Chapter Two: Finals, Dancing, Visions from the Past...

Miaka ran down the hall of the small, cramped apartment, swearing half-heartedly as she knocked a plastic pot, containing the dead remains of a plant, to the floor. In one hand was a thick binder, filled with paper--and messy. Very messy.
She burst into the living room-cum-dining room, waving the binder in the air frantically. "Yui-chaaan!" The panic in her face had the two women in the room heaving resigned sighs. They knew that tone.
She fell to her knees on the floor, completing the impromptu triangle. "Yui-chan, I can't understand anything... God, do you remember what countries Alexander the Large invaded? I thought it was Russia, but then I thought it was Greece... those countries just get me so confused..." she rambled, flipping through the binder blindly. Red-streaked, dark brown hair slipped from its confining ponytail, giving her a scattered, desperate look.
The blonde on her left heaved a resigned sigh, and reached over to still her friend's hands, scrabbling to hunt down some elusive paper. "Alexander the Great--"
"Yes, yes, that's what I said," she interrupted impatiently. "Anyway, do you have any idea what I did with the last test on Shakespeare? These classes are so hard... Shannon!" She brightened. "Maybe you have--"
"I don't even have any classes with you, Miaka." The second girl in the room rolled her eyes over her russet-haired friend. She really was the worst at keeping her life in order. "I don't have any notes you can borrow, and didn't you get a barely-passing grade on it anyway?"
"It's better than nothing," Yui pointed out calmly, and reached out to snag a crumpled piece of paper that was already tossed aside. "Isn't this it?"
"What? Oh, yes, that--that's not important now," she dismissed the test absently, once again going through her binder. "Valid and invalid arguments..." came the soft mutters.
Shannon sighed and exchanged a martyred look with Miaka's best friend. "Have you studied at all for the finals?" she asked Miaka tentatively, fearing she knew what the answer was.
"Not really. Well, I did, but it's harder to remember things in English than it is in Japanese."
Raking her hand through her short-cropped ebony tresses, the American groaned. "Oh, Lord, Mia, studying now isn't going to help you."
"Of course it will!" she retorted, snapping her binder closed. She held up a few sheets of paper triumphantly in her hand. "Study guides!"
Yui leaned forward and winced. "Those were for your mid-terms."
A look of sheer panic darkened jade eyes as she inspected the papers. "I'm going to fail," she whispered, shoulders slumping in defeat. "Mama's going to murder me."
Shannon winced slightly. "It won't be that bad," she encouraged. "I think that every semester, but when it comes down to it, everything's in my head. You aren't stupid, and you do pay attention in class!"
"And you've done all your homework," the blonde chipped in quickly. "I think we just need a break from all of this." She waved her arm around the room. "Take some time off and relax. It'll do you more good than stressing all night."
Miaka groaned and fell back against the floor, arms outstretched. "Maybe," she conceded dubiously. "I have to pass these classes, or Mama will want me to come back to Tokyo." A quick grimace flickered across her face. "And live with her and Keisuke."
All the girls went silent. After the deaths of Taka and Tetsuya three years prior, the two young Japanese women had decided to leave Japan and their painful memories while studying. Now they were back on their feet and once again happy, though Shannon could remember how shattered they had been when she first met them both. It had echoed in every line of their body, every glance from their shadowed eyes, every quietly spoken word. As though their hearts had perished, and they were living by rote--acting out a script with words, actions, and no passion or fire.
Returning to Tokyo... Miaka shuddered slightly at the thought. She didn't want to stay in a place so filled with bittersweet memories. Ironic, how two different worlds couldn't keep her and Taka apart, and an airplane could. Shattering, how the wonders of technology could be the downfall of something so beautiful. Shaking her head to clear her mind of those thoughts, she sat up abruptly. The movement caused the ring on her left ring finger to catch the light, the ruby shimmering in an attempt to catch her attention. She forced herself to glance away from it, and to her friend.
The pensive, melancholy expression faded from Yui's clear blue eyes as she recognized her best friend's sudden air of decision.
"Let's go dancing."

