I understand if you have the strong urge to chop my head off or smth. Perfectly understandable, and I have no reasonable reason to explain why I didn't update. I've been really busy with work lately to the extent that I'm too lazy to be bothered with almost anything else so... I'm still stuck in the midst of the new story so I won't update a new chapter for I Think I Love You unless there's a huge demand by the reviewers. Anyways I'm thankful for the many reviews for the previous chapter of The Way of an Idol, and here's the next chapter - sorry for the wait, and before that, replies to the greatest reviewers. (:

Aurora Chen: Well, whoever it was he/she did hire some people to help didn't he/ she? So they didn't really did any of the work themselves. (:

Saki-Rose Chan: Sorry for the long wait! I'm happy that I could get you really into the story though. ^^

diamond heart 82: My I hope I haven't kept you shaking for too long! The climax isn't over yet!

KarateGirl77: Glad you like it (:

Sayuri Lapis: You're most welcome ^^

Dan and Julie sat on the bed, feeling embarassed. The two were already in their clothes again, after an awkward five minutes of trying to process what had happened. Dan had got up to close the door as well, lest any paparazzi found their way.

"What happened to you? Why're you here with me?" Dan frowned.

"I don't know, someone just knocked me unconscious!"

"Weren't you with the other Brawlers?" Dan was confused.

"I was, but they got fed up waiting for me and left earlier, and when I was on my way here, I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I found myself next to you! Oh no, what will Billy think!" The silver-haired Australian cried out.

While the reporter continued to make a scene, Dan was in deep thought as he tried to figure out how and who would have set him up. Coincidentally, he and Julie had both been knocked out unconscious. Too coincidentally, Dan thought.
First he had been set up with Julie to kiss, and the photo had been used to publish in a newspaper. Now, he was set up with Julie, again.
Just who was so against him?

Dan frowned, before a bulb finally lit up in his head. There was only one person who was so desperate to separate him and Runo.

Hikaru Yamamoto.

"Are you okay, Runo?" Haruto whispered gently, handing the blunette a handkerchief.

Runo sniffed, wiping away her tears with the handkerchief. The idol took a deep breath as she tried to prevent more tears from flowing.

"I just never thought that my own boyfriend and best friend would do that to me. I really trusted them alot..." Runo felt her heart being ripped open once again as the image of Dan and Julie laying on the bed reappeared.

Haruto nodded his head, patting the idol's head and back gently. He opened his arms, asking if Runo needed a hug. The blunette gratefully entered his embrace, feeling herself tremble and cry once more. The male idol remained silent, knowing that staying quiet would be the best kind of comfort he could give Runo.

Five minutes later, Haruto felt that Runo had calmed down, and slowly pulled away from the embrace, though his hands were still on her shoulder. He smiled softly, using his thumb to erase any last signs of tears.

"Better?"

Runo nodded her head with a grateful smile. "Thank you."

"You have a brilliant smile, Runo, don't let tears ruin it."

The blunette blushed at the brunette's compliments. "I'm sorry to have wet your handkerchief and suit, and to have shown you such a fragile side of myself. It's really embarassing," the blunette nervously brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Haruto shook his head, smiling all the time. "No worries. Glad to be able to have made you happy."

Haruto watched as the blush from the blunette's face fade. The two enjoyed a comfortable silence for a moment, before Haruto carefully voiced out his concern.

"Runo... What are you going to do now?"

The blunette stared up at the other idol for a moment, sighing and taking a deep breath.

"I'm going to break up with him."

Runo moved her clothes from her original room to another which Marucho had allocated for her. After what had happened, she didn't know how to face Julie. Lifting up the last box, which was also the heaviest, the blunette set down the hallway as she staggered towards her new room. Unfortunately, her scrawny arms couldn't support the weight of the box, and her arms gave way.

Before the box could reach the ground, a strong pair of arms grabbed it. Runo had her eyes shut as she waited for the impact, but gradually opened them when she head no sounds of anything dropping. The idol sighed, looking up with a smile to thank her saviour, thinking it was Kato or Shun, but to her horror, it was the man who she hated so much now.

"Dan..."

Dan smiled weakly, adjusting his arms to help himself carry the box better.

Runo frowned. "Just because you're helping me doesn't mean I'll forgive you!"
The blunette mused, blinking for a moment, before glaring at the moment. "By the way, the two of us are over."

Dan's jaw dropped, as he felt time come to a standstill. It couldn't be. He was set up! They couldn't just end like this because of someone's plot. The brunette tried to protest, but in the midst, lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Runo had to bit her lip to stop herself from helping him. She quickly changed her mood, as a professional actress would in such a situation in a drama, and rolled her eyes, picking up some clothings which had dropped. She flinched when Dan grabbed her wrist, and tried to pull away, but to no avail.

"Runo, you have no idea! I was set up!"

The blunette ignored him, pulling her hand away roughly before closing the box and picking it up. She looked down coldly at the brunette.

"And by who, may I ask, Kuso?"

"Hikaru! It's definitely her!"

Runo let out a gasp of horror. When Dan got up, the blunette stepped on his foot hard with her heel, glaring down at the man fiercely.

"Don't you blame my best friend for your own fault, Dan Kuso! Don't ever find me again too!"

