Close to You

by Hikaru

**

Part 2

  " You're quite famous now, aren't you?" Teru chuckled, " I've been
seeing your face all over magazines.., I still can't believe we used to
be together."

  " It's funny how things has worked out...," Toshiya said, smiling
slightly, " Your taste seems to have differ from the last time I saw you."

  " Hm? What do you mean by that?"

  Teru looked confused. Toshiya grinned and turned his head to where
Jiro was sitting, chatting comfortably with Die. Teru noticed this and
smiled.

  " I've just met him. There's nothing beteen us." He said simply.

  " Yet." Toshiya's voice was teasing.

  " Totchi, you know that you're the only one I love." Teru took
Toshiya's hand in his, smiling up at the younger man.

  Toshiya's smile turned sad.
  " Are you sure? I've changed, you know. You don't know how much I've
changed since we last saw each other."

  " You don't look much different..," Teru shrugged, " And I don't care
whether you've changed or not. I told you-I love you, Totchi."

  " I do too." Toshiya leaned down and lightly kissed the tip of Teru's
nose. " But I don't think your friend would like the fact that you've
brought him to this wonderful place just to see you get back with your
old boyfriend."

  Toshiya turned away, walking back towards the hotel and it's party.
Teru walked behind him, sighing to himself.

  " We're not getting back together, are we?" Teru's voice was low and
sad.

  " I don't think so. It could never work out." Toshiya said, not
looking back.

**

  " Teru's coming back here." Shinya noted, nodding towards Teru's
form.

  Jiro sighed and got up from where he sat, a reserved look on his
face. Die, who noticed the look, grabbed hold of Jiro's hand suddenly.

  " Where are you going? The party's not over yet!"

  " I need to take a walk." Jiro said solemnly, not meeting Die's eyes.

  He shook off Die's hand and walked back into the hotel. Just as soon
as he had left, Teru arrived with Toshiya by his side. Both Shinya and
Die stood up, each offering a smile at Toshiya.

  " Totchi, you're back...," Die welcomed the man with a brief hug,
earning a wistful smile from Toshiya.
 
  " You're not looking too happy to see me..," he drawled, a mocking
tone in his voice.

  Die matched Toshiya's tone with a glint in his eyes. He threw a
playful punch at Toshiya's cheek, making the other man pout slightly.

  " Who would be happy, when their friend disappears and reappears
without even properly saying 'hello' or 'good-bye'..," Die said, " You
probably wouldn't have talked to me if you hadn't met Teru."

  " That's not true!" Toshiya laughed. " I would always come and see my
friends!"

  Shinya cleared his throat, smiling again once Toshiya's attention was
turned upon him.

  " You must be Toshiya." Shinya said, eyeing the other man carefully.

  " I am. And you are..?"

  " Terachi Shinya desu."

  The two then eyed each other suspiciously.

  ' What's the matter with him?' Toshiya thought, furious.

  ' He's the one Jiro was so upset about...,'  Shinya thought, also
furious.

  Teru then noticed that Jiro was nowhere in sight.

  " Um, Shinya, where's Jiro?" Teru looked around, trying to find the
blonde man. " Don't tell me he left the party early!"

  " He said he needed a walk." Shinya said, gritting his teeth, still
staring down the blue-haired man.

  " I should probably look for him." Teru turned to Shinya and Toshiya,
" Why don't you two get acquainted? It's gonna take me some time.. this
place is huge."

  With that, Teru left, leaving the three people together. Die shuffled
his feet, sensing that the air was thick with hostility. Shinya kept on
regarding Toshiya with loathe, he couldn't possibly get acquainted with
someone who had caused his friend to be upset. He wouldn't even try to
like the guy.

**

  Jiro stopped in his tracks and looked around. The surroundings were
unfamiliar to him and he took a step back, turning around again. He
gulped as he realized that he was most probably lost. He looked up, gazing
at the sky as if though asking for it's guidance and help. He sighed
when no such answer came to him; he was only given a long, expecting
silence. He turned on his heels, ready to start looking for a way back to
the hotel, when a familiar face turned up in front of him, looking like
his knight in shining armour.

  The blonde blushed slightly at the thought but put on an annoyed look
when Teru came up to him. He *was* slightly pissed at the other man,
and though it wasn't like him, he thought that Teru should at least know
it.

