CHAPTER 9

Uruha couldn't take Ayane off his mind, since the scandalous incident they had a few days later. He was really feeling guilty to what he did to her, and he just deserved to be treated coldly by his band mates especially Ruki, who stopped talking to him again since.

"Culpable bastard." he heard Aoi muttered, who was sitting in the recliner opposite him while tuning his guitar. They were inside PSC's studio and this is the first day of work for their new record. One thing he's keen on about the band is taking aside their personal problems from work, and not letting these problems affect their compositions.

But it's affecting and bothering him so much... he couldn't concentrate on creating new melodies for Ruki's lyrics. How much he tries to wave Ayane off his mind, Megumi will then appear with the things Ayane had told him.

Try to talk to her for the last time and you'll feel better... those were the words that kept on repeating, it made his head hurt.

"Shit." he hissed, strumming his guitar violently that had all his band mates look at him with their eyebrows raised.

"Conscience's revenge ne?" Aoi snickered.

"Man, you look seriously depressed." Reita patted him hard on his back.

"Guilt-ridden, are you?" Ruki said sourly.

"Making a girl cry with your intoxicated minor sadistic tendencies- horrible." Aoi mocked.

Reita and Kai tried not to laugh from what he said.

"Shut it Aoi! All of you!" Uruha snarled, as he stood from his seat. "I'm not sadistic! I was drunk and I didn't mean-" he stopped and walked out from the room, pissed off.

"Grumpy." Aoi rolled his eyes.

"How can we make this fucking album with that attitude?" Ruki snapped.

"Would you guys give him another chance? You see how hard it gotten him." Kai reminded them.

"As long as he's not apologizing to Ayane-chan sober, without the Megumi heartache, I still resent him." Ruki stated.

"Agree." Aoi nodded.

"I'll go talk to him." Reita said and took off to follow Uruha.

He didn't see him anywhere. He wasn't in the men's restroom or in the conference room, not even in the offices and departments, the lobby and the company's cafeteria. But the security told him he went to the parking lot by himself. Reita run for him there and before Uruha could ride to his car, he was able to stop him.

"Where are you going?" he asked, gasping for breath as he walks near him.

"Don't you mind Rei. I'm leaving, but I promise to make it tomorrow for work." Uruha answered, pushing himself to the driver's seat of his SUV.

"I'm coming with you!" Reita quickly went to the opposite side of the car and ride inside, sitting beside Uruha before he could even lock the doors.

"Why do you have to come with me? I want to be alone!" Uruha groaned.

"Let's talk Uru. I know you're going nowhere." Reita said.

"I just want to clear my mind that's all!" he responded.

"It's really obvious that you're bothered about both Megumi and Ayane-chan." Reita perceived. "Apologize to her and let go of Megumi. I'm telling you, it'll make you feel better." he advised.

Uruha went quiet for awhile...

"That's exactly what I'm planning." he finally said. "I was supposed to go to Ayane-chan's house in secret, and then you followed me here. Now it's sabotaged you bastard!" he frowned.

Reita laughed. "Oh, sorry. But I'm here, so let's go! I won't tell the guys don't ya worry."

"Monger!" Uruha mumbled, as he starts the engine and drive.

"So you know her place?" Reita wondered.

Uruha was irritated that he came with him, but he answered though.

"Not really. All I remember was Yuri's, they're both living in Osaka." he replied.

"Osaka? That's kinda far from here." Reita said. "How did you know Yuri's house?" he snooped.

"When Ruki urged me to come with him for their first date, so that it won't be too obvious to the reporters." Uruha answered. "Same old Takanori." he sighed.

Reita's heart pinched upon hearing it. He doesn't want to admit it, but he's jealous to know that Ruki already had a date with Yuri.

"I know that Yuri-chan hates me too, but I'll still try to ask Ayane-chan's place." Uruha murmured.

"We're going to her first?" Reita inquired.

"Hai, but I need to stop here for a minute." he replied, as he pulled the car over into some shop.

"What are we doing here in Crown Label? It's vkei girls' shopping precinct you know?" Reita wondered.

"Just wait here in the car." Uruha demanded. "If I'm not back after an hour, that only means I'm being harassed." he added with sarcasm.

Reita chuckled, thinking that he was referring to the "fans' attack" situation if ever he'll be spotted going in there. He then guessed that maybe Uruha's going to buy something for Ayane, as his token of forgiveness from her.

