Okay, finally, after the weekend, I am able to sit down and start writing again. I hate weekends; all I do is work, work, work, and work. Yuck.
I was sad because I was far too busy to write, which means one thing: I have a lot of ideas.

First off, I want to thank you all for the lovely reviews, again.

SAMURAIDRIVE: I think you're the only one who might have figured out Mimi's job. Although, I promise not to tell until I decide it's the right time. Hee, hee.

DatGurlNesha: Wow, I'm actually quite happy to have received reviews from you. I've read your stories, and I've really enjoyed them. I feel honoured. Thanks, and, also, thanks for the fav. It made me so happy.

Luvablepinay702: I guess you're becoming a real fan, eh? Thank you for the sweet review, and I promise to try and make my chapters longer.

Yvettsu suguray: Thanks so much for the kind review, as well as the fav and the addition of me to your alert. I was so happy when I saw that. Thank you so much.

Populette: I sent you the email, it's titled Mimi's job in fic (or something similar to that). I've given you my response, and I will not change it. :P Oh, and it's a good thing you asked me to update today, because that's just what I'm doing.

Fu: Like I told populette, I'm not giving away Mimi's job 'cause it's supposed to remain a secret until further notice. Of course, I will give slight hints, but maybe those are hints about what she might want to be and so forth. Anyways, thank you for the lovely review, and don't worry, you'll find out if you're right or wrong soon enough.

NOTE ON PREVIOUS CHAPTER: I want to quickly tell everyone who read my unedited version of the previous chapter (my first version of it) that I changed the date mentioned by Mimi. The day she went shopping was not December 22, but the 18th. I thought it was too close to Christmas, and I wanted a couple of other things to happen before then.

That's all.

Chapter 4

Nightmares, Pleasure, and Promises

"Princess. You make such a beautiful Princess. Now, twirl around for me, so I can see you fully in the dress?"

Mimi spun around, the pink, frilly dress tickling her ankles as it twirled with her body's movement. As she stood still, she watched as his aquamarine blue eyes gazed intently upon her body. She felt almost naked in the dress, and yet she was fully clothed. The dress was long, nearly the perfect size, but just a little too big for her small frame. The sleeves were long and bell shaped, hanging slightly off her shoulders, giving it a look similar to that of the gown worn by Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. However, the bodice was not as tight, and her, at the time, small breasts barely filled out the chest. Instead, that part was looser, the square neck sagging just a touch. However, with the added bow in the center, it made it appear tighter, making it seem to fit her just right.

Adjusting the skirts, she fidgeted uncomfortably, fiddling with the bows at the waist. Her feet were aching from the small shoes, and her head hurt from having her hair pulled back so tight. But he wanted her dressed up like that, so she did.

His cold hand touched her face, and she looked up to meet his cool eyes. "You are a lovely Princess. My lovely Princess."

She spoke his name, low, a mere whisper upon her lips, before tearing her gaze away from his, focusing her sight on the floor. She was in her room, her old room, a room filled with childhood dreams, and innocent curiosities. A white room of purity, innocence, and sincerity, where darkness, violence, and cruelty were nothing but myths, stories told to ensure that the purity remained intact for forever.

She glanced at herself in the mirror, and saw the perfect example of innocence, purity, and naivety. She was an ignorant bliss in those glazed, whiskey eyes that started emotionlessly back at her, and she wanted to break the mirror, rip it apart, throw herself at it and shatter it into a million little pieces. Then, she wanted to cut up her perfect body with those pieces, she wanted to take those pieces and cut out that very part of her that was the submissive, quiet, shy girl who obeyed his every order, who remained the same for years because he wanted her to be like that.

As if on cue, the mirror cracked, a spider web of fissures spreading across the glass, causing her reflection to be cut up, spread apart, and become uneven…broken.

"You used to be so beautiful. But now … now you're just ugly."

The pale, cold hand stroked her cheek this time, curving under her chin to rest upon her neck. She shivered at the touch, and wanted to pull away from the movement, his dark emotions bathing her, nearly suffocating her every time he touched her skin.

