This is a follow up on the one-shot, The First Date.

About 2 days later, Takun makes the daring move to confront Ruki on his intentions.

Ruki (c) me

Takun (c) a friend

A pink cell phone vibrated and lit up green and blue on the studio table. A hot pink-haired girl ran to snatch it up, answering it out of breath. "Moshi Moshi?"

"Hey, Nami."

The girl smiled and leaned against the table. "Well, Hi, Takun."

"Hi." He laughed on the other end. "Could you… tell Satil I'm not coming tonight?"

Nami blinked. "You're not? Why?"

"Well… I would prefer you to tell him cause he won't kill you." Takun laughed.

"Oh… thanks." Nami shook her head. "But, again, why?"

There was a long silence on the other end before a deep breath. "I've decided to give up…"

Nami's eyebrows furrowed. "Give up…?"

"Yea. I give up on hoping and waiting for him." Takun smiled on the other end, feeling relieved to finally say it out loud. "I told you, Nami, I didn't even think of the T word that night. Not even a single image. It was… nice."

Nami smiled softly as she tucked her bangs behind her ear, waiting to listen to more.

"He was so warm…" Takun seemed in a daze. "He made it as if it never happened. I liked that… and I want that to happen all the time. I'm going to tell him that I'm done waiting. He was right; I can't sit around and let life continue on while I'm stuck on someone from the past."

"You want me to tell Satil that?"

"No!" Takun squeaked. "Just say… I'm going to talk to Ruki."

Nami started laughing. "Alright. Will do. Good luck, Takun. You better call me and tell me how it goes."

Takun felt his face warm up and only nodded. "I… will. Thanks, Nami. I love you so much."

"Love you too, Takun." Nami giggled before hanging up.

Takun slipped his phone into his pocket and took a deep breath as he put his jacket on. He left his apartment and prepared what he was going to say in his mind, I have to tell him that I'm done waiting and that I'm willing to look into everyone else who loves me. I just need to know… if what he was doing was out of his own, true feelings or just to make me realize this.

Takun's hand was about to knock on the door to Ruki's apartment before it fell back a little. He bit his bottom lip, starting to think that coming over was a bad idea after all. He contemplated on turning around to head to practice after all- just so Satil could yell at him for trying to piss him off. Takun saw his hands start to shake and shook his head, I have to do this. If I don't now, I never will.

He closed his eyes and knocked, feeling the echo throughout the quiet hall of the apartment complex. Only did he open his eyes when he heard the door open with a click. Ruki smiled down to Takun, his hair a mess and splotches of red paint dotted his face. The blonde was not dressed for any occasion; wearing a ripped up white shirt with the same red paint splattered on it, a black tank top underneath, and faded denim jeans. Takun raised an eyebrow and got an immediate laugh from Ruki.

"Painting the apartment- don't be alarmed." Ruki shook his head.

Takun laughed a little. "I got that… I didn't think you were murdering small animals in here at all."

"Liar." Ruki snickered and moved out of the way. "Come in, unless you have no intention of staying long."

"Coming in sounds nice." Takun pushed his way past Ruki and into the apartment. He followed the long hall to the living room where newspapers lay over the carpet. The wall had borders in red and swirls of vines coming from 2 of the 4 corners while the other 2 were pencil drawn. His eyes studied the work and turned around to smile at Ruki, "You're doing a really nice job in here. How did you get permission for it?"

Ruki wiped his hands clean on a damp towel. "Sucked up to the landlord, that's how. Luckily he allows some improvements and said my handy work will be nice additions to whom ever buys the place when I leave."

"I see." Takun nodded. He moved a sheet of newspaper off the couch to sit down, looking around at all the work Ruki had done. He twiddled his fingers in his lap as the blonde started to clean up some of the newspapers and paint. Takun tried to think over how to bring up what he desired to talk to Ruki about; glad to see you're working so hard. Speaking of working so hard, I've worked on giving up on Travis… no, that's dumb.

Takun sank down in the couch as Ruki stood straight and stretched. "So… there has to be a reason of why you're here and ditching practice."

Dammit! Takun mentally cursed. He tried to push back the blush wanting to bloom on his face. His eyes closed for a moment before he said, "Yea… there is a reason."

Ruki turned to look at Takun and sat down on the edge of the coffee table. "Alright… well, not to sound pushy, but what is it?"

Takun opened his eyes. A squeak caught in his throat once he saw how close Ruki had moved. He was silent as his eyes wondered from the blonde's, down to his shoulders, collarbone and slightly exposed chest. The blush then became obvious for Ruki snapped his fingers for Takun's attention. "Oh… yea… well, um, it's like this…"

Ruki raised an eyebrow. "You're stuttering and delaying."

"Sorry." Takun shook his head. He took a deep breath and smiled softly to his hands in his lap. "I came to tell you that… I'm giving up on Travis. I should say GAVE up."

Ruki sat back a little, both eyebrows raised. "Really now…? What brought this on?"

