up stairs and grab my phone to call her. But when I dialed her, the answering machine would answer instead.

    "Where did she leave so early?" I asked my self while looking for my clothes. I did my morning routine and got ready for work. But today I would leave early as well, so I could head to Kondou's office and get the papers.

   I had given it some thought last night after Shinpachi left, and maybe the other thing I had to do was to move out. It would be harder for her if we still lived under the same roof. It's best if I moved back to my old apartment. It was a good thing i had kept it. But it never crossed my mind I would be using it again because of me getting divorced.

   *Sigh* "Is it really the right choice?" I asked my self. I shooked my head and left down stairs to get ready to leave. I grabbed a small piece of paper and wrote a note to Sayuri.
       "I called your phone but it was off. I left to work, but I'll be home early. We need to talk."
                              Sanosuke
   
     After leaving home I made my way to Kondou's office. When I arrived his assistant was already waiting for me. She handed me the a folder. When I asked if Kondou was available, she had said that he was in a meeting.  But I knew that he was disappointed on my choice. He had know all of us since we were small.

   He knew our parents and he had help me ask for Sayuri's hand. Since I didn't have a father he was by my side. And now I was asking him to help me divorce the person I had once said I loved. I thanked the assistant and left. When I got to my car, I didn't even started it. How could I do this with out hurting her? I didn't want to see her cry. But if we stayed together, it's hurting us both.

   My thoughts were disrupted by my phone. I grabbed it thinking it could be Sayuri but it was a text message from Chizuru.
   Hey I hope am not interrupting you. I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to go on a small date. -Chizuru

   This brought a smile to my lips. It would be something to look forward after all of this was done. But tonight I couldn't. I didn't know how Sayuri would receive the the news of me wanting the divorce.
       Tonight is not a good night. Sorry. I have somethings to do. But I will call you soon.

     I dropped my phone on the passenger's seat. Why is this so hard to do? If I know this is the only way we can stop from suffering any longer. Why do I have to think about it more? I put my head on the car's steering wheel. When I looked up from the wheel, my eyes met Souji's eyes.

    I remeber that last night Sayuri had gone out with him and in that instant I got angry. I got out of my car and headed towards him. "If it isn't Harada. I see you don't have Chizuru sacking on your face today." He said looking behind me. "What the hell were you doing with Sayuri last night." He smirked and tried to walk pass me. I stopped him and he gave me a glare.

   "Since when do you care when I go out with Sayuri? Is it that you are scared that I tell her the reason of your black eye?" I glared back. "She's my wife! You should respect that!" He laughed. "Oh now she's your wife? It's bad that she goes out with me for coffee, but what you do isn't? Don't be a hypocrite."

   He got closer to my face. "Am warning you Souji. Stay away from her. Do you think I don't know about your feelings towards her. I've known since the day I met you. But because she met you before me I didn't say anything." "And so what? I should thank you for not telling her? Yes I love Sayuri. And trust me if she gave me a opportunity she would be better with me."

  I grabbed the front of his shirt. "Stay away from her." "Well Harada, that's something that I won't do." He said grabbing me by my shirt also. "I already confessed my feelings  for her. And you know what? Am going to do what ever I can so she can feel the same towards me. Get this in your head. Am not giving up on her." He then pushed me back.

    I stubble back and glare at him. "She won't ever love you." He smirked and walked off. I was left on the side walk with anger. Was she giving him hope? Was she seeing him behind my back? Am here feeling guilty of asking about the divorce and she's already giving him hope. I ran towards my car. I was going to get this over with already. No turning back now.