Man, this took me a while, didn't it? Sorry about that. I had massive writer's block.

Anyway, warning! This chapter has a little sexual content. Nothing huge, nothing explicit. It's just there. So, yeah, you've been warned.

Meroko had driven about a block before she realized that driving in her state was impossible. She pulled over, slumped her head against the steering wheel, and broke down sobbing. She didn't think or talk; she simply cried, while the faces of Takuto and Izumi swirled in her head and her whole body shook.

It was a long time before she calmed down enough to lift her head and wipe her eyes, taking deep breaths.

"I'm okay…" she gasped, shuddering. "I'm okay…I'm okay…"

After a couple more minutes, Meroko still felt fragile, but strong enough to drive herself home without crashing. Maybe.

She managed to get another block before being assaulted by another round of tears.

"Damn it," she muttered, undoing her seatbelt and rubbing furiously at her cheeks. She could tell that this wasn't going to work unless she wanted to spend the next three hours alternating between driving and crying.

She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Mitsuki's number, but ended up getting the answering machine. She hung up, feeling slightly panicked. Why couldn't she reach Mitsuki? It made her feel horribly alone.

With shaking fingers, Meroko dialed Takuto's number and held the phone up to her ear.

"Hello?" Takuto answered after a couple rings.

"Takuto," Meroko breathed, feeling relieved. "Can you come and pick me up?"

"Of course," Takuto said instantly. "What's going on? You sound horrible."

"I'll explain later. You're not busy, are you?"

"Not with anything important. Where are you?"

Meroko gave Takuto the name of the street, adding, "I'm parked on the side of the road. You should be able to recognize my car."

"Give me five minutes."

The line went dead.

Five minutes later, Takuto's car pulled up behind Meroko, and Takuto jumped out of the driver's seat, running up to Meroko's car and looking frantically through her window. His eyes popped when he saw Meroko.

I must look worse than I thought, Meroko realized, and made a mental grimace when she thought of how much crying she'd done.

"Open up!" Takuto yelled, his voice muffled by the glass.

Meroko sighed and opened the car door. "Hi, Takuto."

"Meroko! What's the matter? How long have you been here crying?"

"I—"

"And don't try to tell me you haven't been crying; your eyes are completely red and I can see the tearstains!"

Oh.

"Can we talk about this later?" Meroko begged. "Right now I just want to go home."

Takuto's face softened. "All right." He looked from his car and back to Meroko's. "Here's what we'll do. I'll drive you home in this, and later on I'll come back and get my car. Move over."

Meroko climbed into the passenger seat, watching Takuto as he got into the driver's seat and shut the door.

"So what was I interrupting?" she asked.

Takuto blushed a little. "I told you, nothing. Get your seatbelt on."

"You were working, weren't you?"

"Seatbelt, Meroko."

"I'm sorry that I keep pulling you out of work. I must be the worst girlfriend ever."

Takuto sighed. "You're not the worst girlfriend ever. You're quite possibly the best. But I would feel a lot better about you if you weren't in danger of flying out the windshield."

Meroko shook her head and put her seatbelt on. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a one-track mind?"

"I just don't want you getting hurt."

Meroko let out a sigh. "Thanks."

Upon arriving at home, Meroko threw her purse on the couch and went straight to her bathroom to wash her face. She grimaced at her reflection. Man, I look horrible, she thought, turning the water on.

When she got back, Takuto was sitting on the couch. "Feeling any better?" he asked.

"A little, I guess. Thanks for driving me home."

"No problem." Takuto patted the seat beside him. "Anything you want to talk about?"

"I don't know." Meroko sat down next to him. "It's…complicated."

Takuto slipped his hand into hers, pulling her closer. "You can trust me."

"I wish that were the issue."

Takuto was about to reply, but then his eyes found the bouquet of roses still sitting on the table. "Where'd you get those from?"

"Izumi sent them to me."

There was an awkward moment of silence while Takuto processed that. "Oh," he finally said.

"I did go to talk to him about that."

"And?"

"I couldn't drive very well when I left, if that tells you anything."

"Did he do something to you?" Takuto demanded, moving closer. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No, he didn't hurt me…not physically, anyway."

"What happened?"

Meroko shook her head. "I told you, Takuto…it's complicated."

"I'm listening."

There was a long silence.

Finally, Meroko sighed.

