Disclaimer: I do not claim this series or any of these characters as my own, they all belong to their creators, their production companies, yadda yadda yadda so donÕt sue me.
AuthorÕs note: this story is dedicated to a good friend of mine that had started this idea and left me to finish it, hope you like it BL ^_^
Sweet Bitterness
by: Shoujo Priestess
Miaka listened to the message on the answering machine no less than a dozen times:
Miaka... I think that we can work things out... I'm sorry that my actions caused you so much pain... In my life there can only be you, Miaka you ARE my life... Please say that you'll give me another chance.... I love you................. Taka................
It was a shock to find the message, it was even a bigger shock since not ten minutes earlier she had been out on a date with one of Taka's best friends when he was known as Tamahome. Miaka knew deep in her heart that what Taka said was true, that he was sorry for his actions, but she also knew that her feelings now belonged to the former Suzaku warrior Nuriko. This evening was enough proof for Miaka that she needed to move on and not let the events of the past control her future.
"Miaka are you okay?" Her mother called from her bedroom. "Why are you running the answering machine so many times?"
"It's okay, I was just trying to erase the message." Miaka lied. How could she explain these feelings and problems with her mother? She wouldn't be able to comprehend the past Miaka had with both parties and would not be much help.
Slipping into her pink pajamas Miaka crawled into the bed and picked up the phone, she knew that she needed another person's opinion on the situation and knew that there was only one person she would be able to talk to.
"Hongo residence?" A familiar voice answered.
"Yui-chan?"
"Miaka? It's so late... What's wrong?" Yui's concerned voice was music to Miaka's ears. She knew that her friend would listen openly and give her an honest answer, something that Miaka needed more than anything at the moment.
"Yui I need to talk to you about Taka... He wants us to get back together and... I... I don't know if I can..." Miaka's voice began to break up, a flood of memories began to cover her and she was unable to fend them off. "I don't know if I..."
"Miaka it's late and you're overwhelmed." Yui's voice was calm and parental as she spoke to Miaka as if she were a small child. "Get some sleep and tomorrow we'll skip class and discuss this over breakfast, my treat okay?"
"Thanks Yui, I knew I could count on you." Miaka smiled thru tears as she hung up. A minute had not yet passed when the phone rang once again, the loud ringing caused Miaka to jump and she answered it without thinking.
"Miaka?"
"Nuriko?"
"Yeah it's me, sorry for calling you so late but I just wanted to make sure that you didn't get into trouble. I really should have known better than to bring you home so late on a school night." Nuriko's warm voice was both soothing and curious. "Your mother wasn't mad about it was she?"
"No, she was fine..." Miaka paused. "I had a really nice time tonight."
"Me too, but I better let you go. I want my girl nice and rested for school tomorrow."
The words 'my girl' made Miaka's heart jump but at the same time it made her feel at ease. "Goodnight Nuriko."
Miaka hung up and then after a moment's thought disconnected the entire phone from the wall. She didn't want Taka to call, she didn't want to talk to him when she didn't know what she was going to say.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning over a huge buffet of fruit, cereals, and several kinds of sweet bread Miaka told Yui all about the prior evening's events and why she had needed her advice about what to do next. Miaka picked apart a blueberry muffin. "I feel so helpless at this point Yui-chan, I don't want to hurt anyone. After all we've been through I cannot bear to cause pain to anyone, especially the ones I care for so deeply."
Yui sipped her Earl Grey tea and nodded with deep understanding. "Miaka you have a good heart, you always want to make others happy even if it's at your own expense. I think that's one of your greatest traits, but it is also one of your greatest faults. As difficult as it may be you can't continue to do that, especially in relationships because you're not being fair with your own feelings and that's not fair to the person you're with."
"But..." Miaka rested her face in her hands and stared at her glass of juice. "Do I just give up everything I ever had with Tamahome? Almost three years just like that?"
"My parents threw away twelve years when they divorced." Yui said, her eyes narrowing a bit. "But I don't think that they're bad people because of it, I know it was something they had to do, and I also know that they're happier because of it..."
"Yui-chan..."
"It's okay, don't worry about it." Yui said forcing a smile and pouring herself another cup of tea. "But since you wanted my advice here it is: Tamahome, Taka rather, went behind your back and started seeing other women when you were together... Nuriko, on the other hand, has been pining for you all this time and just now has done something about it. It's obvious that he was waiting for the right time to make his feelings known, when he saw that you were finally over Taka. I say go for the one who has been faithful to you even when you weren't together."
