a/n: Hi everyone! Thanks for all being patient! Next chapter, coming up!

Just a side note: I just watched The Phantom of the Opera in the Philippines on Saturday and it is AWESOME! I LOVE THE PHANTOM!

Disclaimer: Saying this really lowers my self-esteem, but no, I don't own Detective Conan.

Prompt: Headline

It wasn't fun being a star. Makoto could attest to that. Being an eighteen-year-old karate champion tended to get a lot of publicity. After every karate match there were camera flashes from tons of journalists and photographers who wanted an interview on his latest fight. Most of the time he had to escape the paparazzi by going out the back door. He'd bang his head at the back of the seat of the car and curse his life.

But when he got home to his girlfriend's waiting arms, all that faded away. He was swept up in a field of bliss. Being with Sonoko was just…how to put it…euphoric. Yeah. That was the word. Euphoric.

So when she was whisked away from him, he didn't know what to do but lie in bed guilt-ridden.

Because it was all his fault. And he knew it.

One trip to the bar. One trip to the bar was all it took to ruin his life.

He had been running. Yeah, he'd been doing a lot of that lately. Ever since he had won that worldwide karate competition, he'd had to run away from a lot of people. He'd sneaked out using the back door and snuck into the nearest door he could find. With his luck, it just had to be the door to a bar.

After calling his girlfriend to pick her up, he had sat on the counter, counting the seconds. Five minutes, she had said. Five minutes. And of course, with two and a half more minutes to go, someone just had to recognize him, right?

"Hey." a pretty, curly haired redhead approached him and sat beside him. "I know y-you, d-don't I? Yeah – I've seen y'all before." She said, slurring her words. He snorted. She was obviously drunk.

"You've got the wrong guy."

"Naw – I'm p-pretty good with faces y'know. Imma pretty sure I – hic – know you." She moved closer as he shrunk back, trying to avoid her. "Hey! You're that boy, yeah, th-that karate boy, right?"

"You've got the wrong guy. It's not me." He looked around. Sonoko, hurry up!

"Yeah. Yeah, it's you." She leaned in closer as Makoto tried to edge backwards. He inwardly groaned as his back hit the wall. He just had to pick the last seat on the counter, didn't he?

"Y'know." She whispered, edging closer. "I've seen y'all on TV. An' I gotta say…" She was right across him now with their noses touching. "Y'all look a lot hotter than on TV."

"Hey look! There's an empty spot over there. Let's sit – oops!"

The boy behind the redhead stumbled backwards, bumping into her. Makoto jumped as she pitched forward, mashing their mouths together. His eyes widened in surprise. Her lips were soft. They stayed like that for a minute, and then…

Sonoko…

His reaction was instantaneous. The thought of her made him shove the girl unceremoniously to the ground. He burst out of the bar, not caring if the paparazzi saw him anymore. How – how could he have betrayed her like that? He wiped his mouth repeatedly, trying to get the taste of alcohol off. He remembered how Sonoko's lips always felt on his. They were perfect. When they kissed, everything just fell into place. That kiss with that girl was nothing compared to Sonoko. It was a jumble of mixed emotions, confusion, the smell of alcohol and her uncoordinated tongue in his mouth. With Sonoko, it was a bright ray of light, and as their mouths met it was like nothing else mattered.

"MAKOTO! MAKOTO!"

Makoto jumped as he realized that his girlfriend was calling to him, waving her arms around. He bit his lip in guilt as he recounted what just happened minutes ago. He put on a smile and greeted her with open arms, but in the car, as she snuggled against him, he bit his tongue in guilt as he remembered what he just did. With any luck, she would never have to find out.

But of course, Makoto Kyogoku wasn't very lucky, was he?

Two months after the event, he had woken up to the most horrible sight in the world. His picture, wide-eyed and kissing that girl, plastered on the front page of all the major newspapers in Japan. He was shocked seeing his name make headlines.

"Karate Champ Seen With Girl In Bar!"

"Kyogoku Gets Busy!"

"The Prince of Kicks – Or Kisses?"

After it sunk in, only one thought passed through his mind.

Sonoko…

What was she going to think? She had to know…he had to explain…he had to tell her…he didn't mean to…

But in a way, it was all his fault.

He had ran out of the house and towards Sonoko's. He knew she was alone – her family was on a trip she couldn't attend.

He had to talk to her.

And here he was, in front of her house, trying to get the courage to knock on the door.

Come on! You have to tell her.

He took a deep breath and rapped his hand on the door.

"Wait a sec! Coming!"

He bit his lip and attempted a smile as she opened the door. He was surprised to see her eyes red and her face tear-stained. Or actually, no, he wasn't surprised. After what he just did to her, why wouldn't she be crying?

Her eyes widened as she saw him, and her face morphed into a mask of fury.

"Get. Out." She hissed, trying to rein in her anger. "I never, ever want to see you ever again."

"Sonoko, wait!" He stepped in front of the door, wincing as she slammed the door in an attempt to shut it.

"I said, get out! I hate you! I don't want to see you ever again. Get out!" She slammed the door repeatedly, pushing his foot with hers, trying to move it so she could shut the door.

"Please, just let me talk. Let me explain." He tried to push the door open.

"NO! Get out of here! I don't want to hear any explanation you have to offer. The headlines of every newspaper in Japan are doing the talking. Just go away! Leave me alone! I HATE YOU!" She started slamming the door with more intensity.

"Just…give me a chance…" He grunted as he gave the door a huge shove, opening it and letting himself in. She stumbled in surprise and collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She scrambled away from him as he moved to help her up, intense hatred burning in her eyes as she pushed and heaved herself to her feet.

"Just go away. Just go away. I don't want to hear from you. I don't want to look at you. Just go away." She turned and made to go up to her room, yelping in surprise as she felt a hand grip her arm.

"Sonoko, please. It wasn't me. She was drunk. She knew me from TV and this guy bumped her and she kissed me. It wasn't me. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I pushed her off. I promise. I'm so sorry. Sonoko, please…" He was panicking. He had no idea what he'd do without her. His life revolved around her. What would he do without her in his life?

"I hate you." She looked up at him, unbridled anger in her eyes. "I hate you. Do you know how much you hurt me?" She sniffled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I felt like nothing. Did I really mean nothing to you, that you'd just kiss a random girl at a bar? Was our relationship really that meaningless? Do you…" She paused. "Do you even love me?"

He stared at her. "Sonoko…" He brought them together, until their faces were so close their noses were almost touching. "I promise you…" he whispered, "I love you more than anything in the world." And he brought them together, their mouths meeting, conveying all that words couldn't say into the kiss.

She didn't doubt him after that.

a/n: Thanks for being patient guys!

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA IS AWESOME. THOSE OF YOU GUYS IN THE PHILIPPINES WATCH IT NOW. IT IS SO WORTH IT. AND PHANTOM X CHRISTINE IS CANON, I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS.