Little time had passed since Megumi's run in with Sano before she and Hiko were settled in the lavish hospitality only the Italians can be known for. They were staying at the Hilton hotel in a grand suite with two beds. At first Megumi was quite pleased that Hiko had taken her feelings about sharing a bed with him into consideration, but after the first day or so, that second bed didn't serve much purpose.

"Hiko we can be a little late," whispered Megumi cuddled close to him on the huge bed, kissing each knuckle on Hiko's hand.

Hiko braced himself against the headboard, Megumi's lacey bra hanging next to his head. "We already are a little late, Megumi," he said grinning lazily. "Now come on, we really should be going."

Pouting like a child, she reluctantly released him from her hold. Hiko took one of the bed sheets and wrapped it around his waist. Megumi watched him adoringly as he opened the balcony French doors to the busy city streets below, the crisp breeze came through making his hair whip around madly. Even his makeshift half-a-toga, seemed more elegant at that moment than anything he'd ever designed. He was a magnificent, absolutely divine god, minus the fig leaf. And he belonged entirely to her.

About half an hour later they were both showered and dressed ready to go. Megumi in a new, sassy pinstripe suit, her hair tied back in a chic chignon, Hiko in a navy blue suit, white shirt, and red tie. They quickly hopped in a cab and after some difficulty trying to direct the driver they were well on their way. One thing about the Italians you ought to know is that not only are they hospitable but they have fast cars for a reason. It seems that the rush of driving at neck breaking speed somehow appeals to the large majority of the population. Later on into the day the fashion show proved to be a huge success, as predicted, and the party was full of good cheer and much wine. Though throughout the whole Megumi, next to Hiko, felt more like a pet than a girlfriend.

"Oh Hiko!" squealed a middle-age woman coming into the large crowd surrounding them, wearing a mass of fur, even though it wasn't quite cold enough for it. "The clothes were to die for!"

"Helen, my dear, I designed them with only you in mind," sweet-talked Hiko, as they kissed cheeks, no touched cheeks actually. He sounded more over the top than normal. But Megumi had come to understand that this was the way people in the fashion industry liked to act; flamboyant and showy.

"Hiko, you mustn't flatter a lady so!" said Helen, giving Hiko a gentle shove.

The whole group around them laughed as Helen turned a light pink, barely noticeable under the liberal amount of blush she wore.

"Helen, I don't believe you've met Megumi as yet?"

Hiko quickly pushed Megumi, who was standing awkwardly behind him, front and center and she stood their smiling stupidly, a hot flush rising to her face. She wasn't exactly expecting to be put in the centre of attention so suddenly.

Helen smiled a toothy grin and took Megumi's hand in hers. "So this is your new little girlfriend, Hiko? Oh my isn't she adorable! And so thin, Hiko she's not once of your model is she?"

Megumi, determined to be noticed, answered the question herself. "No, actually I just finished getting my Ph. D not too long ago."

Helen smiled at Megumi. The kind of forced smile you give someone when you're thinking that they did something uncalled for or unexpected.

"So you're a doctor then?"

She hesitated, "Well, actually I'm not quite working in the doctoring field at the moment…I've just kind of been taking my time to actually until actually getting a job as a, um doctor."

"So what has been your source of income?" asked Helen as sweet as honey, but disdain dripping from every word.

Hiko ears perked up along with the rest of group, all interested on how this outsider ever managed to live outside the life of fashion.

"I…I um…" If it was possible, Megumi seemed to turn from a pink flush to a red tomato and in the pursuit to retain any of her dignity she brought herself up to full height and spoke clearly. "I have a desk job at an insurance firm."

For what seemed like eternity everyone went dead silent and staring at Megumi, expecting what she said to be a horrible joke instead of the truth. But that punch line didn't come.

Then, like a crack of lightning, Helen started laughing, "Oh you poor thing, that must be perfectly boring!"

Eventually everyone let the moment go and the group dispersed, but not before Helen kissed Hiko on the cheek and whispered something inaudible to his ear, making him laugh under his breath.

"Goodbye Miyuki dear. It was fabulous to meet you."

With that Helen turned on her two inch Versace heels and disappeared into the crowd before Megumi had a chance to correct her, but her intuition told her that there was little chance it was no mistake.

"So having a good time love?"

Megumi turned around and sighed and made a face at Hiko who seemed so jovial while she felt sorely out of her element.

"What do you think?"

Hiko sipped his dirty martini and smiled to her annoyance. "Come on now, it can't be that bad."

Megumi deflated. "Hiko! I completely tanked! Everyone here seems so..." her voice trailed off. "I just feel like I don't really fit in here."

"Don't be silly." He lifted her chin, looking her straight in the eyes. "I brought you here with the confidence that you could handle anything that all these stuck-up snobs could throw at you. Now don't let them get the better of you, just think of them in their fabulous designer underwear."

