Author's Notes:  IT'S OVER!  IT'S OVER!  *does lil happy fangirl dance*

"...Me revoici

Cherchant ton visage

Et je realize

Que je devrais en chercher une autre

C'Etait toi..."

 - Billy Joel, "C'Etait Toi"

It was pouring, much as it had been the day they arrived.  With a groan and a face at the weather, Ren opened the umbrella and strode outside.  Turning, he squinted up at the gray building that was their hotel.  Somewhere up there was the rest of them, possibly even staring down at him to see what would happen.

Ren sighed and, in a random act of infantilism, jumped into a rather large puddle, spraying the pedestrians with water.  He grinned.  God, he missed being nine...

Locating Gackt sitting alone on a bench, Ren walked up to his "target," umbrella in hand before shifting it to hold it over them both as a shield from the onslaught of rain.  "Daijoubu desu ka?"

"...iie..." came the muffled reply.

"Why not?"

"Why do you think?" Gackt answered, spiteful.  He blinked up at the redhead through dripping bangs

Ren sighed and sat down next to him.  "So, she turned you down.  Deal with it."

"It's a little harder than that Ren..." All the fight seemed to 'whoosh' out of the other man at once.

"It doesn't have to be.  She's already engaged, or at least that's what you told us.  She's taken.  There are other people who are as willing if not more so to give you what you want.  In fact, one of those people happens to be nearby."

"What are you talking about...?  Or who as the case may be..."

"Whom do you think...?"

There was a moment of silence before Gackt looked back at his companion and inquired, "...You must be joking..."

"Why would I jest about something like this?" Ren sounded somewhat indignant.  "He loves you, you know.  He has for a long time.  Why else do you think he was so upset when you left last night?  Of course, considering he told you all of this before, I'm chancing sounding redundant."

"...I...He..."

"-- Waited all night for you to come back, beating himself up the entire time for saying what he did, I might add.  He's asleep right now thanks to You and some of those sleeping pills we usually reserve for you."

"But...I..."

"Stop second-guessing yourself, Gaku.  It's not attractive."  Gackt glanced side-long at his friend who smiled softly before continuing, "You know...I don't think he's mad.  I think he just misses you and he's sorry.  Sorry for what exactly I'm not quite sure considering that one: I don't know what happened and two: I don't think he did anything wrong.  Pissed you off, maybe, but other than that..."

"What should I do...?" he questioned, cutting in.  "I was so callous towards him yesterday...I told him I couldn't love him...I said..."

"How do you know you couldn't?"

"Because...I...I don't..." he looked back at Ren for understanding but only got a look of utter bored disbelief in reply.  Glancing back down at his hands which fiddled in his lap, he murmured, "I don't think...after Kami...that I could..."

"You never know until you try," Ren answered.  "I know that sounds juvenile, but it's true, believe it or not.  Now, back to the ordeal with Masa and how to resolve it...Personally, I'd run up there as fast as I could - the elevators take too long - then I'd go into his room and grovel and beg for forgiveness.  After a substantial amount of that, I'd talk to him and love him and give everything I could give him, everything he wanted, everything he'd take."  Ren stood, then, Gackt's dark eyes following him.  "But that's just me..."  The petit man turned and walked away, splashing in the rain water.

Gackt sat stunned.  Tipping his head back and up to the sky, he let the rain patter upon his face, cleansing his soul and mind.  Standing up, he walked into the hotel.

*****

"Well..." You began, standing from the airport seat.  "Sadly, it looks as if we didn't find true love in France after all..."

"Oh, I don't know about that..." Chacha replied, hooking his arm in his lover's.

"Yeah," added Ren, "I mean, how could someone say THAT'S not love?"  He nodded over You's shoulder.

Looking back they glanced at the couple which lagged behind.  Masa's head rested on Gackt's shoulder, their arms wrapped around each other.  Pausing in their trek towards the terminal, they pulled away from each other and pressed their lips together in a sweet kiss.