Thanks for all the reviews! So glad that the description of 'Broken Doll' turned out fine. And yup… my fanfic is quite anime-ish/manga-ish. In fact, I picture it as it would happen in the anime and try to describe what I see. But writing inner thoughts are more manga-ish. Haha!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas… and...

Happy New Year!

DISCLAIMER: Gravitation does not belong to me.

MOU ICHI DO

Chapter 7 --- At the Balcony

(Reception area, level 2)

Tanaka Miyabi flicked her hair back over her shoulders, as she fiddled with her lighter in her other hand. Flicking it on and off, she watched the bright orange flame appear and disappear.

Damn! This whole event is so boring. The exhibition showed photos of a silly, immature boy with nothing special, and yet so many special guests had turned up. Famous people in the media and art industry have all been invited. Why did I even come? Oh yeah… because that stupid editor of mine wanted me to meet more people to widen my social network. Ridiculous.

Just then, she noticed a guy dressed smartly in a suit walking up towards her, smiling flirtatiously at the same time.

Another brainless idiot who wants to try bed me. But to keep up appearances, she forced herself to smile and started chatting with the guy.

Five minutes had passed when something caught the corner of her eye. Or rather, someone. There he was... this tall blond guy with a superior air about him that could charm every woman in his way.

Yuki Eiri… Miyabi tightened her grip on her glass of wine. That bastard hypocrite. Let's see... This may be just the perfect time.

She excused herself from the guy she was currently talking to.

The perfect time to hook up with him… and then destroy him from the inside. As they always say, know your enemy well in order to destroy him completely.

xxxxxXxxXxxXxxXxxXxxxxx

Shuichi took in a deep breath. The night air was so cooling and refreshing that it had calmed him down after the incident at the gallery downstairs. Akiha had led him straight to the reception area and left him at the balcony, while he attended to some guests.

Argh. That was horrible. I hoped that nobody noticed the change in me, especially not Yuki. Shuichi closed his eyes and felt the cool air caressing his face. Yuki… I can't believe he actually came. Just like the time he turned up for Bad Luck's debut live performance.

He crossed his arms and rested them on the balcony railing, lowering his face onto his arms. I'm such a failure… remembering this now…

"Shuichi… are you feeling better?"

Shuichi lifted his head and found Akiha smiling at him. He returned a small, weak smile. "Yeah. I'm fine now."

Akiha rested his arms on the railing too. He looked up at the sky.

"It's a beautiful night. There're so many stars…"

Shuichi rolled his eyes. "Please don't tell me you're going to say something stupid again."

Akiha chuckled, but stopped suddenly. "I'm sorry about that earlier. I went too far."

Shuichi perked up at Akiha's serious tone. He turned to study Akiha's face.

He's serious now…

"Forget it. I know that you're just teasing me." Shuichi sighed and shivered.

"Here." Akiha wrapped his coat around the young model. "I can't afford to let you fall sick. You're my important model."

Silence reigned for the next few minutes.

"You know, I've always wanted to ask you this. Why do you keep doing that?" Shuichi asked softly, staring out at the night sky.

"Doing what?"

"All those… weird stuff! Like saying all those embarrassing, perverted stuff…"

Akiha smiled, staring out too. "…Because I like you."

Shuichi sighed again and turned around, leaning back against the railing this time. "You're doing it again. Stop-"

He lost his voice as he stared into the main reception area where the guests were gathered and refreshments were being served. (Food: buffet style) But his eyes were focused only on one single person.

Yuki…

The blond novelist was currently busy attending to a beautiful and somewhat familiar woman, with dark green hair, and who had her hands all over him.

They look really cozy…

A familiar feeling crept through Shuichi, one that he had been experiencing constantly for the past year. No… for as long as he remembered.

Hurt. Overwhelming pain that numbed his whole body.

Akiha, puzzled at Shuichi's sudden silence, trailed Shuichi's gaze to… Yuki Eiri.

"Stop saying that… How can you say those stuff about liking me so easily? Why? There's nothing in me that can make someone love me, or even like me. If there is… I wouldn't be in this situation now. So, stop lying. Stop saying all those irresponsible stuff. What's so nice about me anyway? What's so nice about me that make you say that you like me!" Shuichi's voice cracked as he lost his composure. He brought a hand to his forehead. Oh no… it's happening again. I'm going to do it again… break down and cry. But I can't do it here! I can't! I can't!

"You're special, Shuichi…"

Shuichi snapped up at Akiha's quiet voice. He met Akiha's gaze as the photographer turned to him.

"There are times where you're so beautiful that I can't help teasing you, passing some 'hot' remarks at you…" Akiha paused for a moment before continuing: "Yet there are times where you're so vulnerable that you look like you need someone to hug you close…" He pulled Shuichi into his arms, and whispered: "…Just like now… that's what makes you hard to resist."

A small strangled sob escaped from Shuichi. He wrapped his arms tightly around Akiha, struggling to find some comfort and warmth. He would not allow himself to cry now. No, he would not.

They held each other in a comfortable silence for some time before Akiha spoke again.

"But honestly, I'm not lying about you having a beautiful body…" Akiha grinned knowingly. "I guess the lucky one who gets to confirm that is Yuki-san, right?"

Shuichi stiffened and hugged Akiha closer. The wound in his heart only got deeper.

"How evil… talking like that…" Shuichi murmured into Akiha's chest. "You know about my past… about Yuki. Yet you still tease me so badly right in front of my friends, right in front of Yuki. And you do it on purpose…" Shuichi closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of Akiha.