They shared a laugh and Megumi felt her spirits lift. If Hiko thought she could do it then she could. Later on in the night there was a seven course meal, live band, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves greatly. At times Megumi struggled to keep her head above water, but Hiko would quickly step in and save her, whisk her away to a corner for a brief make out session that occurred more frequently as the night went on.

It was about two in the morning and the band was starting to pack its things and guest were trickling away and Megumi, who later that night found company with a young model who turned out to feel just as out of place as herself, was starting to wonder when Hiko was going to take her back to the hotel.

She started to search around the building but to no success. Luckily she spotted a familiar face, someone she and Hiko, or more specifically Hiko was talking to earlier that evening. Was he an executive or intern designer?

"Excuse me," she called after the young man who was staggering to the doors laughing for no particular reason. "Excuse me!"

The man turned around, nearly tripping on his own feet and squinted at the woman running up to him while swaying back and forth. "Well aren't you a pretty one?" he said in his rough Aussie accent. "Say you look a little familiar…are you the girl I met in Paris a few months back?" He hiccupped rudely, sending the nauseating stench of drink and puke into the air.

"No sorry you must have me mistaken for someone else. We just met tonight; I'm Megumi I was with Hiko Seijuro. I was wondering if you've seen him. It seems I've lost him."

"Hiko…Hiko," he said, stroking his goatee apparently concentrating. Then it dawned on him, "Oh yes Hiko, that old dog! Helen took him home."

A great rage suddenly erupted within Megumi, but with much experience she held it back and put on a happy face. "Helen…okay then, thank you very much."

With that Megumi walked towards the doors, gradually working up to sprint, insecurity in every step. She hailed down a cab and sped down the street back to the hotel, letting her imagination run wild.

Finally they arrived and she threw a wad of bills at the driver and dashed into the hotel and pressed the elevator button repeatedly until it finally opened. As the doors closed she realized that she was holding her breath and tried to calm her racing heart. Finally the doors opened with a ding and an unbreakable silence seemed to descend on the air. Megumi cautiously stepped out terrified her worst fears of abandonment and worthlessness were about to be confirmed.

Walking down the red carpeted hallway she came upon their room, number 279. She swallowed hard, no idea of what she was about to come upon nor any plan on how to approach it. Slowly her hand reached out for the door knob and turned it. The door creaked open and suddenly it felt as Megumi was in a movie, having an out of body experience. Watching herself walked further into the room, the soft light of lamps radiating from around the corner.

As she came upon the scene she just stared. No emotion quite registering, her heart numb.

"Megumi?"

Hiko was standing by the veranda doors wrapped in a bed sheet, the same godly vision he was that morning. A body stirred from the bed. Megumi recognized the face, though it was not the one she was expecting. It was a model, a male model from the show. The one wearing the distressed jeans, brown sweater, newsboy cap and a thick scarf she loved. Curled up on the soiled bed, he was the image a sweet faced boy, smiling as if Christmas was coming tomorrow.

"Hiko," her voice cracked and there was a long silence between them.

"You're upset…" said Hiko.

A choked laugh/ sob escaped her. Was he joking? "No, I'm just fine," she said and instantly reached for her suitcase at the foot of the bed and started throwing clothes from the closet inside. "Just lovely…"

Hiko walked over to her and caught her wrists but she violently snatched them back. He tried again, this time putting in more force, taking her away from this irrational packing. "Megumi! Megumi, listen to me!"

"Why," she said dangerously low, her eyes wild with anger and wretchedness. "So you can humiliate me again."

"Humiliate you? Megumi, I thought we had we had a…an understanding," Hiko replied.

Megumi looked at him with utter disgust. "You don't think cheating on me is humiliating?" she spat venomously. "Do you have any idea how stupid I feel!"

"Megumi, you didn't think that we were really serious did you?"

She didn't know what to say. Truthfully she did, why else would she have done all that she had? Change her lifestyle completely just for him. But she didn't say anything, afraid that she would have sounded too expectant.

"I mean," he continued, growing with concern from her silence. "Look at my lifestyle, Megumi. It's a practically a constant party. You didn't think I was going to…" his voice failed him when he contemplated the weight of coming words.

But he needn't finish his sentence, Megumi did it for him. "Stop that party for me, right?"

He didn't say anything as tears welled up in her eyes, but still he felt no real guilt.

"So thought I was one of your flings, um?" Her throat was become hot and sore as she struggled to keep herself together. "Well I can only say I was sorry I never saw through the fairytale."

That was the last words said between them. Hiko drew back and sat out on the veranda looking out to the glowing horizon, until he heard her finish packing and the soft sound of the door closing behind her. And that was the last time the ever saw or spoke to each other ever again.

A/N: Hope that was worth it. 1 more chapter left. R&R. Sorry it took so long to post.