Thanks for all the reviews you gave. I really appreciate it. Anyways, this chapter contains very 'intimate' stuff so if you feel uncomfortable reading it, just skip it. I'm telling you now so be warned.

Kuruta - yeah, that's the problem I have with my laptop. My PC's a different story, I just don't know what's wrong with it. It keeps on freezing. Angel - I bet you look great with your new hair style! It's so good to hear from you again. Hey, maybe you & I can work together & make one great story! BetterDeadThanAlone - whether or not Matt finds out that Michael cheated on Mimi, he won't kill him. I don't want my characters to be murderers or something. In later chapters, Michael will do something to Mimi...but I'm not gonna tell. Don't worry, it's not that bad. luvfaytdestini - sure, I'll include you in my next fic. Just give me your name & I'll work on it.

ChapterEleven: Too Much

Matt carried her upstairs, his mouth never leaving hers. He carried her to her room & laid her on the bed.

"I'm in Mimi Tachikawa's bedroom." He grinned a lopsided grin as he joined her on the bed. "I haven't been in your bedroom for years."

Mimi laughed, her eyes glittering as he started to undress her. "Mmm, not since college anyway."

He leaned his head to the curve of her neck. "I remember you had this nightshirt with a bear on the front. It was sexy as hell."

Mimi tried to concentrate on his words as his tongue touched her skin. "God, you thought that was sexy?"

His voice was muffled. "You made lots of stuff look sexy."

His mouth continued moving over her skin in damp circles. She moaned & he smiled against her skin, moving his mouth further up the side of her neck.

"Way back then you thought I was sexy?"

His breath tickled against her ear as he whispered, "You, Tachikawa, have no idea what you did to my libido when I was nineteen & in my early twenties. It's just not something you tell to your best friend."

Her mind flickered back to her earlier conversation with Sora. She smiled, winding her fingers through his hair & pulled back his head so that she could see his eyes. "And what about now?"

He gave a sexy smile. "Now I'm telling you as your lover. You are probably the sexiest woman I have ever known. And I want you."

The words empowered her, giving her newfound strength in what she was capable of doing to him. The kiss was hot, her mouth open & wet against his as her fingers moved restlessly through his hair & then down across his shoulders. Touching the material of his shirt, she moaned against his mouth, "Off."

Her order was immediately obeyed. He pulled the shirt over his head & then his mouth went back to hers. Her skin was so soft, everywhere. "I love how you feel."

The words tickled against her swollen lips as he dragged one long finger lightly down her side. He smiled as she giggled, resting the tip of his nose against hers. "You always were very ticklish."

She squirmed beneath him, laughing louder as he tickled her. "Stop! You jerk, that's not fair."

His eyes sparkled in the dim light of the room. "There you go with the name-calling again. You need to learn my real name, you know." He dragged the same finger further down her side & then ran it across her waistband. "Let's see now…what's my name?"

The lightness of his touch drew another gasp from her lips. "Ishida…"

"Nope, that's not it." He gave another hot kiss. "Don't you think that now we're this close you should at least call me Matt?"

She tried to answer but was distracted as he nipped at her earlobe, gently tugging it.

"Oh, my God."

His head raised as he smiled at her. "No, just Matt will do."

Mimi smiled, reaching out to run her finger along the fullness of his lower lip. Never before did she notice how sexy his lower lip was, especially when he does that sensual pout.

His eyes sparkled warmly at her as he hooked a thumb under her waistband. "Now, what was it you said earlier? Oh, yeah, I remember. Off."

"Yes, sir." She saluted & then raised her hips slightly, allowing him to remove the offending article.

He gave another kiss. "I would settle for sir, you know."

Mimi kissed him back, silencing him for several moments & feeling his hardness against hers. She slowly smiled at him, her voice seductive. "In your dreams."

"You have no idea what's been in my dreams." He touched his nose against hers & stared into her eyes. "But then this is even better than I imagined."

Mimi arched her hips as his finger slid into her wetness. "Matt, please…"

Kissing her deeply, he slid another finger inside her. He heard her call his name & then with a shrug, he was out of his remaining clothes. When he spoke his voice was husky with need. "Say it again."

Moving her hands to draw him closer, she looked into his blue eyes. "Please, Matt. I cant wait any more."