"So I should stay with Nuriko?"
"I've done everything but tattoo that on your forehead, unless you want me to do that too." Yui smirked good naturedly taking a couple of bills from her purse. "Here's the money for the breakfast, I'm out of here."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm meeting Tetsuya and we're heading for the beach, you don't think I'd let a day of skipping go to waste to you?" Yui smiled giving Miaka a hug. "Don't look so down, things will work out for the best. They always have right?"
Miaka nodded and finished eating, her appetite had returned after her talk. Afterwards she walked to the closest pay phone and dialed Nuriko's number, she looked at her watch and noticed that it was only ten o'clock and hoped that she didn't wake him up. After several rings Nuriko finally picked up.
"Hello?" A light voice answered, he had been asleep.
"Hi, um... Sorry about waking you."
"Miaka? Are you okay? Why aren't you in class?" Nuriko was fully awake now.
"I took the day off."
"Oh... Do you want to talk? You want to come over?"
Miaka paused before answering. "Yes, I'd like to if you don't mind."
"Do you need me to pick you up?"
"No I can walk, it's not that far away." Miaka said. She hung up the phone and began the walk down the street to Nuriko's fifth floor apartment. Her step was lighter now, her spirits rising as she came nearer to her destination. She rode the elevator and rang the doorbell when she came to apartment number #5C, she didn't have to wait for long before Nuriko came to the door.
"Morning!" Nuriko smiled as he held the door wide open for Miaka to enter. "Make yourself at home."
Miaka walked in and sat down on one of the couches in the main room. As Miaka had suspected Nuriko's apartment was very neat and on the cutting edge of fashion. The black couch she sat on was directly across from a bone white couch that had several red and blue pillows covering it. Miaka noticed that Nuriko was still dressed in his robe and pajamas and she suddenly realized how absurd it was to be in his apartment. "I'm sorry for coming here so early but..."
"We've already covered this haven't we?" Nuriko asked sitting down next to the girl and looking deep into her face. "What's wrong?"
"What makes you think something's wrong?"
"For one thing you're very tense, for another I knew that you were a bit upset when I called you last night." Nuriko said patting Miaka's hand. "It's okay, you just sit here while I get dressed and then we can go out okay?"
"Can't we stay here for a little while?"
"Huh? Sure if you want, but I still need to get dressed. It's not my style to lounge in my PJs all day." Nuriko said getting up from the couch and walking into his bedroom. He stood in the doorway and turned to face Miaka with a look of seriousness in his eyes. "You're here because of last night aren't you?"
Miaka looked down and sighed. "I..."
"Miaka... I'll be right back, promise." Nuriko shook his head and closed the door behind him. He took off his robe and pajamas and selected a pair of neatly pressed khakis and a stiff white shirt fresh from the cleaners, he was glad that he had taken a shower the night before because he knew that his time was needed elsewhere. He slipped on a pair of clean white socks and skipped the shoes since he wasn't planning on going anywhere since Miaka had requested they remain at his place. He ran a brush quickly thru his thick purple hair and looked at himself in the mirror. "Miaka... Are you sorry about the choice you made last night?" Nuriko said softly to himself. "If you are then at least we had that one perfect night... But I do hope that I'm wrong about the reason of your visit."
Returning to the main room Nuriko found Miaka standing out on the ledge overlooking the busy street down below, he joined her and placed an unsure arm around her shoulders. Miaka greatfully accepted this contact and took his hand in hers and placed it on her face. "You smell good... Like sandlewood." She said softly into his hand.
"As much as I love you being here I need to ask you again why you're here. Please be honest with me." Nuriko said after they stood together for a moment. "Even if it hurts please be honest okay Miaka?"
"It's just that... Taka... He wants us to make up and I'm confused about the whole thing." Miaka finally said. "I don't know what to do because my feelings for you are too strong to ignore, but with Taka... We were destined to be together werenÕt we? At least that's what I thought." Miaka said holding on to Nuriko's hand even tighter. "But that was a long time ago wasn't it? Perhaps a person's destiny can change? Nothing is ever etched in stone right?" Miaka looked up to see Nuriko deep in thought, his eyes full and his jaw clenched.
Of course the perfect thing for me to do is to sweep her off her feet right? Nuriko thought to himself. She came to you and that means she likes you best, show her that she made the right decision! Nuriko knew he was being foolish in his way of thinking and that this situation was out of his hands.
