Thank you for all the reviews guys! We truly appreciate them. And now here is chapter 9.

Disclaimer: We own nothing.

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Just the Beginning, Ch. 9

As Lenne said this, a female figure appeared at the back of the auditorium. She just stood there and watched as Lenne spoke. She placed her hand on her heart, "Lenne-chan," she said to herself.

Gabi gave Lenne a look, "You sing for one person only?" She crossed her arms, "And who might that be?"

"I don't see why I need to continue this conversation," Lenne said, now very irritated. Although she seemed to be happy about winning the contest, inside she knew that this was just another silly stunt. She sighed and got off the stage and wiped a tear, hoping no one would see. "I need you Rose," she said quietly to herself.

"I want a rematch," demanded Gabi.

"Why? I already beat you. There is no point," said Lenne.

"Lenne is right we have to be leaving soon," said Tomah.

"I know I can beat you. This stage isn't very good, so that's why I lost to you," said Gabi.

"What are you talking about," Lenne asked as she walked back over to Gabi. "This stage is fine. Your voice simply has no emotion. Plus it is not very good."

Gabi's eyes widened, "You bi-"

"Yes," Lenne asked, as if wanting Gabi to finish.

"My voice is plenty good. I just didn't warm up properly," said Gabi.

"Gabi give it up already. Lenne beat you fair and square," said Troy.

"You turned Troy against me," said Gabi refusing to accept the simple truth.

"What? I don't even know him," said Lenne.

"Oh please; I saw you flirting with him as you gave him back his wallet," Gabi said with venom in her voice.

Lenne couldn't help but to laugh, "You really are...what is the word...pathetic."

That had done it. Gabi felt her blood begin to boil. She walked over to Lenne and drew her hand back.

Seeing all this from the back of the auditorium, she knew that she couldn't let it go on. "Stop!" She yelled. "Don't you dare hit her. Don't you dare hit Lenne," said the voice.

'That voice I know that voice. But it can't be...can it,' thought Lenne.

"Who are you? Never mind that; this doesn't involve you," said Gabi.

"Yes it does. Anything involving Lenne involves me. Because Lenne-chan is mine," said the voice.

Gabi looked at the person as if she were crazy, "Excuse me?"

Lenne looked up and glanced over at Rick who simply nodded and shrugged. "Thank you," she said quietly to him. She looked at Gabi who was still staring at this person and pushed past her, "Rose-chan!" She ran into her arms.

Rose smiled and wrapped her arms around Lenne, "It has been too long," she said as she wiped her eyes.

Rose and Lenne held each other for a long time. Both lost in there own little world. "Did you really mean what you said? About me being yours" asked Lenne.

"Yes, did you mean what you said before you left," asked Rose.

"Of course; you're the only person I sing for," Lenne mumbled to Rose.

"Aishiteru, Lenne-chan," mumbled Rose. (A/N: Aishiteru means I love you in Japanese. Though they don't actually say I love you in Japanese…but that's its closest translation)

"Aishiteru," Lenne said as she looked into Rose's eyes.

"And that means what," Gabi asked, ruining the moment.

Rose looked Gabi over, "And who is this," she asked with disgust.

"Gabriella Montez," said Gabi.

"Montez," said Rose as she thought for a second. "Your mother's name is Isabella is it not," asked Rose.

"Yes. How do you know that," asked Gabi a bit taken aback.

"How do you know that Rose," asked Tomah.

"Easy. Her mother works for my father," said Rose.

"Is that true Skywalker-sama," said Lenne with a wicked grin as she turned to look at Rose.

"Ah Lenne-chan you know I hate it when you call me that. But yes it is true," said Rose.

"Skywalker, as in the daughter of the CEO of Skywalker international," asked Gabi.

"Hai. Now I suggest that you leave Lenne-chan and I alone or your mother will find herself out of a job," said Rose as she drew Lenne closer to her. (Hai is "yes" in Japanese)

Lenne just blushed and leaned her head against Rose's chest and mumbled something unintelligible. Rose could barley make it out, but it sounded something like Skywalker-sama.

Gabi just stared at the girl for a moment before silently finding a seat.

Lenne looked over at Rick and Tomah, "I would like to leave now."

Tomah stood up, "Of course." He turned to Ms. Darbus who was still trying to understand what had just gone on. "Thank you for allowing us to use your stage."

She nodded, "Oh yes...of course," she said as she sat back down.

Lenne and Rose walked out to the car, Rick and Tomah close behind.

"Rose-chan what are you doing here? Not that I'm not glad to see you," said Lenne as rested her head on Rose's shoulder.

"Tomah called me and told me what happened. And then the next thing I know I'm rushing to the airport to board a flight to come be with you," said Rose.

"I have missed you," said Lenne as she looked up at Rose.

"And I have missed you too, Lenne. My Lenne-chan," said Rose.

Lenne smiled as she heard Rose say those words. 'My Lenne-chan.' She had missed Rose saying that to her for a long time.

Rick smiled at the two as he climbed into the driver's seat of the car.

"Will you at least give them some privacy," Tomah said as he motioned for Rick to drive.

"It's just...well I have not seen Lenne this happy since...well since she last saw her," Rick said as he turned around.

Tomah simply nodded, "Yes; it appears that your plan to make Lenne happier has actually worked."

"Hey my plains always work" said Rick.

"That's because you're a manipulative bustard," quipped Lenne, who was comfortably resting on Rose's shoulder.

"Haha very funny," said Rick.

"Anyway what is there to do in this town? I want to see it before we go home," said Rose.

"Not too much. Speaking of home where am I going to stay? I don't want to go back to my aunt's house because my parents might call there looking for me," said Lenne.

"With me of course; do you honestly think I will let you leave me again," said Rose.

"No. But are you sure Rose-chan? I mean I know how your parents are. And I don't think they will like the fact about...um well you know...us," finished Lenne quietly.

Rose shook her head no. "Don't worry about that. Besides my parents already know about us, and they didn't really have a problem when I asked them to let you stay with us."

Lenne smiled softly, "Thank you Rose-chan."

"You know that you will always be welcome in my home," Rose said as she looked at Lenne. She then looked out the window that was on Lenne's side of the car, "Oh is that a mall?"

Lenne turned around so she was facing the window, "Yes, it's the mall...why?"

"Oh I just thought that maybe we could do some shopping before we go home," Rose suggested.

Lenne giggled, "Rose-chan, you need to have American dollars here..."

Before Lenne could finish, Rose pulled out her wallet and took something out. "You mean this?"

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Back at school…

"Come on Gabi let's go shopping or something," said Taylor as she tried to get her friend to cheer up.

"Yeah forget about that dumb contest. You're a great singer," said Troy before he kissed his girlfriend.

'Rose-chan...Rose-chan. Wait a second; Sharpay said something about someone she called Rose-chan. Could the Rose we met today and Sharpay's Rose be one in the same? No, that doesn't make much sense. Rose is rich, powerful, beautiful, confident, elegant, and came from Japan. There is know way a princess like that could have met or been friends for that matter with my sister,' thought Ryan.

"Earth to Ryan," Chad said as he waved his hand in front of Ryan's face.

Ryan blinked and looked up at Chad, "Hmm?"

"Did you want to come to the mall with us," Kelsi asked him.

"Sure why not; I really don't feel like going home right now," he said, remembering what they had done to Sharpay. He was not ready to face them again.

They arrived at the mall and were heading along the food court. "Hey guys," said Kelsi.

"Yeah," said Chad.

"Isn't that Lenne and Rose," asked Kelsi as she saw them sit down at a table.

Over with Lenne and Rose…

"And people actually…um…eat this stuff..." said Rose as she pointed to her hamburger that Lenne had gotten them.

"Rose-chan try it, its good," whined Lenne.

"All right fine," said Rose as she took a bite. She took another and another. "Hey this is pretty good," said Rose.

"I still can't believe you never had one," said Lenne as she began to giggle at Rose.

"That's not my fault. I grew up with high class food. I have never eaten anything that was mass produced by teenagers until now," said Rose.

Lenne shook her head and picked up a french fry and ate it, "Well," she said after swallowing, "Now you know what kind of food I have been eating for the past 3 1/2 years," she said.

"That is true," Rose said as she finished her hamburger.

"What did you want to do next," Lenne asked as she threw the remains of her food away. "We can go to the shoe store or the fancy clothing store..."

"Lenne," Rose said, stopping her, "If there is one thing that Japan and America have in common, it is shopping," she said as she got up and threw her stuff away. "Come on."

Lenne nodded, "Okay." She and Rose walked out of the food court, not seeing the gang from school.

With Everyone Else...

"Where do you think they're going," Taylor asked the group.

"I'm not sure but let's follow her," said Troy as a dreamy look came across his face.

"All right," said Ryan as he too wanted to follow the Japanese beauty.

"So what did you guys think about that Rose chick? She was pretty hot," said Chad.

"Her and Lenne have to be the most honest people I have ever seen," said Troy. Gabi just grabbed his hand and squeezed the life out of it. "Gabi you're hurting my hand."

"Oh sorry Troy," said Gabi as they continued to follow Rose and Lenne.

"Do you guys think that Rose really was Rose Skywalker?" asked Taylor.

"I don't know," Ryan said distantly. Although he could hear what his friends were saying, he wasn't paying any attention to them; for his attention was on Rose.

"I think she just said that to scare me," Gabi said as she gave Rose a dirty look.

"It worked," Kelsi muttered.

"What was that," Gabi asked Kelsi pointedly.

"Nothing," said Kelsi.

"Hey Lenne," yelled Troy once they were close enough that other two would hear them. Troy broke free from the group and ran over to the other two women.

Lenne and Rose stopped and turned around to see the gang and Troy running towards them. "Hey, what's up," asked Lenne.

"What are you guys doing here," asked Kelsi.

"Rose-chan wanted to see the mall before we went home," said Lenne.

Gabi chuckled, "You mean you have never been to a mall before?"

Rose narrowed her eyes at Gabi, "I have been to plenty of malls, thank you very much. I just wanted to see how this mall compared with the ones back home."

"So what do you think of this one," Gabi asked her.

"It's not nearly as nice as the ones we have in Japan," she said with a soft giggle.

Ryan just looked at Rose and blushed. 'Her giggle is so cute, she is so beautiful,' thought Ryan.

Lenne looked at Ryan. 'No way,' thought Lenne. She then leaned over to Rose and…

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Hmm, what do you think Lenne is about to do? Please review!