Kana POV:

I quickly pulled my beret tighter over my head. "Um, no, you must be mistaken. I'm not an idol."

Sam's quizzical look told me he wanted to protest, but decided better of it. "Oh, sorry. Well, you certainly look similair. Even prettier than Kana, if I might say." 

He tugged nervously at his sweater. It was such a cute act. Aqua never got nervous like that. Oh shut up, Kana. This is Kelly's boyfriend. Her abusive boyfriend. Don't be fooled!

"Well, thank you." I blushed. Oh my god. Stop blushing! "You were saying something about your girlfriend?"

"Oh, yes." Sam's aloof expression immediantly hardened. "Her name's Kelly Suzuki. I was just going over to the cafe she works at to break up with her."

"Break... up?" I echoed, dumbfounded. 

"Yeah. I just don't think things are working out between me and her anymore." Sam shrugged. "It's okay. I don't think she likes me much anymore either." 

She sure doesn't, mate. So why am I just the oppisote?

"Oh, well.... I just came back from a cafe and saw Kelly. She was planning to take a break from you." I don't know why I said that hopefully. Snap out of it, Kana!

"That should be right." Sam looked at me tensely. I met his eyes. A crack of eletricity sparked in the space between us. I could feel it. "Do you have a partner?"

"Oh, um, a boyfriend." I said quickly. That's right, Aqua. I can't cheat on him. No matter how good-looking or nice this guy appears to be. (Appears, Kana. APPEARS. Kelly JUST told you how horrible he is.)

"I see." Sam's face fell, but he quickly regained his composure and took a step closer to me. "Well. Any problems there?"

"Can't say for sure yet, ha." I laughed nervously. He was really quite close. "Um, he's pretty new, you know. But I have a good feeling about him."

"Do you now?" Sam took a step right so my back was to the wall if I faced him. He took another step closer. I backed up a little. "That could change."

I started sweating. This was really too close. I took another step back. Now, instead of feeling attracted, I felt like I was getting pushed back. Like Sam was pushing himself onto me. The spark of chemistry was gone, replaced with a growing sense of danger. "Um, well, I don't know if it can." I blubbered. 

"I'm sure it can." I don't know how many steps he took and I took back, but somehow the wall was suddenly pressed against my back. His scorching blue eyes took a long, intense look up and down my body. 

It was only when he reached out with his hand greedily than did I realise how dangerous this was and come to my senses.

"Stop it!" I thrust out a hand to push him back but it was useless against him. I screamed out for help but Sam thrust a hand over my mouth roughly, muffling my cries.

Suddenly, Sam was pulled back, away from me. 

My eyes widened to see Aqua, right there behind him, his golden hair dusted with frost, his eyes screaming murder. 

Aqua POV:

I tightened my death grip on the guy's wrist. He swore and tugged his wrist fiercly away from me, but I wouldn't let him go. I wouldn't ever let him go until he paid for what he'd done to Kana. 

"Who are you?" the man spat. I grimanced and absentmindely stepped away from his spit wad on the floor. 

"I actually happen to be the lady you're harassing's partner." I narrowed my eyes. "So you can get the hell away from her."

The man's eyes widened and he hissed, "Ugh. One of those overprotective types. I hate those."

"Do you think I care about what you think?" I redirected my attention on Kana. Her pale hands were trembling and her eyes were wide. "Are you okay, Kana?"

"I-I'm fine." she mumbled, her eyes on the floor. I frowned, wondering why she was refusing to meet my eyes. 

"Look up at me." I tilted her chin up so I could meet her eyes. "It's going to be okay. You head over to the nearest open publice place that's safe and I'll meet you there, okay? I just need a minute to deal with this guy."

"Wait, A-aqua." her pretty voice trembled. "I don't... I just.. I want you to know something."

"Yes?" My heart skipped a beat.

"I... it's partly my fault, too. I was... a little... a little attracted to him, I guess. I should have kept my distance. And listen, Aqua." She went on bravely. "I knew who he was. He's Sam, the abusive boyfriend of a new friend I made back at a cafe near here. He was on his way to break up with my new friend, Kelly. I already knew who he was. But I kept talking to him anyway. Please, please don't hurt him too much. You'll get in trouble."

"It'll be fine, Kana." I gritted my teeth. "We can discuss this... later." 

Kana nodded and scurried off. 

I turned my attention back on that... Sam. 

It made me even more furious to know Kana had liked him.

Kana POV:

My boots crunched in the morning snow as I slipped and slid my way back to the cafe. 

I got back to that familair glass door and shoved it open, warmth hitting me as soon as I stepped inside. Kelly looked up at me from her phone and looked shocked. "Kana-chan? What are you doing back here?" 

