Title: Aroma

Length: 2/3

Rating: PG (subject to change)

Warnings: Language, yaoi, angst

Pairings: Takuya/Teruki, Teruki/ OC (mention), Takuya/???, Kanon/??? (mention), Kanon/Takuya (one-sided)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but this storyline and my love of the lyrics

Summary: How soon is too soon to move on? How long is too long to wait? How does one recover from a broken heart? For Takuya, it was more than a makeover for a music video shoot.

Chapter 2- I'm Not Afraid of Being Hurt, Because I Don't Have Anything To Lose

"Uuuuuuuuuuughhhh! Where are they????"

Miku has a tendency to overeggagerate, this being no exception, but he does have a point with his outburst. Everyone- the hair and make-up artists, the photographer, the staff, and the band- got here on time for the album cover shoot, and a magazine or two just in case... everyone, except for Yuuki and Takuya.

Teruki, sitting to the right of me, sighs. "Who would've thought it'd be the newbies that are late? Usually it's you, Non-chan." He adds a laugh to the affectionate nickname. I just roll my eyes- well, eye, since one eye is covered by a patch- and mutter "Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

Miku plops down in the foldable chair next to me, seeming annoyed, but that's just his childish impatience coming out. We're all watching the staff set up for the photos, and also looking behind us to the clock and the door where our two missing bandmates should be coming through. I've been worried for Takuya for a while. He's looked absolutely drained and down ever since he and Teruki broke up, and Teruki's uncanny bounce-back ability has only made it that much harder for Takuya. His age, and the fact that Teruki was his first (from what I know, anyway) are playing against him as well. Naturally, there was an unspoken rule that bandmates don't date each other, for fear of this sort of thing happening, but I guess since Teruki's the oldest, we all just sort of assumed that he'd be responsible in his way of handling things with Takuya- asking him out, and when he told me and Miku that he wanted to end things with Takuya the day of. Of course, me and Miku tried to tell him not to, or at least to be gentle with it... but even then, things have been rocky ever since, and the band's starting to suffer because of it.

Miku's playing with one of his many buttons, and Teruki's running his hand through his much shorter hair. We all had our outfits picked for the shoot, so what we came in wearing today is no surprise to any of us- When Yuuki sent a pic to us, Miku commented that Yuuki looked like a space clown... whatever that is, Teruki said that I seem to be having a thing for eyepatches lately, Yuuki told Teruki he looked like a totally different person with his shorter hair, and I laughed at the fact that this would be Miku's third shoot with a vest on. But Yuuki told us that Takuya didn't have anything picked out yet, again, something that only fueled my worry for him even more.

Without thinking, I make a comment about the one thing that has more or less been barred from being talked about. "I wonder if Takuya's feeling well enough to come today..."

This gets everybody to look at me, including Teruki's unusually cold stare.

"I'm sure Takuya's with Yuuki and they're running late," Miku says semi-confident, trying to avoid any fighting. But still, I can't help but say, "Maybe, but don't you think he-"

"He'll be here." Teruki cuts me off in an equally icy tone to match the look on his face. I see Miku tense up, looking scared, and knowing how he is to anyone he knows fighting, I decide not to press it anymore, even if it is bothering me. "You're right, they'll be here soon."

I don't know why Teruki's so sensitive to all of this. He's the one who broke up with Takuya, right? And he's the one who's moved on... So why? I always find myself wondering that, especially when his new boyfriend drops by; Takuya tries not to show it, but he shuts down completely. It's really sad to see, I find myself wanting to comfort him, let him know that while it doesn't seem like it, things will get better... But I'm not that bold, and I don't like to cause a scene, always something I regret later when he's the first one to leave the studio, like the place just caught on fire.

Come to think of it...It's more than the break-up situation I've been thinking about... I've been thinking about-

"Hey! So sorry we're late, guys!"

My thoughts are interrupted by Yuuki, yelling as he rushes through the doorway, catching the attention of everybody in the room... especially when he falls down. Miku and Teruki run over to help him up, I'm still half spaced-out, so the most my body will allow me to do is stand up. It must be my AM-hours of MonHan...

"Yuuki, are you okay?" Teruki helps Yuuki up and sounds concerned, but has a clear laugh in his voice, a complete 180 from how he was just moments ago.

"Yuukikki! I told you you shouldn't have worn those big-ass clown shoes!" With Miku, it was very obvious that, even if Yuuki was hurt- he wasn't, visibly anyway- Miku found the fall to be hysterical because of the cause: What I'm sure will become infamous of dear Yuukikki, clown shoes that were a good 10 sizes too big for him. I laughed where I was, thankful that Yuuki unknowingly broke the tension between the three of us.

