A/N: Sorry I haven't updated, but I've been trying to work on other fics. However, today, I felt like writing this chapter, so the people following my Past and Future fic will probably be ticked off that I didn't update, since I said I would try to do it by today. Ah, well. I'll probably do it tomorrow… Skip*Beat is Yoshiki Nakamura's, Full Moon O Sagashite is Arina Tanemura's. Enjoy the chapter!
Kyoko and Dr. Wakaoji stood inside the door of the cancer ward and listened as Fullmoon sang.
Even under the harsh fluorescent lights, Fullmoon glowed. Her dyed-silver hair floated around her pale face, and the sparkling of her sequined dress scattered small rainbows around the rooms. Her large, blue eyes shimmered like oceans. Kyoko thought that if there really were mermaid princesses, like the one from the "Pure Ocean" shampoo commercial song that Fullmoon had done, then they must look just like Fullmoon.
Fullmoon began to sing her debut song, "Ange." Her voice was quiet, but powerful, and somehow, tremendously sad. The first time Kyoko listened to it, she had felt embarrassed, because the song seemed like something private. Even after that, she had always had the impression that Fullmoon was singing the song not to her fans, but to a specific person.
If I try to explain my wounds and my pain
The tears well up and I want to cry
You speak softly and turn away
So the moon lights your path and binds me.
Still, the song always moved Kyoko. The conflicted feelings of love that flowed through its lyrics touched parts of her heart that she thought had disappeared when Sho betrayed her.
Sometimes I can't even look at your face
So full of sin, yet you still stay pure.
But it's true
You healed me that day
When I was drenched by the lashing rain.
It made her wonder if there was someone out there who could create those kinds of feelings in her. There were nights when she lay alone in bed and wondered if she had already found that person.
I want to hold you here
Forever.
The thoughts she'd tried to deny came to her again: the images of Ren's smiling face, and the memories of the fluttering in her heart that it caused. She'd promised herself that she wouldn't fall in love again. Falling in love with Mr. Tsuruga, whose career was much farther ahead with hers, was the worst possible scenario. And yet, she couldn't stop herself from wondering if this song made him think of her, too.
Someday
Someday you'll understand
Why you were born with only one wing.
You're the reason
Why this song can be sung.
Fullmoon held the last note for a few seconds, and time seemed to slow as it echoed. Kyoko began clapping, and was joined by Dr. Wakaoji and the others in the ward. Fullmoon smiled warmly, and began signing autographs.
"She really is amazing," Dr. Wakaoji said.
"Yes," Kyoko said softly.
Fullmoon skipped up to the pair. "I'm ready to go, now," she said.
"Thank you for the song," Kyoko said, surprising herself.
"You're welcome…" Fullmoon said hesitantly, seeming unsure of how to respond.
Suddenly, Fullmoon looked around. "Where's Dr. Wakaoji?"
"He's probably talking with one of the doctors," Kyoko said. "He works here, after all. We should sit down and wait for him."
The two sat down on a bench nearby bench that was up against one of the walls. Both girls stared intently at the reflections of the fluorescent lights on the tile floor, until Kyoko finally spoke up.
"Ange…was it…written for someone?" she asked. "Like maybe the person who gave you that necklace?"
Fullmoon blushed, her hand flying to the moon charm. "Yes. Him…and another person, as well…It's confusing."
"I understand that," Kyoko said, thinking of the way Ren's smiles made her feel, her memories of Corn, and the feelings for Sho that had shaped so much of her life. Even if she didn't love Sho anymore, she couldn't erase him from her past. Even if she wanted to see Corn again, she didn't know where he was. Even if she had feelings for Ren, it had become too hard for her to trust anyone. It was enough to make her dizzy!
"The others aren't around," Fullmoon said, referring to Takuto and the other three, "so I can be a little honest. The person who gave me this necklace is- was- the most important person in my life. But I never told him, and now I can't be with him anymore. The other person is special to me, too, but I might not be able to be with him, either, and even if I could be, it would feel like betrayal."
Kyoko thought for a minute. If Sho had really loved her, but they couldn't be together for some reason, would she still have hated the other girls he was with, if he had truly loved one of them? She would have, but if Sho was still important to her, she would have wanted him to be happy. Even without her.
"I think…if the one who gave you that necklace cares about you the way you care about him, he'll want you to be happy," Kyoko said slowly. "If he can't be with you, he would want someone else who cared about you to be with you, so you wouldn't be lonely."
"Do you think so?" Fullmoon asked.
Kyoko nodded. "As long as that person knows that you still care about him, and that you would be with him if you could, he'll accept the other person. If he loves you, he won't want you to dwell on him forever." She stared at the floor, wondering if Sho had ever asked anyone something like this. Had he been worried about hurting her, or hadn't he cared?
"Are you thinking about Mr. Fuwa?" Fullmoon asked.
Kyoko blinked. "How did you…"
"I've been thinking for a while now, and that isn't the way someone reacts to a musician they don't like," Fullmoon said. "You know Mr. Fuwa and you're angry with him. What happened?"
"He brought me with him from our hometown when he started trying to become a singer," Kyoko said. "He had me pay for our apartment and do all of the work. I was okay with it, because I was in love with him. But I found out he was just using me, and that he didn't even care…" Kyoko bit her lip. She was not going to cry. She wasn't.
"That's horrible," Fullmoon said. "I've met him a few times. He's always seemed arrogant, but never like a jerk. I'm surprised!"
"He has a way of getting girls to believe everything he says," Kyoko said bitterly.
Fullmoon put a hand on her shoulder. "You know, I'm sure there's another guy for you. He's out there somewhere. I know it."
Kyoko thought of Ren and blushed.
"You're thinking of him right now, aren't you!" Fullmoon squealed.
Kyoko turned away, blushing even more deeply. "Am not."
Fullmoon laughed. "Yes, you are! Who is it?"
"No way! I'm not telling you!"
"Why not?"
"It's embarrassing!"
"Come on!"
"No!"
They were still arguing like that when Wakaoji returned.
A/N: No character interaction, because this chapter ended up being a lot longer than I'd planned. Please review!
