"So that's it?" asked the blonde. His blue eyes wavered with concern and worry for his friend, who only responded with short smiles, revealing that she could keep up the charade of denial.

Her eyes dazzled with mixed and passionate emotions. However honestly true, her mind was already made up. She pursed her lips and nodded in response to his repeated questions, and never did she break away from eye contact.

Was this honestly it?

The dry winds pushed her inside the jet plane, and Mimi followed Michael to the passenger area. Finding her usual seat, she plopped down and immediately fell into deep slumber.

'Such a shame,' thought Michael. He laid a blanket over his friend and shook his head helplessly.

Mr. and Mrs. Tachikawa sent their daughter off. Her determined mind persisted that she didn't need to give good-byes to her friends. Sadly, no one could make her stay in Japan…not even Sora.

Mimi had plans now, plans that Koushiro had previously laid out. The guy was disappointed that everything wouldn't work out. But Michael could see that even Koushiro was hurt.

Willis was transferred to the Ritz Hotel in Florida. As agreed with Koushiro, the hotel manager faxed an application for a job. She could be the baker at the restaurant although she would have to be in disguise. It wasn't often an ex-supermodel would become a baker…

Oh dear, this was another turn in Mimi's fickle life.

Michael jumped into the cockpit and got ready for take-off. 'Mimi, if only you knew how many guys would fall for you…' thought Michael.

--XoX—

"Dude, you're leaving, too?" asked Yamato as he ran a hand through his hair. Taichi screwed things up (as usual), and Taichi would have to fix the things up (as usual). That said Taichi would look for Mimi, who was not answering her phone, taking any messages, and left no trace of where she was going. Sam, her butler, would work for her parents, but still received a salary from her.

Miyako, Sora, and Hikari had also called her a myriad of times, but they couldn't get a hold of her. It was apparent to everyone that she just left Japan…not coming back.

She may not be coming back.

"Taichi, are you even listening to me?"

Blinking rapidly from his state of reverie, he asked, "Huh? What?"

"You don't have an attention span."

"I should go…"

"You need a plan, Taichi. You can't just look around the world for her."

"I've screwed up, and I'll tell her the truth."

"You'll need to do more than that."

Taichi stayed silent for a minute and continued packing—or stuffing—his things into his baggage. In another minute, his fists clutched the sides of the open briefcase. He couldn't live without her.

He just couldn't.

Grunting, he ruffled his brown hair. His phone rang, and he answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Taichi dear, you can't leave yet. Your dad and I have something to tell you."

"Okay Mom…I'll be down there with my bags…I'm leaving afterwards…"

"Okay…see you in a few…"

Taichi dropped to the bed and sighed in impatience. He took a pillow and smothered it against his face. His fingers curled against the fabric, and he again wallowed in his self-pity. He could list his mistakes, but there were too many. He could count his flaws, but even those he couldn't keep track of now.

"Let me know if you're desperate—er, the most desperate state… Sora and I can help you out. See ya, dude." Yamato turned and made his exit with a wave.

"See ya."

--XoX—

"We just came to say good-bye. Oh, I wish we could've stayed, but it seems we have some things to take care of. I do hope that Mimi's abrupt departure—"

Ms. Takaishi shook her head and folded her hands that hung limply. She smiled to Mr. and Mrs. Tachikawa and bowed her head, saying, "You needn't worry so much. I think we'll see each other soon. Am I correct? Hikari and Takeru would want Mimi to be at the wedding, you know."

Mrs. Tachikawa looked at her husband, but then burst into excitement: "Oh I just love weddings! They were always those wonderful celebrations that always held the promise of love and happiness! If Mimi misses it, which I'm sure she wouldn't, she would miss out on so much!" She twirled about and clasped her hands. "Oh, I do hope she marries Taichi!"

Mr. Tachikawa rubbed the back of his head and smiled as if to say, 'Dear, isn't that a bit too much?'