Mimi's senses were lost as their bodies moved in fast rhythm. She reached her climax & called out his name. After a few more thrusts, Matt found his release. There was silence, only their harsh breathing can be heard.

Eventually, Matt lifted his head from her neck to look down at her. "Hey, there, how you doin'?

Her mouth slowly formed a smile at the sound of his low voice. "Forgot my name already, Ishida?"

Her eyes opened as she looked at his flushed face. As if checking her face for signs of doubt, he studied her every feature before a familiar teasing light twinkled in his blue eyes. "Sorry, do I know you?"

A car door closed outside the house & the sound of voices drifted through to them. Mimi's eyes widened. "They're back! You've got to go."

"Maybe I don't want to." He frowned down at her.

But Mimi was already moving away from him. "Don't be stupid. They can't see us like this. We agreed, remember?"

Matt rolled onto the edge of the bed & reached for his clothes.

Putting on a nightshirt & dressing gown, she glanced at him across the room. "Please?"

Without fastening his jeans, he grabbed his shirt & then turned to look at her, his face dark in the light from the hallway. "We didn't do anything wrong here, so just remind me again why it is we're sneaking around like two teenagers? Because I REALLY need to know."

"Not now," she placed the palms of her hands against his chest, pushing him into the hallway as the front door closed. "Let's talk about this tomorrow."

He stopped at her doorway. "Why can't we talk about it now?"

After a nervous glance towards the stairs, Mimi consciously looked at his face & was surprised by the look he had. Did he feel she was rejecting him in some way? How could he possibly think that after what just happened between them? She blinked at him in confusion. He agreed with her about not telling Michael, so what was wrong?

Her voice was low. "Do you always go parading in front of your friends when you just had sex with someone?"

This made him angry. "The fuck I do. It's no one else's business anyway. Besides this is different & you know it."

"You want to wait here until they catch us? Or would you prefer we walk around the house naked until they figure it out?"

"Well, no, but…"

She glared at him. "They didn't tell us when they first slept together, Ishida, so why the hell should we tell them?"

Matt realized she was making him sound stupid, but still a part of him wanted to tell the world that… What? He just slept with Mimi Tachikawa? No, that wasn't enough. That he just had the greatest sex of his life with his best friend? That made him sound like a complete ass. And it wasn't enough either. So what was it then?

He looked at Mimi when she glanced towards the stairway again. Her hair was messy & her cheeks were flushed. His chest tightened at the sight of her, his body stiffening with recent memories of their lovemaking. She was just so damned beautiful. He felt his heart skip a beat as he realized the truth. HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HER. He always had been.

When she looked back at him, her eyes were pleading. "Please, if have to ruin what happened between us tonight with a fight, can't we do it tomorrow?"

Both of them turned at the familiar creak of the first stair. Matt looked back at her, his voice low. "Nothing could ruin what just happened."

"God, I know," she smiled softly. "We will tell them, Matt. The two of us, together. Just not right now, okay?"

For a split-second he hesitated, almost revealing his discovery about his true feelings. And then he said, "Okay."

Mimi barely had a second to see his door close before she closed her own & footsteps passed outside her room.

Flashback

Four years earlier…

"He's still not over you, you know."

Mimi sighed at Matt's words. It had been two years since she left Odaiba & Michael behind. "How can he not be?"

"Well, maybe the guy loved you more than you loved him. Didn't that thought ever occur to you?"

She transferred the phone to her other ear before answering. "I DID love him. I just didn't love him enough."

There was a faint crackling on the line as Matt thought. "How do you know?"

"Know what?"

"Whether or not you love someone enough."

Mimi popped another potato chip into her mouth. "You just do. I guess it feels like you've loved them forever."

"Damn, are you still reading those romance things?"

She giggled. "Nah, I don't have time to read. Anyway, just because I'm crap at relationships doesn't mean I don't believe in love."

She could almost see his smile. "Who says you're crap at relationships? You still have me."

"You're different."

His laughter was a low rumble down the line. "Anyway, how's the new man of yours?"

"Chad."

"What?"

She smiled again. "His name is Chad."

"What mother would name her son Chad?"

"For your information, he's a really nice guy. He's good-looking & sexy as hell."

"Whatever, but he's not 'the one'?" It was a statement more than question. "So, are you still looking for Mr. Right or do you think maybe you left him behind in Japan?"