It was a sea of bodies. Miaka briefly envisioned herself as a minnow, and stifled a giggle. For once, she was grateful for her dainty five-foot-two stature, finding it easier to weave between bodies. Not that it was particularly easy to begin with.
The club's temperature had risen to an unbearable degree. She noticed with amusement how many people were crowded around the bar, seeking refuge in cold drinks. Elbowing her way to the counter, she flashed the bartender an easy smile. "A glass of ice water, please?"
The man--he had to be six and a half feet--looked amused. "'Ey, luv, you sure that's what you want?"
"Positive." Miaka perched on a vacant stool, craning her head to search for her friends in the tidal wave of humanity. It was impossible to spot them. She found her fingers tapping against the scarred wood of the bar, as the nervous energy of the club infected her. At first glance, everyone seemed to be lazy, relaxed. She saw the tension beneath, forcefully relaxed after alcohol was in the bloodstream.
It was always so interesting to watch people. Participating wasn't so bad either, but she knew that if she went out there now, she'd slip and fall. Being a klutz in front of all those people wasn't quite appealing.
Glass clinked against the counter, and she smiled at the giant. "Thanks."
"'Course, luv." He winked and moved on to the next customer, and she watched him, fascinated. Coarse, ribald jokes flowed freely between him and the other end of the bar. Mostly men, with a few women draped on their arms--the ones with the flashy dresses and sultry eyes.
Miaka was happy to feel invisible in her jeans and halter top, complete with strappy heeled sandals. She didn't look out of place, but she didn't catch the eyes. Just perfect, in her opinion. There wouldn't be any lame pickup lines to deal with here.
It had only taken a year for her to recognize the corny and the cliché, mostly thanks to Shannon. The woman was a miracle. Even if her Japanese was horrendous.
"I think my last dance partner was trying to break my toes!" Yui's voice came from behind. Her best friend turned, giving her auburn hair a flirty toss.
"Probably because he was too busy staring at your... face." Her words were teasing, her brows arched wickedly.
"Yuuki Miaka," came the reproving words. "Don't make me hook you up with some desperately lonely guy wanting to dance. Especially when you're in heels."
"All right!" Forest-green eyes danced in amusement as she raised her hands in surrender. "I forfeit. Where's Shannon?"
"Probably in the bathroom. Is this water? Thank the gods, I'm dying of thirst. It's so hot out there." Pale hair was plastered to her forehead, solid evidence. "Why did I let you talk us into coming in here, anyway?"
"You're the one that wanted me to relax," Miaka retorted, laughing. She turned as a man touched her shoulder and spoke in her ear. Gifting him with a brilliant smile, she shook her head. "I can't dance," she explained, pointing at her shoes. "They give me blisters."
He moved on good-naturedly, and Yui laughed. "You mean you'd give him bruises. You're a klutz."
"Perhaps." She looked around, distracted, and spotted an empty table. "I'm starving..."
"Of course you are." Her best friend rolled her cerulean eyes and grabbed onto her arm as they threaded their way to Miaka's goal. "Maybe we should wait for Shannon?"
"No, she's right there, waiting."
"Figures. She knows to go where the food is if she needs to find you."
Gifting her long-time friend with a haughty look, the redhead collapsed into a chair. Now to wait for the waitress, she thought gleefully, her stomach rumbling.
Shannon rolled her eyes at the gluttonous look on the petite girl's face. "I thought we ate dinner an hour ago?"
Yui checked her watch. "Three hours ago, actually... that's amazing. I wouldn't have guessed we were here for so long!"
"It's the dancing." Miaka shifted in her seat impatiently. Where's the service?
"Oh, my God," Shannon suddenly hissed, sotto voce. She gripped the blonde's arm tightly. "Look straight ahead," she whispered. "God, if he isn't just the most gorgeous thing... and he's coming our way! With a purpose..." Violet eyes raked in the deliberate stride, and realized where his eyes were trained. Yui caught on at the same moment.
"Miaka, he's looking straight at you!"
She glanced up in surprise, having been rummaging through her purse for a bar of chocolate. "Who?"
"That gorgeous hunk of a man... oh, sweet Lord, he's got to be at least six-two." Shannon's eyes were huge with appreciation.
"There's two of them," Yui pointed out. Her eyes went wide. "Oh, Suzaku," she suddenly breathed in shock.
A frisson of... excitement? foreboding?... ran down Miaka's spine, as she turned. They must be something, for her to have mentioned the beast-God's name, and so reverently.
Oh... Suzaku. Her eyes widened as she took in the two men striding toward her. They can't be.. .
That shock of red hair, pulled back into a smooth ponytail. Sunglasses shaded his eyes, but there was something about his face. The way he carried himself. Defiant, rebellious, uncaring of the opinions of those around him. He walked with that arrogant swagger he had as a bandit leader, and later as one of the Suzaku Seven. Tasuki...?
Her eyes were drawn then to the taller man, whose glossy, honey-streaked brown hair was left casually down. His face was clearly visible--so beautiful as to be almost feminine, yet with a hint of the ruthless warrior he had once been. His eyes, she knew, would be the color of whiskey, warm, inviting, depthless. Hotohori...?

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CJ's Blurb: Yes, Taka is dead. It makes my life easier when writing this to have him already out of the picture, without going into long, detailed explanations. I have nothing against him (I love Tamahome/Taka, after all), but I keep pointing out... Taka/Miaka have enough screen time. Give us the others! =D

Thanks, KittyLynne, for your review; I was actually wondering if I should continue this or not, but your review just gave me a new incentive to do it! ^_^ And thank you for the welcome. I love FY, and I love writing... I may as well mix them together, ne? =)

I have no idea what the pairings will be in this chapter. I know it will be a Miaka/Tasuki or Miaka/Hotohori, I'm just not sure which! So... just keep watching and waiting. If you have a preference, let me know. I'm all ears. (I love Hotohori and Tasuki both! *swoon*)