Not bad for a lady-killer rock star guitarist, he thought. This only proves that he does care for a girl's feelings he had hurt...

Uruha was welcomed by the owner and her two sellers, when he stepped inside the shop. As expected, they knew him as the famous lead guitarist of the GazettE. There were also three fan girls shopping in there, who asked for a picture with him and an autograph. He was relieved though, that they didn't harass him like what he told Reita could happen if he'll be seen in a public place like this. They just watched him, as he looked for the item that will replace Ayane's hairclip he had lost. A pink rabbit with polka dots design has caught his eye. He thought that it will look cute on Ayane's curly hair, if she's going to wear it.

"Is this for your girlfriend Uruha-sama?" the owner beamed at him, when she picked the hairclip and wrapped it in a kawaii-looking small box.

Uruha just smiled as he pays the little gift he bought for Ayane, and went back to his car quickly.

"Handle this with care." he said, as he throws the box to Reita.

"What's this you bought for Ayane-chan?" Reita asked, while observing the box.

"Her favorite accessory." Uruha answered as he hits the engine and drove away. "Do you think she'll accept that and forgive me?" he asked, starting to drive faster.

"Maybe." Reita replied.

"I'll take that as a yes." Uruha was optimistic, wishing that Ayane would really accept his apology.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Yuri was still in her school uniform, when Uruha and Reita saw her opened the door for them. She looked really surprised to the two unexpected visitors standing in her doorway.

"Moshi-mosh Yuri-chan." Uruha greeted her with a smile.

"What are you guys doing here?" she asked astounded.

"How are you?" Reita beamed, feeling a sense of excitement to see her again.

"I-I..." Yuri stuttered.

"Can you bring me to Ayane chan's house? I want to talk to her." Uruha said.

Yuri frowned at him, when she finally realized his intention.

"I know you hate me, but I want to tell you how sorry I am for offending your best friend." Uruha told her with sincerity. "I came here with Reita for the purpose of apology. Hontou ni gomen Yuri-chan, especially to Ayane-chan." he added.

"He's really serious about this Yuri-chan. As his friend, I'm asking too for your forgiveness and Ayane-chan's. Onegaishimasu?" Reita pleaded.

Yuri went quiet for a moment, as both Uruha and Reita waited for a positive answer...

"Ayane's not mad at you actually and I don't know why." she finally spoke. "I really don't like what you did to her, so you better apologize to my best friend Takishima Kouyou!" Yuri exclaimed.

Reita laughed with the way she mentioned Uruha's real full name.

"That's why I'm here." Uruha said weakly.

"Shall we go to Ayane-chan's house then?" Reita suggested...

It was just a short walking distance to reach Ayane's house, which was one block away from Yuri's place. Her parents aren't home, and Ayane's little brother named Daichi was the one who opened the door for them.

"Onee-chan! Yuri-chan's with people!" the boy called, while staring at the two tall men in front of him.

Reita couldn't help himself not to stroke the boy's hair. He found him adorable and Uruha thought that he was really cute.

"Who is it Chi-kun?" Ayane asked as she goes out from the kitchen and get to the door.

She almost choked upon seeing Uruha and Reita standing there. She can't believe that the day will come, when her idols will come to the house of their ordinary fan, not even in her dreams. She was too startled that no word could come out.

"Yaa!" Reita greeted her.

"Uhm, konbanwa Ayane-chan." Uruha said awkwardly.

"Uruha's here to talk to you Ayane. Would you like him to come inside?" Yuri grimaced, still feeling unsure about Uruha's act of contrition.

"A-ano... hai." Ayane agreed. "Come on in Uruha-sama." she offered shyly, feeling relieved that her mother cleaned their house before she left for work with her father.

"You know them onee-chan?" her brother asked, who couldn't take off his eyes from the strangers visiting her sister.

"Go to your room Chi-kun." Ayane ordered.

"Doshite? I want to stay here!" Daichi said stubbornly, that made both Uruha and Reita smiled.

"Let's go outside Chi-kun. Your big sis must talk alone to the man." Yuri intercepted, as she goes near to the boy and gets a hold of him.

"But this is my house!" Daichi complained, but Yuri just ignored him.

"We're leaving you here." she said to Ayane and Uruha. "Come with us Reita-san, they need privacy." Yuri whispered to Reita, which he understood.