"Well…ever since this whole thing started…you know, with Izumi…I've been feeling…I mean, I haven't really been sure…how I felt. About you…or Izumi."

"I can understand that," Takuto said hesitantly.

"Ever since Izumi came back, I've felt so confused about my feelings. I do have feelings for you, of course…but I'm not sure about him. It's like…something is telling me that I have to start…feeling that same way about him…because he came back."

Takuto thought about that. "That makes sense."

Meroko gave him a careful look. "You're not…mad?"

"Mad?" Takuto looked confused. "Why would I be mad?"

"I might be in love with someone else," Meroko said incredulously. "You're not upset about that?"

Takuto looked down. "Tell me something. Do you remember the night in the alley? When Izumi and I got into that fight?"

Meroko winced at the memory, but nodded.

"Do you remember what I said?"

Meroko blushed. "You said…you said that you loved me."

Takuto nodded, his face serious. "And after that?"

"You said…um…" Meroko had to think for a second before it came back to her. "You said that I didn't have to answer you right away, and that you would love me no matter what I said…"

"That's right." Takuto moved closer, his eyes locked onto Meroko's, and wrapped his arm around Meroko, pulling her to him. "I meant what I said, Meroko. Even if you don't love me…even if you love him, I'll still love only you."

Meroko froze.

Takuto glanced at his watch. "I have to get going. I still have to pick up my car, and then I have to get back to work."

Meroko made a face. "I knew it."

Takuto grinned. "It's not that big of a deal." Then he gave Meroko an odd look. "Hey, shouldn't you be at work?"

"It's my day off."

"Oh."

Meroko stood up. "Want a ride?"

"Huh?"

"You didn't seriously think I was going to let you walk all the way back to your car, did you?"

"Actually, yes."

Meroko laughed. "You really do think I'm a bad girlfriend."

When they reached the spot where Takuto's car was parked, Takuto opened the passenger door and said, "Well…I guess this is it."

"Wait a second," Meroko said. "I want to ask you something."

"Yeah?"

"Well…" Meroko lowered her head, suddenly blushing. "It's a weird question."

"Go ahead."

"Actually…it's, um…kind of embarrassing."

Takuto cocked his head. "How bad could it be?"

"Oh, trust me, it's bad."

They waited for a few seconds. Then Meroko took a deep breath and said, "You said…that you…um. Loved me."

Takuto nodded slowly.

"You wouldn't…" Meroko's face went even redder. "I mean, you weren't thinking of…you don't want to…"

Takuto suddenly realized what Meroko was talking about, and he went brilliant pink. "Man, you weren't kidding," he muttered, looking away.

"Sorry," Meroko said, burying her face in her hands. "I'm such an idiot. I cannot believe I said that. Forget I asked."

"Do you want an honest answer to that, or should I make up something less embarrassing?"

Meroko sighed. "Oh, go ahead. I'm already bright red; it can't get much worse."

"Well…" Takuto looked up a little. "I guess I should answer honestly. I know I act like a good guy, but…" A sheepish smile crept onto his face. "There are a couple of things I want to do with you. Very badly."

Meroko moved back involuntarily.

"Don't worry, Meroko," Takuto laughed. "I won't do anything you don't feel comfortable with. And besides, we were supposed to be staying away from each other for a while, remember?"

"Oh, crap!" Meroko slapped her forehead. "I completely forgot about that. You didn't get sick, did you?"

"No. I took some medicine when I got home, and now I feel just fine. Better safe than sorry, though."

"Yeah." Meroko nodded. "I mean, being bedridden with a fever was great and everything, but I'd rather not repeat the experience."

Takuto chuckled. "That's understandable."

He hesitated, and then his fingers reached up, gently brushing across Meroko's cheek. Meroko's eyes widened.

"Take care of yourself," Takuto whispered.

And then he was gone.

"Hey, Mitsuki," Meroko said into the phone that night. "Can I ask your advice on something?"

"Of course, Meroko," Mitsuki replied. "What is it?"

"Well…hmm…" Meroko thought. How to put this? "You and Eichi told each other that you love each other, right?"

"U-um…" Mitsuki sounded embarrassed, but a little pleased at the same time. "Yes…"

"So…um…how did you…know? That you were…in love with Eichi?" Meroko felt herself blushing. Why did she always sound like such an idiot?

