-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Author's note: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

- I am currently drawing some pictures for this fanfiction, everybody that will review this chapter will get one!! That's all up to you guys! I want to reach 50 reviews, please help me!! Help me guys:D

- This IS the LAST chapter. It's longer and actually contain more than one chapter as you will see. But because I won't have access to internet for a long while, I wanted to at least give you guys the grand final!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

I want to thank xXCandyGirlXx, animeluv12, chisse-chan, ItzMistral and Yoruichi.101 for your reviews. Thanks a lot guys!! Most of you are with me since the beginning and for continuously supporting me I'm very very thankful! ( and honoured :D )

chisse-chan: Well, your song fit perfectly with my senario so I had to use it :D

ItzMistral: Thanks! I really appreciate it!

xXCandyGirlXx: Anita, I'm glad that you like my story so much! Yep! I update sooner than I thought I could because of your reviews:D See, the PoWeR of Reviews is great loll!

Animeluv12: Sorry for the spelling mistakes… I didn't notice them… seems like when I read back my story I don't see them at all… I'll try to work on that!

Yoruichi.101: Yeah it might be through… I tried to keep Meroko as close as I could to her character in the manga, because I think her character is much deeper in the manga… but she might have been out of character… If so, I'm sorry. I'll try harder :)

Just to make it clear, the only one that is still not over 18 years old is Mitsuki.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

If you haven't notice yet, I planned to use some songs of other animes:

For Mitsuki, I added : Life – Yui Every Heart – BoA, Tsuki no KAASU – Okina Reikaand thanks to chisse-chan: Sore ga, Ai deshou – Mikani Shimokawa

For Takuto, I didn't had any good idea beside: Rewrite – Asian Kung-fu Generation

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmoon wo sagashite. I'm not making any money out of this. I'm just borrowing the characters and some part of the storyline to write a fanfiction. This time, I'm also borrowing the song Every Heart singed by BoA, Sore ga, Ai deshou by Mikani Shimokawa, Life by Yui, Tsuki no Curse by Okina Reika and Rewrite by Asian Kung-fu Generation, I don't own them. I also wasn't the one who did the traductions… I took them from lyrics sites or official site and occasionally mixed my own understanding of the song. I wanted to thanks the traductors and give credit for their work!!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Feelings for Takuto - 10

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

It seemed like everything was going wrong. She missed Takuto. The thought of losing him hurt at least as much as the thought of losing Eichi-kun. A long week passed. So slowly, her heart and mind were more than aching to see his smile and simply talk to him. She turned in her bed and let some tears fall down her cheeks into the comfort of her sheets. A soft knock on her bedroom door stirred her from the pool of sadness were she had been drowning herself the pasts days.

"Mitsuki, there's a friend, Meroko, here to see you. Can I let her in?"

Tanaka-san's voice was so soft, with that motherly tone that her grandmother had been lacking for the past three years. Mitsuki wiped away her tears and sat at her bed's foot. She tried her best to seem happy and even put a smile on her face.

"Come in Meroko!"

The pink haired teen came in with a smile, but you could easily see she wanted to cry. The younger girl just opened her arms and Meroko flew in them and started to cry. She cried hard while Mitsuki was gently petty her short colored hair. They stayed like that until the older girl could no longer cry. Without a word Mitsuki went to get a cup a water but ended up with tea since Tanaka-san had thoughtfully made it while the girls were alone in the room. She handed a cup to the short haired girl with big swollen eyes with a soft smile.

"Thank you Mitsuki."

"You're welcome Meroko. We're friends, aren't we?"

The tone was light and joyful as it could. Never would Meroko had known the girl in front of her had been crying just an hour ago. They drank their tea in comfortable silence. Not looking at each other, just lost in their own thoughts.

"Mitsuki, I told Takuto to break up with Ma-chan."

She said that with the most serious look on her face. The younger girl looked at her with disbelief. She even choked a little while she swallowed her tea.

"Meroko…"

"I did that because I like Takuto very much and I want him to be happy. I know that he has fallen in love with a girl he has been hanging out with recently. I'd like it if they were together."

Mitsuki's hurt so much. So Takuto had fallen in love with another girl. She felt like she was about to cry but contained her tears very well. She took another sip of her tea and answered her friend.

"But, doesn't it hurt you, to let the one you love with someone else?"

The two girls looked at each other.

"Do you love Takuto, Mitsuki?"

That was unexpected and the long brown haired girl almost fell over, some tea splashing on the neat floor. Mitsuki got up and went to get a towel and sponged the liquid of the floor. Meroko smiled. This conversation was finally going somewhere. She put her hand over Mistuki's one as she was wiping the floor. This stopped the younger girl who looked up to Meroko.

"Please, answer me truthfully."

Mitsuki bit her lower lips, blood came out. The taste was bitter but she didn't cared.

"I truthfully don't know, Meroko."

There was a long pause, as Mitsuki sat comfortably in front of Meroko. Looking at the older girl directly in the eyes, while she straightened her thoughts that hustled in her head. Eichi-kun, and her feelings for him, how long she waited for him… she couldn't let that count for nothing. Takuto-kun, how she feels around him, pleased… happy… but it couldn't meant more than all those years she vowed to love Eichi-kun and she promised herself she would find him again through her songs…

"Mitsuki, stop thinking about it. Nothing good can come out of that. Just feel it. Let your heart decide. Your heart is the only one with the good answer. Not your mind. So don't think, okay?"

Mitsuki nodded. She was about to answer Meroko, but she hushed her.

"You don't have to tell me. Just tell the person you love. That will be enough for me. Do it soon though. Promise?"

The pink haired girl was smiling. She held out her pinky for the ritual pinky-promise. Mitsuki smiled at her, such a childish behaviour for a teen years old! They pinky-promised and Meroko left soon after that. They would meet in the studio where Mistuki was going to record her new song tomorrow.

Mitsuki got up. She felt revived somehow because of her talk with Meroko. If she just listened to her heart, she could feel the name of the person she loved reverberating. She loved Eichi-kun and might always loved him but, even though he was so important to her, that feeling seemed kind of pale compared to the one she had for Takuto. Takuto… she loved Takuto. She felt her heart jumped at the thought, it felt so good. She was so happy. She had to do something to celebrate her happiness. She decided that she would go shopping a little. She asked Tanaka-san to take her shopping and the maid couldn't refuse the joyful girl. It had been a week since she last saw her laugh.

Mitsuki had lots of fun at the commercial centre. She tried on clothes, shades and even jewellery. In the music store, she saw that her last single was selling quite well and that made her heart swelled. Another disk caught her eyes, it was just beside her own. The cover was a simple peace of paper that looked like it'd been erased and "REWRITE" was written in bold letters that took most of the cover. What caught her eyes was the little characters that announce the singer's name: Negi-Ramen. She put the headphone of the demo on her ears and listened to the song. She new they released a song two days ago, but since they said they shouldn't meet from now on, she didn't come to the release. Takuto. She loved him so much, it was crazy. She had no idea of what the song was like. She listened carefully to Takuto's singing voice:

"kishin da omoi o hakidashitai no wa"

Wanting to spit out the jarred thoughts is

"sonzai no shoumei ga ta ni nai kara"

Because there's no other proof of my existence

"tsukan da hazu no boku no mirai wa"

My future that I should've grabbed hold is

"'songen' to 'jiyuu' de nujun shiteru yo"

Conflicting between "dignity" and "freedom"

"yugan da zazou o keshi saritai no wa"

Wanting to erase the distorted afterimage is

"jibun no genkai o soko ni miru kara"

Because I'll see my limit over there

"jiishiki kajou no boku no mado ni wa"

In the window of the excessively self-conscious me

"kyonen no CALENDAR hidzuke ga nai yo"

There are no dates in last year's calendar

"keshite REWRITE shite"

Erase and rewrite

"kudaranai chou gensou"

The pointless ultra-fantasy

"wasurarenu sonzai kan o"

The unforgettable sense of being

"kishikaisei"

Revive

"REWRITE shite"

Rewrite

"imi no nai mousou mo"

The meaningless imagination

"kimi o nasu dendouryoku"

The driving force that creates you

"zenshin zenrei o kure yo"

Give it your whole body and soul

Two girls passed by, shoving Mitsuki over the counter a little. She took off the headphone and was about to ask them to excuse themselves when she caught on the subject of their conversation.

"It's true! It's written right here: "'I don't have a girlfriend anymore, we broke up a couple of days ago.' The talented singer of Negi-Ramen wouldn't talk more about this topic. We don't have any information on the reasons of their break-up but rejoice girls, it means the young singer is available." See, he really is available, even the interviewer says so!"

"Stop dreaming Karyn, he must be in a secret relationship with someone. You don't have a chance…"

"Excuse me."

Mistuki's voice was small. They must be wrong. They can't be right. The older girls looked at her, annoyed. The blond one was still holding onto the magazine she had been reading while the other one, with black hair, made a scary face as she addressed Mitsuki:

"What do you want?"

"Hmmm, is that really true? Takuto-kun and Ma-san broke up?"

The black haired one still looked more than annoyed by this but the blond one had stars in her eyes.

"You seemed well informed!! You even know the nickname Takuto-kun has for Kouyama-san."

Something flashed in Mistuki's mind. Her eyes lost their light for a minute. Kouyama Ma-san… That couldn't be… no it couldn't be…

"What's the full name of Kouyama-san, please, I really need to know!"

It was desperate. The blond girl looked at her as if she just grew a second head.

"You know her nickname but not her name, that's a first. She is Kouyama Madoka-san. She is quite known here and in America you know, she's a model. I was surprised when I read about the break-up because last time, in the magazine, Kouyama-san was talking about engagement and…"

"Thank you very much. I'll be leaving now…"

Mitsuki couldn't believe it. Takuto's Ma-chan was actually her older sister, Madoka. She felt her sadness took over as she walked away from the girls. The blond one seemed annoyed now.

"She didn't need to take it to heart that much, it's not like Kouyama-san is such a great person after all."

They looked at each other and continued their shopping without a second thought on the little brown haired sixteen years old.

Mitsuki, on the other hand, was feeling utterly down. How was she gonna face her sister now? What is she gonna say to her? She couldn't hang out with Takuto at all now. She couldn't told me she loved him. Everything was getting worst! Why was everything blowing up in her face all the time? First with Eichi-kun, now with Takuto…

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Curse of the Moon - 11

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

She went home with Tanaka-san who seemed to look overly concerned about Mitsuki's change in mood. At home, the girl went to her room and let herself fell on her bed. She didn't know what to do. She looked up and saw her first single on her bed. "Every Heart." She took the CD and put it in her CD player. This song played a lot on the radio even after it was released. She listened to the music and her singing.

"Ikutsu namida wo nagashitara

Every Heart sunao ni nareru darou"

How many tears must be shed Every Heart, Before we can become honest?

Mitsuki listened, tears swelling up in her eyes. It hurt so much. She had come to term with her feelings with Takuto. She loved him. It was as simple at that. Why, after she finally accepted that fact, why was something like that unveiled only for her to know. It was unfair. She couldn't become honest with her feeling without hurting people she loved, Meroko… Madoka…

"Dare ni omoi wo tsutaetara"

To whom must we proclaim our feelings

"Every Heart kokoro mitasareru no darou"

Every Heart, So that we can no longer feel loneliness?

She smiled through her tears and softly sang the next lines together with her recorded voice. She wouldn't proclaim her feelings… it was too late now. Not after what she just discovered.

