Editted chap. Enjoy.

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-krriiing!-
"oh my, I forgot to turn off the alarm clock. AGAIN.." Miaka said with frustration in her voice while yawning and covering her ears with her pillow. Leaving the alarm clock as is, still ringing.
"WHY CAN'T THIS CLOCK TURN OFF ITSELF ON SUNDAYS?!" she continued attempting to throw the clock at the wall.

-knock-knock-

"Hey Mi-chan, I can hear you screaming over here. Why don't you have some breakfast? We're having pancakes today." her brother said trying to calm her down with the thought of food.
Miaka reached for her robes and opened the door to go along with Keisuke.
"I don't understand why I can't enjoy my Sunday mornings, it's the only rest I have." Miaka shared to Keisuke.
"Well, why don't you try sleeping early during week days and stop using an alarm clock, ne?" Keisuke joked.
"You know I can't sleep early during week days. I have a lot to do. Well, thanks for the great advice!" Miaka replied sarcastically while sitting down and serving herself with a lot of pancakes.
"Oh, oniichan, I don't think there's any syrup left there." Miaka said as soon as she saw Keisuke reaching for the syrup bottle in their refrigerator.
"tsk, great."
"Uhm, I'll be going out today with Yui. I'll drop by the store later to buy some." Miaka smiled, trying to forget what happened to her with the clock that morning.
"Oh, alright. Thanks, Mi-chan. So, where will the two of you go?"
"I don't know. She just wanted me to go."
"Really? She invited you to go without you knowing where to go?"
"Well, yeah. And she told me that we'll be meeting someone."
"Someone that you don't have any idea who might be?"
"Yeahp."
and the two burst into laughter.
"That's pretty weird. Well, you're such a good friend to still go with her even though you don't have any idea where and who you'll be with."
"I know, oniichan. Thanks for the flattering compliment. I appreciate it, really." Miaka winked and laughed.
"Yeah right." Keisuke said while gently hitting her sister on the head.
"oofgh. Oh well, oniichan. I need to get ready or Yui'll get mad at me. Thanks for the great breakfast anyway." Miaka said, rushing on swallowing her food and ran into her room.

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While taking her time in the tub, a lot of thoughts visited her. Thoughts of the past she had, the unbelievable past she couldn't believe she had, unbelievable enough that it could be mistaken for a long dream.

"What if that WAS a dream?" she murmured to herself.

Then a picture of her protectors appeared in her mind. A picture of a tall guy, most of the time being mistaken for a woman along with a tall, purple-headed guy who acted as her brother and sister as well in that world. A picture of a kid holding scrolls filled with information that she might not understand herself, a picture of a man, a healer with his pet cat. A picture of a guy with one expression on his face and having this powder-blue colored hair popping out of his head together with a guy having fiery-red hair, wearing earrings that gently touches his shoulders and most of the time was being noticed because of his fangs. And the guy with "demon" written on his forehead, the one who Miaka cared and loved the most, the one she considered as her lover. A picture of the people who treated her as their empress, but better yet, who treated her as their most beloved friend.

"No! That can't be a dream! I would never consider that a dream!" Miaka shook her head and slowly sunk lower in the tub.
"I miss you guys. I miss you a lot." She continued murmuring to herself without realizing the tears slowly escaping her eyes.

She took a lot more time being there to comfort herself, recovering from the old wound that had become fresh once again because of the thought of her leaving her most beloved companions. After spending her time on the tub, she remembered that Yui will be there in a few minutes which have gotten her into rushing again. But rushing didn't help; her heart throbbed more painfully since she remembered all of them in every move she makes.

"How stupid is this? First, you decide to leave them even if you had the choice not to then you'll miss them like hell?! YOU'RE HURTING YOURSELF, BAKA!" She said to herself, trying to stop her tears from escaping her eyes.

-beepbeep-

"Great, Yui's here and I haven't fixed my hair yet."

-knock knock-

"Oi, Mi-chan.."
"Yeah, oniichan. I know she's there. Please tell her I'll be there in a few minutes."
"alright. Move faster!"

