A Leaky Dam

"You men are all alike. You use me, leave me, then keep coming back so I can't forget you."

"I had to finish."

"I understand I'm not part of your life or, your dreams. I understand you don't want to include me in it. So please, just stay away from me so I can get on with my life."

"But you are."

"If that were true you would have included me a long time ago. Please leave. I don't need anyone's false promises of that sickening, hurtful emotion that everyone keeps trying to force onto me."

"I love you."

"No you don't... You wouldn't have lied to me and you wouldn't have left me alone...again."

"I didn't lie to you."

"You did. You gave me the biggest lie I've been living my entire life and you made me believe I was worth something when I wasn't. Go back to California and your little tabloid sex friends. I don't need that and I don't need the pain you and Sho have caused me! I'm tired of hurting and I'm tired the people I love leaving me. It's never going to happen again!"

Lory shook his head in sadness. "When you polish a diamond properly, it can be the most beautiful of gems, but one wrong move and it will shatter to dust."

"Boss, I didn't know she felt that way. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would it have really made a difference? Would you have not resented her if you gave up?"

"I.."

"Exactly." Lory sighed. "Do you have her resolve? Do you have the determination you need to win her back? Do you have the fortitude to correct your mistake?"

"..."

"She's not going to make it easy for you. You have no idea what happened after you left her alone. She's a lot more wise to the world than she was when you left."

"What happened?"

"Look it up... You'll find what you should have been keeping track of in the first place." Was this boy really that clueless and uncaring not to know what happened to the woman that he supposedly loved?

"Takarada-san, we cannot be here with him." She informed Lory as she caressed the 6 month old body that she held possessively close to her. His tiny thumb entered his mouth as his little green eyes followed the movement of his mother's lips.

Lory sighed. "Alright, I'll work something out for you. Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

She nodded as she placed the infant back in his stroller.

"Are you sure this is what you want for Sora? Don't you think he deserves to know his father?" Lory asked with concern.

"He has me..." She answered with finality as Sebastian opened the office door for her to leave.

He had to find her and explain. He couldn't just let their prior conversation end as it did. This is why he was standing in the doorway of the LoveMe locker room in shock at the sight before him.

"Mo! Close the damn door you idiot! Can't you see there's a mother here nursing her son!" Kanae hissed at Ren.

He quickly shut the door behind him as he entered the room with his eyes never leaving the young blonde actress or, her green-eyed, raven haired infant son at her breast. All thoughts left his mind. He felt as though he had been kicked in the chest by a horse. His knees felt weak and all of the strength in his body completely left him as he saw his own eyes peering back at him from the tiny form in her arms.

"Unless you plan on giving your soul to her... You had better leave NOW..." Kanae growled into his ear. "Because this time they will not find your body when I am done with you." She finished as she left the small broken family to sort things out.

He rushed to her and the infant she held to her. He fell to his knees in front of her taking her free hand in his. "Why didn't you tell me?" He whispered.

She laughed. "Tsuruga Ren never existed. You left. You disconnected your phone and disappeared. Exactly how was I supposed to tell you?"

"You could have asked Lory." Desperation was in his voice.

"Yeah, I never thought of that!" She answered sarcastically. "Your secret wasn't his to tell."

"Is this?" His thumb traced gently over the faint scar on her tiny wrist and a tear fell from his eye when he finally realized the magnitude of damage that he had done to her.

She laughed. "Lucky for Sora, Kanae found me before it did any damage to him. If it weren't for him...I wouldn't be here right now. So.. I guess I can at least thank you for that." She then pulled from his grasp sharply and rested her freed hand on the back of little Sora's head and gently stroked his silky dark locks. The suckling infant sighed and drifted off to sleep in his mother's arms as her caress continued. He had a calming effect on her.

"Please Kyoko... Give me a chance to prove I'm worthy of you and Sora." Ren pleaded with her.

She closed her eyes and was flooded with the memories of not having a father as a child and the unfamiliar pain it caused her when Maria asked about her parents. Lory's words ate at the bitterness in her heart. Was she being fair to Sora? She could feel the tears welling up behind the rotted leaky dam of her battered heart. She arose from the pink sofa and placed the infant in the portable crib, then arranged her clothing with her shaky hands. She took a deep breath then nodded. "Fine... You have one chance. That is all I am giving. If you leave again... you will never see us again."

He sprung to her and wrapped her tightly in his arms sobbing. "Kyoko, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I promise you won't regret this. I promise."

Her head hurt from holding it in for so long, the dam broke and the tears flowed freely from her as she buried her face into his shirt, soaking it. "I'm so sorry, Kyoko. I didn't mean to hurt you. I love you so much. I am so sorry."

"PopPop.." Little Sora cooed as he held his arms out to be picked up by the oddly dressed man that has entered the quiet LoveMe locker room.

"Shhh. You don't want to wake your mommy and daddy." Lory picked up Sora and smiled gently at the napping young woman who held the head of the napping young man in her lap peacefully.