"Nagai nagai yoru ni obieteita

tooi hoshi ni inotteta"

I was frightened by the long, long nights I prayed to the distant stars

Tears were staining her cheeks and her neck. She couldn't stop them. She was crying so much in the last couple of days. She did what she always did in her most distress moments, she sat in front of the calendar and asked Eichi-kun for guidance in her mind.

"Meguru meguru toki no naka de"

Round and round in looping time

"Bokutachi wa ikite nanika wo shiru"

We live and come to understand things "Toki ni warai sukoshi naite"

At times laughing, sometimes crying,

"kyou mo mata aruki tsudzukete yuku"

We will continue to walk again today

The music ended softly as it always end. She coughed. Her throat seemed irritated after singing and so much crying. She was still crying and cried herself to sleep not moving from her spot on the floor near the moon calendar.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The next day she was woken up by a very happy Meroko and her manager, Ooshige-san. She was going to be late to her interview at the radio. They helped her to get reading in silence, since Mitsuki had woken up, the atmosphere was more tense and heavy. Once the younger girl was blond, clothed and fully awake, they all jumped into Wakaouji's car, Ooshige-san had borrowed it. The grandmother looked at them with disapprobation. She had figure out Mistuki had been doing something without telling her. Thinking it was modeling like her older sister, she let it go. She didn't want to worsen even more her relationship with the teen. If only she knew that her grand-daughter had been singing… she wouldn't have act so subtly.

They arrived just in time at the interview. Mitsuki put a fake smile on her face, that Meroko noticed right away. She talked smoothly and with ease to the interviewer. The interviewer looked at Mitsuki's overall for a minute than ask what was surely on the mind of all the people that had been following her every steps since before her beginning:

"Fullmoon-san, are you part of the reason of Takuto's break-up with the model Kouyama Madoka?"

Ooshige Masami was fuming behind the window that separated the on-air team from the listeners. She made big signs with her arms, shouting : No! Cut it now! But no one seemed to react to her desperate attempt to stop this. Mitsuki had her back to her and couldn't see her. She didn't seem phase by the question even though she didn't thought the interviewer would have the gut to ask it. It was on everybody's face though, so she wasn't that much surprised. She had prepared an answer overnight. She just let the words slipped naturally on her tongue with a light tone.

"Kira-san's private life has nothing to do with an interview on Fullmoon's career, has it?"

She didn't have to say more. The interviewer's face became flushed and she stammered a little before continuing the interview as if nothing happened. Ooshige-san clapped her hands together, really proud of Mitsuki's reaction. Meroko looked at her in disbelief. How could have Mitsuki come up with an answer on this… she wasn't even aware that Ta-kun had broken up with Ma-chan… or was she… wait a minute… Kouyama Ma-chan, like Kouyama Mitsuki… no… this wasn't good. Not good at all. She ran out of the room to Kazura's production's building. She had to tell Takuto. If she didn't now, later would be too late.

Mitsuki got some air time to thanks all her listeners. She even sang a couple of lines of her single "Every Heart" and after one last questions from the listeners on the phone, the interview was finished. Ooshige-san praised the long blond haired teen on her swift thinking in the interview. She had done so well. The rest of the ride to Kazura's production was silent. In the studio, the musician were getting ready. She looked at them. They started playing softly the introduction of the song she presented Takasu-san at the beginning of last week. She got up and everybody in the room looked at her.

"Can I try something Takasu-san?"

The producer looked at her. She seemed so serious, he just nodded, wondering what good or bad would result this.

She went up to the musicians and explained to them what she wanted. Which scale to follow and what rhythm she was looking for. They looked at her in disbelief then at Takasu-san. The producer just nodded as she made monstrous change to what they were suppose to play. Ooshige-san looked in disbelief, she was starting to get very nervous. It was so bold of a young singer to do something like that. Especially to someone as competent and known as Takasu-san.

The musician started to play what they were told, it didn't seemed too bad, but it had nothing to do with the music they had planned for her second single: Sore ga, Ai deshou. She took place in her small soundproof room, in front of her producer and put the headphones on. She made a sign for them to start to play the music very softly as she sang the first line that came to her mind deep from her heart.

"tsuki no curse tsumetai yume no naka de..."

Moon's curse in this icy dream...

It wasn't Sore ga, Ai deshou… but they didn't stopped playing. Not use to being directed by the singer on the other side of the window, their eyes never left the teen. She made grand sign with her arms, similar to the conductor of an orchestra. They followed her and raised the rhythm drastically with a nice improvisation of the music. She than pursued a singing her lines as they came to her.

"kotoba no nai sekai de bokura wa ai wo kataru itsuka kimi ni todoku made"

In a world with no words, I profess my love until it will reach you, someday

"kizu darake no kainade daki yoseta kuchibiru no"

The intense wish, that fell from those lips, that I held close with wounded arms

"haritsumeta negai tokashitakute"

I wanted to unravel it for you

"nee aishiatta kako no utsukushisa sutesareba"

Because if I throw away the beauty of our love that existed in the past

"ashita motto kirei na yaoru e yukeru kara"

I can go towards a more beautiful night tomorrow

The musician easily got the hang of it and followed her with more and more ease as she sang her first chorus. Everything went smoothly, as if they practice a couples of times already.

"tsuki no curse"

Moon's curse

"tsumetai yume no naka kara kimi wo tooku tsuresaritakute"

From this icy dream, I wanted to take you far away

"dokomade yukeru ai wo shinjite ii basho made"

How far can I go until I reach a place where I can believe in love

She stopped singing and mouthed "instrumental break" as she described what she wanted with her hands and arms. After a minute or two, she put her hand at the level of her face and brought in down slowly. They followed her, bringing the volume down, the batter stopped playing while the others were still playing so softly it almost seemed as if they were faking it. She smiled, signalling they had done great. She opened her mouth and sang softly the next line that seemed to need silence for them to express what she wanted them to express.

"nee kimi wo dakishimete atatamerareru naraba"

If I could hold you and know that I can keep you warm

"donna batsu mo tsumi mo ima wa kowakunai"

I am not afraid of any punishment or sin

She made a sign to bring back the music really softly.

"tsuki no curse"

Moon's curse

"tsumetai yume no naka kara kimi wo tooku tsuresaritakute"

From this icy dream I wanted to take you far away

There she raised her arms and they took the rhythm they had previously played on the chorus.

"dokomade yukeru ai wo shinjite ii basho made"

How far can we go until we reach a place where we can believe in love

"dokomade yukeru ai wo shinjite ii basho made"

How far can we go until we reach a place where we can believe in love

She was going to finish it with the same feeling she had given through the song. She raised her hand and lowered it before singing the last two words.

"yoru no mukou futari dake de"

Beyond the night, just the two of us

She was coughing a lot and her throat started to hurt a little, but she was feeling better now. Her feelings were out in the open. She blushed realising she had postponed the recording of her second single. She looked up to the people on the other side of the window. Ooshige was in the back of the room, looking extremely pale as she kept glancing at the back of Takasu-san. Mitsuki shifted her gaze to him. He was smiling. She smiled back and went to talk to him.

"Sorry Takasu-san, it just come over me all of the sudden. I really wanted to have it done before I forgot about it."

Mitsuki explained with a soft smile still on her face. The producer just smiled back at her, Ooshige-san was still pale, not able to see the producer's face.

"It was very good! With very small adjustment it will be out as your second single if you want, since this one is almost ready. Or we could say it's a special song, like a limited edition thing. That would sell even more since we already announced your second single over the radio. What do you think?"

Ooshige-san's face regained colours in an instant. The producer liked Fullmoon's initiative! She was relieved. She went up to Takasu-san and they talked about the possibilities of this new song. Mitsuki was smiling. It felt good to pour her feelings into something. This song had made her feel so much better. Maybe she would tell her feelings to Takuto. Even if it seemed like she stole her sister's boyfriend to the world, she knew deep down that it wasn't exactly the case. She would tell everything to Takuto though. She would also tell everything to her sister before telling Takuto. She had the right to know what had been going on. She took out her cellphone and press the shortcut button to call her sister. It rang a couple of times before she heard Madoka's voice.

- - Hello there, Madoka's speaking. - -

"Madoka, it's Mitsuki. I want to talk to you. Are you available at six tonight?"

- - Mistuki-chan! Sure! What I wouldn't do for my precious little sister? Where are we meeting? - -

The words hurt Mitsuki. It wasn't because she hated Madoka. It was more because she loved her and respected her so much that it hurt her.

"Your favourite restaurant, the reservation will be at the name of Kouyama Mitsuki. I'll be waiting for you. See ya later."

- - Yeah, see you tonight Mitsuki! - -

Now that she was going to tell Madoka everything, she felt quite insecure. How would her sister reacted? She didn't wanted to think too much about it. Anyway she still had three hours of recording before the appointed time. Maybe if she was lucky, her second single would be recorded as well! That'd be so great that she didn't count too much on that. Nothing was really going great at the moment.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mistuki's Sister - 12

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

She arrived at the restaurant thirty minutes before the appointed time with her sister. She wanted to make sure she was the first one to be there. She took the time to breathe slowly. It wasn't something that she was sure to be able to do after telling her sister. She might be dead, her sister digging a grave in their grandmother's backyard. Even though the thought was more funny than realist, it didn't made her laugh nor even smile. This was a serious matter and she wouldn't let any thought get her off the subject at hand. She saw her sister enter the restaurant. Mitsuki couldn't help but put on a weird shy smiled when Madoka waved at her. She was dressed in a fancy dark pink dress that went up her knees. It glittered as the older girl made her way to Mitsuki. She also had shade and a very fluffy big white feathery scarf that almost went down to her white high-heel sandals. She sat down at Mitsuki's table and took off her shades.

"Didn't want my fan to recognise me, did I scared you? You kind of look pale."

Mitsuki looked at her in disbelief as her older sister put her hand on her forehead than on her own.

"No you seem okay! What did you want to talk to me about? A boyfriend? "

Mitsuki looked at her with suspicious eyes. Did she knew something? Was she aware that she was the blond haired singer that been hanging out with her boyfriend for a couple of months now? She looked at her sister's blissful face. No. She didn't know. She sighed before answering.

"Well kind of, but before, let's order our food. I don't want you to starve to death before me."

It was a light joke and Madoka laughed. The atmosphere wasn't as tense as Mitsuki had imagine. She felt more relax and ready to tell her sister her hidden life of the past few months. When the waiter came to gave them what they ordered, the younger sister started her story:

"You remember Madoka, when you first came back from America a couple of months agon…"

She let a pause so that Madoka could get to the right memory lost in her mind. The older girl simply nodded.

"Well you told me that I couldn't sing. But I met a boy who had faith in my voice and my singing talent. That boy was really handsome and without knowing it, I took a liking to him from that moment. He also sang so beautifully… but that night, he gave me ticket for a show were he would be singing. I was so happy that I took them without thinking. You know that grandmother is not really fond of music since what happened years ago with our mother…"

Madoka nodded. She knew that story too well. Their mother had fallen in love with the singer of a band and had left her home at the age of sixteen. That broke their grandmother's heart. They lived happily and had two beautiful daughters. Even though she was so young, she did her best to give a good life to her daughters. But one night, when Mitsuki was two and Madoka four, their father's concert ended very late. Their mother was waiting for him and as they made their way to the car, they got crushed by a car. Their mother was killed on the spot, their father was sent to the hospital. He died there, a couple of hours after. The media said it wasn't an accident, that it had been someone or a group of person that didn't like the woman that was married to the greatest singer of their time. Their grandmother never was able to pardon that to their father. She hated music from then on because it stole something so precious from her.