  Teru's eyes brightened at the sight of him.

  " Jiro!"

  He ran and threw his arms around the blonde man so suddenly, it
caused Jiro to lose his footing for a second. Jiro was frozen yet again and
when Teru pushed himself away, it was he who wore the look of
annoyance.

  " I was looking everywhere for you! Why did you leave? Why didn't you
tell anyone where you were going?" Teru threw his arms around him
again. " I was so worried!"

    He was worried? About him? Jiro smiled at the thought, letting his
arms wrap around the other man for awhile.

  " Come on, let's go back to the hotel," Teru slipped a hand in
Jiro's, leading the way.

  They walked in silence for the first few seconds before Teru broke it
quite abruptly.

  " Did you like Totchi?" Teru asked, turning towards Jiro with an
innocent smile on his face.

  Jiro fidgeted, not knowing exactly what to say.
  " I.. well, he looks nice..," he finally said weakly.

  " Ah! Gomen!" Teru slapped his forehead with his right hand, his left
hand still holding onto Jiro, " You guys have just met... I took him
away before you could get to know each other..."

  Teru laughed at his realization while Jiro could only chuckle
nervously.

  " Let's hurry then.., you guys can talk and then you can tell me what
you think of Totchi!" Teru said, looking happy as a lark as he pulled
Jiro behind him.

  " Why do you want to know what *I* think of him?" Jiro sulked,
dreading facing the beautiful 'Totchi' again.

  Teru laughed, stopping short, not even noticing the grumpy look on
Jiro's face.

  " Why else would I have brought you here for, silly?"

  Teru then brushed aside a few locks of Jiro's hair, leaning in
slowly. Jiro instinctively closed his eyes tightly as Teru's lips brushed
lightly against his temples. Jiro could feel his cheeks aflame, watching
as Teru stepped back, smiling at him sweetly.

  " I want to know everything about you." Teru raised a finger, tapping
at Jiro's forehead, " Including what goes on inside of your mind. And
that also means your views on Totchi."

  Despite the fact that they were walking back towards where Teru's
ex-boyfriend was, Jiro couldn't help but feel giddy. He wanted Teru to
know more about him.., and he wanted to know more about the achingly
charming dentist.

**

  " You're back."

  There was a tone of relief in Die's voice that didn't go unnoticed by
either Shinya nor Toshiya. The two bishounens both glared at the
red-haired, which the other totally ignored. Die hurriedly went to Teru's
side, practically hanging onto his friend's arm. Jiro tried hard to
constrain his laughter as he noticed the murderous looks on both Shinya and
Toshiya's faces.

  ' Shinya's worried about me again I suppose,' Jiro rolled his eyes
and went towards Shinya, embracing him from behind.

  " Missed me?"

  Shinya tensed for a second, throwing a glare at Toshiya before
looking up at Jiro.

  " I'm just glad that you're back." Shinya said, smiling.

  Jiro returned the smile. Toshiya stared at the blonde-haired man,
feeling jealousy make it's way through his veins.

  ' He looks so angelic..,' Toshiya mused, feeling both awed and
irritated by this, ' I better go before he gets to me.'

  " I should turn in now." He announced, pushing his chair back.

  " What? But I thought that we would get to know each other!" Jiro
protested, taking a step towards the blue-head.

  Toshiya tilted his head, feeling that irritation was about to
overcome his awe.

  ' Teru really has changed his taste..., this Jiro is so different
from everyone else he's been with.'

  " I'm sure there'd be time for that later," Toshiya tried to smile as
sincerely as possible. " I'm really tired, I should turn in."

  " Oh."

  Jiro looked downcasted. He had wanted to know how he felt about
Toshiya so that he could tell Teru later. It seemed as if though things
weren't going his way at all.

  " Goodnight Jiro. 'Night Die, Shinya." Toshiya pronounced Shinya's
name with special care, throwing the man a sort-of contemptuous look. He
turned to Teru, " 'Night Teru-chan."

  His voice had dropped so low, Jiro almost couldn't hear his voice.
Toshiya kissed Teru's lips briefly before giving them a wave then began
walking towards the hotel. Jiro narrowed his eyes at Toshiya then
blinked. He suddenly felt his fingers hurt and looked down, realizing that he
had been clutching them tightly.

