Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Ok, before I start... I know a lot of people were kinda wondering about a few things, so if you're still confused about anything after this chapter, I left myself a review a while ago, so read that if you need to. And, other than that... well, here we go...

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Like he promised, he called me later. I almost didn't answer it, due to the fact the phone woke me up from a brief nap I took after all my contemplation, but I still answered it. He didn't sound like himself, like he was shocked that he kissed me. It surprised me that he sounded like that. He had always been so sure of himself, not always caring for the aftermath of something, unless it was something that affected him deeply.

"You sound tired." I replied to his statement in a less groggy voice than last time.

"I took a nap." I injected no emotion into the statement, just simply stating what I had to, attempting (and succeeding) in showing nothing that revealed that I was extremely nervous. And judging by the tone of his voice as he continued the painfully awkward conversation, he was hiding whatever emotion he held earlier as he spoke to me.

"So, you didn't do anything but nap after we left?"

"Nope. Just napped." How long is this going to go on for. We aren't talking about anything, and it's driving us- or at least me- insane.

We were silent for the next few moments, as I moved from standing in the kitchen to a more comfy chair, and he... well, I don't know. Finally, after the clock ticked once too many times, and we still hadn't spoken, his mouth opened, spilling out words I hadn't expected.

"Miaka, I'm not going to apologize for what happened earlier." Huh?... "I know how you felt about him when we first met, and how you still feel about Taka, and how he felt about you. But I knew then, and I know now, that you knew how I felt for you. And those feelings still haven't changed- not a bit." He's right... I do know how he felt, how he still feels about me. But what am I supposed to do about it?

"Look, I..." He cut me off as I prepared to spill my heart out, as he was doing.

"Miaka, just listen. I promise that, unlike last time, I'll have a lifetime of listening to you, whether I am just your friend or more. But just let me speak now." He paused, waiting to hear me say something, but I was shocked, and my lips murmured nothing, allowing him to continue.

"I'm not going to make excuses on why I kissed you, and I won't. Ever. All I'm going to say is that I still feel the same way about you that I once felt. Whether what I feel right now will change or if it won't doesn't matter. All I'm worried about is you. If you feel like smacking me for kissing you, I'd take it. All you need to know is that I will still care for you as much as I did then, and as much as I do now." Wow...

"You... you really aren't the same person you were the last time I met you." He laughed at my statement.

"I guess I'm not. But why would it matter?"

"I don't... I don't know." I stopped, trying to gather my thoughts. "In a way, it does matter. All those years of separation, wanting to be with each and every one of you, just to discover that the things I loved the most about each of you are gone?" I heard an intake of breath, and waited for his reply.

"You've changed too. You're a lot more mature than you used to be." I smiled at his observation, knowing it was true. How could I not go through all that, and still be the same? How could I be married for such a short time, and lose my husband so quickly without it directly affecting me? And how could I lose all of you so easily without it tugging at my heart each time I thought about you? "But it doesn't mean we aren't who we once were. We just grew up. All of us were younger then, and now..."

"True. We all grew up. You and the others just had a second chance to grow up, without knowing about anything that had once happened. I was told to deal with what I was given, and mature with everything that had happened."

"So, we aren't the people we once we, but we're still the same?"

"I guess..."

"Then it could explain why I kissed you." My eyes opened wider in the shock of hearing those words. No matter what, I was not yet used to the fact that his feelings for me were carried from one life to another. I thought I had accepted it then, but I had such a little time to accept it, before the two of us were torn apart. And now, here I am, faced with having to accept those feelings, once again.

"Why... why do you keep making excuses? I've always known how you felt, and now you act upon those feelings, and make an excuse?" I heard a small laugh, and tried to continue, but the words I wanted to say could not form, refusing to spill from my lips.

"I call it a reason." Huh? "You may call that an excuse, but I had no chance to hold you in my arms, and call you mine. Due to all the things I had said back then, everyone thought that nothing could possibly happen between us- or at least me develop any sort of feeling more than friendship for you, since you and Tamahome were inseparable. Now, I'm older, wiser, and I know more than I ever thought I could- due to everything we went through together."

"It's still an excuse."

"But it's also a reason. Why else would I had kissed you, if I hadn't felt the way I do about you?"

Something hit me then. Everything he had said to me now made sense. He still cares for me as much as he once did- that I knew. But were his feelings strong enough to love me? Love me so true and purely? He didn't need a reason or an excuse to kiss me- just his feelings for me were enough? He hadn't changed at all- he was still who he once was. He was one of the few people who could calm my tears as I cried over the trauma of death, or the few and smallest tears of anything. He was the one I ran to after almost anything, and he defended me while still being able to tease me at the same time. He was the one who tricked me, and was the one who was serious with me when it came time for that. And here he was, spilling his heart out to me without a care, telling me how much I meant to him, without a care.

A sob from somewhere inside me made its way out, revealing the true emotions of my discovery. I hadn't meant for him to discover what I just realized, but now that he knew, I didn't care. He had told me what was almost sacred- someone's deepest feelings for someone, how they felt for the one they cared the most about. And, judging from the way the tears fell so freely down my now rosy cheeks, colored from all the tears I had shed, I knew that after this conversation, our relationship would never be the same. But, the true question is, do I care about this jump in our relationship? Do I care that I lost my husband only months ago, just to slowly- and quite possibly- fall in love with someone? And to make matters worse, it was one of his best friends, a brother figure! But, he almost didn't seem to care about that, and it seemed that I reflected that in the same way. Taka was gone, and here he was, telling me that he was ready to care for me as much as Taka did.

