AN: I'd like to thank everyone for being so patient with me getting this chapter out. I know it took forever and I'm sorry. Though I do have a reason. Gateway is evil. My computer illiterate father took my computer in to fix a problem with the mouse (it kept quitting on us so we had to un-plug it then plug it back in fifty million time a day) and Gateway fixed it…by formatting the hard drive and deleting everything on it. Therefore all my hard work was gone. Including the almost finished original version of this chapter and the outline for the rest of the story. (AND THE OUTLINE!!! *Hiss*) If it hadn't gotten deleted, this would have been up weeks ago. I swear; It's harder to rewrite a chapter than it is to write it for the first time.

Oh yeah. I had a little fun with this chapter and decided to stick in some OC's (that make only a brief appearance) that are modeled after some friends of mine, and of course me. Er. The names'll likely give 'em all away. I was considering making you all guess which one was me, but decided against it. *shrug* Actually… my characters the only one that got a good description, and that's just 'cuz I can sum up exactly what I look like in one easy sentence. *cough* Anyway… Onto the long awaited chapter.

We Meet Again

Chapter Five – Monday's Suck… Well. Most of the time.

Yumiko Kaze

 "So you'll be coming on Friday? That's great! My classes are all in the morning, and Kara usually lets me take off when I ask since I don't do it that often, so I'll get off work and then we can hang out for the rest of the day. How's that sound?" Miaka smiled into the phone as Taka once again assured her that he would indeed be returning later that week. Specifically, Friday morning.

The plan was that Miaka would go to class as usual while her mother and Keisuke, along with Tetsuya, would go to pick Taka up at the airport and take him back the apartment. Then when Miaka and Yui got back from class they would all go out for lunch. Miaka wasn't particularly excited that her mother and brother would be tagging along, that seriously cut down on the time that she and Taka could spend doing, well, couple things.

But.

They could be forgiven.

Because Taka was coming home!!

With that thought running deliriously back and forth across her mind, Miaka hung up the phone and all but skipped from the kitchen to her bedroom where she began digging through her closet, feeling particularly picky about what she wanted to wear today. She practically danced over to the closet as she thought about Taka's coming visit. He hadn't been able to come back to Tokyo and visit her for a quite a while. Come to think of it… The last time he had visited hadn't really been all that great in terms of excitement and fun…

True, Taka and she had gotten along just as well as ever (with the occasional lover's spat every now and then) but they hadn't really done anything except hang out at home with her mother and Keisuke talking about how school was going and how this new job of his would lead to big bucks and a better life for them once Miaka and he got out of school and started living together. Hmph. Had he even bothered to ask her about that? Maybe she wasn't ready to start living with him yet. He was a sweetie and she loved him, but the man had some annoying traits – sometimes he treated her more like a little sister than a girlfriend!

She yanked the large t-shirt she had used to sleep in over her head and chucked it behind her. Riffling past at least five perfectly good shirts, Miaka grabbed her favorite red t-shirt emblazoned with a Chinese design on it and tugged it on over her head. And how much lovey-dovey contact had they had on his last visit? Not much. They hadn't gone out anywhere away from the prying eyes of her family. They had sat on the couch and watched movies – with her family. Ate dinner – with her family.

Miaka frowned, come to think of it… Her family seemed to have stolen her boyfriend. Keisuke and Taka were great buddies, and even her mother said he was like a second son to her. Not only that, it seemed like Taka was becoming more of a brother figure to her; When they had picked him up from the airport that time, Taka had given her a kiss – on the forehead. Miaka hadn't thought much of it at first, but the next day or so she had spent with Taka had been filled with opportunities for Taka to do the boyfriend thing, and he had taken only one of them; Kissing her quite passionately when they had all gone out to shop and then eat at a restaurant. He had waited until they were returning to the apartment and Keisuke and her mother had gotten ahead of them and were already inside before making her remember that he was her boyfriend and not just another brother.

Miaka fumed. But other than that, Taka had shown as much incentive to get his hands on her as Keisuke!

Shaking that disturbing mental image from her head, Miaka yanked on a pair of jeans and jammed her feet into her sneakers as she made a solemn vow.

This weekend Taka was hers, and her family was just going to have to deal with that.

A look at the clock told Miaka she was going to have to haul ass if she didn't want to be late to class again. She shuddered slightly at the memory. Her professor had locked her out!! Not wishing a repeat of that experience, Miaka grabbed her school bag (the damn thing weighed at least thirty pounds) and flew out the door and three flights of stairs only to trip down the last one.

