Chapter 14: The Aftermath

Authors Note: I was touched to see I got reviews and PMs actually asking me to finish this fanfiction! So I decided I'll finish it up in a few chapters or so. It's a little angsty right now, but hold out I promise it will get better. Thanks for caring so much and I hope you like the chapter! I love feedback!

If you're wondering what I'm mostly working on these days here's a link right here: .com/s/2656925/1/All_My_Emotion I would love to have your guy's support on my orginal story as well.

Enjou!

"What."

It was as if Takuto was so shocked that he couldn't even muster a surprised tone to execute the question- it was only a statement.

Mitsuki, who was at this point crying hysterically, couldn't even look at him. "J-j-ust f-forget I-I s-said anything," She mumbled. What would Eichi think? What would Eichi think? Oh Eichi would hate her, she could never look at him again, the guilt was just too much….

"Don't tell me you're blaming yourself for this," he murmured, as if he could read her thoughts. He placed his hand on hers again, and then seeming to realize his mistake, pulled it away quickly as if it burned him.

"Because i-it i-is my fault," Mitsuki said, sniffing while trying to regain a bit more control.

"But I kissed you," he insisted.

"Yes but I liked it Takuto! I liked it a lot….oh, Eichi will never forgive me!"

Just as eyes had brightened when she said "I liked it" they quickly grew dark when she mentioned Eichi's name. He was always touchy when she brought him up of course, but it seemed to be intensified in that moment….or maybe she was just noticing more then she usually did?

"You don't need him, Mitsuki. You could do better, no way better than him. He never came back for you, to find you, despite the fact you've been waiting and searching for so long…." Takuto said, his voice seeming to drip with accusation.

"No, he just doesn't know yet, he'll come, I'm sure he'll come, I mean….right?" Mitsuki was shocked that she had to question it, she had never questioned it before.

"You're perfect faith in people is so…" Takuto responded, shaking his head. "Insane." He smiled. "But it's part of the reason, I….I thinkIloveyoutoo." The last part of the sentence was a vague blur, but Mitsuki caught the meaning.

Someone clapped, and suddenly Mitsuki just wanted to be away from people. They all seemed to think this was some perfect moment, some reason to be overjoyed, when it wasn't like that at all. All she felt was confusion, and quilt, and slight desire to throw up. Wiping her eyes, she stood up. "Can we go home now?"

Takuto took a second to answer. "If that's what you want."

His whole…demeanor…was different now. He had never talked to Mitsuki this way before, as if he thought carefully about every word….with a pang she realized it resembled the way Eichi used to. The kiss seemed to have changed everything between them.

"We…we should probably find Meroko before we leave," she said quietly. "I don't want to even think about what she would do if we left without her."

Takuto attempted to grin, although it turned out as more of a lopsided smile. "She'd probably go senile, and we'd never hear the end of it."

"Yeah…."

Meroko was in fact, flying high above them at that exact moment. She wondered if they had known the girl was her. They seemed to have bought it though, kissing in front of her and all. She hoped they would've had the decency to not do it if they knew it was her….it hurt, watching it, but only for a second. She loved Takuto, but she also loved Mitsuki. And Mitsuki, whether she was totally ready to come to terms with it yet, felt something for Takuto.

But even if she was okay with it, she was not quite ready to join them, smile, and act like nothing happened. She just needed a few more minutes….

"Meroko…."

She jumped and whipped her head around. "Oh, it's you Izumi. I'm really not in the mood okay? Just leave me alone."

Jonathon began circling her head, but she batted him away. Maybe it was time to go join Mitsuki and Takuto again. Truth be told she was a little afraid to be around Izumi by herself.

"What's troubling you?" He asked in a caring voice that was obviously fake.

"Nothing that concerns you. Can I go please?" She started flying towards the ground.

"Tell me and I'll leave you alone."

Meroko sighed. "Mitsuki and Takuto were kissing, and I was there but they didn't know I was. It hurt a little, but I'm FINE, it's what I wanted to happen."

"You wanted it to happen?" he sounded skeptical.

Of course he would respond that way, Meroko thought bitterly. Not like he's ever done something for someone other than himself.

"I didn't WANT it to happen for me, I wanted it for…for…them." Saying 'them' made them sound very couple-ly, Meroko realized sadly, but perhaps she should just get used to it now.

"You don't deserve that," Izumi muttered.

To say she was taken aback would be an understatement. "Excuse me?"

"I said, you don't deserve that Meroko." Izumi's voice sounded almost…sympathetic. If such a thing were actually possibly that is. Even Jonathon stopped his circling, as if surprised as well.

"And why do you care?" Meroko regained composure as quickly as she had lost it. He had a plot, had a plan, obviously.

Izumi sighed. "I'm not totally evil you know, Me-chan," his voice was back to condescending and dry as usual, even though his eyes still looked different. "At least you didn't seem to think so back in those when you confessed your love to me so many times."

Meroko blushed angrily. "I love Takuto now, and that's final."

"Even if he loves Mitsuki?"

"Even if I have to sit front-row at their wedding. There is no one but him." There was finality in her voice that surprised her.

"I won't let them get away with treating you like this," Izumi sputtered, his voice suddenly angry. He leaned over, kissed Meroko, then fly off.

Meroko's heart was pounding wildly and suddenly the air felt very still. "WHAT? Why did you do that? Where are you doing? Please don't do anything, this is what I want remember! Please…?" But Izumi was so far off he probably couldn't even hear her, all she could see was the back of Jonathon, hovering behind him.

The sun was beginning to set…she better find them, and before Izumi did….she tried to tell herself that maybe he wouldn't do anything, he was just messing around, but she knew him more that that. Why, oh why, was he acting like he cared now? She had waited for him so long, just like she had waited for Takuto…what, if Mitsuki went with Eichi, was he going to return her feelings a few years from now too?

It was if people just thought they could love her when it was "convenient for them". It didn't work like that. She was not a toy. She brushed her lips and thought of how much she wanted those be Takuto's. No, Takuto was not like Izumi. He loved Mitsuki, and even if he did like her one day, he would never use her. He would never hurt her like that. She knew that. It just seemed to be easier to blame him.

She smiled. She had let herself fall into the pity for a moment….but there were more important problems…like finding him and Mitsuki!

She flew around for awhile and was about to try Mitsuki's cell when she saw them sitting on a bench. Yes! Relief flooded over her until she saw….Izumi was already there.

"No, no, no…" she muttered. Maybe she could still do damage control…..

"…no right to walk in here and act like you know ANYTHING about what you're talking about," Takuto was growling

"No, I think I do. And if you think you can play with people's hearts maybe it's time I drop the little announcement I've been keeping under wraps for awhile. He reached something out of his pocket and showed it to Takuto, the look on his face pure wickedness.

"This is a lie," Takuto said immediately. "I would've known, Meroko would've known…"

"Not if someone didn't want you to," Izumi responded evenly. "No, it wasn't me, honestly I just found out myself….but you could see the signature of our superiors, I told them maybe Mitsuki would need a push in the right direction, since you seem so keen on prolonging our life…."

Takuto raised his fast to punch Izumi, but Meroko and Mitsuki both grabbed him.

"What's going on?" they asked at the same time, although Meroko's tone was more accusatory and Mitsuki's more scared. Takuto paled and put his head in his hands. "Eichi…Eichi's dead."