"You like it, don't you? When I touch you? You just love the feel of my hand touching you. Everywhere, all over your body." Malice laced his voice, causing gooseflesh to rise upon her skin, making her want to throw herself away, to throw herself against the broken image staring back at her.

He tenderly turned her around, putting her back to the reflection, facing her, his lips curled into a crude smile. "Yeah, you love it. You love it because you're nothing but a whore. A cheap, pathetic, little whore."

His hand rose, and then arced down, creating a violent, slapping sound as a sharp, burning pain spread across her face.

Blinking back tears from the blow, she looked up at him, watching as his mouth curled in disgust and rage, watching the hatred glimmer in his eyes, which had become turbulent, violent oceans of blue.

"You're nothing to me."

His hand rose again.

Her body jerked upright, eyes wide, brimming with tears as she fervently looked around the strange, unfamiliar bedroom, taking in her surroundings. Her chest heaved as she pants, and her entire body trembled with fear and a pain that was not physical, but that came from inside her very soul. Her stomach twisting into a million tiny, painful knots, and made her want to vomit, but she fought back the bile that rose up her throat, trying to take in deep, calming breaths.

'Slowly. One … Two … Three. Breathe. Just learn how to breathe again. That's it.'

Her body shivered from the mixture of heat radiating from her skin, and the cool air and sweat that spread across her form. Hiccoughing, she nearly clawed at her face with her hands, but forced herself to tenderly wipe away at the sweat filtering down on her brow.

'Calm. Be calm. Take another deep breath. That's it. Just like that. Another one. And another. Good, good. Focus on slowing your heartbeat. That's it. Good.'

Her heart hammered and raced against her ribcage, making it feel as though someone was twisting it, constantly squeezing it tightly in an angered grip. But, slowly, as she let calming thoughts of cool waters, relaxing breezes, and warm arms hugging her body fill her mind, her heart began to ease its pace, going back to its normal rate, just as her breathing returned to normal.

Yet, her body still shook and trembled, and, as she tried to stand up, she barely felt her naked feet against the carpet, and her legs almost gave out. It took all her strength and willpower just to stand and take those first couple of footsteps towards the doorway. She didn't think about how she only wore a large t-shirt, or the fact that the yellow top was glued to her body from the rivulets of sweat that coated her body a mere moment before. She just wanted something, anything, to trickle down her throat, to lower her temperature, and to aid in conquering the parched feeling she had.

The door creaked as it opened, and she paused briefly, trying to make her muscles work properly, urging them to move as she wanted them to, praying to Kami for them not to give out on her.

Once in the kitchen, after taking what seemed like years to move several feet, her shaking hands clutched to the water-filled glass, almost as though she was using it as support to keep her upright and living.

Her lips trembled slightly as she parted them, and her throat nearly closed instinctively as the liquid made its way down, but she did not choke. The cool water caused the burning sensation to slowly subside, and the trembling began to cease. Leaning back against the counter, having downed four full, tall glasses of the substance, she fought back the tears as they finally rose, and choked back the sobs that wanted to wrack her very body.

No, not after all the effort it took for her just to calm herself. She would not let the cold, wet tears of fear and depression trickle from her eyes. She would keep the dam strong, and force them back. She was not going to give in now. She was not going to let him win.

Her feet finally registered the carpet under them, and discovered that it was soft and comforting, soothing as she made her way over the couch. The leather sofa stuck to her sweat-coated body, but she could care less. The cool feeling of the animal skin against her own hot flesh calmed herself even more, letting her body temperature to lower just those couple of notches before it arrived at its normal temperature again.

Closing her eyes, she tried not to think, tried not to wonder why she had the dream. It had been so long since she last had that dream, nearly six months, in fact. Why was it coming now? Was something going to happen?

She almost barked out a laugh, and her lips twitched in a sarcastic grin. She was no psychic or clairvoyant, she was just a simple, human being with nightmares that needed to be fought back.

Opening her eyes, granting herself one quick glance at the DVD clock, enabled her to see that it was 2:57 AM, and caused her to realized that she had slept for only a mere two hours before the nightmare attacked.

As if on cue, her body began to feel leaden, and her eyes slowly closed again. She then let the cool, relaxing feel of the couch lull her into a deep sleep, where not one single nightmare touched her, and only a calm darkness surrounded her vision.

