Disclaimer: Do not own anything mentioned or hinted at in this chapter. Sorry!

Well... here we are again... And I finished the outline for the rest! This is one of the last chapters. We have this, and then maybe two more? I dunno... not a lot tho... less than three tho.

Help with the names of Miaka's coworker's goes to Izumi, my now ESP buddy... whom I'm thankful for keeping me sane whenever I write. Thank you muchly!

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Oh God... not again. Please... don't remind me. I know that it's today, but please.

However, life called out to me, again in the form of a radio playing, and I dragged myself out of bed, knowing today my mood would not be a happy one. That mantra was encouraged when my tired eyes rested upon the one picture that I considered ten times a day moving from my bedroom to another room, only to reconsider, and keep it there. I always wanted to remember the happiness from the past, but yet... the pain always remains there. It's always the same when you lose someone you love thought, right?

Quickly, I ran around the house, still exhausted, trying to get everything ready for work so I could leave this place. Too many bad memories every place I turned to, and considering how I woke up, I didn't want to be near anything negative today. Especially since...

The long shower I took was actually comforting. Usually, I wake up too late to take such a long shower, but today was different. I woke up earlier than most days most likely from not sleeping all night, due to the knowledge of what today might present, and water was a comfort at times to me. Besides, on the anniversary of my husband's death, you couldn't blame me for anything I did, right?

While getting out of the shower was upsetting, I was out eventually, preparing for a long day at work, hoping nothing would be bad enough to send me into endless tears- which I knew I would do all day, unfortunately. I've been doing so much crying in the past... I just wish it would all end.

Lately, however, I had been so much... Happier, people say. Even Yui-chan. thousands of miles away, even says my mood has been lifted from the angst I had months ago, to a mood that was much, much happier, even if it was years away to being close to where I was when I had Taka. But, she always says that it's a relief to hear energy in my voice again. I guess I can agree with her, but I don't want to, nor want the strength to do so. Especially today. Even just thinking of him brings the dark and painful memories I'd rather forget and never bring up again.

Of course, we all know that won't happen.

Finally, the sound I was waiting for was heard, and I raced to the door, not wanting to be late. Locking the door quickly behind me, it shut easily, and I stared into the face I'd come to know so well. The look on his face was slightly pained, as if he tried to hide such a wide range of emotions too painful to keep inside. Looking into his face was so painful, knowing his pain, knowing how much he was affected by someone who, in this life, he never knew. It was so painful looking into his eyes, seeing his pain and mine, mixed together, until you could no longer see the separate torment we each had, but they were as one.

"Are you ok?" The simple words no one wants to hear, unless desperate. No one wants to hear them, for unleashing the pain they hold so near to the heart that must be recognized and told, just to satisfy the needs of the one who asked, can be more painful than any sort of physical pain.

His reaction was typical for someone so unwilling to share the pain they felt. I was almost surprised at his reaction, and my heart instantly reached out for him, wanting to seal the pain that ached his heart.

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" His left hand strayed from his side, and reached out to cup the side of my face in his hand. His eyes shown the concern I had grown used to so easily, and the pain in his eyes said to me all I needed to know.

"I, I guess you could say that..." His eyes burned into the back of my head, searching my mind for the essence of my pain, as if wanting to help make me feel better.

"Are you ok though?" The words I asked him were turned into words for me. Their meaning sunk in quickly, and refused to leave.

"I..." The only word I got to, before the tears that had been avoided all morning decided to betray my thoughts and fall. He saw the tears falling, and his arms swiftly surrounded me, helping to control the dark thoughts running through my mind. The few words he muttered to me said more than what he intended to say, calming the tears that thankfully hadn't turned into sobs.

"I hate to say this, but there was a good reason for picking you up for work early, and this is it. But we're still going to be late." He backed up a bit, his arms still around me, and stared into my most-likely bloodshot eyes. Wiping a tear away from cheek, he stared at me. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah... Thank you." He stared at me protectively, making sure I was ok, then placed the most gently kiss upon my lips.

"Then let's go."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh my gosh, sweetie are you ok?" Geez, not that question again. "You look like you've been crying!"

"Damnit! Would you give the girl a break! She just walked in!" Life at the office is always the same: co-workers tripping, arguing, and laughing. Naturally, they began to argue over whether or not to see if I was fine.

"Izzy, would you stop!" Mandy- who's been sticking up for me ever since I walked in- stood up, telling Izzy- who's been dreaming about helping people- to calm down. "If Miaka wants to talk, then she will. Wait- Julia! Don't-"

Too late.

And we wonder why we never get any work done here. We're either too busy gossiping about someone, getting Izzy to talk about her wedding- planning stages now-, or we're too busy falling and cleaning up the mess. And I've only been here less than five minutes, and we've done two of the three already: gossip (about me and the tears still imprinted on my face), and fallen (I blame Julia for that).

"Oh dear, what happened here?" Abril and Lacy walked into the room, eyes wide, and understanding.

"Guess."

"Julia!"

"What did I do, Scarlet?" Already a circus? Amazing. I love my co-workers, but they can run a circus easily if you give them an audience.

Sitting down at my small desk, I watched the small group I had so easily befriended laugh at small things around them. They were all so sweet and nice, easily understanding why I didn't want to talk about my past, but kept telling me to tell them about my now-existent love life, which I did rarely. But whatever they managed to squeeze out of me always resulted in gushing for the rest of the day, and I'd rather not talk about what I did on my last date, for it always made me feel bad, like I had somehow betrayed Taka. But, you can never help who you fall in love with... right?

Wait... love?

"Miaka, are you ok? You went from smiling to shock." I turned to Aideen, who's silent voice kept the conversation between just the two of us.

