A/N: um... SORRY! I know it's been FOREVER since I've updated ths story... and I feel HORRIBLE!looks awayAnd if anyone is still reading this: THANKS! It's because of you guys that I've kept up with this story. I've had major writers block and then there is the fact of me being somewhat of a procrastinator... although my friends(mainly Emily) will say I'm an astinator (opposite of procrastinator) but I really hope this was worth the long wait... if it's not, please give me some constructive criticism. But enough of my talking... enjoy chapter five! This chapter is dedicated to Kristall because she made me aware that it's been awhile since I've updated this chapter! Thanks again Kristall!

Chapter 5- I might know where she is…

Miaka left Tasuki's house once again, but in this time she was looking for Tasuki. She wasn't familiar with this area so she didn't even know where to even begin to look for him. She walked in the direction of the tree where they had shared their first kiss together. The air was getting more and more chilly as the minutes passed and the slight breeze that brushed her face wasn't of any help to her.

When she had finally reached the tree she let her mind think back to Tasuki's face, but most importantly… his lips. They were so soft and gentle, which was not something you would think of when you thought of the tessen- wielding seishi. She slowly walked over to it and gently put her fingertips to the bark on the tree. A smile sweetly crossed over her face.

A quiet ruffling of leaves reached her ears and made her jump. She quickly turned around to see Tasuki approaching her.

"I thought I'd find ya here." Tasuki said.

"Tasuki I..."

"Don't say anything. I knew what I did was out of line… but you have ta…" Miaka had already walked over to Tasuki so that she could feel his breath on her face.

"Listen to me. I know I probably gave you the wrong impression earlier, and I'm sorry that I didn't say anything to you. But you have to understand that I had given my life to Taka. Then I came here… and saw you again for the first time in a very long time… something came over me. It felt like I first came to Konan and met Tamahome for the very first time." Tasuki had a warm smile form on his lips for he knew what the priestess was getting at, but since she was the same naïve Miaka she always was… she had a hard time explaining herself. Tasuki put a finger to her lips and she immediately stopped talking.

"I understand… you don't have ta explain yerself." Miaka removed Tasuki's finger from her lips and interlaced her fingers with his.

"I know… I'm just having a hard time opening my heart again." She gave Tasuki a faint smile.

"I dunno what happened with you n' Tama… but yer with me now. I'm different than 'em n' also…" Tasuki didn't have the chance to finish what he wanted to say for Miaka had him locked in a tight hug. Tasuki didn't even hesitate to put his arms around her. His arms slid around her waist and held her tightly. Nothing was said between the two of them, and nothing needed to be said.

Chichiri stood behind a tree not even ten feet away. He watched the whole thing but turned away when Tasuki held Miaka in her arms.

"Maybe Tasuki was the man Miaka was fated to end up with no da."

The next morning, Miaka had to shield her eyes from the sun that was entering her room from the open window next to her bed. She wiped away the sleep from her eyes and let a yawn escape from her mouth. She walked over to the mirror in her room and began to run her fingers through her hair. Something on her hand caught her eye, and when she looked down at it she had to stifle back tears.

"Mine and Taka's wedding ring…" The image of her ring quickly became blurry, "I can't keep doing this to myself…" She wanted to take her ring off, but somehow she couldn't gather the strength to do it. She heard her two seishi talking outside of her room very quietly. She quietly walked over to her door and put her ear to it in order to hear what they were saying.

"Why don'tcha just tell me wha happen'd with Miaka n' Tama?" Tasuki said in a harsh tone.

"I told you before that you're just going to have to find out for yourself no da."

"Listen ta me Chichiri, I need ta know what happen'd!"

"Then why can't you just ask her yourself no da? It seems like she's awake now anyway." Chichiri said as soon as he had felt Miaka's chi. Tasuki quickly turned around and Miaka stepped away from the doorway.

"Good morning you two!" Miaka said as if she hadn't heard anything.

"Ah… G'morning Miaka…" Tasuki said, trying to avoid what she might have overheard.

"Man am I hungry! I feel like I haven't eaten anything in a year!" Miaka said as she rubbed her stomach, "did you guys want me to cook anything?"

"NO!" They both said at once, remembering the last time Miaka cooked for them.