She tried to smile with the sound of her brother laughing loudly but even if she wanted to, she hardly can.

"Oh man, God help me."

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"Yui-chan! Sorry if I kept you waiting." Miaka said with a fake smile on her face.
"Oh, nevermind that, it's fine with me." Yui replied, giving her a smile as well.
"So let's go, I don't want to keep you here any longer. Oniichan, we'll go now!" Miaka yelled.
"Sure, sure. Don't forget the syrup!"
"Yeah! Yeah!"

Miaka ran to the open door of Yui's car, she didn't want to be any slower than her brother and Yui have witnessed. She waited for Yui to close the door and start the car's engine but as soon as Yui did, she was shocked and became speechless for a moment for what Yui asked:

"You're not alright. What's up?"

www MIAKA's POV www

Yui was expecting an answer for sure, she always has. But what would I tell her?! That I'm not fine because I miss Tamahome and the others? I CAN'T TELL HER THAT! I swore to her that I'll be fine without them. Oh man, I need an answer! Quick!

"Lack of sleep, I guess."

I saw her brows curl up a bit and I heard her gave out a big sigh too.

Shoot, with that look on her face, she'll surely ask again. Oh man, oh man. Damn it, Miaka! WHY CAN'T YOU EVER CONVINCE HER WITH YOUR LITTLE LIES FOR ONCE?!

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"Come on, Miaka. Tell me what's up." Yui said, again.
"Well, uhm..."
"Well?"
"Oh wait, who're we gonna be with later?" Miaka said, trying to shift their topic to another.
"It's a surprise, Miaka. Come on, don't try to change our topic. Tell me what's bugging you, I'll try my best to help."
"I don't know Yui. I don't think you could help."
"Yes, I can. So spit it." Yui said, smiling.
"Oh, uhm. Alright. I miss them, Yui."
"oh, i knew it." Yui whispered and smirked.
"Huh? Did you say something already Yui?"
"N-no. Anyway, don't worry, Miaka. You won't miss them after this day. I guess." Yui winked.
"What?"
"Nothing, Miaka."
"Gosh, Yui-chan. You helped. A LOT."

Yui laughed over what Miaka said. But she was careful enough not to tell her and spoil her waiting surprise.

After a long time of driving, they finally stopped at this decent restaurant. Miaka was nearly confused why Yui brought her there but she remembered that Yui'll introduce her to some guy.

"Finally, we're here." Yui said with relief while enjoying the feel of air on her skin.
"So, is the guy here? Whoever he is."
"Oh yeah, YEAH!" Yui said with excitement and pulled Miaka right off and lead her to the restaurant.

www MIAKA'S POV www

Well, there we go. Yui was pulling me towards this table near the window. And as we got closer and closer to the table, I was sure that I was familiar with the guy sitting on the table. Yes, I'm sure, I've seen him before but I'm not sure if I want to admit it's him.

"Hey!" Yui greeted him with joy in her voice.

I swear I almost fainted when I saw him. I mean, was that really him? He stood up to greet us both and he welcomed me with a great, big hug. 'It must be him! I mean, he wouldn't dare hug me if he wasn't!'

Well, didn't want to care anymore. All I could think about was being with him again, that I'm finally seeing him and seeing him HERE. There were a lot of thoughts that entered my mind, he wasn't like that, HUG ME? I mean, he'd probably joke about how I've grown into a woman and not have my hair in buns, or he'd probably play his prank on me. But why? I can feel his warmness flowing through my body instead, and there's nothing else I could do to resist or make him let go. As funny as it sounds, I didn't want him to.

"Mi-chan." His soft voice said, smoothing out the worries in my head.

It IS him. I'm so happy to see him around. REALLY happy.

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"TASUKI!" Miaka hugged him tight and couldn't do anything else but cry. "I'm so glad you're here!"
"Man, Mi-chan, You've grown a lot. You've finally grown to be a beautiful woman." He said.
"Nani? What's that supposed to mean?" Miaka said sarcastically, trying to stop the tears from falling.