"Yeah... I'm fine..." Love? I'm not in love with him... am I? I mean, it feels like it's been forever since the night at the lake, even though in real life it hasn't been that long. But love? He may have been my best friend since I was fifteen, and he still is now... but love?

"Are you sure? You look so much more pail than when you first came in!" I know why... I think...

I love him... right? Do I? But how-

"Girls!" All of us guiltily turned to our boss- the big one-, who was currently standing in the door, her foot tapping on the floor, gray eyes staring coldly at our antics. "Are we supposed to be working?"

We all went back to work quickly, Izzy, Julia, and Scarlet going across the hall, Mandy sitting in the chair in front of Lacy's desk, and Aideen going back to her desk.

"Hey guys, what's up?" In bounced two other people I work with- two of the most hyperactive people who work here.

"Tabby! When'd you get here?"

"Just a minute ago... Reagan took me to work." Scarlet and Tabitha got into a long discussion, which was just a noise to me. All I could think of was the last thoughts that ran through my head before my boss walked in. Love?...

~~~~~~~~~~

"Miaka? You in 'ere?" I jumped, hearing Galen's voice in my ear. I hadn't expected him to almost yell in my ear.

"Geez, your name is such an oxymoron."

"Wha?"

"Galen, meaning calm. And calm, meaning silent." We all laughed at the image of our loud, bandit friend as silent, just as David had explained. Where he learned where Galen's name meant is beyond me. But, I couldn't see a silent Tasuki- ever.

"Damnit David!" Galen's face turned a nice shade of red, as the rest of us laughed at the growing embarrassment Galen had.

I actually don't know why I decided to go out today. I've been dreading this day for how long, and here I am, out with almost everyone, and laughing. I wouldn't have gone, unless my mind hadn't forgotten about today a week ago, when i said I'd go out to dinner with everyone. Why didn't I cancel like Shane did at the last minute? I'd rather be home, crying my eyes out, and wishing Taka was here, rather than here, and wishing to be home, instead of wanting to be with the friends I love so dearly.

"Are you sure you want to stay?" I heard his voice, low in my ear. Turning to him, I saw the pure concern in his eyes that had bee there since this morning.

I nodded at him, and he turned his gaze back to the table, where everyone (basically Galen) else was stating an opinion on something, trying to get their thoughts out, while Michael and Hayden were trying to stop him from being so loud.

"Oh, would you knock it off!" Galen turned to his oldest and best friend, and the two began to fight just like they always did- aside from the banging one into a wall, or the other being flamed. Although it was refreshing to watch the two, it brought back the painful memories from the past that, right now, I'd be better off with. I blocked the tears from falling past my eyes- just as I had tried to do all day- but that didn't stop them from gathering in my eyes.

I heard the table quiet down as I regained control of my emotions, and I quickly wiped my eyes, wanting to hide how much this one-day has hurt me. Sure, I could cry and let people know what I was thinking that way, but telling them what I feel in words is a different story.

When we finally left the restaurant, after we all got over all the strange stares from everyone- something I've come to expect with going out with any of the sev- six- I've grown to love as family.

"Dude, you tell her yet?" I heard that, and I almost swung around. I knew that Galen was trying to be quiet, but he failed miserably, and I heard him loud and clear. However... tell me what?

I didn't catch the reply, but their glances near me gave me the feeling that I was the subject of their conversation. I didn't figure it out the rest of the night, nor brought it up... At least until I got home.

"What were you and Galen talking about earlier?" He turned to me as we ascended the stairs, his natural chivalry insisting he show me to my door, although I had a feeling there was reason behind it.

"Why do you want to know?" The stairs were climbed, and we walked towards my door, as I took out my keys. His eyes followed my motions intently, but then went back to my eyes.

"You were talking about me, weren't you?" He stared into my eyes, and I stopped trying to unlock the door.

"Your eyes are so bloodshot... How much did you cry today?" His eyes stared into mine, and spoke more than words could ever say.

"I, I... More than I wanted to."

"But, then again, who wants to cry?" His finger brushed gently under my apparently bloodshot eye, and his gaze never failed to leave my face. "I need to talk to you about something I learned earlier... I'd rather not do it today, but..." His other hand had reached behind my back, gently holding my hand, guiding it in the process of unlocking it. "... I think you'd rather it be now than later." Why?

"O, ok..." I guess. Why am I so suddenly scared?

He walked in, his hand still holding mine. Trying to rush him, find out why he was whispering earlier, why he was being so secretive, I impatiently waited for him to finally sit, just so the suspense that had built up since this evening could end.

"I don't think you're going to be happy with this..."

"Wh- why not?" Then he told me, and my heart stopped.

He can't be serious... Can he?

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My last cliffhanger for this story... How I adore those things... And I finally came up with a name for Tasuki! Izumi (who's going to be mad at me later...) helped a ton with names. And I think it'll be easy for her to tell where the idea for the co-workers came from... heheheh...

Touki Yume: Omigod, thank you!!!! I know that you were insistent on it being Tasuki, but thank you for your sweet comments! I really appreciate it! Thank you a ton!!!

Phoe-kun and Leena: So, you're finally getting it?!?! Yays! And don't feel bad about not knowing who it was. You barely know the characters! But thank you for the comments! And I really agree with the lemons remark... I doubt I could pull it off.

KittyLynne: Thank you! But one thing I have to say... I never saw Miaka as still having hope. Just a random comment I saw, but fun insight. And thank you (again!).

Is there anything else? Herm... finals are coming up (blah), so updates might be scarce, if I decide to study for them (do I ever study?). Plus... ack... Going into my life story, but I'm close to failing a class *gasp!*, so I need to start concentrating on my work. So I'll do the best I can to update soon! But anyways...

Heart you all!

~Frenchie