"Oh, Kelly." I collapsed onto the nearest chair, put my hands to my face and sobbed. "I've made the worst mistake of my life."

Kelly hurried over from behind the counter and pulled up a seat next to me. She patted my arm comfortingly. "What happened?"

"I... I ran into Sam on the way back to my apartment."

"Sam?!" Kelly gasped. "You mean..."

"Yes, your Sam. I was shocked. He and I got chatting, though, and he told me he was on his way to meet you. He said he was going to break up with you."

"That would have done me a whole lot of good." Kelly said crossly. "Did he give you any trouble?"

"Oh, he did! He started harassing me. He got too close and when I tried to stop him, he wouldn't stop. I was so scared, but suddenly my boyfriend popped out of nowhere and saved me!" I sobbed. "Oh, but the worst part is me. My traitorous, evil mind. I got so attracted to Sam. That's why I kept talking to him! I should have been on my guard. Oh, but you weren't lying when you said he was handsome, Kelly. I'm so sorry." 

"Don't be sorry." Kelly said. "He might have the looks but he's an evil man at heart. It's not your fault."

"But it is! Because I already knew how horrible he was. You told me all about him! I left this cafe thinking how evil Sam was. But then I went and fell for him! All because of his stupid, bloody good looks! And now my boyfriend, Aqua, is surely mad. Aqua's out there right now, probably beating Sam up!" I cried. 

"Well, Sam does deserve a good beating." Kelly replied. "Hopefully he gets a punch in the eye so he gets a black eye. That would ruin his good looks! Ha!"

I looked up at my friend. "Aren't you angry with me?"

"Why should I be? Me and Sam aren't even dating anymore. Besides, you already know what your mistake was and you won't fall for people like him again. I'm sure you've learnt your lesson. So I don't think there's any reason for me to be mad." Kelly smiled. 

"Oh, Kelly!" I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her tight. "You're such a good friend."

"I'm also a good detective." Kelly pulled back from the hug and tapped me on the nose. "And you're also a little liar. It's you, isn't it? Kana Arima. I could recognise you anywhere."

I swallowed back a gasp. Then I remembered what Sam had said. 

"I was just going to see my girlfriend. Hey, aren't you that idol? Um.... Kana, was it? My girlfriend went to see you a month ago."

Kelly was a hardcore fan of mine. That was why she could recognise me so easily. 

"No, I'm not," I gulped. "We just have the same first name is all."

"No point lying to me." Kelly grinned. "I know it's you, Miss Arima. You have the same eyes and the exact same hair, even if it's tied up. How could you ever hope to fool me?"

I sighed. "Fine, you win. But if you tell anyone, I will be screwed. My identity's supposed to be secret to the public."

"Why don't you wear a disguise like all the other idols?"

"There's really no point. The only reason I don't want to be seen outside as myself is because if I do something really stupid it will be caught on camera and I'll get a lot of hate." I explained. "But on days like this, when there's really no-one about, I don't need to wear a disguise."

"Oh. Wow. But you do know it can be dangerous, right? Idols like you are often targetted."

"I know now. I'll wear a wig next time." I grinned. But my smile quickly slid off my face. "Oh, what if Sam hurts Aqua?"

"Aqua? Interesting name."

"Yeah. I tease him about it a lot." I sighed. "I don't know how he even knew I was in trouble."

"Well, I know one thing." Kelly grinned. "That he's a special guy, and you would be an idiot if you didn't hold onto him."

Aqua POV:

That Sam lay on the ground, beated and bruised. 

I kicked his slack body once more before running down the street to Kana. I would report him to the police later. Abusing a girl! He was sick. 

There was the public library. Maybe Kana was there. 

I pushed open the wooden doors and quickly searched the small library, but she wasn't there. So I ran down a few more blocks and finally came across a small, deserted-looking cafe. I poked my head in and immediantly saw Kana talking to a girl in a waitress uniform.

The girl wore a black apron over a white dress with a staff badge pinned onto it, reading 'Kelly'. She had a torrent of dirt-blonde curls and emerald eyes, along with some freckles, a button nose and heart-shaped lips. Kelly sat next to Kana, who was looking distraught. 

"Kana!" I rushed to her. 

She turned around in her seat, shock and worry mixed in her crimson eyes. "Aqua! What happened? Are you okay? What did you do?"

"I gave him what he deserved." I told her. "I'll call the police to report this later. Don't worry- he couldn't lay a finger on me."

"Oh, phew," she sighed. "I hope you don't get in trouble."

"It'll all be okay. But next time, don't go outside when there's really nobody about. It's dangerous."

