Chapter 3

She was fighting that urge as soon as she saw her. That itching feeling to force her best friend with the threat of taking away their friendship if she didn't tell her, but she had promised herself that she wouldn't do it as often, especially since it had forced her to lie to her during the audition about her own feelings and thoughts. It pained her when she realized it and she felt bad for making Kyoko lie to her.

"Kyoko... I have some time during lunch... Do you want to join me?" She winced internally at the reaction she knew was about to come.

Kyoko shook her head. "Sorry Kanae-san. Can I have a rain-check on that?"

It was not the response she had been expecting. Had she gone too far last time? She sighed. "Look Kyoko... You don't have to talk about anything. You don't have to tell me anything, if you don't want to. I just want to have lunch with you." Hopefully that would do. She had to find another way to pump her for information.

Kyoko looked at Kanae a little confused. She had expected her to threaten her with their friendship until she caved. She didn't. Kyoko warily agreed. "I suppose I could make time this afternoon, after my scenes."

"Congratulations..." A familiar, detested voice lilted from behind him.

Kuon turned to find the platinum-haired, violet-eyed singer behind him with a smirk on his lips. "And what are you congratulating me on, Stalker-san."

"Why you made her unattainable for any man, of course." He announced casually. "Even for yourself."

Kuon furrowed his brow. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Reino laughed. "Your lies and Fuwa's actions... Have ground her heart into a fine dust that cannot be pieced back together. The way that you're oh so sweet and gentlemanly to so many other women, has destroyed what was left. She will never trust another again. Although, her Moko-san seems to be working on ruining women for her too. So, you really aren't alone in this disaster." He smiled euphorically. "I can hardly wait to witness the destruction and heartbreak she leaves in her path. It should be quite entertaining to try and tame that little feline."

"You stay away from her." Kuon growled.

Reino chuckled. "Or, you'll what? Beat me like Fuwa?" He shook his head. "I'm not worried." He waved Kuon off and walked away.

Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months. Each day one would witness the crumbling of a message card or two and the quick and careless disposal of bouquets of flowers and boxes of candies. Every now and then a jeweler's box would be given to an eccentrically dressed boss, to raffle off and have the proceeds donated to her favorite charities. Her eyes would only skim the messages to view the names of the three senders before they ended up being disposed of, along with their gifts.

Three months after her 18th birthday one would find her reading a new message card on a particularly beautiful, brightly colored bouquet of Stargazer Lilies and White roses. A soft smile crossed her lips and she kept the card. Then came the box of chocolates from one of the most noted chocolatiers in Japan. It was kept and consumed. Then finally there was a jeweler's box that was not passed on. The next day, if one looked closely, one would find the most exquisitely beautiful gemmed, platinum lotus flower on a chain, resting on her neck.

Many more months went by and her demeanor had gradually changed. She was no longer cold and distant, but she wasn't that lively little sprite that everyone had know her as when she first started out. She was more mature, more graceful and she started to pay closer attention to her appearance than ever before. As her mind and body were maturing, so was her career and because of Sacred Lotus, she and many of her co-stars were gradually leaving Japan one by one.

"What is he doing here?" Ren asked Yashiro as he watched the Akatoki male speaking to the receptionist at the LME front desk.

Yashiro looked up and shrugged. "Not really sure. I haven't heard of any co-op projects he has. Maybe he's here to see someone."

They watched the receptionist hand the young man a slip of paper. He smiled, nodded and thanked her as she pointed in the direction he needed to go. She then picked up her phone and began speaking animatedly.

Ren's curiosity was piqued. Where was this idiot going? Why was he walking down the halls as if he had a purpose and then he stopped.

"Hiro-kun!" She squealed and leapt into his arms hugging him very similar to the way she would hug her Moko-san, but he didn't dodge her.

He laughed. "I love it when you greet me like that Kyoko-chan." He kissed her cheek. "You're wearing the necklace?"

She nodded shyly. "Thank you. I was going to call you, but I guess I don't need to now." She told him with a sexy smirk that made every male's blood boil in the vicinity.

"You ready Koibito?" He smiled softly.

She nodded. "Let me grab my purse and tell Moko-san good-bye."

He stroked her soft cheek and kissed her temple. "Take your time. You won't get to see her for a few months."

"Thank you Hiro." She gave him a quick peck on the lips and bounced off happily to the LoveME locker room.

Hiromune Koga turned to finally notice the two males that had been watching the entire scene between him and Kyoko-chan. He smiled, waved and approached. "Ah Tsuruga-kun, I didn't expect Japan's Number One Bachelor to be here today. How have you been?"

Ren could have sworn he felt like the man before him was doing a victory dance in his mind. He held out his hand to shake. "What brings you here today, Koga-san?"

"Oh... I'm just here to pick up my fiancée. We're leaving for Los Angeles tonight to work on a new project together." He told him casually.

"Fiancée?" Ren's brow furrowed. "Who's your fiancée?" He asked but he certainly didn't want the answer.

"Kyoko-chan of course. We've been dating for the past six months. I asked her last night and she said yes. Isn't that great? I was really a bag of nerves, she's so unpredictable sometimes, but that's what I love about her. Actually, I love everything about her. Wouldn't think of wanting anyone but her. Had to put up quite a fight for her, but you know how that goes. If you really want something, you just can't give up on it. Besides there is no one like her." The friendly jabs continued. Both men knew exactly what he meant. He had been talking about the scandals that Ren had and the rumors about Morizumi.

"You knew about this?" He hissed at their shared manager.

Yashiro shook his head. "I knew about Los Angeles and how she had been scouted for a few movies, because of Sacred Lotus last year, but I didn't know about him. I was told to keep your schedules separate and private." Yashiro informed him.

Ren stormed out of his office to have a talk to an eccentric godfather, only to be shut down immediately when he demanded to be allowed to make his debut in the US.

"Kuon... You can't even be truthful about who you are to the woman you supposedly love. You are not ready for it if you are still hiding." Lory scolded him.

"But she's getting married to Hiromune Koga!" He ranted.

Lory looked at him a little shocked, then shook his head. "And you think doing that now will change how you treated her in the past? How you lied to her? How you pushed her away out of jealousy? How you sought out the comfort of other women when you refused to tell her how you felt about her? Honestly Kuon, those are not the actions of a man that truly loves a woman. If you had truly loved her you would have grown a pair and told her, then stuck by your decision. No Kuon... I will not send you to LA to be a thorn in her side as Fuwa has been. You will stay here until you are mature enough to accept who you are and only then will you move on." Lory finished and dismissed him.

Years would go by and one would find four men in four separate theaters, enjoying the latest movie of their favorite actress. In their hearts, they were her number one fans. Across the ocean a certain actress would be quietly murmuring a lullaby to her true number one fan as she rocked him to sleep in his nursery and his father stood smiling in the doorway, proudly admiring his beautiful family.

~fin~

A/N: Just to clear things up. The four men are: Kuon, Sho, Reino and Hikaru.