"Oh!" Mitsuki sounded slightly less embarrassed as she answered. "Well…I guess it was when I realized…that I wanted nothing more than to be with Eichi…and that Eichi was more important to me than I was to myself."

"…Um, that last part didn't really make sense."

"Sorry," Mitsuki said apologetically. "I sometimes don't put things very well…" She thought for a moment. "What I meant was…Eichi's life was more important than mine."

Meroko couldn't help the slight gasp that came from her mouth. "You mean…"

"If someone gave me the choice between saving Eichi's life and saving my own, I'd pick him. Without question."

Meroko was silent for a few seconds. "Wow, Mitsuki," she whispered, awestruck. "That's really…whoa."

Mitsuki laughed. "I sound like someone out of a romance story, don't I?"

"No, don't worry. You're fine."

"Say…is this about Takuto?"

Meroko blushed. "Um…yeah, I guess it is."

"Oh…You want to know whether or not you love him?"

"Uh…yeah, pretty much," Meroko admitted sheepishly. "Any tips…?"

"Hmm…well…" Mitsuki thought about it. "It's different for everyone. But…you could go by what I said, I guess. When you care so much about him that you'd put his life above your own…when you realize that his place in your heart is something truly special."

"Um…" Meroko bit her lip, thinking. "So…it's like you feel about a friend, except you want to kiss them, too?"

"U-uh…well…" Mitsuki stuttered. "Not…I mean, it's…it's a little…different…"

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

"Oh, that's the door," Meroko said off-handedly. "Can I call you back later?"

"Y-yeah…" Mitsuki said, still sounding stunned from Meroko's word choice. "I-I'll see you later…"

In order to keep her mind off things, Meroko spent the next few days working as much overtime as possible at the supermarket. Most of the other people looked at her as if she were insane, but it was hard to puzzle over your romantic life and stack boxes of instant ramen on the shelves at the same time.

Still, Meroko couldn't escape the thoughts late at night, when she was lying in bed waiting for sleep to come.

I can't drag this out forever, she told herself. I have to do something soon…

But even so, she was perfectly content with waiting as long as she could get away with.

Apparently, that wasn't as long as Meroko would have liked.

"It's me," Izumi said when Meroko answered the phone.

Meroko grimaced. "Oh…hi."

After a pause, Izumi said hesitantly, "How are you doing?"

"Fine. Great."

"Oh." Izumi tried again. "You're…feeling better, then…?"

"Yes. I'm fine," Meroko said forcefully. "Is that all? I'm expecting a call from someone."

"…Oh. All right. Goodbye, then." Izumi hung up.

Meroko sighed, putting the phone down and placing a hand over her eyes. Izumi…why are you trying so hard? Why are you doing this to yourself? I don't understand…If you weren't going to give up, why did you end it in the first place?

She walked into her bedroom, sat on the bed, and put a finger on the cloth of the quilt, absently tracing patterns with her nail.

Why…?

After a few seconds, she suddenly reached for the drawer of her dresser and pulled it open. She reached around inside and picked up a small strip of photographs, looking down at them carefully.

These are from when me and Takuto were in that photo booth… she thought. I remember this… Her smile widened slightly.

"Hey, look, Takuto! A photo booth!"

"Oh, those? I never did like them…I think they're kind of cramped."

"Oh, come on! Let's go get our picture done!"

"Meroko…"

"Please? It'll be fun! I'll let you keep half!"

"Oh…"

"It'll be fun! Really!"

Meroko laughed softly, stroking the pictures with her finger. "That was so fun," she whispered. They had made some pretty crazy faces.

As Meroko stared at the pictures, something struck her.

This had all happened a while back. Before Izumi had come back, before Takuto had said that he loved Meroko. Before Meroko's life had become so complicated.

Why couldn't all of life be like this? This hadn't been sad, heartbreaking, or complicated in any way. It had just been pleasure. Simple happiness. Why couldn't things be that way now?

Without thinking, Meroko went for her cell phone, picked it up, and dialed Takuto's number.

"Hello?" Takuto answered.

"Hey," Meroko said. "I know this is really sudden and everything, but…do you want to go out?"

After their date, Takuto walked Meroko up to his apartment and asked, "Want a cup of tea?"

"Yeah, sure," Meroko said with a nod. She walked in and sat on the couch while Takuto went to the kitchen to make tea.

When the tea was done, Takuto brought Meroko a cup. "Here."

"Aren't you going to have one?"

