AN: Okay. Hayai, first of all, you have to promise me you will not kill any of my characters until AFTER the story is written alright? *cringes* I'm sick today… So no calling me and screaming in my ear about the content of this chapter!!

Anyway, my writing mojo is returning. Be happy!

We Will Meet Again

Chapter Ten: Playing Dirty

Yumiko Kaze

Miaka sighed dreamily as she practically floated up the stairs to her apartment. At that moment if someone had asked her name she doubted that she would have been able to remember it. Her date with Andy had left her feeling dizzy and lightheaded, as if it had all been nothing than a very real dream. Her entire world felt surreal.

Letting herself in, Miaka headed to the kitchen, preparing to put the food that she and Andy had eaten back where it belonged. She hummed to herself as she rolled up the end of the chip bag and clipped it before opening the pantry door. She stopped a moment, glaring at the top shelf where she had drug it down from. It was easy enough to jump and grab something from it, but it was near impossible for Miaka, at her height of five foot two, to manage to replace anything without it falling right back onto her skull.

With a small grunt, Miaka hopped and tossed the bag, hoping that for once it would magically sail into place and not give her grief… but noooooo… it bounced right back and Miaka's other hand flew up just in time to catch it before it hit her face. "Ugh." She muttered, getting ready for another throw. If she didn't make it this time she'd just forget cleaning, leave it for Keisuke to pick up when he got home, and go to bed.

Miaka jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder. She squeaked and was suddenly acutely aware of a presence behind her. She froze as a hand reached past her head and took the bag, the person leaning forward and brushing against her as he (judging by the hands it was a he) reached up and placed the chips neatly on the shelf.

Miaka rolled her eyes as she started to turn, "Keisuke, I thought I told you not to scare me like that anymore you-" she trailed off when she caught sight of who it was. She dropped her hand that had been raised to smack her brother and blinked, "Oh, it's you."

Taka frowned, "Who else would I be?"

"Sorry. Keisuke scared the crap outta me the other night when I came home from…" she trailed off. Taka didn't really know that she and Andy had been seeing each other as more than friends, although she would have thought he'd suspected something.

Apparently though, he hadn't picked up on her little slip.

"Miaka, I've been doing some thinking," he began, trailing her around the kitchen as she put various things away, "I realize that I haven't exactly been the best boyfriend as of late," Miaka bit her tongue to keep from biting out a sarcastic 'ya think?' and busied herself with wiping down the counters, listening, but also not really paying attention, her mind still not willing to finish replaying her date with Andy.

Feeling guilty for her mind wandering, Miaka clamped down on the thoughts of Andy and forcefully shoved them to the back of her mind; there would be time to dwell on those thoughts later, for now she had other things to deal with. She forced herself to listen as Taka told her how he had come to this realization that he needed to pay more attention to her.

Miaka paused in her wiping of the counter and stiffened as Taka stood close behind her. She was still giddy from her date with Andy, and was very aware of his presence and the warmth that his body gave off. Swallowing, Miaka resumed wiping the counter. Drat the man. She wasn't sure if it was intentional or not, but where he was standing conveniently penned her into a corner where the Lazy-Suzan was. There was a counter on either side of her and, short of pushing him out of her way forcibly, she was trapped.

An arm wrapped around her middle, a hand reaching out and taking her hand that wasn't holding the towel and lacing his fingers with hers. Miaka froze as Taka pulled her back against him and kissed the top of her head gently, saying, "I want to try and find what we had…" as his voice trailed off, the hand around her middle trailed up and Miaka squirmed at the feel of his fingers brushing her ribs lightly.

Miaka could feel her insides melting at his familiar touch and inwardly scolded herself for being so easily aroused. Her heart picked up speed as Taka's lips descended to her neck. If she didn't put a stop to this now, she was afraid that things would go further than she really wanted them too. What was he doing in her apartment anyhow? Alright… scratch that thought, she knew exactly what he was doing in her apartment, however, she distinctly remembered telling him that they needed a break.