"Miaka I canÕt say anything about this, and I'm not going to tell you what to do. You have to make your own decision about this." Nuriko said taking his hand away from the girl and talking to her as a aquantance rather than as a girlfriend. "I want you to be sure about your feelings for both of us, I don't want to influence you in the least."
"Nuriko..."
"Miaka I don't want to sound mean but it's unfair to both me and Taka if neither one of us gets a straight answer." Nuriko continued. "Perhaps you should go and make that decision and then come back.Ó NurikoÕs face lightened. ÒI do want you to know that no matter who you choose I shall always consider you as one of the most special people in my life and I hope you will always feel the same way about me."
"You want me to call Taka?"
"I want you to meet with him, you have to confront this face to face because there is no other way. Use my phone and set up an appointment for this afternoon." Nuriko said tossing Miaka his cel phone. "The sooner you do it the better youÕll feel."
Miaka obeyed and dialed the familiar number, on the second ring Taka picked up. "Taka it's me... Yes it's good to hear your voice too... Look I wanted to... Yes... Yes an hour from now is fine with me... See you there." Miaka handed Nuriko his phone back. "I'm meeting him at the coffee shop in an hour."
"So I gathered." Nuriko said looking at the phone. "Please be prompt and give Taka my best."
"You seem pleased that I'm doing this." Miaka's voice had a twinge of irritation in it.
"If you only knew why I was... Oh nevermind, this is for the best okay?" Nuriko said as he followed Miaka to the door. "Maybe I'll call you tonight, to see how things went."
You idiot! Now sheÕs going to find her way back into his arms and heart. Is that what you wanted?
ÒI want Miaka to be happy, nothing more.Ó Nuriko said to himself, content with the choices he had made.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Miaka you look great!" Taka said when Miaka walked thru the sliding glass doors that led into the trendy coffee house. He stood up and pulled out her chair, he also had a single rose which he handed to her when they were both seated. "Thank you for seeing me."
"Of course I'll see you, I'm sorry if I've been giving you the runaround." Miaka said trying to cover up the anxiety she felt with fake cheerfulness. "I was really looking forward to this."
"Me too." Taka said sitting down across from her. "I hope that by you meeting me that means that you're willing to hear me out."
"I came today because I was advised to do so, it doesn't mean that I am ready to come running back to you."
Taka looked down. "I guess I deserve that... But, I was just hoping that maybe you could see fit to forgive me. I'm sure I'm not the first man in the world to mess up, but I'm willing to be the first to admit how what I did was wrong."
"Yes I would say going behind my back is the wrong thing to do, I mean... No, I don't want to get into this..." Miaka said sighing and placing both hands on the table. "Look... I want us to continue being friends, I need you in my life more than ever... However it's all clear to me now that I want something more in a boyfriend, I'm afraid that can never be you."
"Miaka what are you saying?" Taka asked with wide eyes.
"Last night Nuriko and I went out and we had a really good time, we connected on so many levels." Miaka said at last, she spoke quickly in order to get everything out. "I think that maybe he and I both feel comfortable in this relationship... And I know I can trust him."
Taka bit his lip. "So you don't trust me anymore?"
"Not as much as I did before... Taka I'm sorry I really am but..."
"Don't be sorry Miaka, I know I don't deserve your trust... I'm mad at myself for hurting you that's all." Taka said with a weak smile. "But who's to say that we couldn't go see a movie together or something? Dutch of course, just like regular friends."
Miaka placed her hand on top of Taka's. "I'd love that, how about we go right now and see what's playing?"
Miaka and Taka walked together to the nearest theatre, they walked close but did not hold hands or touch each other at all. Miaka held on to her purse while Taka had his hands stuffed inside his jacket pockets, both knew that the other was not going to make any moves so they each decided to occupy their hands in other ways. They were just in time for the two thirty showing of an action movie neither one had seen, as promised they each paid their own way and made their way into the yet to be darkened room. Miaka was so close to Taka that she could smell is aftershave, the familiar scent of an ocean breeze put Miaka at ease and she relaxed in her chair.
"Are you comfortable?" Taka asked Miaka.
"I'm fine." Miaka said.
