Love is Just That Way

Chapter Two: Going Back

'CRASH!'

The sound of someone being thrown against a wall echoed throughout the deathly quiet room. A small pained whimper broke that seemingly impenetrable silence, not because of the physical pain, but the emotional one.

"I do everything for you, and how do you repay me? By trying to move away!" A low, baritone voice hollered, emerald eyes staring heatedly at the women he had thrown against the wall.

"No…not at all Kagami!" Mimi whimpered in protest, trying to dodge Kagami's next assault, but he was faster as he grabbed her arm and threw her against the wall, holding both of her arms above her forehead, his muscular body pressing against hers.

"Don't you dare think about leaving against or I'll make sure you physically won't be able to go…" he growled his threat lowly, roughly freeing her from his death-like grip. He glanced back at her as she slid down to the ground, her head buried on her knees, her body trembling as she silently cried.

"Idiot bitch," he muttered as he walked out, slamming the door to her home as he went to his favorite place to get laid.

It happened everyday, no matter how hard Mimi tried to get away from her abusive relationship with Kagami, but sadly, it just got worse. But for some reason she didn't want to give up on this relationship.

"Maybe, maybe I'll stay a little longer. It can't get worse, can it…?"

Softly, Mimi opened the door to her apartment after her eight hour shift at the Japanese restaurant a few blocks away. In her hand was a doggy bag full of food that was supposed to be their dinner tonight. Kagami might feel better after a full stomach…

Hopefully.

However, Mimi didn't get three steps in until she heard a loud groan of Kagami's name.

It was a woman.

As quietly as a mouse, Mimi crept toward the room that she shared with Kagami. The door was slightly ajar, allowing to see the occupants of the room.

Kagami was full naked, hovering over a similarly nude female. Their bodies both sweaty and their breathing uneven and shaking as clung to each other.

'No…' Mimi could feel her breathing become erratic. Fearing that they two might hear her, however likely, she quickly turned away, dropping the bag of food onto the kitchen on her way out.

Mimi ran out of her apartment, tears falling down her cheeks as she ran away from her home, her possessions, Kagami, and her finally, her life. She fell onto her hands and knees near a lamp post in the parking lot, her body heaving as she choked out sobs.

Finally, at long last, Mimi finally took of the rose colored glasses she wore to see the world as it really was, not all happy and pink, but dirty and dark. Shakily getting up, she took a shaky breath. She looked down at her hand, a small gold ring on her finger. The old, but carefully taken care of ring gleamed against her finger. Slowly, she pulled it off and threw it at Kagami's car, making a pretty little dent against the driver's door.

That day, Mimi was reborn.

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"Mimi, if you don't get your lazy ass up off the bed, we'll be late for work!" Kate hollered through the door to Mimi for the umpteenth the past fifteen minutes.

Mimi was known for sleeping in late if she was tired enough. The rest of the time she slept like a normal person. A full ten hours. A totally normal person.

Tapping her foot for a minute, Kate stared obstinately at the door, her patience quickly wearing thin. Without giving a second thought to what she was doing, Kate kicked the door open and barged into Mimi's room.

"Mimi…" Kate whispered, her angered attitude melting away to sorrow as she saw her boss.

Mimi was lying face up in bed, trails of old fallen tears on her cheeks and new ones starting to form now. The silver droplets hung onto her eyelashes, ready to break free with any sudden moment. Even though Mimi didn't know it, she was crying. The tears had already soaked her pillows.

"Kate…?" Mimi's soft, sleepy voice answered to Kate's call. Brown eyes blinked sleepily a hazed look on her face as she unsteadily got up. Carefully, she brought a hand to her eyes, feeling the cooled moisture.

"Oh…"

"What's wrong?" Kate asked softly, briskly walking toward Mimi's bed in two long strides. Settling herself down on the brunette's bed, Kate placed a gentle hand on Mimi's shoulder, her amethyst eyes clearly showing her concern towards her friend and boss. She sat at the end of Mimi's bed, trying her best to comfort her.

"I didn't realize that I was crying in my sleep. It's probably nothing," Mimi answered while hurriedly wiping her tears away. Moving a strand of hair away from her face, Mimi gently placed Kate's hand away from her shoulder, threw off the covers and walked toward the bathroom. One problem though.

Kate was in the way.

"Tell me what's wrong Mimi!" Kate asked, this time more forcibly, her hands on her hips, her feet planted on the ground as she blocked Mimi's path to the bathroom.

"Nothing's wrong with me. I probably worked to hard again, that all." Mimi replied softly, biting her inner cheek to stop the rush of tears from coming out. All she wanted to do was cry and tell Kate all her problems. She wouldn't.

No…Mimi couldn't. She would and could never involve Kate into her wretched past no matter how hard the girl tried to pry.

"I can see something isn't right so tell me what's wrong, and don't make even try to make up an excuse, 'cause it won't work on me." Kate said, more defiant then ever. She crossed her arms, stubbornly holding her ground.

Mimi tried to avoid Kate's intense gaze, but it was no use. Kate knew Mimi long enough to know whether or not she was lying.

