p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"Chapter Twenty Nine/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"Found a New Purpose/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"A light covering of fake snow covered the stage, above it fake diamonds glistened to create the appearance of snow fall as stage lights bounced off of them. The crowd had began to gather early in the morning and as the day dragged on more and more fans gathered. They were at the outdoor stage, braving the windy weather and chance of storms for one reason, to hear Mitsuki debut Eternal Song and to hear the song for the first time live. As dusk and then night fall set in the excitement level began to grow and grow, at any minute Mitsuki and her father would come out to debut the song./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki glanced out of her dressing room, the thought of the debuting the song was all but a distant thought in the back of her mind. She was more focused on Takuto and why he had disappeared so suddenly on the morning of her birthday. Her father had swore that Takuto had to leave to take care of some personal business, but he had left without even saying goodbye, or wishing her a happy birthday./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Takuto.." She mumbled silently, wishing to feel his loving embrace as she walked back to the makeup table and collapsed back in the chair./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""So did you hear about Full Moon's body guard?" A voice came from the hallway outside of the door, it was a harsh whisper and Mitsuki ran to the door to listen. "I heard Aoi fired him after he found out he was sleeping with his daughter."br /br /"Really?" Another voice asked in disbelief, as Mitsuki's eyes grew wide in shock./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Yep, and now he might even go to jail from it!" The first voice continued on and grew fainter and fainter as the two walked further away from the door./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki fell to her knees, clutching the necklace hidden under her white stage jacket in shock. Takuto could go to jail because she was so scared over a thunderstorm that she couldn't sleep? The very thought brought tears to her eyes. If she hadn't acted so childish, then none of this ever would have happened./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Meroko glided down the hallway, humming Mitsuki's song as she looked back and forth for her dressing room. She had finally gotten the night off, after a quick mission earlier that afternoon. Now she could spend the evening watching her friend sing in front of thousands of people. She only wished Izumi could have come with her and share in the romantic experience./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki rushed from her dressing room, the door slaming harshly into the wall as she turned and ran down the hallway, passing Meroko in the process, tears streaming down her young face. "MitsukI!" Meroko spun and pushed forward, her momentum and speed enough to catch up with the little girl. "Where are you going? You're supposed to go on stage in a hour!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki shook her head and pushed forward through a set of double doors that led out into the parking garage. "Takuto's in trouble because of me, Meroko please you have to find him." She turned and grabbed Meroko's arm, a look of panic and horror displayed across her face./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Meroko paused for a moment, before nodding and gathering her strength, she flew off into the ceiling of the parking garage, heading out to search the city as Mitsuki climbed into the back of her limo and set out for her own search./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The small motel room Takuto had rented was dank and smelled of mildew, the wallpaper on the walls were stained with watermarks, and he did his best to not even guess how long it had been since the sheets had been cleaned. After the fifteenth call from a news agency, asking for comment on the tabloid story, he had finally turned his cell phone off, leaving his only contact with the outside world being a small television across the room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He flipped through the channels on the television, stopping on a local news station that was broadcasting live from Mitsuki's event. "She should be on by now." He checked his watch before turning the volume up on the television./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""The question on everyone's lips is: Where is Full Moon? We have been hearing reports that a limo exited the building about a hour ago, but it has not been confirmed if Full Moon was inside, or where the limo was heading." The reporter explained as Takuto rubbed his forehead. If Mitsuki had gotten cold feet then he really should have been down there to help her through it./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He flipped off the television to go and wash his face from the rusted over sink. Just as he turned the water on, a sharp knock came from his door, loud enough to nearly cause his cupped hand filled with water to splash all over his face and neck. For a moment he dared to hope that it was Mitsuki, but he knew that was impossible, he had left without even telling her where he was going so that she wouldn't try to run away and make a bad situation even worse./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The knock came again as Takuto made his way to the door and flipped open the lock. "Squirt if you missed the concert for me." He began to say as he opened the door and found himself looking down the barrel of a gun./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Where is the girl." Yasuno stated bluntly, flicking back the hammer on the gun in a stomach turning click./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto backed away his heart leaping up into his throat in shock. He glanced at his cell phone laying on the nightstand several meters away, he would be dead before he could even reach it. "You took everything away from me, my job, my home, my life." Yasuno tightened his finger on the trigger of the gun. "Last time I just wanted you to suffer, now I will kill you and kill that little brat next."