As they sat together in the darkness Miaka thought of everything but the movie that was playing. She wondered about what was going on in Taka's head, if he really wanted to only be friends with her or if he still wanted more. She thought of Yui's advice and wondered foolishly if she wanted Miaka to dump Taka because she was still upset that Tamahome had rejected her when they were all together in the Universe of the Four Gods. And of course she wondered about what Nuriko was doing and what he would do if Miaka decided to go back to Taka after all.
"Miaka are you okay? You've been chewing on your fingernail for quite a while." Taka whispered.
"I don't care for all the violence that's all, maybe we should have seen something else." Miaka said.
"How about we just leave then?" Taka said getting up and helping Miaka to her feet. "We can go do something else if you'd like."
Without thinking the pair walked to Taka's apartment, a force of habit for each of them. Taka pulled out his key and held the door open for Miaka to go in first and he shut the door behind him. He offered the girl a cold drink and for the longest time the two of them said nothing. Finally it was Taka who spoke up.
"So what do we do from here?"
Miaka looked up and met Taka's eyes. "I thought you said we were just going to be friends."
"I don't want to be friends, I want things to be like old times."
"Taka we can't live in the past."
"Miaka without you I have no future." Taka said going up to the girl and collapsing in her lap. With his hands gripping hers he let out a loud cry. "You are my heart and soul, you are my sun and moon... I'm sorry if it seems like I could go on without you because in fact I don't want to go on if I can't have you."
"Taka..." Miaka's eyes began to well with tears as she gently kissed the top of his head. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry that we are at this point."
Taka looked up with his wounded eyes, the kiss she had just given him had given him new hope and he returned her kindness with a kiss of his own. This kiss lasted as the pair held each other close. It wasn't that Taka was a creep looking for a second chance and it wasn't that Miaka was an easy pushover, the fact was that each still considered the other as a part of them and their bond was far too much to sever.
They were so involved with each other that they didn't hear the door open or the footsteps that followed. They didn't hear the bags filled with groceries, a meal that was going to be a thoughtful gift from one friend to another. A "sorry that you two aren't together but lets still be friends" kind of meal. A kind gesture that would never happen.
"Sorry for barging in but the door was open and these bags were getting heavy..." Nuriko said as he stopped in mid sentence.
"Nuriko!" Miaka said taking her arm away from Taka.
Taka was speechless, his eyes focused on the still man in the hallway.
The bottle of wine that was to be the highlight of the meal crashed to the floor...
AuthorÕs note: this story is dedicated to a good friend of mine that had started this idea and left me to finish it, hope you like it BL ^_^
Sweet Bitterness
by: Shoujo Priestess
Miaka listened to the message on the answering machine no less than a dozen times:
Miaka... I think that we can work things out... I'm sorry that my actions caused you so much pain... In my life there can only be you, Miaka you ARE my life... Please say that you'll give me another chance.... I love you................. Taka................
It was a shock to find the message, it was even a bigger shock since not ten minutes earlier she had been out on a date with one of Taka's best friends when he was known as Tamahome. Miaka knew deep in her heart that what Taka said was true, that he was sorry for his actions, but she also knew that her feelings now belonged to the former Suzaku warrior Nuriko. This evening was enough proof for Miaka that she needed to move on and not let the events of the past control her future.
"Miaka are you okay?" Her mother called from her bedroom. "Why are you running the answering machine so many times?"
"It's okay, I was just trying to erase the message." Miaka lied. How could she explain these feelings and problems with her mother? She wouldn't be able to comprehend the past Miaka had with both parties and would not be much help.
Slipping into her pink pajamas Miaka crawled into the bed and picked up the phone, she knew that she needed another person's opinion on the situation and knew that there was only one person she would be able to talk to.
"Hongo residence?" A familiar voice answered.
"Yui-chan?"
"Miaka? It's so late... What's wrong?" Yui's concerned voice was music to Miaka's ears. She knew that her friend would listen openly and give her an honest answer, something that Miaka needed more than anything at the moment.
"Yui I need to talk to you about Taka... He wants us to get back together and... I... I don't know if I can..." Miaka's voice began to break up, a flood of memories began to cover her and she was unable to fend them off. "I don't know if I..."
"Miaka it's late and you're overwhelmed." Yui's voice was calm and parental as she spoke to Miaka as if she were a small child. "Get some sleep and tomorrow we'll skip class and discuss this over breakfast, my treat okay?"
"Thanks Yui, I knew I could count on you." Miaka smiled thru tears as she hung up. A minute had not yet passed when the phone rang once again, the loud ringing caused Miaka to jump and she answered it without thinking.