"Matte! Where are you two going?" Ayane panicked, when she realized that she'll be left alone with Uruha.

"It's inappropriate to listen to someone saying his apology." Reita quoted and blinked at Uruha. He, however, glared at him as if to say "why are you leaving us?"

"Don't worry. Uruha's not drunk this time." Yuri snickered, taking a warning glance at Uruha.

"So re ja!" Reita said, and together with Yuri and Ayane's brother, the two were left alone for a talk.

Uruha stepped inside the house with a feeling of uneasiness. Ayane too, was feeling the same. But she still tries to entertain the important guest, by offering him a seat and something to eat.

"I-I just cooked some udon. Tea or coffee U-Uruha-sama?" she asked, while looking at him stiffly.

"Never mind Ayane-chan, I'm fine. Arigatou." he declined. "I just came here to tell you personally, that I'm very sorry to the things I badly did to you."

Uruha felt enlightened when he was finally able to say his apology to her. Ayane on the other side, was really touched to what he said. She couldn't help not to cry in front of him.

"Ayane-chan... I made you cry again, gomen." Uruha worried, surprised to see her sobbing again because of him.

She's been waiting for this moment in a long time... when she first saw him on stage, she knew he had loved him. For those years, she never admired anyone like him. She finally learned that what she felt for this beautiful man is not love of a fan, but love of a young girl beyond his fame and weaknesses. The unconditional love, even if she's not the one who makes his heart beat and makes him smile.

"Arigatou gozaimasu... hontou ni daisuki desu. Aishiteru Uruha." she nearly whispered, unable to stop herself from saying so.

These were the words she's been longing to tell him all this time...

Uruha had heard it and he doesn't know what and how to respond. But her words made his heart quiver... they were just so real and true that he cannot take his eyes off her. She avoided looking at him, still crying because of mixed emotions.

But then maybe, he had also liked her too when they first met. Maybe, he just didn't pay attention to that feeling because it was hidden so deeply inside his heart. He was in desperation for taking Megumi back to him, and Ayane was only there... a nobody, a fan, a stranger, a girl waiting for him to notice her... how could he be so blind?

He took out the hairclip from the small box in his pocket, and suddenly held her head and putted it on her hair. She stopped from crying, confused to what he just did to her.

"I just took something off from your hair." Uruha lied smiling.

Ayane was supposed to touch it, but he stopped her.

"It's gone!" Uruha said. "Please, don't cry anymore Ayane-chan." he requested.

Ayane stared at him, her eyes and face still wet from tears. She remained quiet, expecting him to react from what she just confessed. But she's not anticipating an answer from a prince to his princess, like some passage on a fairytale...

"Thanks a lot for making me feel better." Uruha said in his sincerest.

She's fine by that. Because she can still wait for him, even for another long time...

Reita gaped at Yuri when he saw her laughed, while she was playing with Daichi in the clear street of their subdivision just near Ayane's house. She seems enjoying herself chasing the boy, as if she was a monster. Well, she's a pretty monster though. Seeing her right now, he couldn't help not to think about Fumiko. He wished that Yuri was the one he met rather than a heartbreaker like her, and that Yuri had also first met him before she met Ruki.

Bastard! What am I thinking? Yuri is my best friend's girlfriend, I should stop my school boy crush on her. Reita thought.

"How's the band?" she suddenly asked, that made him awaken from his thoughts.

"Starting a new album." he answered, taking a glance to her.

"and Ruki?" Yuri inquired.

Ruki again.

"He's- good." Reita replied.

"Thanks for coming here by the way. With Uruha talking to Ayane-chan right now, I think she'll finally be contented." Yuri said, half smiling.

"Uru doesn't really mean what he did to Ayane-chan. It just so happen that he was really drunk that night, and still problematic with his former girlfriend." Reita told her, as he looked at Daichan who was now playing by himself.

"We know." Yuri said. "When do you think he's going to move on?" she wondered, now looking at Daichan too.

"I don't know, but I think he will sooner." Reita guessed.

Yuri was supposed to say something, when Reita suddenly interrupted her before he could even stop himself for saying it to her...

"Why did you like Ruki?" he asked, glaring back at her.

Yuri was slightly intrigued by his question. "H-he... w-well, it's just... he is who he is." she answered in the low tone of her voice.

