Author's Notes: Decided to post this so that you guys will know that I'm still alive and well, though not kicking! ^_~

You know you really love a person when…

Just to make her happy.

You know you really love a person when…

Just to make her happy.

But the real concern is

How to do it right.

Simple.

Simply unmasked to see

Simply follow to be

That heart.

And you will discover

That heart in her is you.

--- g3ozLizh

(Sheesh! I can't believe I'm including this stupid poem but oh well, I'm feeling kinda stupid today… tee-hee!)

STILL LOVING YOU…

By: g3ozLizh

Chapter Seventeen

Hotohori was walking down the hallway when he caught sight of Miaka sitting alone on one of the stone benches along the pond leading to the pavilion. He stopped and then turned to her direction, disregarding for the meantime whatever it was that he was suppose to do. As Hotohori drew nearer, he noticed that Miaka had on a yukata: a bright yellow one with little blossoms the shades of lavender, pink and peaches that gather more together near the hems. He was just a bit piqued as to where she got the outfit.

When he was just a couple of feet behind her, he opened his mouth to speak when he saw Miaka brush a tear away and sigh heavily. Her back was not entirely facing him and he can tell that something was really troubling her --- enough to make her cry --- that she didn't even took notice of him out of her peripheral vision.

The early morning sun shone brightly but not to the extent that it blinds you.

So he watched her for a moment…

If anything, it made the girl… lady, as he prefer to call her… appear to be one of those beautiful paintings come-to-life exuding a feeling that moves you without reason. The wayward tendrils of her rich reddish-brown hair frame her rich features which at the moment holds only one expression, that of sadness. She has her eyes cast down and is biting her lower lip, probably keeping it from trembling, as she braces herself from an unknown coldness.

A pain tore through his heart seeing her like this. And to think that he had acted inconsiderately and densely to her feelings yesterday. Then again, she was hiding herself from him and he just thought that it would be better for her if he just acted as though everything was fine. How wrong he was…

It seems that he couldn't reach out to her anymore… Thinking back to the olden days --- though they hadn't add up to a year yet --- she would usually come running to him for comfort, especially if it involved Tamahome in any way but now… she's changed. Somehow, he could not comprehend as to why Miaka's change turned out this way for someone who insists that she's happy with the man she loves. Definitely, a girl in love and loved back do not act this way. Hotohori's brow furrowed.

So why is she?

Stupid question. Of course her being sad could only mean one thing: whatever had transpired between her and Tamahome, she's not happy with it. But wait --- is that really it? Or maybe it just seems that way because of this tiny clinging hope he always held in his heart for Miaka's love?

He made a face in his mind; all this sorting of sorts is giving him a royal pain (AN: in the ass, I should add but Hotohori does not think that way ^_^).

Hotohori's heart paused for a moment. But even so, could it really be about Tamahome? At first he just thought that her behavior earlier was due to the fact that Houki was close to him but after thinking all these…

Someone could not change that drastically… unless something drastic did happen.

Overwhelmed by all the questions, he decided then and there that he should stop thinking and start acting.

With hands together in front hidden by his sleeves, the Emperor walked regally as if he just happened to pass by and hadn't been standing there for the last five minutes.

Miaka sensed his presence at last as he drew nearer. She jumped off the stone bench and hastily, discreetly, wiped her face dry with the sleeve of her yukata before facing him. "Oh, Hotohori, you are here." She kept her hands clasped behind her, aware that it was shaking for the possibility that Hotohori had seen her crying. She rolled on her heels as he waited for Hotohori to come to a complete stop in front of her.

When Hotohori finally did, he replied, "Miaka, why are you here? Why aren't you still in bed? It's quite early." He gently smiled at her. "The Miaka I know was a sleeper…" Hotohori realized his mistake when he saw Miaka's features dim a bit before brightening up again.

Had she really changed that much that even a mention of her old self upsets her? Hotohori mused while keeping the smile on his face.

Am I still the Miaka you know? "Well, you're awake too."