"Miaka?"
"Nuriko?"
"Yeah it's me, sorry for calling you so late but I just wanted to make sure that you didn't get into trouble. I really should have known better than to bring you home so late on a school night." Nuriko's warm voice was both soothing and curious. "Your mother wasn't mad about it was she?"
"No, she was fine..." Miaka paused. "I had a really nice time tonight."
"Me too, but I better let you go. I want my girl nice and rested for school tomorrow."
The words 'my girl' made Miaka's heart jump but at the same time it made her feel at ease. "Goodnight Nuriko."
Miaka hung up and then after a moment's thought disconnected the entire phone from the wall. She didn't want Taka to call, she didn't want to talk to him when she didn't know what she was going to say.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning over a huge buffet of fruit, cereals, and several kinds of sweet bread Miaka told Yui all about the prior evening's events and why she had needed her advice about what to do next. Miaka picked apart a blueberry muffin. "I feel so helpless at this point Yui-chan, I don't want to hurt anyone. After all we've been through I cannot bear to cause pain to anyone, especially the ones I care for so deeply."
Yui sipped her Earl Grey tea and nodded with deep understanding. "Miaka you have a good heart, you always want to make others happy even if it's at your own expense. I think that's one of your greatest traits, but it is also one of your greatest faults. As difficult as it may be you can't continue to do that, especially in relationships because you're not being fair with your own feelings and that's not fair to the person you're with."
"But..." Miaka rested her face in her hands and stared at her glass of juice. "Do I just give up everything I ever had with Tamahome? Almost three years just like that?"
"My parents threw away twelve years when they divorced." Yui said, her eyes narrowing a bit. "But I don't think that they're bad people because of it, I know it was something they had to do, and I also know that they're happier because of it..."
"Yui-chan..."
"It's okay, don't worry about it." Yui said forcing a smile and pouring herself another cup of tea. "But since you wanted my advice here it is: Tamahome, Taka rather, went behind your back and started seeing other women when you were together... Nuriko, on the other hand, has been pining for you all this time and just now has done something about it. It's obvious that he was waiting for the right time to make his feelings known, when he saw that you were finally over Taka. I say go for the one who has been faithful to you even when you weren't together."
"So I should stay with Nuriko?"
"I've done everything but tattoo that on your forehead, unless you want me to do that too." Yui smirked good naturedly taking a couple of bills from her purse. "Here's the money for the breakfast, I'm out of here."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm meeting Tetsuya and we're heading for the beach, you don't think I'd let a day of skipping go to waste to you?" Yui smiled giving Miaka a hug. "Don't look so down, things will work out for the best. They always have right?"
Miaka nodded and finished eating, her appetite had returned after her talk. Afterwards she walked to the closest pay phone and dialed Nuriko's number, she looked at her watch and noticed that it was only ten o'clock and hoped that she didn't wake him up. After several rings Nuriko finally picked up.
"Hello?" A light voice answered, he had been asleep.
"Hi, um... Sorry about waking you."
"Miaka? Are you okay? Why aren't you in class?" Nuriko was fully awake now.
"I took the day off."
"Oh... Do you want to talk? You want to come over?"
Miaka paused before answering. "Yes, I'd like to if you don't mind."
"Do you need me to pick you up?"
"No I can walk, it's not that far away." Miaka said. She hung up the phone and began the walk down the street to Nuriko's fifth floor apartment. Her step was lighter now, her spirits rising as she came nearer to her destination. She rode the elevator and rang the doorbell when she came to apartment number #5C, she didn't have to wait for long before Nuriko came to the door.
"Morning!" Nuriko smiled as he held the door wide open for Miaka to enter. "Make yourself at home."
Miaka walked in and sat down on one of the couches in the main room. As Miaka had suspected Nuriko's apartment was very neat and on the cutting edge of fashion. The black couch she sat on was directly across from a bone white couch that had several red and blue pillows covering it. Miaka noticed that Nuriko was still dressed in his robe and pajamas and she suddenly realized how absurd it was to be in his apartment. "I'm sorry for coming here so early but..."
"We've already covered this haven't we?" Nuriko asked sitting down next to the girl and looking deep into her face. "What's wrong?"
"What makes you think something's wrong?"
"For one thing you're very tense, for another I knew that you were a bit upset when I called you last night." Nuriko said patting Miaka's hand. "It's okay, you just sit here while I get dressed and then we can go out okay?"