He stood up, looking embarrassed, but riding out the attention for as long as he could. "Yeah, I know, but you have to admit they're kinda cool! And I needed something to make me stand out." Yuuki says all of this with a smile that always seems etched onto his face, and for some reason, I find myself envious that I can't smile like that, too.

"Are you kidding? You stand out more than any of us right now as it is!" Miku playfully punches Yuuki's arm, and then adding. "Well, most of us... Yuuki, have you seen Takuya?" I look out to see if Teruki tenses at that 6-letter name; he doesn't.

"Oh! Yeah, we came here together. He should be in... here... by now... what are you two staring at?" Yuuki slows his answer down when he notices both Miku and Teruki looking past him, at something making a silhouette at the open doorway. He looks behind him, and naturally, I look to where everybody else is looking.

And there he is.

I swear there's a collective gasp the moment we identify the shadowy figure as Takuya, minus Yuuki for some reason. He's decked out in all black, like Teruki, but there's an edge to him unlike any that we've ever seen. It's dark, and very Visual Kei, something that Takuya was always hesitant dressing as. But even the way he came into the room is different. It's more confident and sure. He looks brave.

And overall, he looks hot.

...Wait, did I really think that? And why's my mouth open? Quickly, I close my mouth, thankful that everyone is still understandably staring at Takuya, who just starts to look a little nervous at all the attention. I make my way over to the gathering by the door just as Miku starts exclaiming, "Takuya! Wow, you look... wow!" He's speechless for the first time in... well, a long while, as is everybody. Miku's got a big grin on his face from seeing the younger's new look, and as I get closer to Teruki, he's visibly impressed, almost looks like he's checking Takuya out, but keeps turning his head away, trying not to stare. Yuuki smiles again and wraps an arm around Takuya's shoulders. "Yeah, I helped him out."

"With the look, or the hair?" Miku asks. "No offense, Takuya, but I don't know if I can believe that the hair was entirely your idea..."

"But it looks good, though," I add, not wanting Takuya to think we don't like it. But Takuya looks at me with his newly eyelined eyes, and for some... really strange reason, I feel my face getting hot, so I look right back over to Miku, who nods at my comment. "Yeah, it does! But it's so... different! I wouldn't expect you to do something so wild, Takuya."

"Actually, it was my idea," Takuya admits both proudly and nervously. "I was with Yuuki last night when I got it, and the outfit. He just gave a second opinion, right Yuuki?" I couldn't help but think it was cute that Takuya, despite this clear change in attitude, still felt more comfortable with someone backing him up. Yuuki, now taking his arm back from Takuya, nods. "Mm-hmm. He said he was looking for something different, and well, who knows different better than me?" Yuuki modeled his shiny jacket, cowboy hat, clown shoes, and every other crazy thing he's wearing to everyone, and we all can't help but laugh. It's Yuuki-contagiousness, I swear.

"Oh, Takuya, you've been so off the radar lately, this is your first time seeing everybody! Soooooo, what do you think?" Miku, like Yuuki, eagerly displays everybody in their outfits, I feel slightly embarrassed for being presented like a prize in a showcase. But Takuya giggles and gives the most earnest smile I've seen on him since before the break-up. "I really like them all, I'm glad I'm not the only one who decided to do black. But, Kanon..."

He's walking over to me, and once he gets just about a foot of distance between us, he moves the hair out of my face that's covering up my eyepatch. "You're wearing it again?"

"I... I mean, it's not the same one..." I reply, referring to the patch from the Cherry Saku Yuuki shoot. And... if I'm not mistaken, I just sounded more nervous than Takuya. ...Somewhere in the world, the Twilight Zone theme is playing...

And... now I'm wondering why I'm wearing the patch when my hair is covering my eye just fine?

"Oh, I know," He replies, "But I like it better when you show your eyes, though I do like the contact." He finishes with a smile, but I see something in his eyes, this glint of... something... but it's really... enticing.

Wait, what the fuck is wrong with me? Usually I'm never so anxious or awkward, and up until now, it's been easy for me to act normal around Takuya. So then why the hell am I acting like this???

"Okay, we're all here, let's get on with the shoot, shall we?" Teruki suddenly chimes in, flashing his famous, 100-watt smile before turning to the direction of the set-up. Everyone follows, Takuya last, since I'm sure he doesn't want to be close to Teruki. But I'm left standing here, utterly confused. I swear that, out of the corner of my uncovered eye, I noticed that he was... no, he couldn't have been... was he staring me and Takuya down???

I fucking hate this.

Okay, so now I'm annoyed at the fact that I'm acting like such an idiot, but I try to suck it up as the photographer is explaining the set-up of the shoot. It's the usual- one group shot and then 5 individual shots. And the main objective for everybody is to make sure that Takuya and Teruki aren't near each other, unless it's by choice.

