Disclaimer: I own nothing but the poem at the end. Made it up just now.

Author's Notes: Yeah, was fucking pissed as hell at being ditched without cause tonight, so poetry is just welling up inside of me. Honestly, that's some sucky work in this chapter, but I'm going to bust out something good tonight, I can feel it. Anger and sadness feed the inspiration for my poetry... don't ask. I'm just a sick freak like that. Anyway, have fun with this one folks.

Noriko's Story

Friends, family…

There's an obvious line between the two, but sometimes, that line becomes so blurred, you don't know who is what and right and wrong are decisions you have to make in just a few short moments. Trouble follows duteously, as (I suppose) it should.

My line kept blurring. Were they close friends, or had they become family? Would that mean I was lusting after my own brother time and time again? Committing one of the vilest sins known to man, laying down in a bed of incestuous lies… and loving every second?

Humans are hurtful, selfish creatures, and I am no exception. I look out for others in a subconscious attempt to gain what I want. Only looking back on those moments, can I find my hidden cause. And I find it to be a sad day indeed when that realization comes to me again and again. The small cycle, that chain reaction of using each other, working towards our own petty goals.

Jealousy is an all too human trait. Cursed are those who let it rule their lives. 'Protecting' what is 'their's' selfishly knowing they own nothing. Truly, they protect what is in their hearts. Their wishes and wants and hidden, unspeakable desires, only to find that they are a pawn to another, and that person is a pawn to another.

And the cycle goes on.

Bound To Heartless Promises

We signed the deal with Shinji Productions, Kazuki had assigned Kurosawa as our manager. (Lucky us.) We were going to begin work soon, and Ryuichi was going all out on lyrics, while Tohma and I tried our hand at actually pre-recording music. It wasn't as fun, but it got the job done.

Tohma had told his father of his plans, forgoing college, although I didn't know if he had announced anything about Ryuichi. I doubted it from the one day we finally met the rarely talked about, but ever present known of fiancée. Apparently, someone had told her where to find Tohma, who, along with Ryuichi, had basically started taking up residence with me. They were just starting to wake me up so we could get right back on working on the melody we had created last night, when a knock sounded.

No one ever visited me and people rarely came around asking for Tohma or Ryuichi.

The polite thing was to let me get the door, and after much prodding and groaning, I was up. I never really cared about how I looked in the mornings, disheveled hair, half-lidded eyes, slouched unpleasant posture. So maybe, to her, it must've been a shock. I opened the door, rubbing my eyes as I looked at her.

"Hello… is, Seguchi-san here?"

A throaty voice, some how strained, as if trying to be polite. Yawning, I opened my eyes to look at the owner of the voice. She was around my height, soft features, high rounded cheeks, a sharp, dainty nose, long, loose dark brown hair. One couldn't deny she was almost stunning. I had to blink, realizing I was being rude, trying to remember the question.

Tohma, that was it. "Uh, yes he is… would you like to come in?"

I stepped aside and held the door open, a sliver of fear slipping into the pit of my stomach, steadily branching out and claiming the rest of my innards in a deep freeze of terror. Could this walking china doll be Tohma's fiancée? Oh, and Ryuichi was home too… something was going to happen.

She entered, slipping off her shoes at the door next to mine and Tohma's, Ryuichi's scattered somewhere else in the house, and kept her head slightly bowed as she thanked me quietly.

"Have a seat while I get him, I think he's just practicing," I told her with a twitchy smile.

Yeah. Practicing on Ryuichi.

I bolted back to my bedroom where they were almost going to remove each other's pants. I'd grown used to these little walk-in's and paid it no mind as I cleared my throat.

Tohma stopped and Ryuichi huffed impatiently. I had just gotten out of that bed! Couldn't they wait? Well… maybe it was time to clear out the extra room and set it up for them. I had to part with those unused things eventually.

"A young woman to see you, Seguchi-san," I drawled sarcastically.

They had waken me up to get the door, use my bed and now I had to announce his guest.

I hated Mondays.

He smiled, thanking me and I tossed him a glare, pulling Ryuichi out of my room and stuffing him into the bathroom.

"Stay put for a second, put on shirt, and when you do, you can come out," I told him.

He made a face, whining at my orders, but didn't argue as he took his shirt out of my hands. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, ran a comb through my hair and pulled it back, thinking I was far more presentable. When I left the bathroom with Ryuichi, Tohma was already dressed and in the living room, offering to make tea.

"I'm sorry I was rude before," I apologized, smiling at the woman. "But I'm Noriko."

She smiled back up at me, looking less… forced, if that sounds right. "Not everyone is a morning person. I'm Uesugi Mika… Seguchi-san's fiancée."

I heard a door slam from the hallway and Tohma and I exchanged strained looks. Ryuichi was going to be hard to please after this. There would most likely be hell to pay, but we didn't want to throw off our guest.

"Uesugi-san, I'll leave you two alone for a moment, while I change," I smiled at them, walking off towards my bedroom.

I heard their pleasant chatter until I shut the door behind me, finding a sullen Ryuichi on my bed. Great. No tears meant he was high… and very angry. Sighing, I started peeling off my pajamas and dressing. There was little to no privacy around here anymore to begin with, and modesty? Right out the window. I was slipping a shirt on when Ryuichi spoke.

"What's the little slut's name?"

I paused slightly, popping out my head before answering. "She's no slut, and her name is Uesugi Mika."

I didn't like that attitude towards someone he didn't ever know. Personally, I didn't like his attitude when high at all.

"She's a slut cause she's taking MY Tohma!" he nearly yelled, a pillow missing my head by an inch.

"He's still yours," I insisted, though we've been through this so many times, it was beyond useless. "He just has to get married."

