p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"Chapter Twenty Five/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"Please Forgive Me/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For the second week in a row, Madoka awoke in a cold sweat, her heart pounding and her sheets as well as her night gown soaking wet. The dreams had been the same each time, she would watch in horror as Full Moon's grandmother was brutally murdered. She would scream and claw on the glass walls that surrounded her, but the brutal beating would happen each and every time./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She rose up and was hit by a wave a nausea, her stomach having twisted itself into knots during the nightmare. Refusing to throw up tonight, she pulled herself back down onto the soaked pillow and took in deep breaths. She had done everything to get ahead, she had altered her body, she had paid off rivals, now she had been reduced to theft and murder./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The very thought of what she had done, what she had been a party to had thrown her into sobbing fits for the past few nights. She gave the digital alarm clock on her night scan a small glance before turning away. There was still a few hours to go before she needed to be at the music store at the mall for the debut of her newest single./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For a moment she was tempted to go back to sleep, but the dream would be there, the anguish screams would be there, the sound of fists slamming into raw and broken flesh would be there. The very thought of being inside of that nightmare again was enough to send a fresh wave of nausea over her. "No, no sleep for me tonight." She mumbled and clung to her pillow./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The atmosphere seemed to crackle with electricity as those waiting for Madoka's next single gathered around the stage outside of the music store. The background music from her first single blared from the speakers, and the crowd seemed to become more and more energized with every moment that passed. For Madoka she could only wonder if the rest of the crowd could see the deep black circles that ringed her eyes from lack of sleep and exhaustion. Even with a one hour make up job she still was not completely satisfied that it was hidden./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The warm up speaker was already at the microphone, listing off her previous accomplishments and getting the crowd even more pumped up and ready for her to step forward and talk about the song that she had created from stolen material. "Please let this end." Madoka whispered through her fake smile. She hoped that once the single was released and she began to work on her next project that the nightmares would slowly fade./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""And here is Madoka!" The master of ceremonies announced, causing the crowd to roar at a even higher noise level than before, which only increased her headache from exhaustion./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Having trained herself not to wince, Madoka waved to the crowd and stepped up to the microphone, her eyes scanning the crowd. She opened her mouth to speak only to find her voice caught in her throat. In the far back of the crowd, almost completely out of sight stood the familiar pigtails of Full Moon, and her loyal guard dog standing next to her./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka's blood froze in her veins, how could she introduce a album in front of the very girl who she had stolen material from, and killed her relative. "I'm sorry I can...I can't do this right now." She tore away from the microphone, tears glistening down her face as she rushed off stage./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The crowd seemed to gasp and murmur, everyone trying to figure out what had just happened. The master of ceremonies quickly returned to the microphone, trying to explain Madoka's sudden departure but no one was listening. Mitsuki's eyes followed the path Madoka had taken while Takuto crossed his arms and shook his head. "Some people just do not belong in the music business." He mumbled as Mitsuki took off after Madoka./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Hey squirt wait!" He shouted after her as he rushed to catch up with her./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka pushed aside the double doors which led to the deeper catacombs of the mall, her frantic pace slowing to a stop as she rested her body against the wall. How could she go out there and face Full Moon, how could she try to pass off a song that was paid for in blood./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Her hands became clinched in anger at the very thought of what she had done. She wanted to be the best, she always had, she had done anything to get to the top and just as soon as she got there she had been dethroned by this young child. She knew she could never match Full Moon in talent, deep down she had known that all along, and so she had resorted to some of her most underhanded tactics yet to get a edge on her before Eternal Snow came out./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Madoka?" Mitsuki called out, pushing aside the double doors and stepping in ever so slowly. "Are you okay?"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka shook her head as she gazed down at her trembling hands, trying to find the urge to speak. "I'm a fraud." She finally spoke up, the words coming from deep inside of her and had left her mouth before she even realized she had spoken them. "I wanted to win so badly that I did something horrible."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki waited a moment before stepping forward. "Is that why you ran away? If you just tell the truth.."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki was cut off from a throaty and condescending laugh from Madoka. "This is the music industry, where artists prey on the weak and do everything they can to survive." She looked back at Mitsuki with a harsh glare which quickly softened. "I wish I could be like you, innocent and naive, and so full of potential."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki blushed in embarrassment, not sure how to respond to what seemed like a complement and a back handed slap./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""It's not the crowd I need to tell the truth to, its you." Madoka closed her eyes as she pushed herself to explain. "I was the one who hired Hiroshi to break into your house, I didn't want anyone to get hurt, I just wanted the lyrics to Eternal Snow!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka expected the girl to turn and run, to rush out of the building and scream for the police. She knew she had just ended her career, that Full Moon would use this revelation to put a end to her, and she would be completely justified in doing so. Instead she just stood there and smiled at Madoka. "If you wanted the lyrics you could have just asked me!