"I know. I'm sorry. I just needed to take a breath of fresh air. I was feeling stressed with the whole... plane incident." Kana sighed. "It's delaying everything- the whole world tour! And now, Strawberry Productions will have to refund everything. It's a huge cost..."

"It'll be fine. Miyako can handle it." I reassured her. "Strawberry Productions has more than enough money, with both B Komachi's successes."

Suddenly, I realised what we were talking about. In front of that girl. 

"Kana!" I gasped in horror, pinpointing my stare at Kelly. 

"It's okay," she said quickly. "Kelly already knows. She figured it out."

"Oh. You really shouldn't be going around letting people know, though. She could leak it to her friends... and her friends to her friends... you know the whole chain."

"I wouldn't!" Kelly said, looking insulted. "I'm very trustworthy."

"That's what someone who isn't trustworthy would say."

"And that's what someone who's trying to pin the blame on a innocent girl would say!"

"Innocent girl? I wouldn't say that. Aren't you the girl who was the girlfriend of that Sam?" I raised an eyebrow. "Kana, you shouldn't be getting involved with people like them."

"Don't tell me what to do." Kana bristled. "Kelly's not like him. She's my friend."

"A friend you made in literally two minutes?" 

"It's been more than that, for your information!" 

"Yeah, yeah. Come on, let's go already." I had had enough of this crummy, stuffy building. It made me feel claustrophobic. Not to mention Kana's slightly irritating attuide towards me. I could feel a headache coming on. "Back to the apartment we go."

"Actually, I think I'll stay here a little while longer," Kana glared at me. "If that's okay with you, boss."

"Why are you giving me that look?" I frowned. "And why are you saying that?"

"I just don't think you should be deciding what I do and what I don't," Kana turned away, back to Kelly. "Do you want to go to the mall after your shift ends?"

"Sure. I've only got around seven minutes to go," Kelly said, checking her watch. "Are you sure that's okay with... um, your boyfriend, though?"

"He doesn't tell me what to do," Kana rolled her eyes. "He even lives seperate from me. I live with MEM and Ruby."

"MEM-cho and Ruby!! Oh my gosh! Do you think I could meet them?" Kelly gasped, stars in her eyes. "You're my favourite, of course, but MEM-cho and Ruby! They're practically celebrities! Oh, now that I think about it, I'm literally talking to a celebrity right now! What's it like?"

The pair went off talking their heads off about B Komachi. Kelly asked rapid-fire fanbased questions and Kana obligingly answered. 

This was what I hated. The world I couldn't follow Kana into. Her idol world. I wasn't part of it, and I never would be. I probably wouldn't be closer to Kana's idol life than this random girl would be. 

But I would find a way to be in that world too. 

Later

Kana POV:

"I don't know what's up with Aqua lately," I fumed as Kelly and I browsed through clothes. "Well, I guess it was just then. He's so... controlling. Like, he just has to be involved with everything I do! He acts like he's my dad, for goodness sake!"

"Maybe he's toxic like Sam," Kelly raised an eyebrow, then held up a denim jacket. "Do you think this is too bulky for me?"

"No, you would look fabulous in it," I said. "But maybe this lighter shade?" I picked up a light-wash denim jacket with a slightly more feminine design. 

"Oh yes. That's the one." Kelly raised the price tag to check. "Hmm. That's okay. I'll get this." She put it into her basket. "You still haven't gotten anything, Kana-chan."

"I guess I was too absorbed." I said, then slid my hand over the gray fabric of a jacket. "This is soft."

"Good quality," Kelly commented, feeling the fabric for herself, "But gray just isn't your colour. Say, your hair would look amazing next to green."

"Oh no. Green makes me look like a Christmas tree."

"But you wore a green outfit for one of the songs at the concert."

"Only because Ruby wanted us to have a colour code."

"Oh, well. Maybe black? It makes you look very mature. Hmm, but on second thought, that gray jacket might look nice with a dress." Kelly picked up the jacket with a conscending frown. "What do you think? Maybe a black summer dress? Oh, but that wouldn't do for this weather."

"I could get a fur one."

"Oh yes! The new trendy ones. Let's go find one your size."

As Kelly led me through the bustling shopping centre, I felt a little bit better, at least. 

A/N: That's the end of the epilogue! Though it does end with some issues between Kana and Aqua, I wanted to potray that no relationship is perfect always has it's difficulties. It's the same whether it's reality or just a story- there's no real 'the end'. And it's not Aqua who's at fault here, either- he might have his side. I've just decided not to write it, so please don't abuse him in the comments.

Thank you for supporting this story! I recommend checking out my new fanfiction after this as well.