  ' That 'Totchi' guy is really getting to me..,' Jiro thought,
watching after Toshiya's back profile.

**

  Later that night, Teru was taking a stroll outside the hotel, waiting
for any chances of meeting and talking with Toshiya. He sighed and
crushed the cigarette he had been smoking.

  " What're you doing up so late?"

  Teru turned around instantly at the sound of the voice, smiling
widely as Toshiya walked towards him with careful grace.

  " Waiting for you, actually," Teru said, not being able to lie.

  " How'd you know I'd be here?" Toshiya said, his lips quivering,
threatening to break into a smile like Teru's.

  " You hate sleeping in hotels. You always took walks 'cause you can't
sleep." Teru's smile turned sad, " I remember everything about you,
Totchi. What did you mean by 'you've changed'? You haven't changed at
all."

  " I didn't change everything about me." Toshiya reached where Teru
was standing and took his hand, threading his fingers with Teru's. " But
I *have* changed. Enough for you to hate me."

  Teru shook of Toshiya's hand and hugged him, embracing him with all
his might.

  Toshiya gasped at the sudden gesture but relaxed in Teru's arms after
awhile, the way he always did. Toshiya smiled at the thought and felt
Teru's head rest against his shoulder. His hand reached up to stroke
Teru's soft, golden silks of hair.

  " I could never hate you." Teru finally spoke.

  " You say that, but you also said that we'd always be together and
yet," Toshiya buried his face in Teru's hair, " We're apart."

  " It doesn't have to be that way." Teru objected.

  " Yes, it does." Toshiya's voice was muffled against Teru's hair. " I
don't want it this way either but with my courier and your brother,
we've got not chance of being together again."

  " Totchi...," Teru spoke his name softly.

  " We're not meant for each other. I wouldn't be feeling this way if
we were." Toshiya whispered.

  Teru's hold on Toshiya tightened as he replayed Toshiya's words in
his mind.

**

  " Argh! Where's good service when you need it?!" Jiro shouted angrily
at the phone he was holding. He turned to Shinya's bed, " Shin-chan,
accompany me to the lobby, I left one of my bags downstairs but no one
down there's answering my call.. I've got to go..Shin-chan, please?"

  Only soft snores answered him and Jiro let out a screech in
frustration. He got off of his bed and stormed out of his hotel room.

**

  A few minutes later..

  " I can't believe everything that's happened to me," Jiro grumbled,
finally finding his bag. " I can't *believe* what's been happening to
me!"

  " What's been happening to you?"

  Jiro jumped several yards back from fright. He placed his hand on his
chest, trying to calm the furious beating of his heart. Teru stood in
front of him, looking amused.

  " Teru!" Jiro said, once he had gotten control of his voice again. "
What're you doing up so late?!"

  Teru's smile disappeared as a strange look came upon him.

  " That's the second time someone's asked me that question tonight.
And both by...," Teru's voice trailed off. He looked thoughtful as he
took a step towards Jiro, " Is this some sort of sign?"

  " Teru?" Jiro looked worried. " Are you alright? You don't sound
quite like yourself."

  Teru seemed to snap out of his trance as he smiled back in
reassurance to Jiro.
  " I'm fine. Come on, let's go back to our rooms."

  Jiro also smiled, relieved that Teru had returned to normal.
  " Let's."

**

  " You didn't really need to walk me here." Teru said, looking
embarassed. " I could've found my room just fine."

  Jiro shrugged off-handedly, waving a hand.
  " I just wanted to make sure. You looked a little distracted just now
and it got me worried."

  " Oh."

  There was a silence.

  " I should go now." Jiro said, smiling uncertainly. " If Shinya wakes
up and doesn't see me, he'll be a nervous wreck!"

  Jiro laughed shortly but stopped once he realized that Teru wasn't
laughing along with him.

  " Teru?" Jiro peered at him, worry clouding his eyes. " Teru, what's
wr-"

  His words were cut short when Teru leaned in and captured his lips
swiftly. Jiro didn't even realize when he started to respond to Teru's
demanding kisses, but he knew that he felt incredibly delighted by the
fact that Teru was kissing *him*. He was kissing *him*; Jiro, not
Toshiya. The blonde, not the blue-head. Jiro could feel himself smiling.

  They broke apart soon enough; Jiro's face was flushed, Teru had an
almost desperate look on his face as he showed Jiro his room key.