"So, uhm, would anyone care to order?" Yui interrupted the two, laughing.

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"Oi, Tasuki. How come you're here?" Miaka asked.
Tasuki nearly choked, not knowing of what to answer. He drank the water placed near his plate and slowly placed it down after. He seemed disappointed with what he was about to say, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to tell her why he's there.
"Well, uhm. I don't think I should tell you here." He said, softly.
"Huh? Oh, okay." Miaka felt a rush of disappointment and got a little nervous why he didn't want to tell her then but did not dare show them that she was indeed disappointed.

While enjoying their time together, Miaka noticed that Tasuki had been looking at her from time to time. Not looking, actually, he was staring which made her turn into different shades of red, she had never seen Tasuki like that. And she has to admit, Tasuki was attractive and it'll surely be hard for her to react to things if she had someone that attractive staring at her. Every time she catches him looking at her, he'll look away for a moment but most of the time when catching him like so, he'll be smiling sweetly at her with something else in his smile. Miaka wasn't sure of what that was but it was different, every time he smiles at her, she felt a funny, tangly feeling that sends shivers up her spine.

www MIAKA'S POV www

It's really great to have him around, I felt the burden lessen on my chest. I want to look at him, but I can't. Every time I would, I'd be catching him looking at me and his stares give me a new feeling. I'm not sure of what it is but I'm sure I've felt this before. But there's more. I just know there's more. and..

OH MY! What about Tamahome?!

My heart throbbed painfully. But I don't get it, my heart didn't hurt because of his absence. It hurts because of something else I don't know what. This made me think, and I can't help but have tears well up in my eyes.

"Mi-chan! Are you okay?"

Tasuki noticed. That's great how he still notices even though we've been apart for a very long time.

"Tamahome.. Why is he not with you?" I dared to ask even though I knew that the truth might hurt. I knew it would, I just knew it would! I waited for him to answer. I saw him look at Yui, as if giving her a cue to leave us for a moment and yes, Yui did leave us alone. She asked permission from me and told me that she'll be back after a few minutes. After leaving, I heard Tasuki give out a sigh. Upon hearing him sigh, I got even more nervous. I was just sure that there's something happening in that world. I just hope it won't affect me that much.

"Miaka." He softly said, I looked at him, crying and still waiting for the things that he was about to say.
"You see, years after you left, Tama was dying to find a way to follow you here.."

"..He reached a place near his master's place and.. He got sick and his master's daughter took care of him. And for all I know, they got together. Uhm, made up.. and I do--"
"Stop, Tasuki." I asked him kindly but hardly reacted after. I felt my tears slide down my cheeks, I felt a great anger inside of me but also felt a great relief. Well, I don't know why I felt relief. But I just can't accept the fact that Tama could do that. I didn't want to believe Tasuki.

"Sorry, Mi-chan. I didn't want to tell you but.."
But as he was about to continue what he was saying, I stood up and ran out of the restaurant. I heard Yui call out to me when I ran past her. I ran and went to find a place to calm myself down and I ended up at a playground just a few blocks after the restaurant we were in.

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www TASUKI's POV www

Damn it. I knew I shouldn't have told 'er why Tama wasn't wit' me. DAMN! Now, where th' hell is she? I stopped by this tree near the playground, a few blocks away the restaurant we were in and thanks ta coincidence, I saw Mi-chan sitting at th' swing there, humming this tune. Man, fuck that Tama! What a shit-face to let Mi-chan go!

I walked up to 'er and offered her my hankie. She refused ta take it so I wiped 'er tears gently. It hurts me ta see 'er that way, I wish she knew that.

"Mi-chan, I'm so sorry ta tell ya that.."

She didn't say anythin' in reply but she stood up an' rested her head on my chest.

"Gomene Miaka.." I gave her a comforting hug, it's all I can give. If she'd let me replace Tama, I'd make sure she'll never cry this hard, I don't wanna see her hurt like this. That's the only reason I'm here, If only she'd let me. I'd never to let her go, I'd keep her close. God, help me. I don't wanna see her hurt like this.

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R&R