"I've gotten better with cooking since then!" Miaka said trying to defend herself.

"Well…. Actually Miaka… we already ate and uh… um… I'll see you two later no da!" Chichiri said as he left Tasuki's house.

Miaka shrugged it off and began to look through Tasuki's kitchen hungrily. Tasuki chuckled to himself at the sight of Miaka scrambling through his house.

"I guess you really haven't changed much." Tasuki said. Miaka stopped her search and looked over at him. Their eyes met and her insides began to melt.

"Uh…" Miaka started, unable to find the right words to say to Tasuki.

"Well Ima be outside wit Chiri, so if ya need anythin' let me know." Tasuki said as he turned to leave.

"Tasuki wait…" Miaka started, "I want to tell you the real reason why I came back to Konan…" Tasuki turned away from the door and walked towards Miaka. The sudden closeness of Tasuki made her feel tense but she couldn't back down from telling him now.

"Well Taka-, Tamahome, doesn't love me anymore…" her voice dropped towards the end of her sentence, she didn't want to believe it herself, but now she had to come to reality and face the fact that she was never going tobe with Taka again.

"Whatcha mean Miaka? Somehow this doesn't seem like the Tama I know."

"I didn't think so either Tasuki. Until he came home one night with another girl." Tasuki's eyes seemed to then fill with concern.

Miaka felt herself break down and spill everything to Tasuki"-…we had plans to go with Yui to the movies and he was running late, as always. I told him that I would wait home for him so we could go together but he insisted that I go on without him. I told him that I would go, but I decided to stay home and surprise him. So I waited until he got home and when he walked in the door he brought home another girl. I guess he really expected me to go without him so he could have the house to himself for a few hours.

"I guess it's my own fault for not going to the movies, but I just thought he'd want to see me…" Tasuki cut her off.

"Miaka… it's not yer fault. I jus don't understand why Tama would do somethin' like this to ya."

"I know.. but I still feel like it is." Miaka forced a smile.

Meanwhile back in the present day…

Taka sat alone on his couch, thinking about how bad he screwed up. Miaka had been the only thing on his mind ever since she ran out on him not long ago. She hadn't come home and she wasn't at Yui's house either. She didn't know where she was as well, and she didn't even know that Miaka wasn't going to go to the movies until she never showed up when she was supposed to. Taka looked down at his hand here he still had on his wedding ring.

"I really blew it…" Taka had said over and over again ever since Miaka left. Taka got off of the couch and walked over into the bathroom to look at himself in the mirror. His eyes didn't seem to have that sparkle that they used to, not with the bags forming under them. His skin seemed to lose some of its color and his hair fell every which way across his head.

He quickly brushed his tousled hair and stepped outside for the first time since Miaka left. The sunwas very bright forcing him to shield his eyes from it. When his eyes adjusted to the light, he started to walk. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he just needed to think.

"Hey Taka!" a familiar voice called out. Taka turned around to see Yui close behind him, a smile on her face with a bag of groceries in her hand.

"Oh… hey Yui." Taka had no interest in talking to her.

"Have you heard from Miaka yet?"

"No… I don't know where she is." The smile had disappeared from her face.

"What happened to you guys the other night? You guys never showed up and we never got a call from you." Taka had forgotten that he hadn't told Yui what had happened.

"Nothing… nothing happened." Taka lied.

"Well she wouldn't just leave and not tell anyone where she was going if nothing happened, Taka. I'm not stupid… something happened and I know you know what it is." Taka looked away, he was obviously annoyed.

"Have you tried her pager?" Yui offered.

"Yea… it's back home. She didn't take it with her."

They both stood in silence for a little while and by the look on Taka's face, he obviously wanted to leave and be by himself.

"Taka… you don't think that…" Yui started.

"What are you talking about?" Taka asked. Yui looked down at Taka's left hand. It was still there. She took his hand and brought it up to the light so they both could see the tiny piece of jewlery shimmering in the light.

"Imight know where Miaka is." Yui said.

A/N: okay I just finished this chapter this morning. So please tell me your thoughts and if you didn't like anything...let me know! It's very helpful. But I swear I'll try to be better next time! looks away What! I WILL TRY!

Love you all!

bubbles078 xoxox