The order usually goes by who gets done with hair and make-up the fastest... Of course, Yuuki's first. I'm up next and I see from my uncovered eye that Takuya has come out to watch my shoot. ...And, yet again, there's that same look in his eye, like he's checking me out. What the hell??? I must be imagining things. Maybe it's the hat, maybe it's knocking my thinking waves off balance... or something... Gah, this is ridiculous. Okay, I need to focus on the shoot, which is easy since all I have to do is stare with one red and black eye, I could keep my other eye closed and no one would know the difference. Yeah, easy, I'll be fine... Dammit, stop looking at him!

It's only been a few minutes, but I feel like it's been an hour, and the photographer says that he wants me to look at his shots. Trying not to look at Takuya- failing again- I take off my eye patch to see the chosen best pictures, and after giving my approval for the top choices, I flip the patch back down and make my way back to where all of the chairs are... Somebody up there loves to see me squirm, because the only chair left available is the one closest to Takuya. This is so messed up... I mean, I know I have a crush on him, I have for a while, but now it's turning to an all-out mash. GOD, WHY AM I ACTING LIKE THIS NOW????? Uggggggghhhhh.....

This day sucks, officially. The only good thing about this day is seeing Takuya's new look, and that certainly is acting as a double-edged sword. But if there's one thing that I'm good at, it's looking indifferent. I take a deep breath, and take a seat next to Takuya, who greets me with a small smile. "Hi, Kanon."

I give a small smile back, looking down at my boots. "You seem more quiet than usual today. Are you alright?" I hear his voice chime next to me.

I look up at him, getting lost in this adorable- I guess, that's the only word I can think of- look of his. Everything, from the newly permed hair, to the brooding eye make-up is a really unexpected turn-on. I shake my head of daydreams, since I'm daydreaming before answering him, and that makes him laugh inadvertently. "Yeah, just tired, I guess."

Takuya is still giggling a bit, nodding to my answer. "I know what you mean, I was up almost all night."

I look at him, curious. "Really? Why?"

Before he gets the chance to answer, Teruki comes out fresh from hair and make-up and goes up to the greenscreen, ready to shoot. Something in Takuya immediately shifts, and he turns silent, and back into the shy Takuya that we've all come to know. Nothing needs to be said at this point for me to understand why he was up so late. "How-" I clear my throat of nervousness, worried I'm pushing his buttons too much by asking this, "How have you been doing?"

He hums, sounding like he's thinking about a right answer. "I don't know, better, I guess. But I just wish that I could skip this part and act normal again."

"It'll pass," I say, confident. "Things like this happen, and will take a while for the hurt to go away."

Takuya scoffs at what I just said, but I don't think he purposely did it from the look of apology in his eyes. "You've been through this before, I take it? Or are you just quoting some "and how does that make you feel?" TV show?"

I scoff right back at him from that last question. "No, definitely not from a TV show... He left, so it's something similar to your situation, I guess. But believe me when I say that this will pass, it's not permanent."

He gives me this very skeptic look, turning his attention to Teruki, who's now posing. "How long did it take for you?" He asks, never taking his eyes off of Teruki.

I'm surprising myself with how open I'm being, even though I haven't given out any names or specifics. Maybe it's because, underneath this badass new look of his, he really is like me- shy, reserved, and more of a listener than a talker, and yet, we seem to talk more when we're together, a liveliness that's only been brought of Takuya by one other person: Teruki. I sigh before replying, "It's still passing. I'm not entirely over it yet, but there are other people on earth for companionship, and to help you move forward, you know?"

Takuya looks over at me. It looks like he literally had to rip his gaze from Teruki. "You've found someone already?" He sounds amazed.

"Well, I mean... It hasn't been as recent as you and Teruki. My break-up was... almost two years ago, I think."

"Two years???" Takuya's eyes widen, stunned. I let a smile slip out because I can't help but think the dramatic facial expression is cute. "And you still haven't gotten over it?"

I sit up, ready to defend myself. "I'm not saying I'm still hurting like I was two years ago, and I'm definitely not saying that you'll be hurting for that long, either, it's only been over a month with you. My thing was... It was a break-up that we didn't want to do, but we had to, it's kind of complicated... but what I'm trying to say is, it doesn't hurt to put yourself out there. I've dated a couple of other people since then, when I thought I was ready, and none of them have been serious relationships like my last one, but I am moving on. You'll be able to, too." I look him in the eye, seriously. And for the first time that day, I don't get distracted by Takuya's beauty.

"Do you still love him?"