Yamato grumbled at the rude awakening of his alarm clock. Rolling over, he slammed it off, glancing at the time. 8:00 AM. Cursing slightly, he stood, and, clad only in his boxers, made his way to the bathroom in order to relieve himself and his aching bladder.

Still in a semi-groggy state, he dragged himself into the kitchen after completing his first mission of the day, and rummaged through the fridge, searching for a telltale sign of the muffin he had hidden in there the night before.

As his coffee began to brew, he leaned back against the counter, munching on the blueberry muffin he succeeded in capturing and conquering. With the food in his system, and the scent of caffeine filling the air, he sighed in relief, cracked his shoulders, and fully woke up.

Turning to grab a mug out of the cupboard on his right, he heard a low, faint movement from his living room. His immediate reaction was not to look over, but to duck down behind the counter, images of robbers with guns filling his head. However, as he listened again, the movement did not sound like footsteps, but similar to that of someone rubbing against leather.

Frowning, he slowly peeked his head out from the counter, taking a quick glance over to his couch. What he then saw was a pair of long, gorgeous legs sticking out from under a yellow t-shirt, as well as a flash of a pair of hot pink boyshorts as the woman lying on his couch shifted slightly, turning onto her back, an arm thrown behind her head.

Matt jerked back as he caught sight of the face, which was surrounded by waves of brown hair. Her face was heart-shaped, and only now did he notice the sharp cheekbones, and lovely, slightly pointed chin she possessed. Instead of being enraptured by her honey brown eyes, he found himself examining and gazing at every inch her face. He then decided that it was most definitely a model's face, with the high cheekbones, and the soft, plump lips softening her face. Then, as his gaze trailed down her neck, his eyes became victims of her breasts, which were pressing against the yellow material that twisted tightly against her lithe body. He could just seen the nipples straining through, and fought the urge to go over and touch them, just so see how hard they really were.

A loud, sharp ding brought him back to his non-perverted senses and mind, and he jerked around, yanking the pot from the machine, pouring the hot beverage into his mug, before taking a giant mouthful of the scalding liquid.

Upon swallowing it, with tears of pain in his eyes, he let out a loud curse, and filled another glass with cool water, using it to ease the burning pain in his mouth.

"Aw, shit. Damn. I burnt my tongue."

"Yamato?"

Spinning around, the coffee sloshed in the mug, but, luckily, did not spill out and burn his poor, unsuspecting hands. His eyes grew large as he saw Mimi's whiskey-coloured eyes staring back at him, a slightly glazed look to them from sleep, making Matt grow hard with wanting.

Sucking in his breath, he tried to appear nonchalant, despite the fact that his heart was racing in his chest, and his loins and groin ached with the needed to feel pleasure and hot, wet passion.

Instead of doing what he wanted, which was to attack and conquer, he pressed his hips against the counter and saluted with his mug. "The one and only."

Sitting up, Mimi heard a slight suction sound as she removed her slightly moist back from the leather, and she ran a hand through her hair. "How come you're up so early?"

Taking a sip from his coffee, he swallowed before answering. "I have work today at 10:00, so I usually get up a bit early, clean, eat, and relax before leaving."

Mimi stretched her arms towards the ceiling, causing her back to arch, and Matt's 'friend' to twitch with glee. Matt, on the other hand, wanted to cry, not only because he had a lovely angel sitting in his living room, unknowingly turning him on, but also because that angel was one of his best friends. Thus, that meant the angel was definitely off-limits.

Placing her legs on the floor, she stood up and headed over to him, sitting on the stool opposite to where he stood. Smiling, she placed her head in her hands. "So, can I have a cup, or are you just going to stand there?"

Jerked out of his fantasies, Matt reached into the cupboard and filled her a mug, handing it to her. Frowning a bit at the black liquid, she arched a brow at him. Eyes wide with innocence, Matt mimicked her frown. "What?"

"Aren't you going to ask me if I want milk and sugar?"

Rolling his eyes, he turned his back on her, opened the fridge, and bent down to find the milk carton. At that precise moment, Mimi took the time to analyze his lovely backside.

She wondered if it would be firm and taught under her hands, and if he would enjoy it if she grabbed it and squeezed it between her fingers. Tilting her head to the side, she continued to examine his buttocks, smiling slightly to herself. It wasn't flat like most men's, and yet it wasn't abnormally fatty, round and saggy like, well, the rest of the male population. It looked firm, taught, somewhat muscular, and was slightly rounded.

'Damn, he has one hot ass. I'm so jealous.'

Her eyes then roamed over his back, which rippled with muscles as he continuously shifted in search for the milk. She wanted so much to graze her manicured nails over his skin and feel those muscles shift and move under her hands.

Her eyes flew to watching the clock on the wall as he stood, placing the carton of milk on the counter beside her. Flashing him her sweetest, most innocent smile, she picked it up, and her eyes fell on the expiry date.

"Matt." Her voice held a note of warning, and almost one of exhaustion.

Pulling his head out of the cupboard, currently failing on his conquest for sugar, Matt looked at her with confusion in his eyes. "Yes?"

"This expired two weeks ago." She frowned up at him. "What happened to the milk I bought last week, and why didn't you throw this out when I bought last week's?"

Scratching the back of his head, he gave her a small smile. "Well, uh, I like milk. So I drank it all. And, well, I just, uh, forgot to throw this one out." One look from her had him adding, "Fine, fine, I'll bring home some more milk when I finish work today."

Having given up on his search for sugar, he leaned his back against the counter facing her, he sipped some more of his coffee. "So, tell me, why were you sleeping on my couch, when I have a bed designated for you?"

Mimi's roaming eyes, which had been traveling across his muscled chest, were pulled back to his face, and then fell to watch the contents of her mug. Bringing it slowly to her lips, she let the bitter liquid fill her mouth, letting the taste roll around her tongue and then flow down her throat to fill her empty stomach. She used that moment to think of some sort of creative answer, not wanting Matt to know about the nightmares from the night before. Instead, she glanced up at him from under her long lashes, the inventive lie repeating itself in her mind.

"Oh, you see, I couldn't sleep last night, so I figured I'd just watch some TV or something. So put the TV on low and all, and, I guess I must have turned it off before I fell asleep, because, obviously it's not on now." Then she winked at him. "And don't worry, I didn't watch any porn."

Matt's faced blushed bright red, and he then focused all his gaze on his mug and how he wished he could drown it in at the very moment.

Shifting on the stool, Mimi let her head rest on the palm of her right hand as she watched him while a smile played at her lips. "So, do you just watch the porn, or do you collect the magazines also?"

"W-W-What?" His voice became almost high-pitched at the question, seeing as it startled him so much his body jerked, and coffee sloshed around in the mug.

This time she fully smiled, laughter twinkling in her eyes at his reaction. "Do you collect the magazines? I mean, like, you know, Playboy, Penthouse, Maxim, all those little porno magazines. You already watch porn, so I'm willing to bet that you do have porno magazines. Am I right?"

Matt went, if it were possible at the moment, even redder before dumping the contents of his mug in the sink, placing it down, and attempting to head towards the bathroom. Instead, at Mimi's glare, he stopped in his tracks, and fiddled with the strings on his boxers. "Um, well…Why do you want to know anyways? Perv." Then he turned around, grabbed a towel from the closet, and locked himself in the bathroom.

Mimi laughed; shouting after him so most of the apartments around them could hear her. "Perv! I'm not a perv! I don't have my Satellite preset so when I turn it on, it goes to a porn channel! Pervert!"

With that said and done, and a smug look plastering her face, Mimi set off towards the bedroom to prepare herself for a shower after Matt, and then to search for an idea of what Matt's occupation was.

"Sora, do you know what Matt does?"

Arching a plucked brow, Sora frowned in return. "I have no clue what you're talking about, actually."

Mimi and Sora sat together at a table in a small café downtown, watching as snow drifted to the ground. Mimi twirling her spoon in her green tea, as Sora took a bit of her strawberry cake, savouring it as the strawberries and vanilla filled her mouth.

Tapping her spoon dry on the edge of the cup, before placing it aside, Mimi sipped her tea before replying. "You know, like, as a job. I think him, and Tai, are the only ones who have mystery jobs."

Sora then smiled in return. "Oh, well, Tai's job isn't a mystery. Just order from Oba Sushi, and you'll know."She then winked before taking another bite of the cake.

Mimi let out a laugh. "You mean Tai's a delivery boy? Oh my, that's quite funny! I'm trying to imagine him in some sort of delivery uniform, and all I can see is him wearing a Dominoes uniform." Mimi then burst out laughing at the image of the bushy-haired Tai wearing a red and blue uniform, delivering pizzas.

Sora laughed along with her, knowning what Dominoes was, and what their delivery boys looked like. "Oh, wow, that was one funny picture."

Clearing her throat, and taking one more sip of tea, Mimi returned to a serious state. "No, seriously, what does Matt do to pay the rent and all? Seriously. I know Jou's still in school, Kari's working at a daycare part-time, we know Tai's job, Izzy's doing the research stuff, T.K. is jobless, and you do the flower arrangment stuff. So, that leaves Matt. What does he do?"

Sora arched a brow, and then winked. "Well, Meems, looks like you forgot someone else."

"Who's that?"

"You."

Smiling, Mimi winked in return. "Well, now, it's a secret, isn't it? But it is a really cool job. I promise to tell you all when we get together for New Years, okay?"

"Make it a promise."

Mimi took a piece of Sora's cake with her own fork, and smiled before eating it. "I promise."

After finally wringing it out of Sora, Mimi discovered the location of Matt's job, and decided that she needed to do some shopping. She was planning on making something nice for dinner that night, just as a thanks for letting Matt stay with her the last week. Also, she needed to go searching for an outfit to wear on the 22nd, which was three days away. Sora had mentioned that she was having a Christmas party at a local bar, where she had rented a VIP section for the DigiDestined, and their friends. However, T.K. and Kari were not allowed to come, seeing as they were only 18, and underage. Although, Mimi and Izzy, too, were underage, Sora told them that she knew the bouncer, and he would let them in, seeing as they were only one year under the limit, as opposed to being three. That was a promise.

Mimi glanced around the quiet street before crossing, and heading into the Yamanaka Supermarket. Upon entering, she found the atmosphere to feel immediately cheerful, calm and relaxing. A cool-warm air tickled at the back of neck from the air vents above the door, and she shifted in her coat, before fully stepping it.

The set-up was similar to that of an original, traditional Japanese market, with short but long rows of goods, a section dedicated to fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as freezes with frozen goods in them. Near the back, there was a section dedicated to fresh fish and seafood, where one could choose with seafood they wanted to buy, and get it fresh. Sometimes it was even still alive, such as the lobsters.

Mimi smiled and nodded towards the nearest cashier before stepping further in, noticing how many people were shopping for Christmas Eve goods, and she managed to listen in on a couple of women, both of which were sighing with sadness because they would both be single for Christmas Eve. That's when Mimi remembered; every year, it was Japanese custom for Christmas Eve to be an evening of romance and love, where couples spend their time with one another, showering each other with gifts and an assortment of way to express their love for one another.

Grimacing, she decided not to ponder about that particular subject until the very evening itself. Picking up a basket, she began to browse through the isles, searching for the necessary food for that night's dinner, all the while trying to find signs of Matt's existence within the vacinity. For all she knew, he could be on his lunch break, and wouldn't be coming out for a long period of time.

"I can wait," she decided, putting a bottle of Kikoman soya sauce into the basket.

Mimi turned around, and nearly dropped the basket. "Oh shit." Instincts kicked in, and she immediately took off in a run in the opposite direction.

So, how was it? Wow, I got so many reviews within the time I posted the last chapter, and now. I'm so proud of myself, and so happy and so many people are enjoying my story.

Anyways, again, to all those wondering about Mimi's profession, like I've told others who've stated what they think it is, I'm not giving any final answers. You will all just have to wait and see.

I hope that this chapter was good. I made it a bit longer than the others, and I'm going to add a bit of action in the next chapter.

Thanks again for the lovely reviews, and please don't forget to review this one, as well.

Thanks,

Ciao.