Reita went more serious this time. "Are you really sure he loves you?"

Crap, that sounded rude. Yuri didn't expect that second question too. It's obvious that you like her Akira, Reita thought.

"I think so." Yuri said, her face turning slightly sad in a sudden.

Reita wished he didn't let his emotion take him, and let his tongue slip like that. He made her hurt, how inconsiderate of him.

"D-do you uhm, know the story of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen?" he asked, trying to quickly change the sensitive topic by telling her his favorite love tale ever that he never told to anyone, not even to his ex-girlfriend Fumiko.

"Pardon?" Yuri asked confusingly, as she tries to wave off her thoughts from his previous questions.

"Nancy was a huge Sex Pistols fan." Reita began. "She was always on their shows and she really liked Sid, until she became his girlfriend. They were so in love with each other and Sid was too dead about Nancy, that he even made her his own manager. Their love story was a rock star-fan dreamlike, but it ended tragically when drugs destroyed them and Sid ended up killing Nancy and himself." he narrated.

"That's... tragic." she said taken aback, finding Reita's story somewhat odd.

"But on the brighter side... I want to change their ending on my own." Reita surfaced. "I want to make it a happy one, by having some Nancy in my life and then I'll be the good Sid for her."

He wished that Yuri got what he meant when he said that. The Nancy he wanted for his life is somebody like her.

"Nancy will come to you one day Reita-san, I'm sure of that." she smiled, still unaware to Reita's feelings towards her.

For a moment they didn't talk. Yuri continued to watch Diachi still in his playtime, while Reita just stared at her all the time. When finally, Uruha came with Ayane making him awaken from his daydream in being with Yuri...

"Rei we need to go." Uruha said, looking much better now.

"Is everything okay with you two?" Yuri asked, throwing them a dubious look.

"Uh huh." Uruha nodded. "Arigatou Yuri-chan. Oyasumi Ayane-chan." he beamed and took a hold of Reita.

"Have a safe trip." Ayane smiled, glaring up at Uruha expressively.

"Ja! Ittekimasu! Oyasumi Yuri-chan." Reita bid his farewell and walked off to the car with Uruha.

Yuri and Ayane followed them and watched the two ride inside the car, as Uruha starts the engine and drove away.

"How did it go?" Yuri asked Ayane, still sighting the SUV until it disappeared.

"It's alright. I'm okay now." she answered, as they walk back inside their house with Daichi.

"Nice new hairclip. Did you just buy that?" Yuri noticed on Ayane's hair.

"What hairclip?" Ayane was puzzled, as she touches the side of her hair. She took it off and looked at it in surprise, when she remembered Uruha awhile ago saying that he just took off something from her hair.

"I feel sleepy." Yuri yawned. "The final exams' getting near, I still need to study." she remembered. "I'm going home now Ayane-chan, oyasuminasai." she said and walked back to her own house, leaving Ayane in deep awe.

"Arigatou Uruha-sama." she said to herself, feeling moved to the hairclip that Uruha gave her...

Nori smiled deviously, as the man beside her started to drive away from the place.

"You contented now?" he snickered, taking a single glance to Nori as she browses the photos he just taken to his SLR.

"Kaori won't believe this! She's so gonna love us." she said excitedly.

The man chuckled. "They will cost a lot to the reporters. You'll be on the internet, I'll work on the papers."

"Develop all of these, because Kaori needs hard copies for Ruki." Nori demanded.

"No prob. It's all done tomorrow, so better be ready." he replied.

"Yosh!" Nori cheered, who couldn't wait for her best friend's evil plan to succeed.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

It didn't take him too long to wait for her to come out from her mother's house, after sending a text message that he wants to see her for a talk. It was getting late and the night is cold in downtown Tokyo. All seems quiet and deserted... just the right time for a somber conversation...

She looks pretty without the makeup, her long black hair was un-braided. She was wearing a simple white nightdress and a furred jacket, tightening it as she narrowed her sluggish eyes to him.

The moment has finally arrived. Those three years were long... all the hidden heartaches and the fear of her gone, must now be faced with courage as a real man. It's time to stop from denying, time to stop from escaping... because it's time to accept the truth of the bitter reality.

And it was because of that girl that he's now ready to confront his weakness. He owes her for waking him up from that miserable nightmare that had tormented him for so long. She had brought him back from his pathetic love life in cowardice.