"After what you said… you were right. I can't sit around and wait because life is still happening. People want me happy, right? And I want them happy. To make them happy, I have to let it go and, in the end, I should be happy myself. It's a win-win." Takun chuckled lightly.

Ruki nodded, sitting there silently. He watched Takun and sighed after too much quiet, "So you came over to tell me I was right?"

Takun felt the heat on his face again, "Yea… that and… something else. More like something I want to ask you."

"Shoot."

That was a quick response, Takun mumbled in the back of his mind. He stuttered a bit before he even opened his mouth. He jumped when he felt Ruki nudge him with his foot. "I wanted… to know… if what you did… last time… was to force me to… realize or… out of… your own… feelings."

Ruki leaned back on the table. He smiled softly and clicked his tongue before speaking, "It was mostly to make you realize-"

"Oh…" Takun stood up suddenly. "Alright then."

Ruki's eyes got wide as he stood up just as fast to catch Takun by the wrist. "You didn't let me finish."

"But you said-"

"I wasn't done," Ruki sighed and looked into Takun's eyes. "It was to make you realize cause I didn't want you catching on that it was also my own impulse. I didn't want to go after you when it's only been a short time since you-know-who has been gone. I'm glad you came to me to tell me… because now I know where you stand and where I rate."

"Rate…?" Takun whispered.

Ruki smiled and let Takun go. "I could've found out by someone else in a 4th party or something… but, no… you came to tell me. You braved going against Satil, as a matter of fact, to tell me."

Takun laughed lightly with Ruki before the two of them went silent. The moment seemed to drag on and Takun began to feel awkward. He took a step back but was stopped when his foot beat against a can of paint. He would've fallen if it wasn't for Ruki snatching him by the hands before he could even lean back. Takun was pulled back into Ruki thanks to momentum and looked up at the blonde with wide eyes, expecting to get looked at funny or glared at, but he wasn't doing either. Ruki's lips were pulled into a tiny but sweet smile as he stood there, still holding on to Takun's hands gently. Takun was about to pull away, to excuse himself to leave Ruki alone to finish his painting, before Ruki spoke up.

"Now a question for you."

Takun's heart skipped a little. "O…ok… shoot…"

"Did you feel anything?" Ruki asked softly.

Takun looked down immediately, hiding his eyes. He took a few deep breaths, trying to think of how to phrase it without it seeming like his silence meant no. He closed his eyes and brought his head up, his bangs covering his face a little so Ruki couldn't see the red on his cheeks. "I felt something… like nothing bad ever happened to me. I forgot all about you-know-who and enjoyed how nice it was to hang out with you. I don't know what came over me when you kissed me… but, for that moment, it fixed me. I guess what I'm saying is; I want that moment back and to stay."

Ruki nodded. "It can, you know. I've been here, waiting for it to."

Takun's eyes opened and he looked up to Ruki, "Waiting?"

"Yes," Ruki laughed softly. "Ever since you and him got together. I let it all go because you two were my friends and I thought it would end happily. When it didn't… I felt responsible for it all."

"You aren't-"

"I know I'm not." Ruki moved a hand from Takun's and ran it through his hair. "But I felt that way… and, what killed me most is the fact that I was selfish for the rapid moment where I thought 'now is my chance.' I wanted to punch myself."

"Don't do that because you're right." Takun blurted and soon covered his mouth.

Ruki started laughing, trying to move Takun's hands away. "Oh really? Does that mean you're giving me a chance?"

Takun blushed and soon went quiet, "I'm begging you to take a hold of the opportunity. To fully fix me because… I know you can… I hated how easy it was that night but I did fall in love with you. I've always liked you but… it hit me."

Ruki leaned down and whispered to Takun, lips millimeters apart. "I'll fix you… it starts now."

Takun felt tears well up in his eyes before the blonde kissed him again. This kiss was different. It lasted longer and brought tingles of electricity to the face. Ruki wrapped his arms around Takun's waist and pulled them close together. Takun felt obligated to cling to Ruki's neck as the tears disappeared in his eyes. They pulled apart after a minute and Ruki smiled softly, whispering to Takun.

"Stay with me."

Takun blushed and stuttered a little but was silenced with another kiss. Ruki pulled away again and Takun absentmindedly said, "Ok."

Ruki laughed and slowly let Takun go before handing him a paintbrush. "You can help me out."

Takun stared at the red-tipped brush before looking up to Ruki. "And here I was expecting something more… I don't know."

"Risky?" Ruki started laughing, heading to find an old shirt for Takun to borrow. He turned around and smiled softly, "I think that's taking it too fast no matter how long we've been friends. I'm a gentleman, remember?"

Takun rolled his eyes. "Right, right. Nearly forgot."

Ruki pointed at him before walking down the hall to his room. Takun sat down on the couch and smiled to himself, giggling quietly. He kept putting his fingers to his lips and shaking his head, sending his hair in spasms. His eyes wondered to the paintbrush in his other hand and he waved it around a little but stopped when he heard Ruki starting to come back. He's not Travis… that's for sure. No… he's better than him.