This is a re-write of Sho's Salvation, just an FYI. So if you've read that story, you'll know why the first few chapters are so familiar! But I want to make it clear that this will not be the same story as Sho's Salvation. It will take a different path. :-)

I don't own a goddamn thang.

Chapter 01: Loss

"I love you Kyoko! Please, don't do this!" Sho pleaded as he stepped in front of her. Kyoko raised her head and looked into his eyes. Sho's heart cracked at the sight of glistening tears eclipsed in honey orbs. His heart lurched and his veins tightened. "Kyoko…" he whispered, reaching out to touch her. When she flinched away from him, the crack deepened.

"Don't touch me Sho," she replied, voice dripping with cold bitterness. "Just, get the hell out of my way." Shoving him aside, Kyoko stepped passed him using every ounce of strength she had to keep her tears from escaping their ducts.

The singer could feel his pulse racing inside of him. It served as a continuous reminder that he was quickly losing time, losing whatever chance he had at salvaging his relationship. Subconsciously he grabbed the fabric covering his chest as the ache of the inevitable loss sunk further. Closing his eyes, he tried to take a deep breath, but air caught in lungs as images of Kyoko's lovely laughing face engulfed his vision. Sho remembered the gentle way she would smile when he was feeling his worst, the way it would warm him from the inside out, melting his woes away. Never again would he witness such affection…

I can't lose you… his mind screamed. I love you so much Kyoko. I know that what I did is inexcusable but… No! "No!" Sho shouted as he hastily turned about. Closing the gap between them with one step, he quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. "No, I can't let you leave."

"Let me go!" Kyoko demanded, twisting her arm in vain attempts at freedom. She refused to meet his eyes again for fear of crying before him, a luxury she refused to warrant him. "Please—"

"No," the idol repeated sternly. "I refuse to let you go."

"Dammit Shotaro!" Kyoko screamed loudly with tightly shut lids. Slamming her free hand against his chest, she shoved and shoved but to no success. When he grasped that hand as well, she finally broke and opened her eyes to his face. His cheeks were flushed, eyes dark and bathing in a pool of liquid. Kyoko blinked a couple of times and then bowed her head. She noticed the way the cotton shirt clung to his sweat kissed body. Her veins burned as reminiscence of his arms around her danced across the black canvas of her visage.

"Kyoko," he whispered gently. "Please, don't leave me. I'll do anything."

"I—" Kyoko began but was instantaneously silenced when he dropped to his knees before her. He looked up with the most painful expression she had ever seen upon his handsome complexion. As if by sheer force of will, a single sparkling drop of moisture fled her dampened lashes and rolled down rosy tinted cheek.

"I know that what I did is unforgivable, but you must see how much I love you." His voice was hoarse and weak with desolation. Fingers tightened around delicate wrists as Sho pulled her to the floor with him. He cupped her warm face with his clammy palm, thumb brushing loose auburn strands aside. "Please. I'm begging you with everything that I have, don't leave me."

Kyoko closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She touched her forehead to his. "Sho…" she whispered shakily. When he released her hands, she intuitively placed them upon his shoulders and sniffled. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her closer and Kyoko thought that her heart would implode. He pulled her against him and then moved his head to the crook of her neck, gently grazing her skin with his lips. Her long nails gripped the t-shirt as her pulse quickened. "I… can't…" she said, fighting the desire looming in her body. "This won't work," she continued, biting her lower lip to keep it from quivering. "I'm sorry Sho, but I can't. We're through." His arms tightened around her, refusing to let her go. Kyoko released his shirt and then reached down grabbing his wrists. "Let me go."

"No…" she pulled free of him and slowly stood up. Sho quickly wrapped his arms around her again and pulled her to him, pressing his face into her stomach. He cried as he shattered. "I love you so damn much! Please… please don't do this to me!" His muffled voice reverberated through her making her shiver. "I know that what I did was fucked up, but please. I was young and stupid. Don't you see how much I need you, Kyoko?"

Wrapping her arms around his neck she held him for a moment longer than she wanted, tears rolling uncontrollably down her face. "Sho, you have to let me go." Fighting the urge to kiss his head, she carefully disentangled herself from him and stepped back.

"I've caused you so much pain…" he mumbled. "I never wanted to see such agony on such an angelic face." Raising his head, he saw her walking towards the door of their large Tokyo apartment. "I never… I took you for granted and now I'm going to lose you forever, aren't I?" He watched as she fetched her dark brown leather boots from the coat closet to the right of the door. She slipped into them and then grabbed a matching dark brown sweater. No, he thought desperately. I have to make her see, make her feel how much I want her, need her. Sho stood up and walked over to the actress as she grabbed her keys off the small table to the left.