"Gomen for making you go out this late, hope I'm not bothering." he said, taking a glance to her gray eyes.

"I-It's fine, okasan is already asleep." she answered, feeling a little awkward in their meeting after that fight she had with him a month ago.

"How about him?" he asked.

She knows that he was referring to her boyfriend.

"It's just okay to him." she replied. "D-Do you want to come inside?" she offered.

He shrugged. "We can go for a walk, if that's alright with you."

"Sure." she tries to smile at him.

They slowly walked together in the side-street, as they wait for one of them speak. The hollow silence of the night brings back the memories of their good old days...

"Do you remember when we used to have road trips, and then we'll be stopping near the bay and talk while drinking beer?" she finally began.

How can he forget that? He won't stop talking to her until he gets drunk, and she'll kiss him just for him to stop. He smiled, remembering that moment with her.

"and then the guys would be sneaking around without us noticing." he beamed.

"They follow us wherever we go and the next day they'll just make fun of you, telling the exact details of what we did." she smirked.

"You'll beat the hell out of Aoi and Reita, when you see me pissed off from their sarcastic remarks." he recalls.

"Yeah, those were the days." she giggled.

They went quiet for awhile, when this time he was the one who spoke...

"So... I-I heard from your friend at PSC that, you'll be leaving to France soon?" he looked at the ground, kicking the little rocks in the way.

"Hai." she answered, looking at him. "My flight's tomorrow evening. I'm taking my okasan with me." she said.

He wasn't expecting her to leave so fast. She could've had told him ahead that she was already leaving. But he didn't notify her about it though.

"Your okasan- is she okay now?" he asked, glaring back at her.

"Hai. Her doctor was good." she answered. "He said she needs a vacation because it'll improve her health, that's why I'm taking her to Paris." she informed him.

"I'm glad about that." he said.

They stopped in the bench shaded with a big tree, which is not far away from her house, where they both took a seat.

"The-the wedding... am I not invited?" he tried to ask, but she just chuckled.

"If you can make a flight to France with the guys." she said. "I'll promise to email you days before."

"Megumi..." he nearly whispered upon calling her name.

She gaped at him, his face now turning serious. She knows the real reason why he came here and she's ready for it... to listen to what he's about to say...

"I can't change your mind, right?" he said weakly, as he stared at her.

"Gomen nasai Kouyou..." she said softly.

His heart fluttered when he heard her apology. He's been longing to hear she's sorry for falling in love to someone new.

"Arigatou Megumi." he thanked her.

"... for everything." she added. "Sorry for not saying goodbye when I left you, sorry for making you wait for three years, sorry for coming here and knowing that I'm engaged, and will walk on the aisle when I get back to France. I-"

He hushed her to stop. She didn't notice that tears were already streaming on her face in saying those words to him. She had hurt him deeply and she hated herself for doing so.

"I now understand." he stated. "I'm sorry too, for not letting you go. I wish that you'll be happy with him." he said sincerely.

He was relieved that he was finally able to say that to her... this is what he truly feels at the very moment.

"Kouyou..." she then hugged him tightly.

He embraced her too, for the last time. It was warm... he buried his face into her hair and took the scent of it. After all this time, it still hadn't changed.

"Are you really breaking up with me?" he asked through her shoulder. He doesn't know why, but the question doesn't seem to hurt him anymore.

She cried even more upon hearing it. She knows that when she gives her final answer, it's the end of everything for them...

"Hai." she finally said, her voice was breaking.

He pulled himself from her and stood.

"Let's go back. The weather's getting colder." he said.

She wiped her tears and stood with him, they didn't speak. He walked her to her house and she stopped, before going back inside.

"So this is farewell?" he said half-smiling. She just nodded.

"Take care of yourself. Please, call me before your wedding day." he stated.

"I will." she sniffed. "You too Kouyou. I know that there's someone out there that's more deserving." she said gloomily.

He understood what she meant by that.

"Oyasumi Megumi. Sayonara."

She was gone forever... the first woman that he had truly loved in his life. But at least, he can now finally move on... he felt much a lot better now.

*OWARI!*

A/N: T'was shorter than the previous chapters but I hope you all liked it, because I loved the latter part :D! Three more chapters and this fanfic is finally over so get a hold please! Now for the climax… chapter 10 up next!