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Could this girl be so naive that she would have willingly given over her music and lyrics just by someone asking. A wave of pity began to wash over her as she realized how far Full Moon needed to go, how innocent she was, and how the music industry would eat her alive before spitting her out a broken woman./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I know you didn't mean to hurt me or my grandmother, you couldn't have known what would happen." She offered a hand to Madoka, a smile full of youth and innocence filling her face. "So please, continue to make music, I really like your songs."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""You, like my songs?" Madoka stammered in disbelief as her bodyguard walked through the double doors to retrieve Full Moon./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She took Full Moon's hand and for a moment realized that she could make amends for her sins, she could help protect her from the industry that had turned her into such a horrible woman, she could protect Full Moon's innocence that seemed to beam brighter than the brightest star. "Maybe, one day we could do a duet together." She suggested, patting Full Moon on the head./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki smiled and nodded before taking Takuto's hand and turned to head back out into the mall. The two were only five steps outside of the catacombs when a man dressed in a old wrinkled up sports coat and a even dirtier shirt stepped up to them, a cigarette hung from his mouth and he looked as if he hadn't showered and shaved in several days./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Full Moon is it?" He asked, blocking Mitsuki and Takuto's path. "Daily Tattler, is it true that you have a boyfriend?"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Recognizing the man was from one of those sleeze ball entertainment magazines, Takuto used his arm to shove him aside and continue on. "We don't have time for this." He growled as he passed by the reporter./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Then is the rumor true that you are sleeping with the same boyfriend?"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto clinched his fist and turned to punch the man square in the jaw, but was already beaten to it. Madoka held her brused hand as the reporter lay face first on the ground in his own drool, having been knocked out cold in one hit. "How dare you ask a little girl that." Madoka glared down at him before giving him a extra kick in the stomach for good measure./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Thanks..." Takuto looked on in amazement as she stepped over the man, making sure to step on his fingers in the process./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""You two better hurry up and get out of here, where there is one.." Madoka began to warn./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Yes I know, there are probably more." Takuto finished her sentence, remembering the same warning during his days in Route L. He knew it was inevitable, that the lies and rumors would eventually begin about Mitsuki, he just had no idea how to tell her that it was going to get alot worse before it got better./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"Please Forgive Me/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For the second week in a row, Madoka awoke in a cold sweat, her heart pounding and her sheets as well as her night gown soaking wet. The dreams had been the same each time, she would watch in horror as Full Moon's grandmother was brutally murdered. She would scream and claw on the glass walls that surrounded her, but the brutal beating would happen each and every time./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She rose up and was hit by a wave a nausea, her stomach having twisted itself into knots during the nightmare. Refusing to throw up tonight, she pulled herself back down onto the soaked pillow and took in deep breaths. She had done everything to get ahead, she had altered her body, she had paid off rivals, now she had been reduced to theft and murder./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The very thought of what she had done, what she had been a party to had thrown her into sobbing fits for the past few nights. She gave the digital alarm clock on her night scan a small glance before turning away. There was still a few hours to go before she needed to be at the music store at the mall for the debut of her newest single./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For a moment she was tempted to go back to sleep, but the dream would be there, the anguish screams would be there, the sound of fists slamming into raw and broken flesh would be there. The very thought of being inside of that nightmare again was enough to send a fresh wave of nausea over her. "No, no sleep for me tonight." She mumbled and clung to her pillow./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The atmosphere seemed to crackle with electricity as those waiting for Madoka's next single gathered around the stage outside of the music store. The background music from her first single blared from the speakers, and the crowd seemed to become more and more energized with every moment that passed. For Madoka she could only wonder if the rest of the crowd could see the deep black circles that ringed her eyes from lack of sleep and exhaustion. Even with a one hour make up job she still was not completely satisfied that it was hidden./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The warm up speaker was already at the microphone, listing off her previous accomplishments and getting the crowd even more pumped up and ready for her to step forward and talk about the song that she had created from stolen material. "Please let this end." Madoka whispered through her fake smile. She hoped that once the single was released and she began to work on her next project that the nightmares would slowly fade./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""And here is Madoka!" The master of ceremonies announced, causing the crowd to roar at a even higher noise level than before, which only increased her headache from exhaustion./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Having trained herself not to wince, Madoka waved to the crowd and stepped up to the microphone, her eyes scanning the crowd. She opened her mouth to speak only to find her voice caught in her throat. In the far back of the crowd, almost completely out of sight stood the familiar pigtails of Full Moon, and her loyal guard dog standing next to her./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka's blood froze in her veins, how could she introduce a album in front of the very girl who she had stolen material from, and killed her relative. "I'm sorry I can...I can't do this right now." She tore away from the microphone, tears glistening down her face as she rushed off stage./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The crowd seemed to gasp and murmur, everyone trying to figure out what had just happened. The master of ceremonies quickly returned to the microphone, trying to explain Madoka's sudden departure but no one was listening. Mitsuki's eyes followed the path Madoka had taken while Takuto crossed his arms and shook his head. "Some people just do not belong in the music business." He mumbled as Mitsuki took off after Madoka./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Hey squirt wait!" He shouted after her as he rushed to catch up with her./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka pushed aside the double doors which led to the deeper catacombs of the mall, her frantic pace slowing to a stop as she rested her body against the wall. How could she go out there and face Full Moon, how could she try to pass off a song that was paid for in blood./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Her hands became clinched in anger at the very thought of what she had done. She wanted to be the best, she always had, she had done anything to get to the top and just as soon as she got there she had been dethroned by this young child. She knew she could never match Full Moon in talent, deep down she had known that all along, and so she had resorted to some of her most underhanded tactics yet to get a edge on her before Eternal Snow came out./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Madoka?" Mitsuki called out, pushing aside the double doors and stepping in ever so slowly. "Are you okay?"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka shook her head as she gazed down at her trembling hands, trying to find the urge to speak. "I'm a fraud." She finally spoke up, the words coming from deep inside of her and had left her mouth before she even realized she had spoken them. "I wanted to win so badly that I did something horrible."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki waited a moment before stepping forward. "Is that why you ran away? If you just tell the truth.."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki was cut off from a throaty and condescending laugh from Madoka. "This is the music industry, where artists prey on the weak and do everything they can to survive." She looked back at Mitsuki with a harsh glare which quickly softened. "I wish I could be like you, innocent and naive, and so full of potential."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki blushed in embarrassment, not sure how to respond to what seemed like a complement and a back handed slap./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""It's not the crowd I need to tell the truth to, its you." Madoka closed her eyes as she pushed herself to explain. "I was the one who hired Hiroshi to break into your house, I didn't want anyone to get hurt, I just wanted the lyrics to Eternal Snow!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka expected the girl to turn and run, to rush out of the building and scream for the police. She knew she had just ended her career, that Full Moon would use this revelation to put a end to her, and she would be completely justified in doing so. Instead she just stood there and smiled at Madoka. "If you wanted the lyrics you could have just asked me!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Madoka's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Could this girl be so naive that she would have willingly given over her music and lyrics just by someone asking. A wave of pity began to wash over her as she realized how far Full Moon needed to go, how innocent she was, and how the music industry would eat her alive before spitting her out a broken woman./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I know you didn't mean to hurt me or my grandmother, you couldn't have known what would happen." She offered a hand to Madoka, a smile full of youth and innocence filling her face. "So please, continue to make music, I really like your songs."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""You, like my songs?" Madoka stammered in disbelief as her bodyguard walked through the double doors to retrieve Full Moon./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She took Full Moon's hand and for a moment realized that she could make amends for her sins, she could help protect her from the industry that had turned her into such a horrible woman, she could protect Full Moon's innocence that seemed to beam brighter than the brightest star. "Maybe, one day we could do a duet together." She suggested, patting Full Moon on the head./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki smiled and nodded before taking Takuto's hand and turned to head back out into the mall. The two were only five steps outside of the catacombs when a man dressed in a old wrinkled up sports coat and a even dirtier shirt stepped up to them, a cigarette hung from his mouth and he looked as if he hadn't showered and shaved in several days./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Full Moon is it?" He asked, blocking Mitsuki and Takuto's path. "Daily Tattler, is it true that you have a boyfriend?"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Recognizing the man was from one of those sleeze ball entertainment magazines, Takuto used his arm to shove him aside and continue on. "We don't have time for this." He growled as he passed by the reporter./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Then is the rumor true that you are sleeping with the same boyfriend?"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto clinched his fist and turned to punch the man square in the jaw, but was already beaten to it. Madoka held her brused hand as the reporter lay face first on the ground in his own drool, having been knocked out cold in one hit. "How dare you ask a little girl that." Madoka glared down at him before giving him a extra kick in the stomach for good measure./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Thanks..." Takuto looked on in amazement as she stepped over the man, making sure to step on his fingers in the process./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""You two better hurry up and get out of here, where there is one.." Madoka began to warn./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Yes I know, there are probably more." Takuto finished her sentence, remembering the same warning during his days in Route L. He knew it was inevitable, that the lies and rumors would eventually begin about Mitsuki, he just had no idea how to tell her that it was going to get alot worse before it got better./p