"Alright, I'll tell you," Mimi sighed, collapsing back down on her bed. Absently twiddling on the lace of her night gown, she looked back down at Kate who had settled herself down on the floor near the edge of the bed. "Remember last night when Sora asked me to call her? Well, I called her back. Mimi smiled slightly, "She said that she's getting married."

"That's fabulous!" Kate grinned at the news, but she kept herself on track, "So what's wrong exactly?" Kate asked again, resting her head against the side of the bed. "You're happy for her, aren't you?"

"Of course I'm happy for her!" Mimi stated quickly, immediately straightening up. "I'm more than happy for her. She even asked me to be her maid of honor."

"Once again, what's the big deal then?"

"I didn't exactly…give her my answer yet…" Mimi trailed off, now looking down at her still soaked pink pillow.

"You did what!" Kate looked up at Mimi in disbelief, her mouth wide open in the shape of an 'O'. "But why?"

"You know if I accept her offer…I would have to…I would have to go back to Japan!" Mimi finished off, nearly in tears as she grabbed the dry pillow next to the wet one, burying her head in it. Her voice was muffled, "I can't go back yet; the memory from the past, it-it still hurts when I think about it."

"I get it now…" Kate said softly, pressing her forehead against the outside of Mimi's thigh. Even though she didn't know the full story of why Mimi had left Japan, she knew that the brunette would always hurriedly change the subject whenever Kate tried to bring it up. So…she never dug any further.

Mimi lifted her head from her pillow, sniffling softly. "I want to be there though. This is one of the most important events in one of my best friend's life. To be able to walk on the aisle and be married to man she loves," Mimi sighed dreamily, smoothing out the wrinkles she had created on her pillow.

"When we were in high school, a long time ago, I promised to her that I would be her maid of honor and make her gown on her wedding day when it comes." Mimi chuckled slightly, "I didn't really think she would remember."

"However," Mimi's smile faded slightly, "No matter how happy I am to go to my best friend's wedding, it would mean I would have to…see someone I really would not like to see."

"I can't say that I know what you're going though," Kate looked up, a reassuring grin on her face, "But I'm your friend too, don't forget that. It also means," she poked Mimi in the thigh, "I'll be there for you. So don't get yourself all stressed out like you usually do. That's what I'm here for you know."

"Thank you Kate," Mimi sighed happily, giggling as her friend poked her. "I appreciate it."

"Pft, I still don't get paid enough for it." Kate raised a slender eyebrow, a fox-like smile on her face, "I don't suppose I get paid for being your therapist?"

"NO!"

"Didn't think so," Kate sighed exasperatedly, but continued nonetheless, "Just forget your past and deal with the future. Your past helps you to keep from making the same mistakes in the future."

Mimi nodded. Kate was a rabid fan of Oprah and Dr. Phil, so at the moment, she was starting to have one of her little moments that most of the people in the office either enjoyed or tuned out.

"Mimi you can never leave your past but you can learn from them by being a strong and smart person. I know this is going to be hard but I know you can face it. You must move on toward the future with hope and faith." Kate continued on, definitely in one of her moods, "Honey, you're still young, with your beauty and brains no one man can ever reject you. They'll love you for sure." Kate gave Mimi a reassuring smile as she finally finished.

"You're right," Mimi nodded her head, grasping her hands in front of her, a thoughtful expression on her face. "It's just hard…really hard." She tilted her head to the side, "At the least, maybe I won't see him. Japan is small, but there are many people there. And…maybe I'll find someone there who can make me…happy."

"That's right girl!" Kate abruptly stood up, showing a peace sign in front of a mildly amused Mimi, "Show all those cute Japanese guys the new Mimi. The strong, mature Mimi, with plenty of beauty and brains!"

"Thanks you…you really are the best," Mimi said gratefully. "You should get a talk show."

"Hm…now that I think about it, I should. Can I give my two weeks notice now?" Kate said jokingly, winking at Mimi as she said that.

"Nope, you're staying and that's final. Who else is going to keep me sane?" Mimi said, a look in warning crossing her eyes as she glared lightly at Kate.

"Phooey," Kate stomped her foot, but smiled when she looked down at Mimi, "Now go on and tell Sora your answer, and tell her you're willing to help her wedding. You did promise her after all?"

"Kate, are you sure you want to come?" Kate slid off of her bed, already grabbing her cell phone from the night stand, "You don't have to come."

"Pft," Kate snorted, already out of the door, but she stuck her head back in. "I obviously want to go. Do you know how many cute Japanese guys there are? A whole island! I am not passing up a chance to have a fling with one," Kate waved her hand as she disappeared from the doorway, laughing at her own comment.

In her head, she was already cataloging what to put in four of her suitcases. Of course she would buy new clothing, but a girl needed to bring her necessities.

"Funny Kate, really funny," Mimi murmured as she dialed Sora's cell phone number. She paused before she pressed 'Talk.'

Leaning against the bed, she looked at the phone, "Well, Japan, here I come."

'Bip.'

"Hey, Sora!"