To Love a Killer

Not Meant to Be

Nine Years Later

"Take that, Gantetsu!" 

The air was filled with tension and quick movements. My knives sliced through the air. Gantetsu's katanas cut through space. With these weapons, out skin was cut with scars. The fighter's spirit filled us. 

"You've trained harder, and grown stronger," smirked Gantetsu. 

"For today, we are equals. But once day I'll rid you of your proud spirit!"

I slashed my long knife against his sword, and that should have sliced his neck. But instead, Gantetsu jumped black, nearly flying. Kicking against a tree branch, he swung back at me. But as always, I found a way to fight back. After a hour, we walked back to our favorite cherry blossom tree, and watched the moon sink in the sky. 

"Natalia," he said. 

"Yes?" I said. 

"There's something...I think you should know." 

"What is it?" 

"Gantetsu! There you are! Hey, do you want to walk back home together?" cried Sakura, coming down from the distance. She happened to be outside at this time of night? Unbelievable. 

"Alright, I'll be there in a second," he said, walking toward her. 

Later, at school, I saw the one thing that made me heartbroken beyond belief. It was Gantetsu, but he was holding both of Sakura's hands. I could clearly hear the words that were uttered that day. "Sakura, I have like you for a very long time, and I would be honored if you would be mine," he said, tucking a lock of Sakura's hair behind her ear. His soulful brown eyes staring at blue. 

"Yes Gantetsu, I reciprocate your feelings. I have admired you for a while now, too," said Sakura, blushing slightly. 

I ran from that scene that day, and tried not to think of Sakura and Gantetsu together. But wherever I went, I could not avoid them. At the cafe. At school. Walking home together. Sharing battle tactics together during class. Passing notes. Blowing kisses to each other. I couldn't handle it anymore when I saw Gantetsu caressing Sakura's face, sitting on her lap under the cherry blossom trees.

He was my soulmate. Sakura had always said that a person had someone made for them, and them only. I didn't realize a soulmate could be with another. And I found out in the most horrible, painful way that Gantetsu was Sakura's soulmate, and her his. They were made for each other. How did that even work?

"Looks like I found who your soulmate is," I said to Sakura, a fake smile plastered on my face. 

"Yes," she said. "I told you it is a beautiful thing. By then way, when you mentioned the whole topic of soulmates, how did you know what it was? Did you feel it yourself?" 

"No," I said. "I don't believe in soulmates anymore at all."

Sakura looked so sad at that moment. As if she felt pity for me. "Natalia, what makes you think that?" 

"The fact that my soulmate sees me nothing but another student. Not even a sibling-like relationship. Or maybe the fact that I just wouldn't do with another person."

"Oh, no. You were made for him. Or her. You'll get them back one day. After all, that's what soulmates are all about. To be happy together. And even if you think you are not half, there is one who can fill the void in your heart."

I looked at Sakura closely. Today, she was wearing a pink kimono. Her pale hair in a half up hairstyle. She looked so...different from me. What made Gantetsu love her so? I couldn't help but  compare myself to her. Her pale, mily white skin against my spot-soiled one. Her small, slim hands against my rough, dirty ones. Her royalty-like aura against my aggressive one. Her ladylike heart besides my fighting spirit. Even though I was considered quite pretty, Sakura was the epitome of feminine beauty. Whatever I had, it simply did not match up to her's. 

I watched her go to him. My soulmate. The one that I hoped to gain affection from. "I hope you're wrong then. Because I'll only be happy when you're dead," I whispered as I watched Sakura and Gantetsu walk away.