Close to You

by Hikaru

**

Part 3

“ Thanks for the trip.”

Shinya tried to smile up at Die. Jiro remained quiet by his side, his head hung low. Shinya glanced worriedly at his friend and was about to speak when he was silenced by Die.

“ I’m sorry you couldn’t say that to Teru, he was the one who brought you here.” Die felt bad saying so afterwards, seeing how Jiro cringed at Teru’s name.

“ Yeah, well, he was the one who invited us to Bali,” Shinya laughed humorlessly, “ And he was the one who left us there with *you*.”

“ You make it sound torturous being with me.” Die said, pretending to be hurt.

Shinya was about to retort when Jiro looked up and smiled at Die. The red-haired’s eyes widened in surprise; he hadn’t seen the blonde smile after Teru had left.

“ Thank you for the trip, I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons there… and I also got to have a wonderful vacation,” Jiro’s eyes crinkled as his smile softened, “ Arigatou.”

Jiro bowed respectfully, followed by Shinya. They left soon after, leaving Die watching after them, shaking his head ruefully.

“ Teru, Teru..,” Die murmured, “ You really did it this time.”

**

“ Tadaima.”

*WHACKWHACK!*

“ Itaiii~~!!!”

Teru cowered from the impact of something hitting his head. He looked up at his offender and his eyes widened as he saw who had hit him.

“ What are *you* doing here?” He demanded, looking pissed.

“ As your brother, you should ask me with more respect.” His elder brother brushed back his hair, taking a glance around the small room. “ I can’t believe you’re actually living in this place.”

“ Make yourself at home.” Teru said sarcastically, getting up from where he sat.

“ Where have you been? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting here?!” His brother puffed on the cigarette he’d been smoking. “ Don’t tell me you’ve been seeing that Toshiya guy again.”

Teru stopped dead in his tracks and turned to his brother, surprised.

“ How’d you know Totchi’s back?”

“ He’s all over magazines and newspapers…,” he shrugged, tossing a magazine (apparently rolled up from being the object to hit his younger brother) over to Teru, “ It’s hard not to miss him. That’s why I’ve come for you. I’m making sure you don’t do anything stupid like getting back with him.”

Teru caught the magazine and stared at the cover where Toshiya’s face smiled sardonically up at him. He couldn’t help but grin at his ex-lover’s face; he was indeed beautiful. His brother noticed the look and rolled his eyes.

“ Oh no…, don’t tell me you’re *already* back with the guy?”

Teru’s head snapped up at the question. He quirked an eyebrow, glaring full force.

“ What’re you doing here, Sugizo?”

Sugizo took a seat on Teru couch, not even glancing at his younger brother.

“ Like I told you, to keep you away from that model.”

**

“ Okaeri.” A voice called out to the blonde.

“ Tadaima.” Jiro said wearily.

He deposited his suitcases in his room, coming back out to sit with his brother. He knew that being the person his brother was, he’d want to know what he’d been doing in Bali.

“ You said you were going on a vacation with your friends.”

“ So?”

“ You look like you just came back from war.” His brother noted, giving him a look. “ What happened to you?”

“ I’m just tired, that’s all.”

Jiro offered him a smile which the other didn’t return. Jiro sighed.

“ Hisashi-oniisan, don’t worry, I’m fine.”

His blue haired brother casted him a sideway glance then shrugged.

“ Fine, if you don’t want to talk about it, I don’t want to hear it. If you get a nervous breakdown from keeping everything inside of that mind of yours, don’t go blaming me.”

Hisashi stood up, walking towards his own room. Jiro shook his head after his brother, smiling in relief. He hadn’t wanted to talk about Teru; not yet anyways.

“ Hey Jiro.”

“ Hm?”

He watched as his brother turned slowly to face him again, an almost kind look on that stone cold face of his.

“ If anything’s bothering you, tell me.”

Jiro smiled, feeling a bit better hearing those words from his brother.

“ I will.”

**

“ You could’ve at least told me you were leaving early.”

Die raised an eyebrow pointedly at Teru, who was looking very sleepy. The bronze-head was leaning against the frame of the door, shirt rumpled and hair tousled. Die wondered if his friend had locked himself in his own house for the past few days.

“ Die…, it’s you,” Teru finally spoke, a tired smile on his face. “ How was your vacation?”