"So not to be recognise I dyed my hair. I lied saying I was going to a friend's when really I was at a concert. I don't regret it. He was on stage. His singing was so beautiful Madoka. He even called me on stage when he spotted me in the audience. We sang a song together. It was magical. That's what everyone told my afterward. He proposed to help me meet a manager. I was overjoyed. You know how much I want to become a singer."

Madoka was still looking at her. Eating very slowly what was in her plate. She listened her sister talked about this boy that she seemed so in love with. She even smiled when Mitsuki told her that one of her single was playing on the radio. Mitsuki had grown up so much in such a short amount of time. She was very proud of her. Not that she will ever tell that though. Mitsuki explained everything that happened in details. The only thing she left out was the names of the people. She wanted her sister to hear all of the story before telling she had fallen for her ex-boyfriend. Madoka was listening to her story without saying a word. That was very un-Madoka-like.

"Then, because our friendship that was starting to grow to something that was a little more than just friends, we decided that we should stopped hanging out. We would not talk to each other if the business didn't required it."

Madoka couldn't keep it to herself anymore. She jumped off her chair and shouted:

"But that's unfair! You liked that boy, no? Why would you back just because he has a girlfriend. It doesn't seem fair to me!"

"Please Madoka. Let me finish first."

People looked at them for a second and went back to their own meal. Mitsuki had pleading eyes. Madoka sat back down and waited for her to continue.

"That's when I realise he meant a lot to me. But it's because of a little chat with my friend that I finally conclude that I love him."

Madoka almost had teary eyes.

"But yesterday, I was at the commercial centre. I overheard that the boy I like had broken up with his girlfriend. For the first time in seven months, I heard the name of the girl he was going out with. She was a very talented model known even in America: Kouyama Madoka."

Mitsuki closed her eyes, waiting for her sister to explode. She coughed a little, maybe something in the soup she hate had irritated her throat. Madoka was going to take her shouting, her frustration, her tears, all the stuff she was going to shout in her face. She was going to accept the treatment she was going to get inflicted with. She was going to accept whatever may come. Because she loved her sister, Madoka was her only sister. But there was no shouts, no cries, not even tears. Mitsuki opened her eyes and looked at her sister's face, not knowing what she was going to see. What she saw was a sad face of her older sister. She looked like she was sorry… but why?

"Madoka, I'm really sorry… I didn't meant to… I didn't know… I…"

The purplish haired girl put a hand on her sister's shoulder. When Mitsuki's eyes met hers, she shook her head.

"How long have you been suffering Mitsuki?"

That wasn't something that she would have thought Madoka would have asked. She thought a little about the answer but couldn't answer. She just looked down.

"I really loved Kira in the beginning, even now he is very precious to me. But when we talked a week ago, it was clear that we were through. Not only because he had feelings for a new person…"

At that, Mitsuki's eyes opened wide. She looked her sister in the eyes.

"… but also because I had fallen for another person as well. Sometimes, you're so use to the relationship that you cannot see past it."

Madoka had said that while looking past Mitsuki, so far, farther than the pinkish wall of the building. As if she was searching a point way farther than what anyone could see, somewhere only she knows. She seemed peaceful and serene. It was really a sight.

"But that doesn't mean you have a chance with the handsome singer of Negi-Ramen! You might have succeeded to get one single on the top five for ten weeks, but your luck won't make you do that a second time! Listen to your big sister! She knows that world well! You'll need lots of help from your awesome big sister to get a second song in the top five, or get the interest of Kira Takuto!"

Madoka laughed. Mitsuki smiled. The old Madoka was back and it was really nice. She preferred a hundred time this Madoka to the one with a serious look that made her so old. They talked about everything and nothing, about the new love interest of the big sister, about the songs the younger one was singing. Everything seemed to go for the better. She was going to be able to make everything better real soon.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Followed by Bad News - 13

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

When they left the restaurant, Mitsuki didn't notice Madoka shed a couple of silent tears before they got in her car, they were expertly wiped away when they sat in their seat. The drive home was in a comfortable silence. Mitsuki went to bed early, drained out of energy because of her long day while Madoka drank a cup of tea with their grandmother. While Mitsuki was sleeping, she explained to her grandmother what Mitsuki had been doing all this time why she should let her pursued her dream. The girl was really talented and love to sing. Wasn't stopping her like cutting the wings of a bird and putting it in a cage when it's used to fly in the infinite blue sky… wasn't it just as cruel? Madoka went home even though the conversation didn't seemed to be finished. She had to get some sleep too.

Mitsuki was the first one up, since she had slept in early the night before. She ate breakfast and got ready to go to the studio. She wanted to present to Takasu-san all the other lyrics that she had written on that week when she hadn't show up at all at Kazura's Productions.

She took the bus, since she didn't wanted to bother anyone to get a lift to the studio. It was kind of hot outside and she was feeling weak. Her lungs were irritated and hurt. She had trouble breathing normally because of it. She had been coughing a lot more recently, but it never was that bad. If it still hurt in the afternoon, she would go to the hospital to check it out. At her stop, near the Kazura's Productions, she got off and when to buy pastille to help her throat a little. She walked on the sidewalk, slowly. She took her time because she was starting to feel dizzy. Maybe she was sick? She should go to the hospital as soon as she could. She sat on the sidewalk as people walked past her, muttering curses about stupid teens these days. She was feeling as if she was dying. A sharp pain in her neck stopped her breathing and she blacked out.

When Mitsuki opened her eyes, she was in a white room, with white curtains, in bed with white sheets. She was wearing that ill-green coloured clothe that patient wore at the hospital. She got up, her throat wasn't aching as much now. She was about to push the door to her room open when she heard her grandmother's voice on the other side.

"You said a throat cancer… How can this be?"

Her grandmother's voice was so distressed. Mitsuki brought her hand up to her throat and started massaging it unconsciously.

"It's a severe one. In this case, medication is not an option. We have to operate. The success rate isn't that high yet since it's still not a common technique. But we have a specialist here in this hospital."

Mitsuki opened the door at that moment. She looked at the doctor and glanced at her grandmother before looking back at the man.

"You said 'the success rate isn't that high'. What are the risks then?"

The doctor looked at her for a second, than at her grandmother. The grandmother nodded. The girl was sixteen after all, she had a right to know what was going to happen to her.

"Well, the probability of losing your voice and never recovering it is very high. That and the fact that we might not be able to extract all sources of your cancer. For now it seems to be concentrated in your throat, but if you wait too long, it can worsen in generalize cancer. After that, we cannot do anything."

The doctor had frank eyes, and Mitsuki knew he spoke the truth. That's why she fell to the floor and started crying. She also started coughing between her sobs. The doctor and her grandmother helped her back into the bed of the hospital's room. For a couple of days now she had been gazing at the window. Her eyes lifeless to the rest of the world. She was in a lose-lose situation. Her first choice: the operation. The percentage of losing her voice is so high that its considered one of the after effect of the operation. If she'd lose her voice, she would lose her will to go on. Her second choice: not do the operation. That's even worse. She should just sign her testament right now. Even thoughts that were supposed to be humoristic don't bring a smile to her face anymore. She had lost everything. Why? Why was it that every time something good seemed to happen to her, something bad follow suit? Why her?

A knock on the door woke her up from her daze. She looked from the window to the door that was creaking open. She knew we were morning. But she had no idea of the date. The days passed by without her noticing. Her grandmother entered and went to her bed. She took her hand in hers and spoke softly:

"Mistuki-san how are you doing today?"

The old lady didn't got an answer as Mitsuki's daze look went back on the window to her right.

"You have some friends here today to visit you. Do you want to see them?"

Mitsuki turned her head back to her grandmother. Her eyes seemed dead as she mouthed a soft yes. The lady went to get the visitors waiting on the other side of the doors. A pink haired girl ran to her bed with a tear stricken face. She took her hand in hers and looked up to the lifeless eyed Mitsuki. The long haired girl smiled softly at her, but her eyes kept their emptiness.

"It's nice to see… you Me… roko."

She pronounced each words really softly but even so, she was caught in a fit of coughs. When she calmed down she smiled.

"Don't speak Mitsuki, please. I know it's hurting you."

Ooshige-san came to her and smiled down at her. Wakaouji Keiichi was behind her, one hand on her waist. They had a sorry look on their face.

"You better get better soon Mitsuki! I heard it was an operation, but don't be afraid. It will go well, I'm sure!"

Even though Ooshige-san wanted her words to be encouraging, it was just hurting her more. Just an operation that would cost her, her precious voice. It will go well for sure… nothing that was supposed to go well since the last five months had went well. Everything had went wrong.

Kira Takuto came in also. He was looking impassive. She was glad. She wouldn't have known how to deal with a tears stricken Takuto, or a overly happy Takuto. He sat down on the chair near the window and said nothing. He didn't looked at her directly, he just looked out the window like she was doing before they all entered the room. She knew Madoka wouldn't come today. The girl had an important photo shoot. She was glad she wasn't here. She had come twice since she was brought at the hospital. The atmosphere had started to get more heavy and the old lady went to pick up a card game at the little store at the corner of the street. They played Rich Man, Poor Man and Old Maid for a couple of hours and than Ooshige-san and Wakaouji-san took their leave. Meroko stayed a little longer but had to go since she was meeting someone at four this afternoon. Her grandmother left at the same time as Meroko. Her grandmother came everyday anyway. The only one that stayed was Takuto. He had taken back his spot near the window. She was about to return in daze-mode when she heard the deep soft voice of the boy next to her.

"Yasashisa ha tokidoki zankoku dakara"
Kindness can be cruel from times to times…

"Motomeru hodo kotae wo miushinau"

I lose sight of the answer the more I search for it

She recognised her song immediately. Tears swelled up in her eyes. Why was he doing this to her? What has she done to deserve such pain. She looked at him with hurt written all over her face. He glanced at her. When he saw her tears stricken cheeks, he got up. He went to sit on the bed next to her. When he put an arm around her shoulder, she tried to push him away. She was so mad he dared to sing her song in front of her when he knew she couldn't sing. After a couples of minutes battling with him, she finally surrendered in a fits of tears and sobs and wrapped her arms around his chest as her face was comfortably hidden in the crook of his neck. He massaged her back softly with one hand while his other hand was playing in her hair. He continued to sing the song to her, in nothing more than a murmur.


"Ameagari no machi niji ga mieru nara"
If you can see the rainbow in the town after the rain

"Ima arukidasou nani ka ga hajimaru"
let's start walking now, something is about to begin

Since it was only a murmur, she sang with him almost inaudibly, mostly just mouthing the words. Her tears wouldn't stop falling but she was starting to feel better already.


"Kimi ga iru kara asu ga aru kara"
Because I have you, because I have tomorrow

"Hitorikiri ja ikite yukenai kara"
because I can't live on all alone

"Konna ni chikaku ni kanjiru sore ga, ai deshou"
I feel you so close by me, I guess that's love

"Namida no kazu no itami wo kimi wa shitteru kara"
Because you know how much pain tears can bring

She smiled to herself, but that didn't went unnoticed by Takeru. She looked up to his eyes and he was already looking back in her own. They finished singing the last lines. Their face were so close together.