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto hit the bed as he backed up into it, his eyes focused on the gun. "I am going to hunt her down, make her feel the fear I felt by being hunted by the cops, and when I finally grab her.." Yasuno paused as both of them heard a small cry from the doorway. He glanced over his shoulder to find Mitsuki standing there, her hand over her mouth, her eyes frozen in terror./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Seizing the moment, Takuto grabbed the gun causing a shot to go off and strike the ceiling. The sudden shock of the turn of events was enough to allow Takuto to wrestle the gun away from Yasuno. Yet the victory was short lived as Yasuno threw his shoulder into Takuto's stomach, sending the firearm flying from his hands as both men fell to the ground./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Yasuno was up first, sitting on Takuto's stomach he delivered blow after punishing blow to his face, drawing blood and swelling Takuto's left eye. Shaking off the hits, Takuto responded with a swift punch to the neck, closing Yasuno's windpipe for a brief second, which gave him more than enough time to push the man off of him, and bring Takuto back to his feet./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"With his back turned to Yasuno, Takuto was already searching for the gun, his vision blurred from pain and blood as his right eye searched the room. For what seemed like a eternity he continued to look before finally spotting the firearm laying on the bed sheets. He moved to grab it only to be grabbed by the ponytail, his head swung around and was smashed face first into the wall as Yasuno drove his head into it./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Stars clouded Takuto's vision and he was barely able to make out the sight of the discolored wallpaper as Yasuno pulled him away and drove his head in again. "I'll make her watch you die." Yasuno spat, pulling Takuto's head back for a third bone crunching blow, only to pause./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Weakly Takuto turned his head back around to see why he stopped, only for his blood to freeze from the horrible sight infront of him. Mitsuki had grabbed the gun from the bed, and with shaky fingers and tear stained eyes leveled it at Yasuno. "Mitsuki don't" Takuto wheezed, blood dripping from his lips./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Stop it!" Mitsuki warned, her hands shaking so badly that Takuto wondered if she could even get a shot off, and if so if the bullet would actually hit the target./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Yasuno dropped Takuto allowing him to crumple to the ground as he put his hands up. At first he was scared, and then as he began to realized how frightened the young girl was, a sly smile spread across his face. "Do you realize what happens if you shoot a unarmed man? You go to jail, you won't see mommy and daddy for a very long time."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki's knuckles turned white as she gripped the gun even harder as Yasuno stepped forward, his hand outstretched for the gun. "You don't want to go to jail do you?" His voice was calm and comforting as Mitsuki stepped backwards and shook her head, tears streaking down her face./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Now just give me the damn gun!" Yasuno lunged forward and Mitsuki let out a ear piercing scream./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto slowly rose from the bed, blood dripping from his face and matting his hair down, his left eye completely swollen shut. Every muscle in his body screamed for him to lay back down, and spots still colored his vision. He had heard the gunshot, and the body fall to the floor. He took in deep ragged breaths and held his broken ribs as he stepped toward Yasuno's fallen body, blood already beginning to pool underneath it./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Takuto." Mitsuki dropped the smoking gun, her voice a mixture of relief and a sob as she ran forward and threw her arms around him, sending a sharp pain through his ribs./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He winced and bit back a cry of pain, as he stroked her hair with his hand. Yasuno was right, she had shot a unarmed man, and that would mean that she would have to go through a court case, and possibly spend time in juvenile hall for it. He couldn't let her do that, she had so much potential, so much to live for. "Mitsuki, listen to me." He coughed, slowly sitting down on the bed and picking up the gun./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I want you to get back into the limo and leave, don't tell anyone what happened here." He explained as Mitsuki's eyes filled with shock./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I-I can't do that!" She protested./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"In the distance Takuto could already hear the police sirens, some one must have called the cops after hearing the first gun shot. "I'll be fine." He wiped the blood from his mouth and looked into her eyes with his one good one. "I love you Mitsuki, so please go." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki turned to look at the doorway, and Takuto wasn't sure if it was from the blood loss or the concussion setting in, but for the first time he saw a beautiful woman standing in the doorway, with long pink hair, and bunny ears sticking out of her hair, her hand was outstretched as if to help take Mitsuki away./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Using every last bit of energy he had, Takuto rose and looked directly at the woman. "Meroko?" He asked./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The woman nodded as Mitsuki looked back up at him in shock. "You can see her?" She asked in disbelief./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto gave a small nod and stepped forward, leading Mitsuki over to her. "Please protect her from now on." He slowly placed Mitsuki's hand in her's, doing his best to keep from falling from to his knees in front of Mitsuki in horrible agonizing pain./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I will." Meroko smiled, and began to lead Mitsuki away./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""T-Takuto, I love you." Mitsuki sobbed as she left the motel room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I love you too, squirt." Takuto collapsed to the bed, he may have to go to jail, but at least Mitsuki was now safe both from jail time and from Yasuno. And with that thought, a small smile and wave of peace washed over his body./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Epilogue/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Three Years Later/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The small concrete prison cell was covered with newspaper and magazine clippings dating back from the past few years. Starting from the left wall, were some of the oldest each one a article about Full Moon and her success. "Eternal Snow is a Number One Hit" one clipping read, "Eternal Snow tops the charts for the sixth straight week" another one read in large bold print./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Further down the wall the clippings turned to talk of Full Moon's single, finally leading up to the release of "Love Chronicle" and the success it reached. As the year passed and Mitsuki grew older, heading into her fourteenth birthday the headlines began to talk about rumors of Full Moon and Madoka making a duet together. Finally by the midsummer the song was released and rocketed both stars to the top of the charts./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"On the left wall in some of the most recent headlines, it had been announced that after their third duet, Full Moon and Madoka would reform Route L with her father acting both as manager and as the drummer and song writer. "Route L Returns!" The article nearly screamed off the front page of the newspaper with computer created shots of what it would look like with all three on stage together./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto walked around the cell one last time, gazing at each one with a smile. She had continued to rocket to stardom even without him, and most of all Meroko had seemingly kept her promise to keep her safe. "Hey it's time to go." The officer tapped on the prison bars, bringing Takuto back to reality./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He turned and for the first time walked out of the cell without handcuffs on. Taking a moment to breath in the fresh air of freedom he turned and followed the officer down the long hallway of prison cells and out into the main lobby./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Takuto Kira, your sentence is up, if you will sign right here we will relinquish back your things." A middle age woman with a strong nasally voice commanded, handing Takuto a small form to sign./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"With three quick strokes of the pen he signed his name on the correct spaces and handed it back. The woman left and returned with a set of bloody clothes, a watch, cell phone, and wallet. With out a word he silently took them and turned, heading through the double doors and out into the free world./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For a moment the bright glare of the sunshine blinded him as he stepped out into the court yard. As his eyes adjusted he could see several news trucks and even more reporters and camera crews rushing toward him from the open gate of the prison. "Huh?" He rubbed his eyes to make sure what he was seeing was real./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"And then he spotted her, her long brown hair waving in the wind, her dress fluttering as she rushed ahead of the mob of reporters, her eyes still sparkling with the youthful energy he had seen so many years ago. "Mitsuki." He whispered his eyes nearly filling with tears./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Takuto!" She cried out, running up to him and enveloping him in a tight hug, her head nearly bumping his chin as she did so. "I missed you so much!" She buried her head into his shoulder as the reporters surrounded him, asking a million different questions./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I guess I can't call you squirt anymore." He whispered into her ear, as she pulled away with a smile./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Full Moon! What is your relationship with Takuto? Is he still going to be your body guard?" One reporter asked./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Before Takuto could answer, Mitsuki turned and shook her head much to Takuto's surprise and shock. "He isn't my body guard anymore." She smiled and then held up her hand, the ring he had given her so many years back glistened on her finger. "He's my fiancé."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Is this true?!" The same reporter asked over the millions of new questions that suddenly began to come from all directions./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto's eyes widened in shock, and then he slowly began to remember the ring and the promise. A small smile crept over his face as he stroked Mitsuki's cheek./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Yeah, It's true." His voice came out nearly as a whisper as he leaned in and kissed her on the lips./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The End./p