Chapter Two Secrets

"Mitsuki," she winced slightly when she heard the solid voice of her grandmother coming from the other room.

"Yes?" she bowed quickly and kept her eyes lowered. Standing in that doorway, she could swear that she was twelve again, and she was about to be scolded for stressing herself.

"I received a call from your teacher today to tell me you aren't doing well. Just after that, I received a call from Ooshige-san telling me that you would be late coming home. I fear the two are related."

Mitsuki grimaced but forced herself to nod, "Yes, oba-chan, they are. I have been working very hard on my music and now I'm working on a new album. It has kept me from school. Takasu-san told me he would hire me a tutor though, so school can be fit around my schedule, and he can get a hold of me anytime," Mitsuki explained, then waited for the explosion. She thought she must have been standing there for days before her grandmother spoke.

"Is this what you want Mitsuki?" she whispered, and Mitsuki tried not to gasp.

This has got to be a trap, she thought to herself, nodding slowly, "It is."

"Then, as long as you still get your education I see no problem with it."

Mitsuki's head shot up, and she met her grandmother's eyes only a second before she lowered her head again, "Thank you, I -didn't, expect…"

"I've thought about this before Mitsuki-chan, and I know it is the best thing for you. I also know you would have done it anyway, and I am getting too old to argue."

Mitsuki smiled warmly and nodded, that was true. Her grandmother knew her too well.

"You may leave now."

Mitsuki bowed once more before exiting.

§§§

"Wow," Ooshige breathed as she drove Mitsuki to school the next morning. Mitsuki's grandmother was getting old, so she'd given Ooshige a note and contacted and spoken to the school about Mitsuki's un-enrollment. "Touring with Takuto."

Mitsuki nodded, "It's a great honor."

"Mitsuki, you don't have to talk like that with me. Really," Ooshige scolded gently, and Mitsuki blushed and apologized. Yes, sometimes she did forget whom she was speaking with. "Are you going to try and talk to him?"

"I-" Mitsuki looked out the window and sighed.

"Takuto! Meroko! NO!"

She pushed away the memories, "I want to, but even if I do, he might not remember." Since hearing about the tour that same thought had been haunting her. What if she told him everything, and he still didn't remember? He would think she was crazy and never speak to her again. She wasn't sure she could stand the heartbreak again.

"He'll remember," Ooshige responded confidently, and Mitsuki had to smile. It was like Ooshige to be so determined. "He has to, who could forget the bond you two had? He almost died a second death for you; he and Meroko-"

Meroko, another reason she needed Takuto to recover his memory. She needed him to tell her what happened to Meroko. She had to know.

"I'm sorry Mitsuki," Ooshige apologized, seeing the darkness swallow Mitsuki, "I just didn't think."

"It's okay," Mitsuki forced a smile and pushed back her demons. "Here we are anyway."

Mitsuki and Ooshige went to each of her teachers and showed them the note. She turned in her books and hugged friends goodbye, shedding more and more tears throughout the day. She would miss being with her friends, but it wasn't as if she was dying, at least, not anymore. That thought was what helped her through the day.

Finally, everything was returned, and she and Ooshige were able to return to Mitsuki's where her new tutor would be waiting for her.

"I wonder what she'll be like," Mitsuki mused as they neared the house.

"I don't know, Takasu didn't tell me anything; he never tells me anything," Ooshige grumbled unhappily.

Mitsuki giggled as they headed to her door, "I don't get told anything either, so I guess it'll be a surprise for both of us."

"That's my Mitsuki-chan, always the optimist," Ooshige laughed as they entered, but the laughing ended immediately when they saw Mitsuki's new tutor.

"I-uh-hello," Ooshige squeaked.

Mitsuki could only stare. There was no way this man could be a day over twenty-two, yet he looked very well educated. His dark black hair was shadowed by his blazing blue eyes; those were eyes someone could drown in. He was well built and stood at least half a foot taller than Mitsuki. Her mouth was suddenly very dry. Well, this certainly was not what she was expecting.

"Hello, you must be Ooshige-san and Mitsuki-chan," he extended a hand to Ooshige, and she took it-barely, "My name is Arinori Daishi, but you may call me Arinori."

"Nice to meet you," Mitsuki whispered as she took the offered hand.

"You as well. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you about some of my teaching methods. I explained them to your grandmother, but I think that since I'll be teaching you, you have a right to know my plans," he addressed this to Mitsuki with a smile, and she couldn't help thinking; Takasu-san could take some hints from this guy. "You're welcome to stay as well Ooshige-san."

"Me?" she laughed nervously and pointed to herself, "No, no, you two have fun, I'm probably needed back at the studio and, stuff-to, do." She stumbled over her own feet in her rush to leave but eventually regained her bearings and added a hasty, "I'll call you later Mitsuki-chan!" and fled.

"She seems like a friendly woman," Arinori commented almost to himself, "Ridiculously hyper, but friendly."

Mitsuki cracked a smile and nodded, "You don't know the half of it."

§§§

Mitsuki's low tones seemed to ring through the studio,

"So the sun goes down on another day

Still you're miles and hours away

I'm no closer toward coming your way

In my memory your image fades

But is all fair in love and war?

I've never felt this way before

So timid, so unsure

I can't remember what I'm fighting for…"

"Great job Mitsuki-chan!" a voice from outside the studio called, and she grinned and gave a thumbs up. "That's gonna be a hit!"

She giggled as she walked out of the studio, "I hope so, it's-" she stopped short when she saw who was accompanying the tech guy. "Kira-san," she bowed, allowing her heart time to slow down.

"Takuto, please," he insisted, and she smiled and looked up.

"Takuto then, why are you here?"

"Well," he grinned at her, "since we're to be touring together, I wanted to see what your music was like. I've heard a couple songs on the radio, but nothing is as good as raw studio work to see what a musician is like."

"Oh," she blushed and looked away. "So uh-what did you think?"

"It was amazing; you're very talented, and I'm honored to be touring with you," he uncrossed his arms to offer a hand, which she took, hesitantly. Almost as soon as their flesh met his eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong?" she inquired as they pulled away.

"Nothing, just…you seem sort of, familiar," he whispered, and her heart leapt into her throat again. "Like someone I used to know but can't quite remember. Odd."

"Well," she bubbled nervously, noticing the eyes on the two. "People tell me I'm a spitting image of Full Moon, so that might be it."

"Full Moon?" the name seemed familiar, but when he thought too hard on it his head spun.

"Takuto was in an accident a few years ago," Takasu-san informed her as he entered. "He didn't have the pleasure of knowing Full Moon's work."

"Oh," Mitsuki looked down, "that's a shame." But he does! Her heart was screaming; he made Full Moon!

"Yeah, I hear she was very brilliant, but I also hear listening to you is just like listening to her, only better," he winked.

She thanked him weakly but kept her eyes lowered.

"Since you're both here, I wanted to address you both," Takasu came to stand in front of the two.

Mitsuki's eyes turned upward, and she saw Takuto caught it too; he had something up his sleeve.

"You two are the most popular Japanese artists we've had since Full Moon, and no one has gotten as much dual publicity as you two since Full Moon and Madoka both released Eternal Snow." Here, both Mitsuki and Takuto cringed, "So-" Takasu hurried to continue, "it is my professional opinion that you should do a duet."

"A duet?" Mitsuki cocked her head. "But…"

"You can pick any song you like, or write a new one. I'll leave you two to discuss it," he turned and scurried from the office, knowing full well that they had no choice but to do what he said. They needed a producer, especially with both their albums young, Mitsuki's not even finished yet.

"Man," Takuto sighed heavily, running a hand through his deep blue hair. "Not, that I don't want to do a duet, it's just…he didn't leave much room for discussion."

"I know what you mean," Mitsuki grumbled. "Well, I guess we'd better pick a song at least."

"I guess so."

"What do you think?"

"I have no idea," he admitted.

"Me neither."

The silence seemed to last an eternity until Takuto addressed her again, "You wanna think about it over lunch?"

She laughed and nodded, "Sure."

He offered an arm, and she took it jokingly, but when their skin touched, his eyes again widened, then narrowed, "Are you sure we didn't know each other in a past life or something?"

"I-uh-don't think so," she tried to laugh it off, but her giggle was extremely weak.

§§§

"Your parents," Takuto sighed and leaned back on his hands as the two waited for their order to be up. "Were…perfect."

She tried not to inch closer toward him, wanting to suck in every detail. It was strange, hearing him speak of her parents like he'd never forgotten them. He's never been whole, she thought to herself, which almost brought tears to her eyes. He's always missing a part of him, somewhere.

"They loved each other so much; we were all so very envious. When they died, it was…a shock. Wakouji couldn't handle it, he dropped out, and so I was alone. I found out I had throat cancer on top of the loss of Aoi and Hazuki; they were like the brother and sister I'd never had. I just…went crazy. That's when I got into that accident; I wanted it to kill me, but I guess I was lucky."

"I guess," she muttered. You were dead Takuto, how can you not remember? You were a Shinigami, you were supposed to take my life.

"Well, I woke up and there was a new hope in my chest, couldn't really place it. Almost like, someone had affected me very deeply while I was in that coma. I'm not really sure, I probably sound crazy…"

"No, not at all," she assured him. Wasn't this sparking anything?

"So…I got the surgery. I went to America and got the surgery to fix my throat, and low and behold, here I am, singing again. Just like you. And now we're to be singing together. But what is the question."

She shook her head, "I don't know, maybe we should take something from Route L. That went over very well with Full Moon, and I sing like her so-"

"No," he stopped her in mid-sentence. "I can't do it. That would be very painful to me, especially seeing you sing it. Your father would have loved for you to sing one of his songs, but…I can't possibly do it with you. Besides, I'm not a part of Route L. anymore; I'm on my own now."

"Okay," she nodded, understanding his sentiments. "I understand."

"Thanks," he smiled. There was something about her…he just couldn't understand what it was yet. He needed to spend more time with her, and maybe…

Mitsuki's eyes caught something outside the window, just behind Takuto.

"What is it?" he questioned when he noticed her attention had gone to something behind him. "Not a monster I hope."

"No, it's…" she squinted and fell back in her chair. "No."

"What? Mitsuki, what's wrong?" his eyes became distressed. Something was wrong. She was genuinely terrified.

"I…long story," she squeaked and tried to hide her face.

"Mitsuki!" the voice called, and she turned to face it.

"What do you want?" she demanded fiercely.

"Mitsuki, who are you talking to?" Takuto inquired softly, urging her to stop. There were people watching all around them. Some were realizing she was the Mitsuki Kouyama, and he was the Takuto Kira. "You're going to get us caught."

"Ah, I thought you might try something silly like this. You're just a silly little girl. You know; I won't allow you to let him regain his memory. He cannot be allowed to remember he was a Shinigami. That's part of the bargain."

"Leave him alone!" she shouted, and Takuto looked at her in horror. "You've hurt him enough!"

He laughed bitterly, "You wouldn't want to get yourself caught Mitsuki, so I'll do you a favor and head out. We'll be seeing one another soon though, very soon." Without another word, he disappeared, leaving Mitsuki trembling.

"We've gotta get out of here," Mitsuki told him quickly, and he nodded numbly and helped her to stand and leave while everyone in the restaurant whispered about the stresses of show business.

§§§

"A duet! Not a love affair!" Takasu was shouting angrily as he threw the paper onto the desk.

"Takasu, we just went out to lunch to discuss the duet," Takuto assured him.

"The media doesn't care about details!" Takasu roared. "Now you two are going to be subject to harassment from all angles. Your lives, and consequently mine, just got a lot more complicated."

"Hey, there's no such thing as bad publicity right?" Takuto offered weakly, making Takasu growl.

"Well, tell me after all this you've at least picked a song!"

Mitsuki and Takuto exchanged nervous glances. Neither had to say a word though, Takasu already had his head in his hands, "Wonderful."

"Well, we were thinking maybe we could write a song together," Mitsuki offered as consolation.

Takasu looked up from his position, "Well, now that is wonderful. Something new and fresh; it won't be on either of your albums. Something people can only hear live. Ticket sales will skyrocket!"

"Well, you could look at it that way," Mitsuki whispered hesitantly when she felt Takuto tense.

"Of course, I need to get working on the advertising right away," he was already lost to the two.

"As should we," Takuto signaled for Mitsuki to follow him, which she did, giving Takasu a last glance to make sure he didn't notice.

"Man, I can't believe the nerve of that guy," Takuto muttered once they were outside. His hands were behind his head as if he was lounging, and Mitsuki knew this to be his thoughtful contemplation look. "Always so concerned over image, and, more importantly, money. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like it's about the music anymore."

Mitsuki nodded her head while she watched the ground move beneath her shuffling feet, "But still, when I'm on a stage with a crowd of people cheering Full-for me, I just…they're there because they recognize my message and can relate with it."

He examined the side of her face, had she almost said Full Moon? Well, he knew one thing for sure, there was much more to Mitsuki Kouyama than just another silly sixteen-year-old turn pop star, and he, Takuto Kira, was going to get to the bottom of it. "So…Miss Kouyama," he joked, holding a fake microphone to her lips, "What is your message?"

She laughed and batted his hand away, "My message is that, even if your heart is broken there will always be someone there to pick up the pieces and hold it together for you," she answered quietly, and he quieted.

"You speak from experienced?"

She nodded, Eichi…

"Who was the guy who broke your heart Mitsuki Kouyama?" Takuto brought his hands to her chin and made her look into his eyes, "I want a name and address, so I can find him and hurt him."

She smiled and tried to pull away, but he wouldn't allow it.

"And who was the man who put your heart back together? I need to congratulate him on winning the heart of such an extravagant girl."

Her hands were suddenly moist while her mouth was bone dry. It was almost as if all the water flew from her mouth and into her hands, "He-"

Before she could utter another word, the two were thrown apart by an unseen force, which knocked them both to the ground.

"None of that Mitsuki, you're being a very naughty girl," a voice tisked before the body belonging to it materialized.

"Izumi," she whispered hatefully as she brushed herself off and stood.

"What was that?" Takuto inquired as he too stood.

"Nothing," Mitsuki smiled sweetly, then, while Takuto was brushing off, glowered fiercely at Izumi.

"That was strange," he commented, looking almost right at Izumi in his scanning of the room, "Like ghosts or something."

"Or Sh-" a hand from Izumi clamped her mouth.

"What?"

"Nothing," she mumbled through Izumi's grasp.

"You're strange, beautiful, but strange."

She blushed fiercely, "What were we talking about?"

"The men in your life," he answered.

"Ah yes-"

"I wouldn't," Izumi whispered harshly in her ear.

"I guess I'll have to just keep that a secret for now," she tried to act teasingly, and it must have worked well enough, because he grinned and nodded.

"I see how it is. You like to be mysterious; I understand."

"Good girl," Izumi moved away from her, allowing her to let out her breath, "Now, you have somewhere to be I think."

She feigned looking at her watch, "Man, I have to meet with my tutor. Tomorrow I have to record my last song in the morning, but after that do you wanna work on the new song?"

"Sure," he smiled and waved goodbye as she headed out, Izumi following her.

§§§

"What do you want from me Izumi?" she demanded angrily when the Shinigami followed her all the way home.

"What makes you think I want something from you Mi-chan?" he asked innocently.

"Oh, I don't know," she mumbled, clenching her fists. "The fact that you collect souls maybe!"

"Oh, Mi-chan," he laughed huskily, "How you've changed in three years. Not so innocent anymore are we? Pity, you were always so naïve in those days- made my job a lot easier. But I'll cut to the chase; this has nothing to do with collecting souls. I'm on special assignment from the boss to make sure Takuto doesn't remember his time as a Shinigami. We have secrets that are better kept."

"Secrets or no, Takuto needs to recover his memory in order to be whole again," Mitsuki informed him.

"I simply will not allow it. And Mi-chan, try not to be difficult; you'll only make it harder for the both of us," he warned before he drifted through her roof and disappeared.

"Izumi!" she called after him, "Where's Meroko?" she whispered, sinking onto her bed.

Tanaka shook her head as she moved away from the door. Mitsuki-chan was talking to herself again, poor girl. She knew taking her out of school was a bad idea.