No answer, another sigh from myself and I walk back out to the living room fully dressed and smiling. Someone had made tea and Tohma and Mika were talking easily. I took a seat next to Mika on the couch, fully prepared to make an effort and befriending the woman. In all honesty, I was excited at the prospect of having a female friend. Ryuichi and Tohma were fine companions, but every now and then, I wanted the girlfriend to chat with and understand me. And no matter how gay you were, you still weren't female, so try as those two might, it would never be the same.

"So, Uesugi-san," I said pleasantly. "Tell me how you and Tohma came about this arrangement."

"Mika, please," she told me smoothly. Her dark eyes flowed over Tohma quickly before returning to me. "Well, my father, a monk, felt that Seguchi-san would be a perfect husband for me. We also knew his family fairly well, and Seguchi-san's parents wanted a suitable wife for him. So, over time after it was decided, we became fast friends and I feel this marriage will go off smoothly."

Tohma's eyes smiled over the rim of a cup as I looked at him. "Tohma… does she… know?"

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, and I literally could feel daggers. And they were directed at me! What had I done?

"Mika-san knows full well about my preference," he answered calmly, and suddenly, just like that, the daggers were gone.

"Ah," I said awkwardly, one hand rubbing my arm lightly.

So then, why the dirty look?

"Well, I should go check on, Ryuichi," Tohma said abruptly, getting up. "You two chat for a bit. Mika-san has two brothers and just her father, so I'm sure some 'girl talk' is in order."

And with that he was off down the hallway, leaving me speechless. Well… this was… odd.

"So, if you know about Tohma… why are you going to marry him?" I asked bluntly, cursing my mouth.

She kept her lips pinched, as if trying to hold back laughter. "Well, it would just cause trouble for both of us if we didn't do this. I do love him, and that's why I respect his choice."

Ah, the proper Japanese way of life. It was days like this I was SO glad not to be near enough to my parents to ever let them discuss marriage.

"What was with the death glare before?"

This time, a small quiet stole over her as she looked me over again. "Well… when I saw you at the door… you, looked as though you… and then when you asked Tohma if I knew…" she said in fragments, but I was able to get the idea.

It was my turn to hold back laughter. "You thought Tohma and I had something going on."

She nodded, as if trying to keep her cool on it, though I assumed she was probably embarrassed.

"Nothing between us at all. He just lives here," I shrugged, smiling.

"Do you like him at all?"

Oooh… toughie. If I did say I still had a crush on the blonde, she might not like me so much anymore. But if I didn't, then I would be lying. I hated lying. Especially to people I just met.

A slightly mixed answer. "Well, I like his eyes, beautiful color. And his hands."

It took her a moment to seem convinced, but she accepted it. And it wasn't a complete lie. Those were the things that attracted me to Tohma, now his personality played a large role, though what she didn't know may not hurt her. We talked a little more about her family, what Tohma's family was like, my family (very, VERY briefly) and a list of other things.

By the time Tohma came out with a sulking Ryuichi, I had made a new friend.

"Mika, this is Ryuichi," I told her and she smiled over at him.

Tohma jabbed him in the side with and elbow and he tried to smile. "Hello Uesugi-san."

"You can call me Mika. I know so much about you already," she told him pleasantly.

After a few minutes of forced conversation, Mika revealed the reason for her visit. They had to start scheduling a day for them to be married. Tohma sighed, leaning back into the couch before answering.

"Well… I don't want to keep everyone waiting, but we've just started something amazingly big here. To be married now would hinder an opportunity we might get," he explained.

She looked neither happy nor sad with that small smile on her face. "I see. So, I'm assuming we shall be meeting again soon to discuss this topic again."

Tohma smiled an nodded at her. "If your father asks why, tell him it's because I want to be financially stable for you with my own money, not my father's. He should respect that answer."

She laughed this time and got up from her seat, as did Tohma and I. Ryuichi stayed in his, glaring at the wall. We walked her to the door and Tohma kissed her on the cheek. She blushed, smiling.

"Feel free to drop by anytime," I told her. "Even if they aren't around."

"Of course," Mika told me, and she left to go back to Kyoto, where she told me her family temple resided in.

"She's nice," I said lightly, smiling at Tohma.

"I'm glad to have her to marry instead of a demanding wife who would've made me drop everything to get married," he sighed, looking over his shoulder at Ryuichi.

He would just have to learn to live with it. There was no way Mika was getting out of the picture, and I highly doubted Ryuichi would leave either. Tohma, though, didn't seem to be worried at all. I envy him for his level headedness.

"So!" I exclaimed, breaking the tense silence. "Who's up for a day off?"

Ah, but it didn't matter how much fun we had, the mental image of Mika and what she and Tohma were to become one day was burned into Ryuichi's mind, unable to wipe it away.

Promises, promises broken apart,
Feelings of Truth, born in heart.
Abound is the knowledge of which you part,
Knowing, in the end, you're back at the start.

The Heart wants what it wants,
As do I.
But duty over Soul,
That is my lie.

Keep up your smile, Soulless and cold,
Leaving the Tears to grow still and old.
Your Heart is left to wither and blacken,
Only the smile left in the ashes.

And my heartache was for both of them, knowing what they wanted never could be, and it all came in the smile of one porcelain woman, unknowing and trusting. But truth is bitter, and soon she would know its taste, unstoppable by Fate.

I hate rhyming... makes poetry seem infantile. I have never, NEVER done work where every, single, last word rhymed. Sometimes, I've seen it done well... but I dunno about this one guys...

And the middle and end are nothing like the beginning!

What the fuck am I thinking?

I guess, maybe, I was going for a little Chant Rede thingymajigger. Wiccan's will understand i guess. I dunno... maybe I just need sleep.

Alright, next chapter to start construction later today when I wake up.

SL