  " Stay with me for the night."

  Once again, Jiro was speechless. He felt just as he did when Teru had
asked him to Bali; only more uncertain, and he knew that he couldn't
really rush up and ask Shinya to accompany him.

  " I--," Jiro couldn't help but let a little uncertainty creep into
his voice.

  Teru's lips pressed against his again, this time more softly, more
deeply.

  " Stay." Teru had unlocked the door by now and the room was opened.

  Jiro glanced at the room then back at Teru.

  " Alright."

**

  " WAKE UP!! WAKE UP!!"

  Die rolled over in his bed, not quite believing his ears. He'd taken
tons of alcohol before and it had never affected him so much, so why
was he hearing voices now?

  " DIE!! OPEN THE DOOR!! OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR!!"

  The voice sounded awfully familiar too. Die grudgingly got up,
wrapping the sheets around his waist as he walked groggily towards the door.

  " I'm coming..., I'm coming.."

  As soon as he had unlocked it, Shinya burst in, his auburn hair a
mess, looking distraught. He looked around the room then noticed Die
closing the door. He rushed up to the red haired man, a pleading look in his
eyes.

  " Die! Where is he? You've got to know where he is!" Shinya
exclaimed, looking as if someone had just stolen his child.

  Die almost laughed at the thought, but stopped himself just in time.

  " Where's who? You've got to start from the beginning."

  " Jiro! He's gone! He was with me when I turned in last night but
when I woke up this morning.. he was gone! And I don't know where to look
for him! Die, HELP ME."

  Die clamped both his hands of Shinya's shoulders, trying to calm the
almost wailing man. He'd never seen this kind of behaviour from a guy;
not even Toshiya would do this. Well, not to his knowledge anyways.
Teru might've seen differently.

  " Shinya, calm down...," Die said, trying to sound as soothing as
possible. " Sit down and take a deep breath."

  Shinya did as he was told and breathed in deeply. He shook horribly
once he exhaled. Die sat next to him, placing his arm around the other
man. He was surprised when Shinya leaned against him, still shaking
slightly.

  " Die.., help..  Jiro's my friend.. if anything happened to him.."

  " Shinya, don't worry.., I would've thought that his best friend
would've figured it out first."

  " Figured what out?" Shinya looked up questioningly at Die, blinking
back the moisture in his eyes.

  " Shinya," Die sighed, slmost exasperated, " Wouldn't you have
thought that Jiro's with *Teru* right now?"

  Shinya was quiet for a moment. He seemed to be taking some time to
register what Die had just said. Once he did, he stormed towards the
door, eyes gleaming ferociously.

  " I. WILL. KILL. HIM."

  Die quickly blocked Shinya from the door.
  " Shinya, no!"

  " MOVE ASIDE!" Shinya practically shrieked.

  " Shinya, Jiro's not a baby! He knows what to do! He can make
decisions for himself, y'know?" Die looked at him increduosly. " Really, you
act like he's your son more than your friend!"

  " I care about him, alright?" Shinya snapped. " He's my best friend,
I don't want anything to happen to him."

  " Then don't worry. He's with Teru, remember?" Die said softly.

  " I do remember. That's what I'm worried about."

  Die rolled his eyes.
  " Shinya..."

**

  The sun was shining especially brightly that morning and the birds
seemed to chirp with even more passion and vigor. The sky was a clear
blue and there was no sign of rain. Everything was heavenly.

  Jiro awoke and felt as if all the happiness in the world had engulfed
him. He had been with Teru. He smiled at the thought. Finally, someone
to really *love*..., wait till Shinya hear about this..  Jiro chuckled
to himself and turned to his right, surprised to see that Teru wasn't
there.

  He sat up on the bed, clutching the sheets.

  " Teru?" he whispered, afraid of what may come.

  There was no answer, as expected.

  " Teru?!" he shouted, this time loud enough to echo through the room.

  Silence greeted him again and realization suddenly dawned upon him.
Jiro hugged his knees, trying to warm himself from the coldness of the
room. Several tears slid from his eyes as he sobbed into the sheets.

  " No...," his voice became muffled by the sheets, " This can't be
happening.. Teru..., ..no.. "

  Silence, emptiness; what he feared had finally come.

**
End of Part 2
 

to be continued~

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