"Sukitooru sono me no naka ni tashika na imi wo sagashite "
I want to find a smile in your transparent eyes

"Egao mitsuketa"

as I search for a meaning in them

Mitsuki coughed. Takuto only held her closer. He couldn't do anything more at the moment than support her the best he could. He talked with the doctor a little. Even though the doctor didn't want to say too much, since Takuto wasn't part of her family, the boy still understood everything pretty clearly. She had a throat cancer. The only option was the operation but she might lose her voice and he understood why she was still refusing it. It was well past five o-clock by the time Takuto finally left. He told her he would come back the next day.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

So Far From America - 14

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Takuto came each and everyday for a little over a week now. She had accept to do the operation and she was about to go through with it. They settled a date for the operation on the 6th of November. Takuto had been talking her into it for a week now. It was a beautiful day outside, the birds were singing very early and the soft breeze made the leaves danced in the trees. She was listening to the radio. They had released her second single two days ago and since, it was playing non-stop at the radio. Because her state wasn't worsening, and the date of her operation settled, they let her leave the hospital. A doctor would come every week until the operation to make sure she was still allowed outside. She hurriedly packed what she had asked her grandmother to bring her and happily strolled down the corridor. She was humming Sore ga, Ai deshou to herself while waving to the nurses that worked on her floor. She took the elevator and went down to ground level. When she got out, she spun around a little, broking into coughs. She stopped and smiled. Her eyes went wide as she spot something very familiar and at the same time completely foreign to her. It was like an almost adult version of Eichi-kun had got out of the bus with a black gym bag. He was really handsome, golden locks falling a little over his eyes. He passed his hand through his hair and their eyes met, deep blue meeting hazel. But his gaze went around as if not noticing her at all. Maybe he didn't see her. He started walking away.

The brown haired girl couldn't take it. If he really was Eichi-kun, if he really was back to Japan, she had to talk to him. She had to show him how closer she was getting to her dream, that she didn't forget their promises. She waited for the sign to change to the familiar white-crossing-man and ran across the road. She ran on the side-walk, pushing people aside as she was struggling to keep him in her eyesight. It was as if she lose him, he would disappeared. She was starting to cough a little, her lungs making her suffer as she close de distance between her and the young man. She was so near. Her heart skipped a beat as she finally reached him and put her hand on his arm. He turned around to the foreign touch and looked suspiciously at the young girl before him. She had tears in her eyes, her cheeks were flushed from the running and maybe something else. She had the most sincere smile on her face. She was coughing a little and than looked back up to him.

"Eichi-kun?"

She asked it almost inaudibly. His eyes widened. She smiled even more.

"It really is you, Eichi-kun! You're back in Japan, I'm so glad!"

She had so much conflicting emotions battling in her soft eyes. She coughed again breaking the eye contact with the boy.

"Who are you?"

The question was like a stab in her heart. He didn't remembered her? She had passed all those years getting closer to her dream so she could meet Eichi-kun again. Why didn't he remembered her? He told her he loved her… Was she so easily replaceable? Tears started to fall down her cheeks. The boy in front of her started to panic.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't meant to hurt you! Really! It's just been so long since I last was in Japan… I really didn't thought someone could remember me. I'm really touched. First I thought you were a fan, but you seemed kind of different. Where did I met you?"

She wasn't feeling much better even after hearing that. She coughed and wiped away her tears with one hand. She wasn't going to cry anymore. She had cried enough already.

"At the orphanage."

She simply answered. He looked at her with disbelief. Mitsuki had stayed at the orphanage for a little over four years before she was sent to her grandmother. It was there she had met Eichi-kun. It was there she had fallen in love for the first time. If was there her heart was broken for the first time with the departure of Eichi-kun to America.

"You're kidding right? That's like over two years!"

He had a really nice voice. She smiled sadly. She cast her eyes down, hiding her face from view a little. She hastily separated her hair in two ponytails on each side of her head that she maintained there with her hands. She looked up and smiled at him. She looked a lot younger with her hair done just like when she was at the orphanage. She took a soft voice, it sounded pretty much the same as two years ago.

"Welcome home to Japan Eichi-kun. I'm Mitsuki-chan. Kouyama Mitsuki."

His eyes grew wider even though it didn't seemed possible. His breath caught in his throat and he just looked at her. A smile slowly took over his handsome features. He took a step forward her. A very high pitched feminine voice broke the spell that had been cast over the two.

"Eiii-chiiiiii! What are you doing? I've been waiting like forever now! I want to get to the hotel as soon as possible!"

The girl that just shouted through the crowd attached herself to the blond haired Eichi-kun. She had a very beautiful face and long jet black hair that reached her middle back. The front were cut at the level of her cheeks so it was showing her ears. A backpack similar to Eichi's one was swung carelessly over her right shoulder. She turned to the brown haired girl which had been keeping Eichi for a couple of minutes now.

"And you're a fan, right? But if you want to see Eichi, you have to come to a competition. He won't give autograph otherwise."

She was smiling. She had a little bit of a know-it-all attitude but she really seemed like a good person.

"She's not a fan. She's a friend." Eichi-kun admonished the black-haired girl.

Mitsuki smiled sadly. This Eichi-kun felt a little different than what she thought he would be. She felt like a stranger before him. That's when it dawn on her: two long years had passed.

"Well I better go. I just got out of the hospital, if I don't go home soon, my grandmother will be worried. I was nice seeing you again, Eichi-kun."

She promptly turned around and was about to started running when a hand grabbed her arm and she stopped in her track. She looked back at the person holding her arm. She tried to keep in the tears that were threatened to fall out. His eyes looked sad, maybe desperate… she could put the emotion she saw into words.

"What's your phone number? I won't let you disappear again after seeing you today."

That made her heart flutter like there was no tomorrow. He took out his cellphone from his jeans pocket and give it to her. She entered her number in it. She gave it back to her and smiled when he looked at the number.

"I'll call you soon, I have a busy schedule, but I'll make time so we could have a dinner or something. Take care Mitsuki!"

With that he turned around. She had tears of joy dancing in her eyes. She couldn't believe she had seen Eichi-kun after so long. He called her Mitsuki! Mitsuki! Should she simply called him Eichi? Wasn't it a little too weird this closeness after two years? She couldn't care less a the moment. She jumped and hopped happily to the bus stop where she would take to bus home. This was such a great day! She couldn't wait to tell Meroko about it! And Takuto too! But her expression darkened at the thought of Takuto. She felt as if she was betraying him. Was she really? The drive home was clouded with sombre thoughts as she was wondering what she could do about that.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Takuto was sitting in the studio with his fellow band members. Jonathan and Izumi were sat in a corner. Izumi seemed to be brooding over something by himself oblivious to Jonathan's attempts to get his attention. Meroko was no where to be seen. Keiichi was tapping a rhythm on the table, his legs hanging on another chair not too far from him. Everybody seemed quite out of the mood needed to get a new song done. Random lyrics had been written down on a couple of pieces of papers, but the session wasn't going anywhere. Getting enough of it, Takuto stood up and went to Izumi. Keiichi's attention was caught by the move, but he was still playing with his fingers on the table. That was looking like a confrontation and Keiichi knew nothing good would resulted in this, but he was also bored. The fight that was sure to happen never did. Takuto just sighed and walked out of the room without saying anything.

The tension in the room had been increasing with each passing minutes. Takuto couldn't take it anymore. He walked down the stairs, slowly getting to the lobby where there was a vending machine. Since his break-up with Ma-chan, the only thing that would come to his was Mitsuki. He started to understand his emotions towards the girl. His feelings were straightened and he knew he loved her. He had accepted it. He wasn't going to rush things though. He wanted to take his time, make sure she also had feelings for him. Well he knew she had feelings for him, Meroko told him the girl had for a while now. But he also knew that her feelings where confused at the moment. Confused because she loved that Eichi-kun boy for so long that she wasn't able to put those feelings to rest. They continued to live through her desperate attempt to see him again. The boy must have forgotten her a long time ago. Well that's what Takuto thought.

He sighed and turned left to get in the lobby. He looked up to see a purplish haired girl in front of the vending machine. This was kind of awkward. She had her back to him, didn't seemed to have notice him yet. Madoka had been the one to tell him about Mitsuki's cancer. She hadn't explain much. She just told him that Mistuki was her little sister, that she knew that she was Fullmoon, thus the blond girl hanging around him. They hadn't talk since then. How could he have thought those two were related, they were nothing alike. He put his hands in his pants pockets and walked up to her.

"Hey." He said softly.

She turned around and smiled at him.

"Hi!"

She was looking very nice, her hair were up in a loose bond and some tresses fell elegantly out of it to frame her face. She was wearing a red spaghetti strapped shirt with tight jeans. It occurred to him that she was in Kazura's building, and that she was working in the edifice next door. She shouldn't have to come anymore, since they weren't going out. As if reading his mind she simply said:

"I came to get some stuff left by Mitsuki's producer and manager. She should be home now, they let her get out of the hospital today."

He smiled.

"That's great. I'll call her later tonight. I should be going back now."

He turned around to leave.

"Takuto."

He looked behind him to see her throwing something at him. He caught it and looked down at it. It was a can of grape juice. The one he came to the vending machine to get. He smiled. He showed her the can and said a thanks before going back to the room where his band members where still waiting. It was really nothing, but it also meant a lot of things. Like the fact that she wasn't angry with him. She wasn't mad that he had break-up with her, or that the reason was because he might have had fallen for her younger sister, even though he didn't knew that at the time.

That can meant they were still friends. It meant he was allowed to date her sister if the little sister in question wanted to. It meant that she would still care no matter what.

A boy with red hair passed him. Takuto couldn't help but turned around. The boy seemed to be his age. He had short stylish red hair with two long strands framing his face. He knew the guy would be considered handsome by the female population, more handsome than him. It was the first time seeing him here, in Kazura's Productions, but he remembered seeing that face somewhere. He couldn't put his finger on it.

He huffed as he entered the room.

"Okay guys. I don't know about you, but I'd like to get out of here before sundown, so lets get started!"

He really was in a good mood now. Knowing that Mitsuki was doing better really help the case.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Meroko's Happiness - 15

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Madoka was still in front of the vending machine. She didn't thought seeing Takuto again would be that easy. She really had put a cross over their relationship. She sighed and felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and smiled.

"Hey!"

The red head smiled back at her. He seemed in a very playful mood.

"Hello beautiful, how are you doing? Been waiting long?"

She pouted and raised her nose a little so she would look like she was sulking. He wrapped an arm around her waist and raised the other one to her face.

"Don't make that face. I ran into the great Kira Takuto upstairs."

She knew he knew that they had been going out for a little over a year. She looked disinterested but still asked him what she knew he wanted her to ask.

"What did he said?"

He smiled.

"Nothing, he just passed by. You're not seeing him behind my back, are you?"

His tone was light and playful, but Madoka didn't like when he was playing around with that kind of stories. She rolled her eyes and looked to her side, her eyes angry and her lips, slim and squeeze against each other. She sighed loudly, showing her bother the most clearly way she knew. He made big wave with his arms each side of his body. He was panicking. He was stuttering a little as he tried to get back at what stupidities he just said. She smiled to herself before turning to him.

"Just shut up Nachi. Come here."

She pulled him closer to herself and he kissed her softly.

"Now, now. Do you feel better?"

She asked with her sweet voice as she softly poked his nose with her finger.

"Yeah… but I think I'm still a little insecure…"

She laughed and kissed him again before taking his hand and leading him out of the building. He was following her through the entrance doors.

"I got the paper's Takasu-san and Ooshige-san wanted Mitsuki to have. Now just has we planned, you're coming home so I can present her to you and you to her. You'll see, she really is a sweet girl."

"Well that's what everybody says about the talented Fullmoon-san! I really hope we get along, Takasu-san told me that Oz's second single with Kazura's Productions should be release together with Fullmoon's special. He thinks a double release might double the sales. But I should stopped talking about business or you will get bored, won't you?"