The lobby still had the rush of reporters, so her outburst was none too far (supposedly). They were still buzzing about Ishida Yamato and the rumored affair with Hizeki Miki who turned out to be Tachikawa Mimi, who fled the scene. Now, the paparazzi were trying desperately to get a picture of Ishida Yamato and Takenouchi Sora, for word had spread that the two were going to get married.

"Married?" asked Mr. Ishida.

"Yeah, Dad, I asked her this morning."

"Both of my sons are gonna get married…"

"Dad, are you feeling okay? You don't let so good…"

"I never said that I wasn't…"

The news of wedding bells had taken the extremes for Yamato and Takeru's parents. Ms. Takaishi was happy, smiling every moment she could breathe. Mr. Ishida looked as though he were to collapse. The paparazzi were doing nothing to ease the stress, and the popularity of Yamato was another stress factor. Ms. Takaishi was only proud of both her sons, and she was open to having two daughters, both nice and affectionate.

The paparazzi would've taken more pictures, and the hotel manager called security right away.

Yamato and Sora were well on their way to getting married, but what would happen to Mimi and Taichi?

--XoX—

"Mimi, are you sure you wanna do this?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

"Well…" Willis rubbed the back of his neck, hesitating to actually hire an ex-supermodel and a friend for that matter. He was a good friend of Hikari, Takeru, Miyako, and Daisuke, a friend of the generation after Mimi's time. Naturally, she would find it in her strength to badger Willis to give her the job.

She leaned forward and un-crossed her legs. Mimi said in a low voice, "Willis, give me the job. What have you got to lose?"

"Mimi, I don't think this is a good idea. I've heard from overseas…"

"That isn't up for discussion, Willis." His blue eyes shone with some guilt of bringing up the tense subject. He folded his hands together, fingers laced and gripping his skin for some ground to back him up. The woman was downright scary.

She had, once again, changed her appearance to the point where he couldn't recognize her at the airport. He was baffled to find a lady of platinum blonde hair with red streaks in her hair and hazel eyes. What in the world was Mimi thinking?

…though it still suited her…

…Still, he was afraid of her… Was that why they just signed an agreement?

"NOOOO!" yelped Willis.

"Yup, thanks Willis! See ya!" waved Mimi. She was out the door before he could utter another word. The door clicked shut and he rested his forehead on his arms spread across his desk. He could smell her perfume still.

It was very Mimi.

He immediately dialed a number overseas and when a man picked up the phone, Willis screeched, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?"

Mimi could hear Willis yell at someone who arranged their meeting. It was probably Koushiro, Michael, or Daisuke. Either way, none of those men would budge. She laughed pleasantly and began to adapt to her new way of life.

…At least she could forget about him…at least for a while…

--XoX—

"I had no idea what I was doing—"

"Oh come on, Jyou, you did a good job—"

"—considering that Miyako was threatening my life…" mumbled Ken. His right hand rubbed his wife's shoulder that supported Riko, who slept softly like her sister. The younger twin was Anko, sleeping in Keiko's arms. Ken held the serene smile across his face. His blue eyes were extraordinarily tired but they still glistened.

Miyako's hair was pushed into a messy bun, and her round glasses occasionally slipped down her nose. Ken would gently push the glasses up and laugh, and she would respond by sticking out her tongue.

The door slowly opened, and Hikari's and Takeru's heads popped out in unison.

"Can we come in?" whispered Hikari eagerly.

"Hikari insisted that we come as soon as possible…" said Takeru.

Jyou gestured them to come in and touched his lips with his index finger, indicating them to be really quiet. He was surprised to find Yamato, Sora, and the parents waiting outside waving in all their excitement. Wearing a tired smile, Jyou hurried outside and began to chat with old friends.

"Where's Taichi?" asked Ken.

"…Sorry he couldn't come…" said Hikari, fidgeting nervously, "…he's looking for Mimi…"

"What happened?" asked Miyako. "Is there anything we can do?" She jerked forward and almost forgot Riko sleeping in her arms. She leaned back and waited for Hikari to answer.

"Miyako, Sora and Taichi aren't engaged anymore…"

"They aren't?"

"Shhh!" said Keiko to her mother.

"What happened?" whispered Miyako loudly. "Is Sora alright?"