Leaping up, completely unfazed by her show of clumsiness, Miaka ran out to her car and tossed her bag and purse into the passenger seat before settleing herself on the drivers side. Shaking her auburn hair out, which she had left down, Miaka turned the key and waited for the meodious purr of the engine to start and the radio to begin blasting out the tunes to Mamboleo or Bon Jovi. (Yes. Miaka liked Spanish and American music… She had proven to have very eclectic tastes in music)

And waited.

And waited some more.

Frowning, not quite wanting to believe that this could happen to her, Miaka patiently turned the key again and closed her eyes in a quick prayer.

Nothing.

Well that hadn't worked…

Not very happy with how her day was turning out, Miaka grabbed up her purse and bag, slammed the door to the car – wishing she was Nuriko for a moment so she could destroy it too – and stalked out to the sidewalk to hail a cab. She knew that her mechanical skills were less than adequate and that calling the mechanic would take forever.

As an empty taxi went by, Miaka waved her arm frantically only to watch as it rolled right on by. Miaka crossed her arms huffily. That was okay… that cab was probably on call or just getting off duty or something… She'd get the next one.

A second cab went by just like the first one. Miaka chased after it for about ten feet and gave up. That meant she needed to stop working at the Clinic. She was starting to act like a dog…

Now she was irritated. What was she? Invisible? Or were all the taxi drivers collaborating in some sort of cruel game of "Make Miaka late to class?" Miaka stamped her foot. She was really in for it if she was late again.

It was when the third taxi went by without so much as slowing down that Miaka, almost without thinking, whipped out her cell phone and a small piece of paper. She dialed the number and then waited, tapping her foot angrily and glaring at any cars that went by; cursing the fact that they worked when her car didn't.

This was the last straw. She had had it.

She wasn't going to be kept down by society!

She was her own person!

She would get to class!

She was calling Andy to beg for a ride.

Miaka let out a huge sigh of relief as she exited the building after class. Thanks to Andy she had been on time… barely. She had barged into her class all of five seconds before the teacher closed the door and bolted it.

Andy had been happy to give her a ride that morning, As it turned out, he was only two blocks away when she had called him. He was going to meet his manager and had happened to be going Miaka's way. Not that he wouldn't have helped her if it had been out of his way; he was just too nice a person for that.

Pulling a folder out of her shoulder bag, Miaka grinned from ear to ear. They had gotten their reports back today, and Miaka was happy to see that, though she hadn't aced it, she had gotten a very good grade. She couldn't wait to get to work and let some of her co-workers know how she'd done.

Miaka worked at an animal clinic, but the place was also a boarding kennel, they sold puppies too. She had started about a year or so ago and had quickly made friends with the people that worked there. She had become fast friends with several girls that worked in various sections of the clinic. Aside from Yui, they were some of her closest friends now – being as she saw them every day.

Still feeling giddy, Miaka hopped up on the metal banister of the cement stairs leading from the doors of the college and slid down it, hopping off gracefully as she reached the end. She turned around to look at the banister smugly; it had taken her forever to master that. And she still fell off occasionally.

Feeling satisfied that she wasn't always a total clutz, Miaka turned to attempt to hail a cab to take her to work and promptly tripped over a miniscule crack in the sidewalk. She luckily had had enough practice at falling to be able to catch herself. Her purse and bag on the other hand, were not so lucky. As they hit the ground, the contents of both scattered all over the sidewalk and into the street. Miaka watched numbly as her cell phone was run over by a speeding Mitsubishi.

"Sometimes I hate my life…" she grumbled to herself as she pushed herself up on her hands and knees to a kneeling position where she could collect everything that wasn't street-pizza and stuff it back where it belonged.

As she contemplated how her day was seeming to rotate back and forth from being very very good to extremely bad, Miaka heard what had to be a motorcycle turn a corner, screeching it's tires, and come roaring up the street in her general direction. Great. That's all I need. Some idiot punk to get himself killed by falling off his motorcycle…I shall be scarred for life.  She shouldered her bag and purse and straightened, noticing that whoever was riding the bike had pulled up to the curb about twenty feet down the street…

…and was beckoning her over?

She didn't know anyone who rode a motorcycle, did she?

She stayed put and merely watched the rider as he sat astride his machine. She could see from here that whoever it was had a great body. Long legs, which were clad in black jeans and expensive looking boots, were stretched out on both sides of the red and chrome motorcycle so that it wouldn't fall over. The man's shoulders weren't huge and muscular like most bikers Miaka had seen, but they weren't scrawny either. In fact… if Miaka weren't trying to school her response to what she thought about this guy, she would have said they were very well-built… She especially liked the way his chest tapered to a something like a V when it reached his waist and hips….