He smiled the sweetest smile and she blushed. She couldn't help but think that she really had fallen for that smile.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Meroko was sitting alone on the swing in the empty park. She wasn't sure what to do. She had told Izumi that if he told her the real reason behind their break-up, she was going to forgive him. But would Izumi ever understand the circumstance of their break-up? She was so fed up with him that they broke up, but even her isn't sure of the reason behind it. She knew Izumi always thought it was because of Ta-kun. But it wasn't it. He never was able to express his love to her. Even when she needed it the most. He was cold like he didn't cared. He was always making fun of her in a not so gentle way, always hurting her. Izumi had always taken a fancy to destroy other people's heart. He hadn't been nicer to her.

She let her swung around a little and let her thoughts fly away.

Her skirt was sliding on her legs as she let the movement of the swing rocking her and numbing her. She stayed there until the sun as set and only after the cold of night had started to bite her, she decided it was time to go back to the apartment. She walked slowly, lost in thoughts that she wasn't able to seize. She climbed up the stairs to the apartment she was sharing with Ooshige Masami. The door was locked and that could mean two things: one Masami was still out, two Keiichi was there. She unlocked the door and looked for shoes in the entrance. When she didn't saw the familiar pairs of shoes of the couple she sighed. She needed to be alone. She walked to the kitchen and took the apple juice from the fridge.

"Me-chan."

She was so surprised that she almost spilled all the content of the juice's box on the counter. She knew that familiar voice too well. She didn't want to look at him so she started looking for something to clean the pilled juice.

"Me-chan, please look at me."

There was something in his voice, something that made him seemed so miserable. Tears swelled up in her eyes. Please go away, she thought, just go away. She cleaned the counter without saying anything, without glancing behind her.

"I know, so please look at me, Me-chan. I know."

She couldn't take it anymore. She turned around, tears were falling down her cheeks. Hurt was clearly showing in all her features. She had to stick by the counter so she was still standing. If she would let go of it, her knees would give out under her for sure.

"Why are you here, Izumi?"

He smiled sadly. He lowered his gaze and made a step forward. He raised his hand to touch her cheek but she moved her head as if his touch burned her.

"I asked Ke-kun's girlfriend to lend me the key. I waited for more than five hours…"

He was speaking really softly, unlike his usual mocking tone.

"That's not what I meant, you know it."

She had murmured it through clenched teeth. She was angry. Her cheeks were covered in tears. She was still holding to the counter as if her life depended on it.

"I thought about it a lot. I know I've been deceiving you since we had started going out. I just never fully comprehend why. I did a lot of thinking, you know. I thought that I wasn't there. When all that stuff happened to you, I kind of just pushed you away. I was scared to show you I cared… scared that you'd disappeared. And it really was what you did, but not for the reasons I thought you would. It was only because of me. I was that bad of a person, wasn't I? Not even able to see that the person for who I care the most was hurting in front of my eyes because of me… I'm the worst… I won't be a bother to you anymore Me-chan. I won't talk to you if you don't want me to. If you tell me to go away and never come back I will. Just tell me where I should stand, please Me-chan. I don't ever want to hurt you anymore."

He said everything with the loving voice she had carved for years ago. Was it really too late now? Was there any hope? Everything was up to her. She started crying harder and fell down on the floor, unable to stand anymore. Izumi was by her side the moment she fell. He cradled her preciously in her arms, and unknowingly to him, he started rocking her just like a moment ago, when she was on the swing all alone. They stayed like that for a while, until her sobs had calm down. Izumi helped her get up and felt like he was intruding more than the allowed time he had previously set in his mind. He fidgeted a little before coming to his own conclusion:

"I'll think I'll be leaving for tonight. It's really late now so you should go sleep. You can call me in the morning, if you feel like it."

He turned around and started walking toward the door. He stopped in his track as something pulled on the sleeve of his shirt. Meroko's eyes were hidden under locks of her pink short hair. He could see her flushed cheeks still soaked from the crying. She looked so small, so vulnerable at the moment.

"Can you stay?"

It was slightly above the volume of a murmur. He looked at her, unsure of the answer that she wanted to hear. Then he smiled.

"I will."

He said it with the same volume, just as softly. With her eyes still downcast, she led him to her bedroom. He helped her prepare herself to go to bed, walking out the room when she changed into her pyjama. When she opened the door she was afraid he had left but her panicked eyes caught his familiar form against the wall to her right. Tears formed in her eyes again as she launched herself to him. He embraced her and led her to her bed so she could lay down and sleep. He sat on the floor and held her hand.

"Don't worry, I won't go away. I'll stay here all night."

He smiled at her and she tried to smile back without much success. Seeing him shiver because of the cold floor, she moved a little to the side and patted the empty space she made to her side. She truly smiled this time as she said to him:

"Come here, you won't be comfortable on the floor."

He looked at her to see if there was any hidden meaning behind this, he was a nineteen year old boy after all. Not seeing one, he climbed on the bed and settled next to her. She cuddled herself in his chest while sighing softly. He smiled.

"Goodnight Izumi."

He wrapped his arms around her small frame. She opened her eyes only to see his closed one, he was so handsome. That's something that he wouldn't have done before, just cuddling for the pleasure of being close. He really had changed over the years. She smiled. Also closing her eyes she snuggled even closer to him.

"Goodnight Me-chan."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Oz and Madoka -16

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Madoka presented Nachi to her grandmother. The old lady was still not too found of singer or music, but still she accepted him in her home. She was trying her best for the grand-daughters that she adored so much. Nachi caused quite a commotion though. Since he had a rather bold personality, just like Madoka, they seemed perfect for each other and really out of place in the very traditional home of the grandmother. Mitsuki wasn't there yet. She should have been there thirty minutes ago but was still missing. The old lady was starting to worry but Madoka reassured her that she might have just be delayed at the hospital. After that, the grandmother muttered to herself that she should have gone fetched the girl. The front door opening stopped the grandmother's train of thoughts. She got up and went to welcome Mitsuki home.

"Welcome home."

"I'm home!"

Was the happy replied of the long brown haired girl. She followed her grandmother in the kitchen and discovered her sister waiting for her with a redhead next to her.

"Welcome home Mistuki-chan!"

She smiled at her sister and her eyes drifted over to the new comer. He smiled at her and extended his hand.

"I'm Nachi! Nice to meet you Mistuki-san!"

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Kouyama Mitsuki."

He looked at her for a second and then with a looked that she couldn't define because it was somewhere between guilt and insecurity, he said:

"I can call you Mistuki-san instead of Kouyama-san?"

He really was sweet, she liked him already. Her sister had really a way to chose the sweetest guy!

"Yeah, that'd be nice, can I call you Nachi-san then?"

"Sure thing!"

They smiled at each other and Mitsuki sat down next to her grandmother, in front of Madoka. They talked about lot of things, stuff they heard in the news and other things that happened in the neighbourhood. At one point, the grandmother took her leave and retired herself in her bedroom. It was starting to get late a little.

"Madoka told me that you were Fullmoon-san so I was surprise to see a brown haired girl come into the room."

Mistuki took a sip a tea and looked at her sister like she had told something she shouldn't. Nachi didn't miss that look.

"She told me only because I'm going to work with you on the release of our next single."

At that Mistuki's eyes opened wide. She looked around to make sure her grandmother hadn't heard them.

"Come to my room, it'll be easier to talk about that."

Madoka and Nachi followed the younger girl to her room. They hadn't finished settling down that Mitsuki asked hurriedly:

"How come I don't know?"

At that moment, the purplish haired teen remembered that she had papers from Kazura's Productions to hand over to Mitsuki.

"They might say something about it in those, I went to get them this afternoon."

Mitsuki looked over the papers quickly and smiled.

"Woaw, that's nice! A double release. So you're Oz! I knew I had seen you somewhere before."

"Sure thing! I'm the singer of Oz. Please work hard together with us!"

"Yes!"

Madoka was starting to get bored from the turn of the conversation. She wanted to change the current now, before she wouldn't be able to change the topic.

"Mistuki-chan, why were you late?"

At that Mitsuki blushed deeply. She looked at her old moon calendar and smiled.

"You might not believe me, but I met Eichi today."

The older sister's eyes grew wide. How could this be?

"What do you mean?"

The older girl said in a strangled voice. She didn't like the sound of that. That boy was Mitsuki's childhood crush. She knew that the relationship she had with Takuto was only starting to settle, Eichi could totally destroy the happiness her sister would have had. Nachi, was really interested in what was happening. He didn't understand what was going on but intended to.

"He was walking out of the bus when I got out of the hospital. At first he didn't recognize me, but after I said my name, he seemed to have remembered. I was so happy! He is supposed to call me so we can go out for lunch. I never thought I would really be able to see him again! He is back from America! That's kind of crazy, don't you think Madoka?"

Madoka blanched a little. That wasn't good, or maybe it was… she didn't know what to think. She looked at the time, it was way past ten o'clock.

"Yeah it is. It's so late already, we really should leave, Nachi. It was nice seeing you today Mitsuki, you really look healthy, that's good. I'll see you. Bye."

"A pleasure to meet you, see you around Mitsuki-san!"

They waved and left her bedroom.

"Bye Madoka! Bye Nachi-san! See you."

She listened until she heard the front door closed. She was so happy! Eichi was back in Japan! She got up and twirled around a little before falling on her bed laughing. Everything bad that had happened was worth Eichi's return. She really thought so at that moment.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Takuto's Realisation - 17

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mitsuki woke up really early the next morning. The sun was just starting to appear but the birds were already singing. She got up and jumped down her bed. She started singing her favourite song, her second single: Sore ga, Ai deshou. She felt great today. After singing the last lines of her song, she coughed a little and dressed herself while just humming it over and over again.

She ate breakfast before going outside. She walked on the sidewalk, getting slowly to the bus stop where she would take the bus to Kazura's Productions. She kept glancing at her cellphone with a huge smile plastered on her face. A silvery blue car pulled by her. It stopped and the driver called her over. She knew the voice so she wasn't afraid.

"Takuto! What are you doing here so early?"

She hopped to the driver's window and gazed inside to see the familiar face of the singer of Negi-Ramen. He showed two tickets in her face with a huge smile.

"One of my friend is in his last year of high school, they are holding some kind of special event today. They're will be stands, games and some carnival goods like a merry-go-round. Wanna come with me?"

He really looked like a little kid. She smiled.

"Sure thing! That will be really great!"

She didn't had nothing really important to do today, except wait for Eichi's phone call and say hi to Ooshige-san and Takasu-san. They must be so worried about her. Mitsuki ran around the front of the stopped car to get to the passenger's seat. She opened the door and sat in all in one calculated movement. She closed the door and smiled at Takuto while buckling her belt.

"Who's car is it?"

He glanced at her before pulling the car back on the street and smiled.

"Mine, bought it while you were at the hospital. It was faster to see you that way."

The brown haired girl blushed and lowered her head. She felt trouble. Even if Eichi was back, she couldn't pushed Takuto away. She really liked him and he gave her so much already… just like Eichi two years ago. She felt at ease with Takuto, while with Eichi she felt so nervous yesterday. She shook her head, there was no time depressing about this. Takuto was with her at the moment and she will only think of him until the day was over. She wouldn't mindlessly lose herself in her thoughts, that wasn't nice. She smiled at her reflection on the side window.

Takuto parked the car and they got out. He put his hands in his jeans pocket and they walked along side each other until they reached the school gate. The entrance was decorated with balloons and a big sign that said: Okinari High's charity Fair. She smiled at Takuto and he shyly offered his arm. His cheeks were a little red and he looked the other way. She giggled to herself and slipped her arm through his. He smiled when he felt her small hand on his arm. They walked in and Takuto gave the ticket to the student that was at the ticket booth. He led Mitsuki gently to the first stands on their right and they looked around all morning. At noon, they tried some of the food offered in the booth and sat at the Cat Café, were all the waiters and waitresses were wearing cat's ears, cat's bell on a little collar and a very cute uniform. They didn't talk much, they were enjoying the carnival and the other's company. After a sip of tea, Takuto smiled at her:

"Are you enjoying yourself so far?"