Kyoko turned to him as he approached her, eyes widening. "Sho—"

Sho cupped her face and delicately caressed the curves of her cheek and jaw. He admired her beauty as she closed her eyes tightly and turned her head towards his palm, almost relishing the feeling of his affectionate touch. Hot liquid rolled down onto his hand and his heart skipped again. Her sorrow dampened his flesh with the realization of how stupid he had been to hurt her in such a way—a woman who had stood by him through everything that life brought his way.

"Sho—" Kyoko began but was quickly silenced.

He led her back the last two steps and held her against the door as his lips sought hers. The kiss was filled wholly with his desperation and love for her. It was firm and passionate, yet gentle and inviting. Her hand snaked around his neck as she reciprocated. As it deepened ardently, Kyoko found herself contemplating her decision to leave. How could she separate herself from a man that still gave her giddy butterflies? How could she walk away from a man she had devoted her whole life to with utmost love and admiration?

Just when she was about to cave in and give him the yet another chance that he had begged for, she remembered the humiliation that his betrayal left her with. If he was able to cheat her so many years with such a natural presence, how did she know that he wasn't simply fucking with her now? This could all be an act, a damn good one to boot. What was Fuwa Sho without Kyoko?

Tears left burning streaks across her face as she forced her face to turn from him. Feeling his forehead resting against her, Kyoko exhaled greatly. She pressed her hands to him and shoved with all of her might. When she turned to him, the dejection was evident in the stare he gave her. "Don't fucking touch me!" She screamed. "Do you really think you can change the past, change what you have done with one goddamned kiss?" Her heart thrashed as her adrenaline pushed her yelling into violent shouts. Hands curled into balls at her sides as her heartbroken eyes bore into him.

Sho wanted to shout back, to protest but alas he couldn't fight the truth laid before him. How could he argue with her when the pain she felt was reasonably warranted?

"You have never felt for me as I have for you," Kyoko continued half-shouting, half-sobbing. "I was such a damned fool to think I could ever win your affections completely, Sho. I'm not a masochist. I don't enjoy living in this wretched agony that you've bestowed on me. I am done giving you the benefit of the doubt. I'm sorry, but I refuse to be your stepping stone to success. I'm walking out of that door and I'm never coming back. From this day forth, we are nothing more than past acquaintances." She turned to the same small table and then grabbed her cell phone, refusing to look at him again.

Fuwa Sho fell to his knees upon the bamboo hardwood floor and brought his hands together before her. "I am begging you not to do this." He pleaded. "Please Kyoko!"

Closing her eyes, she breathed slowly to calm the tornado of feelings. Turning to the door, Kyoko reached for the handle, but stopped when a sparkle flickered across her eyes. Retracting the hand, she spun on her heels and walked up to him. Eyeing the small silver band upon her left ring finger, she slowly slid if off and offered it to him. "I won't be needing this anymore."

Sho shook his head vigorously. "Hell no. I'm not taking it back!" In the end he lost when she grabbed his hand and forcefully placed it into his palm. Closing his fingers around it, he could still feel the warmth of her skin emanating from the metal. Raising his eyes to hers, Sho swallowed. "I'll… never learn to live without you. I won't give up on you."

Kyoko left him on his knees on the floor and strode towards the door before she gave in and ran into his arms. She grabbed the knob very tightly as a stream of tears fled her face. Then lifting her head high, she walked out of the apartment and out of Fuwa Sho's life.

Shoulders slumping, he stared at the diamond and platinum ring in his hand. Sho shook his head, denying the validity of what just occurred. When he formed a fist over the wedding band, he pounded the floor with all the strength he had, forming a small crack in the wood. He crumbled down, pressing his head to the cold wood and cried with unfathomable amounts of guilt realizing that he had finally lost his wife for good.

Author's Note: This entire story is dedicated to the original author, . I hope that she recovers and heals soon as I miss her writing very much. For fans of Sho's Salvation, I hope I can live up to her work. Also, just in case if you are wondering, I do have her permission to write this story in her stead. To be perfectly frank, she asked me to help her with this. Please don't worry. I'm not a stranger to her. She is my cousin and I'd do anything for her. So for anyone thinking that I'm "copying" her work, I am not doing that at all. I'm simply doing a favor for my cousin. Also, by request of the original author, this version will take a DIFFERENT path in the ensuing chapters. If you have questions, comments, or concerns do not hesitate to contact me. L8R.