Mimi sighed. "Look, I know Michael's your friend & believe me, I'm sorry he's hurt but our relationship just wasn't right. And even if I don't find that 'right' relationship with someone else, it doesn't mean I don't deserve it."

"I hope you do find it, Tachikawa."

They stayed in companionable long-distance silence for a moment, & then Mimi asked, "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"You believe in love?"

"Dunno," he swallowed a mouthful of coffee. "I guess so."

"You know, sometimes you can just be such a man."

"Hey, how come you manage to make that sound like an insult?"

Mimi smiled affectionately, knowing he couldn't see her. "Just wait, the right woman will steal your heart away before you know it."

"And we'll live happily ever after in a kingdom far, far away." He grinned, "Whatever."

"Just wait."

"I bet you it won't happen."

"Ha, I bet it will."

"Well, not judging by the hot dates I've had this year."

A bubble of laughter grew in her chest. "You know, people will start to talk about you if you're not careful."

Matt huffed. "You mean more than they already do?"

"You're the one loving the life as a bachelor."

"It has its bad points too. Anyway, what exactly will they say? No, no, let me guess." There was silence for a moment. "How can someone that wonderful manage to stay single for so long?"

Mimi laughed at his vocal impression of a woman.

He continued, "No, maybe something more like, Yamato Ishida is a powerful good-looking man, isn't he? Is that what you mean?"

"No," she laughed again. "I was thinking of you managing to stay single for so long & the fact that your best friend is a woman…"

"Tachikawa, you better not be suggesting that I'm gay or else I'll have to fly over there & show you how much of a man I am!"

"That'll be the day."

"I'd spoil you for anyone else."

"Whatever."

They smiled at each other from either side of the world. Mimi thought for a moment or two, considering whether to tell him about Michael. Is he ready? "I talked to him, you know."

Silence.

"Hello, you still there?"

"I'm here. You spoke to Michael?"

"Uh-huh."

"And how did that go?" Matt found himself holding his breath.

"Okay, at least we were able to talk like two adults, which is good."

"He asked you to come back?"

Mimi frowned at the cool edge of his voice. "Aren't the one always asking me if I'm sure I made the right choice?"

"Yeah, but aren't you the one always telling me it's over?"

"It is."

"Then how come you talked to him now after all this time?"

She sighed. Matt obviously wasn't ready to hear everything. She could tell by his tone. Maybe she'd never tell him…just let him believe that she broke Michael's heart & it was all her fault. "He sent me a letter & after all the things he said in it, I just had to talk to him. There were…issues we needed to settle, that's all."

Matt thought for a moment. Issues? What kind of issues? But then if Mimi wanted to tell him, she's tell him. "You're okay, though?"

"I'm fine…really."

"You know you broke his heart, don't you?"

Mimi sighed. "Yes, I'm sure I did & I'm sure he's sorry it didn't work out, but that's life. It's awkward for you, thought. I'm sorry if you feel you're stuck in the middle."

"Hey, don't go worrying about me. I'm a big boy now. I can dress myself & everything."

She smiled. "Hmm, I've seen the way you dress. I wouldn't go boasting about it if I were you."

There was silence for another moment, then he said, "I'm not taking any sides here. You know that, don't you?"

"I know."

"Good girl. So, about this male thing…"

End of Flashback

"We need to talk."

Mimi turned at the sound of the familiar voice. She smiled wryly. "I was wondering how long this was going to take."

He found her at her usual thinking spot near the shore. "It had to happen some time."

"Yeah, I guess it does."

Closing the distance between them with a couple of steps, Michael pulled her in his arms. Resting his chin on her head, he breathed in the familiar scent of her hair & she smiled. "How is it you always manage to smell so good?"

"I don't know. I guess it's a woman thing."

His chest rumbled with low laughter. "Damn, but I've missed you. Why didn't you come & see me since the first time you came home?"

Mimi pulled back slightly from him so that she could smile into his familiar eyes. "Hey, I could sat the same thing, you know. I haven't seen you driving that flashy car of yours to come & see me either."

"I guess I could try blaming work or my new relationship with Kynna, but somehow that's just not an excuse, is it?" He leaned towards her to whisper, "How about I just say I'm sorry, & I should have visited more?"

Mimi laughed. "Then I guess an apology like that would work & I forgive you."