Mitsuki smiled and nodded.

"Yeah it really is fun. I haven't been to school in a little over a month so it is nice."

"I'm glad you like it. They are holding funny competition in the afternoon. Wanna see them?"

She laughed.

"Sure!"

He held out his hand, this time he wasn't blushing as much, as if he was slowly getting use to her closeness. She smiled at that but it disappeared when she thought that this closeness might hurt them at one point. Takuto didn't miss the change in mood. With worry clearly written in his eyes, he asked:

"Are you okay, you don't look good. Want me to drive you back home?"

She shook her head vigorously and smiled at him.

"I'm okay, I just thought of something… I really want to see those funny competitions."

She took his hands and smiled at him again. Takuto didn't seemed to be deluded by her smile. He knew something was wrong. They slowly walked hand in hand toward the place in were they were holding the first competition, it was a series of mini games that determine who would get to be prince of the carnival. Mistuki's phone started ringing. She stopped and took it out. Not recognizing the number, she opened the phone and answered:

"Hello, this is Mitsuki speaking."

She was very confused on who would called her with a number that she didn't know and it flashed to her at the same moment the other voice answered:

- - Hi Mitsuki, this is Eichi. What are you doing tonight at six? - -

She was panicked, her eyes were moving rapidly from right to left looking for some answer. Seeing her troubled state, Takuto clenched his hand and since he was still holding onto her other hand, it hurt her a little. She looked up to Takuto, tears in her eyes and a smile on her face.

"Eichi."

She said it, it really was all she had to say. Hurt passed in Takuto's eyes but it only flickered and she didn't catch it. She was starting to tremble a little. Moments passed and he could hear Eichi getting worried on the phone. He sighed. He really did love that girl too much. He took the phone from her hand, she didn't even battle with him to keep it. She really was in a daze.

"Eichi-san, isn't?"

He spoke to the other boy as normally as he could.

- - Yes. - -

"Mitsuki is not feeling too well, she just got out of the hospital yesterday. You better call her a little later tonight."

- - Is she going to be alright? - -

Takuto sighed, he hoped to find anything in the voice of that boy to be able to tell Mitsuki he was playing with her or something. A guy that disappeared for two years and reappear couldn't be for real. But he seemed really nice, and was worried for the girl. His fingers clenched on the cellphone and he closed his eyes.

"Yeah. Call her later."

- - Okay. By the way, what's your name? - -

That was unexpected. A guy answered a girl cellphone and you asked for a name? What was that about. Through the phone he heard a very high-pitched feminine voice. He heard that Eichi guy telling her to leave him alone while he was on the phone. She shouted some more stuff in her very high voice. Takuto smiled, that reminded him of Meroko.

"I'm Kira Takuto. Call me Takuto, I'm also Mitsuki's friend."

The words hurt when he said them: also Mitsuki's friend. Only a friend.

- - I hope to meet you soon Takuto-san. Tell Mitsuki I'll call around five. Bye. - -

"Okay. Bye."

Takuto couldn't take it. That guy was way to perfect. He most have a flaw or something. He couldn't be for real. No, it wasn't possible. He turned to the still daze Mitsuki.

"Come, I'm driving you back home. You really seem drained and tired. Maybe going to a carnival just after you got out of the hospital really wasn't such a great idea."

He took her hand and she followed him quietly. She didn't try to correct him. Maybe she was still in daze-mode. The drive home was silent. He helped her to her room and into her bed. Closing the lights and the curtains, he put the cellphone on her bed stand. He looked at her sleeping form one last time before closing the door behind him. The grey-haired singer sighed. He slowly walked out, waving at Tanaka-san on the porch. Outside he walked through the entrance rocky fence. He got out and let himself fell against the rocky wall. Why was that stupid Eichi back? Why did he sounded so true, so perfect? He shouted and punched the wall behind him. His hand was bleeding profusely. He waited for his temper to calm down before he drove off to his own apartment.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Lunch with Eichi – First Part - 18

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The long brown haired girl slept all afternoon. She woke up at the sound of her cellphone ringing. She yawned and took it from the bed stand. With a drowsy voice she answered to who ever could be calling at this hour of night.

"Hello there, this is Mitsuki. Who is speaking?"

A laugh was heard from the phone and she automatically woke up, sitting up in her bed.

"Eichi! Why are you calling this late?"

The laughter stopped and worry was clearly in his voice:

- - Did you looked at the time, it's thirty past four Mitsuki. Are you feeling better? Maybe you have a fever? - -

"Hun…"

She looked at her alarm clock. It really was only four thirty. The curtains were closed but you could see it was still afternoon.

"I'm okay. I just woke up."

- - Takuto-san told me you weren't feeling well. - -

She gripped the phone a little tighter. He knew Takuto.

"How come you know Takuto?"

He didn't seemed surprised that she didn't add –san or –kun at the end of his name. He wasn't phased by their closeness at all.

- - We talked earlier. He really was worried about you, you know. I too. Don't overwork yourself. - -

She smiled.

"Okay."

There was a silence.

"Oh, yeah, Eichi, why did you call?"

He laughed softly. It was really nice hearing him laugh.

- - I wanted to bring you out for supper. But if you're not feeling well, you'd better sleep some more. - -

"No, I'm alright!"

She was shaking her head from left to right as if to prove her point. It was pointless since she was talking over the phone.

- - Okay then. Meet me at the bus stop from yesterday at six. Bring Takuto along. I'm sure he would like to hear about the young little Mitsuki! I'm also bringing a friend, well she would have come anyway. - -

She heard him sigh and laughed.

"It's the pretty girl from yesterday."

- - Yeah! I'll see you tonight then. - -

"See you!"

He hung up. She sighed. She would have like to meet alone with him. It wasn't too bad though. She got up and changed her clothes, the one she was wearing were all wrinkled from sleeping in them. She took her cellphone and called Takuto. She didn't need to convince him to come. He accepted right away. He proposed to take her by car and she accepted. She didn't want to exhaust herself before her meeting with Eichi. She was feeling really light-hearted. She danced in her room a little and sang along. First she sang Sore ga, Ai deshou, but it turned out very differently and she sang other lyrics, completely different. She wrote them down. Maybe this would also turned out the be a good song.

Takuto went to pick her up at five thirty. He was really nice looking. He had let his hair down instead of tying them in their eternal little ponytail. She smiled. He really was handsome. He held out his hand and she blushed. If she was holding hands with Takuto, Eichi might thought the two of them were going out. Her blushed became a deeper red. She slipped her hand in his. But it didn't mattered that Eichi thought that. Because she loved Takuto. She felt butterfly in her stomach as she walked alongside Takuto. It didn't feel like that this afternoon. Maybe it was because the sun was setting. She looked up to him and he smiled down at her. When they passed the entrance of the rocky wall that surrounded the grandmother's house, Takuto stopped.

He turned to face her and slipped his free hand on her cheek. He was blushing and from the heat on her cheeks she knew she was blushing as well.

"I… I…"

He couldn't say it. She smiled at him, the sweetest smile ever. She brought her free hand up and softly covered most of his hand on her cheek with it. His eyes widened, but he also smiled the sweetest she had ever seen.

"Thanks for always being there Takuto."

He made a step forward.

"Remember that I will always be there for you."

He made another step forward and now their body was really closed. He car pulled in right beside them. An excited girl with purplish haired almost jumped out.

"Mitsuki! Takuto! Are you two going on a date?"

Nachi got out from the passenger seat and laughed a little.

"Madoka, leave the two lovebirds alone, will you!"

Mitsuki and Takuto were blushing.

"Soooo, it's a date right?"

Mitsuki looked up at Takuto and Takuto down at Mitsuki. As if coming to an understanding, they nodded.

"Yes." Was Mistuki soft replied. Takuto's hand squeezed her own a little and she smiled.

"Well we better go."

Takuto tugged a little on her hand and she followed waving at her sister and Nachi. They hopped in Takuto's car and the boy drove to the bus stop that Mistuki indicated him, near the hospital. She was really happy. They find an empty parking lot nearby and finally got out of the car. Takuto went to take Mitsuki's hand again. He looked down at her with a smile and pushed some locks away from her pretty face. He bent down and kissed her forehead softly. Mitsuki was in heaven. They walked slowly and in silence to where Eichi was waiting for them. When she recognised his silhouette, she started running to him, pulling Takuto along as she tightly clenched his hand.

"Mitsuki, hello. Takuto-san I presume. Nice to meet you."

The boy didn't seemed disturbed by the fact they were holding hands. If he was, he didn't showed it. He was smiling happily.

"Takuto, this is Eichi."

The grey-haired singer smiled the best he could. He was standing before his love childhood crush.

"Hi."

They heard a very high-pitched shout from behind Eichi. The black long hair girl attached herself at Eichi's arm a second after. She was jumping up and down like a little kid. It really was far from the first impression Mitsuki had from her.

"WOAH! I can't believe it! I can't believe it! Are you really Kira Takuto? The Kira Takuto from Negi-Ramen?"

Mitsuki laughed. Takuto only looked dumbfounded. Seeing as Takuto wasn't replying, Mitsuki did:

"Yeah. But keep your voice down. It's hard not to get the attention of the media with him around."

She laughed and he didn't looked too happy.

"As if you're any better miss Ful…"

The rest was a muffled sound as she expectedly covered his mouth with her hand. She looked flushed a little by her own action and laughed nervously.

"I can't believe I met the great singer of Negi-Ramen in person! How did you met him, Kouyama-san?"

Mitsuki smiled at the girl, thankful of her intervention.

"I'll explain everything at the restaurant. So let's go!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Lunch with Eichi – Second Part - 19

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

From whatever angle you looked at it, it really looked like a double date. They sat in the restaurant and ordered their food. It was Mitsuki's first time in this restaurant, it was Takuto who proposed it. It really was a nice restaurant, really intimate. Sat beside Takuto, she felt him wrapped a protective arm around her waist. She smiled.

"So, do you remember what was my dream when we were at the orphanage?"

The question was obliviously directed at Eichi, who finished his sip of water before answering.

"If I remember well, you wanted to become a singer."

Mistuki smiled and she felt Takuto's arm squeezed her a little.

"That's right. It's what I've been hard at the past two years."

"That's great. Is this how you met Takuto-san?"

Takuto looked away. That guy was way too perfect. He even included him in the conversation so he could talk. But the grey-haired singer had no intention to talk at the moment.

"Well kind of. I met him in a night club where I was debuting singing for a crowd. He made me come on stage and we sang duet all night. It really was nice."

She smiled. Wanting to add something, Takuto blurted out:

"And she really has a nice voice."

The black haired girl next to Eichi had not stop looking at him from the moment they sat down. She answered quickly.

"If you say so, it must be true Takuto-sama."

"I would really like to hear your voice again Mitsuki."

The girl was really touched. She smiled at Eichi.

"I'll sing for you later tonight."

Takuto intervened again. He wouldn't let that happen. Not only because it was Eichi, but also because her health was in question.

"No Mitsuki. The doctor said to not force your throat before the operation. Please listen to him."

"But Takuto, I was singing earlier and it didn't hurt…"

He was getting angry, she could see it, even feel it. Before he could opened his mouth she poursued:

"I'm sorry Takuto. I should take better care of myself I know."

Eichi looked sorry.

"That's alright, it's better if you don't overwork yourself."