Gah! Okay Miaka! Stop it!

I like that jacket… Fits him very nicely…

Quit looking! Bad!! Bad girl!

Shaking herself out of her stupor, Miaka frowned at the man on the bike. He was still waving at her to come over. Against her better judgment, Miaka started towards the biker. The thought that maybe it was Keisuke or Tetsuya crossed her mind, but she doubted Yui would let Tetsuya ride a motorcycle, and the same went for her mother and Keisuke. Of all the people she could possibly think of that would ride a motorcycle, reincarnated Seishi's included, the only one that was coming to mind was Tasuki… or maybe Suboshi.

Suboshi or Tasuki on a motorcycle.

Maybe it would just be wiser to never leave her apartment again.

Well. It was either them, or Keisuke and/or Tetsuya were in big trouble…

As she got closer, she could faintly see an obscured face (grinning foolishly, might I add) behind the tinted visor, and when she was within ten feet, the rider reached up and lifted the helmet, tucking it under his arm and smiling at her as though he were as innocent as an Angel as he shook out his long hair which had been hidden in the confines of the helmet.

Miaka was really starting to hate being wrong.

It made her feel less intelligent than she already knew she wasn't.

"Andy?"

Still smiling, Andy shrugged lopsidedly (the helmet got in his way) and gestured to the street with his free arm, "I thought you might need a ride to work since your car died such an untimely death."

Miaka eyed the motorcycle warily, "On that?"

"Of course."

"Are you even supposed to be riding that? Aren't they dangerous?"

Andy grinned somewhat sheepishly, scratching the back of his head, "Actually, no. I'm not supposed to be riding this. And no, motorcycles are only dangerous if you don't know what you're doing." He handed her a spare helmet with a slightly mean twinkle in his eye, "Here. You can wear the goofy helmet."

Miaka took the helmet and turned it over in her hands. It resembled the bicycle helmet she had worn when she was six. "I don't know…Someone might see me." She held up the offending helmet, letting it dangle from her index finger, "This isn't exactly flattering you know."

He laughed heartily, "My dear, you sound like me. Just wear the thing and hop on!" he twisted his own long hair up and at the funny look she gave him, blushed a little, explaining, "Keeps it from getting tangled in the wind…"

Miaka buckled the helmet onto her own head and laughed, "Narcissist."

Andy grinned at the teasing title, knowing that it was somewhat true and waited patiently for Miaka to seat herself behind him. Miaka climbed on and rested her hands lightly against Andy's shoulders. Not sure if he could her hear very well through his helmet or not, Miaka leaned forward until her chin nearly rested on his shoulder, "Uh… Where do you want me to hang on? I've never ridden a motorcycle before, much less with anybody so-"

Miaka was cut off by Andy reaching up and taking hold of both her hands, gently but firmly wrapping them around his waist, "Like this." He had turned his head as he spoke to her and Miaka felt heat rush to her face when she felt his breath brush against her face. Memories of the day before rushed to her mind and Miaka found herself unable to stop the next thought from entering her mind. It would be so easy to kiss him now…

But you can't. So don't. The harsh voice was back, and Miaka found herself settling back, still with her arms wrapped firmly around Andy's waist, but now with her face pressed against his back. Far enough away from temptation that she might be able to get all the way to the Clinic without making herself and Andy sorry.

As Andy pulled out into the street, Miaka closed her eyes and held on tightly so as not to fall off, but still trying to put some kind of distance between herself and the gorgeous superstar that she was practically wrapped around. Well. That's a little hard to do. Considering you're on a motorcycle!

Andy could tell that she wasn't entirely comfortable riding so close to him and mentally smacked himself for not having brought a car. Moron…You go joyriding, which you're forbidden to do anyway, and then you decide to go pick up the girl you like without considering the fact that she might not be comfortable being so close to you after yesterday. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!!!

And it was thus, that what should have been an enjoyable ride got turned into a pity party for both Miaka and Andy.

Miaka flew into the Clinic after bidding Andy a quick farewell. Waving hello to Kieru who was presently manning (womaning?) the front desk and tossing her purse into the cabinet along with everyone else's, Miaka riffled through the time cards and slid hers through the time clock just as the numbers hit 1:30.

"Phew! I made it!"

"Someday your little race against the time clock is going to get you into trouble." The voice held a note of forewarning.

Miaka was nonplussed, "Whaddya mean?" she regarded her dark-haired and bouncy friend.

Hayai frowned, "I mean, someday you're going to end up getting hurt if you don't slow down."

Miaka was unimpressed, "This from the girl whose nickname happens to be "The Dash," and turned to go check on whether Jensen wanted her to work with him and Kara or if he would rather she work in the kennel or the puppy room. In addition to being a Clinic for animals, they also sold puppies and boarded dogs for people going on vacation.

"You know what I mean!"

"Yes, I do. Don't worry so much." Earlier that year another co-worker of theirs had been in a hurry and had run into a tree. She had totaled her car, but had managed to walk away without a scratch.

"I can't help it. It's what I do. I worry!" Hayai hugged Miaka briefly around the neck before returning to whatever she had been doing prior to taking a moment to reprimand her friend.

Miaka was surprised when she was sent, not to the kennel or the puppy room, but the groom room to help Anwe with the bath dogs. She rounded the corner and stopped at the grooming table where a rather large stack of cards was laying on a clip board. Eyeing the cards warily, Miaka spotted Anwe shoving the latest bath dog into a crate. When the diminutive blonde spotted her friend, she pointed to the stack, "Can you please do the next few dogs so I can have a lunch break? I've been swamped all morning! Twelve labs! Twelve!"

It was a well known fact that after having worked in the groom room for a while, labs always ended up being your least favorite dog. Miaka made a face that she hoped looked sympathetic before running off to retrieve her first victim.

And because life is evil – of course it was a lab.

After being pulled down the hall (and into Roberto and Arashi), wrestling the unwilling and supremely overfriendly animal into the tub, Miaka soaked and soaped up the dog, scrubbing while trying to keep it at arms length from her body – to no avail. The lab strained at the leash which held it still and leaned up against the brunette as close at the restraint would allow, even going so far as to rest it's head on her shoulder and paw her arms. Needless to say, Miaka had been at work for five minutes, and was already soaked. She hated, hated, hated Mondays…

It wasn't until she was up to her arms in suds that she faintly registered the front door opening, letting Rae and Kieru handle it like they always did, Miaka reached for the sprayer in order to rinse off the dog and turned on the water.

That's when she saw the tell-tale twitching of the head and shoulders.

"Hey Miaka –"

Water flew.

She ducked.

Andy didn't.

When she felt it was safe enough to get up, Miaka found suds splattered all over the walls and the fronts of the crates with already dried dogs in them. And of course nothing was wetter or soapier than one very un-amused rock star.

Wiping the bubbles from his face, Andy pursed his lips as he perused his rather wet appearance. Taking a lock of his hair delicately between his index and forefingers he wrinkled his nose, looking positively disgusted. "Yuck."

Miaka simply stood spraying the lab as she stared in shock. Then, inevitably, her shoulders shook slightly and her free hand came up to cover her mouth as she attempted not to laugh in the face of her friend.

Andy blinked; his expression devoid of any humor whatsoever. He flicked the piece of hair over his shoulder irrately, "I suppose you think this is funny." He nodded slightly as he spoke as though he were agreeing, though that made him look more sarcastic than anything else.

Trying very hard to look serious, Miaka shook her head, only to immediately fall into a fit of chuckles. Hotohori. Covered. In. Bubbles. = Too Funny.

After a few seconds she calmed down enough to hold Andy's golden eyes steadily with her own green ones. As she opened her mouth to apologize, the golden eyes widened slightly. Before Miaka had a chance to ask what was wrong, Andy had backpedaled towards the door and she was immediately splattered with the second wave of water and soap bubbles.

What goes around comes around I guess…

Turning a death glare on the hapless dog, Miaka shook her head and shoved her now plastered bangs back and out of the way. First things first. Deal with the animal and then talk to the cute boy. "I'm sorry Andy. Hang on. I'll be done in a few minutes. She quickly finished bathing the dog and with an astounding show of strength for her small build lifted the dog from the bath tub and shoved it into an open crate before turning to Andy once more.

Miaka wondered exactly why Andy wasn't a mile away by now, "So… Forget something?"

Andy smiled, still managing to look great even with soap suds in his hair and soaked jeans and jacket. If Miaka would only pay attention to the small ignored screaming thing in her brain, she would have likely thought something inappropriate. "Actually, yeah. I meant to ask you this earlier, but it slipped my mind. There's going to be a publicity event that my manger is planning for this Friday. Several other music artists are going to be there, and we're supposed to bring dates." He looked down and nervously tapped his foot. Miaka wanted to cap herself when she realized that she found his slight shyness quite endearing. "And I was wondering if you'd like to be mine…just as friends of course." He smiled hopefully at her and Miaka's heart twisted painfully in her chest. She was about to say that yes, of course she'd go with him, when memories of that morning rushed up to quickly veto the entire idea.

Biting her lip apologetically, Miaka scratched behind her ear, "Andy I'm sorry. I can't."

Letting out a breath in defeat, Andy nodded slightly. "I understand."

Feeling as low as dirt, Miaka reached out and took his hand, "It's not that I wouldn't. I want to go with you. Really, I do. I'd love to go, it's just that… My boyfriend is coming back on Friday just to see me and well… yeah." She finished weakly, not meeting his eyes.

Andy felt his spirits lift a few inches off the ground. "No it's okay. I get it." Knowing that at least she would have gone with him were she not previously engaged was somewhat comforting. Once again he found himself mentally cursing the lucky ungrateful bastard who had managed to capture Miaka's heart. I think I'm really beginning to dislike this guy…and I don't even know him!

Andy was offered some spare clothes that Roberto had in his car before taking his leave after reminding Miaka that he would be there at eight to pick her up and take her home. As soon as he was out the door she was pounced by Rae, Kieru, Hayai, and Anwe. (Arashi would have pounced, but she was conveniently in the back)

"Who was that?" Rae already had an arm around Miaka's neck and was mock strangling her in order to pry out the information. Miaka tried not to sneeze as the girls long brown hair got in her face.

"Where'd you meet him?" Hayai saved her from Rae's grasp only to yank on Miaka's ponytail.

"Why didn't I know about this?" Anwe poked Miaka in the side, frowning.

Miaka answered the questions as best she could and then waited for the inevitable bomb to drop.

"What happened to Taka? Aren't you going out with him?" Kieru of course. Ever practical.

Hayai immediately came to Miaka's defense, "Well I like him. I think he's much sweeter than Taka ever was."

"How would you know-" started Kieru.

"Maybe she got tired of being treated like crud." Suggested Rae.

"Hey!" Miaka jumped to her boyfriends defense.

"Maybe we should let Miaka say something?" Anwe interjected.

"Taka and I are still together. Andy and I are just friends." Miaka said bluntly. It was plain to see from the other girls faces that they really didn't believe her.

Just then the bell alerting them to the front door went off and a girl who could have been Miaka's twin sister walked in.

"Who was that guy wearing Roberto's clothes?" she asked. "He's cute." Miaka felt something inside her tense up at Yumiko's declaration and quickly squashed it. She wasn't jealous that Yumiko thought Andy was cute. She wasn't.

"Hey Yumi," Anwe waved, "We were just discussing that."

"He's Miaka's new boyfriend." Piped up Rae and Hayai.

"That so?" Yumiko raised an eyebrow, "'Bout time. I never did like Taka…"

Miaka had given up on convincing the girls that Taka really wasn't all that bad… (though the scumbag had once mistaken Yumiko for Miaka…) and was going to go finish the bath dogs when the phone rang. Seeing as everyone else was still arguing about Taka Vs. Andy (At least Kieru was on her side!!) Miaka picked it up hoping to Suzaku that whoever was calling just wanted to know something simple, like what time they closed. "This is Miaka, how can I help you?"

"Miaka!" the voice over the phone was strained, as though preparing to apologize profusely, but like the speaker was also in a hurry.

"Taka?" At the name the other girls fell silent, moving closer and obviously listening to her side of the conversation.

"Miaka, I am so sorry about this…" her heart sank. She knew what that meant.

"You can't make it can you?" she said sadly, though she tried to sound as though she understood. It wouldn't do to make Taka sad that he had made her feel bad.

A sigh, "No. I've been given a chance to get an internship at one of the largest corporations in the country, and the only time they have available in the next few months is this weekend. I have to be here." She could practically see Taka making soothing motions with his hands to midair on his end as she knew he was prone to do.

Ever forgiving – though she swore to herself that this would be the last time, (just like the time before, and the time before that…) Miaka made a waving motion with her free hand and leaned against the doorjamb. "It's alright Taka. I understand. You go and get that internship. I'll just… hang out with some friends." She shrugged, "Maybe I'll ask for some more hours here." She could see Anwe and Yumiko's jaws drop at this. It was Hayai, however, who sidled over and laid a hand across Miaka's forehead.

"No fever…" she muttered.

Miaka slapped the hand away and quickly said goodbye to Taka before waiting to hear the click signaling that he had hung up, once she did, Miaka slammed the receiver down with such force that everyone jumped.

Eyeing everyone in the room with something that could be called malicious glee glinting in her eye, Miaka growled to herself as she stalked back to the groom room. Looks like I'll be able to go to that party with you after all Andy.

She wasn't sure if it was anger that had made her decide that she would go with Andy, and that she was just trying to get some kind of revenge on Taka. Or, had she really wanted to go all along and had only declined because of her earlier promise to Taka? She had a feeling it was a little of both. She did want to spend more time with Andy. And she did want to get Taka back for just dropping their date like he had. But she wasn't the kind of person who would use someone solely as a means of taking revenge, but that didn't mean she hadn't thought about it. Besides… She wouldn't have decided to spend an entire evening in Andy's presence if she didn't really like him.

It was now that her faith in Taka's promises had been chipped away at for the past year or so that Miaka allowed herself to ponder the question: Did she like Andy? Of course. As more than a friend? She didn't know.

Curse matters of the heart. She grumbled to herself. Sure, she was mad at Taka, but was she going to completely throw everything she and he had over a few broken promises? She wanted to think "No. Of course not." But at the moment, she wasn't exactly sure.

She had called Andy almost immediately after hanging up with Taka, to inform him that because of a last minute change of plans, Yes, she could go. Of course he had been delighted. Miaka thought he may have run a red light in his elation, (as she heard cursing and much honking) and she smiled at the fact that she could make someone who was usually so calm and level-headed toss the rulebook out the window. Then a thought hit her. That moron. Was he talking to me on his cell while riding that motorcycle?!

Alright. When she got hold of him, Andy was getting a major beating.

Oh Suzaku, please let him have been stopped at a red light or something…

As the clock neared eight o'clock, Miaka started getting ready to leave, cleaning up what she could of the impossible to keep clean groom room. Rae, Roberto, and Anwe and the rest of the crew had left earlier, leaving Miaka, Yumiko, Hayai, and Kieru by themselves in the office.

The bell rang, once again signaling that someone had entered. Miaka was pleasantly surprised to find that it was Andy (who had long since changed into some clean jeans and a t-shirt). When his eyes lit upon seeing her, Miaka felt almost as if she wanted to run back into the groom room and hide. What the hell was that thing fluttering madly inside her chest? No. Absolutely not. I can't…I won't allow it.

Miaka heard a smothered laughing noise and discretely stomped on Yumiko's foot. "Shut up." She muttered. Yumiko nodded and attempted, though unsuccessfully, not to show that she was deliriously happy that this was someone other than Taka.

"Hey Andy." She smiled at him over the counter.

The grin he threw back at her was on the border between friendly and flirtatious. Miaka decidedly tried to ignore it. "Have a good day at work?" he laughed when she gave him an evil look. She had gotten wet every other time she bathed a dog that day, and was at present, still trying to air herself out. He held out his hands in a defensive gesture, "Alright, alright… don't kill me."

Miaka had clocked out and had just allowed Andy to take her hand when the bell rang once more. A dark haired woman with clothes that accentuated her every curve waltzed into the Clinic. Miaka's eyes immediately went to the dog in her arms.

Ick. A poodle.

The curly haired Satan in disguise yipped loudly and leaped straight out of the woman's arms faster than Miaka could blink. Without thinking, Miaka lunged forward, hoping to save the fool creature before it killed itself.

As luck would have it, she caught the animal a bare inch about the linoleum floor and was rewarded with teeth eating into her wrist. Bleeding a bit from where the dog had managed to slash her, she set the dog down and watched un-amused as the dog ran over to Andy and leaped up and down like a spring, it's tiny six or seven pound body managing an insanely high jump to at least Andy's waist.

Eventually the dog gave up trying to reach the man's hair and settled for his pants leg. Andy appeared to not notice as he focused on the woman who had just walked in. "Hello, Shiko."

Miaka cocked her head. "You know her?"

Andy nodded, still ignoring the rat that though it was Godzilla, "She's one of my back up singers." He smiled, wrapping an arm around Miaka's shoulders. Miaka couldn't help but feel a little smug as the woman's eyes darkened with jealousy. "This is Miaka. She's going with me to the function that Mr. Kimoto has planned for this Friday."

The dark look hardened, though Andy appeared oblivious, "But And~y. It's my turn to go." She pouted prettily, her overly made-up face looking like that of a sad china dolls. Miaka wanted nothing more than to smash her into the floor a few (hundred) times and break her. She obviously wanted Andy, and it took Miaka a moment to realize that she was jealous of the fact that Andy was oblivious to this fact and blindly encouraging it.

Kieru 'ahemed,' getting the attention of all three. "Can I help you miss?"

Shiko tossed her dark hair and snatched up the poodle, handing it to Miaka. "Yes. I would like my dog bathed, nails trimmed and oh, if it's not too much trouble could you fix her hair for me?" she smiled sugar-sweetly but Miaka could see the mean glint in her eye and the glee when tiny molars chomped into Miaka's hand once again.

Trying to be polite in front of someone Andy obviously knew fairly well, Miaka gritted her teeth and smiled, "Sure thing miss. I'll get her for you."

Andy looked about to protest that they were leaving when the other girls came to her rescue.

"You'll pay here." Ground out Kieru. Her cheeks puffed out to show her displeasure at Shoko's behavior.

Thank you… I owe you guys.

Hayai took the poodle from Miaka, cuddling it as though it were a child, "Ohhhh. Aren't you sweet? You look just like Tara- OUCH!" she yelped and flipped the poodle around so it was under one arm. "It bit me!" not quite so enamored with the animal as before, she handed it to Yumiko, "You're the bather when Miaka and Anwe aren't here. Have fun."

Yumiko grimaced as she took the animal, "But…oh fine." She gave Miaka a 'you'd better appreciate this' look before tasking the animal in back. Miaka wasn't sure, but she heard a hiss of what might have been Yumi getting chomped, only to hear the water turn on and the dog's piercing yowls suddenly fill the air.

At Andy's raised eyebrow Miaka took his elbow and steered him towards the door, whispering "Yumi hates poodles as much as she hates my boyfriend." She giggled at the brief thought of Taka as a dog and Yumiko having to groom him. Poor dog.

As they exited the building they could still hear the pitiful whines of the terrified animal, no doubt being treated with as little respect as it had shown everyone else. Andy took Miaka's hand and pulled her towards the motorcycle as he allowed himself to smirk. The poor dog sounded like it was being murdered. If the girl dislikes Miaka's boyfriend that much… He grinned. I think I like that girl…

The ride back to Miaka's apartment was silent. First of all, you can't really converse while on a motorcycle, and second, you don't always need conversation to communicate. As Miaka clung to Andy's waist, she imagined what would happen to her if she happened to fall of. Erasing that image from her mind, she rested her face against his shoulder blades, trying not to pay attention to the fact that the only thing that separated her from his skin was the flimsy white t-shirt he had changed into. Watching the darkening sky, Miaka contemplated a few things to herself.

She loved Taka. But Taka was always too busy for her, it seemed. She knew he said he was doing it for their future, but… well. Sometimes Miaka just wanted Taka to herself. That wasn't horribly selfish was it? To want to one she loved all to herself every once in a while?

Taka made her feel like it was.

"Don't be so selfish. Other people need me besides you."

And so she had relented: Time after time; allowing him to run off to work or school for every little thing while she stayed at home and grew lonelier and on rare occasions, even bitter. Frankly, Miaka was getting sick of it.

Maybe she and Taka should cool it for a while? Both focus on their own goals first and foremost and not complicate each others.

Well that wouldn't be too hard. It's not like he was ever around anyway.

Resigned to her decision, Miaka felt her stiff spine relax. It was though a thousand pound weight had been lifted from her shoulders and she was finally able to rest a little. She hadn't known Taka was taking so much out of her with all of her worrying over their relationship. Tired of trying to keep a distance between herself and the man she happened to be clinging to the waist of, Miaka let herself lean into him. Her front pressed entirely against his back and her arms wrapped securely around his waist, her hands resting gently upon his stomach.

Andy started at her sudden change in posture. It was like a wall had come crashing down. Something had changed. What, he wasn't sure, but he was hoping that it would be for the better – in his favor of course. He glanced back at her once and though he couldn't see her, he could certainly feel her. She was pressed against him in such a way that he could clearly feel her heart beating against his back and her thighs rested against his hips now in a way that told him more than words how much more comfortable she was.

As her apartment complex came into view, Andy contemplated just driving on past it and keep going until they reached… he didn't know where. But one thing was for sure, he was entirely too fond of having Miaka so close to him to want to give it up so soon. What he really wanted to do was spirit her off to some secluded place and turning the charm up to Maximum until she realized that he was the one she was in love with. Yes. That was the plan. He would make her see the truth. And then they would spend a lot of time in the bedroom making up for lost time. (little did he know just how much lost time that really was…actually maybe it's better he didn't. O.o)

Damn his parents for raising him to be a gentleman.

He pulled up to the curb and lifted his visor turning his head to make certain that Miaka was able to get down alright. Once she had both feet firmly on the ground again Miaka turned to face him and handed him the ridiculous looking helmet she had been forced to wear. "Thank you for driving me everywhere today Andy. You have no idea how grateful I am."

Andy blushed slightly, setting the helmet on the back seat of the bike, "You're welcome." He took his helmet off and shook out his hair. Miaka noted with some humor that he looked like he was trying out for some shampoo commercial when he did that.

Miaka cocked her head and adjusted her purse and bag, "If there's anything I can do to repay you…"

A sly looking smile crossed his face, one that really looked more reminiscent of a bandit or a pirate than an emperor, "Well… You can do something for me right now."

Miaka paled slightly. God that expression really made him look sexy, but she didn't know if she'd like what he was thinking…"What?" she asked boldly.

He held out both arms to her like a toddler would to it's mother, "Hug." He said simply.

Laughing at the adorable simplicity, Miaka complied, allowing Andy to sweep her up into a big hug. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder and he ran a hand up and down her back a couple of times before she pulled away. As she pulled back, Andy leaned forward an before Miaka knew what was happening, it was over. Andy had placed a soft chaste kiss upon her left cheek, right above her jaw line, and closer to her ear than her mouth.

Stunned into silence, Miaka sputtered for a moment, trying to find the words to… to reprimand him, yell at him… or something. "You… You agreed we were just friends." She finally managed, accusingly jabbing her index finger at him.

Andy shrugged and then grinned cheekily, "Friends kiss all the time in France."

Smart ass… she thought, but she couldn't help grinning right back at him. "Alright smart guy. Get out of here before I beat you." She mock-threatened him to cover up her embarrassment.

A sudden deliberate cough from behind her made Miaka glance over her shoulder, mid-laugh, still grinning like an idiot.

Suddenly, all laughter drained from her face. Her suddenly sober attitude seemed to suck the life from the very air itself.

She gave a small, timid wave. "Uhhh…Hey… Taka."

Yumiko: Tsa! Gomen minna-san! I know I was kinda hard on the labs and the poodles. If you happen to own one of those breeds I extend my apologies to you. *whimper* But I needed a breed or two to pick on… (Yumi's not an animal abuser BTW. The dog just didn't like water and she was handling it a little rougher than necessary. That's all)

Readers: Err… Yeah. Psycho.

Yumi: But trust me. Labs and poodles do become your least favorite breeds after having worked with dogs for awhile. Believe me. I know. I work at a kennel.

Readers: Really. We couldn't tell.

Yumi: *knows she should be smacked for making Miaka do her job for her* Don't gimme your sarcasm… Really. Daydreaming while working there is quite entertaining. Especially when you have such lovely characters to mentally torture. It's even funnier when said character is unusually predisposed to being clean all the time.

Hotohori: *tapping foot* Alright, alright. Now that you've had your fun… When do I get to pummel Tamahome and get the girl??!

Yumiko: *dot dot dot* Uhm. Sorry Hoto-chan, but, uh. How do I say this? You don't get to pummel Tamahome. But you will eventually get the girl. I promise. I just have to work up to it.

Hotohori: Work faster!

Yumiko: *shakes finger* Don't make me let Allen and Zechs lose on you. *nodnod* Yes. I know the Ouija board said Allen was here to protect me from Miroku, but I'm sure the gesture extends to any other muses I happen to have… Wait a minute. Allen! You aren't doing your job! Some of Andy's thoughts in this chapter can be interpreted… well yeah.

Miroku: Please don't involve me in this…

Hotohori: *Rant. Rage. Fume.* What happened to you getting out a chapter every few days or so?

Yumiko: My inspiration demon seems to have died. *hands lifeless looking faery/demon/thing to Hotohori* See if you can fix it.

Hotohori: Who do you think I am? Hagrid? *grumbles and jabs the lifeless creature* Come on… Move…

Inspiration demon: …

***

Review please! I know this took a while to get out and I hope no ones given up on me yet!!

BTW: If anyone wants to email me to chat or whatever, email me at miaka86@msn.com. The addy on my profile has been screwed up so I can't get into it anymore. So I can't change it. I may have to make a new pen name and use a different email even. Grrr… stupid Gateway…. All their fault.