"One of the things I loved about you the most if your sincerity."

"Well…" she moved away from him, "most of the time anyway."

They looked at each other for a few silent moments. Mimi was the first to break the tension, turning her head back to look at the beach. "Just in case I haven't said it, I'm really happy for you & Kynna."

"Really?"

She turned around to face him again. "Yeah, really. Just because things didn't work out with us doesn't mean I don't care about your happiness. Kynna's perfect for you."

His eyes glanced over her shoulder. "Yeah, she is." He looked back into her eyes for a moment before turning his gaze to the sea. "You know, coming back here made me think about the happy times with you, Matt & I had before."

She smiled. "They were great times."

"Maybe it's got something to do with watching you & Matt."

Mimi's stomach did a flop. Was this a confrontation?

"The thing is…" he shifted on his feet slightly, "you two still have as much fun together as we did back then, & I miss that. I guess what I'm saying is…"

"We can't be the people we were back in college for the rest of our lives, Michael."

He looked irritated for a second, her words touched a nerve. "I know that, but I would just like some of that happiness back. Some of the joy we used to have in life. You & me."

"Michael," her eyes widened with questions. "It's normal for you to be nervous about getting married; it's a very big step. But when you love someone enough to propose…"

"I proposed to you once."

His simple words had the power to hit her with the force of kick. It happened a long time ago. And the girl who had been so in love with him then was not the same woman who came home from the States after six years of running away. Mimi had grown up. She learned from her mistakes & moved on. But truth be told, she never completely had that 'closure' with Michael. She never quite got over the fact that she could love someone that much & still have him cheat on her.

"That was different."

Michael was surprised by the coldness of her voice. "Was it?"

"Look, Michael, if you're afraid that Kynna will run off like I did, then don't be. Unless you're dumb enough to mess things up again…which I'm sure you're not. This woman really loves you. She knows you & loves for the person you are right here & now."

"And you don't?"

She sighed. "Michael…"

"No, come on, I'm curious. We were together for almost four years. We knew each other better than anyone else ever could, & yet it wasn't enough, was it? If I didn't cheat on you before, would still have left?"

"Why are you doing this?"

He ran his fingers through his curly blonde hair. "I need to know that there's no possible chance for us before I jump into something else."

Mimi stared at him. "You're ENGAGED for crying out loud. Michael, please don't do this. It happened a lifetime ago & we've managed to stay friends…just friends."

"Have we?"

One hand ran roughly across her eyes to clear her head. She took a break from work to think about what happened last night with Matt, & all of sudden she was confronted with the problems of another relationship. Life is full of shit…

"Look, we've stayed in touch with each other & never stopped caring…isn't that enough, Michael? What happened doesn't change our history. I'm sad that it didn't work, but it's in the past. It's over."

"Then how come you never had another serious relationship since us? Hasn't that thought ever crossed your mind?"

If only he knew. "That's none of your business."

"It if is if it means we should give us another try. What if we're meant to be, Mimi? We could be throwing a lifetime with happiness without even knowing."

She stared at him for several moments, speechless. How could he even be saying this? She never, ever thought about it, but Michael sure did. She couldn't deal with this. Not now that Matt… Her eyes widened as she realized she couldn't tell Michael what was happening with her & Matt. He really wasn't ready to hear it. It was obvious that it would hurt him, but it might possible hurt Kynna too. Poor girl, she doesn't deserve it. She shook her head. How long could they keep hiding it from Michael? How could she explain this Matt?

Michael stepped closer, his hand reaching towards her. "Please, at least think about what I'm saying. Think about how happy we were. The three musketeers, remember?"

Not if she asked Matt to choose between her & Michael. Not that she doubted Matt wanted her. Its just that she knew he would never forgive her for hurting someone else to keep what she wanted for herself. She stepped back. "I can't do this, Michael. I can't talk about this with you. It's not fair to…"

He kept moving towards her. "We need to know so we can move on with out lives. Together, Mimi."

"No!" She pushed past him & did what she did just over six years ago. She ran.

It was too much. Mimi knew she couldn't deal with it. Everything was already too new & fragile, & in that moment she hated Michael for making things more difficult.

AN: I hope you like this chapter. Most of you probably hate me now for putting Michael in this chapter, but I had to. Don't forget to review guys!

(p.s. I think Chad Michael Murray is hott!)