"Moko-san…" Kyoko whined in a low voice, pulling on the jumpsuit's arm. "Mooookoooo-saaaaan…"

Kanae glared at the President with unmistakable stubbornness, which the President responded to with an identical look. Kyoko watched the interaction with confusion, glancing at her very best friend, to the President of their company, then back again. Her eyes bounced back and forth between the two, waiting to see which cracked first. It was like an invisible tennis match between skillful opponents.

"I refuse." Kanae said with reaffirmed vigor, breaking the silence that had followed his decree.

"You cannot refuse." Lory responded with the firm tone of finality. He rapped his walking stick against his wooden throne, a historical sign of a ruling sent by the gods, carved in stone. "It has been decided."

"Well un-decide it then." Kanae crossed her arms insolently, and made purposeful eye contact with the most powerful man in Japanese entertainment – an outright challenge to his authority. "I know this is your decision. You can change it."

"Think about it Kotonami-san." Lory said, his voice softening just enough to sound inviting and convincing. "You will be housed in your own apartment. You will have debut status. Your salary will be increased. All your travel costs will be paid for. To work in China for Director Li Hong is an amazing honor. You'll be a fully-fledged actress."

Kyoko took another gentle tug on Moko's pink sleeve, trying to catch her partner's attention. She had been doing so for the last ten minutes, with no effect. Kanae dutifully ignoring her…until the smaller actress added her puppy-like whimpers. It was obnoxiously cute, even to her stone-cold partner.

"Ah mo! What do you want?" Kanae hollered, tugging the sleeve away. Frustration caught up to her as she finally turned to look at her maddening rival. The dummy had no idea why she was refusing the President's request, and frankly that suited Moko best.

"Moko-san! This is your chance to get out of LoveMe! You can finally be free of the pink curse!"

Kyoko was completely baffled at her best friend's refusal of this final assignment. Sure, it was a bit far… but the curse of club LoveMe was a blight to both of them. She remembered every day she spent with Moko, especially the first few meetings. Ever since she had caught the sight of the sickeningly pink jumpsuit, Kanae had gnashed her teeth at the entire existence of LoveMe. No feelings seemed to have changed during the months they spent, studying, working, and doing LoveMe assignments together. So why was Moko-san fighting this amazing prospect? Certainly a year off their home island wouldn't be that horrible.

Then again, Moko-san is a delicate flower, Kyoko thought, pouting at the struggle she knew her friend must be battling in her mind. Maybe she thinks I won't be able to handle myself, now that Chiori has left LoveMe too... Kyoko eyes began to well up at the consideration of her comrade.

"Don't worry!" Kyoko added cheerfully, trying to convince her best friend of the huge opportunity. "I'll miss you, but I'll work my hardest to get out of LoveMe als-" She went silent in mid-hug attempt, as Kanae gave her a hard chop to the top of the head. "Don't." Moko replied simply.

There was only one way the President would let Kyoko leave LoveMe, and that was the last thing Kanae wanted Kyoko to do. It would mean there was no chance left. That she lost to him.

"You've obviously learned what you needed to learn. " Lory said coolly, the President's knowing gaze boring into Kotonami's skin as he watched their little encounter. He made it very clear that he had seen through every shield Moko had put up, her worst case scenario immediately confirmed. She had avoided looking and talking to her best friend for this exact reason. A good reason, as Kanae's traitorous heart gave a lurch at those damn teary golden eyes. It only served as a reminder of what she was fighting for.

"I have not," Kanae said rudely, turning back to the president. "and I will not go."

Lory stood up from his chair, his ragged leather pants and lion-head crown showing off the full extent of King Of The Jungle costume. He banged the gnarled walking stick angrily on the wooden floor. "If you do not leave LoveMe, then you leave me with no choice."

"That's fine..." Kanae interrupted, catching the President between sentences. She was in pure defiance mode now. He had wanted her to learn love. Now that she had, he was going to try and punish her? She wasn't going to deal with his hypocrisy lying down. "Dismiss me from LME. I know you can't pull me from my current shows. They're already on air and the directors are under other media giants. They can't fire me now that we're so deep in our season. Now that my name's out, I can be an actress with or without this company!"

"Moko-san!" Kyoko's gasp shook the room, as Kanae turned around and dutifully marched towards the door. "Don't go!"

She left me with no other option…

Takarada's heart sank, as his felt his chess piece move into the final attack. Certainly Cupid would smite him, a soldier of love, using affection as a means of attack. This was in order to protect the chances of one he favored more though. The boy was like a son to him. All was fair in love and war.

Lory sighed, the weight of causing heartbreak was too much on an old soul like him.

"Kotonami-san, if you do not leave LoveMe, then the person who'll be dismissed will not be you."

Lory's intention was discreet enough to fly over one head, but Kanae caught the thinly veiled threat with immediate horror. Her foot froze, her arm trembling as it reached for the brass door handle. She could handle being without LME, but..

The President continued, confirming her submission.

"You will leave your uniform with Sebastian and talk to Sawara-san by noon."

Kyoko looked from the President to her friend, standing stiffly at the fine mahogany door. Kyoko could see the rigid anger become lax, as the fight left Moko-san. She didn't even turn around, as she addressed the president.

"I will…but I don't think he deserves her."

The door slammed shut, leaving the final LoveMe member in the President's cunning hand.

I know it's riddled with errors! Correct me to your heart's content. But it's dedicated to Runa, and getting her to beta it is like telling your friend to wrap her own birthday present.

Secretly I love this paring. I know not many people will be interested, but I'm glad to get this one shot out of my mind and into some plot. You can choose to read the subtext any way you like to, but if you have any questions, I'm always happy to answer them!