That didn't cheered Mitsuki up. She was still depressed because she really wanted to let Eichi hear her songs. Takuto couldn't let her like that. He searched in his pocket for his mp3 player. He handed it over at Eichi.

"The third and fourth songs are Mitsuki's."

He was blushing. The brown haired girl didn't know that he listened to her song everyday.

"I want to listen too!!"

Eichi handed one of the headphone to the black haired girl next to him. They listened for a while when she exclaimed :

"That's Fullmoon-san!"

Takuto had a glint of pride glistering in his eyes.

"Exactly."

The girl couldn't believe it, she close the distance between her and Mitsuki to look closely at her face.

"You really are Fullmoon-san. I can't believe it!"

She was looking ecstatic. But as if everything finally came back to reality she looked to the two of them.

"So what the papers were saying, about Takuto-sama leaving Kouyama-san for another idol is true?"

She couldn't believe it. Mitsuki blushed a little and looked up at Takuto. He just waved it away like a fly.

"Not all. It might sound strange to you, but Mitsuki and I are officially a couple since only this afternoon. The decision for the break-up was taken by Madoka and I. Anyway Madoka is going out with another guy already, that redhead."

Mitsuki blushed at the first part and pouted at the last one.

"Don't call Nachi-san a redhead. He really is nice, I'm going to be working with him for a while."

The black haired girl seemed like she was going to passed out from excitement.

"Don't tell me that the redhead, Nachi-san, is the singer of Oz?"

Mitsuki turned to her.

"How did you know? I met him yesterday for the first time when my sister presented him to me."

That seemed too much. Everything clicked together in her mind. Kouyama Mitsuki-san, Kouyama Madoka-san… Takuto-sama, Fullmoon-san, Nachi-san… How can such people be all linked together. Fate must have had a twisted mind, that's for sure. She didn't say anything after that. She was digesting everything.

"What have been up to, these last two years? Are you still into astronomy?"

Eichi smiled at her.

"I know it might sound weird because when I was at the orphanage I was really into it, but I let go of astronomy when I moved to America."

Her eyes grew wide. She felt bad, but not as bad as she thought she should have felt. It didn't hurt her in any way, she didn't felt betrayed. She was really letting go of the ghost of the Eichi-kun from two years ago.

"Then what are you into?"

Takuto asked with indifference, just trying to make a nice conversation it seemed. Eichi blushed a little.

"I'm into figure skating now. We're here for a competition. Ruri is my partner."

He said pointing to the black haired girl next to him. Mitsuki smiled. Figure skating suited him. He had a slender but muscular body. He really could be good at it.

"That's great! When is it?"

"One's in one month, on October 5th. There's also one on November 6th."

She thought a little but Takuto answered for her.

"That's no good. We won't be able to attend. On the 5th, it's supposed to be the special double release with that redhead, isn't it? And forget about the 6th, it's your operation. There's no way your postponing it."

He said it as if reading her thoughts, she sat lower in her chair. She was shamed that he read through her so easily.

"It's okay Mitsuki, you can still come see a practice. It's not as glamorous but you could still see what we can do."

The perfect Eichi had an answer for everything. Takuto took a bored look and played a little with his food. He took the time to look at the time. It was past nine thirty. He'd better get Mitsuki home if he wanted to be able to get her out again. He knew her grandmother was not too fond of singer. He shouldn't give her a reason to hate him.

"Mitsuki, it's getting late. We should get you home."

He stood up and called for the waiter so he could have the receipt. She followed his example without grouching. She said good bye to Eichi and the black haired girl. She really was hoping they would meet again. It had been really nice. Takuto had already followed to waiter to pay. She just made her way to them. When she arrived Takuto had already paid for the two of them and he gently took her hand. They walked outside and in the direction of the car.

"It was really nice, thanks for coming Takuto."

He smiled at her.

"It was my pleasure. I had a great time too. It wasn't because of Eichi-san or something though."

She laughed at his comment and snuggled into his arm.

"They looked good together, didn't they?"

Still walking, he looked down at her, dumbfounded.

"You mean Eichi-san and that black haired girl?"

"Yeah."

"Well maybe. They didn't seemed together to me."

"They were."

She hid her face in is blazer. It smelled good.

"How do you know?"

She looked up to his eyes.

"Because he was radiating. Only people in love attracted people's attention. Don't you think they looked perfect?"

"Yeah."

"That's because they're in love. In their point of view, we must have looked like the perfect couple."

He looked at her as if she just said the most stupid thing.

"Weren't they really surprise when you told them that we just started going out today? That's because for them we were the perfect couple. It seemed like we knew each other pretty well. I'm sure."

He smiled at her. That was a little weird. That's for sure. But that's the way he liked it. At the car, he opened her door to let her in and then closed it behind her. He sat in the driver's seat and drove them safely home. When they got home it was past ten. He walked her to the door.

"Thanks for tonight Takuto. It was really nice. I had a lot of fun."

"Yeah me too. It was fun. Let's do it again."

She lingered there for a moment. Not sure if she should just open the door and get in or wait for him to kiss her goodnight. Would he do it?

"Hmmm."

She didn't know what to add. She licked her lips nervously and grabbed the doorknob behind her. He bent down a little. Just enough so that he could still see her eyes clearly. Then he close his eyes and bent some more. He brushed her lips with his own. The door behind them opened.

"Hurry Mitsuki-chan. I covered for you… I told your grandmother you were already in bed. She's in the bathroom. Go now."

Their cheeks were covered by a deep scarlet blush. Tanaka-san didn't seemed to notice as she pulled Mitsuki in. The long haired girl waved at him mouthing : Call Me Tomorrow. He waved shyly. He mouthed a "Okay" but he wasn't sure she saw since the door was already closing. He hadn't kiss her but he felt truly content. He drove to his apartment. Keiichi was watching T.V. with Jonathan while Izumi was nowhere to be found. He just let himself fall onto his bed and fell asleep all dress up.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mistuki's Operation - 20

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

In the morning, Mistuki felt refreshed. She took a quick shower and dressed herself up. She decided that she would tell her grandmother everything. She had been truthful to everyone this days, her grandmother also deserved the truth. She just hope that she would take it well. She entered the kitchen to see that her grandmother was already up making tea.

"Grandmother, there are some things I'd like to tell you."

The young girl sat at the small table and waited for her grandmother to replied.

"I have some things to tell you too Mitsuki.!"

That tone wasn't something she hoped to hear this morning. It was harsh and angry. The girl waited for the old lady to sit down before starting. It was better if she just get scold once.

"I've been singing for months now. I worked for a company, Kazura's Productions. I already got two singles out, my next one will be release in a month. I'm really happy about that. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I thought you would stopped me. I wanted to be truthful to you, I hate lying to you that I was modeling just like Madoka. There's something else. I have a boyfriend. He's a singer also, in a group called Negi-Ramen. It's a pretty popular group. I'm very happy grandmother."

She couldn't say more. Tears swelled up in her eyes and fell down her cheeks. The grandmother looked at the girl before her. She looked so much like her daughter. The scene was the same. If she was to make a mistakes, her granddaughter would run away just like her mother before her.

"I know."

Mistuki looked up to her, tears still glittering in her eyes.

"How come?"

"Your sister told me not long ago. You really are happy with the way your life is going Mitsuki?"

The young girl smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I couldn't be more happier."

"Then I have nothing more to say to you."

Mitsuki looked confused for a moment. What did her grandmother actually meant by that?

"But grandmother, you wanted to tell me something just now, didn't you?"

The grandmother lifted her head.

"Yes. I wanted to ask you about your happiness. I wouldn't have let you continue if you weren't truly happy. But you are. I won't stop you."

Mitsuki smiled and hugged her grandmother tightly.

"Thank you so much. Please listen to my songs when you are ready, okay?"

The grandmother just nodded and Mitsuki hopped to the front door. This day was really starting great.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Days and weeks passed by. It was well know in the media that Fullmoon and the singer of Negi-Ramen were going out. They had made the front page for their double date with Eichi. Revealing a brown haired Fullmoon, Mitsuki stopped dying her hair. It took a little over a month and an half for Meroko to announce that she was in a relationship with Izumi. That explained a lot of things on the weird behaviour Izumi had the past weeks. After that, their was the double release of Fullmoon and Oz. Mitsuki was the happiest when she saw her grandmother come and see her. She didn't sang, but she signed autographs for almost five hours. Her hand was hurting for two days after that. Takuto and her had be going out on dates steadily. For some reasons, Tanaka was always there to greet her when they were coming home… she hadn't had the chance to be kiss by Takuto yet and they had been going out for two months. She went to see Eichi skate on one afternoon. He really was good at it. She couldn't help but wonder why he had never tried before. Must have been that pretty black hair girl's influence.

There was only two days now before the operation. She was packing her bags with Takuto's help. He was always welcome in her home. It seemed her grandmother had taken a liking to the young man. Mitsuki smiled to herself.

"Will you really need that much clothes? You know you are there for only a week? I don't think that much clothes will… awwwhaaww"

That was followed with a big thump sound. He had fallen to the floor due to the mess Mitsuki had made looking for some old shorts it seemed. The girl turned around with a sorry face.

"Yeah, you might be right Takuto."

She said while looking at the huge pile of clothes. He looked at her with disbelief.

"I just 'might' be right. Come on 'Tsuki, you know better than that."

She smiled at the used of the nickname he had given her over the time; the last two syllables of her name, it meant moon.

"Okay what do you suggest than?"

He smirked.

"Go out a little, enjoy the weather. I'll packed your bag. It'll be better that way.

She smiled and put a scarf around her neck before going outside. It was hurting more and more and sometime she had trouble to breathe. She really couldn't wait until the operation was over. Even if she lost her voice, it wouldn't that bad. Two months ago maybe. But now, she had come to term with it.

Takuto joined her with the bag on his shoulder. He took her hand and led her to the car. Her grandmother was already at the hospital. He drove them safely at the hospital and helped her to her room. He couldn't stay. He had a meeting with Takasu-san and his band. They packed his week's schedule so he wouldn't have time to worry too much about his little Mitsuki. He kissed her forehead lightly and left with a small wave and a reassuring smile.

"I'll be there Wednesday. Wait for me!"

She smiled, a little sad.

"Okay. I promise."

She waved a little and entered her room where her grandmother was waiting.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

She waited two days for the operation. The actual operation actually lasted one afternoon. They were keeping her for another five days, just to make sure everything was okay.

It was Wednesday. The sun had just came out of behind the horizon. She raised her hand to her throat, feeling the bandage. It didn't hurt anymore. The doctor asked her to not force her voice. She should be allowed to talk today. No singing that was for sure. But talking that would also be nice after a week. The visiting hours would started soon. Would Takuto be here early or later that afternoon? She smiled. She couldn't wait to see him. As she thought that, Takuto entered to room followed by a nurse. The nurse was giggling and Takuto looked quite annoyed at her.

"The young man had been waiting at the doors for almost two hours now. My superior decided to let him in a little early since he didn't seemed too dangerous."

She giggled some more. Mitsuki smiled. Takuto looked flushed.

"Is that okay if I let him to you?"

Mitsuki smiled and nodded. The nurse went out her giggles following her in the corridor. Takuto rolled his eyes and made his way to Mitsuki's bed.

"Hey."

She smiled at him.

"So are you feeling better? Well maybe not since you were just operated but…"

The boy started rambling, not noticing the laughter in the girl's eyes. She raised her hand to take his and put it against her cheek. She smiled.

"I'm… o… kay…"

Every syllable were separated with empty air but she was able to talk. Tears swelled up in her eyes. Takuto thinking that she was hurt looked panicked. She shook her head.