Right… Akiha has a clear idea of what my past was like. Everything about Bad Luck and Yuki and etc, etc, etc. Tsuyoshi knows too. But only Akiha has all the details. I remember the first time we met… after stumbling into his photo shoot by accident, Akiha had pulled me out for dinner with him alone and invited me to be his model. Then, he had cleverly led me to spill the beans about my past. And I had cried and cried and clung onto him while talking about Yuki. How embarrassing it must have been… but Akiha had held me close until my tears ran out.

After that day, we began working together and grew closer. I even live in the apartment next to his in America. Jun was already part of the crew then, but I was only introduced to Tsuyoshi much later, when I started growing popular as a model. Tsuyoshi's a quiet guy, but he's also very sharp and observant. Over time, he was able to pick up clues and developed an idea about my past. And Haruko… I met her through Tsuyoshi. She's pretty, fun and caring… so full of sunshine. It was under Akiha's and Tsuyoshi's encouragement that I began dating her. Soon, we were known as a couple…

But unlike Akiha, Haruko has no inkling about my relationship with Yuki at all. She thinks that those reports about me and Yuki are lies. And I also lied to her that I quitted singing because something horrible happened during my career as a singer, and I can't get over that psychological barrier to sing again.

Maybe that's the reason why…

Even though Haruko's my girlfriend, to me… Akiha is an important and much more special existence.

But I don't think it's THAT kind of special existence…

THAT kind of special existence that I once had the chance to cherish…

Yuki…

Shuichi pulled away from Akiha.

"I've never said that I'm nice…" Akiha kissed Shuichi's forehead lightly.

"Idiot…" The model cracked a small smile.

Akiha smirked mischievously. "Don't forget you still owe me 2 nude photos…" He breathed sexily into Shuichi's ear.

Shuichi blushed all RED and glared at Akiha in disgust. "No way am I gonna undress in front of the camera and in front of a pervert like you! Go to hell!"

"Tsk. But you promised at that time you needed a favor from me…you lying brat."

"…" Shuichi turned away in a huff. "I only said 'maybe'. I didn't promise you anything. PERVERT."

They never noticed that a pair of startling golden eyes had been watching them as they hugged and kissed and blushed.

"Akiha! Shuichi!" Tsuyoshi called out as he approached the two.

"Yo." Akiha raised his arm slightly and waved.

Tsuyoshi rolled his eyes. "The two main hosts abandoning the party?"

"Well, you know that I've never really liked entertaining people. Besides, out of those people who came, I bet half of them don't understand art." Akiha pouted intentionally.

"But still, these are the rules of the game." Tsuyoshi pulled out a cigarette and lighted it.

"Hmph. I could care less… besides, I'd rather spend time alone with my boyfriend." Akiha draped one arm over Shuichi's shoulders.

Shuichi snorted. He shrugged and pushed Akiha's arm away, threw Akiha's jacket back to him and started in the direction back in. "I'm going back in. You guys can have fun."

Shuichi never knew that the same pair of golden eyes earlier followed him in, before glancing away.

Akiha and Tsuyoshi watched as Shuichi disappeared into the crowd.

"You do know that you said too much just now, right? You should watch that mouth of yours." Tsuyoshi took a drag on his cigarette.

Akiha sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I got carried away. Stupid me. But judging by Shuichi's reaction, it's obvious that he still feels something for that guy. Maybe it's a bad time to come back…"

"Hopefully, his trip back wouldn't add on to Shuichi's wounds… maybe everything can be settled once and for all."

They were silent for the next moment, before Tsuyoshi started speaking again. "You know? I've always been surprised that you decided to make Shuichi your model. I mean, you've always emphasized that people who aren't true to their feelings wouldn't stand out in front of the lens 'cos photography is an art of expression. But Shuichi's struggling so hard to hide the real him, to hide his heart. Although he's hurting, he forces himself to smile."

Akiha gave a low chuckle. "You're right. That's why I always take the effort to sheer him up and get him into the right mood before any assignment, especially those that require him to be happy. I need to make sure that his smile reaches his eyes… isn't that so?"

"But why go to that extra trouble? I'm sure you can find some other model."

Akiha rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The first time that I met Shuichi… I already thought he had a pretty face. And when he cried and poured out everything about his past? The first thing that came into my mind was how rare he was. His straightforwardness, his innocence, his naivety, his unconditional love and sacrifice for someone who didn't know how to treasure him, his courage to love someone whom he's forbidden to do so. Maybe I was just selfish… but I really wanted to keep him by my side. Someone so true like him is hard to come by…"

Akiha frowned hard before continuing. He smirked. "Or maybe, you could say that I'm attracted to tragic beauties and broken dolls…" He started heading in. "You'd better come along too, manager. Don't leave the job of entertaining those people to Shuichi and me alone!"

Tsuyoshi sighed before putting out his cigarette. "Asshole."

xXx To be continued soon xXx

This is a short chapter… I know… but I've already written the next chapter, so I'll type it out as soon as I find time to do so and put it up soon! I promise to do it before New Year…

Anyway, hope this chapter shed some light on the relationships between Shu and Akiha, Shu and Haruko, Shu and Yuki.

Next up: you'll see Yuki and Shuichi talk for a while, and I think you'll feel very sad for Shuichi… it's quite angsty.

And the next next chapter will center on Yuki, I guess. Yuki's POV, Yuki and Miyabi, Yuki and Atsushi… etc. School's going tostart soon, so I'm trying to write all I can before I have no time! Hee… Oh yeah... I must make time for my other fanfics too!