Collecting herself as best she could, Miaka took the hand that was slowly creeping up her side, unwrapped it from around her middle and twisted away from Taka all in one smooth movement. She could tell her cheeks were flushed and that her breathing was a little funny, but she was determined not to let Taka see that. "Taka… I appreciate you coming all the way over here to tell me this… but I think you should leave." She couldn't make herself meet his eyes and she focused instead on one of the cupboards over his shoulder.

Taka sputtered, confused, and not at all pleased, "But Miaka… I thought that this was what you wanted? You told me that I had some things that I needed to realize, I believe that I've realized them, and now I come over here to try and make amends and you're telling me to just leave?" his violet eyes resembled storm clouds as he stared at her incredulously. He really couldn't believe it. Was Miaka actually kicking him out?

Miaka twiddled her thumbs and sighed, "I know. And I'm glad that you've taken my words to heart and thought about things. I'm also very glad that you have the presence of mind to try and fix things between us." She smiled up at him, her heart constricting slightly at the wounded expression on his face. That had been one of the things that she'd so admired about him in the past, and she still did. However, now… that's all that was really there. The admiration that she felt for him being such a kind and good person, and… though he had just proved to her that he could still make her feel the things that he'd used to, Miaka wasn't really sure that it was him she wanted anymore. Like now. A few seconds ago when he had been touching her and doing all the right things, Miaka had felt that old fire beginning to rekindle itself, but now… even with him standing just a few feet away, she really didn't feel any incentive to pursue him like she did Andy.

"Just… please, Taka. Leave?" she asked, still looking away. She really didn't know what to say to him anymore. In her mind there was really only one last thing that needed to be said, and that was the one thing that Miaka didn't know if she could say at all.

Taka stepped toward her, "But I want to fix things." He gripped her shoulders, "I know we can. We just have to give it a chance."

At those words, Miaka felt tears come to her eyes. The only thing that could compare to how bad she felt was watching Hotohori die and knowing that she couldn't be there to help him. For years, she and Taka had been each others comfort, but now… she wasn't going to be there for him anymore. At least not until she could straighten things out with herself and Andy first.

"I think it may already be too late for that Taka…" she said sadly, looking up at him and taking in his rather shocked expression. "The reason that I wanted to take a break was because I had to have time to figure some things out." She cringed, she knew that line sounded horribly cliché, but there really was no other way to phrase it. And now she had to tell him exactly what she was trying to figure out. "I've been spending a lot of time with Andy over the last few days."

Realization and a dark understanding crept into Taka's face, and with that understanding came anger. It did not come swiftly, but it came with all the force of a street roller, old and ancient and completely unstoppable. It was the age old anger of the betrayed, of having been replaced. "Andy," his eyes narrowed, the storm clouds in them flashing with lightning, "You mean, His Highness." He scowled, voice shaking with rage, "And just what have you been doing with Andy these last couple of days that would cause you to…" suddenly all anger left his face and voice and he simply looked lost and alone, "want to leave me?"

Miaka blinked back the tears. Words couldn't describe how bad she felt for doing this to Taka, but she knew that if she were to continue in her relationship with him that she would just end up being unhappy. She had been so for quite a while before Andy had come into her life. As much as she cared for Taka, her happiness was not something that she was willing to sacrifice any longer in order to make him happy. When she voiced her thoughts on the matter, and told him that she was beginning to develop feelings for the reincarnated Emperor, Taka suddenly changed.

It was like that night at the festival. When his face had been shadowed and his body had been shaking with anger. Only this time Taka didn't punch the wall. However, just like that night, it seemed that her telling him that it was over was only making him more determined.

Slowly he backed away from Miaka and went to pick up his jacket from one of the kitchen chairs. "I want you to know Miaka, that this changes nothing about the way I feel about you." He regarded her with shaded eyes, "You want to take a break, that's fine with me. You need to sort out your own feelings…" he sighed, "I guess I can try to understand, but know this… I'll always be here, and I'll always love you."

Stone faced and rigid, Taka then headed for the door and let himself out, Miaka could hear the door click as he locked it behind himself.

Miaka, for her part, stood where she was and stared at the floor. She felt like the lowest creature on the face of the planet. It seemed that Taka still wasn't ready to give up on them yet. She felt horrible for hurting him, yet the fact that she was now technically home free in pursuing a relationship with Andy made her feel almost light headed. Somehow, the thought of her and Taka not being together anymore didn't make her feel as sad and depressed as she thought she should be feeling. Maybe it was post break up shock? Would the pain of it all hit her later?

Or…

Perhaps this was proof that she had done the right thing?

All of her other previous break-ups had hurt like hell. Either she was getting immune to them, or… she really had fallen out of love with Taka without her even really noticing it.

Miaka's head swam with all sorts of thoughts ranging from her situation with Taka and Andy to possibly going away with Andy on tour to the fact that she had a test in the morning that she hadn't studied for… Placing a hand to the bridge of her nose to try and halt her oncoming headache, Miaka reached for a bottle of Advil, took three, and then headed off to bed. Maybe she could figure everything out in her dreams.

Failing that, she'd think about it all in the morning.

And if that still didn't work…

She'd call Yui.

Feeling resolute, Miaka sank into her pillow and was asleep in seconds.

***************************

"I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul…" Andy sang softly as he strolled down the hallway towards his hotel room. He had changed rooms in the days since Miaka had come with him to pick up the lyrics for Mr. Kimoto. In addition to the gifts he had been receiving at the front desk, he had also been getting some obviously hand delivered packages left just outside his door. He hadn't mentioned it to Miaka, not wanting to worry her, but the things he received kept getting odder and odder… He shoved he thoughts from his mind as he continued singing. He had just heard an English song on the radio, and he had immediately developed an attachment to some of the lyrics, sadly, those were the only ones he could remember… he'd have to ask Miaka who sang the song so he could buy the CD… He hummed the tune until it came to the next part that he knew.

"I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness…" Andy was suddenly reminded of Miaka. She had told him earlier that she had spent most of the last few years of her life forgiving Taka for one thing or another, and that it had indeed caused her unhappiness to have to keep forgiving.

He skipped the next two lines, not remembering them, and then belted out the next line and the chorus, which was the only continuous part of the song he knew, "I believe in love surviving death into eternity…" somehow, that line seemed to strike a chord very deep within him. For a moment wondered exactly why it affected him so, and drew a blank.

"I believe in Karma, what you give is what you get returned… I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned…" Andy couldn't remember having ever been burned before, but somehow this line struck a chord as deep as the last one had. Maybe he had had a past life where he'd been unlucky in love? He didn't really know.

"I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side…" Andy could relate this to the current situation with Miaka. He had heard some of his fellow singers talk about how their partners had cheated on them and about the feelings of betrayal and hurt that they had felt because of it. Andy could now say that he knew that the other side of something like that happening wasn't necessarily any easier than being the one betrayed. He knew that Miaka had been mentally battling with her feelings for her old boyfriend while still trying to sort out everything that had been happening between himself and her. Andy hoped to god that she would pick him in the end, but he knew that nothing anyone could offer him would be able to make him envy her position. The choice that she was facing was likely one of the hardest that she would ever have to make.

"I believe you don't you've got until you say good bye…" Andy mused, that as well was very true. Miaka had told him that Taka hadn't seemed very interested in trying to be a lover to her until he had realized that he had some competition. For a moment Andy felt a cold wave of fear. If the reality of losing Miaka kicked in and Taka stepped up the game…would Miaka go back to him? Andy paused in his walking, catching sight of a package sitting in front of his new hotel room.

Gah! Stalker! He thought, wrinkling his nose and picking the thing up, automatically opening it and snorting at the contents. There was a rather expensive looking watch and a note which a condom was taped to.

