Chapter 5

"What the hell is this?!" He slapped the tabloid down on Lory's desk in anger.

Lory fought to keep his calm outer look and glanced down at the telling article. He raised a brow as he puffed on his cigar a little more strongly than usual. "It appears to be a tabloid."

"It's an article saying that she's married! Look! She's wearing a ring!" He ranted.

Lory sighed. "Kuon, it's a tabloid. You know how they always exaggerate things. Women wear rings all the time. It doesn't mean that she's married."

"Read it..." He growled.

Lory picked it up and began reading, then nearly choked. "Impossible. Someone would have told me!" He picked up the phone and called Kouki. "Is it true?" He asked his son on the other end. Everything was silent for a moment and Lory paled. "Why didn't you call me before this all happened?!... What do you mean she said she had the flu for a week?!... They've been together how long?... I see, since then huh?... Yeah... Congratulate the newlyweds for me... Bye..." He hung up and looked at Kuon. "Well, she's married to him alright. They've been seeing each other since your big reveal."

Kuon shattered and sat roughly on the sofa with his head in his hands.

Lory shook his head. "You didn't even try to talk to her after that, did you?"

Kuon sighed. "She wouldn't answer any of my calls."

"Why didn't you go see her then?" Lory asked.

Kuon groaned. "I... My schedule was too packed and by the time I had time, they were already together."

Lory sighed in frustration. "So, what you're telling me is, that everything else was more important. Too important for you to go to her and tell her your side of the story. To let her know she meant more to you than anything else in your life?" He shook his head. "White Day, Kuon... That's all I have to say. Remember your mistakes... Do not repeat them."

Whether she knew it or not, she had changed many lives along with her own. Sho opened his eyes to his childish behavior and started seeing the treasure that stood before him one afternoon, as the little ravenette placed a bento in front of him with the sweet Tamagoyaki that he hated.

He looked at the precious meal and at the girl then sighed. He took her hand and watched her blush. "Poch..." He started and shook his head. "Mimori... You are an excellent cook and I like that you think of me, but..." He saw her sweet face cloud with sadness and he swallowed his pride. "But I really don't like very sweet things. Would you mind making the egg-roll more savory next time?" He smiled at her and winked.

"Of course, Sho-chan!" She told him excitedly and he pulled her in and surprised her with a thank you kiss.

~xoxo~

He stood before the small blonde and thrust the large bouquet of flowers at her, surprising her. He really wasn't good at things like this, but ever since his dealings with Kyoko-chan and having his heart broken, he decided it was time to settle down and stop being such a playboy. He was starting to feel a little of the loneliness seep in and it wasn't something he wanted to feel for the rest of his life.

Itsumi Momose stared up at the dark-haired, nervous young man in shock. "A-Are those for me, Hidehito-kun?"

He nodded. "I... I, um... I was wondering if you would like to go out with me." He asked nervously.

She giggled. She had never seen him act this way. He seemed really sincere and serious. "Are you asking me on a date?"

He nodded again and started rubbing the back of his neck. "Um, actually... I was wondering if you would be interested in being my girlfriend." He confessed, getting a little ahead of the situation.

She smiled. "Well, it is a little early to think about something like that. How about we go on a couple of dates and you ask me again later?" She asked him sweetly.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He smiled. "Itsumi-chan, would you please go out on a date with me this weekend?"

She giggled. "I would be delighted Hidehito-kun."

~xoxo~

It took him awhile to pick up the pieces and paste them back together. It took time to see that he was worthy of friendship, love and all of the above that went with it. It took many years for him to forgive himself and finally approach her and apologize for his slights. It was too late to do anything about it, but she did forgive him and offered a hand of friendship to him. It wasn't what he really wanted, but he would take anything he could get.

He wondered if he should wait it out and see if everything worked out for her or just move on and try his luck at finding a match. He realized that things would never be the same between them when Seishin was born. He knew it was too late when the thought, She's the perfect mother., flitted through his mind while he watched his co-star and her husband dote on their four month old son. He groaned inwardly. And he's the perfect husband.

~xoxo~

Reino smiled softly as he watched his wife tuck their son into his pram and kiss his soft dark locks. He rubbed her back gently as she pulled back to rearranged the diaper bag. He kissed her cheek. "You're really good at this, you know."

She giggled. "Well, I have help." She returned his kiss.

"What time will you be done here?" He asked as he looked out across the set and his eyes fell on her manager, who was talking to the director.

She looked up in thought as she sat down. "Hmm, I think we have a couple more scenes to go. Maybe about an hour or two. Why?"

He glanced at her mischievously and smiled. "Well, I thought maybe we could get my sister to watch Seishin and I could take my lovely wife to dinner. Maybe a movie or dancing."

"You don't think she'd mind?" She asked as she dug her script out of her bag and started flipping to the scenes they would be doing in the next few minutes.

He shook his head. "Are you kidding? I can't keep her away from him. She adores the little rascal and can't wait for the chance to spoil him rotten." He chuckled.

She giggled. "Okay... give her a call." She gave him a quick kiss and left to take her place on stage.

Broken hearts need soothing. Friends can be lovers. Sometimes time does not heal all. One can forgive, but it's very difficult to forget. Finally, letting go of another is not as easy as it would seem and it hurts like hell. What hurts even more is when they don't know that you're the one that loves them. It's like a poison that seeps into your soul and makes itself at home. As with the venom of a snake, one needs to get the poison out and administer the antivenin or it will never go away. Rejection may hurt, but not knowing hurts much worse, can do more damage, and can be far more crippling. Just ask Kuon Hizuri.

~fin~