Hi guys! Sorry for not updating sooner. I know I've been gone forever and I owe you a lot of chapters…hehe! No fear coz I'm back and it's good to be back! That long break I had did me good. Seriously, my mind's not working that's why I keep on having writer's block & all these college stuff makes it worse. But I'm ok now so don't worry. All right, I won't waste your time reading this nonsense A/N.

To all those who kept on reading my stories, even the ones that are completed, thank you! To those who gave reviews in 'Revenge' thank you also.

Chapter Six: Satisfaction

"Maruko Iratoshi? Come on, Mimi. This is going a bit far isn't it?"

The critical moment stung, yet Mimi hastily reasoned Sora couldn't understand how this new thing between her and Matt would be spoiled if the truth of her identity was known. She just wanted to let it ruin for a while without those shadows from the past.

Times changed, places changed, people changed…or at least their views did. Matt definitely saw her differently, very positively wanting her in his life.

"A false name," Sora added. "How long do you think you can fool him with it?"

"Long enough," Mimi muttered.

"Enough for what?"

"Never mind."

"If this is an extension of the revenge idea, you're playing with real fire, Mimi, and you may get badly burned," Sora warned. "Saturday night's act was harmless, but if you're planning on a closer encounter…"

"It's not revenge."

This statement of fact hung in silence between them as Sora drove back to their apartment.

Wanting to prove Matt isn't as shallow as Sora thought he is, Mimi said, "He bought the fabric to fix my fairy wings."

It was answered with blistering skepticism. "The guy will do anything to get to you. I'll bet you right now nothing more will be done about fixing those wings because he's already won what he wanted."

There was no reply to that argument. Only time will tell the truth.

"What's the next step?" Sora went on. "Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast?"

Mimi grimaced over the derision, but at this point she no longer cared what Sora thought. "Dinner this evening," she answered. "I'll be meeting him in the city so I'll be needing the cat if that's okay with you."

"Dinner," Sora muttered, shooting a dark look of warning as she added, "Well don't kid yourself that jerk hasn't got bed & breakfast on the agenda."

Mimi's chin lifted, defying the blush on her cheeks. "So what if he has? I might want that too. You told me that I should get him out of my system."

"Not this way, Mimi. You're lying to him. Deceiving him as to who you really are."

"A name doesn't mean anything. It's the person who counts."

"If it doesn't MEAN anything, why hide it?"

Mimi retreated into silence, hating the argument, not wanting to listen to her friend. It was HER business not Sora's. She was the one whose childhood & teenage years were emotionally entangled with Yamato Ishida.

"Do you expect me to back you up?"

"No, I don't. Thanks for not blowing my cover back there in Matt's office. From now on I'll do my best to keep you out of it. It's my game."

"A bit difficult when Tai asked me out."

"What?" Mimi gaped at her in surprise.

Sora shrugged. "I like him. He's fun. He even invited me to a party this Saturday night."

Mimi leaned back into her seat, closed her eyes & rubbed he forehead, needing to still the whirl of complications that this connection set off in her mind.

Taichi Kamiya had been a friend of Matt for as long as she can remember, and they shared the same business. They were bound to talk together as much as she & Sora did. It's impossible to ask Sora to drop him if she really liked the guy. That wasn't fair.

"We'll have to keep these involvements separate," she argued. "You with Tai & me with Matt."

"Or you could be honest with him & tell the truth…"

"No, not yet."

"I don't want to lie to Tai about you, Mimi."

"Then don't. Just do what you have to do & I'll do what I have to do, okay?"

Sora didn't reply. She didn't say anything more on the subject & neither did Mimi. But they were both very aware of the serious difference of opinion they have…an unwanted wedge in their long & close friendship.

Is Yamato Ishida worth it?

Mimi decided she would have to find that out, beyond any shadow of doubt before Saturday night.

Having explained the circumstances of the events that happened that day to Tai, Matt felt no compunction to explain anything else. Maruko Iratoshi was now his business… and Tai had no rights over it.

"Thank you for being persuasive with Sora Takenouchi on my behalf," he said, winding up the inquisition. "I hope it wasn't too much of a chore. As it is, Maruko & I can take it from here so you can drop it, Tai, okay? Back to work now."

"No, its not okay," Tai sharply retorted.

"You did tell me when you broke into my office that we were supposed to be working," Matt pointed out.

"Sora was right. You're charging like a bull, Matt. I bet you've got Maruko lined up to race her off to bed tonight."

Not race. He wanted to savor & revel in every bit of anticipation, then bring out every bit of pleasure he knew was coming with his fairy princess. It's impossible to explain what he felt about her to Tai.

"I'm not working tonight so it's none of your business," he said dismissively.

"Not my business?" Tai rose from his chair with the raising of his voice. "So I'm supposed to ignore it while you get into another mess with a woman. Remember Katya? You raced her off to bed when you first met her, then spent the next four months finding out what a bitch she was. You're taking this too fast, Matt."

This was different. No way was Maruko Iratoshi in the same level as Katya 'the bitch', and he didn't like Tai linking them either. Irritated by his friend's criticism, he shot him a deadly glare. "Look who's talking?"

"Sure, I've done it too," Tai answered back. "Taking what's there whenever I felt the urge. But great sex fades out when you've got nothing in common & you're pulling against each other's interests. Like with you & Katya, right?

Matt leaned back in his chair and visually quizzed the reformed character Tai was supposedly demonstrating. "And since when have you been so smart about this?" he asked. "I didn't notice this side of you at the party last Saturday…"

"There was no one important there," Tai cut in emphatically. "You said this Maruko Iratoshi is important to you."

"So?"

"So treat her right. Get to know her better."

"I intend to."

"It didn't look that way to me when Sora & I came in," Tai reminded him, sounding like a preacher pushing some righteous path.

Matt frowned at him, wishing he'd mind his own business. "I appreciate your concern. Now can we drop it?"

But Tai didn't hear any of it. He continued, "She & Sora are long time friends & business partners."

"I know that."

"Sora is very protective of her when it comes to pushy guys."

"I know that, too."

"I like Sora Takenouchi. She's in tune with me. We might become a big item."

Understanding dawned down at him. His best friend & partner liked the feisty redhead. "Each to his own, Tai."

The usual agreement between them was not forthcoming. Tai did not relax. If anything, the tension emanating from him increased, his hands clenching & unclenching as though he wanted to throw a punch.

Amused & rather unsettled by the aggressive flow from his friend, Matt waited to be enlightened further.

"We've got wires crossed here, Matt. I'm counting on you to not give them a negative charge."

"Right at this moment I don't see any problem," Matt assured him confidently. All the signals with Maruko are very positive.

"Well, think about this." Tai wagged one long finger. "Sora wouldn't be so protective of Maruko without a damned good reason. I figure there's some bad history that might need soothing over. Better find out what that reason is before you charge, Matt. Or we may find ourselves in a big mess."

He made his exit on that sobering challenge, closing the door with a bang. It gave Matt considerable time to think. Tai must really like the redhead. And he was right. There were crossed wires here.

A string sexual interest could break up friendships. He'd seen it happen many times, women coming between men, men coming between women. It could mess up family relationships too.

Nevertheless, he couldn't see why it should happen here. Sora Takenouchi had certainly been protective of Maruko, & it was obvious there was a bad history he didn't know about.

Maruko…did she have problems with men? It was her who initiated the kiss at his birthday party. And today, she had known what he was about to do. Remembering the touch of her tongue to his…nothing unwilling about her desire to taste him, to explore the wild exhilaration of arousing more & more excitement… Matt felt himself stirring, needing what she could give him.

There was no doubt in his mind. She wanted to satisfy herself, as much as he wanted to satisfy himself.

Mutual wanting. Where could it go wrong?

AN: Ok, that wraps it up. For those of you who might've forgotten, Maruko Iratoshi is Mimi Tachikawa. I hope you liked it. As always, don't forget to review!

(P.S. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my good friend Kynna. Get well soon!)