And with that, Runo marched down the hallway, while Dan gazed at her, horrified.

It couldn't just end like this...

Runo sighed as she finally reached the agency. It would be her last practice session with Mr Kingston and Haruto before she and Haruto would finally go on stage to pressnt their song. Pushing open the door, Runo smiled tiredly when she saw that the other idol was already present.

Haruto grinned back, gesturing at some drinks which he had brought over. Runo couldn't help but feel her mood being lifted - there was something really magical about the male idol which seemed to make her feel at ease.

"How're you feeling now?" Haruto asked kindly and carefully.

"Better. I finally asked for a break up."

Haruto remained silent as he listened to the blunette let out a relieved sigh.

Haruto himself took a deep breath, before he got up.

"Runo..."

"Hmm?"

"I honestly-"

"Why, you lads are already here! Sorry for being late, was stuck in a traffic jam!" Mr Kingston pushed the door open as he made an entrance. The old man placed his scores on the table, gesturing the idols to enter the recording area. "Chop, chop, let's not waste time!"

Runo blinked, before shooting Haruto a sympathetic smile. Haruto simply shook his head.

Runo wondered just what Haruto was going to ask.

Runo stood before a full length mirror, examining her costume one last time.

Her blue hair was tied to the left, curled up and with a pink rose attached. The pink dress which was sleeveless reached the floor at the end, with the front exposing white turrets and golden thread. She was fitted in a pair of pink heels, with lacy white gloves.

It had been a while since a performance, Runo thought to herself. The blunette took a deep breath as she tried to sink into the mood of the song, which fitted her emotions almost exactly.

From the left wing, Runo saw Haruto, dressed in a dark blue suit with white and gold linings, on the opposite side. The blue-eyed idol smiled at her warmly, making Runo's heart flutter and her cheeks flush momentarily.

"And now, with Runo Misaki and Haruto Yagami! The two famous idols have collaborated to bring you a song titled 'One Year Later'!"

Runo took her cue as the audience broke out into a outrageously loud applause, making her way up to the prop, a huge ship.

One Year Later by SNSD's Jessica and SHINee's Onew
[Runo - Jessica , Haruto - Onew]

Feels like I had dreamt for a long time,

After watching and wandering for a while as if we had promised

We are standing here and facing each other like before after passing four seasons.

As Runo sang, she couldn't help but remember all the times Dan had left her behind while he went off on his adventures, whether it was when he was saving New Vestroia, or Neathia, or even Earth, she had never been there for him throughout the whole process. She felt guilty, heartbroken. What kind of a girlfriend was she if she couldn't even predict the habits of her own boyfriend, who liked to dangerously risk his own life and save the world?

The beautiful stories we wrote together,

The promises of staying together forever that we prayed together at that time.

While recalling them one by one,

I withheld the thought by thinking of you, because I know my heart can't take it.

How was your one year?

Runo closed her eyes when she finished the last sentence of the first chorus. That was when Haruto walked in from the right wing of the stage and began to sing, almost being deafened by the screams of the female fans.

I lived trying to forget for a while,

Seemed like feeling fine for a while.

However, I'm realizing as time goes by,

I can't be without you.

Runo felt tears pricking her eyes as she thought of those times . She wondered if Dan felt that way about her. She knew she did. She tried to shrug off the lonely feeling of being left behind so much, but deep in her heart, she still wanted to be by Dan's side really badly.

What if we were a little more mature back then?

What if we knew what would happen now back then?

Kept having endless regrets,

And had to withhold that thought because I didn't have courage to cope with.

One year has passed like that.

Runo lifted her microphone to her lips as the spotlight once again shone on her.

Are you feeling same like me by any chance?

Can you give me one more chance?

Now I know that we can never be apart, the only person that I love and love.

I wish we could go back to those good times.

Those lovely times that were beautiful and happy.

Heartaching stories, meaningless quarrels,

Let's forget them all and let's not bring them up again.

After seasons passed,

Even after many years passed,

Wished there would be no meetings like today.

Haruto and Runo slowly put down their microphones, only to hear their fans screaming for them and swamping them with requests for an encore.

The two idols walked towards each other and stood side by side before waving to the fans and exiting the stage together.

At the backstage, Hikaru rushed over to Runo, handing the idol a handkerchief, having seen the blunette crying slightly on the stage. The redhead looked at her best friend worriedly, but from the corner of her eye, caught Haruto nodding his head - a gesture she presumed which meant for her to leave. Hikaru complied, knowing that with Haruto, Runo would be in safe hands.

"Runo..."

"I'm sorry. I got really emotional."

Haruto nodded his head, pulling the blunette into a hug.

"I understand, but please, let me alleviate your suffering, Runo."

The blunette's sobs grew softer, and the blunette slowly pulled away from the other idol.

"How?" She whispered almost helplessly.

Haruro held onto the female idol's hands, his sapphire blue eyes boring into her emerald green ones.

"Let me replace Dan Kuso in your heart, and replace his memories in your mind."

Dun dun! Haruto has finally confessed his feelings! And would Dan be right about his speculation about the culprit? What's going to happen next? Reviews are most welcomed, and the more the reviews the shorter the wait shall be, not over a week. (: