Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the movie!

A/N; Sorry if this chapter is short for everyone. I'm going to make this story short (but it's still going to be good in my opinion) because I have to finish my other one. The max chapters in this one is probably going to be 5-10 chapters. Sorry!

Thank you to:

44dreammaster: I updated! (Though I did dream of monkeys . . . lol!)

Chapter II: Tell Me the Truth . . . Even If It Hurts

"So how do you feel?" Rin asked her the next mourning at the breakfast table in Chihiro's apartment. Chihiro groaned and looked at her from her cereal bowl. "Rin, don't start," she groaned. "It's way too early in the mourning for this." Rin raised an eyebrow and pointed to the clock hanging on the wall. "It's 2 in the afternoon," she pointed out. Chihiro glared at her, "To me, it's still 7 in the mourning." Rin rolled her eyes and sighed. Chihiro did the same in a mocking way. The older sister shook her head and got up from the table. "You have to meet Ran to sign the contract in 2 hours, 'kay?" Chihiro grunted and went back to her cereal.

4:18 p.m.

"So do we have deal?" Ryan asked her a second time and held out a pen to her. Chihiro nodded, grabbed the pen, and signed her name on the contract. Ryan smiled and clapped his hands. "Welcome to DHM company, Chihiro." Chihiro smiled back, happy with her decision. Ryan got up for the table in his office, and motioned her to do the same. Chihiro got up from the chair slowly, wondering what he wanted to do. "We're starting today," he answered her unasked question. Chihiro pursed her lips, but nodded anyway. "So, where are we going?" Chihiro asked him during their walk in the long hall. "We're going to make your first single," he answered her promptly. "Do you know Haku Kinomoto?"

Chihiro nodded, "Yeah, my sister loves him." Ryan looked at her and asked, "How about you?" Chihiro blushed and looked down. "He's okay I guess," she said in a quiet voice. Ryan laughed, "You hate him, don't you?" Before Chihiro had a chance to answer, she crashed into some and fell heavily on her butt. The other person had only stumbled a few steps back . "Watch it!" the person barked at her. Chihiro got up and rubbed her back, "Sorry." When she looked up at the other, she found herself looking into a deep pool of green. She blinked and broke away, looking at him from head to toe. He was really easy on the eyes, white sneakers, blue jeans, and tight black shirt. His messy black hair looked like it had been combed already, but had a ruffed look because of the owner.

"Like what you see?" the person smirked. She smiled at him pleasantly, but her eyes were steely and cold, "Doesn't look like I see much, Mr. Kinomoto." Ryan got in between them before Haku could say something back, but from the look in Ryan's eyes, he was amused. "Now, now," he said cheerfully. "We can't have any of that. Since you two are working on Chihiro's first single." The two looked at him, with mouths open and gaping like fishes. "WHAT!"

Ryan chuckled. "Just what I said, the two of you are going to be singing a duet." Haku was the first one to recover and chuckled. "I guess I'm going to have to put up with the newbie," he said. Chihiro turned to him angrily. "Who said you had 'to put up with the newbie'?" she told him. "Why don't you just quit now that you have a chance." Haku grinned. "Then I wouldn't have a chance to bring the lady home to my apartment," he answered her. Chihiro anger was about to overflow when Ryan clapped a hand over her mouth, not allowing her to speak. He kept his hand firmly on her mouth and walked her to a recording studio down the hall.

"Don't say anything rash," Ryan whispered to her. "I know he's arrogant and everything, but please try to keep your temper in check. I would hate it if my new singer was suddenly kicked out of the company and a mad sister/girlfriend is to come after me." Chihiro pried his hand from her mouth. "You're dating my sister?" Chihiro blurted out. Ryan looked at her strangely and nodded. "Didn't she tell you?" Chihiro shook her head and was about to say something else when Haku cleared his throat. "So you're saying," Haku said to Ryan, "that the only reason that Chihiro has a contract is because you're dating her sister?"

The three stood silently, Haku was smirking, Chihiro face carefully blank, and Ryan was avoiding everyone's eyes. Haku's smirk faded a bit when he saw her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

(A/N: How dare he make her cry!)

"Is it true?" she asked Ryan calmly. Her eyes betrayed her though. The tears were threatening to fall, but she held them back fiercely. Ryan looked at her sharply at the accusation. "It is not true," he said to her. Haku shook his head. "Ryan," he said in a cheery voice, "tell her the truth . . .or should I?" Chihiro shot him a withering glance, but he smiled back at her. "Tell me the truth, Ryan," she said in a leveled voice.

He looked down and spilled the beans, "You're sister did asked me to hear you sing, but–!" Ryan was too late. Chihiro had rushed out of the room, pushing Haku aside as she did. Haku had seen her face, with tears falling down. He saw her retreating back as she rushed down the hall, to the stairs, and out the building parking lot. Haku felt a rush of regret, but stayed where he stood. Ryan sank down to the nearest chair and held his head in his hands. Haku shook his head and said, "You know you should have told in the first place." Ryan looked up at him tiredly. "Curse you, Kinomoto," he said wearily. Haku shrugged and walked away from the room,

Haku followed Chihiro's path down to the company parking lot and found her crying in her car. He watched her as she cried and saw her wipe away her tears hurriedly. He watched her as she took out her car keys, started the car, and drove away.

Haku felt his heart go out to her and decided to follow her. He saw her stop in front of Club HQ and took out her guitar. She entered the club, unaware of the person following her. Haku got out of his car and entered the club. Inside the club in the afternoon, the walls had been painted a deep shade of red to show a comfortable feel of the room. The stage had black curtains, separating backstage from the stage. A single stool stood lonely on the stage. Booths were set up on both sides and mini tables with two chairs each were spread around the room. He saw her talking to who looks like the owner of the club and saw him nod. The guy hugged Chihiro, and walked away to tend to the bar. The club wasn't packed in the afternoon, but a decent number of people had shown up.

His eyes wandered to the stage where he saw her walking up to. Chihiro silently took out her guitar and sat on the stool in the center of the stage. She sat there unmoving for a few moments before strumming a few chords out on her guitar. A soft melody filled the club and the voices were hushed into a whisper, the guitar sweet music flowed over him. 'She good,' he thought, surprised. 'Maybe she deserved the contract.' Her eyes were closed and the sweet melody, became hypnotic and haunting. Her fingers played her emotions out onto her guitar, switching until it matched what she was feeling exactly. He sat down to the nearest chair to listen to her play.

She stopped some time later and the people in the crowd burst into applause. She smiled sadly at them and placed her guitar back into the case. Chihiro walked off the stage and froze at the sight of Haku. He hurriedly got off his chair and headed toward her. "That was really nice playing," he said to her. She nodded at him. "Thank you," she said back, "and thank you for telling me the truth." She paused and whispered the last part out, "even though it hurt." She walked past him, but her heard her clearly.

'Did I really want to hurt her . . . or protect her?'

A/N: Like I said before, sorry for a short chapter! There is going to be a lot of drama in the next chapters so keep your tissues handy. AND PLEASE REVIEW!