Since the condom was obstructing some of the words on the note, Andy removed it and stuck it in his back pocket without really thinking before reading the note.

Disgusted, Andy sighed, "Wear this for me and we can have some fun?" he felt like laughing hysterically. It was the same person that had sent him the candy a few days ago, he could tell by the handwriting. Shaking his head he unlocked the door to his room and stepped inside, surprised to see that the lamp next to the bed was on and…

Andy paled and quickly turned away.

He did not want to see that! He really didn't!

"What's the matter Andy?" purred Shiko, Andy stiffened at her voice, he could hear her rising from her place on his bed and the soft sound her feet made on the carpet as she padded her way toward him.

Shiko trailed a hand down his arm and watched as he flinched away from her. She smirked at his stiff posture. She enjoyed the way he was so flustered. Her voice low, Shiko maneuvered so that she was between Andy and the door. She laughed when he averted his eyes from her scantily clad figure.

"Don't you like it, Andy? I picked this out especially for you…" she twisted a lock of hair around her finger and tilted her neck to the side, the silky strap of her less than modest black lingerie slipping down her shoulder.

Andy could feel his face redden and he stubbornly continued to study the ceiling. He would not look… He would not look… "What are you doing here Shiko? This is my room."

"Why Andy… I would have thought that was obvious," she purred, looping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his. She sighed as she brought her face close to his, she was tall, and thus was able to do so quite easily. Using one hand she tilted Andy's head so that she could look into his eyes – the man was still staring at the ceiling, and Shiko was determined to show him that she could be far more interesting.

"Shiko… I think you should leave," Andy said, pushing her away gently but firmly and shrugging out of his jacket, hanging it in the small closet provided by the door.

Shiko's dark eyes roved over Andy's body that the turtle neck seemed to disguise and emphasize all at once. She wasn't leaving. Not until she got what she wanted.

Her mouth formed automatically into the sexiest pout that she could manage as she once again invaded his personal space and ran her fingers up and down his chest, "Now don't be like that… don't you think that you and I could have a little fun?" she gazed at him with her best coy expression as he backed up slightly. Shiko followed him, forcing him back farther into the room and laughed when the back of his knees hit the bed and he toppled backwards with a startled oomph.

Andy stared stupidly at the ceiling as he lay spread-eagled. He was confused. What did Shiko think she was doing?

Now if that isn't an invitation… I don't know what is! Shiko thought as she settled herself on the edge of the bed and leaned over him, an arm on either side of his head. She smiled sweetly at him as her hand snaked up underneath his shirt and began stroking his chest and stomach with cool fingers.

Andy shivered and regained his senses, once again trying to shove her away. However, Shiko was persistent and even as he tried to push her away, trailed her hands down and pressed against his rear. He jumped at the unexpected action and frowned even as Shiko's eyes lit up, one of her hands going so far as to reach inside one of his back pockets.

"Shiko stop it. Get your hands out of there." The last part came out as a yelp when she gave him a little squeeze and brought the hand that had been in his pocket around for him to see.

"And what may I ask is this, oh reluctant one?" Andy inwardly groaned, she had found the stupid condom…

"It's not…" he began, but Shiko cut him off.

"Came prepared I see…" she purred and leaned in, brushing her lips against his and wrapping her arm around his neck while the other happily stayed where it was.

Andy froze for all of three seconds before shoving her away with perhaps a little more force than necessary. Shiko bounced as she hit the mattress and pouted, "And~y…." she whined, "What's wrong?"

"Did you forget that I already have a girlfriend?" he said as he stood, trying to figure out of to extricate the girl from his room without causing a scene and starting rumors.

Shiko snorted, "Oh, you mean that mousy little girl that you've been hanging out with? I thought you two were just friends." She glared up at Andy as though he had betrayed her in some way. "I don't know what you see in her anyway. It's not like she's as good looking as me."