"Can't we stay here for a little while?"
"Huh? Sure if you want, but I still need to get dressed. It's not my style to lounge in my PJs all day." Nuriko said getting up from the couch and walking into his bedroom. He stood in the doorway and turned to face Miaka with a look of seriousness in his eyes. "You're here because of last night aren't you?"
Miaka looked down and sighed. "I..."
"Miaka... I'll be right back, promise." Nuriko shook his head and closed the door behind him. He took off his robe and pajamas and selected a pair of neatly pressed khakis and a stiff white shirt fresh from the cleaners, he was glad that he had taken a shower the night before because he knew that his time was needed elsewhere. He slipped on a pair of clean white socks and skipped the shoes since he wasn't planning on going anywhere since Miaka had requested they remain at his place. He ran a brush quickly thru his thick purple hair and looked at himself in the mirror. "Miaka... Are you sorry about the choice you made last night?" Nuriko said softly to himself. "If you are then at least we had that one perfect night... But I do hope that I'm wrong about the reason of your visit."
Returning to the main room Nuriko found Miaka standing out on the ledge overlooking the busy street down below, he joined her and placed an unsure arm around her shoulders. Miaka greatfully accepted this contact and took his hand in hers and placed it on her face. "You smell good... Like sandlewood." She said softly into his hand.
"As much as I love you being here I need to ask you again why you're here. Please be honest with me." Nuriko said after they stood together for a moment. "Even if it hurts please be honest okay Miaka?"
"It's just that... Taka... He wants us to make up and I'm confused about the whole thing." Miaka finally said. "I don't know what to do because my feelings for you are too strong to ignore, but with Taka... We were destined to be together werenÕt we? At least that's what I thought." Miaka said holding on to Nuriko's hand even tighter. "But that was a long time ago wasn't it? Perhaps a person's destiny can change? Nothing is ever etched in stone right?" Miaka looked up to see Nuriko deep in thought, his eyes full and his jaw clenched.
Of course the perfect thing for me to do is to sweep her off her feet right? Nuriko thought to himself. She came to you and that means she likes you best, show her that she made the right decision! Nuriko knew he was being foolish in his way of thinking and that this situation was out of his hands.
"Miaka I canÕt say anything about this, and I'm not going to tell you what to do. You have to make your own decision about this." Nuriko said taking his hand away from the girl and talking to her as a aquantance rather than as a girlfriend. "I want you to be sure about your feelings for both of us, I don't want to influence you in the least."
"Nuriko..."
"Miaka I don't want to sound mean but it's unfair to both me and Taka if neither one of us gets a straight answer." Nuriko continued. "Perhaps you should go and make that decision and then come back.Ó NurikoÕs face lightened. ÒI do want you to know that no matter who you choose I shall always consider you as one of the most special people in my life and I hope you will always feel the same way about me."
"You want me to call Taka?"
"I want you to meet with him, you have to confront this face to face because there is no other way. Use my phone and set up an appointment for this afternoon." Nuriko said tossing Miaka his cel phone. "The sooner you do it the better youÕll feel."
Miaka obeyed and dialed the familiar number, on the second ring Taka picked up. "Taka it's me... Yes it's good to hear your voice too... Look I wanted to... Yes... Yes an hour from now is fine with me... See you there." Miaka handed Nuriko his phone back. "I'm meeting him at the coffee shop in an hour."
"So I gathered." Nuriko said looking at the phone. "Please be prompt and give Taka my best."
"You seem pleased that I'm doing this." Miaka's voice had a twinge of irritation in it.
"If you only knew why I was... Oh nevermind, this is for the best okay?" Nuriko said as he followed Miaka to the door. "Maybe I'll call you tonight, to see how things went."
You idiot! Now sheÕs going to find her way back into his arms and heart. Is that what you wanted?
ÒI want Miaka to be happy, nothing more.Ó Nuriko said to himself, content with the choices he had made.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Miaka you look great!" Taka said when Miaka walked thru the sliding glass doors that led into the trendy coffee house. He stood up and pulled out her chair, he also had a single rose which he handed to her when they were both seated. "Thank you for seeing me."
"Of course I'll see you, I'm sorry if I've been giving you the runaround." Miaka said trying to cover up the anxiety she felt with fake cheerfulness. "I was really looking forward to this."
"Me too." Taka said sitting down across from her. "I hope that by you meeting me that means that you're willing to hear me out."