My eyes- I mean, eye, widens slightly at how blunt Takuya's question is. Again, I take a deep breath in. "Well, yeah, I do. But I can't picture myself ever getting back together with him, not when so much time has passed. And the love's just of what we had in the past. I think that's where I still find myself missing him, thinking of the past. ...Plus... I do like someone else now."

He seems to understand, though there is a part of him that's still unsure of what I'm saying to him, I can tell. And that's why I don't confess my feelings to him. I wasn't planning on it anyway, but it seemed like good timing to do so. Yet, despite everything that Teruki's put him through, it's easy to tell that Takuya still has feelings for him. And I don't really know what's going on in Takuya's head. Is he the kind to sulk and be depressed, or is he the one to hook up with people to fill the void? I don't want to be a rebound, and that's why I don't say anything else.

"It just sucks, you know?" He sounds extremely sad, but won't let himself cry. "Seeing him with his new..." My heart is torn, because not only is Takuya not over Teruki, but he can't even get himself to say the word "boyfriend" if he's not talking about himself. "And, I put myself out there like... this," he indicates his clothing.

Oh, now I get it. "You weren't trying to be different for the shoot, you were trying for Teruki." I say it more as a fact than a question, and Takuya doesn't argue it, shaking his head. "I don't know what I was expecting to happen, me dressing and acting like this. I don't think it was to try to get him back. I miss him a lot, and I still have this fantasy that we'll get back together, but I don't think that will happen, 'cause things just aren't the same anymore. But... I guess I just wanted to show him that he won't get to me, and that I can be confident and act..."

"Sexy?" I guess... out loud, making him look at me, and me cover my mouth, absolutely mortified. But he doesn't give a weird, or even a disgusted look like I was expecting. "Yeah, sexy... It's to show him that he can't take any of that away from me. It's true that he built me up to who I am today, but he can't take it away as easily as he helped make it." His smile turned into a sad frown. "But he doesn't care, he has... him." He slouches over and rests his head in his hands, defeated.

I lean over and rest a hand on his back. "I shouldn't talk like this about a friend, but who cares what he thinks? You're right, he has his new... well, you know. So just focus on yourself. Don't worry about anyone else." I let out a genuine smile, remembering this advice from the very person who put me in a similar position.

Takuya looks up at me, and sees the strength in my answer, which seems to reassure him that much more. "I-" He pulls back his question for a different one. "If you don't mind me asking..."

"...Yeah?"

"..Who's this other person that you like?"

I pause, then open my mouth to boldly answer, but a different voice comes out instead.

"Takuya, we're ready for you!' Takuya and I turn to the set-up where the photographer is calling for him. Teruki is off to the side, talking with Yuuki.

Takuya sighs again, and sits up, looking at me. "Go on," I say, encouraging, "They're waiting on you."

"Yeah," Takuya motions to get up, but I see that he and Teruki lock gazes, and I swear neither of them breathe for a moment. He settles back down in his chair, turning his gaze, now very intense to me, and puts a hand on my thigh.

What the hell is going on here?

"Thank you for everything, Kanon." He whispers low. The next thing I know, before I have a chance to say anything back, he cups my face in his other hand, and kisses me on the cheek.

...And then he gets up and leaves! And I'm sitting here, my brain feeling short-circuited, my face probably bright red, and the places where his hand and lips were burning and imprinting on my skin like a sunburn.

And again, my damn mouth is hanging open! I'm sure I'm sitting like this for a good minute, minute and a half, and that's when I see it: Teruki is giving me this intense, angry look unlike anything I've ever seen. He doesn't blink, never softens his stare, and most important, he looks pissed off. Suddenly, he storms off back to the make-up room, leaving Yuuki equally as stunned as me, runs off after him, and I'm left alone with the posing bad boy who's stolen my heart.

A/N: Update! Kiseki!!!! XD

Yes, I'm back, after some laziness, trials, and tribulations. (And I'm supposed to be writing a paper, so you guys better be appreciative XP)

Anyway, I took a new approach and wrote all of this right on the LJ post page, so I don't have such a horrid problem with the posting/ LJ cut again -_-" But yeah, here's my update, and hopefully you can ignore much of the rambling to get to the point: my pairings list has also been updated! ...And there's still more parings to add XD

No one, save for Yuuki and Miku, seem to know who they want to end up with, what they want to happen, etc... and this is where this far exceeds the truth from what I'm basing this off of. And hopefully, you all have figured this out, but if not...

Chapter 1: Takuya's POV
Chapter 2: Kanon's POV
Chapter 3: Third person POVEverything will come into perspective soon, and maybe I'll finally be able to finish a story x_x Who knows?

Thank you all for your patience ^_^ Final chapter will be up soon!