“ Better than Jiro’s.” Die said easily, wanting to get the matter out in the open as soon as possible.

Teru winced noticably and moved aside from the door, gesturing for Die to enter. That was exactly what he did and he was surprised to see the state his friend’s house was in.

“ This place looks worst than mine!” Die exclaimed.

“ Let’s skip that, shall we?” Teru still had that tired smile on his face as he passed Die a can of beer. “ How’s Jiro doing?”

“ I don’t know.” Die shrugged. “ I haven’t seen him since we separated at the airport.”

“ Come on Die…, just tell me what you know.. don’t tell me you came all the way here to tell me *that*?” Teru laid back lazily against his chair, taking a gulp of his beer. “ How’s Jiro doing?”

Die sighed.

“ He’s--,”

“ Who’s Jiro?”

Die and Teru both looked up towards the voice. Die’s eyes widened while Teru gave a long sigh.

“ Sugizo-san!” Die got up from where he sat and hugged Teru’s older brother. “ You’re back!”

“ Yup, I am..,” he grinned back at Die then turned to Teru, a sharp look in his eyes, “ Who’s Jiro?”

“ None of your business.” Teru snapped, feeling annoyed by his brother’s prescence. “ Could you leave so that I can talk with my friend here with no interuptions?”

“ You’ve really got no manners for your elders…,” Sugizo made a ‘tsk-tsk’ sound and wore a look of mock disapproval, “ Really, don’t you remember that any business of yours I make mine as well?”

Teru sighed again. He seemed to be sighing a lot since his return from Bali.

“ Jiro’s this guy he’s caught up with now.” Die explained.

“ Oh, so you’re *not* with that Toshiya guy…,” Sugizo drawled.

“ Could you stop calling him ‘that-Toshiya-guy’?” Teru was really feeling snappish. “ And I’m *not* caught up with Jiro…”

“ What’re you talking about, Teru?” Die sounded furious. “ You slept with him didn’t you? Do you have any idea how awful he looked when he found out you’ve left Bali without us?”

“ You’re sleeping around again?” Sugizo raised an eyebrow, the cigarette on his lips limping at the turn of his mouth. “ Who is he? Another whore?”

“ DON’T CALL HIM THAT!” Teru exploded.

“ Well, that’s what he must be if he’s sleeping with you.” Sugizo said calmly. “ Look at that Toshiya guy.”

“ I told you not TO CALL HIM THAT!” Teru yelled at his older brother who had taken his seat when he had jumped up to yell at him. “ I’ve had enough of you!”

Teru walked away, his shoulders shaking from fury and slammed the door to his room. Die flinched while Sugizo remained unaffected by his younger brother’s outburst. Die turned from Sugizo to the closed door of Teru’s room, comtemplating whether to talk to Sugizo or Teru about Jiro. He finally settled into the seat across from the pink-haired man, also sighing.

“ Don’t tell me you’ve caught Teru’s habit too?” Sugizo smirked.

Die was quiet, thinking about how he should address Sugizo on Jiro.

“ Sugizo-san, you’re wrong about Jiro. He’s really a nice guy. He’s very different from Toshiya, though there’s really nothing wrong in Toshiya in the first place.”

“ Of course there is. Someone who would sell their body for work is definitely a whore, don’t tell me you don’t agree?” Sugizo didn’t look at Die, frowning at Teru’s closed door. “ But I’ll reserve my judgements on this Jiro person until I’ve met him. Though it’s highly unlikely that I would like him.”

“ I know Totchi’s done some stuff that I don’t agree with, but really, he’s not so bad!” Die tried to make Sugizo see from his point of view.” I mean, he—“

“ He left Teru for his work, didn’t he?” Sugizo cut Die’s sentence, giving him a look that the other knew all too well.

Die sighed. There was no talking to Sugizo now. He would just have to leave things be. Sugizo would never come to like Toshiya, just the way the sky would never turn green. He got up, ready to leave when Sugizo cleared his throat. Die turned to the older man, waiting.

“ I want to meet this Jiro person.” Sugizo said simply.

“ You will.” Die shot a glance at Teru’s door again, knowing that Teru could hear every bit of their conversation. “ Just as soon as Teru admits that he *is* caught up with him.”