"I came today because I was advised to do so, it doesn't mean that I am ready to come running back to you."
Taka looked down. "I guess I deserve that... But, I was just hoping that maybe you could see fit to forgive me. I'm sure I'm not the first man in the world to mess up, but I'm willing to be the first to admit how what I did was wrong."
"Yes I would say going behind my back is the wrong thing to do, I mean... No, I don't want to get into this..." Miaka said sighing and placing both hands on the table. "Look... I want us to continue being friends, I need you in my life more than ever... However it's all clear to me now that I want something more in a boyfriend, I'm afraid that can never be you."
"Miaka what are you saying?" Taka asked with wide eyes.
"Last night Nuriko and I went out and we had a really good time, we connected on so many levels." Miaka said at last, she spoke quickly in order to get everything out. "I think that maybe he and I both feel comfortable in this relationship... And I know I can trust him."
Taka bit his lip. "So you don't trust me anymore?"
"Not as much as I did before... Taka I'm sorry I really am but..."
"Don't be sorry Miaka, I know I don't deserve your trust... I'm mad at myself for hurting you that's all." Taka said with a weak smile. "But who's to say that we couldn't go see a movie together or something? Dutch of course, just like regular friends."
Miaka placed her hand on top of Taka's. "I'd love that, how about we go right now and see what's playing?"
Miaka and Taka walked together to the nearest theatre, they walked close but did not hold hands or touch each other at all. Miaka held on to her purse while Taka had his hands stuffed inside his jacket pockets, both knew that the other was not going to make any moves so they each decided to occupy their hands in other ways. They were just in time for the two thirty showing of an action movie neither one had seen, as promised they each paid their own way and made their way into the yet to be darkened room. Miaka was so close to Taka that she could smell is aftershave, the familiar scent of an ocean breeze put Miaka at ease and she relaxed in her chair.
"Are you comfortable?" Taka asked Miaka.
"I'm fine." Miaka said.
As they sat together in the darkness Miaka thought of everything but the movie that was playing. She wondered about what was going on in Taka's head, if he really wanted to only be friends with her or if he still wanted more. She thought of Yui's advice and wondered foolishly if she wanted Miaka to dump Taka because she was still upset that Tamahome had rejected her when they were all together in the Universe of the Four Gods. And of course she wondered about what Nuriko was doing and what he would do if Miaka decided to go back to Taka after all.
"Miaka are you okay? You've been chewing on your fingernail for quite a while." Taka whispered.
"I don't care for all the violence that's all, maybe we should have seen something else." Miaka said.
"How about we just leave then?" Taka said getting up and helping Miaka to her feet. "We can go do something else if you'd like."
Without thinking the pair walked to Taka's apartment, a force of habit for each of them. Taka pulled out his key and held the door open for Miaka to go in first and he shut the door behind him. He offered the girl a cold drink and for the longest time the two of them said nothing. Finally it was Taka who spoke up.
"So what do we do from here?"
Miaka looked up and met Taka's eyes. "I thought you said we were just going to be friends."
"I don't want to be friends, I want things to be like old times."
"Taka we can't live in the past."
"Miaka without you I have no future." Taka said going up to the girl and collapsing in her lap. With his hands gripping hers he let out a loud cry. "You are my heart and soul, you are my sun and moon... I'm sorry if it seems like I could go on without you because in fact I don't want to go on if I can't have you."
"Taka..." Miaka's eyes began to well with tears as she gently kissed the top of his head. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry that we are at this point."
Taka looked up with his wounded eyes, the kiss she had just given him had given him new hope and he returned her kindness with a kiss of his own. This kiss lasted as the pair held each other close. It wasn't that Taka was a creep looking for a second chance and it wasn't that Miaka was an easy pushover, the fact was that each still considered the other as a part of them and their bond was far too much to sever.
They were so involved with each other that they didn't hear the door open or the footsteps that followed. They didn't hear the bags filled with groceries, a meal that was going to be a thoughtful gift from one friend to another. A "sorry that you two aren't together but lets still be friends" kind of meal. A kind gesture that would never happen.
"Sorry for barging in but the door was open and these bags were getting heavy..." Nuriko said as he stopped in mid sentence.
"Nuriko!" Miaka said taking her arm away from Taka.
Taka was speechless, his eyes focused on the still man in the hallway.
The bottle of wine that was to be the highlight of the meal crashed to the floor...