"I'm… okay… I'm… just… ha… ppy…"

He smiled at her and put his forehead against her own.

"I'm glad. I'm so glad."

Tears swelled up in his eyes when he said that. He really was glad. Mitsuki glided her hand across his cheek. The boy looked up to her eyes. He saw her sweet expression and couldn't help it. He fell in love with her all over again. Takuto bent down a little and their lips were brushing. The young girl felt her heartbeats increased. She felt butterfly in her stomach as she felt his breath on her mouth. Her mind was in a daze. She felt the heat rose to her cheeks. She closed her eyes. She wanted that kiss for two months now. She was going to savour it.

The young grey haired singer looked at Mitsuki for a second. Her cheeks were flushed and hot. She seemed at peace. He felt his own heartbeat rising with hers as she closed her eyes. He knew that the last step was up to him, he just had to caress her lips softly. And that's exactly what he did. He let his lips brushed against hers first. Then really softly, he adjusted his lips so they covered mostly hers. Just as tenderly he closed his lips together, getting the feel of her lips and the taste of them at the same time. He kissed her softly again and again. Pushing her back in her hospital bed so she was lying, he just lied next to her, kissing her some more. He stopped when she started coughing a little. His eyebrows were tilted with worry as he looked at her. She smiled. In a soft voice she murmured :

"Please… don't… stop…"

He looked at her a little, as if judging if her request was acceptable. Then with a smile he brought his face closer to hers. He put his forehead against her own.

"No, it's enough. I don't want to hurt you. I… I… I care for you too much."

He had murmured the last part with an inaudible voice. Mitsuki almost didn't catch it. She pouted and he brought her closer to him. They just rested near each other all day. No one had dare come to visit Mitsuki on Takuto's day. They just enjoyed each other's company all day, got caught kissing two times by the giggling nurse that was getting on Takuto's nerve.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Fullmoon's Comeback - 21

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

It took two months and an half to recover all her voice and be able to sing. The doctor said it was a really fast recovery. She was back at Kazura's Production, ready to record her next single: Life. In the studio she was radiating happiness. They started the music and she sang very a lot of energy:

Takasu-san. He helped her to put her first song together. He really had been listening to her every requests. Maybe he shouldn't have, she felt spoiled. I am really grateful.

Ooshige-san. She had supported her since their very first encounter. She had helped her in more than one way. Thank you so much.

"Doro darake yo najime nai tokai de"

"Onaji you ni warae nai utsumuite aruita no"

"Isogi ashi de surechigau hito-tachi"

"'Yume wa kanai mashita ka?'"

"ATASHI mada MOGAite iru"

In the familiar, dirty city

We walked with our heads down, unable to laugh in the same way

People hurry past

'Has your dream come true?'

I'm still struggling

She smiled and moved along with the song. Those lines were sang a little more quickly. She closed her eyes.

Wakaouji Keiichi-san, Rio Izumi-san, Jonathan-san… Thank you all. For being there for her, or for someone closed to her.

Grandmother. She closed her eyes. Thank you. For her understanding, for listening to her songs even though it was painful for her.

"Kodomo no koro wa MAMA no koto"

"Hidoku kizutsuketa"

When I was a kid there were days when I hurt my mother terribly

"Hi mo atta yo ne kawari tai"

"Ima zenbu"

I want to change everything now

She looked at Takuto as sang the next lines. She wanted him to felt the truth hidden just for him in those lines. She raised her hands to her heart.

Meroko. She had been more than just a friend. She had always been there. She wished her nothing more than all the happiness she deserved. I am so grateful.

Eichi. The one from the past and the one from the present. Thank you. They made her understand so much important things. She won't ever forget them.

"Hi no ataru basho ni dete"

"Kono te wo tsuyoku nigitte mitai"

I went out to a place where the sun shone

and gripped tightly with my hands

"Ano basho ano toki wo kowashite"

"I can change my life"

I can smash that place, that time,

I can change my life

She closed her eyes again and waited for the music to get to where she would sing her next lines. Those lines were directed to Eichi… The Eichi from two years ago. She let her feeling overflowed with sadness and happiness mixed together.

Nachi-san. He would take care of her sister. The moment they passed together at the release were fun. Thank you.

Madoka. She was grateful. Her sister had done so much for her. For Takuto. For her grandmother. She couldn't express how much she had given her. I really am very much grateful.

"Demo kokoro no naka subete wo"

"Totemo tsutae kire nai"

But there's no way I can tell you

everything that's in my heart

"KANTAN ni ika nai kara"

"Ikite yukeru"

It's because it's not simple

that I can go on living

Those lines were for the Eichi of the present time. The one that she met a couple of months ago. The one that helped the Eichi from two years ago to rest in peace.

Takuto. I am so grateful. He made accepted that you can change or cannot change some things in your life. He was the one that made her write this song. So she could tell the world that it is true that it's not so simple to live but that's what it make it worth it. Thank you.

"Sugite kita hibi zenbu de"

"Ima no atashi nanda yo"

All the days that have passed

have made me who I am now

"KANTAN ni ika nai kara"

"Ikite yukeru"

It's because it's not simple

that I can go on living

She smiled to the people in front of her. All those persons helped her so much.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Since she had came back from the hospital, she had been overflowed with work, never having a second for herself. They were preparing her first concert. It would be called Myself and she had already write down the them song of the show. They were still in the process of recording it. She would be the main event of the show, having Oz as first part and a new young girl that just joined the company. She was with Ooshige-san in her office. Trying to put some correction to the papers from the last meeting, Mitsuki was slowly getting bored of that paperwork. She had been doing that for the past week. Takuto came in with tea.

She looked up and looked liberated. Takuto laughed.

"Seems like you have lots of work. How is it going at school?"

"Too much homework. The teacher don't understand at all what is the trouble of a concert at the end of a semester."

She sighed and Takuto laughed some more.

"Masami-san, I'm borrowing Mitsuki for the night."

Ooshige-san didn't looked up from her paper as she waved them away. Takuto smiled to his girlfriend. He took her hand and led her down the stairs and out of the building. It was past ten already, the night was dark but the full moon was shining brightly eclipsing all the stars. Mitsuki looked around. She didn't recognize the place where he was leading her. She didn't said a word. In front of a building, he knocked softly on the door.

"It's me."

The door opened and a young man seemed quite glad to see them.

"Takuto-san, it's been a while."

"Yeah, I know. Who's there tonight?"

"A young girl that have been trying for a couple of nights now. She's quite good."

"Tell her that I'm going to take over the stage in a fifteen minutes."

"I don't think there will be any problem. Happy to see you're back!"

He waved at the boy. Mitsuki didn't understand what was happening. Takuto smiled at her.

"This is the artists secret passageway. You should have passed here the first time you came."

Mitsuki looked at him puzzled. He only smiled.

"You'll see."

They waited in the small corridor a little. Takuto grabbed her waist and kept her near him kissing her forehead. He glided his hand in her hair and smiled. She smiled back. Whatever he was up to, he knew she would like it. That satisfied her.

He took her hand again and led her to the end of the corridor. There she could hear the crowd. A girl were thanking them for listening. Takuto led her on stage, the crowd before them looked at them with anticipation. She remembered now. This place was were she met Takuto. The nightclub where she sang for the first time. Takuto took the mic.

"Hey people how are you doing tonight!"

The crowd answered in kind. Takuto smiled and with a softer voice continued:

"I have something to celebrate tonight. Something really important."

The crowd went silent right away.

"Mitsuki come closer please."

He said it in the mic even though it wasn't necessary. Mitsuki blushed and came closer. He snaked his free arm around her waist.

"Exactly a year from now, I sang a duet together with this pretty girl here. At that time we didn't know each other at all. Well now, a year from that, we're together."

He took the time to look at her in the eyes.

"I wanted to sing that duet again, here where we met, to celebrate that."

He was very good with the crowd. They were all waiting for him to started. You could see the anticipation in their eyes. Mitsuki smiled to herself. She took another mic and said:

"Don't be afraid to sing along with us now! For everyone here, for Takuto, for me… for us: New future!"

The crowd cheered as they heard the music begin. Takuto took Mitsuki's hand and mouthed a thank you. She smiled at him and gave him a peck on the lips that didn't go unnoticed by the crowd that cheered for more. Flushed Mistuki laughed a little than raised the mic to her mouth, the song had already began. Takuto started, just like the first time they sang it together they remembered it too well.

"Tatta hitotsu kawaranai mono"

There's still one more thing that will surely never change…

Mistuki sang her line. Her happiness resonating in her voice.

"Zutto egaiteta yume"

...the dream that I am always sketching

They each sang their line with love and hope, the crowd moving to their every words.

"Ima no jibun wa dou utsuru no"

The me that I am right now, could I possibly reflect...

"Ano koro no chiisana hitomi ni"

...all of those days in these small eyes of mine?

"Nee miagete koona ni hiroi yozora dakara"

Hey, won't you look up, the sky tonight is so wide and spacious after all...

"Sou sugu ni wakaru you ni "

Right… very soon… so I can understand…

"Seiippai kagayaku kara hayaku"

With all I've got, I'm going to hurry up and shine...

They sang together the next line, Mitsuki going for a higher note, Takuko descending almost an octave and an half lower just like what they did a year ago.

"Fullmoon wo sagashite"

...I'm searching for a full moon.

They sang together again, looking at each other's eyes with smiles on their faces. The crowd was singing with them now.

"Let's sing a song!"

Mitsuki sang alone the next line, closing her eyes. The grey haired boy looked at her and smiled.

"Itsu demo issho kimi no tame ima no watashi ni dekiru subete"

So that we can be together forever, I'm doing everything that I can do.

He sang with her and the crowd.

"Day by day..."

This was Takuto's line. He was still smiling at her, he hadn't taken his eyes.

"Kyou made no unmei ashita kara no kibou kono mune ni kakae"

I will embrace yesterday's fate and tomorrow's hopes inside of me.

She sang with him. Looking at him directly in the eyes. "Let's sing a song!" The girl put all her feelings in that one last line she would sing alone, making sure he would feel the truth within those words.

"Itsu demo issho kimi to nara tsurai koto norikoerareru yo"

If I am always together with you... I'll make it through any pain.

Takuto sang, taking their joined hand near his lips. He kissed them softly.

"More and more..."

She smiled and sang with him.

"Motto motto motto chika tsukitai ima koko ni itekurete"

I want to be even closer to you, I stand here right now and give...

They sang together the last line, this time Mitsuki going for lower tone and the boy singing in higher than he usually do. It really was just like a year ago. Except this time, they were vibrating with love.

"Many thanks for you!"

Mitsuki wrapped her arms around Takuto's neck and kissed him fully on the lips, not caring about the cheering crowd in front of them. They were crying, from happiness. They kissed again. The band started playing another song. But the two lovers didn't care. They were in their own little world at the moment. In the back of the crowd they never notice the man standing there. He was clapping happily. He went to sit in a corner and thought to himself for a while. The boy from the artists' entrance went to sit with him.

"Sorry to have called you so late Takasu-san, but I really wanted you to see this when Takuto-san called me earlier."

The man, Takasu-san smiled.

"You did good. I never thought of making two different groups do a duet but after hearing this tonight, It'll be hard not to put at least one in the upcoming show. I'm sure Fullmoon-san wouldn't mind. And give me the name of that girl that was singing before them. She might have potential. I'll make her pass an audition to see."

He looked up at the happy couple on stage. It was sure great to be young.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

THIS IS THE END!! I hope you liked it!!

Review to tell me what you think. Constructive critics are welcome, I really want to improve my writing.