He stormed towards Teru’s door yelling,

“ You bastard! Just admit that you hurt him! You did something wrong!”

Die banged on the door, ignoring the confused Sugizo.

“Don’t play around with people’s feelings! Jiro’s not meant to be a one-night-stand! If you don’t apologize to him, I swear I’ll never speak to you again! Bastard!”

He gave the door one last kick before leaving the apartment.

Behind the closed door, Teru looked out his window, feeling tears moisten his eyes. He remembered how he had convinced Jiro to stay the night.. how sweet Jiro had tasted on his lips, how warm his flesh was against his… how he had watched the other sleep peacefully while he played with the blonde’s hair, wondering how he could’ve been able to touch the innocent creature.. the regret..

Teru closed his eyes and Jiro’s face appeared before him again, the kawaii smile upon the pouted lips wrenching his heart.

A tear slid down his cheek.

“ It’s my fault…,” he whispered through a choked sob.

Outside his door, Sugizo changed his mind about knocking on his brother’s door and left the apartment.

**

“ Are you sure you’re alright, Jiro?” Shinya asked, hugging his friend from behind.

“ I’m fine.” Jiro said, exasperated. “ Why won’t you believe I’m over him?”

“ It’s not that I don’t believe you… but are *you* alright? You still look so sad…,” Shinya continued hugging him, his cheek touching Jiro’s.

“ Of course I’m sad.., but I’ll be fine.” Jiro smiled and gave a light peck on Shinya’s cheek, “ Don’t worry, alright? Teru’s long gone and there are plenty of other dentists to go to if I ever have another toothache!”

Shinya smiled and turned away to go back to his work, regretting it immediately. Teru stared back at him, his eyes tired and worried.

“ Shinya, why are you so quiet--??” Jiro turned around and saw Teru. He was rooted to the ground, speechless.

“ Jiro..,” Teru voice came out hoarse. He shook his head, clearing his throat before trying on a smile. “ Jiro.., can we talk?”

Shinya glanced from Jiro to Teru, not knowing how to react.

**

Teru and Jiro walked outside in silence, each lost in their on thoughts. They glanced at each once in awhile, offering a smile before continuing on thinking of how to open the conversation. They were far away from the building where Jiro worked and still there weren’t many lines exchanged between them.

The young dentist saw a bench nearby and turned to Jiro,

“ Let’s sit there.”

Jiro nodded.

Once they were seated, silence continued before Jiro grew impatient.

“ What’re you here for, Teru-san?” He demanded, annoyed that he was the one to open the topic. He knew exactly why Teru was there but he’d rather hear it from the other.

“ It’s Teru.” He said softly.

“ I can’t really call you so endearingly now, can I?” Jiro said, still pissed. “ Hurry up and tell me what it is you want, I haven’t got all day.”

“ I came..,” Teru inhaled, mustering all the courage he had to speak his heart, “ Jiro, I came to tell you I’m sorry.”

“ For what?” Jiro pretended not to know, his eyes feigning innocence.

“ For what happened back in Bali.” Teru said, relieving a long breath of air. “ I’m really sorry I left you but I panicked I didn’t know what to do or what to say to you so I just left and I know I’m wrong but please forgive me cause it’s really eating me, please? Onegai?”

Jiro thought that the guilt on Teru’s face was particularly funny for no good reason and chuckled lightly, much to Teru’s surprise.

“ You’re forgiven then.” Jiro stood up, intending to walk away from Teru before he decided to stay awhile longer.

Staying a moment too long could bring long-lasting effects. He learned that all too well from the night with Teru.

“ Wait!” Teru got up from the bench, running over to Jiro.

Jiro cursed himself; of course Teru would run after him, it was expected, but he had wished Teru wouldn’t. It would make things harder for him.

Turning to Teru, he decided he should just say his peace and go back to work, or not he really would be tempted to just hug the other man and kiss him senseless.

“ Listen, Teru-san,” he noticed that Teru winced at his own name, “ It’s been awhile, I’ve gotten over what has happened. I don’t expect anything from you, it’s not like you would marry me after what we’ve done. I don’t think my ‘nii-san would like you all that much if you did.”

Jiro smiled.