Andy growled, she had gone a little too far there. In Andy's eyes, Miaka was beautiful. "All the good looks in the world won't change your rotten personality."

At that, Shiko's eyes flashed dangerously and she stood up, straightening her lingerie as she went, "My rotten personality? Well this 'rotten personality' is all you're gonna have once we leave Tokyo this weekend!" she spat, "Remember? We're only here for a week. Why the hell are you even trying? Once we leave you'll never see her again, and I bet the only reason she even likes you is because you're famous. You're just a novelty to her!!" Shiko's eyes were tearing up now in her rage. Trying to cover up how hurt she actually was by Andy's rejection, she lashed out with one well manicured hand and left a bloody trail across his face.

Andy stared at her in shock. His first instinct was to hit back, but he had been brought up better than that and simply stood there. Suddenly the need to hurt Shiko just as badly as she had hurt him took over and Andy scowled darkly, "Maybe not. I asked her tonight to come with on tour."

"What?" sparks seemed to fly from the corner's of Shiko's eyes as this new information hit her. "You can't do that!"

"I believe I can."

Shiko snarled, "Well I hope you have a picture of her, because by the time I get my hands on her, you won't be able to recognize the little twit!" with a toss of her hair, Shiko stalked towards the door and grabbed her robe, "Miaka Yuuki will regret the day that she met you." She hissed, opening the door with such force that by the time she was through it, it slammed itself.

Andy stared in disbelief and shock at the closed door before going and locking the deadbolt and chain securely before he sat down at the small table provided and rested his head in his hands.

Crazy females!

************************************

Miaka groaned, rolling over in bed to look at the glowing alarm clock on her nightstand.

1:00 AM? Who the hell would be visiting at this hour?

The doorbell continued to ring persistently and though Miaka contemplated just going back to sleep and letting Keisuke or her mother get it, the knowledge that it could be an emergency was enough to rouse her. Now fully awake, Miaka hurried down the hallway to the front door yelling as she went, "Alright already goddamnit! I'm up!" she reached the door, noting that the ringing had stopped as soon as she had yelled. Unlocking the door, Miaka grumbled to herself that whoever it was had better have a damn good reason for waking her up at such a late hour.

There was no one there.

The hallway was empty too.

Damn. Whoever was pestering her was sure a speedy little bugger.

Having experienced this once before, Miaka looked down and raised an eyebrow at the small package and note that lay at her feet. Humoring whoever had taken the time to drop it off, she opened the note and rolled her eyes as she read it aloud.

 "You don't deserve Andy. He's mine. I won't let you come between us and our love." She let the hand holding the note drop to her side and glowered, glancing down the hallway to make absolutely sure that she wasn't going to miss kicking this person's ass and shut the door and locked it.

Tired and grumpy, she ignored the note and tossed it in the garbage, turning the small package over and over in her hands, wondering whether or not she should risk opening. She held it to her ear and listened.

Well. It didn't seem to be ticking.

With a shrug, Miaka opened it and grimaced.

Whoever had left this was just sick.

Wrapped in a paper towel were several dog turds arranged in the shape of a skull and crossbones. Miaka wrinkled her nose at the smell and took it to the bathroom, flushing the whole thing. After washing her hands, Miaka headed back down the hall to her room.

As she passed her mother's room, Mrs. Yuuki poked her head out and sleepily asked, "Who was it Miaka? What did they want?"

"They had the wrong apartment." Miaka lied, not wanting to worry her mother about some stupid little prank.

"Ahh." Mrs. Yuuki accepted her daughter's explanation

Miaka sighed and returned to bed.

To Be Continued….

AN: Oh the suspense! Who is it? Is it Ayame, or is it Shiko? They both have motive, they want Andy! Mwahahaha!

Okay. So maybe you all know who it is. Gimme ya geusses! I wanna see how well I did with the whole "Whodunnit" thing.

This chapter was supposed to be longer. But Once again it turned out longer than I thought it would, so I decided to cut it in half. *shrug* Ah well.