Both didn't seem to know what to say next.

Hotohori admitted that it was a pathetic attempt to start a good conversation. He saw Miaka fidgeting with the end of the yukata's long sleeves.

She must have sensed his quiet question so she took up the initiative to answer right away. "I saw this in the back of the closet. I kind of missed wearing one…"

He nodded. "You look really beautiful in it," Hotohori said softly, his eyes taking on a route slowly down then up again.

A very healthy pink color burned on Miaka's pale cheeks. Hotohori was always known for his straightforwardness.

Hotohori's eyes had on a playful look (or as much as the ever in-control Emperor could show that playful side of him), something that caught Miaka completely off guard and would have sweatdropped if not for the next string of words that came from his mouth that made her facefault instead.

"Though I dare say I would look equally beautiful in it."

"Hotohori, I… I…" She didn't know how to address something like this. What was she suppose to say --- Yes so you wanna borrow it sometime?

Astonishment was written all over the Emperor's face and Miaka then realized that she had said it out loud.

"Oh, Hotohori, what I meant to say was --- "

Hotohori chuckled. "I'm not offended. At least now you're smiling. I was only joking but perhaps if I needed to disguise myself again, I would be happy to accept your offer."

Before she knew what was happening, she let out a hearty laugh, one that she didn't know she still is able to do.

Well, our first meeting was funny to say the least… she thought after the laugh subsided a bit. She smothered what was left of her laugh with her hand when she saw Hotohori giving him a quizzical yet amused look.

"You should laugh more often, Miaka. It does well to the heart… the memories that it brings with it…" Hotohori's voice faltered as an animated scene flashed before his mind. In it, Miaka was visibly feeling better at the mention that they were going to have lunch and then later, they had a talk before the streaming water and the lush mountains. It was the first time he talked to her about his personal life and he could still vividly remember feeling utterly at ease and light after having confided with her. Her soothing voice still rang in his ear as clear as if she was telling it to him right now.

And maybe she was, though not verbally. For the past few days she had been with him, he had felt that exact feeling of wanting to fly and just do what his heart told him to… just like what she had said.

And that kiss we shared. Her expression shifted to a wistful kind of look. I remember… how I was able to forget the pain…even for the briefest moment… She bit her lower lip. Maybe… will that kiss have that same effect now? If ever ---

Without any warning, Hotohori took a step forward or even steps more for the next instant, Miaka found herself enclosed by the heat emanating from him. She could only stare back at him with big searching eyes.

Like a breath brushing past her face, Hotohori said, "Just to let you know, Miaka…" He slowly raised his hand and then cupped one side of her face. "I would say anything to make you smile, even do anything… just to wipe these tears…" He shifted his gaze to something on her face and with that same hand, he wiped tenderly with the tip of his forefinger the tear that betrayed her heart. "… away."

He was making her feel breathless.

"Anything, Miaka. Anything for you…"

Author's Notes: (PLEASE DO READ)

Ano… I know this is a short chapter for the long wait you guys endured (arigato for eternity! ^0^), but I just have to post this one up. The scene with Yui and Nakago as well as that of Tamahome, I have finished writing. BUT, they are all um… shaky, kinda. What I'm trying to say is that they don't come out as intense as I want them to be (they are one of the deciding scenes after all). So, I guess you'll just have to bear with this one for now. At this very moment, I'm listening to my FY soundtrack, hoping to absorb some of the good ol' romantic and funny feeling the series always does to me. AND, I've started viewing all the episodes again plus the OVAs. Hope that's enough to inspire me through the rest of this fic!

AND OF COURSE, YOU GUYS AND YOUR REVIEWS… THEY MAKE THIS WRITER IN ME PROUD OF WHATEVER LITTLE THING THAT SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED. ^_^ KEEP THOSE REVIEWS COMING!

And to those willing to help, in any little way like proofreading my fic or something and even sharing ideas with me, do drop me an email and this time, I'll certainly reply! ^_^