“ I’m not holding on to what’s happened in the past, so you don’t need to either. What’s happened, happened, we’ve got to move on, right?” Jiro laughed humourlessly, “ It’s not like you feel anything for me.. what happened was just a one-night-stand and I totally understand if—“

Teru suddenly leaned in and pulled on his arm, drawing him into a long kiss. Jiro closed his eyes, feeling memories of that night in Bali come back to him. He felt tears gather in his eyes and he pushed himself away from Teru, but the other held on. Teru brushed his lips against his cheek, muttering ‘I’m sorry… I’m sorry..’ over and over again, making more tears flow through his eyes.

“ Let go..,” Jiro said, weakly, his arms tired from trying to release themselves from Teru’s strong hold. “ Let go, Teru-san..”

“ No.. I won’t.” Teru shook his head furiously. “ I made the wrong decision in Bali to leave you, I’m not making it again now.”

“ Well, I’m making you then.” Jiro bit his lip, wrenching away from Teru. “ I can’t be with you after what’s happened! You slept with me! You left me! And now you’re coming back….?”

His voice nearly broke at that last statement.

“ I can’t..,” Jiro turned around, his shoulders shaking the slightest bit from trying to restrain more tears from falling. “ You don’t even like me. We barely even know each other. I’ve accepted what has happened as a one-night-stand… let’s just leave it as that.”

“ But Jiro—“

“ I’m not hurt, Teru-san, if that’s what you think.” Jiro let out a low chuckle, which came out rather choked, “ Contrary to what Shinya thinks about me, I’m not as vulnerable as I may look. So I’m not hurt. And you don’t have to feel responsible for anything that has happened. You weren’t the only one there that night, Teru-san, I allowed you to be with me. So I was part of it also, I’m also to blame.”

“ But Jiro…,” Teru’s voice was more pleading now, sounding hurt.

“ I’m fine. You needn’t worry about me anymore.” Jiro said, his tone final. “ Sayonara.”

Jiro walked on, never looking back, though Teru kept wishing that he would.

**

Shinya was waiting for him when he got back. From the state of his friend’s nails, it seemed as if though he was literally chewed away by worry. Jiro was touched by Shinya’s care for him. If only he had slept with someone like Shinya… Jiro shook that ridiculous thought away and smiled as Shinya threw his arms around him after thoroughly searching his eyes.

Jiro returned the embrace, feeling warmed for once after the experience he had with Teru.

“ You didn’t go back to him?”

“ There was no reason to.” Jiro replied.

Shinya’s arms tightened it’s hold on him, making him wince the slightest bit. Jiro kept his embrace though, he needed the hug. He didn’t think it was wise to cry at the moment, even though he was aching to do so.

**

Die watched Shinya and Jiro embrace then walked out the door. By the look on Jiro’s face, it was obvious at what had happened. Teru was outside the building, facing his shoes as if though it were the most interesting thing.

“ Oi, Teru!”

Teru looked up, a smile spreading across his face.

“ Die! Where have you been? You said you’d wait for me and you weren’t even here when I got back!” Teru reprimanded, a teasing edge in his voice.

Die paused, looking at his friend up and down.

“ How’d it go with Jiro?”

“ He didn’t want to be with me.” Teru waved his hand in the air as if though to dismiss the matter. “ It’s better anyways, we wouldn’t have been good for each other.”

Die raised an eyebrow at that statement.

“ Let’s forget about Bali!” Teru suddenly exclaimed, looking anxious to lift up his mood. “ Let’s go out tonight and have some fun! I need to get away from my brother..”

Die shook his long mane of red hair and laughed.

“ A night out is always fine by me!”

**

Hisashi watched as his younger brother entered the house. There was a reserved look on the blonde’s face that made him stay quiet, though he wanted to talk to him about what had been bothering Jiro since he returned from Bali.

He watched as Jiro tripped over his own feet, muttering a few curses to himself before making his way to his bedroom. Hisashi followed silently and thanked heavens that Jiro didn’t close his door, he’d be able to see what the other was up to.

But as Jiro sank into his bed, burying his face into the soft pillow, Hisashi wished that his brother *had* closed the door. Immediately after Jiro’s face was hidden from his sight, his whole body shook as he sobbed his heart out. The blue-haired man leaned against the wall of Jiro’s room, sighing heavily. Jiro continued crying inside.

‘ Who’s behind my brother’s misery?’ Hisashi thought, furious.

**

End of Part 3

to be continued~

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