Regrets

Chapter 1

"I'm leaving for America. I won't be coming back. I just wanted to let you know. I had to tell you." His voice sounded a little strange as the words came out.

She nodded. Why was he telling her this? Didn't he know her heart was breaking into millions of tiny pieces with each word? She righted herself and plastered the fake smile on that she had learned oh so well from him. "Well Tsuruga-san... I wish you all the best. I'm sure it's the right decision for your career. I'm very happy for you." What else was she supposed to say? I love you! Please don't leave me too? Was she supposed to fall at his feet and beg him not to leave her and be the pathetic girl she once was? No! She had changed and she had vowed to herself to never allow anyone to make her beg them to stay again. It was a fact of life that she had learned the hard way. The people that you love inevitably leave you behind when the opportunity arises. A lesson she was well versed in. She wasn't worthy of hearing those three little words from a real person. She turned and walked away, locking away the blackened pulpy mess that was once a partially healed heart.

"I just don't understand... She was making such wonderful progress and now this. Can you explain it Yashiro-kun?" Lory looked up at him with pleading eyes. It had been several weeks since Ren had left and now Kyoko had become the "Ice Queen of LME". Certainly her acting was a cut above the rest and she could most certainly act out every emotion required of her for her characters, but when not behind the camera and in private, she was an emotionless doll.

"I really don't understand what happened. She's been this way ever since she had that luncheon with Ren. I really wish I knew what he had said to her to make her react this way." Yashiro shook his head. "I don't know how to help her."

Several months went by and she was gradually coming back out of her shell around Kanae. Even under penalty of the loss of her friendship, she would not divulge any of her secret. Even though he had left her and she was not showing it, she still loved him with her battered heart.

"Have you been able to find out anything at all?" Yashiro asked the stoic ravenette as they approached the LoveMe Office.

The atmosphere was thick and ominous as Kanae placed her hand on the door knob. The pair heard a scream and a loud crash. "THAT BASTARD LIED TO ME! WHY? WHY AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANYONE? WHY IS IT ALWAYS THIS WAY!?" They rushed in to find her phone laying on the floor in shattered little pieces, chairs turned over and throw pillows shredded. Kyoko was collapsed on the floor sobbing piteously and repeating her questions. "Why? Corn said he loved me... Why? Why did he leave me too?" She looked up at Kanae. "He told me he loved me... He lied... Why am I not good enough for someone to say I love you, Moko-san? Why? What did I do? It hurts so much... Why does it hurt so much? Why can't I breathe?" She started to hyperventilate and her two friends began to panic. What on Earth had brought this on? She passed out from lack of oxygen and Yashiro picked her up and gently placed her on the sofa, while Kanae grabbed a moist cloth and placed it on her forehead.

Yashiro looked up at Kanae as he gently stroked Kyoko's hair. "I need to go let Takarada-san know what's going on."

Kanae nodded, sat on the sofa and placed her friend's head in her lap to comfort her.

Lory took into consideration what Yashiro had told him. He was livid. Kuon had told her he loved her then apparently walked away from her like everyone else in her life. He also thought about her words telling the pair that no one had ever told her that they loved her without a lie attached. How the one person that did, lied and left her like all of the others before him. He could only surmise that her reaction had stemmed from the recent press release of his identity. Why would she have such an adverse reaction to something like this? He needed more information if he was going to be of any help at all. So after a phone call to an old friend and concerned pseudo-father and several days of waiting, he had finally found out. Kuon never suspected that his parents were asking about his past with Kyoko because of what was happening to her in Japan, her complete meltdown. Her despondence. Her lack of sleep. Her refusal to eat. Lory shook his head in sadness. Something needed to be done immediately, but what to do? He firmly believed that she would not put her trust in any male's words from this point on and he needed a male that could be trusted with her heart.

"Kanae-chan... I really don't know how to help her. He broke her completely. All she does is model and act and the only time I can get her to eat is in between takes at her jobs and then she only picks at her meals. It's killing me, watching her waste away like this." He was shaking with anger now. "I want to just hunt them down and beat the hell out of them for what they've done to her. Hizuri... Fuwa and her mother. She's a goddess and none of them deserve her. She's too good for any of them." He spat out.

A fire lit behind Kanae's eyes and she looked up at the stricken manager. "Then why don't you do it?" She said softly.

He furrowed his brow in confusion at the question. "What do you mean?"

"You care about her...You," She finished the next part in a whisper, "You love her."

"I..." He started and she held up her hand.

"I can tell." She sighed. "Just take care of her and everything will fall into place."

He sighed. "I can't... She'll never believe me. Not after all of this."

She smiled softly. "She'll see it in time. They did a lot of damage, but she'll come around. I promise. Just be patient and don't try to rush her like they did. You have the advantage."

He gave her another confused look.

"Mo! You're her manager, idiot. You're with her all of the time and she already trusts you. Just give her time." She explained.

Yashiro sighed. "I don't know..."

"Just keep doing what you're doing and being there for her. I'll back you up." She told him as she gathered her things and started to leave. "I'm trusting you. I know you'll do what's best for her." She left him to ponder her advice. Now that Hizuri-san was no longer there (He didn't want to call him Ren or, Kuon at this point, he was too pissed at him.) he really didn't need to hide how he felt about her. If that one wasn't willing to step up when he had the chance, Yukihito was most certainly going to.