Picking Up the Pieces

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or Fushigi Yugi :(

A/N: I've been struggling with how to start this chapter. Hopefully you'll enjoy the finished product. :/ Only pone way I'll know! Throw me a review and tell me! :D P.S. I decided to skip a bit in the time line or this thing would try to rival War and Peace :P

Chapter 8

Miaka sighed, playing with the straw in her glass. Why did she agree to meet with Taka? This was possibly the most awkward lunch in the history of her life. Her appetite was next to nothing, and she really didn't have anything to say. He was attempting to make small talk the entire time. She looked up as she heard him let out an aggravated sigh.

"Miaka, I can't do this. It's been three weeks! You haven't called or even texted me. I know what you said that morning, but I figured you just needed a break. What is going on?" She looked up at him, seeing the anguish in his gray eyes, that used to burn with the love of a thousand suns. She pushed her drink away, and looked at him, folding her hands on the table in front of her.

"What's going on? I told you what's going on, Taka!" She shook her head, taking a deep breath. "You took me for granted, pushed me to the back burner. I want to be the priority in someone's life. Instead, you didn't make time for me, you spent time with me when you had extra time. We couldn't have one day where you weren't checking messages and texting someone back. I understand you're busy, but I want to be the important one." She felt tears in her eyes, and fought them back. She didn't need to show him weakness now, he didn't deserve to see it. "I love you still, I always will...somewhere in my heart. And you may love me still somewhere, but it's not the same. It's dwindled to next to nothing. And this isn't the first time we've had this conversation." Her phone beeped, telling her of a text that arrived. Taka frowned and looked at her phone, then looked at her.

"It's because Tasuki...oh sorry... Talin is around isn't it?" He glanced at her phone one more time. "That him?"

Miaka picked up her phone to check the text while he was talking. Now he was just being jealous. "No. It's Yui asking how this is going." She put her phone on silent and looked back at him. "Don't be so jealous Taka. For one, you know Tasuki was one of my best friends back then. Would you be that weary of Nuriko? And Two, now, it's no longer your concern now is it?" She shoved her plate away, appetite absolutely gone now. Taka gave her a slight smile.

"Miaka, don't be like that. This is silly, you're being silly. Come on, let's finish lunch, then we can go do something, ok?" She shook her head trying to banish tears once more. She hated it when he did that. Every time she had an issue with their relationship, he said she was being silly and dismissed it. Not even her feelings mattered to him lately.

"See? This right here. You're demeaning everything I'm thinking and feeling saying that it's silly. It's like if it doesn't fit into your idea of our relationship, then it's silly. What I feel matters Taka, at least for you to give it more than a cursory glance." She brought a clenched hand up to her chest, taking a shaky breath. "I am not some arm candy, some sweet, quiet little thing to be seen next to you when you want it."

Taka just stared at her, wide eyed. He was mid bite, food halfway to his mouth. He set his food down and sighed softly. "Miaka, I have always had your feelings in my best interest. You should know that. And you do know I've been busy with work and other commitments. For that I'm sorry. And, I'm sorry you feel this way. We can do better than this." He paused for a moment, then looked at her, reaching his hand across the table, asking for hers. "Can we start over? Just start dating all over again?"

Miaka looked at his hand then slowly up at him, shaking her head. "You...just do not get it Taka, do you? This has all been done before, more than once. We always end up in this same spot. It's a cycle, one that needs to be broken."

Taka looked at her, a look of uncertainty on his face. "Miaka, after all these years, are you serious...?"

"Look, Taka, "She said, giving a tired sigh. "The only way to end this cycle of hurt is to completely break ties." He gave her a hopeful smile.

"Well that's it! No one is being hurt Miaka. I mean I've never abused you, not a finger on you." Taka went to make a grab for her hand once more. She flinched ever so slightly and he let his hand drop to the table.

"Taka, I don't mean physical hurt. Neglect sometimes hurts worse than someone laying a hand on you..." She stood up hesitantly. "I...have a lot of errands today. I'll see you around. Afterall, you are friends with my brother." She gave him a slight kiss on the cheek, before turning around and heading out of the resturant. She didn't hear him call after her, nor noted the sheer look of distraught disbelief on his face as he watched her leave.

After stepping out into the warm, sunny afternoon, she picked up her phone and texted Yui back.

"Terrible. He just does. Not. Get. It." She blinked as she walked towards her apartment a block away and saw another text come up, this one from Talin.

"Taking a break. How did your lunch date go?" She smiled a bit as she walked down the street, thinking of how to reply via text, then shook her head. She pulled up his number and called him. Even if he wasn't taking a break still, she could leave a long, rambling voicemail. As she went up to her door, she heard that familiar voice in her ear. "If you're callin' I'm gueesin' not great huh?"

Miaka took a shaky breath as she closed her door behind her and just sat on the floor. "It was terrible. He..." She finaly broke down, feeling the floodgates open, and all the tears she'd been holding back just came flooding out.

"Hey now...don' cry Miaka. Hey...come up here, sit at the bar and tell me all about it. It's been slow as hell, and there's two more workin' with me. After I'm done, we can grab some dinner ok?" She gave him some sort of garbled positive answer. "Besides," She could hear the grin in his voice."Ya' probably felt so bad ya' didn't even eat huh?" She felt herself crying even harder. He knew her so well...