Welcome to…my first chaptered story in a very long time. I'm probably asking for trouble by posting this without getting it beta-read, but that's my problem.

This is very AU, and has a Takuto x Meroko x Izumi love triangle, with some Eichi x Mitsuki on the side. An AU story that doesn't contain Takuto x Mitsuki! (Gasp!)

Before we start, let's clear up the issue of ages.

Meroko Yui: 25

Takuto Kira: 26

Izumi Lio: 27

Mitsuki Koyama: 24

Eichi Sakurai: 26

And that's everyone that matters. Enjoy the story.

"Meroko! Hey, Meroko!"

Meroko turned around, her long, vivid pink hair flapping lightly in the breeze. "Oh, Mitsuki!"

Mitsuki smiled and waved with one hand, brushing her long brown hair out of her face. "Good morning, Meroko!" she called cheerfully. She ran towards Meroko, stumbling twice.

Meroko grinned. Ah…you're so silly, Mitsuki.

Mitsuki slid to a stop in front of Meroko. "How are you doing?" she asked, panting slightly.

"I'm great!" Meroko replied happily. "You?"

"I'm great, too!"

"Hey, wait a minute…" Meroko frowned in confusion. "Aren't you supposed to have a date with Eichi in…" The pink-haired girl flipped open her cell phone to check the time. "…ten minutes? Why are you over here?"

Mitsuki sighed, looking sad. "He caught a bad cold and couldn't come. Poor Eichi…I feel so sorry for him…"

She continued to look depressed until Meroko said somewhat nervously, "B-but I'll bet he's already feeling better, because he knows how much you care about him."

Mitsuki perked up a little at that. "Maybe…"

"Definitely," Meroko said firmly. "You two have been going out for over three years. And you've been so sweet to him in all that time. He'll definitely feel better knowing that you're thinking of him."

"Aw, that's so sweet, Meroko!" Mitsuki laughed. "Thank you so much."

She took out her phone and checked the time. "Actually, I was going to the flower shop to get some flowers. I thought they'd cheer him up a little. Flowers always make me feel better. What should I get, Meroko? Daisies? Or maybe roses? Or…hmm…"

"Go for the daisies," Meroko recommended. "They're more cheerful."

"Yeah." Mitsuki blinked, suddenly remembering something. "Hey, don't you have a date today? Where's Takuto?"

"My date's not for another half hour," Meroko replied. "I was just killing time until then."

"Oh, okay," said Mitsuki. "Well, I'd better get going." She started to walk off. "I'll see you later, Meroko!"

"Bye," Meroko said, waving.

From the window of a nearby shop, a young man stared intently at Meroko, eyes betraying nothing.
As Meroko drove her car down the street, she found herself thinking of Eichi and Mitsuki. "They make such a sweet couple," she said to herself. "And they've been together three years, and still going strong as ever…"

"…Huh? Izumi…I don't understand…Why do you want to…I mean…we've been going out for two years, and you…you just want to forget that…"

Meroko shook her head firmly.

No.

Her cell phone suddenly started ringing, and she gratefully seized it and flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Hey there, Meroko."

"Takuto!" Meroko's face brightened. "What's up?"

"Not much. How are you?"

"Good." Meroko glanced out the window. "So, hey, did you need something?"

"Nah, not really. I just didn't want to have to wait another five minutes to get to talk to you."

"Aw, Takuto!" Meroko was practically melting. "You're so sweet!"

"Yeah, yeah…Don't get all mushy…"

Meroko giggled. "Well, hey, I'll see you in a couple of minutes, okay?"

"Alright. See you."

"Bye." Meroko closed her phone and set it back in her purse.

"Wait! Izumi, please! Please don't leave! I'm begging you!"

"Goodbye, Meroko."

"Izumi! You can't leave! I can't live if you're not here!"

"Goodbye."

"No," Meroko said forcefully. She turned the corner with such vigor that the group of women standing on the street corner stared at her.

"Takuto, hey!"

Meroko kissed Takuto lightly on the cheek. Takuto smiled sheepishly, a light blush coming to his face.

"Hey there," he said, his voice a bit gruff. "Let's get going."

"Okay!" Meroko slipped her hand into Takuto's and began pulling him down the sidewalk, looking as though she didn't have a care in the world.

"So how's the music life going?" Meroko took a sip of her coffee.

"Pretty good, actually. I've got a recording next week." Takuto added a bit of sugar to his coffee cup. "I really hope this new song sells well. I put my whole heart into writing it. Not that I don't put my heart into my other songs, but this one…" He looked down. "Well, it's special."

Meroko gently patted Takuto's hand. "Don't worry, Takuto," she said encouragingly. "I've heard your song, and it's great. I'm sure everyone will love it!"

"Yeah…" Takuto smiled. "Thanks," he said softly.

Meroko smiled back. "Don't mention it."

They were silent for a little while; then Takuto began speaking again. "So, how's Mitsuki doing?"

"She's fine."

"And Eichi?"

"Mitsuki said he had a bad cold."

"Oh?" Takuto frowned a bit. "Hope he's okay."

"Don't worry. Mitsuki may be a bit clumsy, but she knows how to take care of Eichi." Meroko sighed. "They're so sweet to each other, it almost melts my heart."

"I know what you mean. They're perfect together."

They continued talking that way for a while; going on about any little thing they could think of to say. Finally, Meroko checked the time. "Oh, wow! We've been here for three and a half hours!"

Takuto smirked slightly. "So what else is new?"

"Oh, go on!" Meroko swiped at him with her hand. He dodged.

"I've got to get going," he said, standing up.

"Me too."

They parted with a quick kiss and a wave.

As Meroko was walking back to her car, she thought dreamily of Takuto, and of how well everything seemed to be going.

It's hard to believe we've been together almost six months, she thought. He's so amazing. Takuto…he's just so…so…

Suddenly, she stopped and turned around.

"That was weird…" she muttered. She thought she'd heard a sound behind her on the quiet sidewalk.

She scanned the area carefully, but the only person she saw was a little girl eating a gigantic ice cream cone.

Shrugging, she continued walking.

"I wonder what I should get Takuto for our anniversary," she murmured. "I'd really like to get him something special…something that tells him just how much he means to me. But what?"

She had arrived at her car. As she turned to get in, she froze.

She had definitely seen something.

A tall person. A tall man.

Before Meroko was able to discern any details, the man had disappeared.

"What…" Meroko muttered, looking around with slightly narrowed eyes. "Is there…is that guy following me?"

She waited for a few minutes, but nothing else unusual happened, so she finally got into her car and drove home.

All he could think of was her.

Meroko.

Walking down the sidewalk.

With Takuto.

"So, Meroko."

Her happy, beaming face, filled with all the sunlight of the universe. Just like before.

"You've found someone else."

Her holding Takuto's hand.

"But…"

Her kissing Takuto's cheek.

"…it won't be for long."

When he looked up, his eyes were filled with a burning, passionate fire.

"I will get you back, Meroko."

Count on it.

Before you say that you hate it, please keep in mind that I haven't done a chaptered story in a while. And Takuto x Meroko doesn't come naturally to me.

Yeah, I know that not much happens in this chapter. But this chapter was just to set the scene, establish the relationships, and all that other nice junk. The next chapter is when the action starts.

Izumi's personality in this is mostly his manga personality (not so much of a jerk), with a bit of his anime personality (a jerk) mixed in. Just saying.

Well, that's all until next time. Enjoy life.

RRE.