"Yamato and Sora are engaged. Taichi and Sora broke their engagement when we were up in the resort in the mountains… Yamato and Sora realized they loved each other, but Mimi—" explained Takeru until he was cut off.

"—Miyako, relax… You might wake up the babies…" Ken said, trying to be calm. His serene smile strained to a nervous one…

"—and what happened to Mimi?"

Hikari asked Keiko quietly, "Can I hold her?"

"Sure," piped Keiko. She gave Anko to Hikari sweetly and kissed her baby sister on the forehead. As Hikari held the baby to her chest, Keiko continued to listen to the adults' conversation.

Her eyes followed the flow of conversation.

All eyes were focused on Takeru, who seemed to feel smaller under the pressure. "Well—uh—Mimi ran off, denying that she didn't love Taichi, but Taichi realizing that he loved her so much went looking for her because she hasn't returned any of our calls and I don't think she wants to come back to Japan." He took a breath. "In the meantime, Yamato and Sora have announced their engagement and are trying to get the paparazzi off Mimi's trail since they've found out that Mimi is Hizeki Miki." He wanted to throw up even though he was a good public speaker, but those looks Miyako had: concern, care, downright fury for Taichi's stupidity… "So, uh…how do you feel, Miyako?"

That was a bad question.

"Isn't Hizeki Miki the one who sang the pretty song, Mommy?" interrupted Keiko before Miyako could yell her angry response. "Can we meet her?"

"Where's Taichi?" Miyako asked dangerously. Her words revealed her intentions: 'I'm going to kill that boy.'

"Honey—Miyako—calm down. Remember what Jyou said—"

Miyako took a deep breath and strained a smile. "I'm alright. I'm fine. I'm good. When we're ready, we should visit Mimi."

"But no one knows where she is," Hikari said.

"I know someone who would," said Miyako.

Takeru sweat-dropped and said, "So…did you know Hikari and I am engaged?"

--XoX—

Michael was successful, that much he knew. His job was always there to pay the bills, and the fame was only a bonus he concluded long ago. His friends and family were the ones who were really important to him, not much else. Even though some odd stuff could happen in his social and personal life, he was able to concentrate on anything one put before him. It was as simple as that.

Of course, if someone called him when he was working, that messed everything up.

Ring! Ring! He flipped his phone open and said, "Hello?"

"Where is she?"

"Miyako—you know you could've asked Koushiro."

"He wouldn't budge."

Michael laughed and twirled his fountain pen. Where was Mimi? Mimi was at the Ritz Hotel in Florida being a baker like she'd always dreamed. She had no intention becoming known or famous ever again. And here he was being interrogated… Isolation was pretty tempting these days… He could avoid the tabloids, the fame, and the fortune. Okay, so strike the last part, he would inherit his father's money no doubt. In the end, however, he would have to avoid gold diggers…

"Michael, answer me."

He snapped out of his thoughts. "Uh—what?" said Michael. "I don't know where she is."

"I'd wonder about your career. You're a horrible liar, ya know."

"You already know I know, so why should I act like I don't know you don't know that I know that you don't know?"

"Quit playing games, Michael."

He remembered when they were going out briefly. Mimi introduced them, and Miyako was a little shy around him. When she met Ken, well…that changed everything, didn't it? Michael hopped off his chair and began to wander around the movie set. He was hesitant in dealing with Mimi's life. The director a few feet away was starting to worry about Michael, knowing that he was actually good friends with the girl. Michael gave him an assuring smile, but not assuring enough.

"I can't tell you. Try someone else."

"Michael, is she with you? Can I talk to her?"

'If she was, she would've snatched the phone from me now.' Michael sighed with reluctance and stuffed his free hand into his pocket, the thumb brushing the outside of his denim jeans.

"No."

"Everyone's worried about her. I'm not the only one."

"I know."

"Michael, we want here in Japan. Would you at least ask her whether she will be around for the weddings?"

This had to stop. "Miyako, Mimi doesn't want to bother with Taichi anymore. Koushiro thinks so, too."

"That's because he's always loved Mimi."