"Nah, I'm not really thirsty." Takuto sat down on the couch next to Meroko. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Well…" Takuto sat up a little straighter. "I mean, I had a really great time tonight, but I was wondering…What made you want to go out?"

"Huh?" Meroko looked at Takuto, blinking in confusion. "We're still dating, aren't we?"

"Well, yeah…" Takuto looked a bit pink. "That wasn't what I…I mean, I know. But…it's just that we haven't really gone out on a real date since this whole thing started. I didn't push the issue, because I thought you wanted a little time to yourself. But now…tonight, it was kind of like the past few weeks didn't happen."

Meroko sighed. "That was the point, Takuto." She looked down. "Do you remember that time we went to the photo booth a couple of months ago?"

"Yeah…"

"I was looking at those pictures earlier, and I…" Meroko swallowed. "I just wanted everything to go back to how it was before. I wanted life to be that simple. Back then…it was so easy. None of this…this doubt, or complication…everything was really easy."

Meroko felt a tear forming in her eye, and quickly brushed it away. "I wanted things to be like that again," she finished softly.

Her head turned, and she stared at Takuto with a desperate look in her eyes.

"I just…"

Takuto watched her for a while. Then he moved close to Meroko and pressed his hand lightly on her waist. He waited, looking slightly hesitant, as though he was afraid he had overstepped a boundary.

She didn't move. She only stared at him, her expression unfathomable.

When she didn't protest, he lay down next to her and kissed her, burying his hands in her long pink hair. She pushed her body against his, kissing him long and deep.

As he moved his hands down and started to unbutton her shirt, she said faintly, "Maybe the bed."

He seemed to think that made sense. He led her into his bedroom and shut the door behind him.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" he whispered.

"Yes," Meroko replied immediately, her voice quiet.

It didn't take long for them to get on the bed, with him straddling her. He pulled her shirt away and threw it to the floor. She reached up and helped him pull his own shirt off.

As his hand floated over her stomach, he asked, "Is this too fast?"

"I don't know. Maybe a little." She moaned very softly. "But please don't stop."

He nodded and began tugging at her skirt. He was clumsy, but she didn't care.

When he had gotten her skirt off, he leaned down and whispered into her ear, "I love you."

Meroko felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Takuto…"

He smiled at her. "You don't have to say anything."

She knew that, but she couldn't go on without saying one last thing.

She placed her hands on his waist, and her voice was soft and passionate when she spoke.

"I love you, too." He didn't ask for the words, but she gave them anyway.

Afterwards, Takuto wanted her to sleep over, but Meroko wanted to be alone for a while. More than that, though, she wanted to wake up in her own bed.

He was sorry, she could tell. But he drove her home and walked her to her apartment door.

"You okay?" he asked as she fished around in her purse for her keys.

She nodded. "Yeah. I'm okay. Really, I am." She smiled at him. "Don't worry about me."

He smiled back. "Can I come over tomorrow?"

"Sure." Meroko pulled out her keys. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He nodded, turned, and left, the smile still on his face.

She lay awake in bed for a long time, considering what had happened. People said that it often hurt or felt bad, but Meroko felt fine. Then again, she reminded herself, this wasn't her first time.

It had been Takuto's first time, though. She could tell. She wondered how he was feeling right now. Was he happy? Disappointed? What? She wished she knew.

Am I happy? Meroko asked herself. Did I really want that?

Her heart jumped in with an immediate answer. Yes.

She did. It may not have been her first time, but it had been beautiful and she didn't regret it at all.

But…

She thought of Izumi again.

I…

She closed her eyes tightly, clutching the blanket.

Somewhere in her heart, she wished that tonight had been her first time, and that she hadn't already given that away to Izumi. But that was something that she could never change.

If she'd learned anything through this whole ordeal, it was this: the past was set in stone, and once it happened, it was in there for good, never to be taken back.

Takuto and Meroko needed a little more attention. Sometimes they get kind of mad when Izumi tries to hog the spotlight.

In case you guys haven't yet read my profile (which is likely), this story is getting pretty close to finished. There will be two more chapters, plus an epilogue. So…three more chapters, I guess.

Seeing as the story's getting closer and closer to complete, you only have a limited amount of time left to vote on the trilogy idea! If you haven't yet put in your thoughts about that, please do so. No matter how much I want to do a trilogy, I won't do it if I don't think anyone will read it.

RRE.