"You... you really care for me, don't you?" I said the line slowly, my sobs making it hard to hear. However, he understood my every line, and spoke up.

"Miaka, you deserve the best and more." How strange is this, that he was telling me what only his heart should know, or at least right now. The tears refused to stop falling after his line, continuously revealing the true feelings I felt after hearing his words.

"Hey, why are you crying?"

"I don't know. I really don't." I heard a sigh, and waited to hear what he had to say about our deep conversation that had suddenly become so intimate easily.

"Listen, you sound exhausted. Get some sleep. I know you just took a nap, but it'll do you some good. If you need me to, I'll come over tomorrow, and we can continue with this. If you don't want me to come over, fine. But we need to finish this someday, because right now, this is not something to finish over the phone."

"When did you get so mature?" I'm sure that he was smiling; I just knew it.

"I've always been mature. You just weren't around enough to see it as much as you should have." Smiling at him, I knew it was true. The few times that he had held the maturity he had now were rare, and far too few.

"I guess it's true..."

"Do you want me to come over tomorrow?"

"Whenever. I don't have to work, and..." I trailed off, being brought back into reality about the fact that I had just found a new job only a while ago. I wish I had all the time in the world to just stay home, as I once did when I was young.

"I'll be over before noon." It was a promise I knew he intended to keep. When has he ever broken a promise to me?

After we exchanged goodbyes, we each hung up our phones. I sighed at the deepness of our conversation, and brushed away the few tears that fell down my face earlier. After glancing at the clock upon my wall, I noted the amount of time we spent, talking about what our hearts- or at least his- truly felt. I knew that he was right- I was exhausted, but from all the emotions each of us let out in such a short time, when it should have taken a much longer time than it did.

After another glance at the clock, I decided to jump into the shower now, and hopefully calm myself from the conversation that had just ended only a few short minutes ago. Quickly running through my kitchen, trying to take care of anything that could be put away in moments, I neatened the already almost spotless room, and then dashed to the bathroom, trying to leave behind all thoughts and memories of earlier, forgetting everything that had happened today.

After starting the water, I stripped myself of all garments before jumping into the shower. While letting the water pour onto my skin, and bounce off onto the shower floor, I ended all thoughts inside my mind, just letting myself listen for the continuous sound of waterfall.

Until I realized I was standing in the shower for a long, long time, and that the water was suddenly growing colder as the seconds furiously ticked by, I just stood there, not caring for anything. I smiled slightly as I crept out of the shower, happy and satisfied at the fact that for some time, I was somehow able to forget all my troubles, even just for that short time. And it remained that way for the rest of the night, as I lowered myself into my bed, taking his advice and getting some sleep. And, to my surprise, not one thought for the rest of the night- or any of my dreams- included him. Or Taka.

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Did you think I'd reveal who it was? Nooooooooo... at least not yet! And I'm so sorry to everyone who thought I'd reveal him. Just ask anyone I know... it's really something I do (beside talking about how funny answering machines are). But I did put in some more detail! And btw... I think that it's so much fun to read about how confused each of you are. I don't know why, but it's kind of amusing. Plus, it tells me that I can actually write stuff like that, and not tell anything. Kinda big boost to my ego... yeah.

KittyLynne: Thank you! And, just to let you know, you are actually one of the only ones who didn't complain about not knowing who kissed her. But thank you again!!!
Touki Yume: Are you still confused? But you are right in each way. That's the way I wrote it, and I guess I'll keep writing. But you really did make sense in your review! And thank you!
tamababymiko-chan: If Yu Watase didn't make them cute, then it wouldn't be such a great series (just like you said)! But seriously, thank you! And I'm sorry for confusing you!
Chibi-Kaz: Thank you! You actually make a really really really good argument about Tasuki being the one to kiss Miaka, and even if it isn't him, you can still say that it could be him. But thank you, yet again!
Phoe-kun and Leena: How is it evil? Just because you think that I didn't say who kissed her doesn't mean that it's mean! And what is wrong with Moulin Rouge? It was the first movie that popped into my head, and even with S-F's help, I still couldn't think. But it really is a fun movie (remember the boat from CG? It was my idea for the whole Moulin Rouge thing...). But thank you! And if I sound mean, sooooooooooooooorry!
krysanthe: Thank you! And about the whole Hotohori thing... I love him, and I couldn't stand it during the 2nd OVA, so I had to make him happy! And the reason isn't that silly! But it's an interesting point, nonetheless.
Silent Dreamer: Thank you! And I'm sorry for confusing you! I know you still could be a bit confused, and I am so sorry! Just don't dwell on it, and know that time will tell all... and about the whole thing that Miaka isn't over it? Well.. People can heal at different rates, and all he did was kiss her. It wasn't anything major (heh! Knowing me, yeah right), but it was still... yeah. But that's definitely a thing for me to think about. Thanks for bringing that up.

And to all... thank you so much (as I've said a zillion and one times!). And thank you for reading! Love ya!

~Frenchie